Banana Boat SPF 50+ Sunscreen

19/09/2015 By All Mum Said 1 Comment

The warmer months are now upon us and with that means more time in the sun and higher UV alerts. We try to utilise the safer hours in the sun by going out and playing when the UV alert is lower, however this is not always possible. Kids will be kids and will take advantage of every minute they can.

I have always been fanatic about putting sunscreen on the kids, even as babies. However I always forget about protecting myself. It is just as important for parents to protect their skin as it is for their children. Last week I had a suspicious mole removed which is now serving as a very good reminder why it is so important to not only use protection from the sun but also to have regular mole checks.

Banana Boat SPF 50+ Sunscreen

Brands make it easy for parents these days to know which sunscreens are suitable for what children and which age groups. Oh and of course their parents. Banana Boat recently offered me some samples of their SPF 50+ sunscreen lotions, sprays and roll on options. There is something about the smell of them that has always made me want to get outside and enjoy the sunlight. Or maybe it is just the old Banana Boat ad that instantly starts playing in my head!

Sunscreen Options

Just like clothing is made differently and hats come in different sizes; sunscreen also have their protection features. Each to suit a different kind of person.

Sport

This 400ml pump bottle is 4 hour water resistant and designed to be non-greasy. Made with the Australian sun in mind; your family can enjoy hours of protection in the sun with the Sport SPF 50+. Perfect for the whole family!

Kids spray

With the most advanced protection, this SPF 50+ spray bottle offers kids very high protection from the sun in a convenient sunscreen spray. It is 4 hour water resistant and as it is designed for kids; the non-greasy formula won’t run into their little eyes. The spray makes it so easy to apply to your child and is gentle on their delicate skin while remaining tough against the sun.

Kids roll on

This option is exactly the same as the Kids spray above however in a convenient roll on bottle. This makes it easy to carry and even easier for the kids to apply themselves. All the same benefits but in a handy 75ml roll on bottle!

Baby spray

I love that this sunscreen spray is SPF 50+ whilst remaining mild and gentle with no added fragrance. This allows it to be suitable for the delicate skin of a baby. Featuring the same benefits as the kids spray option; 4 hour water resistant, won’t run into eyes and a very easy to use spray, this sunscreen has babies and their parents in mind.

It is no surprise that the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends the SPF 50+ Banana Boat products. They are reliable, trustworthy and convenient. For more information on the Banana Boat Kids and Baby range see here or if you would like to read more about the importance of protecting yourself from the sun.

Disclosure: I received the above products for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own.

Storksak Catherine Review + Discount + Giveaway

10/09/2015 By All Mum Said 52 Comments

As you all know, I am expecting a baby in the first week of November. As a result of the pregnancy being quite the surprise, we had already given majority of our baby things away. And like most parents will agree, a nappy bag is a ‘must have’ baby item for the first year, at least!

This is why I couldn’t have been more thrilled when I received an email from the lovely team at Storksak; telling me about their new release of Spring/Summer 2015 bags. I am a huge fan of Storksak. I have been for years. When I found out I was pregnant with Poppet (now 2 years old) I invested in a black EMILY NYLON. I hoped it would last longer being more expensive and I am so glad I got it. It is still in near perfect condition today! Just goes to show sometimes spending that bit extra does indeed bring a higher level of quality.

Storksak Catherine Review

Anyway, today I want to share with you my latest and very much loved CATHERINE leather bag. She is just gorgeous! I have the Bordeaux colour and I must say that the image online does not do it any justice, it is a divinely rich shade that complements a chic appearance with practicality.

What do I love about this bag?

There are several things I adore about the Catherine bag and I know many of you lovely mums-to-be and new mums will understand completely!

Features Features Features!

Firstly, there is nothing quite like the smell of new leather being unwrapped. It makes those senses go tingly with excitement. I just love the slouchy appearance, it is my style completely!

