Save BIG at BabyCenter.com!

The Baby Center online store is closing on January 6th.  If you are in the market for maternity clothing, toys, baby gear. etc., now is the time to stock up and save.

Babycenter.com is offering deep discounts and free shipping on orders over $49.  

• Save 10-30% on Brittax convertable car seats.
  
• Save up to 20% on Medela Breast Pumps
  
• Save up to 20% on select high chairs
  
• Save up to 80% on toys
  

I was very happy with my online experience at Babycenter.com.  I saved over $125 on toys and gear! In tough economic times, there is nothing I like better than getting a bargain!

Baby Plus Offers New Webinar Series

Pre-natal education is a top priority for the makers of BabyPlus.  I am a huge fan of their product and was thrilled to learn that they are starting a webinar series geared towards expectant moms.

Several hundred people signed up to listen to the first speaker Dr. Meg Landwerlen, pediatrician and BabyPlus mom.  Tune in to last month's webinar about prenatal education, early learning, and pediatric milestones.

On December 10th at noon (CST), the second webinar will focus on maternity fashion.  The speaker, Jane Ivanov, Founder and President of Eve Alexander, will focus on do's and dont's as well as offer ideas for Christmas gifts.

Sign up on BabyPlus.com

Calling all Bargain Hunters

Searching for the best price on formula, diapers and baby gear has become my second job.  The days of running into a convenience store and paying a premium for a package of diapers is long gone.  These days I scour the Sunday paper and the web to find the best bargains.  Little or no time? No problem!  Bloggers are filling up cyberspace with up to the minute info on sales, discount codes and special promotions.

The Baby Cheapskate Blog has become a daily read for me.  There I find daily deals on diapers and formula.  In a matter of minutes I learn what stores offer special promotions.  Baby Cheapskate also offers a widget that you can download on your blog.  Before shopping for the holidays, save big and check it out!

Deal Seeking Mom was created by a mother of five children.  Her goal is to share tips and secrets on how to stretch a budget.  Learn how to cut costs with the special sections dedicated to steals, deals and freebies. If you are thrifty, this blog should be on your list of daily reads.

The Shopping Queen is the A to Z of bargain hunting.  From clothing retailers to restaurants to travel, this website has it all.  Check out the Smart Shopping Guide to learn money saving tips on health care, home maintenance and online shopping.

High Chairs with High Style

Move over Graco, modern high chairs are taking the market by storm.

For those who have read my blog, you know that our condo is anything but spacious.  Our beloved Storehouse glass coffee table was replaced by the Busy Zoo and a Combi Activity Walker. Our dining room table is askew in order to make room for a high chair.  Everywhere we look we see baby toys and gear.  Now, imagine all of the "stuff" blending in with your decor. Designers from Boon, AGE and Stokke have crafted various styles of high chairs to appeal to design savvy parents interested in a step above the traditional offerings.

The HiLo by AGE 

This chair boasts a laundry list off features including nylon wheels for better mobility, a seat sans cushion for easy clean up & a height adjustment system to switch from Hi (baby chair) to Lo (kid's chair). The stylish chair is available in 4 yummy colors: Asparagus, Carrot, Portabello & Raspberry. Priced at around $349, the chair is available online from ModernTots. You can also check the AGE website for a list of retails stores.

Flair by Boon

If the pneumatic lift feature (think beauty parlor chairs) isn't enough to grab your attention, then perhaps you'd be interested in the fact that it is BPA free and has urethane casters which won't scratch your floors. Flair’s exclusive chemical-resistant, waterproof pad provides a soft cushion and is easily removable for cleaning. It is equipped with an adjustable compact tray, as well as top-quality safety features including a five-point harness and restraining post. The sturdy pedestal base gives Flair a unique form that is easy to clean and that slides smoothly under tables. The chair is priced from $200 to $220 and is available in two different color combos, white/blue or orange/white.  The Flair can be purchased online from Babies R Us, Target and Buy Buy Baby.

Stokke Tripp Trapp®

TRIPP TRAPP® is a sturdy children‘s chair that grows with your child. It lifts them up so they can be included in activities around the table. Made of cultivated beechwood, this ergonomically designed chair provides stability and comfort. By sitting with the feet supported and elbows at table height, your child can move easier and naturally, and use their body without strain.  This chair is not for the budget conscious. The chair itself runs about $300 at the Modern Nursery online store, but if you want to use it for an infant who can sit unsupported, you'll need the "baby set" add on feature at an additional $90.  If you are curious to see how this chair can grow with your child, take a look at their demo.  

