Posts Tagged ‘gear’
Laura on September 19th, 2009
Surely you’ve not forgotten about Space Monkey, that cute, loveable, cuddly monkey from space that brings color, fun, and light to boring places, have you?
Space Monkey will brighten up even the darkest night with his whimsical, fanciful, and beautiful art, but now, he can be worn, and bring all this goodness to you! Now, you can show off Space Monkey with an organic shirt, a hoodie, a bib, an organic onesie, a water bottle, even a messenger bag! There’s so much to choose from, it’s bananas.
Soon, we’ll add more art & more gear that will have you going ape. Think Beatles meets Space Monkey…enticing, isn’t it?
Amy on September 14th, 2009
This is our new baby, Teagan Reese. She arrived on July 8th and we’ve been knee-deep in babydom ever since. After Teagan arrived, I anxiously awaited the arrival of our new travel collection from Britax, the Chaperone. The Chaperone infant carrier and stroller were sent to us for review by the company.
Even though the new travel collection was gifted to us, I could still say that I’m not happy with it if I truly wasn’t. But truth of the matter is, I can’t say that I don’t like it. I love it and highly recommend it and would have gladly purchased it myself.
Almost four years ago, we were given a hand-me-down infant carrier and stroller of another popular brand. I always complained how uncomfortable my then infant seemed to be in the seat and the stroller, although lightweight and compact, it wasn’t the greatest when it came to steering and rolling on surfaces. But enough about that.
Let’s talk more about the Chaperone. It’s a brand new product from Britax. What we have here is True Side Impact Protection. The infant seat is roomy enough and comfortable (at least it looks comfy). The car seat base has an Anti-Rebound Bar, which was introduced by Britax in 2004. All in all, I’m confident that this car seat is going to protect my little one in the unfortunate event we’re involved in an accident.
Here is the Chaperone stroller that is paired with the infant carrier. There wasn’t an instruction guide with the stroller but my husband was easily able to figure out the assembly and by watching the Chaperone video on the Britax site, I was able to figure out how the carrier works with it and how to fold and unfold it. (I spoke to a Britax rep via Twitter and they’re going to send me the instructions.)
I’m completely thrilled with the stroller. It’s ridiculously easy to push around, one or two-handed. It strolls gracefully over all surfaces (at least the store/pavement/cement/grass surfaces I’ve had it on so far). I could go on and on about the features but you can find all of that information on the Britax site. I’m just here to tell you that if you’re thinking about purchasing this travel system, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Well worth the money and they have a good deal going on right now, $100 off if you purchase the Chaperone infant carrier along with the Chaperone stroller. Not a bad deal at all.
Laura on September 11th, 2009
Unique baby and children’s items & gear can be hard to come by, but if you’re a long time reader of MumsTheWurd!, you know we can find them. Polkadot Patch Boutique sent me a most adorable sock monkey onesie before Lennon was born, and he wore it until I could stretch it no further around him. Since then, Polkadot Patch Boutique has expanded their line and now offers an even wider variety of hip, cool & unique clothes for your babies and kids. The Morfs Sock Monkey line now includes hats & dresses! They’ve also got robots, many organic & eco-friendly items, fun & funky clothes and gifts, even items for parents, like maternity shirts, slings, and carriers!
WIN IT!
Polkadot Patch Boutique is giving one lucky reader the funky cheetah hands-free carrier that you see pictured here. To enter, go to Polkadot Patch, and tell us HERE what your favorite item is. It’s as simple as that! The contest runs through September 30th, 2009 at 10 PM. Good Luck!
Laura on August 27th, 2009
Aden & Anais is a favorite around these parts. My youngest son has his in bed with him right now. Not only did it provide a great swaddling blanket when he was an infant, but it is now his “blankie”. It’s soft, breathable, and keeps him warm or cool, depending on the temperature, thanks to the muslin fabric. You can read more about my experience with this blanket here.
Aden & Anais wants you to have one of their newest lines: The Muslin Sleeping Bag. Although I have not personally used this product, I know you are sure to love it. Your little one will stay cozy and safe in this adorable sleeping bag! To enter, go HERE and tell us your favorite style. The winner will be picked September 7th, 10 PM CST.
Naomi on July 22nd, 2009
We are a Britax family. Case in point:
Roo in her Marathon, Jasper in his Boulevard. They’re like plush recliners for your kids, only with the added bonus of protecting them in the event of a crash. In fact, these carseats are so well-designed, they have been known to keep children safe even when the car they are riding in has been struck by a train! (I would still recommend not stopping on train tracks, in case you were considering doing some home-testing.) That seat was a Roundabout, a convertible seat that is good for rear-facing infants to 40 lb forward-facing kiddos.
