Does Mommy Love It?

Oh!  I always feel as if I’m on a perpetual quest for a multi-functional bib! As I was searching the web, I stumbled upon a new line of bibs called Silly Billyz Bibs. The idea of the pocket bib really is a brilliant one! I loved this concept because my son was just beginning to self feed and felt this might be the perfect bib for this stage. The “pocket bib” comes with a huge pocket so it catches every crumb that is dropped from my son’s mouth!  With Silly Billyz pocket bib, I appreciate so greatly that this product is PVC and lead free. You can choose between 100% cotton with snuggle neck or comfy fleece, both have a water-proof nylon backing to protect the clothes underneath.  This makes it very secure for the bib to stay on my son.

So with the combo of an absorbant material, large size and a food catching pocket, this bib is great. It’s also machine washable!  Check out other great types of bibs from Silly Billyz Bibs and you will be pleased!

This review is based strictly my opinion. Others may have a different opinion or experience with the product listed above.  Silly Billyz Bibs provided a pocket bib, and I provided my honest opinion. No other type compensation was received for this review.

No Comments | In: Accessories, Ages- Newborn to 1yr., Ages- Preschooler, Ages- Toddler, Feeding, Food | tags: absorbent, Feeding, pocket, Silly Billyz Bibs. | #

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED!  CONGRATS, AMELIA L., YOU ARE THE WINNER!

I try to find as many food and storage containers without plastic as much as possible.  It was easy with the help of a wonderful Canadian based website called Life Without Plastic.  They grabbed my attention with their name alone!  Life Without Plastic’s mission is to offer products that are completely devoid of plastic.   However, because our society is so heavily dependant on plastics, some of their products do include high quality plastic components but they have little or no contact with your food or beverage.

One of my most favorite lines of Life Without Plastic is  Sanctus Mundo!  Sanctus Mundo is earth-friendly, an ethically manufactured product with outstanding quality.  I received their stainless steal hot meal container.  I now have a thermal food container with a lid made out of stainless steal to store my sons food in as we picnic at the park!  It is vacuum sealed, watertight, and BPA free.  Life Without Plastic has taught me that not all “stainless steel” is of the same quality.  All of the stainless products they carry are of exceptional quality! Sanctus Mundo makes the most lovely kid dishes such as the frog collection above.

I wholeheartedly support Life Without Plastic and recommend our green lovers to seek out this site for some of the best earth friendly food storage products on the market!  In addition, to the Sanctus Mundo line, they also carry the best airtight and reheatable food containers.

Life Without Plastic has offered a stainless steel frog dish set and one 12cm airtight container to one of our readers!  To enter, simply visit Life Without Plastic and leave a comment here on our site with your favorite product!  For additional entries:

1) Subscribe to Does Mommy Love It? then leave a comment stating you did so.

2) Twitter about the contest and leave us a hyperlink to the tweet!

3) If you haven’t, please join our FACEBOOK FAN PAGE!

4) Write a post on your own blog about this giveaway and comment with the permalink to this post.

5) Grab our button and put it on your sidebar and comment with a link to your blog.

6) Email 5 of your friends and tell them why they should check out DoesMommyLoveIt?. Be sure to COPY us on the email (doesmommyloveit@gmail.com)! Then comment stating you did so.

This contest ends Nov 5th, 2009 Midnight EST.

Click here for contest rules at DoesMommyLoveIt.com!

60 Comments | In: Accessories, Kitchen | tags: Accessories, BPA free, eco friendly, Feeding, kid dishes, Life Without Plastic, lunch boxes, Organization, Sanctus Mundo. | #

What is this plastic moon shaped piece?  It’s a spill guard for a toddler’s plate, aka My plate mate.  It teaches a toddler to use a utensil and minimizes clean up.  It’s a plastic piece that easily attaches to plates 8″- 9″1/2″ wide. It is designed for ages 2+ and it is made in the USA (which is always a plus in my book).

I had no problem attaching it to all my daughter’s plates It even has a ridge to help hold it in place.  After watching my daughter use it a few times, it did seem to help the food from being pushed off the plate.  However,  considering all of the kid friendly plates that are available, I wouldn’t say that the plate mate is the most helpful.  I typically lean towards towards just putting food in a bowl if it seems somewhat messy.  All in all, I would recommend it if you are wanting it to be easier for you toddler to successfully get food off a plate, without using their hands.

