And the Nursing Cover Winner is…

16. Taleah |  March 5, 2011 at 12:02 pm

I subscribe by google reader!

 

Send me an email with your address and your BabyBond nursing cover will be shipped to you pronto! Congrats!

lilgreenbaby at gmail dot com

Stay tuned for a giveaway from The Imagination Box Company…..

Eco Friendly Castle Toy Review

I was super excited to get the chance to review the Castle Tower from Imagination Box Company. Cardboard toys have been a bit of a trend in the past year or so and we had yet to buy in at our house. Between my daughter’s love of all things prince and princess and my love for toys that are actually safe and not-plastic we had a winner!

It arrived at our house packed in a flat box:

And it was pretty easy to put together, using no glue, staples, or anything else –

She didn’t look very excited in this picture! Anyway – we had a lot of fun coloring it together. I tried to make the inside cute, but my artistic skills are lacking. 😉 Here is the finished product:

We ditched the watercolor palette that came with it and used markers instead. The watercolors are fine but the brush that comes with it is pretty crappy. Even though Lilly is only two, she had a great time scribbling on the castle! You can check out their other items at Imagination Box Company.

Stay tuned for a giveaway!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Babybond Nursing Wrap Giveaway!!

Sponsored by Tomoson.com

Want to win your own Babybond Nursing Wrap? Just answer the following question in a comment below. Don’t forget to leave your email address so that I can contact you!

Question:
Would you rather buy nursing gear in person or online?

Other ways to enter:

1. Head on over to The Green Baby Green Mama facebook page and Like us. Post a comment with your facebook id as a comment to this post.
2. Follow @LilGreenMama on Twitter. Come back and post a comment that you are a follower of Green Baby Green Mama.
3. Being a follower of our blog or subscribing to our blog, gives you one extra comment. Simply post a comment saying that you are a follower.
4. Advertising the giveaway in a forum or other blog gives you ONE extra comment. Simply post a comment saying that you are a advertising and where.
5. Adding Green Baby Green Mama (http://www.greenbabygreenmama.com) to your blogroll (or starting to) gives you one extra comment. Simply post a comment saying that you are added it and where.
6. One entry for signing up for our newsletter at Green Baby Green Mama. Post a comment when you sign up or if you are already signed up.
7. Tweet any unique tweet with @lilgreenmama #giveaway. Cut and paste your tweet and post as a comment. You can get 1 entry for EVERY unique tweet!

How? We will draw one winner randomly using random.org. The winner will be announced on this blog on Tuesday, March 8.

Who can participate? US Residents are welcome!

Good luck!

Great Places for Kids : Santa Cruz

We have been exploring the playgrounds in our area in an effort to combat winter blues, boredom, and endless two year old energy. We found a really great one that Lilly loves, Bolton Park. She is still to young to play organized sports, and finding activities that are appropriate for two year olds has been challenging to say the least. Her attention span is much shorter than her energy level!

I’m really jealous of all of the great activities for kids in Santa Cruz. They have tons of outdoor classes for children that would sound like a lot of fun. I think Lilly would especially like the Nature Apprentice course. (And Mommy would like to be able to drive to the beach for the afternoon! ) Check these out in you live in the area:

• Nature Apprentice for kids ages 2-5
• Outdoor Science Exploration
• Wilder Ranch Coast Nature Walk

I would love to hear about great programs for kids in your area. What do you do for fun with your kids?

Babybond Nursing Wrap Review and Giveaway

Nursing is an important part of the attachment parenting model, and can be extremely valuable and rewarding for both baby and mother. Babybond nursing accessories are different from traditional nursing covers that cover the mother’s whole torso and nursing child.

From the Babybond website:

BabyBond Couture™ is adjustable creating a custom fit as your body changes after baby arrives. A hybrid between nursing top and belly band, it can be worn to nurse from the top or the bottom of your shirt so it works with your entire wardrobe. When worn like a sash, it functions like a nursing top. When worn like a belt, it functions like a belly band. Rolls up into self-storing pouch. 100% Cotton. Machine washable. Made in USA.

My friend Shana who is still nursing her son (go girl!) agreed to review the nursing sash and give me her honest opinion. (As a side note, I think it’s a really great idea for friends to encourage each other to keep nursing through small gifts!) Here are Shana’s pros & cons:

Pros:
Washes well in washing machine
You can choose a color; cute color
Soft material
Covers your stomach & back well when nursing from under your shirt instead of from the top
Directions are on the tag, so they are always with the wrap
Your baby’s head isn’t covered
Your baby doesn’t get hot
You can see your baby’s face
Stays in place

Cons:
Baby comes on and off breast while nursing to look around, etc so nipple is exposed
If nursing from the top and from each breast you have to take time to switch the wrap around
Don’t “feel” as covered

My personal experience:
My baby breastfeds from both breast at each feeding, and I normally have to pull my shirt up from the bottom. I chose the contour wrap because it allowed you to use it from top or bottom of shirt feeding position. I like the directions on the wrap because I could take a quick glance and remind myself how to put it on. It gave good coverage to your belly & back. I like the charcoal gray color too. Because my baby is one to pop on and off the breast looking around, the wrap leaves my nipple exposed a lot of times. On the other hand, my baby thinks that a nursing wrap that covers his head is a toy that he is supposed to pull on and yank on during a feeding. Overall, the wrap is a good idea allowing you to see your baby and your baby to see you. I like this wrap better than the one I have that you put over your shoulder and covers the baby’s face.

