I’m always on the search for perfect baby bath products.  Products that are gentle, soothe, and smell divine.  I’m lucky with my daughter because she doesn’t, and never has, had super sensitive skin.  But I still find it important to use gentle products on her young skin.  When I came across Vedababy, I was first drawn to the attractive packaging and spa-like look.  I knew I had to try it out on my daughter.  When the products arrived in the mail it was the middle of the afternoon, but I still threw my daughter in for a bath.  (She loves bath time.)  I scooped some of the Therapeutic Bath Powder. Instantly, I could feel the water become silky, and no wonder why because the powder contains aloe vera powder, lavender essential oil, German chamomile essential oil and Roman chamomile essential oil. The soothing affects of JUST THE WATER is quite amazing on it’s own.  This bath powder is perfect for a tot with dry skin.

Once my daughter was relaxing in her bath, I washed her hair and body with the fresh Shampoo/body wash.  It is ph balanced for all those sensitive skinned babies out there.  Rule number one for me is that the wash MUST LATHER.  Without a good lather I just can’t convince myself that their was a full cleansing.  I need to see it to believe it I suppose.  The wash contains wheat protein, oat amino acid, Roman and German chamomile, lavender to cleanse and calm any skin type.  It has a super fresh and crisp scent that lingers throughout the day.

Everyone knows that even the most moisturizsing of baths can be drying on the skin.  Water just has that affect.  So moisturizing post bath is key for baby soft skin.  Vedababy’s soothing Body Cream uses shea butter, jojoba, and sweet almond oil to hydrate and moisturize, gently comforting and protecting baby’s tender skin. Orange blossom, chamomile and lavender are also added to calm and pacify. The cream goes on smoothe and really sinks into the skin, deeply moisturizing your child’s skin.  The Moisturizing Cream is also a gem.  It was originally formulated for treating eczema, so you know it is a powerful cream.  This premium cream is designed to fully hydrate and treat the driest of dry (and irritated) skin.

Take a peek at VedaPURE’s entire collection of products, for mom, dad, and baby.  All your bath and skin needs have been covered, and covered well.  VedaPURE was created by a pediatrician, a graduate from Harvard College  John Hopkins University of Medicine, Natalie geary MD.  Please go over to her very informative site and learn from the wealth of knowledge there.  Modern Mums

I wasn’t prepared for nightmares once my daughter turned two. Every once and a while she’d wake up screaming “No! No! No!!” It broke my heart, but I figured it was just her fighting her Time Out in her dream. Then suddenly, the day came when she’d say ”I need my blanket” and I would tell her it was in her room. She said “MOOOOOMMMY, there’s MONSTERS in there!” Never before had I heard her say that. In fact, I have no idea where she even knew what monsters were. That being said, I was very excited when I learned about The Shrunks! They make a whole line of toys/tools to help keep the monsters out….for good!

My daughter thought it was hysterical to carry her Fear Bust’r Kit around. I explained to her what each item was and told her that if she’s ever felt scared that she can blow the whistle and *POOF* every scary thing in her room disappears. She immediately picked up the whistle tried it out and then slowly walked towards her dark room blowing it as hard as she could. Let me just tell you, that bad boy is loud and high-pitched. No, really. I’m not kidding. When your kid sees how you run cowering to the corner, they’ll be confident that the whistle will ward off anything scary hiding in their room. Along with the whistle, the kit also contains Safe Zone Barricade Tape, two Fear Free Room Signs and one of their adorable plush Ududolls.

Kids know they see things, even if their parents tell them there’s nothing there. The Shrunks is the first company that came out with items that actually tells children that we believe them and simultaneously helps prepare them with tools to combat their fears and make them feel safe. Sometimes a parent looking in the closet one time doesn’t help calm their fears. Personally I love their Yell’r Megaphone for Children that projects their voice across the house. Sometimes when kids are too scared, they hide under their covers all night, petrified. This helps them quickly and confidently call for their parents when they need reassurance. Check out all of The Shrunks great products here and put your child’s fears to rest for good. 

Thanks to The Shrunks for providing samples for this review

Our favorite kids music is back for another giveaway, and just in time for the holidays.  What is one of the most important things to put you in the Christmas mood? Music of course.  Putumayo has released a collection of holiday CDs that both you and your kids can enjoy.  They are festive while still teaching you and your kids about other types of music.  So while you are decorating the house with all the trappings of the season, pop on a Putumayo CD and get in the mood.  And when the kids are in bed fast asleep, put the CD back on (you know you love it) and have some spiked eggnog (recipe to follow later).  Hear a sampling of the tunes here.

