3 MUST HAVE ITEMS for Back to School!

Back to school prep can be so stressful! There are so many products available and so much on the market, it can be tough to figure out where to start and what products are the best! I hope these 3 simple tips help you get your kids ready for their first day at school quickly and easily so that you can get back to enjoying your summer.

My oldest son will be going into his second year at school and my youngest is starting pre-k so it’s not the first time (or the last) that I’ll be preparing them for their first big day and lucky for you, if you’re reading this, I can let you in on a few secrets that I’ve learned (mostly through trial and error)!

1. COLLE À MOI SCHOOL LABELS are a MUST. I’ve tried other brands, and nothing compares (I’ve unfortunately had to find out the hard way that not all brands are the same quality when it comes to school labels)! Colle à Moi labels stay stuck and will outlive most of the school supplies you stick them on! They’re dishwasher safe, self-adhesive, washer and dryer safe and are super easy to apply to just about anything (we use them on markers, crayons, pencil cases, shoes, clothes, backpacks, water bottles and more!).

The fun designs will have your kids begging to help you label everything which is a win for me because it means I have helpers to label school supplies. This year I chose the Dino theme for my youngest, since he’s currently in a T-rex obsessed phase and chose the Cool theme for my oldest! Colle à Moi also makes it easy to figure out how many stickers to order thanks to their School Combo packs! It will give you more than enough labels to cover everything you need, but if for some reason you need more, Colle à Moi always offers free shipping in Canada which I obviously love! 

Use code TOVAH10 to save on your order!

2. A LIGHT AND COMFORTABLE BAG is next on my list of must have items for back to school! Kids will come home with snow pants, lunch boxes, water bottles, rocks that they’ve collected and more so the lighter the bag, the better the chance that it will end up on their back instead of dragged behind them on the floor because it’s too heavy. 

My tip is to find a bag that your kids love but that is light weight and can be easily carried. Once you’ve found that bag, don’t forget to label it! Nothing is worse than trying to replace your kid’s favourite bag halfway through the school year when they lose it! We love the Colle à Moi bag tags – they’re a thick durable plastic that can be easily seen in case the bag gets lost and left behind somewhere.

3. DURABLE BENTO BOXES & WATER BOTTLES is the last of my recommendations! I can’t think of any items that get used, thrown, dropped, washed and dried more than my kids’ food containers and water bottles. I generally search for a metal water bottle and have found that they’re much more durable than the plastic ones for my kids so although they can be a bit more expensive, they are worth the investment and with Colle à Moi labels on them, they’ll always find their way home (or to the lost and found) if my kids leave them at school. 

For food containers, I always search for ones that close securely because the last thing any of us want is to open our kid’s bag and to find leaking food all over! A must have feature for me is also being dishwasher safe so that I can easily clean them every day. We always label our food containers for school with Colle à Moi labels because they’re dishwasher safe and I was pleasantly surprised when last school year, every single label was still perfectly stuck by the end of the year!

If your containers come apart (like a thermos), don’t forget to label the top and the bottom!

I hope my tips help you feel better prepared for back-to-school prep and guide you in the right direction! You can use my code TOVAH10 to save on your order at Colle à Moi!

If you have any other tips that you think I should add, leave your suggestions in the comments! 

The Sleep Program You've Been Searching For!

Parenting doesn’t come with a manual, but thankfully getting your baby to sleep now does! I shared a few weeks ago that my son, Boston, had decided he no longer needed sleep, which ultimately meant that no one in our home was sleeping! I turned to Little Ones, an online tool that offers incredible sleep programs to help parents learn how to get their baby and toddlers sleep schedules back on track! After 3 weeks of using the program, Boston is back to napping twice a day and is sleeping through the entire night! From 6pm - 7am.

Use code: TOVAH for 15% off!

What I love about their programs is that they adapt to you. They’re not super rigid and don’t make you turn your life around in order to get your kids to sleep, but they do give you all the tools necessary to ensure success. There are sleep programs for every stage of your baby’s life - from Birth Sleep to Toddler Sleep so I’ll be able to keep turning to Little Ones for help as my son grows up! For the first time ever, getting your baby or toddler to sleep doesn’t need to be stressful or hard.

There were 3 features of the program that definitely stood out! The first was the detailed information that they provide you about sleep and your baby. They give you all the info to not only know what to expect, but also to understand your baby’s behavior. They prepare you for regressions, sicknesses, when to stop swaddling, early wakings (and the list goes on). You know what’s coming so you’re never surprised and you’re able to stay on track.

