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Product Review- Primo EuroBath

April 26, 2013 By

Originally Posted by Penny Pinching Parent On 2/27/2009

PrimoEurobath

Product Reviewed:

Primo EuroBath

Price:

Price at $26.99 at Diapers.com

Product Features:

  • 2 Position baby bath for ages 0-24 months.
  • Unique anatomical shape with safety supports for arms and legs keeps infant and toddler in the ideal bathing position and prevents baby from slipping under the water
  • Largest baby bath available so your child won’t grow out of it. It measures 36 long by 21 wide by 10 deep.
  • Built-in drain and two areas for soap, shampoo, sponge.
  • Can hang the bath on a door hook for storage with the addition of a plastic looped tie from a hardware store.
  • Easy to clean polypropylene non-toxic plastic.

Product Review:

We saw a couple buying the Primo EuroBath the other night at Babies R Us and when I made mention to them that we loved it, they told us how they were buying it because their baby had outgrown their current baby bath… the EXACT same reason the Penny Pinching Parent family decided to buy the Primo EuroBath.

After briefly meeting this couple, I thought that maybe I should do a quick little write-up on this great big bath tub and maybe save someone from having to do the exact same thing because buying two bathtubs definitely is not very economical. Once we found the Primo EuroBath, it was one of those “duh, could have, would have, should have” moments for us.

When we picked out our bath bathtub in the beginning we had a ton of people tell us that they really were not necessary, so we did not want a bunch of money to be spend on one. We selected a very basic economical version.

We used our baby bath, some people don’t, they use the sink, the big people tub (not an option for me, I had had a c-section and several complications, I could not do that right away). Our little one loved it being in her little tub, but she quickly grew from a tiny baby to a really big baby and just was too big and too slippery for that tiny tub and moving her to the big tub still was not something we felt quite comfortable with because she couldn’t sit up too well on her own and I was still having quite a bit of abdominal pain (long story on my recovery). So, I found the Primo EuroBath.

We laughed at the size of the tub at first because it seemed so big, but it was great. It has all these little molded compartments that I could actually sit our baby in. She could sit up most of the way on her own, but with these compartments, she was sorta held in place sitting while bathing. We sorta used it as a big people tub liner after a while and moved it into the big tub for ease and to help get our daughter used to the idea of being in the big tub and it was great for that.

If you turn the tub in the opposite direction you can actually use this tub for an infant and it has the same sort of molding to help hold those slippery babies in place… this was my “could have, would have, should have” moment… that would have been so much easier than holding with one hand, trying to bathe with the other, the extra support would have been so nice and probably much safer.

Summary:

After having used both, I would highly recommend the Primo EuroBath. I would start out with the Primo EuroBath, spending the little bit of extra money upfront and save money on buying multiple tubs in the future.

Update To This Review:

Since this review was originally posted we have since passed this item on to a family member who was having a baby. Hopefully they enjoyed it as much as we did! I still cannot say enough good things about this baby tub!

Disclosure: Penny Pinching Parent is not affiliated with Primo Eurotub. This was an item we purchased on our own and the thoughts and opinions expressed above are solely our own. You can read more our PPP’s efforts to fully disclose on our Terms of Use page .

 

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Product Review: Laugh & Learn About Childbirth, Breastfeeding & Baby Care DVDs

April 15, 2013 By
Originally Posted by Penny Pinching Parent at 10/05/2009

LaughandLearnDVDs

Product Reviewed:

Laugh and Learn DVDs, includes About Childbirth, About Newborn Baby Care and About Breastfeeding.

Price: $22.46 to $31.92 each at Amazon.com or you can purchase the set on LaughandLearn.com for $79.95 or you can watch the entire set online (an unlimited amount of times) for $59.85.

Description:

The Laugh and Learn series DVD’s can be purchased as a 3-DVD set or individually. Below is a description of each individual DVD.

Laugh and Learn About Childbirth:

Laugh and Learn About Childbirth, America’s # 1 Childbirth Class, is the first video in a series of educational classes for pregnant couples, and the only comprehensive childbirth course on the market. This new 2 DVD-Set is completely updated. All aspects of labor and delivery are covered, including pain relieving options, the entire Lamaze training with one breathing technique and natural childbirth, and for the first time everything you need to know about Cord Blood Banking.

Like the other two video classes in this series, Laugh and Learn About Breastfeeding and Laugh and Learn About Newborn Baby Care, Laugh and Learn About Childbirth is also a fun and entertaining way to learn everything you need to know to have a pleasant pregnancy, labor and delivery. The classes are taught by award winning childbirth expert Sheri Bayles, RN, in six easy lessons, perfect for watching at your own pace in the comfort and convenience of your own home. In addition to the regular Childbirth Class, the producers added a Reunion with Sheri, the couples from this class and their new babies. Including in this DVD set is also a Special Feature containing vital information about Cord Blood Banking.

