Gugu Guru

New On Gugu This Week: November 14, 2016

Welcome to the first installment of New on Gugu! Did you know that we add new products to Gugu Guru‘s personalized baby registry database on almost a daily basis? New products are curated and added by our in-the-know team of baby experts, as well as by other parents like you. And, as always, we don’t accept payment to be added to Gugu Guru; all of our product picks are totally unbiased.

Newborn Lockdown – Our product picks for your first 6-8 weeks postpartum when you’re mostly in your home getting to know the newest addition to your family. (This week, we are loving on these innovative, safe and portable Moba moses baskets.)

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Back to the Grind – Once you emerge from your postpartum haze, it’s time to get back into the swing of things. Whether you’re a stay at home mom or going back to work, this category will give you some suggested life hacks to make your new life with baby easier and so much more productive.

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Pack It Up – Whether down the street to your in-laws’ house or a flight across the pond for an adventure, our Pack It Up category gives you suggestions for portable, packable finds for your travels.

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And remember, if you don’t see something you want on Gugu Guru, you can add any product from any website. Simply click the link under the “Add To Registry” button”:

or below the Publish button on the Registry Manager page:

Each week, we will be posting some of our favorite picks from Gugu Guru’s unique registry categories so be sure to check back with us regularly so you don’t miss any of these cool finds for your family!

Subscription Services Parents Must Add to Their Registry!

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As we all know, when the baby comes, the house tends to go into newborn lockdown – it’s hard to get out and get essentials (and luxuries), so why not add some unique and helpful subscription services to your baby registry? Gugu Guru is a universal registry and you are able to add anything (yes, anything!) you want. Head down to the bottom of this post for a huge giveaway and special deals including all the products mentioned in this post!

Atlas Coffee Club: It’s a no-brainer that all new parents become sleep-zombies and need coffee (now!); don’t let the coffee run out in your house – check out Atlas Coffee Club – a travel themed coffee subscription that explores exotic and premium coffee, each month a new country! Their service is totally customizable; decide how often you want delivered, how many bags, roast preference, and grind type. Each bag is beautifully decorated and comes complete with brewing recommendations and a postcard from each country. You get to travel the world while baby (hopefully) sleeps!

Bump Boxes: Bump Box is the ultimate pregnancy subscription box – it is a monthly box of safe, healthy pregnancy and baby products! You choose a plan, and tell Bump Boxes when you are due; each month you will receive a box of 4-8 healthy pregnancy, mom and baby products curated specifically for your month of pregnancy. It’s a great way to try out new products and discover healthy and natural products which you can continue using after the baby is born.

HelloFresh: Let’s be honest – it is nearly impossible to cook a meal with an infant at home, let alone meal plan, prep, and shop! Luckily, HelloFresh has you covered. HelloFresh provides the opportunity to enjoy healthy home-cooked meals without the hassle. Eliminating the need to plan or shop, HelloFresh delivers delicious and satisfying meals that are easy and fun to make in 30 minutes. The recipes are also reviewed by an in-house dietitian to make sure you’re receiving a well-balanced and nutritious meal. They have many different dietary preferences to choose from and they deliver your HelloFresh box to your doorstep at a time and day of your choosing (Mon-Sat), free of charge. Plus, you can easily manage your account directly from your phone, so you can plan ahead while rocking baby to sleep. Eating healthy meals is essential to staying mentally healthy during the early baby days, so let HelloFresh take care of you, mama!

Chatbooks: When you have a baby, it’s amazing how quickly your phone and social media fills up with adorable photos. However, sometimes it’s nicer to have printed photos of the baby – but, who has time to make a photo book with a crying baby to feed? Chatbooks is your perfect solution. Chatbooks creates soft or hardcover 60-page photo books from your Instagram feed, Facebook timeline, or favorite photos from your phone. They make it so easy for you to create books; if you set up a photo source, like your Instagram feed, they will import photos and print books for you (with free shipping), without you having to do anything at all! You can also create custom books (and create books from specific hashtags you used) using their archival paper and inks – as they say, “hold on to what matters,” because you never know when your phone is going to fall into the toilet. Chatbooks also make a great gift for grandparents because you can duplicate your books and have them shipped nationally.

