NurturMe Organic Baby Food

NurturMe is a brand new, organic food product – dried fruits and veggies – that parents can mix with water, formula, or better yet, breastmilk, and serve to their little ones the same way they would rice cereals or other grains. It’s actually the exact same concept as rice cereals, only they’ve applied the processing/preparation method to fruits & veggies. The benefits are:

• Higher nutritional value than jarred foods due to less exposure to heat
• Option to rehydrate using breast milk, formula or water
• Convenient, lightweight packaging that you can pop in your diaper bag while on the go, at the airport… or at home
• Earth-friendly packaging (less wasteful than jars) that includes a recyclable carton made with wind energy.

I was sent a box of 4 packs of NurturMe organic baby food to try. It is much lighter and more convenient to tote around in my diaper bag which is a big plus, I also liked that I can choose the consistency by deciding how much liquid to add. My daughter loved the sweet potatoes just as much as she loved her jarred sweet potatoes and I like that they have a higher nutritional value. A box of 8 pouches is $9.49 which is reasonable considering it is organic. If you live in Texas you can find NurturMe at your local Whole Foods and Central Market stores the rest of us can order online at NurturMe.com

I received product free of charge in order to obtain my honest opinion. All opinions are my own.

How to get A Great Picture of Your Baby Plus $2000 in Photography

We all want the perfect shot of our adorable baby, but how do you get it? I have been down this road 3 times now and while I am happy with all the pictures we have, often there have only been 1 or 2 good shots to choose from and I would love more. There is a new website called Babyphotographers.com created to not only help you find the best photographer for you but also help you get the best photo of your little one. I found the article Photographers Top Secret Tips to Make Every Photo Session Successful to be very helpful. It not only gives you tips for a successful baby photo shoot but it has tips for photo shoots with toddlers and family photo shoots as well. We are planning on getting a family picture taken once Little C turns 1 and I will definitely be referring to this article for tips. Right now you can enter to win $2000 worth of professional baby photography by entering the Smile Baby contest, simply submit a 100-200 word paragraph answering the question “How do you get your baby to laugh?” Be sure to check out all the rules and details before entering.

This post is part of a Team Mom campaign and by writing it I am entered in a drawing for a photography gift card.

Car Seat Expiration Dates and When You Should Replace Them

Did you know that car seats expire? Yes they do and it is very important that you are aware of the expiration date on your child’s car seat. There is a reason that car seats have an expiration date and you really should pay attention to them. After a recent discussion during my Monday night Twitter parties I realized many people had no idea that car seats expire so I decided to do a little research and here is what I learned.

Car Seats Do Expire. Each and every car seat has an expiration date which is listed on a sticker somewhere on the car seat. The car seat expiration is based on the date of manufacture not the date of purchase or beginning of use. Most car seats expire in 5 years some in 6.

Car Seats Can Become Unsafe when They Expire. There is a reason why car seats are given an expiration date and it is not just to get your money. The car seat does become damaged in ways you may not see. The plastic shell degrades and warps due to the changing conditions, the harness begins to wear and the Styrofoam can degrade. All of these things make your child less and less safe. The plastic can even become so brittle that is shatters on impact, just the thought horrifies me.

Another car seat issue you need to be aware of is that you should not continue to use a car seat that has been in a serious crash. Minor fender benders do not count but anything remotely damaging to the car could be very damaging and compromising to the car seat. Good news though most insurance companies will pay to replace your car seat when you have been in a crash. That means you have no excuse for not tossing it. In these tough economic times I know a hand me down car seat can seem like a dream come true but be careful. Make sure you check the expiration date and get a full crash history. Saving money is not worth risking your childs life. In researching this piece I reached out to Nationwide Insurance to find out what they had to say about expired car seats and those that have been in a crash.

