Tag: #toddler

My Usborne Family

“The more that you read, the more things you will know.

The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

– Dr. Seuss

As a child I hated reading! I remember it being hard, I remember being made fun of for making mistakes, and I remember my heart pounding whenever I was asked to read aloud.

It never really became a huge issue until I hit high school and was struggling in my honors math and science classes!

MATH and SCIENCE!

The problem was I couldn’t read fast enough to complete my tests. I eventually took speed reading classes to better improve my efficiency and develop better strategies for tests and note-taking.

After high school I pursed my dream to become an elementary teacher and quickly became passionate about children’s literacy. I took additional classes on phonics as well as studied children’s illustrations, language arts methods, and best practices for teaching in a pluralistic society. After graduation I took my first job in the inner city as an academic specialist. My job: get title 1 3rd and 4th grade students to read at grade level.

The love for literacy only continued to grow as I taught elementary school kids, after school programs, and then eventually my own children.

I was the determined teacher training first graders to read silently for 45 minutes a day.

I was the innovated dance teacher incorporating literature into tap class.

I was the passionate mom reading books to my 1 day old baby in the hospital.

I am THAT homeschool mom checking out the maximum number of books from the library.

I have experienced first hand how reading can actually change your life for the good or bad. I’ve seen the facts, statistics, and testimonies how early exposure to books can build a beautiful foundation for children.

PC: Cherish’s Literacy Corner VIP’s

 

So when I met Cherish, I was instantly inspired by her love for literature and learning! As a past high school English teacher her knowledge of literature is extensive, while her heart for student learning is enormous. As a mom, Cherish has establish a home that invites learning with fun and engaging activities

But her passion for education doesn’t end there, Cherish works to enrich the families around her by helping bring high quality books in their homes through Usborne books.

As an Usborne book consultant, she is passionate about equipping parents with the best resources for raising life long learners!

 

Meet Usborne Books 

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In 1973, Peter Usborne saw TV and comics controlling the attention of kids and wanted to give non-fiction books a fighting chance. This led to the birth of Usborne books and the mission to make both reading and learning fun, not intimidating. The magic of Usborne books is that they break down children’s resistance to reading and learning at home. In return, it opens the door for parents and children to explore and absorb the world of learning together.

Today Usborne books are high quality, innovative, engaging, and educational! There are over 2000 titles to choose from covering a wide variety of subjects and age ranges.

Usborne in my Home

As a past educator, a mom, and homeschool teacher I can’t express the amount of times I’ve been grateful for Usborne products in our home.

It all started with the That’s Not My collection. From a young age my children were drawn to the high contrast but simple illustrations. They loved to feel each new texture as well as look for the silly mouse hiding on each page. We read the same book too many times to count until I happily discovered Usborne had a HUGE collection of That’s Not My books. I honestly did not love reading the same type of book, but I persevered because those books helped open a world of reading to our children. At a young age they were exposed to the wonders of reading and built stamina to sit through 2-3 long picture books each night.

 

Now with preschool aged kids, Usborne’s collection of activities are a real hit. Usborne provides hands-on educational activities for babies to middle school aged kids. My family uses their sticker books for long car trips, water painting books for quiet independent play, and craft books for art projects. 

As a homeschool mama I’ve only just had a tiny taste of how Usborne can enrich and support our curriculum.

Each month we study a different theme that supports and connects to the Core Curriculum standards for preschool age children. Some of the topics include family units, habitats, space, hygiene, and plants. I was delighted to see Usborne’s books align with State Standards and therefore I could find at least one developmentally appropriate book for each of my units.

For most subjects I have a variety of titles and forms to choose from; peek-inside, lift-the-flap, Big Books, wipe-clean, young beginners, and so much more. Cherish even went the extra mile to examine my preschool syllabus and offer book recommendations for my units.

Usborne wipe clean books have also been instrumental in developing my children’s fine motor skills as well as practicing and refining their writing.  The lively illustrations and game-like set up makes handwriting drills a fun reward rather than a frustrating mundane task.

Working with Cherish

Cherish is not just an Usborne consultant that throws parties and sells books. She works almost daily to post innovative ways to bring reading into your home.

I would highly suggest checking out Cherish’s Literacy Corner on Facebook!

Cherish posts fun activities she is doing with her little ones and ways she incorporates reading into her home.

In addition, her literacy corner keeps followers up to date on Usborne new releases! Often when there is a big release Cherish goes live on social media to give followers an inside look into the books. If there is a book you have your eye on but not quite sure, Cherish helps to provide you with a real view video so you can fully see the illustrations, text, and story line.

