Binxy Baby Cart Hammock Review

Disclosure- This post is sponsored by Binxy Baby, however all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

It's pretty safe to say, that after giving birth to three children over the course of the last four years, I have tested out my fair share of baby related products.

With our first baby, I thought that we literally needed EVERYTHING when it came to baby products, and I went a little crazy when it came time to register for our baby shower.

Once Max arrived, I quickly learned which items were totally necessary, made life easier, and were worth every penny... And which items were a total waste.

By the time baby number two (Ella) came along, we were pretty well equipped, but naturally there were a ton of newer, cooler, and seemingly better items on the market, so a few upgrades and new purchases were made.

Enter baby number three, and It's safe to say that we could probably purchase a second home to house all of the "stuff" we have accumulated.  I'm about 90% sure, that much of it is unnecessary, however, there are a select few items that have been total game changers in terms of making my life easier and keeping my babes happy...

The Binxy Baby Cart Hammock is, without a doubt, one of those items.

Before I gave birth to Theo, I was having serious anxiety about how I would leave the house to run routine errands with three kids by myself.  The thought of grocery shopping with all of them alone petrified me, and I couldn't help but wonder where in the heck I would even put all of our groceries if I had three tiny humans taking over the cart.

I came across the Binxy Cart Hammock on Instagram one day and thought to myself, "I have to have that!", so when they generously offered to send one over for us to test out, I was thrilled and couldn't wait for it to arrive.

You guys, this product is one of the most genius baby inventions that I have come across thus far...

I finally have room in the cart for all of my kids AND my groceries!!!

Let me tell you a little more about why I love the Binxy cart hammock so much...

I like to keep the hammock in our car at all times, or roll it up and store it in my diaper bag to use whenever we are out. One of my favorite things about it, is that it can be used in two ways; It holds up to 50 pounds, so if Theo is sleeping when we arrive at the store, I use the hammock to hold his entire car seat, and rather than having the car seat take over the cart, I now have room for items underneath it.

If he is awake, I take him out of his car seat, and let him lounge in the hammock... which he loves, because he gets to check out everything as we cruise through the store. The other day, he was so comfortable during our trip to Target, that he even fell asleep in the hammock.

Every time we use it, I get stopped multiple times by moms asking about it, or commenting that they wished that they had had one when their kids were young, making it my new go-to for a baby shower gift, and one of the products I would recommend most to other moms.

The Binxy Baby comes in four colors, and is super easy to use. It simply clips over each side of the cart, and then you secure it with velcro straps (you can see how it works here).  It's lightweight, but sturdy, and really and truly makes for a better shopping experience, whether you have one child or more.

To sum things up, I think it's pretty obvious that we LOVE this product, and it has been added to my list of items for babies, that are worth every penny (and then some, in this case)!

If you are looking for a unique gift for someone who has, or is having a baby, the Binxy hammock is it!  If you have a little one, you should purchase one yourself. I promise you, you will love it!

xoxo

Baby Registry Favorites | For the Nursery

It's been a little while since I published a new post in my "Baby Registry Favorites" series, but today I'm back with some of my personal favorite items for your baby's nursery.

Of course in addition to what is pictured/mentioned here, there is the furniture, bedding, glider, crib mattress, changing pad, etc., but those items are generally a matter of preference, so I decided to stick with some products that pertain to all genders, and work in most nurseries.

Diaper Dekor- Some people are fans of the Diaper Genie, but this is the diaper disposal system we decided on when our first was born, and it has worked for us through 2 kids and more dirty diapers then I care to count, so far.

Boppy Pillow-  This item may not necessarily seem like it should go under this category, but I often found myself using the boppy to help me nurse in the early weeks while sitting in our glider, so that's why it's here. I also love the boppy for tummy time, sitting assistance, and as a lounging spot for babies.  There are tons of fun covers to match any style, in stores like Target, Babies R Us, or on Amazon, but also from lots of great handmade Etsy shops.

Cloud B Sleep Sheep- Another item that we've had a for quite some time now and love.  This sheep is a great sound machine, that can be attached right to the crib, however it's also small enough for travel use as well.  A sound machine is a necessity is you live in a noisy house, especially one with more than one child!

Prince Lion Heart Wipe Warmer-  This item is definitely more of a luxury than a necessity, but for some reason, when my babies are really little, I feel better wiping their bums with warm wipes.

