Bump Your Baby to Sleep!

It’s 4 a.m., you’ve been up since 2 with a screaming, fussy, inconsolable infant! This baby that you thought was adorable at 8 p.m. is now starting to resemble one of the scary flying monkeys from the Wizard of OZ circa 1939. 

What do you do? You’ve tried the “5 S’s” for calming, right?

1) Swaddling

2) Sideline or stomach position

3) Shhhing (white noise)

4) Sucking (pacifier, finer, bottle, breast)

5) Shaking (always gentle, never vigorous)

Still not working? Try to bump your baby to sleep with the “BumpYourBaby” ball!

Babies like steady, continuous, gentle jiggling because it reminds them of the womb. Hence, the 5 S’s. Each one of those was created to recreate feelings baby felt inutero. The last one can be especially hard if you’ve already been up for hours or, if you’re someone who doesn’t like standing because it’s hard on your back and joints.

In comes the “Baby Bump“! Gently bounce a newborn on a Baby Bump™ to soothe it when nothing else will do the trick.

Baby Bump is “The New Rocking Chair.” Typical rocking chairs make it hard to maintain the jiggle that baby wants (and needs) to maintain calm and trigger their calming reflex to put them to sleep. When you’re holding a baby in a chair and rocking back and forth, the baby is actually rocking side to side at an awkward pace. This rocking is not conducive to calming a fussy baby. The Baby Bump is the best tool for bumping baby calm and taking pressure off your back and joints.

Multiple uses!

• Use the Baby Bump™ for prenatal comfort (enhances pregnant mother’s posture)
• Use the Baby Bump™ to soothe any, and all, fussy babies
• Use the Baby Bump™ as during labor support as a birth ball
• Use the Baby Bump™ to entertain baby, sing, dance
• Use the Baby Bump™ fo gross motor play to develop trunk & head control
• Use the Baby Bump™ as a reading chair for antsy toddlers that HAVE to be in motion
• Use the Baby Bump™ to stay in shape and keep up with energetic toddlers

What sets it apart from an exercise ball?

Well, the Baby Bump™ has a leg up on the traditional yoga and fitness balls – 6 legs to be precise. Baby Bump’s unique peg-legged design keeps the ball stable and stationary and will be a helpful tool/toy for every stage of your infants growth from pregnancy to parenthood.

How is it made?

Baby Bump™ manufactures the balls in the furniture capital of world- Italy! They are made from the highest quality material: soft, gripping/non-slip, pearly vinyl that is recyclable, environmentally friendly, latex free, phthalate free and even gluten free. Baby Bump™ focuses on safety for parents and their babies; the balls are “burst proof”, meaning that if they are punctured they will deflate slowly and safely.

Baby Bump™ is now an essential tool/toy for all new parents, a new staple of every nursery and of course, it makes the perfect baby shower gift!

The Baby Bump™ is “The New Rocking Chair.” 

Rubbie Duckie & Friends: Lifesavers!

Rubber  Duckie, you’re the one…you make bath time so much fun! We all know the popular tune of the Bert & Ernie bathtime song; however, I’m not talking about a dinky yellow rubber bath toy here. I’m talking about Rubber Duckie & Friends, a

“NEW MOM MUST HAVE”

The Rubber Duckie & Friends shower head is the winner of 3 national awards including Mother Knows Best, Family Choice Award, and the very prestigious National Parenting Center Seal of Approval Award.

Before I tell you why I love Rubber Duckie & Friends, let me describe a few scenes from my experiences bathing little ones and you’ll begin to understand why this product has saved my life. I’m sure these scenes are  all too familiar to you moms out there:

Scene 1) I’m sitting tubside with a baby and a toddler in the tub. The toddler is covered in sand from the playground and the baby has remnants of play-doh, squashed raisins, and God knows what else in every crevice on their chubby little body. They’re both covered in soap, but I realize all too late that the rinsing cup is in the backyard because the toddler wanted to build sandcastles. Now I’m wrestling the baby to keep her safe while trying to rinse the toddler and vice versa.

Scene 2) My niece, 15 months old, is in the tub and because she loves the flow of the water on her head, I have to roll my pants up and get in the tub so I can be within arms reach and play bodyguard for 20 minutes as I try to prevent her from accidentally cutting her head open on the faucet. My pants are soaking wet and my back is aching by the end.

Scene 3) A three year old boy who thinks he’s “too big for a baby bath” wants to take a shower, but cries because the water pressure from the shower head is too hard and stings his skin. When he sits under the faucet he’s frustrated because leaning back under the water hurts his neck.

All of the above issues (and more!) have been solved by the innovative (and life saving) Rubber Duckie & Friends Shower Heads!

• East to install
• 2 way diverter to switch flow
• 5 adorable choices of “friends”
• 6 ft hose to reach anywhere in the tub
• Mounts easily to tub or shower wall
• No sting, gentle spray
• Alleviates back strain and joint pain from kneeling over the tub
• Includes wand, hose, diverter & mount for $24.99

Collect all 5 friends!

