Best Baby Stuff » Baby Feeding

Medela Quick Clean Bags

Maisie — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:33:01 +0000

Product Overview
Medela’s powerful Quick Clean Micro-Steam Bags use steam-cleaning to disinfect breastpump parts and feeding accessories like bottles and pacifiers. These bags are proven to eliminate harmful bacteria and germs by 99.9%. A complete cleaning can be done in 3 minutes using just a microwave and a little water. Each bag will hold two breastshield and valve assemblies or two, 5oz collection bottles and caps. Each bag can be used 20 times.

Why I Like It
For me, pumping is not the greatest part of the day. Not only did it make me feel literally like a milk cow, but it takes time out of my day and my time is extremely valuable to me. At least these steam bags make clean up a breeze. Imagine how much more time it would take to sanitize breastpump parts in a pot of water! With the Medela Quick Clean Micro-Steam Bags and a powerful microwave, my breastpump parts are cleaned and sanitized in a minute and a half.

Some microwaves will require 3 minutes for the bag. Be careful when opening the bag as the steam release is extremely hot. Each bag can be used 20 times and there are checkboxes on the bag to help you track how many times you have used the bag. These bags are easy to fold and put into your pump bag and takes up almost no space at all.

Where to Buy
Amazon
Babies R Us
Target

Medela Pump and Save Bags

Maisie — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 04:36:37 +0000

Product Overview
Medela’s Pump and Save bags will store up to 5 ounces of pumped breast milk. The bags are double-walled making it safe for long term breast milk storage. The pre-sterilized bags come with a zipper top that will not leak. The no-spill, stand-up bottom makes it easy to use. The bags are BPA-free and are compatible with all Medela pumps except for the Freestyle.

Why I Like It
I started storing breast milk in little bottles at first. After I ran out of little bottles I did not want to spend the money purchasing more little bottles. These bags are cost effective and easy to use. If you own a Medela pump these bags will attach to your pump so that you can pump directly into the bag. Even though I use a Medela Freestyle pump that the bags do not attach to, I still used these bags by transferring pumped milk into the bags. The stand-up bottom made it easy to transfer the pumped milk.

I freeze the bags as flat as I can and store them in a deep freezer. These bags take up a lot less room than the bottles I was originally using. Defrosting the bags is easy as well. Just place the frozen bag into a warm bowl of water.

You can purchase these bags in 20 or 50 quantities.

Where to Buy
Target.com
Amazon.com
BabiesRUs.com

My Little Seat

Maisie — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 03:54:30 +0000

Product Overview:
My Little Seat is a compact, fabric, travel high chair that folds for easy storage. It has 4 ties and two harness straps and comes with it’s own matching storage bag. This travel high chair can be used with children who are 6-30 months and who can sit unassisted. The maximum weight is 35 pounds. My Little Seat is available in many cute prints and colors and works on most chairs.

Why I Like It:
One night my husband, daughter and I were invited to a friend’s house for dinner. Since our friends didn’t have children, there wasn’t a high chair available to us. We tried to sit our daughter on cushions with a chair so she could eat at the table with us, but she ended up squirming her way off the chair. I ended up chasing her around instead of eating dinner!

My Little Seat is a compact little device that I keep it in the car so that I can strap my daughter in at friend’s homes or restaurants where high chairs are not available. Just recently I used it at my parent’s house, in addition to phone books, she was able to eat at the table with the rest of us. I also plan on packing My Little Seat for my next trip. After all it only takes up a few inches of space once it’s folded.

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ITZBEEN™ Baby Care Timer

Maisie — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 03:32:41 +0000

Product Overview:
ITZBEEN™ Baby Care Timer invented by sleep-deprived parents, this multi-purpose nursery tool helps new parents remember details of baby care such as feedings, medications and nap times. This little gadget takes the place of paper charts and has four timers that count up with a touch of a button. With this tool new parents will always know “how long it’s been”. This gadget comes in 3 different colors.

Why I Like It:
This product was recommended to me by another new mommy. She started using it when her son was first born and it helped her to remember feedings and when to give him medication. If her son was ever fussy, she would be able to take one glance at the ITZBEEN and know that he was either fussy because he needed a nap, needed to eat or it was time for his medication. This little gadget is simple and easy to use and replaces the need for keeping your charts and pen handy.

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Lansinoh Nursing Pads

Maisie — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:43:07 +0000

Product Overview
These ultra-thin pads allow nursing mothers to continue their active lifestyle without embarrassing leakage. The pads come with nonslip adhesive tape and its contoured shape allows for a discreet fit. The soft stay-dry lining wicks moisture away from skin and its super-absorbent polymer core keeps skin dry. The pads are individually wrapped for cleanliness and convenience.

Why I Like It
I originally purchase LilyPadz because I thought the idea of having reusable nursing pads would save me money. After I started using them, I realized that it was healthier to have a breathable pad. I tried Gerber nursing pads and Playtex nursing pads, but one didn’t stay in place and the other was too bulky.

The Lansinoh pad is super thin, stays in place and absorbs extremely well.

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100 Top Baby Purees Cookbook

Maisie — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:21:17 +0000

Product Overview
British television personality and children’s nutrition expert Annabel Karmel’s compiled a book of essential and tasty purees for babies. These recipes will make for a happy and healthy baby. The book is divided into several chapters, starting with first tastes and weaning babies from 6 months old and ending with meals for older babies. Each recipe comes with details stating age appropriateness, if it is suitable for freezing, how many portions the recipe makes and the cook time.

