Apple Watch: The Parent’s Best Friend
When word of the Apple Watch first started to spread, it barely made a blip on my radar. I’m not opposed to wearable technology, but – at the time – I still had my Fitbit so I didn’t really see the point.
Then, my friend Jessica got an Apple Watch. This is the same Jessica who changed Christmas forever so I tend to listen when she speaks.
Y’all, she used the word “life-changing.”
I've had my Apple Watch a month now and I'm ready to make a proclamation - the Apple Watch is the parent's best friend.
When word of the Apple Watch first started to spread, it barely made a blip on my radar. I’m not opposed to wearable technology, but – at the time – I still had my Fitbit so I didn’t really see the point.
Then, my friend Jessica got an Apple Watch. This is the same Jessica who changed Christmas forever so I tend to listen when she speaks.
Y’all, she used the word “life-changing.”
At the time, I was feeling overwhelmed by the daily minutia of raising three kids, maintaining a home, and running a business. I felt like no matter what productivity system I tried to use I couldn’t quite get ahold of my to-do list. I have apps I like, but the problem was capturing the steady stream of must-dos, like-to-dos, and the such filling up my head, ESPECIALLY when they always bubbled up at the most inopportune times like when I was driving.
Reminders will change your life.
Then, along came Jessica with her shiny new Apple Watch that she informed me was the solution to my problem. Standing at the sink and realize you need dishwashing detergent? Simply raise your wrist and say, “Hey Siri, add dishwashing detergent to my shopping list.” OR “Hey Siri, remind me next time I’m at Walgreens to get dishwashing detergent.” Need to remember to pick up the sleeping bag your child left at your friend’s house? “Hey Siri, remind me to pick up the sleeping bag when I get to Shannon’s house.”
I was sold. I wanted one. Badly. When I lost my Fitbit a few weeks later, I knew it was a sign. Why spend $100+ on a new Fitbit when I could get a fitness tracker that would ALSO function as the best assistant ever.
Work projects. House maintenance. Permission slips. Birthday party gifts. As parents, there are SO. MANY. THINGS. we need to remember on a daily basis to keep things running smoothly and suddenly here was the solution!
The first week I got it I was driving around during a particularly hectic day. It was Griffin's first theater performance and I remembered I wanted to get him flowers. Unfortunately, I still had three other trips to make including one back home to pick up the younger kids.
"Hey Siri remind me when I leave home to get flowers for Griffin."
Ran my errands. Went to get the kids. TOTALLY forgot about the flowers until I was pulling out of my driveway on the way to the theater.
Tap. Tap. Tap. "Remember to get flowers for Griffin."
Brilliant! Swung in the market and looked like Mom of the Year!
Now, as many iPhone users point out to me, you can already set reminders like this on your phone and that is true. HOWEVER, if your phone is constantly set to vibrate (so as to not awaken a sleeping baby) or buried at the bottom of your purse, then the reminders don’t really remind. Well, they do remind – they remind you that you forgot all that stuff you had to do the next time you pick up your phone.
Reminders on your Apple Watch is literally like having a very polite assistant follow you around and gently tap you on the wrist to help you remember.
Less distraction from the things that really matter.
I know this sounds crazy but putting your phone on your wrist really is less distracting. I'm not on my phone as much because I'm not worried about missing important messages. When I used to get on my phone to "check messages" I ended up also "checking" Facebook... and Twitter... and Instagram and neglecting the world around me. Now, I can plug in my phone in my room and not feel the constant tug of social media because I know anything important will come to the watch.
No more missed calls or texts.
And I now miss ZERO of the important calls or texts due to the aforementioned fact that my phone is buried or silent OR – and here is where the Apple Watch really earns its keep for parents – in the hands of a child.
Kid watching PBS KIDS in the back of the van on a long road trip? No problem! You will still get all your texts and phone calls. What about restaurants or a friend’s house or doctor’s visit? Hand off your phone to a bored child without fearing you’ll miss any important texts or phone calls!
The fitness tracking and other features you didn't know you needed.
Another great feature is the camera remote control, which actually PULLS UP WHAT THE CAMERA IS SEEING ON YOUR WATCH so you can make sure everyone is in the shot and – most importantly – get in that family photo yourself for a change!
Now, I won’t lie. There’s a bit of a learning curve. You have to set up the Reminder Lists in a way that works for you and your family. (I’d like to recommend sharing the shopping list with your partner.) You also have to add any locations you visit often as contacts in your phone to make sure Siri knows which Walgreens or grocery store you’re talking about. However, once you get it, it’s awesome.
