Baby (or toddler) utensils

Hi Mamas!
I had a spare half an hour to blog and didn't know what to get into with such a small timeline, so here is a quick post on baby utensils.





As you probably know, we did Baby-Led Weaning with our first baby, now 16months and since maybe his 12th month we've started introducing utensils.  As baby spoons and forks are usually long to help the feeding from the parents, I had a hard time to find something with no metal (personal preference) and that would fit well in my baby's hand as well as be short enough to be easily brought to his mouth on his own.  I ended up just looking through the tons of stuff we got given at the baby shower and never opened (as I wasn't feeding my baby purees) and found some Fisher Price utensils.  Those ended up being perfect!  Here's why I love them: they're short and their handle is the right size (so easy to use for small hands!!), they're BPA-free and they're in plastic.





We also tried the Boon Benders Adaptable Utensils which also fit great in a little one's hand and they are also very short, perfect for a toddler to handle.  The company says that they use a sharper angle for early stages, straight (no angle) for advanced stages, that they're soft, with easy-grip handles, and BPA, PVC & phthlate free. Perfect! I love these too, but they are a bit more expensive.The angle adjustment I think is very interesting and might be useful especially with babies that are having a harder time to get use to using utensils by missing the mouth all the time or having restrictions in their movements. (OTs use bended utensils with adults very often!)

As an OT, again, one of my goals is to help my clients be independent in their ev'ryday activities, in their environment.  Therefore feeding independence is important to me and these utensils are really helping to get our baby (now more a toddler!!!) on his way.

Well, I think my time is up, so hope you enjoyed reading and don't be shy to comment or suggest ideas of future blogs either here, on the facebook page (Ergo Mama V) or on my twitter (@ergomamav) or Instagram (@ergomamav).

Thanks for reading!
V

The OXO Tot Flippy™ Snack Cup with Travel Cover

The OXO Tot Flippy™ Snack Cup with Travel Cover

Hi Mamas!
Today is a special day for my family and I! today marks the 20th week mark! No, not 20weeks of blogging, 20 weeks of mini baby growing in my belly! yes, baby number 2 is on his way.  Ultrasound and all today, but we'll have to wait another 20weeks (or so!!!) to find out if it will be a he or a she!  Anything pregnancy related you'd like reviewed or for a newborn (soon to come) please let me know!

Ok, back to topic: today is about the OXO's Flippy snack cup.  Here is their description: "great for munching at home or on the go. The Flippy Snack Cup's soft, flexible opening gives little hands easy access to goodies, while the flaps keep even small snacks off the floor. The twist-on lid stays secure when the Flippy Snack Cup is dropped (or thrown!), and the shape of the non-slip handle is just right for tots. It also comes with a snap-on cover to keep snacks fresh and secure." Of course, this is PVC and BPA free. yeah!





I've tried a few snack cups and oh the mess! My Little One (LO) totally understands the concept of taking one out at a time, but isn't it more fun trying to just dump it all out on the floor...or wherever?!?! I think so!  I really try to get him more independent, so the option of being right there and holding a cup or giving him one at a time is not an option for me!

To be honest, at first I thought this cup was hard to get food out of! seriously, even I had a hard time grabbing one Cheerios, for example!  I still gave it to my LO and eventually the top loosened up a bit (especially since my LO likes to sometimes just leave his hand wedge right in there, almost in a protective manor!).  So it's really not an issue anymore.  Again, to be honest, it's not mess-free either, but it's the closest we've ever come to keeping content in one container with our LO being in full control... which means the cup is being taken ev'rywhere and anywhere and thrown on the floor and banged up quite a bit!!!  This is a tough one!!





Lets get more technical now.  First off, I love the lid.  It gives us the option to leave left over snacks in there and they stay fresh!  I also really bought it for the handle, which I thought was perfect for my LO's hands... in fact, the first time I gave it to him in the store he didn't want to let it go for the cashier to scan it!  Before this cup, I didn't have peace of mind to just give my LO a snack and leave to go somewhere (in fear he would ruin his car seat or his stroller).  This is so magical it even stops tantrums!!! hehehe giving him dry cereals in it in the morning on our way to the daycare, makes his morning!

All and all, this is one of my go to products and I just happened to stumble upon it, browsing in one of my favorite local store.  As an OT, I encourage independence and development of fine motor skills, which I think this cup does very nicely. So, this is why this product is Ergo Mama V approved!

I purchased mine at my local store, Ana Banana, but it should also be available where they sell OXO kitchen products (like well .ca), if you are not local.

Thanks for reading!
V


Links:
http://www.anabananababy.com

Reusable Snack Bags

Hi Mamas!

My post today is about reusable snack bags... and how I love them!!!  A reusable snack bag is basically a bag (usually about the size of a Ziploc sandwich bag) with a zipper.  It's made of a cute fabric on the outside and a waterproof material on the inside.  I think they are just so practical and eco-friendly... and soooo cute!  I have bought a few in the last few months as I keep seeing the need to add one more to my collection.  So far I have some from Maxwell Designs, Itzy Ritzy, Colibri and Sling Sisters (which is now Colibri).  They all have their pros and cons, but overall they all work great.  Of course one thing I look for is that it's food safe with as little as possible chemical products that are not needed, especially near food.  I also look for it to be easily cleaned.  Why I love snack bags so much is really for the multi-purpose use, the ease of cleaning, the look of the adorable prints and being eco-friendly.  These bags can be used for snacks, sandwiches, medication, fruits, pacifiers, makeup and so much more!  The OT in me can only add that little ones can do zippers before they can do the Ziploc bag zipper thingy, so it's better for their little hands.  So enticing for them too if it has their favorite print on it.  In this house, we all use it and have our own prints!

