HANDAID - Stop Thumb Sucking

Were you aware that 95% of the damage that is caused by thumbsucking starts between the ages of 3 and 4? If you can break your child's thumbsucking habit before the age of 4, there will be minimal or no interruption of the alignment of your child's permanent teeth due to thumbsucking.

The only way to stop a child from sucking their thumb is to keep their thumb out of their mouth and their hand away from their mouth until they have lost their thumb sucking dependency. So, the trick is keeping that hand away from their mouth.

A simple solution to a potentially expensive and painful problem, the HANDAID is a special glove with a patented design that fits over the thumb and prevents a child from sucking their thumb without the use of toxic chemicals painted onto the thumbnail or placing a molded device inside the roof of their mouth.

Custom-made for a child's hand using measurements based on their wrist size, weight and exact age, it has a unique closure that wraps around the wrist and can only be removed with the help of a parent or caregiver. The HANDAID does not interrupt normal use of your child's thumb or hand, is not painful, nor does it look obtrusive or stand out in any way. If a child sucks on a middle finger, index finger or any fingers other than the thumb, a custom HANDAID can help stop this finger sucking problem.

Growing up, I've personally known friends and family members who were plagued by this problem. I'm sure they would have benefited greatly from this nifty solution.

Sold At: www.yourhandaid.com
Retail Price: $149. for 2, plus shipping and handling

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*** This product was received for review consideration. No other compensation was provided. The information provided here at the Mommy Reviewed blog is for entertainment purposes only and reflect only the personal opinion of this blogger. Readers of this blog reading and/or using any of the information they glean here, do so at their own risk. ***

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Evenflo Comfort Select Performance Breast Pump - Review and Giveaway

As regular readers of my blogs know, my family and I were recently blessed with the arrival of a new baby daughter! I breastfed my first child and not long after my daughter was born, I was breastfeeding her as well. We all know the countless benefits of breastfeeding, not the least of which is the bonding time it provides for Mom and child. Naturally I was excited when a timely opportunity came along through Mom Central to review Evenflo Comfort Select Performance Breast Pump and Breast pads.

Evenflo has designed its new Comfort Select Performance Dual Electric Breast Pump specifically with busy moms in mind. And thanks to Mom Central, I not only received this pump (plus pads) to try out, but also have a brand-new one to give away a lucky blog reader! More on that later...

I've been using this pump for the last one week and here are my thoughts about it.

What I liked about this pump:

• Battery or electric operation make the unit portable and allows pumping anywhere. Everything can be neatly placed in the compact carrying case, making it really easy to carry from place to place.
• Dual horns allow for faster pumping or single use
• Pump horn has a full silicone without BPA cushion insert for increased comfort and custom sizing
• Includes 2 additional overflow valves for added convenience
• Polypropylene milk storage bottles are without BPA
• Completely transparent milk collection is safer for baby so mom can see that the pump is clean

However, there are few things that I felt could be improved upon:

• Despite claims of being quiet, I personally felt the pump while operating is tad loud. 
• The overflow valves are loose fitting and I've come close to losing them again and again as they fall out very easily.
• When using both the pumps simultaneously and holding both horns against the breasts, it's not easy to change the suction speed or switch the pumps on/off easily.
• I also feel that the pumps are a little on the heavy side, especially when the bottle stands are attached. 
• Overall, I found the assembly to be simple when following the instruction manual. Only one concern though - at one point Prong F has to slide into opening G on the pump unit in order for the bottle/horn to attach to the motor unit. The prong, which is crucial to the whole assembly, is a bit on the thin side and I'm always afraid that if I use the least bit of force to lock it or twist it at the wrong angle, it's liable to snap off, rendering the whole unit inoperable. 
• The instruction manual says not to turn the pump off while horn is placed against breast. It says to first break suction by sliding a finger under the horn, remove pump from breast and then use the on/off switch. I found this practically impossible to do when using both pumps simultaneously.
  

Overall, I'm pleased with the performance of this pump. The breast pads were also easy to use and convenient as well with lanolin in the pads themselves. And their absorbent power is excellent!

