Nursing & Feeding

Zucchini Bread Muffins for Baby Led Weaning

When it comes to baby led weaning (learn more about BLW here), it’s fun to try new recipes for your little one. A fantastic place to learn new and healthy recipes is Hello Fresh. Hello Fresh makes it easy to try new recipes because they provide you with everything you need, including step by step instructions (hello, mom brain). Did you know you could add Hello Fresh boxes to your registry? Today we’re sharing a delicious and healthy zucchini bread muffins from Hello Fresh’s blog ideal for baby led weaning, toddlers, kids or yourself.

One of the best ways to get colorful veggies into those tiny tummies is to bake with them. Zucchini, being the high water content food that it is, works wonders to add moisture to breads and muffins alike — which makes it our go-to veggie come dessert.

These treats are slightly sweet and incredibly flavorful thanks to the addition of cinnamon and ginger — two warming autumnal spices. If you’re in a bind, feel free to skip the butterfly decorations and just top with a slather of frosting. But if not, we highly recommend it. Plus, the kids will LOVE it.

Here’s what you’ll need:

For the batter:

2 Cups Plain Flour
1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1 Teaspoon Ground Ginger
1 1/2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
3/4 Cup Sugar
125 Grams (8 Tablespoons) Butter
2 Eggs
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
4 Tablespoons Unsweetened Yogurt
3/4 Cup Packed Grated Zucchini

For the frosting:

1 Cup Cream Cheese
1/4 Cup Sugar
1/3 Cup Crushed Pineapple, drained

Here’s what you’ll do:

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line a 12-hole muffin tin with liners.

2. In a large bowl, beat together all cupcake ingredients (except grated zucchini) until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.

3. Fold in grated zucchini.

4. Spoon mixture into muffin tin and bake until golden and firm to the touch, 25-30 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

5. Meanwhile, prepare frosting by beating cream cheese, sugar, and pineapple together until light and fluffy.

6. Once muffins are cool, scoop out a shallow circle from the middle. Chop circle in half — these are your wings!

7. Fill hole with frosting. Stick wings flat side down, pointing out and up.

Best Baby Bottles Glass & Alternative : Gugu Picks

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Want to see options other than plastic bottles and looking for the best baby bottles glass or in alternative materials for your baby? We’ve got you covered. From the budget parent to the minimalist and more, in this guide we’ve rounded up the best baby bottles glass or using alternative materials in 2018 for all types of parents according to Gugu Guru’s experts. (Be sure to check out our last post on plastic bottles!)

Gugu Pick Best Baby Bottles Glass or Alternative: Life Factory Glass Baby Bottle
Life Factory glass baby bottles are made with the highest quality glass that allows them to go from the freezer to boiling water without breaking. Each Life Factory Glass Baby Bottle comes with a stylish medical grade silicone sleeve making it easier for baby to grasp. Every component of these bottles is dishwasher safe and you don’t need to remove the sleeves to wash them. Life Factory baby bottles are made to be compatible with most breast pumps. These glass bottles are the perfect combo of style, durability and safe functionality for baby. Available in both 4oz and 9 oz sizes.

Minimalist Pick: OlaBaby Gentle Bottle
For parents who don’t want to use plastic but are worried about the weight of glass, medical grade silicone is a great alternative material. With the OlaBaby Gentle Bottle parents and baby will appreciate the muted colors and soft textures. The GentleBottle features an off centered nipple design to mimic breast feeding, an integrated dual vent system and a wide neck for easy filling and easy cleaning without the need for a bottle brush. These bottles are gentle on your eyes, gentle to touch and will look beautiful in your home. Available in both 4oz and 8 oz sizes.

Budget Pick: Evenflo Feeding Classic Glass Twist Bottles
Evenflo glass bottles are affordable for every budget and durable enough that they will last. Evenflo Classic Glass bottles featured tempered glass and soft silicone nipple with air vents to prevent them from collapsing. The twist design of these bottles makes it easier for baby to hold without the need for a sleeve. These bottles have a simple, classic design that is good for baby and mother nature. Available in both 4oz and 8oz sizes.