Plus, many of the common problems, such as lag time in nonnative apps, with the watch should go away with the new update.
And anything that makes parenting less stressful and more awesome is WORTH IT in my book.
Survive Summer with My Top Warm-Weather Gear
Summer is here and it's HOT! We all love long days full of summer fun, but all that fun can begin to take its toll after a while. Recently, I stopped by News-3 This Morning to share my favorite products that help make summer a little easier (and safer) for everyone in the family!
Summer is here and it's HOT! We all love long days full of summer fun, but all that fun can begin to take its toll after a while. Recently, I stopped by News-3 This Morning to share my favorite products that help make summer a little easier (and safer) for everyone in the family!
Amos in his UV Skinz.
Summer is synonymous with sunshine. However, the sun can ruin a day of fun with a sunburn, not to mention ruin much more over years of exposure. The founder of UV Skinz Rhonda Sparks learned that tragic lesson when she lost her 32-year-old husband to melanoma. Most national brands have added on swim shirt lines as an afterthought in recent years, but UV Skinz sole focus and passion is providing quality UPF50+ swimwear for the entire family.
Griffin in his reversible bucket hat.
I absolutely love the kids swim shirts and have been using them since Amos was a baby. I'm also a HUGE fan of the reversible bucket hat, which both of my boys actually LEAVE ON.
However, my passion for UV Skinz goes beyond my kids because for the last three years I've been wearing swim shirts myself. I'm very pale and burn easy and it just hit me one day... why don't I wear a swim shirt!?!?
LIFE. CHANGING.
All that energy spent seeking shade and reapplying sunscreen is now spent having fun with my family. I simply throw on a swim shirt and a hat and I'm good for the day. We all want to be more present for our children today AND be around longer in the future so throwing on a sun shirt is the least we can do! UV Skinz has a wide variety of styles for both men and women so check it out!
My LEAST favorite part of summer in the south is bugs... well not bugs really... MOSQUITOS. In my crankiest moments, I think mosquitos are proof the universe is fundamentally unfair. Recently, I got tired of all the natural Pinterest-inspired "No, they say this REALLY works!" remedies and decided to do some research on the science of preventing bug bites.
Luckily, one of my favorite sites The Sweethome had already done most of the work for me.
“The most effective mosquito prevention is a simple, five-pronged approach: source reduction, larvicide, repellant for your clothing, repellant for your body and a physical barrier.”
Repellant for your clothing!?!? Wait, I can simply throw on a shirt and suffer no more! Sign me up! The Sweethome recommended ExOfficio, who sent me a BUGSAWAY® Lumen® to try out.
“The BugsAway Lumen Hoody, featuring Insect Shield®, is constructed with a mesh weave that is ideal for hot days when you need to stay cool and protected. The drawstring hood and thumb loops provide maximum protection from bites. Permethrin, the active ingredient in Insect Shield, is invisible, odorless, and so tightly bonded to the fabric fibers that it retains effective repellency through the life of the garment. It repels mosquitoes (including those carrying West Nile virus and malaria), ticks, ants, flies, chiggers and midges (no-see-ums). Insect Shield repellent lasts 70 washings. ”
It's life-changing in the same way a sun shirt is. Throw it on and stop worrying about bug bites!
So, we've protected our skin what about our feet?
No one knows how to protect the feet from summer weather better than those who live in perpetual summer on tropical islands. That's why I love OluKai.
Inspired by the cultural tradition of Aloha, this company takes craftsmanship and comfort very seriously. In the process, they have created the most comfortable flip flop I have ever put on my foot.
The Ono stands up to the water and other tough summer environments while providing comfort and support for those summer walks!
We're heading to the beach next week and there will be LOTS and LOTS of sand play. In past years, I've simply picked up a cheap set of sand toys at the local drugstore and then thrown them away at the end of the trip. However, the shovels and buckets usually can't stand up to the abuse and I hate being so wasteful.
Born from thoughtful Belgian design, QUUT beach toys are clever, durable, and adorable. No more cheap shovels that break within minutes. The Scoopi lets kids leverage both their hands and feet to move more sand easily and comes with a detachable sand sifter. The Ballo allows kids to drag heavy buckets on their own without spills. The Triplet is a sand sifter, scraper, AND funnel.
