Christine Swearingen

Tips for Coping with RSV

RSV season is upon us. For new parents, this can be scary. We surveyed our community of moms and collected our top tips for keeping your family healthy, and dealing with a case of RSV if it enters your home.

Humidifier – Our #1 tip! Keep a humidifier running constantly. This will keep the air moist and help ease congestion and coughing. It’s important to choose a quality, easy-to-clean humidifier to prevent the growth of bacteria and mold. Our all-time favorite humidifiers are from Crane because they’re easy to fill, easy to clean, and so effective! This 4-in-1 Humidifer and this Top Fill Humidifier are our top picks.
Boogie Stuff! – Saline Spray (or a Saline Spray Inhaler), Boogie Wipes, and a NoseFrida or NozeBot for suction are essential. With RSV, the body produces a lot of extra mucus. Since babies can’t blow their noses, the more you can help clear the congestion and mucus out of their system, the better!
Ask your pediatrician what you can do for hydration at your baby’s age. Keeping baby hydrated when they aren’t eating or drinking normally can be tricky and is one of the more dangerous symptoms that comes with RSV.
Keep a paper and pen next to the changing table to track wet diapers, or check out an app like Huckleberry or Cubtale to help make tracking easy!
Menthol Rub – Bring comfort to baby by using a menthol rub on their chest, feet, and back. Just be careful to keep it covered so baby can’t touch it and get it in his or her eyes.
Pediatric pulse ox – As parents, we worry. A pediatric pusle ox can keep your mind at peace that your child is getting all the oxygen they need. Plus, they’re cute for kids!
Temperature Stickers – Another product to bring you peace of mind are these fun Fever-Bugz stickers that continuously monitor your child’s temperature for up to 48 hours, simply by placing it on the forehead.
Sleep! – Day or night, sleep is vital for you and your little one when they are sick

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Must-Have Parenting Apps

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A search in your app store for parenting apps brings an overwhelming list of options. Which are the best? More important, which are free, or worth the price? We’re bringing you the scoop on the most popular parenting apps that we believe are truly worth it!

Qeepsake: This app is like a baby book on-the-go. It’s the easiest way we’ve found to capture everyday memories with your kids. Qeepsake texts or notifies you with questions about your child or pregnancy that you can respond to with text and photos. Have a special memory to upload? You can do that too. When you’re ready, you can order a book with all of your memories.

Tinybeans: We love this app for securely and privately storing and sharing memories with your closest family and friends. You can even track baby’s developmental milestones. It’s full of resources for all things parenting – from parenting advice to activity ideas.

Wonder Weeks: Of all the parenting apps we are sharing here, this is the one that will save your sanity the most! If you haven’t heard of “leaps” yet, a period of intense mental development for a baby that can cause increased fussiness, lack of sleep, and more. This app will give you a heads up when a leap is coming, tell you what to expect, and offer points to help both you and baby transition through a leap.

Huckleberry: We are all about sleep, and getting more of it. That’s where Huckleberry can help. Using AI and pediatric sleep experts, Huckleberry creates a custom sleep plan just for your family. We love all the tracking features of this app too – from sleep to feeding to growth and more. Definitely one you’ll want to check out!

Mindful Mamas: Our favorite app for mama. Focused on self-care and mindfulness for mama, this lovely app supports moms at every stage of the journey. From full guided meditations, to brief 5 minute “sips” of mindfulness practices, to gentle notifications of encouragement – this app has all you need to bring a little more peace and calm to your motherhood journey.

Baby Connect: If you have multiples, or frequent caregivers, whether a nanny, grandma, or daycare staff, this is an app you NEED. Not only does it have the ability to track feedings, sleep, diapers, mood, and more, but it immediately and securely synchronizes across authorized users. The app also allows you to easily exchange messages and photos right in the app.

Every Day is Mother’s Day Giveaway

by Christine Swearingen 1 Comment

Mother’s Day Isn’t Over Yet! ✨ A giveaway all for MAMA!

Every day is Mother’s Day in our book. In honor of all of the amazing mama’s out there, we’ve lined up some extraordinary prizes from some of our favorite brands!

