I've tried my fair share of nasal aspirators, or as I like to call them, baby nose suckers. And let me tell you, they are not all made equally. Some of them have great suction power, while others simply suck. Before my full review of my new fave, let me do a quick run down of the pros/cons of those I've tried so far:

Bulb Nasal Aspirator ($3) -  the cheapest and most traditional, and the one they'll likely use on your newborn the second he or she is delivered. It does a good job but can be quite tedious to use as you only get one suck per squeeze. And once your baby starts fighting nose cleanings, fuhgeddaboudit! Not to mention it doesn't open up for easy cleaning and drying, so it can get DISGUSTING inside it - we're talking snot that stays in there, and mold. Yes, mold (same with those rubber ducky bath toys - beware!!).

Safety First Electronic Nasal Aspirator ($27) - I tried this and promptly returned it. The suction power was a joke. An evil joke on a new mother dealing with baby's first cold. Ugh. (It could be I got a defective one, who knows, but it failed me big time).

NoseFrida ($20) - this one has a LOT of fans, but I just cannot imagine sucking my baby's snot out manually, with my mouth. I imagine you would feel the vibrations, and OMG, I just can't. I CAN'T!!! It also doesn't seem hygienic, but I have no idea, maybe it is? I mean, it wouldn't be so popular otherwise, right?

Baby Vac ($30) - I fell in love with this one the second I tried it. It does an AMAZING job and is very easy to use. There some negatives, however: 1) it hooks up to your vacuum so depending on what vacuum you have it can be super loud scaring your baby and waking neighbors in the middle of the night, 2) the snot sometimes makes it's way down the hose and if you're not careful it can actually go into your vacuum, yuck, and 3) because you need a vacuum cleaner, it's not great for travel or on the go use.

So you've seen my pros and cons of the top runners, are you ready for one I've recently discovered that is my (and my toddlers') new favorite!??

Say hello to the BabySmile Portable Nasal Aspirator!!!

Because I'd tried a similar style that hadn't worked well, I was quite wary to try this one but it totally surprised me! Full disclosure, we haven't had a chance to try it out on a nasty cold (knock on wood, my lil' guy hasn't had one in about a year!!), but my toddler's nose gets HUGE dry boogers that completely block the back of both nostrils and we have to clean it out daily. With two saline spritzes in each nostril, the BabySmile is able to quickly suction out his nose, and to top it all off my son actually likes using it!!! He would scream and fight during nose cleanings before, but now he actually asks for his nose sucker and we let him do it by himself (with a little assistance as needed)! You can see it in action here (be warned, there is a full snot shot!!!):

The BabySmile has a quiet but effective suck, takes 2 AA batteries, weighs about 6oz, and is 8" tall. So, very easy to keep in your diaper bag or take with you while traveling. It's pretty simple to clean as well - you just take off and wash the nose tip and the clear plastic top. The price point is also pretty nice, just $28.29 on Amazon!

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Disclaimer: Although I did receive these products free of charge, all thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased.

Are you new or expecting parents in Long Island or the NYC-Metro Area? Then take note!! The Expecting Parents & Baby Expo is coming to Leonard’s of Great Neck on June 7th from 9AM - 2PM!

Visitors to their 3rd annual expo can expect educational seminars, interactive exhibits with over 100 vendors, goody bags, lots of free giveaways, and free parking! 

Tickets are $10 per person (or $20 per family) but the first fifty can register for FREE using code “US-JapanFamGuest”, that’s right FREE for the first fifty! Your registration also automatically enters you into next week's drawing for the chance to win a $100 gift card or a stroller cover!

So... what are you waiting for?? Hurry up and register here!!

Sponsored Post Disclosure: Opinions are my own and not swayed by compensation of any kind. This was a sponsored post, but I limit such posts to companies that meet my moral standards and I feel I can really stand behind (hey, I'm not a sell out).

Lilly Gold
Lilly Gold has two really cool options for getting your car seats around. The 2 in 1 Zoomer (pictured left) is a cart for your car seat that has latches compatible with your car seat's latches, so it fits securely onto the cart, and has a wheel base and handle that allows you to push it just like a stroller! They also have a car seat, the 5-in-1 Sit 'n' Stroll that actually turns into a stroller. Both of these seem ideal for families that use taxis or car share (ZipCar, etc), and for vacations where you'll be traveling by air, bus, train, taxi, etc. No more lugging those strollers around - push them easily, with your kids riding safely in them!! Available on Lilly Gold's website and Amazon.

