Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Top 5 Best Ice Cube Tray for Baby Food | 2018 Reviews

Top 5 Best Ice Cube Tray for Baby Food | 2018 Reviews

A lot of moms now prefer giving their little ones freshly made home cooked meals but as heaven as it may sound, it does not necessarily mean the same thing for the mommy.

Fortunately, it is possible to do the task in batches and create the food in one go so that all they have to do is thaw the frozen food and then serve it to hungry little mouths. The great thing about doing the entire process in batches and well in advance is that it saves moms a lot of time, effort and money. There is no need to take out the bulky food processing machine every single time and they do not have to waste time deciding what food to prepare.

However, it is important for mommies to know that not all ice cube trays are made equally. In fact, if baby food is the topic, it is important to make sure that the freezer trays are actually made from safe and durable material to keep baby from harm. What should you look for in those baby food freezer trays? You need to make sure that they are at least BPA-free. Food trays with covers are also highly recommended to prevent freezer burn and keep the purees fresh and nutritious even if it has been stored for a few days.

For moms who are not sure where to start looking, we have come up with a list of the best ice cube trays for storing baby food in.

Quick Comparison Table

Kiddo Feedo Freezer Tray

WeeSprout Silicone Baby Food Freezer Tray

Mumi&Bubi Solids Starter Kit

Beaba Multiportion Baby Food Freezer Tray

OXO Tot Baby Food Freezer Trays

Kiddo Feedo Freezer Tray
WeeSprout Silicone Baby Food Freezer Tray
Mumi&Bubi Solids Starter Kit
Beaba Multiportion Baby Food Freezer Tray
OXO Tot Baby Food Freezer Trays

$$$

$$$

$$$

$$$

$$$

8 ounces

6.4 ounces

1.2 pounds

10.6 ounces

7 ounces

9.1 x 5.9 x 2.4 in

9 x 6.5 x 1.8 in

9.6 x 9.1 x 3 in

7.7 x 7.6 x 2.2 in

1.8 x 5.5 x 12.6 in

Kiddo Feedo Freezer Tray

Kiddo Feedo Freezer Tray

When it comes to feeding your little one with solids, one ounce of their favorite baby food is usually a good place to start. But, what happens when your baby’s appetite starts to grow bigger? Well, we have found just the right solution for mommies so you do not have to go buying yet another product when your little one grows.

Enter this food freezer tray from Kiddo Feedo. How does it differ from the other freezer trays available in the market? For starters, it comes with a much bigger capacity than the ones you normally see around. In fact, each pod can accommodate up to 2.6 pounds of baby food – you can fill it halfway up at the start and, as their appetite grows bigger, then you can add more food into each serving. This way, you do not have to purchase a larger tray to accommodate the growing needs of your child!

Another reason why we love the Kiddo Feedo Tray here at Parents Need HQ is that this tray comes with a clip-on lid design. And, unlike most other lids that you can find on the market, this one is made from silicone material instead of plastic. This definitely adds security to the parents who are afraid of letting harmful chemical leach into their baby's food. Not only is silicone less toxic, it is also very soft and bendable. In case your food is already frozen solid, you will still not go through a hard time removing the lid – it is easy to take off and clip back on yet still keeps its shape. The secure seal that the silicone lid ensure that the food inside does not get contaminated with other odors or flavors.

Of course, this food tray is not just meant to be used inside the freezer or for baby food alone. You can be totally creative and use it for other purposes such as for making mini muffins, poaching eggs, molding chocolates and much more. You can even use it to a stock gravy, juices, soup and other sauces. Cool, right?

We are obviously very much convinced with this product which is why we are placing it right at the top spot.

Details of the Kiddo Feedo Freezer Tray

Weight

8 ounces

Dimensions

9.1 x 5.9 x 2.4 inches

WeeSprout Silicone Baby Food Freezer Tray

WeeSprout Silicone Baby Food Freezer Tray

It is totally understandable for parents, especially moms, to be very particular about the materials that their baby items are made of. Fortunately for those who are already starting out with feeding their babies with solid food, there are several options for freezer trays available in the market.

This particular one from WeeSprout is yet another favorite from us here at Parents Need HQ. Why? We certainly love that it makes use of food-grade silicone that ensures that your baby's food touches nothing but the safest materials on the planet. The silicone used for this product is resistant from bacteria, stains, and odors so it is super safe to use with food, easy to clean and keeps food fresh and appetizing for baby. Additionally, this food tray is approved by the FDA and is also free from other harmful chemicals that could potentially leak into your baby's food: BPA, PVC, phthalate, lead and other toxins.

