The Bio+Green Crystals Glass & Window Cleaner is one of the first few cleaners I tested when I came to know about these range of cleaners. Now, my house has a fair bit of glass panels, and BIG ones as well. We’ve got a 3-panel sliding door in the dining room, a huge glass window in the kitchen and then glass doors in both toilets.
It is a paaaain to clean so many glass panels. We went from using the standard glass cleaners with newspapers but that left greasy streaks around and if you as much touched the glass after, you would see fingerprints again; to using the steam cleaner but that left water streaks and we had to keep wiping it off each time we cleaned a panel, so double work gaah; to finally giving up and not cleaning until we received this cleaner.
We first tried it on the glass top on our dining table. Now..that dining table doesn’t get used unless we have guests coming over. It is just stacked up with the bathtub, diaper bags, grocery bags. Haha..so we figured okay, it was time to clean the table.
The glass cleaner is water based, which means it will take a longer time to dry as compared to the normal glass cleaner as seen in the second photo. After both cleaners have dried, I ran my fingers lightly across the table. As you can see in the third photo, the fingerprint trail ends at some point in time, which is where the Bio+Green Crystals cleaner was used. And the table definitely did not have that greasy film over it. It was just..well, the glass top.
Next, I decided to try it on my bathroom glass door.
What I love about this cleaner is that it is non-toxic, it is organic, it’s non-greasy and it does the work! When it says it is streak-free, it really is streak-free! Best part, it is safe for kids and pets, and is also doctor endorsed for asthma, autism, ADHD and allergies.
Being a tropical country, with rain and sun in a day, mosquitos are common in Singapore. There are the dengue spreading mosquitos that strike fear in us but most of the times, bites from mosquitos are quite harmless, except for the itch. As much as we try to avoid being a target for the mosquitos, it is hard to avoid being bitten; all you need is one stray mosquito to conveniently fly in to your home. Because most of us have shelves and dark corners in the house, it is perfect for the mosquito to hide and wait for the opportunity to feed.
If the bite is on an adult, it’s not that bad; we can resist the urge to scratch. However, when the kids get bitten, it can spell trouble for the parents. They usually cannot control their urge to scratch. Like for my kid, he scratches so much (usually when he is sleeping) that he damages the skin. It takes forever for the skin to heal because he keeps scratching it. It is to the extent of us having to bandage the bite area to prevent him from scratching.
After a few episodes of this, we decided that the best way forward is really not to get bitten. There are few types of insect repellent available in Singapore, for instance chemical repellents or natural repellents. Below is a summary of the two types. (Source from NEA website)
Chemical Repellents
For chemical repellents, most of them contain the chemical DEET (Deet (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide). Some may contain the chemical Picaridin or Permethrin. Of the three, DEET and Picaridin are the most effective in repelling mosquitos.
However, it has been well documented that DEET , while effective against mosquito, can cause rashes and is not suitable for babies younger than 2 months. Canada Health actually advised against the use of DEET products on babies under 6 months of age! Picaridin, is also not suitable for babies below 2 months of age. Lastly, Permethrin is an insecticide and should not be applied onto the skin. Repellent with this chemical is designed for use on clothing only.
Whichever chemical repellent you use, if you develop a rash from using the repellent, wash off the repellent off with mild soap and water. Consult a doctor, taking the repellent with you to show the doctor.
Natural Repellents
Those who do not like chemical repellents or have young kids at home, you may prefer repellent made from natural products, such as lemon eucalyptus, citronella, lemongrass, peppermint or cedar. Of all, lemon eucalyptus is tested to be the most effective, but it should not be used on children less than 3 years old. This is advised by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States.
The other effective option is citronella. As with all other natural repellents, the effect is short-lived compared to chemical repellents and would require more frequent reapplication, generally, every couple of hours.
In Singapore, a popular choice of natural insect repellent comes in the form of the mosquito patch. However, after trying them for a while, we soon discover that the patch has its limitations.
