Mommy Plannerista

Planning. Passions. Parenthood.

Ellie & Me Mommywear Launch

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Almost two years ago, I was searching online for affordable yet stylish maternity clothes when I learned I was pregnant with Zander. During my research, I chanced upon a store on Instagram called Ellie & Me. I was intrigued by it because of the styles they featured. Plus, the store seemed to be a popular one based on the many comments and inquiries they had on IG. Since then I followed their account and have even tried their clothes. I actually also bought nursing bras from the store, which I included in my blog post about my breastfeeding essentials.

Later on, I learned that the store was owned by a newbie mom, Viva Celina Chan, and that the store was inspired by her daughter, Ellie. Like me, Viva was also looking for stylish yet affordable maternity and nursing wear and couldn’t find a lot of choices available locally. So, why not start her own mommywear business, right?

Well, she did. And the business, though small, has continued to grow and has even created a following among moms whom Viva now calls the Vivacious Mommas. Finally, she decided to officially launch the business and I was lucky enough to have been part of it.

The launch took place at Brewing Point Neighborhood Cafe in Quezon City. It was an intimate event attended mostly by Viva’s family, friends and loyal customers.

Ellie & Me is actually launching a new collection of mommywear, to be available first week of December. This collection features a variety of long and short dresses and pant suits with a mostly floral theme.

Take note, the clothes are called “mommywear” because they were designed to cater to all moms, no matter their stage in motherhood, whether they’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or even after they have weaned. This way, moms don’t have to keep buying new clothes as their bodies and needs changes.

Viva also shared that she really made sure that the clothes are comfortable but not frumpy and are instead, also a little bit sexy. Moms, after all, are still women and have the right to continue looking good as they juggle their busy mommy lives.

Personally, I like this collection because I love florals. But I especially love that the clothes have discreet nursing access as well as a little bit of sexy in the design. Among the clothes in the collection, I like this purple one the most. Isn’t it so pretty?

But I also love this sexy maxi dress worn by Viva during the event (by the way, that’s cute little Ellie with her in the picture!). It’s definitely my style. Love it!

Check the collection too! You can find Ellie & Me on Instagram and Facebook or email [email protected]

Crib Safety — Top 6 Ways To Keep Your Baby Safe

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Over 2 dozen babies each day have some sort of crib related injury in the United States.   These are injuries that can be prevented!  Here are my top 6 ways to keep your baby safe in the crib:

  1. Make sure your crib is up to standards

You may not be aware of this, but there are federal regulations put in place that dictate what crib manufacturers must do to make sure cribs are safe.  Cribs are no longer allowed to have drop sides as of 2011, as they were banned by the United States Consumer Product and Safety Commission  and manufacturers are subject to federal recalls often if their crib does not meet federal guidelines.   Make sure your crib is not on a recall or a “do not buy” list.  Additionally, if your crib is a hand-me-down or purchased at a second-hand store you’ll definitely want to inspect it extra carefully, because it may not have undergone the same testing as the cribs that were sold in the major chain stores.

  1. Double check your crib hardware

Double check your crib hardware to make sure everything is up to specifications.   The slats should be no more than 2 3/8 inches apart.   There should be no giant holes or spaces, like wood cut outs or decorations, because your baby can get his head stuck and either break his neck or suffocate.  You should also check for splinters, screws that aren’t screwed in properly, crooked nails, brackets or hardware that might be jutting out, and any other elements that may pose harm or injury to baby.

  1.   Make sure you have the best crib mattress and that it fits properly

If you’re not sure which crib mattress is best, check out this list of top rated and reviewed crib mattresses for 2017.   Generally, crib mattresses should be between 27 5/8” in width and 51 3/4 to 53 inches in length, although the bare minimum accepted standard size for a crib mattress is 27 1/4 by 51 5/8 inches.   The mattress itself should be no thicker than 6 inches, and it should be properly seated between the crib walls.  If you can fit more than two fingers between the crib and the mattress around any point of the mattress, your baby is in danger and the mattress needs to be bigger so it achieves a tighter fit.

  1.  Only use minimal bedding for baby

Your baby probably looks uncomfortable lying on a sheet without anything else, but that’s what is appropriate for your baby.  We spoil ourselves with extra pillows, throws, stuffed animals, and anything else that seems comfortable, but the truth is that’s all a choking and suffocation hazard for baby.  The proper set up for your baby’s crib is one crib mattress and one crib sheet pulled tightly over the mattress, that’s it.  If your baby seems cold, or uncomfortable, you can swaddle her or use a sleep sack.  Anything else puts baby at risk for suffocation.

