I was given the opportunity to review the new Fisher-Price EZ Bundle: a new 4 in 1 Infant Seat, Swing, High Chair, and Toddler Chair.  Yes, you read correctly.  4 baby essentials in one!  With a price point of 150.00 you get nearly every baby furniture essential for your home.

Here’s a revolutionary new space-saving idea that’s also a great value! The EZ Bundle 4-in-1 Baby System gives you 4 baby essentials in one! Start with one seat, then snap it into the infant seat frame, the swing frame, the high chair frame or the toddler seat frame. So easy to switch—and everything you need is included! Requires 4 C batteries.

At the moment, my baby tester hasn’t arrived yet, however he is anxious to try it out when he arrives.  In the meantime, I am going to give you the lowdown on what I have experienced so far.  I will let you know how he likes it when he gets here!

Infant Swing

• 6-speeds for variety

• 3-point restraint

• Comfy stain-resistant seat pad

• Approx. 0-6 Months, Maximum weight: 25 lbs.

• Use Swing from birth until child becomes active and attempts to climb out of the product.

High Chair

• 5-point restraint

• Comfy stain-resistant seat pad

• Approx. 6-24 Months, Maximum weight: 50 lbs.

• Use High Chair only with a child who has enough upper body control to sit up unassisted.

Newborn Seat

• Great for feeding or napping!

• 3-point restraint

• Comfy stain-resistant seat pad

• Approx. 0-6 Months, Maximum weight: 25 lbs.

• Use Infant seat from birth until child is able to sit up unassisted.

Toddler seat

• Holds toddlers up to 50 lbs.!

• Comfy stain-resistant seat pad

• Approx. 18 Months & up, Maximum weight: 50 lbs.

• Use Toddler seat only with a child capable of getting into and out of the product unassisted.

First Impressions:

The box the EZ Bundle comes in is rather large, however you have to remember there are parts to the 4 items inside.  Opening the box overwhelmed me a little.  There were what seemed to be a lot of parts.  I took a breather and came back to the box to tackle my project.  In reality, it was not that hard.  I am like a man in that I don’t like manuals.  I winged it.  I looked at the pictures and compared parts, laying things out that seemed to go together.  4 green pieces went together to create the base of the High Chair/ Toddler Chair stand.  No screws needed.  The infant chair/swing base does require a few screws.  I found it hard to screw them in with a regular screwdriver, so a drill if you have one around is definitely handy!  The swing needed a few screws, and my hubby actually did that part.  Overall it only took 20 minutes of assembly between all of the different pieces.

High Chair: Honestly, this chair is not missing anything in my opinion.  Some people like their chairs to recline but I have never found this necessary.  I believe if you like to give a child a bottle then this is something you need.  My baby never had a bottle and when he learned to use a sippy he didn’t need to be reclined.  The tray is large enough for any dish I own.  The fabric of the seat is easy to wipe clean, another bonus!

Toddler Seat:  My son loves this seat!  As soon as I put it down he ran over to sit in it.  I think toddlers in general love having their own, easy to access, chair.  Unlike our upholstery chair, I felt good when he ate in it knowing I could wipe it clean.  He did often try to sit a cup on the “arm” but it is sloped and just falls off.  He is used to the seat he already had which has a flat arm.

Infant Seat: Sometimes, you just need to put a baby in a safe spot.  Especially if you have this at a home where there aren’t other baby gadgets, this seat is going to come in handy.  Instead of putting the baby on a couch, bed, or floor, you can use this reclining seat which has a buckle.  It might not vibrate or play music, but they don’t always have to!  There is a little rattle toy attached which can entertain the baby.

Swing: The swing has 6 speed settings.  I will have to test out how it goes with a baby and how many pounds it can swing with, but so far it seems to be working great.  My son is just too large for it!

