Mama Wellness

Real Mom Review: Thule Urban Glide

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This post contains affiliate links.

Must Have Essentials: Mama Fitness and Wellness

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One of the questions we get asked a lot from moms is how they can prioritize their health and wellness with an infant at home. We reached out to our amazing baby planners to find out what they think are must have essentials for mama’s fitness and wellness journey postpartum.

Looking for more fitness related posts? Check out our fit-mama baby registry essentials, real mom review of the Meddy Teddy, a 15 minute babywearing workout, and top 10 tips for running while pregnant.

Jessica Zablan, The Birth & Baby Company –

Must Have Essentials for Fitness and Wellness: Kleen Kanteen or Hydroflask water bottle; staying hydrated is important for everyone but it is an essential for pregnancy and postpartum moms. Having a great water bottle will encourage you to drink or throughout the day. These bottles can hold hot and cold liquids, they are very eco friendly, and super easy to clean.

Check out Jessica’s pick for must have essential for baby basics.

Ashley Akselband of Wellsprings Birth and Baby –

Must Have Essentials for Fitness and Wellness: I’d definitely say a FitBit! Sometimes moms don’t think they’re exercising, but the Fitbit keeps track of steps, heart rate, calories burned, etc. It’s nice to have something to keep track of your movement and make you feel like you’re exercising when you’re doing everyday things, like taking the baby out for a walk or just carrying a load of laundry up two flights of stairs.

Check out Ashley’s pick for must have essential for early feeding.

Abby Ludwig, Gugu Guru Registry Consultant –

Must Have Essentials for Fitness and Wellness: As someone who has taken her sweet time getting back into the swing of things, my number one tool for fitness and wellness as a new mom was my baby carrier. I had both a soft wrap carrier (think Baby K’Tan or Solly Wrap) and a soft-structured carrier (think Ergobaby or Baby Bjorn) that I wore all around the house when my twins were newborns. This allowed me to get things done (i.e. the never ending amounts of laundry and dishes) while keeping my twins nearby. Also, at the end of the day I felt like I had put in a quick exercise session without having to find the time.

Check out Abby’s must haves for parents preparing for multiples.

Amber Michels of Your Milk Shoppe –

Must Have Essentials for Fitness and Wellness: Essential oils, when diffused, they can put a mama into her happy place in a matter of minutes. Joining a stroller club with fellow mommies. Not only are you burning calories, you’re making much needed friends and getting free therapy.

Check out our favorite jogging strollers for city living.

Looking for more must haves?

This post contains affiliate links.

Your Best Bundle Episode 4: New Year, New You

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

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

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

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

Your Best Bundle Episode 3: Clean Eating

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It’s time for our third installment of Your Best Bundle all about Clean Eating brought to you by Gugu Guru along with our partner Bundle Organics and our fabulous host, new mama and Bundle Organics Brand Director Whitney Port.

This month we are sharing “Clean Eating Tips” on Instagram Live with new mama Ali Maffucci – New York Times best-selling author and founder of the culinary brand Inspiralized.

Whether you’re pregnant, nursing, or just an extremely busy mama, clean eating is a great way to maintain a healthy lifestyle and keep your energy up. But who has the time for meal prep and healthy cooking – especially with a newborn? You can! In this Instagram Live, Ali will share quick, healthy food prep and meal ideas, along with some bonus tips for working mamas to achieve a better work/life balance. We really hope this Clean Eating Instagram Live Q&A will help you in your journey towards a healthy and inspired life.

What: Instagram Live Event
Where: the Bundle Organics Instagram
When: Thursday, December 7th at 9PM ET (6PM PT)

Do you have a specific question about clean eating that you’d like us to cover in the Q&A? We’d love to know so Ali can come prepared! Submit your questions in advance by sending an email to yourbestbundle@bundleorganics.com with the subject “Clean Eating Question.”

