Mideer Toys: Part 1

I came across this brand and wanted to share a little more about them because they have quite an interesting variety and the price is really reasonable. Some of the items we receive is still not age-appropriate so we are slowly releasing the goodies to baby. 

1. Mideer Kids Projector Storybook Torch ($17.90)

This is really one of my favourite product from MiDeer. Personally, I think this is a really cool and fun product that can grow up with the baby. It is probably the most appropriate for a toddler because they can sit for a longer period and understand the stories. The torch brings stories alive. There is about 8 pictures for each story and you child can twist the disc and change the picture projected. 

There is also a deck of cards with the stories (both in English and Mandarin) so all the work is pretty much done. Apart from acting as a projector, you can also use it as a torch. My boy is really more like a cat now, pouncing after the projections...hehe! For now, we use the torch to sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars" with him in the dark. He can sort of flex his fingers now.. Whee!

2.  Mideer Kids Learning Alphabet Magnets Letter Magnetic Fridge Magnet ($11.50)

If you have a bomb shelter at home, the magnets really spruce up your bomb shelter. I changed the magnetic placards on my bomb shelter to this because this looked less cluttered and made my house less like a childcare. Honestly, it doesn't always looks like that at home. 

Baby loves it, maybe because it is colourful. He will always pluck the letters off the wall. His favourite so far is the skinny iguana, peeping tiger and the blur-looking yak. Sometimes, we would also spell words for him, though the words are pretty limited because we only have a set of alphabets. Would recommend getting 2 sets and maybe another set on numbers!

3. Mideer X Eric Carle Washable Finger Paint ($13.50)

Parents who want to introduce their children into art and paint, you should check this out. It comes in 8 colours and is washable. Currently, we are just using it as paint purely. Basically, we squeeze the colours onto a piece of paper and throw it into a ziplock bag so that baby can use and match the colour. 

The chance of the ziplock bursting is pretty low, but we wanted to be really careful so we got the kids friendly set. Baby doesn't exactly enjoy it for now, but as parents I have to say I did have quite a ball of fun :P

So far MiDeer toys have been really promising, we will reviewing the next few soon, so keep a lookout on our posts!

Note: Laptop is down, so posts won't be as frequent!

Aircon for my little one's sedan: ft. Jellypop

You know how warm Singapore can be sometimes, lately I found baby sweating when he is sitting in his stroller. So, we decided to upgrade his "sedan" and gave him some aircon. Hehe. For those who are curious, nope we are not installing a fan/ aircon. We simply included a Jellypop cooling mat ($75) for him to rest on. 

Apart from strollers, the cooling mat can be placed on the car seats, bouncers and even high chairs. Between you and me, I have actually used the cooling mat when I was having fever. It can truly take away the heat. 

For those who are wondering how this works, apparently the cooling mat is made of a newly patented Hisobead technology from South Korea. The Hisobeads are evenly distributed and use a thermocycling process to keep the temperature constantly lower. The product is said to be very durable and I think so too, considering it could take my weight when I laid on it when I have fever. 

There are a few designs available. The front is made of high-grade oxford cotton which acts as an additional cushion to provide more comfort and support. Also, the cooling mat can be easily wiped clean. My baby has puked milk on it a few times and so far we have managed to sucessfully wipe them off cleanly with wet wipes. Baby has been feeling quite cool and comfortable on his ride. We are seeing him enjoying his days out more. Considering we use the stroller quite often, I would deem this one of the must-have tools if you use a stroller too!

Bathtime Dilemma ft. Ariston ST33

We decided to delve deep into this topic because for every new homeowner this would be one question which you would need to take into consideration when building your dream bathroom. One of the considerations is whether to take instant water heater or a storage water heater. Just so you know, we picked an instant water heater. 

If you have just received your BTO keys, you will realise that the house nowadays are very, very small. You really have to make everything compact and functional. Quite frankly, both the husband family and mine use instant water heater. We are not very used to waiting and a bulky storage tank in the bathroom just didn't quite appeal to us (Note: Our ID can hide it, but it comes with additional charges.) 

Just a tip for new homeowners, cos I didn't know this beforehand. If you want a rain shower, you should opt for a storage tank so that there is enough pressure. You can still install a rain shower using an instant heater, but it isn't as "shiok". My personal favourite in terms of design is the Ariston Andris2 Top (S$489) which comes with wifi technology, so you can prepare your shower ahead as it does takes some time to heat up. 

