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Win a SwaddleBuddy and matching blanket! »

As the mom of two small children, I can certainly attest to the benefits of swaddling. With my daughter, we waited three weeks to start swaddling her, as I initially felt bad wrapping her up so tight. The mere thought made me feel claustrophobic! At the same time, she (and in turn I) would wake up so easily because of her startle reflex. Not to mention the scratches on her face as a result of those jerky hand movements!

My sister suggested I start swaddling her, and we instantly became huge fans. I could actually see her body relax and settle in each night when I would start to wrap her up. And then we saw the sleep benefits – longer and longer stretches of uninterrupted sleep. Which, as any new mom will agree, is like gold.

A baby or escape artist?

When my son came along a few months ago, we swaddled him immediately. He was a sound sleeper right from the start, going for six to seven hour stretches by four weeks of age. Only problem? He quickly started busting out of our standard swaddle blanket thanks to his large size and absurd baby strength. No matter how tight I swaddled him, he found an escape. My silly little Houdini!

Travel tips from Emily Kaufman and a SeaWorld giveaway! »

With the year of the “staycation” thankfully behind us, families seem to want to hit the road again for the 2010/2011 holiday season.  Luckily, Emily Kaufman, AKA The Travel Mom, recently met with me to offer a few tips on how to make the most of a family vacation, and our dollars, when booking travel:

1. Look for added-value.  Search for “extras.” Many resorts offer credit packages which include air, hotel, and a car rental at a discount. Some hotels offer a buy one room get the second at a discount. Make sure to ask when inquiring about rates.

2. Make the Internet your #1 travel resource. Utilize robust visitor convention center websites. Simply type those keywords along with the destination and you will be provided with the most comprehensive look at any vacation spot.

3. Look for educational experiences. You're never too young or old to learn! Look for hands-on, immersive experiences that will leave you with not only a memory, but also some new info!

Coupons, Freebies and Giveaway Roundup for Oct. 22nd including giveaways for Target, OshKosh and Amazon!! »

Coupons:

Win a $25 OshKosh store gift certificate »

When I think of OshKosh, I think of those engineer overalls with the white pinstripes that I wore as a kid. Well last week, I visited the OshKosh B’gosh store in the brand new wing of the South Shore Plaza in Braintree, Massachusetts. When I walked in, I wasn’t surprise to find an entire wall dedicated to the overalls that made OshKosh famous.

Originally made to mimic adult denim work clothes, these childhood favorites now come in many colors, prints and materials.

Carter’s Halloween costumes

When I had my second daughter last April, and started buying baby clothes again, I realized that OshKosh is now part of Carter’s.

Win a Fisher-Price EZ Bundle 4-in-1 Baby System »

I live in a small enough place that every big baby item takes up much needed living area. From baby bouncers, to swings to high chairs, I can’t remember what my beautiful hardwood floors look like.

Fisher Price offers a solution to this dilemma – the Fisher-Price EZ Bundle, a 4-in-1 Baby System that proves a real space saver. This product works around one core seat and makes a great solution for small spaces such as mine, but also an option for Grammy’s house.

I’ve joked that IKEA enthusiasts will find this system useful as IKEA focuses on space-saving products as well. But, you don’t have to be Scandinavian to love the convenience this system offers. The EZ Bundle converts to an infant seat, swing, high chair and toddler seat, making it useful for baby’s first few years. And switching from one attachment to the next is made simple as the seat is designed to snap into the four different platforms.

Coupons, Giveaways and Freebies Weekly Roundup for Sept. 3 including giveaways for Target and an Apple iPad! »

 Coupons:

Yogibo your baby with a Yogibo giveaway! »

Yogibo logoAs soon as my baby girl, Kaia, turned four months, she went up a speed. (Think like a cake mixer.) No longer did she sit in my lap quietly taking in her surroundings, content to be near her mom. Instead, she got the idea that she should be off exploring on her own. Now she’s standing on me, rocking back and forth, trying to get enough momentum to go!

She wants to be walked around to see every picture on the wall, what’s on TV and see where her big sister is hiding. I find the best way to give her the freedom she wants, is to let her do many floor activities. She loves to play on her floor gym, loves to grab her feet and rock and roll and now, loves her new Yogibo Caterpillar. 

The Garage Girl’s Guide review and giveaway »

Whether driving in a carpool as kids head back to school or getting ready for a weekend road trip, Moms need to prepare our cars to transport precious cargo. A new book, The Garage Girl's Guide to Everything You Need to Know About Your Car, is exactly what you need to make sure your car is ready for the road.

This easy-to-read, well-organized book is written by the knowledgeable, personable, straight-forward Courtney Hansen. You may know Courtney as host of the TLC car makeover show Overhaulin' and Spike TV's Powerblock.

Weleda Calendula Baby Care Starter Kit review and giveaway »

A baby's skin is one of the most sensitive types around. If you already have skin allergies in your family you may need to think about taking extra precautions when it comes to your new baby. I remember that the doctor in the hospital even suggested using wet wash cloths instead of wipes for the first few weeks after Graham was born. It was true, his skin turned out to be extra sensitive and continues to be.

Some of the products I relied on when Graham was an infant were the Weleda Calendula line of baby care products. I first found the brand in our local organic grocery store and decided to give them a try. I went on a mission when his skin started to break out from less gentle cleansers and thought that a more natural approach is what we needed. I was quickly impressed with the brand when his skin had no more reactions and even felt more moisturized.

Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook review and giveaway »

UPDATED:  Kim Kenty is the winner of this giveaway.  Kim, please check your email for further details and congrats!  Comments now closed.

Anyone that has been reading this site for long knows that I have an obsession with my slow cooker. Really, I do. I currently own three slow cookers but I am thinking I need one more, the four quart size. 

Regardless, I love using my slow cooker, especially during the school year when evenings can be busy. The last thing I want to be worrying about at dinner time is making dinner- I would rather throw everything in during a less stressful part of the day so that dinner is ready to go AT dinner time.

Some of you may also know that I love cookbooks, which can be a problem after a while because um, where do I put them all? But that is my problem, not yours! When I first receive a cookbook, I will spend a few minutes quickly going through it, checking it out, if you will.  

A Tiny Love Gymini Giveaway! A seat for my bouncing baby »

It’s funny how different babies have the same problems but often have different needs. When my first daughter was a baby, and seemed to have inconsolable crying, I would plop her in her car seat and put her in the bathroom with the shower running. The sound of the running water, always calmed her down. That trick doesn’t work with my newest little one. No, this one likes to be bounced … a lot.

When I was pregnant, I used a workout ball to help with back pain. Bouncing on it gently really helped with my aches. I guess little Kaia got so very used to that motion, now it seems to be the only thing that can calm her crying jags.