Stuff Parents Need

Mo Williams Collection Now Available on DVD! (GIVEAWAY!!!)

2012-05-28T13:48:41Z

Mo Williams is a celebrated children’s author. He is the brains behind that grumpy pigeon we all know and love from Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog. He also has written some other gems that were unknown to me until seeing them on this Scholastic video, Mo Williams’ Pigeon and Pals. Knuffle Bunny is much loved by Darah, perhaps because her best friend is also a stuffed bunny. And he’s got a hilarious story about a naked mole rat who wants to wear clothes. Shocking!

This 6 story, 2 DVD set is now available for $19.95, and also includes some really terrific bonus footage all about Mo Williams and how he does his work. And of course, this dvd set contains the read along function that you can set up, so that the words of the story appear and are highlighted as the story is being read to the child. This helps with reading skills!

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, Scholastic videos are a true treasure. The stories are excellent (which is definitely NOT something you can say about all children’s programming) and they prompt some great discussions between you and your child. The videos also stay very true to the books upon which they are based, which I appreciate very much. You can’t go wrong by picking up this DVD set, or any other from the Scholastic line!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a copy of Mo Williams’ Pigeon and Pals!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Kaspersky PURE 2.0 Total Security Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

2012-05-28T13:32:16Z

Last year I shared with you Kaspersky PURE. At the time, I called it one of the most comprehensive computer protection plans as well as one of the most user-friendly. We very much enjoyed using it last year, and never once found our computers to be the victims of viruses…not because viruses didn’t TRY to latch on to our systems, though! Kaspersky PURE blocked them every time.

Recently, Kaspersky PURE 2.0 Total Security was launched, and now the software is even better than ever! It includes the following new features, in addition to all the fabulous elements of the original Kaspersky PURE:

1. Scans, updates and backup tasks for all PCs in your house are managed from one PC.

2. Parental controls not only block your kids from inappropriate content, they also prevent personal family information from being sent out. Certain information can be designated as private. Parental controls can also set time limits for kids online every day.

3. Password vault that protects your family from identity theft

4. Backup and encryption for photos, music and financial data. My heart almost stops at the thought of losing my digital pictures, so this feature is VERY important to me!

5. Special clean-up tools that keep your system from slowing down.

I know people who are too scared to have Facebook accounts, or to take advantage of online banking opportunities. My own mother has NEVER made an online purchase, and fear of personal information being stolen or getting some sort of virus drives these fears. They aren’t totally unfounded, either. I’ve even noticed a dramatic increase in malicious websites on places like Pinterest, attached to the cutest photos. Thanks to this software, I am told when I shouldn’t open a page I’ve clicked on. Kaspersky PURE 2.0 Total Security is like an online bodyguard, keeping you safe and sound while you enjoy all the great benefits of living in the digital age.

Kaspersky PURE 2.0 Total Security is available for $69.95 for one year of protection. It is SOOOO worth it, people! As someone who has had her identity stolen 3 different times, I can tell you that one ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, for sure!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a one year subscription to Kaspersky PURE 2.0 Total Security!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this software for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Jahgoo Infant Bath: Slim, Portable, Awesome!

2012-05-25T13:57:28Z

One great thing about your second baby is that you already own a lot of the “gear” you need. One item we didn’t have for Layah, though, was a baby bath, as we had borrowed one for Darah and now it lives back in North Carolina, which would make it slightly difficult to use here in Tennessee!

I knew that I wanted something comfortable for baby, but also slim in its design. Oh, and it needed to be inexpensive, too. Turns out, that’s a tall order! But there is one company that makes exactly what I was looking for: Jahgoo. Check out my 2 minute video review to see why this bath support seat makes so much sense for the modern family!

If you are interested in learning more about the Jahgoo collection of products and want to hear about special promotions, be sure to like Jahgoo on Facebook!

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Earth Mama Angel Baby Birth & Baby Kit Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

2012-05-24T14:31:03Z

When you give birth to a child, your nether regions go through a bit of trauma. The physics behind how a baby can physically get out of a woman’s body are astounding. And as any woman who has given birth will tell you, it ISN’T an easy feat. All of that stretching and pushing does a number on you, and most women have some healing to do after giving birth, perhaps because they had a tear or had to have an episiotomy, or perhaps they were blessed with hemorrhoids thanks to all that pushing. Or both.

