Author: Mama Bradford


Mar
2017

Cubbie Lee Toy Company

categories: Reviews

After having a baby of their own, Zach and Sarah Lee were on the hunt for affordable, high quality toys. They didn’t want toys that kept breaking or that needed batteries; they wanted the toys to last. Coming up short time and time again they decided to take matters into their own hands. The couple created a line of toys that are wooden, affordable, and will last for a long time. Their toys are very educational and are perfect for kids of all ages.

All of their toys come with a 30 day return policy and hold a 5 year warranty! How awesome is that?! Created with sustainable harvest timber, Cubbie Lee toys pledge to have a minimal environmental impact. Cubbie Lee has a VIP Club that gives their members exclusive deals, discounts, and perks on their toys and on the orders you make. By joining the club you can even receive a 10% discount on all your orders.

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Use code:ICG8DCR6 on any Cubbie Lee order from Amazon to get 15% off your order!

The Cubbie Lee Noah’s Ark is so adorable and perfect for any child, of any age. The set includes one ark with a removable top and many different animal pieces – two of each of course. One side of the ark has open slots for matching the animal shapes and placing them into the ark; while the other side has a door that opens up, allowing your child to explore his/her imagination. The colors on the ark are my favorite part about the whole toy. The orange and yellow on the top really make it pop, and the waves at the bottom make the ark really come to life. The play time possibilities are endless with Noah’s Ark.

One downside that I have found with the ark is the shape slots on the side. These are really great for learning and having baby shape sort, so for that aspect I really like them. The aspect of them I don’t like is how low they are to the bottom of the ark. I like to store all the animals and people inside the ark when we’re not using it, but they seem to fall out very easily because of the open slots. With the slightest shake or move, at least one animal falls out. I feel this is a very minor issue because it does not affect the play or safety of my child.

My son loves the pound bench by Cubbie Lee. The bench has bright, primary colors that really make it visually appealing. My son is just 10 months old and he has a blast with it. Not only is he learning to hammer with the tool, he is also learning cause and effect – hit the knob and it drops. It is also great to have him hold the hammer with either hand; he’s learning how to grasp. He is also learning good movement and control – he can actually hold something with a long stick and hit something else with it. Its never too early to start the learning process!

The Cubbie Lee vehicle block puzzle is a little too advanced for my son right now. The quality of the puzzle already impresses me, though. I can’t wait for him to get just a little older so he can play with it. The puzzle is made up of nine blocks that make up a picture of a vehicle; creating six different pictures. I like how the blocks are painted on rather than having a sticker on each side. When kids chew on the blocks the paint is great because it doesn’t fall off like it does with the stickers. The puzzle is small and compact – just 5 x 5 x 2 inches!

 

Give Cubbie Lee Toy Company a try! Their products are so cute, affordable, and perfect for any child. Check out their website or go to Amazon and see their products. You won’t be disappointed with any of their products!


Mar
2017

ergoPouch Giveaway

categories: Giveaway

Welcome to the Feelin’ Lucky Giveaway Hop!

 

Enter for your chance to win (1) ergoPouch winter sleeping bag in citrus stripe.

MamatheFox and all participating blogs are not held responsible for sponsors who fail to fulfill their prize obligations. 


Feb
2017

ErgoPouch

categories: Reviews

 

In 2008 the founder of ergoPouch was in need of some major sleep due to her son who was a “challenged” sleeper. Her whole family was seeking a better nights sleep, so she went to work. Out of desperation she pulled out the sewing machine and created the first ergoPouch sleeping bag – and it worked! The pouch kept him warm and allowed for him to move around without getting tangled up. Now ergoPouch is a leading market company and award winning brand in Australia.

ergoPouch offers swaddles, sleeping bags, sleepSuites, and ergoArms; all dependent on the age/size of your baby and the temperature in baby’s room. [I will be reviewing the sleeping bag.] All of the ergoPouch products are made from natural fibers including organic cotton, bamboo and merino. No need to worry about bad fibers sitting on baby’s skin or having baby breath in anything bad while sleeping. The assurance you have in knowing that their products are safe and healthy is worth the investment.

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“Our mission is to give baby a safe and better night’s sleep, and in style!”

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The ergoPouch sleeping bag comes in two different sizes – 2-12 months and 12-36 months; they will last a long time! I think it’s great that there are just two size options because then you don’t need to buy as many. These sizes are for the sleeping bag only; there are other sizes involved in their other products.

