1. Dr. Sears Family Essentials Baby Care
Dr. Sears and family have long been trusted advisers of health and child-rearing. They clearly support attachment, natural parenting without coming off as too didactic. Now, the Sears family has created a line of baby care products that are 100% natural.
In the Sears family, we’ve made healthy children our life’s mission. After raising eight children and practicing pediatric medicine for more than 30 years, we have answered questions from thousands of parents. Millions more have sought our advice through our 40+ pediatric books, articles in parenting magazines, and our appearances on more than 100 television programs such as 20/20, Donahue, Good Morning America, Oprah, CBS This Morning, CNN, NBC’s Today Show and Dateline.
As pediatricians working with children and parents around the world, we know it can be challenging to find healthy snacks that taste great and fit in with busy schedules. We are concerned about the increase in empty calories, sugars, and processed foods we see in children’s diets, and the growing prevalence of childhood obesity, diabetes, and other nutrition-related disorders. The key to good health is good eating, and we’d like to help make it easier through our snacks, beverages and supplements.
We also know that it can be challenging to find baby care products without harmful chemicals or allergens… products you can feel safe using to care for your infant. That’s why we’ve developed a 100% all natural baby care line that we believe in.
We were sent the following products to review:
All of these products, with the exception of the stretch mark cream, are very affordable and cost less than most natural baby products. They have not been ranked by the Environmental Working Group for hazardous ingredients, and nothing jumped out at me as particularly bad.
Would I buy these products? Yes, if available locally. Each purchase of Dr. Sears products provides a nourishing meal to a child in need via Two Healthy Kids.
2. Nourish Spring Water Bottles and Sippy Cups
Nourish baby bottles and toddler sippy cups are designed for busy moms and dads.
No matter what the season, keeping babies and toddlers hydrated is of the utmost importance! Nourish makes this easy – offering purified spring water in easy-to-use, reusable bottles and sippy cups for little ones! Simply tuck in a purse, backpack or diaper bag, and you have a healthy, hydrating (spill-proof!) drink while out and about with mommy.
Pre-filled with spring water, these bottles are like grabbing bottled water for your child with the right kind of lid. Pre-measured for adding formula for baby, this is clearly a convenience item. BPA and phthalate free, these bottles are recyclable and reusable, but they are made of #1 plastic and would not hold up over time.
Would I buy these products? No. This is as bad as bottled water for the environment. Besides, there is nothing more convenient than the breast for hydrating baby and toddler.
3. May Books Baby Diary: A Newborn Schedule Journal
Some mothers take comfort in scheduling and documenting. They read the books and listen to their pediatricians and are sure to follow all advice to a tee. May Books Baby Diary is made for those moms.
All MAY BOOKS have Green-e Certified Canvas Covers that are resilient, durable and water-resistant. The paper contained within its pages is partially recycled and the entire notebook is held together by the all-famous, old school sewing machine. Not only is the thread fabulous for the environment, but the book becomes utterly indestructible. No pages ripping out, no covers falling off… Believe us, we have tested notebooks.
Inside there are spaces for recording breastfeeding times, which breast (left or right), and/or bottle ounces. The next page features diaper duty scheduling.
My sister was one of the moms I described above, and she kept her breastfeeding notes in a steno pad. This baby diary is much more aesthetically pleasing. May Books motto is “People Against Ugly Notebooks.”
Would I buy this product? No. I see no need for such documentation and would drive me crazy as a new mother. It all depends on your style of parenting.
4. Erin Baker’s Breakfast Cookies
Breakfast and cookie: those are two words that usually don’t go together but are sure to get your child’s attention! Erin Baker makes natural, whole grain baked goods, some that are organic. From mini breakfast cookies to brownie bites, these goodies are baked fresh.
I started baking & selling cookies at 9 years old, and I loved it so much that I made it my life’s work…and yes my last name really is “Baker”!
It all began in 1994 when I rented the 4-H kitchen at the Whidbey Island Fairgrounds to bake my way to a better life. Inspired by my mom’s healthy baking and armed with a KitchenAid mixer, I created a revolutionary new way to serve breakfast…the Breakfast Cookie was born!
For the last seventeen years, oats, fruit & honey have been the staple ingredients in my bakery, making us unique in our efforts to provide healthier food products. I take great pride in baking products with whole food ingredients which provide sustained energy and optimal nutrition. Over the years I have created many wonderful recipes to share with my loyal following. My Breakfast Cookies, Homestyle Granola, Breakfast Cookie Minis and Organic Brownie Bites are handcrafted and baked to order, promising homemade freshness and flavor!
The organic brownie bites are my favorite, and yes, I have a hard time with the concept of a breakfast cookie. I guess it is no different than a muffin or a pastry and would be handy for on the go morning snacking.
Would I buy these products? No. I would rather bake my own or buy from a bakery where they were made fresh, not packaged and shipped to me. They are good, but not good enough I would want to order then and keep on hand. Plus, they are not 100% organic.
5. Bebe Au Lait Deluxe Gift Set and Simple Organic Nursing Cover
It’s always hard to write a review for a product you feel is completely unnecessary. I am not a fan of nursing covers. I think they are not essential and perpetuate the idea the breastfeeding needs to be hidden, covered up, or done in another room.
That being said, many women only feel comfortable nursing in public with a blanket or nursing covers, and who am I to judge? At least they are breastfeeding!
Bebe Au Lait makes chic nursing covers. We were sent:
- Deluxe Gift Set: Original nursing cover with three matching burp cloths
- Simple Organic Nursing Cover: Made from organic cotton in solid colors
Would I buy these products? No. I just don’t think it is a baby essential. I do love the fabric choices, but the cool patterns are not available in the organic version of the nursing cover.
Disclosure: The products described above were sent to us as free samples, unless noted differently in the review. Prior assurances as to the nature of the reviews, whether positive or negative, were not given. No financial payments were accepted in exchange for the reviews. The reviews reflect our honest, authentic opinions.
I am curious to see how the Dr. Sears baby care line does and when it is up in the EWG’s database. I am floored that there is another company pushing bottled water and this time to hydrate babies? Argh.