Last but not least, her page provides insider deals and specials!

Check it out!

I’ve truly only scratched the surface on Usborne’s collection. Their website is a must see when looking for quality literature to bring into your home! To take it the next step further follow Cherish’s Literacy Corner to join a community of families who love and pursue the benefits of reading!

 

Toomies Toys

When you come across a company with the mission of: make the world smile, then you know it’s going to be a hit in your home.

That’s exactly what Toomies toys did for our family.

Toomies is a brand underneath the umbrella brand of TOMY. Some other brands that TOMY represents are John Deere, Lamaze, and the First Years. Their innovative, high quality toys are products that your children will love.

Seeing their mission come to life didn’t take much with toys we were able to play with. That’s why we are a big fan of the TOMY toy line – Toomies.

 

 

Available at Target and Target.com, the Toomies toy line is very easy to come by. And trust me, you’re going to want to check them out.

One of my favorite aspects of these Toomies Toys is that they don’t require batteries. Each of the toys we’re featuring are free of batteries and 100% child (or parent) operated. Like, seriously, what more could a mom of two boys want (besides a massage :D).

 

Pop & Hatch

This cute little mom and chick toy is perfect for an older infant/young toddler. My one year old loves this one. Push down the head of the chicken and off she goes!

The push and go action of the chicken gets your kiddo moving. My son has tons of fun chasing around the mommy chicken. My husband even commented on how fast the chicken moves; he was pretty impressed!

 

 

The chick is a hit too. It hides in the egg and then pops up; great cause and affect for him.

 

Sort & Pop Spinning UFO

This is my two year old’s favorite. Similar to a shape sorter, putting the shapes in their corresponding holes will cause a fun reaction that your toddler is sure to love.

 

 

This toy is educational; allowing your child to differentiate the shapes.

Another learning opportunity that presents itself with this toy are the colors. The bright and vivid colors give your child great potential with color recognition.

 

 

My sons favorite aspect of this toy is the ‘pop and spin’ feature. Once the shapes are in their correct spots, push down on the middle on the UFO then let go. Watch as the toy spins, then POPS!

Seriously endless amounts of fun.

This feature is a little difficult for my two year old to do. It’s hard for him to push down enough on the center piece in order for the toy to spin. He needs just a little bit more muscle power. Luckily he is very persistent, so he eventually gets it to pop and spin on his own.

 

 


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Flappee Stackees

 

This toy is my favorite out of the ones we tried out. I love the colors. The blue and pink are adorable, then add in the orange car; what more do you need?!

This is a fun one because no matter how you stack the different pieces, they all fit together. Just like the name says, this toy is stackee. Creativity is endless with this toy because there are many different options stack it; you could stack it different every time!

 

 

When you push down on the pieces that are connected to the car, off it goes!

This is another great one to have your child chase after; continuous fun.

 

Pirate Bath Ship

Making bath time a tug-a-chug blast is the new Pirate Bath Ship from Tomy.  This interactive bath toy will get your imagination stirring and make bath time a true pirate adventure. With a canon that splashes out water, a tiny separate boat to send your pirate a’ sailin’ and a squirting octopus you will have tons of fun while scrubbing your kid clean.

This toy is not only great for bath time, but it’s perfect for water tables and can be uses as a pool toy too. No batteries are required for this easy to dry toy.

New Kicks for a New Grade – Momobaby Shoes

Summer is here!

With new seasons comes the need for new shoes

 

 

 

Man  –  our kids seem to wear their shoes into the ground.  The MamatheFox kids wear their shoes so hard, play constantly, run fast and jump high.

Each season, as they approach, we think of the new gear we need to buy, and shoes is always on that list. Kids grow at their own pace. Sometimes their feet and grow 2 sizes in a month, other times they are int eh same size for a full year. It’s so random, isn’t it?

For the past several years MamatheFox has used and tried many brands of shoes, but there is one that always stands out to us, Momobaby.

As the years pass and trends shift, they always stay on top of the newest styles and colors. But its not just style we look for, but comfort and durability. If a shoe fits, great, but what if its poorly made? It will fall apart, literally at the seams I have experienced and rub your kids foot so they get odd marks and blisters. Momobaby is a trusted brand that has been on the market for 12 years now. They always choose the highest quality materials and use the best construction methods.

