Baby Gear

When my twins were little they really didn’t have too many diaper rashes. I tried to keep them dry and in good quality diapers, but when they got sick and had a bad case of diarrhea, man the diaper rash was horrible. Red, blotchy skin, they would cry even if I wiped them gently. I tried every diaper rash cream on the market, but they did little to help calm the rash. I wish I knew about Vusion diaper rash cream.

Vusion, which is available by prescription only, is the first and only prescription product ever approved by the FDA for the treatment of diaper rash (caused by a specific yeast infection). It can be used on babies 4 weeks and older and is steroid free. Candida, a type of yeast, is commonly found in the intestinal tract and is carried to the diaper area by a baby’s stool. Treating diaper dermatitis, along with a regimen of washing your baby well and frequent diaper changes, may require the use of a prescription skin medication.
If you didn’t know this you are not alone, according to a Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates study, many moms (52 percent) are unsure or do not know when to see a healthcare provider about their babies’ severe diaper rash.

All moms have to deal with diaper rash at some point or another, so knowing there is something out there to help with the worst diaper rashes is great to know. Thanks to MomCentral for giving me (and you) this great information about Vusion ointment!

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A lot has happened in the five years since I have had kids. I found out early in my pregnancy that everything my kids had when they were babies from bottles to rubber ducks were laden with BPAs. I was suddenly on the hunt for new bottles and pacifiers for our new baby. Green to grow was one of the companies I found with BPA-free bottles.

Green to Grow was founded last year and makes exclusively BPA-free infant and toddler feeding products. Instead they are made from PES plastic, which gives them a natural golden color. They make 5 oz and 10 oz regular or wide neck bottles from PES plastic and medical-grade silicone, made in Taiwan.
The first thing I noticed about these bottles were how cute they were with fruit faces on the front of them. They are easy to use and clean without valves or other intricate parts. They range in price from $7.49 to $10.49.
You can feel good about buy these bottles because not only are they safe for your baby, but they are made with 100% recycled packaging, soy inks, and 1% of annual profits going to environmental causes!

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If I don’t go into labor sooner, I will be having this baby via c-section this morning. Since I won’t be around for a while, while I take care of my newborn and five year old twins, I decided to share with you some of my favorite baby gear. Here are some reviews on things that I cannot live without and things I know you will enjoy:

I love this monitor and will use it for years, they are not just for newborns!

There is nothing like a good swaddling baby blanket.

This nest egg has helped me sleep at night which is a luxury when you are nine months pregnant. I think it will be a great help with breastfeeding too. Go get your own with the coupon, even if you are not pregnant this is great for kids or for travel!

We are trying to be more green in our house and what better timing then when a new baby comes!?

I love these products for Mom. The names and packaging are so cute that I would buy them for that alone! They really smell good too.

I think this is great for the summer. I know I would have to get it if I lived in a state that was hot all year round.

I love this thermometer and couldn’t live without it. Plus it is so much cheaper then it was new to the market and I bought it!

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I know I am germ phobic but c’mon grocery carts and universal high chairs are so gross. You can see how well they clean them (never) and it is enough trying to keep a baby healthy at home. Not to mention kids will put anything into their mouths even the bar of a cart, especially when they are teething. That is why I was so excited to try out the Clean Shopper.

The Clean Shopper is a universal and original shopping cart cover for babies and toddlers. You know the ones that everyone at your grocery store has but you? They are made with 100% cotton-quilted fabric and has two built-in side pockets for storing anything you or your baby will need. Each also has two loops for attaching toys. I was also surprised to find how many fabric choices and prints there are!
They are very well made and are one piece so it is easy to put on by yourself. It also held up to a washing with no shrinking. They also sell a super soft clean shopper that is 40% fluffier than the original clean shopper!
I wish I knew about the twin clean shopper when I had my twins, I never found anything like that and believe me, I looked!

Looking for more ideas? They offer many other products like the clean changer, the clean diner which fits on public high chairs (although the clean shopper works well on these too!) and the clean burper. The clean burper is a fabulous over sized burp cloth that is thick and absorbent. This also held up to a washing well and are shaped perfectly for over the shoulder burping.

Go check out their great products for yourself but they also make great baby shower or new baby gifts!

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When you are pregnant for the first or fourth time you know there is a lot of things you need for a baby. They may be small but they can take over your house with their “stuff”. Some things you need for day to day living and some baby gear is a luxury. Besides diapers, wipes and clothing, a baby monitor is very necessary.

When I had my twins I received a baby monitor as a shower gift. We were living in a apartment and the traditional monitor was ok, although I would get to hear the occasional phone conversations of my neighbors that the monitor picked up. Now that I am pregnant again I wanted a monitor that allowed me to see the baby now that we are mostly downstairs during the day and the baby’s room is upstairs.
I had the pleasure of reviewing Summer Infant Day and Night Handheld Video Monitor. This 900 MHz monitor blows away my old traditional monitor. This portable handheld unit is perfect for moving around the house and still being able to see your baby. There are also traditional sound lights that visually show baby’s level of activity. There are nighttime LED lights on the camera that makes the baby fully visible both day and night!
The video monitor has batteries or you can use it with an AC adapter. It also has a kickstand which is perfect for me to view it while I am doing dishes, using the computer or watching TV.

