review - Stuff Parents Need

Reversible Bib with Magnets: The Best Bib EVER!

March 28, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 199 Comments

Just this morning, right after I got Darah dressed for the day, I reached into her bib basket to get a bib for her. My favorite bibs were both gone, so I just grabbed a smaller one (that really should be put away in the attic by now, but oh well). You probably see where this is going. The bib had “served its purpose” within 4 minutes, and her clothes were also totally covered in spit up. Bleh!

Some of this was my fault for putting a small bib on her, but even if she had been sporting a larger bib, it still would have been totally used up with that one incident. Even though I do laundry almost every other day at this point, I still find myself running out of bibs on occasion because I never know if she’ll keep a bib on for 2 hours or 4 minutes! In our house, it seems that bibs last such a brief time on the days when I’m behind on laundry (darn you, Murphy’s law!).

One thing I absolutely LOVE about the blogging community is learning about ingenious products that help solve problems. A little while back Mommy Loves Giveaways featured a clever bib, and I just melted at the sight of it (no judging for the fact that a functional bib can make me swoon!).

baby with reversible bib

It is my pleasure to now introduce you to the Reversible Double Bib by Bebe au Lait. This is actually 4 bibs in 1! The bib has magnets that hold together two layers of coverage. When the first layer gets soiled, simply switch out the layers. When the second layer gets soiled, take off the bib, make the back of the bib become the front, and put it back on for two more layers of coverage. GENIUS!!!!! This bib has made it through the messiest of feedings with Darah (have I mentioned that she intercepts the spoon with her hands and then quickly rubs the food all over her face?!). I have also sent this to daycare and because it has 4 usable sides, it has made it through an entire day of her drooling and spitting up. The ladies who watch her commented that it was one of the coolest things they had ever seen.

baby eating while wearing a reversible bib

The magnets are a feature that I especially love on this bib. No more strings that are dangerous or velcro that ruins everything in the wash. It also means that switching between the bib panels takes no time at all. Woo hoo! I also just love the cute fabric choices that they offer for the Reversible Double Bib. Notice that the patterns are busy and bold…this is so necessary for anything that it meant to catch big messes!

All in all, I have to say that this bib goes the distance unlike anything else I’ve ever seen. I think these would be an outstanding shower gift for an expecting mom, or a great addition to your own bib stash if you have a little one. I guarantee it will be the bib that never makes it out of the clean laundry basket before it is put to use again!

Buy It!: Holy smokes! Bebe au Lait is having a 25% off sale on their bibs (and other products). RUN to their site and make a purchase, as the sale ends Sunday. You will be so glad you did!

EDIT: Giveaway closed

Win It!: Bebe au Lait has generously offered one Reversible Double Bib for a lucky Stuff Parents Need reader! The contest will run until Wednesday, April 7th at 7:59pm CST. A winner will be randomly selected and emailed, and will have 48 hours to claim the prize. Open to residents of the United States.

How To Enter:
Mandatory Entry: Tell me the pattern you would choose for your Bebe au Lait Double Reversible Bib. Choose wisely, as this will be what you get if you win!

Additional Entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email (only one extra entry total, even if you subscribe both ways)
2. Follow me through Google connect
3. Put my button on your blog and leave a url where I can find it
4. Sign up for the Bebe au Lait mailing list (bottom right corner of the page)
5. Become a fan of Bebe au Lait on Facebook
6. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
7. Follow Bebe au Lait onTwitter (leave your Twitter ID)
8. Enter any other currently open giveaway on my site (one extra entry per giveaway that you enter)

Disclosure: I was provided with a product sample in order to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Cleaning Stuff Overhaul: I’m Going Green!

