FUN SUMMER TOYS FOR POOL + BATH | MOM LIFE

Good morning, y'all!

I sorta can't even believe it's already Tuesday... This past weekend flew by as quickly as it seems like this week is going - for me, at least! Saturday consisted of really just playing with the dogs and doing yard work but Sunday was the true "fun day" since we had a company party for all of the employees at Devon's business. Of course, if any of y'all are on the East Coast, you're well-aware that the weather was beautiful and fry-an-egg-on-the-concrete HOT. Thankfully, the party was at my in-laws where they have a big, beautiful backyard with the most amazing pool, so we spent (almost) the entire day in the water -  that meant swimming in the pool, sliding down the slip-in-slide and jumping off of the platform into the pond - we felt like pruned fish by the end of the day.

Since I knew that we would be treading water all day,  I made sure to bring some of Penelope's  favorite bath toys for her to enjoy while we swam around. The first ones I made sure to pack were the  Little Squirters from Nuby. These are such a hit! Of course squirting people is super fun but she also loves all of the characters that the Little Squirters come in! I've started noticing her playing more "pretend" and her imagination is starting to grow - she'll take the little starfish and turtle and put them "night-night" as she calls it, in the tub when she gets out of her nightly bath - heart. melted.

But they also kept her entertained in the water because they do float, even when filled with water, which is a huge plus because we didn't have to worry about her "diving" out of our arms to try and get one - thank God, lol.

Another really cool toy is the Little Submarine. This one is particularly awesome because it's an interactive toy... You pull on the string tail and let it go and off it goes! So between the submarine and the squirters, P was entertained for the longest time!
So even when we weren't floating around in the pool, she was thoroughly enjoying the toys on the car ride home, which was huge because who wants a toddler to take a nice, long nap at 6PM?? No sir. We are staying up and getting you to bed at decent hour, my lil child!

So after our long day of swimming around in the pool, pond and being slathered with sunscreen, it was definitely bath o'clock. Of course, her toys were in tow and are a must, but how freakin cool is this Hippo Bath Spout?! 

Not only is it a good safety measure so the littles don't bonk their heads but if you close the bottom flap, the water will shoot out of the hippos nose so you now have a mini waterpark in your bath tub! I swear, my child would live in water if she could and the only downside to this thing is that she refuses to get out of the bath lol. Not really a problem because I'm thankful she's hygienic BUT.... We got other things to do, girl.

All in all.. we are exhausted, tanned and ready for BED.

I adore summer days just like this! I hope y'all have the best week xox

Click here to buy these three items for your little(s):

 Little Squirts //
Amazon Prime:

Nuby 10-Pack Little Squirts Fun Bath Toys, Assorted Characters
Babies R Us:
Nuby Little Squirts

Little Submarine //
Amazon Prime:
Nuby Little Submarine Pull String Bath Toy, Colors May Vary

Hippo Bath Spout //
Amazon Prime:
Nuby Hippo Spout Guard, Blue

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*I have received these products for review but all opinions are 100% my own.

| Green Sprouts Sip n' Straw |

Of course I would do a blog last week and THEN come across something better. 

So here's what we're currently loving; the Green Sprouts Sip n' Straw cup.

( Linked to Amazon where we purchased ours - also sold at Whole Foods & Bed Bath and Beyond along with BuyBuyBaby)

here's why we love it:

#1: It's made of glass. YES. The inside has a glass insert that you put into the protective outer layer and a bottom piece that fastens tightly to the plastic to ensure that the glass is secure. The glass interior is easy to clean and doesn't hold any odors or smells like regular plastic cups can - this is the main reason why I switched to these!

#2 It comes with 2 different silicone drinking pieces; one for 4+ months, which is a basic sippy spout, (mainly used for babies that lie down to drink)

 And then there's a straw/sipper version which can be used with or without the straw attachment so your little one can drink lying down and standing up.

#3 It comes with a seal which would be good for storing drinks/milk/formula in multiple bottles; perfect for traveling with more than 1 bottle while being able to bring only one sippy-spout for easy transition.

#4 It's a NO LEAK CUP! No. LEAKS. Probably the only one I've found like this!

#5 Last but not least, it comes with removable handles! So convenient and makes it easy for them to hold.

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\\ What we use MOST at 6 months //

So here's the deal: Yesterday we OFFICIALLY turned our living room into an infant jungle-gym. I knew the time was coming as Penelope has been crawling/scooting and pulling up on ANYTHING she can get her hands on!

Before I had a baby, I babysat a lot of kids but never remembered that they became mobile this soon - Let the baby-proofing begin and I have to add that I absolutely ADORE this phase!!! She's beyond independent and really takes interest in doing things on her own. I'm not claiming she's a genius baby or anything buuuuuuuut I think she's the smartest of all time sooooooo........

Beyond all of that, going back to a [previous post] on product favorites, we have put away the rock-n-play and don't use the bassinet upper part of our 4Moms Breeze any longer because she was on her way to doing a stunt right from the top of we didn't do it and do it SOON. So here's an updated list for y'all.. And if you're wondering, we still use & love our [4Moms] Play Yard! It really is something that we've used from birth and continue to use every single day. OH! And I always wanted to be able to go into the toy aisle and actually be able to SHOP and pick out fun things for her and that time HAS ARRIVED! Woooo! This age is the fun part because she actually enjoys what you get for her and can entertain herself for hours (or minutes, depending ;)) - pure bliss, for us and her!

