Cubo Ai Plus Review - Giving Me Peace of Mind
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After testing for over a month, I'm sharing my Cubo Ai Plus review! In this post, I share my favorite features including their amazing baby-safety additions (plus a promo code)!
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The Baby Food Maker That Can Do It All!
/Finding baby items that simplify a mama’s life are like finding gold and I always have my eyes open for them. I was so excited to try the Baby Brezza Food Maker Complete, available at Elfe Juvenile Products. They’re having a site-wide sale until April 17th and you can get the Baby Brezza Food Maker Complete for 15% off! the It’s everything you need to make baby food in minutes! But it doesn’t stop there. You can make soups, smoothies (for the kids or yourself) and even steam veggies! It’s so practical and so easy to use! You can steam, blend or do both! There’s an easy to use digital display and my favorite part, is that it’s not complicated to clean.
I wasn’t sure how easy it would be to use, so I started off simple: Applesauce. You cube 2 medium apples, add them to the Baby Brezza Food Maker Complete, select the steam/blend setting, set the timer for 15 minutes and then wait!
Is it possible that this magical machine has made baby food making fun? Unlike the other baby food makers I’ve tried, you don’t need to measure out how much water you add to the machine because of the timer. You also don’t have a ton of parts. The other machines I’ve tried have blades, steamer baskets, lids, tongs and the list goes on. By the time you’ve made the food, you have a sink full of dirty items. The Baby Brezza Food Maker Complete has a detachable blade, a lid and the main container. That’s it! 3 parts to clean.
It also comes with 3 reusable feeding and storage pouches and 3 funnels to help get the baby food in the pouches! This is another thing that the competitors don’t offer. The funnels are game changers! The reusable food pouches are so practical when you’re on the go but if you have a smaller baby who eats less, you can also store the food in ice cube trays and then defrost only what you need to feed them that meal!
The Baby Brezza Food Maker Complete is such a game changer for moms, and with 15% off until April 17th at Elfe Juvenile Products, there has never been a better time to buy one! I’ve included a few of my favourite recipes from the Baby Brezza Website! Let me know if you’ve tried any of them or if you have another one that I should make!
Cherry Banana Quinoa
Ingredients:
½ cup of cooked quinoa
½ banana
1 cup of cherries, washed with pits removed and cut in half
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in the bowl of your baby food maker. Blend until smooth and serve.
Minty Pea Puree
Ingredients:
2 cups of sweet peas (fresh or frozen)
1 sprig of mint
Veggie broth, breast milk, or formula – if needed
Directions:
Combine the peas and mint into the bowl of your baby food maker. Set to steam & blend for 20 minutes, then let the machine automatically blend it into a super smooth puree.
If the texture is too thick, you can add broth, breast milk, or formula to achieve a thinner consistency.
Carrot Ginger Soup
Ingredients:
1 lb carrots, sliced
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp unsalted butter
1 onion, chopped
1 to 2 tbsp fresh grated ginger (start with 1tbsp and increase to taste)
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup whole milk or light cream
1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Directions:
Heat the oil and butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
Add the onions and cook until tender and translucent.
Add carrots and ginger to the pan and stir.
Pour in 1 cup of chicken broth, and bring to a boil. Then, lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.
Add the remaining 1 cup of broth, and simmer an additional 10 minutes. Then, remove cover and bring to a boil.
Remove from heat and blend with One Step Baby Food Maker.
Before serving, add milk and stir, then add parsley.
Very Veggie: Baby Green Bean Casserole
Ingredients:
1 cup green beans, steamed
1 cup cooked brown rice
½ cup of water, formula, or milk
¼ tsp dried sage
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in One Step Baby Food Maker, food processor bowl, or blender.
Puree and serve.
Recipe Note: For babies just transitioning to solid foods, be sure to strain out any stringy green bean remnants.
The Sleep Program You've Been Searching For!
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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.
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.
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!
Gifting STEM Toys This Holiday Season (Copy)
/This year I’m making a conscious effort to gift smart! You might be wondering what I’m talking about. I recently discovered the world of STEM toys and was a bit disappointed that I hadn’t learned about them before. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math but STEM toys focus on so much more. Although they look just as fun as regular toys, they’re actually tools that help kids develop their abilities while they have fun and learn. STEM toys generally consist of board games, building blocks and science kits and are available for children as young as toddlers all the way to teens!
We tried out and are sharing 3 STEM toys that can all be found in the GIFT WHIZ tool that was created by Learning Resources and we loved the toys so much that we’ll be using it to make informed and personalized choices for gifts for all the kids on my holiday shopping list this season!
Counting Surprise Party
This toy is the gift that keeps giving! Your little ones will be thrilled to discover presents that are filled with surprises! This gift will help them learn their colors, to count and to identify objects such as robots, cats, guitars and even a plane! It’s priced at under $20 so it’s the perfect gift for any 3 year old on your list!