Exterior

Handles – There are 2 straps standard with the Catherine. Short ones which make the bag the perfect length to wear under your arm and a detachable padded long leather strap. The long detachable strap offers more than just the ability to wear it over it your shoulder or across your body though, it also features Velcro straps that make it perfect for carrying on your stroller or pram. It really is genius thinking!
Storage – There are three zipped storage pockets located on the exterior of the bag. Two are discreetly located on the front and are slightly larger than my hand when it is stretched out. The other is on the side and is an insulated bottle pocket.
Protection – On the base of the nappy bag, there are four circular studs that protect the bag when placed on the ground. No more worrying whether you will scuff or scratch the leather.

Interior

Storage – This bag offers storage that every parent needs. You will never complain about the lack of it in this particular bag (or the Emily). Internally this bag features 6 storage pockets.

Three are great for snack or bottle storage, one is enclosed with a zip and the other two are larger. I find these particularly handy for nappy sacks, nappy rash cream and sanitiser.

Main compartment – this section of the bag is massive and can cater to whatever you need to hold. Nappies, wipes, spare clothes, bottles, formula, breast pump and possibly even a blanket!

Inclusions

Storage – Just in case you didn’t already have enough storage; there is an additional removable zippered pouch inside the bag. It features a matching leather trim and is perfect for a spare set of clothes, pain relief/medicines, etc.

Changing mat – This is one thing every good nappy bag needs. An included changing mat for when you are out and about. I love that this one folds up small enough to be practical and fits into the bag with everything else. It is sturdy enough to machine wash without being damaged as well.

Size

It is an impressive size at H34 x W47 x D14 cm

I love that it is not overly huge but it is large enough to be convenient and looks amazing!

Quality

As mentioned at the beginning of the review, I trust Storsak to provide nothing but quality after my previous bag is still going strong after years of abuse use. The Catherine bag I have is made with soft leather but I don’t feel like I have to be extremely gentle with it, which is ideal.

STORKSAK DISCOUNT

I have an amazing discount for All Mum Said readers who have always wanted to get their hands on a Storsak bag but haven’t been able to part with the cash.
A whopping 25% OFF!!

This 25% discount can be used on ALL Storksak bags! Visit www.storksak.com.au to view their amazing range and get your Storksak bag now. Use CODE: MUM25.

*Please note this Storksak discount code is only available for Australia and New Zealand customers.

PRIZE INCLUDES: 1x Catherine Nylon bag in Moss or Navy (winners choice). RRP $270.00.

**As the winners are chosen based on skill and not chance; you will be sharing for 0 extra entries however I’d love you to share the giveaway with friends and family. Sharing is caring and karma loves kind people. **

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms & Conditions:
1. Australian residents only.
2. Judges decisions is final.
3. Winners must make contact within 72 hours.
4. This is a game of skill. Chance plays no part!
Therefore no extra points are given for sharing however it is good karma!!
5. All Mum Said is not responsible for delivery of prize.
NOT endorsed by or have anything to do with facebook.

If you want to enter more giveaways click over here.

Disclosure: I received the above Storksak Catherine bag for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own.

Bonding with baby through feeding + Medela GIVEAWAY

20/04/2015 By All Mum Said 22 Comments

Bonding with your baby through feeding

Bringing a new baby home is an amazing feeling. It is exciting. It is scary. It can be very overwhelming but it can also be the most important time of your life. Being able to bond with your baby is such a magical and unexplainable sentiment and for many women breastfeeding helps to establish this deep connection with our baby. Because of this we always hear about how important it is for women to breastfeed because of the advantages it gives both mum and baby but what about dads?

How are dads supposed to bond with their babies when they can’t breastfeed? With teamwork is how. The benefits of mum expressing milk help not only her but also dad and baby. First time dads especially feel like they are left out of the process when it comes to feeding so when a women expresses milk it not only gives dad a chance to bond with his baby through feeding; it also allows the baby’s mum a chance to enjoy a cup of tea/coffee, enjoy a sleep in or even be able to embrace her partner enjoying the closeness of their baby. As I said it’s magical. Even though dads don’t often express their needs where their baby is concerned, dads want to be able to feel this closeness and bond with their baby just as much as mums do. Bonding with your baby through feeding is a great place to start which is easy for mothers who breastfeed and often why they express breast milk.