 

Stay tuned to win your own Babybond nursing wrap!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

10 Ways to Use a Babysoy Blanket

When my daughter was small there was one item we never left home without – her blanket. I learned to get pretty crafty with the blanket and ended up finding it useful in a variety of different ways. Any basic, lightweight blanket will work, but the Babysoy blanket is really soft, and I liked the colors. Here are the different ways I used the blanket:

1. Play Mat – If you are out visiting friends or family you can lay your nice clean Babysoy blanket down on the floor and let your baby have tummy time without fear of them laying on a dirty floor.
2. Sun Shield – This one works particulary well if baby is in the infant carrier car seat. You just lay the blanket across the top handle and it helps keep the sun out of their sensitive eyes.
3. Privacy Shield – If you baby is asleep or you are in a crowded place, you can lay the blanket on top of the carrier handles to help diffuse noise and light, and nosy strangers.
4. Nursing Cover – When you are in public you can use your lightweight blanket as a nursing cover by tucking one corner over your should and draping it across your baby.
5. Burp Cloth – In a pinch you can fold the blanket into quarters and lay it across your shoulder when you burp your baby. Be prepared to wash it when you get home!
6. Napkin – If your baby is a drooler, you can clean their face off with one corner of the blanket.
7. Changing Pad – You would be surprised how many places did not have a changing table in their restaurant! You can lay your blanket down to change a diaper in a pinch.
8. Lovey – Sometimes just having a familiar object can calm a baby down. Extra points if you rub the blanket on your neck so it smells like you.
9. Swaddler – Swaddling can be soothing and comforting to newborns. The best way to swaddle is to place the blanket so it looks like a diamond, fold down the top, lay the baby so that their shoulders are in line with the top of the blanket, and wrap the sides of the blanket around the baby. When done correctly, swaddling is very safe and soothing.
10. Blanket – You guessed it. A blanket can also be used to provide warmth.

Are you convinced you need a Babysoy blanket yet? I would love to know if you use yours for more than the uses I mentioned above.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/parenting-articles/10-ways-to-use-a-babysoy-blanket-4174662.html

About the Author

Heather Boger specializes in organic baby products that are safer and healthier for your baby, including Babysoy baby clothing.

Looking for Guest Bloggers!

Do you live a natural family lifestyle? Do you like to write? I am looking to add one or two weekly columns about parenting to this blog. If you are interested in writing and reaching a larger audience then let me know at lilgreenbaby(at)gmail(dot)com. Please include a sample of your writing and what you would like to write your weekly column about.

Thanks!

What are the best Babysoy baby clothes?

One time I bought my daughter a dress by a famous children’s designer that everyone had raved about. What nobody told me was that the neckline wouldn’t even open up far enough to get her head! I was so disappointed. When I looked online at reviews I found that other people had had the same problem. I quickly realized that when it comes to children’s clothing brands, best-selling items become that way for a reason.

So what are the best-selling Babysoy baby clothes?

Wordless Wednesday

Homemade Banana Nut Bread 🙂

WFMW: What is the Best Way to Clean up Toys?

I have an adorable, tiny two year old terror. I lovingly refer to her as “the tornado” because if she is awake, then our house looks like one has been through. My husband and I both work long hours and I often struggle to keep up with the housework. One of the biggest obstacles to keeping my house clean are the toys that have overtaken it. There are doll bottles in my bathroom, bracelets in my laundry room, childrens books all over the living room, toys behind chairs, toys on chairs, toys on the floor….you get the picture.

The Terror

So what is the best way to clean up the toys?

• Keep a toy bin or basket tucked away in the living room for quick pick-ups.
• Teach your child a clean up song and help them get into the habit of cleaning up before bath time. Lilly likes this one: “Clean up clean up, everybody everywhere, clean up clean up, everybody do your share.” Believe it or not she really does start cleaning up when we sing this.
• Give toys that always find their way to the living room a ‘home’ there, so they are easier to put away.
• Make it into a game. If you pretend it’s fun then there is a good chance that your toddler will think it actually is.
• Drop kick the toys into your child’s room. It’s more therapeutic than you think.
• Get a large plastic trash bag, fill it up, and drop it off at the curb.

Here is the link to the Clean Up Song, try it! It really works! Good luck corraling those toys. Leave a comment with your favorite way to clean up and help me (& other Moms reading this post. 🙂