Nursing & Feeding

Back to Work With The Nurse Purse

With my first child three years ago I lugged the standard issue Medela pump carrying case back and forth to the office and hated every beige minute of it. Before heading back to work after my second baby I was determined to find a more convenient, and stylish, solution. Enter The Nurse Purse.

I love having a cute bag to carry all my pumping needs from home to subway to office. But the Nurse Purse is so much more than a cute purse. The bag is pretty large and has a number of pockets to carry all of your work and pumping accoutrements which means you can grab it off your desk and go pump without worry that you’re missing something. The bag has a panel in the front that unzips to access your pump controls so there’s no need to remove the pump from the bag. The bag itself is plastic coated and easily wipes off any drips that may land on it. It seems very well made and I anticipate it lasting long past the past day that I need to pump.

I have only a few minor “room to improve” thoughts about the Nurse Purse. I wish the purse didn’t have the words Nurse Purse stitched onto a label on the outside of the bag; I’d prefer a more incognito pump transportation experience. I currently have, and love, a Spectra pump which doesn’t fit into the pump compartment of the Nurse Purse (but I was happy to find that you can remove this compartment entirely!) I have no problem fitting the pump into the bag or accessing the controls via the front panel but the inside is more cluttered than it might be with a different pump. I also have slightly too little space in the bag. If I’m carrying my pump, a cooler bag with bottles, some pump attachments and my laptop there is no room left for my lunch.

I highly recommend the Nurse Purse to working breastfeeding mothers.

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About Brianna Klemm
By day Brianna Klemm is a Product Manager at the Amazon subsidiary, comiXology where she wrangles spreadsheets, business requirements and coworkers in pursuit of glory and the best digital comic experience in the world. By night she’s the mom to Casper (3) and Quincy (4 months) and is in constant pursuit of an evening out, a bourbon old fashioned, a clean shirt and a full night’s sleep (someday…).

Vote on Your Favorite Breast Pump Innovation!

by Gugu Guru 4 Comments

From hands-free to cordless to whisper quiet features, there are lots of new developments in the breast pump category right now. Gugu Guru wants to know what you think so vote on your favorite using the thumbs up icon today! (Did we miss an innovation? Comment below to let us know what should be on the list!) Winner gets the Gugu Picks badge!

DIY Fringe Bibs

by Gugu Guru 20 Comments

See Kate Sew partners with Gugu Guru once again to share a fantastic DIY tutorial. This time? Adorable and easy to make fringe bibs for the little ones in your life.

As soon as this little girl hit six months old she was ready to chow! It’s so much fun to see her explore food. So far she loves it all, but especially the vegetables! We partnered with Micuna for this post. They make the cutest modern baby gear and we are loving the Ovo high chair! I love mid-century modern style and this high chair fits right in. I had to go with the pink pad, but it also comes in a few other colors!

I made these modern fringe bibs to go with the chair! These bibs are fun and easy to sew up. You can customize them with your favorite fabrics and different types of trims, lace or pom poms! There are so many possibilities that will work for any sweet baby! Make sure the fringe is washable and you’re good to sew!

Read more about this high chair over at See Kate Sew today and enter to win one on this post!

Materials:

-1/3 yard cotton
-1 yard trim
-1/3 yard soft backing fabric, I’m using double gauze from Raspberry Creek Fabrics
-pattern download

Instructions:

1. Download the pattern and print it out at 100% (do not scale). Trim off excess on the sides and tape together as shown from below. Cut out the bib pattern.

2. Cut out 1 bib from main fabric and one from backing fabric.

3. Pin the trim to the front bib piece, facing the bottom edge of the trim UP. Pin in place.

4. Pivot at the bottom point and finish pinning the trim.

5. Baste trim to bib.

6. Place the backing fabric on top of the main fabric and pin it together. The trim will all be on the inside. Sew all the way around 3/8″ from the edge of the bib. Leave a 2-3″ opening on one of the straight side edges.

7. Clip the corners and turn the bib right side out. Press well and topstitch around the bib 1/8″ from the edge.

And you’re done!

Celebration of Feeding: Feeding Twins with Twiniversity and BabyBjorn

by Gugu Guru 2 Comments

For today’s Celebration of Feeding post, Natalie Diaz, the founder of Twiniversity, is here to share her tips for feeding twins!

