Aden & Anais Muslin Wrap - Product Review

Product Review By Erin - Readers Special Pricing, see details below
Having recently purchased a set of Aden + Anais muslin wraps, I am an instant convert and also have all of my friends buying them like there’s no tomorrow.

With fantastic colours and designs – and their groovy new zoo animals design – I was spoilt for choice. They are super soft and a nice close weave, but still allow breathing.

Otherwise known as swaddling clothes, the muslin wraps are a sensational size – a very generous 120cm x 120cm (approx). No more escaping for my little tot!!

Aside from swaddling, the wrap can also be used as an open sheet, on the floor for tummy time and as a stroller shade (drapes nicely given its large sizing).

You may think muslin in muslin, right? Wrong!
There are so many scratchy, poorly woven and super tiny muslin wraps on the market that resemble hessian. So do you self a favour and discover aden and anais. Which by the way are two ex aussies living in the US and were horrified when they discovered they couldn’t get any half decent muslin in the states.

There is also a winter weight which consists of several layers of the same soft muslin, still allowing baby’s body temperature to adjust naturally without overheating and I was pleasantly surprised when I saw them at the pregnancy and baby expo in Melbourne. Which is were I also got a sneak peak and the new muslin sleeping bags, available soon.

The following information is taken from
www.adenandanais.com

Muslin is a unique cotton fabric first introduced into England in the late 17th century. Muslin has a light, open weave that allows air to flow seamlessly through the material. The soft natural fibers allow your baby's body temperature to adjust naturally, eliminating over-heating, but ensuring warmth and comfort. aden + anais wraps will allow you to safely swaddle your baby, giving you confidence that your baby will experience a peaceful and secure sleep.

why swaddle?
This age old technique is used to make your baby feel safe and secure:
Swaddling helps to make your baby feel secure and comfortable, as it is designed to imitate the security of the enclosed surroundings they experienced in the womb
Swaddling helps your baby sleep on their back, the pediatrician recommended sleeping position.
Swaddling helps your baby stay asleep by reducing sudden arm and leg movements (startle reflexes)
Swaddling keeps your baby's face uncovered
Swaddling prevents your baby moving around the crib and getting into dangerous or uncomfortable positions

PROMOTION NOW EXPIRED!!!!

For the rest of the month or until stocks last purchase a four pack aden + anais wraps from styledbaby and enter "blog" when prompted for a coupon number and pay via direct deposit are cheque and get a massive 20% off what others charge. Dont pay $59.95. Pay only $48 as a reader of the styledbaby blog.

Mumi & Bubi - Product Review

If you’re like me, you’d rather cook and prepare all of your babies food yourself, it makes you feel like a super mum, no tinned, jarred or packet prepared food on my babies shelf in the pantry.

My freezer on the other hand has a couple of Tupperware containers with steamed, mashed sweet potato, zucchini, pumpkin, broccoli and pear and made by moi. All in little cubes, made in my Mumi & Bubi Solids Starter Kit. Every night little J has a mixture of vegetables for his tea that defrost evenly in the microwave.

You get two trays and a recipe booklet in the kit, each tray has 21 holes with a rounded base and close fitting lid. I never get freezer burn on them and due to the portion controlled size as J gets a little older and hungrier I add another cube to his meal. I didn’t use the booklet as I followed a different diet aimed at maximizing the immunity and nervous systems. But thats another story.

I put the trays in the dishwasher and so far so good. Due to their size they can sit on top of other food in the freezer and don’t tip over. You might ask why don’t you just use ice cube trays, well there are a few reasons, firstly you don’t come buy many that have lids. Secondly they all have square bottoms, which makes it really hard to get them out and lastly, 21 holes versus 12 holes.

Free from BPA. (Bisphenol A is used in the production of epoxy resins and
polycarbonate plastics) The trays are made from polypropylene and, if you look on the back, you will see the recycling symbol with the number 5 "PP"
which indicates polypropylene. The trays are made from new material, not recycled material as sometimes can be the case with polypropylene products.

Overall - They have defiantly made meal time at our house quicker and easier and kept us making his food for longer.

Rating - 9/10

Available - in Safeway among other retailers in Australia.
Images by Mumi & Bubi

Let Me Count The Ways

100 Ways to Calm the Crying
Pinky Mckay
Product Review, By Erin

This book has been a godsend for me.

What on earth does a new mother do with a crying baby??!! Not only did I read this for my first child, but have pulled it off the shelf again for my second.

Pinky’s reassuring, nurturing and positive approach empowered me as a parent and gave me confidence to do what really does just come naturally, but because you get so much conflicting advice from other sources, it is great to always come back to this little book.

It’s my parenting bible!

From the first sentence of this book, I felt I was on the right track - 'Here is a book that is down-to-earth, warm and unlike many other books that deal with crying, respects babies.' In addition to this, Pinky points out that 'Comforting will not spoil your baby.'

She says "There is no sense in entering a power struggle with your baby over natural functions such as sleeping and eating. By not responding to her signals, the only things that are being 'spoilt' are your relationship with your baby and your own self-confidence."

And in the chapter titled 'Blessings', there's this little gem "As you sit and rock your baby, instead of becoming restless about unfinished work, look deeply into those trusting eyes and ask yourself how much these things would matter if your child were taken from you tomorrow."

