Thursday, 2 January 2014

Value nappies are they a true cost saving?



Mamia Ultra Dry Maxi Nappies - Size 4


https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/product-range/baby-toddler/award-winning-mamia-nappies-wipes/




These nappies are definitely value for money 9.4p each. They are cut well which means that they do not dig or cut into my sons legs It was extremely easy to attach to the car and the minute the seal was broken the scent filled the car.It was extremely easy to attach to the car and the minute the seal was broken the scent filled the car.Small and discreet and clips onto your car vent easily and stays thereIt was extremely easy to attach to the car and the minute the seal was broken the scent filled the car.. They have a generous sizing which means that you may benefit from buying a pack smaller -more nappies for the same price! It has some cute animals all over them front and back. They do not have the feel of plastic which some of the other value nappies have. Neither do they rustle when my son walks which some of the cheaper nappies do!  I used them overnight and despite my son drinking 15 oz (!!!) before bed they weathered the challenge and didn’t burst! I was extremely pleased about this as some of the branded nappies have burst in the past leaving crystals all over my son and his bedding.

I was pleasantly surprised at how good they were. They have won the prizes as advertised on the website with good reason.

Tuesday, 17 December 2013

A cure for lower back pain?

THE HIPSEAT

£39.95



http://www.hippychick.com/index.cfm/product/hippychick-hipseat-992



The product could be thought of as the next step after the baby carrier. It is aimed at children from 6 months although I think that the child needs to be able to support themselves a little too and therefore I feel its probably safer for children over the age of one.

The hip seat works like the “bum bags”- ie it has a strap that ties around the waist. In the pocket of the “bumbag” is a light weight polystyrene seat that the child sits on. In this manner it helps to distribute the weight of the child on BOTH  hips. This is a clever design as the main skeleton of a person weight is distributed on their hip girdle. Consequently you are keeping your spine aligned at all times – as otherwise a child sits and their weight is carried on a single hip. The lower back muscles are also supported, preventing long term damage to the back.

The product is made of strong material with good quality stitching. It comes in a variety of colours and can be washed in the washing machine. It has a Velcro belt as well as a plastic safety belt fastener making sure that its is secured well around the person carrying the infant. It can be easily adjusted to different sizes. There is also an extra clip to fasten the excess belt material once it has been tied around your waist. It is comfortable to wear. The belt itself is very light in weight.

The product is good if you child is at an age that requires a lot of carrying. Or if you have on going problems with your lower back. It is also useful to prevent long term back problems. My son is 18 months and when he was ill he was very clingy and I found it helpful to wear this to carry him. Practically if your child is becoming independent and spends more time walking around this product is a bulky item to carry around with you in your bag or pushchair.  However if you have a planned day out where you know the child will become tired not want to sit in their pushchair and want to be constantly picked up this product is very useful.

Wednesday, 11 December 2013

No more bumps in the night!





http://www.hippychick.com/index.cfm/product/dream-tubes-single-bed-guard-cotton-699

It has a simple design but it is a very useful product. At a basic level it has two blow up tubes that fit into a compartments either side of a single bed sheet. Allowing the child to sleep in the middle but preventing them rolling out of the bed.

The tubes sit in the pockets of the sheet means that you do not feels the plastic against the child’s skin this adds to the comfort of the product.

I thought this product was really good. It is useful to help in the transition from cot to bed. It is better than the bed sides that can be bought as it covers the full length of the bed. This means that your little one can not slip out at one end of the bed.

There is ample room between the two tubes. This means that it can also be used for larger children or children with special needs. The sheet can be laundered in a standard wash and the tubes can be sterilised with sterilising solution making it a hygienic product. It would be a useful product for hotels to stock – prevents parents rearranging the hotel furniture!

The product is compact and light weight making it brilliant to travel with. Its like an upgrade to the travel cot but without the 15 kg weight allowance! The only criticism is that it doesn’t come with a neat bag to keep all the bits together. The portable nature of it means that it can fit nicely into a suite case to travel abroad. Alternatively its great when you are going to dinner at a friend or family member who may not have a cot.

