Milkies Milk Saver Review

Product: Milkies Milk Saver

Deal Site: www.babyhalfoff.com

Purchase Price: $13.97 + $5.56 shipping (USD)

Regular Price: $27.95 each

This is the first review request I've done!  Thanks to my sister for requesting that I post this review.

The Milkies Milk Saver is awesome!  For someone like me, who hates pumping and doesn't really give their baby that many bottles it is perfect.  After over 3 months of nursing I am still leaking quite a bit with let down so this is an amazing product that actually lets you save those leaks.  This kit includes one large receptacle which is made of silicone (think DivaCup type material) but is sort of contoured so it's not overly noticeable if you need to use it in a public situation.  I have never used it in a public area, coordinating  the whole process outside my own home is not something I could cope with!  Inside the silicone receptacle is a rigid plastic frame type thing that keeps the receptacle open and keeps your nipple from touching anything that could impede the flow of milk.  It is really genius if you ask me!  According to the Milkies website you can also attach a milk collection bag right onto the rigid plastic framing and put the Milk Saver in your bra upside down to collect milk straight into the storage bag.  I haven't tried this yet but I think I will in the future.  The case that the Milkies Milk Saver comes in is actually really useful because when open it can be used as a stand to place the Milk Saver in after you are done nursing until you have time to deal with storing the milk that you collected.  I use the stand feature of the case every single time I use the Milk Saver.

As far as the durability of the Milk Saver, it survived my initial stove-top sterilization (5 min in boiling water) completely unscathed which I was very happy about.  I had read in the packaging that the Milk Saver was top rack dishwasher safe so I also tried that and I did notice some slight discolouration afterwards, so I probably won't wash it that way anymore.  The DivaCup discoloured over time too so I guess this shouldn't surprise me.  The functionality is still exactly the same so no harm done there, I still LOVE the Milkies Milk Saver!

I was a bit surprised that the Milkies Milk Saver only came with one Milk Saver when I opened it but really that just makes sense to me now.

Verdict:  After collecting about 3 oz of leaked milk my first day using it (and that wasn't even use with each feed), I say definitely grab a Milkies Milk Saver if they come up for a deal again!  In fact, I would love to order more for my friends who are expecting.  I would have loved to have a pair of these in my early 43-letdowns-a-day period!

Pink Axle Hat Review

Product: Pink Axle Hats

Deal Site: www.babysteals.com

Purchase Price: 3 @ $9.00 + $5.50 shipping (USD)

Regular Price: $18.00 each

I love these hats!! These are a light jersey material with amazingly funky hipster designs.  I was actually given one as a gift when my little girl was born (the pink dad in a heart design) and I fell in love with it for its cuteness and comfort.  My little one isn't the biggest fan of hats in general, especially the bulky winter hats she had to wear as a February newborn.  Pink Axle hats are quite thin so I was able to get this hat on her quickly and she would always wear this hat without a fuss!  So, needless to say, I was thrilled when they came up on BabySteals.  I grabbed a bigger one for my little girl for next winter and a couple more for  friends who are expecting.  Since they are so lightweight I figured they might be good even for summer newborn babies who might need some head coverage when in really air conditioned spaces.

Verdict: Yes yes yes!!  

There are a few more left to steal as of the date of this post!  

Have you got a Pink Axle hat?  How does your little one like it?

Chic Tots Blanket Bag Review

Product: Chic Tots Blanket Bag in Black Leopard

Deal Site: www.babysteals.com (as of date of posting there are still some left!)

Purchase Price: $35.00 + $9.97 shipping (USD)

Regular Price: $70.00 each

Love love love this bag!!!  The first outing with  this bag was taking the baby and a bunch of other family to a hockey game and this bag held all our baby essentials and two blankets.  I love that you can shorten the strap by twisting it into a circle and securing it under the velcro closure.  The sides of the purse extend down the straps and flatten the bag into a blanket, how amazing is that!?  The minky inside is great, and I'm really excited to take this bag to the park with my little one and use it as a blanket. It seems to be wonderful quality and well made, glad I splurged on this one.

The only thing I'm not the hugest fan of about this bag is that if you want it cinched up really tightly it doesn't really stay like that for long.  This bag obviously doesn't zipper closed or anything though so it's not the biggest deal since you probably wouldn't  put stuff in there that could fall out anyways.  There is a magnetic closure that holds the sides of the bag together so that helps keep things contained, but I think this bag works best if you fill it up as much as possible and put the little stuff in the bottom with big blankets or coats on top.

As of today, May 16 2011, there are still some left on BabySteals.com so.......

Verdict: Steal it!!! Go ahead, nab one of these fun bags for summer picnics or sitting under a shady tree with your little one (like me!).

Do you have a Chic Tots Blanket Bag? What's your favourite use of it?  Any questions about it for me?

Mommy Necklaces Review

Product: Mommy Necklaces ~Harmony Flat Rock

Deal Site: www.babyhalfoff.com

Purchase Price: 2 @ $11.00 + $5.53 shipping (USD)

Regular Price: $22.00 each

I thought these necklaces were an awesome idea so I snagged two, one for myself and one for my sister who was also pregnant at the time.  I patiently waited during my pregnancy to wear this necklace while nursing, and I have to say in the last week or two my little girl has LOVED hanging onto this necklace, it's a real hit (she is 3 months old now)!  

These are meant to be a durable, attention grabber for distractable nurslings and I think they really hit the mark.  The clasp is a break away safety closure, but it stays on even with my little girl tugging pretty hard on it.  My 18 month old nephew got a hold of this necklace for a few weeks and he loved playing with it.  It was returned to me unscathed and in perfect condition, another testament to its true durability.

