Gugu Guru

Dadpreneur Spotlight: Nathan Day of LugBug

As a parent, you know that lugging around an infant in a car seat is a lot of work – but, who wants to wake the baby and take them out just because the carseat is cumbersome? After new dad, Nathan Day, dislocated his shoulder lugging his baby daughter around in her carseat, he knew there had to be a better way. When he realized there was nothing else on the market to make carrying an infant seat easier and safer on the parent, he set out to develop his own.

LugBug is a lightweight, ergonomic and exceptionally strong little handle that adjusts to any single-handle baby carrier and offers a range of better, more comfortable and enjoyable carrying positions that support the arm and wrist. The LugBug is a necessity for any parent who needs to take the carrier in and out of the car, whether it’s to the park, grandma’s house, or daycare – why make it harder on yourself? Just attach the LugBug and ease the pain of carrying the carseat. Offered in six different colors, the LugBug handle works with all major carseats, and would make a great baby shower gift which new parents never even knew they needed!

GG: How and why did you start LugBug? Tell us the concept behind LugBug!

ND: The idea of LugBug was born out of necessity after I dislocated my shoulder while lugging around my infant daughter in her car seat. After much research, I was shocked to discover there was nothing on the market to make baby carriers easier to hold. My idea was to build a sturdy, reliable and easy-to-use handle for parents to prevent strain-related injuries when lifting inherently awkward infant car seats. The concept started with a sketch, which evolved into making LugBug a reality with molds, testing, patents and now manufacturing. The result is LugBug, a lightweight, ergonomic and exceptionally strong little handle that adjusts to any single-handle baby carrier. It offers a range of better, more comfortable and enjoyable carrying positions that ease tension on the wrist, forearm and shoulder.

GG: How do you balance work and family?

ND: The great thing about LugBug is it is a product for parents so when I work on LugBug a lot of time it involves my family. My wife was the product tester for quite a while before we launched it. And my kids are always up for seeing what LugBug is all about.

GG: What’s the best part of being a “Dadpreneur” and running your own business?

ND: The best part of being a Dadpreneur is my girls love that I invented LugBug and they now come to me with their own little inventions. They see that their ideas can amount to anything and they love talking to me about their ideas and problems they want to solve. Thalia always tries to solve ways she can get more ice cream. Her latest idea was a freezer you could carry so the ice cream wouldn’t melt on you! I love fostering that creativity in them.

Summer Travel Must Haves

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Now that summer is in full swing, it seems families are out and about every chance they can get! Gugu Guru has rounded up some of the best travel must haves for summertime. These also make excellent summer baby shower gifts for a new parent!

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Covered Goods Multi Use Nursing Cover, Bouquet: These multipurpose breastfeeding covers are perfect for travel; they’re lightweight and, as with any functional travel accessory, serve multiple uses! You can use these stylish covers to nurse your baby under, they’re stretchy, breathable, and cover mama in all the right places. Not nursing? These covers make a gorgeous scarf for mama when the weather turns chilly at night, as well as a grocery seat cover, and an infant seat cover. The Bouquet design is colorful for summer days on the beach and the perfect pop of color as a scarf for date nights on vacation! (Use code GUGUGURU15 for 15% off your purchase).

Babymoov Traveler Bag, Heather Grey: Looking for an all-purpose travel baby bag? The Babymoov Traveler Bag, designed in the heart of France, is a carry-all diaper/hospital/travel bag specifically designed with functionality and style in mind. The neutral color of the bag makes it perfect for either mom or dad to carry, and it features a changing mat, pacifier holder, insulated bottle pocket, and storage pocket. The changing pad is stored on the outside of the bag, which makes a quick change in a beach bathroom or airport a breeze. This lightweight bag is perfect for all of your summer adventures.

The Stair Barrier: Heading to a beach house or family vacation this summer? What do you do about all those steps in the house? The Stair Barrier has a solution! The stair barrier is an entirely new brand of safety gate product that is designed specifically for the bottom of the stairs. Made from high quality upholstery fabric, and super easy to install (no drilling!) the barrier is lightweight and easy to travel with. If you’re headed to a new location, simply roll up the Stair Barrier and carry it with you – installation at a new location is super easy, and protects both babies and pets from crawling up the stairs!

