Stuff Parents Need

Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

Wayfare Dairy-Free “Dairy” Products Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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A common childhood condition is to be allergic to dairy products. This was something that affected Tim as a child. Many people outgrow this condition. On the flip side, many people (including my father) discover in adulthood that they have developed lactose intolerance, which makes dairy products tricky to consume, at best, and impossible to eat, at worst.

Personally, I have a tough time imagining what it would be like to completely remove dairy from my diet. I LOVE milk and cheese! The founder of Wayfare products felt the same way. He grew up in the dairy business, as his grandparents operated a dairy farm that was famous for its cheddar cheeses. Alas, he discovered later in life that dairy product had to be removed from his family’s diet altogether. How heartbreaking! As he searched for products that could be viable alternatives, he became very disappointed with what he found. So, he set out to create a solution that would taste great.

He did it! And the source of his success came from an unexpected place – mostly oatmeal. All the products are certified gluten-free and 100% dairy free and soy free.These products can be found at a variety of stores, including Whole Foods.

We’ve been sampling some of the delicious Wayfare products over the past few weeks and have been really impressed with how yummy everything is. The company sent us three different types of “We Can’t Say It’s Cheese” to try (mexi dip, cheddar spread, cheddar-style dip and hickory smoked spread). All three have been yummy and a great snack option. They are more like “cheese” spreads, and they go on crackers very smoothly. Two thumbs up for all 3 flavors!

I also recently used some “We Can’t Say It’s Sour Cream” in a recipe that called for sour cream. I couldn’t tell the difference AT ALL! I honestly wasn’t expecting for the result to be so good!

Finally, we have tried out their puddings (butterscotch, vanilla and chocolate). They are AWESOME! Each one tasted like a cup of heaven coupled with an iced coffee. What a treat!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win an assortment of samples from Wayfare, just like what I received. You will love it!

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Bumper-Free Bedding for Baby #2 (and a Pinterest Contest!)

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I absolutely adore the bedding set I picked out for Darah. I spent HOURS pouring over different options, trying to find good deals, and eventually going back to a set I fell in love with during the first 30 minutes of my epic quest. It was a splurge, but I didn’t care. I never regretted that purchase for a second. You can find an image of it on my Pinterest board if you are super curious!

The set did come with a bumper. And yeah, I had heard some rumblings and mumblings about how bumpers were no longer considered to be all that safe. But to be honest with you, I dismissed them, figuring that generations of babies had done just fine with bumpers in their cribs. Plus, it was so darn cute!

And then the American Academy of Pediatrics decided to weigh in on the issue. They officially came out against crib bumpers. And that’s when I finally got my head out of the sand and started paying attention.

HALO, the fabulous brand behind the super smart and super safe SleepSacks, has risen to the challenge of creating worry-free bedding by creating the Safe Sleep Crib Set, which is designed to create a safe sleep environment for babies (and a cute one, too!).

The five-piece set has everything your baby needs for a healthy and happy night of rest. It consists of the following:

  • HALO SleepSack wearable blanket
  • SleepSack Swaddle
  • Two coordinating crib sheets in soft cotton jersey
  • matching crib skirt
What I really love about this bedding set is that it goes beyond what might look cute and provides you with exactly what the baby needs for sleep, leaving out all the accessories like bumpers and quilts that can actually pose a breathing threat to babies. With our old set, I knew the quilt shouldn’t go in the crib and only used it as a decoration, hanging above the crib like a tapestry. But how many other parents opted to put it inside the crib as a blanket for their infants? I love that this set comes with a SleepSack and SleepSack Swaddle to provide plenty of coverage for baby, with no risk of any fabric getting in their face.
You can find the HALO Safe Sleep Crib sets now on Amazon as well as Babiesrus.com. The sets retail for $109.99 but are on sale currently at both sites! It is available in six different patterns including pink, blue and neutral tones. We have picked out the Caroline’s Garden Set (below). Adorable, no?
Would you like to win a set for yourself? Well, it’s not so hard to do if you are on Pinterest (and if you aren’t on Pinterest….GET ON THERE, NOW! YOU ARE MISSING OUT!). HALO is sponsoring a “Pin It to Win It” contest. Click here for all the details on how you can win your own set. The contest ends on April 15th, so hop on over now and get entered!
If you’d like to stay up to date with all the HALO happenings, follow them on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter!
Disclosure: I received a complimentary safe sleep set for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. 

How to Administer Medicine When Children are Vomiting: Feverall

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I think most every mom can tell you that there are very few things in life more heartbreaking than a sick child. As parents, we are willing to do everything humanly possible to keep our children from hurting, and it is a terrible feeling when you can’t take away their pain for them, and just have to sit with them while their body works through whatever bug has been caught.