Not only is this a durable, fun little thing for nursing babies to look at, it is a beautiful piece of jewelery and it goes well with so many things.  It is the perfect length at 20 inches long and looks cute with a teeshirt or you could even wear it with something dressier if you ask me!

Verdict:  I will definitely be picking up one of their other varieties of nursing necklaces next time they come up for a deal!  I'm eager to get my hands on one of the Dangling Donuts necklaces.

Have you got a Mommy Necklace?  Does your little one like playing with it during meal time?

Snuggy Baby Large Wet Bag Review

Product: Snuggy Baby Large Wet Bags

Deal Site: www.babyhalfoff.com

Purchase Price: 2 @ $14.50 each + $5.53 shipping (USD)

Regular Price: $29 each

These wet bags seemed great when they arrived during my pregnancy.  I was excited for the baby to arrive so I could begin cloth diapering and use these funky wet bags.  I bought two so that when one was in the wash, the other could be used.  When my daughter was 2.5 months old one of the bags developed a huge hole in the inner PUL layer seam, which is only getting worse because I don't sew.  Honestly, for a wet bag that is regularly priced at $29 I expected it to hold up a lot better.  Since the wet bag is made to be frequently washed, I would expect that it last a lot longer than 2.5 months.  And I only cloth diaper part time.

As a positive, these are offered in many cute fabrics.  But honestly I think its more important that a wet bag not leak and seal in odours rather than be cute.  Another positive, is that before the hole showed up these wet bags did seal in odours very well, I could leave dirty diapers in there for a few days (screaming baby trumps pile of laundry!) and I wouldn't be smelling them.

Verdict:  A good bag while it lasted, which wasn't long.  I would not purchase this brand again.  If you plan on throwing a wet swimsuit in there once in a while you might get a longer life out of this bag, but not if you're washing it a few times a week.

Have you ever used a Snuggy Baby wetbag?  How did you find them in terms of holding up to multiple washings?  What is the best wet bag out there?

Lindsay Brin's Complete Pregnancy Fitness 4-DVD Workout Set Review

Product: Lindsay Brin's Complete Pregnancy Fitness 4-DVD Workout Set

Deal Site: www.babysteals.com

Purchase Price: $24.99 + $7.01 shipping (USD)

Regular Price: $39.99

I was a pretty regular exerciser before I became pregnant and frequently attended an early morning bootcamp in a park nearby.  So when I saw this steal come up early on in my first trimester I snapped it up pretty quick.  Since I was getting nauseous doing my super intense park bootcamp I figured a DVD that was made for pregnant women was probably a better choice.  These DVDs are great!  They offer a moderate workout for each trimester and a more intense workout for after you've had the baby.  Each DVD has three different modification levels you can choose to follow in the workout.  There are also prenatal yoga sections in the trimester DVDs which I found really helpful for keeping pregnancy aches and pains at bay.  Lindsay Brin is extra super cheerful which I really love, her enthusiasm is contagious for me.  I also love how she calls bums 'Bundt Cakes' - LOL!  I swear I get a kick out of it every time.  You do need two sets of dumbbells to do these workouts, a 'light' and 'heavy' set, whatever that means to you.  I have 5lb and 8lb sets, and if my 8lbs ever feel too heavy I just go to my 5lbs. 

The Boot Camp 2 DVD is great, and it is divided into 10 minute workouts which in theory should allow a new mom to squeeze in a few small workouts every day.  In reality as soon as I get Miss Screamy Pants to sleep I'm running all over the house switching laundry, cleaning the kitchen, and trying to eat a few bites of food.  I only wish I could put this DVD on more often, and I am glad I have it around for those times when I actually am able to fit in a quick workout.

Verdict:  I would definitely suggest snagging this set if you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant, the exercises and yoga are so invigorating and relaxing, respectively!

Have you worked out with Lindsay Brin's DVDs?  Do you like her workouts?  Any questions about the DVDs for me?

Glamourmom Nursing Bra Tank Review

Product: Glamourmom Nursing Bra Tank 

Deal Site: www.babysteals.com

Purchase Price: $17.00 + $8.01 shipping (USD)

Regular Price: $42 

These were pretty disappointing.  And I really wanted to love them!  

My first issue is that the sizing doesn't take into account the changes that pregnancy causes in a woman's body.  Most nursing clothes sizing corresponds to your pre-pregnancy size, so even if you have big milk filled boobies and a bit extra around the mid-section you would still order a small if you were a small before pregnancy/nursing.  They make the clothes bigger to accommodate all these normal changes and since each size gets a little bigger you would still order the same size you were before.  Anyways, this is not the case with these tanks, my size small is FAR too tight, especially the elastic on the shelf bra.  These tanks are also rather short in length.

My second issue is that my nipples do not line up with the access holes.  Basically, the holes need to be bigger to accommodate various booby anatomy.  Having to readjust the access hole for the right position is an extra second or two that a certain hungry screaming baby just will not tolerate.

My third (and probably the most concerning) issue is the clasps for nursing access.  It seems like a good idea that they would sit flush and therefore not be as noticeable.  However, the fact that you are wearing a nursing tank is extremely noticeable when the access flaps come open just by brushing up against something!  Nursing mothers are holding squirmy babies quite a bit and these claps just do not stay closed.  Perhaps the baby nurslings came up with this clasp design so their precious milk makers wouldn't be covered up by pesky tank tops?  

Glamourmom does make tanks with the traditional hook closure clasps, as well as a 'long top' variety that would offer more tummy coverage.  For a bargain price I'd be willing to give these a try, but I better remember to order a size or two up.

Verdict:  I regret buying two.  

How do you like Glamourmom Nursing Tanks?  Any questions for me?  Any suggestions for the best nursing tank?

Amazon link to the one that I'd like to try:Glamourmom Nursing Bra Long Tank