When I was learning to breastfeed my first baby, I wasn’t all that shocked (well, maybe that’s a lie) at the cracking, scabbing and as-bad-as-labour searing pain that came with it for the first few weeks. I was, however, shocked that as an experienced exclusive breastfeeder the same thing happened when I began to nurse my second child. Granted, it didn’t last quite as long and it wasn’t quite as bad but holy bajeebus did it ever hurt. Without a lot of air drying, a little relief-pumping and some great natural products, there would have been a lot more screaming heard from my house.

You likely remember the recent headline news about the nipple cream for nursing moms that contained potentially harmful ingredients (chlorphenesin and phenoxyethanol) that could cause respiratory distress or vomiting and diarrhea in infants. This product was taken off the market, thank goodness, and we’ve got a great alternative for you.

Nipple Nurture Butter and Nipple Nurture Cleansing Pads from Bella B Natural Bodycare are 100% edible and are perfectly safe for newborns and moms.

Nipple Nurture Butter ($9.99 for 2 oz.) is a great lanolin-free alternative to other breastfeeding creams. Many people are unaware that lanolin comes from sheep’s wool. Nipple Nurture Butter is an excellent alternative for those that prefer a plant-based product. It contains only the very best natural ingredients including cocoa, shea and mango butter. All of the ingredients are food-grade and free of parabens (which, in case you didn’t know, are controversial but widely used artificial preservatives that are rapidly absorbed, have estrogenic activity and have been found in breast tumours).

Nipple Nurture Cleansing Pads ($9.99 for 80 pads) are a clean, natural solution to cleaning nipples before and after breastfeeding (which I had never done prior to discovering these pads and still don’t do reguarly, but it’s lovely and would be especially awesome in times of thrush.) They not only clean tender nipples but provide excellent soothing and healing properties. Fortified with aloe vera, the cleaning solution is healing and refreshing to sore, cracked nipples.

Win it! One randomly selected winner will win one of each of these great products, together valued at $19.98. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post before noon MST on July 25/08.

Additional entries available - up to four per person. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED - WINNER EMAILED - Congrats Heather!

It seems there’s always something out there that is going to hurt the health of our babies. All the additives in foods, BPA in bottles, pesticides in our veggies, and even formula or sweet liquids will cause damage. Baby tooth decay is a common problem that can be prevented, but as a parent I understand how difficult it is to always follow “what’s best.” By that I mean that I don’t always brush my baby’s gums or my son’s teeth after eating or drinking. Why? Well, they don’t particularly like me coming at them with the tooth brush.

Tooth Tissues may very well be the best idea since sliced bread. They’re simply little disposable tissues that you can use to wipe your young one’s teeth or gums to keep them healthy! The simplicity of it makes it easy to carry in your diaper bag, in the vehicle, picnic basket, over night bag, or really anywhere! All you do is wrap the wipe around your finger and rub your baby’s gums or teeth, and if they’ve fallen asleep with a bottle or boob in their mouth it makes it way easier to soak up the left over liquid. Good luck trying to brush in babies’ mouths while they’re sleeping, but with Tooth Tissues there is hope!

Aside from the initial intention for Tooth Tissues, I’m pretty sure they’d be great for adults too! I don’t carry a toothbrush around with me so I can brush after meals while on the go, but I would carry Tooth Tissues. Just wipe and toss. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!

Created by a couple that are dentists as well as parents, the priorities of both the medical world and the family world were addressed with the invention of Tooth Tissues. The tissues are 99% natural (check out their website to find out why they’re not 100%) and available in stores and online for a very reasonable price. What a great find. Buy yours online for just $6.99/pack or $4.00 for a dozen single packets.

Win it! We’re giving away a package of tooth tissues and a couple of single packets to one randomly selected reader. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post before noon MST on June 25/08.

Additional entries available - up to four per person. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

We’re deep in the midst of a summer cold that’s ravaging it’s way through our house. It came seemingly out of nowhere and quickly spread to every member of our family. I thought we were out of the snotty woods with the end of winter, but I was wrong. I’m thanking my lucky stars I discovered Boogie Wipes before this latest infestation and had some at the ready.

With the snot that abounds, it doesn’t take long before little noses become red and raw and little people become crabby and run from the tissues. Thanks to Boogie Wipes, I’ve now got a two year old that simply shouts “Need a Boogie Wipe - got boogers!”