Multiples Pick: Dr. Brown’s Options Wide Neck Glass Bottle
Dr. Brown’s Options Wide Neck Glass bottles offer the same great features many parents love in other Dr. Brown’s bottles but in a glass option. The Dr. Browns Options bottles feature an internal vent system that really works to prevent spit-up and gas which means less discomfort for babies. Dr. Brown’s bottle can also help maintain vitamins and preserve good fat because air does not mix with the formula or breast milk creating oxidation. With the Options glass bottles by Dr. Brown’s parents can choose to remove the internal vent system when they decide their little one is old enough which is great for parents because it means fewer parts to clean. Available in both 5 oz and 9 oz sizes and silicone sleeves can be purchased separately.

Eco-Friendly Pick: Pura Kiki Stainless Steele Infant Bottle
Pura Kiki infant bottles are made from high grade stainless steele and feature a medical grade silicone nipple. The bottles come with a soft silicone travel cover and offer a life time warranty as they easily transition from bottle to sippy cup, straw cup, sport bottle or snack container. The Natural Vent nipple on the Pura Kiki bottle features a one-piece venting tube that stabilizes pressure for continuous feeding. Pura Kiki are 100% plastic free and are the only non-toxic certified bottles certified by Made Safe making them among the safest and most eco-friendly bottles you could find. Available in 5oz, 9oz and 11 oz sizes.

Healthy Pregnancy Summer Fruit Recipes

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With the temperatures heating up, it can be tempting to sit poolside with a bucket of ice cream, as it can be tiring to go to the market and pick up food to prep and cook when you’re carrying a pregnant belly, too! Luckily, Hello Fresh makes cooking easy, even for the busiest and most pregnant of mamas. Did you know you could add Hello Fresh boxes to your registry? Today we’re sharing delicious and healthy fruit salad tips from Hello Fresh’s blog for pregnant mamas!

If you’re hanging pool or beachside and you’re looking for a healthy snack, check out some of these tips from Hello Fresh’s blog to up your fruit salad game!

You’ll want to prep each fruit with the perfect tool, but a good rule of thumb is to use as sharp and thin a blade as possible. Typically, you should avoid serrated blades and peelers so that the cutting surfaces are super clean for each slice. Melon ballers and fruit scoopers are great ways to add some new shapes to your fruit salad, and you can’t go wrong with a classic paring knife for small produce.

Elevate a simple strawberry-mango fruit salad by sprinkling coconut flakes throughout to add some nutty, shredded texture to the sweet fruits. Plus, pairing the coconut flakes with foods rich in Vitamin C (we’re looking at you, mangoes) actually helps absorb the iron from the coconut. Try toasting just the coconut flakes for 10 minutes on a baking sheet at 350°F; that’ll give them a delicious, gentle crunch, so mist them with cinnamon to taste, sprinkle over the fruit, and voilà — summery snacktime bliss.
You don’t need to post on social media to make your fruit salad delicious, but there aresome ways to make it the most beautiful dish at the barbecue. Skip the standard bowl and opt for a more enticing vessel — the fruit itself. Watermelons are spacious enough to hold a big fruit salad in style, and when there’s no salad left, use the watermelon rind as a punch bowl. Watermelon mint juleps, anyone?
It may seem obvious, but refrigerating fruit salad does a host of wonders for preserving its flavor. It’ll always taste best when just-made, but popping it in the fridge should help it last for 2-3 days. In an ideal world, fruit salad is the very last dish you craft before guests arrive. Since it’s only natural for best-laid plans to go haywire, clear off your counter space and keep that baby cold for optimal enjoyment when it’s time to eat.

Since fruit inherently packs a lot of bright flavor, a dressing for your fruit salad is by no means necessary. But it does kick things up a notch in a really flavorful way. Most fruit salad dressings can be whipped up in minutes using ingredients you might have around the house anyway, like honey, vanilla yogurt, herbs, and orange juice. Whisking almost any combination of those pillars will land you in taste bud heaven, so feel free to get creative and add some minced jalapeño for a kick. If the choices are a) lime mint dressing, b) honey lime ginger dressing, and c) honey vanilla yogurt sauce, sign us up for all the above. Poppy seeds welcome.