For our house, we picked Ariston ST33 (S$259) for both our toilets. Coincidentally, the husband's family was also using the exact model so we kinda knew what we were getting into. I love it for its sleek design and made my toilet had a premium look. We will be releasing more photos in baby bath-time posts so stay tune. 

Speaking of baby, one of my favourite feature was the precise temperature control (it takes about a minute for the temperature to regulate). I really hate mixing the right temperature for my baby. This model can also memorise up to 3 shower temperatures (1 for the husband, 1 for me and 1 for the baby). The whole system was quite intuitive to use hehe. 

To get your shower pouring, the only additional item to purchase is a tap. I got my mixer from TOTO (S$192) as there was a sale at that time. (Note: You don't have to use a mixer to control the temperature.) Looking back we should have gotten one that has an extra faucet so that I can fill up my pails for washing. 

In terms of installation, it is not particularly difficult. My husband's family installed the system by themselves. For us, the plumbing installation was included in part of the ID's package so we happily let them do it...hehe :D

So far, I am very pleased with the outlook of my house. As a new mother, shower time is a luxurious me-time and I really enjoy these moments. I think the investment we made to make the house look like a nice airbnb was really worth it. Do stay tune as we slowly release snippets on our house and our reflections on what we did well or could have done better :

Tip: Buy from shopee during their perpectual sales to enjoy bigger cost savings!

Tips on Baby Bath Time (Feat. Shears Bath Tub)

I may not have shared it here, but I actually didn't have a confinement nanny during the first month after post-partum. And I survived! We ordered confinement food delivery and the whole village helped out (yes, we even had help from the extended family.) After I was freed from confinement (hate that period by the way), I started taking over my baby's duties in piece-meal.

I felt most things were quite manageable. The washing machine did the laundry. There were a lot of pump parts and bottles to be washed so I ended up taking out more bottles to be used so that I could reduce the number of washes. I am still staying with my in-laws and we do have a helper, so that help a bit on the household chores. 

There was one thing that daunted me big time. It took me 3 months before I can confidently say "my baby now enjoy bath-time with me". Finally, we are having fun. My MIL and the hub's aunt was helping out during the first 3 months. I did a lot of eye power observation and sometimes I would pretend wash a pillow *embarrassed chuckle*

The choice of bath tub is very important. Ours was a foldable piece from Shears in my favourite Tiffany Blue shade ($36.90), which was spacious enough for our baby to grow up with. If you are staying with your in-laws or have space constraints, do consider foldables as they are very compact! So far, I find this piece very sturdy and durable. I am quite clumsy when it comes to moving big pieces but so far this bath tub still looks as good as new. My favourite feature is the star plug. When filled with water, gosh the bath tub can be so heavy. Tip: I always unplug it after we are done and just go about my day. When the tub is empty then I keep it effortlessly. Hehe.

Some quick tips on bathing a baby now that I have mastered the skill. Always prepare everything you need ahead! Usually, I would strip my child and wrap his bottom in a diaper cloth (lest he pee) and hang his towel over my neck (following the elder's methods). I sit on a stool when I bathe him for better balance. To prepare him for bath-time, I will splash some water on his chest to test his comfort level with the water temperature.

We start off with shampooing his head and washing his face with a cloth (outside the bath-tub). I find it easier to soap his body before placing him in the bath-tub. To wash his front, I would place him in a lying position, with my arm behind his back and grab his other arm with my hands. To wash his back, I would place him in a burping position. Now he is a bit older, I let him drag his bath time a little and let him splash about. There is still quite a bit of room in the bath-tub for us to introduce him bath toys (stay tune to read about them!)

After he is done with bath time, I will just quickly wrap him up in the clean towel. After placing him on the changing mat, he will be dried and dressed up as fast as I possibly can to prevent him from catching a cold and him flipping away naked. *Gosh* Can you spot our clothes from Little BB Love (read our review and discount code here!) and diapers from Pee-Ka-Poo (Read our review on their products here!)

Shears  is a local baby toy and gift set maker. Their variety of baby products is amazing and we will be reviewing more of them here. Bookmark "Shears Baby" tag if you want to find out all about them!

Support Local: Pee-Ka-Poo

When I first came across this brand, I have to admit I was quite tickled by their name incorporating pee and poo, which is what a diaper contains. Honestly, I have heard more about their diapers than their products so I was quite excited when I received their soap and wet wipes as well for review.