Hoot the Fine Motor Owl
Hoot the Fine Motor Owl helps your kids strengthen hand-eye coordination as well as an introduction to colors, shapes and number recognition skills. Your children will drop the coins in a slot on the owl’s head and use scissor skills to flap the wings and the coins come tumbling out!
1-2-3 Build It!™ Construction Crew
There are 3 different ways your little engineers can put this toy together! They can build a digger, a dump truck and a bulldozer with easy and big snap together pieces. This toy helps to develop and strengthen fine motor skills, hand strength, coordination and other skills that help prepare them for preschool! Your kids imaginations will run wild while they learn and have fun playing with the 1-2-3 Build It! Construction Crew.
Click here to check out the 1-2-3 Build It! Construction Crew.
The GIFT WHIZ will guide you and help you choose the best gift for the children in your life! It takes all the guesswork out of holiday shopping! Click here to check out the GIFT WHIZ by Learning Resources.
Gifting STEM Toys This Holiday Season
/This year I’m making a conscious effort to gift smart! You might be wondering what I’m talking about. I recently discovered the world of STEM toys and was a bit disappointed that I hadn’t learned about them before. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math but STEM toys focus on so much more. Although they look just as fun as regular toys, they’re actually tools that help kids develop their abilities while they have fun and learn. STEM toys generally consist of board games, building blocks and science kits and are available for children as young as toddlers all the way to teens!
We tried out and are sharing 3 STEM toys that can all be found in the GIFT WHIZ tool that was created by Learning Resources and we loved the toys so much that we’ll be using it to make informed and personalized choices for gifts for all the kids on my holiday shopping list this season!
Counting Surprise Party
This toy is the gift that keeps giving! Your little ones will be thrilled to discover presents that are filled with surprises! This gift will help them learn their colors, to count and to identify objects such as robots, cats, guitars and even a plane! It’s priced at under $20 so it’s the perfect gift for any 3 year old on your list!
Hoot the Fine Motor Owl
Hoot the Fine Motor Owl helps your kids strengthen hand-eye coordination as well as an introduction to colors, shapes and number recognition skills. Your children will drop the coins in a slot on the owl’s head and use scissor skills to flap the wings and the coins come tumbling out!
1-2-3 Build It!™ Construction Crew
There are 3 different ways your little engineers can put this toy together! They can build a digger, a dump truck and a bulldozer with easy and big snap together pieces. This toy helps to develop and strengthen fine motor skills, hand strength, coordination and other skills that help prepare them for preschool! Your kids imaginations will run wild while they learn and have fun playing with the 1-2-3 Build It! Construction Crew.
Click here to check out the 1-2-3 Build It! Construction Crew.
The GIFT WHIZ will guide you and help you choose the best gift for the children in your life! It takes all the guesswork out of holiday shopping! Click here to check out the GIFT WHIZ by Learning Resources.
3 Essentials for the New Mama in Your Life
/The holidays are the perfect time to spoil a new mama in your life! Chances are, high up on her wish list are items that will make her day-to-day life easier and more enjoyable now that she has a newborn! I’ve rounded up 3 items from one of my favorite companies: Boppy. Their products have helped me through 2 pregnancies and through 2 babies so I know that any new mom (or expecting mom) will be so thankful to receive one of them.
Boppy® Newborn Lounger
Recommended for babies from newborn to 16lbs, this lounger is the perfect gift for any new mom. It’s the only baby support pillow uniquely designed with a recessed interior perfect for your baby’s bottom, which means a new mama can set her baby down for supervised awake time and baby will be comfy and happy. It’s lightweight and easy to carry around so it can go where you go, making it a MUST HAVE for the holidays when you’ll likely be at friend’s and family’s houses with no crib in sight! It’s soft, machine washable and comes in 6 beautiful patterns to match any nursery and home decor! Click here to shop and learn more!
Boppy® Luxe Feeding & Infant Support Pillow
The Boppy® Luxe Feeding and Infant Support Pillow is a multifunctional lifesaver for new parents! It’s one of the items that I wonder sometimes how I ever survived without! It helps to lift babies to a more ergonomic position for breastfeeding and bottle feedings, making for a happier baby and mama! It also transitions as a support pillow for your baby to practice tummy time, neck control and sitting! The cover is removable and washable and you can buy different covers separately. Many of the nursing pillows I’ve tried are awkwardly shaped and don’t double as a support pillow for tummy time or sitting, which is why this one is at the top of my list! It’s so comfy, the patterns and colors are perfect for any nursery (check out the colors and patterns below) and it has a super soft velvet side that your baby will just love! Click here to shop and learn more!
