Gugu Picks

Top 5 Finds from the JPMA Baby Show

We are super excited to share our top 5 Finds from the JPMA Baby Show! Last week, the 2nd Annual JPMA Baby Show took place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington DC. If you don’t know of the JPMA Baby show, it is one of the largest trade and consumer baby shows in North America. Since Monica’s flight was canceled due to Winter Storm Toby, we were lucky enough to have Gugu Concierge expert, Julie McCaffrey, on the ground at the show. Here’s her round-up of the five coolest and most innovative finds at the show…

1. Childhome Evolu

This highchair not only looks great but it is super functional and grows with your child, making it the first mention in our top 5 Finds from the JPMA Baby Show. The Evolu has an easy to clean plastic seat and sturdy beech wood legs. The legs, tray and safety harness can be removed so you are left with a stylish child’s chair. Optional accessories include a newborn seat that reclines, legs that extend to make the highchair fit your kitchen island, a mesh storage basket and stylish seat cushions. Coming soon to the US. $199

2. Oxo Tot Space Saving Drying Rack

Whether you have limited counter space or just don’t want a drying rack to take over your kitchen the Oxo Tot Space Saving Drying Rack is a sleek option to hold your bottles, pacifier and sippy cups. The height is sized to fit under cabinets and the angled pegs will ensure your bottles dry properly. Available now. $24.99

3. Raybaby (non-contact sleep and breathing baby monitor)

The Raybaby monitor is a no touch, very sophisticated HD video monitor with night vision and 2-way audio. This monitor tracks respiration, movements and sleep patterns with high end technology that works on the principle of ultra sound so you can be sure even when your baby is swaddled it is accurately capturing your baby’s smallest movements. Parent alerts are sent when baby has higher breathing patterns associated with high fever or abnormal breathing. Available for pre-order today. $199

4. Innobaby ECLEVE Pulse Ultimate Comfort Hip Seat Carrier

Thanks to the wedge support seat and ability to use this carrier 9 different ways, the Innobaby ECLEVE allows you to comfortably carry your baby from infancy through the toddler years. This carrier is super lightweight and features water resistant fabric and true mesh fabric to ensure your baby doesn’t get overheated. There is a detachable hood, storage pockets and the wedge seat has a non slip pad so you can zip off the rest of the carrier and just carry your toddler on your hip without throwing out your back. Available now in 3 colors. $199

5. Aristot Bassinets

We’d be remiss not to mention the highly anticipated Aristot bassinets in our top 5 Finds from the JPMA Baby Show. These gorgeous bassinets speak for themselves and are meant to transition to adult furniture and even become family heirlooms. These luxurious bassinets are handmade with high end fabrics and finishes for your stylish space. The bases and bassinets are interchangeable so you can create the piece that works best in your home. Available in Fall 2018. Starting at $1500.

Honorable Mention: Beaba Big Flopsy Maternity & Nursing Pillow

This pregnancy and nursing pillow is covered in a luxurious fabric and filled with a non-toxic fill that is easily to mold to fit your pregnant body and you and baby while nursing. Big Flopsy is fully machine washable and looks great so you won’t mind leaving it lying around your home. Available now. $120

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.

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

Best Holiday Gifts for Pregnant or New Moms

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Struggling with what holiday gifts to get for the pregnant or new mom in your life? We asked our amazing baby planners and the Gugu Guru team for their picks of the ultimate holiday gifts for a new or pregnant mama – which of these holiday gifts would you love to get?

Latina Baxter of Marley & Moo Maternity, Texas: Prenatal Massage Package – Gift your wife, friend, or sister with holiday gifts that will help not only her but also the wellness of the baby. Prenatal massages are know reduce back and joint pain, improve circulation reduce edema, reduce muscle tension and headaches, reduce stress and anxiety and improve oxygenation of soft tissues and muscles. When momma feels good so does baby! Gift her and her little bundle a gift they will truly cherish.

Lindsay Neely, Maternity Consultant and Project Coordinator for YMS, Greenville, SC: An Amazon Prime membership if she doesn’t have one already, because it just makes life so much easier to order things with one click! Plus, ALL the muslin swaddle blankets and this is my favorite because it’s a touch bigger than the usual ones, and for the cooler months the flannel one. Hint: you can use swaddles to wrap your holiday gifts too!

