giveaway - Stuff Parents Need

Intergalactic Awesome from Recess Monkey

July 23, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 51 Comments

I really love telling you all about great new bands that kids (and adults) will love. If you have avoided “children’s” music up to this point, I really want to encourage you to give it a try. While I’m sure there are plenty of not-so-great bands out there (just as in every genre of music), I have been seriously impressed with what I’ve been hearing over the past 5 of 6 months as I’ve explored different albums.
Today I’m bringing you the perfect album for your little space traveler. Check out The Final Funktier. It has been out since June 15th, and it is, (bad pun warning), OUT OF THIS WORLD!!! The 15 songs on the cd are all have to do with space and science in some way. I have several favorites, already, including Moon Boots, Black Hole in My Room and My Brother is a Satellite.

The sounds you will find here are upbeat and lots of fun. The entire album runs just 34 minutes, which can hold a young child’s attention all the way through. It is a fun journey, and you might find, like me, that you are a little bit sad when the ride is over. That’s such a good sign for cd, my friends!
The members of Recess Monkey have released 6 albums, and in their spare time, they all teach at the same school in Seattle. Isn’t that cool? How fun would it be for your elementary school teacher to be a rock star?! 🙂

Buy it!: If your little one needs some music to accompany him/her on trips to other galaxies, pick up The Final Funktier for $15 or you can buy is for under $12 on Amazon.

Win it!: Fasten your seat belts, one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is about to take off with your own copy of The Final Funktier! The contest will run until August 2nd at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is drawn. Limit one entrant per household, please. Open to residents of the United States.

Mandatory entry: Tell me another album from Recess Monkey you’d like to own (search under the Store tab)

Additional entries:
1. “Like” Recess Monkey on Facebook
2. Follow Recess Monkey on Twitter
3. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter
4. “Like” Stuff Parents Need on Facebook
5. Subscribe to Stuff Parents Need by RSS, email or Google Friend Connect (only one extra entry, even if you subscribe multiple ways)
6. If you are a blogger (posted something within the past 3 months) put my button on your blog and leave a url so that I can find it.

Be sure to check out all the other current giveaways, listed on the sidebar of my main page!

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post may contain affiliate links.

Wahmies Large Diaper Wet Bag Review

July 21, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 187 Comments

I’ve already told you about how crucial it is to have a wet bag if you are going to cloth diaper. The smell factor in your house goes down tremendously with one, I promise!

Currently, I’m keeping the dragon bag at home because it can hold 2 days worth of diapers at a time (and I’m currently washing diapers roughly every 48 hours). But that bag was a bit too large to take to daycare, so now I have a smaller bag to get her through the day.

And once again, I found a company that makes SUPER cute bags! This company is called Wahmies. Wahmies is a company that is really well-known for their diaper pail liners, but they also have some other terrific products, including a one-size diaper (review and giveaway forthcoming!) and these great wet bags.

Wahmies wet bags are made with high quality cotton designer prints, and have a water-proof polyester laminated inner fabric. They are made in the USA!

I have a regular size bag (ARV $16.50), which measures13″ x 15″. It is just the right size to take to daycare, as it will hold 6-8 diapers. When we get home, I just transfer the day’s diapers from her Wahmies bag into her dragon bag. I let the bag air out overnight, and then I take it back to daycare the next day. I try to wash both of my wet bags every other day, just to keep them smelling their best. The Wahmies bag has held up just great in the wash, and the colors on the fabric have not bled.

I’m so pleased to have a bag this size as part of my cloth diapering arsenal. And I’m so glad that bag is from Wahmies. It is cute, very functional and keeps the stink at bay, which is exactly what a wet bag should do. Yay Wahmies!

Buy it!: Wahmies wet bags come in 2 sizes to meet different needs: the regular size retails for $16.50, and the all-day size, which measures 16″ x 20″ sells for $18.50. They also offer a small bag that is perfect for your cloth wipes! It measures 9″ x 9″and sells for $9.50.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to get a regular size Fun Print Wet Bag in this simply precious cow print! The contest will run until July 31st at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to their winning email notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: You must follow my blog via email, RSS or Google Friend Connect and let me know which way you subscribe!

