Reviews by laterallygator

laterallygator says "Average diapers, but discontinued" about White Cloud Diapers

laterallygator — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:09:02 GMT

When I had my first-born, a wonderful little girl, I knew the task before me. Ok, well there was that whole "raising a child" one, but I'm talking about that other one: choosing which diapering method would be the most cost-effective, leak-preventive way to keep my little girl's adorable baby bum a happy and dry one. I tried several brands of diapers, including budget-friendly White Cloud.

There was nothing remarkable about these diapers. They are very simple, basic diapers that have no extra frills (they're not super soft, not super flexible, don't have super-hold elastic, don't have a wetness indicator, etc), but they got the job done. I didn't have any leakage problems, which had me hopeful for this brand.

Unfortunately in browsing the net for local suppliers, I learned that the White Cloud brand has been/will be discontinued. Previously sold exclusively at Wal-mart and Sam's club (sadly, a turn-off for me), these diapers are going to be discontinued and replaced with the Parent's Choice...

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laterallygator says "Leaky and ill-fitting diapers don't live up to expectations" about Seventh Generation Chlorine-Free Diapers

laterallygator — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:54:36 GMT

I was very excited to try these eco-friendly, chlorine-free diapers! I had read about the potential hazards of chemicals from some other diapers, so, being the responsible and earth-supportive parent I am, I got a pack of these to try upon the arrival of my little girl. Their beige, naturally flecked appearance certainly looks earth-friendly, and the packaging boasts of the company's ideals to preserve the earth for coming generations; certainly something I could agree with.

After finishing off a small pack of these and evaluating their performance I was unfortunately not pleased at all with the way these diapers stood up, especially compared to other diapers I had tried. The elastic does not stick very well and led to diapers falling off or loosening. You can only imagine the messes which ensued... With the leg openings constantly being loose, the diapers had a tendency to just let the liquids leak out rather than containing them.

Another issue with these diapers is the price: they are...

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laterallygator says "Leaky diapers that have a tendency to burst" about Huggies Huggies Supreme Newborn Little Snugglers Diapers

laterallygator — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:44:17 GMT

When I first had my daughter I, as every parent, had to make the decision as to which diapering method would be the best for my adorable poopy bundle of joy. I tried several brands of diapers in my quest, including Huggies Little Snugglers.

A coworker of mine had highly recommended Huggies, so I was very hopeful for the Snugglers. His daughter had grown up using the Huggies brand, which seemed to work very well for her. Unfortunately, for my daughter these were ill-fitting and thus leaked often. They also had a tendency to burst when very full, leaving little globules of liquid-soaked gel all over the place. This was quite concerning to me, as I did not want my baby to end up ingesting these bits... not to mention that cleaning diaper globs off of baby blankets is not a fun task.

I know that these diapers work for many people, but I definitely would not recommend them from my experience.

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laterallygator says "The best newborn diaper around!" about Pampers Swaddlers

laterallygator — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:33:04 GMT

As all parents do, I had the joy of deciding which diapering method would be best on my brand new bundle of joy (and poop). After trying several brands, I stuck with the Pampers Swaddlers for the first couple of months of my daughter's life.

These diapers fit well, wick moisture away from the body, and are soft to the touch. I have never had a problem with them bursting, leaking, or falling off, as many other brands did. These diapers also have a yellow stripe on them which turns blue when wet. This can be such a time-saver for new parents who may otherwise have trouble telling if a diaper really needs to be changed.

Another benefit of buying the Pampers is that in many of their large-quantity boxes, coupons are included for their products. I have used coupons for the Pamper Cruisers and Pampers Unscented Wipes, which in this economy certainly help after a while.

I would recommed going with a larger size if your child is nearing the end-range of the size that they are in; these little...

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laterallygator says "Only bad thing about these diapers is they're not self-changing!" about Pampers Cruisers Diapers

laterallygator — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:22:23 GMT

I have been using these diapers for a couple of months and could not be more pleased with their performance!

