feeding

Getting Ready For Feeding Time with Kizingo

-Sponsored Post-

It is always exciting when a baby transitions from eating baby food, to grabbing their own food, and eventually using utensils on their own. However, teaching a child to properly eat with utensils is not always easy. Luckily, Kizingo has come up with a new way to introduce using utensils to toddlers and kids.

Founded by two moms, the mission of Kizingo is to help children learn to love to eat, and therefore, learn to love mealtime, as it is such a special time for families. The name Kizingo means curved in Swahili and honors that time of exploration and discovery. Learning to feed yourself is difficult, but it’s so important and Kizingo believes that kids should have the tools they need to do this, successfully, for themselves.

What makes Kizingo spoons special? Kizingo encourages independence, as their curved form is easy for children to grip and therefore, children will be eager to hold them to eat. The short, wide handles are easy to hold, especially for small hands which are just learning to grasp well. They do not contain BPA, PVC, lead or Phthalates, and they are microwave and dishwasher save. They’re also designed and manufactured in America!

As baby will be learning to feed themselves before you know it, we highly recommend adding Kizingo to your baby registry! The Kizingo products are designed to promote successful self-feeding, giving confidence to parents and children. Babies and toddlers learning to feed themselves can get frustrated and most utensils are not well designed for how toddlers want to hold and use them. As a result, parents often take over feeding which can have unintended consequences. Kizingo spoons are curved to work with the way children hold utensils, making it easer for kids to successfully do it themselves. Help instill a sense of independence in your toddlers with the Kizingo spoon; a little independence goes a long way in toddlerhood, and anything to make meal time a little easier is always a plus in our book.

Thank you to Kizingo for making this sponsored post possible.

Bottle Feeding Find: MAM Anti-Colic Bottles

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When it comes to bottle feeding, it seems that there are a million bottles to choose from. However, MAM, the leading designer brand of award-winning, medically sound and innovative baby products, recently introduced a new double-sided design for its award winning Anti-Colic bottles. Designed to prevent colic, gas and reflux, the bottles’ new double-sided design features adorable themed graphics on one side and a large, graduated scale on the other.

Ideal for newborns, the innovative MAM Anti-Colic Bottle makes the transition between breast and bottle feeding easy. The patented Anti-Colic vented base ensures babies can drink calmly and relaxed while ventilation holes regulate the pressure balance. This allows for the milk to flow evenly without bubbles or foaming. The nipple’s SkinSoft textured surface and unique flat shape fits perfectly in the baby’s mouth making the switch between breast and bottle easy. MAM Anti-Colic bottles feature a leak-proof cap, wide openings and removable base for easy cleaning.

MAM Anti-Colic Bottles are BPA-free, BPS-free, PVC-free, lead-free and CPSIA-compliant. In addition, the bottles are dishwasher safe and specially formulated to withstand steam sterilization in the microwave. Available in a 5 ounce or 9 ounce size; recommended for newborns and up. Available in Nature Meadows Blue, Pink and Cream designs. Suggested retail price: $6.99 for single pack, $16.99 for triple pack and $37.99 for the Infant Basics set.

MAM Anti-Colic Bottles have won numerous awards and accolades including New York Family Magazine “Best Bottles”, National Parenting Publication Awards, The Bump Best of Baby Award, What to Expect Love it Award and the NCW Eco-Excellence Award to name a few.

The new MAM Anti-Colic bottles with double sided design are now available at select Target stores nationwide and online.

You can find MAM on their website, Instagram, and Facebook.

Baby photo via Can1Love

Toddler Tuesday: Ubbi Tweat

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By: Shana, Gugu Guru Director of Content Marketing

Our next installation of Toddler Tuesday – our new feature that helps moms navigate the transition from infant mom to toddler mom – highlights the Ubbi Tweat, a spill-proof snack container.

*Enter toddler stage left dumping her snacks from a bowl and stomping them with glee.*

While there are many snack containers on the market, most are either spill-proof, but not sealable to keep snacks fresh on the go or they are sealable, but not spill-proof. The Ubbi Tweat – shaped like a little birdie, hence the name – promises to handle both issues.