Big Picture: Ok, here is what I love about this.  Cheap, cute gender neutral print and color scheme, and space saving.  But what I really love is the potential for this to make trips to the grandparent’s house that much easier.  For 150.00 you or your parents can buy a simple item that will change how your visits will go.  Let me tell you, I would have killed for a swing for my son when we visited our family.  He napped in a swing at home most days.  There, napping took place on me.  I also didn’t have a place to sit him down…. there was a bouncer but it was upstairs more often than not, and carrying it up and down was a hassle.  There, there was the high chair conundrum.  My well meaning in laws bought a clamp on high chair that was fabric.  It works well for my son now, but it was so soft and low, eating was hard when he was younger, and clean up was a nightmare!  I wanted a regular plastic, easy to clean, chair.  I also think having a toddler chair is such a cool possibility.  There is a tiny wicker chair that he likes to use but it is more for decoration.  He sits on the floor to watch TV and the toddler chair would be much more comfortable!

150.00 is a small price to pay when you want the comforts of home!  And of course, if you are just starting out buying the baby basics and you have a tight space and/or a tight budget, this is a pretty sweet set up!

Where to buy: Fisher-Price.com

I was able to review this product through my affiliation with Mom Select. The item was sent by the manufacturer for the review free of charge.  No other compensation was received and all opinions expressed are my own.

This review was written and performed by DDL contributor, Kristen.  Look for a coupon code and giveaway after the review!

I was given the opportunity to review the Rain or Shine Kids (RoSK) Sun Cover, which is an organic, lightweight cover that can be used in many situations to protect your baby (and you in some situations) from the sun’s harmful rays.  The RoSK sun cover claims to protect a UPF of 30+ but studies have shown that it can actually protect up to an UPF of 45+.

Sun protection for baby made easy in a 4 ounce single layer of breathable, organic cotton. UPF 30+ sun protection that will not wash out, the Sun Cover keeps baby comfortable by blocking harmful UV rays without adding warmth. Tie this airy lightweight cover on your babies stroller, infant carrier, or infant car seat and provide all day sun protection. Use with all your baby gear, visit the‘how to use‘ page for examples. All Sun Covers are a 4 ounce layer of white fabric with a choice of four edging colors. The perfect sun protection for babies during the hot weather.

When I got the RoSK Sun Cover, I was pretty happy to begin using it as I loathe putting sunscreen on my girls.  Not only do I hate slathering them with chemicals or super expensive all natural sunscreens but I also hate being left with either greasy or white hands depending on the type of sunscreen I used.  Also, I hate the way sunscreens smell.  The RoSK Sun Cover was an exciting idea for me because it meant that I could take the kids out walking and while they would be covered by the canopy of the stroller, their legs and feet are usually exposed to the sun…so with the RoSK Sun Cover, I was able to tie it onto the stroller to protect their legs and feet instead.

The cover itself is a lightweight, white fabric.  It is lined with an outer edge of color (mine was orange, which is always a bonus in my book).  It didn’t seem to make my girls any hotter, which is definitely a plus in the hotter months.  The sun cover was large enough that when I had my girls facing each other in their Kolcraft Contours Tandem Stroller, it covered both of their legs.  It tied on easily to all three of my strollers.  I can also be used to attach to yourself when you are wearing your baby to protect their arms and legs from the sun’s rays.  Likewise, you can also use it as a nursing cover and since it is really lightweight, it would be less likely to make baby all hot and sweaty…  The site also suggests using it on a infant carrier and you can use it as a lightweight blanket for baby to play on as well since it is easy to clean, water resistant and the UPF will not wash away over time.

Overall, I think this is a great product.  Neither of my kids got sun burned during our extensive walks when we used it and it never seemed to make them any hotter.  My 7 month old even seemed to enjoy having it there as something to play with.  I love the idea of having something cover and protect them from the harmful UV rays while we take walks and it’s an added bonus that it ties on.

Buy it: If you want to buy one, since it is the end of summer the price has been reduced on their site to $30 (from $38) and the coupon code SUN25 will give my readers 25% off any product at www.roskbaby.com – which brings the cost of a Sun Cover with shipping in the US to $27.71. Smokin’ deal for an organic cotton sun protective product!

RoSK is also giving one lucky DDL reader a RoSK Sun Cover!

Mandatory Entry:

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Giveaway ends on September 7. Winner will be chosen using random.org. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours a new winner will be drawn. *Open to US and Canada*  Kristen received a free Cover for the purposes of this review.  All opinions are 100% genuine and her own.

