As a first-time mother to my now 4-month old daughter Addison, I was eager to try “Baby’s First Journal” for Carly and frankly, for myself and my husband – at the time Addison was 2 months old and we were struggling to figure out her “routine.”

The journal, produced by Glow Baby, claims to be “a comprehensive log book that enables parents to track the eating, sleeping and diapering schedule of their newborn.” During our three-week trial, we were happy to discover that the journal pretty much lived up to its disclaimer.

The journal has a small introduction, and then has a chart on each page outlining breastfeeding habits (start time, time on left, time on right, total length of feed), bottlefeeding habits (formula fed, breastmilk fed), diapering habits (pee, poo) and most importantly for me….sleep habits (start and end).

At first, I must admit that remembering to log in the book was a pain. Chances are, if I was upstairs, the journal was downstairs or vice versa. Then I would try to remember to back-log information, but that proved to be difficult thanks to mommy-brain and fatigue.

However, once we got in a groove of using the journal, it was very user friendly and answered the commonly asked question at my house “when did she last eat? Instead of the usual “I dunno…” answer, I could tell right away! This was especially handy for us because Addie is breastfed and formula-fed….so if I wanted to know how much of her bottle she took from my husband a few hours before, I could easily tell.

The journal is small enough to fit in any purse or diaper bag, although I must admit if we were “on the run” I didn’t really use it much. It also has a section at the bottom to write any notes, and also to check off whether vitamins or a bath was given.

Overall, Baby’s First Journal is a great tool, especially for first-time parents – as long as you remember to use it! For those on a budget, a simple Excel spreadsheet could do the job as well. And Addison’s sleep schedule? Well, by looking back at the journal pages I did manage to see a bit of a pattern in her napping during the day. Hooray! Then, seemingly the next day – she changed her pattern completely. So it’s back to square one…..isn’t mommyhood wonderful?!!

Leisa Davie is a first-time Mummy to her 3 month old daughter, Addison Rose. Currently on mat leave from her job working at a seniors’ activity centre, Leisa enjoys mummyhood, shopping, listening to music and spending time with family, friends, and her “fur baby,” Sadie. Bad habits include watching reality TV and drinking too much coffee. Married to her husband Ryan for almost 3 years, Leisa lives in Port Perry.

I have a Glow Baby journal for a lucky reader! Visit Glow Baby owner Lindsay’s site, poke around, and leave a comment about her journals and note pads. Winner announced Friday.

Sara from Sarita Baby actually calls these taggy giraffes, but I like gourmet better. Because this is one beautiful, handmade, funky fabric-encased stuffed toy.

Here is our Gigi helping me work today. I  boldly emailed Sara and asked her to send me one to review, because I’ve coveted them for ages at various shows she’s been at — and had to show them off to you. Gigi the giraffe is for my girls, of course. Of course.

Do you see the sweet fabric? The clever use of ribbon for the mane and tail, which double as sensory pieces, loops and handles? They are the perfect size to snuggle with, and adorable to adorn a crib or bed of any age child.

Sara is a work-at-home-mom in Oshawa who sews while her two kids sleep, in the sewing room her “wonderful husband was so generous to make” for her. Her funky baby accessories — including bibs, blankets, change pads and tooth fairy door hangers — are made with designer fabrics.

Check out Sara’s etsy site to find the three Durham Region stores you can purchase these giraffes at, for just around $20. Or, you can buy off the etsy site, or email Sara for a custom order at sb13sarita@yahoo.ca.

Want to win your own giraffe? (For your kid(s). Of course.) We’ve got a gorgeous green one that needs a warm spot in a Durham Region Baby reader’s house. To win, take a spin through Sara’s store, then leave a comment here with your favourite Sarita Baby creation. We’ll draw a winner on Thursday!

Are you ever in a restaurant in desperate need of a bib for your wee one? And you end up jamming a napkin down her shirt and hoping for the best? And, depending on the age of the kid, Junior ends up a) eating the bibnapkin, b) absolutely refusing to wear it, or c) both.

I can’t even count how many times this has happened to us.

It obviously happened to my friend and fellow mompreneur Alexandria of Clippopotamus, because she’s come up with a smart and funky solution: The Bib Clippo.

They’re made from washable poly-satin blend ribbons — in sweet designs — and are fully adjustable. Simply clip them onto a napkin, serviette, paper towel… anything, really, and you’ve got yourself an instant bib-on-the-go!

We used ours recently at a Chinese buffet in Orillia, and it worked fantastic. Lucy loved the fun print, opening and closing the clips, and that it was her special piece of equipment.

As a bonus for us breastfeeding mamas, the clips transform any blanket into a nursing cover.