 

 

 Momo Baby shoes have been reviewed by a group of APMA podiatrists to ensure it promotes foot health, and have been awarded the Seal of Acceptance.

 

Momobaby’s shoe sizes range from infant (the cutest little things!) up to little kid size 12! They offer soft soled shoes for infants and toddlers, rubber sole sneakers, leather sandals, leather flats and boots.

Visit Momobaby’s website today

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Our New Friend Leo

We have a new friend and we hope you are as excited to meet him as we are!

If you haven’t heard of ikiki shoes then PLEASE pop on over to read our ikiki review we did in the fall!

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Thanks to our ikiki shoes leaving the house has been fun, simple, and extra comfortable. We finally have shoes that are easy to put on, made for developing walking feet, and inspire my independent free spirited children. So when we saw they were releasing new friends we knew we needed to add them to our ikiki zoo!

This spring ikiki released a new friend Leo Longfire.

The moment my son saw Leo’s lime green skin with cool spikes he was ready to take him on an adventure.

 

Leo’s ikiki Adventure

On a bright sunny day Leo heard a cry for help from his home of iron and rock. 

As he listened closer he recognized it was Princess Patty Potamus!

She needed help!

Leo quickly jumped into action to save his precious friend.

With high tops, breathable skin, and durable soles he knew nothing could stop him on his voyage! 

Leo quickly suited up and tightened his velcro.

Then with an ikiki battle cry, he began his quest to save Princess Patty.

With strong ankle support he charged up the green mountain towards the magic castle. 

With every squeak he knew he was one step closer to seeing Princess Patty’s glittering soles! 

When he arrived to the castle he spotted Princess Patty!

She was squeaking for help from the top of the castle’s tallest tower.

But the castle was full of challenges and obstacles to trip Leo up!

First Leo turned off his squeakers in order to not attract any bad guys.

He quietly descended the steep shoot without leaving a trace of evidence by using his white nonskid bottoms. 

Then with his breathable skin, Leo kept cool while crossing the firey lake of lava.  

With durable rubber soles Leo conquered each step up Slipper Slope Mountain.

At last he met his final obstacle!

With flexibility Leo grasped each stone rung to climb the giant beanstalk.

Princess Patty was saved!

Princess Patty and Leo were finally reunited to make the perfect ikiki pair! 

The End

We hope we’ve inspired you to find your little one their ikiki solemate and take them on a wild adventure!

 

 

The Chair that Grows

Hey Mamas!

We wish you the happiest of Mother’s Day and hope it is spent doing what you love best!

I love this day of celebration mostly because I get a chuckle out of watching my husband take on the impossible task of independently feeding and clothing two kids for church and brunch. I can’t help intervening to inform my husband our daughter isn’t wearing shoes or my son yet again took off his dress pants and switched back to pajamas.

That’s why Mother’s Day always involves brunch right? Dad’s can’t keep the kids alive and clean all the way to dinner so we have to get the celebration out first thing in the morning!

Then nap time rolls around and exhausted dads everywhere finally find the time to sit and praise their wives with the common phrase

“I don’t know how you do this all day, everyday!”

Moms are a special beings because we do it all day every day…and love it.

Yes we love the drama, kissing ouchies, sweeping a forever dirty floor, and even dare I say it, changing diapers. We love the chaos because it’s OUR chaos brought to us by OUR kiddos. We love our kids unconditionally and want nothing but the best for their lives.

Which leads to my husband getting a chuckle from my Mother’s Day want list. You see the word “want” has lost a lot of value since being a mother. Why waste money on things I want when there are two little humans with a ton of needs. But the funnest part is I actually geek out over baby and house wear items! One of my favorite Christmas gifts this year was an avocado tool.

So my husband struggled yet again between finding a balance between getting me something beautiful and getting me something I wanted for our house.

But if you geek out over baby gear like I do, you will agree the Stokke Tripp Trapp Chair is not only practical its a beautiful piece of accent furniture for your home.

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Tripp Trapp Chair 

  • Brings baby closer to the family

My family is a huge supporter of family dinners. I think it is important to have everyone in one place at one time with no distractions. Family dinners is also one of the reasons we chose to introduce solids with baby led weaning. We want our children eating what we are eating and engaging in the same healthy habits we choose for ourselves. The Tripp Trapp Chair was specifically designed to fit comfortably against a table. An infant, toddler, and adult can all find a perfect fit up against any table with the adjustable seat and diagonal design.

We love having our children at the table and using our Stokke chair for meals, crafts, games, and baking.

