Babies Gotta Have It

Who isn’t loving Canada these days?  Joannie Rochette is my new hero. And our Canadian friends at NoPlastic.ca have added even more green and eco-friendly, plastic-free items to their store.  You can still find the fantastic stainless steel utensil sets for kids and stainless steel sippy cups that I love (and use every day), but now there are neat new offerings in the Health & Nutrition and Natural Living sections as well.  With more to come! I am especially interested in trying Nellie’s All-Natural Laundry Soda!  Purchase anything at their site and use the code noplastic0310 throughout the month of March to receive a 5% discount.

Oh Canada! I love your green green companies!

Just because I was too much of a wimp to fly with the Little Bean doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take to the air with your baby.  And in fact, I’m the odd one out here–all of my friends have flown with their babies.  So before your next trip check out the AirPlay Tray Table Cover from Star Kids.  This play center sleeve and tray cover slides over any airplane seat tray table, providing your infant or toddler with lots of colorful and exciting toys to keep him occupied while you jet to Granny’s.  It even works in the upright and locked position.  Watch my video above to see this awesome baby travel toy in action. Then get out there and fly with baby!

The AirPlay Tray Cover would make a wonderful and unique baby gift or shower gift for the jet setting Mama in your life.  Buy one at the Star Kids Products website. Or, as I said in my video, I’m giving one away to a lucky Babies Gotta Have It reader.  Want to enter?  Read on!

To Enter the AirPlay Tray Table Giveaway

• MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Watch my video above.  Then leave a comment on this post saying which feature of the AirPlay Tray Table you think your baby would enjoy most…or which one you will enjoy most! Entering is that easy!

***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did!  Maximum of seven entries per person.

• Follow me on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway  just cut and paste): Flying with your baby or toddler? Enter to win an AirPlay Tray Table Cover from Star Kids @BabiesGottaHavT http://tinyurl.com/yesshlx
• Blog this giveaway (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)
• Subscribe to my blog using the button on the left sidebar
• Grab my button and put in on your blog or website! Button code is in the right sidebar. Leave the link in your entry.
• Become a Fan of Babies Gotta Have It on Facebook. Click HERE!
• Email your friends about the giveaway and link to the giveaway post! cc me in the message (babiesgottahaveit@gmail.com)–I promise I will not spam you or your friends. Cross my heart

Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S.  addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Thursday February 25th and ends on Thursday March 11th at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. On Friday March 12th,  Random.org will select the winner,  and I’ll email you immediately. After my daughter called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my daughter, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering!

Disclosure: Star Kids sent me the AirPlay Tray Table Cover at no cost for me to review.  I was not compensated monetarily, and all views and opinions with regard to the product or company itself are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by the company prior to posting.

Update: We have a winner!  Random.org says “Result: 41″!  Congratulations Natasha!  Thanks to all who entered!

All Natural Art Supplies from Clementine Art. The glue sticks. The crayons color. The play dough is mushy. And it’s all natural.

I am a huge huge fan.

Babies and toddlers love art. Mamas love all-natural. At Clementine Art non-toxic is just the beginning. Find them at Whole Foods or online at clementineart.com.

I love tubby time. Mostly because a well-executed tubby time can lead to a smooth and cuddly bed time. And this Mama wants little more than a smooth and cuddly bedtime. Well, maybe the consumption of a vegetable once a month or so.

I’ve been on the quest for the best in bath gear.  Here’s a list of my most fantastic finds–some located years ago when I was first registering for baby gifts–some spotted today among the many booths at Toy Fair! Happy bathing!

• The Tub My choice? The Primo EuroBath. Just watch this Babies Gotta Have It video blast from the past to see the tub in action. This tub is so roomy and so well made that my two and a half year old can still use it!
• Wonderful Washcloths My favorites? aden + anais Muslin Washcloths. Big. Absorbent. Stylish.  And they get softer with every wash.
• Baby Bath Wash and Shampoo I’ve tried a lot of different baby washes and shampoos. For me it’s gotta be green, it’s gotta be natural, it’s gotta smell good, and I do like bubbles!  Also, I really do like a baby shampoo and body wash in one. My fave: California Baby Shampoo & Body Wash
• A Rubber Ducky I discovered the wonderful Dano Classic Rubber Duck at Toy Fair today and tried it out in the baby’s bath tonight! It is awesome. Four cute colors. BPA Free. Phthalate Free. Made in the USA of medical grade materials. Dishwasher safe. And the bottom totally opens so your baby can scoop water with it and it is easily dried and cleaned so no nasty mold builds up. Doesn’t squeak but love it love it love it!
• Tub Toys There are lots out there but I’m partial to the Yookidoo Flow N’ Fill Spout. Not remotely green so far as I can tell.  But really cute and fun. Got a baby who hates the bath?  I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that this toy, I think, could change her mind.
• Tub Toy Caddy I discovered the Skip Hop Tubby Bath Toy Organizerat Toy Fair today. Love it.
• Tub Crayons Crayola Bathtub Crayons. See picture above.
• Hooded Towel I adore the Babylicious Hooded Bath Towel in the Little House pattern that I got on Babysteals.com. This pattern seems impossible to find now which is no help at all. But there are some really sweet patterns out there and these towels are so thick and luxurious. You will love them. Find one somewhere.