The citronella effect just does not cover the entire body. We will need at least two pieces to give my son full coverage (no wonder they come in pack of two). And when we thought we have it all covered, he still get bitten after a day out at the zoo.
So we started to explore other natural and chemical-free options and found an organic mosquito repellent that is made from natural products. It is the Buds Mozzie Clear Lotion. It is a lotion type, so no-spray (we read that spray type repellents contain nano particles that are harmful for children). Initially, I had my reservations about lotion repellents. I mean cream type lotions are usually quite thick and leave a greasy feel on the skin. Surprisingly not this one, it feels light, is non-greasy, and the smell from the citronella oil is not over-powering. It is quite mild, unlike some mosquito patches that give you a headache from the smell. Looking at the ingredients, it also contains Portulaca extract and Aloe Vera which help to soothe and hydrate the skin. Think of it as a moisturiser and mosquito repellent, all-in-one! The results have been good so far! It is easy to apply and is suitable for the whole family, including babies. We have been using it on our 7 month old when we head to the parks.
Mozzie Clear Lotion, 75ml, $14.50
ps. We also use the Buds Mozzie Clear Lotion on our kids at home when that occasional stray mosquito wondered into our house.
Check out our Bitatto Wet Wipe Covers, both regular and mini ones. The regular ones would fit the bigger packet of wipes nicely while the mini ones would fit smaller packet of wipes that goes into your handbag or your kids’ school bag. You can learn more about covers on our Bitatto page.
Why Bitatto?
It is reusable. So extra cost savings for you.
It is easy to attach to and detach and makes it easy for you to reach for your wipes.
Replacing the sticky covers with the Bitatto covers gives you a better seal around the opening of the wet wipes. Hence, keeping the wipes moist for a longer period of time.
It comes in different bright colours to suit individuals. Match the colour of your wet wipes, or choose your favourite colour.
Promotion
With purchase of $25 and above, we are offering FREE postage within Singapore. With purchase of $75 and above, we provide FREE delivery within Singapore! Purchase can be of any items available in our store.
We have also made shopping easy for you. All available colours are shown in one page for easy comparison.
We have been talking about how the ChooMee Sip’n soft top comes with a innovative valve design that helps to prevent accidental spillage from food pouches. We also shared about the additional benefits of the Sip’n such as encouraging your toddler to feed independently with the pouch, protecting your kids’ delicate gums and teeth from damage due to them chewing on the plastic, and preventing the spout of the pouch from being chewed out of shape (in case you need to keep the leftovers for later).
When we got our Sip’n from ChooMee, we were also curious to see for ourselves the limits of this simple design. So we called in our product tester to try to pull out the attached top and to try to shake the contents out from the pouch. So far so good!
But as you know, contents in food pouches can sometime be rather viscous or thick. So we thought, why not test it on liquid. If the Sip’n can hold in liquid, thicker contents will not be a problem. And so we did! We attached the Sip’n to a packet of Ribena drink and the results are pretty awesome and convincing. See it for yourself.
Before we became parents, wet wipes is not something we would usually carry around. But now, we will have wet wipes everywhere we go, and at least a few packets left opened at home and at different parts of the house.
Talking to friends and other parents, we quickly realise that we face common problems with the current packaging:
The sticky cover kind of loose it’s stickiness after some time
It is difficult to open the lid especially when our fingers are dirty
Some practice is required to close the wet wipes properly to ensure a good seal
If you too face these issues, then the Bitatto wet wipe covers maybe something for you. It is a reusable plastic lid that replaces the sticky tape. It is easy to attach (see below) and once it is on, it stays on.
Awesomeness of the Bitatto
One finger action is all you need to open the wet wipes. No more fiddling and struggling to remove the sticky tape cover. This is especially useful when your fingers are dirty and you only have your knuckles. Think after eating the IKEA chicken wings!
