Rave and Review

Tike Tech CX3 Stroller Review and Giveaway!

When we first found out we were going to be parents, hubby and I absolutely agreed that a stroller was where we would spend most of our baby budget.  There were a couple of good reasons behind the decision, but our first thought was that the stroller really was for us as a family, and getting one that was of high quality meant that we would actually want to use it. 

The ultimate goal was to find one that was easy to use, comfortable for extended distances, and was able to grow with us – all without completely obliterating our buggy budget.  We finally settled on a travel system that worked with our car seat, but looking back now, I really wish Tike Tech had released their new 2009 line two years early! 

We’ve all seen them; strollers that cost more than my first car (seriously), and come with fancy schmancy features like speakers and rims that would make my current car green with envy.  But, $1,000 + for a stroller?  Not on my life. 

What if I told you that you could get a seriously awesome Tike Tech jogging stroller for between $200 and $350 that came loaded with features and handled better than the so-called premium stroller brands?  It’s absolutely true - the Tike Tech line offers a full line of jogging, city and performance strollers with truly reasonable price tags. 

A few months ago I first noticed that something was a little off with our stroller.  Every time I would run with baby or pick up speed to cross the street, or even just to quickstep it out of the rain, the left front wheel began to rattle and shake, causing the whole buggy to vibrate violently until I slowed to a walk.  I didn’t think much of it the first few times it happened, but then when it happened numerous times a day during Stroller Strides, it began to get really hard to control unless I was merely leisurely walking.  It was hubby who first made the connection between the stroller shudder and the swivel wheels, and he suggested we search for a fixed wheel jogger for the daily Stroller Strides beating.

I found the Tike Tech line and was so excited to see that they offered so many options for an active stroller, and had numerous features to choose between.  Since I’m not a runner by nature, I really didn’t need a full-on jogging stroller for daily use and realized I was looking more for an all terrain buggy that could easily convert between swivel and fixed wheel settings.  When I found out Tike Tech had an all-terrain City stroller, I was dying to try it.

As the name suggests, the CityX3 is a three wheeled stroller that is perfect for around town and more.  With wheels that can handle virtually any terrain paired with Tike Tech’s exclusive Frame Dampening IFD Shox, you get one of the smoothest and most fluid handling strollers that I have ever used.  The bigger tires and the front wheel that swivels allow you to make 360 degree turns with almost no effort at all. 

In fact, we have found that you can actually make those 360 degree turns one handed, while holding a steaming Pumpkin Spice Latte in the other.  One handed operation has become a feature that is absolutely crucial to me the older my daughter gets.  Between the unpredictability of a toddler and every parent’s need to multi-task while strolling, being able to have one hand free really does make all the difference in the world. 

Don’t be fooled by the Tike Tech City X3 name, this little stroller can handle both big cities and the big beautiful ‘burbs.  The Tike Tech CityX3 is one part jogging stroller, one part all-terrain sport stroller and then a little of the traditional travel system thrown in to maximize the stroller’s usability.  Since it has a shorter frame and a smaller footprint, the CX3 is perfect for crowded spaces that can’t handle a full jogger, but big enough to grow with your child and give you maximum freedom to roam.  And, you can roam just about anywhere you can imagine, since the Tike Tech CX3 is ultra portable and, with the easy push button release wheels, folds compactly for travel.   

Most expectant parents are steered from baby joggers while stroller shopping, with clerks recommending that babies be 6 months + before rolling the sportier stroller varieties.  All sound advice, if in fact the jogging stroller you’re considering doesn’t adapt for use with newborns.  The Tike Tech company has absolutely changed my mind that jogging strollers are just for toddler and up by offering an additional car seat adaptor that allows you to click your child’s car seat onto the stroller and go.  They even stock an optional bassinet attachment that converts your sport stroller into a pram beautifully, replacing the need to own more than one stroller.  In the picture above we are taking full advantage of the awesome 60lb weight limit and letting a small reviewer rest his legs while we talk at a local art fair. 

Features I’m Raving About: Luxury for baby.  With a padded seat and back support, one handed recline adjustment and a silky smooth ride, the Tike Tech is really the way to roll in ultimate comfort.  It comes standard with special features that any baby or parent can appreciate, like a padded 5 point harness, mesh storage pockets on the seat sides for baby’s snacks and toys and the removable canopy for rain and sun. 

Speaking of raving, the Tike Tech canopy extends far lower than any other sporty stroller I have seen, which is perfect for Seattle’s unpredictable weather.  The canopy is also multi-positional and offers a “moon roof” with cover for easy viewing of your little one.  This is one of my favorite features since I am constantly trying to “wait out” the rain and refuse to go to the trouble of attaching a rain cover unless I’m in a full fledged downpour.  The Tike Tech’s extra large canopy is perfect for simply saving me the hassle all together, since the large coverage area means I have never needed a full rain cover for any Seattle storm.

Since hubby and I are both tall, we really appreciate the fact that the Tike Tech handle is fully adjustable in both directions, allowing for the greatest range of handlebar heights I have ever seen.  Whether you are in the extra tall range, have a short stature, or find yourself in the middle of the old height bell curve, the Tike Tech is a surprisingly good fit all around.  For couples who have a huge height difference, you will be happy to note that the handlebar adjustment is not only exceptional in range, it is also incredibly quick to adjust on the go.

But, my favorite feature by far would have to be the height of the Tike Tech stroller seat.  The extra tall stroller frame brings baby right up into the action and makes it easier to interact with her on the go.  As a super duper added bonus, we love that we can simply wheel our daughter up to dining tables while we are out and still leave her strapped into the Tike Tech City X3 to eat with us at the table, with no need for an additional booster or high chair.  Probably not a feature that was fully intended, but sometimes it’s the unexpected that you appreciate the most!

