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DockATot- the product I never knew I couldn’t live without

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I have to admit that the first time I saw a DockATot on Instagram I was super judgmental and (wrongly) thought it was a suffocation hazard. From the image, it didn’t look very breathable and the baby’s face was smushed against the side. I swiped on and didn’t think about it again until I received an email about them. I then decided to click on the link and read a little bit more- and I couldn’t be more thankful that I did!

I started on the DockATot safety page. The first thing that jumped out at me is that the whole product is Oeko-Tex Certified. That means it has passed rigorous testing and has been proven to be free of any toxic or harmful chemicals. So that baby that I saw in the picture with his face in the pillow was not breathing in any harmful chemicals.

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The DockATot also complies with British standard BS4578, which means it has great air-permeability and can be used confidently in cots and perambulators. The pod is designed for a baby to sleep on his back. The sides are lower than the baby’s face should be, so he is breathing open air and not breathing carbon dioxide from “trapped breathing” like in bassinets or moses baskets. However, the pod was developed for when a baby reaches the age that they roll over in their sleep that they can safely sleep on their bellies.

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The DockATot was designed for safe co-sleeping and to help the transition to a toddler bed. It can also be used for a changing station, tummy time, snuggle time, lounger… There are 2 sizes of the pod- the DockATot Deluxe and DockATot Grand. The Deluxe is for infants 0-8 months and the Grand is 9-36 months. The DockATot  is not intended for use in cribs or bassinets, but the Grand is ok for a toddler bed or big kid size beds. From what I can see, the safety issue with putting the Grand in a crib is the child being able to stand up on the sides of the pod and then falling from the crib.

 

We were sent the DockATot Grand to review and it has truly been my life saver and I cannot recommend enough. My 14 month old has been sleeping with us since day 1 and LOVES to snuggle. While I love this, I need some space during the afternoon while she naps and a few hours before I go to bed. We have her toddler bed pushed next to our bed, but she only likes playing in it while I snooze in the mornings. Since we got the DockATot Grand she has finally slept in her bed during naps and even for 4-8 hours at night. Which is HUGE!

Baby girl still nurses throughout the night, which is mainly why I haven’t pushed getting her into her own bed. My previous thought process was that we get enough sleep- why mess up a good thing? She typically goes to sleep between 7-8 and is up by midnight to nurse. Since I’ve been putting her to sleep in her DockATot Grand she has been sleeping until at least 2 a.m. and the other night she slept until 4:30 a.m.! The best part is that she has gone to sleep on her own in the  DockATot and will sleep on it when we have a babysitter. So it has made going out easier for everyone.

The transition to the DockATot wasn’t a battle and she loves being in it. My oldest didn’t transition to her bed until she was 5. We never found anything that made her feel safe sleeping on her own. My son was the same way and still gets in bed with us every night. I wish I had a DockATot when he was little- it could have done wonders! I feel confident that baby girl will be in her room much sooner than the others and I have DockATot to thank.

The DockATot cover is machine washable and is even preshrunk so you don’t have to worry about it not fitting. You can travel with the DockATot and it is great for when staying in hotels so your baby feels safe at home.

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The DockATot box makes an excellent hiding spot for preschoolers 😉

SAMPLE DISCLOSURE: THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ABOVE ARE HONEST, ACCURATE, AND NOT ENCOURAGED ANYWAY BY MONETARY DONATIONS. A SAMPLE FREE OF CHARGE WAS RECEIVED FROM SAID COMPANY, AS STATED WITHIN THE EDITORIAL.
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B Corp Companies- Congrats Stonyfield

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Congrats to Stonyfield for becoming B-Corp certified! 

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As you know, I’ve been working with Stonyfield for the past 5 years and have loved getting to know the company. They are passionate about healthy food, healthy people, and a healthy planet- so becoming B Corp certified totally made sense with their mission.

What does that mean exactly to be B Corp Certified?

B Corps are for-profit companies certified by the nonprofit B Lab to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. It is about creating better business practices and being held accountable. It is about being the change.

