Baby Gear

I have found with this new baby of mine, that he is not an easy sleeper. He is not one of those infants that you can put him down and he will just sleep. After 5-10 minutes in anything he cries. Vibrating seat? Boring. Swing? Okay for a while but then he is done. I wondered how I would ever get this baby to sleep and then I found pippalily slings.

Pippalily was started by a mom whose daughter always wanted to be worn. She couldn’t find the unique and stylish slings she wanted so she made them! These slings are pouches so they are easy to get baby in and out and there are no rings to adjust. Those rings confuse me anyway.
I love that this sling had a deeper “seat” for the baby. It makes me feel that my baby is more secure.
I wear my baby all the time at parties, to the park, it is easy for me to use, K loves it and I have my hands free for my other two kids.

The thing I love most about these slings is that all of the fabric and patterns are simply gorgeous. The silk brocade is fancy enough to wear to a wedding or any other event as well as to the playground. I have received so many compliments on my Chocolate Brown Dragon sling! I love the Morning Glory Coral sling too. I want them all!

Get one for your husband for Father’s Day! Pippalily makes great slings in a masculine camouflage print or a plain black cotton sling. Don’t know how to use a sling? Don’t worry they have instructional how-to videos online for you.
These are going to be my new gift to get for baby showers.

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When I was new to breastfeeding, I would find it a little difficult sometimes. Especially when I was out in public.
Where do I breastfeed that is safe, and private?
How do I nurse without my breastfeeding pillows?
Also, how can I keep myself covered in public.

These are all commonly asked questions by other nursing mothers, I have recently discovered. When I came across the breastfeeding bonnet by MoBoleez, I knew I wanted to try it.

MoBoleez was founded by a nursing mother of two (you know how I love to support mom owned businesses!) who wanted to design something unique for the breastfeeding mom. This 70% bamboo and 30% cotton hat fits perfectly on baby’s head but has a large, floppy brim to cover mom’s breast. The hats come in pink, blue, green, cream and red, and each has a very cute designs on the top and a “hi mummy” on the brim for mom.
The hat is much softer then I thought and it held up well after a trip in the washing machine.

I have a cover up that I use to breastfeed in public but with warmer weather approaching, I think it would be hot for both me and K. I love the idea of this hat, it keeps the sun out of the baby’s face and gives me the privacy I want. Great idea and well executed.
Go order one today for yourself or as a great baby shower gift!

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Babies love to put everything in their mouths, all moms know that. Babies will put any fuzz, piece of food or even your hair in their mouths, just like a puppy! In addition to having to wear my hair back, I had to limit my jewelry wearing when I had the twins because any dangle earrings, or necklace went right into their mouths. Gross and dangerous!
Now there is jewelry that is not only adorable, but is OK for babies to put into their mouths.

Smart mom jewelry makes non-toxic, phthalate free, silicone teething jewelry for mom. The material is non-toxic, latex-free, food–safe, even dishwasher-friendly.
Whether it is a pendant or a matching bangle bracelets, all are cute for mom and safe for baby. No more picking up the teethers from the floor and having to clean them off before you can give them back to your child, now they are attached to you.
I also love that this is a mom owned business!
The best part of it?

I love my teething bling and I have had so many other mothers come up to me and asking me what they were and where I got them from.
Go order away, they make great shower gifts. With Mother’s Day coming up get some for your babysitters, Grandmothers or Aunts.
Plus, they are a perfect way to keep a teething baby occupied!

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I am always on the look out for great outdoor toys for my children.
Of course I am on overload from battery-ridden toys from the winter months. I want my kids to play in the nice weather, use their imagination and unplug from all of the toys inside the house.

Green Toys is a company that can help you with that. We had the chance to check out the dump truck and the jump rope. Both were instant hits in our house with me and my kids!

Green Toys are all made from recycled milk jugs! The milk jugs are reprocessed into high density polythylene which is “considered one of the safest, cleanest plastics around”. They are also made in the USA. In addition, all of their packaging is made from recycled corrugated boxes and is 100% recyclable. No plastics, or metal at all. Lastly, all Green Toys are tested in “nationally recognized, independent, third-party labs”, right here in the USA.
They contain no trace amounts of BPA or phthalates! They’re also free of any external coatings, so you don’t have to worry about anything chipping off into your children’s mouths!

