Best Lighted Makeup Mirror Buying Guide

Best Lighted Makeup Mirror Buying Guide

Remember that time when the Evil Queen asked the mirror on the wall to say who the fairest woman in the world was? The mirror named a pretty young thing called Snow White, and the Evil Queen just totally lost it. The Evil Queen thought of herself as the fairest, how could anyone else be The One? She had perfected her makeup down to every detail. Or had she? Perhaps she had put on a little too much foundation. Maybe her cheeks got too much blush on. Maybe her eyeliners were not even. Her makeup was probably two shades off, that the mirror did not find her worthy of being called the fairest of them all. These things are easy to miss when you are applying makeup under unreliable lighting, especially when you’re in the dungeons of a castle. But enough about fairy tales. Let’s talk about real life.

What is considered reliable lighting? Natural light remains to be the best lighting option, of course. Under natural light, your makeup application will not be a choice between a hit or a miss. It will always be a hit. Natural light shows your makeup’s true colors as applied. It has happened far too many times that women apply their makeup perfectly, inside their bathrooms or in front of their bedroom mirrors, only to step outside and look as if they had too much or too less makeup on.

Aside from natural lighting, makeup mirrors have a large role in whether you will end up with a makeup mishap or a makeup fortune. It is hard to perfect something when you can’t see it properly, wouldn’t you agree? Makeup mirrors are designed to let you see your face effortlessly. They are usually able to cover the whole face so you could apply makeup on one portion and still see how it all blends into the rest of your face.

What are the types of makeup mirrors?

● Small-sized makeup mirrors

Small -sized makeup mirrors are usually small enough to make them portable for travelling and moving around, but big enough to still show your whole face. Pocket and handheld mirrors also fall under this category. Compact mirrors are usually magnified to show more detail.

● Medium-sized makeup mirrors

Medium-sized makeup mirrors may either be fixed or portable. They are your usual table-top mirrors or the types that could be mounted on walls. Medium-sized mirrors provide the bigger picture while still helping you focus on the face. They may be free standing, which will be helpful for when you want to move it some place with a good natural lighting.

● Large-sized makeup mirrors

Large-sized makeup mirrors are usually mounted on walls or fixed to your vanity dressers. They are big enough to give you a good look of your upper body, at the least. This is helpful when you are trying to decide whether your makeup goes along with your look for the day. It is trickier to get good natural lighting with this type of mirror since they are not very portable.

Sometimes natural lighting is hard to come by. Even when you have a perfectly good window from which natural light can trickle in, timing is still of the essence. You can’t very well put your makeup on with just the moonlight above you. You will need good lighting, and no, we are not talking about the harsh fluorescent lights on your ceilings. What if we told you that you can have your perfect makeup mirror that comes with the proper illumination that you need?

We here at ParentsNeed HQ will teach you how to choose the best lighted makeup mirror. You might think there is not much to consider when, in fact, choosing a lighted makeup mirror can get confusing. There is an overwhelming number of choices out in the market. Mind you, lighted makeup mirrors don’t come cheap. We want you to make the most out of your hard earned bucks. Just read on and sooner than you think, you’ll be ready to purchase the lighted makeup mirror that will suit you best.​

What are the things you need to consider when choosing which lighted makeup mirror to buy?

How do you intend to use your lighted makeup mirror and where are you planning to place it?

Lighted makeup mirrors now come in a variety of sizes, from travel-sized compact mirrors up to large-sized fixtures on vanity dressers.

If you’re looking for something you could use while you are on the go, then you would definitely need a lighted makeup mirror that is portable. Handheld mirrors or compact style mirrors are available in the market. Handheld ones are meant to be held to your face and should come with a handle. Choose a handheld mirror that has a nice grip so that you will not have a hard time maneuvering it. The best handheld mirror should show little distortion of your face when you are trying to see your whole face in it. Handheld mirrors can be flipped as they come with two mirrors. It is best to choose a handheld mirror that comes with a normal mirror and an additionally magnified mirror on the other side. The magnified side will help you see more clearly the fine details of your face.

If you are looking for something you could use while you are travelling, choose a makeup mirror that comes with an added protection. The best travel makeup mirror is one that is sturdy and made of shatter-free glass. It should be able to take the beating of being packed and in transit most of its life.

