iBaby Monitor Review

When it comes to baby monitors technology has come a long way since the old walkie talkie types. Whilst I was pregnant I felt since we were in a small flat we didn't really need a baby monitor as Eddie whom is 7 months now was meant to be in our room until he was 6 months old. How ever, Steve & I made a joint decision to put him in his big cot, in his own bedroom when he was just 8 weeks old. A lot of people  may have their opinions on whether that was right or wrong! but I will discuss Eddies sleeping habits in another post on this blog.

As Eddie was put in his own room, we did need a monitor as I was always wanting to check on him even if all he is doing is sleeping. Steve loves his gadgets! so of course it was him that convinced me to get the iBaby. I was happy with just the walkie talkie!
The main reason he wanted this though was because he could look in on Eddie not whilst he was in the living room...but whilst he was at work. He could even pivot the camera up/down, left/right or rotate 360 degrees all from his iPhone. Clever I know, apple never ceases to amaze me. So whilst I would be tending to Eddie's needs or cleaning the flat or scratching my backside, Steve would see it all. It even picks up sound so I would be sitting there doing 'motherly' things and then out of the corner of my eye, see the little camera move on its own accord. Knowing Steve was watching me and Eddie which was quite comical and we have fun with it. I would talk to the camera knowing he could hear me. It got a bit annoying because sometimes id do embarrassing things like...well fart...or walk around naked before I got in the bath or what ever & think "oh fudge did he see or hear that." The camera has many uses We go to Devon a lot to visit my family, so we can check in on the flat, no burglars...yet! but would be kind of freaky if we did see someone on the camera. I also went to Devon with out Steve and he had the boys round for poker night. I of course used this opportunity to spy on them whilst sitting in my nan's living room. Trying to catch them out but I moved the camera so they knew I was watching and decided pay me back by moving things around knowing it would annoy the hell out of me and since I was miles away, couldn't do anything about it.
4 iPhones can be linked to the camera. So both me and Steve are linked. My mum keeps asking me to do hers but erm no mother that is so not happening. It has great night vision and picks up great sound so alerts our phones when Eddie is awake although his voice is loud enough. You can even take photos from where you are as Steve did many times.

night vision

The only downside it has is that if your internet  isn't amazing as it works through wireless sometimes it won't work. The area we live in the internet isn't great to be honest so some days it works great but we do get the odd day where it doesn't work. We are moving soon to a better coverage area so this won't be a problem. Another downside is that it is very sensitive so even if Eddie turns over or makes a groan in his sleep the monitor picks this up and sends an alert to our phones. But the good thing is all you need to do is just check on him on the phone.

Features-

Steve took this of my bum whilst he was at work !!!

• Camera rotates and pivots to follow your baby's movements
• Remotely control the camera with your iOS device 
• Clear video resolution
• Two way audio capability
• Baby's movement or cry activates alerts to you
• Snapshot feature captures unlimited images 
• Infrared night vision lets you see with out waking baby
• Unlimited range, 3G
• Up to four devices and four users can share control of the camera 

  

  another pic Steve took whilst at work

  
  

  

  A pic I took whilst I was out

  I love this camera and I know Steve does mainly because he feels he isn't missing out so much whilst he is being the breadwinner of the house hold. 

Weaning Eddie...

I firstly apologise for me taking over a month to put on a new post but things have been hectic in the Grandfield/Ward household to say the least. But this new post is about how I am getting on weaning Eddie. It was really confusing for me to choose when was the best time to start weaning Eddie. He has always been a hungry (greedy) baby so my family, particularly mine & Steve's grandparents were quite insistent on trying Eddie on baby rice. I was quite adamant I wanted to wait until he was 6months old. But it’s hard when you can clearly see your baby is hungry even after having a bottle of milk every couple of hours. After asking the health visitors, they all say the same thing, “Wait till he's 6 months old”. Fine...I will wait! 

You can normally tell your baby is ready for solids when they take an interest in what you’re eating and putting in your mouth and may even reach out to touch it and do the same which is what Eddie use to do. So when Eddie was 5 & half months Steve and I together tried him on a bit of baby rice. At first we made it really runny & it was an awful disgusting mess and left Eddie with crusty milk/rice all over his hands, neck, hair & obviously his face. Just when I thought I’d had gotten it all off him, I’d still find bits of crustiness on parts of his body the next day thinking how the hell it got there! 

After trial and error with the consistency of the rice we finally nailed it and well Eddie demolished it and then some. So sort of felt guilty I waited so long to give him some solid food. So for Christmas my mum got me this book Weaning by Annabel Karmel (click on her name for more info on it) great gift, But actually it did turn out to be a god send! For starters I don’t eat well at all and I barely cook so the thought of making food for Eddie...healthy nutritious food was so daunting & to me and quite frankly off putting. But the poor lad needs his grub so I read this book from back to front and well now the girl that won't eat veg and can’t cook is now well into making nice meals for Eddie as well as myself. It’s pretty basic.

I got myself a hand blender but any blender would do and at the beginning of the week after doing a food shop would de skin and chop up a range of fruit and veg & steam them. Boiling is also fine but it also can lose some of their main goodness so steaming is more beneficial. Then would puree them with the handblender. I have started him on sweet tasting carrots, sweet potato, apples, banana, mango, avocado, broccoli & Stevens Nan’s stew. I would make up a big batch and then freeze them in their little individual pots. I’d choose what ones to give Eddie the night before and leave them to thaw in the fridge over night. At first id give him carrots, or apples, or banana on their own but now I’ll give him say mango & apple in the morning, sweet potato & broccoli for lunch then apple or any fruit for afters then give him stew for dinner. But these meals don’t replace the milk; Eddie still needs and wants his milk as well as his food so that is how I know he is ready for solids as well.  

Tips for weaning

• Strap them in, they will turn their head almost 360 degrees just to not get that spoon in their mouths...whilst he is still too small for a high chair I use Eddie’s car seat
• Talk to them, make funny faces & silly noises...here comes the choo choo train actually works things like that anything to distract them and keep them relaxed as eating is meant to be a happy experience
• As soon as things get stressful and their crying just don’t force them to eat because they won’t and it will just distress them. Give in with their bottle
• Try & give water in a sippy cup with their food instead of milk just to get them use to not always having the comfort of their milk
• Variety is key, lots of different kinds of fruit & veg to start off with so they get use to new tastes & won’t become a fussy eater
• Have patience and persevere some days they will happily eat anything you give them & other days it’s just so stressful and they refuse to have anything other than their bottle of milk, just go with it!