Evenflo Symphony DLX Car Seat Review (It’s Pretty Awesome)

Thanks to the opportunity to partner with Evenflo in a sponsored campaign, we were able to try out the Evenflo Symphony DLX convertible car seat.

The Evenflo Symphony DLX convertible car seat takes safety and comfort to the next level with its NASA-developed Outlast® technology, a temperature regulating fabric that keeps babies and toddlers comfortable during hot and cold weather.

We recently took a day trip up to the Blue Ridge Parkway and hiked to Linville Falls (a perfect hike for our family — just a tiny bit challenging for the littles without being too overwhelming), and it was one of the warmest days we have had so far this spring.

Our Suburban was parked right in the sun.  When we returned from the hike and started buckling the kids up, I was honestly surprised to find that my little guy's car seat was perfectly cool to the touch.

And in spite of the fact that it is already spring, we have had some pretty cold mornings.  But this little guy has not had to deal with the discomfort of climbing into a cold car seat.  The temperature regulating fabric has absolutely delivered on its claims.  Evenflo's goal was to ensure a safer, more peaceful ride for both mom and child  A distracted driver is a risk on the road, and nothing can be more distracting to a mom driving than a crying baby or toddler. According to a study conducted by American Baby and Safe Kids Worldwide, new moms are 300% more likely to get into an accident than other drivers, in part due to tending to an upset baby.  Keeping your child comfortable will reduce instances of fussiness in the car and thereby reduce the danger of distraction as you try to comfort them.

Additionally, the car seat features buckle pockets, a simple yet ingenious feature.  The metal part of the buckles tuck neatly into the sides of the car seat, keeping them from getting hot and burning your child's delicate skin during hot weather.  Having them tucked into the side also eliminates digging around under your child to find the buckles when it's time to go somewhere.

Another thing I like is how easy it is to adjust the straps.  There is a little button on the front of the seat that I can push, and when I simultaneously pull the straps out they will loosen up.  To tighten them I simply pull the strap on the front.  This makes it very easy to make sure my little guy is buckled properly.

The car seat includes an insert that should be used for smaller babies to make sure the car seat is safe for them.

This is an all-in-one seat that accommodates children ranging from 5 – 110 lbs, making it the only car seat you will ever need.

The only downside is that it is big.  If we were to need 3 children to sit in the back of our Suburban, they would not all fit back there with the Evenflo in there.

Overall, I think the Evenflo Symphony DLX convertible car seat is a very well-made and well-designed car seat.  If space is not an issue, this is a fabulous option for your child to use from birth until they no longer need a car seat!

What is your favorite feature of the Evenflo Symphony DLX?

Sealy Baby Cool Gel Crib Mattress Review {Plus a $100 Gift Card Giveaway!} #SealyBaby

As a Kolcraft Mom, I have the privilege to represent Kolcraft and Sealy Baby, and I am excited to introduce you to the Sealy Baby Cool Gel Crib Mattress!

Disclosure: I received a free mattress to facilitate this review.  All opinions are 100% my own.

The following video highlights my favorite features of the mattress:

The very first thing I checked out when deciding whether or not to accept this mattress was whether or not it would be safe for my infant.  When I went to the product page, I was happy to see that this mattress is GREENGUARD® Gold certified for indoor air quality and low chemical emissions.  And perhaps one of my very favorite things?  Made in the USA!  You don't see that much anymore these days, and I am always happy to support American-made!

A little more info about the mattress:

The Sealy 2-Cool 2-Stage Crib Mattress is available in-store or online at Buy Buy Baby.

Giveaway:

One winner will receive a $100 gift card to Buy Buy Baby to help you pay for a new Sealy Baby Cool Gel Crib Mattress!

To enter, just complete the form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Birth Center Vs. Hospital Birth

It is entirely possible for a mom to have an unmedicated, natural birth in a hospital surrounding.  I know from experience that is true because my first 3 children were all natural hospital births. Yet each one was increasingly more difficult to “hang in there” and not cave to the pressures of medication or unnecessary intervention. I basically labored at home as long as I possibly could so that I could be in my own relaxed atmosphere.  I went to the hospital just in time for delivery. (My first was actually born in the car just before we got to the hospital.  Whoops!)  With my second, I was not at the hospital too terribly long before delivery, but I was miserable the whole time.  With my third I was only there a few hours, but that was long enough to make me so miserable that I wasn't sure I wanted any more children. The longer I sat there, chained to IV's and monitors, with unfamiliar faces rushing in and out of the room, the less relaxed I became.

