Teach My Toddler

Teach My™ Toddler was created by (Canadian) mom, Christy Cook. When she was looking for items to help her toddler with the alphabet, numbers, colours and shapes she had a hard time finding things, especially pieces that worked together.

So....Teach My™ Toddler was created.

In a portable tote lies everything you need to help your toddler learn basic numbers, letters, colours and shapes. Each of the four sections comes with

• a fully coordinated puzzle
• board book
• teaching chart
  
• and flash cards

We've been using our Teach My™ Toddler kit with my 2 1/2 year old for about 2 weeks, for the recommended 20 minutes a day and we are more than impressed. Before, using the Teach My™ Toddler kit our toddler could identify about 50% of the alphabet and he is now pretty close to 100%. The other day we started using the letters in the puzzle to spell words, like cat, dog and other simple ones. He loves doing the puzzles and reading the books and you can tell the sense of pride and accomplishment he feels when he is playing.

Other than the clear learning advantages Teach My™ Toddler has helped make our toddler feel special. Since we have a new baby in the house, it's easy sometimes to forget that your toddler needs as much attention as the new baby. The 20 minutes a day have become a special time for him with Mommy or Daddy and he asks to play with his Teach My™ Toddler kit. In fact, in the morning it is the first toy he grabs and he insists that we play 'school' and he becomes the teacher -- the imaginative play aspect is a bonus!

I really like the fact that it's an all-in-one solution and that everything colour coordinates, as well I love seeing my little one's eyes light up when he goes "to work with his briefcase!"

Smart Choices

I was lucky enough to receive a Mom's First Day Kit from Smart Choices. The Mom's First Day Kit is packed with everything you need that provides comfort during those first days after childbirth and when nursing, and it's all contained in a handy canvas tote!

Included in the kit are

• Hipster style Single-Use panty
• femé Pad® (which provides cooling relief from vaginal irritations or inflamed hemorrhoids that may be caused by pregnancy or childbirth)
• Single-Use Nursing Pads
• SmartChoices breast soother (which provides warming therapy for blocked milk ducts, mastitis, or weaning and cooling therapy for engorgement)
• Lanolin Plus

Mom's First Day Kit from Smart Choices really does have everything that a new mom needs in the first few days after birth and onwards. The nursing pads are amazingly thin as well as absorbent and the Lanolin Plus is perfect for a new nursing mother. This is by far on my Top 10 Favourite products that I've been able to test. The price of $50 for the entire kit is outstanding and would make a great shower gift for an expectant mom. The quality of the products from Smart Choices is really exceptional and made my first few weeks with my new baby all the better, as I had everything I needed to help with pain and discomfort, as well as nursing.

Twilight Turtle Plush Constellation Nightlight by Cloud B Available at Mom 4 Life

Product Name:Twilight Turtle Plush Constellation Nightlight by Cloud B available at Mom 4 Life

Description: The Twilight Turtle is the first and only plush constellation nightlight ever created. The Twilight Turtle gently transforms nurseries and bedrooms into a starry night sky that comforts and calms children and adults alike. From within his plastic shell, Twilight Turtle projects a complete starry night sky onto the walls and ceiling of any room. Twilight comes with three soothing color options blue, green, and amber to create magical, tranquil environments that are ideal for helping children of all ages fall asleep easier.

Review: Ok, don't shoot me. For the first 2 years of my little guys life we have rarely had a sleep issue. There was a time though last winter when we tried to switch from a crib to a bed, as we had a little climber that we had some issues, but we dealt with it and it to passed.

Then this summer came, and for some reason he decided that sleeping was not cool and WAS NOT going to sleep. I read a few books on the topic of toddler sleeping, and they gave me some helpful tricks -- but nothing seemed to work. I them found the Twilight Turtle Plush Constellation Nightlight when I was shopping at Mom 4 Life.

Mom 4 Life is a great online place to shop, where everything is either made or invented by moms....

But back to the sleep story... We introduced the Twilight Turtle Plush Constellation Nightlight to our little guy one night and he fell in love and most importantly fell asleep. The soft glow of the lighting allows for comfort when falling asleep and turns of after 45 minutes. The fact that you can choose between 3 colours of glow is great for an independent toddler!! And what impressed me the most was the actual constellations projected onto the wall!