Ginny Lawler, Maternity Consultant from Your Milk Shoppe, Atlanta, GA: For pregnant or new moms, the ultimate holiday gifts should focus on acts of self-care. Whether you are anxiously awaiting your new arrival, or celebrating your first holiday with your new baby, this is also a time to do something for yourself. My top picks this holiday season would be: 1. A massage, pre or post-natal. Give yourself an hour of quiet time to refresh and rejuvenate. 2. A super soft and warm robe to keep you comfortable and warm during feedings or uncomfortable pregnancy nights. 3. Hiring a cleaning company, even just for 1 hour of cleaning. The holidays are exhausting without a new baby, give yourself this gift of checking one thing off of your list without exhausting yourself even more.

Lauren Daylami, Maternity Consultant from Your Milk Shoppe, Charleston, SC: For pregnant moms I would gift the Snoogle Pregnancy Pillow. As all pregnant moms know, a restful night’s sleep is non-existent the last few months of pregnancy and this pillow is a lifesaver! It conforms to your body and offers tummy support to make you much more comfortable. It even comes with a travel bag too. For new moms I would give the Bitty Bundle of Joy Frida Baby Set that includes all the necessities a newborn baby and beyond would need including: nail clippers, the NoseFrida (which is amazing), and the Windi Gas passer tubes.

From the Gugu Guru Team:

Monica Banks, Gugu Guru’s founder: The Domino’s Newborn Lockdown Package is one of my new favorite holiday gifts for a new mom (and dad!). Who doesn’t want dinner delivered after a long day of caring for baby? Cheesy goodness in front of the TV with your partner sounds like a date to us!

Check out more gift ideas from the Domino’s Baby Registry, too!

Olivia Howell, Gugu Guru’s Editor in Chief: The best gift I ever got as a new mom was my camera! Yes, all phones have cameras now, but I use my Canon DSLR all the time – the automatic setting is amazing and I can just point and click to get professional looking photos of my sons. If you’re going to give big this holiday season to a new or pregnant mom, I highly recommend the Canon Rebel T6i.

Alexa Rubin, Gugu Guru Business Development: The gift I always give to new or expecting moms is super soft pajamas! Since you’re in PJs most of the day with a newborn, you want to not only feel comfy, but look a little put-together, too. I love these Karen Neuburger pajamas, because they’re easy to breastfeed in and comfy and chic.

Shana Smith, Gugu Guru’s Marketing Director: Definitley a gift card for postpartum doula services! Postpartum doulas are such a gift to new moms, so why not help your sister or friend help pay for one? Self-care for the win!

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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

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

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C-Section Recovery Essentials with Sarah Stage

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Did you have or are you planning to have a c-section? Get our list of C-Section Recovery Essentials here. We were so thrilled to work with fitness star and mom, Sarah Stage, on preparing for baby #2. Sarah had a cesarean section with her beautiful baby boy Logan so the team at Gugu Guru wanted to recommend some of our favorite products for healing mamas. Here’s our list:

NewGel+ Silicone Scar Gel
NewGel+ is specially formulated 100% medical grade silicone gel sheeting proven to reduce, flatten, fade and smooth scars – both old and new. We love the c-section silicone scar strips because of the cushioning and protection they provide. They help prevent clothes from rubbing over the scar-important because the scar can be very sensitive to the touch, and irritation can make the scar worse. Many women aren’t worried about the way their scar looks, but lingering tenderness and sensitivity are a daily problem.

Lansinoh Nursing Pillow
This nursing pillow avoids any pressure placed on sensitive incisions because it slides on the arm and is not “curve” shaped like other pillows. The ergonomic design keeps mom and baby amazingly comfortable. Plus the shape is perfect for mom preventing neck, back and shoulder strain.

SleepBelt
We love the SleepBelt for kangaroo care and skin-to-skin contact with your newborn. For c/s moms, you can position your SleepBelt support comfortably above your incision and it will keep baby snug to your chest.

4moms mamaRoo4
One thing you will need regardless of whether you’re recovering from a c-section is a safe place to put baby. However, a swing or bouncer that raises baby up off of the floor to a more accessible height is key for healing moms. The 4moms mamaRoo4 infant seat bounces up and down and sways from side to side, just like parents do when comforting their babies. It features five unique motions and five speed options for a total of 25 different combinations. Soothe your baby with one of the four built-in sounds, or connect any MP3 device. The mamaRoo4 seat offers full recline to allow baby to lie back and relax or sit up and play.

Little Partners’ 3-in-1 Growing Step Stool
We sent this for Sarah’s older son James. With three adjustable height positions this stool offers baby’s older sibling a safe lift to counter height when mom can’t.

GoTo Infant Car Seat Station by Phoenix Baby
The GoTo Infant Car Seat Station by Phoenix Baby will safely support baby up off of the floor in a car seat, preventing mom from having to bend down to baby’s level.