A company must maintain a score of over 80 to keep their B Corp certification. This is what B Lab looks at when determining the score:

This is Stonyfield’s highlights of their score:

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Currently there are over 1,600 B Corp Certified companies. Stonyfield was recently added to the list alongside many of their friends- including Preserve, King Arthur, Purely Elizabeth, Method, pukka, Pete & Gerry’s Organics.

To celebrate their achievement, Yo-Getters were sent a box of goodies from fellow B Corp Companies!

And Stonyfield sent their NEW Grassfed Greek Yogurt that is OMG!

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Especially paired with Purely Elizabeth’s ancient grain granola! You can learn more about B Certified Companies here.

 *I AM PART OF THE STONYFIELD YOGETTERS GROUP OF BLOGGERS AND RECEIVE COMPENSATION AND PRODUCTS AS PART OF THE PROGRAM. MY OPINION IS NOT INFLUENCED IN ANY WAY
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Lorena Canals

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Since baby girl has been sleeping in our room for the past year, I’ve slowly been decorating her room so it has the perfect little touches. She is our last baby, so I really wanted a “Pinterest worthy” room. I love planning and decorating, so this has been a lot of fun piecing together!

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A rug can make a room. But so many rugs are scratchy, bulky, they aren’t machine washable, and lots have chemicals in them that I wouldn’t want next to my baby’s skin.  I was recently introduced to Lorena Canals and I can’t wait to order a few more for around the house!

Lorena Canals manufactures rugs and accessories including throws, pillows, and baskets. All of their products are made using natural dyes, natural fabrics, are ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 18001 and AITEX certified, and the best part is that they are machine washable!!

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All child items should be machine washable. Accidents happen, potty training happens, kids color out of the lines, you get pets…  I avoided rugs in my older kids rooms for that very reason. We did have a throw rug once, but it moved around too much and was more of a pain. I’m happy to report that our Lorena Canals sky rug does really well with 3 active kiddos!

 

Besides being washable, I really love how soft and snuggly the rug feels. The kids love laying on the rug playing with their toys or reading a book. I feel at ease knowing they are laying on safe, natural fabrics.

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All of Lorena Canals rugs have gone through extensive quality controls to check for needles and other metals. They are handmade in India and have some awesome videos on their site if you’d like to see the process! With every Lorena Canals rug purchase, you help a child attend school in India. In 2008, Lorena Canals built a Nursery in Haryana, the North of India, in order to attend children who are in the streets without protection and security, have a place to be, receive one meal a day and the education they need. Currently there are have 104 kids. You can read more here.

You can purchase Lorena Canals rugs online for $109-$299.

SAMPLE DISCLOSURE: THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ABOVE ARE HONEST, ACCURATE, AND NOT ENCOURAGED ANYWAY BY MONETARY DONATIONS. A SAMPLE FREE OF CHARGE WAS RECEIVED FROM SAID COMPANY, AS STATED WITHIN THE EDITORIAL.

 

 

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Kleynimals

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No matter how many awesome toys babies have, they always go for remotes, phones, and keys. I’m a germaphobe and chemophobe, so I freak out every time one of those goes toward the baby’s mouth. We’ve bought fake (wooden) remotes, cameras, and phones- but those haven’t fooled baby A. I saw Kleynimals online not too long ago and was skeptical if baby A would enjoy them enough to spend $35, but I thought they were adorable. Baby A is quite picky about what she plays with, so without seeing in person, it is hard to buy for her. As luck would have it, an opportunity arose for me to review the Kleynimals Rattle and these are going to be my new go-to baby shower gift!

Kleynimals #Mkokopelli
Kleynimals #Mkokopelli
Kleynimals #Mkokopelli

Kleynimals uses 100% American sourced, food grade stainless steel so everything is safe to go in your baby’s mouth. That also means no lead, cadmium, BPA, or phthalates. The Kleynimals rattle is made up of three 1.5 inch key animals attached to a large ring with several separator steel beads. When jiggled, the rings clack together to make a metal rattle sound. The ring is 3.25″ in diameter whereas their Kleynimals key rings are 1.50″ in diameter.  The animals are larger with the keys but I love the small size with the rattle.

