Tuesday, August 4, 2009
What really ended up being the best and worst buys
Totally Worth it:
Yoga Exercise Ball: This item was great pre-pregs and earned a spot on the list for its baby soothing ability post pregs. Bouncing on this ball with the little guy calms him right down and allows him to give in to his sleepiness. It does hurt your back a little at first but my husbands thinks it seems to work his abs at the same time so no one is complaining. I am telling you pick one up...at the very least for a little variety in the baby bouncing area.
*Sassy Sleep Positioner- I was told not to buy this at a baby prep class so I returned it. And yesterday I went out and rebought it. Henry is being treated for acid reflux and with its 30 degree angle this item is perfect in his crib and in the stroller bassinet (Bugaboo Frog).
Vibrating Baby Lounger: We have a modern lounger that looks great but does nothing. Another mother friend of mine was so right when she said style is great but you will catch on that the more plastic and the more crap on an item the more they love it. This thing can be a life saver at times.
Aden+Anais muslin baby wraps: I love, love, love these. They are over sized and perfect for more than just swaddling. They have stretch which is so important in a swaddling cloth. Don't make it harder on yourself and always have a swaddling cloth with stretch.
My Little Lamb Infant Swing: I searched low and high for a non-ugly swing but I had my come to jesus that they all are just ofensive and so I gave in. The Dwell one is the most stylish but word on the street is that is has zero power. After all my research this got the best user reviews and I love that the seat has an infant position and one for when he is older. You Must Shop Aroundfor the best price. Kohl's had it for the cheapest: free shipping and with tax it was about $130.00. At other sites it ranges from $150 to $180.
Happiest Baby on the Block Book: If you did not get a chance to read this before you had your baby go out and get it today. If you are having trouble soothing your baby this is a must for all parents. I will say you can skip the begining chapter where the Author who is a Dr. talks a little bit too much about how great he is and his theory is and go right to chapter 6...then go back and read the begining stuff. http://www.thehappiestbaby.com/
Tranquil Moments® Sleep Sound Therapy System: Do not knock it until you try it. As recommended by the Happiest Baby on the Block book you will see that holding a white noise machine up to your baby can make them pass out instantly. It recreated the sounds of the womb. Yes you can turn a radio to an AM static channel and yes you can down load these sounds from ITunes but I will tell you that you will want to be able to put this right up to the crib and leave it on for maximum sleep time and you will want one in every room.
Black and White: I keep this unfolded in the crib and by the changing table. Henry fixates on the black and white images and you can really see how locked in he gets because babies can only see black and white in the begining.
You can Totally Pass on:
*Baby Tub: We live in a great but cozy condo in the city and I was glad to see we could pass on this item. Henry gets a sponge bath and that is perfect.
Really Nice to Have:
*Munchkin Wipes Warmer: My baby gets cold easily so this just makes diaper change a little bit easier. I would recommend getting this little add on. I do have a little trouble with the flimsy plastic lid but I like enough that I might just contact them through the warrenty and get a new one. And the night light feature they call out is so minimal. Also keep in mind you need to fill it up with water maybe once a week. Plus this works well with thinner wipes like Target brand but not Huggies. Huggies are way too thick and a waste in the warmer.
Pass on this brand:
Clean Air Diaper Disposal: I got this one because it takes regular trash bags and I did not want one that required special bags like the Diaper Genie. However I am not a fan of this brand. It fills super quick- meaning it is often full before weekly trash night and the lid can be fussy to close. Also the batteries that operate the odor free air filter run out in like a week. Pick another brand.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Cord Blood Banking
JULY 22ND 2010 UPDATE:
Have to call out that this company has sinced moved all operations to Las Vegas. I am still with the company but I am disappointed that they are no longer local!
My husband and I have decided to bank our cord blood. Not only do we think it is important but his little brother died at age two of leukemia so it really was never a question of if we were going to do it. Selecting the right one proved to be a harder decision and I found it really overwhelming. Because of this I thought I would share how I chose a company.
