Finally, it’s the last Friday of Year 2011! While my 2 boys are soundly asleep, here’s a quick post on Mummy’s Reviews™ TOP 10 Favourites of the year:

For Pregnant Mummies

• Belly Armor The Belly Band: To protect foetus from radiation, especially for the techie Mum

For Mummies

• Advante Blackhole Mosquito Trap: Must-have if your home is infested with mosquitoes!
• LadyCup Menstrual Cup: If you’d like to ditch pads for good
• The Butterfly Pillow: Beautiful multi-purpose pillow. Babies and pregnant Mummies can use it too.
• weehuggers Wet Bag – Hobo Bag: As a small and stylish diaper bag

For Babies & Toddlers

• Four Cow Farm Baby Wash: Great for those with eczema and sensitive skin
• KidzGrow Online: Innovative child development tracking programme
• Lego Duplo: We love playing with these!
• Loopy Loo’s Snap & Scoop Bibs: Finally found my dream bibs
• Love to Swaddle UP: Unique easy-to-use swaddle that helps baby sleep well

Hope you’d find the list helpful in your shopping.
May you and your family enjoy good health and happiness in Year 2012!

Cheers,
MieVee

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To view all our favourites since Year 2009, click below:

• Pregnant Mummy’s Favourites
• Mummy’s Favourites
• Baby & Toddler’s Favourites

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P.S. What are your favourite buys this year? Feel free to share in the comments box.

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Related posts:

1. Year 2010 TOP 10 Favourite Items
2. Year 2009 Favourite Items
3. Thank You For Reading Mummy’s Reviews™! Need Your Feedback…

Finally, Part 4 of Mum’s Special series covers a review of the LadyCup menstrual cup!

Yes, cloth pads are very comfortable, yet my beloved menstrual cup still beats them flat because washing is a breeze and it lasts up to 12 hours.

Why a Menstrual Cup?

1. Great for sensitive skin (if made of silicone)
2. Extremely comfortable – can hardly feel a thing
3. Very convenient for outdoors & travels — no need to bring disposable pads, wash cloth pads, and won’t run out
4. Lasts up to 12 hours (if the size is right)
5. Smells clean and fresh like cloth pads
6. Saves money – I spent RM145 (about SGD59) on 1 cup, while saving about SGD150 per year
7. Reduce landfill waste

Previously, I’ve tried tampons for a few days but found it too drying and was always paranoid of Toxic Shock Syndrome.

For me, moving on to the menstrual cup had only thing to overcome: the psychological barrier of inserting and removing the cup. Then I thought, “I’m married and even managed to delivery a jumbo baby naturally. What’s a cup?!?” Heck, I’m all game to try it!

About LadyCup Menstrual Cup

These are the main features of the menstrual cup:

• Material: Medical grade silicone
• Country of origin: Made in the European Union

The LadyCup comes in 2 sizes:

Guarantee information quoted from LadyCup’s FAQ’s page: “Guarantee for the material is 2 years. The lifetime of the product is up to 15 years, given its regular and proper maintenance. In case you choose the wrong size, we will replace your LadyCup^® free of charge.”

I’m not sure how the guarantee works when buying the cup at other stores.

And the LadyCup is now available in a wide range of beautiful colours.

First Impressions

Since I’ve given birth before, I bought the Large cup after viewing it at Tiny Tapir‘s physical store. At first sight, it looked quite big compared to a tampon. But I was determined to stuff it in.

The design is very simple and it comes with a small cotton bag and clear usage instructions. At Tiny Tapir, the LadyCup is only available in plain colour, which I’m totally fine with.

How to Use a Menstrual Cup

Washing and sterilising a menstrual cup is much easier than cloth pads. This is how I do it before and after a cycle:

1. Wash it with a natural non-perfumed soap. I use Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap.
2. Disinfect it with a sterilisation solution for 30 minutes. I use 1/4 of a Pureen Sterilising Tablet in a glass cup. (Each tablet contains 500mg Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate (NaCC) meant to be dissolved in 2 litres of water. Each pack of 56 tablets costs RM16.90 and can last a long time. Easily available at baby section of departmental store since these are tablets used for sterilising milk bottles.)

During the cycle, I simply rinse it with water or wash with soap (as in Step 1 above), then re-insert.

