Babes and Kids

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Avent Bottles

4 comments Posted by tiff snedaker at 7:30 AM

Avent bottles were recommended to me by a friend when I first had Chandler. Although I did breast feed him for 5 months, I wanted to make sure he would take a bottle while I was away. After trying a few bottles, we decided to stick with the avent.

Pros: These bottles have been clinically proven to reduce colic. There is an airflex valve which allows your baby to control the flow of the bottle, thus making the transition from breast to bottle a breeze. The skirt on the nipple of the bottle allows air into the bottle without letting your baby swallow air. This was one of my favorite features. The nipple stays full and air stays on top of the milk. I love how the nipple does not collapse. It is a nice wide, sturdy nipple that is also extremely easy to clean. The outside of the bottle also has very easy to read ounce measurements which makes measuring breastmilk or formula so easy. Another thing I love about these bottles - they hold up. They don't fade, and don't deteriorate. Chandler used these bottles numerous times throughout the day for over a year and they still looked great and new. They come in 3 convenient sizes, (4 oz, 9 oz & 11 oz), and have five different flow rate nipples that will grow with your baby. You can also buy sippy cup tops and training handles for these bottles when your baby gets older.

Cons: The biggest con about this bottle is if you don't screw the top on straight, or screw it on too tight, it will leak. Once I mastered putting it on securely but not too tightly, it wasn't a problem. However, I know some moms that this is frustrating for and don't like the bottle for this reason. There also used to be a concern with these bottles and BPA. "BPA is a chemical some companies were using in their plastic. There is controversy that high levels of BPA in the body can influence hormone levels and increase the risk of health problems." (Taken from about.com) Yes, it is controversy and not proven. However, Avent is now making their bottles without BPA in them. Look on the outside of the bottle before you buy to see that it is BPA free. At one point a few months back, Babies R Us was taking Avent bottles back (even used ones) and giving a credit for them since they contained BPA. Not sure if they are still doing this.

The Bottom Line: I think Avent bottles are great and would recommend them.

Price: Around $4.00

Where to Buy: Target, Amazon, Kmart

Rating: Great

Monday, November 10, 2008

Playtex Ventaire Bottles

5 comments Posted by tiff snedaker at 8:00 AM

Playtex VentAire bottles have a special design to reduce gas and colic in babies. Playtex has been around for 75 years so did they get the bottle right?

Pros: There are two different types of VentAire bottles - the standard and wide. I have only had experience with the standard bottle so I will mostly be focusing on it. I really like the unique shape of this bottle. It helps keep the nipple full which is a great step in helping reduce the air that a baby swallows while eating. Your baby can also eat sitting in more of an upright position with these bottles. These are also very easy to clean as they unscrew at the top and bottom. They are priced well and are not too expensive to try.

Cons: I didn't like how these nipples were smaller and seemed to collapse quite easy. After reading up about the wide vent aire bottles though, I think the wider nipple may have solved this problem. Even though these bottles are easy to clean, because the bottom screws off, it is one more part you have to clean and put back together. The first time using these bottles, the nipple flow seems VERY slow. It does get better over time, but you want a bottle to perform from the start right?

The Bottom Line: Good Design and bottle. I have talked to moms who love these bottles but I didn't care for them.

Price: $2-3

Where to Buy: Walmart, Target, Amazon

Rating: OK

Friday, November 7, 2008

Fill in the Blankie

2 comments Posted by tiff snedaker at 9:00 AM

It seems like anything personalized is in right now. You see personalized pacifier clips, labels like the orbit labels I reviewed, onesies, bibs and more. Personalized items for baby really add that special touch. Fill in the Blankie is an ultra personalized blankie, taking it one step further.
How do they take it one step further?

According the their website, this is how they do it:
"We personalize ‘em out the wha-zoo”
You provide the copy, we’ll embroider your warmest wishes along all 4 satin edges. Much more than a monogram, or a name & a date, you’ll have up to 200 characters to work with. Each blanket truly tells a story.

Pros: I love that they have so much personalization. You can add your baby or child's name, birthdate, a special saying, or anything else you can possibly think of. They also have a special inspirations page to help you if you don't know what to put on it. How cool is it that you can personalize all 4 edges? Great idea. They are available in 3 great sizes with tons of different types of blankies to choose from. They also have lots of fonts and colors for the embroidery.
When I first got my blankie in the mail, I thought the packaging was adorable. Rowan seems to love it too.

