#AD – This post is in collaboration with The Baby Hamper Company
When I had my first daughter, I was so unbelievably grateful for the kind words, cards and gifts I received from my friends and family. I felt incredibly lucky to have their support and reassurance, and with the huge variety of gifts and items we received, it felt like we had a really great starting point from which to welcome our new baby into the world.
When it comes to buying new baby gifts, or even gifts for baby shower or new Mum, it can be hard to know where to start. If only someone could help you select a perfect little bundle of gifts and package them up beautifully without any of the stress? Well The Baby Hamper Company most certainly can!!
We’ve teamed up with The Baby Hamper Companyto giveaway a hamper of your choice from the selection below *worth £40*, meaning you can concentrate on the important part – celebrating their arrival and giving lots of baby cuddles!
Baby Girls / Boys Hamper Large
The Baby Hamper Company large gift hampers include items that have been personally selected to put a smile on any new parents’ faces! Carefully gift wrapped with love and care, with beautiful finishing touches, these hampers are a delight to give and receive.
The large hampers come in two varieties – boys and girls with slight variations on colour scheme.
The Large Baby Boy and Large Baby Girls hampers include:
Crochet Octopus – this adorable little octopus has been hand crocheted and comes in a pink striped design in the Girls Hamper or a green striped design in the Boys Hamper. With a tactile and comforting texture perfect for little hands to play with, this is the and a ideal addition to any nursery. His tentacles also offer a sensation similar to that of the umbilical cord before birth, providing a familiar sensation for newborns.
Aden & Anais muslin square – As most Mums will tell you, you can NEVER have too many muslin squares when you have a newborn! This larger size ‘Musy’ muslin square from designer brand Aden & Anais has multiple uses, being used as a burp cloth, summer blanket, comforter and cot sheet to name but a few.
Sleepsuit in white and grey star print – The Baby Hamper Company have an exclusive range of printed sleepsuits that can be used for daytime wear as well as night. Made from 100% cotton (which helps regulate baby’s temperature) this sleepsuit with a printed with a classic grey design comes in size 0-3 months.
Knotted hat in white and grey star print – The ideal accompaniment to the sleepsuit above, this matching knotted hat will help keep little heads warm and comes in age 0-6 months.
Bodysuit – a short sleeved vest in baby pink, hand printed with a unique ‘Hello World’ design (girls hamper) or a “Boy oh Boy” print (boys hamper) . This 0-3 months vest makes a great base layer for those cute baby outfits.
Mother & Baby Gift Hamper
As lovely as it is to treat the new additions, sometimes it is nice to treat the new Mum to something special too. After the emotional and physical roller coaster that is childbirth, a little gift to say well done and help them recuperate and recover whilst coping with sleep deprivation and cluster feeding can be VERY well received.
The Baby Hamper Company have this covered too! There Mother & Baby Gift Hamper includes:
For Baby:
Skip Hop Cloud Rattle – A funky handheld baby rattle and teether toy from popular kids brand Skip Hop, this will help occupy little hands in the pushchair or crib, whilst also offering some comfort for their gums when those teeth try and make an appearance!
Grey and White Stripe Romper suit – a super soft cotton romper suit, perfect for day or night time wear in size 0-3 months.
White Muslin – a plain white cotton muslin cloth, a new baby essential for keeping clothes clean during feeding.
For Mum:
‘And Relax’ candle tin – This soothing aromatherapy scented candle is perfect for a bit of relaxing ‘mummy time’ when the little one goes for their nap. With relaxing scents helping to induce calm and relaxation, this is self care in a tin!
Cocoba truffles – Looking after a baby can work up quite the appetite, and as an indulgent treat, these 6 handmade white chocolate truffles with a raspberry and Champagne cream filling are the perfect reward! Hands of Daddy- these ones are for Mummys only!
Organic Monkey Better Belly oil – This Better Belly oil is suitable for use on both Mum and baby and can helps with stretch marks and sooth upset tummies.
AD- Maxi Cosi RodiFix Air Protect Car Seat gifted for review
Children grow up pretty quickly, and before you know it the baby carseats are being handed down to expectant friends, and they are progressing to ‘big girl’ car seats. Blink and you miss it.
With two family cars and two children, we now require four car seats between us. Erin is now 5, and now that her baby sister is getting bigger, we decided to pass down Erin’s old seat to Neve and treat Erin to a new stage 2/3 car seat; one which in theory would see her out until she no longer requires a car seat at all. Quite a sobering thought!
We have always been huge fans of Maxi-Cosi, a brand that we know and trust. We were given the opportunity to put the Maxi-Cosi RodiFix AirProtect to the test – here’s how we got on!
