If you’ve been a mother for any length of time, chances are good you’re familiar with the HALO brand. Eleven years ago, when we welcomed our oldest son, the HALO sleeper was one of the very first things I scanned for my baby registry. Here’s a blurb from HALO which sums up their mission in a nutshell: “HALO Innovations is dedicated to putting the health, safety and well-being of babies first. In fact, over 1,200 hospitals use our HALO® SleepSack® wearable blankets through the HALO Safer Way to Sleep Initiative.  This summer we launched our new bassinet, the HALO™ Bassinest™ Swivel Sleeper, furthering our commitment to helping babies sleep safely.”

A few months ago, HALO sent a Microfleece SleepSack (retail $25) for baby Ingrid to try. This wearable blanket is also available from HALO in other fabrics like cotton, muslin and sherpa. I requested a size small (birth to 6 months) for Ingrid, in the cute pink and white ladybug design. We’ve had a good three months to review it and I’m really eager to share my feedback with you!

Wearable blankets help replace loose blankets in the crib, which can be a safety hazard to young infants and toddlers. They are a great way to keep your little one feeling cozy and warm without the need for extra bedding.

A SleepSack especially comes in handy if you have a baby that prefers not to be tightly wrapped. On the flip side, the SleepSack is roomy enough that you can swaddle your baby inside of it for extra warmth and security.

Size small has been perfect for Ingrid. She’s been wearing it from age 3 months to 5 months, and during that time it’s provided ample room for her to wiggle and kick while not being so big that it swallows her up. The sleeveless design not only allows her arms to move freely, but it allows me to choose short sleeves or long sleeves for her to wear underneath. I love the quality and texture of the microfleece fabric as compared to regular fleece (which is thicker, attracts more lint and pills over time).

Because it zips from top to bottom, you can change your baby without having to fully open the sack. That means they can stay warm and cozy on top while you’re tending to their bottom.

Here is the size chart for easy reference:

Microfleece is definitely an easy-care and quick-to-dry fabric which can be laundered with everything else; the only drawback is that it tends to hold on to odor more than cotton because synthetics are more subject to buildup.

To sum up, here are my thoughts on the newest addition to HALO’s SleepSack line-up:

Advantages:

• Microfleece is super soft and cozy
• It resists pilling better than regular fleece
• It resists staining
• It has a stay-dry effect in the event your child wets out of the clothing underneath.
• The SleepSack zips from top to bottom, so there’s no zipper near your child’s neck.
• Generously sized so it’s easy to put your baby in, execute a diaper change, or get them out.
• Arm and neck openings are sized just right for comfort and safety.
• Sleeveless design allows for more movement, and less sweating/overheating.

Disadvantages:

• Fleece tends to hold onto odors more readily than cotton or other natural fibers.
• The cost of $25 will be a stretch for some budgets, but it is an excellent long-term investment, and something you should at least consider adding to your wish list or registry.

I mentioned that HALO has recently introduced a Bassinet Swivel Sleeper for yet another way to keep your baby safe and secure while sleeping. Unlike other bassinets, the unique design swivels back and forth so that parents can easily pull the sleeper closer to comfort, feed or pick up their baby. bassinet. It even swivels right up to your bedside for a cozy and safe “co-sleeping” arrangement. The mesh sides are breathable and let you easily view your little one at all times.

My first baby was a c-section and recovery time was slow; I would have loved a sleeper like this after my surgery to keep Joseph within arm’s reach because moving around was tough on my sore tummy for a few weeks.

Watch this quick video on YouTube to see the bassinet in action. And right now you can enter to win a HALO Bassinet Swivel Sleeper on Facebook!

You can connect with the folks at HALO online or through social media:

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Google+
YouTube

Shop for the HALO SleepSack at local retailers of baby goods, or online at Amazon.ca and Amazon.com

There’s a giveaway!! One of my readers will win a HALO Microfleece SleepSack – choose your size and color (subject to availability)! Open to both US and Canadian residents. Good luck!

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Pish Posh Baby sent the ciao! baby portable high chair to review this fall, and it’s become one of the handiest things we own. It’s ideal for restaurants, picnics, vacation, camping and even just visiting friends and family.

Here are the basic specifications:

• Weighs about 8 pounds
• Dimensions are 23x23x32
• Opens and folds just like a camp chair
• Includes a drawstring carrying bag with shoulder strap
• Wipe-clean eating surface
• Adjustable lap belt and leg guards to keep your child from sliding down or forward
• Includes a hanging mesh cup holder
• Legs lock into place
• Rated for ages 3 months to 3 years and up to 50 pounds
• Retail price: $65.75

The first time I used the portable high chair was at our parish picnic. The bright orange seat really stood out, and there were many mothers who came up to ask “Where did you get that seat?” Several people told me they didn’t know there was such a thing, and that the idea of a portable, washable high chair was brilliant. I couldn’t agree more. When I look back at all our activities and travels over the years, something like this would have really come in handy.

The clear plastic covering on the main food tray is ridiculously easy to wipe clean. The canvas fabric on the seat – not as much. It takes a hot, soapy rag to scrub food away that gets smashed into the fabric. The same thing applies for the hanging mesh cup holder. It’s a great feature and one I use all the time for Erik’s sippies. But it can be tricky to clean if pureed or soft foods get down there.

This chair is very secure and stays put; never once has it moved or tipped and it’s best tested on multiple surfaces like hardwood, grass and even gravel.

Because the ciao! baby chair is not rigid like a traditional plastic or wood chair, the fabric has some give to it. That means the food tray isn’t perfectly flat, and if you put a lot on it, it will sag slightly. You can adjust the food tray by sliding the grommets up and down on the back bar.

