Oh diaper bags… a love hate relationship…

Oh diaper bags… I have a love-hate relationship with them. They carry all kinds of very useful things. They are the perfect excuse to hide snacks at all times of the day. But at the same time they are bulky and sometimes end up so stinking full you wonder if you’re actually leaving anything at home when you leave the house.

Not only that… but I have issues sometimes with the way they look…

Let’s be real for a second. When you have children it is awful hard to keep your swag going. Spit up on the shoulder, peanut butter smeared on your pants… shoot sometimes I feel lucky to have remembered to get dressed. Throw a diaper bag into that mix and my personal style and swag has completely gone out the window!!

How do I remedy this? I don’t use diaper bags as diaper bags… I use a bag that I love, a bag that represents me, a bag that I will feel excited about carrying around.

Now I know that diaper bags are made with specific pockets and waterproof linings. Shoot, I’ve seen bags with a special pocket that unzips into a changing pad! But when it really comes down to it, I personally don’t use that stuff. I take the essentials and that’s it. I want simple and something I love.

So here are the bags that I am currently LOVING and would be excited to carry around everyday as my diaper bag. Best part? All under $100! I’m all about spending less on a bag so I can switch it out for a new one in a few months…

1. Mad Pax
How adorable are these things? I actually have one of these… half size… perfect to be passed onto my little boy when he is ready for his own bag to carry around his treasures. I get the best compliments about this bag too… people are always trying to touch it or ask about it. Plus it is a super wonderful plaything for my ten month old. She loves the texture and spikes!

2. Ecote Geo Mini Backpack
Check out that texture! Love backpacks for diaper bags… they keep your hands free and can always be used for other things after their life as a diaper bag has ended!

3. Kanken
Oh the Kanken… I actually like to think of this as the PERFECT diaper bag! Made out of waterproof material, the front zips all the way down so you are able to easily find anything in the bag. They come in tons of different colors and have two different ways to carry it… handles or on the back! I adore my Kanken. Plus… I know it is going to last FOREVER!

4. Guatemala Tribal Print Backpack
Again with the patterns! Easy, small, bright backpack with a super easy opening… plus a thick textured, colorful fabric makes it super durable against the kiddie whirlwind!

5. Water Warz Tote
I’m completely in love with this pattern… and color… The silhouette is perfect to carry anything you might need. Super easy to stuff full of diapers, toys, blankets… you could probably fit any and everything in this gorgeous thing! Who wouldn’t want to be carrying this around?

6. Cereal Box Tote
Leather making it durable and soft… big to store just about anything… and a long strap to throw over your shoulder keeping your hands free without having to wear a backpack. Plus that price? Can you beat it??

7. Trip to Thailand Messenger Bag
So I know this isn’t so kid friendly but how can you beat that pattern and color? This is a bag that will stand out in a crowd. It is the type of bag people will be asking about… I’m completely in love with it.

8. Hudson Colorblock Handbag
The simplicity of this bag is beautiful. The colors make it super versatile. The leather keeps it durable. The strap makes it hands-free… what more could you ask for? Great price? Of course! This bag is basically just perfect for any wardrobe or style…

Be sure to come check out more of my fabulous opinions over here on my personal blog… Just Dawnelle. You know I’m always there and always LOVE to hear from you!! Because you guys are the best!

xoDawnelle

The Mini Social

Anyone else do most of their shopping online these days? I often wonder how moms of little ones used to shop when there were no computers/internet!

Do you have a favorite site to shop for your baby/kids? Today I want to introduce The Mini Social. Every weekday The Mini Social launches new sales for babies, kids and moms. Sales last for a limited time (typically 72 hours) and sell out quickly, so you have to act fast. Membership is absolutely free, and all you need is your name and email to access the site.

The Mini Social currently has one of my favorite brands, Little Society on sale! & remember Harpers cute easter outfit by Rayil? Well, Rayil is going on sale TODAY! So join now to get access to the best prices.

Happy Shopping!

Give a Personalized Blanket for a Baby Shower Gift

Hi Mamas! I’m just checking in this evening to chat about baby blankets, on behalf of Babyblankets.com.

How many baby blankets does your baby have? Does he/she have a favorite blanket? Is it made of fleece, cotton, muslin, cashmere, chenille, or my personal favorite baby blanket fabric, organic cotton? You can never have too many baby blankets, don’t you think? I remember when Harper was a baby I had a rotating stack of 6 blankets. I’d often go through two or three blankets each day. She spit up on them or they’d get dirty while running errands. When I’d get behind on laundry I still (thankfully) had a few blankets left in the linen closet. How often do you wash your baby’s blanket?

Because you can never have too many, baby blankets make fabulous baby shower gifts! If you are in the mood to browse, check out BabyBlankets.com. They have a huge variety of baby blanket brands including patterned blankets, high-quality personalized baby blankets for boys & girls including the popular personalized fleece baby blanket. They also carry a great selection of swaddle blankets, receiving blankets, and even sleep sacks. I’ve put together a collection of my personal favorites including some of Babyblanket.com’s best selling baby blankets.

Want to know a little more about Babyblankets.com? Read on… (more…)

The Perfect Nursery Rocker

I am expecting my first baby this fall and I am researching everything!  There are so many products and things you need, it can be kind of overwhelming.  As an interior designer, I am very picky about one thing in particular the nursery rocker!   It may sound silly but I feel like I will be spending numerous hours feeding and rocking this precious newborn to sleep.  So I have done some research on not only comfortable rockers but well designed rockers to share with you today.

1. Mid Century Rocker

2. Stanyan Glider

3. Vintage Rocker

4. Savoy Glider

5. Shay Swivel Glider

6. Kennedy Rocker

Secure Beginnings Heaven Sent Sleep Surface

I had so much fun researching baby products while I was pregnant, and am having even more fun these days trying them all out with Daniela.   I picked a crib mattress (actually not a mattress, but a ‘sleep surface’) that I was really excited about, but it wasn’t until this past week, when she got evicted from her Rock ‘N Play sleeper and her swing, that it got much use.

So now I can finally fully review the Secure Beginnings sleep surface, and I absolutely love it! First of all, I love any product that replaces several, and this replaces a mattress, mattress pad, sheet set, and bumper.  It’s also the safest sleep surface option out there, backed by tons of research.  It is completely breathable, made of a trampoline like mesh that suspends baby over a bed of air.  This reduces the potential for babies to breathe in carbon dioxide, and regulates body temperature because air is constantly circulating around them (both are risk factors for SIDS and each of the companies founders were personally affected by SIDS).  Even if they wind up on their stomach, babies can breathe freely through the surface – I tested it myself and could still breathe no matter how firmly I pushed my face against the surface. (The bolster in these pics doesn’t stay in there with her, of course – it was just there for the photo ; )

The sleep surface also addresses a lot of other shortcomings of other crib mattresses.  It’s extremely hygenic as the whole thing is easily machine washable, and if a diaper leaks or the baby spits up, the liquid doesn’t soak into the surface but is simply collected in the base below, which is easy to wipe up.

