Tag Archives: Munchkin

Oct 30 2014

Lindam & Munchkin: Nightlights & Room Blocking

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index9 Lindam & Munchkin: Nightlights & Room Blocking

Now Littlest Mills is on the move, we’ve been on a baby-proofing mission. Heidi is now super fast at crawling and will pull herself up in a sort of tripod action to sit upright - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. It must be incredibly tiring for her as she’s in one of those limbo states where she’s keen to try things, but not yet able to master them.

Dexter is also embarking on mission of epic proportions and the potty has made an appearance. With this comes a whole host of problems; nighttime dashes and an uncomfortable fascination with the toilet.

So who have we turned to? Who else but the masters of baby & toddler safety; Lindam.

Yep, our house is now a Lindam & Munchkin show home. There’s very little on their website that we don’t own! Of course, as a Munchkin & Lindam ambassador, it’s my job to put their smart and fun collection through its paces, and we’ve certainly done that! Here are just a few of my favourite things:

Nightlights ff Lindam & Munchkin: Nightlights & Room Blocking

This Automatic Nursery Safety Sensor Light is fabulous for Mini Madam. It plugs into the mains so you’re not faffing around with batteries and has a long lifespan (provides over 10,000 hours of light). Better yet, you don’t need to turn it off, as it has a dusk’til dawn sensor; it detects light levels and will automatically switch on at dusk and off at dawn. Safety-wise, an LED bulb ensures the light remains cool to touch at all times.

It provides a soft blue light which is reassuring for Heidi and handy for us; If we pop our heads around the door we can spot her easily among her teddies and Galt blocks. When she’s more accustomed to her big girl room, this light will live on the landing providing a guiding light for a toilet-savvy Dexter for those nighttime wees.

(£7.98 from the Munchkin / Lindam website)

Dexter Lindam & Munchkin: Nightlights & Room Blocking

Speaking of nighttime wees… Dexter’s Light my Way Portable Nightlight is one of those must-have toddler essentials. It’s easy for chunky fingers to operate, switches itself off after 20 minutes and has a nifty little handle for finding the bathroom (or mum & dad) in the dark.

This is Dexter’s go-to product at bedtimes - he uses it to read or play in bed, and will often fall asleep with it inches from his head. There are no sharp bits to jab him awake and the LED light remains cool to touch at all times. Although it’s 100% battery-operated, it comes with 3AAA batteries and we haven’t had to change them (in nearly 4 months!).

(£9.98 from the Munchkin / Lindam website)

Room-blocking

gate Lindam & Munchkin: Nightlights & Room Blocking

The Sure Shut Orto has been my saviour now Mini Madam is chasing after her brother everywhere. In fact, it’s been with us now for 2 years and has been invaluable throughout. Whether it’s sealing off the stairs, the kitchen or their rooms, it’s strong, robust and has never let us down. It’s a fully adjustable pressure gate that will fit openings between 75cm to 82cm (and can be extended up to 138cm with the use of separate extensions). As we rent our home this means no drilling into door frames and skirting boards. It can also be fitted in seconds (all tools come provided).

The best bit by far is the automatic closure. It features a gravity-fed hinge so the gate can close from any position as soon as the handle is released. You can also open it inwards and outwards depending on which way you’re approaching the gate (so is far less fussy than others we’ve come across). We can open it with one hand whilst our little people stare on in amazement - trust me Dexter’s had a very good go at opening it himself with zero success.

(£27.99 from the Munchkins / Lindam website)

Flexi Lindam & Munchkin: Nightlights & Room Blocking

For Dexter’s room, the Flexiguard works a treat. I hate seeing him upset behind bars so this provides him with a soft surface to rally against at bedtimes. It’s four point pressure corner adjusters ensure a snug fit in openings from 71cm to 92cm and it can be fitted in seconds. I like that I can take it off easily and quickly to whisk him to the loo, then pop it back on at night when I need him to stay put.

The best bit? It’s lightweight and comes with a travel bag for easy transportation. Simply roll it up and sling it over your shoulder to take to grandmas or a friend’s house for coffee - with no tell tale marks that it’s even been there when you leave - Genius, just genius.

(£27.99 from the Munchkin / Lindam website)

Next on my hitlist are these seriously cool bath time toys - I’m sure I’ll be reporting on these soon.

Bathtime Lindam & Munchkin: Nightlights & Room Blocking

Bath Fun Bubble Blower £10.98 / Star Fountain £7.99 / Bath Fun Monster Truck £6.99 / Massaging Teether £6.99 / 36 Bath Letters and Numbers £6.48 / Gone Fishin’ Bath Toy £7.98

If you want to find out more about any of the products mentioned above, head to the website. Both Munchkin & Lindam are also a sociable bunch and have Facebook & Twitter if you have any questions:

FACEBOOK: Lindam

FACKBOOK: Munchkin

TWITTER: Lindam

TWITTER: Munchkin

Sep 24 2014

Munchkins on-the-go essentials!

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Capture6 Munchkins on the go essentials!