After the cycle, I wash and disinfect it, air dry completely, place in the cotton bag, and keep in a cupboard. The instructions says not to keep it in an airtight container.

Steps to inserting the cup:

1. Clean hands thoroughly
2. Moisten the cup with water
3. Fold it across the length
4. Fold again
5. Sit / squat / kneel / stand and relax (breathe… like managing a contraction?)
6. Glide it in aiming towards the back, let go, then allow it to “pop” open
7. Twist it a little to ensure a good suction

Steps to removing the cup:

1. Clean hands thoroughly
2. Sit / squat / kneel / stand and relax
3. Grip the stem or lower part of the cup, press it to break the suction
4. Pull it out gently, using own vaginal muscles to help push it (like giving birth?)
5. Empty contents into the toilet. Wash or wipe clean, then re-insert.

You can find more details, including the instructions booklet at LadyCup’s website here.

My Detailed Review

Rating Guide: ★ Oh no!     ★★ Poor     ★★★ Fair     ★★★★ Good     ★★★★★ Excellent!

I’ve used the LadyCup over one complete cycle.

(a) Washing: ★★★★★ I use the steps mentioned above and it’s much easier than cloth pads. As mums, we’re experts at washing and sterilising milk bottles, pumps, etc, so are definitely able to clean the menstrual cup well.

(b) Ease of Use: ★★★★ I took a few minutes to insert the cup correctly the first time. Managed to remove it quite easily the first time too. Subsequent times are much faster. The key is to relax…

Since it can last up to 12 hours and my flow wasn’t too heavy, I only had to remove and re-insert it about 3 times a day. This is absolutely a time-saver when handling an active toddler — visiting the toilet can be a luxury on certain days!

I also prefer containing the flow inside the cup over letting it flow out onto a pad — this keeps down there much cleaner and cleaning up is a breeze.

Doing either the big or small business with the LadyCup inside was fine. When needed, simply remove, rinse and re-insert.

I haven’t tried removing it when outdoors though because it can last so long.

(c) Fit / Comfort: ★★★★ The cup feels invisible when I’m standing or lying down. The stem is a little too long for me, so I could feel it at times when sitting down. I’d be trimming it shorter in future.

I’m very petite and probably too small down there for the 46mm-diameter Large cup, so I feel a little pain just as the cup is being removed completely. That’s just for a split second.

(d) Performance: ★★★★★ The LadyCup holds up very well during the day with no leak; I only have to empty it about 2 to 3 times.

I went on a road trip, where there was no modern toilet access, and was sooooo glad I was using the cup instead of having to handle a pad.

As a backup, I wear a Lunapads pantiliner when using the LadyCup. On a few occasions, there was a very slight stain on the pantiliner, but I won’t consider that a leak.

Overnight, the LadyCup held up very well over 9.5 hours, with no leak in the morning. I love having clean panties and bedsheets during a cycle! I could literally roll about and sleep in any position without worrying about any mess in the morning. This is freedom…

Tip: In case of any leak during a cycle or even potty-training your child, lay a folded piece of fleece towel on the bed. Fleece is marvellously water-resistant, breathable and machine-washable. I got my fleece towels from Aussino.

(e) Quality: ★★★★ The medical grade silicone is supposed to last up to 15 years with proper care. Of course, I can only conclude after many more cycles. So far, the quality is rather good.

(f) Overall Value: ★★★★★ Each LadyCup retails at USD35.65. In South East Asia, only Tiny Tapir carries it at RM145 each or RM230 for two. You’d only need 1 menstrual cup. So if you’ve a good friend to buy it together, that’s great savings.

Overall, I love LadyCup’s ease of use, comfort and long-hour performance. Absolutely value-for-money.

—

What I like about it:

• Lasts overnight with no leak and mess
• Easy to clean and maintain
• Feels comfortable all day (may trim the stem until it’s short enough)
• Very convenient for long hours outdoors and travelling

Some considerations:

• Feels a little painful upon exit for petite me

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Get Your Own

I bought my LadyCup at Tiny Tapir (Malaysia). They’re also available at LadyCup.eu.

—

P.S. Catch the entire Mum’s Special series here.

Thank you for reading this series and do join in Giveaway #18: Wet bags for baby & Mummy.

Sharing time: Any menstrual cup mamas here? Feel free to share your experiences and reviews in the comment box.