DateBox: It’s not secret that time with your spouse becomes non-existent when baby comes along; it’s almost impossible to get out of the house, and when you do, you’re tired and ready to turn right back around. Thankfully, DateBox has you covered! DateBox is a monthly delivery of everything you need to make a fun and creative date night in the comfort of your own home. With awesome boxes such as sushi night, camping adventure (s’mores!), painting projects, and more, you and your spouse will love having a new box every month to look forward to. Even if you barely say two words beyond “where’s the baby’s bottle?” for the other 29 days of the month, at least you know with DateBox, you can look forward to one special night a month of just the two of you.

Graze: With a new baby in the house, sometimes you skip a meal and are starving, but can’t find a healthy snack anywhere! We are big fans of Graze boxes, which delivers a box of delicious and healthy snacks once a month. They feature over 100 unique snacks; you simply tell them your flavor and taste preferences and they curate a box for you. Their snacks have no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives – a Graze box subscription is perfect for a breastfeeding mama who needs lots of healthy snacks during feedings!

Panda Plates: One of the more difficult aspects of having a second baby is finding time to feed the older kids! Luckily, Panda Plates has you covered. Panda Plates creates weekly healthy menus of snacks and meals for kids; each week, their team prepares a variety of dinners, lunches and snacks to choose from, including a selection of gluten-free, dairy-free, and meat-free options. Simply choose the meals you want to receive and they’ll prepare and package them up. Your meals are hand-packed and dispatched using a friendly courier service. Each delivery comes safely tucked away in an insulated bag that stays cold until you put in your fridge. Simply remove the food from the container and follow the serving instructions that come with every meal. Some meals can be quickly warmed in the oven, while others are perfect out of the fridge or at room temperature! What a great way to ensure older siblings eat healthy and satisfying meals even with a new baby in the house.

Holiday Gift Ideas for the Mama Who Loves to Travel

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As the holidays approach, we’re sharing our product picks and gift ideas for the moms in your life. Whether she’s traveling around her town, city, village, or world, every mama should be prepared when it comes to traveling with baby. These would make wonderful baby gifts, or add them to your registry.

Sponsored Post

Hope Carried Linen Ring Sling, Blush: When traveling, or even simply just meandering around the grocery store, it’s always so much easier when you can wear your baby or toddler. The blush linen ring sling from Hope Carried makes traveling with a little one so much more efficient, and dare we even say…fun? This ring sling would make a wonderful gift this holiday season because it will hold-up and last forever; five times stronger than cotton and naturally antibacterial, linen is woven from spun flax — one of the most sustainable natural fibers in the world. These ring slings are perfect for traveling in any environment as they regulate temperate with a built-in wicking property and breathe wonderfully, keeping you warm and cozy in the winter and cool and dry in the summer. The simple gorgeousness of linen is suited to every occasion, from family beach adventures to special events and everything in between.

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Pediped Footwear: What makes pediped shoes unique? pediped footwear has been awarded the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance for the promotion of healthy foot development, and orthopedic medical professionals deem pediped shoes an excellent choice for parents who want their children’s feet to develop naturally and healthily. For the holidays, pediped is offering gift boxes available in two pair or one pair options of classic pediped Originals® styles – wrapped in silver paper with a purple ribbon (now through December 21, 2016). These gift boxes contain pediped Originals® shoes and a purple or grey baby blanket. A single pair gift box retails for $54.95 (a $89.95 value) and a two pair gift box retails $84.95 (a $129.90 value.) What a steal! Plus, it’s so easy to give a box as a gift because pediped Originals® are sized by age (0-6 month, 6-12 month, 12-18 month and 18-24 month).

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Kleynimals: Any parent knows that they key to traveling with baby is having a lot of distractions for them. Kleynamils are non-toxic stainless steel toy keys that will satisfy your child’s desire to play with metal keys without the hazards of lead contamination, sharp edges, or the daily grime that come with the keys in the bottom of your diaper bag. These make a wonderful gift as they can be monogrammed, and will become a family heirloom long after baby is done chewing on them. They’re easy to travel with and can be thrown in any bag for any family adventure.

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Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit: If you’re traveling with baby, often sleeping in a new environment can make it tough for baby to fall asleep; the Magic Sleepsuit by Baby Merlin gives baby a warm, cozy, and comforting feeling to help them fall asleep faster, and stay asleep, too! The Magic Sleepsuit is designed for babies who are ready to transition from the swaddle, yet still need that cozy and contained feeling to aid in their sleep. Made with soft, comforting materials, the Magic Sleepsuit will give your baby the sense of security and warmth they need to sleep well through the night.

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Beaugen Breast Pump Nipple Cushion: If mama’s breastfeeding and traveling, there’s a good chance she’s also pumping. These breast pump nipple cushions are a universal fit, soft and stretchy which add comfort to your breast pump. Each package includes 2 nipple cushions which fit breast shield sizes 19mm-36mm. Make your time pumping more comfortable with these soft and helpful cushions!

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Thank you to Pediped Footwear, Hope Carried, Kleynimals, Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit and Beaugen for sponsoring this post.

Meet Julie: Our New Travel Editor!

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Gugu Guru’s team is so excited to introduce you to Julie Bielenberg – our new travel editor! Every month Julie will be taking us on a new adventure in her “Have Baby Will Travel” series, and showing us her tips for traveling with kids and babies. Julie’s here today to introduce herself and stay tuned for her first travel adventure this January!

Have Baby, Will Travel!

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

That’s my motto, it hasn’t always been, but along the journey, it’s a ‘hashtag’ I’ve definitely begun to embrace. I’ve conquered dozens of flights with an infant, or toddler, or both, in tow. I’ve road tripped to three states in nine days and visited seven different hotels; I’ve attempted the adventurous lifestyle of baby and travel, and, it’s really not that challenging. More so, it’s almost addictive.

I used to dread every plane flight, new hotel room, in-laws sleeper sofa, car ride over 25 minutes, meal out in anything but the comfort of a suburban chain. However, after I realized my spirit was truly only enlightened with travel and children along, then I understood I needed to adjust my lifestyle and attitude.

Today, with the ease of the Internet, you can easily search how to travel with baby and get a list of items and places to go. However, it’s the once I’ve gotten there that’s sometimes a struggle, but usually overcome with success with the right equipment, attitude and tools. That’s the editorial, photographs, community and interaction we strive to give you at Gugu Guru. We want you to have baby, and travel!

Each month we expose you to various moments on the road, whether that be a taxi ride, plane ride, 10-day Caribbean cruise, 2-day slow travel train trip, we’re taking you and baby with us, and the best gear we can grab to get it done, while looking as stylish as possible. We want ease of travel and joy of baby while on the go, and expertly procured goods to make adventure and family even more lovable.

In November I am excited to introduce you to my family and the three little ones who have taught me everything I really need to know about travel—Hank the Tank, Dora the Explorer and Addy. my newest addition. Through their navigation of the foreign, strange, excitable and scary, I’ve become a slow and go traveler; I can enjoy the world through their eyes and still have a sense of adventure and fun, with family in tow and laughter, giggles, shrieks and tears as part of the ride.

Enjoy the incredible autumn. We were just remarking this morning how crunchy the leaves were on the way to school. It’s very dry in the Rocky Mountains and it’s a spectacular assortment of red, yellow, orange and green. My dear friend who moved to New Hampshire this summer has told me that there is no better display of red in fall than Vermont. For our August 2017 travel issue we do a leaf peeping story on the best way to travel with baby and enjoy the leaves, so stay tuned while my girlfriend and I vie for best photos.

In the mean time, as we enjoy the autumn, we can’t help but get excited for the snow to fall and the skis to get waxed. Join us in January as we hit the slopes with the kiddos, for have baby, will travel, an our Colorado-born babies, they hit the slopes young, with the right gear, food and naps, of course!

Happy adventures and enjoy the leaves and first snowfall.

The Brown Crayon Project

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By: Shana, Gugu Guru Director of Content Marketing

Say you’re the crunchy mom of a brown baby, who will do no slathering or spraying unless you can identify every ingredient on the label. And you’re breastfeeding and know that even if a product is all natural, there are some herbs that you need to avoid. And you know that as a brown baby, your little one’s skin and hair need a little extra moisture. What do you do? Stockpile Organic Virgin Coconut Oil and resign yourself to having a baby that perpetually smells like a macaroon? No!