Pee-Ka-Poo diapers ($173.40 for 6*80 pieces)

I can totally understand why this is their most known product. We have tried a few samples and this one definitely ranks within our top 3. The diaper managed to hold baby's pee and poo well and felt premium. Also, it had a pee indicator which let us have a sense of when to change the diaper. For parents who are after diapers with designs, Pee-ka-poo comes in one classic pattern. 

Value-conscious parents would be happy to note that the price per packet of 80 pieces remains constant for different size (note: this is not the case for many brands). Also, Pee-Ka-Poo has a return and exchange policy which allows swapping to bigger diapers. This is particularly useful because it is so hard to gauge how fast the baby grows.

Happy Sparkle Head-To-Toe Shampoo (S$29 for 280ml)

Personally, I feel that this product is under-rated and deserve a way bigger shout-out. Although this product is called a shampoo, it can also be used as a body soap. Baby uses it for both his head and body. The soap has a nice peach scent which I love. I will always smell my baby after he has a nice, long bath. 

For older kids, the soap can produce quite a nice foaming effect with a few drops. I know it cos the silly Hubs made a bubble bath for baby when he was only 4 days old. The little one cried buckets as he still hated bath time. The only grouse I have with this product is that they only have it in one scent. I would definitely love some variety because this product is dope!

Bamboo Wet Wipes with Honeysuckle Extract (24 * 80 pieces for S$72)

The wet wipes failed to make the cut for me. The mositure and thickness of the wipes were acceptable and they wipe away the poop pretty efficiently (within 5 pieces a poonami butt can be cleaned). It was also very gentle on baby's little bum bum. However, the clasp was a huge issue for me and the Hubs. It was very secure such that when the baby was screaming and we were panicking, we just couldn't open the clasp quickly. 

Perhaps, it is a personal thing but I prefer wet wipes designs without the clasp so that you can easily stick it on and off. Plus, with the clasp, it is extremely tough for me to be independent. I would always need to wake my Hubs up for the night changing. Overall, I am still quite a fan of Pee-Ka-Poo and 2 out of 3 of their products ranks highly. Given that it is a local brand, I think we should really give them our full support :D

Keeping babies stuff sterile with Acquassimo

I didn't used to be like this. But as an expecting mother, I have grown to be come quite a  germophobic. Covid definitely isn't helping. Previously, I did a post on blessings for babies. Although, I only take brand new items, most parents actually are okay with second-items from even strangers because apparently babies grow so fast and they get bored of their toys even faster.
* Note, I was recently chided for my doctor for investing in too much new items for my little one, sigh.

Now, my stand is...it is okay to use some second-hand items if a) it doesn't come into contact with the baby much and b) it is thoroughly washed. But from my experience, I notice some items just can't be washed. Nonetheless, they still have to be wiped down. So I came across the baby-friendly disinfectant. 

You may wonder why baby-friendly and what is the difference? The thing about babies they might lick the things they are exposed to. Alcohol wipes / Febreeze just isn't safe enough for them. Call me kiasu, but I needed something that can kill germs and yet is safe if consumed by baby. And here comes Acquassimo to rescue. We got the bigger bottle (for home) and the smaller spray bottle (to bring around) as it is lighter. Acquassimo is as safe as drinking water and doesn't have to be rinsed off. It can even be used on the baby's feeding equipment and used as a mouthwash!

So far, I am using Acquassimo on all the relative-blessed bulkier items that cannot be washed (this includes the pram and the baby cot). Similarly for the bulky new items, we also gave them a good spray because god knows what happened to them at the factory (i.e. stroller, safety seat). For those baby products that can't be washed, we also gave them a good spray (i.e. baby shoes, baby woven toys, husk pillow and baby nest).

My only grouse would be that this product isn't sold in cartons and there are no refill packs available (I have been growing kinda of green lately...lol). Other than that, I really love using this because I do have quite a bit of unwashable items. Sometimes, instead of spraying direct, we would spray on the wet wipe before cleaning the baby items so that the surface is thoroughly covered. (Learnt this from the Hubs). 

I have been sharing this product with some other germophobic mummies (yes it is great knowing I am not the only crazy woman out there!) And they were raising other concerns such as should we hang this by the side of the cot so that visitors can spray their hands before touching the baby (honestly, I didn't even think that far). So, I am a bit bummed that there are no carton options because if I were to bring one bottle to the hospital and hang another by baby's cot. I am presuming this is going to run out faster than I can imagine. 

Let me know what you think...do you think I am over-reacting or do you think we actually need carton options from Acquassimo?