Mother Hen joins the National Baby Planner Association

With more and more baby planning companies cropping up across the country, there was a real need for an organization to support professional consultants in the industry. The National Baby Planner Association (NBPA) was formed to set standards, facilitate resource and tool sharing, and providing a forum for networking.

We are pleased to announce that Mother Hen Baby Concierge was welcomed as a member! This is exciting news as it will keep Mother Hen at the forefront of the latest and greatest baby products and parenting trends.

Little Green Books

I am a multi-tasker.  I can empty the dishwasher, start a load of laundry, puree chicken stew and answer emails on my blackberry in one fell swoop.  Of course, an activity that can entertain and educate my child all at once is always a favorite in our house.

Enter Little Monkey and Little Panda, Simon and Schuster's new series of environmentally friendly fabric books.  Providing enjoyable reading while instilling eco-awareness, Little Green Books are made from recycled materials and printed with soy ink. The story lines focus around saving the planet, learning about recycling and endangered species.  The books are for children 3 years and younger.  They are priced at $3.99 and available at many online retailers including Amazon.com.

For your older tikes, you'll love their series for children ages 4 to 6.  One of the books,  I Can Save the Earth! One Little Monster Learns to Reduce, Reuse, Reclycle centers around a monster named Max whose careless habit of leaving on the lights and using too much toilet paper creates an environmental nightmare.  Your child can follow Max's story as he embarks on a journey to eco-awareness.  

So as the bed time hour approaches, snuggle with your baby, read an adorable story and learn a thing or two about saving mother earth.  It's multi-tasking at its finest!

Mothers of Invention

Moms welcome products that make our lives easier.  Many successful gadgets and gizmos were born out of a mother's creativity and ingenuity.  The following items will make you wonder "why didn't I think of that!"

QuickZip Sheets
One of the "chores" I despise is removing and washing my daughter's crib sheets.  It is an exhausting exercise of  removing the bumper, pulling up the mattress and taking off the sheets. Out of the belief that there had to be a better way came the unique QuickZip sheet. The sheet set consists of two parts: a sheet base, which you install around the crib mattress, and a zip-on top sheet in 100% organic cotton. The zipper is hidden so your little one can't reach it. On wash day, you can conveniently change the sheet without moving the mattress or bumpers. Simply zip it off and zip on another top sheet! The QuickZip fits cribs and toddler beds and is available at the BabyCenter online store.

Teething Bling

Until recently I couldn't understand what would possess a stylish woman to change their look post baby.  Now I know.  My long locks are constantly tugged and wrapped around my daughter's chubby fingers.  Beads on bracelets and necklaces are no match for my curious Chloe.  She sees the bling and inserting it in her mouth is her number one priority.   Smart Mom, a company started by momtrepeneurs, created teething Bling pendants and bangles. They use non-toxic, latex-free, food–safe, even dishwasher-friendly materials.  Wear their jewelry around your neck or on your wrist without worry.

Picture Perfect: My First Silhouette

It was almost one year ago when my husband and I laid eyes on our daughter's first profile picture.  We waited patiently while the ultrasound technician maneuvered her equipment around my belly.  Her perfect little profile appeared on the screen.  My heart melted.  We received a print out of her picture and I looked at it over and over trying to imagine what she would look like.  I never thought that a company would come up with a product that would give parents the opportunity to display that image as a piece of artwork.  I had yet another "why didn't I think of that" moment.

My First Silhouette offers a unique way to turn your baby's ultrasound image into a priceless piece of art. Every My First Silhouette Portrait is printed on either archival quality canvas or paper.  There are plenty of sizes and color combinations.  Prices range from $40-$400+.

Product Rave: Busy Zoo by Parents®

When I was a child, lincoln logs provided hours of entertainment. Boy have times changed! The toy aisles at Target and Babies R Us are overflowing with toys that light up and play music.  I was delighted when a friend recommended an activity that is reminiscent of simpler times. But would my 8-month old daughter be interested in a toy that didn't offer a light show set to the tune of Old McDonald had a Farm?  Absolutely!  My daughter's eyes lit up at the sight of her newest toy. She sat next to her activity cube, moved the beads along the track and babbled to the wooden birds and rhinos.

The Busy Zoo by Parents® features bright inviting colors with five sides of animal-themed spinning beads, movable animal shapes and rotating picture blocks. The cube is chock full of activities like doors that open and close, rotating blocks and colorful animals that slide along a track. The Busy Zoo makes learning the alphabet fun with blocks that spin A to Z from Aardvark to Zebra.  

