Posts filed under 'babies'
My husband and I have been spoiled with the most amazing cousin who lived in town and was available to watch and love our daughter when we needed to get out on a date or run errands etc…we were so happy for her graduation and subsequent move out of town, but then there we were…no babysitter to call…
I found a few here and there, but nobody has been reliable, or near like our Anna—those of you with amazing people who watch your children will know what I mean…the bar has been raised!
Now, how do I go about finding this person since my informal searches have left me frustrated and feeling like I will never find one…I’ve come home from a date night only to be up cleaning for two hours after a baking experiment occurred in my kitchen, had no-shows, found my daughter up and running around at 10:30, people who are impossible to reach or inspire a call back from…fun…lots of fun.
Enter Babysitter Connections from Tiffany Kinder, who also runs the phenomenal Nanny Connections . Nanny Connections is a must stop if you are looking to get in touch with outstanding, pre-screened nannies , but I had no idea there was this amazing Babysitter Connections available to those of us who need a sitter, but not a more fully scheduled nanny. By the way, I have met one of the nannies who came from Nanny Connections since she works for my friend. I didn’t know that she was the nanny for a while because I thought she was a family member! That is how unbelievable she is!
So I decided to give Babysitter Connections a whirl!
There is a small fee required to access information on available sitters that includes their reference contact information, picture, personal contact information, background check, wage desired, experience and little bio.
Wooohooo! Unbelievable…I am babysitter shopping!! I have heard back from most of the girls I have emailed this week and will begin some face-to-face meetings tomorrow. I am giddy over the fact that I may have someone I can call, rely upon, and trust with my little one soon. Thank you Babysitter Connections for such a phenomenal service for Wisconsin and what looks like is beginning to reach out farther than that!!
Feel free to take a peek before you sign up. You can see which sitters are in your area and/or are available at a specific time prior to joining. You just don’t have their contact information until you pay the small fee to have access. Helping parents be successful in their sitter hunt??? Now, that has MomAppeal!!!
Whichever you are looking for, Babysitter Connections and Nanny Connections are sure to give you a HUGE leg up!!!!!
Mama Jen
July 24th, 2008
Finding the right nursing chair — ugh, it’s a cunundrum. With decidedly modern taste, I looked high and low to find the right chair. Never did for baby #1; instead, we rocked in a rickety, noisy, rattan number I’d bought right after college. No amount of pillows made it just right comfortwise. And, after my c-section, and then later when great with child #2, it was darn near impossible to get out of. Yeah, there are lots of gliders out there — and they are probably the most comfortable option — but I just could find anything that didn’t scream “traditional.”
If only I’d found Glam Glider (above) by Jennifer Delonge. With a 360-degree swivel and rocking capacity, too. The chair and ottoman come in hip colors (including celery, steele blue, apple green, as well as several more subdued selections). Frankly, I think they’ll fit with any decorating style. Check out the site’s other offerings. The retro-inspired furnishings, kid-size Grace table and stools are just plain fun.
I must tell, you though, that what we did find, right before #2 arrived, was the awesome Storytime Rocker (below, in mocha) and ottoman made by Lawson-Fenning for Nurseryworks. We love it’s solid square aspect and swoop of the wooden legs, and the fact that it’s double-wide — it fits mama/daddy and child, side by side for those long sessions with the Richard Scarry tomes and other faves — and customizable in terms of colors, materials and leg finishes. There’s also a Sleepy Time version, with a higher back that’s perfect for nursing moms, especially during those zombified wee hours of the morning when junior’s at his hungriest and mom’s at her most tired.
Hoping to outfit your nursery in a modernist way? You’ll swoon over some of Nurseryworks other offerings — from cribs and dressers, to bedding and accessories and even super-cool letterpress posters (above) made for for the company by Onethread. Makes me want to have baby #3 just to reoutfit the baby’s room (just kidding, Dear!).
Mama Kate
July 17th, 2008
HipBabyGear.com has the most adorable little piano available in pink white or red to get your toddler started tickling the ivories!
This little piano will not only look good, it will help your child explore their musicality!
This site also carries my favorite gift to my friends who are having little boys…Pee Pee Tee Pees!!! Never heard of ‘em??? Absolutely invaluable to parents of baby boys!!!
Mama Jen
July 14th, 2008
I was so happy to find the website notshowing.com …my husband and I are adopting a baby and there just seems to be a lack of adoption specific items for gifts, clothing etc…
I adore the t-shirts that say “Expecting from….” or “Adopting…Bump not required.” These shirts would be a cute way of saying that our family is growing. Such a fabulous idea!!
Mama Jen
June 23rd, 2008
The FDA has warned against the use of Mommy’s Bliss Nipple Cream, an all natural nipple cream that helps soothe sore nipples that result from breastfeeding. Certain ingredients in this cream can cause respiratory distress, vomiting and diarrhea in infants exposed to it.
