I’m thrilled to be one of the many awesome bloggers on the Feeding Baby book tour! Author Clancy is a registered dietitian and blogger behind Fields of Flavor. Her new book, Feeding Baby: Simple Approaches to Raising a Healthy Baby and Creating a Lifetime of Nutritious Eating, is the best overall baby meals book I’ve come across.

Here’s why:

The book is full of researched-based advice on current best practices on all the baby food hot topics (all cited in a references list). Moreover, Clancy gives tons of tips on using herbs and spices with babies, teaching flavor preference, preventing picky eaters (as much as you can!) and more.

I love a cookbook that includes more than just recipes, and there are a handful of great charts to give you good ideas.

Of course there are plenty of recipes too (80 of them!), and lots of techniques to get you started on your own twists.

Lastly, the recipes are sorted by nutritional focus, such as bone building or brain boosting. A nice plus.

Mazen and I made the Broccoli & Cheddar Quiches together. (He stirred the eggs and helped add ingredients to the bowl). (I got these colorful silicone muffin liners on Amazon!)

They were fabulous – especially with the fresh thyme inside!

He loved them! (But he also loves broccoli, eggs and cheese…sooo I picked a good one to try : ) )

As part of the book tour there are a ton of giveaways you can win! Check out all the prizes below! The entry form is at the bottom – scroll down! And good luck!

Feeding Baby Release Party & National Giveaway

Hosted by Fields of Flavor & Measuring Flower

2 Giveaways, $2000 in Prizes & 30 Winners

About Feeding Baby:

"Your baby deserves the best in life- food is no exception! Feeding Baby is the ultimate guide to preparing and feeding wholesome foods for your infant, with helpful nutritional tips, picky eating solutions, and with over 80 recipes. Once you discover how easy and affordable it is to make baby food at home, you’ll take comfort in knowing your child is receiving the best nutrition possible."

Feeding Baby Book Signings & Events:

• September 15-October Book Signing Giveaway (#2): Click HERE
• September 20, 2014 Barnes & Nobles Hickory, NC 6:00 PM
• September 27, 2014 Vive Health and Fitness Kingston, Pa 8 AM-12 PM (All proceeds support Candy’s Place)
• October 4, 2014, Hoyt Library Kingston, PA 10 AM- Informal Lecture: Ending Picky Eating & Raising an Eager Eater sponsored by Moms Holistic Network.
• October 15, 2014 Barnes & Nobles Wilkes Barre, Pa 7:00 PM
• October 19, 2014 Member Product MarketPlace Exhibitors @ FNCE Atlanta, Georgia Booth #9

The Prizes:

1 Winner: Vitamix 5200 Blender $450.00

1 Winner: Babycook by Beaba $150.00

9 Winners: Feeding Baby Books $180.00

1 Winner: Fairhaven Health and The Naked Nursing Tank Bundle: $142.00

Milkies Milk-Saver Milkies Freeze Nipple Nurture Balm Nursing Time Tea DreamBelly Stretch Mark Butter

The Naked Nursing Tank

1 Winner: Infant Book Bundle $100.00

Feeding Baby by Clancy Cash Harrison

Dinnertime Survival Guide by Sally Kuzemchak

Oh, Yes You Can Breastfeed Twins! by April Rudat

Getting to the Yum by Dr. Karen Le Billon

I will Breastfeed Anywhere by Jennifer Saleem

Milkies in the Morning by Jennifer Saleem

Scentsy Gift Card $100

  

NuRoo Baby Bundle: $85.00

NuRoo Swaddler

NuRoo Pocket Baby Wearing Shirt

1 Winner: Buttons Diapers Gift Set $58.00

1 Winner Kiddo Feedo Freezer Trays (2) $40.00

Kiddo Feedo Silicone Freezer Trays

  

1 Winner: The Sili Company Squeeze Pouches: $34.00

4 oz Sili Squeeze (spill proof) 6 oz Sili Squeeze with Ease Free-Flowing Sili Funnel

1 Winner: Life Without Plastic Stainless Steel Set $33.00

3-Piece Stainless Steel Dish Set

1 Winner: Yoomi 8 oz Feeding System $33.00

1 Winner: Undercover Mama $25

Undercover Mama Nursing Shirt

1 Winner: FunBites Cutter $13.00

The Entry Form:

A while back I wrote about our MVP baby items and stand by how awesome and necessary they were during Mazen’s first year. And if you go way back, you’ll find our newborn must haves!