No Comments | In: Ages- Toddler, Feeding | tags: Feeding. | #

Presentation is everything.  I am more apt to plan and organize a healthy lunch for my child when I have something functional and fabulous to place it in!  It makes for such tidy meals on the go.  Dante Beatrix designs such creative insulated lunch boxes for kids.  They are made with laminated canvas that makes for easy cleaning and include a place to write child’s name on back.  And best of all, they are PVC, phthalate, and lead free.

 In addition to lunch boxes, they also design very simple, yet ingenious products such as backpacks, children’s tee shirts, stroller totes, and mini luggage.  I love the creative images they place on each of their products.  They are simple illustrations that are as interesting to you as they are to your young one!  You can purchase this lunch box for about $34.00.

No Comments | In: Ages- Elementary, Ages- Preschooler, Ages- Toddler, Feeding, Kitchen, Organization | tags: Accessories, Dante Beatrix, Feeding, Food, Lunchbox, Organization. | #

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED!  CONGRATS, AMY!  YOU ARE THE WINNER!

People always comment on the fact that I like my kid stuff to blend with the style of my apartment.  Can I help it?  As a New Yorker, I live in such small quarters.  As soon as my son was able to eat on his own, I began searching for chic and modern children’s utensils and dishes.  Well, here it is: Melamine Snack Set and Placemat by notNeutral.

This line is so very fabulous!  They managed to be eco-friendly and stylish. This six-piece set comes with two trays, cup, bowl, fork and spoon.  The set is designed to function from baby’s first dishes to toddlers.  In addition to the Snack Set you can purchase a matching placemat.  You can order this set for $26.00 and the placemat for $14.00.  Other great facts:

Dishwasher safe

Re-usable/recyclable box

BPA free

notNeutral has been generous enough to give one of our lucky readers Melamine Snack Set and Placemat by notNeutral!  Just leave a comment in these ways below:

) Email 5 of your friends and tell them why they should check out DoesMommyLoveIt?. Be sure to COPY us on the email (doesmommyloveit@gmail.com)! Then comment stating you did so.

2) Subscribe to Does Mommy Love It? and then leave a comment stating you did so.

3) Twitter about the contest and leave us a hyperlink to the tweet! (this is worth 3 enteries!!!)

4) Write a post on your own blog about this giveaway and comment back with the permalink to this post.

5) Grab our button and put it on your sidebar and comment with a link to your blog.

6)If you haven’t, please join our FACEBOOK GROUP!

This contest ends July 15TH, 2009 Midnight.

12 Comments | In: Ages- Newborn to 1yr., Ages- Preschooler, Ages- Toddler, Feeding | tags: BPA free, Feeding, Melamine Snack Set and Placemat by notNeutral. | #

This is hands down the most convenient, safe, space conserving booster seat!  The Healthy Care Booster Seat by Fisher Price offers a very functional way for my child to eat at the dinner table with the entire family.  Designed like a miniature high chair, the seat easily straps onto my dining chair and my son eats right off the tray and I place him right next to me.  It can hold up to 45 lbs. and the tray has 3 different lengths to adjust to the tummy as well as an adjustable three point harness that grows with my child.  So, when my child is old enough, he’ll stay secure even when the tray is completely removed.   My favorite part of this is that it provides a truly clean and effectively germ free feeding area.  Since the tray comes off, it can be placed in the dishwasher for thorough cleaning. Plus,  it’s a breeze to wipe down, thanks to the seam- and crevice-free design. By the way, did I tell you that it’s portable?  Although I haven’t use that functionality, it’s a great perk worthy of mention. To be honest, I’m not crazy about the colors or the stylistic aspect of this seat, but due to Healthy Care Booster Seat by Fisher Price’s incredible practicality and space conserving attributes, I’m enamored!

