October Road Test – the Cot Canopy
By · CommentsI’m not sure what happened but the end of the year just seemed to disappear and we have found ourselves behind with the reviews from our product road tests! Never mind, with school going back soon I will get my life back and we will get back on track.
The October road test gave two lucky mums the opportunity to road test the Cot Canopy by Content&Calm, an ingenious canopy designed to black out a cot while maintaining air flow and breathability around the baby. It is ideal both for travel, to allow parents to have the lights on and curtains open in the same room as the baby, as well as for regular home use, for example in a bedroom which requires the blinds and windows open for ventilation and cooling in summer but where the baby needs darkness for sleep.
Cot Canopy
Our two customers to road test the Cot Canopy were Jennifer and Lisa. Here are their reviews.
Jennifer
[Jennifer took the Cot Canopy with her on a holiday to Hawaii, where baby Nathan shared a room with his parents and his 5 year old brother.]
I was lucky enough to be selected to road test the new Content & Calm Cot Canopy. I was particularly excited to receive this product as we had an upcoming holiday to Hawaii and my 5 month old baby Nathan would be sharing a room with my 5 year old son. I was concerned about two major issues, 1. How I was going to get Nathan to sleep during the day when the room he was staying in would be flooded with light and 2. How I could possibly ensure that Nathan would not be distracted by sharing the bedroom with his older brother. I needn’t have worried as the Cot Canopy eliminated both of these issues!
We were travelling with a Phil & Teds Travel Cot which is considerably smaller than the standard travel cot so I was a little concerned when I first saw the size of the Cot Canopy. As you can see from the pictures, although it wasn’t a snug fit or a particularly attractive one it still did the job remarkably well.
Pros
1. Allowed Nathan to sleep in the daytime as the Cot Canopy blocked out almost all of the natural light in the room.
2. Ensured when Nathan woke in the night he did not see his older brother beside him, thus ensuring he just settled himself back to sleep as he would have done if he was in his own room alone at home.
3. Nathan settled very easily in the Cot Canopy. He had no trouble adjusting to the change in his sleeping environment at all.
4. Very easy to set up. It only took me about 5 minutes to assemble.
Cons
1. The metal poles are relatively heavy and took up more of our valuable luggage allowance than I would have liked.
Overall I would highly recommend the Cot Canopy, especially if you were using it on a holiday that didn’t involve air travel!
Lisa
[Lisa trialled the Cot Canopy at home as the baby was still sharing a room with her and her husband.]
I have completely enjoyed using the cot canopy, my little 8 month old transitioned from the cradle directly to the cot with cot canopy and it has been a dream transition. Her sleeping patterns maintained or improved, she settles for day sleeps a lot easier, and re settles as well. I have utilised the loop inside the cot canopy to hang a toy and she will quite often self settle laying there looking up at the toy.
Reading in bed is bliss. She is not bothered by the lights from reading, our talking nor does she seem as disturbed by my husband’s loud and consistent snoring. Prior to trialling the cot canopy she would often wake upon his alarm going off, now she is sleeping through it.
There are a few points that I have found to be slightly disappointing, it is very difficult to change the bed with the canopy on, I needed an extra person to get the canopy on the first time, and one of the disadvantages of the advantage of the shade it provides it is very difficult to locate her dummy during the night if she needs it to resettle.
Overall I have thoroughly enjoyed the privilege of being selected to trial the Canopy and look forward to continuing to read in bed and for my husband and I to discuss the days activities in bed.
Thank you once again.
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Thanks to Jennifer and Lisa for your honest reviews.
The Cot Canopy comes in two sizes to fit different sized cots, starting at $199.95. Until the end of January, save $20 on the Cot Canopy, now $179.95 for the small size.
September Road Test – the Milkbar nursing pillow
By · CommentsIn August we gave away two Milkbar nursing pillows two two lucky new mums, Kimberley and Jessica. The Australian designed Milkbar is one of Australia’s most popular nursing pillows. It provides support and elevates the baby’s head to an appropriate level for breastfeeding, to help support the mother and prevent back and shoulder pain. It also helps protect the sensitive abdominal area after a caesarian section. The firmness of the filling provides much more solid and stable support than a normal pillow.