One lucky mama will win this bundle of prizes worth over $1,050 including:

Revela Hair Growth Pack (2 Hair Revival Serums), Scalp Massager, and Eyebrow Serum
Rockin’ Blinks – One 60 minutes one-on-one sleep consultation for kids: newborn babies to 6 years old with certified sleep coach Lola Sánchez Liste, RB founder. One pajama set (12m to 8y sizes) from RB new collection.
Motif Medical Duo Double Electric Breast Pump with Hands-Free Pumping Bra (XS-L)
Boon GRUB High Chair
Momkindness Grey Duo Backpack ($129 value) and Berry Pack It Up Pouch ($29 value)
bbhugme Pregnancy Pillow in Dusty Pink

– a total ARV of $1,054

Fine Print: One winner will be randomly selected from all entries. Open to US residents only. The giveaway ends at 11:59 PM ET on 5/27/22.

Supporting The Little Market

Throughout the month of May, we will be supporting The Little Market, a mission-driven nonprofit, founded by women to empower women. With every purchase and donation, you are supporting meaningful income opportunities for artisans and their families, making a difference, and creating a positive, long-lasting impact. You can help support The Little Market by shopping with Gugu Guru during the month of May and rounding up your purchase at checkout.

Wanderlust Giveaway

by Christine Swearingen Leave a Comment

We’ve lined up some travel must-haves and are giving one of YOU a chance to win these awesome prizes.

We’ve partnered with some of our most loved brands to gift you some of the best products for travel and on-the-go! One lucky parent will win this bundle of prizes worth over $600 including:

Gladly Family Merritt Portable Playard Suite and Pod Diaper Bag Changing Station & Cot
Bizzi Growin Baby Sleeping Bag and Koochicoo Blanket
Yogasleep Sweet Dreams for Sleep Baby Sound Machine Bundle

– a total ARV of $613

Enter for a chance to win below. GOOD LUCK!

One winner will be randomly selected from all entries. Open to US residents only. The giveaway ends at 11:59 PM ET on 2/4/22.

Gladly Family Wagon Stroller: Ready for Adventure

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One of our experts had a chance to try the Anthem2™ 2-Seater All-Terrain Wagon Stroller from Gladly Family. Read what she has to say about it below.

The Anthem Wagon Stroller is everything I could ever ask for in a wagon, and more. We’ve always been an active family and love being outside and exploring. With two kids, we still like to be on the go and create our own adventures. And with this wagon stroller, we easily can.

As a mom of two, a 3 year old and a newborn, space is always a premium. The creators of this wagon have created a space for everything, and they didn’t forget the parents. From the double-snack tray and child cup holders, to the interior mesh pockets, to a cup holder and storage area for parents conveniently located on the handle. Another thing I love is the two fold-up features of this wagon to save space in the garage and store it neatly. You can fold it flat or in a standing fold.

My daughter loves the double canopy on the wagon so she can “hide in her wagon fort” and stay warm on even the coldest days. I love that it’s compatible with our carseat and is so easy to click onto the wagon so we can quickly move from car to wagon when on-the-go.

We’ve used the wagon stroller on the sidewalks, rocky roads, and even in the snow. It’s handling ability and all-terrain tires and suspension system allow for a comfortable ride for my kids in any type of terrain. You can push like a stroller or pull like a wagon smoothly, and easily transition between the two by simply changing your position on the handle.

Gladly Family really thought of every feature you need in a stroller wagon and we are so glad we’ve discovered it. With the Anthem2 All-Terrain Wagon Stroller, we can still create adventures and memories with our kids for years to come. Check it out yourself and discover all the greatness!

Territory Foods: Food for Motherhood

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We’re bringing something extra yummy today with the scoop on Territory Foods! This company features ready-to-heat, nutritionist-designed meals made by local chefs. As a parent, our health often falls to the wayside as we focus on everyone else around us. Knowing how important nutritional food is, especially for people on the motherhood journey, Territory Foods created a solution that is both time-saving and tasty!

