baby things | MimmaBenz.com

Babywear Meet 3 Kwento and Discovery of Bailey Wrap

September 26, 2011 § 1 Comment

Wanna share lang.

We had Babywear Meet 3 last Saturday at Gymboree. Yung first 2 kinda kinareer ko, but this one not anymore, aside from I think am graduating na I felt mas ok if the sellers na mag asikaso kasi malaki na yung group unlike the first halos tayo tayong taga N@W mostly, yung second lotsa N@Wies but half na lang kasi nga super dami.

Anyway it was great kasi sa Gymboree ginawa so the kids and yaya can play sa floor area (they gave a promo of pay for an hour and play for 2 hours) tapos yung babywear dun sa classrom nila. JenCC made a presentation ng ibat ibang carrier pa. Di na siya chaotic like Starbucks yun nga lang the attendance is super limited lang. Also less chikahan kasi nga mas serious anf mood, but then if you went to learn you will go home learnt (if there is such a word). Congrats to those who took care of Babywear Meet 3. (Maski di ako pinakilala sa group hehe)

Am writing this kasi I want to kwento about the new carrier called Bailey Wrap. Check them out at their Bailey Wrap Facebook page.

I tried it with Laya and I felt na parang ang gaan ni Laya so sarap gamitin. Medyo may level of difficult kinda like Saya I think. The make of this is SaYa-ish but may support siya sa waist kaya ang laki ng difference.

Sa mga may SaYa carrier you just buy a stabilizer belt for SaYa at P350 then parang ganito na din, no need to buy a Bailey Wrap na.

Ok since I want to buy this one am selling my other slings hehehe. Iisipin ko lang muna how much ha. Will post here.

Anyway just wrote to share this new discovery.

Also isang negative about Bailey Wrap is parang too much cloth baka it might feel mainit although super thin yung material naman. Also ang Bailey wrap is locally made so good yan and yung imported counterpart niya is Moby Wrap
daw sabi nung mga veterans sa carriers.

Yun lang.

Babywear Meet 3

September 6, 2011 § 1 Comment

Yehey there’s a 3rd Babywear Meet 🙂

click photo to read about Babywear Meet 2

I think this is my last na. I learned it, applied it and preached it na din. I have been asked often enough whats my favorite carrier. After trying several I think am stuck with the first one I tried the Maya Wrap, probably hard to teach old dogs new tricks? The quality of the cloth is different eh, it is sturdy yet soft sa skin. Pricey nga lang. You can buy Maya Wrap from Medela Moms, problem lang with them di sila madaling mabili at di din madami mag stock.

To register for this event please go to Next9‘s site andun yung reg form. To be able to make the event efficient, we need to implement rules. So we now have a cancellation policy. Andun sa form din.

Hope to see you there! Thanks Elai for helping get Gymboree’s support!

Guide to Breast Pumps

August 4, 2011 § 7 Comments

I am also asked every now and then what breast pump I use. I got several friends who also bought the same brand but some friends find it too expensive. Although I think majority in the group uses Medela pumps (I used MedelaFreestyle) I remember reading about other well recommended breast pumps that are cheaper in N@W so I asked them to recommend and tell more about their breast pumps. Here’s what I got:

Ameda Purely Yours

From Meng: I used Purely Yours of Ameda. It’s basically the same with Lansinoh, but brand new is a bit pricier than Lansinoh (am not sure why). I wanted to buy din Medela sana noon, but my cousin advised that Ameda is still better and a lot cheaper.

From Maize: I’m using Lansinoh double electric pump for about 10 months already. It’s so cheap but works really great. I bought it from Mi’Ann of Babymama. During the first few weeks post partum, I had difficulty latching Brent. Kaya I resorted to pumping. I was able to exclusively pump for less than two weeks then after that, Brent learned to latch na. That pump helped me produce a lot of milk during the days na di ako makapag-direct feeding. Now that I’m working, nagagamit ko siya 3-4x a day. It usually takes 3-4 months before having to change valves. Kaya I would say laking tipid ko sa pump na yun and di na-sacrifice ang quality. I’m able to pump 16-20 oz during my 9-hour work. I really recommend Lansinoh double electric pump to budget-conscious working moms like me. Very portable, lightweight, easy to assemble, nice color, fits all standard size bottle, inexpensive, and very good quality. 🙂 Bought it for 7k, with 3 pairs of white valves free. Complete spare part kit is 1500 if needed to be replaced. I use it 3 to 4x every workday. But during the first 2 weeks of breastfeeding, I used it every 2hrs round the clock.