The fabric is not made with toxic chemicals either.  There is tons of info about the non-toxic materials and all of the eco friendly practices the company has employed here and here.

Another plus is that because the fabric gives under their bodies and conforms to them, babies are at far less risk of developing flat spots on their heads.

The surfaces come in fabulous colors, and you pair them with a hardwood maple base.  They make some very cool, modern looking combinations.  We have the sleep surface in Fuschia, and the circle base in white. 

Last but not least, they are made in America, which is a nice bonus as far as I’m concerned.

TOP DIAPER BAGS YOU SHOULD BE WEARING, RIGHT NOW!

I’m not a traditional diaper bag gal. I don’t want to run around town with something that screams I have kids any more than I want spit up on my shoulder. Somethings are beyond our control – insert spit up covered shoulder here – and others are 100% with-in our control. And thank heaven for that!

When I found out I was pregnant with the twins one of the things that worried me was finding the diaper bag. It had to be big enough to carry diapers and items for three kids plus meet my style requirements, and I am super picky. So when I found this bag I knew it was a match made in heaven!

These are my top picks for stylish diaper bags, right now.

 1 // 2 // 3 // 4

happy shopping!
just love // kelly

TOP 6 BABY TOYS / 6 MONTHS AND UNDER

It’s sometimes hard knowing what to buy for that new baby. Beside the obvious, clothes, blankets and more adorable clothes. What else do they need?

We had friends visit us over the holidays who were in this same predicament. Without knowing what size our twins were currently wearing they were faced with the dreaded question. What do you get a 4 month old baby?

They took some sound advice from a mama friend and ended up bringing us our now fave toys – a taggie and a rattle blanket – which have become my go-to toys when I’m heading out the door. As long as I have a taggie, a rattle and a sock monkey I know my babies will be happy little chunker-oos.

What are your infant’s fave toys?

1. // Squishy blocks
2. // O-ball Rattle
3. // Taggie Cube
4. // Rattle blanket
5. // Baby Sock Monkey
6. // Crocheted Giraffe

xoxo
kelly

Are we connected?

THE MOM OF MULTIPLES ULTIMATE SURVIVAL GUIDE

Hi, I’m Kelly. Mom to buddy roo + two, designer, project manager & blogger at Westover Manor. Where I share my style, show off my little ones and talk a bit about life and design.

We didn’t go all out with Quinn, our oldest, and baby toys. We had one bouncer seat and one play mat. Plus a small smattering of various tactile toys and plushies. That was basically it, and that was all we needed. He was super active and determined.
Crawling at 4 months, even though he couldn’t sit-up yet. He would literally prop himself up on his arm when he stopped for a break. Walking at 9 months and into, onto and around everything. He was happy with a stroller walk and a few crackers and I loved being able to keep active.

But it is 100% different now having twins. Not only twins, but twins plus Quinn.
I no longer have plenty of time to spend bathing my little bundle or nursing or anything really.
Everything is done at warp speed in multiples with little to no mom time and smaller doses of one on one mom and baby time.

My time is spend much more intentionally.
The best piece of advice I was given before the twins came was to make a schedule and stick to it.
Well, I want to amend that advice before I pass it along to you.
I would say make a schedule that works for you and then stick to the schedule that works for your babies.
I had this very romanticized vision in my mind that I would have them on identical schedules and it would revolutionize our lives. We would simply do every twice all at once and then have plenty of ‘extra’ time to do other things.
Well reality is dish best served cold. And my reality came with some frozen ice chunks and that nasty freezer burn smell.
So after I got over my romantic notion I quickly came to realize that the twins were really good at telling me what they needed as long as I was willing to listen. And the result is a perfectly off-set schedule that bounces back and forth between the two as needed.

For example, Rhys – our twin boy – was always the first one to wake up in the morning. I would get him up, fed and changed and then Avery – our twin girl – would wake up and I would repeat the process. But recently they’ve switched schedules. Now, Avery wakes up first and Rhys is second.

Whatever schedule you end up on strap in, gear up and enjoy the ride. ‘Cuz its a wild one!
Here are a few items that help us survive…

1. A vibrating chair – There were literally nights that one or both of our twins slept in their little lamb chairs. They are simply the best for quick naps, long naps, feeding swaps or a mom moment.
2. A really good nursing pillow – I used the EZ Nurser pillow and loved it. The lumbar support and the strap keep this bad boy in place so you can focus on the babies and not worry about the pillow shifting. It was too large for the small hospital rocking chairs, but it was my BFF when the twins came home.

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Aden + Anais

Still shopping? GOOD! I have a few more suggestions for the littlest member of your family. Baby may be too little to have a Christmas toy list, but will really appreciate these things that will keep him cozy and comfortable during his first year in the world!

* Bamboo Swaddles & Bamboo Crib Sheets are made of silky rayon from bamboo fiber muslin. Keep baby cozy all winter with something that is soft on his/her skin. (you can use the swaddles as lightweight blankets & keep one in your diaper bag too!)

* The Serenity Star is the all in one nursery accessory. It’s the first system to combine an electronic feeding diary, room temperature indicator, sound machine, nightlight and clock—all in one. Simplify baby’s room with just one pretty white star that does it all!

* The mum + bub™ skin care line is gentle enough for baby, yet sophisticated enough for you. mum + bub™ is infused with fresh, fermented pawpaw fruit which is known in Australia to relieve, cleanse, and protect that baby soft skin!

It is also free of the following:
phytoestrogen + parabens + added hormone disrupters + petroleum oils + phthalates + dioxanes from sulfates + gluten and soy + petrochemicals + DEA + artificial colors

HAPPY SHOPPING

My favorite non baby products for baby

Mr. Floret Cadet and I have discovered lots of great baby products since having Daniela (more blog posts on some of those to follow) – but some products that aren’t intended for babies have also turned out to be lifesavers for us.  Here are a few of them!

