This giveaway is now closed. View the winner here! Thank you all so much for entering! How long after you became a mama did it take you to put away the chunky necklaces and the dangly earrings? How sad were you when you realized babies and jewelry don't always mix very well?
The pendants are made of a nice, squishy, safe silicone. Your baby can't hurt it!
In fact, your baby will love it.
That's right: Smart Mom jewelry was designed for babies to chew on.
The silky cord that hangs around the mama's neck also features a breakaway clasp as an added safety feature.
And the best part? The necklaces look great! They come in heart shape or donut shape pendants and many different stylish colors and patterns. No one will know your necklace is baby-approved … until your baby starts gnawing on it and you don't object!
I think Smart Mom Teething Bling necklaces would also rock as nursing necklaces. I had (have) a big problem with twiddling during breastfeeding. I don't like it when my baby tweaks the other nipple like he's trying to tune in a radio station. A nursing necklace can give busy hands something to do, and it can also focus the attention of babies with wandering eyes, when you're nursing in public and would rather not have your eight-month-old popping off and whipping his head around every two seconds at each new sound. (Been there!)
I haven't been able to test out the Smart Mom necklaces personally since I don't have someone's who really the age for it anymore! But Stacy at Posh Baby Boutique (and blogging at Posh Trendy Blog) was super kind enough to let me post this giveaway quickly, so I really appreciate that.
I'll give you my long-distance take on the Smart Mom necklace, and then you can try to win a free one and see what you think for yourself!
I love that the material is a high-quality, phthalate-free, federally approved silicone. It's non-toxic and latex-free, which is good because there are a number of people with latex allergies. Silicone is soft and pliable and ideal for massaging a teething infant's gums. The silicone is food–safe (you might have a silicone pan or two around your kitchen) and even dishwasher-friendly if it comes to that!
The cord is a thick, silky black with a breakaway clasp. It hangs down long enough that your baby can easily reach to chew and fiddle while being held or breastfeeding.
The design of the pendant and cord is simple, and I find it quite elegant. I like that there are many different colors to choose from, some funkier and some more low-key. You should be able to find a style to suit your taste — or choose a bunch to match each outfit!
Because of the streamlined design, this is the kind of necklace you could wear every day. It would make a lovely and understated signature piece. And then imagine everyone's surprise when you pop it in your baby's mouth!
There are coordinating bangles to match the necklace, and you can also buy gift packs for yourself or the new moms in your life. If you're not the necklace type, or you want a gift for someone who's not (the dad, perhaps?), there are also Teething Bling keychains: same teething pendant but in a pocketable key ring style.
There are two safety notes that go along with the necklace:
The silicone could theoretically be bitten through, so Smart Mom cautions mothers that it's to be used only on babies who are teething, with teeth only just emerging. Keep an eye on your little chewers to make sure the jewelry looks safe and whole at every use.
The cord has a breakaway clasp for added protection, but it's in no way intended to go around your child. The necklace should be worn by adults only, and it should be used by your baby only under adult supervision. Otherwise, the cord could pose a choking hazard.
A couple people think the cord design is cheaper looking than they'd hoped. I believe the makers used a cord rather than a chain for safety reasons, but keep that in mind if your style is different. Personally, I checked out many baby-safe necklaces when I needed a nursing necklace, and I would have been thrilled with something this elegant; at the time, all I could find were toy-like necklaces that would have looked better on the baby.
Some have mentioned that the silicone attracts lint and dust, so keep a soft cloth handy (you probably have one in your diaper bag already!) to wipe off anything you don't want your baby to mouth.
The funniest negative comments to me were people docking the necklace a star for being too popular with their baby! A couple mamas complained that now their baby thinks all jewelry is meant for chewing, or that their babies couldn't keep the Teething Bling out of their mouth whenever they saw it. I'd say those are positive attributes, but that's just me!
One thing I really liked doing was scrolling through pictures I found of real mamas and real babies using the jewelry, so check out these links for some cuties:
I didn't want to post their pictures here without permission and am too lazy to get said permission — yep, you heard it here — so click on over if you're curious about seeing the Teething Bling in action!
I'm confident that you and your baby will enjoy the Smart Mom Jewelry Teething Bling.
