Oct

23

Baby Feeding Magic

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Thanks to Plum Organics for sponsoring my post about tips for baby feeding magic. What if you let baby choose what's for dinner? Check out their cute "Quest for Yum!" video and see what happens!

Eating was something that my little guy was interested in from the get go. It was sort of love at first bite when we started solids at the four month mark. He wasn't so interested in the typical rice cereal so we fed him mostly veggies and fruits right from the beginning. I would steam or bake fruits like apples, pears, and bananas. Then I would mix it with veggies like broccoli, squash, and carrots.

I would cook the fruits and veggies in batches and freeze for quick use. We used prepared baby food too, but I always felt better when I added some of our fruit puree with the bottled food. It just tasted a little bit yummier.

Figuring out how and what to feed a baby can seem like a guessing game.

I love this cute Plum Organics video illustrating the game of babies and their love for fresh fruits and veggies.

I made a lot of the baby food that we fed my son. So then as he was able to eat more than purees, we could just prepare the food chunkier and chunkier until he was eating the actual raw (or slightly cooked) veggie or fruit. Even though we didn't really plan it that way, that process was our baby feeding magic.

We loved the organic fruit and veggie squeezies like Plum Organics and other brands that are on the market now. They are quick, easy, organic and actually taste like the fruit and vegetable that is printed on the pouch. (I know this for a fact, because, in fact, the pouches are yummy snacks for moms as well as the little ones!)

I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. To learn more about Plum Organics, visit their Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/PlumOrganics.

May

30

Drool Baby Expo Boston Presented by Magic Beans

Filed Under Baby Land, Boston, Events for Moms | Leave a Comment

I love Magic Beans. In fact, I loved Magic Beans way before I was a mom and way before I knew how amazing this little store really was. In case you don't know, Magic Beans is an independent baby gear and toy store with four locations in the Boston area. (Don't live in the Boston area? Shop online at mbeans.com.)

It's the best kind of mom-and-pop type store owned by Sheri and Eli Gurock, literally a mom and a pop. This is evident when you take a look at the neat products that really fit the bill. Parents know what parents (and kids) want and need. Read their story. Visit their stores. Coolidge Corner was their first store, and it's still my favorite. I dare you to go in and *not* find something you or your little one *have* to have.

Beyond my love fest for their stores, Magic Beans has now ventured into hosting an event for new parents (and soon to be parents). They are presenting a new event tomorrow evening called Drool Baby Expo at the Seaport Hotel in Boston. The event will showcase the who's who of baby product manufacturers plus there will be lots of opportunities for attendees to win prizes and go home with a great swag bag.


Drool-Baby-Expo-Boston-Presented-By-Magic-Beans

Read more about the event and buy tickets here.

I'll be there, and I'll share information about the new products over at First Year Field Guide.


Dec

9

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year…Except When It’s Not.

Filed Under Baby Land, Good Causes | Leave a Comment

I love this time of the year. The lights, the music, the happiness. But I try to make sure and share some of my happiness with those that are having a tough time during this season. For years, my husband and I have sponsored a family or given donations to the Women's Lunch Place in Boston. The Women's Lunch place that provides a safe, comfortable daytime shelter, nutritious food, and services for women who are homeless or poor. We started the year after we got married back in 1998 since the Women's Lunch Place (WLP) is housed in the basement of the church where we were married, and we've continued each year even after we moved from the neighborhood.

After our little bundle arrived, we've been wondering how to give him a little taste of giving back in toddler terms during the holiday season. We have lots of ideas as he gets a little older

  • decorating stockings for ladies at WLP;
  • selecting and delivering the coloring sheets we provide for the kids that attend the holiday dinner at the WLP
  • picking presents for a child of the same age in a family that we sponsor at the WLP

It will still be a work in progress this year as he's still a little too small at 15 months to grasp what we're doing.

In the meantime, one of our favorite brand of shoes, Robeez, is doing something awesome to give back this year.  Robeez will be donating a pair of soft sole shoes to K.I.D.S. with every soft sole purchased through December 23rd. K.I.D.S. is a charity, Kids in Distressed Situations, that helps children in need all over the world.

The little one loves his Penguin Robeez. I think he'll like his new pair of boots too! Take a look at their soft soled shoes - boys and girls. Trust me, they make fantastic gifts. And remember for every pair you buy, a needy child will receive a pair.