#1 – Homedics Soundspa Alarm Clock with Projector – This is a cheesy alarm clock that I bought at Bed, Bath and Beyond years ago on a whim and it hadn’t seen the light of day in our house, until Daniela was born.  What makes it so great now is first the variety of white noise settings- from ocean to rain to crickets. She’s sleeping in our room, and these sounds are far more pleasing to me than the Sleep Sheep or other white noise makers geared specifically towards babies (*what* is up with that terrifying, evil sounding “heartbeat” setting on the Sleep Sheep?!)  They can also stay on all night vs being on a timer.  I also love the projector feature.  New parents wake up every time the baby grunts or stirs, and it’s so nice not to have to roll over or strain to see what time it is.  I can open my eyes for just a second any time, and the time is projected onto the ceiling- I stay almost fully asleep and still have some grasp over what time it is and how long until the next feeding.  Also, the projection casts just enough light into the room that I can feed her without turning on any additional light.  It’s not a distraction for sleeping and is a pleasant blue color.

#2 –  Boppy Pregnancy Wedge- This is a pregnancy product, intended to prop up pregnant bellies while side sleeping at night, but I’ve used it more since having her than I did when I was pregnant I think! I use it to prop up my elbow when I breastfeed her in the cradle position, and since I have overactive letdown issues with feeding, I also use it to prop her up and angle her body on top of the My Breast Friend pillow, so she can better control the flow.  It’s also the perfect size, shape and firmness to use under her for Tummy Time, and makes a cute photo prop when she’s holding her head up off of it.

#3- I have always loved these little liquid dispenser bottles at Sephora, and was excited to find them online.  I ordered one for each diaper station.  When you first come home from the hospital, you are supposed to just use gauze wipes with water for the first few weeks.  We are also cloth diapering and using cloth wipes, so I am continuing to use these indefinitely to wet my wipes, either with solution or just water.  But even just for the first few weeks, I would much prefer to use one of these to dispense water than to keep an open dish of water that could get kicked over at the changing station.

#4 – Clip on reading light – We have one of these clipped onto our bedroom changing station, so that whoever changes her doesn’t have to turn on a full bedside lamp and wake her or the other adult up during midnight changings.  It’s working out well- the light stays very localized.

#5 – This is the furthest removed from a baby product, but it’s still saving my life.  Why? It’s a soft indoor version of the famous Chuck It dog toys, and I can use it to entertain our extremely high spirited dog while nursing or holding the baby – the handle is long enough for me to reach the toy on the ground and not have to bend over to pick it up, and I never touch the toy, so I don’t have to constantly sanitize my hands in between dog time and baby time.

Oh and also – it’s not a product but a service, so not listed here, but Amazon Prime has been the biggest life saver of all! In the first 2 weeks of her life I think we placed at least one and usually two orders per day.  It was so nice to get things so quickly, not have to rack our brains for $25 worth of stuff to order so we could get free shipping, and to not have to try to get one of us out to the (germ infested) baby store during those early weeks!

Until next time…

Mini Piccolini: In My Diaper Bag

Since I last shared the contents of my diaper bag (and stroller), we’ve added another mini (and with him, a ton of baby stuff) to our little family, and Little A has started nursery school and isn’t out and about with me in the same way as before. We’ve also switched from our old single stroller to our new double stroller. So our set-up has changed a little.

Here’s what I’m carrying around these days (two children, 23 and 3,5 months old):

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Holiday Gift Guide Sneak Peek + a Big Giveaway!

Hi there! I’m Lauren from A Lovely Lark and I’m guest posting for Shari while she’s on her road trip. I thought it would be fun to share one of my gift guides here on Spearmint Baby with all of you today. I’ll be posting one or two gift guides each day up until Thanksgiving over on my blog, A Lovely Lark. Here’s an exclusive sneak peek of one that I’ll be posting later today for the babes:

 

Li’l helper

One of my favorite parts about blogging is checking the mail. Product samples arrive often, especially this time of year!

Last week I received this new product, the Li’l helper. It is a baby bottle holder designed to help parents during feeding time. It comes in both pink & blue, fits most bottle sizes, is dishwasher safe, and is BPA-free. The shape is kind of like a toy so it is also supposed to keeps infants entertained. It sounds awesome to me- I wish they would have had this when my kids were little!

& even if you do not plan on bottle feeding, you may still be interested. The Li’l helper was designed to fit a baby’s natural gripping tendency, making it simple for them to hold themselves and aid in child development.

Gilt Picks

Some of my picks from GILT baby & kids today. oooh, I love that blouse in the lower right corner!

Mini Piccolini’s DIY Personalized Stroller Bunting

Our new Little Baby L is such an awake and aware little boy. When he’s not sleeping he always seems to be intently focused on something or smiling and laughing and trying to get our attention and he’s especially into his mobile at home.

During our long walk the other day, Louis was quite awake for awhile and I felt bad that he was just staring into the roof of the black sun shade. So I decided to make him something to look at. We ended up with a personalized stroller bunting – little flags with his name.

As I’ve said before, I’m obsessed with bunting right now. So I got some felt scraps, ribbon and fabric glue out and made some bunting for the stroller. Here’s how it turned out!

For more fun DIYs, click here.

Click here to visit Mini Piccolini - all the best stuff for Moms, Babies, Kids & Families!

Win a SUPPORi Baby Sling on Here Comes Baby!

We have five SUPPORI Baby Slings to

give away!

Our Suppori Baby Sling review is below to share with Speamint Baby readers. If you would like to win the baby sling then not pop on over to Here Comes Baby Blog to enter to win a SUPPORi baby sling.

Here Comes Baby was asked by Lucky Baby, Japan, to review their innovative and award winning SUPPORI baby sling and of course we were super excited! So we thought we give it to a family to try for the week to give us their honest thoughts and opinions of the baby sling. Lucky Baby recently showcased their baby sling at Playtime 2011 in Paris and walked away with the show award so we want to discover why this baby sling is getting so much attention.

When the SUPPORi baby sling arrived it was packaged so tiny that we wondered how something so small could provide enough support for you and your baby, but it wasn’t long till we were completely won over. The sling feels and looks high quality, the range of colours is brilliant – there is certainly something for everyone including the dads. When you put it on it is comfortable and looks and feels good for your baby too. It is not designed for wearing for a long time but it is definitely handy for situations where you need to be able to quickly carry your baby and have your hands free, for example getting the food shopping, picking up your other children from school… The only negative we could find is that if you and your partner are differing heights then you will have to buy two SUPPORi baby slings. But with the price and colour range you will probably want a colour each anyway!