And I'm equally confident you'll enjoy the Posh Baby Boutique. You really have to check out Stacy's store. Many items are custom-made, personalized, and/or mama-designed (just like the Smart Mom Teething Bling).
For instance, who doesn't love tutus and PettiSkirts? (I seriously wish they made them in my size!)
She carries eco-friendly baby essentials like all-in-one cloth diapers and gorgeous cloth wipes, wet bags, and cloth changing pads:
You can enter giveaways for just such fantastic items on Stacy's own blog, Posh Trendy Blog.
BUY IT!
You can find Smart Mom Teething Bling at Posh Baby Boutique at $19.99 for a pendant and cord necklace, $16.00 for a keychain, and $34.00 for a gift set that includes a necklace, two bangle bracelets, and a gift card (perfect for a unique baby shower gift!), or on Amazon. Giving a Smart Mom necklace would be like giving two gifts in one, because it's partly for the baby, but it's also a way to show you care about the mama. No one wants to feel frumpy in those postpartum days, after all, and I just love the idea of functional jewelry that's still stylish. If the mother intends to breastfeed, it's also a way to support her in her decision by giving her a tool that will come in handy when she needs it.
WIN IT!
For your own chance to win a Smart Mom Teething Bling necklace from Posh
Baby Boutique, enter in the comments below! Contest is open to U.S. & Canada.
MAIN ENTRY:Head on over to Posh Baby Boutique and tell me which Smart Mom pendant you would choose!
Leave an email address in at least one of your comments if it's not clearly visible on your profile or linked web page so I can contact you if you win. (You can write it like this to foil spambots: mail (at) hobomama (dot) com or similar.)
BONUS ENTRIES, to increase your chance of winning (leave a separate comment for each so I can count them all):
Tell me why you want this necklace!
Have a look around Posh Baby Boutique, and tell me another item that catches your eye.
Tweet this giveaway. This may be done once daily for still more entries. Leave the direct URL, which can be found by clicking the time stamp under your Tweet. You can create your own text or copy/paste this: Win a stylish Smart Mom necklace for teething and #breastfeeding from @PoshBabyStore and @Hobo_Mama! http://bit.ly/diJZ63 #giveaway {6.22}
Enter another of my current giveaways (1 extra entry per giveaway — check back for more).
Do something lovely for this post, a post on Posh Trendy Blog, or a post on Hobo Mama (StumbleUpon, Twitter, Facebook, Digg, etc.) and let me know what it was and which post in your comment. There is a Share button below each of my posts. You can gain 1 extra entry per share, up to 3 extra entries total.
Put my Carnival of Natural Parenting button on your website for 2 extra entries. The HTML code is in the sidebar. Leave your site URL in the comment.
Contest open to United States & Canadian mailing addresses only.
Leave each entry as a separate comment so I can count them all.
For actions like following and subscribing, if you already follow or subscribe, just let me know in your comment.
For tasks that garner you multiple entries, say something like "I blogged [link here] #1," "I blogged [link here] #2," etc.
You don't have to do any of the bonus entries, but you do have to complete the first mandatory one.
I will pick the winner through random.org after the contest closes and send an email notification. Leave an email address in your comment if it's not clearly visible on your profile or linked web page so I can contact you if you win. If I can't reach a winner or don't hear back within a couple days, I'll draw a new name.
Any questions, let me know: mail {at} HoboMama.com
Disclosure: I received no compensation or product for this giveaway.
Amazon links are affiliate, because I need to pay the bills, yo.
I try to seek out only products I think you would find
relevant and useful to your life as a natural parent.
If I don't like a product, I won't be recommending it to you.
That's how I roll. See my full disclosure policy here.
I'm looking for a couple sponsors for a current giveaway and a future travel-themed giveaway event. If you fit into one of the categories below or want to point me toward a company, let me know: mail {at} HoboMama.com Thanks!
A quick-turnaround giveaway for right now: I'd prefer to have one more giveaway going on right now, but it needs to be fast. It could be for a product I've already used and liked, or it could be for something I have no way of testing at the moment (cloth diaper, maternity wear) but that someone I trust vouches for. Do you have such a product you would like to give away and receive bountiful (yes, I said it! Bountiful!) promotion of your company in return?