Both Kimberley and Jessica found the Milkbar of great asssistance to them when feeding their babies. Read their reviews here (and of course scroll to the bottom to find our special offer.)
Kimberley
I have found the Milkbar nursing pillow to be a terrific baby and breast feeding product and use it at every breast feed and would recommend it to other breast feeding mums and have already suggested to it to my friends and my pregnant sister.
It has been very easy to use, it fits comfortable across my lap and my baby (now 13 weeks) has also been comfortable and well supported while I’m nursing him. My baby is very big, he weighed 9lb & 13.5oz (4.46kgs) at birth and now weighs nearly 8kgs and thankfully the Milkbar has relieved me of a lot of shoulder pain I was suffering from when nursing my baby and I don’t have to visit my chiropractor as often with this complaint.
The shape of the pillow is fantastic and the wider end fits snuggly against my body on the side I’m nursing. I do think that the pillow could be a bit wider just so my baby continues to fit comfortably on it as I plan to breastfeed for as long as I can, this however, is the only fault I can find with the pillow. The height of the pillow is perfect and fully supports my baby’s weight and places him at the right height for me to comfortably nurse.
The Milkbar nursing pillow also looks great. I love mine, in the two tone chocolate brown and latte colours. The removable cover comes off very easily with the zipper, washes up beautifully (don’t need to iron – who has time) and is very easy to put back on again.
The Milkbar nursing pillow has made breastfeeding easier for me and has relieved me of a lot of shoulder, back and neck pain that I was suffering from when nursing my baby due to his size and weight. My chiropractor actually asked me what I had done differently, so I told him about the pillow.
Thank you for allowing me to test drive this fantastic product, I’m very happy with it!
Jessica
I was very interested to try out the Milkbar Pillow to see if it would make a difference to how I hold myself while feeding. I have a 5.5month old and also a 23.5 month old who I stopped breastfeeding at 14 months. So for the past two years I have been breastfeeding most of the time except for a small break of a few months! Both my girls have a major preference for my left side meaning 90% of the time when I am feeding I am twisting my body to hold them to the left breast. Given that I am then not “evening myself out” by feeding for an equal amount of time on the right I have noticed some imbalances in my body.
I definitely notice that I hold myself in a much more balanced way when using the Milkbar Pillow. I feel a lot more relaxed as most of my baby’s weight is taken by the pillow rather than by my arm and rib cage. When using the pillow I don’t feel like I am twisting my body to the side as I usually do, especially as my baby gets heavier. The pillow does have much more support (to take more of bubs’ weight) than an ordinary pillow or cushion so this is definitely a bonus. If you have a bub like mine who mainly feeds from one side or if you have neck/back issues I do think the pillow would be worth buying.
In summary I think the Milkbar Pillow is a great help when breastfeeding. If you have a limited budget (with so many things to spend money on once you have a baby!) I do think you need to think about your personal breastfeeding circumstances and weigh up the pros and cons before purchasing. I’m not sure that I believe you really need one of these pillows to breast feed comfortably and effectively. If you suffer from neck/back pain I believe the pillow would be a worthwhile investment to help with feeding.
Conclusion
Thank you to both Kimberley and Jessica for their honest reviews of the Milkbar. We’re so happy you have found it useful. We would like to offer our customers an opportunity to purchase the Milkbar for only $59.95 till the end of October. If you’re suffering from any back or shoulder pain, don’t suffer any more. The Milkbar would also make a great gift to a new mother.
August Product Road Test – The Manduca baby Carrier
By · CommentsOur two lucky product reviewers Aarti and Katrina both received a Manduca baby carrier to review for us. Both have a toddler and a baby so we were interested to hear their views on using the Manduca for children of different ages. The Manduca weighs only 600g yet can carry a child up to 20kg (that’s a 4 year old!). It can be used for newborns and for larger children its padded waist belt works to spread the weight from your shoulders down to your hips.
Here are the reviews from Aarti and Katrina, in their own words. I know it’s a long post, but if you stay with us right to the bottom you will find a special deal on the Manduca which will make it worth your while. Happy reading!