We love:

• the range of colours – with dad friendly colours too!
• so small that it can be carried in your bag for any occasion
• easy to use & convenient
• machine washable at 40°
• price £34 to £44 (depends on size)

Things to consider:

• Sizing for differing heights and chest size
• Baby must be able to sit unsupported, up to 13 kg.
• One shoulder design

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Halloween Costume: Minnie Mouse

Have you decided what you or your little ones are going to be for Halloween? I’m more excited about Halloween this year than any other year in the past because I have my little girl to play dress-up 

This Minnie costume is not for my daughter, but I borrowed it for the sake of taking the photos. I made this for my friend’s daughter. She has a tradition of going to the Tokyo Disney Land with her daughter every fall, and dresses her daughter with a little Minnie mouse costume. Last year I made this dress for her. This year, she sent me her sketch, so I made a dress based on it. Her sketch has a white round collar, big polkadot baby doll dress with puff sleeves and tutu underneath of the dress to fluff it up.

I didn’t use any patterns; I traced an existing dress that fits Kiko well and added a bit more room and seam allowances. For round collar though, I did make a paper pattern so that they fit accurately. I like this tutorial on how to draft round collar patterns.

My friend emailed me that her daughter loved the dress. I’m thrilled!

~ Chie  {find me elsewhere: blog, shop, facebook, etsy, twitter}

Mini Piccolini: Shopping for Baby #2

Baby #2′s arrival is nearing and we are starting to feel ready. I thought we wouldn’t really need much new stuff this time around since we had our minis so close together, but there were a few things we did have to refresh. And some things we ended up selling when we moved from Atlanta and they have to replaced now that we are back in Europe…

Here’s what we’ve got:

CLOTHES, SLEEP & CARE

1. BABY CLOTHES. We have everything we need. We stocked up on a bunch of Gerber’s fabulous side-snap long-sleeved shirts that we loved so much for Alec, and his old ones have held up remarkably well and are actually even softer and more lovely now. We replaced Alec’s old Halo Sleepsack Swaddles with new sets in cotton, velboa and fleece. We have added a couple of colder climate essentials like this Polarn o. Pyret fleece newborn overall/wrap blanket and this wind fleece baby overall. Even though this baby will be a summer arrival, evenings can get chilly in Sweden, and autumn will be here before we know it.

2. WUBBANUB PACIFIERS. Alec still loves his Wubbanub pacifiers even though we are trying to get him to use more teeth-friendly pacifiers instead. The other day he actually chewed through one of the nipples so we need to do something fast. We’ve ordered a couple of giraffe wubbanubs for the new baby but this time we’ll try to transition onto a more tooth-friendly pacifier at around the six month mark.

3. SOPHIE. Alec doesn’t really use his Sophie anymore but we’re still going to get a new one for the new baby since it was such a constant must-have for those first eight or nine months or so.

4. CRIB MOBILE. I’m DIYing this one – stay tuned!

5. SLEEP SHEEP. We have a Sleep Sheep and a Mini Sleep Sheep (for travel) that we still use for all of Alec’s sleep (except in the stroller) every single day. At first I thought we would just use the Mini Sleep Sheep for the new baby, but I think we’ll get a proper new one for the crib so that we have the mini one easily available to pack for trips. Who knows, maybe we’ll need a second mini sleep sheep as well if our kids end up sleeping in separate rooms when we’re in the country etc.

6. BABY BATH TUB. We had a simple baby tub with a sling which we found so useful for newborn baths with Alec. Then we switched over to a Hoppop toddler tub which we loved. It got damaged in shipping to Sweden and now we don’t have a little tub at all. Hoppop also makes a bucket-style tub for babies, but I have a hard time seeing how it would work for a newborn. Since we couldn’t find a good sling option and are trying to find things that don’t take up too much space, we ended up buying the very cool Boon Inc. Naked tub. Read more here.

7. CRIB. We chose the IKEA Sundvik. You can see all the options we considered here and why we chose the Sundvik here.

8. BABY MONITOR. We had an Angelcare baby monitor for Alec in Atlanta and I loved the peace of mind that it gave me to know that an alarm would sound if he stopped breathing. I realize it’s a little over-zealous, but until we got it set up, I just could not relax about Alec sleeping in his crib. So it was a must for us. Once he started rolling off the sensor causing false alarms, we just stopped using the movement alarm, but it was still a great baby monitor. We sold it because we didn’t want to deal with voltage adapters etc (and actually don’t need a sound monitor in our old, thin-walled flat in Stockholm) when we moved back to Sweden. But we ordered We bought another Angelcare for the new baby too and now they make one that has video as well! Yay!

9. SIBLINGS WITHOUT RIVALRY. This is the one new parenting book I will be reading specifically in preparation for the new addition to the family.

STROLLERS, GEAR & FEEDING

1. DOUBLE STROLLER. We just picked up our new Bugaboo Donkey. See why we chose it here, and what we got in terms of accessories etc. here.

2. HIGH CHAIR WITH NEWBORN SET. Since we’ll need another Tripp Trapp for the new baby when it’s time to start solids, we decided to just buy one now and use it with a newborn set for the first months. This will provide a safe place for baby to hang out when I have stuff going on in the kitchen, and will also allow our new addition to join in family meals from the start.

3. BREAST PUMP. We also sold the Medela Pump in Style Advanced breast pump that I used in Atlanta. It worked well for me so I wanted another one of the same. Medela seems to be phasing out the Pump In Style in favor of a (more expensive) pump called Freestyle but it seems to be getting mixed reviews, and since the Pump in Style worked for me, I was quick to order one of the Pump in Styles that were still available on Amazon.

4. PUMP & BOTTLE PARTS. Most pump and bottle parts shouldn’t be re-used, so we’re getting new bottle nipples and extra sets of valves etc for the new breast pump.

5. DRYING RACK. The Boon Inc. drying rack that we already have seems always to be full so we got another one for Baby #2′s pump and bottle parts.

6. CAR MIRROR. We still have Alec’s infant car seat that we’ll be re-using for the new baby. We just a need a second EasyView mirror so that we can see the little one in the back seat from the front seat.

7. PLAY MAT. We had two for Alec – a Baby Einstein Baby Neptune one which we kept tucked away in the nursery because I thought it was too ugly, and a cute IKEA one. At the moment we’re using the bottom padded mat of the IKEA one as a play mat in Alec’s room (tucked into a SWOOP bag) so we bought a new one from IKEA for the new baby. The ones they have now have a circus theme and a really plushy soft play mat which is nice.

8. BABY CARRIER. We have the BabyBjörn Original Organic Baby Carrier that we used for Alec but it’s not one of the things we got a ton of use out of last time around. I found it a little too bouncy to use a whole lot with Alec while he was really little. And then by the time he really felt stable enough for us to take walks with it, it was quite heavy to carry. Admittedly it was indispensable when we travelled and for a hike we did once. I think we will be doing more baby-wearing this time around – just because we will need more hands-free carrying since we’ll have our hands full with Alec, and because we live a much more urban lifestyle in Stockholm than we did in Atlanta. We won’t be driving much, but we will be managing the logistics of a teeny tiny elevator and inner city living. So we bought a Dreamy Dot sling/carrier hybrid to start and will probably be considering an Ergo carrier in the future.

