Battle of the... Ear thermometers

Taking a child's temperature is not at all easy. If you have reason to check, they are already warm, cranky, possibly vomiting, and always uncooperative. You might only get one solid crack at it, so it had better be accurate. We discussed in the past the variety of different thermometer makes on the market, but my favourite by far is the ear thermometer. They might be the bulkiest variety, but when it comes to the clarity, the features, and quick results, the ear thermometer is king.

That said, in my son's short life, we've owned three. The first was so difficult to understand, we returned it. I thought initially it was me not understanding how to use it, but thankfully, now that I own these two, I can see that the problem was the product and not the user! Both baby product wizards Summer, and medical equipment kings Braun, make excellent thermometers for different reasons. I think you would do well to own either of these models, but to help you narrow down which might be the better fit for you, today we watch them duke it out in a three round battle; ease of use, bonus features, and price!

Image borrowed from A Rush of Love

Ease of Use

Summer: It seems like an easy enough process, but even after reading the instructions, I'm not 100% that we understand how to use this model correctly. My husband will press the start button, maybe 4 times before feeling that it has worked, while I hold the button down the whole time until it beeps. I'm not sure either method is correct, but it does work eventually.

Braun: This model is super simple - it has a flashing light, so you can tell that it's calculating even in a dim bedroom, and the results come fast. Push the on button, insert in ear, push the temperature button, presto. It couldn't be more straight forward.

Image borrowed from toyrus.ca

Bonus features

Summer: The very best feature of this unit is the red/green indicator. While it, and most models, give you the temperature in either Celsius or Fahrenheit, sometimes neither makes sense when you are tired and anxious. If your child has a fever, the temperature comes up red, leaving no doubt of the results. The flashing green temperature indicator is a huge relief, reassuring you that all is well.

Braun: This model has some bells and whistles, but for the average home consumer, I'm not sure you would use them. Of note; a 10 temperature memory for tracking temperature trends, and it comes with a package of protective tip covers. This would probably be handy for a home daycare or school use, but I don't think most moms need to keep track of an elaborate series of readings. Plus, a good wipe down and periodic thorough clean are sufficient. I can't see me buying replacement tip covers.

Price

Summer: At $38.77, the summer is a bargain. Most models are double this price, and with not that much more going for them. If you take the time to understand how to use it (or are just better with technology than I am), this is a totally decent model to have on hand or have as a spare for Granny's house.

Braun: We managed to get our unit on sale for $69.97, but I have seen it priced over $80. This is the type of unit that you would put on your registry, because you might not see the value in putting it in your cart at Walmart with the other $700 of baby stuff you end up buying. That said, I can see this unit surviving multiple kids, so you might see it as more of an investment.

So there you have it. When push comes to shove, I prefer the Braun. I wish it had the red/ green colour indicator of the Summer, but otherwise, it's a great product. Light, easy to use, and seemingly long lasting, it squeaks out a win over less expensive Summer, but not by much. Don't forget that these units are battery powered, so even if (fortunately) you don't use it very often, it's a good idea to check it once a month to make sure it's working for when you need it!

Battle of the... Infant Tooth Products

You have likely been brushing your teeth for a really long time now. In fact, if you think back, you probably don't remember the first time you did. You can recall many times being told by your parents to brush, panicked adult moments in which you've forgotten, and extra particular instances leading up to the dentist. The first time though? That's way back. So, at some point between now and when your teeth first came in, someone started brushing for you. It follows that, at some point, you're going to have to start for your little one.

There are dozens of products out there to make this transition safe and easy for you. From cute little self-directed brushes that double as teethers to topical gels that need a little assistance, you might go through a couple of products in order to find what works for you. I tried two NUK brand products aimed at baby's pearly whites and here are a few of the pros and cons of each:

Gum & Tooth Wipes:

For my taste, this is an odd, and seemingly unnatural way to do the job, but it sure does. The fibrous cloth has a mild cleansing agent and a slightly course texture with which you can rub your baby's gums. Although extremely portable and convenient, an older baby will immediately baulk at a cloth of any kind coming at his or her face. They've been around the block a few times with post-dinner face washing and nose blowing by now. A more inexperienced baby might like the gentle scrub, but beware how forward their gag reflex is located!

Infant Tooth & Gum Cleanser with Finger Brush

This cute set feels more like brushing and differentiates itself from the large assortment of wipes we now all posses. The rinse-free gel is sweet tasting, which makes it appealing, and the finger brush quickly becomes an understood part of bath time. I feel it is targeted at the young eater, rather than someone exclusively nursing, but rubbing a younger baby's gums without the paste might also be soothing when teeth are just about to cut. It is a convenient way to apply a topical numbing agent, such as baby Orajel as an added bonus. It's not the easiest thing to keep in your diaper bag, as the brush needs to be kept crumb and hair free (ideally), but kept at a diaper station or with the bath set works extremely well.

In short, they could both play a part in your developing oral care routine, or used as stepping stones one into the other. If you only bought one, I strongly recommend the cleanser with the finger brush, but at approximately $6.00 each, they are competitively priced. Infant tooth care sets are sometimes priced well over $30.00 due to organic ingredients and multi-purpose brushes. This seems downright crazy, if you ask me. Just as your 16 year-old driver does not need a brand new Mercedes (unless you had unlimited funds), so too does your young eater not need top of the line dental products.