When I first had my daughter, I went through the process that I'm sure every parent does, in finding the best diapering option. I had toyed with the idea of cloth diapers, but don't own a washer/dryer, I had used all-natural chemical-free diapers, but they leaked horribly, and I had tried at least three brands of "big-name" diapers, all of which didn't fit well or seemed very cheap. I finally settled on the Pampers brand. At first we used the Swaddlers, but as my little one got a bit bigger, we switched to the Cruisers.

These diapers fit well and, despite some of the seemly impossible feats of my five-month old, these diapers hold their own! I have used diapers which burst, leaving globules of gel all over my daughter, the crib, etc. These have consistently performed wonderfully, leaving my daughter's adorable little bum happy. I've also never had an issue with diaper rash while...

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laterallygator says "Healthier than other drinks, but this juice is a tad too sweet" about Juicy Juice apple juice

laterallygator — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:01:18 GMT

I love apple juice, and I love that Juicy Juice is made with 100% fruit juice, but unfortunately I have found that their apple juice is just a bit too sweet for my taste. Kids do love the sweetness and will gulp this stuff down, which is a plus for picky eaters who need their servings of fruit, but when it comes to healthy apple drinks that everyone can enjoy, I would stick with a locally-produced cider instead.

As a company, Juicy Juice does its part by supporting some public broadcasting children's shows, such as Arthur, which is a good insentive for parents like me to support them. When buying Juicy Juice products, I'll opt for the Harvest Surprise line, as it offers the added benefit of a vegetable serving (which also seems to cut on the sweetness of the concentrated juice as well).

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laterallygator says "The best device I've ever owned!" about iphone - iPhone 3G (16gb) Cell Phone

laterallygator — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:50:08 GMT

At first I was skeptical about the iPhone and its cult-like following. What could be so great about a little touch-screen phone anyway? It wasn't until my partner bought his 3Gs, thus gifting me with his old iPhone, that I understood what all of the uproar was about. This is by far the best device I have ever owned!

As a phone, it is easy to use and functions well. The touchpad needs a little getting used to, especially when using the keypad, but that is made easier by the phone's adaptation to how you type; the phone recognizes the letters that you use more frequently and then adapts to expand the sensitivity around that letter key, so that hitting the key you really want is easier! Making and receiving calls is a piece of cake, as are saving and deleting contacts. The texting shows up much like an instant message, with quote bubbles. Certainly much easier to follow than typical texting.

As a portable computer, the iPhone has come a long way. Many more websites are now iPhone (Safari is...

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laterallygator says "By far the best paint I have ever used!" about Sherwin-Williams Duration

laterallygator — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 22:15:28 GMT

I worked for Sherwin-Williams for two years and have never experiences a paint better than this one! Especially for deeper colors, this thick and eco-friendly paint goes on like butter and stays put- even with two dogs and a baby to contend with. If anything does get on it, I can scrub it off with a paper towel and water or mild dish detergent and it doesn't mar the paint. The finish is great- I have the satin in my living room, but the matt is fantastic as well. This paint is pricey, but it's worth the extra money for the longevity and appearance.

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laterallygator says "One of the best things I ever bought my daughter!" about Sassy Teething Wing Dragonfly

laterallygator — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:53:13 GMT

When my daughter began the seemingly neverending state of teething, I opted for this toy; a simple, colorful little butterfly teething toy. While I have never gotten the liquid in the wings to freeze, my daughter doesn't care whether the toy is cold or not.

The teal blue and yellow are immediately attractive and the black and white stripes at the bottom provide extra stimulation for baby's eyesight. My five-month-old loves gnawing on the wings! Two of the wings are filled with liquid, while the other two have raised bumps to help soothe gumbs. Let me tell you, my daughter will play with this little toy for half an hour without getting bored (which is saying a lot for someone so tiny!).

For a great, inexpensive toy, this is a good buy!

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laterallygator says "A light, portable swing that offers great bang for your buck" about Fisher Price Open Top Take-Along Swing

laterallygator — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:51:55 GMT

My daughter's grandmother bought this swing one weekend while my partner and I were away, and I'm so glad that she did! Not only is the design adorable and fun, but the light frae and easy portability of the swing make it easy for me to use. Most importantly, my daughter enjoys the swinging motion and this swing occupies her long enough for me to get a little cleaning done! If you're looking for something basic that's cute and gets the job done, this is a good choice.

