Graco® Jumpstart 4-in-1 Activity Bouncer Review

 From an infant seat to a kid's chair the Graco® Jumpstart 4-in-1 Activity Bouncer grows with your baby. This unique baby item has so many uses for home and away.

My daughter recently had another baby, making this grandchild number three for me. I am so happy that my daughter lives near me so I get to see my three grandchildren. Having your grandchildren nearby is a blessing. This grandma loves it when the grandbabies come to visit.

Since my grandchildren come to visit often, I have many toys for them to play with, and I also have baby equipment that stays at my home. From the stroller hanging in the garage to the blow-up dinosaur in the closet, I like it when the baby's equipment and toys can be easily stored away That makes my home less cluttered.   

An invitation to check out Graco's Newest Baby Products

When Graco reached out to me and invited me to a press release for their newest baby items, I was excited to see the baby items. From the SmartSense™ Soothing Bassinet to a stroller that fits in the airplane overhead storage, Graco had some new exciting items that would be perfect for grandchild number 3. 

While I really loved the Smartsense Soothing Bassinet, the item that I chose to check out was the Graco Jumpstart 4-in-1 Activity Bouncer. The bassinet was first on my list but the grandbaby was 4 months old and just transitioned to a crib. 

 I selected the 4-in-1 Activity Bouncer as I knew that this baby item would come in handy for the times that my daughter and family came over for dinner. It would also be great for when this grandma watched all three kids. Having a safe place to put the baby is important when you have three grandkids to watch. Gone are the days of being able to hold the baby all day.

Description

The Graco® Jumpstart 4-in-1 Activity Bouncer is an Infant Bouncer, Floor Seat, Jumper, and Kids Chair all in one! With 4 growing stages, this innovative infant bouncer is the only one of its kind, offering different ways to soothe, contain, and entertain baby as they grow. This item starts out as a compact infant bouncer suitable for infants from birth. When the baby is learning how to sit, the bounce transforms into a floor seat. 

Once the baby becomes more active, this bouncer transforms into a baby jumper. The final stage is the toddler chair that can be used for many years, up to 40 pounds, and makes a great chair for reading books. The best part of this unique 4-1 product is that it folds for easy storage. Moms will also love how easy the seat pad is to remove and machine wash.

My review of the Graco Jumpstart 4-in-1 Activity Bouncer

 The Jumpstart 4-in-1 activity bouncer from Graco was super easy to assemble and my teen son put it together in about 15 minutes. This was a no-tools-needed baby product. My son thought it was a pretty cool chair. He even asked me if I thought that the bouncer would support his weight. 

 I gave my 6 foot 3 son the mom look and said "No" as the chair only holds up to 40 pounds. I then grabbed the life-size baby doll, that my friend gave to me for the older grandchildren, and had fun checking out the 4 different modes of this baby bouncer.

This baby doll was the perfect size for the Graco baby chair and she looked like a real baby. My other teen actually thought that I was babysitting my youngest grandbaby. 

What I loved about the Graco Jumpstart 4-in-1 Activity Bouncer

~ Easy to transform from infant bouncer to floor seat, baby jumper, and kids chair. Just unsnap and re-snap the chair pad to place it in different positions for the different seat options. Even the baby jumper clicks super easy.

~ Storage for the seatbelt and other parts when using the different options. That way they won't be lost. 

~ Included snack tray for meal times or for playtime. This tray makes the chair into an instant high chair for times that grandma watches the baby.

~ Compact & portable for when it is not in use or for taking on the go. I love that I can store it in a closet and is ready to use when the grandbaby visits.

~ Machine-washable seat pad that is easy to remove. Babies are messy and moms love easy-to-clean items.

~ Height-adjustable jumper seat to fit baby as she grows.

What I did not like about the Graco Jumpstart 4-in-1 Activity Bouncer

~ There was nowhere to attach the separate jumper seat when I stored it in the closet. I used a shoelace to tie it to the frame.

~ The chair did not stay close when folded for storage. I used the same shoelace to keep it closed.

