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Quick Guide: Getting a Breast Pump Through Insurance with Aeroflow

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A few weeks back we posted a super helpful guide from Aeroflow on getting your breast pump through insurance. Since then, we have had a ton of mamas reach out to us and say how helpful the post was! We wanted to boil it down even further and give you the bare bones guide on how to get your breast pump through insurance with Aeroflow. Find this post helpful? Share it with a friend and make her life a little easier!

Did you know? Most new mamas are eligible to be covered for a free breast pump through insurance anywhere from as soon as the baby is born up to 1 year after birth? (This is a good rule of thumb to go by; however the exact time period depends on your particular insurance plan.)

1. Head to Aeroflow’s website – The Aeroflow website features breast pumps from top brands such as Medela, Spectra, Lansinoh, Evenflo and many more. Keep in mind that when you visit the website, you will first need to fill out the Qualify through Insurance form before you can shop for breast pumps that are eligible under your specific insurance plan.

2. Complete Your Qualify Through Insurance Form – After you complete your form, you will be able to log in to the site and shop a curated selection specific to your insurance benefits. If you would like help navigating the store, Aeroflow’s Breastpump Specialists are happy to assist you!

3. Aeroflow to the Rescue – Once you fill out the Qualify form, a dedicated Breastpump Specialist will work to verify your coverage and will contact you via phone or email within 3-5 business days to discuss your options and help you select a breast pump. Check out this amazing and handy breast pump comparison chart to look at all of your options! You can also refer friends and receive discounts on Aeroflow’s website.

Did you know? Aeroflow’s breast-pump specialists can do all of these things: Verify your eligibility for a breast pump through your insurance plan; Contact your physician for a prescription; Recommend the best breast pump for your lifestyle and breastfeeding goals; Recommend supplies and accessories that will benefit your pumping experience; Determine whether select supplies and accessories could also be available under your plan; Bill your insurance provider for your breast pump; Ship your breast pump to your door, free of charge

We hope you find this handy and quick guide super helpful so you can get started pumping whenever you’re ready.

You can find Aeroflow on their website, Facebook, and Instagram, and Twitter.

Thank you to Aeroflow for making this sponsored post possible.

5 Things Every Breastfeeding Mom Needs with Yummy Mummy

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In honor of International Breastfeeding Week, we reached out to the breastfeeding guru herself, Amanda Cole of Yummy Mummy, to share some of her quick tips for things every breastfeeding mom needs. Amanda conceived of the idea for Yummy Mummy after the birth of her daughter when like many other new moms, she was looking for help overcoming the challenges of breastfeeding and motherhood. She saw a need for a one-stop-shop for support, services and products to help new moms meet their personal breastfeeding goals and their needs as a new mom. Yummy Mummy is a retail store on the Upper East Side of New York City, and is a company dedicated to All Things Breastfeeding and for moms-to-be!

Breastfeeding is one of the best things that you can do for you and your little one, but just because it is a wonderful thing to do, doesn’t mean that it’s always easy. The most important thing you can do is make sure that you have the right support. Support from your partner, support from a couple key products, and if you are having trouble, support and information from experts. Here are five things every breastfeeding mom needs.

A Quality Pump –
Most nursing moms find that they need to pump, at least occasionally. If you’re breastfeeding, pumping is essential if you are planning to return to work, or even if you just need to take a break to run some errands, go to a doctor’s appointment, or take a well-deserved nap. Pumping allows your partner or another caregiver to give your baby a bottle while you are away. Most insurance plans now cover breast pumps often at no additional cost to you. Find out how easy it is to get a breast pump through insurance in this short video.

A Hands-Free Pumping Band –

Every new mom could use an extra hand. A sturdy hands-free pumping band gives you two. Send an email, have a snack or flip through a magazine. Moms we talk to love these bras because they can still get things done while pumping. Look for a pumping band made from a strong elastic material that won’t stretch out with repeated use. Here are two that keep their shape from your first pump to your one thousandth: the Pump Mate Hands Free Pumping Band, and the Snugabell Pumpease Hands Free Pumping Bra.

Three Great Nursing Bras –

Your ribcage and cup size change during pregnancy and your time nursing. A couple of great-fitting nursing bras can make a big difference in your comfort and ability to easily nurse or pump. The general rule is that you need at least three nursing bras. One on you, one in the wash and one in the drawer.