ComfyFit® Baby Carrier
Nothing is more liberating as a new mom than having both your hands free! It used to be a rare occasion until the ComfyFit® Baby Carrier came along! Inspired by comfy yoga wear, the fabric is breathable, lightweight and so soft! It moves with you and your baby, so they won’t mind being carried in it all morning while you do your makeup, drink a warm cup of coffee and even prepare food! It’s easy to use and your baby can go forward facing or rear facing so it can be used long past the newborn days. It also has an adjustable waist and is machine washable. It’s everything you want in a baby carrier for a price that’s too good to beat! Click here to shop and learn more!
The Only Stroller Travel System You Need!
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What if I told you that there was a stroller travel system that had kids and adults alike in mind in its design? I know! I couldn’t believe it either. Until I got my hands on the Tango™ Travel System by Baby Trend. This travel system has so many amazing features and checks off every box when it comes to practicality, design, ease of use and, best of all, price. I’m going to walk you through a few of my favorite features that make it stand out among its competition!
For starters, it’s a travel system so it comes with a stroller and an Ally™ Infant Car Seat and Base, which for the price, you can’t beat. These 2 items together mean that you’re equipped from the second your baby is born to travel (even if it’s only to the grocery store) and the stroller will grow with your child until they’re 50lbs! The Ally™ Infant Car Seat Base is equipped with a LATCH system, making it an absolute breeze to install and to remove. It has incredible safety features, such as EPS energy-absorbing foam for superior side impact head protection and a 5-point safety harness (that can easily be adjusted and released). With mamas in mind, it has a one-hand easy-access seat release, an adjustable canopy and a height adjustable base so that it easily accommodates any car.
Now let’s get to the stroller! It has an amazing one-hand fold making it perfect for multitasking parents! I don’t remember the last time I had 2 hands free to close a stroller! With the pull of a strap, it easily snaps closed. It’s lightweight, has a super smooth ride and has an amazing over-sized canopy with UPF 50+ making it the ultimate travel companion for zoo visits, park days and beach trips!
Tango™ Travel System by Baby Trend has a fully reclinable seat, so no more missed naps and it comes with a durable and practical snack tray with a cup holder for your mini! Don’t worry, they didn’t forget us parents! It also comes with a cell phone holder and 2 large cup holders so you can bring your coffee or water wherever you go. The large storage basket can be accessed from the front and rear of the stroller making it the perfect shopping companion because there’s room to store all your purchases.
Of all the strollers I’ve had the opportunity to try out, this one is in a league of it’s own. The price, quality and intuitive design and accessories make it a must for all new and seasoned parents alike!
Click here to head to the Baby Trend site to read more about this amazing travel system!
The Only Stroller Travel System You Need!
/What if I told you that there was a stroller travel system that had kids and adults alike in mind in its design? I know! I couldn’t believe it either. Until I got my hands on the Tango™ Travel System by Baby Trend. This travel system has so many amazing features and checks off every box when it comes to practicality, design, ease of use and, best of all, price. I’m going to walk you through a few of my favorite features that make it stand out among its competition!
For starters, it’s a travel system so it comes with a stroller and an Ally™ Infant Car Seat and Base, which for the price, you can’t beat. These 2 items together mean that you’re equipped from the second your baby is born to travel (even if it’s only to the grocery store) and the stroller will grow with your child until they’re 50lbs! The Ally™ Infant Car Seat Base is equipped with a LATCH system, making it an absolute breeze to install and to remove. It has incredible safety features, such as EPS energy-absorbing foam for superior side impact head protection and a 5-point safety harness (that can easily be adjusted and released). With mamas in mind, it has a one-hand easy-access seat release, an adjustable canopy and a height adjustable base so that it easily accommodates any car.
Now let’s get to the stroller! It has an amazing one-hand fold making it perfect for multitasking parents! I don’t remember the last time I had 2 hands free to close a stroller! With the pull of a strap, it easily snaps closed. It’s lightweight, has a super smooth ride and has an amazing over-sized canopy with UPF 50+ making it the ultimate travel companion for zoo visits, park days and beach trips!
Tango™ Travel System by Baby Trend has a fully reclinable seat, so no more missed naps and it comes with a durable and practical snack tray with a cup holder for your mini! Don’t worry, they didn’t forget us parents! It also comes with a cell phone holder and 2 large cup holders so you can bring your coffee or water wherever you go. The large storage basket can be accessed from the front and rear of the stroller making it the perfect shopping companion because there’s room to store all your purchases.
Of all the strollers I’ve had the opportunity to try out, this one is in a league of it’s own. The price, quality and intuitive design and accessories make it a must for all new and seasoned parents alike!
Click here to head to the Baby Trend site to read more about this amazing travel system!
The Truth About Pregnancy Pillows
/The truth about pregnancy pillows: THEY WORK.
I didn’t buy any when I was pregnant with Zane… mostly because I was skeptical and not really sure why a pregnancy pillow would be that different than the 20 pillows I had on my bed already. I remember with Zane, I had 1 pillow under my belly, another between my legs, 2 behind me so I wouldn’t roll on my back and a few others depending on how uncomfortable I was. They didn’t really help for long periods of time because they always shifted, moved out of place, or when I eventually had to get up to go pee, it was mission impossible getting them all back into place.