If you are a jogger, speed walker, or merely an all terrain walker, you should seriously consider the Tike Tech CX3 as a great single stroller option.  When you add up the savings of not having to purchase two (or more) strollers, the Tike Tech is well worth the already reasonable price.  If you still need convincing, just consider it a gift to yourself that will keep you healthy, active and adventure ready… a gift baby is sure to appreciate too. 

Specifications from the Tike Tech website:
Stand Up: 35"L x 24"W x 37-45"H
(front to back wheel)
Folded (w/o wheels): 32.5"L x 18.5"W x 16.5"H
Folded (w/ wheels): 32.5"L x 24"W x 18.5"H
Door Pass Through: 24"
Frame: Aluminum
Weight (w/o wheels): 20 LBS
Weight (w/ wheels): 26 LBS
Weight Capacity: 60 LBS
Width: 24"
Handle height (ground to handle): 37-45"
Wheels: 12" air / wide track slick tread
Seat back height: 21.5"
Head room (inside canopy): 25"

http://www.tiketech.com/

And now for the Giveaway...

One extremely lucky Rave and Review readers will win a Tike Tech CX3 of their very own ($330 ARV) from Tike Tech's new stroller stock!  To enter to win the Giveaway, just visit Tike Tech Strollers and comment below with your favorite Tike Tech Stroller model (other than the City X3 reviewed here), favorite Tike Tech feature, or something you learned about the company that you're excited to share.  Sorry, no color choice available, but you're in luck because all the color choices are beautiful!

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review - link at top right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Tweet about this Giveaway using @raveandreview and @tiketech after following us both! (1 entry for daily tweet, just post link here)

3) Blog about this Giveaway or the 2009 Holiday Gift Guide with links to this post and www.raveandreview.com (1 extra entry)

4) Place my logo or link in your sidebar on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link to www.raveandreview.com)

5) Sport the 2009 Holiday Gift Guide logo on your blog or website - HTML code in right sidebar (2 extra entries, must have an active link to www.raveandreview.com)

6) Share this post on Facebook (1 extra entry)

7) Email love. Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne@raveandreview.com for two bonus entries (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

8) Comment love. Enter any of my other Giveaways or comment on any non-giveaway post.

9) Vote for Rave and Review on Top Baby Blogs: just click this link to vote daily! (1 entry for daily)

10) Extra credit: Watch above imbedded YouTube video and comment with a feature profiled in the review that you're excited about (1 super duper bonus entry) 

On December 13th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email

 A big thank you to Tike Tech Strollers for making our family adventure ready with their new Tike Tech City X3 Stroller.  No type of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

 

CuteyBaby Wall Decals - Review and Giveaway!

Everyone knows that I love customized and personalized products.  When those products are made especially for my daughter, well, I just can’t resist.  This is evidenced in the fact that my daughter is only 16 months old and already has 2 murals custom painted just for her.  So, when CuteyBaby contacted me and asked me to do a review of their custom vinyl wall decals, of course I said yes.

For a few months now I had been looking for some bird decals that could compliment the family tree wall mural my sister had done in my daughter’s bedroom and hadn’t found anything that looked quite right.  I emailed and asked CuteyBaby if they had any bird designs available, and to my surprise, they offered to create custom bird decals just for us.  They went to work designing a sheet of Feathered Friends as well as doing up a sheet of their Pirate themed decals for the custom painted pirate “scrog pit” that is just off our living room.

As if it wasn’t enough to create a custom sheet just for us, CuteyBaby went the extra step of requesting images and dimensions of the murals so they could design the sheets to scale – talk about wonderful customer service!  When the preliminary designs were complete, I got a picture emailed to me that showed the vinyl decals superimposed into the mural images I had sent.

Within days, I was accepting a tubular package of their rolled decals with excitement and was busy planning where to place them.  The sheet of birds comes in a roll of 40+ bluebirds, robins, orioles, and doves in three different sizes and facing both directions on the sheet for maximum options when placing them in your room.  The pirate themed sheet contains a large pirate ship, island (complete with palm trees, treasure chests, fish bones and more) and then some waves, flags, swords, and a treasure map for guiding your explorer. 

Not only are the finished decals adorable, I was really happy with the heavy weight of the vinyl that the CuteyBaby company uses in their creations, since fragile and kids room are never, ever used in the same sentence.  The CuteyBaby instructions suggest a flat wall or minimal texturing for best adhesion, but they give instructions for applying the decals to walls with minimal to medium contouring.  Our walls are done with a standard wall texturing, so we knew they might not adhere quite as well as if they were entirely smooth.  We found they actually stuck really well to the wall but were still incredibly easy to peel off and reposition as needed with no marks left on the wall. 

I think that it’s awesome that the CuteyBaby decals are removable since kids are constantly changing their mind and their decorations and it makes it easy to have the art grow with your child and always keep things fresh.  For kids that change rooms often, or are unable to paint their rooms, this is a great and low-cost option for personalizing their space.  Even better, older kids could easily help with the decal placement since they are so easy to use – just peel and stick to the wall!

Keep in mind that the fact that these decals are peelable means that the really little kids can easily rip them off walls if you let them.  That fact didn’t bother us at all since the decals were going to be placed high enough up in our daughter’s room for them to be unreachable and unpeelable, but definitely keep that in mind if you’re looking for a baby safe decal design.  We did find that she was unable to remove the extra birds we stuck down low to her dresser since the finish is so smooth it adhered completely along all edges.  We still had no problem repositioning them, but her little fingers didn’t stand a chance, and now her dresser looks extra cute.

If you’re looking for temporary or permanent flair for your kid’s room, you should definitely check out CuteyBaby designs and pick one that fits your theme.  If you don’t see exactly what you’re looking for, keep in mind that CuteyBaby welcomes customized orders as well as personalized decals for a minimal fee.

Price: $25 for small 12″ x 29″ sheet of pre-cut wall decals, $49 for a large 12″ x 48″ sheet of pre-cut wall decals

http://www.cuteybaby.com/

And now for the Giveaway...

