This is not your typical crib bumper. Wonder Bumpers are individual, padded pieces of material that attach to each rung of the crib. They can be purchased in sets of 24 or 38 (MSRP $99-$159) or a 2 pack for around $10.
Seems like a safe option (as opposed to a traditional bumper pad) and there are many designs to choose from.
I was able to take a first-hand look and feel of the Wonder Bumpers and was pretty impressed with the quality.
I haven’t used them on our crib, as I don’t have a full set but if you have used them, I would love to hear your thoughts!
When the press release for Spa Baby came through in my email, I was instantly curious about this new way (new to me, anyway) of bathing a baby. I giggled at first and the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to experience it for myself. The timing was perfect, as baby Teagan had just made her arrival and I received the Spa Baby tub to try out.
The above photo is Teagan between 5 and 6 months old. I’m posting snapshots of her bath in our Spa Baby from a video that I had taken. I ultimately decided that I didn’t want to post the video of me bathing her. You can see a baby being bathed in a Spa Baby Tub on the Spa Baby website here if you would like.
I had mixed feelings about the tub, at first. I had trouble getting Teagan to settle into the tub. She was kicking her legs a lot and I had to wait for her to calm down a bit before washing her. When she finally did calm down, things went much more smoothly. I don’t believe that it’s because she didn’t “like” the tub, it’s that she’s not used to taking baths. It’s freezing here in the Midwest and I tend to do a lot more sponge bathing until the weather warms up.
The Spa Baby website has great tips that I highly recommend following if you have purchased or are planning on purchasing one of these European-style baby bath tubs.
My own tips would be to use a shampoo, conditioner and/or body wash from a pump. It’s much easier for you to hold on to the baby (if the baby is smaller and can slip around easier) and pump the wash into your hand. What I did was use body wash and squeeze a bit into the water before I put the baby in and I just used that to wash her up. As you can see, she doesn’t have much hair, so no need to go crazy with shampoo at this point.
Roll your sleeves up ahead of time or wear a short-sleeved shirt! As you can see from my photo, I had a long sleeve shirt on and mid-bath, tried to roll it up. It wasn’t all that easy because I was trying to hold on to the baby from slipping everywhere. You really have to get a good grip on the baby because they do slip around.
Wear a terry-cloth bathrobe or drape a towel over the front of you for when you’re ready to take the baby out of the tub (so you don’t get soaked and so you can quickly warm the baby). Have another towel ready to throw over the baby.
The tub is like a bucket, the sides are higher around the baby and so is the water, so you do need to be more hands-on with a tub like this than with your basic baby tub. Preparation is key.
Again, the Spa Baby website has excellent tips that you should read before bathing your baby in the tub.
Overall, I do like the Spa Baby tub. I like that it keeps her warmer than sitting up in standard baby bathtub. I think if you use it often enough, the baby really enjoys the bath and you become much more comfortable and in control. I do think this would make a really fun, unique shower gift for someone.
A great thing about this tub is that it’s made from a safe and non-toxic plastic (polypropylene). No polycarbonate, no bisphenol-A, and has no paint (per the Spa Baby website).
I have had the opportunity to try out a new product from The Natural Baby Company; GroBaby All Natural Baby Wipes and I happen to really like them.
I have used a handful of different brands of baby wipes over the past four years, so this comparison is quite easy. These wipes are very soft, with almost a satin-like feel to them. In my opinion, they have the perfect amount of moisture to clean baby’s bottom. I really feel like I’m “cleaning” her bottom. I guess that’s hard to describe but I just feel like she’s truly clean after I wipe her. Because of the softness and the solution on the wipes, I don’t feel like these wipes are irritating her skin. I suppose you’ll just have to use them yourself to see what I mean.
According to the description on The Natural Baby Company website, these wipes are made from Ingeo™ Fibers (a man-made fiber derived from 100% natural renewable resources). The reason these wipes are appealing to me is because I used all of the popular brand baby products with my first child and I promised myself that this time around, I would try to do better for the baby and for the environment. This is a step in the right direction.
GroBaby wipes are available online ($5.99 for a pack of 80 wipes) and at select retailers (hopefully there is a Whole Foods near you).
For more information on GroBaby products, check them out on Facebook and Twitter.
I’ve played with a lot of toys over the past four years and can honestly tell you that my favorite brand is LeapFrog. I really like the quality of their toys and I’m also very impressed by the technology they use in their products. Not to mention they are an extremely generous company.
We recently added the following LeapFrog products to our ever-growing collection:
Zippity is quite popular with my preschooler right now. It is very easy for her to grasp the concept of how this gaming system works. She gets to use her whole body, which is a plus because I swear, the kid never stops moving. I like it that she’s on her feet playing the game, rather than staring at the screen while sitting on the couch. This is an excellent gaming system for kids around the ages of 4 and up.