Erik (22 months and 26 pounds) was my main tester and fits in it just fine, but since it’s rated for up to 50 pounds, I tried Susanna in the chair, too. She’s 3 and about 37 pounds. Her shoes are bigger and her legs longer, so she gets “hung up” in the leg holes sometimes when we’re trying to pull her out. Therefore, I would say the chair works best for infants and young toddlers.

Here’s a quick summary of my thoughts on the ciao! baby portable high chair:

What I Like

• Fun colors – 11 to choose from!
• No assembly required. It takes about 10 seconds to pop it open and lock the legs (just like a fold-up stadium chair)
• The fabric is very sturdy and durable (including the hanging mesh cup holder)
• Food surface is very easy to clean and doesn’t stain.
• It’s lightweight and easy to pack and carry; my older children have no problems toting it around.
• It’s very secure.

What I Would Change

• It can be difficult to get a large or chunky toddler in and out of the chair.
• I don’t know if it would be possible to cover the entire chair with clear plastic, but that would make cleaning the rest of it even easier.

PishPoshBaby is giving away a ciao! baby portable high chair to one lucky reader in the United States! Winner gets to choose from in-stock colors. Enter the giveaway below, and good luck!

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The Tiny Love 3-in-1 Rocker Napper is a versatile piece of baby gear which converts easily from a seat to a napper and grows with your baby. I received a Rocker Napper in the brown and red design to review, and it came just in time for newborn Ingrid!

Here are the specs:

• Three options: napper, tilted seat and inclined seat (pictured below) – a red lever on the back is used to adjust positions, and bars on the front and back of the legs allow you to switch from stationary to rocking.
• Gentle vibrations (requires C battery)
• Nine different tunes and lights (requires three AAA batteries)
• Curved legs that allow you (or an older infant) to manually rock the seat
• Two hanging toys
• Washable bassinet and sleeping pad
• Recommended from birth to 40 pounds
• Measurements: the sleeping area is about 27 inches long and 13 inches at its widest; when in the completely flat (napper) position it’s about 10 inches off the floor
• 

It took about 30 minutes to assemble and was pretty straightforward with the exception of two small white plastic clips (“Part L”) that were pictured in the manual but no instructions were given as to their function. A call to Tiny Love revealed that they are anchors which go under the bottom of the seat to keep it from sliding. Tiny Love’s service department was very prompt and helpful and also sent me a set of complete instructions via email which explained exactly how to install and use the clips.

Ingrid sleeps very soundly in the Rocker Napper, and judging by its size I would say she’ll fit comfortably in it for a few more months.

What I like:

• If your baby falls asleep while in the seated position, you can gently and quietly adjust it down to the napper position without disturbance using the red lever on the back.
• The seat and pad are very soft and cozy.
• The music is appealing, not annoying at all, and the volume can be adjusted.
• Even at the young age of just 3 weeks, Ingrid is already very captivated by the hanging toys, music and lights. I often find her gazing quietly up at them.
• You can adjust the height of the toys by means of a velcro strip.
• The arm which holds the toys swivels so you can move it out of the way.
• The Rocker Napper is easy to pick up and move around the house.
• Ingrid loves taking naps in it, and that’s just what I was hoping for!

What I would improve:

• Young infants might need added support to sit comfortably; Ingrid is almost a month old but starts to slump to one side unless I anchor her with rolled blankets.
• It’s low to the ground so it didn’t work bedside as I had planned because of having to reach way down. Young children will need to be closely watched when the baby is napping, since the Rocker Napper is well within their reach.
• Hopefully, the next edition of the manual will have complete instructions and usage guidelines (not just pictures).
• The rocking feature works better on hardwood floors than it does on carpet.
• The size range for the rocker seat (up to 40 pounds) might be too broad; Erik is 18 months old and 24 pounds and has maxed it out (see photo below). But if you invest in the Rocker Napper right after birth, you’ll still get a lot of use out of it.

Tiny Love is giving away a Rocker Napper, just like I reviewed, to one lucky reader in the US! Enter the giveaway below, and good luck!

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Last year I reviewed Nuby’s step stool and was so happy with its performance that I was very curious about the booster seat. Nuby’s booster is made of durable plastic in a limited variety of color combos: pink with purple handles, green with orange handles and blue with green handles. It has a wide base and contoured design for comfort. I received the orange and green seat from Nuby in exchange for a review.

Here are the specs:

• Holds up to 65 pounds
• Includes white safety straps for securing to a chair, and also 3-point straps for fastening around your child.
• Base measures 14×14 inches at its widest
• Seat boosts your child up about 5 inches.

There are holes in the bottom of the seat to feed straps through around your child’s waist.

Like the step stool, this is a very durable yet lightweight accessory. Both of my toddlers can pick it up with no problem; the textured handles on either side make this even easier.

It has worked fine to boost Susanna up at the table, and is just the right height to allow her legs to fit under the table.

Note: the seat is secured to the chair, but the child restraint straps weren’t yet fastened when I snapped the above picture.

Both of my toddlers have actually enjoyed the seat much more for play. They sit it in, climb on it and put their dolls and stuffed animals in it. When used away from the table, the straps are not needed and can be easily removed.

If you’d like to pick up Nuby’s Booster Seat for your child, try retailers like Target and Walmart, Amazon and Bed, Bath & Beyond. They retail for about $14.95.

Here’s how to connect with our friends at Nuby:

www.facebook.com/nubyusa
www.twitter.com/nubyusa
www.pinterest.com/nubyusa
www.instagram.com/nubyusa

Did you know that all Nuby sippy cups are on sale at Target right now? This promotion ends Saturday, July 12th!

You can enter to win a Nuby Booster Seat for your child. Just use the Rafflecopter entry form below. Giveaway is open to US residents only and ends July 10th.

 
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