For those of you who have gone through potty training (or are currently in the midst of it), you know that daytime potty training is one thing….but nighttime potty training is another thing entirely. Some kids just aren’t developmentally ready to be fully nighttime potty-trained until age five or six. Thankfully there’s something you can do to safeguard your child’s mattress and protect your peace of mind!

Protect-A-Bed offers a full line of premium mattress protectors. Not only do they offer 100% waterproof protection, they also prevent dust mites, pollen, bed bugs, and more.

We have Protect-A-Bed Mattress Protectors and love them.

We love that Protect-A-Bed Mattress Protectors are thin, quiet (not loud or “crunchy” sounding), and easy to launder again and again.

No more worries about nighttime accidents, water spills, or allergies….any time of year. The life of your mattress, a gigantic investment, is extended and preserved.

AND! Protect-A-Bed is currently celebrating 30 YEARS of dedicated service to its customers. To celebrate, beginning today, Protect-A-Bed is offering a $30,000 Sweepstakes contest at their website. From now until 11:59pm CT on October 31, 2010, fill in the form on their page for your chance to win! You could win the $30,000 cash grand prize or one of ten 1st place prizes.

(Full contest rules are available for download at the bottom of the online form.)

Win it! Courtesy of Protect-A-Bed, one lucky Muse Reviews reader will win a Protect-A-Bed protector of his or her choice: Choice of size of one Protect-A-Bed Mattress Protector, a set of Protect-A-Bed Pillow Protectors, or a Protect-A-Bed Crib Mattress Protector!

Here’s how to enter:

1. MANDATORY: Tell me, in a comment below, the Protect-A-Bed product you’d choose if you win this giveaway.

2) For a second entry, subscribe to Muse Reviews’ feed OR subscribe via email — tell me in a separate comment if you’re a new subscriber or already a subscriber.

3) For a third entry, become friends with Muse Reviews on Facebook, then tell me you did so in a separate comment below.

4) For a fourth entry, twitter about this contest using @MuseReviews within your tweet, then tell me in a separate comment that you twittered! (Only one tweet per person per contest, please.)

I’ll close the contest next Tuesday, August 17th, 2010 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US mailing addresses only. Good luck!


CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Congrats to the lucky winner, commenter #63, Aisling!

FTC info — Disclaimer: I received this product for free for review purposes; however, my review was honest and my opinions are my own. I only received the product itself; I received no other monetary compensation for this review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

I’m excited to tell you about ecoSTORE USA and the unique, natural products they carry! ecoSTORE USA is an American extension of a 15+ year New Zealand company (www.ecostore.co.nz).

Founded by a guy named Malcolm Rands, who lived in a NZ eco village, ecoSTORE has grown exponentially since it’s humble beginnings. (Read more about ecoSTORE’s fascinating history here.)

ecoSTORE USA carries a host of chemical-free, natural products for the earth-and-safety conscious home and family. From natural house cleaning products to hair shampoos to baby moisturizers to “wool wash,” ecoSTORE USA has it covered.

The generous folks at ecoSTORE USA sent our family two products of our choice to try out:

Coconut and Vanilla Body Wash
This stuff? Is awesome. It smells like a can of coconut milk when it’s opened. It’s silky soft without leaving any residue on our skin. We are a family of dry skin/mild eczema flare ups, and truthfully, we’ve all noticed a decrease in our itchiness and dryness while using this body wash.

Auto Dish Powder
I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical about using a powdered detergent in our dishwasher — we’ve always used gels. I’ve read so many things about the dangerous additives housed within popular dishwasher detergents, though, so I knew I wanted to try a safer, more natural alternative. Not only do our dishes come out streak and scratch-free, they exit cleaner than after being washed with our “usual” detergent brands! Totally natural ingredients (like palm and coconut-derived surfactants) make this dish powder worry-free.

You can buy these both at ecoSTORE USA’s online store, as well as the spectrum of their other products.

AND!!!!

Through July 31st, 2010, to celebrate the grand opening of ecoSTORE USA’s headquarters in Michigan, every order placed on their site will instantly be “BOGO.” This means — your order is doubled — for free!

And, as always, all orders over $25 are automatically shipped FREE.

Head on over to start shopping….

Christina Carlino, the creator of one of the world’s top personal care product companies, has teamed up with yet another wonderful charity organization to promote better lives for so many!

Cristina has published her first interactive journal, The Changing Room: A Mother’s Journal of Gratitude to Her Little Girl. This interactive journal by Cristina Carlino and YOU captures all those astonishing parenting moments before they fade into the swirl of everyday life.

Throughout the book, Cristina shares her personal story and asks questions that inspire you to remember those first precious years of motherhood. This journal is a special place for your memories, drawings and letters. One day it will become a priceless keepsake for your daughter.

(Click here to watch a video presentation about this fabulous journal.)