One lucky Rave and Review readers will win a set of 12"x48" CuteyBaby vinyl wall decals!  To enter to win the Giveaway, just visit CuteyBaby and comment below with the CuteyBaby design you would like to win.

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review (1 extra entry, must be verified to count)

2) Tweet about this Giveaway using @raveandreview (1 entry for daily Tweet, just post link here)

3) Blog about this Giveaway or the 2009 Holiday Gift Guide with links to this post and www.raveandreview.com (1 extra entry)

4) Place my logo or link in your sidebar on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link to www.raveandreview.com)

5) Sport the 2009 Holiday Gift Guide logo on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link to www.raveandreview.com)

6) Share this post on Facebook (1 extra entry)

7) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne@raveandreview.com for two bonus entries (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

8) Vote for Rave and Review on Top Baby Blogs: just click this link to vote daily! (1 extra entry)

9) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveawaysor comment on any non-giveaway post.

On December 4th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email

A big thank you to CuteyBaby  for adding the best kind of flair to baby's walls - the removable and repositionable kind!  No type of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Village Maternity Product Expo in Seattle

Calling all Seattle Rave and Review Readers! 

 

After all the New York events we attended last month I got a ton of emails from readers asking to be notified of any events going on in the Seattle area and I've got a really good one to announce.  This Thursday there is a Product Expo at University Village's own Village Maternity.  Not merely for maternity items, Village Maternity has been stocking items for mom, dad, baby and toddler since 1983, and is always one of the first in Seattle to bring in the newest and coolest children's items. 

 

Thursday, November 12th from 6pm - 8pm

at Village Maternity in University Village

2615 N.E. University Village St.

Seattle, WA. 98105

 

There will be raffle drawings every 10 minutes and treats and drinks to sample while you talk with Village Maternity's knowledgable staff and the representatives from some of their most popular brands.

 

Prizes will include items from Medela, Born Fit, Ingrid and Isabel, Japanese Weekend, Pukies, It's a Belly baby planners, Swaddle Designs, Woobie Blankets, Belli, JuJuBe and more!!

www.villagematernity.com

MAM Baby Products

At the Baby Show NYC in October we were so excited to run into the wonderful reps from MAM Baby Products and get a sneak peak into their 2009 and 2010 product line.  Most of the items are not yet available in the States, but I’m going to let you in on a dirty little secret that most people don’t realize: us Americans are always behind the curve on getting all the super cool items available to us and our babes.

You know all those baby products you dream about that would make your life easier and make your baby deliriously happy?  You should know that Europe has all those items and more and they showcase them in little pharmacies on just about every other block.  I don’t know if any of you have ever spent exorbitant amounts of time in European pharmacies, but let me give you the run down.  These little shops are meccas to cutting edge design and innovation, loaded with cool little objects that you need instructions to identify but nonetheless are just begging for you to buy them. 

The difference between these pharmacies and ours is the difference between a Clinque counter and the Bonnie Bell rack at the drug store.  You could easily spend the better part of an afternoon browsing through their awesome collection of baby products, but it’s always a bit sad when you realize that buying everything you want would fill up an entire suitcase.  MAM Baby Products is working hard on leveling the playing field and bringing some of their European classics to the American front in 2010, and for that I couldn’t be happier.

MAM, the company that brought you one of the most recognizable pacifiers in America, is now branching out into new market sectors and offering some of the coolest items I have ever seen… or at least they will, in a few months.  In the interest of not getting you excited about items that are still unavailable to you, this review is going to focus more on the items MAM is currently releasing in a market near you with a promise to update you further as soon as the new lines are released. 

MAM Training Brushes

Our absolute favorite MAM offering is their new toothbrushes and training brushes that help parents brush their children’s teeth easier and then gradually allow for kids to learn to fully brush their own teeth.  These toothbrushes come in vibrant and eye catching designs that are sure to captivate the little ones, evidenced by the fact that baby refused to leave the MAM booth without one in her eager little hands.  For days she carried that wrapped toothbrush around the apartment in Brooklyn and then held it on the plane on the way home.  When I finally opened it up and let her try it, I got that deliriously happy look that I had been waiting for. 

The MAM Training Brush that we tried has a couple of really cool features that are the prime example of why we Americans need a bit more European design in our every day life.  The first is the extra long handle that allows baby and parent to brush together.  Allowing you to assist baby easily and covertly while baby holds the brush as well makes for much easier, more thorough cleanings and makes you more apt to brush your little one’s teeth as often as you should.  The opposite side of the bristles holds a massaging gum teether that helps stimulate those little teeth to pop through and helps ease discomfort while they do.  That little massager is also a dual purpose tongue scrubber to help your child get the most thorough cleaning possible.
 
Another feature that was helpfully pointed out by the MAM reps is that the little colored stripe of bristles across the brush are there to help you judge how much toothpaste or gum cleanser to apply during the cleanings.  It may not be rocket science, but it’s this kind of European design and attention to detail that really sets MAM products apart. 

MAM Baby Bottles

Another MAM item we really love is the new MAM Baby Bottle.  These are available in numerous sizes and nipple flow options, including the coolest nipple ever, the X nipple for use with pureed foods.  They even make a larger 11oz size bottle for those toddlers who can down two bottles of milk in one sitting, saving you from having to do a mid-feed refill or second bottle altogether.

The MAM Baby Bottle line comes with their own patented Silk Teat™ that has some really cool features like a silicone softness that is as close to the feel of a nipple as possible to help transition baby from breast to bottle.  Their bottles have a cool contoured silhouette that allows baby to self feed and then graduate to the one-hand hold as they grow.  As an added bonus, these Silk Teat™ nipples also fit other wide-neck baby bottles so you can have nipple consistency no matter which bottle is ready for feeding.  As you would expect, none of the MAM Baby Bottles are made with BPA.

