Friday, June 29, 2012

Lansinoh® mOmma® Bottle with NaturalWave™ Peristaltic Nipple Review and Giveaway

Going back and forth from bottle to breast can be a real challenge for nursing mothers. Many struggle with getting baby to return to the breast once they've had a bottle.  After 50 years of research, Lansinoh has developed the new Lansinoh® mOmma® Bottle with NaturalWave™ Peristaltic Nipple, which helps facilitate extended breastfeeding.  So what is peristaltic?  Peristaltic is the wave-like motion that baby's tongue makes when drawing milk from the mother's breast.  Research shows that when baby uses this nipple, they are using the same actions as when they are nursing naturally, making it the ideal bottle to use when you have to be away from your little one.


The mOmma is BPA free and dishwasher-safe (Yay!) with a unique, round shape that is designed for baby’s hands to grip with a rocking motion that encourages free play and stimulates development.  It has a leak-proof design with a travel cap for maximum safety and hygiene.  It's wide mouth makes filling and cleaning it a breeze!


The mOmma has a wide, round nipple base which encourages a wider latch-on, similar to how babies latch naturally, which promotes oral, facial and jaw development.  The nipple is super-soft and flexible and made from 100% silicone that is lined internally with specially designed grooves that are made to optimally compress and control milk flow.


It features the new AVS™ Air Ventilation System that reduces the intake of gas, a potential cause of colic or spit up.  It is available in slow, medium and fast flow to meet baby’s changing needs.


We aren't transitioning Olivia off of the breast, but we wanted to give her an occasional bottle of pumped milk so we can go out on a much-needed date night once and a while!  Biggest brother, Jake, got to give Livvy her first bottle.  She was screaming like mad (because when this girl decides she is hungry, you better give her what she wants right away!) Livvy didn't really know what to do and continued crying until I squeezed a few drops of milk into her mouth.  After that, she latched right on and didn't break away until she drank all 4 ounces of breast milk!


She held tight to her bottle just like she does to my breast when she nurses.  I could hear her gulping but it didn't sound like she was taking in air.


Her mouth formed around the bottle nipple just like around the breast. 


Big brother, Jesse, wanted to help, too!  This was a great bonding experience for my boys with their sister, and I will continue to use this bottle when I can't be available to nurse her.

The bottle we received is part of the Lansinoh ® mOmma ® system that grows with your baby and is interchangeable with the mOmma non-spill and straw cup tops so when baby transitions away from the bottle and nipple, mama can put the non-spill or straw top onto the existing bottle, providing extended use and saving her money!  

The mOmma bottle is available in 5oz. or 8.4oz and can be purchased in a single or twin pack.  It is also available in a starter kit that contains a bottle brush. The mOmma system is available at Walmart, Target, Amazon.com, drugstore.com, and diapers.com, however I found it cheapest at Walmart for $8.77.   The line also includes toddler feeding items and teethers.  

Lansinoh was generous enough to give me this awesome coupon to share for $5 off one bottle, making it $3.77 for your first bottle if you get it at Walmart!  Be sure to check out Lansinoh on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest information they have to share.  Enter the giveaway below to win your own mOmma bottle from Lansinoh!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The product for this review was provided to me by the company. I do not accept monetary compensation for reviewing products.  All opinions expressed are my own. Others who may use the product may have different opinions.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Hot Milk Nursing Bras

Pregnancy can be a beautiful time for women, but let's face it, after the baby comes, most of us feel like we don't look our best!  I knew when I was pregnant with Livvy that I would need a pick-me-up after she was born.   What I wanted was a little post-baby sexiness, and what could be better than a lacy, shimmering nursing bra!  My chest was about the only thing I felt looked good about me after the birth of my daughter.  I had a squishy, floppy, empty tummy and the most gigantic boobs I had ever had in my life!  I wanted them to look good.   Enter Hot Milk Nursing Lingerie, invented by two mamas, five years ago.  You can visit their facebook page HERE.

The first bra I bought was She Was Seemingly Unaware.  Retail price $58.80.  I bought mine for $24 on Zulily.  A definite steal!


Hot Milk says:
 An exquisitely styled, supportive and practical full cup bra in a rich lilac juxtaposed with jet black lace – a must for every womans under cover wardrobe of intrigue.
PRODUCT FEATURES:
Feminine ruched shoulder straps allow for extra comfort
Power mesh wings at the back of this A-frame bra offer further support
Satin ribbons bring the elegance of this style to life
I say:  
This bra makes me feel pretty!  It's very comfortable.  The straps don't dig into my shoulders and it has six adjustable hooks in the back for when you start to lose weight and need to tighten it up.   It has full cups, which means when you open the cup, there is a kind of "sling" around your whole breast.  It doesn't have under wire, but that doesn't compromise the support at all.  It has black lace cups and black mesh sides with lavender straps and accents.  


I absolutely love this bra, so much in fact, I bought another.
Picture Perfect in Champagne and Midnight.  Retails for $58.  I bought mine on Keekoo for $35.99.  