The Graco Jumpstart 4-in-1 Activity Bouncer was a unique baby product that I can see parents getting plenty of use. This chair can be used from the day that they bring their baby home. It is lightweight so parents can move it from room to room.

The different positions of the baby chair make it easy to use as an activity chair or a place for a nap for the baby. My grandbaby is 4 months old and will love having a chair to help her sit up, that way she can watch her older sisters. I can also use the infant bouncer for the times that I need my hands free to help the older sisters. 

This bouncer does not take up much space in my hall closet and it is super easy to open for a baby bounce. One click and it transforms into the baby bouncer. The Graco Jumpstart 4-in-1 Activity Bouncer makes a great baby shower gift.

Summertime Adventures With Baby Jogger & Graco

While I may be a grandma, it seems like yesterday that my two youngest boys were toddlers. I have pushed many strollers and buckled many kids into car seats.

I received samples from Graco to facilitate this post

 My website name says it all Mom Knows Best. I am a mom to 5 children and a grandma to 2 girls. I have been raising kids for 31 years. I still have two kids left in the house for another 7+ years, so I am still in the kid-raising years. My oldest daughter is 31 years and my youngest boys are 13 and 14. Then I have 2 more sons, ages 21 and 27.

 I also have earned the grandma badge with my cute granddaughters, ages 10 months and 34 months. So I have many years of mom advice to share. I love that my grandbabies live nearby and I can see them often. So when opportunities for reviewing toys and baby gear arise, I have the grandchildren to spoil and they make the cutest models for my website. My daughter does not seem to mind one bit when these cute girls are featured on my website as she loves that her mom can help her get the best baby equipment.

 So when I had a chance to check out a stroller and car seat, I of course said yes. The Baby Jogger City Mini® 2 and Graco SlimFit3™ LX 3-in-1 Car Seat were perfect for the next stage of transporting 2 little ones around town. The youngest grandbaby was ready to move to a bigger car seat and the almost three years old granddaughter was happy to have more freedom with walking around the neighborhood with mom. So this grandma was ready for some summer adventures with her grandkids.

Baby Jogger City Mini® 2 Review

 My oldest boys are teens but that does not mean that I don't have experience with pushing a stroller. My teens are 16 months apart so it was like I had twins. I remember starting out with a double stroller that allowed them both to be seated. As the boys got older, the double stroller became too clunky for long walks. So I switch to a single stroller with a standing board so the older of the two boys could have the freedom to walk more. The standing board was great for the times he was tired of walking. I did not let kids get in the way of my fitness and I know that I always did plenty of research with my stroller purchases.

Fitness tips for stay at home moms 

 So when the Baby Jogger City Mini® 2 arrived at my house, I had a chance to check it out before I took a walk with my grandbabies. Even my youngest teen son had fun checking out this awesome stroller. This was a grandma/mom-approved stroller! The Baby Jogger was the perfect stroller for active moms. This is a stroller that I would have selected when my boys were younger as it had so many awesome stroller features. This was a stroller that my daughter could use with both of her girls. 

What I loved about the Baby Jogger City Mini® 2

+ Lightweight ~ The stroller literally glides on any surface and is a pleasure to push

+ Can operate one-handed ~ I love that I can push the stroller with one hand

+ One-hand folding ~ Just pull a strap in the seat and it folds completely with one hand

+ Modern, sleek design ~ This stroller looks so fancy

+ Super comfortable ~ The padding is so soft

+ Roomy Basket ~ I love the size of the basket and it can hold lots of baby stuff. I also love that the basket can be accessed at both the front and back of the stroller

+ Big canopy ~ This will keep the sun off the baby

+ Adjustable seat in many positions ~ The seat adjusting clip allows you to customize the seat recline from flat to upright in many angles

+ Can be used for 2 kids ~ With an optional glider board, a second child can catch a ride on the stroller.

What I disliked Baby Jogger City Mini® 2

+ No parent tray ~ I would have loved a place to stash my drink or keys

+ No kid tray ~ A place for kid snacks would be nice to have

 The Baby Jogger had so many nice features that I liked and I could not wait to take my grandbabies for a walk. So I scheduled a grandma playdate and took the grandchildren for a walk around the neighborhood. The youngest baby looked so comfortable in the stroller. The older grandchild was happy to walk. My daughter will be buying the optional glider board for the stroller. So the older child can catch a ride when she is tired of walking.