When I first handed the Tweat to my toddler, filled with Organic Bunny-Shaped Graham Crackers, I wasn’t sure if her little hands would be dexterous enough to hold the Tweat and fish out the bunnies through the spill-proof lid. In about 5 seconds flat, she had bunny grahams in her mouth. The handles are large enough for little hands to grip and the no-spill top ensures that with all the rummaging around and tilting that nothing falls out. Plus, when snack time is over, you can flip the attached lid closed and save the rest for later.

The Tweat is durable enough to toss into your diaper bag and is top rack dishwasher-safe (they recommend that you avoid heat drying it, so I just hand wash it). The Tweat is PVC, BPA & Phthalate-free and comes in 5 vibrant colors.

Head over to ubbiworld.com and get 15% off your purchase of a Tweat now through April 8 with code: GUGUGURU15

Toddler Tuesday: Re-Play Recycled (+giveaway!)

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By: Shana, Gugu Guru Director of Content Marketing

The transition from infant mom to toddler mom is a special one (hello, little Miss Independent), but not without its challenges (um… hello, Little Miss Independent). Toddlers have their own unique needs and oftentimes finding the right products and gear can be just as challenging as when they were newborns. In our new Toddler Tuesday feature, we will highlight all of our great finds for your toddler. First up is Re-Play Recycle, an eco-friendly brand of children’s tableware.

I first learned about Re-Play Recycled during “Moldy Sippy Cup Valve Gate.” My daughter was only a few months old at the time and had no need for a sippy cup, but being the Type A mom that I am, I wanted to be prepared for when the time came, so I made a mental note of the brand. I happened up Re-Play Recycled with their wonderfully colorful line of crafted in the USA feeding sets made from FDA-approved, food safe recycled plastic – specifically, milk jugs! They’re free of the things that make you go “ew,” like BPA, phthalates and PVC, and their sippy cups feature a single-piece silicone valve that is easy to clean and spill proof.

I was recently able to try out Re-Play Recycled and much to my delight, my daughter loves her new dishes and I love the bright color palette and durability. (I may or may not sometimes coordinate the plate color with her food.) The sippy cups are truly no-spill and can withstand being pounded repeatedly on the floor (don’t ask me how I know this). The plates survive the inevitable tumbles from high chair to floor and the utensils are the perfect size for little hands, with room to grow.

Re-Play Recycled is fun and functional and above all, it feels good to know that even the dishes that we use are helping to take care of the Earth for future generations.

Want to win a Toddler Feeding Set of your own, in your choice of color? Enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Foodie Find: Beaba Babycook

by Gugu Guru 7 Comments

This week we are so excited to be featuring amazing products perfect for a foodie baby. Today we’re highlighting a fantastic way to make your own baby food with the Beaba Babycook!

If you’re thinking about making homemade baby food, but feeling totally overwhelmed, don’t worry – Beaba Babycook is here to the rescue! The Beaba Babycook is a 4 in 1 baby food maker, which will not only make your life infinitely easier, but help you save money in the long run, as well. With its patented steam heating system, you can prepare fruits, vegetables, meat or fish from raw to any stage baby and toddler food in 15 minutes. It features a large 4.7 cup bowl with graduation markings for easy measuring and mixing, so you can invent delicious and nutritious purees for your little one.

Beaba knows what it is like to be a busy parent, and has designed the Babycook with that in mind; the Babycook features a unique one handed system, so mom or dad can hold baby and make their food at the same time! Plus, the Beaba Babycook is BPA, Lead and Phthalate free, making it perfectly safe for your little one. Refrigerate or freeze leftovers, then simply defrost and reheat right in Babycook. Steam cooking locks in vitamins and nutrients, a multi-purpose mixing blade provides just the right texture, the timer has an audible alert to tell you when meals are ready, and all of this with total one-handed operation. This appliance is loaded with features that make any parent a “pro” in baby food preparation.

Follow Beaba on their Website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Foodie Find: 4moms High Chair

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This week we are so excited to be featuring amazing products perfect for a foodie baby. Today we’re featuring the perfect way to feed baby, in the 4moms high chair – a revolutionary take on a classic baby product for your home.