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Baby A loves to pick up the rattle and walk around the room shaking- especially when her daddy is sleeping. She also loves wearing it as a bracelet. The cold metal of the animals has been soothing her irritated gums from teething and it works great to freeze for 10 minutes for the extra cold effect. The rattle and keys are dishwasher safe! The rattle is very lightweight, so great for babies 5 months+ and I’d encourage to have on hand when teething begins. This would have helped a lot with the front teeth irritation!

Baby A reminds me of Ludo when she puts it in her mouth and walks around.

Another cool thing about Kleynimals is that you can have the keys engraved with the child’s name and even date of birth.

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Even if you don’t engrave, Kleynimals make an excellent heirloom gift that is unique and useful! I plan on hanging ours in a shadow box when baby A gets older.

Kleynimals is dedicated to leaving a positive impact in our world from the manufacturing process, to the no waste packaging, to the satisfied customer. Kleynimals donates 1% of profits to Healthy Child, Healthy World and 1% of profits the World Wildlife Fund. They also enlist the help of The Providence House, a local non-profit organization that supports developmentally disabled adults in living self-directed lives, for the assembly and tagging of products.

You can purchase Kleynimals rattles, keys, and flatware online and at select retails store.

SAMPLE DISCLOSURE: THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ABOVE ARE HONEST, ACCURATE, AND NOT ENCOURAGED ANYWAY BY MONETARY DONATIONS. A SAMPLE FREE OF CHARGE WAS RECEIVED FROM SAID COMPANY, AS STATED WITHIN THE EDITORIAL.
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For the On-the-Go Moms

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I try really hard not to skip meals. But in between preschool drop off and pickup, work, appointments, and my daily walk- sometimes a meal gets forgotten or even worse, I end up in a drive through line. Stonyfield sent us some of their Whole Milk Smoothies and my lunch or breakfast problems have been solved!

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After taking my thyroid medicine in the a.m. I have to wait 30 minutes before eating or drinking- so making breakfast before we leave is challenging (nonexistent). My walking friends and I sometimes stop and grab breakfast after our walk so by lunchtime I’m too full for a meal or I simply forget until it is pickup time. Thanks to Stonyfield, I now have a solution!

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Stonyfield’s Whole Milk Smoothies have less sugar than their original Smoothies, but with the same great taste. They have 6 grams of protein, along with 6 live active cultures, vitamin A, vitamin D and calcium. They are free of GMO’s, certified organic, kosher, gluten free, and pasture raised.

Right now the Whole Milk Smoothies come in Peach or Strawberry and they both are delicious! I love peach flavored anything, but the strawberry tastes just a like strawberry milkshake. When it gets a little bit warmer, I might have to add to some Stonyfield frozen yogurt for desert.

Click here to find a store near you that carries Stonyfield or go to the product page and search for the flavor that you’d like!

 *I AM PART OF THE STONYFIELD YOGETTERS GROUP OF BLOGGERS AND RECEIVE COMPENSATION AND PRODUCTS AS PART OF THE PROGRAM. MY OPINION IS NOT INFLUENCED IN ANY WAY
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Do Good December

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I’ve been part of Stonyfield’s YoGetter team since it began in 2011. I have loved all of the wonderful opportunities that I’ve had working with them and other like-minded companies. But I think this month’s has been my favorite. Stonyfield sent us $50 gift cards to pay it forward to a good deed. So this got me thinking and I decided to make the whole month of December a Do Good month for our family.
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This is the calendar we started off with. Due to a couple of sicknesses, we didn’t get to complete everything- but we achieved 90% of our do good activities! The kids cleared out 4 bags of toys and clothes to be donated. We filled a shopping bag with food to donate. We brought coffee to teachers. We bought a meal for a stranger. We played Unsecret Santa to a few families via UnMarketing on Facebook. We spent a couple of hours at a nursing home doing crafts and singing carols to the residents. We made gifts, we made cards, we helped others, and we learned giving is just as fulfilling as getting.  We also made a $50 donation to Bright Blessings with the Stonyfield give back card.

Bright Blessings is a local charity that provides support for homeless and impoverished children. It started off as a charity that threw birthday parties for homeless shelters, transitional housing facilities and domestic violence programs as well as creating baskets for babies with essential items needed. The charity has expanded to providing books to homeless shelters, and giving hygiene items, security toys and healthy snacks. Last year they were able to help over 8,000 children with over 1,800 birthday’s celebrated.