Additional entries:
1. Tell me your favorite item sold by Wahmies, and why you like it!
2. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter
3. “Like” Stuff Parents Need on Facebook
4. Subscribe to Stuff Parents Need by RSS, email or Google Friend Connect (only one extra entry, even if you subscribe multiple ways)
5. If you are a blogger (posted something within the past 3 months) put my button on your blog and leave a url so that I can find it.

Be sure to check out all the other current giveaways, listed on the sidebar of my main page!

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

The Best Reusable Snack Bags to Green Your Lunch

July 19, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 148 Comments

Have you tried out reusable snack bags? If not, you totally should! This is one more great way to reduce the amount of plastic you use and throw away, and it is a great way to save some money!

As reusable bags for food become more popular, the options just get better and better (and cuter and cuter!). Today I’m bringing you a fabulous brand that I think has the best reusable snack bags called ReUsies. There is a poem on their website that is a playful, yet still serious reminder about why ceasing to use plastic bags is so important. It reads,
They stick to our fences

Alight in our trees

Drift down our sidewalks

And swirl into our seas

They’re a pollutant on which our sea creatures feed

They are plastic bags

Our urban tumbleweeds!

ReUsies are 100% cotton bags on the outside, lined with leak-resistant nylon and secured with Velcro closures. They come in two sizes (sandwich and snack) and in a terrific variety of colors.

I have used our ReUsies reusable snack bags several times now, and I’m impressed with how well they hold their contents (I put Wheat Thins in my sandwich bag, and I fully expected some of them to fall out, but they didn’t!). I usually just throw them into the washing machine (because there’s ALWAYS a load going around here), but they can also be washed in the dishwasher after they have been washed a few times in the washing machine. You don’t want to put them in the dishwasher right away because they super hot water could cause the fabric to bleed if it has never been washed before.

Overall, I found ReUsies bags to be super cute, beautifully stitched, roomy and well-designed to hold their contents. Sandwich bags can be purchased for $8.75 and snack bags are $6.95. Also, ReUsies is having a special deal where if you buy 3 or more bags, shipping is free!
Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need Reader will win a sandwich and snack bag set in your choice of fabric! The contest will run until July 29th at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize before it is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Limit one entrant per household, please. Open to residents of the United States.
Mandatory entry: Tell me the ReUsies fabric you love the most (and choose wisely, as you will get what you select for this entry).

Additional entries:
1. Follow ReUsies on Twitter
2. “Like” ReUsies on Facebook
3. Subscriber to the ReUsies blog
4. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter
5. Subscribe to Stuff Parents Need by RSS, email or Google Friend Connect (only one extra entry, even if you subscribe multiple ways)
6. If you are a blogger (posted something within the past 3 months) put my button on your blog and leave a url so that I can find it.

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways (listed on the sidebar of my home page)

Disclosure: I received complimentary reusable snack bag products for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post may contain affiliate links at no cost to you.

Bow-Nanza! (Super Awesome GIVEAWAY!!!)

July 16, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 113 Comments

Edit: This giveaway is CLOSED.

Did you know that I have a younger sister? Her name is Laura, and she’s 10 years younger than me! She’s getting ready to start her junior year in college, and she’s already striking out with her own business. I’m so proud of her, and today, I’m going to tell you all about her shop.

Laura owns Ribbons of Faith on Etsy, and her specialty is hair bows! Laura has always been a crafty person (I can remember her doing craft projects when she was just a toddler!). She said that she noticed little girls in her church always wearing bows that perfectly matched their outfits. Inspiration struck, and she started making them herself.

Laura has clippies that come on alligator clips, and she also makes bows that come on french clips. I think her prices are extremely reasonable and her creations are simple, yet totally adorable. Her bows start at $3.50 and her clippy sets are $4.00.

