Gear

Best Wrap Carrier for Active Mamas

When a new baby comes along, it’s tempting to stay put in the Newborn Lockdown stage and hunker down with Netflix, but often times there are other kids to tend to, dinner to be made, and maybe even those evening walks with your favorite dog as the sun goes down. With a wrap carrier for baby, you can resume your active lifestyle postpartum and keep baby close in the wrap carrier! The Baby K’tan Active Carrier is a wrap carrier essential for baby registries of all lifestyles, whether suburban or urban, working mom or stay-at-home, the Baby K’tan Active wrap carrier is your ticket to keeping up with all of your favorite activities and events, whatever your active style.

One of the reasons we’re such big fans of the Baby K’tan Active wrap carrier is that it is incredibly easy to use. The Baby K’tan Wrap Carrier has a patented double-loop design that’s quick and simple to put on and take off with no buckling and no fussing with rings or snaps. Just slip it on like a t-shirt and comfortably carry baby from birth to toddlerhood in 5 different wearing positions. Plus, it is washable and very easy to travel with; no giant pieces of fabric or buckles to tuck into your diaper bag; it’s basically like packing an extra t-shirt!

The Baby K’tan Active wrap carrier is ideal for parents who love to get outside and stay active; it may seem that you would get overheated while carrying baby in a wrap carrier, but not with the Baby K’tan Active wrap carrier. The Baby K’tan Active carrier is made from a hi-tech performance fabric that wicks away moisture and sweat while blocking over 90% of the suns UVA and UVB rays – keeping baby and mom extra cool and protected when out and about. Furthermore, the Baby K’tan Original carrier is made from 100% all-natural cotton fabric, so you will stay cool and baby won’t get overheated in the wrap carrier. Each carrier type is available in a variety of lovely colors and patterns, so you are sure to find something which fits your personal style!

Baby K’tan Weekender Diaper Bag , Baby K’tan Newborn Swaddle, Baby K’tan Diaper Bag

We’re big fans of Baby K’tan because their mission is to make life easy for parents, whether it is with their simple wrap carrier which feels like a t-shirt, their Weekender Diaper Bag which holds pretty much everything you may need (and the kitchen sink), their Baby K’tan Diaper Bag which features 2 antibacterial pockets, 2 insulated bottle pockets, exterior water bottle and cell phone pockets, built-in antibacterial wet bag, and more, or their Newborn Swaddle, made of an innovative breathable stretch fabric – when it comes to essentials for your baby, Baby K’tan truly has you covered.

Check out some of our other posts featuring Baby K’tan:

New Year, New You with Baby K’tan
Top 5 Must Have Essentials: Baby’s First Airplane Flight

Video Review Ergobaby 180 Reversible Stroller

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Check out our latest Video Review Ergobaby 180 Reversible Stroller. We were so excited to review the new Ergobaby 180 Reversible Stroller and – spoiler alert – we give it two very big thumbs up. If you’re looking for a practical, lightweight stroller that can be forward-facing or world-facing, look no further. See what our Chief Gugu Concierge baby planner, Julie has to say here:

Check out or buy Ergobaby’s 180 Reversible Stroller here.

Please note: While Ergobaby did send us the stroller for review, this video is not sponsored and all opinions are our own.

Check out other video reviews and video overviews here:

The Play Gym from Lovevery

nanobébé Overview Video

Baby Merlin Magic Sleepsuit

Everyday Must Have: Golden Child Diaper Bag Organizers

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It’s no secret that once baby comes along, there is just so…much…stuff! It can be overwhelming to find a diaper bag which not only fits all of baby’s gear, but also fits your personal style. Worry no longer, mamas – Golden Child is here to solve all of your problems! Golden Child are structured modular inserts which turn any bag (seriously, any handbag of yours) into a well-organized diaper bag. Combine the 3 modular pieces to fit any bag shape – from a small zip tote, to a large shopping bag, to a backpack. So easy to swap in and out! Read on to learn more plus enter to win one of your own!