 When we had to cross the street, I loved that I could hold the older child's hand and push the stroller with the other hand. While the Baby Jogger did not have a place for my water bottle on the stroller handle, it did have a pouch on the back. The peek-a-boo-window was nice so could check on the baby. 

 I really loved how easy this stroller was to fold. All I had to do was pull a strap, that was located in the seat. I was able to hold the baby in one hand and fold the stroller with the other. The stroller folded completely and it was so light to hold. The stroller folded to a compact size that would fit in most car trunks. 

4 Summer Fitness Items That You Need To Try

Graco SlimFit3™ LX 3-in-1 Car Seat Review

 My teen boys graduated out of car seats three years ago. It is hard to believe that three years ago my sons were in booster seats. Now they are taller than me. Car seats are a must for babies, toddlers, and up to about 12 years old. As a grandma, I want the best car seats for my grandbabies. So they are safe when traveling in a car. The Graco SlimFit3™ LX 3-in-1 Car Seat is a pretty amazing car seat and has features that are so much different from when my boys were in convertible car seats.

What I loved about the Graco SlimFit3™ LX 3-in-1 Car Seat

+ Can be used from birth to 100 pounds ~ So you only need to buy one car seat, as this can be used rear-facing to a high-back booster.

+ Printed directions on the seat ~ That show how to install the car seat in different positions.

+ Slim design ~ That means three seats can fit across the backseat of a car.

+ Rapid Remove Cover ~ The car seat cover removes in 60 seconds for cleaning without having to remove the harness and is machine washable.

+  No-Rethread Simply Safe Adjust™ Harness System ~ Allows you to adjust the height of the headrest and harness to 10 positions with just one motion for just the right fit.

+ Comfortable custom fit ~ Removable, plush head, and body inserts for infants.

+ Awesome protection ~ Steel-reinforced frame provides strength and durability for 10 years of use, and EPS energy-absorbing foam provides effective impact energy management.

What I disliked about the Graco SlimFit3™ LX 3-in-1 Car Seat

+ I could not find any dislikes ~ This was a car seat that I loved

 The Graco SlimFit3™ LX 3-in-1 Car Seat was a car seat that I loved. My youngest grandbaby was currently in a Graco infant car seat but is ready to move up to a convertible rear-facing car seat. I loved that the Graco Slimfit3 can be used from birth all the way to school age. This car seat easily converts from rear-facing all the way to a high-back booster seat and it made to last for 10 years. So the parent only has to buy one car seat for their baby.

 The slim design was another feature that I loved about this car seat. So if my daughter had another baby, she could fit three of the Graco Slimfit3 in the back seat of her car. So no need for them to buy a bigger car. Then there were the safety features of this car seat. This Graco car seat had so many features to protect my grandbaby. From the soft head inserts all the way to the steel-reinforced frame, Graco designed this to meet all the safety standards.

 The best part of the Graco car seat that I loved was how easy it is to clean the chair. I remember when my kids had a blow-out diaper in their car seat and how much of a pain it was to clean the car seat. I had to remove all the straps to wash the car seat and then try to figure out how to put the car seat back together. The Rapid Remove Cover removes in 60 seconds for cleaning without having to remove the harness and is machine washable. That is super smart and it is about time that someone made a car seat that is easy to clean!

Simple ways to squeeze exercise into your day    

What is your favorite feature of the Graco SlimFit3™ LX 3-in-1 Car Seat or the Baby Jogger City Mini® 2?

The Best Products For New Moms

The job of a new mom can be overwhelming

   I received samples of the mentioned products to facilitate this post.

 I have had the joy of giving birth five times. My first baby was born 30 years ago and my last baby was born 12 years ago with three babies in between. So I have plenty of experience with taking care of babies. Babies are so cute and cuddly but they can also mean a lot of work for new moms. Each baby that I gave birth to brought me new knowledge on how to take care of babies and how to take care of myself.