There are MANY options when it comes to feeding your twins. This week we are celebrating formula feeding and in my expert opinion, bottle feeding in bouncers is the best way to go. The BabyBjörn Bouncer Balance Soft is incredible. Not only will your baby be comfortable, but it can hold him/her until their 2^nd birthday! My only problem with this bouncer is that they don’t make one I can buy in my size. So let’s get down to business. How are we going to bouncer feed twins?

Here’s how you do it:

Step 1: Set up your situation! Get your “home base” ready to feed those hungry babies. You should have: Full bottles with the correct amount (maybe a little extra for that morning feed!), burp cloths, wipes (for cleaning up small spills) and the remote to turn on some tunes. Hey, why not? Ever go to a restaurant that was silent? Yeah, it was uncomfortable, right? Well, set the mood for fine dining even if it’s just in your living room. Suggestions: Harry Belafonte, REM, Trace Atkins (those were my twins’ favorites!)

Step 2: CHANGE your babies. You should never begin a feed — breast or bottle — without first changing the babies. That way if they are fussy you at least know it’s not because they are wet. Once they are changed, bring them to their bouncers and strap them in safely. SAFETY FIRST, ALWAYS! If they are little and having a hard time with neck support, buy a head positioner, or just use a rolled up receiving blanket behind the neck to help prop them up into place.

Step 3: Go to the bathroom yourself! Same as the babies, no one should be uncomfortable during a feed if you can avoid it.

Step 4: Sit on the floor with your back against a chair or couch, stretch your legs out in front of you, get your supplies within arms’ reach and settle in — you’re going to be here a minute. Once you are all adjusted, place a bouncer on each side of you so that your arms can comfortably reach the babies.

Step 5: Feed those babies! Hold each bottle in one hand and let your hungry babies go to town. Remember to make sure that the nipple is filled 100% of the time with the milk! Our suggestion would be to use the Dr. Brown’s Options bottles. Start off with a level 1 nipple but move to a level 2 nipple once your doctor gives you the green light. If you are doing a combo of breast and bottle feeding, STICK WITH LEVEL 1! That is closest to the actual flow of your nipple and the baby will be most comfortable with that.

Step 6: Halfway through the bottle, stop for a quick burp. I’m sending successful burping vibes your way! Start with the easier burper first and move over to the one that’s a bit more challenging. Make sure you take advantage of that burp cloth. If you end up getting some formula on your clothing, or theirs, try the Dapple Stain Remover which we find works like a charm to get those stains right out. Then go back to feeding as usual but still make sure that the nipple is full 100%!

When the feed is done, feel free to give ‘em one final burp. Then, PUT YOUR BOTTLES IN THE SINK! Make sure that after each feed you get some fresh water into those bottles. By the days end, even if it’s a ¼ oz, it might be tough to get out. Keep a large basin in the sink prefilled with sudsy water for those bottles to go right into.

Make sure that every night you do a final tally of your bottles. If you used 16 bottles, make sure they are all accounted for in the dishwasher! You don’t want to have a rogue bottle floating around your house. In a few days’ time, if you don’t find it….you will. You can just track the scent! Yuck!

Follow BabyBjorn on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Dr. Brown’s for Formula Feeding

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

Designed by a doctor in the mid-nineties, Dr. Brown’s has become a leading standard for baby bottles and accessories for all parents. Dr. Brown’s is known for their Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow® bottle, which is the only bottle “to feature an internal vent system that helps reduce colic, spit-up, burping and gas by eliminating negative pressure and air bubbles, helps preserve vitamins C, A, & E by minimizing oxidation of breastmilk and formula, and provides vacuum-free feeding similar to breastfeeding.” 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 baby fed and happy. Today we’re sharing some products that make life easier on all parents – because no matter what, we can all agree that washing bottles and preparing formula is time consuming, but Dr. Brown’s aims to make it as simple as possible for all families!

When we chatted with formula feeding parents in preparation for the Celebration of Feeding, the number one essential which came up over and over again was the Dr. Brown’s Formula Pitcher. Using the pitcher, a parent can prepare up to four 8 oz/250 ml bottles at once in this pitcher with a spill-free locking lid, no drip spout and soft-grip handle. It’s easy to use and BPA free, but most importantly, it mixes formula quickly without clumping and dissolves formula quickly with no clumping, which helps limit the amount of air in the formula. The less air in the formula, the less air in your baby’s tummy, and less gas and colic to contend with. The pitcher makes those middle of the night feedings so much easier – no need to spill powdered formula all over your counters as you sleepily make a new bottle!