Both times I have delivered, the hospitals gave me lots of topical medications to help me feel a bit better and start recovery. With Darah, I never gave a second thought to what ingredients might be in these medicines, or if there were more natural alternatives. With Layah, though, I was more prepared, and brought the Birth & Baby Kit from Earth Mama Angel Baby with me to the hospital.

This kit was AWESOME to have from the start, and two weeks after delivering, I’m still using the products that came in the kit. Here’s what you’ll find in this cute organza bag:

Items for the new mom:

New Mama Bottom Spray (1 oz). This is a cooling spray for relief from prenatal and postpartum hemorrhoids and episiotomy discomfort. It has a ZERO rating on the Skin Deep toxin database. And all I’m going to say about this product is that it feels so nice! WAY better than the stuff the hospital gave me.

Mama Bottom Balm (4 samples). This is a balm that relieves some of the same discomforts as the New Mama Bottom Spray. It also has a ZERO rating on the Skin Deep toxin database. This product works to reduce swelling in your tissues and eases pain. It also has ingredients to help your wounds heal. I have really loved this product and quickly ditched the ointment the hospital gave me in favor of this.

Organic Monthly Comfort Tea (four samples). This is designed to reduce your postpartum uterine bleeding. It’s also great to help women on their periods feel a bit more balanced. It has a F

ANTASTIC cinnamon flavor and is the best tea I’ve tried so far EVER. Totally in love with it!

Organic Milkmaid Tea (4 samples). This tea is full of herbs that can increase milk production. I have been drinking mine, and haven’t had any supply issues so far!

Natural Nipple Butter (1 oz). Here’s another product rated ZERO on the Skin Deep toxin database. I’ve been using this since Layah’s first day, and while I’ve had some soreness, it hasn’t been nearly as bad as it was with Darah. No bleeding, either!

For baby:

Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash (60 mL). Any guesses about the rating on this one? That’s right….ZERO! I have opted to not use this on Layah just yet, as it does have a mild fragrance. But in a few months I will use it, for sure. It smells awesome!

Angel Baby Oil (1oz). This has been an excellent bonding tool for Layah and me. I love to give her foot and leg massages with this product. It is unscented, so I feel very comfortable using it on her. I’ve also learned that it can be used as a cradle cap remedy, which is good to keep in mind. And it has a ZERO rating on the Skin Deep toxin database!

Angel Baby Lotion (2 oz). This is another product that I will wait a few months to use on Layah, simply because it does have a light scent (like a creamsicle, by the way…it is AWESOME!).

Angel Baby Bottom Balm (1oz). Since Layah is in cloth diapers, diaper rash isn’t really an issue. But it can be good to preventatively apply some balm from time to time, and I’m glad to have this on hand. I also recently learned that it has properties which can be effective against Candida, which causes not only diaper rash, but also thrush (which we have, of course!). I’m going to try it for this purpose and see if we can get quicker relief!

This kit has been a tremendous help to me and Layah as we have started this journey together. I would highly recommend it as a gift to any expecting mom who wants more natural products at the ready! This kit retails for $29.95.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win an Earth Mama Angel Baby Birth & Baby Kit!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Pack Your Bags and let Roadtrip-a-Matic Plan Your PA Adventure

2012-05-24T14:20:07Z

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PA Tourism for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

VisitPA.com has one of the very most impressive sites I have EVER seen when it comes to vacation planning. I've seen many other sites that offer a plethora of information about things to do and see in a particular state, as well as places to stay. But this site is so much more comprehensive, because it can put together amazing pa-roadtrips for you, all based on different themes such as ghost rides, a shoppers roadtrip, a tasting tour, etc. There's something for everyone, and it offers a detailed itinerary for you based on the things that are absolutely not to miss if you have an interest in a particular area.

I absolutely LOVE roadtrips, but now that I have two little kids, planning one seems like so much work that I'm inclined to not even try. But this site makes is super easy! I really appreciate not having to read a million reviews for different hotels, restaurants and attractions. The Roadtrip-a-Matic tells you what you really need to see, and saves you HOURS.

