Easy Bath Time Fun with Nuby Bath Crayons {a&n Product Review}

As the kids grow older, especially at the ages and stages we're currently in (ages 4 and 1.5), bath time becomes more challenging and quite a bigger mess, with larger splashes, louder yells and extra fighting over toys... a peaceful bath typically turns into chaos and myself cleaning the kids as quick as I can just to get them out ASAP!

Fortunately, the Nuby Bath Crayons turn bath time into the complete opposite experience, which is AMAZING! A once crazy, intense bath time vibe suddenly transforms the tub into a fun art studio, where the kids actually sit, draw and color all over their surroundings, allowing their creativity to flow.  I love that I can wash them up while they play and doodle, engage in conversation with Nolan about what he's creating and review the vibrant colors with Acelyn.  

On the Go Snackin' With Nuby {a&n Product Review}

If one thing is for sure, running errands and being on the go with my kids isn't an easy task.  Both my kids love getting out of the house, but they also love running the aisles of Target like madmen or asking to be "in" then "out" then "in" then "out!" of the shopping carts... it's true chaos when I'm not prepared.

Luckily, I've learned a few tricks to keep things at a minimum level of chaos while we're out, and snacking is one of those secret distractions.  

Bath Time Necessities with Nuby {a&n Product Review}

Bath time with two kiddos is no joke, especially now that Acelyn is independent in the tub and goes where she wants and splashes when she wants!  And although most nights are filled with more soaking the floor than there should be, it's definitely one of the best bonding times for these siblings during the day and a routine that's looked forward to every evening.  Anything that helps bath time a little less chaotic is a "yes" in my book, and our Nuby bath time accessories are just that!

The kids love the Nuby Octopus Floating Bath toy, and it's one that gets pulled out at every bath.  I love that this is a toy that both kids can play together, as it floats above the water and each of them can toss one of the three rings onto the Octopus' arms (or in Acelyn's case, mostly chew on the rings before Nolan steals it away from her).  Not only does it help with learning to share and take turns, it helps develop hand eye coordination and stimulates their senses with fun shapes and colors.  Nolan's focus and ability to toss onto the arms has improved so much just over the last few months, so it really does help in those fine motor skills!  We love taking this toy with us to the pools we've been frequenting with the start of summer, and they love using it as a fun floating toy next to them as they swim!

While they play, I'm getting down to business scrubbing and sudsing them up!  Nolan is very sensitive when it comes to water... he's particular about the temperature and extremely delicate when it comes to bubbles or water in his face or over his head.  I love that the Nuby Tear-Free Rinse Pail can ease his anxiety with rinsing the wash out of his hair with the tear-free comfort edge.  It simply sits directly onto their forehead/top of the head and washes away the bubbles with limited water dripping into his face, if at all!  This is a game changer for us and has reduced our fits and screeches due to his sensitivity tremendously, and makes life easier with rinsing a younger child's head, like Acelyn, too.

Watching these two make memories together splashing and playing is worth all the water on the floor, and although I can't exactly sit back and relax during their bath time, I feel good knowing their bond is growing and the products I'm using are quality- BPA Free and durable, just like always with Nuby!

Each product can be found at these retailers: 

Octopus Floating Bath Toy: 

www.amazon.com

www.kohls.com

www.bedbathandbeyond.com

www.buybuydirect.com

www.walmart.com

www.buybuybaby.com

www.babydepot.com

Tear-Free Rinse Pail

www.buybuydirect.com

www.amazon.com

www.idealbaby.com

www.cookieskids.com

www.babyhaven.com

ww.babiesrus.com

www.kmart.com

www.meijer.com

Nuby sent these products to review, but did not compensate me to write this post.  All opinions and thoughts are of my own.  

You can find Nuby and all of their great products by following their social media sites here:

Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest 

Dancin' & Dishes: Nuby Easy Clean Soap Dispensing Bottle Brush with Suction Base {a&n Product Review}

As we mentioned in our last Nuby post, our family has a nightly tradition of dance parties after dinner... because what better way to let out all that energy before settling down for our bath and bedtime routine!?  While the kiddos get their wiggles out in the living room, I'm often found jamming to the same music in the kitchen, while cleaning up from dinner and washing down dishes, one of my least favorite chores to do. Luckily, Nuby's Easy Clean Soap Dispensing Bottle Brush with Suction Base is one tool I've learned to love when it comes to doing something I hate!