Nationwide follows the NHTSA recommendations regarding replacement of child safety seats after a crash. Nationwide considers child safety seats as equipment under the auto physical damage coverage of the policy. For third party claimants, child safety seats are covered by the liability coverage. Nationwide will replace all child safety seats damaged in a crash for our policyholders and pay for replacement of child safety seats of others damaged in a crash that our policyholder is liable for. In moderate or severe crashes, Nationwide will routinely consider the child safety seats involved as damaged.

Are there any insurance ramifications for using an older or expired child safety seat? Using an expired child safety seat does not impact either the rates Nationwide charges customers or the way we handle a claim. So there are no ramifications from an insurance standpoint for using an expired child safety seat. Nationwide does recommend to customers to update their child safety seats so they can protect what matters to them most, the safety of their family.

Not sure if your car crash warrants replacing the car seat? Here are the NHTSA guidelines for reference: NHTSA recommends that child safety seats be replaced following a moderate or severe crash in order to ensure a continued high level of crash protection for child passengers. NHTSA recommends that child safety seats do not automatically need to be replaced following a minor crash. Minor crashes are those that meet ALL of the following criteria:

• The vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site
• The vehicle door nearest the safety seat was undamaged
• There were no injuries to any of the vehicle occupants
• The air bags (if present) did not deploy
• AND There is no visible damage to the safety seat

Finally I spoke with  Sarah Tilton, child passenger safety advocate for Britax she says,  Please refer to the user guide that came with your child seat to determine its recommended useful life. Britax recommends that the use of a child seat be discontinued after a certain number of years from date of manufacture, depending on the seat, or if the seat has been involved in a severe crash. Expiration dates are recommended for various reasons: technology has changed, components degrade from the environment (depending on how and where stored), parts get lost or installed incorrectly, or instructions and labels may not be available or not legible. After a child seat has met its expiration date, Britax recommends that the child seat be destroyed.

I hope this helps you to make more informed decisions about your child’s car seat and their safety while riding in motor vehicles. This also means you should be more aware of when you buy a car seat versus when you will use it. If you are buying in advance because it is a great deal you will be wasting precious years of use. I know lots of people who were given car seats at their baby showers that sat in the closet for almost 2 years that means they only had 3 years left to use it before it expired. So be informed and make smart choices to help keep your kids safe.

HOT!!! SleepyWrap Baby Carrier $24.99

Zulily has the SleepyWrap baby carrier for as low as $24.99 right now and they have the organic cotton baby carrier as well. This is a MUST HAVE BABY ITEM (in my opinion) it is approved for preemies! Both The Ballerina and Little C lived in their SleepyWrap from the day they came home from the hospital until they became too wriggly and I moved them to the Ergo. I can not stress enough how much I love this product and I have never seen it on sale before. Hurry though these will go fast.

ERGOBaby Carrier 48% Off

Today’s steal for babysteals.com is the ERGOBaby Carrier they are already selling out at this great price but the Black embroidered is still available for just $70.50 originally $135 if you have been wanting one grab it now!

Check Out My New Wheels

No not a car but even more exciting a new stroller. I am a bit stroller obsessed and kind of snobby about them. I push a stroller daily so it needs to meet my needs as a mom of 3 and I can be pretty demanding. I am still testing my latest toy out but I wanted to give you a preview, more to come, but for now meet the Musty Easyrider and try not to drool. The Easyrider is the latest edition to the Mutsy collection and I can tell you from experience everything Mutsy makes is amazing, the quality is far superior to other products, and this new light weight stroller is no exception. Here is what Mutsy has to say about their new stroller:

The Mutsy Easyrider, at just 14 lbs., is a stylish, easy to use basic stroller perfect for travelling and everyday use. Easyrider features small swivel wheels at the front with a unique suspension system to help get over curbs or bumps. The back wheels of the stroller are also provided with suspensions for added maneuverability. A large canopy is included and the stroller features an adjustable back with a generous recline. Other features include a 5 point safety harness, extendable leg rest, tall, ergonomic handles and one hand fold. Mutsy’s unmistakable design is evident in the very unique shape of the stroller’s tubing. Suitable for ages 3 months and up, Easyrider is available in Navy and Red. Recommended retail is $169.

