Hunter is a supremely cautious kid. He’s worried about…. pretty much everything. However, I’ve noticed that when it comes to moving toy vehicles, he becomes quite the speed demon!

He became a pro with his scooter at a very young age, and adored his Ybike – zooming all over the place. It came to a point when I felt the Ybike was too ‘basic’ for him, and he needed a proper bike.

So there’s 2 ways for a child to learn how to ride:

1. Balance Bike – these are bikes without pedals. The idea is for kids to feel and learn balancing, to be able to kick off and let the bike cruise along, keeping their balance.
2. Training Wheels – these are bikes with the extra wheels on either side. As the kid gets used to pedaling, you raise (and eventually) remove the training wheels.

Personally, I’ve always preferred Balance Bikes. I don’t like the look of training wheels, and those bikes are really clunky and heavy. I like the idea of learning the courage to balance first (because that’s often the most fearful and difficult part), then putting on the pedals once kids are confident.

Also, I knew Hunter was good with his balance, since he was good with both his scooter and Ybike.

Here’s what I like about the Y Velo Balance Bike:

1. The seat and handlebars are adjustable – the bike grows with your child.
2. It’s extremely lightweight – at under 4KG, Hunter can lift it up by himself.
3. It’s sturdy – made with aluminium, it’s really solid and doesn’t tip over when Hunter rides it, and takes up to 25KG in weight.
4. It’s the most appealing of all the balance bikes out there – Hunter whole face lit up when he saw it! And I like how it looks like a real bike.

The Y Velo Balance Bike comes in two sizes and colours:

• Green (3 years+) ($139)
• Blue (18 months+) ($119)

There are only 50 Y Velo Balance Bikes available for sale in Singapore!

These limited bikes are only available (they launched this week!) at multi-label kids boutique nottoobig, as well as selected Mothercare shops. But guess what…….

nottoobig are giving away one Y Velo Balance Bike (worth $139)!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can submit some of the entries more than once a day, so come back tomorrow to get more entries in the draw.

Giveaway will run from 13 Dec to 19 Dec 2013 inclusive.
Winner’s entry(s) will be verified according to the entry criteria(s).
Winner may pick up the Y Velo (green $139, or blue $119) from the nottoobig boutique at Forum The Shopping Mall.

Hunter was delighted with his Y Velo the moment he saw it, and to this day, is still extremely attached to it. It mustn’t look too daunting to a toddler, because he’s under the recommended age of 3 yrs old, but eagerly climbed on and whizzed around.

This photo was taken mere minutes after it was presented to him, showing how he can easily lift and walk around with the bike:

And then when he first got on the bike, taking it for a spin:

These three videos will give you an idea of his progression on the Y Velo..

The first video is his very first time getting on the bikie – you’ll see how slow and careful he is:

This second video shows him riding his Y Velo after a few days of practise – you’ll see how much more confident he is:

And this third video shows him after yet a few more days of practise – you’ll see how he zooms around with BOTH feet off the ground. He’s balancing!!

Carter is too short to use the bike, but it doesn’t stop him from sitting on it and being pushed along by Daddy:

And here’s my friend’s 4+ year old riding it. The bike is set to the lowest setting though, it should be raised higher since he’s much taller than Hunter.

I was surprised by how Hunter, being a cautious kid that shies away from ‘scary’ stuff, was dead excited and hopped onto the Y Velo immediately. It also amazed me that he learned it so quickly and can balance easily on it. If you have an active and/or daring kid, I bet they’ll pick it up even quicker than Hunter did!

The bike’s also quite a hit with other kids and adults.. kids always want a go on it when Hunter brings it out, and parents always admire how it looks and ask me where to get one. It’s definitely eye-catching!

Thanks nottoobig!

Hailing from the UK, Skibz bandana bibs are really blimmin’ good.

Let me explain..

If you’ve seen Carter in real life, you’ll know he’s got some sort of…… drool issue.

He was an epic drooler since 4 months old. He’s drooled every day since (he’s now 15 months), a constant free-flow leaking tap, at every waking moment. And it shows no signs of abating. Frankly, I’m impressed he has that much liquid in him! I’m also surprised he hasn’t shrivelled up like a prune.