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Related posts:

1. [Mum's Special #2] Fresh Moon Cloth Pads – AIO vs SnapOn
2. [Mum's Special #1] Review: Lunapads Cloth Pads
3. [Mum's Special #3]: Angel Mel Collections Wet bags for Baby & Mummy [Giveaway #18]

It’s 2a.m. and I’ve finally soothed fussy 3-month old Vee back to sleep. Then a mosquito parks itself comfortably onto his forehead. I panick, grab a piece of tissue paper and catch it. Oh no, the mosquito’s gone but the baby’s eyes open wide and I’ve got to soothe him all over again! Aren’t mosquitoes plain irritating?

For several years, our house has been INFESTED with mosquitoes. Dengue fever is common in the region and we live in fear of getting it. Finally, we’ve controlled the mozzie problem and on lucky days, we get away with no bite at all. Here are 5 tried and tested ways to protect your baby from mosquitoes:

1. Wear Light-Coloured Clothings

I learnt this the hard way by wearing a black T-shirt at home and becoming a mosquitoes magnet all day long. Then my mother-in-law (MIL) advised me to wear light-coloured clothes, which helped a lot. So for baby, put light-coloured clothes on him, even if that particular dark blue top looks uber-cool.

2. Mosquito Netting

This is a simple, low cost method. Many play-pens come packaged with mosquito nets, that can be used on a small cot too. Otherwise, you can buy a mosquito net to wrap over the cot when baby is asleep. The downside is reduced air circulation which means baby might feel warmer. Not recommended on a hot day. And an older baby won’t like the netting.

3. Mosquito Repellent

Many commercial mosquito repellents are for adults and unsuitable for baby’s delicate skin and body. So you’d need to select a baby-safe repellent and read its list of ingredients carefully.

When Vee was younger, we tried Buds Mozzie Clear Lotion, which worked rather well. (Read the full review here.)

Then recently, we were given the opportunity to test out TGP Nature Mozz Mosquito Repellent Stick. We used it when visiting the Singapore Zoo and survived the trip with no bites. Over the months, we’ve been applying the repellent religiously before sleep every night. Vee loves the repellent, so after it ran out, we grabbed a new stick at Mothercare (KL). His very-sensitive skin is fine when using this repellent. I only wished a tube lasts longer since three of us are using it.

4. Solar Mosquito Repeller

And about 2 years back, my MIL gave us a Solar Mosquito Repeller*. It’s solar-powered to give off a high-frequency sound and repel blood-sucking female mosquitoes. You can hear the “eeeee” sound by bringing the repeller close to your ears. For more mosquito-repelling action, we hook it by the window grille so that it gets powered up every day and drive the mozzies away.

5. Electric Mosquito Trap

When all the above methods fail and your house is still infested with mosquitoes (like ours 3 years ago), here comes the mosquitoes’ biggest enemy — Advante Blackhole. After comparing several mosquito traps at Home-Fix, we decided to get the Blackhole, which is like the BMW of mosquito traps.

It uses UV-light and heat to create carbon dioxide and moisture, mimicking the human body to lure mosquitoes into the trap. In the first week we placed the trap outside our room, the entire white sticker sheet was FILLED with mosquitoes, maybe a hundred of them. (If you look closely at the picture above, the black dots on the circular white sheet are mosquitoes stuck in the trap.)

When the sticker runs out of space to “stick” mosquitoes, simply replace it with a new piece. The people at Home-Fix helps with maintaining the Blackhole. So far, we’ve only had to change a spare part once.

By using the above methods, we’ve finally managed to keep the mosquitoes at bay.

Sharing time: How do YOU protect yourself and baby from mosquitoes? Do share in the comments box.

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Get Your Own (with Discount!)

To get your own TGP Nature Mozz Mosquito Repellent Stick and a wide range of products for Mummy and baby, visit thegreenpocket.biz and baby-mel.com.

• Special Treat: 15% discount on mosquito repellent stick
• Discount Code: LZEF37T09BQ6Y
• Validity Period: Until 31 March 2011

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Disclosure: I received 2 tubes of TGP Nature Mozz Mosquito Repellent Sticks for review.