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laterallygator says "A good, refreshing summer brew for kicking back with the guys" about Samuel Adams Summer Ale

laterallygator — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:16:51 GMT

Sam Adams has consistently surprised me with solid, competetive beers, especially given their price range (retail we're dealing around a buck a bottle). The summer ale is no different. This American Wheat Ale pours a hazy straw yellow with a head that quickly vanishes. Smell contains bright wheat, citrus, and hops. Taste is clean, with strong toasted wheat, lemon zest, orange, pepper, and very mild hint of fruit (perhaps banana or papaya?). This is not a heavy-hitter by any means, but is great for summer enjoyment. Light, refreshing, zesty, and a good fit with grilled food. One of my standards for summertime drinking!

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laterallygator says "A flavorful light beer that sure beats its competetors" about Samuel Adams Light Lager

laterallygator — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:00:35 GMT

Let's face it: We know beer is a diet-killer. For those of us who hate to give up our weekly (ok, so sometimes nightly) beer with dinner, we seek out the realm of light beers. Typically when I want a beer with less calories I'll go with a stout, but every so often I need the crispness and hoppiness of a lager.

I'll be honest here, most light beer sucks. I'm talking "beer-and-toilet-flavored-water" sucks. Luckily, for those of us who like a little flavor to our beer, there's Sam Adams Light. This beer pours a transparent gold/amber and smells grainy and slightly hoppy, with hints of citrus, quite similar to the Boston Lager. The head fizzles down quickly on this one. Taste is also similar to the Boston Lager, though, as is expected, it is lighter. There is relatively no finish or aftertaste whatsoever, but the body is favorable over any other light beer I've tried. While light, there is still a good deal of malt, caramel, roasted grain, and hop to this beer. Again, this isn't a beer I would...

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laterallygator says "A great diversion from your typical party beer" about Samuel Adams Boston Lager

laterallygator — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:41:55 GMT

Sam Adams is one of those breweries I look for when I need an inexpensive, refreshing beer. The Boston Lager pours as an amber/copper color with a relatively good, long head. The smell has a light molasses hint mixed with what I could best describe as burnt apple. is crisp with a medium to light body and a fair amount of hoppiness. There is a slight citrus flavor, perhaps orange, and a hint of clove. This is a pretty typical lager, with a malty start, but a surprisingly hoppy finish. Definitely a good party beer, especially if a variety of foods are going to be served. This drinks smoothly and pleases a variety of palattes.

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laterallygator says "Great coffee-maker for a couple" about Hamilton Beach 6-cup Brew Station

laterallygator — Wed, 06 May 2009 15:37:00 GMT

This little 6-cup brew station is the perfect coffee maker for my partner and myself. Being programmable, we can set it to brew our coffee before we come downstairs in the morning and with the 2-hour auto off feature, we don't have to worry about forgetting to turn it off only to come home to burnt coffee later.

I am admittedly not a graceful person, and have broken more than one of those glass coffee pots. With no glass pot to worry about, filling and cleaning this little device is a breeze. At first filling the reservoire is a little bit awkward, but once you've done it a couple of times, it's a piece of cake.

My only quam about this coffee maker is that it is definitely not ideal for having company over. It brews enough for two large mugs, or three small mugs. If you're looking for something that will pack a little more volume, try upgrading to a 10+ cup system. If you use this while hosting guests, you'll find yourself making coffee multiple times over the course of the visit.

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laterallygator says "The best way to make it seem like you spent all day cooking!" about CROCK POT Rival 5.5-qt. Oval Smart Crock Pot

laterallygator — Wed, 06 May 2009 15:24:17 GMT

I'm a busy person. Between taking care of my daughter, keeping up with a social life, and going to work, it can be hard to breath, let alone spend an hour every evening cooking dinner. The Smart Pot makes my culinary life so much easier!

My family has a tradition of buying newliweds a crock pot to help them through their first year, and now I see why! It's so easy to throw something in the crock pot in the morning, set it on "low" (an 8-hour setting), and come home from work to a good, hot meal. If I'm at home and want something faster, I can set in on "high" (a 4-hour setting), and spend time with my family, cleaning the house, and getting on with my life instead of being stuck at the stove- something that's nearly impossible as a new mom!

