Jae turns 18 months old and has been a real joy at home…
Health, Diet & Feeding
- Discharged from follow-up with cardio: This is the best news for us, regarding something we haven’t shared before. At 1 week old, Jae was diagnosed with 2 small holes in the heart. Either they’d remain the same, close by themselves, or he faced ~50% chance of needing a future surgery to fix them. It was tough news to accept, yet we remain optimistic since he was otherwise a healthy baby. At the latest follow-up, it was double-confirmed that both holes have closed on their own and he need not see the cardio anymore. Yippie!
- Milk: Mummy’s milk is the best, yet I’d to wean him in order to conceive (not all mummies need to do this). After being weaned off breastfeeding, he was on organic goat’s milk formula. Later on, I tried offering him fresh milk (or whole milk) but he was reluctant to drink it. I’d to come up with all kinds of “stunts”, such as using a glass straw, which he accepted for a while and then rejected it again.
- Nearer to 18 months old, I started switching him to organic cow’s milk, which is slightly more economical than goat’s milk, but still pricey. Next up, I’m going to try offering him warmed up fresh milk.
- For his solid meals, he eats almost anything paired with his favourite boiled egg during lunch. Tomato-based pasta sauce and cherry tomatoes are a big hit too. Without eggs or tomatoes, he’d often scrutinise every spoonful and sometimes refuse to eat anything. So I’ll try letting him hold an extra spoon, let him try feeding himself, let Daddy feed him, or turn his chair to face the wall and feed him (very last resort!). He hates potatoes, so would barely touch French fries, haha!
- Self-feeding: He’s good at using the fork to pick up pieces of fruits. When the mood arises, he’s enthusiastic about feeding himself with a spoon too. He did it rather well once.
- When we’re out, I bring some wholemeal cereal flakes and a packet of Happy Baby Organic Superfoods* (~20% cheaper from iHerb than in the local supermarket), in case he refuses to share my food. He loves the one with green beans, pears and peas.
- Thankfully, his previous problem of diarrhoea and frequent loose stools have stopped. I omitted “suspicious” foods such as dragonfruits (though he loves it). After being switched to cow’s milk, he ended being a bit constipated on certain days, so I ensure he eats fruits daily.
Potty Training
- Pre-potty training (read detailed tips here) is easier since he stopped having loose stools. His timing is more predictable and he needs to strain a little, so I can ask him before he goes. He’s rather cooperative to sit on the potty and occasionally poos in it.
- He doesn’t initiate telling me before he poos, but will nod his head if I correctly suspect a soil diaper and ask him.
- Recently, he’ll pull at his diaper and say “da da”, indicating he wants a diaper change, perhaps because he has wetted it. Sometimes, he’ll also request to use the big toilet after watching me use it, perhaps to join in the “fun”?
Sleep
- Jae continues to nap well, usually 2 to 2.5 hours in the afternoon. Ever since I’ve been pregnant with baby #3, I spend this time taking a super-long nap as well. I feel so blessed that this boy enjoys sleeping!
- When we’re out, he can sometimes fall asleep in the stroller or car seat. Otherwise, Daddy continues to babywear him for outside naps.
- He has been sleeping through the night these few months. This is great since I’ve been exhausted during the first trimester.
- We moved him from the baby cot to a mattress on the floor, right beside ours. He likes it much better this way and will fall asleep by himself after some rolling around and touching his precious belly button. Sometimes, he’d crawl onto me in the middle of the night or early morning. After some patting, he can continue sleeping till the usual waking time.
Turning 1.5 years old is like a milestone by itself. Jae’s imitating EVERY cheeky thing that his older brother does and seems to want to grow up real fast. This is a good thing as he’ll be turning 2 years old when baby #3 arrives and I certainly need him to be as independent as possible. 
The rest of Jae’s homeschooling, communication and motor skills updates are posted at Mummy’s Homeschool here.
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P.S. View more developmental milestones here
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Disclosure: Mummy’s Reviews™ is a review site that receives compensation if readers make purchases from affiliate links (these are marked with an *). If we receive compensation from the companies whose products we review, this would be disclosed. These compensation help to maintain and grow Mummy’s Reviews™. We test each product thoroughly and give ratings according to our experience with it. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are our own.
It’s been 2+ months since I last wrote a blog post and I’m finally back. This time with baby #3 in me — yeah, I’m 15 weeks pregnant! (EDD is at end October) Thank you to all the mummies who missed my updates and sent me emails, many who smartly guessed that I’m “baking” baby #3.
First trimester pregnancy is usually a tough time for me. What’s more, I’ve to handle 2 active boys through the day till hubby knocks off from work to take over. I’m glad that most of the nauseousness, bloatedness and extreme sleepiness have subsided.
After being an exhausted and boring Mummy for 1 month, I finally gained energy to re-start homeschooling activities several weeks back. This week, we’re back to full engine and I’ve been busy churning out new materials, trying to complete the projects that have been gaining dust. Thankfully, both Vee and Jae love the activities and their enthusiasm to learn makes all the efforts worthwhile.
On the blog front, I’ll be gradually clearing the mountain of backlog that has piled up — closing the previous giveaway , and completing pending reviews. Thank you for your patience!
That’s about it for now. See ya again at the next update and happy Mother’s Day in advance!
Little Vee just celebrated his 4th birthday! 4 years back, he was the super high-needs baby who couldn’t sleep well from Day 1. (His birth story is here.) We were in for a tough ride overcoming his gassiness, fussiness, food allergy, ezcema and sleeping issues. And to share what we went through with you, Mummy’s Reviews was started.