9. TRAVEL CRIB. We love the BabyBjörn Travel Cot that we have for Alec. For any travel we do the first few months, we can just use the stroller bassinet and/or a baby nest, but after that, we’ll need a second travel cot for the new baby if Alec isn’t really be done with his yet.

10. TRAVEL STROLLER. We keep a Baby Jogger City Mini in the trunk of our car so we don’t have to lift our main stroller in and out of the trunk unnecessarily. We also use the City Mini for travel since it’s so easy to fold and carry and so we don’t have to worry about travel damage to our main stroller (read about our city mini and how we like it here). With two babies, I think we will end up using a carrier a lot more for the little one and probably make do with our single City Mini for shorter outings. But for travel, we think we’ll probably end up buying a City Mini Double Stroller in the end.

Click here to visit Mini Piccolini - all the best stuff for Moms, Babies, Kids & Families!

Stuck on You

With the school season approaching, the folks over at Stuck on You sent Harper a fabulous package of personalized stuff. A few of her new things include a “Harper” puzzle, a personalized height chart for her room, & a new workbook (which she LOVES)! Isn’t it fun to have stuff with your name on it?

Stuck on You has a fabulous selection of labels & personalized school supplies. Be sure to follow them on Facebook & Twitter for details about new products & promotions.

Mini Piccolini: In My Diaper Bag

Baby #2 is due to arrive in a few weeks so so many things are going to be changing around here. Next week we pick up our double stroller and soon it will be time to reorganize my diaper bag to suit two little ones. But for now I’m only carrying what I need for Little A, who is now just past 18 months old.

Here is what is in my diaper bag right now:

1. Diaper Bag. Kate by MZ Wallace. I’ve raved about it here.
2. JJ Cole Stroller Clips. These sit on the handle bars of our stroller and I just clip my diaper bag on and off.
3. Changing Pad. I use the one that came with my bag.
4. Diaper Cream. I like Desitin‘s creams and tend to carry one of their maximum strength ones in my diaper bag.
5. Diapers. I usually just carry three Pampers Cruisers/Active Fit Diapers. It’s overkill since we rarely even need to change diapers when we’re out and about lately, and almost never need to change more than once.
6. Wet Ones Antibacterial Wipes. Especially convenient for changes on the go. I like to use one before and one after each diaper change.
7. Baby Wipes. We use Natusan. I like that they are mild enough to use on Little A’s hands and face as well.
8. Boogie Wipes. I’ve raved about them earlier here. I hope we are at the end of this year’s cold season, but until now they have been very good to carry along.
9. Pacifier. We haven’t succeeded in transitioning Alec from his Wubbanub pacifiers to a more age-appropriate/tooth-friendly pacifier, so I usually have one of his little monkeys in my bag.
10. Take & Toss spoons. Spoons are good to have and I like that it doesn’t matter if these don’t make it home with us.
11. Snack Trap and Snacks. Usually Alec has cheerios and oat cereal in his Munchkin Snack Catcher.
12. Snacks for Mum. I try to keep a little bag of nuts/dried fruit (the snack pouches you can get at Trader Joe’s are perfect) or a bar in case of emergency munchies. I love the Two Degrees bars since every bar bought also means a meal goes to someone who needs it badly.
13. Fruit. Alec and I usually share an apple on the way home from the park and a banana is such a great go-to snack if we miss a proper meal at home.
14. Squeezies. We mostly use Ella’s Kitchen right now. I like the squeezies that are mixed veggies and fruit and sometimes give Alec one of those with something else as a snack on the go.
15. Water in a Sippy Cup.
16. A Pashmina Sjal. I keep one rolled up in one of the side pockets as a stroller cover or extra cover-up/blanket for Little A or me.
17. Sunglasses. For Mum and Baby.
18. Mobile Phone. I have a Sony Xperia Arc S with a huge touch screen and all the fixings that I LOVE.
19. Wallet and Spare Change for Coffee. At our wonderful playground you can actually buy coffee, fruit, yogurt and other snacks for kids and parents.

I also keep a nylon bag in the bottom “basket” of our stroller, full of “back-up” stuff that is often good to have when we’re out and about but that I don’t need to drag up and down to our apartment with me every time (our stroller lives in the stroller room in the foyer of our building). Here is what is in that bag right now:

1. Bag. Longchamp. I have a million of these and always bring one along when we travel since you can fold them up so they take no space at all and then bring them out if you over-shop. Which happens.
2. Blankets. A sun cover by ROSK, muslin swaddling blankets by Aden & Anais, and a thicker cotton blanket from Polarn O. Pyret.
3. Sun screen. I am kind of a maniac about sun protection. We are using Neutrogena Pure & Free right now. I keep a tube of it by the changing table so that we can slather it on before we go out and then I keep a stick in our parent console on the stroller for touch-ups.
4. An assortment of hats. Usually from Polarn O. Pyret. Again, I am pretty obsessed with sun protection so Alec is pretty much always wearing a hat when we are outside. Either to keep him warm if there is a chill, or to protect him from the sun.
5. Shopping Cart/High Chair Cover. We have one from Balboa Baby. We don’t use it a ton, but every time we do, I am so glad that we have it.
6. Rain Pants & Rubber Boots. As I mentioned here, Swedish weather isn’t always the best, but children play outside daily regardless. We keep these fabulous rain pants and a pair of rubber boots in our stroller in case of wet mucky weather. If the sandbox is more of a mud bath, we just pull these over Alec’s pants and jacket and everything and then pull them off again when we’ve finished playing. Fab!
7. Snack Pack. I keep a Smitten Baby Wet Tote packed with back-up snacks, pre-mixed “välling“, a bottle, some take and toss spoons and a sippy, a few squeezies, cereal and a snack trap, and a bottle of water. Just in case.
8. Bucket and spade. Our playground at the park is actually staffed (two full time positions, 9-5, seven days a week!) so there are buckets and spades and a ton of other toys available all day long. But sometimes we end up staying past 5 when everything is removed and Alec usually throws a fit when “his” bucket is taken away. So we keep a back-up set in the stroller.
9. Change of clothes. It’s a given with babies that the one time you are not carrying a back-up change of clothes, that is the time your baby will puke all over himself or your toddler will beat you to the mud puddle. I don’t think we’ve almost ever had to use our emergency change, but I always carry it anyway.

What’s in your diaper bag?