What’s your bath time routine?

Handsocks Rock!

Last week at the ABC Kids Expo I came across a new product that at first seemed a bit odd- “Handsocks”. My first thought was, “Why would anyone wear socks on their hands?” Or, more importantly, “How is this a new product?”

But, upon closer examination I realized that not only do they serve several purposes for young kids, but the design of them makes them different than just “socks on the hands”. They’re designed specifically to fit the hands of a child so they don’t slip and don’t fall off.

Here are my top 5 reasons why Handsocks rock:

1) Chicken-pox: Yes, there is a vaccine now for the chicken pox; however, some moms are opting out of getting it for their kids because the vaccine is a live virus and contains mercury and formaldehyde. Plus, if your kid catches the chicken pox it’s effects are usually mild, and once it runs it’s course you’re left with a stronger immune system. That being said, scratching can be detrimental! No one wants their kids left with scars and pock marks because of a childhood illness. Enter Handsocks!

2) Eczema, mosquioto bites, rashes, scabs, stitches, staples, healing wounds, etc.

3) Kids will be kids and often it’s gross! As a former elementary teacher (pre-k, kinder, and 1st grade) I often saw story-time as more of a game of “Whack-a-Mole”. Lil Johnny would have his hands in his pants, Sarah had her fingers in her nose, Timmy liked to pick the dirt out of his cleats and eat it, and Jane liked to bite her nails off and spit them at Suzy. If I had known about Handsocks as a teacher these would’ve been “Story Time Socks”. The bell would ring for the story to begin and upon gathering to the floor each and every child would have to put on their “Story Time Socks” or “Listening Socks” before the story began. See? You didn’t even know Handsocks were academically beneficial! LOL

4) Babies! Yes, I’m “That Girl” who looks at everything and wonders how it could be beneficial to babies. These have multiple purposes for those chunk o’ loves:

• Prevent scratching to their face from lack of motor control
• Prevent rugburn, splinters, glass shards (you thought you swept it all up, but you didn’t!), and other dangers when learning to crawl
• Prevent the spread of germs. Your baby loves to touch people’s faces and even put their hands in guest’s mouths and then their hands go into their own mouth…yuck
• Ask older brothers and sisters to wear these when meeting a new baby (don’t let them hold baby wearing these in case of slipping), but use them to prevent germs being passed around the hospital or birth center rooms

5) Warmth: How many of you bundle your kids in layer after layer after layer to keep their arms warm, but fear they’ll overheat? What about the gloves you put on that don’t stay on? Handsocks solve both problems. Handsocks can be used as an extra layer because they go all the way up the arm, but they don’t add layers over the chest and cause overheating. They also act as an extra layer to keep tiny fingers and hands warm when the gloves come off.

Handsocks come in XS (preemie/newborn), S, M, and L (3T). You can get your very own pair of Handsocks or “No Scratch Mittens” at http://www.handsocks.com or shop HERE.

How could Handsocks benefit your family?

Top Products Discovered at the ABC Kids Expo

For the past several years I’ve been wanting to attend the ABC Kids Expo, an annual trade show hosted by All Baby & Child in Las Vegas, but this year I finally got to go! I was overwhelmed with all of the products being introduced; some new, some familiar, and some were mindblowingly innovative! 

Here are some of my top picks for products discovered this year at the expo…

The Shaidee Sun Cover

When I first saw the Shaidee Sun Cover I thought of my brother-in-law shielding my sweet neice from the glare of the blazing sun at the zoo, at the Arboretum botanical gardens, or traveling overseas. I felt silly for not having invented it myself because it’s so necessary! We drown our babies in sunscreen and put hats on them to protect their delicate scalps, but what about their eyes? Those brand new eyes are so sensitive to the light, but also at-risk for sunburns to the retina, and any mother will tell you, “We’ve tried sunglasses but they just don’t stay on.” Well, Shaidee understands that which is why they designed the Saidee Sun Cover.

What is Shaidee Sun Cover™? Ultra-light, sun-protective baby gear gives parents the freedom to enjoy life on-the-go, with baby in tow! The Shaidee Sun Cover™ is the newest solution for active parents who want to protect babies from the sun while enjoying the great outdoors. It is a lightweight, easy-to-wear visor design that fits comfortably around ANY person carrying a baby in a front carrier or sling, and also attaches easily to most cars seats and strollers. A dynamic, multi-use item, Shaidee Sun Cover™ is weather-and-wind-resistant, and made from safe and effective fabrics to keep babies shaded, cool, dry and comfortable. When not in use, Shaidee Sun Cover™ rolls up and pops neatly into a stylish carry bag ideal for travel or storage.