Amazingly, he’s now 4, a vast change from that challenging newborn. Though his extreme sensitivities still remain, we’ve learnt how to manage them much better.
Health & Diet
- In January, he’d a short episode of diarrhoea, recovered, then started coughing a little, recovering just in time for Lunar New Year celebrations. Oh, how he loves pineapple tarts! His quota is 1 per day till we finish the box, and he’s very cooperative with sticking to it.
- For his birthday, we knew he wanted a blueberry cheesecake. (He loves cheesecakes, like his Mummy.) So I secretly ordered one when we went shopping 2 weeks back. After a simple dinner at home, Daddy surprised him with the cake and he was all smiles. During the day, I drew him a birthday card (as promised) on a piece of red paper he chose. One cake and one card were all we gave him, yet he’s so contented.
Potty Training
- Many neighbourhoods in KL were plagued with water supply issues since January 2013. It was as bad as no water (except for 1 tap in the house) for several days. At times, water pipes burst in the neighbourhood every alternate day, and water could be cut off suddenly. We’d to minimise the laundry load, so potty training and cloth diapering were affected.
- Nap-time: He usually doesn’t nap. If he has to, he wears underwear while sleeping on an absorbent bed pad. If water supply is cut off, he has to wear disposable diapers, which he dislikes.
- Night-time: Without an afternoon nap, he falls asleep very easily at night, so he no longer pees multiple times before falling asleep. Once he’s asleep, he can hold his pee till early morning. By the time I change him, he has already wet his diapers. He explains to us that he can’t control his bladder when he’s asleep or just upon waking up.
Sleep
- On afternoons when he doesn’t need to nap, we continue to have quiet activities. Sometimes, he gets tired by dinner time, so he may turn hyper / loud / fussy / whiny / cries easily or all of these! This is when my headache starts, so we’ve to quickly get him through the bedtime routine (with lots of kisses and cuddles) and let him tune down. Once he’s calm, he’s knocked out within minutes, and sleeps for up to 12 hours straight.
- During Lunar New Year, he said he wanted to sleep with SIL. Hubby got him through the bedtime routine in her room. At the moment hubby left the room, Vee said he changed his mind and started bursting into tears. Ha… guess he’d be sleeping in our room for some time!
Just for laugh
Vee: Mummy, when I grow up, you and Daddy will be old, I can’t sleep with you anymore? So I’ll need to find a wife to sleep with me?
Me: *chuckling* Yes, you may find a wife to sleep with you.
Vee: My wife will sleep with me and cuddle me? (Referring to his bedtime routine.)
Me: *trying badly not to LOL* Yes, you’re right.
After a series of questions, he answered that his ideal wife will be “a female with long hair that’s tied up, a bit shorter than him, slim, smells fragrant, cooks for him, and talks to him nicely.”
In 20+ years’ time, I shall see if my future daughter-in-law is as described.
Happy birthday to my dearest Vee. He’s such a lovable boy.
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P.S. Vee’s homeschooling progress has been shared at Mummy’s Homeschool here.
P.P.S. View more developmental milestones.
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Disclosure: Mummy’s Reviews™ is a review site that receives compensation if readers make purchases from affiliate links (these are marked with an *). If we receive compensation from the companies whose products we review, this would be disclosed. These compensation help to maintain and grow Mummy’s Reviews™. We test each product thoroughly and give ratings according to our experience with it. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are our own.
Finally, here’s a continuation on my quest for the best natural baby teething solutions. Baby Jae started teething discomforts from about 4 months old. He kept drooling, put everything into his mouth, gummed things, and fussed a lot when he slept.
In a nutshell, these are my selected materials for teethers:
- Natural wood with safe finishing
- Organic fabric
These are what we decided NOT to use:
- No plastic and silicone: to avoid leaching of potentially harmful chemicals into baby’s mouth. Even BPA-free plastic may not be safe enough for babies
- No teether with liquid filling: to avoid risk of the teether bursting and exposing baby to potentially-contaminated liquid
- No teether with small rattles or parts such as beads: to avoid choking risk
- No teething gel and pain-relief medication to relieve teething pains: baby could be teething for many months, so how can I offer him the gel or medication for months?!?
- No rubber: frequent exposure to latex proteins increases the risk of latex allergy. May also contain nitrosatable substances.
Why I changed my mind about rubber teethers
Initially, I was receptive of natural rubber teethers with extremely low or minimal latex content to reduce the risk of latex allergy.
However, after more reading up while writing this review, I learnt that rubber products may contain nitrosatable substances that could pose health risks.
Since teethers are meant for frequent mouthing and I cannot simply rely on organisations to keep manufacturers in check, I decided not to offer rubber teethers to my baby anymore.
Teethers we tested out
I bought 2 teethers, was gifted with 1, and negotiated 1 set for review. Little Alouette teething toys were reviewed in Part 1 of this series. Today’s article covers 3 detailed reviews, including my take on the ever-popular Sophie the Giraffe teether.
To jump to any review, simply click on the name of the teether below:
- Little Alouette Wooden Teething Toys
- Sophie the Giraffe (original)
- Hevea Panda Teether
- Keptin Jr Rattle Ring Teether
2. Sophie the Giraffe (original)
- Materials: 100% natural rubber derived from the sap of the Hevea Tree (BPA and phthalates free), and non-toxic food paint
- Country of origin: Rubber from Malaysia, made in France (French Alps)
First impressions on background and packaging:
During my search for the ideal teether, I read up on Sophie and decided not to buy it because of these reasons:
- Recall of Sophie the Giraffe (sold before 20 December 2011) in Germany due to dangerous nitrosatable substances above the limits permitted in Germany
- Reports of babies sticking Sophie’s legs too deeply into their throats, resulting in gagging or near-choking (Reviews at Amazon store)
- The food paint can come off after prolong use
- The price is out of our budget for a teether
If baby has latex allergy, Sophie the Giraffe UK website recommends that you avoid contact with all latex products, including Sophie the Giraffe. I couldn’t find information about the latex protein level in Sophie.