At first I thought I would do it by price, reputation and years in business. The prices all seemed to be in the same range with a start up cost of around $2,000 and then approx. $125-$150 a year for storage. Please note that you can use the cord blood you bank for one child for your other children. We all get swamped with e-mails and mailers from ViaCord so I knew about that one. CRB is also a popular one that I started to see a lot. But I quickly caught on that cord blood banking is apart of the pharmaceutical industry. Which explains why we get so many mailers from ViaCord. Pharma companies have tons of money to throw at advertising making their company look like the most popular choice. So I really wanted to get to the bottom of who is the best company. One day my research led me to a blog where parents and former employees and current employees of ViaCord and CBR were ranting about both companies. The blog was filled with stories of each company losing the cord blood in transit from the hospital to the banking facility. Some of the damages were blamed on the fact that the companies farm out the pick up of the cord blood at the hospital to a third party courier service. Others shared their stories of how their cord blood was damaged or lost once it was put on the plane after the courier picked it up. One couple was even told that the plane ran over their cord blood package. I mean think about it. How many of us pack back up "stuff" in our carry-ons because we know the potential of our bags being lost by the airline.
Okay so now I was even more overwhelmed but that blog ended up being the best information I found. I walked away knowing what I wanted in a cord blood banking company:
#1 A Local Company: This will prevent the package from having to get on a plane to reach the cord blood banking location.
#2 A Company with its own Couriers: This would place more responsibility on the cord blood banking company.
Majority of cord blood banking companies such as ViaCord and CBR are in California so that ruled them out. A quick Google search let me to CORCEL (www.corcell.com) which is headquartered in Philadelphia. I go in contact with Bruce Ditnes and armed with my information and questions I grilled him about CORCELL. My #1 priority of the blood being banked locally and not having to get on a plane was satisfied as the company banks its blood in Hackensack, NJ. My #2 goal of finding a company that did not use a third party courier would not happen. Bruce informed me that because this is a national industry every cord blood banking company uses a third party courier. I did check that CORCELL did not use the same service courier service name Quick, that was mentioned over and over again on that blog. It looked like I would have to give in on this one.
Also as a side note Bruce informed me that if you, your spouse or the baby's grandparents have Independence Blue Cross or are connected with one of their affiliates you will receive a discounted rate from CORCELL.
In the end I decided to go with CORCELL. I am due in the middle of July and so far I have been very satisfied with the service I have received from CORCELL. Once I sent in my information I was contacted within a couple days confirming where my cord blood package should be sent and when I would like it sent. Since I technically could deliver any day I had them mail it that Friday and I received it that Monday. It is important that you do your own research and figure out based on the information you find what company best fits your needs and concerns. If you are interested in CORCELL visit their site www.corcell.com and contact Bruce Ditnes with your questions: bditnes@corcell.com. He can e-mail you a start up packet that explain everything to help you make your decision.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Toy Trade
You have to love apartment living...if you are a city dweller to raise a baby in the city. And as all urbanites know sometimes the best way to make it through is delivery, delivery, delivery. So I just started looking into the Netflix of of the toy world: BabyPlays.com. Subscribers create a wish list on-line of toys that can be checked out and returned once kids are tired of them. The selection is geared for children 5 and younger. Each toy is sanitized with EPA Approved 100% Natural Non-Toxic Disinfectant before it is send out to you. Check out the website and plans starts at $27.00 for 5 toys for 60 days. The only thing I have to figure out is where the closest FedEx drop off location is. The toys are shipped back in a prepaid box that arrived with the toys. The toys are delivered right to your door via FedEx but must be dropped off at a FedEx location to be returned. Check it out and let me know your comments.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Play it Again!