Tuesday, 26 November 2013

A solution to the baby’s bottle addiction?


http://www.bickiepegs.co.uk
 

I love this cup. I wish I had known about it earlier. As soon as I gave the cup to my son he was able to drink out of independently. Initially a very little spill but within 5 minutes he had mastered it! The unique style of the cup means that the child can actually see how much he needs to tip the cup as he can see the fluid level coming towards him.

As soon as you start weaning you can use these cups – about 6 months. It helps to protect against dental decay as unlike the bottle the fluid does not stay for long periods of time in the mouth. It can be used for milk and water. The action of sipping from the cup strengthens the muscles of the mouth helping them to develop for chewing and talking.

The cups come in a variety of different colours. They can be washed in the dishwasher top rack. I have even heard that some mothers have skipped the bottle stage all together and have gone from breast feeding to cup!

Friday, 22 November 2013

A solution to road rage?


http://www.febreze.com/en-US/products/car-air-freshenerIt was extremely easy to attach to the car and the minute the seal was broken the scent filled the car.
Febreeze has recently launched an air freshener especially for cars. The device  is compact and stays fixed onto the air vent. It does not keep falling off like many other car air fresheners. It works by the air coming through the vent to circulate the smell. There is no need for any batteries or electrical sources. As soon as the seal is pierced the scent fills the car. It even reaches the passengers in the back. There is a small gage on the freshener that you can increase to neutralize smells quickly. This is useful for the stinky take away that you have picked up.  There are a number of smells to choose from. They have a fluid level to tell you when the air freshener is running out. I like this as it tells you in advance that you need to buy one at your next supermarket shop.

I think that some of the smells are a little overwhelming. Each packaging has a scratch smell so that you can smell it before you buy. I think that this is useful to help you choose which you like. The blossom smell is a little sweet may appeal more to women ; on the other hand the New Zealand fragrance is more likely to appeal to men as it is a more spicy!  

If you find the right smell it may even have a calming effect in traffic - the solution to road rage???

Wednesday, 20 November 2013

No more splish splash plop!

                                                          http://www.pourty.co.uk/products/pourty/


The product has been thoughtfully designed. The anti-splash mechanism is the sort of thing that only a parent that has experienced the beauties of potty training can appreciate.  The unique part about this product is that whilst emptying a conventional potty you pour the contents over the area where the child sits as a result the pee dribbles down the side of the potty and goes everywhere. This doesn't!

Instead this Potty has a unique pouring duct at the back of the potty. This enabled you to be able pour the poo and pee at the back of the potty without any dreaded splashes. You can adopt a “no touch technique” making the whole process quicker and more hygienic. No more arguing over who has to clean out the potty!

The ergonomics of the design is good too. My son enjoys sitting on it. We are still in the early stages of potty training as a result he is spending long periods of time on and off the potty. The height of the potty is good which means that he can quite easily get on and off of it. I think at the moment he sees it more of a comfortable chair. With the back edge higher than the front he can recline whilst seated on it – I’ve even caught the little monkey sitting on it with his feet crossed in front of him whilst reading a book!!

It’s a good value  price. Despite its simple design it is much better quality than the cheaper plastic ones. It is made of a good quality plastic that is thick and sturdy. It will take the weight of a good sized child without cracking. Further it won’t be knocked over easily when its full.

I think that the product is also great for nurseries and public places where people having to clean potties regularly. No one likes cleaning pee and poo and further its harder when its not your own kid! The fact that this prevents any spills and splashes makes an unpleasant task a bit more pleasant!

Tuesday, 19 November 2013

Baby bath bubbles that popped!


 
 
 
 
 
I used this for my son’s bath and I’m afraid I was a little disappointed.

 I didn't  like the smell of the baby bath as it smells very chemically.  Most of us mothers like to feel that we are putting natural products on our little treasures skin and this reminded me how synthetic the product is.

It has a gel consistency that is clear/white.  Whilst using the product it did froth up nicely and created some bubbles in the bath – which he enjoyed.

My little one was not phased by the product he in fact enjoyed bursting the bubbles and washing his bath toys with it! Apart from the slightly synthetic smell this product is very much in keeping with its competitors on the market.