Then fate has it that a close friend gave us a Sophie when Jae was about 7 months old. Oh well, no escape from reviewing Sophie!
Packaging: It came in a cardboard box with a small card, and squeaked rather loudly when pressed. I don’t remember seeing any warning on latex allergy on the packaging.
Rating Guide: ★ Oh no! ★★ Poor ★★★ Fair ★★★★ Good ★★★★★ Excellent!
(a) Care & Maintenance: ★★★★ The FAQ on Sophie the Giraffe UK website states “Wipe Sophie clean with a damp cloth – use Milton or other fluid on the cloth if you wish to sterilise. Please do not submerge Sophie in water as it enters the squeaker and she’ll stop squeaking, and she is not able to go in a microwave or steam steriliser.”
I usually wipe it clean as recommended. If needed, I’ll wash it under the tap with a bit of soap, without getting water into it.
(b) Effectiveness: ★★ Baby Jae wasn’t attracted to Sophie at 7 months old and after. Occasionally, he’d hold and squeeze it. Often, he ignores it in the play yard. He loves his other rubber teether though, so I don’t think it’s the rubbery smell.
To be fair, he loved teethers the most from 4 to 6+ months old, when the teething first started. Perhaps Sophie just missed this phase when she arrived our house. In contrast, Jae’s older cousin used to love her Sophie.
Personally, I’m not into Sophie because I prefer quieter toys over the sharp squeak. There were occasions when Jae was sleeping and Vee squeezed Sophie to make her squeak!
(c) Quality: ★ Jae hasn’t tested Sophie vigorously enough to judge its resistance to wear and tear.
Our Sophie’s batch number is 270300. This means it was produced on the 300th day of 2010, BEFORE the content of nitrosatable substances was reduced.
Dear Sophie, I can’t let my babies mouth you anymore.
(d) Overall Value: ★★ Sophie the Giraffe retails at USD25 (or SGD39.90 in Singapore and RM99 in Malaysia) — gasp, the most expensive teether I’ve seen. In France, it seems to be packaged at about USD12, which is a more reasonable price.
Sophie the Giraffe is a super-popular teether, but Baby Jae wasn’t attracted to it.
If you like Sophie, be sure to look out for batch numbers xx1230, xx1300 and higher. This means the production dates are from 230th day of 2011, 300th day of 2011, and later.
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What we like about it:
- 2-in-1: teether for baby, toy for older child
- Relatively easy to clean and maintain
What can be improved:
- Remove latex proteins in the teether to avoid increasing risk of latex allergy in babies
- Be proactive in ensuring product safety instead of waiting to be pressured into conforming to stricter standards
To avoid the risk of Sophie’s legs getting stuck in baby’s throat, there’s a new Sophie teether called Sophie the Giraffe So Pure Vanilla Teether*
It’s the first teething ring made of 100% natural rubber. Available in 2 models: a soft flexible model for first teeth, and a hard model for mode advanced teething stage. (Source: Sophie Giraffe USA Website)
We haven’t had the chance to try this out.
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3. Hevea Panda Teether
This is the rubber teether that I bought after reading many positive reviews, but before understanding more about latex allergy and nitrosatable substances.
- Material: 100% natural rubber latex (Free from phthalates, colours, PVC & EVAtane, silicone & BPA)
- Country of origin: Made in Malaysia, Danish design
First impressions on background and packaging:
Regarding latex allergy, Hevea’s FAQ webpage states that the “latex contents in Hevea’s products are extremely low. No allergic reactions to any Hevea products have been received to date but users should note the potential for a latex allergic response. “
Regarding nitrosamines, it states “It is correct that nitrosamines is to be found in natural rubber, but Hevea passes all the test and regulations for pacifiers, which also test for the amount of nitromines. If the limit is too high it can be dangerous, but we have NOT detected any in our products, and we have them tested randomly. “
It complies to these standards: Pacifiers – EU standard EN1400, CPSIA (U.S.A.) and the AUS.
Packaging: The teether came wrapped in a thin plastic wrapper and a small cardboard box. Packaging is made from recycled and biodegradable materials printed in soy ink.
The warning on potential latex allergy is stated on the plastic wrapping.
Rating Guide: ★ Oh no! ★★ Poor ★★★ Fair ★★★★ Good ★★★★★ Excellent!
(a) Care & Maintenance: ★★★★★ This Hevea teether can be sterilised in boiling water. It should be cleaned by hand or in machines especially suitable for it. Not by dishwasher or microwave unless with a relevant sterilising box.
Baby Jae used to love his Hevea teether every morning, so I’d wash it with soapy water and soak it in very hot water for a while before offering it to him. After 6+ months old, I simply washed it and skipped the soaking part.
When he wasn’t using it, I’d leave it on the kitchen countertop to dry. However, after some time, I discovered some very tiny dark spots at the corners of the vertical grooves. Since my home is prone to mildew issues, I should have wiped the teether dry before airing it.
(b) Effectiveness: ★★★★★ I knew the existence of latex allergy, but no one in the family has it. I first rubbed the teether rather hard on Jae’s arm and observed for allergenic reactions such as rashes. Nothing appeared, so I offered it to him; he loved biting it immediately.
It seems to have just the right bite and is easy to hold.
