Best Products for New Mom and Baby Review and Giveaway!
Author: Shannon Miller Lifestyle
The Holiday Season is here!
Team SML member Liz and her baby have reviewed the products below and are so excited to share them with you! If you are are expecting or have a loved one who is expecting, any of these products would make fantastic gifts!
We are also doing a giveaway of ALL of these amazing products so be sure to enter to win below and share with your friends on Facebook!
Shannon Miller Lifestyle Healthy and Balanced Pregnancy Cookbook
Nutrition is extremely important during pregnancy and once you welcome that little bundle of joy into the world, and The Shannon Miller Healthy & Balanced Pregnancy Cookbook helps to make good nutrition choices easy. Although this is a “pregnancy” cookbook, it will last you much longer than during your pregnancy. I have gone back to this cookbook time and time again once I had baby when I just felt like my stomach couldn’t handle anything too heavy and once baby started solids too! The recipes come with guides as to what nutrients they are high in, like protein, fiber, iron, folic acid, and calcium. *We’re having a Holiday sale! For all SML products during the month of December from 12/01 to 12/20, get 15% off (excluding shubeez, Heads Up headbands and the SML fitness mat) Enter coupon code: GIVESML15 (Ends 12/20 at 11:59 PM EST)*
Chicco Key Fit Car Seat and Cortina Stroller
As one of the biggest purchases you will make for your baby, the numerous options for an infant car seat and stroller can be overwhelming! The Chicco Cortina Travel System is simply fantastic. The Chicco Key Fit 30 car seat is the best infant seat on the market, rated #1 by Consumer Reports. It truly fits a newborn, it is rated from 4 pounds so this is a great option for a preemie, and will last until the baby is 30 pounds, 30 inches, or until baby’s head is 1 inch from the top of the carrier, whichever comes first, so it will most likely last you until baby is a year old. I personally loved the infant insert and headrest that are removable as baby grows, which ensure the baby will be comfortable at all stages. I also like the one-hand center pull front adjust ensuring baby get a proper fit every time with no hassle to the parents. The install was super easy with both the Single-pull LATCH adjustment and with a seatbelt, with the seatbelt lockoffs. There are level bubbles on each side so you can see a proper install from either side too. Putting the carrier into the base and taking it out was also very easy. The Key Fit 30 also fits into a number of the Chicco strollers without any additional hardware or preparation including the Cortina, Cortina Together,Lightway PLUS, and Key Fit Caddy.
The Cortina stroller is also a great full size stroller option. It took about 10 minutes to put it together and we were ready to roll. I love the height of the handle for the parents! It is adjustable so it was comfortable for a 5 foot mom and a 6 foot dad both to push! If you are tall as a parent, you must check out this stroller, I have not seen a handle this tall on a stroller before! The steering is extremely smooth and maneuverable and the shock absorbing wheels make for a gentle ride for a sleeping baby. The Key Fit 30 also snaps right on to the Cortina stroller so you can use it from day 1 just transferring the car seat to the stroller for running errands, and the stroller goes up to 50 pounds so you can use it well into toddlerhood. In my opinion you can’t go wrong with this duo.
Stokke Tripp Trapp Chair
The Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair is the most versatile high chair out there! It is also one of the coolest looking high chairs I have seen and it is definitely NOT your typical high chair. Most high chairs are made of plastic and metal and will only last you through the toddler years. The wooden Stokke Tripp Trapp Chair begins as a high chair that you can bring baby right up to the family table to, so you never have to feel like baby is isolated from the rest of the family at mealtime. As baby grows, so does the Tripp Trapp Chair, all the way to an adult chair. The assembly was very straight-forward and came with all the tools you need to put it together come with it! It also has a number of accessories available separately, like the baby set and tray if you want to be able to use it away from the table, there is also a cushion for the seat too! The longevity of this high chair is definitely worth the price!
