baby gear

The Top 3 Best Double Strollers for Twins

December 12, 2018 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

There’s nothing more exciting than learning that you have a child on the way. And things get even more exciting when you discover you are carrying twins!

As much fun as babies are, handling twins (or a newborn and a toddler) can be a daunting task, since both will still need lots of that motherly love and attention. So, how do you solve the problem? Start by making sure you have a great double stroller!

baby boy in stroller

Double strollers for twins can be a massive investment, but they’re an integral tool for allowing you to attend to two children at once. If you’re looking for the best double stroller for your twins, here are my top 3 picks for double strollers you should check out:
[Read more…]

The Best New Summer Products for Babies and Kids

August 3, 2018 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

Finding fun new products for my boys that will help make summer more enjoyable is a top priority for me once school ends.

That’s why I love to round up all the hottest new products I’ve tested and tried, in case other parents find them handy as well! These are the five products that are my current favourites for babies to big kids:

1) bblüv Nido Travel & Play Tent

This pop-up play tent is perfect for camping, visiting the beach and any other outdoor activities you might have planned. What I loved most about it was the size. Unlike many pop-up bassinets, the Nido is big enough that even my one-year-old can sit in it happily with a few of his toys. And the play tent packs up in a flash and fits into a convenient carrying case for the portability I want. Find it in toy and baby stores across North America; learn more at bbluvgroup.com. [Read more…]

Tips and Advice on Choosing the Best Baby Bottle for Your Little One

April 2, 2018 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

Baby gear has come a long way over the years, and that’s especially true of baby bottles. The standard bottle has evolved from a clunky and somewhat dangerous glass bottle to a lightweight and shatterproof plastic design with an infinite number of specialty shapes, nipple designs and sizes.

While some women do manage to stick solely to breastfeeding a little one, the vast majority of parents will use baby bottles at some point…even if only when a baby is finally old enough for other beverages! So choosing a bottle that works well for you and for your baby is a must.

Why Use a Baby Bottle?

Ideally, babies should be exclusively breastfed for at least six months. But there are still occasions when mothers need to have a bottle handy, whether because mom is still working or just enjoying a night out. Thankfully, affordable and easy-to-use breast pumps mean that Baby can still get the breast milk he needs. Make sure to use a baby bottle that protects the breast milk quality! And when your little one is older, a baby bottle is handy for letting him drink water, milk or juice before he is able to use a cup.

What Kind of Bottle is Best

There is no shortage of choice when it comes to finding the best baby bottle. But no matter what brand you choose, a good baby bottle should have some features no matter what. It should be comfortable, and include an anti-mastitis breastfeeding latch. It should be made of high-quality, BPA-free material and be easy to use. And, perhaps most important, the perfect baby bottle should have multiple sizes and nipple designs to suit babies at different ages.

Tips for Bottle Feeding a Baby

While some babies may be happy to hold their own bottle as they eat, bottle feeding should still be a time to bond with Baby, so make sure to still play an active role! Keep a proper hold on the bottle to help minimize the air that is swallowed, especially if your baby suffers from colic. And make sure that bottles and nipples are properly sterilized for newborns!

Benefits of Baby Bottles

There are so many occasions when using a baby bottle makes life a little bit easier for a busy mom. But while baby bottles can also help feed Baby when Mom is away, they also give a dad and extended family members the chance to bond with baby a little bit more. While Mom takes a break, Dad gets the chance to interact with the baby in a very special way. If your little one uses a baby bottle, consider handing over one feeding a day to a family member.

With so many different baby bottles to choose from, finding the best baby bottle for your little one can take some trial and error. If you also breastfeed, make sure the nipple flow on the bottle mimics the slower flow of breast milk. And if you’re planning on bottle feeding often, choosing a bottle with a design that’s comfortable to hold is a must. In the end, a bottle that you and your baby both enjoy is the most important consideration of all.

The SmarTfold 500 7-in-1 Trike Takes Your Baby From Stroller to Tricycle

September 18, 2017 by Kathryn 39 Comments

One of the hardest things about having a baby is all the “stuff” that tends to accumulate as a little one grows. And that’s why I’ve always been a huge fan of products that grow along with my children. Whether it’s a car seat that converts to a booster or a crib that turns into a toddler bed, multi-use baby gear means more bang for my buck!

That’s why I was thrilled when SmarTrike offered me the chance to review the smarTfold 500 7-in-1 tricycle. Not only is this ingenious trike appropriate for babies from 9 months to 3 years, it’s also perfect for travelling! And with a trip to Europe being planned for this spring, I’m sure the SmarTfold will be essential. [Read more…]

Check On Baby Easily with the VTech Safe & Sound Video Baby Monitor-Giveaway

July 19, 2017 by Kathryn 139 Comments

Of all the baby items that have evolved over the years, I think my absolute favourite innovation is the video baby monitor. I still remember the old audio baby monitor I used when my oldest son was born and it caused me nothing but grief.

I constantly thought that I heard him waking up, only to rush upstairs in a panic and find him fast asleep. Even worse, the monitor would sometimes even get its signals crossed and play me the sound of strangers’ conversations!

