Product Reviews

Twistshake – The Next Generation Baby Bottle Review

February 15, 2016 by Laura Tucker 25 Comments

I received these products at no cost to facilitate my review. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed are completely my own.

If there is one thing that I learned very quickly after becoming a parent, it’s that not all baby bottles are created equally. During my pregnancy, I did not put much research into bottle selection. I assumed that I would be very successful with breastfeeding and that she would only need to use a bottle on rare occasions. Thus, I did not register for any. I wound up with a hodgepodge of random bottles from my baby shower anyway, and I was just fine with that. After all, I wasn’t expecting to use them all that much.

Unfortunately, things don’t always go as planned. I was very thankful that I had a few different bottles on hand, and I was glad that they were all different brands. It didn’t take long at all to determine the favorites and the least favorites. Some had more parts than others. Some didn’t have great suction around the nipple. Some were harder to clean, and some didn’t hold heat very well. I got fed up with a few of them, and they eventually got pushed to the side because they just weren’t meeting our needs.

Then came the Twistshake.

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Do Your Kids Tend to Lose Their Stuff? Mabel’s Labels Can Help!

February 4, 2016 by Laura Tucker 2 Comments

Affiliate links are included in this post. I received these products at no cost to facilitate my review. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed are completely my own.

Picture this: Your child comes home from school without their lunch box. You assume that they just left it in their cubby or at their desk at school, so you remind your child to check the next day. Your child never finds their lunch box. It was unknowingly placed in the lost and found box in the office that neither of you even knew existed. It stays there for months, and then it is ultimately donated or thrown away because no one knew who it belonged to.

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Sad story, right? But how many times does something similar to this actually happen? Most parents can probably think of numerous times that their child has lost something. And if we’re perfectly honest here, I can think of a few times where I was the one that lost something that belonged to my daughter, Taralynn. We can all be forgetful sometimes!

My daughter is currently 8 months old. She is not old enough to lose things on purpose, but she has definitely had things turn up missing before. She is at the age where throwing things on the floor, kicking off shoes and socks, and swapping toys with others is just part of her daily routine. It is so easy for her bottles and juice cups to wind up thrown across the floor without me even noticing. I’m also really bad about setting something down and never picking it back up. This is definitely not a good habit to have when you’re in a public place!

That’s where Mabel’s Labels comes in to save the day, folks! Mabel’s Labels understands that sometimes things just get lost, and sometimes we’re forgetful and leave things sitting around for others to find. They’ve come up with a clever (and super cute) solution to help those lost items return to their owners. And it’s SO much nicer than getting out the ol’ black magic marker and tagging all of your items with your initials!

Mabel’s Labels come in numerous sizes and super adorable themes. They even make labels for different purposes, such as iron-on clothing labels, shoe labels, organizational stickers for the household, and even scan and store stickers! (I’m fighting the urge to go through all of my closets and label EVERYTHING, y’all!)

I was sent a pack of 45 personalized peel-and-stick labels to review. They are such a perfect way to help this scatter-brained mama worry less about accidentally leaving things where they don’t belong. They’re even dish washer and microwave safe, so I know they’ll last a long time!

My daughter does not attend day care, but I can imagine that these labels would be extremely useful in that type of setting. No more wondering about what cup or snack container belongs to what kid! As my daughter grows older and becomes more independent, I can definitely see her taking after her mama and leaving her cups/toys laying around at our church or at a friends house and neglecting to pick them up. With these labels on all of her items, they’ll have no problem finding their way back to us. What a relief!

You can purchase these fabulous labels that I’ve reviewed for just $21.00 for a pack of 45. Be sure to check out all of their other labels and combo packages while you’re at it! And as if Mabel’s Labels wasn’t already awesome enough, they offer FREE US shipping on all orders. No expiration date, and no minimum! Click the banner below to visit their site and start customizing your own labels!

The Cutest Kids Tops come from Enchanted by Ellie!

January 28, 2016 by Laura Tucker 40 Comments

I received these products at no cost to facilitate my review. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed are completely my own.

Friends, I must tell you about this insanely adorable Etsy shop I stumbled upon recently! (And just in time for Valentine’s Day, too!) Enchanted by Ellie has the cutest selection of tees and everything glitter for infants, children and even moms! If the part where I mentioned “glitter” wasn’t enough to have you sold, maybe a peek at some of their apparel will. Hello, monogram cuteness! You are definitely calling my name!

Warning: Clicking on these pictures will probably cause you to fall in love and suffer from uncontrollable urges to purchase everything at once. Trust me.