Perhaps the saddest part of this family cold is our almost-newborn who doesn’t understand why I’m constantly smothering her - or so it seems - in order to rid her precious face of the elevens (a teacher term for the double snots) or why she can’t breathe and breastfeed at the same time. While it doesn’t make it any less sad, I do feel a little less mean because with Boogie Wipes at least I know it doesn’t hurt (they’re alcohol free) and the leftover crusties are super easy to get off. Even in the morning after ten hours of boogeying in bed!

Boogie Wipes contain saline and moisturize while they clean with added chamomile, vitamin E and aloe.

Save 20% on your online order with the code “Boogie Time”

Win it! We’ve got a Boogie Mom’s gift basket to give away! You’ll get several full packs of Boogie Wipes, a ton of individual packets for your pockets and purses and a Boogie Mom tee. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon MST on June 19/08.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

I’ll readily admit that I’m a skin care snob. It’s not the label - what I buy is generally not expensive. It’s the ingredients that count. I won’t put strange chemicals, colours and noxious fragrances on me or my children. I’ll use straight up organic grapeseed oil before I’ll put most of the common brands of baby skin care products on my babies.

With my discovery of Stuff For Sprouts, though, I can retire the grapeseed oil for everywhere but the diaper area. Developed by mom Kristen Bassick, Stuff For Sprouts currently offers luscious lotion for crunchy kids, fabulous cream for extra crunchy kids and my favourite lip stuff of all time. It comes in a wide tube so one swipe covers the lips and the area surrounding them - no more wrestling!

The scents are kid friendly while being totally inoffensive to adults. Unlike many other brands I’ve smelled, these actually smell exactly like the label says they will. Front lawn? Exactly like what you’d smell when lying on a freshly mowed and organically fertilized lawn. Blueberry muffin, chocolate, PB&J and frosting - just like the real thing! None of their products contain nut butters (yay allergy parents!) or mineral oil, soy, chemical, sparkles or any of the other nasties that creep into mainstream brands. (We dig the transparency of ingredients.)

Stuff For Sprouts offers a money-back guarantee, too. You won’t need it, though.

Use the code OPPARN15 for a 15% discount through April.

Those Aussies know what they’re talking about when it comes to skin care. If they didn’t, they’d all be wrinkled cancerous lumps instead of the unusually gorgeous sub-species that they are. So it makes sense to turn to them for baby skin care ideas, no? The well known Mei Mei line from Australia has now been brought to North America and we’re pleased to introduce you to Mei Mei Baby USA.

Sixty percent of what we put on our baby’s skin is absorbed into the body, and parents everywhere are becoming more conscious of what they put on their children’s skin. Mei Mei Baby (pronounced “May May” - just like the sound that sheep make) offers a range of head-to-toe baby products that is all natural, safe, and free of petrochemicals, parabens, and sodium lauryl sulfates. Their products are 100% made in Australia. That means no lead either!

We tried samples of their line and were very impressed with the quality. The samples were tiny, but in those quantities showed no sign of irritating either newborn baby or toddler skin.

Check out Mei Mei Baby USA for the complete line which should be available early 2008 - that’s right away!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

I love the spa. It’s a definite addiction. However, I can only afford to go there in my dreams now that I’m a mother so I also love products that can recreate the spa at home. Pharmacopia products do just that - and in an ever so wonderful organic manner.

Their luxurious product line supports sustainable and organic agriculture through the use of organic and all-natural ingredients and the company also supports fair trade via their trademark grass baskets which are handmade by Philippina women. Anyone as opinionated as we are is bound to love this company, but what’s policy without product?

Even more important than these admirable business practices is the fact that these products are fabulous! Several of us tried out the citrus scent and love it. It’s light and refreshing and doesn’t irritate the senses in the least. The body & massage oil is amazing added to the bath, and we all were floored by the smoothness of the lotion - the perfect follow up to the aromatherapy bath. The shea butter hand cream was amazing after a long day working with paper and, though I’m sure it was my imagination I think it may have actually helped my nails grow without cracking!

Enter to win a “lavender soothe” gift set (pictured above) from Pharmacopia by sending an email to theopinionatedparent@gmail.com before midnight MST on 10/20/07. Put “Pharmacopia” in the subject line and tell us what four scents are available from the website. Congratulations Lois!

A couple of local parents who are in the thick of diaper changes 24 hours a day and therefore nearly constant hand-washing have been reviewing Gloves In A Bottle for you. It’s a shielding lotion designed to “bond with the outer layer of your skin and protect it from irritants while locking in your natural oils and moisture.” Kind of like gloves. In a bottle. Hmm.

(Sound familiar? We’ve reviewed a higher end & therefore much more costly shielding lotion previously.)

The full disclosure of ingredients is very appealing - no hidden nasties in there - and there are some intriguing before & after pictures on their website. But how did the testers like it?