  1.    Make sure your baby sleeps face up

SIDS, or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is the cause of many babies dying in their cribs, in their sleep.  This is a horrible and tragic thing but you can lessen or even prevent your chances of something happening to baby by making sure you follow all of these instructions.   When you place baby in the crib, he should always be face up and on his back.   A common misconception is that baby may be more comfortable in the fetal position, but the truth is that baby cannot turn over at this point for a reason.  Make sure he sleeps on his back to avoid the risk of SIDS.

  1.    Get rid of anything dangerous around the crib area.

Mobiles, lamps, mattress pad ties, and anything with strings or wires can pose a choking or strangulation hazard for baby.  Make sure all cords, ties, and cables are tied extremely securely and well out of reach for baby.  Blinds and curtains should be far enough away to not be able to be grabbed, and the family pets should be restricted from climbing on the crib or bringing items into the crib.  When baby is old enough to start to crawl and stand, you should remove the mobile so she cannot reach it and chew or bite on it.

Crib safety can be a very scary thing—- it’s extremely common for mothers to stay up all night worried watching the monitor because they can’t hear baby breathing.  It’s something that everyone goes through, but as long as you follow these simple tips and take all of the proper precautions you and your child will both be able to sleep like a baby!

Let’s Go On With GOO.N Diapers

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Now that we have another baby, our 10-month-old Zander, diapers have once again become a staple in our bi-monthly grocery trips. Because we only want what’s best for Zander, hubby and I are choosy about which brand of diapers to use. We want to make sure that the diaper is really absorbent, soft and will not cause rashes on Zander’s delicate skin. So when I heard that GOO.N Diapers from Japan are now available here in Manila, I just had to check it out.

I first encountered GOO.N Diapers last January when I saw some moms recommend it in one of the Facebook groups I joined. I then saw that it was available at the Baby Company Grand Baby Fair and so we bought a few packs of their tape diapers. We were really satisfied with them although we weren’t able to buy more after our initial stash because they weren’t available at the supermarket we frequent. Luckily, I got invited to the official media launch two weeks ago at the Manila House in Bonifacio Global City.

GOO.N Diapers is a leading diaper brand in Japan and Southeast Asia, such as Thailand and Indonesia, and is now in the Philippines through One-Stop Distribution Inc (ODI), a distribution company known for bringing premier brands in the country. Japan is known for its cutting-edge technology when it comes to their products, and diapers are no exception.

GOO.N Diapers is said to give the best diaper technology and offer the best comfort for babies as they grow from newborn to toddler. Its ultra absorbent core and super soft, dry and breathable outer sheets wick moisture away from your child’s skin and allows your baby to move freely!

During the launch a demo was conducted wherein GOO.N diapers came out as the best among three different brands in terms of absorbency. I saw for myself how fast GOO.N diapers can absorb and how dry the diapers feel on the skin even if it was already full.

(right to left: Brand A, GOO.N Diapers, Brand B)

With GOO.N, babies can experience uninterrupted sleep and more active playtime. Isn’t that what all of us moms want? We no longer need to change diapers too often or worry that our babies will get rashes from them.

By the way, GOO.N offers premium (GOO.N Premium) and economy (GOO.N Friend) diapers. Each one comes in pants and tape variants depending on your child’s needs.

After the launch, I got to try the GOO.N Premium Pants on Zander and I really loved them. The material is super soft and gentle to his skin. It was also very easy to wear on him, which is great because diaper changing has become more challenging now becausethat he’s already a very active baby. Plus, GOO.N premium pants also have a tape on the back, which you can use for easy disposal.

Do try it out for your babies too! GOO.N Diapers are available in SM Hypermarket, Rustans, Robinsons, Lazada, Makati Supermarket, Pioneer, Unimart, Rose Pharmacy, Generica, Puregold (Duty Free), Landers, Baby Company, Fishermall. Alfamart, Cash and Carry, Alturas, and others, and comes in different sizes from Newborn to XXXL. SRP: GOO.N Premium Tape/Pant Super Jumbo – Php 680.00 and Jumbo – Php 420.00 and GOO.N Friend Tape Super Jumbo – Php 439.00, Jumbo – Php 229.00, Regular – Php 79.00.

For more information, visit @GoonDiaperPH on Facebook and @goonphilippines on Instagram.

MERRIES, Japan’s #1 Diaper Brand, is now in the Philippines

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When it comes to choosing disposable diapers for our baby, Zander, we usually choose the brands we’ve already tried and tested before with our older kids. This is how we make sure that Zander will be comfortable and not irritated with what he’s wearing.

But while shopping for diapers these past several months, we realized there are many other diaper brands in the market today that weren’t available before. With all these choices now, it can be quite confusing for parents to choose which one will really be the best for their baby. One of these brands recently launched here in the Philippines is Merries Diapers.