Choosing a Double Stroller was an adventure – click here to read all about it!

Click here to visit Mini Piccolini - all the best stuff for Moms, Babies, Kids & Families!

Mini Piccolini: Dreamy Twin Nursery

Randal is one of the moms from my wonderful moms group in Atlanta. A few months ago she shared her and Charlotte and North’s favourite things on Mini Piccolini and today I am so happy that Randal has agreed to share Charlotte & North’s lovely nursery.

Here, in Randal’s own words, are some of the fabulous details of her twins’ fabulous nursery:

Since we have boy and girl twins, we wanted a very neutral theme to our nursery – mostly white and grey with some pink and blue accents. We love the wall color because it is very calming, and I think gives the room a restful feeling.  

The room gets lots of light from the windows, so we have black out shades that we can pull down for nap time. I like the sheer linen curtains during the day because they let light in but still give us some privacy.

For more pictures and all the details of Charlotte & Norths’ lovely nursery, click here.

I have nurseries on my mind right now as I am scrambling to put together a soothing but playful space for Baby #2 – follow developments here.

Mini Piccolini’s Carry-On Packing List for a Toddler

Summer is here (although you wouldn’t know it by the awful weather we have here in Sweden) and for many of us, that means travel. We have done quite a bit of traveling with Little A during his first 18 months. He is a great little traveler and I think we have the routine down to an art by now. Recently I compiled our best tips for traveling with little ones, and one of them is to have a Master Packing List to go back to trip after trip.

This packing list covers everything you need for a toddler (Alec is 18 months old, but with a couple of small adjustments it should work for small children of any age) on a train, flight or car. This is the carry-on list. For complete packing lists, click here.

1. Diaper Bag & Extra Carry-on. It’s not possible to fit everything we need for a flight (including back-up changes of clothes etc that we don’t expect to ever have to use) in my regular diaper bag, so I’ll bring an extra bag for the overflow.
2. Blankets. I’ll bring one heavier cotton blanket and a light but very warm cashmere baby blanket. I also always have a pashmina in my diaper bag for an easy cover-up if it’s chilly.
3. A Change of Clothes. A top-to-toe change of clothes just in case. If I’m really smart, I’ll pack a change (at least a top) for myself and my husband as well.
4. A Light Hat. Flights can be cold!
5. Bottles and Pre-mixed “Välling“. I like to give Alec a bottle at take-off and landing (if he’s not sleeping) to help him to balance the pressure changes. Using a slow-flow nipple is a great way to stretch out the time it takes to finish off a bottle so you can keep your little one sucking throughout an entire take-off or landing. Uniquely Swedish (and Finnish, apparently). Swedish children have välling from around six months until they are a few years old. There are varieties made of corn, oats, rye, rice etc. It’s sort of a cross between formula and cereal and this is what Alec has in his bottle three times a day.
6. Sippy Cup for Water
7. Snack Trap. With Cheerios and raisins.
8. Baby Food Squeezies and Spoons
9. Baby Pain Killer. Our doctor recommended giving a dose before boarding and another before landing since Alec has had a bad cold recently.
10. Changing Kit. What I normally carry in my diaper bag should be enough. Diapers, wipes, a disposable changing pad to cover the regular one, plastic bags for dirty diapers, diaper cream, antibacterial wipes for parents.
11. Toys and Books. This includes the iPad with kid apps. Two board books (Alec is quite happy to read the same book over and over again so no need to drag along too many of them). Baby Einstein music toy.

Check out Mini Piccolini’s favourite things for travel here!

Click here to visit Mini Piccolini – all the best stuff for Moms, Babies, Kids & Families!

Seeing Spots!

You’ve probably noticed that polka dots are a huge fashion trend this fall. (In fact, I mentioned it here.)

But this fun pattern is not just for wearing! Polka dots are showing up in party supplies, dishes, decor – even diaper covers! Find all the cheerful finds I’ve “spottted” over at Houzz.

Taking Back Mealtime

The most stressful part of my day? Mealtime. Whether it’s coaxing my 4-year-old to eat something or teaching my 18-month-old to stop throwing food on the floor, dinner often feels like a circus. Remind me why we have to do this 3 – sometimes 4 – times a day?

But I’ve found that having the right tools can make things much easier. I’m sharing my mealtime essentials for home or on the go at Houzz. Check it out here!

Bitsy Bags

When my children were babies I spent so much time trying to get them swaddled just right. But somehow they always managed to undo all of my hard work! I have to admit, I really don’t think that all babies enjoy being swaddled (especially as they get older!) I would have loved a wearable, secure sleep sack option that gave them some freedom to move.

How do you keep your baby snuggly and warm when blankets are a suffocation risk?

I wish I had known about the Bitsy Bag. They keep your baby cozy & warm, yet your little girl/guy can still kick, move, & even sit up during the day!

P.S. I LOVE the baby blue jumbo polka dots – wouldn’t it be so cute to photograph baby in this during your hospital stay?

Fall Handbag/Diaper Bag

Do you carry a diaper bag? After I had Rexford, I pretty much NEEDED one…having 2 babies in diapers made it necessary. I could never find anything that I loved, I am not a huge fan of the geometric prints/patterns on the diaper bags that are large enough to hold all of my “JUNK!”

So, I decided to look for an oversized leather cross body bag. I fell in love with the Larch Bag from Valhalla Brooklyn, and bought it for myself as a birthday gift last October. I have literally carried it every day since and I swear it is made as well as a Louis Vuitton!

Here is me last spring at the Zoo with my Larch Bag:

So, fall is coming soon and I’d been thinking about a new handbag. I’ve had my eye on the Willow Bag (Valhalla Brooklyn) for some time, and when this buttery soft cafe leather bag was listed for sale yesterday I had to purchase it!

What kind of handbag do you carry? Does it double as your diaper bag or do you carry a separate diaper bag?

P.S. I also got this pretty case for my phone!

Six Great Travel Products for Babies

Although we haven’t done much traveling with Violet, I always perk up when I see a product for traveling with a baby. You see, my sister lives in Australia, and I’m hoping that she does a LOT of traveling when she has a baby (namely to come and see me). Here are a few great products I’ve come across that will hopefully help to make for smooth travels with your little bundle of joy:

1. Travel-Tot Travel Childproofing Kit

2. The First Years On-the-Go Booster Seat

3. Moby Wrap

4. Baby Bjorn Travel Crib Light

5. Mountain Buggy Nest Bed

6. Travel 2-in-1 by Delta Baby

Do you have any favorite products or tips for traveling with a baby? I’d love to hear them!

http://www.withtwocats.com

10 Bathtime Essentials

My 16-month-old Henry gets a bath every night, mainly because he loves it. Caroline (almost 4) loves bathtime too (ok, not “hair nights”). And now that they can hop in the tub together it’s even more fun. Part of what makes baths so easy is we have a simple routine. We have pared down the toys, tubs and towels to just what works for us. After trying a ton of stuff – from bath seats to overpriced soaps – here’s my bathtime top 10 list.