Maxwell Designs says that their bags do not contain Latex, DEHP (di-ethyl hexyl phthalate), BPA (bisphenol A), Formaldehyde, Brominated flame retardants and Lead.  They need to be hand washed but the inside can actually be easily pulled out to clean better.





Itzy Ritzy says that their bags are FDA approved food safe, BPA free, lead free, phthalate free and PVC free.  These are machine washable and hand washable.





Colibri (and the old Sling Sisters) says that their snack bags are bpa free, and FDA approved as food safe and that the Zippers are lead and nickel free and CPSIA tested.  These are also machine washable.

Maxwell Designs and Colibri are both Canadian companies and Itzy Ritzy is an American company (but also selling in Canada).  I love all the fun prints!  They are all great products but really it's a matter of print choice, size choice and fabric choice, that will probably make the final personal choice for you.

I personally bought the Itzy Ritzy one at Ana Banana, the Maxwell Designs one on the company's website and the two others on Well.

Happy Shopping... and snacking!
Thanks for reading!
V

Links:
http://www.anabananababy.com
http://maxwelldesigns.ca
http://well.ca

FASD

Hi Mamas!
Sorry for the long absence, but a lot has been going on in the last few months and I had to take a step back.  Over this time period I've also been thinking about the format of the Blog and assessing it a bit.  I think it's gonna stay the same for now, but eventually I would like to throw in more tips and tools for mamas on their little ones, Occupational Therapy related.  If you have any suggestions about format or tips or tools, please let me know, don't be shy.  You can msg me privately via Facebook on the Ergo Mama V page or the Ergo MamaV profile, or you can post a comment publicly on here.  Any suggestions or constructive feedback is welcome!

For today, here is a little bit on FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder), as this is one of my focus at work right now.  This disorder is first of all, a 100% preventable!  This is all based off a mother's alcohol consumption during pregnancy.  If you remember anything from today's post, please be this: No quantity of alcohol is "safe" during pregnancy! Alcohol abstinence is the only way to go if you are expecting to get pregnant or if you're not using a reliable form of contraception (and having sex!!! hehe). I am not here to pose a judgment today and neither should you!  There are many reasons why women drink during pregnancy (including not knowing you're prego!).  However, getting those women help, without stigmatizing, is the best way you can help them.  Overall, awareness needs to be done to help bring support and try to reduce the numbers.

The government of Alberta says: " Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a preventable, lifelong disability resulting from prenatal exposure to alcohol that has no cure. Addressing FASD is a complex, multidimensional social and public health issue."

Did you know that 1% of the Canadian population as FASD (and those are conservative numbers!!!)?!  This means that FASD is more prevalent than Autism!!!  Yet we hear about and diagnose autism (Autism Spectrum Disorder) way more... and there's not even a known cause for ASD so that it could be prevented!!

So what is FASD? The symptoms are many and diverse but here is an overview.  First of all, if the mother drank in the weeks 4-6 of gestation, the baby will have the face characteristics.  Then the other characteristics are mostly brain-related and recently they are also linking physical abnormalities as well.  As FASDchildwelfare.ca states it : "Prenatal exposure to alcohol can cause a wide variety physical and functional symptoms with differing levels of severity.  There is no one physical, behavioural or psychological profile for a person who has an FASD. Each individual will be affected by prenatal alcohol exposure in a different way and interventions that work for one child may not be successful with another."  However, some common ones can be having a hard time with concepts (time, space, money and other general concepts), attention, speech and communication skills, movement, sensory issues and many more, creating different learning disabilities.

If you want to learn more, please go to  http://fasdchildwelfare.ca/learning/caregivers and  http://fasd.alberta.ca/get-to-know-fasd.aspx

Thanks for Reading!
V

Zoli Bot cup

Hey Mamas! I promised myself I wouldn't do the review for this one until I switched my Little One's (LO) milk to a straw cup... but I'm not too far from it and actually researching my options, so I decided that now was the right time to write this!

Zoli Bot Cup is a straw cup with a weighted straw technology so that the bottow of the straw follows the liquid, wether baby tilts it right, left or upside down!!! Drinking guaranteed!! hehe  It's BPA and phthalates free, so of course, I'm loving the chemical-free part!



I purchased this before my LO was even born!  I was so excited with the whole concept!  However, when came time to use it, I thought it was quite hard to suck the liquid out (after I tried it myself, of course! hehe).  After baby got used to using a straw and was getting pretty good, I gave him this cup.  He was a bit insulted at first, but it quickly passed and now he doesn't mind wether he gets this cup or his other one from another brand with weighted straw.

Now, on to the reasons why I love it!  First: I didn't mind the mess a straw cup could do before, but now that I'm thinking of milk, I don't want that mess!  This cup is pretty good with reducing the leaks! almost like a tight sippy cup!  Second, this straw is super duper bendable, so follows the liquid to the T!!!  I'm making stipulations here, but I think they even thought of adding the small bump and the end of the straw (on the weight) so that the opening of the straw doesn't fall flat on the cup's inside surfaces which would prevent liquid from getting sucked in!  I'm telling you: drinking guaranteed!!!! hehe A few down sides though.  One is that it gets so air tight sometimes that pressure is built up and so it will leak from the straw (against gravity!).  It just happens sometimes, so it's not a big deal, but I just try relieving the inside pressure when that happens! Another is that after trying it for a while, I find it can leak sometimes and I'm still not sure if it's because I put too much water in it or because I'm not putting the lid back on right, so conclusion for this: don't over fill and make sure you're following the right thread when you screw the lid back on... and then test it first!!!  Another last little thing I just realized is that the straw is sooo bendable that sometimes it will actually fold on itself.  This means that my LO is leaning the cup a bit, trying to sip and the opening of the straw is pointing up, so no liquid comes out, when there's plenty in the cup!



