Holiday Gift Guide - Cozy Comforts Kitchen Set

This ultra-modern kitchen features the latest in realistic kitchen design including: single-cup coffee machine, raised “gas” burner that makes a boiling water sound when pots and pans are placed on it, microwave, refrigerator, oven, toaster, recycling and play bins.  Multiple working doors give it a realistic feel.  Efficiently engineered, the Cozy Comforts Kitchen has eliminated all screws and replaced them with snaps and press fits for easy assembly.  In addition, all of the accessories - two sets of plates, cups, forks, knives and spoons, two pieces of toast, muffin tin, pan with lid, touch screen phone, spatula, large spoon, strainer spoon, and strainer - are bagged and ready for play; no clipping or trimming required. Standing at just over three feet tall and packed with value.

I also received this super cute shopping cart in addition to the kitchen set. 

Our Thoughts

This kitchen set and shopping cart is totally awesome! My son stays entertained for forever with these items.

The kitchen set came in one box, and upon opening, I was a bit overwhelmed. There looked to be a lot of pieces and it gave me a headache to think of putting it together by myself with my son hovering over me trying to "help". Problem was solved by having all of us do it together as a family. With my husband, two daughters and toddler, we were able to set up the kitchen set in about 20 minutes. I am sure it wouldn't take so long if it was one person doing it on their own, but it was fun for the kids to help.

Each piece was neatly labeled with a stamped letter so it was easy to find what you needed. We were able to go based off of the picture on the front of the box for a lot of the setup, especially the stickers. The doors popped in quite easily and my son loves hiding food pantry items in the oven and fridge. All the slotted spoons and spatulas are easy for him to get on and off the built in hooks, over and over again. Repetitive action keeps a toddlers attention and he definitely does it a lot!

 (we are in the process of remodeling so forgive the drywall and flooring!)

The only thing that I have to say about this is the coffee maker insert is small enough to fit in my sons mouth and it makes me paranoid of it being a choking hazard so I took those two pieces out. I love the recycling bin, as we have one of those in our kitchen and the sticker for the kitchen sink drain was a cute touch on this.

He will go back and forth from my pantry to his kitchen set over and over playing with canned items and pushing them in his shopping cart. He loves this set, it keeps him entertained (even my big girls like to play with it!) and with the colors being so nice, it's not an eye sore in the kitchen at all!

American Plastic Toys offers a huge variety of toys for babies and toddlers. There is something for everyone with this company, here are just a few neat items for kids!!

Buy yours here and don't forget to check them out on Facebook and Twitter !

Reviewed by Jackie

Mommy's Bliss Baby Probiotics Review

Every mom wants the absolute best for their child’s health and she often worries about what unforeseen health challenges lie ahead in a young one’s life. What if chronic health conditions like asthma, peanut allergies, even ADHD could be mitigated with the right blend of probiotic supplements? That is exactly what researchers are finding -- that a child’s temperament, such as aggression, shyness, moodiness-- as serious as major life-altering health conditions, are connected to a specific blend of probiotics and gut health.

In response, the beloved brand Mommy’s Bliss has just launched an amazing new product you and your little one are sure to love, the Mommy’s Bliss Baby Probiotic Drops!  This product is pediatrician-recommended, 100% vegan and vegetarian, and quickly becoming a favorite amongst health-conscious parents. Formulated with non-GMO Corn Oil and the live culture Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG, this new product safely and effectively eases babies’ digestion.

Our Thoughts

Probiotics are great to take whether you're a baby, kid or adult. With how our diets are today, it's important to keep proper gut flora in check so we can stay at our optimum  health. Babies can't swallow pills obviously, so drops are a great alternative! The fact they're GMO free is a huge plus, and being vegan and vegetarian they are safe for any particular lifestyle-diet plan!

I like to give my son a few drops a day (five a day is recommended on the package) as it's just good practice, but when I started these drops my son was in the middle of a cold that he'd had for just over a week. Within two days of giving him the probiotic drops he was completely fine. Not that these are miracle drops, but our gut health is directly related to our overall health so I know it definitely helped my son get over the sniffles he had!

