Rave & Review

Belly Fish Nursing Pillow and Cover

Belly Fish Nursing Pillow and Cover by Dominic Carter, Inc.

There are three types of nursing mothers: those who are over shirt, those who are under shirt, and those who let it all hang out.  My research into nursing products makes absolutely no mention of these three distinctions as if all mothers nurse their babies in exactly the same way and need all the same products.  Rarely does a nursing product cover all three nursing styles to be deemed useful to all types of nursing mothers – so imagine my elation when I found Belly Fish, an innovative new product from the genius minds of fellow mothers that combines a nursing pillow with privacy panels and a convenient carrying strap.

I love my Boppy, and I use it regularly to avoid “nursing shoulders”, which every seasoned mom out there knows all too well – the horrible hunched over stance we adopt to feed our babies while they rest in our laps.  But, I don’t know if you’ve taken the Boppy out of the house recently, but it’s not exactly portable.  I took it on vacation exactly once and then realized it completely wasn’t worth the effort.  Not only did it take up precious packing space in our already crammed Jetta (ah, the joys of a compact sedan!) but once on vacation it wasn’t all that useful unless I was sitting in the condo knitting – okay, so I wouldn’t have had to actually learn to knit just to use it, but the point is that condos are to sleep in – not to hang out in all day.  And there was no way that I was packing a Boppy in my purse for out-of-house use.  And that’s where the Belly Fish is so welcome in my complete line of breastfeeding items.  It combines a slightly smaller, oh so much more compact version of the Boppy with two privacy panels to create a portable solution for “nursing shoulders” for every nursing mother on the go. 

For those mothers who are under shirt feeders (those who pull the shirt up to feed), the Belly Fish can be used with one privacy panel attached to the neck strap.  For over shirt feeders (those who pull the neckline of the shirt down to feed), I found that the Belly Fish was not quite modest enough for me at the top, so I improvised a little bit.  I attached the privacy panel as the instructions indicated on the highest neck snap and then I brought the opposite privacy panel over and attached it to a lower neck snap just underneath the first panel.  That set-up also had the added benefit of shielding baby more than the single-panel method, thus limiting distractions from interrupting the feeding.  And, lastly, those mothers who don’t use a nursing cover can simply use the Belly Fish as a portable nursing pillow without using the privacy panels at all.  

I just love the fabrics that Dominic Carter uses in their designs.  Not only are the coordinating prints beautiful, the fabrics are also extremely durable, making the entire pillow machine washable.  The only drawback I found was that the Belly Fish is a bit bulky for quick errands and some activities that require large amounts of gear, but for days when I will have the stroller or car nearby it’s perfect to toss inside for use throughout the day.  The fact that it has a carrying strap is also really nice for use at home when you are going from room to room but don’t have an extra hand to carry your nursing pillow in. 

Insider Tip: When the Belly Fish is folded and snapped together, you can easily stuff a small changing pack in between the folds of the pillow to hold a small changing pad, a few diapers and some wipes –all without changing the outside size of the Belly Fish.  In a pinch you could even just grab the Belly Fish and stuff it with the pack or even some toys or a change of clothing instead of using a diaper bag altogether. 

http://www.belly-fish.com/

Price: $48, which is a little bit more than most nursing pillows and a little bit more than the average nursing cover, but the fact that it is two-in-one makes it a very reasonable price overall.

Functionality: Great for longer trips and days out of the house, preferably with a stroller or a car nearby.  It won’t replace your single nursing cover for short trips, but it just might replace your stationary nursing pillow entirely.  

Rating: 4 out of 5 marks, losing one combined mark for the slightly higher price and the bulkiness since it would be hard to replace both your nursing pillow and portable cover.  

Rakkiddo Shoe Wheel by Rakku Designs

Rakkiddo Shoe Wheel for Kids

Okay, I’ll admit it, this shoe wheel looked like cheap plastic on the website. When my package finally arrived I couldn’t wait to get it open to slap it together really quick. Imagine my surprise when I opened the box to find a collection of heavy weight parts – 6 pounds and 12 ounces of parts, to be exact.  Luckily it wasn’t hard to build it – I called it a project and hubby did it for me. When he had finished and I looked at the size of it I thought we might have gotten the adult shoe wheel model accidentally. I even went online and took measurements before I realized that the kid’s shoe wheel is called a Rakkiddo, and the adult model is just called a shoe wheel or shoe pod and we had been shipped the correct one. 

