Monitoring Baby... Simple, Right?

Wow, who knew choosing a baby monitor could be so complicated?! So many things to consider. Analogue or digital, video/audio combo. or just audio. How many hours does the chargeable battery last? Does your monitor have a clip and a stand? How many Mhz. is it? How many feet can you travel before the monitor gives out? Do you or your neighbors have wireless internet? If so you will need to take this into consideration when choosing a monitor.
Decisions-decisions! First off I decided that I wanted a video/audio monitor. This way if I hear some strange noise in the night I can check the monitor from bed. Reducing the chance of waking Spencer and also reducing the number of unnecessary late night visits to Spencer's bedroom. From there I researched monitors that would work with our wireless internet and started reading consumer reviews online. I found that Summer Infant produced a monitor that met all of my criteria and best of all it reviewed VERY well. I especially like that the monitor is so small/portable and that the video camera can be moved to view from many angles. What I didn't like was the price tag! So I set off to search for a used one on Craig's List. I found one! Lightly used and $200 less the retail price. Yay!
http://www.summerinfant.com/categories_products_view.php?id=16

This monitor also won "American Baby Best Of The Year Award" for 2008.

Smart Mom's Choose Zoya

As a new Mom finding the opportunity to get your nails done is a luxury. Nail salons and spas are really no place for baby. Maybe you live close enough to a spa and can leave baby home with Dad? Then there is the question- what kinds of chemicals are leaching through your nails into your blood stream... and eventually into your breast milk? No problem, there is a solution- Zoya Nail Polish!

I was very lucky to receive a manicure and pedicure at home- gifted by my dear friend Camille! Beauty in Motion and Camille arrived at my house one afternoon. We sipped Pellegrino and had wonderfully relaxing manicures and pedicures. Beauty in Motion brought everything including an amazing spectrum of Zoya's toxin-free nail polishes. Aah, what a luxury.

http://www.beautyinmotion.ca/ (mobile spa)
http://www.escentsaromatherapy.com/ (buy zoya polishes at escents)
http://zoyanailpolish.blogspot.com/ (find out more about zoya)

Urban Ultrasound Spa & Wellness Centre

Som Visao is an "Ultrasound Spa". What a lovely idea. I wish I knew about this place while I was pregnant. A friend of mine (Jessica.T) will be having her 5-month ultrasound at Som Visao. I can't wait to hear how she enjoys the experience.

The Concept as written on Som Visao's website:
"Som Visao is a fusion spa – a fresh concept focusing on improving the health and wellbeing of our clients at various stages of life. We are pleased to offer a wide variety of spa services to men, women and pregnant or new mothers. Our comprehensive core spa services are designed for a clientele that seeks escape, relaxation and restoration. We are proud to offer maternity programs that focus on rejuvenating mom and a men’s service menu with treatments just for him.
Som Visao offers customized programs for those trying to get pregnant, those who are pregnant, and those who have just given birth. These programs are tailored to each trimester and are a balance of hard work and pampering to maximize the health and well-being of mom and baby alike.
The name Som Visao translates from Portuguese as “sound vision” and reflects the ultrasound experience of seeing and hearing your unborn child. Unlike most 3D/4D imaging centers, the founders of Som Visao wished to create a warm, sophisticated atmosphere where moms can be pampered with friends and family when seeing her child."

http://www.somvisao.com/

Understanding Baby Talk

Understanding baby talk? According to Priscilla Dunstan new Mom and author of "Dunstan Baby language" this is possible. During a particularly difficult evening of crying she thought to herself "I don't think I can get up and do this again". As she sat crying in the nursery with Tomas at 3am, she decided these cries must have a meaning that she could come to understand. Dunstan set out to research baby cries and spent years testing her baby language theory. She found that all babies regardless of their cultural background or race made the same sounds. Dunstan says "I have amazing footage of babies crying on mud floors in remote villages in Turkey. These babies were making the same sounds as Tomas".

Dunstan found that all babies verbalize five "words" to communicate their needs. These words are reflex sounds that occur during thee first 3-months when your baby needs to eat, sleep, be burped or is uncomfortable. Dunstan recommends that each new parent become familiar with the five baby "words" before baby arrives.

1. NEH: "I'm hungry."
2. OWH: "I'm tired."
3. EH: "I need to be burped."
4. EAIRH: "I have gas." (Relieve with massage or by rolling the legs.)
5. HEH: "I'm uncomfortable."

These words are instinct for the first 0-3 months. If you don't respond, then a baby loses the language. However, if you do respond to these baby words a baby can continue using this language up to one year of age!

JJ Cole... Bundle Me & More

I love, love, love my JJ Cole baby stuff. Great quality & good design!

Bundle Me Urban~ wind & rain resistant outer, warm fuzzy inner. Great for chilly cars and brisk autumn/winter walks. This iParent Media Award Winning bunting bag is fabulous!



This super comfortable and practical diaper bag clips onto your stroller, has many compartments, a fold-up change pad w/ built-in storage, a matching pacifier pod and is a "babblebest.com" award winner






Burp Coths~ Thick, Soft & Luxurious!


http://www.jjcoleusa.com/
Available at TJ Kiddies & Crocodile Baby (Vancouver)

Creative Play

Automoblox- because the sum of the parts is greater than the whole! Designed to allow kids to design their own toy car, instead of metal or plastic they're made of wood, with real rubber tires, and a variety of innards. These cars boost block building and shape sorting skills not to mention imagination.



http://www.automoblox.com/
http://modernkid.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&x=0&y=0&keyword=automoblox

iParenting Media Awards Website

This is a great website full of award winning baby products from accessories, books, clothing and more. We have a few iParenting award winners: Miracle Blanket Swaddler, Kiddopotamus Swaddler & Kiddopotamus Car seat head cradler. All great products! Below you'll find a link to the iParenting website and the iParenting mission statement.
http://iparentingmediaawards.com/winners/index.php

Mission Statement
iParenting Media’s Award Program provides a credible and objective method of determining the best products and recognizes those products with our iParenting Media Award. We are dedicated to informing, inspiring and uniting the parenting community we serve via our multiple media platforms of the Internet, syndicated newspaper column, radio show and video.