Founded by two sisters with a background in design and product development, they wanted to solve the major problem moms have – even though you may have a bag or diaper bag you love, it has to evolve with the baby, and with your lifestyle – due to the modular, clip on, structure of Golden Child, you can create the diaper bag of your dreams.

We wanted to test it out, so we turned to an uber-stylish mama, Cristina of Cristina V. Jewelry; Cristina has an adorable 1 year old daughter and works from home, so she’s always on the go go go. Here’s what she had to say about the Golden Child inserts:

I love that I can now see everything in my diaper bag and that it had more than enough compartments for both Paige’s things and mine. In less than 10 minutes, I went from not knowing what was in my bag to seeing where everything was. It sounds silly, but I also feel better knowing I will not be scrambling the next time Paige needs a snack or I need to find my wallet.

Like what you see? Enter to win a Sunny Diaper Bag Insert for yourself in our giveaway:

Golden Child Giveaway

You can find Golden Child LA on their website, Instagram, and Facebook

Looking for more diaper bag help?

Video Overview: The Play Gym from Lovevery

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We are so excited to be introducing The Play Gym from Lovevery to Gugu Guru’s audience! This activity gym will provide so much enrichment for your baby, including a full year’s worth of developmental play ideas. Plus, it grows with your child. Check out Gugu Guru founder Monica’s video overview here:

Thank you to Lovevery for making this video possible.

View more of our video overviews here:

Real Mom Review: Thule Urban Glide

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It can be hard to find the time to workout when you’re also taking care of a little one, which is why so many parents turn to jogging with baby as a way to get a workout in while baby hangs out in the stroller. Our top pick for jogging stroller is the Thule Urban Glide, and we had a real mom, Kusum, review one – here’s her take on why the Thule Urban Glide gets 5 stars as a jogging stroller!

Live in an urban environment? Check out our top jogging strollers for urban parents.

Want to see more posts from Kusum? Check out her top picks for bringing baby home essentials, new mom style guide, and new mom fitness tips.

Being a first time mom, I generally spend hours on the internet looking up baby product reviews from time to time. Call me paranoid, but there is not a single baby product I bring home without reading at least a few dozen reviews and comparing different products and their features (even if it is as simple as a baby toothbrush). Maybe all moms are like that? Or maybe not? But in any case, nothing is more important to us mamas than our little one’s safety, right?

So, when it was time for the hubs and I to choose a jogging stroller, I was more skeptical than confused with the number of options that are out there in the market. And for someone who has a love-hate relationship with running, this was a make or break situation, because it is extremely important to me that both my baby and I, enjoy our run while also being safe and worry-free. This Thule Urban Glide jogging stroller is everything I was looking for (and more). And I have Monica of Gugu Guru to thank for that – not only did she recommend the Thule Urban Glide but when I expressed a few concerns about this jogging stroller, she also gathered expert opinions from pros who have used this stroller for a while and love it. Talk about going above and beyond – personal concierge indeed!

Reasons why I (the hubs and our baby) love this stroller… First and foremost, my hubby is tall whereas I on the other hand am petite and the Thule Urban Glide has an adjustable-height handlebar which makes it easy for either of us to use this jogging stroller without any hassle. It is easy to maneuver the stroller when I want to make a quick turn or even when the path is bumpy. I can recline the baby into a comfortable sleeping position when he is fast asleep on our run and park the stroller as I stretch halfway through the run. The stroller has a zippered storage compartment under the seat that comes with a water-resistant cover which is super helpful for the rainy Seattle weather. And weirdly enough, this stroller glides so smoothly that it makes it fun + makes me feel like going for a run with my baby more often. Can you tell from that big smile on my little baby’s face that he loves to go running with his mama!

On the downside, even though the Thule Urban Glide feels light while running, this is not exactly a light-weight stroller, but I think it has to be heavy and sturdy to ensure safety. I also wish that a cup/bottle holder came with the stroller, but that’s a minor complaint. This jogging stroller is definitely a bit on the expensive side but when your baby’s safety is in question, the price tag is justifiable and worth it!

