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!

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!

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!

Only The Best For Your Little Ones From Aden + Anais

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.

bblüv Üvi 4-in-1 UV Sterilizer for Pacifiers, Bottles and Sippy Cups!

As a new mom, I'm always looking for that must have product that will make my life easier. When I was pregnant, I started making my list and sent my husband shopping as soon as baby Zane arrived (I'm a bit of a procrastinator and probably should have bought it all before... my poor husband lol). I was super surprised to discover that there was a portable UV sterilizer that no one had told me about! Available at Canada's Baby Store, the bblüv Üvi 4-in-1 UV Sterilizer is a gem that has changed my day-to-day as a mom completely! You can scroll to the bottom of this post to see my video review :)

This amazing product is about the size of an orange, super light-weight, and runs on 2 batteries. It can easily fit into any diaper bag, purse or kitchen drawer. In 3 minutes, it kills 99.9% of germs and can be used on pacifiers, baby bottles, bottle nipples, and sippy cups! It's as easy as placing it on top of the bottle/sippy cup, or inserting the pacifier, pushing a button and then waiting 3 minutes. No more carrying 4 pacifiers everywhere you go incase your little one decides to throw it on the ground, no more worrying about how to sterilize bottles when you're on the go... the 4-in-1 UV Sterilizer does it all. I will never leave the house without it, and I can't wait to take my next road trip or flight. Zane - bring on the pacifier throwing! I can handle it now :)

The only question I have is: Where has this product been hiding? Because every new mom needs one now! Click here to visit Canada's Baby Store.

See my video review and demonstration here using a Dr. Brown's Glow in the Dark Pacifier (also available at Canada's Baby Store): 

The Reversible Play Mat from Boutique Wanderlust

I'm all for bright and colourful toys to stimulate Zane, but sometimes I just want to enjoy my home and all the effort I put into decorating it without feeling like it's being taken over by baby. I'm always on the hunt for beautiful, fashionable and monochrome baby accessories that don't stand out like a sore thumb, so when I found this Grey Reversible Play Mat from Boutique Wanderlust, I was on cloud 9! Boutique Wanderlust is an online shop that specializes in baby and toddler must haves, goodies for moms and they even have a gift registry!

The exterior of the playmate is 100% cotton with a cushiony interior. It's reversible which I love (one side is dark grey and the other light grey), and completely safe to put in the washing machine and dryer (Who has time to hang dry with a new born!?). It easily folds up and has become a staple in my diaper bag. I'm often visiting my family and friends, who don't have kids, and I usually have no where to put Zane other than in his stroller or on a swaddle blanket on the floor. This cushiony Reversible Play Mat (which also comes in pink) is a MUCH better solution! This mat is our new favourite baby accessory and Rambo seems to love it as much as Zane! :) 

I really recommend you visit Boutique Wanderlust online because they have really beautiful, fashionable and unique baby accessories that are sure to please anyone! They even have a baby registry option (which I wish I would have known about when I was pregnant!), so for all you expecting mamas, this is definitely the place to register for some jaw dropping baby and nursery accessories!