I am somewhat of a technology snob and pay attention to graphics. The graphics and animation of the games for this system are exceptional, in my opinion. I am pleased with the look and feel of Zippity. Good job on this one, LeapFrog!
Pictured above is My Pal Violet. Cute, cute, cute! We love this puppy. Once again, LeapFrog has outdone themselves with technology. Violet and Scout can be connected to your computer via USB cable and personalized. I’m not kidding, we walk around the house everyday singing the little tunes that come from this puppy. Violet says our baby’s name (which grabs her attention); she sings personalized songs (for instance, right now, Violet likes the color black and meatballs are her favorite food. For a while, it was bacon). I absolutely love that you can connect and change options any time you want. This is a stuffed animal that is worth having around.
I’ve been itching to use our Tag Junior with the baby. I can’t wait to see her chubby hands wrapped around this chubby reader. Even our preschooler enjoys the Tag Junior but ultimately, her favorite is the regular Tag reader and books. Tag Junior is less pen-like, compared to the regular Tag Reader. It is much easier for babies/toddlers to grasp in their little, uncoordinated hands. The board books are just the right size for the smaller hands, too.
(Picture of the girls using Tag Junior coming soon)
Before I close, I will also mention that LeapFrog has the technology to tell you what your child is doing/learning. It’s just a matter of connecting your LeapFrog products to your computer and checking out the LeapFrog Learning Path that gathers information from the activities your child does on his/her LeapFrog products and calculates their progress. This is a fantastic, educational tool.
As far as I’m concerned, LeapFrog is blowing their competition out of the water with their quality and technology. I love that I’m able to experience these learning products with my kids! They have been such a huge part of our lives. Thank you, LeapFrog, for taking the time to make products that will make a difference in a child’s life in the future.
If you’re scrambling for last minute gifts and maybe you can’t (or don’t want to) get out of the house to hit the stores, I think you should consider checking out the new and improved CafePress.
I am pleasantly surprised at the CafePress site revamp. It’s clean and much more pleasing to the eye. I don’t mind clicking around and checking out all of the fun designs and unique gift ideas. In my opinion, it’s a lot less generic than it used to be. They’ve definitely caught up with the times.
Here’s an excellent last-minute gift idea for you. Go to CafePress and create a customized ornament. I just created two ornaments (with a promo code that was graciously offered to me by CafePress) for someone very special in my life. I can’t wait until she opens them! I have a feeling there will be smiles and happy tears when she lays her eyes on them. I am really looking forward to checking them out, too. I don’t doubt the quality will be great, as I have seen other products from CafePress in the past.
Real quick, I’m just going to say that whatever it is that you want to customize, they’ve got it. Apparel, ornaments, Sigg bottles, stationery, etc. I’m happy that I’ve been reacquainted with this online store and I’m pleased to direct you their way.
Don’t pass up CafePress this holiday season. You may be surprised at what unique gifts you can come up with and the person you’re giving the gift to could quite possibly say that you’ve given them the “best gift ever”.
Aren’t they pretty? These glass bottles (MSRP 9 oz. bottle: $14.49) with colorful silicone covers are from Lifefactory (BPA, phthalate, and PVC free). We received one to try out with our newbie. I never used a glass bottle with our first child, so I was all about trying one out with our second. Honestly, we use the vent system bottles that we purchased but our Lifefactory bottle is in the rotation. As a matter of fact, when said second child is old enough to walk around and feed herself, we will most likely give her the glass bottle, as our other bottles tend to be a bit leaky. The silicone cover is nice for gripping and also protects the glass bottle.
We’re totally down with the Lifefactory Silicone Teether. It’s definitely my favorite. These teethers (MSRP $6.99) are BPA, phthalate, PVC, and latex free. You can freeze or refrigerate them. They are bendable and easy for baby to grip. Like I said, it’s my favorite. You can purchase them online or at a retailer near you. Here is a list of Lifefactory retailers
I think this company’s products are completely worth checking out.
We have a spunky, independent four year old daughter and now it’s fun to think about what products make her eyes sparkle. I’ve been paying close attention to the things that seem to interest her the most; drawing/coloring, gaming and imaginative play just to name a few.
Since it’s the gift-giving season, I’ve been compiling my list of gift ideas for my preschooler. Top on my list was an art desk, because she is always busy creating masterpieces with her markers and crayons. Guess where all of her drawing tools and artwork is? On our dining room table. So, when I was offered the Step2 Master Activity Desk (MSRP $80), you bet I jumped on the chance to check it out and talk about it.
I’m stoked. This art desk is the perfect solution for us. There is a place for all of her markers, crayons, paper and her precious artwork. Her very own space to imagine and create and I get my dining room table back. Perfect.
The desk also makes her feel “important”. I work from home and she watches me at my desk. Having her very own desk gives her a sense of importance and independence. Hopefully it will help keep her creative juices flowing. We may have a budding artist on our hands.
