Mommy Plannerista

Planning. Passions. Parenthood.

#7DaysOfCetaphil: First Time Mom 101

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Last week, from August 20 – 26, 2018, Cetaphil had a week-long event celebrating healthy and beautiful #MyCetaphilSkin held at SM Makati. The  #7DaysOfCetaphil highlighted three prongs of holistic health through various discounts, promos for all Cetaphil products, as well as shared discussions and activities daily from 3:00 – 4:00 pm.

I was fortunate enough to have been invited to Day 5 of the event which was entitled First Time Mom 101. The event aimed to unite first time and experienced moms in giving their babies the utmost care with Cetaphil Baby.

The afternoon started with a talk by Dr. Donna Marie Leelin – Sarrosa. She taught us all about proper skin care for babies. Even though I have four kids now, I still learned a lot from her talk. I actually appreciate baby skin care knowledge more now that my youngest child happens to have very sensitive skin. One of the things I learned is that Cetaphil Baby is safe to use on babies even starting on day 1!

Cetaphil mom ambassador, Kaye Abad, also graced the occasion and shared with us her experiences as a first time mom to her son. It was interesting to learn that our experiences are similar although I’ve been a parent longer than her.

Dra. Leelin-Sarrosa, Kaye Abad and the Cetaphil team

It was definitely a fun learning session spent with my fellow mom bloggers. It was also great that there were promos that customers could take advantage of then. Some of the promos included a free sling bag for every purchase of P 1,000 worth of Cetaphil products, a free pouch when you buy 1 Cetaphil PRO wash and 1 PRO moisturizer, a free swaddle when you buy P 700 worth of Cetaphil Baby products, plus savings when you buy the 2+1 Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser.

It’s just too bad I wasn’t able to attend the other 6 days because the topics were also interesting. The complete line up of topics were as follows:
Day # 1: Complete Your Health Routine with #MyCetaphilSkin
Day # 2: Skincare 101
Day # 3: How to Protect Atopic Skin
Day # 4: How to Achieve Glass Skin by Sarah Lahbati
Day # 5: First Time Mom 101
Day # 6: No to Oily Skin
Day # 7: Choose Your Cetaphil

To learn more about #7DaysofCetaphil, follow @cetaphilph on Instagram and like Cetaphil Philippines on Facebook.

Smart Parenting Convention 2018

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I believe that even though I’ve been a parent for many years now, there’s still so much for me to learn about parenting. There’s also much to learn about the many new products available these days for moms, dads, and kids. So, when I was invited to attend the Smart Parenting Convention 2018, I really took the time out to do so.

The event was held last July 21, 2018 at the Megatrade Hall at SM Megamall. It was a one-day event that started at 10 am and ended at 6 pm. Given that it was at SM Megamall, I knew we had to be there early to avoid the traffic and the parking difficulties. However, I got sick that morning and so we weren’t able to leave early. It was only after lunch when I began to feel better and decided to still go.

We (hubby and our two boys) ended up in line for parking for an hour before we were able to go in. By that time, it was already 4 pm and we had two hours left to explore the convention. Thankfully, we were still able to listen to two talks.

The Smart Parenting Convention actually scheduled several talks that whole day. There was a Pregnancy Block, a Baby and Toddler Block, and a Preschool and Family Block. There were a variety of topics discussed ranging from newborn care, toys, baby massage, road safety, schooling, and money matters.

We were only able to catch the last two talks. One was a talk by Say Alonzo was sponsored by Bambini and it was regarding the Difference Between Progressive and Traditional Schools.

The other one was sponsored by Insular Life wherein Cristine Tan talked about securing your child’s future with money saving strategies.

Both talks were informative and really helpful especially for newbie parents.

We also explored the booths of course. There were around 60 SP-approved merchants who showcased the latest products and services that every growing family needs. They all had their own promos, games and giveaways that day.

We weren’t able to visit all the booths but here are some of them.

Nivea Baby booth

 

Toys r’ Us booth

 

Smart Steps booth

 

Fun Nest booth

 

Bambini booth

 

Mom and Little booth

 

Nosh booth

 

i-Angel and EcoMom booth

We didn’t really shop though because our kids were not in need of stuff right now. But I did score a really nice nursing top from Kaypee Baby.

At the end of the event, there were lots of raffle prizes given away. Too bad we didn’t win any though. But that’s okay, we enjoyed our stay there and look forward to attending the next one.

