Nanny to Mommy

This post and giveaway were made possible by iConnect and Dreft. I was compensated for my participation in this campaign, but all opinions are 100% mine.

Hands down babies are messy. There are no questions about that. It's a given. But did you know that studies have shown that smashing, throwing, and playing with food can actually help babies learn? And science has confirmed what kids seem to instinctively know, that playing in the dirt and mud is fun! But did you know that it actually helps soothe, calm and relax children! But really, playing with mud can make kids happier!

I remember trying to keep my daughter away from the messy activities. I remember the first time we went to the lake and it rained, but she had a blast playing in the mud! Her favorite thing to do is still make mud pies. I learned better with baby #2. My son lives to get messy, he always has. And I would say that he was always my happier baby.

This conversation is sponsored by Boudreaux’s Butt Paste. All opinions are my own.

There is nothing like a smiling baby. My little man is two now, but he always has a smile on his face. We are working on potty training, but it hasn't been easy. He is still in diapers most of the time and not very willing to participate in the potty training process. He will even hide his mess from us. With all of that going on, I want to keep him smiling.

Photo by Kelly Creamer Photography

According to a 2016 survey by Boudreaux’s Butt Paste, 82% of respondents wish they had more ideas on how to prevent diaper rash. Boudreaux’s Butt Paste is a powerful and fast acting diaper rash prevention product yet is free of the harsh butt-irritating ingredients like Parabens, Preservatives, Dyes, Phthalates, and Talc ingredients included in some diaper rash ointments.

This is a sponsored conversation on behalf of Baby Magic. All opinions are my own.

I am a stay-at-home mom and as much as I would love to go grocery shopping by myself, that just isn't realistic for our lifestyle. My daughter is in school, so I usually only have one in tow when I grocery shopping these days. My toddler son. Two of his favorite ways to keep him entertained are toys and snacks.

As soon as we head into our local Publix, we make sure to get the car grocery cart. It's a fun way to keep little ones entertained while grocery shopping. Sometimes we will head over to their bakery department and get a complimentary cookie, but most of the time we head straight to their baby aisle and grab some Gerber® toddler snacks. Our new favorites are the Gerber® Lil’ Beanies™.

1 Lucky Winner Will Receive Over $708 worth of baby goodies!!

As I journey through this thing called motherhood, I'm learning that not everyone's journey is the same. Everyone has different things that work for them because not only is every child different, but everyone's circumstance is different. You can't judge someone else's journey just because it isn't in tune with how you would parent.

Image by Peach & Oak Photography

I breastfed both of my children. I did it for financial reasons, but there were so many other benefits. At different times, I did try to give my daughter formula. But she wouldn't take it. She had issues with her latch, I had issues with supply, and she had colic. With the endless hours of crying because of baby's discomfort, I was willing to try anything.

This post is brought to you by Boudreaux’s Butt Paste and The Motherhood. All opinions are my own. #ButtPasteMom

My son gets heat rash. He always has, even before his little body was able to sweat properly. This irritates his eczema. He was born in the Spring, so all summer long his sweet baby skin would get heat rash, especially in the crevices of his chubby legs.

I would try to keep him as dry as possible to avoid heat rash, but that wasn't always realistic. We live in the pool and lake all summer long with even a trip to the beach. Plus he always been on the sweatier side.

This post was sponsored by WaterWipes as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. I received complimentary products to facilitate my review.

When my daughter was born, I didn't realize how truly lucky I was. She did have skin issues, but only if we used a laundry detergent besides the one we had been using all along. When my son came along, I thought he might be about the same, but boy was I wrong. He broke out from different diapers, wipes, laundry detergents, and even certain foods I ate. He was never diagnosed officially with having eczema, but he a lot of the same symptoms.


I am one of those people who baby wipes for everything. Of course during diaper changes, but also meal time clean ups, carpet spot cleans, everything. Baby wipes are great to clean up life's little messes. With a baby (now toddler) like mine who has a tendency to break out with certain products, I like to stick to products with the least amount of chemicals as possible. WaterWipes is a chemical free baby wipe that contains only two ingredients, 99.9% pure Irish water and 0.1% grapefruit seed extract.