Cristina’s friend, actress Mariska Hargitay, is in love with the book, and she and Cristina have joined forces for her Joyful Heart Foundation, benefiting survivors of rape, incest and abuse. 100% of the net proceeds for The Changing Room will go to Joyful Heart!

Christina is also hosting a “Wishes for My Little Girl” photo contest via her Facebook page. Five lucky winners will each receive a copy of The Changing Room journal.

To enter to win, click on Carlino’s Facebook page and post your favorite photo of the little girl in your life — it can be your daughter, a niece, a neighbor, the daughter of a friend….and tell us a wish you have for her. (*Winners will be determined by the number of “Likes” they receive from other Cristina Carlino Fans, so invite your friends to Cristina’s fan page!*)

Hurry! Contest ends on Monday, May 10th.

FTC info — Disclaimer: I was given an opportunity to receive a copy of The Changing Room for posting this announcement. I received no other monetary compensation for this post. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

There’s nothing worse than seeing your baby in discomfort. Diaper rash is uncomfortable for baby AND you….sleepless nights and a tiny, teary face make you want to do everything and everything to bring relief to your little one.

Learning Curve’s The First Years has come up with an instant, soothing solution for diaper rash woes.

Bottom Care Diaper Rash Relief System is a doctor-developed, all-inclusive pack that includes a cooling gel pad and milk protein healing treatment sleeve, working together to reduce the skin acidity and inflammation.

Bottom Care Diaper Rash Relief System is 100% all-natural and completely safe for mom and baby. Each pack contains two reusable gel pads, 20 disposable treatment sleeves and a .33 oz tube of Soothing Diaper Rash Cream.

Find Bottom Care Diaper Rash Relief System at Babies R’ Us and BabiesRUs.com.

Exclusive offer for my readers!:

Click here for a $1 off coupon for any Bottom Care Diaper Rash Relief System! Hurry — the coupon expires March 31st, 2010!

FTC info — Disclaimer: I was contacted by a PR firm about promoting this product on Muse Reviews. However, I received no other monetary compensation for this review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Brand new from Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Michele Valeri is an album intended for the littlest ones among us! Little Ditties for Itty Bitties is a CD just for babies and toddlers….the ones who are just forming their language and learning to love music and movement.

Michele Valeri has worked for over 25 years as a master artist and workshop leader for the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts. Her passion is in this area and it’s evident by the joy and excitement exuding from her music! Not only in vocals, Michele is fluent and talented at the guitar, ukulele, and banjo.

Michele Valeri states: “Early childhood teachers frequently told us they were looking for new songs to share with babies and toddlers….I wrote these songs with their needs in mind, songs that they can learn easily and sing on their own even with the player turned off.”

Little Ditties for Itty Bitties is simple and sweet. It resembles and reminds me of music my parents used to have playing in my room when I was just a tot. Uncomplicated music with simple, invitational, interactive lyrics that make any little one want to get up and move. The bilingual songs (English/Spanish), Walking/Caminando and Toc Toc Toc bring in a small element of cultural appreciation….while still keeping it fun and cool.

Fishies in the Water is my favorite….caribbean/calypso beats that bring to mind warmer weather and tropical locales. Busy Day also brings a smile to my face, since, as a toddler, telling people that I was having a “busy, busy day” was one of my namesakes. I am glad to be able to share this album with my own two, since it’s nostalgic in nature for me.

Little Ditties for Itty Bitties would be an excellent soundtrack for a children/parent music & movement class, as well a compliment to a nursery setting.

You can purchase Michele Valeri’s Little Ditties for Itty Bitties at Cathy & Marcy’s Song Shop for $12. Each CD includes a PDF document with song lyrics and suggested activities.

Win it! Thanks to Michele Valeri, Cathy & Marcy’s Song Shop, and Sugar Mountain PR, one of you will win your own copy of Little Ditties for Itty Bitties.

Here’s how to enter:

1) MANDATORY: Comment below with the track name from Little Ditties for Itty Bitties that you find the most adorable or fun.
2) For an extra entry, subscribe to Muse Reviews’ feed — tell me in a separate comment if you’re a new subscriber or already a subscriber.
3) For a third entry, become friends with Muse Reviews on Facebook, then tell me you did so in a separate comment below.
4) For a fourth entry, twitter about this contest using @MuseReviews within your tweet, then tell me in a separate comment that you twittered!

I’ll close this contest next Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US entries only. Good luck!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Congrats to commenter #18, Heidi Donahue, the winner of this CD!

FTC info — Disclaimer: I received this product for free for review purposes; however, my review was honest and my opinions are my own. I only received the product itself; I received no other monetary compensation for this review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

When our son was almost a year old, he choked on a Goldfish cracker. Before I knew what I was doing, I had pulled him out of the highchair, had flung him, facing down, onto my forearm, and began to hit his back between the shoulder blades. After two times, the cracker flew out onto the floor, and he begin to cry.