If you are looking for something that is to be used more at home, but you are short on space, medium-sized lighted makeup mirrors that could be mounted on the wall just might be the best choice for you. Wall-mounted makeup mirrors may come in a fixed position or in an adjustable type. Adjustable types are more desirable since they may be extended, tilted and swiveled for better angle action whilst fixed types offer only one angle. One drawback of a wall-mounted makeup mirror is that it is not portable. It cannot be taken from one room to another, but if the illumination of the mirror is good, then there is really no need to keep moving it.

Another medium-sized makeup mirror choice for home use could be a countertop makeup mirror. These are makeup mirrors that are hands-free, and come with a weighted base. The weighted base ensures that your mirror will not topple over while you are using it. They usually come with a height ranging from 5 to 15 inches. Countertop mirrors are portable in a way that you may place it on top of any table, in the bathroom or on your vanity dresser. Sometimes the base may even come with a suction cup for a more stable hold. Countertop makeup mirrors may also have multiple magnifications, making it a more versatile choice.

It is important to consider fog resistance if you are going to be using your lighted makeup mirror in the bathroom. Though quite rare, lighted shower makeup mirrors are designed to resist the buildup of fog. A good shower lighted makeup mirror will have a specially coated glass, which will cause the water to bead up, instead of letting the water deposit as fog on the mirror. This ensures that you can still see clearly through the mirror. Assuming that you are planning to use your lighted makeup mirror in the shower room, choose a product that has provided a good waterproofing system to its lights. This will protect your purchase from corroding. More importantly, this will protect you from electrical related accidents.

If you have the luxury of space and money, you may opt to go all out with a large-sized lighted makeup mirror. This will surely give you the VIP feel as you sit in front of your mirror, fully lit by bulbs from all sides. You would be feeling ready for your close up by the time you get up from your chair. Large-sized lighted makeup mirrors usually come with a vanity dresser on which you could place all your makeup and paraphernalias. These types of mirrors will definitely take up some space, and are obviously not very portable. Of course, they are highly expensive. Unless you are a superstar or you are planning to become a professional makeup artist and put up your own studio, we really do not recommend getting large-sized lighted makeup mirrors. They are just not practical for us women who are not in the industry of fashion.​

Choose the right lighted makeup mirror by choosing the right light.

Again, natural light is not always accessible. The reason we are going through this buying guide is to address exactly the problem of having the right illumination when we are applying our makeup. Lighting that is too dim may cause you to use shades that are too light for your skin tone, or may cause you to build up more coverage than you actually need. Lighted makeup mirrors will simulate natural light and provide you with a natural glow, which will help you see how your makeup coverage will look like once you step outside. The best lighted makeup mirror is one that has a dimming option through which you could adjust the brightness and closely simulate the kind of brightness you will be in during the time you are wearing your makeup. These days, light sources for lighted makeup mirrors are either from LED lights or bulb types. LED lights are brighter and require less frequency of replacement, if any at all. It is best to choose an LED lighted makeup mirror that comes with a dimming switch since the bright illumination of these type may sometimes be too harsh. Standard bulbs on the other hand give a more natural glow but will require multiple light sources to achieve this effect. They also require more bulb replacement.

Choose a lighted makeup mirror with multiple magnification.

As mentioned earlier, multiple magnifications can help you catch the finer details. A makeup mirror with a normal side will help you see an overview. The magnified side will help you focus on certain areas of the face without you having to strain your eyes. A magnified view of your face will help you during touch ups, and adding intricate details that would otherwise be difficult to execute when using a normal view.

How versatile do you want your lighted mirror to be?

Lighted makeup mirrors come with a variety of features that will help you get the best views and angles while you are grooming yourself, and doing your makeup. Choose a mirror that you can swivel, swing or tilt. Some makeup mirrors come with removable face plates, which will allow you to remove it and bring it up close to your face for a closer inspection.Wall-mounted makeup mirrors are good if they are mounted with adjustable arms, which you could use to manipulate the position. If you are getting a countertop lighted makeup mirror, make sure it has a hinge stand so that you could adjust the angles of the face of the mirror.

Choose a lighted makeup mirror that will go along with your style.

Lighted makeup mirrors are available in different forms and finishes. It isn’t so hard to find a design that will go along well with your interior. Choose one that will match your bathroom fixtures or your bedroom decor. Be creative and classy.

What kind of powersource is most convenient for you?

Do you need your lighted makeup mirror to be cordless? There are a number of products that come with rechargeable batteries. These make a good choice when portability is concerned. There are also corded makeup mirrors available. These are usually the large-sized makeup mirrors that require more wattage to give proper illumination.

What is an acceptable price range for you?