• I got to answer what seemed like hundreds of questions for paperwork while needing desperately to concentrate on breathing through contractions.
• I got to be poked and prodded for an IV line by a nurse who acted like she was bored out of her mind and extremely inconvenienced by having to care for yet another patient.
• When I was finally left alone, I was told I could be in whatever position I wanted – sit, walk around, etc.  Really???  I have yet to figure out how I was supposed to do that while chained to all that stuff.  Trying to change positions would have been a whole lot more uncomfortable than just staying put and leaving things as they were.
• When the doctor came in to check my progress, he also broke my water before I even realized what was happening.
• When it came time to push, I was basically placed into the position which was most convenient for the doctors and nurses, even though it certainly was not the most comfortable for me.
• After delivery, my baby was whisked away to be washed and weighed, and I was not allowed to move to a recovery room until my IV line was finished. It wasn't until that point I discovered that it was loading my veins with pitocin.
• Once in the recovery room, I was not allowed to leave the hospital until 48 hours from the birth.  By that time I was thoroughly exhausted — not so much from having a newborn, but from having my sleep interrupted every few minutes by nurses coming in unannounced to check this or that or offer me some type of medication.

Now, all those things in and of themselves are not the worst thing that could happen, and I still managed to have natural births in spite of them.  I'm sure a natural birth would be even more attainable if I had a very assertive advocate along with me to make sure everything was done according to my wishes. I could have had another natural hospital birth if I had needed to, and it wouldn't have been the end of the world, but I wanted to experience giving birth at a birth center and see for myself if there was a big difference.   Here's a little about my experience:

• At every prenatal appointment, I saw the midwife who would be there for my delivery.  I wouldn't have to deliver with a doctor or nurses whom I had never met before.  I also met the other midwives just in case my midwife were to not be able to be there for some reason.
• Throughout the pregnancy, I was offered advice for natural treatments for common pregnancy complaints rather than medication.
• When labor began and I arrived at the birth center I didn't have to sit through a long process of complicated paperwork to be admitted.  I was immediately allowed to rest or move around as I wished.
• Throughout labor, I could go wherever I wanted in the birth center.  The bedroom was homey and comfortable, and I was able to relax and sleep a little.
• I did not have to be hooked up to any IV's or monitors; baby's heartbeat simply had to be checked every 30 minutes.
• My midwife had gotten to know me and what I wanted ahead of time. She was ready to help or simply leave me alone. (She knew that I just like to be left alone, and that's what she did, although she was available to support me as needed if I changed my mind.)
• When it came time to push, she encouraged me to get into whatever position felt most comfortable.  After the first push, she thought that position wasn't going to be effective, and offered her suggestion as to a better position. But she didn't make me feel like I had to do it that way.  (She was right, though, and I was glad for her suggestion!  Baby was out in one push!)
• At the birth center, I had my first water birth.  At the beginning of the pregnancy, I wasn't so sure what I thought, but I finally warmed up to the idea, and now I am glad I did!  I wouldn't exactly call it wonderful, because I don't exactly enjoy the process of giving birth no matter where I am, but it definitely felt better than delivering hospital-style!
• 2 hours after the birth, I was allowed to go home if I wished, or stay and rest as long as I wanted.  I stayed for about 5 hours and rested, then went home.  I felt more rested after the first afternoon home than I did after an entire 2 days staying at the hospital.  Sleeping in my own bed, uninterrupted by nurses barging in every time I doze off, has been absolutely wonderful!

I am thankful for the experience of using the birth center, and if we have any more children, I plan on going there again!

My Favorite Diapers for Newborns – Now In Larger Sizes

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walmart. All opinions are 100% mine.

Baby #4 is due any day now.

I've made sure to stock up on diapers, and they're all set up in a basket under the bassinet.

But I don't just buy any diapers.

I am pretty particular about the diapers I buy when my babies are little bitty.

Pampers Swaddlers just work better.  After 3 kids, I know that for a fact.

I bought a big ol' box of newborns, and a big ol' box of size 1.  Every time we have a new baby, and I buy the newborn diapers, I am always amazed at how teeny tiny they are!

When this new little one gets here, I will have 2 in diapers.  My 2 year old is in size 4 diapers, and I was very surprised when I heard that Pampers® Swaddlers are now available in size 4 and 5!

I've actually kind of always wondered why they only had them in the smaller sizes, because honestly, I think they're nicer than the other varieties of Pampers®.

One thing I always thought was cool with the Pampers® Swaddlers was that they have that little color-changing line that lets you know when the diaper is wet.

And possibly my favorite thing about Pampers® is that they have the rewards program.  Each pack of diapers and wipes has a code that you can enter on their website to receive points.  You can redeem points for different prizes. Over the course of 3 kids I have received a number of free things from the program, and I'm sure I'll be adding even more points to that stash with baby #4.  Can't beat getting something free from diapers you had to buy anyway!

Give your baby the #1 choice of hospitals (based on sales data).

Do you have kids in diapers?  Have you ever had 2 in diapers at once?

One Big Reason Your Kids Are Sick

There are a number of factors that will contribute to the health of your children – including what they eat and how well they practice hygiene.

But here's a big, big thing that contributes to your child's health — or lack of it.

