Whether you have a baby shower to attend soon, you're expecting your first (or another) child or grandchild, or you're planning to care for an infant in your home, this is a great list of truly wonderful products that will not only make your life easier, but make for a healthier child, healthier planet, and overall happier existence!
These are the best of the best for families that don't want to spend oodles looking for and trying every product out there - simply put, we've thoroughly tested these through the years so you don't have to! The only part left for you is to watch the sales and enjoy the benefits of these amazing baby products. (typical age range of use and average price are included for convenience, but may vary)
1. 0 - 36 mos of age: Beco Baby Carrier ($130) gives you a comfortable and convenient way to keep your baby close to your heart! This is by far the most comfortable carrier brand we've tried and also the easiest to adjust from mom to dad, front to back carrying positions, and is also fashionable (you won't dread wearing it). These carriers are more expensive than most, but well worth the many years of use and oodles of back and shoulder pain you'll save yourself from suffering from.
2. 0 - 100+ yrs of age: Nature's Baby Organics offers the gentle, effective bath and body products that work great for the entire family! Vanilla tangerine is our favorite scent, however they also have a rather lovely lavender scent.
3. 0 - 12+ mos of age: Prefold Cloth Diapers ($10) are great multi-purpose items! We recommend having at least several on hand, even if you don't plan on cloth diapering your baby. Why? Because they make the best burp cloths, nursing pads (to cover the opposite breast while nursing), and can be repurposed as cleaning cloths once baby grows older. They get softer with each wash (as long as you get 100% cotton, we recommend undyed & organic to avoid pesticide residues and lessen environmental impact) and can be tossed in with any laundry to be cleaned. We prefer Chinese over Indian, despite what published differences there are, so it's recommended you order half and half of both!
4. 0 - 18 mos of age: Sleepsacks are a necessity if you want to have the best chance at sleeping through the night. By providing baby with a comfortable sleeping environment, at the right temperature, you increase the likelihood of longer rest periods. The most important thing to consider is the fabric used in the sleepsack, it is very important to choose 100% cotton (organic is best considering the amount of time an infant sleeps, how likely it is to end up in their mouths, and how close to their faces [inhalation concerns]). Grobag ($40) offers several warmth levels (fits up to 5 yrs of age), Halo ($33) offers a lightweight organic cotton (fits up to 9 mos of age), and Aden + Anais ($30) offers two levels of cotton comfort (fits up to 18 mos of age). You will be happiest if you have 2 sleepsacks so you can rotate during laundry (remember, babies sleep several times a day). Note: our age recommendations are based on experience, not manufacturer claims as to size.
5. 0 - 12 mos of age: Wubbanub ($12) pacifiers are identical to the soothie pacifiers the hospitals provide from birth and we've not found them to interfere with baby's ability to breastfeed properly. Available in a wide array of cute animals, beyond the cuteness factor they provide the ability for the baby to self-soothe easily and also help prevent the all-to-common bouncy pacifier drop problem!
6. 6 - 36 mos of age: Totseat ($30) is a truly portable high chair solution that is comfortable and fits just about any chair you can imagine! The best part is that it is easy to machine clean and it folds up in it's own little pouch that fits inside most purses and definitely all diaper bags. You'll never have to put your child in a dirty restaurant high chair again, and honestly, if you're frugal or have a less-than-spacious home, it can totally be used for daily feedings for any baby that is capable of sitting upright with support.
7. 0 - 48+ mos of age: Links ($3-15) are plastic toys (make sure they are phthalate-free) that connect together to make a chain, but also secure just about any toy you can think of to convenient places like the handle on the car ceiling above baby's carseat (creating an instant mobile). You can also use links to attach toys to carseat handles, stroller trays, highchair seatbelts, diaper bags, baby carrier, or even your spaghetti strap tank top (this actually works out quite well if you're going somewhere that you'll be holding baby for a long time). Edushape Fishies are phthalate-free and pvc-free links.