We still haven’t had a chance to test the multi-position sun canopy (just thankful for the rear appearance the sun god makes over here in Seattle), and come to think of it, we haven’t ever tried to fold the stroller for storing either (thank god for the ample space in the garage!). I am quite eager to use the Thule Urban Glide as a travel system and to take it on the beach and mountain trails on our next vacation. And all in all, this stroller gets a 5 star from me and I highly recommend it!

This post contains affiliate links.

Your Best Bundle Episode 4: New Year, New You

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Your Best Bundle Episode 4: New Year, New You is our fourth installment of our Your Best Bundle series with Whitney Port and Bundle Organics. This “New Year, New You” Instagram Live is hosted by maternity concierge and baby gear expert Julie McCaffrey. Julie is a chief baby planner from Gugu Concierge and also the founder of Babynav Baby Planners.

When and where: Your Best Bundle Episode 4: New Year, New You with maternity concierge and baby gear expert Julie McCaffrey streamed live on the Bundle Organics Instagram Thursday, January 4th at 9PM ET (6PM PT.)

From jogging strollers to outdoor carriers to fixed wheels versus swivel, there is a wealth of gear and features you can use as a new parent that will help you maintain a fit and active lifestyle – even with a baby in tow. In this Instagram Live, self-professed “baby gear nerd” and professional baby planner Julie will share her must-have products for fitness, along with some helpful guidelines around product selection and proper usage. This New Year, New You Instagram Live Q&A is sure to help you to better determine the gear and products that are a good match for your lifestyle.

Do you have a specific question about new mom fitness that you’d like us to cover in the Q&A? We’d love to know so Julie can come prepared! Submit your questions in advance by sending an email to yourbestbundle@bundleorganics.com with the subject “New Mom Fitness”.

Must Have Essentials: Early Feeding for Babies

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There are two questions we often get from new parents when it comes to building a registry: one, “what will I need to feed my newborn?” And, the follow up, “can I register for items for early feeding of solid foods?” To which we always say, of course! However, there are must have essentials for each of those topics – and we asked our amazing baby planners for their picks for early feeding, when it comes to infants and babies. Don’t forget to add these picks to your registry!

Abby Ludwig, Gugu Guru Registry Consultant –

Must Have Essential for Early Feeding: My top pick for an early feeding item is the Boppy! As a mom of twins I had two Boppy’s which helped greatly while I was trying to feed my little ones. For those nursing, the My Breast Friend or Twin-Z Pillow are also great pillows to help support you and your children!

Tina Morton, Cloud Nine Birth Services –

Must Have Essential for Early Feeding: The ezpz Happy Mat for baby is the best for little eaters! This unique placemat sticks to eating surfaces without adhesives and has different compartments for all types of food. Another plus, it’s super easy to clean!

Jessica Zablan, The Birth & Baby Company –

Must Have Essential for Early Feeding: Baby Led Weaning (BLW) is a great to introduce food to your baby. BLW allows them to play with the food and for them to learn to put food into their own mouths. There website has some great resources.

Ashley Akselband of Wellsprings Birth and Baby –

Must Have Essential for Early Feeding: the Beaba baby food maker for stage 1 foods (steams and purées all in one) and the ezpz Happy Mat all in one mat/bowl combos – super cute and super functional for those first finger foods!

Amber Michels of Your Milk Shoppe –

Must Have Essential for Early Feeding:

Your Milk Shoppe’s one “must have” essential for feeding is the Lactalite Breast Pump Device. Lactalite Breast Pump Lights were created out of necessity. Dr. Patrick O’Malley watched as his wife, Kelly, was struggling to see whether or not she was producing milk while pumping. Juggling a breast shield and bottle with one hand and the LED light of her iPhone in the other, they both agreed that there was a better way. They created an easy to use light, attached it to the breast shield, and in Kelly’s words, “This literally changed my breast pumping experience on the spot. I felt that I had to use the Lactalite every time I pumped, day and night, it was that helpful.”