If I had the opportunity to visit Pennsylvania, I'd want to go on the "All Natural Pennsylvania" roadtrip under the "Trails Mix" heading. This two day, two night trip includes the following: "a scenic pathway through state parks, wildlife viewing areas, and miles and miles of hiking trails. And for the water lovers, plenty of opportunities for canoeing, kayaking and all the rest. To top it all off, there is the Nature Inn at Bald Eagle State Park, a luxurious natural hideaway." This would be the perfect trip for my family, as we'd get to do some great outdoors stuff, which my husband would love, but also be able to be pampered a bit, which is something I would love.

I'd love for you to take a look at the various awesome road trips that this site suggests. Which one do you think you'd go on? If you've ever spent time in PA, or if you live there, what do you think about their suggestions?

The Carrier We Chose: Baby K’tan

2012-05-24T14:13:45Z

If there’s one thing that babies love, it is to be held close to their parents. I remember that when Darah was so exhausted around the “witching” hour (5pm) every day, she would calm down the instant Tim put her in a carrier and took her outside. It was like magic.

So we knew that we wanted a carrier for Layah, as well. Our old infant carrier was long gone, passed on to friends. And as a blog reader, I know that there are MANY different carrier options, so we didn’t have to choose the exact same one again this time around. But what to choose???!!! We needed something that would fit both myself and Tim (there’s a 1 foot difference between us!) and that could be used with a newborn but that wouldn’t be outgrown before the baby could also start using our more toddler-friendly carrier that we have. Wraps seemed like the way to go, except that I know myself, and I know that if it is complicated to put on, I’m going to give up quickly.

The Baby K’tan Baby Carrier really stood out for me because it offers the same holding positions as wrap carriers, but without all that wrapping. This soft cotton carrier is basically two loops of fabric, connected by a smaller loop in the back. It can be worn in multiple positions and none of them require you to buckle anything or do any super complicated wrapping. Their website calls it a cross between a sling and a structured front baby carrier.

When we were first ready to try out the Baby K’tan, we simply went to the website and watched video tutorials on how to put it on for the kangaroo position (the ideal position for newborns). Watching someone else put it on made it so easy, and we had it down in no time at all.

Layah is a baby who LOVES to be held during the day, even while she is sleeping. In order for mom and dad to get anything else done, wearing her is an absolute must. And Layah loves it! We put her in her Baby K’tan and go on about our day, and she just snoozes away in there, snug as a bug in a rug and totally content.

There are 5 other different ways to use the Baby K’tan, and as Layah gets a bit older, we’ll be trying them all. So far, we absolutely love this carrier and would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to wear their babies!

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Tropical Traditions Organic Insect Repellent Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

2012-05-22T16:01:40Z

Layah developed jaundice just a few days after she was born. Her pediatrician recommended that we take her outside for a few minutes every day to get some sunshine, which evidently helps with jaundice. So when she was 4 days old, Tim took her out on the back porch for a little Vitamin D fix. I came outside after a few minutes and immediately discovered a mosquito on top of her head, helping itself to a meal.

AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

Yes, I know that mosquito bites are not the world’s greatest problem, but I went totally bonkers over seeing my brand new baby being bitten! She was taken inside immediately and I was fuming over how she fell victim to bugs within mere minutes of stepping outside.

This is exactly why I have Tropical Traditions Insect Repellent in my medicine cabinet. It’s a product that will naturally deter bugs from Layah and Darah. I can apply it to both of them with confidence and without concern that I’m poisoning my children at the same time that I’m poisoning bugs. Like all other products from Tropical Traditions, it uses Organic Virgin Coconut Oil as its primary ingredient. There are no harmful chemicals or artificial fragrances added to the product. It does contain pure organic essential oils that have been known to repel insects, including citronella, lemongrass, peppermint, tansy, and catnip. It smells lovely to me, and just plain awful to mosquitoes.

If you would like more information on How to Use Coconut Oil, Tropical Traditions has some really terrific information that helps you understand all the uses and benefits of this product. And there’s no shop that can compare to Tropical Traditions when it comes to having such an extensive line of high quality products made from coconut oil. We are consistently impressed with everything we have tried from this company.

Buy it!: If you want a natural and effective way to keep mosquitoes off your body (and away from your kids!) this is the way to go. You can purchase this organic insect repellent for $13.95 (and it is frequently on sale, so watch for that!).