8. 6 - 15 mos of age: Magic Bullet Mini-Blender ($50) allows you to simply add a portion of the meal you are having and purees it so that baby can eat the same meal! Of course, you should be eating healthy meals and if you aren't, your child is likely to grow up with the same poor eating habits regardless of what you try to feed them as infants and toddlers. Now is the time to start eating healthier and it will definitely be easier if you that your baby is going to be eating the same meals as you! Remember to serve the baby's portion into one of the many bullet cups prior to adding any salt, butter, spices, condiments, etc. Also, make sure not to feed your baby under 12 months of age the following: honey [botulism concern], seafood [heavy metal concern], non-organic vegetables [nitrate concerns].
9. 0 - 5+ yrs of age: Sunshine Kids Radian Carseat ($230) is a superior carseat compared to any others on the market (and in experience). Although many new parents assume they will like the "convenience" of a latch-in carseat model that can be carried by a handle with baby inside, we find the actual protection in these models to be seriously lacking. We highly recommend this carseat from birth through the toddler years as it has one of the highest rear facing weight limits, easy installation, fits 3 across in most vehicles, travels easily (seat bottom folds up), and the materials used are much better than any other we've seen or tested.
10. 0 - 48 mos of age: Organic sheets ($5-20) are highly recommended since infants and toddlers spend so much time in their beds, it's important to consider the impacts of inhalation and skin irritation from pesticide residues, chemical dyes, chlorine bleach by-products such as dioxin, etc. that may be present on bed sheets. Our favorite organic sheets are cotton velour from American Baby Company (ABC), which has every size imaginable (bassinet, cradle, crib, portable crib, pack n' play, changing table).
As always, it's important to invest in the quality products you will actually need to use, rather than just overbuying (and overspending on things you'll never need). Despite popular media belief, and much to the dismay of some very popular companies out there, infants do not require any special laundry detergent for their clothing IF you are using a non-toxic formula to begin with. We highly recommend Mountain Green (if you like the "baby" scent, they make an essential oil only based fragrance that will make all your baby clothes smell "babyish") or Dropps Baby (we do not recommend their scented formula).
Showing posts with label pregnancy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pregnancy. Show all posts
Body: Argan Oil from Destiny's Boutique
Description: Pressed from the precious nuts of the argan tree, argan oil is a rare treasure known for a remarkable ability to moisturize dry or lackluster skin. Only found in rural indigenous areas of Morocco, argan oil is a true wonder for an unusually high concentration of essential fatty acids and vitamin E needed to maintain the hydration of the skin and protect the skin from future moisture loss. Known as one of the nature's most powerful antioxidants, argan oil helps to fight off free radicals within our environment, preventing wrinkles and reducing collagen and elastin damage as our cellular turnover rate decreases with age. Argan oil is also great for crash course pedicure helping to soften dry cuticles almost instantly. Destiny Boutique's raw and unrefined argan oil is bottled in the United States from cold pressed, certified organic and fair traded oil harvested by the women UCFA cooperatives.
Fair Trade: Yes
Ingredients: argania spinosa (argan oil)
Price: $29 US
Scent: The scent is very similar to licorice root and strong. Destiny's Boutique offers various essential oil blended argan oils, however the one we reviewed was pure and unmixed.
Size: 2 oz bottle, it only takes one pump per every several inches of skin - with daily whole body use, I expect one bottle would last me approximately 2 months.
Best uses/recommendations: I am very pleased with the hydration power of this argan oil! It goes on as any oil, but I found that it soaked in quickly to my skin, leaving it soft and smooth within minutes. I found it especially useful for stretchmarks and dry patches around my heels and nails. An added brag right to this product is the fact that it comes from a biodome, which just makes it that much more interesting to talk to friends about! It can be used on your face, your feet, your tummy, your tush, anywhere you want to smooth the skin out!
Vegan: Yes
Organic: Yes
Fair Trade: Yes
Raw: Yes
Safe for all ages
Pregnancy/Lactation friendly
Pregnancy: Belly Butter by Pyur Mama
Baby your baby belly.
