Bump and Beyond

The process of traveling with little ones simply feels daunting at times. We have traveled a lot as a family and installing the car seat on an airplane is one of the tasks we dread most. As a child safety advocate and nationally Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, I am a firm believer in car seat safety in vehicles and even on airplanes.

On the other hand, I am a parent and empathize with anyone who has to carry on and install a car seat on an airplane. Car seats are heavy and depending on the aircraft, they are not always easy to install. I can recall one flight in which couldn’t properly install our car seat because the seat was too small. The airline industry is also using smaller planes in order to fill every seat and save money, making it more difficult to install a big bulky car seat. Let’s not even get into the difficulty of trying to monitor an active toddler while you struggle to install a car seat. Thankfully, there is a solution!

CARES is a child restraint system designed to keep children age 1 or older weighing between 22 to 44 pounds safe during flights, yet convenient for parents. CARES weighs just 1 pound and is incredibly easy to install, even for the super uncoordinated person like me.

Children should be harnessed in an airplane until at least 40 pounds so they need to be in a car seat or CARES harness. CARES attaches to the airplane seat and connects with the seatbelt. It is made of high quality webbing just like the airplane seat belt making it incredibly safe and durable.

Keep in mind that it may be difficult for a smaller child to see out of the airplane window as with a car seat because using CARES, the child sits directly on the airplane seat. However, CARES makes traveling much more pleasant for you, the parent. You can gate check your car seat and save your back simply by placing CARES in your carry-on bag.

Gone are the days of carrying a big bulky carseat on an airplane. With all the extra space you save, you can bring a few toys to keep your toddler entertained! Also, if you are feeling less stressed, your child will too. Traveling with one car seat is a struggle, and multiple seats is enough to make your want to just stay home! CARES truly makes flying simpler for families with small children.

http://www.kidsflysafe.com/

You've designed your nursery layout, ordered the furniture, and even chosen the paint color. All you need is to deck those walls! Something classic and timeless would go perfect right?

Baby Chick Designs has created just that! Choose from a variety of classic themes from ballerina to safari for a creme de la chick nursery.
 
The designs are brainstormed, drawn and painted right here in Houston, Texas by artist Harriet Babchick. Baby Chick Designs offers canvas reproductions and fine art prints making it possible for everyone to have a beautiful nursery. Using only the highest quality lead-free printing techniques, the art is sure to last for generations to come.
 
Want to Baby Chick your nursery walls? Receive 10% off your entire order using Premier10. Offer expires 12/31/2011.
 
http://www.babychickdesigns.com 

 

As a mom of a toddler with eczema and personally dealing with it myself for as long as I can remember, I know the value of keeping symptoms under control. We all know Halo for those amazing sleepsacks. If you don’t know, click here to check them out. However, did you know that Halo makes pajamas that cater to little ones with skin problems? 

HALO® ComfortLuxe™ Sleepwear is made from exclusive ComfortLuxe™ fabric breathes better than cotton to keep kids sleeping comfortably all year round. It wicks away moisture and also helps keep lotions and creams on the body instead of wiping off onto the pajamas. This way, if you are putting creams and ointments on to help those eczema flares up, it stays on!

HALO® ComfortLuxe™ Sleepwear has been awarded the Seal of Acceptance by the National Eczema Association. The sleepwear is also breathable and wicks away moisture super fast which helps reduce flare ups and further skin irritations. Amazing right? I say yes!

Visit the www.halosleep.com store locator to find them!

Expecting and want to look fabulous? Pickles and Ice Cream is a must stop for the expecting mom who wants to wear the hottest trendy styles that are comfortable and last throughout your entire pregnancy! Gone are the days of the Moo-Moo and in with the fashions that you want to wear even if you’re not expecting. From jeans to the professional look to gorgeous evening wear, Premier Baby Planning loves Pickles and Ice Cream.

You will also find some of our favorites like Best Chairs, Bravado nursing bras and Skip Hop diaper bags and more. Houston owner, Dawn Wilson, is a mom of three who wants to make expecting and nursing moms look and feel their absolute best at all times.

