Tag: gear

Posted in Parenting Hacks

Surprisingly Useful Baby Appliance

Posted on by ottawaem
How could you not love that smiling face?

After often seeing it listed on Top Ten Lists of the most unnecessary baby gear, I feel the need to come to the defence of one of our most surprisingly useful pieces of baby gear, The Baby Bullet.

While the Baby Bullet was handy for preparing and storing baby food, the device really came into its own when Tiny Humans 1 and 2 became toddlers. In fact it is one of the few pieces of baby gear we received as a gift for Tiny Human 1 that we have used consistently ever since.

Why has a baby food blender taken up valuable cupboard real estate for the past 8 years?

  • The Blender Bowl is the perfect size for 2 Tiny Human size portions of smoothie.
  • The Blender Cup is the perfect size for 1 Tiny Human portion of smoothie.
  • The Grinding Blade is great for making up to one cup of oatmeal or rice flour.
  • The Snack Cups are easy for tiny hands to open in their lunch box. We use them to take berries, cereal or small crackers to school OR if they are really lucky small amounts of Smarties or marshmallows. We have also brought them with us travelling to hold single servings of rice cereal or to hold left overs to snack on later.
  • The Silicone Mould is is useful for freezing left over juice for smoothies. I also recently realized that the mould is the perfect size to make egg bites in the Instant Pot.
  • The Spatula is small enough to get into the corners of jars to get out that last little bit of food.

I admit I rolled my eyes when Tiny Human received the blender for her first Christmas. We were still living in the condo and space was at a premium but the happy little blender has proved its utility time and time again.

Posted in Parenting

How could I forget about Day 3

Posted on by ottawaem

Tiny Human #3 is now just over a month old and the newborn fog is beginning to lift. It’s been 5 and half years since we last did the newborn shuffle. I wish I could say we are older and wiser but most days it feels like we are just older.

I was caught off guard on Day 3 when my hormone levels dropped, my milk started to come and the sleep deprivation reached its peak. The same thing happened with Tiny Humans #1 & # 2 as M reminded me as I fell asleep standing up. Pandemic newborn parenting means more time for cuddles but it also means every doctor visit or trip to the store is extra complicated.

Tiny Humans #1 and #2 have really impressed me, I thought the novelty would wear off but Tiny Human #1 in particular has been a huge help. She loves giving Tiny Human #3 a bottle and changing his diaper. They both love giving him cuddles or entertaining him in his bouncy chair. Even the St. Lucian Lad is stepping up. He is learning to walk alongside the stroller and is quick to alert us to Tiny Human’s cries.

We have gotten smarter about a couple of things:

  • We bought a changing mat that fits in the bassinet and my parents bought us one that can go on the floor to eliminate the chances Tiny Human #3 will take a tumble while being changed.
  • Thanks to a well timed Black Friday sale/early Christmas gift, I invested in a good breast pump giving me a much needed break.
  • I upgraded my nursing pillow, my previous nursing pillow was not only flattened by serving as a lounge cushion for pandemic studying, but it was also HUGE. This pillow is just the right size for me and perfect for propping up Tiny Human #3 for bottles.
Posted in Parenting Hacks

Summer Fun

Posted on by ottawaem

One nice plus of our new house is that it is a 5 minute walk from an awesome wading pool and just down the hill from a splash pad. This has not helped us tackle the last of the boxes piled up in the corners of our house but it has helped make it easier to take advantage of our prime location and play outside as much as possible.

Here are some of my favourite tips and products to make the most of fun in the summer.

