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:

1. Heat the oil and butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.

2. Add the onions and cook until tender and translucent.

3. Add carrots and ginger to the pan and stir.

4. Pour in 1 cup of chicken broth, and bring to a boil. Then, lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.

5. Add the remaining 1 cup of broth, and simmer an additional 10 minutes. Then, remove cover and bring to a boil.

6. Remove from heat and blend with One Step Baby Food Maker.

7. 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:

1. Combine all ingredients in One Step Baby Food Maker, food processor bowl, or blender.

2. Puree and serve.

Recipe Note: For babies just transitioning to solid foods, be sure to strain out any stringy green bean remnants.

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 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!

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!

Unexpected Diaper Bag Essentials

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+

2 - NaturalFit® 2-Pack Mi-cro™ Pacifier 0-2m

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!