Check out some great stylish and supportive nursing bras here.

A Versatile Nursing Top or Two –

If you plan to pump or nurse on the go, a breastfeeding mom needs a nursing top that is comfortable and stylish. Many tops and dresses come with hidden panels or zippers so that no one knows that it is a nursing top except you and your little one. Check out some of our favorites here.

A Support System –

Emotional support from your partner is key and something every breastfeeding mom needs. Nobody does it alone. Don’t be afraid to tell your partner what you need (or what you don’t need from nosey family members!). And if you have questions or concerns, or are having a tough time breastfeeding, seek support and advice from a specialist. You can find an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) (IBCLC) in your area here.

Want to learn more? Check out our Mompreneur Profile on Amanda Cole! Plus, Six Tips On How To Successfully Return To Work After Maternity Leave and our Trend Spotter Report: All About the Boobs!

New Nursery Style Boards With Curated Nest! (+ giveaway)

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We are so excited today to announce that not only do we have brand new nursery style boards for our registry style quizzes, but a ton of new and gorgeous nursery items added to our registry! The lovely ladies of Curated Nest have worked tirelessly to help us pack our registry full of the best nursery items you could think of. They have curated 4 new style boards: Mod, New Vintage, Traditional, and Boho!

Curated Nest is the stylish brainchild of Erin Coren and Lina Galvao, interior designers and recent first-time moms living in Brooklyn, NY. After designing nurseries for our their babies, they saw a need to change the way parents and loved ones shop for nurseries. And so Curated Nest was born.

At Curated Nest, Erin and Lina strive to curate beautiful and functional rooms with the coolest (and safest…yeah, they’re moms too) products in furniture and decor from hip sources and artists – so that you don’t have to scour the internet for that perfect piece or buy a matching set from a store. Their goal is to offer you the style of hiring an interior designer, yet the transparency and ease of an online site. If you’re trying to design your nursery and need help from the comfort of your home, Erin and Lina can provide you with everything you need via the Internet to design a safe and warm nursery. Pretty cool, eh?

Curated Nest has curated four new style boards for our registry – and not only that, but have personally added a ton (seriously, a ton) of new items to our nursery collections in our registry, making it super easy for any Gugu Guru mama to add everything she needs for the nursery to her registry. Curated Nest has rounded up some of their favorite items to share with you today – check out why they picked these items below, too! Want to see the rest of the new nursery items they curated for the registry? Create a registry today, or use our new search box in EXPLORE to search our database of products. PLUS – use code gugu10 at checkout on CuratedNest.com for 10% off your purchases of items within our registry!

Curated Nest’s Favorite Picks from the new Style Boards:

Crib: We love that not only is it a cool crib but with the accessories it can become a fort and grow with your baby into toddlerhood.
Cloud Pillows: They’re filled with a dense insert, so it’s great to use as a pillow on the floor and as a stuffed toy.
Crib Sheet: It gives you the perfect stage for insta-worthy monthly pics!
Giraffe Wall Mounted Head: A serious focal point in a nursery. It has amazing hand stitched detail and provides a whimsical design. They’re very light weight and plush so it’s safe for all ages.
Upholstered Rocker: We love how it transitions to anywhere in the house and it has a small footprint perfect for when every inch matters (urban nurseries).
Mid-Century Rocker: Same as above, but for mid-century modern.
Birch Tree: Great for hanging dress up clothes on and creates a whimsical vibe.
Macrame Wall Hanging: We love the boho texture it adds to a wall, especially when used within a art grouping of flat prints.
Woodland Wallpaper: Whimsy at its finest. The company is super clever as they make it available in removable and traditional glue application, so you can even use it in an apartment. The more you stare at it, the more details you see. Especially when you zombie out during 3am feedings.
Basket: Canvas and Pom Pom basket folds down and comes in various sizes so you can use for just about anything.
Washable Rug: The most brilliant product out there comes in a variety of patterns which can be thrown in the wash after your little one pulls an Exorcist and projectile spit ups everywhere
Leather Moroccan Pouf: Sophisticated and non “baby.” Perfect pouf for putting your feet up when rocking your babe, and as they grow up, a soft piece to learn to cruise on.