There are many different options for warmth in terms of the sleeping bag. Their products are measured in togs which are a unit of thermal resistance used to measure the power of insulation of a fabric. The higher the tog, the warmer the piece of fabric. The warmest sleeping bag, and the one that we have, is a 3.5 tog – a warm pouch for winter. The next is a 2.5 tog pouch that is a bit lighter. 1.0 tog is the mild pouch that is more for fall or spring months. The pouch for the warmest weather is the cool pouch that is used in the summer. Below is a chart that is very helpful in knowing what pouch to put on baby in certain temperatures.

   

A thermometer is included with every purchased ergoPouch. This thermometer is really great. It shows the temperature of the room and which pouch should be put on baby accordingly – so useful! I hung it in my sons room so I know the temperature and which sleep sack he should wear.

The sleeping bag has unique stretch inserts on the the shoulder tops and on the side panels. This allows for natural movement so baby can sleep in comfort. I love how the sleeping bag has a double ended zipper. You can change baby’s diaper quickly and easily by unzipping the bag from the bottom. Keep them warm while you change them too! There are even button snaps that cover each zipper to protect baby and to keep them from possibly unzipping it themselves.

I love the print of our sleeping bag, it matches my sons room perfectly! There are many different prints and even solid color options too. ergoPouch offers gender neutral and gender specific colors. Their prints are very unique and not like most other sleep sacks.

ergoPouch is a trusted, award winning company that creates well made products. Their sleeping accessories are perfect for an child, big or small. They are MamatheFox approved and won’t disappoint.

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Jan
2017

Covered Goods

categories: Reviews

Covered Goods was created by a mom of four who searched high and low for the perfect nursing cover but came up short. Finally one day she sowed a cover with extra fabric lying around and created one of her own – the Covered Goods prototype. This cover is exactly what the founder was looking for, a full coverage nursing cover that took away the fear of being exposed while nursing in public.

The Covered Goods covers are a super cute alternative to other nursing covers. With tons of different prints, you will for sure be able to find one that you like; solid, prints, stripes, or mismatch. With a price of $34.99, the Covered Goods cover is a very reasonable investment. Between buying a nursing cover, shopping cart cover, scarf, and car seat canopy all separately, you would for sure exceed the price of one Covered Goods cover. For the small price that you pay for a Covered Goods cover you are getting four products in one; totally budget friendly.

I love the cart cover aspect of the cover. When I grocery shop with my son, the last thing I want for him is to be touching, chewing or sucking the cart. Shopping carts are so dirty and germ infested, I don’t even like touching them. With the cover I can completely keep my hands germ free and more importantly my son germ free. The cover is very easy to put on and take off of the cart, which is a deal breaker for me. Normally I am holding my son and the diaper bag all while trying to put the cover on the cart. It is very stretchy and easy to use with one hand; it can fit over almost any cart too.

The car seat cover is super useful and cute too! It has been rainy and snowy here in northeast Ohio and the cover has been a lifesaver. Every time we go outside with baby we put the cover on his car seat. It keeps the rain and snow away from his little body and keeps the wind out too – the best part! I like how the slit is on the top and makes room for the handle so we can carry him. This is good too so clean oxygen gets to him and he has good air circulation. I’ve always been nervous about those car seat covers that completely make a barrier around the baby; carbon monoxide poisoning is no joke! The cover is super stretchy so it easily fits around the car seat with no issues. Just start with the larger end and stretch it down around the seat until it’s sitting how you want it.

One aspect of the cover that I don’t like is that my cover is only printed on one side. This is particularly a problem when I wear the cover as a scarf. Putting it around my neck just once is okay and doesn’t show the white side; but when I wrap the scarf twice around my neck it is difficult to keep only the printed side showing. Some of their covers are double printed, but not all.

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Although I would like my cover to be printed on both sides, this is the only negative I have found with the product. I love this Covered Goods cover and use it each time we leave the house and will definitely use it for my future children too. The covers are available online and carried at many boutiques across North America; find one near you on their website! Check out their YouTube channel (or their website) for how-to videos.


Jan
2017

MAM

categories: Reviews

Since 1976 MAM has been committed to creating products that support the individual development of each child. There are plenty of great dentists around, like this Dentist Orlando, but it’s always better to avoid having to go at all! MAM creates products that are medically proven functional with attractive design features – the best of both worlds. “MAM designers have worked in conjunction with child development specialists to create an innovative range of teethers.”


This bite and relax – phase 1 teether is perfect for the very beginning stages of teething. Starting at two months your child can begin to feel relief from the discomforts of teething. The phase 1 teether is designed to reach the front teeth effectively and with ease; raised surfaces are specially structured to sooth the teething pain. The teether includes one clip in order to keep it clean, off the floor, and easily reachable for baby.