About the series: Your Best Bundle is our new expert series where each month we tackle a topic on how to achieve your best and healthiest life as a parent from pregnancy to birth and beyond. In this series, we’ll be talking about a wide range of topics from fit pregnancy tips to clean eating to sleep strategies for babies and parents and more. We’re open to your suggestions too! If you have a topic you’d like us to cover, feel free to email yourbestbundle@bundleorganics.com with your requests.

Did you miss it? Check out the recap of Your Best Bundle Episode 1 here.

Great Gift Ideas: Foodie Mom Friends

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It can be hard to make new mom friends, and often we’ve found that it is easier to bond over something you both like…and who doesn’t like food? We rounded up some great gift ideas for your foodie loving mama friends – and also asked our baby planners where some great places to meet new mom friends are – plus their picks for gifts for foodie moms!

What does a foodie mama need, and where can you find foodie mama friends?

Being a new mom can be super lonely; spending all day with a newborn gets long, real quick – so, we always tell our new moms to get the diaper bag ready and head out into the world. If you’re a foodie fan, there are lots of places to go meet other new moms. We asked our Baby Planners where foodie moms can find new friends, and also what their one must have item for foodie mamas is:

Gugu Guru’s Founder, Monica: When I ask seasoned mamas, especially those who work outside of the home, to share their tips for a work/life balance – “food prep” seems to always come up. In my house, we cannot live without our VeeTee rice. VeeTee tastes like delicious, gourmet rice but it’s ready in just 2 minutes in your microwave. And even though it has no artificial flavors or preservatives, it lasts a whole year in your pantry so you can always have it on-hand.

Jessica Zablan of The Birth and Baby Company: Our must have foodie item is a good Mason Jar. They can be used for food storage, you can drink from them, and it’s easy to take them with you. Join your local Co-Op to meet other parents that love food. Most Co-Ops support local farmers and small businesses.

Kimmie Johnson, Maternity Consultant, Co-Founder at Your Milk Shoppe, Chicago, IL: Every Foodie mama needs a go-to blog for inspo and recipes. Mine are, Skinny Taste, Iowa Girl Eats, and Frugal Foodie Mama. [The Gugu Guru team also loves our friend Ali over at Inspiralized!]

Amber Michels, Maternity Consultant, Founder at Your Milk Shoppe, Greenville, SC: My one must-have would be easy go-to recipes to have on hand for those days that seem to run on forever and also any kind of wine and/or meal delivery service! Just because us moms don’t have time to cook and drink all things amazing doesn’t mean we can’t pay for a service to bring the yummy goodness to our homes. Not to mention, the whole household is extra happy and fed! I suggest juice shops to meet other foodie moms. As far as juice shops, I love Southern Pressed Juicery. There is nothing like their energy bowl, The Green Monstah. Every one of us moms would kill for something that tastes good, is healthy and gives us a boost of energy!

Some of our favorite Foodie Finds:

Junkless Bars: As a new mom, you’ll find that you always need to bring a snack for yourself in the diaper bag. Sometimes you get stuck under a sleeping baby, or strolling a baby to sleep…for a long time, and you get hungry! We’re huge fans of Junkless Bars for many reasons – they come in four delicious flavors, cinnamon roll, strawberry, peanut butter chocolate chip, and chocolate-chip. Why are they called Junkless? Each granola bar is made with just eight or fewer basic, real ingredients – ingredients that are pronounceable and commonly found in most kitchen pantries; plus they are non-GMO. These are also a great snack for toddlers!

Partake Cookies: If you’re breastfeeding, you’re going to probably need to pack some snacks for yourself because you’ll be hungry throughout the day. However, some moms need to steer clear of dairy or gluten when it comes to breastfeeding, which is why we’re loving Partake Cookies. These delicious (totally addictive!) cookies are certified Gluten Free, certified Vegan, OU Kosher, and Non GMO Project Verified! Furthermore, they are also free of the Top 8 Allergens: no peanuts, no tree nuts, no egg, no soy, no milk, no wheat, no fish, no shellfish, no corn, no sesame, no sulfites. If you’re heading to meet a new mom for the first time and unsure if she, or her little one, is allergic, Partake is a great snack choice to bring along; safe for all – and really yummy.