GoTo 2in1 Portable Travel High Chair, black: The GoTo 2in1 Portable Travel High Chair is the perfect companion for parents who love to take their baby out to restaurants when they travel. This chair holds an infant car seat at the perfect feeding height, as well as having leg room for a secure and effective highchair. Take it with you on vacation, camping or just use it around the house. The GoTo travel chair also has storage pockets for your baby’s silverware, bibs, napkins and pacifier. It comes with a handy carrying case that neatly fits your foldable high chair. It has a strap for easy carrying and you can haul it on your shoulder like a small duffle bag. It stows unassumingly in the closet or trunk so you can access it whenever you need.

Babyhome’s Emotion Stroller: Looking for a perfect travel stroller? With it’s large basket for trinkets and souvenirs, the Babyhome Emotion Stroller is the ultimate travel companion. With its large seat recline, babies as young as 3 months can use the stroller, which fits easily through all door ways and rides smoothly on even the bumpiest of streets. Most importantly, it is incredibly easy to fold up and stands up right, and out of the way when not in use. With its waterproof canopy, this stroller is wonderful for music festivals, picnics, and the beach!

b.box diaper wallet, mellow lellow: When traveling, quick diaper changes are a must! We’re big fans of the b.box diaper wallet because it is the only diaper wallet with a built in wipes compartment and dual access to wipes. Wipes can be accessed inside when it’s change time, or if you need to quickly clean little fingers, grab a wipe from the external hatch. The wallet comes with an easy to clean changing pad and plenty of room for storage for two disposable diapers or even a spare change of clothes.

Mompreneur Spotlight: Heather Stoeckel Karpinsky of Baby A & Baby B

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This week’s fab mom is twin mom Heather Stoeckel Karpinsky of Baby A & Baby B.

GG: Tell us about your product and how you came up with the feeding set?

HSK: We were so excited when we found out we were expecting twins. The news came as a big surprise and so did their arrival. Grant and Gavin were born at just 31 weeks after I developed preeclampsia. When they were born, I did not get to hold them. They were rushed immediately into the NICU and I remained in the operating room praying. That day started my journey as a mother of twins and the experiences below gave me the idea for the Twin Feeding Set.

Stopping the Spread of Germs: When we were able to go home after 6 weeks in the NICU, we were very happy and nervous. My babies had entered into this world as warriors and I wanted to do everything in my power to protect them. Leaving the strict rules of the NICU and heading home made me very worried about exposing Grant and Gavin to sickness. Parents of premature babies know that colds can be harsh and in some cases cause permanent damage to a premature baby’s developing lungs. When my son Gavin got a cold at just 6 months old, I did everything in my power to ensure he got better quickly and that Grant did not get the same cold.

Keeping foods separate due to allergy: Being a parent makes you want to do the best for your children. I wanted the best and most healthy foods. I started making purees at home. It was a great way to save money and ensure only the best ingredients were used. We soon discovered that Grant loved anything with apples and Gavin did not. Gavin would get an upset stomach when he ate anything with apple. So ensuring their foods were not confused became important.

Making things a little easier: Feeding twins is so different than feeding a singleton. I always felt so silly juggling separate bowls and spoons while frantically trying to feed my boys. I also felt weird using the same spoon and bowl when both boys were healthy. It was a stressful experience and I hated making them wait so long in between bites. I searched online to try to find something that would make the process easier, but was unable to locate anything, so I started looking into doing it myself. These circumstances gave me the idea for the twin feeding set.

The Twin Feeding Set provides two mouthpieces to keep germs from spreading and two matching bowls that make it easy for parents to measure how much food each child has consumed. The Twin Feeding Set is also easy to hold and allows the parents of multiples to feed both children without juggling separate bowls and spoons. We started using the first model of the twin feeding set for my boys when they were 7 months old and they have yet to spread a cold or germs. We tested out the product for 6 months before we started to sell them online. The twin feeding set has enabled them to eat their favorite foods at every meal. It was a dream come true for us because it turned a stressful time into an enjoyable time for everyone.

GG: What is the best part of being a mompreneur?
HSK: The best part of being a mompreneur is connecting to other parents of twins. It makes me a better mother and I love hearing their stories. Becoming a mother to twins is my life’s greatest blessing and being able to use what I have learned from my past experiences has been truly wonderful.