The second feature that I loved was the easy to follow sleeping and feeding schedules. Little Ones helps you succeed from the get go by giving you all the tools to plan your day so that you know when your baby should sleep and eat, and they even adjust it for you as your baby grows! They also understand that you have a life and won’t always be home to adhere to such a strict schedule so they also give you tools for the days when a schedule just doesn’t work.

Click here to learn more and use code TOVAH for 15% off!

The final feature that really stood out to me were their settling and self-settling methods to help you transition your baby to sleeping alone when you decide the time is right. They give you choices and options for methods so it’s not a “one size fits all approach”. You really are able to choose what makes you most comfortable. In my experience, sleep training methods generally tell you what do you, and rarely give you options which can leave some parents struggling and feeling guilty if the method doesn’t align with what they’re comfortable with. This program gives you choices and then solutions. So whether you want to rock your baby to sleep or whether you want to put them down in their crib and leave the room, the choice is always yours and it won’t affect your success with their program.

Little Ones goes ever further than what I’ve described so far and covers EVERY topic you can think of: reflux, having multiple kids, baby’s being under vs. over tired, pacifiers, naps, morning feeds, sickness, sleep regressions, and the list goes on. If there’s something you’re experiencing, they have a section in their program to help you. This is by far, the most detailed, insightful and all encompassing approach I’ve ever tried.

The most unique aspect of their programs, however, is their support groups. They say it takes a village and Little Ones give you just that - the Little One™ Village. When you use any of their programs, you get access to support from thousands of other families all over the world and they’re there to help you through those tough days of being a parent. You also get access to their certified sleep consultants that can help you through any step of your sleep journey! So whether you have a baby that doesn’t like to nap or a sleep boycotting baby like my son was, I can’t say enough good things about the Little Ones Sleep Programs!

Click here to learn more and don’t forget to use code TOVAH for 15% off!

5 Tips for Choosing the Perfect Car Seat

A car seat for a new parent is such an important accessory and tool. You’ll likely use it as much as any other baby product and it’s not something you’ll want to replace after a few months. The right bucket seat can be used for multiple kids and so I’m here to give you my top 5 tips to choosing the perfect one for your growing family!

1. Find one that is easy to install! Nothing will test your patience (and your marriage) quite like installing a car seat that is hard to figure out. The Chicco KeyFit® 30 Infant Car Seat  has a ReclineSure® Spring-Loaded Leveling Foot that adjusts to your vehicle’s seat angle as well as a  RideRight® Bubble-level Indicator to show when a proper base angle has been achieved so it helps take the guess work out of the installation process!

2. Find a bucket seat that is light. Newborns and babies sleep A LOT and have a tendency to fall asleep in the car. You will likely just snap out the bucket and carry it into stores to avoid waking up your newborn to put them in a stroller. The Chicco KeyFit® 30 Infant Car Seat weighs only 7lbs so your back will thank you!

3. Find one that will grow with your baby, regardless of the size it’s born at. Finding a bucket seat with an infant insert will be amazing for your first trip home from the hospital and for the first month at home. It’ll be even more important if you have a premie! And find one that will accommodate a rear facing baby for as long as possible!

4. Find one that is safe. Do your research, read up on car seats and make sure they meet all the safety standards of the country you live in! We chose the Chicco KeyFit® 30 Infant Car Seat because it is lined with energy-absorbing foam and is equipped with a five-point harness that quickly and easily adjusts for an accurate fit, using the one-pull harness adjustment.

5. Find a carseat that you can easily clean. Messes. Will. Happen. And a lot more often than you think. Having a car seat that can be wiped down will save you time, tears and energy! Our Chicco car seat is made with fabrics that may be spot-cleaned with mild soap and water or machine-washed in cold water on delicate cycle using mild detergent. Most car seats we came across did not have covers that could be put in the washing machine so we absolutely LOVE this feature!

For more information on our Chicco KeyFit® 30 Infant Car Seat click here!

The Ultimate Bassinet from Chicco

This pregnancy, I’m trying ALL the products that I didn’t use for Zane and have been so excited about sharing this particular one with you! I got my hands on the Lullago® Portable Bassinet from Elfe Juvenile Products. I never used a bassinet with Zane and relied solely on his crib and play yard, but it was heavy and super hard to move around from room to room. It was also super inconvenient to bring around when we were visiting friends and family. I was intrigued about this bassinet for a few reasons:

1. It matches my decor and is not an eye sore

2. It is supposed to easily fold up and fit in a bag that you can carry over your shoulder!

3. It has a padded mattress, making it much more comfy than a play yard

4. All the fabrics are removable and washable (which is my dream because Zane had INSANE reflux and I ended up having to throw away so many items that could not be easily washed!