So far, it's been dropped (hence, thrown!) on the floor many times, and it still works well!  We also have the smaller size and it's the perfect size for a baby! it's light, easy to grab (seriously, this is a big thing and the companies don't usually consider it... as I realized doing my research!).  My LO can pick it up with one hand or two, easily.  He even learned to open and close the lid flippity-thing by himself early on!!

Overall, if he is ok with the fact that it's not as fast flowing as his other cup, I love this cup!  Basically, functionnality wise, this is just excellent!  To me, this product is the proof, that things have to be tried many times, over many months, following baby's developpement and in different situations, to really see if it works for you!  So, learn from me: if something doesn't work, wait a few months and try it again... it's soooooo worth it!

Like I said, I purchased this before my LO was born, in a little Seattle boutique, but these are available at local shops like Ana Banana or online on Snugglebugz.  And on Amazon for my American followers!

Thanks for reading!
V

Links:
http://www.anabananababy.com/products/zoli-bot-straw-sippy-6oz
http://www.snugglebugz.ca/straw-sippy-cup-6oz.html
http://www.amazon.com/Zo-li-Bot-Straw-Sippy-Cup/dp/B0031E1GEG

Lolli Living Robot (Robbie)

                                   

Let me start this review with a little side note: I know this is Off Topic (OT) but this is still a safe place for me to use to express my views, so here I go.  We had this tragedy happen on June 4th in Moncton, NB, as 3 RCMP officers were killed by a gunman, who then went on the loose and got our whole end of town on lockdown for about 28hrs.  I'm not gonna spend any more time on this, I just want to express my deepest sympathies to the Codiac RCMP family and the families of the fallen officers.  We, as a community, have since come together to get through it and even though it will take time, we will Resurgo!



Now, on to my review for today: Robbie!  Here is the description from Snugglebugz's website : "Robbie Robot Plush Toy with Security Blanket is crafted with an assortment of inspired prints and textured cloth.  Soft security blanket is made with cuddle texture and 100% cotton poplin trim accents. Great for snuggles, imaginary play and as a travel companion!" and I agree a 100%!  Robbie is made of 100% cotton poplin with polyester fill and the blanket is also 100% cotton poplin with satin trim. Super soft and cuddly!  This plush is just not like those other big bulky ones, it's actually quite petite and therefore easy for a baby to hug!





I fell in love with this little kit when my son was just a few months old, as I thought this was a great way to get a security blanket and plush that matched! hehehe yes, I know I love it when it all looks good and it matches!!! The robot was my choice for my boy, but I also thought there were awesome choices for girls and what a great way for them to play "mommy" putting the plush to sleep with it's own little blankie, as the child grows older!

Robbie makes a soft rattling sound and has a little squeaky toy on top of it's head.  It's just a very plush toy all over and easy and fun to cuddle.  The rattling sound seems to me like it's very appropriate for a baby, being a very soft noise and not aggressing.  The look of the whole toy, is just adorable, with kind of patchwork look and lovely colors!  For the blanket, it's super duper soft!  Personally, my little one doesn't play much with the blanket right now, but only because he first got attached to another one.  However, he loves his Robbie (yes, I know it doesn't match!! hehe)!  I definitely see him playing with the blanket soon though (more chances he'll play, than use it as a security blanket, just because he already has one) for pretend play!  As an Occupational Therapist, play is one of the important key elements to a growing, developing baby and at around 18-24months, they will start to play in an imaginative way with dolls and other toys (like Robbie!!!).



My personal recommendation would be to give this as a gift to a new baby or an expecting mother.  This is too adorable to pass and too fun to not get! Love it!  Lolli living also has adorable lines of baby/kids room accessories to go along with the different plush toys!!  I personally bought it at my local store Ana Banana, but like I stated at the start, this can be found online at Snugglebugz as well!


Thanks for reading!
V

Links:
http://www.anabananababy.com/
http://www.anabananababy.com/products/lolli-living-baby-bot-4-piece-set
http://www.snugglebugz.ca/toy-blankie-set-robbie-robot.html

skip hop bath accessories (a.k.a. necessities!!!)

                               

 I have 5 Skip Hop Bath Accessories in their Moby line: Spout Cover, Bath Kneeler,
Elbow Rest, Non-Slip Bath Mat and Bath Toy Organizer (we also have the shape sorter, but haven't used it yet). We started to put the baby bath in our bathtub once our little one started moving too much for the counter when he was about 6months.  So we then started using the Bath Kneeler and Elbow Rest.  Then he started having more interest to actually play in the tub, so we got the Bath Toy Organizer out.  Then he started to get adventurous and wanting to touch ev'rything around him and eventually get up from his little tub, so we put the Spout Cover on.  Now, a few months ago, he just wouldn't stay in place anymore and super busy and we had to take the baby tub away and ...Hello Non-Slip Bath Mat!!! Oh my, all the products were bought ahead of time and we were happy to have them when we needed them.

All of the products are BPA, phthalates, and lead-free and prevent mold from forming on them (the spout cover is also PVC-free!  Love the no-chemicals part of this company's products!

Let's look at them a bit individually:
First up, the Bath Kneeler.  This one is very nice to have! we do have a mat in front of the tub, but this is way more comfortable!  For me, bath time is important! our little guy just loves the water, so I let him play for pretty much as long as he wants or until I feel the water is getting cold, so I just sit there, by the bathtub and play with him... so you can say the bath kneeler is more like a bath tushy-cushion for me!!! hehe The foam is holding up good so far, so we're happy! We also love the small velcro strap, so you can hang it to dry, if need be or hang it to store!! well thought through, love it!