*: affiliate link to support the growth and maintenance of Mummy’s Reviews™

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Related posts:

1. Review: How to Protect Your Baby From Radiation (Belly Armor Belly Blanket)
2. Review: Protect baby from radiation during pregnancy with The Belly Band
3. Review: Buds Mozzie Clear Lotion

Stylish Mum’s Essentials item #5 is weehuggers Wet Bag – Hobo Bag, retailed at one of my favourite stores, Whoopeekiddies (now known as Milagro Trading). Even before this article, I’ve been Whoopeekiddies’ regular customer, buying cloth diapers and even personal care products from there.

The weehuggers Wet Bag is a smartly-designed bag with an integrated wet bag compartment to hold wet or soiled baby items. Certainly a dream bag for cloth diapering mums! Even if you aren’t cloth diapering baby, this bag eliminates the need to bring plastic or ziploc bags to hold baby’s dirty clothes, bibs, etc.

This multi-purpose bag in a cheerful designer print has become my grab-and-go diaper bag for more than 4 months. I’m so000 grateful that Yee Ling from Whoopeekiddies sent me one for a review.

What is a Wet Bag?

Just in case you’re new to this, a wet bag is a cloth bag with a zip closure and waterproof inner lining. It was originally designed to hold wet or soiled cloth diapers when Mummy and baby are on the go. Since its invention by the cloth diapering industry, Mums have found a trillion uses for wet bags, limited only by your own imagination. Read some of the popular uses here.

About weehuggers™ Wet Bag

The brand, weehuggers, is owned by Blueberry diapers, which is famous for its minky cloth diapers. These are the main features of the wet bag:

• Outer layer: Designer cotton fabric
• Inner lining: Waterproof PUL (polyurethan laminate)
• Handle: Yes
• Dimensions: 16″ x 14″ x 3″
• Capacity: Up to 10 wet diapers
• Country of origin: Made in the U.S.A.; wee-be-gone™ patches made in Japan.

There’s a larger version called weehuggers™ Laundry Bag. Both are available in 8 designer prints.

First Impressions

The bag is very pretty and does not look like wet bag at all. Who’d have guessed that it’s one?!?

There are 2 zippered compartments — the larger one is for wet stuff, the smaller one for dry stuff. Within the wet bag compartment is a unique wee-be-gone™ patch, which is supposed to “absorb the organic compound Trimethylamine – an ammonia-like gas present in soiled diapers”.

The bag is generally well-made, except for some loose threads inside 1 of the zips. Such threads risk jamming the zip, so I promptly trimmed them off.

How We Tested It

(a) Laundry: I handwashed it in cold before first use. After that, I flip the wet compartment inside out and throw it into the washing machine with Vee’s usual laundry, whenever needed. Ever since this wet bag became my staple grab-and-go diaper bag, I minimise washings needed by putting a wet bag into the wet compartment. Crazy, right?

(b) Capacity: This wet bag was tested heavily during our 1-week trip in Perth. Instead of lugging my gigantic LeSportsac diaper bag around, I used the weehuggers wet bag as a compact diaper bag.

It contained a full day’s travelling needs — 5 cloth diapers with extra disposable inserts, a few cloth wipes, a packet of wet wipes, an extra set of clothes, and a travel diaper mat clutch. Wet cloth diapers are bulkier and get squeezed into the wet compartment. At the end of the day, the wet diapers are empty into a large travelling wet bag or diaper pail.

Nowadays, I store 2 cloth diapers, several cloth wipes, a packet of wet wipes, an extra set of clothes and a travelling placemat in the bag. Anytime we’ve a short errand to run or to attend Vee’s Shichida classes, I simply grab the hobo bag plus my small handbag, and we’re ready to leave. With the wet compartment, it’s perfectly ok to forget to bring a wet bag along. Oh… how I love this!

Stylish Mum’s Tip: Carrying a diaper bag separate from your handbag makes it easier to change handbags to match your outfit for the day. It also means you can leave the heavier diaper bag lying around without the risk of losing your valuables. A small handbag also looks more elegant than a bigger one.

(c) Performance: So far, dampness is well-contained within the wet compartment. The wee-be-gone patch seems to do its job of absorbing odors, even after a day of travelling with wet diapers in it. I didn’t have the chance to test it with poopy diapers because Vee has been pooing into the toilet / potty since 10 months old.

