Mum review :: BabyWedge

Mama to three, Christine, gave the babywedge a workout with baby Finn who has reflux and both mum and her little man are loving it.
"I've been using the babywedge for a couple of months now for my five-month-old and it's so useful.
After Finn was born he developed reflux so I had his cot on an angle which wasn't really that practical and didn't look great either but seemed to help the problem. Now we can just use the babywedge without having to worry about adjusting the cot all the time.
It's so easy to take in and out and very portable for taking to grandparents' places and on holidays to use in portacots.
I like the way it keeps the baby on the same angle every time and it feels familiar to him so it's become a comforter as well as helping with his reflux.
He especially loves it for tummy time when I place it in the living room. I think it feels more secure for him with the bars on the side and it is really comfortable and soft... no head banging on the hard floor when he gets a bit tired!
I would definitely recommend the babywedge to mums with babies who have reflux. It's such a versatile, handy addition to the nursery. I'll be giving it a go as a back pillow when I can get Finn off it for a second."
The babywedge was developed by Brisbane sisters Hayley Birtles-Eades and Sally Martin out of their own need for colic-relief for their babies. But it has many more uses: a pregnancy pillow, a breast-feeding support pillow, an aid for flathead, a tummy-time aid, a toddler rest station, a driving support pillow. It weighs only 500grams and has a machine-washable 100 per cent cotton cover (in an assortment of lovely colours). Check out the website for stockists and lots of tips on reflux and colic.
Thanks Christine for your review and thanks Hayley and Sally for making lots of mums and babies lives easier!

Things that go *bump*

This is a guest post/review on the Thudguard Infant Protective Safety Helmet from cool mama and art director extraordinaire, Judie. Thanks for sharing Judie!
My youngest daughter thinks she's Evel Knievel. Look!

You will often find her scaling the dollhouse to reach the summit with a victorious two arms up in the air; leaping from the lounge to an arm chair; and doing wheelies and speeding backwards across the floor on her trike.
Coupled with a three-year-old big sister who occasionally forgets her sibling is a little unsteady on her feet (this walking thing is new, you know!) and you have a recipe for impending disaster.
Add to this a work-at-home papa who lets the girls loose on activities I deem way too dangerous (I know, skinned knees are a right of passage for toddlers but with her climbing ways rivaling Spider-Man I really was starting to worry about a serious knock to the head). So after one sickening thud too many on the floorboards we set about searching for some head protection for our little stunt girl. Thudguard was delivered to our doorstep within the week and Little Miss Knievel duly strapped in (after some encouragement from Papa and big sister who donned their own bike helmets in a show of solidarity).
Comfy enough for stunts? Well, she doesn't fuss with it once it's on, though she will come and request it be taken off after 30 minutes or so because her head gets hot — and the sweaty little mop of hair that emerged was a bit alarming at first (it doesn't have quite as much ventilation as a bike helmet). The helmet is constructed from a very lightweight neoprene covered foam and the manufacturers recommend it be used for short lengths of time under supervision. The chin strap could do with an extra bit of padding where it attaches — you do have to take care or your little one is likely to get chafed by the misalignment of velcro. It's very simple to get on and off; my 16-month-old doesn't yet have the strength to undo the strap and I trust that by the time she is capable she will have progressed to a proper helmet (yes, we have our eye on an Evel Knievel replica helmet!)
Thudguard is endorsed by neurosurgeons and at $45 I think it's a small price to pay for peace of mind during this stage of your baby's development. It certainly doesn't hurt that it looks super cute on and comes in lilac or powder blue!

tried & tested :: Little Innoscents

How exciting. Our very first mum-reviews are in.

Three mums trialed the organic Little Innoscents Hair & Body Wash and Nappy Rash Cream on their babes for two weeks. Here's the verdict:
Kathryn & Olivia
My four-month-old daughter Olivia has inherited her mum's dry skin and while the trusty old sorbolene has been doing the trick I have been looking for something gentler and with a nicer smell. Enter Little Innoscents.
The Hair & Body Wash is non-drying and makes her skin look and feel as it should, soft and clean. It's got a healthy dose of spearmint too which makes her smell so fresh.
Although Olivia has been spared the nappy rash I used the Nappy Rash Cream mainly because it smelt so nice. When I pick her up from her cot she smells like a little sprig of lavender. Just divine.
I'm hooked and we're going to try out the Massage Lotion next.
Kerry & Lily
I thought the spearmint scent of the Little Innoscents Hair & Body Wash was lovely; it gave a lasting smell to Lily's hair. The liquid gave a good lather for washing but didn't dry the skin, rather leaving it lovely and smooth. I would definitely recommend this product to friends and will buy it again.
I have to say I was a little put off by the strong smell of the Nappy Rash Cream. The texture was good though, it left a thick film to protect the skin and it did soothe Lily's bottom which has been a bit red due to teething.
Barb & Oliver
I hadn't used organic skin-care products for my baby before but will find it difficult to use anything else now. The Hair & Body Wash had such a beautiful scent of spearmint, lavender and orange and a lovely creamy texture that didn't dry Ollie's skin at all.
When I first used the Nappy Rash Cream I was a bit skeptical of its effectiveness as a barrier cream as it isn't as thick as the cream I had been using. However, it was nice not to be left with a thick residue of cream on my fingers after a nappy change and the smell was nicer. I was happy to find no nappy rash after he had slept all night without a nappy change. I will definitely continue to use this cream.

A huge thanks to these lovely ladies for their time and reviews.
Little Innoscents products impress me with their commitment to using 100 per cent naturally derived ingredients and it sounds like they do an excellent practical job too. There's also no huge price hike for the "luxury" of giving your baby organic. Just the way it should be. The Hair & Body Wash is $12.99 and the Nappy Rash Cream is $10.99. You can buy direct from Little Innoscents' online store.

And guess what? You can be part of our mum reviewing panel too. All you have to do is email your name, address and the ages of your children to contact[dot]mumspace[at]gmail[dot]com.

But wait, there's more. No, it's not a set a of steak knives, it's a giveaway from Little Innoscents. Yay! Check back tomorrow for details.

WANTED! Test drive mummies

Here's something new for this crisp Autumn start to the week. I can feel the trees changing colour as we speak.
Who wants to become a testy mummy? No, I'm not talking testy in the cranky, twitchy, pick up your toys or else they go in the bin sense. You see, I have some wonderful products that you might be interested in reviewing with me. Sound fun?
All you have to do is email me on contact[dot]mumspace[at]gmail[dot]com and leave your name, address and the ages of your children.
Couldn't be easier.
When I have products for review I'll contact three mums and confirm your interest and then send you the products to test. All you have to do in return is write a little review that will be posted on this blog.
Join in!
Here's our first mission (should you choose to accept it):
Little Innoscents is a 100 per cent certified organic baby care range from clever-clogs Melbourne mum Antonette. Antonette is a qualified aromatherapist who, when pregnant with her first child, found affordable, chemical-free, natural products hard to come by. So she developed her own range and tells us they have been really successful with young skins as well as treating and managing conditions like eczema and dermatitis.
You'll be testing her Hair and Body Wash and Nappy Rash Cream on any delicate little skins in your house.
Who's in?