Laugh and Learn About Baby Care:

A lot of new parents feel overwhelmed once they get home from the hospital. Most of them realize that they don’t have any idea how to take care of their newborn. This is where Laugh and Learn About Newborn Baby Care will help you. Taught by Sheri Bayles, RN and childbirth educator, this new DVD is the only complete baby care course on the market, covering all aspects of how-to take care of your baby, from newborn to toddler and covering in detail all the baby supplies you need. Sheri Bayles shares her experiences, gives tips and strategies to avoid obstacles and explains techniques like swaddling. Best of all, in her class you get to watch and learn with real live demonstrations.

Laugh and Learn About Breastfeeding:

Although Breastfeeding is a natural process, it is mostly a learned art. Obstacles are the norm, but it is the best start that a mother can give her new baby. Breastfeeding benefits both mothers and babies, it protects babies from disease, and women who have nursed have substantially lower rates of breast cancer. Like the other two video classes in this series, Laugh and Learn About Childbirth and Laugh and Learn About Newborn Baby Care, Laugh and Learn About Breastfeeding is a comprehensive, fun and entertaining way to learn everything you need to know to have a pleasant Breastfeeding experience. On her new DVD, Sheri Bayles, RN shares her experiences, gives tips and strategies to avoid Breastfeeding obstacles, explains latch on, holds and positions, especially for breastfeeding twins, pumping, diet, and setting up a schedule that let’s you get a good night of sleep. Best of all, in her class you get to watch and learn with real live demonstrations of all the techniques.

So what does the Penny Pinching Parent family think?

I know when I first found out I was expecting I couldn’t wait until we reached the point we could sign-up for childbirth, baby care and breastfeeding classes. As a new mom I was so excited and a little bit scared and I wanted to soak in as much information as possible.

I absolutely loved our childbirth instructor. She had been a labor and delivery nurse for about 20 years had 3 or 4 kids that she home schooled and she had the absolute best personality. I took lots of notes and tried my darnedest to pay attention, but I found myself at home trying to remember stuff or with new questions. I don’t know how many times I thought… “wish I could just take her home with me” when we left the class.

The really great thing about the Laugh and Learn set, you can take your instructor home with you! These childbirth, baby care and breastfeeding classes are taught by Sheri Bayles, who is an award winning Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. She has taught over 4,000 couples at New York Presbyterian Hospital as an Ob/Gyn nurse. She’s also a mom, of twin boys… so needless to say, she knows her stuff.

Oh how watching this set took me back (and yes, I watched them all for this review). My daughter’s only 2 1/2, but boy time flies. To be honest, I learned some things that I either forgot during the whole process of having our first little one or I didn’t pick them up anywhere before.

Sheri is professional and just bursting with a ton of valuable information for moms and dads in this series, but she’s also light hearted, experienced and real. The lessons on these DVDs fly by when you are watching them. I love the idea of having this set to answer questions and to be able to watch a lesson whenever you want. For those of you who will be first time parents reading this… this series isn’t too overwhelming either, the material is broken down and presented in an easily digestible and enjoyable way.

I think this set is wonderful and would be a great compliment to your local prenatal education classes. I have known some first time moms that had to move, etc. during their pregnancy and didn’t get to complete all of their childbirth classes, so this would be ideal for those parents who won’t have access to or won’t be able to complete classes in person. This set would also make an absolutely perfect gift for first time parents… even if you can only give them one DVD at a time. And since they are available at Babies R Us, etc. I think they would be a great item to add to your registry.

 

Was there anything we didn’t like about the set?

We LOVED everything! I just can’t say enough great things about the Laugh and Learn set and am so glad to have been able to share them with Penny Pinching Parent readers!

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PPP Pick: The Happiest Baby Guide To Great Sleep

April 13, 2013 By

The Happiest Baby Guide To Great Sleep

One Of My Biggest Secrets As A Parent…

One of my biggest struggles, secrets, whatever you want to call it, when I was a new mom was the fact that my baby was a terrible sleeper.

My daughter started out being born a tad early and because of respiratory complications, she spent 9 days in the NICU when she was born. The day my daughter was released from the hospital I was rushed to the hospital with postpartum toxemia, where I was immediately hospitalized and put on a Magnesium drip and remained in the hospital for several days. My sweet husband was left at home to take care of a brand-new baby.

To say our family was sort of thrust into parenting a newborn was an understatement.

I do not know if it is because of those early weeks in which everything was so crazy or if it’s just how my daughter is predisposed, but our child has never been a good sleeper or easy baby to soothe. Our beautiful and sweet little baby girl, who is now a bright and blossoming six year old, has never seemed to want to sleep and saying she was a fussy baby is putting things very mildly.

I can recall in that first few month of new mommyhood, other moms bragging about how easily their child slept and laughing at how their child even fell asleep in pretty much every situation from a car ride to sitting in their high chair. Running into people who would always seem to comment about what easy babies they had. I would laugh at these stories on the outside, but on the inside I would almost be crying from the sheer exhaustion I was often struggling to overcome.

When Things Changed…

For one reason or another we had to take my daughter in to see the pediatrician. I am thinking it was for a rash… she’s always had sensitive skin too, but that’s a whole other story!

