The NEW LÍLLÉbaby Essentials

(This carrier was given to me, but all opinions are my own. This post also contains affiliate links).

We've had the pleasure of trying out the new LÍLLÉbaby Essentials carrier the last few weeks, and I am really impressed!

Here's a quick overview:

• Minimum weight: 7 pounds with infant insert (not yet available), 15 pounds without.
• Maximum weight: 45 pounds
• Posisitions: Front, Back, and Hip. 
• Features: 3 way adjustable straps (including PFA's), Large pocket, attached mesh hood.
• 100% cotton.
• Price: $89.99

I think Essentials is a great name for this carrier. It has everything you need in a carrier, at a great price. It's comfortable, has an awesome pocket, a soft mesh hood, and it looks amazing!

When I was new to babywearing and looking for a carrier I could not understand how people justified spending so much on carriers. I now know that it is totally worth it, but it was hard to justify it in the beginning. I wanted something affordable, but also wanted something comfortable that would last a long time. If the LÍLLÉbaby Essentials had been around 2 years ago, it would have been EXACTLY what I was looking for!
The LÍLLÉbaby Essentials is a great starter or extra carrier. It folds up small, making it perfect to keep in the car or diaper bag so it's ready to go whenever you are! I love having it in addition to my LÍLLÉbaby COMPLETE and can even use the amazing LÍLLÉbaby Lumbar Support with it. 

The Essentials is comfortable even for long periods of time, and I can use it for both my 17 month old and 3 year old. I love it, my husband loves it, the kids love it, we just have a lot of love for this carrier. Go get yours at www.lillebaby.com

The Essentials fits many shapes and sizes of babies and toddlers.

We LOVE our LÍLLÉbaby Complete, so if you are wondering which might be the one for you, here is a quick comparison. 

One Year of Cloth Diapers

One year ago I was a cloth diaper skeptic. I try to be as frugal as possible, so I had looked into cloth diapers when I was pregnant with my first baby, but after seeing the cost, and figuring in all the washing and everything, I thought there was no way they could ever save anyone money. And not to mention, poop, germs, ew! 

For over 2 years we suffered through cheap disposables, daily blowouts, and lots of diapers only worn for 2 minutes before they were pooped in and thrown away. When my second baby was 5 months old, and I had two in diapers, literally throwing away all that money started to really bother me. I revisited cloth diapers, found cheaper ones I was willing to take the risk with, and went for it, figuring I could try it for a couple months to make the investment worth it, and if I hated it I could always quit. 

Well here I am one year later, still using, and loving, cloth diapers. My baby ended up having food allergies so she was primarily breastfed for over a year, which meant really messy diapers. I dreaded every time she was in a disposable because I quickly learned that cloth diapers are bomb proof. I think I can count on one hand the number of blowouts we have had, and those were very small, and usually due to user error. I saw somewhere that you are either dealing with poopy laundry (clothes) or poopy laundry (cloth diapers), and I think that is totally true.

Saving money was my biggest motivating factor to start cloth diapering. but even though I'm not a huge "green" person, I must admit I do like knowing I'm not adding a bunch of diapers to the mountains of trash out there. Even now with a 17 month old, and a 3 year old only wearing diapers at night, we go through AT LEAST 7 diapers a day. That's over 2500 diapers a year!

You might be wondering, what about the poop?! I thought for sure I would quit cloth diapers once my baby started eating solid foods, but thanks to some handy gadgets, dealing with the poop doesn't even really bother me. We LOVE our Spray Pal splatter shield and Sprayer. The few times I have foolishly thought I didn't need to bother using the Spray Pal, I have fully regretted it. Let's just leave it at that ;)

So would I recommend cloth diapers? Yes! They are really so much easier, awesome, and less gross than you would think. If me and my germaphobe  husband can do it, anyone can!

Cloth diapers are cute, easy, save money, and are just all around a good idea. Don't be scared, give them a try! The worst thing that will happen is you'll love them :) 

Babywearing=Freedom

       I didn't really get into babywearing with my first baby, and I really regret it now. I was given a Bjorn, and although it worked ok for the first few months, it quickly became uncomfortable. And for some reason babywearing all the time just didn't occur to me.
       I spent many hours walking around stores, holding a crying baby while pushing the car seat in the shopping cart. I went through the airport pushing an empty stroller while juggling a 20 pound 1 year old. Getting things done around the house when you have a baby that just wants to be held is very difficult, and there were many things that just seemed impossible to do with a baby, like hiking, or going somewhere on my own. Why? Because most babies want to be held, some more than others, but babies just like being close to their parents. Which is understandable, the world's a kinda scary place.

