#DisneyBabyCA

An Adorable Start to the New Year: Disney Baby Giveaway!

January 22, 2015 By Lena

Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

It’s January, which means the days are shorter… and colder… and always, always seem to have something attached to them called “windchill”.

Now wouldn’t you LOVE to win something that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside?

From my friends at Disney Baby, I have *quite* the giveaway for lucky parents or parents-to-be. Included in this amazing prize bundle, valued at more than $250, are a wealth of baby and toddler essentials from bibs to night lights, sippy cups to stuffies, and more. (Of course, my favourite items have to be the Disney Baby outfits!) The prize bundle includes treats for both little boys and little girls, making it the perfect gift to share!
FullSizeRender (4) To enter, simply fill the form below with your qualifying entries. Stay warm, friends! …

Peek-A-Boo! Spooky Activities for You and Baby

October 8, 2014 By Lena

I’ll never forget Ryder’s second Halloween.

(What happened to his first Halloween? Meh – he was a mere 5-months old, and barely sitting upright. It was very anticlimactic. Pretty sure we dressed him up like a cow. Moooo.)

Ryder’s second Halloween was the one we were waiting for. At 17-months old, he was the perfect age to be introduced to spooky scenes, creepy costumes and eerie eats… in small doses, of course. We did our best to ease him into the Halloween spirit, beginning with Jack-o-Lanterns, followed by ghosts, and finally, witches and goblins. And he took it all in stride, like good little toddlers do.

We were ready. Dressed in an oh-so-cute lion costume, he crouched and gave us his best ROAR!
Roar Of course, we wanted to take him around, show him off! An unseasonably warm October night provided just the right conditions.

Except… the doorbell rang. And the first set of trick-or-treaters happened to be older kids, all dressed as zombies. That’s right – a pack of rowdy pre-teen zombies, complete with blood, guts and mangled brains, rang my freaking doorbell and scared the living bejesus out of my kid.

After that, he refused to leave the house. Ah well, so much for our second Halloween. …

Disney Baby: Baby’s First Bath

August 24, 2014 By Lena

Hands up if you freaked out the first time you bathed your baby by yourself. What a coincidence! ME TOO! Our experience *may* have included Ryder peeing all over my chest as I cradled him. And sputtering the equivalent of baby obscenities as I poured water over his head. And screaming bloody murder as I tried to towel dry his tiny body. In fact, it’s best that I put the memory out of my mind completely.

Then again, it’s not like Ryder let the hospital nurse off the hook either –

first bath Hahaha! True story, I just told Ryder that this is the same bowl we now eat popcorn in (it isn’t). I’m sure I’ve put him off popcorn for life. But seriously, is that really what 6 lbs 13 oz looks like? So tiny!!

Obviously, learning to bathe your baby can be a little scary – there’s a lot to juggle and of course you want to keep your little one safe. But as long you’re properly prepared, bath time can be a great bonding experience and a whole lot of fun! Disney Baby has some great tips on how to protect and pamper your little one in the tub, and some adorable products to help you to do it! From towels and toys to cleansers and creams, Disney Baby has you covered.

Tip #1: Start small. Your baby is little, so his bathtub should be too! When you start bathing a baby, it’s easier to do it in the sink, or using a small plastic tub. That way, you won’t have to kneel or lean awkwardly over the side of a big bath while keeping your baby upright. Some baby tubs, like this adorable Winnie the Pooh one, feature built-in toys, ensuring that bath time is fun for everyone.

Tip #2: Get some tub toys. For older babies, the bath can be a great place to learn and explore. Once your little one has graduated to a big tub, introduce them to some squirt toys, fun floaties or sponges. Disney Baby has a great selection of these, featuring characters like Nemo and Friends. Toys can keep your baby distracted and happy, helping make bath time a breeze.

Tip #3: Ditch the daily dips. Babies don’t need to bathe everyday – in fact, daily baths can dry out or damage your little one’s skin. It only takes two or three baths a week to ensure that baby stays squeaky-clean, as long as you stay vigilant about keeping face, hands and diaper area clean between washes. These Finding Nemo washcloths are the perfect way to keep baby fresh between bath times.

