As LÍLLÉbrities (LÍLLÉbaby Ambassadors) we have a deep seeded love for LÍLLÉbaby. (Affiliate) They are carriers we trust and believe in. When we found out they were nominated for a Cribsie Award this year, we knew we wanted to help spread the word! As a baby industry super fan, I have followed the Cribsie Awards for many years. It thrills me to see the brands I love nominated!
What isn’t there to love about LÍLLÉbaby? From 6 carry positions, no need for an infant insert, fun print variety (including Tokidoki!) and multiple fabric options for optimum versatility. From a 7 pound Newborn to a 45 pound toddler, the LÍLLÉbaby Complete has you covered!
We’re on a mission to help LÍLLÉbaby win a Cribsie this year. This obviously means we want to give you a chance to win a LÍLLÉbaby of your own, and other fun accessories to go with it! (Custom Accessories from RockerByeBaby and Jamberry Nail Wraps) All you have to do is VOTE and enter below!
If you win, which LÍLLÉbaby (Affiliate) style and color/print will you choose? Tell me in the comments. Enter to win below! Open to US and Canadian Residents 18 years of age and older.
**Thanks to Lillebaby, RockerByeBaby and Jamberry at Midnight for sponsoring this giveaway. I was not compensated for this post and all opinions expressed are my own. This post does contain affiliate links.**
Meal time with a toddler is anything but simple. In our house, it typically involves multiple meal options, yogurt in the hair, a bowl tossed on the floor and a missing spoon. (We’re bound to find them eventually.. right?) With that said, we find dinner to be important family time. Conversing and bonding over food. What could be better?
Thanks to Stonyfield and Tommee Tippee, our dinner time bonding was simplified quite a bit. Sure, we still have to have multiple dining options for our toddler and clearly there will still be yogurt in his hair.. but there were no more interrupted conversations due to a tossed spoon. No more bowls full of pasta dumped on the floor. (Much to our cat’s dismay)
Tommee Tippee’s line of dining products for toddlers is fabulous. My favorite, and meal time simplifier is definitely their Easi-Mat. A simple mat that fits nicely on our high chair tray… and it keeps the bowl stuck to it. Amazing. It’s even small enough to roll up, throw in the diaper bag and take with us. That’s right.. no more tossed food at restaurants, either! (It’s a mother’s dream!) Pair with that the Easy Scoop Feeding Bowls with Lid and spoon and you’re all set. It comes as a set of 2 bowls and the lid works on both with a compartment for the spoon. The bowls stick perfectly to the mat for home use.. and when on the go, the lid fit tightly and kept my diaper bag protected… and the spoon compartment kept the spoon nice and clean. This is especially convenient for us since our toddler is on a special diet, so we are often having to bring his own food and snacks with us. (You can fill these bowls with your favorite Stonyfield YoToddler Yogurt and throw it in your diaper bag to take with you and it will actually stay IN the bowl… not all over your bag! WIN!!)
I am very impressed with the toddler line of Tommee Tippee products. We love them. Our toddler loves them. Even our 3 year old loves them. (He has claimed the spill proof cups as his own… even though he is capable of using normal cups. One less mess for me to clean up, so I shall not argue!) Do you even find yourself thinking that there must be a simpler way to feed a toddler? Especially while you’re hunting down carrots from under a table? Tommee Tippee definitely makes meals less messy. Except for the yogurt.. that will always end up in the hair, but you know what? That’s okay. There’s something really cute (and yummy smelling..) about a little one with a yogurt mohawk.
Thanks to Stonyfield and Tommee Tippee, you have the opportunity to win an amazing toddler feeding prize pack just like the one we received. A set of Tommee Tippee toddler feeding products, and coupons for delicious, healthy and organic Stonyfield YoToddler yogurt. You, too, could enjoy yogurt mohawks and less meal time bowl tossing.
To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form below.
Note: This post is sponsored by Stonyfield and Tommee Tippee. I was provided products for review and giveaway. The opinions expressed are my own.
If there are two things that my children love almost equally, it’s Disney and music. Having kids in the age spans that mine are, it is often hard to find things that they all enjoy and can get into equally. The Disney Junior television show “Sofia the First” is one of those things! My toddler is the biggest fan of the show, but even my 8-year-old loves it. Yes, I have all boys.. but they don’t find the show “too girly” at all.
When I was given the chance to review the new CD from Disney Records, “Sofia the First: Songs from Enchancia” I instantly jumped on it. I knew my boys would love it.. and if I’m completely honest, I knew I would enjoy it as well.