  1. Cosmetic bag for wet bathing suits-If you buy your cosmetics at a department store, you probably have a few garish cosmetics bags lying around from gift with purchase promotions. While not all bags are created equal, bags with a zipper and thicker lining are great for holding wet bathing suits.
  2. Monkey Mat– Probably one my best summer fun/travel with kids purchases, the Monkey Mat is a nylon mat for the beach, picnics at the park etc., basically anywhere you want a clean dry surface. (We bring it when traveling to create a portable play space on hotel room floors.) The mat is machine washable and super quick drying, with weighted corners so it stays where you put it. We have even used it as an emergency rain shelter for the Tiny Humans riding in their wagon. On more than one occasion, the mat has also proved useful protecting car seats, hotel beds and carpets safe from unwell Tiny Humans when traveling.
  3. Saltwater Sandals– My new FAVOURITE summer sandals. Saltwater sandals are made to go in the water (no need to change into flip-flops when we go to the splash pad), super quick drying, cute and don’t seem to get as stinky as the Tiny Humans’ old sandals. Best of all, they make them in Mommy sizes as well. I found these by chance a few years ago and am hooked. No more soggy Birkstocks when I get caught in a summer rain shower or venture into the splash pad to turn on the water or retrieve a wayward Tiny Human.
  4. Poncho towels- Now that the Tiny Humans are getting a bit older I have discovered  poncho towels make great mini mobile change rooms…. The Tiny Humans can quickly slip off their bathing suits and slip back into their sundresses without the need to flash the neighbours or go into the dirty changeroom.
  5. Mesh bag for sand toys- Another great dollar store purchase, we just toss our sand toys in the bag when we are done and give the bag a good shake to get rid of the sand.
  6. Beach chair for the splash pad-Once upon a time as a desperate Bajan housewife I purchased a folding backpack style beach chair for long afternoons at the beach, fast-forward 10 years (gulp) and the chair now goes to the splash pad and wading pool. The back pack attached the chair is a perfect size to carry our towels and other essentials. The Tiny Humans have also clued into the fact that they get to stay longer at the park when Mommy isn’t sitting on a hard bench or pile of tree roots.
  7. Swim diaper-The Tiny Humans are out of this stage in life but a good swim diaper is a must for enjoying the water. I cannot seem to find the style we have but the one linked above my AppleCheeks is pretty close.
  8. Muslin swaddles– A hold over from the tiny baby days, muslin swaddle blankets are part of our summer kit list. We use them as towels (especially when travelling) or for emergency blankets when the Tiny Humans get chilled.
  9. S’well water bottle- I have written before of my love for my S’well water bottle which keeps hot things well hot and cold things cold. Like the comfy beach chair, having cold water to enjoy is another convenience that makes me more inclined to extend our visits to the park.
  10. Super large ziplock bags- Not fancy but perfect for containing wet towels, bathing suits and sand toys.

 

Posted in Parenting, Parenting Hacks, Travel Gear

Newborn Must Haves

Posted on by ottawaem


Frankly newborns don’t need much, something to wear, a source of food, some sort of diaper and somewhere to sleep is all they really need. The below list is more to help you get through those first few crazy weeks.

  1. E-reader- there is a lot of downtime/cuddletime with newborns, and you can only binge watch so much TV.  Being able to read a book with one hand is well handy 🙂 another benefit of an e-reader is that you can keep the room dim for night feedings.
  2. Baby carrier you feel comfortable using.
  3. LilyPadz-awesome for preventing those uncomfortable wet spots when out in public as well as protecting your baby’s sensitive new food sources.
  4. Milkies-put this in the other side of your bra when breast feeding and it collects the dribbles. With a bit of squeezing (don’t ask) I could collect a couple ounces per feed that M would use for a night time bottle or freeze for later.
  5. Everything blanket-still a fan favourite, not too thick and not too thin.
  6. Muslin swaddling cloths- so many uses, swaddling wrap, burp cloth, blanket, nursing cover, playmat etc.
  7. Good water bottle you can open with one hand
  8. Healthy snacks (stashed in key locations throughout the house)
  9. Burp cloths- you can buy fancy ones but I am a big fan of soft hand towels or wash cloths
  10. Nursing cover– personal preference but I found my girls would get distracted in public and it made me less anxious about breastfeeding in public
  11. Bag to tote around diapers, extra clothes etc.
  12. Eye mask and earplugs-You need sleep to function. Even if it’s only a 20 minute cat nap, take advantage of trusted adults who want one on one baby time and get some shut eye. 
Posted in Parenting, Travel Gear

Do you really need another one?

Posted on by ottawaem

M posed this question to me a couple of weeks ago when I floated the idea of buying another baby carrier. In his defence it is a fair question, somewhere along the way in our parenting adventure I began to amass a small stash of baby carriers.

  1. Moby Wrap
  2. Pouch Sling
  3. Ergo 
  4. Boba Air
  5. Blue Celery Wrap

and the newest addition, BabyHawk Mei Tai.