       When I got pregnant the second time I really started looking into more comfortable baby carriers. I ended up ordering one and we used it with my toddler even before the baby came. Once we had a second baby girl in our lives there was new joy, but also new challenges. How do you fit both a toddler and a newborn in a shopping cart? How do you take your toddler to play at the park with a crawling 6 month old? How do you take 2 young kids through the airport, or travel alone with a baby? The answer to all of these potential problems is babywearing. Babywearing has made my life SO much easier.

       I don't think my second baby has ever really been unhappy while shopping or out and about because she has always been snuggled securely against me. Even in the most foreign places she's been able to stay happily close to what's familiar to her, her mom.

We LOVE our LILLEbaby Complete & CarryOn

       So, to my main point. Babywearing=freedom. Freedom to get off the sidewalk and take the path less traveled. Freedom to take a 1 and 2 year old hiking, to the zoo, through the airport, in the snow, to the store, and anywhere else we want to go. Freedom to let your baby nap anywhere, be comfortable, happy, and content in almost every situation. Freedom to take your baby just about anywhere and do just about anything.

       Babywearing=happy kids, and I love all of the snuggles I get to enjoy while exploring the world with them nice and close. If you haven't given babywearing a try, do it! You might be surprised by how many opportunities it opens up to you and your family. There's a whole world out there, get out and explore it!

Mayfair Child/Adult Toilet Seat

Before having kids I saw lots of different potty seats people would use, and all of them seemed gross, or a pain. I was so glad to find out there was something like this, and I knew I had to have it when my kids started using the potty. 

 The Mayfair Child/Adult Toilet Seat makes life with a potty training kid so much easier! Instead of having bulky/ugly potty seats/chairs sitting around your bathroom, it's basically no different than a regular toilet seat. Since it is attached, it's always right where you need it, on the toilet. The seat is held up with a magnet that is strong and secure, but little kids can still pull it down when needed.

The Adult toilet seat is good quality, and after over a year of use I have no complaints. The whole thing is easy to clean, looks nice, and has held up really well. My daughter feels safe using the toilet all by herself, and it has made potty training a lot more pleasant :)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00596IFBG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

LÍLLÉbaby CarryOn Air

My two year old is like most two year olds; she can be emotional, grumpy, tired, and destructive. All of these toddler qualities seem to make themselves known even more when we are out and about, and holding a big kid for an hour can be very tiring. So although a toddler carrier might not be necessary on a day-to-day basis, it is definitely nice to have on outings, hikes, or even shopping trips.

The LÍLLÉbaby CarryOn Air is AMAZING! It is super comfortable, and fits my 30 pound, 35.5 inch 2.5 year old perfectly. The breathable mesh is perfect for our hot Arizona weather, but it is still soft and supportive. It also features a lumbar support that helps distribute the weight on your back making it even more comfortable. I can hardly feel the 30 pound kid on me, so that's impressive.

The CarryOn can be used up to 50 pounds, so this will not be outgrown anytime soon, which makes a great carrier even more worth the investment. It has dual adjusting straps which makes adjusting on front or back super easy. And the waist belt has extended padding that helps evenly distribute weight around your hips. One of the coolest features are the large pockets that can hold quite a bit of the stuff that us moms have to pack around.

Although my baby girl isn't really a baby anymore, she still feels safe and secure snuggled up with her mom. Even the most extreme toddler tantrums can be tamed by love; and that is why I love the CarryOn, it keeps what matters most to me close to my heart. 

                http://lillebaby.com/baby-carriers/carryon/carryon-air

LÌLLÈbaby Back Carry

If you've ever wondered how to get your baby on your back for a back carry, this is how we do it. With a little bit of practice it gets really easy :)

NursEase Breastfeeding Shawl

If you are/will be breastfeeding, you NEED this (or make one, if money is an issue). Really, this simple little item will make all the difference in whether breastfeeding in public is easy and comfortable, or a nightmare.

Unlike most covers, this one covers all the way around, so you don't have to worry about your back or sides showing. If you are a modest person, you will love this, because it literally shows nothing!

The elastic around the top holds it up well, but it's easy to peek in if you need to. Even with a wiggly baby its nearly impossible for them to expose you.

