Mom and baby product reviews on The Mommy Insider

Cozy Eco-Cuteness - Organic Cotton Pajamas

Put on your comfy pajamas to lounge, relax and nest. Nourish your soul and the Earth with eco-friendly and organic cotton pajamas. In sizes for mom, kids and baby there are plenty of adorable styles for the entire family. Cotton that is free of pesticides will help you sleep better at night knowing that baby is sound asleep in pure 100% organic pajamas. For the women's pajama styles check out the exclusive deals from Gaiam.com. They are offering free shipping on purchases over $25 through June 1, 2009 with online coupon code, TheFind4.

Styles shown from upper left clockwise:

Womens Solid Organic Flannel Pajamas, Sale $59.99. Gaiam

Under the Nile Organic Layette, $24.00. Land of Nod

Bamboo Pajamas starting at $24.00. WildFlower

Womens Jersey Knit Pajamas Sale Price $39.00. Gaiam

From our friends at TheFind.com

Sleep Scentsations scented pillow liners + win one!

 Sleep is precious to most moms. And for most moms, sleep is hard to come by. 

Because I have a difficult time falling and staying asleep I have a little bedtime ritual during which I prepare my 'sleep aids'.   First, I turn on my sound machine and set it to play ocean waves. The ocean waves sound is what helps me go back to sleep when I wake in the night.  Second, I replace the scented pillow liner on my pillow if I need to.

Sleep Scentsations scented pillow liners are thin, soft liners infused with essential oils and fragrance oils. I place a new scented liner on my pillow, under my pillow case, every week or so.   I have the Shanghai Nights Scented Collection box which includes 10 scented liners in 6 different scents.  My favorite liners so far are the White Tea & Lily liner and the Day at the Beach liner.  One that's really a cool idea is Cold RX.  I haven't needed to try it yet and hopefully won't for a while, but definitely will next time I have a cold.  After using Sleep Scentsations scented pillow liners for about a month now, I have total confidence that the Cold RX liner will work.

Check out Sleep Scentsations Scent Menu for a list of all available scents.

GIVEAWAY!  I have one Shanghai Nights Scented Collection box to give to a lucky subscriber!  Click here to go to our Subscription page, subscribe if you haven't already, then fill out the entry form on that page!  That's it!

Minky Princess Blanket and Car Seat Cover from Dressy Dribbles

Madelyn is a blankie lover.  She always has a blanket with her.  There are a few exceptions I suppose, but she's attached.   When I took Madelyn's minky Princess Blanket out of the package, the first thing she did was rub it on her face.  That's become a regular thing now.. when we're reading she holds the minky blanket on her face.  It's adorable.  At night when she's going to sleep she rubs the satin edges between her fingers.  Dressy Dribbles blankets and car seat covers are machine washable and available in several designs and colors.

Dressy Dribbles showed me that I don't have to settle for the standard gray cover that came with Madelyn's Britax toddler car seat.  Ugh.. how boring.  Now, Madelyn has the most beautiful car seat cover from Dressy Dribbles. 

Dressy Dribbles car seat cover features:

• Machine washable
• Made from the softest minky, denim, cotton and satin fabrics
• Snap on and off, no strap threading required!
• Fit most standard convertible car seats up to 65 pounds.
• Infant and Toddler covers available
• 7 designs
• Camo, minky, and denim fabrics
• Have matching blankets (sold separately or as a gift set)
• What more can you ask for?

Click the image to the right to enlarge it and see the blanket up close.

Dressy Dribbles

Pilloroo - a pillow for kids with a surprise inside!

The Pilloroo is a gift givers (and recipients) dream! 
Pilloroo is a 14" pillow with a zippered pocket that opens to reveal a coordinating surprise.

Madelyn got a Pilloroo for Christmas and now has 3 comfort blankets and a Pilloroo.  I have to stop the growth of her comfort clan soon or it's going to get out of control!

Perfect for long car rides, the Pilloroo is an all-in-one comfort item, and toy.. and in our case, a snack carrier too!  When we are going to scouts or going to be in the car for a while, I pack a snack bag and stick it in the Pilloroo pouch for Madelyn to find.  I love the surprised look on her face when there's something new or different in the Pilloroo pocket.  Now, if I would find a million dollars in there, I would be thrilled.

