My Brest Friend

After coming home from the hospital with a baby that never wanted to sleep and who had some major difficulties with latching on to breastfeed, I felt like I was on the verge of going crazy. For other moms out there who have gone through the same thing…or who are going through it right now…you have probably figured out that one of the most important things when you are exhausted and trying to get your little one to eat is a comfortable place to sit and something cozy to prop them up on.

I tried to get comfortable with a classic crescent shaped pillow that I got as a gift but it was horrible!! The My Brest Friend breastfeeding pillow has to be one of the best investments I made for both my baby and me. In my opinion, it is truly the best nursing pillow out there!! I bought it after visiting my lactation consultant. She had one in her office and when I tried it I was immediately sold!! It is amazing!! I’m going to keep this one short…absolutely a must buy for nursing moms!!! Check out the My Brest Friend website: www.mybrestfriend.com

My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow

Skip Hop Dash Diaper Bag

Before my little man came into this world, I was a girl with a ton of bags and purses. I had them in all shapes, sizes and colors and could just never get enough!!! To be perfectly honest, not too much has changed since my baby was born, except that the bags that I carry around now have to accommodate diapers, wipes and other baby necessities.  I have become a diaper bag lady on a quest to find the perfect baby bag!!!

The Skip Hop Dash is definitely one of my favorite diaper bags thus far. It is medium sized which I like for every day use because I can load it up with the days necessities, but it forces me not to over-pack.  For those moms that like to carry a bunch of extras…I will review another great Skip Hop bag with a lot more room in it, the Bento, very soon!!  🙂

A few great attributes of the Skip Hop Dash:

• Shuttle Clips: These are, by far, a distinguishing feature of Skip Hop bags that make them stand out from others. The shuttle clips make life so much easier for busy moms and dads. With these, the bag can be clipped on and off of a stroller’s handlebars almost effortlessly! I even use them to attach my Dash diaper bag to shopping carts when I don’t bring my stroller along with me. Of course, this bag can be used as a standard bag too with its removable shoulder straps.

• 11 Pockets: While the Dash is not the biggest bag around, it does come with plenty of interior and exterior organizational pockets that make storing wipes, diapers, extra clothing, creams, snacks, toys, and whatever else you like to carry around, a painless task. No more losing things in the bottom of messy bag.

• Two Insulated Side Bottle Pockets: These are great pockets to store baby bottles, sippy cups, and even mommy or daddy’s water bottles in!!

• Changing Pad: Pretty self-explanatory… Skip Hop includes a handy changing pad with their Dash diaper bag. Don’t leave home without it J

• Variety of Colors and Patterns: Available in 8 different colors. I chose the willow dot because I think it is pretty but unisex at the same time!

• Magnetic Closures: Very practical for keeping the Skip Hop Dash closed!! There are four magnets on the outer flap that allow you to close it down in two positions: One for when it is not too full, and the other for when it is jam packed with supplies!!

What Fits in My Skip Hop Dash Diaper Bag

1. four large diapers
   

   Skip Hop Dash Diaper Bag Fully Loaded

2. small container of wipes
3. small pacifier wipes pack
4. a one-piece outfit
5. sun hat
6. shoes
7. a small teething toy
8. baby cookies
9. snack container
10. a jar of pureed veggies
11. a jar of pureed fruits
12. baby Tylenol
13. Oragel
14. disposable diaper baggies
15. baby spoon
16. pacifier and MAM pacifier clip
17. my large wallet
18. my Bebe au Lait nursing cover
    

    What's Inside my Skip Hop Dash Diaper Bag

19. hand sanitizer
20. a bib
21. mints
22. a memory stick
23. my keys
24. my iPhone
25. a pen
26. a package of Splenda
27. a can of baby formula
28. my water bottle
29. changing pad
30. a sippy cup
31. vaccination booklet

 

There is only one thing that disappoints me about the Skip Hop Dash: When you fill the two bottle pockets on the outside of the bag, you basically lose the option of using the two small side pockets on the inside. I still manage to fit small items like baby Tylenol or little utensils into them but anything bigger than that just wont fit. So there you have it!! A wonderful mid-sized diaper bag that is very convenient!!!

Check it out: www.skiphop.com

Graco Alano Flip-It Travel System

This was the first travel system that I purchased for my son. I loved it then but have since moved on to a new stroller and a larger car seat (my little guy is not so little anymore)!! So here’s a list of all of the great features that convinced me to buy it in the first place and a few things that led me to change.