Since starting our role as Munchkin Ambassadors, we’ve been sent some amazing products to review. They all slot perfectly into family-life and we can’t imagine life now without our Click-Lock Cups and all manner of other feeding gadgetry. But when their latest parcel arrived I was a little shocked. They’ve sent me a fab range of out-and-about products to review that I’ll admit to not knowing even existed.

In our package were three products; A Munchkins Travel Booster Seat, A Munchkin Teether Baby and a Munchkin Designer Change Mat. All are vibrant, practical and innovative - exactly what we’ve come to expect of the brand.

Munchkins Travel Booster Seat

079 Munchkins on the go essentials!

The Travel Booster Seat has since become invaluable. So much so, we’ve invested in a second. One lives in the car and accompanies us on holidays, day trips and visits to family members. The other has replaced a garish blue plastic one we bought for 99p off eBay. Dexter was never comfortable on this monstrosity, and had even fallen off it a few times. Naturally he grew scared of it and refused to eat from it. This means he sat with us on an adult chair at the dining table with no straps. As he’s now a ‘big boy’ the highchair has long since been donated to his baby sister.

75% of the time, he was fine. He’d chit-chat to us and eat his food sensibly. However, when we dared to serve him vegetables or something he didn’t like, it was WW3. Food would be flung, he’d climb onto the table, he’d buck precariously from side-to-side.

Munchkin Booster Munchkins on the go essentials!

Suitable from 12 months to 3 years, the lightweight Munchkin Travel Booster seat has since transformed mealtimes. It secures to any chair with adjustable clips that hug the chair seat and chair back. It also has two adjustable height positions.

Index 7 Munchkins on the go essentials!

To make the seat higher you simply twist up plastic legs underneath. These have non-slip rubber feet to keep the seat secure on the chair. If using in the lower setting (as we do), these little legs are hidden away under 4 flaps secured with velcro so as not to scratch your chairs. 4 rubber non-slip pads will ensure the fabric stays snug against the chair seat. Dexter is then secured via a 3 point harness.

Munchkin Travel Booster Clips Munchkins on the go essentials!

The pretty and fun seat fabric is soft and comfy whilst being wipe clean. We can certainly testify to this as Dexter likes to hide food in-between his legs when we’re not watching. It’s been coated in baked beans, tomato sauce, mash potato… you name it!

Furthermore, it also doubles as a travel bag. There’s a neat little storage section underneath the hard part of the seat (where Dexter’s bum goes) for you to pop a few bits and pieces (bibs, a drink and the like). You don’t have to take everything out before using the seat as this compartment is not integral to the seat at all. Although you wouldn’t get away with popping a whole day’s worth of ‘stuff’ in here, if you’re dining out of an evening you can ditch the change bag. Give the whole thing to daddy and mummy is hands-free! Bonus!

Munchkins Travel Booster Seat Bag Munchkins on the go essentials!

Transporting it from A to B is simple as it’s incredibly lightweight and boasts both a top handle and an over-the-shoulder strap. If you were to therefore use it as a bag, you can hang it over your buggy handles.

In summary, it’s allowed Dexter to eat with us at the table making mealtimes much more sociable for him. It also means we’re not relying on restaurants to provide grubby highchairs. At £18 from ASDA it’s also a right bargain!

Munchkin Teether Baby (a.k.a Ellie)

Munchkin Teether Babies Munchkins on the go essentials!

Not to be left out, Heidi also profited from this months mailer. She was sent an uber cute Teether Baby. Her little elephant has crinkle paper ears, silicone chewable hands and teether bar (that doubles as a pushchair / change bag link for safe-keeping). It’s quickly become a favourite toy and I don’t think its left her sight since she clamped eyes on it! Luckily for us it’s machine washable to keep it plush and clean and wash off all that baby drool!

Munchkin Designer Change Mat

Finally we were sent a very stylish-looking foldable Designer Change Mat. In soft pink stripes, this suits Heidi-Bum down the ground too.

046 Munchkins on the go essentials!

This is a cute and compact nappy changing kit for making bum changes that little bit less stressful. Luckily Heidi is as good as gold during changes, but Dexter was a complete horror and had a completely irrational fear of baby changing stations. I don’t think he liked the hard plastic against his head and back. This would certainly have helped him get comfy.

It folds down to an impressive little pouch which is ideal for stowing in your change bag. If you’re shaking your head at your laptop now as you simply can’t imagine squeezing anything else in there, a handy little carry strap allows you to attach it to your stroller.

Munchkins Designer Change Mat Munchkins on the go essentials!

This then folds out into a very generously proportioned change mat with a cushioned pillow for Heidi’s head. At the business-end where baby’s feet will be (and therefore where mum or dad will be hard at work) there’s two fab mesh pockets for stowing all the essentials. This will hold up to 4 nappies and even has a wipes case included.

Again, there’s not one thing I can criticise. Heidi has more comfortable bum changes, and mummy doesn’t have to lug a huge bag into public toilets… all for a tiny £12.99 at ASDA!

Thanks Munchkin! We love our travel essentials and would wholeheartedly recommend every single thing!