If you are in the Greater Houston area, check out Pickles and Ice Cream in the Galleria area at 1800 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 6150, Houston TX 77056. Best of all, if there isn’t one near you, order online at www.picklesandicecream.com.

The drought in Texas kept the mosquitos away all summer long. Recently, we got a few drops of rain and it seems like all of the mosquitos on the face of the earth are in the city of Houston! If you are like me, you don’t want to see your child suffer from itchy bites. My poor toddler was being eaten alive. Although I have yet to find a completely mosquito-proof solution, I have discovered that my 1-2 mosquito punch method that has helped significantly. Here it is!

The Anti-Bug Stick by Badger works wonders. It is USDA Certified Organic and does not contain any DEET or petroleum. 

For even more protection, I double up with California Baby Bug Repellent Spray. This way, I can get the clothes covered too! It doesn’t contain toxic chemicals and is also DEET free!

As a family often on the move, I love the portability of My Carry Potty. I knew I had to have one when I first spotted it! My Carry Potty was one of my favorite products in 2010. Here’s why:

• Bagless making it simpler for clean-up and better for the environment
• Lightweight, yet sturdy and super easy for a toddler to carry
• Leak proof and odor proof
• Only one piece so no moving parts

Although My Carry Potty was my potty seat of choice, my toddler preferred other options. Recently, the inventor and designer of My Carry Potty, Amanda Jenner, introduced George and Hollie and the Magic Carry Potty book! The story is about twins George and Hollie learning to use a magical My Carry Potty.

The book is the perfect complement to a My Carry Potty. It’s fun, short and a child can easily relate to the story. It even includes a reward chart and stickers. My toddler was very intrigued by the story and often requests it during reading time.

George and Hollie and the Magic Carry Potty book has also increased his interest in using the My Carry Potty. He has used it at home, when out and about, and recently on a trip to Louisville. I am happy to say the My Carry Potty is my potty of choice for families on the move! Visit http://www.mycarrypotty.com for more information.

When I was pregnant I spent hours trying to decide if I should purchase Huggies or Pampers. It was all I knew. Then I ran across someone talking about cloth diapers on a message board and I was hooked! The person mentioned that cloth diapers may actually help your child potty train faster so you better believe I hit the ground running with research!

I asked a lot of moms about cloth diapers, but most just thought I was nuts for even asking about them. I finally found someone in my moms group to give me some guidance and websites to review.

Deciding to cloth diaper can be a fairly easy decision. It saves money, can be better for the environment, and you avoid having those nasty chemicals like gel and chlorine touch your baby. However, with all of the options available, it becomes overwhelming and trying to make the best decision can feel burdensome.

When deciding to cloth diaper:

• Consider your situation. Are you going to be staying at home or working full-time? Some daycares will not allow cloth diapers no matter what.
• Don’t be afraid to cloth diaper part-time.
• It’s okay to ease into it and start with a few prefolds and covers, a few pockets and AIO’s or AI2’s to see what you like.

Some of my favorites are:

• Under the Nile prefolds with Bummis Whisper Wraps and Thirsties covers. Use the snappis if you wish. However, feel free to try them without. I was too uncoordinated for snappis and the prefolds with covers worked just fine. Econobum and Bambino Mio also have great prefold and cover starter kits.
• For pockets I love Fuzzi Bunz, Bum Genius and Blueberry. All have good color options, snap and one-size options and are leak proof!
• For AI2’s (All In Twos) I love GroVia and Itti Bitti. Recently, I used an Itti Bitti Tutto and my son said “I like this nappy” and that was a first! 
• For AlO’s (All In Ones) I love my Bum Genius. They still fit my skinny 30 pound two year old. 
• For hybrids, check out G Diapers or Flip diapers. 
• For swim cloth diapers, Mother-ease are great. They are sized, but the adjustability allows the diaper to grow with you child. I Play diapers are also amazing. In fact, our swim school only allow I Play swim diapers! 

