How to Choose the Right Car Seat // The Baby Cubby

Hi friends! Today I'm partnering with The Baby Cubby to share all of the information you'll need to choose the right car seat for your little one.  

The Baby Cubby is a great, one stop shop for all of your baby's needs.  The Baby Cubby's team is made up of parents, just like us, who have been there and experienced the same things as us.  They are passionate about encouraging, inspiring, and reminding parents that their role is so important!  Hundreds of hours are spent researching the safest, best products, which are then made available to us. I love that I can shop stress-free knowing the research has been done for me. The Baby Cubby is not only a baby store, but a great resource for new parents and seasoned parents alike.   Whether it's at their online store, their retail store, or engagement through their social media accounts, you can feel the difference.  One of my absolute favorite things about The Baby Cubby is that they price match, even Amazon!  They also offer free shipping on orders over $49.  Now let's get to car seat shopping!!

Buying a car seat can be so stressful because there are so many different things to consider.  My husband is police officer and also a child passenger safety certified technician so he's always able to help our friends with little ones figure out which car seat is best and install it for them.  Without help, everything from safety ratings, seat location, latch systems, your child's weight - it can get so overwhelming!  The Baby Cubby has a great information guide to break down all of the info you need.  Their car seat stages guide is so user-friendly and so informative for parents. From infant seats to booster car seats, it's covered for your buying needs.  

Before purchasing a car seat, there are a few things to consider:

1. Your state laws - Every state has different child-restraint laws.  
2. Your car - Not every seat fits in certain cars.  Go to the store and see if you can try the seat you are looking for in your car first before purchasing. 
3. Seat location - Some vehicles have LATCH systems and some do not.  Some seats may only be able to be installed on the sides, whereas some seats have to be able to be installed in the middle back seat.
4. LATCH system - LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children.  Car seats are now required to have LATCH systems, but some cars may not be LATCH compatible.  If your car is not LATCH compatible, you will use the seat belt and tether.  Do not use both the LATCH system and seat belt and tether at the same time! 
5. Weight Limits - It can be confusing to figure out the weight limit of a car seat.  Is it a combined weight of the child and the car seat?  Is it just how much your child weighs?  This chart is so great for figuring it out! 
6. Expiration dates & accidents - Car seats expire!  Most car seats have the date of expiration on the bottom or side and it's normally within 5-6 years of the manufacture date.  If you are using a second hand seat, it's so important to make sure the seat has never been involved in a car accident and/or that it is not expired.  If you are in a car accident (other than minor, which is determined by strict criteria) and the car seat is in your car, regardless of whether your child is in it at the time, it is no longer usable and now considered unsafe. Most insurance companies will replace the seat, which has actually happened to us twice so far.  

{Chart via The Baby Cubby} 

Buckling Your Child

Once you have purchased your seat, it is SO important to buckle your child correctly. It drives me nuts when I see babies and/or toddlers buckled incorrectly.  It's completely preventable and so important for their safety.  For rear facing children, the top of the harness straps should be AT or BELOW their shoulders.  For forward facing children, the strap should be AT or within one inch ABOVE their shoulders.   The chest clip should be armpit level, not belly level nor collarbone level.  Lastly, use the pinch test to make sure your little one is properly strapped in.  The pinch test is to ensure you cannot pinch enough fabric, which means your little one is nice and snug in their seat.  Also, if you live in a colder climate, do not put your child in a snow suit or bulky jacket in their car seat.  We actually have "car jackets", which are thin flannel jackets that are only used in their car seat.  Once we get to our destination, we dress the kids in their normal winter jackets.  It's so important because those bulky layers create space between your child and their straps, which can be extremely dangerous if in a car accident.  

Rear Facing or Forward Facing

Both of our kids are little peanuts so we chose to rear face as long as we could with Olivia, and will continue to do so with Charlotte.  When Olivia turned three, she started forward facing.  Depending on which state you live in, the laws may be different as to what age to forward face.  This list a great guide that shows the four different types of seats.  One of the brands The Baby Cubby carries just released a new convertible car seat and a booster seat and it is gorgeous! Um...such a mom thing to say, the little things that we love now ;) The Nuna AACE Combination Booster and the RAVA Convertible Car Seat are so nice! 