Lighted makeup mirrors can become quite expensive. The price for makeup mirrors range from $40 to $200. Set a working budget and go from there. Research on products that fall within your budget and try reading up on consumer reviews to get an idea whether you will be getting your money’s worth or not.

Our Recommendation

We here at ParentsNeed HQ desire to help you out as much as we can. We hope that our buying guide has helped you decide what kind of lighted makeup mirror to get. If you wish to get an idea which brands are most recommended, you may check out our Top 5 Best Lighted Makeup Mirror Review and read about our top choice, the Simplehuman Sensor Mirror.

Now, going back to the story of the Evil Queen. If only the Evil Queen’s mirror on the wall was properly illuminated, don’t we think she could have perfected her makeup, became the fairest made-up woman and saved Snow White the trouble of having to flee for her life? Yes, we do.​

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How To Help Your Baby Sleep Longer At Night

What is more profound than watching a baby sleep? The peace and tranquility in its face can lift up the spirits of parents and help forget all the hard work and exhaustion experienced through the day.

At start,  parents think that welcoming a baby is a joyous experience. After all you have been waiting for that moment of your life when you would hold the little bundle of joy in your arms and be proud of your parenthood. But little did you expect that all the joy will soon be transformed into panic, frustration and exhaustion especially if you are a first-time parent. Parenthood brings in a lot of responsibility and a sense of nurturing.

One common question that every parent have in mind is “When do babies start sleeping longer?”. Most young parents may wish to know how long their infants can sleep to sustain a healthy growth. A baby’s sleep pattern is different from that of an adult because most of the baby's growth and development occur in her sleep in the initial stages. Hence, it is important for her to sleep longer than others. Within six months, most babies can sleep through the night. While others may not sleep despite being 12 months old. Some are capable of sleeping 12 hours or more without needing to wake up for feeding. It is different with each baby. But we can all follow a few tips explained later in this document to bring in a standard routine.

Babies usually experience REM (Rapid Eye Moment) sleep in the initial phases of their growth. A REM sleep is not a continuous deep sleep but rather a small stage of the sleep period. This pattern of sleep is known to be essential for mental development. Babies experience REM sleep in their initial growth phase which is responsible for aiding their mental development as they grow. They may wake up to be frequently fed. This phase may be hard to some young parents and make them feel this is a never ending task for them, and the unpredictability can leave you sleep deprived. Hence, you may need a lot of patience and dedication to tread past this phase.

It is undeniably an uphill task to getting your baby adapted to the regular sleeping pattern. A new-born sleeps for 16-18 hours in a day but wakes up every 2 hours for a feed irrespective of day or night. As and when they grow the duration of sleep increases and the number of feeds decreases. By the end of 6 months they must be able to sleep for at least 5 hours at a stretch. The sleep pattern changes as rapidly as their growth. In the initial days they wake up for a feed and then need to be comforted or caressed to go back to sleep. But the key here is to allow them to soothe back to sleep on their own as this will give them an opportunity to discover themselves. For this the mother should be extremely patient and understanding as this will only help both parents and the child.

If you are having a hard time putting your baby to sleep then you are not the only one. If the baby isn’t sleeping well, then you are sleeping well enough and the sleep deprivation cascades into next day, compounded with the daily issues, can only make your life more miserable. In fact, about one quarter of kids under 5 have sleeping issues. They refuse to go to bed, walk at nights or do both together. This is when you wonder how to get your baby to sleep through the night?

Below are a few tips on how to train your baby to sleep longer and soothe itself to sleep if awake at night times:

Understand The Sleep Requirements Of Your Baby

During the initial 3 months, a new-born’s needs to feed and sleep well as the growth happens mostly during sleep. A baby sleeps 16 to 18 hours per day, feeding every 2 hours in between. This is because a baby doesn’t know the difference between day & night. Hence he sleeps regardless of day or night. This literally means that a baby’s awake time might be between 1 AM and 5 AM. But as day progresses they tend to sleep slightly longer.

Understanding Signs Of Sleep

Experts suggest, observing and looking out for the signs that the baby gives indicating the need to sleep can help her sleep better. Babies usually indicate the need to sleep by yawning, tugging body parts, rubbing eyes and crying. Hence, it is better to put her to sleep when she is drowsy. This method trains her to sleep herself without needing the parent to help her soothe back to sleep.