That day my daughter’s regular pediatrician was out and we saw another doctor in the group.  Being a new mom I was a little nervous taking my daughter in to see someone different, so I looked the doctor who was going to be seeing my daughter up on the pediatric group’s website. I was able to see his credentials, things he likes to do and something else that changed my life, the books he recommended for parents. The only book he had listed was ‘The Happiest Baby on the Block’ by Dr. Harvey Karp.  I went and picked-up the book that day.

Why All The Back Story? 

When I saw the opportunity to participate in a review campaign for Dr. Karp’s latest book, ‘The Happiest Baby Guide to Great Sleep‘ the first thing I thought was, I have to review that book, I want to read what Dr. Karp has to say. I want to share with other parents our experiences and let them know about Dr. Karp and how he gets it. He gets babies and toddlers and his wisdom and advice is simply  solid.

Like I said, my child has never been what most people would consider a ‘good sleeper’ or ‘easy’ baby. She was fussy, suffered from colic and it seemed like there were some days were nothing would calm her, but with Dr. Karp’s advice we were able to soothe her, keep her happy and even get her to sleep ‘through the night.’

The first night when Dr. Karp’s methods sort of kicked in and we eventually moved from waking every hour or so to sleeping for much longer stretches.  We were finally able to sit down for a meal .  My daughter still wasn’t the champion sleeper that my friends were bragging about, but things were immediately so much better and much more bearable.

We have battled a bit of everything when it comes to my daughter and sleeping over the years… everything from constipation at night to severe separation anxiety and the ever so frightening night terrors, but by consistently using the techniques that Dr. Karp suggests, we have been able to face each one and eventually move past it. We still have a very regimented bedtime routine which was modeled after Dr. Karp’s advice.

I feel like I owe most of my parenting sanity in regards to sleep and soothing to Dr. Karp.

Dr. Harvey Karp’s ‘Happiest Baby Guide To Great Sleep’

After reading Dr. Karp’s latest book,  ‘The Happiest Baby Guide to Great Sleep,’ I am pleased to say it’s every bit as good as I thought it would be. He solidly provides parents with surprisingly simple steps to boost your  child’s sleep… tips that were touched on in his earlier books and that we still used some of today (white noise and consistent bedtime routine).

This is basically a more in depth look at the sleep methods he introduces in his earlier books. It’s an entire book devoted to helping you solve the #1 problem plaguing new parents: exhaustion.

Here’s are just a few of Dr. Karp’s insights that are in the book:

  • How to train brand new babies to sleep better: Infants can be taught to sleep at least one extra hour from the first weeks of life! Dr. Karp shows how to safely boost baby sleep in just days.
  • What’s the best white noise (and which ones worsen sleep): The right white noise (low pitched and rumbling) is the key to good sleep—even through teething—for all babies. Plus, it even gives parents a more restful sleep
  • Why parents should always wake a sleeping baby: For good sleep, babies must learn how to self-soothe. The best way to teach babies how to fall back to sleep—when they rouse in the middle of the night—is to wake them just as they’re being put into bed.
  • How to enjoy the benefits – and avoid the risks – of swaddling: Swaddling dramatically improves a new baby’s sleep. Yet, many states are shockingly banning this ancient parenting tool. Smart moms should do it and Dr. Karp will teach them how to do it properly and safely.

Who Should Get This Book?

If you are the type of person who just feels like letting your child ‘cry it out’ is not your cup of tea, then this is the book for you. I love the fact that Dr. Karp’s methods are scientifically backed, but they are also tender and nurturing. He is clear and concise and the material is a very easy read.

As a parent who has first-had experienced success in using his tips, suggestions and methods I know that is advice is sound advice. In my opinion he just seems to get babies and toddlers and their stressed out and exhausted parents.

If you do pick-up the book, you might want to get an extra copy. I think this book, and Dr. Karp’s other books, should be mandatory reading for grandparents and caregivers! I am just kidding, but I do feel like it sure would have made things easier on us. We had a hard to soothe, hard to put to sleep baby and the grandparents made us feel like a couple of crazed new parents because we were so strict about sticking to the things that worked for our daughter. So, if you have new grandparents and it’s been a while since they had a baby around… maybe you could just leave a copy laying around where you know they are bound to be nosey and pick it up!!

No Guarantees, But It’s So Worth The Try

I cannot personally guarantee that ‘The Happiest Baby Guide to Great Sleep’ is the answer to all of your baby or child’s sleep problems. No one can make that sort of suggestion or guarantee… not even the author himself. What I can say though, as a parent who has been there is… it’s worth the shot. Dr. Karp provides solid, easy to implement tips and I would suggest it to any new parent. In my opinion prevention is the best medicine and his tips can help you create the right sleep environment for your baby from the get go.

The Book

THE HAPPIEST BABY GUIDE TO GREAT SLEEP: Simple Solutions for Kids from Birth to 5 Years (William Morrow Paperback; On-Sale: March 19, 2013; $15.99; ISBN: 9780062113320)

Harvey Karp, M.D.

