Brainy Baby - Music: Discovering Musical Horizons DVD

I came across Brainy Baby because of a friend. I was told that Brainy Baby will give you a free DVD to try (you pay shipping-mine was $6.95). Since Sydney loves anything musical, I decided that the Brainy Baby Music DVD was the one I would choose. It is labeled for kids ages 2-5 and states that it will introduce your child to rhythm and tempo, melody and harmony, and musical instruments.

I assumed it was going to be similar to Baby Einstein (which Sydney still loves), but I was completely wrong. The Brainy Baby Music DVD is quite different. They sing a lot of songs and play a lot of different instruments. They go through a lot of musical terms and name the types of music (country, blues, etc.). Sydney really likes this DVD a lot! They have kids that sing and play the instruments, and it is pretty fast-paced to keep kids attention.

I have been very impressed with this company overall! The DVDs have been proven recently to promote learning in toddlers and I think most kids would enjoy the DVDs. I don’t think t.v. time should take the place of sitting down and playing / teaching your kids, but it’s nice to know your kids are watching something educational when they watch t.v. and Brainy Baby DVDs are good for that!

I highly recommend you take advantage of the free DVD from Brainy Baby, and while you’re there check out their clearance section (they usually have some great deals) and sign up for the newsletter. They send out emails about big sales (usually 60% off sales)!!

FLIP Cloth Diapers

When my daughter was first born a year ago, I laughed at the thought of cloth diapering! I thought it was great for the moms that could do it, but I never thought I could do it…of course, I was thinking about the “old” cloth diapering (wrap cloth around baby, pin together, and hope you don’t get leaked on). Then I read a post about cloth diapering on a blog I have been following (Mom4life) and it got me interested. I started doing some research and decided to give it a try.

But what to try? I had no idea! Then Heather at Mom4Life sent me an email about some new budget-friendly diapers from Cotton Babies (the maker of BumGenious). They are Flip cloth diapers. The day pack comes with 2 covers (they just added several new spring colors) and 6 stay-dry inserts. They also sell individually, but it is more cost-effective to buy a day pack.

The Flip diapers have snaps instead of Velcro, which comes in handy when washing (and also if your little one learns how to un-do Velcro). The many snaps can be a little confusing if you’ve never used them before, but the Flip diapers come with picture instructions for different size babies. The inserts simply lay inside the cover (tuck under flaps at the front and back), which makes changing a diaper pretty quick! When changing, simply toss the insert into your pail, wipe the inside of the cover, and place in a new insert. You can use the same cover several times!

The stay-dry inserts that come with the diapers worked great for Sydney! She didn’t even leak over her naps (which has been a problem even with disposables occasionally). You can also buy disposable inserts when traveling to make cloth diapering on-the-go easy. We also tried a regular pre-fold insert with our Flip diapers to see how well it would stay in place and we had no trouble with it either! These diapers are very slim as well, which allowed Sydney’s normal jeans to fit (we’ve had to go up a size in clothes for some cloth diapers).

We love these! The price is great for Mom’s on a budget and it is made by an already trusted company, Cotton Babies.

Hermie & Friends: Antonio Meets His Match

Our family, my three-year-old daughter in particular, loves all of the Hermie DVDs by Max Lucado. I was recently given the opportunity (from Thomas Nelson Publishing) to review the latest in the Hermie series, ‘Antonio Meets His Match.’

Upon opening the DVD, my daughter was immediately thrilled and ready to watch it! We began movie, and even my 16 month old son sat through the entire show (which doesn’t happen often). Throughout the entire show, my daughter laughed and interacted with the characters, and, when it was finished, she wanted to watch it again. She would definitely recommend the movie!

While, I do enjoy the Hermie DVDs, as a mom, I am always hesitant to offer my recommendations on a movie that I myself have not watched in its entirety. However, I must say that I love the lesson that is so clearly taught through this cute story…”to love your neighbor as yourself “ (Luke 10:27). Antonio Ant is known as the bravest of the brave in the garden. He always wins the strength competition, but also uses his strength to often help his neighbors, too. When the garden becomes home to a group of Scottish ants, Angus being the main “new” character, Antonio is looked to for help in ridding the garden of these different (and quite annoying) new neighbors. But, when Antonio talks to God concerning his annoying new neighbor and the garden friends’ desire to have them gone, God answers by telling him that he should “love as I have loved you.” We see Hermie and friends learning what it means to truly love, despite differences.

The Bible truths are solid, the characters are loveable and funny, and the songs and music are great! I didn’t see anything in the movie that I would question. I would recommend this movie to anyone with younger children. It’s a great way to reinforce God’s command to love.