Kundal Hair and Body Care

Now that the baby is sort of ready to arrive anytime, my new concerns revolves more around my postpartum. Will I slim down? Will I have breastmilk? Will I lose hair? Will I have time mask my face? Will I this? Will I that? Honestly, I think baby stuff are nearly settled, but my 4th trimester stuff are barely settled. 

Hairloss is one of the fears I have. Although everybody tells me I have so much hair, there is no harm in losing some. Erms...What! I won't be washing my hair during confinement but after that I need to regain the glory of my mane. So the Kundal package came in time! I was quite intrigued with this brand because it came with many scents on Shopee!

1. Honey & Macadamia Natural Shampoo and Hair Treatment ($17.77 for 2 promo pack)

Kundal's shampoo are paraben free and silicone free haircare. For the Shampoo, I tried out the baby poweder scent and it is quite true to its name. The shampoo foams well but to be honest it is not particularly impressive. I am however very impressed by the hair treatment. I got it in white musk (honestly not sure what it is) but I really don't like the strong, floral woody scent. It is my least favourite scent to be honest. 

The hair treatment I have to say works wonder. After using it, I can immediately feel the effect. My hair felt really soft and silky. If you ask me, the hair treatment will be the lingering scent, so it is important to choose scents that you like. Next time, I think I will pick the same for both. But white musk is definitely off the list. 

2. Honey & Macadamia Body Wash ($10.50)

My requirements for body wash are not very high - I just need them to foam well and have a lingering scent. Usually I use a soap bar, but I still use body wash when I go to gym etc. It is just too much of a hassle to bring a wet soap to and fro the gym, haha. Kundal's bath wash works well for me and I think I did well this time well with the cherry blossom. I am not sure about you ladies, but my favourites for body wash are either the fruits or the flowers. They always make you and the bathroom smell so so good. 

3. Macadamia Ultra Hair Serum ($10.50 each)

It really depends on your hair type and condition, but not everyone needs to use hair serum. Usually if your hair is long, frizzy or dry, you would generally have to use some hair oil to maintain. I personally don't have any favourite brand, I usually a nice scent and it cannot make my hair feel stick or greasy after use. Generally, after using hair oil, you will notice your hair become glossier and shinier. 

For the serum, I picked Ylang Ylang and I have to say this is my favourite. I adore the sweet flora scent. Given that the Kundal hair serum actually meet my requirement, I might be using this moving forward. Psss...I usually use the hair oil in the morning cos when you use it at night, it might get on your pillow and cause acne growth. :D Hope this review helps. 

Have to admit...it feels good receiving non-baby related packages for a change. :P

Home Tester Club: Colgate ProClinical B150 Charcoal Battery Toothbrush

Usually, sites that offer free review products always make me raise an eyebrow. But the curious cat in me always tempt me to "sell my data" and and test whether these websites truly promises what they say. So, recently I came across Home Tester Club. Compared to Try and Review, the preliminary questionnaire is way longer but I find the review items more premium and relevant to people who are having their own homes.

Like always, I don't harbour too much hope but was pleasantly surprised when I was shortlisted to review the Colgate ProClinical B150 Charcoal Battery Toothbrush. Initially, I have to admit that the packaging didn't impress me too much because batteries just doesn't look very advanced. And when I de-construct the toothbrush, it just looked very meh on the inside.

However, after using the Colgate ProClinical B150 Charcoal Battery Toothbrush, I was absolutely sold. First of all, it is can be around a low $20+ when it is on sale. Working on AAA batteries also meant that when you travel, you don't have to worry about misplacing the charging wire etc. It is the perfect travel toothbrush for me. 

My favourite functions includes the tongue and cheek cleaner and its soft bristles. Don't estimate this little boy cos it is as powerful as any other electric toothbrush. It does have a 2 mins. timer, but that is really more of a frill for me because erms I brush my teeth very fast (less than 2 mins). Note: I have no decay at all so my brushing is still effective ok!

Ending with a photo of me brushing my teeth cos I am extra like that. I even used a unicorn filter to match my unicorn pjs from The Puffy Fluffy. Actually, you know what, this brush would be perfect if it comes with a nice box so that I can bring it around. Colgate, if you ever read this, can send me a nice holder please. Hehe.

Kiasu Mums: Flash Buys and Freebies for Baby

Hehe...Some of you readers have observed that baby's loots are generally all gotten online. Yes, I think partially due to Covid and lockdown, I barely go out of the house. With some research, I think I have actually gotten quite good deals, sometimes through the recommendations from other mothers, other times through my own sleuthing. #LobangMum

One thing I realise, nesting ahead of time really save quite a bit of money cos you can wait for the sales. Also, you won't be too stressed up by delivery delays. If I know what I want, sometimes I also monitor for "surprise sales" and buy direct instead. As per popular request, here are some of my good deals consolidation (will keep updating as and when). I have also consolidated some worthy freebies for Mummies who just want to go straight for the kill!