What I like about the Graco Alano Flip-It Travel System:

1. Price: This stroller and car seat combo including the car seat base is under $300!!
2. Reversible and height adjustable handles: Usually a feature available only on expensive models, the handles can be reversed so that baby can face inwards towards parent or outwards. They can also be adjusted to be comfortable for parents of all different heights.
3. Reclining seat: Ideal for when baby falls asleep in the stroller.
4. One hand fold: A great feature of the Alano Flip-It stroller is it’s easy one hand fold. Just push, twist and the stroller is easily opened from folding position or folded down.
5. Stands up when folded.
6. Available Patterns: This stroller is available in cute patterns that can be coordinated with other Graco products (I bought a matching swing, playpen, and high-chair).
7. Great car seat and base. The Graco SnugRide car seat that comes with this travel system is excellent. Not only is it safe and stylish, but it also makes life with a newborn so much easier. The car seat clicks in and out of the base in the car and into the stroller so there is no need to take baby out of the seat when moving around or when switching from one place to another.

Why I moved on to something new:

1. Too bulky: Although this is one of the smaller Graco travel systems, the Alano Flip-It became too cumbersome to lug around everywhere as my little guy grew. I wanted something lighter that took up less room in the car.
2. Not too stable: This stroller wasn’t great for bumpy or uneven surfaces. It was amazing to maneuver within malls and on smooth pavement or sidewalks but on bumpy or grassy surfaces it was a bit of a struggle (even with the front wheels locked).
3. Baby grew out of the car seat: My son is a big boy for his age. At 6 months he had almost surpassed the 29 inches height limit and 22 pounds weight limit so I opted for a bigger car seat that he could use for the next couple of years.

Overall I have to say that the Graco Alano Flip-It Travel Sytem definitely delivers bang for the buck. It boasts many of the features of the more expensive alternatives, without leaving a significant dent in your wallet. In my opinion this stroller/car seat combination is a great option that is ideal for newborns and for parents with a lower budget. Check it out at www.gracobaby.com !!! 🙂

5 Fun Baby Things that I use Almost Every Day!!

1)   MAM pacifier clips: I cannot leave the house without one!!  These amazing BPA free straps are both useful and fashionable. They are available in an array of colors and patterns to match baby’s outfits!! I use these daily to hold my son’s pacifiers and teething rings. The ring attachment at the end is compatible with all MAM pacifiers but what I like best about these clips is that the colored straps can be removed and used with other pacifiers (my little guy prefers the AVENT ones these days) or small toys with rings. Use these to prevent loosing your baby’s pacifier or dropping it on the ground!!! www.mambaby.com

2)   Bébé au Lait nursing cover: I went through at least 5 different nursing covers until I came across this one. It is by far the best cover that I have found to date…and the only one I will use with my son!!! In my opinion, 3 things make Bébé au Lait nursing covers stand out from the others: The size, neckline and style. Their larger size offers full coverage, which means nothing is ever hanging out. Their signature firm neckline allows mommy to see baby throughout each feeding and makes adjusting from one side to the other much easier.  Finally, Bébé au Lait covers are made with chic patterns that are just beautiful!! A wonderful product that makes nursing anywhere possible! www.bebeaulait.com

3)   Munchkin Fresh Food Feeder: This little contraption made me laugh when I first saw it in the store. It really looks like a smaller version of something you would use to feed a horse. But…despite it’s humorous look, this is truly a remarkable product for feeding babies. I have used mine to feed my little man healthy snacks every single day for the last couple months. The Munchkin Fresh Food Feeder is extremely easy to use. Just pop in pieces of fresh fruit or veggies into the mesh section then close.  Your baby can now chew or suck on foods with essentially no risk of choking! www.munchkin.com

 

4)   ERGObaby Teething Pads: I go out walking with my son in his ERGObaby baby carrier almost every day. At about 5 months old, when he started teething, I noticed that he would chew on the sides of the carrier regularly, leaving the carrier messy and stained. Of course, the people at ERGObaby realized that moms and dads don’t want to (nor do they have time to) wash their baby carriers after each use…so they offer teething pads made specifically for ERGObaby carriers.  They snap right on and off with the greatest of ease and prevent baby from drooling all over the actual carrier.  A great product that makes keep things tidy just a little bit easier!!! www.ergobabycarriers.com

5)   SkipHop Pronto Changing Station: This handy changing station is one of my favorite baby accessories. I bring it along with me when I’m out and about and use it for quick baby changing trips instead of lugging my whole diaper bag into the washroom each time. The SkipHop Pronto Changing Station has a very wide changing pad that is great for wiggly babies like mine. No matter how much he tries to twist and turn, my 9 month olds little bum always stays on the pad!!  It comes with a mesh diaper pocket that I can put 3 large diapers in and a roomy hard plastic wipes container. Another cool feature: The diaper pad can be zipped off to use in your diaper bag when you are out for longer trips! www.skiphop.com

ERGOBaby Performance Baby Carrier: Lightweight and Comfortable!

While planning for a month long family road-trip with my 7 month old, I needed to find a baby carrier that would allow me to take him along on our many planned day hikes and adventures. I had received a fairly simple carrier as a gift from my mother that was comfortable for me when my son weighed 8 pounds but as he grew heavier I couldn’t help notice that my back would ache as soon as I put him in it. As well, he seemed completely miserable in it…he just hung there with no real support and would become fussy almost immediately.

