Mom Blog and Baby Blog | Baby Bunching

hold-on handles can help get your bunch out to enjoy the spring

We scored a great Baby Bunching discount from Greater Than One Kids, the manufacturer of Hold-On Handles. They've offered a 20-percent discount to our readers (see code below) for their Hold-On Handles. If you aren't familiar with this stroller accessory, we recommend you check it out, especially those of you in transition between stroller riders and completely independent walkers. These simple and colorful handles are the first stroller accessory and walking rope for up to 3 children. We first previewed this last year for our Baby Bunching readers. Perhaps some of you remember when we asked for testers for their awesome product. Since then, they have taken your feedback and launched internationally. (Also, if you were one of the original testers, let us know what you thought!)

Why we love the concept of Hold-On Handles:

• Keeps one to three kids within arm's reach, but doesn't look like those embarrassing harnesses, which we have considered using many times.
• Easily snaps onto strollers (or better yet shopping carts!) or can be worn comfortably on mom’s wrist. Children can be safely active.
• Comfortable parent wrist strap that adjust. Everything for Baby Bunchers should always adjust.
• Kids love feeling independent and not strapped in.
• An added bonus, it's all safe and lead free and non toxic which means your baby can chew on it too. We can't promise that they're clean from your toddler's hands though.

To purchase Hold-On Handles and redeem your discount, visit www.greaterthanonekids.com and enter BUNCH20 at check out.  Valid thru May 15, 2011.  Maybe this will help you get out and about and enjoy some fabulous spring weather.

Hold-On Handles are also available at Independent Retailers Nationwide, Buy Buy Baby (all stores and website), Amazon.com, and Diapers.com

(Baby Bunching only reviews items that we deem appropriate and targeted for our readers. We were not compensated nor given free product by the company. We just think this product is a really awesome idea.)

how alamo car rental almost ruined spring break...until great wolf lodge saved it

Editors note:  Y'all know we don't get paid to review stuff here on Baby Bunching, which means we can be totally honest and tell you about our love/hates.  This is a story about both.  Just a heads-up that this post is targeted towards older Bunchers who may be considering family vacation options.  But younger Bunchers take heart as well - we saw lots of babies here and the youngest of my crew (just 2 1/2) had a blast - so you're not far off from a visit to Great Wolf Lodge!

Last week was Spring Break.  With some pre-paid tickets to Disney that we needed to use up, we made a last-minute decision to head on over to Orlando.  Last minute + grandparents who decided to tag along and help out = astronomical air fare, so we decided to rent an 8-passenger vehicle to get us all there (from Texas).  Grandma was kind enough to do the research and scored a Yukon with unlimited mileage and no extra fees for interstate travel. She booked it online, reserved it with a credit card, called an hour beforehand to confirm availability, and then headed on over to pick it up.

And this is where the story gets nasty.

Upon arrival, Alamo car rental company offered us an upgrade to a Suburban for only $100, an offer we gratefully accepted.  But then they couldn't find the Suburban.  Or the Yukon.  Fortunately, we were at the airport rental location, so the manager quickly went around to all the other rental car companies to find a car.

Unfortunately, since the entire state of Texas goes on Spring Break during the same week and approximately 50 percent of Texans were also undoubtedly Orlando-bound with grandparents in tow, there were no cars to be had.  A frantic call to 1-800 numbers of three other major car rental companies confirmed our fears - that we were SOL. The Alamo manager, poorly schooled in the art of customer relations, provided the following proposed "solutions":

1) We could wait an extra day to leave and they would "try" to get us a car.  A promise we (understandably) didn't feel held a whole lot of credibility.  The only thing worse than telling your kids you can't leave for Disney is making them wait around to leave for Disney for a whole 'nother day and THEN telling them they can't leave for Disney.

2) They could give us TWO cars.  At regular rates, of course.  With gas hovering around $4 a gallon, chartering a freaking private jet would've been a cheaper options.

We briefly discussed the possibilities of taking our own two cars (which hadn't been serviced, since we weren't planning on driving them across five states) or leaving someone behind (Grandpa was overwhelmingly blackballed) but found neither of those satisfactory options, either.  If it was the kiddos' first trip to Disney, I would have WALKED there, come hell or high water, but given that they've been several times, we decided to break the news that we would have to postpone the trip.