4moms, known for their innovative designs and products geared toward making parenting easier, have hit the nail on the head yet again with this revolutionary high chair. High chairs are notorious for being hard to get baby in and out of, and especially hard to keep clean! Never mind the mess that baby makes when they throw their bowl of oatmeal on the floor, right? 4moms high chair solves all of these problems and more.

4moms realized that traditional high chair trays are tricky – you have to line up the rails and coordinate the latches to attach them. They created a high chair which uses magnetic latches to make it easy to attach the tray to the seat; just pull up the tray, and you can easily get baby in and out, or clean the chair. The top of the tray is also magnetic, which goes perfectly with their compatible bowls and plates with magnets on the bottom. No longer can baby ditch a bowl across the room, but the 4moms high chair tray will hold tight the compatible bowls and plates, making mealtime a whole lot more peaceful.

The highchair can be moved to three different heights, and three different tray positions, perfect for a quickly growing baby. The top tray is removable and can be washed in the dishwasher, making for easy clean up. Plus, the comfy foam seat is able to be easily wiped down, so no muss or fuss with high chair covers or dirty seats any longer. The high chair comes with one large bowl (and lid), so you can see the magnetic tray work its magic!

Baby Eats with Happy Family, OlaBaby and guzzie+Guss

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March is national nutrition month, and while we’ll be celebrating all next week, our editor, Olivia, wanted to share some of her favorite foodie finds which her little guy loves. Check out her baby food essentials below!

As a mom, I love when my little ones get to explore with their food. I also happen to love when that food is super healthy and delicious for their growing taste buds, too. Ever since my oldest son could eat solids, I have been a superfan of Happy Family – and, now that I have a toddler and baby, I can still use their food, because they make baby, tot, and kid products too! Every aspect of Happy Family foods are so well thought out, especially with nutrition in mind. Even their baby puffs are chock full of healthy nutrients like choline, for brain and eye health. Their food pouches are perfect for early eaters, or I like to mix the purees into cooked rice or oatmeal as the baby gets older. The baby pouches are clear – making it easy to see all the fresh goodness packed in! And, to be honest, my toddler grabbed a hold of the gluten free multi grain alphabet snacks and not only proceeded to announce each letter he ate, but shared them kindly with his brother. I absolutely love that Happy Family uses interesting flavor combinations to expose baby’s taste buds to all sorts of fruits and veggies – even mama steals some of the food, too!

As a parent, it’s an amazing transition to see your little one learn to use a spoon and…feed themselves! My little guy was never a fan of letting me feed him with a spoon, and eating with his hands is such a mess, so I was beyond excited to try the OlaBaby SteamBowl and spoon. The Olababy SteamBowl is designed to perfectly prepare steamed baby food puree, allowing parents to retain the rich nutrients for a child’s healthy diet. The bowl is made from toxin-free, BPA-free, food-grade silicone that acts as both a steamer and serving bowl, combined into one. When steaming baby puree, the SteamBowl is simply filled with food, placed on a saucepan or pot over a shallow pool of water, and covered. Within minutes, nutrient-rich baby food is prepared and ready to eat.

My son adores his OlaBaby spoons – they are so soft on his mouth and emerging teeth; he uses them as teethers sometimes. The Olababy Feeding Spoon, made from 100% silicone, is perfectly designed to feed baby with ease. Inspired by natural plant elements, the spoon resembles the shape of a sprout while the tip resembles that of a leaf. The shape and the flexibility of the spoon allow for easy scooping, cutting, and slicing. A suction-cup base allows for hygienic, upright placement on any surface. The silicone, combined with textured lines resembling the shape of vegetation, provides a better grip. Dishwasher safe and BPA free, the Olababy feeding spoon is the perfect tool for your baby to start eating solid food.

I’ve been using the Tiblit highchair from the wonderful guzzie+Guss with my second son, and love everything about it – the design, the fact that it’s so light – and most importantly, how comfortable it is for my son (so comfortable in fact, that he fell asleep eating). The modern design of the chair features a microfiber seat that is stain-resistant and wicks away moisture on a hot day; this means baby can make a huge mess and it won’t ruin the chair! Plus, this chair is wonderful for outdoor use in summer because the seat wicks away moisture. Traveling? You’ll want to bring this chair, it folds up flat and comes with a bag, making it easy to transport. In sophisticated colors, with a modern design, parents will fall in love with this utilitarian yet very handsome high chair.