About Harvey Karp, M.D.

Dr. Harvey Karp is a nationally renowned pediatrician, child development specialist and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the USC School of Medicine. He completed medical school training at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in NYC, pediatric residency at Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles and fellowships in ambulatory pediatrics and child development at UCLA. In pediatric practice, for almost 30 years, Dr. Karp has taught thousands of parents, from working moms to superstars like Madonna, Michelle Pfeiffer and Pierce Brosnan his secrets for soothing colic, boosting infant sleep, reducing tantrums, promoting patience and …making parents and children happy.

 

Disclosure: PennyPinchingParent is participating in a book review campaign with One2One Network.  A complimentary copy of the book was received from Harper Collins for the purposes of reviewing it. This is not a paid post and no compensation has been given.  Participating in this review campaign enters me into a drawing for a gift card. All opinions stated are my own and I make no professional or personal guarantees that this book or the methods contained in it will solve any sleep issues or concerns you might have with your child. I also suggest you speak to your child’s pediatrician if your child is experiencing sleep issues.

 

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Product Review: American Heroes #3 CD by Jonathan Sprout

April 1, 2013 By
This review was originally posted by Penny Pinching Parent on 5/05/2009

Product Reviewed:

American Heroes #3 CD by Jonathan Sprout

Price:

$13.99 CD/$9.99 MP3 price

Availability:

CD Baby & KidzMusic.com

Product Description:

“Third in the series of American Heroes CDs, this album educates and inspires children with original songs about some of America’s greatest citizens. Award-winning singer/songwriter Jonathan Sprout’s careful research, creativity and performance experience in nearly 6,000 concerts have led to this top-notch collection of pop-rock tunes.”

American Heroes #3 includes songs about the following historical figures: Milton Hershey, (chocolate king/philanthropist), John Muir (conservationist), Elizabeth Blackwell (first U.S. female doctor), Dr. Jonas Salk (polio vaccine), Jane Addams (Nobel Peace Prize), George Washington Carver (agricultural scientist), Wilma Rudolph (Olympic gold medalist), Thomas Jefferson (third president), Pocahontas(peacemaker) and Cesar Chavez (civil right activist).

Why the PPP family was interested in American Heroes #3?

When I was given the opportunity to try out American Heroes #3 I was pretty excited. You are probably thinking to yourself that I might need a hobby if I was looking forward to a history music CD, but I was, and I’ll tell you why. I have a slight confession to make… history was not my greatest subject in school, I was a science and math nerd. I can recall a scientific or mathematical formula at a moments notice (well, might have to think about it since I haven’t used it in a bit), but when it comes to history I stink!

I think part of the problem was history just wasn’t ever fun for me. I can’t ever recall having an entertaining history teacher, they were all pretty mean tough and I seemed to get in trouble for talking too much in history class always.

I don’t want my daughter to hate history like I did…I want her to know all the wonderful people who helped shape our great country. I have even been brushing up a bit on some of my American History via trivia and a little book I thumb through every now and then… I do not want to look like a dummy when my little one starts school and knows more about U.S. History than I do!

What the PPP family thinks?

My daughter is in the preschool stages of learning, so to her this is just another fun music CD. To mommy, it’s so much more. I can fully appreciate the value of learning that accompanies these fun songs and know that while she is having fun listening to a song while we are running errands in the car around town she is secretly learning.

Remember how when you were a kid you seemed to learn things better if they had a rhythm or were in a song? Well, that’s what Jon Sprout has done with these historical figures. He has told their story in a beautifully rhythmic song. The lyrics are catchy, the tunes are easy and you find yourself singing along. I think even grown-ups will find themselves either remembering something they had forgot or a totally new fact.

Jon Sprout has been making children’s music for a lot of years and it shows. I love the fact that his music doesn’t seem like he’s trying too hard… if that makes sense, it just seems to comes natural to him. It’s not goofy or cheesy like some kids music. He’s not trying to be cool, he’s just trying to make really great music that our kids will listen to and learn from. This album actually sorta reminds me of some of the School House Rocks songs… remember those from when you were a kid? I still remember words to the ones about not drowning your food and about being about being a bill on Capital Hill… just to name a few. It’s the same concept behind his songs,teaching through music.

The American Heroes series have received wide acclaim and multiple awards and for good reason. I love the fact that it’s educational and my child will learn from it and it will grow with her as she matures, but also that it’s music she will listen to and mommy and daddy won’t be sick of after hearing it a gazillion times.

We definitely think that this CD is a both a fun and educational and would highly suggest it. We plan on packing it in the car for our family vacation next week!

You can listen to some samples of the songs off this album on his website JonSprout.com (along with the others in the series).

Update To This Review:

When we performed a site upgrade lots of our information did not import, but as we find a stolen moment here or there we are pulling back in reviews and information that is still pertinent and the American Heroes #3 CD is a timeless review. Unlike baby gear, etc. that changes every year… our American Heroes remain forever the same and our thoughts and opinions on what a fun learning tool Jon’s CD’s are still holds true. Our gal is now a Kindergartner, so this CD takes on a whole new life now that we can listen to songs about important figures in History class…. it’s definitely a great way to supplement learning, especially for those kiddos who do better putting things to music.