Thank you Stonyfield for inspiring our giving back month and for helping Bright Blessings!

 *I AM PART OF THE STONYFIELD YOGETTERS GROUP OF BLOGGERS AND RECEIVE COMPENSATION AND PRODUCTS AS PART OF THE PROGRAM. MY OPINION IS NOT INFLUENCED IN ANY WAY
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Breastfeeding with Anxiety and Meds

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In a perfect world, I wouldn’t take any medication while breastfeeding- or even take medicine in general. But in February I had to make that decision- to give my baby formula or to let my baby get a minuscule amount (studies have shown 0-5.5% of the maternal dose) of anti-depression medicine from my milk.

Before making this decision, I spoke with my daughter’s pediatrician, read countless articles and studies/drug inserts/and information pertaining to breastfeeding and Lexapro. Everything said it was fine to keep breastfeeding, so I made that choice.

Posted from InfantRisk and LactMed

I’m a full time mom of 3, who works from home with the kids, whose husband works 13 hours shifts- so sometimes I’m a single parent for a few days- there is no way I could make it without meds. But over the last 4 months my anxiety has worsened for no reason- so I tried to get more help.

The first Dr. that I saw for the anxiety told me there were no benzodiazepines that were safe while breastfeeding- even after I had researched and found Ativan was fine to take.

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So I moved on to Dr. #2. Dr. 2 wasn’t hearing me when I said something is going on with my body and I’m 90% sure it is my thyroid- plus she fought me on anxiety meds- even when my whole body was breaking out in hives. Which brought me to Dr.#3 and the reason for this post.

Dr. 3 at least was hearing me more on my thyroid concern and did some testing, but he was the worst of them all. He began to shame me for breastfeeding and taking meds. His words were- “If you were my wife, I would tell you to stop breastfeeding if you were taking any depression medication. It is only beneficial (to breastfeed) the first few months anyways.”  It took everything out of me not to go off on this man. I’m just going to post this from Kelly Mom:

The week before my appointment, I spoke with my daughter’s pediatrician (who is on the holistic side) to see if there was an anxiety med that she recommended, what was safe, and what I should do. Her opinion was my mental health is extremely important, that most anxiety meds were ok to take and since they are only used as needed- pumping and dumping is always an option. I also went to my LC to verify the information from LactMed and InfantRisk. Her book, Medications and Mother’s Milk, said the same thing as the apps.

I think it is important to get information from all over because it is called Practicing Medicine for a reason. Information changes daily. It is impossible for Dr.’s to keep up with every drug, warning, and whatnot. And I’ve learned the Novant computer system drug information is different than what LactMed, the government, drug company, and other drug information sites publish.

So Dr.3 proceeded to tell me I shouldn’t be on any medicine while nursing. He said if I still have anxiety, my medicine isn’t working and I need to switch drugs. When I tried to explain the research that I’ve done- he then talked down on me like- how dare you research on your own, I’m a Dr. and pulled up his outdated info online. I just listened because I was frustrated, shaking, and wanted to scream how wrong he was. But then I know I wouldn’t have gotten the medication I needed or the tests run that could solve this puzzle.

When I left, I was so upset. It has taken me 3 weeks to calm down enough to write this post. What kind of Dr. shames a mother who is trying to get better so she can care for her kids and be at her best? Let alone 3 Dr.’s who aren’t listening to their patient?? And it turns out there IS something wrong with my thyroid and possibly pituitary gland, so I’m glad I kept fighting and didn’t give up.

Post-partum care in this country is beyond pathetic- and I have great insurance. I am lucky that I understand depression and anxiety. I am lucky that I understand lactation and have an amazing support system. I am lucky I have the resources to do my own research instead of relying on what a Dr. is telling me. But I can’t imagine the mom who is struggling and the Dr. turns her away. I can’t imagine the mom who has worked so hard to breastfeed to be told she needs to stop because of medicine- that is actually safe to take! Or fight for tests to be run that would resolve the whole situation!

