Top 5 Family-Friendly Spring Cleaning Products

The sun is making frequent appearances and the snow is rapidly melting–Spring might actually be coming on time this year! And that means it’s time for some Spring Cleaning. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite cleaning products that make it a little easier to keep up with the kitchen-born messes that are just one of the joys of parenthood.

Nellie’s One Soap

We love everything about Nellie’s All Natural line of products. Their wide range of gentle, family-safe products don’t lack in cleaning power and you can use them . We are calling out the One Soap as one of our favorites because it double (or triple…or quadruple) duty, acting as a dish soap AND hand soap, AND soap whatever else you can find that needs a good, soapy cleaning.

Space-Saving Nursery Ideas

Designing a nursery is one of the most fun parts about preparing for baby, and you’ve probably already started pinning some ideas to your Pinterest board. If you have limited space in your nursery room, or if baby will be sharing a room with you or a sibling, it might seem like it’s impossible to fit everything in. But we’ve seen nurseries in even the smallest of spaces, and they are just as cute and functional as ever. Here’s how to fit those big dreams into a small space.

Think Mini

Anything mini is automatically 10x cuter, and mini cribs are no exception. We love the Babyletto Origami Mini Crib because it’s compact AND portable. It’s our favorite solution for Grandma’s house because it has a small footprint when in use, and, true to its name, folds away for easy storage.

Image Credit: lovelyindeed

Baby Safety: 9 Products to Make Bath Time a Breeze

Accidents while bathing babies and kids can happen quickly. Below are five tips on bathing and safety for infants and young children, including our recommended and best-selling bath time products (and why we love them):

 

1. Bathing

Pediatricians strongly recommend that you give your infant a sponge bath until their umbilical cord has fallen off (if a circumcised boy, wait until that heals as well). After that, your infant is ready for a tub. Remember, you should never leave a young child or baby alone near water; even for a minute. Keep everything you will need within arm’s reach to allow you to always have one hand on your baby at all times.

Puj Tub
Why we love it. The Puj Tub is made from a soft foam that is mildew resistant, and folds and conforms to almost any sink, cradling and protecting the baby during bath time. Designed to not submerge the baby in water, it is great for the sponge-bath period and for the early infant months. Hang or store the tub flat anywhere you would like…even on the back of your door and out of sight!

 

Top 19 Baby Products for 2019

Will your family be growing in 2019? Here are our top 19 baby products you should get in the new year.

1. Venice Child California Dreaming Portable Crib

Keeping baby close provides valuable peace of mind, especially in the first few months. The Venice Child California Dreaming Portable Crib is perfect for home, and it folds down for travel so baby will have a safe sleeping environment wherever you go! This portable sleeper is equipped with seven height adjustment levels, optional incline, and even includes storage underneath for all your middle-of-the-night needs. Shop Venice Child now.

2. Rachel’s Remedy

Motherhood is great, but it’s not always glamourous. Rachel, founder of Rachel’s Remedy, has created products to help relieve some of the problems faced my new and breastfeeding moms.  Shop Rachel’s Remedy now.

Infant Car Seats: What You Need To Know

Becoming a new parent throws you into a vast world of unfamiliar baby products, and it can be difficult to know what to choose–especially when looking at car seats. A car seat is the most important product you will purchase for your baby, so if you’re going to research anything, make it this.

To make navigating this world a little easier, we are here to educate and recommend anything baby related. Today, it’s infant seats.

The Basics

The most common car seat style for the first stage of a baby’s life is the rear facing infant carrier. This bucket-style seat keeps baby safe and comfy and provides function for mom and dad.

The Components

This style seat has two components: the carrier (where baby sits) and the base (what securely holds the carrier in the vehicle).

The nice thing about using a bucket seat from birth is that you can easily take the whole seat in and out of the car without disturbing baby. This is especially helpful in the cold winter months and when baby is sleeping. It’s also good to take a look at the weight of the carrier itself when shopping because you will be carrying around the weight of a baby plus the carrier.

The other component to this type of car seat is the base. This is what you will install in your vehicle, and the carrier then clicks in and out. Finding an easy to install base will make your life much easier, and keep baby much safer.

We would suggest getting additional bases for your infant seat, especially if baby will be moving between vehicles frequently (i.e. Mom drops baby off at daycare, Dad picks up). That way you won’t have to worry about installing the entire seat every time baby switches vehicles, you can just click the carrier into the base and be on your way.