This frustration can be compounded by the fact that sometimes your child can’t keep liquids down. I know there have been several instances where I have given Darah some medicine, and within 20 minutes she has vomited, leaving me unsure of whether or not I should try to offer her more medicine, or if I just need to wait the suggested period of time on the medicine label before administering again. I err on the cautious side so that I don’t accidentally give her too much medicine, but I feel bad at the same time, because I know in all likelihood she threw up most, if not all, of the medicine she had been given.


There is a wonderful product on the market now for just this type of situation. It’s called FeverAll, and it is an acetaminophen suppository. When your child can’t keep those liquids down, this is a way to ensure that s/he gets the full dose of medicine that is needed to fight a fever.

The FeverAll brand has been around for more than 30 years, so it is a very reliable company. I really appreciate the innovation they have brought to the table by offering acetaminophen in suppository form. It is less than one-inch in size, which makes it smaller than any other acetaminophen suppository, and therefore, easier to administer to infants and children. It is designed for children from 6-36 months, and is the only product of its kind with dosing instructions for children of this age on the label, which certainly makes it the safest choice.  The company also offers Feverall Children’s Strength (ages 3-6 years) and Jr. Strength (ages 6-12 years).

While we have not had a need to use this product since we received it a few days ago, I am REALLY glad to have it in our medicine cabinet. You can also get some for your medical kit by visiting your nearest major retailer or drugstore (such as Rite Aid, Walgreens and Walmart). The packages come with 6 suppositories and retail for $7.00.

Disclosure: I received complimentary products for review through the Family Review Network. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.  

 

Ziploc Perfect Portions Bags Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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There are some things in life where brand seriously doesn’t matter, and where it pays to overlook the brand names in favor of the off-brands whose products are actually just as good.
Food storage containers are NOT one of those things. Trust me, I know. I’ve bought my fair share of off-brand sandwich bags, freezer bags and plastic storage containers, and I’ve always been disappointed with their performance.
There’s just one brand that is consistently reliable and trustworthy with your freezer foods, your school lunches and your leftovers. That brand is Ziploc.
Today I’ve got a VERY cool new product from the company to share with you. It’s about to revolutionize the way my family stores chicken in our freezer! It’s called the Ziploc Perfect Portions Bags, and they offer an easy and mess-free way to keep your portions separate from one another inside larger bags. They also offer an extra layer of protection against freezer burn. Love it!
I like to buy the family packs of chicken breasts from my local grocery store, as the price drops quite a bit when you buy in bulk. But we always HATE the process of separating the chicken. I’m too cheap to put just one chicken breast in one freezer bag, so I tend to put 3 per bag. But we aren’t huge meat eaters, so 3 breasts is too many for most of our chicken meals. That leaves us with an extra breast or two to have to hurry up and cook any time we thaw out a bag of chicken. This is going to make it a non-issue in the future, and so much easier to reach in and grab exactly what you need…no more, no less!
I also have to say that I’m very happy to not have to be directly touching raw chicken any more. Thank you so much, Ziploc!
Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the following from Ziploc:
  • New Ziploc® Perfect Portions™ Bags
  • Ziploc® Freezer Bags
  • Rachael Ray Recipes
  • 1-2 other Ziploc® products (random selection)

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Tropical Traditions Dish Liquid Review and GIVEAWAY!!

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I vividly remember as a child that I was never allowed to hand wash the dishes at home as a chore. It wasn’t because my mom thought I was too much of a princess to have to do it, though! It was because our dishwashing liquid would always irritate my skin and make me break out in hives. I did have very sensitive skin as a child, which I have since outgrown. But still, I shudder to think what must have been in those dish liquids at the time to cause my skin to scream out for help. And I wonder if those same ingredients are STILL in most dish liquids.

Tropical Traditions recently claimed even more real estate in my house by becoming the company behind my family’s dish liquid. The bottle, itself, isn’t very glamorous, but the product is absolutely outstanding. We have been cleaning our pots and pans with this for a few weeks, and it cuts grease just as well as other products that aren’t eco-friendly. This product is also completely free of fragrances, dyes, petroleum solvents and other chemicals that can irritate the skin and respiratory system. I have no worries that my daughter will experience the same fate as me. Perhaps she’s not too happy about not being able to escape dish washing in the future, but I know it is what is best for her!

This dish liquid is especially designed for people with allergies, asthma and multiple chemical sensitivities, so if that’s you or if that describes someone in your family, it’s a must try! Even if it isn’t, you can feel good knowing that you are keeping all those harmful chemicals away from your family without sacrificing ease of use. It is also lo sudsing, which makes it ideal to take with you for camping or other outdoor activities.

We are very pleased with this product. Tropical Traditionshas yet to disappoint us; everything they make is of the highest quality! The site is full of fantastic information about how to use coconut oil (there are hundreds of uses, and this ingredient is the base of all their products!).

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a bottle of Tropical Traditions Dish Liquid! Dirty dishes be gone!

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$50 Gift Card to Educational Insights GIVEAWAY!!!