Fortunately, Grandma was thinking on her feet and booked us a trip at Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, Texas - just a few short hours away.  And this is where the story gets happy again.

Talk about exceeding expectations.  This indoor/outdoor water park is the ultimate resort for kids, and manages to pamper parents a little along the way.  The place was spotlessly clean and since only guests of the hotel/resort can use the water park, crowd control is kept to a very reasonable level.  The park features several dining and drinking options, with familiar, family-friendly brands such as Pizza Hut, A&W hot dogs, Starbucks, and Jose Cuervo.  Each morning and evening there is a character-driven show, plus a night-time story hour, which children are welcome to attend in pajamas (much to the excitement of my eldest child, who I fear will show up for his own wedding in pajamas).  Add in a scavenger hunt (plan ahead - it was all booked by the time we registered), an arcade, spas for both kiddos and adults, and even an evening kids club (for an extra charge) so mom and dad can catch a break - Great Wolf is practically a cruise ship on land.

Having been a former teenage lifeguard, I am not a fan.  But the lifeguards at this place give new meaning to the word hyper-vigilant.  One lifeguard at the Lazy River attraction was so laser-focused on manning his bend of the river that I actually wished he would relax a little - he was totally stressing me out with his quick, spaz-pacing of his zone. But once you become a parent, stress is a constant state, so I felt oddly reassured by our shared anxiety over my children's safety.  

There are water amenities for everyone - death-defying water slides, a water obstacle course, a hot tub, a wave pool, a lazy river, a water fort - and even a miniature version of all these for the wee-est ones!  Attractions are graded by height/swimmer skill level and your kids are banded with appropriate wrist bands when they walk in the door.  Life jackets (clean! in good condition!) are available free of charge in a  variety of sizes.  And did I mention there's an outside replica of practically the entire park as well?

The 50 percent of Texas that was not in Orlando was at Great Wolf Lodge, so in our last minute haste to book a room, all that was left was the super posh Grizzly Bear Suite.  Admittedly, the price tag attached to this baby would've given me pause, but fortunately for us Grandma was not above throwing money at the problem to make things right for the kiddos.  Our two-bedroom suite had a little kitchenette and slept 8 (with a  pullout sofa in the living room), so there was plenty of room for everyone.  We lucked out because Grizzly Suite patrons can apparently check in whenever they want, but even regular guests can enter the water park at 1 pm, even though they may not be able to check into their room until 4 pm, depending on availability.  You can swim until 9 at night, and then stay until 9 the next day (although you have to check out of your room by 11 am).  So although it's not cheap, each one-night's stay is accompanied by a full 1.5 days of water fun! 

In summary, Great Wolf Lodge:

Clean - check
Safe - check
Fun for all ages - check
Value for the chunk of money - still a check

Great Wolf is one place we'll definitely go back to!  My mother, who reads this blog, made me delete the part where I tell Alamo National where they can go.

what's on your teuxdeux list?

Everyone has their own, and preferred, way of staying organized--calendars, lists, post it notes, writing it on your hand, etc. As Baby Bunchers, it's important to find a system that works for you early on, but be willing to adjust as your rollercoaster ride accelerates. For example, I relied heavily on my memory plus a dry erase board for keeping on top of things (pre-Baby Bunching that is). Yeah, I can hear you all laughing because it's quite obvious that method no longer works. Although, I do admit to trying it now and then only to quickly be reminded how I will miserably fail going this route. 

In the past few years, I have tried pretty pocket calendars, big calendars, dry erase boards in the kitchen (only to realize they don't work well if you have to move to the office), beautiful planners, and an assortment of online calendars. Really, the issue is I'm a list maker (aka post-it notes everywhere) and my calendar and lists need to be merged into one so I can survive.

So I found out about a great new site + app a few weeks ago and this one I've fallen in love it: TeuxDeux. Why do I love this? Because it's just a list. It's bare bones. No frills. Just a daily list. You can cross it out, and if you don't, it automatically carries over to the next day. Nothing more fabulous than having something remind me of all the things I didn't finish yesterday. Awesome! Even better it syncs with my iPhone so I can take my TeuxDeux list with me on the go.

If you love your current method of staying organized, we applaud you (and beg you share what it is). But if you're looking for something easy to help you stay a bit on top of things, you might give this one a try.