The strong suction base of the brush is really, by far, much better than other stand-up bottle brushes we've had experience with.  It really is that strong and keeps the brush upright and away from germs at all times, whereas other brushes are often flimsy and fall over almost every time I do the dishes.  I also love the structured and strong bristles of this brush, much different than the sponge type bottle brushes we've used in the past.  It is engineered with two different types of bristles, to ensure thorough cleaning, even on irregular surfaces.  Before, our brushes would last only a few weeks to a month at the most, and the Nuby Easy Clean Brush is going on month #3 for us with no issues and looks as good as the day I received it!  Plus, with no sponge-like material, I feel comfortable knowing there's no leftover food, germs or whatever else the kitchen sink holds, sitting and making the brush so nasty like most sponge related cleaning products do.  This brush is totally good for my germaphobe soul, and as always with Nuby products, is BPA Free!

The main highlight of the Nuby Easy Clean Brush is the one touch, simple push button to dispense the perfect amount of soap, rather than creating a huge, dripping mess of dish soap all over your counter (like time and time before).  I will say, I've had a difficult time using the push to dispense the button seamlessly, but after a few pumps with my thumb, it does the job.  I've never been any good at these types of devices, no matter what the kitchen tool... maybe it's just me!?  Either way, this brush is still top quality over the others and I would still choose to dabble a bit of soap over the top of the brush quickly to do the job just as well.  We also use larger size bottles and cups for the kids, now that Acelyn is a little older, so fitting in a tiny space is never an issue, but because of the sturdiness of the bottle, it does run a bit large and may be more difficult to squeeze into smaller spaces.  For me, the bristle strength, sturdy base, and soft textured handle to allow for a comfortable grip are a better trade off for those small imperfections!  

The Easy Clean Soap Dispensing Bottle Brush with Suction Base can be found at these retailers: 

www.buybabydirect.com

I love knowing that the Nuby Easy Clean Brush makes my dish-doing chore quick and painless, with plenty of time left to enjoy our nightly dance parties with my babies! 

Nuby sent these products to review, but did not compensate me to write this post.  All opinions and thoughts are of my own.  

You can find Nuby and all of their great products by following their social media sites here:

Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest 

M is for Mealtime with Nuby {a&n Product Review}

Sitting down for dinner at home as family every night is something we have done since before we had kids, and definitely a habit we pride ourselves on practicing with our kids, too.  Both Jason and I grew up with families that enforced the same rule, and we have every intention of carrying this through our kids' childhood, knowing that instilling this now will make it just that much easier for them to continue through their adult lives.  I love having the time of dinner for my family to sit down and interact together.  With Jason working during the week, and two small babies constantly on the move and with differing needs, plus keeping up with the housework, it's tough to find a time each day to call for our family to be together, enjoying each other fully.  That's why I love a good routine in our lifestyle... and dinnertime is one of those routines that we rely on every day to allow us that special time together.  

I typically start dinner shortly after Jason gets home from work, where he plays with the kids or we allow screen time, where Nolan is allowed his designated iPad time of the day and Acelyn usually tunes into Sesame Street while playing.  As dinner gets closer to finishing, Nolan will help set the table with silverware and napkins, and also loves to get out the croutons for our salads. As he's setting the table, I'm dividing and serving plates, cutting and prepping the kids' dinners, that way we aren't up and down the whole meal.  Everyone typically eats the same meal, which makes life easier than cooking all separate dinners, and even Acelyn eats most of what we are eating, as well as a puree in addition.

During dinnertime, our Nuby Sure Grip Miracle Mat Section Feeding Placemats are the best plates for both toddlers and babies alike.  I love that it's a plate and placemat in one for Acelyn to be introduced to eating off of something other than her tray, and the integrated section plate gives new dimension for her to navigate.  For Nolan, I really love the super suction feature that doesn't quit... he's super clumsy and the non-slip base that sticks to flat surfaces allows for no tipping of bowls or elbows hitting corners of plates, saving us extra mess to clean up... plus allows us to continue our own meal while he's content on his own!

