Baby Gear

We live quite a distance from our family and friends so we traveled with our children all the time from the time the babies were a week old. We wanted something to bring with us to put the kids in or help when it was just me and the two babies at a friend or family members home who maybe didn’t have baby “equipment”.
Luckily for us, the Fisher Price Take Along Swing just came onto the market a month after our kids were born.

This was one of my favorite baby products. It was light, easy to fold up and carry and fit great in the back of my small SUV.
It has two toys that when you pull activate songs and lights. The music wasn’t too annoying as with some baby items. It takes 4 C batteries which need to be changed often as is the case with swings. Get rechargable batteries!

It is designed for up to 25lbs which I loved. My kids grew too long for the swing before they even hit the weight limit. The swing was terrific help getting them to sleep in strange places, like on vacation.

My one con with this swing was it was a little hard getting the babies in and out of it. You kind of have to swing them in and under the top bar and I have bumped their heads on occasion on it. (Sorry kids!) As they got heavier this process got harder!

I love this product, I thought it was worth its weight in gold.
Make that platinum!

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Washing a baby can be…challenging. I always feel like I have to hold the baby in the baby bath tub with one hand while I wash with the other. Holding on to a wet, soapy baby is not the easiest thing.
Getting more soap or a new washcloth can be difficult with one hand. I liked my baby bath tub but when I found the washPOD, I knew I had found something great.

The washPod is a new concept for newborn bathing. It is a European type of baby bath, designed to be a “secure and warm environment, similar to that inside a mother’s womb”. It is vertical as opposed to horizontal and the3 design holds the baby upright.
It is smaller then a traditional tub so it uses less water, which is terrific. The bottom is cushioned so K’s bottom was comfortably paced and he did not slip around.
He loves his bath in the washpod, especially since he is submerged more then a traditional bath so he is warmer.

The WashPOD also has cushioned handles so you can carry it even when it is filled with water, someting I could not do with our other bath, once it was filled it was too heavy and bulky to move. It also comes with stickers to help make the appropriate water level, which should be a few inches under the baby’s arm pits when immersed.

Although it did take me awhile to “learn” how to wash the baby in the POD, I really love it. It is compact, easy to store and perfect for babies 0-6 months. This will make a terrific gift for your next baby shower.

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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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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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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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kokopax, llc was founded in 2007 in Henderson, Nevada by Sarah Spoor. While taking care of her four young children, Sarah was introduced to the vintage lightweight carriers her parents had used to carry her. Sarah and her husband immediately recognized the amazing benefits of being able to carry their infants so easily and still take care of their other kids, cook, attend school activities and travel freely. Sarah thought if they could develop a lightweight carrier that was as simple as the old ones, using fashionable fabric, that it could be a great combination.
After the carriers came the other great accessories kokopax carries.

I have the Garden Style Tote Bag. It is a perfect sized bag that is the perfect un-diaper, diaper bag I have ever seen. The problem with many “we-are-cute-not-diaper-bag-looking-diaper-bags” is that while they are usually cute, they don’t function that well.
This tote is made from a nice thick canvas that you can tell is very durable. The handles are attractive with the silver rings and rests comfortably on your arm. The tote features an attachable mini-tote, three deep elastic pockets, one large zipper pocket, a convenient key fob and bottle/beverage compartment.
This tote is surprisingly light!

I love this tote for an un-diaper bag or for a trip to the beach, boat or a lunch out with the girls. This will last you until your baby is out of diapers- and beyond!

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I had the chance to review a great stroller from Baby Planet and I loved it as much as I loved the company. Baby Planet now has added something else to its resume besides great strollers, a bassinet. Not just any bassinet, the Eden is a convertible bassinet!

Bassinets tend to be pricey and the baby grows out of it within a few short months, the Eden bassinet converts to a toddler seat for extended use, up to two years! This bassinet has clean sleek lines and is beautifully modern, it will look good with any decor. The “Easy Release” hand grips have an internal trigger to release the bed from its latched position, on the base, allowing you to move it around the house! I love this idea because then you do not need a Moses basket or another bassinet downstairs.
It has soothing, peaceful music and dual speed vibration to help your baby soothe himself to sleep. Below the bed is an easily accessible storage basket to keep essentials like burp cloths diapers and wipes.