The Rakkiddo design is interesting – shaped like a carnival ride and fun to spin, it really attracts children’s attention. The wheel is made up of a circular frame with clear dividers that create pie shaped sections within the wheel and thick plastic panels on either side for easy visibility. Along the outside of the Rakkiddo are heavy duty stretchable elastic bands that keep the shoes secured inside the wheel as it spins. This isn’t a cheap “As Seen on TV” product; this really is a piece of furniture. The Rakkiddo is marketed for small children, but really this shoe wheel will last them until they reach adult sizes. Those really lucky adults wearing a size 6.5 or smaller (possibly even a 7, but it might be a little bit tight) can even use the Rakkiddo as opposed to going with the adult shoe wheel.  

I was a bit concerned about the large size of the Rakkiddo until I really started to do some research. The Rakkiddo has a footprint of roughly 1 foot by 23 inches, which is smaller than most all stand alone shoe racks on the market. Another plus that hubby pointed out was that stand alone shoe racks usually require a huge block of wall space because they store the shoes width wise. The Rakkiddo is unique in the fact that the opening is all along its smallest dimension, which means you can use it either parallel or perpendicular to the wall (hey, look at me throwing around math terms). So, even though the design seems big and bulky at first, the Rakkiddo is in most cases smaller than the average shoe rack, and by far more efficient.   

In their most basic design, most shoes are wedge shaped with a small toe and a bigger heel. Other shoe racks have fixed square or rectangle spaces that leave unused space surrounding each shoe. The Rakkiddo design is really ingenious, because it minimizes the amount of dead space by following the natural wedge shape of the shoes. Adding to the little amount of unused space is the fact that the dividers are fully adjustable to accommodate almost all sizes of footwear. It can hold up to 20 pairs of shoes placed neatly inside with their mate, which means that there will be no more mornings looking for lost shoes. The only real issue I see is that 20 pairs of shoes is probably a bit more than the average kid will have at any given stage, so we have already decided that we will let our daughter store toys in her wheel as well. 

I think as a sweeping generalizations go we would all agree that putting away our shoes is not a fun activity, but my hope is that my daughter will enjoy the Rakkiddo so much that she will actually look forward to picking out her shoes every day and then putting them away at night. Okay, so it might not be the absolute highlight of her day, but it is certainly not going to be the most boring.   

You can view the Rakkiddo at the Rakku website: www.rakkudesigns.com. Price: $50, which is more than the average shoe rack, but worth it for the quality and durable design.

 

Check out my website at www.raveandreview.comor contact me at [email protected]

Rileyroos Baby Shoes

Rileyroos   

      

For decades there was literally one type of baby shoe available.  You know which one, you’ve seen it a million times.  Oftentimes it is plain white, sometimes it is bronzed.  But it’s always the same design.  Classic, yes, but rather boring.  And, as it turns out, it wasn’t the best for our baby feet, anyway.  In the past decade there has been a huge boost in the number of baby shoe manufacturers in the market, giving parents so many more options to protect their baby’s feet than they have ever had before.   

Rileyroos offers some of the cutest designs in that growing baby shoe market, and some of the best quality shoes I’ve seen.  Handcrafted from high quality leather and suede, Rileyroos have exceptional attention to detail.  With touches such as a curving sole, reflective stripes, contrast stitching and a rolled toe to protect baby’s feet while crawling and running.  Even with all the extra features, Rileyroos are still very timeless and straightforward in their designs, with no extra embellishments that overpower the shoe.  Rileyroos are not only adorable baby shoes, I wish I could get them in my size.  Which leads me to my one complaint with the shoe line – they only carry up to a 24 month size.   