While we eat, we share each of our days and I love getting to hear Nolan's stories and imagination spark as we talk.  Listening to Acelyn mimic sounds and new words is always a favorite during dinner, and she's the most vocal and in the goofiest mood at this time, which makes for even better memorable moments.  She's always willing to share her newest tricks at dinnertime, and recently, she absolutely loves to throw things off of her tray, whether it's food or cups, and the Nuby Keepeez Adjustable Cup Strap prevents her sippys from hitting the floor.  In colorful and fun patterns, the strap keeps cups tightly fastened with the adjustable, spring powered push button locking mechanism, and attaches to her high chair, or stroller, car seat or shopping carts if we are out on the go.  

In between Acelyn feeding herself bits of finger food and taking spoonfuls of purees as I feed her, if I want a little break to catch myself up with my own dinner, I hand her over her Nuby Designer Series Flip N' Sip Cup, where she drinks (but mostly plays) with her sippy and practices her straw drinking skills.  The twin handles make it an easy hold and the soft silicone straw is gentle for her teething gums and emerging teeth.  My favorite is the No Spill weighted straw that allows her to drink from any angle since she's still getting the hang of using her cup like a pro.  

Although we enjoy talking and sharing about our day, we do go against the norm of a "family dinner" by having the television on while we eat.  Every dinner, we watch Jeopardy, another tradition we've carried on from before kiddos, and both of our kids at an early age loved the intro theme song and signature flashing squares float across the screen.  We continue to interact with the T.V. on, as we engage with the trivia and it allows Nolan to ask questions and lights interest in certain subjects, which we love to discuss as a family as we watch.   

Cleaning up is always the thing I least look forward to, but I try to make it easier on myself by cleaning as I cook, before dinner is even on the table, that way most of it is picked up and put in the dishwasher when we're cleaning up our plates from meal time.  Another plus point on our Nuby items is that all are dishwasher safe, allowing for a quick rinse and a toss into the dishwasher with no hassle and no extra scrubbing.  I'm also a fan of the Nuby Easy Clean Soap Dispensing Bottle Brush, which I'll highlight in a separate post soon.  And, as always with most Nuby products, they are all BPA Free, which gives me even more peace of mind with our constant use.

As I finish up dishes and a quick wipe down of the kitchen, it's a pretty common occurrence to blast some music and have a dance party to end our dinnertime routine and transition into bath and bedtime.  We let the kids get our their last bits of energy for the evening, and I love being able to get one last wiggle and giggle fest out before our last routine of the day begins.  I think the most important part of our schedules and routines is the consistency, so by routinely practicing the same habits, the babes are more likely to respond positively because they know what's coming next and what to expect, which they thrive on.  

Now, of course our dinnertime routine is not always happy smiles and cleaned off plates, but the more important part is that it happens every night.  There's spills and scream wars and bribing with "three more bites for a cookie!" and flinging baby food... but there's always the four of us, sitting together, experiencing the craziness together!  

Thanks to Nuby for all of our extremely helpful and awesome products.  They currently are partnering with Babies R' Us for the M is For Mealtime Campaign, featuring a Buy More, Save More Sale! Great savings on Nuby infant & toddler feeding products at Babies R’ Us stores & online. http://bit.ly/2mvCGgL

Buy 1 Get 10% off 

Buy 2 get 20% off 

Buy 3 or more get 30% off 

Sale includes bottles, cups, mealtime, bottle accessories, & bottle dish soap 

Sale dates: 3/2-3/26.  Promotion details: http://bit.ly/2lNZmEJ

And, because Nuby is so generous to us, as always, we partnered with them to give you a chance to win your own Sure Grip Miracle Mat!  To enter, keep an eye out on our Instagram @jenkelton for details on how to Enter! 

Grow With Me: Nuby 6 Stage Comfort 360 PLUS+ Bottle to Cup Kit {a&n Product Review}

In our home, we're big fans of doing our research and picking the products that will stick with us longest.  Finding a product that can convert and essentially "grow" with our kids is something we find a ton of value in!  From changing tables to dressers, cribs to toddler beds to full size beds, exersaucers to standing toys; you name it, we own it and love it!  When Nuby sent us the 6-Stage Comfort 360 PLUS+ Bottle to Cup Kit, I was super excited because one, we had been searching for a new sippy for Acelyn to debut, and two, it would last us for.ev.er.  And by forever, I mean it.  From bottle to Wonder Cup, this thing promises use in every stage of drinking!  