3 Comments | In: Ages- Newborn to 1yr., Ages- Toddler, Cleaning, Family Time, Feeding, Furniture | tags: eating, Feeding, fisher price, healthy care booster seat, high chair, portable. | #

Argh!  I hated everything about this bottle.  Believe me, as soon as my son was born, he loved to eat.  So, being that I was suffering from major sleep deprivation, I was on an adamant search for the bottle that would assist in helping me take a break from breastfeeding.  I thought it would be the Adiri Natural Nurser since the bottle features the only nipple truly shaped like a mother’s breast.  It had such appeal with a petal shaped vent that  helps reduce colic, and the Fill, Twist and Feed system that is easy to use.  Also, made of soft polycarbonate-free and bisphenol-A free materials. In addition, the 8-ounce capacity bottle is dishwasher safe.  But to my dismay, I just couldn’t stand how much it leaked.  Trying to fill  Adiri Natural Nurser with formula is just a disaster!  The twist cap is  on the base of the bottle and you flip it over so that the nipple with the cover on becomes the base.  It is just illogical!  Even with the cap tightly on, it leaks and when I finish mixing the formula and ready to feed, as soon as I take the cap off, which takes a bit of strength, formula leakes through the nipple.  The idea of resembling a boob works, but the concept is only great in theory.  Carried out, there’s major leakage.  Also, there is no way you can heat the bottle.  Plus, it’s so pricey….$12.50 for one.

No Comments | In: Ages- Newborn to 1yr., Bottle Feeding | tags: adiri nurser, bottle, Feeding. | #

Having two great eaters in my household, snacks around the house is a necessity.  So is having snacks in my bag while I shop, travel, and etc. Also, my second son has started finger feeding himself, so I have decided to carry Cheerios around in the Snack ball container by Boon. I love this container because of the modern, minimal shape and style. Plus, orange is a favorite color of mine. Also, having products that are BPA, Phthalate, and PVC free is a must in our house and Boon’s products like the Snack ball container is. This ball concept is great. Easily slide open the top to get little hands in to pick out their snack, the fun, sphere-shaped container acts as a toy when closed. The rigid form protects the snacks from being crushed. It’s simple to wash, just unscrew the two halves. It’s compact enough for travel and the round shape hold a good amount of snacks. However, I have one complaint. When my son is sitting the stroller, I cannot put down this snack container on the tray because it does not have a flat surface. My son is not old enough yet to hold it and pick the snacks out with his hands. I find that having a flat surface even if it’s a small one to still somewhat retain the circular shape, would make it easier for me because when I need to refill the snack, I can put it down without holding it. Since it’s made without the flat surface, it rolls away a lot and I find myself stopping it.

No Comments | In: Ages- Elementary, Ages- Newborn to 1yr., Ages- Toddler, Contest, Feeding | tags: Feeding, snack ball container by boon, snacks, Travel. | #

My family loves eating out! Being in the city gives us opportunities to check out a myriad of different restaurants. I’m sure many of you have experienced this… after eating at a restaurant, there’s fallen food all over the table as well as the floors and your child is a mess. So, I discovered TinyDiner placemat by Kiddopotamus. It’s a portable placemat that provides a safe, clean eating surface. The raised edges contain spills and mess and built in lap scoop catches crumbs and drips. Your little one eats directly off the mat, avoiding dropped or thrown plates and bowls. My youngest son has started to feed himself cheerios and we don’t have a stand alone high chair due to space restraints, but have the one that fits right under your table, so this works great for my situation. Plus, it suctions right to the table so I don’t worry about the placemat scrunching up. I love the fact that I can just roll this up and take it with me to restaurants! Unlike other placemats, the TinyDiner is reusable! It easily cleans, just wipe off with warm water and soap. Did I also mention the material is 100% waterproof, phthalate, lead, BPA, latex, and pvc free? For the artsier kids, it also provides an ideal surface for drawing, painting and craft projects and easy clean up!

No Comments | In: Accessories, Ages- Newborn to 1yr., Ages- Preschooler, Ages- Toddler, Feeding, Food | tags: dining, Feeding, TinyDiner Placemat by Kiddopotamus. | #