For me, in many ways, the experience of motherhood is whatever is happening right now. This moment.  This very second. From pregnancy through delivery, breastfeeding to potty training, what is going on at this very instant is the experience.  And memories of pain and turmoil and heartburn past seem to kind of fade away in the haze of the current struggle.  Or the current delight. Or the current preschool plague that’s hitting NYC like a ton of bricks, leaving me flat on my back for days on end.

Doc Hubby is convinced there’s some sort of evolutionary amnesia, rendering the pain of earlier stages in the child-producing process distant enough that one might consider doing it again, long enough to actually get pregnant. Possible, indeed.

Breastfeeding is becoming a bit of a fading memory for me now. too.  Much like the belly (that sweet, huge, awkward, glorious pregnant belly). But I do remember, clearly, that it was not always easy. Especially at the start. A breastfeeding gal needs support. From friends. From family. And from companies interested in making products to aid breastfeeding moms. At a recent breakfast, I learned that Nuk, my go-to company for pacifiers, is coming out with lots and lots of new products, and many of them have the needs of breastfeeding moms in mind.

So what did I learn?

• Nuk, translated, means “Natural and Orthodontic.” I used their pacifiers because I had heard that they were the best for babies’ developing teeth, And the new NUK Genius Pacifier was developed with dentists to allow for the most natural development of the jaw while simulating the mother’s breast to prevent nipple confusion.
• Nuk Products are BPA-Free! Yippee!
• Nuk is in the process of creating a full line of Breastfeeding Accessories including pumps, bottles, pads, storage bags, and warm and cool relief packs for those sore nipples we all do remember so well.
• The nipples on Nuk bottle nipples, like the pacifiers, are designed to simulate Mama’s breast, encourage proper orthodontic development, and reduce colic.

And the super neat new products I liked:

Nuk offers the coolest toothbrushes for infants and toddlers! Check out the NUK Healthy Start Training Toothbrush Set!I love these!  The infant toothbrushes just have little rubber nubs so your baby can chew on them without eating bristles! They come with a nifty mouth protector that keeps your baby from pushing the brush in too far which can also be used as a stand. I totally wish I had these when the Bean was a teeny tiny baby.

Nuk makes BPA Free Sippy Cups! I love these designs.  Girlish and Boyish but with no TV or Movie characters.  I love the dragonflies.  I love the princesses on the girls’ cups and the pirates on the boy cups. And the dragonflies. All in all these are wonderful designs.
And of course, the germaphobe in me adores the NUK Pacifier Carrying Case. It even has an air hole so the pacifiers will dry out.

Want to try out some of these products? Thanks to the folks at Nuk one lucky Babies Gotta Have It reader will win an assortment of Nuk’s new products including: 2 packs of the Orthodontic Pacifiers for 0 - 6m, the NUK Genius Pacifierfor 18 m+, the Nuk Pacifier Clip, 2 NUK Silicone Orthodontic Nipples for 0m+, the NUK Gentle Moisturizing Balm to relieve chapped and tender nipples, the NUK Healthy Start Training Toothbrush Set, and 2 of the NUK BPA Free Soft Bite Feeding Spoons. These would be a wonderful baby shower gift or baby gift, or a great addition to your baby gear!  Want to enter?  Read on!

To Enter the NUK Giveaway

• MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Visit the Nuk USA website. Browse their selection of products.  Come back and leave a comment on this post saying which product you’re most interested to try. Entering is that easy!

***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did!  Maximum of seven entries per person.

• Follow me on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway  just cut and paste): Nuk supports Breastfeeding Moms! Win a collection of Nuk supplies @BabiesGottaHavT http://tinyurl.com/ybczfyb
• Blog this giveaway (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)
• Subscribe to my blog using the button on the left sidebar
• Grab my button and put in on your blog or website! Button code is in the right sidebar. Leave the link in your entry.
• Become a Fan of Babies Gotta Have It on Facebook. Click HERE!
• Email your friends about the giveaway and link to the giveaway post! cc me in the message (babiesgottahaveit@gmail.com)–I promise I will not spam you or your friends. Cross my heart

Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S.  addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Saturday February 13th and ends on Monday March 1st at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. On Tuesday March 2nd,  Random.org will select the winner,  and I’ll email you immediately. After my daughter called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my daughter, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering!

Disclosure:Nuk offered the above mentioned products to the winner of this giveaway at their expense.  Additionally, they gave me a lovely breakfast and a modest gift card to thank me for my time and effort in writing the post.  I was not compensated monetarily, and all views and opinions with regard to the product or company itself are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by the company prior to posting.

Update! We have a winner! Random.org says “Result: 31“ Congratulations Courtney!  Thanks to everyone who entered!

