Sleep – like almost every parent, this is something that we lack, and also have a hard time getting our children to do.  My daughter is such a light sleeper, she wakes up at the tiniest noises, and it is nearly impossible to get her back to sleep.  The key is to make sure she doesn’t get up!  We used to have a CD on repeat at night so there would be a bit of noise in her bedroom, however as soon as the CD was finished, she would wake up, and also the radio comes on in between the CD starting up again.  The noise would startle her and she would be up for a while.  Once we figured out that was the problem (a month or so later) we just put the radio on, however that didn’t work out the best either because some songs seem to be louder than others, and when the radio DJ’s would come on in the morning, she would wake up to their voices.  Plus you just never know what she  might be listening to in the middle of the night.  Thankfully, there is an amazing product that I can put in her room, and leave playing all night, it’s available at Sound Machines Direct called the Sound Oasis Sound Conditioner (Model S-550-04).

The  Sound Conditioner  has been a life sleep saver for us.  The Sound Machine has a number of different sounds that can be played for 30 minutes to an unlimited amount of time.  The sounds include Summer nights, Ocean Surf, Stream, Rain, Wind and White noise.  All of the sounds are so realistic.  The first day that I received the Sound Machine I put it on Summer nights, which has crickets chirping.  When my husband arrived from work he said, “Wow, listen to those crickets, they are going crazy out there”.  He thought that the sound machine was real crickets!  We all had a good laugh.

Now onto the really good part, we put the White Noise on all night for Genevieve, and she sleeps all through the night, and about an 1 hour to 1 and 1/2 for nap time – even through our neighbours dog barking.  The white noise can be pretty loud and she will fall asleep with it on very quickly and not be able to hear anything else going on around the house, and stay asleep.  Before we had the Sound Oasis SoundConditioner, we had to be so careful because she would wake up at every single little noise.  It has been so nice to no longer have to walk on egg shells around the house  - especially with company over.

The sounds on the Sound Oasis Sound Conditioner are all wonderful.  I love the sound of rain, and the ocean, and will frequently just put the machine on in the living room and listen to the relaxing sounds.  I live on the East Coast and love the sound of the ocean. We actually want to move closer to a body of water, but in the meantime, we can just listen to the sound machine, and have the same feeling, without the price tag.  The sound machine comes with its own batteries (bonus) and you can purchase extra sound cards which will change the sounds of the machine.

Giveaway: Sound Machines Direct would like to offer a lucky My Moms View reader a Sound OasisSound Conditioner (model S-550-04)

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Giveaway closes September 14th @ 11:59 pm PST. Open to US and Canada

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It’s hard to know how warm or cool to keep a bedroom while your child sleeps.  When Genevieve first came home from the hospital, I tried to swaddle and wrap her up, and put the heat on as warm as I thought was reasonable.  Some mornings she would wake up with icicle hands and feet, while others they were clammy.  It was really hard to know where the temperature really was, and what was acceptable for a baby.

Thankfully, there is a gadget that could have saved me all the stress of keeping Genevieve warm or cool enough to sleep. Grobag makes a neat little egg that not only digitally displays the temperature, but also uses visual cues as well.  The Grobag egg has made nap and night time so much easier for all of us.  The Grobag changes 4 different colours.  Blue means too hot, yellow is the optimal level, orange is a little bit warm, and red is way too hot.  It is so easy to take a peek in her room and just look at the Grobag egg colour to make sure that the room is at the right temperature.  According to the Grobag instructions, the baby’s room should be at 61 – 67 degrees Fahrenheit (16 – 19 Celsius for my Canadian Readers).  I find the lower levels a little bit too cool for Genevieve as she will wake up with cold hands, but at 67 she is fine when she wakes up in the morning.  The Grobag egg usually fluctuates from 67 – 71 degrees Fahrenheit during the evenings.  I know that these are reasonable temperatures for her to sleep in.  The only thing that the Grobag egg is missing is the ability to change the temperature to Celcius.

Grobag also makes baby sleeping bags and swaddling blankets for babies and toddlers.  These are also a very easy way to make sure your children stay nice and warm during those cool evenings.  Blankets are not suggested for babies when they sleep so a baby sleeping bag is way safer than a blanket.

Buy it: To purchase visit Grobag online

Win it: Grobag would like to offer a lucky My Wee View reader a Grobag egg color changing room thermometer

To Enter: Visit Grobag online, and make a comment back here about something you learned on their site

I do like to know that I am taking care of the environment and using products that are safe for myself and my family.  I cloth diaper, carpool, bring reusable bags to the grocery store and try to use natural products as much as possible.  I don’t have a vegetable garden or anything, but I try my best to make this world a better place for my daughter, and I also want to make sure the items she uses are good for her.  One place that my daughter spends a lot of time in is her crib.  An organic mattress is something that I feel is very important for Genevieve to be sleeping on.