Honey Can-Do Laundry Sorter
The Honey Can-Do Chrome Triple laundry sorter has made life so easy for our family. Once having a baby you feel like you are doing laundry constantly. The Honey Can-Do laundry sorter makes it so easy to sort laundry as you go. It has 3 compartments. We use one for baby clothes, one for our darks, and one for our lights. The metal support bars are also very easy to hook on our wetbags for the cloth diapers we use. It is the perfect size to fit in a closet or next to the changing table. It was so easy to put together, it took about 5 minutes and all the tools were included, so no having to search for a screwdriver. Then on laundry days, it is so easy to wheel the whole thing to the laundry room and if you have soiled clothes in the bags, you can even wash the bags! Honey Can-Do has nailed it with this laundry sorter!
Dressed to Deliver
I wish I had known about the Dressed to Deliver gowns when I had my baby! Unlike other delivery gowns, it resembles nothing to your typical hospital gown. The Dressed to Deliver gowns all look like regular sun dresses, but they have hidden snaps down the back of the dress, up the front of the dress, and at the shoulders to make easy access for nursing after delivery. They come in several cute prints and color options and have a few different options on the cut of the dress as well. I love how cute and comfortable this dress it. It would have made delivery day and all those photos that follow much more enjoyable for me.
Daddy Scrubs Daddy Diaper Back Pack
So this doesn’t quite fit in the “Mom” category, but we couldn’t leave dad out for this one. Most diaper bags are marketed to mom since moms typically are the ones carrying them, but what about those days when dad has the baby? Daddy Scrubs have made this high quality backpack with dad in mind. From delivery day through toddlerhood and beyond, this backpack has ample room and different pockets for anything dad could need to carry!
Ciao! Baby Portable High Chair
I absolutely love the Ciao! Baby Portable High Chair! If you frequently have dinner at friends’ or family’s homes, like to tailgate, or go to the park for lunch frequently, like we do, this is a great investment! It easily fits into the car, just like typical camping chairs do and is easy to set up and break down — you can even do it one-handed! The “tray” is lined with heavy duty plastic, so it is easy to clean up and very durable and even has a cup-holder! There are locking clips on the legs to keep the chair steady when being used. The safety straps for baby also convert to a storage strap to keep the chair from accidentally unfolding when not in use, which also make it easier to put the chair back in the storage bag.
SpaRoom AromaMist
Of course, Baby and I got sick the week we received the SpaRoom AromaMist to try, but it definitely came in handy during bedtime. The first thing I noticed about this humidifier is how quiet it is. The one we previously had was quite a bit louder and made it difficult to get her to fall asleep. The AromaMist has 3 different color options or you can put it in color changing mode. It requires about a cup of water and runs for 3 hours and shuts off automatically, but the water lasts for a few cycles without having to refill. I also loved how small the AromaMist is, it is less than a foot in diameter so it barely takes up any room on the nightstand.
Mamas and Papas Baby Snug
Mamas and Papas have out-done themselves with the Baby Snug! I have tried similar seats for baby and many have fallen short, but not the Baby Snug. In similar seats you can really only use them for a few months, but the Baby Snug will last you for at least 2 years! There is a foam seat for when baby is smaller, then when baby outgrows it, you simply remove the foam insert and the chair will last you for many more months to years to come (my 4 year old nephews still fits in it)! The tray was easy to put on and is great for snack time and it is included, unlike other similar chairs where it is an accessory. I particularly loved how the foam insert is supportive to assist a baby who is just starting to sit up, but it doesn’t squeeze their legs and their legs don’t get stuck when you try to take them out of the chair, which is a hassle in other similar seats.
San Diego Bebe Eco-Nursing Pillow
If you are planning on breastfeeding, a nursing pillow is a must and this one is a wonderful choice! The San Diego Bebe Eco-Nursing Pillow is made of the patented Eco Loft Fiber and is the only nursing pillow on the market that is free of odor, glue, foam, lead and phthalates. It is also the only nursing pillow on the market that has a privacy cover so you aren’t left scrambling to find a blanket every time you have a visitor and need to nurse. I personally really like the firmness of the pillow so that it gets baby in a very good position to nurse and has a strap and back pillow for mom to help keep your posture up. I love the side pockets that are great for holding your phone, a water bottle, or other things you need to keep in arms reach while nursing. The nursing cover is extremely convenient as well. I also really like the minky fabric that covers the pillow and the several cute prints it comes in. My favorite part of it is that it is eco-friendly so it doesn’t contain any potentially harmful materials for baby. The San Diego Bebe Eco-Nursing Pillow is even available in a larger size for twins!
