Posts Tagged ‘swaddle’

Aden + Anais Security Blanket {Giveaway}

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

They’ve done it again! Aden + Anais’ newest muslin creation, the issie security blanket. It’s made from the same breathable, 100% natural muslin cotton as their swaddles, but these are cuddling sized! Packs of two make life easier if one  is one is lost or needs washing.  Cotton muslin is the world’s oldest, most cherished woven fabric. It adorned the members if the Indus Valley Civilization 7,000 years ago. It was used by the Egyptians to both swaddle their babies and to wrap those who had passed away. It graced the robes of ancient Greeks and Romans. It was used for the elaborate petticoats of 17th century France and as garments worn by the underprivileged working classes of medieval Europe. The story of muslin is the story of civilization. Muslin has protected its wearers from the heat and the cold. It has swaddled countless babies from every land and draped the shoulders of the wise and the elderly from every corner of the earth. It is a fabric that binds us all together– through out all time, all places, and all cultures.  It is the purest, simplest, most gentle, and, in the opinion of Aden + Anais, the most perfect fabric in the world

Aren’t the little giraffes adorable! But they have a ton more prints too like fairies, elephants, stars, cars, monkeys and butterflies.  Noah received his issie set and was hooked.  He has “busy” restless hands so holding a lovey clenched in his little fists helps to soothe him.   The magical feel of a soft security blanket is both comforting and soothing to newborns and toddlers alike.  Aden + Anais are sure the Issie™, made of gentle, breathable muslin and lined with silky satin, will become one of your child’s most cherished simple pleasures. And like all aden + anais® products, the issie™ is playfully designed in our exclusive, modern prints to bring together comfort and style.

GIVEAWAY:  Win your own issie set!  Contest ends in one week, good luck to all! 

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NEW GIVEAWAY RULES – Please note that we will only accept a maximum of 3 entries per person, as outlined below.
 

To be eligible to win, you must:
1) Comment from above
Extra Entries {please leave a comment for each one}:
2) Follow Aden + Anais on Facebook.
 

Although the following are not part of the entry rules, we would love it if you did the following {but PLEASE do not leave a comment for these and see top of page for links}:
A) Subscribe to BabyElan {daily}
B) Become our Fan on Facebook {check out the new BabyElan {SHOP}Facebook page}
C) Follow us on Twitter
 

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zzzTIME Collection

Friday, July 16th, 2010

Always on the lookout for the most innovative offerings in swaddle & sleep care, I was excited to learn about SootheTIME’s new collection of zzzTIME sleepwear & accessories!  The zzzTIME collection offers parents {and babies} sensible, stylish & soothingly soft Snooze Wrap Plus {swaddler}, Snooze Sack, Snooze Sheets & Sleepzies.

We recently had the chance to review a sample Snooze Sack & a Sleepzie & we agree that they are truly soft & soothing for baby, creating stress-free moms & dads!  Made from all natural cotton fabrics, they are perfect for baby’s tender skin.

What I love about the Snooze Sack is the adjustable Comfort Wrap that is on the inside of the Sack.  Adjust this wrap around babies tummy before zipping up the Sack, and this may help reduce the symptoms of colic while providing more restful sleep.  The Sack’s have Comfort Vents to prevent overheating & a bottom-up zipper making it more convenient for diaper changes.

Sleepzies are a great alternative to a full length sleeper when dressing baby for the night.  The long sleeves are great for keeping their arms warm when in the Snooze Sack, yet still allowing their legs to be comfortable and not too warm.

The zzzTIME Snooze Wrap Plus looks very interesting as well!  We did not receive one of these for review, but definitely check them out at your local store!

Available at Babies R Us, check out the entire collection today!

aden + anais {GIVEAWAY}

Monday, May 3rd, 2010

As parents we get a lot of information  sent our way daily.  Most of it is helpful some of it is awful. As a new parent you get even more advice, suggestions, comments, lectures even :-) Making sense of all the information can be stressful and confusing, bumpers or no bumpers, back or belly, shots or no shots, breast feed or bottle, glass or plastic?  WOW!