Bite and Relax – phase 2 teether is designed to reach the back emerging teeth. This teether is extra lightweight and so easy for baby to hold. The two different materials allow baby to choose from a variety of surfaces. Baby’s fine motor skills will be trained by the shape as they maneuver it around from hand to hand.

The cooler teether is designed to provide teething relief for children four months and older. This particular teether is filled with water to allow a cooling element which relaxes and soothes the gums. The raised edges and innovative shape massage the gums and reach the back teeth. Each aspect of this teether is good for soothing the gums and teeth of the baby. The bright and different colors allow the visual senses to be strengthened. Generic pacifiers can result in long term damage to the teeth with excessive use and can often result in children needed braces, also known as ??????????????, when they get older. This is a great alternative and can help protect developing teeth.

The MAM soft brush is great for cleaning any baby product – teethers, pacifiers, cups, but especially bottles and nipples. This brush is different than others because of the non-scratch bristles; creating a soft, gentle cleaning. The bristles are also flexible which makes it easily reachable to every part of a bottle. The hole near the bottom of the brush is perfect for hanging on a hook to allow for storage and drying. At the bottom of the soft brush is the nipple cleaner. This cleans the inside of the nipple – a very hard to reach area. One downside of the nipple brush (if you use other bottle brands) is that it’s created only for MAM bottles. This obviously makes sense, they made their brush compatible with their bottles. It makes it more difficult to use on a differently shaped nipple.

The massaging brush is great for kiddos three months and older who need to start oral care. Begin habits early with your child as you massage and brush new teeth. The long, bent shape of the brush is perfect for reaching and massaging any place inside baby’s mouth. The top end of the brush is similar to a toothbrush – great for brushing first teeth. At the bottom end of the brush there are two different surfaces, both great for massaging gums. Even apply teething gel to the bottom for a cleaner application. If you are worried about your child’s teething issues, you may want to visit a dental clinic similar to Atlantis Dental in Framingham and start your child’s dental experience in the right direction.

This learn to brush set is specially developed by dentists to help in the learning process of toothbrushing. Learning the correct way to brush your teeth is very important to instill at a young age so that the child grows up knowing the proper technique, if not, they may have oral health issues as they develop resulting in the potential for veneers and/or implants. They may choose this option anyway as they reach adulthood, they might want to know that dentists file down about .5mm of your teeth before placing veneers so they can prepare themselves, however, no mater what they choose they will still need to keep up with oral hygiene, fake teeth or not. Back to the set, it includes one training brush (longer brush), one first brush (shorter brush), and one safety shield. The training brush is very similar to the massaging brush. Long and easily graspable handle allows baby and parent to hold the brush together. Parents can teach baby and guide them through brushing motions. First brush allows babies to independently imitate adult brushing. With the short, ergonomically shaped handle, babies can hold the brush easily with no trouble. The safety shield is perfect for keeping the brush(s) a safe distance from the back of baby’s mouth. You don’t want to put their little throat at danger. Using the red bristles are great for indicating the recommended amount of toothpaste for baby. Keep them safe from that nasty fluoride with these helpful indicators!

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All MAM products are free of BPA, BPS, lead, and phthalates. Their fun, innovative designs are great for children’s development and growth. Medically proven functionality and attractive designs on all their products is what sets MAM apart from other companies.


Jan
2017

Sassy baby toys

categories: Reviews

Created in 1982 Sassy has expanded into a large company. There extensive line of products are available in over 70 countries and are all across the board on baby necessities. Sassy brand is committed and dedicated to providing parents toys they can trust to help in the development of their child. While providing premium quality on all their products, their innovative designs allow them to stand out from other companies. Using real and credible purpose in their products, like their focused coloration, they are the perfect developmental toys for your baby.

 

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The bumpy ball is the perfect toy for any child. It shakes and rattles but also has many other learning and developmental features to it. The whole ball itself is soft and squishy except for two of the bumps on it. These bumps are hard,clear plastic filled with smaller balls that rattle. When you shake the ball they rattle and you can actually see what is making the noise. Each bump on the ball is different – wether it be a different color or a different texture. It’s perfect for developing senses like seeing, hearing, and touching. Children of any age or gender will enjoy this bumpy ball.

 

 

Go go bugs are the perfect on the go car seat toy. These are cute little velcro bugs that attach to the car seat handle for baby to play with. Two rattle and one crunches; so baby will keep busy with these bugs. They are adorable and with the bright, fun colors and high contrast baby will love to look at them. You can move these off and on the car seat very quickly and easily if need be. These go go bugs are perfect for a newborn and will last many months after!