I got my hands on 4 different pregnancy pillows from Boppy and am here to tell you: Don’t make the same mistake I did. Their pillow are affordable, amazing quality and will save your sanity by allowing you to comfortably sleep during your pregnancy! Go. Get. One. Now.
Total Body Pillow: It supports your head, shoulder, belly, legs and ankles. It really is a support for every part of your body. You can use with while lounging or sleeping and it really is the ultimate solution. I LOVE my regular bed pillow, so this full body pillow I would mostly use while lounging. I asked a friend for her opinion and after her first night sleeping with it, she told me it was the best sleep of her pregnancy! Even her husband asked why she didn't get one sooner!
Support Pillow: It supports your Head and Shoulder, Baby Bump and Shoulders, Baby Bump and Legs, or Back and Legs. It allows you to use your own bed pillow (which I love) and is compact enough to bring anywhere! I will definitely be packing it in my hospital bag!
Side Sleeper Pillow: It supports your Back and Baby Bump and is especially helpful for women who are used to sleeping on their backs but need to learn to sleep on their sides during pregnancy. It gently cradles your baby bump and sits behind your back, preventing you from rolling over! The stretch panel will grow with you throughout your pregnancy!
The Wedge: It supports Knees, Back or Baby Bump. This is probably the most underrated product out there. I would have NEVER thought a tiny wedge could make such a difference… but it’s incredible. It alleviated so much pressure off my hips and back during my pregnancy!
I sleep with the wedge under my belly and the support pillow between my legs. Whether you are pregnant, know someone who is, or are currently trying to conceive, pregnancy pillows will save you and I would definitely consider them a must for every pregnant woman!!! I love my pillows from Boppy because they are durable, affordable and you can remove the covers to easily wash them. I wish I would have tried them sooner!!!!
All of Boppy’s pregnancy pillows have removable covers, making them super easy to wash and reuse pregnancy and pregnancy. I regret so much not investing in one for my pregnancy with Zane! Head over to Boppy to check out all the other amazing products that they have for pregnant and nursing mamas!
Outings With a Toddler? Contours Bitsy Has You Covered!
/As a soon to be mama of 2, lightweight, durable and practical have become my 3 fave words to describe children’s products (and it doesn’t hurt when they’re over the top gorgeous too!). Carrying around a 2 year old and a diaper bag isn’t always easy (ok it’s never easy) so I’ve turned to light weight travel strollers to save the day 🙌.
As we prepare to go to the hospital to deliver baby #2 in just a few days, our Contours Bitsy Compact Fold Stroller will be an item we don’t leave behind. It will make navigating the hospital hallways much more enjoyable for Zane (and my husband) and it’s lightweight enough that we can easily carry it too If my son decides he wants to walk!
Whether it’s for hospital visits, park visits or just lunch at the mall, the right stroller can make or break an outing! I always look for a few MUST HAVE features in strollers and the Contours Bitsy Compact Fold Stroller checks off every box!
1. Easy to open and close. If you have groceries in one hand or a yelling toddler (much more probable), the last thing you want is to be battling with a stroller that’s complicated to open. The Contours Bitsy Compact Fold Stroller opens with the squeeze of a button and you can do it with 1 hand because it’s so light!
2. Large compartment underneath. A lot of the travel strollers make you compromise storage for a lighter weight which means you’re carrying a diaper bag on you (kind of defeats the purpose of a stroller.... no?). The Contours Bitsy Compact Fold Stroller can fit my large backpack diaper bag underneath with ease along with my wallet and water bottle, making it the perfect companion anywhere we go!
3. Durable. No one wants to replace a stroller everytime your child spills something or everytime you hit a bump on a sidewalk, so a well made stroller is KEY. The Contours Bitsy Compact Fold Stroller has durable and soft gliding wheels that work on pavement and grass. The material is soft but wipeable and easy to clean so it will last spill after spill.
4. Comfort. Nothing will ruin an outing faster than an uncomfortable toddler. Believe me. So when I get a huge smile or my son BEGS me to get in a stroller, I know it’s a keeper! I also look for strollers that can recline, which allows my son to take a nap on the go 🙌.
if you’re on the hunt for an affordable, practical, durable and GORGEOUS stroller (that comes in an array of colours!), have a look at the Contours Bitsy stroller! It’s available at Contoursbaby.com or Toys R Us.
The Ultimate Bassinet from Chicco
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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:
It matches my decor and is not an eye sore
It is supposed to easily fold up and fit in a bag that you can carry over your shoulder!
It has a padded mattress, making it much more comfy than a play yard
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.