If you don’t have a store which sells cloth diapers in your area, try visiting these stores online:

• Nurtured Family (If you are in the Houston area, you can go to the Nurtured Family boutique or order online. 10% discount for in-store purchases with the Premier CityCard!)
• Abby's Lane
• Cottonbabies

For more information on cloth diapers in general, check your local stores for cloth diapering classes, hire me, talk to other moms or visit Diaper Jungle online.

When I first laid eyes on a Bibagogo, I knew it was a winner. However, after using it, I now know just how valuable it really is! We were going away for a long weekend and I’d left the Bibagogo and bag of snacks on the kitchen counter. Apparently, mommy brain even goes past the one year mark :) When we got to our destination, I purchased another brand of bib from a children’s store. My son is a messy eater so I really wanted to have a bib. I then realized that I hadn’t given enough praise to my Bibagogo. This bib was velcro instead of snaps so my little one ripped it off with ease. It was also so short that his clothes got dirty anyway. Bibagogo has spoiled me! The high quality materials used make a world of difference. I ended up tossing the low quality $24 bib purchased on the trip before the trip ended.



The proof is in the pudding. We went out for breakfast this morning and of course we used the Bibagogo. Toward the end, I moved my coffee to the right so that I could move everything that the waiter could take away to my left. Sure enough, my son grabbed it and spilled coffee all over himself. Don’t worry the coffee was well cooled by then! I just knew we would need to change his clothes. Nope! The coffee landed on his lower legs and feet only! Nothing my Green Sprouts wipes or the wipe that comes with the Bibagogo couldn't handle. Everything else was completely dry...no change needed!



Bibagogo is great for when you start solids and want to get away from using the cloth bibs. It is large with a deep front pocket and adjustable so it lasts throughout the toddler years. Also, the pockets in the back make it so easier to carry utensils, a wipe and crayons to restaurants. Just roll it up and stuff it in your purse or bag. It is machine washable and dries super fast. Get one for home and for your car. That’s all you’ll ever need! Check it out at www.bibagogo.com.

I had a blast on Tuesday night speaking to a group on Moms at a private event. We talked about the dirty dozen and clean 15 courtesy of Healthy Child Healthy World, my take on going green with ease, and some of my favorite green products! Going green for me is staying away from harmful chemicals and using long-lasting or dual purpose products so I am not making too much of a contribution to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

  

Green Sprouts Disposable Compressed Wipes 
Discount available for Premier CityCard Members!

Clean Well Hand Sanitizer and Wipes

Oh Baby Organic Skincare Baby Butter

Episencial Soothing Cream

MD Moms Sunscreen and Silky Liquid Powder

Naturepedic Lightweight Series

Nook Sleep Systems Mattress, Toddler Pillow and Blanket

Green Buds Crib Mattress

Sprout Baby Food 
Click for Recycling and Environmental Details

Happy Baby Breakfast Smoothies
Click for Eco Packaging Details

Dapple Dish Liquid

Little Remedies Fever Reducer

My Carry Potty

Bibagogo Roll and Go Bib

Go GaGa Nomad Changing Pack

I firmly believe that all expecting parents, yes Moms and Dads, should take a birthing class. Be as it may, how do you determine which one to take? Well, you want to consider your situation and options as soon as possible. Some classes are longer than others, they fill up quickly, and babies can come early so your don’t want to wait until the last minute.

If you aren’t sure of your options, consider My Birth Class! It’s a prenatal education kit that can be completed at home, on your own time, at your own pace.



My Birth Class is taught by Becky Rasmussen, a Certified Child Birth Educator and mom of seven who has given birth medicated and unmedicated. She offers a refreshing approach to child birth education with her desire to encourage you to learn your options and make the best choice for you. Becky is immensely passionate about educating expecting parents. My Birth Class is ideal for:

• Busy professionals who are time-starved
• Those who aren’t sure what kind of birth they want or birthing class to take
• In the latter part of your third trimester and you haven’t taken a class yet

Use My Birth Class on it’s on or supplement it with a local in class child birthing class in your area.

http://www.mybirthclass.com/