When I graduated from Albright College in 2002 I started working at MBNA, a bank based in Wilmington, DE. I took a position in customer service that taught me to “think of yourself as a customer” and “success is finding a better method.” When MBNA was sold, I took a new role in development at the University of Delaware. I helped to raise money for scholarships, programs, and research. The birth of my twins altered my plans and going back to work was not possible. My salary did not cover the cost of daycare and coupled with my husband’s hectic career as a helicopter pilot we agreed it was best for me to stay at home with my boys. My focus was on nurturing and caring for my twins, however part of me missed working. When I discovered how simple changes to the products I already used everyday would make parenting twins a little easier my journey as a mompreneur began. Being a mompreneur has given me the best of both worlds. It enables me to be at home with my boys while letting me use my experience in customer service to help others. My new role has helped me grow personally and professionally while connecting me with parents of twins from around the world.

GG: How do you balance it all?
HSK: I take it one day at a time and always do my best. Balancing is almost impossible with twins! You can plan and prioritize and then something can happen that changes all of those plans. I am so lucky that I have a great support system (my husband, mother, father, friends, and my entire family) that I can always count on. The day of my first large order my son Grant had an allergic reaction that caused a severe asthma attack and I rushed him to the hospital. Without the help of my mom and my husband I would have failed in getting my orders completed that day. I would never want to let anyone down, so doing things all by myself would be impossible. It takes a village.

Gift Idea Roundup!

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Looking for some gift ideas for all those summertime baby showers? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!

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Kangovou Kids Dishware Set, Iced Mint: This nine piece food-grade stainless steel kid’s dishware set is free of BPA, PVC and phthalates. Each set includes a food grade stainless steel divided plate which keeps foods separated and provides a built in space for condiments, a flat plate, for larger items such as pizza or sandwiches, stainless steel cereal bowl, used for cold or hot cereal or even soup, stainless steel snack bowl, used for crackers, sliced fruit, yogurt, and a food grade drinking cup, which Includes pop-up drinking straw and Snap on lid to prevent leaks.

Petite Namaste, Damask 3 piece bedding set: This gorgeous aqua and coral colored damask cotton bedding set includes a quilt, fitted sheet and crib skirt. Perfect for any baby girl’s nursery, as it is full of color and pattern!

Belabumbum Ondine Mom & Baby Matching set: A soft 100% Pima cotton set which is sure to become a favorite for both mama and baby! A wonderful baby shower gift for a new mom, this set includes a soft robe and pajama set for mom and matching baby gown. The camisole has easy nursing access, and the pants are comfortable for after delivery and beyond. The baby gown fits 0-3 months, banded bottom for easy changing, and mitten cuffs to protect baby’s hands.

ergoCocoon Summer Swaddle and Sleep Bag, Coral Chevron: This organic cotton, original ergoCocoon swaddle takes all the confusion out of swaddling the baby! It is super stretchy to allow for natural movement and has a 2 way zipper for easy on and off. The coral chevron print is the perfect summer accessory and would match with any brightly colored nursery.

SOZO Little Sprinkler Weeblock: No longer do you have to “watch out!” when changing your baby boy! Underneath the super-soft 2-ply cotton jersey covering lies the secret weapon—an absorbing sponge. Simply place over baby during a diaper change and protect yourself from getting all wet! This machine washable protection is the perfect accompaniment to any baby shower present.

Babymoov Lovenest, Flat-Head Pillow: The Lovenest was created and patented by a French pediatrician to prevent flat-head syndrome, which can sometimes occur in the first weeks of life while the skull is still soft enough to be molded. The Lovenest pillow can be used in any baby bouncer, swing and stroller. The Lovenest can be used from birth to 4 months.

Trend Spotter: Desert Garden

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1. Lucy Darling 4 Cactus 8″x10″ Print ($20) available from BabySwag With an effortless modern style, Lucy Darling offers a high-quality southwest cactus art print featuring the Golden Barrel, Emerald Wave, Saguaro, and Prickly Pear cacti. Designed to celebrate life’s darling moments.

2. SUN HAT GRASS ($23.49) available from Nadadelazos. Unisex sun hat with ties. The hat is reversible and can be worn with GRASS print or in solid red color. 100% organic cotton. GOTS certified

3. NOE & ZOE BERLIN Cactus Tank Dress ($19.90) available from Rowdy Roddy Vintage.This baby body is a must for your little muffins wardrobe. The onesie comes in a green cactus print with press-stud fastening and tank top style with attached skirt. This organic cotton romper brings a stylish touch to this baby basic.