So reduce some of the stress of going out with your baby, and get one. Trust me, your life will be a million times easier not having to wrestle a baby and a blanket, and all of the other things us moms have going on :)

Tip: for even more coverage, wear an undershirt that you can just pull down in the front, and then when you pull your shirt up you're still covered :)

http://www.amazon.com/s?rh=n%3A379025011%2Cp_4%3ANursEase

LÍLLÉbaby COMPLETE (New with Pockets)

I think babywearing is pretty much necessary with a baby, and especially if you have more than one. I've tried many carriers, and the LÍLLÉbaby COMPLETE is absolutely the best. The added features on the redesigned one make it even better... If that was even possible. 

What I like:
•Comfortable: I can wear this for hours and still be feeling pretty good.
•Shoulder straps: the shoulder straps are so nice and padded that you pretty much don't feel them, even with a big kid.
•Airflow: living in Arizona, this nice breathable mesh is a must for most of the year. And it is so soft too!
•Pocket: the added pocket is amazing! Being able to ditch the diaper bag and throw a few essentials in there is a life saver.
•Bonding: having my babies close and snuggly is a great opportunity to have some one on one time and experience the world together. (It also discourages strangers from unwanted touching).

•Quality: this carrier is great quality, and the company and customer service are excellent.
•New dual adjusting straps: allows you to easily adjust with it on the front or back.
•Long-lasting: this isn't that expensive swing that will be outgrown in 6 months. It can be used for tiny babies all the way up to big toddlers, making it well worth the investment.
•Options: the LÍLLÉbaby can be used in so many different ways. Facing in, facing out, hip, back, neck support up, neck support down, straps crossed... The list goes on, and I love not being stuck using it one way.

What I don't like:
The fact that I can't have one of each of them! Seriously there is nothing I don't like.

I highly recommend the LÍLLÉbaby COMPLETE. 

There is always room for two in my heart, but not always in my arms, and LÍLLÉbaby helps me be there for both of them.

http://lillebaby.com/

Sunbaby Cloth Diapers

I've been interested in cloth diapers from the beginning because disposable diapers are so expensive, but I was afraid to do it because it seemed too nasty, and the startup costs were too high. Why use cloth diapers if the initial stash costs as much as a whole year of disposables? Well, after buying diapers for two kids for 5 months I revisited the idea more seriously and found a very budget friendly option. Sunbaby diapers! 

(*I have actually started using Flour Sack Towels instead of inserts, and I think they work better, and wash and dry much easier. Plus they are really cheap, less than $1 a piece)
Sunbaby diapers are made and ship directly from China, so they are much cheaper. This doesn't mean they are horrible though, in fact, I really like them. They are pocket diapers which means they have a pocket you stuff an insert into. So far cloth diapering has been quite pleasant, no blowouts, and minimal leaks (generally from not changing soon enough, or things not situated well, but basically just a small amount of moisture, so no big deal). They fit well, are good quality, look nice, and wash up well. 

If you've been thinking about trying cloth diapers, give it a go! These are cheap enough to pay for themselves fairly quickly (especially if you are planning on having several kids). I'm not sure what the costs of washing them are yet, but I highly doubt its more than the cost of disposables. And if you are in to saving the planet there's that benefit too wink emoticon 

 http://sunbabydiapers.com/

KidCo Angle Mount Safeway Gate

 When we bought our house it was set up perfectly to block kids from the kitchen and the bedrooms/bathrooms, but the space in the kitchen between the wall and the counter meant I needed a gate that could mount at an angle. I am so glad this was the case, because it led me to find the best baby gates ever!

The KidCo Angle Mount Safeway Gate is the way to go, whether you need to mount a gate at an angle, straight, the top of stairs, or anywhere! This gate truly can be opened with one hand (which if you have kids is 100% necessary), looks nice, and is very sturdy (my toddler stands on it all the time).

 This gate has some really cool features, like the ability to easily take it off the wall if you want it out of the way temporarily. And it can be mounted/adjusted in a variety of ways to get around any obstacles you might have (Trim, etc.), and be adjusted to fit just about any space (just not a super huge one).

 I love how wide this gate opens, allowing you to fit through while carrying car seats, kids, and anything else. And it can open both ways, or be locked to only open one direction (like at the top of stairs). It's also fairly easy to figure out, so even guests are able to use it easily.

The only con's with this gate is that it's a little hard to install, and the instructions aren't too clear, but it is totally worth it. It is also hardware mounted, which means you do have to put holes in your wall, but that's the way to go if you want a gate that works, and doesn't have the tripping hazard bar at the bottom).

 If you want a good, sturdy, easy to use gate that will last, here it is!

Find it on Amazon