Because of this, I have an entire drawer stuffed to the brim with bibs. About 90% of them are really insanely cute, but are not usable – he soaks through them in an hour, tops. The remaining 10% of bibs are those double-sided ones or have the waterproof backing… except they’re all the regular U-shaped bib and look, well, baby-ish.

I was pleased with Skibz because:

1. Skibz look good. I fully admit I like nice-looking stuff. The bandana style is just so *rockstar*! Plus, the adjustable press stud fastening works well for a growing kid.
2. Skibz soak like crazy. The double-layer backing is highly absorbent and Carter wears this for a TEN-HOUR DAY without the back side getting damp. It’s impressive.
3. Skibz look good. Oops. I said this already. But really, they’re so freakin’ cute!!!

Rockabye lane are giving away FIVE winners a Skibz bib in your choice of design
(worth $20 each)

a Brunch with my baby giveaway

You can submit some of the entries more than once a day, so come back tomorrow to get more entries in the draw.

Giveaway will run from 6 Dec to 12 Dec 2013 inclusive.
Winner’s entry(s) will be verified according to the entry criteria(s).
Rockabye lane will send each of the five winners a Skibz bib of their choice from available stock, to their nominated Singapore address.

So here’s Carter in his Skibz Red & Blue Stars Bandana Bib. The vibrant star print had me sold! I like pairing it with a solid coloured top, so it really shows off his bib. You have no idea how many times I’ve been asked by strangers “Is that a bib? Really? Where is it from?!” whenever he wears this out…

And the more understated but very dude-ish Skibz French Stripe Bandana. I reckon this looks nice paired with printed tops, because it doesn’t clash and just looks like a cool lil bandana!

There’s a variety of designs, which you can check out below. I just noticed they even have an organic version – oooooh!!!!

Thanks Rockabye lane!

Holsters were launched on our fair shores earlier this year and, boy, have they taken Singapore by storm!

With their signature look so identifiable, I’ve spotted them on so many women (and their daughters) everywhere – be it in the mall, or outdoors in the parks.

Nobody I know owns just one pair. I guess it’s hard to stop! Almost all my girl friends own Holsters, and all of them own multiple pairs.

Why?

Firstly, they are COMFORTABLE. As someone that is on her feet for almost the entire day – either walking or chasing after kids – I can wear my Holsters from morning to evening, and I get zero blisters, chafing, sore feet, etc. A lot of jelly flats bite at my feet, and if you walk outdoors (helloooooo sweatsville), it gets all mushy and nasty in there. Not Holsters. They wick sweat away easily, and are as comfortable for me indoors as they are outdoors. Even when I’m literally running around.

Secondly, they actually LOOK GOOD. Most flats (the SAHM choice of footwear) are just….. meh. They look too casual, and you run the risk of looking like you’ve just grabbed the nearest pair of shoes without a care for fashion. OK fine, that may be the truth, but I don’t want people to know that!! Holsters come in an array of gumdrop-happy colours, as well as love muted classics like black/white/champagne/silver. They come decorated with sparkling crystals (so pretty) or studs (so badass). 

Thirdly, they are WASHABLE and DURABLE. This is so important if you find yourself traipsing around in the park, or your kid does the dreaded drop-drippy-food-on-your-feet act. You’ll be thanking your lucky stars if you’re wearing your Holsters – simply whack them under water and they are as good as new.

The multi-label kids boutique nottoobig are giving away one  Holsters ‘getaway’ flats in your choice of colour! (worth $69.90)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can submit some of the entries more than once a day, so come back tomorrow to get more entries in the draw.

Giveaway will run from 29 Nov to 5 Dec 2013 inclusive.
Winner’s entry(s) will be verified according to the entry criteria(s).
Colour choices available in Singapore are: White, Solid Black, or Capri turquoise.
Winner may collect their prize at the nottoobig boutique, and may select any size/colour from the available stock.

These particular Getaway Jelly Flats (below)are my perfect pick-me-up. Look how cheery they look in the Capri colour! It really gives me a pop of colour when I head out, and they are so comfy. I’ve worn these day-in day-out with no issues whatsoever.