At that moment, more than at any other, I was grateful that my husband and I took a choking aid/CPR class before G was born. I believe that what I learned there helped me know what to do on that scary afternoon.

Yet what if I don’t always react so quickly? What if I panic and freeze, not knowing what to do? I don’t like to dwell on “what ifs,” but I do believe that preparation and know-how is important, should an emergency spring up.

I’m thrilled to tell you today about a first aid kit that takes most of the guesswork out of those crucial situations: Intelligent First Aid. Intelligent First Aid is the most comprehensive, all-inclusive, and smart first aid kit I’ve found. Intelligent First Aid’s Talking First Aid kit not only includes cue cards with detailed drawings and instructions to let you know what to do with every type of injury or occurrence, but it also has recorded instructions which you can play at will to talk you through the actions required.

The Intelligent First Aid Talking First Aid kit includes talking care packs (including talking cue cards and medical supply packs) for all of the following injuries/conditions:

- Breathing/CPR
- Bleeding
- Shock
- Head & Spine Injuries
- Bone Injuries
- Eye Injuries
- Burns
- Bites & Stings

Also included is a basics care packet (with basic medical supplies), a fully illustrated instruction manual, a quick-start guide (also with narration), and a positionable flashlight, all housed within a soft-sided, zip-closure case with a handle and detachable strap. It’s an easy first aid kit to tote around as you go, and excellent for travel.

Here’s my demonstration of what is included within the Talking First Aid kit, as well as a sample of the narration you’ll hear on the cue cards:

Intelligent First Aid review from Megret on Vimeo.

You can order Intelligent First Aid kits directly via their online store. There are several other kits available, including a Safe at Home kit and workplace (On the Job) kits.

***And right now, Intelligent First Aid is running a winter special: 25% off everything on their site with the promotional code WINTER25 used at checkout.***

Win it! Thanks to the generous folks at Intelligent First Aid, one of you will win a Talking First Aid kit, a $149.99 value! To enter to win, just comment below with another one of their kits you’d like to have around or give to someone…or tell me about an experience you had where rapid first aid was required…..OR tell me something you read/learned from their website. I’ll close the contest next Sunday, February 7th, 2010 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US entries only. Good luck!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Congrats to the winner, commenter #6, Melissa, who said, “I think this would be wonderful for us because we have a swimming pool. It would be nice to keep in handy in case we ever did need to do CPR! (but praying to God that we never will).”
Thanks, everyone, for participating!

When I hear about companies that are begun for good reason and for a good cause, I love to spread the news. Bee well wishes is one such company!

It was “born” after Tina Chadwick safely brought her baby into this world, only to immediately undergo surgery to remove a brain tumor. Well-meaning people sent flowers and food, but her husband was allergic to flowers and the food went to waste while she was still on a feeding tube. The only truly useful gift was a pair of pajamas sent to Tina by a dear friend. She began to think about other similar gift ideas that would be well-received during difficult, uncertain times….and bee well wishes was the product of her ideas. (You can read Tina’s entire story here.)

Bee well wishes has a wide assortment of timely, useful, thoughtful gifts that will last well beyond an illness, injury recovery, or hospital stay.

Bee well wishes sent over one of their BIG, BIG bee sleep shirts to try out. Super, super soft, roomy, and comfy….extraordinary quality (and cute bee graphic)! It is made out of 100% ring spun, fine jersey combed 5oz. cotton with contrast bee well brown stitching. Their signature cotton tab label is on the outside at upper neck, for comfort while reclining or sleeping!

Bee well wishes also carries:

• Onesies
• Blankets
• Pillowcases
• Lounge pants

and many more adorable bee well items. The brilliant motto of bee well wishes fits its mission well: “What to send when you don’t know what to do.”

**Here’s a heartwarming way a customer out of Atlanta, GA, used a bee well wishes pillowcase: (Atlanta, GA, December 2009) This holiday season will not be an easy one for Ronnie Salinas. In early November, her son Conrad III was deployed to Afghanistan, and on December 12th her husband Conrad heads to Iraq. So with the heart of a loving mother, Ronnie found a way to send her son a tangible connection to home- one that captures the thoughts of all of his loved ones. “On Thanksgiving I had our family each write a little message on a (bee well wishes) pillowcase in permanent ink,” says Ronnie. “…so that he could go to sleep each night with the love of his family right under his head.”

Everything you order from bee well wishes is sent in a bright yellow, cheery, sturdy box and is wrapped so well inside….really makes a statement. No matter what’s going on, you can rest assured that any gift sent from bee well wishes will be well received and appreciated.