Win it!: I believe in my little sister. She is creative by nature, and she puts love into every bow she makes. I want to see her business take off! To celebrate the opening of her shop, we are going to have a special giveaway on Stuff Parents Need! One lucky reader will win 1 hair bow AND one clippie set of your choice! Hooray! The contest will run until July 26th at 7:59pm when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the winning email before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Limit one entrant per household, please. Open to residents of the United States.

How to win: There are several ways to enter, but I want to point out one very special way. For every bow or clippy set you purchase, you will get 10 entries. If you purchase multiple bows or clippy sets, you will get 10 entries for each set! For example, if you purchase 2 bows and 1 clippy set, you will get 30 EXTRA ENTRIES!!! Also, the first 5 people to place an order with Laura will get an additional 5 entries, total (Laura will let me know who those folks are, and I will add those bonus comments on your behalf).

Mandatory entry: Tell me which bow and clippy set you like the very best. If they are still available at the end of the giveaway, you will win them (and if not, you’ll get to pick out something new).

Additional entries:
1. MAKE A PURCHASE. As I mentioned earlier, you will get 10 entries for every bow you purchase. The first 5 orders that come in will get an extra 5 entries total on top of that. That’s a good deal, folks!
2. Follow Ribbons of Faith on Twitter
3. “Like” Ribbons of Faith on Facebook
4. Add Ribbons of Faith to your Etsy favorites

That’s all! Nothing but love for the sponsor on this one, folks!

Seriously, This is The World’s Best Cat Litter

July 13, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 146 Comments

This post is for all the families out there who have cats. The House of M (as we call ourselves) is a cat family, for sure. We will likely always have a cat as a standing member of our clan. At the moment, we have 2 cats. This makes for lots of love, lots of hair around the house, and LOTS of smelly cat litter to frequently clean/change out.

Tim and I have had a cat since 2005. We’ve been through so much litter during these past 5 years, and we have tried several different brands. First we tried Feline Pine. It was the cat litter of choice at the shelter where we got Hattie. It is also very environmentally friendly. Some people love it, but in our experience, it didn’t flush down the toilet as promised (we ended up having to get a plumber out to clear out our litter mess, setting us back $100). And most importantly, IT SMELLED. There was just no denying that there was a litter box in the room, folks.

Then we went the completely opposite route. We bought Tidy Cat. We threw our environmental concerns out the window and just hoped for the best with the cheapest litter we could find. It worked ok. The smell was better than Feline Pine. But then our conscious started to get to us. This stuff was bad for the earth and also bad for our kitties (definitely not something that should ingest).

We then went with Fresh Step. Now I have to say, Fresh Step totally worked in terms of containing the smell. I think that is what it is known for. But it is another brand that is bad for the environment, and there are all kinds of reports online of cats who have Fresh Step (and other similar products) stuck in their stomachs. Ugh……

What to do? If we control odor, it comes at the cost of our cat’s health and the environment. If we do the right thing for our cats and the earth, our house reeks of cat poop and pee.

World’s Best Cat Litter

My friends….there’s another option!!! There is a product called World’s Best Cat Litter. The name is a bit presumptuous, don’t you think? But I now realize that when you really are the best in the world, you might as well just go ahead and put it out there.

Here are some key things to know about World’s Best Cat Litter:
1. It is the only litter made from whole-kernel corn. It naturally has a micro-porous structure that traps nasty ammonia odor in every clump, without using artificial perfumes or scents!
2. This litter clumps moisture on contact, and each clump locks in odors. This quick clumping also keeps the rest of the litter dry, which means that you won’t have to change it as often. Hooray!
3. You can flush the clumps you scoop out of the litter box in the toilet! They disperse in water. Very cool!
4. When you are scooping the litter, it doesn’t smell. This is revolutionary, people!
5. Because of the quick-clumping nature of World’s Best Cat Litter, one bag will last up to 2 or 3 times longer than other clumping litters. That keeps more of your money in your bank account and out of the litter box. A small bag can last 1 cat over 4 weeks!
6. Because this litter is all-natural, there is nothing harmful for your cats to ingest, and no harmful dust for your family to inhale.

If you aren’t sold yet, just take a look at this video and see how World’s Best Cat Litter works!

