Even the most streamlined cloth diaper is a little bulky, which has its downsides. But I have recently discovered an major upside: the extra padding functions as an extra layer of protection from falls and other hazards. Just the other day, Z was pulling up on our ottoman when he fell right on to some of his blocks. Now any parent who has ever accidentally knelt or stepped on one of these blocks can tell you they are sharp (I actually cut my knee on one once), so I expected at least a few tears when I saw where he landed. But he didn’t even bat an eye. He just picked up one of the blocks and started to chew on it.
His diaper had so much padding he couldn’t feel the sharp edges of the blocks even though he was sitting right on them. With his increasing mobility and increased number of dramatic falls, this “jock strap effect” has become one of my favourite bonuses of cloth diapering.
When your baby is sick, an accurate temperature is very important, and the Exergen TemporalScanner is just one of an array of products out there that claim to give parents the most accurate readings. Having tested the product out at home and comparing its readings to my digital oral thermometer, I think it lives up to its claims, but it is also more that double the price. So is it worth it?
Pros:
- It is the least invasive method for taking a temperature out there.
- It is quick and easy to administer, taking less time than a regular digital thermometer.
- Its readings are as accurate as the other thermometers I compared it to.
- Suitable for use with people of all ages.
- Temperature can be easily taken while child is sleeping.
- The accuracy of the temperature reading is not affected if the sick person has recently had something to drink, which can be a problem when using an oral thermometer.
- The sensor does not need to be cleaned in between readings if multiple people within the same household use the same thermometer though it should be cleaned from time to time with a bit of rubbing alcohol.
- It would be an easy and accurate way to chart your daily temperature for women who are tracking their temperatures for birth control or planned conception.
Cons:
- While it can take the temperature of a sleeping child, the device emits a noise and a red light shines towards the child’s face when it is being used. If you have a light sleeper, taking their temperature could awaken them.
- The accuracy of the reading is compromised if the forehead is sweaty, which would be a problem with a high fever. As an alternative, a temperature can be taken from behind the ear, but it is slightly less accurate.
- The thermometer is a bit bulky, so it is not as portable as a oral thermometer though its size is comparable to an ear thermometer.
- It can be a challenge to take the temperature of a squirmy baby when he or she is awake. Z kept trying to swat it away from his forehead.
- While it is faster than most other thermometers out there, it is more expensive and it is no easier to use. In fact, I was able to take Z’s temperature under his arm without waking him as well; it just took longer.
Final Thoughts: The thermometer is accurate and lives up to its claims, but it’s only worth the expense for households with more than one child or for women who will use it daily to chart their temperature to track fertility.
Our complimentary Exergen TemporalScanner was provided to Active Mama for product testing by Rosica Strategic Public Relations. Exergen products are available at Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Costco, Babies R Us, Toys R Us and Sam’s Club.
You’d be hard pressed to find a baby who doesn’t have one. It’s sold in most specialty baby stores. It’s so well marketed, you’d think it was a ‘necessity’ item like a crib or a stroller. It’s a Bumbo. And you probably don’t need it.
The Bumbo is a moulded seat that helps your baby sit upright without the need for straps. The product is marketed for babies aged 3 months to 14 months. The website touts the product as being for “hands free baby care”… seriously, can I sign up for that? Cause I’ve never had that, Bumbo or no Bumbo.
We didn’t think we’d get the Bumbo, even though everyone had one. We held off. But then our doctor suggested it would help Aiden learn to sit. So we almost felt like bad parents for not getting a Bumbo. We caved. He HATED it. Max use was about 5 minutes, and at no time could I just let him sit there without giving him toys. He hated being confined and it wasn’t long before he learned to push his bum up to get out.
Then there’s the size – being made of moulded foam, it really does have a max baby size. I think the 14 months refers to a pretty small baby. Aiden can still fit in his Bumbo, but most of the time it sits collecting dust in our livingroom. Sometimes we pull it out as a way to feed him if we have guests over, but he hates it. We have the play tray too, but that thing is impossible to get on.
I think there’s the case to be made for the Bumbo. If you have twins, for example. Or if you have a really chill and mellow baby. If your baby doesn’t mind sitting in one spot for a long time, maybe he’d like a Bumbo. Does he like the bouncy chair or swing? If so, chances are better he’d like the Bumbo. But if your baby, like mine, is a mover and needs to be doing different things all the time (even when he can’t), then don’t think he’s going to enjoy being in a rigid chair like the Bumbo.
So, hold off on this ‘necessity’ or borrow it from a friend. Get to know your baby – I’m pretty sure you’ll know if the Bumbo is his kind of thing or not. And trust me, he’ll learn to sit just fine without it.
We wanted to be sure that the majority of products we use on Aiden would be free of toxins and as gentle as possible on his skin. After spending a lot of time researching, we selected these products:
If you want to find baby skincare products of any sort, I highly recommend giving a search over at the Skin Deep Cosmetics Database. Just because products are natural or organic doesn’t always mean they meet the standards you want for your baby!
Though our diaper-bag cup is still the Safe Sippy, and though we use a normal cup for mealtime, in our play area I wanted a cup that Aiden could pick up and drink from whenever he wanted to.
On impulse, I bought the Mighty Grip Flip Straw Cup from Munchkin. Though I would have preferred stainless steel, I thought this was an inexpensive way to start off until Aiden could figure out how to hold the Safe Sippy on its own (trickier because it needs to be tilted up).
Aiden loves straws, so this cup was right up his alley. At 9 months, he had no problem picking up the cup and drinking from it. If it slips, he figures out how to maneuver it around until it’s straw-end up. Pretty neat that he can do all that!
Purchased from London Drugs