You can also visit the Mom Central website to learn more about the Evenflo Comfort Select Performance Breast Pump. Here you can also share breastfeeding and pumping tips with other Moms. Three lucky Moms who post a tip will be randomly selected to receive a Breast Pump and box of nursing pads!

GIVEAWAY

Read the Giveaway Disclaimer / Rules
Please read Blog Disclaimer as well

The Prize

One lucky reader will win a Evenflo Comfort Select Performance Breast Pump and Breast pads.

To Enter

1. Leave a comment OR write a blog post - about breastfeeding. If blogging, don't forget to leave the link to your post below. Please Include your email address at the end of your comment in the format xyz AT abc DOT com. Your email address needs to be in the body of your comment to be counted.
   
2. I'll choose the winner based on the quality of the tip or blog post. So do your best!
3. Only comments containing all the info will be considered.
4. No email address at the end of your comment = NO Entry.
   

For Extra Entries

Please leave a NEW comment for each extra entry you do.

1 Extra Entry - Blog this giveaway with a link back to this post. Leave a new comment here with the link to your post.

1 Extra Entry - Follow this blog (or let me know if you already are) in a separate comment.

1 Extra Entry - Subscribe by email (or let me know if you already are) in a separate comment.

1 Extra Entry- Follow Me on Twitter (callmeabookworm) and Tweet this giveaway. Leave a new comment here with the link. You can tweet once per day for an extra entry EVERY DAY! Just tweet about my giveaway and come back here and leave me the link to your tweet.

1 Extra Entry- Grab my button and comment here with the link to your site and where I can find it.


Deadline   Midnight CST of May 27, 2009.

Eligibility  Continental US only.

Good luck!

Note :   

• Participating in this giveaway automatically implies the entrants agree not to hold Mommy Reviewed responsible for lost/delayed/damaged prize items. There will be no substitution/compensation of any sort in such cases. 
• Prize items will be mailed using the most economical way.
  
• Mommy Reviewed is not responsible for improper use of prize items or any complications resulting from any use of prize items. 
• Mommy Reviewed is not associated with any of the companies/individuals donating the prizes.
• In case of a dispute, the decision of Mommy Reviewed will be final.

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*** This product was received for review consideration. The information provided here at the Mommy Reviewed blog is for entertainment purposes only and reflects only the personal opinion of this blogger. Readers of this blog reading and/or using any of the information they glean here, do so at their own risk. ***

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Nature’s Inventory Wellness Oils

Nature’s Inventory mission is to provide natural options in health and wellbeing and to empower people in experiencing wellness without pills, either alone, or as a compliment to Western medicine.

When their Founder was diagnosed in the latter stages of Lupus, and told there was “no cure” she turned to natural health and in the process created many of the products you see today. Immediately, finding a way to deal with pain maintenance became a must. Her success with her own products allows her to be Lupus and pain free today. As she shared her products with friends and family, a company was created. Years later, Nature’s Inventory is now an international company. What started out in her laundry room, moved to her kitchen, and then into her garage is now a thriving woman owned business. She shares her inspirational story, not to draw attention to herself, but because of the seed of hope it may offer to millions of people who suffer from diseases or conditions that are considered incurable. Eastern and Western medicine can work predictably well together.

Nature’s Inventory offers a variety of products for men, women, children, and pets. Each product is all natural, certified vegan, safe and effective, has no drug interactions, non habit forming, and have no side effects.


Nature’s Wellness Oils


All natural Nature’s Wellness Oils are specially formulated topical oils designed to address physical and emotional needs. When applied to the skin, the botanical properties of the essential oils are easily absorbed directly into the bloodstream where they are transported to the organs and systems of the body.

Essential oils have the ability to actually get oxygen to your cells and, when that happens, your body can release toxins and pull much needed potassium back into the cell.  Many essential oils have qualities that make them anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and analgesic, thus helping to reduce pain, and relax muscles on a much deeper level.