Since bottles and sippy cups are a major part of a baby’s life, I find it very helpful to read a review on the growing number of companies aiming to create the next “best bottle.”  On my shopping errand to Buy Buy Baby, I scurried past the automatic doors and found myself in the feeding section.  Bottles, sippy cups, utensils, and the endless towers of feeding items crowded the walls.  As I was “eye shopping” throughout the shelves, my eyes suddenly stopped and found a bottle I’ve never seen before.  The company is called Green Sprouts. They produce bottles and sippy cups which are made of premium quality of 100% toxin- free plastic, meaning clear of PVC, Lead, Bisphenol A, and Phtalates.  The bottle is very simple and made without an anti-colic valve.  It’s compatible with most major brands with wide neck nipples.  I find that the bottle does the job and the nipple resembles the Avent ones.  Comes in two sizes: 4 oz. and 8 oz.  The sippy is very cute, adorned with a cute image.  Having the handles are great for  little hands like my son’s.  However, they are not removable.  Plus, the sippy comes with a smaller cover for the spout to have firm protection from leaks. The spout is soft and makes it a great transition bottle to a teated bottle to the harder sippy cups!   Both are very easy to assemble and clean. All in all,  Green Sprouts bottles and sippy cups are simple, safe and does the job but lacks some of the important details which other brands have like a valve or removable handles.  These are definitely not for colicky babies.

2 Comments | In: Ages- Newborn to 1yr., Ages- Toddler, Bottle Feeding, Feeding, Green | tags: bottles, Feeding, green sprouts, sippy cups. | #

I pretty much love all products made by Boon.  Now that, my son turned 6 months, I have started feeding solids and have decided to try the Squirt baby food dispensing spoon. This the Boon’s secret…“by combining the spoon and food container into one product, Squirt makes one-handed feeding a snap.” It is a great product and allows for convenient feeding, one bite at a time.  Since my son is not used to swallowing yet and takes a while to feed him one jar of food; however, the Squirt makes it easier for me to feed because I simply squeeze the bulb to dispense just the right amount of food. Plus, there’s no food lingering on the bottom of the spoon to make it messy.  The easy-to-fill bulb holds up to 3-ounces of baby food and attaches firmly to the spoon end.  The Squirt comes with a protective cover to seal food in and keep the spoon clean between feedings.  My only complaint is that when food starts running low, there is a good amount leftover inside the orange handle. When I try to pull the leftover food forward, I have to ‘jerk’ the spoon forward to have the food come out of the opening and that sometimes results in food splashing everywhere. The Squirt is dishwasher-safe, BPA-free, Phthalate-free and PVC-free, and it’s great for on-the-go! Comes in two colors: pink and orange.

5 Comments | In: Ages- Newborn to 1yr., Feeding, Food | tags: baby food, boon dispensing spoon, Feeding, solids. | #

THIS CONTEST HAS NOW ENDED, CONGRATULATIONS JULIE!

Does anyone else get sick of the not-so-cute pacifier holders available at most stores? They are unattractive at best, and they don’t even seem to function well at all too. I’m so happy that Bebe Belay heard this need in the market and answered the cry! It’s been accomplished! Here what they have to say about the origins of their product,

Necessity is the mother of invention, and I was the mother of two little boys ages 1 and 2! I needed a solution to my problem of always forgetting a bib. My girlfriends, who own a baby boutique, needed cute pacifier holders for their customers. So, I combined the two needs into one product that serves multiple functions. I just love a product that can be used for many tasks, and takes up very little of my valuable purse space! So, that was the goal.

By Fall of 2006 a prototype was created & Bébe Belay, LLC was established. Winter brought more research & development, including testing on my own kids, and a pending patent! And finally, it was time for the big reveal in Spring of 2007.

These clips could not be any cuter. I love that they are multi-functional. It is so much easier to carry a Bebe Belay with you than to pack multiple disposable or cloth bibs. They are also completely functional as pacifier holders too. The unique 2-step clipping system help ensure that it will stay attached both to the baby and the pacifier. Don’t fret however, 2 lbs of pressure will break it free from the clips grasp to ensure safety and avoid strangulation.

The Bebe Belay is 10 inches long and comes in 4 different patterns. It retails for around $8.00. Bebe Belay can be bought at these following online retailers:

Baby Innovation – Europe
www.babyinnovation.eu

Innovative Baby
www.innovative-baby.com

Mamas and Munchkins
www.mamasandmunchkins.com

Cammie’s Corner
www.cammiescorner.com

Cheekybubs
www.cheekybubs.com.au

Paisley Monkey
www.paisleymonkey.com

We have TWO Bebe Belays to give to ONE lucky randomly drawn Does Mommy Love It? reader. To enter, leave a comment on this post. For additional entries:

1) Email 5 of your friends and tell them why they should check out DoesMommyLoveIt?. Be sure toCOPY us on the email (doesmommyloveit@gmail.com)! Then comment stating you did so.