Just Jill: Handmade Love for your Little Ones

Product Name: Blankets, Onesies & Shoes from Just Jill

Description: Handcrafted cozy blankets,cuddly quilts, huggable pillowcases, cute shoes and onesies! Just Jill uses the softest, coziest fabrics. Vibrant modern prints and fun, whimsical fabrics are stylish and eye catching.

Review: Just Jill is an Etsy based store from Oakville, creating truly one of a kind blankets, shoes and onesies for babies. I ordered a pair of super cute cotton shoes in size 0-6 moths, in the ever-so-funky 'sock monkey' fabric and matching onesie. I ordered it for a shower gift -- but loved it so much I kept it for my new baby! The quality of the product is truly outstanding, and I can't wait to put the little cute shoes on our sweet little monkey! Just Jill also makes amazingly hip blankets for little ones, and I fell in love with a great blanket which will be great to use as nursing coverup, stroller or just to snuggle with. It's the perfect size to fit into a diaper bag, with cotton on one side and soft minky on the other.

All of the products have washed really well, and I love how inexpensive the shipping is on these products, and that they arrived within a day or two of ordering, and the fact that by purchasing from a small designer I was supporting a small business! You can view the newly added designs from Just Jill here, as well you can visit Just Jill at The Children's Trunk Show in November to pick up some great gifts for baby.

Petite Diapering Bag from Bubble and Squeak

Product Name:Petite Diapering Bag from Bubble and Squeak

Description: Small Diaper Bag

Review: Believe it or not, but there comes a day when you don't have to leave the house with everything but the kitchen sink.

And for that day, there is a small and versatile diaper bag from Bubble and Squeak, available at Tummy Time. This bag comes with a change pad and the bag wipes done easily for those toddler accidents.

We love the green paisley print, and it also is available in a pink paisley print, which screams, "Hello Spring!"

And for those days when you do need to bring the kitchen sink, just toss the petite diapering bag into your larger bag!

Wipes Case by Made By Angie

Product Name: Wipes Case by Made By Angie
Description: A stylish and functional wipes case
Price: $30.00 (USD)
Function: To carry wipes for baby/toddler
Review: I love anything handmade and inventive! And it's always an added bonus when the product s functional as well as stylish! Made by Angie is a line of wipes cases for moms to carry their wipes in -- but with a twist. These handmade wipes cases make a great shower or new mom gift! With a range of styles from funky polka dots, to retro fabrics and very fashionable prints, there is case for every mom. Angie, is a mom to 2, whose customer service is exceptional, as well as her style. Each case is made by hand and finished with beautiful matching ribbon around the case. As their slogan states "Diapers need changin' ... at least you can look good doing it!" And we agree! And to top it off, each wipes case comes ready-to-go with wipes included!

Nurse-n-Glow available at Trendy Baby Products

Product Name: Nurse-n-Glow available at Trendy Baby Products
Description: A nursing pillow with built on light
Price: $49.99 Review: For the first few nights of babies life at home, we slept with the light on, so we could see how he was doing… was he breathing?… was he ok?...was he sleeping?

We were typical first time parents – afraid of everything. On top of everything else that entails being a first time parents, we were also working on our nighttime routine. And we'd have done so much better if we had the Nurse-n-Glow pillow.

Rather than have numerous lights on and getting in and out of bed, the inventive Nurse-n-Glow lighted pillow it allows for a more tranquil and thriving breastfeeding experience without leaving your bed. The Nurse-N-Glow, available in a number of colours is great for a number of reasons including, the soft glow of the light allows you to have a mid-night nursing without turning on a light and waking up baby. The lighted pillow was developed by a Chiropractor and mom, and therefore allows the baby to be positioned so that their heads and backs are properly aligned. The pillow is sturdy, allowing a good barrier between your partner and your baby. To turn the light on you simply just press on the top, and the soft glowing light comes on – and stays on for 30 minutes. And best of all, you can sleep with the lights off!! Available exclusively at Trendy Baby Products.