Product Spotlight: Planet Wise Nursing Covers

If you have been here long, you know that I support breastfeeding.  I have nursed my babies everywhere I go – from the baseball game, to the NY subway, to the airplane, and many restaurants.  But I also believe in being modest while nursing.  Now Doable Diapers has a new product that supports both of these ideas: the Planet Wise Nursing Cover.

The Planet Wise Nursing Cover has several great features:

• This simple and discreet, yet stylish nursing cover helps Mama feel at ease breastfeeding in any environment
• Rigid neckline allows easy baby viewing while the extended fabric sides give additional privacy
• Easily adjusted neck straps taking it on and off is a breeze
• Side pocket to keep items handy
• Small, matching, zippered storage bag included
• 100% cotton

I especially like the rigid neckline.  I use a similar style nursing cape when I breastfeed Nolan in public.  It allows Nolan to have some light and air, and we can maintain eye contact at the same time as we maintain modesty.  It makes me feel more comfortable without sacrificing Nolan’s relaxation and comfort.  I also like the matching storage bag.  This would definitely keep my diaper bag much neater! 

As can be expected from any Planet Wise item, there are many varied and attractive fabric patterns to choose from.  There is something for everyone!

This would make a great gift for any expectant mom also.  I plan to give it as a shower gift to those moms I know who have decided not to use cloth diapers.

Baby Bond Nursing Cover Review and Giveaway

As a mother who believes in breastfeeding my babies, it is important to me to be able to modestly nurse my babies, even when away from home.  I used a cape style nursing cover with Elaine.  While it had boning in the top to allow me to maintain eye contact with my baby, it was very hot.  The place I nurse my baby most often when away from home is our church nursery.  It is a small (but adequate) room, and it easily gets warm when you add more bodies to the room!  The cape nursing cover was making me and my baby very hot and sweaty.  This did not provide a comfortable environment for nursing!

Enter Baby Bond!
I was so glad to discover the Baby Bond nursing cover.  It is a unique design that allows me to remain covered and modest without covering my baby.  This allows eye contact, ease of movement, and a cool experience during nursing.

 

From the Baby Bond website…
“BabyBond™ nursing accessories cover mom, not her baby. Mom is able to maintain her modesty. Baby remains uncovered benefiting from the infinite opportunity to make eye contact, interact, and communicate. After all, dining is social.”  Baby Bond is also the winner of the iParenting Award.

The Baby Bond website is very helpful.  Not only are there diagrams, pictures, and descriptions, but there is a tutorial video demonstrating how each product works and should be used.  I found these videos very helpful as I selected the product I wanted, as well as to learn how to use this unique nursing cover.  Since the concept is different, I needed help!

Baby Bond Products
There are three styles of the Baby Bond.  The Original is a sash style that allows you to nurse from the top of your shirt. 

 

 

The Flex is just like the Original Baby Bond, but it includes a removable burp cloth on the shoulder.  How cool is that?  It keeps the cloth in place so it is not constantly falling while you burp the baby. 

 

The Couture is a double functioning nursing cover that can be a sash so you nurse from the top of your shirt, or it can be worn as a belly band to allow you to nurse from the bottom of your shirt.  It is adjustable also, allowing you to use it through the different changes your body goes through post partum.  I chose to review the Couture Baby Bond in the Navy color.

My Review
I really like the concept behind the Baby Bond.  As I mentioned before, I like that it does not overwhelm me with heat as I am nursing. 

(nursing from the top – Baby Bond is a sash)

I really love that the Baby Bond rolls up into itself.  This keeps my diaper bag more organized and neat.  It also means that I don’t have a separate bag that can be lost.

I found that I am more accustomed to nursing from the bottom of my shirt, so I was even more glad that I selected the Couture Baby Bond.  I don’t wear lower cut or v-neck shirts, and I discovered that I only have a couple of button down shirts which I wear for everyday.  (Maybe I need to make my wardrobe more breastfeeding-friendly…).

(nursing from the bottom – the Baby Bond is the blue fabric covering my waist)

It did take some practice for me to get the hang of the Baby Bond.  A great feature is that there are diagrams right on the product tag.  I had watched the video, but when I needed reminded of which way to wear the sash, I could get help at any time just by glancing at the tag.

Nolan and I intend to put the Baby Bond to much more use!

Buy It
Shop the Baby Bond website anytime, or call 973.222.6609 to place an order. 
Use the code DOABLE and get 25% off your purchase!

The Giveaway
One Doable Diapers reader will win their choice of (in-stock) style and color Baby Bond nursing cover!  Giveaway open to worldwide residents.
(Here’s how the giveaway works)

Links you may need:
Doable Diapers:Website :: Facebook :: Twitter :: Newsletter
Baby Bond: Website :: Facebook :: Twitter

Fine Print: View the entries in this giveaway by clicking HERE.  Sensitive information has been removed to protect your privacy.  Entries must be made using the form.  Comment entries will be deleted, however feel free to leave a comment to remind yourself that you have entered.  Winner will be chosen using a random number generator, and will be announced on the blog as well as contacted via email.  Winner has 48 hours to respond and claim prize or a new winner will be chosen. 

Controversy Over Teaching Breastfeeding

There is a new doll coming to the United States market which has sparked quite a controversy.  It is the Breast Milk Baby, and its purpose is to teach young girls how to breastfeed.  The girls wear the special shirt/top that comes with the doll.  It has flowers where nipples would be, and the baby doll makes noises when held up to the flowers.  From the website for the manufacturing company, the doll “lets young girls express their love and affection in the most natural way possible, just like mommy!”