If you are looking for a toy that can grow with your child, this is it! You'll be thankful that there is a toy on the market sans lights and music. Your child will be entertained and their little hands will be kept busy!

The Busy Zoo costs $49.99 and is available at Target.

How can a baby planner help you?

The Baby Planning industry is making headlines across the country. New parents, busy moms and grandparents are starting to realize that a Baby Planner can be an enormous help when preparing for their new new arrival. 

Hot off the press:

ABC Nightline news story

CNN.com/living news article

Chicago Tribune news article

Washington Post news article

If you fall into one or more of the following categories, hiring a Baby Planner might be the next logical step when preparing for your bundle of joy.

     

Expectant moms / Busy Professionals

There is so much to do in preparation of the birth of a child. A Baby Planner can help create and manage your baby registry, find pre-natal care, line up a nanny or design/organize a nursery. After the baby's arrival, service can also include finding lactation consultants, making arrangements to have food delivered or even sending out thank you notes for the gifts you received.  For women who have a demanding work schedule, a Baby Planner can relieve some pressure by lending a helping hand.

Women on bed rest

High risk pregnancy patients who are ordered on strict bed rest can benefit from a Baby Planner's services.  

Grandparents

Setting up a nursery in your home? Interested in stocking your home with toys, food and all of the creature comforts a new baby needs?  Let a Baby Planner do the work for you.

New parents

When the adrenaline wears off and and the frequent visits from friends and family members start to slow down, you'll realize that the real work is about to begin. Researching new products, finding play groups, preparing homemade baby food and baby proofing your home are a few of the services that a baby planner can provide.

Sustainable Style

There are so many choices when it comes to providing your baby with environmentally friendly products.  Companies are starting to realize that going green shouldn't mean you have to sacrifice style.

Bassinet by Cariboo

This forward thinking company, based in New Zealand, offers parents a line of sophisticated bassinets and bedding.  All of their designs are handcrafted from sustainable, local materials including radiata pine with water-based biodegradable finishes and organic wool. Their products will allow your new baby to slumber on natural products that are 100% unbleached and formaldehyde-free.

The Fleurville Diaper Bag

Fleurville offers an entire line of stylish and environmentally friendly diaper bags, lunch packs, wallets and more.  I was introduced to this bag when my best friend had her son Carson.  Her bag has taken a beating over the past year and a half and it still looks brand new.   It's perfect for the beach or the park as it's constructed from PVC free and Teflon free material which makes clean ups a breeze.  The bag is incredibly roomy with special compartments for smaller items and a clip for car keys.  The Fleurville comes with a changing pad, wipe case and an insulated bag to keep bottles cold.   If you are looking for an indestructible and eco-friendly diaper bag, the Fleurville is the perfect choice!

Ecobinky Pacifier by EcoPiggy

If your baby loves their paci, you'll want the safest product possible.  The Ecobinky is 100% natural and free of chemical softeners, parabens, PVC, BPA and phthalates.  The shield is soft, smooth and flat which allows for free and natural oral muscle activity and development.  The Ecobinky also features a larger shield than conventional pacifiers.  This will help prevent your baby being able to squeeze the flexible material enough to fit into its mouth.  

Green to Grow Bottles

Your new baby will spend most of their day either sleeping or eating.  If you've gone through the steps to ensure that your baby is wearing eco-friendly clothes and sleeping on organic sheets, you'll want to make sure that their bottles are just as safe.  Green to Grow bottles are BPA free and phthalate free and are available in either 5oz or 10 oz sizes with regular or wide necks.

All of these products are available at Happy Green Baby.

Bella Band can stretch your maternity wardrobe

What do you do when your pre-baby, flat tummy expands to the size of a watermelon? Fitting into clothes during each stage of pregnancy can be frustrating and expensive.

While rummaging through their closet, most pregnant women have a Goldilocks experience. Pre-pregnancy pants are way too small and maternity pants are a way too big.  Help is on the way!  The Bella Band by Ingrid and Isabel makes your clothes fit "just right."

Before your baby bump starts to take shape, you can wear the Bella Band  over a pair of unbuttoned jeans.  If your maternity pants are too big, the Bella Band can keep them from falling down.  If you are lucky enough to slide into your pre-pregnancy pants or jeans after the baby is born, congratulations!  However, if you are like the majority of us, you'll need the Bella Band to wear over your unbuttoned pants.  

