Baby Registry

Back To Work

We know from our Gugu Guru moms that the majority of you are returning to work after baby. So we were so excited to tap into the amazing resource that is WellRoundedNY and hear from three working mamas on their must-have products for returning to work. Here is a round-up of their picks but for all the details as to why these moms selected these as their can’t live without products, read the full post here.

Julee’s Picks
1. Moleskin notebook

2. Brother Vellies denim “Erongo” shoes

3. The Belly Bandit Original (in black)

4. MZ Wallace “Metro Tote” bag

5. Custom nameplate necklace

Grace’s Picks
1. The Au Lait Shop Tank and Mitera Collection Charlotte Nursing Dress

2.The Baby Brezza One Step Sterilizer Dryer

3. MZ Wallace “Metro Tote” bag

4. A monthly membership to ClassPass

5. Meals from Plated

Jessica’s Picks

1. Pumpin’ Pal breast pump flanges

2. Coconut oil

3. A My Brest Friend nursing pillow

4. Pump-friendly work clothes from Loyal Hana

5. Soothing gel pads for your nipples

Bonus item: Ardo Calypso pump

New Mom Series: Car Seat Installation

by Gugu Guru 4 Comments

This is our first post in Gugu Guru’s New Mom Series, where we will be providing helpful information for new and expecting moms about preparing and registering for baby. For this Infant Car Seat feature, we have partnered up with expecting mama Terra LaRock, the leading brand in infant safety Britax 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.

When Terra LaRock, who is expecting her first baby, was researching car seats the most important factor was safety. Terra is 36 weeks along and most experts will tell you that installing your car seat 4-6 weeks before your due date is a smart idea, just in case you go into labor early. As you may or may not know, most hospitals won’t let you leave without an installed car seat.

Based on her lifestyle and budget, Gugu Guru recommended the Britax B-Safe 35 Elite Infant Car Seat for her registry. The B-Safe car seat is engineered to exceed the highest safety standards out there. Aside from the B-Safe being built to last, parents and caregivers love that the seat is easy to adjust and comfortable for your child as s/he grows. In Terra’s words:

“We settled on the Britax car seat because it got rave reviews for safety and it is much lighter to carry than many of the other car seats we tried out. We also love how easy it is to click in and out of the base and the fabric appears super easy to maintain and keep clean. The extra bonus of this Britax car seat happens to be the color and pattern choices—they are so fun!”

Terra loved the perfectly unisex Cactus Green color (Baby LaRock’s gender is a surprise!)

The next step? Reading up on Car Seat Safety on Baby Safety Zone‘s website. The Baby Safety Zone is an information hub and community for parents and caregivers. Baby Safety Zone helps make safety fun, one baby product at a time. It’s very important for new parents to check resources like this because the unfortunate fact is that *most* car seats are installed incorrectly.

Tip: Some parents will tell you that you can go to the your local fire department for installation. We see this as a “checking your work” step and don’t recommend you have a safety technician or fire department personnel install the seat from the start. While these are great resources, it’s important that YOU know how to install it yourself.

For example, did you know that a properly installed car seat should not move more than an inch in any direction? Learn more helpful tips for proper safe use and installation of a child’s car seat with Baby Safety Zone’s informative car seat safety infographic. (Find it here or scroll down to the bottom of this post.)

Featured in this week’s New Mom Series:

Terra LaRock
Terra is an educator who lives in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado with her husband, Perry, and their husky named Rio. She enjoys gardening, floral design, bluegrass music and getting their home ready for baby’s arrival. Terra is expecting their first baby at the end of October and the gender is a surprise!
Follow Terra on Instagram at @LoveAndLaRock

Britax
Britax has been leading the way in child safety technology for more than 70 years. Always innovating, always focusing on what’s best for the child, always going beyond ‘good enough’. From Europe’s best-selling car seat brand, Britax has become one of the brands most trusted by American families since they launched here in 1996.