About the Product
In the words of Maxi-Cosi – Travelling is about the fun of taking your child to see places and create memories. The Maxi-Cosi RodiFix Air Protect® is about getting you there safely and back, without a worry.
The AirProtect® technology is specially designed to provide your child with the best side protection possible, so that if you were unlucky enough to be involved in a car accident, the risk of your child suffering head and neck injury is reduced by 20%. With a one-click ISOFIX installation system and unique belt guide, installing the RodiFix AirProtect and securing your child is super quick and easy. Additionally, the Maxi-Cosi RodiFix AirProtect has simultaneous height and width adjustment and 2 recline positions meaning your child will always be comfortable and safe as they grow.
Key Benefits include:
Isofix Installation – isofix anchorage for safe and easy installation in the car.
Extra protection of your child’s head using patented AirProtect technology
Quick and Easy buckle up – using the cars seatbelt system to fasten your child.
Seat reclines for additional comfort
Adjustable in height, with an easy to adjust head rest to adapt to your growing child (suitable from 3.5 years up to age 12)
Our RodiFix review
We reviewed the Maxi Cosi RodiFix Air Protect in the Nomad Grey – with 11 different colours and deisgns to chose from (including a special edition Star Wars one) this is the hardest part of making our choice. We felt that the Nomad Grey was the most practical and matched our car’s interior, without being as simple as a plain black design.
My first impressions of the seat were very positive- the car seat looks very comfortable, appears sturdy and solid, and even on first sight it is clear that the seat would offer high quality side impact for Erin’s head and neck in the event of a collision.
Installation of Maxi Cosi RodiFix
The Maxi Cosi RodiFix Air Protect comes with isofix installation, making it incredibly easy to install. It simply clips into the isofix ports in your car, and then it is a simple as threading the seatbelt through a safety catch to hold the belt into place and securely away from your child’s neck. The whole process of installing took less than 10 minutes, and unlike some seats, I would be reasonably confident doing this unassisted. There is another version of this seat available for those who don’t have isofix ports in their car, although most modern cars now have them. There is also a car checker tool on the Maxi-Cosi website so that you can check whether your car is compatible with the seat, and on which seats of your car you are able to secure it.
The Maxi-Cosi RodiFix Air Protect is also very lightweight (weighing just 6.2kg), meaning that I was comfortable to carry it to and from my car myself. I am far from the strongest person in the world, but found this very comfortable, so believe the majority of people would find this very portable and straightforward.
Securing Erin
Erin looked happy and comfortable in the seat, and we were able to raise and lower the headrest using a small button – simply pressing and pulling up, with the head rest adjusting accordingly. This was very simple and straightforward to do, and it was great peace of mind to know that the height of the head support could always be adapted to meet her current height. Rather than some seats that are limited to particular age groups, this feature makes the Maxi-Cosi RidiFix AirProtect something which can easily grow with your child.
The Maxi-Cosi RodiFix Air Protect uses the cars built in seatbelts to secure your child. The seatbelt is securely clipped in to a hook behind the headrest to the right of her neck, so there is no snagging or agitating her skin, and to fasten her in her seat, I simply have to lean across and plug her seatbelt in to the central seat belt clips in the middle of the car. This is probably the most fiddly part, but I am a bit height challenged, if I was a little taller this would be no issue what so ever!
Recline Positions
The Maxi-Cosi RodiFix Air Protect has two recline settings, and although Erin no longer sleeps in the car (or very very rarely) it is reassuring to know that I can recline the seat to make her more comfortable, particularly on longer car journeys where she may be worn out from a busy day. It is easy to alternative between the two inclines, and Erin looked very comfortable when the back was tilted even trying to convince me that she had nodded off (she quite clearly hadn’t!!).
Size
Whilst the carseat may look big outside of the car, it was great that it didn’t take up too much space, unlike some other seats that come with large isofix bases. This is always a positive for drivers who have long legs and like to have their own seats a little further back.
Overall we are really pleased with the Maxi-Cosi RodiFix AirProtect – it is easy to fit, comfortable, portable, and fully adjustable, offering great peace of mind when we travel.
Pros:
Very straight forward to fit using isofix ports.
Lightweight and easy to transport if you need to swap vehicles.
Offers good support around the neck and torso.
Very easy to adjust as your child grows, with the head rest being easily raised (or lowered as necessary) using a small handle on the back.
Cons:
No obvious negatives at this stage – with the exception of too many colours to choose from!!
The Maxi Cosi RodiFix AirProtect retails at £180 and is available at Mothercare(currently on offer for £150).