It says to give the drops while at the breast or bottle, but with my son being used to disolvable teething tablets he just opens wide when I ask him if he's ready for his "medicine" so I dropped five drops on his tongue once a day and it was easy as pie. Very easy to give!

Mommy's Bliss also offers many other great items for your baby's care such as Constipation Ease and Upset Tummy & Nausea Relief!

Buy yours here and don't forget to check them out on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest!

Reviewed by Jackie

#NannyNoseBest Boogie Wipes Giveaway

Enter to Win a Year's Supply of Boogie Wipes!

Complete the form below to share the Boogie Wipes video with your friends, and enter to win a year's supply of Boogie Wipes plus a $100 Target gift card. (If the form is not appearing, click here to enter.)

NOTE: To find the URL of your share for the giveaway form, go to your FB newsfeed and click on the date or time of the video you shared. It will open in a new window, and you can copy/paste the URL. Thanks for entering! Giveaway ends at 11:59pm ET on 10/31/2015. Open to US and Canada. If winner is located in Canada, a gift card of equal value will be awarded.

The Solution to Snotty

While we may not be able to help you when your kids act snotty, the Boogie Wipes Nanny definitely has solutions when it comes to snotty little noses. Watch the video to learn more.

#1 - Use Boogie Wipes

Experienced moms and nannies will be the first to tell you that nothing soothes noses better than a Boogie Wipe.

Tissue, paper towels, or even your sleeve are savage on a little one’s skin - especially when you’re wiping 20, 30, or even 40 times per day. Unlike other wipes, Boogie Wipes have no harsh or drying chemicals. The natural saline dissolves mucus without irritation - thanks to Vitamin E, Aloe and Chamomile.

#2 - Tell Your Friends

 Don’t keep this secret to yourself. Tell your friends so they can experience the comfort of Boogie Wipes this season. Click here to spread the word on Facebook by sharing the Boogie Wipes video.

#3 - Repeat 1 and 2

Look - kids are going to get sick. They’re kids afterall. Prepare yourself for the worst, and provide them with the best - Boogie Wipes. Click here to download a coupon now.

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Holiday Gift Guide: STRIDER 12" Sport No-Pedal Balance Bike

STRIDER 12" Sport No-Pedal Balance Bike

STRIDER™ balance bikes are industry-leading training bikes that help children as young as 18 months learn to ride on two wheels. STRIDER balance bikes focus on the fundamentals of balancing, leaning, and steering without the distractions and complications of pedals or training wheels.

The STRIDER’s simple, no-pedal design builds confidence and eliminates fear by allowing kids to have their feet on the ground and progress at their own pace. This unique design teaches young children balance on two wheels right from the start, avoiding developmental delays typical with tricycles and training-wheel bikes.

Advantages of Riding a STRIDER

Research shows that learning balance and coordination with exercise jump-starts a child’s growth and development during the important formative years of early childhood.

• STRIDER bikes are ultra light weight and easy to control.
• STRIDER bikes increase balance, coordination, and confidence.
• STRIDER bikes allow children to focus on learning balance first.
• STRIDER bikes are free of chains, pedals, and protrusions that can harm a child.
• STRIDER bikes provides a safe, smooth, and natural transition to a pedal bike.

Features on the STRIDER 12" Sport Balance Bike

Ryan McFarland, Founder… "The 12 Sport model offers every feature a child (or parent) could want. It is the perfect balance of performance, options, and value, featuring more than 8 years of design evolution and manufacturing improvements."

Handlebar

Unique 12.7mm steel handlebar is 43% smaller than standard to allow better control with tiny hands. Custom logo mini-grips are soft urethane with protective ends. Machined-aluminum quick release allows “No Tools” height adjustment from 46-56cm (18-22”).

Wheel

Strider-exclusive, ultralight one-piece wheels sport a raised-letter, five-spoke design with 10 bearing support gussets for maximum strength at the lightest weight possible.

Top-quality sealed cartridge bearings roll smooth and never need adjustment.

  

Tires

EVA polymer (industrial foam) tires are super light and durable yet offer a smooth ride. Best of all, they never need air and will never go flat.