The 6-stage kit literally does it all, and is perfect for starting right at newborn stage (ages 0+ months).  The new 360 PLUS+ feature helps reduce reflux, GERD, and combat colic symptoms, and although we didn't get to use the bottle during Acelyn's early days, this would have been an amazing feature to have in her reflux stage.  In Stage 1, the bottle uses the Soft Flex Slow Nipple and weighted straw for a comfortable latch and easy no-tip suck.  Because of the unique weighted straw allowing for upright feeding, baby can latch, feed and drink with maximum comfort in any position.  

When baby grows big enough to start using their hands to hold and feed themselves, the bottle can transition to Stage 2, by adding the Easy Grip handles, sized to fit perfect to a baby's grasp.  Acelyn doesn't take a bottle often, but when we do feed her with one, I love that she can easily transition from breast to bottle with no problems and I really like the way the bottle feels when I feed her.  Recently, she also loves to be able to feed herself, so using the Easy Grip handles is such a great feature to be able to add or remove based on our preference for the day!

Currently, we've adjusted our cup to Stage 3, by trading out the nipple for the Touch-Flo No-Spill Silicone Spout, and Acelyn has been loving the freedom and excitement of learning to use a sippy cup on her own.  Unlike most sippy cup transitions that are tricky for baby to learn to tip the cup to drink, the Nuby 360 PLUS+ weighted straw allows her to drink by simply sucking through the spout.  She can easily grasp the Easy Grip handles, and has quickly learned to swing, fling and throw this thing around like a boss!  Her chubby baby knuckles and wrists gripping her sippy with puppy dog eyes and chipmunk cheeks might be one of my favorite things to see her do at this stage, and I couldn't be happier to see her use it with ease.

Although we haven't moved on with Acelyn's use of the bottle, the remaining features are ones I'm looking forward to introducing to her soon.  In Stage 4, baby can practice holding and tilting the cup by removing the handles and the weighted straw to simulate more mature drinking habits.  Stage 5 moves on by introducing the Flip-It top with silicone straw, allowing for more independence and advancement in drinking skills.  Acelyn could actually attempt drinking from this stage, just with the addition of handles, so I appreciate the ability to add and subtract features as you please, fit to your baby's needs as they grow.

Finally, Stage 6 converts the cup to a 360 Wonder Cup, when your child can begin the transition to open cup drinking, completing the system that takes them from bottle to learning to drink like a big kid all in one!  

Cleaning off all of these products is easy and quick, and the plastic and silicone are soft yet durable.  Because Acelyn has found complete joy in tossing this thing around, we've had our fair share of battle wounds to the cup, with no actual wounds in tact- it holds up well and doesn't spill, either!  Even though we haven't graduated to the further stages, I played around with them myself and gave them a good shaking in both Flip-It straw and Wonder Cup mode- and no spillage, either!  

Another simple yet appreciated feature are the two included covers, one for the bottle (nipple top) and one for the cup (sippy top).  As often as we are out and about, it's nice to have the added sanitary coverage over what Acelyn drinks from!  

The Comfort 360 PLUS+ Bottle Range from Nuby is exclusively available at Babies R' Us stores and online, by following the link below, and is being offered at an amazing deal of Buy 1, Get 1, 40% OFF (through sale dates 1/20-2/16): 

Babies R' Us

As a recap, the set specifically includes: 

* 1x 9 oz / 270ml Bottle with Slow Flow Nipple and 360 Straw

* 1x 9 oz / 270ml Bottle with Silicone Spout, Handles and Adaptor

* 1x Flip It Top with Silicone Straw Assembly

* 1x 360 Wonder Cup Sipper Top

Although we've only been using it for roughly a month, I know this system will last us a long, long time of use!  I'm happy to not have to buy a billion different cups for trial and error of what Acelyn will drink from and what she won't.  With the Nuby 360+ PLUS Bottle to Cup Kit, all of our needs are met in a simple set, ready to grow with us and let us enjoy the ride!

