This is long overdue, but I must share with you our top 11 baby products that we used in 2011. Most of these items we received for review – thankfully! – or we may not have given them a whirl. Who knows for sure, right? What I can say is that these products are my favorites and I recommend them for anyone with a baby! Some of these are better suited for under 12 months old, while (most) others are still seeing plenty of use even today.

These are not listed in any particular order:
Read the rest of this entry »

Even though my daughter is walking now, she does still enjoy playing in her exersaucer now and again.  She likes to bounce in it and hear the toys shake.  An exersaucer was definitely on my baby gear wishlist!  We have a different Evenflo one which is well loved and enjoyed.  The Jump & Learn exersaucer looks even more fun if that is possible.  I love the frog – super cute, don’t you think? I thought one of you could use it for the holidays!
Read the rest of this entry »

The 12 Days of Gifts Galore giveaway event is coming up November 25th through December 6th. Be sure to come back then and enter to win a prize from this event sponsor!

Halo SleepSack

The Halo SleepSack is well known and a trusted brand for safer sleep options for babies.  Unfortunately the start of the wearable blanket is sad, it has been beneficial for numerous babies as it is the #1 choice of Us hospitals for safe sleep.  William Schmid began researching sleep environments after he and his wife lost their baby to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in 1991.  Three years later he worked to develop the original Halo SleepSack and offer safer sleep options for babies.  A percentage of sales goes towards SIDS research.

Read the rest of this entry »

Choosing baby gear is a daunting task, especially for new parents!  There is so much out there and a lot of factors to consider when making a decision.  I spent way too much time on my registry!  While in the store I looked at everything and scanned a ton of items.  Then while I was home, I’d scour reviews and adjust my registry…. though sometimes this led me to tears.  I really want this but someone said [insert negative review here]!  I swear picking out gear made me question my ability to parent at some points!  Once I let go of finding the perfect thing for each item we needed it went much smoother.

One of my top registry items was a playard of some sort.  They are handy for travel as well as for offering a safe space when mommy needs to step away from baby for a few.  While they aren’t a replacement for a crib, they are definitely a handy piece of baby gear.  When Rissa was first home, we used a playard with a bassinet in the living room while her regular bassinet was in our bedroom.  Those first two weeks she slept so much, as newborns do, that we needed handy places to lay her down.  I also wanted to keep her in sight!

The InGenuity™ Signature Edition SleepEasy™ Playard would have been helpful with the changing table area… but I’m getting ahead of myself!  We received this playard to review with the help of my newborn nephew!
Read the rest of this entry »

When I was pregnant, I received mixed information between books and baby prep classes about how to take a baby’s temperature.  Some still claimed rectal temperature was the way to go, but one nurse kept telling me that method was outdated and not recommended.  I didn’t really know what to think, but thankfully baby girl has only had one short, mild fever.  I was not about to take her temp from behind.  This girl is too squirmy.  There are times I’m lucky to get her diaper fastened correctly!

Read the rest of this entry »

Cookies for Dinner ~ Synopsis

One area of my life that doesn’t have enough green in it is clothing and bedding.  I don’t know a whole lot about the manufacturing process, but I can only imagine the amount of chemical residue that comes in contact with our skin from materials like clothing.  Plus, the process itself is harmful to the environment.  If you are searching for an all natural and organic clothing and bedding store, then you’ll want to check out The Ultimate Green Store.

Read the rest of this entry »

One thing I’ve noticed since having my daughter is all the STUFF we lug around.  Frankly, it gets to be a real pain.  I’m more and more interested in multi-functional items.  I want to pack smarter, not pack more!  There are so many products I’ve accumulated too: car seat covers, high chair covers, stroller shades, nursing covers… So many different covers.  Wouldn’t it be grand if just ONE cover did all these things?

Let me introduce you to the Snuzzle Me by Splendipity!  It is a multi-functional product.  A 7-in-1 product that you can use throughout baby’s first year and beyond!  It serves as a infant carrier cover, high chair cover, swing cover, stroller cover, nursing cover, and car seat shade.  It is organic (OekoTex certified), reversible, and has UV protection.
Read the rest of this entry »