On Manual Pump naman, which I heard is more effective but yung nga with effort talaga.

Manual Pump

From Iya: My very first pump was Pigeon manual. It was ok and effective naman but tried 2 more just to know which one is really effective (more milk being expressed) Price is 2K in Rustan’s. The second one Medela also a manual pump. My friend lent it to me but didn’t like it, it was painful and the membrane was so delicate. May milk din na su-stuck sa mga gilid gilid na mahirap matanggal. The last and what I’m currently using is Avent Manual On-the-Go. I bought online sa TipidBABY pROducts. Can’t remember the exact amount but it was around 3,500-3,800. It has a bag and 2 4oz bottle plus ice pack so you can express it when you’re outside or away from baby. Avent became my favorite. It doesnt hurt when expressing and dami milk lumalabas and mabilis ako natatapos mag express. So for me avent breast pump talaga.

Will add more as they come.

Hope this helped!

Sa-Ya Carrier

July 8, 2011 § 6 Comments

SaYa is one carrier that proved to be challenging for me. To some like Charmaine, Clarice & Elai, it was easy. I guess added to the fact that the size I got was wrong, I also didnt have the patience to learn it. I would succesfully to do it while being taught but I always how after some time. Last BWM2 Buding (creator of SaYa) taught me how and hers was simple so I got it. I was able to wear Laya last Tuesday then again today so I know I got it na. Do I like it? Am not yet closing the door on it but I still like the flexibility of the slingor maybe it is really hard to teach old dogs new tricks. What I like about SaYa is it is easy on the back as the weight of baby is distributed equally on both shoulders. With the sling it is always my left shoulder carrying the load, I tried doing it on the other side but it felt awkward. Will keep trying the SaYa pa. Thanks pala Nadine for lending me the Saya. Will return yours already. Am decided to buy my own already.

Anyway, I am quite ‘feeling’ so I will attempt to explain here how it is used, hopefully successful ako but if I am not, no worries Buding just made 4 videos to guide us. Also here‘s Elai explaining how it is done the HULA way. Diyan ako nag fail so yung mga tulad kong fail sa HULA try ninyo ang LEI.

Step 1 Just put the thing in your neck like a LEI

Step 2 Loosen/separate the two loops (it will feel natural) then it will look like a PRETZEL (spread the cloth na din in this part and find the seams para yun ang nasa middle to catch the butt of the baby)

Step 3 let it fall sa shoulder

Step 4 put arms in the loop na. tada! you have the X in front and X in the back now.

Step 5 ilagay na ang baby sa loob ~~sa pinaka loob so it’s you then baby then the X in front~~. (please see this video of Buding. on how to do this step)

NOTE: pls make sure that the knees are higher than the butt; flatten the cloth or fold the cloth para mas swabe ang feeling.

Keep adjusting until you feel comfortable. You will learn it by always using it,so keep practicing till you get the hang of it..

Let me know if success ang aking explanation, if not kareerin ko ito, nacha-challenge ako eh.

Where to buy SaYa?

At Mama.Baby.Love or at Indigo Baby

I got mine sa Babyland, am quite disappointed kasi the saleslady was just eager to sell and maski mali yung size sige ok daw yun. Hay ayun I didnt like SaYa tuloy for the longest time. Pls note unang suot of baby dapat fit na fit kayo not maluwag, luluwag yan as you wear baby eh.

Please please be successful!

Here’s a success story: Legally Mom:THE SEARCH IS OVER

Disclaimer: I bought my SaYa and will buy my next SaYa, I met the owner Buding just recently and this is not a paid blog not a requested blog. Gusto ko lang mag share kasi ang daming nagtatanong sa FB ko, and also ako ay product of failed SaYa noon so yun I wanna try it. Walang saysay BWM if di ako ma success. Also kaya ako nag di-disclaimer kasi excited na ako one day magsabi ohh this is a blog for an advertiser! charing! hahaha

Babywearing Dad

July 1, 2011 § 7 Comments

Am posting this to suck up to darling hubby. It is our Babywear Meet 2 and am planning to come home with a new sling or pouch 🙂

Here is a photoblog of hubby wearing Laya in different kinds of carriers.

Laya @ 5 weeks. The very first time Laya was worn. I super liked how Laya's shape is outlined. Hmph I wish I had such a shot!

If not for Didda insisting we use the sling in this trip to Cebu, we might not have used the sling till now. We saw how comfortable Laya was inside the sling, so comfortable that I was able to go swimming and spend time with Kite in the pool because Laya was sleeping soundly (though sweating like crazy) while in the sling.

