When I first heard of BabyLegs, I thought they were adorable, but couldn't really think of a use for them - my little guy wore cloth diapers but in our climate, if it was ever warm enough for him to run around in just a diaper, it was almost definitely too warm for leg warmers. I bought some anyways though, and have been very happy with my purchase. When my son was younger, he would sometimes wear a onesie and BabyLegs around the house, and it did simplify diaper changes. We did not like them for potty training though, because it seemed that every time an accident happened, the BabyLegs would inevitably get soaked, and it's bad enough to have to pull off wet socks, let alone wet leg warmers. Maybe if we were potty training with pull-ups it would have been better but we went straight to underwear when he was ready (and it worked, so no complaints).
I think though, now that he's four, and has his own special version of "fashion sense", BabyLegs get even more use in our home. Either he wears them under (or sometimes over!) his pants in the cooler weather, or he puts them on his arms as "arm warmers", especially when he is wearing a t-shirt on a cooler day. He even will wear them under his pyjamas to stay extra warm if he's feeling chilly at bedtime.
They have been washed and dried along with all our other laundry and still look great, there is no pilling, fading, or snagging of the material, and they have held their elasticity very well. I have bought a few pairs for my daughter too, and I expect that they will be just as well loved as she grows up. They come in tons of different colours, patterns, and prints, and in newborn (0-3M) and regular sizes, so you are sure to find something you love. Check out the selection and be sure to view some of the cute customer photos over on their website at http://www.babylegs.com.
Does your little one have a favourite pair of BabyLegs? My little guy's favourites are a pair of blue/green striped ones that have little giraffe's on the bottom.
Married mom of two kids, likes to shop, but not to waste her family's money. Hence, a blog giving honest reviews of mom, baby, kid, family, and related tech products, to help you decide what to spend YOUR family's hard-earned cash on.
Showing posts with label clothes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label clothes. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
Baby/Kidz Banz Hats
In the ever more contradictory discussion around sun protection (wear sunscreen! Go sunscreen-free to avoid vitamin D deficiency! Sunscreens contain carcinogens!) it's nice to know that there is a way to protect your kids from the pain and likely health risks of sunburns, without having to expose their delicate faces and necks to the possible and unknown risks of exposure to the cocktail of chemicals in most commercial sunscreens. What is that way, you ask? Hats! Specifically, hats that are comfortable, lightweight, attractive, washable, and adjustable to fit your kids for years and years.
Baby and Kidz Banz hats come in many colours and are made of a fabric that gives them a UV protection rating of SPF 50+. They were designed in Australia where they get a LOT of sun, so you know they'll work just about anywhere. They come in two sizes, the Baby size (up to 19" or 48cm), and the Kidz size (up to 22" or 56cm) and have an integrated elastic/hook & loop strap to customize the fit. I have two of the blue hibiscus print ones for my son, and a green hibiscus print for my daughter.
The hats must be comfortable, because my son is more than happy to wear it, it rarely falls off (only if it's really windy) and there are no fussy chin straps to deal with. A friend of mine has another breed of the Kidz Banz hats for her daughter, I think it may be solid colour cotton instead of polyester, and the bucket part does not seem to be as deep as the hibiscus print, so it is a bit heavier and doesn't stay on as well. So if you are getting one, I would recommend the lightweight print ones over the solid colour ones.
I have washed my son's hat more times than I can count, and it still looks as good as the day I bought it. It is flexible and easy to cram into your purse or beach bag, it doesn't kink or wrinkle so you don't have to worry about any awkward folded brim situations.
Check out the selection and other Baby/Kidz Banz products on their website at http://www.banzworld.com. If you are patient, you can stay tuned to http://www.babyhalfoff.com where the hats occasionally come on sale for about $7 each.
Baby and Kidz Banz hats come in many colours and are made of a fabric that gives them a UV protection rating of SPF 50+. They were designed in Australia where they get a LOT of sun, so you know they'll work just about anywhere. They come in two sizes, the Baby size (up to 19" or 48cm), and the Kidz size (up to 22" or 56cm) and have an integrated elastic/hook & loop strap to customize the fit. I have two of the blue hibiscus print ones for my son, and a green hibiscus print for my daughter.
The hats must be comfortable, because my son is more than happy to wear it, it rarely falls off (only if it's really windy) and there are no fussy chin straps to deal with. A friend of mine has another breed of the Kidz Banz hats for her daughter, I think it may be solid colour cotton instead of polyester, and the bucket part does not seem to be as deep as the hibiscus print, so it is a bit heavier and doesn't stay on as well. So if you are getting one, I would recommend the lightweight print ones over the solid colour ones.