Merries Diapers is said to be Japan’s #1 baby diaper brand for 10 consecutive years [#1 by brand in Japan Baby Diaper market in term of Sales Value share, based on research SRI data of INTAGE Inc., Japan from Jan. 2007 to Dec. 2016. (total of tape-type and pants-type)]. Merries diapers is gentle to the babies sensitive skin as the material is so soft from the inside and out while quickly absorbing urine before the skin gets wet, thus preventing rashes and leakage. With a triple layer air-through system (tape type) and airy waist channel (pants type) that releases the heat and moisture inside the diaper, Merries diapers keeps babies’ skin dry and comfortable as they play and sleep.

Why do smart moms choose Merries Diapers? Because it offers seven (7) features and benefits:

*Tape type features
· Soft Poo Leak Guard
· Color changing wetness indicators
· Excellent Absorbency and Long Lasting Dryness
· Exceptional Breathability
· Ultra Soft and Fluffy Surface that is gentle to baby’s delicate skin
· Soft reusable magic seal
· Merries Bunnies cute designs

We recently got a bag of Merries Diaper samples for our baby Zander to try. We got 2 pieces each of the Newborn (tape), Small (tape) and Medium (pull-up) sizes.

I was worried that we won’t be able to try any because Zander already wears large size diapers. But I saw that the medium size of Merries diapers is still suitable for babies who weigh up to 11 kilos. Since Zander’s weight is slightly less than that, we decided to let him try the medium size.

It was Zander’s first try to wear a pull-up diaper and I ended up really liking it. The fit was actually just right for him. I love that soft gathers on top fit snugly on his waist and held up really well even when the diaper was already full. There was also no leaking even when Zander did number 2. It was super easy to remove also by just tearing off the side part of the waistband. Plus, I also really love that there was a magic seal or tape at the back that you can use to seal the diaper tight before disposal. I’ve never seen that in any of the diapers we’ve tried on our babies before.

Try it out on your baby too! Merries diapers are available in Tape type for newborns to toddlers up to 14kg, and Pants type for toddlers and kids from 6 to 22 kg. You can even get a free small tape pack when you purchase 10 packs of Merries Diaper at any participating stores from now until November 8, 2017.

Merries Diapers are exclusively available in Rustan’s Makati, Rockwell, Shangrila, Ayala Cebu, Seda CDO and in Shopwise Festival Alabang, Sucat, Sta. Rosa, Laguna. To get more information and updates about the brand visit follow Merries at Facebook: Merries Philippines and on Instagram & Twitter: @merriesph.

Tiny Buds Opens their 1st Pop Up Store in Glorietta

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Moms with babies, listen up! Some of you have probably read my blog post about Tiny Buds a few years back. Well, I’m happy to inform you that there have been new developments to the brand, the recent one being the opening of their first pop up store in Glorietta.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the brand, Tiny Buds is a natural baby care line well-loved for offering thoughtful natural alternatives to everyday baby products, such as a baby powder made entirely from rice, diaper cream that soothes rashes with berries instead of petroleum & even extra gentle laundry products made from coconut. Here are just some of them.

We’ve tried a lot of their products over the years and some of them continue to be staples in our household especially now that we have another baby again.

Anyway, last May 21, Tiny Buds celebrated a milestone as it opened it’s first ever mall location inside POP by Retail Lab on the 2nd Floor of Glorietta Mall 3, which will be open until Feb 2018.

The pop up store serves not just as a home for all their natural items but will also be a place where parents can have an engaging experience every time they visit. Customers can try each item, learn about the benefits and even have their orders delivered to their homes for free!

Below are some of the families who graced the opening of the pop up store.

Say Alonzo and family

 

Jinky and Lawrence Boringot and family of Zyji

What’s really great though is that although the store is tiny in size it aims to make a big impact on the environment. As part of the Tiny Buds’ Save the World campaign, which started on the website www.tinybudsbaby.com, the brand pledges to donate a portion of all proceeds from the Pop Up Store & the website to support WWF’s Environmental Conservation Programs.

Tiny Buds believes that now, more than ever, being a responsible parent means making choices that are nourishing not only for your child, but also for the world they will grow up in. Each time a customer purchases an item on www.tinybudsbaby.com there is a corresponding number of Tiny Bud points donated. Every month, the points on the site represent how big the donation will be. In planting these seeds, Tiny Buds™ hopes to empower parents and remind them that every tiny step will impact the world and steer it towards a greener future.

Aside from the pop up store, Tiny Buds items can also be found in Baby Company, Robinsons, Mercury Drug, Rustans, Landmark, Savemore, Waltermart, Lazada, Shopee and more. Learn more about Tiny Buds at www.tinybudsbaby.com. You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

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