Want to win a Petite Nest Design from Curated Nest, valued at $249?
Curated Nest Giveaway

Breastfeeding: Increasing Breastmilk Supply and Storage Tips

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What are some tips for increasing breastmilk supply?
Increasing breastmilk supply is something many nursing moms are looking to do, especially when they’re going back to work. The first thing you need to know is that breastfeeding works on supply and demand – so the more you nurse, the more milk your body makes. When you nurse, and your milk is drained from your breast, it signals to your body to replenish the milk. Feeding baby at the breast is the best way to keep up with the milk supply your baby needs.

Baby is the most efficient way to get the milk out of the breast; direct skin-to-skin promotes higher levels of the hormones associated with milk production. Pumping is another good way of increasing breastmilk supply and can be done in addition to nursing. When your baby nurses, you can pump on the other side while baby is feeding or after baby nurses so you drain the milk your baby didn’t drink from the breast. You can also add pumping sessions when baby is sleeping between feeds. Make sure to stay dry and prevent leaks in between feedings by using Lansinoh Disposable Nursing Pads. You can count on Stay Dry Pads during the day and Ultimate Protection during the night to protect you from embarrassing situations. These thin and discreet pads feature great absorbency, providing a dry feeling even with heavy leakage.

What are the guidelines for storing expressed breastmilk?
In the USA, we adhere to the La Leche League International guideline for breastmilk storage:

Our Breastmilk Storage Bags are the number one selling bags in the market and now, if you own a Lansinoh pump, you can pump directly into the bags. Moms work very hard to express their breastmilk and pumping directly into bags removes milk transfers and reduces the risk of spills. If you don’t own a Lansinoh pump, Lansinoh pump adapters are compatible with other breast pumps to allow pumping directly into the bags. To learn more about this new feature of our bags, click here.

Thank you to our partners at Lansinoh for sponsoring this post. Learn more about Lansinoh in these posts:

Nursing Mama Travel Must-Haves

7 Must-Haves for Breastfeeding Moms

Making It Work at Work — Six Tips On How To Successfully Return To Work After Maternity Leave

DIY Baby Hat Brim With See Kate Sew

by Gugu Guru 2 Comments

See Kate Sew partners with Gugu Guru once again to share a fantastic DIY tutorial. This time? A lovely little baby hat brim hack for sunny days. Want to check out more DIY projects from Kate? Click over to see the full list – lots of fun summer project ideas!

I’m excited to be back sharing a quick DIY baby hat brim hack with you today! I’m wearing a Tula mesh carrier and you can enter to win one below! This carrier is awesome, it’s easy to put on myself and has two buckles to secure it. You wear this wrap on your hips which distributes the weight perfectly and keeps baby nice and close! The mesh line is great for summer, it’s breathable and lightweight!

I love this basic grey one, but the Tula Carrier also comes in a bunch of cute prints! You can wear it on the front or back and holds larger toddlers, which is awesome!

Tula also makes blankets! Their wide variety of blankets are super soft and cute! I really don’t think you can ever have enough baby blankets.

Today’s DIY is a sunhat made from a bonnet that you can fold up for a little extra color. You’ll need a basic bonnet or bonnet pattern to start. You can use my pattern here or a premade bonnet!

Materials //

-free baby brim pattern

-1/4 cotton quilting fabric

-lightweight fusible interfacing

Instructions //

1. Cut out 2 brim pieces from cotton. Use a contrast fabric for one of them if you want an extra pop of color inside. Cut out 1 brim piece from fusible interfacing.

2. Fuse interfacing to the back of the brim lining fabric. Pin brim to the front of the bonnet, starting in the middle and winding around the front. Pin brim lining to bonnet lining and outer brim to outer bonnet.

3. Unfold both pieces and pin twill tape to the bottom front.

4. Pin both bonnet pieces together with right sides together (twill tape in between). Sew all the way around the hat and brim, leaving a 2-3″ opening at the bottom.

4. Turn right side out and press well. Topstitch over the opening to close the bonnet. And you’re done!

Check out some more fun DIY projects with Kate:

Inspiration: Floral Botanical Style

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In case you haven’t noticed, the botanical theme is in right now; the botanical style can fit so many nursery trends, whether it be boho-chic, romantic, country French. We rounded up some nursery essentials to fit your botanical theme, plus a few extra fun stuff, too!

Looking for more of a succulent themed botanical nursery? Check out this post!

Want to see more nursery inspo posts? Check out Gray Nursery Ideas, Gender Neutral Nursery, Botanical Nursery; Buffalo Plaid Nursery Inspiration; Princess Bride Inspired Nursery; Red, White, and Blue Nurseries; Black + White Patterned Nursery

Covered Goods Original Four-in-One Nursing Cover: When we’re talking about an investment piece for your life with baby, Covered Goods Original Four-in-One Cover is the one to get. Covered Goods multi-use nursing covers give you all the benefits that the traditional covers do… and more! The nursing cover also functions as a car seat cover, scarf, and shopping cart cover. When breastfeeding, it provides true all over coverage in the front and back, is super soft, and takes seconds to put on and take off. It features a flexible neck that can be worn down under one arm and also allows you to peek in to make sure your little one has latched properly, and can be folded very small and in any fashion for storage. With Covered Goods™ you can truly nurse anytime, anywhere! They come in a plethora of designs, but we are loving the Paradise Floral for your Botanical Nursery. And, just for Gugu Guru readers – use code GuGu72617 for 15% off your order!

Also seen: Must-Have: Covered Goods Nursing Cover; Minimalist Baby Registry; Two Moms Baby Registry; Registry Essentials: Multi-Use Baby Products

Caden Lane, Secret Garden Peach Watercolor Floral Bumperless Crib Bedding: Could this bedding be any more gorgeous? it’s like having a piece of art in the nursery! This 100% cotton bedding features a fitted crib sheet which fits standard crib mattresses 28″x52″, 4-sided crib skirt measures 17″ in length, and crib rail cover approximately 50″ long x 14″ wide with a poly-fiber batting fill with 4 ties.

Also seen: How To: Pick Baby Bedding For Your Registry

Little Sparrows Bows, Floral Letters: We are huge fans of personalization, and we are in love with these floral letters! Not only could you use them for the nursery, but they would make a wonderful prop for first birthday photos.

Lorena Canals Rug, Flowers: Bring the flower garden indoors with this lovely design! This floral pattern adds a burst of lively color anywhere you need it; great for a mudroom, sunroom, child’s or teen’s room, or a sitting area. We love Lorena Canals because they are super safe for tummy time, crawling, resting, and more – and can be washed in your regular washing machine!

Also seen: Cause-Driven Baby Registry: Lorena Canals; Say Goodbye To Dirty Rugs and Big Dry Cleaning Bills

Caden Lane, Changing Pad Cover-Holly’s Hydrangea: This 100% cotton changing pad cover is so gorgeous that you won’t want to change diapers on it!

Glenna Jean Ubbi Diaper Pail Cover: We are huge fans of Ubbi Diaper Pails, so why not perk yours up botanical style with this floral diaper pail cover? Super cute to add some “art” to utilitarian items in a nursery.

See why we love the Ubbi Diaper Pail: Top 5 Must-Have Essentials: Baby’s Nursery

Thank you to Covered Goods for making this sponsored post possible.

Getting Ready For Feeding Time with Kizingo

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It is always exciting when a baby transitions from eating baby food, to grabbing their own food, and eventually using utensils on their own. However, teaching a child to properly eat with utensils is not always easy. Luckily, Kizingo has come up with a new way to introduce using utensils to toddlers and kids.

Founded by two moms, the mission of Kizingo is to help children learn to love to eat, and therefore, learn to love mealtime, as it is such a special time for families. The name Kizingo means curved in Swahili and honors that time of exploration and discovery. Learning to feed yourself is difficult, but it’s so important and Kizingo believes that kids should have the tools they need to do this, successfully, for themselves.

What makes Kizingo spoons special? Kizingo encourages independence, as their curved form is easy for children to grip and therefore, children will be eager to hold them to eat. The short, wide handles are easy to hold, especially for small hands which are just learning to grasp well. They do not contain BPA, PVC, lead or Phthalates, and they are microwave and dishwasher save. They’re also designed and manufactured in America!

As baby will be learning to feed themselves before you know it, we highly recommend adding Kizingo to your baby registry! The Kizingo products are designed to promote successful self-feeding, giving confidence to parents and children. Babies and toddlers learning to feed themselves can get frustrated and most utensils are not well designed for how toddlers want to hold and use them. As a result, parents often take over feeding which can have unintended consequences. Kizingo spoons are curved to work with the way children hold utensils, making it easer for kids to successfully do it themselves. Help instill a sense of independence in your toddlers with the Kizingo spoon; a little independence goes a long way in toddlerhood, and anything to make meal time a little easier is always a plus in our book.

Thank you to Kizingo for making this sponsored post possible.

Staying Cool with Ubbi’s Bath Toys

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-Sponsored Post-

In the hottest days of summer, sometimes the only way to cool off is by jumping in the bathtub, right? Since your little ones need bathes year round, however, it’s imperative to find bath toys which not only will hold up and stay clean, but that your little ones love, too. We are excited to tell you all about Ubbi’s variety of bath toys today, especially about their one-of-a-kind structure.

Squeeze ‘n Switch Bath Toys: Ubbi’s Squeeze ‘n Switch Bath Toys are perfectly sized for those little hands to squeeze and squirt; to open, fill, close and pour; and to mix and match! These colorful and soft sea critters promise unlimited fun squirting outside of the water and bubbling under the water. Twist them open and close for easy cleaning to eliminate potential risk of mold development. These are PVC, BPA and Phthalate free; you can even wash them in your regular dishwasher!

Stack & Splash Bath Toys: Ubbi’s Stack and Splash Bath Toys are designed to enhance creative and imaginative play in the bathtub. Let them splash, float, fill and pour with their new bath time friends. The fun never stops with these colorful shark and dolphin cups, which even stack together for easy storage when bath time ends. These are PVC, BPA and Phthalate free, dishwasher safe, and can even be used outside, or for regular play, too.

Bathe ‘n Switch Bath Toys: Ubbi’s Bathe ‘n Switch Bath Toys are cute creatures designed to ignite your child’s imagination and promote development of hand-eye coordination. Switch up the body and head of the toy and make your own underwater animals with these easy to fit snap pieces. Children can fill, pour, mix, match and pretend with all four soft and colorful sea critters eager to splash and have a fun-filled adventure. As always, these are PVC, BPA and Phthalate free and dishwasher safe.

Bath Toy Draining Bin: With all of these wonderfully fun bath toys, you’re going to need a place to store them! The Bath Toy Draining Bin is designed with ingenuity in mind. This free standing bin allows you to conveniently contain bath toy clutter. Simply scoop the toys out of the tub using the whimsical handles, and place the bin on its base. The large holes in the bin allow for fast drying, and the base collects excess water that can be poured out later. Easy to use and wash, this drying bin makes bath time clean up a breeze.

Thank you to Ubbi for making this sponsored post possible.

Gender Reveal Ideas with Here Comes Baby

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In the last few years, the concept of the “gender reveal,” has snowballed into so many fun and exciting ways to announce the sex of your baby. In our first installment with Here Comes Baby, we covered pregnancy announcements; after your announce the pregnancy, it’s time to announce if you’re having a little girl or little boy, and planning for that can be super fun and creative. We rounded up some ideas for you below – and check out Here Comes Baby for more, too!

It’s a Boy Bodysuit; It’s a Girl Bodysuit

Some parents like to announce the sex with a onesie – we love these adorable onesies from Little Faces Apparel. Their It’s a Boy Bodysuit was featured in this very sweet gender reveal on XO Kerry’s blog.

For the techie moms, we love the Little Nugget Co app – you can simply add stickers to your photos within the app and announce the baby’s sex with a cute image – send it out via social media or to all of your family and friends super easily.

Powder Blue Moccasins; Peony Moccasins

Another cute idea is to use Freshly Picked moccasins to reveal the gender! Pink to Tango revealed her baby’s sex this way, and even incorporated her older son into the moment, too.

Looking for some more ideas?

*featured photo from SS Heart

Announcing the Launch of EXPLORE

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We are so excited to announce the launch of EXPLORE! Watch this short overview video from our founder, Monica, show why this is such a big deal and then swing on over to EXPLORE our product picks for Whitney Port.

With EXPLORE, Gugu Guru has now opened up our massive database of products so that users can search, sample the goods (without creating a registry) and easily see what’s new.

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