When it comes to ease of use and clean up, the WeeSprout tray also makes it to the top compared to similar products from different brands. In fact, we love that both tray and lid can be placed easily inside the freezer as well as on the top shelf of a dishwasher. It can even be used in the microwave or oven for baking and heating purposes. Then, once the food is ready to serve, you can just pop out the individual servings easily by gently twisting the tray. In case you need to make another huge batch, you can create individual servings up to 1 or 1.5 ounces and even stack multiple trays on top of each other.

Some parents did complain about the trays smelling really bad during the first few days although it eventually fades away through washing. It was because of this issue that the company was able to redeem themselves and prove that they have excellent customer service, which is a huge plus for us! Because of that (and despite the product being slightly more expensive than the other brands), we are placing this product at the second spot in our list.

Details of the WeeSprout Silicone Baby Food Freezer Tray

Weight

6.4 ounces

Dimensions

9 x 6.5 x 1.8 inches

Mumi&Bubi Solids Starter Kit

Mumi&Bubi Solids Starter Kit

There are many reasons why mommies and even daddies choose to make their very own baby food at home. Among the most common reasons would be that it saves them money, time (when done in big batches) as well as provides them with the security that the food their little ones eat are safe and healthy.

If you are making baby food in really huge batches – perhaps your little one eats a lot or you have several mouths to feed – then this solids starter kit food try from Mumi & Bubi is definitely your best bud. Why? Just one look and you will immediately see why.

Every food tray is able to accommodate up to 21 one-ounce cubes so you lessen food waste and also get to freeze food in large quantities at a single time. This definitely saves you a lot of time and money! The tray lids are also designed so that one is able to stack one tray on top of another – perfect if you need to make an even bigger batch than usual.

Another thing we love about this tray is that it is very simple to use. It is designed very simply so that you can just press the tray from one end and the cubes should be able to slide easily out on the other end. At 1-ounce portions, they are definitely just the ideal serving size for your small kiddos and you do not have to spend time breaking the cubes to avoid wasting food.

This solids starter kit from Mumi & Bubi also make a great choice for busy parents in that every purchase of this product gives you access to a step-by-step e-guide on 27 recipes of homemade baby food – enough to get you started on the journey. Don't worry about the cubes being harmful to the body as well as it is certified to be free from BPA and PVC. This New Zealand manufactured product is also safe to use in the dishwasher promoting easy cleanup.

The 21-cube capacity of this freezer food tray is definitely one of the biggest reasons why it is able to rank the third position in our list.

Details of the Mumi&Bubi Solids Starter Kit

Weight

1.2 pounds

Dimensions

9.6 x 9.1 x 3 inches

Beaba Multiportion Baby Food Freezer Tray

Beaba Multiportion Baby Food Freezer Tray

With more than 25 years of experience in creating products for making and storing baby food at home, it is not surprising why Beaba should be included in the list. In fact, for most parents, Beaba might just be the only brand that they trust when it comes to feeding utensils for babies. So, where do we start with our review for their freezer trays?

One of the main reasons why we love using this product is its ease of use and its high quality. These trays are made from silicone so you can be assured that it will keep your baby's food from toxins and other harmful chemicals. It is super easy to take out the cubes from the trays, even if it has frozen solid, plus the cleanup is also very easy. You can wipe it, run water over it or place it on the top shelf of the dishwasher and you will not be encountering any problems at all. And, don’t worry about putting in all sorts of baby food and puree (carrots, apples, squash, and sweet potatoes) because the stain won’t stick and your trays will look as awesome as they had always been.

From the freezer, you can pop out the tray and place it into the microwave and not have any problem with it getting damaged along the process.

Although this product is so much better than any of the plastic alternatives from other brands, you might experience some foul smell from the silicone during freezing. Although it does not seem to stick to food, it can definitely raise some concerns to parents.

Still, we think it is worth checking out. It can only accommodate seven 2-ounce servings which should cover a week’s worth of meals for your baby but you can also use it for other types of food such as chocolates, popsicles and more. The trays are made from materials that are free from BPA, lead, phthalate and latex so they are definitely safe for everyone, most especially for the little kiddos.

After weighing all the pros and cons, we have concluded placing this at the fourth spot.