4. Marfa Crib Sheet available from Biscuit Home. ($60) 350 thread count, 100% cotton sateen. A third of your life is spent in bed. Bedding is the first thing that you see in the morning and the last thing you are looking at each night. We believe it’s not only important for your bedding to bring a smile to your face, but also provide a sanctuary that helps you take on each new day. This is why we take our bedding seriously, and strive to bring you a soft, pure, and quality product.

5. Crochet Cactus Succulent Blanket Throw Baby Unisex Home Knit Decor Custom in ANY COLORS/strong> ($65) available from CrochetSavy on Etsy. The perfect blanket for your little love, fits well in any carseat, stroller, or bassinet. Light weight and very soft! Made with 100% acrylic yarn, all colors optional.

6. Organic baby leggings, Cactus ($28) available from BinkyMonsterInc on Etsy. How cute are these little cactus themed leggings? <3 Perfect for gift giving (especially as gender neutral!) or just shopping around for a baby with style! This item is super soft and comfy for little ones. All seams are professionally sewn and surged for clean finishes and longer durability. This item is made with 100% Organic Cotton GOTS certified Knit.

7. T-Shirt Cactus($14.10) available from Nadadelazos.Short sleeve T-shirt in 100% organic cotton with print CACTUS. The print is embroidered in some areas. The small sizes will have an opening on left shoulder with small buttons for an easy changing. GOTS certified.

8. Linen-blend Pillow($14.99) available from H&M. BABY EXCLUSIVE. Pillow in a linen and cotton blend with a printed pattern and embroidery. Polyester fill. Size of cactus pillow 11 x 15 1/4 in., size of cat pillow 10 1/4 x 11 1/2 in.

Baby’s First Summer

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Beauty editor and new mom, Marina Klimasiewfski, chats with Dr. Elizabeth Hale who shares with us some tips on how to navigate your baby’s first summer…

DISCLAIMER: This article is not offering medical advice. Before making a purchase, please consult with your pediatrician about which sunscreen is right for you and your family.

After several months of wondering if my baby was wearing enough layers (for our very first outing I dressed him in a onesie, a footie, a sweater and a hat then basically sprinted the 10 steps from the car to the pediatrician’s door), the exceptionally hot Memorial Day weekend alerted me to new dangers I hadn’t even considered for my young one. How do babies plus sun, sand, and sea mix?! Turns out there is a whole world (and market!) of sunscreens and sun protective clothing to help manage just that concern. I interviewed Dr. Elizabeth Hale, Clinical Associate Professor of Dermatology at New York University School of Medicine, mom of three kids, avid marathoner, and consultant to Coppertone to find out what the experts tell their patients/parents for navigating baby’s first summer.

1. What should parents look for in sunscreens for infants?

Dr. Hale: “Keep in mind that newborns (anywhere up to six months) should not be in the direct sunlight and therefore should not be wearing sunscreen. After that age, a mild and non-irritating lotion can be applied that provides broad spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays such as Coppertone Water BABIES SPF 70. The formula contains Vitamin E to moisturize the baby’s skin and is also hypoallergenic. There’s also Coppertone Water BABIES Pure + Simple, which contains an even gentler zinc oxide formula.”

2. How long is too long for an infant to be in the sun?

Dr. Hale: “For an infant, any amount of unprotected sun is too much. They should always be in the shade, with a hat and umbrella!”

3. What should parents do to protect their children’s scalp from sun exposure?

Dr. Hale advises doubling up on scalp protection, “On top of putting a hat on, parents should also keep in mind that sunscreen is important on the scalp as well. For babies, a regular sunscreen lotion can be rubbed on the scalp to prevent burning; for children, try an easy-application spray such as Coppertone Kids Continuous Spray.”

4. Many parents are eager for their child’s first beach day. How old does a child need to be before they can go in salt water? How about a chlorinated pool?

Dr. Hale: “Over six months old is the best age since infants don’t have strong immune systems quite yet. For chlorine, six months is key as well but keep in mind that chlorine pools are filled with chemicals that may irritate a child’s skin.”