Travel-related giveaways for the fall: We are taking our first plane ride in over two years this summer. I'm nervous about how our (then) 3-year-old will do, so I'm looking forward to bringing along some travel products that might help smooth our way. I would then like to do a giveaway event in anticipation of the holiday travel season of the products that made our trip easier. I'd prefer companies and products that are natural, handmade, or otherwise unique. In all cases, they must support (as in, not work against) natural parenting. I have about 3 million ideas, but I thought I'd throw it open in case you have a product or business that would be perfect for this theme, or if you are a reader with ideas of products you'd like to see reviewed. Here are some of my ideas:
Cloth mei tai or similar soft carrier that's easily packable, convenient to take on and off (or pop the baby out), and has no metal to set off alarms (you know, in case security actually lets you wear your sleeping baby through the metal detector)
Travel kid pillows to support Mikko's little neck and great big floppy head as he sleeps on the plane or in the car
Portable games and activities for babies through older kids, but particularly for a 3-year-old — like cloth "quiet books," lacing cards, small cloth doll sets, simple magnetic games, I-spy pillow, natural play-dough, and the like
CARES Harness (that's very specific, isn't it?) or travel-friendly car seat or car seat accessories (well, ours isn't, and a girl can dream)
Ways to make breastfeeding comfortable for moms traveling to show off that new baby, like an inflatable or travel nursing pillow (not for me right now, but I could see it coming in handy!)
Ways to make cloth diapering or elimination communication/potty learning easier on the go, whether that's a cool wet bag or cloth changing pad or travel potty or similar
Ways to make cosleeping in alternate environments safe and comfortable, like a travel bolster to keep babies from rolling off high hotel beds
Travel-themed children's books, such as the airplane books I reviewed. I also think books that require some activity are great, like touch-and-feel books for babies and lift-the-flap or sticker books for toddlers on up. Are you an author who has a book like that? Because I look forward to amusing my child with it on the long flight!
Ways to make packing easier for families traveling with kids. This could be children's bags or backpacks, diaper bags, laundry bags, toiletry cases, suitcases, or something fabulous I haven't even thought of.
Portable white noise machine or other ways to bring the comforts of home with you and your baby
Airplane food, but the good kind! Do you have a delicious and nutritious portable snack or a way to bring one? I'm thinking compact water bottles and reusable baggies or lunch boxes.
I'll test what I can and try to find other test subjects for what I can't. If you have a pitch, feel free to email me: mail {at} HoboMama.com I love Etsy sellers, mom-owned businesses, small-time start-ups — I'm a big fan of the little guy. So just let me know if you have something great! I'm not expecting to find a product in every category listed above; those are just ideas where I could see potential. Let me know if there's an aspect of traveling with kids I forgot!
If you're a company but are not familiar with giveaways: Giveaways help promote a company and its products for just the cost of two products — one for testing and review, and one for giving away. In most cases, the company is also responsible for paying the shipping to the winner. I can't promise to accept all giveaway pitches, because I do want to make sure anything I select is relevant to my readers and supportive of natural parenting practices. I also try to be honest in my reviews and point out both the pros and cons of a product. That said, I don't promote products I have a wholly negative experience with; instead, I would contact you privately and suggest ways the product might be improved.
I also would love guest posts on traveling with kids. If you have tips on packing light, tried-and-true ways to amuse children on long flights, distractions to keep siblings from tussling in the back seat on road trips, recommendations of travel products, or philosophical musings on the easy parts and hard parts of travel when you're breastfeeding, cosleeping, and practicing EC or cloth diapering — well, send them my way! I can't promise to accept every guest post, but I'm willing to work with you on editing if you have a good idea. mail {at} HoboMama.com
As long as I have your attention, I also am accepting advertising on my Hobo Mama blog, in a premium sponsor slot. I have other sections available, too, upon request. Please see my advertising page for my reasonable rates, currently on sale! A clickable button is a great way to show off your company, product, or blog to a steady stream of natural-parenting fans, and I would love to showcase any new sponsors who sign up with a feature article on Hobo Mama Reviews.
This giveaway is now closed. View the winner here! Thank you all so much for entering! Don't you love imaginative people?