Seats

The durable, all-weather mini-saddle is designed specifically for beginning riders and their tiny hips. Smaller, narrower, and lighter than a typical saddle, this seat allows for proper riding position and posture. ** The Sport model also includes a padded XL saddle and long seatpost to fit kids over 3 years and allows seat height adjustments up to 48cm (19”).

  

Bar and seat clamps

Machined aluminum quick release allows “No Tools” saddle height adjustment from 28-41cm (11-16”) for the perfect fit for your child.

 

Footrest

Unique, frame-integrated footrests are properly positioned directly below the saddle for natural bike balance.

This position also fosters the advanced ability to stand while

gliding as well as pumping and jumping the bike.

Brake mount
Strider-exclusive rear brake mount allows the addition of a foot-operated brake once the kids are proficiently gliding with feet on the footrests. Brake sold separately.

The STRIDER 12" Sport Balance Bike is Available in 7 dynamic colors!

Purchase a STRIDER Bike online and visit them on Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, Instagram, and their Blog!

OUR THOUGHTS

I can't even begin to tell you how excited I was to have the chance to review the Strider 12" Sport Balance Bike!  Our son has special needs including motor apraxia, which means he has great difficulty imitating learned purposeful movements.  His balance is a struggle, too. Even at age 5 1/2, I still need to physically support his body in some respects as if he were an infant. 

We have a tricycle for him and while he can balance sitting on it and do seated walking, he is so far unable to coordinate the movements to pedal it.  At school they say he can do up to 5 revolutions on his own, but there, his feet are strapped to the pedals and at home they are not.  We've known about the Strider Camps, and have kept it in our minds as an option.  Read here to learn how kids with Special Needs CAN learn to ride!

Size-wise, this 12" Sport bike is perfect since our son is about the size of an average 3 yr old.  He has Down Syndrome; it's normal for him to have  shorter legs, so he will fit this size bike for a long time to come! 

Features I like:

• Smaller handle bars!  His fingers are shorter than average, too, and he can actually grip the Strider handle bars.
• Narrow seat - with his low muscle tone, he has a very small rear end and narrow hips.  The narrow seat helps him to focus on balancing.
• Padded handle bar.  Kids are accident prone, and having motor apraxia makes it even moreso.  My son also used to have Infantile Spasms (benign myoclonic seizures) which would throw his head/upper body forward violently, which caused him to slam his little head into anything in his way.  While he hasn't had a seizure in over 4 years, that parental fear never goes away.
• Easy size adjustments!  The quick-release clamps are super easy to work with, making size adjustments a snap!
• Wheels - the Strider balance bike's wheels will NEVER go flat.  One less worry!

It took him a few tries over the course of two days to learn to hold the bike upright by himself for Standing Walking.  


learning Standing Walking

and now . . . Standing Running!

Once he had that mastered, he had fun intentionally crashing into EVERYTHING in the house with the biggest smile on his face!  Boys.  Gotta love 'em!!



I LOVE my new balance bike!  Thanks STRIDER!!

So far he's having too much fun with Standing Walking to move onto Seated Walking, but I'm glad it's getting to be winter so he can master the balance bike inside the house (where I can keep a close eye on him!).  Then it will be so much fun for him to ride it outside next spring!  My husband loves bike riding and I know he hopes to be able to have our son ride along with him someday. 

Something else I want to mention - Strider offers 3 age-range sizes of bikes:
18 mo - 5 years (12")
6 - 12 years (16")
13+ years (20")
So if you or someone you know wants to learn to ride a bike - Strider has the bike for you, no matter your age or size!

Review: Earth's Best Hot Cereal

Earth’s Best offers a new hot cereal for toddlers! This certified organic and kosher hot cereal is perfect for those cold mornings! With two flavors, Brown Rice and Quinoa Sweet Potato Cinnamon, and Oat and Brown Rice Pumpkin Vanilla, it’s sure to fill that little tummy with warmth!

These are so simple to make, boil your water, add grains, stir and reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 4 minutes, or you can also microwave it in just a minute and a half! Easy! We usually use the microwave and it’s a cinch to make when baby is super hungry!

Offering texture and flavor, these cereals are a lot like flavored oatmeal, but without all the added junk. Baby loves each one, and this is a huge plus! I don’t have to ponder what to fix her for breakfast, and if she’ll eat it or not. Healthy, quick, and flavor filled, are the biggest advantages!

