August 20, 2011 by Lauren
Spike isn’t a great teether. He has days where he just cries and moans and is very very clingy. I was extremely lucky with Spud and his teeth didn’t bother him. We had a lot, and I mean A LOT, of dribble but his little peggies popped up one after the other without us really noticing!
I have finally managed to get a picture of the thing that made my Spike a miserable little git for a few days of our holiday. So here is Spike’s first toothy peg!
Category General | Tags: baby,teething | 2 Comments
July 10, 2011 by Lauren
The lovely people at MAM heard about our dummy problem (the shield was marking Spike’s face as he was sucking it so hard!) and offered to send us their innovative “Soft Soother.”
The basic idea is that it is a teething soother. It has their trade mark “Silk Teat” which is softer than standard silicone and it has a textured, anti-slip surface which must feel nice in his little mouth and enables him to keep the dummy in but also has fantastic teether edges for him to chew on. As with all MAM soothers the teat is Orthodontic shaped and adapts to the babies mouth meaning that there is no worry about the soother causing any sort of developmental issues to the mouth and jaw.
When they arrived and I saw them in the flesh I was very pleased, it is such a simple yet brilliant idea. Spike already takes his dummy out and chews on the plastic so giving him a dummy that offered proper soft teething structures was ideal. The colours and designs are gorgeous, like with every MAM product that I have encountered.
I was a little concerned that he wouldn’t like it because the shield (plastic part) appears to be flatter than the nice curved shape of the MAM Original dummy that he was used to. He popped it in his mouth and took to it like he had been using it all along. When he discovered the teething edges he was in his element. The look on his face was priceless as he expected thin, hard plastic which he could never get a true grip on with his sore gums but he was faced with nice, soft, soothing rim.
My only tip would be not to let your baby put it in their mouth with baby food on their cheeks, Spike managed to grab his off the table after a messy serving of carrot puree and the white rims have become a little discoloured where the Beta Carotene (a natural colouring often found in vegetables) has stained them. However I’m pretty sure this wouldn’t be noticeable on any of the non-white versions of the soother.
Overall this is a truly fantastic product, I never forget to take a box of dummies with me but often forget toys and teethers so if Spike is having a bad day with his teeth he always has something to chomp on. He likes them so much that I went out and purchased some spares!
Category Reviews | Tags: baby,dummy,MAM,soother,teether,teething | 1 Comment
June 23, 2011 by Lauren
The generous people at MAM also sent us a Bite and Play Teether from their innovative teether range for Spike to test out alongside the Cooler Teether which we reviewed yesterday.
When the Bite and Play teether arrived Spike went straight for it, the ball spins and makes a rattling sound so he had a great time waving it around and spinning the ball. After a few minutes he discovered that it had two other parts to explore and gave the water filled section a little nibble. It is specially designed to be able to reach molars and has a textured surface for added relief. He instantly put it to the side of his mouth for a chomp. As mentioned in the Cooler Teether review he loves the water filled part when it’s fresh from the fridge. The third section is a much harder surface that has little bumps on which he runs his fingers, tongue and gums over and occasionally biting down with his front gums and squeezing (the facial expression is priceless!)
He loved that this teether offers so much variety, He can bite, chew and fiddle with the different textures, play with the ball and also shake it like a rattle. Unlike some baby rattles the sound isn’t offensive or annoying and he could play with it for ages without it bothering me. He didn’t get bored easily like we have found that he does with other teethers.
As previously mentioned in the Cooler Teether review Spike isn’t the best at hand to mouth co ordination but like the Cooler Teether the Bite and Play is curved and the middle is raised making it very easy for him to pick up, play with and chew on. It’s made of a firmer material than the Cooler Teether but it still isn’t as hard as some of the competing teethers from other companies. We have yet to hear tears from Spike whilst he’s been bashing this around his head and face which is always a bonus.
As with all other MAM products they use a range of bright colours which they co ordinate throughout their range and they are made to an extremely high quality. It is BPA, PVC and Phthalate free, dishwasher safe it meets the EN71 requirements and carries the CE mark. To create the range, MAM designers worked with developmental psychologists so that their teethers not only sooth gums but also stimulate the senses and encourage active learning. You are not only soothing pain but you are also stimulating their mind and senses thus helping their development. The packaging states how each teether helps to promote a baby’s development which I really liked as it’s something that interests me. The Bite and Play teether packaging lists that visual sense is stimulated by the colour changing spinning ball, the different surfaces encourage the sense of touch and the rattle sharpens their hearing.
Overall yet another MAM hit in this house!
Category Reviews | Tags: cool,fridge,MAM,rattle,teether,teething | 2 Comments
June 22, 2011 by Lauren
As you will have seen Spike is teething! Like most parents we are trying everything to help sooth the pain. The lovely people at MAM sent us a little parcel with a Cooler Teether and the Bite and Play Teether (review will be avaliable to read soon!) from their innovative teether range for us to try out.