I have washed my son's hat more times than I can count, and it still looks as good as the day I bought it. It is flexible and easy to cram into your purse or beach bag, it doesn't kink or wrinkle so you don't have to worry about any awkward folded brim situations.
Check out the selection and other Baby/Kidz Banz products on their website at http://www.banzworld.com. If you are patient, you can stay tuned to http://www.babyhalfoff.com where the hats occasionally come on sale for about $7 each.
Saturday, July 02, 2011
Review: Glamourmom Nursing Tanks and Tops
Back when I was nursing my son 4 years ago, I heard about Glamourmom and their fantastic nursing tanks/tops. I wanted to get some but just couldn't justify the cost at the time. But when I was pregnant with my daughter, and I saw them come up on Babysteals.com, I couldn't resist. I purchased 3 of them. (I had tried them on at a local retailer to make sure I was ordering the right size...) When I got them, one had a teeny tiny hole in it, which Babysteals made right, right away, by sending me a similar replacement. So now I have a blue nursing bra top with lace, a nude nursing bra top (with a teeny tiny hole), a purple nursing bra tank, and a light pink nursing bra tank. They are all great, but I wish the tanks also had the wider elastic straps and the nursing bra type closure, rather than spaghetti straps and the smaller flat closure.
The "tops" have slightly wider straps and a secure clicking closure like most nursing bras have. The "tanks" have narrower straps and a closure more like the back of a bikini top. While they do also click securely, it's a bit more fiddly to close them up with one hand (while juggling a baby on your shoulder) and so sometimes I don't get them clicked all the way shut, and then I end up walking around the house with what some might call a wardrobe malfunction. Not cool. HOWEVER - both the "tops" and "tanks" styles have amazing support. They have a secure shelf bra built in, and an extra layer of mesh fabric in the fold down part that really holds things in well. I would never think of going out of the house in a typical shelf bra tank, but I have worn these out (under a hoodie or button up shirt) a ton of times without feeling self conscious at all.
They are very comfortable, although I do suggest getting a size bigger than what you typically wear (I'm a M in most things but had to get the L in the tanks/tops so that the shelf bra elastic would fit comfortably). They are generously long so they cover the post-partum belly area nicely. The "tops" are also made of a material that is stretchy yet holds things together to help give a smooth line when worn under a shirt. They come in many different colours so you are sure to find something you like. Check out the selection and get more information (including where to buy) over at http://www.glamourmom.com/index.asp.
The "tops" have slightly wider straps and a secure clicking closure like most nursing bras have. The "tanks" have narrower straps and a closure more like the back of a bikini top. While they do also click securely, it's a bit more fiddly to close them up with one hand (while juggling a baby on your shoulder) and so sometimes I don't get them clicked all the way shut, and then I end up walking around the house with what some might call a wardrobe malfunction. Not cool. HOWEVER - both the "tops" and "tanks" styles have amazing support. They have a secure shelf bra built in, and an extra layer of mesh fabric in the fold down part that really holds things in well. I would never think of going out of the house in a typical shelf bra tank, but I have worn these out (under a hoodie or button up shirt) a ton of times without feeling self conscious at all.
They are very comfortable, although I do suggest getting a size bigger than what you typically wear (I'm a M in most things but had to get the L in the tanks/tops so that the shelf bra elastic would fit comfortably). They are generously long so they cover the post-partum belly area nicely. The "tops" are also made of a material that is stretchy yet holds things together to help give a smooth line when worn under a shirt. They come in many different colours so you are sure to find something you like. Check out the selection and get more information (including where to buy) over at http://www.glamourmom.com/index.asp.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Review: Milkshirt
While there are many flattering nursing shirts out there, such as Milkstars Nursing Tops, sometimes you just want to wear your "before" shirts. What you may not want is to have to lift up your shirt to feed your baby and have a few of those soft squishy belly rolls freed for the world to see. Even if you're not self conscious about them, it can be cold & breezy with your midsection exposed. This is where a wonderful invention called the Milkshirt comes in.
The Milkshirt is a basic tank top style undershirt, but with a special feature - holes where your breasts are. Even though it looks kind of silly drying on your clothesline, it looks great while wearing it. It comes in black or white, and is worn over your nursing bra and under your normal shirt. The holes are edged/hemmed so that the shirt lies flat under your regular tops. When I bought them online I was worried that the edges of the holes might show through my shirts, but that hasn't been a problem with most shirts, the only times they do show is if I'm wearing a particularly low cut or V-neck shirt. I like how they add an extra layer of comfort to your outfit, and they are made of soft breathable cotton. I do wish they were a bit longer in the waist area, because I find sometimes when I sit down, the back will come untucked from my jeans. Granted, I tend to wear somewhat lower rise jeans - no "mom jeans" here - so this may not be an issue for everyone.