Each pillow comes with a stuffed animal that lives in the pillow’s secret pouch.  Pilloroo pillows make great gifts and with about 20 designs to choose from, you'll find one for every child you love.

Book & CD review: A Duck in New York City

This is one book that I have to read to Madelyn every night lately.   We even b ring it on trips because it's such a part of her bedtime routine. 
A Duck in New York City is about a little prairie duck who follows his dream to dance on Broadway.  His prairie duck friends think he's being unrealistic but he takes off for New York anyway.  He flies and flies all the while saying "Yes, you can" to motivate himself to get to N.Y.C. 
Luckily, a truck-driver named Big Betty comes along, offers him a ride , and gives him that extra little boost he needs to fulfill his dream!  The little prairie duck takes advantage of his time at rest stops to practice and show off his dancing skills which pays off in the end.  You'll have to read the book to learn what happens!

"Yes, you can" is repeated throughout the book and is a catchy line making it easy for preschoolers to remember and recite with you while reading the book.  Madelyn has become very good at saying this line right when we get to it every time.

A Duck in New York City comes with a CD and the second part of the book includes the lyrics for the songs on the CD.  Songs include Slug Opera, Alligator Waltz, and Seed in the Ground.  My kids love listening to this CD in the car.  There is also a PDF file on the CD with the lyrics in French and English.

Learn more and buy A Duck in New York City here. .

Store review: The Children’s Place fleece (and other) pajamas

The Children's Place has been one of my favorite children's clothing stores since Sebastian was little.  He is 9 years old now.  The Children's Place is known to provide customers with a high-quality selection at prices that represent a substantial value relative to other competitors. Like most parents, I enjoy getting discounts and paying low prices for clothes that I know are of the highest quality and I know that when I go to The Children's Place I am going to do just that.  If you haven't been yet, you've got to find your local store or visit their website and check it out!

I recently found out about The Children's Place new line of fleece & cotton pajamas and Sebastian got a style that he LOVES!  Sebastian has the guitar rock pj set.  In addition to their fleece pajama collection which is primarly winter and holiday styles, they have regular cotton pajamas that will fit any personality including space, cars and planes, robots, flowers, and princesses.  Keep even your youngest child warm in The Children's Place pajamas.  Sizes start at 0 months and go up to XL14.  Sebastian is 9 years old and wears their size 10 pajamas.

PRICE: The Children's Place pajamas start at $10 for sale items and go up to just $16.50!

GIVEAWAY!
We have a $30 gift card for The Children's Place to giveaway to one lucky reader. Leave a comment telling me what your favorite pajama style and anything else you want to tell me about The Children's Place and you will be entered to win.  Read our official comment contest giveway rules below.

Go to The Children's Place website to find pajamas for all of your kids and you can even find matching pajamas for the entire family!

When you enter, your email address will be added to our weekly mailing list but we do not spam!  Our newsletter features links to our latest product reviews, coupon codes, and giveaways and occasionaly features a sponsor ad for a unique store that you will love learning about.

Build-A-Bear Workshop offers even more animals before for just $10

I'm determined to show some holiday spirit this year, at least inside our house.  Our excuse the last few years has been that we (Tim and I) have been so busy with the kids, work, etc. that we didn't have time to get up in the attic to get the holiday decorations down and then put them out.  Check back in a couple of weeks and I'll let you know how holiday decorating is going this year.

I got a cute little Build-A-Bear Workshop animal for review a couple of weeks ago and that's when I realized that I don't have to crawl around the attic to find decorative holiday stuff.   Adding a touch of holiday spirit can be as easy as putting a cute holiday spirited stuffed animal on a chair.  That's easy enough.  I'll try to do more but dressing up a stuffed animal in red and green and calling him Rudolph.. for a few weeks at least will make me feel better.

Build-A-Bear Workshop has a huge selection of animals, including the moose you see here, and tons of adorable dress up outfits and accessories.  The animals are super cute with faces full of personality and have exquisitely soft fur.