Belabumbum
Belabumbum’s nursing friendly pieces are made with super soft pima cotton to keep a recovering mom comfortable and are stylish enough she won’t need to “get dressed” to welcoming guests!

Check out more c-section must-haves here.

This post contains affiliate links.

Newborn Lockdown Must Haves

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The days after a baby is born are so jam packed with emotion, that it’s vital to have everything you need ready and prepared for when the baby comes home. We call those early weeks with a newborn, “Newborn Lockdown,” it’s all about feeding, sleeping, and getting adjusted to life with a baby. We asked our baby planners what their number one products are for Newborn Lockdown – did you use any of these items? What would you add to the list?

For our baby planners’ best tips and tricks for getting through the Newborn Lockdown time, check out our Instagram stories. And, don’t forget to check out their tips and product picks for preparing for multiples!

Ashley Akselband of Wellsprings Birth & Baby:

Product Pick for Newborn Lockdown: For breastfeeding mommas – Lanolin! It’s SO important to stock up on a few tubes of lanolin and keep it near your regular breastfeeding locations (the nursery, next to your bed, the couch, etc. – there will be many times your baby will fall asleep after nursing and you won’t feel like getting up to retrieve it, so get a few tubes!) I always recommend Lansinoh HPA Lanolin – it’s the #1 recommended nipple cream in the United States. A pea-sized amount usually does the trick and is safe for both mom and baby – no need to wipe it off of your sensitive nipples prior to feeding!

Victoria Zimmerman of Aspen Baby Planners:

Product Pick for Newborn Lockdown: The first month or two home are all about recovering from birth – for both mom and baby! – so we suggest lots of rest, love, and coziness! Get a smart watch – it’s worth the financial investment mamas! – for all those times your phone is just out of reach but your baby has finally fallen asleep on your chest and you’re desperate to text your best friend! Consider a baby seat like the Skip Hop Uplift Bouncer – it’s up off the ground so your baby will be able to see you more clearly while her vision is still developing and you won’t be straining your back as your body is recovering! Use the Owlet Baby monitor for night time sleep so you can both get optimal rest. It’ll help you feel confident your little one is breathing safely without checking on her every few minutes (we seriously love this product!).

Jessica of The Birth & Baby Company:

Product Pick for Newborn Lockdown: Order in – food subscription boxes (blue apron, hello fresh, etc…). This way you get a healthy meal and it helps with keeping the routine of having to make dinner. Grocery delivery! Many places with deliver right to your door. You can add just about anything to your order that you would typically buy from that store. If doorstep delivery isn’t an option, you could have a friend or family member pick everything up with their pick up service. Amazon! You can buy pretty much everything on Amazon and it’s shipped right to your door. They even have a subscribe and save for diapers. They will mail out a box of diapers every week or however often you need. Hulu/ Netflix. Hang out of the couch and binge watch a whole season of your favorite show. A postpartum doula. A trained professional to help assist your family transition into parenthood.

Lauren Daylami, Charleston, SC, Your Milk Shoppe Consultant:

Product Pick for Newborn Lockdown: My #1 has to be the Guava Lotus Bassinet/Travel Crib. Once the baby outgrows the bassinet it converts into a crib. The whole thing is super compact and fits easily into small places. So easy to travel with!

See Also: Guava Lotus Crib on our Affordable Eco-Friendly Baby Registry Picks

Ginny Lawler, Atlanta, GA, Your Milk Shoppe Consultant:

Product Pick for Newborn Lockdown: Hatch Nursery changing table. It weighs newborns every time they’re changed to help moms keep track on their weight, and can also track all of the diaper changes. They also have a nightlight/sound machine that can be a great breastfeeding light.

Gugu Guru Team:

Product Pick for Newborn Lockdown: Netflix! Don’t have a Netflix account? You need one now – you’ll be spending many, many long hours rocking, feeding, and shushing a baby, the least you can do is binge watch The Gilmore Girls while you do it! (We highly recommend Dawson’s Creek and Felicity, too!). A Netflix account makes a wonderful baby shower gift, as well – mama can even watch on her phone late at night!

Baby photos from Pics and Paws Photography

This post includes affiliate links.

Lansinoh Ultimate Protection Nursing Pads

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

We are so excited to talk about Lansinoh Ultimate Protection Nursing Pads. Though this post is sponsored, we stand behind our statements about these nursing pads being among the best or THE best disposable nursing pads on the market today. The Lansinoh Ultimate Protection Nursing Pads are the only disposable nursing pads that have a unique combination of features that address several of mom’s challenges when it comes to a standard nursing pad. Here’s what our founder, Monica, has to say:

When developing the Ultimate Protection Nursing Pads, Lansinoh listened to the challenges that moms faced. They heard that other pads on the market leak through, or the pads are visible through clothes, when it gets wet, it gets clumpy and after a while uncomfortably soggy – especially at night.