 Now that my babies are older, I am discovering the joys of being a grandma. My oldest daughter is again expecting another baby and she is due in July. My other grandbaby will be almost 2 when the new baby arrives so my daughter will be a busy new mom. This grandma is excited to be a grandma again and this time I will be able to help my daughter more as she and her husband live near me. When my daughter had her last baby, she lived in another state so I was not able to help my daughter after the baby was born. So I am excited to be able to help my daughter after the new grandbaby arrives. While I would love to move in with my daughter to help with the baby, this grandma will not be that annoying mom.

 So I am thinking of new mom products that will help make my daughter's life easier after she gives birth. So check out some of the best products for new moms that I think new moms will love. Right now my list is short but I will be updating it as I discover more products for moms who just gave birth. These products would be perfect baby shower gifts for the new mom.

1. A hands-free pumping bra!

 Since my daughter is planning to breastfeed, a nursing bra is a must-have new mom product. There are many nursing bras but I have discovered a unique that will not only help a new mom with nursing the baby but it helps mom when she needs to pump. The Simple Wishes Foundation All-in-One Nursing and Pumping Bra will free up mom’s hands to take care of other things while she pumps – whether that’s washing bottles, folding laundry, or taking care of a toddler. This bra features an elegant style, comfortable support, and multi-functional convenience, the Foundation Bra is designed to grow with new moms from maternity to breastfeeding and pumping. A new mom will allow mom to pump her milk without having to hold onto a bottle so she can use her hands for other things like sipping a cup of coffee that has been microwaved way to0 many times.  

 This unique bra is available in a variety of sizes to fit every new mom's body. This amazing bra is affordable too. Right now Simple Wishes is having a spring sale and you can save 20% on the Foundation Bra or any other product with Sale promo code: SPRING20. With the 20% off it takes the Foundation Bra down to $19.99.  The sale dates are March 18-23, 2020 and the promo code expires March 23, 2020.

2. A healthy way to stay hydrated

  New moms need to drink lots of water if they are breastfeeding and water can get boring. So my daughter will love this orange mango hydration drink that is 100% natural. Did you know that average 6-month-old drinks one quart of breastmilk a day and 90% of that is water? So new moms need water to make breast milk for the baby. Greater Than is a new, low-calorie, low-carb, low-sugar hydration solution perfect for keeping breastfeeding moms in better balance. Best of all it’s 100% natural! Made from 10 simple ingredients, including 38% fruit juice, Greater Than is available in a variety of flavors offering 2-3x the electrolytes of a typical sports drink – without all the artificial extras. So instead of boring water, new moms can stay hydrated with a delicious drink.

3. A delicious way for new moms to get their vitamins

 New moms need their multivitamin but those huge pills can be hard to swallow and those gummy vitamins are loaded with sugar. So new moms need an easy and fun way to get those important vitamins into their bodies. Rootd Health helps new moms take their vitamins with a delicious and truly healthy drink! The Rootd formula is 100% sugar-free, chemical-free, gluten-free and tested to ensure that new mothers get the vitamins and nutrients they need to nourish their body. The delicious vitamin drink also has extras for new moms like super greens and probiotics.

4. Safe skincare products

 New moms will love skincare products that are safe, natural, and effective. Baebody will help new moms look their best with skincare products that not only moisturized their skin but also help fight the appearance of wrinkles. Their best selling Retinol Moisturizer contains powerful Retinol, Vitamin E, Vitamin B5, Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, Green Tea, and other great ingredients!  While their Eye Gel includes Peptide Complex, Matrixyl 3000, Gotu Kola, Jojoba Oil, and an Amino Acid Complex. Both anti-aging products have safe ingredients in them so moms who are breastfeeding don't have to worry about harmful ingredients that might get into their breastmilk supply.

5. Pampering new mom gifts

 New moms deserve to be pampered and a gift set that contains delicious honey is always a welcomed treat. Waxing Kara has many eco-friendly honey gifts like soothing honey and tea sets, lip-licking honey lollipops and calming spa towers. The Honey Tasting Tower offers a selection of pure, raw, Kosher honey from different geographical and plant sources that can be enjoyed in a cup of tea. That way new moms can sip some delicious tea while feeding the new baby. Waxing Kara even has honey gifts that make great baby shower gifts for moms-to-be.

