Baby Gear

When I was pregnant with my twins I made the decision to nurse them as long as I could. I had various complications after my emergency c-section, so nursing them was not as easy as I had hoped it would be and lasted only days. This pregnancy I know that again, I will try and nurse as long as I can. I am a modest person though, so the thought of nursing in public makes me stress. I don’t want to be so exposed, it will still be cold here in NJ when the baby is born so how do I cut down on my exposure?

If you have the same concerns, have I got the product for you! Bebe au Lait has the most gorgeous nursing covers you have ever seen. A product born from a mother’s frustration over the nursing covers on the market when she was breastfeeding her children. She designed her own “hooter hiders” and instantly they became a hit. They come in so many fabric choices that are perfect for any chic mother!

You connect the straps for your comfort level, place the cover over your head and you have a type of nursing apron. The neckline has boning in it so you can easily view your baby while nursing. Best of all, wash and dry as you would any of your delicates.
What a surprise when I found out all of the covers have a terry cloth corner for clean ups and a small-item storage pocket for my chapstick and other things I can never live without!
This product is perfect for all breastfeeding moms who want a little more coverage, it is stylish folds down neatly into any diaper bag and mine hasn’t wrinkled yet. They now also carry a luxe silk version for occasions when you want a more formal cover and a 100% certified organic nursing cover, something for everyone. Go pick one up today!

breastfeeding, nursing, nursing covers, hooter hiders, infants, toddlers, newborns, new mothers, new mom gifts, baby registry, baby gear, reviewing baby gear, baby gifts

There is nothing better then the sight of a cute little newborn swaddled in a blanket. My ovaries ache just thinking about it! My twins, like most babies, loved to be swaddled tightly but I was always worried about overheating. SIDS is a huge concern for any parent and overheating a baby with many layers in the winter is something you do not want to do in order to prevent SIDS.

The amazing people at adenandanais.com sent me a one of their swaddling blankets and I am in love. Their amazing muslin fabric blankets are like swaddling your baby in the softest gauze you can imagine. The 100% muslin cotton keeps baby warm without overheating baby like many heavier blankets can.
They are very large at 47′ x47′ so you can use it as a blanket for a toddler or double it over for swaddling a newborn. I think this would also make a great nursing cover in a pinch!
They have various patterns and color choices for boys, girls or unisex. They come in a set of four for $44.00 or in a gift pack of two for $29.95.

They offer many other items on their web site also like hooded towels, washcloths and their new dream muslin blankets. This is a perfect gift for a new mother or for a shower gift. This blanket is light enough that they are perfect for summer babies.
I can see myself using this blanket with my new little one all the time. I had better order more!

baby gifts, baby gift ideas, baby registry, infants, toddlers, swaddling, swaddling blankets, muslin blankets, muslin swaddling blankets, new moms, new parents

I love toys that last. Not only quality wise but will keep kids coming back day after day. There is nothing worse then wasting money on a toy that breaks right away or your kids don’t even really like. I would rather spend more for a good quality toy that lets my child use imaginary play then a lead filled silly character something-or-other.
If you are concerned about toy safety, and you should be, these toys I am spotlighting are all designed in Europe and most are manufactured there as well.

Babies to kids love putting things in and out of a certain spot. Repetitious play is essential to development. This first play set fits the bill. Made for babies six months and up, this play set is perfect for little one’s hands. It comes with a soft bear blankie, a wooden cat rattle, wooden mouse rattle, and a soft bunny rattle, all stored in this zippered-carrying house. Put them all in the house and you have a great toy to travel with!
They also make a castle complete with a king and queen, a dragon a fortress with drawbridge on the outside and a beautiful palace on the inside. It comes with a mirror, squeaker, hologram foil and velcro fasteners. This is also for six months and up.

If you are looking for something a little smaller, try this little elf that will attach to a stroller or a car seat. This is also cheaper at $21.99.

toys, baby toys, safe toys, European toys, infant toys, developmental toys, parenting

There are some requirements I have when buying my kids clothing. I am not a label queen, I don’t care if it has a pony on the upper left hand side. I want things that are well made, soft for my baby and comfortable. I don’t wear the knees to wear when my baby starts crawling, if something is 24 months I don’t want the length to be for a three year old. I have found some great baby clothing that I thought I would share with you.

I love this knitties sweatshirt dress. It is comfortable to play in and looks so soft. It comes in sizes 2T, 4T and 6T and is $24.00. Wear it as a dress and when it gets a little too short, get more use out of it and wear it over some leggings!