Buggy Balance
Does your stroller flip over backward when you try to hang anything from the handles? Or every time your child hops out of the seat? Buggy Balance has created little weights (3 pounds each) that will keep your stroller from flipping over! These seem great for daily use on tipsy umbrella strollers (frankly, many non-umbrella strollers could use them, too!), and if you have a day of lugging the stroller up and down the subway stairs, simply leave the weights at home! Available on Amazon.

i-Angel Hipseat Carrier
I was kinda blown away by how versitle and practical this carrier is. You can see all the different ways to use it in the image to the left - wear your baby on the front, back, or hip; rest your baby on the hipseat or strap them into the full carrier! It's amazing! It also promises to disperse the weight through your hips rather than your back and shoulders, which sounds mighty comfy! Available on i-Angel's website and Amazon.

Babyhome's Side Light
Not only is this a great looking and functional toddler bed rail, but what makes it really stand out is its built in LED night light!! The light automaticaly shuts off after 30 minutes (when child is fast asleep), and the rail includes see through mesh and removable/washable fabric. Available on Albee Baby and Amazon.

Love To Dream
This swaddle really caught my eye as it swaddles baby in a really unique position, actually baby's most natural position - arms up! The Stage 1 Swaddle Up (0-4 months, pictured far left) has baby fully inclosed but still able to self-sooth, while Stage 2 Swaddle (4-8 months, pictured near left) includes removable sleeves. Made of 93% cotton and 7% elastane, they also include a travel slot (for use in stroller or car seat). Also, a genius twin zipper allows for diaper changes while arms remain swaddled! Available on Regal + Lager's website and Amazon.

BabySmile Portable Nasal Aspirator
I've tried a few nasal aspirators and they all have their pros and cons, but this is the first one I've tried that 1) gets the job done easily and quickly, 2) is not powered by your mouth, 3) is quiet, 4) is portable, 5) is reasonably priced. So, yeah, it's pretty great! (My full review is coming soon - stay tuned!!). Available on Amazon.

Eco Nuts
Looking for an organic laundry detergent? You can't get more green than Eco Nuts! When agitated in water, these berries produce a naturally occuring surfactant called saponin, which gently cleanses laundry! Place 4-5 of the Soap Berries in a bag and reuse them up to 10 times. They also have a liquid version (better for HE machines) and a variety of other products. Available on Eco Nuts' website and Amazon.

So, what do you think. Amazing right? What products are you most impressed with?? Share in a comment below!!

I had the big anatomy scan today and - PHEW - the tech was able to reconfirm (with "total confidence") that the twins are both indeed girls. If you have to know, not only couldn't she find any penises but she was able to spot two sets of labia, HA!

She took about half an hour scanning each baby, recording 192 photographs (yet I only got 3 to take home), and taking measurements to make sure the babies are developing with no problems. And indeed, they are!! Their hearts showed 4 chambers pumping away, their faces showed no sign of cleft palate, their heads and femurs measured to date, their kidneys were going to town. The only thing she had trouble capturing were hands and feet. Hands because one of the babies had them clenched and wouldn't open up to show us her fingers. And feet, well, let's just say the babies were playing a major game of footsies and the tech just couldn't tell whose feet were whose!! 

One interesting new thing I found out is Baby A's placenta is posterior (in the back) and B's is anterior (in the front). Way to balance each other out ladies!! Right now they are sitting next to each other with their feet down (breech) but the tech said they are still flipping around and not to worry about positioning til around 36 weeks when it would be unlikely for them to flip further (but not impossible).

The babies are measuring 11 ounces each (about 6.5 inches from head to butt), which has me wondering why I'm up 17 pounds already. Yikes!! But of course there are placentas, amniotic fluid, breast tissue, tons of extra blood and fluids being produced and circulated, and a bit of extra chub to support the babies in the womb and once breastfeeding. And if you remember, the goal for twin moms is to gain 24 pounds by week 24 for the best chance of babies gaining enough weight and staying in the oven to term. So... I guess I'm right on track! Though, I kind of feel like a whale. It doesn't help that hubby comments on how huge my belly is getting every single night. But at least he doesn't rub it in that it's not just my belly growing, haha!

