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Whether you’ve got multiple small children, twins or multiples, or are simply an over-packer, you may be on the search for a large capacity diaper bag.  In less than 2 months, my husband and I will enter the “two kids under 2” Club, and we’re already feeling the pressure to upgrade from our daddy-friendly Skip Hop Messenger to a bigger bag.  And since I’m becoming an obsessive-compulsive baby product reviewer, I have spent the past few days searching high and low for the best reviewed BIG diaper bags available for every budget.  Keep in mind that if you don’t have multiple small children or if you’re a light packer, these bags will likely be far to big for every day use.  With that said, let’s review the winners for each budget!

The Steal:  Lands’ End Do-It-All Diaper Bag 

Unique feature:  Opens like a doctor’s bag

Measurements:  11”Hx15”Wx8.75”D

Price:  $39.50

Although it’s definitely not flashy, the Lands’ End Do-It-All Diaper Bag was routinely recommended by moms in the forums I came across.  It also gets the highest rating I’ve seen in a budget diaper bag, with a 4.5/5 rating.  Overwhelmingly, the favorite feature of this bag is “doctor’s bag” opening, which allows for easy viewing and full access to all the items within.  It’s also one of the more “daddy-friendly” bags I’ve seen.

The Do-It-All comes in six colors and can be monogrammed for only $5, which would definitely help add some style to this basic bag.  Land’s End frequently has promotions for free shipping and other discounts, so keep your eyes open and get a great bag at a great price!

The Standard:  Skip Hop Duo Double Deluxe Diaper Bag

Unique Feature:  Comes with stroller straps that make it fit a side-by-side double stroller

Measurements:  13.5”Hx18”Wx4.25”D

Price:  $80

From what I’ve seen and read, the Skip Hop Duo Double Deluxe sets the standard for all other large diaper bags.  It gets nearly perfect reviews with a 5/5 rating on Amazon and has been highlighted as the bag of choice in many parenting magazines.  The Duo Double comes great color choices, many of which are daddy-friendly. 
Many reviewers commented how they have tried several diaper bags and the Duo Double surpassed them all.  And for only $80, it’s reasonably priced.

The Splurge:  Ju-Ju-Be Be Prepared

Unique Feature:  Color-coded, tabbed mesh pockets to keep each child’s items organized and identifiable

Measurements:  14”Hx18.5”Wx6.5”D

Price:  $180

In all of my researching for the best big diaper bag, the Ju-Ju-Be Be Prepared was by far the most mentioned, recommended, and longed-for bag.  It receives nearly perfect ratings from a variety of websites, with a perfect 5/5 from Diapers.com and 4.5/5 from Amazon.  Although the price may leave some sticker-shock compared to most diaper bags out there, this bag packs a lot of extra features that leave moms raving that there is no other bag that can compare.  Just have a look for yourself:

Not only is the bag functional, but it’s fashionable.  It comes in several color options and prints.  My personal favorite is Evening Vines (shown at the top of the Ju-Ju-Be post).  Evening Vines is new for Summer 2011 and is pre-order only.  It will be available in May 2011.  Here are some of the other color options:

The Ju-Ju-Be Be Prepared may be a splurge at $180, but it also comes with a lifetime guarantee against manufacturer defects (NOT normal wear and tear), which offers a little peace-of-mind for the price paid.  Many moms also mentioned that they love how this bag can double as their hospital bag or travel bag.

Of course, there are MANY more options out there for large diaper bags.  But, as far as I’ve seen, these 3 bags are a recurring theme when searching for the best of what’s available for every budget.

Do you have experience with any of these bags?  Please share!

Developing stretch marks are never a welcome sight to see, even when having the excuse of being pregnant.  In my previous post “How to Prevent Stretch Marks During Pregnancy“, I shared the frustrating news that my doctor gave me: Stretch marks are genetic, and there is no amount of moisturizer that will keep them from forming if you’re predisposed to developing them.  Of course, not what I wanted to hear, but I got over it. 

Until now.  Whether it’s because I’m pregnant with my second or the fact we’re having a girl, whatever the reason may be, my developing stretch marks have increased exponentially.  They are no longer confined to my breasts with a few light ones on my hips and belly, but have spread to my thighs, butt, and *gasp* my calves.  Not only have they popped up on just about every spare surface of my body, but they are much bigger and darker than with my first pregnancy.  My doctor says I have been gaining weight at a healthy rate, so I’m not sure the difference this time around. 

