One of the little perks of having this blog is having products sent to us for review.  We get all kinds of products sent, in hopes that we will review them, but we don’t review just any product.  It has to be something we believe in and consider to be a great product.  We were recently sent a line of natural skin care for breastfeeding moms, which is great!  Since I am no longer a nursing mom (children nearing ages 4 and 6), I sent the product to a breast feeding mom friend to test and review.  Of the products tested, the Nipple Nurture Cleansing Pads by Mother's Intuition were the fav.  They were described as “light and cool” and “magic little pads of heaven” which I thought was certainly blog-worthy!  Plus they're all natural, which is always a bonus.  Kate, our tester, thought they were especially great for moms like herself who have to do a lot of pumping for their little one.  So, if you’re a breast-feeding mom who would love to feel fresh and cool after breast feeding or pumping (who wouldn’t?!) give these a try.

Nipple Nurture by Mother’s Intuition can be purchased through Amazon.

With all the recent scary headlines about the potentially damaging affects of plastic water bottles, baby bottles and sippy cups, of course we’re all turning to our favorite stores in search of something safer for our little ones, and ourselves!  I recently wrote about a fab new glass baby bottle a while back, but what about the older children or ourselves?  I have the answer, of course!  Sigg aluminum water bottles have been known for their Swiss made quality for years, and I’m sure now people are less hesitant to pay the few extra dollars to own them.  Plus they come in several sizes and styles, and sport some great graphic design.

There are 3 sizes available in their KIDZ collection, perfect to suit children of any age.  They even have a great collection of adult water bottles, so the whole family can drink their H2O in style.  Sigg water bottles can be purchased online at www.mysigg.com.  

I remember buying plastic baby bottles for my son and my mom told me I should go with glass instead of plastic.  It was what she had always used.  I remember replying, “Glass? Nobody uses glass anymore…that was a few decades ago. Things have changed!”  Well, I guess it’s true that what goes around comes around.  Glass is back!  With recent concern over leaching chemicals in plastic baby bottles, Babylife is reintroducing glass baby bottles with a whole new modern twist.  I say SMART company!  The wee-go bottle bottle is covered with a modern sleeve that is free of plastics and is absolutely 100% non-toxic and dishwasher safe.  The sleeve is designed for easy gripping and also prevents breakage.  

I normally blog about items that are readily available in stores, but when I saw this product I just couldn’t resist.  In fact, I predict it will be the next baby must-have!  Check their website often to see when they’re available in stores.  They will be available for purchase on October 31st and will retail for $18.   

We’re not going to let a little winter chill stop us from heading outdoors with our little ones for a refreshing stroll are we?  I didn’t think so!  There’s really no excuses to be had with all of the great bundling options designed for strollers and car seats now.  Fusing convenience and safety with style is the perfect combination for baby product design and the bundleme infant protectors from JJ Cole do just that.  Plus they are attractive in both style and price!  Protecting from the elements, the bundleme line is designed for use with car seats, strollers and joggers.  Safety straps included, they are even crash tested for your peace of mind.  Pictured here is one of 4 styles, the Bundleme urban.

JJ Cole products can be found at a range of mally bibs retailers including Baby’s World in Coquitlam and Vancouver, BC and Sprout in Manhattan Beach, CA.        

One of my favorite activities to do with my kids is cooking, as long as everyone is in the mood!  I think the key is to make it an exciting learning game for them, rather than a chore.  One of my recent discoveries at the New York Gift Show does just that!  Playful Chef encourages children to have fun learning in the kitchen, while helping mom or dad.  As a parent you can feel good about the underlying lessons your child will learn with their products: nutrition, food, safety, measuring, and following directions.  Playful Chef kits are packed into a snazzy backpack and contain everything you need to start creating some delicious meals with your little one, along with some great bonding and memories!  My favorite kit is the Deluxe Cooking Kit ($39) which includes the following:

• 5 delicious, easy-to-follow laminated recipe cards that follow a ten-system plan complete with helpful illustrations and color-coding
• An overview of how to teach your child in the kitchen
• Safety scissors, a sand timer, a whisk, a wooden spoon, a spatula, and a pastry brush, all perfectly sized for a kid to use
• A cool brushed denim tool belt apron for easy tool storage and handy access that is adjustable for all sizes
• A set of color-coded measuring spoons
• A set of color-coded measuring cups, which make measuring a cinch
• A kid-sized baking pan for baking special treats
• A kid-sized mixing bowl for mixing magic
• A vinyl kid-sized Playful Chef backpack that’s chock full of fun just waiting to happen!