Buying a Build-A-Bear Workshop bear is easy.  Here's how you can do it:

• Go to the Build-A-Bear Workshop website
• Choose an animal 
• Choose an outfit 
• Choose a sound 
• Choose accessories 
• Order your animal and it will arrive at your doorstep in a Cub Condo® carrying case.

  
Have Fun!

Fisher Price Zen Collection Swing

Fisher Price's Zen Collection combines style and function with beautiful wood accents and a plush reclining seat that swings back and forth and side to side.  Younger babies prefer to rock side to side but I imagine that older babies might bet a little 'sea-sick' swinging side to side so bath and forth seems more comfortable for them.

The Zen Collection swing is sturdy and has exceptional features.  Most of our rooms are full or dark wood furniture so I would have loved to have the Zen swing instead of the bright colored swing with a metal base, that we had for Madelyn two years ago.  She loved sitting in her swing.   The Zen swing has a variety of gentle songs and musical styles that will stimulate baby’s auditory sense or instantly calm her down. 
The entire seat is removable so you can carry it from room to room and the fabric is machine washable.  The Zen swing is the first (that I know of) to have a plug-in option which is a huge money saver!

The maximum weight is 25lbs which equates to an average of two years old.  I doubt a two year old will sit in a swing very long, or at all, but the possibility is there.  

Price: around $200

You can buy the Fisher-Price Zen Collection Cradle Swing at Amazon.com .

See other products from the Fisher Price Zen Collection, here.

Nana Star books and poseable doll

Nana Star is a beautifully illustrated book for kids ages 3+. 
Madelyn, 2 years old, loves to read this book at bedtime and must have her Nana Star doll with her when we read the book.  I'm sorry to say that there have been times when I couldn't read the book because Nana Star was enjoying a  'hiding spot' somewhere else in the house and didn't want to come out.  Anyway..

Nana Star comes with a CD containing an enchantin g audio version of the story and the sing-a-long Nana Star Song.   The CD is great for long car rides.  It doesn't seem to get old no matter how many times it loops during a trip.

The poseable Nana Star doll is intricately crafted and comes with her own baby star to take care of.   Nana Star is not too tiny and not to big.  Just right for snuggling with and taking in the car.

Cost: Prices vary depending on book or doll purchased.

You can buy the Nana Star books and poseable doll at NanaStar.com.

Mo Smells Red - a scentsational journey

Did you ever think you could smell color with your nose?  I didn't but I've been given a new appreciation for smells since reading Mo Smells Red.  Mo Smells Red is a cute story about a dog, Mo, who goes on a scentsational journey and takes readers with him.  Throughout the book Mo enjoys the smell of red roses, juicy red strawberries, chocolate, and fire.  Readers can actually smell what Mo smells through the Press-2-Smell technology.  Embedded within the pages of the book are scent-dispensing packets good for thousands of “sniffs” containing safe, non-toxic scents that truly mimic real life smells.

Both you and your child will enjoy the story about Mo, an adorable little dog, and the real life smells are sure to leave you craving a juicy red strawberry, a walk through a rose garden, a piece of chocolate.. or maybe all three.  The book is short and sweet making it perfect for kids two years and older.  My daughter is two years old and wants to read Mo Smells Red every time she sees it.  The concept is fascinating.   I thought surely after reading the book a few times, the smell of the roses would combine with the smell of the strawberries and so on, but that's not the case.  Each smell stays true to what it is and will for thousands of sniffs.

The embedded scent pouches contain natural essential oils and the pages are printed on 10% post-consumer paper stock and printed with soy-based inks.  A portion of the proceeds will go to Best Friends Animal Society (www.BestFriends.org) and support their initiatives to work with humane groups across the country — to bring about a time when there are no more homeless pets.

You will also find baby tee's, tote bags, stickers, notebooks and more in the Mo's Nose store.  Mo Smells Red will make a gift for a child ages 2+.  Even tweens enjoy Mo Smells Red because cute story and fun scents.  Mo Smells Red is the first installment in the Mo's Nose series of books created by long time friends Margaret Hyde and Amanda Giacomini.  I can't wait to see what the next installment is!

Price: $17.95

Available at: Mo's Nose

Giveaway alert! We have two Mo Smells Red books and tee's to give away.  Join our newsletter to learn how and when you can enter to win.