Belli Skincare is partnering with some fabulous friends to give one new mom the Mother's Day gift package she *really* wants! Tomorrow – May 3rd, you can get 20% off online purchases using code BLIMOM20 and enter to win a prize valued at more than $700 featuring items from Belli and their partners Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine, Belabumbum, Chewbeads, Goumi, MobyWrap, Guava Family, and Ovia.
I'm well past my babymaking phase (phew!) but I appreciated a lot of these brands when I was deep in the throes of new mommyhood. In fact, I remember being positively wowed by Belli's Stretchmark Minimizing Cream after having Jasper. And I love Belabumbum's soft, sexy loungewear and undies, which thankfully go beyond nursing bras. I could LIVE in their Copacabana collection, if anyone feels the need to get me bras and boyshorts in every color combination…
My kids are well past high chair days but I love the sleek Scandinavian design of the Svan Signet Complete High Chair. Ellen DeGeneres featured it on her annual Mother's Day show and now you can enter to win one on Svan's Facebook page. Click the image below to enter.
The Graco SnugRide Click Connect 40 is the only Newborn to 2-year infant car seat that keeps your baby rear-facing for a full two years as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. It grows along with your child from 4 lb newborns through 40 lb toddlers, keeping them comfortable and safe. It's also the first offering in Graco's Click Connect collection, which allows parents to move infant carriers from car to stroller with a simple one-step click. Ingenious! I think it's the smartest development in baby gear since the LATCH system.
As a long-standing parent ambassador of the Graco Nation, I was excited to be offered the chance to shop for a new SnugRide 40. My kids are obviously too old for this innovation (at 5 and 8, they are firmly in TurboBooster territory) but luckily I have friends who are expecting their first baby. They have barely registered and I was already telling them about how my kids loved their SnugRides. Roo would only sleep in her SnugRide, which I referred to as the baby bucket. I would actually put it into the Pack N Play next to our bed at night.
The Graco SnugRide Click Connect 40 is exclusively sold at Babies R Us. It's available in two colorways so far: Mena, a scrolling floral for girls, and Moonstruck, a more abstract pattern for boys. When I went to shop for them, I found out how popular they were– there were only a few carseats on the shelves and all of them were in the Mena pattern. Inconvenient, since I had discovered my friends were expecting a little boy.
The Mena pattern is pretty but definitely too girly for a boy, right? Look how plush the cushions are– it looks so snuggly. Five point harness and headrest are fully adjustable (with one hand, even!) so they won't cramp your kiddo's growth. Or force you to rethread the straps, which is one of the most arduous tasks, ever.
Moonstruck is more suitable for boys. Still has a pretty pattern but it's not pink and girly, so your newborn's masculinity is not called into question. I mean, you don't want him to grow up with issues, right? Just kidding.
The SnugRide Click Connect base holds your infant carrier securely in your vehicle. What makes this one unique is how the base adjusts to accomodate leggy toddlers. I especially appreciate that it also creates its own footrest that helps to protect your upholstery from those aforementioned leggy toddlers.
If you have more than one vehicle, you might want to consider investing the $75 in a second base. It makes life much easier if you split drivetime between parents or even grandparents. If it's the latter, you can feel confident knowing that YOU installed the base and all they have to do it connect the carseat with one click and it will be installed correctly. Not saying that grandparents don't follow the AAP guidelines for carseat safety but there's definitely some peace of mind knowing that your carefully-selected safety gear is being properly utilized…
I wasn't able to buy the Graco SnugRide Click Connect 40 in Moonstruck while I was in the store but it was available online with free shipping. Most items ship within 24 hours! You can also have it delivered to your local Babies R Us or Toys R Us location, free of charge, if it's more convenient.
You want to talk about a baby shower gift that keeps on giving… this carseat will work from birth through toddlerdom! Would you like to win one? Enter using the form below.
In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I am a Graco brand ambassador and received a gift card to purchase the carseat and review it. Graco is also supplying the prize for this giveaway. No additional compensation has been received and, as usual, all opinions are my own.
