Cool Kicks

Winter has arrived and now it is time for layers and warm toes! I just love these great finds from Ackermans. Their pricing and quality will match any budget... especially when these little bubs grow so quickly. One season for a pair of shoes and they will be packed away into the "it-doesn't-fit-anymore" box! As gorgeous as a mini pair of name-brand kicks are, it's definitely going to melt a credit card compared to the value for money offerings at Ackermans.

These red sneakers with velcro were only R79.99. They are sure to make any outfit look stylish. My little guy insisted on holding onto these in his car seat all the way home so I think they are a sure winner!

 

Theses navy boots were only R99.95 and are easy to put on thanks to the little side zips. They are  lined with a sweet tartan fabric and should keep little toes toasty on a cold day.

 

 

Sensory Bags

Sensory bags help stimulate your child’s touch, imagination, and creativity. Not only are they great fun, but they are quick and easy to make! For this sensory bag, we added hair gel, glitter, foam letters, and foil star confetti...

Simply mix a few drops of food colouring into the gel (remember a little goes a long way). Pour the mix into the Ziploc bag and add your glitter, buttons etc. Be sure to seal it well, and enjoy! We used glitter glue as it is much neater and easier to work with than regular glitter.

Your child will have a blast squishing the bag and finding all the goodies inside. Sensory bags can be made with many different textures if you don’t have any hair gel on hand…try shaving cream or paint! They can provide hours of fun to children of all ages.

For other fun ideas you could make a list of items your toddler needs to find in the bag, use googly eyes or even add cooked spaghetti! You can tape it to a glass window or let your toddler handle it directly. I taped it to a window which let him stand and use both hands to squish and explore. Sunlight shining through the gel works wonderfully.

Have fun!

TIP: To remove the Ziploc print from the bag all you need is to lightly rub with a little nail polish remover and a sponge and the white print will come right off!

Monster Slippers

His little toes will be snug this winter in these cute little Monster Slippers! I will admit it is not a store I regularly visit, but a friend of mine had the cutest cupcake slippers for her daughter that she got from PEP...

For only R49.99 they were an absolute bargain and my little bubs just loves them. PEP Stores have a great selection of slippers for girls and boys and at this price you can’t go wrong... 

They also have adorable winter pj's for girls and boys. I bought two pairs that are just perfect for a chilly night - especially when my little guy has a habit of always kicking off his blankets.

Little ones grow so quickly and, knowing that they will only wear an item for a single season, makes the pricing at PEP Stores all the more reasonable.

 

Puré in a pouch

As schedules become more chaotic, it can be challenging to find the time to prepare meals from scratch for your little one. So many snacks for children are overloaded with added salts, sugars and preservatives. The Puré Squish range is offers a healthy and easy alternative! It has no preservatives, colourants or flavourants. Squish & Go is a 100% fruit snack in a pouch. Squish Baby is a 100% fruit and veggie puree in a pouch for babies 6 months and up. Squish Breakfast is a delicious breakfast on-the-go in a pouch. So that should cover the whole family!

The range is packaged in 125g pouches that have a 15 month shelf life, with a BPA-free spout that is re-sealable. My little man enjoys them so much that we never have to make use of this lid though!

I love the size too. I always carry one in my mommy bag as a back up and believe me, it has saved me in a queue more than once! I think my little guy enjoys the independence of feeding himself and only passes it to me so that I can help him squeeze out every last drop!

They offer an incredible range of products . Firm favourites are the Apple & Guava, Banana, Prune & Apple, and Beetroot, Apple & Pear.

 

They are available at most supermarkets like Pick n Pay and Spar, as well as Clicks and Baby City.

Whats' your little ones favourite flavour?


 

Baby Don't Cry

Most babies don’t need a special baby shampoo. Generally, you can get away with using a shampoo and body wash combination product. Once they become toddlers, though, it can be a whole different story, especially if they’ve got a lot of hair.

I found the baby shampoo I had been using for my little guy was leaving his hair looking greasy. I was hesitant to use a shampoo that I would use as he is still little and if it got into his eyes...well...there would be tears!

The Paul Mitchell Baby Don't Cry Shampoo is specially formulated for children of all ages. Its special formula is designed with a baby's skin and scalp in mind.  (As an added bonus it's also extremely effective for adults with baby-fine hair.) It has a gentle, fresh fragrance that I love. It's wonderful for everyday use and also makes a fun bubble bath!

It's not tested on animals, is paraben free, gluten free and vegan. Sound like a win? I bought mine online from Retail Box but it is also available from select salons, and retails for R250 for 300ml bottle.

Shop 15% Off Schnooky Pie

Our lucky Monday Mommy readers can use the coupon code "Monday Mommy" on checkout to receive 15% off any of the Schnooky Pie Summer 2016 babygrows from their range.  Schnooky Pie are proudly handmade and sourced in South Africa and have a gorgeous range of baby clothing and custom birthday outfits. Now you can support local and have your bubs looking cute as a button!

Schnooky Pie also offers FREE delivery in SA on all orders placed over R600.

Hurry - this offer is only valid until 31 March 2016 and only while stock lasts!

Shop now!

Schnooky Pie - Glow in the Dark

We recently received a gorgeous onesie from local baby clothing boutique, Schnooky Pie, for review. Now this is not just any onesie…

...it's a glow in the dark onesie!

Schnooky Pie is a Durban based, proudly South African company. Jaclyn Holmes is the heart behind the business, which she started in 2014 after she welcomed her own little Shnookypie, Mia, into the world.

Her prints and onesie designs are truly unique. The fronts all have fun, locally inspired designs with a charming patterned back. Ours boasts the glow in the dark Springbok design, and is such a delightful surprise when you turn out the lights! Cuteness overload!