*pabida muna: I was in the pool when I took this shot, I saw the outline and asked Didda to hand me the camera and took it from that low kaya ganda ng shot *ehem ehem*

Front carry using the SaYa, one of the few times the SaYa is used

SaYa as high chair hehehe *sweet ni Achi Kite noh*

Front facing using the maya wrap

Backpack carrier at Rox BHS

Ito daw type niya, kanonood ng NatGeo kala niya backpacker siya.

Kathmandu Backpack Carrier. Gift from Fairy GodSister

According to Mimi ito yung Hunghangaroo

another angle of the carrier

Good luck and excited to go to the Babywear Meet. May it be as successful as the first one and as fun too! Interested? Go na!

Gadgets ang gizmos aplenty…

June 27, 2011 § 9 Comments

I was thinking about this on and off for days (napapisip ako kasing bumili pero di ko alam magiging reaction ng asawa ko) and suddenly Tonet told me to blog this. Imagine my happiness and kilabot… feeling ko sign na bilhin ko na nga (mabasa sana ng asawa ko at umagree). Here goes…

do you know what this is?

Saw this at my friend’s house early this year. I found it cool and impractical kasi ang mahal (nasa P23,000 yan kasi large at Dyson ang tatak – weh ano ngayon kung Dyson ang tatak? apparently sikat yata yung Dyson.. oh well) at sa Singaporepa pa nila binili, but di ako interested curious lang so deadma lang. Mas interesado ako sa kanya as conversation piece kesa as fan, kaya nag mobile upload na lang ako see the discussion sa FB Thread on my wall re this. So I got na what I want, no reason to buy it anymore.

Fast forward to early this month. I saw a picture sa FB na may pre selling of something like this.

Uyy napatanong ako how much, wala lang not interested lang malaman how much (P3,000 daw pre selling nung June 2). Hmm it was not mura, but di na din sing mahal nung orig 15% na lang ang presyo eh. Different ang brand nito, di ako nag research about this kasi nga natuwa lang ako di naman akong interesado curious lang.

Fast forward again to a week ago. Si Laya girl naglalakad na since early this month, last month testing lang, but because di naman siya stable pa laging sinusundan ng nagbabantay, either si yayang bagong rebond na bagay sa kanya at P1200 or si didda, or ako or si achi Kite. BUT last week since stable na siya maglakad hinahayaan na namin siya pa lakad lakad sinusundan na lang ng tingin, now ko lang narealize nyeks delikado yung electric fan, diyos ko po, iniisip ko pa lang nagcri-cringe na ako. Hmm may sense yata yung Dyson na yan… hmm magkano nga ulit yung sabi nung seller dito sa Pinas (di ko maalala eh). Pero inisip ko lang naman di ko naman hinanap at di ko na din pinansin kasi tuwing nasa computer ako nawawala siya sa isip ko naaalala ko lang tuwing nagbabantay ako kay Laya sa sala.

Then FB ko kanina si Tonet, nabangit niya na naalala niya yung kakaibang klaseng fan, iblog ko daw. Aba tama gusto ko ngang hanapin ulit magkano, tama tama, gawin ko ngayon… sandali di ba sign siya na bilhin na nga (sign din kaya ito sa tingin ng asawa ko?) hmm… abangan natin ano magiging comment niya dito or better yet abangan ninyo kung ma update ko itong blog with a picture of OUR fan.

Yun lang, ginagamit ko lang yung blog na ito para magparinig sa asawa ko at pasayahin si Tonet *feeling hahaha* :)p

Kayo sang-ayon ba kayo na bumili kami ng fan para di maaksidente ang baby namin? Kesa sa ER ibayad eh di prevention na lang. *nanghihikayat ng buyo*

If di maapprove ng asawa I will need to dig the N@W archives re the electric fan cover… I tried finding it kanina di ko mahanap.. sign yata na di ko kailangan ng electric fan cover hahaha.

PS.

Nag PM ako sa seller kanina (para updated na info ang mabibigay ko) kung may stock, magkano etc, aba meron pa daw at may parating pang elliptical at P3600 at abangan na lang yung specs dito sa album at free shipping to Metro Manila pa din. Please direct inquiries to them ha, ayaw ko maging operator if ever. Dinagdag ko itong PS para makapag disclosure ako… I do not know the seller, haven’t met her, just met her thru FB and wala akong commission.

Laya’s Carseat Saga

June 23, 2011 § 10 Comments

Laya hated the carseat with passion. Unfortunately it is the law in Australia so we had no choice but to be subjected to her WAILING every time she is strapped to one while we were there.