Have A Proper Bedtime Routine

Research shows that babies following a proper nightly bedtime schedule can sleep easier, better & cry less at midnight. Few parents begin their little one’s bedtime schedule as early as six to eight weeks old. Experts suggest creating your baby’s sleep schedule with a combination of activities slowly leading to bed is a great way of hinting the baby that it is bedtime. But be sure you carefully choose the routine which is peaceful and soothing and not playing any games or exposing the child to visitors or any other new stimuli. You could probably give her a warm shower, dress her comfortably, feed sufficiently, give her a comforter (a toy, cloth, pillow etc) and then dim down the lights of the room to slowly go to sleep. The important aspect of the bedtime routine is being consistent every single day. This helps the baby understand the routine better and train itself accordingly. This will greatly help the baby to distinguish between the night and day times.

Early Bedtime

Thought this is self-explanatory but you would not believe how parents push their kid’s bedtime, with a hope that they could sleep longer next morning. Early bedtime is between 7 and 8:30 PM & not later than 9 PM. Obviously, you don’t want your little one to be overtired, else he or she will fight for going to sleep. On the other hand, you might not want your baby to provide a late doze thinking that he or she could stay awake longer. But this often backfires. You are better giving fewer naps. This gives more and better nighttime sleep.

Cuddle Your Baby

Yet another nice way to put your baby sleep peacefully through the night is by cuddling. Believe it or not, this trick greatly works. Comfort your baby so that he or she knows it is time to sleep. Lie down together & cuddle, pretend as if you are sleeping, firmly making her know it is bedtime.

Tune Into Your Baby’s Basic Needs

During daytime, you can make your baby feel 100% protected by carrying him or her in the sling. However, if your baby wakes up at night, consider working out why. Check the nappy. Is it full? Your baby is suffering a cold? Are the nightclothes comfortable? Check every possible thing you can.

Make Your Baby’s Daytime Feeds Lively & Social

It is very important to do this. Daytime meals – lively & social while nighttime feeds got to be calm & quiet. This helps your baby learn the difference between day & night.

What if My Baby Wakes Up In The Night? 

• Wait & See If Your Baby Settles On Its Own : 

  If your baby is 4 or 5 months old, just wait to see if he or she settles on her own. For some reasons, if your baby keeps on crying and doesn’t seem to stop even after putting him or her down, try patting gently. Tell that everything’s fine and it is time to sleep. Leave the bedroom & wait for few minutes to check again. Now, even after the 3^rd or 4^th try, you feel your baby is still getting distressed, pick him or her up gently to see if he or she is all right. Repeat the procedure if everything is fine.

• Slight Body Movements Are Normal : It is normal to witness a baby smiling, twitching, and jerking in her sleep. These are the typical response when a baby is in deep sleep. Albeit, it is important to pay attention to her if she cries longer. It could be an indication of a discomfort she could be experiencing. A child crying during the sleep could refer to feeling cold, hungry or an illness. Hence, you are required to investigate and confirm the health of your child.
• Wait Before Getting In : 

• If the baby gets up at night, don’t just instantly go in. Wait for some time prior getting insider her room. Often parents run inside as soon as their babies cry. Yes, of course, as a parent, you cannot stop yourself from going near your baby but this will create a habit. The next time when you don’t appear, he or she will start making fuss & whine longer. If you run to them more quickly, you are robbing the chance of settling themselves on their own. Wait for a few moments to see if your baby is crying in the sleep or have momentarily woken up to seek attention. If she settles down after a while then you don't need to attend to her. But if it continues for more than a few minutes than it is time to have a look. 

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Top 5 Best Sippy Cups for Babies | 2018 Reviews

Top 5 Best Sippy Cups | 2018 Reviews

Congratulations! If you are reading this, it means that your baby is now ready to move on to the next stage of development. As parents, what we would like for our baby is to transition from bottle to cup as they might encounter teeth problems if they don’t. But the transition to the cup to happen in just a snap? Sadly, this can never be.

Before the cup, there lies the transitioning from bottle to sippy cup stage and taking into consideration that this is a very important milestone in your baby’s life, choosing a sippy cup may not exactly be a walk in the park.

Quick Navigation

Quick Comparison Table

Munchkin Miracle 360 Sippy Cup

Gerber Graduates Fun Grips Hard Spout Sippy Cup

NUK Cars Learner Cup

Philips Avent My Natural Trainer Cup

Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature First Sips Weaning Cup

Conclusion

Why would you need to have a sippy cup?

First and foremost, spills. Your baby is still trying to establish proper coordination; along the lines of starting to walk, and firming their grips, they are inching closer to causing mayhem in your household. They are used to holding their bottles in practically any way they want, and chances are, if you give them milk in a cup, spills are inevitable.