Ingrid and Isabel didn't stop at the Bella Band.  Their brand new Essentials Collection includes four staples that every preggers should have in their wardrobe...a cami, a ruched tank and everyday pant and a pair of leggings.  Too bad this collection wasn't available when I was pregnant.  I would have bought a set in every color.

Thanks to Ingrid and Isabel, stylish pregnant women have stretched their maternity budget and wardrobe.  Hurray for spandex!

Bottoms up. Moms are going green!

I'm not sure if it is the adorable bum covers or the fact that gDiapers are neither plastic nor cloth but I'm sold on their ingenuity.  

Excerpt from the gDiapers website:

For the last 40 years there have been but two choices in diapers. Cloth or disposable.  That's it. Now gDiapers offers a third option.  Flushable.  gDiapers puts waste where it belongs, in the toilet.  Not the landfill.

gDiapers have no elemental chlorine, no perfumes, no smell, no garbage and no guilt.  In fact, flushables are so gentle on the Earth you can even garden compost cycle, approximately 50-150 days.

There is no doubt that the switch from Pampers will cost time and money.  gDiapers must be worn with cotton covers over the liners. This extra step will cost you in time.  If you can't or don't want to flush the liners (there are many steps to get the diaper down the loo), you can simply throw them away. What sets them apart is the fact that it only takes 90 days for them to breakdown versus 500 years for traditional plastic diapers.  Your wallet will take a hit when you pay $52 for a box of 128 refills plus $16.99 for each cover.  No one ever said that going green is cheap! 

I don't live like Ed Begley Jr., nor will I ever win an award for keeping a completely "green" household. I am not ready to trade in my stilettos for birkenstocks or to create compost from our garbage. But I do believe that we should do our part to limit our impact on the environment. Using gDiapers is a start in the right direction.

Dial. Announce good news. Click. Repeat.

Girl delivers baby.  Guy calls every friend and family member to announce the news.  Pretty typical.  But in this technologically advanced age where your coffee maker automatically brews your morning cup of joe and your car can parallel park itself, why not have a computer announce the arrival of your bundle of joy?  

It might seem absurd.  At first glance, I thought it was too. When I came out of my post c-section, drug-induced fog, I wondered where my husband was and why he wasn't waiting for me in the hospital room.  He wasn't with me because he was dialing the phone, announcing the good news and repeating ad nauseam.  In fact, he was so tired of talking, he barely uttered two words to me when he arrived.  Add to that, we were shocked to hear that a few friends and family members were hurt when they weren't the "first to know."

Interested in a service that can do this job for you?  Enter Snappy.  With packages starting at $9.99, your hubby can record his own message which is then forwarded to up to 20 phone numbers.  Included in the package is a keepsake CD with your announcement set to music plus and an email of your recording that can forward to friends and family members.  

The pony express replaced carrier pigeons.  Phone calls replaced telegrams. Who could have predicted that pre-recorded messages and e-blasts would be next.  Not me!

You like massages. So would your baby.

Baby Registry 101

When I created our baby registry, I HAD to have the same baby gear that Gwen had for Kingston and Katie had for Suri.  But did I need it?  Of course not!  

Registering can be a daunting task, especially for expectant parents.  Hindsight is 20/20. Without proper guidance, you will end up with useless products, too many blankets but not enough bottles and a stroller that looks stylish but lacks practicality.

Navigating the aisles at Babies R Us was confusing and overwhelming.  When my husband and I couldn't tackle it on our own, I enlisted the help of my mother and friends.  Mistake #1-taking all of the above on the same day to help me create a registry!  It was utter chaos.  I was forced to process five different opinions each time I begged the question, "do I need that?" Three hours, a splitting headache and a registry that I would later change, we left the store.  I was more confused and frustrated than when I began.

What else could I have done to make my life easier?  I realized that there was a real need for professional guidance.  I hired a wedding planner to help sort through the details of "the big day" so why wouldn't I do the same to help prepare for the arrival of a baby? Hiring a baby planner might seem unnecessary or a frivolous expense.  Rest assured, the advice you will receive will save you time and money.  We spent hundreds of dollars on baby products that were unnecessary or unused.  Where was my Baby Planner when I was pregnant?

5 Useless Baby Items

I admit it.  I can be a sucker.  My daughter Chloe has every gadget and toy you could imagine. However, I draw the line with these products...

The Baby Keeper

Nature calls.  I get it.  But there has to be an alternative to suspending your child from a bathroom stall!  If you feel the need to purchase one of these patent pending slings, have at it! The baby keeper or torture device can be yours for $39.99.