The CD arrived and my children wanted to listen to it immediately. They weren’t disappointed by it in the slightest and so far, we parents aren’t tired of it yet! This is always a good sign. The kids know most of the songs already from watching the television show, so they gleefully sing along. It even helps calm my toddler down when he is in one of his “I am tired of being in the car!!” tantrums. That alone makes it an instant hit, if you ask me.
The Sofia the First songs are catchy and easy to sing along to, but they aren’t irritating or annoying. They tend to have good morals to them and strive to teach a lesson in each upbeat tune. Something I love as a parent.
You can order your own copy of Sofia the First: Songs from Enchancia here and here. I have also been given THREE CD’s to giveaway to you fabulous readers! Feel free to enter below for your chance to win a copy!
Disclaimer: I am a participating Influencer at The Entertainment New Media Network. I have received free product for review and to give to my readers. I was not compensated for this review and all expressed opinions are strictly my own.
I have never been a vitamin person. I’m pretty sure I was done being a “Flintstone Kid” before I was 8. Sure, they contain things to help us grow big and strong and stay healthy.. It just wasn’t my thing. Then I got pregnant with my first son.
If you’ve ever had a baby (which.. reading this blog I’m sure many of you have..) you know that from day one they tell you “Make sure you take a prenatal vitamin!” and if you’ve been trying to get pregnant, they probably instructed you to start prior to achieving pregnancy. My pregnancy was no different. So, off to the store I went. Hesitantly, but always willing to do the best for my baby. What I came home with was a giant vitamin pill that tasted awful and I could barely swallow. I choked them down as often as I could.. but sadly, it definitely wasn’t every day.. Most days, but not all.
The moment I was done breastfeeding my son, I stopped choking down the giant vitamin. Want to know what happened? I got sick. Colds. Flu. I hadn’t been sick throughout that entire pregnancy or infancy. I went back to the giant prenatal vitamin only to see my immune system functional again!! I never stopped taking it from that point on. Pregnant, breastfeeding or not!
Sure, I still wasn’t perfect about taking them. They still tasted gross and I never did figure out how to swallow it without gagging… But I felt better when taking the vitamins, so I knew it was worth it! Then I got an opportunity that I had to jump at.
PreMama Prenatal Vitamins. All of the amazing benefits of my other pill, in an unflavored powder I could mix into my drink of choice and not have to choke down! WHAT?!?! Yes, please!!!
PreMama has many benefits for women. Especially pregnant and breastfeeding women. Containing one of the highest concentrated levels of vitamin B6 (30mg), a special iron (Ferrochel® ferrous bisglycinate chelate) designed to maximize absorption and minimize unpleasant iron-supplement-side-effects, exceptional levels of folic acid (800 mcg of Quatrefolic® folate), plant based DHA and ALA vitamins (That’s right! It’s vegetarian!) and even vitamin B12 to help promote energy metabolism.
All fabulous things, right? Want to know what is most fabulous? I have been adding them to my morning drinks, be that a mocha, a hot cocoa, tea.. And not once have I tasted it (I got the PreMama Essentials Taste-Free) or had to choke it down. The individual packets make it convenient to take with me if I need to. I can even add it to a bowl of oatmeal if I want!
I have been using PreMama for a few weeks now and have nothing but great things to say about it! I know that I’m getting the vitamins I need and I’m no longer struggling or dreading taking them. I highly recommend PreMama for anyone who is pregnant, breastfeeding, thinking about getting pregnant, could possibly get pregnant, or really.. Any woman of childbearing age that would benefit from a quality multi-vitamin.
Now is your chance! Would you like to try a 30-Day supply of PreMama? They have graciously provided one of you the opportunity to win one!
Go to the PreMama website and tell me, what is one benefit of PreMama you are most interested in?
Note: I received PreMama Essentials from PreMama and BSM Media. I was not paid for my review and my opinions are my own.
If you know me at all, you know that one of the things I am most passionate about when it comes to children and children’s products is safety. That is why, when I was approached by HALO Innovations to spread the word about their HALO Hospital Safer Way to Sleep Initiative, I jumped at the opportunity.
All new parents wish that their baby came with an instruction manual. There are so many things that no one teaches you how to do (correctly…) when they send you home with your new little bundle of bouncing baby. Sure, they tell you that your baby should sleep on their back. They make sure you are prepared with an adequate car seat. These are very important safety precautions.. but until recently one has been overlooked. Most parents do not know how to properly and safely swaddle a baby.