With this in mind, there is also a lesser chance that your child may get properly hydrated when they are spilling their drink all the time. Which is why it is best if you get a spill proof sippy cup, wherein you will no longer have to deal with the hassle of cleaning up spilled beverages, not to mention avoiding the risk of injury if they slip on one of the spills they made. A sippy cupy could also be your best friend when you travel with your little one, as they are easy to transport and no more worrying about milk leaking out of your bag. Sippy cups vary in a whole lot of ways, you have sippy cups with straw, spill proof ones, eco-friendly ones and a lot more.

Read our comprehensive Best Sippy Cups Buying Guide here.​

Now that you are oriented with the usefulness of sippy cups, we are going to venture on choosing what we believe are the top 5 best sippy cups to transition from bottle.​

Quick Comparison Table

Munchkin Miracle 360 Sippy Cup	Gerber Graduates Fun Grips Hard Spout Sippy Cup	NUK Cars Learner Cup	Philips Avent My Natural Trainer Cup	Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Weaning Cup
$$$	$$$	$$$	$$$	$$$
10 oz.	10 oz.	5 oz.	5 oz.	5 oz.
12+ months	12+ months	6+ months	4+ months	4+ months

Munchkin Miracle 360 Sippy Cup

Looking for sippy cups for 2 years old? Look no more! It might be because your baby was really reluctant in letting go of the bottle, or has gotten tired with spouts, but is still uncomfortable with the flow of liquid from a cup, whatever the reason is, this sippy cup is great for you. Why do we think this is the sippy cup that could offer the best way to transition from bottle to cup? It is dentist approved, no spouts to chew on, just plain getting used to sipping, which is the main purpose, definitely not bad for the teeth. Best for toddlers, especially those who no longer wants to be called babies when they already have younger siblings, but still can cause quite a mess when drinking in normal cups.

We love the spoutless design of Munchkin Miracle 360 Sippy Cup that you won’t actually think at first glance it is a sippy cup but just a simple cool glass. You might worry about dealing with spills, since there seemed to be no cover or spout, but the 360-degree drinking edge has the ability to eliminate spills completely. It’s almost enabling your kids to drink in a regular cup because they can drink anywhere around the rim, lip activated, exercising the normal muscles around the mouth for perfect sipping practice. And since there are no spouts, straws or any extra parts that you would need to assemble and pull apart when cleaning or putting in the dishwasher this also saves a lot of time.

This sippy cup will greatly help a toddler into drinking from a cup, while still moderating their intake. Pretty much all you really need, when letting your kid eat or drink on his own, which deserves the number one spot on our list.

Details of the Munchkin Miracle 360 Sippy Cup
Safety and Security Features	BPA Free, Spoutless design recommended by Dentists
Capacity	10 oz.
Dimensions	7 x 3 x 7 inches
Suitable for	12+ months
Mode of Cleaning	Dishwasher-safe and easy to clean
Colors	Pink, Orange, Blue and Green
Features	Lip Activated, Spill Proof

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Gerber Graduates Fun Grips Hard Spout Sippy Cup

So your baby already has teeth, and more often than not would resort to biting the nipples out of his bottle, and you are constantly trying to make sure that the flow of liquid is just enough for his intake, that you keep replacing it from time to time. It is both a hassle and frankly could be a bit expensive to do so. Don’t you ever wish that the nipples are durable or at least bite proof, but the sad part is, your baby’s teeth is going to make sure it is not. You do not have to fret because this Gerber transition sippy cup is just the product you might need. Absolutely durable and you are surely going to get your money’s worth on this product, as it comes with a hard spout which is bite proof. This sippy cup also comes with the unique Seal Zone Technology that guarantees no more leaks, if ever your baby would choose to drink from it in every possible position he could think of, highly spill proof and is even break-proof. Despite all of this, the spout is still easy for kids to drink out of.

We are talking about an awesome sippy cup which is good for children who are now ready to drink more fluids, as it has a 10 ounce capacity, typically 12 months to 3 years old. That’s a total of 2 cups of water or milk that you could prepare before going to the playground or grocery, making it very handy. The hourglass shape still makes it easy for even small children to handle the bottle with less difficulty and the wide bottom is designed to prevent tipping, because you know kids can be a little clumsy. We also like the fact that the colors are not gender specific, so it is also a great gift during baby showers that are also gender reveals. One thing to note of when washing this sippy cup is to avoid using abrasive brush to clean the valve to prolong its use.

Almost perfect, but not quite. Because of its wide bottom, it does not exactly fit easily in your diaper bag, car seat cup holder or dishwasher.