There is no definitive rule for when it's time to start, and as with most firsts, deciding when is tricky. Babies can start teething extremely early, with drooling and irritability abound, and yet not show teeth for months. Some babies, like my son, seem to sprout multiple at a time, and sometimes with little warning. As long as you're starting with an infant-safe product, you can start whenever you're comfortable. The gum massage can be soothing, and it's good practice both for you and your child that this is part of the hygiene routine.

Battle of the...Belly Moisturizers

It may be a sign of the power of advertising, but as soon as I found out I was pregnant I ran to the drug store and bought myself Bio-Oil. I accept that my body will change now that I am creating life, but I want to exact control over the level of potential lasting effects - if I can. One container of the store brand Bio-Oil lasted me three months, and when it was time to buy it again, I was lured by the slightly smaller price tag and wholly cooler name of the Palmer's Tummy Butter. It is because of this venture into unknown territory that I can now compare the two for you.

The Details:

Bio-Oil:

• Smells like baby powder (which I already use most days, so no competition in scents)
• Easy to apply (absorbs into the skin immediately leaving tummy smooth and dry)
• Recommended application = 2-3 times a day
• Cost= $10.99 (store brand) - $13.99 (name brand)

Palmer's Tummy Butter:

• Smells like what I'd describe as artificial coconut
• Thick, waxy application ( leaves tummy feeling tacky after application but very smooth next day)
• Recommended application = 3 times a day (after also applying Palmer's lotion!)
• Cost= $7.99

Straight up, I choose Bio-Oil. I preferred the ease of use, the scent, and the feeling of my tummy afterwards. I plan to switch back to my favourite Happy Time lotion after the baby comes, but in this contest, Bio-Oil is the clear winner.

I cannot speak to the stretch mark fading promises of these products, as I have been lucky enough to not get stretch marks (yet) during this pregnancy. I started using the store brand bio-oil product at 8.5 weeks pregnant, so it could be speculated that my new commitment to keeping my belly skin very moisturised helped to fend off those pesky markings, but no one can say for sure whether I would have developed them.

Bottom Line: You can't control how your body is going to change and adapt to any pregnancy, but you can do your part to make the transition easier on it. Keeping your tummy moisturised may not stop those dreaded stretch marks from appearing (or help them fade after the fact) but it is still a worthwhile pursuit. If nothing else, I love when my husband rubs my belly and comments on how smooth and soft it is. It encourages him to talk to the baby a bit longer and I love that family bonding feeling!

Tips to help fend off stretch marks

• Keep your tummy moisturised. You don't need to use one of the products discussed above, any natural oil or lotion will help to keep the skin more flexible to change. The goal is consistency: get in the habit of massaging your belly twice a day. Choose your favourite scent and get lotion-ing!

• Drink lots of water. During pregnancy, water is your best friend. It not only helps to keep things moving and reduces swelling, but it will also help your skin to be in peak condition for stretching.

• Eat healthy. The right foods will help keep your skin healthy and moisturised, but eating well will also help keep those pregnancy pounds in a healthy range. The bigger you grow, the more your skin must stretch to accommodate.

Battle of the...Bottle Warmers

Infants have very little food selection - they get their breast milk or formula at a lukewarm temperature presented at regular intervals. Seems easy enough. Keeping up with the demand, however, often means preparing ahead and storing the excess in the fridge or freezer. Even if you're breastfeeding your little one, from time to time a bottle will be a convenient way to give Dad a turn at 3am or to fit in a date night while the grandparents take charge. This means warming a bottle; the delicate dance that can go: still cold, still cold, still cold, molten lava.

At first, I didn't think a warming appliance was necessary.  It seemed expensive and just another annoyance to be ever-present on the already cluttered sight-line of my kitchen counter. After over a month of running the bottle under the faucet and all the manner of mugs filled with hot water, hubby decided to just bite the bullet and try a warmer.  I insisted on keeping the receipt in case it didn't work, broke, or otherwise bugged me.  I'm a practical girl like that.

Well, I'm glad I took the plunge.  The model we have is a small, white, Munchkin brand with a water measuring attachment.  It heats safely in approximately 90 seconds and really doesn't take up very much space.  If you are considering your own warmer, here are some pros and cons to consider.

Pros:

• Speed - you can put the bottle on to heat, change your little one's diaper, and by the time you get back, the bottle is ready for service.
• Predictability - once you figure out the level of water required for a given level of baby's meal, the heat is reliably the same each time.
• Convenience - no dirtying extra dishes or worrying about over heating, melting plastic, etc. Hey, one less thing. 

Cons:

• Expense - a warmer does cost you money that, say, heating a bottle in a mug of water doesn't.  As a mom though, a free moment and a free hand outweighs the small added price to me.  Penny pinching mom's may not agree, and that's reasonable.
• Initial Effort - it does taking a little experimentation to understand what amount of water is required to heat your bottle to the right temperature.  You can't trust that you've got it right immediately and still always have to check before feeding. As the feeding amounts increase with baby's age, the experimentation takes place again.
• Portability - you are not going to put this appliance in your diaper bag!  That means continuing the mug approach at Grandma's house, restaurants, and anywhere else you may be bottle feeding.

Of course, there are hundreds of costlier products and relatively-free methods not discussed here.  Other bottle warming devices (such a sleeves, car warmers, and brands of speciality warming cylinders) are available for purchase. Some moms will use the microwave and have no trouble with that. There will also be moms that manage to exclusively breastfeed and never have to worry about this issue! When it comes down to it - find what works best for you and go with that!