Jun 24 2014

The Toddler Range from Munchkin

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Now we’ve found our perfect little nursery placement for Dex, I’ve been excited about kitting him out with dinky little wellies, raincoats and everything else he’ll need hung up on his tiny coat peg. The folks at Munchkin must have been reading my blog recently as they sent Dexter the most amazing little lunchbox just perfect for nursery adventures. Even better, they stuffed it with colourful accessories for toddler lunchtimes. Now he’ll be the envy of all his new playmates!

We received:

  • 2x bright wipe clean bibs with crumb catcher pockets
  • A fabulous divider plate in a sweet dinosaur design with non slip base
  • A toddler fork and spoon set with easy-grip handle and metal tips
  • A new 10oz click lock straw cup (moving him on from his spill-proof Munchkin click lock bottle which we swear by)
  • 3x super cute sea squirts
  • And all arrived in a roomy, colourful and practical canvas lunchbox in the shape of an owl!

Everything has been custom-picked for us from the toddler range from Munchkin, and they’ve got him down to a tee. I’ve always been a huge fan of Munchkin products anyway as they’re so much more durable than other brands. They’re also crammed full of little innovative details - from the Click Lock™ system on their cups, to the ergonomic handles on their cutlery, to their superior non-budge bowls which stick to both highchairs and dining tables. Everything is designed with mum and dad in mind; to minimise accidents whilst encouraging as much independence as possible.

It was love at first sight for Dex! It took me half an hour to wrestle it from him to get inside!

We tested out our new bits and bobs for breakfast this morning. The divider plate was the perfect size for some toast soldiers, pear slices and a few cheeky party sausages. I’m a new convert to these plates as they help keep different foods separate - Dex is a bit of a stickler for this and hates sauces transferring from one another.

The lip of the plate also meant tricky to stab sausages didn’t end up on the floor. The rubber base is also a great little extra to stop you having to get out the 1001 during over-enthusiastic lunchtimes. With 4 designs to choose from, and priced around £2 each from all major retailers, they’re incredibly good value for money.

I made a big fuss out of giving the cutlery to Dex last night, even letting him help open the packet. This is because Dexter actually eats using adult cutlery now - he gets incredibly upset when he sees us eating with something different and will scream until you give in. I know his nursery use toddler cutlery however so I wanted to introduce them again before he disgraces himself with his new teachers.

Luckily, this morning he seemed more than happy with his Munchkin toddler set. They’re easy to grip with a curved handle, and longer than most toddler cutlery meaning they’re not too far removed from what he’s used to. In fact, he’s incredibly proud of them and has been playing with his spoon all morning! They’re on sale at the minute at Tesco and ASDA for just £2.50 (RRP £3).

The crumb catcher bibs are also fab. Dex has been using these for months now as we find them invaluable for keeping mealtime tidy. Previous brands have been a bit of faff to clean as they have fabric seams and are made of soft hard-to-clean plastic. These ones however are a breeze and entirely waterproof if we decide to chance it with gravy. They’re also attractive and engaging to look at and have a generous fit around the neck. my only slight criticism is that they could be a little longer to catch food that escapes from the plate, as well as his mouth. Babycity.co.uk stock these in packs of 2 for £3.89.

The only thing he struggled to get to grips with is his new big boy straw cup. Dexter is well behind his peers in regards to drinking. He still has a teat bottle in the mornings and before bed, and drinks from a spill-proof cup throughout the day. He is capable of using a beaker but we have to be prepared to chase him around the room with paper towels as he does get a little bit excited and will tip away what he doesn’t drink. The straw cup is new to him and will take some practice.

Nevertheless, his new cup is exactly the same quality we’ve come to expect from Munchkin. It has an ergonomic hourglass shape and the bottle is ribbed for extra grip. The click lock mechanism is a lifesaver as I’m often doing 5 things at once and have screwed on lids slightly squiffy when I’m distracted. The click lock system is audible, giving parents added assurance they’ve put the cup together correctly and creates a leak-proof seal so you know they won’t be wearing their orange juice after five minutes! Having tested it out myself, the silicon straw is easy to suck from so I’m confident Dex will get his head around it soon. Cheapest I’ve found them is under £3 at ASDA.

We then went out into the sunshine to play with our sea squirts. Although these will live in the bath, they’re also fabulous for cooling down in garden. Squeezing the little critters creates a mini jet of water helping to hone fine motor skills and make bath times much more fun. They come in packs of 5 and are available in ASDA, Tesco, Boots, Mothercare, Babies R Us and many other baby retailers. Cheapest I’ve seen them is £3.95 at Kiddicare.

We started off sensibly enough. Dexter squealed at the all the little bubbles created when you refill them, and got to grips with squeezing them. Aim perfected, he then went for mummy! Taking cover, I still manged to get these sweet shots of him splashing around in the garden. He was soaked when we were through!

If you want to find out more about any of the products mentioned above, head to the website. Munchkin are also a sociable bunch and have Facebook and Twitter if you have any questions.

Thanks Munchkin! We love our personalised lunchbox!

 

 

pixel The Toddler Range from Munchkin