Max Daniel: Luxurious Baby Throw {Review}

by Kate on May 15th, 2012  |  5 Comments  |  Baby, Reviews

Max Daniel is soft, chic and luxurious… no, I’m not talking about my son Max Daniel. I’m talking about the baby blanket by Max Daniel Designs. Shortly after Max was born an in-the-know reader told me about Max Daniel the blanket company. I am obviously biased towards this company since it shares a fabulous name with my son, but I was excited to discover that the blankets are fabulous. Max Daniel Designs is a family-owned and operated business based in Los Angeles that has been making cuddly things since 2003. In addition to baby throws and security blankets, Max Daniel also sells adult throws.

Animal Print Baby Throw

My Max Daniel has been cuddling up with the Blue Giraffe Baby Throw.

This is not your average baby blanket. It’s incredibly lush and thick because it is made of double sided plush material. It’s easily the thickest baby blanket we own, but it’s so cuddly that baby will enjoy it even in warmer weather. (Like Max does now in Alabama.) The blanket measures 32 by 36 inches and has a shiny satin trim.

The look of the blanket is definitely distinctive and special- we took Max’s two month pictures while laying on the blanket – and we love the variety of animal prints. There are great choices for girls, boys and gender-neutral surprise babies, too. The Blue Giraffe print has the patterned plush on both sides, but other designs have solid rosebud plush on the reverse.

If you’re looking for a more subtle or simple design (or if animal print just isn’t your thing), check out the Rosebud and Satin blankets.

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… The Max Daniel Baby Throw is a super luxurious baby gift that any child would be lucky to own. It’s soft, plush, and perfect for cuddling.I absolutely adore it – and not just because it has a great name. It’s an investment that baby will enjoy for years and years.

Or Not to Buy… The Baby Throw is definitely more expensive than your average blanket. If you can’t splurge on it, we suggest trying the smaller sized Security Blanket which is made of the same material.

Shop! Max Daniel Baby Throw Blankets are $70 for Animal Prints and $58 for Rosebuds and Satin. Security Blankets are $26. Purchase directly from Max Daniel or shop our affiliate Amazon.

Thanks to Max Daniel for sending Max Daniel a blanket.

Max is Two Months Old

by Kate on May 2nd, 2012  |  5 Comments  |  Life

Little baby Max is two months old! It’s been a busy and eventful and crazy two months, that’s for sure. He is changing so much every single day and it’s so much fun to see him grow. A lot. He was my biggest baby at birth and I think he’s on track to be my biggest baby period.

Max started smiling a couple weeks ago and it is awesome. I can honestly say he saves his biggest smiles for his siblings, which is pretty amazing. He could watch them all day long. He also loves being naked and staring at the ceiling fan.

Of course, he still does his fair share of crying.

We are sad this year in Montgomery is nearing an end. It’s been wonderful having my husband home all the time, especially during the first months of Max’s life. He hasn’t missed a moment or milestone and, as a military family, that’s pretty remarkable. No doubt it will all change in a few months when we move so we’ll enjoy it while it lasts!

I got to spend some precious one-on-one time with Max a couple weeks ago when he and I flew to Ohio for my sister’s wedding. The wedding was awesome, small, intimate and in our dad‘s backyard. While I was sad my husband and the big kids weren’t there, it was really nice to have some time alone with my baby. And, Max earned his wings on AirTran at six weeks old – pretty wild!

Who Does Max Look Like?

We get asked all the time who Max looks like and he is truly a combination of both his brother and his sister. It’s pretty remarkable, really. There’s no doubt they’re all siblings!

Lots of our friends and family think he looks more like his big sister, but I think he looks a lot like his brother did when he was the same age. The boys don’t look the same now, but that doesn’t stop me from dressing them alike in Tea Collection. In this photo, I imagine Max is thinking, “Bro. Why are we matching? Seriously. How often is that crazy lady going to dress us alike and make us pose? This is ridic. I am too cool for this.”

Max at Two Months Old

Weight: 12.2 pounds

Length: Not sure will update tonight when I make him stretch to measure him, but he’s sleeping now and everyone knows you don’t wake a sleeping baby. Except my 3 year old who wakes him all.the.time. Update: about 24.5 inches long

New Trick: Smiling: Rolling from belly to back

Big Adventure: First airplane ride

Look back: Max at One Month

New mamaRoo: Updates Make 4moms Product Even Better

by Kate on May 1st, 2012  |  5 Comments  |  Shopping

4moms has made some updates to the popular mamaRoo baby seat/swing/bouncer. We have been using the “old” mamaRoo with Max and love it, but these changes make some great improvements to the mamaRoo. “The mamaRoo has always been a great product,” says Rob Daley, CEO of 4moms. “Customers love it and it sells tremendously. But we saw ways to make a good thing even better, and we strive to always be a company that proactively improves wherever we can.”

mamaRoo Updates at a Glance

  • Faster speeds
  • Sleeker interface
  • New fabric designs
  • Locking toy bar
  • One year warranty

We love the look of the new interface:

By comparison, here’s the “old” interface. It functions the same, but we do prefer the new look with gray controls versus the yellow on our model.