For more information, please visit http://www.naturesinventory.com/

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Camper Alert child safety bracelets

"Arm" your child with valuable information when they are away from home with Camper Alert child safety bracelets.

These brightly colored, comfortable rubber bracelets come with adjustable sizing to fit even the tiniest wrist. Camper Alert child safety bracelets are great for field trips, amusement parks, camp, vacations and special needs children - keeping important information within reach should an emergency situation arise.

Comes with a cute "Camper Alert" logo on the front, and your personal information can be engraved on the back of the bracelet. With 4 stickers in each package, simply write your information on the sticker in permanent ink and your child will be able to use the bracelet immediately. Made by moms for moms who know that keeping their little ones safe is of the highest priority!

Sold At: Online & Select Retail Stores
Retail Price: $14.95 - 19.95
www.hopepaigedesigns.com

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Blog Disclaimer

Terms of use :

Readers should know that they are reading this blog, Mommy Reviewed, of their own free will and that they are taking the information the author of this blog, Mommy Reviewed, provides at their own risk.

Copyright policy :

Unless otherwise noted, the author of this blog, Mommy Reviewed, is the legal copyright holder of the material on this blog, Mommy Reviewed, and it may not be used, reprinted, or published without this blogger's written consent.

Hold harmless :

The information provided here at Mommy Reviewed is for entertainment purposes only and the author of this blog, Mommy Reviewed, is not providing medical, legal or other professional advice. Once again, readers of this blog, Mommy Reviewed, are reading and/or using any of the information they glean from Mommy Reviewed at their own risk.

Privacy statement :

Information the readers provide will not be used to put them on spam lists, nor will their contact information be sold to another company. Readers should also know that the author of this blog, Mommy Reviewed, is not responsible for the privacy practices of the advertisers or blog commenters or anyone else.>

Reserve rights :

The author of this blog, Mommy Reviewed, reserves the right to change the focus of this blog, Mommy Reviewed, to shut it down, to sell it, or to change the terms of use (go to a paid platform) at the author's personal discretion.

Advertisers and Sponsors :

The author of this blog, Mommy Reviewed, cannot be held responsible for the actions of the advertisers or sponsors. If a reader of this blog, Mommy Reviewed, purchases a product or service based upon a link from or a blog post at this blog, Mommy Reviewed, the reader must take action with that company to resolve the issue, not the author of this blog, Mommy Reviewed.

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The Baby Fat Diet

The Baby Fat Diet
Monica Bearden, Shara Aaron
Publisher: Alpha, 240 pages, ISBN-10: 1592577970

Losing the "baby fat" might seem like a daunting task. Getting back into the pre-pregnancy jeans might feel like a stretch - and today's current economy causes another kind of pinch. A limited budget, a demanding schedule and the desire for healthy eating complicates mom’s life even more.

Authors Monica Bearden and Shara Aaron, both new moms and dietitians, offer new tips for tried and true tricks that help moms lose the unwanted pounds without breaking the bank.

Inside the book, moms learn to:

•       Plan the menu.

• Make easy meals at home and pack snacks
• Get going with breakfast – rev up the metabolism for the day
• Add foods to lose – fruits, nuts, whole grains, and veggies fill up not out

•       Plan the shopping experience.

• Look up and down the food aisle, the most expensive items are at eye level
• Fresh vs. Frozen – Frozen fruits and veggies are picked at the peak of freshness and frozen to lock in the nutrition and taste – plus, frozen products can be more economical
• Know what’s on sale. Use circulars, manufacturer’s coupons, internet and coupon sites. Plan what you make based on what’s on sale in the store.
• Limit impulse buys – stick to the list

•       Plan for eating out

• Don’t drink your calories or jack up the bill – order calorie-free, cost-free water
• Be a kid again - order a children’s meal with the fruit cup side instead of fries
• Skip the mega-calorie dessert at the restaurant and have a small sweet treat at home

About the Authors

Monica Bearden, R.D., has written for the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, the American Journal of Medicine and Sports, Today’s Dietitian, and more. She graduated from the Coordinated Program in Dietetics at the University of Texas at Austin.

