A Safe Vacation for All!

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Has anyone gone on vacation yet? 

So far we've only traveled far into Missouri to go to a family reunion. Isaak will be taking his first air plane ride, and Mica will be going on his first that he can remember.

Going on a vacation with your kids and worried about how you are going to tame down their adventurous souls? A car seat is your best bet! 

There was a family here in Omaha that got in a crash. The Mom and Dad both passed away. Guess what saved their little girl's life? A car seat! The Mom worked to help people install car seats safely. I hope for peace for their family. The uncle stepped in to help keep the 5 kids together.

Whether it's during a ride or stepping out with your husband to have some alone time, the presence of a car seat ensures a kids safety without compromising on your privacy! It is included amongst the most vital safety items that your kid needs. It is also a long-term investment and with the right brand, you will not require maintenance all the time. To stop you from getting confused when it comes to choosing the best from the brands available, we have chosen the three best car seats for you to buy for your kid. They might entail options for a car seat for big kids as well.

Maxi-Cosi Pria 85 Convertible Car Seat is a top favorite! You are sure to fall in love with this one as it has been lovingly manufactured to be extremely functional. You can detach the materials used and wash them in a washing machine. The snap lock used is extremely simple to clip on and detach. This is a useful feature as kids are likely to make them dirty from time to time.

When it comes to protection, it has patented cushioning system that won’t let harm anywhere you’re your child’s head. The harness and headrest are adjustable and will not create difficulties for different sizes. It weighs 23 pounds which is fair enough for it to be carried around anywhere easily. You are likely to find it below $200 in the market which is an okay price considering its high-quality and a well thought-out design.

A second favorite is the Britaz Click Tight Convertible Car Seat. This has hype among parents and we were glad to find out that it’s all worth it! Its installation system is the simplest and most effective one we have come across. All you need to do is open up the front part, make sure the safety buckle is in its place and clip it. What is simpler than that? Coming to its safety, this one has a foam-lined shell which protects your child from any possible shock from the sides. It also has a steel frame on the outside for added protection and body strength. In case of shocks, stitches are released in a forward motion that further acts as a protective barrier.

Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat is the one you should go for if you are looking for multiple features in a single chair. An amazing feature is the presence of an extension panel which provides you with more space as your child grows. Its headrest and the harness can be attuned quickly and effortlessly without readjusting the belt. It is done through the usage of the Simply Safe Adjust Harness System. A major concern of most parents is that they need to buy a car seat for big kids because the old one can no longer support their size. This is what you should buy if you do not want to go through the hassle of buying a new car seat as your child grows year by year. This adjustable feature will save you hundreds of bucks!

Disclaimer: This is a guest post. It was edited by me.

BabyComfyNose Review

During this holiday season check our BabyComfyNose. They work great for preventing infection, sickness, and dry air problems.

One thing that is difficult with babies is dealing with their stuffy nose. It seems like they always have something wrong, that contributes to mucus flair ups: Teething, common cold, and ear infections.

My nephew has special needs, and he is prone to getting colds. They seriously could build a mucus factory at their house. It's important to take care of it.

The standard blue bulb that they used to give out in the hospitals often doesn't work. When they are taken apart mold has actually been found inside them.

If you've ever used a bulb or battery-type aspirator to clear the mucus out of your little one's nose, you've probably said to yourself:

"There has to be a better way!"

There is a better way and it's called the BabyComfyNose Nasal Aspirator. 

Here's the secret: 

 It works so much better because it uses your own suction.

Think about it:

Your own lungs are a strong, natural vacuum cleaner - much more powerful than a tiny bulb or battery-powered motor. And the result is just a more effective method of clearing your baby's sinuses.

www.babycomfycare.com to see how well it works.

Disclaimer: The opinions on the post are my personal take on the product. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review. I did get a product in exchange for this review.

Ingredients in Breast Milk and Formula

Have you ever wondered what's in breast milk verses formula?

Source - Click on the poster to view it larger!

I've never looked on the back of formula to see what is in it. 

I do know that new things are discovered every year in breast milk. Breast milk has tons of ingredients. A Mom's body changes what it produces to meet the needs of their baby, or toddler.