Rileyroos are soft and flexible which makes them the perfect shoe for little walkers.  Experts all agree that soft soled shoes are best for growing feet as your baby learns to stand and then take their first steps.  Designed to imitate barefoot walking, Rileyroos combines a soft, bendable sole with a truly stylish upper to earn top marks in both.  Cleverly designed with gripping pads on the heel, ball of foot and toe, Rileyroos offers non-slipping soles without sacrificing the flexibility of the shoe itself.  The gripping pad at the toe is perfect for crawlers or new walkers as baby learns to push off from his toes for momentum.   

Looking at the other options out there for children's shoes, Rileyroos is a refreshing choice that does not compromise style for function.  Now if we could only get them in larger sizes....

http://www.rileyroos.com/

Price: $30, which I feel is a great value in the children’s shoe market

Functionality: Great - Lightweight and soft, Rileyroos are a perfect transition shoe between soft soled booties and hard soled tennies.

Marks: 4.5 marks out of 5, losing a half of a mark in my own little protest to petition Rileyroos to make larger sizes.

So Easy Baby Food Kit

So Easy Baby Food Kit by Fresh Baby

When I first decided I was going to try and make my own baby food at home for my daughter, people reacted like I had just announced I was going to put my baby in a bubble. It’s the same look new parents get when they are being crazy over protective for no reason. I got the same reasons every time for why I shouldn’t make my own baby food – and they all had to do with convenience. To me, the health of my daughter is a whole lot more important to me than convenience. Besides, there’s not a whole lot about having a newborn that would fall under the category “convenient”, anyway. Waking up all night, feeding every 2-3 hours, changing diapers, none of that is convenient, but we do it out of love for our children. To me, making baby food was just one more thing to add to that list.

The So Easy Baby Food Kit helps to make the baby food process as simple and easy as possible, with the idea that you can make a weeks worth of food in 30 minutes. Okay, I’m a busy mom, but even I have 30 minutes a week to spend on preparing my child’s food. At first hubby was skeptical over the 30 minute claim, thinking of baby food in the same way you might adult foods and assuming we would be making 3 course meals for each night of the week. Instead, the Kit is designed to be used to make 2 foods in bulk during each weekly session that you can freeze in the super cool ice cube-esque containers provided. The idea is that you will build up a supply in the freezer and eventually have a large variety of foods to choose from, thus providing baby with a varied menu.

The So Easy Baby Food Kit really lives up to its name, simplifying the food making process from start to finish and giving helpful advice to make it as easy as possible to cook farmer’s market fresh foods all year long. I don’t know why, but for some reason I thought cooking vegetables, both exotic and ordinary, was going to be a 4 pan circus. I’ve always jokingly referred to myself as “one pan Annie”, even going as far as to cook in stages or in different areas of the same pan in order to save on dish washing. And, even me, the master of the one pan meal was thrilled about how little setup and cleanup is required to make fresh baby food. The process could not get any easier - it is simply clean, peel, cook and mash. The Kit gives instructions for both microwave and stovetop cooking, which I am absolutely thrilled about. There is a distinct possibility I will be “no pan Annie” from here on out.

Making baby food does not require a fancy cookbook, but what the So Easy Baby Food Kit does is offer helpful hints and suggestions as well as interesting facts and information about baby’s nutrition during every stage of development. The guide explains how to shop for, prepare and cook all sorts of vegetables and fruits and offers variations and combinations to experiment with. Designed to be more akin to a food journal for parents, the best part about the book is that you can record details such as the date each food is introduced and whether or not your baby liked it. Having grown up being taught not to write in books, I was at first hesitant to actually write in the spots provided. Thinking that it would be nice to use the book for any additional children, or possibly even for good friends’ children, I had decided to leave the book un-personalized. But, the truth is that it is so convenient to look up a recipe and be able to see exactly when you first introduced the food and whether or not it was a hit, that I ended up caving and I am so glad I did. I did, however, compromise with myself and write small in the spaces provided so that we could reuse the book again and again. There is only one thing I would change about the guide and that would be to add protruding tabs instead of their edge of page markers so that it would be even easier for parents to quickly flip to the foods for the correct age group.