Why I like It
If you look at the variety of canned baby food available, you will realize that there is a limited variety. This cookbook will give you ideas and recipes which will help develop your child’s palette and integrate plenty of variety in his diet. When I have made recipes from this book it always smells so yummy that I want to eat spoonfuls of it as well, not something I would do with canned baby food.

Use this recipe book and the Beaba Baby Cook and you will be pureeing up tasty meals for your baby in no time.

Where to Buy
Amazon ($7.04 and up + shipping) Best Price
Barnes & Noble ($12.00 + shipping)
Half.com ($9.25 and up + shipping)

Chicco Polly High Chair

Maisie — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:21:01 +0000

Product Overview
Chicco’s Polly Highchair has the slimmest fold in its class! The Polly highchair features seven height positions, three reclining positions, and one-hand tray removal. The bright buttons on the chair make it easy to adjust the chair. With the Polly, cleaning is easy, since the tray comes with two inserts that are easily snapped on and off. There are also two cushioned fabric seat pads that are easy to wipe clean.

Why I Like It
Storage is short in my house. Especially with all the baby gear that seems to be taking over. I didn’t want the highchair to take up that much room, so I was thrilled to see the Polly highchair fold up to be so small! I can store the folded highchair in a closet or next to my fridge.

The two inserts make it easy to clean up a mess after meal time. I just snap off the insert and wash it off in the sink. There’s always an extra insert that I can use as well.

Even though the highchair comes with a five point harness, I removed the two over the shoulder straps because I could not get them to fit tight enough on my daughter.

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Fresh Baby Food Trays

Maisie — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:34:14 +0000

Product Overview
Fresh Baby Food Trays are designed to simplify feedings and reduce waste of baby food or breast milk. The trays contain 12 pre-portioned servings, each about one ounce. A cover allows for an easy way to store breast milk or baby food. The trays are stackable and will not spill. To release the frozen cubes just twist the trays and the cubes will release. Clean up is easy since these trays are dishwasher-safe. There are two trays and lids in each pack. Trays are FDA-approved food-safe plastic. #4 LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene) and #2 HDPE (High Density Polyethylene).Contains no PVC, Bisphenol-A, or Plasticizer.

Why I like It
These trays make storing extra milk and baby food super simple! Just portion out any extra expressed milk or baby food into the cubes, snap the lid on and stick it in your freezer. When you need to use it just grab what you need and thaw it out. If you use a wide baby bottle these cubes will fit perfectly into your bottle. If you are using a narrow baby bottle, you may need to thaw the cubes in another container before putting it into the bottle.

I love that the cubes are already portioned out. It helps to keep baby food waste down to a minimum. I use these trays every week when I make my baby food. I just spoon the food into the trays and lay the trays flat in my freezer. When the food is frozen, I pop them out of the trays into freezer bags, label and date them and they’re ready for me when I need them.

Where to Buy
Amazon ($11.87 + shipping)
iHealthTree ($8.69 + shipping) Best Price
Mom 4 Life ($13.95 + free shipping)

Wet Happened? Wet Bag

Maisie — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:46:59 +0000

Product Overview
The Wet Happened? Wet Bag is made with a stylish designer cotton prints, then lined with a thick and soft Polyurethane Laminate. The two layers sewn are separately and closes with a zippered top that secures contents and keep smells where they belong. The bag is double sewn to help prevent wicking. It is easily washable and re-usable. The wet bags are available in two sizes: 11 x 14 (about 3-5 diapers) & 14 x 17 (about 6-8 diapers).

Why I like It
When using cloth diapers on the go, it’s hard to know what to do with those dirty diapers. I originally used plastic bags, however the odors permeated though the plastic. This wet bag is perfect for my diaper bag first because it’s super cute and because it helps to keep smells contained. I love that it’s easy to wash and re-use. The PUL lining is attached to the cotton exterior so that the two layers will no separate in the wash. Purchase two wet bags, one to use and one to wash. I like the larger size because I can fit more diapers in there. The wet bag is also perfect for dirty clothes or wet swimsuits.

Where to Buy
Mom4Life ($17.95 for reg, $21.95 for lg + free shipping)
WetHappened.com ($17.95 for reg, $21.95 for lg + 15% off with code WETBAG + free shipping) Best Price

Table Topper

Maisie — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:26:20 +0000

Product Overview
Table Topper is a disposable “stick in place” place mat for children. These place mats provide a sanitary eating surface for your little one. They come in fun colors and designs which keep your child occupied. They are also BPA-Free, PVC-Free, and phthalate-Free.

Why I Like It
You go to a restaurant and you see the bus boy quickly wipe down the table with a wet rag. I’ve worked in the food industry. Those rags are not clean by any means. In fact they are probably spreading more germs over the table! Instead of whipping out my sanitary wipes and disinfecting the entire table, I grab one of my Table Topper place mats and stick it on the table.

I love that the Table Topper sticks in place, because little hands like to grab and throw things! Think of the paper place mats restaurants have. There’s no way that my daughter will sit through a meal and still have that on the table. The Table Topper is tacky enough to stick in place but will also release easily so that you don’t have to pick it off the table with your nails.

The bright and colorful designs are great for keeping my daughter occupied while we eat. I can rest easy knowing that at least her part of the table is germ free!

Where to Buy
Amazon – Pack of 20 ($7.99 + shipping)
Target – Pack of 50 ($16.99 + shipping)
Walmart – Pack of 50 ($17.88 + free site-to-store shipping) Best Price