Now that we’re approaching 2, I figured I’d write an updated post with some MVP items during our second year as parents. These are items we use every single day, and I can’t recommend them enough!

Sesame Street Bus

We got this bus for his first Christmas. He wakes up in the morning and says “Pway bus!!” He fills it with animals from our Old Macdonald tractor (another fav) and loves to open and close the door. Of all of his toys, I’d say it’s his very favorite! When Grammie and Pea babysat during our Sonoma trip they reported that they played a total of 20 hours of bus.

Our Train Table

I bought our train table on Craigslist for $40. When we first brought it in the house I regretted it right away. The table is HUGE and takes up a large section of our basement. But within a few days I realized how great of an asset it was. It’s so much easier for a toddler to play standing at a table compared to the floor, and the table contains toys so that they don’t need to be cleaned up after every use but still look relatively neat. He got his train set (this basic one) for his first birthday and plays with it daily. Every time we go downstairs – even if it’s just to get in the stroller and leave through the basement – he pays a visit to his trains. When we spend longer periods of time playing in the basement he will focus on the trains for up to 45 minutes at a time. A secret: he’s getting more train and track for his birthday! I got him this set of 12 trains and my mom is adding another track set.

OXO Tot Sippy Cups

These have been our favorite overall cup for an older toddler for a couple of reasons:

1) The straw is open so it’s great for thin water or thick smoothies

2) It’s very easy to disassemble and assemble to clean and put in the dishwasher

3) The cup is petite so it fits well in things

4) When closed it’s very leak proof

I mentioned older toddler above because Mazen is very good about not spilling his cups these days, but this cup when tipped over WILL allow liquid to escape. The open straw means water can flow out if it sideways, so that’s a con if your child tips over his or her cup a lot. But a pro for ease of drinking!

Aden + Anias Blankets

I’m putting these blankets on this list for year 2 because Mazen always sleeps with his blankies so they remain a daily use items for us. He rolls them into a ball and actually sleeps on them. He’s not attached to any particular one, but he sure loves them as a set. While these blankets are not cheap, the fact that we’ve used them every single day for 2 years means we’ve gotten our money’s worth (or our gift’s worth!). A perfect shower gift for any mom.

Clek Foonf Car Seat

We got the Foonf when Mazen was about 6 months old and after well over a year of use I continue to sing its praises. I’ve experienced a number of other car seat brands when traveling or riding with friends, and can say with confidence that this is the best car seat I’ve encountered. Not for safety (because they are all safe), but for lots of other reasons: its look and feel, the ability to clean the fabric (vegetable pouch stains just wipe off with a little water), the ease of installation and instruction book, Mazen’s apparent comfort, etc. I really have zero complaints about it. I will say that a big part of why I love it is because of a really nice aesthetic, but that was important to me, and I’m so glad we spent extra to get something really nice.

Wipe Warmer

I was on the fence about needing a wipe warmer and I felt a little silly when I  bought one at the beginning of our first winter. But we’ve continued to use this one all four seasons of the year. I actually prefer our OXO wipe holder for its look and smaller footprint, but when I tried switching back to it when the weather warmed up both Mazen and I thought the wipes were just too chilly – even for summer. He got instant goosebumps! Maybe that’s just because he’s used to the warmer wipes, but I thought they felt cold too. The first wipe in the stack does dry out a bit, but otherwise I am very happy with this warmer. If you’re debating between wipe holders, go ahead and get a warming one.

Crocs

We are a croc family! I bought Mazen’s first pair at a consignment sale and quickly realized why they are such great shoes for toddlers. First, unlike cloth shoes, there’s no need for socks (although sometimes they smell stinky before I give them a wash). But it’s nice to know socks are optional. Second, they are super easy to clean – dunk in soapy water, scrub and rinse. Third they are great for splashing in puddles or with socks in the winter – versatility at its best. They come in many colors and designs – these are our favorites!

Curious George and Richard Scarry

Two of our most-read books. These are not only great picks because they are good books (see this post for a bunch of great books) but because they are long so you get a lot of entertainment out of them. The Complete Adventures of Curious George (a chapter book) was a gift from Papa and Mimi, and Mazen loves it. George is his favorite TV show as well. Richard Scarry: Cars, Trucks and Things That Go is probably his very favorite bedtime book, and what’s great is that when Matt and I are tired we don’t even have to read the text – the pictures say it all. We spend hours just looking at the pages and pointing things out. M learned the words “big mess” from a page with a pile of things that collided, and he knows a lot more about life from these pages (and non-life – like pickle cars!)