MAM Pacifiers

I’m sure all of you have seen the iconic MAM pacifier around, especially if you’ve hung out with our family at any point in the last 2+ years, and I’m guessing you know at least one plug baby who can’t do without their MAM.  I was so excited to see their new lines of pacifiers at the show that are now available and some that are coming soon, with a whole list of really cool new designs and features.  My favorite is their new Air line that allows as much of baby's skin as possible to be exposed.  Since baby has recently has been prone to rashes around her plug, I was really excited to see there were options that offered less contact with her mouth in hopes the rash would clear up.

I was absolutely shocked when I visited the MAMbaby website and saw all the information they had on their pacifier line; I had no idea that so much research went into the designing of pacifiers.  MAM has worked with developmental psychologists and medical experts and their collaborative efforts has been the design of an anatomically correct pacifier.  This cutting edge design allows for healthy jaw and teeth development for maximum comfort from birth to toddler.  With their patented ultra soft symmetrical nipples and anti-slip surfaces, the pacifier stays in baby’s mouth easily.  MAM’s natural latex pacifiers are from the ThaiMed facility and made from their own sustainable rubber tree crop in Thailand.  

Want to know more about MAM’s line of Baby Products or get a sneak peak into the 2010 product line offerings?  Visit www.mambaby.com and navigate through their collection of pacifiers, bottles, brushes and more.   

While you’re there you should check out the MAM Life Cycle section of their site for great tips from preganancy and beyond!

A big thank you to MAM for showcasing their new line and sending us home with a few treats to try out.  As always, no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this review.

Maclaren Beginning... For Mama and Baby Giveaway

At the Baby Show NYC a few weeks back, I had the pleasure of meeting the wonderful reps from Maclaren and seeing their new line of Maclaren Beginning bath and body care products.  Beginning holistic care products are a premium line designed to pamper both mother and baby with natural and organic ingredients.

From massage oils and bath products to aromatherapy and candles, the Beginning line feels like a day at a high-end salon each time you open them.  What makes the Beginning line unique is that it is for both mama and baby, allowing you to share in the experience of their natural indulgence together.  All of the products are made in England and almost the entire line is made with certified organic ingredients for even the most delicate baby skin.   

The Mother product line is designed to be used through pregnancy and in the post partum stages, but I would contend that these products will make it into your pampering routine for years to come.  The complete line includes bath milk, alleviating leg lotion, belly balm, massage oil, bath elixir, and a facial mist. 

As the mom of a one year old I don’t get much time for pampering, much less hours of leisurely going through a beauty routine, but I found the product line to be easy to fit into my jam packed schedule.  Even the busiest of us has time for taking care of our skin, but the truth is that most moms just don’t do enough of it.  The Beginning holistic care Mother’s products are great because each of the pieces of the product line are not built into a regimen, but rather are designed to enhance your current beauty routine one product as a time. 

For pregnancy I would have loved the belly balm, massage oil and the leg cream, especially towards the end of the 9 months when I was becoming more and more uncomfortable.  But, now that I’m a mom and I know the true meaning of “exhausted”, I am absolutely loving the Beginning facial mist and the bath & shower elixir, which makes even a quick shower and face wash feel like a beauty treatment.

Baby got to try out a small sampling of the Beginning line as well, and she loves it, especially the cylindrical packaging the travel kit comes in.  At first she thought it was a toy to stack other toys on top of, but then realized that the lid opened to reveal sweet smelling products just for her.  Now, she will ask for her Baby products by bringing me the travel kit and pointing. 

The Baby line includes massage oil, bath milk, room mist, dusting powder, nappy change balm, and delicate soap.  My daughter’s favorite is the massage oil, which I love, because then I get extra baby snuggles and usually kisses.  Hubby and I attended a class when our daughter was a newborn where they gave the basics of baby massage and all the benefits for parents and children, so I was really excited to try some of what we learned out with a relaxing and fragrant oil that baby really likes. 

I have to say that my absolute favorite thing in the line would be the comforting room spray that is designed to be sprayed in baby’s bedroom or nursery.  The idea behind it is that not only does it smell great, but it also infuses the air with aromatic fragrances to help baby soothe and relax.  Babies’ sense of smell is one of their first ways they learn about the world, and having something consistent and familiar that can remind them of home even when they can’t be there seems brilliant to me.  For a family that travels frequently as we do, I am really excited to be able to take just one small bottle with us wherever we go that will make just about anywhere feel more like home.   

With a complete line of products for both baby and mama, you are bound to find one or two that can add a little calm and a little harmony into the every day.  Visit http://www.maclarenbaby.com/us/ to see and purchase the whole Beginning line.  Select Beginning products are also available at these fine stores: edenhome.com, diapers.com and abesmarket.com

And now for the Giveaway...

Two lucky Rave and Review readers will win one of the two Maclaren Beginning Travel Kits reviewed here.  To enter to win the Giveaway, just comment below with your favorite Beginning by Maclaren product or something you would love to try in one of the sets.

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review (1 extra entry, must be verified to count)

2) Tweet about this Giveaway using @raveandreview (1 entry for daily Tweet, just post link here)

3) Blog about this Giveaway or the 2009 Holiday Gift Guide with links to this post and www.raveandreview.com (1 extra entry)

4) Place my logo or link in your sidebar on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link to www.raveandreview.com)

5) Sport the 2009 Holiday Gift Guide logo on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link to www.raveandreview.com)

6) Share this post on Facebook (1 extra entry)

7) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne@raveandreview.com for two bonus entries (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

8) Vote for Rave and Review on Top Baby Blogs: just click this link to vote daily! (1 extra entry)

9) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways or comment on any non-giveaway post.