(Editor's note: As you know we never review things on this site that we don't think are perfect for the Baby Buncher crowd. No one was paid to say how fabulous we love this product. And it just so happens I know the amazing woman who helped design it.)  

babies, the movie

Last week, with hubby out of town, I had a great time watching Babies, although note here: I think he actually would have enjoyed it. If you have not yet seen this, I highly recommend it.

It takes you through four stories of babies around the world: San Francisco, Namibia, Mongolia and Japan. It's quite a contrast, as you'd expect from each of the countries, but I felt strangely drawn to the Baby Bunching mom in Mongolia as I watched the older brother roll his baby brother out to the cows and hit him with a sock. (Yes, he was my favorite!) Clearly we have come a long way from tying a baby (very lovingly) to the rafters on the bed so mom can get laundry done in a hut and putting a matchstick on a chicken chunk (presumably so baby doesn't choke), but I still felt it endearing to know what we all do to protect our kids. (Prepare to be grossed out by the baby in Africa who poos on his mom's knee and she scrapes it off with a corn cob.) It somehow makes our lives seem so much easier. And who knows, when your kids wake up in the morning you may feel a new sense of energy.

If you've seen it, which babe was your fav?

 

giveaway: eat, sleep, poop

As a soon-to-be-first-time mom, I was the ideal book consumer and purchased such titles as: What to Expect, Baby Love, Girlfriend's Guide to [well just about everything],  Baby 411, The Baby Book, The Birthing Book, The Breastfeeding Book (basically anything Dr. Sears). I read them all, cover to cover, as I was displaced from my homeland and living in the Middle East with little to do but sweat, eat and read books.

I was sure I was an expert in parenting after all my reading and 6 months of trial and error with one child. Then Baby #2 arrived. You only think you're well-versed in every topic until a subsequent child rocks your world a year into this parenting gig.

Baby #2 (my girl) did everything Baby #1 (my boy) didn't and then went on and did none of the things her older brother did. She vomited, but didn't spit up. She got ear infections, but rarely had fevers. She breastfed with ease and ate everything I put in front of her. She loved the car and the stroller and even slept in both. But she wouldn't sleep through the night. She hated to nap and let the world know how she felt about it. Even with two babies less than 16 months apart, I would continually run to the Web or my library of parenting books to find the answers to questions I was sure I would never ask since I was such a "baby expert" now.  

Baby Bunching moms don't have time to peruse baby books. We're reading it on the toilet while someone else is crawling around at our feet, while we're nursing, while someone is in the bathtub or while shoveling food into someone else's mouth at the table.

By the time we get to Baby #2 our parenting book cocktail is neat, we need it here and now and it will probably be room temperature. Eat, Sleep, Poop by Scott W. Cohen is the perfect mix for second-time parents. First of all, I love that Dr. Cohen is also a dad. In each chapter he gives a Daddy vs. Doctor analysis for things like sleep training, vaccines, travel and colic. It's easy for doctors to spout off about what we should or shouldn't do, but it's wonderful for a doctor to say, "Hey, I finally get this. Maybe you're not psycho for questioning 7 shots on one visit?" or "Yes, perhaps 4-months is too little to make a baby cry for 2 hours."

Throughout the book he interjects with lots of "Common Sense Bottom Line" advice. I find this comforting. We all have done this before, and we know what we should or shouldn't be doing. But when you're up late at night trying to cajole one kid to bed (since hubby is out of town) and your other kid will be up soon for a feeding, we need someone to be straight with us. Another bonus: pediatrician visit checklist, medicine dosage recommendations and flowcharts for diagnosis (aka when you should flip out and bother your ped at home.)

This book would be a great book for both a first-time and second-time parent. Not a bad one for a fresh perspective on parenting/advice books. So we're giving away the copy we received. I promise I was very careful when I read it. We're giving our copy away. To enter all you have to do is tell us the best "common sense" advice you have ever given  to another mom or received from one.  We'll take entries until midnight Aug. 23.

Congrats to our winner Janna!

product review: magic bullet

Yes, you absolutely read the title right. As you all know, my sister-in-law moved in with our family a few months ago. The first thing she insisted on purchasing for the house was a Magic Bullet. Since I don't have TV in the house (yes, that's a whole other blog post), I didn't quite get what all the snickering was about from her. Then this blendery thing appeared on my counter.