(d) Overall Value: The usual price of a weehuggers Wet Bag is S$46, and it’s now at 15% off (S$39.10), which is a real steal, considering this dual-functions as a compact and stylish diaper bag. I’ve been using the weehuggers Wet Bag for more than 4 months and wish it’d never ever wear out…

—

What we like about it:

• Very pretty — I love designer prints!
• Doubles up as a compact diaper bag (or multi-purpose bag for gym or swimming)
• Machine washable for easy maintenance

What can be improved:

• Trim away loose threads after sewing the bag
• Hide laundry instructions inside bag for a more elegant look

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Get Your Own (with Discount!)

To get your own weehuggers™ Wet Bags and a WIDE range of products for babies, kids and Mummy, visit Whoopeekiddies (now known as Milagro Trading).

• Special Treat: 10% discount on cloth diapering products and accessories (regular items only)
• Discount Code: MUMMYREVIEWS11
• Validity Period: Until 31 August 2011

Live outside Asia? You may check the price at Amazon.com here: Weehuggers Wet Bag – Hobo Bag*

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Disclosures: I received a weehuggers™ Wet Bag for review.

*: affiliate link to support the growth and maintenance of Mummy’s Reviews™
—

P.S. Catch the entire Stylish Mum’s Essentials series HERE.

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Related posts:

1. [Stylish Mum’s Essentials #3] Diaper Mat Clutch
2. [Stylish Mum’s Essentials #2] The Pat-a-Cake-Baby Wet Bag [Giveaway #14]
3. [Stylish Mum's Essentials #4] Review: You’ve got to see The Butterfly Pillow [Giveaway #17]

Spinkie gave me the opportunity to review The Butterfly Pillow. I’ve fallen in love with it, so it forms Part 4 of the popular Stylish Mum’s Essentials series!

About The Butterfly Pillow

These are the main features of the pillow:

• Upper layer: Made of 100% cotton designer fabric
• Lower layer: Made of minky-dot fabric
• Contents: Polyester fiberfill is recycled, washable, and non-allergenic
• Country of origin: Handmade in the U.S.A.

The Butterfly Pillows are co-designed by Mutya (who co-started Spinkie) and are available in a range of lovely designer prints.

First Impressions

The Butterfly Pillow looks stunning and stands out among the mountain of bolsters and pillows on our family bed. One side is the same type of soft and plush dotted minky fabric as the The Pat-a-Cake Baby Blanket. The other side is made with beautiful designer fabric, which I adore.

There’s a little card explaining the various ways to use The Butterfly Pillow. And I’m happy that the laundry tab says it’s washable!

How We Tested It

(a) Uses & Effectiveness: There’re many ways to use the pillow and I didn’t simply follow what the little card mentioned. Here’s how our family has used it:

1. Relieve blocked nose when sleeping: Occasionally, my sinus problem returns and I get blocked nose at night. Placing The Butterfly Pillow on top of my pillow helps to lift my head up by the much-needed inches and I get to sleep soundly. Its firmness and contour supports my neck well, so I don’t get any stiff neck in the morning. Wonderful!
2. Neck / shoulder support when sitting on the bed: I frequently use the laptop on the bed and The Butterfly Pillow keeps my neck and shoulders comfortable while lying against the wall. There were nights when Vee had blocked nose and hubby had to carry him to sleep while sitting up. The Butterfly Pillow has been a total saviour for his poor neck through the night.
3. Neck support during long car rides: During our 4-hour road trips between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, Vee loved using The Butterfly Pillow in his car seat. Since young, he prefers to sit up REALLY straight than recline on any bed, stroller, car seat or high chair. The pillow supports his neck, allowing him to sit up straighter, and he insisted on using it through the journey.

(b) Laundry: I was eager to try the pillow during our long road trip, so didn’t prewash it. Oops! At the end of the trip, Vee dropped it onto the floor in the car and I subsequently dropped it onto the car park. Gross! Finally, I handwashed it in cold water with a little mild detergent. It was heavy to wring the water off the pillow at the final rinse. Then I laid it flat to dry under the sun for a couple of days. And it looks as good as new.

(c) Overall Value: Each Butterfly Pillow is USD25. It’s multi-purpose, beautifully-designed and very well-made. Anyone in the family from young to old can use it, so I definitely find it value-for-money.

