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Sunday 15 June 2014

Doidy Cup Review


This post is a little late but still should be helpful. I won a Doidy Cup from 2Cute to try out with Small Person. Below is the review I did for them on their Facebook page:

"Baby is 8 months old tomorrow and was very keen to "drink" from the cup so I filled it with some cooled boiled water. I held onto the bottom so she didn't tip it all over herself and put it up to her mouth. At first she held onto the lip of the Doidy until I moved her hand to the handle. She then started to poke her tongue into the cup like a cat drinks (we don't have one so it's not like she was copying). Any water that she took into her mouth she put back into the cup. She had lots of fun with it though. Her bib got quite wet - but it was her first time drinking from any kind of cup and she didn't swallow the water. 

I liked how she didn't have to tip her head back to get any water - people who are worried about choking on food don't have to worry with the Doidy because baby sits upright with the angle of the Doidy cup allowing the water to easily move into the mouth without the gagging that happens when baby is in the swimming pool from taking that in (hope that made sense!)."

The Doidy comes in different fun colours and was made in Scotland. It is also recommended for the elderly who may have trouble drinking from a 'normal' cup.

I started giving Small Person a bottle with a straw over the summer so we stopped using the Doidy, however we now use it in the bath as she is much more independent and tries to drink from it in there. Most of the time she just likes to tip the water out or put her ducks into it!

The Doidy is a reasonable price for an ergonomically designed cup. I would recommend this product.


Doidy cup – from 2Cute

Thursday 5 June 2014

Autumn has come

I have a fair bit of catching up to do don't I? Ladybug, hereafter will be known as Small Person turned ONE! Yikes! How did that happen? I have some photo's I want to share of her party once I get them sorted. I'll also share the link to my ideas board for this party in another post.

So, like I said, Small Person is one. She is cruising around the furniture and has only taken a few tentative steps. She's a pretty fast crawler too. Her hair has grown in quite a bit, but not enough to tie up. Haven't tried a clip yet as she pulls mine out (ouch!) so she'd do the same to herself I'm guessing.

We have had quite a few feijoas, but Small Person and I don't really like them. More for Daddy and friends then. Daddy has sown grass out the front and now it's starting to look good with a few little patches. It should be nice once spring comes around and in time for Small Person to run around the yard.

Our neighbour across the road had a baby girl mid-February and Small Person was quite fascinated by her. She also has started liking dolls too. When we go to playgroup she sometimes likes to play with the dolls there, if she isn't busy playing with dinosaurs or blocks that is.

***UPDATED*** Small person has been walking for about 10 days now! I'll need to get her gumboots now I think for playing outside on the wet grass and dirt tracks in the reserve nearby.

Wednesday 1 January 2014

Thursday 19 December 2013

O Christmas Tree!

I love decorating for Christmas and I love my tree! I collected my decorations over a couple of years and this year is the first I have been able to put them all the way around the tree as I have it up in the corner against two windows. It's behind the couch so it's protected from Ladybug.

Before I added the lights I let her touch the tree. She really liked the way it felt on her fingers and kept rubbing the branch. When I had most of the decorations up she was up again from her nap. I took her into the lounge and she was so excited to see the lights going and the decorations on the tree. Takes after her Mummy! Proud moment!

Here is how I've decorated this year. i would love a wreath for the door, but it's not a priority just yet.


Jim Shore Mr & Mrs Christmas, Advent Calendar, Nutcrackers, Angel's & Santa's



From a friend years ago - looks good when the tealight candle is lit



Santa



My beautiful tree!



Close-up of just some of my favourite decorations: Santa's, Angels, Fairies, and Dancers


Saturday 30 November 2013

How to Clean Your Washing Machine

I have had my washing machine for well over 10 years and it's only been cleaned by my Mum (thanks!). So when I saw this tutorial by Jill of One Good Thing in my Facebook Feed I had to give it a go.

Now, in the tutorial she adds the bleach to hot water - my Janola stated NOT to add to hot water, instead using warm or cold water. I did the warm water. CAUTION: make sure you run your dishwasher and have a shower before you use warm/hot water so you don't run out and get a cold shower! Of course that depends on how big your hot water cylinder is.

I couldn't believe the muck that came out into the water - it looked a little gray. Yuck! I've been washing my clothes in that?! So glad I've done this. She recommends in her tutorial to  clean your machine every three months or at least twice a year.

Here is the tutorial.

Thursday 14 November 2013

Yay for Summer!

I am so glad the weather is heating up as it means I can take Ladybug out. We just went for a walk around the neighbourhood as the sky was so blue and the sun was out. Much better than earlier in the day. 

It's not long now until Christmas and I have worked out how I can safely (I hope!) have my (fake) tree up without it being tipped over as Ladybug is now slowly dragging herself along the ground. It does mean it will be mostly hidden, but I would rather that than not have it at all. Usually I would wait until December 1st to put it up, but we have a Movember BBQ to go to that day and it normally would take me the better part of a day to put up. Now I have a small person I think I'll need to do it over a few days so I'll start in about a week's time I think. I can't wait as I LOVE Christmas!

Do you do real or fake?

Monday 28 October 2013

Product Review: Ergobaby Swaddler

***UPDATED AT BOTTOM***

Thanks to Mums Review I was selected to review a swaddle by Ergobaby. After some trouble with it getting to me (it came from Asia via Australia!) I finally received it. As with everything new I use on Ladybug I gave it a good wash first off. Because it hasn't been the nicest of weather here it took a little time to dry in the garage, about a day. I was fine with that as I didn't want to risk putting it in the dryer, even though you can put wool in ours.

Ladybug has always been swaddled in one way or another as she has the startle reflex motion that wakes her up, and now, at seven months old, it's a comfort to her.

So what did I think?

The first time I put Ladybug into the Ergobaby Swaddler she slept for about two hours in the morning. Wow! I thought - two hours! That's great and similar to what she has been sleeping in recently. However, her next nap was in the afternoon and she only slept for about 40 minutes. Every time I have put her into this swaddle she has only had short sleeps. There are many reasons for this:
  1. she is teething and gets small naps from the pain,
  2. afternoon naps have always been short unless she is really tired,
  3. she has infant eczema and tries to scratch her face when asleep if not pulling on her ear from teething pains,
  4. she is an Houdini baby.
I haven't been brave enough to sleep her in it at night as she is usually a good 10 hour sleeper and I didn't want to lose my sleep to her waking through the night (I know, I know I'm lucky).

Does Ladybug like it?

Yes. She liked moving her arms and loosening it so she could put her hand to her mouth to suck on it. Must have tasted good!


Did I like it?

I liked how her arms were contained within the specially designed wings. These were great to stop her from scratching herself and made getting a grumpy tired baby to settle easily. I would have preferred the velcro tab to be bigger, but they were nice and quiet to undo if needing to reposition. The special piece that folds up to keep the legs and hips in the frog position I found awkward as it didn't seem long enough. The little sack that goes over the legs was a good idea as I can see parents resting their baby's legs on top of this in hotter weather, although it was nice and lose for kick room when baby is awake.

I tried to follow the instructions from the pamphlet but needed to go look at the instructional video. Now I am able to put most things together with minimal instructions so I was surprised at the extra help I needed. One thing I would like added to the instructional video is tips for making the swaddle tighter when wrapping the arms as Miss Houdini was always moving her arms making it hard to get the same snug fit as the baby in the pamphlet. Maybe on a younger baby this would be easier?




Ergobaby in the USA have sent a pictorial "how-to" for do's and don'ts. If this was included with the swaddle it would have made it much easier to use. Go HERE to get your own copy.