Unexpected Diaper Bag Essentials
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When you leave the house with a baby, being equipped with everything you could possibly need could be the different between enjoying your day out, and having to come home early due to a fussy baby. We all know the usual items for a diaper bag - wipes, changes of clothes and DIAPERS! I wanted to recommend a few others that you may or may not have thought of and that will save you in any meltdown situation!
For starters, you need a good diaper bag. With Zane, I started off using one that I found at a regular retail store, but quickly learned that a good diaper bag has several essentials that you can’t find anywhere else.
1 - Stroller clips: A necessary feature is stroller clips, which allows the bag to hang from the handle of your stroller, freeing up the storage compartment underneath for shopping and other bags! Without stroller clips, you’ll be forced to put your bag under the stroller, leaving no room for jackets, shopping bags or groceries. It sounds like something silly now, but when baby arrives you’ll understand what I’m talking about!
2 - Insulated pockets for bottles and food: An amazing feature in some diaper bags (including this one!) is 2 insulated side pockets for bottles or other food. This means you can go to the park in the summer with a bottle of milk or water and it will stay cool! Or you can keep a bottle of water or formula warm. This is a lifesaver when you are somewhere (like the park) where there is no hot water or microwave in sight!
3 - LOTS OF POCKETS: This diaper bag from Elfe Juvenile products has 8 diaper different compartments. It means you can stay organized, find things easily, and most importantly, fit EVERYTHING that you need into 1 bag.
4 - BACKPACK BACKPACK BACKPACK: I can’t stress this enough. When you have a crying baby or one that just needs love, you need your hands free. Having a diaper bag that goes over your shoulder might look cute, but its super impractical. I can’t recommend enough to find one that’s a backpack. And there are so many awesome styles now, that you don’t need to compromise style for functionality.
Next up on my list are a few teethers from Nuby. We used SO many of their products with Zane and I’m loving being able to discover even more of what they have to offer with baby #2! A teething baby is generally a cranky baby so with the help of the products below, you can help you mini remain soothed while you’re out and about:
1 - Fruity Chews: These unique teethers will help your teething baby find relief. Their unique texture will provide comfort and the small delicate grip is perfect for your baby’s little hands to grasp!
2 - Beaded PaciFinder: Thanks to this, you won’t lose any more pacifiers (or have your mini throw them on the floor!). This Nuby one comes with a silicone teether too so whether your baby needs to be soothed or needs to chew on something to sooth her gums, you’ll have it all!
3 - Happy Hands Teething Mitten: These mittens are perfect for babies that still can’t grasp a traditional teether and that tend to chew their fingers instead! The soft silicone will soothe their gums and you can easily clean it can even be machine washed!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, finding the right pacifier is crucial to a happy baby. I don’t think there’s a logic behind why some prefer one shape over another, so I recommend buying a few different ones, figuring out which one your baby prefers, and then STOCK UP!!! Always make sure to get the appropriate size - the nipple in the bigger sizes will be too big for your mini and will make them gag!
I love these NaturalFit pacifiers from Chicco:
1 - NaturalFit 2-Pack Soft Silicone Orthodontic Pacifier 0M+
Finally, don’t underestimate the importance of brining bibs! Lots. Of. Bibs. Babies drool, they spit up and they drop milk and food all the time. Unless you feel like packing 10 shirts, bring bibs! They’re small, light weight and can be easily switched! I love the Cheeky Chompers Neckerbib! They’re reversible, so soft, have easily attachable snaps at the back and come in an array of colours and patterns to match any outfit!
If you have any questions about the products, don’t hesitate to drop me a comment below or send me an email! You can find them all by clicking the names of the products, or by visiting the Elfe website!
Baby and Toddler Gift Ideas from Kidz District!
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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… good quality toys for kids is really hard to find. I was super lucky to discover some of my favourite brands when Zane was younger so I know which ones to stick to the second time around! If you’ve been following me for a while, then you know that I’ve been getting toys from Kidz District since Zane was only a few months old! His first toy was the Dolce Musical Giraffe (read my full review here) and it’s made it through 2 years of love from Zane and will be passed along to baby #2 :).
I got my hands on a few more of their toys and think that these need to be on all of your holiday shopping lists if you don’t already own them!!!
You can say “bye!” to clutter on the floor thanks to this GENIUS line of Vertiplay Wall Toys that stick to your walls (without damaging the paint!). We tried out the Tree Top Adventure and the Musical Rail Track but there are many others! Appropriate for ages 2+, these toys will keep them busy and occupied while leaving your floors clear of toys! They’re stimulating, educational and fit in with any decor! Click here to see the entire collection.
ORIBEL PORTAPLAY - WONDERLAND ADVENTURES
If you’re looking for an activity centre that can REALLY grow with your child, this is it! This PortaPlay is good for ages 5 months - 5 years! It easily converts from an activity centre with a ton of educational and stimulating toys, to a flat top table for colouring and other activities! Don’t forget to add on the matching stools (they come 2 in a pack!). A bonus? The activity centre and table have easily folding/collapsible legs so it can be transported and folded away. Check out the activity centre here.