*Disclosure – We were sent a Maxi Cosi RodiFix AirProtect free of charge in return for our honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own*
I have always been a big fan of Baby Bjorn, and their modern yet stylish products for babies in the home – from the Baby Bjorn Travel Cribto the Baby Bjorn High Chair – we’ve trialled a few. When we read about the new Baby Bjorn Bouncer Bliss launch, we were really excited and felt that this would be perfect for our new addition! Here’s our Baby Bjorn Bouncer review!
About the Baby Bjorn Bouncer Bliss
The Baby Bjorn Bouncer Bliss was developed in close collaboration with paediatricians, with a unique ergonomic shape that gives your child’s head and back the correct support.
Suitable from newborn, the Baby Bjorn Bouncer Bliss may be used as a bouncer from 8lb until your baby can sit up unaided. When your child can sit on their own, the bouncer converts to a comfy chair and can be used till 29lb (approximately 2 years of age).
The bouncer has 3 incline positions – Play, Rest and Sleep, as well as Transportation mode, where the product can lie flat to store away or take in your car. You can change between positions using the small clip under the bouncer, which clicks into each mode securely. Your baby can use their own feet movements to create a natural and smooth bounce.
The Baby Bjorn Bouncer Bliss retails at £144.99 in the Baby Bjorn shop and is available in a number of colours and fabrics.
The Baby Bjorn Bouncer Bliss
Our Baby Bjorn Bouncer Review
We received the Baby Bjorn Bouncer Bliss in Anthracite Mesh – a charcoal black mesh style fabric which is soft to the touch. Visually, this is a very attractive design and I love the way it looks in our home. Many bouncers come in very bright and garish colours, so to see one that looks more like a piece of modern home furnishing is a real positive.
We have been using the Baby Bjorn Bouncer Bliss for around 3 weeks, and Neve has experienced all three incline positions. We both, absolutely love it.
The first setting is Play, the highest position, where Neve at 5 months was able to ‘sit’ the most upright. We purchased the BabyBjorn wooden toy attachment(available separately), and Neve will sit quite contently, playing with this and spinning the flowers and balls whilst we ate dinner or whilst I entertained my three year old. She was noticeably content and comfortable in the chair.
The second setting is Rest, which I tend to use after Neve has been playing on her play mat for a while, or if she is starting to look a little weary. This slightly more inclined position is more relaxing for Neve, and she would often use her leg movements to trigger the bouncing motion of the chair.
The final position is Sleep, and it does exactly what it says on the tin. Neve quite happily falls asleep in the Baby Bjorn Bouncer Bliss, and even when put down in it awake, she is able to use the natural motions to help her drift off. A few times she has woken prematurely and the gentle movements when she moves her body have helped her resettle without being rocked or cuddled. I don’t mean this to sound like I am a heartless mother as trust me- I love nothing more than a baby cuddle – however when you have more than one child in the house, it is great to have something that makes your life that little bit easier!
Moving between the three settings is very straight forward, using the large button and positioned based underneath the bouncer. The clip simply clicks into place for each distinct setting.
We take the chair with us when we go for tea at the grandparents, and the chair is really easy to pop into the boot. We simply use the positioner to pop it into the lie flat transportation mode and it then takes up minimal space.
Unlike some other bouncers we have used, Neve always looks comfortable in the Baby Bjorn Bouncer Bliss, and I can be confident she is safe and secure. The front of the seat includes two easy side fasteners, that secure her either side at the waist.
Once Neve is older, and is able to sit on her own, we will convert the bouncer to the chair setting, which appears to be very straight forward to do. The reversible fabric simply comes off by loosening the restraint buttons, and it can then be removed and turned over, to leave the flat side of the seat facing up.
Pros and Cons of the Baby Bjorn Bouncer Bliss
Pros:
Super comfortable and ergonomically tested to ensure it offers the right level of support for your baby’s growing body.
Modern and super stylish design.
3 easy to alternate recline settings.
Easy to transport and store as can be set to lie completely flat when not in use.
Easy to wipe down or wash if baby is sick or have a “poo incident”. The mesh fabric is very easy to clean and is completely removable to wash in the machine if required.
Baby is in control – your child can use their own movements to trigger the natural bounce.
Cons:
It goes without saying, that there are obviously cheaper Bouncers available on the market. That said, I am a strong believer in the concept of “you get what you pay for”. In terms of longevity as well, this bouncer will be used for a much longer period that some others that are half the price, hence its overall value for money is good.
Getting your head around the positioner clip can be a little tricky the first few times you use it, but once you have grasped the concept, it is extremely easy to use.