Like we said before, Dr. Brown’s is known for their bottles with a special venting system to keep air out of your baby’s stomach; and now, for the first time, they have introduced the Options Bottle, the market’s first convertible bottle that can be used with or without the vent system. 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. The vent system 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. 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.

And, lastly, we all know how tedious and time consuming it can be to wash all of those bottles (Twiniversity mentioned washing 16 bottles a day for twins in their post!), but Dr. Brown’s is here to help with their handy Deluxe Bottle Brush. The bottle brush is perfect for any kitchen, as it has a suction cup on the bottom to keep it upright and away from any dishes or food. It’s compact and efficient, as the tiny nipple brush is located within the handle of the bottle brush, so you’ll never lose the nipple brush! The brush features combination sponge and bristles for thorough cleaning of bottles, and chevron channels at the base for cleaning nipples. This is a must-have for any parent who will be washing bottles, whether formula or breastmilk.

Celebrate Feeding with the Earth’s Best Organic Formula! (+ giveaway!)

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

As parents, we want the best for our babies; whether it’s where they sleep, what they wear, or what they eat – we strive to make sure that we are providing them with the right resources to keep them healthy and help them thrive.

We’re so excited to team up with the Earth’s Best Organic® brand to Celebrate Feeding! We understand how emotional, exciting, and sometimes confusing deciding how to feed your baby can be, especially for first time parents. While it’s generally known that “breast is best,” breastfeeding might not be an option, such as with adoption. Or, some moms need to supplement when they go back to work. For a host of reasons many moms turn to formula. Through celebrating feeding, we want to give formula-feeding moms the help they need cutting through the noise and learning about what best-in-class products are available to them.

We’re here to share some of our favorite feeding products, helpful tips for bottle feeding, travel tips, fun baby and mama feeding style, and more! Each day this week we will be sharing a new post to Celebrate Feeding; we will be providing resources, product recommendations, and many mama lifestyle hacks!

We are proud to join the Earth’s Best Organic® brand to celebrate feeding because for over 30 years Earth’s Best has been committed to providing better-for-baby products that are pure, safe and sustainable. As the creators of the first complete line of organic infant nutrition and care products, Earth’s Best Organic® infant formulas are produced with milk from cows that are humanely raised and not treated with antibiotics or growth hormones. Earth’s Best is also known for providing parents, no matter how they’re feeding their little one, with amazing resources and information. Their Infant Feeding Schedule provides a comprehensible chart for new parents on how much, and how often, a baby should eat, including resources for both breastfeeding and formula feeding. For parents who choose formula (or supplement with formula), their video on organic formula explains all of the wonderful benefits of choosing and organic formula. Confused on whether your baby needs milk, soy, or low lactose sensitive formulas? Earth’s Best provides resources for navigating the formulas and picking the right one for your baby.

There does not need to be a one-size-fits-all method to feeding your baby. Every baby is different, and even…every baby is different at every stage! Breastfeeding, known for its many healthful benefits, is a wonderfully natural way for your baby to get a boost of immunity from their first feeding onward. Ruth A. Lawrence, M.D., a professor of pediatrics and an OB-GYN states that “the incidences of pneumonia, colds and viruses are reduced among breastfed babies.” Breastmilk is known to be a cure-all for ear infections, pink-eye, and even helps prevent your baby from getting sick! Breastfeeding also has benefits for the mama, such as leading to a lower risk for ovarian and breast cancer, as well as type 2 diabetes.

Formula feeding, especially with an organic formula, also has some wonderful benefits for babies and moms. It’s much easier to document how much a baby formula a baby is drinking, and when mama gets tired of feeding, she can share the responsibility with others – it does take a village! Formula provides all of the vitamins and iron a baby needs in perfectly measured doses, so you never need to worry that they’re not getting the nutrition they need.

Whether you’re breastfeeding or formula feeding, both methods are nutritionally fulfilling for babies, and no matter how you feed your baby, as long as you’re cuddling their sweet little warm body next to yours, they will feel loved and safe.

We are excited for you to join us and Celebrate Feeding with the Earth’s Best Organic® brand this week!