There are so many breast pumps on the market that it makes it hard to know which one will be suited to you, which pumps works and which ones are a waste of money. My younger sister and brother-in-law have just experienced the beauty of bringing their first baby into the world which also meant she had been searching for the right breast pump in preparation of their baby being born. She was anticipating returning to work and expressing is a must for her as she wanted to breastfeed her son. She also wanted her partner to be able to experience the feeding process and do night feeds (because no one wants to get up every single time). This is when I received an email asking if I wanted to review the Medela Swing Maxi Double Electric Breast Pump. I called my sister and asked her if she was interested and she was beyond thrilled because she was looking at Medela for her pump mainly because she had heard nothing but great reviews. This particular pump retails for $449.00.

Medela Swing Maxi Double Electric Breast Pump Review

Set Up and Cleaning
The first thing I noticed about the pump after opening the box and taking all the parts out of their individually sealed bags was how simple it is to set up. Without even looking at the directions you can see exactly what fits where. Once I had it all together, I checked the instructions to ensure I set it up properly and to my surprise they are extremely simple and easy to understand. Don’t be scared by the size of the manual.

Before using the Medela breast pump; I sterilised all the equipment. Step by step directions on how to clean are included in the manual which makes it basically fool proof. This can be done by hand washing, putting through the dishwasher or boiling. It took minimal time from start to finish to take apart the breast pump and clean it which is made even more enticing by the fact that all the parts are easy to wipe dry or can be left on a cloth to air dry.

Using the Breast Pump
I think what makes the Medela swing stand out compared to other pumps is the ‘2 phase expression’; which is the 2 stimulation phases that mimics the breastfeeding rhythm. The first stage encourages a milk let down and after 2 minutes the pump will automatically change to the second phase; the ‘expression’ phase, which imitates a long sucking motion similar to the one of a baby. If your milk starts to flow prior to the second phase, you can press the button and it will start the expression phase. I personally found it never took more than 30 seconds to get a good flow to then switch to the expression but as everyone is different you may need the full two minutes in stage one. Both stages are exceptionally comfortable and gentle on the breasts and nipples and the vacuum can be adjusted to suit your need at the time. I used mine mainly as my milk was ‘coming in’ days after my baby was born and there were times my breasts were too sore to even touch yet I could still use the Medela breast pump comfortably.

It took me approximately 10 minutes to pump both breasts and I would get around 100mL from each. What made it even easier was after you finish pumping you can just pop the storage lids in the bottles and store right in the fridge until they are needed. I use the double pump most frequently but it can also be used as a single pump, either of options offer the same great performance.

My favourite part about this pump is the fact that I was able to express breastmilk for my partner to be able to feed bub. It not only allowed him to provide our baby his feeds throughout the night when I needed that extra sleep but he was also given the opportunity to experience that special bonding time that without the pump he wouldn’t be able to do.

Storage
If there wasn’t enough to love about this pump already, the lack of space it requires to store should be added to the list. I was able to keep it in a container on a cupboard shelf where it took up minimal room. The Medela Swing Breast Pump is very portable as you are able to clip the motor onto your clothes and move around the house or store in your handbag for use while out and about thanks to it having the option to operate on batteries (6 AAA).

Pros
The efficiency from start to finish makes a light work load of expressing breast milk thanks to the simultaneous expression in combination with the 2-Phase which ultimately saves you time. The range of vacuum levels and settings allows you to be in control of your comfort and still gain maximum efficiency from the breast pump.

The Medela breast pump is very easy to assemble, use, clean and store. Thanks to how light and compact the pump is, it makes expressing flexible by offering use on batteries or the main adapter.

It allows my baby the opportunity to bond with his dad through feeding.

Cons
It’s very hard to fault this pump! I found that while pumping you have to hold a constant pressure with the shield onto your breast which can become difficult while you’re double pumping. This can be resolved by purchasing an ‘easy expression bustier’ which allows hands-free expressing.

I also noticed the pump makes a bit of noise during use and the harder you set your vacuum the louder it becomes.