 

 

This light up musical monkey is a great toy too. I don’t love toys that make musical noise, but I have to admit that this monkey is cute. It lights up and plays music when pressing the tummy – great for teaching baby cause and effect. This monkey has high contrast arms (which I love) and multiple textures for baby to feel. The ring attached to the top is perfect; it allows me to take it and use it anywhere. I can attach the monkey to my sons car seat and give him a little more entertainment than his teether.

 

 

The phone of my own is for kids six months and older. It is great for kids who are understanding their parents talking on the cell phone. This allows them to imitate and learn from the parent or sibling. The light gives baby visual stimulation and attracts them to it. The buttons on the phone “talk” to baby allowing for cause and effect awareness. Play with your child using this phone, teach them how to make a phone call, and have a conversation with them ‘over the phone’!

 

 

 

Sassy products are perfect for any and all developing children. Their line of toys are the perfect combination of high contrast, bright color, and attention keeping. Your child is sure to love any Sassy product!

 

 


Jan
2017

Babymel Giveaway

categories: Giveaway

Welcome to the Frosty Beginnings Giveaway Hop hosted by MamatheFox! Get the New Year started with a chance to win some fun new prizes! Be sure to come back for your daily entries to increase your chances of winning! Good Luck

Enter to win (1) Robyn diaper bag from Babymel

MamatheFox and all participating blogs are not held responsible for sponsors who fail to fulfill their prize obligations.

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Jan
2017

Babymel Diaper Bag

categories: Reviews

 

Launched in 2006 and based out of London, England, Babymel creates high quality diaper bags for moms and dads. These bags feature wipe clean finishes, graphic patterns, bright colors, insulated bottle holders, and a large array of pockets. The creators of Babymel look to give organization to mamas around the globe. Each bag comes with an insulated bottle holder and a padded changing mat. All their products are made with wipe clean materials and are water resistant.

 

 

The Robyn diaper bag by Babymel is the perfect diaper bag for anyone. It comes in two styles – black and navy blue stripes both with faux leather trim. This versatile bag allows four ways of wear: on your back, shoulder, cross body, or handheld. The convertible strap offers easy transition so you can give your hands or back a break.

The straps are awesome; they’re my favorite feature of the bag. I mostly wear it as a backpack – which I  love – but there’s also the option of using it as a shoulder bag and a cross body bag. My husband uses it as a shoulder bag because he doesn’t like having to put the bag on his back. The diaper bag is so easy to transition between the different strap styles, it takes no time at all. Just pull the leather pad/handle and it converts from the backpack to the shoulder/cross body bag – seriously so easy. No hooks, clips, or loops. Just a quick tug! Do the opposite to go back to the backpack style; pull the straps equally and they stop when they’re in place.

 

The Babymel bag has many pockets and compartments; three pockets on the inside and three pockets on the outside. These pockets allow for easy organization and quick ‘grabbing’. On the left side of the bag there is a pocket with a velcro closure.

This pocket is for easy access to baby wipes – such a great feature! There is a pocket on the right side just like the left pocket except without the velcro closure. One large pocket on the front is perfect for storing the changing mat. I love keeping the changing mat and wipes on the outside of the bag so I can access them quickly and easily. It really makes diaper changes go quicker.

On the inside of the bag there is a pocket with a zipper – the pocket that almost every bag has. This is great for things like chapstick, a pen, gum, and tampons. The two additional pockets are located on the backside of the backpack. The pockets are perfect for keeping baby items like a change of clothes, bib, and/or burp cloth.

I use cloth diapers, so when I received the bag I was curious to see if it would be large enough to fit all we needed when going out – especially diapers. Cloth diapers are bulky and they take up a lot of space. Since receiving the bag I have had room to add more to it each time we’ve left the house. It’s a big bag and I can guarantee you’ll be able to fit what you need in it.

Here is a list of all the things we keep in the diaper bag:

There you have it, everything we carry with us on a regular basis. Sometimes we even add more to it depending on where we’re going.. like a lunch pail or a sleep sack.

 

If I could change one thing about the Babymel diaper bag I would create a pocket for “mom’s stuff”. I don’t carry a purse if I have the diaper bag with me, so I need a place to put my wallet. I would totally put it in one of the outside pockets, but they are way to easy to get into. Having my wallet in one of them is just asking for someone to take it. Currently I just put it in the main part of the bag; it just kind of hangs out with all the other baby things. Sometimes I use one of the pockets on the back of the inside of the bag, which is ok. I can make it work without a “me” pocket, but all in all it would be great if there was one.

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