Using Natures Best to Treat at Home (And a Giveaway!)

With as many chemicals that children come into contact with in the air today, the last thing I want to do is add chemicals and junk when trying to treat a cold or a seasonal allergies. But what am I to turn to if natural and preventative measures don't work out like planned?

For our family, homeopathic medicine is now our go-to for things that need a slightly more aggressive treatment than just the basics. After the birth of my first and learning about things like vaccines and food dyes, I have vowed that unless absolutely, end game necessary, my children would avoid using Western medicine and we'd use natural, holistic or homeopathic treatments.

So much to my pleasure, I had the opportunity to try several items from the Hyland's children's care line. And the package couldn't have arrived at a better time.

The first thing I noticed about Hyland's was the care that they took in packaging their product. The attention to detail showed that they want to make each purchase from their website personal. That added touch really means a lot. Included with the package was a handout talking about homeopathy. It was help and informative.


So the products I've had the chance to review are:
 

• Sniffles 'n Sneezes 4 Kids
• Allergy Relief
• Cold'n Cough 4 Kids
• Nighttime Cold'n Cough 4 Kids
• Calms Forté
• Complete Flu Care 4 Kids

The Hyland's Kids Care line works for children 2 and up. As a mother, I try *almost* everything that I give my children to be sure that it is safe. I think it's a natural instinct. And I can say that what worked for my kids, worked for myself too. Which earns them a double whammy. It may be "for kids" but it works well for adults too. 

Out of the products that I received, I've already had the chance to review three of them in just about a week thanks to our lovely Missouri weather (rain, 80 degree temps and snow in one week-in April/May).

Sniffles 'n Sneezes 4 Kids
This product is great for little kids who you can't get to take garlic just yet. ;) (Hey I can dream that they will eventually, right!?)  When boosting their immune system just isn't enough and they need a little something to help with the runny nose, sneezing, watering eyes and everything else a minor cold brings, this can really save the day. Especially with a little one who is just at 2 years old! An overnight dose worked to knock out the rest of her cold by morning and she was back to getting into everything again.

Calms Forté
What I liked best about Calms Forté cannot even be explained in words. I need like choir music and angelic voices for this. My son has a tendency to go a few days trying to get as little sleep as possible until it comes to a peak with a night where every little thing will make him emotional and restless. He'll fuss and fight and scream and cry and there isn't much we can do about until he finally "crashes and burns". This has always broken my heart. Enter Calms Forté. Just a dose or two and he is a normal, happy, easy to get to sleep little 4 year old. No more agitation. No more fighting him to calm him down. Just calm, easy and eager to finally fall asleep. And the help it has provided at night is showing during his waking hours. He's more refreshed and no longer grumpy! 

Cold'n Cough 4 Kids
Let's face it. Kids are germ magnets. And sometimes handwashing just doesn't happen fast enough to prevent cold germs from settling in. And then before you know it they are cranky and you're not getting any sleep. But what if you don't like to use acetaminophen or ibuprofen? Your options might get rather limited at that point. Or so you think. Cold'n Cough 4 Kids really did the trick. It kicked the worst of the symptoms and allowed my little one to sleep well over night. And a rested baby (and momma) is a happy baby (and momma)! 

Another big win for Hyland's is that they print all the information on the bottle, the box and the insert that comes with the product. There are no chances for you to misplace or lose the instructions with each product. And the doses are generally the same for each medicine that it's easy to set the standard of what you need to give each age group. 


The quality, ability to work and general awesomeness of this product has really made me a huge fan and believer of Hyland's Kids Care line. So much so, that I'm able to offer you a chance to win everything I've had the opportunity to try. :) This is a really good value and a great score have in your house. 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Hugs & Coffee,
-The Anti-Mainstream Mom 

Chasing Clouds Essential Oil Review (And a Giveaway!)

Recently I was on the market for an affordable and excellent quality essential oil to add to my doula bag. While I like the big name brands, I just can't afford them right now and I would much rather contribute to a small business any way. So as I was rummaging around on the various big names pages I thought, "Why not check Etsy!?"

And boy was I pleased.

There aren't but a handful of stores on Etsy who sell EOs, but I kept search and reading about everyone I found. And finally decided to order from two store. While I am most happy with both stores, the one I find even more inviting and feel like I am getting the best quality from is featured today.

Chasing Clouds stole my eye by their unique name and variety in their store. They not only offer oils, but vintage homemaking items and more. They are located in Canada with a great shipping rate to America. They respond quickly and get your order processed in a 2-3 day turn around. Their customer service is amazing and you can message them asking for paperwork on their oils and what they tested at. All their oils are therapeutic grade. 


So now on to the oils.

I am reviewing three oils today from their product line. They variety they offer is amazing, but these are my three favorite. And for good reason!

1. Lemon
I love lemon. It's a great refresher and works really well with my doula clients and around my house. Mixed with vinegar it can make everything smell squeaky clean and fresh while disinfecting. For my doula clients who might be battling some nausea during labor and delivery it can help calm a upset tummy. This smell of this oil is so pure. It literally smells like someone fresh zested a lemon in front of you. It is organic and amazing!