5. Any other summer skincare tips for parents that you can offer?

Dr. Hale: “Don’t forget to take advantage of other sun protection options such as long-sleeved shirts and umbrellas. Babies’ skin is incredibly vulnerable due to the fact that it’s brand new, so it’s important to also replenish it after being exposed to sunlight and chemicals from the pool.”

For good measure I asked prominent Upper Westside Family Physician Dr. Jeremy Stoepker to share any additional thoughts on babies and sun. He echoed Dr. Hale’s sentiments that younger babies should be kept out the sun. Once a baby is 3-6 months he recommends a physical, rather than chemical, barrier, such as one containing zinc oxide. Finally, he notes the best resource for parents looking to see where sunscreens stand in terms of ingredient safety is the environmental working group website (ewg.org), which ranks various sunscreens annually.

After these chats I’ve successfully filled another Amazon cart with items I previously had no idea I needed. Having a baby will do that to you, it seems. Happy Summer!

Gugu Guru recommends that you check out Babo Botanicals sun protection. For more tips on summer products check out our article on summer baby must-haves.

Well Rounded NY’s Small Spaces Picks

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The ladies of Well Rounded NY – the foremost experts on chic city living -and therefore, by default also masters of petite living quarters – have curated some of their favorite “small spaces” picks for your baby registry and we have them listed here. Have a Gugu Guru registry? Add them all in our new WRNY Small Spaces category!

GB Pockit stroller

Designed for frequent travelers, the gb Pockit Stroller in Monument Black quickly folds into an ultra-compact package shaped like a handbag for simple transport on airplanes and more. The stroller offers a self-standing folded option for added versatility when you and baby are dining out.

SkipHop Pronto changing station

The Pronto is our portable diapering essentials kit that ensures that baby is always clean, dry and happy, and that mom and dad are always prepared. Drop it in any bag, strap it to your wrist or clip it to your stroller and you’re good to go. With loads of features, our Pronto is a favorite of moms and dads everywhere. Its extra wide mod changing pad wipes clean, and the head area is cushioned with an innovative pronto pillow. The pad is also removable, allowing the body to become an independent diaper carry all.

Puj tub

The Puj Tub is the easiest bath tub ever! Made from a soft foam that folds and conforms to almost any sink, the Puj Tub cradles and protects the baby during bath time. Hang or store the tub flat anywhere you would like…even on the back of your door and out of sight!

Babyhome – Dream bassinet

As a lightweight sleeping system, the Air is the only bassinet you’ll need whether your lifestyle is on-the-go or you’re dyed-in-the-wool homebodies. With a beautifully constructed frame boasting a brilliant leg design that transforms from wheels, to stationary, to rocker on the fly, the quality of the Air is evident from the ground up. The mesh window on the side of the Air creates for a well ventilated sleeping space and serves to give you a view into the bassinet without disturbing your sleeping baby.

Micuna OVO Chair

The Ovo high chair was designed and manufactured with the best materials in mind. Components such as solid beech wood, high quality textiles for upholstery, and the best leatherette, only for those with the most distinguished taste. The fusion of these materials makes Ovo a product that will leave a lasting impression.

DockATot
The Deluxe dock is the ultimate docking station for your baby ages 0-8 months old. Multifunctional and multitasking, the Dockatot™ Deluxe offers a safe and comfy spot that lets baby lounge, play, cuddle, do tummy time and get diaper changes. Deluxe docks are lightweight and portable, allowing for easy travel.

Lorena Canals rug

Machine-washable: easy to wash, it can be washed at home in a conventional washing machine. Handmade: carefully and individually handmade by artisans. Eco-friendly: 100% natural cotton and non-toxic dyes.

Finn+Emma activity gym

Get ready for the best playdate ever! Our 2 height adjustable Play Gym has a 100% birch wood frame finished with non-toxic stains and lacquers (free of lead, phthalate, nickel, mercury, formaldehyde and ultra low VOC’s). The wooden toys are non-toxic, made from all natural untreated indian hardwood buffed with vegetable seed wax. The knit dolls were made with phthalate-free rattles inside and hand knit from organic cotton.

Babybjorn Mini Bouncer

Safely holds your baby for you in the early days at home. Gives proper support to a very young baby’s neck and back. Natural bouncing, no batteries required. Can be used from newborn up.