You can see my full unboxing of this amazing bassinet including assembly in the video below! I am obsessed. It’s SO light weight, the fabric and materials are SO soft, it goes together and comes apart in under 2 minutes and it really does fit in a carrying bag that you can just throw over your shoulder (you can see it in the picture at the top of this post!) I also was pleasantly surprised at the size! A lot of bassinets that I looked at were quite short and narrow. This one gives your baby lots of breathing room and it has mesh sides for lots of ventilation. I can’t wait to use it with the baby in a few weeks! For now I have it set up beside our bed so that midnight feeds are quick and easier for me lol. I intend on brining it everywhere we go. For more information on this bassinet, visit Elfe Juvenile Products by clicking here.

Bath Time Essentials For A New Baby

With a second baby on the way, I am being a lot more particular about the products that I MUST have. I saw super quickly with Zane which products were useful, a waste of money, and which didn’t stand the test of time with a baby. Bath time can be a total bonding experience with your baby or it can be super stressful as a new parent so being fully equipped is SO important!!

I’m rounding up my MUST HAVE bath time products for new and experienced parents alike who are expecting a new baby! These items will also make amazing baby shower gifts!

• A light, portable and adjustable bath tub is a MUST. You don’t want one that’s only for newborns because you’ll be replacing it shortly after your baby arrives and one that isn’t specifically for newborns will drive you insane. You will either be constantly holding up your baby so that they are propped up, or you’ll have your baby constantly sliding down the slippery inclined plastic.. I recommend the Moby Smart Sling 3-Stage Tub. This tub is awesome because it grows with baby through three stages: Stage 1: Newborn (0-3 months; up to 15 lbs); Stage 2: Infant (3-6 months; up to 20 lbs); Stage 3: Sitters (6+ months; up to 25 lbs). There are 2 positions that you can place the tub in and then you can completely remove the interior mesh once your baby can comfortably sit. The mesh also provides a type of “grip” that a simple plastic tub won’t provide which is great for newborns. Click here to learn more.

• An easy to grip, light, ergonomic bath rinser. I love the Moby Waterfall Bath Rinser by Skip Hop. We actually have this one in blue and have used it since Zane was born! It’s designed to keep water out of your baby’s eyes and ears, it’s light, and the one we currently have has lasted us over 2 years already! We actually ordered a second one because Zane loves to help rinse himself off in the bath so now I can get him rinsed off and he can help too! Click here to learn more.

• A large and soft bath towel. Don’t make the mistake of getting a small newborn one… it will last about as long as your clean shirt with a new born. I totally recommend getting a larger one that is soft, has a large hood (Zane had a big head that never full fit in the new born towels) and one that is good quality so that it can withstand daily and sometimes 2 times a day baths! For Zane and our new baby, we have always used the Skip Hop Zoo Hooded Towel. It’s soft, bright and vibrant, and great quality! Click here to learn more.

• A SINK BATH! Before having Zane, I had never heard of these, and I won’t make the mistake of having another baby without using one! The Skip Hop Moby SoftSpot Sink Bather™ is the perfect size for newborns and infants. It allows you to give them a bath in the kitchen or bathroom sink. It’s GREAT for when you’re on the go, visiting your parents or friends houses and accidents happen. It’s also super practical when you’re alone and your baby has an accident. It’s hard sometimes to contain the mess, undress your baby all while trying to fill up a bathtub. With the Sink Bather, you can put your baby right in the sink and use the sprayer or tap to keep them warm and start bathing them immediately! It has a velcro strap so that it can be easily hung to dry, it has neck and head support for babies and a mesh centre so that your baby is cradled. I am SO excited to give it try when our mini arrives in a few short weeks! Click here to learn more.

• Toys Toys and more Toys. They will keep your mini’s hands occupied and out of their soapy hair and will give you the time you need to properly wash them. I always recommend toys that move, toys that can easily be disinfected and toys that don’t have a ton of grooves and holes so that you don’t have any moldy surprises. Our 3 fave right now are: Count & Play Bath Puzzle, Zoo Paddle & Go Owl and the Mix & Match Foam Pals Bath Toys (these actually stick to the sides of your tub and will keep your baby entertained and as grow with them as they learn that they can move them around and make different animal combinations!).

