toddler Archives - Page 2 of 4

How to pack the perfect carry-on for baby

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SkinCareForBaby #CollectiveBias Our kids go just about everywhere with us, and that includes when our adventures take us out of state by plane, train, and automobile. This go-anywhere, do-anything lifestyle started with our first baby when she was just days old. Even back then we’d have parents come up to us incredulous that we were able to travel with baby and now that our family size has increased their curiosity has only grown.

And I always tell them that traveling with babies was one of the best things we ever did. Not only did it make them more adaptable and flexible, it also made it easier to keep our adventurous side, which makes us all happier. The kids are growing up seeing things others only dream of and we’re spending some really awesome quality time together starting from day one.

My first tip for traveling with baby is that preparation goes a long way. Before we ever set off with baby, we read a ton and played out all of our worst-case scenarios. There were a few missteps along the way but for the most part we were prepared for just about everything that has come up, and even when we weren't, we were able to approach it with a roll-with-it kind of attitude knowing that you can't account for every emergency.

If you are a new parent wondering about the logistics of traveling with baby, you can relax because we are giving you a peek into our carry-on for baby. This is exactly what we'll be packing for our cross-country trip with kiddos this month, and has worked well for us on all of our adventures. Are you ready to start? Great, let's break down our packing list by category: food & snacks, soothing & comfort, playtime, clothing, changing, and just for parents.

Oribel introduces 2 new PortaPlay items {pre-order and save 15% off}

Do you remember my review of the awesome PortaPlay from Oribel that I posted last year? It’s still one of my most favorite “baby” items we’ve ever had, and I love it even more now than I did when it first arrived. See that tree NOT getting mauled by my 10 month old? Thank you, … Read more

Iconic Ambi developmental toys for baby and beyond

Do you remember these toys from Ambi from when you were young? I’m betting you do, because every single person that has come over and seen my kids playing with the set of Ambi Toys has remarked about how they used to play with them when they were little. Notice how I said “my kids”? Not “the baby”, but “the kids”.

In fact, I had these toys all set aside waiting for when the baby was old enough to play with them, thinking that my older kids were well past the Ambi Toys stage. Then, one day when we had a house full of kids, the box got torn open and the toys were immediately pounced on – by all the kids, from age 3 months to 7 years. How could you possibly be mad when the toy thief is this adorable? You just can't.

A sleep sack for all seasons from Merino Kids

My first child was born during an uncharacteristically hot June. During her first months, our main goal was to keep her covered, but yet keep her cool enough during naps and at nighttime. As for my son, he was born at the very end of September and the goal was just the opposite as we struggled to keep him warm during the day and at night.

Ironically, the same product that would have worked for my June baby would have also been the one that I would recommend for my September baby. This, my friends, is the brilliance of Merino wool, a natural body temperature regulator that helps keeps your baby cool during hot weather and warm during cold weather. 100% natural, itch-free and allergy-safe, Merino wool captures and circulates air to insulate your child when the room temperature falls, but also releases excess body heat and moisture as the room temperature rises. This means your baby stays warm and dry without overheating.

Philips Avent for peace of mind – from baby to toddler

by Sarah, editor and reviewerIt's true that parenting changes your life in ways you never imagined. But, what I have found is that having the right tools for your child's specific needs can make the difference in whether or not you're a stress case or if you're a more laid back parent.

Take lack of sleep for example.

It's a well known peril of parenthood that one must learn to function with significantly less sleep than the pre-baby days. In the early stages, I was up every 1-3 hours with my hungry newborns. But when my youngest started sleeping through the night, we got rid of our faulty baby monitor {that would randomly lose connection and cause me immense stress} and started leaving our bedroom door open to hear her.

And that's when I became a night time worrier. What if I didn't hear her all the way down the hall? What if I slept through her crying when she awoke sick, scared, or in need of a diaper change? I found myself getting up in the wee hours of the morning to check on her.

As you can imagine, it had been a long time since I had experienced a full night's rest. But, this all changed when we started using the Philips AVENT DECT audio baby monitor

What we’re playing with: Wishbone Flip

Remember my post back in 2012 about the Wishbone Flip, the coolest ride on toy, ever? {I'll wait while you check it out here}

Our Flip has gotten so much love in the past two years that it is simply called "sweet ride". As in, "I love my sweet ride," or, "get your sweet ride out of the kitchen, I'm trying to cook dinner." That kind of love.

Seeing as how the life of most baby toys is typically a few minutes, tops, I fully thought he would be done with his sweet ride by now. But, not only is he not anywhere near done with the Wishbone Flip, it's the one toy we rarely make him share because he's almost always riding on it.

Part of what made the Wishbone Flip last so long is that it's been able to grow with him. Not only does it adjust for height so it physically grows with your child, it also can be used in three different ways. First as a great toddler pushing toy, then as a rocking toy, and now as a super fast ride on toy that can be used in just about every game my little guy plays.

This will always be how I remember his childhood:

Circa 2011 – Look at him! He's just a teeny tiny baby!

Fun OshKosh fashions for fall and winter {25% off coupon}

I participated in an Influencer Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for OshKosh B’gosh. I received a gift card to facilitate my shopping trip and to thank me for participating.

I grew up an OshKosh kid. I vividly remember at least a dozen favorite OshKosh outfits that I wore from toddlerhood on up. I was so thrilled that of all my baby and toddler clothing, my mom had saved a few of my old OshKosh favorites in my keepsake box.

When I was pregnant with my daughter I discovered an OshKosh store that had just gone in a few months earlier, and I made the trip with my sister in law who also had little ones. Together, we loaded up on basics, PJs, and fun stuff from newborn to 12 month for our little ones and had a blast. Even though our baskets were full when we went to check out, I remember being surprised by how low our bills were.

I’ve shopped at the OshKosh b'gosh store numerous times since then, but those first clothes I bought will always be the most memorable. In fact, I can’t bear to part with 90% of the clothes we bought that day as those were the clothes my daughter ended up wearing the most. Since she didn’t grow for so long, our memories in those small sizes span about a year in total, so my daughter literally wore most clothing into rags at that stage.

But, not her OshKosh clothes. Those look as good as new, or as new as baby clothes can look after being worn for so long. And, that’s the reason I have such a hard time parting with them. So, instead of donating as I did with all of her other clothing, I kept quite a few pieces for her keepsake box just like my mom did before me.

So, knowing what big fans we are of OshKosh, you can bet we were excited to find out we were going to get a gift card to shop the store this fall to see all of their new styles. Armed with a few pieces from home that we were going to match with, the kids and I headed off to our local store this week.

From toddler to teen: the answer is the Zazoo Kids photo clock

Up until just a few months ago, our kids were a parent’s dream at night. We would literally pop them in their beds after their bedtime routine and not hear from either one again until I would have to wake them up in the morning. Yes, true story. But, while my son is still firmly … Read more

4 strollers in one with the Joovy Caboose Too Ultralight {Review}

You know when you get something that just clicks so well that you wonder how you ever did without? That was the exact way I felt when the Joovy Caboose Too Ultralight arrived for review. As slim as a single stroller and more versatile than any of our other double strollers we’ve ever used, the … Read more

New Barbie Apparel Line Available at Kmart {Our Barbie Fashion Show}

Recently Barbie has become a very big deal at our house. Maybe this is because many of my old Barbie’s are making their way from Nana’s house or maybe it’s because the charm and ageless allure of Barbie is one that appeals to nearly every little girl. But, whatever the reason, I’m thrilled that Barbie … Read more