If you’re looking for a cuddly new entertaining bestie for your little one, look no further! The Pull Along Elephant from Dolce will help your mini develop relationship skills while walking and having a blast with their new best friend. The elephant has a squeaker in his tummy and crinkly ears that your toddler with love, along with a teether and wheels so that he zooms across the floor! Thankfully, the wheels easily come off, so your toddler can bring their best friend with them for nap time! Click here to learn more or click here to see the entire Dolce Collection.
I only covered a few of my favourites from Kidz District! Click here to visit their website to see everything else they offer!
Only The Best For Your Little Ones From Aden + Anais
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Surprise a new mom in your life by gifting her the essentials this holiday season! Take it from me… I’ve tried A LOT of products and finding products that will last, are beautiful and will be loved by baby and mama is not as easy as it seems! Thankfully Aden + Anais is always coming out with new collections so you can fall in love with their products over and over again.
Their Seafaring Collection is a beautiful mix of dreamy ocean colours and whimsical waves and dots. Each pattern is more beautiful than the next and Aden + Anais never disappoints with the ultra soft and cuddly cottons.
The Seafaring - Whale Classic Dream Blanket is a MUST HAVE in every nursery. It can be used as a blanket to sit on and play on on the floor, and as your baby gets older, it can be used as a blanket. We never go anywhere without ours and have a few in different patterns. You’ll LOVE how big and plush it is, and because it’s machine washable, your mini will never have to sleep without it!
The Seafaring Collection also has a super soft 4-pack of their classic swaddle blankets. They are the softest 100% cotton muslin that will ever touch your baby’s skin! They come in so many colours and patterns, the hardest part will be choosing which ones to get!
Finally, my last obsession in the Seafaring Collection is their Classic Burpy Bib. They drape over your baby’s shoulder and snap at the back to catch all drool and spit up that will escape your baby’s mouth! They are made from the same 100% muslin cotton as the swaddle blankets so you know that only the best is touching your baby’s skin.
The other collection that I’m OBSESSING over is the Seaport Silky Soft Collection. It features a silky soft feeling like no other, with more abstract prints that will fit in with any decor. The Silk Soft Collection comes in a bunch of different colours and patterns so you can find one to match any nursery!
The Silky Soft Dream Blanket is unique because it features four layers of luxurious viscose made from bamboo for THE MOST baby blanket. Your baby will love lying on it, cuddling on it and playing on it. It’s a great baby shower gift that any new mom will fall in love with.
The Seaport Silky Soft Swaddles bring swaddle blankets to a whole other level!!! You need to feel one to understand what I’m talking about! You can use them to swaddle your baby or even as a light and airy blanket for their stroller!
Lastly, the Silky Soft Burpy Bibs bring bibs to a whole new level. Made from bamboo fabric, it’s a bib that can go around your baby’s neck but also doubles as a burp pad! It’s shape also makes sure your shoulder is fully covered during burping, which is always a win!!
You can shop the entire Aden + Anais Collection on their website. Be prepared to fall in love with every pattern and design. Whether it’s for a holiday gift, a baby shower, or your own baby, you won’t regret choosing Aden + Anais.
Gifts That Give Back All Year Round
/With the holidays around the corner, I think it’s more important than ever to try to give back this holiday season and it can start with what’s on your shopping list! This year I’m making an effort to be very selective with the companies that I choose to buy gifts from and My B Toys is one that made the cut. For starters, they care about our earth (which is an initiative that I haven’t seen from any other toy company). They scrutinize every piece to ensure its impact on our children’s world is as light as possible - they use recyclable materials and their boxes and packaging are designed to be reused and some can even be reversed to become gift wrap! Even the ink on their packaging is soy-based and their varnishes are water-based. They then go a step farther and give a portion of every sale to Free The Children which has built over 650 schools in communities around the world, providing education to 50,000 children every day. If you still need another reason to support them, their toys are just THE CUTEST. Below are the items that we chose for Zane and for our newest addition that’s due in April! Their toys are available at Target and Amazon.
Recommended for children 2 years +. it’s won multiple awards and is a frog inspired drum! There are beats from around the world, Ribbit-tat-tat from B toys is a frog-inspired toddler drum set and the winner of multiple awards! With its sturdy, toddler-proof construction, this frog toy drum is the perfect way to introduce music to babies and toddlers. There’s a retractable microphone where you can sing along, a voice changer and other games programmed in it! It will keep you and your mini entertained for hours :). Click here for more info!
This isn’t your ordinary fire truck! It lights up, vibrates and moves on it’s own! It has an extendable fire hose and even a ladder that goes up and down! Zane looooves trucks and cars so this was a no brainer win for us! Click here for more info!