The Feeding Stages Begin, with Nuby Feeding Accessories! {a&n Product Review}

Acelyn has been introduced to the world of solids these past couple of months, and it's no secret that she is  alllllllll about her puree food!  We are on a nice schedule of having fruits for breakfast and veggies for dinner, so she gets her fair share of eat time in between playing, nursing and sleeping!  We love that we have had our Nuby products to help introduce solids to Acelyn, and can't help but feel they've made the transition that much easier!  Especially during this current holiday season, as we are in and out for dinners with busy schedules and visiting family, traveling with our feeding accessories has never been simpler!

For Nolan and as well as Acelyn's very first interaction, we used the same temperature-sensing (color changing) spoons to feed purees to our babies.  When Nuby sent us the All Silicone Feeding Spoons, I won't lie- I was a little resistant to switch up my beloved "baby spoons" because, well, memories!!  They worked just fine and the same classic spoons that fed Nolan were doing the trick for Acelyn, too.

Regardless, I washed up the All Silicone Feeding Spoons and gave them a chance.  I am so glad we did!  These spoons are seriously magical.  These 100% Silicone, BPA Free spoons are so flexible and soft, and fit perfectly into Acelyn's mouth, almost folding into her mouth to make sure it doesn't really even spill out.  The Soft Flex spoon makes it easy to clean excess food from around her mouth, and the deep bowl of the spoon allows to scoop the desired amount of food for her (which is a huge spoonful for this little piggy).  The soft silicone is perfect for Acelyn during her teething time, too, making it perfect on her tender gums, and she also loves to grab her own spoon and gnaw away at it to teethe.  The easy grip handle makes for a comfortable fit in both my hand while feeding her, as well as her own when she decides to take matters into her own hands (literally) and feed herself.  They are super lightweight and easy to pack up, so perfect for on the go dinners during the holiday busyness or a quick stash in the diaper bag to Grandma's house for holiday festivities.  I love the more square design of the spoons, and although I was a little intimidated that they would be too large for her, they proved me wrong and are my absolute favorite now. 

The All Silicone Feeding Spoons are perfect for babies age 4 months+ for babies first introduction to foods, and can be found at the following retailer: 

www.Amazon.com

We've used the Nuby Sure Grip Suction Bowl almost every day in our home, whether it's to serve Acelyn her purees or to let her practice some baby led weaning herself.  The bowl has a one piece, super non-slip suction base that sticks to most flat, smooth surfaces, which means no more dropped bowls when Acelyn tries her newest tricks of tossing things overboard from the highchair!  Because of this great feature, the suction bowl base serves as a great addition to holiday dinners out at restaurants or families' homes- less mess and one less thing to pick up from the floor!  

The all-in-one durable silicone Sure Grip Suction Bowl is a great feeding accessory for babies aged 6+ months, is BPA and PVC Phthalate Free and can be found at the following retailer: 

Babies R' Us

The cleaning on both the Silicone Spoons and Suction Bowl is the most magical part!  Literally, one rinse under running water and all the food and mess come clean off.  Because they are made of 100% silicone, they wipe clean and they are dishwasher and microwave (Suction Bowl) safe... no better thing for a busy Mama to have!  I love that when we are on the go, I can just wipe both of them down with a baby wipe and throw it back in my diaper bag to clean later, and not have to worry about food dripping or smearing onto other things in my bag!  

Finally, the Nuby Insulated Stainless Steel Food Jar with Folding Spoon is the perfect travel and on-the-go accessory to carry cold/warm foods and keeps to the temperatures for such a long time!  We initially used this for Acelyn when she started with rice cereal and oatmeal in her introduction to solids.  With the dry oatmeal on the top bowl portion and breastmilk stored in the insulated jar, we were able to keep her food in tow with us while out and about until she was ready to eat, all while keeping it in regulated, safe temperature.  Temperatures are regulated by keeping warm up to 6 hours and keeping cool up to 7 hours, all while staying cool to the touch.  Now, we use as a great divider between her puree foods in the insulated jar and snacks like puffs in the top bowl portion.  Nolan also gets great use out of this for cereal, snacks and other temperature regulated foods such as yogurts and soups.  It serves as a great way for the kiddos to snack while playing, a perfect holiday travel accessory and a convenient way to store and spoon up food on the go.