2) Subscribe to Does Mommy Love It? and then leave a comment stating you did so.

3) Follow us on Twitter and leave a comment stating you did so along with your twitter name.

4) Write a post on your own blog about this giveaway and comment back with the permalink to this post.

5) Grab our button and put it on your sidebar and comment with a link to your blog.

Contest ends Midnight of November 26th, 2008.

45 Comments | In: Accessories, Ages- Newborn to 1yr., Ages- Toddler, Feeding, Food | tags: baby, bebe belay, Feeding, instant bib, pacifier clips. | #

THIS CONTEST HAS NOW ENDED. CONGRATULATIONS TERRA!

Congrats! You’ve just found out you’re pregnant and have no idea where to start. What kinds of strollers are out there? What are some good websites for reference on parenting? How much should I spend on baby gear? And the questions go on and on and on. Then, you must check out Baby Bargains by Denise and Alan Fields. Featured in People Magazine and appeared in Oprah, the Baby Bargains book has been receiving praise for it’s thorough research and practical advice as well as 20%-50% on everything for baby. The authors cover every aspect of babydom…nursery, cribs, strollers, bottles, feeding, highchairs, toys, monitors, maternity clothes and etc. There is a section that even outlines the amounts of months (based on a 12 month period) each baby gear is used. For example, bassinet is used for the first 3 months of life and solid food doesn’t start until the baby is around 6 months. Each section is broken down into all the brands with a rating system grading from A-F with costs (inexpensive to expensive) and tells which brands are certified and lastly, with their comments/opinions on the item. Not only do they do the rating system, they provide “icons” at the end of each section to help parents-to-be save money, what are the best buys, what are wastes of money, and bottom line which narrows the choices for you and more. This book is the “bible” for all baby products! The best part of all this is that they swear they can save you at least $250 or your money back!

We have ONE copy of this book to giveaway to one lucky randomly drawn Does Mommy Love It? reader. To enter, leave a comment on this post. For additional entries:

1) Email 5 of your friends and tell them why they should check out DoesMommyLoveIt?. Be sure to COPY us on the email (doesmommyloveit@gmail.com)! Then comment stating you did so.

2) Subscribe to Does Mommy Love It? and then leave a comment stating you did so.

3) Follow us on Twitter and leave a comment stating you did so along with your twitter name.

4) Write a post on your own blog about this giveaway and comment back with the permalink to this post.

5) Grab our button and put it on your sidebar and comment with a link to your blog.

Contest ends Midnight of November 23rd, 2008.

26 Comments | In: Ages- Newborn to 1yr., Ages- Pregnancy, Ages- Toddler, Books, Contest, Educational | tags: alan and denise fields, baby bargains, Feeding, gear, nursery. | #

There is no perfect bottle out there, but the MAM Ulti-vent wide mouth transition bottles come close. All MAM bottles and nipples are constructed of Bisphenol-A free agents. The bottle features a fun color variety for boys and girls and has a unique design with an easy-to-read scale for measuring and wide mouth for easy filling. I find that the best thing about these bottles is that it has a new one-piece MAM valve, which assures an air-free flow. Hence, producing a happier baby with less spit up and gas. This is great because the BPA free bottles out there don’t provide a valve system to prevent colic. Also, due to the wide mouth of the bottle, it fits other bottle brand nipples of wide mouth bottles. The interchangeability is great! Did I also mention that it’s way affordable? For $12.99 you get three packs of five or nine ounce bottles each with a No.1 slow flow nipple and cap. There was one thing that did make me skeptical about this bottle. It has a removable base (maybe highly leak causing) that is part of the valve, but as long as it is screwed on correctly and tightly, you will have no problem with leaking. If it’s not, it will cause major leakage.

Check out these other bottle reviews:
Dr. Browns
Soothie
Green to Grow

Don’t forget to leave a comment on the Zaida Baby Post for a chance to win the Zaida Baby Keepsake Book! Contest ends SEPTEMBER 13TH AT MIDNIGHT EST.

No Comments | In: Ages- Newborn to 1yr., Bottle Feeding, Breast Feeding, Feeding, Green | tags: bottles, BPA free, Feeding, MAM, Ulti-vent. | #