Follow Earth’s Best on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Enter below to win a three month’s supply of the Earth’s Best Organic Formula, a Comotomo Bottle Starter Pack, a BabyBjorn Bouncer, $125 to Finn + Emma and a Newlie Louise Bag!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Top photo by Molly Leon Studios

Third Photo by Amy Buelow Photography

Whole30 Tips and Tricks for Moms

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

Gugu Guru’s editor in chief is a big fan of January Whole30’s to reset for the year; when she came across the Happy Family Organic Superfoods Cookbook for Baby and Toddler, and saw that some of the recipes were Whole30 compliant, she knew she wanted to share the book and some Whole30 tips with all of you! Read on for a description of the Whole30, as well as tips for completing a Whole30 with a baby and toddler in tow.

Doesn’t every January feel like a total mental reset? Along with organizing my bank statements and computer files, I also gravitate towards doing a Whole30 program. What is this Whole30 that seems to be popping up everywhere now? Essentially, the Whole30 is a total reset of your awareness of food; by eliminating sugar, grains, alcohol, legumes, and dairy, you can give your body a chance to reset the system and see how these foods affect you mentally and physically. Initially, I started eating paleo and doing Whole30s back before I had kids, as I found that sticking to a paleo diet helped cure my lifelong cystic acne! However, I’ve stuck with it because I’m a huge fan, and I love that I can involve my kids in eating healthy too.

When I received the Happy Family cookbook, I was in awe – it is gorgeous! My three year old even came and read it with me; the colors are bold and bright, and I love that the recipes are kid-friendly, but also super sophisticated. A bunch of their recipes are paleo, and even Whole30 compliant, but two of them stuck out to me as sounding amazing. The Coconut Milk Chicken with Broccoli and Snow Peas (just sub out the vegetable oil for coconut oil!) on page 70, introduces children to a new palette with mint and basil, as well as providing healthy fats and veggies. I couldn’t stop salivating over the recipe on page 77 for Orange-y Beef and Carrot Burgers (again, sub in another oil for the vegetable oil to make it Whole30 compliant). I love that these burgers have so many veggies and fruits high in vitamin C – perfect for a wintertime dinner! These meals, while created for children, would be wonderful for anyone, even at your most chic dinner party! Colorful, healthy, and completely full of flavor.

Doing a Whole30 with kids at home isn’t always easy; there’s lots of cooking and cleaning up, meal planning, and thinking about food. By resetting your system and not eating sugar, often times, you’ll find yourself sleeping better at night…that is, unless you’re a mother whose two kids wake up every hour (sleep, what was that again?) Luckily, you can still have your coffee in the morning; though dairy isn’t allowed on the Whole30, we have a wonderful solution: Nutpods! I have to say, when a friend told me about these genius little pods, it was a total life changer. Did you know a lot of coffee creamers have added ingredients which aren’t good for you? Nutpods are made from purified water, coconut cream, almonds, and natural flavors. They are totally Whole30 approved and delicious! They come in original, hazelnut, and french vanilla (I even cook with the original sometimes!). They surely perk up my coffee after a long night of not sleeping. It absolutely makes the Whole30 easier to have these on hand (we suggest adding them to your baby registry, as they’re great even when you’re not on the Whole30).

There are many amazing resources for staying strong during a Whole30 – especially for pregnant and breastfeeding moms! Healthy Mama happy baby is a Whole30 website dedicated to all of the women currently on the Whole30 whom are breastfeeding, pregnant or post-partum. Anyone else doing a Whole30 this month (or have you done one?) leave a comment and let us know!

All photos by Molly Leon Studios

Holiday Gift Idea: UviCube for the Technology Loving Mama

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

We’ve found the perfect holiday gift for all of the high tech and technology-obsessed parents you know! New parents (and seasoned ones) are all about keeping baby healthy and safe, especially during the germ season of Wintertime. Luckily, UviCube, a new essential baby item, is here to keep the things your baby loves totally germ-free! It is the first of its kind in the U.S. market, to dry, store and eliminate 99.9% of bacteria on surfaces exposed to UV light on items such as baby bottles, bottle nipples and pacifiers, but can also sanitize electronics, mobile phones, toys and other items your baby might like to touch or teethe on.