I absolutely love that the kit comes with a laminated (hello, kids’ “helping”) guide that goes over all the basics of baby nutrition from healthy eating habits, nutrient guides, and even basic CPR instructions. The chart of first foods broken down by age is absolutely wonderful, as I can quickly glance at it before I shop and jot down the vegetables and fruits to look for at the market.

I would recommend that anyone that is concerned about the freshness and safety of prepackaged baby foods look into the So Easy Baby Food Kit. This really is a case where the idea of baby food making is a lot more daunting than the actual task of doing. I found that making my own baby food proved to be a whole lot more fun (and easy!) than I had imagined, and something we end up looking forward to each week.

Check out the Fresh Baby Peas and Carrots blog at  http://freshbaby.typepad.com/ for recipes and suggestions like these:

Fruit juice: Simply fill Fresh Baby Trays with 100% juice, cover and freeze. Pop the cubes and place the in a freezer storage bag. Write the type of juice on the bag. To serve, add 1 or 2 juice cubes to a cup of water. The cubes will flavor the water and keep the drink cold at the same time!

“Healthy” Soda: Dropping a few juice cubes into seltzer (sparkling) water instantly creates a soda pop. Get Creative by freezing exotic juice flavors such as strawberry, guava, or pomegranate in the trays (You'll want some too).

http://freshbaby.com/

You can buy the Kit at Target or Babies R Us

Price: $38

Functionality: High – it is simple, useful and informative, but more importantly, it is fun.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 marks, losing only a half of a point for the lack of clear section tabs.

Check out my website at www.raveandreview.com or contact me at [email protected]

 

 

The First Years Breastfeeding Wrap

The First Years Breastfeeding Wrap

This nursing cover would have never been purchased if it wasn't for the low price and high accessibility.  I even did something that I almost never do - I didn't take it out of the package at the store.  So, imagine my disappointment to find that the cover is little more than a cheap fabric shawl.  Remember those cheap Halloween costumes you used to wear when you were a kid?  I think these wraps are made out of leftover costume remnants from 1985.  But, looks and texture aside, I went forth with my plan to retire my new favorite nursing cover and give this one a fair shot. 

The design is simple - a large circular shaped shawl cut a bit longer in the front and minimally adjustable at the collar.  In theory, the design works.  However, I found that in practice the shawl spins as baby flails and that minimally adjustable collar now gapes at the place where you least want to expose.  See that open shoulder cutout in the picture?  I'm not sure why the designers thought that was a good idea, as I see no purpose for it whatsoever, and that open hole rarely stays on your shoulder.  I also found the design was too short for me, and barely covered baby, let alone providing a new mother with any modesty in the places it counts.  However, because of the nature if it being a nursing wrap or shawl, there was a bunch of extra fabric where you really don't need it (like on your back) that make it bigger than it really needs to be, therefore needlessly filling up your diaper bag.  Even at the low price and easy availability, the cover was not worth purchasing.  Even those on limited budgets would do better with a receiving blanket as a nursing cover and save their money for something that is far more functional. 

R&R Reader Tip: A reader just contacted me to let me know that she had the same problems I ran into with the First Years Breastfeeding Wrap until she put her arm through the hole in the shawl (similar to putting on a t-shirt).  By using the hole as an arm hole instead of leaving it open, it made it so the wrap didn't twist and spin as she fed and kept her and her babe covered.  Ingenious!  See photo detailing the use below:

http://www.learningcurve.com/product/detail/Y1879A2?locale=en_US

Price: $13

Functionality: Horrible, don't waste your money

Looks: Just like you'd expect a cheap shawl to look.

Overall rating: It lost points for appearance, feel of the fabric and the unmodest cut.  The only mark it did receive was for price alone. 

Boppy Waterproof Liners for Changing Pad Covers for moms that don't want extra laundry

I ran across the Boppy Changing Pad covers in a store and purchased it based solely on color alone. Being a crazy first time mom who insists that everything match in the soon-to-be Baby’s room, I had been searching for the perfect shade of green to match the mural my sister and I had painted (see, I warned you I was crazy. I believe we call that OCP – Obsessive Compulsive Planning, and I had it bad).