Name Bubbles
I have fallen in love with Name Bubbles. They are labels with baby’s name on them. We tested the daycare pack. They go on everything from bottles and sippy cups to clothes and shoes. They even stay on in the dishwasher and washing machine! You can personalize them from hundreds of different options from stripes, polka dots, stars, princess crowns, and so many more. There is no more confusion over which sippy is ours anymore!
Wipe Me Cute Diaper Clutch
Sometimes diaper bags can just get to be a pain to carry around. For those quick trips to the grocery store, do you really have to take your purse AND diaper bag? The Wipe Me Cute Diaper Clutch has made carrying diapers and wipes for those quick trips so much more enjoyable. I love that it can hold about 3-4 diapers and a pack of wipes and has a zip pocket in the middle for diaper creams or to keep a small wallet, keys or your phone in.
Prince Lionheart Wipes Warmer Pop
Whether you use disposable or cloth wipes, the Prince Lionheart Wipes Warmer Pop is fantastic. I love the bright pink, bright green, and neutral gray color options that it comes in and it is so easy to set up and use on a daily basis. It is perfect to use with the pop up wipes refills like Huggies and Pampers both make, and it also works with cloth wipes. The new Ever Fresh Pillow and Pillowcase accessories that come with this warmer are also fantastic. This new system helps to avoid the browning of the wipes and the bottom of the wipe warmer by giving the sponge a little lift giving a little more circulation. I have used both cloth and disposable wipes and have been happy with the moisture and warmth of the wipes at each change.
Jammies by Hélène Lauré
Are you looking for an adorable and functional gift for a little one in your life? Jammies by Hélène Lauré are some of the softest baby pajamas I have ever felt and they come in the cutest jar to give as a gift or for your little one to play with. I love the gender neutral print and that they are footless pajamas since they will last a little longer than the footed ones do. The girls version also has ruffles. The best part? 10% of profit from Jammies is donated to PostpartumProgress, an organization dedicated to helping mothers and babies who struggle with Postpartum Depression.
Monkey Mat
Most parents have had a moment or several like this: Out in public and need to set baby down or baby is trying to get down and the cleanliness of the floor is questionable at best. What do you do? Blankets are small but take up a ton of room in the diaper bag, then you have to worry about making sure it gets washed as soon as you get home. Monkey Mat has answered this question! It is a compact nylon mat that you can carry with you everywhere and is ready to use anytime you need it! I love that when in the case, it is about the same size as my phone, meaning it can stay in the diaper bag or your purse all the time. It has weighted corners, so if you are outside you don’t have to worry about it flying away. It covers about a 6 foot by 6 foot space which means you can use it for more than just baby!
S’well
I will admit that at first I was skeptical of the claims that S’well can keep beverages cold for 24 hours or hot for 12 hours, but I have found that to be impressively true. They are made of non-toxic stainless steel, therefore they are BPA-free, and S’well makes it their mission to give back to those in need. S’well bottles have become my go-to water bottles, particularly at night, other nursing mothers can probably relate that it can be a hassle to go to the fridge in the middle of the night for a drink of water, so now, I love that there is cold water on my night stand for that middle of the night feed. I highly recommend these bottles!
Sammi Signs
If you are interested in baby sign language, then Sammi Signs is for you. Sammi Signs comes with a book with basic starter signs and a stuffed Sammi. There is also a free app (download here) to go along with Sammi Signs! My little one took to Sammi right away and enjoyed listening to me read the book and attempting to teach her the signs. She has already picked up a few of them and we are still working on others. Baby signing is a great option for learning to communicate before he or she can form words, and Sammi Signs makes for a great tool to introduce baby signing.
