I receive free products from Guidance Guide for review purposes but my opinions are all my own.

Finnegan has just reached the confident sitter stage, which might be the very best baby stage. I can plop him down on the floor and there’s a 95% chance he won’t fall over. He can sit up in his high chair. He can sit up in this stroller. I can wear him on my back in our soft structured carriers. It also means he’s ready for sink baths instead of blue plastic lounge tub baths.

Sink baths are my favorite. Nothing is as sweet as a freshly washed, cheerful baby ready for some snuggles, but our bathtub is huge and deep and trying to hold up a slippery baby long enough to get him clean just kills my back. Sink bath to the rescue!

We’ve been big Babyganics fans since Lincoln was the baby taking sink baths. He loves the foaming shampoo and body wash, which not only bubbles up right out of the bottle, it makes a good bubble bath too. As you can see, Finnegan is also a bubble fan.

Along with the shampoo we already use and love, Babyganics sent a few more things for us to try.

Wipes, sunscreen, hand sanitizer like this 72 pack 8 oz hand sanitizer, and body lotion are just a few of the many natural, gentle, plant-based products in the Babyganics line. From their site:

Our goal is to create products that parents feel good about using around their babies and that work in their homes and that they can actually find and afford all while keeping our impact on the planet in mind.

The lotion is SO nice on Finn’s winter skin, which gets dry patches easily, especially around all his baby creases (and he’s such a chunk he has a ton of baby creases). The wipes went straight into my bag because they’re perfect for hands and faces after I bribe my children into behaving by buying them donuts. And since this winter has been just the worst as far as germs and sickness goes, I put the hand sanitizer by the door to remind myself to give it a quick squirt anytime I come back from being out in the world. I am saving the sunscreen for our upcoming vacation, because Florida + super pale children is just a recipe for disaster without really good sun protection, but the idea of using SO much chemical sunscreen isn’t my favorite.

You can see my video of Finnegan living his best baby life with his bubbles on Instagram. Thanks again to Babyganics for the awesome stuff!

The kids and I trekked down to Brooklyn on Sunday for the A Child Grows in Brooklyn Baby Expo and had a really great time. I was invited as a blogger, which meant I got a cool “Press” badge and a chance to hang out in the media lounge while the kids made crafts and Caroline got a sparkle tattoo. The gingers did GREAT for a couple of preschoolers in a very hot, very crowded, slightly boring-for-kids event. Well, besides all the times Caroline disappeared. At least the place was totally full of moms and moms-to-be who were happy to point her back in my direction.

Since I was visiting from out of town, not everything at the Expo applied to me (Although it did make me super jealous of how much stuff is in/close to Brooklyn – why aren’t there any rock & roll toddler party locations in Connecticut?!)  but I still got to check out some super cool brands, learn some new stuff and came home with a sweet swag bag. Caroline ate more than her share of Ella’s Kitchen pouches and Sabra hummus and cried because she only got two samples of Happy Baby crisps. In case you couldn’t tell, the food was her favorite part.

Thanks so much to Melissa for inviting me and the ladies at A Child Grows in Brooklyn for putting such a fantastic day together! If you’re a parent in the NYC area I’d recommend signing up for their newsletter so you don’t miss next year’s event – besides the great information, I saw probably a hundred people leave with awesome strollers, playpens, bikes, high chairs and more. Seriously, the raffles and giveaways were bananas.

The expo was in the International School of Brooklyn. I’m suffering from a severe case of school envy.

Food by Fairway. Another thing I wish we had in Connecticut.

Sparkle tattoo courtesy of Dazzle Divaz, who were so sweet with her.

Caroline’s new friend is from Yellow Sneaker Productions. Like I’ve said, she’s not afraid of anything, from the balloon-animal making clowns to hand puppets.

I spy with my little eye…a book I already love!

The guy from Dapple Baby really knew his stuff, and I’m excited to start washing Evan’s disgusting milk cups in their Baby Bottle & Dish Liquid.

How adorable are these personalized prints from StrangeBirdy Studios?? The cutest.

Kidville had a great child play area with sitters available so I could attend the photography seminar without any little people climbing on me.

Sensory tubs: not for the faint of heart.  THE MESS, MY GOD, THE MESS.

After the expo we met up with my friend Sara, who showed us around. We walked doooown Park Slope to a very busy playground, found some Italian Ice and then walked back uuuuup Park Slope. The gingers walked the whole thing (besides a few short piggy back rides) and slept in the car the whole way home. They both went to be at 6 pm on Monday too. Good job Brooklyn!

Disclosure: I was given free passes & the media swag bag as a thank you for attending, but wasn’t required to post/share anything. I just had a really great time!