 

  • Adjustable seat

Any little one can find maximum comfort by having the perfect height and depth combination with the adjustable seat and footplate. The goal is to promote correct body alignment for a seated child by getting their feet to rest squarely on the footplate. A 6 month old and 60 year old can both find the same comfort and support in the Tripp Trapp Chair.

I love that my 3 year old can easily climb onto this chair and be at the perfect height to reach his food.

My 6 month old nephew can be supported and secure in the Tripp Trapp and still have the benefit of eating at the table with the family.

And I actually love using this chair when I am sewing! I adjust the seat so that my foot rests perfectly on the sewing pedal. The leveled seat and angled backing supports my postures and prevents me from hunching over. It is encouraging to know that once my kids eventually stop using this chair it can still find use in our home.

  • Safe and Secure

I truly appreciate the ingenious design of the Tripp Trapp Chair! We use to have a lot of chair battles with our kiddos. My 3 year old son liked to push against the table with his hands and consistently got disciplined for sitting on his knees. My 18 month old daughter liked to push against the table with her feet and watch me have a panic attack.

The concave design of the chair back helps me scoot my kids’ lower half under the table; preventing their legs from escaping.

The Tripp Trapp chair extender gliders provide increased backward stability. Meaning pushing, rocking, and backward arching isn’t going to tip this chair. Our first dinner using the Tripp Tripp my daughter was being ornery and pushed the table with her hands to try and rock backward. Her chair scooted away from the table and didn’t rock in the slightest bit. I was amazed and my daughter was defeated and frustrated her little “trick” only made her food unreachable.

 

Also included with the Tripp Trapp chair is a 5-point harness. The straps are durable and very easy to clean.The back of the straps includes a fastener that can be adjusted to keep the straps from slipping off baby’s shoulders. My 6 month old nephew felt very secure strapped in and my 18 month old could not escape.

 

 

  • Easy to clean

Yes! My favorite part of this high chair! I had a fancy chair with a cushion for 2 months. 2 MONTHS and then I gave it away! Personally I thought it was the dumbest baby product in our home. Even with a toothpick and toothbrush I couldn’t completely clean the cracks and crannies of our highchair, which resulted in mold!

The Tripp Trapp Chair is pretty straight forward when cleaning. The solid beach wood is easy to quickly wipe down with a wet cloth and there is no place for food to hide. I am confident our chair is clean and there isn’t dingy food bits wedged in crevices waiting to mold.

  • Variety of colors

Check our the variety of woods and colors the Tripp Trapp Chair comes in. You can easily find a chair that accents your kitchen, matches your dinning set, or is a bold vibrant pop of color in your house.

 

Tripp Trapp Baby Set 

One accessory you can buy for your Tripp Trapp Chair is the baby set. The environmentally friendly plastic accessory easy attaches to any Tripp Trapp chair. The set was made to support children from 6 months to 3 years.

   

For my newly sitting 6 month old nephew, the hi-back and seating rail supported him from loosing his balance.

He was able to sit at the table without the risk my face planting into our oak table top. He was certainly happy to be sitting at the table with his older cousins.

Although my 3 year old does not need the baby set to sit securely in the Tripp Trapp chair I appreciated he can fit in it. We have the baby set on our chair to keep my 18 month old safe and secure. My son eats multiple snacks a day while I work, clean, or tend to his sister. He thinks it is awesome to sit in her cool chair while I appreciate the assurance of his safety while I am multitasking. With the baby set my son can’t get down without my help, he can’t sit on his knees, he can’t fall off a chair, and he can’t tip the chair back. So if you have multiple little ones under 4 you can use the Tripp Trapp with the baby set without having to remove baby set to fit the older ones.

Tripp Trapp Cushion 

For an extra splash of style and comfort Stokke makes cushions for the Tripp Trapp chair. These lush comfort cushions prevent babies from slipping down during meal time and provide extra support on little backs from 6 month to 3 years. The 100% polyester material comes in a variety of colors and patterns.

We loved our cushion was able to to fit on the baby set as well as directly onto Tripp Trapp chair.  The versatility and durability make it a practical addition to our chair.

My sister was completely impressed when she started to wipe down the cushion after her son “ate” an avocado. Everything cleaned up perfectly without staining or scrubbing.

I personally loved how waterproof it felt as my daughter dumped her cup on herself. Baby can be ready to sit back on the cushion without having to let it dry, which also means the inside stuffing is safe from molding.