 

Disclosure: At the time of this review Penny Pinching Parent was provided the American Heroes #3 CD at no cost. The opinions expressed here in this review are solely our own. You can read more about PPP’s efforts to keep you in the loop about items we do not pay for on our Terms of Use page.

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Product Review: Chicco Hippo Deluxe Travel Hook-on High Chair

August 27, 2012 By

This review was originally published on 3/10/2009.

Today, I wanted to share with you a product review submitted by one of our readers, Julie. This a great review on Chicco’s Hippo Deluxe Hook-on High Chair. I am a big Chicco fan myself, we have a Chicco Caddy stroller for quick trips, so I couldn’t wait to read this. Thank you Julie for sending this in!

Product: Chicco Hippo Deluxe Travel Hook-on High Chair

Price: $49.99

Availability: Amazon.comand other baby retailers

Features:

  • Compact fold and deluxe carry bag for easy travel
  • Quick-grip table clamping and three-point harness to ensure quick and secure attachment
  •  Rubberized arms that firmly grip tables but won’t leave marks or pinch fingers
  • Thickly padded seat that is removable and machine-washable for easy clean-up
  •  Fits table tops with a table skirt up to 6″ thick
  • Recommended Age: 6+ months and lss than 33 lbs.

Review:

“After watching wait-staff at various restaurants stack-up high chairs without first wiping them down, this was a no-brainer purchase for us. Honestly, this is the one product that gets constant use at our house.

We purchased our Hippo when Reilly was about 5 or 6 months old to let her sit at our table with us for meals–about the same age we stopped taking her into restaurants in her infant carrier. So we started taking our Hippo to restaurants and linking Reilly’s toys to it so she could play while we ate. We haven’t gone out to eat without it ever since, and I kid-you-not, we have never left a restaurant without at least one person either making a comment on the Hippo or asking where they can buy one for their child.

In addition to clipping Reilly onto the end of a table, we have on occasion clipped the seat on the inside of a booth without any trouble–however, now that she can stand, she uses the bench as leverage. The only time we were unable to use our Hippo was at a major restaurant chain when we were seated at a table that could extend (the extension was not out so it created a double table thickness); the arms are not deep enough to accommodate this type of table. So now we request a table or booth that does not extend and we’ve never had a problem since. We’ve even used our Hippo successfully on a picnic bench. Now that Reilly is 25 pounds, some pedestal tables are a little “tippy” and we are vigilant to double check the stability of the table before putting Reilly in her Hippo or we request a booth.

The Hippo is machine washable: I’m not going to lie to you, it took a couple of times of sliding the cover off to get the hang of it, but I just throw it in the washer and let it air dry (I believe the instructions say you can tumble dry but to keep it looking new I let it hang dry).

The place we find the Hippo most useful is when we visit Grandma & Grandpa–the Hippo hooks right onto their table and they don’t need to keep a high chair at their house. I keep it in the trunk of my car so it’s always handy.

It’s easy to carry, store, use, and clean. It’s sturdy, clips on to tables quickly, and folds mostly flat (we rarely take it apart and use the included carrying case), and we absolutely love it! All in all, this is one the best gear purchases we’ve made thus far.”

Recommend: “Most definitely”

Again, a HUGE thank you to Julie for taking the time to submit this review. This is what makes Penny Pinching Parent a better place, one parent taking the time to share something her family loves with another parent, helping to save others time, and by all of us keeping our eyes peeled… money!

If you would like to submit a review, please contact Penny Pinching Parent via the Contact link at the top of the page.

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Produt Review: Disney Storybook Collection- A Treasury Of Tales

August 27, 2012 By

 

Since it’s National Reading Month, I thought I would take the opportunity to write some quick “mini” product reviews and share with you some of our favorite family books.

These will be brief, I promise…I know my product reviews can get quite detailed, but you don’t need to know as much info when it comes to buying a book. I will basically just share with you the book and a little tidbit about why we love it.

Product Reviewed:

Disney Storybook Collection- A Treasury Of Tales

Author:

Disney Storybook Artists

Published By:

Disney Press

Price:

Looks like a good price is $10.87 (we received as a gift), Amazon.com
has it for this price. The retail is $15.99.

Why This Is A Penny Pinching Parent Favorite:

Our daughter received this book as a Christmas gift this past Christmas and it has pretty much become a standard bedtime book in our house.

  • Size- This book is fairly large and definitely lends itself to fairytale telling.
  • Disney versions of classic storybook adventures- Some of the old books from when I was a kid have some really scary versions of what happen to the villains (i.e. the wolf in The Three Little Pigs) and we don’t have to worry about that with this book. It’s a nice happy book with pleasant tales that can be read at bedtime. It’s been a great way to introduce our 2 year old to these classic tales.
  • How many stories are in the book- There are so many tales in this book. It’s great having them all in one spot.
  • Nice Illustrations, but not too many- There are beautiful illustrations that are straight out of Disney movies, but there aren’t too many.