I particularly like wearing them to the pool. They just scream “summer’! Plus, they’re fine to get wet, and wash clean easily.

Some Mothercare stores stock Holsters, but the largest selection is at the nottoobig boutique at Forum The Shopping Mall. A huge variety of designs (flats, low heels, pumps…you name it), and in an explosion of colours. It’s hard not too miss them when you walk past.

Psssstttt! The nottoobig boutique also stocks the ‘getaway’ flats for little girls! They come in White or Coral and are priced at $49.90

Thanks nottoobig!

Spring Maternity needs no introduction. With 5 boutiques and an online store, they stock a variety of baby/kid goods and accessories and are a household name here in Singapore.

Personally? I still shop there. For myself. Despite being neither pregnant, nor nursing. Ahem…

I still buy my clothes there, because I just find their clothes so utterly comfortable! Almost everything is ultra soft, made from bamboo, or ultra soft cotton, or silky and cool on the skin. If you’ve popped into one of their stores and touched their maternity/nursing wear, you’ll know exactly what I mean. Plus, the designs are gorgeous! They don’t look matronly or auntie-ish at all.

But I digress.

They have a self-designed line called Baby by Spring – covering baby clothing and bedding. Everything is 70% bamboo and 30% cotton, and you know what that translates into? Fabulously soft material against baby’s delicate skin.

I’ve been using a range of their stuff for almost 2 years now, so obviously I’m a fan. I really like how bamboo is not just silky soft, but also eco-friendly, anti-bacterial and hypo-allergenic.

Of the bedding range, I’ve been using the Cot Sheet for almost 2 years. It is way way waaaayyy softer than regular cotton sheets, and it wears well (I usually wash it first thing in the morning, and pop it back on at night when it’s dry) after extended use.

They also have a ridiculously cute Baby pillow with case that is more of a cuddle pillow, and a Baby bolster with case that is so. freaking. cute. Check them out:

Here’s the fun bit……. for the first time ever, Spring Maternity is doing an online giveaway! And it’s right here on Brunch With My Baby! It’s not one, not two, but THREE products that they have for us today.

Spring Maternity are giving away a pillow, bolster and fitted sheet set, in your choice of fabric! (worth $59.90)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can submit some of the entries more than once a day, so come back tomorrow to get more entries in the draw.

Giveaway will run from 22 Nov to 28 Nov 2013 inclusive.
All entries will be verified according to the entry criteria(s) before the winner is notified.
Winner may collect their prize at any Spring Maternity boutique, and may select any print from the available stock.

Thanks Spring Maternity!

I’ve used the SnoozeShade for around two years now, soon after Hunter was born. It is, quite simply, my secret to getting my newborn babies (and now, toddlers), to consistently sleep in their strollers – every single day. 

It’s no secret that I go out during the day. A lot. My kids join me on my daily outings (I don’t believe in changing my whole life to suit my kids’ eating/napping habits) and so sleeping in their strollers is a must.

And, actually, they fall asleep easily in their strollers because of the motion of being pushed around, the white noise surrounding them, and most of all, because I cover them completely with a SnoozeShade.

The newly released version, the SnoozeShade Plus Deluxe, is….. SILVER! I was delighted because my previous one only came in black. How dull 😉 The silver is more like a gunmetal grey and a bit shimmery, and so soft and silky!

The SnoozeShade Plus Deluxe comes in a handy little drawstring bag, which you can toss into your stroller basket and whip out whenever your baby wants to nap. The SnoozeShade is designed to to be a universal fit for all strollers, due to the stretchy sides and snap-button closures that surround the edge.

There is a horizontal zip along the top, as well as a large window in the middle that can be unclipped… revealing a thin black mesh. I often leave the top layer unclipped, so the kids get more airflow, and so they can look out (they can sort of peek through all the tiny holes so they’re satisfied that they’re not closed in, yet they can’t really see properly so it’s not distracting them from being able to drift off to sleep).

Want to see this in action?

This is the SnoozeShade on my Babyzen Yoyo. The stroller is extremely compact, so you can see the SnoozeShade looks a little oversized for it. But it still fits.

Leaving the exterior window unclipped. It leaves the inside dark enough to fall asleep in, but people can’t peer in.