The Milkshirt sells for about $20, and if you think of how two Milkshirts (one black, one white) can pretty much turn your ENTIRE wardrobe into nursing tops, it is well worth the money. They can be machine washed & tumble dried, and they seem to hold up really well with repeated washing/drying - no pilling or fading so far. You can read more about the Milkshirt over at http://milkshirt.com/.
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| Milkshirt (black) |
The Milkshirt sells for about $20, and if you think of how two Milkshirts (one black, one white) can pretty much turn your ENTIRE wardrobe into nursing tops, it is well worth the money. They can be machine washed & tumble dried, and they seem to hold up really well with repeated washing/drying - no pilling or fading so far. You can read more about the Milkshirt over at http://milkshirt.com/.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Review: Ingrid & Isabel Bellaband (vs generics)
I bought my Ingrid & Isabel Bellaband when I found out I was pregnant, thinking it would, as advertised, be great for holding up my "normal" pants in early pregnancy and covering the gap between the bottom of too-short maternity tops and low-rise maternity pants in late pregnancy. It did both of these things well, but what I consider the BEST use of the Bellaband is the containing and hiding the post-pregnancy midsection jiggly bits. I wear it with normal shirts and it turns any shirt into a nursing top by hiding the midsection that tends to hang out and greet others when I am breastfeeding. It comes in a ton of colours (though I just have one, in a neutral cream shade) so you can co-ordinate it with any wardrobe. Because it is basically an elastic tube, it not only hides your midsection, but it also helps rein in any post-baby muffin top and smooths any other lumps and bumps so that you can look sleek (if not slim) in your summertime tanks and tees.
After buying an Ingrid & Isabel Bellaband (on eBay, to save money), it occurred to me that I might want more than one, in different colours, so I went splits with a pregnant friend on a set of five generic bands from another eBay seller. I think I bought the wrong size, because I find the generic bands to be too stretchy to really hold anything in, and a bit too tall to wear post-baby. I like to use the back pocket of my jeans (yes, my iPhone gets sat on ALL.THE.TIME.) and so I don't like to pull the band down so far that I don't have access to the pocket, but with the generic band, I have to pull it down this far so that it doesn't bunch up under my bra. I was a size 8/10 pre-pregnancy, and so I bought the Bellaband in their size 1 (sizes 0 to 8). I bought the generic bands in a size Medium (sizes 6-12) because I thought that would be more appropriate than their size Small (0-8). If I were to do it over, I think I would have bought either two Ingrid & Isabel (one light, one dark), OR I would have gotten a 5 pack of the generics in a size Small. I still think the Ingrid & Isabel brand has a better stretch and "holding power" so budget permitting, that's what I would choose.
Check out the Ingrid & Isabel Bellaband on their website at http://www.ingridandisabel.com/category/ingrid-isabel-catalog/bellaband. Or, opt for the generic brand bands over on eBay at http://cgi.ebay.ca/1-2-3-5-BE-BELLA-Bands-maternity-belly-nursing-tops-/
How about you - did you wear a belly band in your pregnancy or afterwards? Did you have a preferred brand?
After buying an Ingrid & Isabel Bellaband (on eBay, to save money), it occurred to me that I might want more than one, in different colours, so I went splits with a pregnant friend on a set of five generic bands from another eBay seller. I think I bought the wrong size, because I find the generic bands to be too stretchy to really hold anything in, and a bit too tall to wear post-baby. I like to use the back pocket of my jeans (yes, my iPhone gets sat on ALL.THE.TIME.) and so I don't like to pull the band down so far that I don't have access to the pocket, but with the generic band, I have to pull it down this far so that it doesn't bunch up under my bra. I was a size 8/10 pre-pregnancy, and so I bought the Bellaband in their size 1 (sizes 0 to 8). I bought the generic bands in a size Medium (sizes 6-12) because I thought that would be more appropriate than their size Small (0-8). If I were to do it over, I think I would have bought either two Ingrid & Isabel (one light, one dark), OR I would have gotten a 5 pack of the generics in a size Small. I still think the Ingrid & Isabel brand has a better stretch and "holding power" so budget permitting, that's what I would choose.
Check out the Ingrid & Isabel Bellaband on their website at http://www.ingridandisabel.com/category/ingrid-isabel-catalog/bellaband. Or, opt for the generic brand bands over on eBay at http://cgi.ebay.ca/1-2-3-5-BE-BELLA-Bands-maternity-belly-nursing-tops-/
How about you - did you wear a belly band in your pregnancy or afterwards? Did you have a preferred brand?
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Review: Milkstars Nursing Tops (Styles: Joan and Jenny)
I bought two Milkstars nursing tops from Babysteals when I was still pregnant, for the same reason that I bought my Bravado nursing bras (check out the full review here) - so I could nurse my baby in comfort and style. Boy, do these shirts deliver in both departments!