The six available colors include four Plush and two Classic fabrics. From left to right: Blue Plush, Multi Plush, Silver Plush, Green Plush, Classic Black and Classic Silver. Check out our mamaRoo review to see why we prefer the Plush fabric.

Shop! The “new” mamaRoo is available from our affiliate Right Start for $200 for the Classic and $240 for Plush with Free Shipping.

This post contains affiliate links.

Tiny Love 3 in 1 Rocker-Napper {Review & Giveaway}

by Kate on April 30th, 2012  |  5 Comments  |  Baby, Giveaways, Reviews

We are excited to be a part of the launch of the brand new Tiny Love 3-in-1 Rocker-Napper! This innovative and versatile baby product hit the market yesterday but we have the scoop on how it works.

Meet the 3-in-1 Rocker-Napper

This innovative Tiny Love® product features a fun seat fitted with an engaging toy, a rocker that soothes baby with gentle rocking movements, and a flat pad (180 ° ) with raised borders, which makes for a safe and cozy sleeping environment. Three uses in one product!

  • Rocker easily converts from seat to comfy napper.
  • Soothing movements rock your baby at all 3 reclining positions.
  • Flat pad with raised borders offers a safe & cozy napper environment.
  • Cute electronic toy dangles on an adjustable arm.

Tiny Love Rocker-Napper Review

The 3-in-1 Rocker-Napper is a unique baby product that does more than its fair share to entertain and soothe baby. The Rocker-Napper transitions easily among three recline positions from seated to laying down. There’s a small handle on the back side that reclines the seat, functioning much like  a stroller seat reclines. When fully reclined, the Napper creates a bassinet with a soft bottom and raised edges to create a cozy environment for baby. As you raise the seat, the borders collapse. The bottom of the metal frame of the Rocker-Napper is rounded and there are two arms that hold the seat still or encourage rocking. There’s also an optional all-over calming vibration movement throughout the seat.

A cushion lays on the bottom of the Rocker-Napper to create a soft spot for baby to rest or play. The cushion ties to the frame of the Rocker-Napper at the top and the bottom. The only issue we’ve encountered is that when the seat is upright, the weight of the baby pulls the cushion down a bit. You can see a little gap at the top in this photo of Max sleeping in the fully reclined Napper mode.

The toy on the Rocker-Napper is the very first toy that has earned Max’s attention. It has two lights, two hanging toys and plays music and, without a doubt, it entertains a baby. Just check out this series of photos of Max in the seat. He was staring at the toys while I snapped pictures…

I’m pretty sure the smile on his face in the bottom right photo says more than this entire review possibly could!

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… The 3-in-1 Rocker-Napper is a versatile seat, bouncer, rocker and bassinet all in one. We love that it will grow with your child and earn mom some much needed break time.

Or Not to Buy… We’d love more ties or more securely attach the pad to the base of the Rocker-Napper so that it doesn’t create the gap.

Shop! Tiny Love 3 in 1 Rocker Napper is $100 on our affiliate Amazon.

Win! A Tiny Love 3-in-1 Rocker-Napper!

How to Enter: Check out Tiny Love and tell us your favorite thing about the 3 in 1 Rocker-Napper.

Earn Extra Entries – valid only after completing the first required entry. Please leave a separate comment for each you do.

Giveaway ends May 11. Open to US residents only.

Thanks to Tiny Love for providing sample and the giveaway prize.

BABYBJÖRN Babysitter Balance Retro {Giveaway}

by Kate on April 26th, 2012  |  5 Comments  |  Baby, Giveaways, Reviews

Baby Max has been rockin’, quite literally, in a BABYBJÖRN Babysitter Balance since he was born. This genius baby bouncer is simple, smart and a total lifesaver. It’s become his go-to location during dinner. We pull the Balance up next to the table and he chills next to us, sometimes sleeping, sometimes generating movement by himself or moving via a grown-up foot tapping the bottom of the seat.

One of the things we like best about the balance is that it is a simple, quiet place for baby. In our house with three young kids, there is plenty of noise so I can’t tell you how important it is to have a place for Max to sit that doesn’t add to the cacophony. There’s no music, no batteries, no flashing lights. It’s just a place to sit. I think I need a place like this… With a maximum weight capacity of 29 pounds it’s clearly not an option for me, but we know Max will be enjoying this seat for years. I can just picture him bouncing quietly while looking at books. (Hey, I can dream about a toddler boy sitting quietly, can’t I?)