More from Stokke

If you love the ingenious deign of the Tripp Trapp Chair then chances are you will love Stokke’s other baby products as well!

 

We hope you have a beautiful Mother’s Day and you get spoiled on this special day!

Heres to many more years of wishing for clean floors and geeking out on baby products!

 

One and Done with People Footwear

Recently the need for shoes has been hitting hard in my house.

My son has been wearing hand me downs for three years. I can literally count on my two hands how many times I’ve spent money on his wardrobe. It isn’t just because I am frugal. Kids, especially boys, are so destructive and always choose the naked option! Why waste money on clothes he constantly refuses to wear or soaks in spaghetti and mud simultaneously?

Speaking of destructive boys, the older they get the harder they are on their clothes. When my son recently hit size 8 shoes there was no shoes left in his hand me down box.

Sad day for this mama. Guess i’ll need to get some more wide fit shoes for women and let go of some of my current favorite comfy shoes for him?

As for my daughter, she has been struggling with the confidence to walk. Every time she falls its like she just gives up and resorts back to the “safety” of crawling.

So as spring approached I was on the hunt for shoes. As a frugal mama I was shocked at children shoe prices! It’s not the fact that quality shoes are expensive, I’ll pay to have shoes that are developing my children’s feet correctly. It’s the need for multiple pairs! You can never have enough shoes but if you do want to purchase some multiple use footwear then you should check out some Vessi footwear, they are 100% waterproof and extremely comfortable, you can wear them on any adventure which can be hot or cold – don’t have to worry about getting your shoes or your feet wet! You can get them in adult and children sizes. Children do need lots of shoes:

-Tennis shoes for parks with wood chips and mud, not to mention sports and bike riding.

-Breathable sandals for hot days outside that still protect toes.

-Pool/splash pad shoes that don’t cause blisters when wet.

-Dress shoes to complete that perfect outfit.

I turned to my penny pinching sister for advice. Her solution…People Footwear!

My sister said it was my 3 year old niece’s only pair of shoes. They were actually second hand bought, then lasted a whole year of use, and now will be handed down to her little sister! In addition, she already planned to buy the next size up for her daughter this spring.

Tell me more!

Who is People Footwear?

“People Footwear is ultra–light, supremely comfortable and perfect for doing whatever it is you do.”

Using innovative designs and materials People Footwear have crafted the perfect all occasion shoes. People Footwear has a vast variety of shoes to meet almost any style or age. Most importantly, all their shoes are engineered with their SkyLite EVA.

“EVA stands for ethylene vinyl acetate — a fancy word for rubberized foam. All of our shoes are made with our custom–engineered SkyLite™ EVA, a super light and shock–absorbent material. Our unique SuperCush™ sock liner (which molds to your foot) is also made of EVA because a lighter, cushier shoe makes for a happier you.”

It took everything in me to not add a pair of women’s shoes to my cart. They seriously looked so comfortable and stylish.

Like not just coolest mom on the playground stylish, but fashionista at the local cafe or bar.

However, I stayed focus and just nabbed two different designs for my little ones.

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The Slater Kids

The Slater Kids have the classic skateboarder slip-on look with People Footwear science.

The style is sleek yet practical. Despite the fun vibrant patterns to choose from, my son chose black. Probably having to do with his love for Batman. I did not attest, because remember these are his ONLY shoes for spring and summer. Black goes with everything and still maintains a clean look in-between washings.

The loafer look makes them stylish when I can occasionally get him to dress up while still having a youthful fear to fit everyday attire.

In addition, The Slater Kid’s footbed is lightweight yet extremely durable. These shoes protect and move like a tennis shoe. We found them great for the park and even riding his bike.

The Slater Kids are made with People Footwear’s fully-molded EVA Skylite upper with holes for maximum air-flow.

This means the perfect shoe for almost any environment. We tested his People Footwear at the local children’s museum. I watched him climb, run, jump, and get soaked in puddles and never once heard him complain or adjust his shoes. I love not having to worry about blisters, exposed toes getting stubbed, or shoes slipping off wet feet.

Laces free means my 3 year old son can QUICKLY put them on independently. Once they are on I know they are on. No adjusting velcro or tying laces!

Our People Footwear shoes fit with and without socks so wearing them into fall isn’t a problem.

The Ace Kids

I was in cuteness overload with People Footwear Ace Kids. These stylish faux lace slip ons were just what we needed.

The unisex style and colors almost convinced me to pick a neutral for future kids, but in the end I went full girl with a vibrant leopard print!