Best Baby Bottles for Newborns – Plastic: Gugu Picks

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Looking for the best baby bottles for newborns? All the baby bottle choices confusing you? You’re not alone. From the budget parent to the minimalist and more, in this guide we’ve rounded up the best plastic baby bottles in 2018 for all types of parents according to Gugu Guru’s experts. (Stay tuned for our upcoming post on alternative bottle options like glass and stainless steel!)

Gugu Pick Best Baby Bottles for Newborns: Dr. Browns Options
Dr. Brown’s bottles are our pick for best baby bottles for newborns. Dr. Brown’s have been the #1 choice for many parents because their internal vent system really works to prevent spit-up and gas which means less discomfort for baby. One thing many parents may not realize is that Dr. Brown’s bottle can also help maintain vitamins and preserve good fat because air does not mix with the formula or breast milk creating oxidation. With the Options bottles by Dr. Brown’s parents can choose to remove the internal vent system when they decide their little one is old enough which is great for parents because it means fewer parts to clean. Available in standard or wide neck in both 4 oz and 9 oz sizes.

Minimalist Pick: Baby Brezza
Baby Brezza Natural Bottles are not only easy to fill but they are easy to feed with and easy to clean. Baby Brezza bottles are truly only two parts, the bottle body and the integrated collar and nipple, so there are fewer parts to keep track of, to store and to clean. The extra wide mouth makes filling the bottle easier and you are able to clean the bottle without the need for a bottle brush. The nipple on the Baby Brezza Natural Bottles is a wide, breast shape and features a built-in vent. Available in 4 colors in both 5 oz and 9 oz sizes.

Budget Pick: Philips Avent
Philips Avent bottles are a great choice for many new parents because they take the guess work out of bottle feeding by combining lots of the great features of other bottles into theirs. Philips Avent bottles feature a wide breast-shaped, ultra soft nipple with a flexible spiral design to make latching on easier for baby. With the air-free vent milk will always stay in the nipple instead of air so baby has less spit-up and gas. The wide mouth makes Philips Avent bottles easier to clean. Philips Avent has put together several options for gift sets to ensure you get just what you need for bottle feeding without breaking the bank. Available in both 4oz and 9oz sizes.

Multiples Pick: Munchkin Latch
Munchkin Latch are great for newborn bottles and especially twins that might have been born a little early and start out a little smaller because they feature a nipple that promotes a better and easier latch. The Munchkin Latch bottles will actually release more milk as the accordion style nipple reaches the back of baby’s palette, similar to breastfeeding, making it easier for them to stay latched onto the bottle. The flexible nipple will also allow babies to move their heads around without losing the latch meaning they take in less air and have less gas discomfort. Available in both 4oz and 8oz sizes.

Eco-Friendly Pick: Thinkbaby
Thinkbaby Bottles are not only BPA free plastic bottles but they are also free of phthalates, nitrosamines, lead, pvc, tritan, melamine and other harmful chemicals. These eco-friendly bottles are made from materials that can easily be recycled after use. The nipple on these bottles is a food grade silicone and features a cross cut design so they won’t leak. When your baby is ready to transition from bottle to sippy cup you can use the same bottle base with the sippy handles and sippy spouts from Thinkbaby. Available in both 5oz and 8oz sizes.

Like what you see here? Check out more Gugu Picks here:

Best Feeding Pillows

Best Bassinets

Baby Burp Cloths: Seven Gugu Favorites

by Gugu Guru 1 Comment

Browsing baby burp cloths for your registry? We’ve got you covered. The experts at Gugu Guru have rounded up some of our favorite baby burp cloth brands ranging from stylish to eco-friendly picks, but all totally functional and practical. Take a look at seven of our absolute favorite baby burp cloths (and let us know if we missed any in the comments below!)

1. Copper Pearl Premium Burp Cloths
If you are looking for baby burp cloths that aren’t just super absorbent but are also super stylish Copper Pearl premium burp cloths are a great option. These oversized burp cloths offer an absorbent fleece layer and super soft cotton on the front and back. The burp cloths from Copper Pearl are available in several super simple and modern designs that you will be happy to have thrown over your shoulder. (Psst check out their awesome drool bibs for babies too.)