There is a rumor that once the child is past a year that they no longer need momma's milk. While it's true that babies start eating other things, breast milk still has antibodies that is good for them. Breast milk is similar to blood. It changes with the needs of your body. 

Riordan & Wambach (2012) state, “Human milk is similar to unstructured living tissue, such as blood, and is capable or transporting nutrients, affecting biochemical systems, enhancing immunity, and destroying pathogens ”  They they go on to say, “Breastmilk, like all other animal milks, is species-specific.  It has been adapted throughout human existence to meet nutritional and anti-infective requirements of the human infant to ensure optimal growth, development, and survival” (p. 97).

Breast milk is good for children that are sick, and children that are healthy. There is no magic age a baby, or toddler should stop drinking Momma's milk. It's up to the momma and baby to decide when to wean. To be honest weaning begins the moment foods are introduced in a baby's diet. When to stop breast feeding all together is a decision for those involved.

Then things that stay in breast milk after babyhood: 

• Vitamins
• Minerals
• Enzymes
• Elecrolytes
• Antibacterial Properties
• Antimicrobial Properties
• Antifungal Properties
• And More 

Cow's milk and cow's milk formula are made for a baby cow.

Formula can be life saving in different situations, but there is no research to support the idea that a toddler should switch to a milk that is specific to a different animal.

People do not/should not all fit into a mold. Some women have trouble breastfeeding, or have to go on medicines that prevent them from breastfeeding.

If a child is sick, and won't eat anything, the fact that they are drinking breast milk that has so many wonderful properties is a big relief. Often times kids don't want to eat anything when they are sick. Doctors want them to have Pedialyte. Pedialyte is fine if they'll drink it. Breast milk naturally has elecrolytes in it.

Formula is marketed for consumers to think that there is more in it than breast milk. This simply is not true. AHA and DHA is naturally produced from breast milk, and synthetically produced in a factory lab for formula.

Here is a portion of what a great ARTICLE mentions about the review of available research and literature by the Who and Cochran Review:
 
 “ARA (promoted as enhancing “visual acuity”) and DHA (touted for advancing “neurological development”) have been added to infant formula since 1997. Both these long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids are found in human breast milk and, in this form, contribute to eye and neurological development. But over the past five years, WHO and the Cochran Collaboration, a London-based research organisation, have published policy statements and studies concluding that ARA and DHA, when used as additives, do not improve infants’ development.”

It goes on to say:

“According to the US Food and Drug Administration, the scientific evidence is ‘mixed’ over the benefits of adding ARA and DHA to baby formula, with no currently available published studies on the long-term impact. ‘Scientists can’t make the same form of ARA and DHA that human breast milk contains,’ said Elizabeth Myler, a spokeswoman for the US-based NGO that promotes breastfeeding, La Leche League International. ‘Instead, they extract it from fermented algae and fungus using a toxic chemical called hexane.’ “

Even though this addition has been made to these formulas, babies are not having any improvements compared to artificially fed babies without ADA and DHA added!  Marketing execs are a smart bunch and know how to make a serious amount of money with campaigns such as this…

The World Health Organization recommends the following for babies if their mother cannot breastfeed. The order is in preference from most preferred to least preferred; expressed breast milk from the infant’s own mother , donated breast milk from a healthy wet-nurse or human milk bank, formula.  

Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding, World Health Organization

Click on this LINK for another great poster listing how little artificial milk has to offer compared to breast milk.

 

Here is a list of ingredients from a can of formula: The first three ingredients are lactose from cow’s milk, vegetable oils and “enzymatically hydrolysed whey protein (milk)” also from a cow…

• Lactose (milk)
• vegetable oils
• Enzymatically hydrolysed whey protein (milk)
• Minerals (calcium phosphate, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, potassium phosphate, sodium chloride, ferrous sulphate, zinc sulphate, copper sulphate, calcium carbonate, manganese sulphate, sodium selenate, potassium iodide)
• Maltodextrin, omega LCPUFAs (DHA from fish oil, AA)
• Vitamins [sodium ascorbate (vit C)
• Dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (vit E)
• Retinyl acetate (vit A)
• Niacinamide (niacin)
• Calcium pantothenate
• Cholecalciferol (vit D3)
• Thiamine mononitrate (vit B1)
• Riboflavin (vit B2)
• Pyridoxine hydrochloride (vit B6)
• Phylloquinone (vit K1)
• Folic acid
• Cyanocobalamin (vit B12)
• Biotin
• L-phenylalanine, L-histidine
• L-tyrosine
• Choline bitartrate
• Acidity regulator (citric acid)
• Taurine, inositol
• Nucleotides (cytidine 5′-monophosphate, uridine 5′-monophosphate, adenosine 5′-monophosphate 
• Guanosine 5′-monophosphate 
• L-carnitine
• Culture (bifidus)
• Antioxidant (ascorbyl palmitate)

