Category Archives: Age 0-1 year

Gerber Be Our Baby Photo Search 2014

YOUR Cutest-Baby-In-The-Universe Could Win $50,000 With The Gerber “Be Our Baby” Photo Search!

Age 0-1 year, ,

Gerber Baby Photo Search 2014

Gerber Be Our Baby Photo Search 2014 

If you’re a new parent, or even an experienced parents with older kids, you’ve worn the shutter button out on at least one camera.   Or perhaps the home button on your smartphone is showing sings of wear due to the pressure of your finger tap, tap, tapping it in order to take a mad amount of photos of your baby or child to share with the world on social media.  If you’re old-school, you have scrapbooks full of printed photos of your kids in which case I hope you keep that book on your coffee table for friends and family to see because goodness knows they are a rarity these days.

Why do we snap so many photos of our kids when they are baby’s, I wonder?  I am sure of a couple of reasons.  First, your baby is the cutest baby in the world and you want to document her cuteness for the world to see.  Second, deep down inside, we all want our baby to be a model.  I wished this for my son when he was an infant and worked for it.  Sebastian made it into a newspaper ad for a major department store and I couldn’t have been a prouder mom.  The work involved in coordinating modeling jobs and actually following through with them, with a baby for pete’s sake, is insane though, so that didn’t last long.  Back in the day when my son was an infant, Facebook wasn’t around so I took to online ‘cutest baby photo searches’, to share photos of my son.

I majored in photography in college, believe it or not, and had a few tips and tricks up my sleeve when entering Sebastian into photo searches when he was a baby.  While I don’t have quick access to those photos to share with you in this post, because they are 14 years old and not on this computer, I do have a few of Madelyn that I think are super adorable and might have entered into a photo search if I had thought of it.  I wouldn’t have entered the photo in the bottom right corner because I think the reflection is an unnecessary addition but I think the photos is so darn cute – I had to include it.

Cute baby photo search sample photos

Here are a few of my favorite baby photo tips:

  • Go for great lighting!
  • Make sure the background is not distracting.  No crazy wallpaper and despite how cute you think a background of a bed of colorful flowers is, that may not be the best choice for a photo search photo.
  • Your baby should be the clear focus on the photo.  Try to leave pets and siblings out of the photo.
  • You can never take enough photos.  The more to choose from the better!
  • Submit a photo of your baby that shows emotion.  Almost all winners of baby photo searches are smiling.

Enter your baby and they could win!

Through November 12, 2014, you can enter your baby to win the Gerber.com/Photosearch!  Simply upload your favorite recent photo (no more than 30 days old) of your Gerber baby, up to 48 months of age.  Your baby will have the chance of winning the Grand Prize of $50,000, one year of Gerber food and the possibility for your child to star in a future advertisement for Gerber as the 2014 spokesbaby!  While you’re on the site, check out the previous entrants and winners.  You’ll drool over them.. or maybe that’s just me. 🙂  You can be a part of the voting process as well!  Anyone can cast a vote for the six milestone categories and the Gerber panel of judges will select the Grand Prize winner from all eligible photo entries in January 2015.

Milestone Categories in which you can enter your baby’s photo include Birth+, Supported Sitter, Sitter, Crawler, Toddler, Toddler 2+.
The photo you enter for one of the 6 Milestone prizes can be any photo of your child taken within the last 30 days. Pictures will be judged on (1) visual appeal of the child in the photo; (2) expressiveness of the child in the photo; and (3) consistency with Gerber’s heritage and mission.
Learn more and follow Gerber on Facebook and Instagram.

 

Styling Your New-Mom Body + JJ Cole Caprice Diaper Bag Review and Giveaway!

Age 0-1 year, Contests, Pregnancy, ,

If you are pregnant or have a new baby, I’m sure you’ve asked yourself and your new-mom friends the age-old question..
how will I possibly still look even an inkling stylish after I’ve had the baby?   JJ Cole sent us a Caprice Diaper Bag to review and because we are all out of babies here, one lucky reader will win the bag we received for review!

Win a JJ Cole Caprice Diaper Bag

First, I want to give you a few new-mom fashion tips that I’ve learned over the years:

  1. Buy lots of leggings.  H&M has several colors and they are just $10!
  2. Stock up on tops that will take eyes off of your newly enlarged boobs such as a top that has a narrow v-neck which will bring eyes up to your neck and face not your boobs and flowing blouses.
  3. Avoid blouses with lots of frill.  Those will make your breasts look larger.
  4. Get a statement necklace or two; one that has a large pendant which will make your breasts look smaller.   Steer clear of necklaces that lay at your neckline.
  5. Wear shirts that have a 3/4 length sleeve or long sleeve tops as they are more slimming than short sleeves or tanks.
  6. Make sure you have a cute diaper bag or two!