Aarti
With a two year old, a 10 month old and one stroller, the Manduca arrived at a good time. The previous baby carrier was getting uncomfortable as baby got bigger and wasn’t suitable for our toddler. The Manduca and another carrier arrived at the same time – we found the Manduca was the easiest to use. There are less straps, it’s not bulky and fits perfectly on both my husband and I with only a few adjustments needed. Our baby enjoys the back position where he can see everything, but he sleeps in the front position, where he’s snug and can rest his head against our chests. It’s very easy to use in the front position, even with a fidgety baby but I’m not comfortable with putting the baby on my back alone and I prefer to have someone to help me.
One night on holiday, the baby was sleeping in the stroller and so our very tired 2yr old got into the Manduca in the back position, and there’s been no looking back! His weight is evenly distributed, both my husband and I found it so comfortable, it was so easy to get the child in, and most importantly, my son really enjoyed it; for once being the one who could be carried instead of the baby. We did find his head would flop back, as the head rest wouldn’t fit so he had no support. Since then, he’s getting better at making himself comfortable when he is ready to fall asleep.
The carrier was especially fantastic at airports; no stroller, two sleepy kids and so many bags. It was a great way to get the baby onboard and stay sleeping until the seatbelt lights came on.
The Manduca has been used by myself, my brother and my husband and we’ve all enjoyed using it. My husband and I have used it to carry the baby on our left hip, but when my brother wanted to use it on his right hip, I got a little confused with the straps and both baby and uncle were quite uncomfortable.
Overall we have been very impressed. As we both prefer to use the front position for the baby to sleep, and back position for both kids when they are awake, we haven’t made full use of the side position. The carrier is so light and fits nicely under the stroller when it is not being used. The baby enjoys nibbling at it but its easy to clean. The straps are so easy to adjust too.
Katrina
My family have been using the wonderful Manduca Carrier for about two months now. We have a four month old and a 20 month old and like to get out and about with them both as much as possible.
The Manduca is certainly the best carrier that I have had the opportunity to use, having used a few different styles with my first daughter. The quality of the carrier is outstanding. I will quickly run through some of my favourite features of its construction. The waist support band is very sturdy, however still allows the wearer to sit down in comfort. The waist strap is very generous, I have a size 16 waist and only use about half of the length of the strap, ensuring that any wearer of any size can use the Manduca without an extension strap.
The material of the carrier is lovely and soft, and the bright red that we received never became too hot to the touch, unlike some darker materials I have used previously. The inbuilt newborn adaptor is very handy and once no longer needed does not get in the way at all, is simply tucked away behind two elastic straps. It is very quick and easy to adapt the carrier from a ‘head out’ position to a ‘head in’ position with my newborn on board; meaning that once she falls asleep I am able to tuck her in to help support her head while she sleeps. The attached sun shield acts as a lovely soft cushion behind bubs head while she snoozes. The shoulder straps are comfortable and never cause any discomfort to the wearer, all are easy to adjust on the run. The waist clip is very sturdy and the added third release button means it will never come undone by accident. Overall, the quality of this carrier is second to none.
I have not had a lot of opportunity to carry my toddler in the Manduca. She is an independent spirit who would rather walk than be carried most of the time. However, I did try carrying her in a front hold and she seemed to really enjoy the closeness. My husband took her for some walks in the back hold and found it to be very comfortable and our daughter enjoyed the piggy back view.
The only improvements I would make to the Manduca are to include a carry bag of some sort to make it easier to pack for a day out and to add a zip or button to the front pocket so that any item in it does not fall out when you bend over with bubs in the front carry position. Whilst I find that the three button waist clip is very secure, and appreciate that, I also find it impossible to undo whilst holding my baby, so need to put her down to fully unclip the Manduca.
Overall I love this carrier, and it is my first choice, especially if I plan to carry my little ones for a long period. I look forward to seeing how we continue to adapt to using it as our daughters get older.
SPECIAL OFFER
Thanks Aarti and Katrina for those useful reviews, we are so happy that you are getting a lot of use out of your Manduca baby carriers and are sure you will for another few years to come! For anyone else who would like to get a Manduca, we will have the standard and limited edition models reduced by $10 for one week until Tuesday 11 October, starting at only $144.95. Get one here.