March 25, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 321 Comments

We’ve been dabbling in more environmentally friendly cleaning stuff over the last year or so, but thanks to Seventh Generation, we have now pretty much completely made the switch, and we aren’t looking back! We’ve been using several products from the Healthy Home Kit in our

home and have seen results that are every bit as good as the more toxic stuff we formerly used! The Healthy Home kit includes the following:

Kitchen Cleaner
All-Purpose Cleaner
Glass & Surface Cleaner
Shower Cleaner
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Tub & Tile Cleaner
Brown Paper Towels

I’ve tried everything, and here are my thoughts. The Shower Cleaner and the Tub & Tile Cleaner both smelled terrific! These were the products that stood out the very most to me. Our former bathroom cleaners gave us headaches because the fumes were so bad, but we thought we needed something that strong to get rid of all the grime in there. I’m glad to report that we were wrong, and I only wish that we had realized it sooner! The Toilet Bowl Cleaner also gets the job done just as effectively as our old stuff. The All-Purpose Cleaner has been used throughout our house as a “go-to” product for everything from carpet stains to wiping down fixtures. The Glass & Surface Cleaner is every bit as effective as Windex, in my opinion, and is much better for the environment. It’s a winner!The Kitchen Cleaner smells absolutely awesome (it is scented with wild orange and cedar spice). I found that if I spray down the counters and the stove top with this product and just let it sit for a minute or two, all the icky comes right off. Basically, every single cleaning product I tried from Seventh Generation did exactly what it was supposed to do, minus the nasty chemicals. Hooray! We are moving away from paper towels in our home, but there are times when we have messes that just need to be picked up and thrown away (cat hairballs, anyone?!). I’ve really enjoyed having the Seventh Generation Brown Paper Towels around to clean up these messes. They are made from unbleached, 100% recycled paper!

It is wonderful to be able to clean pretty much anything in the house with Darah in tow. I don’t have any worries about any of these products touching her skin or of her inhaling the fumes, because there are no fumes! We’ve actually been putting her in her baby carrier now while we clean up. This makes life easier and more fun for all of us!

In addition to the great cleaning stuff I’ve mentioned, Seventh Generation also offers a lot of other great items for your family and home including trash bags, laundry detergent, and diapers, just to name a few!

Right now Seventh Generation is working to make a positive change in our nation, by hosting the Million Baby Crawl. From their site, “Babies everywhere are crawling to Washington and saying “no” to toxic chemicals found in household products. Join the crawl and help Seventh Generation, maker of naturally safe and effective household products, demand change! Join the crawl. Learn more here about what action Congress could take to help keep toxins out of our homes and away from our babies. I love supporting organizations that are working for the greater good, so I was really glad to read about this campaign. Way to make an impact, Seventh Generation!

Buy It!: There are so many reasons to give Seventh Generation a try. If the frugalista in you needs some convincing, check out the coupons they offer on their site! Take the plunge, I know you will be satisfied and you’ll make the earth smile in the process!

EDIT: Giveaway closed

Win It!: Seventh Generation wants to help you and your home go green by offering a Healthy Home Kit to one very lucky Stuff Parents Need reader (a $38.99 value)! The contest will run until Sunday, April 4th at 7:59pm CST. A winner will be randomly selected and emailed, and will have 48 hours to claim the prize. Open to residents of the United States.

How to Enter:

Mandatory Entry: Of all the great products that Seventh Generation offers, which one do you want the very most, and why?

Additional Entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email (one extra entry total, even if you subscribe both ways)
2. Follow me through Google connect
3. Put my button on your blog and leave a url where I can find it
4. Subscribe to Seventh Generation’s blog
5. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your TwitterID)
6. Follow Seventh Generation on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
7. Become a Fan of Seventh Generation on Facebook
8. Tell me something you learned while checking out the ideas behind the Million Baby Crawl
9. Join the Seventh Generation Nation and include a link to your profile in your bonus entry
10. Enter any other currently open giveaway on my site (one extra entry per giveaway that you enter)

Disclosure: I requested and received product samples in order to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own!

Lifefactory Silicon Teether Review

March 20, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 179 Comments

It is my understanding that all babies go through a stage where they love to chew on anything and everything. It is also my understanding that this stage can last anywhere from 6 months to 6 years (I’m only half kidding)! Darah is definitely in this stage right now. We assume that she is teething, although we haven’t seen any teeth pop up at this point, or even any raised sections on her gums indicating that a tooth is about to make an appearance. Nevertheless, we have purchased several different teething rings for her. She has liked them all, but they only seem to interest her for 60 seconds or so, and then she puts them down and reaches for whatever else she can to gnaw on.