On December 1st at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email

A big thank you to Maclaren for introducing us to their new bath and beauty line and for offering this fabulous giveaway to our readers.  No type of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Bei Bambini MEGA Giveaway + Discount Code! (Over $600 ARV!)

 

I am so excited to kick off the 2009 Holiday Gift Guide and start things off by announcing the BIGGEST giveaway ever hosted here at Rave and Review!

Holiday portraits are just around the corner and I know a bunch of you are wondering what your kids should wear for that all-important family picture, specifically the handful of you that have already been emailing me and asking for help choosing the perfect outfit.  Whether or not I’m taking your holiday pictures for you, I still want your photos to be the best, which is why I’m thrilled to introduce you to Bei Bambini, an exclusive Jeanine Johnsen online boutique.  They have some of the cutest and most elegant children’s clothing, in many timeless and classic styles so your pictures will remain as precious to you tomorrow as they are today.

Bei Bambini carries a full line of both boys and girls clothing from birth to size 14, so you can even order coordinating outfits for multiple ages of children.  Those of you who have ever looked for matching outfits in toddler and children’s sizes know how tough that is to find.  This past Spring, my mother-in-law and I looked just about every where we could think of to try and find matching dresses for our 9-year-old niece and our 9-month-old daughter and finally settled on a similar-looking white dress.  I would have loved the Jeanine Johnsen look instead, so Bei Bambini is definitely on my list for next year!

About Jeanine Johnsen Children’s Clothing:
Founded in 1999, Jeanine Johnsen children’s clothing is a complete line of year round outfits for your little ones.  Ranging from newborn to tween, the collections are made from the finest Egyptian cottons, Liberty of London prints and soft, high quality corduroy. To keep the lines fresh, Jeanine continues to spend much time at the European fabric shows and tracking the trends of retailers throughout Italy, France and England. From classically hand embroidered and smocked to vivid, funky patterns, you are sure to find something wonderful for any beautiful child. ~Bei Bambini site

www.beibambinionline.com

Use coupon code "bbVIP30" for 30% off your entire order, including cruise wear which is already 50% off!

And now for the Giveaway...

Bei Bambini and Jeanine Johnsen were so incredibly generous as to offer one Rave and Review reader a prize pack valued at over $600!  This gift bag is specifically for GIRLS aged 18-24 months from Bei Bambini’s Fall/Winter/Holiday line.  So, what if your little one is in size 0-3m, or you’re pregnant and just starting to show?  This is the kind of prize pack that can be stored for years and still be classically cute when your child grows into it!

Included in this prize pack is the following:

A-Line Dress (Burnt Orange Cord/Hand Embroidered Mallards) $69
A-Line Dress (Cocoa Cord/Hand Embroidered Whales) $69
A-Line Dress (Red Cord/Hand Embroidered Snowflakes & Snowmen) $69
A-Line Dress (Tan Cord/Horse) $69
Euro Shirt (White/Snowmen) $34
Euro Shirt (White/Whales) $34
Ruffled Turtleneck (Cream) $32
Basic Tee (Hot Pink) $28)
Ric Rac Overalls (Cocoa Cord/Hand Embroidered Whales) $58
Smocked Dress (Tan Cord/Horses) $139
Again, these items are all in the baby/toddler Girl 18-24 month size range!

To enter the Giveaway, just comment below with your favorite Jeanine Johnsen design or something you love about the Bei Bambini site.  

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review (1 extra entry, must be verified to count)

2) Sign up for the Bei Bambini Newsletter (link is at bottom of home page)

3) Tweet about this Giveaway using @raveandreview (1 entry for daily Tweet, just post link here)

4) Blog about this Giveaway or the 2009 Holiday Gift Guide (1 extra entry)

5) Place my logo or link in your sidebar on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link to www.raveandreview.com)

6) Sport the 2009 Holiday Gift Guide logo on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link to www.raveandreview.com)

7) Share this post on Facebook (1 extra entry)

8) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne@raveandreview.com for two bonus entries (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

9) Vote for Rave and Review on Top Baby Blogs: just click this link to vote daily! (1 extra entry)

10) Enter any of my other Giveaways or comment on any non-giveaway post.

On November 29th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email

A big thank you to Bei Bambini and Jeanine Johnsen for offering this fabulous giveaway to our readers.  No type compensation was received for this review.  And before you ask, no, this is not my Jeanine, as in my dear sister.  This Jeanine just happens to have an eerily similar name, and an equally cool sense of style.

 

MedSafe for Peace of Mind

Since I found out I was pregnant, I have read over a dozen articles and books about baby proofing the house and every single expert recommends putting drugs and medications out of baby’s reach, or better yet, purchasing a baby lock for your medication that will keep your curious baby safe.  As sound of advice as that is, it really doesn’t address the issue of keeping your children safe after they are able to climb, open doors, or unlatch baby locks.  The MedSafe is the first babyproofing product I have seen that is truly kid-proof and still allows parents to easily access their necessary medications.

The MedSafe is an impact resistant polymer locking safe that is designed to work like a traditional combo safe that secures your valuables.  Instead of storing precious jewels or cash, the MedSafe is designed to hold all of your prescription and over-the-counter medications (up to 15 bottles) and keep your kids from accessing them on their own, even well after babyproofing age.

The MedSafe is fairly compact and can be stored in bathrooms, pantries, nightstands and more easily and safely.  The MedSafe comes with screws to attach to the wall, but you can also use double sided tape to secure safely in metal cabinets or dressers.  Since we don’t have anywhere near 15 medications in our house, we put other items we wanted to keep baby out of in our MedSafe, like fingernail clippers, scissors and razor blades.

I did notice that some of the medications we do have were a bit tall for the Med Safe, since it has one fixed shelf running midway through the safe, so we had to turn those bottles on their sides to get them to fit inside.  A height adjustable shelf would be one of my most emphatic suggestions on the next version of the MedSafe, but definitely not a deal breaker with a product that ensures the safety of our children.