Details of the Beaba Multiportion Baby Food Freezer Tray

Weight

10.6 ounces

Dimensions

7.7 x 7.6 x 2.2 inches

OXO Tot Baby Food Freezer Trays

OXO Tot Baby Food Freezer Trays

If you were to freeze water only using this tray, it would definitely work well. We love these freezer trays from OXO because of the silicone cover that comes with it. Although it uses hard plastic as its main material, it does come with a rounded design making it very easy to take out the cubes when you have to. Simply twist the tray gently so the cubes slide up then slide the cover.

What makes the cover special? For starters, sliding it out will allow you to release as few or as many cubes as you want. The design of the cover also makes it easy to stack multiple trays on top of the other so you can make several batches of baby food and put them all in the freezer. Additionally, the covers ensure that the baby food stored does not absorb the odors coming from the freezer so it stays fresh for baby to eat later on. Say goodbye to freezer burns and gross flavors because it has been contaminated with odor and flavor from other freezer items.

Perhaps our only main gripe about these freezer trays is that it comes in ¾-ounce portions so if your baby consumes more than that, then you will have to deal with some food wastage as it will be a waste of time to have to cut the cubes.

Parents who worry about the chemicals that come with these trays as they do not have those harmful ones that are feared most. It is free from BPA, PVC, and phthalate and also very easy to clean because the food does not get stuck to the bottom of the trays.

Some parents have complained about using baby food freezer trays from OXO that have warped with use but this seemed to be just an isolated case. They have otherwise done quite a good job at holding frozen food and stacking themselves on top of each other. Parents will also rejoice that this item is top-shelf dishwasher safe and will not melt or warp the tray or cover in the process.

Because of this, we are placing the OXO Freezer Tray at the last position in our list.

Details of the OXO Tot Baby Food Freezer Trays

Weight

7 ounces

Dimensions

1.8 x 5.5 x 12.6 inches

We hope that this list was able to help you find the right freezer tray to use for your homemade baby food. Feeding babies during their first year can be a challenge but these freezer trays make things a lot easier (and not to mention, cheaper) for moms and dads. Be sure to check what material is being used before making a purchase as it is essential that you know what kind of items are making contact with your baby’s food. It pays to be vigilant and to be on the safe side always! Good luck and have fun making your baby’s purees!

The post Top 5 Best Ice Cube Tray for Baby Food | 2018 Reviews appeared first on ParentsNeed.

Top 5 Best Baby Rocker Chairs | 2018 Reviews

Top 5 Best Baby Rocker Chairs | 2017 Reviews

Full disclosure: there is no single piece of baby equipment which has personally gotten more use or been more important in our home than a baby rocker chair. Not only did it serve as an infant rocker for quite a long time, it also was the only place that one of our kids would sleep through the night while she was going through struggles with GERD and colic. It’s impossible to count the number of nights that she – finally – fell peacefully asleep in her rocker chair, allowing us to get some much-needed sleep as well. In fact, we had two identical chairs, one next to our bed and one next to our living room couch, so she could rock to sleep in either room.

Of course, most first-time parents don’t rely quite as much as we did on a baby rocker chair. But it’s still an invaluable tool for calming and entertaining an infant while letting her get a tiny bit of exercise and stimulation when she’s in the mood for some gentle play.

Most rocker/bouncer chairs have a number of things in common: they rock, they vibrate and they have some combination of reachable toys and the ability to play music. What’s more important to consider when shopping for a baby rocker is their comfort and safety, because a chair that isn’t padded enough will never make the infant happy or calm, and many inexpensive bouncers are prone to tipping quite easily. Fabric that’s easily washable will also be a godsend when accommodating children of this age (diapers have a way of letting loose when a baby is rocking), and being able to make at least a few adjustments to the angle of the chair is a helpful feature as well.

You may also want to take a read on our comprehensive Baby Rocker Chair Buying Guide.

Here’s our list of the top 5 best baby rocker chairs – and the full disclosure above will give you a hint as to why we selected our #1 choice to top the list.

Quick Comparison Table

Fisher-Price Infant To Toddler Rocker

BabyHome Wave Wooden Rocker

Tiny Love 3 in 1 Rocker Napper

bloom Coco Go Lounger

Nuna Leaf Baby Seat With Mesh

Fisher-Price Infant To Toddler Rocker
BabyHome Wave Wooden Rocker
Tiny Love 3 in 1 Rocker Napper
bloom Coco Go Lounger
Nuna Leaf Baby Seat With Mesh

$$$

$$$

$$$

$$$

$$$

7.7 pounds

10.1 pounds

11.5 pounds

8.8 pounds

11.5 pounds

Not foldable

Foldable

Not foldable

Foldable

Not foldable

Fisher-Price Infant To Toddler Rocker

Fisher-Price Infant To Toddler Rocker

Here it is, the rocker that saved our sanity. It isn’t the most full-featured chair on our list, and it’s definitely the least expensive at about $25. But we swear by this baby rocker chair.