Support Your Nutrition

They have really done their research when it comes to food. The menus are built on a foundation of non-inflammatory, nutrient-dense foods. The meals are made without gluten, dairy, processed oils, refined sugars, and other ingredients that are known to cause inflammation. You can rest assured that the meals you receive are well thought out and support your overall nutrition.

Territory Foods meals are based on a Mediterranean Diet and are plant-forward, high in fiber, and contain a mix of proteins from plants, seafood, and some poultry. You’ll receive a balanced diet that supports your well-being and a healthy baby, whether trying to conceive, pregnant, or postpartum. A balanced diet that offers all the key nutrients is so important in all stages of motherhood.

Fresh Meals

With Territory Foods, you know you are getting meals with wholesome ingredients like fresh produce, lean meats, and even healthy fats that include natural compounds like fiber and phytochemicals, which help your body absorb all the good nutrients in their meals. And guess what. These meals are ready to eat in less than 2 minutes so they’re perfect for busy families and working moms alike!

We know that moms often turn to supplements to support a healthy diet and fill in the gaps in our nutrition. Did you know that while these are sometimes needed, food is the first and best source of nutrition for your body? Yup!

Nutrient-Dense Foods

Territory meals are made with nutrient-dense foods that fully support a prenatal diet, including 20g of protein (or more), folate, iron, and calcium-rich foods. Broccoli, leafy greens, beans, asparagus, and more are prepared in a variety of ways by a network of talented chefs every single week. We love that the ingredients are from clean sources to support your nutrition. Better yet, choose from over 35+ recipes weekly to customize your meals to fit your needs, and your taste buds.

Territory Foods supports couples at every single stage of parenthood. We think the choice is clear, but don’t let us decide for you. Check it out for yourself >>

Stay tuned for more about this awesome food brand –
some of our Gugu Guides are testing it out as we speak!

Thank you to Territory Foods for making this sponsored post possible.

23 Top Baby Registry Tips

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We polled our Gugu Village for their top baby registry tips! We share expert advice all the time, but this time we wanted you to hear it from mamas who have been there themselves. Check out their sage advice below.

Don’t register for too many clothes. People like to pick out what they think is cute, and they grow out of them so fast! -Vanessa S.
The checklists on most registries actually help BUT NO you don’t need everything in every category of the checklist. -Cayli M.
Even if you don’t plan on having a baby shower. Make a registry (or few from a few different stores) and use the % off coupon they give you for unboughten registry items, which are items you would be buying any way and you save money. -Cayli M.
Add items that you would rather not buy yourself. Ex: don’t add tons of books or clothing since you’re most likely going to buy those items yourself anyways. -Cayli M.
Don’t bother putting baby towels/washcloths on it. They usually come in a gift pack and you will likely receive several! -Abby M.
Ask for diapers of size 3+ or cloth diapers as they go through the small sizes quick! -Abby M.
Don’t add clothes. People will gift them to you regardless. And make sure you check stuff out and research for yourself. You may find that you aren’t a fan of something that others are huge fans of (ie: a certain stroller or car seat, diaper bags, etc). Also you do not need to spend big bucks on stuff. Baby isn’t going to know the difference if you have an Uppababy or a Graco stroller. Buy what you like and what fits your budget. -Samantha F.
Don’t register for newborn or 0-3 mos. You don’t have any idea how big or small baby will be at birth and you’re almost guaranteed to get stuff you don’t need or want—my first needed preemie and my second was almost too large for NB when he came out. don’t register for size N or 1 diapers. Do 2+. People will send that stuff whether it’s on the registry or not. –Katie W.
Don’t register for blankets. Crib & bassinet sheets, yes, blankets no. –Katie W.
Do register for your preferred hygiene items, especially baby shampoo, powder, and other consumables you’ll use over and over. –Katie W.
Put your big ticket items on the registry. If someone buys them it’s a lovely surprise; if they don’t, you get credit/discounts. -Katie W.
Don’t add baby bottles. Get the free registry gift bags or swag bags from baby events you attend. They come with lots of baby bottles and pacis that you can save and try on baby once they are ready to bottle feed. You don’t know which bottle your baby takes so best to keep one of a couple different bottles. Once baby takes to one buy a pack of those bottles. -Edith G.
Do ask family and friends for any hand me downs before registering. -Alison F.
Do register for the better crib mattress and any crib conversion kits. -Alison F.
Don’t register for 1 specific brand of diapers. Register for smaller boxes and a variety of them. You never know what will be best for your baby. -Alison F.
Register for things you will need postpartum care take out gift cards , cleaning service , laundry etc. -Sheila S.
Register for something YOU want for now or postpartum (massage, etc) not just what you NEED for baby. -Daron O.
There are a million options for everything and there might need to be some trial and error for certain items. –Hilary B.
Places like BuyBuyBaby and Bed Bath and Beyond are great for registry items because they have such good return policies in case you find you don’t end up wanting or using things you register for and there will always be something you need to use gift card or credit on. -Hilary B.
Treat yourself to a glider. Not a rocker. I didn’t know the difference and I wish I had gotten the glider. -Lauren G.
Diapers on top of diapers. Best gift ever. -Francesca R.
Other moms mentioned it but register for things for YOU and your healing! That is what you will need immediately postpartum. Seriously the first few weeks the baby needs so little – a place to sleep, some clothes, swaddles, diapers, burp cloths, bottles if you’re bottle feeding and a paci. You, mama, need things to help your healing and that is too often overlooked when it comes to registering- welcoming a new baby means you had to birth said baby and your registry should reflect that! -Laura S.
Gift cards! You usually need and want way different things once baby is here! -Michelle A.