The World’s Best Cat litter site has a list of retailer s. Check it out! I just found out that the Kroger that I shop at weekly carries it. I have already added this litter to my shopping list for this week! You can also find it at Amazon.

Win it!: World’s Best Cat litter is going to send one lucky kitty (and one very lucky kitty owner) a bag of litter to try out, and to fall in love with (and yes, you will fall in love!). The contest will run until July 23rd at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the winning notification email before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Limit one entrant per household, please. Open to residents of the United States.

Mandatory Entry: Tell me what cat litter you use now, and your biggest beef with it (if you have one).

Additional entries:

1. Follow World’s Best Cat Litter on Twitter

2. “Like” world’s Best Cat Litter on Facebook

3. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter

4. “Like” Stuff Parents Need on Facebook

5. Subscribe to Stuff Parents Need by email, RSS or Google Friend Connect (only one extra entry, even if you subscribe multiple ways)

6. If you are a blogger (and have written a post in the last 3 months), add my button to your blog and send me the url so that I can see it.

Be sure to check out my other current giveaways (listed on the sidebar of my main page).

Disclosure: I was sent a complimentary product to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post may contain affiliate links.

BottomBumpers Diaper Review

July 11, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 367 Comments

Edit: This giveaway is CLOSED.

The more I get into cloth diapering, the more I realize that diapers really can be hit or miss. In some cases, it has everything to do with the quality of the product being offered. In other cases, it has everything to do with your child’s body shape and how certain diapers do (or don’t) fit well with that shape. And in many cases, having a bad diaper experience has a little bit to do with both issues. I have had negative experiences (and by that I mean major leaks) with diapers that THOUSANDS of moms and dads rave about. And I’ve had major successes with a brand that gets very little attention. That’s the tough thing about cloth diapers; sometimes you just have to try, try and try again until you find diapers that are winners for your particular child.

And I have a winner for you today, folks! Check out Bottombumpers! Anne from The Diaper Wagon (edit: the diaper wagon is no longer in business, but BottomBumpers are still around!) sent me one of these to try out, and I’m going to tell you all about it.
Aesthetically, it was love at first sight. The diaper is very trim, very smooth on the outside, very soft on the inside (organic cotton, baby!). And it comes in the color navy, which is really hard to find, but which goes so beautifully with so many different colors. Basically, when Darah wears her BottomBumpers, she has built-in bloomers, which is so convenient.
When we first started using the Bottombumpers, we had a few bumps in the road (no pun intended). At first, we did have a bit of a leak problem. As I used (and washed!) the inserts more, though, this problem started to fade. So the primary cause of leaks was simply that I hadn’t pre-washed the insert enough times to get it to its full absorbency.

Additionally, I have simply learned that since Darah sleeps on her side, she is likely to leak out of most any diaper that has a snap in or lay in insert. That’s just reality for her. Babies who sleep on their backs or tummies will likely not face this same challenge. So that’s not a complaint I have about BottomBumpers, but rather a complaint I have with my child (Just kidding! She can sleep however she likes!).
During the day, though, BottomBumpers are one of the diapers in her stash that gets used first every single time. That poor diaper is always dirty! 🙂 It is one of only a few diapers that she has that is so trim she can wear the right size pants with it. She’s currently wearing size 12 months, and it is a little frustrating when she has a coordinating top and bottom and I can’t put the bottom on her because of her diaper. Not the case with BottomBumpers. Hooray!

I really like that with BottomBumpers, the wing snaps on the side are hidden, which keeps those red marks at bay (I always feel so guilty when Darah’s diapers leave a mark on her! How uncomfortable she must have been!).
BottomBumpers are a terrific diaper, and I definitely recommend them! They may or may not work for your child, but I think this is one roll of the dice worth taking, because the quality of the diaper is top notch.
Buy it!: BottomBumpers are available at my very favorite diaper shop, The Diaper Wagon, in a fabulous variety of colors for $18.95. ALL U.S. orders get free shipping, and any order over $65 gets from Canada free shipping. Also, check out their sale items!