Since then, Britax has revolutionized side impact protection, transformed safe seat installation, and introduced a range of smart strollers designed around the changing needs of today’s families.
Visit Britax at: https://us.britax.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

Learn helpful tips for proper safe use and installation of a child’s car seat with Baby Safety Zone’s informative car seat safety info graphic here:

Baby Registry: Stylish, Economical “On The Go” Picks

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We plan on regularly featuring some of our favorite budget finds for your baby registry. Whether it’s gear, clothing or nursery decor, the team at Gugu Guru knows for sure that you don’t have to spend a mint to have high quality, stylish products for mom & baby. Here, our stylish economical On The Go gear picks:

Urbini Omni 3-in-1 Travel System

The Omni 3-in-1 system from newcomer Urbini is a stylish, good quality option at a really great price. Its sleek modern design is similar to some of the pricier prams out there so you can look good without the sticker shock. Plus, we’ve been impressed that the product exceeds industry safety ratings — proving that you don’t have to sacrifice peace of mind just because you’re paying less. Oh, and if you’d like a jogger instead so you can get back to your weekend runs with baby in tow, check out their Avi system.

Infantino Flip Front 2 Back Carrier

It’s not just the price tag that makes parents so happy with this Infantino Flip Front 2 Back Carrier (though admittedly that’s a big reason). The Infantino Flip Front 2 Back Carrier has been put to test and compared with some of the best and most popular carriers out there and manages to exceed all expectations. We love the three carrying positions that grow with your baby; the extra padded straps for your baby-wearing comfort and; the breathable mesh fabric so baby is safe and sound.

Baby Cargo Georgi Bag

It’s no secret that we’re huge fans of Baby Cargo and their smart line of affordable and stylish gear. We’ve blogged about them a few times – especially the Georgi bag, a cult favorite. These bags come in a variety of fashion-forward hues (shown here in Moonless Night/Teal). What we love most about this line is that it’s where fashion meets function. Slide the grommets of the bag over your umbrella stroller handles or use the strap snaps to clip on to your stroller bar.

Baby Registry: Stylish, Economical "On The Go" Picks

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

Urbini Omni 3-in-1 Travel System

Infantino Flip Front 2 Back Carrier

Baby Cargo Georgi Bag

Registry Must-Haves for Adopting Parents

by Gugu Guru 1 Comment

Because we have many adopting parents coming to Gugu Guru to build their registries, we are in the process of adding special features to the website to assist these parents with finding the best baby registry items for adoptions. In the meantime, here are some of our must-haves to help adopting parents make more informed decisions in preparation for this wonderful journey:

Baby Wearing

For adoptions, we highly recommend baby wearing (like the fashionable Boba wrap, seen here in Stardust). We actually recommend baby wearing to ALL parents because bonding starts right after birth and babies benefit from as much attachment parenting as possible. This makes baby wearing very important to adopting parents because it helps solidify the bond and enables baby to attach more quickly.

Parent Facing Stroller

We also recommend a stroller that has a seat that faces the parent. This way the parent and baby can have as much eye contact as possible. Eye contact strengthens the bond between parent and baby. The UPPAbaby Vista Travel System (seen here in Maya) has everything you need, including a parent facing position, and is a stylish, versatile option. A more affordable choice is the Graco Snugrider Elite Stroller and Car Seat Carrier.

Ergonomic Bottles

If you are adopting a baby that will still be taking the bottle, we are huge fans of the Comotomo bottle because of its amazing ergonomic design that resembles a breast.

Bottle Warmer

If you’re adopting a baby 0-12 months, especially 0-6 months, you may want to save your sanity during late night feedings with a bottle warmer. Bottle warmers (like the Born Free Bottle Genius seen here) make it easy to prep a bottle in just seconds.

Travel or Mini Crib

Again, depending on the age of the child you’re adopting, we suggest considering having the baby in a travel crib or a mini crib (preferably with wheels) so babies 0-5 months can be in your room during the night. This helps with both feedings and attachment parenting. Plus baby is always close for a spontaneous kiss or snuggle. We like the Babyletto Origami Mini Crib (seen here in Lagoon) because it has wheels so you can gradually move the crib out into baby’s own room -OR- also a great choice is the Graco Travel Lite Crib with Stages, which is super lightweight and portable.

We hope this is helpful information to you as your build your registry. If you have any other questions, shoot us an email at hello [at] guguguru [dot] com.

Bottle Style: Plastic or Glass?

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

Glass or Plastic – Which one is best for your lifestyle? Here’s the team at Gugu Guru‘s list of pros and cons to help you decide which is best for you.

