Baby Registry

Snuggin Review

Comfort. Babies need it. All. The. Time. And love them or hate them, pacifiers very often provide the comfort a baby needs, when nothing else will do. The problem is, sometimes they have trouble keeping them in their mouths, and their cute chubby hands, while adorable, lack the dexterity to put them back in once they have fallen out.

Hang on, I’m about to solve all your problems….it’s called The Snuggin. It’s a cute, flat, plush elephant that holds the pacifier and is easy for baby hands to hold. “But I’ve seen this before,” you say. No….it’s way better. On each animal hand and foot there are Velcro closures so you can hold more than one binky at a time! It even opens up in the back to store a few more binkies!

Each animal hand has the Velcro closure for the binky of your choosing!

Madelyn, my eight month old, has been experimenting with her Snuggin for the last few weeks, and I can say without a doubt that it’s her new favorite thing. She can easily find the binky if she has dropped it, and I have found her several times in her crib just holding the soft material next to her cheek. I feel comfortable giving it to her in the car seat being that it’s not too plush that it could obstruct her breathing in any way. I love that it can hold multiple pacifiers, and that you can change them out to suit baby’s needs or wants at any given time.

Here is Maddy, giving me the side-eye, looking very protective of her Snuggin. You can see the Velcro opening for storage in the back of the elephant.

Unlike other pacifier-holders that have only one type of binky permanently affixed to the plush toy, the Snuggin allows for more personalization. We’ve even put teething toys on there, which really holds her interest. Which cuts down on the crying. Which allows me to shop longer at Target. Everybody wins!

Like what you see? We’ve teamed up with Snuggin to give away three Snuggins – enter below to win one! It’s the perfect baby shower gift.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

About Lisa Marchione Rankin
Lisa is a 37 year old mom of three (Ethan-7, Lily-4, Madelyn-9 months). She is a former theater teacher, part-time actress, and sales associate, who also ran her own bridal makeup business on the weekends! She is currently working towards her graduate degree in elementary education with a concentration in special education for children with autism and special needs. In her free time (what?????) she enjoys cooking and baking, and an occasional, very easy crafting project. She has been happily married to Jason for almost 11 years.

Cause-Driven Baby Registry: Finn + Emma

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We continue our cause-driven registry campaign this week with Finn+Emma.

Finn + Emma, is a 100% organic baby clothing, toys, play gyms, and accessories one-stop-shop. Finn + Emma is a blend of classic and contemporary, modern and whimsical, stylish and utilitarian baby items, all of which are free from any toxic chemicals. Finn + Emma believes that beautiful and healthy baby items can be both sustainable and stylish; there is no need to sacrifice style to keep your baby safe from chemicals!

Finn + Emma’s play gyms are made from a 100% birch wood frame finished with non-toxic stains and lacquers (free of lead, phthalate, nickel, mercury, and VOC’s). All of the attached 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. All of their clothing is 100% organic cotton and uses eco-friendly dyes, safe for your baby’s skin.

Do–goodies (pictured above) are lovies made from upcycled scraps of Finn + Emma products that are soft, hand-sewn in the U.S.A, and best of all — a portion of the purchase will be donated directly to KaBOOM!, a national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids the childhood they deserve, filled with balanced and active play.

Summertime Baby

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1. ro•sham•bo baby (starting at $20). Pediatric optometrists are warning that lifetime UV damage starts in early childhood, with retinal damage from the sun having its greatest impact in kids less than 10 years old. Now parents can protect those delicate eyes this summer with the coolest Italian-made baby and children’s sunglasses by family owned and operated ro•sham•bo baby. ro•sham•bo shades make the perfect gift for a new mom, and is a beach / vacation must-have. Designed specifically for babies and children’s use, abuse and love of putting things in their mouths, ro•sham•bo are so durable that they can be bent, stretched, pulled, stepped on (they have even been run over and survived!) and bounce right back to shape; even a thirty year old man can’t break them! ro•sham•bo shades come in baby, junior and adult sizes and prices start at $20 a pair. These stylish sunglasses come in many fun designs adorably named after ’90s icons – there’s even a “Kelly Kapowski pink” and a “Zack Morris blue!”

