Hello families! David is 10 months old!
As a first-time mother, I have made many bad purchases. There are countless different reasons for these wrong choices; unnecessary, wrong sizes, easily breakable, difficult to clean, not for my child who has full of energy, too pricey, etc. However, there are things that I am in love with, too! I thought it would be great to share four companies I appreciate every day.
1. Upseat https://theupseat.com/
When he was about 4 or 5 months old, I was researching what highchair or floor seat/booster chair I should get. Here was my wish list:
Not too bulky – we live in a small townhouse. I wanted to have one which does not take up too much space.
Easy to clean – a highchair can become really dirty. So cleaning difficult to clean highchairs leads to frustration (especially removing and putting straps back).
Easy to carry – would be good but not a must. If I can bring it to a restaurant, that would be great.
While I was searching for the best one for baby D, someone mentioned about Upseat from a mommy’s group. When I read more about it, I decided to go with it even though it was a bit pricey. The Upseat meets all of my wish list, but the main reason why I purchased it was that it helps with the posture of babies – different from very similar-looking chairs. When baby D was younger, his gross motor development was a bit behind. I monitored his progress and tried to support his gross motor development. This chair met all my needs.
After using it for almost 5 months now and with using it as a booster seat, I still love it. It is so small and light. We carry it everywhere. It is easy to clean. I put the whole thing (chair and tray) in the dishwasher. When you take it out though, it takes some effort to dump the water – which is nothing compared to removing the straps from a high chair. I wish it had some holes so water would drain when I took it out from the dishwasher. Their customer service is fantastic, too. Extra bonus – it is a Canadian company and they were even featured on Dragon’s Den!
2. Mabel’s labels https://mabelslabels.ca/
David will be attending daycare very soon. One of the things I did as soon as we received a spot was order labels for his personal items. When I used to work as an early childhood educator, I loved cute labels attached to children’s belongings instead of black permanent marker writing. There are so many companies, but my dear friend recommended this company.
I have been washing and drying clothes with these labels, and they look still awesome. I know having labels is not required, but if you want some cute labels for your baby like I did, this is a good option. Their customer service is wonderful, too.
3. Jack and Lily https://www.jackandlily.com/
David is about to walk. He spends his whole day at home in bare feet, but once he goes to daycare, he will be required to wear shoes. I wanted to buy something with a soft sole, so he can keep practicing walking and balancing without obstruction from thicker sole shoes. So, I thought moccasins would be the best. However, one thing I do not like about moccasins is the bottom of the shoes are not waterproof. The daycare floor can be wet, especially in the washroom, snack area, and art corner. So, after searching, I found this local company. There are many similar companies, but why not to support a local business, especially during these unprecedented times. Also, if your child has chunky feet as my baby D does, they should fit.
They have two different types of shoes. One is super flex, which I think is the equivalent to moccasins. Baby D will use this for indoors. Another one is the flex one that David will use for outdoors.
4. Headster hats https://headsterkids.com/
Just before summer, when the sun was getting stronger, I was searching for some hats for baby D. I wanted to buy a huge summer hat with chin straps but also wanted to purchase something with a fun and funky design. Then, I found this company and ordered five hats (one was for my husband to celebrate his first fathers’ day).
Many people who pass by have complimented on his hats, and I still love them. Our favourite is the hat with vegetables. Even last night, I checked their website and had a hard time resisting the temptation to buy more. One thing I would like to mention is their hat sizes and beanie sizes are a bit different. I ordered the wrong size for the beanie. It is a Canadian Company as well.
When I look at him, I wonder what is on his mind. I try to see it through his curious eyes. It is my job to take care of him, but sometimes, I feel that he cures me with his pure soul. Do you feel the same way as a parent?
- Minnie