 This is my collection of some great products that new moms will love. So whether you are a mom-to-be, a new mom, or a grandma-to-be that is looking for a gift, these ideas will help you as you are thinking of what products new moms might need or enjoy. As I discover more products for new moms, I will make sure to add them to this list.

What is a product that you loved as a new mom?

The Best Gifts For Babys First Birthday

Looking for a gift for baby's first birthday? Check out the gifts that are my favorites for my soon-to-be one-year-old grandbaby.

                      I received toys and books to facilitate this post.

  It is hard to believe that my first grandchild is going to be celebrating her first birthday in a couple of months. It seems like yesterday that the baby was born and I wrote about becoming a grandma for the first time. My granddaughter is growing up too quickly. I wish that I could stop time and keep her little but that is not going to happen. So I will enjoy her and look forward to more grandbabies. I will also remember the day she was born, every time I snuggle with my soft sherpa photo blanket. Maybe that is why I have five kids all spread out in ages so I will be able to enjoy lots of grandchildren.

 This little girl brings such joy to our family and I am lucky that my daughter and son-in-law live nearby. That way I can see her often. Her uncles sure do enjoy holding her and talking to her. I think one of the best parts of being a grandma is being able to spoil my grandchild. So just like Christmas, this cute little girl is going to get lots of presents. Maybe she won't chew on her birthday presents like she did at Christmas. Since I have five kids and my youngest is 11 years old, I have plenty of experience in buying baby toys and I like to buy unique baby gifts for baby's first birthday. Some of my favorite baby toy brands are LeapFrog and Vtech as these toys are so cute. These brands of toys are always The Best Educational & Fun Gifts For Babies & Toddlers. So I love buying age-appropriate toys from these learning brands of toys. Check out some of the toys that my grandbaby will be receiving for her first birthday.

Toys for first steps

 My grandbaby is learning to walk so I will be giving her a Vtech Stroll & Discover Activity Walker™ for her first birthday. This walker grows with her and can be enjoyed for many years. Mom will love that the activity walker can be used for floor play and those first steps. Once the baby masters walking she will still enjoy pushing the walker around the house. This activity walker has so many buttons to press and I love that it has two speeds on it so the walker will not move to fast while the baby is learning to walk. The activity panel is removable from the walker so the parents can take it with for those long car trips. That way my grandbaby can press buttons and spin gears while in the car. This learning toy even has a removable cell phone so the baby can pretend to call grandma. You can find this toy that teaches colors and numbers at all major retailers.

Easy to assemble

 I decided to help the parents out and assemble the activity walker for them. It was super easy to put together and I did not need any tools.

Keeping baby happy in the stroller

 I remember when my kids were little and how once they learned to walk they never wanted to be in the stroller. Our daily walks became frustrating until I learned how to keep them entertained in the stroller. Moms need these daily walks for exercise and for some Me time so I got my grandbaby a Butterfly Counting Pal™ learning toy. This plush learning toy attaches to the stroller and keeps baby entertained so mom can go for a walk. This cute colorful toy also helps the baby fall asleep with soft, classical melodies. There are so many fun things on-the-go activity toy that baby can rattle, squeak, turn, or crinkle all while developing her fine motor skills and learning things like numbers and colors. This learning toy is available now at all major retailers

Books are always awesome

 Books always make great gifts at any age. Books help kids learn so much and the gift of books for baby's first birthday will help them enjoy reading. Reading to babies will help them later on when they are learning to read. I read to all my kids when they were babies and they knew how to read by first grade. My daughter loved books when she was a baby and I remember her 2nd birthday when grandma gave her some books. The books were the first gift that she opened. My daughter had to look at every book before she would open the rest of her presents.