I came across ERGObaby  when I looked up ergonomic baby carriers, that would allow me to hike with my little guy, online. Their website www.ergobabycarriers.com is very informative and I was easily able to choose the carrier that was right for me: The Performance carrier!! I chose this one because it was more lightweight and breathable than the others and I was going to be visiting places that were hot!!

When I received the carrier in the mail I was extremely excited to try it out. I decided to take a long walk by the water…and WOW…what a difference!! Not only did I not experience any back pain at all, but my son did not so much as whimper when I put him in it. Instead of dangling like he did in my first carrier, he seemed to fit into it comfortably in a sitting position. He even fell asleep.

About the Performance: This carrier has straps that adjust to fit very small to extra large body frames, and ERGOBaby even sells extensions to accommodate plus-sized parents. It comes in two colours; Spring Green and Grey. I chose the grey as I think it is more neutral for both my husband and I.

Another feature that I love about the ERGO Performance (and all ERGObaby carriers) is the sleep hood. If your baby falls asleep, a hood pulls out to cover their head and ensures that it doesn’t fall back. The hood can also be used to breastfeed your baby right in the carrier. Excellent for mommies on the go!!!

I cannot say anything negative about this carrier! While it is more expensive than some of the more basic baby carriers ($135) it is most definitely worth the price. It is lightweight, comfortable, and unbelievably practical. Even after spending 6-7 hours hiking with my 20 pound baby for days on end during my travels, my back did not hurt in the least. I regularly use my ERGObaby Performance while shopping, and it comes in handy whenever I have things to do around the house (cooking, cleaning…you name it!!).

A HIGHLY RECOMMENDED product!!!! 🙂

Quinny Zapp Xtra Stroller Review

Lightweight & Stylish

After looking around online for about a month, I finally gave in and bought the Quinny Zapp Xtra for my little man. I was a little bit nervous about buying it without actually seeing it and testing it out first, but I decided to take the risk and I am now in LOVE with this stroller!!

First off, I have to say that the Zapp Xtra is beautiful!! It has the sleek and modern looks of some of the larger, more upscale strollers, but it is lightweight and it has a more affordable price-tag, just $299. I bought mine in Rocking Black which I absolutely love. It is also available in 3 other vibrant colours; Rebel Red, Pink Emily and Brown Boost.

What really attracted me to this stroller before I actually got my hands on it was its reversible seat. The ability to be both forward-facing and parent-facing is indispensable to mommies and daddies with young babies in my opinion. When he’s tired or irritable, my 9 month old prefers to be facing in towards me, but, when he is back to his normal, happy self, he likes to face forward and explore the world. While it did take me a few tries to master, reversing the Zapp Xtra seat is actually quite easy to do. The seat pulls off and clicks on into place with almost no effort at all once you get the hang of it.

Another notable feature: The seat reclines in both forward and parent-facing modes. When facing forward, the seat can be set to upright, mid-level recline, and full recline. When facing inwards, it can be set to mid-level recline or full recline. Changing the seat is extremely simple! Just squeeze the recline button in the back and the seat is easily adjusted into place. This is especially handy when baby falls asleep while sitting in the stroller.

The Zapp Xtra also boasts excellent manoeuvrability, great sun protection and the signature Zapp compact fold!!! This lightweight stroller glides around smoothly and easily, and the step on step off lock mechanism is extremely handy. It comes with an amazing sun canopy that is adjustable and opens up quite large for optimal coverage.  While it doesn’t have a peekaboo flap to check on baby from the top, parents  can see baby through the sides of the canopy and baby can also look out.

Like its predecessor, the Quinny Zapp, this stroller folds up easily into a compact little package. Keep in mind however that you will need two hands to do this and that the seat must be removed before folding. A slight drawback, but well worth the extra effort! Even with the separate seat, the Zapp Xtra fits into the smallest of car trunks.

This stroller comes with a small to medium sized basket. I had actually expected it to be much smaller, so the size of the basket is actually a pleasant surprise. I can actually fit my diaper bag or a couple of average sized shopping bags into it.

My only complaint about this stroller is that the handle bars are not very tall. I am 5 foot 7 and I immediately felt a difference between the height of the Zapp Xtra’s handles and my older umbrella stroller. This said, I have gotten used to their height and can push my little guy around without slouching over or ever hitting the back of the stroller while I walk. My husband is 6 feet tall and he can push it around comfortably as well.

Overall, I really enjoy using the Quinny Zapp Xtra Stroller. It’s overall stylish appearance and many features make it an excellent choice for a reasonably priced stroller. An added bonus: It comes with Maxi-Cosi carseat adapters which means that it can be used right from birth which is just great! I am so happy that I bought this stroller and my son seems very comfortable in it too!! http://www.quinny.com

🙂

My first Blog!!

After spending a ton of money on baby stuff that I just HAD to have, I have decided to help out other parents by reviewing the many products that I have acquired since my 9 month old was born.  So here it goes…Enjoy!!