Now with the Elbow Rest.  I used to love it, as I would even rest my chin when sitting, to play with him or watch him play by himself.  It really helps to not destroy your forearms!!!!  But as he started to get up and play, he always wants to hold on to the side of the tub and therefore he gets the Elbow Rest super wet!! so for me, at this moment, not loving it, 'cause it absorbs the water and not comfy and I wet my shirts and sleeves afterwards, when I soap him up and rest on it!  I also noticed from the start that I would get water marks on the fabric.  A more water resistant fabric would stay prettier (as we all want the bathroom mess to still look pretty!) and would be more practical, as it would be useable even once it gets water on it... you would just wipe it off!  Don't get me wrong, the Elbow Rest was still useful before and will probably be eventually, when our little one learns that he can just stay sitting in the tub and play.  All and all, I love the features on it too, like the waterproof pocket (for rings or your watch, for example) and the way it holds nicely to the tub with suction cups: really sturdy!!! no complaints there!


Next, the Bath Toy Organizer.  It's a mesh bag, so you can put wet things in it and it will just drain and dry! love it! It comes with strong hooks and holds by suctions cups.  It also has extra hooks to hang stuff on it.  Personally we've used the hooks to hang the actual organizer!! we like taking down the bag ev'ry time and it seems like a waste of time to screw the thing back on ev'rytime... for us, that is!  If you were to hang the organizer at an accessible height, you might not need to do this.  All  in all, it is well thought through, looks cute and matches with the rest of the Moby line!  The organizer also fits a lot of stuff! I didn't think it necessarely would, but ev'rytime we buy a new toy, it seems to just find it's place in the organizer!!!  For me, knowing that it's mesh and can just be thrown in the washer, therefore no mold problem, is a big deal.  Because, I had hesitated buying big rigid plastic ones, but oh what a nightmare to clean, I thought, and a perfect place for mold!!! and seriously, who wants mold where you store your baby's toys?!?!!

Now for the Spout Cover: Simple, yet genius!  We have the typical huge one-piece shower-tub combo and the faucet is in such an awkward place! a.k.a. in the perfect spot for baby to hit his head!!  We haven't been using the cover for that long and it's already saved our little guy's head, quite a few times!!! We have a busy bee though!!!  I don't know how this cover would fit on other faucets but on ours it fits fine and you can even adjust by pulling the finns.  Oh, and it's just too cute!!! Really worth it this one!  and you can easily remove it and hang it to dry after! genius!

Last but not least: the Non-Slip Bath Mat! Again, it just goes with the Moby theme and it's too cute!  A lot of suction cups all around the whale and a few on the inside, makes it stick ok... wish it stuck better, but it works fine.  For a shower, I'm sure it would be better, but for a bath, it just wants to float, duh!  I also wish it was bigger and covered more space, but since it has to be made as a fit-all kind of mat, it doesn't cover super well for us and I had to add small stickies around it.  Love the material, as it's safe and prevents mold. we wash and dry it after each bath, but I think it could be left there for a few days, if need be, and washed a couple of times a week.





In conclusion, this set is a must!  If I was to buy them all over again, I would!  If you can't get all parts, at least a few would be the most important ones and I would personally say the Spout Cover and Toy Organizer.  There's other ways around the Bath Kneeler and Elbow Rest, if you're trying to pick and chose or are on a tight budget.  You'll need a Non-Slip something though!  But for the Spout Cover and Toy Organizer, I wouldn't replace them for anything else!!!!  Love Skip-Hop Products!!!

Thanks for reading!
V

One year already!

Hi Mamas!
Today is a personal post! I know It's been a while since I've posted as I seem to have a hard time to find the time!! hehehe starting work again and dealing with a new routine seems to take over and no time left for this awesome blog!!! (May I say so myself hehe) the other thing I've been doing is planning my little one's b-day party!  The b-day is officially TODAY, but we had the party and cake smash and all on Sunday May 18th.

So today, in honour of my son, here is a post meant for his b-day as a one-year old:

Today is your first b-day, the first of many.  Today I realize where I was a year ago, in pain but filled with so much joy, excited to soon see your pretty face!  We were two and in a second, we were three! you completed us and you continue to do so ev'ryday!  You made us a family!  Your accomplishments astonish me every day, you, amazing little man you.  You're a busy little boy who chats, smiles and laughs all the time! you are all over the place, walking, climbing, crawling,  dancing, you don't rest... not even for me to change your diaper!!! You love bubbles and knocking down towers!  You have 4 teeth and I think your 2 front teeth are also soon coming!  you love water, giving kisses, tickles and showing us ev'rything that you discover by pointing your little finger at all you see! you looooove yogurt and finally came around and love cheese also.  You love your mama's cooking as well!  You are just a joy to be around, the sunshine in your dada and your mama's life!  A year later, we now can't imagine how small you were and how far you've become.  We now can't imagine our lives without you!  Can't wait to watch you grow some more. Love you poux and happy birthday!!!

thanks for reading!
Ve

Bibs!!!

Today I'm writing about bibs in general, as I use a few different brands and couldn't choose one, that was a definite step above the rest!


Kushies waterproof bib with sleeves

100% nylon coated polyurethane.  Lead, PVC and phthalate free. Adjustable hook and loop closure (velcro).  Catch-all pocket.  wipes clean. 4 sizes: small (up to 12mths), medium (12-24mths), large (2-4yrs), x-large (4-6yrs). Made in Canada!



These are the first bibs I turned to when I was looking for a good bib to keep the mess away from my son's clothes!  These were the only ones with sleeves that came in that small of a size!   Since then, I've enjoyed them very much as they're easily cleaned.  I personally wash them directly in my dish water and hang to dry for the next meal (we have a few that we rotate).  I still pull up my son's sleeves before putting the bib on him, just to make sure.  The big pocket usually picks up most of the mess and I like the fit on him, as it's not too bulky and his movements aren't restrained with extra fabric and if he drops something on his self he can get it himself.  The patterns are also very cute and many to choose from (for a boy anyway).  I enjoy that it has a velcro closure, so the fabric doesn't irritate my son's neck.  We purchased ours at Lollipops and Gumdrops, a local retailer (they do sell online as well though).  These are my favorites, as they are more functional.

