What would you say to your own personal sleeping bag, quilted, comfy and stylish to boot! My boys are loving their Baby Dee Dee Sleep Nests and I have to admit I am loving the sleeping babes. Early into the new mom journey, a fellow traveller introduced me to Baby Dee Dee . Understandably, I was nervous about SIDS and had read all the literature on keeping cribs hazard free but that raised the inevitable question:

How Do I Keep Babies Warm Without Blankets?

With so many different sleep sacs on the market I was so glad to get a glowing recommendation from a fellow mom and was actually able to hold the product in my hand. It was cushy, quilted and reminded me of the sleeping bags we used as kids when we slept out under the stars as a family on the cottage porch. Living in the mountains I also knew that a four season ‘warm’ bag was a must and Baby Dee Dee really fit the bill.

Not Only Are These Bags Warm And Functional, They Are Stylish And Safe!

The bags come in the nicest color combinations and the khaki version even comes with a glow in the dark zipper. These are great for those fumbling fingers, half asleep in the dark and the reversed zipper keeps little hands at bay.

Baby Deedee Sleep Nest Baby Sleeping Bag, Khaki/Lime Green, Medium (6-18 Months)

On top of all these functional accolades, my dealings with Dominique at Baby Dee Dee have been an absolute pleasure. Now, she is someone who ‘gets’ customer service. Living so far away from the east coast of the US, it can take an inordinate amount of time to ship things to me in British Columbia, Canada.  Dominique’s shipment of two sleep sacs for my twins got waylaid in the mail and after a month of waiting I contacted her to see if the package had been returned. Upon learning that I had not yet received my shipment, she couriered me two sleep sacs which I received the very next day. Did I already say I am hooked on this company?

If You Are Wading Around In The Deep Sea Of Sleep Sacs, Wade No Further!

I highly recommend you give Baby Dee Dee a try. The latest and greatest colours and now a light weight version Sleep Nest Lite is also now available for summer.

Photo credit www.babydeedee.com

This is a guest post by Christine Allen.

It is excited to have a baby, and being parents. Those little creatures are cute, cuddly, and loveable, but through no fault of their own, can be quite expensive. Unless money is not problem in your family, lifestyle changes are often necessary to keep household finances under control. Some of my coping strategies are given below.

Babies Have Such Simple Needs

Babies don’t require much out of life: clean diapers, adequate food, stimulation, social integration, and lots of love and cuddling. Only a few of those things cost money, and in most cases are financially manageable. The biggest outlay, for parents, is the cost of those items which are desired by the parent more than required by the baby.

Babies don’t care if their strollers are brand new with lots of neat bells and whistles. They care only that they are comfortable. Babies may enjoy a doorway swing, but no baby has ever selected the most expensive model. Cribs, baby carriers, and pack and plays need only be safe, meeting the current government safety standards. Babies don’t require that they be the most expensive models.

Many baby toys and items for use in the nursery can be purchased second hand from thrift shops, yard sales, and Craig’s list. Some nursery furniture can be acquired as gifts if you’re smart enough to list such items in a gift registry before the baby is born.

Baby Clothes Don’t Need to be Expensive

Clothes can become a considerable expense for some parents. It should be obvious that babies and most toddlers don’t care what they wear as long as the clothes are comfortable and appropriate for the weather. When parents buy expensive new clothes, it’s usually to show off their status through their baby’s attire. The baby would be perfectly happy with second hand clothes and hand-me-downs.

Babies grow so quickly that most of their clothes seldom show any wear at all. Shop at church rummage sales and at thrift stores. You’ll be amazed at how many excellent clothes you’ll be able to buy for a few dollars. Don’t buy only the sizes that fit at the present time. Think about savings in the future and buy larger sizes if the price is right. Toddlers clothing may be subject to more abuse, but there will still be excellent used clothing available, especially dress up duds for special occasions.

Save Big on Consumables

Saving money of baby food is a bit more of a challenge. Second-hand food is obviously not an option! High quality, nourishing, and trusted brands are the most important consideration. Formula and processed baby foods can be expensive depending upon where you purchase them. Never buy baby food at a convenience store unless it is a dire emergency. The price markup in most cases is outrageous.

Most large supermarkets maintain competitive prices on quality brands and often offer store brands of equal quality at lower cost. The big box stores like Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJs are excellent places to save by buying in quantity. If you’re a stay-at-home mom, you can save even more by processing your own baby food using the fruits, vegetables, and meats that you serve the rest of your family. All you need is a good food processor or blender, and you are in the baby food business.

Other major “must haves” for babies are diapers and baby wipes. Babies go through diapers and wipes as fast as they deplete the supply of baby food. If you’re not using cloth diapers, which can save money in exchange for considerable effort, buy the diapers in bulk from the big box store mentioned above. Always keep a good supply on hand. Why? Ask any parent who has ever had to improvise when they ran out of diapers!

Economize Using the Internet

Online stores like Amazon.com have changed the shopping culture considerably over the last decade. Almost every product available in the local big box stores is available on line. Most, when sufficient quantities are ordered, are shipped at no cost to you. These products include formula, processed food, diapers, wipes, supplements, and nursery items. You can save a lot by purchasing in quantity from online sources. Just make sure that the source in known and respected. There are many online scammers out there.