Yes, we see the nurses spin a baby burrito faster than we can blink, but here’s the thing about that baby burrito: When done incorrectly, that large flowing blanket can become a crib hazard. I’m sure you’ve heard of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) which is often linked to unsafe sleep environments. Most of us forego pillows, fluffy blankets, stuffed animals and even crib bumpers in our cribs. We ensure our babies sleep on their backs.. But have you ever thought about the moment that your less than stellar swaddle comes loose?
HALO Innovations is dedicated to helping reduce SIDS and wants to help parents swaddle their babies safely immediately from birth. This is why they created the Safer Way to Sleep Initiative – providing Newborn Swaddle SleepSacks to hospitals in lieu of the large oversized swaddle blankets. On top of reducing the risk of SIDS, the HALO SleepSack Swaddles also are deemed safe by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute. Did you know that improper swaddling of a baby can have an effect in their hip development?
I have had my fair share of experience with all sorts of blankets. I’m grateful that I was shown how to properly swaddle a baby, but at the same time.. That half awake middle-of-the-night swaddle job is never quite what it was intended to be. Blankets, like the HALO SleepSack Swaddle, definitely made me feel like I was always getting a secure and safe swaddle on my baby and without as much effort. Even in the middle of the night.
I am inspired by HALO Innovations’ drive to spread the word about safer sleeping. I am also determined to get their blankets into my local hospitals.
Some fabulous facts about the HALO® Safer Way to Sleep Initiative from HALO Innovations:
HALO Innovations SleepSack® Swaddle has become the standard for hospital nurseries and parents alike. In fact, 1,000 hospital nurseries use the HALO SleepSack Swaddle instead of blankets through the HALO Safer Way to Sleep Initiative. That is 1.5 million births getting first-hand, in-hospital experience with the HALO SleepSack Swaddle and safe sleep practices! Leading health organizations agree that modeling proper baby care in the hospital is the single biggest influence on how parents care for their baby at home. HALO Innovations also offers free Safe Sleep Practices kits to childbirth educators to help further the cause of SIDS prevention.
Did any of you give birth at a “HALO” Hospital? (If so, did you know they have a Baby of the Week Contest for babies born in these hospitals?) If your hospital isn’t a “HALO” Hospital, do you wish they were? Do you wish you had more safe sleep education given to you prior to leaving the hospital?
Do me a huge favor. Spread the word about this initiative. September is Baby Safety Month and we owe it to all the little ones out there to promote safe sleep! Also.. Follow HALO Innovations on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Let them know that you support the Safer Way to Sleep Initiative!
As a thank you, HALO Innovations is providing one of you with the chance to win your own HALO SleepSack Swaddle in either a size Newborn or Small.
UPDATE: September is Baby Safety Month; HALO will donate $1 to Safe Sleep Organizations for every new Facebook “like”.
(Note: Leave a blog post comment on this post.. THEN check the box in the Rafflecopter widget!)
** Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post by HALO Innovations. I was not compensated and the opinions expressed are my own. HALO Innovations has provided the giveaway.
As a mom, when summer approaches, I both welcome and dread the rising temperatures. Unlike many parts of the country, here in Oregon we are just not built for heat. Like the typical mom of today, I took to Pinterest to find creative ways to conquer the heat. In my searches, I came across a product that is simply genius. A DIY Freezer pop, of sorts. I immediately had to go to their website and find out about it.
Zipzicles. A BPA-Free, recyclable zip top ice-pop bag. Like the traditional “Otter Pops” that we all knew as children, only you can make them however you want, with whatever you want. Whenever you want. I love this. I can make them as healthy (or unhealthy?) as I want to. I can make them kid friendly.. or even make a few for a more “adult” crowd. While some of you are assuming I am talking about a Margarita ice-pop.. (which I’m sure would be fantastic.. Though.. make sure you label them and keep away from children!) I’m more the “freeze some coffee and have an ice-pop for breakfast” kind of person.
WizCo, the makers of Zipzicles, were kind enough to send me a set of their product to try out and review for you. I am so happy with this product. Our weather warmed up just in time for us to take advantage of it. Of course, I couldn’t resist spreading the word, so we arranged a summer play-date with our friends that included kiddie pools, sprinklers, lemonade and of course, our freshly made Zipzicles.