She can go on crying, screaming for hours till she falls asleep, and then wakes up to continue her crying, screaming session. Kakaawa actually but no choice eh 😦

But smart hubby also thinks she wont cry if I am not there… surprise, surprise! She really didn’t! At least not a lot. (Don’t you hate it when hubby is always right?!)

with her favorite cousin Josh *so sweet noh?*

with her mate Gabe (Gabe lent us his carseat while we were there, thanks Gabe!)

Since we have this plan of going on a road trip to Melbourne to see the Great Ocean Road *dream dream* on our next visit, we figured we need to get Laya used to a carseat already.

Months before our Oz Trip we were actually scouting for carseats. I have seen my share, either they are too expensive or not to my liking so we never really found one I liked. Until Laya tried Charmaine’s Recaro carseat and was quite comfy in her 10 minute ride from Starbucks Fort to Serendra.

I wanted that one so I convinced hubby to check out the carseats. Recaro, being a popular brand when we were growing up, he liked it too. Price is also well within our budget, so I too am happy.

Here she is in her own carseat. She cried the first time and didn’t na afterwards, at least not because of the carseat now, when she does, which is rare, mostly because she is bored, sleepy or hungry.

First ride in her carseat

what? is that a smile?

Lakwatcha with Mimma alone

Sleeping while holding a flag

Sleeping holding spoons on both hands

Operation Carseat is now officially a SUCCESS. My baby is a first world baby now!

Discovery: We are happy with our Recaro Carseat, got it for P12,000, cushion is all over and is very soft. I tried those in the mall usually those that are this soft goes at more than P18,000-P35,000. Recaro is sold at Excellar Enterprises located at 73 N. Roxas corner Banawe Streets, Quezon City (across Serenitea). Phone numbers: 712-5373 to 74, 712-5379 to 80, 731-1224 to 25.

*disclosure (haha feeling blogger) we bought our carseat, and we do not have anything to do with the owners.

OUTTAKES

Sama ko na mga iba’t-ibang ‘carseats’ shots niya.

Nagpupumilit na carseat for Vespa

Shopping at Aldi's OZ

At OfficeWorks OZ

At Changi Airport

Babywearing

June 14, 2011 § 8 Comments

Reposting this from my Notes in Facebook. It is because of this post that I realized I want to blog and share what I learned/discovered.

When I first encountered babywearing, my first born Kite was already too old for it. I really wanted to babywear, I see the wisdom in it, you get to be so close to your baby yet your hands can be free. Lucky for me the distributors and makers of the baby slings are N@Wies (Abbie & Rissa for Maya Wrap & JenCCTan for Next9). When I got preggy I knew I will attempt babywearing and wish it is as simple as I thought it would be. And it kinda was. It was scary at first but since am in touch nga with the baby carrier gods, it was easy for me to ask for help. Ok success for me meant I was able to use the one of the slings I bought. But I also read and saw reviews of moms loving other kinds of sling, so I know there’s more out there to conquer. I also knew it will be a lifesaver during travels, so prior to our trip last April I gathered enough friends and organized a Babywearing Meet, from a small group it became quite a medium sized group 🙂 We had so much fun learning different kinds of babywearing. The sling was the single most used item in our baggage during our trip.

It was so useful that I am now going to actively talk about it and share my discovery. I know that there are a lot of baby carrier owners who ‘use their carrier. I understand why coz I was kinda scared too at first. I also know some moms just need to be taught, motivated, cajoled as was the case during the 1st babywear meet. That’s why I wrote this entry.

Added Note:

We would like to invite you to join us for the 2nd Babywear Meet on July 2 at Starbucks Fort Bonifacio (the one with the drive thru) 10am-12nn. Walang sponsor so kanya kanyang bili ng kape 🙂

Bring whatever sling, carrier you have, or if you wish to try a certain kind out send Abbie Yabut (Maya Wrap), Jen Tan (Next9) and/or Jenny Ong (sells several diff brands of Slings) a message and ask if they can bring, if you wish to buy PM them din to ask them to bring stocks. This is purely a babywear meet, you need not buy nor use their products, they are just going to guide us and share their knowledge. Other users both experts and newbies will be there too to share thoughts and experience.

What the heck if you do not wish to babywear but wanna talk mommy talk go na din!

Breastfeed, baby care or pregnancy concerns pwede din isama. Remember mommies and daddies ang mga andoon, so we probably have pregger to parents of newborn to teens in the crowd for you to share with.

Where Am I?