Hot Milk says:
This fabulous contour cup gives you shape and lift, alongside all the functionality of a nursing bra. The elaborate European styled embroidery is offset by the delicate stitching detail on the cup.


I say:
This bra has wider, slightly padded satiny straps and six rows of hooks in the back for adjustment.  It has cream colored mesh sides and formed satin and lace cups as well as a flexible under wire.  



This is not a push up bra, but man, does it get those girls up there!  Talk about support!  It has half cups, which means that when you open the cup it folds down and there is no "sling" around the breast.  This brings me to my next point.  Due to the contoured nature of the cup, it is hard to fold down the cup and get it out of baby's way when she nurses.  Not a deal breaker for me, but I think that a side-opening cup would have been a better choice for this bra.  



That being said, I really do adore my Hot Milk nursing bras and would recommend them to all you pregnant and nursing mamas.  Hot Milk has lots of other bras, as well as a full line of maternity panties to match and beautiful lingerie, as well.  Check out their site today, you won't be disappointed!

These bras were bought by me and no compensation was provided to me by the company.  All ideas are my own.  My experience may differ from yours.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

JJ Cole Norah Diaper Bag

I was lucky enough to receive the JJ Cole Norah Diaper Bag in Boysenberry Fleur from my mom as a shower gift.  I was so excited when I saw this bag.  I had never seen a diaper bag that was actually pretty!  When I had my boys, diaper bags were boring and made from crinkly plastic, so I used backpacks instead.  Still boring, but at least not not plastic.  When I saw this, I was in diaper bag heaven!   It is comfortable to carry (I just use the handles) and light-weight.  I was actually asked in Costco the other day where I got my beautiful "purse!"  The lady was shocked when I told her it was a diaper bag!



Beautiful "leather" trim and handles.  "D" rings for the detachable shoulder strap. The Re-Run exterior fabric keeps six plastic bottle out of the land-fill.  The Norah is also PVC and Teflon free!

Two roomy side pockets with clasp closures.

The inside features one large pocket and two smaller pockets in a beautiful silver lining.  The large is just the right size for the fold-able changing pad.  The inside is water-resistant.

Extremely roomy without being too large.  I fit ten size 1 diapers, a travel wipes case, a large swaddling blanket, two extra outfits, diaper rash cream, infant gas drops,  pain reliever drops, 3 burp rags, the changing pad, and a pack of diaper disposal bags.  That's just on the inside!

The fold-able changing pad is large enough for a toddler and made from the same soft material as the diaper bag lining.  It is also washable.  Bonus, because you know that your baby will pee on it or worse!

The changing pad folds into a nice little rectangle with a Velcro closure that fits into it's own pocket inside the diaper bag.

Included accessories: changing pad, removable shoulder strap and stroller straps.  The stroller straps attach to the stroller and the bag, so you don't have to stash it underneath, making it easily accessible.

The bottom of the bag features five metal feet to prevent scratching the bag.

The Norah comes in 5 different color and pattern options and retails on the JJ Cole website for $109.  However, you can snag it on Amazon for $66!  The other pattern options may be more or less.  


This product was purchased for me as a gift from my mom and any and all opinions are my own.  I didn't receive any compensation from the company.  Your experience may differ from mine. 


Monday, June 18, 2012

Awwww

I feel so honored to have my blog review mentioned over on the Wittlebee Blog.  Thank you Wittlebee!

Monday, June 11, 2012

Wittlebee

Our most recent Wittlebee box
A couple months ago, I found, through the glory that is Facebook, my new addiction.  Wittlebee.  Wittlebee is a monthly subscription box full of brand new kid's clothing in sizes from 0-3 months to 5T.  Boxes are $39.99 with free shipping.  I immediately began stalking their Facebook page drooling over all the pictures of the awesomeness that goes into each grab bag-style box.  And what luck!  I just happened to be lurking on their page one day, when I saw a link for a flash sale they were having.  I got my 1st box for $9.99!  

Wittlebee stocks items from brands such as Luca Charles, Baby Lulu, Tea Collection, Crazy 8, Gap, Old Navy, Carters, American Apparel, etc

The boxes focus on basics such as onesies, leggings, tees, etc. in solid colors (for easy mixing) with a few fun prints thrown in.  Each Wittlebee box contains 8 items of clothing matching with the style preferences you choose upon signing up.  You can identify up to 3 favorite colors and graphic types, and pick items your child needs most (onesies, leggings, tees, shorts, dresses/skirts, socks,etc)  You also have the option of talking to a stylist or leaving personalized notes on your account page that a stylist will look at before packing your box.

I had a few replacement items from last month
You can specify whether your child (or you!)  likes the Princess, Diva, Hipster, Preppy or Geeky, Sporty or Mix and Match Style. The Princess loves polka dots, shades of pink and purple, and whimsy. The Diva box is for the ultimate girly girl who simply can't get enough pink, ruffles or frills.  The Hipster is most comfortable in graphic t-shirts, earth tones, and hip prints.  The Preppy/Geek (for boys and girls) box features collared shirts, khaki pants, plaids, clean lines, and comfy fits. The Sporty box (also for boys and girls) has durable clothes, athletic material, bright colors, and sprightly prints.  Mix and Match is just what it says, a little bit of each style.  