1 ANY Play Mat: 

Even though we particularly like these two: [this] & [this].  Any will do! They're all awesome, it's just a matter of personal preference but I will say that the one with sides is the best because when they start rolling, that helps them stay-put in one area.

These things are a awesome because they are used from birth on up.. you can't go wrong with em'. Here are a few more we have and love... They're all great quality and have lasted wash after wash! Click [here] & [here]. All can be bought at BabiesRus.

2 Jumper:

Penelope loved hers from about 4mo to about 2 weeks ago. She would rather be on the floor, pulling herself around but nonetheless, this kept her entertained for a few short months and it also helped strengthen her legs to prepare her for what she's currently doing: pulling up on 

e v e r y t h i n g. Click [here] for the one we use!

3 Aiden + Anais Stroller&Swaddle Blankets:

[These] are perfect for when your little babe is a newborn and perfect for when they're older! I absolutely adore anything made by A+A so it should be no surprise that I'd recommend these as well! They are decently priced and are better than the swaddle blankets for winter time and cooler weather. We use this on the floor, stroller rides, a regular blanket and it's big enough for an adult and true to A+A fashion, these are reeeeally soft and durable... Plus, free shipping through BuyBuyBaby - You can't go wrong. 

4 TOYS

The title speaks for itself and even 6 month olds LOVE em' so I'm just going to list Penelope's favorites:

[here]

[here]

[here]

[here]

[here]

[here]
Anything that hangs and sounds crunchy and we're good to go!

For nighttime:

[Soothe and Glow Seahorse]

[Sleep Sheep]

Honest note: We don't travel ANYWHERE without the sleep sheep^^!!!!!! It is a must-have and has been since P was born! 

For Travel:

[here]

This blog is all over the place but I hope it's easy to navigate and pick through! Don't forget to check out [@babys_best] instagram.. Sometimes I don't blog about things and I update that instead xo

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IG: taylorpilk
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Favorite Honest Products

I've been using Honest products for over a year now and I've been nothing but happy with absolutely everything I've got from them. Before Target started carrying their stuff, it was always a guessing game for which items to buy so I ended up getting the Bundle package and trying IT. ALL. So here are my absolute must-haves from Honest.com so you don't have to play the guessing game that I did. 

 I do use other brands for things such as wipes for P and laundry detergent for all of us (which I'll share in the next post) that aren't Honest brand but still organic and natural. 

1) Organic Baby Powder: I posted about the Burt's Bees Baby Powder not long ago and I still love that powder but this is my favorite since I purchased it because it's actually USDA Organic and not just labeled as "Natural" and it's still Talc-free, which is exactly why I bought the Burt's Bees in the first place, so this one is a bonus with the certified organic label.

2) Honest Conditioner: This smells AMAZING. I use this for P when her scalp gets a little dry and it really helps keep it moisturized and it's not irritating to her at all.

3) Honest Shampoo + Body Wash: we use this often, and I even use this for myself because it smells like an orange dreamsicle.... Ughh, I'm obsessed.

4) Honest Diapers: We have used these on Penelope since she was a newborn! I also use Seventh Generation diapers from Target and I have no preference over either diaper, although I personally gravitate towards the Honest brand because they're a lot cuter but more importantly, Neither the SG or Honest diapers ever leak and that's especially important since P is currently sleeping through the night.

5) Honest Cleaning Products: ALL OF THEM ARE AMAZING. I use every single one and they do the job without the strong smell that store-brand household cleaners have. Although I have them all, I personally love the Multi-Surface Cleaner and the Bathroom Cleaner.. I use these two almost daily.

6) Dish Soap: I currently use this dish soap to clean Penelope's bottles.. It lasts a looooong time too so I find that it's worth it and work just the same as other specific bottle cleaners that other companies have.

7) Dryer Sheets: These dryer sheets are somewhat moist, which is unlike any other dryer sheet I've tried in the past.. They make your laundry soft and I love the fact that they are naturally unscented so you can add essential oils to the dryer cloth so you have the option to change the scent from one dry to the next. I love to add lavender oil when I wash our sheets and they always smell soooo amazing.. I stock up on oils from Whole Foods and Amazon!

8) Honest Sunscreen SPF 30: If we're needing sunscreen, I'd rather it be healthy and not filled with unnecessary chemicals and this stuff is great for the health factor, it's not thick and it easily absorbs into the skin.. This wins over other sunscreens I've tried from other natural companies such as Babyganics etc.