Pretty sweet for $12, huh? Check out the Bib Clippo page.

We’re also loving another ingenious idea: Blanket clippos. These stretchy ribbons-with-clips attach to either side of a carseat or stroller and keep blankets (or toys) in place. Perfect for winter and always having your child’s favourite on hand. See more info and photos here.

You’re all starting to think Christmas, right? Local artist/art therapist/creative guru/friend, Susanne of Art and Soul Express, recently sent us some of her unique and custom creations, which I think are perfect for one-of-a-kind gift ideas.

Lucy is drowning us in art. Perfectly wonderful, creative, show-worthy art, but a lot of it. I know many of you have the same problem. While I contain much of it in a binder, on our fridge and in Lucy’s room, as wrapping paper and cards and gifts for proud family members, it’s still everywhere. And so hard to decide what to keep and what to throw away.

Behold Riff Raff Giraffe. Send Sus your child’s art (either via mail, or a high-quality digital image), and she transforms it into magnets! Perfect for gifts, perfect to preserve kids’ art without, well, preserving the art itself. We had a bunch of Lucy’s stuff done, and she’s just tickled to see it permanently displayed. RRG’s tagline — We make memories stick! — is exactly right.

You can also get funky magnetic letters to spell a name or saying, or the entire alphabet in a cool stainless steel tin that sticks right on the fridge.

Sus does a ton of other stuff: Beautiful prints — like this pregnancy one, right — cool t-shirts via Get Real Designs (you can make custom onesies at a baby shower!), Christmas ornaments, pregnancy belly casts, and workshops at her studio in Courtice (there are upcoming, all-day ones in December just for Moms). She also runs Wee Piggies and Paws, creating custom-framed shadow boxes and casts of little hands and feet.

Check out all her ventures on her website, and email or call (905-440-4351) for workshop and other details.

Want your product reviewed on Durham Region Baby? Email info@durhamregionbaby.com for more details.

Way back in the summer, when I snuck away with my sweet CP for a girls-only weekend, I purchased one thing to bring back home. And of course it was for Lucy.

I brought her back this neat dress-up doll from a fun toy store in the town we stayed in. I hmmed and hawwed over various dolls (do you all know the Groovy Girls? Almost got one of those, and would still like to, one day…), but fell in love with Maggie Leigh, by Melissa & Doug.

I like that she wears normal, not-too-revealing, yet funky clothes. Lucy loves to mix and match the articles of clothing.

I like that she has intricate parts and pieces, which Lucy has always been drawn to. She likes detail-oriented toys such as these. Everything is magnetic, so the clothes and shoes stick to the doll.

I like that she’s wooden, and the neat packaging. Do wish there was a snap-on lid, though, to hold it all together.

I like that it’s — I know, bor-ing! — educational. Maggie develops fine motor skills, and is a great tool for teaching matching (finding the pairs of shoes and socks).

Best of all: I like that Lucy likes it. No better review available!

Retails for around $10-$13, available all over. Pipsqueak Toys in Brooklin carries tons of Melissa & Doug products, as does Mastermind Toys and Scholar’s Choice stores.

Growing up, I used to not like my name very much*. Carly was rather unusual among the Jennifers and Amandas and Sarahs.

To a child whose biggest life problems included getting the latest Archie comic book and trying to hit the flagpole at the local park with my shoe, I always found it frustrating not being able to find things — pencils, mugs, stickers — with my moniker on them. Therefore, whenever my parents or sister DID find something (usually custom made at a craft or trade show, like the Strawberry Shortcake door hanger I still have), I cherished it.

So when the fine ladies at Stuck on You wanted me to review their labels — and offered to send some with not just Lucy’s name, but mine, too — my heart skipped a few beats and I just about fell over the keyboard pounding out our mailing address. At almost 30, I got that same childhood excitement all over again.

Let’s do the math: Sticker lover + indestructible labels with our names and funky shapes and funky colours = True love.

My fuchsia flower circles are on my cellphone, SIGG bottle, date book, bookmarks and favourite pen. Lucy’s are in her shoes, on her SIGG bottle, sunscreen and diaper rash cream, inside her clothes and reusable cloth bags.

They’re awesome for stuff you send to daycare. All of those items have been washed or dried or wiped down or picked at for weeks, and still look brand new. They’re dishwasher and microwave safe.

And just like me all these years later, what kid — no matter what their name is — wouldn’t love a set for their subject books or pens or bracelets or backpack? For, ahem, bigger kids (aka, us Moms), they make kitchen labels for glass, plastic, ceramic and metal containers. Ooo, and notepads!

Cool text, awesome colours. We love them.

Check them out here. Shipping is free!

(*love it now, Mom&Pa, and thank you always for it…)