Next, one finger action is all you need to close the lid and that ensures a good seal. Current sticky tapes usually require us to run our palm over it, to even out the wrinkles on the packaging in order to ensure a good seal. With the Bitatto wet wipe cover, one finger is all you need to close and seal the wipes, keeping the wipes moist. Learn more about the Bitatto covers.
One More Thing
It is always good to keep a packet of wipes in the car. Never know when you need it, to wipe away the bird dropping on the windscreen, to clean your fingers after you refill the air for your tyres, to clean up the occasional mess by the kiddos (and adults) etc.
Problem is that the temperature in the car can climb to a very high level. And this means that you are literally ‘steaming’ your wet wipes in the car. If the seal is poor, the wet wipes will lose its moisture very quickly. The Bitatto lid may be the answer to this. Not to say that the seal is perfect, it is definitely better than the sticky tape ones.
Two Sizes to Choose From
The Bitatto lids come in two sizes: Regular and Mini. The regular size fits on larger packet of wipes while the mini ones fit on smaller tissue sized packet of wipes. There is also a variety of colours for you to choose from.
Ella’s Kitchen food pouches are suitable for babies from 4 months to one year and more. They are made with 100% natural and organic ingredients (vegetables and fruits) to ensure your little ones have a healthy and nutrition snack whenever they want. According to Ella’s Kitchen, no water is added to their pouch, so what you get are 100% wholesome ingredients. They are also a healthy and on the go snack for toddlers.
One common issue faced by parents when giving their child food pouches is that it can be quite a mess: accidental spills, squeezing too hard on the pouch, tilting the pouch sideways, and the list goes on. The second common issue is the chewed up plastic spout that is hard to screw the cap over because it is all out of shape.
Solution
Introducing the Sip’n soft top by ChooMee. It is a simple attachment that fits on the spout to provide an effective solution to reduce mess and minimise spills. It is soft and helps to protect the delicate gums of your child, and prevents the spout from being chewed out of shape. Most importantly, it is reusable and compatible with most baby pouches like Plum Organics, Gerbers, Happy Baby, and reusable pouches like Sinchies and Squooshi.
Sounds incredible? Find out more about the ChooMee Sip’n. The ChooMee Sip’n also works on drink pouches. We tested it on a Ribena drink pouch.
Plum Organics specializes in organic baby and toddler food. One successful product is their food pouches which cater to babies and toddlers. Only organic produce are used in their food products and contain no added sugar, salt, water and additives. As parents, we know the convenience of using food pouches, especially when we are on the go and the little ones are asking for a quick snack.
However, one issue commonly faced by parents is that food pouches can sometimes be quite a mess: accidental spills, the little one squeezing too hard on the pouch, dropping the pouch on the floor/stroller, and the list goes on. The second common issue is the chewed up plastic spout that makes it almost impossible to screw the cap because the spout is all out of shape.
Solution
Introducing the Sip’n soft top by ChooMee. It is a simple attachment that fits on the spout, providing an easy solution to reduce mess and minimise spills. The Sip’n is soft and helps to protect the delicate gums of your child, and prevents the spout from being chewed on. Most importantly, it is reusable and compatible with most commercial baby pouches like Ella’s Kitchen, Gerbers, Happy Baby, and reusable pouches like Sinchies and Squooshi.
Sounds incredible? Find out more about the ChooMee Sip’n. The ChooMee Sip’n also works on drink pouches. We tested it on a Ribena drink pouch.
Already own an Ergobaby, Tula or Manduca baby carrier, or just looking to purchase one of these carriers? Whichever the case, one accessory that is often overlooked are the sucking pads (or drool pads) that go around the straps of the carrier. Because of the design of these baby carriers, your baby will easily learn that they can chew and suck on the straps. Without the sucking pads, the straps will be soaked in saliva in no time and you will have to wash your carrier quite often in order for it to not smell.
The sucking pads are designed to go around the straps (secured with velcro) and to protect the straps and provide a soft spot for your child to rest his/her cheeks. The straps are reversible so it doubles the usage time and most importantly, prevents the accumulation of saliva.