No surprises with these last three…

Our Motorola Video Monitor

I can’t sing its praises enough. Our monitor has become even more valuable as Mazen has gotten very mobile. I watch him playing in the crib or assess his climbing skills to see if he’s figuring it out (so far, he hasn’t but he’s getting closer). This is the one we have, FYI! The ability to pan around is worth the extra cost over the less expensive model.

The BOB

Like the monitor, the BOB gets a spot in this list simply because we use it every single day. It’s another in the category of “expensive but worth it” due to the frequency of use for many years. We bought the CE model because it has smaller wheels for easier transport and it’s been great for both walking and running.

OXO High Chair

Still loving it! I’ve used a variety of different kinds during travel and friends’ houses and think the OXO Tot is one of the best. Looks great, easy to clean tray, easy to clean seat, lovely to look at.

A Few Duds…

This place mat. Bought it at a friend’s recommendation and never used it.

This bike. While we did get a lot of use out of it, it fell apart many times and eventually bit the dust. An outdoor bike made out of plastic intended for pushing over rough landscape is just not the brightest combination. Go for metal!

Fubbles bubble machine. We had this one and it was a battery hog. And since it’s a kids item that needs a screwdriver to change the batteries, it was a pain to maintain. It was supposed to be no spill, but it spilled on me several times. And finally it just stopped working. We loved the concept while it lasted, but I can’t recommend this model. Anyone love their bubble machine?

Anything you swear by with daily use?

Cozy Wall Art asked if I’d like to try out one of their wall decals to dress up one of Mazen’s play spaces. My first thought was his reading nook! And what sealed the deal was this cute Dr. Seuss “The More You Read” quote – it was perfect!

Here’s what his nook looked like last week after I cleaned it out (it had been storing some of his bigger toys that I’d thrown in there for out-of-sight keeping)

I was very nervous to put the decal up because every DIY project I do has some kind of error, so I read the enclosed instructions three times before beginning. There are good ones on the Cozy Wall site too!

The first step is to tape up your decal and then peel the bottom layer away and cut it out from underneath the decal and transfer paper on top.

Easy does it…

Once the backing is gone you can press the decal onto the wall and then remove the backing from the other side.

After the decal is on the wall, you use the provided plastic card to press it in and remove all bubbles

And then you peel away the transfer paper to reveal the finished decal!

Surprisingly, my install was flawless!

Mazen is more interested in his train table than his reading nook at the moment, but I hope he’ll grow into it in the years to come and Dr. Seuss will inspire him to keep on reading!

I received an email from Hasbro recently asking me if Mazen would like to test out some of their toys. I asked Mazen if he’d like to participate and he said an enthusiastic “JES!” Especially when he heard Elmo was involved.

The box included an assortment of both classic Playskool products and new items for Spring 2014. Here’s what we got:

Playskool Sesame Street Hugs Forever Friends

I’ll start with Mazen’s favorite – the Elmo! They had lots of fun playing slide all afternoon.

Elmo’s arms hook onto things like a slap bracelet which has been almost as fun for me as it has been for Mazen. I’ve hooked him on funny things like dinosaurs and Mazen’s bike!

Playskool Gloworm

In comparison, the Gloworm he was not into.

But luckily Elinor loved it!!!

I let her take it home and Alice said that she wouldn’t put it down for days.

Playskool Shapes ‘N Colors Turtle

I think Mazen was too much in a developmental black hole to enjoy this turtle. He isn’t focused enough to concentrate on the shapes and colors and is too old to be amused by the flashing lights.

But our friend Virginia loved it so we let her take it home!

Playskool Busy Ball Popper

This cute elephant shoots balls out of his trunk into the air and catches them with his ears. It’s quite exciting, but Mazen was a little scared of it. Once he figured it out he liked it but only for 5 minutes at a time. I keep it hidden and bring it out for a fun change on rainy days. I think it’s one of those toys that is best in small bursts – or for a group of kids to play with together.

Playskool Sesame Street Elmo Bath Adventure Steamboat

And finally, this cute Elmo steamboat has been a big hit in the bathtub. The Elmo squirts water and the back wheel comes off to suction to the side of the tub. M loves it!