To purchase a Christmas Putumayo CD go here.

To WIN A FAMILY CHRISTMAS CD, leave a comment telling us which holiday album you want most!  We have TWO winners this time!!

EXTRA ENTRIES: Please leave a comment for every extra entry you complete

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Contest ends November 29th at Midnight PST.  US Residents only please.

Congratulations Erin R. you won the Blush topless undershirt giveaway!!! Thank you to Blush for the great product for our readers. If you didn’t win, head over to Blush here to head over to Blush to pick up one for yourself! Be sure to enter the discount code welovebloggers to receive a discount off of your entire purchase.

NBRKAJWYKADG

Dr. Andrew Weil, M.D. is well known for his teachings about healthy living, smart eating and natural medicine. In fact, the last time I was checking out at the local organic grocery store, I saw him on the cover of a popular health magazine. Dr. Weil recently started a new line of baby products to ensure that our babies stay safe and healthy with naturally BPA and toxin free items.

I have to say, these items are gorgeous and modern while also being safe for our babies and toddlers. The Dr. Weil Glass Nurser Bottles come in 4 oz glass and 8 oz glass sizes with stage 1 slow flow silicon nipples (faster flow also available), which are the ideal size for newborns. One of my biggest pet peeves with nurser bottles are all the pieces. I felt like we were always doing dishes with thousands of pieces when my daughter was an infant. Each of my old bottles had five pieces. I used them because they were BPA free and had an air venting piece that helped keep bubbles out of my daughter’s belly. Dr. Weil has stepped up the game. He’s created a very impressive and easy to clean, one-piece AirWave Venting System. This system is clinically proven to reduce colic and was developed by world-class engineers.  They also make a line of BPA free plastic nurser bottles called the Tritan. These come in 5 oz and 9 oz bottles and use the same innovative AirWave venting.

After your child is ready to graduate from a nurser to a training cup, Dr. Weil’s Training Cups are 5 oz. and made with the same revolutionary Tritan material as the BPA and Toxin Free plasic nursers. These are also made with the standard AirWave venting and somehow does all this with fun, bright, modern colors and still with only using a few components. From here your child would move to the 9 oz. Drinking Cups with all the same features as his other impressive items. One of the best parts is that all of his items are dishwasher safe!

Dr. Weil has also expanded the line to include the new WeilBaby Ortho Pacifier. They come in a two-pack of blue, clear or pink and are made of 100% toxin-free silicone. Orthodontic pacifiers help the natural development of teeth and gums and can be used day or night. Their innovative design doesn’t impact sleep for your baby.

WeilBaby has an exciting offer for our ITKM readers. They’re offering a discount on your entire order when you use the code ITKM during your checkout. Click here to check out all of the WeilBaby products and to place your order today! Want to check them out first? WeilBaby is also sold at select Babies R’ Us stores for you to check out! They should be nation wide early next year! Stay tuned for, Dr. Weil’s new Hospital Grade Breast Pump available in retail stores early next year!! 

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Thanks to WeilBaby for providing samples for this review

Thank you again to Cupcakes & Pastries for another awesome giveaway.  To purchase your own C&P dress head over to their site.

We have THREE winners today!!

1. Wendy – free dress

2. Janice Whitaker – 20% discount code

3. Julie L -10% discount code

Congratulations ladies!!!

We posted about Plan Toys a couple of weeks ago sharing our adoration for this green company and the exceptional toys they create. They inspire creativity without the plastic and obnoxious, battery-operated noises. Their toys truly are made with the highest of quality.

We were able to review Plan Toys Airport. My daughter is slightly airport obsessed. Probably has something to do with friends and family member coming and going at the airport regularly. Nonetheless, she flips out every time she sees an airplane or when she takes a ride with us to the airport. When the Plan Toys Airport arrived, it did not disappoint just like the other Plan Toys items we already have. The craftsmanship is top notch and the vehicles and figurines that come along with it speak for themselves. When my daughter saw this, her hand covered her gasping mouth and her eyes almost popped out of her head. She hasn’t stopped playing with it! Time for me to buy more Plan City items!