Naturepedic makes organic crib mattresses that can also be used later as a toddler bed.  I received the No-compromise Dual Firmness Ultra Crib and Toddler Mattress for review.  This Naturepedic mattress has an impressive list of bonus’ as well which I will discuss after all the organic aspects.  Most crib mattresses are made from vinyl/PVC and polyurethane foam which are known to release chemicals with use and time.  The Naturepedic is made from an organic cotton so all the harmful PVC and vinyl parts are eliminated in the production of the mattress.  The filling of the mattress is also organic cotton.  To be considered organic cotton it must be unbleached, undyed, and grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers.  The outside of the mattress is  made with a 100% polyethylene waterproof covering. Polyethylene is a plastic, however is environmentally friendly and is used used in the food packaging industry because of its purity and non-toxic properties.   The Naturepedic mattress is also hypoallergenic, there is a Dust Mite Barrier Cover, and because the mattress is not made with any wool or latex there is no need to worry that your child may be allergic to their mattress – these are both very high allergy materials.

On top of being a 100% organic product the Naturepedic also has some other great aspects.  The mattress has two sides, both with a different firmness.  The firmer side is meant for babies, while the softer side is for toddlers.  As your child grows up, you just have to turn over your mattress.  The mattress also has a very firm support and orthopedic innerspring.  The support system is in accordance with the pediatrician and Consumer Product Safety Commission firmness recommendations. The  mattress has a  total of 252 Coils, and there is also additional AirCore ™ support for the infant side. The Naturepedic mattress is also meets and exceeds fire protection regulations.  Also because the mattress is made from cotton, it is slower to catch fire and does not release harmful and potentially deadly fumes.  The Naturepedic mattress also comes with a lifetime warranty, and a 30 day money back guarantee.  Phew, I think I got most of it, but there are still some more features on the website that are unique to this great Naturepedic mattress.

I wish I were able to test out the Naturepedic mattress myself so I could tell you all the difference it has made in my sleeping, however it is Genevieve who sleeps on it every night.  I can tell you that it fits perfectly into her crib, and I am very happy that I can use this for a toddler bed in the future as well.  I like that there are two different sides for when Genevieve is a little older and needs a softer mattress.  The mattress almost sounds like it would look like it’s organic too, just not like a “normal” mattress.  I can tell you all, this looks and feels like a normal crib mattress it just has all the wonderful aspects of being organic. Genevieve sleeps like a baby in it (sleeps for 5 minutes then wakes up crying – just joking).  She will sleep all night with usually only 1 wake up for a quick drink.

I feel great about knowing that Genevieve is sleeping on an environmentally friendly product.  She spends over 1/2 her day there, so I like knowing that she is not surrounded by harmful chemicals or toxins.  Naturepedic has organic mattresses in twin, full and queen sizes, and also has organic bedding which includes mattress pads and sheets.  They also carry other organic baby products such as changing pads bassinets and cradles.

Buy it: To purchase an organic mattress or other products from Naturepedic visit them online

Win it: Naturepedic would like to offer a lucky My Wee View reader a No-compromise Dual Firmness Ultra Crib and Toddler Mattress like the one I received – a $359 value

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Contest closes July 6th at 11:59 pm PST.

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For those of you with small babies, I’m sure you all know that it has been suggested by professionals to no longer put any blankets in children’s beds as they can get tangled in them, and because small babies are unable to move things away from their faces.  I live in Nova Scotia, Canada, and it can get chilly here in the winter time, and there are even some cooler evenings in the summer time.  It’s very hard to know what temperature to put the bedroom at and what type of sleeper is good for the seasons so your baby can stay warm. One really easy solution for all these variables is a night sac.

Bundles for Babes specializes in stylish night sacs for babies and toddlers, they come in sizes newborn to 36 months.  They have both winter and summer night sacs which are perfect for each season, the winter night sacs are made with fleece and flannel and the summer ones are a light cotton. Bundles for Babes was created by friends Michelle and Tracie who are from Ontario, Canada.  Each Bundles for Babes night sac is sewed by hand by either Michelle or Tracie, isn’t it wonderful to know who is making your items for you?

I received a sleeveless summer night sac from Bundles for Babes, which means one thing,,, summer is finally on it’s way (it’s been a long winter hasn’t it?).  I received the cutest L’il Diva night sac with a cute dolly pattern on the outside and a nice brown pattern on the inside.  The night sac is double lined and is made out of cotton so it is nice and light for the up coming months.  