BizyBelle Snack Bags: Need something to pack all of those snacks in and throw in the diaper bag? We’re fans of reusable snack bags, especially the adorable designs from BizyBelle (ahem, these make really cute little gifts for mom friends!). These handy bags are cotton with a velcro closure and easily washable (phew!).

Dert Bags: It seems as though farmer’s market shopping is a very popular past-time for mom friends, so make sure you’re prepared with Dert Bags. Why are we obsessed with Dert? These eco-friendly bags are sturdy and easy to clean…and fold up into adorable little animals! Stuff the bag back into the holder and it forms an animal shape – super easy to throw into your stroller or diaper bag.

Little Teether: Foodie fun can be had with babies too, especially when it comes to cute teething items. Little Teether is your one-stop-shop for teething toys and necklaces. Check out how adorable those donut teething rings are! They are 100% silicone and BPA free; feel free to freeze them, too. They’re easily washable and lightweight for little hands.

Party at Your Door: It may be a Monday afternoon, but you and your mom friends should celebrate being awesome with Party at Your Door. This adorable shop creates everything you’d need to throw a fun bash, including custom confetti – how cool is that!

Little Spoon: Little Spoon’s motto is, “it’s fresh, baby,” and they mean it – Little Spoon creates baby food which is not only super fresh and shipped to your door, but chock full of healthy ingredients and enticing flavors. With their signature baby spoons built into their packaging, their BabyBlends take your little one through the process of trying new foods, with flavors such as Beet Tahini Chickpea Apple Brown Rice Cardamom, Blueberry Chickpea Spinach Pear Rosemary, and Quinoa Raspberry Pear Coconut Milk Vanilla Date Wheat Germ Oil. Let’s be honest, you and your mama friends will most likely dig in before baby gets a chance, but as long as you share, we’re okay with it!

Little Nugget Co.: We’ve written about why we’re fans of Little Nugget before, and when it comes to food time for baby, you want to make sure the Little Nugget app is downloaded on your phone. Little Nugget uses artwork overlays to perfectly mark your baby’s exciting milestones and sweet moments! Select from beautiful fonts to add your little one’s name, measurements and memories you never want to forget. Easily edit your baby photo with a selection of over 15 beautiful photo filters. And, when you’re done, have the photos sent to your for the baby book or share with family and friends.

This post may contain affiliate links.

Cover image via Extra On Top

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.

Video Overview: NewGel+ Scar Management Solutions

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-Sponsored Video-

Check out Gugu Guru founder Monica’s video overview of NewGel+ Scar Management Solutions and why this is a must-have for parents, especially moms who have had c-section surgery.

Check out more of our c-section must have posts here and here.

Introducing Our New Monthly Social Series: Your Best Bundle

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We’ve been working Whitney Port and the Bundle Organics team to launch a new series. Your Best Bundle will be a new expert series where each month we’ll tackle a different topic related to achieving your best and healthiest life as a parent, from pregnancy to birth and beyond.

We plan to cover a wide range of mom essentials in the Your Best Bundle series, from fit pregnancy tips to clean eating, home care, sleep strategies for babies and parents and more. We’re open to your suggestions too! If you have a topic you’d like us to cover, feel free to email yourbestbundle@bundleorganics.com.

When and where: Series 1: Your Best Bundle with Victoria Facelli, IBCLC: Breastfeeding Basics streamed live on the Bundle Organics Instagram Thursday, October 5th at 9PM ET (6PM PT.)

Episode 1: Your Best Bundle with Victoria Facelli, IBCLC: Breastfeeding Basics

First up in our series is “Breastfeeding Basics” with Victoria Facelli, IBCLC. Victoria Facelli is an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), DONA International Certified Postpartum Doula, and part of Gugu Guru’s Concierge network of industry experts that provide a range of services to new and expectant parents. She’s also the owner of Durham Lactation, which is a goals-based lactation consulting service in North Carolina.

