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Real Solutions for Real Parents by Autumn Rose Reo

Five Baby Safety Products You (and Baby) Shouldn’t Live Without (updated 1.13.13)

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After you’ve left the hospital and get to take your new darling home, there’s a wholenew world of acclimation for both you and baby to get into a routine. I basically compare it to when the honeymoon phase is over when you get married,but it’s now time for you and baby to figure out: “How are we gonna do this?”

Whenmy first child was born I sometimes had to wait all day before my husband got home just so I could take a shower. Then I was given a Bumbo and the whole world became a new place including one where I no longer smelled of baby poo and milk. Although Bumbos recently were recalled, at the time,it was the one item in the world I couldn’t live without. Thankfully, several companies have continued to improve technology by developing new products to solve some of the biggest new baby (and even beyond) issues in efforts to help families live more normal and safer lives.
“My Baby Won’t Sleep Flat” 
If you think you are the first parent to attempt to stack up pillows, blankets, or even stuffed animals just the right way to try to getyour baby to sleep like they do in their car seat, then here’s your wake-up call – join the long lines of parents who’ve done the same thing and not succeeded. Thankfully, one mom developed a safer option and called it the Nap Nanny® Chill. 

Nap Nanny® Chill
This soft, portable recliner was designed to increase comfortand improve infant sleep. The Nap Nanny® mimics the contours of a car seat and the comfort of a baby blanket and features maximum stability, allowing your baby to rest peacefully. The cover has a waterproof liner protecting the foam for greater longevity, while the safety harness keeps baby secure. Weighing onlythree pounds, the Nap Nanny® travels and stores easily, so you can take this to grandma’s house without bringing a trailer to fit all the baby stuff. I’m surethat this one is soon to replace many bassinets and pack and plays for newborns.
NapNanny.com or Amazon.com,$129

NOTE: NapNanny has been closed due to a recall, but many parents and retailers stand by this is an amazing product. For more info, follow their Facebook. 
“I Spent all this Money on a Crib Set and I Can’t Even Use It”
I will never admit how much I spent on my crib bedding foreither of my kids, but I will divulge that I spent less time deciding whatcollege to go and what car to buy than the countless number of hours online finding the perfect crib set. The irony was, while it was cute, once I took all the parts out that aren’t safe for a baby (the big blanket, the bumper and even pillows), I was left with a sheet and a bed skirt. Then I had to go and buy additional swaddle thingies so my baby could be warm, but not suffocate themselves. So basically,what was the point, right?
Halo SafeSleep Crib Set

While a little late for me, you finally have the perfect safe solution for baby bedding. The all-in-one Halo SafeSleep Crib Set is contains everything your baby needs to sleep safe and sound from the start: a coordinating HALO SleepSack wearable blanket, SleepSack Swaddle, two soft 100% cotton jersey fitted crib sheets and matching decorative skirt. And for theType A moms like me, it all matches, so you still can have a cute set while keeping your baby safe, so now you can sleep at night rather than think about what matches what and if your baby is breathing. Best of all, at around $100 and available in several colors and designs, it’s also a new pick for my Roundup of Perfect Baby Shower Gifts!
“I’m Scared I’ll Forget My Baby in the Car”
No one ever thinks they’re going to be “that” parent who forgets their child in a hot car, but sadly it happens every year, especially when the weather is at its hottest. Sleep deprived new parents are especially susceptible as the routine of taking care of baby is so new. The childminder® SMART Clip SYSTEMis an alarm that goes off 8 seconds after the parent or caregiver has moved more than 15 feet from the child in his/hersafety seat.  The ChildMinder system installation takes less than three minutes. Simply replace the baby’s safety seat chest clip with the ChildMinder system’s smartclip and place the key ring alarm unit on your automotive key ring…itrings when you walk too far from the car seat with your baby locked inside.(Wish you had thought of that, right?)

childminder® SMART Clip SYSTEM
“It’s Too Much Work to Transfer my Car Seat”
Since I’m normally am the official chauffeur of the Reo children, I don’t have to trade out the chairs very often. However, when Ido, it takes everything I have to transfer them to the next vehicle and worst off, return it back to my car. Not only is it inconvenient, but fiddling with buckles and the finding the Latch hooks to connect everything still has me sweating and tired. Thankfully Baby Trend has figured out safety and efficiency can actually work together.

