Shower Her with Love: Baby Shower Gift Ideas

Pink and ivory confetti and balloons, beautiful cupcake tower, the serenity and beauty of tealight candles lit on each table and an abundance of love and laughter... I still remember my very first baby shower.

It was your traditional baby shower complete with friends & family, lots of good food, games, and of course plenty of gifts to shower baby girl and mom-to-be with.

Thanks to my mother and sister, it was a successful and absolutely perfect baby shower.

One thing that was not very traditional, was that it wasn't just women at the shower; I made it a point to have my husband by my side and my dad and all the wonderful men in my life to be a part of this as well.
This pregnancy was such a blessing and very much anticipated that I couldn't have any of them miss out on this.

We received so many wonderful baby shower presents, but among them all, there were definitely some that we made the most use of and honestly some that we barely did use unfortunately.

We always get excited, especially when it's our first opening our baby registry (I remember I was scanner-crazy, scanning almost everything I saw), but if I could go back in time, there would be plenty of items I wouldn't have bothered adding to it.

Although a gorgeous picture frame or picture album or a lit-up wall art of baby animals may sound cute... trust me, there are some things that are just not necessary and the mother really does not need.

Yes, it's the thought the counts, but in all honesty, let's get something that mom and baby could really use. 

I thought I'd compile a list of Baby Shower Gift Must-Haves for my new moms-to-be that are planning on opening a registry and also for those that are looking to purchase a gift for an upcoming baby shower.

We all know how much I LOVE Munchkin products! 

There are so many great items and what I love about their website is that they've made it simple for you by categorizing their products. 

Check out their Nursery Essentials for some great baby shower gift ideas.  

Among them, the Arm and Hammer ™ Diaper Pail has to be one of my favourite must-haves (if not #1)!  I'm using it now with a newborn and oh my goodness is it Godsend!  Not only is it easy to use, but it really eliminates the odour and carries a lot of dirty diapers too!  You can check out my recent post about this marvelous product here.

More amazing products from Munchkin that are definitely needed for the nursery are:

• Sarabear® Diaper Caddy (because they just look so much better in
•  this in the nursery & isn't it pretty?!)

• Diaper Duty Organizer (I know firsthand how crowded the changing table can get -- this is very helpful!)

• Deluxe Drying Rack (If you choose to bottle-feed, this is the perfect must-have product!)

• Their Bottle Warmers: Time Saver Bottle Warmer, Travel Bottle Warmer, & more!
• Any of their Safety products (Baby-proofing is always a must-do!)
• Any of their adorable Munchkin Baby Bath Products like their White Hot® Inflatable Safety Tub (it tells you when the water is too hot and it's super cute!)

And they also have many products that grow with baby, like their famous Click Lock™ Sippy Cups!

Make sure you check out their website at www.munchkinbaby.ca to view all their amazing products.

You can also visit and be a fan on Facebook for updates and amazing contests and giveaways!
Speaking of contests, Munchkin Canada has something brewing on Facebook.
Make sure you're a fan today!

Click here to be a FAN on Facebook! 

Other very important baby shower gift ideas that are very much needed by mom and baby are:

• Clothing Necessities. Newborn - 6 months baby Onesies (Short and Long Sleeve)/diaper shirts, Sleepers (These are a favourite of mine -- especially for babies born during the cooler months) socks/booties, mitts, caps and clothing.  Bibs are good too.
• Diapers, diapers and more diapers (& don't forget the diaper rash cream!).  A cute idea that I loved receiving and also a creative way to give diapers is the diaper cake.  How cute are they? 

• Bath and Body products (always go for something gentle and for sensitive skin just in case -- stay away from fragrant products) including Bath Towel (hooded & organic is always a much preferred choice for newborns), Body Wash (stick with fragrance-free and for sensitive skin), washcloths, and a bathtub.

One thing I also received during my baby shower and that I've also done for friends and family is to create a basket with an assortment of baby (and even mom) products.  Check these beautiful examples below.  So adorable!

• Humidifier or Vaporizer
• Nursing Products (for the mom that will be breast-feeding) like a Nursing Cover, Breast Pump, Nursing Pillow (transitions throughout baby's first year for multiple uses).
• A Diaper Bag. One of my favourite diaper bags that is also unisex (let's not forget dad-to-be!) is from 7 A.M. Enfant, their Voyage Diaper Bag.  You can see my review of this product here.
• Health Products like a Baby First-Aid Kit with all the essential items needed when baby gets sick or hurt.
• Baby Bouncer/Rocker
• Baby Carrier/Wrap

Another site that you will have to visit that will make baby shower gift shopping so much more easier is PTPA's website. Click here and check out their Baby Toddler Section with options per category.

You want to make sure you choose a baby shower gift that's a) on the mom-to-be's registry 

and b) a neutral style (mom-to-be may have a different taste than you do, so stick with neutral colors/styles).

It's always nice to ask what the nursery theme is (if there is one) -- this makes it easier for you to find the perfect gift.

This is such an exciting time for mom (and dad) -to-be and I hope this post helps you in choosing something just right.

**Disclaimer: As Brand Ambassador for Munchkin Canada, I have received products & compensation; however the opinions expressed are my very own.**

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Buh-Bye Stinky Diapers: #MunchkinCanada Diaper Pail Review & Giveaway

Any day now, we are going to welcome our new little addition to our family.

Of course there is nothing but pure excitement (and chaos) all around as we prepare our son's nursery for his arrival.

As I go through all the nursery items we kept in storage for our little girl, I came across one of the most important items that was definitely a life-saver nose-saver -- The Diaper Pail! 

A flood of memories, funny and gross (but always cherished) came back to mind about the days when that pail was put to full use.  Those days are coming again! 

For all you experienced mother's (and father's), you know how foul that odour was when disposing dirty diapers without the proper diaper pail/bags.

There's no masking it!

We learned the hard way when we decided to be a little more frugal and just use regular garbage bags the good old-fashioned way.

Let's just say not only did our poor little girl's nursery reek for days, but so did parts of our home! P-U!

Let me introduce you to a revolutionary diaper pail -- the Munchkin® Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail!

This wasn't the diaper pail that I owned 3+ years ago, but the leading competitors so I had to know if this would measure up to it.

Having the great advantage of having close friends & family that have wee ones, I put it to the test during a recent play date with a friend that had twin babies (since my son wasn't available yet to be of assistance for this particular portion of the review).

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**UPDATE: Since the birth of my son this past Friday, September 7th, and his arrival home on Sept 9th, let me just tell you that this diaper pail has been of much use! Considering the amount of diapers a little person can consume in only a week's time, my husband and I were amazed at how many diapers it was able to hold (we just changed a bag yesterday) and ZERO odour! We are loving this diaper pail in comparison to the one we used with our daughter in 2008 and truly recommend!
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There's no getting past me when it comes to odour -- I can smell anything from a mile away, especially something that's off.  So I was very pleased to learn that this product definitely backed up it's promise.

Check out the awards on it too! It was chosen as top and coveted pick from some of the best (including PTPA!)

The Munchkin® Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail uses Arm & Hammer baking soda to help eliminate odours with an easy to use system:

• one handed operation
• patented self-sealing system seals the bag as the lid closes
• comes with 3 bag refills; more refills sold separately 

Okay, anybody that knows me (especially my husband), will tell you that I'm not so great when it comes to these kind of contraptions.  I want something that I can use (especially if I'm going to use it often), that is quick and very easy for me.  Otherwise, I'd lose my patience with it and ever want to use it again. 

True story.

This was very easy to use from the beginning to the end.

I especially love the fact that it includes a baking soda cartridge that absorbs the odor and dispenses it each time the lid is closed. Awesome feature!

You can check out a demo video here: http://bit.ly/TwdCjl

A full cartridge lasts over 90 days, and refilling is simple (no need for a separate deodorizer). Each bag holds up to 25 diapers and is easy to snap, seal and toss when full. The pail comes fully assembled and includes 3 Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail Refill Bags.

To purchase Refill Bags are inexpensive as well which is a big plus!

The Munchkin® Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail  retails for approximately $49.99 Cdn in most major retailers.

I think a fair price compared to it's competitor and for what it has to offer.

If you're on Facebook, make sure to constantly check up on their Munchkin Facebook page for a $10 instant rebate coupon for the diaper pail.

Another product that I absolutely love is their  Arm & Hammer™ 3-in-1 Potty Seat .  Mind you, my daughter is fully toilet-trained, but she uses it as a stepping stool now and we will definitely be using it for our son when it's his time to learn.

Here are some great potty-training tips and my experience with training from a previous post: http://bit.ly/QrDDiw.

I also love their Deodorizing Plug Protectors and Nursery Fresheners with Brackets to keep your space fresh and odour-free!

I truly believe you will love this diaper pail, that I'm giving one of my lucky readers a chance to win a Munchkin® Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail of their very own + a  Munchkin® Arm & Hammer™ 3-in-1 Potty Seat for your big-little kid that's ready to start (or is) potty/toilet-training!  

To enter, simply visit Munchkin Canada online and then leave a comment below telling me what your favourite feature is on the Munchkin® Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail. 

Simple!

Make sure you leave a comment for you to be eligible to win.  More additional entries and chances to win via rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Munchkin Grows with Your Baby + Giveaway

One of the things I love most about having my own blog, my personal voice on the world wide web, is that I have the opportunity to share my honest opinions and thoughts on anything and everything, especially when it will benefit other mother's (parents) like me.

I was so ecstatic to have been chosen as a Brand Ambassador for PTPA's Munchkin Canada Brand Ambassador Program.

I personally have used Munchkin products since Ava was a little baby and what makes this even more exciting for me is that I am expecting our second baby this September so being able to review their wonderful products within the next few months and write about how they have benefited my family is extra special!

Boy, was I in for a surprise! Munchkin really knows how to take care of their Brand Ambassadors -- received 3 big boxes of Munchkin Products to try out filled with many Munchkin favourites.  

Amazing! 

It was like an early Christmas, or even a mini Baby Shower! :) Who needs one with what I received from Munchkin? We're so thankful! 

One thing I have to admit is that I had no clue Munchkin Products grew with your baby!  

When Ava was a wee one (younger than 12 months), we'd purchase many items for her including their fabulous bath products and especially their cups, but at the time I was more focused on the items that accommodated her age and neglected to realize that their products did in fact grow with her.

One of our favourite Munchkin products are their wonderful cups.

We began using their trainer cups since Ava was 8 months and was pleased to know that they also offer Big Kid Cups too! 

She's now 3 and although she is able to drink from a regular cup now, she absolutely loves her pink Click Lock™ Insulated Munchkin Cup.  

She says it's like Mommy's Coffee Cup (she's talking about my large magenta Starbucks Tumbler).  

Plus, she doesn't feel "baby-ish" with it, so that makes me happy.

We are able to take it on the road and what's great is I don't have to worry about her spilling in the car.

We're very pleased with their line of cups and highly recommend them for your Munchkin!

To learn more about their Click Lock™  cups, click here. 

They also have their super adorable line of feeding products, like their forks and spoons, fresh food feeders and more! Ava loves when I use their Silly Sandwich Cutters when making her lunch. Fun!

We also adore their wonderful line of Bath Products!  

I have to tell you, not all bed-time bath times are successful ones with our big-little girl.

She has her moments.  And as much as she enjoys splish-splash fun, when her daddy is the one doing it, oh, good luck!

For some reason, she loves making it extra "fun" for him.

She's been having lots of fun lately with the Bath Letters and Numbers.

How smart is that they are continuously learning... even during bath time?

When the shapes are wet, they stick to the tub wall offering endless minutes of fun and learning for your munchkin. I love that they are also made of non-toxic foam in case they decide to take a chew at it.

It's the little things®.

Fun, Fun, Learning Fun in the Bath! Even if some are upside down or backwards. ;)

Now that we're decorating the baby nursery for our new one's arrival next month, another product from their amazing Nursery Essentials line of products that we are definitely including and sure to be a hit with our baby is their Nursery Projector and Sound System.

One of my readers will WIN their very own Nursery Projector and Sound System for their nursery!

A voice-activated system with soothing sounds, dreamy images and a comforting nighlight that helps provide an ideal sleep environment.

Includes:

- 10 soothing sounds, including Mozart, lullabies, and white noise

- 3 image discs  Rotating projector head allows for projection onto the ceiling or wall

- Voice activation feature allows baby to self-soothe

- Optional nightlight and 3 timer settings let Mom customize for baby.

HOW TO ENTER:

To enter, simply click here and let me know what your favourite Munchkin Product is that Grows With Your Baby by commenting below.

Then enter via rafflecopter below for additional entries! Easy!

Open to Canadian Residents only. Ends 8/24. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**Disclaimer: As Brand Ambassador for Munchkin Canada, I have received products & compensation; however the opinions expressed are my very own.**

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