{Chart via The Baby Cubby}

The Baby Cubby has so many car seats available to purchase including brands such as Chicco, Maxi-Cosi, Britax, Nuna and Baby Jogger.  I love that they sell only the safest, best gear. For our girls, we have the Chicco Keyfit 30 Magic Car seat and the Chicco Nextfit Convertible car seat, which we love!  

I hope this guide makes your car seat buying experience successful and stress-free!  The Baby Cubby is such a great resource that I hope you will utilize and love!  P.S. - They're having a huge sale on diaper bags right now, run don't walk! ;)

As always, follow along with The Birds Nest on Instagram, Facebook, and Bloglovin'. XO

Handmade with Love // Chico Rose

Happy Sunday!  Hope you are enjoying your weekend.  It has been SO hot here, so we've been enjoying some sprinkler days, outdoor movies, and some down time as a family.  Today, I wanted to share some of our favorite bows with you.  

Chico Rose was created to provide simple, beautiful bows that would compliment your sweet little ones.  Chico Rose has the cutest bows and headbands for girls, and absolutely adorable bowties for boys!! When the bows arrived, I was obsessed with the packaging - literally I didn't even want to open them!  The attention to details is amazing and they are so well made.  

"Glow" Leather Hairclip // "Orchid" Cotton Classic Headband

I love the soft shimmer of the "glow" clip - matches perfectly with platinum Freshly Picked moccs ;) and "orchid" is my favorite summer/fall color - so versatile! I really love how you can change the clip around on the bows, depending on where you part your little one's hair and the colors are so bright and pretty.  With two little girls, I love to dress them in coordinating outfits so I chose the "Daisy" leather hairclip  for Olivia and the sweetest cotton classic headband for Charlotte. I knew instantly they would be perfect for our professional family photos. I also love that the headband was super stretchy, so nice for newborns.

"Daisy" Hair clip & White Cotton Classic Headband

"Daisy" hair clip  on Olivia

Some of my other favorites include the strawberry fields cotton headband, the pacific chico hair clip, and the lacette clip in slate.  There are so many cute bowties too!  How cute would these be for a ring bearer?!  All the heart eyes!  

Be sure to follow along with Chico Rose on Instagram and head over to their website to see all the other adorable styles!  Thank you so much, Alisa for providing us with the cutest bows!! XO 

As always, follow along with The Birds Nest on Instagram: @thebirdsnestblog and now Snapchat @birdsnestblog.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend! XO 

Three Years & Three Months

I thought it might be fun to share an update of the girls with you today.  I love going back and reading their updates throughout the last few years and weeks (for Charlotte). They're both growing so much and I love the stages they are in right now. 

Olivia - Three Years Old

Height: 3.5'

Weight: 28lbs.

Three is such a fun, crazy age.  The things she says literally crack me up, she's the funniest little thing!  It also has it's crazy moments where one second she's fine and the next it's a the-world-is-ending-because-my-milk-isn't-the-right-temperature kind of day.  She has such a great personality and she's so sweet.  Her favorite things are bunnies, chapstick, and playing with play dough.  She loves her baby dolls and packs their diaper bag just like mommy whenever we're going somewhere. She loves books and the library and loves to sing!  Her favorite foods are bacon, pepperoni, pasta, all kinds of fruit and anything with ranch.  We're working on the sodium intake ;).  Her favorite show is Daniel Tiger, which I love too - such great messages for them.  Not a great sleeper, but improving most days.  She loves to help me clean - dusting, mopping the floors, cleaning the tub, emptying the dishwasher.  I've started giving her a quarter for an allowance for chores and she loves it.  You go right ahead and save that money for the ice cream man, girlfriend.  She's a girlie girl through and through.  Loves lip gloss, nail polish, and sugar scrubs.  Her favorite color is purple and she loves to pick out her own outfits.  