Busy parents will love how simple these cereals are to fix. Don't fret in the mornings while trying to get everyone dressed, simply grab your Earth's Best hot cereal and go!

Available at Babies R Us and Diapers.com, Wholesome Morning Hot Cereal retails for $4.99

Follow Earth’s Best on Facebook and Twitter.

Reviewed by Steph

Review: Baby Buddy Natural Bath Sponge

Baby Buddy

Natural Bath Sponge

Every Baby Needs a Buddy!
This unbelievably soft and absorbent natural sea wool sponge creates fluffy lather and allows for quick, easy rinsing, making bath time fun for baby and parent. As a 100% biodegradable product, the natural bath sponge is ideal for the eco-conscious family and has won a Green Scene Mom Award and a Family Choice Award.

Baby Buddy's creative, innovative & quality products are designed for you and your baby to have a best buddy every day.

Baby Buddy accessories allow caregivers to organize closets, soothe and brush those precious teeth coming in, enjoy bath and meal time, and keep toys and pacifiers nearby and away from germs. 

Get 20% off Baby Buddy products with

coupon code BABYSAVE20.

Visit Baby Buddy on Facebook and Twitter! 

Our Thoughts
I've used sea sponges for years for crafty purposes but have been wanting to try one for bathing!  The Baby Buddy Natural Sea Sponge is unbelievably soft, quite unlike the rougher ones I have for crafts.

My son thought it was pretty neat, and our dog sure was interested in it!  The Baby Buddy Natural Sea Sponge is so soft, I can easily see how perfect it is for infants; I wish I'd had one when my son was that small!  We've been using a regular sponge for his baths.

Maybe it's our hard water, but the sponge didn't lather up as well as I thought it would.  After I gave my son a bath, I tried it out for my own shower.  I really thought I'd get piles of fluffy lather like I do with my own bath pouf, but it just didn't lather much at all.  It did rinse very easily, which is a plus!  It's a little too soft for my personal liking, but my son liked it!  I'd definitely recommend the Baby Buddy Natural Sea Sponge for infants!

 

Review: Baby Nari Baby Hip Hugger

Baby wearing isn't a new trend, but carriers are! There are many different brands, styles, and designs to choose from; it can be overwhelming! You and baby may not like the same carrier. Trial and error is part of the process! Baby Nari offers the best of both worlds, not to mention a comfortable and stylish design.

Easy to understand, there aren't any complicated instructions. It's really as easy as undoing the velcro and wrapping it around your waist and buckle the safety strap! You're set! It's easy as pie, 

If you got the Eco Plus, I really hope you like it, because I do! I love that you can zip it on (it's really easy!) and you can carry your baby hands free! It is a wonderful idea and allows you the freedom to choose your carrying style. I carry my daughter facing out with the Baby Nari, and she loves it! My other carriers are great for sleepy time or  just to hold her close when she's not feeling well. I love my Baby Nari Hip Hugger as a more sporty option.

My husband loves this type of carrier as well! He feels more comfortable carrying her with this one because it's a solid print. I have a tendency to purchase things based on what I would like instead of functionality for both him and I. So, I got this one in the grey color specifically with him in mind. He actually isn't afraid of carrying her, and is excited to do so when he has the opportunity too!

My husband has chronic back pain, and has had surgery previously, several of the other carriers have caused him pain, and he cannot carry our daughter for very long. Even without the carrier, his time holding her for extended periods is limited. With the Hip Hugger, it really takes a lot of the stress off his back and allows him to enjoy carrying his daughter! This is a win win for everyone!

I cannot get over how much we love our Baby Hip Hugger with the Eco Plus! You really cannot go wrong and they have several colors to choose from! This would make the perfect Easter gift for your special baby! And if you have a spouse who is of the male mind, he may be more willing to carry with a sleeker and less female carrier! I say this all in good fun of course, and really hope that if you purchase this, you enjoy it as much as we do! I use it way more than I should!

Baby Nari is offing a promo code for $20.00 off!!!! Simply go to their website and enter Babynari20

Please stay connected with Baby Nari via these links:
Facebook
Twitter

Reviewed by Steph

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