I love that I don’t have to worry about the safety of these toys. I also love that since they are made from plastic the dump truck is light enough for my one year old to pick it up and carry it around safely. The jump rope has adjustable handles which is great for our house since our twins are 3 inches apart.
We love these toys and can’t wait to add to our collection!

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Little Showoffs is designed as a form of fun expressions for baby. It is also created to make baby shower gifts unique, fun,and of course cute and adorable. There is no better way to celebrate a baby than to have these tees proudly express “new accomplishments”, “loves”, “place of residence” and more. It also brings the family together to showoff what role baby has now created for each member.
If you are looking for a great baby gift, Little showoffs is for you!

Their goal is to provide the highest quality available tees for babies, toddlers, and adults. Their tees are made from 100% ring spun cotton which is noticeably softer and higher in quality than regular cotton. They have many unique shirts for infants, toddlers, bigger kids and even Mom and Dad!
The mutiples shirts and caps would have been perfect for my twins!

The shirts are soft for baby and have the right amount of stretch to them. I love the leggings they have to go with the shirts, it makes a perfect outfit!
If you are going to be buying a shirt for yourself I suggest buying a size up, the shirts seem to run a little small.
Don’t forget to check out their maternity wear, doggie tees, diaper bags and organic section. On this site there is something for everyone!

Perfect for baby showers, or for siblings and parents, Little Showoffs is a great one stop shop!

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Baby slings are ideal for multi-tasking parents who want to carry their baby and keep that sense of closeness and bonding while keeping their hands free for other tasks. Slings are available in so many styles, colors, and funky prints that there is one for everyone.
I loved my slings ( I have many!) and so did my baby! A few of the more popular brands are:

New Native Baby Carrier - Freedom for your hands. Safely bend over or twist with both hands free. The curved bottom keeps your baby in the sling. Versatile. Carry baby on your front, side or back. Toddlers fit snuggly on your hip. Use one or two for twins. For babies newborn through 35 lbs. Convenient. Its so simple you’re always ready for the next pick-me-up. Put baby in your car seat without taking her out of the sling. Perfect for breast-feeding. Will not confine clothing and you can nurse while doing other things with your hands. Bonding. Helps both mom and dad develop a close relationship with baby.

The Hotslings Pouch - Hotslings pouches are an innovative design that combine fashion with function. Just because you are a mom (or dad) now doesn’t mean you will be stuck with bears, bunnies, blue plaid and pink gingham. Nor will you be stuck with a front pack that only is good for your baby’s first few months while it pulls mercilessly on your upper back.

Karmababy Baby Sling - Not your ordinary baby pouch sling. Karmababy have playful prints that are hard to find elsewhere. Reversible slings come with a knock out print on one side and a soft twill solid on the other. Both sides have a spacious pocket for carrying keys, an extra diaper, whatever you want!

What is your favorite baby sling or carrier?

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I know I am always on the hunt for comfortable, stylish clothing for my kids that holds up and doesn’t break my bank account. When I was introduced to Mini Boden, I was more than pleasantly surprised.
Like its popular clothing line for adults, this site is jam packed with style.

From swim trunks to cotton dresses, from baby rompers to diaper bags, Mini Boden has it all! Not only are their clothes adorable but their bright colors and designs made me a fan the first time I saw their web site.
The clothes I received to try were of great quality. I was very surprised how soft they were. The first test of any clothing is how well they washed and these washed great with no shrinking.
The only problem with this clothing line is that I want one of everything for my three kids!

The rompers are great for kids and I love how they look and how comfortable they are for my baby. I also love that they carry baby surf suits, I usually cannot find them in baby or toddler sizes.
The girls section is filled with things my six year old would covet and even have great accessories and ski wear!
The boys clothing is still fun without being babyish or too mature looking, which is hard to pull off.
Mini Boden is my new go-to website for all my kids clothing- especially the sale section (shhh!)

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I love the idea of a tricycle for my littlest one, so I have been researching and thought I would share with you!

Skip Hop WishBone Bike- 3 Bikes in 1 !
Unlike any other running bikes, the Wishbone bike evolves with a child’s different stages of development.
It starts at age 1 as a trike, converts to a running bike as the child grows, and by four to five years old, the ‘wishbone’ frame is flipped, making the Wishbone Bike one of the largest running bikes on the market.
With its environmentally sustainable design and innovative 3-bikes-in-1 feature, the Wishbone bike, designed in New Zealand, really is the ultimate pre-bike.
It is recommended for ages 1-5.