The statistics on drug related deaths and injuries offered on the MedSafe site were truly shocking and reaffirmed my desire to remove every trace of medications from our unlocked medicine cabinet for good.  Citing data about accidental overdoses of young kids as well as teenagers, it really opens your eyes as to how vulnerable kids are at all ages and all you can do to protect them.

Their website focuses on the Teen drug abuse problem, which every parent thinks will never happen to them or their children, but only the families with locked medicine cabinets can be reassured won’t.  Deaths related to prescription drug overdoses happen every 5 minutes, according to http://www.helpsaveourkids.com/, which is more than 3 times greater than the number of gun related deaths each year.  Most parents wouldn’t dream of an unlocked firearms in their house but leave their medications out for anyone to access (even extremely rude houseguests who enjoy snooping through medicine cabinets – 39% of them according to MedSafe’s website) which is incredibly scary to me.

No one ever kicks themselves and says “I wish I hadn’t been so gosh darn safe,” but the opposite unfortunately is not true.  Just one mistake or accident can truly happen in an instant and it really does pay to be safe rather than sorry.

http://www.helpsaveourkids.com/ to Join their fight to have 5 Million Homes Secured by 2011!

A big thank you to An Island Life and MedSafe for making my medicine cabinet and family safer.  MedSafe offered the sample to review and no other type of compensation was received. 

Maclaren Quest Stroller - For Families on the Go

For five days this month we lived like true New Yorkers; sharing a third story walk-up, taking the subway all along Manhattan, and rolling in style with the true NY stroller - the Maclaren.  It’s been the city-dwelling gold standard in strollers for years and I have come to realize that this honor is well deserved. 

In suburbia, the bulky and clunky travel system rules the road, with the infant carseat that goes from car to sidewalk and back in mere minutes.  However, in the big city, big is out.  Getting around town needs to be done quickly and efficiently, two words that are never used to describe travel systems when utilizing mass transit. 

The first time we visited New York, we were shocked by the sheer number of Maclarens on the sidewalk.  Nearly every city parent was pushing their pick of Maclaren’s iconic scissor-back lightweight stroller line and back then, years before I had kids, I just didn’t get it.  At the time I had attributed this to a name brand obsession; yet another example of consumerism and the propensity to keep up with the Joneses.  It really wasn’t until our first trip into the city with children that I realized how necessary a light and portable stroller becomes when stairs and crowds are a way of life and how the quality of stroller makes all the difference. 

The Maclaren design is all about functionality and style, pairing top of the line materials and years of expertise with models to last from birth to 55 lbs.  We were lucky enough to visit the Maclaren showroom in SoHo, where the expert staff helped us pick the perfect stroller for our family.  By merely asking three questions about what we needed our stroller to do, the staff quickly had a 2009 Maclaren Quest ready for us, and in no time at all we were out the door and hitting the city streets in style. 

As it turns out, the Quest was the perfect stroller for us, and especially for baby.  Having a lightweight and compact stroller was a bit of a change for us since we’re used to carrying a full week’s worth of groceries off the handles of our suburban workhorse.  But, we realized pretty quickly the benefits of a lightweight stroller for the family on the go.  And, with the Maclaren, we found that we didn’t have to give up on quality and high end features to get to that light weight. 

The Quest is Maclaren’s middleweight stroller, without all the extras (and weight) you need for an infant, but with more features than a bare bones umbrella stroller.  Some of the extras you do get include a 4 position reclining seat, adjustable foot rest, a foldable hood with included raincover, and a good sized basket.  Another feature we really appreciated was the shoulder strap for use when folded, which was great for getting up and down stairs.  

Normally, if you see a feature list as long as the Quest's, you would imagine that it would require an entire trunk to transport.  Well known for their premium features in a tiny package, Maclaren is perfect for those on the go or those who actually need their trunk for anything other than baby gear.  If you travel, play in the city, or merely like to be as portable as possible, Maclaren has a stylish, sporty or svelte (or all three!) model that allows you to get baby out in the world safely and comfortably without requiring a separate set of wheels to transport it around town. 

Features of the 2009 Quest, as told by Maclaren:
• Basic Weight - 5.5kg / 12.1lb (without hood, shopping basket or raincover)
• Recline - Four seat positions
• Wheel Size - 12.7cm / 5.0in
• Hood - Longer for extra coverage - Round with storage pocket - UV protective viewing window - Reflective accents for night safety
• Added Features - Vibrant colours - Larger hood; easy-on, easy-off - Hubcap design - Ergonomically optimised, foam insulated handles - Carry Strap and Carry Handle - Foot-operated linked parking brakes - Extendable leg rest - Raincover (Some exclusions apply in the US) - Height adjustable shoulder harness

And, of course every Maclaren comes with the following:
• Sovereign Lifetime Warranty™ 
• Maclaren Recycling Programme†
• 5 point harness for added security
• Removable washable seat 
• Compact umbrella fold
• Water resistant hood
• High-performance aluminium frame
• Handy mesh shopping basket
• Carry strap or handle for easy portability
• 5 second one-hand fold
• Lockable, front swivel wheels

There’s only one feature that I would love to see on the 2010 Maclaren Quest: adjustable height handles.  Although the standard handle height is a bit taller than most umbrella-type strollers, I really wish there were options available for those on the ends of the height spectrum.  Hubby would appreciate it.

http://www.maclarenbaby.com/

Price: $245

Looks: Simple and sophisticated and everything in between.

Overall: There’s a good reason this is the gold standard for city strollers – it’s lightweight, it’s sturdy and it will last.

UPDATED 11/10/09: Maclaren has issued a notice for the Quest and all folding strollers requiring that a hinge cover be installed on your existing model.  Click here to be directed to the Maclaren site where you can order your hinge cover to comply with the newest safety standards.

Thank you to Maclaren for providing the 2009 Quest to be reviewed.  No other type compensation was received for this review.