(c) Quality: ★★★★★ Our Hevea Panda teether is very well-made, with smooth rounded edges. From all the biting and throwing, the teether still looked excellent. (The tiny black spots is my fault for leaving it in a moist environment.)
(d) Overall Value: ★★★ Each Hevea Panda Teether retails at USD13.50 (or SGD22.90 in Singapore and RM40 in Malaysia). The price is reasonable.
Baby Jae loved his Hevea Panda Teether, but I’ve recently decided against offering rubber teethers due to the increased risk of latex allergy and potential exposure to nitrosatable substances. Soy allergy and eczema run in our family, so I’m a little more paranoid than most people.
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What we like about it:
- Simple and safe design
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Effective — Baby Jae loved using it
- Green packaging
What can be improved:
- Remove latex proteins in the teether to avoid increasing risk of latex allergy in babies
- Replace the vertical grooves design with a smoother surface, to reduce mildew issues
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4. Keptin Jr Toddels Rattle Ring
After buying Hevea teether, I bought this Keptin Jr Toddels Rattle Ring at a baby fair.
- Material: Organic cotton, stuffed with wool, beech wood (ring)
- Country of origin: Made in Lithuania, designed in Netherlands
Keptin Jr Toddels come with or without the wooden ring, and in several colours. There’s a wide collection of Keptin Jr organic cotton dolls and toys.
First impressions on background and packaging:
I’ve been eyeing the Keptin Jr range for some time. I like the simple recycled cardboard packaging but couldn’t find information on the wood finishing.
Rating Guide: ★ Oh no! ★★ Poor ★★★ Fair ★★★★ Good ★★★★★ Excellent!
(a) Care & Maintenance: ★★★★★ Keptin Jr Rattle Ring is machine washable at a high care programme of 30ºC (86ºF). I used to hand wash the teething toy every weekend and hang it to dry indoors.
(b) Effectiveness: ★★★★★ The Rattle Ring has cloth for a soft bite and wood for a hard bite. Great options! Baby Jae loved holding it and chewing at the ears.
When he was about 1 year old, I allowed him hold the Rattle Ring teether as a lovey-toy while he slept in his cot bed. When he woke up from nap or at night, he often held the Rattle Ring and fussed for me.
Nowadays, he can sleep through the night with no or minimal assistance, so I’ve left the Rattle Ring outside the cot.
(c) Quality: ★★★★★ Our Rattle Ring is very well made, with reinforced stitching and standing up to many hand washes.
(d) Overall Value: ★★★★ Each Keptin Jr Rattle Ring retails at ~USD19.50 (or SGD17.50 in Singapore and RM59 in Malaysia). I bought it at 15% during a baby expo, the price is reasonable. Thankfully, Jae likes it!
Keptin Jr Rattle Ring cleverly combines organic fabric with wood for soothing baby’s teething gums. We love it!
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What we like about it:
- Simple and safe design
- 2 different textures (fabric and wood) to suit baby’s preferences
- 2-in-1: teether for baby, toy for older child
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Effective — Baby Jae enjoyed using it
What can be improved:
- Provide information on the wood finishing
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Summary of Reviews
| Little Alouette Wooden Teething Toys |
Sophie the Giraffe |
Hevea Panda Teether |
Keptin Jr Rattle Ring |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| What we like about it |
|
|
|
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| What can be improved |
|
|
|
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Thank you for reading through these reviews!
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Get Your Own
The teethers are available at these stores:
- Little Alouette Wooden Teething Toys: myecobabe (Singapore)
- Sophie the Giraffe: Moo Moo Kow (Singapore), Sophie[dot]sg (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei distributor)
- Hevea Panda Teether: Love for Earth (Singapore), The Baby Loft, Tiny Tapir, Blue Dot Baby (Malaysia)
- Keptin Jr Rattle Ring: Little by Little Singapore, Baby-Mel, Blue Dot Baby (Malaysia)
You may also check the prices at Amazon here:
- Little Alouette Teether Set
*
- Sophie the Giraffe Teether
- Sophie the Giraffe So Pure Vanilla Teether
*
- Hevea Panda Teether
*
- Keptin Jr. Organic Cotton Rattle Ring Teether
*
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Useful References:
- Latex Allergy, MedicineNet[dot]com
- Latex Allergy, New York State Department of Health
- Migration of Nitrosamines and Nitrosatable Substances from Balloons, Inspectorate for Health Protection and Veterinary Public Health (PDF, 84kb)
- Sophie the Giraffe recall articles by Our Homegrown Adventures: here and here
- BPA-Free Products Still Contain Bisphenols of Equal Toxicity, Mercola[dot]com
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P.S. You may wish to read how to help a teething baby sleep better with acupressure massage here.
P.P.S. Check out the Winners Announcements for Giveaway #31 (Brolly Sheets) and Giveaway #32 (Airwrap Deluxe).
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Disclosure: Little Alouette Wooden Teething Toys were review samples from myecobabe (an ad sponsor); Sophie the Giraffe was a gift from a friend; Hevea Panda Teether was bought at full price; Keptin Jr Organic Cotton Teether was bought from Baby-Mel (previous ad sponsor) during a baby expo sale (15% discount).
Mummy’s Reviews™ is a review site that receives compensation if readers make purchases from affiliate links (these are marked with an *). If we receive compensation from the companies whose products we review, this would be disclosed. These compensation help to maintain and grow Mummy’s Reviews™. We test each product thoroughly and give ratings according to our experience with it. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are our own.
Jae turns 15 months old and has been keeping me real busy…
Health, Diet & Feeding
- I gradually weaned him off breastfeeding after he turned one. After several tries, he accepted organic goat’s milk formula. Phew! We dropped 1 day feed each week. Recently at 14+ months, night-weaning was finally successful. This means after his last milk drink, his tummy can last until breakfast is served about 12.5 hours later.