With that said, I somewhat hit “desperation mode” and decided, “what the heck, I might as well try some moisturizer.”  After doing some online research, I whittled my options down to either Burt’s Bees Mama Bee Belly Balm or Burt’s Bees Cocoa and Macadamia Nut Body Butter.  Although the Belly Balm is specifically marketed to be used during pregnancy, I decided to try the Body Butter instead, since the reviewers said it it much easier to spread on the skin.  On top of that, I love the smell of Cocoa butter!  There were also a few reviewers who swore by the Cocoa butter and said it helped fade their stretch marks and prevent others from appearing.  So I decided it was worth a shot.

The product itself is wonderful.  It has a very smooth, silky, whipped butter-like texture which makes it very easy to apply to the skin.  It is a very light, non-greasy formula that won’t make you uncomfortable when you get dressed for the day.  On top of that, the aromais delicious (typical Cocoa butter) and makes me want to eat it.  And, if I really wanted to, I could eat it, because Burt’s Bees products are made of all-natural, safe ingredients.  Of course, these natural ingredients come at a price with a 6.6 ounce jar running around $13.  However, I have been very surprised with how far the body butter is lasting.  It’s light texture and easy spread-ability makes a little bit go a long ways!  I have been using it on the majority of my body since I got it 2 months ago, and I still have a little more than half the jar left. 

But putting all of these positive qualities aside, it all stems down to the results: Is Burt’s Bees Cocoa and Macadamia Nut Body Butter a stretch mark cure?  Unfortunately, I’m going to have to give it a big N-O.  Since using the product, I have not noticed any positive change in the color or development of my stretch marks.  They are still there when I hop in the shower in the morning and they don’t appear to be going anywhere.  In fact, they are still multiplying.  Am I disappointed?  Sure I am.  Even though I should have learned with my first pregnancy that they can’t be prevented, I still had a glimmer of hope after hearing from a few lucky women who swear moisturizer kept them stretch-mark free.  Am I devastated?  No.  Unless you count those random moments where the pregnancy hormones take control and the smallest thing causes an emotional meltdown.  Then yes.  But no, it’s definitely not the end of the world.  I actually take confidence in knowing that my doctor knows what she’s talking about and that my husband can see right past the stretch marks as if they’re not even there. 

So do I recommend Burt’s Bees Cocoa and Macadamia Nut Body Butter?  YES!  Are you surprised?  Although it didn’t do a thing for my stretch marks, I am loving it just as a regular moisturizer.  I have never used something that has left my skin feeling so soft and silky.  Even my husband has taken notice and commented on how soft my skin feels.  And although it’s a little more expensive than some moisturizers out there, Burt’s Bees Cocoa and Macadamia Nut Body Butter is the perfect way to treat myself as I complete this task of growing Baby #2.  I would recommend you give it a try too!

Is there a certain stretch mark product you can swear by?  Please share!

If you’re a Pampers fan, you are probably well aware of their Gifts to Grow points program.  However, did you know that there are a lot of free promotional codes available?  In recent times, I have collected over 300 free Gifts to Grow points, which has brought me that much closer to redeeming the prize of choice for my son.  Here is the extensive list of promo codes and their point value that I found have worked for me.  I’m not sure if some have expirations or not, but I thought I’d pass them along.  Hope they get you one step closer to that big prize you’ve been waiting for!

50 Points Each                                

JOINNOW4REWARDS

2BEGINEARNING50

WELCOME2PAMPERS

GIFTSTOGROW4MOM

10 Points Each

CONGRATS2NEWMOM

CAREFORNEWBORNS

PUNTOSPARAMI123

10PTSFREECODE4U

GTGWELCOME10PTS

PAMPERSGTG10PTS

NEWWIPESPACKAGE

GTGCOUPONPOINTS

FOLLOWPAMPERS10

PAMPERS4MOMJFM1

WELCOME2VILLAGE

GETSTARTEDNOW10

PAMPERS4MOMSOND

SEP3PGW7NRKYWXK

So there you have it!  340 free Gifts to Grow points!  Enjoy!