With an off white background and print of 4 bright colors and black, I knew my daughter could wear these with any outfit.

For a new walker I was adamant about flexible non clunky shoes. The Ace Kid’s footbed is made with the same durable lightweight design as the Slater Kids.

I love how The Ace Kids move with her feet and barely add any weight. She also is comfortable wearing her shoes with and without socks.

The tops are also made with People Footwear’s fully-molded Skylite EVA and air-flow holes. Again making these shoes great for heat, sweat, water, mud, and grass.

I knew my daughter’s shoes would help her keep up with her brother wherever he took his People Footwear.

There’s More!

People Footwear is not just a kid brand. They have a stylish collection for men and women as well. You can find sandals for warm sunny days, knit uppers for hard workouts, low tops for special occasions, and even boots to face the cold wet winter. There is a variety of shoes offered both in adult and kid sizes. Perfect for those adorably family matching days!

Cleaning

Anticipating one pair of shoes through two seasons means preparing to have weekly cleanings. People Footwear suggest cleaning shoes with a soft cloth or tooth bush. I used a Magic sponge and loved the result! We’ve already established wet People Footwear are still safe and comfortable, meaning freshly cleaned shoes can go directly back on feet. Or if you have a wild son like me, you can choose to hose down shoes and kids all at once.

So as you approach this spring with excitement for warmer weather and days of play outside, you can forget the shoe chase. People Footwear has you covered with shoes that are perfect for all occasions, all outfits, and almost any environment. These quality shoes save your budget and time by being your kids’ one and done pair of shoes. Now that is something to be excited about!

A Sound Sleep

My oldest turns two in April. Since birth he’s been the best sleeping baby I’ve known.

Seriously.

The first four months of his life were pretty much spent sleeping. We didn’t know it wasn’t normal until now. Our second baby opened our eyes up a little bit to a more normal baby schedule. Number two is still a great sleeper, but I’m not sure any of our kids will ever compare to baby number one. As for our sleeping, baby number two really test our ability to sleep through anything. My husband even suggested that we visit a site similar to CPAP to try out one of their sleep machines to see if we could get a good night’s sleep. Many parents do struggle to get a good night’s sleep when their baby is trying to settle into a normal sleep cycle, so we’ve been quite lucky really. I do know that some of my friends who have had kids recently have been using gummies for sleep. They contain CBD, which promotes calm and improves rest without sedating them, so they can still get up if their baby needs them during the night. There are countless other things that you can do to help both you and your baby to sleep better at night, such as using lavender oil or reducing blue light emissions. A combination of a few things, therefore, might be the perfect recipe for the perfect night’s sleep.

All that being said, when I found the LectroFan Kinder I was super excited. This sound machine is something you didn’t know you needed for your kiddos. It’ll be interesting to see how it compares against other sound machines as it’s up against some strong alternatives, as seen in this Hatch baby rest review which seems to be a particularly advanced product.

We have a small house and my son’s room is downstairs just off our living room and kitchen. When my husband and I stay up and watch tv you can hear it very well in the kid’s bedroom.

Like I said before, both my kids sleep well, so a sound machine isn’t a necessity – they can both sleep without it no problem. But the noise is seriously such a help. Keep reading to see why we like the LectroFan Kinder so much.

The LectroFan Kinder is so easy to use. Using the Kinder app on your phone with the bluetooth feature on, you can control the sound machine very smoothly. Turn the machine off and on with app the; and if you don’t have your phone with you for bedtime, no worries! Just hit the power button on the sound machine.

Using the app you can set different sleep options and save them so you can reuse them over and over again. You can name the sleep options so no one is confused while using the app; they cross over to any device. That’s the beauty of using the bluetooth feature! Currently our sleep options are ‘Nite’ and Napp’.

There are almost an unlimited amount of sounds with the LectroFan Kinder. Below are just a few. There are six different categories, each with more than nine options in them! Tons and tons of sounds to choose from!

I’m excited to use this sound machine in the future when I’m homeschooling my children. The natural category will be perfect for teaching and learning sounds – especially ones that we don’t hear where we live.

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There are literally unlimited options to choose from when deciding what color you want the nightlight to be. As you can see in the photo below, you can simply tap anywhere in the rainbow circle for the color you want.

In the photo I am showing the brightness of the nightlight. The top photos are full brightness and the bottom photos are a little less than half of the brightness. These photos were taken during the day time, so in the night the lights will be even brighter!