We acknowledge our responsibility to fairness, integrity and sound judgment and recognize the importance of a thorough and independent process.

We hold ourselves accountable to the stringent and objective process of evaluating and scoring products and are committed to relaying reviewer feedback to the manufacturers that submit their products.

Our awards mission is in line with our overall corporate mission of providing the best parenting content and community platform for our members; and expanding sales, building strong customer relationships and increasing branding for our clients. We do this through innovation, responsiveness and a passion to be the best, which leads to our users’ and clients’ satisfaction. We are a team of motivated individuals and our strength is generated from our devotion to our community, our clients, our industry and our employees.

Well-Loved, Slightly-Worn, Super-Comfy!

I'm talking about hand-me-downs of course! Some of our favorite sleepers are the hand-me-downs. They are soft easy to snap and unsnap and it's kind of nice to have your little one in a family or friends well-loved clothing. A friend of mine told me that in Chinese culture it's good Chi (energy) for your baby to wear clothing that has been used by a family or friends healthy happy baby. I must say there really is something nice about it! Thank-you Jess, Stacie and Tara!! :)

Piddle Pads & Mattress Pads

I have one of these organic cotton mattress pads for Spencer's crib, bassinet, and one large multi-purpose rectangular pad (shown below). They are fabulous. I especially love the large multi-purpose pad. One great way to keep your baby rash free is to give them a bit of "air-time". This soft quilted pad is perfect for this purpose... if they have any "accidents" your bed/carpet/sofa etc. will be protected. Most pads that offer this level of moisture barrier contain plastics/vinyls and such. I like that these pads are like laying on a comfy quilt and most importantly they contain nothing harmful so Spencer isn't breathing in off-gassing chemicals.

Sales Blurb:
A 100% natural cotton surface with an allergy barrier that is a soft knit fabric backed with ultra-thin breathable, waterproof polyurethane membrane. Provides anti-microbial protection from allergen molecules of less than 1.0 micron. Scientifically researched and lab tested by Quorum Pharmaceuticals, a trusted leader in the field of allergy drugs. Fitted skirt sized to allow for shrinkage. Offers complete dust mite protection. Multi Use pad for bassinet, carriage, cradle and changing table. Size 27 x 36 inches.
Available at Babies R Us:
http://www.toysrus.ca/product/index.jsp?productId=2849705&cp=3079429.3079430.3079430&parentPage=family

Soft as a Baby's Bum~ Rash Free

5 Ways to Prevent Diaper Rash
As Per New and Green Baby Co.
http://www.newandgreen.com

Diaper rash is a normal occurrence for babies. When baby cheeks are inside of a diaper 24/7 for upwards of 2.5 years, you are bound to have a rash every now and again.

Some common reasons for rashes:
* Change in Mama's diet (for nursing babies)
* Change in baby's diet (watch food introductions)
* Teething
* Sensitivity to detergent and/or buildup of detergent in diaper fabric

So with that in mind, here are 5 tips for preventing a rash or decreasing the incidence of rashes:
* Give your baby diaper free time every day - allow those cheeks to air out at least once a day for more than 10 minutes.
* Cleanse your baby's diaper area with warm water and a cloth , nothing else, no chemicals.
* Make sure your baby's diaper area is dry before you put on a fresh diaper.
* Change your baby often, ideally after every wet, but definitely as soon as there is poop.
* If your baby seems sensitive to wetness, use a diaper with a stay dry layer (Pocket or All in Ones are two choices- such as Fuzzi Bunz) or use a stay dry liner made of microfleece or raw silk inside of a fitted or prefold diaper.

Here's to happy, healthy little cheeks!

Pacifier Pods

I love this little pacifier pod! Not only does it keep your soother clean but it offers great accessibility too. The little velcro handle attaches to your car seat, stroller, and/or diaper bag. No fumbling around in your bag when baby starts crying- speed is essential. ;P

This little pod is available in many colours/patterns and can be bought at Crocodile Baby, Babies R Us and TJ Kiddies stores.
http://www.crocodilebaby.com/qs/product.php?category_id=5661&product_id=202580

So Many Needles... a few less tears

Breastfeeding releases endorphins, which creates a feeling of relaxation and well being in mother and baby, and is even an ideal pain reliever for the baby.

At the hospital Spencer required a heel prick blood test. He cried during the procedure and for 20 minutes afterward. A few days later he required this test again (as I am RH negative). This time my midwife did it and suggested that I breast feed Spencer as she pricked his heel. WOW- no crying during or afterward!

So I decided to try the breastfeeding trick for Spencer's 2-month shots. The health nurse was skeptical and even warned that he might choke. But I insisted on giving it a try. Spencer had 3 shots and only cried for the last one. Not too shabby! I wish more Mothers knew about this trick. Our health nurse was very impressed with how effective the technique was and said we had a convert- yay! I felt so sorry for the other babies who were crying hysterically. Some were still crying as they left the clinic. Not Spencer... we carried him out of the clinic sleeping. :)

Ode to Lyell

For those who are not "in the know"- Lyell is our pet dachshund.