ERGObaby Carrier

“Ergo we go”

I had seen the ERGObaby carriers around town for a few months and was always curious about them but I hadn’t realized just how excited I was to try the ERGObaby until I got my own.  Taking it out of the package, I was oddly giddy as I pictured baby and me exploring the wide Northwest with nothing to stop us.  Not only was I correct in how much I was going to adore it, we ended up globetrotting with the Ergo Carrier, sporting it on a fast-paced multi-continent trip that would have been impossible to navigate with a stroller or lesser quality baby carrier. 

The Ergo Baby Carrier is truly user-friendly and easy to figure out with no instructions at all.* The design is reminiscent of a backpack, but for babies instead of baggage and with a weight bearing padded waist band to lighten the load.  The straps are also nicely padded and comfortable, making you wonder if ERGObaby would ever be interested in designing a better backpack for us all. 

After tearing open the package, I immediately put it on.  I tried the front carry method initially, securing the waist strap first and then holding baby in it while I put the arm straps on.  After baby was secure, I reached back between my shoulder blades and secured the connecting strap in the back.  Immediately, I was impressed with the fabric of the Ergo Carrier.  It feels like the perfect mix of durability and comfort with a heavy duty design that doesn’t have a heavy duty weight to go along with it. 

Baby snuggled right into me and started sucking on the Ergo straps (you can actually buy optional strap covers for this very reason) while I cleaned the house.  Baby felt 100% secure and I didn’t feel like I needed to keep one hand under her at all times like I do with so many other carriers.  Her weight felt evenly distributed and the carrier didn’t dig into my shoulders, strain my back or hurt my hips in any way.  By the time the housework was done, I was a die-hard Ergo fan.  I still hate laundry, but at least with the ERGObaby I got baby snuggles out of the deal.

The ERGObaby carrier is made from 100% cotton canvas on the outside, padded with 100% cotton batting on the inside and lined with a 100% cotton poplin fabric, making it 100% comfortable.  ERGO also now offers their exact same carriers made with organic fabric for the eco conscious or for those who love the earthy look. 

All their carriers have a very unisex appeal, which made this the first front carrier that hubby would wear as well.  When you’re talking days on end of walking or traveling with a baby, bringing something that you can take turns carrying is the only thing that makes sense.  Not only does hubby happily babywear now that we have the ERGO, he actually looks good doing so.  If it can turn hubby into a happy babywearing dad, it just might do the same for your guy.

When packing for our Europe/Africa trip, we knew that a stroller would most definitely slow us down, and decided that babywearing was by far the better option.  As we discussed baby carriers it was absolutely a given that the Ergo would be joining us on the trip.  Even though when packed the ERGO does take up more room than a simple sling or even a mei tai carrier, you will appreciate every inch of padding and durability the Ergo Baby Carrier provides once you are there.  Image to right is one of us enjoying Grenada together, just me, baby, the ERGO and a Spanish mime.  

Features I love:

* Three carriers in one; with optional infant insert you can carry babies from newborn until 40 pounds.  I plan on carrying baby in hers until she just becomes too heavy for hubby and I, as the fabric and durability is tested to 90 pounds.*  Baby is 16 months now still loves the ERGO, both as a front carrier or back carrier.

* The standard zip pockets on the ERGObaby carrier are just big enough to hold the necessities: a wallet, point and shoot camera and maybe some chapstick, so you can forgo the purse for short jaunts out. 

* I love that you can add optional attachments that convert the ERGO to more of a backpack or day pack, meaning that you can carry baby and your gear at the same time.  Perfect for hiking or long days out where you need your hands free, the ERGO allows you to carry everything safely and securely and is far superior to carrying an additional bag. 

* The ERGO is soft and comfortable with features such as a high density neoprene foam in waist belt that adjusts from waist size 25” to 43”.

* High quality buckles are easy to do one handed, but not placed so that baby can undo them as in other baby carriers.

* Ergonomic design fits anyone from 5’ to 6’5” with their adjustable shoulder and chest straps.

* Extremely durable with reinforcement stitching used at all fabric seams and interior rip-stop reinforcements at critical intersections.

* ERGO Carriers are machine washable, as every good baby product should be.

Features I would love to see on the ERGO:

* I would love a full-coverage hood option as well as the small hood attached to the carrier for providing full sun coverage or discrete nursing coverage.

* Speaking of the hood, it would be great if it did remove completely instead of stuffing into the front pocket of the carrier as it has the potential to look messy or even come unstuffed as you move.

* The ERGO is not my top choice hip carrier, as I found that the idea of sliding the carrier to the side to convert it seemed a bit awkward and it felt like there were just too many straps in the way.  I know others swear by their ERGOs as hip carriers, but I just never got the hang of it and neither did baby.  But, having both front and back options was sufficient for both hubby and I.

http://www.ergobabycarriers.com/

Prices range from $105 for the standard carrier to $135 for the organic or fashion carriers. 

Looks: Ranging from earthy to sporty, but equally adorable when you have a sweet baby placed inside.

Overall:  The Ergo is perfect for including baby in all that you do in the most natural and comfortable way.  It does so much more than carry your baby, it allows you to carry your gear, too! 

*I am a professional baby carrier tester with a hubby to oversee my shenanigans and am in no way suggesting that you do not read the instructions on a baby carrier before your first use or that you ignore posted weight limits suggested by a baby carrier. 

A continental sized thank you to the designers at ERGObaby for offering their carrier for review and changing the way we travel with baby forever.  No compensation was received for this review.

Baby B’Air Flight Safety Vest

I hadn’t realized how few safety precautions are available for children in-flight until my daughter was four months old and she flew for the first time.  Realizing as we sat down that there was absolutely no seatbelt or harness available, I was scared to death for the flight and the prospect of turbulence as we flew.  Because babies of that age require more than a mere seatbelt to keep them safe, the idea of having absolutely no straps securing her was shocking.   