Several weeks ago, we received a teething ring in the mail from SproutBaby.com. Before I tell you more abut this teething ring, let me tell you a little bit about this company. SproutBaby.com is designed to help parents make healthy choices for their children without getting overwhelmed. There’s so much great information out there, but it is so difficult to sort through it all! SproutBaby aims to do some of that work for you. From their site, “We want to support parents and children, and we do that by making available authentically good products that meet our rigorous standards, are tested and approved by parents and foster the growth and development of your children while also treading lightly on the planet. It’s a tall order, and we are up for the challenge.”

So what does that really look like? One example would be that each product page has a “why we like this” section that gives you more details about why this particular product made the cut to be offered on sprout baby. This is so helpful if you are trying to be really purposeful about what you buy for your baby. It’s a great way to help you buy the very best, and to narrow down options to the ones that best suit your needs. They also have information on the site from experts on health, nutrition, fitness and mindful living.

baby chewing on lifefactory silicone teether

Now that I’ve told you how great the company, let me tell you about how unbelievably awesome the teething ring they sent to Darah is. The Lifefactory Silicone Teether has been, “designed by a pediatric feeding specialist. They are made in the USA of 100% food grade silicone and contain no phthalates, PVC, BPA or latex. The teethers are shaped like rings with four sections each with their own grooves and patterns to help baby develop oral motor skills. And of course, these can be frozen or refrigerated to soothe aching gums.” Ok, so maybe this just sounds like a teething ring with a bunch of silly bells and whistles. NO NO NO, MY FRIEND! I am here to tell you that Darah absolutely loves this thing. She is constantly chewing on it. She loves to chew on one section, then rotate, and chew on another section. She is very aware of the different grooves on the ring and really enjoys trying them all out. Given the fact that she loves to chew on it so much, it is great to know that it isn’t made of plastic. This is an absolute gem of a teething ring, and I give it my very highest recommendation.

Buy It! If you have a teething baby at home, or if you are just a few months from experiencing this joy (said with much sarcasm), then you really need this teething ring. You can pick one up today from SproutBaby.com for $6.95. Also, the store is having a 15% off sale through March 23rd. Woo hoo!

EDIT: This giveaway is closed

Win It! SproutBaby.com wants to give one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader the chance to win a $25 gift certificate to their site! The contest will run until Wednesday, March 31st at 7:59pm CST. A winner will be randomly selected and emailed, and will have 48 hours to claim the prize. Open to residents of the United States.

How to Enter:

Mandatory Entry: Tell me your very favorite product that Sprout Baby carries.

Additional Entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email (one extra entry total, even if you subscribe both ways)
2. Follow me through Google connect
3. Put my button on your blog and leave a url where I can find it
4. Subscribe to Sprout Baby’s blog
5. Sign up for Sprout Baby’s newsletter (orange button in the middle of the page)
6. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your TwitterID)
7. Follow Sprout Baby on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
8. Become a Fan of Sprout Baby on Facebook
9. Enter any other currently open giveaway on my site (one extra entry per giveaway that you enter)

The Need for Spare Reading Glasses

March 16, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 78 Comments

I’ve been wearing reading glasses for about 1 1/2 years. I got my pair at a reasonable price through Costco (I think I paid around $80). Even at that price, though, I stress out a little bit about losing them or scratching them. The need for spare reading glasses is high for me, because I want to have a backup just in case my pair gets lost or broken and I need a little bit of time to save up the funds for a new pair.

I just learned about a really cool online shop called Reading Glasses Shopper. This site offers simple prescription glasses for under $20 a pair! I was floored when I saw their prices. I often wish that I had an extra pair of glasses in my office or in the car, and these would be so perfect to fill that role. I have never been able to justify spending another $80 for a spare pair, but $20 I can swing!

One thing I really love is that the glasses they carry are actually cute! My favorites are the Gracieand the Jennifer. And I really love the Katie sunglasses. Super cute, and oh-so-affordable! The shipping is very reasonably priced at $1.95, and if you spend $30 or more, it is free! That’s my kind of shopping! Returns are also a breeze. They offer a money-back guarantee within 30 days of purchase if you aren’t satisfied with your purchase (but I bet you will be!). There’s also no sales tax to pay (unless you live in Indiana).

Buy it!: If you wear glasses, you know that having a few extra pairs would be so nice. Buy some today at an affordable price without sacrificing style! Right now all styles are an extra 15% off!