2. Clove-Stem (sadly this product is discontinued in their shop)
As a mom of young kids who are teething, this one is essential (pun intended) for me. Clove oil is a great numbing agent and works wonders in the mouth and teeth area. The smell of this is like fresh ground cloves. Spicy and sweet and aromatic, this is great for cleaning with if you like the spicier smell. But it's true benefit lies in it's use as a numbing agent. **This always needs to be diluted with a carrier oil and should not be used by pregnant woman.**

3. Thievery
Thievery oil is worth it's weight and value in gold. This oil began with it's own legend and has since proven itself time and time again. Chasing Clouds version holds it up to that standard and assures the highest quality. Their version can be used neat (straight) or diluted for use in children and infants and works best on your feet or as a disinfectant mixed with water. When you open the bottle you smell the variety of oils that go into making this blend so valuable. With a blend of clove, eucalyptus, lemon, cinnamon and rosemary you are getting a powerhouse of healing in one bottle. This is a must have in the house at all times. And Chasing Clouds makes it affordable without sacrificing quality.

In fact, I'm such a fan of their Thievery blend, that I want to offer you a chance to win a 2mL bottle! 



a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This review and giveaway was sponsored by Anti-Mainstream Mom.

Hugs & Coffee,
-The Anti-Mainstream Mom 

Yummi Pouch Review and a Giveaway!

 I don't know about you, but I *love* the convenience of the squeeze pouch baby foods. I just don't like the downside of those pouches. The cost, the garbage output and who knows what's in them! It seems like they say vegetables but it's mainly apples. Or you're trying to avoid buying from companies who are owned by evil parent companies-which makes it so hard to buy anything convenient and organic these days.

 But wait! There is a product that gives you all the benefits of a pouch baby food AND all the benefits of knowing you are providing your baby with the best! The best part of this company is it's a small business and family owned. You are truly helping a family and not a big corporation!

 Let me introduce you to the Yummi Pouch!

The Yummi Pouch is truly and awesome product! I cannot believe this isn't making a bigger wave on the market. It has all the loved features of a store bought pouch and more. And their website has a wealth of information too!

The Yummi Pouch design is really awesome. These features make it a win! 

• Ability to stand up for filling with a specially designed bottom.
• Extra wide mouth with a very sturdy zipper to keep spills locked in. 
• Spots on the back for the date and contents so you make a large batch and freeze for later. 
• A fill line so that you aren't filling your pouches more than 6 oz. Which helps with portion control.
• The spout is equal to, if not sturdier than store bought pouches and hold up to little kids chewing on them. (Yes, this happened already.) 
• Over-sized cap for littler hands. But still tricky enough that the littlest of littles and cannot open them.

The Yummi pouch is:

• Freezer Safe
• Dishwasher Safe
• BPA, Phthalate and PVC Free  
• Reusable/Recyclable   

And it really is dishwasher safe! I ran ours through the dishwasher last night. One pouch came completely clean while the other had some remains of applesauce in there. For best results in the dishwasher I would recommend rinsing the before putting them in. The structure held up and there was not a hint of shrinking or warping of the pouch.

One big concern for me is the pouches tend to have extra air in them. As you can see here, it took my son blowing air in it for there to be extra. The bonus to this "experiment" was that when he took his mouth off, it didn't shoot everywhere. Added air in these from little kids playing in them, do NOT make them shoot the yummy goodness everywhere! Which is a major win with toddlers. They are great for taking snacks like applesauce from being a messy disaster to an easily enjoyable snack for moms and kids alike!

 They are really easy for kids of all ages to use. You do not have to use a lot of pressure to suck the contents out of them. Which makes it easier to not waste food. And the spout on the side makes alleviates the fear of popping open the zipper. Which is next to impossible to do. I filled the entire pouch up and pushed as much force as I could down on it and nothing happened! Win! They would even be great for adults who work out or use energy shots and make them at home!

*Yummi Pouch Scores*

Environmentally Friendly.

Strong zipper to prevent spills.

Easy to clean.

Pay for themselves in a few uses.

Affordable enough to replace if needed.

*Yummi Pouch Growth Opportunities*

Multiple sizes for different age babes.

Different color options instead of just different cap colors. 

Yummi Pouches are a perfect addition to your arsenal to make sure you baby is getting the best that you can provide! By taking away the toxic chemicals and crummy ingredients and guaranteeing you babe gets a delicious and eco-friendly way of taking a food on the go or keeping a messy food clean at home. They are so easy to fill and great for on the go! Affordable, economical and practical. They even have tools to help to make filling them a breeze. Overall, Yummi Pouches are a 10 out of 10 in the Anti-Mainstream Mom's book! You can purchase Yummi Pouch via their online store or find them on Facebook. 

OR 
Enter for a chance to win a set of Yummi Pouch!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway




Hugs and Coffee,
-The Anti-Mainstream Mom
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