Also consider: Stainless steel are arguably the safest bottles for feeding and will keep liquids hot or cold for longer, but they definitely need to be hand washed. If your interest is piqued, check out the Pura Kiki infant bottle.

PLASTIC

Pros

Plastic bottles are lighter weight than glass. Lighter bottles make it easier for baby to start self-feeding earlier.
Plastic bottles are less expensive than their glass counterparts.
And, maybe most notably: plastic bottles don’t break.

Hint: If you prefer plastic but don’t want the hassle of constantly washing the bottles try bottles that use disposable liners.

Cons

The most obvious reason moms are shying away from using plastic bottles is the BPA factor. The chemical Bisphenol A (BPA), which can leach out when heated, is linked to an increased risk of hormonal disruption. The FDA issued a ban on the use of BPA in baby bottles in 2012, however, alarmists are claiming that other chemicals in plastic are just as harmful as BPA, but there is no scientific evidence to back this up.
Many moms feel best washing their plastic bottles in the top rack of the dishwasher or even hand washing. If you don’t want to hand wash and you don’t have a dish washer, you’ll need to buy a bottle sterilizer.

GLASS

Pros

Safety rules with glass bottles. No potentially scary chemicals here.
You can give glass bottles a second life as water or juice glasses.
Glass bottles can get washed in the top or bottom rack of the dishwasher without any risk of harmful chemicals, like BPA, leaching out.
Glass is greener for the environment.

Cons

They’re heavy. Try schlepping one or two around in your diaper bag for the day.
They cost more money than plastic.
There’s always a possibility of breakage with glass.
Glass can get chipped without actually breaking, so you’ll need to be on the lookout for any cracks before handing it over to baby.

Baby Registry Must Haves for Families with Two Dads

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On the heels of the historical Supreme Court ruling on same sex marriage last week, we thought it was appropriate to delve into the baby registry must-haves for families with two dads, including highlighting the picks of some our favorite gay male couples. While every new parent may need a baby carrier, there are some special considerations to remember when you’re two dads (e.g., breastfeeding = not happening). Here, the top baby registry picks for families where dads rule.

Team Gugu Guru

Stroller Handle Height
Two words: Handle Height. Not all strollers are built the same and men are often taller than women. If you don’t want to be hunched over when pushing your pram, strollers from brands like Joovy, UPPABaby (see here), Britax B Agile and Inglesina all have taller than average handle height.

Patemm Pad
Be prepared for diaper changes. Anywhere. This is especially true for daddies because men’s rooms don’t tend to have changing tables. We love the Patemm pad because of its genius, award-winning round design that accommodates squirmy infants. Oh, and P.S., over at Gugu Guru we use the Patemm even when we have changing tables.

I Love My Daddies Onesie from The Spunky Stork
Just because baby registries shouldn’t be all about the must haves.

Bill Horn & Scout Masterson, aka “The Guncles”
You might recognize Bill and Scout from the Tori & Dean show, where they made frequent appearances as part of Tori Spelling’s inner circle and the Guncles (gay + uncles) to her kids. Now, Bill and Scout are parents of their own with two littles, daughter Simone (5 years old) and son Bosley (10 months old). Here are their tried and true baby essentials, in their own words:

Born Free Bottle Genius

Bill tried to breastfeed but it was a disaster. KIDDING! Obviously, with two dads we needed to bottle feed Bosley. But there’s nothing more exhausting, difficult, and downright annoying, than fixing a bottle at 3am for a baby who’s screaming bloody murder. The Bottle Genius made it so easy to fix a nice, warm bottle in a matter of seconds.

4moms rockaRoo

Our daughter Simone loved 4moms’ mamaRoo, but Bosley loved his rockaRoo. He was a VERY fussy baby, and sometimes the only thing that would calm him down was the gentle rocking motion of this great infant seat.

Baby Pibu Newborn Essentials Kit

Proper skincare is so important for everyone, especially newborns. Baby Pibu makes a great gift set that includes every item a new parent needs to care for and nourish newborn baby skin for the ﬁrst several months. And you know you can trust the products, because they were created by Dr. Amy Kim, a dermatologist and mom.

LILLEbaby Complete All Seasons tokidoki “Rebel” Baby Carrier

We love LILLEbaby carriers and the tokidoki ‘Rebel’ print is awesome. But get them while you can. They keep selling out.