Livvy's Baby Lulu dresses
They have a 100% Customer Satisfaction policy and will do everything they can to make you happy!  If there is an item or two you don't care for or doesn't fit, you can email customer service and they will send replacement items in your next months box.  As with any new company, they are still ironing the kinks out, but that is to be expected. 

This month in her box, Olivia received 11 items (we had 3 replacement items from last month.)  Our awesome stylist hit the nail on the head.  I loved every piece of clothing we received.  We got 2 awesome Baby Lulu dresses.  Baby Lulu by Erin Murphy was introduced to me through Wittlebee, and I can honestly say it is my favorite brand of clothing for Liv now!  The pieces are really soft and pretty and have all kinds of embellishments on them.  We also received a Pink striped Teddy Boom Jumper, a pink Bon Bebe Jumper with matching polka dot shorts, an orange Carter's jumper and matching pink heart leggings, a rumble tumble strawberry romper with matching polkadot skirt.  And to top it all off, an aqua and white striped, velvety-soft Luca Charles tank and black eyelet Tea Collection leggings!  Our stylist totally spoiled us this month!   I, for one, am a very happy Mama and will continue to be a Wittlebee customer for a long time to come!

Use this referral code and get $10 off your first box!  http://curebit.com/x/Vjz6G


Liv in her Luca Charles shirt and Tea Leggings

Put your kid's clothes on auto-pilot

 I did not receive any compensation from the company for this review.  The product was purchased by me and all opinions are my own. 

Blooming Bath

Back in February, I stumbled upon a picture of a beautiful baby bath pillow shaped like a flower that I knew I had to have for my little Olivia.  I think my heart skipped a beat, literally!  This was the cutest thing I had ever seen!  Why did I not think of this???!!!  I scoured Google without knowing what this product was called or who made it.  I used tons of descriptions and finally found the Blooming Bath.  I had to have this.  Fortunately, I received one as a shower gift, although I was fully prepared to buy   one had I not.

I have had so many compliments on my Blooming Bath. The first thing that people notice about it is the bright color (pink , of course!) and how soft it is!   My little one loves her Blooming Bath.  She doesn't slide around at all and her head is protected from the hard sides of the sink, freeing up both my hands to wash her with.  It also cushions her skin from the cold metal and helps her to stay warm during her bath.  I  had other bath sponges  with my older sons that got cold spots in them and made the boys miserable!  Another great thing I love about Blooming Bath is it's extended use.  You can also use it in the tub as the baby gets older and as a bath pillow for Mama after that!

Product Features
The Blooming Bath, invented by four dads, is made of an antimicrobial foam covered in super soft minky fabric on the front and a durable Tricot mesh on the back.   It measures 32" from petal tip to petal tip and is the perfect size to fit in the kitchen sink.  The petals overlap to cradle my baby and help her feel secure when I bathe her.  When bath time is over, I just rinse, wring and toss it in the dryer for 10 to 15 minutes.  That's right, the dryer!  What a cool feature!  No more messy, dripping bath cushions.  However, if you prefer, Blooming Bath has a hang tag on the back to hang it up to dry.  You can even machine wash it on the gentle cycle!  I have done this once or twice and it comes out just as soft as the day I got it.  No more plastic, hard-to-store baby bath tubs for this girl.  Blooming Bath sells for $50 (with free shipping, people!) and comes in Hot Pink, Turquoise, and Canary Yellow.

And as if we didn't already love them enough, the folks at Blooming Bath are eco-friendly!  When the patterns for the flower petals were cut out, they found that there was a lot of minky scraps leftover.  Blooming Bath decided to turn this waste into an awesome new product for us, and so Puddles Baby Bath Washcloths were born!  Same smooth softness of the Blooming Bath, now in a washcloth.  These are sold on the company's website in a four-pack for $10.  Genius, I say.

You can also buy the Blooming Bath Bathing Kit for $80 (again, free shipping.)  Included in the kit are a Blooming Bath in your color choice, with a 4-pack of puddles, and some awesome Burt's Bees Baby Products.  1 Baby Bee Nourishing Lotion Fragrance Free 6 oz, 1 Baby Bee Nourishing Baby Oil 3 oz, 1 Baby Bee Diaper Ointment 2 oz, and 1 Baby Bee Shampoo & Wash Fragrance Free 8 oz.  This would make an excellent shower gift for a new mom.

All in all, this is a terrific product and I look forward to seeing what the Blooming Bath has in store for us next!

I did not receive any compensation from the company for this review.  The product was purchased for me as a gift and all opinions are my own.

Friday, June 8, 2012

In The Beginning....

Everyone has to start somewhere so this is it!  When I had my oldest son 11 years ago and my youngest son 7 years ago, they didn't have anywhere near the awesome products for babies and moms that they do now.  I have a new baby again, so I am determined to try out all these fun new things!  This is an adventure in product reviews for me.  My goal:  to find the coolest things out there for moms, babies and kids and bring them to you!      My reviews will be open and honest.