This hooded sweater is one I would like for myself. It comes in sizes 6-24 months and is $39.00. You can match any outfit with this sweater, it comes in twelve color choices!

Babychaleco.com has soft, wonderful more then bibs for babies and toddlers. It is a pullover vest style with mock T-neck and is easy to get on and off. They have different styles and designs. This is perfect for the drooliest of babies, and I have known a few!

Finally, try babysoyusa.com for soft, beautifully made baby clothing. There soybean line is all made of soybean fiber and offers bodysuits, hats, blankets, socks and much more. Perfect for baby’s newborn skin.

babies, infants, kids, children’s clothing, baby clothes, baby gifts, baby shower gift ideas, parenting

More baby gear recalls!
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled about 28,000 Infantino® Lion Teethers. The plastic nose on the lion can detach and pose a choking hazard to young children. Infantino has received eight reports of this happening, including one where a child gagged on the bitten-off nose. These were manufactured for Infantino in China.

These teethers were sold nationwide from June 2006 through December 2007 for about $5 each. If your child has one of these teethers, take it away immediately and contact them for a replacement or a product of equal value. If you need more information or want to report your recalled product, call Infantino at (888) 808-3111, or visit the web site at www.service.infantino.com.

recalls, baby gear recalls, teether recalls, toy recalls, safe teethers, parenting, teethers, infants, babies

I still have my favorite baby blanket, it is tucked away in one of my drawers. My sister still has hers and my kids still sleep with their favorite baby blankets too. Those favorite “lovies” you have as a child are some of your favorite memories. If you are looking for a great lovie for your child or for just an amazing blanket, look no further.

The gigi blanket company has the greatest blankies I have ever seen. The security blanket is perfect size for small hands and a perfect size for the diaper bag or your purse. They have a soft nubby side and a smooth silky side. Chose the fabric you love most for each side!
Born out of one mothers frustration on finding the perfect blanket for her daughter, Gigi makes blankets, burpis and even tooth fairy cases. Check them all out, their prices will not break the bank.

I know this blanket will be my new baby’s favorite and I am already planning on buying more once the baby arrives.
Now, if they only made one for adults!

Use the coupon code “gigiships!” to get free shipping on all orders
now through December 18th!
The last order date for gigis to arrive by Christmas is by noon on Tuesday, December 18th

baby blankets, baby lovies, baby burpis, gigi blanket, the worlds best baby blanket, baby gift, baby gift ideas, baby shower gift, lovies

I love deals and being a stay at home mom, I have to find good deals to help my husband’s paycheck last even longer. Babies, though small, sure cost a lot of money. Any deal I can get, I appreciate it. Today I will be sharing some deals I have found on the internet recently.

If you are looking for bedding for your nursery or child’s room, check out Pottery Barn kids clearance items.
If you like Talbots, Talbots kids is having a great sale on kid’s clothes right now. Check it out.

Are you in the market for a stroller, Maclaren has strollers on sale right now at babye-store.com. From single to twins strollers they have great prices. I love Maclaren and would never buy another brand of stroller.

Morganandmilo.com has great shoes for kids and right now they have a bunch on sale.

Do you need something inexpensive for a child’s birthday or baby shower? try these sailboat bath toys or letter link crabs.

Always check out babycenter.com for great deals. Right now they have sale and clearance items for up to 70% off. They have gear, clothing and toys on clearance.

Buy discounted arts and crafts or school supplies for kids here. You can also stock up on birthday gifts for kids on this one stop web site.
For daily deals in your area on all baby and children’s gear, check out deals on craigslist.com, freecycle.com and ebay.com.

Check out my other site for the latest news on children’s vaccine recalls!

kids deals, baby deals, deals and steals, baby gear, kid’s gear, baby gifts, gifts for kids, parenting

Are you looking for something a little more stylish for your baby’s first bed? Cradles are a great choice for next to your bed in your child’s first weeks of life, or for a place to put the baby in another area of your house. Check out some of these splurge-worthy, modern, unique cradles that are not necessarily budget friendly.

Check out this Caiboo Earth folding bassinet. It is made with sustainable pine and collapses for easy storage. It comes in tow stain colors and is stained with water-based, biodegradable finishes. Perfect for limited space or apartment living. It also has all-natural cotton fabric with are unbleached. Exclusively at giggle.com for $450.00.

This cradle is from a Berlin based initiative called E27. When your baby has grown too big for the cradle, you can remove the cradle and use that as a basket, and attach the included saddle to change the cradle into a modern rocking horse! How fun! It is nice it does something else for $438.00.

