Hushamok: Baby Hammock

Our friend’s newly welcomed bundle of joy and his wonderful ability to sleep through most of the night has inspired us to blog about an aesthetically beautiful piece of furniture called the Hushamok. The Hushamok provides a soothing natural rocking motion for your new baby that is designed to mimic the womb. It was designed by husband and wife duo, Mark and Julie Soboil, and after undergoing extensive safety testing, this modern alternative to a bassinet follows SIDS recommendations and the incline helps those babies who are colicky and sleep-challenged as well as infant acid reflux.

Apart from all the sleep benefits, this hammock is gorgeous! It can be bought with an aluminum stand or Okoa stand (constructed with sustainable European beech wood). You can also buy the “My Seat” which functions like one of those swings/soothers that attaches to the stand. The Hushamok is made with modern eco-friendly materials this beautiful piece of nursery furniture is like a piece of art!

iPhone Mom? This Gadget Will Be Great For You!

We always enjoy perusing the new baby/toddler shops that show the newest gadgets, furniture and toys.  Admittedly we haven’t been in one for a few months now but this one caught our eye.  As we toured around looking at the neat activity centers, cribs and strollers, I came across something that only makes sense yet I was amazed it was made.

You see, a long time ago, clip on coffee cup holders for moms were non existent.  But then the world woke up and realized us mom’s love our morning stroll with the carriage to grab our Timmie’s, Starbucks, Coffee Time, Dunkin Donuts, etc.  Give us hands free and give us a coffee holder!  And voila!  Drink holders were built into strollers and if the stroller design didn’t suit that, accessories that cost extra were born (the coffee cup holder clip-on).  It was only a matter of time before marketers ALSO discovered the iPhone mom and so the iPhone stroller holder was born!

The one I saw was for the Bugaboo but they also sold a universal holder for other strollers.  I suppose if you are an avid texter/talker or love checking your facebook/twitter apps multiple times a day, this is perfect.  Let’s face it though, the cellphone has become the new wallet and people just don’t like to leave home without it.  So iPhone mom’s, here is yet another functional gadget built with you in mind!

Read about our iPhone Application at: Grow With Me

Tuesday Top 5: Must Have Baby Products for New Parents

Thanks for all your emails coming in! There are so many mom’s and dad’s who have that one product they are very passionate about, and rightfully so! Sometimes that one product is what keeps mom or dad sane during those trying moments. So we’ve compiled another 5 products from the emails that have come in….

1. The Swaddle:
When you bring your newborn home, swaddling them for nap or bedtime has a way of soothing them by mimicking the feeling of being in the womb. Now they have these blankets that allow you to swaddle without the hassle of knowing how to execute that perfect wrap! Tuck them in the pod, velcro one side, velcro the other side, and you have the perfect swaddle! Easy Peasy.

2. Boon High Chair:
For those of you that prefer a modern, clean design, Boon came to the market a few years ago with the Boon High Chair. Terri emailed us raving about this chair. Her raves? Very easy to clean, easy to roll away, not an eye sore, and flexible to adapt from 6 months to 3 years!

3. Bottle Drying Rack:
We all know that bottle washing is a daily or even twice daily task that we all have to go through. So why not keep your kitchen looking good by having this SKIP HOP bottle drying rack? It comes with a bottle washer and allows your bottles or cups to dry naturally. The bottom also holds nipples, valves etc and the entire unit is dishwasher safe.

4. DSLR Camera:
I don’t think we need to explain this one! This was the number one comment in general from the emails we received. Since DSLR’s have come WAY down in price, it allows parents like us to be able to upgrade our camera and capture the precious moments that pass by so quickly. There is such a huge difference in quality between a point and shoot and DSLR that if you are looking to invest in anything that will pay off in the long run (and mean so much to you when they are all grown up), then a DSLR is a way to go. Plus, Costco is now carrying them in stores and online – woot!

5. The Squirt:
Boon always comes to market with some fab products. The squirt is a handy little tool that you will find very useful once your baby moves into purees. For use while on the go or in the home, you simply put your puree mix into the handle base and it squirts out onto the spoon for feeding. Super great when you are out and about!

We know there are many other products out there that mom’s and dad’s can’t live without, so keep them coming to blogit@growwithmeapp.com and we will feature five new one’s next Tuesday. Nothing speaks louder then the recommendations from fellow parents that have just gone through it and we love hearing your feedback!

Tuesday Top 5: New Mom’s “Must Have” Baby Products

We’ve seen it a hundred times; the new baby checklist that lists all necessities mom and dad should buy to be well equipped in bringing baby home. Sure, we know that baby needs a crib, blanket, stroller, car seat, diapers, wipes, etc. But what about the things that never get mentioned that end up being mom’s life saviour when dealing with the challenges and transition of caring for a newborn (and trust me there are many!). Well we asked you guys what your top ‘go-to’ products were, and while we received an OVERWHELMING amount of recommendations, we are bringing you Tuesday’s Top 5 Today!

There were so many women that responded with some sort of comment surrounding some of the challenges or difficulties they had breastfeeding their newborn. While it is a great experience, many new moms are faced with the surprise that sometimes the baby just doesn’t magically latch on from day one and off you go. But with a little work, some guidance, and a few great products, mom’s can persevere and continue on with a healthy, happy breastfeeding relationship. Here are some of the products recommended by fellow bf’ing moms:

1. My Breast Friend:

This handy pillow has a wrap around design that allows you to position the pillow where it provides you the most support and comfort (think c-section tummies!) and provides good positioning for the baby to secure a proper latch. It also has a pouch on the side where you can store a soother or nipple cream for post-feeding session!

2. Nipple Cream:
Yes, we said it, nipple cream. You wouldn’t have thought so before, but this stuff is gold! When your baby isn’t latching properly it can cause severe pain causing cracking/bleeding nipples. This becomes very hard on the new mom as this is supposed to be a great experience for both you and your baby. That’s when you reach for your nipple cream. Most women recommended the Lansinoh Lanolin nipple cream as most effective – it soothes, heals and protects sore cracked nipples. You don’t need to wash it off as it is safe for breastfeeding and it allows you to continue to work on baby’s latch so you can work your way to a happy, healthy nursing relationship.

3. Hooter Hider:
One of our favorites, the nursing cover, allows you to breastfeed in public anywhere and anytime. From park to airplane to corner store, your baby won’t wait to feed on your schedule, so pack this with you and be prepared. Our favorite designs come from Bebe Au Lait, but you can find them in many places online or in stores now.

4. Bottle Sterilizer / Bottle Warmer:
We had a lot of comments submitted for these two products and since they were similar, we thought we would give you a 2 for 1 😉 Many new parents raved about the bottle sterilizer saying they were able to sterilize about 6 bottles + soothers in under 2 minutes. This was a life saviour when baby was crying out to be fed and cut down on all the prep time. Also, for those babies that liked their milk nice and warm before being fed, we had five or six emails from mom’s that swore by their bottle warmers. It heated the bottle to perfection without worry about scalding or cold milk. Plug it in, press the button, and voila!

5. Cooler / Picnic Blanket Bag:
We loved this product when we saw it in Marnie’s email (thank you Marnie!). This handy bag keeps the milk and snacks cool and when you reach the park, doubles as a waterproof blanket for you and your baby to sit, play and enjoy the outdoors. A must-have for play dates or family fun! The one featured here comes from Skip Hop

We know there are many other products out there that mom’s and dad’s can’t live without, so keep them coming to blogit@growwithmeapp.com and we will feature five new one’s next Tuesday. Nothing speaks louder then the recommendations from fellow parents that have just gone through it and we love hearing your feedback!