BABYBJÖRN does offer an optional toy bar that maintains the spirit of the Balance. The Wooden Toy attaches securely to the sides of the Balance and encourages play through colorful and spinning wooden blocks. We just ordered the Wooden Toy bar and I can’t wait to add it to an already awesome baby seat for Max.

Limited-Edition Babysitter Balance Retro

  • The Babysitter Balance is the first and oldest product in the BabyBjorn line-up, created 50 years ago
  • The retro colors were introduced last year as a fun way to celebrate BabyBjorn’s 50th anniversary
  • The Balance is designed to turn your child’s natural movements into a fun and soothing rocking motion- no batteries or on/off switches
  • The calm, natural rocking develops a child’s motor skills and balance
  • Each balance has three positions for play, rest and sleep.

Retro Colors

BABYBJÖRN introduced several products in the fun limited-edition retro colors, including the always popular Baby Carrier Original. With creative fabric placement, each Retro Collection piece is unique. The blue shades and brown and orange combination are inspired by the 60s and 70s the BABYBJÖRN fabrics of the past.

Shop! The limited-edition Babysitter Balance Retro colors are perfect for spring. The Orange and Blue Balances are available from our affiliate Amazon for $170. The Babysitter Wooden Toy is also available for $40.

Win! A Limited-Edition BABYBJÖRN Babysitter Balance Retro!

How to Enter: Leave a comment telling us your favorite thing about the BABYBJÖRN Babysitter Balance Retro.

Earn Extra Entries – valid only after completing the first required entry. Please leave a separate comment for each you do.

Giveaway ends May 11. Open to US residents only.

Thanks to BabyBjorn for providing sample and the giveaway prize.

Angry Birds Baby by SwaddleDesigns {Review & Giveaway}

by Kate on April 25th, 2012  |  5 Comments  |  Baby, Giveaways, Reviews

As we first told you last August, Swaddle Designs has partnered with Rovio, makers of the phenomenally popular game Angry Birds, to create Angry Birds Baby Products. My entire family (Max aside) has spent an embarrassing amount of time playing Angry Birds. It’s a totally addictive game and it’s easy to understand why Angry Birds is the fastest growing brand in the world with over 600 million downloads.

Angry Birds Baby

SwaddleDesigns was found in 2002 and was the original company to over large square swaddling blankets in the US. We’ve used many SwaddleDesigns products in the past – everything from a fitted crib sheet to the SwaddleDuo to the cozy stroller blanket. Given the reputation and quality of SwaddleDesigns products its no wonder Rovio chose to partner with the company.

The Angry Birds Baby collection features great gift bundles (perfect for your iFriend), bodysuits, swaddling blankets, burp clothes, sleep sacks, plush birds and more.  The familiar red, yellow and blue birds from the Angry Birds game are front and center on each products.

We received the short sleeve blue bird Bodysuit and a Marquisette Swaddling Blanket. The Marquisette is a open weave cotton blanket that is perfect for spring and summer in Alabama. It’s really the perfect weight for throwing over the car seat or swaddling for safe sleep. (For colder climates, you should go with the cotton flannel Ultimate Receiving Blanket.) The blanket is 46 inches square – a truly perfect size.

As much as I try, I am really not so good at swaddling. Luckily, SwaddleDesigns offers an easy reminder on how to swaddle just where you need it – on the back of swaddling blanket! The 123 Swaddle tag is also great for caretakers, relatives and friends who are new to the concept.

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… We think Swaddle Designs featuring Angry Birds are fabulous new baby and baby shower gift. It’s hard to find a better combination of practical, funny and affordable than these products. There’s no denying the quality and reputation of SwaddleDesigns and we love this whimsical line.

Or Not to Buy… The Bodysuits go up to 12 months so older baby Birds’ fans are out of luck.

Shop! Angry Birds Baby from SwaddleDesigns collection ranges in price from $15 for a BodySuit to $49 for a Gift Bundle. The Marquisette Swaddling Blanket is $20. Make sure you check out the SwaddleDesigns Deal of the Day and sign up for the exclusive email club to get the latest news, inside scoop and deals.

Win! Angry Birds Baby BodySuit & Plush Bird OR Marquisette Swaddling Blanket!

How to Enter: Visit Swaddle Designs and leave a comment with your favorite design from any collection.

Earn Extra Entries – valid only after completing the first required entry. Please leave a separate comment for each you do.

Giveaway ends May 9. Open to US and Canadian residents only.

Thanks to SwaddleDesigns for providing sample and the giveaway prize.

Little Moonjumper Personalized Blanket

by Kate on April 24th, 2012  |  5 Comments  |  Baby, Reviews

Little Moonjumper creates one of a kind personalized fleece baby blankets and has been on our radar since the fall of 2009. In our original Little Moonjumper review we were smitten with the unique colorful design, great quality and the option to personalize. Over two years later, our love for these blankets is confirmed for the same reasons!