I love the idea of this Lullaboo rocking cradle. It comes with an organic cradle mattress and with four finish colors to chose from. It is $590 and comes flat packed and is easy to assemble. This also comes in a non-rocking version for the same price.

Lastly, treat your baby to real style with this iron cradle. This cradle is very ornate and looks like it belongs in a palace. It comes with the mattress and has various choices of finials and colors for $1,199.00.

cradles, bassinets, modern cradles, unique cradles, infants, newborns, baby gift, baby registry

I remember sitting in church one Sunday and my mom spitting onto a tissue and rubbing it onto my face. That really grossed me out and I vowed right then and there never to use my saliva to clean anything on my kids. I have kept my promise, well, kind of. I do use Momspit, it just isn’t mine.

Momspit is the universal no-rinse cleanser. It is not a hand sanitizer, it is a cleanser for your little one’s hand and face. It contains no alcohol which I just love. It works like magic, just rub some on the dirt, lipstick leftover from a kiss or ice cream face and suddenly the mess is gone as fast as it appeared. It comes in two scents: fig & green tea and lemon and white tea and they also have unscented.

Here are some of the reason I think this company is as great as their products:
MomSpit products are user-friendly
MomSpit products are not tested on animals
MomSpit products are not manufactured anywhere using child labor
MomSpit products contain no human saliva, ’cause that would just be gross

What is better then that? Whether you are a mom, a grandmother, a babysitter or a lover of all things clean, order your Momspit now. You are not always near water and soap when your kids get messy and these bottles can fit into any purse or diaper bag. Buy it just so you can ask your mom friends if they want to use some of your mom spit! It is good, clean fun.

momspit, cleansers for kids, no rinse cleanser, babies, toddlers, kids, parenting, parenting children, moms

Looking for a ride on toy for your little one this holiday season? Kids all love toys that they can ride on and go or push. My kids each had one they would ride around the house forever in. We had another hand me down for the outside. They still will get on any ride on they see, even if they don’t fit!

This is the Radio Flyer Big Flyer. Classic radio flyer made new for your little racer. It has three adjustable seat positions to grow with your child and it is for children three years to seven years. It is perfect for the racing fan. This is reasonable at $49.99.

For younger kids let them get the hang of a ride on with this Fisher Price Baby Gymnastics Bounce and Spin Zebra. This rocks and spins 360 degrees. It has lights and music and locks into place until child is safely on the zebra. It is for babies 12=36 months, great for babies first Christmas.

Every child I know LOVES the Little Tykes Coupe. This one is kid’s favorites, Dora the Explorer. This is a lead free toy! It is $59.99 for kids 18-36 months.

We can’t leave our Diego fans out! This ride on is just like the ones my kids had in the house. The kids could ride around my house safely and they loved opening and putting stuff in the seat and taking it out again! It is very sturdy and you cannot beat it for $29.99. This one has a horn but my daughter’s had music that was so loud I had to put tape over the speaker. That is my only complaint about these sit on or push cars.

ride on cars, push cars, tricycles, toddler ride ons, toys, toy reviews, baby toys, toddler ride ons, toddler toys

A potentially cancer-causing chemical called bisphenol A is in the lining of most cans of liquid baby formula Says the Environmental Working Group. The chemical can and does go into the formula at levels that are dangerous for babies. This has been shown to cause reproductive disorders and neurobehavioral problems in laboratory animals.

Bbisphenol A, or BPA, is a component of the plastic epoxy resins used to line metal food cans.
The group recommended that parents avoid liquid baby formula and use powder formula instead until companies line baby formula cans with bisophenol-free resin, the Toronto Star reported. The Environmental Working Group had calculations indicate that babies fed powdered formula likely receive 8 to 20 times less BPA than those fed liquid formula from a metal can.
More than 100 independent studies have shown that small doses of the chemical can cause developmental problems, cancer, obesity and early puberty.
The makers of Nestlé, Similac, Enfamil and PBM (who make store-brand, generic formulas that you can buy all over) all said that they use BPA in the linings of metal cans holding liquid formula. They use them on powdered formula as well, except for Nestle Good Start.

First it was unsafe baby bottles and sippy cups and now the formula itself. If there was ever a good reason to breastfeed your baby, this is it.

chemical contamination in baby formula, baby formula, safe baby formula, liquid formula, powdered formula, breastfeeding, babies, infants, parenting, keeping kids safe, new moms, parents, parenting children

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a recall of about 2,000 Stokke Xplory Baby Strollers. A bolt that attaches each front wheel to the stroller can loosen, causing one of the front wheels to fall off, posing a fall hazard to young children. There has been 14 reports in the United States of one of the front wheels falling off, including one incident where a child toppled out of the stroller. There were also 244 reports outside of the United States of one of the front wheels falling off.