Thus, the combination of the features in this Lansinoh Ultimate Protection Nursing Pad, tackles all these challenges at once. How?

It is by far Lansinoh’s most absorbent pad, holding up to 20x its weight in liquid.
The high absorbency level makes it ideal for nighttime use and heavy flows. Especially when a mom experiences several let-downs through the night or for women who are heavy leakers – there is no wetness, no soaked feeling – these pads keep you (and your pj’s and bedding!) dry.
Its blue InvisiLock™ core instantly captures and disperses moisture. This helps by keeping the skin dry and eliminating that wetness feeling. It also helps the pad to not get clumpy or bulky.
For being so absorbent, it is also a thin pad that will conform to the breast and be discreet, even when wet.

You can find the Ultimate Protection Nursing Pads directly on Lansinoh.com and they’re also available at major retail and online stores such as Target, Wal-Mart and Amazon.

Learn more about Lansinoh and other nursing products we love here:

Breastfeeding: Increasing Breastmilk Supply and Storage Tips

Nursing Mama Travel Must Haves

Nursing Essentials Roundup

Plus Size Nursing Bras with Bravado

Editor’s Picks: Mother’s Day Gift Guide Featuring Tiny Tags

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

-Sponsored Post –

It seems as though there are never enough ideas for the perfect gift for mom for Mother’s Day; since the Gugu Guru team sees quite a large number of ideas cross our desks, we thought it would be fun to ask our team what they are hoping for this Mother’s Day!

Olivia, Gugu Guru’s Editor-in-Chief: Tiny Tags Jewelry – So, true confession, I already have a Tiny Tags necklace (see above, those are my boys’ names), but I’m obsessed with Tiny Tags. Seems I’m not alone either; Nicole Phelps is a big fan (we love her double sided personalized necklace), as is Tiffany Theissen, Selma Blair and Ceci New York. Tiny Tags creates gorgeous and stylish jewelry for moms which are also incredibly meaningful. Whether it is the date you first laid eyes on your firstborn, or all of your children’s names, or the time your baby was born, Tiny Tags turns memories into heirloom jewelry pieces. With a ton of styles to choose from, as well as gold or silver, you’re sure to find a unique gift for the women in your life this Mother’s Day.

So, why do I want another Tiny Tags if I have one? I’ll be honest – it’s a selfish reason. First off, I love how lightweight and easy to wear these are. I wear mine with every outfit, whether I’m dressing up or down. Secondly, although I have one necklace with my boys’ names on it, I would love individual necklaces with their name and birth time on them. Why? Because, of all the things I remember about giving birth to my sons, I cannot for the life of me remember the time they were born. What better way to remember than on a gorgeous gold chain? Tiny Tags is the ultimate Mother’s Day gift for any pregnant mama, new mom, grandma, aunt, or best mom friend. The last day for free shipping is May 2nd, so get shopping!

Shana, Gugu Guru’s Director of Content Marketing: Leather Tote, The Flourish Market – I’ve had my eye on this Joyn India leather tote that I spotted at local boutique, The Flourish Market, which partners with 40 brands that provide dignified jobs to vulnerable people. The super stylish bag is large enough to be my diaper bag without being unwieldy and is entirely handcrafted! It will be my Mother’s Day gift to myself, so I can feel a bit more Shana and a little less mommy, but still be socially responsible.

Monica Banks, Gugu Guru’s Founder: Phillip Ashley Chocolates – This is Olivia – speaking for Monica here – but, I’m going to reveal something about Monica to the world. If you mention the word “chocolate” around Monica, her arms start flailing wildly and she excitedly asks, “have you tried Phillip Ashley Chocolates?!” So, when we asked her what she wanted this Mother’s Day, it came as no surprise to the Gugu Gang that she responded with a two word answer: Phillip Ashley. And, of course, you can see why! Aren’t those chocolates gorgeous? Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Phillip Ashley handcrafts all of the chocolates in his design studio. Phillip Ashley has been named one of the Best Chocolatiers and Confectioners in America by TasteTV. Not only would these chocolates bring joy to any mom, grandma, aunt, or friend this Mother’s Day, but they make such a gorgeous piece of art, too!

Thank you to Tiny Tags for making this sponsored post possible.

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