Baby Bond Nursing Cover Up-Review

I recently had the chance to review the Baby Bond brand nursing cover. It comes in Original, Flex, and Couture styles. I actually entered a contest for this item previously because I had never heard of it and thought it looked amazing!

Why do I say "amazing"? I nursed my daughter for 10 months. I'm not one of those mama's that has a hard time seeing other moms nurse in public but, it wasn't for me. I have a tendency to be more modest, and I have larger breasts which didn't make for easy cover up.

I did the blanket thing a few times but, even then it wasn't all that comfortable. I didn't actually purchase an actual nursing cover, I would usually just go into the nearest restroom, the car, or somewhere that was established for nursing. Honestly, I nursed my daughter in some of the most disgusting areas to try to do it modestly. I've nursed her in a bathroom stall standing up, I've nursed her in smelly bathrooms...well, you get the point.

I was a first time mom and I really didn't know what all was available. The Baby Bond is nice for a number of reasons. You have the option of wearing different tops, you have the option of nursing discreetly in public, you have the option of covering up your mid section while nursing, and you can avoid covering your baby's face which in some instances is impossible!

I like that this was created by a mom for moms. I really like the color choices and that it fits easily over you like a sash. It allows bonding time which is one the prime reasons this was created, and it looks a lot like an infant carrying sling so many people won't even realize at first what it is. These are all wins in my book so, I take pleasure in talking about this product and giving it a thumbs up!

Baby Bond is giving a 25% discount until January 20, 2010. Just enter "wannabe" when checking out and it will register the discount. Hurry and pick this up for someone you know or yourself, you'll be glad you did.

*thank you Baby Bond for providing a nursing cover for review*

Rosy Baby/Sling Carrier Review

When I contacted Rose, I was very curious to see how the slings she carried were made, and enjoyed the fabrics that were chosen for the line of slings she has in her shop. It was a pleasure working with her, she is very amicable and helpful. I explained my body shape to her and she sent me a sling suggestion that has worked out very well for me!

I am new to this sling business. I desperately wanted one for my daughter who is now two, when she was born. I had one but, it was a cheap, mass produced one that later had some recalls. I wasn't able to hold her close to my body, nurse her, or do things hands free really because the ring would slip and it hung too low on my body.

When I received the Baby Sling-Hybrid I was pleasantly surprised by how well the sling was made and put together. This is a ring sling, the benefits of which are being able to adjust it quite a bit. It is made with a sateen material which does in fact, feel like soft "bedsheets". It is a hybrid of a pouch and sling in one, and comes with a closed sling tail. Traditional open tail slings are a lot more adjustable but, I really had no problem cinching it up or letting it out. I have a large bosom so comfort is a big deal for me, there is plenty of material and stretchiness in the fabric to make this an incredibly comfortable sling.

The rails of the sling are lightly padded to go up against baby's leg. The shoulder area of the sling is also lightly padded to help with pressure distribution. I really liked that feature as I was holding my 25 pound daughter in a hip carrying position. She felt secure, the weight felt distributed well, and she really enjoyed being carried around by mama.

The site also includes a very informative "how to" page which is especially helpful for newbies like myself. There are so many ways to carry your baby and toddler. There is a sling comparison page that shows you what different carriers are used for to help you pick out the one most suitable for yourself. This site was a complete package for me regarding a baby sling. Oh, and did I mention super affordable?

Mod Mum Review and Giveaway *CLOSED*

Modmum carries a line of beautiful baby slings and I was so excited when they agreed to do a giveaway with me! I was struck by the fun, modern look of the slings as well as their prices. They offer a few designs that are reversible and neutral, which was a big thing for me. When you are having a baby and not finding out the sex, or just trying to plan ahead, you want some modern, neutral choices to choose from. I found that Modmum had a great assortment of colors and pattern choices.

Their sizing is actually very accurate. I was a little worried that it may not be but, when I tried on the sling and put the baby in, it was no problem. Their slings are a pouch style so they are not adjustable. It's very important that you go by their sizing guide or you'll end up with something too small or too big and it won't be as comfortable and could even be dangerous.

I chose Emily and was very pleased with the colors and material. It's very sturdy feeling but, it's light. I've never used a sling or pouch before so I needed a good guide. Modmum has an excellent how to page! They link to videos that show you exactly how to put it on, put the baby in, and take the baby out. They also show pictures of different holds that you can do with their slings. I was a little intimidated and wondered if I could get the baby in and keep it in without harm.

I want to welcome all the blog party people to this giveaway! Go check out all the other great giveaways going on at the blog party. Run. The party ends May 10, 2009.

Buy It

You can purchase your own Modmum sling on modmum.com. There's a page with some great sale items right now! Also, there's free shipping on standard orders. That's a deal.