Details of the Gerber Graduates Fun Grips Hard Spout Sippy Cup
Safety and Security Features	BPA Free
Capacity	10 oz.
Dimensions	7.9 x 6.2 x 3 inches
Suitable for	12+ months
Mode of Cleaning	Dishwasher-safe
Colors	Assorted
Features	Seal Zone Technology that guarantees 100% leak-proof, break-proof, and spill-proof

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NUK Cars Learner Cup

The Learner Cup is one of the best baby training sippy cups one will encounter. It has easy-grip, anti-slip handles that are easy for babies to hold, which also could be taken off once your baby transitions to cup fully. It is also capable of holding 5 ounces of liquid, perfect for little arms to carry. This sippy cup is also dish-washer safe, and what makes it easier to maintain is that you can use standard bottle brushes to clean the spout and wide cup. Travelling outdoors is a breeze as this is one of the Nuk sippy cups that has a cap perfectly protecting your baby’s drink, and once you take off the handle, it would perfectly slip on your diaper bag. This BPA free sippy cup comes in fun designs that your baby can identify to, such as hot air balloons, cars, and even Hello Kitty and Winnie the Pooh characters they love.

If your baby is teething, you will not encounter any complaints from them regarding this sippy cup as the soft spout could be a great teether! However, since your baby might continue nibbling on this soft spout, it would be best if you would keep replacement silicone spouts handy. This is why this product is at number 3, the replacements could get expensive in the long run.

Details of the NUK Cars Learner Cup
Safety and Security Features	BPA Free
Capacity	5 oz.
Dimensions	6.1 x 6 x 4.5 inches
Suitable for	6+ months
Mode of Cleaning	Dishwasher-safe
Colors	Assorted
Features	Guaranteed Leak-Proof, Spill-Proof & Break-Proof, soft silicone spout with various designs

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Philips Avent My Natural Trainer Cup

Not all soft spout sippy cups could make the transition from bottle to cup easy, your baby might refuse to drink from the spout right away. With this comes the Philips Avent My Natural Trainer cup, this sippy cup boasts of its ability to transform from nipple to spout. Yes, if your baby is not yet ready for the spout, let him hold the sippy cup and use the nipple to get him accustomed to it. Slowly but surely really could do the trick. And as both nipple and spout are made from natural soft silicone it definitely is a great choice for babies from 4 months and up.

All good things rolled into one, with a design that would help your baby in slowly getting accustomed to drinking from a cup independently, because as your baby progresses, you could also remove the training handle and voila! The job here is done. This sippy cup comes with a cover, makes it highly hygienic to use especially when the baby is still in the nipple mode. We also love the fact that you could be able to mix and match its parts with other Philips Avent bottle and cup parts. What a great reason to save your other Philips Avent bottle parts right? And last reason why we are loving this sippy cup is because of its twin valve design, making sure that your little one will not experience tummy aches because of cholic.

However, we placed it at the fourth because so many parts can be difficult to manage. Parts may get lost and you need to buy another replacement. Also, the handle couldn't be transferred to other Avent bottles. 

Details of the Philips Avent My Natural Trainer Cup
Safety and Security Features	BPA Free
Capacity	5 oz.
Dimensions	5.2 x 3.7 x.7.6 inches
Suitable for	4+ months
Mode of Cleaning	Wipe clean with soap and water, dishwasher-safe
Colors	Clear, pink, and blue
Features	Soft silicone spout and nipple. Can also be mixed and matched with Philips Avent bottle and cup parts

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Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature First Sips Weaning Cup

This Tommee tippee sippy cup is a great option for parents who are keen on starting the transition process from bottle to cup a little earlier. Imagine your child at 4 months old, still unable to drink from a cup that would not offer the right amount of fluid that he could take, that definitely spells trouble. It could be either they could have great difficulty in hydrating themselves or worse, not drink at all, especially when being very hyperactive. This is where the Tommee Tippee has great advantage of, it is light compared to other sippy cups, as the bottle has a 5 oz. capacity of liquid, which is very similar to the bottle they are used to and makes it perfect for the little ones to lug around with. It is also spill proof, giving your little tot room for movement without you being worried about cleaning or potential injuries. It also has a nice handle, good for your babies’ little hands and a soft sippy spout that would not hurt when sucking, further lessening the problems you would encounter during the transition. The Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature First Transition cup is also easy to wash, pull apart, and could fit in the top shelf of your dishwasher, this makes it highly easy to maintain and care for, especially if you are the type of parent who is on the go.