When I was growing up, and even as an adult, I was big into tanning. It was rare that I bothered with sunscreen, but when I did, it was always one of those big brand names you can pick up for cheap at the drug store. You know, the ones LOADED with chemicals. Or didn't you know? Yeah... it's kinda scary.

When my baby was born, I protected him from the sun like it was going to kill him. Because, it actually can! I had him covered head to toe under the shade of his stroller canopy and an extra lightweight blanket hanging over his legs, or when in the baby carrier he always had on a sun hat, Sunny Sleevez, and BabyLegs! Last spring and summer was his first time running free under the sun at the playground, so we tried to keep him indoors during peak sun hours of 10AM-2PM, and outside of that he wore a sun hat, Sunny Sleevez, and Badger sunscreen on all exposed areas.

Badger is regarded by many as the safest and most natural sunblock on the market, and it did a great job (we avoided any burns or tans altogether), however I was not a huge fan. It was really thick and difficult to rub in, leaving him very white and frankly gross looking. And I refused to use it on myself, opting for a chemical-laden drug store product. So this year, I was on the hunt for something equally safe but with a better consistency that we can use for the whole family.

After researching and reading through Safe Mama's sunscreen safety cheat sheet, I narrowed my search down to a UVA/UVB sunscreen made from a base of zinc oxide that is on the thinner and clearer side and does NOT contain oxybenzone, nano-particles, Vitamin A, or titanium dioxide. I came across Babyhampton at The Mamas Expo in Queens last year, so when I noticed it was listed and highly rated on Safe Mama's list I knew I had to try it out.

On the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Database, Babyhampton's Beach Bum Sunscreen scored a 1 out of 10 in overall safety (with a score of 0 meaning 100% safe with no concerning ingredients whatsoever), the same as Badger and The Honest Company! Most sunscreens carried at the drug store, in comparison (including Coppertone, Banana Boat, and Aveeno), scored a 3 (even those formulated specifically for babies).

Here's a demo of my first application of Babyhampton's sunscreen on my son:

The squirt bottle is easy to use and as you can see it comes out nice and thin but not watery. It rubs in easily and does not leave any oily residue. But here's the part I found a bit tricky, you have to rub it in quickly - since it is not oily, you can't spread it around as easily as other lotions and sunscreens once it's started to absorb. So, if you missed a spot, you have to pump out and spread some more on. 

It's not nearly as white and pasty once applied as some of the other zinc oxide based sunscreens, but as expected it's not completely clear and you'll see a bit of chalky reside (especially on the eyebrows and hairline), but it's not bad at all.

When applying it to my own face, I liked that it didn't leave me feeling greasy and sweaty as the others tend to do, but I did feel a bit dry and had to apply regular face lotion on top of it. It is true to its unscented claim, with no good or bad odor whatsoever (and my preggo nose is super sensitive!).

Overall, this is a pretty great sunscreen on the safer side of the spectrum, but it's not perfect (are any of them???). The biggest downfall is that it is NOT water-proof or resistant. So, if you plan to do some swimming or will be sweating a lot, this is not the best sunscreen. It's better for daily use, going on a picnic or the playground, that type of thing.

You can get more information and purchase Hamptonbaby Beach Bum Sunscreen (as well as their Sun Stick and Shampoo & Body Wash) on their website and Amazon.

Disclaimer: Although I did receive this product free of charge, all thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased.

For many women, becoming pregnant suddenly triggers an acute awareness and concern for what they are putting in and on their bodies. From the obvious such as alcohol and caffeine, to each and every chemical, dye, GMO, and fragrance! I've talked about the dangers of phthalantes, parabens, dioxins, phosphates, and BPA before, but in a nut shell, exposure to high levels of these types of things can effect hormone levels, lead to birth defects, damage the immune system, cause cancer, lead to developmental and reproductive issues, and more. And it's not as difficult to achieve those high levels of exposure as you'd think since many of these accumulate over time in your body and are present everywhere in our daily lives - from your water bottle to shampoo to that anti-stretch mark cream you've been rubbing on your growing belly. Yep.

But before you get overwhelmed, know that there are simple changes you can make here and there to reduce your exposure and risk, such as choosing your food and skin care products wisely. And I'm here to introduce you to an awesome brand of skin care that will help you do just that!!