—

What we like about it:

• Provides comfortable neck / shoulder support in various situations
• Beautiful design for stylish mums
• Washable for easy maintenance

What can be improved:

• Instructions suggest folding the pillow into half for neck support. I find it too stiff to stay in place after folding, and am happy to use it without folding.

—

Win Your Own

To celebrate the launch of Mummy’s Reviews™ Parents Club, this Giveaway is EXCLUSIVE to Parents Club members. TWO (2) lucky members will win one gorgeous The Butterfly Pillow worth USD25 each!

How to Participate

1. Join Mummy’s Reviews™ Parents Club (existing members counted)

2. To get 1 extra entry: ”Like” Spinkie Facebook page (existing fans counted)

3. 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).
• If you’re a winner, the colour / design of your prize depends on the stock available.
• It will run until 25 February 2011 (Friday) 2359hr (GMT+8).
• The usual Giveaway Terms apply.

Send in your entries now and good luck. Feel free to get your friends to join in the fun too!

—

Get Your Own (with Discount!)

To get your own The Butterfly Pillow and a wide range of stylish products for baby, visit Spinkie. Be prepared to drool at all the designer prints!

• Special Treat: 20% STOREWIDE discount
• Discount Code: 20MUMMYBP
• Validity Period: Until 15 March 2011

—

Disclosure: I received one The Butterfly Pillow for review and Spinkie is a banner ad sponsor at the time of writing.

—

P.S. If you’re a new reader, catch the entire Stylish Mum’s Essentials series HERE.

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Related posts:

1. Winners of The Butterfly Pillows (Giveaway #17)
2. [Stylish Mum’s Essentials #1] The Pat-a-Cake Baby Blanket [Giveaway #13]
3. [Stylish Mum’s Essentials #2] The Pat-a-Cake-Baby Wet Bag [Giveaway #14]

Whoo… After a long marathon, we’ve reached the final week of Year 2010! Here’s a round-up of Mummy’s Reviews™ TOP 10 Favourites of the year:

For Pregnant Mummies

• Belly Armor Belly Blanket
• BellyFit™ Programme

For Mummies

• Angel Mel Hot Mama Organic Nursing Pads
• Erbium Laser Skin Treatment
• Book: The No-Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley

For Babies

• Baby Sign Language
• Lamaze Jacques The Peacock
• Vee Bee 6 Sided Play Yard
• Flip One-Size Disposable Inserts
• EasiYo: Bio-Life Organic (Full Cream) Yoghurt

Hope you’d find the list helpful in your parenting journey.
May you and your loved ones have a fantastic year ahead!

Cheers,
MieVee

P.S. What are your favourite buys this year? Feel free to share in the comment box.

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Related posts:

1. Year 2009 Favourite Items
2. Taking a break during Lunar New Year celebrations
3. Takashimaya Baby Fair (11-28 March 2010)

To celebrate Mummy’s Reviews™’ first Mother’s Day, this review article is dedicated to all Mummies — a break from the usual review of toys, cloth diapers and other baby essentials. After having a baby, it is amazing how often we shop for him and not for ourselves. The pampering sessions of manicure / pedicure, facial treatments and massage (remember preparing for wedding day?) have been squashed out of our calendars. I aim to be a Mummy (and wife) well-maintained in all major beauty departments — skin, hair and body.

When Dr. Dana Elliott Srither of The Aesthetics Clinic (Singapore) offered me a laser treatment for review, I was overwhelmed! I had done only ONE facial treatment ever since Vee was born 14 months ago. I seriously needed this laser treatment meant to reduce mild acne scarring, open pores and for overall skin rejuvenation.

As the ever cautious Mummy, I made some clarifications with Dr. Dana over e-mail:

MieVee: My skin is dry and sensitive (history of hand eczema). Is the laser treatment appropriate?

Dr. Dana: The laser treatment will be done on your face. Most eczema lesions are over the limbs, so if you do not have any on your face, it is fine. I will have to start at a low safe level anyway, which is my safety protocol.

MieVee: How long would the treatment and visit take?

Dr. Dana: The treatment will take not more than 1 hour, from stepping into the clinic to leaving.

MieVee: What are the common effects on the skin after treatment? (E.g. peeling, redness) What is the recovery time needed, if any? (I need to take a flight back to KL on the following day)

Dr. Dana: Slight redness (of course depending on the level of intensity I choose). No peeling seen, but because the laser is slightly exfoliative (helps to get rid of dead skin layers), redness tends to last till that night, or latest the day after. Your treatment will be the safe low intensity.