The Specs

Most carrier seats will last from birth to about 9-18 months, depending on how quickly your little one grows. Pay attention to height and weight limits when shopping around. From our experience, a lot of babies reach the height limits of a seat before exceeding the weight limit, so try to find a seat that has a good range for both. Most weight ranges are around 4-32 lbs and heights are usually around 32″. 

Each child will outgrow these at different times, so watch for some signs that mean it’s time to switch. Of course, pay attention to baby’s weight to make sure they are still within the seat’s specifications. To measure height, watch for baby’s head to be approaching 1 inch from the top of the car seat–that means it’s time to switch. 

All car seats have an expiration date, typically 6-7 years after the manufacture date.

Here’s our favorite and number one selling car seat!

Our pick: Nuna Pipa
Specs: 4-32 lbs
Up to 32 in
7 year expiration
Why: Easy installation (5 second install with LATCH) Super safe (Load leg feature on base) Comfortable. Lightweight (only 7lbs).

 

Hopefully you now feel a little more confident in your search for an infant car seat. Continue your search on our website and reach out with any questions.

 

 

 

4 Questions to Ask Before You Buy a Used Car Seat

It’s no secret that babies can be expensive, so buying used items is a great way to save money. But before you agree to purchase a “gently used” car seat, you want to make sure you know exactly what you are getting. Here are a few questions to ask before you buy.

Has the car seat ever been in an accident?

Did you know that you are supposed to replace your car seat after any accident–even if the car seat seems fine, and even if the child was not in the seat at the time of the accident? A car seat it meant to protect your child in the event of an accident, but it’s not designed to withstand multiple collisions. Small or internal damages caused by an accident can compromise the safety of any car seat, even if it appears to be fine.

With that in mind, you want to be 100% sure that the car seat you are getting for your child has not been in any accidents before. If you’re getting a used seat, it’s usually best to get only from someone you know and trust. Ask them about the entire history of the car seat.

Crib Mattress Buying Guide

A car seat isn’t the only important safety purchase for your baby. Think about what a baby will spend most (over half, actually) of their time doing in the first year (hint: parents will be doing less of it)– sleeping! Since so much time will be spent snoozin’, it is crucial to get a mattress that will leave baby comfortable and safe throughout the night.

If you don’t have the first clue about what to look for in a crib mattress, you’re not alone. For most parents, the mattress is an afterthought and they just get the first one they can find because, really, how in the world do you tell a good mattress apart from a bad one? Here are a couple things to look for.

Breathability

This is one of the most important features of a crib mattress, and we cannot stress it enough. Make sure that the mattress itself and the cover are breathable to allow airflow around baby as he sleeps. Not only will this keep baby cool and comfortable, leading to a better night’s sleep for all, but increased circulation ensures that baby will still be able to breath clean air even if he rolls onto his belly. Studies suggest that having increased air circulation in the nursery and crib area reduces the risk of SIDS by 70%. Nook mattresses are so breathable that your baby can actually breath right through it! Expert design, pebble textures fabric, and special fabric weaves make Nook one of the safest mattresses for baby to sleep on.

Non-Toxic Materials

We do our best to protect our children and ourselves from products that contain harmful chemicals, but who would think that a mattress could be harmful? Unfortunately, safety standard for crib mattresses are highly unregulated; one of the only requirements is that it is flame retardant. Well, sometimes those flame-resistant chemicals can be pretty nasty. Even a little exposure to chemicals over a long period of time can have negative health effects, which is why it is important to make sure that what your child is sleeping on is completely non-toxic. Nook uses completely natural flame-retardants and keeps their materials as natural as possible–even using an organic coconut coir for natural breathability in the Pebble Pure.

Waterproof

Accidents happen, but if clean up if super easy, its like they never did. While your mattress should be waterproof, take a look at how that waterproof-ability is achieved. You don’t want it to affect the breathability, so a plastic-y feel is no good. Nook soaks their mattresses in a NanoSphere® bath so the mattress is still completely breathable but still water-resistant. Also watch out for mattresses with quilted textures or stitching along the edges, as it can be a breeding ground for bacteria and even let some moisture through to the inside of the mattress (which leads to worse things, like mold).

Firmness

Here’s the test: place your hand on the mattress and push down; if it pops right back up, it should be firm enough for an infant. It can be difficult to tell sometimes, so comparing mattresses side by side can be helpful. Nook makes 3 different levels of crib mattresses with gradated firmness, and all are equally suited for safe sleeping. Another plus of Nook’s mattresses is that they actually have a firmer infant side and a softer toddler side to maximize comfort as your baby grows.