The only downside or negative to the book that I can think of is the fact that it comes with over 200 stickers. Not really a downside, but they don’t really add anything to such a nice quality storybook. The good thing is that they can be torn out and we have already played through them!
In case you want to know… here are the stories that are included in the book:

  • Bambi
  • Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
  • The Lion King
  • Peter Pan
  • The Three Little Pigs
  • Hercules
  • Beauty and the Beast
  • Mickey and the Beanstalk
  • The Aristocats
  • The Little Mermaid
  • The Jungle Book
  • Cinderella
  • 101 Dalmatians
  • The Lady and the Tramp
  • The Prince and the Pauper
  • Pocahontas
  • Sleeping Beauty
  • The Hunchback of Notre Dame
  • Oliver and Company
  • Aladdin
  • Pinocchio

Does your little one like Disney stories? What’s your family’s favorite?

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Product Review: Vicks Starry Night Cool Mist Humidifier

October 9, 2010 By

This review was originally posted October 9, 2010.

Product Name:

Vicks Starry Night Cool Mist Humidifier

Price:

Suggested retail price of $54.99, but seems to be $44.99 to 49.99 at most retailers.

Product Features & Description:

(from Kaz.com)

The Vicks Starry Night cool mist humidifier features a projector that comforts your child while creating a calm night perfect for children of all ages.

Naturally and effectively helps relieve cough and congestion.
Scent pad heater releases Vicks soothing vapours.
2 speed settings for comfort.
Quiet operation for comfort during the night.
A run time of 12 to 24 hours.
The projector is independently controlled and runs independently from humidifier.
1.0 gallon tank capacity.
Recommended for medium sized rooms.
3 year warranty.

Available at:

Available at a variety of retailers like and Vicks Starry Night Cool Mist Humidifier

 

So what does PPP think?

I’m a mom of a kiddo who was born pre-term with RDS (Respiratory Distress Syndrome). Because of this, my tot is a little more prone respiratory illnesses that seem to start around this time of year.

One thing our pediatrician, along with American Academy of Pediatrics, always recommends during this time of year is using a cool mist humidifier. The cool mist apparently helps to relieve congestion and ease the stuffiness of colds and the crud.

It’s just October and we have already had a cold run through our household. As you can imagine a cool mist humidifier is pretty much a household staple for us.

Up until now we have had one of those cute little shaped ones. But, when you really think about it, I don’t know any little ones who are too excited about seeing the humidifier come off the closet shelf. A humidifier usually = not feeling well.

Since receiving the Vicks Starry Night Cool Mist Humidifier and testing it out for a review, we have used it every night… and not even as a humidifier! My little one absolutely loves the “starry night” light show and she hasn’t let me put the humidifier away. If you’ve ever had a little one who fights bedtime with all their might, you will totally understand while the new humidifier is still in her room.

So, the Vicks Starry Night Cool Mist Humidifier gets my 3 year olds stamp of approval… what does mommy thing?

I think the new Starry Night Cool Mist is great and not just as a nightlight. Performance wise, as a cool mist humidifier, it’s quiet, has a large capacity and it’s easy to set-up and clean. You can even use Vick’s scented vapor pads with it. I haven’t used the little Vick’s pads yet, but I really like that option for when us grown-ups get sick… I love the smell of Vicks when I can’t breathe!

As for the “starry night” feature… it makes a normally not so fun item a lot of fun for little ones. The stars and moon project on the ceiling in and change from green to blue to red and more. The images show-up well, but at the same time they aren’t too bright or disruptive. I also really like the fact that the “starry night” feature is totally independent of the humidifier part, so you can sneak in and cut it off after your little one falls asleep, but leave the humidifier running.

The new Vicks Starry Night Cool Mist Humidifier is definitely a hit at the PPP house and if you are looking for a new humidifier to have on hand for this cold and flu season… this would be a step above your average humidifier. Also, if you are expecting and an item like the Vicks Starry Night Humidifier would make a great registry item.

Disclosure: PennyPinchingParent did receive a complimentary Vicks Starry Night Cool Mist humidifier, which is featured in this review. The opinions expressed in this review are solely those of PPP.

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Product Review: American Heroes #3 CD by Jonathan Sprout

May 5, 2009 By

This review was originally posted on May 5, 2009

Product Reviewed: American Heroes #3 CD by Jonathan Sprout

Price: $13.99 CD/$9.99 MP3 price

Availability:  KidzMusic.com

Product Description:

“Third in the series of American Heroes CDs, this album educates and inspires children with original songs about some of America’s greatest citizens. Award-winning singer/songwriter Jonathan Sprout’s careful research, creativity and performance experience in nearly 6,000 concerts have led to this top-notch collection of pop-rock tunes.”