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

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

Breastfeeding: Where Do I Get Help?

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Lansinoh Helpline is a new service offered through the Lansinoh Baby app. Through one click of your phone, you can reach live help via video chat with a professional International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). There are 3 paid subscription levels – 1-month, 3-month, and 12-month, all which offer unlimited calls. These IBCLCs can answer your questions any time of day or night – they are staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and answer your call within minutes. IBCLCs can help with common issues such as pain and latching, pumping questions, low milk supply, going back to work, and more. The Lansinoh Helpline is powered by Pacify.

To purchase a subscription, simply open the free Lansinoh Baby app and click on Live Help on the home screen.

Available with 1 month free with the purchase of the Lansinoh Smartpump here.

Other great resources:

Lansinoh Ultimate Protection Nursing Pads

Breastfeeding: Increasing Breastmilk Supply and Storage Tips

Thank you to Lansinoh for making this sponsored post possible.

8 Childcare Options For When You Need a Break!

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It’s no secret that parenting can be exhausting, but finding childcare can take time and money – today’s guest blogger, Cassie Taylor, rounded up 8 childcare options for when you desperately need to drive around drinking a PSL without a baby in the backseat.

1. Grandparents: If you are lucky enough to live by family, don’t hesitate to ask for a helping hand! Most likely grandparents are happy to take your baby, or come over and hold them while you relax, do the laundry or binge watch GOT.

2. Gym Facility: Most gyms have a child care center that will takes you kiddo while you exercise (for a small fee). Get back your post baby body while you start your mom empire on the stationary bike, meet new friends in a Zumba class or just use the time to sit in peace in the sauna and take a long hot shower. (Looking for maternity fitness attire?)

3. IKEA: If you kid is potty trained you can get a good 2 hours of child care while you grab some lunch, buy towels or plan out your next kitchen renovation. Bonus, they have free wifi in the Cafe! (We love Ikea!)

4. Hourly child care: Some centers offer hourly child care, so you only have to pay per hour. You can easily find them through parent websites or google them on Yelp. Make sure they are certified with a good reputation. There are also plenty of Mother’s Day out programs run through local churches that allow you a good chunk of time to drop you kid off. (Check out some of our suggestions for daycare essential items)

5. Trade With Other Parents: Ask another trusted mom to watch you kid for an hour or two; trade with her back and forth and you will both get child free time to grocery shop or get a facial. We stumbled across the Komae app and had to share it with all of our families looking for childcare options! Komae is the only app which helps parents build their village and trade childcare; you can join for free, and have trusted people in your village watch your child so you can get a break – in the meantime, they receive points for helping out, which they can in turn use to have you help watch their kids! Modern day village parenting for the win. Instead of giving away your hard earned cash to your local teenage babysitter, how about swapping Komae points with other moms? Spend your money on dinner, not on a sitter! So how does it work? All Komae accounts start with 20 points in the bank. Spend points when your friends babysit your children. Earn points when you babysit for friends. It’s really that simple! Download the app for free today.

6. TV/ Toys and a Baby gate: As much as we don’t want to admit it, TV is a great way to keep your child’s attention occupied if you need a break to catch your mom-breath.

7. Mother’s Helpers: Ask around in your community if anyone knows a responsible young gal willing to help out. If you plan to stay home while the babysitter is there, you may consider a girl in her early teens to watch your little dude/gal while you get things done around the house.

8. University and College campuses: Many college campus offer childcare options for students at a cheaper rate than other centers and can offer part time childcare. Discover a new passion or finish a degree while your child is in good hands.

Featured photo products: SoundBub by WAVHello; Permanently Exhausted Tank by Mom Life Must Haves

Cassie Taylor is an artist who lives with her husband and 2.5 year old son. You can find her on her website (feature photo by Cassie, featuring Mom Life Must Have’s Permanently Exhausted tank), and on Instagram.

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