-”It’s thick enough to feel like you’re getting good coverage but doesn’t feel at all oily.”
-”I love how it soaks in immediately but then still feels like you’ve got a protective layer on your skin keeping it moist. Is that psychological?”
-”It really doesn’t wash off! I put it on a few times the first few days, and then tried putting it on only in the morning and my hands felt moisturized until well into the afternoon. Two applications in a work day are enough, even for someone who works with paper all day.”
-”The bottle lasts seemingly forever! It’s not large, but lasts well over two months with multiple daily uses because you don’t need much.”

Gloves In A Bottle costs only $12.95 for an 8 oz bottle and a bottle, as you read, goes a very long way. It’s available online and in retail stores.

We’ve got some to give away! If you want to be entered to give it a try, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with GLOVES in the subject line and tell us the first & main ingredient in Gloves In A Bottle. Contest closes Friday at midnight MST. Congratulations Shonda C!

As parents, it seems natural to put ourselves last. There are so many people, big and little, relying on us for their every need. It gets to a point, though, when you start to see signs of this self-neglect. Like last week? My skin started falling off. For real. Luckily, that was right around the time when we were given the opportunity to review Watersall products.

When par.entrepreneur Drew Aultman‘s husband dismissed her dreams of having a swimming pool by saying she could “can” that idea, that‘s exactly what she did. Using only purified & sterlized water & medical-grade nitrogen as a propellant, she has produced and marketed the Watersall & Splashcool lines of aerosol water.

No alcohol, no fragrances, no preservatives. Nothing but water. In a can. With a fun spray top.

Watersall has many uses. A deluge, in fact.

But you want to know why you, as a parent, should get yourself some, right?

• It gently washes away perspiration and pollutants, as well as random child-induced stickiness.
• Instant hydration for tired parent skin. (Note: my skin is no longer falling off.)
• Revitalizes your face quickly when the cute delivery guy is coming up the sidewalk
• So gentle it is great for expectant mothers and helps to relieve itchy pregnant skin
• Pure enough for newborn babies’ delicate skin
• Instant fix for a child‘s morning bed head
• Great for cleaning children‘s hands before lunch in the park
• During or after sports, it‘s a quick cool-off for athletes or spectators
• Convenient for clean ups while traveling
• Fascinating for toddlers to play with when you absolutely need them to be entertained
• Shocks a hysterically crying toddler back to reality in a “gentle misty shocking” way. (Yes, I tried this in desperation at 2 am. Anything to get the kid to breathe.)

I really like this stuff.

Check out the list of retailers to get your hands on some.

Several opinionated parents have been trying out the new shielding lotion from SkinMD.

How is this lotion different from the hundreds of other lotions on the market? Here’s what the company has to say:

“Conventional moisturizing lotions only attempt to replace a lack of natural moisture with artificial moisture but the problem is it comes off every time you wash or touch something. Until now, all one could do to alleviate a dry skin problem was to apply conventional moisturizing lotions. In order for any moisture to actually improve a dry skin condition it needs to get below the second major layer of skin. In reality the only moisture that is going to reach this level is your skin’s own natural moisture.

Have you ever stopped using artificial moisturizers only to experience an episode in which your skin actually became drier than it was before you started using them?

When you apply any artificial moisture to the skin’s surface you are often sending the wrong signal - that your skin is being adequately moisturized, when in fact it is actually dehydrated of natural moisture. This often results in reducing your skin’s production of the natural moisture needed to actually resolve a dry skin condition.

Unlike artificial moisturizers, Skin MD Natural bonds with the outer most layer of skin cells to turn it into what works like an invisible shield.

This “invisible shield” keeps moisture-robbing irritants out while helping to retain your skin’s own natural moisture, resulting in skin that is far better hydrated, over the long term, than what can be achieved by conventional lotions.”

And here are the results of our highly un-scientific study:

SkinMD Natural is not inexpensive as far as lotions go. It’s $25 for a small (4 oz) bottle.

It is surprisingly ‘liquidy’ and therefore a little goes a very long way. It soaks into your skin immediately and doesn’t leave any greasy or slimy coating. In fact, about 15 seconds after applying it I forgot I had already applied it. The moist feeling, however, lasts about 3-4 hours, even through hand washings. At 4 applications a day, the $25 bottle would likely last you a few months so it’s not as bad as it seems. And it works, so that’s always a bonus.

Opinionated Parents love fully disclosed ingredients. No secrets here!

Another great thing about Skin MD? The unconditional guarantee. It even includes shipping costs so you’ve really got nothing to lose. Except your dry skin, and that wouldn’t be so bad.