Meet Little Moonjumper

Little Moonjumper strives to provide babies worldwide with fun, colorful, unique blankets to wrap up in, carry around and help announce themselves. Our fleece blankets are durable too and won’t fade or shrink – no matter what they are subjected to. (Though some good lovin’ will make them even better…)

Founded by mom/graphic designer Lyerly Spongberg Tuck when she had her first child and one on the way, Little Moonjumper has been keeping babies warm and happy since 1997. It’s been important to us that all of our blankets are MADE IN THE USA before shipping out to babies around the globe.

Max’s Little Moonjumper Blanket

We received the Moonjumper Stroller Blanket personalized for baby Max. The blanket features a super sweet colorful jumping over the moon, surrounded by stars. It’s 28 inches square with a fun red scalloped border. It can be personalized with a name (up to 9 characters) in either blue or pink. I think Max’s name looks pretty darn good on his blanket, don’t you?

Owing to quality construction, the back of the blanket is solid blue even with all the beautiful appliqué work on the front. The blanket is soft, made of 100% acrylic fleece. The fleece won’t pill, the colors won’t fade and the blanket is completely washable. In other words, this blanket is made to be your babe’s favorite. It’s certainly easy to imagine little Max growing attached to his Little Moonjumper.

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… The Little Moonjumper Stroller blanket is the perfect size to be cherished and loved by baby. And we think this blanket is up to the task. Its bright colors and graphics, easy to cuddle material and baby’s name will certainly appeal to little ones. Parents will love the quality craftsmanship and sentimental aspect of the blankets.

Or Not to Buy… The only potential downside of Little Moonjumper blankets is the cost. But, you get what you pay for and quality one of a kind blankets aren’t cheap.

Shop! Little Moonjumper offers a wide range of blanket designs from animal faces to flowers to polka dots in a number of sizes for babies and adults alike. Our new favorite is the Astrology Sign Blankets are on sale for only $35 – a total steal! The personalized Moonjumper blanket like Max’s is $93.50. 

Thanks to Little Moonjumper for sending a sample.

Aura Weavers Muslin Swaddles {Review}

by Kate on April 19th, 2012  |  5 Comments  |  Baby, Reviews

As part of our Getting Ready for Baby series, we featured the new Aura Weavers Muslin Swaddle Blankets. We’ve put them to the test since Max arrived and can now declare Aura Weavers “baby tested and mama approved”.

Aura Weavers Muslin Swaddles

The natural open weave of Aura Weavers blankets makes them über-breathable – helping your baby maintain a comfortable body temperature. This reduces the risk of overheating while keeping your baby snug and cozy.

All Aura Weavers blankets are just the right size for infants (47” X 47”), with a natural stretch that ensures snug and secure swaddling for your little one. Lightweight muslin makes for the softest and most durable blankets – ideal for swaddling your baby everyday. And the fabric only gets softer with each wash!

Muslin Swaddles Review

We received the gender-neutral Fashion Fiesta 3-pack of blankets, which includes a blanket with elephants, one with graphic shapes and one that is plain white. The colors are bright and the patterns are graphic and fun. We would love to see the collection expand to also include more muted colors but for the time being they feature lots of orange and green. Because we have a drawer stocked with muslin swaddling blankets we can compare Aura Weavers to other brands. Out of the box, Aura Weavers falls in the middle of the pack for softness of touch. We have noticed it does, as promised, get softer with washing and they’ve always been soft enough to touch sensitive baby’s skin.

The blankets are a great size and will grow with your child. For example, Max slept wrapped in Aura Weavers his first night home from the hospital (picture below) and slept in the same blanket last night. Even when he outgrows the swaddle, at 47 inches square Max will surely be able to cuddle and sleep with the generously-sized blanket.

In addition to aiding sleep, the Aura Weavers blankets are super useful to have around with babies. The lightweight and breathable muslin is perfect to drape over baby’s car seat to shield from sun, germs and curious strangers. I always drape one over Max’s car seat when we drop the older kids’ off at school. It’s a great way to keep cute little curious preschool hands at bay.

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… We love having loads of muslin swaddling blankets on hand and Aura Weavers are a great addition to your nursery. The blankets are relatively affordable, a great size and reliable quality. And, not for nothing, we love supporting mom-owed start ups like Aura Weavers.

Or Not to Buy… Aura Weavers weren’t as soft as competitor blankets out of the box, but have softened with washing.

Shop! Aura Weavers muslin swaddle blankets are sold in set of 2 for $29.99 and set of 3 for $39.99. Aura Weavers are also available on Amazon where they’re eligible for Free Super Saver / Prime Shipping.

Thanks to Aura Weavers for providing a sample.
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