2. Green Sprouts Burp Cloths
These 100% organic muslin Green Sprouts Burp Cloths are made from four absorbent and thick layers. These baby burp cloths come in a basic bright white or packs of your favorite bright colors. The contoured shape allows the burp cloth to naturally lie across your shoulder and is breathable for babies comfort.

3. Burts Bees Burp Cloths
The tri-fold design of these 100% organic cotton baby burp cloths provide extra protection and absorption. The organic cotton of the Burts Bees burp cloths is extra soft on baby’s sensitive skin. Available in a variety of prints and patterns these burp cloths look sweet but are strong enough to hold up beautifully wash after wash.

4. Gerber Pre-fold Cloth Diapers
These pre-fold cloth diapers have long been a secret of veteran moms as being some of the toughest and most absorbent. Thanks to the extra absorbing middle panel these pre-fold cloth diapers will protect you and baby from spit up when used as baby burp cloths. Gerber pre-fold cloth diapers are made from 100% cotton and their durable weave will get softer with each wash.

5. aden + anais Burpy Bibs
The Burpy Bibs by aden + anais are oversized, super absorbent baby burp cloths and can be used as both a bib and a burp cloth. The kidney shape of the Burpy Bibs fits perfectly over your shoulder so it won’t slip and will catch any spit-up from baby. These baby burp cloths are pre-washed, come in a wide variety of colors and designs and get even softer with each wash.

6. Milkbarn Organic Burpies
Milkbarn organic burpies are made with 100% organic cotton and feature on-trend designs that you and baby will love. These generously sized baby burp cloths are super soft and very absorbent to ensure you are safe from messes.

7. Little Unicorn Burp Cloths
The baby burp cloths from Little Unicorn not only feature their one of a kind water color patterns but offer four layers of super soft cotton muslin. The innovative shape of the Little Unicorn Burp Cloth ensures a secure fit on your shoulder to catch any messes. These burp cloths from Little Unicorn get better and softer with each wash.

Best Nursing Pillows: Gugu Picks

by Gugu Guru 2 Comments

Looking for nursing pillows or feeding pillows? From the budget parent to the minimalist and more, in this guide we’ve rounded up the best nursing pillows and feeding pillows in 2018 for all types of parents according to Gugu Guru’s experts.

Gugu Pick for Best All Around Nursing Pillows: Boppy
This feeding pillow is the original, the most versatile and the most loved by moms and dads everywhere. Whether you are nursing, bottle feeding, working on baby sitting up, practicing tummy time or just need a place to lounge the Boppy is a great place to provide support for baby. Boppy offers a wide variety of machine washable covers including organic options and sells covers separately so you can always have one on hand in case of messes.

Gugu Pick for Budget Nursing Pillows: The Nursie Infant Feeding Pillow
Now in a licensing partnership with leading breastfeeding brand, Lansinoh, the Nursie Feeding Pillow is super easy to slide on and off and can help perfectly position baby for nursing or bottle feeding. There are not straps or zippers to worry about on the Nursie and it is small enough to take with you while you are on the go with baby. The Nursie will help alleviate arm strain for mom and dad and make sure baby is comfortable while feeding without the bulk you can find in other feeding pillows.

Gugu Pick for Eco-Friendly Nursing Pillows: Nook Niche Pillow
Like some other pillows out there the Nook Niche Pillow can be used for breast feeding, bottle feeding, tummy time or support sitting but the Nook is made with luxurious organic materials. All materials on the inside and outside of the Nook are organic and the liquid and stain resistant cover is machine washable. The Pebble design on the cover and the soft-cotton filling ensure there is plenty of airflow so both mom and baby stay cool and dry.

Gugu Pick for Multiples Nursing Pillows: Twin Z
Invented by a mom of twins, the Twin Z is a multi functional feeding pillow that allows parents to bottle feed or breast feed two babies comfortably at once. The Twin Z is foam free, chemical free and allows you to make the openings smaller for smaller babies. While being used for nursing the Twin Z feeding pillow offers back support and can even be used as a maternity sleep pillow.