The Stokke Sleepi shown in Bosley’s nursery.

Stokke Sleepi Crib
We used the Stokke Sleepi crib, which in its ‘Mini’ form can travel around your house on wheels and fit through door frames. It was great for pulling up next to our bed for late night/early morning feedings.

Summer Infant Baby Zoom Wi-Fi Video Monitor and Internet Viewing System, Link Wi-Fi Series

Summer Infant Baby Touch WiFi Video Monitor & Internet Viewing System

A sleeping baby is a happy baby… and happy dads. Our Summer Infant WiFi monitor gives us the peace of mind to know that Bosley is sleeping safe and sound.

Love To Dream Swaddle Up

Swaddling is hard! The Love To Dream Swaddle Up saved our lives. Bosley slept so much more soundly in his.

Bebe au Lait Nursing Pillow

You might not think two dads would need a nursing pillow, but you need to have good support under your arm when your sitting up and bottle feeding the baby – otherwise your arm will go numb. Bebe au Lait’s pillow was a feeding must for us.

Sean Maher
LA-based actor Sean Maher and his significant other Paul are dads to two kids–Sophia and Liam. Sean and Paul relied on an arsenal of carefully chosen essentials to help ease them into parenthood, plus many a bottle of chilled rosé and Blue Bottle Iced Coffee!

Diaper Dude diaper bag
Every dad needs a schlep bag to tote around baby’s daily essentials. The various styles from Diaper Dude range from messenger bags and backpacks to more buttoned-up canvas totes.

Sophie the Giraffe
Sure she’s everywhere, but this iconic chewing toy is a solid choice for new parents. Made from 100% natural rubber and food paint, you know you’re getting quality.

Miracle Blanket
“This saved us,” says Sean. When swaddling feels like an art form, this easy to use blanket creates the perfect swaddle every time.

Sleep Easy by Sleepy Planet
This is the book and method that many Hollywood parents have relied on to get their babies to sleep. Written by two sleep specialists and psychotherapists, this guide has garnered quite the cult following.

Nose Frida
This nasal aspirator from Sweden has helped countless parents find relief for their little ones’ stuffy noses.

Splendid Clothing
Just as well made as the adult clothes, Splendid’s baby collection is super-quality, super-soft and super-adorable.

Double Strollers: Side-By-Side or Tandem

by Gugu Guru 1 Comment

Here’s a hint from the team at Gugu Guru. If you’re pregnant with numero uno and you think you’ll have another baby in the next two years, select a stroller that allows you to add a second seat and converts to a tandem double. Our favorite is the Baby Jogger City Select. Is the City Select inexpensive? No. But it will make up for that extra investment later on when you don’t have to buy a double stroller in the future and only need to get a second seat.

Now, if this is not your first baby OR you’re having twins, this means you’re probably ready to shop doubles now. When selecting a double stroller, you will have a choice between a side-by-side or tandem. Which one is right for you and your children? Here are our unbiased pros and cons for both styles from the team at Gugu Guru:

Side-By-Side

Pros

Pushes and turns very easily because the weight of your two children is very centered between the two side-by-side seats.
Easy access to both kids in case you need to give bottles or snacks.
A side-by-side stroller is easier than a tandem to “jack up” to get up over curbs, etc., when babies get bigger/heavier.
Side-by-side strollers are more agile in terms of quick turns because they are less wide vertically. You can worry less about smacking into someone with the front seat of your stroller.
The side-by-side position gives an equal vantage point to both kids. There is no argument between them about who gets to sit in front or on the top.
Many side-by-side strollers are only about 4” wider than a tandem and most are ADA compliant, meaning they will fit wherever a wheel chair would need to fit.

Cons

Children will always be side-by-side so it’s less likely that they’ll engage with each other in the same way they would if they were facing each other.
They’re heavier and wider, making it much harder to navigate narrow passageways or any tight spaces.
They don’t fold up very easily, making travel and storage more difficult.
It’s harder to find a side-by-side model that will allow car seats to interchange with the seats.

Tandem

Pros

If you live in a small apartment or have limited storage space, the tandem will always be the way to go. Tandem strollers are narrower, making it much easier to navigate smaller elevators and doorways. They also fold more compactly than a double and take up less storage space.
If you want your children to interact with each other, certain models of tandems that allow reversal of the front seat – like the Baby Jogger City Select – are the best choice. Babies can face each other to talk or play patty cake.
Alternatively, if you don’t want your children to interact with each other, you can have them both face forward.
Some tandem models can also work as a travel system and will accommodate infant car seats in both seats.