More information can be found in the above link, and if your child has been exposed to this product, you should contact the FDA’s MedWatch at 800-332-1088.
May 26th, 2008
Luca Bleu is having a crib bedding sale for girl’s! Check out the beautiful designs available for all those spring chicks that are ready to hatch!! Enter promo BED20 to receive 20% off of your purchase. Yea!
Mama Jen
May 14th, 2008
Being a product junkie myself, I naturally continued the habit for my daughter since she can’t very well be one on her own yet. Thymes, a Minnesota based company has a new collection of products for babies called Sweetleaf Baby.
The Sweetleaf Baby collection is formulated to be oh so gentle on that new skin you’ll be pampering. The scent is light and airy with hints of lavender, chamomile.
The gift set is so wonderful with a refreshning hand sanitizer, diaper balm, cute yellow washcloth and nursery mist…mmmm! Perfect! The massage oil I tried is delectable—not too greasy, great smelling and paraben free which is fab!
Happy pampering!!
Mama Jen
May 5th, 2008
The most important skin cream you can use is SUNSCREEN! The sunny time of year is here or approaching, depending where you live, and the Environmental Working Group conducted the first-ever study on the efficacy and safety of sunscreens out on the market.. Those found to be effective and safe might as well be considered samples from the “Fountain of Youth.”
EWG stepped up because, “After 29 years of debate, the government has failed to set mandatory sunscreen safety standards. In August 2007 FDA proposed first-ever UVA standards for sunscreen, but the rules are not yet finalized. In the meantime, companies are free to make claims about product quality.” Scary!
To see how your sunscreen stacks up, which is healthiest and most effective, visit EWG’s Skin Deep. While you’re there, check out any of your products for their safety as well as this handy-dandy parents’ buying guide. Parenthood is so busy that it is wonderful that this site has sussed out the good, bad and the ugly for us! I love this site!
Mama Jen
April 21st, 2008
Two products I have come across look like great ways to dial-up safety measures in your home.
Hot Stop has faucet, shower head, and shower-head/faucet combos to protect your family from scalding hot water. You can turn your water heater to a setting below 120 degrees F, but that isn’t a sure-fire way of knowing how hot your water can get. These products , that were featured on the Today Show will cease the flow of water in the event that it reaches an unsafe temperature. I found a link to a horrible tragedy I heard of in the last two weeks, and surprisingly it occurs more frequently than we think.
Definitely check your water heater’s thermostat, manual, and look into installing these devices in your home. If you are currently building, you can request that safety units be installed “behind the scenes.”
I also received a link recently to this video which shocked me out of my socks! Every parent should see this video— Most kids don’t wake for fire alarms!
They will, however, respond quickly to fire alarms that use the voice of their parent to deliver the warning. I found some of these types of alarms at Amazon and a price comparison at Nextag where you can record the more effective “familiar voice.” Pricey, but safety and piece of mind are invaluable! I am sure after more looking, deals on these items can be found. Just make sure it allows you to record your own voice. For a more formal study on this phenomenon, here is a Pediatric study that was published on the matter as well.
Feel free to leave a comment with your safety tips!
Mama Jen
April 14th, 2008
Shannon Payette Seip and Adrienne Hedger couldn’t have phrased it better when using that line to title their hilarious book about breastfeeding.
When If These Boobs Could Talk landed into my hands, I opened it to take a peek, thinking I would read it in a bit, and….I couldn’t put it down. If you are breastfeeding, are going to breastfeed, or have breastfed your children, every page will speak to you like your ultra-funny girlfriend and have you laughing out-loud!
I love how the book starts with a nice little letter for you to read to your boobs before your baby is born because “it’s only fair to warn your boobs about the changes ahead.” At the end of the book, it suggests ways you can have a “Boob Retirement Party” once your foray into breastfeeding is over—–invite your breast pump and create a slideshow to the tune ”I’ve Had the Time of My Life”…..heeheeee!
The book has side-splitting and inventive illustrations such as ”The Ideal Rocker,” which is a rocking chair set up for the many hours you will need to breastfeed. It thoughtfully includes a button you can push to convert it to a toilet in emergencies amongst other wonderful things I wish my rocker had!
This book is a great, easy read with advice on how to console a rejected breast, alternative uses for nursing pads, reminders of your breast’s super powers and how to find your inner hottie while you feel like a dairy cow.
There are also quizzes like “Who hasn’t seen your boobs?”, great doodling activities, games and trivia to pump yourself up with!
This book is the perfect shower gift, gift to a new mom, or gift to your own breastfeeding self. We all know that laughter is something we most need when we’re up for a late night feeding!
By the way, the book is sized nice and small—perfect for your one free hand to hold and read while your baby feeds!
Mama Jen
April 3rd, 2008
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