I recently was given a charming little book to read.  I wasn’t surprised to find the context informative, honest and beneficial.  Most of you are familiar with the wonderful muslin cotton swaddling blankets and sleeping bags from Aden + Anais,  founder Raegan Moya-Jones is a woman who speaks from practical experiences in her own personal life, open and honestly.  She offers such real advice in a heartwarming manner that you thank her for taking the time to share her thoughts with you.   At least I did, when pregnant for Noah I was introduced to Aden + Anais thus Reagan and immediately felt a bond with her.

In her adorable book Swaddle Love you get more of that from the heart advice in really laying down a simple but effect foundation from day one with your newborn.   Swaddle Love is an entertaining and practical guide full of candid storytelling and heartwarming humour, that explores the history, science, and techniques of swaddling. It’s a joyful celebration of babies, parenthood, and sleeping eight hours a night. :-)   Visit the website to hear live footage from the book.

In 2003, pregnant with her first daughter, Raegan Moya-Jones began an unforgettable journey. From Aussie emigrant and anxious mother-to-be, to business entrepreneur, and now author of the quintessential book on swaddling, Raegan’s path has been peppered with successes and challenges, laughter and tears, but most of all, it has been traveled with passion.

Bottom line, if you are expecting or know someone that is, pick up this quick read.  It is a wonderful resource for any parent trying to get their newborn on a schedule, soothe them and help them learn to sleep on their own all with swaddling.

GIVEAWAY!    Simply become an aden + anais FB Fan, contest ends in one week, good luck to all! LISA LEVENSON IS OUR FEATURE WINNER.

NEW GIVEAWAY RULES – Please note that we will only accept a maximum of 3 entries per person, as outlined below.

To be eligible to win, you must:
1) Leave a comment about the giveaway product or the BabyElan guest post

Extra Entry {please leave a comment}:
2) Become a Facebook Fan of the giveaway sponsor & leave a comment on their FB Page

Although the following are not part of the entry rules, we would love it if you did the following {but PLEASE do not leave a comment for these}:
A) Subscribe to BabyElan {daily}
B) Become our Fan on Facebook
C) Follow us on Twitter

Koala Kuddles

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

Now that Spring is “almost” here, are you looking for that perfect lightweight blanket for your little one?  We recently received the new, Austin based, muslin swaddle blanket from Koala Kuddles, and we’re in love!

As a firm believer in swaddling as long as humanly possible, we were so excited to test out this new product!  Yes, it’s true that the material of your blanket makes a huge difference when determining whether or not swaddling is going to be successful for your baby…  We had great success with flannel blankets when swaddling Alex 3 years ago, but muslin seems to be the way to go for Harrison.

The Koala Kuddles blankets are just the right size for swaddling babies from 0 -3 months.  Now that he is approaching the 4-month mark {tomorrow!} he is getting a little too long for these blankets.  That said, with the adorable animal print design & the softer with every wash, breathable muslin fabric, our Koala Kuddles days are far from over!

I had really been stressing over making sure Harrison had a beloved lovey or blankie, like my other two children did.  Well my friends, I think the Koala Kuddles blanket has made it’s way into Harrison’s heart {and mine}.  It is the perfect size for keeping him cozy in his car seat, stroller & even baby swing.  He loves to have it close to his face, and he loves to feel the soft muslin fibers between his fingers.  I love the Koala Kuddles for keeping him shielded from the sun {which we hope to do a lot next week in Disney World!} & I use it regularly as a nursing cover.  It provides just the right amount of weight to keep him warm, but not too hot.