Playful Chef products can be purchased online or at one of mally bibs newest retailers, The English Sports Shop in Bermuda.

Have you ever thought that babies should come with instructions?  How about toddlers?  I know I have!  If you’re like me, you need to check out the informative, yet hilariously tongue-in-cheek Baby and Toddler Owner’s Manuals.  They are cleverly written by Brett R Kuhn, Ph.D., and Joe Borgenicht, D.A.D.,and illustrated to mimic the look and feel of an actual owner’s manual for a car!  Now, I’m not saying that having a baby is comparable to buying a car in any way, but the idea is really cute in a quirky sort of way, making flipping through a how to care for baby book a little more amusing.  As new parents, it’s just what we need at 3:00 am when it’s time to search for ‘troubleshooting tips’  or to ‘service our baby’s system for improved operation’ – something to put a smile on our face. 

Both the baby and toddler owner’s manuals can be purchased at one of mally bibs celebrity-favorite retailers, Intuition in Los Angeles, CA, or online amazon.com.    

How long do your kids wash their hands for?  Think about it for a second.  Better yet, time it the next time they scrub their germ festering little paws.  Do you know how long they actually should be washing their hands for in order to eliminate those unwanted germs?  The centers for Disease Control and Preventions says it’s best to wash your hands by vigorously scrubbing with soap and clean running water for about 20 seconds.  They also claim that hand washing is one of the most important things children can do to help stay healthy.  The problem?  The hand washing fascination that toddlers initially have is short lived.  Once they realize that hand washing is well, boring, they tend to get a little lazy with the task.  The solution?  Squid Soap!!!  It’s another one of those simply brilliant ideas!  In fact, I think I will introduce a new category for the blog archive called 'simply brilliant' for the simple yet brilliant product ideas that I feature.  The pump on squid soap has a vegetable dye ink spot which will stamp those little hands with a perfect blotch of ink that will conveniently disappear with about 20 seconds of vigorous scrubbing!  Voila!  An amused toddler or child = clean and germ free hands! 

Squid Soap is now available online for shipping in Canada and USA. Get yours in time for back to school next month…you know those germs will be in full force!

One of the biggest challenges that new mothers face is accepting their post-pregnancy bodies and I was no exception!  It took a lot of working out and eating right and of course time to get back to where I was before.  The  Strollometer®  would have been the perfect accessory for me at the time!  It will attach to any stroller and lets you know everything you want to know including your current speed, maximum speed, average speed, trip distance, trip time, daily mileage, temperature and the current clock time.  What a motivator!  The best part is you get to do something for yourself while doing something with your new little one, letting them enjoy the outdoor scenery while you stroll your way back into shape. 

The Strollometer® was co-invented by mother of 3, Adi Weber and her husband Dan.  It was also the winner of the JPMA 2006 award of innovation!  You can purchase the Strollometer® at many of mally bibs innovative retailers including baby on board in Richmond, BC, Crocodile in Vancouver, BC and Moms to be and More in Toronto, ON.

What does every child need to ensure monsters, creatures and other creepy beings don’t bother them in the middle of the night?  A night light, of course.  It’s amazing how something so simple can make a child feel comfortable and safe in their own little space at night.  The Candeloo tops my list of cool night light options for kids (or adults!).  They come with their own SafeCharge™ system which eliminates exposure to electrical contacts, making them safe for inquisitive little hands.  The Candeloo automatically turns on when lifted from the charging base, making brave night time trips to the bathroom a fun adventure as well!   

Rated 5 stars by recent purchasers, Candeloo night lights can be purchased online at one of mally bibs great online retailers, Amazon.com.

It’s the perfect way for baby to get a good night sleep during the milder months, while being environmentally friendly at the same time.  The new Köhlr Baby organic hemp sleepsack is made of a 55% hemp, 45% certified organic cotton blend.  Hemp has many health and environmental benefits including the facts that it’s pesticide-free, non-allergenic, has anti-bacterial properties, and it dries quickly.  Being that hemp is the strongest of natural fibers, it won't wear out, yet it gets softer wash after wash!  Besides the health and environmental benefits of these sleep sacks, they are designed for comfortable and safe infant sleeping.  The corduroy texture is soft on baby's skin and each hemp sleepsack includes a little sheep appliqué design to help sooth baby to sleep as they play with the different textures. 

Available in 3 sizes, fitting ages 2-28 months, Köhlr Baby’s great line of products can be purchased online at www.kohlrbaby.com.