≡ Menu

Giveaways

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED.

One of the things I’ve found most annoying while being pregnant (and now being a parent of two) is when others offer unwelcome advice.  Of course, their intentions are good, but they can also sometimes feel insulting. i.e. “Should you really be drinking that coffee?  You’re not supposed to have caffeine when you’re pregnant, you know!” And then there are those times you get conflicting advice.  i.e. “Just let your baby cry-it out!” and “Letting your baby cry will lead to an emotionally unstable child.”

Being pregnant and learning to adjust to a newborn can be stressful enough without having others make things more complicated with their “advice”.  Luckily, there are great resources available to the new and experienced parent that give trustworthy, time-tested advice from experts.  And best of all, this advice comes only when you need it.  The resource I am speaking of is the highly popular and recommended “What to Expect” book series.

The “What to Expect” series provides an amazing wealth of information for nearly every question or concern one may have from pre-pregnancy to post-partum and beyond.  I purchased “What to Expect Before You’re Expecting” prior to getting pregnant with our second child as it seemed to be taking longer than it did with our first.  The book answered a lot of questions I had that I otherwise would have been to embarrassed to ask someone about.  It also covers some very practical things, such as changing your diet to get your body as ready and healthy as possibly to carry a new life.

If you’re already pregnant, then “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” is the next step.  This book gives a month-by-month look at your baby’s development, changes in your body and emotions, and special questions and concerns.  It was in this book that I discovered I had restless leg syndrome during my second pregnancy.  If I hadn’t had come across the information in the book, I would have never convinced my husband that I was not crazy for thinking I had RLS.  But seriously, this book covers the whole gamut on pregnancy, from the common to the not-so-common issues that may arise.  Even better is the book ends with chapters on labor and delivery, 6-weeks post-partum, and even has a special chapter just for dads.  Every pregnant woman should have this book!

As we all know, pregnancy is just the beginning.  Once the baby is born, the real work begins.  “What to Expect the First Year” and “What to Expect the Second Year” cover the basics and beyond to help guide you through baby’s first two years of life.  Breastfeeding, sleeping, first aid and illness, and baby-friendly recipes are covered in these books, and that doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface.  These books are big, but they conveniently come with an index that makes it quick and easy to find a topic you’re specifically looking for.

This series of books has become my go-to guide for any advice I am looking for.  I know the information is current and from a source I can trust.  If you haven’t already, make sure you buy these books and visit their website for even more information and resources to help you from pre-pregnancy planning and beyond.

****NOW IS YOUR CHANCE TO WIN YOUR OWN WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING BOOK****

Thanks to the people at What to Expect, IntoBaby is giving away one free WHAT TO EXPECT book! Enter the giveaway now by doing the following:

  • Required: Leave a comment as to why you like/would like the What to Expect Series
  • Earn 1 extra entry: Subscribe to my RSS feed and let me know in a separate comment
  • Earn 1 extra entry: Follow @intobaby on Twitter and let me know your Twitter name in an extra comment
  • Earn 1 extra entry: “Like” IntoBaby on facebook and let me know in a separate comment
  • Earn 1 extra entry: Tweet about this giveaway and leave the URL in a separate comment
  • Earn 1 extra entry: Share this giveaway on facebook and let me know in a separate comment
  • Earn 2 extra entries: Write a post on your blog linking to this page and post the URL in the comments

CONTEST RULES:

  • All entries must be submitted by midnight on July 30th, 2011.  No late entries will be accepted.
  • Winner will be chosen at random using the generator at Random.org
  • Winner will be contacted via email the morning of July 31st, 2011
  • Winner must respond within 48 hours or the prize will be forfeited
  • This contest is open to U.S. residents only

Come back and visit us again soon at IntoBaby!

{ 0 comments }

Write a Poem: Win a Moby Wrap!

Want to win a Moby Wrap?  The people at Moby Wrap are currently hosting a poetry contest, ending April 26th, giving you a chance to win the Moby of your choice!  I just entered, and I’ll be sharing my poem after the contest ends.  They are giving away 3 Mobys total, so get your creative juices flowing and join in on the fun!  Read more about the contest here.  Let me know if you enter.  And definitely let me know if you win!  Good luck!