When Steve Ouch contacted me to review his new children's book, SteamPotVille, I had a look at his website with some samples of his work and knew I had to see the full book.
Steve Ouch creates unique photographic collages where elements are meshed together in an enchanting, higgledy-piggledy way. A peacock might be wearing a tie, a goose riding a unicycle with a puppy, and a camel balancing on top of a cow. You never know what to expect with Steve Ouch!
SteamPotVille is a fun read, and the printing is very high quality. The book is hardcover with a nice dust jacket and full-color spreads. I even love the endcaps, which remind me of one of those Magic Eye posters. The images are crisp, and the colors pop. The visuals are really what makes the book, so it's great that the publisher spent so much effort on getting it right. Despite that, the list price is only $15.95 (on sale right now at Amazon for $10.85!), which is great for a hardcover, full-color book like this. As Steve points out in this video, "it's like candy to look at":
And I won't lie — the fact that he has a Lite Brite in his video was one of the deciding factors that won me over!
The story of SteamPotVille is that a topsy-turvy town becomes even topsy-turvier overnight in a child's dreams. Cows stop saying moo and start meowing, penguins wear scuba diver helmets, and bees dig underground. In other words, surreal just got surrealer. My favorite little image is the squirrel holding up a bank, but that's just me. I also enjoyed finding the frog who did not in fact scat.
In case any of your little readerlings are scared, the book ends with a reminder that you're just dreaming, and you can imagine things however you want.
I told Steve Ouch I was looking forward to seeing what Mikko, 2.75 years old, thought of the montage artwork style, where everything's jumbled and upside down and mixed up. Mikko has specific ideas of what is "right" or not, and I wanted to see how emotionally he reacted. So, how did he react? He laughed. He thought it was pretty silly that the goose had wheels and the cat was wearing a frog hat. I think he was a little worried for the safety of the horse that the lion was riding and that the hippopotamus balancing on one measly log might fall down (like Humpy Dumpy), but other than that, he did fine!
I recommend this book to kids or adults who want something new in a children's book. The photography style is stunning. I've heard comparisons to Monty Python, and I could definitely see Terry Gilliam endorsing this book wholeheartedly! I've also seen comparisons to Where's Waldo? and I can see the similarities there, too. There's isn't necessarily one specific item to find on each page, but there are plenty of funny items to spy as your children want to, like a dog dressing up as Darth Vader.
There isn't much of a plot, but that's not a big deal in a visual children's book. I was a little thrown off by the rhymed text not fitting a standard meter (Dr. Seuss makes children's rhymes look deceptively easy when they're really, really not), but Steve Ouch parlays that into a benefit by making it an educational discussion for older readers. The good news is, it's easy enough when reading aloud to force the meter to work out and read in a pleasing way — and aren't children's picture books designed to be read aloud, anyway?
There aren't many people in the book, mostly animals. It makes a little nervous, then, to see a wise Indian who says "Hau," though at least it's spelled right. I wonder if that was put in for the rhyme. I do appreciate that the child is half-hidden under a blanket and so can stand in for either a boy or a girl. I don't know if that was intentional or not, but it's a great touch!
This book is a lot of fun, and the author — oh, I'm sorry, discoverer of the story — has a bright future ahead of him as a children's illustrator. I especially love the little tea-specific touches to SteamPotVille and wonder if an upcoming volume will explore the neighboring town of Espresso Estates. (I get royalties if he uses that. Right?)
Another favorite part of the book for me is the closing page, where he shows a portrait gallery of many of the animals seen throughout the pages and invites you to find them in the book. "Name the resident and the sound it makes," he says. "If you don't know, make it up!"
Did I mention I love imaginative people? I really love them when they inspire imagination in others!
BUY IT!
You can find SteamPotVille, by Steve Ouch, at Amazon.com, on sale right now for $10.85 and eligible for free Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25, or at your local bookstore or library. If you can't find it at your local bookstore or library, ask them to stock it!
WIN IT!
For your own chance to win a hardcover copy of SteamPotVille, by Steve Ouch, enter in the comments below! Contest is open to U.S., Canada, & England (hooray!).
Leave an email address in at least one of your comments if it's not clearly visible on your profile or linked web page so I can contact you if you win. (You can write it like this to foil spambots: mail (at) hobomama (dot) com or similar.)