Gugu Pick for Minimalist Nursing Pillows: Beaba Big Flopsy
For parents looking to keep the number of pillows and oversized pieces of gear to a minimum the Beaba Big Flopsy is a great option. While pregnant the Beaba can be used as a maternity pillow to keep them comfortable and then when baby comes Big Flopsy can be used as a feeding pillow. The Big Flopsy offers a luxurious cotton and micropearl fill so it is easy to get mom or baby into a comfortable position. The Beaba looks so good you won’t even mind leaving it out on the couch for visitors. You may have seen the Big Flopsy in our JPMA Baby Show picks!

Honorable Mention Nursing Pillows: Shuga Bebé Couture
We would be remiss not to mention one of our favorite feeding pillows – the Shuga Bebé Couture nursing pillow. Not only does this pillow come in a variety of gorgeous prints that will fit seamlessly into your home decor, there’s no wrapping, no wearing, no straps, no buckles, no hassle. Plus the gradual incline enables a natural nursing/bottle feeding position. Shuga Bebe Couture pillows are great for c-section mamas; the pillows reduce the pressure placed on sensitive incisions because they’re not “curve” shaped like other pillows. P.S. This was also included in our minimalist registry picks.

About the author:

Julie McCaffrey is a proud mommy to 3 kids, including one set of twins and owns BabyNav Baby Planners where she offers personalized consultation to new and expecting parents across the U.S.. She is a sought after modern baby gear expert, has been featured in Pregnancy and Newborn magazine, Fit Pregnancy, US News and World Report, and loves to help moms and dads navigate everything from baby gear to creating their registry to preparing for multiples and getting back to work.

Best Baby Bottles for Your Registry

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When it comes to finding the very best baby bottles for your family we always turn to Dr. Brown’s for baby bottles and really anything feeding related. Whether you’re breastfeeding, supplementing, pumping and feeding or formula feeding, Dr. Brown’s makes it easy for parents with their well-thought out products designed to make babies fed and happy. Designed by – who else but – a doctor in the mid-nineties, Dr. Brown’s has become a leading standard for the best baby bottles and feeding accessories for all parents.

A perfect gift idea for a new parent, the Options Newborn Gift Set features Dr. Brown’s Options convertible bottles. The Options Bottles are the baby market’s first convertible bottle that can be used with or without the vent system, making it one of the very best baby bottles available. The new vent system is designed to grow with baby, and it is recommended to use this system in order to experience all the health benefits of the Options Bottle.

Dr. Brown’s baby bottles are known for their internal venting system, which makes them the best baby bottles for colicky babies. The internal system prevents air bubble oxidation, vacuum pressure and nipple collapse. This helps in baby’s digestion and reduces feeding problems such as spit-up, burping and gas. It also helps preserve vitamins crucial for infant health, including vitamins C, A and E. The bottle’s super-soft, high-grade silicone nipple, combined with the internal vent system, allows baby to feed comfortably while milk flows freely. This makes the bottle the closest alternative to breastfeeding, and the best baby bottles for breastfed babies.

One of the reasons we think that the Dr Brown’s Options bottles are the best baby bottles is the vent system, which helps reduce feeding problems, helps digestion and helps preserve vitamins. However, some parents find removing the vent system a convenient option as their baby’s feeding becomes more developed. The nipple venting creates a paced flow, and provides a feeding experience similar to most nipple-vented bottles. Options bottles also fit most breast pumps, and are BPA-free, making them the best baby bottles for pumping moms as well. Dr. Brown’s believes in letting parents choose what’s best for their baby, which is why they’re so proud of the Options bottles, which will allow the bottles to grow with the baby.

(P.S. we also love Dr. Brown’s Formula Pitcher)

You can find Dr. Brown’s on their website, Instagram, and Facebook.

Baby Food Recipe Books For Your Registry

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When it comes to feeding your baby solid foods, and their eventual transition to feeding themselves, we always turn to Jenna Helwig’s two baby food recipe books, Real Baby Food and Baby-Led Feeding. Jenna Helwig is not only the author but she’s also the food editor at Parents magazine, so you could venture to guess that she really knows her stuff when it comes to baby food recipe information, infant nutrition and feeding approaches. When it comes to finding a baby food recipe or two that work for your little one, Jenna Helwig’s books are a wealth of information and education – many parents tell us that even they love to eat the baby food recipe that they make for their little one!