There is no doubt about it:  I loved using my Moby Wrap when my son was an infant.  Now that he’s a toddler, I handed my Moby over to my sister-in-law to use with her baby girl.  And what do you know?  She loves it too!  But now that we’re expecting baby #2 soon, I was feeling a little anxious to get my Moby back, clean, and ready for use.  The only problem is my sister-in-law is still using it on a regular basis with her 9 month old, plus she is expecting another baby as well, so I really don’t want to take it back from her.

With that said, I was thinking of just letting her keep my old Moby and upgrading to a new one for baby #2.  My Moby is chocolate brown, and being that we’re going to have a summer baby, I was hoping to get something in a lighter color to help keep a little bit cooler in the summer heat.  So while shopping around online for the best option, I came across a wrap similar to the Moby that I had never heard of before: the Boba Wrap.

In all reality, the first thing I thought of the Boba Wrap was “it’s a Moby knock-off wrap”.  It is the same concept: a very long strip of material that you use to wrap your baby snugly to your body.  But after doing some research for myself, there are definitely some subtle but important differences to take note of.

The Moby Wrap is made of 100% cotton, while the Boba Wrap is 95% cotton with 5% Lycra, giving it more stretch and “bounce-back” ability than the Moby.  I contacted Boba Wrap to see what they said about what sets them apart from Moby.  They quickly replied with the following:

“The fabric is the main difference. This affects two things, how you wrap it and how you wear it. The fabric is a blend of cotton/spandex which allows some stretch. No need to leave room for your baby as the spandex will do that for you. Just tie it nice and snug and go about your day. No need to retie or adjust, even after nursing.”

One thing I did notice about my Moby was that it seemed to lose its shape once I removed my son from it.  Although I have not yet tried a Boba Wrap, it sounds like the fabric blend they use takes care of this problem.  Many reviewers rave about the Boba Wrap and love how they can tie it tightly, have enough stretch to insert their baby, and once they remove it it returns to its normal fit.  The Moby tends to sag once baby is removed and may need to be retied.

One advantage the Moby Wrap fabric has over the Boba Wrap is the fact that it will likely be a little bit cooler in the summer months.  Since the Moby is 100% cotton, it has the advantage of being a little more breathable than the Boba Wrap which contains spandex.

Both Moby and Boba Wraps come in a wide variety of appealing colors and retail for  approximately $39.95.  There are also organic fabric options offered by each company at a higher price point.

So, which one is better?  Being that I haven’t tried the Boba Wrap, yet, I can’t say which I like better from first-hand experience.  However, upon reading reviews and forums online, I would say that the majority of the people who have tried both tend to lean a little more in favor of the Boba Wrap overall.  The general consensus is that its ease of use due to the stetchability gives it the advantage compared to the Moby.

With that said, I plan on gifting my well-loved Moby to my sister-in-law and taking a chance on the Boba Wrap for baby #2.  I honestly think I would be happy with either (and would still recommend the Moby Wrap to anyone).  But I’m excited to try something a little different and share what I find.

Do you (or would you) prefer the Moby Wrap or Boba Wrap?

My second pregnancy has wreaked havoc on my eczema.  Thank you, pregnancy hormones!  Usually, my eczema breakouts were very mild and were rather quickly healed up using a simple steroid cream.  However, pregnancy turned my mild eczema into a permanent cycle of moderate to severe breakouts that lasted for months.  Despite religiously using the steroid cream, it simply would not be contained. 

After finally realizing that what I was doing to remedy the problem was not going to work, ever, I mentioned it to my OB/GYN.  She confirmed that, indeed, pregnancy can definitely cause a change in eczema outbreaks.  She assured me that using a steroid cream was safe to use in small amounts, but since that hadn’t been working for me, she recommended trying Aveeno Eczema Therapy. 

Aveeno Eczema Therapy is simply a moisturizing cream with no steroids, which is a little added safety when you’re pregnant.  It is accepted by the National Eczema Association and demotologist-recommended.  It’s natural active ingredient is Colloidal Oatmeal which apparently is great for dry and sensitive skin.  So the question was, did it work?

I went out and bought the moisturizer immediately and started using it.  I paid about $12 for the bottle.  A little bit of moisturizer goes a long ways.  My eczema is contained to my antecubital areas, and just a small pea-sized amount was more than enough to cover.  The formula is very light and non-greasy. 