How about you? Any ideas for getting little ones involved in Giving Back Projects during this time of year?

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FTC Disclosure: While we love Robeez, this was not my brainchild. Help spread the word!

Live in the Boston area? Click here to find out the many ways you can help the Women's Lunch Place.
Everyone can click here to donate to the Women's Lunch Place.

Jan

26

Favorite Find - Gentle Over the Counter Cradle Cap Treatment

Filed Under Baby Land, Favorite Finds | 4 Comments

Cradle Cap TreatmentThe boy was born with a head full of beautiful hair. Then the cradle cap set in. And, oy, did he have some cradle cap. I googled. People were swearing by oiling up the baby heads. That didn't seem the right thing to do since cradle cap, while looking dry as heck, is in fact a result of too much oil. I asked the pediatrician. He recommended waiting a little bit to see if it got better, and then if it didn't, to use a prescription shampoo. Another mom warned that her baby was not happy with all the tingling of the prescription shampoo.

What to do. What to do. The boy's head was becoming worse and worse, and then his hair started falling out.

Then I remembered a little issue I had a few years ago that involved too much oil under one eyebrow that irrated my skin so much that it made it dry and itchy. I tried everything over the counter and by prescription. Nothing worked.

Until....Cetaphil, a gentle over-the-counter cleanser available at the drugstore. I began using Cetaphil every morning and every night, and before you knew it the irritation was gone. So, back to the google, and I typed in "Cradle Cap Cetaphil."  And there in the comment section of the blog Ordinary Days, I found the confirmation I needed to proceed

Here's my secret cradle cap remedy...Cetaphil (regular old face wash from CVS) helps clear it up. Rub it on his head at the beginning of a tub, let it sit through the whole tub, and then wash it off right before you take him out (I left it on there less than 10 minutes). I did this with my son, and it only took 2 tubs for his cradle cap to clear up. And it also helps with baby acne.

So, I did just what the commenter, Jessica from A Bushel and a Peck, suggested. I started rubbing Cetaphil on at the beginning of bathtime and rinsing it at the end. I only used baby shampoo on the other parts of the scalp that I didn't rub with cetaphil. Four weeks and about 8 baths later, his very nasty case of cradle cap is barely even noticeable.



Jan

18

Favorite Find - Perfect Diaper Bag Snack: Trader Joe’s Applesauce Crushers

Filed Under Baby Land, Favorite Finds, Food | 1 Comment

So I was wandering the aisles of Trader Joe's the other day looking for something new and fun, when I ran across these little crazy tubes with  twist off caps filled with applesauce.

Trader Joe's web site gives us the nitty gritty.

Applesauce Crushers
Enhancing the convenience of the consumption of applesauce has challenged applesauce purveyors throughout the ages. We’ve crushed that challenge. How? With our Applesauce Crushers. We’ve taken all natural applesauce and packaged it in unique pouches that allow you to squeeze, squish, crush the delicious fruit sauces straight into your mouth. Yes! Right into your mouth – no spoon is necessary. Made just for us in France, these unique snack pouches are perfect for lunch boxes, briefcases and slip into a decent sized pocket with ease. Kids love to crush ‘em! And could there be a more fun way to get a good supply of Vitamin C? Doubtful. Each package of four 3.17 oz. pouches of Applesauce or Apple Carrot Fruit Sauce Crushers is $2.99.

Update: Nutrition Information for Applesauce Crushers

I got a few questions about the nutrition information. Here it is!
Serving Size: 1 pouch, Servings per Container 4
Amount Per Serving:
Calories 50 Calories from Fat 0
Total Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg
Sodium 0 mg
Total Carbohydrate 12 g
Dietary Fiber 1 g
Sugars 11 g
Protein 0 g
Vitamin A 2%  Vitamin C 15%
Calcium 2%  Iron 2%

I'm sure kids would love them. My boy is just barely gumming his way through stage 2 solids, so we have some time before I'll be able to turn him loose with the tube of Applesauce Crushers. So when I saw these little products, I was actually thinking of the boy's mom instead of the boy. It struck me at the perfect snack to pack in the diaper bag for moms. It's quick, clean, and nutritious -- and only 50 calories.

What's your favorite snack to pack in the diaper bag?


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