Flash Buys

1. Lazada Johnson & Johnson Brand Box

I missed the surprise box but during the brands sale and warehouse sale, the same sale came again...Erms perpectual sale again. During the brands sale, I actually bought the box which consisted 3*Desintin cream, 2*Aveeno bath products, 2*J&J Lotion and 2*J&J  Baby wipes for S$28 (realised after that you are limited to one purchase every sales...can totally take the opportunity to stock up). Because we wanted free delivery at 60 bucks, I ended up buying another pair of Aveeno bath products cos it came with a cute snack cup and 3 more packets of J&J wipes. Good news is his first month of bathing needs are pretty much settled. :D Previously, I bought Philips Avent Feeding Surpirse Box, read more about it here!

2. Cloversoft

This was a deal that a Mummy in the Mummy's chat updated me about. It was buy-one-get-one carton free. During the sales, I managed to 2 snagged 2 additional mops which I thought could use for our new house. So I thought it was worth the buy. My in laws pretty much confirmed pregnancy has driven me mad when they saw 2 cartons of baby wipes. Well it is approx. 3 cents per piece and now baby has enough to wipe his butt for 1 year plus. Haha. Tip if you wanna buy Cloversoft products, monitor and buy direct! I even found a Mum nearby to share my bulk buys in future :P Resourceful or what!

3. Lazada's Skiphop Surprise Box

I have always been quite a fan of their stuff because they are really cute. So far, their surprise box has been always darned overprice and I am not sure if I should say the same for this. I paid around $50 for this, but the toy and the porcupine bag in the picture was so cute (got a hippo instead darn it). I mean, I can still see us using most of the items, just that I have one too many diaper bag (and bags in fact). Oops. I think it is a deal but it may not be a steal unless you are at the start of your first pregnancy journey :D

Freebies

1. Mums Club

Personally, this is one of my favourite free boxes. All you have to do is register and you will get a box of samples. It is really quite impossible to buy and try everything in the market so sampling is quite a good way to convert Mummies. Quite honestly, after sampling some of the Mummy/ Baby's non-sensitive products, I am already in quite a good mind to purchase more of their stuff. As Hubs observed,  want to lock down a mother, let her try first...Hehe. My personal favourites in this box is Isa uchi Breastmilk Storage Bags and for baby, the mattress and bib!

** Will continue to update, I haven't take photos of all my loots yet!

2. Huggies Club and other sample sites

There are quite a few places which you can redeem free diapers. I redeemed Huggies at my friend's recommendation cos it was the most fuss-free. They will send you the bigger size diapers once your baby come of age. In addition, you get a packet of free wipes too! For other diapers, I don't think they are as generous. Personally, I feel it is quite a bit of work/ and selling of personal information to get 1-3 pieces of diapers. But, I agree if baby is fussy, you might need quite a bit of samples. Just search for free diapers samples online and it will lead you to the sites.

* FYI, there is a promo going on now, sign up at Huggies Club now for an extra full-sized sample of wet wipes!

3. Shopee Mum's Club

Previously, I only use Lazada for my purchases. This Mum's Club was a recommendation from the Mummies in my chat group. Initially, I signed up cos it came with the free diapers and the Hubs was sick of me always borrowing his phone to surf around Shopee. I have to say that Shopee is a lot more Mummy friendly than Lazada. I have been sucked in ever since. Oops. I just wish it was a bit more organised like Lazada and if there were more reminders on the deals. But yes, so far I am always on it - surfing and spending for me and the little one's needs. Their support helpdesk is also super responsive. If you want to sign up too, please use my referral code 12SHO223 and you can get $10 off your first order and also 300 coins if you join the Mum's Club :D

4. The Elly Store

I got the grab bag for $60 when it was on sales. I know many of you are fans of this brand but honestly...I hated every single piece I got in the grab bag. Maybe it is cos I hate green although I look good in it. The material is also very different from what I am used to. Is it because all luxe brands feel like that?!? I did a quick check on the price and it is definitely value for money. My Mum says just let him wear it la. I mean he will wear it and maybe he will look good in it...who knows. But at first glance, this is really not Mummy's and Daddy's of clothes.