The Fisher-Price model has a deep seat and reclines almost flat, so it’s perfect for naps whether baby’s the type who will go to sleep on her own, if you want to rock her, or if you prefer to let the battery-powered vibrator function on the chair (which, unlike some competitors, doesn’t feel like you’ve unleashed a volcano) lull her into sleepy time. The recline also makes it easy to bottle feed if your arms or back are tired. There’s a locking kickbar as well, which prevents the chair from rocking or moving when the seat is reclined. The seat pad comes in a selection of lively patterns, but more importantly it can be removed and tossed in the washing machine. There’s a three-point restraint system for safety.

When you move the seat all the way up, the Infant to Toddler Rocker becomes a fun place to rock and play, thanks to the removable toy bar that stretches across the top but is within baby’s reach. Depending on the model you choose, there’s also an elephant which will play music when pulled – always a hit with the young ones. The toys are sort of chintzy, to be honest, but they’re meant to entertain baby, not us or even older toddlers. On the subject of older toddlers, the Fisher-Price rocker chair is built to hold weights up to 40 pounds, so once your child has outgrown the “baby functions,” the deep seat may make this her favorite rocking chair for TV watching once you’ve removed the toy bar.

We’re biased, as you know by now, but we tried really hard to find a negative feature of this baby rocker to balance our review. The only one we can come up with (other than it’s a rocker, not a bouncer) is that you should feel guilty that you didn’t have to pay more for the Fisher-Price chair.

Details of the Fisher-Price Infant To Toddler Rocker

Weight Limit

40 pounds

Recline

Yes

Foldable

No

Vibrate

Yes, D Battery

Included Accesories

Toy bar

Washable

Pad is machine-washable

Size

15 x 6 x 25

Weight

7.7 pounds

Warranty

One year

BabyHome Wave Wooden Rocker

BabyHome Wave Wooden Rocker

We’re taking a major step up in style and price with this BabyHome rocker, which looks like a cross between an old-fashioned piece of furniture and something that would fit perfectly in a contemporary-style home.

The Wave rocker sort of resembles a folded chaise lounge, but the base and chair are made from high-quality laminated wood with a strong, cushioned fabric insert where baby reclines. Unlike the Fisher-Price, the BabyHome model is only designed for babies up to six months old; infants much larger would have their legs dangling out of this chair dangerously. The Wave Rocker can be used in three different positions which are at different degrees of incline, and in two of them the chair can be gently rocked with a front to back motion. The unit is heavy, though, so momentum won’t keep it moving for long and it requires constant rocking from mom or dad.

A three-point harness keeps baby firmly in position while in the chair, and the padded fabric is soft and very comfortable so she will likely be lulled to sleep quickly. It’s removable and washable, too. The BabyHome rocker chair isn’t a piece of inexpensive baby furniture that you will move from room to room (even though it does fold up nicely), or replace after a year or so. It’s a beautiful and extremely well-made (but heavy) piece that you’ll want to keep in one spot, perhaps even as the focus of a nursery or family room. But it also does a wonderful job of rocking baby to sleep – as it should, for a price of $150-175. The Wave’s fabric comes in a choice of four colors.

Details of the BabyHome Wave Wooden Rocker

Weight Limit

20 pounds

Recline

Yes

Foldable

Yes

Vibrate

No

Included Accesories

None

Washable

Pad is machine-washable

Size

20 x 16 x 32

Weight

10.1 pounds

Warranty

One year limited

Tiny Love 3 in 1 Rocker Napper

Tiny Love 3 in 1 Rocker Napper

The Tiny Love Rocker Napper “splits the middle” between our first two entries on this list of top 5 best baby rocker chairs: it’s designed for both infants and smaller toddlers (although we really can’t picture using it for babies older than about nine months), it’s sturdy but not tremendously heavy so it’s easy to move around, and its price falls in between those of the Fisher-Price and BabyHome chairs.

When set up for baby, this chair takes the form of a flat pad with raised sides which resembles a cradle or bassinet and is the perfect environment for her to nap in comfortably. It can also be raised to three different positions with the sides lowered, ideal for resting, rocking or playing. The “upright” position still has a pretty decent incline, so we can’t really see this working as an actual chair for older kids, though. As with our first two products, the 3 in 1 doesn’t rock itself but moves smoothly with an adult hand doing the work, and also has a very effective vibrating function which quickly lulls a young child to sleep. There’s a locking bar on the bottom which will stop the chair from rocking if you’d like.