I already mentioned that 2012 marks the 25th anniversary of the Graco Pack 'N Play. It's especially hard for me to imagine, since I still remember 1987 fairly well. I had dinner the other night with my cousin who is about to start her Master's and realized that she was born in 1990. Yikes. I may be old, true, but hopefully I am constantly evolving, like the Pack 'N Play has over the past two and a half decades. You can read more about their innovative designs and how they came about on the Graco blog and in this infographic.
To celebrate, Graco would like to give one of my readers a $50 Babies 'R Us gift card that you can use towards the purchase of a Pack 'N Play. Enter using the form below.
Think you remember all the Pack ‘n Play big moments and innovations over the past 25 years? Visit Graco's Facebook page to enter their sweepstakes where you could win a prize package valued at $5,000! And while you’re there, be sure to play the instant win game now through Nov. 10 and you could win a $25 retail gift card!
In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I am a Graco brand ambassador and have received complimentary samples of their products in the past. They are supplying a prize for this giveaway but no compensation has been received and, as usual, all opinions are my own.
Please rise in a standing ovation for Graco, a company that has made an overwhelming contribution to raising the world's babies, including my own. Both of my kids are sadly well beyond the playpen age but since I am a Graco Nation Ambassador (we have TurboBoosters in each car these days), I was given the opportunity to give one away in honor of the quarter-century anniversary of the Graco Pack 'N Play. Can you believe it's only been around for 25 years? What did parents do beforehand?!
Pack 'n Play® Playard with Reversible Napper & Changer™
The original Pack ‘n Play providing 25 years of heritage, trust and leadership
Fact Sheet
Designed to offer a compact, convenient solution for on-the-go parents, this playard combines two of our most popular features into one convenient solution – a reversible napper and changer. The Reversible Napper & Changer is a napping station on one side and can be flipped over to become a changing station on the other side.
MSRP: $99.99
Available online and in stores at Babies ‘R Us, Target, Walmart, Amazon.com, GracoBaby.com, Buy Buy Baby and specialty retailers
Features:
The first playard to feature a reversible napper and changing station, all-in-one
Toy bar features soft toys to amuse baby
Removable, full-size bassinet provides an extra-comfy spot for infants to nap
Convenient carrying bag for no-fuss travel and storage
Beautifully-styled, soft fabric cuddles baby for naps while the wipe-clean fabric resists messes
Pack Facts:
The first Pack ‘n Play was created in 1987
Pack ‘n Plays are currently available in more than 60 models and fashions
Pack ‘n Plays can range in price from $49.99 to $229.99 based on model
In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I am a Graco brand ambassador and have received complimentary samples of their products in the past. They are supplying a prize for this giveaway but no compensation has been received and, as usual, all opinions are my own.
Moms and Jobs (MoJo) is a Boston-based organization that seeks to "break the cycle of poverty among families in the United States by providing sustainable employment opportunities and strategic benefits in the apparel manufacturing industry." What that means is, they create jobs for poverty-stricken moms, a traditionally underserved workforce demographic. MoJo offers an alternative to meager minimum wage salaries by providing training and a new career path, along with completely funded high-quality child care, healthcare, retirement plans, and even education, to empower mothers and give them independence from welfare and food stamps. The women learn to fabricate garments and accessories from fleece and all of the MoJo sales proceeds provide free child care, competitive salaries, and sustainable employment opportunies for MoJo's single moms.
The MoJo Soft and Snuggly Blanket is made of super-plush Polartec fleece and measuring a generous 48" x 60", it's big enough for mom to cuddle up with but also thick enough to use as a playmat. I know it seems cliche to buy a blanket for a baby shower gift, but I think this is absolutely perfect. Not only is it decadently soft but your present will help more than just one mom and baby… win-win. It would also be a pretty great gift for anyone who likes to snuggle up on the couch watching TV. I actually hide mine for personal use. Shhh!