Lili Bebe Changing Pad
Lili’s Bebe Pad is a great changing pad! The bottom side has a grippy material so its not sliding while you have a squirmy baby while trying to change a diaper. The top side is a very soft furry fabric so baby is comfortable during diaper change. This has made a huge difference in our diaper changes while out and about and I love that I can also use it as a backup to our changing pad cover at home when the regular ones are in the wash
BabyComfyNose
If you ever get frustrated with the nasal suction bulbs that never get the boogies out of baby’s nose, then you need to invest in the BabyComfyNose! It really helps to get everything out of baby’s nose on those miserable congested days. My favorite part of the BabyComfyNose was that, unlike other similar products where you have to constantly buy new filters, it uses a tissue as a filter and even plain old toilet paper works too!
Sticky Bellies
I absolutely love Sticky Bellies milestone stickers! The come in several different prints and color options and mark milestones during pregnancy and once baby is here. The pregnancy stickers begin at 12 weeks and are a great way to track your pregnancy. The baby stickers begin with a “Just Born” Sticker and are monthly milestone stickers that go up to 24 months. They also have holiday and other fun milestone collections. I love that Sticky Bellies are heavy-duty stickers that you can put on a onesie or t-shirt and can be re-applied if you are doing photos in more than one outfit. Sticky Bellies are the easiest way to photograph baby’s milestones!
The Baby Bib from Make My Day Products
I can easily say that the The Baby Bib from Make My Day Products is my favorite bib that we have tried so far. With the regular cloth bibs, we usually go through one per meal each day and it almost always gets ripped off before the end of the meal. In the short time we have tried this bib, I can breathe a little relief during meal time that baby’s outfit isn’t going to get food all over their clothes. I love the super soft silicone that it is made of, the super cute designs on them, and the pocket to catch stray food at the bottom of the bib. I have to say however, that my favorite part of this bib is the closure at the neck. It is more like a button and button-hole type of closure that actually stays closed. I am ecstatic to report that this bib has not been ripped off once!
OxiClean Free
We have been using OxiClean Free in addition to our usual detergent for the past few weeks and I have to say I love the extra boost it has given to our laundry. I feel like most of my clothes have never looked better! I love that the OxiClean Free is safe to use with baby’s clothes so I’m not constantly worried about an allergic reaction, because those are not fun! I have also found that OxiClean Free is an effective carpet spot cleaner too! There are so many uses to OxiClean that I could not possibly name them all, but I have definitely added it to my cleaning arsenal!
Squeez’Ems
Food pouches have become extremely popular, but they can be so expensive at $1 or more per pouch! Squeez’Ems food pouches are reusable food pouches that allow you to fill them with your own food. The lid screws on in two places; one for you to put the food in and one for the mouthpiece for Baby, making it difficult for her to open the whole pouch to spill the contents. My little one loves food pouches, and I love being able to put whatever I want into the pouches instead of worrying about the processed food and preservatives in other food pouches. I also like that they are very easy to clean with a bottle and nipple brush. The quality of these pouches ensures that they will also last for quite a while.
Choomee Sip’n
Food pouches have become extremely popular but particularly with younger babies, they can become extremely messy. The Choomee Sip’n is the perfect product to prevent those messy spills. My little one absolutely loves having the Choomee on her pouches and so do I! She can control how quickly she gets the food a little bit easier than just having the pouch itself and I love that there isn’t a puddle of food all over her and the highchair when she accidentally squeezes the pouch a little too hard.
Swagger Tags
Swagger Tags are a personalized tag to put on bags and are great for anyone of any age! You can attach them to pretty much any bag: a diaper bag, backpack, or luggage. There is one side for your information and one side for a photo. The instructions were very straight-forward and it was very easy to put in a photo and attach it to the bag. It comes with zip ties so it won’t just fall off the bag and it comes with extras in case you need to switch it to a different bag.
Arm & Hammer Baking Soda
Arm & Hammer is a trusted household name, and it has been for as long as I can remember. I love how versatile Arm & Hammer Baking Soda is. Cooking, cleaning, refreshing, disinfecting, and so much more. I personally have found it to be very effective in helping to keep bottles and nipples clean and disinfected (in addition to my usual wash routine), I love how easy it is to clean and disinfect all of Baby’s toys too!