But the real question: does it work?  I was amazed!  I noticed my eczema was better within 24 hours, and it was totally cleared after 2 days of use.  This wouldn’t have surprised me, except for the fact that I had been using steroid cream for months with no improvement.  I honestly wasn’t expecting a steroid-free therapy to work.  But it definitely did, and still does.  Now that my eczema is under control, I don’t use the lotion every day.  I only use it when I see a small breakout starting to form, and it has always kept it from turning into a full breakout.  I’m never going back to a steroid cream again, even when I’m not pregnant. 

As always, talk to your doctor if you’re pregnant and dealing with eczema.  And definitely keep Aveeno Eczema Therapy in mind.  It’s been a very effective product for my pregnancy-induced eczema outbreaks.

How has pregnancy changed your eczema outbreaks? 

I am happy to announce that my husband and I are officially expecting Baby #2!  In a previous post, I wrote about trying for a second baby.  It took a few months after I quit breastfeeding to get my period again, but I only had 2 cycles before I realized we were pregnant again! 

Watching that pregnancy test turn positive a second time felt much different than the first.  I didn’t have that feeling of shock like I did last time.  I don’t go about  my day thinking “oh my goodness, I’m pregnant”.  It simply just feels normal.  Apparently going through it once before has given me the attitude of “I’ve done this once, I can do it again”.  I am feeling a lot more calm and in control as opposed to the first.

Another thing that is different about this pregnancy already is that we haven’t told the whole world yet.  Last time we started calling family as soon as we found out, and it ended up leaking out to people we didn’t want to know quite yet.  Even though my husband wanted to tell people right away, I wanted to wait, even just for a few days.  This gave me time to allow the thought of having baby #2 to sink in before announcing it.  We did end up telling our family a few days later but don’t have plans on telling any “outsiders” yet.

I am hoping that this pregnancy will be much different than the first health-wise.  I battled pretty severe morning sickness my entire first pregnancy.  Hopefully I don’t have that problem again.

We would be happy with a boy or girl, but a boy would be a little easier on the financial situation since we already have boy clothes and gear.

So here’s to another great adventure!

Need a little help shopping for a first birthday gift?  Here is a quick list of five gender-neutral ideas at a variety of price ranges to help get you started.

1. A wagon:  Though on the higher end of the price range, there is no gift more classic than a little red wagon.  Radio Flyer makes several different models to choose from, including classic steel, wooden all-terrain, and plastic ultra-comfort with canopy.  The birthday boy or girl will love getting rides in their wagon, and when they are older, will love pulling it around the yard.  That’s what makes a wagon a perfect and timeless gift for any one-year old.
2. Pull-alongs:  Maybe a wagon is out of your price range or you don’t have the room.  If so, pull-along (and push-along) toys are another great option.  If your baby isn’t walking already by the age of one, they will be shortly.  Get them a toy to pull or push right along with them!  Some of my favorites are: the dancing alligator, the corn popper, the wooden chomp push toy, and the pull along zoo.
3. Rocking Horses and Ride-ons:  Let’s face it, your baby is really becoming a toddler and needs some activities that let them practice their movement.  You can find rocking horses at all price ranges to fit the budget you are looking for.  Some of my favorites that won’t break the budget are the Little Tykes and the Step2 rocking horses.  If you’re looking to spend a little more money, I recommend the classic wooden Derby or Radio Flyer rocking horse.  If you’re looking for an alternative ride-on toy to the rocking horse, you can’t beat the adorable Wheely Bug!
4. Books:  Your baby will soon be trying to imitate your words (as if they haven’t been already!)  Books are a fun way to get some cuddle time in and captivate their attention.  Board books are going still going to be the most durable type at this age.  A great book for this age is First Words.
5. Clothes, clothes, and more clothes:  If you were lucky enough to have a baby shower before your baby was born,  you probably got showered with lots of clothes that wouldn’t even come close to fitting your baby anymore.  Of course, clothes are the most practical of gifts on this list, but because of that you can’t go wrong with buying them!

Follow this list and you really can’t go wrong with the first birthday gift!  Happy shopping and happy birthday!

And it’s amazing how quickly time passes! Have you started thinking about your child’s education? Read about how homeschooling has been amazing and freeing for our family!