Disclosure: In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received a MoJo Soft and Snuggly Blanket through the Get a Blanket, Give a Blanket promotion via Klout. I was under no obligation to receive the sample or talk about this company. I get no additional benefits for talking about the product or company.
Today, Bugaboo announces its first double stroller, the Donkey, at the Kind & Jugend trade show in Germany. Yes, there are a number of excellent double strollers on the market these days, but this is Bugaboo's version so they upped the design ante by making it ridiculously easy to convert from a single to double at will. Holy moly! Watch this sucker go!
I'm a proud member of the Graco Nation because I have always been impressed with the quality of Graco baby products as well as the integrity of the company itself. Today, Graco is announcing a voluntary recall for select Passage™, Alano™, and Spree™ model strollers. These strollers have specific hinge designs and were manufactured by Graco prior to March 2008. They have worked closely with the CPSC on this announcement, and have decided to inform consumers of a potential risk of injury to small children caused by the canopy hinge on these models. For those with affected strollers, Graco will provide a protective hinge cover free of charge.
If you would like to check to see if you have an affected model, you can do so with this online form. For additional information, customers can visit the Graco Heart to Heart Blog, view proper canopy installation instructions on YouTube, or call Graco's consumer service line at 800-345-4109. Updates will also be posted on Twitter and Facebook.
Roo in her Marathon, Jasper in his Boulevard. They're like plush recliners for your kids, only with the added bonus of protecting them in the event of a crash. In fact, these carseats are so well-designed, they have been known to keep children safe even when the car they are riding in has been struck by a train! (I would still recommend not stopping on train tracks, in case you were considering doing some home-testing.) That seat was a Roundabout, a convertible seat that is good for rear-facing infants to 40 lb forward-facing kiddos.
We went with the Marathon when Roo was a baby because it has such a long lifespan. Britax carseats are not cheap but they are extremely well-rated and in our experience they are just as durable as they are plush and good-looking. When Jasper outgrew his infant carrier (at six months!), I discovered a new Britax convertible seat. The Boulevard is even cushier than the very similar Marathon (both seats are recommended for children up to 65 lbs) and my hands-down favorite feature for Jasper has been the No Re-thread Harness Adjustment which allows you to adjust the harness height without having to re-thread the harness straps– super handy when you have a rapidly-growing baby/toddler/kid. Roo was a much more gradual grower so it's not as much of an issue to have to switch out the harness height every six months or so when you pull the cover off to wash it.
We recently received a new Britax model, the Marathon CS. The "CS" refers to the Click & Safe audible indicator that helps to determine when the child seat harness is within range of appropriate snugness. I remember taking a carseat safety class when I was pregnant with Roo and being informed that an alarmingly high number of parents were installing their seats improperly AND using the harnesses incorrectly, as well. I think it might have been close to 70%! The Marathon CS is just as comfy and sturdy as its non-clicking predecessor but it does give me a reassuring feeling to know that there is a way to make sure the harness is optimally tightened. Especially since this seat is going to go in grandma's car…
The Click & Safe feature is also available in the Boulevard CS. (Did I mention how totally awesome that No Re-thread Harness Adjustment is for wiggly boys?) The Britax Marathon CS has a MSRP of (USD) $299.99 and can be found wherever quality baby goods are sold.
When I was pregnant with Roo, I went to every childbirth class I could find. I was obsessed with being prepared for motherhood and I was especially worried about breastfeeding. The lactation classes freaked me out. All of the different ways to hold the baby while nursing had specific names and were shown in how-to diagrams. The cradle carry, the football hold, the saddle hold. All seemed so beyond me and the constant reassurance that latching on takes time and effort made me positive that breastfeeding was going to be an uphill battle. Luckily, I was totally wrong. Roo latched on easily and effortlessly and my milk came in just fine. She never took a bottle and I barely had to pull out the hand pump I'd registered for.