If you think I’m missing anything, please let me know in the comments below! You may have noticed that all our products are from SkipHop. We did a massive haul at SkipHop and keep returning to them for our baby products because we love the quality, price and design of all their products. They’re a brand we trusted with Zane and they haven’t let us down! Click here to see their full product line!

Top Recommended Books for Toddlers - by YOU!

I put up a poll on my Instagram a few weeks ago asking you for your top recommended books for toddlers! Who better to recommend books than fellow mamas? Take advantage of free shipping all summer from Indigo.ca and stock up on the adorable books below! Missed my poll? No problem! Add a comment below with any books that I missed so we can check them out!

1. THE LITTLE BLUE BOX OF BRIGHT AND EARLY BOARD BOOKS BY DR. SEUSS

Inside this adorable blue box (with a handle that your mini will love), include the 4 books:  Hop on Pop; Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!; Ten Apples Up On Top!; and The Shape of Me and Other Stuff. They survived 2 weeks with my son undamaged so these books will withstand any child lol. Click here to visit Indigo to learn more.

2. SING A SONG OF MOTHER GOOSE

All of your fave childhood nursery rhymes are in this adorable hard covered book including: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star; Humpty Dumpty; Little Miss Muffet; Rockabye Baby; Sing a Song of Sixpence; Ladybird; Pussycat, Pussycat; Jack and Jill; Baa Baa Black Sheep; Hey Diddle Diddle; Rain, Rain, Go Away; Mary Had a Little Lamb; Pat A Cake and Hickory Dickory Dock. Click here to visit Indigo to learn more!

3. DR. SEUSS'S 100 FIRST WORDS

I was curious how many other words Zane could learn before saying Mama LOL. This board book has bright and bold colours that your mini will LOVE. Click here to learn more.

4. ADVENTURES WITH BAREFOOT CRITTERS

Learning the alphabet is fun with these little critters and this adorably illustrated board book. Click here to learn more!

5. DINOSAUR DANCE!

From the best selling author Sandra Boynton, this colourful and fun board book is all about.... dancing dinosaurs! What else!? Click here to learn more!

6. THE LION INSIDE

A beautiful book with a powerful message: We all have a lion and a mouse inside. Click here to learn more.

7. I LIKE MYSELF!

This book about self-esteem encourages children to love themselves! Such a great read and an important message to start teaching your children at any age. Click here to learn more.

8. ORDINARY PEOPLE CHANGE THE WORLD GIFT SET

This New York Times best selling series is all about what makes a Hero. Click here to learn more.

9. GIRAFFES CAN'T DANCE

Gerald the giraffe just wants to dance! With his long legs, it's harder than you think. When he finally receives encouragement from a friend, he realizes he can do it! This book is an inspiration for kids who dream big! Click here to learn more.

10. CHICKA CHICKA BOOM BOOM

This lively alphabet rhyme makes learning the alphabet fun! Click here to learn more.

Don't forget to take advantage of free shipping ALL SUMMER at Indigo.ca!

Top Recommended Books for Toddlers - by YOU!

I put up a poll on my Instagram a few weeks ago asking you for your top recommended books for toddlers! Who better to recommend books than fellow mamas? Take advantage of the awesome shipping promo they have going on right now: every book ships for free all summer long for plum membersfrom Indigo.ca and stock up on the adorable books below! Missed my poll? No problem! Add a comment below with any books that I missed so we can check them out!

1. THE LITTLE BLUE BOX OF BRIGHT AND EARLY BOARD BOOKS BY DR. SEUSS

Inside this adorable blue box (with a handle that your mini will love), include the 4 books:  Hop on Pop; Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!; Ten Apples Up On Top!; and The Shape of Me and Other Stuff. They survived 2 weeks with my son undamaged so these books will withstand any child lol. Click here to visit Indigo to learn more.

2. SING A SONG OF MOTHER GOOSE

All of your fave childhood nursery rhymes are in this adorable hard covered book including: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star; Humpty Dumpty; Little Miss Muffet; Rockabye Baby; Sing a Song of Sixpence; Ladybird; Pussycat, Pussycat; Jack and Jill; Baa Baa Black Sheep; Hey Diddle Diddle; Rain, Rain, Go Away; Mary Had a Little Lamb; Pat A Cake and Hickory Dickory Dock. Click here to visit Indigo to learn more!

3. DR. SEUSS'S 100 FIRST WORDS

I was curious how many other words Zane could learn before saying Mama LOL. This board book has bright and bold colours that your mini will LOVE. Click here to learn more.