Description: A wonderful ultra-rich stretch mark prevention formula made with certified organic ingredients. Each ingredient has been chosen for its ability to increase elasticity, soften and soothe. Even after pregnancy, it's moisturizers and vitamins will rejuvenate your skin and reduce the appearance of those pregnancy lines. The aromatherapy blend provides a calming and uplifting citrus fragrance that envelopes and relaxes. All of the ingredients in Pyur Belly Butter are 100% pure and natural and have been screened for safe use during pregnancy. But you don't have to be pregnant or postpartum to enjoy the benefits of this rich body butter! This organic body butter provides deep moisturizing to anyone with dry skin. 4 oz
Ingredients: Organic Aloe Vera Juice, Rose Distillate, Organic Shea Butter, Organic Calendula Extract, Cocoa Butter, Avocado Oil, Carrot Oil, Witch Hazel, Vitamin E, Kokum Butter, Mango Butter
Price: $19.95 US
Throughout my pregnancies, I've had the pleasure of testing a multitude of pregnancy balms and lotions, yet very rarely will you find one which actually has the consistency of spreadable butter...Pyur Mama Belly Butter does! It spreads on evenly and leaves your skin with a healthy sheen....the perfect healthy pregnancy glow!
Thickness: Consistency of spreadable butter
Scent: Light citrus, reminds me of sweet, spring blossoms
Certified Vegan
Thickness: Consistency of spreadable butter
Scent: Light citrus, reminds me of sweet, spring blossoms
Certified Vegan
Certified Organic Ingredients
Packaging: Recyclable
Pregnancy Soap: Look, No X-E-MA! Soap by Four Elements Herbals
This soap will not only ease itching and irritation, but it cleanses fantastically and will leave you smelling yummy!
In my seemingly endless search to find an all-natural, non-drying body soap bar to use on my body during pregnancy, I stumbled upon this soap at Whole Foods Market. At $5 per bar, it isn't cheap, but wow - it does work well!
This soap, designed for those with extremely sensitive skin conditions such as eczema, works beautifully on pregnant skin that is stretching, dry, and itchy! After a few days of use, not only did my itching stop all over my belly and hips, but my stretchmarks from previous pregnancies actually look to be healing! I'm literally amazed.
The manufacturer does not market this product to pregnant women however the herbal blend is perfect for use during pregnancy and really works well as not only a cleanser (it leaves you feeling squeaky clean without overdrying) but also as a natural skin moisturizer! I HIGHLY recommend this soap!
Pregnancy Balm: Bella B Tummy Honey
Once my favorite belly balm for pregnancy, this small company sold it's line to corporate giant, Learning Curve, and they changed the ingredient list completely.
I've been using Bella B tummy honey butter since 2005, when we were pregnant with our first child. The high herbal concentration with all natural ingredients made this a very desirable balm for me, and it worked so well to prevent itching and stretchmarks.
Recently, the brand was bought out and although the price remains the same at $20 for one tub of tummy honey, the ingredients have all been switched around and changed. For example, cheap Aloe Vera is now the #1 ingredient, not shea butter. Fragrance, which used to be near the end of the ingredient list (meaning a very small quantity), is now up near the top of the list above all of the herbs. Most of the beneficial herbs have been stripped out of the product and instead the fragrance of the herbs has been added in large quantities.
Despite these obvious changes, I decided to give it a try, afterall, it had been my favorite for years. Sadly, after 3 applications, my skin was itchy and bright red, a thorough scrubbing with soapy water relieved my tummy. Two days later, I tried again in vain, my not-so-sensitive skin obviously was reacting negatively to this new product. It is because of this reformulation that I cannot recommend this product any longer. If you are able to find old stock in a boutique or online (the paler yellow tub that does not have aloe as it's #1 ingredient), I wholeheartedly recommend you stock up!
Mama Cloth: Imse Vimse Organic Menstrual Pads
For heavy flow days and overnight, this waterproof organic cotton menstrual pad is EXACTLY what you want and need! At $13 for 3 pads, this is one of the best priced mama cloth products on the market!
The downside? Since there is a waterproof polyurethane layer, there is less breathability than with a wool backed pad, but of course much more than a plastic lined disposable. These only come in natural, undyed organic cotton, which leave them looking dingy and brown with stains after use. You can sun some of the staining out, but there isn't any way to get rid of it all. Of course, personally, I really don't care about the staining because it is a darker taupe color stain and it's only in use when it's going to get stained again anyways! For more color and fabric options, I recommend Fussybutt Moonbows, Brooke's Nooks & Fannies, or Party in my Pants brands!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)