Watch for my review coming soon.

Plum Organics Baby Food Saved Me!

As I went through the very emotional transition from breastfeeding to bottle last week Plum Organics literally saved my sanity. Initially Little C refused to take the bottle but she happily ate the Plum Organics baby food. She loved the bananas and the pears and just today I gave her the spinach, peas and pear baby food which she also loved. Of course I love that it is certified organic with non-GMO ingredients. I love that the packaging is so convenient. The twist top bags are so amazingly convenient, they seriously are so cool! They are mess free and very easy to throw in your bag plus you don’t have to worry about them spilling with the child safe cap. I was really excited when I saw Plum Organics at the checkout lane at Toys R Us the other day. I normally make a majority of my own baby food and buy only a limited amount for travel and foods that are difficult to make. Plum Organics Baby will definitely be my go to for baby food for traveling plus they have prunes which I always need for my kids. I am so glad I had some Plum Organics on hand to help me feed my baby until she figured out the bottle, it eased my mind to know she was getting healthy organic food.

I received product free of charge in order to obtain my honest opinion, all opinions are my own.

Burp In Style (giveaway)

Spitting up babies can be messy and babies like mine with acid reflux spit up a lot. I can not go anywhere without several burp cloths and so why not at least be stylish when I am burping. The Baby’s Bundle makes adorable burp cloths that seem too cute to cover in baby spit up. They generously sent me a set of stylish burp cloths and I really love them. They are made of nice thick absorbent material and look so cute. The Baby’s Bundle has all kinds of great prints to choose from and the have several material choices as well including minky, cotton, flannel and brocade/satin. They also sent me the softest little snuggle blanket for my daughter to cuddle with. She loves running her fingers over it and since it is the perfect size for a baby I always have it tucked on her lap for her to enjoy. Great news I have an exclusive coupon code for 20% off your order at The Baby’s Bundle, simply enter code thriftymama at checkout.

Want a set of gorgeous burp cloths for yourself? I am giving away a set of burp cloths from The Baby’s Bundle to one lucky Thrifty & Chic Mom to enter tell me your favorite item at The Baby’s Bundle (be specific with item name and color/pattern), leave choice in a comment on this post. For extra entries do any or all of the following leaving a separate comment for each entry.

* Subscribe by email to Thrifty & Chic Mom.

* Blog about this giveaway with a link back.

* Twitter about this giveaway with a link back, you must also be following both me and @thebabysbundle on Twitter . Copy and paste: Win a set of stylish burp cloths from @thebabysbundle and @ThriftyChicMom http://bit.ly/2ttoq4 (you can do this once a day!)

* Email a friend about this giveaway with a link be sure to CC me thriftyandchic (at) gmail

*Become a fan of Thrifty & Chic Mom on Facebook

*Become a fan of The Baby’s Bundle on Facebook

Open to US residents, ends 11/19 at midnight. Winner will have 3 days to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Email must be in comment or available in profile. The company provided me with free product in order to provide my honest opinion, all opinions are completely my own.

FREE Sample Pampers Extra Protection Diapers

Pampers has come out with a new diaper called the Extra Protection and you can request a FREE diaper sample from Walmart. Plus if you join Pampers.com you could win a years supply of diapers but beyond that it is a great site full of info and resources. I love the monthly emails I get with tips and advice about my kids ages and the pampers Gifts To Grow program is a must. You can get all kinds of great FREE stuff for buying pampers diapers. My husband loves the Starbucks gift cards I get him FREE with my points.

Huggies Pure & Natural Diapers $5.97!!!

I LOVE Huggies new Pure & Natural Diapers so I will definitely be heading to Walmart tonight, they have the small size packages on sale for $8.97, use this $3 Huggies printable coupon = $5.97!!!!