In other words, none of these toys will be going in the trash after a couple of days in the sand!
Part of having a fun summer as an adult is keeping the kids entertained with cool toys like those from Quut... the OTHER part is keeping yourself entertained with a cold beverage.
So, I started hearing a lot about YETI a couple of months ago. I don't go anywhere during the summer (or really all year long) without a cup of ice water and suddenly all my friends' ice water was encased in these sleek metal cups they claimed never got warm.
Y'all.
These Rambler Tumblers are NO. JOKE.
Made from 18/8 stainless steel with double-wall vacuum insulation they can keep ice frozen FOR HOURS. No, seriously. This weekend I poured ice water into my YETI Tumbler at around 10:30 pm. I came home. I went to bed. I left my Tumbler in the car until NOON the next day in 100-degree heat. When Nicholas brought the cup inside, it was warm to the touch.
Inside? ICE CUBES.
Unbelievable. The Rambler Colster is also amzing for those of you looking to keep more than ice water cold!
Three pieces of pop culture I can't stop talking about
Have you encountered me on the street recently? Or had basically any communication with me online or off? Then, you've probably had me harass you about Kacey Musgraves's sophomore album Pageant Material.
Her songwriting is clever and insightful and vulnerable and catchy as hell. She is why I fell in love with country music and is everything that is great about the genre (think Dixie Chicks not the abomination that is bro-country).
I've fallen so hard for this album I went and bought her FIRST album Same Trailer Different Park AND tickets to see her at The Pageant in September!
So, I'm going to tell you I'm obsessed with UnREAL, a new drama on Lifetime, and you're going to start to roll your eyes but DON'T. I am a TV snob to end all TV snob. I don't watch trash. I don't watch reality television.
However, I WILL watch a smart, expertly written drama about the inner workings of a reality television show modeled on The Bachelor. The show follows Rachel Goldberg, one of the show's producers, as she manipulates the show's contestants while attempting to maintain her humanity. Did I mention the show's creator worked on the actual Bachelor for NINE seasons?
So. Good.
Do you have kids? Wait, scratch that. Do you eat? Occasionally when you eat, do you consume sugar?
Then, watch. this. movie. It's free on Netflix or you can rent it on Amazon. Either way.
Here's the deal. In the 1970's, my high school had a smoke shack... FOR STUDENTS.
Appalling, right? Insane, right?
Well, there's a reason Mad Men began with advertising cigarettes and ended with advertising soda. In 20 years (hopefully, sooner), we will look back and recognize the lunacy of our current situation. We allow multi-billion dollar industries poison us and our children. We allow them to PAY schools to sell their poisonous products. We allow them to advertise directly to our children. We allow them to pay off our government so they can continue to lie to us.
It is unethical. It is immoral. It is insanity.
If I wasn't fed up before this movie, I sure as heck am now.
Pictli: My NEW way to give the perfect present
Since I started blogging professionally in 2011, I have gotten A LOT of emails. Emails asking me to try out this great new product ... or app ... or book ... or all the things. I rarely open them. I VERY rarely reply.
Lucky for all of us, I just happened to open an email I received from Frank, the founder of Pictli.
Since I started blogging professionally in 2011, I have gotten A LOT of emails. Emails asking me to try out this great new product ... or app ... or book ... or all the things. I rarely open them. I VERY rarely reply.
Lucky for all of us, I just happened to open an email I received from Frank, the founder of Pictli.
Pictli is an online photo gift service and app that prints, frames, wraps, and sends photos and Frank offered to let me try it out for free.
I said yes but I was skeptical. Photo printing services are notoriously clunky. Photo framing services are notoriously expensive. However, I was willing to give it a try.
Y'all.
I sat down and less than FIVE MINUTES and TWENTY DOLLARS later a beautifully framed gift was on the way to my friend.
A photo of my friend's beloved basset hound I had been wanting to send FOREVER.
Let's just take a moment and talk about what would have been involved had I tried to send my friend a framed photo the old fashioned way.
1. I forget for weeks to sit down and upload the photo to a printing service. 2. I finally upload photo. 3. I forget for weeks to pick up said photo. 4. I finally pick up photo. 5. I go to a separate place to find a frame. 6. I forget about framed photo for weeks. 7. I either remember to give the photo to my friend next time I see her (never going to happen) OR I take a trip to the post office and maybe wrap the frame (probably not) and then send it.
Let's also remember I have three small children SO for every errand I have to decide whether or not I want to run the errand with children in tow OR use valuable child-free time to run the errand.