{ 0 comments }

In a recent post I talked about the Sleep Wrap vs. the Moby Wrap and what reviewers were saying about them.  I plan on getting a Sleepy Wrap with my next baby, even though I loved my Moby.  With that said, why not try winning a Sleepy Wrap?  Real Mom Reviews is currently hosting a Sleepy Wrap Giveaway, ending 4/14/11.   Join me in trying your luck to win a greatly reviewed product!

{ 0 comments }

Free Pampers Gift to Grow Codes and Points

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!

{ 0 comments }

I was recently introduced to Polka Dot Pear, a company that specializes in creative stationary, announcements, invitations, and other related items.  But what sets Polka Dot Pear apart from the rest is that all of their products are completely customizable.  Try getting that when you order your Christmas cards from Walmart or Shutterfly!  It won’t happen!  That’s just one of the things that sets Polka Dot Pear above the rest.  The design team at Polka Dot Pear will work with you to create a unique and custom invitation, announcement, or stationery that will be sure to stand out from the rest.

Aimee from Polka Dot Pear contacted me and was nice enough to offer their services for my son’s 1 year birthday invitations.  I spent a lot of time scouring their website trying to find the perfect layout.  Polkadotpear.com is very easy to navigate, and they offer full-color photos of their designs.  With so many options, it was difficult to make a decision.  There were so many designs I liked!  I finally decided on a layout, shown below:

I liked this layout because it allowed room for a large photo to be showcased across the top, and I love it’s simplicity.  I knew it would be perfect for a birthday invitation. 

Once I had selected a photo to go with the invite, I contacted Aimee at Polka Dot Pear and she took it from there.  I mentioned my ideas for color scheme and the birthday theme I had chosen: sock monkey.  Within only a couple days of communicating and proofing, we had the final product!  And here it is!

Let me mention that I have altered the invitation’s information and photo for privacy.  The actual invitation is done in a matching font and is perfect!  This is just to give you a general idea.

As you can see in the before and after, the design team beautifully transformed this into a unique, one-of-a-kind invitation based on my suggestions.  Going with the sock monkey theme, they added the clever wording announcing “our little monkey” is turning 1.  I love how the “1” is big and bold.  The blue monkey in the corner perfectly adds a pop of color to contrast the red and ties in with the color on my son’s shirt and the sky in the picture.  Polka Dot Pear is so good with the little details!  I was extremely happy with this proof and gave Aimee the okay to proceed with printing.

At this point I want to mention how great the customer service was with Polka Dot Pear.  Aimee was quick to reply to my emails, and took all of my suggestions and wishes into consideration.  I wanted to make some changes to the invitation after they sent the first proof, and they gladly made them and even offered ideas that I never would have thought of.  It was obvious they wanted me to be very satisfied with the end product.

It took only a couple days from final approval for them to ship, and I received them within a week.  Upon opening the shipping box, I found the invitations to be beautifully packaged in a white box tied with a ribbon.  The invitations and their envelopes were neatly stacked inside and wrapped in tissue paper. 

I am so impressed with the quality of the invitations!  The colors are vibrant and the matte finish of the photo paper  makes the photo pop.  On top of that, the photo is mounted on a heavy duty, luxury paper to give it a more elegant look and feel.  Included with the invitations were gold foil lined envelopes, which are very classy addition!  The overall size of the invite is a little larger than 5” by 6” and the envelope is a custom fit.  These invitations are meant to “wow” your guests when they receive them in the mail.  I have gotten nothing but great feedback from the guests I have sent them to.

Overall, I have been extremely satisfied and impressed in every aspect of Polka Dot Pear.  Their products and service can’t be beat.  I would highly recommend using their services for any announcements or invitations you may need in the future.  You simply can’t beat custom!  Thank you, Aimee and Polka Dot Pear for allowing me to try your product!

IntoBaby is into Polka Dot Pear!