Thanks for the fun times Hasbro!

A friend of mine introduced me a friend of hers, Natalia, who is the owner of Culture Baby. Culture Baby is a global children’s boutique specializing in international clothes, toys and accessories for babies and children from birth to age 6. Natalia adds products all the time from all over the world, and her goal is to help parents shop consciously and ethically for their kids from small scale manufacturers, artisans and entrepreneurs internationally. The site is perfect if you’re looking for a unique gift for a new mom and baby.

Here are a few of the most popular items:

 

1. Helicopter Onesie

2. Kyrgyz Elephant Rattle

3. Kimono Playset

4. London Tea Party Dresses

5. Indian Quilted Cotton Blankets

And I can’t wait for Mazen to fit into the cute helicopter shirt Natalia sent me as a thank you. It was made in Barcelona by AltoVolta Kids, a design shop committed to fair-trade and eco-friendly materials and practices.

I am helping Natalia spread the word about Culture Baby with a $50 gift certificate giveaway to one of you. The giveaway will run until Friday.

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Baby it’s NOT cold outside!

Here are a few warm and snuggly items that are helping us get through the winter.

Bundle Me

First the JJ Cole Arctic Bundle Me. I knew I needed something really warm for Mazen to use in the BOB if I wanted to keep walking outside all winter. Blankets were fine in the fall, but when it’s 20* they just weren’t warm enough. I did quite a bit of research and ended up buying this stroller “muff” that is like a sleeping bag with holes in the back for the stroller straps.

It’s SUPER warm – when it’s zipped all the way up I don’t even need to put a coat on him (although I bring one in case he wants to get down). And surprisingly, he likes it! He doesn’t even mind the hood being on his head. The only complaint I have is that if he gets out to play his dirty shoes make a mess on the inside, but since it’s machine washable that’s not a huge deal. I love the fabric too – it’s nice and rugged feeling on the outside and soft fleece on the inside.

Sleep Sacks

We have two sleep sacks for winter. One was given to me to review and the other I bought.

The Baby Deedee Sleep Nest Baby Sleeping Bag I got on Amazon first. It’s a big sleep sack for toddlers. I considered some of the fleece versions, but I was worried about M getting too hot, so I choose this one because it seemed softer and more breathable. It cost about $40. I also really like the look (the zipper glows in the dark!)

He doesn’t love putting it on, but once it’s on he’s happy. There are two straps that snap at the top. He has stepped on the bottom and popped these open once or twice at bedtime and the sack has slipped off. (In contrast to the next sack, which won’t fall down). His toes are never cold, and he seems to be very warm all night. I’ve never seen any signs of overheating or being too cold.

The second sack was sent to me to review: Merino Kids Baby Sleep Sack For Babies 0-2 Years. It’s made from “luxuriously soft Woolmark-certified Superfine Merino” and organic cotton and you can tell it’s a quality product just by the velvety touch. {You can read a lot more about the features of the sack here.} It’s designed for rooms 64° to 80°, so we will be able to use it year round. (I suspect the Baby Deedee sack would be too warm for the spring and fall.) I do feel like the Baby Deedee is a little warmer, so we use that on our coldest nights. But with footie PJs (these are our favorite ones) or socks, his little toes have been fine in both.

I love that the shoulders have one snap and one permanent strap so it won’t slide down if the strap unsnaps. It is a bit trickier to put on a squirmy toddler, but not by much.

The fabric is the perfect weight and softness. At $99, you are paying for quality material, but I am considering buying a second one to have on laundry days I like it that much.

Endue

And lastly, we have a new line of beautiful baby clothing.

Endue sent me this outfit for Mazen along with a sleep sack and outfit that were for a younger infants so I am saving them for #2 : ) I call this Mazen’s rainy day outfit because it’s so soft and cozy and perfect for days when we stay inside. The pants are reversible so you can either match the top or contrast with navy and the cuffs rolled up. He gets lots of compliments on it!

Endue’s clothing is made from 100% GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified organic Peruvian pima cotton and is super soft. It’s also a thoughtful company – with every product purchased they donate food to a child in need. Additionally, Endue supports fair labor practices and transparent manufacturing procedures. This line would make a perfect baby shower gift. 

And here’s a gift to one of you! Enter to win either a boys or girls bundle from Endue! Giveaway open to USA folks for a week’s time.

 

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