BONUS ENTRIES, to increase your chance of winning (leave a separate comment for each so I can count them all):
Tell me which animal(s) in the illustrations reprinted above you like best! (You can see them bigger at SteamPotVille.com.)
Tweet this giveaway. This may be done once daily for still more entries. Leave the direct URL, which can be found by clicking the time stamp under your Tweet. You can create your own text or copy/paste this: Win the fantastically surreal children's book SteamPotVille from @SteveOuch and @Hobo_Mama! http://bit.ly/bYdlgc #giveaway {6.17}
Do something lovely for this post, a post on SteveOuch.com, or a post on Hobo Mama (StumbleUpon, Twitter, Facebook, Digg, etc.) and let me know what it was and which post in your comment. There is a Share button below each of my posts. You can gain 1 extra entry per share, up to 3 extra entries total.
Put my Carnival of Natural Parenting button on your website for 2 extra entries. The HTML code is in the sidebar. Leave your site URL in the comment.
Contest open to U.S., Canada, & England, because Steve Ouch and Running Press rock hard.
Leave each entry as a separate comment so I can count them all.
For actions like following and subscribing, if you already follow or subscribe, just let me know in your comment.
For tasks that garner you multiple entries, say something like "I blogged [link here] #1," "I blogged [link here] #2," etc.
You don't have to do any of the bonus entries, but you do have to complete the first mandatory one.
I will pick the winner through random.org after the contest closes and send an email notification. Leave an email address in your comment if it's not clearly visible on your profile or linked web page so I can contact you if you win. If I can't reach a winner or don't hear back within a couple days, I'll draw a new name.
Any questions, let me know: mail {at} HoboMama.com
Disclosure: I received a free copy of SteamPotVille for my review but no other compensation.
Amazon links are affiliate, because I need to pay the bills, yo.
I try to seek out only products I think you would find
relevant and useful to your life as a natural parent.
If I don't like a product, I won't be recommending it to you.
That's how I roll. See my full disclosure policy here.
Anita chose a lovely puzzle for her lovely nieces, ages 3 and 18 months!
If you're not the lucky "Miss" Anita, you can buy your own adorable and educational puzzle or other quality natural toys at the estimable GummyLump.com. The prices are reasonable, the shipping is fast, and the selection is phenomenal. The ABC Peg Puzzle I reviewed is on sale for only $6.39, and it's still Mikko's favorite puzzle. Enjoy!
I thought I'd post a few pictures of what we look like using this rockin' seat and an updated review. I wasn't posting personal pictures last year, but they're pretty cute ones, and I'd hate to have them go to waste. :)
ETA: I forgot to be clear about this, but our little guy is almost 3 years old now, and he had just turned 2 when the pictures were taken last summer. He is and was about 37 pounds and 3 feet tall so on the high end of the seat's limits. I believe the seat is intended for children over a year because the child needs to be able to sit up confidently and the neck must be strong enough to hold up a helmet for long periods. You can use your judgment about when that is. The foot rests adjust for smaller babies (shorter legs), but we have them in the position that allows for the longest legs. The weight limit is up to 40 pounds.
Pros of the WeeRide Kangaroo Seat
The reason we chose a front-mounted seat in general, rather than a rear-mounted seat or bike trailer, is that it allows our child to have an adult-eye view of the bike trip. I can keep an eye on him without being distracted from my biking. His weight is well positioned so it won't throw off my balance. I also felt like this type of bike riding, with my toddler centered between my arms, was the most like babywearing. It just felt right to me!
The WeeRide had the highest weight limit of the front-seated models (40 pounds), a must for our chunky monkey!
The WeeRide seat is pretty comfy for the kid, with a nice back rest and somewhat longer foot supports. Since we're using it for a toddler, I appreciate that it's nice and upright so he can see what's coming ahead. There's also a deluxe padded version of the WeeRide in case you want to upgrade.
There's a nicely padded handrest for your toddler's little pudgy mitts. It's been fairly easy to train Mikko to rest his hands there rather than trying to steal the handlebars from me.