Tip #4: Lock in that moisture. If your baby does have dry skin, rub on a little moisturizing lotion, cream or oil post bath. There are plenty of products out there that both you and your baby can use!

Tip #5: Keep baby warm. Wet babies can become easily chilled, so throughout bath time it’s important to keep your little one warm. Ensure that bath water is around 37 degrees and that the air in the bathroom is comfortably warm as well. After the bath, wrap baby up in a soft, clean towel and give him a little snuggle! A Winnie the Pooh Bathtime Wrap keeps baby feeling cozy and looking cute.

Were you nervous about bathing your baby for the first time? Do tell!

8 Ways to Keep Baby Cool on Hot Summer Days

July 10, 2014 By Lena

So here’s a curious little fact about me that you may not know: I had the very same due date for both boys, two years apart. Yup! May 25th was circled on my calendar twice – what are the odds?

(Another curious fact: if you count backwards and do the math, that means my husband and I got frisky on Labour Day long weekends. Now, we vacation separately. Don’t want to chance another May 25th to circle on the calendar!)

My two May babies were born just before the hot, sticky summer weather rolled in, which presented a few challenges to this neurotic mom:

1) How do I know if he’s too hot? Do babies sweat?
2) What does heat rash look like?
3) Should I apply sunscreen to a one month old?

Ugh, I really stressed out about this kind of stuff with Ryder. (We all know that I just stripped Reid down to his diaper and left him in the bouncer. Cause that’s what you do with your second kid, obvi.) At the end of the day, I just wanted to make sure my boys were cool, comfortable and content.

Baby's First Summer (I found the above photo of Ryder at 13 months old… looks like he found a great way to keep cool on hot summer days! And ye gods – that kiddie pool was tiny – and so was he! Ah, memories…)

Today, I’m proud to announce that I am a Disney Baby Mom Ambassador. If you’ve been reading my blog over the past few years, you’ll know it’s a match made in heaven! (Yes, you’re also looking at a Disney Social Media Mom and a Disney Junior Mom… let’s just say I have a love affair with the brand.) As part of my collaboration, I’ll be posting the very best in tips and tricks straight from the experts at Disney Baby, in addition to sharing their latest products, innovations and promotions.

Coming along with me on this journey? My beautiful niece… who at 10 months old, is the apple of my eye! I am thrilled that she will be a bona fide Disney Baby.

To start, we all know summer with a baby can be a lot of fun. There are plenty of outdoor activities you can enjoy together and lots of new spaces for baby to explore. When you’re outside with your baby in the summer heat, comfort and safety are key. Here are some tips from Disney Baby on how to keep your little one cool, so you can get back to having fun in the sun. …

Baby’s First Summer: #DisneyBabyCA Twitter Party!

June 14, 2014 By Lena

Often, when I look at my boys with fondness and wonder, I ask myself, “HOW are they 4 and 6??” It seems like just yesterday that they were experiencing their very first summer. Walks down to the lake in the stroller; testing the texture of grass, peeking out from a cool sunhat and even cooler shades. (I think my ovaries twinged for a moment. Hmm… nope. False alarm.)

Baby’s first experiences are major milestones every mother loves to share (and re-live!). To make sure this summer’s moments are magical, we’re getting together for a #DisneyBabyCA Twitter Party! Join us on Monday, June 16th at 9pm ET where we’ll share our best tips and advice for upcoming summer travel, ways to enjoy the outdoors with baby, keeping sun safety at top of mind or simply what to pack if you’re heading to the park. In short, we want you to get outside – with baby in tow!

So what’s in it for you besides fabulous conversation? Oh, just OVER $700.00 in Disney Baby prize packs! That’s right – if you’ve got a little one under two, or know someone who does, you won’t want to miss the party!

RSVP now for a chance to win, and we’ll see you on Monday night! …