Oh hullo Carter! Here he is zonked out. This is also a good configuration to have if your child easily gets over-stimulated. This blocks out a lot of distractions, but he can still look straight out (good for kids that cannot stand stuff in front of their face).

It also functions very well as a sunshade. The SnoozeShade has one of the highest levels of sun protection of any product on the market!

SnoozeShade is giving away one free SnoozeShade Plus Deluxe, worth $74.90)!

a Brunch With My Baby giveaway

You can submit some of the entries more than once a day, so come back tomorrow to get more entries in the draw.

Giveaway will run from 8 Nov to 14 Nov 2013 inclusive.
All entries will be verified according to the entry criteria(s) before the winner is notified. 
The prize will be delivered to the winner’s choice of address.

SnoozeShade can be purchased online at rock a bye lane. It is also stocked in retail stores listed here.

Thank you SnoozeShade!

So what happens when your baby is no longer a baby, and starts scribbling away?

Kids love to scribble with crayons, and they love to climb into little chairs. And out of them. And in again. And out. Ad infinitum….

What is it with toddlers and wee-sized chairs?!

The Buono desk and chair are by Japanese brand Yamatoya (who have been around since 1924), and designed for kids aged approx 1-5 years old in mind. The idea is that the set is adjustable (2 heights) to suit your child’s growing height.

It arrived in a surprisingly small box. I was expecting a big carton, but it was a flat box. “Oh no!”, I thought, “it needs to be built.” Turns out it was SO easy, I built it myself (and I am no handywoman). It just all slots in together, pop a few screws in, and ta da! The kids even got in on the action.

The main attraction was the chair. And it still is. Both kids love to scramble up and down on it, and just sit there looking very pleased with themselves. Fact is, Carter makes a beeline straight for the Buono chair the moment he steps in the door, and sits at the table all satisfied.

He then proceeds to pull all his crayons out and drop them on the floor, one by one. But that’s another story….

What impresses me about the Buono desk and chair is that it’s incredibly sturdy. It is strong to the touch, does not creak or bend, and has a divine solid feel to it. I’m especially picky about this when it comes to kiddy chairs – something too lightweight will tip over easily. The Buono chair is like a solid block of wood and withstands the kids pushing it around, climbing up and down it, and of course, sitting on it.

The set takes up to 60KG in weight! It means I can sit in the chair too. Uhhh.. if I shrunk my bum down a little.

The table has a B4 sized drawer that slides in and out really smoothly (drawers that get jammed easily or are shaky to yank in/out annoy me). It’s a nifty thing to store drawing books and a tray for crayons.

The set comes with two solid shapes – a blue circle, and a red triangle. Your kids can place erasers or knick knacks in the blue circle, and the red triangle has three little holes to stick crayons into.

As it turns out, the triangle is a HIT with Carter! He pokes his crayons in and out of the thing, and carries it around proudly. And both kids think singing Happy Birthday with the three crayons sticking out is a total riot (it kinda looks like a birthday cake). So I’m pleased it doubles up as a toy as well!

Yamatoya are giving away one Buono Desk and Chair set, worth $168!

a Brunch With My Baby giveaway

You can submit some of the entries more than once a day, so come back tomorrow to get more entries in the draw.

Giveaway will run from 1 Nov to 7 Nov 2013 inclusive.
All entries will be verified according to the entry criteria(s) before the winner is notified. 
The prize will be delivered to the winner’s choice of address.

Psssst, you can see the Buono Desk and Chair in person at the Parenthood Fair next weekend (8-10 Nov!)

Thank you Yamatoya!

Hope you’ve been having a fabulous week! If not, it’s Friday night anyway, and you know what that means – HELLLOOOOOOO WEEKEND 😀

This Friday, we have a very famous brand all the way from France: Mustela!

Mustela really needs no introduction. Skincare experts for babies and mums-to-be since 1950, their huge range caters for delicate skin with their natural formulas. Their new Rebirth! launch of the Bébé range focuses on Avocado Perseose which works to preserve your baby’s skin.

Mustela are generously offering THREE winners any Mustela product of your choice + facial wipes!

a Brunch With My Baby giveaway

You can submit some of the entries more than once a day, so come back tomorrow to get more entries in the draw.

