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Nutrition and Health

Breastfeeding and Pumping: The All-In-One, Award-Winning System

by Abby Ludwig Leave a Comment

Transitioning baby from breast to bottle can be exhausting and disheartening at times, so we were seriously pumped to learn about nanobébé’s award-winning breastfeeding and pumping system. This all-in-one feeding solution, named ‘Smartest Baby Bottle Ever Made’ by Business Insider and the ‘Best Bottle for Breastfed Babies’ by the Bump, has a plethora of mama and baby-focused benefits—and we can’t wait to share them with you. 

nanobebeFirstly, the thoughtful design assures babe that their beloved food source didn’t go anywhere. Shaped like a smooth breast, the nanobébé bottle can help with the difficult transition—for both of you!

Another amazing benefit is its extensive capabilities. As a new parent, we already have 18 million things either on us, around us, or surrounding our sink—if we can eliminate something, let’s. This breastfeeding and pumping phenomenon can be used to pump, store, warm AND feed your babe. A breast pump adaptor is included, and a little storage bonus: the bottles are stackable. 

nanobebeAnd now, for the info that many of us do not know about: When you warm breastmilk without proper temperature tracking, you can unknowingly remove some of the essential nutrients. This breastfeeding and pumping solution warms the milk up to two times faster than standard bottles—at safe temperatures—to retain the nutrients. It is the first and only bottle designed to protect the nutrients in breastmilk. The perfect addition to compliment your breastfeeding journey.

nanobebeWhen you’re trying to calm your babe in the middle of the night, it’s soothing to know that you can heat the milk quickly without worrying about warming it unevenly or overheating (and having to wait for it to cool down). And then during your milk sesh, when your adoring eyes watch your babe in ecstasy, you can smile knowing that the nutrients you’re working hard to produce are being delivered to their growing bodies. 

Recognized by TIME, CNN and DailyMail UK, the nanobébé bottle truly is “feeding reinvented.” We love it and think you will too. 

Have you tried it? If so, please share your experience in the comments below! We’d love to hear about it.

Thank you to nanobébé for making this sponsored post possible!

Filed Under: Breastfeeding, Celebrate Feeding, Ecofriendly, Economical Picks, Essentials, Feeding, Newborns, Nursing & Feeding, Nutrition and Health Tagged With: breastfeeding, feeding, gear, pumping

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MadeGood Foods: Village Reviews

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

Summer is coming to an end and students are heading back to school. MadeGood Foods takes the guesswork out of selecting healthy and satisfying snacks for your child. MadeGood products contain the highest quality organic ingredients and have nutrients equivalent to a serving of vegetables. The MadeGood facility is completely nut-free, making their foods school-safe. Keep reading to see what our Village Parents thought of these delicious snacks.

MadeGood Foods

I’m always delighted to find allergy-friendly treats that are safe to send to school. The petite-size of these snacks is perfect for toddlers and younger kids. I was also impressed that the MadeGood Mixed Berry Granola Bar has way less sugar than my 2-year old’s other favorite granola bar. When my daughter tasted the Chocolate Chip Crispy Square she exclaimed, “that’s really yummy!” I’m glad we found a new line of snacks that are #toddlerapproved and will be on regular rotation in our house!
-Alyssa N.

MadeGood Foods

My kids have loved the MadeGood bars! My daughter (3.5, no allergies) is obsessed with the chocolate chip ones, and I feel good about it because of the relatively low sugar content! She also really liked the Crispie Rice Squares, which I use in a “less mess needed” situation like the car. 

My son (15-months, dairy and tree nut allergy) absolutely loves the bar with dried fruit. He literally murmurs “mmmmm” while he’s eating them. Also, it’s really nice that texturally he can take bites directly from the bar (supervised) without needing me to rip it in tiny pieces first!

I will for sure continue to buy these products!
-Naomi P. 

MadeGood Foods

BUY THEM ALL! My kids (ages 5.5, 3.5 and 1.5) gobbled every single one of these up – and I felt good giving them a healthier snack/treat option – so we all won. Both the granola bars and the crispy squares have the nutrients of a full serving of vegetables (don’t ask me where they’re hiding, you’d never know there was any kind of vegetable in there). My kids asked me for one every single day until we ran out so I will definitely be keeping them on hand in the future. And don’t be fooled, these are definitely not just for kids, I enjoyed them as well and like having one of the granola bars with me for a quick snack at work. I also love that their products are organic, non-GMO and allergy-friendly (free from the 8 most common allergens – peanut, tree nut, soy, dairy, egg, fish, shellfish, gluten, and sesame). And if you value a company’s mission and standards as much as I do, this one also passes that test with flying colors – they are a certified B corp and a Zero Waste facility, are transparent about their ingredient selection/production process, and use a third-party auditor to monitor food safety and supply chain management. Definitely a company and a product I can get behind!
-Christine C. 