Victoria Zimmerman, Aspen Baby Planners –

Must Have Essential for Early Feeding: I can’t recommend aden+anais Burpy Bibs enough! Their unique shape keeps them on your shoulder when feeding, burping, and even when bending over to put baby down (there’s nothing worse than a burp cloth that’s constantly falling off and landing on your little ones face!). Pro-tip: stick to the cotton; the bamboo ones shrink up when washed!

Victoria Facelli, Durham Lactation –

Must Have Essential for Early Feeding: I love a sturdy flat breastfeeding pillow like My Breast Friend as you learn to feed your wiggly new baby. I think a water bottle with a straw is essential because breastfeeding makes you so thirsty!

Olivia Howell, Gugu Guru’s Editor in Chief –

Must Have Essential for Early Feeding: I formula fed all my boys and found the Dr. Brown’s Formula mixing pitcher was so helpful for middle of the night feeding.

See also: Dr Brown’s for Formula Feeding

Photos via Pics and Paws Photography

Must Have Essentials: Baby’s First Thanksgiving

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Thanksgiving crept up quickly this year, and for many parents out there, it’s an exciting one, because it is their baby’s first Thanksgiving! We asked the Gugu Guru team and our baby planners for their must have essential items to celebrate Baby’s First Thanksgiving. Check over on Instagram to see some tips for enjoying your baby’s first Thanksgiving, too!

Victoria Facelli of Durham Lactation: Mine would be the Inglesina Fast Table Chair with tray. This way baby can be right up at the holiday table with you, plus it is so foldable to take to grandma’s house! the tray helps the feet of the seat not get cruddy and protects your beautiful heirloom linens from babies first cranberry sauce.

See also: The Inglesina Fast Table Chair on our Foodie Mom’s Registry and Minimalist Baby Registry.

Jessica Zablan of The Birth and Baby Company: Ezpz Mats (pictured above). It’s a silicone suction mat that sticks right to the table or high chair. You don’t have to worry about your littles throwing the bowl or plate on to the floor. They are also dishwasher safe.

See also: Meet the Maker behind EZPZ Mats.

Lauren Daylami, Maternity Consultant with Your Milk Shoppe in Charleston, SC: The Oxo Tot Roll Up Bib is a must! It’s an essential item for parents to have for their kiddo at Thanksgiving. It has a convenient silicone pocket that will catch all the yummy food at dinner and is super easy to wash in the sink!

Ginny Lawler, Maternity Consultant with Your Milk Shoppe in Atlanta, GA: Bumkins Bibs! These come in a 3-pack, and are simple, easy to clean and easy to pack up. An extra bib for Thanksgiving is never a bad idea and so smart to pack when traveling! EZPZ Happy Mat; if your kids are up to solids, this placement and plate set is great for an easy cleanup. It’s completely dishwasher safe and it suctions to the table to avoid the plate from being thrown or flipped over!

Sarah Slazyk, Maternity Consultant with Your Milk Shoppe, Columbia South Carolina & Charlotte, NC: Nothing is more important than capturing these precious months, years, and LIFETIMES of your sweet babies. My tip for creating lasting memories this holiday season (and every year after) is Groovebook! This day in age, we take So. Many. Photos. on our phones…but how many of us actually have the time to print and organize them? Groovebook is amazing and affordable! To get started, simply download the app, sign-up, and add a credit card. Each month, for only $2.99, you can upload up to 100 photos by the deadline. Groovebook will print all of them (4×6) in an adorable little booklet and automatically mail them to you. Have more than 100 photos you want printed in a month or want a duplicate book for all of your realtives? Easy peasy! You can add additional books for $2.99 each. Seriously, this app is fantastic and a great way to easily save these special memories!

Monica Banks, founder of Gugu Guru: I’m usually flying somewhere for Thanksgiving, so I’ve found having a baby carrier to wear the baby is key. Make sure that you practice with the carrier before you journey with baby. We’re big fans of the Tula Free-to-Grow carrier because you can use it from infants to toddlers – it’s also super lightweight. See our full review on it here.