American Heroes #3 includes songs about the following historical figures: Milton Hershey, (chocolate king/philanthropist), John Muir (conservationist), Elizabeth Blackwell (first U.S. female doctor), Dr. Jonas Salk (polio vaccine), Jane Addams (Nobel Peace Prize), George Washington Carver (agricultural scientist), Wilma Rudolph (Olympic gold medalist), Thomas Jefferson (third president), Pocahontas(peacemaker) and Cesar Chavez (civil right activist).

Why the PPP family was interested in American Heroes #3?

When I was given the opportunity to try out American Heroes #3 I was pretty excited. You are probably thinking to yourself that I might need a hobby if I was looking forward to a history music CD, but I was, and I’ll tell you why. I have a slight confession to make… history was not my greatest subject in school, I was a science and math nerd. I can recall a scientific or mathematical formula at a moments notice (well, might have to think about it since I haven’t used it in a bit), but when it comes to history I stink!

I think part of the problem was history just wasn’t ever fun for me. I can’t ever recall having an entertaining history teacher, they were all pretty mean tough and I seemed to get in trouble for talking too much in history class always.

I don’t want my daughter to hate history like I did…I want her to know all the wonderful people who helped shape our great country. I have even been brushing up a bit on some of my American History via trivia and a little book I thumb through every now and then… I do not want to look like a dummy when my little one starts school and knows more about U.S. History than I do!

What the PPP family thinks?

My daughter is in the preschool stages of learning, so to her this is just another fun music CD. To mommy, it’s so much more. I can fully appreciate the value of learning that accompanies these fun songs and know that while she is having fun listening to a song while we are running errands in the car around town she is secretly learning.

Remember how when you were a kid you seemed to learn things better if they had a rhythm or were in a song? Well, that’s what Jon Sprout has done with these historical figures. He has told their story in a beautifully rhythmic song. The lyrics are catchy, the tunes are easy and you find yourself singing along. I think even grown-ups will find themselves either remembering something they had forgot or a totally new fact.

Jon Sprout has been making children’s music for a lot of years and it shows. I love the fact that his music doesn’t seem like he’s trying too hard… if that makes sense, it just seems to comes natural to him. It’s not goofy or cheesy like some kids music. He’s not trying to be cool, he’s just trying to make really great music that our kids will listen to and learn from. This album actually sorta reminds me of some of the School House Rocks songs… remember those from when you were a kid? I still remember words to the ones about not drowning your food and about being about being a bill on Capital Hill… just to name a few. It’s the same concept behind his songs,teaching through music.

The American Heroes series have received wide acclaim and multiple awards and for good reason. I love the fact that it’s educational and my child will learn from it and it will grow with her as she matures, but also that it’s music she will listen to and mommy and daddy won’t be sick of after hearing it a gazillion times.

We definitely think that this CD is a both a fun and educational and would highly suggest it. We plan on packing it in the car for our family vacation next week!

You can listen to some samples of the songs off this album on his website JonSprout.com (along with the others in the series)

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Product Review: FUNKY KIDZ™ Funkified Classic Hits For Children And Adults

April 15, 2009 By

This review was originally posted on 04/15/09.

Product Reviewed: FUNKY KIDZ™ Funkified Classic Hits For Children And Adults, Featuring New Orleans Finest

Product Availability: Amazon.com, FUNKY KIDZ™ site, iTunes

Price: ranges from around $8.99 for download to $16.98 on Amazon

Product Description:

“FUNKY KIDZ™ is about family. This 12 track musical compilation is meant to be a conduit between adults and children, providing listeners of all ages with fun-filled, singable, and danceable tunes. Each artist has crafted a unique rendition of favorite childhood classics.”

“Each song features layers of rich instrumentation, fronted by accessible, clear vocals catered to both the sophisticated ear and the newly exposed listener. Songs are concise, emphasize proper repetition and tracks emulate the ebb and flow of a child’s day…”

What the PPP Family Thinks?

When I was offered the opportunity to try out an review the FUNKY KIDZ™ album, I was all over it. As you know from most of my daily rants here on PPP we are pretty big readers, but you might be surprised to find out that we are probably an even bigger music family. Music moves us and we love to dance, sing, laugh and act silly as part of our daily routine… my daughter will make song request, actually she demands them… she’s pretty bossy at 2 and of course has a list of favorite songs for mommy and daddy to sing.

We have always tried to expose our daughter to a variety of music. Since she has been exposed to virtually every genre since before she was even born she loves just about anything, but like any 2 year old tends to gravitate towards the nursery rhyme type songs that she recognizes from play groups, etc. Also since she’s 2, we find that we often have to listen to to a particular song or album about 20 times in a row… so we better make sure we like it before we pop it in the CD player. Because of this repetition daddy and I are always on the lookout for some nice compromises… like FUNKY KIDZ™!

When I the FUNKY KIDZ™ arrived we were on the way out, so I popped it straight in the car CD player while we were running errands. We were busy and chatting about my husband’s day, talking to my daughter and listening to the music and then my husband said something like, “This is a kids CD? It’s good!” He was right… this was good.