July road test – The breast mate
By · CommentsSTOP PRESS: I’m excited to announce that the breast mate has won the Product Innovation category at the 2011 Ausmumpreneur Awards 2011 announced on 27 August! Scroll to the end of the reviews for a special offer on the breastmate!
Oops, I’ve been so busy that I haven’t gotten round to publishing the reviews of the fantastic July road rest product, the breast mate. Invented, of course, by a mother Brooke Nichol, the breast mate is a 3 in 1 feed timer, colour changing room thermometer and night light. You can track your feeds, which side you fed from first, the length of each side, the times, and even download them to your computer if you want to.
The breast mate is a fanatastic device to help you to establish a feeding routine without carting round a pad and pen with you everywhere. You can even take it with you when you are out and about, it fits easily in your nappy bag. The breast mate comes with a plain white finish, and covers are available to make it a bit more fun.
The two lucky reviewers of the breast mate were new mums, Jennifer and Cara. Here are their reviews below.
Jennifer
I’ve had the pleasure of using the Breast mate for the past month. As a first-time mum of a newborn, breastfeeding is almost a full time job, and can be quite challenging at times. It’s quite difficult trying to remember how long your baby has fed, how long from each side, which side they fed from last, how many feeds in the day, etc. I was writing this down for awhile, but having a little device that does this all for you is a lifesaver.
The Breast mate is a small breastfeeding time and recording device that’s easily portable. It records pretty much everything and anything you’d want to know to help and assist in breastfeeding your baby. You program the time and date, and any alarms you might want to set, and the Breast mate records everything from there. All you have to do is press the button on the side you’re feeding from when you start/stop feeding. From this, the Breast mate displays and records: the time and date; total feeding time on each breast; a green light and length of time for the breast you’re feeding from; a red light to highlight which breast to start feeding from next feed; the number of feeds over 24 hours; an alarm you can set; and a thermometer which indicates red for too hot and blue for too cold.
Something very hand is the Breast mate also has a nightlight which is perfect for nighttime feeding, I used it both to see the timing, as well as my baby!
Another great thing about the Breast mate is that it’s small and lightweight, and fits easily into your diaper bag or purse, so you can bring it with you wherever you go and not have to try and remember information. It stays charged for long periods of time, and there’s also a docking station for the rechargeable batteries.
Something that is a bit unique with the Breast mate is that it comes with a USB port to download all the information and history to your computer. There are charts and graphs you can use to see your baby’s feeding patterns including the average time on each breast, feeding times and number of feeds. This can be quite useful – I noticed that my left breast did not seem to have as much milk when expressing, and when I looked at my charts, I could see that I fed more often from the right breast first which lasted for longer periods – so I began to start feeding from the left breast first more often and I noticed an increase in the supply. You can also include other information about your baby such as name, age, and weight. There’s Special Comments box where you can record whatever info you like, like milestones or daily activities. I’d put down my baby’s schedule each day (as each day always seemed to be different!) to see if I could see any patterns in fussy times or not sleeping.
Cara
Before using the breast mate I was using a bracelet on my arm and switching sides to remember which side I fed on last, and writing down the start times of feeds on a piece of paper. Within a day of using the breast mate, I’d stopped needing to write down the start times, and I gave up the bracelet within a week. The breast mate is very easy to use; it shows you what time the last feed was, which side was used first, and gives and indicator light for the side of the next feed.
The software for the breast mate and the graphs are helpful in recognising the feeding patterns over time and predicting the shape of each day. We aren’t on a strict routine, so this has helped me to work out around about what time I’ll be able to meet friends for lunch (for example!). The night light has come in handy for the night feeds and when I’ve been to a Mum and Bub session at the cinema. I also like that you can lock the unit so that when you put it in the bag it doesn’t go off.
When it is charging, it shows a different colour if the room is cool or hot which is a good visual. If you are out and about and forget to take the breast mate, you can manually enter in the feed onto the computer which is useful.
One hint I have is to try and put the breastmate back on the charger between feeds. It doesn’t have a battery life indicator, so it may turn off without warning if you don’t do this. The second hint is to make sure to download the data at least once a week as it only holds a certain number of feeds.
The breastmate has a variety of different face plates that you can choose from. I’ve been using the yellow lion one and it’s a nice and cheery sight in the middle of the night! I’ve found the breastmate very useful and will continue to use it.