I blame it on the fact our tiny humans are little cuddle monsters.  The Moby was perfect when the Tiny Humans were very tiny, the pouch sling great for leaving in the car for emergencies.  The Ergo is M’s favourite and our go to for hiking but I never really warmed to it.  The padding was just too overwhelming.   The Boba Air is my favourite, perfect for travelling or quick trips but it’s black, boring and I started feeling the pull to find something with a bit more padding but still easy to store. The Blue Celery Wrap was the solution to my last round of carrier blahs. I bought it for a steal on clearance at a local baby store.  My second favourite after the Boba Air, the Blue Celery is pretty, easy to store and I can wear it as a scarf BUT Tiny Human #2 is getting bigger and it is no longer as comfortable.  SO in comes the Mei Tai, I knew having a baby store right next to the library we go to for Babytime would prove dangerous. I am still trying to get the hang out of tying it and the weather hasn’t really lent itself to long baby walks but so far it is pretty looking and pretty comfortable.

Will the Mei Tai solve the carrier blahs? we shall see.  What’s your favourite baby carrier?

UPDATE: The Mei Tai did add a touch of colour and got rid of SOME of my blahs but I found the straps annoying when wearing the carrier inside my coat and I could not put it on first then slip the baby inside. For Tiny Human #3 I have added the Phil and Ted’s Airlight to the mix. I worry it may be discontinued. I found it at discount at our local baby store. The carrier has many of the features I love about the Boba Air with the added benefit of working from newborn and folding into a little fanny pack rather than a pouch.

Posted in Travel Gear

Top Travel Gear for Under 2

Posted on by ottawaem
Apart from a well stocked diaper bag, below are some of the items I have found useful when traveling with Tiny Humans
1. Light yet sturdy umbrella stroller with storage (we have the UppaBaby G-luxe, which has worked well for us but the price keeps climbing and I am not sure if I could justify the purchase today, stay tuned for other options at various price )
2. Travel high chair: we have this one which is small enough to fit in your mommy bag and fits most chairs.
3. Baby carrier, you cannot always rely on being able to bring your stroller everywhere and sometimes Tiny Humans just want a cuddle on the go.  Boba air is hands down my favourite for older babies and toddlers. I have even used it on the plane to try and get some much needed sleep. It folds down small enough to go with you everywhere. (I noticed Phil and Ted  and Ergo have now come out with similar travel friendly options)
4. Pashmina type scarf (covers up baby related stains on you, back up blanket and sun shade)
5. Stroller caddy with mesh bag, the bag I bought doesn’t seem available anymore but this one is similar.  I find the mesh bag useful for stowing items you want easy access to like guide books, snacks and diapers.
6. Tide packets, available in the travel aisle of most drugstores, these little packets of liquid Tide are great for washing tiny clothes on the go and treating stains before they set.
7. Baby Gourmet packets of baby cereal, we have found baby cereal stocked in many of the grocery stores we’ve come across in our travels but it doesn’t hurt to have a back up plan.
8. Reusable water bottle, depending on the age of your Tiny Human this may be more for you but for older Tiny Humans, having their own water bottle saves spills, particularly on planes or trains. It is also useful to have water with you for cleaning tiny sticky hands.
9. Foldable bib, there are a couple of different options, I like the Zoo Tuck-away Bib by Skip Hop.  They are cute, fold down super small and quick drying.  All good things when travelling. Skip Hop doesn’t seem to be making them anymore but they do have these really thin silicone bibs.
10. Spoon tips– These are new additions to the Traveling Mommy Bag but so much easier than squeezing pouches out into a bowl or attempting to feed Tiny Humans directly from the pouch. I usually bring a couple of pouches with me but this is another baby item it has been surprisingly easy to track down in our travels through Europe.
I am planning a longer post with some of the tips we have picked up while travelling with Tiny Humans but here’s a little teaser:
Tips:
1. Bring a couple of baby face cloths for cleaning tiny faces, I usually wet the facecloth before we set out for the day and store it in a sandwich baggy or small waterproof bag (like this one) At the end of the day I clean the cloth with a little bit of the Tide soap and let it dry.
2. Instead of bringing baby bowls I find it useful to bring bowls with lids to store extra food