Bumkins Waterproof Sleeved Bib

These are Lead, BPA, PVC and Phthalates free.  They have an adjustable tie closure, they're easy wipe, machine washable and are 6-24months.  According to Bumkins, the bibs resist most stains, they have a durable yet comfortable fabric (which is colorfast - doesn't lose it's color) and have a catch-all pocket. Made in China.  Elastics at the wrists.



I bought these as a friend recommended them.  I was a bit sceptic at first, as the other bibs I had seen with elastic wrists were not waterproof, or the waterproof effect lasted until you washed them a few times (I had seen reviews on mommy FB groups).  Plus I thought these might be big on my small baby.  But she assured me that they fit great and are definitely waterproof and durable!  I can say that I wasn't disappointed! She was right, they fit because of the elastics, but I'm sure they'll eventually fit better as he grows a bit more (so it is a bit bulky right now).  And the waterproof is very effective so far!!  The catch-all pocket though is divided in two (sewn in the middle) and doesn't stay open to really catch a lot... personally!  But on the plus side, I appreciate that this bib will fit longer and that the elastics seem to protect the cuffs of the shirts better.



They also do have a lot of different patterns, which is nice to have the option.  I bought mine off of Amazon and for some reason, the different patterns have different prices, like considerable differences! So we bought a few of the same cheaper pattern!  As another friend pointed out to me just today, another downside of this bib is the tie closure.  Personally, I don't like having to tie it!!! but she was telling me that her daughter burned her neck (rug burn type thing) from constantly pulling on it at one meal! not fun!

Skip Hop bibs

Skip Hop Zoo bibs are lightweight and water resistant, catch-all food pocket, tuck away pouch, soft touch velcro. BPA, PVC and phthalate free. Machine washable. 6months to 3years.



Now these don't have sleeves, but I still love them! They're not quite waterproof either, but water resistant.  I guess I just love that they still do protect the clothes and when our baby eats something less wet-messy (crackers, rice cakes, or sticks of raw veggies), it's perfect, with the big catch-all pocket.  They have the safe velcro, which is always a plus for me, on top of being a velcro!  Plus, I love the look of those bibs! Adorable!   They can also be stored neatly in an integrated travel pouch.  They sell those at our local retailers, but we bought it in the States on a family trip!



Overall Conclusion:
I would recommend them all, as it depends your needs.  We personally use them all, but do prefer the kushies ones as it fits our needs better!

Thanks for reading!
V

links:
http://www.kushiesonline.com/Kushies-Feeding-Bibs-s/7345.htm

www.bumkins.com

http://www.shoplollipopsandgumdrops.ca/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=SH11 (Skip Hop)

Love Child Organics purees

When we first started Baby-Led Weaning (BLW), like a lot of other mothers, I was wondering what we could give our son for breakfast.  The usual baby breakfast is that baby cereal that you spoon feed, right?! couldn't give that.  How about adult cereals? well... either they're full of sugar or full of fibers, which neither are very good for a baby!  So how about fruits? sure, good idea, but baby needs something more... So we came up with toasts!  I couldn't put peanut butter, so thought of making a version of jam : fruit puree!  I would make my own without sugar or anything else besides fruits (just like puree-fed babies' moms do... I would imagine!).  So not being used to always making purees, and with baby eating more and more quantities, I quickly realized that I needed something to save me on the days where I didn't have time to make the puree.  That's when I turned to Love Child Organics purees!

I had heard of them on Dragon's Den and then a friend of mine also used them a few times.  These are not only organic, but are also full of real foods with no artificial preservatives, sugars, sodium or fillers.  The pouches are BPA-free and so easy to use.  These are just as simple and as basic as it gets!  Plus, another thing I love, is that they are conscious about offering the right foods!!! They've incorporated superfoods in the different mixes, like kale, spinach, quinoa and blueberries!  I also enjoy that they have a big variety, unlike other brands that do pouched organic purees.  As well, they have a line with yogurt and ancient grains in them!  Gluten free and all! Very nice!  They recommend 8months for the ones with yogurt, but from our local dietician, it's 9months for dairy products... just thought I would mention it, just doing my due diligence here! hehe





Now, from the OT in me: I loved the pouch part! after my LO was done with his toasts, I would give him the rest of the pouch directly in the mouth and he loves the puree so much that he would get impatient, so he started sucking it out on his own! I got so excited, as he was learning new skills! hehe  He's not squeezing it out just yet, but just the fact that he can suck it out on his own (although sometimes needs a bit of help holding the pouch), is super, I think!  Since then, he seems to suck the water out of his straw cup way more easily! Awesome! Voila: here's another trick for you mamas out there to get baby sucking on a straw!

One more thing: I know this doesn't really go along the lines of BLW (Baby-Led Weaning), but when my son was sick last week and the toasts seemed to bother his throat, he took the puree fine.  From a mom's point of view, knowing that if he doesn't eat his meal, I have something to fall back on (because again, I don't have many options, as I CAN'T feed him with the spoon... not that I'm a BLW purist here, but because he refuses to be spoon-fed, ...unless it's yogurt!), is priceless! you have to choose your battles, right?!

So I personally bought some a bit ev'rywhere! Snugglebugz is a good online resource.  For local, they have them at Walmart (I think on sale right now!), Superstore, Target, etc.