1. Newborn to Toddler Tub – There are some serious fancy tubs nowadays. And I am somewhat embarrassed to admit how many we have tried. This one was the best. Works great at the kitchen sink for newborns and still works as we enter toddler stage. (Caroline still asks to get in it!)

2. Bath thermometer – Takes the guess work out of bathtime. And nicely doubles as a toy.

3. Color Bath Dropz – A friend introduced me to these. When Caroline says, “I don’t want to take a bath,” all I have to do is ask, “What color do you want to make it?”

4. Faucet cover - Especially handy when you have two in the tub.

5. Odd Duck – Ernie would be proud. A rubber duck that’s PVC and phthalate-free with no BpA.

6. Mula stackers – Stacking, pouring, and, yes, drinking from these cups is loads of bathtime fun. Pretty much the only toy my kiddos use now.

7. Bubble Bath – Another trick I pull out when the kids are “overtired and cranky” to get them excited about bath time.

8. Hooded towel – You need a substantial towel that’s plush and soft. Too many baby towels are thin and puny. And nothing is cuter than a duck!

9. Washcloths – A spare towel and lots of washcloths are a must.

10. Johnson’s Natural – I’m loving this line of affordable and natural line of soap and lotion from Johnson’s.

How do you get your kids into the bathtub? What are your bath essentials?

PlayMats

If you haven’t seen Peppermint Pinwheels’ handmade quilts and play mats, you are in for a pleasant surprise! Not only are they GORGEOUS…but they are incredibly affordable. A personalized play mat would make the most thoughtful gift!

One Print, Three Rooms Part III

Alright all of you lovers of traditional spaces – here’s one just for you! You’ve seen both a modern space and vintage-inspired space based on this group of prints from COSAS MINIMAS by Blanca Gomez on Etsy:

Here is the final space – it’s got a traditional vibe with stripes, plaids, and wood tones. The orangey-red pouf is back as well to round out the series:

Sources:

Crib – Pottery Barn Kids
Pouf – cb2
Mobile – Bits of String n Things on Etsy
Rug – Dash & Albert
Lamp – Crate & Barrel
Crib Bedding – Pottery Barn Kids
Hedgehog Plushie – Sara Carr on Etsy
Letter - Anthropologie

So that wraps up this series! Anyone have an idea for a theme for the next one? I’m open to ideas!

http://www.withtwocats.com

One Print, Three Rooms Part II

On Monday I kicked off my second One Print, Three Rooms series with a very modern space inspired by this group of colorful prints from COSAS MINIMAS by Blanca Gomez on Etsy:

For the second space in the series I went for a more vintage vibe. The orangey-red pouf has made a second appearance, but warmer, earthier tones are replacing the graphic black and whites of the previous room.

Sources:

Curtain Fabric – Hawthorne Threads
Blocks – Oeuf
Vintage Chalkboard and Game Case – i love you more on Etsy
Crib Sheets – Jon Robshaw
Crib – Cymax Stores
Airplane Mobile – J. AUSTIN Ryan on Etsy
Rug – West Elm
Lamp – cb2
Pouf – cb2

Do you need an idea board for your space or event? Click here and I’ll have one to you lickity split!

Daddy Diaper Changing Toolbox

Looking for the perfect gifts for dad to be? How about a unique baby shower gift for dad? New Dad Gifts are such a sweet idea, especially when FUNNY & FUNCTIONAL!

The Daddy Diaper Changing Toolbox includes all the essentials for new dad including:

Mask. A toxic fume filter
Hand Wipes
Baby wipes
Diaper for newborn
Biohazard bag
Turkey baster. Precision hiney washing
Patent Pending Poop Poncho
Pacifier
Ear/Nose plugs
Rubber gloves. For the untouchables!
Tongs
Goggles. For protection from your own version of old faithful!
Emergency Formula Container. Doubles as a peepee cover!
Picture Frame. Dad’s badge of honor!

The Daddy Diaper Changing Toolbox really is the perfect father to be gift!

P.S. Be sure to follow Fun Stuff 4 Babies on Twitter!

Mimijumi Very Hungry Bottle

When I was pregnant with Harper I knew that I wanted to breastfeed, but had no idea how it would go or how long it would last. I wanted to have a stash of bottles just in case, but found it very confusing with all of the bottles on the market.

If only I had known about the mimijumi Very Hungry bottle. It is a breastlike baby bottle that closely mimics the breastfeeding experience. –Ideal for transitioning from breast to bottle feeding.

The innovative design of the nipple to replicate a mother’s breast creates a natural feeding and latching experience for a happier and healthier bottle fed baby. Bold color and soft textures are combined to give the mimijumi Very Hungry bottle a distinctive, eye-catching appearance.

The bottle is made from high quality plastic that is clear as glass but safer for baby. The material was engineered in Switzerland to be used in medical applications and has all certificates required to be in direct contact with food. The bottle is also made from BPA free plastic.

Visit mimijumi.com to learn where to buy these breastlike nursing bottles.

& be sure to follow mimijumi on Facebook & Twitter for product info and promotions.

Baby Thermometers

have you had enough of winter yet? i have! my kids have been sick off an on the entire season! every time Harper gets better, she catches something else from another sick child at preschool

whenever i call the dr, they ask if she has a temperature. it was always such a struggle to take her temperature. i have so many thermometers at home (rectal, forehead, armpit!)

i recently discovered these baby thermometers. you can actually take your child’s temperature while they are sleeping. problem SOLVED! you simply aim the unit’s sensor toward your child’s forehead, two inches from the skin. press the button and in one second the temperature reading is displayed on the large backlit color led display. The device can also be used to check the temperature of a bottle, food, air temperature or even bath water.

p.s. don’t forget to use a digital thermometer when cooking

DIGITS

a SAHM = busy & always on the go. preschool, grocery store, target, back to preschool, spanish class, play dates, gym, back to grocery store. i am ALWAYS driving somewhere!

as a mom blogger, i am pretty obsessive with my iPhone. & now i don’t even have to take off my gloves (in this FREEZING weather) to check email, blog, text, and answer the phone.
thank you, Quirky, LOVE my Digits )

P.S. Digits work on all electronic touch screen devices!