With two simple & understated designs available, Australian Animals and Polka Dots, you won’t have any trouble choosing which to get.  They are both great!  Grab a package of Koala Kuddles now, just in time for the warmer weather!

aden+anais {GIVEAWAY}

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

Well they’ve done it again!  The fabulous Reagan Moya-Jones and her team have added to an already wonderful collection of classic cotton muslin, organic cotton muslin and bamboo muslin products for your baby!  But now,….. the team brings you the Cozy Collection :-)

aden + anais has brought the legacy of muslin together with fashion-forward design to create a line of products that are as stylish as they are useful and as simple as they are beautiful. The proof is in every product we make. aden + anais is known for its high-quality 100% cotton muslin products that are fashionably designed with contemporary aesthetic taste. They have built their reputation on highlighting the special properties of muslin that make it ideal for infant and toddler care. The muslin products breathe and allow a baby’s body temperature to regulate itself naturally, dramatically reducing the risk of overheating.

For countless generations, mothers have swaddled and cared for their children with natural muslin.  aden + anais® brings this traditional practice to you with their specially-crafted cozy swaddles. Designed with fashion-forward prints and a double-layer of muslin, they are the perfect wrap for cold, wintry nights and brisk walks in the park.

Single 100% cotton muslin double-layer swaddling blanket. The fabric’s light, open weave allows a baby’s body temperature to regulate itself naturally which helps to prevent overheating. The double layer of muslin helps make baby comfortably warm on cold nights and brisk walks through the park. The more you washaden + anais wraps, the softer they get. aden + anais wraps are extra large, measuring 47” x 47”, so that new and seasoned moms alike can swaddle babies of all sizes with ease. Traditionally used for swaddling the wraps can also be used as burp cloths, nursing and stroller covers, portable crib sheets, stroller and car seat liners, tummy time blankets, change table covers, and more.  Since Noah is almost 10 months old we don’t use our blanket to swaddle, but we do use it every single day in our stroller :-)    We use it at the park too, Noah isn’t walking yet so he sits and plays in the sunshine :-)

SIDS is a serious health concern for any parent.   We would never intentionally do something to harm our children, aden + anais and the CJ Foundation for SIDS Educate Parents and Caregivers About The Dangers of Over-Heating Infants.   Be aware of the dangers so you can keep your baby safe. aden + anais proudly sponsor and raise awareness for the CJ Foundation.

In the winter months, parents and caregivers are more likely to crank the heating and reach for plush, thick blankets to keep their babies warm. Infants who are overdressed or covered in heavy blankets or many blankets are at higher risk for SIDS. It is very important for babies to be dressed lightly and comfortably to avoid overheating. The CJ Foundation recommends the use of wearable blankets and sleep-sacks in place of blankets to keep infants warm while sleeping.  Makes complete sense!  Over 2,000 babies in the United States still die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) each year, and overheating is a leading risk factor.

Here are som risk-reducing, precautionary practices:

Consider the use of fans to increases ventilation
Room temperature should be comfortable for a lightly-clothed adult, approximately 61-67 degree Fahrenheit
Cribs should be totally free of all loose blankets, stuffed animals and crib bumpers
Lay baby to sleep in an improved crib, on a firm mattress; do not let the baby sleep on soft things, like a couch, pillow, sheepskin, foam pad or waterbed
No smoking when pregnant or near baby
If possible, breastfeed baby
Offer a pacifier at bedtime
Co-sleeping should be in the same room but not the same bed or other sleep surface as parents

aden + anais has received the Creative Child magazine 2007 Seal of Excellence and several prestigious iParenting Media Awards.

About the CJ Foundation for SIDS: The CJ Foundation for SIDS is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the special needs of the SIDS community through funding SIDS research, support services and public awareness programs. www.cjsids.org

You must feel the soft thickness of these blankets!   Let’s give one a reader a chance (U.S. and Canada)!!  Win an aden + anais cozy sleeping bag of your choice when you comment back here what you like best about aden + anais products.   {Looks like FB is allowing us to use joining FB groups as extra entries again so have at it…EXTRA ENTRY for becoming an aden+anais fan on FaceBook & CJ Foundation too!!}  Contest ends in one week, good luck to all!

EXTRA ENTRIES FOR ALL GIVEAWAYS! Make sure to comment for each extra entry!

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Blog about this giveaway and provide us the link

{do any of the above about this giveaway for 1 extra entry each}