Baby's Best Friend

Does your baby have a favourite lovey or blanket?  Sleepybear has never fallen madly in love with any particular toy.  We have been using the Peppa Bonding Doll in the Tino the Bunny design.  He does like it.  I used to put it in the car seat with him to hold or suck on to fall asleep with.  Now that he is older, we have one in his crib and home and one at daycare.  Both have been in bed with me for a few days so they smell like momma.  He likes them, but can definitely sleep without them.

I have given the Peppa doll as a gift to a few fellow mothers at baby showers or as a gift for baby on a birthday.  Some swear by it (a little girl won't sleep without it and has named it after me) and some don't need it or care for it at all.

I would like to introduce a lovey to future bears.  We could stick with Tino, as we love the organic cotton and wool.  Plus the fact that there are no loose parts to pull or fall off is very nice.

Do you have any tried and trued lovies in your family? 

High Style High Chair

When your little one hits about the 4 month mark, it seems like an optimal time to start searching for the perfect high chair.  Your baby is starting to sit and hold their head up, and is almost ready for solids.

At first, we got by with a First Years Deluxe Reclining Feeding Seat.  We fully reclined the seat, strapped Sleepybear in, and provided him with a few Lamaze toys to play with.  This way, he was able to participate in family meals without being confined to a swing on the floor or laying in a bassinet staring at as awkwardly.  Hubby and I wanted to teach Sleepybear about family mealtime and have him interact with us on a new level.  It was a huge success.  Sleepybear loved being at the table with us, and enjoyed playing with his toys in an upright position.  When he began to sit unsupported at about 6 months, we wanted to upgrade to a proper high chair.  We loved our little space saving seat, but it seemed so flimsy for permanent usage.

For our high chair, we needed a chic seat that would not become an eyesore in our kitchen.  I hate the look of plastic high chairs.  They fall into two camps: the cheap looking and the modern.  Neither of these suit my style.  I love wood.  We have beautiful hardwood floors in our century old home, and wood always looks good.  I wanted something that would be easy to clean, comfortable for Sleepybear, has an attached tray or can pulled up to the table, converts into a toddler chair, and looks incredible.  After countless hours of research, I narrowed it down to five chairs:

The Stokke Tripp Trapp

The Keekaroo Height Right

The Svan Signet

The Hilo Chair

The OXO Sprout 

Our final decision came down to what would be the easiest to clean and which chair was the most bang forr your buck.

The Tripp Trapp, while lovely, was just too many purchases to equal one high chair.  You need to buy the chair itself, then you need the cushion set, the baby set, the tray, and possibly the tabletop surface.  We were looking at roughly $600 for one high chair.

The Keekaroo was more affordable than the Tripp Trapp, which was my first choice chair.  However, it was quickly vetoed as it is only a 3 point harness.  Give me 5 points or I won't take it.  In addition to this major issue, my husband and I did not like the low back.  Our little Sleepybear is extremely active and cannot sit still even strapped in.  I wanted a soft surface for him to hit in case he decided to smack his head back in his fits of laughter.  This low back would mean he would be putting a lot of pressure on his upper back if he  was rocking in his chair.

 The Svan Signet left us in a similar situation to the Tripp Trapp.  A lovely and sturdy wooden chair that came with too many extras to make it complete.  The price tag for all of the items combined made this a quick no.

The Age design Hilo chair was  an affordable option with a beautiful wooden base.  I couldn't find too many things I didn't like about this.  We ultimately decided against this chair as it was too much plastic for our preferences.  The large plastic seat was what we were trying to get away from, so as not to disrupt the aesthetics of our kitchen too much.  If this chair was a wooden flip seat with a cushion set, we would have sprung for it in a heartbeat.

  
Last but not least is our beloved Oxo Sprout.  There was nothing we didn't like about this chair.  It came in 2 different wood choices - natural birch or stained walnut.  We loved the option for neutral cushions or bright pops of colour.  Best of all, the entire set came all inclusive.  With our purchase we received the chair base with leg post and 5 point harness, an infant cushion set, a tray, and a toddler chair cushion set.

We love the high back on this chair that keeps Sleepybear's head safe and sound with his bumping and rocking.  The birch wood matches our kitchen beautifully.  The adjustable seat height works well whether we use the tray or pull Sleepybear up to the table with us.  The velcro cushions make cleanup a breeze as we  just remove them, dump them in the sink, and place them back in the chair.  Another great feature is the one-handed removal of the chair tray which will lay flat on the table.  I take the tray off with one hand, put it on the table without worries of spills, and grab Sleepybear with my other arm.  As well, the harness straps slide in and out of their slats easily so I can toss them in the washing machine and slide them back without a problem.

This chair is a great purchase and looks lovely with our white maple kitchen table.  Best of all, this chair will last for years.  It will covert to a great toddler chair when we are ready, and easily convert back to a highchair for future baby bears.

What The foonf???

Sleepybear is a big boy.  He came out at a perfectly average 7 pounds 3 ounces, but quickly grew like a weed.  At 7 months of age we knew he would not last the next week in his infant car seat.  It was time to buy a convertible car seat.

Anyone who has purchased a car seat and had it installed will know that the safest car seat is the one that is installed and used correctly.  I wish there was a ranking of some sorts, but the professionals say they are all safe.  Armed with no safety ranking, I was on the hunt for a sleek looking seat that would keep my Sleepybear comfortable and allow room for more car seats in my sedan... when we cross that bridge.

My husband and I hated the look of the Diono car seats, and disliked the Britax lines as well.  We narrowed our choices to the Clek foonf and the Peg Perego Convertible in Alcantara fabric.