 So I discovered these cute books for my granddaughter that are about space and the ocean. These adorable picture books are a fun way to introduce the smallest readers to STEM subjects. Nerdy Babies: Ocean and  Nerdy Babies: Space invites toddlers to travel to the bottom of the ocean, or in the far reaches of the solar systems to answer questions like...How deep is the ocean? What does it sound like in space? The author, Emmy Kastner, is a former teacher and fully understands how important it is to present science as fun at an early age. I just love the bright colorful pictures in the books and I know that my grandbaby will enjoy looking at them while her mom reads to her.

What are your favorite gifts for baby's first birthday?

Lemon Cupcakes With Lemon Blackberry Buttercream Frosting

                                           It's a girl!

             I received a sample from Nielsen Massey to facilitate this post.

 Last month my daughter was in town so this mom threw a baby shower for her. This was my first ever baby shower to host and I wanted it to be extra special. This is going to be my first grandchild and I am so happy that it is going to be a girl. After raising four boys, as my daughter was my only girl, I am going to have so much fun spoiling this baby girl. So what better way to start the spoiling than with a baby shower and delicious pink cupcakes. The cupcakes had to be homemade as only the best for my daughter.

  This was my first time making a buttercream frosting and I love how easy it was to make with my new pink Kitchenaid Stand Mixer. I am so glad that I finally bought one of these awesome stand mixers as they make baking so easy. I love that I can do other things as the mixer is doing its job. I had a hard time investing this much money in a small appliance but I am glad I did. I originally was just going to add the pure lemon extract to just the cake batter but once I tasted the frosting, I just felt it was missing something. So I added some lemon extract to my homemade buttercream frosting and the flavor of the frosting was amazing. You will love that I made the pretty pink color of the frosting with pureed blackberries. I no longer use the boxed cake mixes or containers of frosting as they contain artificial colors. I am trying to eliminate artificial colors from my families food even more so as the teen broke out in hives the other day after drinking a protein water that was made with red dye #40.

   The cake batter also was so delicious and easy to make. Makes me wonder why I ever bought those boxed cake mixes. The cupcakes had such a great spongey moist texture to them.

  My husband also made a beautiful fruit tray for the baby shower. He used a watermelon for the base and made the whole thing look like a baby carriage. The guests thought it was so pretty and so delicious. The guests also loved the cupcakes and my boys were so happy for the leftovers.

Lemon Cupcakes With Lemon Blackberry Buttercream Frosting

For the cupcakes:
3 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups sugar
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1 1/4 cups milk
2 tablespoon Nielsen-Massey Organic Pure Lemon Extract

For the frosting:
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
3 - 4 cups powder sugar, sifted
1/2 cup frozen blackberries, thawed
1 tablespoon Nielsen-Massey Organic Pure Lemon Extract

makes 24 cupcakes

Preheat oven to 350. Line the cupcake tins with paper liners and set aside.

 In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter on medium-high speed for about 3 minutes, until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat for 1 more minute.

 Add the sugar to the butter mixture, 1/4 cup at a time, beating 1 minute after each addition. Mix in the eggs one at a time until incorporated.  Scrape down the sides of the bowl after each addition.  Add the milk and the lemon extract to the butter mixture and mix until combined. Add the baking soda and salt and mix on low for 30 seconds. Then add the flour, one cup at a time and mix on low until all ingredients are incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix for 15 seconds longer.

Fill the cupcakes liners 2/3 of the way full with batter. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 18 minutes. Let cool in pan about 5 minutes before removing to a cooling rack to cool completely.

While the cupcakes are cooling, puree the blackberries in a small food processor. Strain the pulp out into a fine-mesh strainer. Using a rubber spatula, push the blackberry pulp through the sieve to remove the seeds. Discard the seeds, and set the pureed blackberries aside.

Using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, cream the butter over medium speed for 1 minute. Reduce speed to low, and carefully add the powder sugar, one cup at a time. Add the lemon extract, as well as the blackberry puree. Increase speed to medium, and beat until smooth and frosting is combined. Add more powder sugar if needed to get the desired texture of frosting.

Frost cupcakes as desired and garnish with a fresh blackberry or sprinkles.

Watch this video for some frosting cupcakes tips:

https://www.facebook.com/momknowsbest15/posts/731412443649067