This is an acitivity that I am SO excited for. Whenever you shop for a new baby, there are always a few things you find that you can’t believe you lived without before. This is one of them! We had an activity for Zane but it was hard and often I felt he was uncomfortable on the floor when he was on it. This one is SO quilted and soft that your mini could even take a nap on it! It has 5 sensory toys hanging from the arc and it’s machine washable! Click here to learn more!
This is mobile any expecting mom NEEDS this season. It’s a musical mobile with a magical light show that will have your baby soothed and calm. The light show covers every hue of the rainbow with the sweetest melodies. You can take it along and hang it from a car seat, an activity mat or a crib! The bonus? It’s SAFE! This baby musical mobile toy is BPA and phthalates free. Made of a Super soft and safe fabric! packaging is recyclable and recycled, with soy-based inks. Click here to learn more!
Chewy Chews peace
This is the perfect firth teether for your little one! It has an adorable peace sign shape, is a beautiful color and will easily be held by your mini! It’s only available in stores!
Gifts That Give Back All Year Round
/With the holidays around the corner, I think it’s more important than ever to try to give back this holiday season and it can start with what’s on your shopping list! This year I’m making an effort to be very selective with the companies that I choose to buy gifts from and My B Toys is one that made the cut. For starters, they care about our earth (which is an initiative that I haven’t seen from any other toy company). They scrutinize every piece to ensure its impact on our children’s world is as light as possible - they use recyclable materials and their boxes and packaging are designed to be reused and some can even be reversed to become gift wrap! Even the ink on their packaging is soy-based and their varnishes are water-based. They then go a step farther and give a portion of every sale to Free The Children which has built over 650 schools in communities around the world, providing education to 50,000 children every day. If you still need another reason to support them, their toys are just THE CUTEST. Below are the items that we chose for Zane and for our newest addition that’s due in April! Their toys are available at Target and Amazon.
Recommended for children 2 years +. it’s won multiple awards and is a frog inspired drum! There are beats from around the world, Ribbit-tat-tat from B toys is a frog-inspired toddler drum set and the winner of multiple awards! With its sturdy, toddler-proof construction, this frog toy drum is the perfect way to introduce music to babies and toddlers. There’s a retractable microphone where you can sing along, a voice changer and other games programmed in it! It will keep you and your mini entertained for hours :). Click here for more info!
This isn’t your ordinary fire truck! It lights up, vibrates and moves on it’s own! It has an extendable fire hose and even a ladder that goes up and down! Zane looooves trucks and cars so this was a no brainer win for us! Click here for more info!
This is an acitivity that I am SO excited for. Whenever you shop for a new baby, there are always a few things you find that you can’t believe you lived without before. This is one of them! We had an activity for Zane but it was hard and often I felt he was uncomfortable on the floor when he was on it. This one is SO quilted and soft that your mini could even take a nap on it! It has 5 sensory toys hanging from the arc and it’s machine washable! Click here to learn more!
This is mobile any expecting mom NEEDS this season. It’s a musical mobile with a magical light show that will have your baby soothed and calm. The light show covers every hue of the rainbow with the sweetest melodies. You can take it along and hang it from a car seat, an activity mat or a crib! The bonus? It’s SAFE! This baby musical mobile toy is BPA and phthalates free. Made of a Super soft and safe fabric! packaging is recyclable and recycled, with soy-based inks. Click here to learn more!
Chewy Chews peace
This is the perfect firth teether for your little one! It has an adorable peace sign shape, is a beautiful color and will easily be held by your mini! It’s only available in stores!
The Only Stroller You Need To Read About!
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I’ve been lucky enough to test out my share of light weight strollers, so I’d like to think of myself as an expert when it comes to choosing the best one! When I had the chance to test out another, I obviously jumped at the opportunity! With baby #2 due in April, I’m always looking to discover the best of the best baby products (plus it gave me an opportunity to play pretend-big brother with Zane and let him push around a stroller). I’ve been using the Bily Compact Easy-Fold Stroller for over 3 weeks - and there is not one thing I would change about it. My 6 fave features are below! If you’ve tried it, I’d love to hear about yours! (scroll to the bottom of my post for outfit details - including my hat that you can use with a ponytail!)
You can fold and unfold it with only one hand
It’s SUPER compact and light weight
It has a HUGE storage space under the stroller that is easy to access (not the case in most compact strollers)
It fully reclines so your kids can stay awake for the fun or take a nap while you shop lol.
There is a handle bar that you can clip on toys to (none of the one’s I’ve tried before have had this)
The lock and unlock feature for the wheels is easy to activate
This stroller is hands down my favourite. If you’re looking for a light weight stroller that you can easily carry with one hand, bring on a plane and push around for hours without getting tired, this is the one for you! Click here to learn more or to shop!
The hat I’m wearing deserves special attention too! It’s the first hat I’ve found that you can wear with a pony tail or mom bun! It has an elastic at the top so you can keep your messy mom bun in tact and still keep your ears warm (how cool?!). It’s from My Gear Online and is so practical and cute! It’s an awesome gift for the holidays for anyone in your life with gorgeous locks.