Charlotte - Three Months Old

Height: 1' 9.5"

Weight: 10lbs 8oz

When the newborn stage is ending, it's so bittersweet.  Teeny, tiny baby clothes and that newborn smell, can't get any sweeter, but then you start seeing smiles and hearing those first giggles and its so fun!  She rolls over onto her belly...bye bye swaddle...mommy is mourning sleep...which I wasn't prepared for because she had been sleeping SO good. For weeks now, she'd sleep from 7:30/8pm until 7:30/8am, uninterrupted.  The past two nights has been the worst since unswaddling her so hoping to figure out a solution soon so we can all rest better.  She's full of gummy smiles - my favorite! She loves to go on her jungle activity mat and prefers naps on mommy.  She loves her mamaroo and talks to the colored balls hanging above.  Her bunny lovey soothes her and she loves to cover her face with it when she's tired.  I watch her carefully to make sure she can breath correctly and have gotten some looks, but she loves it so whatever works! She loves to watch Olivia and is definitely becoming more interested in what she's doing.  Such a delicate little flower - has full stranger danger and prefers only Mommy - we're working on that.  Really enjoys being outside and loves to nap on a blanket while Olivia runs through the sprinkler.  Sweet little peanut!

That last one makes me laugh!! As always, follow along on Instagram to see more, @thebirdsnestblog. XOXO 

Smitten

Happy Monday!  Is it really only Monday?! We've had a busy few weeks and this summer is just flying by.  Both girls are doing so well and I'm currently writing a 3 year and 3 month update to share soon.  For now, I wanted to share some things I've been loving lately and think you will enjoy them too! 

This bed - loooove it!  It's part of the Threshold collection at Target and I love how it looks Restoration Hardware-ish for a fraction of the price.  We currently have a queen size bed and we're both feeling the need for a king.  This is going on my list for future bedroom redo plans.

{Image via Target}

This is my new favorite Instagram feed.  Drool worthy!! Such pretty spaces and I'm obsessed with pretty much every room she has designed.  Those kitchens & bathrooms - amazing!  And herringbone tiled backsplash - dying.  

{via Home Bunch} 

This kitchen pictured above is my dream.  White cabinets, shiplap, subway tiles...those beams!!!  One day, my friends, one day.  

 {Image via The Girl Who Ate Everything}

This frosting is to die for.  Literally, I could eat the entire bowl. By myself.  It's cooked - totally weird, right?!  So, so good!  You must try it.  My sister found it on Pinterest and it's such a light consistency and will quickly become a new favorite.  

What are some things you're loving lately? I'd love to hear! XO

P.S. - Follow along on Instagram @thebirdsnestblog to see our daily shenanigans ;) 

Our New Must Have for Hotel Stays with an Infant: Featuring DockATot

We had a quick trip to the Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, Connecticut and both girls did great!  We've went a few times in past years and this year, Olivia was so much more interested!  She loved to touch the stingrays (shocked when it actually touched her), see all of the fish, and loved the sea lion show.  I wasn't sure how it would go with two kids - let's be honest mamas, it's a trip now, not a vacation.  Basically, pack your whole house up, drive a few hours, unpack your entire lives and then head home a day or two later ;) I was so pleasantly surprised by how well it went and we all had a great time! 

We stayed overnight and I think Olivia had the most fun in the hotel pool.  She would have stayed in for hours if it wasn't almost bedtime.  Bedtime was literally the one thing I was dreading about this trip.  A different place, no cribs, same room = disaster possibility.  Here's where our DockATot saved the night.  We requested two double beds (gone are the days of a king all to ourselves) and decided that Olivia would sleep with Rob and Charlotte would sleep next to me for feeding purposes...and because I secretly didn't want to share a bed with an three foot tall octopus who wrestles in her sleep half the night.  We have the Deluxe DockATot in Mod Pod and it's the best!  It was so perfect to put on the bed next to me, just like a little crib for her.  She was safe and secure and it was so much more comfortable for her than a pack 'n play.  

DockATot™ is a multi-functional lounging, playing, chilling, resting and snuggling dock you can take anywhere. Every material and detail is carefully micro-managed to ensure the highest quality of breathability, non-toxicity, comfort and convenience.

The Deluxe size is perfect for newborns up until about 36 months, although Olivia loves to lounge in it, as well!  DockATot is also offered in a size up for toddlers, the Grand, which would also be perfect for little ones who need a safe, comfortable place to nap or sleep overnight.  There are so many designs that I love, especially the dream weaver and silver lining.  The DockATot is also great if you are a co-sleeping family.  It's definitely one of those must-have items that you wish you had earlier but didn't realize it until you had it!  There are so many uses for it, I would recommend it 100% for your child. 