Jenna Helwig’s first baby food recipe book, Real Baby Food, is a must-have for new parents (and one of our favorite gender neutral baby shower gifts), and even gets the seal of approval from chef and mom, Nikki Dinki. Real Baby Food makes the art of creating a baby food recipe so simple, even for busy moms and dads. Jenna Helwig guides you through the early days of simple foods, to adding spices to your baby food recipe, meats, flavors, and even multi-flavor blends like Salmon, Kale, and Sweet Potato Smash. With over 100 baby food recipes in the book, your little one is sure to have a head-start on their culinary palate!

Jenna Helwig’s second baby food recipe book, Baby-Led Feeding is a must have essential to help you plan your baby’s transition into finger foods; Baby-Led Feeding helps parents navigate the way to naturally raising happy, independent eaters, and working together to make mealtime a happy and joyful time. Gugu Guru’s founder, Monica, did a video overview of Baby-Led Feeding, where she shows off some of the gorgeous baby food recipe photography, ideas, and discusses the helpful guidelines Jenna includes, as well.

With more than 100 ideas and baby food recipes, Baby-Led Feeding is a must have for any foodie mom or dad. One of the things we love about Jenna’s books is they’re beautifully designed, and Baby-Led Feeding is no exception. This bright, photo-driven book includes chapters on the benefits of this approach, when and how to get started, essential safety and nutrition guidelines, frequently asked questions, basic fruit and vegetable prep, more complex finger foods, and family meals. Plus, all recipes in Baby-Led Feeding have been reviewed by a registered dietitian and include nutrition information to ensure a healthy mealtime.

Set yourself up for success when it comes to creating and making a baby food recipe that your little one loves, as Jenna Helwig helps parents navigate this new journey of helping your baby learn to not only love food, but love the process of cooking, and eating together, too! We love giving Jenna Helwig’s baby food recipe books for baby showers, as they become a cookbook staple for your family.

A Full Plate: Convenience Food Hacks

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In this week’s Convenience Food Hacks episode of A Full Plate, mom and Chef Nikki Dinki brings us ways to make convenience foods (think mac ‘n’ cheese) a lot healthier.

For more fun food hacks, check out Nikki’s Ultimate Healthy Meal Hacks here.

By the way, these awesome food and nutrition tips from Nikki are brought to us by our friends at VeeTee Dine In Rice.

About VeeTee Dine In
Five Star Taste in Just 2 Minutes
VeeTee Dine In rice is delicious, microwaveable rice ready in just 2 minutes. VeeTee uses only real ingredients and contains no artificial flavorings, colors or preservatives. All Veetee Dine In Rice products are gluten-free and suitable for ovo-lacto vegetarians.

(Featured image: Nikki Dinki’s KRAFT-STYLE MAC + CHEESE WITH CAULIFLOWER + SWEET POTATO)

Set Yourself Up for Successful Feeding – Instagram Live Q & A

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We’re doing a Set Yourself Up for Successful Feeding Instagram live Q& A with our resident IBCLC, Victoria Facelli and you’re invited!

When and where: Victoria Facelli, IBCLC: Setting Yourself Up For Successful Feeding streamed live on Gugu Guru’s Instagram Thursday, April 5th at 8PM ET (5PM PT.)

Victoria Facelli, IBCLC, will be answering your questions on breastfeeding, bottle feeding and more in this Instagram live Q&A. Victoria Facelli is an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), DONA International Certified Postpartum Doula, and part of Gugu Guru’s Concierge network of industry experts that provide a range of services to new and expectant parents. She’s also the owner of Durham Lactation, which is a goals-based lactation consulting service in North Carolina.

In this Instagram Live event, Victoria will share tips on setting yourself up for successful feeding and she’ll also take your questions. If you’re expecting, get a headstart on important breastfeeding advice – and if your baby is already here, get some insights that you may not have gotten at the hospital.

Do you have a specific question about feeding that you’d like us to cover in the Q&A? We’d love to know so Victoria can come prepared! Submit your questions in advance by sending an email to hello@guguguru.com with the subject “Feeding Question”.

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