Medela Breastfeeding Starter Kit

This kit contains everything a mother needs in those first few weeks of breastfeeding and expressing. It offers an easy and safe way to collect and store breast milk in addition to feeding while containing products that help make mum more comfortable and sooth sensitive nipples for months to come.

This Medela breastfeeding starter kit contains:
• 1x Calma, breastmilk feeding device (specially designed teat that mimics the natural rhythm of breastfeeding)
• 2x 150ml Bottles with multi lids
• 12x Disposable nursing pads
• 1x Purelan 100 7g
• 1x Quick clean microwave bag
• 5x pump and save bags

The Calma lets your baby feed in a way that is similar to breastfeeding which allows for easy transition between the two. Thanks to its one size and shape fits all, your baby will be satisfied from birth until weaning off milk. Just like a nipple.

This kit is suitable for every woman that is breastfeeding or expressing and is the number one choice of hospitals and mothers. I highly recommend it for all your storing, feeding, breast care and breastmilk management in those first few weeks and months! RRP $49.90.

Prize Includes: 1x Medela Breastfeeding Starter Pack. RRP $49.90.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms & Conditions:
1. Australian residents only.
2. Judges decisions is final
3. Winners must make contact within 72 hours.
4. This is a game of skill. Chance plays no part!
Therefore no extra points are given for sharing however it is good karma!!
5. All Mum Said is not responsible for delivery of prize.
NOT endorsed by or have anything to do with facebook.

If you want to enter more giveaways click over here.

Disclosure: I received the above product for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own and my sisters.

Breathe with Ease this Winter + GIVEAWAY

27/03/2015 By All Mum Said 35 Comments

Anyone with little kids whether they are a baby, toddler or child will know that when they get sick and their nose is blocked it can be a nightmare to help them breathe easily. The blocked nose not only causes pain and irritation for the child but it ultimately affects the parents as well; often resulting in lack of sleep, the sense of helplessness and often frustration at not being able to help.

There are many different ways you can relieve a child’s blocked nose. Steam from shower, if they are old enough to blow it out or a nasal aspirator. With so many nasal aspirators on the market now it is hard to know which one worth buying. I’ll be honest, I saw the ones at my local baby shop that require the parent to physically suck on the end of a tube. I thought it was a joke! Needless to say I passed on that one. Many others you see require you to empty and clean the ‘snot catching’ part which potentially holds bacteria. So I passed on those as well. After searching and searching with no luck (I have been searching since B1 was born, he is now 8) technology has clearly advanced and Oricom have created the best hygienic electronic nasal aspirator available and have been generous enough to provide me one to review and another one to giveaway to one of All Mum Said fans.

Oricom CLEANOZ Nasal Aspirator

I love the Oricom CleanOz nasal aspirator (as much as one can love a gadget designed to suck out snot). There are so many things that make it great and stand out from others on the market. It is so unbelievably quick and easy to use! This is a must when you have sick little ones as their tolerance is often slim to none so the job needs to be done swiftly. The Oricom CleanOz nasal aspirator allows you to unblock stuffy noses in a matter of seconds by simply covering a small hole with your index finger and pressing the button with your thumb. You then release the hole. Your child now has a clean, unblocked nose.

The Oricom CleanOz is hygienic which is another must in my book. There is no transferring germs and trying to make sure you have killed them all before using it again. The tips are single use which means you use and throw away. Replace with a new tip for the next stuffy nose, these have been designed to be easily inserted and removed. The flexible silicone tips can be purchased in boxes of 10 from your local baby store or online at Oricom for $19.95.

Requiring only 3 AAA batteries it is cheap to run. It isn’t overly loud which means it won’t scare your little one and because it is so quick and easy to use, you have finished before they even know what you are doing. The RRP for the Oricom CleanOz nasal aspirator is $69.95 which may seem like a lot but when you can use it for years and relieve your little ones stuffy nose and restore peace to the home it is absolutely worth it! I just wish they had released them years ago because it would have saved me a lot sleepless nights.