Overall, we are over the moon with the Baby Bjorn Bouncer Bliss, and as you can tell from Neve’s face, I think she’s pretty taken with it too! (Note, this is Neve’s ‘butter wouldn’t melt’ face, which she appears to have perfected to a fine art!!)
You can learn more about the product, and other items in the range, on the Baby Bjorn website.
*Disclosure – We were sent a Baby Bjorn Bouncer Bliss for the purpose of this review, however all thoughts and opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links*
Choosing Nursery Furniture is no mean feat. There is so much choice, and the products can be so expensive, that we found the whole experience a bit of a minefield. My biggest bug bear, was spending so much money on something that would last just 6 months, only to then have to invest in yet another piece of furniture to meet the next stage of their development. Now I am on maternity leave, these extra costs all add up, and its not really something we can accommodate!
We first heard about the MULTY on Twitter and I was amazed that no one had thought of it before! A 4 in 1 product, that grows with your child, from crib to highchair, to toddler chair to storage system. One piece of furniture that can be used from birth until “big girl” years and beyond, and with a totally reasonable retail price of just £179.99. It not only looks great, but covers the main stages of development, that would normally require additional investment!
Those of you who follow my blog regularly will know that we have had a bit of a rough ride since my daughter’s arrival in early September, but we are returning home from my mother in laws next week (yay!). I cannot wait to see the MULTY in action – my other half is building it downstairs for now, as I need to have somewhere both upstairs and downstairs where I can pop Neve down for a nap, as getting up and down the stairs is no mean feat at the moment.
I love the fact that the MULTY can be slightly inclined to help with reflux – (Neve gets wind quite a lot!) and that I can rock it gently backwards and forwards if she needs a little help drifting off to sleep!
Our full review of the first stage (the crib) of the MULTY is coming soon, but in the meantime, this video highlights the main features of the product far better than I can explain it! 🙂
My daughter is becoming stronger every single day. In recent weeks she has started to hold her head up and when laid down on her tummy will arch her back to try and see my face. I was keen to try and assist getting her into a seated position, so that I could interact with her and play at floor level. I was given the opportunity to trial a Baby Bumbo seat and cover, and I jumped at the chance.
About the Product
The Baby Bumbo Seat is a floor based seat made from soft lightweight low density foam and has a wide flat base. It features a high backed support to aid the babies posture, and a low dipped base to support their bottom, as well as two large dipped holes for their legs to poke through.
When to use a Bumbo Baby Seat
The Bumbo chair was designed to seat young babies who can’t sit up by themselves yet. As soon as your baby can support their own head they can be seated in the Bumbo Floor Seat. As a rough guide, this will be from around 3 months of age – but this will vary from child to child.
What age is the Baby Bumbo seat suitable for?
Every child is different, so there isn’t an exact Bumbo age limit however the general Bumbo chair age ranges from 3 months (or when they can hold up their own head) to around 12 months of age. Any older than that and you may find that your baby’s legs are too chunky for the holes in the Bumbo baby seat. The weight limit is 22 pounds and I would therefore say the Bumbo age limit is between 12-15 months (my daughter was petite and stayed in it longer than 1 year of age).
How does the Bumbo Baby Seat work?
The Bumbo chair works by stabilising the child into a slight hip flexion, meaning that their bum is positioned slightly lower than their legs, tilting their pelvis and causing them to extend their back. This combined with the curved back of the seat, helps provide support around their trunk and provides them with the strength to sit upright. The Bumbo allows babies to have their hands free to play and can be a useful aid for babies who have reflux or colic, as it assists keeping them in an upright position after feeding.
What is the Bumbo Tray?
The product can be purchased on its own or with the Bumbo Play Tray accessory. This white plastic tray clips easily onto the base of the Bumbo seat and provides a convenient surface for your babies toys or snacks. Using the tray can help stimulate babies senses and allow them to fine tune those motor skills by picking up items placed in front of them. It is made of a safe shatter resistant food quality plastic to ensure it is completely hygienic and can be easily wiped down with anti bacterial wipes.
The Bumbo can be used with babies up to a weight of 22 pounds, and costs around £42 with the package including the play tray. There are various colours available including aqua, lime, pink and blue as well as removable covers. The removable covers are available in a range of designs, and are a great way of refreshing the look and feel of the Bumbo and adding a bit of extra flair. Made from machine washable fabric, the cover can be easily removed and washed to remove stains or mess.