If you are a new or expecting parent, odds are that you’re doing some reading about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS. My understanding has always been that SIDS is a bit mysterious. Doctors can recommend steps to sharply decrease the incidence of SIDS, but can’t really explain what causes it.  The good news is that the wicked smart docs at Children’s Hospital Boston have just published new research linking SIDS to low serotonin production in the brainstem. The great news is that this finding may lead to a concrete test to identify babies at high risk for SIDS, bringing us another step closer to eradicating this devastating syndrome.

The CJ Foundation for SIDS has given millions of dollars to support SIDS research and provide public education and awareness about SIDS risk reduction.  As the largest non-governmental funder of programs meeting the needs of the SIDS community, they participated in funding the research cited above. And I am so excited to share with you the CJ Foundation’s new initiative: Sleep in Safety, Grow in Style. According to the SSGS site,

“The CJ Foundation’s Sleep in Safety, Grow in Style campaign
aims to
educate consumers and
raise public awareness about
what constitutes a safe sleep environment for infants.
We will help parents and caregivers learn how to create nurseries with style
and safe sleeping environments for babies that can cost less, be beautiful and
comforting, grow with your child, and most importantly
significantly reduce the risk of SIDS and
other sleep related infant deaths.”

Let’s decorate our babies’ nurseries with an eye toward style and sleep safety! SSGS offers a webpage with Design Safety Tips as well as Sleep Safety Tips. Let me share their list of Sleep Safety Guidelines with you here (check out the site for more detail about each guideline:

• Always lay your baby to sleep face up
• Remove all loose bedding, bumpers, stuffed animals, and pillows from the crib
• Don’t let your baby get too hot
• Control room temperature where baby is sleeping
• Consider using a fan to increase circulation in baby’s room
• Lay your baby to sleep in an approved crib, on a firm-fitting mattress
• Don’t share sleep surfaces
• Don’t smoke while pregnant and never smoke near your infant
• Create a healthy lifestyle for you and your baby
• If possible, breastfeed your baby
• Offer your baby a pacifier at all sleep times
• Put your baby on his or her tummy to play when your baby is awake and supervised
• Share these tips with everyone who cares for your baby

One of my favorite baby and toddler products companies, aden + anais, has partnered with SSGS to promote safe sleep. The CJ Foundation recommends the use of wearable blankets and sleepsacks in place of blankets to keep infants warm while sleeping. Each aden + anais cozy sleeping bag is made of 100% breathable muslin cotton, which allows baby’s body temperature to adjust naturally, reducing the risk of overheating. This time of the year I feel like I am always cold. And I have really turned to sleepsacks and wearable blankets to keep my Little Bean warm and snuggy in the winter months without overheating her to a dangerous degree.  aden + anais sleeping bags are the perfect solution, and the muslin they are made of just gets softer and softer with each wash. I have absolutely observed this with the washcloths I bought on babysteals.com! So what’s the deal with muslin?  This ancient fabric, traditional for swaddling, has an open, loose weave that is breathable and allows air to circulate around your baby.

And their mod, stylish patterns are to die for. No need to sacrifice appearance when you add these wearable blankets to your nursery. They are adorable.  And I’m delighted announce that the great people behind aden + anais are giving one Babies Gotta Have It a sleeping bag of your choice! Want to enter? Read on!

To Enter the aden + anais Giveaway

• MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Browse aden + anais’ selection of stylish cozy sleeping bags.  Come back and leave a comment on this post saying which pattern you would chose if you won. Entering is that easy!
  

***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did!  Maximum of nine entries per person.

• Follow me on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway  just cut and paste): Win a cozy sleepsack and learn about the CJ Foundation’s SIDS education & awareness efforts @BabiesGottaHavT http://tinyurl.com/ydly8tw
• Become a Fan of aden + anais on Facebook. Click HERE!
• Become a Fan of the CJ Foundation for SIDS on Facebook. Click HERE!
• Blog this giveaway (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)
• Subscribe to my blog using the button on the left sidebar
• Grab my button and put in on your blog or website! Button code is in the right sidebar. Leave the link in your entry.
• Become a Fan of Babies Gotta Have It on Facebook. Click HERE!
• Email your friends about the giveaway and link to the giveaway post! cc me in the message (babiesgottahaveit@gmail.com)–I promise I will not spam you or your friends. Cross my heart

Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S.  and Canadian addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Friday February 5th and ends on Monday February 22nd at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. On Tuesday February 23rd,  Random.org will select the winner,  and I’ll email you immediately. After my daughter called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my daughter, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering!

Disclosure: aden + anais offered the cozy sleeping bag to the winner of this giveaway at their expense.  Additionally, they gave me a cozy sleeping bag as well for my time and effort in writing the post.  I was not compensated monetarily, and all views and opinions with regard to the product or company itself are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by the company prior to posting.

Update!  We have a winner!  Random.org says “Result: 70″  Congratulations Kara!  Thanks so much to everyone who entered!  Come back soon!