SPECIAL OFFER
If you think the breast mate can help you, why not get one for yourself. The breast mate would also make an ideal present for a friend with a newborn. Until Sunday 3 September, the breast mate will be reduced from $79.95 to only $64.95 and will come with a free optional cover. That’s a $15 saving! Get one here.
June product road test – the Tag*a*long
By · CommentsWell, the jury is in, and I’m pleased to say that we had two very happy product reviewers for the Tag*a*long.
If you have a walkabout toddler as so many of us do, you need the Tag*a*long to help keep your toddler close to you at all times. The wonderfully simple but clever Tag*a*long is a colourful silicone handle which is easily attached to a stroller, shopping trolley or even your handbag or shopping bag to keep your toddler under control.
Our first reviewer Katie actually apologised for writing a long review and sounding so gushy but said she had “tremendous success with the product”.
Katie’s review
Packages are always welcomed at our house, and when the postman delivered a ‘present’ for our son, Oscar (2 yrs 5 months), there was much excitement. When he opened it and ‘discovered’ a special ‘big boy blue hook’ for the pram he couldn’t wait to go for a walk! Up until this point, venturing out with Oscar and Georgette (now 12 weeks) involved Georgette in a carrier and Oscar in the pram, to avoid the little man wandering away. However, as we don’t have a pram with a toddler seat option, I was becoming nervous about eventually having to make the move over to the walking toddler, and the associated jealousy of the baby ‘taking’ his pram.
Much to my surprise and delight (and thanks to the Tag*a*long!), I should never have been concerned. Our first excursion with the Tag*a*long was an immediate success – after only a brief moment of “Why is Georgette in my pram?”, Oscar was more than willing to be a ‘big boy’ and hold onto his special new blue hook. He proclaimed to me a number of times that he was walking ‘all by self’ and seemed very proud to be allowed the privilege.
The Tag*a*long has now become a regular accessory to our outings, with Oscar not even questioning being in the pram anymore, and specifically seeking out the hook to hold. We have been on walks around our neighbourhood, to the local shops, larger shopping centres, the library, various markets, and to other events with big crowds. When he does periodically let go (even the Tag*a*long is no match for a shelf full of Thomas the Tank Engine trains!) a quick reminder “Come on buddy, grab your blue hook” and he is back with me. I have even had strangers compliment me on his willingness to walk beside the pram, and ask for the name of the product that is working the magic! Whilst people have commented with surprise that it is ‘just a plastic handle’ (which I have to admit was my immediate reaction), I think the success of the Tag*a*long is largely due to its dedicated purpose – by introducing it as an exciting ‘present’ for Oscar it gave him the ownership that just ‘holding onto the pram’ does not.
I don’t want to sound extreme, but the Tag*a*long has certainly become a ‘can’t live without’ baby product in our lives, and has enabled us to easily make the transition to being out and about with two kids (I have no hesitation on going out on my own) without having to make the expensive purchase of a new pram.
Caprice’s review
What a great product the Tag*a*long is, the perfect solution to a 2 year old that likes to walk rather than go in the pram.
With 3 children under 4 I like to keep them all in or near the pram when we get out of the car in a carpark or when the shopping centre is busy, the Tag*a*long has been my saviour. My 2 year old has always liked to walk more than sit in the pram, I used to make her hold onto the side of the pram or the handle but the wide back wheels often caught her foot.
I love the bright orange colour, as soon as Miss 2 sees it she holds on. She took to it very well from the first outing as a bit of a novelty but it has now become a habit, as soon as we are out of the car she holds onto it if shes not in the pram. When I have both the younger 2 in the pram my 3 year old holds it when we cross the road or carpark.
Mine hasn’t been taken off the pram since I got it as it folds up fine with it on there. Great price for that extra peace of mind when you are out and about with your little ones.
Want a Tag*a*long???
Thanks to Katie and Caprice for their great reviews.
But they aren’t the only lucky ones. Until Saturday 9 July 2011, the Tag*a*long will be reduced by $5 from $14.95 to a tiny $9.95. Pick yourself up one today, and save yourself a lot of headache when you are out with your baby and toddler.