Oh my goodness, I seriously want them all! I mean, not just for my daughter, either. I want to wear them myself! (The shop owner takes custom order requests, so if you mamas want your own glitter mermaid shirt, there’s certainly nothing stopping you, and I definitely would not judge because I’d rock one, too!) 😉

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Dirty Paci Got You Down? MAM Pacifier Wipes to the Rescue! – Review

January 7, 2016 by Laura Tucker 30 Comments

I received these products at no cost to facilitate my review. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed are completely my own.

We’ve all been there. Your child’s pacifier has fallen on the floor and you’re frantically trying to find your way to a restroom to wash it off so your poor baby doesn’t contract some horrible disease you’ve made up in your mind. I think there comes a point where you become a little more lenient about putting a paci that fell on your own carpet in your own home back into their mouths, but there are serious and legitimate situations where you need to be very cautious about putting a germ-y pacifier back into their mouth.

Maybe your child dropped their paci on the floor of the bathroom, or perhaps it fell into the dirt at the ballpark. Maybe another child decided to share their slobber and paci-swap with your child. MAYBE your baby was fussy so you dragged a paci out from the bottom of your diaper bag only to discover it’s covered in lint and cheerio crumbs. Yeah, I’ve seen plenty a crusty paci creeping from the abyss of my diaper bag a time or two. It ain’t pretty.

But worry no more, fellow members of the crusty paci club! MAM, (my FAVORITE pacifier brand of all time) just made our lives as parents so much easier! They recently launched MAM pacifier wipes to help us combat those nasty germs and keep our baby’s pacifiers clean. They come in a resealable (thank you!) and portable package that fits perfectly in any diaper bag.

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ThredUp Unboxing – Smocked Clothing Haul

December 31, 2015 by Laura Tucker 3 Comments

I shared this on my personal Facebook page recently, and many people were very intrigued with what ThredUp is and how to score awesome deals on clothing like I did in this video. I recently wrote a blog post that gives you the skinny on this awesome company, and I even shared how YOU can snag $20 to shop with for free! You can read more about that here: –> 5 Reasons Why ThredUp is Awesome + $20 Credit for Readers

In this particular unboxing, I scored a good bit of smocked clothing for my daughter. This piqued a lot of interest, so I wanted to show you how I search and find exactly what I’m looking for. You may be asking yourself why in the world anyone would care about smocked clothing. What’s so special about it?…

Oribel Portaplay Activity Center Review

November 25, 2015 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

Oribel Portaplay Activity Center Review

Some serious baby fun is going on RIGHT NOW over on Stuff Parents Need!

It’s amazing how fast babies grow. People tried to warn me that it would happen in the blink of an eye, but you don’t really begin to believe them until it starts happening to you. I’ve ugly cried quite a few times already when putting up clothes and toys that my baby has already outgrown. She’s just 6 months old, y’all!

We’ve traded those tears for smiles, though! We had the chance to review an AWESOME baby activity center that grows with your child. I won’t be putting this table away for a few years, because she’ll still be using it up until age 5. Seriously! (I’ll still probably ugly cry when it’s time to put it away, but at least it will be a while!) 😉

We’re guest posting about it over on Stuff Parents Need right now! You can see our full review and more pictures of our little love bug here. Head on over and take a look!

Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Babies Age 6-9 Months

November 20, 2015 by Laura Tucker 1 Comment

Southern Made Simple is a part of several affiliate advertising programs. This means that if you click and/or make a purchase through certain links on this site or any related social media platforms, I may make a commission from that click and/or purchase. Although I participate in these programs and have sponsored posts, all opinions are my own.

Holiday shopping can be a ton of fun, especially when you’ve got little ones to shop for! However, sometimes babies can actually be kind of difficult to shop for. Picking out the bigger toys that will go under the tree is typically a little bit easier, but it’s the stocking that can be a real head scratcher! Shopping for a babies aged 6-9 months can be even trickier. A lot of milestones tend to happen during these months. They’re no longer newborns, and they’re certainly not toddlers. You’ll want to look for things that match them developmentally and actually be useful and even fun for them.

Don’t worry, though! I’ve put together a list of 15 stocking stuffer ideas perfect for babies, specifically ages 6-9 months. I hope this will be helpful to you all as you start making your lists and checking them twice!

I’ve found that Amazon Prime is definitely the way to go when doing holiday shopping, but ESPECIALLY last minute shopping. Most of the affiliate links below are through Amazon. If you’re like a FREE 30 day membership to try Prime out, you can view my post here and get these gifts to your door in just 2 days!

Click here for a FREE 30 Day Amazon Prime Membership!