The Eden also takes part in Baby Planet’s industry leading Recycling Program. When it has outlived its life, Baby Planet will take it back and disassemble the bassinet, so the parts can go to recycling centers and stay out of land fills. So eco-friendly!
I love that this bassinet is useful after your baby grows out of it and that the bassinet materials are machine washable, which anyone with a baby knows is so important.
Check out the Eden for your next baby shower!

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I am always looking for cool new toys for my children. The baby doesn’t have very many *new* toys because he has his brother and sister’s old toys. When I see a new toy I have to have though, I tell everyone I know, because I am a smarter consumer now. I know what my kids are going to like and if it will “grow” with them.

Kushies has everything you can want for your baby and their toy line is fabulous! Kushies toys are colorful, playful and adorable- everything you and your child could want in a toy. They have toys for infants, babies and toddlers. From teethers to sensory toys and many are brand new to the line.

Their Magnetic Activity Garden is adorable! This unique garden window box doubles as a zippered carrying case for toddlers on the go! The many ways to play and succeed encourage independent play and build real life learning. My baby LOVES this toy and won’t stop playing with it as well as my twin 6 year olds! My son loves putting them into the zippered part and taking them out again and carrying it around by its handles. I love that it travels easily!
It is brightly colored and no detail is left undone.

All Kushies toys encourage explorative play, flexible thinking, dexterity, self-expression, self-confidence and independent play!
How cute are the zolo stacrobats? Or the photo album to go? Any one of these toys will be my next baby shower gift!

For my readers: order from Kushiesonline.com and get 10% off your next order with code rbg10 Happy shopping!

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I have recently come across great cotton burp cloths. Zebi baby has a great collection of 14×21 soft cotton burp cloths. They are not ordinary burp cloths, they are made with beautiful fabric patterns with a vintage feel. They are perfect for a boy or a girl or a picky mom.
The bucket of burpies I received came with three burpies in a 1 gallon reusable pail. Use the pail for a diaper caddy or for art supplies! We use our to house small baby toys and baby K loves to dump the toys out and put them all back in over and over.

Zebi baby also makes kerchief bibs with are so cute for any aspiring cowboy or cowgirl. They are made with the same great vintage fabric and are perfect for collecting all that drool without being so long that it hinders crawling. Use them instead of bibs for older children!
Also check out their bibs, diaper covers, pants, organic tees and mom and me matching aprons. My daughter and I have to get the matching aprons for all of our baking that we do. So cute!
If you are looking for something for your fur baby, you will love their chenille dog kerchiefs.

These are great gift ideas, new baby or shower gifts. I love my bucket of burpies and every mother knows you can never have enough burp cloths!

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There are some baby gear items that I would have loved to have when I had my twins. We had the swings, the vibrating seats, the boppy and the activity seats, all of which the babies loved. Of course there are new things coming out all the time and I feel like my Mom when I say “Wow, we had nothing like that!”

The Fisher Price soothing motions glider is one of those baby items. The first thing I noticed about this glider was that is so plush. It looks so comfortable for a new born baby. It has two reclining positions for baby one for new babies and one for older babies. It glides in two ways - side-to-side or front-to-back, which is amazing. The other thing I love about this seat is that it seems to be designed for Mom as much as baby, it rotates 360 degrees so the baby can always face mom and it has handles so you can carry baby from room to room.

This chair also has music and over head toys to stimulate baby. The pad is also machine washable which is a huge plus, babies are always dribbling or drooling. It is for newborns up to 25 pounds, but I am not really sure a baby over 20 pounds would fit into this glider. It has great reviews on Amazon.com and it is priced at about $170.00. It is not a must-have if you already own a baby seat and/or swing because you probably would not use it for very long, but it seems like a great baby item to have on a “wish list”.

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Ju-Ju-Be diaper bags are just as gorgeous as they are truly practical. Using the latest technology in anti-stick and anti-microbial coatings, these bags are treated so they clean up easily and fight germs! The great people at Ju-Ju-Be think of everything like light colored linings of the bags so you can quickly find your stuff.
There are even pockets with Thinsulate to keep your bottles and sippy cups cool. And with pockets galore, there is always room for your “stuff”.