Thanks for reading!
V

Links:
http://www.lovechildorganics.com/
http://www.snugglebugz.ca/brand/love-child-organics.html

Lollacup

Today I want to write about the Lollacup.  My baby being 10 months old, I realize that there will be so much more to discover about this cup and eventually write about, so I'll have to make a promise to you that in 6months to a year, I'll come back and add on to this review or adjust my thoughts to incorporate how this cup grew with our baby.  For now, I'll review the cup as far as what I've seen with our little one as well as my first impressions.  As a new mama and a pediatric OT that deals with feeding issues, here is what I think:

The Lollacup, BPA and Phthalate free, is what some call a sippycup... but with a straw.  This one in particular could be called a sippy cup, as one of the great things about it, is that it can be tilted to the side (just like a regular sippy cup) and you'll still be able to drink from it.  The weighted straw technology, makes it so that the bottom of the straw follows the liquid - Awesome!  Also, as my baby is just learning to use a straw, one of the big thing was also that it's easy to suck from, takes minimum effort (not much resistance).  Before I found the Lollacup, I had tried another company that has a similar technology and I had a hard time getting liquid out of it myself and when I would, it was just a tinny little bit... not impressed!  I felt that my baby wouldn't learn to suck from a straw this way, as it was too hard to get something in return and when he would get it, it wouldn't be enough to keep him motivated... although it would certainly work his sucking muscles!!!!! hehehe which all kidding aside, are very real and important, it's just that it's no fun for a baby to learn that way!

The Lollacup is also very cute and easy to use.  There's removable handles so you can put it in a cup holder, if needed, or keep them on for ease of use with baby.  The downside is that this cup is not spill proof like other sippy cup that you can throw across the room and not a drop will get by the tight seal! hehe For us, we just use it for water, and at meal time, so not a big deal if it makes a spill.  The cleaning of the cup and straw is also very easy with the brush they provide, as again, we only use water in it, so no big deal so far!





I have to stop right here and make sure you don't expect a baby younger then 9months old to be able to use a straw.  Some may learn this skill really early on, but usually this is learned around 9-12 months.  I personally started a little bit early (around 6 months) because I didn't want to use a traditional sippy cup (a speech-language pathologist would back me up on this, as it's not the best thing for speech to be used for too long - maybe a few months and then you need to transition). Here we drink from an open cup and with the Lollacup.  Both should definitely be practiced around this age (open cup and straw), as these skills are the ones that will make baby an independant drinker (bottles and sippy cups are only a transition stage).  Don't get me wrong, our little one still drinks his milk from a bottle, although we're looking into transitioning around 12months.  Past 12 months, breastfeeding is of course encouraged for milk, if possible and if not, the nightime milk feed can still be given in a bottle.  If you want more info on this subject, contact me, as these are of course just guidelines, and might not fit for ev'ryone! This is not meant to make anyone feel bad! We are all learning mamas here!

To get back to the Lollacup...Overall, we love the Lollacup so far and for the use we make of it.  You personally have to see what your looking for in this kind of cup and make the decision for yourself if this suits your needs!  We purchased the Lolacup at Lil' Tulip's in the States, but I've seen it on Sugglebugz website (Canadian and has lots of cool baby products).  Although more expensive in Canada, I still would buy more!

Thanks for reading!
V

Links:
http://www.lollaland.com
http://www.snugglebugz.ca/lollacup-sippy-cup.html
http://www.liltulips.com/Lollacup-Straw-Sippy-Cup-as-seen-on-Sharks-Tank_p_2089.html

My Brest Friend nursing pillow

As I'm done breastfeeding, now for almost a week, I feel a bit saddened by it and chose to write about my nursing pillow today... my brest friend, best friend, breast friend for the last 10 months!

I got this pillow second hand from a friend.  I had heard a bit about it, but no more then that. Got it for free and figured I would give it a try!  Washed it beforehand and I thought it was tough to put the cover back on, but then again, wash after wash, it still looks good, fits good and doesn't look used: this is quality!  These were my first impressions of the product... couldn't really give it a twirl more then that back then with my big belly, right?!?! hehe

As soon as we got home from the hospital with baby, I adopted the pillow and loved it.  I'm tall in the torso (shirts are usually not long enough and all that jazz), so I took the habit of using a small travel pillow on top of the nursing pillow for added comfort and support.  The only thing that was a challenge at first was getting the pillow around my waist and snapped on, with a baby in my arms!! quite tricky!! but as I'm sure you mamas out there have learned, like me: we can now do ev'rything with one hand!!! hehe so I quickly got the whole thing down to do it on my own.  Enjoyed the help my husband would give me when he was around, but I could do it by myself quick enough.  The other thing was that after the pregnancy and labor, my lower back took a few weeks to feel better and that extra cushioning in the back bothered me.  Being an OT, I was all planned on how to remove it, but not structurally ruin the pillow and so on!  Hehe But I quickly realized that the pillow in the back had a reason for being there and taking it out would give me bad posture and that the extra cushioning in the back was really helping me!! Silly me, I should've known that before!!! I guess sleep deprived and mommy brain-ed me took over!  So after a few weeks, I realized how comfortable it was and how perfectly thought-through it was made!  My husband even used it at first to get the extra support to hold our little one to fall asleep.... oh and he so often fell asleep on it!  Needless to say, it was comfortable for him and for me!





Besides the whole support pillow, they've made it so it can be practical in other ways, like a little pocket to put a few things in (for me, it was extra facecloths for spit up or any spills) and a keychain ring, where you could hang a toy, probably.  The buckle is also a quiet one, so it needs to click a few times, but doesn't wake baby up, if needed.   There's also the option of velcro on other models.  Personally, I would adjust the whole strap pretty much ev'rytime, but that's just me and how I felt I wanted the pillow to fall at that point in time!

I've tried other nursing pillows, although not a bunch, and couldn't get used to them after having used this one!  It truly worked wonders for me!  I got mine as a gift, but I saw them at my local retailer, Ana Banana.  Depending what you need the company also has one for twins and an inflatable one for traveling! Getting an extra cover might also be worth it.  We never got around to buying one...don't know why!