Do you see why this service is a game changer? Even if I buy the cheapest frame know to man I'm only saving a MAXIMUM of $5 or so - probably not even that if you add in shipping costs and wrapping.
PLUS, Pictli prints square Instagram photos and has square frames. I take almost all my iPhone pictures in square mode which is a real pain to print when most printing services only give you 4x6 as an option.
It's a game changer is what I'm saying.
In case you needed a little additional push to try it out, Pictli is offering bluegrass redhead readers 20% off through the end of June with the code SSH1506.
#SeedlingSummer - the Paducah Way
As you know from my summer list, we take summer seriously around these parts. Simply put -summer days are in short supply and I want to make the most of them.
Recently, The Other Sarah from Salt & Nectar joined the awesome team at Seedling, where they also take the fun of the summer season pretty seriously. TOS sent the boys a sampling of Seedling's all-in-one activity kits and asked me to share what summer looks like in our neck of the woods.
As you know from my summer list, we take summer seriously around these parts. Simply put -summer days are in short supply and I want to make the most of them.
Recently, The Other Sarah from Salt & Nectar joined the awesome team at Seedling, where they also take the fun of the summer season pretty seriously. TOS sent the boys a sampling of Seedling's all-in-one activity kits and asked me to share what summer looks like in our neck of the woods.
If you follow me on Instagram, you know that our summer is BUSY. I purposefully keep our school year low key so I can ramp it up in the summer. I'm happy to schlepp all over town when I have all day long to do it (and it doesn't interfere with dinner time).
Paducah is a great place to be a kid all year around, but summer is particularly wonderful. Of course, we're in the South so summer wouldn't be complete without Vacation Bible School. We've already had a full week of Vacation Bible School at Immanuel Baptist Church and weekend Harry Potter themed VBS at Grace Episcopal Church.
Even though the boys are very close in age, each has their own summer adventures lined up. Amos had a blast Monsterific Preschool Playshop at the Market House Theater last week and will be attending another LEGO© themed play shop in July. Market House is an unbelievable resource to parents in Paducah. In fact, my cousin from Nashville traveled up every year to participate in the Musical Performance Camps. Griffin is finally old enough to participate this year and I can't wait!
Paducah is also lucky enough to have West Kentucky Community and Technical College, which hosts a variety of week-long summer camps AND The Challenger Learning Center, which is one of 40 space science education centers in the U.S.
Add in Wednesdays on the Waterfront at the River Discovery Center and the Kids Summer Reading Program at McCracken County Library and our days seem pretty full.
However, there are A LOT of hours to fill in the summer and - though it might not seem like it - I do like to leave many of them free for fun at the pool or fun summer crafts. That's where awesome companies like Seedling come in.
This week Griffin is attending a week-long full-day Extreme LEGO© Camp at WKCTC by Paducah's resident Science guy Jason Lindsey, which leaves a sad little brother at home by himself. Yesterday I told Amos to go play in his room to which he responded, "But there's no Griffin!"
Not surprisingly, the Seeding Create Your Own Dragon kit turned that frown upside down.
Truthfully, even in the summer, I still hand over a Leap Pad or iPad for convenience sake when little ones get bored. However, having an all-in-one kit made a big difference. I didn't have to search Pinterest for a fun idea and then round up all the supplies. I pulled the kit off the shelf and BAM! we were on our way!
No matter where you live, Seedling wants to help y'all build, imagine, play — and enjoy summer “camp” your way!
Seedling helps bring kids' ideas to life with kid-tested, parent-approved activity kits that encourage children to follow their own creative initiative. Enjoy 25% off at seedling.com when you choose your own adventure using the code KYSEEDLING25. (Offer valid one per customer; discount does not apply to past purchases, packaging, applicable taxes, or shipping and handling. Expires June 30, 2015 at 11:59 pm PST.)
Baby products I'm trying out for the first time
On a stroll in our Britax B-Agile 3.
Recently, I stopped by News-3 This Morning to talk about baby products I'm STILL using five years later AND baby products I decided to upgrade or try out for the first time with Baby Felix. I like to think that after three kids I'm savvier consumer and can spot the products that will really make a difference in my life - as opposed to the ones with empty promises.
Britax B-Agile 3
After five years, I decided it was time for a stroller upgrade. I loved my previous stroller, but I knew that there had been a ton of improvements in stroller engineering that I wanted to try out.
