Nursing & Feeding

Ultimate Healthy Meal Hacks

Don’t forget to eat! In this week’s Ultimate Healthy Meal Hacks episode of A Full Plate, mom and Chef Nikki Dinki brings us delicious and nutritious meal prep short cuts for busy parents. After all, it is national nutrition month and it’s important for time-crunched families to eat healthy – especially you breastfeeding mamas. 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.

Introducing A Full Plate with Nikki Dinki

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When it comes to making healthy and delicious food for your family, we always turn to one of our favorite chefs (and Gugu Guru mamas) Nikki Dinki! Nikki is a cookbook author, radio host, and voiceover artist. This New York based chef rose to fame by hosting a cooking show on YouTube, and the nation got to know her on Food Network Star – we are thrilled to announce that Nikki will be sharing some fun food tips and life hacks for your family in a new series with Gugu Guru and VeeTee, A Full Plate! Check out the video below for more info and stay tuned for all of Nikki’s hints and tips to make life easier when you have a full plate.

Check out Nikki Dinki’s Foodie Mom’s Registry, city living baby registry picks, and baby food cube life hack!

Cover photo via Samira Bouaou/Epoch Times

Foodie Find: Baby-Led Feeding

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Did you know that March is National Nutrition Month? It is the perfect timing to talk about the release of a book we have been so excited about here at Gugu Guru: Baby-Led Feeding by Jenna Helwig!

Baby-Led Feeding (also known as baby-led weaning) explores the concept of focusing on feeding your baby a variety of healthy, wholesome solid foods, rather than relying solely on purées or finely blended, mashed food. The Baby-Led Feeding approach is thought to promote motor skills and establish lifelong healthy eating habits. For example, benefits such as easier integration into family dinner since babies can eat modified versions of what the adults are eating, which translates to less stress for parents and caregivers because there are fewer meals to prepare; baby’s recognition of and reliance on his or her own hunger cues and; a more traditional way to feed (the cavemen weren’t opening jars of baby food as far as we know.)

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, infant nutrition and feeding approaches. Jenna’s first book, Real Baby Food is one of our must-have essentials for starting solids, and a favorite of Foodie Mom and chef, Nikki Dinki. (Hint: It is also one of our top gender-neutral baby shower gift ideas.)

With more than 100 ideas and recipes, this book is a must-have for all parents who love to cook. 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.

All recipes in Baby-Led Feeding have been reviewed by a registered dietitian and include nutrition information to ensure a healthy mealtime.

We’d like to thank our sponsors at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for making this post possible.

Note: This post may contain affiliate links.

Video Overview: Skip Hop Tray Chic Dry & Store Pump Bag

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Our latest pumping, working mama must-have: the Skip Hop Tray Chic Dry & Store Pump Bag. It’s got a secret compartment that is cross-ventilated so you can store and dry your pumping parts – genius! Plenty of storage, other cool features (like a pen loop for labeling breastmilk storage bags) plus it’s easy on the eyes.

View Gugu Guru founder Monica’s video overview of the Skip Hop Tray Chic Dry & Store Pump Bag and learn more about why this is a must-have for working, pumping mamas.

Features of the Skip Hop Tray Chic Dry & Store Pump Bag include:

Bottom compartment with dual zip openings provides cross-ventilation to dry pump accessories
Removable drying tray doubles as a staging area to assemble pump
Dedicated side-zip pump pocket for easy access fits most ACA-approved breast pumps
Large main compartment with zip closure and two mesh pockets
Three ways to wear: tote, backpack and crossbody with convertible strap
Elasticized pen loop for easy labeling
Sturdy lightweight material
Size (inches): 17″h x 7″w x 14″l

Pumping mama? These articles may interest you:

This post may contain affiliate links.

{Sponsored} Video Overview: Neat Solutions On the Go Products

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We are so excited to be talking about On the Go products from Neat Solutions to Gugu Guru’s audience! These products are must-haves for any parents who plan on leaving the house with baby – whether for a trip to Starbucks or traveling. Check out Gugu Guru founder Monica’s video overview here:

Thank you to Neat Solutions for making this video possible.