If you’re so inclined, you can try SkinMD Natural FREE (just pay $2 shipping or send a SASE).

Get $5.00 off your purchase with the code Garden.

Also, if you’re so inclined, you can enter to win one of the bottles we have to give away. (Like you wouldn’t be so inclined. You’re too smart to pass up a chance for free stuff, right?) Email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with SkinMD in the subject header and the correct answer to the question “What’s the first ingredient in Skin MD Shielding Lotion?” Contest closes at midnight MST on 3/23/07. Congratulations Leah & Kris!

Tummy Honey by Mother’s Intuition is not just another stretch mark cream. If you head to your local drugstore and read the ingredients of your typical cream, you’d be hard pressed to pronounce at least half of the ingredients. Opinionated parents are not impressed by big words. There’s no way I’d put something with mystery ingredients on my belly when there’s a baby in there, or on my stretch mark covered boobs (sorry) when a baby is nourished by them. Tummy Honey is the new alternative for us. It’s completely natural, containing soothing ingredients like cocoa butter, shea butter, vitamins D and E, wheat germ oil, olive oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, sesame oil, almond oil, and aloe vera.

The Tummy Honey 3-Pack includes the Cream (fading), Butter (prevention) and Stick (easy to apply prevention). I tried them all and loved them all! I’m currently using the cream on my zebra stripes. I haven’t been using it long enough to know if they’ll fade or not ~ consistency is the key ~ but I do know that it’s extremely soothing, fast absorbing and has a delightfully light scent. My flabby tummy skin is still soft the next morning! The butter is much quicker to absorb than other butters I’ve tried, and the stick is true convenience. Neither of them leave that gooey, sticky feeling that many of these products do. I’m thinking I’ll keep one in my desk at work next time I’m pregnant so I don’t scratch myself new stretch marks before I can get home at the end of the day.

You can win your own Tummy Honey 3-Pack! Send an email to theopinionatedparent [at] gmail [dot] com with TUMMY HONEY in the subject line and simply tell us why you’d like to try it! A winner will be selected randomly. Contest closes at midnight MST on Friday, February 16, 2007. Congratulations, Rashmi!

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Mom of two, Jennifer Higgins, left life in the limelight to be at home with her children. As all mothers quickly learn, there are many annoyances and frustrations that go along with the amazing and fulfilling job of motherhood. Jen and her own mother (how cool is that?) developed the Miss Oops line of products to help with those little bumps in the road so that you can focus on the more enjoyable parts of your job.
The Miss Oops Critical Care Kits, each containing three of their top problem-solvers, would make a wonderful gift for both a mom-to-be or any woman, really. The mom-to-be kit(pictured at left) would make a great pre-baby shower gift or just a kind gesture to celebrate a woman’s pregnancy.

Popper Stoppers are a must have for the pregnant woman going out on the town. I happen to think the “done button” on a mother’s belly is beautiful but I know many women who beg to differ. The best way I can think of to describe it is like a really big specialty bandaid. I know several women who have used actual bandaids on their popped-up buttons and
Popper Stoppers would be much more comfortable!

The Pucker Protector, unfortunately, was not a hit. Being a lipstick person myself, I gave it to a glossy reviewer for her feedback. She said “It feels sticky on my lips; almost like syrup that I need to get off.” I tried it and I agree. It does have a nice minty scent, though, and may be appropriate for someone who likes a thicker gloss.

The Pedicure in a Bottle comes cleverly wrapped in sandpaper stamped “Can builders sand furniture with your feet?” The answer will be a solid “No” once you try it for a week! It’s an all-in-one foot treatment that exfoliates with mild salicylic acid, smoothes and hydrates while leaving a silky smooth (not greasy walking in a puddle) feeling. I really enjoyed the refreshing and not overwhelming minty smell.

My personal favourite Miss Oops product are the dry rescue sponges. These dense little red 3×3″ sponges pack a powerful punch. They’re designed specifically to remove deodorant, baby powder and makeup powder from clothing, and hot damn do they ever work! I wear a lot of black and these sponges take away my daily white streaks without leaving a wet blotch. Awesome!

The kind moms of Miss Oops have sent us 12 packs of 2 rescue sponges to give away to our readers. If you’d like to be entered in the random draw, send an email to theopinionatedparent [at] gmail [dot] com with MISS OOPS in the subject line and the answer to the question What’s the one other Miss Oops product not mentioned in this review? Contest closes at midnight MST on Friday, February 9, 2007. Congratulations to all 12 winners! They’re in the mail!

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