Jasper, on the other hand, couldn't nurse immediately because he had some breathing issues and was whisked off to the NICU. They kept him on IV feeding for most of that so I was assigned a hospital grade breast pump while I was staying with him. That sucker was amazing and I was dedicated to producing as much milk as I could for my poor sick baby. Who rapidly recovered and turned into the biggest milk hog on the planet. I hadn't really needed a pump with Roo but with Jasper my milk came in so, umm, abundantly, I had to pump pretty much whenever I wasn't actually nursing the baby or risk a torrential downpour. (icky.)
The Evenflo Comfort Select Performance breast pump is an occasional-use pump that would have been perfect for my overflow traffic. It features an auto-cycling vacuum that simulates natural suckling and encourages milk flow; the vacuum is adjustable so you can control the rate of suction for your own comfort. Dual collection means less time spent pumping (and therefore less time being engorged, yay!) and the pump can be plugged in to an AC outlet or run on batteries, although it drains them pretty quickly that way.
Entries will be accepted through May 6th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible. Only one entry/comment per person, please.
I've written at length about how much I love Boon. They design smart products for babies and kids. I would even go so far as to say Boon is the first children's lifestyle brands, comprising items for bath, mealtime, toy storage, and even jewelry and layette. They've just added three new bathtub toys to their roster and we were thrilled to give them a workout.
Water Bugs are three amorphous critters that float lackadaisically in the bathtub, just waiting to be scooped up in the accompanying net. Cute and well-proportioned for small hands. Also made of recyclable plastic, which I thought was kind of cool.
Splat is a floating ring toss game but I must admit that Roo prefers using the rings as fancy bangle bracelets. Jasper likes to stack things, so once he gets the throwing and aiming down he'll be into it.
Scrubble features three squeezable bulbous eggs with interchangeable textured attachments. Yes, they squirt nicely! And they're easy enough for toddlers to refill themselves. They can even be run through the dishwasher if you're worried about the mold that sometimes plagues squirt toys.
who commented... I liked the cute Nursing Bracelet.
Nobody would ever mistake me for a nature girl. I've never been camping, I'm addicted to air conditioning, and I freak out if I can't wash my hair at least every other day. That being said, I see the value in a crunchy, green lifestyle and try to be more responsible in our lifestyle, especially now that we have kids. I wish I had known more about natural baby care when I was first pregnant with Roo. I assumed cloth diapers were a bulky mess and hard to deal with but now I know there are plenty of cute and easy to use options available.
Parenting By Nature is a great online resource. They have been selling cloth diapers, baby slings and baby products since 2004, which coincidentally is when Roo was born. They offer a wide variety of eco-friendly gear for babies and nursing mothers, as well as tutorials and information to help parents make the right choices for their families, ensuring their continued health and well-being as well as that of the world around them.
Parenting By Nature founder Tamara Champion has two young daughters and is a big proponent of babywearing so the site features not only a wide selection of baby carriers, but also detailed product reviews personally written by staff members, to help parents find the carrier that’s a perfect fit for them. Customer reviews are also a big part of Parenting By Nature and they help make the website feel more like a community market than a traditional store.
I briefly considered cloth diapering with Jasper but I must admit that his stay in the NICU made it pretty easy for me to just go ahead and keep using the disposables. Now that he's nearing potty training, I am contemplating using cloth trainers. Parenting By Nature has several brands available but I chose the Imse Vimse Organic Cloth Training Pants because they look the most like underpants. I love the cute prints and the fact that they are vinyl and PVC-free. They consist of a comfortable layer of cotton on the outside, soft elastic at the waist, three layers of absorbent terry cloth on the inside and a layer of polyurethane-laminated polyester keep clothes dry. We haven't tried them out in earnest yet but they look adorable on him and I have high hopes of ditching pull-up training diapers for these in the near future.
I've also been curious recently about natural menstrual care. Since we're trying to eliminate potential toxins from our cleaning products, paper goods, diapers, etc. it has struck me as rather hypocritical that I've been using tampons for over 20 years now. Two decades of sticking bleached cotton in my nethers. Ick! Parenting By Nature offers Mama Cloth reusable pads and the Diva Cup, a silicon menstrual cup. Parenting By Nature sent me a Diva Cup to try and I must admit that it is a totally brilliant device.