Chemicals.  Lots of them.

Everywhere you go there are untested chemicals (or chemicals that are known in other countries to be unsafe) lurking in food, household products, beauty products, and in the very air you breathe.

Did you know…?

• There are more than 80,000 chemicals registered for use in the U.S.
• Comprehensive pre-market safety testing of these chemicals is not required under any federal law.
• The primary U.S. law that regulates chemicals in every day products hasn’t been updated in more than 35 years.
• In the European Union (EU), 1,328 chemicals have been banned for use in personal care products. In the U.S., only 11 chemicals have been banned or restricted by the FDA.
• Scientific evidence continues to point to the chemicals we are exposed to in our daily lives as causing or contributing to the rise in childhood behavioral disorders and diseases.

Every person's health is affected by these chemicals, and children are especially affected — even those still in the womb.

Hormone disruption, allergies, and cell damage are just a few of the consequences of repeated exposure to chemicals.

I recently attended a webinar with Healthy Child Healthy World where there were suggestions given of  simple, affordable actions families can take to decrease chemical exposure.

1. Take off your shoes at the door: 85 percent of the dirt in our homes is
tracked inside on the bottom of our shoes. It’s not just dirt, but toxins like
lead, pesticides, gasoline residue and more. Keep your home safer by taking
off your shoes. It’s the public health equivalent of washing your hands.

2. Buy safer body care: Children are exposed to an average of 27 care product
ingredients on a daily basis that have not been found safe for developing
bodies. Protect your family’s health by avoiding products that ingredients
like parabens, synthetic fragrances, triclosan and more. For a list of the most
toxic offenders, download the free eBook, “Easy Steps to a Healthy & Safe
Nursery” at Healthychild.org/resource-center.

3. Open a window: People spend about 90 percent of their time inside,
but indoor air is typically far more polluted than outside. So, open those
windows! Even a few minutes a day can improve indoor air quality.

4. Eat more whole foods: Processed foods may be convenient, but they’re
also loaded with sweeteners, artificial flavors and colorings, and synthetic
preservatives. These lack nutrients and many are also linked to health issues
like ADHD and even cancer. Reduce by eating more whole foods.

5. Ban the can: Bisphenol-A (BPA), a hormone disruptor that has been linked
to everything from obesity to cancer, is in the plastic resin that lines most
canned goods—from soups to sodas. Avoiding canned food for significantly
lowers exposure. Look for foods packaged in glass or eat fresh, dried, and
frozen options.

Maybe you try to do these things in your home, but what can you do to help protect the children of your friends and family members?

1. Share this information by Hosting a Healthy Baby Home Party!

2.  Alert them to the new NATIONAL availability of Seventh Generation
diapers, wipes and cleaning products at all Target stores. Now it’s
easier than ever to makeover the nursery and cleaning cabinet!

3. Urge Senators to strengthen and pass the Chemical Safety Improvement Act
(CSIA).

Additionally, you can join Seventh Generation for a Twitter party to talk about all-natural baby product options and learn more about the Healthy Baby Home Party.

Did you realize that your children's exposure to chemicals was so great?

What is the first step you think you will take to minimize chemical exposure in your home?

10 Healthy Snacks for Toddlers

This list of 10 Healthy Snacks for Toddlers was created for anyone looking for ideas of what to feed their toddler that is not a choking hazard and won't create a huge mess!

These snacks are truly healthy and nutrient dense (no Cheerios or Toddler Puffs here!), but still very quick and easy for mom to fix for the little ones.

I know my little guy likes to be independent, but I don't like the mess that he makes when he eats by himself! Here are some (relatively) mess-free foods that toddlers can eat by themselves. I also tried to make sure everything on this list is not a choking hazard. (Obviously, you still need to watch your children carefully when they eat!)

1. Cheese slices

2. Banana

3. Homemade Cheez-its

4. Homemade Yogurt Melts

5. Strawberry slices

6. Soaked Banana Pumpkin Biscuits

7. Apples – peeled and diced

8. Rice cakes with peanut butter or almond butter

9. Hard boiled eggs

10. Homemade granola bars

Did you see my little guy in his Combi high chair up in the top picture?

This is a fantastic high chair!  Here are just a few of the features it has:

• 5-position height adjustment – make sure your child is at a comfortable level in proportion to your chair
• 3-position reclining adjustment – this is helpful for younger babies who may not do so well sitting all the way up at first
• 5-point harness – all my other kids were amazingly skilled at getting out of their buckles, but with a 5-point harness, I don't think that will be possible!
• the tray has a removable insert that can be snapped off and put into the dishwasher – quick cleanup!
• compact folding for storage – perfect for our little bitty house!

I also loved the color we received (bronze) as it matched our kitchen perfectly.  If you need a high chair for your busy toddler this is one I recommend!  Click here to see it on Amazon.

What other healthy snacks for toddlers would you add to this list?