For those of you who wish to attend next time too, I advise you to go there right when the mall opens so that you don’t have to endure the horrendous traffic and parking. Also, find out the schedule of talks in advance so that you won’t miss those that you want.

For more information, visit www.smartparenting.com.ph.

 

Buds Baby: Organic Alone Is Not Enough

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As a mom, I’m very careful about the products that I use on my kids, especially on my youngest, Zander, who has sensitive skin. I usually gravitate towards natural and organic products because I know that they don’t contain harsh chemicals that can irritate my kids’ skin. But did you know that organic alone is not enough? That’s what I learned a few weeks ago at the launch event of Buds Baby Philippines at Lola’s Cafe in Quezon City.

Buds Organics is a Malaysian brand of organic personal care products for babies, toddlers and children that include a line-up of shampoos, skincare lotions, organic oils and toothpaste gels. Buds Organics also has mommy products like breast massage oil, nursing salve and soothing belly cream. These products are all certified organic by ECOCERT in France.

Organic Certification

The key phrase here is “certified organic”. I learned that although there are many baby brands out there that claim that their products are natural and organic, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s true. This is because no one governs the words “natural” and “organic”. So, how do we know their claims are true then, right?

The only way to know if products are natural and organic is by way of a certification from organic certification bodies like ECOCERT. ECOCERT conducts inspections in over 80 countries, making it one of the largest organic certification organizations in the world. They require that 95% of the ingredients used in any product be of natural origin and have extremely strict restrictions on what is allowed in the remaining 5%. For a product to be certified organic, 95% of the ingredients must be of certified organic origin AND a minimum of 10% of the total product must be organic.

So moms and dads, we really should be very careful about reading the label on baby products before we use them on our kids!

Buds Baby Products

I was happy to learn that Buds Baby finds this important as well and so they chose to be certified by ECOCERT. In fact, it is the only certified organic baby skin care brand in the Philippines. All of its products have gone through safety assessment in the UK in accordance to EU standards. They have no harmful chemicals and GMO (genetically modified organism) ingredients. Each product is environment-friendly and made from safe, mild, effective, and the highest quality organic and natural ingredients.

Buds Baby also has the largest range of certified organic baby skin care products in the world including the following:

Buds Everyday Organics (BEO)

This is a full line of effective and protective products to meet baby’s needs, developed for daily use. This includes cleansers creams, diaper rash, lotions, sunscreen and more.

Buds Soothing Organics (BSO)

This line is what I’m most excited about because our Zander has bouts of eczema. This line was developed to meet the needs of babies with severe dry skin, eczema, and other problems like nappy rash, insect bites, small cuts and wounds, cradle cap, and tummy discomfort among others.

I’m so glad that their eczema care products are steroid-free. A lot of the products available in the market these days have steroids and I don’t want that for my baby as much as possible.

Buds Cherished Organics (BCO)

This is the premium organic skin care line for moms and babies. The products include breast massage oil, nursing salve and belly cream for moms. I could definitely use these!

Buds Oral Care Organics

This line features a toothpaste for every stage of a child’s development from 1 to 12 years old.

Buds for Kids

This line of basic skincare products are meant for kids 3 years old and above.

Buds Household Eco – Powered by Nature

Aside from skincare, they also have an ECOCERT certified natural detergent, plus fabric softeners, bottle and utensil cleaner, and floor cleaner.

I’m excited to explore the Buds Baby range of products! If you wish to learn more about them, you can visit www.budsbaby.ph or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

But wait, there’s more!

If you wish to purchase Buds Baby products, you can get a discount! Buds Baby Philippines has so generously given me a promo code that you readers of mine can use.

Just use the code BUDS10OFFPLANNERISTA to get a discount on your purchase on the site.

So, what are you waiting for? Check out Buds Baby now!

 

Vicks #TouchOfCare: Care is What Makes a Family

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Have you seen the latest online film entitled “Learning to Love #TouchOfCare” that Vicks launched just yesterday, January 21st? The film is part of the Vicks #TouchOfCare campaign that aims to reinforce the brand’s belief in the power of Care and how it has the capacity to transform lives, but can transcend social norms, definitions and stereotypes.

Vicks believes that it is Care that makes a family, and not the other way around. Thus, the film also endeavors to provoke conversations about what it means to be “a family” within contemporary society.

Hernando and Rhyz today

The film reveals the story of a young man called Hernando and his journey of transformation when a hapless orphan, Rhyz, enters his life, triggering a series of life-changing events that culminate in the creation of a very unusual and very caring new family. The film beautifully captures how Hernando cared for an abandoned baby as if he were his own, against all odds, and with deep compassion and love, and how their relation-ship and care for each other changed not just their own lives, but also the lives of those around them.