Now I love to cook. I have gadgets everywhere and this one looks just like a little handy-dandy food processor. I rolled my eyes as she mixed her protein shakes and smoothies. Whatever.

Only problem is now I love the damn thing! And when she leaves, I'm going to have buy one for myself. Every morning now I make myself a smoothie--banana, frozen berries (blueberries, cherries, blackberries, raspberries), low fat yogurt, milk and protein powder. I swear it's the only breakfast I've ever made that has held me over until lunch and makes me feel great all day long. My kids will eat them, too.

And at dinnertime you will catch me using it to chop up onions, make breadcrumbs, puree some salsa or mix up pesto. To be honest, I'm not quite sure why I love it so much. If it's because it lives next to my sink or because it really is that easy to clean up. Now that I own one, I have seen the infomercial--which is really quite entertaining--on Sunday morning at the gym. Now I roll my eyes because I actually own something that said "As Seen on TV" on the box!

I wished I'd had this when my kids were little. What an easy way to make baby food out of whatever you're cooking for dinner for Big Baby. Throw it all in there. Grind it up, puree it, whatever and clean up....OMG, it really is as easy as the infomercial says it is.

(I was not paid in any way or give free product for this post. I really do think I may need one of these when it leaves my house for good.)

product review: polar gear baby portable booster seat

The further away Linda and I get from the baby years of our Bunches, the harder it gets for us to stay on top of handy new gear (sooo....sad because we are lovers of the gear!).  That's why we rely on readers and friends to keep us up to speed.  I was super pumped when friends of mine recently visited from the UK with this nifty little gadget in tow. and knew I had to share it with you girls. 

In my 6 years of parenting I've used a boatload of booster and highchairs, but I've never owned or seen one of these.  With family scattered around the country, we get around quite a bit given the number of small children we have and I sure wished I'd known about these babies 4 years ago - they fold up quite compactly and are lightweight enough to stuff one (or two!) in a suitcase or even a large diaper bag.  My friend's active 21-month old was fastened quite securely and at no point did she seem in danger of falling out.

Seemingly widely available in the UK, I had no luck finding these online here in the states (eBay, maybe?).  The First Years does make a similar counterpart, but there are a few complaints about flimsiness, safety concerns, and poor inflation on the bottom so I'm not sure how they compare.  Chime in if you've used either model!

Baby/toddler gear is an estimated $8-10 billion dollar market, and on my third time around this block I'm acutely aware of how much I overspent on the first two trips.  But this is a product I'd happily spend my money on if I didn't already own three travel boosters.

fun new 2010 double strollers

We just ran our massive double stroller series a few weeks ago. This is a short post about a few new models on the market for 2010. Seen them? Tried them? Loved them? Hated them? Let us know what you think. (And if you're from the company, we're happy to do a giveaway here.)

Peg Perego GT3 for Two. Now several of our readers have asked us this new stroller. We have not seen this one yet, but it's an interesting option. The price tag is at about $650. That's $200 more than the Phil and Ted. This new stroller offers some intriguing options: easy fold, large storage space (so they say), car seat adapter and the boot is included. The width is comparable to the other in-line strollers at 24 inches. You're looking at a heavier stroller nearing 36-38 pounds.

UppaBaby Vista with Rumble Seat. I spotted this one at a localstore and had to give it a try. It has the Bugaboo look to it so if you're looking for a swankier "buggy y" this is it. UppaBaby has come up with a solution to the strollers flipping when toddler gets in and out. They have designed the Rumble seat to keep from flipping the stroller over. Another bonus is the amount of storage space. I was surprised how much you could throw into the stroller. There are several configurations to the stroller so it gives mom, baby and toddler a chance to rearrange if needed. Beware as the Rumble seat only fits kids up to 35 pounds. But in our experience by that time, kids don't want to be in the stroller very much anyway.  

Baby Jogger City Select. This stroller was recently added to our Double Stroller Guide, but first caught sight of it over at Stroller Traffic. I love the idea that it has 16 different configurations, which includes carrycot and car seats. The stroller with both seats on is 36 pounds, but the flexibility, depending on your situation, may be worth it. The price tag is $500, but to be able to mix and match so many ways...single to double and then back to single is not a bad price to pay. Bonus is the nice storage space underneath.

iCandy Pear. First spotted on Cool Mom Picks, this is the luxury double stroller model that just arrived in the U.S. from Britain. Again, it has multiple configurations that allow you to customize for your needs. Are you noticing a trend here? We Baby Bunchers need options! The biggest complaint by most moms seems to be the seat/canopy height. The stroller is a bit on the heavy side, nearly 40 pounds, and the price tag is hefty: $900. It looks like a fun stroller to drive.