I love to research purchases, and in light of my recent post on reusable bags, I decided I would round-up some of the wonderful reusable bags out there.  Some of these I have tried and use myself, others are ones I thought were neat!  I think the key to remembering to use your bags is having them around, everywhere.  I have bags in my car, bags in my diaper bag, bags on the closet door handle, and bags in bags!  Grocery shopping is easy because you plan to go and remember to bring the bags.  Impromptu shopping means you don’t always plan to bring your bags.  That is why I love the selection of compact nylon bags that can be stored in your diaper bag.  I always have a Chico bag or other small nylon bag handy!  These days there is a ton of variety!  I picked a few from DDL affiliate, Amazon.com.

I am starting with my favorite!

Chico Bag

ChicoBag Reusable Nylon Bags So these are by far my favorite reusable bags.  They are easy to use and compact.  I love these more for general shopping because they fit in my purse (I always keep 2 in my diaper bag)  They also have a carabener to attach to your bag and a drawstring that can be used to loop around your wrist if you are running into the store.  5.00 each.

flip and tumble

flip & tumble 24-7 Reusable Bag- The Flip and Tumble bag is not one I have tried.  It is a nylon bag that you can roll up into a ball so it is easy to use. 12.00.

Blue Avocado Reusable Bag

BlueAvocado Reusable Bag- These are very similar to Chico bags, compact and can be stuffed in a small pouch.  But they come in really pretty patterns!  I am a sucker for that!  Haven’t tried them but love this pretty flower pattern.  20.00 for 2.

Canvas Grocery Tote

Reusable Grocery Tote - I have a set of 6 of these canvas grocery totes.  When I decided to switch over I knew I wanted non brand specific bags I could use at any store, and a matching set.  They fold up nicely and hold a ton!  They have a shape so they are easy to load with groceries.  I keep them in one bag and have that in my car or hanging from my coat closet door so I never forget them (almost never).  These are really the best for groceries! 10.00 for 6.

This review was performed by DDL Contributor Kristen.

I was given the opportunity to review a hat made by lcraftanddesign on Etsy.  I discovered her store on Etsy because a while ago I reviewed a hat by MoBoleez, which was made for helping the breastfeeding mom to nurse discreetly by having the baby wear the hat and the brim is so wide that it covers everything.  It quickly became my favorite method of discreetly nursing in public.  The only problem was that my baby kept growing, and then the hat no longer fit her head.  I was in the market for a summer hat for my baby anyway (we spend our days at the beach, the pool and the park) and I figured if I found one with a really wide brim, it could serve a double purpose.

I found what I was looking for at lcraftanddesign’s Etsy store. The hats she sells through her store have such adorable designs that I had a hard time choosing!  I finally chose the “Crazy Daisy” patterned sun hat.  When I received the hat, I could tell that it was well made, in addition to being adorable!  One of the things I liked about it was that it has ties on it to help keep it on my 6 month olds head.  She isn’t too good about getting hats off yet but I know it’s in the near future and there’s always the wind to contend with when outside so the ties help to keep the hat securely on her head. They also help to make me feel secure that when I use it for nursing, I can reliably know that it won’t fall off her head and randomly expose what is going on underneath there!

Compared to the MoBoleez Nursing hat, this one did have a smaller diameter brim, although it was wider than pretty much any other sun hat I have encountered, so while it works well for nursing, it would be even nicer if it was a tad bit wider to make me feel even more comfortable.  The brim itself was pretty floppy, which has advantages and disadvantages.  I loved it because it shaped well to cover things when I nursed, but when she wore it as a hat, it often flopped into her face.  Easily remedied by having her add the snaps to the hat to hold the brim up.  As I stated I love that it ties, but I almost wish it had a hook and loop closure instead of ties. (snap closure available upon request) The reason for this is that I often nurse while I am wearing my baby in either a ring sling or soft structured carrier, and it’s really hard for me to tie it on her head while wearing her (if she isn’t already wearing it).  It would be easier to plop on her head and fasten a hook and loop closure instead.  However, when I’m not wearing her, it isn’t an issue and the ties actually look really cute and are also nice because no matter what size head your kid has, you can tie it as tight or loose as needed.

All in all, I really love this hat for all the purposes mentioned above.  It’s a fabulous sun hat at a reasonable price and I think it’s great to support people on Etsy.  I get so many compliments on the hat and pattern and she sells many different cute patterns in her store so there are a lot to choose from.  For breastfeeding purposes, I do kind of wish the brim were a tad wider (maybe another inch or two in diameter?), but as it is, it still works great for the purposes of discreet nursing, which is a bonus in my book!