Nine Naturals skin care products for pregnancy and beyond are 100% plant based with no sulfates, phthalates, parabens, DEA, petrochemicals, synthetic ingredients, or artificial preservatives. All ingredients are screened for safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding and are formulated specifically for both natural purity and high performance (because what's the point if it's all-natural but doesn't do what it's supposed to do!?). They also practice ingredient transparence, by listing ALL ingredients on each bottle and describing what exactly each of those ingredients is in the ingredient glossary on their website.

From shampoo and conditioner to belly butter, body wash, moisturizer, deodorant, lip balm, and sunscreen, Nine Naturals has seriously got every type of skin care product under the sun! Many have an unscented version, as well as yummy scents such as Citrus + Mint, Mandarin + Ginger, and Vanilla + Geranium - YUM! 

I recently had the opportunity to test out two of their unscented products: the Natural Belly Oil and the Moisturizing Body Cream.

I found the moisturizing body cream to be nice and thick without being difficult to rub in. It's made from a "whipped trio of cold-pressed cupuacu, shea, and mango butters" and whipped is a really good way to describe it. For me, it looked and felt similar to a cream cheese frosting, ha! It has a very mild earthy scent and left my hands and skin a bit oily until absorbed fully, so I would recommend applying right after a shower and waiting a few minutes before throwing on your clothes.

Even though "unscented", the scent of the belly oil was quite bit strong (very "earthy") and I can't say I'm a fan. That said, the smell does go away after rubbing it in, and with an oil you really feel like you are super charging your skin to stay soft and supple and hopefully avoiding the dreaded pregnancy-related stretch marks! Also, the bottle has an easy to use mess-free pump, which is nice. But personally, I think I'll go with the Vanilla + Geranium belly butter next time! I'm a sucker for a yummy scent, especially when it's naturally derived!!

You can purchase Nine Naturals products from their website (receive a 10% off coupon when subscribing to their newsletter), on Amazon, and they're even about to be carried at Motherhood Maternity!

When in doubt about a product you have at home or are considering purchasing, simply check it out on the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Database (they have a handy app that can scan bar codes as well) - it'll give you an overall safety score and rank the product for safety in 3 categories: risk for canncer, developmental/reprotoxicity, and allergy.

We are excited to bring you another Mommy Scene giveaway featuring 5 natural brands and celebrating 7 days of Mother's Day! After all, Moms deserve more then 1 day!

Each of these natural products is perfect for pampering yourself after a long day, or serves a practical use for health and cleanliness. Many of these products are handmade, and all are crafted from natural ingredients! One lucky winner will win all of these wonderful products and the chance to try something new!

Dr. Fedorenko True Organic Bug Stick and Bug Bar Tick and Mosquito Repellent
Dr. Fedorenko True Organic Bug Stick and Bug Bar are designed to protect and nourish skin to keep it looking and feeling healthy while keeping mosquitoes, ticks, gnats, horseflies, black and biting flies away. Works quickly to protect you and the whole family. Luxurious botanical butters infused with pure essential oils help to hydrate your skin. Powerful blend of pure essential oils keep biting insects away for hours. Aromatheraputic properties of our advanced formula energize and elevate the soul.

Sudsy Dough Moldable Soap (2x 12oz containers)
Sudsy Dough is a new interactive bath toy that doubles as a moldable scented dough and a cleansing soap! Kids can squeeze and squish Sudsy Dough in the bath, rub it on as a cleansing body wash, or take it outside the tub and make custom-shaped soaps! Sudsy dough shapes will dry to become scented soap shapes when left out in open air. Each ball also has a surprise bath toy hidden inside! Sudsy Dough is infused with Shea butter & Coconut Oil and is Paraben-free, phthalate-free, and sulfate-free. Available in fragrances Merry Mango, Sassy Strawberry, Bubbly Blueberry, and Awesome Apple.

It's the Balm Lavender Gift Box
This Lavender Gift Box is filled with everything the Mom in your life needs to indulge herself. Made with pure lavender essential oil, these products are truly luxurious, therapeutic and relaxing. Packaged in a beautiful damask gift box filled with soothing, relaxing treats including 4 oz. Lavender Body Scrub, 4 oz. Lavender Body Lotion, 8 oz. Lavender Foaming Body Wash, 2 oz. Lavender Body Mist, 4 oz. Serenity Aromatherapy Spray, and Lavender Lip Balm. Each product is made using pure, therapeutic grade essential oil. Allow the dreamy scent of lavender to ease the mind and give a feeling of peace and calmness. Indulge the Mom in your life with these natural treats.