Bath Toys
- At this age, babies are starting to learn how to kick their legs and splash in the water. I love the Munchkin Baby Bath Ball, because it is easy to grab (even when wet) and it makes noise. Babies love noise! Babies at this age aren’t exactly spending much play time in the bath, but little toys like this are great to keep them occupied while you’re busy washing them.
Body Wash, Shampoo and Bubble Bath
- This is one of those things that you really need to have in general. While you may already have some of these items on hand in your bathroom, perhaps now is the time to spring for the REALLY good stuff! Maybe pick out something nice that you can’t find in your typical big box store. I really love Little Twig All Natural Products. They smell great, last a long time, and are free of yucky chemicals that may be harmful for baby!
Sleepers or Cute Onesies
- This one is always fun. Pick out some cute little PJ’s that are straight from Santa himself! I’m really loving some of these adorable outfits from Mud Pie! You can also buy ahead and pick up some cute little onesies for the new year!
Pacifiers and Pacifier Clips
- If you have a baby who takes a paci, I really recommend getting a set of pacifiers that glow in the dark. We are very MAM loyal in this house, so our stocking will definitely include several of those this year. These are REALLY helpful when your baby may lose their paci in the middle of the night and need help finding it. A cute paci clip is also a great idea to go along with it!
Shoes and Socks
- While getting socks and shoes in your stocking may not be so exciting to a bigger kid, you can certainly get away with it with a 6-9 month old! They’ll soon be walking, so go ahead and get them a good pair of non-trip shoes. I personally love Pediped shoes. They have a leather soul as opposed to a rubber one. Rubber souls can be easier to trip on when you’re just learning how to walk. Pedipeds are perfect for early walkers and are really high quality! Don’t forget to get some new socks, too!
Teethers
- Teething is in FULL swing at this age. Put some cute little teething toys in the stocking this year! I wrote a full article about 4 fabulous teething toys that we are loving right now! You can read all about them here.
Feeding Utensils
- Babies begin eating solids by 6 months of age. Now is a great time to stock up on some great feeding gear for the little one! I recommend a few different things:
- The Munchkin Fresh Food Feeder is great to put fresh fruits and other foods in without worrying about the baby choking.
- The Munchkin Stay Put Suction Bowl helps make meal time a little less messy. The bowl suctions to the table or high chair lid, making it much harder for baby to grab and throw!
- Squeeze Pouches like the Little Green Reusable Food Pouch are awesome! If your baby loves those puree pouches you can find in store, consider this product! You can save LOTS of money by making the purees yourself and using reusable pouches.
Training cups
- They may not be ready for them just yet, but I recommend going ahead and getting a good training cup with handles for baby to practice with. These Soft Spout Training Cups by Dr. Brown’s are a great choice to help baby become a little more independent and transition from bottle to sippy cup.
SippiGrip
- The SippiGrip is a game changer! If there’s one things babies love to do, it’s THROW ALL THE THINGS! For some reason, babies just think it’s hilarious to watch you pick up their toys/bottles/cups etc over and over again. But no more! You can attach their cups and toys to the SippiGrip and then attach the lanyard to their highchair or stroller to prevent them from throwing stuff all over the place. It may be going in the baby’s stocking, but it’s really for you, parents! 😉
Splat Mat
- For the sake of your sanity, you need this item. For real. Remember me saying how much babies love to throw things? The same is totally true for their food, too. The splat mat goes up under your high chair and protects your floor from flying baby food. HOORAY! When a mess is made, you just wipe clean with a paper towel! SO much better than getting out the spot shot!
Snacks/puffs
- Assuming the baby has already gotten used to solids, they probably LOVE little snack puffs. I’ve never seen a baby NOT like them, actually. Spring for the good stuff on this one, too. I recommend trying an organic option if you don’t already! Happy Baby Organic Puffs are a great choice!
Cute diapers or diaper covers
- Have you considered giving cloth diapering a try? If you’re unsure about modern cloth, I have two reviews that just may help you out. You can find them here and here. My FAVORITE online boutique to purchase all things cloth related is Sweet Bottoms Baby Boutique – specifically..the Buttons diapers! (Plus, they have FREE shipping!)
Flash cards/board books
- Babies at this age are getting more and more curious by the day. Now is a great time to introduce them to flash cards! While they won’t read for a while, it’s never too early to start getting them familiar with words and pictures. Board books are also great for babies this age. They may not be able to hold their attention to the story for very long, but at least you don’t have to worry about the pages ripping when they grab it! And trust me, grab it they will! 🙂
Personalized Sticker Labels
- These are a great way to keep up with little things that may frequently get lost if your baby attends a daycare or if they are frequently around other kids. It helps others know what item belongs to who. This is especially great for bottles and sippy cups and can help prevent the spread of germs by letting others know which cup should be going in a babies mouth.
Learning Toys
- Babies typically love things that make sound. My little one loves trying to figure out where noise comes from, and she loves to make noise herself! I would say anything that is easy to grab, makes noise, and doesn’t require batteries would be a good fit for this category. This little 4 Piece Baby Band Set by Hohner would be a great choice! It encourages babies to learn while making music, and it’ll fit in the stocking. It’s a win/win!