While you are there pick up your Playskool Sit N Spin for $6.95!

(thanks Tara)

O Yikes For Men (giveaway)

You might remember the fabulous slingback diaper bag from O Yikes that I reviewed a while back. I still use it and LOVE it, my husband even prefers to carry it when he takes the girls out even though it is pink and orange. When I did my review I mentioned that I wish it came in a more masculine version and that it could be worn multiple ways so when I was wearing my baby I would still use it. I am excited to announce O Yikes listened and did a fabulous job designing their new 247 messenger x. This bag is huge and holds a ton on stuff. It not only comes with all the fabulous O Yikes accessories like the bottle holder, wipes case, changing pad and accessory case it also has a hidden extra 2 inches of space when you unzip the expandable section.

O Yikes definitely met all of dad’s needs by providing a padded laptop section as well as an electronics area that makes them easy to find. This bag easily goes from day to night without looking like a diaper bag, in fact my husband carries his to work everyday and no one would guess that is doubles as a diaper bag. Right now O Yikes is holding a contest to name the new color because black/black is too boring, enter your name suggestion HERE and you could win a FREE bag of your choice.

For one lucky Thrifty & Chic Mom reader I have an O Yikes onesie and accessory item ( your choice) to giveaway. And of course I have a discount code for 10% off your entire purchase enter promo code blog10 at checkout. To enter visit O Yikes and tell me which product is your favorite.For extra entries do any or all of the following leaving a separate comment for each entry.

* Subscribe by email to Thrifty & Chic Mom.

* Blog about this giveaway with a link back.

* Twitter about this giveaway with a link back, you must also be following me on Twitter. Copy and paste: Win an OYikes onesie and diaper bag accessory from @ThriftyChicMom http://bit.ly/3skMvZ (you can do this once a day!)

* Email a friend about this giveaway with a link be sure to CC me thriftyandchic (at) gmail

*Become a fan of Thrifty & Chic Mom on Facebook

Open to US residents, ends 10/30 at midnight. Winner will have 3 days to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Email must be in comment or available in profile.

Sids Awareness Month (giveaway)

Sids is a parents worst nightmare and claims too many babies but fortunately their are things you can do to prevent this tragedy. Always put your baby on their back to sleep and keep the crib free of plush items including stuffed animals and blankets. So if you can’t use blankets how do you keep your baby warm? Sleep sacks! I have always been a fan of swaddlers and sleep sacks, my babies live in them during the cold months. Halo has a fantastic SleepSack Swaddle that is both a wearable blanket and a swaddler. This innovative product is actually both. It is a wearable blanket that has an attachable piece to use as a swaddler. I got one to try with my new baby girl and I really love it, the fact that it can function in 2 ways makes it extra great in my eyes. Plus it is made of plush dots velboa with satin trim, it is very soft and luxurious making my baby extra soft and cuddly when she is wearing it. I have always been a fan of HALO SleepSacks but this new combo swaddler SleepSack is the best wearable blanket in my eyes because it can do both, now I don’t have to switch from sack to swaddler when I put my baby to sleep!

Great news I have a Halo SleepSack swaddler in size newborn in the blue plush dots velboa color. Want this for yourself? Visit HALO and read the tips of safe sleep, come back here and tell me something you learned. For extra entries do any or all of the following leaving a separate comment for each entry.

* Subscribe by email to Thrifty & Chic Mom.

* Blog about this giveaway with a link back.

* Twitter about this giveaway with a link back, you must also be following me on Twitter. Copy and paste: Win a HALO SleepSack Swaddler and prevent SIDS from @ThriftyChicMom http://bit.ly/zp6PP (you can do this once a day!)

* Email a friend about this giveaway with a link be sure to CC me thriftyandchic (at) gmail

*Become a fan of Thrifty & Chic Mom on Facebook

Open to US residents, ends 10/25 at midnight. Winner will have 3 days to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Email must be in comment or available in profile.

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