An adjustable toy bar hangs from one side of the Rocker Napper, with two rattling light-up toys easily within baby’s reach; there are also nine short songs you can play to amuse her (and annoy you after a little while – but that’s all part of being a mommy, right?). The fabric isn’t the softest we’ve seen, but it can be removed and tossed into the wash which is certainly a positive.

If you thought that the Wave was too expensive for a rocker that could only be used for six months, the Tiny Love chair will serve you well for almost twice as long, at $90.​

Details of the Tiny Love 3 in 1 Rocker Napper

Weight Limit

20 pounds for Napper, 40 pounds for Rocker

Recline

Yes

Foldable

No

Vibrate

Yes, C battery

Included Accesories

Toy bar with music

Washable

Fabric is machine-washable

Size

30 x 19 x 30

Weight

11.5 pounds

Warranty

One year limited

bloom Coco Go Lounger

bloom Coco Go Lounger

Here’s a well-made, higher-priced alternative to the Fisher-Price and Tiny Love rocker chairs we’ve discussed. It provides most of the same functions: lying nearly flat for sleeping infants, set at several reclines for older babies, and sitting upright as a chair for toddlers (with a locking option). Two-speed vibration is a welcome alternative to hand-rocking, and this is the only rocker chair on our rankings with a padded five-point safety harness. There will be no problem rocking baby to sleep in this bloom model.

The Go Lounger is the plushest and most comfortable of all the chairs we’ve looked at, yet the 100% organic seat pad is still machine-washable. It’s also nearly as beautiful as the Nuna Leaf which we’ll look at next, with a minimalist design and formed-birch accents along with three available warm fabric colors. There’s one other noteworthy positive to the bloom: it’s the only one on our list of the top 5 best baby rocker chairs that folds up completely flat for transport in the included reversible travel bag.

Visitors to your home who see the bloom may mistake it at first for a designer chair for kids, rather than a baby rocker. The good news is that it’s both, if you don’t mind paying almost $200 for it.

Details of the bloom Coco Go Lounger

Weight Limit

25 pounds

Recline

Yes

Foldable

Yes

Vibrate

Yes, 2 AA batteries

Included Accesories

Travel bag

Washable

Fabric is machine-washable

Size

21 x 17 x 28

Weight

8.8 pounds

Warranty

One year

Nuna Leaf Baby Seat With Mesh

Nuna Leaf Baby Seat With Mesh

OK, get out the credit card. This rocker chair will cost you well over $200 – but it will, in the words of the manufacturer, “treat baby to a mesmerizing ride…inspired by the carefree float of a leaf on a breeze.” Flowery language aside, this is one beautiful rocker chair at one huge price.

At least when you’re spending this kind of money, you’ll be getting a chair that won’t have to go into the garage when your baby becomes a toddler; the comfortable seat is suitable for children up to 130 pounds. Like the bloom chair, it will also look completely at home in a room with modern design as well.

The primary feature of this baby rocker, other than its comfort and beauty, is that it will rock and rock. Nuna says it will rock for two minutes with just one push, although you may find that the motion slows down noticeably after 30-60 seconds. You can also pay an extra $100 for the AC/battery Leaf Wind, which attaches to the base of the chair to rock it for you at one of six selectable speeds. One thing we do like is that the Leaf rocks from side to side instead of back and forth, which is a more soothing motion that’s helpful in coaxing baby to sleep. There’s a matching toy bar that can be purchased for another $40.

The Leaf is extremely well-constructed, and the organic cotton seat pad is machine-washable. However, there are only two modes for this rocker chair: swing mode to be used with a three-point harness until the baby can sit on her own, and chair mode. There’s no other incline feature (although there is a lock to stop the chair from swinging). That fact, plus the high price, make the Nuna model more of a toddler-sized chair to match a contemporary room, than a versatile baby rocker chair. It is gorgeous, though.​

Details of the Nuna Leaf Baby Seat With Mesh

Weight Limit

130 pounds

Recline

No

Foldable

No

Vibrate

No

Included Accesories

None

Washable

Fabric is machine-washable

Size

28 x 18 x 28

Weight

11.5 pounds

Warranty

One year limited

The post Top 5 Best Baby Rocker Chairs | 2018 Reviews appeared first on ParentsNeed.

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