Milkstars nursing tops are made of the softest fabric that drapes perfectly against your figure without being tight or clingy. The two styles that I bought have short sleeves, and have 2 layers of fabric all around. This is so that you can lift the top layer of the shirt to give your baby access to feed, without having to bare your belly or any other unfortunately lumpy bits. The openings in the bottom layer are generously sized so you won't have to tug at the shirt to keep fabric from getting in baby's mouth or face.
The shirts come in many different styles and colours, I bought the Jenny (scoop neck, cap sleeves) in a bold purple shade, and the Joan (scoop neck, flutter sleeves) in a hot pink. I wish I had ten of these shirts, whenever they are clean, I am wearing them. Once they've both been worn, I usually will do a load of laundry just so I can get them back into the rotation. The Milkstars website recommends hand washing the shirts but acknowledges that busy moms probably won't have time for this (exactly!) so they also state that machine washing on a gentle cycle and then laying flat to dry will also work. I have a philosophy about clothes that are supposed to be hand washed, which is as follows: if they can't survive the delicate cycle on my washer, then I wasn't meant to own them. The Milkstars shirts have not let me down in this department. I have even hung them on the line to dry, but I don't recommend this as the clothespins do leave dents/marks wherever it is clipped. They do dry nicely on an indoor rack where you can fold them in half to hang them up.
I do wonder why the shirts have the double layered fabric in the back as well as the front, perhaps it is to help the material fall nicely around the body, but it does add a bit of extra warmth which I don't really need, I find that breastfeeding is enough to keep me warm most days without extra layers on top.
If you'd like to buy a Milkstars nursing top, you can do so from their website at http://www.milkstars.com - they offer flat rate shipping to the US ($7) and to Canada ($12) so you might as well get more than one! They are currently advertised from $56 to $60 for shirts, $79 for pyjamas (be still, my heart... I would LOVE to try these out!), and $85 for a dress. I was fortunate enough to buy my two shirts when they were on Babysteals.com for half price (http://www.babysteals.com) but if you were to spend $30-$40 on a regular nursing top from a maternity shop, you might as well put in the extra $20 and get one of these, because you will love it forever.
DEAL ALERT! Right now on their Facebook page (search for Milkstars Nursing Wear) there's a 25% off sale code that's valid til Wednesday - so move fast!
Milkstars nursing tops are made of the softest fabric that drapes perfectly against your figure without being tight or clingy. The two styles that I bought have short sleeves, and have 2 layers of fabric all around. This is so that you can lift the top layer of the shirt to give your baby access to feed, without having to bare your belly or any other unfortunately lumpy bits. The openings in the bottom layer are generously sized so you won't have to tug at the shirt to keep fabric from getting in baby's mouth or face.
The shirts come in many different styles and colours, I bought the Jenny (scoop neck, cap sleeves) in a bold purple shade, and the Joan (scoop neck, flutter sleeves) in a hot pink. I wish I had ten of these shirts, whenever they are clean, I am wearing them. Once they've both been worn, I usually will do a load of laundry just so I can get them back into the rotation. The Milkstars website recommends hand washing the shirts but acknowledges that busy moms probably won't have time for this (exactly!) so they also state that machine washing on a gentle cycle and then laying flat to dry will also work. I have a philosophy about clothes that are supposed to be hand washed, which is as follows: if they can't survive the delicate cycle on my washer, then I wasn't meant to own them. The Milkstars shirts have not let me down in this department. I have even hung them on the line to dry, but I don't recommend this as the clothespins do leave dents/marks wherever it is clipped. They do dry nicely on an indoor rack where you can fold them in half to hang them up.
I do wonder why the shirts have the double layered fabric in the back as well as the front, perhaps it is to help the material fall nicely around the body, but it does add a bit of extra warmth which I don't really need, I find that breastfeeding is enough to keep me warm most days without extra layers on top.
If you'd like to buy a Milkstars nursing top, you can do so from their website at http://www.milkstars.com - they offer flat rate shipping to the US ($7) and to Canada ($12) so you might as well get more than one! They are currently advertised from $56 to $60 for shirts, $79 for pyjamas (be still, my heart... I would LOVE to try these out!), and $85 for a dress. I was fortunate enough to buy my two shirts when they were on Babysteals.com for half price (http://www.babysteals.com) but if you were to spend $30-$40 on a regular nursing top from a maternity shop, you might as well put in the extra $20 and get one of these, because you will love it forever.
DEAL ALERT! Right now on their Facebook page (search for Milkstars Nursing Wear) there's a 25% off sale code that's valid til Wednesday - so move fast!
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