2. Packable Pails ($14.99). Packable Pails are mom invented, square and look like a traditional full sized beach pails, but easily collapse to 2 inches in one motion. Packable Pails are not just for collecting seashells or making sandcastles on the beach! Use your Packable Pails in the backyard sandbox, for washing the car, serving snacks like sand pudding, collecting garden produce, flower vase for a fresh flower arrangement, gathering crayons and Legos, as a unique gift basket, hostess gift for the holidays or collapsible doggy water bowl for an outing. The fun and uses go on and on. Select from Starfish Orange, Sunshine Yellow, Paradise Pink or Aquatic Aqua shipped to you from our Iowa family.

3. wowease Swimwear (Starting at $35). wowease swimwear makes diaper changes and going to the bathroom a breeze for parents and kids, while remaining fun and fashionable! wowease swimwear’s unique patent-pending design allows the swimwear to open and close effortlessly. Utilizing hidden fasteners, these swimsuits make changing a diaper and potty breaks faster and easier with a quick click.

4. Babo Botanicals clear zinc SPF 30 sunscreen ($19.95). Help prevent sunburn with Babo Botanicals clear zinc SPF 30 sunscreen. This formula is non-nano, contains high UVB/UVA protection and is all-natural and kid-safe. Helps protect against dry skin. Rated a #1 in Safety on EWG!

5. Babyganics Swim Diapers ($9.99) available only at Target. Discover a brand NEW way to have fun in the sun with Babyganics Color Changing Disposable Swim Pants. These baby-safe swim diapers cover and protect in the pool, ocean, lake (or puddle!) and feature special color changing technology that interacts with UV exposure. Colors appear and change while your baby plays outside! These comfy, slip-on swim diapers are made with sustainable core material, they won’t swell or sag, and they offer UPF 50+ protection. Swim, splash and explore till you run out of giggles, baby, but you know what we say, safety first!

Dadpreneur Spotlight: Michael Rothbard of Newton

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With June being the month that we celebrate fathers, we wanted to highlight one more Dadpreneur: Michael Rothbard is the founder of Newton – the brand behind the award-winning Newton Wovenaire Crib Mattress. Newton’s Wovenaire Crib Mattress features Wovenaire technology; the Wovenaire mattress core is 90% air and 10% food-grade polymer and provides the comfort of foam and latex without any of the drawbacks. These mattresses are highly breathable and don’t have any of the foam, latex, flame retardants, springs and glue common in other crib mattresses, which means no off gassing, toxic chemicals or allergens. What’s more, Newton’s Wovenaire Crib Mattresses are easily washable in your bath or shower, which means you can simply wash away allergens, dirt, liquids, and dust to help prevent mold from growing. Your baby will not only rest easy on these 100% recyclable mattresses, but you can rest easy knowing that they are breathing safely and in a completely clean environment.

GG: How did you decide to launch your business? Tell us a little more about Newton.

MR: I’ve been an entrepreneur in the specialty sleep category for the majority of my career. However, until I became a Father, I never realized the importance of providing better sleep for babies. As first time parents, my wife and I experienced firsthand the fear and exhaustion that almost every parent faces with trying to get our son to sleep well.

I decided there must be a better way. To me the problem was obvious, we expect babies to sleep on sweaty, rock hard surfaces that we would never be comfortable on. I used to look at my son lying on his crib mattress and think he must be so uncomfortable, no wonder he’s not sleeping! My wife and I also lost sleep ourselves, as most parents do, when the rollover stage started. This was a stage for me that safety and breathability were more important than ever.

I discovered that crib mattresses haven’t changed a bit over the years, they’re waterproof because they can’t be washed and they are stiff because you can’t have a baby’s face sinking into an airtight, waterproof surface. So it occurred to me if you could make a crib mattress both breathable and washable it would be both safer and more comfortable. When I discovered the Japanese technology, we call Wovenaire, I knew I had the answer.

Five years later my son, now a budding young scientist, was teaching me what he learned about Newton’s laws of rest and motion and I knew what the name of our new company should be. Newton is dedicated to providing families with better living through better rest.

GG: How do you balance work and family?