We went with the Marathon when Roo was a baby because it has such a long lifespan. Britax carseats are not cheap but they are extremely well-rated and in our experience they are just as durable as they are plush and good-looking. When Jasper outgrew his infant carrier (at six months!), I discovered a new Britax convertible seat. The Boulevard is even cushier than the very similar Marathon (both seats are recommended for children up to 65 lbs) and my hands-down favorite feature for Jasper has been the No Re-thread Harness Adjustment which allows you to adjust the harness height without having to re-thread the harness straps– super handy when you have a rapidly-growing baby/toddler/kid. Roo was a much more gradual grower so it’s not as much of an issue to have to switch out the harness height every six months or so when you pull the cover off to wash it.
We recently received a new Britax model, the Marathon CS. The “CS” refers to the Click & Safe audible indicator that helps to determine when the child seat harness is within range of appropriate snugness. I remember taking a carseat safety class when I was pregnant with Roo and being informed that an alarmingly high number of parents were installing their seats improperly AND using the harnesses incorrectly, as well. I think it might have been close to 70%! The Marathon CS is just as comfy and sturdy as its non-clicking predecessor but it does give me a reassuring feeling to know that there is a way to make sure the harness is optimally tightened. Especially since this seat is going to go in grandma’s car…
The Click & Safe feature is also available in the Boulevard CS. (Did I mention how totally awesome that No Re-thread Harness Adjustment is for wiggly boys?) The Britax Marathon CS has a MSRP of (USD) $299.99 and can be found wherever quality baby goods are sold.
Laura on May 18th, 2009
I’m very excited to share one of my finds with you, not only because I love the product, but also because it is made by one of my very oldest and dearest friends, Angie! Angie started out like any of us-a mom that needed a way to comfort her youngest son. The Octopi Baby was born.
In her own words, “The Octopi Baby Blanket was created to help Rylan learn to self-soothe himself to sleep. After many heart-breaking nights of trying the ‘cry it out method’, I made it my mission to create something that would help him make it through bed time without the anxiety and crying. His Octopi worked so well for him, my family and friends encouraged me to share my success with other parents. The Octopi Baby Blanket is designed to help your baby transition from play to sleep. The eight tactile ribbons help calm your baby with peaceful sensory activity. Your baby’s Octopi will become their familiar and comforting friend to hold and love as they drift away into peaceful sleep.”
We were also one of Angie’s very first test marketers, so we have had lots of experience with the Octopi Baby, and I will attest to the greatness of this “lovie”. Lennon loved the Octopi when he was smaller. Both of my sons have been, much to my chagrin, very into licking things when they were exploring the world as babies, and the Octopi was in his mouth all. the. time. He used the “coarser” ribbons when he was teething. The Octopi is great for babies, and quickly becomes their comfort blanket of choice. Oh, not to mention how cute, and bright, and fun they are!!!
Through May 31st, become a fan of Octopi Baby on Facebook, and you’ll be entered to win one of your very own. Trust me, my friends, these blankies are the bomb! Go here to start shopping! If you have a special request, email her, and Angie will do her best to accommodate you!
Posted via email from Mums The Wurd
annaholler on May 14th, 2009
When my girls were little my husband and I swore by the ERGObaby carrier. The bulkiness of strollering our children combined with the benefits of wearing your baby prompted us to try every type of carrier on the market until we found the one best suited for our lives. At that time we were living in a rural town and used the carrier for trips to the mall or walks around the neighborhood.
As our children have grown strollering has become a helpful tool that we use at amusement parks, shopping trips and places we might spend a lot of time walking. I feel that it’s important for my children to have the independence to hop out and walk around, but not to feel overwhelmed by the expectation of too much exercise, particularly on the hot days of summer.
We quickly learned that strollering is very similar to baby-wearing in the respect that one stroller does not meet every need. We tried several models before we came to love our Phil and Teds sport double buggy. First we used a front to back double stroller, but it was too long and difficult to navigate. Then, we tried a side by side jogging stroller, but it was difficult to fold, bulky to travel with and didn’t fit through the aisles of stores. Finally, we settled on a sit-and-stand model that worked for us…
until..
DUN
DUN
DUN
…we moved to the city of Philadelphia. For those of you who have not visited the city of Philadelphia, I am here to testify to the fact that the aged, historic and loved sidewalks of this city are not conducive to long walks with a stroller. The nicer sidewalks are slanted and often still in their original cobblestone or brick form.
We lived here for no more than a week when I turned to my husband and said, “We need a city stroller no matter the cost. It’s a quality of life issue for me. I am willing to sell a kidney if need be. I need a stroller more than both of my kidneys. And THAT is where I stand.”
I started my research with the parents at the park. I moved on to the families at the zoo and I stopped after I had stopped a good dozen people on the street to quiz them on their stroller choice.
My findings were as follows:
Each person I ambushed stopped had at least one complaint about the double stroller they pushed with the exception of the folks behind a Phil and Teds double buggy. It was overwhelming and universal. Every parent with a double buggy by Phil and Teds was willing to talk the ear off of one frazzled mama and her two tots about just how great our lives could be… if only…
I have never been a person who has been that comfortable spending outrageous amounts of money on a stroller. I’m not a particularly showy person, so the Bugaboos on the street seemed a silly expense. After researching retailers who sold the Phil and Teds sport double buggy, I was able to find a great deal at Pish Posh Baby.