To create the range, MAM designers worked with developmental psychologists so that their teethers not only sooth gums but also stimulate the senses and encourage active learning. They have teethers to suit all ages but the two I chose were specifically for the stage that Spike is at. They are brightly coloured and fun, easy shapes for babies to hold but also have a lot of different textures on them to give the baby a choice of soothing solutions.
When the Cooler Teether first arrived Spike wasn’t that interested in it. He gave it a little nibble but as it’s not an exciting toy like a lot of the teethers that you can get and it didn’t make any sound when he shook it he soon let it fall to the floor. Once discarded, I popped it in the fridge and decided to give it a whirl at another time. A few hours later I gave it to him again, but cold, and boy did he love it!! He went to town chomping away, moving from one bit to the next before going back to the first one again. Since then he has been chomping on it most days and today when I took him out in the pram I really liked how it co ordinated with his dummy due to the funky use of MAM colours!
The unique shape of the water filled section means that the molars at the back get the cool relief but Spike has been using it in all areas of his mouth and likes the textures on his tongue because I’ve caught him licking it a fair few times!
Sometimes Spike’s hand-mouth co ordination can be a little hit and miss to say the least but the Cooler Teeth has an upwardly curved ring so that it makes a nice angle for him to get his mouth onto it without too much effort. The textures on the ring also give him something to do with his hands whilst he’s chomping away as he explores the dips and ridges with his fingers.
One thing that has always worried me about “water filled” teethers was what they contained. Obviously having Spud in the house means that if he gets his hands on it hes likely to bite straight through, filling his mouth with the “water.” It is clearly stated in the leaflet that the water is purified and totally harmless which put my mind at ease. It is also BPA, PVC and Phthalate free, it meets the EN71 requirements and carries the CE mark. They are dishwasher safe so very easy to keep clean.
Overall it was a hit in our house, it’s simple yet effective and it is very easy for Spike to use on his own without him constantly dropping it. I love the materials that it is made of, the soft materials mean that when Spike hits himself around the face with it we don’t get any tears and the colours are eye catching with a typical lovely MAM design. With Spud I didn’t find a teether that he really loved and used and gave up buying them before I had ventured to MAM I really wish I had started with them as it probably would have been a fantastic solution for him as well.
Category Reviews | Tags: baby,cool,fridge,MAM,teething | 1 Comment
June 21, 2011 by Lauren
We were lucky enough to be sent a Teething Bling pendant from Smart Mum UK for Spike to test on his sore gums now that we have hit the dreaded teething stage.
When I saw the postman coming up the path with a packet in his hand, I literally jumped off the sofa to snatch it from him! From agreeing to review it to it actually being in my house only about 48 hours had passed so I was very impressed by their dispatch and delivery time. I ripped open the padded jiffy bag and came face to face with an absolutely gorgeous Organza bag with the pendant tucked neatly inside. I half expected it to be floating around in the bag but it was presented neatly in a folded cardboard case decorated with information about the product.
Teething Bling was created because so many mothers can no longer wear jewellery due to the grabbing, tugging and pulling that comes with having a baby. The jewellery that they create not only looks like you could buy it in a high street clothing store but it also superb quality. On first glance it looks like it would be a hard material but when you get one in your hands they are soft and smooth to touch. They are made from the same silicone as most teething toys and are non-toxic, BPA, PVC, phthalate, lead and latex free. One thing that really impressed me when reading the literature that I received (that can also be found on their website) was how safety conscious the company are. The are CPSIA compliant and carry the CE mark which means they have had to pass the strict European safety tests. On top of that they do quarterly tests on every part of the product to ensure that they are still absolutely safe for use by our little people.
I immediately put the necklace on and Spud, who has a whole mouth full of teeth so therefore doesn’t require a teething product, came over to see why I was so excited. Naturally I let him have a go and since then have had to fight with him to let me have it back! He likes nothing more than walking around wearing his new necklace. He has nibbled on it a few times and it has coped really well with his sharp gnashers. Normally I wouldn’t let my two year old walk around with something around his neck but the safety “breakaway” clasp is brilliant. When Spike tugs on it it doesn’t come apart but if Spud has a go with a little more strength it breaks away easily. I had been worried that testing a necklace would mean the back of my neck would suffer from the tugging but the necklace itself is a soft, silky cord that is delicate to the skin whilst a 6 month old is pulling on it.
The length of the cord means that the necklace is fashionable and that Spike can have a good old chomp whilst I’m carrying him, straight away he went for it and it fits perfectly in his little hand and mouth. He loves to fiddle with the cord and rub it between his fingers. He become so taken by it that sometimes if im not holding him then I take it off for him to have a play with. Shouting at our dinner time is one of his favourite pass times and quite stressful when trying to deal with a toddler and eat my own dinner at the same time. I gave him his Teething Bling and had the first quiet, uninterrupted meal that I have had for a long time!