Win it!: Thanks to the fabulous Anne at The Diaper Wagon, one super lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a BottomBumper in your choice of available sizes and colors. Rock!!! The contest will run until July 21st when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory Entry: Tell me one other item that The Diaper Wagon offers that you either already love or would like to try!

Additional Entries:
1. Follow The Diaper Wagon on Twitter
2. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter
3. “Like” The Diaper Wagon on Facebook
4. “Like” Stuff Parents Need on Facebook
5. Subscribe to the Diaper Wagon blog
6. Subscribe to Stuff Parents Need by RSS, email or Google Friend Connect (only one extra entry, even if you subscribe multiple ways)
7. If you are a blogger (posted something within the past 3 months) put my button on your blog and leave a url so that I can find it.

Be sure to check out all the other current giveaways, listed on the sidebar of my main page!

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Easy Lunch Box System

July 9, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 130 Comments

If you work outside the home, do you pack your lunch? Does your spouse? How about your kids (who are school-aged)? Tim and I have been in the habit of packing our lunches since we first got married. We had NO money for going out to eat at that time so creating an easy lunch box system was a necessity. Fortunately, we were able to get in the habit then and we still do a pretty good job of bringing our own food to work now. Tim will sometimes get roped in to going out to eat with his colleagues because most of them don’t pack lunches, but on the whole, we eat at our desks or in break rooms. It’s a great way to use up leftovers and save a bunch of money.

I have some glass food containers, but more often than not those are storing breakfast or dinner for Darah (her lunches always go in her Baby Banquet). Tim and I are often left with the plastic containers that are decidedly NOT BPA free. This is a huge concern of mine, because I know we shouldn’t be heating them up in the microwave. The other main problem I have when getting our lunches together is that if we have multiple things that we want to bring to work (for example, a sandwich, soup, carrot sticks and string cheese), I need multiple containers and/or bags. We have some reusable bags, so that helps to cut down on the waste, but we are still leaving the house with a bag full of containers, which is just so awkward!

I searched the internet for a solution to my lunch-building problems, and I found one! Check out the easy lunch box system! If you are looking for one container that will hold different foods, or just for a green lunchbox, here it is!

Kelly Lester, the brains behind this business, has this to say about how EasyLunchboxes got started, “I was like other frustrated moms – I didn’t like throwing together lunches during the morning rush. So much time was wasted sorting through a cabinet of mismatched food containers while trying to pack 15-25 well-balanced lunches per week. I struggled to find something that would help me pack lunches fast, without resorting to the ‘convenience’ of expensive, pre-packaged ‘fast-food.’ Most importantly, I wanted something attractive, eco-friendly, and made of food-safe materials that I didn’t have to wash by hand. My clever solution to the lunch-packing chore is the simple two piece EasyLunchbox container : The bottom has three compartments to hold an entree or sandwich and two side dishes. The fitted lid (which comes in 4 colors) covers all three compartments at once. Fits perfectly inside the roomy EasyLunchbox custom carrying bag. And there is still plenty of room to throw in an extra snack or two, whole fruit, perhaps a thermos of soup, drink and ice block.”

My experience with the EasyLunchbox system has been positive. Because I have compartments to use, I’m packing healthier meals. The baby carrots are actually making it with me to work, now, because I don’t have to get out another plastic bag just for them. I’ve also got room for fun sides like hummus and pita chips. Tim and I are eating better, and putting together more variety for our meals is actually a whole lot easier.

At first, I wasn’t too sure that I’d get much use out of the cooler bag, but now I’m so glad that I have it. The containers really do fit perfectly inside, and I love that there is extra room on top for anything extra that you might want to throw in (since a banana, for example, wouldn’t fit inside the EasyLunchbox, itself). The design is simple and the colors are attractive, which means that an 8 year old and a 38 year old could both use it without any snickers from classmates or colleagues!

Win it!: EasyLunxhboxes wants to give you the opportunity to win your very own set and cooler! The contest will run until July 19th at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the winning email before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Limit one entrant per household, please. Open to residents of the United States and Canada.