I took advantage of the opportunity to make our own ice-pops by letting my children get in on the fun. Together we picked out our flavors. They chose Strawberry-Orange-Vanilla and also just Orange-Vanilla. To execute this, I broke out the BabyBullet, got frozen strawberries, vanilla frozen yogurt and orange juice. So simple, and sure.. the frozen yogurt added a little bit of calories, it was much healthier than handing my kids an ice cream cone and I knew exactly what was in it! Our packet of Zipzicles came with 12 packets, so we made 6 of each flavor. They were easy to open, easy to fill and held a lot! Definitely pay attention to the “fill line” – I had a few “oops” moments with mine and well.. at least clean up tasted good! We froze them, packed them in a bag and headed over to our friend’s house.
Just as easy as they were to fill, they were simple to open. The traditional ice-pops we are all familiar with require the use of scissors – leaving you with a top piece that should be thrown away but somehow always ends up in the yard and a child covered in food-colored dye. This simply pulled open like a zip-top sandwich bag, stayed intact, and sure, while our children were sticky messes as the heat quickly melted the ice-pop, they weren’t stained with fake orange, red or blue dye.
Another benefit of the Zipzicle is an important one for our household. Having the ability to make them myself, means that I don’t have to worry about exposing my son to any of his allergies. I have all the control. I know what goes in. I know what comes in contact with it. I knew the moment that I saw them on Pinterest that I was going to love it. Using them only proved me right. We are already about to order more to have at our toddler’s birthday party at the end of July. He’s going to have a “PhiePhie” party, so I’m thinking I’ll do the Orange-Vanilla flavor and dot it with chocolate chips! A giraffe ice-pop! Fun!!
Did I make you all hungry yet? Have I inspired you with summer frozen treat ideas? Well, here’s where you get lucky! WizCo is giving three (3) of you the chance to win a pack of Zipzicles of your very own!! But first, tell me, what is your favorite way to beat the heat with your kids?? What would you make with your Zipzicles pouches? (You can also find some recipes on Zipzicles site and even on Pinterest!)
Note: This product was provided to me by WizCo. I was not paid for this review and the opinions expressed are my own.
We have always been baby wearers. While I love strollers and definitely believe there is quite a useful purpose for strollers, there is always a time when my children want nothing more than to be held or carried. Usually when I’m trying to get something done or need both of my hands. Finding the right carrier has been a nightmare. Just when you think you find the perfect carrier, that moment comes when you are required to wear it for more than 30 minutes and instantly realize how terrible it is. With our youngest son, we realized quickly how important a good carrier was going to be.
Our youngest son has some gross motor delays. He has laxity of the ligaments in his hips and ankles as well as hypotonia. He’s 22.5 months old now and his little legs give out after 30 minutes of being on them. He still can’t run and he prefers not to wear shoes as it seems difficult to lift the weight of the shoe. Combine all of this and together you get a toddler who requires being carried or in a stroller a lot.
This is where a good carrier is so critical. If he is tired or doesn’t feel well, his legs just refuse to work. Then he gets clingy. I often need to wear him around the house just to manage to get anything done or spend time with my older kids. He also has to go to physical therapy weekly and afterwards is worn out. The carrier allows us to still accomplish things even after a long physical therapy appointment. As you can imagine.. with all of this carrying going on, it takes a lot of effort to find one that can comfortably work. I was given the opportunity recently to use theBoba Carrier 3G. I was very excited to try it out! The first day I used it I was a little nervous. It definitely had more adjustable clips than my other carrier. I put it on, adjusted it to fit me just right and then grabbed our son. He wasn’t feeling well and his legs were particular bothersome, so I strapped him in onto my back. I was instantly impressed by how easily I could get him onto my back and adjusted by myself. I have some practice with this from other carriers, but I usually find myself having to wiggle and jiggle him into it properly. However, with this carrier it seemed quite natural. The height of the carrier also supported his back nicely and the width of the seat made sure that his legs were in the appropriate position. I also immediately noticed how easily the chest clip was height adjustable. It slides up and down on the piping of the carrier. Very easy to adjust. Within 10 minutes of being in the carrier, he was sound asleep and not flopping around at all. I carried him around in it for about two hours and didn’t have any shoulder discomfort or back pain.
We have used the carrier a lot since receiving it. Around the house. To the park. A two mile family walk. We even used it to get him to and from his recent MRI’s. Because of his age, his MRI’s had to be done under general anesthesia, so once he awoke, he was very clingy, tired and weak. I put the Boba Carrier on, snuggled him into it on the front position and he calmed down quickly. It managed to get a lot of compliments from the nursing staff, too. Our Boba Carrier is the “Tweet” print and it was definitely popular. There are a lot of features about this carrier that I think are extremely useful! For instance, it comes with these optional foot stirrups that hold your child’s foot. This helps them not feel like they are “dangling” and gives them a place to put their feet other than on your hips. I also love that it can be an infant carrier without the use of an insert! While I don’t have a small infant right now, that would definitely be useful. Add to that all the fun prints, (I really want to get my husband the Diaper Dude Special Edition Pinstripe!) it’s quite an amazing carrier.