As somebody who hasn’t wore jewellery for over 2 years it did feel nice to be making my outfit a little prettier and Teething Bling does fit with most outfit choices. There are a vast amount of colours to choose from and some of them make the necklace look really quite smart. I dress casual more than anything else so chose a lovely blue one called “Cotton Candy.”
Overall Teething Bling are a fantastic, safe idea and at only £12.95 they don’t break the bank. They aren’t that much more than standard teethers and will work out cheaper in the long run as it won’t get lost because you wear it! Teething Bling also sell bangles in the same colours for £8.95 or you can buy a “Gift set” of both for £19.95. They would make a lovely gift to give a mummy friend and the presentation gives a wow factor on opening.
The only 2 problems that I found were, firstly when I leant over to change nappies it was yanked on making my head awfully close to what my son had left me in his nappy but I soon overcame it by either popping the clasp and giving it to him or swinging it around my back so that he couldn’t grab hold of it. Secondly my two year old loves it that much that I don’t often get a look in!
Category Reviews | Tags: baby,bling,necklace,safety,teething | No Comments
June 18, 2011 by Lauren
What a cruddy day! The weather is awful AGAIN. It looks and feels like we are in November not June!
It was a day inside for us today. We were playing trains all morning (one of Spud’s favourite past times!) We had a yummy omelet lunch and the boys both went for naps in their beds, pretty mundane stuff to blog about really! I decided that Saturday should be my day off from housework so started cracking on with the Blog due to our address change. About an hour later Spike decided he wanted to get up so I had him sat in the bumbo on the table chomping on teethers (I’m a slave driver!) He loved being at that height and I was actually able to get things done! Usually I have to wait until they are both in bed at night to get anything productive done. I was tickling his feet and singing songs to him whilst he laughed his little head off! I did get caught on camera being silly though!
Fingers crossed that the little blighter starts sleeping properly, we have had a few very rough nights and I think the Hubby is ecstatic to be going back to work on Monday!! He has been waking as we have been going up to bed so last night we went up in the dark, on tippie toes only to discover that Spud’s blind had fallen down! There we were at 11pm in the pitch black trying to put a roller blind up quietly. It’s safe to say we failed. Both boys ended up wide awake. Spud just looked at us like we were crazy and rolled over. If only Spike was that easy!
Category General | Tags: blogging,bumbo,silly,sleep,teething,work | No Comments
June 13, 2011 by Lauren
I’ve gone public and now feel the pressure! Before, I could pretend that people weren’t reading my babble so it was just something that I was enjoying writing but now I have “likers,” who might not even read it, I feel the need to impress!
Teething Bling UK are very kindly letting us test and review one of their products and during the initial discussion they opened my eyes to all the ways of getting my Blog out there. I thought “what the hey, isn’t this why I started it in the first place!”
A few weeks ago I received a message on Netmums. This is a fantastic website where you enter your area when registering and it brings up the local pages to you. It covers everything – local activities, recipes, buy/swap/sell as well as forums, support and a “meet a mum” section. I first joined when we lived in Scotland, as the area we lived in was like Dodge City. I could go out and not see another person for hours which was quite isolating especially as I was pregnant with Spud so didn’t feel comfortable going to baby groups when the baby was still a bump! It’s been much more useful to me down south and I have met quite a few lovely people off of there. Back to the message – I replied and we got talking only to discover that we live opposite each other and that our children go to the same crèche, at the same time, on the same day! What a small world! This is why I am a huge fan of the internet. I am not one to just go and knock on a door because I have seen that the people living there have children or to randomly approach them saying “I’ve just moved in, can we be friends!” Sites like Netmums mean that you can meet people with common interests and talk to them a bit before arranging to go for a coffee. (I feel the need to go into internet security now but I imagine everyone reading is adult enough to know the do’s and don’t of meeting strangers!) It allows a lot of people to overcome the anxiety of meeting new people and as you have already had a few conversations, there are topics that can be discussed face to face with out the awkward shyness that often happens in new friendships. Whilst our children were all at crèche I popped over to V’s house for a brew and a chat. It’s nice to be finally making a few friends. I have lived here since August 2010 and had so much going on that I neglected to get out and meet anybody.
The need to tidy and clean is very much still lingering and I keep eyeing up the ever-growing pile of baby clothes that no longer fit Spike. I am really torn as to what to do with them. The hubby doesn’t want any more babies so wants me to get rid of them but I am hoping I can win him around in a couple of years time. Getting rid of them is like admitting defeat, even though a lot of them wouldn’t do a third child I have a need to hang on to them! I have already kept the baby grow that both boys wore in their hospital photos and Spike’s tiny little snowsuit but they are more for the memories rather than to clothe another baby. I feel that if I do free up the space in the house by giving them to charity then it will be an excuse from the hubby not to have another baby. I can hear him now – “We have no baby stuff so it will cost a fortune again….blah blah blah!” MEN!!
Category General | Tags: bling,blog,internet,netmums,teething,website | No Comments