I’m absolutely in love with The Brown Crayon Project – a line of products made specifically for babies (and kids) of color. It is a certified-organic, all-natural line of skin and hair care products and is pregnancy- and breastfeeding-safe. The products smell great and are good for a year after opening (so no bottles of rancid smelling hair oil after only a few months).

My favorite products from the line are the Wake Up Mist, which is perfect for reviving kinks and curls and I use it almost daily on my biracial daughter’s very fine curls (the Sunday Oil is too heavy for her, but perfect for my own hair); the Everyday Hair Food, which I use on her every few days for an extra kick of moisture; and the Hair + Skin bath, which is super gentle, super moisturizing and can even be used as a leave-in (I’ll definitely try that when she’s older).

Take a look at the complete line and also read the inspiring story of how Selma Idris, Founder + CEO + Mom created The Brown Crayon Story with her sons in mind.

Webinar: Breastfeeding + Returning to Work on November 17th

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Leaving your breastfed little one while you return to work can be a daunting prospect, but proper planning can help ensure a successful transition. Does my employer have to provide me with a space to pump? How often should I pump at work? When should I first offer a bottle? What if I forget my pump at home?

Ease your mind and set yourself up for success by attending the third webinar in our three-part series: Returning to Work!

Details
Thursday, November 17, 2016 | 2-3pm EDT
Join us for our 1-hour Returning to Work* webinar from the comfort of your own home or workplace, led by Wendy Colson, RN, IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) and creator of Boobie Bars. This 1-hour class is guaranteed to teach you everything you need to know about returning to work as a breastfeeding mom. We will also offer time for Q/A at the end of the class, time-permitting. Don’t miss out on our early bird pricing!

This a must-attend if you plan to breastfeed and return to work!

Key topics to be covered will be:

What are my legal rights as a breastfeeding employee?
How do I begin to build my freezer stash for when I return to work?
When should I first offer a bottle?
How often should I pump at work?
How do I store my pump parts at work?
Plus, much, much more!

*Returning to Work is Part Three of our three-part series, which covers setting yourself up for successful breastfeeding. After Part Three, the series will begin again with Part One, Advanced Breastfeeding Class, followed by Part Two, Pumping and Storing.

Gugu Village is Gugu Guru’s new educational community for expecting and new moms. Offering both webinars and offline events, Gugu Village provides first time moms with the knowledge that they need to feel prepared and well supported during the prenatal and postpartum period.

Product Discovery: Lalu Lenders

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It’s no secret that babywearing has become popular for a variety of reasons; it’s great to have your hands free, easy to travel with baby, and a wonderful way to bond with baby and help them feel safe and secure. Baby wraps are the ultimate way to wear a baby because they are incredibly versatile, breathable, and can grow with your child. However, investing in a baby wrap can often be expensive, and if it’s your first time trying a wrap, new moms are often hesitant to invest. This is why we’re so excited to introduce you to Lalu Lenders, an easy and efficient way to try wraps out until you find one which works for you and your baby.

Lalu Wovens are known for their gorgeous wraps featuring modern patterns, available in all different densities. Their patterns and designs are created with specific meanings in mind, for example, their Demoiselle pattern features cranes in flight, which is symbolic of happiness and eternal youth. All of their wraps have textures that provides the perfect amount of stretch, bounce, and support for your baby. Their aim is to introduce wraps to all new moms and make it easy for them to find a wrap which they love.

So, how do they accomplish this? With their Lalu Lenders program! Lalu Lenders is a risk-free way to try a Lalu woven before you buy it. Lalu understands just how important it is to see, touch, and feel a wrap before you buy it. Lalu Lenders allows you to try a Lalu woven for just $10 per week. This includes free shipping and a pre-paid return envelope. You’re simply billed $20 every two weeks for as long as you have the wrap. The lender program allows you to test out a wrap for as long as you’d like. If you decide to buy it, you’ll get full credit for any fees paid towards the purchase of the wrap. It’s a win-win!

As we head into gift giving season, we think this is a wonderful gift for a new mama! Because you don’t have to invest all the money at one time, it’s an affordable, useful, and gorgeous gift for your wife, sister, friend, or yourself. In fact, the perfect stocking stuffer this year is a $20 gift card to try two weeks of a wrap – head to Lalu Lenders to purchase the gift card and Santa can stick it in the stocking this Christmas. Looking to purchase a wrap or try one out? Use the special code 2WEEKSGIFT for 15% off your order. If you’ve been looking to try out a wrap to babywear, head over to Lalu Wovens and pick the weight, pattern, and style perfect for you.