Starter infant formula. The enzymatically hydrolysed protein source is from cow’s milk.

You can find a source for this article here.

30 Celebrities That Breastfed Their Babies

Celebrities have very busy lives. They are often time on the road.

Here is a post that mentions 30 celebrities that breastfed their babies.

Natalia Vodianova/Instagram

Often times celebrities seem unlike real people. They are just like anyone else. Some breastfeed and some opt to formula feed. I don't have a problem with either. Breastfeeding is as natural as it gets though.

Life is Difficult!

I ran across this video on FB a few weeks ago:

I so reminded me of my youngest Isaak when he was her age. He used to cry because he didn't want to grow up, and have a house of his own. He wanted to live with us for life. When we faced the death of my Grandma I thought Isaak was going to fall apart. He didn't want us to die, he didn't want to die himself.

I never understood people that think kids are dumb. Some of them understand life more than adults do.

Finnish Babies Sleep in Cardboard Boxes

I saw a beautiful post here. It actually took me awhile to find it once again.

Source

You may be wondering why their babies sleep in cardboard boxes?

For 76 years, Finland's expectant mothers have been given a box by the state. It's much like the organization WIC. Instead of giving mom's formula, they give mom's a box filled with everything a mom would need to start the care for their baby.

The kit has clothes, toys, sheets, bodysuits, a sleeping bag, outdoor gear, bathing products for the baby, as well as nappies, bedding and a small box sized mattress. They even have breastfeeding supplies in the box; to encourage women to breastfeed more. It has worked! They do have the option for the mom's to choose money instead. Most Mom's opt for the box. The box and supplies are worth more than the money.

The box it's self ends up as a bed for the baby. You may find that odd, having a baby sleep in a box. Many have said that Finland achieve one of the world's lowest infant mortality rates. There is nothing to get tangled up in a box.

The tradition dates back to 1938. To begin with, the scheme was only available to families on low incomes, but that changed in 1949. Now they are offered to every Mom.

Breastfeeding in Public

In the US there are more places that will look down on a mom for breastfeeding, than look up to them.

I love how the UK is a bit more supportive on the subject.

"Breastfeeding Mums - Pop in and have a FREE cup of tea if you need a pit stop... no need to eat, no need to ask - please relax." 

"Laundromat - Go ahead and breastfeed. We like both babies and boobs!"

Images were found on Facebook. If you know who these belong to, let me know, and I'll source them.

I never felt comfortable breastfeeding in public. I wish that I had. The cover-ups that my sister uses didn't work for us. Both of my sons had latch problems in the beginning. I had to see what I was doing. When they were a little older, they were active breastfeeder's. Meaning they would walk and fidget on me before they could even crawl. My mom and sister would laugh every time they watched my son's breastfeed back in the day. Trying to cover up an oh so active eater as them just isn't possible.

I would hide away in dressing rooms when I was out shopping, or breastfeed them in the car. I would not breastfeed in the bathroom. To me that's a dirty place. Would you eat your dinner in the bathroom? Why expect a baby to do that?

Did/do you feel comfortable breastfeeding in public? Where would you go to breastfeed?

BabyComfyNose

One thing that is difficult with babies is dealing with their stuffy nose. It seems like they always have something wrong, that contributes to mucus flair ups: Teething, common cold, and ear infections.

My nephew has special needs, and he is prone to getting colds. They seriously could build a mucus factory at their house. It's important to take care of it.

The standard blue bulb that they used to give out in the hospitals often doesn't work. When they are taken apart mold has actually been found inside them.

If you've ever used a bulb or battery-type aspirator to clear the mucus out of your little one's nose, you've probably said to yourself:

"There has to be a better way!"

