Sign In  /  Register

Member Spotlight

mnbullock

Avg Rating:

Gender: Female
Has or is expecting children: Yes
Level: Member

Recent Reviews:

Medibuddy First Aid Kit

Medibuddy First Aid Kit

Rated on Apr 09, 2012

32121

While this isn't an extensive first aid kit, it is a great little kit to keep in the diaper bag or glove compartment of your car and has all the necessities for everyday bumps and bruises. The bandaids are fun, and the stickers are a great idea to soothe a sulking toddler. I have used it a couple of times for small scratches and bumps for my 18 month old. I am not sure that this would be as appealing or as helpful with an older child, but for my toddler it has been useful.
The best part of the kit is the size - when the products run out I will keep the case and fill it with my own things.

The First Years Gumdrop Pacifier Wipes 40ct

The First Years Gumdrop Pacifier Wipes 40ct

Rated on Apr 09, 2012

43211

I love these wipes, more for peace of mind and convenience then anything else.
When the paci drops in a public place and a replacement paci or a sink isn't readily available, these wipes are the perfect solution. As a paranoid first time mom the fact that these were made with food grade ingredients made me happy.
I think it is also important to note that these aren't just good for pacifiers but can be used to clean off any toy. I have used them on teethers, toys that have become teethers, any thing that has been "shared" that shouldn't have been at play group like a sippy cup, and utensils that have been dropped or put on the table in a restaurant. These are really great for anything that goes in the mouth (which is almost everything at some point) and are an essential in my diaper bag.

Diaper Genie Elite Diaper Disposal System

Diaper Genie Elite Diaper Disposal System

Rated on Apr 09, 2012

21321

This product is definitely a step above putting diapers in the household trash, and much more convenient than taking a trip to the outdoor trash can every time you change a diaper, but after using it for about a year it is time for us to move on to bigger and better things.
We empty the diaper genie every other night on a regular basis and once a day on an as needed basis (i.e. when there is a particularly stinky diapers in the pail), but no matter how often we empty, or how empty or full the genie is it ALWAYS seems to stink when you open it. A large part of this has to do with the fact that it is made out of plastic and plastic absorbs smells, but I think that the bagging system that doesn't actually individually wrap each diaper has a lot to do with the smell.
We also never get to the advertised 30 diapers it is said to hold. We usually put only 8 - 12 diapers in at a time before changing the bag. While it could hold more, the smell just would be too much.
On top of regular cleanings we have tried many things to try and make this work for us - odor absorbers in the nursery, baking soda fridge packs sticking to the bottom of the pail and the top of the lid, baking soda poured in the bottom of the pail, and letting the pail air out outside with the lid open once or twice a week so that the plastic can breathe. While all of these things have worked on some level for a time, putting it outside has proven the most successful, but then where do the diapers go the days that the pail is sunbathing?
On the plus side, the ability to open the lid with a foot pedal is very convenient and the design of the genie is low key and easy to store out the main line of sight.

Munchkin Dishwasher Baskets

Munchkin Dishwasher Baskets

Rated on Apr 09, 2012

43211

These are great little dishwasher baskets. We use them to wash all the components of our sippy cups. I like that there is a place on the outside to put straws, a compartment on the top for nipples and pacifiers, and an adjustable separated basket to fit all the other little components. It is very functional and well thought out and has withstood MANY dishwasher cycles without getting any build up or film as had been our experiences with the Dr. Brown dishwasher baskets.

Dr. Brown's Natural Flow Bottle Brush

Dr. Brown's Natural Flow Bottle Brush

Rated on Apr 09, 2012

32121

We bought this brush when we had to transition from breastfeeding to formula and found that we had a really hard time getting the bottles completely clean from bits of formula that stuck to the bottom of the bottles.
The sponge at the bottom of the brush did a great job getting rid of the extra bits however, the sponge didn't last long and tore quickly (within a few weeks). For this reason we didn't buy another and opted for a brush from the Fly Lady with silicone bristles that also got the bottle completely clean, but lasted MUCH longer.

If you don't mind replacing the brush often then this definitely gets the job done. If you are looking for something that is longer lasting, this brush is not for you.

Summer Sanders' Prenatal Workout DVD

Summer Sanders' Prenatal Workout DVD

Rated on Apr 09, 2012

14321

I can't tell you how much I loved this workout DVD. I did it 5 days a week starting in my first trimester.
The DVD has workouts for each trimester and has full workouts and reduced workouts, so even if you are not feeling great there is something you can do every day.
I also like using the resistance band to target arms and shoulders and felt like I got stronger in areas that I needed gain strength like my upper arms and shoulders in order to carry a growing baby.
The workouts aren't geared toward losing weight, just toward staying healthy and active during your pregnancy and there's no crazy moves or pressure from the Summer or or the trainer. Overall they are very encouraging and it is nice to be doing workouts led by another pregnant lady (Summer is pregnant in the video), however during the third trimester she gets a little grumpy and is a little less encouraging, so I ended up modifying the second trimester workout during my third trimester because it was more fun and upbeat.
After having the baby I miss the workouts, but definitely plan on using this DVD again when the next baby comes around.

Britax Marathon 70

Britax Marathon 70

Rated on Apr 09, 2012

21321

We have had this carseat for about 6 months and have only used it in the rear facing position for our 18 month old son.
We bought this seat because of its reviews and safety features. I also liked the way it looked (colors, material, etc.) It is easy to buckle my toddler in and he seems comfortable in it. It also has a few accessories like a drink holder that can be bought separately that are nice to have.
The fabric seems to be of a decent quality and cleans easily, it also has worn well so far unlike other similarly priced brands we saw that had started pilling even though they were display models. This was important to us as we hope to use the seat for multiple kids.
We use it almost exclusively in a 2008 Prius and although it fits, the passenger seat has to be scooted pretty far up. Once we have it in the forward facing position this won't be as big of a problem.
The biggest con of this seat is that it doesn't transfer easily from car to car. We have to put several towels under it to get it at the right angle and that always proves to be a little bit of a hassle (we were spoiled with an infant car seat that had an easily adjustable leveling foot).
I am also a big fan of the fact that the seat can be used up to 70 lbs which means we won't be buying another seat for a long while!
Overall we really are happy with this purchase.

Chicco Keyfit 30 Magic Infant Car Seat

Chicco Keyfit 30 Magic Infant Car Seat

Rated on Apr 09, 2012

14321

As first time parents, my husband and I tried out every infant seat that we could get our hands on in the baby stores, and this one initially sold us because of how easy it was to get in and out of the car. We knew our moms would be using it at times, and knew that when I had the baby by myself I would want to be able to put the car seat in and take the car seat out of the car easily and know it was secure.
Besides the ease in which the seat detaches from the base, it also got great safety reviews, looked nice, was easy to clean, and had bases that could be bought to attach to the most popular brands of strollers. It also fit babies starting at 4 lbs which ended up being a plus for us since our son was only 6 lbs when born.
This wasn't the lightest carseat, but it also wasn't the heaviest. Like other reviewers commented, as my son got bigger we began leaving the seat in the car and just taking him out more often because it got too heavy. It was around this time that he was no longer content staying in his car seat when out of the car so it wasn't a big deal for us.
We ended up switching to a convertible carseat shortly before our son turned 1 year old because although he still had a little room to grow according to the height and weight limits on the seat, he didn't look or act comfortable in it. I would have like to use it longer, but it just wasn't working for us anymore.
This seat did hold up nicely the year that we used it and still looks like new thanks to the easily wipeable fabric so even though I would have liked to use it longer, we will be able to use it for at least the next baby if not longer.

Page 1 of 1 page