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September 2007 - Posts
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 Reviewed by: Angela, mom to 5-month-old Drew
Itzbeen Baby Care Timer is an electronic tool to help parents remember when the last feeding, diaper changing, nap, etc. occurred. It's also a special timer you can use for anything else you may need, such as remembering when the baby took his last medication. It makes life a little easier by just hitting a button. You don’t have to try to remember when the last feeding was or even write it down. It also allows you to set a reminder alarm and has a nursing reminder which helps moms remember which side baby nursed from last. I was given a tracking journal when Drew was born, but I've found that, especially in the middle of the night, I'm lucky if I remember to change his diaper after the feeding, let alone write anything down! This way, I don't have to spend time writing -- it just takes a quick push of a button and all the essentials are saved right there. I've even taken it with me to pediatrician appointments, so that I can give the doctor an accurate account of how much Drew is eating, and so on.
Overall Rating: A+
I absolutely love this product. It has really kept me on track with everything. Without it I wouldn’t remember any of it. I think the best thing about this product is when I leave the baby with the sitter or grandparents I can give them the tool so they know when the last feeding was and when the next feeding will be. I also love the size of the tool. It is small, light weight and portable. I never leave home without putting it in my diaper bag. This is one product I tell all my friends about that is a must have!
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 Reviewed by: Erin, mom to a 10-week-old baby boy
This is a 42”x42”, soft flannel swaddling blanket. It’s a really pretty blue with brown stiching trim around the border. I love the size of this blanket, it’s impossible to swaddle a child more than a few days old in normal sized receiving blankets. This one is soooo soft and the colors are great.
The only drawback is that my 10 week old was able to free his arm in less than 5 minutes -- even though I followed the swaddling directions that are conveniently sewn on to the blanket. I have a video monitor so I watched him, and once he got loose, his free arm was waving around like a cowboy riding a bull! I had to go in and use our old swaddling stand by, the so called ‘Miracle Blanket’. I’ll try this one again if I can figure out a way to make sure his arms stay put. The only one that has worked for us is the ‘Miracle Blanket’ it takes him all night to work free of that one (the secret is built in arm flaps).
Overall Rating: C as a swaddling blanket; B+ as an all-purpose blanket
This is a great, soft blanket, and would probably work for younger babies as a swaddler or for babies that are not Houdinis like mine. Also it is a nice size to lay on the floor for play, or bring in the stroller for naps or to use as a sun shade by draping over the stroller.
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 Reviewed by: Angela, mom-to-be
I would consider myself somewhat fashionable. I’ve worked in boutiques, am on top of trends and don’t leave the house in my pajamas. (Well, not since my college days.) I know the difference between a wedge and a stiletto, a bootcut and a flare leg, an A-line and a pencil skirt. Then I got pregnant. And although I’ve unknowingly plucked a cute Liz Lange piece off the rack on occasion, maternity fashion is not my forté. My knight in shining armor turned out to be a supermom blinged out with bangles, my coworker Ava. She introduced me to Hatch Maternity and harmony was finally been restored to my closet.
The clothing at Hatch is soft, comfortable and extremely flattering. I could immediately tell that these pieces were going to be the staple of my maternity wardrobe. Not only is the clothing's quality better than most, it looks just as great with business attire as it does with a pair of jeans. Let’s face it, comfort is key when you are pregnant, but that doesn’t mean you want to sport a shapeless sack. The options at Hatch let me keep my style without compromising my comfort.
Overall Rating: A
I always get compliments on my Hatch wardrobe. Best of all, I feel like a fashion diva and don’t have to sacrifice my trendy taste. As a benefit to readers, Hatch is offering a free classic tank with any purchase over $250.
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 Reviewed by: Tessa, mom to 5-month-old Brady, 2-year-old Ty & 5-year-old Jack
It’s 3am and the baby is crying -- again. He’s not only hungry, he needs to be changed -- and so do his crib sheets. Jamming my fingertips into the small space between the sheet and the crib frame is not exactly appealing at this time in the morning. One broken nail and an armful of toys later, the baby is screaming and I’m balancing the mattress on one end, trying to tug fresh sheets over the corners without losing my balance. And I begin to wonder: should a crib really be more difficult to change than a baby? Thankfully, the Quick Change Crib came to my rescue.
The Quick Change Crib seems like most other cribs, but don't let its looks deceive you. This clever crib has a door in place of the footboard for easy mattress removal and sheet changing. The Quick Change Crib is fantastic. (I'm just sorry I didn't think of it!) Changing crib sheets can be a tedious task, especially when you have to remove the bumper, toys and mobile just to get to the mattress. With the Quick Change Crib you just open the door, slide out the mattress, switch the sheets and slide it back. What used to take at least ten minutes now takes just a few seconds. Trust me, at 3am, those ten minutes make a huge difference!
Overall Rating: A+
Although it's normally against my frugal nature to buy a new crib when the one I have is perfectly fine, knowing how much the Quick Change Crib would simplify my life over the next few years made this a must-have. I have a feeling that with three boys under the age of five, I'm going to need all the help I can get!
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 Reviewed by: Angela, mother-to-be
Skin is amazingly elastic. But stretching it to the size of a basketball and expecting it to shrink back can be a stress -- for you and your baby-bearing bod! So it’s no surprise that stretch marks are a common concern for many pregnant women as their bodies change to accommodate their growing babe. While mom-to-be Angela put some skin savers to the test, she kept a watchful eye on her expanding bust and belly.
Angela faithfully applied Mama Mio’s Boob Tube and Tummy Rub Stretch Mark Oil daily. One of the first things she noticed about the products was that they offered some relief for her itchy skin. And while she was slightly apprehensive about using the Tummy Rub Oil, she was pleased with the results. The oil was different from other products she’d tried, because it wasn’t greasy and did not leave any oily residue on her hands or clothing. She also liked its fresh smell. Most importantly the Tummy Rub Oil never dried out her skin and kept it feeling soft all day.
Mama Mio’s Boob Tube was one of Angela’s favorites among the many she has tried. A leave-on moisture mask for the delicate skin in the bust area, it used a blend of Evening Primrose Oil, Avocado Oil, Olive Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Shea Butter and CoQ10 to help Angela’s bust-line defy gravity. Not only was it smooth, non-greasy and easy to apply, it kept her aching chest feeling soft, yet firm.
Overall Rating: A+
Angela felt that, pregnant or not, these products would work well for anyone trying to prevent stretch marks while keeping their skin feeling soft and moisturized. Mama Mio has a permanent place in her bathroom vanity -- and she isn’t keeping it a secret. Angela says, “I absolutely love these products. Some products I have tried to use in the past to prevent stretch marks during my pregnancy have a bad odor, but these products have such a wonderful fragrance to them.”
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