If you haven’t watched this heartwarming story, do watch it below.

Honestly, this video made me teary-eyed because it touched me on so many levels. First, it made me think of my four kids and how much I love them. It made me think of what life will be like for them if I’m no longer in their lives to care for them. The crying baby in the film tugged at my heart so bad because I can see my baby boy in him and how much he is still dependent on me and hubby caring for him and giving him all his needs.

The film also made me think of my hubby and how, like Hernando, he also opened his heart to my two girls and helped me raise them since I met him almost 10 years ago. Since then, our family has grown so much, in more ways than one. We are a blended family of 6 now. I guess, you can say that we transcend social norms, definitions and stereotypes of what a typical Filipino family is. Our family is not perfect and some might say we are different. Nevertheless, we embrace what makes us unique. The important thing is that we love and care for each other, just like how family should.

I’ve always liked Vicks’ videos since I was a kid. I’ve used the brand for years and it has always provided me comfort and relief for my cough and colds. I loved it when my mom would rub vicks on my chest and back. I’ve done the same with my kids. However, I couldn’t do it while they were still babies because Vick Vaporub is not meant for kids that young. So, it really made me excited to learn that Vicks now has a version that’s made especially for babies – Vicks Baby Rub, which was featured on the new video.

Vicks Baby Rub is a product containing soothing fragrances and moisturizers used to soothe and comfort babies. It contains Petrolatum and Aloe Vera extract with aromatic fragrances of Eucalyptus, Rosemary, Lavender. Petrolatum is an emollient which helps preserve and retain moisture, and therefore keeps the skin soft. Aloe Vera extract is widely known for its moisturizing revitalizing action. Lavender has sedative and calming properties while Rosemary oil gives a feeling of freshness and being more active. Both combined with your loving touch, Vicks Baby Rub is perfect to soothe and calm and make your baby relax. Now I can finally try Vicks on our baby, Zander!

Available in their standard pack size of 50g, Vicks Baby Rub can be used by babies aged 3 months to 5 years old. Apply up to 1-3 grams of Vicks BabyRub on chest, neck and back of the baby, up to two times a day. Do not put in the nostrils and do not use as steam inhalation. The product is designed to be used occasionally to soothe and relax your baby when required. It should not be used for a prolonged period of time.

Remember to consult your pedia first though, especially for babies with pre-existing skin conditions, like eczema and skin allergies.

For more info about Vicks Baby Rub and the Vicks #TouchOfCare campaign, follow Vicks on Facebook.

Smart Steps’ Fresh New Look

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Earlier this year, I shared with you one of the brands I love when it comes to baby products and that’s Smart Steps. In case you don’t know, Smart Steps is a line of mild and safe baby laundry detergents and baby bottle and dishwashing liquids that are specially formulated for babies.

We’ve been using Smart Steps products since our son, Ziggy, was a baby. Now that we have Zander as well, we continue to use their products at home too. So, we were so happy when several days ago, a huge box of Smart Steps products was delivered to us. Yay!

As you can see above, Zander helped me during the unboxing. I guess he was as excited as I was, specially since the contents were mostly for him. (He’ll be sharing the anti-mosquito patches with his big brother and big sisters!)

I was surprised to see that Smart Steps actually has a new fresh look. Their new packaging reflects what their brand is all about – light, fresh, mild, and safe products made specially for baby’s sensitive skin. This is really super important to me because Zander has atopic dermatitis or eczema. That means we have to be extra careful to not expose his skin to anything that will cause his eczema to flare up.

Thebaby laundry detergents and baby bottle and dish washing liquids still have NO HARSH CHEMICALS that can dry and irritate baby’s skin. Improvements have been made to their packaging though to make it easier for Smart Moms to use.

To show their products versatility, they have renamed their baby bottle cleanser into Smart Steps Baby Bottle and Dishwashing Liquid. It is made from plant-based ingredients that not only makes it mild and safe for baby’s sensitive tummy, but it can also effectively strip off grease and soiled breast milk odors.

The Smart Steps Baby Liquid Laundry Detergent and Baby Fabric Softener now has an easy-pour spout that makes it more convenient to use.

Despite the new look, Smart Steps stays true to its mission of providing safe and affordable baby and child-rearing products for all Smart Moms. Their products are a staple in our household and we definitely love them.

Learn more about Smart Steps by visiting their website and following them on Facebook and Instagram.

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