It’s not easy to grow a business and a family at the same time. Both are very demanding, but my priority is to be present for my children. This means not just being there for an adequate amount of time, but being present in the moment and not allowing my mind to drift off to my to do list, etc. I try to take at least one skiing trip a year with my oldest boy for some father/son time. These trips are the most precious moments for me and I look forward to doing the same with my younger twins when they’re old enough.

GG: What’s the best part of being an dadpreneur?

Being on my own schedule and being able to pass along my family’s heritage as small business owners to my children. I also know my children are now understanding daddy works on sleep products to make sure all families are comfortable and safe. They were all excited to attend the Newton 1^stbirthday party a few weeks back and demonstrate how comfortable and safe our Wovenaire crib mattress truly is. Little innovators and safe sleep ambassadors in the making!

You can follow Newton on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

New Mom Series: A Baby Carrier for Hikes and Active Lifestyles

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This is our sixth post in Gugu Guru’s New Mom Series, where we provide helpful information for new and expecting moms about preparing and registering for baby. For this Baby Carrier for Hikes feature, we have partnered up with one of our favorite active and yogi mamas – Cristina Meloy; leading baby gear brand BABYBJÖRN and; the Baby Safety Zone powered by the JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association). JPMA is a national trade organization representing 95% of the prenatal to preschool industry dedicated to the safe manufacturing and usage of products. Read on to learn about the new BABYBJÖRN Carrier One Outdoors and enter to win one for your own adventures with baby.

Not all carriers are built the same and depending on your lifestyle, you may want to have more than one carrier. Some parents wear a structured carrier when they leave the house but in their home, may wear a softer wrap-style carrier. What’s important to remember is that whether you tend to like to enjoy the comforts of home or are the type of person that finds thrills in climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, there’s a carrier for you. Baby gear has evolved to fit all types of lifestyles and you can rest assured that there are ways to enjoy your current lifestyle with your new baby.

Because everyone has their own unique lifestyle and parenting style, no carrier fits all when it comes to baby wearing and you should definitely try your carrier on before buying. There are some basic best practices when you’re trying out carriers, regardless of the type of carrier per Linnea Catalan, Executive Director of the Baby Carrier Industry Alliance (BCIA) who guest blogged for the JPMA Baby Safety Zone. Here are a few guidelines she shares:

A baby carrier can keep your baby in the safest place possible – on your chest and in an upright position.
Baby carriers are meant to mimic in-arms carrying positions – your baby should be in the same position in which you would hold him in your arms. Check your baby by embracing them in the carrier- your baby’s position should not shift significantly in your embrace.
Whether your carrier of choice is a sling, wrap, mei tai or buckle carrier, ensure baby always has a clear and open airway. Your baby’s head and neck should be completely supported, with their chin off their chest. Chin to chest positioning can restrict your baby’s airway, especially with babies under 4 months of age. Make sure you can slip a finger between their chin and chest.

Finding a hip healthy carrier is also important when you’re evaluating products for your baby registry. The International Hip Dysplasia Institute (IHDI) is a great resource for products recognized for encouraging healthy hip development, specifically products and devices used during the first six months of life that may affect hip positioning or hip motor development.

Once you have the basic guidelines down and identify carriers that are hip healthy, it’s time to find the right carrier for your lifestyle. During the summer months or if you’re traveling to warmer climates, breathability is key. If you’re the active, outdoorsy type and you want to continue this lifestyle – even with a new baby in tow – you may want to consider carriers that are engineered specifically for an active lifestyle. A new carrier on the market that is ideal for hiking is the BABYBJÖRN Carrier One Outdoors.

Here are the key features of the Carrier One Outdoors, making it ideal for outdoor adventures with your family:

Designed to be the perfect hiking baby carrier, constructed with functional materials for the outdoors like water-repellent, moisture-wicking textiles that are easy to clean.
Just like your favorite hiking or camping backpack, the Carrier One Outdoors has great features to enable active exploring with your family such as a detachable pocket on the waist belt for your cell phone, keys, pacifiers or other small items you need for your child on family days out. Several loops on the shoulder straps allow you to attach essentials like a water bottle and keep items like a security blanket or teddy conveniently close.
This carrier will grow with your child with its 4-way front and back carrying*, ideal for outdoor activities. It’s perfect from newborn to 3 years, with built-in infant position and extra support for toddlers. Baby Carrier One Outdoors allows you to continue to enjoy an active lifestyle as a parent and still be comfortable, whether you’re carrying a little child on your front or a toddler on your back. The Carrier One Outdoors has padded, form-fitting shoulder straps and a sturdy waist belt, which provide excellent support and pressure relief, especially when carrying a toddler.
Hip-healthy baby carrier, with ergonomic wide leg position for the child. The baby carrier has a 12.6 in (32 cm) seat area, which gives your child a proper ergonomic, wide-leg position when they sit facing in on your front or back. The International Hip Dysplasia Institute has tested Baby Carrier One Outdoors and acknowledges it to be a “hip-healthy baby carrier.”
Comes with a practical bag for storing and transporting the baby carrier.

*Note: front-facing should not be done until after 5 months and back carrying after 12+ months.

Gugu Guru mama Cristina Meloy took the Carrier One Outdoors to her homeland of Costa Rica, where there is no shortage of beautiful, lush locales to hike and explore. Here’s what she had to say:

“It’s so freaking cool how nowadays we can include our children in all our day-to-day activities, while providing comfort and nurturing them. Outdoor time is extremely important to me. To raise my children unplugged from TV and computer games is something I consider very valuable. Sometimes, however it is really difficult to do, especially with multiple children and/or infants. Out of all the parenting gadgets out there, a good carrier is essential. BABYBJÖRN is safe for them, comfortable for me and good looking, too! I mean, just cause we’re parents doesn’t mean we have to look boring, right?”

“I love the ability to be hands free for my eldest, too!”

The Carrier One Outdoors is available exclusively at Giggle and Right Start through October.

Featured in this week’s New Mom Series:

Cristina Meloy
Mother of two, Cristina Meloy, is one half of the couple behind the supper club PushStart Kitchen in Atlanta, Georgia. BETTER HALF is a place where family is the inspiration and connecting over food is the focus.
Follow Cristina on Instagram at @crismeloy

BABYBJÖRN
A member of the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), BABYBJÖRN’s concept has always been to make day-to-day life easier for parents of small children by developing safe and innovative products of the highest quality for children up to three years old. The company strives to make the most important years of life even more fun. BABYBJÖRN products are now found around the world, in over 50 countries, and the assortment consists of baby carriers, bouncers, travel cribs, cradles, potty chairs, high chairs and kitchen products. BABYBJÖRN’s attitude is that you shouldn’t need to buy a bunch of products when your children are little. Instead, just a few that really work and last a long time in good condition. Safety, quality and style are the brand’s core principles and a lot of thought and care is put into every product!
Visit BABYBJÖRN at: https://babybjorn.com/

Baby Safety Zone
The Baby Safety Zone is an information hub and community for parents and caregivers. We’re helping make safety fun, one baby product at a time. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to immerse themselves in the Baby Safety Zone experience and become a part of a circle of parents dedicated to making their child’s first years, happy, safe and sound.

The Baby Safety Zone is powered by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association. JPMA is a national trade organization representing 95% of the prenatal to preschool industry. Today, JPMA represents 250 companies in the United States, Canada, and Mexico who manufacture, import and/or distribute infant products such as cribs, car seats, strollers, bedding, and a wide range of accessories and decorative items.
Visit the Baby Safety Zone at: https://babysafetyzone.org

Nicole Ryan’s Cause-Driven Baby Registry

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Gugu Guru is so excited to announce the launch of a baby registry which is close to our hearts. Gugu Guru and popular, nationally renowned Sirius XM Radio Hits 1 Morning Mashup host Nicole Ryan have partnered on a campaign to make thoughtful product choices for Nicole’s second baby due in September 2016. Gugu Guru has handpicked select baby companies and products that are tied to a charitable cause and/or are mission-driven for her Cause Driven Baby Registry.

Each Tuesday on the Sirius XM Radio Hits 1 Morning Mash-Up, tune in to “Tell Us Something Good” segment, where Nicole will introduce a brand on this registry for good and discuss how the company gives back. Gugu Guru is teaming up with Nicole to highlight each of these socially conscious brands over here on our blog, along with a giveaway each week!