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a 4 oz bottle of Organic Insect Repellent from Tropical Traditions!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Bamboobies Nursing Pads Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

2012-05-21T20:44:41Z

One of the very first posts I ever wrote for this site was about disposable nursing pads. I had such strong opinions about them, and I wanted to share my thoughts and experiences with other moms; they were one of the reasons I started this blog in the first place, if you can believe it.

I still stand behind that review, but I didn’t know at the time that reusable nursing pads even existed. Thanks to other mommy bloggers, I learned about them and have really enjoyed trying out various types of reusable pads. I like that they are washable, that they save money, and that they are more eco-friendly (no icky chemicals on me, thanks!).

But what I don’t like about them, or at least most of them, is that they are also bulky, just like most other disposable pads. I’ll take bulky reusable pads over bulky disposable pads any day, but guess what? Those aren’t your only two choices! I have found reusable nursing pads that are SUPER trim and SUPER soft. They are like a little swatch of luxury!

They are called Bamboobies. And as the name suggests, they are made of bamboo, which is by far the softest material I have yet to try for a breast pad. They feel so darn nice! And they are super thin, too. I have some other thin reusable breast pads, but they just don’t cut the mustard. I’m usually leaking through them within 1 1/2 hours…what’s the point of that?! Bamboobies have a leak-proof outer lining, and I can tell you from experience, they truly don’t leak.

Also, Bamboobies are heart-shaped, which is much more flattering than the round disc look that most nursing pads have. The heart shape also doesn’t give you that crumpled look that you can so easily get with round pads. You can’t see your Bamboobies through your clothes, which is more than I can say for most pads.

Bamboobies are made from organic materials, but even goes beyond that wonderful step. They also use sustainable fabrics and advocate for fair labor practices by hiring locally in Colorado (hooray for Made in the USA products!).

I know I will be purchasing more of these and ditching most of my other cloth breast pads. Why wear something uncomfortable and ineffective when a product as wonderful as Bamboobies exists?

Buy it!: Babmboobies products begin at $16.99. You can also save 20% off your purchase by using code SPN20! Click here to start shopping!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a $16.99 credit to Bamboobies, which is enough to get you either a pair of regular or overnight Bamboobies, or you can apply the credit toward any other purchase in the shop! Woo hoo!

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Cloth Diaper Rental Program: My Overall Thoughts

2012-05-21T20:42:28Z

We started using cloth diapers on Layah just a few days after we got her home from the hospital. We had a stash of 24 diapers thanks to the cloth diaper rental program at Earthy Crunchy Mama. If you missed my first post on why I decided that renting makes the most sense for newborn diapers, be sure to go back and check it out.

Now that we’ve been using the diapers, I wanted to share my thoughts about how it is going.

Here’s the short answer: FABULOUS!

Now for the more detailed response.

The first 24 hours that we used the diapers were not so fabulous. We had leaks out of the legs every. single. time. we put her in a cloth diaper. That was frustrating, and of course, made for a huge laundry pile (clothes, blankets, sheets, etc.). I contacted Jen, the owner of Earthy Crunchy Mama to seek her advice. She promptly got back to me and said that it is not an uncommon problem, and usually the culprit is that parents aren’t putting the diapers on tight enough. She encouraged me to go tighter and see if it helped.

And she was exactly right! The leaks have completely disappeared, and now the cloth diapers are holding their own against disposables, even with that fabulous, runny baby poop that we all know so well. Having access to a personal “help” line with Jen is one added benefit of using her service; she is there for you and will do everything she possibly can to make your experience with cloth a positive one!

I have also really enjoyed getting to try out several different types of cloth diapers. This has been my first experience using FuzziBunz, for example, and I’ve been really impressed with them. I’ve also enjoyed the Mini Maestro brand (pictured on Layah below). I’d never heard of this brand AT ALL before using this service, but now I know them and love them, and would definitely buy more of this brand. And my love for BumGenius products has also been re-affirmed while using them with Layah. Those are just some seriously good diapers!