trendZ Fastback 3-in-1 Car Seat
The trendZ Fastback 3-in-1 CarSeat changes smoothly as your child grows from 22 lbs. up to 120 lbs. In less than a minute, the carseat can be installed using the latch anchors points in the car.  It is a forward-facing car seat with a built-in harness up to 70 lbs., a high-back booster seat up to 100 lbs. and a backless booster seat up to 120 lbs. The FastBack features a structural steel frame withwhat they call a “innovative Rigid Energy Management System (REMS), the easiest,most secure and reliable attachment method available. “Designed to exceed all governmental safety standards and reduce the movement of the car seat in acrash.”  

While I don’t know what the REMSis, I can testify I feel like my kid is secure and it took literally 2 minutesto install with a little bit of strength to click-it-in to place.  And even better it has a built in cup holder and even a spot for toys or gaming device (for when she is a little older.) I do think we have found our solution to the one car seat that does it all and goes with us as she grows up!
BabiesRUs.com, $199.95
“My Kiddo Doesn’t Need a Booster, but Do You have a Phonebook?”
While your baby won’t need help sitting at the kitchen table right off the bat, there will be a time that your bundle of joy will not need to be in the high chair, but still need a little help to reach the top. Thank goodness for you, you don’t have to tote around one of those giant phone books anymore, now there’s LUV CHICKEN!  

Luv ChickenBooster Cushion


Described on their website, “Your Little Chicken will love the boost they get at the dinner table with the Luv ChickenBooster Cushion,” it’s your solution for the movie theater, restaurants, and the ball game! What I loved about the Luv Chicken was that it was washable, had a handle and you don’t have to worry about the cushion slipping off the chair since it’s got a non-slip bottom. I got one that was green too, so then both boys and girls can use it. This is just one of those things that is good to keep around even after your kids don’t need a little boost.


Looking for more baby love?
It’s always baby around here, but this month, it’s really about them with the best products and things you need to get ready for baby.

Disclaimer: I received these items for purposes of this review, but the comments here are all my own.


Trendy Baby Fashion Tips (Without Going Broke)

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A recent article said that raising a child costs an average family $235,000 from birth to 17. While that probably seems hard to imagine as a new or parent-to-be,  ask any parent with at least a six-month old and they know that babies and all their “stuff” add up.  And by “stuff” I’m not even talking about the perfect stroller (which I’ve yet to find and have five), but your baby’s style – like clothes, shoes and even their diapers.


I got a glimpse of my grim (and poor) future when I waspregnant with my daughter and purchased a white Burberry onesie. Not onlyshould a baby not wear while, but there is no use for Burberry on a one-yearold. I don’t even have any Burberry!
So in efforts to help you rather than pretend it’s not important, here are a couple of tips from this mom on head-to-toe baby style(not to be exemplified on mom’s own capacity to be stylish.) Besides, when your kiddo is 17 they won’t hate you for putting them in that ugly Elephant out fitif you put them in some of these designer shoes! 

One-stop shopping that cute for all ages
I’m so excited to share some new happenings from one of our favorite stores, The Children’s Place! While I have been a fan of The Children’s Place for the kids when they hit those toddler years, when they were infants it seemed like their baby section was limited. However, the store is now understanding that moms don’t have time to go to several stores to score all our kiddos’ clothes,so they’ve revved up their under 12 months old department and appropriately named it BABY PLACE! Now not only can you grab all your uniforms and staple items, but can also get clothing for the baby too! And best of all, they say during the holidays, you’ll be able to find coordinating outfits for all ages…(yes, I said that and you probably will too!)
Also,for those of you that already have kids, right now there are so good deals going on instore and online as well as cash back when you spend $40!