I started by checking out the newest edition of Baby Bargains (the baby products BIBLE) which had high praise for the Britax B-Agile 3. I also talked to several friends who loved their Britax B-Agile 3. If you want something lighter, check out these Umbrella Strollers.
The biggest selling point for me was the one-hand quick fold. My old stroller came in two pieces and was a pain to get in and out of the car. This baby collapses in second EVEN with the car seat adaptor still attached. It's lightweight, has a reclining seat, and a huge canopy. I've been using it daily since Felix was born and I'm so happy with it.
Britax is giving one lucky reader a B-SAFE 35 car seat!
The next thing I knew I wanted to upgrade was our diaper pail. I absolutely hated the pail we had before. It was stinky and hard to use. And yet I didn't want to give up on the idea of a diaper pail altogether.
I had been intrigued by the Ubbi diaper pail since it came on the market a few years ago. The idea of steel pail that wouldn't soak up the smells like plastic made since to me and I like the fact that you can use your own bags. I also discovered Ubbi made cloth diaper liners, which was a revelation after using a regular trash can for my cloth diapers in the past. In fact, I've been using the Ubbi primarily for cloth diapers and think it's a great fit for that purpose.
My closest friend recommended I also try out the Dekor Plus. This baby holds a TON of dipaers and has a hands free design which is incredibly "handy" in the messiest of situations. It also can be used with regular trash bags, as well as having a cloth diaper liner. However, because the Dekor Plus holds so much and contains the smell so well I've found it works really well for disposable diapers.
UBBI World is giving away one UBBI pail to a lucky reader!
Boob® Nursing Wear
I had ONE nursing dress with Griffin and Amos and I about wore that piece out. It was the only one I could find at the time and I was desperately hoping there would be more options this time around.
This company has been around for a while but has greatly expanded their offerings in recent years. They have cute stylish options in all styles for all seasons. The best part is that many of the items you can wear while pregnant as well. The B.Warmer Dress became one of my staples during the colder months and now that it's turned warmer I'm wearing the heck out of the Simone.
I know for a FACT I have nursed in these dresses and people around me had no idea what I was doing. They offer great access without feeling like you are either showing your breast or your stomach. In fact, when I'm wearing one of their designs, I don't even bother with a nursing cover!
What new baby products do you want to try?
Top 5 Most Disappointing Baby Products
Since I recently shared the baby products I'm STILL using after three kids, I thought I'd flip the script and share the products that I quickly abandoned. Trust me. No matter how inventive and useful they seem in the store—take my advice and skip these products.
Since I recently shared the baby products I'm STILL using after three kids, I thought I'd flip the script and share the products that I quickly abandoned. Trust me. No matter how inventive and useful they seem in the store—take my advice and skip these products.
1. Snuggle Nest
Oh, Snuggle Nest I had such high hopes for you. In fact, my entire strategy for the first few nights of Griffin's life revolved around this product. We would just swaddle him up, plunk him between us in the Snuggle Nest, and enjoy hours of uninterrupted sleep. Clearly this would work—look how happy the people in the picture are!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Sorry. Needless to say, Griffin wasn't that interested in the Snuggle Nest and slept much better snuggled up next to me. Even if he had loved the thing, Nicholas and I were both miserable because you really need a California King in order to have room for two adults to sleep comfortably AND fit the Snuggle Nest. (Please notice the happy photo parents aren't actually sleeping.)
Now, in this product's defense, we ended up using it when he was a few months older and sleeping in his own crib. When he was still swaddled and wouldn't move that much, we'd put him to sleep in the Snuggle Nest whenever he was congested and the incline helped him sleep a great deal better.
2. Squirt Baby Food Dispensing Spoon
This little product seemed like the smartest idea I'd ever seen when I first encountered it. You put the food in the spoon! Baby doesn't grab at the jars! Less cleanup! Except, there isn't really less cleanup. You still have to get the food in the jar. The spoon doesn't quite hold a full jar and I could never talk myself into pre-loading the spoon so I'd have it ready. Not to mention, I made a lot of Griffin's baby food from scratch and it was always a little too chunky for the tiny hole in the spoon. At the end of the day, a bowl and spoon worked just fine.
3. Boppy
People are pretty passionate about the Boppy, especially breastfeeding moms. So, I was excited to add this highly touted essential to my nursery. Only one problem. I NEVER used it. I used the My Brest Friend pillow for breastfeeding (my love for his product is a post in and of itself) and the Boppy basically never saw the light of day. I know some people use it to prop their baby up but I'm not sure that's really worth the $40 price tag.