Cost

Don’t let price tags scare you. Yes, you could buy a $30 mattress that would get the job done, but is it really going to hold up through all the (inevitable) accidents and last through the toddler years? If you invest is a quality mattress right away, it will last you multiple years (even multiple children) without getting icky buildup. Not to mention, the mattress itself is superior in safety and comfort to the cheaper alternatives. Prices can range from $30 to $400, but there are some great middle-ground price-points out there, like the Nook Pebble Air, which just happens to be our favorite.

Browse all of Nook’s incredible products here on our website!

Get the Look: Shabby Chic Mix & Match Nursery

If you’re like us, you love: a) shopping local and b) super cute shabby chic furniture. We could spend hours (and probably have) browsing through Facebook phots from some of our favorite shops like Ramshackled Treasures (Zimmerman, MN) and Second Hand Rose (Buffalo, MN). You may have noticed a lot of our store displays sport this shabby-chic look. We love the character it adds to our store! So what better way to support local businesses and your love design than to add a shabby-chic element to your nursery!

Here’s how you can bring this cute and affordable look into your nursery!

The Crib:

Start by finding the perfect crib for your nursery. If you are looking for something cute and simple, try the Jenny Lind crib. This style is wildly popular and you can mix and match with any type of dresser. Gray makes for a classy, simple look, but if you’re more daring try something a bit bolder by choosing a pop of color for the crib.

The Dresser:

When you are looking for a dresser, try to find one that is at a comfortable height so it can double as a changing table. We recommend using the Peanut Changer (found here) on top because it is non-slip and waterproof so you don’t need a changing box. Of course, storage is key, especially if you want your pieces to grow with your child, so make sure you find a dresser with plenty of drawers. The options are endless, and it can be a lot of fun to shop around.

You are sure to find some unique pieces, so have fun making them a focal point of your room! Armoires are a great way to add more style and storage to your room. We love this coral piece from Ramshackled Treasures paired with a sleek, crisp white crib.

With so many ways to get creative, the nursery possibilities are endless! Head on over to one of your local refurbish boutiques or get your DIY on! If you give it a shot, we’d love to see–tag @babysonbroadway on Facebook or Instagram.

Must-Haves for Moms of Multiples

Twins have been all the buzz in Hollywood lately; first George and Amal, and now Queen Bey herself, have finally given birth to twins! With all the twin-talk goin on, we figured we’d share some of our favorite products made for multiples.

A functional stroller is an absolute must-have for twins! Uppababy Vista is the ultimate double stroller that will last for years! You can fit 2 car seats, 2 bassinets, 2 toddler seats, or mix and match to make going out-and-about with two littles easy as can be. Definitely a great investment!

Feeding one baby is tricky enough, let alone two! Here to save your sanity is the TwinZ Pillow, a specially designed feeding pillow for twins. It’s unique shape lets you feed both your little ones at the same time, whether you are breastfeeding or bottle feeding. It also works great for tummy time and play time!

 

If you’re a family that will be on-the-go a lot, a baby carrier is must. But with twins, the options are limited. That’s why we love the TwinGo carrier that lets you carry both babies at once! If you are going solo, the TwinGo can be worn with one child on the front and one on the back. But if you have a helper for the day, you can split it up and carry one child each. Perfect for going to busy events that aren’t very stroller friendly.

 

Share this with a new or expectant mama of twins that you know! Let us know some other innovative twin products that you love!

Mother’s Day Gifts for the Mom-to-Be

Still searching for that special Mother’s day gift for a mom-to-be? We have rounded up some of our most-loved mom products to make gift buying a little easier for you.

Diaper Bag

 

A diaper bag from Petunia Pickle Bottom, JuJuBe, or Little Unicorn is the perfect gift for the mom who needs function and loves style. Each bag has plenty of pockets so every bottle, bib, and binky is in its place.

Skincare

Moms could always use some me-time. Giving her some luxury skincare products lets her take some well-deserved time to pamper herself. Basq Skincare carries a complete line of pregnancy, stretchmark, and skin products that are love my moms everywhere–even celebrities! Yorba Organics also has a line of products made for mom including face wash, face moisturizer, exfoliating clay wash, and more. They smell amazing and are all organic!

Accessories

 

Mom will adore these fashionable accessories that double as functional products for baby! Covered Goods infinity scarves do quadruple duty, serving as a scarf, nursing cover, cart cover, and carseat cover!

Or a Gift Card!

If you’re not sure what she wants or needs but still want to treat her to something special–go with a gift card!

Let us help you get her a gift she’ll love! Just stop in or give us a call at 320-639-2229. We can even ship to your door!

Happy Mother’s Day!