My order had standard shipping, but the stroller arrived the following day. After a little bit of assembly it was ready to go.
My friends, my fellow lovers of Mums the Wurd, parents from all over the land, I am hear to promise you that your life will infinitely improve with this stroller. It is as light as a cloth nappie and takes bumps and dips and cricks, cracks and uneven sidewalks in a way that makes me wonder if the stroller has some sort of magical properties and is able to rearrange the pull of our earth’s gravity. My children love this stroller. No one minds sitting in the back (which was my only real concern) and the fact that I can remove the bottom seat to make it a single when need be is just good design and practical thinking. It comes with a “mommy hook” to hang your bags on and has ample storage beneath the top seat. The front wheel rotates, so I am able to easily navigate through tight aisles and big crowds. I could easily take on a corn maze, I’m sure. Recently, we traveled with this stroller to Disney World and walked for miles each day. This stroller took airports, plane rides, shuttle buses, ferry boats and days of pavement while carrying our children, food and souvenirs for a full week. At the end of our vacation, I could not have imagined what life would have been like had we left it behind.
In summary, if I were single and I met Phil or Ted… I would marry either or both of them.
Laura on November 10th, 2008
We have a long standing love affair with Boon. It started with the Potty Bench and the Frog Pod, but they’ve expanded their line quite extensively since then! Now they’ve got a sweet little Layette line for the wee ones. Lennon has this DNA Bodysuit, which was perfect for Summer. Now that we’re into the colder months, how about a Coverall & Hat set in Pacifier?
You might have noticed on Boon’s website, that they now offer a complete line of ergonomic cups, cutlery, and dishware, ALL of which are BpA, Phthalate, and PVC free. Does your baby need a place to sit while dining, while using all of this state-of-the-art dishware? Very soon, you will see my guest post on one of ZRecommends awesome network of blogs, Polliwogged, discussing our newest love, and excellent addition to the Boon family of products, the Flair Highchair. I’ll let you know as soon as it’s posted…and until then, help yourself to ALL of Boon’s products!
P.S. This would look pretty great next to the Frog Pod. Do I need a little girl to go with it though?
Laura on October 19th, 2008
Have you noticed that we have another new Mum? Jaymi, better known as FlipFlopMamma, has joined the awesomeness that is MumsTheWurd! She is the bomb. Welcome her! Jaymi is another babywearing mamma of 3 cool kids that you’ll see from time to time on Mums.
While we’re on the topic of babywearing, I have to tell you about the pouch from Rockin’ Baby Sling! Well, first of all, they’re gorgeous! Secondly, all the pouches and slings are named after songs, and really good songs, at that! Check their huge selection of slings and pouches. You are bound to find one that suits your style! My issue with the pouch has always been that it seems to snug. Not the Rockin’ Baby Pouch-these slings are generously sized. My Medium/Large “I’ll Stop the World and Melt With You” fits me on the smallest setting for carrying Lennon, and on the biggest size for carrying Noel (it’s happened a couple times). Like a sling, this pouch allows you to hold your baby in a variety of ways. Find a way that is comfortable for both you, and your child, and start babywearing! Want another reason to buy from these two Rockin’ Mamas? They give 3% of their profits to Heifer International.
Do you enjoy babywearing, but find that it takes time away from doing certain things, like exercising (as if hauling around your baby isn’t exercise enough…)? Well, the gals at Chicks-n-Chickens found a way to make it easy for you to get a little workout in while cuddling on your little bundle. The Chicks Lullaby Exercises is a great way to get a little exercise for yourself, keep your baby close, and get them ready to nod off to dreamland. I’ve done Lullaby Exercises with Lennon a few times, and it was pretty great. It was a fun workout, without being too over the top. I really enjoyed the sleep set, which was very relaxing, and did indeed put Lennon right to sleep! Want to try it?
Win it!
Enter here and tell us how you enjoy getting exercise with your kids! Winner will be selected randomly, and contacted via email. Contest ends October 26rd at 10pm (CST).
Laura on October 15th, 2008
We are sad to announce that Fooey USA will be closing it’s virtual doors. However, they are having a closeout sale that you won’t want to miss! It’s all rad stuff, and it’s super cheap! My mom got these shorts for Noel & Lennon (they won’t fit Noel next summer) for $8.99! They are SOOOOO CUTE. Fooey’s also got the best collection of shirts for kids and infants. Some are as low as $3.99, people, but they won’t last! Get over there, and say goodbye to one of the best stores out there. Fooey, we are sorry to see you go!
On a sunnier note, Ashlee has come up with a new name for her store! Nonny & Boo, formerly Nest Baby Sling, now offers even more great items, like wraps (that are the coolest EVER), hoodies, and plushies! As usual, Ashlee’s wares are quite simply the coolest! Pictured here, are Steph and Ivy in nonny & boo’s bamboo sling. We have this sling, and Elliott and I share it. We love it. The fabric is light, but very strong, and it works well going out in the Texas heat. We just heart the lady over at nonny & boo, and you will too.