Shara Aaron, M.S., R.D., has been a nutrition and health editor for Family Circle, manager of nutrition communications at Masterfoods, USA, owner of a nutrition communications consulting company, and a certified aerobics instructor.

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New Free App for Parents with iPhones and BlackBerry

A new mobile application for BlackBerry and iPhone makes eating out at fast food and casual dining restaurants a healthier experience. GoodFoodNearYou is the first free web and mobile service to search for location-based restaurant nutrition information anywhere in the U.S.

It's perfect for busy parents! Now, you can look up a quick restaurant meal that is healthier, has lower calories, fat, and carbs, while you wait in line at the drive thru.. while your leaving the kid's soccer game.. or anywhere else where you need to make healthy eating choices FAST...

A search on GoodFoodNearYou begins by automatically detecting the user’s location using GPS on a mobile device, or by searching near a manually entered location. GoodFoodNearYou delivers the lowest calorie food item on the menu for the twenty restaurants closest to the location. The user can view the menus of each restaurant and sort menu items by lowest calories, fat, and carbohydrates. The user can access detailed nutritional information for each menu item and map the restaurant’s location instantly. The option to save preferred restaurant food and locations is available by registering for free at GoodFoodNearYou.com.

Visit GoodFoodNearYou on the web at, http://www.goodfoodnearyou.com

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Stock Market Investing 101

Stock Market. To most, simply the site of the word, brings anxiety and visions of chaos in this deepening recession. As parents, it’s important to be equipped with the right knowledge when it comes to long-term investment, especially in this volatile market. Rory Olson, CEO of Wall Street Survivor, has gone ahead and laid it out in seven easy steps. Wall Street Survivor enables users to navigate the stock market by building and tracking virtual stock portfolios bought with pre-set fictional trading budgets.

Stock Market Investing 101

1. There are no guarantees. Despite what late night guru's might try to tell you, there are no guarantees. Investing is risky and uncertain. That is why it is rewarded.
2. Investing is not the same as saving! When you set aside emergency funds or savings accounts that is one portion of your financial planning. Budgeting is another. Investing is yet another. Combined, they each comprise important parts of your total financial strategy but never make the mistake of putting all of your additional discretionary income toward investing. Again - investing is not the same as saving.
3.  Past performance doesn't forecast the future. There is a reason a similar disclaimer is included in almost every bit of investment advice: it's true! Unfortunately, people don't believe it. While history can provide a great deal of insight into the probability of certain events, it cannot forecast future events.
4. Diversify, Diversify, Diversify.
5. Fundamentals never go out of style. Learn everything you can about how the stock market works and stock market investing basics. Understand the industry. Read the business section. Listen to economic data and actually read industry reports. Gather all the information possible and then use it to make your own decisions.
6. Don't be afraid to be a contrarian. There are times when the masses are wrong. Fortunes can be made by understanding when to roll with the crowd and when to go it alone.
7. Establish a Free Online Paper Trading account at Wall Street Survivor to test your assumptions before trying it out in real life.

More About Wall Street Survivor

Wall Street Survivor (www.wallstreetsurvivor) lets users navigate the stock market without investing any real money. Players are given a fictional $100,000 cash portfolio to start trading real stocks in real-time, providing the foundation for individuals to learn how to take control of actual investment portfolios and retirement savings. It functions much like a facebook social networking site except that users become investment savvy in the process. Wall Street Survivor allows players to compete in a $250,000 prize pool.

Feel free to visit www.wallstreetsurvivor.com for additional information.

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Giveaway - Naturally Acai Xtra

Naturally Acai Xtra, of the Acai berry fame, is a new product offered by AgroLabs, the leader in liquid nutrition. Recently, the Acai berry has become all the rage with celebrities and health experts alike – including one of Oprah’s guest doctors who named Açaí as the number one superfood in the world.