3 Wythe & Berry Creams
Wythe & Berry Apothecary offers botany-based, natural, handcrafted wellness products, rooted in genuine aromatherapy. This package contains a trio of oil-based creams including Cedarwood; Lavender, Chamomile and Lemon and Eucalyptus. These creams are handcrafted, completely natural and package in glass as to avoid toxins from plastic leaking into the product. Each 4 ounce cream is plant based, with the main ingredients being Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter and Apricot Kernel Oil.

Buds and Scrubs Facial Serum
Crafted using Rosehip Seed Oil, our facial serum is a vitamin for your skin. What is Rosehip seed oil? With its amazing healing properties and ability to moisturize with a non-greasy, oil-free feel, your skin will look and feel hydrated and revitalized. This unique oil not only penetrates dry skin, it has also been known to heal scars as well as treat wrinkles and premature aging.

Enter to win one of these fabulous products!

This giveaway is hosted by Dr. Fedorenko. The giveaway ends at 11:59PM EST May 16 and the winner will be chosen May 17th, 2015. Giveaway is open to US entries and void where prohibited. No purchase is necessary to enter. Mommy Scene and the affiliated blogs are not responsible for brands who do not fulfill prize obligations. Entrants may receive a thank you email from one or more of the participating brands.

Let me start off by saying I hate the term "gender reveal". Frankly, gender is something a child or adult feels and associates with. This is becoming more and more apparent and accepted, thanks to the LGBT community and even pop culture (hello, who didn't watch or hear about the Bruce Jenner interview!?). What we are in fact revealing is their biological sex - penis or vagina. There, I said it! But I guess somewhere down the line, someone decided using the word "sex" for a baby would be inappropriate and so we're stuck with the term "gender reveal," and SEO would suggest I better go ahead and use it, so... onward with our story!!

With our first child, we did not find out his sex beforehand. It was my husband's job at delivery to figure it out and make the announcement (which he totally forgot to do in the moment, so I was the first to realize when they put the baby on my chest and my hand cupped his nether regions!!). But this time around, we want to know. We HAVE to know!!! Do we need to buy some more boy clothes? Do we need to keep my son's stuff and buy girl stuff as well, or can we get rid of his stuff and stock up on frilly pink goodness?? Of course I was desperately hoping for at least 1 girl, because, hello, 3 boys??? Yikes...

Because I'm having twins, even though they're di-di (2 separate sacks and placentas), I'm automatically "high risk" and have recently started having sonograms every two weeks. I thought we could determine sexes at our 16 week scan and even walked into the room telling the technician I didn't want to know and would she please write it on a piece of paper and seal it up so I could find out together with my husband later. Well, of course she couldn't see any of the babies' bits or bobs, so I was stuck waiting two more tortuous weeks!

This time, I walked into the 18 week scan without an ounce of will power. I was glued to the screen and told her I am dying to know what these babies are!! After a while, she finally announced Baby A is a girl, and showed me the "3 dots" that proved so, not to mention lack of a penis. Baby B was a bit harder to figure out but finally she got the same proof and was confident to announce that we were in fact having TWO GIRLS!!!

I had just written an article for Mommy Nearest on fun ways to do a gender reveal, so I just went with the one that was cheapest and easiest - the balloon unveiling! I didn't spill the beans to my hubby, so was able to capture his true reaction in the video, which is priceless!! Here ya go!!

One interesting piece of information having two babies of the same sex does not tell us is whether or not they are identical (from one egg) or fraternal (from two eggs). If they were boy/girl we would know they are fraternal. But two girls... we'll have to wait and see what they look like when they're born! If they look identical, we can do a genetic test (swab of the cheek) to find out. From what I've read, it seems the chances of them being identical is about 30%. Not sure which I'd prefer, not that I have a choice in the matter HA!

And now we're on to the real fun... PICKING OUT NAMES!!! We want the name to be pronounced the same in English and Japanese, so "R", "L", and "TH" are off limits. We also want all 5 of us to have different initials, so no names starting with "H", "R", or "K"! And... GO!