DIY Fringe Bibs

by Gugu Guru 20 Comments

See Kate Sew partners with Gugu Guru once again to share a fantastic DIY tutorial. This time? Adorable and easy to make fringe bibs for the little ones in your life.

As soon as this little girl hit six months old she was ready to chow! It’s so much fun to see her explore food. So far she loves it all, but especially the vegetables! We partnered with Micuna for this post. They make the cutest modern baby gear and we are loving the Ovo high chair! I love mid-century modern style and this high chair fits right in. I had to go with the pink pad, but it also comes in a few other colors!

I made these modern fringe bibs to go with the chair! These bibs are fun and easy to sew up. You can customize them with your favorite fabrics and different types of trims, lace or pom poms! There are so many possibilities that will work for any sweet baby! Make sure the fringe is washable and you’re good to sew!

Read more about this high chair over at See Kate Sew today and enter to win one on this post!

Materials:

-1/3 yard cotton
-1 yard trim
-1/3 yard soft backing fabric, I’m using double gauze from Raspberry Creek Fabrics
-pattern download

Instructions:

1. Download the pattern and print it out at 100% (do not scale). Trim off excess on the sides and tape together as shown from below. Cut out the bib pattern.

2. Cut out 1 bib from main fabric and one from backing fabric.

3. Pin the trim to the front bib piece, facing the bottom edge of the trim UP. Pin in place.

4. Pivot at the bottom point and finish pinning the trim.

5. Baste trim to bib.

6. Place the backing fabric on top of the main fabric and pin it together. The trim will all be on the inside. Sew all the way around 3/8″ from the edge of the bib. Leave a 2-3″ opening on one of the straight side edges.

7. Clip the corners and turn the bib right side out. Press well and topstitch around the bib 1/8″ from the edge.

And you’re done!

Celebration of Feeding: Feeding Twins with Twiniversity and BabyBjorn

by Gugu Guru 2 Comments

For today’s Celebration of Feeding post, Natalie Diaz, the founder of Twiniversity, is here to share her tips for feeding twins!

There are MANY options when it comes to feeding your twins. This week we are celebrating formula feeding and in my expert opinion, bottle feeding in bouncers is the best way to go. The BabyBjörn Bouncer Balance Soft is incredible. Not only will your baby be comfortable, but it can hold him/her until their 2^nd birthday! My only problem with this bouncer is that they don’t make one I can buy in my size. So let’s get down to business. How are we going to bouncer feed twins?

Here’s how you do it:

Step 1: Set up your situation! Get your “home base” ready to feed those hungry babies. You should have: Full bottles with the correct amount (maybe a little extra for that morning feed!), burp cloths, wipes (for cleaning up small spills) and the remote to turn on some tunes. Hey, why not? Ever go to a restaurant that was silent? Yeah, it was uncomfortable, right? Well, set the mood for fine dining even if it’s just in your living room. Suggestions: Harry Belafonte, REM, Trace Atkins (those were my twins’ favorites!)

Step 2: CHANGE your babies. You should never begin a feed — breast or bottle — without first changing the babies. That way if they are fussy you at least know it’s not because they are wet. Once they are changed, bring them to their bouncers and strap them in safely. SAFETY FIRST, ALWAYS! If they are little and having a hard time with neck support, buy a head positioner, or just use a rolled up receiving blanket behind the neck to help prop them up into place.

Step 3: Go to the bathroom yourself! Same as the babies, no one should be uncomfortable during a feed if you can avoid it.

Step 4: Sit on the floor with your back against a chair or couch, stretch your legs out in front of you, get your supplies within arms’ reach and settle in — you’re going to be here a minute. Once you are all adjusted, place a bouncer on each side of you so that your arms can comfortably reach the babies.

Step 5: Feed those babies! Hold each bottle in one hand and let your hungry babies go to town. Remember to make sure that the nipple is filled 100% of the time with the milk! Our suggestion would be to use the Dr. Brown’s Options bottles. Start off with a level 1 nipple but move to a level 2 nipple once your doctor gives you the green light. If you are doing a combo of breast and bottle feeding, STICK WITH LEVEL 1! That is closest to the actual flow of your nipple and the baby will be most comfortable with that.