Most of the carriers, such as ErgoBaby and Manduca have their own line of suck pads, for instance “Fumbee” for Manduca. However, a short-coming would be the lack of loops for you to clip or attach any teething toy or pacifier. We recognise this problem and let us present to you the Red Charlotte suck pads. They come with loops sewn into the suck pads so that you can easily attach toys or teethers. What’s more, they are brightly coloured and helps to enhance and personalise the look of your carrier! Because the suck pads are wide enough, they can double as strap covers for your baby car seat belts or the stroller straps.
[call_two href=”http://biglittleme.com/shop/?filter_product-brand=153″ label_button=”See The Designs” class=”call-to-action-two” colortext=”#000000″ background_color=”#ffffff” font_size=”20″ label_size=”24″]We have 5 bright and cheerful designs for you to choose from.[/call_two]
Avocado oil is the edible oil pressed from the pulp of the avocado. It can be used as a beneficial skin care product, for special scalp treatments, medicinal purposes, and in healthy cooking.
Nutritional Benefits:
Protein and Fats. Avocado oil contains a high amount of proteins and unsaturated fats, both of which are strong skin agents. Avocado oil actually contains omega-3 fatty acids – those very same fatty acids as found in fish oil. Thus, not only can this oil be used as a beneficial lotion, but also as healthy cooking oil!
Sterolin. Avocado oil is high in a substance called sterolin, which studies have shown to facilitate the softening of the skin and to reduce the incidence of age spots;
Antioxidants. Avocado oil is rich in antioxidants, making it useful for healing sun-damaged skin. Antioxidants like vitamins A, D and E in avocado cause the skin to be suppler, and are thus particularly good for dry or aged skin.
Lecithin and Potassium. Avocado oil contains lecithin and potassium, which are all highly beneficial for the skin as well as the hair;
Health Benefits:
Moisturize the Skin. Avocado oil applied topically helps relieve dry and itchy skin. Once applied, avocado oil is deeply absorbed by the skin, thus making it an ideal moisturizer and skin care agent.
Boost Scalp Health. In addition to helping clear scaly skin, it can also relieve itchy scalp symptoms. Avocado oil, when regularly applied to the scalp, can stimulate hair growth.
Increase Collagen Production. When applied, avocado oil increases the production of collagen, which helps keep the skin plump and decreases the effects of aging.
Treat Skin Conditions. Avocado oil is useful in the treatment of a variety of skin conditions, including eczema and psoriasis.
Others. Avocado oil facilitates the healing of wounds and burns to the skin. It also helps to relieve and heal diaper rash.
Our Little Innoscents Moisturising Lotion is full of this Avocado Oil goodness. It is non greasy, absorbs into the skin very well, whilst hydrating your skin. Try it, at $15.50 for 100ml, or $6 for 30ml
Little Innoscents Moisture Rich Baby Lotion, $15.50
With a hand santizer, you are just cleaning your hands before you touch something. After you touched an object, if it has bacteria or germs, your hands get infected again. You are carrier of germs and bacteria, and you may ingest the said contaminant if you do not wash your hands thoroughly, or you may even pass the germs and bacteria to someone else.
With Bio Shield kiddie, you are not only cleaning your hands. You are protecting it for the next four hours. If you were to pick an object with bacteria and germs, the germs and bacteria will die upon contact with this protective layer on your hands. You do not bring the germs and bacteria around with you.
You may ask, if Bio Shield kills germs and bacteria, what about germs and bacteria on our skin that actually protect us?
Bio Shield is vitamin based, and is made from vitamins that our body is already producing. So not only will it not kill beneficial germs and bacteria, our skin will also not grow any resistance to it.
Bio Shield is also organic and alcohol-free, hence not damaging skin. It protects us from common germs like cough and flu, E. Coli, Samonella, HMFD (A16 strain), H1N1. Perfect for the toddler who wants to touch everything and anything, lift buttons, door handles, hand rails, shared toys, ball pits, etc.