My First Laser Treatment

I arranged for the appointment to match our recent Singapore trip, left Vee in my Mum’s care while I sneaked out for a pampering session. The clinic’s branch at Bukit Batok Civil Service Club is surrounded by lush greenery and it felt like going to a spa resort. Immediately, my mind was tuned to vacation mode. Fe, the service staff, was very polite and made me feel welcomed. She cleansed my face and applied numbing cream on it. The numbing effect was apparent after 5 to 10 minutes.

Dr. Dana gave me a short presentation comparing four treatments available to solve skin issues — chemical peel, Q-Switch, Erbium and Fractional CO2. In general, the higher the treatment intensity, the larger potential benefits offered. His treatment protocol is to start at a low safe level.

After I signed a consent form, my eyes were covered and Dr. Dana started with one round of Q-Switch laser. As I have loads of facial hair, there were countless sparks and I could even smell the burnt hair! (Dr. Dana must have witnessed a mini National Day fireworks display.) The area around the nose and lips were more sensitive, yet it was nearly painless.

He then proceeded with one round of Erbium laser, which felt warmer and still almost pain-free. (By the way, I have a sky-high pain threshold — think: birth contractions for 27 hours without ANY painkiller/gas.) Anyway, compared to facial treatments where the beautician squeezes out blackheads till you cry, this pales in comparison.

After the laser treatment, Fe applied a cooling mask on my face, followed by moisturizing serum and sunblock.

Observations After The Treatment

My cheeks turned rosy (not very red) and the skin felt a bit taut. On the same evening, I brought Vee to a play-date and my good friend did not mention anything about my face. This seems like no downtime at all. Over the following few days, I diligently applied moisturiser and sunscreen lotion even at home. Powder make-up was easily applied onto my face on day 4 and I was pleased to look beautiful again.

Conclusion

Erbium laser exfoliated my skin effectively in just a short time. It is a very time- and cost-efficient way of maintaining youthful complexion and I am looking forward to my next laser treatment!

—

What I like about it:

• Hygiene and safety — face being taken care of by a doctor
• Saves time — only 1 hour needed occasionally, great for busy Mums
• Hardly any pain
• Clinic situated in lush environment — I felt very relaxed
• Polite staff

What can be improved:

• Consider setting up a branch in Kuala Lumpur!

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Get Your Own

The Aesthetics Clinic is organising complimentary workshops on “Solutions for Skin Laxity versus Skin Quality – Any Difference?” You would also get to clarify your skin concerns with the doctor. Yes, admission is FREE!

• 29 May 2010 (Sat) 2-4pm (Bukit Batok Civil Service Club)
• 12 June 2010 (Sat) 2-4pm (Shaw Centre Penthouse)
• 17 July 2010 (Sat) 2-4pm (Bukit Batok Civil Service Club)

Feel free to share this post with your friends and invite them along. There are only 10 seats per workshop, so act fast. To secure your seat, email your name and contact number to Dr. Dana.

The Aesthetics Clinic @ Bukit Batok Civil Service Club

91 Bukit Batok West Avenue 2

Blk D #05-01

Singapore 659206

Tel : 6316 5282

The Aesthetics Clinic @ Shaw Centre Penthouse 27th Floor

1 Scotts Road

Level 27

Singapore 228208

(Access by Lift A, B or C only)

Tel : 6235 8770

Visit The Aesthetics Clinic here.

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Disclosure: I received a laser treatment for review.

© 2009-2012 Veezian Pte. Ltd. | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Mummy's Reviews™ subscribers. If you like this post, you may share its link: Review: Radiant Skin at The Aesthetics Clinic [Mother’s Day Feature]. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited.

Related posts:

1. Year 2010 TOP 10 Favourite Items
2. Review: Mother World Pre-Natal Support Belt
3. Review: Nellie’s All-Natural Laundry Soda: For cloth diapers & sensitive skin

As we welcome the Year 2010, here’s a round-up of Vee’s (previously known as ‘Baby V’) and my favourite items:

For Pregnant Mummies:

• Mother World Pre-Natal Support Belt

For Mummies:

• L’Occitane Organic Pure Shea Butter
• Beco Baby Carrier (Butterfly 2 DUO)
• Moms in Mind Sarong Sling (Baby Carrier)

For Babies:

• Kiddopotamus SwaddleMe
• Lucas Papaw Ointment
• The First Years Newborn-to-Toddler Bath Tub
• Munchkin Stay-Put Bowls
• Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Stack & Roll Cups
• Fisher-Price Newborn-to-Toddler Portable Rocker
• Fisher-Price Healthy Care™ Deluxe Booster Seat

Hope you would find the list helpful.
May you and your loved ones have a fantastic year ahead!