MadeGood Foods

Snacks! Anyone else’s kids want a snack all the time or just wants to graze while playing? It appears my boys are always hungry and finding quick and handy snacks that are healthy can sometimes be a challenge. The MadeGood Granola Bars and Crispy Squares are healthy, organic, non-GMO, and nut-free! My boys love the chocolate chip flavor and I’m all about the mixed berry. These bars are so quick and easy to throw in your bag and go. My favorite thing about these bars is that they are nut-free! I must be honest for a second, I was one of those moms who would roll my eyes every time I would hear that I couldn’t put any nut products in my sons’ lunch. One kid with an allergy had to make it inconvenient for all the other parents. Boy, was that inconsiderate of me! My dear friend’s son has a very severe peanut allergy and I have seen firsthand what she has to go through to ensure the safety of her son. My eyes have sure been opened and I am now much more aware of the snacks I buy for my kids. I love that I don’t have to worry about the MadeGood products and that they are a safe snack for our friends with allergies. Also, my kids love them, and they are husband approved as well! All around winning in my opinion.
-Anne E.

MadeGood Foods

The MadeGood products are AMAZING! I cannot say enough good things about them. The fact that the crispy square bars contain the same nutrients as a serving of vegetables, come in Chocolate AND are dairy-free is mind-blowing! I struggle with snacks sometimes, because my 20 MO has a dairy allergy & she gets upset when her brother is able to eat things she cannot. We are definitely switching to MadeGood granola bars and crispy squares! It’s so nice not to have to compromise on taste for quality, natural snacks!
-Heather L. 

MadeGood Foods

We found a yum yum yummy new snack, that everyone in our house likes! The crispy squares and granola bars are delicious! It’s an easy decision to continue to buy this product. I personally love the granola bars, knowing that they are a better choice compared to a lot of the other granola bars out there. Being a teacher, I can appreciate the fact that they are “free from nuts & safe for schools”. Too many times do I see an issue with student’s snacks, or even when it comes to a students birthday and them wanting to bring in a special treat, and it then being approved by the school. This is an all-around yummy and smart option for snacks for my family!
-Danielle C.

MadeGood Foods

My daughter loves these (the Vanilla Crisp Squares are her fave)! They remind me of a rice crispy treat. I love that they are healthy for my growing toddler and have vegetable nutrients. She wasn’t a huge fan of the mixed berry granola bars but hopefully, that will change soon!
-Crystal B.

 

Thank you to MadeGood Foods for sending these snacks to our Gugu Village Testers. We appreciate our Gugu Village Parents for providing us with their honest thoughts. For more information on purchasing MadeGood Foods, click here!

The Village Reviews: Joeyband

The Village Reviews: Monti Kids Wooden Books

The Village Reviews: Gabri Isle

Filed Under: Feeding, Nursing & Feeding, Nutrition and Health

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What’s New on Gugu: August 1, 2019

by Abby Ludwig Leave a Comment

As we kick of World Breastfeeding Week, I wanted to bring you a few of our newest products that will help create a successful nursing environment. While we firmly believe that fed is best, we love these products to aid all of our moms who choose to nurse/pump. Take a look below and let us know some of your nursing faves!

For a number of our other favorites, please check out our Explore page!

Earth Mama Nipple Butter: This continues to be one of our favorite organic nipple creams on the market! It is lanolin-free, botanical rich, and smooth! No more sticky residue, this soaks into your skin and helps heal any of those chaps and cracks. Plus, there is no need to wash it off before nursing.

Larken X BraLarken X Bra: Although we have featured the Larken Bra before, we cannot stop singing its praises! Made of moisture-wicking, ultrasoft fabric, this nursing/pumping bra is truly the most comfortable on the market! No snaps, zippers, or tags, it allows you to pump hands-free without having to undress or change.

Lactation LabLactation Lab: A revolutionary way to test the nutrients in your breastmilk! Simply collect a sample of your breastmilk throughout the day and send it in to Lactation Lab to be tested. You will receive your results in as little as a week. Plus, they will make dietary recommendations to help boost the nutrition of your breast milk. You can easily share this report with any doctor, lactation consultant, or doula.