What are some other items that you’re getting for a little one in your life? Do you have any other great ideas for stocking stuffers for babies? I’d certainly love to hear about them! Leave a comment below!

Our Top 4 Teething Toy Picks

November 18, 2015 by Laura Tucker 1 Comment

Alright, y’all. Let’s talk a little bit about teething.

I know, I know. You’re probably thinking to yourself, “Eh, let’s not”. And truthfully, I don’t blame you. Teething is the pits! It’s like this mean little monster that sneaks into your home, takes your sweet little baby and turns them into a fussy little drool machine. In fact, as I’m typing this I’m watching my daughter in the baby monitor. She has apparently woken up and is squirming around in her crib gnawing on the edge of one of her pacifiers. AND now she’s screaming. Sigh. If my thoughts here seem intrupted, it’s because they are. #RealLife

Anyway, back to teething. Wooho! My little Drooly McTeetherson child is constantly gnawing on her fingers to try and get relief, and sometimes she tries to fit her whole hand in her mouth. I can really tell when her gums are bothering her and it breaks my heart. Sure, we have a few different remedies that help a little, but sometimes even the strongest teething salve just doesn’t seem to touch it.

I’m not here to bring you life changing advice or to offer a supreme remedy for teething, unfortunately. (If you know of one, though, please share!) However, I am going to share with you 4 little things we just couldn’t live without during this season in our lives.

We have TONS of teething toys for her, but we have a choosy little one on our hands. She’ll typically gnaw on other teether toys for a few seconds and then toss them, but she has 4 specific teethers that you’d think might as well be her BFF for life. Seriously.

These are the teethers that make our world go round. The ones that I probably should have more than one of…as in one for every room in the house. The ones that I would ~~probably~~ definitely cry a little if I couldn’t find it. If you’re a parent and have had a fussy teething baby, you probably know exactly what I’m talking about.

So without further adieu, here are our little golden chew nuggets:

Vulli Sophie the Giraffe
- Made of the highest quality baby crack on the market, this little teether will likely never leave your baby’s side. SERIOUSLY, y’all. I don’t know what this giraffe is made out of, but it’s like a moth to the flame with my child. The texture is almost flesh-like. Seems a little weird to me, but if she likes it, I like it! It’s certainly on the pricey end ($19.99), but it’s worth its weight in gold in this house.
Nuby Natural Touch Teethers
- These are actually back teethers, but my baby chews on them in the front, in the back, upside down, sideways, etc. She doesn’t care! She specifically likes the one shaped like a hand. I guess since she chews so much on her own hand, she thinks she’s struck gold by having more fingers to chew on. Who knows! She loves it, though! These come in a two pack and are more affordable at just $12.00
Lifefactory Multi Sensory Silicone Teether
- We actually inherited this teether from someone. I’m not sure if it previously belonged to my sister’s children, or if a friend of ours gave it to us in a box of baby stuff she wanted us to have. Whoever it was, THANK YOU! Let’s high-five, because this one is a home run! It has 4 different teething textures for baby to chew on, and our little girl loves trying out each one. It’s super easy to grab and hold on to, and she loves to wave it around in the air. These also come in a two pack are are usually priced at around $12.00.
Razbaby RaZ-berry Teether
- A good friend of mine gifted this little gem to our daughter. It looks just like a raspberry stuck to the end of a pacifier. It’s adorable, y’all. It has bumps all over that my baby loves to gnaw on. She doesn’t stop there, though. She also likes to chew the leaves! This one is easy to attach to a paci-clip so they can’t throw it on the floor, which I really appreciate. This one is super affordable, coming in at around $5.00

I hope this little teething toy guide helps out the teething baby in your life! These are the top 4 teething toy picks that have worked the best for us. If you have a baby registry or are looking for a great gift to give for a baby shower, I encourage you to consider these!

What teething toys does/did your little one love to chew? Did any of the ones I mentioned make your list? I’d love to hear what works or has worked for you!