EDIT: This giveaway is closed

Win It!: Reading Glasses Shopper wants you to have the chance to try out their shop for yourself. One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the pair of glasses of your choice! The contest will run until Friday, March 26th at 7:59pm CST. A winner will be randomly selected and emailed, and will have 48 hours to claim the prize. Open to residents of the United States.

How To Enter:
Mandatory Entry: Tell me your favorite pair of glasses on the site. Choose carefully, as you will win what you pick!

Additional Entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email (only one extra entry total, even if you subscribe both ways)
2. Follow me through Google connect
3. Put my button on your blog and leave a url where I can find it
4. Become a fan of Reading Glasses Shopper on Facebook
5. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter
6. Follow Reading Glasses Shopper on Twitter
7. Subscribe to the Reading Glasses Shopper blog
8. Enter any other currently open giveaway on Stuff Parents need (one extra entry per giveaway)

Disclosure: I received no form of compensation for this review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Looking Great Just Got Easy Thanks to Guy and Eva

March 14, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 147 Comments

I’ve mentioned before that looking polished and put together at work is becoming increasingly difficult these days. I may not have as much time as I thought I would have in the morning if Darah wakes up early, or is in a clingy mood (or if I am in a clingy mood, which also happens sometimes!). Since becoming a mom, I have re-discovered the importance of accessories to help pull an outfit together and help you look like you had more than 5 minutes to get ready (which, as we all knows, is not always the case!).

I recently learned about a really great jewelry company called Guy and Eva. This company offers affordable jewelry that is high quality. The pieces all look very current, but they will be in style for more that one season, which is great for those of us who need to make our accessories last a while! Guy and Eva has been in retail establishments but is now focused on giving individuals the opportunity to run their own Guy and Eva businesses through direct sales (think Mary Kay for jewelry!).

Are you looking for an opportunity to earn some extra income on the side? Guy and Eva has opportunities available for you to become an advisor! You can work from home, set your own hours, and grow with this company as they expand! From their website, “Our Advisors are presented with the flexibility to choose from three different ways to build a successful Guy and Eva career. Love doing nothing but parties? Have a knack for recruiting, training, and nurturing a successful team? Maybe you enjoy both. We have something for everyone. Regardless which path you choose, build your Guy and Eva business the way that you want.” To request more information about becoming an advisor, click here.

If you aren’t ready to embark on a new career opportunity, but you would really love to get together with some girlfriends and shop while earning perks for yourself, you can also host a Guy and Eva party! Or maybe you are just looking for a convenient way to order some jewelry that will help you look your best in the office or when out and about. You can shop directly through Guy and Eva’s site!

guy and eva necklace

I know that you are going to love anything you get from Guy and Eva. I was sent a matching necklace and bracelet set called Mali, and they are both just stunning. I love the Austrian crystals combined with leather. This balances the pieces out well so that they make a statement in the office without seeming too fancy for daytime wear. I have been wearing both pieces frequently, and they help me look more professional. Also, these pieces clasp together with magnets. I can’t even begin to tell you how much I appreciate this feature. I can put on my jewelry with just one hand (and sometimes that’s all I have free!). Now I’ve got my eyes set on the Mahina earrings and the Joy necklace as two great pieces to help launch me into Spring and Summer!

Buy It! If your wardrobe needs a lift, consider looking to accessories as a way to help what you already have look fresh again. Guy and Eva offers fantastic options for any budget, and shopping online is such a breeze. You may even discover a new career path with them!

Edit: This giveaway is CLOSED. Congrats #93!

Win It! Guy and Eva would like to give you the chance to win your very own Mali bracelet (worth $54.00!)! The contest will run until Thursday, March 25th at 7:59pm CST. A winner will be randomly selected and emailed, and will have 48 hours to claim the prize. Open to residents of the United States.

How To Enter:
Mandatory Entry: Tell me your favorite piece from the Guy and Eva Spring/Summer 2010 line. You are going to have trouble choosing just one thing, though!