With a folding spoon that stores inside the cap, the BPA Free Insulated Stainless Steel Food Jar comes in one size, at 15 oz./450 ml.  It is perfect for babies ages 4+ months and is available at the following retailer: 

Babies R' Us 

We are loving all of our new uses for the above feeding accessories, especially paired with the holiday bustle and on-the-go convenience to make life just a little bit less stressful during such a busy yet fun time of the year.  Wishing all of you the happiest of holidays and an amazing start to a New Year!  

The Stockings Were Hung... with Nuby Oral Care Items! {a&n Product Review}

If you're stuck on stocking stuffers for the holidays, take a step back from the traditional candy, dollar bin items, stickers or cash, and let Santa leave a gift that gives back with healthy habits... with oral care items!

In all seriousness, if your toddler gets super excited about toothbrushing like mine, or if you have a baby who has no clue what a stocking even is, then the Nuby Oral Care Set and Toddler Training Toothpaste & Toothbrush would make for some great stuffing for those stockings this season.  We've been using these items for the past few months and are total fans!  

Nolan has been actively brushing his teeth since he was a baby, and we've never had much of an issue with him hating it.  He loves imitating and brushing by himself now that he's older, and the Toddler Toothbrush has an easy grip handle which is the perfect size for his little hand to make it easy for those "I do it, Mommy!" moments.  He loves the bright colors and design and when given the choice between the slew of toothbrushes we have collected, it's always the first he chooses.  The soft bristles are gentle on his teeth and gums, which is nice whether he is brushing himself or I'm in control, because I don't have to worry about brushing too hard and hurting his gums. 

He uses his Toddler Toothbrush with the coordinating All Natural Toddler Training Toothpaste, which is actually both of our favorites!  It's an easy open/close flip top tube that has been pretty mess-free for us, even when Nolan squeezes it himself.  The taste is pleasant for him in a fun, tutti frutti flavored gel, is safe if swallowed and is fluoride free and non-toxic.  I love that it has a fresh smell to it, unlike other kid's toothpastes that have "fun" flavors but also leave a weird after smell on their breath (not cute)!  Even better, this formula is All Natural, made in the USA, and is BPA Free, which leaves me with one less thing to worry about what's going in his body!  

Both the Toddler Toothbrush and All Natural Toddler Training Toothpaste can be found at the following retailers: 

www.kmart.com

www.babiesrus.com

For Acelyn, even though she doesn't have any teeth yet (we're working on it!), we still want to introduce brushing her teeth to her at an early age and set up a good brushing routine.  I like to let both kids have their toothbrushes during bath time, where Nolan likes to do his own thing and Acelyn absolutely loves to gnaw on her brushes.  With the 4-Stage Oral Care Set, a full set of brushes are provided from ages birth to 3+ years, ranging from a silicone fingertip brush for newborns to three different brushes for increasing ages and teeth maturity as baby grows. They are the perfect size, and even though Acelyn thinks she's just getting a good teething session in, she's really also protecting her primary teeth, too.  After she's done playing, usually when I'm dressing her, I like to run the brush through her gums a few times, accompanied with the All Natural Baby Tooth & Gum Cleaner, to get a quick but thorough brush through.  She enjoys the Vanilla Milk flavor, and I'm again satisfied with the all natural, fluoride free & non-toxic formula that she's taking in, and especially thankful that it's safe if swallowed!  The tube is small and perfect for travel or simple storage in the medicine cabinet or on the changing table.

The 4-Stage Oral Care System can be found at these retailers: 

Baby Depot at Burlington

www.babiesrus.com

And the Tooth & Gum Cleaner can be found at these retailers: 

www.buybabydirect.com

*Both toothpaste and gum cleaners are BPA Free, Made in the USA, and endorsed by Pediatric Dentist Dr. Grace Yum- Founder of Yummy Dental and Orthodontics for Kids in Chicago, IL.

Let Santa start a new tradition this year, like he'll be doing in our home, and leave some practical gifts with the fun ones, too!  I love that a simple toothbrush can be as exciting as candy for Nolan, and Santa will be taking advantage of this for as looooonnnng as possible!  

Nuby sent these products to review, but did not compensate me to write this post.  All opinions and thoughts are of my own.  

You can find Nuby and all of their great products by following their social media sites here:

Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest