Daisiey, Naturally.

Today is World Prematurity Day.

Did you know that 1 in 8 babies are born prematurely?

Or that worldwide, 15 million babies each year are born too soon?

(Check out the March of Dimes website for more stats on prematurity)

It kills me inside when I hear pregnant women talk about how they are “so done” with being pregnant (and they’re onmly 35 or 36 weeks). Or when they wish for their babies to come early, because they don’t want to carry to 40 weeks. Or the WORST — when they talk about wanting to be induced early just so they don’t have to get “so huge.”

They don’t know what it’s like to have their baby early. For no known reason.

Both of my pregnancies ended the same way. My first, born at 36 weeks (not extreme prematurity, but early). My 2nd, at 35 weeks. Both exactly the same situation — I woke up early in the morning, and my water had broken. I got to the hospital both times, and was told the same thing — labor wasn’t progressing at all, and with water being broken, we had to induce.

My first son had very typical symptoms — sleepy, lazy,  and jaundiced. A hard time feeding, so he was supplemented with formula. We went on to have to see a heart specialist, a liver specialist, an eye specialist, and up next, we’ll be seeing someone about his legs. He’s had his fair share of “problems.”

My second son — my 35 weeker — had more serious issues at birth. He was born with his cord around his neck. His breathing was extremely labored and had to go to the NICU immediately — I got to hold him for MAYBE 2 minutes tops. Then I didn’t get to hold him again for 2 days. He remained in the NICU for 12 days. He had a feeding tube and a CPAP. He had a pneumothorax (a hole in his lung) that we had to wait to heal. Day after day, after coming off of the CPAP, he had oxygen saturation issues.

It was hard. He finally got out, and they made us take CPR courses, etc. to make sure that if he stopped breathing, we could help. It was never needed, because he was fine.

But we still struggle with breastfeeding issues, weight issues, etc. He’s small, and sometimes weak and sleepy, still, at almost 12 weeks.

But he’s doing well. My little preemie.

Whether you have an always-on-the go toddler or a just-learning-to-self-feed baby, you know what a challenge it is to keep snacks in a bowl and off of your floor.

So, when Nuby sent me the iMonster Snack Keeper, I knew that I just had to test it out on my 21 month old very busy little boy.

[iMonster Snack Keeper - both in packaging and out]

Feeding this kid lately is almost impossible. He won’t sit in his high chair long enough to eat a meal. He won’t stay seated on a chair. He won’t even sit on the floor with me and eat in one place. He has to eat as he continues to do whatever he was doing. That means, carrying around his bowls with him as he works. Which almost always means — lots of food on the floor.

But not anymore! Not with the Snack Keeper. The mouth of the “monster” is made with silicone flaps that make it extremely easy for your toddler (or baby) to reach their hand in, grab some snacks, and pull them out — without making a mess. Not to mention, the monster is so cute and bright colored, my toddler LOVES to just carry it around with him. “Monsters” are all the rage around our house lately.

[My toddler, playing with his iMonster Snack Keeper.]