The LectroFan Kinder is the perfect on-the-go sound machine. My parents live two hours away and we visit them often. I love that there are no cords attached to the Kinder; it will make packing so much easier! I can plug it in any outlet and there are no strings attached – literally!

This weekend we are going on a trip to some friends house, I 100% plan on bringing our LectroFan Kinder with us. It’ll be great because it will help the kiddos feel like they’re at home still, while also blocking out new, unrecognizable sounds.

Newborns, school aged children, and every age in between will have a better nights sleep when sleeping with a LectroFan Kinder.

Parents, seriously check out this sound machine. If you travel a lot with kids, this is the sound machine you want. I bet you’ll love it! The LectroFan Kinder can be used from newborn and beyond! The uses are endless; and the age range is too!

Ice Ice Baby Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Ice Ice Baby Giveaway Hop!

Be sure to come back daily to get your daily entries to increase your chances of winning.

Scroll down under the form to find more awesome giveaways to enter.

Sponsored by:

Topknot Twirl

Hosted by:

MamatheFox.com

and

Rita Reviews

Enter for your chance to win (1) custom Topknot Twirl doll

Runs 1/16 – 1/31

Open to US residents, Must be 18+ to enter

 

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Topknot Twirl

There is something beautiful about minimalist design that catches your eye and draws you near. Simplicity lets your mind wonder and create like it was designed to do. I truly believe the same rings true for children’s toys. Young minds that are making daily discoveries and forming new ideas are drawn to opportunities to create. Almost every parent experiences this when their child plays with the box longer than the toy. Open ended toys that reflect a child’s environment allows creative exploration, and the child can create a purpose for the toy and use it as they wish.

For my daughter, I was searching for a timeless simple rag doll that could be loved for many years. My hope was to find a doll that inspired play while doubling as decor in her vintage eclectic room. I was soon delighted to find an old friend from China opening her very own doll shop Topknot Twirl.

Lauren, the creator of Topknot Twirl, is a kindred spirit that brings out the beauty in the simple. She began making dolls as a traditional birthday gift for her daughters and soon expanded into making dolls for their play group. Lauren delighted in designing each doll with a different look and set out to reach a bigger market. In the winter of 2017, after moving to back to America, Topknot Twirl was launched.

Connect with Topknot Twirl

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Each doll is made to order with 5 customizable features. Custom ordering is made easy through her Etsy page and detailed instructions. I loved there was a variety of choices to make a unique custom doll, yet I wasn’t overwhelmed. Picking a doll to match my daughter’s look was simple. However, I will say the fabric choices were all adorably eye catching and I had to get a few opinions to make a final choice.

dress print

skin color

hair color

bang style

hair placement

Our new little friend was delivered in style with attention to every detail. I loved seeing my daughter’s name on the package and felt as if her creator was thinking about her with every stitch. Before her doll was even opened our excitement was pouring over the delivery cuteness.

Whether it was intended or not, I even used the tag ribbons as extra bows for the doll’s hair.

Every detail of our Topknot Twirl custom doll was perfect and just they way I had ordered.

The details were simple yet had an elegant high fashion flare. I appreciated the strong craftsmanship while still being able to tell it was handmade with integrity.

I instantly loved how large our doll looked in my daughter’s arms. I thought it would have been a great milestone doll during her first 12 month pictures.

My daughter snuggled into the soft flexible fabric. She was able to easily carry her lightweight doll around with its slim graspable limbs.

Her doll was clothed in a miniature twirl dress with a fashionable criss cross back. We loved the skirt was removable for dressing and undressing.

I ordered her doll with double high buns and side sleek bangs, but was excited to find out her hair could be styled.

I enjoyed giving her similar pigtail braids I use to rock as a child. The joy about felt doll hair is low maintenance. No tangled rat nests or balding, just simple easy to manage felt strips.

 

Lauren continues to work hard in making innovations to her dolls and and meeting the needs of her customers. Since the time she has opened she has already added three new additions to her Etsy shop.

Each girl doll now has a felt floral headband accessory. It’s the perfect little accent piece that adds pizzazz and play during dress up.

Dolls can now be personalized with an embroidered name added.

And my favorite, custom boy dolls! Let those little boys join in on the role playing and have their own boy doll. After seeing my son nurture my daughter’s baby dolls, I think he would love having a doll that he can relate to.

All of the Topknot Twirl dolls are handmade by Lauren, so top quality is always delivered. We had such a great experience working with Topknot Twirl and especially loved supporting another small shop, in particular, a Stay at home mom business that is following their dreams.