Giveaway will run from 24 Oct to 31 Oct 2013 inclusive.
Winner may select and pick up their prize at the Mustela headquarters in Singapore.

My kids and I are heavy users of Mustela products. You’ll often find a bottle (or three) of their stuff lying around in the bathroom or the childrens’ bedroom.

In fact, I ended up ‘representing’ my favourite Mustela product in a couple of magazine ads this month. It was a feature on the Mustela launch that I attended, and had a section where I had the honour of appearing next to a few other mums (some of them are personal friends too, yay!). Click the pic below to see the full-size copy.

 Here’s some of the Mustela goodies I tried recently…..

The Mustela facial cleansing cloth wipes (these are the ones included in the giveaway above) are more expensive than generic brands, but if you try one, you’ll see why. They are thicker, more plush, and feel superior. Huge props for the plastic clip-lid – I cannot stand brands that offer a sticker to keep it shut. It’s completely useless since it loses the stickiness so quickly! On the downside, since these are more expensive, I tend to make sure my kids are reaaaallllyyyy messy before whipping one out 😉

I’m a fan of the Mustela baby shampoo. It’s very mild with a subtle scent, and foams up well. The kids haven’t kicked up a fuss with it, so I guess they’re all good with it! It makes their fine baby hair really soft afterwards. No need for conditioner.

For those of you that don’t like too many products in the bathroom, or if you’re travelling, the Mustela 2-in-1 Hair and Body Wash works really well. Just one tube and you’re done from head to toe! Kids are squeaky clean and smelling great, but this formula doesn’t dry out their hair or skin.

Ahhh.. this Mustela Stelatopia Milky Bath Oil is Hunter’s favourite. He will always ask for this at bathtime, every night. The word “oil” sounds a bit freaky (just sounds messy to me!) but it transforms into a soft milky formula in the bath, and doesn’t leave my tub oily and slick. It does make the kids’ skin really soft though.. obviously so. And it has no scent, which is great for sensitive skin.

I’ve been through maybe 4 bottles of this Mustela Body Lotion. It’s one of my staples because it’s easy to use (the pump is a great idea!) and the lotion absorbs quickly and easily with little-to-no scent. It’s really nice for adults to use too, if you feel like a bit of pampering. I often steal some of this to use as a face lotion on myself.

Ahhh… the Mustela PhysiObébé. I don’t think I could’ve survived without this back when Hunter was born in China. I was afraid of using tap water (it’s unsafe to drink) on his face or diaper area.. and this no-rinse cleansing fluid worked SO well as the last step when changing poopy diapers I didn’t like using just wet wipes as I felt they left a (potentially irritating) residue, so I used cotton pads dampened with PhysiObébé and cleaned him up. I used it on Carter too when he was a newborn, and continue using it to this day to clean Carter’s bum after a poo. My favourite product. LOVE it!

Since my kids are half-Aussie, suncare is pretty critical in our swimming routine. The Mustela Special Intolerances SPF50+ Suncream is our favourite so far. The tube is small and portable, it’s a mineral sunscreen with a high SPF, and it protects the kids really well. I steal some for my face 🙂

And this Mustela Musti Eau de Soin is something that’s mine. ALL MINE!!!! Lots of parents have fallen in love with Mustela’s signature fragrance (though they have a line that is fragrance-free if you prefer that), and this spray caters exactly for that. It’s Mustela’s signature fragrance… that I can use 🙂 It’s alcohol-free, very light on the skin, and has a beautiful fragrance that reminds me of sunshine in a field of daisies. This has kickass reviews online, and I can see why. I’ve been using it daily as my fragrance.

Mustela products are available at: Takashimaya, Robinsons, OG, Kiddy Palace, selected Spring Maternity, Mums & Babes, Motherswork, selected Watsons and Guardian.

Thank you Mustela!!

CONGRATULATIONS to Josephine (js***@msn.com), who is the winner of our Elly Giveaway!

She wins a clothing item from Elly’s newest collection of her choice. I can’t wait to see what she picks.

Josephine, please respond to our email within 48 hours to claim your prize. And congratulations again!

a Brunch With My Baby giveaway