What gifts do you find to be great for baby’s first birthday?

Well, my husband and I finally had “the talk”.  We both had been beating around the bush for quite some time as to when we’d try for baby #2, but the conversation eventually surfaced.  I had secretly been hoping that we’d try for another baby in the near future, but I wasn’t sure how my husband would feel about it.  Come to find out, we are completely on the same page.  I have since quit breastfeeding and am birth-control free.  It’s all in God’s hands now!

Is anyone else currently trying for baby #2?  For some reason, I am feeling more apprehensive about the possibility of getting pregnant a second time around.  When we decided to try and get pregnant the first time, I didn’t think twice about it.  I didn’t bother with tracking my ovulation cycle or demanding sex every day.  My mentality was more like “it will happen when it’s supposed to.”  And go figure, I got pregnant 2 weeks after going off of birth control without even trying! 

So why am I a little more nervous the second time around?  My first concern is that I haven’t gotten my period even though my son is almost 11 months old and has been mostly for over a month.  Is it really normal to go that long without getting a period?  I know that breastfeeding can drastically change the natural cycle, but 11 months worth?  It was only within the past week that I have completely stopped breastfeeding, but until that point I only fed him maybe once or twice a day.  Is that enough to hold a period off?  So not getting my period yet has been a little bit of a scare for me.

I come from a medical background and consider myself to be pretty educated in women’s anatomy and physiology, which includes the reproductive system and how it works.  I know what it takes to get pregnant and the signs of ovulation and everything in between.  Yet, I still went out and purchased the ebook “What to Expect Before You’re Expecting” and have been reading it every night.  It’s all stuff I know already.  But I find myself wanting another baby, and quick just like the last time.  I’m not sure what my obsession is this time in having to read about it, but it is what it is.  I spend a good part of the day searching the web on menstruating after baby, ovulation, and getting pregnant with baby #2.

Probably the most extreme thing I’ve been considering is purchasing an ovulation kit.  But not to keep track of what days to have sex.  Honestly, I think my husband and I have sex often enough that we won’t miss the egg.  I simply want to get one for peace-of-mind that everything is still in working order.  However, I don’t want to turn into one of those people who is so obsessed with getting pregnant that they take pregnancy test after pregnancy test when it isn’t necessary.

I guess the thing that worries me the most is that many women who didn’t have any problem conceiving their first baby find they have problems conceiving a second.  Sometimes it due to the physical change that takes place to the uterus after already carrying a baby.  Or maybe it’s the chemical and hormonal change.  Or it can even be age.  I personally know a few women who have only been able to have one child and no matter what they do, can’t have a second.  I don’t want this to turn into a fertility argument of “well they should just be happy they have one”.  Save that for another day.

I just find that knowing we’re ready for baby #2 seems a little more daunting of a task than the first one.  And I guess I want to know if I’m alone on this one or not.  I’ll be sure to keep you posted!

What has been your experience with trying for baby #2?

After visiting my son’s pediatrician at his 9 month appointment, she told me that my son was a “trained night crier”.  She came to this conclusion after I told her my son wakes several times during the middle of the night, but not because he is hungry.  I try to feed him but he simply pacifies himself to sleep, only to repeat the cycle several times a night.  At 9 months old, he should easily be able to sleep through the night without waking.  However, I knew that in order to break my “trained night crier” from his bad habit I would have to put on my poker face.  Sure enough, my doctor gave me information on how to teach my son to sleep better using the cry it out method. 

Let me tell you, I was less than thrilled about this.  Despite the fact that my son has a horrible time falling asleep for naps, and hasn’t slept through the night since he was born, I was still reluctant to bite the bullet and start this type of sleep training.  I have had mixed feelings about the cry it out method.  At about 5 months of age, we started sleep training our son, and he actually learned to fall asleep on his own at night.  This was a huge relief that solved a lot of our bedtime woes.  However, it did not cure his middle of the night waking, and definitely didn’t fix his passion for fighting nap-time. 

As he grew older and learned to roll over and crawl, he eventually lost his knack to settle himself to sleep at night.  And ever since then I’ve resorted to lying next to him until he fell asleep, and then tiptoeing out of the room and hoping I didn’t wake him.  My husband suggested many times that we try letting him cry it out so he could learn to put himself to sleep, but I just didn’t have the heart for it, or the motivation. 