Webinar: Pumping & Storing Breastmilk on November 15

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Whether you’re pumping to boost your supply, to build up a stash of frozen milk, or because you prefer to bottle feed your breastmilk, the thought of pumping can be daunting. Will it hurt, how long should you pump, how do you store the milk? Ease your mind and set yourself up for success by attending the second webinar in our three-part series: Pumping and Storing!

Details
Tuesday, November 15, 2016 | 2-3pm EST
Join us for our 1-hour Pumping and Storing* webinar from the comfort of your own home or workplace, led by Wendy Colson, RN, IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) and creator of Boobie Bars. From flange size to freezers, this 1-hour class is guaranteed to teach you everything you need to know about pumping and storing your milk. We will also offer time for Q/A at the end of the class, time-permitting. Don’t miss out on our early bird pricing!

This a must-attend if you plan to pump!

Key topics to be covered will be:

• How to ensure a good supply from the start

• When to start pumping

• How long to pump

• How to begin to build your freezer stash

• Plus, much, much more!

*Pumping is Part Two of our three-part series, which covers setting yourself up for successful breastfeeding. Part Three covers Returning to Work.

Our Favorite Rainbow Baby Gifts

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Seen in featured photo above Rainbow Farm Fluff from Etsy shop OhSoFleeting.

“You can’t have the rainbow without the storm.” – Shannon L. Alder

The rainbow in modern families can signify many things and often, when the term rainbow baby is used, it signifies the welcoming of a “miracle” child commonly after a previous loss or years of TTC. From subtle to more overt, there are many wonderful ways to celebrate and gift the rainbow baby. In this post, we share some gorgeous gift ideas for a rainbow baby in your life.

For the expecting mama who wants to make a statement and celebrate, we just love this flowing rainbow dress from SewTrendyAccessories on Etsy.

Looking for something more artisanal and unique? This gorgeous handpainted quilt from Out of Character Quilts on Etsy is a gorgeous heirloom that will last for generations to come.

For the more subtle gift for a rainbow baby, this eco-friendly wooden rainbow teether from Little Sapling Toys serves as much more than just a decorative item – baby can soothe her little gums on this non-allergenic, non-toxic and sustainable toy.

As a holiday gift to your older rainbow baby, the Merry Pom hat from Instagram favorite shop Briar Handmade is a beautiful statement piece, especially for parents with a penchant for bohemian style.

You can always depend on Ouef for high-quality, modern design. This pillow is the perfect touch to your rainbow baby’s nursery or kid room, serving as a decorative reminder.

And finally we end with this gorgeous Stokke Stroller Kit in Multi Stripes. And while this is a seasonal kit meant for warmer weather, we just think it’s a gorgeous statement piece for showing off your baby rainbow to the world.

Must Have Travel Item: FlyKids

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“Flying with kids is sooo much fun” is not a phrase you tend to hear being tossed around in parenting circles, and with good reason! It’s not just the anxiety of making sure your son or daughter isn’t kicking the seat of the person in front of him, or pressing their service button every 5 minutes — it’s keeping them constantly occupied for the whole flight. Even if you’ve got a screen and an array of kids’ entertainment for them to watch, it’s still nice for them to have something creative to do, right?

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A trio of Brooklyn moms thought so, too. The mothers, all sworn travel aficionados, launched a company called FlyKids after realizing how much stress and anxiety seemed to go into packing for a flight with kids (running around with that endless loop of Did I bring enough/too much/will they like the toys/get bored/what about snacks?)

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A FlyKids kit takes all the guesswork out of the equation, because FlyKids handles it for you: Just fill out a quick questionnaire on the website, listing a few of your child’s interests and preferences, and they’ll whip up a kit that’s curated just for your kid. My four-year-old boy was excited to see that his kit included a pirate-themed Melissa & Doug puffy sticker set, a Dr. Seuss matching game, some animal finger puppets, felt sticker sets, a Curious George book, a toy Passport, and more. If you’re gearing up to travel this holiday season, head to FlyKids and get started – you’ll pat yourself on the back for it later (like as you’re actually reading a magazine and your toddler is playing by himself!).

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