Win It

Enter here to win a Modmum sling of your own! Please go to the Modmum site and tell me which sling is your favorite.

Extra entries

• Put the Modmum button on your site
• Follow Me
  

This contest is open to everyone, you do not need a blog to enter. Please leave your email address or have it in your profile. If you don't I can't award a prize to you. If you don't follow directions, all of your entries will be invalid and you won't be eligible to win.

Contest ends May 10, 2009 at 11:59 PM Arizona Time

Baby Sling Giveaway

thearmywife.com is hosting a giveaway for a modmum baby sling of your choice! They have gorgeous fabrics and modern design. Enter to win one for your baby. Great Mother's day giveaway.

Wildflower Diapers-Review

I live basically in the Phoenix metro area. Since I've been doing reviews of products, I decided that I would really like to review some local places that are right outside my door. It's always nice to give back to your local community as often as possible!

Awhile ago, when I was interested in venturing into my own business, I came across a wonderful site called Wildflower diapers. I found out that they were also a local brick and mortar and residing in Scottsdale, AZ. They had tons of natural, cloth diapering, baby carrying options to choose from. I also found out that it was run by a mom named Shannon Doan. I am always excited and amazed when I see women taking their own initiatives to make sure they do what's best for family. I also found out that employees are able to make a great work/life balance by bringing their little ones to work.

Shannon sent me an awesome, stainless steel feeding set to try out with my daughter. The makers of thinkbaby made up a set in a neutral orange, that contains two bowls, a cup, a platter, and utensils. The outside is plastic but the food touches stainless steel. It's easily washable on the top shelf of your dishwasher or hand washed. My daughter loves it and I love it because it's BPA free and contains just the right portions for her. The little dishes also have a plastic lid so that you can store their leftovers in the fridge or pack a lunch with it.

Since she is local, I thought it would be fun to get to know her a little better,so I asked her some questions and she graciously answered.

Tell us a little about who you are

I am mama to 9 year old Riley and 4.5 year old Ella. Before Wildflower Diapers, I worked for Arizona State University as a Botanist (my master's degree is in Plant Biology).

What made you want to start up Wildflower diapers?

My desire to start Wildflower Diapers was out of necessity! When my daughter was born, there was nowhere in the Phoenix area that sold the cloth diapering supplies I needed- not even an online store (let alone a brick and mortar store!). I was searching for products like Happy Heinys and Fuzzi Bunz and all the nifty accessories that I knew existed in online shops in other parts of the country. I became frustrated with ordering online and receiving items that didn't work or didn't fit. At the same time, I was having serious doubts about returning to work after my maternity leave. I was able to take Ella to work with me at ASU for about 7 months, but I was very worried about what happened next.

How long has wildflower been in business.

We started the Internet business from our home in May 2005, and moved out of the house in June 2006.

How did you come up with the shop name?

I had a list of about 200 names that my friends and family came up with! None seemed to quite fit. In the end, I thought about what I love, and what images make me happy. My research in Botany centered around the plants of the beautiful Sonoran Desert, so "Wildflower" seemed appropriate.

I see you're giving baby wearing classes now, is that becoming popular?

Baby wearing has been popular for thousands of years, and continues to be the norm in so many places around the world! We are definitely seeing an increase in interest from parents over the last few years. They have figured out that the easiest way to calm and nurture your baby is to hold him or her- it's what babies expect and need, but is very difficult to accomplish for busy parents as we only have 2 arms! So many great baby carriers are now available that give parents the free hands they desperately need, and allow baby to be right where they want to be. We always say a "worn baby is a happy baby"- and research supports that, noting that worn babies cry less, spend more time in a quiet, alert state (for ideal infant mental development), are more likely to be securely attached to their caregivers (and thus more independent at an earlier age).

Tell me a favorite item in your shop and why?

That is such a tough question- everything is a favorite at one time or another or it never would have made it into the shop! I have 2 favorite things we always recommend to new moms, whether they are cloth diapering or not. The first is the Gypsy Mama Stretchy Wrap- it is a great wrap for first time baby-wearers and allows you to wear baby right up against the front of your body. It distributes baby's weight so evenly that you don't even feel like you are wearing a baby "carrier." I used to wear my daughter in it for 7-8 hours a day. Secondly, we are in love with our Ju Ju Be Packabe diaper bags- they are such beautiful, well-made bags with so many thoughtful little features. They are sized great for cloth diapers but still compact for carrying, and will fit enough diapers for a day, even if you have 2 children in cloth!

I enjoyed working with Shannon and getting to know more about her and her shop. I think she carries some wonderful, top of the line products, and I think it would be worth a peek if you are at all interested in cloth diapering, baby wearing, organics, etc.