- He drinks milk directly from a bowl, and ONLY if there’s something else such as pieces of wholemeal bread in it.
- For his solid meals, he has been eating the same healthy food as Vee and I at home. His current favourites are lightly-fried rice (dunked in soup), sweet potatoes, egg yolk, cereal flakes (finally overtaken Kallo’s Organic Rice Cake) and dragonfruit (all-time favourite!). He enjoys eating most fruits, likely because he has a sweet tooth like mummy. He eats vegetables, though not a big fan of them.
- He still loves finger-feeding himself fruits and snacks. Most of the time, he’ll insist on having some finger-food while I feed him his meal. Without finger-food, he’ll push the bowl away, turn / shake his head, and even kick up a big fuss! And he flatly refuses to eat his main meal with his hands, be it pasta, beans, vegetables, etc. Oh whatever, as long as he eats!
- These few days, he’s also into learning to spoon-feed himself. When he starts refusing his food, I’ll offer him the spoon and he starts being enthusiastic in eating again. He also likes using the fork to pick up pieces of fruits.
- When we’re out during weekends, I’ve stopped bringing homecooked food for him most of the time. (This is unlike for Vee who was offered outside food only at 2.5 years old, mainly because of his food allergies.) If there’s extra soup or rice, I’ll freeze them. If there’s nothing to heat up from the freezer, then Jae will share my food during outings. When needed, I’ll rinse the food in a bowl of hot water to remove the seasoning before offering them to him.
- The poor boy has been bothered by diarrhoea. It started with Vee, then went on to Jae. Both boys recovered, Jae took his MMR vaccine, then the diarrhoea returned, stopped and returned again. During the first episode, he didn’t eat much for almost a week, and lost 750g (from 10kg which took him ages to reach!) During the current episode, his appetite is still good, but I’ve no idea what’s causing the frequent soft stool (about 3-4 times a day). Urgh…
Potty Training
- Pre-potty training (read detailed tips here) was going on well until he started having diarrhoea. At 12+ months old, he could make a forceful sound “ng” to tell me that he needed to poo, so that I could bring him to the potty.
- Then recently, having diarrhoea or soft stool doesn’t require him to stop his activity to think / strain / communicate. So he may tell me after he has soiled his diaper. If I ask him, he may shake his head or pat his diaper / say “ng ng”.
- Before bed, I still plop him onto the potty. Often, he’ll pee into it.
- His first poo is upon waking up in the morning. If he hasn’t done it, then I’ll let him sit on the potty in the bathroom while I brush my teeth. And I must lock the door, otherwise he may run off with naked bums!
- Our water supply was disrupted for many days in January. Limited water supply plus Jae’s diarrhoea mean cloth diapers weren’t a viable option. So we’d to use disposable diapers whenever water supply is affected. Sigh… more money spent and more garbage created.
Sleep
- Jae continues to nap well, usually 1.5 to 2.5 hours once in the afternoon. This is the golden time when I create homeschooling materials.
- When we’re out, he can fall asleep in the stroller, so we’re babywearing him less.
- And it’s great that the bad nights are mostly over! As day-weaning progressed, he fussed less at night. Finally, he went through one day without suckling in the middle of the night. Before long, night-weaning was successful.
- When he fusses at night, he could go back to sleep by changing his position, climbing ONTO me, being patted, or carried / rocked (last resort!)
- Last Saturday night, he miraculously slept through in the cot from 10+p.m. till 7a.m. A whooping 9 hours, instead of fussing every few hours until I give up and co-sleep. When I woke up at 7a.m. and saw him in the cot, hubby and I couldn’t believe our eyes! He hasn’t repeated the “miracle” since and I certainly hope he’ll. Soon.
The rest of Jae’s homeschooling, communication and motor skills updates are posted at Mummy’s Homeschool here.
During the past weeks, I’ve been busy taking care of the boys who have been taking turns to be ill, spring-cleaning and creating homeschooling materials. I’ll try to update more frequently (hopefully at least once a week) after Lunar New Year celebrations. Have a blessed year!
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P.S. View more developmental milestones here
P.P.S. I started weaning Jae off breastfeeding after his first birthday because of very specific reasons: I wish to conceive; it’s very difficult for me to conceive when I’m fully breastfeeding (which may not be true for all mummies); I’m underweight and will have a hard time trying to eat for 3 persons if I breastfeed while being pregnant. In usual circumstances, I’m fully supportive of extended breastfeeding till at least 2 years old and I’d be doing that for my last baby. He/She can breastfeed till as long as he/she likes!
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Disclosure: Mummy’s Reviews™ is a review site that receives compensation if readers make purchases from affiliate links (these are marked with an *). If we receive compensation from the companies whose products we review, this would be disclosed. These compensation help to maintain and grow Mummy’s Reviews™. We test each product thoroughly and give ratings according to our experience with it. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are our own.
Mummy’s Reviews MEGA Giveaway 2013
To celebrate Year 2013 with you, here’s a MEGA Giveaway of cloth diapers and nursing wear! Here are the prizes:
- 5 winners: 1 x Moo Moo Kow Cloth Diaper with 2 inserts + 1 x one size insert, worth SGD38 each
- 2 winners: 1 x Happy Heinys Aplix / Snap One Size diapers worth SGD35 each
- 2 winners: 1 x Bumboo Fitted Cloth Diaper (yellow / green) worth SGD29 each
- 2 winners: 1 x Pika Bubi Nursing Top (size S or L, black) worth SGD49.90 each
This means ELEVEN (11) lucky Parents Club members will be winners!