Mandatory Entry: Two things: Tell me the color of the cooler bag you want (you will get what you select here if you win) AND subscribe/follow my blog via any of the following methods: Twitter, Facebook, RSS, email, Google Friend Connect! You need to mention which way you subscribe/follow in your mandatory entry post.

Additional Entries:
1. Subscribe follow my blog by any of the methods listed above that you didn’t use for the mandatory entry (limit one extra entry, even if you subscribe multiple ways)
2. “Like” EaxyLunchboxes on Facebook
3. Follow EasyLunchboxes on Twitter
4. Subscribe to the EasyLunchbox blog

Be sure to check out my other current giveaways (a list can be found on the sidebar of my main page).

Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post may contain affiliate links at no cost to you.

Nature’s Path: Your Breakfast Just Got Much Better!

July 7, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 182 Comments

Have I told you that my #1 favorite food is cereal? I think there’s something genetic about this love that I have, because it is shared by most of my siblings. We can (and will) eat cereal any time of the day, any day of the week, any week of the year. It is completely acceptable for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and also as a snack throughout the day. I’m a fairly picky eater and really have issues with eating the same meal more than twice in a row (once for dinner, and once for lunch the following day). But cereal is something that NEVER gets old to me.

I’ve actually always felt rather smug about my chosen favorite food. I mean, it isn’t cheesecake or chocolate or pasta with Alfredo sauce…it’s cereal. Cereal is good for you. My go-to meal is healthy! Hooray!

Well, not exactly.

What I haven’t mentioned is that I eat kid cereal. I’ll eat more grown-up stuff if needed. But if I’m the one buying, what goes in my cart are things like Lucky Charms, Cocoa Puffs and Cap’n Crunch (and their generic equivalents, hello budget!). While there are definitely worse things that I could be eating, those cereals are LOADED with sugar and they don’t have as many vitamins and minerals or as much fiber as I always assumed they did. It won’t be too terribly long before Darah is eating cereal, and I don’t think I’m doing her any favors if I put Cinnamon Toast Crunch down in front of her. Something’s got to change, I think!
I’ve found a brand of breakfast foods that is surprisingly delicious and that really is good for you! Check out Nature’s Path, North America’s #1 organic cereal manufacturer! I was sent a variety of products to sample, and I’m so excited to get to tell you all about them.

The cereals I tried, first and foremost, had the most satisfying crunch that I have ever experienced in a cereal (and folks, I’ve had A LOT of cereal in my 29 years on this planet). I absolutely loved how well this stuff could hold its own in a bowl of milk! Everything also tasted delicious, though I will say that most everything was not as sweet as my beloved Lucky Charms. I found myself putting half sweet stuff and half Nature’s path into a bowl, and that was a real treat. I think I’ve found the magic ticket to weaning myself off the sugar!

One cereal that I really want to highlight, though, is their Crunchy Vanilla Sunrise. Now this cereal totally knocked my socks off. It had so many different textures and it was sweet without being too sweet. I will most definitely be buying this cereal the very next time I see it in a store, and I suggest you do the same. Just trust the cereal connoisseur on this one, folks.

I also got to try out their oatmeal (totally as delicious as Quaker Oats!) and their granola bars. I was really impressed with the flavor selection they offer: Lotta Apricotta, Sunny Hemp, Peanut Buddy, Peanut Choco, Chococonut, Pumpkin – n- Spice. And they are scrumptious. They are really the perfect thing to throw in your bag when you are headed out the door to work or to run errands.

There’s one other important thing that I haven’t mentioned about Nature’s Path that is really cool. Their products are gluten free! For real! About 15% of the population (including my fabulous mother-in-law) have a gluten sensitivity. That’s a whole lot of people, and Nature’s Path is doing their part to make sure those folks still have a place at the breakfast table. Even for folks like me who don’t have a gluten allergy, these products are wonderful to incorporate into my diet, because they use really amazing grains I might not otherwise get, like quinoa, flax seed and whole grain oats. This stuff is so good, and so good for you!