What do you think? Did we miss anything?
Message us on Instagram or comment below and let us know!

Check out more Registry Tips:
Why You Need an Online Baby Registry
The Ultimate Target Baby Registry

Gugu Guide Gear Picks: Summer Hartman

by Christine Swearingen Leave a Comment

Meet our Gugu Guides! These expert moms in our community are here to provide wisdom, solutions and experience to help you make the best decisions about products and services for your growing family.

About Summer

Summer ranked top 200 BEST sleep consultants by tuck.com. She is an International Certified Newborn Care Specialist and Sleep Consultant. Summer is part of the International Association of Child Sleep Consultants (IACSC).

Summer started her career in 1996, working as a nanny in Washington D.C. She is a sleep correspondent for NPR News and Parent.com, and has been seen on AzLiving and is a regular on Independent talk radio 1100 KFNX. Summer is an Amazon Best-Seller Author, known for “Women Who BossUP.”

Summer is passionate about babies and has created a Sleep Consultant Program with over 238 students in 6 countries. Summer works with newborns to 6 years old and specializes in sleep training singles and multiples, also working with reflux and colic. She has worked with families in many different capacities through in-person, phone, text, and virtual support.

Summer lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with her husband of 23 years and 2 children Ethan 20, and Sophia 19.

Find out how she does it all, and check out her top 3 gear picks for babies. Follow her on @summers_sleep_secrets to learn more!

How do you balance your work and mom life?

I’m very structured so when my kids were little we had plans to go to zoo and parks on my days off from work. We had the kids from infancy on a daily wake up and bedtime schedule. This was followed until their teen years. Once the kids were older they were responsible for chores and that helped my husband and I especially since I worked nights as a newborn care specialist and needed to sleep during the day. I balanced life with a regular routine.

Describe your baby and toddler gear style.

Budget, minimal gear style.

What’s been your biggest obstacle as a parent and what did you do to overcome it?

My obstacles were postpartum depression. I didn’t realize I had it until my 2nd was 15 months old and when I went to my OB-GYN for a check-up she asked one sentence- How are you doing? I burst into tears. It was crazy up until that point I really didn’t realize my feelings of depression. My doctor prescribed a medication that I took for a few months and I also took a vacation alone for 2 weeks after I realized I needed a break. Fortunately, my husband was supportive and helped me through my depression.

Top 3 Gear Picks

Swaddle Sleeves

As a newborn care specialist, I have a few favorite products. This is my top transition swaddle!

SlumberPod

The SlumberPod is a game-changer for my clients. Read more about it here.

Yoga Sleep Mini Sound Machine

I love the Yogasleep Mini Sound Machine. I suggest my clients use the brown noise instead of the white noise.

