I am often asked what inspired me to start The Opinionated Parent (mostly by people who don’t know what a blog is) and here’s the answer:

I am opinionated. Very, very opinionated. I always have been. When my firstborn arrived, I realized that I also had strong opinions about all of the “stuff” that comes along with parenthood. When I received the nursing pillow to end all nursing pillows (after having tried every one that’s available in local stores, so I do know what I’m talking about) I told everyone who would listen about how great it was. When I couldn’t find anyone else to listen, I started a blog.

And there you have it.

If you won’t listen, somebody else will. I will be heard.

(And I’m always right. Just ask my husband.)

My first ever post at the site now known as The Opinionated Parent was about The Baby Buddy Nursing Pillow. I encourage you to go back and read this post about just how fantastic it is and all of the reasons why I love it. Whether you’re breastfeeding, bottle feeding, holding a baby, are pregnant (in my second pregnancy my Baby Buddy was a lifesaver and the only reason I was comfortable enough to sleep many nights!) or are simply cuddled up with a good book, I have no doubt that you will love The Baby Buddy too.

TOP readers always save 10% on their orders from TheBabyBuddy.ca with the code top10.

Win it! As the newest addition to our premium sponsors in the right sidebar and an exclusive “TOP Pick” of The Opinionated Parent, The Baby Buddy Nursing Pillow is giving away one of these great pillows with the flannel or cotton pillowcase of the winner’s choice! To enter, visit TheBabyBuddy.ca to choose your favourite pillowcase fabric. Then come back and leave a comment on this post letting us know which one you’d choose if you’re the lucky winner. Contest closes at noon MST on June 26/08.

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

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

My children’s cribs have a very-annoying-runs-for-only-ten-minutes- has-no-remote-control baby entertainer in them which make it very difficult to get the mattress in and out to change the sheets. Even when I remove the annoying appliance from the crib first, I still have to take the mattress out of the crib and wrestle with it on the tiny floor of the bedroom in order to change the sheet. And then I still have to put it back in. For that reason, my kids’ sheets don’t get changed as often as they should. Gross, but true.

It was, anyway, until my recent discovery of quick zip crib sheets from Clouds and Stars. These things are absolutely genius! You place the mattress in the zipper base, lay their brilliant flat mattress pad on the mattress and zip on the top. Then when the top sheet is dirty, you simply unzip it and zip on a clean zipper top. With no need to remove the base, the mattress wrestling is a thing of the past. The base covers the bottom and all four sides of the mattress so it stays in place with no risk of popping off. The zipper is completely covered and never touches baby. The entire set is made of 200-thread count preshrunk 100% cotton and there is an organic option.

I also tried out the new playyard sheet which is as fabulous as I’ve come to expect from this company. It’s like a pillow case that slips over the mattress from the side and is secured via velco at the other side safely under the edge. I tried the cotton version and it’s luxuriously thick and soft.

Invented by two moms, the Clouds and Stars quick zip sheets are the easiest and most logical bedding option available. Only a frustrated mother could come up with something so perfect. And I’m so glad they did. These are definitely a TOP pick for me!

Win it! Clouds and Stars will send one winner a sheet set with an extra top and even include a mattress pad (which you may be tempted not to replace when you purchase these sheets but I assure you that you totally need it!) This ‘everything you need‘ set is valued at $71.99. To enter, leave a comment on this post before April 28 with your colour choice from those listed at the site.

Get up to three additional entries into this contest!

1. Blog about this contest using one of the top three images found here. Leave a comment with the direct link to your post (not to your main page, and in a separate comment from your other entry).

AND/OR

2.Subscribe to our RSS feed. Leave an additional comment to let us know that you did this for your extra entry. Be sure to leave a valid email address so we can confirm your subscription.

AND/OR

3. Place our button in your sidebar or add us to your blogroll. Leave an additional comment to let us know that you did this for your extra entry. Be sure to leave a valid url so we can confirm the addition.

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Maximum four entries total per person.

CONTEST CLOSED