My mom has "MAN HANDS"

Your new bundle of joy only wants to sleep when you hold and rock her.  Why do all the work when you can install a Zaky in her crib?  

Babies first stilettos

My love and respect for stilettos started at an early age.  My mom taught me that you look younger and thinner in a fabulous pair of heels.  She was right.  Learning to walk a construction site in 3" heels is no easy feat (pun intended).  I am a firm believer that beauty knows no pain. However, I draw the line with these ridiculous heels for babies.  Who is buying these?

Mom, where's my pashmina?

Perhaps I find this blanket ridiculous because we don't live in the Tundra.  Or maybe it is because a good ol' fashioned blanket has always done the trick.

Tat your toddler

Taking your tike for a ride on your harley?  It wouldn't be the same if 

he weren't inked up. Perhaps a beer is in order afterwards.  

PRODUCT RAVE: BabyPlus Prenatal System - the In Utero iPod?

How could a pre-natal boom box transform your newborn into a great sleeper and eater?  I wasn't sure but after reading hundreds of supposedly unbiased reviews, I was willing to shell out $150 to find out.  

So, what is it? Here is an excerpt from their website...

"The BabyPlus curriculum is a series of 16 naturally derived sounds that resemble a mother's heartbeat.  The rhythm of the sounds increases incrementally as the pregnancy progresses.  The BabyPlus sonic pattern introduces your child to a sequential learning process, built upon the natural rhythms of their own environment."

The product promises to promote faster latching, strong fine motor skills, early milestones and easy going dispositions.  Perhaps we were destined to have a child who came into this world alert, calm and without the typical fussiness you find with a newborn.  Chloe started sleeping through the night at 6 weeks old, sitting up at 4 1/2 months and holding her own bottle at 5 months.  Perhaps, the in utero iPod was well worth the money.  I'm not sure but we won't take any chances with the next child.  He or she will jam out every day if it means I have another baby as wonderful and easy going as Chloe.

PRODUCT RAVE- Me Too by Phil and Ted

Let's Face it, life is a lot easier these days with the availability of thousands of choices in baby gear.  

My husband and I were typical in the sense that a standard style highchair was on our baby registry.

Reality set in when we brought all of the gifts home from three different baby showers.  Where in the world would we store all of this stuff?  We live the urban dream in a 2 bedroom condo.  Floor space and storage are at a bare minimum. In fact, the bathtub in our 2nd bathroom doubles as our storage unit.  Chloe's highchair is one of many items jammed into our tiny abode.

One day, my husband and I were in a children's boutique in Naples and we saw this adorable little portable highchair attached to the sales desk.  We placed Chloe in the seat and watched as her meaty legs were suspended in air.  She sat patiently while we perused baby catalogs.  I told my husband that we "had to have one!"  The boutique in Naples was selling the "Me Too" for almost $70.  A bargain hunter at heart, I knew there had to be a place that sold it for less money.  VIOLA!  I was right! I ordered my Me Too the next day from http://www.albeebaby.com for $49.

We continue to love this handy contraption.  It fold easily and can be attached to almost any table.  It's fabulous for traveling to a friend's house.  Chloe loves it.  Me too!

You want to make what?

On several occasions I have been asked what brand of baby food I feed to my daughter.  My response that we make all of Chloe's food from scratch has been a surprise to many.  

My pediatrician giggled when I told her that we intended on preparing our own food.  Her words were "good luck with that one."  She applauded me for the effort but was unsure that we'd be able to keep up the demands of stocking a refrigerator.  She stressed the importance of researching methods of preparation and understanding what types of food are appropriate at certain stages.  I took her advice and started scouring the internet and reading cookbooks.  Although it wasn't complicated, it became overwhelming trying to decipher which methods would be right for us.  Some books touted carrots as a "must eat brain food," while others said that carrots were unsafe if not properly prepared.  After months of research and trial and error, we have perfected the art of making homemade baby food.

Since preparing our own stockpile of food, we have learned a lot.  I started to have a clear understanding of what should be boiled, baked or steamed.  I figured out what I could freeze or what could be stored in the refrigerator.  I have tried every brand of tupperware and baby food freezer container on the market.  Our daughter has feasted on every experimental blend of fruits and veggies.  A tropical medley of mango, banana and avocado is a staple in our house.

My husband and I truly enjoy making our daughter's food. Once you know what you are doing, it's easy, less expensive than store bought food, and healthy.  More importantly, you open your child up to a wide variety of tastes and textures they will never get with packaged baby food.