Owelet Baby Care Monitor-  I don't own this product... yet!!! However, I am totally fascinated by it.  This thing would have saved me a lot of worry after giving birth to my first... who I constantly checked on to make sure he was breathing at night #firsttimemomproblems. It's a sock that you put on your baby's foot, and it monitors their heart rate and oxygen levels while they sleep.  It also links to an app on your smart phone, where you can check on these numbers... basically, no more baby spying necessary, sleep easy new mom!

Crib Mattress Protector-  This item, or one similar to it, is worth all of the money in the world.  Between explosive diapers, leaks, spit up, etc, you will most definitely want something to protect your crib mattress, that you can simply throw in the wash... you may even want to register for two.

Stay tuned for a few more baby registry posts, including some of my most loved items for moms, and my favorite small business baby items.

Also, if you follow me on Instagram (@kozyandco), I've got a fun little giveaway coming your way tomorrow!

Baby Registry Favorites | For the Car

For this week's installment of my "Baby Registry Favorites", I'm breaking down the items that I love for traveling in the car.

Don't forget that you can check out the rest of my baby registry must haves under the Mamas+Littles tab at the top of this blog!

Britax Infant Car Seat-  I have a confession to make... we do not/have not owned this car seat yet, but after switching from a Graco infant seat to a Britax seat when our first was ready for something bigger, I will only buy Britax from here on out.  Why?  Their safety ratings are fabulous, and you can tell that they are built for quality.  We love our Britax Marathon car seat.

Sophie the Giraffe-  I know what you're thinking; "Why is Sophie a must have for in the car?", but just hear me out and trust me on this one.  My kids LOVED to gnaw on and hold Sophie while driving in the car.  She helped us get through a lot of road trips back in the day.  So, not only do I constantly recommend Sophie as must have in general, but she is great for keeping tiny and hands and teething gums occupied whilst riding in the car.

Brica Stretch-to-Fit- Window Sun Shade-  If you don't have built in UV shades like we do in our new minivan, aka the Swagger Wagon, then these sun shades are great.  They're inexpensive, easy to install, and what we used for the last few years, until we needed to purchase a bus to transport our offspring!

Brica Car Seat Protector-  These were a lesson-learned purchase.  Have one of your kids projectile vomit milk everywhere in the middle of a 5 hour road trip and you will understand why.  Spilled milk, spilled juice, explosive diapers, and car sickness incidents all happen when you have kids, and let me tell you, cleaning your car's seats is no picnic.  These are a lifesaver!

Car Seat/Stroller Toys-  Toys like these that can be attached to a car seat are great when you have little ones.  Bonus points if they jingle, rattle, or crinkle.  My babes loved to play with toys like this while riding in the car or strolling in the stroller.

Britax Marathon Convertible Car Seat-  As previously mentioned, this is the seat we upgraded to when our oldest outgrew his infant car seat.  I only have good things to say about our Britax Marathon, and totally believe it was worth every penny.  It is made for babes from 5 pounds to 65 pounds, so once you invest, you can get quite a bit of use out of it!

Stay tuned for my next list of favorites, which will include items that I love for the nursery!

Baby Registry Favorites | Baby Gear

This next installment of my baby registry favorites is all about the gear!

If there is anything I have learned, you totally get what you pay for in terms of quality.  Some of these items might seem a little pricey, but for us they have been worth every penny!

BOB stroller-  We have literally owned a handful of strollers at this point.  First there was the travel system, a Graco stroller that went with the infant car seat that we had... convenient for it's snap and go feature, but a total pain to push.  We also own two super cheap umbrella strollers for the random occasion that we need something super small and lightweight... we don't love them, but for the price, they have served their purpose.  We bought our BOB when Max was almost a year old and I was getting back into running.  Yes, it is a jogging stroller, but trust me, even if you don't run, this stroller is AMAZING.  It pushes like a dream over and around everything, and we would purchase it again 10 times over (It is also currently on sale for 25% off, which rarely happens!).  We also own a City Mini Double Stroller, which has worked out great for us, but if I am being honest, we will likely be upgrading to the BOB duallie, and selling our City Mini... that's how much we love the BOB.