I put this on Genevieve at night and during the day when she takes naps.  The best thing about the Bundles for Babes night sac is that it lets babies know when the night sac goes on, it’s time for bed. This has been a really nice things to add to our nightly routine so Genevieve knows is time for bed.  The sizing of the night sac is right on.  Genevieve is 27 inches and 9 months old, and the sac we received was the 6 – 12 months, she fits in it just perfect and has a bit of growing room as well.  The night sac has a very long zipper in the front so it is very easy to place her into the sac.  I have washed this night sac a number of times, and it has come out clean and looking just as nice as when I first received it.  The Bundles for Babes night sac did not shrink, and is in perfect condition.

Bundles for Babes makes cute night sacs for boys and girls, with sleeves or without and for summer and winter.  So their is plenty of options when ordering from Bundles for Babes.  The great part is, their sacs start at only $35 Canadian.  To my American readers :  Remember the dollar right now is pretty low, so for all of you this night sac would be a steal.

Bundles for Babes also makes sippy clips, these little bungie cords clip onto anything and you will be sure to never lose another sippy cup, bottle or toy on the floor again.  I am pretty paranoid about germs, so it’s nice to have something quick and easy to clip onto my daughter carrier, car seat, stroller, high chair or jumper that will keep her toys and drinks off the floor.  These are only $7.50 each (remember that’s Canadian)  A super great price for a product that keeps your child safe from germs.

Genevieve, Dad and I have been very pleased with our Bundles for Babes night sac.  We know that she is warm at night, and is comfortable in her little cocoon.

Buy it: To purchase a night sac from Bundles for Babes visit them online, they are also offering a free matching sippy clip with the purchase of a night sac. 

Win it: Bundles for Babes would like to offer a lucky My Wee View reader a night sac of their own

To Enter: Visit Bundles for Babes online and make a comment here about what your favourite night sac is

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Contest closes June 8th at 11:59 pm PST.

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Cloud B is helping children sleep better at night.  Anything to help kids sleep better at night is something that parents can really appreciate! They have cozy looking blankets, sleep bags, and some really neat nigh nightlights, and some sound soothers as well.  Cloud B sent me a Twilight Turtle. It arrived in the mail just 4 days after it was sent, straight at my door.  I was so surprised to received my package so quickly.

The Twilight Turtle is kind of like a nightlight, but instead of brightening up the room with one light, it creates a whole sky full of stars and one moon (just like the real sky).  The Twilight Turtle not only brightens up the room for children, it is also comes with an educational booklet on endangered species.  This was actually my favourite part of the package.  I have read the book to Genevieve a number of times as I think it is important for her to learn that what we do to the earth effects the animals habitat as well.  At the end of the booklet, there is a certificate of adoption!  I thought this was a very cute touch.

The Twilight Turtle can make 3 different starry sky colours , blue, green, and aquamarine. To my eyes, the blue looks more like a purple.  To get the aquamarine, you have to put both the blue and green on at once, so it creates 2 layers of stars, and makes the room even brighter.  This is a great idea for children that would be extra scared at night.

For the Twilight Turtle’s full effect I had to have the room very dark.  So, this is very good for children that are afraid of the dark, because the room has to be dark for it to work.  The further away from the ceiling you put the Twilight Turtle the bigger the stars will be. I found to get the best effect the Turtle had to be fairly close to the ceiling, on something higher than a dresser.  Also for the full effect I needed to place the Twilight Turtle in the middle of the room.  If it was placed near the wall, the stars would end up on the wall and only a little bit on the ceiling.

My daughter is still a little bit too young to really get the idea of the Twilight Turtle, but it did keep her attention while she was trying to sleep in her crib.  It gave her something to look at.  The Twilight Turtle has some Astronomy for  your child to look for as well, which I think is an excellent idea. Hopefully while looking for the little pictures, like the big dipper, they will fall asleep.  The turtle will turn off by itself 45 minutes after it’s turned on, and hopefully by then, your child is asleep.

Sleeping can be a challenge for children at any age, the Twilight Turtle will hopefully make sleeptime a little more fun, and not as scary in the dark.  There is also a Dozy Dolphin that can accommodate the Twilight Turtle.  The dolphin plays soothing ocean sounds – ocean sounds are suppose to be excellent at putting babies to sleep because it sounds like the womb.

Buy it: To purchase these and other sleep aids visit Cloud B online

Discount Code:  “MMV409″ for 15% off  - expires June 8th