Olivia Howell, Gugu Guru’s Editor in Chief: I’m a big photo taker, so when it comes to the holidays, I want to make sure I am all set up for good photos; don’t forget to get baby a cute outfit – I have two boys, so I love browsing Cuddle Sleep Dream for their Thanksgiving outfits for baby boys. Also, don’t forget to get a cute apron for yourself!

This post may contain affiliate links.

Top photo via Pics and Paws Photography

Colgate Mattress: Must Have Baby Registry Pick

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-Sponsored Post-

There is nothing more valuable to a parent than peace of mind, so when it comes to adding products to your registry, the top product pick to consider should always be the crib mattress. Why the crib mattress? Well, simply put, not only is that where baby will spend the majority of their time, but the crib has to be a safe and soothing place for baby to rest, play, grow, and learn. When it comes to crib mattresses, our must have baby registry pick is Colgate Mattress. We believe your baby’s nursery needs to include a quality product from Colgate, a third generation, family-owned and operated company of craftsmen has been selling crib mattresses for over 60 years. Colgate is not only known for their top selling mattresses, but their accessories as well.

We’ve featured Colgate for Back to Sleep, Innovative Sleep Products, and as a Nursery Essential for Mother’s Day, plus Meet the Makers Behind the Mattresses

There are many reasons that Colgate Mattresses are a must have baby registry pick for your little one. Did you know that Colgate Mattresses are made in America? It’s true! And, better yet, they’re a family owned business, so you can feel good about supporting a family when you purchase from them. Colgate also keeps parents in mind and wants to make your life a little easier – so they designed their mattresses with the utmost attention to form and function. Did you know Colgate are pioneers in crib-mattress making? Colgate was the first to create light weight mattresses, which makes lifting the mattress to change the sheets a much easier task than traditional mattresses. Colgate mattresses are cleverly designed to accommodate baby as she transitions to the toddler phase with a simple flip of the mattress. One side is firm and supportive for infants while the other is slightly softer for toddler comfort; safe sleep at all ages.

For the eco-conscious parent, Colgate has always chosen to use non-toxic barrier fabrics instead of harsh fire retardant chemicals to give parents peace of mind while not only meeting, but exceeding federal flammability standards. Colgate takes your baby’s safety incredibly seriously and they are the first mattress company to use natural coir fiber made from coconuts shell husks. And, you can rest easy knowing that all of Colgate’s crib mattresses carry the Greenguard GOLD certification.

Colgate’s safety and concern for baby doesn’t end at crib mattresses, either. They have a full line of accessories to help keep your baby calm and safe, including bassinet mattresses, organic crib mattress covers, and contoured changing pads complete with natural changing pad covers, too. Colgate products are designed with rich and natural textures to provide your baby with a calming and cozy environment. With Colgate Mattresses, quality and function strike a harmonious balance to help baby sleep safely and peacefully, all while providing parents with peace of mind.

Thank you to Colgate for making this sponsored post possible.

Photos via Pics and Paws Photography

The One Essential Baby Registry Must Have

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Often when moms start building their registries, they seem overwhelmed with the amount of products they seemingly need to take care of a baby – rest easy, mama – we have a special list for you today. We reached out to our amazing baby planners and posed the question, “what ONE baby product is a must have essential?” It’s not easy to pair down a must have baby item to only one essential product pick – but, read on and see what our planners say is the must have one item for your baby registry. Want to see their one piece of advice for new parents? You’ve got to head to our Instagram for that info!

Don’t forget to check out the baby planners’ picks for preparing for multiples and items to help you get through Newborn Lockdown.

Jessica Zablan of The Birth and Baby Company:

One Essential Baby Registry Must Have: Nose Frida! Or the whole Frida Baby kit.

Amber Michel of Your Milk Shoppe:

One Essential Baby Registry Must Have: Aden + Anais muslin swaddling blankets. These blankets will be EVERYTHING to you from birth and beyond. The perfect swaddling blanket, you can also use as a breastfeeding cover or a light layer during walks. You will use these well into toddlerhood and beyond. Highly recommend these blankets as a must-have on every registry!