I am from the south, Chattanooga to exact, now living a little further north (laughable… still in TN) and I am used to spending lots of summer evenings down along the river walking and listening to bands play great blues and jazz music… this is what I thought of while listening to this album. You actually have to sorta listen to the lyrics to remember that this is a family album, I think calling it a “kids” album sells it a little short. This album features New Orleans finest… so you can see why listening to this album sparked those river walk memories for me.

Another awesome thing that I love about this album is the fact that it’s full of kid friendly music that takes me back to my childhood, but aren’t really the top songs you here on the kids albums out there today. Some of my favorites are “Yellow Submarine”, “Zip A Dee Doo Dah” and “If I Only Had A Brain.”

So we are just tickled to have something fun and funky to add to our rotation of family songs. We are glad to be able to expose our daughter to new music, new songs and be able to tolerate the repetition of a toddler needing to listen to the same song over and over!

If you are looking for something outside the box, a different take, something a step beyond your average kids album, something the whole family can enjoy, then you should definitely check out FUNKY KIDZ™!

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Product Review: Boogie Wipes- Gentle Saline Wipes For Stuffy Noses

April 15, 2009 By

 

 

This review was originally published on April 15, 2009.

Item Reviewed: Boogie Wipes in Fresh, Great Grape & Magic Menthol

Price:

  • $3.99 for 30-count pack
  • $2.99 for Boogies On The Run 10-count (10 individually wrapped wipes for lunchboxes, purses, backpacks)
  • $46.99 for Boogie Wipes Diaper Cake (3-30-count packs of wipes, 20 individually wrapped wipes, 50 diapers & 1 plush toy)

Product Availability:

You can get Boogie Wipes on the Boogie Wipes site or check the store locator on the Boogie Wipes site for stores in your area. You can find them locally at a bunch of chain stores and boutiques, here are just a few…

  • Wal-Mart
  • Rite-Aid
  • Kroger
  • King Soopers
  • Babies R Us/ Toys R Us
  • Meijers
  • Buy Buy Baby
  • Drugstore.com
  • CVS.com
  • Diapers.com

Product Features:

  • Made with Natural Saline to Dissolve Mucus
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Alcohol Free
  • Moisturize with Vitamin E, Aloe and Chamomile
  • Lightly Scented
  • Gentle Enough for All Ages
  • Phthalate & Paraben Free

What the PPP family thinks of Boogie Wipes?

Well, I think it would be fair to say the PPP totally gets what all the buzz about Boogie Wipes is about! We are now officially Boogie Wipes fans! Having a toddler in the house (27 month old) we deal with all sorts of messes… “boogies”and messy faces are just some of those messes.

My two year old is at that “Miss Independent, do not want to slow down for any sort of hygiene, hate having my face wiped” phase. She absolutely hates to slow down to have her face wiped after snacks, meals, tantrums, pretty much anything. Often you will see me chasing her around trying to just catch her long enough to get a swipe. Thank goodness for bath time!

Up until now, I have pretty much used baby wipes for most of the wiping on the run that gets done around our house. They work fine, but like I said she typically runs… it’s just her personality. Well, now I sorta have a novelty item with Boogie Wipes. My 2 year old will actually let me wipe her face and nose! You read that right, my on the run daughter will actually let me use the Boogie Wipes on her, stands still and actually likes them.

You want to know why my daughter likes the Boogie Wipes? The smell! She loves the smell, especially the Great Grape. She even asked me this morning (after a typical 2 year old tantrum about having to get ready) to go get them. She said, “Mommy please get Boogie Wipes, Baby (that’s what she calls herself) got a boogie.” She asked for them by name and actually wanted me to wipe her face. I was a little surprised.

So, I would say they definitely have her stamp of approval. As for mom and dad, we LOVE anything that makes our life more simple. We keep a pack in the car for just family needs.
Now from a moms perspective here’s what I like…

Boogie Wipes are actually moistened with saline and hypoallergenic. So they are great at dissolving and cleaning. Don’t let the name fool you, even though they are great for colds and allergy attacks… I pretty much use them as I would a baby wipe on my daughter’s face.

We had the opportunity to try all three “scents” and I am with my daughter I really like the Great Grape. Dad on the other hand likes the Fresh scent… that surprised me because he normally likes candy or fruit type smells and I normally like more floral or outdoor type smells. As for the Magic Menthol, my husband and I haven’t had our full blow Spring allergies kick in just yet, to give these wipes a workout, but I will tell you I love the smell of them. I suffer from migraines and menthol, herb, mint type smells like the fragrance of these is one of the smells that seems to relax and soothe when I have an attack, so I did use a few this past weekend when I had a migraine after working outside and plan on keeping these around all the time for that reason.

As a mom I really like the individually wrapped Boogies On The Run, this is very handy and I can see where you might even want to pack these in older kids backpacks, etc. The package of 30 though is small enough to tuck in the diaper or tote bag and it has the handy flip top lid like portable baby wipes.

So, the PPP family are now officially Boogie Wipes fans. Thanks to our 2 year old you can pretty much bet there will always be a supply in our house!

Disclosure: PennyPinchingParent was provided complimentary Boogie Wipes in order to facilitate this review. The opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are our own.

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