Kindred BravelyKindred Bravely Nursing/Pumping Clothes: Looking for comfortable, high-quality, nursing-friendly options to wear postpartum? Look no further than our fave finds at Kindred Bravely. Full of soft tanks, pjs, bras, and cardigans, you will love slipping into these pieces. Easy to pair together and wear on the go, these will become staples in your wardrobe!

The Tit Kit: Every breatfeeding/pumping/feeding story is different. The Tit Kit is here to help alleviate any pain and discomfort that may be associated with feeding. Combining all of your premium breastfeeding must haves, this is truly a one stop shop! Plus, they donate a portion of all profits to organizations that help parents suffering from postpartum mental illness. A perfect gift for any mom planning to nurse or pump!

Please note that these opinions are 100% my own and I have not received any products in exchange for placement in What’s New on Gugu!

Like what you see? Check out some other What’s New on Gugu posts:

What’s New on Gugu: May 29, 2019

What’s New on Gugu: June 5, 2019

What’s New on Gugu: June 18, 2019

What’s New on Gugu: June 24, 2019

What’s New on Gugu: July 3, 2019

Filed Under: Baby Registry, Breastfeeding, Celebrate Feeding, Feeding, Mom Style, Nutrition and Health, What's New on Gugu?! Tagged With: breastfeeding, feeding, registry

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Newborn Must Haves for Active Families

by Abby Ludwig Leave a Comment

Are you getting ready to welcome your little one? We were so thrilled to work with popular fitness influencer, Dasha Anderson (founder of Kettlebell Kickboxing) and her husband Dan as they prepared to welcome their first little lady! Fitness plays a big role in their household and we wanted to highlight that with our picks for this active couple. Below we teamed up with Dasha and Dan to look back on the past few months since welcoming Baby Ariana and highlight some of their favorite newborn essentials for active families.

Cybex Balios Stroller and Cybex Q Car Seat: Dasha has described this easy-to-use travel system as, “Sleek and comfortable! The car seat and stroller have been both hiking with me and strolling through New York City. The baby loves it and we feel stylish and secure in it. The safety features alone make this travel system a no brainer.” This travel system was an excellent choice for Dasha’s lifestyle both in and out of the city! Since Dasha lives just outside of NYC, weather can be a factor. We recommended she pair her stroller and car seat with the 7AM Enfant Poncho (great for the carrier or the stroller!) and Blanket 212 Evolution (also great for the stroller!) to help keep her little lady warm no matter what!

Joeyband

Joeyband by Sleepbelt: We love the Joeyband for new parents and Dasha’s family was no exception. When seated, the Joeyband offers hands-free support to baby, making those early days of skin-to-skin significantly easier. This was such an easy way to promote bonding between Dasha, her husband, and Baby Ari.

Fridababy Baby Basics Kit

Fridababy Baby Basics Kit: This kit is a must for any registry. The Nose Frida is now used in nearly every household with a newborn and the NailFrida makes nail clipping not so scary. The Cradle Cap brush will also help with those early baths. But the real must-have here is the Windi, which will help relieve baby’s gas in dire situations!

Diaper Dekor

Diaper Dekor: We loved this Diaper Pail for Dasha, because aesthetically it doesn’t scream “Dirty Diapers inside!” It does an excellent job keeping odors out of the room and comes in three sizes. It is completely hands-free, won’t dent or rust and can be converted to a regular trash can once you’re done with the diaper stage!

Love to Dream

Love to Dream Swaddle: Our favorite swaddles by Love to Dream allow baby to keep his/her hands up while still giving them that tight, womblike feeling. “Love to Dream Swaddles are the best because like most modern parents we spent some nights traveling to Grandmas or taking baby to our gym. The swaddle created a level of consistency no matter the crib or the setting!” These will help baby sleep well no matter where you are!

Belli Skincare

Belli Skincare Hello Glow Bundle: This bundle, which includes the Healthy Glow Facial Hydrator & Moisturizer and the Eye Brightening Cream is a favorite amongst our new moms. “Skin care is tricky when you have baby – you need the best products with the most natural ingredients. My skin was super dry and I had a hard time keeping up with my skin care routine. Belli made it easy! The consistency was great enough to have on all day and into night with no reapplication for a busy mom.”