Their originality goes further in that they all have poppers down the back instead of the front. This feature allows for a large print design on the front and easy on/off for your bubs. My little man hates anything tight going over his head so by loosening a few poppers at the back I can just slip it over, no fuss…now that is a priceless feature! Alternatively, for the real littlies, you can undo all the poppers, slip it over your bubs arms, roll them over and do them up.

The quality is great and the poppers and sleeves are nicely padded for comfort. I did find the size a little small but they do have a sizing chart to help you find just the right fit.

Their online store stocks a superb selection of onesies as well as birthday outfits and newborn props. They also offer gift cards which would be a great gift choice for any mama-to-be.

Shop the full range online at:  www.schnookypie.co.za
Follow them on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date. 

Tub-time fun!

Tub-time in our house is fun time! It means lots of toys, lots of splashes, but best of all, lots of giggles. These are some of our favourite bath time essentials...

1. Oball Store and Explore - Tubby Scoop Friends
   This fun bath set will provide hours of fun. The cute whale stores the starfish, turtle and octopus toys. The whale has holes in its base and your bubs will have great fun filling and refilling to watch the shower. I bought ours from Baby City.
   
2. Playgro Duckie
   This traditional little bath toy is still a major hit with my little man. It is great for him to hold and squeeze...and chew on, of course! I bought ours at Clicks.
   
3. Kneepal
   Do your knees a favour! The Kneepal has been ergonomically designed to support your back and comfort your knees. It is also great for gardening or DIY and would make a great gift. We got ours from a local store called Bump & Beyond.
   
4. ClevaMama Bath Mat
   This extra long mat has suction cups to hold it firmly in place. It is nicely cushioned and adds a little bit of security if you have a wriggler like mine! It also comes with a knee cushion which is always handy. I bought ours from Baby City.
   
5. Munchkin Sea Squirts
   This pack of 5 bright and colourful characters definitely make bathtime fun. They are easy for your little one to grasp and are available online at Baby Group.

What are your little ones favourite bathtime toys?

Autumn at Ackermans

Sorting through my son's wardrobe made me realise just how many of his clothes are "expiring" soon! This little guy is growing so beautifully and I guess a part of me was in denial that he is now more of a little boy than a baby. All those clothes that seemed "so big" are being worn now and we are ready to get into the 12 -18 month category.

On the plus side, it gave us an excuse to do a little shopping...and we always have fun! We were quite lucky at the Woolworths sale with some PJ's, shoes and tees, and also at Ackermans. Their Autumn and Winter outfits for boys are really great and come at a decent price tag without scrimping on the quality. The items above ranged from R49.99 to R129.99. My little guy even picked the jersey himself (ie: he grabbed it over the side of the trolley and wasn't letting go!)

It feels a bit crazy buying warm wear on a 37º day, but around here the weather can be unpredictable and the cold weather may be just around the corner. At least my little man will be snug and stylish when the cold does arrive.

Grubs up!

Moving onto solids starts a whole new chapter for both mum and bubs. There are some great gadgets available to make the transition fun and easy. This list showcases some of my favourites, especially if you choose to make your own food...

1. Mini Chopper CH550 - Kenwood
   This mini chopper makes pureeing an absolute breeze. I cook/steam my bus fruit or veg, pop it in here and within minutes have a smooth puree ready to go. A choice of two chopping speeds and simple, push-down operation make it very easy to use and the double blades chop quickly, with great results every time. An added bonus is that it is very quick and easy to wash too. Available from Checkers
   
   
2. Freezer Tray - Clicks
   This weaning freezer tray has 8 individual cube pots which are the ideal portion size for purees or first foods when weaning your baby. Easy to store and convenient to use, the cubes can be stored individually in the freezer or together in the tray. Every day after breakfast we choose our next breakfast, lunch and supper and pop them in the fridge ready for meals the following day. Suitable for dishwasher use (top rack only). Available from Clicks
   
   
3. White Hot Spoons - Munchkin
   Munchkin’s innovative White Hot Safety Spoons can help make those first feedings a breeze. Simply dip the tips of the spoons in heated pureed baby food to check if it’s too warm. If the tip turns white, the food is too hot. Wait for it to cool, dip again, and if the tip is no longer white – voila! You can feed your little one without worrying about a thing. Suitable for dishwasher use (top rack only).
   Available from Spar and Baby City
    
4. Sippy Cup - Brother Max
   The easy-hold first cup has four ways to use it.  In the first stage mode, with wrap-around handles and easy-flow drinking spout, your little one can pick up however feels natural and sip with ease.  The close-&-go sipper spout is perfect for drinks on-the-go. Once older and more confident, the handles and lid can be removed and the cup becomes a beaker.  Also available in Pink/Green. Available from Clicks
   
   
5. Weaning Bowl Set - Brother MaxI just love these bowls from Brother Max. The range is bright, fun and colourful but, most importantly, very practical! If your little bubs is anything like mine he is always on the move. He always has his own spoon and makes a quick grab for the bowl every now and then. The nifty handle has definitely rescued some potentially messy lunch escapades! The bowls are BPA free, dishwasher and microwave-safe and are available in blue/green or pink/orange. Available from Clicks
   
   
6. Fresh Food Feeder - Munchkin
   As a first time mom some things can be scary. This little gizmo helps you feed your baby, without worrying about choking. Just pop a piece of fruit or vegetable into the mesh bag, close it and let your baby chew, suck and benefit from all the whole food goodness and taste. The mesh allows only the tiniest, easy-to-digest particles to come through. Fair warning...it can get messy...but that is half the fun! The handle is easy for baby to grip and gives them the experience of feeding themselves. Available in blue/green or pink/orange. Available from Spar and Baby City