My husband has been dying to get a camcorder before the baby comes. But I just could not imagine adding to the things we will be lugging around after the baby comes...not to mention the things I will be forgetting I am sure. So when my brother-in-law came over with the new handy dandy FLIP VIDEO I was sold. There are various versions but with a starting price of $149 and its lovable pocket or clutch size *dream music start* Like I will be able to carry a clutch any time in the next 10 years and get away with such little stuff * dream music end* what is not to love. So with my FLIP ULtra the USB hook up swings out from the side and it goes right into my computer. Better yet the FLIP and my computer started talking right away and I did not have to do a thing.
Also I am a fan of the 120 minutes of video time between each download because let's face it this can easily get out of hand.
I picked one up at Best Buy. And since my husband and I have our roles laid out pretty well where I am the "forgetter" and he is the "dropper of all expensive small techonology" I got Best Buy's 2 year warrenty for an extra $44 buck which covers everything but theft.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Cuter than the Baby? Great Items to check out!
Alright I love, love, love this label TOOBYDOO. I just want some great simple outfits that don't have bunnies, birds and ducks. TOOBYDOO heard my prayer or my endless google searches and delivered it right to me. My favorite item is the Chelsea Jumpsuit ($32). I have comp. shopped and these are well priced and the greatest ones I have seen but I'll be honest they had me in the description: reminiscent of sailors at Chelsea Piers. And since some of are not finding out what we are having I greatly appreciate the gender neutral options!
The blankets are also a must ($69). I have the navy and white one, love it and wish they made grown-up sizes! You know what I love the quality and the price how often does that happen?
Check it out and tell them Philadelphia Mama sent you!
Modern Baby Shower
I decided from the very beginning that I was going to throw my own baby shower. Well my husband calls me a control freak and I just think I am a good planner and organizer of really cool events. I am so not the only one that gets shower invites in the mail and automatically thinks of how they can get out of them. It is true I wanted full control of the theme (cocktail party), decor (modern) and games (oh there are so no games at my shower).
So my shower is two Saturday's from now and here is what I came up with. Now I love a deal and I get sticker shock all the time so I will be the first one to tell you that the plan is still evolving but I think I am in good shape.
#1 Guest List: I am inviting all my friends, guys and gals.
#2 Theme: Oh Baby Cocktail Party
#3 Invites: www.Evite.com= totally free and a great way to keep track of RSVP's
#4 Location: The toughest one on the list. I thought in this market I could find a model Loft space that was not being used at night and rent it for cheap. I posted on Craig's List, I call Real Estate Companies, I call Condo buildings but no luck. Then I tried intimate event locations but they really only have wedding prices and you have to use their caterer. Finally the light bulb went on and I realized that all the new fancy Condo spots have "Party Rooms" their residents can rent. I called a good friend living in one of Rittenhouses poshes buildings and she said no problem and $25.00 later- oh yeah I said it $25- I have a hip little location for my party.
#5 Food: Ah what a smack in the face the pricing for this was. I reminded myself this was not a wedding this was a party with 60 of our closest friends and decided light fare and philly favorites were the right way to go. I am going to scoot down to the restaurant supply place in Old City and pick up some giant trays to create one smashing veggie tray (produce from Reading Terminal Market), one killer cheese and fruit tray (Cheese DiBruno, Fruit Reading Terminal) and some other supplies I will need. I am blessed with a brother-in-law that loves to bake so cupcakes for everyone! He is for hire if you need him!
And a to die for tray of Primo Hoagies (husbands addition) to round out everyone's night. I am sure I will add to it but for now that is where we are.
#6 Cocktails: How Could I forget the all important mixer and elixirs for my guest. I already have a large, glass, fancy drink holder (forget the professional name) and I am going to get a couple gallons of the Mojito Mix that comes with everything you need. Toss in a few cut limes and some muddled mint and we are in business. Then some classic bar staples gin, tonic, scotch, mixers- etc. And a few cases of Corona should do it. Oh and I am going to Delaware to get everything- no tax and cheaper.