Thanks to Marsha at Desires of my Heart for reviewing this product!

Petunia Pickle Bottom Boxy Diaper Bag

I received this Petunia Pickle Bottom bag from a friend right before my daughter, Sydney, was born. I immediately thought it was a super cute bag, girly but not overwhelming. My husband even said that he wouldn’t mind carrying it around (which he has done on several occasions). I get a lot of compliments on this diaper bag from other moms, which makes me feel great!

The Petunia Pickle Bottom Boxy Bag is pretty thin, considering how much I can stuff in it (I usually carry 5-10 diapers, wipes, 2 outfits, snacks, sippy cup, and a few toys). It comes with extra straps to make it a backpack (comes in handy at the zoo or park). It does have the messenger strap which fits over most stroller handles. It has 3 pockets inside (one is zippered and detachable) and 2 pockets outside (great for holding cups). It has a zippered outer pocket (has 2 pockets for diapers and wipes) and a detachable changing pad. The PPB website shows the many beautiful fabric choices. It is a very thick, sturdy bag and will sit upright with no trouble (which is nice to know if you carry cups / bottles).

The only problem I have is that it can be a pretty expensive item unless you’re willing to look around and wait for a good deal. Sometimes, they can be found at TJMaxx and Ross at a discounted price, but you can also find them online at places like Ebay or Babysteals.com.

Mimi’s Babies: Shopping cart cover

We’ve all seen the cute shopping cart / high chair covers that are sold in stores that basically cover the cart’s seat and handle or a highchair (we used the Original Floppy Seat and the Infantino Shop and Play). While these come in handy in different ways, they just weren’t exactly what I wanted them to be. The Floppy Seat folds into itself creating a bag, but when using it there are no places to attach toys, etc. to keep your little one busy. The Infantino one had toy attachments and even a pillow for the play mat, but it was a rectangle shape and didn’t cover the sides of the seat / chair.

Shortly after I started using these with my daughter, I came across a blog giving away a handmade shopping cart / highchair cover from Mimi’s Babies. It was made using extremely cute (gender neutral) material, so I decided to enter the giveaway. A week later, I was notified that I won and I couldn’t wait to try it out!

It doesn’t fold into a bag like, but they can sew a ribbon to it so that you can fold it up and tie it. It has 2 links on it so that you can attach toys, pacifiers, etc. to it. It has Velcro on the back so that you can securely attach it to the shopping cart (which is nice if you have a wiggly baby) and also a hidden “mommy-pocket” for cards, money, keys or other small items. It has a safety belt like the other covers, but it has a slightly padded seat area for added comfort.

I absolutely LOVE this cover! It is a little more expensive than the Infantino Shop and Play and the Original Floppy Seat, but it is handmade and Mimi’s Babies can work with you to find a fabric you will love.

Peanut Shell Sling

When I first found out I was pregnant there was one thing I told my husband I absolutely HAD TO HAVE…a peanut shell sling. I found a Micro-Fleece Reversible one at Mom4Life that I really liked (plus they have free shipping in the U.S.) and so that’s what I got for Christmas before Sydney was born.

It comes with an instruction booklet and a link to go online to see more instructional pictures and videos. The videos are very, very helpful! I learned how to fold and wear my sling from them, or so I thought. The first time you try it with a real baby, it is a little complicated. I was nervous (this was my first baby) about how to hold her head, neck, and body while trying to slide her into the sling. I had to have a second set of hands the first couple of times I used the sling, but it got easier each time and after a few times, I was a pro at putting her in and taking her out.

When she was small, I used the cradle carry. A lot of people said she looked uncomfortable, but as her mom I knew she loved it. She would sleep through church, shopping, and pretty much anything else when I wore her this way. I enjoyed being able to use my hands and still save my back!

Now that Sydney is older (1 year, about 20 pounds) I use the hip carry a lot. It is still very comfortable to carry her, but I do sometimes have to adjust the fabric over my shoulder to balance the weight better. She still enjoys being carried in it as well.

I think this is a great product if you don’t mind trying it a few times before getting it right. It isn’t a hard product to use, but it can be a little tricky to get a newborn in and out comfortably. As much as I have used this sling, I just realized I have no pictures of Sydney in the sling. I will take a picture tomorrow and add it to this post for everyone to see!

Reviews, Reviews, and {hopefully} more Reviews!

Welcome to SoMommy! Where you can find reviews for products related to moms, babies, and toddlers. Feel free to comment and let me know your personal feelings on any of the products I discuss or to let me know about a product you would like me to try to review. Occasionally, I will have reviews from other moms about products they have tried.

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