           Consignment shopping
If you like dressing your kids as much as I do, you’ll go broke – no matter how much money you have! Thankfully, nowadays being thrifty is nifty, so sales like Just Between Friends and Rhea Lana have become celebrated bi-annual events for moms. Whether you are selling or buying,these events make having young children affordable and you benefit from those moms who buy all the nice clothes for their kids and take care of them! When kids only wear things 2-3 times when they are under 1, it doesn’t make sense to invest in really expensive clothing,but your kids can if you are willing to look and go early at these not-to-miss sales.  So just go to these websites, save the dates and make sure you get there before the crowds do!
           Stepin Style with her first pair of designer shoes!
If you follow me, you know I prefer to be barefoot, but still love the art of a beautiful shoe. And given the opportunity to have a pair of my own Stuart Weitzmans, I would probably put them in a shrine to look at every day rather than wear them. Soget almost the fun out of a having a pair and for a whole lot cheaper, get your baby fashionista her own pair of My First Weitzman.  Available from newborn to 12 months in a broad range of colors and styles, any stylish mom and her baby will thrilled to have a pair! This perfect gift item comes beautifully packaged in a pink signature box.

You can be stylish all the way to their undies
Having your baby all dolled up doesn’t end with the dress and the shoes. With designer disposable diapers and adorable cloth diapers, your baby can look good with hardly anything but their bottoms! Now while I am not a cloth diaper mama, I have tons of friends who are and claim it really is easy as well as much more inexpensive and not to mention more environmentally friendly. So when I was received a few samples of adorable cloth nappies from Ones & Twos that grew with you from ages 0-2, my curiosity made me want to try cloth diapers (only as a test.) Once I read the instructions a few times and popped online to the cloth diapering pros at Pooters, I felt I could do it…and since we weren’t going anywhere for the evening, why not?
In the words of Paul Harvey, “and the rest of story…”:
Actually there really wasn’t one. I didn’t love the part about washing them after the mess, so I know I would outsource that part to the professionals. But all together, I can proclaim it can be done…(at least once that is!)

Just face it kids cost money. A lot. But by being smart and being willing to pair a little hand-me-down Ralph with a brand new pair of Stuart Weitzmans, your baby will still be the belle of the ball!
DISCLAIMER:
I received one or more of the mentioned products for the sole purpose of this review. No other compensating was given and all opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. (Accordance with FTC’s 16 CFR Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”)

Baby Roundup: The Perfect Baby Shower Gifts

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Did you know that more babies are born in August than any other month? In celebration of this and the fact that my daughter will turn one this month as well, we’ll be concentrating on all things baby this month. From newborns, toys, equipment must-haves and even trends in baby birthdays, we’ll be focusing on them this month!



One of the best (and worst) parts of expecting a baby is the waiting part. Depending on your personality (and if it’s your first baby or not), you’re busy asking questions, being puzzled and basically overwhelmed with all things baby. That’s why baby showers were created; not just to gift the new parents, but to give everyone something to look forward to while your bun in the oven is baking.

So this week I’ve rounded up some of the coolest things for shower gifts and newbie parents.

1.) TeetheMe.com Subscription:
It’s the gift that keeps on giving; a monthly subscription to the hottest baby gifts on the market! Do you have one of those moms that always has the newest must-haves of everything? Then she’ll definitely want to make sure she’s got the coolest products for her kiddo as well! Based on how much you want to spend, a subscription to TeetheMe.com gets a monthly box of 4 to 5 hand-picked products for your child (aged newborn to 3 years old) delivered straight to their door in our signature TeetheMe Box.  My box included a pair of baby sunglasses, City Grips stroller handle covers (a must for any mom with a stroller that saves her hand while looking cute), a Mickie Mouse lovie and a Little Pim Foreign language DVD. It was perfect for my one-year old!
(www.teetheme.com) Starting at $24.00


2.) Daddy Diaper Changing Toolkit:
Featured on The Today’s Show, this is the one toolkit that daddy-to-be won’t be asking for…his very own Daddy Diaper Changing Toolkit. A fun gift to get dad in the spirit, this toolkit comes with all the tools from turkey baster to goggles, to make this chore a little easier (or at least a little bit more fun to watch!) There’s lots of other things on this site as well, so check it out for all things dad!
3.) Covillow:
Studies show one of the best things a mom can do to protect her new baby is to breastfeed (and the hospital will certainly reminder mom as well.) While many moms want to breastfeed, but it’s the idea that you’ll be out of the home feeding your child while exposed that makes the choice difficult. That’s why you’ve seen all those lovely designer covers out on the market, but that don’t seem to do everything a breastfeeding mom might need.  Covillow makes it easier for a breastfeeding mom to still have a life.  This nursing cover is like none, other- it covers your back and both sides completely and has a pillow so that both mom and baby are comfortable.  Plus it rolls up to easily fit into a diaper bag.
(www.covillow.com)  $59.95