Once you get used to inserting it and removing it (the cup is VERY flexible and foldable!), the Diva Cup is a total no-brainer. Actually, I think it is really impressive to see how little you're bleeding when you feel like you're flowing like an unstoppable river… the Diva Cup has a one ounce capacity but it is rarely even close to full and you only have to empty it 2-3 times daily. You can't feel it once it's in place and I even felt like my cramps were less severe! There is no leakage and I was surprised at how little mess there is involved. True, there is a bit of a learning curve to getting it inserted properly and if you bristle at tampons without applicators, it is probably not for you. (I was one of you but post baby #2, I'll give anything a go. No modesty anymore, woo-hoo!) But if you'd rather avoid the chemicals and environmental waste associated with tampons and pads, I would definitely recommend you give the Diva Cup a try!
Parenting By Nature offers plenty of other things for your family, too, including safe feeding and bathing gear, toys and gifts, and household sundries. Check out their selection and feel free to email them with any questions you might have.
To enter and win a $50 gift certificate to Parenting By Nature, please comment on this post with your favorite item from their site.
Entries will be accepted through April 15th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US/Canada readers are eligible. Only one entry/comment per person, please.
Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win! Or, you may choose to check for your nickname at Prizey.Fetch, a site that compiles winners in one convenient place:
***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***
Jasper has crazy bad diaper rash. Roo never did, so it is a constant reminder of what a terribly negligent mom I must be to my poor, abandoned second child. When he was a chunky infant I could sort of see why he, uh, chafed so much, but now that he's in the freaky skinny not-a-baby-anymore stage I can't fathom why he gets them so much. I've tried a zillion creams and lotions and powders, let him air dry, given him countless baths… and still my little sweetie has an inflamed monkey butt.
I read about a new diaper cream developed by Hollywood actress and director Melanie Mayron (she was the photographer/sister on Thirtysomething back when I used to pretend I didn't watch TV) and her chemist dad so I thought I'd give it a whirl. Mayron's Good Baby is formulated to relieve and prevent rashes. As their website states, Mayron's Good Baby Diaper Cream contains "No Paraben. No sodium lauryl sulfate. No DEA. Just natural, clean brilliant stuff. Loaded with essential oils, vitamins, anti-oxidants and healing ingredients in the aromatherapeutic tradition." It goes on light and smooth and has aromatherapeutic properties for baby AND parent. I swear I felt more relaxed using it and the faint scent of lavender and almond oil is so much nicer than the powdery smell of most baby products. I also liked that it didn't seem to gum up in all of the tender creases it's supposed to protect. Interestingly, Mayron's Good Baby is also good for adults to use as a barrier cream for all manner of things you don't really want to discuss in public… there's a whole list, ranging from triathalon pit stops to blisters to my personal favorite, Schvitzy Tuchas. (You know, now that I think about it, Jasper's sweaty bottom might be a Shapiro thing… hmm.)
Anyway, if you're in the market for a diaper cream, Mayron's Good Baby is a particularly nice one. You can even get it in single-use packets to keep in your bag without fear of the cap coming off. Not that I would know anything about that, of course. It looks like there's a whole range of other products (“Tangerine” Baby Oil, “Really Good” Hydrating Body Milk, “Gentle” Head to Toe Shampoo, “Amazing Chapped Cheek and Lip Protector,” and “Can‘t Live Without It” Sleepless Night Cream) they'll be offering one of these days, too. And just to prove how committed their entire family is to keeping your entire family clean and healthy– Mayron's sister is the proprietress of Jao, the company behind the most glamorous of all hand sanitizers. Which their dad developed, naturally. And which you would do well to douse your hands with after slathering your kiddo with Mayron's Good Baby!
***WINNER PICKED 4/4 WITH RANDOM.ORG*** ***CONGRATULATIONS!!!*** #28The Dreamer!!!***
her comment... I wish I had a carrycot when my son was that small! Love the spice one.
But I'd like to win the Snack Pack in Spice!