******NOW IS YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A POLKA DOT PEAR PRODUCT******

Polka Dot Pear is generously giving away a $25 credit towards the product of your choice!  To enter the giveaway, follow these instructions:

  • Required:  Leave a comment including your favorite Polka Dot Pear product- Can be viewed here
  • Earn 1 extra entry:  Subscribe to my RSS feed and let me know in a separate comment
  • Earn 1 extra entry:  Follow @intobaby on Twitter and let me know your Twitter name in an extra comment
  • Earn 1 extra entry:  “Like” IntoBaby on facebook and let me know in a separate comment
  • Earn 1 extra entry:  “Like” Polka Dot Pear on facebook and let me know in a separate comment
  • Earn 1 extra entry:  Tweet about this giveaway and leave the URL in a separate comment
  • Earn 1 extra entry:  Share this giveaway on facebook and let me know in a separate comment
  • Earn 2 extra entries:  Write a post on your blog linking to this page and to the Polka Dot Pear website and post the URL in the comments

CONTEST RULES:

  • All entries must be submitted by midnight on Tuesday, September 14th,  2010.  No late entries will be accepted.
  • Winner will be chosen at random using the generator at Random.org
  • Winner will be contacted via email the morning of September 15th, 2010
  • Winner must respond within 48 hours or the prize will be forfeited
  • This contest is open to U.S. residents only

Come back and visit us again soon at IntoBaby!

{ 7 comments }

Evenflo Classic Glass Bottle Giveaway

After using plastic baby bottles for the first few months of my son’s life, I quickly learned that there were a lot of things about them I did not like.  After doing some research, I decided to give glass a try.  Shortly after doing so, I found that once  you go glass, you never go back!  Glass is a durable, chemical-free alternative to plastic, and I found the Evenflo classic glass bottles to be a great, inexpensive choice.  Read my full review of the Evenflo Glass Nursers.  If you want to read the pros and cons of using plastic versus glass bottles for baby, read my post about which is best for baby

There is no better way to know if glass is the best choice other than simply giving it a try!  I am such a believer in these bottles, I am giving one away.  Let us know what you think of the Evenflo classic glass nurser!

******NOW IS YOUR CHANCE TO WIN YOUR OWN EVENFLO CLASSIC GLASS  BABY BOTTLE!******

IntoBaby is giving away one free 8 oz Evenflo glass baby bottle!  Enter the giveaway now by doing the following:

  • Required:  Leave a comment as to why you like/would like to try a glass baby bottle
  • Earn 1 extra entry:  Subscribe to my RSS feed and let me know in a separate comment
  • Earn 1 extra entry:  Follow @intobaby on Twitter and let me know your Twitter name in an extra comment
  • Earn 1 extra entry:  “Like” IntoBaby on facebook and let me know in a separate comment
  • Earn 1 extra entry:  Tweet about this giveaway and leave the URL in a separate comment
  • Earn 1 extra entry:  Share this giveaway on facebook and let me know in a separate comment
  • Earn 2 extra entries:  Write a post on your blog linking to this page and post the URL in the comments

CONTEST RULES:

  • All entries must be submitted by midnight on July 13th, 2010.  No late entries will be accepted.
  • Winner will be chosen at random using the generator at Random.org
  • Winner will be contacted via email the morning of July 14th, 2010
  • Winner must respond within 48 hours or the prize will be forfeited
  • This contest is open to U.S. residents only

Come back and visit us again soon at IntoBaby!

{ 1 comment }

Baby BanZ Sunglasses Review and Giveaway

I was recently given the opportunity to review Baby BanZ for myself after writing about infant sunglasses in a previous post.  I received them just in time to try them out on our 9-month old over a long weekend of camping.  So thank you Baby Banz for allowing me to give your product a test run!

Baby BanZ offers a wide variety of sunglasses and other sun products for both babies and kids.  Baby BanZ sunglasses are for ages 0-2, while Kidz BanZ are for ages 2-5.  There are many color and style options to choose from, so you’re sure to find a style and color that is perfect and unique for baby.  Polarized lenses are available, and the lenses can even be swapped out if your child requires prescription lenses.  Baby BanZ sunglasses retail from $17-$19.99. 

The sunglasses arrived via USPS on my front doorstep within a week’s time.  There was no packing material in the box, but the sunglasses were protected in a clear case.  Since the sunglasses are made of shatterproof materials, packing wasn’t really necessary anyways.