***Bonus: We asked our friends to skip the hassle of getting a babysitter and bringing their kids- Which it looks like everyone is so I will be picking up a little kids table at IKEA and some coloring books and other fun and shiny things and creating a little go to space for them. Which means I will be adding juice boxes to my drink list.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Subscribe to This:
www.shopittome.com :
All you have to do is fill out a profile of what size you want and what apparel brands you love and Shop it to Me finds where these items are on sale.
www.bluefly.com head here for some upscale goodies and there are plenty of normal clothes for preggers.
www.dailycandy.com: Can't keep up with everything that is going on in the world outside the jungle gym- you don't have to Daily Candy delivers it right to your e-mail. Select your favorite cities and everyday they will give you a cool little tidbit on a great spot to check out, cool thing to pick up or just some painfully hip information. If you are traveling to another city check out he DC archives for the the latest and greatest before you get there. Also why don't you take on the DC KIDS version too...Those other mom have nothing on you...nothing.
www.UrbanDaddy.com: Name is decieving b/c it is not "cool stuff for cool dads." This is where my husband gets his fix on what is the latest and greatest in the top cities. Comes in handy when we are traveling.
www.cozi.com: I do a lot of stuff you know and I have yet to figure out how me an my husband can best keep track of each others events...until now. Check out the family calendar at COZI.COM. Extra bonus I have set it up to e-mail or text him 30 minutes before he is supposed to be somewhere...you know like meeting me for a Dr.'s appointment. Also I have my shopping list right there too and he can add to it if he wants...I am sure I will have to edit his request but hey it is a start.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
One of my biggest and first states of confusion was in finding attractive clothing for my growing and changing shape. The first day you reach for your favorite pair of jeans and realize that you have reached the point of no return and it is just not going to happen it is fair to declare a State of Emergency. Especially for the working Preggers you must keep it together fashion wise. Many of us wait as long as possible to tell our employers and need to work as hard as possible to maintain a sense of normalcy in our physical appearance.
The Best Maternity Jeans
I knew this would be the one maternity thing I would be spening money on and wear to death. My favorite pair are the IO Jeans from IsabellaOliver.com which also come in white. These jeans clock in at $180 / pair and fit like a dream. * trust me order to your pre-preggs size and unless you are short make sure you get them in long.
Leggings - How I love Thee!
American Apparel is the first place I hit up for black leggings for $26/ pair but honestly Old Navy's "work out" leggings are just as good and cheaper...and they always end up on sale.
Tops to Invest in
www.IsabellaOliver.com for special easy pieces. These are great quality pieces that emphasize the belly rather than hide it so when you have told all your friends and your employer these are your go to pieces. I purchased the Bandeau Wrap Top ($115) and I love it. I actually got this one on sale so make sure you keep checking the site.
Department Stores On-line: click right over to the sale section and you will find a lot more than what the actual store has. Shop the items that are one size up from where you are now and don't be afraid to shop out of season -always be thinking ahead. You can pick up some great blousy tops, tunics and anything in jersey. They make everything you can think of out of the jersey/ spandex material.
T-shirts / Knock About
For causal knock about shirts you need a garment that has a mix of cotton and spandex. Gap has really well prices long and short sleeve shirts in basics and in a mix of colors. Keep in mind that added spandex is super important and you will regret it if you buy a t-shirt without it. This is why I steer clear of American Apparel T-shirts because they are 100% cotton and after one wash it they fade and lose their shape making them a waste of time.
DON'T:
I know GAP maternity is easy but outside of the T-shirts with cotton/ spandex it is useless. GAP makes Preggers look like tents and almost all their shirts meet moo-moo standards. You do not have to wear that stuff and those shapeless garments that are made from basic cotton sheeting (that is right no better then your sheets) do not look good on you. Trust me. Please know I am trying to help you here and I know the price is right but the look is all wrong even if you think you look good I am being a real friend and telling you there. That goes for Old Navy Maternity too.