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Check out Summer’s episode on the Gugu Guru “What Worked for Me” Podcast >>

More to Read:
Gugu Guide Gear Picks: Liz Teich
Gugu Guide Gear Picks: Megan Harper
Gugu Guide Gear Picks: Chelsea Crowl

The Scoop: Momkindness Duo Diaper Backpack

by Christine Swearingen Leave a Comment

Versatility is key when it comes to gear in motherhood. We’re bringing you the scoop on the Duo Backpack from Momkindness. This backpack is a 2-in-1 style and a total game-changer for moms in every stage of early motherhood, and beyond.

2-in-1 Style

A favorite feature of this bag is its 2-in-1 style with a durable canvas backpack, plus a removable Diaper Clutch with changing pad for when you just need to tote the essentials. Moms love being able to pop out the Diaper Clutch for a quick run into the store, knowing that the backpack with all the necessities is close by in the car. It can easily double as a stylish clutch for date night as well!

Made to last

This backpack from Momkindness is made of a durable canvas that will last far beyond the baby and toddler years. The sleek style of this bag won’t fall out of style either. With a wide-access, dual-zip top, and 9 pockets, this bag keeps you organized with a place for everything so you can easily find all the things, right when you need them. There’s even a quick-access zip pocket on the back!

Inside, along with 9 pockets for organization, there’s a separate padded laptop or tablet compartment. The adjustable, padded comfort straps are perfect for both mom and dad to wear. This backpack is made to multi-task as much as you do.

Momkindness for a cause

Another thing we love most about Momkindness is their mission to spread acts of “momkindness” within the mom community and their partnership with Every Mother Counts. Every Mother Counts is a non-profit working to achieve quality, respectful and equitable maternity care for all, and a portion of every Momkindness sale is donated to support their cause.

This durable, 2-in-1 diaper backpack is made to last through all parts of parenthood, and beyond. Because being a mom shouldn’t mean sacrificing style for function! Check it out for yourself: Momkindness Duo Backpack (Grey)

Thank you to Momkindness for making this sponsored post possible.

Check out more:
Kindness Counts: Amazing Mama Brands with Huge Hearts
Diaper Bags to Check Out

Real Mom Review: Just for Tots Cactus Baby Teether

by Christine Swearingen Leave a Comment

Just for Tots is the only manufacturer in the market today of baby teether designs that are CPSC, ASTM, CSPIA compliant without making exceptions or special considerations. A couple of our village mamas tried out the Cactus Baby Teether with their little ones. Check out what they have to say below!

Alison S.

The Just for Tots Cactus Baby Teether held up against my expectations of what a teether should be like. I enjoy the thick silicone material because easily washable and safe for my little one. My 2.5 toddler got ahold of it and did bite/pull off one of the bristles with his teeth, so I did have to discard it. I wouldn’t recommend it for a toddler who is getting molars in! My little one enjoys the shape and size of it as he was able to easily move it around between his hands and he wasn’t able to choke himself on it. Both I and my little one enjoyed the multiple textures that were offered so each arm felt different on his teeth. I will definitely be buying these for friends in the future!

Amy Howard

The Just for Tots Cactus Teether design is GENIUS! It’s so easy for little hands to hold. The toothbrush is amazing for introducing teeth brushing to your Littles. It has different textures to soothe baby’s sore gums. It’s made of silicone so it’s so easy to clean! You can even pop it in the dishwasher.

Thank you to Just for Tots for making this sponsored post possible.

Check out more Village Reviews:
3 Real Moms Tell us Why this Pacifier is a Gamechanger
4 Real Moms Tell Us Why Larktale Strollers are a Gamechanger
Real Moms Tell Why The Boon GRUB is a Gamechanger

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Christine Swearingen

Supporting The Little Market

Support Your Nutrition

Fresh Meals

Nutrient-Dense Foods

About Summer

How do you balance your work and mom life?

Describe your baby and toddler gear style.

What’s been your biggest obstacle as a parent and what did you do to overcome it?

Top 3 Gear Picks

Shop this post:

2-in-1 Style

Made to last

Momkindness for a cause

Alison S.

Amy Howard

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