Despite every possible reason to love this product, the downfall also lies on its special capacity, the valve, which could be a little difficult to clean and although it is dishwasher safe, your best bet would still be to meticulously clean it by hand from time to time.

Details of the Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature First Sips Weaning Cup
Safety and Security Features	BPA Free
Capacity	5 oz./150ml
Dimensions	6.8 x 4.9 x 3.5 inches
Suitable for	4+ months
Mode of Cleaning	Dishwasher, microwave and sterilizer safe
Colors	Pink, Blue, Purple and Green
Features	Patented easy to drink, spill proof valve, and soft-flex spout

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Conclusion

The changing from bottle to cup stage could be a little messy, not just because of spills or leaks, but on how your child would adapt to the development they are about to go through. Choosing a great sippy cup could be a great help in facilitating this transition, but as one should already know, only the kids know when they are truly ready. It might take them a week, month or even a few years to do so, but we’re pretty sure they will. And as parents, we need to learn how to support and not push because our babies will still amaze us with how they are able to do it on their own.

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The Birthday Survival Guide

The Birthday Survival Guide

The scary thing about having children is that they keep growing. You just about get your ahead around a certain stage and then BANG, they’ve changed again! Quite rude of them really when you think about it. Don’t they know us grown-ups need a certain period of adjustment before new milestones and stages?

Joking aside, those birthdays do come around with frightening regularity and of course as a parent it is up to you to decide how to celebrate it. Birthdays are important as they only come around once a year and it is the only day of the year that is just about that person. They don’t have to share it (unless they are twins etc) and birthdays are of course special events for everyone involved. Children remember their birthdays well (ok, maybe not the earliest years) which is why so many parents get bent out of shape trying to do birthdays “right”.

Keeping Up with Everyone Else

“Did you know that her down the road paid for a whole dance troupe attached to a famous circus to entertain her one-year-old daughter and her friends at the best venue in town?”

When you had planned on taking your eight year old McDonalds seeing or hearing about what other parents plan for their children’s birthdays can sometimes put you under pressure to do “better”.​

It is important to remember that this pressure is something that you put onto yourself, no-one else. Would your son enjoy his favourite national football team captain coming for tea? Of course he would but unless he’s a close personal friend there’s no point worrying about that! The chances are he’d be just as happy with pizza and a water-fight in the garden with his closest pals so don’t worry about what other parents do or don’t so; at the end of the day what your child would love and what you can afford are all that matters.

Birthday Budget

It is important that while you remember that your child’s birthday is an important day that you also remember your budget. Many people save up for Christmas in advance or shop early for presents. It can be worthwhile considering doing the same for your children’s birthdays too, especially if things are a little tight money-wise.

Once you’ve set your birthday budget, that being the amount of money you have to spend on gifts, food and (if anything) a party/sleepover etc; stick to it. We know it’s so tempting to keep adding extra gifts on as you see them however you could end up spending too much. Also remember that what you do for one child you have to do for the others which could mean you inadvertently bumping up the average spend per child for this year and years to come.​

Main Gift or No Main Gift

This is an individual choice, dependant on your child, what you can afford and what you usually do. Some families buy a big main gift for a birthday whereas others prefer for their child to have more presents to open. Obviously a larger gift means less to open so decide dependant on what your child is into. There’s no hard and fast rule on this one. What is wise to remember is that you really can’t buy a big gift, then feel guilty about the number of gifts they have to open so go and buy a load more. We’ve all been there.

Gift Inspiration

What to buy your children on their birthdays can be a difficult decision! If they are into something specific, such as Thomas the Tank Engine, Superheroes, Lego or whatever then adding to their collection, adding themed bedding, clothing, toys and books makes life a lot easier. If on asking your child what they would like you get the stock answer “dunno” you might need to think outside the box a little.

Finding ideas for your children’s present box could be difficult if you didn’t have the internet or access to other parents. Thankfully the chances are you have both. The majority of websites which sell anything birthday related tend to feature age bracket filtering making it easier to look for gifts suited to your child’s age. Friends will be able to fill you in on what their sons and daughters asked for at the same age (and keep you in the loop as to what the latest Big Thing is).​

A good old-fashion Google search for children’s gifts is usually pretty good for helping with ideas and if all else fails there’s always Pinterest!

Practical Gifts

When children get a little older it can be easier to buy more practical gifts as opposed to just toys and games. Older children (from around 8yrs) are happy with a mix of toys and games with more practical items such as clothing and similar. Young teens are also happy with practical gifts when they have specific hobbies and sports that requires such things too. The best way to gauge whether a practical gift is a go or not is to ask them!