The WeeRide is easy to remove in a moment if the adult wants to ride alone. You keep the bar attached and just unscrew the seat itself from a big hand-operated screw. Assembling it onto my bike in the first place wasn't too challenging, either. Front-mounted seats don't work with drop handlebars, fyi, but it fits fine on my bike.
I was worried that biking around the seat would be awkward, that I would be in an exaggeratedly bowlegged position, but that's not the case. I definitely have to turn my legs out a little wider than if the seat weren't there, but it's only a slight adjustment to riding normally, and I'm 5'9". Hopefully you can see the angle in the picture up top. No biggie, yes?
I haven't had any problems balancing with the child's seat attached and child within, even though Mikko's a hefty 37 pounds. It helps that the seat's weight is so well centered.
Everyone will smile at you when you have a cute baby in a front-mounted seat. The happiness is contagious.
Cons of the WeeRide Kangaroo Seat
A con of all front-mounted seats is that they're intended for smaller babies than our guy. As I said, the WeeRide has the highest weight limit, but even so, my toddler's long legs have to fold rather sharply for him to fit his feet into the shoe rests. I wish the foot supports were even more adjustable downward to give his legs room to grow. Note that I haven't found a front-mounted seat that has more room, though; I just wish one did!
I'm annoyed that the seat's harness slips off his shoulders as we ride. There's no good way to keep it secured except through my own devices — generally a hair clip. I don't know how unsafe this makes the seat, but we ride only along a well-marked and paved trail, during the day. (We're not very adventurous; what can I say?)
This isn't so much a con as just a note. If you have multiple children or expect to, you might find a different biking configuration is more affordable or convenient. For instance, there are bike trailers that are built for two kids, or you could get a Dutch Bakfiets, which allows for multiple children. If you expect to have a toddler or preschooler along with an infant, though, I could see putting a front-mounted seat like this in front for the younger child (who is at least old enough to sit up and wear a helmet) with a rear-mounted seat behind for the older child. For even older children, there are tandem bike attachments that keep the bicycling learner safe while practicing the pedals, or of course there's always the option of having an older child ride a bike alongside you.
The added 37 pounds of child weight plus the seat means that I don't go all that quickly, and hills would be a chore. Fortunately, I'm able to ride along a nice, level stretch of waterfront. I don't know if a trailer would be a lot easier or not, but presumably so, because of the benefit of added wheels. I also try to be very cautious when putting Mikko into the seat not to rely on the kickstand to hold him and the bike up but always to steady the bike myself until I get on.
Toddlers will help you wheel out the bike. Expect no less.
(affiliate links galore, natch), my bike and helmet at Costco, and Mikko's helmet at Walmart, I think? Amazon also has toddler bike helmets if you know what size you're looking for. We actually had to graduate Mikko to the 5-year-old version because of his unusually large skull (a family trait!), and I'm thinking this summer he might be moving on up to the 8-year-old model. So you might want to try on helmets in person before deciding, but I couldn't find a deal on the seat anywhere that was better than on Amazon (and I did look).
But, you can often find bikes and bike accessories, including various seats and trailers, for free or low cost by asking around or checking out groups like Freecycle or Craigslist for your area. Also check consignment and thrift shops. Just make sure that whatever you get is in good working order for safety's sake, and add in the essential safety gear depending on your riding habits (bike helmets for all riders for sure, plus lights and reflectors in case you're out after sunset, and a bell to warn pesky pedestrians on the bike path that you're coming through with your cuteness).
But, most of all, happy trails to you and your little one! Enjoy your bicycle (re)built for two.
Two bike helmets are a must when bicycling with your toddler.
Matching sunglasses and tough-guy glares are optional but recommended.
Disclosure: I received no product or compensation for this review.
I bought it with my own cash money after extensive research
and liked it enough to want to share it with you. I do use Amazon
affiliate links. I try to seek out only products I think you would find
relevant and useful to your life as a natural parent.
If I don't like a product, I won't be recommending it to you.
That's how I roll. See my full disclosure policy here.
Teaching to mastery: How we naturally learn
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*My 9-year-old learns art techniques & origami by practicing them over and
over and over.*
[image: Hobo Mama wants you to know she's a professional blog...
Family Breakfast
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It’s no secret that our household loves to cook and eat. We love food, we
love communing around food, and I (particularly) love reading about food.
Food m...