Another thing that makes this carrier fabulous is all the zipped storage. There is a zipper pocket that holds the hood, and when the hood is out it makes a fabulous place to store things in. At the bottom of the carrier, on the lumbar support there is another zipper pocket. This made the best place to put my drivers license and debit cards. Nothing bulky, for sure, but it allows me to not bring our whole diaper bag when I take him to physical therapy.
After about a month of using this carrier, I can’t find anything really bad about it. It is comfortable to wear for long lengths of time. It adjusts easily and gets a near perfect fit because of all of it’s individual adjustable straps. The excess straps roll up neatly and are well secured by a fold over elastic cover. My only downside is this: It is not recommended to be machine washed. Spot cleaning is preferred. Normally this isn’t a huge issue for a carrier, but there are times when you really just need to deep clean them. Either it’s covered in dirt or it falls on a bathroom floor. (Not that I did that last one or anything.. Nope.) That said, for reasons I will not admit to actually doing.. (read: bathroom floor.. shhh!!) I did throw it into the wash on a hand wash cycle and air dried it. It washed well. The straps actually managed to stay in the positions I had adjusted them to and the fabric washed really well! It even dried quickly! So, while not recommended.. it is possible to wash if you must.
The Boba 3G accommodates a wide range of people. It fits heights from 5’0-6’3 and has a waist band range from 25″-58″. As I stated before, there are so many adjustable areas to achieve the perfect fit for you. The body of the carrier also rises 2-3″ higher than most other brands, as well. This means it supports babies better and for longer. It also has high grade military buckles, so you can rest assure that even if you are carrying the maximum 45 pound weight, your child will be safe. (The carrier also starts at 7 pounds! That is small enough for most newborns!)
All in all, I really love this carrier. I love the height of it. I love the quality of it. I love the comfort of it. It was equally comfortable in both front and back carrying positions and for long term wearing. I highly recommend this carrier.
How many of you use carrier’s on a regular basis for your babies? What made you decide to purchase the carrier that you use? How many of you own Boba carriers? What is your favorite feature of the carrier?
Enter for your chance to win a Boba Baby Carrier, a Boba Wrap or a Boba Air! All products can be seen at www.bobafamily.com. With Boba products it is easier than ever to enjoy Freedom Together as a family and Boba wants YOU to get a chance to use their products. To enter to win, “Like” them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.
Note: Boba Carriers provided the Boba 3G in “Tweet” print for me to review. This is not a paid review and the opinions expressed are my own. The giveaway is provided to you by Boba Carriers, NOT by The Diaper Bag Confessions.
I love personalized items. The sentimental value that something has far outweighs any sort of monetary value. When I gave birth, 7 years ago, my husband bought me an iPod. It was a first generation iPod Nano. I will never get rid of it. Why? Because he engraved the back.. “Just breathe” and then programmed into it my hospital birthing play list. (Yeah, I know.. I’ve got a good husband!)
When it comes to my children, personalized things mean that much more. I’ve always wanted a way to proudly “display” myself as a mom, even when I’m out and about without my children. Those birth stone rings are cute.. but I never really understood what one would do if they ever had any more kids? Buy a new ring? Silly. Pandora Bracelets (and any of the identical looking bracelets..) are just not my style. Big baubles on my wrist. Add to that the fact that I’m a germaphobe and change diapers all day long means I wash my hands more than most.. a bracelet is really not practical for me.
Recently, I heard a lot of people talking about this company.. Origami Owl. Sounded like a paper company to me, so I didn’t really look too much into it until my friend became a “designer” for the company. “Designers” are what they call their sales people. They help you craft your “story” into a locket. A locket that you can change, easily. You can add things, subtract things.. make it yours. Tell your story, even if it changes from day to day.
With Origami Owl, you choose a chain from a variety of different colored metals, lengths, thicknesses. You also choose the locket. You can choose a medium locket or a large locket in different colored metals, some adorned with crystals. After you’ve selected those two things.. you piece together your own story from a wide selection of stamped metal plates, charms, birth stones, and even dangles to hang on the outside of your locket. It’s all quite genius. It’s also the perfect gift to get for a mom, a sister, a grandmother.. yourself. A story about the person who wears it.