4.) Personalized Diapers by Diapers Couture
I’d rather not even share this little gem as it is my go-to gift for all parents-to-be, but it is one of my favorites! There’s nothing better than personalized diapers all perfectly packaged to look like a cupcake! I always get raves for this gift and best of all it’s a practical gift that will be used – and the parents will think of you every time they change their baby’s diaper (I don’t know if that’s a good or a bad…). With a few weeks’ notice, you can customize the diapers with the baby’s name, initials, nursery design, the parents’ favorite things or leave it up to them. In DFW you can pick them up or out-of-the-area you can have them delivered. It takes about 10 minutes to put this gift together, and voilà!, the perfect, personalized baby gift.


Hope this list is helpful! They’ll remember you for these gifts!

Disclaimer: I received products from Teethme.com, Daddy Diaper Changing Kit and Covillow for purposes of this review, however, the comments here are all my own. 

SOS: Save our socks with ToeBlooms!

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>As a mom of a two kids, I’ve been through A LOT of socks. I mean a lot. It seems every time I purchased a box of diapers, I was also replenishing a supply of new socks. Thankfully, with a boy a pair of plain ole white socks wasn’t a huge concern, just an inconvenience. However, with a little princess now of eight months, white crews don’t cut it. I buy socks to match each outfit (yes, you know if you have a girl you also buy hair accessories and sometimes even blankets, too.) Unfortunately, after about six months trying to keep up with those cute socks was getting to be a real pain. Really. My son, who saw my frustration, told me that he was going to “get the sock monster” for eating all of Taylor’s socks!

Now with the spring approaching, socks seem to be less a real need to keep her toes warm, but more of an accessory with her cute outfits. However, even though I have several pairs of adorable shoes given to her as gifts, shoes aren’t as practical or advised until around the age of one. So what’s a mom to do?

TOE BLOOMS, I found, was my answer.

Photo courtesy of www.toeblooms.com
Photo courtesy of www.toeblooms.com 
Let me start – they aren’t the cheapest little things at around $23, but neither are all those bows and headbands I’ve been buying either. However, they are the cutest little “sock wraps” with bright colors and designs featuring big, beautiful flowers. And when your daughter’s name is rose, you can imagine that many of her outfits, accessories (and even her room) are all decked out with roses, so I was hooked instantly.

Toe Blooms are a must-have for moms tired of coming home with just one of baby’s shoes! This adorable line of stylish baby footwear stays on by wrapping securely around baby’s sweet feet and can be worn with or without socks (so she’s got her summer shoe wear too!) To get your pair, you can get them online on their cute website, www.toeblooms.com. (Be careful though, they have handbands to match!)

Photo courtesy of www.toeblooms.com 

****DISCLAIMER: I was provided a sample of ToeBlooms to try for myself. However, the claims made here and my review is all my own. *** 

A Diaper That Does it All – Diaperpods

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No matter how prepared of a parent you are, every mother has been in one of those embarrassing moments… The one where your little one has left you a present and it seems to not only make a mess when you open it, but up his or her backside and maybe even the blanket and on your shirt. Even worse, it seems even when you feel like you get a handle on it, clean/change everything in sight and squirt on the sanitizer, the evidence of their little “package” still seems to lurk everywhere you smell.



The other day when I got a pretty package in the mail from a company called Diaperpods, I wasn’t sure what I was opening. However, when I pulled out the instruction sheet, I found out it was a diaper with its own special package inside – a bag. I still wasn’t sure exactly how great this little guy was though until I put it to the test. In exactly one of the moments that could have been disastrous, all I had to do was break open the seal, pull open the bag, slide in the diaper and voila! A self-contained diaper mess all tied up in a little blue bag that actually smelled good. What a perfect diaper to use when you’re out of the house, especially like a public event or a friend’s house you don’t want to leave something like this behind. Actually, my pediatrician asks that we don’t leave a messy diaper in the trash in the office, so this would be the perfect solution!