View more of our video overviews here:

A Day in the Life of Mom with Neat Solutions

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Neat Solutions – have you heard of them? That’s the brand name but “neat” is the perfect word to describe this innovative portfolio of products that have been designed to help parents out throughout the day. These products are truly “neat” because they’re neat-o, cool and “that’s exactly what I need” kind of “neat.” And also “neat” as in the other meaning of the word: simply keeping it nice and clean. In this post, we’re pretty excited to show you how five real moms from the Gugu Village community use Neat Solutions and share how these products make life with baby much easier. Once you learn more, you’ll see why these might be better named as “Lifesaver Solutions.” From feedings to on-the-go to bath time, here’s a round the clock round-up of Neat Solutions products. (Spoiler alert: our Gugu Village moms say that the Sili-Stick Table Topper is now the one product that they can’t live without.)

7am Feeding Time

Mom of twins, Abby L., tries Neat Solutions’ Paw Patrol Bibs – These are an adorable way to keep your little ones clean while letting them “wear” their favorite characters. They clean up well with just warm water, but you can throw them in the washing machine as well. Also, my little ones have extremely sensitive skin and they did not seem to be too tight around the neck/chin area, which often causes rashes for us. We also tried a toddler bib, which has an extended covering on top of each shoulder. It is a bit longer also, which helped keep our laps clean during lunch. After we were done eating, it was really easy to wipe this bib clean and it dried within minutes.

Mom of 2-year old, Shana S., tries Neat Solutions’ Sesame Street Bibs – Like most 2-year-olds, my daughter is currently obsessed with Elmo and Abby Cadabby. She also isn’t very keen on wearing bibs anymore either, even though mealtimes can still get pretty messy. This bib solves both problems – it goes over her head, so it can’t be pulled off like her velcro closure bibs and it has very wide coverage, so it helps keep her clean better than smaller bibs. The best part, since it has her favorite characters, I don’t have to convince her to put it on!

Mom of 10-month-old, Lori W., tries Neat Solutions’ Bib & Burp Products – My initial thought when I unpacked it was that it is quite small in size. However after using it I actually like how compact it is without extra fabric, which my baby usually paws at. The pocket is great too.

Mom of 1-year-old, Alyssa J., tries Neat Solutions’ Printed Coverall Easywipe Bib With Clear Crumbcatcher – This is super cute and generously-sized to cover more of my baby’s clothes while she is eating. I appreciate the extra coverage for my messy eater! The clear crumbcatcher is really useful for seeing right away what has been caught in the pocket so that I can clear it out after the meal without finding any squishy surprises later. I love how easy it really is to wipe the bib down, and the hook and loop closure is a lot easier than tying string too.

Mom of 3-month-old and 1-year-old, Sunny L., tries Neat Solutions’ Bib & Burp Products – The biggest positive for me is the velcro fastener behind the neck. It doesn’t have any of the scratchy, coarse velcro, keeping my daughter from grabbing/itching at the back.

12pm and On The Go

Mom of twins, Abby L., tries Neat Solutions’ Sili-Stick Table Topper – The Sili-Stick Table Topper is hands down my favorite new product! I have never seen a silicone table mat like this, and it stays put on every surface I tried! My boys could not lift it up and it was so easy to clean. Plus, it’s dishwasher safe for big messes! I am definitely going to add this table topper to my new list of must-haves for parents with toddlers who like to eat away from home.

Mom of 3-month-old and 1-year-old, Sunny L., tries Neat Solutions’ Sili-Stick Table Topper – My favorite item from this bunch! It’s super sticky and says put. At home, it keeps my tabletop clean, because my older child is really into smearing things around. I love the size of this mat, and after meals I just peel it up and dump in the sink. So great for eating out, too. It rolls up pretty small, and could also be folded to make it more packable. I am always scrubbing restaurant tables when I get there to try to get them cleaner for her food to sit on, and this makes the process so much easier. It’s big enough to cover any area in public her little hands could reach and keep her food germ-free.

Mom of 1-year-old, Alyssa J., tries the Neat Solutions’ Sili-Stick Table Topper – This is my new best friend for meals out of the house with baby. I don’t have to worry about the cleanliness of our dining table when I can make sure the Sili-Stick is a clean surface for baby to eat off of. I also don’t have to feel guilty about baby making too much of a mess at the restaurant. All I need to do is wipe it down at the end of the meal and be on our way!