If you’d like you can find lcraftanddesign on Facebook!

For the month of August, DDL readers can save 20% on lcraftanddesign’s hats with code: DDL20.

Kristen received a Wide Brimmed Sunhat free of charge for the purposes of this review.  All opinions expressed are genuine and 100% her own.

Lately I have been doing a lot of online shopping and browsing to get ready for our second baby.  One online store I have been frequenting is CSN Stores, which is just a conglomeration of everything you could ask for. Dining Room Tables,Rugs (which I am in desperate need of thanks to my toddler who is out to get my hardwood floors), and of course Baby and Kids items.  They have so many stores (over 200) that they even sell the kitchen sink…

A lot of their items qualify for free shipping, something that I look for, especially when I am buying a large item.  I have so many things I need for this new baby, including a huge dresser, so saving money is very important.

One of the stores I browsed for hours was their Ride on Toys site, which had toys I had not even heard of.  My son has been loving one of his ride on toys but the wheels don’t turn.  So I browsed on CSN and discovered so many options.

As for my review for CSN, I haven’t made up my mind yet and it might be many more hours worth of browsing, but there will be a review coming soon!  Keep an eye out!

I will be receiving a product from CSN Stores for review free of charge.

This review was performed and written by DDL contributor Kristen.

I was given the opportunity to review the MoBoleez Hat, which is a great alternative to a nursing cover.  It is a stylish hat with an extremely wide brim that can be worn by the baby while breastfeeding and it will discreetly cover all that someone could want to cover while nursing.

When I discovered this product I thought it was an extremely amazing idea.  Why had I never thought of this?  Luckily, someone else did and I was able to try it out with my baby.  As I have mentioned in other reviews, I was extremely determined to exclusively nurse my baby this time around but needed to get over the whole “nursing in public” thing.  I was never comfortable with the idea of using a typical nursing cover because I felt like it was like you were wearing a big sign that told everyone you were breastfeeding.  Alternatives like the MoBoleez Hat has helped me to make it much easier and more comfortable for me to nurse in public with my baby.

The MoBoleez Hat is made of all natural cotton/bamboo fabric, which is nice.  It is a lightweight hat, which is great for the summer months or if you live in a hot climate.  The fabrics in the couture collection are made of cotton and a little bit of spandex material.  It is easy to use obviously…just put it on your baby’s head and you are good to go!  It does come in 2 sizes, 0-6 months and 6-12 months.  They were offering a preemie size as well, but it has been discontinued (they still have some available though).

Tropical Tiles Design

I really loved using the MoBoleez Hat with my daughter.  It is easy to use, lightweight and I can toss it into my diaper bag and it doesn’t even get wrinkled!  I think it’s an amazing idea for someone who wants an alternative to a traditional nursing cover and yet it provides just as much coverage, without being so obvious as a nursing accessory.  In fact, I have used it a few times as a sun hat and when nursing, I have had people come up and compliment me on Suriah’s cute hat (I was reviewing the couture “tropical tiles” hat).

Kristen, Suriah (in Beco), Emerson (in stroller), Me, and Fletcher (in Boba)

I do have a few suggestions though.  I would LOVE to see more designs.  The classic collection has illustrations on them and are cutesy, but cutesy isn’t my thing.  I would like either plain colored hats or simple designs that are more adult-like.  The couture collection has a few nice designs but there are so many nice fabrics out there, I would love to see them offer some different designs.  Also, I was reviewing the 0-6 month size hat.  My daughter has a slightly smaller than average head circumference (30^th percentile) and at 5 months, I feel the hat is a little too small for her head.  It fits because it is a nice stretchy material, but I would like to see a chin strap or something so that the hat doesn’t slide its way off her head.  Also, as a modest person, I think the chin strap might be a good idea to assure me that the hat won’t fall off and expose my boob to the public’s eyes!  I LOVE how wide the brim of the hat is and it really makes the difference with coverage, but I would like to see it have a little more structure to it.  It’s pretty floppy, which is nice in that it molds well to the curves of your breast to keep things covered well, but if the wind blows hard in just the right way…it might jeopardize your coverage.  Also, if it had a little more structure to it, I would be able to use it more as a sun hat as well and it would be the best darn sun hat out there, in addition to being a fantastic nursing cover.