The Peg Perego is a sexy looking seat, with a curved look that wraps your baby in style.  The Alcantara fabric is a limited edition option that is as soft as silk and as comfortable as Egyptian cotton.  It is breathable, light, easy to clean, and smooth against your skin.
My two options are of similar price, roughly $500.  This may seem absurd to some, but we wanted a seat that was functional and chic.  Truthfully, there is really no price on safety and comfort for Sleepybear.

The Clek foonf is a stunning little tank.  The colours, sleek lines, narrow design, and incredible height offer a great view for baby and a great look for momma.  I was very hesitant about getting this because of the weight (weighing in at 40 pounds).  However, the weight of the seat is due to the superb construction which is there to protect your little one.

We decided to go with the foonf for various reasons.  The Peg Perego had some lovely features, but just did not seem as strudy as the foonf which has the REACT system.  The foonf will absorb the impact of a crash in a crumple zone, taking it away from the little one riding in the seat.  It is the same technology used in the manufacturing of cars.  I love this feature.  While it made the seat absurdly heavy, I knew that our son would be as safe as can be in his colourful little tank.  The foonf also comes in a wonderful colour selection, extremely narrow 17 inch width, and some other fun features which I describe below. 

The foonf has turned out to be a breeze to install.  While on vacation recently, I installed the seat in a cab at the airport, and in my mother's convertible, in 10 minutes.  The seatbelt lock-off is a great feature which makes installation quick and painless.  While it was heavy to lift into the cars, I was very impressed with how this large seat could fit into a converitble.

The high seat height allows Sleepybear to look out the windows and see the world around him, which is great news for a mom whose baby hated riding in car seats.  Now he is occupied by passing cars, trees, and the busy streets.

The colour we chose was the Paul Frank Julius Stripe.  It is bold, colourful, and looks great in my white sedan with black interior.

Sleepybear loves riding in this seat.  The foonf is a wonderful Canadian-made seat that should set the new standard for car seat manufacturers.  We bought it, installed it, travelled with it, and have been 100% happy every step of the way.  A few of our favourite features are:

-Anti-rebound bar in rear-facing position
-Magnetic clips to hold harness open
-High seat height
-Seatbelt lock-offs for installation
-Narrow seat
-Crypton fabric which is waterproof and stainproof
-Extended rear-facing weight limit
-Steel and magnesium frame for strength and durability
I highly recommend this car seat.  While I am sure we would have been happy with the Peg Perego, we are in love with our Foonf.  Know I know what the Foonf is about.
The Canadian Clek Foonf is the ultimate in car seat safety and style.

Ultimate Momma Style Nursing Wear

After sleepybear was born, I was stuck at home for a few weeks due to my c-section recovery.  My nursing wardrobe consisted of pajama tops and cheap Motherhood Maternity Nursing Sleep Bras.  When it came time for me to venture out, I desperately wanted some chic nursing tops.  I was still getting the hang of wrestling a baby under a nursing cover so I wanted a functional nursing top to feed sleepybear discreetly.  A lot of the tops at the generic maternity boutiques just did't fit the bill.  They were dowdy, bulky, and anything but beautiful.  After scouring the internet for high end maternity fashion, I found a large selection of beautiful nursing fashion.

Isabella Oliver
Isabella Oliver made up the bulk of my maternity wardrobe.  This English brand delivers timeless style with incredible comfort.  I spent a small fortune ordering directly from their website, but it has been worth it.  The clever ruching of their signature jersey fabric hugs your curves and conceals your baby weight perfectly.  My favourite nursing piece from this label is The Essential Nursing Dress, as seen below.

Seraphine Maternity

This other English staple has been a favourite of Kate Middleton herself.  I have loved their maternity wear, as seen on the Duchess during and after her pregnancy.  These clothes are made of wonderful fabrics with innovative nursing access points.  I love the dresses, tops, and nursing sweaters.  My favourite piece is the beautiful Maternity and Nursing Sweater in bamboo.  This top has beautiful popper details along the shoulder for nursing access.  The bamboo fabric is incredibly soft and breathable.  It is about as smooth as silk, but without the fuss.

Mothers en Vogue
Mothers en Vogue is a Singapore-based label devoted entirely to chic nursing wear.  You can find a stylish nursing top, dress, or tunic for just about every style.  There are different access points for nursing, depending on your preference.  I prefer side-seam access from this brand, as it allows for the most discreet nursing with a baby who hates being under his nursing cover.  The best top I have from this line, which is both comfortable and helps hide my postpartum body, is the Britney Bubble in both the tank and long sleeved style.

All of these labels provide high-quality clothing that allows you to be a nursing version of your former stylish self.  I saw no reason to enter the world as a mother looking dowdy and uncomfortable.  I chose a nursing wardrobe that represented my personal style and highlighted my best features while downplaying my post-baby physique.  The fabric choices are all soft, breathable, luxurious, and machine washable.

Nursing wear does not have to be uncomfortable and ill-fitting.  These brands provide you with the ultimate in Momma Style for all your nursing needs.

Hot New Stroller Coming to North America!

Mima, a relatively new baby gear development out of Europe, is ready to bring their cutting edge designs to North America.  I am so excited to try out their stunning strollers. 

The Xari is a beautiful single stroller, similar to the Stokke Xplory.  It has a narrow and modern chassis, rounded seat, and sits very high up.  The colour options are incredibly chic.  One particularly special feature is the 2 in 1 seat design: the bassinet zips up to become a standard stroller seat.  This is a very innovative feature which gives Mima a competitive advantage over Stokke.

The Mima Kobi is their answer to a double stroller.  It is quite similar to the Xari but with a larger chassis.  The Kobi can be used as a single and later converted to a double.  I am not a huge fan of tandem or stacked doubles, but I am willing to go for a ride with this beauty.






Stay tuned for a detailed review.  These strollers look very promising!