There is a better way and it's called the BabyComfyNose Nasal Aspirator. 

Here's the secret: 

 It works so much better because it uses your own suction.

Think about it:

Your own lungs are a strong, natural vacuum cleaner - much more powerful than a tiny bulb or battery-powered motor. And the result is just a more effective method of clearing your baby's sinuses.

But have no fear!

You won't suck boogies into your mouth because of the design of the receptacle and the tissue filter that you insert into the body of the aspirator. This is why pediatricians are recommending BabyComfyNose to moms and dads.

Recently, Dr. Sears of The Doctors TV Show recommended the BabyComfyNose as the best way to clear babies' noses. Take a look at the video 'How to Use the BabyComfyNose' here www.babycomfycare.com to see how well it works.

Enter USFAMILY at checkout for a 20% discount. Or get the best retail pricing at Walgreens stores and save the shipping!

Disclaimer: The opinions on the post are my personal take on the product. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review. I did get a product in exchange for this review.

Twins Were Born, But Didn't Realize It

This is such a sweet video. It even brought tears to my husband's eyes.

Cuteness Overload

This baby starts to sing with the radio about 1/2 way through the video.

Warmze Review

I was happy to review WarmZe. It's a bottle warmer. 

The cool things is that it requires:

• No electric outlet
• No batteries
• No boiling water
• No car charger

It really seemed impossible in my mind for this thing to work. Guess what? It does work!

How it works:

1. It comes with 2 warming wraps.

2. You put a totally cute design fabric over the bottle. The fabric has two layers. The first layer lifts up and the Warmze fits over the fabric. Then the second layer of fabric slips down. This fabric prevents  burns, yet keeps the bottle warm. *See the video below! It really helps explain how to use the WarmZe.

3. You wrap it around any bottle type 8 to 11 ounces. This starts to warm the bottle up. I couldn't believe it, but it does work! The babies bottle heats up in 30 minutes.

4. This is re-usable and washable. It catches milk drips. It's also easy for babies to hold onto.

What do I think?

I think it's truly an ingenious product. Although I breastfed my babies, my husband bottle fed them, while I was at work. I think this would have been great for him to use. He had to warm up bottles the hard way. The fact that it doesn't need batteries, or a car charger makes it easy to heat up bottles for traveling.

It's stylish! I got the owl print, but there are other styles to choose from.

The only downfall is that it does take 30 minutes to warm up. If a baby is really hungry, 30 minutes is a long time for them. After you know a babies schedule, you can plan easier.

Check out bottle warmer reviews!

Here's a video that shows how to use WarmZe.

If you'd like to see more check out their website retail section go here.

Like WarmZe on Facebook.
Follow WarmZe on Pinterest.
Follow WarmZe on Twitter. 


Disclaimer: The opinions on the post are my personal take on the product. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review. I did get products to help with the review. 
 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Woolzies Dryer Balls Review

I started using Woolzies Dryer Balls and love them! 

I strongly encourage any mom who is going the cloth diaper route to use these. For Moms that are breastfeeding, they work great for breast pads as well.

The just make clothes so much softer. I'm not the only one that felt this way. My oldest son came up to me and said, "Mom why are my clothes so soft?" I said, "Is that a bad thing?" He said, "No! They feel like they are new." Certainly a great product for anyone that suffers from eczema, or has any other skin sensitivities.

I feel like they dry clothes quicker, in my older, not as efficient dryer. My sister who also has Woolzies didn't notice a dry time difference. I think it's because she has a fancy upright dryer.

About Woolzies:

• They are 100% pure wool
• They are handmade in Nepal from New Zealand wool
• They contain no chemicals
• They save time, energy and money
• They act as a natural fabric softener
• They reduce drying time
• They are noise free
• They soften clothing 
• They last at least 1,000 loads 
• They can be used even if you are allergic to wool, since they don't come in direct contact with the skin
• They are $35.99

I tried them on our bedding, and clothes. They seemed to do a really good job. The only thing that was frustrating is the balls would get caught up in the laundry. I had some that landed on the floor. I think it's just a matter of getting used to them. Six wool balls is a lot to keep track of.

Like them:

Like Woolzies on Facebook and Twitter.

Disclaimer: The opinions on the post are my personal take on the product. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.