If you have a concern and the first Dr. isn’t listening to you- find new care. And keep going down the line until you find someone who is hearing you. Find someone who knows medicine changes. That research changes. Find someone who is willing to learn instead of thinking they are always right. Most importantly- listen to your body. You know you better than any Dr.

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Seedling

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My kids love to craft. They get it honestly- because before I had kids, I crafted every weekend. But after I noticed my daughter comparing her projects to mine, I decided to let her do her own thing and just guide her with the materials and brief instructions. The results have been amazing- most of the time.

I love buying art kits. Putting together projects and getting all the materials can be challenging with 3 kiddos- especially when we don’t have an art store near us. We have used Seedling kits for a while now and I LOVE that some kits can be found in Target!

They just released a Disney line including art projects featuring The Little Mermaid, Finding Dory, Through the Looking Glass, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Tangled and more!

My kids love music, so they got to make a Circle of Life Drum from the The Lion King.

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The kit includes:

  • Cylinder drum box
  • Faux suede cord and fabric
  • Acrylic craft paint
  • Natural bristle paintbrush
  • Stencils
  • Painter’s tape
  • Drumsticks
  • Instructions

The stencils allow your child to paint Simba, Pumba, Timone, and paw prints to the drum. My 9 year old and 4 year old completed the tom-tom drum together and they had a blast- so they tell me. They snuck downstairs early one morning and completed it without me knowing- so I didn’t get any pictures. But they did a really good job on their own!

You can get the Circle of Life Drum kit online at Seedling for $34.99.

Here are examples of other Design Your Own Disney Kits that are amazing!

The 15-piece collection retails from $14.99 to $39.99 and is available on seedling.com and in select Nordstrom stores. Be sure to join the Seedling email list to find out about amazing holiday savings and how you can earn $10 by getting your friends to sign up and shop!

You can find Seedling on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.

Sample Disclosure: The opinions expressed above are honest, accurate, and not encouraged anyway by monetary donations. A sample free of charge was received from said company, as stated within the editorial.
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Tom’s of Maine- Healthy Habits

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Even though our skin is our largest organ, most people ignore personal care product ingredients and don’t pay attention to what they are putting on their body.  Certain personal care ingredients have been linked to cancer, they can cause developmental and reproductive toxicity, they can be endocrine disruptors, and can be common allergens.

Aluminum in deodorant/antiperspirant has been linked to breast cancer. Aluminum can cause estrogen-like effects that can promote the growth of breast cancer cells. Parabens (also common in other personal care items) are preservatives found in deodorants/antiperspirants that mimic the activity of estrogen. In a study, 18 of 20 breast tumor samples contained parabens. This is why it is important to read your product labels and find a safe, and effective alternative- especially for teens!

Most people wouldn’t think to read their toothpaste labels, but lots of major brands have endocrine disruptors, allergens, and ingredients that can cause organ system toxicity. Some toothpaste contains parabens- even children’s brands! Which is why we switched to Tom’s.

Tom’s of Maine was created by Tom Chappell in the 70’s when he and his wife couldn’t find natural personal care items. Over the past 40 years their brand has expanded to oral care, body care, baby care and more. Tom’s of Maine can be easily found in health food stores, drug stores, grocery stores, Target, and online.

Tom’s of Maine partnered with Stonyfield’s YoGetters this month and we got an awesome package full of healthy habits for the whole family.

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Tom’s of Maine has a large variety of toothpastes for adults and children ranging from sensitive care to enamel strength, with and without fluoride, and even whiteners. Their toothbrushes are made with recyclable plant-based handles that were made with renewable castor oil instead of petroleum.

Tom’s of Maine also has a line of deodorant and antiperspirants for teens, women, and men. All deodorants and antiperspirants are free of aluminum, artificial fragrance, preservatives, and animal ingredients. They have plant based ingredients backed by product gaureentees!

You can find Tom’s of Main on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

What are some of your favorite Tom’s of Maine items? Or what do you want to try?

*I AM PART OF THE STONYFIELD YOGETTERS GROUP OF BLOGGERS AND RECEIVE COMPENSATION AND PRODUCTS AS PART OF THE PROGRAM. MY OPINION IS NOT INFLUENCED IN ANY WAY