The sample I received are the Baby Adventure BanZ in Midnight Black.  Upon inspection, there are a few key things that set these sunglasses apart from other infant sunglasses I have seen.  First of all, the neoprene strap widens at the back of the head which helps keep the glasses in place.  There is also a silicone nose piece built in to the frame which assures a proper, comfortable fit.  The adjuster on these sunglasses also make this product unique.  Instead of the Velcro adjuster being located in the back, it is located on the side.  The Velcro strap loops through the frame and folds back upon itself, which is a great design for getting the perfect fit on baby’s head.  This type of strap also makes it difficult for baby to undo the Velcro and pull the glasses off, which I’ve found to be a critical flaw in my iplay sunglasses.  The frames are clear, though colored, polycarbonate and the lenses offer 100% UV protection. 

Now for the real test: wearability!  We couldn’t have received these sunglasses with any better timing, having planned an extended weekend of camping.  We were outdoors and in the sun for several days, so the sunglasses got a lot of testing right from the start.  My son has always been “top of the charts” for his age, so I was afraid the frames might be too narrow for his face.  However, I found the frames to fit very well; not too small and not too big.  The location and design of the Velcro adjuster made getting the perfect fit so much easier than other baby sunglasses I’ve tried.  And the wide neoprene band kept them on his face no matter what we did, even after putting his hat on and off throughout the day.  They seemed to be comfortable for him to wear.  There was very minimal grabbing at them.  And on top of being wearable, they are fashionable!  We got so many compliments from other impressed campers!  I was overall very happy using the Baby BanZ, and my son seemed to feel the same way.

There are only a few things I would change about the Baby BanZ.  First of all, the price tag is higher than any other infant sunglasses I’ve seen.  However, you do get what you pay for!  These sunglasses are well worth it if you intend to get good use of them in the sun.  I would like to see the frames come in solid colors versus being clear.  This is strictly a cosmetic thing, I know, but I think solid colors look better and are more vibrant.  Another problem I had was I found scratches on the lens after only a few days of use.  As with any baby item, wear and tear is going to happen, especially on something like sunglasses.  I just didn’t expect to see scratches so soon.  One last thing I noticed was that the silicone nose and brow bridge left indents on my son’s face after use.  This is definitely not a safety hazard, but it did make me wonder if they were uncomfortable.   It is a possibility, however, that I simply needed to loosen the Velcro.

With that said, one of the things that impressed me the most about Baby BanZ is the warranty.  Each pair of sunglasses is backed by a 6 month warranty for any defect in the materials or workmanship.  Scratches are not covered by the warranty. 

Here is a quick breakdown of the pros and cons of Baby BanZ sunglasses:

Pros:  100% UV protection, shatter-proof, wide-banded neoprene strap and silicone nose bridge keep glasses in place, convenient side Velcro adjuster, 6 month warranty, fashionable, many styles and colors, can be used with prescription lenses

Cons:  Price, leaves lines on face

Baby BanZ have officially become my sunglasses of choice for my son.  They are by far the best I have used, and I would say they are definitely worth the money.  IntoBaby is into Baby BanZ!

******NOW IS YOUR CHANCE TO WIN YOUR OWN BABY BANZ!******

Baby BanZ is giving away one free pair of sunglasses in the color of your choice!  Enter the giveaway now by doing the following:

  • Required:  Leave a comment including your favorite Baby BanZ style, size, and color- Can be viewed here
  • Earn 1 extra entry:  Subscribe to my RSS feed and let me know in a separate comment
  • Earn 1 extra entry:  Follow @intobaby on Twitter and let me know your Twitter name in an extra comment
  • Earn 1 extra entry:  “Like” IntoBaby on facebook and let me know in a separate comment
  • Earn 1 extra entry:  Tweet about this giveaway and leave the URL in a separate comment
  • Earn 1 extra entry:  Share this giveaway on facebook and let me know in a separate comment
  • Earn 2 extra entries:  Write a post on your blog linking to this page and to the Baby BanZ website and post the URL in the comments

CONTEST RULES:

  • All entries must be submitted by midnight on June 15th, 2010.  No late entries will be accepted.
  • Winner will be chosen at random using the generator at Random.org
  • Winner will be contacted via email the morning of June 16th, 2010
  • Winner must respond within 48 hours or the prize will be forfeited
  • This contest is open to U.S. residents only

Come back and visit us again soon at IntoBaby!

{ 39 comments }