Each chapter deals with an aspect of crying and tips to calm the crying:
· little night howls
· hunger
· tummy pains
· nappy rash
· breastfeeding
· walking the floor
· soothing sounds
· over-stimulation
· creating diversions
· baby massage
· lactose intolerance
· food allergies/intolerances
· reflux/colic
· from womb to room
· coping (and not coping)

The perfect companion book to 'Sleeping Like a Baby' (we recommend you buy both books), '100 Ways to Calm the Crying' explains why babies cry, from normal developmental changes to more painful conditions such as colic and reflux.

Along the way, Pinky offers practical tips how to:Calm and connect with your baby cope with crying and sleepless nights, Identify symptoms that may require professional help.

RRP $24.95 AU available from pinky mckay

Check out Pinky's blog

Pinky McKay’s ‘Mummy Mentor’ Classes Dates

Picture and text in italics taken from Pinky’s website www.pinkymckay.com.au

Rock Star Baby Infinity Pram - Product Review

Erin joins Styled Baby, her first assignment - product review on the Rock Star Baby Infinity Pram. So leave her some feedback.

Jon Bon Jovi's Rock Star Baby Infinity Pram

Rock Star Baby Infinity Pram
Styled similarly to the Bugaboo Chameleon and the Steelcraft Strider, the Rock Star Baby Infinity Pram is a great choice for the budget and style conscious mum and dad.
Comes with all the mod cons including bassinet, reclining and reversible toddler seat, snug fully lined sleeping bag, rain cover, great nappy baby (even Dad happy to carry this one!) and tyre pump, it's all you need.

Having only recently purchaed it, it is still being "run in", but so far, so good.
It is lightweight (11kg), easy to manoevre - having previously had a 3 wheeler, I am enjoying the stability and control of the 4 wheel design.
Underpram basket is a bit on the small side, so don't plan on taking the kitchen sink!
Available in black, red or beige.

Suitable from newborn to 18kg.
The only stroller/pram on the market endorsed by Jon Bon Jovi!
Front swivel wheels for ultimate manouverability.
Convertible from a stroller into a pram with both a bassinet and toddler seat included.
Two pneumatic rear wheels offer baby a comfortable ride.
Light weight frame.

Currently on sale at http://www.dealsdirect.com.au/ for $299 -50% 0ff (selected Colours only)

Product review by Erin


What do they think makes Rock Star Baby Infinity better than other strollers on the market:
Suitable for larger infants.
Better seat recline, greater comfort.
More comfort and protection for baby.
Internal handle mechanism won't catch on external items.
Greater sun protection.
Sturdy built with greater ease of use - bassinet/stroller uses a click on/off system.
Stronger and longer wearing wheels.
Unbeatable safety - red safety brake and tether attachment.
Specifications:
Seat depth: 23cm.
Seat axis: 11cm.
Bassinet/stroller: two separate, hand moulded units.
Rear wheel width: 60cm.
Seat position: 2 multi position.
Complies to new standard – AS/NZS 2088:2000.

Images and italic text from deal direct

Whats Good For Baby - Product Review

Product Review - Rafferty's Garden Breakfast Cereal

When looking for a healthy start to J’s eating life, I read that brown rice cereal is better than white for your babies undeveloped tummy, I also wanted to start organic, even though I knew this was not going to be a life long thing, I still wanted to delay or reduce chemicals in J’s diet.

That is when I found Rafferty’s Garden Organic Baby Rice Cereal with extra iron, and the best thing it was in the supermarket, which meant no extra stops (which we all avoid with young ones) or online ordering. They are really well priced, under $2 for 125g, they have a zip lock top, on a foiled pouch, which stands up nicely in the pantry no matter how empty, and if your in a hurry you can chuck the whole pouch in the nappy bag and not worry about it staying upright, or the bag tearing.

With no added sugar or salt
No lactose or milk products
No artificial flavors, colours or preservatives
Wheat free and good source of iron
Made from brown rice, sunflower lecithin and electrolytic iron.

In the beginning, we just mixed it with formula, but after we had introduced vegetables mixed with the cereal and cooled boiled water for a while, I added one ice cube of steamed pear, and cooled boiled water for lunch, keeping breakfast as normal.

Then after some time had pasted and we were ready to start adding a tad bit of gluten into his diet, we introduced the Multigrain breakfast with extra iron in the breakfast time slot. The multigrain cereal has 50% whole oat flour, 30% brown rice, 20% stabilized rice bran, sunflower lecithin and electrolytic iron. It is a little thicker in consistency than the rice cereal.

Below J models the Baby rice cearal and multigrain breakfast

Good for baby and super easy for mum

9/10

Image #1 from Rafferty Garden

Image #2 my own

Bounce Your Baby

Product Review
BABYBJÖRN Baby Sitter 1-2-3



I borrowed rockers for my first born, but was fortunately introduced the Baby Bjorn Baby Sitter 123 for my second by my dear friend Cherie, little Jacob could get it bouncing and spent many hours bouncing away on his own, creating his own soothing motion, instead of me having to rock it with my foot, like I did the first time around, trying to make sure I kept the rhythm even so I wouldn’t wake him if he dropped off.

It has three click in positions, low, medium and high so it grows with your baby. Anti skid pads which work really well, almost verging on too well, There is no pushing it out of the way, you have break contact with the floor to move it.

The baby bjorn has a reversible cover so you can change the look or hide little accidents. The toy wire is removable which is handy when you want to spoon feed your baby. They also spin around to keep them entertained. It folds flat for easy storage and transport.

Suitable for billy lids up to 13 kilos.

They are a little on the expensive side compared to rockers, but they are worth every cent.

Rating 9/10

Images from Baby Bjorn