P.P.S. you can also purchase on Amazon.com

pretty storage bins

it seems like so many nurseries have the same square storage bins. you know, the ones that fit perfectly on that IKEA shelf full of cubbies. (i myself have them!)

if you are looking for something more unique, then check out Sewing Mama. Sewing Mama has all kinds of pretty fabric storage containers. perfect for toys and baby items!

Mom Purse

my birthday is coming up and i decided that i really wanted a big purse with a long strap (something that i could wear cross body)…i looked long and hard and could not find anything i liked (accept the Chloe Paraty and i was not going to spend that kind of money for a mom purse!)
i decided to try looking on Etsy (since i buy everything else there) and i found the Larch bag in brown buffalo hide. it just arrived yesterday and i couldn’t be happier! not only did i stay within my budget, but i can fit all my baby supplies in it when i don’t feel like lugging around a big diaper bag! from Valhalla Brooklyn

what do you carry as your MOM PURSE?

Nanny Caddy

have you ever been out the door in a rush and later realize that you forgot to restock your diaper bag? yesterday while running errands rex had somewhat of an explosion and when i went to change his diaper at the park i realized i had forgotten the wet wipes!

we made due, but it would have been great if the park had a Nanny Caddy! have you seen these baby necessity vending machines around? i have yet to encounter one, but i hope they arrive at locations by me while i have little ones.

you can find all sorts of goodies inside: pacifiers, nursing covers, swim diapers, hand sanitizer, wipes, sippy cups, etc. i hope they sell bottles too, because i can always use an extra bottle!

hotsling?

does anyone else use a hotsling for their baby while doing stuff around the house? i never know if i am using it right. he looks so squished in there. how long will your baby tolerate this thing? my 15 lb, 3 month old baby boy wants out after 30 minutes!

my new double stroller!

thanks to everyone for all the great advice on double strollers….i did a ton of research after this post and decided on the Baby Jogger City Mini Double!
i love it so far-
*very lightweight.
*so easy/smooth to push and turn (i can even push 1 handed!)
*folding it takes 2 seconds.
*large canopies to shade them from the sun.
*narrow enough to fit through a door.
*my son can lay flat in his seat while daughter is upright.
*…and both my children can see!

the only thing that is difficult is that there is not much room to store anything underneath… although it does have pockets on the back of each seat.

here is a pic from my iPhone on our walk yesterday:

personalized hanger

i had this adorable hanger made for Rexford’s room! from LILAFRANCES.

New Diaper Bag

now that i have 2 babies i needed a bigger, better diaper bag! (i used to carry almost everything in my purse) here is my new JJ Cole Mode Tote Bag:

and changing pad:

a little info: (for more visit jjcolecollections.com)
The mode includes twelve pockets inside and out for organizing. Depending on preference, the mode allows for three carrying options including two tote straps, a removable padded shoulder strap, or stroller attachments for a no-slip grip to your stroller handle.
• easy-to-clean laminated canvas
• removable, padded shoulder strap
• two front zipper pockets
• back pocket for all your changing needs
• coordinating changing pad included

i love the stroller attachment feature:

here is a quick peak inside of my diaper bag… am i missing anything? what do you carry in yours?

sun bonnet for my daughter and a winter hat for my son (it is chilly this week!)

Lil Melon burp cloths lilmelon.com

my daughter’s pumas and socks for the park and some booties for my son

baby sunblock, nail clippers, and medela nursing cream:

toiletries…wet wipes, newborn diapers, size 5 diapers (yes, i am a pampers fan!), vaseline, gauze pads:

cheerios and some teething biscuits

bibs for eating out, an xtra onesie for accidents/spit ups, long pants for my daughter to cover her knees at the park

a book and a toy!

double strollers

i am completely stuck picking out a double stroller. there are so many choices. i do not know if i should get a side by side:

or one that sits in front of the other:

the only thing i know for sure is that i prefer it to be somewhat lightweight and fold up fairly easily. i would also love to use a 20% off coupon at BRU if possible.

i have the chicco cortina travel system for my daughter but it doesn’t look like chicco makes a double stroller!

my daughter will be 16.5 months when my son is born.
*what double stroller do you have?
*where did you get it?

personalized hangers

i love these!…personalize a baby gift with a personalized hanger from LilaFrances.

Mutsy Grow Up booster seat!

i just got a Mutsy Grow Up booster seat! …cannot wait to have my daughter try it out. it is super lightweight and looks extremely comfortable. i got the seat in APPLE, but it comes in 5 other bright and delicious colors: RASPBERRY, NUT, MANDARIN, BLUEBERRY, and AQUA!

The most stylish seat at the table for baby. Mutsy’s Grow-Up! booster seat allows baby to sit in the average grown up chair safely and comfortably. Grow-Up! features a clever harness to ensure baby is securely fastened. The easy to clean, easy to transport seat is ideal from when baby can sit unaided to approximately 4 years of age.

my gear pick of the year!!

i received a Kokopax Carrier a few weeks ago and must express my love for this product! my 11 month old is over 22 lbs now–way too heavy for me to carry in her bjorn anymore.
she absolutely LOVES her new carrier. she thinks it is so funny to be on my back (literally laughs hysterically!) that i even use it around the house! it is also great for shopping, sporting events, running errands, walks, (and you will even get your husband to use this carrier). it is like wearing a very lightweight, sturdy backpack.

i have the Kokopax Carrier in the gorgeous garden print fabric…i will try and get someone to take some photos in the next week. in the mean time here are some photos from the website:




Features:
* made with 100% cotton canvas
* anodized aluminum frame
* comfortable shoulder straps
* adjustable frame to fit individual user
* padded waist support
* handy storage pocket
* kickstand for easy loading
* 5-pt. safety harness
* ties to secure pax protector™
* toy ring to attach koko™ or other toys
* weighs approximately 2.7 lbs.
* fits in airline overhead bins
* makes a great every day baby backpack
* for use from 6 months to 2 years (or up to 35 pounds)
* makes a great every day baby backpack
* Meets ASTM F2549-08 Frame Child Carrier standard. JPMA certified.
* includes green carry bag

kokopax.com is offering all readers a 10% discount on any order using this code: sb2009

Stop a Drop

i have FINALLY found the perfect solution to our long walks in NYC! my daughter can manage her bottle all by herself and no more picking it up out of the street! i LOVE Stop A Drop and highly recommend it! stop by stopadrop.com to see a video on how it works!

Personalized Terry Bath Set

one of my favorite gifts i received when my daughter was born. this 4 piece set comes with an embroidered hooded towel, a washcloth, a bear bath mitt, and a waterproof embroidered travel bag for all of baby’s toiletries. choose from 35 different thread colors!
Here are a few pics of my baby in her bath towel: