Thanks to Mommy B, my 2-year-old son and me (yep, I tasted them) had the opportunity to try several flavors of Gerber’s Graduates Toddler Meals.

The meals are in a convenient box with a microwaveable tray and include selections such as Cheese Ravioli in Tomato Sauce with Mixed Vegetables, Pasta Stars in Meat Sauce with Green Beans and Rice and Turkey in Gravy, among several additional flavors.

My son is a typical toddler. Some days, it’s difficult to get him to eat anything. Other days, all he seems to do is eat. He’s fairly good about trying most foods, even those that include lots of herbs/spices and a touch of heat (like hot sauce – yes, he’s asked for it when he saw Daddy with it and he actually liked it).

After trying many of the flavors offered in the Gerber’s Graduates Toddler Meals line, they will not become a staple in our house like many other Gerber products.

Here’s a quick list of what we liked and didn’t like.

Like

• Good balance of starches, proteins and veggies
• Heats quickly – only 30 seconds
• Generous portion sizes for toddler
• Divider keeps veggies and entrée separate
• Food pieces were appropriate size for a toddler – no additional cutting or smashing necessary

Tomato based pastas, in our opinion, had the best flavor. Many of the other main entrees had an “off” taste and were not appealing to me at all. My son, however, wasn’t as discerning as I am.

Dislike

• The veggies are in what the packaging calls “seasoned water.” We’ve eaten many veggies from a can that’s in a liquid solution and they taste just fine. The veggies in all the meals we tried have a slight chemical-like taste.
• Many of the main entrees also had a high liquid content that didn’t taste very appealing. There’s a lack flavor and several of the meals taste similar. However, this may be a plus for some toddlers who like their food on the bland side.

Although we love many Gerber products, the Graduate Toddler Meals are not among our favorite. They would be a good choice if you need a quick, relatively healthy and balanced meal for your toddler. However, the lack of flavor and somewhat odd taste of some of the foods make them not a good fit for us.

Has your family tried the Graduate Toddler Meals? What do you think about them?

After a 10+ years communications career, Jamie K. recently took on her most challenging job yet – as a fulltime CFO (chief family officer). Currently, she lives in Alabama with her husband, an officer in the Air Force, and her toddler son and infant daughter. She’s a big fan of deal sites, attempts to be eco-friendly, and struggles daily with the great balancing act of being a super mom.

Although products were provided for this review, the opinions expressed are my own and were not influenced in any way.

At first glance Little Duck Organics is a fun-loving company. How can I tell? Mostly by their website and packaging. Their description of the wholesome products they represent is anything but boring. Would it be bad if I bought a product just to read what quirky things they were going to say next?? Probably. So it’s good that I like more than just the witty wording. I love that their snacks are made from good things. See:

{Organic Freeze Dried Mangoes, Organic Freeze Dried Strawberries.}

Little Duck Tiny Fruits come in three flavors: Strawberry/Mango, Blueberry/Apple, and Apple/Banana. Baby C loved all three flavors, but devoured the Strawberry & Mango flavor because Strawberry is her favorite fruit of course. I personally like the Tiny Fruits because they aren’t as perishable as fresh fruit, I don’t have to keep them cold, and they’re already in tiny, bite-sized pieces.

As an added bonus, Little Duck Organics also gives 1% of their revenue back to the 1% for Humanityorganization, which I think is great whenever a company gives something to charity.

Check out Little Duck Organics Tiny Fruit snacks here: http://littleduckorganics.com/ and find out where to get your little ones something yummy {and healthy} for their tummies.

I was provided with samples of Little Duck Organics Tiny Fruit snacks for the sole purpose of testing them out. The above opinions are my own, however yours may vary.

One of those tools that make potty training one step easier is the Little Looster – Looster Booster. The Looster Booster has no installation, it’s as easy as using a stool, but covers more surface area.

Not only is the Looster Booster easy to clean but it’s very lightweight and easy to move if you don’t want it in the bathroom, although Little Looster says it’s easy for parents to use the toilet with the Looster Booster in place. Even though the stool is lightweight the built-in grips at the bottom of the Looster Booster help to keep it from shuffling around or tipping.

Creator Monica Mylet is not only an inventor but she’s also a mom, so she’s built Looster Booster from her own experiences with her three children. How nice to have a mom who can relate standing behind a product to help other moms?!?

When I had first heard of Little Looster I thought it was an amazing idea and I wished I had heard about it sooner, but I’m very excited to be able to use it once Baby C is a little bigger.

If you are getting ready to potty train or have already potty trained and have issues with little one getting on the potty or losing the feeling in their legs I suggest you check out Little Looster’s Looster Booster. You can visit their website here: http://www.littlelooster.com/ and check out their Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Little-Looster/122552497774389

When did you start potty training? What tips and tricks do you use for encouraging your child to go potty? 

This post is a spotlight on Little Looster’s Looster Booster, this is not a review as I have not tried out the product with my own children yet, I will however update with a review when Baby C is old enough to potty train.

When Pampers told me the exciting news that they were launching improvements for their Cruisers line I was elated. But then I wondered how they could make, in my opinion, a really awesome diaper even better. Here’s how:

Pampers is taking their Cruisers line and giving it a softer, quilted backsheet, very similar to the beloved Swaddlers that we wish all diapers were like. Honestly, I have not heard one mom say they didn’t fall in love with Swaddlers when they used them. Cruisers are also getting a longer absorbent core, for even more protection, and drier skin for your baby. And lastly, one of the most FUN innovations is….OSCAR!!!!

 Yep, that’s right folks, Oscar the Grouch is making his debut appearance on Pampers Cruisers. Just in case your child is having a rough day, you can literally turn them into a cranky pants kid. Plus it’s nice to look up and see the furry eyebrows for a laugh when you’re wrestling with your active toddler trying to get the clean diaper on.

Aside from this green grump, Sesame Street’s finest also appear on the diapers, from the lovable red monster Elmo, to the crumb creator himself Cookie Monster your kiddo will love seeing their favorite characters on their diapers. Baby C loves running around in her new Cruisers.

If you’re not a Pampers family, but have been wanting to try them out, {like a few of you who I have been chatting with here and there} your chance has come!

Pampers has offered to give one lucky MommyB Knows Best reader a chance to win their very own pack of Pampers Cruisers with the new, and improved features.

Tell me what kind of diapers you currently use. Whether they are cloth, disposable, or homemade. I’d love to hear your favorite brand. And if you’re thinking about switching I’d love to hear why. And even if you don’t use Pampers and don’t want to try them out yourself consider donating the prize to a local charity or family who is unable to cloth diaper for one reason or another.

Not Required, but we’d love it if you’d go check out Pampers here: on their website, on Facebook, and on Twitter.

Giveaway ends August 8th @12:00 am. The winner will be chosen at random, verified, emailed, and announced in a Winner’s post. The winner has 48 hours to respond to the email from MommyB to claim the prize, if the prize is not claimed within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen at random. You must be a US resident and 18 years or older to enter.

I received a bag of Pampers new design diapers to try out, this in no way impacts my honest thoughts on the product, but allows me to give you a complete review.

With BobbleRoos there are so many options, they have options in their pillow section, several types and fabrics for their blankets and also some great finds like Security Blankets, Burp Cloths, Pack -N- Play Sheets. and so much more! I just love having options no matter where I shop, plus they have a Satin pillowcase section!!! For any parent with a curly haired child, especially African American or biracial hair, that is a HUGE plus! Not a lot of children’s bedding companies think of, but BobbleRoos definitely has my vote in that department!

I love the size of the Toddler Pillow, it’s not only enough space for both girls to lay their heads down, but not too big and bulky for our long trips to visit the Grandparents or storage. We don’t use the Toddler Pillow in Baby C’s crib, but I keep it out in the living areas of our home and she’s always laying on it when we are playing or just relaxing, and she looks so cute doing it too!

*Pediatric Sleep Expert, Judith Owens, recommends in this BabyCenter.com post that children under the age of 2 years old refrain from using a pillow in their cribs for safety purposes.

My only only only dislike about BobbleRoos is that the pictures on their website truly do not do justice to the quality and how adorable their products actually are. So you’ll just have to take my word for it!

Everything we received from BobbleRoos was excellent quality, no loose ends, no tears, great fabrics. I am completely satisfied and even HAD to have another pillow, not only to keep the girls from beating each other up, but because I really do stand by this company and their products. I would highly recommend BobbleRoos and hope that you check them out.

Visit their website and make your purchase here: http://bobbleroos.com/

BobbleRoos is giving one lucky MommyB Knows Best reader a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to their website for any of their products.

Here’s how to win:

Using the ENTRY FORM directly below this post (NOT the comment form), submit your name, an email address that you check regularly, and the entry/entries you are submitting all at the same time. There is no need to fill out separate entry forms for each item you complete. *Please note the Mandatory Entry MUST be typed into the form BEFORE you can qualify for additional entries.

This contest has ended but please be sure to enter one of the other giveaways here at MommyB Knows Best.

Giveaway ends February 21st @12:00 am. The winners will be chosen at random, verified, emailed, and announced in a Winner’s post. The winners will have 48 hours to respond to the email from MommyB to claim the prize, if the prize is not claimed within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen at random. You must be a US resident and 18 years or older to enter.

The Juppy promises to “teach your baby how to walk while saving the strain and stress on your back”. The company’s website says it’s doctor-recommended, which means it must be great, right?

I bought the original Juppy without lining. I got the “boy version” – white with blue trim. The material is stiff and has a canvas feel. The shape of it is similar to the infant/toddler swings at the park – scooped bottom with two leg holes and high sides. Two adjustable straps allow you to pick a height that’s right for you so you don’t have to bend over.

The back of the Juppy has a zipper on it. You put your child’s legs through the holes, zip it up, grab onto the straps and away you and your toddler go! Sounds simple, right? Well, for the most part, it is. I found the straps easy to adjust and found a great height so when my son walked in the Juppy, I didn’t have to bend over. I did experience much less pain in my lower back, but it didn’t completely eliminate it.

My son almost seemed scared of the Juppy. I think, in part, that’s because he lacked self- confidence. He was so used to holding our hands and having that support that he was unsure how to react when his arms were down which forced him to balance more on his own. Juppy’s website claims the product “enables your baby to learn balance on his or her own while providing the security of knowing you are there every step of the way.”

Although I love the idea of the Juppy, the product itself didn’t actually get used much in our house. In part, I think that’s because we got it too close to the time when our son began fully walking on his own (around 13 ½ months). Plus, it wasn’t always convenient to go find the Juppy and put my son in it when he wanted to walk. And we know how kids don’t want to wait – they want it now!

Overall, I think the Juppy is a good product. It costs around $25, is lightweight and comes in a small satin-like pouch that makes it easy to travel with. It’s machine washable and simple to use. For me, it did alleviate some of the lower back pain I experienced trying to help my son walk. My husband only tried using the Juppy a couple of times because he found it easier just to hold my son’s hands – the old-fashioned way of teaching your children to walk. Because there is not physical contact with your hands and theirs, the Juppy takes some of that just learning to walk excitement away for you and your child.

I wouldn’t say the Juppy is a necessary product, but if you have lower back issues or pain and you use the product when your child is younger than mine was, you may find it helpful. If you’re interested in finding out more about The Juppy Baby Walker go to: http://www.thejuppy.com/

What are tips that you’ve used to help your child learn how to walk??

This post was written by Jamie K. Jamie K. is a first-time mom currently living in south Texas with her husband, an Air Force officer, and her 15-month-old son. She’s a professional communicator who works full-time and constantly struggles to balance work and personal responsibilities – and her addiction to chocolate. She’s making an effort to be more “green” by trying cloth diapering, buying organic food when possible and using natural cleaners – and she tries to do it while saving money and getting great bargains.

This purple fellow uses his great imagination throughout the book. Little Miss A occasionally tells me she has a spider in her belly button. I love that Basie encourages children to use creativity and story telling.

Meet Paisley, she appears to us in A Monstrous Smile. This sweetie tells us all about the things that make her smile. Puddle jumping, scratching on the turn tables, and even an oscillating fan are a few of the wondrous thing that make this pink monster grin. Personally, I used to love talking into an oscillating fan too and hearing my robot-like words.

Both of these great books were created by author James Robert Miller and his sister, Leslie Kelly. James wrote the great stories and I love how the words are mostly small, fun, words that each child can associate, with a few words kids may not know that leaves room for parent/child discussion. The stories are silly and fanciful, but still down to earth. Leslie did an amazing job on the illustrations, I love how she uses patterns and Miss A especially enjoys the non-traditional rainbows. I enjoy reading these books to Miss A over and over again and would recommend these to any friends, and may buy some for gifts shhh don’t tell.

You can find Basie and Paisley on Facebook and buy your own copies of A Spider Lives in my BellyButton and A Monstrous Smile here: http://www.wix.com/BasieAndPaisley/BasieAndPaisley

What books do you read to your children to bring out their creativity??