All in all though, even with the slight adjustments I would like to see, I think the MoBoleez Hat is a great product and as of right now, it is my favorite nursing cover.  With it being so hot lately, I haven’t wanted to cover up by wearing layers and some of the other nursing cover alternatives I have require more preparation to cover up.  The MoBoleez Hat is easy and it protects my baby from the sun AND it’s cute.  I can’t think of another nursing cover that does all that as well as the MoBoleez Hat!

If you would like to get your own Moboleez you can find them on DDL Affiliate, Amazon.com or Moboleez.com.
Moboleez Nursing Hats- Amazon.com

Kristen was sent a product sample for the purposes of this review.  All opinions are 100% her own.

KAM Snap pliers got in touch with me to see if I could do a review of their snap pliers while doing a bumGenius! 3.0 snap conversion.  Honestly, I was going to say no.  I don’t have a ton of time to spare, and I haven’t done any crafts in quite a while.  I was also unsure if I could do it.  You know, do it and not ruin one of my beloved 3.0′s.  I decided to look around their website to view how it was done.  To my surprise, it looked fairly simple.  So simple, even I could do it. And, I also remembered that the Hushamok Hammock I purchased used for baby boy number 2 had a broken snap.  That made the decision for me!

I chose to get snaps in Ribbit to match one of my 3.0′s that could use snaps.  I already had the majority of my BG’s converted to snaps many months ago.  All I had left were 3 white BG’s and one in Ribbit with the original velcro.  I also got the Ooga Booga engraved snaps which are super cute and add some fun to your diaper.  Having the snaps match is very important.  If you ever want to resell them, you will get more if the snaps are BG color and not white or random.

I took my time on getting things done.  One evening I watched the video tutorial portion on taking off the velcro.  I did have a seam ripper, and I carefully removed both the velcro strip and the tabs.  The tabs were harder to undo than the strip.  But overall it was less time consuming than I thought.  I just watched TV and ripped.

Then, I realized I needed lined notebook paper for the next step.  Ummm…… really?  I didn’t have a single sheet of lined paper in my house.  Printing paper?  Yep!  I haven’t used lined paper since college. So I googled for a printable template to use and found one for 1 line conversions.  I wanted two.  It took me a few days to get to the store to buy some paper.  (I did make my own template and scanned it but my scanner is only printing, not scanning to the computer.  ARGH.  If you really want it let me know and I will try to get it working.)

Making the template was the hardest part for me.  I despise measuring, and numbers.  I wanted to do a good job and have my snaps lined correctly so I took my time and triple checked.  I still messed up a little on my alignment from the top of the diaper.

After I made my template, marked where my snaps would go, and laid all of my snaps and sockets out, I was ready to actually SNAP.  I was kind of excited.

Snapping wasn’t as hard as I imagined.  You need to put muscle in, and you need to align the snaps to ensure that they actually SNAP, and that is it.  Snap away.

Would I want to use pliers full time if I made diaper for resell?  No.  Would I use pliers to convert a few diapers?  Yes.  KamSnaps also sells a snap press, which is better for snapping diapers you are making in large quantities.

Since I spent over 30.00 to get my diapers converted, and only had a few done, I think the price is worth it even just for conversions.  By the time you figure in shipping to the WAHM and back, you have spent a good bit.  These pliers are great when you have many to do.  You will save so much.

And PS, in case you are wondering, I fixed the snap on my hammock too.  Worked like a charm!  The snap may be green but I think it gives it character, plus the baby won’t mind.

PPS, I was going to add photos of my conversions but as luck would have it they are both in the wash the day I planned to take the pics/ post them.  I will update with those later.

One lucky DDL reader is going to win a 30.00 Gift Card to KAMSnaps.com!

Mandatory Entry:

Which snap color or style is your favorite?  Go to KAMSnaps.com and view the options, then come back and leave your comment.

Extra Entries.  Leave a comment for EACH entry you do.