The Be Prepared bag is THE bag to carry when you need to pack a lot. Perfect for an overnight bag, twins or you just like to be prepared (rim shot!) this is the bag for you.
The Be Spicy, great for all of the essentials. There’s a pocket for everything you can imagine and a comfortable shoulder strap. This bag also has crumb drains to get rid of all those crumbs that are always in the bottom of your bag!
I love my reversible Be Light diaper bag for quick trips out and days when I don’t want to lug a big bag around.
Both of these diaper bags come with stroller clips and with a memory foam changing pad that matches the bag. All hardware is customized metal and all bags have lots of cute details like fun jewels on the zipper pulls and stars on the labels. Ju-Ju-Be bags are machine washable.

There are a variety of different prints and solids to suit every taste, and even a few new patterns!

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When I had baby K, I was committed to breastfeeding. Although we had some issues at first, like him being tongue tied and my semi-inverted nipples (who knew?), we got along great. The real help was my breast pump! Now Evenflo has designed a new breast pump that is just what new moms need.

Evenflo is committed to helping moms do what’s best for baby, and that includes making breast pumping more convenient for every new mom. Evenflo has designed its new Comfort Select Performance Dual Auto-Cycling Breast Pump specifically with busy moms in mind. An occasional-use pump that has great features and a great price tag.
This pump is compact, and includes a variety of new and enhanced features like:
-Improved vacuum performance at all settings between min and max
- Regulated power adapter ensures consistency in performance.
- Dual motors for better production allowing individual settings.
- All components, including milk storage bottles are without BPA.
- More stable bottle stands to prevent possible spillage
(more…)

When you are pregnant for the first or fourth time, you know there is a lot of things you need for a baby. Infants 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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Just another case for breastfeeding all of our babies. Traces of a chemical used in rocket fuel were found in samples of powdered baby formula, and could exceed what’s considered a safe dose for adults if mixed with water also contaminated with the ingredient, a government study has found.

The study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked for the chemical, perchlorate, in various brands of powdered baby formula. The study was actually published last month, but the Environmental Working Group issued a press release yesterday to draw attention to it.
The chemical has also been found in several cities’ drinking water supplies. It can occur naturally, but most perchlorate contamination has been tied to defense and aerospace sites.

There is no studies right now that have shown the chemical caused health problems, but scientists have said significant amounts of perchlorate can affect thyroid function. Thyroid problems can be problematic if not treated and can impact fetal and infant brain development.
The government does require formula to contain iodine, which counteracts perchlorate’s effects.
The largest amounts of the chemical were in formulas derived from cow’s milk, the study said.

Melamine in formula, BPA ridden formula containers and now this. I think this is the best argument for breastfeeding your baby so (s)he doesn’t need any formula, I have ever seen.
Tell me if you give your baby formula, does this recent study concern you?

What can you do about it? Call your baby formula company and ask if perchlorate is in your formula, and ask what they are going to do about it.

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source: www.cdc.gov

If you are a regular reader of reviewingbabygear.com you know I love Baby Einstein products. I think they are well made, they have characters my children all love and capture their attention. Baby Einstein has just come out with a new DVD and CD: World Music.

Baby Einstein’s newest DVD offers a whole new musical beat that exposes babies to music from around the world. From African drums to Irish harps, music is explored through real world images and sounds collected around the globe and reorchestrated for baby’s eyes and ears!
Kevin loved this DVD and danced his way through it.

This DVD has two new features, Select-A-Segment and Grow With Me. With Select-A-Segment you can customize your experience with the DVD by selecting a 5 or 10 minute segment or just a compilation of the puppet shows. Grow With Me has two viewing modes to choose from. With Viewing Mode 1 you can enjoy engaging real-world visuals set to beautiful music. And my favorite addition to the Baby Einstein videos is Viewing Mode 2, where you can enhance your child’s viewing by introducing more language. The images and objects are shown and then emphasized with text and spoken language! Perfect for watching with your little one and going over the things he sees and either reinforcing the word or the baby sign for that word!

The Baby Einstein World Music DVD is available for purchase on March 31, 2009!

Thank you to Mom Central for giving me the chance to review this new family favorite!

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