Additional Entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email (only one extra entry total, even if you subscribe both ways)
2. Follow me through Google connect
3. Put my button on your blog and leave a url where I can find it
4. Sign up to host a Guy and Eva Jewelry party (tell me the email address you used when signing up)
5. Become a fan of Guy and Eva on Facebook and post a comment on their wall.
6. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
7. Follow Guy and Eva on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
8. Sign up to become a Guy and Eva advisor (leave the email address you used with signing up)
9. Purchase any item from Guy and Eva (leave email address you used when making a purchase)
10. Enter any other currently open giveaway on my site (one extra entry per giveaway that you enter)

Disclosure: I received product samples to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Washable Nursing Pads for Evening Use

March 13, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 73 Comments

Breastfeeding for me has been a very satisfying experience, though it has certainly had its share of challenges (which is another post altogether). For those of you out there who are just getting started, I promise that things really will get better in time! I can’t promise that it will become the easiest thing you’ve ever done, but it will get better.

Several months ago I wrote some initial thoughts about disposable nursing pads. My opinion still holds that if you are going to use disposables, the Lansinoh pads are the best ones on the market. There will come a time, though, when you really don’t need to wear nursing pads very much during the day. This was such a, “Hallelujah!” experience for me when it happened. I seemed to need nursing pads during the day for longer than the average nursing mama (I was still using them daily until Darah was about 4 1/2 months old). Now I really only need them at night. Since things have calmed down a bit and I don’t need to use them during the day, I decided to give washable nursing pads a try, and I have to say, they are working really well for me!

Let me introduce you to Brandi, and her super fun Etsy shop, Pannaz. The nursing pads at Pannaz caught my eye for a few reasons. 1. I loved the blue damask pattern that was offered (it is SO me!). 2. The price for a set just rocked my socks off ($2.00!?! Wow!). 3. They are made with 4 layers of flannel, and as a result are really soft. After spending months using something with a plastic backing, this sounded heavenly.

Brandi sent me a set of nursing pads to try out, and I have really enjoyed using them. Adding them to my laundry pile is no big deal, at all. They have been washed many times at this point, and all the stitching is still in place, and the fabric gets softer after each wash. I don’t have experience using this type of nursing pad at the beginning stages of breastfeeding, and I can imagine that they aren’t quite as absorbent as the Lansinoh pads. They are also a bit thicker, so I could see where wearing them out in public could be difficult, depending on the type of shirt you are wearing. But for the second half of the breastfeeding experience, I think these are absolutely perfect. I would recommend that you get at least 4 pair of nursing pads so that you have enough to get you through until you do laundry again (assuming that you do laundry every few days).

Brandi’s shop has more than just nursing pads, and I wanted to highlight just a few of my personal favs that she sells. Check out her reusable bags, her large blankets for babies and toddlers (priced so beautifully at $9!) and her soft-soled shoes (watch out for a review of these in the coming weeks). I am really impressed with the products offered on this site. Brandi gets her inspiration from her own kids as well as her love for bags and shoes. It is awesome when someone has the talent to see something she loves and then make it herself! Brandi says, “I truly enjoy the whole process of the creation…from designing the item to picking the fabrics for it to creating a finished product.” You really can see the love she puts into her products, which is something you just don’t find with mass-produced merchandise.

Buy It! I see these as one of those things that new moms have no idea that they need, but that they will thank you for if you get it for them! I’m making a note to buy some of these to include in baby shower gifts. At $2 each, you really can’t go wrong! Buy a few sets for yourself or an expecting mom you know today!

Win It! Brandi wants to get you off to a great start with breastfeeding, or help you go green if you are currently breastfeeding. She is offering one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader 2 sets of reusable nursing pads. Woo hoo! The contest will run until Tuesday, March 23rd at 7:59pm CST. A winner will be randomly selected and emailed, and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. Open to residents of the United States.

How To Enter:

Mandatory Entry: Tell me the two patterns you would choose for your nursing pads (you can also choose 2 sets in the same pattern). You will win what you choose, so be sure and pick out your favorite pattern!

Additional Entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email (only 1 extra entry total, even if you subscribe both ways)
2. Follow me through Google connect
3. Put my button on your blog and leave a url where I can find it
4. Become a fan of Pannaz on Facebook
5. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
6. Enter any other currently open giveaway on my site (one extra entry per giveaway that you enter)

Disclosure: I received product samples in order to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Flower Headbands for Spring

March 12, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 134 Comments

Spring is in the air here in Tennessee! It’s time to start encouraging those flowers to bloom, and I have a really great way for your little one to do just that! I’m thrilled to be hosting a giveaway from Bella’s Bowtique, an amazing Etsy shop owned and operated by a creative mother named Kristie. Kristie gets her inspiration from her two darling little girls, Kaleigh and Isabella. She has some of the most precious bows and flower headbands I have ever seen! You can really get lost perusing around the site looking at all the cute pieces she offers.