I'm embarrassed to be writing this, but I've been holding out on you. See, I've had a total moral dilemma. I received the Bumbleride Indie Twin double stroller in the 2008-only limited edition Bwana print and I was supposed to test it out and review it and give away an accessory of your choice in that print. It features cute kiddo faces rendered by Bwana Spoons, the noted artist and proprietor of Grass Hut, the hipster art gallery in Portland. Which is arguably the most outsider art street cred ever attached to a stroller…
Anyway, the stroller has become a hotly-debated issue in our house. Personally, I am totally smitten. The Bumbleride Indie Twin is a phenomenally maneuverable stroller. As a matter of fact, the kids request me to spin in tight circles, just because we can. There are four air tires and the front ones swivel, allowing for an incredibly smooth ride. It features two seats that can be positioned independently, with their own extra-big canopies that allow for privacy. Roo and Jasper LOVE that. Roo, in particular, enjoys repositioning the legrest and canopy constantly. The canopies feature peep-hole flaps and enormous rear pockets for all your gear. As if the gigantic open basket below wasn't enough storage space! Seriously, folks- I could take this bad boy grocery shopping! The Bumbleride Indie Twin also comes with matching footmuffs, and I think the Bwana print is particularly adorable on them. Did I mention the adjustable handlebar, swiveling cupholder and complimentary handpump? Or the fact that I can push both of my kids– about 65 lbs combined– without breaking a sweat? It actually comes with a jogging strap should I find the need to, umm, jog. Which actually isn't totally unthinkable. The Bumbleride Indie Twin really makes me want to wheel it around. It's amazingly well-designed. And Roo informs me that it is VERY comfortable, too.
So what's the big deal? Why did it take me so long to write about this total godsend? Because my husband thinks I should give it away. Horror! True, Roo is now five and we don't technically need to push her around in a stroller, but by gum it certainly is easier than wrangling both of them for walks to the park or the library or grandma's house. Bob doesn't like it because 1. it's BIG (duh!), 2. we have it parked in our living room since he uses our garage as his art studio and 3. it's usurped our old faithful Bugaboo Frog (which still ranks as THE best shower gift ever– from my aunt Ellyn when I was expecting Roo) as my kid-ride of choice. Honestly, I think it's that last one that makes him eye the Bumbleride Indie Twin with such suspicion… he thinks it's a homewrecker! Which I suppose it could be. It is awfully young and sexy and fun. If we'd received one of Bumbleride's single strollers (the sleek, sporty Indie or the luxe, chic Queen B), I doubt he would be so anti-. As it is, though, the only drawbacks to the Bumbleride Indie Twin are that it is wide (like two slim strollers parked very closely together; it is actually about 1/2" too wide to fit through our patio door, although it fits through the front door easily) and it is a bit tricky to fold. Neither of which is probably much of an issue to parents who are shopping for double strollers and have witnessed the bulky behemoths that clog the market. It's MUCH sleeker and more streamlined than any double stroller I've seen and the side-by-side arrangement seems a lot easier for toddlers to navigate than the jump seat style. (The Queen B can be made into an in-line double with the addition of the optional Toddler Seat, FYI. And that looks like a very nice stroller indeed…)
The Bumbleride Indie Twin is sold out in the Bwana fabric but the 2009 models are available in two new colors: Vita (pink, pink, pink!) and Lava (black and grey). The 2009 models also feature new mag wheels and a more intuitive backrest recline mechanism. To check what is still available in the VERY limited Bwana fabric, please call Bumbleride at 1-800-530-3930. I'm hanging on to this one until Roo gets too heavy for it. Or we have another baby. Which I sort of want to do now that we have this stroller. Yikes!
To enter and win a Bumbleride Accessory of your choice (like the Snack Pack, Car Seat Cover, or Rain Cover- subject to availability), please comment on this post with your own favorite find from the a Bumbleride site.
Entries will be accepted through April 1st and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible. Only one entry/comment per person, please. For an additional entry, post my button on your blog, follow my blog, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader and leave an extra comment letting me know.
Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win! Or, you may choose to check for your nickname at Prizey.Fetch, a site that compiles winners in one convenient place:
***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***
I've written about how much we enjoy Boon and how their gorgeous high chair, the Flair, is probably the only item from their entire product line that we haven't tried. The only reason we never bought one is because it wasn't available yet when Roo was little and we got a bare bones Ikea wooden highchair and we could never justify buying another highchair, even though we really hate the big Swedish monolith and stub our toes on it daily. And now Jasper uses it and it still sucks. Perhaps even moreso since he's a climber and the thing doesn't have a harness. And Boon has just introduced a brand new color. Yes, it's true, there is now a Pink Flair Highchair!!!
Jasper wouldn't be too scarred if I strapped him into this at every meal, would he? We need a Pink Flair, right?!
I've been meaning to write about the Joovy Kooper for a while now. This stroller is really fantastic. It is very sturdy and well-built with heavy-duty seat and canopy upholstery and a big storage basket underneath. It handles smoothly and provides a comfortable ride. The padded ergonomic handles and built-in cupholders and zippered pocket make life easier for parents, too. The Joovy Kooper's sleek aluminum chassis and bright colors stand out in a crowd. This is one nice-looking ride!
At approximately $250, the Joovy Kooper is a great mid-range stroller option. It is as easy to fold and toss in the trunk as an umbrella stroller but will last way longer and be sturdier on all types of terrain.
I am really impressed with the craftsmanship of the Kooper– it makes sense that the Joovy toy line we reviewed is made in the same factory as their strollers with the same attention to detail. My only complaint is that I want them to come out with a two-passenger Joovy Kooper before Roo gets too big to ride in it!
I'm pretty horrified about this, frankly, and felt the need to share. We buy cases of baby wipes and diapers at Sam's Club but they were out of our preferred Pampers Sensitive wipes so we got the Member's Mark Moist Wipes. Here's what it says about them on the website:
Your trusted Member's Mark Moist Wipes now contain natural cotton fibers for added comfort and softness. Plus, we've added natural botanical extracts to our mild cleansing lotion that contains soothing aloe & vitamin E to help soften your skin. Gentle enough for hands and face. Great for adult care, baby care and growing kids!
We'd been using these for a couple of weeks, around the same time Jasper developed a horrible rash. We had to get a prescription anti-bacterial cream from the pediatrician, even. I figured he needed the sensitive wipes on his tushie, so I switched the Member's Mark Moist Wipes to our generic kitchen supply, which we use for quick clean ups, faces and hands. Around this time, we all developed sinus infections and coughs. I figured it was the time of year. Until Bob pulled out one of the wipes and it had bloomed with colorful mold spores. Obviously, I would NOT have been using these if I'd seen the mold before but once it was visible, it seemed a likely contributor to what I had assumed was seasonal cold and flu symptoms. So I called the 800 number on the back of the Member's Mark Moist Wipes package. "Oh, yeah, we've had a lot of those removed from shelves, you must have gotten an old box." Great. Why weren't there warnings on the package? Why were these still for sale? "You can take them back to the store for a refund." Okay. No apology, no contrition for exposing my family to ickiness and possible infection.
So I took the leftover case of Member's Mark Moist Wipes back to the store. I'd put the offending wipes into a baggie so they could see what was wrong. In case they wanted to warn other families, pull a hazardous product off the shelves, etc. After waiting in line for twenty minutes, I was given a refund. The customer service rep at the returns desk wrinkled her nose at the moldy wipes but said she'd seen them before. And that she still used them for her kids.
I'm not sure what I was expecting*. When I've had consumer issues in the past, it just seems like the companies are more interested when you try and tell them something is wrong with their product. I know Wal-Mart is supposed to be engaging with consumers more through their Eleven Moms program, etc. but I think the lack of interest from their house brands is really disheartening.