Sarah: Living next to the airport and a top hospital that has frequent MedEvac helicopters, my daughter sees a lot of flying contraptions over our house.  She sits on the patio and points out every one and screams with glee.  She was so excited to play with the airport and I couldn’t pry her away from it.  She even took all the parts she could to nap time with her!  Another quality product from Plan Toys and a favorite for my daughter.

With the holiday season quickly approaching, head over to Plan Toys to see their selection of green toys. You’ll be impressed with the premium quality of their items and with how their toys truly captivate your child’s attention without using plastic, flashing lights and noises. Click here for a list of online retailers or to find a store that carries their toys locally.

Want to win a Plan Toys Airport? Plan Toys has an exciting opportunity for our ITKM readers. We have one Plan Toys AIRPORT to GIVE AWAY! Such an amazing toy to win especially before the holiday season.

To Enter: leave a comment below telling one other item from Plan Toys’ entire line that is also on your Wish List. Click here to see their collection

EXTRA ENTRIES: Please leave a comment for every extra entry you complete

1. Blog about this Giveaway
2. Follow us on Twitter and Tweet this Giveaway
3. Link this Giveaway in Facebook
4. Link this Giveaway on Myspace
5. Join our Facebook Fan group
6. Digg this Giveaway
7. Reddit this Giveaway
8. Post a link to this Giveaway in Cafemom
9. Join our Message Board Forum here
10. Subscribe to our Blog

Giveaway ends Sunday, November 29 at Midnight Pacific. Giveaway is open to US Residents only. Winner will be chosen randomly using a random number generator via random.org. Winner will be announced and emailed directly on Monday, November 30.

The transition from sippy cups to regular glasses can cause your cupboards to be filled with all types of hideous plastic cups. Silikids has created a silicone sleeve called Siliskin Glass  that’s BPA free, non-toxic and hypo allergenic. Because their silicone has a few open pores, it does not harbor or promote bacteria or fungus growth. The wonderful part is that the silicone keeps your precious glasses from breaking when your little one drops it on the floor. This lovely product can be boiled to sterilize and is also dishwasher safe.

The 6 oz Siliskin is the perfect size for little hands and has grippers on the side of the glass to prevent slipping. This is the perfect modern solution for training your Toddler to drink out of a glass, while staying away from plastic but still being modern. We were sent a Siliskin to try out for this review and was really impressed with the overall product. Plastic scares me. Even if it’s BPA free, plastic does not break down over time, so it’s not the greenest option on the market. This product really helps calm the fears of using a glass that’s safe, durable and modern. To purchase your own Siliskin Glass, click here.

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The founders of this idea are brilliant.  What do your kids wear the first year of their life EXCLUSIVELY?  Onesies.  You put them on with pants, under sweaters, under pajamas, AS pajamas… so they should be of the best quality possible.  b.b. bliss has come out with a line of onesies and hats (more garments to come) that are made of materials based on athletic performance wear.  They feature a 4 way stretch, are breathable, fast drying, moisture wicking, odor resistant, non-wrinkling, and UV resistant.  Oh and they are SUPER soft.  I wish I had these onesies for all those nights my newborn woke up soaked in a sweaty cotton onesie.

How did they come up with this no-brainer idea?  Well in 2007, a professional lacrosse player and new dad Bill Daye struggled to find comfortable clothing for his active newborn.  He was puzzled as to how the baby apparel industry was so FAR behind climate controlled clothing for babies.  He took it upon himself to remedy this problem.

How did he do it?  b.b. bliss’ mastery over moisture comes from Dri-Lex’s® hydrophobic (moisture-hating) polyester and hydrophilic (moisture-loving) nylon. This combination creates a 2-Zone Comfort Lining® resulting in a push-pull effect that deploys moisture to rapidly dry away from skin. SOLD!

Erin: My daughter sweats. Comes from a long line of sweaters on her Dad’s side of the family. She was born in Chicago as we approached the hot and humid summer and everyone kept telling me to dress her in one additional layer of clothing than I was wearing. Poor kid probably felt like I had her in a steam room. My husband is a firm believer in climate controlled clothing, so b. b. bliss is really a dream come true for this family. It’s incredibly soft and comes in some very fun and fresh colors.

Well it’s your lucky day! b.b. bliss is generously offering up a 15% coupon for In The Know Mom readers.  Simply add ITKM15 at checkout for your discount.  Purchase here.