One thing I love about this crock pot is the removable stonewear. Along with it being pretty stylish (no stencils, flowers, or country themes that scream "old lady" here!), I can transport the meal to a friend's house for game night without having...

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laterallygator says "If you're looking for peace of mind, this is it" about First Response Gold Digital Pregnancy Test

laterallygator — Wed, 06 May 2009 00:12:33 GMT

I found out I was pregnant when I was only 6 weeks along, thanks to First Response. I'm one of those girls who has to be sure about everything, so when it came to whether or not I was pregnant, I went a little bit overboard. Ok, maybe more than a little. I bought five different pregnancy tests and tried them all.

Only the tests from First Response picked up the pregnancy hormone in my system. The tests that were not early detection would have led me to believe that I was not pregnant. The non-digital tests from First Response were a little hard to read since that pink line was pretty faint, so I turned to the digital for "the final answer".

Sure enough, after just a minute of waiting, I could clearly read "Pregnant". There was absolutely no arguing, no deciphering, no asking for second (or third) opinions. While I could see the space where the "Not" in "Not Pregnant" would show up, there was not even the faintest hint of a false negative.

I would definitely recommend this test if there...

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laterallygator says "The only bottle my daughter wants" about havent seen any good ones

laterallygator — Tue, 05 May 2009 23:56:31 GMT

A friend of mine bought me the Phillips Avent starter kit when she found out I was pregnant. When I brought my daughter home, these were the first bottles I opened, and I am so glad that I did! My daughter loves these bottles!

The shape of the nipple lets the milk easily flow down from the bulbus "reservoir" into the tip so that my daughter isn't sucking in air while drinking. The nipples are also a good size and are flexible. Most of the other infant bottles I've used have nipples that are far too small and hard and end up being spit out by a very unhappy baby.

The size and shape of the bottle itself make it easy and comfortable to hold. They're wide enough and have a dip in the middle so that my hand doesn't get cramped during those late-night feedings.

These bottles came with a bottle brush, though with some strategic sponge-work you probably wouldn't even need it. I use the brush, and it works fantastically. The only part that's a little more difficult to clean is the tip of the...

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laterallygator says "By far superior to other wipes" about Pampers Baby Wipes, Aloe Unscented, Tub - 77 Each

laterallygator — Tue, 05 May 2009 23:34:55 GMT

As soon as I got home from the hospital with my daughter, I was eager to use something other than the wipes I had been given in the Labor & Deliver ward that were just a step above moistened sandpaper. These had been given to me by a friend, and after one use I would never buy a different wipe!

These are soft, fabric-like wipes that are gentle and not overly soaked. The container is durable, easy-open, and easy to refill (especially for a task that's usually done with one hand, as the other is holding a squirming infant!). Just after a few days of using these, I noticed that my daughter was much less prone to diaper rash than with the harsh wipes I had been using before.

These are unscented, so even if you use them on yourself (say, to clean some of that explosive diaper off of your hands), you can still walk into the rest of the world smelling like an adult rather than that manufactured "baby" scent.

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laterallygator says "It won't cure PPD, but it sure makes your nipples happier!" about Medela Pump In Style Advanced Backpack

laterallygator — Tue, 05 May 2009 23:16:01 GMT

The Medela Advance Personal Double Electric Breast Pump has been a complete life-saver for me! No, really, I don't think I would ever buy another breast pump. Unable to use the hospital's cushy high-grade electric pump once I was discharged, I was forced into using a dinky manual breast pump that simply did not do the job and left my nipples sore. This was a huge shock... and a painful one at that. I put an order in right away for the Medela.

When I got this pump, I was surprised by all of the extra features that it has. For example, it comes with four storage bottles, two sizes of nipple-guards, and freezable/reusable ice packs and an insulated compartment to keep milk cold when transporting. It's a pretty self-contained system for incorporating so much, so while I wouldn't go lugging it around the city, it's easy to transport.

The adjustable settings on the Medela are easily identifiable and labeled well, so I felt very comfortable using it right off the bat. After plugging in the pump,...

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