One Kid Road Coat - the Patented Crash Tested MUST HAVE Coat!
/GIVEAWAY LINK: https://manage.kmail-lists.com/subscriptions/subscribe?a=K9Mubq&g=QjAHyj
As a parent, safety always comes before practicality…. so to be honest, I remember dreading winter last year… until I discovered the One Kid® Road Coat. For anyone living with kids in winter weather, you know what a pain it is to run to the car with a jacket, take it off before putting them in their car seat, putting it back on before you go out side again. It’s what we need to do to keep our kids safe, and until I discovered the One Kid® Road Coat, I thought that was the only option! One Kid® has a patented design that is safe to wear while in a car seat! Yes… you read that correctly! You can even watch videos of a crash test on their website to see how they work. No more taking off their jackets (or snowsuit onesies) before putting them in the car!
One Kid®’s coats and snowsuits are crash tested and will keep your little ones warm in -25 Fahrenheit/-30 Celsius weather! We tried out the Road Coat® Down, which also comes in a vegan version, and a 1 piece snow suit version, and their Snow Pants which are soft, easily pulled on and pack-able! Despite being very warm, they are super light weight and they can be easily folded into a carrying pouch that's included, which makes travelling with them a cinch!
The One Kid® Road Coat® is designed in such a way that you can zip back the puffy outer layer when your little one is in the car seat, allowing the car seat strap to lie closer to your child’s body. There’s also a non slip surface on the front which prevents the car seat's harness straps from slipping, and it even comes with a red marker to help you identify where the chest clip should sit!
The One Kid® Road Coat® and matching Snow Pants were a no brainer last year and remain one of our fave discoveries from last year.
GIVEAWAY!
I’m SO excited to announce that I’ve partnered with One Kid® to give away one of their Road Coats®! Visit the link below to enter! It’s that SIMPLE!
CONTEST LINK: https://manage.kmail-lists.com/subscriptions/subscribe?a=K9Mubq&g=QjAHyj
*Contest closes October 31, 2018 and the winner will be contacted by email. Open to US & Canadian residents 18 years of age and older.
The Only Stroller You Need To Read About!
/I’ve been lucky enough to test out my share of light weight strollers, so I’d like to think of myself as an expert when it comes to choosing the best one! When I had the chance to test out another, I obviously jumped at the opportunity! With baby #2 due in April, I’m always looking to discover the best of the best baby products (plus it gave me an opportunity to play pretend-big brother with Zane and let him push around a stroller). I’ve been using the Bily Compact Easy-Fold Stroller for over 3 weeks - and there is not one thing I would change about it. My 6 fave features are below! If you’ve tried it, I’d love to hear about yours! (scroll to the bottom of my post for outfit details - including my hat that you can use with a ponytail!)
You can fold and unfold it with only one hand
It’s SUPER compact and light weight
It has a HUGE storage space under the stroller that is easy to access (not the case in most compact strollers)
It fully reclines so your kids can stay awake for the fun or take a nap while you shop lol.
There is a handle bar that you can clip on toys to (none of the one’s I’ve tried before have had this)
The lock and unlock feature for the wheels is easy to activate
This stroller is hands down my favourite. If you’re looking for a light weight stroller that you can easily carry with one hand, bring on a plane and push around for hours without getting tired, this is the one for you! Click here to learn more or to shop!
The hat I’m wearing deserves special attention too! It’s the first hat I’ve found that you can wear with a pony tail or mom bun! It has an elastic at the top so you can keep your messy mom bun in tact and still keep your ears warm (how cool?!). It’s from My Gear Online and is so practical and cute! It’s an awesome gift for the holidays for anyone in your life with gorgeous locks.
Make a Gazillion Memories This Summer!
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With BBQ season finally here, I've found the MUST have products to keep children entertained: the Gazillion Bubbles Collection! Their bubble machines and wands will keep children of all ages busy and playing outside, instead of in front of the TV. Make a Gazillion memories this summer with Gazillion Bubbles! Their top secret bubble solution makes the brightest and most colourful bubbles that are eco-friendly, safe, non-toxic and won't stain clothing or furniture!
The Gazillion Bubbles Tornado is a must have for any backyard or patio. You turn on this machine and there are literally hundreds of bubbles within seconds! It's light weight and affordable so I'm even going to bring mine to the park this summer! Be prepared to be the favourite parent in the neighbourhood with this machine!
Their bubble wands are just as fun! Zane had a blast chasing the bubbles and this is definitely something I'm going to keep in our stroller all summer. Gazillion Bubbles also has Crazy Wands (scroll down for a few pics) which are for kids a bit older than Zane but I think they would also make such awesome loot bag ideas if you're planning a birthday party this summer!
Gazillion Bubbles products are available for purchase in Canada at Walmart & TRU Canada