When it comes to a diaper bag that is fashionable as well as affordable and easy to use, the JJ Cole Caprice Diaper Bag steps up to the plate.

The JJ Cole Caprice Diaper Bag has tons of great features while at the same time being stylish and fitting into your budget.

Here are a few features that I love about this diaper bag:

  • Attaches to your stroller – Taking your little one along in a stroller which requires both arms free to push around?   No problem!  Attach the Caprice diaper bag to your stroller with the included Grips™.
  • It’s lightweight – The Caprice Diaper Bag weighs just over 2 pounds so don’t worry about breaking your back from carrying your baby and diaper bag!
  • Strap and carry options – Adjustable and removable shoulder strap and tote handles

Grips feature for diaper bag on stroller

You won’t have to bring a separate purse either — despite being a diaper bag, it has 10 organizational compartments both inside and outside, allowing you to keep your items safe and easily accessible while looking chic.  You can keep your wallet and cell phone in the external zipper pockets, while keeping your baby’s bottle or sippy cup in its insulated and spacious side pockets, and the diapers inside the internal pouch.

This fabulous JJ Cole Caprice Diaper Bag also comes with a changing pad that matches the bag’s design.

JJ Cole Caprice Diaper Bag

The Caprice diaper bag comes in a variety of colors such as shadow, silver drop, and vintage poppy; and fashionable printed designs that can go with the outfit of your choosing, all for the affordable price of $69.99.

Best of all, it contains no traces of the chemicals PVC or Phthalate, thus making this bag a safe choice as well as being convenient and fashionable. You won’t have to pay a single cent more for anything of such great overall quality in terms of ease, style and safety.

We are giving a lucky reader a JJ Cole Caprice Diaper Bag!

The bag is the very bag reviewed here.  All tags and pieces are intact.

Here are the steps to enter the giveaway:

  1. MANDATORY/MUST DO ENTRY – Leave a comment at the bottom of this blog post, include your name, and use the same email address that you enter in the rafflecopter form!
  2. Use the Rafflecopter App below to submit your entry  – Complete optional entries as shown in the rafflecopter form, for extra entries.

Alicia, The Mommy Insider blog author

Mombo™ – The Nursing Pillow With More To Love!

Age 0-1 year, Age 1-3, Breastfeeding, ,

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Comfort and Harmony. All opinions are 100% mine.

When I was going to have our first baby I was very overwhelmed with all the options out there.  But one thing that I wish that I would have had that I didn’t have was a mombo nursing pillow.  I didn’t nurse for very long but what I have learned is that a nursing pillow is not just for nursing!  You can use the mombo nursing pillow for tummy time too!

The mombo™ products can be found at Toys R Us and Babies R Us. Look at this one that I found on the Toys R Us website!.  Isn’t it cute?

This one is the Comfort & Harmony Mombo Deluxe Nursing Pillow & Infant Positioner – Loin King.

Mombo has a unique shape and a two-sided design called Firm2Soft™. Each side offers a different experience. The firm side gives essential support for you and your nursing baby. The soft side is extra cozy for an inviting place for lounging or tummy time. Did you know that mombo is the only nursing pillow with a vibration feature? Mombo will give baby the ultimate soothing experience while lounging. Mombo has an assortment of pillow styles and slipcover fashions. Select the style you like, from Standard, Deluxe or Nude™. And then choose multiple slipcover fashions, you can have a different one for every day of the week!

I have a couple of baby showers in the next few months.  I know what I am going to be getting for the mommies to be!

For more information on the mombo nursing pillow you can check out Comfort & Harmony on Facebook and Comfort & Harmony on Twitter.

Visit Sponsor's Site

Clean Up Baby’s Messes With Huggies Wipes Featuring New Triple Clean Layers Technology

Age 0-1 year, Age 1-3, ,

Huggies Baby Wipes at WalmartBeing a parent means making a lot of changes and searching to find the right products for your baby. Parents often wonder if a diaper from a costlier brand or a less expensive brand is the way to go. The choices are endless, from diapers to bottles to shampoo to wipes. With the expense of an infant, sometimes the immediate cost difference is the deciding factor. The same is true for almost everything a parent needs, don’t you agree?