But before you run to the store to get your package of Diaperpods, I have some bad news: you can’t buy these…yet. You can vote for them to “Get on the Shelf” at Walmart. Open for voting until April 3, it takes 1 click to tell the buyers at Walmart you want to make your life easier. Here’s the link to vote: http://getontheshelf.com/product/546/Diaperpods. Remember to do it now – voting ends April 3. 

****DISCLAIMER: I was provided a sample of Diaperpods to try out and to learn how they work. However, the claims made here and my review is all my own. *** 

Find a Baby Camera That Goes and Grows With You

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With two kids, I have had experience with all types of baby products that work (and don’t work) for my family. I remember with my first born I was set on having a nice, wooden high-chair that could become a furniture piece that could grow old with our family. I spent a lot of money on it and while it does look pretty, it’s the $25 plastic high chair that was our saving grace.

One good purchase that lasted for both kids though has been my trusty camera monitor. Being a mom you know that there are times you just need to see your baby to feel like it’s okay to go back to sleep. Unfortunately, a monitor next to my bed isn’t the only place I want a camera but in other places like in the kitchen when I am cooking or the laundry room. Even more so I could even be able to peek on her when I am not home and other people are watching her…So I was back to the drawing board to find something that did what my camera did and more.

Then coincidently, I found exactly what I was looking for. A local company called ourbabycamera.com seemed to have merged my need for a baby camera monitor with my handy, dandy most-loved IPhone. How awesome is that…and even better my family could utilize it anytime they signed on.


My interest was piqued, so installation, here we come!

While the product had a reasonably sized instruction manual, it wasn’t necessary since it was pretty easy to hook up. I went online to the website and went through the process using their quick run through. After an hour or so, I had made the connection and downloaded one of four different apps to use on my IPhone (this is an additional cost from $2.99 – 19.99) and then I was up and going. Better yet, I wasn’t just up and going, I was able to have a secure look at my child and also allow only those I wanted to “check in” on my baby girl!



I figured out this camera wasn’t just a baby camera, but was the camera that grows with your kids. While I still have a few years to worry about curfews, the app even allows you to set up a function to email you when your kid walks through the door! (Basically, there’s no need to wait up because it will email you with a time when they come through the door. And if I had a babysitter I wanted to check in on, I had that too. GENIUS!
Now there’s one more way to stay connected with your smartphone, tablet and (even) your old school PC or Mac!

If you are interested in learning more about this camera ourbabycamera.com will be at the Dallas Kids Expo, March 24 at Dallas Market Hall. Word is ourbabycamera.com will be offering a special on the camera with installation if you want to pick up yours immediately! While you are there, also make plans to bring the kids for Bob the Builder, bounce houses and other fun entertainment. Mom and dad can also learn about other local DFW resources including other baby products like this. Tickets are $12 at the door and kids 12 and under get in free with a jar of peanut butter for the North Texas Food Bank. For more information about the Dallas Kids Expo, check out their website at www.dallaskidsexpo.com.

***Ourbabycamera.com supplied the camera and mounting equipment for this review. The purchase of the app for my IPhone as well as my reviews are all my own.

Huggies Launches New Santa Diapers

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Now that I have two children, Holiday preparation consists of a lot more than just putting up my decorations. It’s actually more fun now as I figure out the attire for our family photo for the family Christmas photo. From the sweaters to socks, in a way I never thought I would be, I enjoy trying to put together that one moment when it is ok to make everyone look like “Leave it to Beaver.”
In the middle of all of the holiday fuss, I received a package that truly was the icing on the cake! Diapers! And not just any diapers but some of the cutesy diapers I have seen in a long time. Of course, with the recent trend in printed diapers, we have had our share of the cute jean diapers for my son and as a baby shower gift I received the sweetest personalized diapers complete in their own cupcake basket. But the timing on these couldn’t be sweeter: Santa diapers from Huggies!
Available now until December and in sizes 3-6, these “Santa pants” are too cute and later found out have a greater cause. When parents create and share their Huggies/American Greetings “Stylize your Santa” card, they will also help to diaper a baby in need with Every Little Bottom, an organization committed to donating 22.5 million diapers to those families in need.
What a great stocking stuffer for my kiddos along with friends and family. Actually, Im thinking about using these for as a unique invitation for our holiday party. Now the hunt is on to find these like i did the jean diapers at my grocery store!

* I was provided these diapers from Huggies for the purpose of the review.


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