Win it! Thanks to bee well wishes, TWO of you will each win a BIG, BIG bee t-shirt! For a chance to win, just comment below with another one of bee well wishes’ items you’d love to send to someone. I’ll close the contest next Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US entries only. Good luck!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Congrats to the winners of the t-shirt, commenters:
#5 – Danielle G
and
#18 – Lisa!

I haven’t yet had an opportunity to attend one of the annual BlogHer conferences yet. It’s something I want to, hope to do….someday….but when my children are still little, it’s just not feasible.

I was super excited, however, to learn that MomSelect was going to send over a box full of swag (“stuff we all get”)….a virtual swag bag of sorts….right to my doorstep! A couple of weeks ago, a box full of several neat items arrived for me to go through and enjoy including a cup of Kraft’s Easy Mac and Cheese, which has already been made and consumed by my two little taste testers, and Hyland’s Homeopathic Teething Gel and Earache Drops, which is a brand I already know & trust.

A few of the items in the box, though, really jumped out at me and held my attention and intrigue.

Grippies shapes! These no-slip adhesives can be easily applied to your child’s socks or tights to create an instant “no-slip solution.” As their ad says, they prevent the “socks-meet-hardwood floors” wipeout so well-known to us moms of fast-moving children with fast-moving little feet! These will be indispensable around here come fall and winter.

95% Organic Lip Conditioner by Softlips. I’m a lover of all-things-lip-balm, and when it’s organic, it gets an even higher vote. I received the peppermint flavor, and I must say that the tingling sensation on my lips is fun! My lips stay soft for hours. Again, this is another product that will become much more valuable in my house once the dry winter hits.

A 12″ Torpedo Level from Latitude Tools. It’s chic, it’s attractive, yet it’s sturdy enough for my rough use as I drag it around the house (I rearrange artwork and other wall hangings often, so I need tools that hold up). Latitude Tools are designed specifically with women in mind….from size, to leverage, to weight, to style. This is my first introduction to Latitude Tools, and I must say, I like what I’m seeing so far.

Thanks to MomSelect for sending over this fab bag of swag to those of us who couldn’t make it to BlogHer this year!

From Sally Lloyd-Jones, the acclaimed author of The Jesus Storybook Bible, comes a new tale, just for little ones, called Time to Say Goodnight.

Time to Say Goodnight is richly and beautifully illustrated by Jane Chapman, the renowned artist whose most notable work appears in Bear Snores On. The illustrations boldly and brightly fill up every bit of space on the large, square pages of this paperback book. The colors and hues of nightfall are soothing and comforting….the images are pleasant to behold by little ones who are settling down for bed….and the adults who lovingly read to them.

The story follows, in rhyme, the goodnight rituals followed by several folk of the forest. From fawns to baby bears, from cardinals to squirrels, it’s clear to see that all little creatures have to rest at nighttime, too. (Except, of course, for the baby owls, who wake up at night instead of sleep!)

The last pages ask your child how he or she settles down to sleep. My little girl is always amazed at how the story brings her in at the last moment, letting her truly become a part of the tale itself. Time to Say Goodnight is a perfect addition to any young one’s bookshelf….and would make a precious baby gift, as well. The paperback book is priced at $6.99 and is available at your favorite local bookstore or from any of these online retailers.

Win it! Courtesy of HarperCollins, one of you will win a copy of Time to Say Goodnight for your own little sleepyheads. Simply tell me one other title from HarperCollins’ Childrens’ selections that your children would find amusing in a comment below. I’ll close the contest next Friday, August 7th, 2009 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US entries only. Good luck!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Congratulations to commenter #10, Meredith, the winner of this book!

Cloud B makes it its mission to “help children and babies sleep easier and safer.” They have a great assortment of products to help babies and young children sleep better at naptime and nighttime.

We gave some expecting friends the Cloud B Sleep Sheep a while back, and received rave reviews from the new parents. It would have been nice to have one of these when our two were infants….we created our own “white noise” with humidifiers and fans. The Sleep Sheep is so much cuter than those!

Cloud B’s LullaBags keep babies warm and cuddly while making sure they don’t overheat or get tangled up in a blanket. These LullaBags are NAPPA & iParenting Award winners, and come in two sizes and three different fabric options.

We love Cloud B’s “online exclusive” Twilight Turtle from their Sound & Light Collection. The turtle’s translucent shell illuminates five different images of endangered sea creatures.

The top of the Twilight Turtle’s shell has perforated star (and moon) shapes which project stars and constellations onto your child’s walls and ceiling. The star show can be blue:

Green:

Or both:

It comes with a storybook to tell more about these unique animals, complete with a star chart and an adoption certificate. A portion of the sales proceeds from the Twilight Turtle goes to an international conservation organization.

The Twilight Turtle, Sleep Sheep and other “friends” can be bought directly from Cloud B’s online store, as well as a wealth of other products and deluxe gift sets which would make excellent gifts. Stop by and take a look!