4moms Breeze

4moms Breeze Playard: Having recently moved into a house and being a dog mom, Dasha needed somewhere that her little miss could play safely. “It is great to give your baby a safe and secure place in the home to move for tummy time or play time. It [also] really helps new moms actually run to the bathroom! Was anyone else scared to do this in the first few weeks?”

Baby K'tan Active

Baby K’tan Carrier: Since Dasha does so much work from home, we recommended the Baby K’tan carrier to use immediately after arriving home from the hospital. Also, we love the K’tan Active here for obvious reasons! “Baby K’tan was amazing for a working mom trying to get things done! It’s literally the only way I was able to type anything and the main reason I was caught up on my inbox. Plus the baby never felt like I was neglecting her.”

Crane Humidifier

Crane Humidifier: We love the Crane Humidifier for so many reasons! Dasha was due in February in New York, an extremely dry and cold time of year. To keep humidity up during the cold months, Dasha set up the Crane humidifier in the nursery. This is also super helpful when baby has his/her first cold, inevitable in the winter!

Stokke Tripp Trapp

Stokke Tripp Trapp w/ Newborn Seat: While it is an investment, this was Dasha’s top recommended product. “In all honesty, this was the BEST item on my list mainly because of the mileage we’ve put in this elegant chair. The newborn attachment allowed me to eat dinner, drink coffee, and answer email like a regular person – all while still being with my baby.”

Dasha is also the founder of Kettlebell Kickboxing and has created a series of fitness programs that are easy to complete at home with very little (or no!) equipment. Check them out today!

Filed Under: Baby Registry, Baby Showers, Babywearing, Beauty, Car Seats, Ecofriendly, Essentials, Gear, Gugu Concierge, Newborns, Nutrition and Health, Strollers, Travel, Working Mom Tagged With: baby essentials, gear, gifts, newborn, stroller, travel, working mom

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What’s New on Gugu: April 24, 2019

by Abby Ludwig Leave a Comment

This week’s new finds highlight some great Earth Day friendly selections. Reusable food pouches, baby food makers, and food grade silicone bottles are all great new items for the eco-friendly family. You will also notice some pop culture trends popping up this week. Baby Shark anyone? For loads of our other favorites, please check out our Explore page!

Baby Brezza Food Makers and Reusable Pouches: Earth Day celebrations always remind me to make smart choices regarding the products we use in everyday life. Baby Brezza has continued to make the ‘homemade baby food game’ a reality with easy to use machines and reusable pouches! Simply pop your favorite fruit and/or veggies in the container (love the Glass for eco-friendly or the new Deluxe) and watch them cook and blend with ease. Pour any delicious mixture into the reusable pouch and you’re good to go! Added bonus – the pouches are top-rack dishwasher safe!

Hatch Maternity x Nordstrom: As we (not so) patiently await the arrival of Baby Sussex, it has become much easier to attain our own ‘Markle Sparkle!’ The new collaboration between Hatch Maternity and Nordstrom highlights items from a brand we love so much. Pair together classic tops, pants, and dresses to keep things comfy and chic!

Baby Shark Toys and Walker: The ‘Baby Shark’ craze doesn’t seem to be leaving us anytime soon. Wowwee, the brains behind ‘Fingerlings’ continue to create engaging toys for our little ones. We have a love/hate relationship with their line of singing shark characters, which will instantly burn that catchy tune into your brain! Plus, coming in October is their newest toy, a brand new Baby Shark inspired walker for baby.

Boon NURSH Silicone Bottles: Another Earth Day find, the Boon NURSH bottle system utilizes a special bagged venting system that is reusable. Ideal for preventing gas, easily squeeze the silicone pouch to remove any excess air before feeding your babe. Plus, all parts are dishwasher safe!

Skip Hop Greenwich Convertible Hip Pack: With Mother’s Day around the corner, we love this sleek take on the fanny pack. Great for travel, we love this new hands-free accessory to hold the essentials. Pair with a diaper bag for an excellent gift for any mama-to-be!

Please note that these opinions are 100% my own. I have not received any products in exchange for placement in What’s New on Gugu!

 

Like what you see? Check out some other What’s New on Gugu posts:

What’s New on Gugu: March 27, 2019

What’s New on Gugu: April 3, 2019

What’s New on Gugu: April 10, 2019

What’s New on Gugu: April 17, 2019

 

Filed Under: Always Glam, Baby Registry, Chic And On The Go, Comfort Is King, Considered Casual, Ecofriendly, Essentials, Feeding, Foodie Finds, Multiples, Newborns, Nutrition and Health, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Style, Shopping, Toddlers, Travel, What's New on Gugu?!, Working Mom Tagged With: feeding, mom style, toddler, toys

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Why “Me Time” Matters

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

This week’s post on “Me Time” is from our good friend Natalie Diaz founder of Twiniversity -the world’s leading support network for multiple birth families.

