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I realize many mothers have survived years without being able to see their babies as they drive in the car while the baby faces backward. But having the ability to see the baby is so handy – thanks to the BearView Infant Mirror by See Me Smile Products! [...]
It can be overwhelming to choose the right bath for your baby. It was actually several months after giving our baby countless baths and working our way through two other bathtubs that we finally bought the right one – the Primo EuroBath. [...]
Let me preface this by stating that I hate sunscreen. I hate needing to remember to put it on, and now I also have to remember to put it on my son. I hate the chemical-ness and questionable ingredients of most sunscreens. I hate having to smear the cream in hard-to-reach places like my back. But – I have managed to find a sunscreen that I don’t mind – correction, that I almost look forward to – smearing on myself and my son: Matter Company’s Natural Sun Care Creme! [...]
Canada 123 (written by Kim Bellefontaine and illustrated by Per-Henrik Gürth) is clearly one of my son’s favourites. This is a colourful counting board book for little ones with a very patriotic feel! [...]
A few months after my son was born, I received a package in the mail for him from some dear friends in Boston. I was delighted when I saw the adorable sock monkey inside! This monkey is handmade by Jan of Monkey Shine Studio in Massachusetts, and all materials are made in the USA. [...]
One of the first gifts during my pregnancy was a nursing pillow from Canadian company Nneka. Though it may have been premature to think of nursing, I came to love this pillow before my baby even arrived!
The Nneka pillow is shaped like a log, and is filled with 100% buckwheat hull (so it’s like a big beanbag). The advantage of having a straight pillow (unlike most nursing pillows, which are curved) is that it can be used to support a pregnant belly during those awkward and somewhat painful pre-natal nights. Another plus of this pillow is that you can remove some of the filling – perfect for customizing the amount of support you would like when you are using it as a support pillow. I removed about a mason-jar-sized amount during the pre-natal phase. Once the baby was born, I refilled the pillow, and found it extremely supportive during breastfeeding. Because the pillow is flexible, you can adjust the pillow’s position to accommodate the baby. Another use for the Nneka during the newborn phase is to use it to prevent the baby from rolling around on a bed or sofa (of course you would follow all other necessary safety precautions in these scenarios!). [...]
You read it in all of the baby books but never truly realize how valuable a good swaddle is until you get one that works. These same books also try to guide you through the swaddling process, but in my case, I failed each time. Either my receiving blankets were too small, my wrap too loose, or my baby too Houdini-esque to remain wrapped like a mummy…until I came across the Miracle Blanket. [...]
For those of us (and our children) who have sensitive skin, it can be a challenge to find creams, lotions, balms, and generally any beauty product that is not irritating. At about six weeks old, when my son started to exhibit signs of eczema, I went in search of a remedy that would not involve smearing cortisone on his newborn skin. At a breastfeeding group, another mother recommended a product called Baume Conception by Quebec-based company Les Soins Corporels l’Herbier. The description on the jar reads “Body and Massage Balm”, and it’s especially made for pregnant women and for babies. Its ingredients are organic, and consist of a mixture of sunflower, palm and sweet almond oils, mixed with “cera alba” (white wax) and vitamin E – no preservatives, artificial perfumes, or other irritants in sight. The consistency is unique and required some getting used to, since it is a malleable solid which turns into oil as you rub it in. Given that Baume Conception is a mixture of oils and not a moisturizer, it is best applied after a bath. [...]
Among the many joys of motherhood is breastfeeding, but a necessary side effect is the need to prevent accidental (and embarrassing) leaks. I have tried several different kinds of nursing pads and have finally found my favourites – Omaiki Ultimate Pads. Compared to disposable pads, you can feel better about using reusable ones, and they hardly take up any space in a wash that you undoubtedly do every few days anyway for the baby clothes. I also found that disposable pads tended to stick to the nipples – not a pleasant sensation! Having tried other reusable pads, these ones stand out for several reasons… [...]
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