Don’t get this monitor just for a new infant, I would have loved this for my twins when they first transitioned into their toddler beds. It would have saved me countless trips upstairs to see what they were up to. Parents love this monitor, go ahead and read the reviews yourself. This is one of my new favorite baby products to tell all parents about.

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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.

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Every parent I know is concerned about lead in children’s toys, baby gear and accessories for kids. I know I have been going through my cabinets, throwing away plastic cups and plates and trying to replace them with safe products. It will make me sick to throw away all the sippy cups and bottles I have saved for this baby. Never mind all the baby toys I have saved that I now have to test for lead. Every week up until Christmas I will list some safe toys made for babies and toddlers and none of them will be made in China.

This Nest Jax toy cube is made from sustainable materials including organic cotton and recycled wood. Made in India through a fair-trade partnership. Perfect as a toy bin in a child’s room, closet or as a hamper. This comes in orange, green, pink and purple.

This Nest Seat is great for one or two children. It has interlocking parts to share with a friend or sit alone. Better then a bean bag chair and more durable. Made from sustainable materials including 100% certified organic cotton and is also made in India through a fair trade partnership.
It comes in orange, purple and green.

Little Tykes 5-in-1 Adjustable Gym is perfect for babies from birth to three years old. It adjusts into twelve different positions and for five different stages of development.
Little Tykes makes over 70% of their toys in the U.S. and tests everything it sells.

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Looking for a great baby gift? Are you trying to be more green and environmentally conscious these days? Check out www.greenkits.com. they sell reusable natural or organic grocery bags, environmentally friendly household products and fresheners. They have a ton of amazing items for you and your household to save money and help the environment.

They even have a baby green kit. Perfect for a baby shower or new baby gift, this kit is everything a new mom would need. It includes everything an ecologically aware parent needs to ensure that only pure, non-toxic ingredients touch baby. The kit includes:
Non talc baby powder- No talc means no danger to baby’s breathing
Baby shampoo and body cleanser- this tear free soaps are natural and sulfate-free
Calendula baby lotion- Made with sweet almond oil and organic jojoba oil
Diaper Cream- mineral balm with natural zinc oxide blended with organic almond and sunflower seed oils
Baby laundry wash-Plant based and non-toxic
Baby wipes-These do not contain alcohol or synthetic ingredients
Travel baby wipes

All this for the same price of $55.00. You can also get it placed in environmentally friendly gift packaging or placed in a personalized tote. Very cute, very earth friendly and a gift any new parent, new grandmother or new baby would love!

Do you use earth friendly products in your household? Do you think it is important to use plastic free, recyclable and green products around your children?

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Studies show that massage is not just terrific for adults but also for babies. We know how a massage makes us feel and we know massage promotes overall health and well-being. Baby Massage Snuggie Touch of Love is a long sleeve onesie that can help you with massaging your baby.

This was designed as a collaboration between a Pediatric Chiropractor and a clothing designer. This long sleeve onesie has colorful icons clearly mark pressure points making massage simple. Massaging your baby can help you bond and help your infant calm down and fall asleep especially when done as a ritual like a bottle, bath, massage, bed.

It comes with a instruction sheet to help you with the pressure points. It comes in a cute gift bag and is a perfect gift for a new mom or for a baby shower.

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The other day I was looking for bottles that were polycarbonate-free and were safe for my baby. I found glass bottles but I wondered if there was something else. I found these bottles from Adiri.

I have to say, they are great to look at. The Adiri nurser are made with a unique co-molded nipple and bottle body that prevents lost parts and assembly hassle. No need to buy any other parts!
It is designed like the breast so it would be perfect for nursing mothers that want to still be able to pump for their child. It also warms to a child’s cheek, like a breast, when filled with warm milk. Shaped like a breast, they encourage the same type of open-mouthed latching that is required for breastfeeding, making bottle and breastfeeding more easily interchangeable.

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With all the news recently about plastics in our house and especially in our baby products that can cause genetic defects, it can really drive you crazy. The chemical in plastics is known as bisphenol A or BPA. It’s found in many of common products, mostly polycarbonate plastics. Nearly all plastic baby bottles in the U.S. are made of this kind. So are many food containers from take out, food storage containers and water bottles.

Some animal studies have linked BPA to low sperm count, hyperactivity, early puberty, obesity, small testes size, and enlarged prostates.
Now that I have a new baby on the way (announcement!) I am wondering if I should throw away all of our Advent bottles we had leftover from my twins, and we have a lot, and find something safer.

The only ones I can find so far are these glass bottles from wee go. They have a sleeve which is non toxic and will protect the glass and make it easier to hold. The plastic ring, plug and cap contain no polycarbonates and are food grade, FDA approved and recyclable. It comes in six colors.

I am not sure how I feel about glass bottles but really what choice do we have these days? Do you know of any other BPA free, non toxic bottles? It is really a case for breastfeeding every and all children.

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