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As you know, I have partnered up with Educational Insights to bring you monthly selections of AMAZING toys, games and other educational products that your kids will love and that will foster a genuine love of learning at home.

Educational Insights has offered a very special treat to Stuff Parents Need readers this month: one of you is going to get a $50 gift card to spend as you please on the site!

What do you need to do to enter? It’s SO easy! You just have to like Educational Insights on Facebook and let me know you did so on the Rafflecopter form below. Woo hoo!

There are so many great things for you to spend it on….can’t wait to hear your ideas!

What are you waiting for?! Get to it!

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Fantasy Jewelry Box Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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I’m not usually one to closely follow celebrities or their fashions, but I will admit that they often lead the trends that trickle down to the rest of us, so it makes sense to check in on what they are wearing every now and then.

I also can’t help but notice that celebrities tend to wear some really unique and beautiful jewelry; stuff you can’t really find in your local stores. If you CAN find those looks, they are often at really marked up prices, precisely because someone famous was seen wearing them.

Fantasy Jewelry Box is an online affordable jewelry destination that I absolutely love, because they stay on top of the hottest trends in jewelry (including what celebrities are wearing) so that you don’t have to do any of the hunting yourself. And they quickly and beautifully recreate those looks that you’d love to wear, yourself, but they leave the ridiculous prices behind.

I recently received my second piece of jewelry from Fantasy Jewelry Box (here’s a link to my first review….I STILL am bonkers for these earrings). This time I went for a necklace. Often times I find that fashion costume jewelry can look great as a pair of earrings, but look somewhat cheap on larger pieces, like necklaces.

But I could not have been more pleased with the piece I received. While the chain is on the thin side, the pendant itself looks like REAL GOLD. Honestly! It looks absolutely fantastic. The detail on the piece is also exquisite, which is one more reason that I think it looks like the real deal. I’ve been wanting a leaf necklace for a while, and I’m so glad I got one from Fantasy Jewelry Box. They absolutely nailed this look! It also is a quality-made piece, being .925 sterling silver with 14K gold electroplated.

Fantasy Jewelry Box has a HUGE selection of rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces that will help bring your wardrobe up to date without putting a big dent in your budget. They offer free shipping on orders over $75, and free earrings with any $50 purchase. I’ve been extremely pleased with both of my pieces, and I would very highly recommend them to anyone!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a $25.00 gift certificate to Fantasy Jewelry box (please note, you can only win one contest from FJB every 6 months).

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Emerald Breakfast on the Go! Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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Today I’m bringing you another product that can help you ensure you have a healthy, balanced breakfast, even if your mornings are extremely hectic! Emerald Breakfast on the Go! has some delicious oatmeal nut blends that you just pour straight into your hands and eat.

And let me tell you, these are YUMMY!

This product comes in 6 flavors:

  • Maple & Brown Sugar
  • Apples & Cinnamon
  • Blueberries & Créme
  • Breakfast Nut Blend
  • Berry Nut Blend
  • S’Mores Nut Blend
  • Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana
  • Berries & Creme

You absolutely cannot go wrong with any of these choices! These packets are designed to help satisfy the cravings you know you have for something yummy, while also providing the energy you really need to get through the day. Each pouch has 200 calories or less, 3 grams of fiber and 3-4 grams of protein. I will say that they tend to be a bit heavy on the sugar, but not more so than a “kid” cereal, which is something I love to eat, anyway. I love the protein boost I get with these products, as that really does make a difference in just how long it takes before I’m hungry again.

You can take this meal with you in the car for your commute if that’s your only time to eat breakfast, or you can snack on it throughout the morning, like I do! And don’t forget to clip the box top! Emerald Breakfast on the Go! is part of the Labels for Education program, and each box has 10 points! And don’t forget to get a $1 off coupon here, too!

Win it!: THREE lucky Stuff Parents Need readers are each going to win 3 boxes of Emerald Breakfast on the Go! Woo hoo!

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Get Your Kids Interested in Jazz: A Jazzy Day App Just Released!

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Got a minute? Then check out this great video that previews an app that is perfect for kids ages 3-8.

This is a really cool, interactive and fun story that teaches kids SO MUCH about music and musical instruments, specifically through the lens of jazz. Your children will join in with two kittens and their father as they visit a Jazz Big Band and learn more about the sounds each instrument in the band makes. In addition to the great story, there are also wonderful game features that help continue the learning. Kids can test the aural and visual knowledge as it relates to various musical instruments.

Don’t just take my word for it, though. This app recently won the Children’s Technology Review Editor’s Choice Award for 2012. That’s no small feat in the world of apps! Additionally, it has been featured in the “New and Noteworthy” and “Staff Favorites” Education section of the iTunes app store. It’s getting a lot of well-deserved recognition!

A Jazzy Day can be downloaded on the iPh0ne, the iPad or the iPod touch and is available for $4.99 in the U.S.

Disclosure: Special thanks to The Melody Book for sponsoring this post. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.