Now I want to talk with you about the cost for renting the cloth diapers. Post one had all the information about what,exactly, is included in the package, so be sure to review that. The cost for the program can vary, depending on your particular wants and needs. Here’s the breakdown from the website:

$125 up front deposit gets you:

cloth diaper safe detergent and rash cream stick, cloth wipes, and diaper liners to keep
1 pail liner and wet bag
24 new and gently used newborn diapers (GroVia, bumGenius, FuzziBunz, Bummis, and/or Thirsties)

When you return your diapers, you receive a refund minus:

$25 starter kit
$15 if you choose to keep the pail liner and wet bag
$15/month for Store Credit OR$35/month for Cash

So, you need to send in $125 (via credit card is fine) as a deposit. This makes sense as you are being sent hundreds of dollars worth of products. Once you return the diapers (and shipping is already covered for that expense! Yay!), you will get your deposit back, minus a $25 starter kit fee (which covers all those awesome things you get to keep), and minus $15 for the month if you choose to get your remaining deposit back in store credit (so you can buy diapers you need for the next size, of course!) or minus $35 for the month if you choose to get cash back. I know this seems a little bit confusing, but here’s a scenario for you to help you make sense of it.Let’s say you want to rent the diapers for one month and you want to get back store credit so you can buy some great one size diapers once you are finished. You also want to keep the pail liner and wet bag because they rock (and they do rock…I’m pretty sure I’m keeping mine). Once you return your diapers, you will then have a credit of $60 to put towards diapers ($125 minus $25 for the starter kit, $15 for the liners, $15 for the store credit route). So you cloth diapered your newborn for a month for $65, which is probably less than what you would have spent on diapers (because they DO go through 10-12 diapers each day, I promise). AND your remaining $60 can be put toward great new diapers, and you will have the experience of using different brands so you will know what you want to buy. PLUS, you’ll have your wet bag and pail liner, cloth wipes, some detergent and some baby balm.

All this is to say, this is a really good deal. I’ve been very pleased with the quality of the products and the quality of the customer service. I think what is offered is a tremendous value and gives you a jump start on cloth diapering that for me, at least, would not have been financially feasible without a program like this. Thank you so much Jen and Earthy Crunchy Mama!

If you are hoping to use cloth from the beginning, please consider Earthy Crunchy Mama’s diaper rental program. I know you will be pleased with the experience! If you tell her that I referred you, I will also get a $5 credit to her shop, which would totally rock!

Please let me know in the comments if you have any additional questions about cloth or about the cloth diaper rental program. If I can’t answer your question, I know Jen can!

Disclosure: I received a complimentary one month subscription (minus a $15 fee) in exchange for my honest review, which I have provided.

Options for Relieving Back Pain, Including a Termpurpedic Mattress

2012-05-19T17:01:39Z

Remember when we were young and didn’t really have any chronic pains in our bodies? Those were good times, my friends. But if you are like me, then there’s at least some part of your body that is hurting at any given time. For me, that pain is quite often in my upper back. Tim is awesome, and gives me a back rub several times each week, but that only provides temporary relief. My back is where I carry all of my stress, and unfortunately, I’m the type of person who is prone to be stressed out. So that means my back is ALWAYS hurting. A few relief techniques I’ll discuss in this post are chiropractic medicine and tempurpedic mattress.

My BFF recently told me in a phone conversation that she’s been having back pain that won’t go away for about 3 weeks. One suggestions I had for her was to go to a chiropractor and see if the treatments offered by one could be of help. I’ve personally had mixed results using chiropractic medicine, but once I found a chiropractor that I felt I could trust, and who didn’t feel like a car salesman, I became more pleased with the results I was getting. Who treats you just as important as how you are being treated when it comes to chiropractic medicine, in my opinion.

My friend also mentioned that she and her husband had been shopping for a new mattress for a few months, and she suspected that her mattress might be part of the problem. She said that after doing lots and lots of research, they are planning on purchasing a tempurpedic mattress. I was really intrigued by this, because I’ve heard these mattresses are great, but have dismissed them due to their expense.

Well, it turns out that the cost of tempurpedic mattresses is not as high as they used to be. They have become more competitive in price with other mattresses. So that’s definitely a plus. Second, tempurpedic mattresses are far less likely than a mattress with springs in it to start sagging. As someone who currently sleeps on a 8 year old mattress that definitely sags, this has piqued my interest in this type of mattress for when we finally replace ours in a few years. If a mattress will last a few years longer, that makes it worth a little bit more money, in my opinion.

I will be really interested to hear if my friend sees any improvements in her back pain, and if she feels that those improvements are due to chiropractic treatments, her tempurpedic mattress, or a combination of the two.

This post brought to you by healthyback.com. All thoughts and opinions listed here are strictly my own.