It was only after I had gone home and ripped the cover from the package that I realized what an amazing impulse buyer I am. Unfortunately, the original Changing Pad Cover only comes with only one Waterproof Liner, which meant that after I realized how wonderful it was, I had to go back out to the store to get more.   

The oval shaped Waterproof Liners that lay nicely over both flat and contour shaped changing pads for extra waterproof ability over whatever changing pad cover matches your decor. These Waterproof Liners are absolutely amazing, allowing you to launder your changing pad cover at least half as much, if not less. When baby has a huge blowout (which can feel like a daily occurrence), you can still lay her down on the changing pad knowing that you will only have to launder the oval liner, not take the whole cover off. Or, when baby decides to wait until you have the diaper off to go, you can contain the mess much easier and rinse it much easier without having to scrub the whole changing pad afterwards. Not to mention that the Waterproof Liners are white so you can bleach them without worry. After so much washing, they are starting to show signs of use, but not as bad as you’d imagine and nothing that bothers me at all. 

I have three packs of the sets of three, plus the initial Liner that came with the cover and it’s the perfect amount for when I am feeling lazy and wait a week or two without doing a bleach load.  I would have to own 10 changing pad covers to have the same freedom, and that would obviously be a much greater storage commitment.

These Waterproof Liners aren’t super absorbent, but they are much better than the changing pad covers themselves, so I can’t really complain.  I absolutely think every new mom should have these Liners, whether they choose the Boppy Changing Pad Cover or not.  Unless, of course, they love doing laundry.         

http://shopboppy.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=22 

Price: $12 for a pack of three Waterproof Liners

Functionality: Extremely functional, extra absorbency would be nice, but something is better than nothing at all.

Looks: Not beautiful, but at least it allows you to have a cute changing pad cover underneath. 

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 marks, losing only a half of a mark for looks and limited absorbency, because sometimes practicality doesn’t need to be pretty.

Medicine made easy with the Munchkin Medicator

It was absolutely heartbreaking when my infant daughter was diagnosed as having a hemangioma, otherwise known as a vascular birthmark, that was so large that it required immediate attention. Worse was the news that leaving the hemangioma untreated would likely cause optical damage that would be irreversible. So, we ordered up the required medicine and hoped with everything we had that it would work. 

What I hadn’t realized was how hard giving her the awful tasting medicine would be, and how frequently we would have to give it. The first night, we tried the dropper and syringe against the cheek as her pediatrician had recommended only to have her spit back out the medicine immediately. In one instant I had a million things rushing through my mind – if the medicine is the only thing that can save her sight and she refuses to take the medicine, where does that leave us?

medibag 4 kids First Aid Kit

medibag 4 kids First Aid Kit - by me4kidz

The medibag is as functional as it is cute, filled with items that every parent should have on hand for minor cuts, burns, bites, and more.  It’s hard to believe, but it is even cuter in person than it is on the website.  Made of a hard plastic molded to look like an old fashioned Doctor’s bag, the medibag boasts 117 first aid items ranging from cotton swabs to eyewash.  Thoughtful touches throughout, the kit was obviously prepared by experienced parents.  Filled with hand sanitizer, colorful bandages, and even a handful of stickers to reward bravery, the medibag is something that should reside in every house with children.

I love that the case has a full inventory of the first aid items listed on it, as well as pictured on the back so you can assess what you need quickly without having to dig through the case to see if it contains what you need.  There is even extra room to add other items that are essential for your family, so you can create a complete custom first aid kit specifically for you.  In our kit we added a medicine dropper and some allergy medicine, along with some small scissors for cutting the bandages and tape down to size.  We also replaced the disposable thermometer with a permanent one, so we would always have one on hand.       