Thank you so much, DockATot , for providing us with our own DockATot. As always, all opinions are my own and I love to share my favorite finds with you! XO

Milestones // Featuring Milestone Baby

Hi friends! Hope you all enjoyed the long weekend.  Charlotte was ten weeks on Sunday. TEN! Time is literally flying by and my sweet newborn is moving right along to hitting all of her infant milestones. It's such a bittersweet time, where you desperately seek more sleep and a schedule, yet you know how fast that sweet newborn phase is gone.  

I was not great keeping up with Olivia's baby book, which I regret, so I knew I wanted to be sure to keep track of all of Charlotte's updates and milestones to remember when she's older.  

Milestone baby cards are the perfect way to keep track of all of your little peanut's big moments. We chose the baby's first year cards and I'm in love with them! First weeks, months, and special moments are all included.  I love that you can write the date too.  I often find myself trying to remember when Olivia did certain things and wish I had used the date when taking pictures of her, so this is a great way to keep track.  Each card has a unique design and they are all so adorable.  

Along with the baby's first year cards, I love the pregnancy and newborn cards, first words and quotes (brilliant for those toddler one-liners!), and how cute are the wedding cards?  There are also free printables, how nice is that?! 

If you're looking for a cute gift for an engagement party or baby shower, Milestone cards are the perfect, unique way to save those special memories.  Thank you to Milestone for providing us with the cutest cards! 

Follow along on Instagram @milestonebaby and @thebirdsnestblog XO 

Pajama Popcorn Party // Featuring Lorena Canal Rugs & Finn + Emma

Happy Friday!  I'm so excited for the weekend and can't wait to spend some family time.  During the week, our days are normally filled with plans, appointments, tutoring, and some fun thrown into the mix.  We love a good play date around here and Olivia loves to invite Brynn over to play at least a few times a week so I thought it would be super cute and fun to have a pajama popcorn party.  I set up Olivia's room with popcorn, books, pillows in her teepee and her new rug was going to be put to the challenge.  Mamas, these rugs are life changers! 

Hippy Yellow c/o Lorena Canals

Lorena Canal Rugs are machine washable and so cozy! Literally, you just put it in the washing machine and wash it.  Life. Changing.  Toddlers middle names should all be "messy" ;) All of the rugs are handmade in northern India and made of materials such as New Zealand wool, natural dyes and 100% cotton.  There are so many cute designs offered!  We have the Hippy Yellow and it's a pale yellow with white accents and soft fringe.  I also love the zig zag, polka dot grey, and sky purple. 

A good popcorn party is not complete without some cozy pajamas. Finn + Emma is the cutest company that features organic clothing and toys.  For Olivia, I chose the Organic Toddler Pajamas in Bird.  So fitting ;) They are seriously butter soft and so well made.  You can feel the difference as soon as you dress your little one.  All of their clothes are made out of 100% G.O.T.S certified organic cotton and made using fair trade labor practices.  I wish they had adult sizes, I'd live in them! 

For our little one, Charlotte, I chose the Stella The Sparrow Set, which features an adorable knit bird and a feather teether.  Their toys all look amazing.  I love the wooden teething rattle and teething ring.  All of their wooden toys are made from Indian hardwood and sealed with vegetable seed wax, making it completely safe for little ones to chew away - exactly what I look for when looking for safe, fun toys!  Their stuffed animals are made with organic cotton yarn and stuffed with sheep's wool.  In the mornings, Olivia has playtime on her jungle mat and I always hang her sparrow above her and she coo's the entire time.  It's the cutest thing ever! 

Organic Toddler Pajamas c/o Finn + Emma

Our popcorn party was a success and the rug 100% held up to toddler play and fun! As you can tell there was even some spilled popcorn - totally not planned!  The girls must have secretly known I was putting Olivia's new rug to the test ;)

If you're looking for a sweet baby gift or some cozy clothes and adorable toys for little ones, Finn + Emma is the place to go!  And if you're looking for a well-made, super durable, stylish rug look no further than Lorena Canals.  Can't say enough about it, especially coming from a mama of two {messy} little ones! XO