Mom of 2-year old, Shana S., tries Neat Solutions’ Potty Toppers – If you’re like me, the thought of your little one sitting on a public toilet makes you a bit squeamish, to say the least. The Potty Topper is the perfect solution! These plastic liners adhere to the seat, keeping wetness and germs away. Plus, they’re oversized so little bottoms and hands stay well protected from any yuckies that might be lurking. (Editor’s note: we love that these Potty Toppers are eco-friendly too!)

Mom of 10-month-old, Lori W., tries the Neat Solutions’ Neatnik Saucer – This thing came out of my dreams. We had lunch with a friend and her baby this weekend and I used this with the high chair the restaurant provided and it fit perfectly. We are a baby led weaning family so things typically get very messy at mealtime and I loved being able to contain everything. It was also easy to fold up and clean when we were finished. I love love love it. My friend asked for the link so there’s another fan too!

6pm Bathtime (and bedtime prep!)

Mom of 3-month-old and 1-year-old, Sunny L., tries Neat Solutions’ Bath Robe – in the picture, my daughter is petting the robe and was thrilled to put on something soooo soft after her bath! She would pat/pet it and then smile at me. It’s so cozy and warm, and perfect for wrapping her up to get from the bathroom upstairs to her room downstairs, rather than carrying her in a damp towel. The design and color is very cute and dark blue suits her! It had enough fabric to cross in front and tie without leaving a drafty space.

Mom of twins, Abby L., tries Neat Solutions’ Bath Robes – We tried on our bathrobes both before and after bath time. They were super soft and added in a warm change of routine after bath time. Plus the adorable animals/patterns just added to the cute factor.

Mom of 2-year old, Shana S., tries Neat Solutions’ Bath Robe – There’s nothing cozier post-bath for your little one than a snuggly hooded towel – until they hit toddlerhood. When my little one kept sprinting from the bathroom wearing her hooded towel like a superhero cap, I knew it was time to switch to bath robes. I love the Fleece Bath Robe. It’s super soft, cozy, and comes in four different designs. Plus, there are also coordinating washcloths, hooded towels, and bath wraps.

Mom of 1-year-old, Alyssa J., tries the Neat Solutions’ Whale Applique/Print Coral Fleece Bath Robe. This is super cute for both boys and girls. It’s very soft and fluffy! It kept my baby nice and warm after her bath. The robe is generously sized for younger infants, so they won’t be growing out of it too quickly!

Mom of 10-month-old, Lori W., tries Neat Solutions’ Hooded Towel in Friendly Elephant – This hooded towel is so cute and does the job.

Want to discover more must-have products? Be sure to check out these other Gugu Village reviews:
The Village Reviews: bloom BABY All Natural Wipes
The Village Reviews: Gunapod Bamboo Duvet Sack

Thank you to Neat Solutions for making this sponsored post possible. Although the Gugu Village moms received products in exchange for their respective feedback, all opinions are their own.
Note: This post contains affiliate links.

Product Discovery: Perry Mackin Silicone Bottles

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-Sponsored Post-

One of the most asked questions we get from new parents is what baby bottle they should register for. Of course that depends on many things, especially whether a parent plans to feed from both breast and bottle. This is because many parents are concerned about nipple confusion when alternating between breastfeeding and bottle feeding. We are excited to introduce you to the innovative Perry Mackin Silicone Bottles that are designed to most closely mimic breastfeeding to reduce bottle rejection and nipple confusion.

What we love most about Perry Mackin‘s baby bottles is how safe they are to use. The nipple and body are made of 100% safe hygienic medical grade silicone; no need to worry about BPA or chemicals leeching into your baby’s milk! Plus, they feature anti colic vents that prevent unwanted air intake and reduce colic; this will also help with the transition from breast to bottle, as baby will be getting their milk in a more natural-feeling way.

Perry Mackin also makes it super easy for parents to use the bottles. The Perry Mackin baby bottles feature an ultra wide neck design, which allows easy cleaning by hand without a brush – time saving perks like this mean more time for you to watch Netflix after baby falls asleep! Plus, since they are made from medical grade silicone, they are safe to clean in boiling water, dishwashers and sterilizers.

Perry Mackin baby bottles come in 7 or 9 ounce sizes, and in both blue and pink. They also have specially made handles you can purchase separately to transform your baby bottle into a sippy cup! If you’re looking for a classic baby bottle that is not only safe for baby, but will help transition them to-and-from the breast to the bottle, we’re fans of Perry Mackin’s silicone baby bottles.

Thank you to Perry Mackin for making this sponsored post possible.