4. ADVENTURES WITH BAREFOOT CRITTERS

Learning the alphabet is fun with these little critters and this adorably illustrated board book. Click here to learn more!

5. DINOSAUR DANCE!

From the best selling author Sandra Boynton, this colourful and fun board book is all about.... dancing dinosaurs! What else!? Click here to learn more!

6. THE LION INSIDE

A beautiful book with a powerful message: We all have a lion and a mouse inside. Click here to learn more.

7. I LIKE MYSELF!

This book about self-esteem encourages children to love themselves! Such a great read and an important message to start teaching your children at any age. Click here to learn more.

8. ORDINARY PEOPLE CHANGE THE WORLD GIFT SET

This New York Times best selling series is all about what makes a Hero. Click here to learn more.

9. GIRAFFES CAN'T DANCE

Gerald the giraffe just wants to dance! With his long legs, it's harder than you think. When he finally receives encouragement from a friend, he realizes he can do it! This book is an inspiration for kids who dream big! Click here to learn more.

10. CHICKA CHICKA BOOM BOOM

This lively alphabet rhyme makes learning the alphabet fun! Click here to learn more.

Don't forget to take advantage of free shipping on every book all summer long for plum members at Indigo.ca!

My Apologies to My Friends Who Don't Have Children

Having a baby changes your life and also the relationships that you have with the people around you. It makes you sympathize and bond with your fellow moms over how it's possible to survive on so little sleep and it unfortunately, can also distance you from your friends who don't have children. I can't say that I blame my friends... I once upon a time didn't have a baby and found it really hard to relate to what my mom friends were going through. I would try to have a conversion with my bestie M. and every 10 seconds was interrupted by: L put that down, L stop jumping, L stop running in the house! Fast forward a few years and our conversations now go something like this:
-Hey M! How are y - Zane don't eat the dog food! - what was I saying? 
-I'm good... tired, busy the usua - L put that down! Leave your sister alone! - what was I saying?
-You were telling me I think about your day yesterday? I don't really remem - Zane stop french kissing the dog! Omg M gotta go. Zane is playing in the toilet.

Mom life changes EVERYTHING. I've teamed up, once again, with my mom friends and we've come up with a list of apologies for our friends that don't have children! Feel free to add your own in the comments below: 

1 - I'm sorry I was an hour late to your birthday party  - to be honest.. my son threw up all over as I was heading out the door and you're lucky that I showed up at all. You should in fact be buying me a gift. Have you ever tried to wake a baby up from a nap and then show up at a party smiling? Why is your party at 9am anyways? Don't you know this is NAP TIME. 

2 - I'm sorry that every time we go out I'm always wearing black yoga pants - it's really because no other pants fit me and the black really camouflages all the food stains from my child throwing his dinner at me. Tonight we ate cheerios for dinner because i just couldn't deal.

3 - I'm sorry that my child bit you/hit you/threw something at you - I really am trying to teach him. Listen - if you think you can do better, take him for a day and try. Actually maybe a week. I could use some sleep. Please?

4 - I'm sorry I forgot your birthday/anniversary/first day of work etc. - I run on 4 hours of sleep a day and I can't even remember my own name most of the time, so just be thankful I remember who you are. You really are important to me and I promise one day I will get my shit together and start checking my reminders on my phone... if I can only find it... my son was playing with it somewhere. Speaking of which... were is my son? 

5 - I'm sorry I had to cancel our plans last minute because the baby was sick - I promise this isn't an excuse. They put everything in their mouth and are sick every week. I would much rather be sitting and having a glass of wine instead of sucking out boogers from my baby's nose (for those who don't have kids - yes this is a thing... and yes you will have to do it. Have kids they said... it'll be great they said.)

6 - I'm sorry I left your party early - I know I said it was because the baby was going to have a melt down, but I was the one who was ready to snap and felt it would be frowned upon if I started crying in the middle of a crowd of strangers. 

7 - I'm sorry I can never make it to dinner with my kid unless we eat at 5pm - Kids are assholes sometimes. Especially tired ones. If you want to have dinner at 7pm and want me to bring my son, that's fine. But know that there WILL be a melt down. And my son's screaming is comparable in volume and pitch to a beluga whale so EVERYONE will stare. We might even end up on YouTube when he starts catapulting the food across the restaurant. I'm down if you are... I've been through it all and have no shame anymore. 

All in all, my life has changed... but I promise I'll find that balance again... or a really good babysitter that's always available. I love you and miss you and still treasure our friendship so please wait for me to find my way. :)