This doll is produced in Spain and has been marketed with success all over Europe.  Now that the company is bringing it to the United States, there appears to be a controversy.  Should young girls be taught how to breastfeed?

I’ve been mulling over this question for a couple of days.  I guess I don’t have a problem with it.  While I realize that how and what you feed your baby is a personal choice (and there are many factors which influence the decision to bottle feed), the studies are clear that breastfeeding is best for the baby.

I haven’t done any deep research, but I can imagine that with teen and unexpected pregnancies, one reason that more mother’s do not choose to breastfeed is because they are not educated about it.  While it is a “natural instinct”, it isn’t exactly plain and easy to get the hang of with your first child.

I struggled in the hospital with Elaine to learn how to hold her, how to get her to latch, and how long she should nurse on each side.  It took some work and effort, but we did it.  I nursed her for 14 months before she decided she was done.  Nolan latched immediately, easily, and hasn’t looked back!  The pediatrician was shocked that Nolan is breastfed because of how much weight he has gained – over two pounds in his short three week life.

I remember that I had been given a bottle sanitizer as a baby gift.  Knowing that I wanted to breastfeed, I returned it to the store for a more useful item.  The lady who processed my return was very opinionated about how I shouldn’t go through that pain to breastfeed when I could just use a bottle.  Perhaps that is the opinion of more women who don’t understand the benefits of breastfeeding, or that the pain goes away with the engorgement.

If we teach young girls now to breastfeed their babies, and give them a head start on learning how you breastfeed, then maybe more of them will stick with it when they become mothers.  That is my opinion.  But what do you think?  Leave a comment…share your thoughts.

If you are looking for more information about breastfeeding, you should contact your local chapter of the La Leche League, or visit Diary of a Devil Dog Wife.  Marah writes for a Breastfeeding Blog Hop each week, and her posts are chock full of researched information on various topics surrounding breastfeeding.

And if you are/want to breastfeed, be sure to come back tomorrow for a giveaway that will help…a Baby Bond nursing cover so you can feed your baby no matter where you are!

Nursing Cover Giveaway

As an expectant mom, I knew I wanted to breastfeed my baby.  I had plans to nurse Elaine exclusively, which meant I would need a way to do it in public.  I like to keep modest and covered, so I used a shawl style nursing cover.  I liked that my cover had boning around the neckline so that I could maintain eye contact with my baby.

 

The Giveaway
Today I am giving away a similar nursing cover as part of the Surprise Delivery event.  It is in neutral colors of brown, red, and cream. Giveaway is open to US & Canadian residents.
(Here’s how the giveaway works)

Links you may need:

• Doable Diapers: Facebook :: Twitter :: Newsletter

Fine Print: View the entries in this giveaway by clicking HERE.  Sensitive information has been removed to protect your privacy.  Entries must be made using the form.  Comment entries will be deleted, however feel free to leave a comment to remind yourself that you have entered.  Winner will be chosen using a random number generator, and will be announced on the blog as well as contacted via email.  Winner has 48 hours to respond and claim prize or a new winner will be chosen

Kudos to the First Lady

Without going into politics, I would like to commend the First Lady for her work to promote breastfeeding.  An article on Politics Daily yesterday by Lynn Sweet highlighted Michelle Obama’s position in favor of breastfeeding as part of her campaign to reduce childhood obesity.

According to the article, the First Lady recognizes that breastfeeding is a personal choice, so she doesn’t want to tell women to do it.  However, for those who do choose to breastfeed their babies, the campaign is designed to make it easier.

President Obama signed a bill on March 13 (I’m assuming that was last year?!) which provides a place/room for women to express milk while at work.  This requirement is only stipulated to certain employers, however.  (Affordable Care Act, March 13th). The WIC program is now supposed to provide more information, counseling, and supplies regarding breastfeeding to low-income women.  (Child Nutrition Bill, December 13th).

Also included in the First Lady’s “Let’s Move” campaign (entering its second year) is raising the standard in hospitals to be certified as “Baby Friendly” and and allow for babies to room-in with their mother.  This would help to encourage and facilitate breastfeeding.

The campaign is now promoting tax breaks on nursing supplies such as breast pumps.  You can now write-off those expenses!

Babies who are breastfed longer show less tendencies toward obesity in childhood according to studies.

All Grown Up

It has been one week since my little girl needed to nurse.  She is now completely weaned.  She will be 15 months on Friday.  I started breastfeeding Elaine with the goal of making it to one year.  Elaine never took a bottle, and we never had to resort to formula.  A couple of times I left a bottle of “mommy milk” but she never drank it very well. 

I nursed Elaine both at home and in public.  I nursed her in airports and on airplanes, at church and at the mall.  I used a Bebe Au Lait nursing cover to keep everything modest, though Elaine never liked the cover very much.

It’s kind of sad to see our cuddle time diminish, but it’s also a little bit of a relief to be completed with that stage.  I don’t feel rejected or unneeded.  She needs me to make her oatmeal breakfast just as much as she needed me to nurse.  I think that our decision to stop nursing was a joint decision – I was ready to be done and had slowly been eliminating feedings since November.  But Elaine was also losing interest – nursing for shorter times, and so very easily distracted.

We have replaced our nighttime feeding with story time and a sippy cup of milk.  She seems to enjoy it just as much as she did nursing…and possibly more.  She loves books and is never content with just one story.

It’s also nice to give my body a little break before beginning this process again.  Baby #2 should debut in late June or early July.  I plan to breastfeed that baby as well.

Did you choose to nurse your baby?  How old was your little one when you weaned him/her?