Great Gift Ideas: Coffee Loving Mom Friends

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It seems that coffee is a staple in the parent world – so why not gift your best mom friend a coffee loving gift? Coffee shops are a great place to bring a new baby and meet up with your mom friends for a cup of (decaf or regular) coffee – especially appreciated after a night of 2 hours of sleep.

Check out some more gift ideas for coffee loving parents, too.

Every coffee-loving mom needs some cute t-shirts to show their coffee love – and these are some of our favorites:

Fueled by Caffeine and Chaos Shirt, Mom Life Must Haves

Coffee Mountain Adventure Tank Top, Darling Designz

Every new mama needs a great mug to drink her coffee out of – both at home and on the go – here are three of our favorites:

Fueled by Caffeine and Chaos Mug, Mom Life Must Haves

Raise Good Humans Mug, Weestructed

Minivan Mafia Travel Mug, Page261

We’re also digging the But First Coffee decorations from Party at Your Door – did you know you can order a full bundle of party decorations delivered right to your door? We love all of their party themes and you can even get custom confetti!

And, when it comes to the coffee itself, we are huge fans of Cafe Bustelo! They have so many options for coffee types – but, we’re big fans of their instant coffee because…it’s so good and quick to make! Have a mama friend coming over last minute? Don’t worry, just heat up some water and you’re good to go. They also make K-Cup versions of their coffee! And, in case you’re out for the day with the baby or traveling, they make 2 ounce bags of coffee you can throw in the diaper bag and save a little money later on by making your own coffee on the go. Café Bustelo is a fantastic way for new moms to bond over a delicious cup of both hot or iced coffee – from premium and espresso-style blends, to cold brew and instant varieties, coffee drinkers choose Café Bustelo because they love the rich, bold taste.

Cover photo via Extra on Top

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

Product Discovery: Nanobebe Bottles

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Nanobebe bottles are much needed innovation in the baby bottle market. The basic design of the baby bottle has been the same since…well, it feels like forever. The idea of the long cylinder with a screw on top and nipple has worked for hundreds of years – and are ideal for formula feeding, but when it comes to breastmilk, Nanobebe knew there had to be a better way. When the Gugu Guru team came across Nanobebe Bottles, we were so excited to share them with you – they have truly re-invented the baby bottle in such an amazing way. Nanobebe is the first and only bottle designed to preserve breastmilk nutrients, without compromising on mom’s convenience and style!

There are so many reasons that Nanobebe’s Bottles are unique and special; this is especially true when it comes to preserving the nutrients in breastmilk. Nanobebe’s reinvented style of the bottle spreads the breastmilk out into a thin layer, shaped more like an actual breast. Nanobebe’s unique surface area is geometrically designed to spread milk into a thin layer allowing it to cool twice as fast as standard bottles on the market which prevents bacterial growth. Often parents are in such a rush to warm breastmilk for the baby that they use boiling water and in doing so, are damaging the nutrients, enzymes, and proteins in the breastmilk. However, Nanobebe has a geometric design to spread milk into a thin layer, and therefore it warms quicker that all standard bottles and at safe temperatures; overheating is prevented and those precious nutrients moms work so hard to provide are protected.

When it comes to transitioning baby from breast to bottle, Nanobebe makes it super easy; thanks to its natural, breast-like design, the Nanobebe feeding bottle makes it easier to combine breast and bottle feeding. If a mother is going back to work and will be pumping, she will be at ease knowing her little one can easily transition back and forth from the breast to the bottle. Plus, your baby will love holding the Nanobebe bottle and learn to feed themselves. Its domed shape and concave base make it ideal for tiny hands, so babies only a few months old can easily hold it and learn to self-feed.

Speaking of pumping, a breast pump adaptor is included with each Breastmilk Bottle package. Using the breast pump adaptor you can pump directly into the Nanobebe bottles using most standard breast pumps – very cool! We also love that Nanobebe bottles are anti-colic, as they feature a 360° venting system with two vents that release air even when covered by baby’s mouth, which reduces colic and keeps baby comfortable. The Nanobebe bottles are super easy to take apart and dishwasher safe, so less time washing a ton of bottles and bottle parts and more time for snuggling with baby. If you’re breastfeeding or pumping, we highly recommend checking out Nanobebe Bottles – and don’t forget to add them to your registry!

Thank you to Nanobebe for making this sponsored post possible.

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