Mom's the Word giveaway
Nursing covers (my favorite is Bebe Au Lait's Hooter Hiders in cream eyelet) are one of those mommy things that makes having a baby more fun and convenient, right up there with the Boppy, pacifier covers, a good baby carrier and anything that helps baby sleep.
Elementary parenting stuff made cool.
After three kids, I know I don't have to have those pee-pee teepee covers to avert diaper changing geysers (a tissue or napkin will do just fine), nor do I need the $1,600 Louis Vuitton diaper bag. (My sister bought me a cute Petunia Pickle Bottom one at 75 percent off from a store that was closing. Otherwise, my old one still works.) And no, my little one will not be wearing a $190 checked Burberry dress.
But every year, there are new products and baby items out there that make parenting easier and/or just more fun.
The byword of all things baby these days is eco-friendly, so items boast about being green and free of chemicals, solvents, and other yucky stuff. Think hypoallergenic, all-natural, organic, and sustainable. Another byword (at least for me) is affordable. But if it works, I will pay more for it (Wonder Boy had sensitive skin as a newborn and the Mustela line of baby products was the only one that worked for him.)
What are some of the newest products making waves these days?
Epicuren Baby is the all-natural immune boosting skin care for babies and kids beloved by a devoted following among childbirth professionals and Hollywood 's new moms.
Kim Walls, Episencial's CEO and a mom, of course, was inspired by "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle and so came up with a baby skin care system inspired by that book. It that includes a high concentration of organic ingredients and fruit extracts that nourish the skin and (this is a big one for me) everything smells terrific.
"As a mom, I'm proud to be able to offer honestly effective and green products at a reasonable price that can be found at stores I shop at all the time," Walls said.
Priced between $5 and $15, the line will be available this month nationwide at stores such as Whole Foods and Target. Go to http://episencial.com/sproutbaby/ and get 20 percent off your order through Nov. 15.
Even my 7-year-old liked the Twilight Turtle from the Cloud B company, which turns any room into a starry sky, complete with a constellation guide for bigger kids. My baby loves staring at the amber, blue or green stars almost as much as she loves snuggling with the Gentle Giraffe, which offers soothing sounds such as....that relaxes baby and me.
Aden + Anais offers sleep sacks and a new line of burp cloths that double as bibs, hence its name, the burpy bib. All made of muslin, like its popular multipurpose and huge baby wraps, the sleep sack is perfect for California climes and the burpy bib is all I use these days. It's shaped to drape nicely over your shoulder, gives you lots of coverage, its reversible, and it doubles as a bib. I love its soft, breathable weave. (The company's new Web site launches Nov. 15 at www.adenandanais.com or follow them at Facebook.)
It's no surprise my favorite baby gear and accessories are made by parents themselves, since who better to test out products on than your own small wonders? In the end, every parent gets that the No. 1 baby must-have isn't what Angelina Jolie's kids are wearing.
It's what works for you.
But wait! There's more! A reader of Mom's the Word can win a muslin sleeping bag from Aden and Anais by leaving a comment with your baby must-have. These sleeping bags won an IParenting Media award for best products this year. Winner will be selected randomly on Monday, Nov. 16. Good luck!
baby wipes!
Best new baby thing?
Loopies! Look like shoes - really socks.
Babylegs! Great for potty training in the cold winter mornings.
Congrats, Elaine! You win the Aden and Anais sleeping bag. Email me with your snail mail address and I'll send it to you ASAP! Yay!