Baby K’tan

Wrap-style baby carrier with no wrapping required. Patented double-loop design is as easy to put on (and as comfortable) as a t-shirt.

Ergo Nursing Pillow

The Ergobaby Natural Curve™ Nursing Pillow with brown cover provides nursing mothers the support they need to nurse comfortably and bond with their baby.

Wall Decals – Urban Walls

Our cat wall decals feature friendly faces that will keep your walls in good company for many days to come. These easy to install cats will fill your wall with elegance and style in just minutes. From matte black to metallic gold they can be cut in any of our over 25 available colors for you to select from.

Wall Hooks – Land of Nod

We have a theory that the ancient pyramids were not built as tombs, but they were constructed to hang giant jackets. Although, we’re only basing that on these pyramid wall hooks, featuring a combo of solid colors and patterns that are perfect for a child’s bedroom or playroom.

Honest Diaper/Wipe Bundle

Babyletto Dottie Bookcase

Add pop color, playful style, and serious function to your nursery or playroom with the Dottie Bookcase. Sized for books, buddies, and baskets of toys, the Dottie bookshelf will help keep your babe’s room neat and organized. Plus a palette of moveable, multicolor dots lets you customize which colors to display and match any modern decor.

Munchkin Step Diaper Pail

This is the new gold standard in diaper pails! STEP is the only pail that combines best-in-class odor control with a modern, sleek aesthetic that looks great in any nursery AND an easy-to-use foot pedal.

To help you stock your small space nursery, we’ve teamed up with Well Rounded NY to bring you a Small Space Registry Package giveaway worth nearly $1,500! Enter here.

Introducing Elizabeth Granados and The House of NOA

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As parents, we’re always concerned with our baby’s safety, so we strive to make our homes as safe for them as possible. But, we also want our homes to be stylish places for adults, too – which is why we love the concept behind The House of NOA! The House of NOA, founded by mompreneur Elizabeth Granados, creates traditional foam play mats for babies and kids – however, these are crafted with gorgeous designs – which are sure to add style to any room of your house. Elizabeth’s vision was to create a beautiful play mat both mama and baby would love. She teamed up with Illustrator and Designer, Sophia Vincent Guy, to create a unique and original design unlike any other play mat available. When you lay down the foam mat pieces, they create the illusion of a beautiful rug – but this “beautiful rug” is easy to clean and able to withstand the rough and tumble of a toddler! Unlike anything else on the market, the Little Nomad play mats are an elegant addition to any room of your house!

GG: How did you decide to launch your business? Tell us a little more about Little Nomad.
E.G.: The idea for Little Nomad came to me long before I was ever pregnant with my first and only child. In fact, at the time I was struggling with infertility. A friend of mine invited me over to her gorgeous new home and upon opening the front door – the otherwise tastefully decorated family room was covered in tacky foam plats. I began to have visions of how they could be reimagined, but felt that maybe I didn’t have the authority to have an opinion on the matter since I wasn’t a Mother myself. Years later and several months after giving birth to my daughter, the idea resurfaced in my mind, but this time with the confidence I needed to turn the vision from dream to reality. I decided to launch on Kickstarter as a way to validate the product rather than using investor funding because I wanted to get close to my customers from the start. What better way to build a company than to attract a community of tribe members who have your back and believe in what you’re doing?

GG: How do you balance work and family?
E.G.: I started working on Little Nomad when my daughter Taliah was about 6 months old. As an entrepreneur, my mind is always thinking of ideas and ways to change or improve what I’m working on. Sometimes, it can be difficult to turn these thoughts off so that I can focus on my family.

Additionally, I feel like my iPhone can be a terrible distraction – so I try to keep it out of sight when I’m spending time with my daughter. With my husband in residency and working very long hours, my most cherished moments of the day are at about 5:30AM when my daughter gets up and we eat breakfast as a family. In this fast paced world, its important for me to always be mindful of what matters more than any email or Facebook post, my wonderful husband and daughter.

GG: What’s the best part of being an mompreneur?
E.G.: When I was nine years old, my Mother developed an educational board game. She took my brother and I with her to Taiwan to meet with manufacturers. I didnt realize the impact that had on me until recently. My Mom taught me to be a fearless entrepreneur, leading by example. I hope to show my daughter that as women, we can achieve any goal we set our minds to. I hope to give her the same gift that my Mom gave me.