Here’s a full list of companies which we’ll be highlighting:

Finn + Emma: Creates baby clothes, toys and gifts made from organic cotton and wood with modern stylish prints and colors. Do-goodies are lovies made from upcycled scraps of Finn + Emma products that are soft, hand-sewn in the U.S.A, and best of all — a portion of the purchase will be donated directly to KaBOOM!, a national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids the childhood they deserve, filled with balanced and active play.

Loyal Hana is a collection of stylish comfortable garments that enables the modern woman to transition from the bump, the boob and beyond. Loyal Hana hearts baby2baby, which helps over 67,000 children a year in the greater Los Angeles area by distributing new and gently used items to over 50 organizations including homeless and domestic violence shelters, Head Start programs and hospitals.

Lorena Canals: Handmade machine-washable rugs that are stylish and practical. With the purchase of a Lorena Canals rug, a customer helps a child attend school in Nothern India through the company’s Sakula project.

Cuddle + Kind: Ethically produced, hand-knit dolls that help feed children in need. With the purchase of one doll, 10 meals are provided to children in need.

Owlet: The occurrences of healthy infants passing away at home in the crib due to breathing issues is far too high, and many of these deaths are preventable. Owlet hopes for a future where far fewer tragedies are happening to the infants we love so much. The ability to integrate medical technology in a baby sock is going to change that.

4Moms: Makes dramatically better baby gear by leveraging robotics, technology, and innovative design to solve parents’ problems. 4moms Cares is the charitable arm of 4moms. Our mission is to dramatically impact the lives of children and families in need through meaningful product donations, hospital discounts, and by supporting our local communities.

Naturepedic: Naturepedic handcrafts certified organic mattresses without questionable chemicals, providing a healthier night’s sleep for the whole family. Naturepedic supports dozens of organizations like the Environmental Working Group and One Percent for the Planet, promoting environmental stewardship and healthful wellbeing.

DockATot: DockATot is a multi-functional lounging, playing, and snuggling dock for baby and tots 0-36 months that was created with love in Sweden. DockATot will be donating $1 for each DockATot sold on our site during the months of June and July to Project Night Night, an organization that helps homeless children (ages 0-12).

TWELVElittle: TWELVElittle creates fashionable and functional diaper bags for the moms and dads who need it all. TWELVElittle dedicated one of their bestsellers – Carry Love Tote to Every Mother Counts, and for every bag sold, are donating 5%. For special occasions and holidays, they dedicate a month to a specific non profit organization for every product sold, donate 5% to the organization.

UPPAbaby: UPPAbaby makes high-quality baby products that fit the needs of your new life as a parent, while appealing to the sense of style you’ve always had. UPPAbaby is committed to giving back and supporting worthy causes and organizations that align with our mission and core company ethos.

Matimati Baby: Matimati Baby designs and makes stylish yet functional baby bandana bibs for all little ones. Through Matimati Baby’s “drooling for a purpose” campaign our brand donates a percentage of all sales to Chain Reaction, a non-profit organization that fights human trafficking in Asia.

Babies4Babies: Creates swaddle blankets with fashion forward prints and colors, made in America. Babies4Babies works with Saving Mothers to help prevent infant deaths in developing countries.

Follow Along!

To follow along week-by-week as Nicole introduces these products and companies, follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook – and, as always, Gugu Guru will be posting on our Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, too!

Nicole Ryan's Cause-Driven Baby Registry

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Here’s a full list of companies which we’ll be highlighting:

Cuddle + Kind: Ethically produced, hand-knit dolls that help feed children in need. With the purchase of one doll, 10 meals are provided to children in need.

DockATot: DockATot is a multi-functional lounging, playing, and resting dock for baby and tots 0-36 months that was created with love in Sweden. DockATot will be donating $1 for each DockATot sold on our site during the months of June and July to Project Night Night, an organization that helps homeless children (ages 0-12).

Babies4Babies: Creates swaddle blankets with fashion forward prints and colors, made in America. Babies4Babies works with Saving Mothers to help prevent infant deaths in developing countries.

Follow Along!

Dadpreneur Spotlight: Nathan Day of LugBug

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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!

Sponsored Post

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.

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