With video monitors, that hassle ended for good and I was thrilled. But most of the trendy new monitors use Wi-fi and a phone app to let parents check on their little ones. While this is super handy for some situations, it’s far less handy with a Wi-Fi connection that’s not always reliable. That’s why I love the way VTech has combined the best of both worlds with the VTech Safe & Sound Pan & Tilt Full Colour Video Monitor! [Read more…]

Find the Best Gear for Your Baby at the Best Buy Baby Sale-Giveaway

February 21, 2017 by Kathryn 156 Comments

One of the things that always amazes me about baby products is how many innovations are still being made when it comes to baby care. In just the few years since my boys were babies, products are now safer, more comfortable, more versatile and more effective when it comes to raising a happy baby. And Best Buy Canada has done an amazing job of finding those top products and offering them to parents at a great price!

Even better, from right now until March 9, Best Buy Canada is making its great selection of baby products even more appealing during the Best Buy Baby Sale! If you’ve been longing to stock up on baby gear for a new little one, this is the time to do it! As I glanced through the sale items, I couldn’t help but think about what I might have bought if these products had been available when my boys were babies. These are my top pics for must-haves for any new moms!

Graco Maddox 3-in-1 Crib

If there’s one thing that instantly makes a piece of baby gear more appealing to me, it’s versatility. And this crib boasts plenty! Its convertible design ensures that when baby outgrows the crib in its initial configuration, it can be converted into a toddler bed or a daybed so that one purchase will provide years of use for your little one! [Read more…]

The EquiptBaby Diaper Bag Makes Parenting Easier with Features Moms Love-Giveaway

July 21, 2016 by Kathryn 70 Comments

Taking care of a baby is exhausting, whether you’re a first time mother or you already have a house full of children. And if there’s one item in a mother’s arsenal that can make her day either much easier or much harder, it’s the diaper bag. A good one keeps items organized, holds all the essentials and is easy to use and carry. An awkward one may require constant rummaging, be too small to be useful or be so big that it’s impossible to carry comfortably.

Then there’s the EquiptBaby Diaper Bag. And when I say that it’s in a class all its own, I mean it! This bag takes the must-haves from the best diaper bags, eliminates annoyances from the worst ones and then tops off its design with innovative features I have never seen on a diaper bag before, yet loved at first glance. I recently received the EquiptBaby Santa Rosa Diaper Bag so that I could see its differences for myself and I was impressed as soon as I pulled it out of the package.

One of the highlights of the diaper bag for me? The hard bottom of the bag! It’s such a simple addition to a regular diaper bag, yet it makes such a big difference in the ease of use. Instead of having to worry about a full diaper bag tipping over and spilling contents as a mom juggles the bag and the baby, the flat plastic bottom ensures that the diaper bag sits upright securely for easy access to the contents.

But that’s just the start of what makes the EquiptBaby Diaper Bag such a great choice for parents. Multiple pockets in the interior lets a busy mom keep bottles and snacks separate from clothes and diapers…and even leaves enough room for mom essentials like sunglasses and a wallet too! Best of all, one of those organized interior pockets is insulated, so bottles and snacks stay cool all day. When my boys got old enough to drink milk and juice, keeping it cold and fresh was a constant challenge. This diaper bag makes it easy and convenient to bring refreshments out of the house!

EquiptBaby also offers an ingenious Bassinet and I think I loved it even more than the diaper bag. This handy little bassinet is big enough for a baby up to about nine months of age and protects little ones from the sun and insects while outside…yet it folds up to be no bigger than a Frisbee for easy packing! I loved the idea of being able to have a comfortable spot for Baby to rest anytime and anywhere without having to lug around heavy baby gear.

Want to see the EquiptBaby difference for yourself? You’re in luck! One very lucky Mommy Kat and Kids reader is going to win their very own EquiptBaby Diaper Bag, a $70 value! To enter to win, just leave a blog comment about what feature of the EquiptBaby Diaper Bag you love most.

From the expandable sides of this diaper bag that let it hold extra gear for a long day or road trip, to the stylish colour and shape of the bag that lets a parent still feel trendy while carrying it, there’s just so much to love about the EquiptBaby Diaper Bag. Find a retailer near you or shop online at EquiptBaby.com and see how much easier your day can be when you have a great diaper bag to carry!

EquiptBaby giveaway

Valco Baby Strollers Offer Canadian Parents the Ultimate Versatility, Comfort and Style for Baby…Coming this Spring!

January 8, 2016 by Kathryn 14 Comments

Every mom knows that when it comes to baby gear, there are some brands that set themselves apart from the competition. Innovative designs, top-of-the-line safety features, fashion-forward style and attention to details both moms and babies love can all combine to create the most sought-after products for parents. And Valco Baby is definitely one of those examples of a brand that all parents love.

That’s why moms will be excited to hear that after a short hiatus, Valco Baby strollers will once again be distributed in Canada in 2016 starting this spring! Wondering what’s new for the company this year as it jumps back into the Canadian market? I have the inside scoop from Valco Baby Canada on some of the great new products it will be offering this year!

The biggest upgrade to the company’s hugely popular stroller line is a new Tailormade fabric collection that adds instant luxury to strollers that already boast tons of great features. The fabrics let mom show off her style while the multitude of features ensure heading out with baby is easy and fun. And with both single strollers and strollers for multiples, this line offers unparalleled versatility to fit every family’s needs. [Read more…]