The Honest Life ^

 I suggest this book to anyone that wants to know more about the chemicals that lurk in our day-to-day products. It opened my eyes to certain products that claim to be "healthy" and "natural" but are actually FILLED with things that are FAR from good - when you know better, you do better. Xx

twitter: @taylorpilk

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xo taylor

Baby FAVORITES Pt.1

The very moment you become a mom, everything hits you all at once.... It's basically the only time in your life, that in a split second, you become an absolute pro, with no prior practice or training. No doctor or nurse can tell you what's best because your instinct does that for you - you're the momma.. You get the mom-instinct immediately. Also, for the rest of your life, you're blessed with 4 arms because Lord knows I use my feet to pick up, move objects and even open doors now without a second thought - But one thing that you don't get right away are all of the things your baby will love or even hate. When I signed up for my registry, as I'm sure all moms-to-be do, I registered for it ALL. I had no idea what I would love or what we would even use and I had no one my age that had a brand new infant to walk me through it so I've compiled a list of my absolute FAVORITE things that I don't even travel without, let alone go a day without using. Even if you aren't a mommy yet, or not even close to becoming one, I KNOW you're getting invited to baby showers and some of these are the perfect inexpensive gifts that you can get for that mama2be.

1 - 4moms Breeze Playard This is the easiest playard out. It's compact, and easy to open which saves so much hassle while you're holding a screaming infant trying to open this thing. Beyond simple and practical for all mamas.

2 - Fisher Price My Little Lamb Swing The was HANDS DOWN the best purchase we made. Do NOT forget to put this on your registry like we did. Penelope sleeps like a PERFECT angel in this thing and we have traveled with this EVERY SINGLE TIME we've been out of town since we've had it. We won't stay overnight anywhere without it. Simply put: It's a LIFESAVER.

3 - Burts BeesWax Tear Free Shampoo This shampoo/body wash smells like a baby in a bottle. I use Honest products too but I absolutely love using this because it smells sooo good and it's gentle on P's skin, which obviously overrides the great smell any day. 

4 - Aiden + Anais Musy Mate I just blogged about this on my @babys_best Instagram because I absolutely adore this little security blanket and so does Penelope. She would always kick off her blanket during naps and bedtime because she's a hot-blooded little thing, just like me, and well, long story short, she would wake up wanting to hold her blanket because she's recently discovered the grasping effect, but it would be past her little feet and she would get frustrated and throw a fit so I would pull the blanket up, she would kick it off and history just kept repeating itself so I found the perfect balance with this little thing because she can hold onto it all the while kicking her little feet and staying cool with the blankets off. Win-win.

5 - Quinny Moodd Stroller A stroller is like a car. An investment. For something that you'll use every day, you need the thing to be able to keep up and this stroller is perfect for that. The tires are rubber and filled with air - not like other strollers with cheap plastic tires that get flat spots in them or can't roll over hard surfaces. The Quinny can go through sand, over rocks, in the grass - wherever you need it, it can go. I'm a stroller hoarder and I can say that I will back this brand for life because I have TWO myself. One aluminum frame for traveling and the heavier white frame for daily errands. This stroller is worth every penny, I promise! Plus, it grows with the child. You can detach the toddler seat and attach the infant car seat for the perfect grow-with-me feature. Plus, it has great storage underneath for shopping ;)

6 - Tommee Tippee Bottles These bottles are amazing, especially if you end up like me and switch from breast feeding to bottle feeding due to supplementing. Trust me when I say that I tried every bottle on the market.. I asked for different brands on our registry and I also purchased some other brands myself and these were the ONLY bottles P would take. These bottles also come in a variety of colors for both boys and girls so you can't go wrong with functioning cuteness.

7 - Baby Brezza Formula Pro It's 2am and you need to make a bottle - That is the exact reason why you need this. No other words necessary. It's a bit tricky to put together but I promise that you'll be so glad once you do. It's literally the Keurig for babies. Get one.... Or two.. I really don't think you can have too many of these things.

8 - Aiden + Anais Bamboo Blankets If you know me, you know I'm obsessed with anything made by A+A but these Bamboo blankets take the cake, in fact, I caught Devon using one as a blanket last night.... They're that amazing. And not only are they great for sleeping, but they're amazing as a stroller cover, breastfeeding cover, general bib to wipe messy faces and the best part is that they hold together through the many, many washes that you can imagine they're put through.

9 - LEVANA Snuza Oma Clip We all know the risks associated with infants and their breathing and well, for any new mom or even an experienced one, that is pretty concerning & scary, so that's why I had to have this perfect little monitoring clip for when Penelope sleeps. I decided to go with this over all other brands because it fits snuggly over her diaper and it actually touches her belly to monitor breaths, not feeling for movement through a mattress like some other brands. I just didn't trust that. I also love how portable this device is... I just put it in the case it came in and throw it in her diaper bag and we're ready to go. No wires, no bulky monitoring systems... Just what you see and that's it. I would spend $99 over and over if it meant I would know my daughter is safe.. There's absolutely no price on her life and that's why I saved this for last because in my eyes, if you couldn't or didn't buy a single other item I mentioned, then at least invest in this. :)

FYI: For what I could find, I linked the Target website to certain items so you can at least save 5%, especially for some of the high-ticket items.

Be sure to follow my Instagram, @babys_best, for quick uploads on my favorite things at the moment and even things that I'm not really lovin'. 

Xoxo

twitter: @taylorpilk

instagram: taylorpilk

xo taylor