Cheers,
MieVee

P.S. What are your favourite buys this year? Feel free to share.

© 2009-2012 Veezian Pte. Ltd. | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Mummy's Reviews™ subscribers. If you like this post, you may share its link: Year 2009 Favourite Items. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited.

Related posts:

1. Year 2010 TOP 10 Favourite Items
2. Review: Fisher-Price Healthy Care™ Deluxe Booster Seat
3. Review: Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Stack & Roll Cups

What can be improved:

• I wish the price were low enough to get two so that it can be washed more regularly

—

Get Your Own

In Singapore, Beco carriers are available in at Cozy Babies (distributor) and Baby Slings and Carriers (retailer). Both stores deliver to Malaysia too.

You may also check the price at Amazon.com here: Beco Butterfly II Baby Carrier*

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*: affiliate link to support the growth and maintenance of Mummy’s Reviews™

© 2009-2012 Veezian Pte. Ltd. | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Mummy's Reviews™ subscribers. If you like this post, you may share its link: Review: Beco Baby Carrier (Butterfly 2 DUO). Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited.

Related posts:

1. Special Treat: Baby Slings & Carriers Discount
2. Review: Pupsik Studio Baby Pouch Carrier [Giveaway #10]
3. Review: Moms in Mind Sarong Sling (Baby Carrier)

When I was shopping for baby stuff (at Kiddy Palace, Jurong Point, Singapore) during pregnancy, my best friend recommended the Moms in Mind sarong sling (listed price: S$45, without demo video) to me. I trusted her opinion and bought a cotton sateen sling in Lilac-Pink, which turned out to be one of my favourite buys.

Aesthetics

The cotton sateen fabric is super-smooth and soft; the beautiful colour-combination and modern sling design creates an attracive layering piece when I wear it outdoors. I am always thrilled when other mums ask me where I bought the sling from. (Yes, I am a vain-pot at heart.)

Functionality

The loop-design makes it rather easy to secure the baby correctly in the sling. Practice makes perfect. I certainly prefer this one-size sling over sized ones.

The little zip compartment is just the right size for a handphone, face cloth and pacifier. What a thoughtful design!

The sling is suitable for shopping in crowded or narrow places where the stroller is inconvenient — for instance, pasar malam (night markets) and supermarkets. When Baby V cannot fall asleep in the stroller, he would be happy to be in the sling. He used to take long naps in it while I shopped in peace, until curiosity took over at about 3 months old.

When no nursing room is nearby, I simply nurse him in the sling.

At home, the sling keeps Baby V calm while he watches me prepare food for my daily tea-break or do other light chores.

The sling has been so useful that I ordered another one (in Light-Blues) online to ensure that there is always a clean one available. (Baby V never spares my beloved slings from regurgitated milk or saliva!)

However, as the weight of the baby is born by only one shoulder, I found it too strenuous to carry Baby V in it when he weighed above 9kg.

Pros:

• Washes well (machine-washable, place in a laundry net) — looks new even after 6 months of frequent use
• Cotton sateen fabric is very smooth, soft and breathable (keeps baby cool)
• Versatile — several carrying positions possible
• Attractive modern design

Cons:

• For petite mums like me, the ‘tail’ of the sling could be too long
• Weight of the baby is born by only one shoulder

(Tip: Wrap the tail around the loop to keep it short and neat.)

© 2009-2012 Veezian Pte. Ltd. | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Mummy's Reviews™ subscribers. If you like this post, you may share its link: Review: Moms in Mind Sarong Sling (Baby Carrier). Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited.

Related posts:

1. Review: Beco Baby Carrier (Butterfly 2 DUO)
2. Review: Pupsik Studio Baby Pouch Carrier [Giveaway #10]
3. Review: Moms & Tots Cloth Diapers [Giveaway #4]