Thanks for reading!
V

Links:
http://www.mybrestfriend.com/products/original-pillow
http://www.anabananababy.com/products/my-brest-friend-nursing-pillow

Skip Hop Ocean Pals Activity Mirror

Skip Hop's products are BPA, lead and phthalates free, therefore, very baby friendly! This activity mirror is meant for babies with the 2 different rattle sounds and the mirror.  We bought it for when our little one was on his tummy, at first.  He loved to see himself in the mirror and hitting the crab or octopus to make noise.  It was such a powerful toy to put baby on the tummy (or to distract him to forget he was on his tummy and needed to do some work!).  After that, we used it for sitting.  I would place him sitting and put the mirror on his lap.  He would shake it, look at himself and play with the fish's tail to make noise as well.  Now that our little one is older, he plays with it in different ways, like being on all four, with the toy flat on the floor, looking at himself (giving himself kisses!) smiling or laughing, pulling the toys off of the aquarium.

I personally think this toy is so cute! you can pull the crab and octopus away from the aquarium, as they hold with baby-safe velcro.  Although I think there might be a tad too much velcro, since they can be hard to pull away and baby needs to be older to have a bit of bilateral coordination to hold the aquarium while he pulls the toy away, the concept works.  This toy grows up with the child, which I love! It's essential to have a mirror, when they are small babies to have tummy time.  They are so much more motivated and will hold the position longer.

As we know, tummy time is super important for babies and kids.  The fact of holding the head and working the upper body is beneficial for many many reasons and will help your child through his whole life! I know, it might sound like an over statement, but the lack of tummy time, leads to weak muscles in the shoulders, upper-back and neck that are very important for everyday tasks.  Also, since the muscles develop from close to the body, to further away from the body, you need to have a good foundation to eventually use your hands efficiently, hence write, use scissors and so on.  Plus, I know that you know, that I'm only naming a few things and barely touching the subject here.  The conclusion is :Tummy time is essential!  How much time you ask... well it's all relative, right?!  I use to recommend specific amounts of time and now that I'm a mama myself, realize how hard it can be to FIND that time!!! So all I can say is, try as much as you can, as often as you can.  If you're young baby gets fussy after 30 seconds, do 30 seconds many many times a day! it's definitely better then nothing and that 30 seconds will grow to be 35, 40, even 45 seconds and eventually you'll hit the 1minute mark!! Don't despair, just remember that if baby's not happy, it's not worth it! Don't force it! it's not worth it! baby's not happy, mama's not happy and stressed.  I was saying 30 seconds before, but if it's 10 seconds, it's 10 seconds! you really can't push baby if he's not happy, as he will associate the activity with crying, plus he's realizing that when he cries you take him out of the tummy position... all that is another story... just don't let it get to a crying fit!

Now back to the Skip Hop activity mirror, this is one of my go to toy and that I would definitely give as a baby shower present to a new mama.  The mirror is a must, the sweet little sounds are not too loud, the design and colors are adorable and it overall grows up with the child.  We bought ours at BabiesRUs, but Skip Hop is carried by local retailers and online retailers. I'm not sure if Ocean Pals are exclusive to BabiesRUs, but the Treetop Friends is the same and is very cute too! Enjoy!

If you have any specific questions regarding tummy time, please feel free to comment on here or go on my facebook page at : facebook.com/ergomamav

Links:
http://t.toysrus.ca/skava/static/product.html?type=TRU_product_non_us&url=%2Fproduct%2Findex.jsp%3FproductId%3D21366836&domain=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.toysrus.ca

http://www.skiphop.com/product/treetopactivitymirror.html

Dans un jardin Produits Pois de Senteur Bébé (mousse de douceur) - En français svp!

Hé oui, Ergo Mama V est bilingue! Je voulais débuter mon blog en anglais, mais il est maintenant temps d'écrire une critique de produit en français!

English will follow.

Les produits pour bébé Pois de senteur de Dans Un Jardin sont sans parabènes ni sulfate et hypoallergéniques. Les savons(Mousse de douceur) ont une "base nettoyante végétale, à l’extrait de racine de guimauve et aux dérivés de produits naturels et ne causent pas de larmes".  Ils peuvent être utilisés pour tout le corps, incluant les cheveux.

Une amie les avait utilisés pour ses enfants et ma mère a aussitôt accourue pour me les acheter lorsque j'étais enceinte.  Contrairement aux produits populaires pour bébé (sans vouloir nommer la grande marque), ceux-ci sont sans parabènes et sulfate, donc je me sens plus à l'aise de les utiliser.  La senteur est bien, mais ayant dans l'idée qu'un bébé devrait sentir la poudre pour bébé, cela me manque parfois!  Ces produits sont effectivement sans larmes.  Je les ai essayés moi-même pour voir et bien que ce n'est pas plaisant d'avoir de l'eau ou du savon dans les yeux, mes yeux n'ont pas chauffés longtemps tel qu'ils l'auraient fait si j'avais utilisé mon shampoing.  Hehehe hé oui, je voulais voir ce que mon p'tit poux ressentirait si maman était malhabile et que le savon lui allait dans les yeux!  Personnellement, j'utilise le savon pour laver le corps et les cheveux de mon petit et je fais aussi ma propre solution nettoyante pour les changements de couches, avec celui-ci.

Ces produits sont aussi un peu plus dispendieux que les marques retrouvées en grande surface, mais ils sont fréquemment en vente à 20-40% du prix original, donc ça vaut la peine!

En conclusion, j'aime bien le savon et il a plusieurs utilités pour nous.  Je manque parfois l'odeur de poudre pour bébé, mais ceci est personnel, alors que certains aiment mieu quelque chose de plus doux comme ce savon, par rapport au parfum de bébé bien popularisé.

ENGLISH

The Pois de senteur baby products from Dans Un Jardin are paraben and sulfate free, as well as hypoallergenic.  The soap (Soft-Care foam) is a "plant-based cleanser with marshmallow root extract and derivatives of natural products that is tearless".  They can be used from head to toe, including baby's gentle hair.