Prize Includes: 1x Oricom CLEANOZ Nasal Aspirator (RRP $69.95) and 1x box of 10 Disposable Reservoir Nozzle Tips (RRP $19.95) Total Prize: $89.90.

If you want to enter more giveaways click over here.

Disclosure: I received the above product for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own.

Baby Jogger City Mini Review

25/03/2015 By All Mum Said Leave a Comment

The task of finding a good pram is a tough one. There are so many variables and options available on the market that it makes narrowing down a long and tedious chore. Poppet is now at the age where we don’t use a pram all the time but still like to have one on hand for those days we need it. We had a Baby Jogger City Elite when she was born and while it is still in perfect condition after almost two years, I just wanted something a little bit smaller. This is where the Baby Jogger City Mini comes in.

Baby Jogger City Mini Review

How does it feel?

I cannot rave about the Baby Jogger City Mini enough. It has all the features you expect to find in a large pram but in a compact stroller size. Weighing only 7.5kg it is light and small enough that it is easily manoeuvred around shops and roads. The padded handlebar is great for one-handed steering which is a huge benefit if you have another child that needs their hand to be held. The Baby Jogger City Mini features good sized wheels along with front wheel suspension so the pram rides smoothly on most surfaces.

How does it look?

This pram is very stylish and is made with a heavy duty fabric and new shaped basket. They look sleek and refined. The Baby Jogger City Mini is available in Black, red, tan and charcoal which is exclusive to Australia for $469. *Charcoal shown in images.

Safety features?

The Baby Jogger City Mini features a new foot brake that allows you to lock both rear wheels by simply pressing the foot brake once. It is easy to put on and take off when stopping and starting without fear it will fail.

The multi-position SPF 50+ shade canopy is made up of 3 tall and large folds which ensures your child is well covered from the elements; this is also a benefit if your little one is tall. It also offers 2 clear peek-a-boo windows on the hood which can be rolled up and held by toggles or left closed with velcro.

The five point harness is a must for parents with their own little Houdini. Not only is it safe but but the new designed clips/harness are so easy to use. Because they are in 2 parts it is also ideal for when you are transferring your little one from the car to the pram whilst asleep, just do the lower harness without further disturbing them. When un-clipping them and taking them out of the pram the shoulder clips undo as the strap is moved meaning you don’t have to struggle manoeuvring their arms around the straps.

Versatility and Ease of Use?

The Baby Jogger City Mini is suitable from birth – 22.5kg. The seat recline is controlled by a toggle which means the seat can be placed on any angle between upright and almost flat with ease. It really doesn’t get much easier than that; this was one of my favourite features of the Baby Jogger City Elite and I’m so glad they kept it. The seat also offers a back vent for air circulation which you can open and close.

There are a 2 different storage options available – the underseat basket which is quite a good size for bits and pieces and possibly some shopping bags, it also has a storage pouch on the back of the seat. While it doesn’t offer a parent tray/organiser standard you can purchase this accessory separately.

Quick fold technology is another feature I loved about the City Elite and couldn’t imagine folding up a pram any other way now. There is a strap on the seat that says ‘Pull to Fold’ and you as you pull it the pram folds up and the lock holds it closed for you so you can put it away with ease and without risk of it coming open. The best bit of the quick fold technology – you can fold the entire lightweight stroller up with one hand and in one simple movement.

AT A GLANCE

PROS

Lightweight at 7.5kg

Quick fold technology

Large multi-position canopy

Five point harness

Toggle controlled recline

Ample storage

Foot brake

Suitable from birth

CONS

Doesn’t come standard with parent tray/organiser

Doesn’t lay completely flat for newborns

Overall I can honestly say that this is worth every cent it costs. The amount of features that have been packed into this compact pram make long outings comfortable yet it is light enough for everyday use. I would highly recommend the Baby Jogger City Mini if you are looking for something light, compact, value for money and that has all the benefits of a larger pram. For more information or to find a stockist near you visit Baby Jogger Australia online.

What pram/stroller do you have?

What is your must have feature when purchasing a pram?

Disclosure: I received the above product for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own.