Cons

You won’t be able to access the baby in the first seat easily, especially while you’re walking. You’ll have to stop what you’re doing and walk to the front of the stroller.
Baby in the front can feel like an eternity away. (However, there are some models of strollers – like the Baby Jogger City Select – that allow you to turn baby to face you, allowing mom a better vantage point and more security.)
Hard to “jack up” a tandem stroller to get up over curbs, etc., as babies grow and get heavier.
Turns are very wide vertically. If you have to make a quick turn onto a sidewalk or around a corner, you need to be incredibly careful not to smack into someone with the front stroller seat.
Be prepared for arguing about who gets to sit where when they get older.

Newton Crib Mattress

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

What if you found a mattress that makes you feel as if you were sleeping on air? And on top of this, said mattress is totally breathable, washable and 100% recyclable. Too good to be true, right? Luckily not so for infants and toddlers. Newton is a new entry to the crib mattress category and the talk of the town due to the features that make it one of the safest, cleanest and eco-friendliest options for a crib mattress available.

Giving your baby the most comfortable surface to sleep on is a no brainer investment in our opinion. A well-rested baby means well-rested parents. If you’re new to the parent scene, you’ll understand that a good night’s sleep is as good or better than gold.

The Newton mattress is so safe because it’s completely breathable; shown in studies to significantly decrease the chance of suffocation in the crib when compared to other leading organic and self-described “breathable” mattresses in the category.

It’s clean because (as seen above) the cover is removable. This means that you are able to completely wash away mold and bacteria for a fresher, more hygienic crib.

Furthermore, Newton invested the time to research and develop what would ultimately be the most comfortable mattress for your child. What they say is a perfect combination of “cushy firmness”.

The team at Newton is so convinced that you will love this mattress that they provide a 100 day money back guarantee on their website, “Once your Newton arrives, you will have 100 nights to decide if it is right for you and your baby. If either of you aren’t happy just return at our expense for a full refund.”

You have nothing to lose (except potentially a good night of sleep for your baby, if you don’t give Newton a try.)

Baby Shower Gift Ideas: Gender Neutral

by Gugu Guru 4 Comments

It’s shower season–and by that we mean it’s raining babies–not cats and dogs. Baby showers are a blast, but don’t let the stress of figuring out what to get your mom-to-be friend or relative put a damper on the festivities. We’ve rounded up some of the best baby shower gifts for moms-to-be who are waiting to find out the gender.

Best Gender Neutral Baby Shower Gifts

Real Baby Food: Easy, All-Natural Recipes for Your Baby and Toddler
Moms will be logging countless hours feeding their little ones. This new baby food cook book, written by the food editor of Parents magazine, is chock full of easy, peasy yummy recipes good for the whole family.

Rockabye Baby Lullaby Renditions of Maroon 5
If these soothing rock tunes don’t help to usher baby into some much needed sleep, at least they’ll provide some nice background noise to the sound of crying.

Aden+Anais Organic Cotton Lovey
It doesn’t get much cuter–or much more worry-free–than this line of super-cute lovies from beloved baby brand Aden +Anais. These cuddly lovies are machine washable, handmade from 100% cotton muslin and sure to be baby’s favorite thing to snuggle up to.

Baby Aspen Five Little Monkeys Gift Set
This all-in-one gift basket is packed with mom-to-be essentials, including a rattle, blankie, door hanger that alerts others of a sleeping baby and a plush stuffed animal, all in a cute five little monkeys theme.

Matimati Baby Bandana Drool Bibs
These unisex bandana bibs are a cool way to keep baby’s clothes free from drool and milk that will inevitably drip from his mouth. Made from 100% organic cotton and super-absorbent fleece with easy snaps to adjust the size.

Sophie the Giraffe Teether
Sure she maybe ubiquitous, but Sophie the Giraffe has become something of an icon for the modern mom set. Made from 100% natural rubber and totally adorable, Sophie is a must-have teething toy for every baby. This new rendition of Sophie comes with two teething rings of different textures attached, to help babies at different teething stages.

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