These strollers were manufactured in China and have serial numbers between 1 and 28,097 and with grey handles. The serial number is located under the foot plate. Strollers with white handles are not included in this recall. These were sold from September 2003 through December 2006 for about $770. Parents should stop using the strollers immediately and contact Stokke to arrange for a free replacement of the front wheels.

You can contact Stokke toll-free at (877) 978-6553 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.stokkeusa.com

Stokke stroller recall, stroller recalls, Stokke strollers, parents, recalls, strollers

When you are going to have a baby there are some items of baby gear that you need. A stroller, car seat, a crib, diapers and a high chair. There are alternatives to a traditional high chair these days which is perfect for parents who live in apartments, don’t have a big kitchen or just don’t like the bulky piece of baby gear. I had two big old high chairs in my kitchen, so I understand.

Fisher Price Healthy Care booster seat is a great alternative to a high chair. It connects to virtually any chair, has a 3 point restraint system and 3 height adjustments to grow with your child. The back and tray can be removed for an older child. It also has the best feature for any high chair or booster seat, a dishwasher safe removable tray. I would never buy any feeding chair that didn’t have this.
This is inexpensive at around $23.00 so you can buy one for the grandparent’s houses. This is also perfect for traveling with!

Kaboost is a revolutionary idea in alternatives to high chairs. This attaches to a regular chair to add height for a smaller child. It just snaps on a chair, is very stable and can holds up to 300 pounds. It comes in three different colors and at $39.99 makes any chair into a high chair. I wish I thought of this!

If you really just want a regular high chair this Graco chair is the slimmest when folded. This seat comes complete with 6- position height adjustment, 3- position recline and two trays that are dishwasher safe. It is slightly more expensive then the average high chair at $129.00.

booster seats, high chairs, kaboost, fisher price booster seat, alternatives to high chairs, baby gear, baby registry, infants, toddlers, babies, baby gifts

Mobiles were invented by the American sculptor Alexander Calder in the early 20th century. Nothing says “nursery” like a great mobile. There are so many different kinds these days. The primary colored ones, the pastel ones that match your room’s decor or the kind that come with a remote control. Which one is best? That is up to you but I will help you narrow down a few choices!

I love anything handmade and this pinwheel mobile fits the bill. Kids love pinwheels and you can point a fan towards this and get a fun show. Very cute at $35.00.

If it is bells and whistles you want this mobile by Tiny Love is for you. It requires no winding up, has 4 different types of movement and motion and plays classical music. It is a lot of mobile for $39.99.

Are you looking for black and white? This sheep mobile is for you. Originally designed for MoMA, this mobile is simple and pretty. It also comes fully assembled!

This bunny mobile is so cute I want one for my room! They are made of lightweight plastic and will flow around in the slightest breeze. At $27.00 it will not break the bank either.
Modern tots also has fish or bat mobiles.

Make your own mobile. Here are some cute, easy mobiles you can make yourself or let your young child make with ordinary things you can find around your house.
What kind of mobile did/does your baby have?

{tags] mobiles, fun mobiles, baby mobiles, baby gifts, baby registry, nursery, decorating the nursery, babies, infants [/tags]

Many moms go back to work after their maternity leave is up. Some have to go back for financial reasons, some love their work and don’t want to give it up. That means unless you have a parent at home to watch your baby or child many parents send their kids to day care. When I picked up my kids from school there was a day care on the bottom floor and I would always peek into the windows and see all the toddlers at nap time sleeping on their mats with their lovies and blankets. It was so adorable.

If you are looking for a sleeping mat for your kids, this one would fit the bill fine. It is a backpack style slumber bag with built-in pillow! Folds easily into self-contained backpack. It comes in primary colors, it has adjustable shoulder straps, a nametag to make sure it doesn’t get lost in day care, fleece lining and no zippers so it is easy for younger kids.
This is not only great for daycare but for sleepovers, camping or pretend play. It is $29.99.

The Disney store has nap mats on sale right now online. They have Little Einsteins, Pooh, Mickey Mouse, Princesses, and Lightning McQueen nap mats. They measure 24” W x 46” L. All have a quilted pad, have an attached pillow and tie with Velcro. They are on sale for $9.99 right now down from $29.99, such a great price and perfect if you are looking for a gift.

nap mats, sleeping bags, sleeping bags for kids, day care, kids, toddlers