(1 entry) Follow @KimRosas on twitter and tweet this giveaway. Please tweet, “Snap your own #clothdiapers with KAMSnaps pliers.  Win a 30.00 GC to their store from @KimRosas. http://ihcaq.th8.us (7/1)”  Leave a comment with a link to your status.

You can tweet once a day for the duration of the contest. Leave a comment with your status for each tweet. 1 entry per day.

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(2 Entries) Enter the giveaway being hosted on KAMsnaps.com (ends June 28).  There are 2 mandatory entries on their giveaway. Then leave me a comment saying you did.

Giveaway ends on July 1.  Winner will be chosen using random.org. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours a new winner will be drawn.  Any incorrect entries will be deleted.

This review was written and performed by Kristen, DDL Contributor.

I was given the opportunity to review the Hygeia EnJoye personal breast pump.  I had never heard of the brand before, and had previously used Medela products or manual pumps.  I was excited to try it and was certainly not disappointed.

Anyone who breastfeeds or pumps knows that looking at, listening or thinking of your baby helps with let down.  Hygeia took this knowledge and applied it to their breast pumps by creating a CARE (Custom Audio Record Button) button, allowing you to record your baby crying an play it back, which among other neat features, is pretty brilliant in my opinion.

I was pretty intrigued with the opportunity to review this breast pump for many reasons.  One big reason is that this company designed their breast pumps to be “green”.  All parts that come in contact with breastmilk are BPA and DEHP-free and are one of the few pumps that are FDA approved to be safe for multi-users.  This means that you can re-sell or recycle the pump (send it back to Hygeia…address located on back of pump).  Many people do buy used pumps and I was one of those people…and I even used the pumps, until I learned that they aren’t really meant to be multi-user pumps.  So the Hygeia already was on my good side, because if you aren’t supposed to re-sell or re-use other pumps, where do they go??  Landfills??  That’s a lot of wasted pumps, so the idea that you can share this pump hygienically is pretty awesome (as long as you have your own Personal Accessory Set).

Why Hygeia Breast Pumps? It’s Simple…

• Risk – Free, 21 day return/exchange policy - Our Total compatibility Guarantee
• Clearance as Multi-user breast pump. Safe to share using a new Personal Accessory Kit
• Green Company, with recyclable breastpumps to protect the environment
• 3 year limited warranty, the best in the industry
• Unique C.A.R.E. button lets mom record/play baby’s cry or other sound, proven to help with letdown
• BPA/DEHP Free – all pump/kit parts that come in contact with breastmilk are safe for baby
• WHO Code Compliant supporting mothers and babies throughout the world.

So…all that wonderful stuff aside, how did the pump perform?  Well, I was able to try out the Hygeia EnJoye Dual Electric Professional Grade Breast Pump.  It was very small and came with a discreet drawstring bag to keep the pump and all supplies in.  It’s pretty simple and modern looking and was very easy to use.  There are two knobs, one to adjust the speed and another to adjust the strength of pumping.  This allows you to be able to mimic the different sucking patterns of your baby, which allows for optimum milk collection.  There is also the record and play buttons, where you can record your baby crying in order to help stimulate let down.  They do have a pre-programmed baby crying in there, which my 1.5 year old discovered by pressing the button and it scared the crap out of her!  Haha.  She was okay with it though once I recorded her sister crying instead.

When I was using the pump, I was pretty pleased with the overall feel of the pump.  I was able to easily adjust the speed and strength, and even at the highest settings, didn’t feel like my nipples were about to be ripped off, which has happened with previous pumps I have used.  The pump itself with really quiet and had a pretty consistent sound to it, which helped to make it more discreet.  One of the best features for moms who pump at work is that this pump has an internal battery.  This pump would have been my savior when I had my first daughter because I had nowhere to pump at work that was near an outlet.  If I had this pump then, I would have been able to pump in a bathroom stall (not ideal but hey, it would have been private and would have yielded the end result of pumped milk for my baby).  This is also great if you want or need to pump in your car (maybe even while driving if you are using a hands free pumping bra??), or if you go camping or even if your electricity goes out and for some reason you need to pump.  There are probably a million situations that I could think of where an internal battery would come in handy.