For more of our double stroller favs, check out the Double Stroller Guide.

product highlight: tag*a*long your bunch

Stroller configurations (single + sling, tandem, twin, single + boogie board, sit and stand, single + roaming child) can be tricky as your Bunch grows. We have often said there is not one perfect double stroller out there...yet. If your Bunch is still little, you may think you have found the perfect one, but as they grow you realize the weight of the older one will make a twin hard to push, the attitude of one will make a tandem hard to negotiate and without fail someone will decide the stroller just isn't for them anymore!

As your kids grow bigger, the options for containment grow smaller. This is why I squealed with delight when I saw Rookie Mom's review about this new stroller accessory: the tag*a*long.

This is such a simple concept, and we're glad to see someone put this into practice at a low price ($10). The tag*a*long is basically a plastic handle that attaches to the side of your stroller so your child can hang on to the stroller--without actually pushing the stroller into people or getting run over by the wheel. Maybe that wheel thing is my own error.

This handy gadget was developed by Naptime Industries, a mom and dad design team from Philadelphia with their own young kids. Here are a few tag*a*long bits:

• It provides an option for older siblings or those kids who can walk and do not want to sit in the stroller.
• The attachment requires no tools and will fit on most strollers. It's quick loop-through design makes it quick and easy to get on and off.
• It's made in the USA and is lead and BPA free. Bonus in case your baby wants to suck on it, too.  

Even better, this seems like a great product for those with three children who are maneuvering a double and still need some assistance reigning in the oldest. I love that this gives kids a designated spot to return to and sets the expectations and directs boundaries. It doesn't guarantee your oldest from wandering off but the tag*a*long will provide him a place to hold while moving about and a place to come back to when the fun is done.

As you know with all things Baby Bunching, we only review what we feel is appropriate for those with closely spaced siblings. (We did not receive a sample nor were we paid by the company for this review. Although, they did graciously offer us a few to sample.)

Let us know if you've tried this out yet!

product review: Thermos Intak water bottle (with bonus water recipe)

I recently stumbled upon a product I love so much that I just had to share it with you girls.  I am a huge water drinker, and I try to go the reusable bottle route if at all possible to avoid generating waste associated with plastic bottles.  Back in August I had surgery, and Linda was so sweet to send me a care package with goodies such as comfy jammies, trashy celebrity magazines, and this awesome water bottle. 

Seriously, I must have 10 different kinds of water bottles in my cupboard - all of which I used on a rotational basis, including the huge insulated thermos mugs with straws that I got from the hospital when I delivered each of my babies.  In fact, when I had my surgery, I was thrilled to come out of anesthesia to discover that you don't have to be in the maternity ward to get one of these babies - I was able to round out my hospital mug collection without even reproducing again! 

But little did I know that my new Thermos Intak from Lindy would be my new go-to water bottle.  What I love about it is that it has a screw top lid, but a sturdy little plastic straw the pops up so you can sip instead of gulp. Somewhere along the line when I was sick, a doctor recommended to me that I sip water through a straw instead of drinking it out of a glass, claiming that people tend to ingest more water this way (and I have found it to be true for me personally). The bottle comes in 16 and 24 ounce sizes, is dishwasher safe and BPA-free, and I have yet to have a leaking problem with it.  This is a great little bottle for Baby Bunchers because we all know how important adequate water intake is for nursing and staying healthy!

As a bonus, I wanted to share with you my new favorite water recipe. Yes, you read that right - water recipe. Cut up a few orange and lemon slices and toss them in a pitcher of water with some sprigs of mint and a few cranberries. I discovered this when I went to Blogalicious a few weeks ago and I have become addicted. This refreshing combination perks up regular old water and looks festive for entertaining, but is easy enough to make to spice up water drinking on a daily basis.  Cheers!

In light of the upcoming flu season, water intake is more important than ever, and this was one of my biggest challenges as a Baby Buncher (no time to eat, no time to drink, no time to pee, etc.). If you've got any time-tested secrets for making sure you get enough water, do share!