So when my doctor gave me a reality check at the 9 month appointment, I knew it was time for me to suck it up and teach my son good sleeping habits.  If I didn’t do it now at 9 months, it would only get worse and harder with time.  So after scouring over the handout she gave me and reading a lot of posts on the internet, I decided to start slow and implement the method for his nap times at the beginning.  It is much easier to listen to a crying baby during the day as opposed to the middle of the night.  And my hope is that by learning to put himself to sleep for naps, he will learn to put himself back to sleep when he wakes in the middle of the night. 

So here is the plan.  I do the normal sleep routine when I see he’s getting sleepy, and then lay him in crib awake.  When he cries, I only check on him every 5 to 10 minutes, soothe him for only a minute without picking him up, and then leave the room again.  I repeat this until he goes to sleep.  Like I said, I did this with him before at 5 months, and it is easier said than done!  My pediatrician said it will take 3 or 4 days for him to learn, but the pamphlet said up to 2 weeks.  I will chronicle his progress below.

Thus begins my adventure of the trained night crier versus the cry it out method:

Day 1

• Nap 1:  60 minutes to fall asleep.  Not as bad as I was picturing for the first try.
• Nap 2:  30 minutes to fall asleep.
• Nighttime:  Only woke up once in the middle of the night!  A rarity!

Day 2

• Nap 1:  10 minutes to fall asleep.  Barely even cried!  It can’t be working this fast, can it?
• Nap 2:  90 minutes to fall asleep.  I though after his first nap today that he already had the hang of it, but I was sadly mistaken.  Only napped for 30 minutes.
• Nighttime:  Woke twice during the middle of the night, but was able to get him to go back to sleep without even picking him up.

Day 3

• Nap 1:  45 minutes to fall asleep.  Slept 1-1/2 hours.
• Nap 2:  45 minutes to fall asleep.  Slept 40 minutes.
• Nighttime:  Woke twice.

Day 4

• Nap 1:  2 minutes to fall asleep.  He barely even fussed!  Slept 1-1/2 hours.
• Nap 2: Less than 10 minutes to fall asleep.  Slept 30 minutes.
• Nap 3:  20 minutes to fall asleep, but barely cried.  Slept 30 minutes.
• Nighttime:  Woke twice.

Day 5

• Nap 1:  Less than 20 minutes to fall asleep.
• Nap 2:  Slept in the car.
• Nighttime:  Woke twice.

Day 6

• Nap 1:  Slept at church.
• Nap 2: Fell asleep with no fuss!  Slept almost 3 hours.
• Nighttime:  Woke twice

Day 7

• Nap 1:  Fell asleep with no fuss for the second time!  This is great!  Slept 1-1/2 hours.
• Nap 2:  Had a rough time again: 3o minutes to fall asleep. 🙁  But slept 1-1/2 hours.
• Nighttime:  Woke twice

Day 8

• Nap 1:  20 minutes to fall asleep.  Slept 45 minutes.
• Nap 2: Fell asleep with no fuss.  Slept 1 hour 45 minutes.
• Nighttime: Woke 3 times.

Day 9

• Nap 1: Fell asleep with no fuss.
• Nap 2:  No fussing again!
• Nighttime:  Woke twice

So it took a little over a week for him to go a full day of falling asleep with no fussing.  Not too bad!  There were only a couple days where he cried a lot, and the amount of fussing dropped off pretty quickly.  It still hasn’t really crossed over into his nighttime waking as he still usually wakes twice a night, but I would definitely say it has been worth it anyways.  Nap-time is so much easier on both of us now.  He doesn’t fight sleep like he used to and he still usually takes nice, long naps.  It’s a win-win. 

Although I was extremely hesitant to try the cry-it-out method, it has proved to be the right choice in my certain situation.  With that said, the cry-it-out method isn’t necessarily for everyone.  There are a lot of extreme opinions out there about it.  The main thing is to simply trust your gut when dealing with baby’s sleep issues.  No two babies are the same and what worked for one won’t necessarily work for the other.  I’m just happy that the doctor’s solution has so far turned out to be a good one.

Have you used the cry it out method for baby?  What is your experience?