Buy it!: Nature’s Path is available nation-wide. Check out their website to locate a retailer near you! or try Amazon!

Edit: This giveaway is CLOSED!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a selection of cold cereals and granola bars from Nature’s Path. Get ready for a breakfast revolution at your house! Woo hoo! The contest will run until July 17th at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to their winning email before the prize is forfeited and a new winner will be drawn. Limit one entrant per household, please. Open to residents of the United States and Canada.

Mandatory entry: Tell me something you learned about the values of Nature’s Path, or the minifesto of the company or something you learned about organic food from the Nature’s Path site.

Additional entries:
1. “Like” Stuff Parents Need on Facebook
2. “Like” Nature’s Path on Facebook
3. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter
4. Follow Nature’s Path on Twitter
5. Subscribe to Stuff Parents Need by RSS, email or Google Friend Connect (only one extra entry, even if you subscribe multiple ways)

Be sure to enter the other giveaways on my site (they can be found on the sidebar of my main page).

Disclosure: I received complimentary products for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post may contain affiliate links.

Baby Advice for New Moms: How to Have Your Second Child First

July 6, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 195 Comments

When the time comes for baby 2, there are definitely things that Tim and I plan on doing differently, and almost all of the tips on babies we would now share have to do with calming down about different matters.

For example, for baby 2 I will not be as quick to conclude that we have to run her to the pediatrician when s/he has a cold (not that there’s anything at all wrong with what my mother-in-law calls a “peace of mind” visit). But now we know a little bit more about the kinds of crud that babies just pick up (especially daycare babies) and we know that a virus simply has to run its course. There’s really nothing a doctor can do for you, except charge you for his/her time!

We’ll also take advantage of the young infant stage of life and go out to eat together more, instead of being petrified that someone might breathe on our child and staying in. There’s a precious period of time (and it ends right around 4 months) when babies are remarkably easy to take out and about. I wish we had worried less about germs and gone out more while we had the chance! Live and learn, right?

I recently had the opportunity to read a great book, How to Have Your Second Child First, by Kerry Colburn and Rob Sorensen. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and found myself nodding along with much of their advice! If you are currently expecting your first, or if you have a newborn at home, this might be a really good read for you. I don’t agree with every single thing they say, but that’s because typically no two parents do everything the same way, anyway. But she did bring up a lot of issues that I have dealt with as a new parent, and that I had to learn from experience not to be so uptight about.

One of the points that gets made in the book is that, unless your baby has super sensitive skin (and admittedly, some do), using a special detergent like Dreft is completely unnecessary. I think I washed Darah’s clothes separately for about a week, and then I realized that it was driving me crazy. We are fortunate that she has not shown any sensitivity to detergents so far. I try to keep a gentle detergent on hand and I just wash everyone’s laundry with that. It works great for us and is easy.

All has put out a Free & Clear detergent (containing no dyes, perfumes or preservatives), and a coupon for the product is included with the book. Rockin’! I also had the opportunity to try out the detergent, and I’m finding that it works just as effectively as my other detergents. No complaints here! If your baby has sensitive skin but you are struggling with doing special loads for him/her, give All Free Clear a try and just throw everyone else’s laundry in with the load!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to get a little help in the way of 2 coupons for free All Free Clear Detergent as well as a copy of How to Have Your Second Child First, filled with baby advice for new moms and dads. The contest will run until July 16th at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to their email notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. One entrant per household, please. Open to residents of the United States.

Mandatory entry: You must subscribe to my blog via email, Reader or Google Friend Connect (only one is required, just let me know which you chose!).

Additional entries:
1. Tell me one thing you will do differently (or that you did differently) with baby #2
2. “Like” All on Facebook
3. “Like” Stuff Parents Need on Facebook
4. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter
5. Tweet about this giveaway (one tweet/day allowed)
6. If you are a blogger (your blog needs to have posts that have been written in the past 3 months, please) add my button to your blog and leave a url where I can see it!

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, which can be found on the sidebar of my main page.

Disclosure: I received complimentary products from MomSelect and All in order to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.Affiliate links may be included at no cost to you.