Naturally Açai Xtra™

• Available in 16 oz. & 32 oz.
• Recommended daily dosage not to exceed 3 ounces
• Ready to bring it up a notch? Acai is the only super berry on the market that has Vitamin B1, B2, B3, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Phosphorus, Calcium, Potassium, Fiber, Proteins, good fatty acids such as Omega 6, Omega 9.
• Packed with antioxidants (Acai has been proven to have 33 times the antioxidant content as red wine grapes.)
• Natives of the Amazon have used Açai for hundreds of years to promote energy, healthy digestion and good health.* Açai is particularly rich in fatty acids and palmitic acid, 19 amino acids with especially high contents of aspartic acid and glutaminic acid and an abundance of antioxidants. Recently, Açai has been recommended by leading anti-aging physicians and researchers. In addition to the Açai berry, Naturally Açai Xtra contains proprietary nutrient rich berry extracts of Blueberry, Pear Juice, Concord Grape, White Grape & Apples Juice.

GIVEAWAY

Read the Disclaimer / Rules

Win this fabulous product!

To Enter

1. Visit AgroLabs. Come back here and leave a comment with your email address at the end of your comment in the format xyz AT abc DOT com telling me "Which other product at their site caught your  interest?".
   
2. Only comments containing all the info will be considered.
3. No email address inside your comment = NO Entry.
4. And your email addy may be shared with the Sponsor so they can notify you when your prize ships.
   

For Extra Entries

Please leave a NEW comment for each extra entry you do.

1 Extra Entry - Blog this giveaway with a link back to this post. Leave a new comment here with the link to your post.

1 Extra Entry - Follow this blog (or let me know if you already are) in a separate comment.

1 Extra Entry - Subscribe by email (or let me know if you already are) in a separate comment.

1 Extra Entry- Follow Me on Twitter (callmeabookworm) and Tweet this giveaway. Leave a new comment here with the link. You can tweet once per day for an extra entry EVERY DAY! Just tweet about my giveaway and come back here and leave me the link to your tweet.


1 Extra Entry- Grab my button and comment here with the link to your site and where I can find it.


Deadline   Midnight CST of April 30th.

Eligibility  US only.

Good luck!

Note : Mommy Reviewed is not responsible for the prizes. And in this case, Mommy Reviewed does NOT make any claim to have personally reviewed these products and categorically refuses to vouch for them in any way. Mommy Reviewed is not responsible for improper use of these prizes or any complications resulting from any use of these items. Mommy Reviewed is not associated with any of the companies/individuals donating the prizes.
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Posts!

Some good and not so good news.

Last week, I became the proud Mom of a beautiful baby daughter, via emergency C-Section. That's the good news. Bad news is that I'm going to be online briefly here and there as I try to mother 2 children while recovering from surgery.

So, if you have sent me something for review or to post, please know that there will be a delay. But I know that you will understand how things are and bear with me until I'm back in full form and can get to regular posting.

In the meantime, thanks for understanding! And don't go away as I have lots of things planned, including more giveaways!



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Who Do You Think You Are: A Memoir

Who Do You Think You Are?: A Memoir
By Alyse Myers<
Published by Touchstone Books
April 2009; $15. U.S.; 1-4165-4306-6  

Description

Myers (v-p, brand programs for the New York Times) considered herself a daddy's girl, until the death of her father when she was only 11 left her particularly lonely. In this dark though moving book, she explains that she never told her two younger sisters of her loneliness and found her mother's unpredictable cruelty truly bewildering. Although this was a working-class Jewish family in Queens in the 1960s and '70s, it wasn't the sort featured in storybooks.

Her parents chain-smoked and fought endlessly, slinging curses at each other without a thought of their children listening. Alyse got herself into a gifted high school in Manhattan, found herself part-time jobs and enrolled in an affordable city college. It was only after she married and had a child herself that she started to understand her father had been a philanderer and her mother used morphine to cope. The greatest gift she gave her daughter was the determination to create a different sort of life for herself.

Who Do You Think You Are is Alyse's story of her complicated and flawed relationship with her mother.

This moving book is the story of a mother and daughter with conflicting personalities and ideals, and one woman's journey into adulthood despite these circumstances. No matter what your relationship with your own mother is like, this book will stay with you long after you're finished.
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