Best Baby Toys for around 12 months

          So now that Damon is almost a year, toys have become VERY VERY integral to keeping him happy. Since people seem to like the lists that I generally do with some types of baby items, I decided to compile another one. Believe me, most of these WILL NOT break the bank. I have found the more expensive the toys I buy, the less interested my son seems in them.  Hope this is helpful!!!

5. Baby Laptops: Okay.......so I know this sounds absolutely ridiculous, but my son prefers to think of himself as a little adult instead of a baby. He wants to eat what Mommy and Daddy eat. He wants to drink what Mommy and Daddy drink (which can be problematic when he makes a play for the wine). Most of all, he wants to do everything Mommy and Daddy do. Since Daddy is in management and Mommy is a teacher, that means both of us spend a fair amount of time on the computer (as I am sure many of you do).  He wanted to type on ours which simply resulted in closed out webpages and missing keys. I definitely recommend getting one of these. Damon was a little more finicky, and we had to find one that looks like a real laptop.






4. Activity Table: This has been wonderful so far! Damon can even sit next to it and play with it when he feels a little lazier. There is so much to do! Also, the one I got (the first one listed) flips over and becomes a coloring table when your child is a little older.
 






3. Walk and Ride: These things are also great. Babies can ride on these and push themselves along with their feet. When they are more comfortable walking or cruising, you can stand it up for them to push. Damon loves this. There are a ton of little gadgets on it for him to play with as well. From a mom's perspective, it is VERY EASY to change from the riding or walking position (a little switch on the bottom). So far, he has not been able to switch it by himself which is nice for safety reasons. It also is not too pricey which is nice as well.




2. Okay......so I know this is really simple, but I have found that one of my sons favorite toys as a crawler that provides hours of entertainment is a simple BALL. While he is crawling, he will push it around the floor and chase it all over the house. He can do this all day and not tire of it (with the exception of when he's hungry or needs a nap). I have found certain ones more appealing texturally, but overall, he loves them all! The first one I listed is very similar to his favorite, just a little smaller than his.










1. Mega Bloks: These things are AMAZING. They are essentially giant legos. It is only $13-$20 for a ton of them. Damon plays with these all the time. He crawls around with them, bangs them together, and will eventually try to build something with them. Some of our good friends got these for their daughter as well. She is now 2 and still plays with them constantly. This is a great investment in a toy because it is hardly an investment at all. To top it off, they make more and more toys that go with it including trucks, boats, etc. for when your child gets a little older. A MUST HAVE.

Can't Sleep While Pregnant???

When I was pregnant, I had the hardest time sleeping as early as the 2nd trimester. I always thought it seemed rather cruel that once your child is born you do not get any sleep; so, why can't you get any while you' re pregnant?? Well I found the solution!!!

This pregnancy pillow relieved all back pain. It was very comfortable. It was nice and soft. It also kept its shape all pregnancy and beyond It stayed cool and helped me sleep much sounder!! My husband even tried to use it (but I always took it back). I actually still use this pillow occasionally or if my husband leaves early for work and I want to cuddle with something. Definitely recommend it to anyone pregnant or not!!!!!

UPDATED: Enfamil Stage 2 Formula

GREAT NEWS!!!!!

As a mother who swears by Enfamil, I was very excited to get an email from Enfamil claiming that the age recommendation for stage 2 formula is being changed from 1 yr + to 9 months+. For the record, the 2 pack boxes are at least $10 cheaper than the regular infant formula. While the two packs I have only been able to find on Amazon.com, you can find the canisters at your local grocery store. I attached the link below for anyone who wants to see it. As far as what my boys thought....well Damon loved it, and it did help him transition to milk. Ryan did not like it as much and was on it for a much shorter time; however, he also did not have issues transitioning to milk.

UPDATED: Carseats Recommendations (A look at 4 years and 12 months)

Sorry it has been awhile guys..... I have been very busy lately. My son is now 10 months old, and since the car seats page has been the most popular, I feel my more recent experiences with car seats would be useful. So, we sadly had to part with the infant car seat/ carrier because a little boy is not quite so little anymore. We currently have two different car seats. Both are made by Safety 1st (they seem to top a lot of charts on safety). 

Car Seat #1:

The first one we got was the Safety 1st Complete Air 65 SE Protect Convertible Car Seat. This is great on support. It is also very easy to install (according to Daddy AND MOMMY! ). There are a few setbacks with this one. The padding almost makes it uncomfortable for my son since he sits so far up. When he falls asleep, he's usually slumped over. I have tried different things for his head, but that just seems to get worse. This car seat is also very  pricey (over $175). We got this as a shower gift; so, it was not a problem, but it could potentially be for anyone buying their own. 

Car Seat #2:

The second car seat we got was for my husband's car (he rarely rides in this one). We purchased this one - similar to above; so, I did not want to spend as much as the other seat cost. After a good bit of shopping and research, we decided to go with the Safety 1st OnSide Air Protect Convertible Car Seat, Bedrock Black. At first, I was concerned that this car seat would be uncomfortable. This does not seem to be a problem. In fact, my son likes it more because he can see better, and he is not sitting so far forward. It is also a good bit cheaper, which is nice. I also learned right before purchasing this that all car seats in the US meet the proper safety regulations....a lot of the extra stuff is for the look more than anything. While I am not suggesting putting your child in the cheapest car seat, it gives me peace of mind to know I can be safe without spending an arm and a leg. The only downside to this car seat is it is a little harder to install (hooks instead of seat belt buckles). I would definitely recommend this car seat. 

BOOSTER #1: Evenflo Big Kid AMP Booster Seat



This has been great. It still is somewhat like a car seat, minus the head support. Damon loves it and feels like a big boy. It definitely made the transition easier especially since his little brother got the old car seat.