Product Discovery: Micuna Cribs

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We became absolutely smitten with Micuna at the ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas this past October. When you browse through their products, you can see that design and high-quality craftsmanship are top of mind considerations for Micuna. Recognized for their commitment to design, quality and safety of its products, Micuna was one of the first Spanish companies to comply with the high standards of European quality and safety. What’s more, Micuna products are crafted with eco-friendly practices and materials including wood obtained from sustainable forests.

Today we shine the spotlight on the LIFE crib collection and HARMONY evolutive crib (but the Micuna U.S. collection also includes the OVO high chair and SMART FRESH bassinet.)

LIFE Collection
You may remember our recent trend report on customization and personalization and Micuna’s LIFE collection is completely on trend. With its endless combinations and constructions, the Micuna LIFE Collection is designed for parents looking for something original and different, something that will make baby’s environment a unique and special place. Micuna gives parents the tools to create their own original crib model with LIFE, designing combinations to suit their individual taste with a variety of options available. Parents will have fun designing their own customizable crib with a range of 15 spindle shades from which they can choose three and combine them with their crib base in natural wood or white.

Micuna has created four color combinations for the crib’s spindles that draw inspiration from magical places: Life Provenza, Life Kenya, Life Tribeca, Life Brooklyn. Also available are other standard colors as (White, Natural or Grey poles). The crib is simple to assemble, the spindles feature innovative spring technology allowing for them to snap in easily.

The life of the crib can be extended as baby grows older by allowing for multiple mattress heights, easily removing spindles for easy access for toddlers or even converting the crib to a toddler bed with an existing crib mattress up to age seven (additional parts needed). Handcrafted from solid beechwood.

HARMONY SINGLE EVOLUTIVE CRIB

Micuna has also created an evolutionary crib, HARMONY, to accompany children from birth to several years providing a familiar environment for baby that makes them feel good and grow safe.

This innovative modern crib offers the perfect solution that links practicality and space saving. Designed especially for those seeking baby products with exceptional features, quality and most importantly, safety, HARMONY can easily evolve from crib-to-twin size bed as a child grows.

It is crafted from eco-MDF and Micuna offers an optional Kit for conversion to twin bed available.

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Mompreneur Spotlight: Jillian Darlington of MomCo App

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GG: How did you decide to launch your business? Tell us a little more about MomCo App.
JD: I was a stay-at-home mom when my son was born. I divorced my husband when my son was 2 and needed to find a way to support myself and my son so I purchased my favorite indoor playground. As Taylor entered elementary school, I decided to sell the indoor playground and invested the money into my new business venture, the MomCo app.

The MomCo app was truly inspired by my own life experiences. As a young mom, I worked tirelessly going to playdates and classes with my son just hoping to click with another cool mom to be friends with. After I got divorced, I downloaded the Tinder app. It made me think, “Why doesn’t something like this exist for moms to locate other moms that live close to them?” As the owner of indoor playground, I was always trying to find a way to advertise to my target demographic that was within my budget.

This is how the concept for the MomCo app was formed. It’s a GEO-location-based social networking app for moms to find friendship and support. Also, it’s the perfect platform for any business that caters to women and children to be able to list themselves so all the moms in their community can easily find them. The app is based on proximity, so the moms and businesses that are closest to you show up first. You can also plan playdates, get support through forums, save money through deals, find events in your area, learn about the best products for moms, and enter giveaways. It is truly a one-stop-shop app for moms.

The MomCo app solves issues for moms and small business owners. I came up with the concept in January 2014 and the official launch was in April 2015.

GG: How do you balance work and family?
I think work/life balance is a struggle for any working parent, but one thing that I love about owning my own business is the flexibility. Although I am extremely busy, it allows me to be able to spend time with my son and still be the type of mom that I want to be. I can go to school parties, sports events, birthday parties, etc. Being able to do these things are so important to me.

GG: What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned as an entrepreneur?
I have a learned a lot along my entrepreneurial journey, but I have truly learned a lot by being a women entrepreneur in the tech industry in particular. You are the minority. I was pretty shocked at how you are treated, especially when it comes time to get funding. This industry is still dominated by men. I am hoping to change the perception of women in tech and teach young girls that they can go into this field.

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