The sponsors are:
All the products have previously been tested thoroughly by us. Check out the past reviews / articles below:
- Moo Moo Kow One Size Cloth Diaper
- Happy Heinys One Size Cloth Diaper
- Bumboo Fitted Cloth Diaper
- My Favourite Nursing Tops & Bras featuring Pika Bubi Nursing Top
How to Participate
1. Join Mummy’s Reviews™ Parents Club here or below (existing members counted)
2. Fill in the online form HERE
Other Information
- Moo Moo Kow prizes: Open to subscribers with a mailing address in Singapore, Malaysia & Indonesia.
- Happy Heinys prizes: Open to subscribers with a mailing address in Singapore.
- Bumboo & Nursing Wear prizes: Open to subscribers with a mailing address in Singapore. For address in Malaysia, please top up SGD5 for shipping.
- If you’re a winner, the colour / design of your prize depends on the stock available.
- It will run until 22 February 2013 (Friday) 2359hr (GMT +8).
- The usual Giveaway Terms apply.
Submit your entry now and good luck!
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Get Your Own (with Discount!)
To get your own Moo Moo Kow Cloth Diapers and other baby products, visit Moo Moo Kow.
- Special Treat: 10% discount on Moo Moo Kow products
- Discount Code: MB0213
- Validity Period: Until 21 February 2013
To get your own Happy Heinys, Charlie Bananas Cloth Diapers and more, visit MummyKnowsBestShop.
- Clearance sale: SGD25 for each Happy Heinys one size with Aplix/Snaps (Usual: SGD35)
- Validity Period: Whilst stocks last
You may also check the prices at Amazon here: Happy Heiny’s One Size Cloth Diapers
To get your own Bumboo, nursing wear and other baby products, visit LittleDreamer’s Facebook Page.
- Special Treat: 25% storewide discount on ready stocks
- Validity Period: Until 20 February 2013
- How to order: Send an email to LittleDreamer.ld [at] gmail [dot] com and indicate that you’re referred by mummysreviews
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P.S. Read more on Cloth Diapering Tips and Breastfeeding.
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Disclosure: Mummy’s Reviews™ is a review site that receives compensation if readers make purchases from affiliate links (these are marked with an *). If we receive compensation from the companies whose products we review, this would be disclosed. These compensation help to maintain and grow Mummy’s Reviews™. We test each product thoroughly and give ratings according to our experience with it. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are our own.
Today’s review is on the Holistic Baby Sleep System. Need to help baby sleep longer and better? Then read on…
About Holistic Baby Sleep System
The Holistic Baby Sleep System is a non-invasive acupressure system for babies and toddlers that balances their circadian rhythms to help them sleep better.
It consists of 12 acupressure points that are stimulated over a 24-hour period using a completely non-invasive technique. Once sleep rhythms are optimised, then the 12 points can be used in 15 different combinations to address common pediatric health complaints such as teething pain, constipation, cough and ear infections.
- How to learn: DVD / Manual / Worksop
- Developed by: Jennifer Taveras, L.Ac., a mother who has been practicing Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) since 2000 in New York City
Watch the DVD trailer at vimeo here: Holistic Baby Sleep System DVD Trailer
Our Sleeping Problem
Baby Jae started off sleeping rather well. He could fall asleep easily (sometimes all by himself, which I thought was miraculous!), slept easily anytime / anywhere, slept through 2 to 3 hours during nap, and slept through 3 to 4 hours at night.
BUT… Instead of sleeping through longer hours, he regressed. BIG TIME.
At about 5 months old, he started fussing in the middle of his nap, and EVERY 1 to 2 hours throughout the night. Needs to burp –> cry. Teething –> cry. Needs more comfort –> cry. It was a crazy period.
The review opportunity for the Holistic Baby Sleep System (HBSS) came along and I accepted it, literally with open arms. I’ve always been a believer of TCM, which helped me overcome my severe menstrual cramps. (Severe as in acute pain, vomitting, diarrhoea, fainting, and basically bed-ridden on the first day of my menses every alternate month. Almost like giving birth every 2 months.)
The HBSS is non-invasive and only involves massaging the relevant pressure points — suitable for use at home. It also complements gentle sleep practices, such as Elizabeth Pantley’s No Cry Sleep Solution, which we’ve been using.
Since I couldn’t attend the HBSS workshop (based in New York City), I opted for the DVD-and-Manual package to learn the method.
Our Detailed Review
Rating Guide: ★ Oh no! ★★ Poor ★★★ Fair ★★★★ Good ★★★★★ Excellent!
(a) Ease of Use: ★★★★ The instruction manual is spiral-bound, which makes it easy to refer to by laying it flat. I spent only a short while reading it, and the DVD took about 43 minutes.
The instructions are clear and easy to follow. You can press, rub or go in circles, as long as you’re applying pressure around the correct point area.
Personally, I find the manual more important than the DVD for easy reference. The DVD illustrates more clearly how to do the acupressure, though I think the manual alone is clear enough too.
When using only fingers, it’s recommended to do 2 minutes per point. When using a metal object, 1 minute per point is sufficient. For certain protocols (i.e. combination of pressure points), this means up to 12 minutes using fingers or 6 minutes using a metal object.
Vee (3+ years old) is very cooperative during the “massage” sessions and even looks forward to them.
Jae was cooperative as a baby. At about 1 year old, he became very active, and downright refused to stay still for the acupressure sessions. He didn’t like it when I used a coin, while using fingers means twice the time needed. So I carried him, walked about while trying to massage the correct point. Definitely challenging.
