Raincoat for weaning babies - UPDATED

Product name: Lapp på Lapp 416 Förklapp Laban gul (http://shop.textalk.se/se/shop.php?id=12282)

 

What is it?A bib with arms, made from a raincoat-like material and with a handy ‘pocket’ at the bottom, which protects baby’s clothes when eating solid foods

Why did it catch my attention?This was a Christmas present for my son from his grandmother – very well timed as we started weaning him only a few days before Christmas and quickly discovered the new challenge of avoiding to get vegetable puree all over him when eating

How old was my baby when I bought it?He was 5,5 months when he got it, but it is helpful from the day you start weaning your little one

What value does it add for us?It keeps the colourful, orange, carrot-based vegetable puree that has become his favorite dish at lunchtime from splashing all over his clothes

What does it replace?Other bibs, using a raincoat when weaning or unnecessarily frequent washing

How did my baby respond to it?He lets me put it on without protesting and seems to like the funny ‘Spöket Laban’ pattern

How much does it cost?SEK 140 at the Lapp på Lapp webshop

Can I see any drawbacks?At the very early stage of weaning where my son is for the moment, it would have been even better if his fingers were covered by built-in gloves as well since he tends to get it all over his fingers and then use them to spread the food all around his face, nose, eyes etc.

** SINCE THIS POST WAS WRITTEN I HAVE FOUND AN EVEN BETTER PRODUCT: SILLYBILLYZ LA-LÄTSCHEN**

The main advantage with Silly Billyz is that the back is closed with a popper instead of tying two laces together as on the Spöket Laban one. Otherwise a fairly similar product and still no gloves!

A tandem tooth brush to teach babies how to brush their teeth

Product name: MAM Learn To Brush Set (Mam Learn to Brush Set, 6 Months, Colors May Vary)

What is it?Two baby tooth brushes – one with an extra long handle that parent and baby can hold simultaneously so that the baby can be guided in how to use the brush correctly and one ‘normal’ brush for the baby to use alone once he/she has gotten his/her head around what to do

Why did it catch my attention?The day I found the first tooth in the bottom gum of my son’s mouth I realised that I did not have anything in the house that could be used to clean it! I found this brush at our local Boots store and liked the idea of learning together before he gets old enough to be able to brush his teeth himself

How old was my baby when I bought it?He was 6 months old, but the relevance of this product is linked to (a) the arrival of baby’s first tooth and (b) timing for weaning. The Scandinavian sources I have read recommend to start cleaning your baby’s teeth from the moment the first one appears

What value does it add for us?I was able to brush my baby’s teeth while making him feel included. The pedagogic effect is yet to be proved over time…

What does it replace?Other tooth brushes, alternatively using a cotton stick to clean your baby’s teeth

How did my baby respond to it?In the same way as he does with weaning spoons – he grabbed it and wanted to play with it!

How much does it cost?Around £2-2,50 at my local Boots in West London

Can I see any drawbacks?With a baby grabbing the toothbrush to ‘help’, the process is not especially smooth – but at least with my baby this would be an issue regardless of toothbrush!

How to sterilise a whole load of stuff in 6 minutes only

Product name: Philips Avent 24-Hour Steam Steriliser (Philips AVENT iQ24 Steam Sterilizer)

What is it?A digital steriliser for bottles, dummies, teething rings and other things that are in contact with your baby’s food or designed for him/her to put in the mouth, and that you want to make sure do not have any harmful bacteria on them. It is only a little bit bigger than an average electric water boiler and just as easy to operate

Why did it catch my attention?This was something that my husband found before our little one was born and it turned out to be one of our most important investments we made

How old was my baby when I bought it?We bought it before he was born and started using it the first night after we came home from the hospital

What value does it add for us?With a minimum of hassle (not any more complicated to operate than an electric water boiler) it keeps bottles, dummies and teething rings safe for our son to use. Because of its size it can typically steam 4 bottles (including all its parts) and 10-15 dummies in one go. By starting the steriliser before we leave it helps us make sure that his babysitters use clean bottles when they feed him

What does it replace?Boiling items in a pot on the stove as our little one’s grandparents do, which is more time-consuming, or giving your baby food from an unclean bottle and make him/her sick – a classical cause of infant deaths among uninformed populations in developing countries

How did my baby respond to it?He does not know that it exists, but his parents and babysitters use it all the time – although the frequency has decreased since the early days when we sterilised his dummies as soon as they fell on the floor

How much does it cost?£45 at Boots

Can I see any drawbacks?It does take up space in our tiny kitchen and it is not the most practical item to bring along when travelling, even if we did when we went on holiday to Spain in Octobre

Nappy Wrapper Maxi Tub

Product name: Sangenic ® Nappy Wrapper Maxi Tub (www.tommeetippee.co.uk)

What is it?A nappy bin with a clever construction that prevents bad smell from, and kills germs inside the bin

Why did it catch my attention?I saw it at a friend’s (who has twins and therefore consumes a large amount of nappies) house prior to my son’s birth and liked it

How old was my baby when I bought it?Newborn

What value does it add for us?Compared with other similar products on the market, like for example AngelCare I find it easier to use because of (a) the wrapping system that makes it easy to squeeze used nappies down into the bin with one hand (important when you need to be able to use it with the baby on the other shoulder) and (b) the fact that it is relatively high, ~80-90 cm. The additional value of the size is of course that it can hold more nappies, which saves trips to the rubbish room

What does it replace?Other similar systems or simply using the normal bin for nappies as well

How did my baby respond to it?Except than another big, white item to stare at he is not especially aware of its existence! ;-)

How much does it cost?£45 at TommeeTippee UK

Can I see any drawbacks?The business model is a traditional lock-in one, on the same model as for example the printer industry has used for ages, where the producer’s margins are on the cassettes – and there is of course only one type that fits this product!

Clever 'flex & slide' dummy holder

Product name: Tommee Tippee Winnie the Pooh Printed Soother Holders (www.tommeetippee.com)

What is it?A dummy holder with a very clever flex and slide connector and Velcro that makes it easy to attach the dummy to a baby carrier, a pram or baby’s or the mother’s clothes. I also use it to attach other things, like toys in the pram and on the ‘over-head-structure’ above his playmat

Why did it catch my attention?For the reason that dummies keep disappearing and dropping on dodgy floors

How old was my baby when I bought it?It was bought before he was born but is suitable from the moment you have the need to attach a dummy or other things somewhere

What value does it add for us?
It provides a smooth way of attaching all kinds of things in places you need them

What does it replace?There are a lot of different patents for dummy holders on the market, but I find this to be the smartest one. It also replaces using strings or cords to attach toys and other things in places where you need them to be

How did my baby respond to it?The only part of it he cares about are the pictures of Winnie the Pooh and Eeyore which keeps him entertained for example when we are out walking with him in the baby carrier

How much does it cost?£5 for two at Amazon UK

Can I see any drawbacks?
According to Tommee Tippee’s homepage it seems to have gone out of their product range to be replaced by something more techy but less pretty. When using the dummy holder it is important to make sure to attach it in a way so that the baby can’t accidentally strangle himself with the cord