Today, though, I especially want to highlight the piece that is just so perfect for this time of year. Check out the Boutique Gerber Daisy Flower Headband! It is SOOOO cute! I love the sparkle in the center of the flower, and how cute this headband looks on a baby.

Darah doesn’t have very much hair to work with at this point, but the items for sale at Bella’s Bowtique remind me that there are still so many fun things that I can do with her hair. I also really love how these pieces can dress up even the most simple of outfits. Currently

Buy It! Are you going ga ga for these adorable headbands like I am? Place an order with Bella’s Bowtique today and take your baby’s spring outfits from cute to UNBELIEVABLY PRECIOUS!

This giveaway is now CLOSED

Win It! One of you is about to have some of the cutest baby/toddler pictures EVER because you are going to win the Boutique Gerber Daisy Flower Headband! The contest will run until Monday, March 22nd at 7:59pm CST. A winner will be randomly selected and emailed, and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. Open to residents of the United States.
How To Enter:

Mandatory Entry: Tell me one other product not mentioned here that you love the most in Kristie’s shop!

Additional Entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email (one extra entry total, even if you subscribe both ways)
2. Follow me through Google connect
3. Put my button on your blog and leave a url where I can find it
4. Become a fan of Bella’s Bowtique on Facebook
6. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
7. Enter any other currently open giveaway on my site (one extra entry per giveaway that you enter)

Beaba Babycook Food Maker: My Experience

March 5, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 229 Comments

Welcome to my 100th post! It has been a really fun journey for me thus far, throwing my two cents into the blogiverse about terrific products and services I have found that work for me as a new mom. Thank you so much for joining me. Your presence (and your comments!) mean more to me than I can even express.

In celebration of hitting this blogging milestone, I have an INCREDIBLE review and giveaway for you today. It is my great pleasure to introduce you to a product that has been given prime kitchen real estate in our home over the past 6 weeks. Meet the Babycook by Beaba.
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The Beaba Babycook food maker, put out by Scandinavian Child, is a fabulous system that steams, purees, reheats AND defrosts baby food. Seriously, one little machine does all of these things for you. I didn’t really understand why having a product that could do all of these things really mattered until Darah started on her solid food journey. If you are going to be starting your baby on solid foods in the near future, let me explain some of the things that you are going to need to consider and do, and this will help you see just how awesome the Babycook really is.

First, you need to decide if you want to make your own baby food. I’m a working mom, so at first I assumed that I wouldn’t have time to prepare Darah’s food myself. I started researching what goes into jarred foods, and most of them are FILLED with preservatives and, depending on the fruit or vegetable, lots of pesticides. Furthermore, they don’t taste fresh. There are some organic jarred foods, and those are definitely improvements. However, the cost for those foods really adds up! I noticed that it would be easy for me to spend $10-15 each week on jarred organic food for Darah. After talking with other moms, I realized that if I had the right equipment, I could make Darah’s food myself, using fresh organic items, for a fraction of what it would cost me to purchase jarred food.

After you decide to give making your own food a shot, you will need to get cooking! The vast majority of baby food recipes call for you to steam the fruits or veggies and then puree them. You can see where you will quickly be making a big mess in your kitchen by getting out your pots to steam, and then lugging out your big food processor (assuming you even have one) for the pureeing. In many cases, simply fork-mashing the food isn’t sufficient, so that’s not really a good alternative.

If you make a large batch of food at one time (and I would definitely recommend that) you are going to need to freeze it so that it will last. And this, of course, means that you are going to need to defrost it later. Some people are a little bit uncomfortable with using microwaves on their babies’ food, and if you feel that way, then having the Babycook ready to defrost the food for you is awesome. Furthermore, if you added breast milk to the baby food in order to thin it out, then microwaving the food when you reheat it is out of the question. I personally am not against using a microwave, but I do add breast milk to the food. I guess that wouldn’t really have been an option for me if I didn’t have the Babycook, because I don’t know how I would have heated up the food once I added the milk!