Money or Gift Card Gifts

When it comes to buying for your own children you want to buy them something that they can open, something they can hold in their hand however what about if as a teen they ask for money or a gift card? This is certainly the end of an era however it certainly isn’t a bad thing. When children reach a certain age they are able to decide what to spend birthday money on and at least you know that they’ll get something they absolutely want. Make you knowing what they will spend it on is a requirement of them getting cash for a birthday for safety’s sake but if that’s what they really want, surely that’s what their birthday is all about?

The Birthday Celebrations

Oh yes, the birthday celebrations. This is the part of a child’s birthday that often causes the most angst (and has the potential to cost the most). Thankfully you probably have more options than you realise.

1. The All Bells and Whistles Package

This is the party of all party and everyone in your child’s class gets invited (it wouldn’t do to leave anyone out). You book a hall, you arrange the food, you get a bouncy castle, cake, do games, get entertainers in and of course you must not forget the party bags for people to take home. This type of party is great fun for the kids and often exhausting and costly for you!

If you go for a big party such as this it might be worth telling your child that they only get one of these big parties. Tick the box, make the memories and then as they get older concentrate on something smaller, particularly as when they grow their circle of friends tends to become smaller and more defined.​

2. The Home Party

This is less stressful (slightly). You move from a big hall to your front room. You still do party games, have cake, food and party bags but it is a significantly smaller (and cheaper) event than one that involves entertainers and bouncy castles. If the weather s good children can play outside with bubbles or do garden games. Generally speaking it all lasts no more than two hours.

With a home party, particularly with it being a smaller event you can really get creative and make it a themed event. It could be a princess party, a TMNT party, a Minecraft themed party, anything!​

Sleep Over Parties

The beauty of this type of party is that it is mostly suited to older children, you can only squeeze in one or two children at most and (in theory) they’ll sleep for the majority of the time that they are there. A sleepover could also be themed: they could have a Grease-style sleepover (without any alcohol or sneaking out of the window), a gaming party (Xbox Minecraft gaming until you take the controls out and tell them to go to sleep); the sky is the limit.

This is particularly budget friendly as at worst you take you everyone out for pizza and at best they make their own with toppings you give them. This is great for your child and their best friend and friends and is very easy to arrange. It is certainly a more laid-back birthday celebration yet no less enjoyable for it.​

No Party

Not everyone wants a party and not all parents want to host them, no matter how big or small the party. You might decide to have a special family tea, to go out for dinner, go to the cinema or bowling as a family. As long as the day is made special in some way we’re sure your child will have a wonderful day.

Nicki, a member of the ParentsNeed team has this to say:

“I think parents who host parties are heroes. There’s absolutely no way I would, or have ever taken sole responsibility for keeping over-excited thirty children happy in a fairly confined space, particularly given that they will probably at some point be running around on a sugar high, follow by the inevitable crash. Heroes!Neither of my sons have had a birthday party as such with friends, either in a hall or a proper “party bag” affair at home and neither of them are any the worse for it.​

My eldest has recently had a birthday and his best friend slept over. They watched DVDs, played Pokemon, messed about with Lego and had some bonus digital time. The next morning I made a fun breakfast and took them into town to a shop that does crafts and similar. They both decorated mugs to show their favourite Minecraft characters and made funny coasters. That was that. Both had a fabulous time and it was very easy on me.

My youngest had a tea party with his friend whose birthday is five days after his at our house last year. I filled the lounge with balloons, and let them run around with them when we got in (this was just after school), then they had a cold tea, cake and she went home with a gift (she’d left one for him too). It was fun, exactly what he wanted and he talked about it for ages.

Recently my ten-year-old asked me why we didn’t have “big” birthday parties. I told him that preferred to spend the money I could spend on a party on presents that he could use all year around and he could absolutely see the sense in this. He was just curious.

If you ask either of mine about any of their birthdays they’ll tell you what wonderful times they’ve had which is what it’s all about”.

When it comes to birthday survival (for us parents) it’s all about taking a step back, embracing the fact that this year is over and a new and exciting one is starting. We also need to put away any misgivings about the “right” kind of birthday celebrations. There are so many options for birthdays these days, from huge parties to quiet family affairs and children enjoy all of them. We’re sure that whatever you buy or organise for your child’s birthday will go down fantastically.

Just make sure you save us a slice of cake!

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