4. Adiri BPA Free Natural Nurser
A bottle shaped like a boob! Genius! These bottles came out a few months before Griffin was born and I couldn't wait to get my hands on one. I ended up getting one free from a friend who said her son hated it. I figured that was just a fluke. They had to work!
Sadly, not so much. I found the bottle leaky, difficult to clean, and Griffin was not a fan—and this was not a picky baby when it came to food. He did much better with the plain old Medela bottles. Go figure.
5. Newborn Gowns
I remember one registry recommendation list suggesting you have at least seven of these gowns on hand when the baby came home. They were supposed to be easy to use—no waistband to irritate the umbilical cord or deal with in the middle of the night when changing diapers. It all seems so logical, except by the time Griffin fit in the gowns (I could never find smaller than 0-3 months) his umbilical cord was long gone and he kicked so much the gowns always ended up bunched around his waist.
Are there any baby products you found disappointing? Was one of my disappointments one of your favorites?
Baby products I'm still using after 3 kids
Recently, I stopped by News 3 This Morning to talk about baby product I'm still using five years after the birth of my first son. These are the products I've carefully packed away and pulled out to use with Amos and again with Felix because they are JUST. THAT. GOOD.
Recently, I stopped by News 3 This Morning to talk about baby product I'm still using five years after the birth of my first son. These are the products I've carefully packed away and pulled out to use with Amos and again with Felix because they are JUST. THAT. GOOD.
Amos swaddled in his brother's Aden + Anais swaddle blanket.
Aden + Anais Muslin Swaddle Blanket
These swaddle blankets were new to the market way back in 2009 when I had my first son. He was a summer baby so I thought they seemed like a great option for the warm weather.
I used them ALL. THE. TIME.
Then, I used them with Amos. Now, I'm using them with Felix and they still look brand new. They don't seem to stain. They don't even wear. They've just gotten softer and more wonderful.
Now, since then Aden + Anais has greatly expanded their product line and I was psyched to try the burpy bibs®, which is a burp cloth that then snaps around the neck for a bib! I'm also really loving Aden + Anais snap bibs.
Aden + Anais is giving away a 4 pack of their classic swaddle blankets to one lucky reader!
Snug & Tug Swaddle Blanket
I use Aden + Anais blankets all day and then Snug & Tug blankets all night. My boys are big and there are VERY few swaddle blankets from which they can't escape. I bought the Snug & Tug on a lark when Griffin was a baby and used it every. single. night after he was born.
I'm not saying they never ever sneak a little hand up and out the top but it's very rare.
If you're a swaddler, I can't recommend the Snug & Tug highly enough.
Go Mama Go Designs is giving away a Snug & Tug swaddle blanket to one lucky reader!
Trumpette Socks
I realize novelty socks are a funny thing for a mother of three to be endorsing but hear me out. Trumpette socks are adorable and come in a wide variety of styles but they are carefully packed up and handed down to each of my babies for one reason.
THEY STAY ON.
Babies kick and squirm and Trumpette socks are the only socks I've found that stay on those little feet through all that movement.
I absolutely love them.
Trumpette is giving away one pair of My Little Cupcake socks and a set of Ballerina socks!
Baby Felix sleeping peacefully in his swing.
Duet Soothe Swing + Rocker in Cascade
Look, I BELIEVE in holding a baby as much as you can. However, I also believe in occasionally taking a shower and meeting the most basic needs of my other two children. A great baby swing makes that possible.
I'm a HUGE user of the baby swing. In fact, I've already burned one up. However, I was happy to replace it with the Duet Soothe Swing + Rocker in Cascade from Graco. Graco is the undisputed leader in baby swings and for a good reason.
This swing has all manner of fantastic options but - after 3 babies - only one matters to me. It PLUGS IN. The first swing I had ran on batteries and I was constantly replacing batteries in the most acrobatic of positions to prevent the baby from waking up once the swing stopped.
I LOVE THIS THING.
Graco is giving a Duet Soothe Swing + Rocker in Cascade to one lucky reader!
A few items I didn't have time to talk about but that I also LOVE: the Puj bath tub which is perfect for tiny, slippery infants, My Breast Friend for those of you planning to nurse, and the Moby Wrap which is the best option for baby-wearing early on.
What are you must have products?
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