I LOVE this Radio Flyer tricycle, it is exactly like the one I had as a child! Much easier on the pocketbook at $85.
This is a classic Retro red and white styling and frame, it has controlled turning radius for safety and balance, Ringing chrome plated bell and a adjustable seat for different heights.
Perfect for ages 2 to 5 years old! These are a little heavy compared to newer types of trikes, but there is a reason these are a classic!

Lastly, I love the look of this Wheely Bug. Looks like a bug, rolls like a car. The Wheely Bug from Prince Lionheart is a cute wheeled push car for kids up to 50 lbs. The seat of this light push trike is made of compressed foam, padded with a 1″ layer of soft sponge. The Wheely Bug comes in three designs and two sizes.

Tell me, what kind of tricycles do you have in your house?

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Looking for some adorable hair acessories for your little girls? Maybe you are searching for a great new gift for the girl who has everything. Either way I have got a great web site for you to check out: Lyla Lou’s.
From their site: We started off making hair accessories for our girls, hoping to make something that was a little different and better quality than what is already out there. We got so excited about what we were making, that we started selling them to friends and family nearby. From there, the products started to sell themselves. We have had so much fun making them that we wanted to make them available to everyone.

These headbands and hair clips are adorable! I love their bright colors and the fact that the accessories can be worn by your daughter as well as you! They are constructed from metal, so they’re less likely to stretch out. They offer clips, headbands and baby headbands (coming soon!) and they are reasonable priced. My daughter has already checked out the web site and delared she wants one of everything and I cannot blame her!
Looking for something even more special, they do custom orders so be sure to check that out!

These would be perfect for every little girl I know and I am planning on wearing this to a wedding we are going to next month.
So much fun!

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Summer is here and time for many little ones to head to the pool for the first time. What to put on that baby’s bottom for her first time in the water? Well, what you DON’T want to do is leave her in her regular diaper, it is unsanitary! There are options though and I know, us parents like options.

There are disposable swim pants like Splashers and Little Swimmers. They work well and are inexpensive if you are visiting the water like once a week. If you are constantly in water, buying these will add up, they cost about $7-$8 a package. There are a ton of coupons available for them in the weekly paper or online.
Some pools require rubberized swim pants over the swim diaper.

Reusable swim diapers especially make sense if your child’s in the water a lot or if you live in a warm climate with a long swimming season. They can cost anywhere from $10-20.

The i play Ultimate Swim Diaper Original are for any little one who will spend anytime in the water this summer or at your local pool. They are pool approved and can be used at YMCA’s and Hotels.

Sun Smarties Adjustable Swim Diaper. Made of soft, peached microfiber, with an absorbent terry lining and waterproof inner coating. UPF 50+.

What do you prefer, disposable swim diapers or reusable ones?

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AS I try and fill my house with eco-friendly products as well as baby and child gear, I have come across bamboo more and more. I love clothes made from bamboo, they are SO soft and comfortable. Bamboo is a such a great source of materials for products because of how fast it grows.

I am in love with these Mini-Mello seats made from bamboo! Lacquered on the outside, and produced according to fair trade rules, once turned upside down, Mini-Mello can also be used as a little basket, a lego box, etc.
Bamboo is a recyclable material, and each product is wrapped and delivered in recycled packaging. They measure diam 34 x h. 12 cm
and they are available in red, fushia, lime, black and white. Other colours upon request.

From their site: Ekobo is a eco-friendly company which creates timeless contemporary design from a natural and renewable resource: bamboo. Ekobo products allow economic growth, the protection of the environment and social equity to progress in harmony. By combining design and traditional hand-work, Ekobo develops a durable activity for rural communities and encourage eco-responsible consumption. All Ekobo products are handmade in Vietnam, in a village where the owner of the Company, Bruno Louis, is familiar with its inhabitants. Today, about one hundred families take part in the Ekobo adventure.

Very funky, modern and perfect for a nursery or child’s room.