Abby Ludwig, Gugu Guru Registry Consultant:

One Essential Baby Registry Must Have: The FridaBaby Windi! There will be times when your little one is backed up. They are uncomfortable and as a parent you feel helpless! When your babe is having trouble getting those gas pains out, there is only one product you need! The Fridababy Windi is an absolute must have for new parents. Think of the Windi as the updated version of the “thermometer trick.” When your baby is in pain, it is a safe and quick way to help relieve the gas and colic pain they may be experiencing.

Tina Morton of Cloud Nine Births:

One Essential Baby Registry Must Have: DockAtot! The one just have I would say is the DockATot! It’s a life saver at night, during the day, and in every location. It just gives baby a nice, secure, comfy hug!

Seen also: Minimalist Baby Registry Must Haves

Victoria Facelli of Durham Lactation:

One Essential Baby Registry Must Have: An exercise ball to bounce on.

Lauren Daylami, Maternity Consultant in Charleston, SC Territory of Your Milk Shoppe:

One Essential Baby Registry Must Have: My number one item for a new parent is the HoMedics Sound Machine. White noise will help associate your baby with sleep time and will also block out any loud background noises so that they can sleep longer and more soundly. This is a lifesaver for overtired new parents!

Ashley Akselband of Wellsprings Birth and Baby:

One Essential Baby Registry Must Have: Infant car seat! The one product new parents must have – an infant car seat! I’ve worked with people who think it’s better to get a convertible car seat, as it will grow with their child, but I explain to people that an infant seat (if your budget allows you to purchase both) is fantastic, because transferring the baby from the car into a stroller or into the house makes life so much easier when they’re in an infant seat. I usually recommend the Britax B-Safe or the Chicco KeyFit 30 – they both have excellent safety ratings, easy to install and carry, and they’re compatible with so many different stroller brands, so you can still use them with some of the top of the line strollers on the market.

Sarah Slazyk, Maternity Consultant in Columbia, SC & Charlotte, NC of Your Milk Shoppe:

One Essential Baby Registry Must Have: Ergobaby Carriers! They are amazing. So comfortable, easy to use, and a life saver for getting things done around the house, running errands, or just needing to give those tired arms a break. The newest one, the Ergobaby 360, is fabulous and can hold baby in all different positions (infant insert needed for newborns). They also JUST came out with a new wrap that is great too, less stretchy than other brands so baby doesn’t sag (because let’s be real, mamas have other sagging issues to worry about, ha) and cozy, breathable fabric.

Julie McCaffrey of Babynav Baby Planners:

One Essential Baby Registry Must Have: I actually have three: the Skip Hop Pronto changing station, a Crane Drop Humidifier and an aden + anais Serenity Star. For any mom or dad on the go, the Skip Hop Pronto is a must have to ensure you always have a clean place to change baby. The Pronto folds up small enough to carry on your wrist or toss under your stroller but unfolds into a clean extra-large space to change baby with pockets to hold and easily access all the essentials. A humidifier in the nursery can help keep sniffles away for baby and the Crane Drop humidifier is my go to because it looks stylish in just about any nursery design thanks to the many color options and it is super easy to use. Not only is it whisper quiet but it requires no filter so there are no extra parts for parents to worry about keeping track of! This 5-in-1 piece of gear for the nursery is great for the smallest or biggest spaces. The Serenity Star is a stylish clock, nightlight, room temperature indicator, feeding diary and sound machine all in one so parents don’t to have find places for multiple devices in the nursery.

Gugu Guru Team:

One Essential Baby Registry Must Have: Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit! Transitioning from the comfort of a swaddle to a sleep sack can be a rough transition for some babies, as they miss the secure feeling of a swaddle. One of the most popular items on countless registries we see is the Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit. Made with soft, comforting materials, the Magic Sleepsuit will give your baby the sense of security and warmth they need to sleep well through the night. We highly recommend this one essential item, as it is a necessary aid to help your little one sleep safely on their own.

Looking for more registry ideas? Check these out!

Adorable photos from Pics and Paws Photography

This post contains affiliate links.

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