If you are looking for a quality custom doll that makes play open ended, while also bringing elegance and style to your home, check out TopKnotTwirl!

What a Doll with Educational Insight

As Christmas approached I wanted to get my now 1 year old daughter a baby doll. PL was too adorable cuddling her stuffed animals and patting their backs like a little mama. I knew a baby doll would be the perfect gift for her nurturing heart.

Dolls are wonderful toys because they are simple yet multifaceted. A child’s doll will be played with for years and never go out of style. Every childhood has memories of playing with baby dolls. Some organized parents even get the chance to pass down their beloved doll to the next generation.

So when looking for a new doll for PL I wanted something high quality and unique. I knew she’d play with it for years and most likely this doll would “see the world” by tagging along on family outings. I was hoping to find a doll that represented our family and helped give my daughter a global perspective. After living overseas, and now internationally adopting, we fill our home with toys that promote open mindedness and acceptance. So you can imagine my excitement when we found Educational Insight.

Education Insight is composed of play enthusiasts who strive to inspire imagination and curiosity. For the past 50 years, their experts have been designing toys that capture the attention of little ones. Educational Insight believes in making learning an active playful experience by encouraging children to explore, discover, and create. Their line of toys equip parents with the tools to encourage growth and development in their smallest little scholars. Many who use their dolls often enjoy including some Butterfly Life Cycle Worksheets in with doll play. This keeps their play varied, maintaining the interest of the child. It will also build their foundational skills.

I loved Educational Insight’s website as a resource for finding educational products. Toys can be shopped for by age range as well as brand name. There is also a variety of games and school supplies organized by age range and school subject. I loved the ability to shop for games for my son based on his educational development and age.

And if you are like me, you will be happy to know Educational Insight can also be found on Amazon. Their Amazon homepage is extremely helpful in shopping for the right toy and researching the best fit for your little one.

This winter Educational Insight released two new lines of baby dolls. Made and designed with the same Educational Insight high standards, these dolls encourage nurturing-based imaginative play.

Connect with Education Insight

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Baby Bijoux

Baby Bijoux was especially made for the mini mommy or daddy.

With realistic and anatomically correct features, this baby doll encourages nurturing-based imaginative play. The deluxe European craftsmanship delivers realistic baby details.

While engaging in a world of make-believe children will learn social skills, practice empathy and care taking, and develop language and and new vocabulary.

The 15.75? tall Baby Bijoux doll is the perfect size for 3-6 year olds and the vinyl body is easy to clean; making it the perfect companion for outings. Baby Bijoux is especially unique by providing multi-cultural and gender choices. They currently make African American, Asian, Caucasian, and Hispanic boy and girl dolls. We loved that our house could have a variety of dolls! With just-like-me skin tones our kids could connect with the dolls that looked like them and be encouraged to have global mindset with a doll of different ethnicity.

 

 

 

Baby Doux

These adorable soft cloth dolls are a perfect first baby doll for the family. The 12? crafted doll is constructed with a perfect combination of a soft cotton cloth body and durable vinyl head, arms, and legs; making it perfect for 2-5 year olds. Baby’s eyes open and close and arms and legs can be moved and manipulated to fit in strollers and baby toys. We love the softness and lightweight of Baby Doux. Our 1 year old daughter is able to carry her baby around without compromising her ability to walk or crawl. Since baby is so soft she is perfect for cuddling with in bed or taking along in the car.

The Baby Doux doll is machine washable and fabricated with deluxe European design. Durability makes me at ease when our doll is going on walks outside or visiting the local playground.

With four ethnical choices, children are sure to find a doll they can relate to or learn from. Having toys similar to a child builds confidence and leadership skills. We chose to have a doll with darker skin to prepare our children for our adoption. We wanted to keep their minds open to that fact that people don’t need to look like us to be loved or in our family. Having ethnically diverse toys, we hope to help our children develop a global mindset and nurture their compassion and understanding for others.

Baby Doux dolls also help develop language, social and emotional skills in little ones through play. We loved hearing our daughter say baby and learn new words for body parts and clothes. Baby dolls also give our very shy daughter the opportunity to choose when and how to give affection. We like that her doll gives her the control of the situation and take ownership.

 

Baby Bijoux and Baby Doux are a wonderful addition to the Educational Insight collection. I encourage you to check out bringing a baby into your house and encourage your child to relate to the world around them and develop new life skills.