Southern Made Simple is a part of several affiliate advertising programs. This means that if you click and/or make a purchase through certain links on this site or any related social media platforms (including Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest), I may make a commission from that click and/or purchase. Although I participate in these programs and have sponsored posts, all opinions are my own.

Newton Crib Mattress Review

November 11, 2015 by Laura Tucker 1 Comment

Newton Crib Mattress Review

When I was pregnant with my daughter, I put so much thought into how her nursery would look. I spent hours finding the perfect bedding and researching other items that she would need to make her nursery complete. Unfortunately, I didn’t put much time or thought into one very important item. I’m sharing all about it over on Stuff Parents Need right now! Head on over and take a look! While you’re there, leave a comment and share your thoughts. I’d love to hear what you think!

Newton Crib Mattress Review

See what other exciting baby items I’m talking about by visiting here!

BabyBjörn Baby Carrier One Review

November 5, 2015 by Laura Tucker 1 Comment

During my pregnancy, one of the things on my humongous to-research list was baby wearing and baby carriers. I watched my sister and brother-in-law carry both of their girls in a baby carrier, and it definitely piqued my interest. I loved the idea of holding on to your baby while having both hands free, but I was skeptical that it would only add unnecessary exhaustion and back pain. Once I started my research, I looked heavily at BabyBjörn brand carriers.

I was very fortunate to be gifted with a few baby carriers during my pregnancy. I currently have 3 different BabyBjörn models that I love very much, but the all-star out of the bunch is definitely the BabyBjorn Baby Carrier One. Because of it’s ability to grow with your baby from newborn to age 3, it’s marketed to be the only baby carrier you’ll ever need. It’s a pretty sweet deal, honestly!

Here are a few features I’m lovin’ about the BabyBjörn Baby Carrier One:

Grows with baby
- Newborn-3 years (or 8 lbs-33 lbs)
4 Carrying Positions
- Newborn carrying position (Inward facing)
  - No infant insert required! This carrier has a neat little zipper feature to allow you to adjust the height the baby will sit at depending on their size.
- Lower height inward facing position
- Front facing position (Currently my daughter’s favorite! She’s a nosy little thing, so she wants to see what’s going on at all times)
- Back carrying position
Sturdy and comfortable support straps
- Remember that back pain that I was concerned about? It doesn’t exist for me with this carrier. It just doesn’t happen. And I’m SO THRILLED about it! The support straps are very thick and padded, making this carrier super comfortable for myself and my daughter. When the straps are positioned properly, they help to evenly distribute the weight of the baby, making it easy on the ol’ back.
Hip healthy carrier
- This carrier has been tested by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute and allows for the baby’s hips to be held in a position where the legs are angled outward. This is an important feature to look for in a baby carrier as it helps promote healthy hip joint development.
Machine Washable
- Babies spit up. They just do. If you use your carrier regularly, it’s going to get dirty, and depending on the babies age, it’ll get spit up on. Some products like this require you to hand wash and spot treat. But seriously, y’all. Ain’t nobody got time for that! I love that I can just toss this in the wash and not worry about it!
Folds compact
- There is also a way that you can fold this carrier up into a neat little compact square for easy storage that takes up minimal space. For me, asking me to fold something up neatly immediately makes me feel anxious and sort of defeated. Luckily, folding up this carrier isn’t that hard. It also helps that I have a hubby who’s incredibly patient with me and helps me with this sort of thing. Thanks, love!
Ease of Use
- It’s very simple to get baby in and out of this carrier. Check out the instructional video from BabyBjörn below. It really gives a great demonstration of how to easily and effectively use the Baby Carrier One. There’s even a few helpful tips and features at the end!

The BabyBjörn Baby Carrier One is currently available on Amazon for just $105.73, marked down from $189.95. If you’re currently on the market for a baby carrier, I think this is a wonderful option! What are some features that you look for in a baby carrier? Have you ever tried BabyBjörn products before? I’d love to hear about it!

Disclosure: Southern Made Simple is a part of several affiliate advertising programs. This means that if you click and/or make a purchase through certain links on this site or any related social media platforms (including Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest), I may make a commission from that click and/or purchase. Although I participate in these programs and have sponsored posts, all opinions are my own.

Product Reviews

I received these products at no cost to facilitate my review. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed are completely my own.

Affiliate links are included in this post. I received these products at no cost to facilitate my review. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed are completely my own.

I received these products at no cost to facilitate my review. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed are completely my own.

I received these products at no cost to facilitate my review. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed are completely my own.

See what other exciting baby items I’m talking about by visiting here!

Here are a few features I’m lovin’ about the BabyBjörn Baby Carrier One:

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