Our Experience
We tested the Bumbo Seat with my daughter who is just over 3 months old, but strong and can confidently hold her head up. She fitted easily into the Bumbo and although a little confused at first, (hence the slightly bewildered face!) she soon seemed quite pleased with herself and sat in a relatively straight backed, upright stance. The Bumbo comes with straps securely attached under the base of the seat, that can be tightened in a similar way to car seat straps. I found it was easy to fasten and adjust to ensure that Izzy was secure – this would become particularly important once your child was more capable of wriggling within the seat!
Once Izzy was positioned in the Bumbo, I was able to lie on the floor and get down at her level and give her full view of my face, and she really enjoyed smiling back and making oohs and ahhs in response to my facial expressions!
The play tray was a great addition. The tray comes disassembled in two pieces that easily click together, and the play tray then clips on between the leg holes and slots underneath the base of the Bumbo seat. The tray provides a large surface for small toys, and we read a book together using the tray as a support. This allowed her to get a great view as I turned the pages. As she gets older, the play tray could be used for small rattles or musical instruments, as well as snacks and drinks once she has started weaning. A wipe down surface, the tray is easy to clean if it gets covered in milk or other general baby mess! (no more detail needed here!)
Before having the Bumbo, I would often leave Izzy sat in her car seat when visiting friends as I knew it was a safe environment for her, although this was far from ideal. I now take the Bumbo with me, as it is light and portable enough to pop in to the car, and allows her to sit with us, in a more social environment!
The Bumbo is suitable for weights of up to 22 pounds, and my friend is still using the Bumbo with her 10 month old, who will eat finger food snacks whilst seated in the seat. Now that her daughter is mobile however, she does need to be more cautious to ensure her daughter does not rock the seat – hence why the product should only ever be used on the floor.
Are Bumbo Seats safe?
There was a Bumbo seat recall many years ago, however this was before the Bumbo came with straps. All Bumbo chairs now come with integrated straps. If used correctly. Baby Bumbo Seats are safe, however it is crucial that they are not used at height and used as a floor chair only. If used on a table or work surface, they come with the risk of your baby toppling the seat or falling from height, the consequences of which could be disasterous! Read the instructions and make sure you learn how to fasten and secure your Bumbo. As with any baby product, adult supervision is required at all times.
Where can I buy the Baby Bumbo Seat?
The Bumbo seat is sold at a variety of retailers including Mamas and Papas, Amazon and Scandiborn – you can shop the best deals below.
Enables child to sit unaided when in that in between stage where they are frustrated lying down, but not yet strong enough to sit alone.
The play tray is great for popping on toys on to have at easy reach.
Wipe down surfaces makes it easy to clean if child possets milk
Bright attractive colours suitable for boys, girls and unisex designs.
Can use the removable covers (available separately) to reuse the gender specific coloured bumbos for a second child!
Babies look VERY cute sat in it!!
Lightweight foam style material, making it easy to move around, or pop in your car when visiting friends.
When used with my friends older daughter, she was able to sit and eat her lunch from the play tray.
The Bumbo cover was a great way of making the Bumbo look a little bit different, and Izzy appeared to love the bright colours of the design.
The cover also prevented Izzy’s legs from becoming a little sticky within the Bumbo seat, as they did occasionally when she got warm.
Cons
The Bumbo seat should not be used at height (despite the temptation to use as a high chair alternative!). As with any children’s product, it is a case of reading the safety instructions thoroughly before use and using with caution as the Bumbo is not a toy!
The play tray can be a little tricky to get on to the seat, as you need to raise the bottom of the bumbo slightly to clip it into place. However, once fitted it is secure and sturdy and Izzy would struggle to remove it herself. We did find it hard to dismantle the two parts of the tray again for flat storage, so ended up keeping the tray built and ready for its next use.
At the age Izzy is now, she couldn’t stay in the Bumbo for too long, but I imagine this will increase as she gets bigger and stronger.
Depending on the size of your baby, the leg holes aren’t particularly generous in size, and I can imagine chubbier babies could quite quickly become rather a snug fit!
The covers look great, but in our opinion aren’t as easy to clean as being able to simply wipe down like you can with the Bumbo on its own. That said, they are fully machine washable, but just might need a fairly regular wash!
Overall, we are really pleased with our Bumbo experience so far, and I am looking forward to Izzy becoming stronger and growing more and more confident sitting within the seat.
Thanks to RMR Network Blogger Helen and her beautiful daughter Izzy for this review! x
This is Us!
About Me
Hi, I’m Lucy, a thirty something mum of two from Birmingham. A memory maker, tradition keeper, stationery addict and Mr Men fanatic. HR Advisor by day and sleep deprived Mama by night!
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