The major difference when ordering online, as compared to buying at a local big box store, is adequate planning. Plan well ahead and allow for shipping delays when you buy online.

Christine Allen, mama to two lovely kids from Livesnet, a site where you can find great baby gear reviews and some helpful parenting tips. She loves to write about her hunting experience of baby products and would definitely willing to give advice to new mommy hunters.

Mom’s Talk Network received payment to review an give our honest opinion of CouponChief.com. 

As a busy mom with two kids, I barely have time to make myself a cup of coffee, let alone head to the store to pick out new shoes, clothes or even household items. Because of my hectic life – and the fact that my kids are masters at causing scenes and having meltdowns in the store – I do a majority of my shopping online. While I love the convenience of shopping online, I also love that I can easily find great deals and coupons with minimal effort.

One of the easiest ways to ensure that I am getting the best deal while shopping online is by searching for coupons and discount codes. There are tons of websites that offer this service, but I find that many feature out of date coupons and coupons that don’t actually work at all.

CouponChief.com is a members only site that everyone can join that really delivers.

Coupon Chief has the largest source of online coupons and store discounts for apparel, electronics, travel, entertainment and more!

Where to shop first?

After quickly signing up (there were only 6 lines to fill out!) for this free site, I was anxious to start poking around to see what type of deals they had to offer. With thousands of stores in their data base, and new coupons and discount codes added daily, there was a lot to check out!

I was very impressed that they had all of my favorite shops listed, and even more impressed when I saw the large number of active coupons available for each store. The site is very easy to navigate, and finding the stores that I was looking for was a breeze.

There are multiple ways to look up coupons for wherever sites you want to shop on. You can use the large search bar that is visible on every page, or you can search through the store lists to find your favorite shops or discover new one. You can also check out one of their helpful lists: the new coupon list, the popular coupons list, and the featured stores list.

Get Involved

One of the features that makes Coupon Chief such a valuable database is that it encourages an active community. Shoppers are encouraged to rate each coupon code that they use to help ensure that only active, working coupons are featured on the website. Plus, expired coupons are promptly taken down, while new coupons are added daily.

This makes it very helpful when you searching for a coupon code to use. You can see how many people have had success with it, how much they were able to save with it, and you can be confident in the fact that you aren’t going to pull up and try to use an expired coupon.

Share the Coupon Love

Unlike many coupon sites, Coupon Chief offers you a way to make money with their Pays-2-Share program!

With Pay-to-Share you simply sign up to become part of the program, upload coupons, and start earning money. Each time someone using the coupon that you submitted to the database, you will earn 2% of their purchase (up to $25 per month, per store). The more coupons that you submit, the more earning potential you have!

I love this unique option about Coupon Chief!

Ready to shop?

Online shopping has never been easier, and now it can be even more cost efficient with the use of Coupon Chief’s huge coupon database. With so many coupons at your finger tips, you will find yourself shopping for more and more online.

There is much to do in order to be fully prepared for the holiday season. There are gifts to buy, decorations to hang, cookies to bake and parties to attend. For mothers who must bring children along for holiday shopping, there are a few tips to keep in mind to maintain sanity and savings while enjoying the holiday season.

Make a List, And Check It Twice

To ensure shopping sanity with the children in tow, it is essential to have a shopping list in hand before even leaving the house. Designate what needs to be purchased and the estimated price for each item. Having a list at your disposal will help you stay on task, shop efficiently and resist impulse purchases. If coupons are available, clip them ahead of time and secure them to the list for easy access. For Black Friday sales when multiple stores are being visited, be sure to note where each item is to be purchased. The goal for holiday shopping with children is efficiency and speed. If an older child is accompanying you, invite them to participate in the shopping process by marking items off the list and double-checking prices.

Pack Plenty of Reindeer Games

Shopping the Black Friday sales often involves a full shopping itinerary with multiple stops across a span of many hours. It is advisable to pack a small bag or backpack with items for the children. Fill the bag with a few favorite toys and simple snacks like apple wedges, cheese cubes or apple juice in a thermos. This will allow the children to be entertained and have their needs met while you are able to focus on the shopping task at hand. By preparing snacks and entertainment ahead of time, you will save time and money by not having to stop for expensive snacks at the mall.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Plan your shopping trips to coincide with non-peak shopping times. Traditionally, evening and late morning have the least amount of shoppers. Avoiding the hustle and bustle of holiday crowds is critical when shopping with children. Likewise, avoid embarking on a shopping excursion during mealtimes or if nap time is near. If you are unable to shop at these ideal times, forego the shopping trip altogether in lieu of an online shopping trip. Many sites offer savings comparable to Black Friday during the holiday season and you are able to shop without the pressure of crowds, weather or fussy children.

With a small measure of prior planning, holiday shopping with children is not only doable, it can be enjoyable as well. Make a list, check it twice, and, most of all stop to enjoy the most wonderful time of the year. Whether you are shopping Black Friday sales or from the comfort of your home computer, having a plan in place for holiday shopping will save both your sanity and your bottom line.

The shopping season is fast approaching, look to Fatwallet.com for the best and hottest deals!

This guest post was produced by Melissa Schraiber, editorial coordinator for Fatwallet.com. In her spare time, she enjoys running, working out and being active.