So anyway, with the aid of my recorded crying baby and the easily adjustable settings, I was able to get a lot of milk, and fast.  I have mentioned in other pump reviews that I have been able to use many different pumps and I can easily say that this pump is the best electric pump I have ever used.  I honestly don’t even know if I can think of any suggestions to make the pump better.  I guess maybe the bag it comes in could be cuter?  But seriously, I would recommend this pump to anyone who plans to pump, whether it be sporadically or regularly, over any other brand of pump out there.  Overall, I can’t think of any better pump to use, both because of it’s “green” rating and also because it just works so darn well.

Kristen was sent a Hygeia Pump to review, free of charge.  All opinions expressed are the writer’s and were not influenced by the company.

After reviewing a few of Bravado’s nursing bras, I was wondering if they could get any better.  I had great experiences with all of them.  Then the new Bravado Bliss came in my mailbox.  I can’t say it was love at first sight because I was doubtful it would fit.  it looked larger than my other bras and thought I was either sent the wrong size, or I would need a smaller one in this bra.

Turns out I am just not used to seeing a molded cup Bravado Bra.  I tried it on and it fit like a dream!  While the Bliss is not as “sexy” and lacy as the Sublime or Allure, it is practical for under t shirts.  The lines and cups are silky smooth and leave no bra imprints under your shirt.  I tend to wear plain cotton t shirts a lot so this was a wonderful addition to my nursing wardrobe.

In fact, I chose a jersey, low cut dress for Easter.  I wore the Bliss underneath and not only did my boobs look way too hot for Easter thanks to the cleavage, but you couldn’t see any bra lines underneath the dress.  Once again, I wonder how I ever lived without it.

Comfort wise, this bra fits perfectly.  No digging straps or digging in the back, and the cups are fully supportive.  Like I said, it isn’t like sexy lingerie but that doesn’t matter because you need the full support bras in your life too, not just the pretty ones!

I would actually say that if one were to purchase any of the Bravado bras I have reviewed so far as a staple of their wardrobe, it would be Bliss.  It is functional, comfortable, and still prettier than most other nursing bras out there.  You can wear it under almost anything!

More about Bliss:

The Bliss Nursing Bra provides elegant shape and exceptional fit for everyday use with Bravado’s proprietary Flexi-Fit^TM support channel. Featuring smooth, seamless and molded foam cups for discretion and comfort, a low neckline, and a luxurious satiny finish, Bliss disappears under clothing so all they see is your beautiful silhouette, and all you feel is blissfully comfortable and totally fabulous!

Features

•	An innovative firm, but flexible under-breast Flexi-FitTM support system that offers remarkable shape and lift, while maintaing comfort and good breast health.
•	Foam cups that are also seamless, offering discretion to hide nipples and breast pads, as well as having a seamless appearance under even fitted clothing.
•	Satiny fabric that clothing just glides over, a delicate center front detail, and embroidered straps that offer subtle, yet stunning design elements.
•	Gentle stretch in the cups to grow and contract with your changing shape, while maintaining support.
•	Easy nursing features, including cups that drop fully and easily away from the breast for skin-to-skin contact with baby, and signature Bravado B-clips that lie flat under clothing and provide one-handed access.

Bravado is going to give one very lucky DDL reader a Bliss Nursing Bra.

Mandatory Entry:

Visit Bravado and tell me which color of the Bliss you prefer. Leave a comment.

For extra entries do any or all of the following.  Leave a comment for each you do.

Follow @KimRosas on twitter and tweet this giveaway. Please tweet, “Treat yourself with Bravado Bliss, seamless nursing bra.  Enter to win from @KimRosas. http://etdsy.th8.us #breastfeeding Ends 5/10″ Leave a comment with a link to your status.

You can tweet once a day for the duration of the contest. Leave a comment with your status for each tweet.

Follow @Bravadodesigns on Twitter. Leave a comment.

Subscribe to my blog via email through feedburner. Leave a comment.

Follow me through Google Friend Connect or via a reader. Leave a comment.

Grab my button and post it on your blog. Leave a comment.

Blog about this giveaway and link to the review. Post a link in the comment.

Get Creative: Post about this giveaway on a messageboard or forum. Leave a comment with a link.

New Entry: Become a fan of Dirty Diaper Laundry on Facebook and get 3 extra entries! Just leave your comment as FB entry 1, FB 2, and FB 3.