The importance of a good pumping bra can not be underestimated. Having both hands free allows you to more efficiently manage your time while you pump which helps you be more productive.  Visit Latched On Mom's review of the Simple Wishes Signature Hands Free Pumping Bra to learn more about how this bra differs from other pumping bras and how it can benefit those who pump.

My son is a picky eater. It's not really that he's picky but getting nutrients into him is a hassle. He likes to "snack" and I don't mind providing snacks as long as they are good for him too. Recently, a friend of mine introduced us to Gerber Lil' Beanies. They are made with navy beans and provide 2g of protein per serving. She had brought them to ball practice, and I thought, "that's the perfect go-to summertime toddler snack". They are easily portable, and my son loves them, so it's definitely a win-win for me.

While shopping at Kroger, we decided to grab a few.

I know SO MANY people having babies. It has definitely been baby shower season it seems. Although I do have some traditional gift ideas that I love giving, I also love giving unique children's gifts for not only baby shower gifts, but birthdays and more.

It’s sometimes hard to find something that feels special that isn’t super expensive, so I was excited to discover cuddle + kind. Not only are their dolls and prints super cute, but this small company has an amazing backstory.

Baby Extravaganza Giveaway! Over $170 in Prizes!

Sponsored By:

Sharon Ballantine, Pacidose, Little Italy, Inno Tech, Schlummersack, Canopy Baby, LittleLettysPaperie

Hosted By: Love, Mrs. Mommy

Co-Hosted By: MomJunky, Amy & Aron's Real Life Reviews, Green Grandma, Parenting Healthy

Expecting a baby this year? A new little one is an exciting addition to any family! Babies change your life in a great way. They also can need quite a lot of gear for such a tiny little one. I've teamed up with Mommy Scene who put together a fabulous giveaway for new moms or moms-to-be, featuring several products that help keep baby close, fed, cozy, and diapered! Some of these brands are our personal faves for nursing and diapering essentials, and also make great baby shower gifts!

 

 

Enter to win this collection of featured prizes for mom and baby!

I received complimentary products to provide this review. All opinions are my own.

I have mentioned once or twice that I know quite a few people who are expecting. I am always looking for unique shower gifts that are also very useful. So when I was contacted to check out Incredibundles, I was very excited. I have heard of them for a while now, but haven't had the chance to try them. They have so many awesome bundles to choose from; Book Bundle, Year of Toys, Year of Diapers, Sleep Bundles, and more. They also have an option for you to create your own bundle, which is what I decided to do.

 

I chose to get items that I felt were classic and must haves. Here's what I chose to get:

Mommy's Favorite Things and Michelle from Mama's Baby Cupcakes. This is the 5th Annual "Summer Cloth Diaper" giveaway hop. Each blog has cloth diaper friendly items and has a minimum prize package of $25 per winner and after visiting my giveaway, make sure you use the linky below to take a look at the other blogs to see what they have to offer for you!

I am so excited to introduce a company to you that makes stylish products to make your life easier.

Snuggy Baby makes Ring Slings, Stretchy Wraps, Doll Slings, Cloth Diapers, and Wet Bags. SnuggyBaby Cloth diapers have a unique patent pending feature that allows them to adjust to really fit babies 8-35 lbs. They adjust the waist, rise AND WIDTH of the diaper which allows the legs to be small enough to fit newborns and still grow large enough to fit late potty trainers. It really is a one size diaper where you don’t have to buy the newborn size until your baby grows into the diaper or a second set of diapers because your baby outgrew the ones that fit him as a newborn.
And of course, all of the Snuggy Baby products come in lots of fun prints. 

Enter to WIN

I received complimentary products to provide this post. All opinions are my own.

IncrediBundles.com, the home of extraordinary baby gifts, features a line of foolproof baby gifts that allow gift-givers to give the nursery essentials every new parent wants and needs. They take the best award-winning products for babies and bundle them together in a trademark reusable storage container so that you can give a gift that is innovative, practical, and chic. I have known of them for a little while now and was excited when they reached out about this opportunity.
Full review will be coming soon!