It's the Martha's Majesty style blankie and is incredibly soft with beautiful detailing. These blankies are great for special occasions but are also great to use as a lovie blanket. They wash up well and are really great quality. I think they'd also be a great baby shower gift and they offer gift wrapping as well as cute plush animals they can add to the blankie.

Cons: I don't have any complaints about these blankies, just wish I had known about them sooner!

The Bottom Line: Great quality cute blanket with a fun personalized touch. Visit Fill In the Blankie to learn more

Price: $39+ depending on the style you order.

Where to Buy: FillIntheBlankie.com

Rating: Excellent

Thursday, November 6, 2008

GAP Sale

1 comments Posted by tiff snedaker at 9:22 AM

Anyone that knows me knows that I am all about sales and getting good deals. I decided that if I saw a really good deal on baby or children products I would pass it on to those who are reading. Gap is having a sale - an extra 25% off sale items. Enter the code EXTRA at the checkout. (Will only work for sale items.) For those of you who have a store near you, this is in store too. I LOVE baby Gap clothes, they hold up extremely well, are great quality and super cute. A lot of the baby clothes that I kept from Chandler to use for Rowan were Gap and they still look new. I refuse to pay their high original prices though and will watch for sales like this one. Enjoy!

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags

2 comments Posted by tiff snedaker at 8:00 AM

Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags are a way for moms to store breast milk for their babies.

Pros: These bags are thick and have a double zip closure, this helping prevent against freezer burn and possible leaks. They are easy to close and stay closed. They are BPA free which adds that sense of security while using them. The ounces are measured on the outside of the bag and there is also a place for you to write the date and ounces at the top of the bag. You can lay these flat to freeze and they don't take up a lot of space. It is very easy to pour milk into these and they have a great pouring feature when you unthaw milk to pour it into a bottle. When you buy these in a 25 count pack, they come in another nice ziplock bag. This bag lets you know how long to store breast milk in a freezer which I thought was helpful as I could never remember on my own.

Cons: These might a bit pricey for moms having to use them all of the time. However, I think the pros of how good this bag is makes the price worth it. I have also on occasion had these bag leak which usually happens when you thaw it out. Most times the milk is lost which is frustrating. I did only have this happen a few times though.

The Bottom Line: Wonderful breast milk storage bag!

Price: $6 for 25 bags or $10 for 50 bags

Where to Buy: Target, Drugstore.com

Rating: Great

Monday, November 3, 2008

Gerber Biter Biscuits

5 comments Posted by tiff snedaker at 8:00 AM

Chances are if you've walked down the baby feeding isle at the store, you've seen a box of Gerber Biter Biscuits. Designed for an older baby learning to self feed. Here are some guidelines as given on the box if your baby is ready for biter biscuits:

*Crawls on hands and knees (with tummy up and off the floor)

*Eats thicker, lumpier foods with larger pieces

*Uses jaws to mash food with gums

*holds small food between thumb and first finger

Pros: These come individually packaged which means they stay fresh. They are easy to take on the go and nice to keep in your purse or diaper bag. You get 12 to a pack which is a pretty good value for what you spend on them. They are a hard, sweet cracker/cookie. I think they taste a little bit like a nilla wafer, so the flavor is actually pretty good. They are also thick which makes it easy for baby to hold onto. The biscuit is great at keeping your little one occupied for a while and provides great teething relief. They also have a cute design on the front with the Gerber imprinted on them. Rowan, my 9 month old really seems to enjoy these.

Cons: Although this isn't really that big of a con, I want to know who named them "biter biscuits." It sounds like some sort of dog treat to me....don't you think? .....ok, getting back on track now. :)

Once your baby has gummed on one of these for a while, they start to get really mushy and extremely messy. Little pieces come off which may pose a choking hazard, but are nothing to worry about if you are properly supervising your child. They don't have much nutritional value, but I've learned that not a lot of these "baby snacks" have much to them. 45 calories per biscuit with just a few carbs, a little bit of sugar and salt and no real vitamins.

The Bottom Line: Good teething snack but messy, poor nutritional value

Price: $2-3

Where to Buy: Most major retail chains, grocery stores

Rating: OK

Saturday, November 1, 2008

November Giveaway - The Children's Place

16 comments Posted by tiff snedaker at 11:03 AM

This month I am giving away a pair of girl's or boy's soft soled shoes from the children's place. Super cute, huh? I will be reviewing this product this upcoming week. You have until the 29th of November to enter, and winners will be announced on the 30th! Just leave a comment to let me know you are reading! Link this giveaway on your blog and get another entry. Both sets of shoes are size 12-18 months.