When my daughter was first starting out with eating fruits and vegetables, I had heard of making my own baby food. Problem was that I was still in survival mode. I thought that making food was time consuming, complicated and expensive. I thought it was much easier to head over to the grocery store, pick out my selection of the week and then head back home. Once she entered into the finger food stage, things changed. She became picky and so I had to get more creative. I started sneaking in pureed vegetables into whatever I could. I was on fire, I made dozens of every kind of vegetable purees you could imagine. I’d dedicate an entire day to it because it involved several steps. Some required baking the I’d puree them in the food processor. Others would steam on the stove top before heading to the food processor. All steps required a ridiculous amount of dishes. At this point I realized how much money I really was saving by making my own purees. I also realized that it’s not as hard as I thought….just requires a lot of clean up. I’ve seen Beaba’s Baby Cook on the market for quite some time. But kind of thought “Is that really necessary?” Well, read on!

I opened the box from Beaba and it was pretty easy to put the entire Baby Cook together quickly. Even with a toddler tugging at my pant leg chanting “What you doin’? What you doin’? What you doin’?”. I read the instructions to cook my carrots. Okay, fill water in container to the fill line according to the type of food and pour in reservoir. Similar to my morning coffee, easy enough. I snap in my container just like the food processor, press the switch and it’s already steaming. On the stove it takes me about 10 minutes just to boil the water! Within just a few short minutes, the light turns off. It’s DONE! Okay, so the first step was easy, how about the next! So I use the handy dandy spatula stick to lift out the steamer basket. I pour out just a little bit of water that was at the bottom of the container after all the steaming. I leave in a little bit in order to have enough liquid to puree the carrots.

From here, I put the container back on the cooker. I tip my steamer basket to drop the carrots into it, insert the cover, put on the top on and bam, I’m pureeing. You can use the spatula to clean the sides off of the container while you are pureeing if any of the food clings to the sides. The entire process was done in no more than 15 minutes. Then as if that wasn’t good enough, I only had a few small items to wash!! I had wondered if Beaba’s Baby Cook was really worth the money, and I’m here to tell you that it is. It will save you so much time, which as moms, we need all the extra time we can get. It will save you so much money by making your own baby food. Lastly it will save your hands and frustration from all those dishes!   

One of the best things about making your own baby food is that you don’t need to add any additional fillers, sugars or preservatives like you can find in jarred baby food. The Baby Cook is so versatile, you can cook vegetables, meats, fruits and even grains! This way, as your children get older, you can make thicker purees to give them a chunkier consistency. In their manual, they even give you several recipes for great fruit and veggie mixtures to make for your child’s growing palette.

If you make your own baby food, then you probably also freeze small portions to be used at a later time. Previously I was putting my purees in freezer safe sandwich bags. This is not only awful for the environment, but it costs a lot of money. Beaba’s Multiportion Freezer Trays are made from BPA-Free silicone and designed with seven separate 2 oz cups for freezing. To use a portion, simply slide one out of the tray and heat it up in the Beaba Baby Cooker or in the microwave. These are truly exceptional trays and the ability to have seven purees in one container is also so convenient. My freezer is organized! You won’t find me digging through the freezer looking around for that last puree of beets that I just KNOW is in there…(somewhere).

Want to buy a Beaba Baby Cook and Multiportion Freezer Tray of your own? Click here to find local and online authorized stores. You can even find them at your local Williams-Sonoma store! This is a definite Must Have for your Holiday Wish List!!

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Thanks to Beaba for providing a sample Baby Cook for this review

I often find myself laughing hysterically over some little saying my daughter just muttered. While chatting with family members, I may mention her little diddy. But then what? That hysterical, clever moment is usually forgotten. I found My Quotable Kid online a month or so ago and ordered it. It’s a hardcover book filled with roomy pages for jotting down their hysterical little one-liners, conversations or little moments heard from afar. Also included in the book is a bound-in photo window where you can add your favorite snapshots to help personalize this keepsake. Whether the intent is to keep these moments for future genearations or to just share with family members, this book is the perfect solution to help lock in a piece of your childs life to cherish for years to come.  Purchase here.

LACY!!! Congratulations Lacy!! Thank you Wee Squeak for the fabulous Giveaway!! For those of you who did not win, you can purchase a set of Wee Squeaks here. Winner chosen randomly via Random.org and has been emailed.