Baby Care Item Reviews
Caring for your little tyke can be a challenge, especially when you have trouble finding products that work for you and your family. Between the daycare and Lucas, I've used a LOT of products (on one bum or another!), and found a lot to be effective, and some to be quite the opposite. Here's my honest, (sometimes not-so) humble opinion...
Summer Infant Temperature Tester
It's cute AND functional! I started using this adorable little turtle water temperature tester before I even had Lucas. Pregnant women aren't supposed to bathe in water over 100 degrees, so I would plop it in the bath with me to ensure Lucas wasn't being baked in my belly.
It has an accurate digital display that shows you the current water temperature, as well as a multi-colored flashing light to tell you if the water is too cold, too hot, or just right! It has a 10-minute auto-off feature that perfectly spans bath time. The turtle floats on top of the water, and doubles as a bath toy |
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Diaper Genie II Elite
So, as you all know, we use cloth diapers around the Bolinger house. My initial idea behind putting a Diaper Genie on our registry was to line it with a laundry wet bag, and keep the cloth diapers in there to avoid our house stinking "like woah". As it turned out, this was not such a bright idea, it was impractical, and we never ended up doing it. Eugh, logistical nightmare.
So, we used disposable diapers for a bit, and the Diaper Genie came in handy at keeping the stinky-ness at bay. The liners install easily, the storage chamber is super simple to empty (it even has its own cutter), and the pedal function is great for keeping your dirty hands off of the clean outside. Here's the clincher: the liners cost a FORTUNE. We were emptying the thing about every-other day, and going through a sleeve of liners about every week or so. At 20 bucks for a three pack, you'll spend more on liners in a month than you did on the unit. |
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If you like the convenience of the thing, and don't mind spending a gillion dollars on liners, then it's a great product that is functional and easy to use. Currently, because we use cloth diapers, our Diaper Genie is a fancy trash can for our stinky wipes and the occasional disposable diaper. It does a great job of keeping the orders (and mess!) inside.
Johnson's Bedtime Lotion and Soap
Around our house, we call this stuff "Nite Nite Lotion" or "Nite Nite Bath", and it's absolutely fantastic. It's relaxing smell (something similar to lavender) is good for babies and moms, too! Yes, I've used it on an occasion or two. It really works, I swear! Use the soap and then lotion combination for best results.
I would highly suggest that you buy the 27 or 28 ounce bottle with the pump dispenser (keep the bottle to refill) and have it be one of the staples at your changing table (or wherever you get your baby ready for bed). The squeeze bottles are difficult to maneuver when your hands are all slimy from the lotion, so the pump is great! Two thumbs WAY up! |
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Boudreaux's Butt Paste
Yeah, it's really called Butt Paste. And yes, it really works. I was initially introduced to this amazing product at the Daycare where I worked. A baby came in with a butt rash to end all butt rashes, and a tube of this stuff (the family was all about green products, so it was the All-Natural variety). I was amazed!
It stinks something fierce, but man oh man, does it work! One application of this stuff, and WHA-BAM! No more diaper rash! You can buy it in the economy-sized super-extra-large-lifetime-supply container (I'm exaggerating slightly, but not overly), or the more portable diaper bag friendly sized tube (my words, not theirs!). Original or All-Natural, it doesn't dry out in the large container, so go with whatever you like, man! |
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Swaddle Me
Lucas absolutely loved to be swaddled when he was first born, but would wiggle his way out of the blankets, and then cry to be wrapped up. A friend recommended a Swaddle Me (Available at Target and Babies R Us), and it was an absolute lifesaver! My husband and I found it easy to use, and easy to clean. Lucas wore a size small until about 6 weeks, and that's when he started disliking being swaddled. We had a fleece version and a cotton knit, and used them both religiously.
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American Red Cross 7 Piece Health Kit
This American Red Cross 7-piece Health Kit is great for travel, and comes with a zippered pouch that is easy to toss in a diaper bag. It comes with two medicine dispensers, nail clippers, a ball syringe, and an absolutely awesome thermometer in a case. The thermometer is worth buying this kit in itself, and I've been unable to find it separately. The American Red Cross makes larger versions of this kit (which include grooming tools), but I've found that this one is more than sufficient.
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Safety First Thermometer
Working at a daycare, I used thermometers constantly, and learned the value of a good one. Unfortunately, this Safety 1st Hospital's Choice Exchangeable Tip 3-in-1 Thermometer Set is NOT one of them. The quick-read feature produces an inaccurate temperature, and the attachments are difficult to install and remove. I had to use it 5 or 6 times before obtaining an accurate temperature, and the oral and underarm attachments gave a different reading when I tried using both.
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Baby Bath Tub
As part of a hand-me-down haul from a friend, we received this baby bath tub. After discovering how much Lucas loved the water, I thought that we would use it all the time. However, after about three baths, my back was aching from bending over the side of our bathtub to reach the baby bath inside. For that, I give the baby bath a sideways thumb.
So we stopped using the baby bath, and just putting Lucas in the "big" tub with me. Made life a lot easier, and turned taking bath into a relaxing time for both of us. |
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