Next up is educational gaming. We’ve got a Leapster2 ($80) and she plays with it quite often. Her favorite game to play is Wall-E. We’re pretty huge LeapFrog fans here in this house. Excellent products. You’ll hear me talk about them more in an upcoming post.
We also have a tiny sprout who was born this past summer. She’s just discovering the world around her. She’s starting to enjoy looking at and playing with toys. We don’t have this exact product but we do have something similar that she loves to “talk” to. It is K’s Kids School Bus and Finger Puppets Set (MSRP $35).
It’s fun to put on the animal finger puppets that we have and entertain our five month old. If anything can get her to “talk”, it’s these finger puppets. I think I need to get the K’s Kids School Bus and Finger Puppets Set. I’m pretty sure she would dig it.
If you think your kid is pretty creative, or creative enough to win a year’s worth of free toys, you could consider entering the Imagination Nation Contest. 1st place price is free toys for a year (up to $2,400). The 2nd and 3rd place toys aren’t too shabby either.
So, what are you shopping for this gift-giving season?
We were given the Britax Parkway GS Booster Seat to try out this past summer. We have an ever-so-quickly growing 4 year old who more than meets the requirements to ride in a booster seat (just to make that clear). We asked our preschooler what she likes best about the Parkway booster and she said, “The pillows on the sides of my head”. I always ask her if she’s comfortable and her reply is always “yes”.
I feel like she is safe in this booster seat and that matters a lot (obviously). She’s comfortable, which is also great but she also looks secure in the backseat.
Also, if you’re in the market for an infant carrier; hopefully you also read my post about the Britax Chaperone travel system.
In closing, I just want to say that you can’t go wrong with Britax. The car seats are well worth the money. You can’t beat the safety features and the comfort of the seats. It’s obvious that this company takes kid’s safety in the car very seriously. I have a 4 year old and a 4-1/2 month old and if I had it to do all over again, I would go with Britax. Hands down. I’m not just saying that because they gave me seats to try out. The truth is, you need to make sure your kids are safe in the car and that’s not something to mess around with. If you’re going to spend money on a quality baby or kid product, Britax is definitely the way to go.
This is our new baby, Teagan Reese. She arrived on July 8th and we’ve been knee-deep in babydom ever since. After Teagan arrived, I anxiously awaited the arrival of our new travel collection from Britax, the Chaperone. The Chaperone infant carrier and stroller were sent to us for review by the company.
Even though the new travel collection was gifted to us, I could still say that I’m not happy with it if I truly wasn’t. But truth of the matter is, I can’t say that I don’t like it. I love it and highly recommend it and would have gladly purchased it myself.
Almost four years ago, we were given a hand-me-down infant carrier and stroller of another popular brand. I always complained how uncomfortable my then infant seemed to be in the seat and the stroller, although lightweight and compact, it wasn’t the greatest when it came to steering and rolling on surfaces. But enough about that.
Let’s talk more about the Chaperone. It’s a brand new product from Britax. What we have here is True Side Impact Protection. The infant seat is roomy enough and comfortable (at least it looks comfy). The car seat base has an Anti-Rebound Bar, which was introduced by Britax in 2004. All in all, I’m confident that this car seat is going to protect my little one in the unfortunate event we’re involved in an accident.
Here is the Chaperone stroller that is paired with the infant carrier. There wasn’t an instruction guide with the stroller but my husband was easily able to figure out the assembly and by watching the Chaperone video on the Britax site, I was able to figure out how the carrier works with it and how to fold and unfold it. (I spoke to a Britax rep via Twitter and they’re going to send me the instructions.)
I’m completely thrilled with the stroller. It’s ridiculously easy to push around, one or two-handed. It strolls gracefully over all surfaces (at least the store/pavement/cement/grass surfaces I’ve had it on so far). I could go on and on about the features but you can find all of that information on the Britax site. I’m just here to tell you that if you’re thinking about purchasing this travel system, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Well worth the money and they have a good deal going on right now, $100 off if you purchase the Chaperone infant carrier along with the Chaperone stroller. Not a bad deal at all.
Graco sent us the imonitor Vibe to try out with our new family member (who was born on 7/8/09). I’ve been pretty busy with said family member, hence the lack of updates lately.
So far, we’ve been really pleased with the sound quality of this monitor. I can’t believe that for three and a half years, we dealt with annoying static and occasionally picking up the cry of someone else’s child nearby. If that doesn’t freak you out, I don’t know what would.
Unless we have the washer or dryer running or someone is upstairs, we can’t even tell the monitor is on. Before Teagan arrived last month, we were using the imonitor vibe with our 3-1/2 year old. We could finally hear her sweet little voice with complete clarity. The monitor vibrates if you want it to and you can turn the volume completely down and still see if your baby or child is making noise by looking at the sound lights on the parent units.
We definitely recommend this monitor. We’re also fans of other Graco products, such as their playards and booster seats. In our opinion, you can’t go wrong with Graco products.
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