Motorola Video Monitor-  This is the monitor we have had since the very beginning.  We used it when Max was a baby, and added an additional camera when Ella was born.  It has always worked great for us, so I totally recommend it!

4Moms Mamaroo-  I can't say a whole lot about our Mamaroo yet, as this was a recent upgrade for baby #3.  Everyone I know who owns one raves about it, so I cannot wait to put ours to use.  I already love that it can be controlled from my iPhone, and how much less space it takes up then a traditional baby swing.

Boon High Chair-  True confession, We do not own this high chair, but if we decide to upgrade, this is the one we will purchase.  I have heard great things from people who own it, and have read many reviews. People seem to love how easy this high chair is to clean, and how stylish it is.

Solly Baby Wrap-  I plan on baby wearing A LOT this time around, and this will likely be my go-to wrap.  It is incredibly soft and lightweight, and comes in the most beautiful colors.  The natural and gray stripe is the color that I went with, and I am already obsessed.

Fisher Price Rock n' Play-  We bought our rock n' play just before Ella was born, after so many people highly recommended it to us, and let me just state for the record, EVERYONE was right.  Ella lived in this thing for months.  She slept in it, napped in it, lounged in it... and I loved it, because it is super lightweight and portable, so I could move it all over the house, and have her everywhere I needed to be.  This thing is high on my baby item MUST-HAVE list.

Stay tuned for the next installment in this Baby Registry Favorites series, which will feature my favorite items for in the car!

Baby Registry Favorites | Health and Hygiene

The next installment of our family's baby registry favorites features the products that we love most when it comes to health and hygiene. 

A few are items that I registered for the first time around, with baby number one, and some are items I have grown to love from experience over the past few years as a mother of 2.

Nose Frida-  You guys, if you can get over the initial grossness that is involved in using this nasal aspirator, I promise you, that it is hands down one of the greatest inventions ever.  Nothing will clear your babe's stuffy nose like this bad boy!

Little Remedies Saline Drops-  Used along with the Nose Frida, these are a great and safe way to help clear up a stuffy nose.

Crane Humidifier- If your babe is suffering from a cold, you're going to want a humidifier, and a cool mist one is the way to go.  This is the one we have, and it has always worked well for us.

Forehead and Ear Thermometer- When your little one has a fever, you're going to want to get their temperature without a lot of fuss.  I prefer this type of thermometer because it offers both an ear and forehead option.

Circo Bath Towels-  We're big fans of these super cute bath towels around here.  They're inexpensive, and my kids love wearing the different animal hoods.

Angelcare Bath-  I initially owned a different style baby bath, but switched to this one after baby number 2 because I liked that I could bathe both of my babes at the same time with this style.  It's just what works for us.

Spout Cover/Bath Thermometer-  4moms makes the coolest stuff.  I love that this bath water thermometer pulls double duty and also works as a spout cover.

Honest Company Bath Products- There are a billion different baby bath products out there, we tried a few, but once we tried these, this is the line we stuck with.  I love the light scent and natural organic ingredients.

Pampers Swaddlers-  Everyone has their brand... we have used Pampers Swaddlers since day one with the first baby, and don't plan on changing anything anytime soon.

Desitin Maximum Strength-  We've been really fortunate and have dealt with very few diaper rashes over the years, but when they have happened, this stuff has cleared them up almost instantly.

Infant Motrin-  I try very hard to only give my kids medicine when it is an absolute necessity.  This is what our pediatrician has always recommended, so it is our go to, when our kids need relief.

Keep an eye out for my next "Baby Registry Favorites" post later this week!

Baby Registry Favorites | Feeding

Over the past several months, I have had multiple soon-to-be-mom friends ask me what my go-to baby registry items are.  While you'll never catch me trying to claim that I am an expert on things when it comes to babies, I am about to become a mom to 3, so I have, what I like to think, is a little experience, and felt that this would be a great opportunity to share all of the things that have worked for us, and talk about the products that WE love.

This post will kick off a series of posts, where I break down MY Baby Registry Favorites.  I decided the best way to do this was to separate everything into categories, so that I didn't overwhelm anyone too much, because let's be honest, becoming a parent is overwhelming enough.  I'm hopeful that I can get a post (or 2) published per week, and I will link them all under the "mamas + littles" page at the top of this blog, so they will be easy to access.