Giveaway ends on May 10. Winner will be chosen using random.org. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours a new winner will be drawn.

***Open to US and Canada***

This review was performed and written by Kristen, DDL contributor, for the New Baby Event.  This is the last post for the event!!!

Simplisse is a new company with a complete line of breastfeeding products designed by a team of lactation consultants and moms. The new Simplisse Manual Breastfeeding Companion has a super-soft breast cup that conforms to mom’s breast without any pinching, pulling or tugging. I know it seems like everyone says this, but Simplisse really is different – a shift in thinking about how breast milk is expressed. Featuring a completely new patented compression technology, Simplisse represents a dramatic change from the traditional “suck and release” style pumps.

I have tried quite a few pumps in my days of breast feeding and after reviewing the Simplisse Manual Breastfeeding Companion, I can easily say that it is my favorite manual breast pump that I have ever used.  This pump is unique in the way that it pumps; instead of the usual suck and release action like you find in other breast pumps, this one uses a method that is closer to the motions of a baby actually breastfeeding.  The cup that you put up to your breast is a soft, smooth material, unlike the usual hard plastic cups.  This helps to make it a much more comfortable experience.  Also the cup is flatter with an opening for the nipple to go through.  This could potentially be a problem for someone with very large nipples, however I had no problem at all.

Pumping was a very comfortable experience using this pump.  It didn’t feel like my nipples were being ripped off, like with most pumps.  You really only feel a slight tugging and this would be a great pump for someone with sore nipples because it is so gentle.

I found that I was able to get a lot of milk compared to when I have pumped with other hand pumps…it’s very efficient, especially for a hand pump.  I was also able to get my milk to let down much quicker than with most other pumps I have used.  One thing I did notice was that although it was designed to be a one handed pump, I found that because of the extreme curve of the handle, I actually needed to use 2 hands to efficiently pump.  It was pretty comfortable to use the pump and my hands didn’t get tired while doing it.  Another small issue that I found while using it was that the valve seemed to get stuck together and the milk would gather and not go into the bottle.  I was able to remedy this by pulling the handle all the way back, which seemed to help but milk would still gather a bit before going into the bottle.  This never really presented any problems and I never had any leaking or anything.

This would be a great pump for someone who needs a pump for occasional pumping.  I think it is great that this pump was designed by a group of lactation consultants and mothers and think that it is much more comfortable and gentle to use.  I was a bit overwhelmed by the cleaning of it, as there are many parts and I was a little nervous about not getting it back together correctly, however after a few times, I am sure that it wouldn’t be an issue.  It is by far the most comfortable pump out of any (manual or electric) that I have tried and is very effective at expressing milk for a manual pump.

One very lucky DDL Reader will win a gift pack which includes the Manual Breastfeeding Companion, Essential Lactation Supplements, Disposable Breast Pads, Lanolin-Free Nipple Cream and Breastmilk Storage Bags.

To Enter:

Visit Simplisse.com and tell me where else you can buy Simplisse products, or name another item they make. Leave a comment.

For extra entries do any or all of the following.  Leave a comment for each you do.

Follow @KimRosas on twitter and tweet this giveaway. Please tweet, “Win a Simplisse #Breastfeeding Gift Pack including a manual pump from @KimRosas. http://y8pcf.th8.us”  Leave a comment with a link to your status.

You can tweet once a day for the duration of the contest. Leave a comment with your status for each tweet.

Subscribe to my blog via email through feedburner. Leave a comment.

Follow me through Google Friend Connect or via a reader. Leave a comment.

Grab my button and post it on your blog. Leave a comment.

Blog about this giveaway. Post a link in the comment.

Get Creative: Post about this giveaway on a messageboard or forum. Leave a comment with a link.

New Entry: Become a fan of Dirty Diaper Laundry on Facebook and get 5 extra entries! To qualify, post on my wall with either your favorite review I have done (would prefer this to be diaper related but it can be another product if you don’t dig my diaper reviews) or let me know a diaper you want to see reviewed.  Then copy and paste what you wrote as a comment here.  Then, leave 4 more comments saying “facebook entry 2, 3, etc)  If you have already done this for other giveaways, think of another favorite!

Giveaway ends on April 12. Winner will be chosen using random.org. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours a new winner will be drawn.

***Open to US only***