EzPz Fun: Less Mess, Happy Mat

The EzPz Fun Mat was developed by a busy mom who’d had enough of the placemats that don’t work, the dishes being thrown, food stuck to the plates, and the stacks of dishes to clean after dinner time from mixing, heating, and serving to feed 3 kids and 2 adults. The EzPz Fun mat had me floored! It’s a plate divided into sections resembling a smiley face, but it’s also a placemat that sticks to ANY flat surface. The unique design of the mat and the materials used create a sort of suction that NO ONE can lift straight up. It can, however, be lifted very easily by lifting the corners. Shhh, don’t tell the kids! It’s also stain resistant, BPA-free, food grade silicone, nontoxic, dishwasher safe, oven safe, and microwave safe! Want one? They’re still being manufactured, but you can submit a pre-order via shopwholeheart.com

What makes the Less Mess Happy Mat special?

ALL-IN-ONE placemat & plate (catches all of the kids’ messes)
Placemat suctions to the table (no more tipped bowls & plates)
Easy cleanup & storage
Easy entertaining (mats can be stacked & carried)
Extra fun (dry erase markers can be used on mats)
IT WORKS!

Did you feel like a dairy cow with your first baby? Or, have you seen colleagues grabbing snacks and water and rushing to the restroom to pump during their work breaks? Ugh, it used to be so inconvenient to pump…but, it’s not anymore! Last week at the expo I discovered the Freemie! With the Freemie, moms can pump anytime, anywhere, with their shirt ON! The Freemie hands free cups (placed directly inside your bra) are designed to collect milk that can be poured directly into the bottle you’re feeding baby with. This prevents pumping into a bag, pouring milk into a storage bottle, then pouring milk into the feeding bottle. Alot of valuable nutrients and “liquid gold” are lost that way; not to mention the added products needed and dishes to be cleaned. The Freemie Deluxe Set includes concealable collection cups, two sets of breast funnels (25 mm and 28 mm), and the electric Freedom pump with smoothly adjustable suction—all for hands-free single or double pumping and is compatible with hospital grade pumps or most other popular breast pumps.

• Slide the cups under your bra
• Connect to a compatible pump
• Relax, work, play, while pumping
• Pour milk into bottles to store and/or feed

This two-toys-in-one product was actually designed by a kid named Max whose school project tasked him with designing a toy for both boys and girls of various ages. With a little help from mom and dad, Max designed “BuddyBalls“, a line of teddy bears that can hold all of your favorite toys inside them like a backpack, or can convert to a squooshie ball. This toy reminded me of a new and improved version of “Popples” circa 1985 and I fell in love with the nostalgic feeling I got from holding, and playing with, this toy. These designers also pulled on my heartstrings as a Certified Child Life Specialist when they told me they’ve partnered with the Child Life Council and donate for the kiddos in the hospitals around the country. Can you not love Maxland Toys with your whole heart?!

I had the pleasure of seeing ALL Crane USA products at the expo and I went nuts wishing I could own every single one! The adorable animal humidifers, drop humidifiers, heaters, fans, and nightlights are designed state of the art and are wildly popular globally! They’re popular for their adorable animal humidifers for nurseries, playrooms, and kid’s rooms, but as an adult, I also LOVE the drop humidifers. The design of the drop humidifer is modern and sleek and they come in a variety of colors that fit in nicely with any decor. What I love about Crane humidifers is that they’re not noisy like most other brands, and the soft, cool mist provides sort of a feng shui sense of movement that’s peaceful and calming. Given that Whole Heart is an Austin based company and I live on 4 acres filled with cedar trees, I use my drop humidifer all winter and spring long to moisten the dry air in my bedroom, courtesy of the cedar trees, but I also consider this product a new mom must have. Newborn babies and infants breathe primarily through their nose. Keeping their nasal passages clean ad moist is essential to a healthy baby and promoting healthy sleep for baby.

Raise your hand if you’re nervous about potty-training your kiddo? Don’t be! No longer do you have to buy boxes and boxes of training pants or pull-ups, stay at your house for 3 straight days pottying every hour on te hour, or doing hundreds of oads of laundry due to accidents. Meet BottomzZup! BottomzZup is a complete potty training tool kit designed to take the guess work out of potty training and transition your child out of diapers and in to “big kid” underwear in 3-4 days, flat. The unique design looks and feels like a diaper, but allows the child to feel wet inside, but there’s no leakage or spillage on the outside. A celebratory t-shirt, sticker chart, and potty training suggestions accompany the underwear in the BottomzZup box. This product is still in manufacturing stages and won’t be available until Jan. 2015; however, pre-orders will be received via chelseavail@wholeheartaustin.com. Encourage. Participate. Celebrate.

I fell in love with SO many new products and toys at the expo that I came home and immediately added them to my website! Be sure to check out:

• Mimo Baby Smart Monitor
• Cornelius Teething Toothbrush
• The Monalito baby hammock
• Mamachi (creme de la creme) Baby Bottle
• 5 Phases BPA free glass bottles
• Kiinde Twist and Store Feeding System
• Belly Armor Radiashield Nursing Cover
• Babyganics Foaming Hand Sanitizer
• Bean Clean cradle cap brush
• My Dental Choice Tooth Tissues
• Knock Nanny
• Umbilical Bodysuit by Assessables