Every parent knows that life with kids can be terrifying when you find yourself in a situation where you are unsure as to what to do.  Me4kidz has thought of everything and included a First Aid Guide that walks you through injuries from nosebleeds to fractures.  As adorable as the medibag is, I feel that the design is about more than aesthetics, as the case itself begs to be noticed.  It would be incredibly hard to misplace a bright red Doctor’s kit, even in the most disorganized household.  Which means that in the event of an emergency, you may actually know where to find your first aid supplies.  And more importantly, so will the rest of your family. 

http://www.me4kidz.com/index.html

Price: $20

Functionality: High, contains items for the most common injuries and does so in style. 

Looks: Absolutely adorable, which is far more than I can say for other first aid kits.

Rating: 5 out of 5 marks, for design, contents and execution.  Highly recommended for any family with small children. 

Check out my website at www.raveandreview.com or contact me at [email protected]

Beep Beep Slings

Beep Beep Slings

I just love babywearing.  One might call me addicted.  I seriously can’t think of anything better than snuggling your baby while you run errands, take a walk, or just get things done at home.  And, luckily for me, baby completely agrees.  Since baby was just days old I have been slinging her for walks, projects around the house and even at the office.  I can’t even tell you how wonderful it is to hold her close and yet still be able to get things done that require two hands.   

Beep Beep Slings are my new favorite babywearing accessory, beating out all of the other Slings baby and I have test ridden.  Made from beautiful fabrics with a coordinating lining, all of their designs are fully reversible.  Most patterns are lined with a solid interior fabric, which I feel contributes greatly to their man-friendly design.  I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the fabrics they use in their Slings - although they are soft and very pliable, they are also extremely sturdy, which makes babywearing so much easier than I found it with other looser models.   

I must admit, there’s not a whole lot cuter than a daddy and his baby enjoying babywearing together.

The design is simple, a lined pouch-style Sling with absolutely zero parts to break or lose.  I love how simple and straightforward the design is.  It makes me feel safer knowing that there aren’t clasps, buckles, and O rings to break or forget to tighten.  And, the fact that there isn’t any extra fabric and accessories means it doesn’t take up excess room in the diaper bag, allowing you to carry it with you every day - all of which means that you might even have it with you when you really need it.  I can’t even begin to count the items I get with grand intentions only to forget them at home, thus limiting their actual usefulness. 

Even with the simple, easy design I have to admit that I still read the instructions provided, and in doing so, realized that I would have placed baby in the Sling wrong had I not bothered.  The Sling is designed with a seam running widthwise through the pouch that they suggest you line up with baby’s diaper for a better ride.  So, with the seam as a guide, I set baby in.  Perfect!  This was the first Sling I used that actually came with instructions as to where you should put baby for riding.  What I found was that baby rode much taller in the structured Sling pouch than she did in other loose fabric designs and she felt so much more secure to me while wearing her.  I’m not sure if it all can be attributed to the little seam placement trick, but I am now a firm believer.   



Beep Beep’s sizing is just as simple as their design.  You can order either a medium (8-14) or a large (14-16), which is recommended for most males.  We have the large, which is perfect for hubby, but is a little big on me.  Not too big as to not be functional, but my preference would definitely be to wear the correct size.  We tend to buy things in a larger size in general so we can share, as I can still use the items even though they are a bit roomy but the opposite is not true.  The Beep Beep is no exception, and during the course of the day we often switch back and forth on who is babywearing.  This was the first Sling hubby had tried since all of our other Slings are either floral or pink (or both!), so I wasn’t sure how he was going to like it.  Not only did he end up loving the Sling, he was also pleasantly surprised as to how comfortable it is, even for all day events.  The fact that we both agree on a carrier is nothing short of amazing, as I had all but given up on converting hubby into a Sling advocate.  The compact design and the fact that we can both use it means that we can throw the Sling into our daypack and still have space left over for all of the other baby necessities. 

www.beepbeepslings.com to read about the company and their line of slings and then visit www.purlmama.com to purchase within the U.S.

Functionality: Wonderful!  Top pick in the Sling category

Looks: Great design and beautiful fabrics add to the babywearing charm of these pouch slings.

Price: $75 Australian Dollars, which is roughly $45-$50

Rating: 5 out of 5 marks, for an almost flawless design.

Check out my website at www.raveandreview.com or contact me at [email protected]