A friend had used these with her kids and my mom then quickly ran to get me those while I was pregnant.  Contrary to that popular baby soap brand (not wanting to name it here), these products are paraben and sulfate free, therefore I feel more comfortable using them.  The scent is nice, but having in mind that a baby should smell like baby powder, I miss it sometimes!  These products are tearless and I've tried them myself.  I can't say I didn't feel a thing, as getting water and soap in your eyes is still no fun, but it didn't sting like it would've with my regular shampoo.  Yes, I did it! I just wanted to know what my little one would feel if I was clumsy and the soap went in his eyes!  Personally, I use the soap to wash my little one's body and hair and I also make my own bum wash (for diaper changes) with this soap.

These products are more expensive then the big popular brand, but they're frequently on sale 20-40%, so it's worth keeping an eye out for it.

In conclusion, I love the soap and for us it has many uses.  I sometimes miss the baby powder scent, but this is of personal taste and a lot of people would rather have this lighter scent, then the popularized generic smell.

Liens / Links:
http://www.dansunjardin.com/fr/product/mousse-de-douceur-pois-de-senteur-bebe-250-ml

Lulujo Muslin cotton security blanket

On my 30th birthday, here's my present to you:

shopping for a security blanket for my little one when he was about 6months, I wanted an Aden and Anais, but couldn't find them at my local retailers.  While searching for it, I came upon Lulujo's security blankets and loved it!  I didn't really know that brand, hence why I wasn't looking for this particular name.  Their security blankets are "made with breathable muslin cotton and a smooth satin edge". Plus they come 2 in a pack! seems unnecessary maybe, when you're looking for one, but if these get used all the time, ev'rywhere, you want a spare, when one's in the wash (which happens often!). Plus if you ever lose it, you're not stuck with no blankie!

Here, we just love it! it's so soft, so cute and the little one needs to have something to occupy his hands.  I bought this so that he would fall asleep on his own more easily, being occupied or focused on something.  He used to play with my hand or hair or Chewbeads necklace to fall asleep before. It didn't quite work out that way, but when he's active in his crib he will drag it around and chew on it.  I know it's not recommended to have blankets in the crib, so I'm not recommending you do the same as us, this works for us and we supervise him with it.





In the end, I'm hoping that as he grows older he gets attached to his blanket, as this hasn't happened yet (too young obviously, I know).  I was also happy to discover this brand as they make muslin wraps (for swaddling) and blankets as well with lovely prints and soft material. I purchased it at a local retailer Lollipops and Gumdrops.


links:
http://www.lollipopsandgumdrops.ca
http://lulujo.com/product/muslin-cotton-security-blankets/

Boon Odd Ducks

These ducks are not your typical bath ducky! they are fun, colorful and ...odd!  Quite comical!

I love these ducks because they are BPA-free, Phthalate-Free and PVC-free and they float perfectly! hehe such a simple basic thing, but I expect a rubber ducky to float!  They have no holes, so don't hold water, making it mold-free as well!  We received a few other types of ducks as gifts and none float quite right, but the odd ducks are balanced and float, however you put them in!  Maybe it's more of a parent thing, as our little one will chew on any of his ducks with no judgement as to how it floats!! hehe  I just imagine, that from a mommy OT and a father P.Eng (Engineer), he's bound to eventually worry about how the duck floats! hehe We have Slim the rubber ducky and it's easy to grab for our little one and easy to chew on (plus it's safe to do so).





Boon offers great products, that are different, mostly chemical free and usually very functional as well.  These ducks are as simple as it gets, but it looks like they were still very thought through! Love bath time with them! I see us expanding our ducky family very soon!!!

This was given as a gift, but I think they sell at a lot of different retailers, like local shops and Sears, for example.

Links:
http://www.booninc.com/products/OddDucks/955

Uppa Baby G-Luxe umbrella stroller

I would call the G-Luxe an expensive fancy umbrella stroller, as the price is kind of scary when you think "umbrella stroller"!  For us, we were looking for a tough stroller that would do anything and go anywhere.  We already have a jogging stroller, that I don't want to carry to the grocery store, so we needed something lightweight and versatile.  I honestly like to scoot around quickly when I go to the store and not waste my time, so I had a hard time seeing myself pushing a stroller, that wouldn't go my speed, per say! hehe My husband and I shopped around quite a bit, and I would see myself curse at those other (less expensive) strollers, already imagining how I would get frustrated if I'd have to fight with them! Flimsy and cheap feeling. Oh, I was sure that if we bought another stroller than the G-Luxe, we'd be back at the store to buy a new one in a few months, 'cause I'd total the first one! We want more than one kid, so we took it as an investment, thinking it would last for a while!

Here are the options on this stroller that called our name: lightweight, stands on it's own, nice strap to carry easily, big shade with the extra UV protection length, easy recline, easy to fold and unfold, adjustable seat (depth with the leg angle) so it grows with baby, removable seat pad to wash, and the stroller is oh so pretty looking!  You even get to pick your colour!!! Looking at it in the store, I felt like I was back at work, shopping for a specialized stroller or wheelchair for a patient: it's got that many functional options about it!  I feel it's easy to position the child correctly in it.  It's got a 5-point harness that grows with the child as well.  A beauty!

ok, it's not perfect, I sometimes fight with the buckles, which I seem to have a hard time aligning at times and I wish my little one could sit up straighter (closer to 90degrees) sometimes.  But overall, we chose this stroller with a lot of expectations in mind and so far, it's met all of them!  The stroller is therefore worth the price! Love it!

These can be purchased online, but we bought ours at a local retailer, Ana Banana.

Thanks for reading!
V

Links:
http://uppababy.com/g-luxe/overview/
http://www.anabananababy.com/products/uppa-gluxe-2013