If you don’t have a food processor and you want to make your own baby food, this is an absolute must. I have a food processor, but I still consider this product to be essential for me! I absolutely love how I can handle all aspects of cooking and preparing this food in one container. I also like just how easy it is to go through all the steps. Let me walk you through the process for making carrots.

The Babycook comes with instructions that tell you how much water you will need to use when steaming. You may need to fill the water line to 1, 2 or 3. You’ll noticed that I missed the mark just a bit, but that’s because my batch of food was on the small side.

Once you have the right amount of water, you will add it to the tower of the machine and close the lid. Then you add your food to the steam basket, close the lid, secure it onto the base of the machine, and turn on the steamer. Watch the clock or set a timer so that you will know when to turn it off (my one suggestion to Beaba is that they add a timer to the machine, itself.)

Once your food is cooked, remove the steam basket and dump the food back into the blender base. Reattach the lid and turn on the blend button. You can make your food as smooth or as chunky as you like, and that will all depend on your baby’s age. Darah still needs her food to be on the smooth side. That’s all it takes to make food that is absolutely excellent for your baby!

So far I have used the Babycook to make pears, bananas
mangoes, avocados, sweet potatoes, squash, carrots and peas. Every weekend I make 1 or 2 things for Darah to try out during the following week. This has honestly been a really fun experience for me, and the Beaba Babycook has made it easy. Grocery shopping has become a fun adventure, and so far (knock on wood), Darah has enjoyed every food she has been offered. I’m so happy that I am able to provide her with organic, fresh food that is made with a whole lot of love and not a whole lot of time!

Edit: This giveaway is now CLOSED.
Buy It! I wholeheartedly believe that the Beaba Babycook is an investment worth making. You can purchase one on Amazon for under $100. It will last through all your child-rearing years, and will be ready for you to pass along to a friend or family member when you are finished using it!

Win It! Scandinavian Child is celebrating with me today by offering one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader a Babycook in the new color that is about to hit the shelves, latte! In addition, you will receive a Babycook Book, hot off the press! Can you believe it?! The contest will run until Sunday, March 20th at 7:59pm CST. A winner will be randomly selected and emailed, and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. Open to residents of the United States.

Mandatory Entry: Tell me why you need the Beaba Babycook in your home, and what you would make first in it!

Additional Entries:

1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email
2. Follow me through Google connect
3. Put my button on your blog and leave a url where I can find it
4. Subscribe to the Scandinavian Child blog, and if you add their button to your blog, leave your url and this will be worth an extra entry (1 entry for subscribing, and 1 entry for adding the button)
5. Become a fan of Scandinavian Child on Facebook
6. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
7. Follow Scandinavian Child on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
8. Enter any other currently open giveaway on my site (one extra entry per giveaway that you enter)

Disclosure: I was provided with a product sample for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Motherhood: the Movie

March 4, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 122 Comments

When is the last time you got to go to the movies? If you can’t even remember, then you are in good company with me, my friend! When you have a little one (or more than one little one!) getting out to the movies (and just as tricky, coming up with the $$$ to go to the movies) can be difficult to say the least.

Today, though, I want to bring a fun movie to you! Have you heard of Motherhood? It stars Uma Thurman and is about a mommy blogger (yup!) who has one heck of a day as she tries to plan a birthday party, submit an entry into an online writing contest, and manage all other facets of a crazy life with kids. I won’t give away too much, but you can imagine that at one point the crap hits the fan! Does this remind you of your life, by chance??? 🙂

So right now if your chance to WIN a copy of your very own! This contest will run until Saturday, March 13th at 7:59PM CST. A winner will be drawn using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the winning email before a new winner will be drawn. Open to residents of the U.S.

Edit: This giveaway is now CLOSED.

The entry rules are very simple, and are as follows:
Mandatory entry:
Follow my blog via Google friend connect or subscribe to my blog via RSS or email (just let me know which one).

Additional entries:
1. Tell me the best movie you have seen in the past year (it could be one you rented since we just discussed how hard it is to go to the movies)
2. Put my button on your blog and leave a url where I can find it
3. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your TwitterID)

Special thanks to Sugar Mountain PR for the giveaway copy of Motherhood!