With all of that said, there are a few important "words of wisdom" that I want to share... In terms of registering, I always felt guilty registering for big ticket items.  Some stuff that we really wanted was on the pricey side, and I feared that adding these types of items to our registry would give people the wrong idea... I want to tell you... DON'T THINK THIS WAY!  Here's why... many stores offer a percentage off items that weren't purchased off of your registry, and a lot of people will gift you with gift cards.  If there is something that you really want for your baby, then go right ahead and add it to that registry.  If people don't pool together and buy it for you, at least you can purchase it at a discounted price in the end!

Secondly, baby items are like technology items.  There is constantly newer/cooler/better stuff making its way on to the market.  So, I fully disclaim, that some of the items I will be linking in this series are items that we have upgraded to before baby number 2, or while we await baby number 3's arrival.  It's just the way of the world.

Okay, let's get down to our favorites in terms of feeding....

Comotomo bottles-  Neither of my children so far have been big on the bottle.  They have loved to nurse straight from the breast, and when I say we have tested almost every bottle on the market, with the hopes that someone else might be able to occasionally feed them, it is not an understatement.  These bottles, that come in both pink and green, closely resemble the real thing (when it comes to the boob), and if we have had any luck with a bottle in the past, this is the one that worked!

Re-play Recycled No-spill Cups- These cups are obviously for when your baby is a little older, but I swear by them.  They really and truly don't spill!  Plus they come in a ton of fun colors, and they're made from recycled milk jugs!  You can read more about them here.

Boon Drying Rack-  I love this thing.  Not only does it look cool, it comes with some super cute accessories to dry all of the pieces of your babe's bottles/cups, and it's great for air drying pump parts too.

Re-play Recycled Plates-  Just like their sippy cups, these are super durable, and come in every color of the rainbow.  As mentioned above, you can read my review of these products here.

Aden and Anais Burp Cloths-  These are a favorite for a number of reasons.  They come in some great prints, they're super soft, they're lightweight, and they work as both a bib that snaps in the back or as a traditional burp cloth that you drape over your shoulder.

Zoe Organics Nipple Cream-  I'm going to be honest... if you've never nursed before, the first few weeks can be tough.  New babies like to nurse... A LOT... at least mine did.  You are going to want something to soothe your girls, and this stuff is awesome.  It's 100% organic, so it's great for you and safe for your babe.

Medela Quick Clean Steam Bags-  I can't say enough about how great these sterilizing bags are and how easy they make it to clean all of the parts of your breast pump.  Bonus points for the fact that you get a few uses out of each bag.

Medela Pump and Save Bags-  If you plan on going back to work, or giving your baby bottles of pumped milk, you're going to need a way to store your supply.  These bags are compatible with the pump that I use and love, and they're great for storing milk to freeze.

Lansinoh Disposable Nursing Pads-  After your little one arrives, your milk supply will likely be all over the place for awhile.  Trust me when I say that I know from experience, that you do not want to be caught in public without wearing these!!!  Some people prefer reusable nursing pads, but I already have a ton of laundry to do, so these have always worked great for me!

Medela Pump In Style-  As a stay at home mom, I haven't had to use a pump a ton, but when I do pump, this is the one I use.  I love that it comes in a discrete black bag, and for me it has always worked really well.  I highly recommend checking to see if your health insurance covers the cost of a pump, mine did, and it obviously saved us a ton.

Stay tuned for my next Baby Registry Favorites post, that will feature all of my favorites when it comes to hygiene.

Mommy Favorites

Having two little ones by no means makes me an expert in the world of parenting. I will say however, that two years of experience and two babies later, I have finally figured out what products we as a family simply just can't live without. 

So, I decided it was time to compile a list of my "mommy favorites"... The things that I would buy a hundred times over and recommend to mamas everywhere, because they make my life as a mom just a little bit easier, and are just that great!

Munchkin Snack Cups | Sophie the Giraffe | Britax Marathon Carseat | OXO Bottle Brush | Babyganics Toy & Highchair Spray | Cloud B Sleep Sheep | aden + anais Security Blankets | Burt's Bees Calming Lotion | City Mini Double Stroller | Boon Drying Rack | Honest Co Face and Hand Wipes | Bath & Body Works Hand Sanitizer | Nose Frida Nasal Aspirator  | Baby Bjorn Potty Chair