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We hear it all the time, we must read to our children as much as possible from the time they are infants. My baby is only interested in turning the pages right now so we talk about the pictures instead of read the book. My six year old twins though, have just learned to read and love reading book after book to us and themselves!
I have just the books for babies or your eager readers:

Duck! Rabbit! is my children’s new favorite book. They think it is hilarious that some people see a duck and other a rabbit (I am in the rabbit camp). A very cute and easy to read book for every age. The illustrations are simple and vibrant. I think this is an instant classic and one we read over and over. Check out the web site to vote on whether you see a duck or a rabbit, videos, print a poster, videos and a teachers guide.

Little Oink is another one of our favorites. We already love Little Hoot and this newest book is just as good. Little Oink is a clean freak but his parents only want him to clean, clean, clean. What is a little pig to do?
The illustrations are adorable and again, this is a perfect book for new readers. Visit the site for mask templates, pin the tail on Little Oink, sticker sheets, songs, videos and teacher guide.

I want to know what books are your children’s favorites?

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I really don’t like traditional juices on the market today for kids. Is it from concentrate? Are their artificial colors and flavors? Is it even 100% juice? These are all things I have to think about when I buy juice for my kids. First Juice is designed specifically for toddlers with parents in mind.

First Juice is naturally low in sugar- 12g per 8 fl oz compared to 27g in traditional apple juice. All of their juices are organic and they are as appealing to me as they were to my son! With flavors like banana + carrot, apple + carrot and peach + purple carrot (yes, purple carrot, they were originally purple and are filled with antioxidants!) how could it be bad?

Not only did my toddler love it, so did the 6 year old that live here too. I still water down their juice and this is a perfect way for my kids to get all the nutrients without the sugar!
First Juice has NO artificial sweeteners, preservatives or high fructose corn syrup.
Their plastic packaging is free of BPA and phthalates and their awesome single serving 8 oz bottles can be repurposed as a sippy cup! So clever.
They also make a 32 oz size for at home use.
Check out their web site for more information and where to find a store that carries it near you, I found mine at Babies R Us.
Also, First Juice offers coupons for $1 off. Check their website to find out how to get one!

Win It: First Juice is giving 8 FREE coupons for First Juice to one lucky reader. The coupons may be used for either the 8 ounce or 32 ounce bottles of First Juice.
To enter go to the First Juice website and look around. Then come back here and tell me which store near you carries First Juice.

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I wrote about “Mom Dating” months ago and how hard it was to make friends for me or my kids in this new town where we knew no one. I had to take the initiative and give a mom I hit it off with my number and email on the back of an old business card one day.
She never called.

Maybe if I had these professional mom cards she would have. From professional to cool these business cards are 2 sided so you can add any information you like. Your children’s names, ages, your email address, child’s allergies etc.
They run a little steep $50.00 for 100 cards, but they are a novelty.
Cute idea and I will get anything if it helps me make a mom date!

For a much more affordable option, and the option I took, Sunny Day Tags has a great selection of mommy calling cards.
What about bag tags? perfect for strollers, luggage, backpacks or diaper bags!
I am also loving her school envelopes for when you are sending money to your child’s school for something or another! Especially having twins in different classes, this can get confusing for them and me! This would help us stay semi-organized!

Now that my kids are in school we have a much easier time making friends and setting up play dates and these cards just make it that much easier!

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Positively Organic was founded by New York city residents Nancy and Peter Possenti, on the simple belief that when it comes to dressing kids, parents shouldn’t have to choose between style and sustainability. I couldn’t agree more and Positively Organic has just what I was looking for in children’s clothing. Their certified organic cotton clothes are made from earth-friendly materials, sweatshop-free & fair trade manufacturing and have great bold graphics and bright colors. Those are things you don’t find in everyday organic clothing.

Their short sleeve onesie we got to try is so sweet. It is super soft and comfortable, runs true to size and washed wonderfully. I love the bright seahorse design and colors. The pants remind me of my favorite pair of yoga pants. They are soft, easy to put on and take off for diapering and have a drawstring waist. I know these will be my go-to pants for the next few years.
Their clothing runs from newborn up to 4T.

This is also a company with a heart. They work exclusively with socially responsible companies and making sure that the workers who make our products are paid a living wage. They also support causes in four areas: Children’s Health and Welfare, Environmental Sustainability, Economic Justice and Artistic Expression.

Don’t forget to check out their baby gift sets, hats, and blankets as well as their sale and clearance merchandise. Go check them out, I know you will not be disappointed!

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