When you’re standing at Walmart in the baby aisle, the boxes of wipes can all seem the same. When my kids were young, I wondered what is really the difference between the different baby wipes or what was the best choice is for my baby. With the new Triple Clean Layers technology included in every Huggies wipe, the choice on which brand to trust when picking up your weekly supply of wipes is much easier.

The difference from other brands is clear. The thicker, more absorbent wipes with Triple Clean Layers technology means a more comfortable and gentler diaper change for every infant, every time than with any other brand of wipe.

On top of the soft comfort, these new baby wipes are durable, ensuring that even the messiest situation can be cleaned up in no time. Instead of thin baby wipes that rip and fall apart easily in sticky situations, the new technology means one wipe for most messes and a more thorough clean. I still use wipes for cleaning sticky hands in the car while on road trips so even though my kids are 13 and 6, we still use wipes and I appreciate a good wipe when I use one!

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That also means lowering the cost spent on wipes each week. Because the new Triple Clean Layers technology wipes are more durable and much thicker than the other brands are, parents can spend less money on the number of wipes that have to be bought each week.

What really matters is how the wipes perform for everyday parents in everyday situations. Walmart and Huggies wanted to find out. To do that, real parents tested out the new product to see how well it performed in their own homes with their own children.

The reviews are in, and real parents agree that this breakthrough in wipes technology is worth every penny and is the best product. To see for yourself, take a look at the reviews from real parents here.

Be your own HUGGIES Tester every day by putting HUGGIES to the ultimate test- real life. Get your pack of HUGGIES wipes with new TRIPLE CLEAN LAYERS at Walmart and see the superior difference for yourself. Once you’ve put TRIPLE CLEAN LAYERS to the test, share your experience as a Official Tester with your friends!

This post was sponsored by Lunchbox. All opinions are my own.

What is RSV and How Do I Protect My Children?

Age 0-1 year, Age 1-3, Health, , , ,

Did you know that RSV affects two-thirds of all infants by age one and almost 100% of babies by age two?

100% of babies by the age two?! to me that number is very scary! When my kids were little I had no idea what RSV was.  It wasn’t until my sister called me and said that my niece was in the hospital with RSV that I started researching RSV to learn more about it and find out how to protect my kids.

What is RSV:

RSV disease, or Respiratory syncytial virus, is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia in children under 1 year of age in the United States.  The RSV season typically runs from November through March. RSV typically causes mild to moderate cold-like symptoms, but in some babies it results in a serious respiratory infection. Those most at risk for severe RSV include premature infants, as their lungs aren’t fully developed and they have fewer infection-fighting antibodies than full-term babies.

Below are symptoms of severe RSV infection that require immediate medical care:

  • Coughing or wheezing that does not stop
  • Fast or troubled breathing
  • Spread-out nostrils and/or a caved-in chest when trying to breathe
  • Bluish color around the mouth or fingernails
  • Fever (especially if it is over 100.4°F in infants under 3 months of age)

An estimated that 82% of U.S. children aged six weeks to six years old, spend some amount of time in child care. Whether its one day a week or 5 days a week, the risks of spending time in a daycare or pre-school setting are the same — increased exposure to contagious germs and viruses. Daycare increases this risk of RSV spreading as children are constantly sharing toys, tables and high chairs as well as eating and napping in close quarters.

Parents of preemies should be informed of the dangers of RSV, as well as the risks that certain child care settings can present. If possible, parents of high-risk babies may want to consider alternate options, such as nannies or in-home daycare centers, where exposure to dangerous germs can be minimized. Regardless of child care settings, it’s important for parents who believe their child may be at high-risk for RSV to speak with a doctor about prevention.

Because RSV can live on surfaces (doorknobs, countertops, toys, bedding) for several hours and is often spread through touching, hugging and kissing, all parents should take steps to prevent the spread of the virus.

Here are some ways that you, your child’s caregiver and loved ones can help prevent the spread of RSV:

  • avoid RSV by cleaning baby's pacifierWash your hands and child’s hands
  • Keep toys, clothes, blankets, and sheets clean
  • Clearly mark  bottles/sippy cups by putting labels on them to help caregivers make sure that the babies are drinking out of their own bottles/sippy cups
  • If your baby uses a pacifier make sure it is cleaned regularly
  • Avoid crowds and other sick children during RSV season
  • Avoid exposure to cigarette smoke

For more helpful information about RSV visit www.RSVProtection.com and follow #RSVProtection on Twitter.

“I wrote this review while participating in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of MedImmune and I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.”