In the past, parents have used sterilizers and dishwashers to keep baby’s bottles free from germs and mold, but what about all of the other things baby may chew on or touch? UviCube uses direct UV light (without moisture or heat) to eliminate 99.9% of harmful bacteria to sanitize bottles, pacifiers, mobile phones, remote controls…if it’s in baby’s mouth or hands, UviCube will keep it clean! UviCube disinfects using low heat infra-red light bulb to dry and ultraviolet light – this means there’s no worry about burning your fingers taking hot bottles out to use – safe for mama and baby.

Not only is UviCube important because it keeps the bottles clean and sanitized, but it helps keep mama’s brain organized, because there won’t be bottles strewn about the counters all the time! You can store the bottles in the UviCube and take when needed, keeping them ready to go at all times. Baby drop a pacifier or toy? Just place it in the UviCube and disinfect. It’s so easy to use and safe for baby, parents, and your house. No more boiling water for bottles, pump parts, and nipples, the UviCube is able to safely disinfect anything you put in it. Baby love to play with your phone, or toddler watches videos? Don’t let germs spread in your house this holiday season – the UviCube is there for your keys, phone, and anything baby touches, play withs, or gnaws on.

This holiday season, UviCube wants you to focus on your family, and less time on cleaning! Instead of spending hours washing pump parts, bottles, and baby gear – throw it in the UviCube and focus on the important things, like your loved ones. If you’re traveling this season, make sure to disinfect everything as soon as you get back home; just place in the UviCube and let the UV light work its magic. The UviCube is an ideal gift, for anyone with kids, as it’s not just a baby product, it’s a family essential, for keeping everyone healthy, happy, and clean, year round.

Webinar: Breastfeeding + Returning to Work on November 17th

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

Leaving your breastfed little one while you return to work can be a daunting prospect, but proper planning can help ensure a successful transition. Does my employer have to provide me with a space to pump? How often should I pump at work? When should I first offer a bottle? What if I forget my pump at home?

Ease your mind and set yourself up for success by attending the third webinar in our three-part series: Returning to Work!

Details
Thursday, November 17, 2016 | 2-3pm EDT
Join us for our 1-hour Returning to Work* webinar from the comfort of your own home or workplace, led by Wendy Colson, RN, IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) and creator of Boobie Bars. This 1-hour class is guaranteed to teach you everything you need to know about returning to work as a breastfeeding mom. We will also offer time for Q/A at the end of the class, time-permitting. Don’t miss out on our early bird pricing!

This a must-attend if you plan to breastfeed and return to work!

Key topics to be covered will be:

What are my legal rights as a breastfeeding employee?
How do I begin to build my freezer stash for when I return to work?
When should I first offer a bottle?
How often should I pump at work?
How do I store my pump parts at work?
Plus, much, much more!

*Returning to Work is Part Three of our three-part series, which covers setting yourself up for successful breastfeeding. After Part Three, the series will begin again with Part One, Advanced Breastfeeding Class, followed by Part Two, Pumping and Storing.

Gugu Village is Gugu Guru’s new educational community for expecting and new moms. Offering both webinars and offline events, Gugu Village provides first time moms with the knowledge that they need to feel prepared and well supported during the prenatal and postpartum period.

Webinar: Pumping & Storing Breastmilk on November 15

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

Whether you’re pumping to boost your supply, to build up a stash of frozen milk, or because you prefer to bottle feed your breastmilk, the thought of pumping can be daunting. Will it hurt, how long should you pump, how do you store the milk? Ease your mind and set yourself up for success by attending the second webinar in our three-part series: Pumping and Storing!

Details
Tuesday, November 15, 2016 | 2-3pm EST
Join us for our 1-hour Pumping and Storing* webinar from the comfort of your own home or workplace, led by Wendy Colson, RN, IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) and creator of Boobie Bars. From flange size to freezers, this 1-hour class is guaranteed to teach you everything you need to know about pumping and storing your milk. We will also offer time for Q/A at the end of the class, time-permitting. Don’t miss out on our early bird pricing!

This a must-attend if you plan to pump!

Key topics to be covered will be:

• How to ensure a good supply from the start

• When to start pumping

• How long to pump

• How to begin to build your freezer stash

• Plus, much, much more!

*Pumping is Part Two of our three-part series, which covers setting yourself up for successful breastfeeding. Part Three covers Returning to Work.

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