Under the age of two, children are not required to purchase a seat when flying and instead can ride in the same seat as their accompanying adult.  Aptly called “lap babies”, these children can fly on domestic flights at no cost with an adult who has purchased a seat on the flight.  On international flights, these “lap babies” only pay a small percentage of a ticket price, which is usually around 10%.  As a family who travels regularly, the cost savings is really hard to pass up, especially as the cost of airline tickets is often very much out of your control and oftentimes outrageously high. 

Even if sharing a seat is often inconvenient, it’s really the only way we can afford jetsetting so often as a family, so I was so excited when I found the Baby B’Air Flight Safety Vest, a safety harness designed for “lap babies” to wear while flying.  Since safety is obviously the highest concern, finding a harness or vest that could let us all ride comfortably and safely made it possible for us to justify traveling with a “lap baby” so often.  The design is a simple; slip-on vest that goes over baby’s head and fastens under her arms.  A second strap fastens between baby’s legs so she can’t wiggle out of the vest during the flight and a third strap is looped through the airline lap belt to properly secure even a tiny baby while in flight. 

The Baby B’Air Flight Safety Vest can be worn after take off, and protects the child should the plane experience turbulence mid air.  This allows the parent to nap, have hands free, or play with the child without having to worry that a sudden movement of the plane could cause them to lose grip on the baby.  I found I was much more relaxed while flying, which made the experience that much more enjoyable for all of us.   

When baby was young, I was pleased with how much freedom of movement the Baby B’Air Flight Safety Vest offered.  There was enough slack to allow me to hold her in a cradle position and nurse, or to turn her so we could interact on the plane.  As baby got bigger, the Baby B’Air Flight Vest was a bit more restrictive, which I thought was absolutely great.  Baby could actually stand up in our laps while wearing the Baby B’Air, but couldn’t wiggle into other passenger’s seats or away from us.

The Baby B’Air Flight Safety Vest is actually quite soft and flexible and baby seemed comfortable even on long international flights in her vest.  She has worn it since she was 6 months old and has actually gotten really used to wearing it and doesn’t fight it or try and wiggle out of it.  Much like the car seatbelt, which kids understand is required to ride in an automobile, baby seems to understand that she needs the Baby B’Air to fly and doesn’t mind a bit.  In fact, I have found it has the opposite effect you would imagine, and actually makes it easier to contain her in-flight.  Because she understands she is strapped in, she doesn’t try and get down from our laps to walk or play. 

The one issue we have had with the Baby B’Air was that during one flight baby was able to wiggle enough in her vest that she had the straps of the vest twisted up and was then able to undo the seat buckle on hubby’s seat with the Baby B’Air strap.  While this seemed to be an isolated incident, considering we have used the vest on numerous flights and never had a problem before or after, it might be helpful to attach the Baby B’Air on the side away from the seatbelt release during your flight. 

Benefits of using a Baby B’Air, facts taken from the Baby B’Air website:

• 90% of injuries on commercial airplanes occur during the flight and not during takeoff and landing.
• Lightweight and easy to store compactly in your carry on luggage.
• Tested to exceed FAA standards for aircraft seating so baby is held secure, allowing the parent to relax, sleep, or have a hand free during the flight.
• Check out this YouTube video and you will see why I was so scared.  Thank goodness the video is animated, my heart can't take a re-enactment. 
• Hand-washable 100% cotton is soft and flexible.
• Trademark color identifies Baby B’Air to the flight crew and tag on back explains its use for any flight crew that is not familiar with the device.

http://www.babybair.com/

Price: $34.99

Looks: Red and safe

Overall: I would definitely recommend the Baby B’Air for anyone traveling by plane with an infant.  I wouldn’t leave baby unsecured in a car and now I will never have to in the air, either. 

Family Photograph by Dreyer Family Band, the ultimate road trip album

Chock full of catchy beats and layered tracks, the Dreyer Family Band’s new album Family Photograph does not disappoint.  Skirting numerous musical genres and displaying a wide range of influences, the Dreyer Family Band's sound is hard to describe in absolute terms since it varies dramatically from track to track.  Some tracks are sweet and poppy, others are bluesy and soulful, but there is one thing that unites all the tracks to form a cohesive album, and that is the fun and clever lyrics that are impossible not to sing along to.  Baby has a few favorites on the album, like Covers and You Get What You Get, or maybe those are my favorites.  I do know that there have been numerous occasions when I have been driving alone and found myself listening to a track or two.

The album was recorded in 11 days over 2 family vacations by two brothers and their families.  With songs about love, life, and family, they have tracks that touch on all sorts of topics parents and kids alike can appreciate.  Subjects such as sibling spats, road trip sanity, the urgency of not waking the baby, and general expressions of love that I found to be a nice change from the standard kids’ album. 

And I guess that’s because Family Photograph isn’t meant for kids to listen to on their own, but rather something that families can sing along to together.  The Dreyer Family Band knows that we all have to share the radio on family road trips, and also understand that no one wants to listen to “The Wheels on The Bus” longer than absolutely necessary.  Instead of the simple beats and repetitive lyrics of most children’s music, the Dreyer Family Band adds some personality and spirit to the well composed tracks and makes it more than merely listenable.  Add that to the fact that the album has more songs than a traditional kid’s mix and rarely will the same song play in a car ride and the result is an album that will become the soundtrack of your family car for years to come.  An album that will forever take your kids back to their childhoods, back to the family vacations, back to the time spent as a family.   

Take a listen to my absolute favorite, You Get What You Get, which is pretty much the quintessential road trip song at http://dreyerfamilyband.com/live/

http://dreyerfamilyband.com/

Price: $14.99 for CD, $9.99 for MP3 Download at CD Baby

Thank you to Dreyer Family Band for adding a little more music into our everyday.