For easy access to the materials, especially during middle of the night, I prepared a folder with these items:
- the instruction manual
- a 1-minute sand timer (OR my iPod Touch’s stopwatch mode, OR sing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” 3 times)
- a clean coin (to massage the pressure point)
- a pencil (to update the log)
- a booklight (to see better in a dark room)
This folder is very portable, and suitable to bring along during travels, to counter jet lag.
(b) Effectiveness: ★★★★ I completed the first round in July 2012, over a 24-hour period, then stopped for 6 days as per the manual.
The total number of hours Jae slept increased to ~14.5 hours, compared to the bad week of 12-13 hours just before the acupressure.
Naps definitely improved. As long as he was burped well before nap, he’d sleep 1.5 hours (full stretch) in the early afternoon and another 1.5 hours in the late afternoon.
Night time: He was better then regained fussing rather frequently, whenever teething bothered him. But he fussed with eyes closed, instead of being awake for a 0.5 to 1 hour stretch (which happened before the acupressure). It was easy to rock him back to sleep and put him down.
After 6 days, to get more improvement, I repeated the 24-hour acupressure cycle (as per the manual). Following that, naps continued to be good, while nights didn’t improve.
Jennifer saw my blog post on Jae’s fussiness from teething and emailed me to try out the protocol for teething. That was a crazy period in my life (fussy Jae, hubby with dengue, Vee with febrile fits, followed by both kids ill), so I can’t remember if I tried that out. Oops!
What I remember is trying the combination for fever and cough on Vee after his febrile fits. He certainly recovered quickly, though I cannot simply attribute this to the acupressure.
I certainly like the specific combinations to tackle various common childhood conditions such as fever, constipation, diarrhoea, cough, colic, etc. These can be used when necessary.
(c) Quality: ★★★ The manual is printed on good quality paper, and spiral bound, to withstand frequent flipping. The DVD is very clear. Some protocols are not exactly the same in the DVD versus the manual. (I hope this has been addressed in the current revised version.)
The average sleeping hours for a baby is covered in the DVD but not in the manual. It zoomed by too quickly though, so I needed to pause to read it carefully.
(d) Overall Value: ★★★★ The prices of the HBSS manual and DVD are USD19.99 and USD29.99 respectively. The DVD-Manual package is priced at USD44.99. I don’t know of any similar TCM system designed to improve baby’s sleep. For the range of protocols available to improve children’s sleep and tackle common conditions, I find these prices very reasonable.
HBSS is suitable for parents who need to help their babies sleep longer and better using a gentle method.
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What we like about it:
- Gentle way to help baby sleep better and complements our existing sleep practices
- Easy to use — simply press / rub the relevant points
- Effective — Baby Jae’s sleep increased from 12-13 hours to about 14.5 hours, with 2 x 1.5 hours (full stretch) of nap
- Instruction manual is portable for easy reference
What can be improved:
- Ensure that the information in the DVD and manual are consistent
(Note: The new HBSS manual has been revised with improvements made. I’ve not read it though.)
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Win Your Own
To thank supporters of Mummy’s Reviews™ Parents Club, this Giveaway is EXCLUSIVE to Parents Club members. ONE (1) lucky member will win one DVD-Manual Package worth USD44.99 each!
How to Participate
1. Join Mummy’s Reviews™ Parents Club here or below (existing members counted)
2. Fill in the online form HERE
Other Information
- This Giveaway is open to subscribers with a mailing address worldwide (except in countries that don’t allow participation in lucky draws / sweepstakes).
- It will run until 25 January 2013 (Friday) 2359hr (GMT +8).
- The usual Giveaway Terms apply.
Submit your entry now and good luck!
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Get Your Own (with Discount!)
To get your own Holistic Baby Sleep System products (or attend the workshop at New York City), visit Holistic Baby Sleep System.
- Special Treat: USD10 discount on DVD-Manual Package
- Discount Code: MUMMYS
- Validity Period: Until 28 February 2013
- Note: Please contact Jennifer at jennifer [at] holisticbabysleepsystem [dot] com in case of any trouble purchasing from a foreign address and she can help you.
You may also find Holistic Baby at its Facebook page here: Holistic Baby Facebook page
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P.S. Read more reviews and tips on baby sleep.
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Disclosure: I received a Holistic Baby Sleep System DVD-Manual Package for review. Holistic Baby Sleep System will also be invoiced SGD15 to cover newsletter software subscription costs.
Mummy’s Reviews™ is a review site that receives compensation if readers make purchases from affiliate links (these are marked with an *). If we receive compensation from the companies whose products we review, this would be disclosed. These compensation help to maintain and grow Mummy’s Reviews™. We test each product thoroughly and give ratings according to our experience with it. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are our own.
It’s the last Friday of Year 2012! We’re having a wild time enjoying the year-end holidays — no structured homeschooling lessons, no preparation of activities, simply play during every waking hour. And here’s a round-up of Mummy’s Reviews™ TOP 10 Favourites of the year:
For Pregnant Mummies
- ARDO Breastpumps: Portable, quiet and high quality breastpumps that set new standards
- Ubermums maternity & nursing wear: Affordable 2-in-1 clothes for Mummy. Smart concealed zipper design.
For Mummies
- Boba 3G ergonomic baby carrier: My companion travelling everywhere with baby
- iHerb online mega-store: THE place to save money on organic baby food, body wash, shampoo, vitamins and more
- Qubies food cubes maker: Easy way to freeze food cubes. For the busy Mummy.
For Babies & Toddlers
- Blueberry Basix AIO Cloth Diaper: AIO with pocket, cute prints and my favourite side snaps. Versatile cloth diaper.