Step 6: Halfway through the bottle, stop for a quick burp. I’m sending successful burping vibes your way! Start with the easier burper first and move over to the one that’s a bit more challenging. Make sure you take advantage of that burp cloth. If you end up getting some formula on your clothing, or theirs, try the Dapple Stain Remover which we find works like a charm to get those stains right out. Then go back to feeding as usual but still make sure that the nipple is full 100%!

When the feed is done, feel free to give ‘em one final burp. Then, PUT YOUR BOTTLES IN THE SINK! Make sure that after each feed you get some fresh water into those bottles. By the days end, even if it’s a ¼ oz, it might be tough to get out. Keep a large basin in the sink prefilled with sudsy water for those bottles to go right into.

Make sure that every night you do a final tally of your bottles. If you used 16 bottles, make sure they are all accounted for in the dishwasher! You don’t want to have a rogue bottle floating around your house. In a few days’ time, if you don’t find it….you will. You can just track the scent! Yuck!

Follow BabyBjorn on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Dr. Brown’s for Formula Feeding

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Designed by a doctor in the mid-nineties, Dr. Brown’s has become a leading standard for baby bottles and accessories for all parents. Dr. Brown’s is known for their Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow® bottle, which is the only bottle “to feature an internal vent system that helps reduce colic, spit-up, burping and gas by eliminating negative pressure and air bubbles, helps preserve vitamins C, A, & E by minimizing oxidation of breastmilk and formula, and provides vacuum-free feeding similar to breastfeeding.” Whether you’re breastfeeding, supplementing, pumping and feeding or formula feeding, Dr. Brown’s makes it easy for parents with their well-thought out products designed to make baby fed and happy. Today we’re sharing some products that make life easier on all parents – because no matter what, we can all agree that washing bottles and preparing formula is time consuming, but Dr. Brown’s aims to make it as simple as possible for all families!

When we chatted with formula feeding parents in preparation for the Celebration of Feeding, the number one essential which came up over and over again was the Dr. Brown’s Formula Pitcher. Using the pitcher, a parent can prepare up to four 8 oz/250 ml bottles at once in this pitcher with a spill-free locking lid, no drip spout and soft-grip handle. It’s easy to use and BPA free, but most importantly, it mixes formula quickly without clumping and dissolves formula quickly with no clumping, which helps limit the amount of air in the formula. The less air in the formula, the less air in your baby’s tummy, and less gas and colic to contend with. The pitcher makes those middle of the night feedings so much easier – no need to spill powdered formula all over your counters as you sleepily make a new bottle!

Like we said before, Dr. Brown’s is known for their bottles with a special venting system to keep air out of your baby’s stomach; and now, for the first time, they have introduced the Options Bottle, the market’s first convertible bottle that can be used with or without the vent system. The new vent system is designed to grow with baby, and it is recommended to use this system in order to experience all the health benefits of the Options Bottle. The vent system helps reduce feeding problems, helps digestion and helps preserve vitamins. However, some parents find removing the vent system a convenient option as their baby’s feeding becomes more developed. The nipple venting creates a paced flow, and provides a feeding experience similar to most nipple-vented bottles. Options bottles also fit most breast pumps, and are BPA-free. Dr. Brown’s believes in letting parents choose what’s best for their baby, which is why they’re so proud of the Options bottles, which will allow the bottles to grow with the baby.

And, lastly, we all know how tedious and time consuming it can be to wash all of those bottles (Twiniversity mentioned washing 16 bottles a day for twins in their post!), but Dr. Brown’s is here to help with their handy Deluxe Bottle Brush. The bottle brush is perfect for any kitchen, as it has a suction cup on the bottom to keep it upright and away from any dishes or food. It’s compact and efficient, as the tiny nipple brush is located within the handle of the bottle brush, so you’ll never lose the nipple brush! The brush features combination sponge and bristles for thorough cleaning of bottles, and chevron channels at the base for cleaning nipples. This is a must-have for any parent who will be washing bottles, whether formula or breastmilk.

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