Am I over-reacting? Maybe. But when I called Target a couple of months back about some off-tasting Archer Farms peanut butter, the reaction was markedly different. They encouraged me to discontinue using the product, wanted batch number info so they could check up on other complaints, and immediately sent me replacement coupons for the product and other items from the brand. I even received a follow-up letter to rate my satisfaction level. I don't expect companies to kiss my butt but it would be great if they all seemed to care, at least a tiny bit. Especially when baby products are involved!
* (update) I wrote about this because I thought it was pertinent, that other parents who read my blog may very well shop at Sam's Club and be seduced by the low price of the Member's Mark Moist Wipes. I am happy that you all are just as irritated by the ambivalence of the company in dealing with a potential health hazard but I meant this as an example of a problem I see in many, many retailers these days and not as a diatribe against Sam's or Wal-Mart. While I would certainly entertain piles of gifts from either entity, I have no desire to bilk them out of any money because of this troubling incident or to get them to pony up for my pediatric co-pays. I have had plenty of good shopping experiences at both with no health problems resulting from either. I just wish their method of dealing with this was less lackadaisical. And if they wanted to hook me up with a front-loading washer and dryer or sponsor me for BlogHer or Mom 2.0, I wouldn't say no. But I will probably steer clear of their baby products, regardless.
Check out the incredible blanket personalization options over at Fill in the Blankie! You can get 50 characters per side, for a total of 200 letters to compose the perfect ode to a special little bundle of joy. That's more verbiage than a Twitter post! Think of all the options… poems, quotes, birth statistics, psalms, lyrics… anything you can imagine. When you factor in all of the blanket options (from luxurious quilted cotton to cozy knits and my personal favorite, the 400 ct Sheety in bold and beautiful prints), the choices are truly endless.
Jasper's Fill in the Blankie is the 400 ct. Sheety in Khaki Gents and features his name, birthdate, and some sweet thoughts from Roo and mommy and daddy. I think it's absolutely gorgeous. And super cool!
Jasper is a squirmy worm. Even when he's sleeping, the boy kicks and twists and flails. It's impossible to keep him covered, which makes taking him on stroller rides during cool weather a massive pain in the butt. We received a Secure2Me Blanket to try out. It claims to be the only blanket that clips on and stays put, so I was anxious to put it to the test.
The first thing to note about Secure2Me blankets is how pretty they are. They are made with luxurious soft fabrics in a multitude of colors and patterns. Ours is the licorice Secure2Me blanket, a paisley floral that reverses to a decadent black minky plush. On the website, I assumed the prints would be the standard cotton sheeting textile that many crafters use to make baby things. As usual, I was mistaken. Instead of stiff cotton like I expected, the paisley fabric is a soft, snuggly flannelette. It makes the licorice Secure2Me blanket incredibly warm and cozy.
I love the paisley floral design of the licorice Secure2Me blanket. It reminds me of Russian patterns, like something out of Dr. Zhivago. I think it's muted enough to be unisex although Bob prefers the more masculine look of the furry black side. (Okay, so perhaps the little lamb jacket and floral stroller canopy Jasper is rocking aren't very macho, either. What can I say, he's a second child…) Beyond the obvious aesthetic charm, the Secure2Me blanket actually does stay clipped, no matter how much Jasper kicks!
Secure2Me blankets are available in 16 color/pattern styles. There is also a Solarveil version for keeping baby protected from the harsh summer sun and, impressively, a Grand model meant for adults and wheelchair users.
To enter and win a Secure2Me blanket, please comment on this post with your favorite Secure2Me blanket style.
Entries will be accepted through November 12th and I'll pick two winners using Random.org. US readers are eligible. Only one entry/comment per person, please.
Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win! Or, you may choose to check for your nickname at Prizey.Fetch, a site that compiles winners in one convenient place:
***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***
Be sure to stop back by during the week of November 10-14 when Angie, Candice, Cheryl, Kathleen, Kristin and I will be hosting a bloggy Tea Party with fabulous reviews and giveaways– and no kids' stuff allowed! Get into the mood by putting our button on your sidebar (code is below, just copy and paste):
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