- Brolly Sheets absorbent bed pads: Our must-have for nap- and night-time potty training
- Moll Maximo Forte ergonomic chair: Super quality chair that grows with your child
- Spinkie Diaper Mat Clutch: Ultra-portable hygienic diaper mat. My diaper bag must-have.
- Snoozaboo Baby Sleep Bag: Safe way to keep warm during sleep. Thoughtful design and high quality.
Have fun shopping for yourself and baby.
May you and your family enjoy good health and happiness in Year 2013!
Cheers,
MieVee
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P.S. Here’s a BIG thank you for your support and encouragement during the past year. It’s YOU who keep me writing till even 2a.m. after the kids are asleep. Thank you!
It has been a rather peaceful 3 months…
Health & Diet
- Fortunately, after the febrile fits scare in the last update, Vee has been healthy over the past 3 months. This is one of my greatest blessings!
- This foodie boy still enjoys eating, while being more selective nowadays. He dislikes onions, tomatoes (yet loves raw cherry tomatoes), dragon fruits, durians, the yellowish centre of papayas, skin of most foods, and basically anything that looks soft and slimy. Otherwise, he eats the same non-seasoned vegetarian food as me at home, and whatever hubby eats when we’re out.
- He loves cakes, tarts, lau sa pau (a type of dim sum), cookies, ice-cream and chocolates — just like me! Of course, I reserve our quota for these sweet treats to once in a while, and only good quality ones.
- At the end of a wedding dinner we attended in Hong Kong, I asked him what his favourite dish was. And he said, “Watermelon!” Haha… all the gourmet food couldn’t beat his favourite fruit!
Potty Training
- Nap-time: Using an absorbent bed pad such as Brolly Sheets (reviewed here) has helped him succeed in this area. Before nap / quiet time, he’ll use the toilet or potty. I’ll place the potty near his mattress. When he rolls around on bed, he may use the potty another 1-2 times. If he falls asleep, he wakes up dry for short naps and may wet the bed pad for longer ones.
- Night-time: When he’s wearing cloth diapers, he occasionally pee-ed into them even before falling asleep. I’d to change him and remind him to use the potty. Then he tried going diaper-less for 4 nights, with 1 night of success. So he’s back to wearing diapers again until he shows more readiness. At least, he has stopped pee-ing into the diapers before falling asleep. A small step forward.
- Side tracking a bit here: During the Hong Kong trip, I wasn’t sure of the washing facilities in the serviced apartment we rented, so the kids wore disposable diapers. Vee confirmed once again that cloth diapers are more comfortable!
Sleep
- He naps an average of twice a week. On most afternoons, he’s very energetic, so after Jae falls asleep, this is our quiet time routine: cuddling, recitation (for example, multiplication table, which he enjoys very much), silence practice (an important Montessori exercise that helps in self-discipline), some Montessori work or assist me in preparing new learning materials.
- When he’s finally knocked out at night, he sleeps very soundly. Hubby and I can’t help feeling amazed how much our fussy high-need baby has changed.
In 2+ months, he’ll turn 4 years old. Time really really flies…
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P.S. Vee’s homeschooling progress has been shared at Mummy’s Homeschool here.
P.P.S. View more developmental milestones.
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Disclosure: Mummy’s Reviews™ is a review site that receives compensation if readers make purchases from affiliate links (these are marked with an *). If we receive compensation from the companies whose products we review, this would be disclosed. These compensation help to maintain and grow Mummy’s Reviews™. We test each product thoroughly and give ratings according to our experience with it. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are our own.
Here’s the list of baby fairs in Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) for Year 2013. It’ll be updated as more information streams in.
1. EG Mother, Baby & Kids Expo 2013
- Dates: 18 to 20 January 2013
- Time: Information not available
- Venue: Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) Hall 4
- Organiser: EG Groups Holding
- Website: EG Groups website here
2. Motherhood Expo 2013
- Dates: 1 to 3 March 2013
- Time: 10.30a.m. to 9p.m.
- Venue: Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC)
- Organiser: Harenet Communications Sdn Bhd
- Website: Harenet website here
3. 5th Maternity & Children Expo
- Dates: 5 to 7 April 2013
- Time: Information not available
- Venue: Mid Valley Exhibition Centre Halls 2 & 3
- Organiser: The Concept Exhibition (M) Sdn Bhd
- Website: Mid Valley Exhibition Centre events page here
4. Mom & Baby Expo
- Dates: 8 to 13 May 2013
- Time: Information not available
- Venue: Mid Valley Exhibition Centre Halls 1, 2 & 3 Foyer
- Organiser: Today Publishing Sdn Bhd
- Website: Mid Valley Exhibition Centre events page here
5. Parents and Kids Expo 2013
- Dates: 30 August to 1 September 2013
- Time: 10.30a.m. to 9p.m.
- Venue: Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC)
- Organiser: Harenet Communications Sdn Bhd
- Website: Parents and Kids Expo website here
6. 9th IBEX International Baby Expo
- Dates: 15 to 17 November 2013
- Time: 10:30a.m. to 9:00p.m.
- Venue: Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC)
- Organiser: Harenet Communications Sdn Bhd
- Website: IBEX website here
P.S. To get updates on the next Singapore & Malaysia (KL) baby fairs list and more, join Mummy’s Reviews™ Parents Club now:
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P.S.: List updated on 8 December 2012. This list is subject to change. Changes may not necessarily be reflected on this list. Please verify with information from the organiser / venue website.
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You may also like these lists:
- Baby Fairs 2013 (Malaysia, Singapore)
- Kids Education & Book Fairs 2013 (Singapore)
- Kids Education & Book Fairs 2013 (Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur)