I consider myself a lucky person. I’m surrounded by my twinnies, hubby, extended family, and a bunch of wild friends that help me make good (and sometimes bad) choices.

One thing that everyone in my circle can agree on: I’m HORRIBLE at taking time for myself. You should know that things are bad when your mother-in-law says, “Nat, you need to do more for yourself. Why don’t you take a break and go to a movie?”

Don’t get me wrong, I try. I try to take breaks and have a cup of coffee, but it seems like there is always something to be done. A load of laundry, dishes in the sink, bills to pay, school projects to buy supplies for, errands to run, etc. AND when I do find time for myself? The guilt! The guilt gets me. I know I’m not the only one. “Me Time” should not just mean going to the bathroom with the door closed. We should be leading by example and teaching our kids how to balance their own lives instead of showing them how to run around like a chicken without a head.

I can’t be the only one whose temper is a little shorter because I’ve felt like I’ve had a child at my feet all day, or I feel like I’m being pulled in 12 directions on a regular basis. Let’s face it, that’s parenthood. BUT, we need to put on our own oxygen mask first like the flight attendants tell us during a flight safety briefing. We honestly can’t help others unless we help ourselves first.

Today I’m going back to basics. I’ve taken a pledge that for the next 30 days, I will take 10 minutes for myself each and every day. Maybe it will be in the morning after the kids are off to school. Maybe it will be in the afternoon and I’ll actually stop for a real lunch instead of eating at the kitchen counter to just get some extra energy from whatever nutrients I can scrounge up. Maybe it will be in the night, when the eye of the storm arrives and the kids are frustrated with each other over an unfair distribution of chores, or when my husband walks in and dog is running in circles, and the phone is ringing, and the TV is three levels too loud, and the dishwasher is clanging again….AHHHHH!!! Yeah, you see where this is going.

So for the next 30 days (yes, through the holidays), I’m going to find 10 minutes a day to do the following things. This is just my top 5 by the way. I honestly think that I can do it. That’s 70 minutes a week! That’s a heck of a lot of time. I’m so excited.

1. Sit and do nothing. Pop some earplugs in, sit in my bedroom and try to focus on nothing but the sound of my beating heart.

2. Pet my dog more. My beast Betty is one giant mutt. 109lbs of loveable jerk that I need to just pet more and maybe smooch on her tiny black nose.

3. Read a book. Remember those? I remember when I was younger and my mom took me to a bookstore to buy the latest edition of “The Babysitters Club”. Those were such great days. I bought THREE books (yup, over ambitions Nat talking here). An American Marriage by Tayari Jones, Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy and Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell. Will I finish them? No idea. Will I get past page 3 of each? That’s more likely.

4. While I’d like to spend my 10 minutes totally disconnected from technology, I also like to listen to podcasts. I found a new one that I’m going to jump into. Dr. Death! It sounds so dark, and it so is! I’ve been enjoying podcasts as a secondary activity. They are on as I’m driving or walking to the subway or whatnot, but I do love ‘em. I want to take some time for me and just enjoy them.

5. About a year ago I started crocheting. I’d like to learn a new stitch a week with my 10 minutes a day. I wish I had more time to dedicate to crocheting, but it seems like most days get away from me. Maybe my extra 10 minutes of me time will light a fire under me to try something new.

Now it’s your turn. What are your top 5 things you’d like to do if you found some spare time? Forget “spare time”, take it! Take 10 minutes for yourself daily for the next 30 days. Will you feel better? Will you yell less? Will you be calmer? LIVE BY EXAMPLE! Leave the guilt at the door and find a minute for you. I’m not suggesting you run off on a weekend to Mexico with your girlfriends. But 10 minutes a day? you can do it.

Natalie Diaz is the Pied Piper of twin families around the globe. Founding Twiniversity — the world’s leading support network for multiple birth families — in 2009, she’s become the global influencer for this small niche community. Reaching over a million families a week through Twiniversity’s Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube channels, moms and dads of twins flock to Twiniversity to find resources, ask questions, explore new products, and find community and support from other twin parents. Natalie is a true connector, bringing parents from all walks of life together, breaking past cultural differences, to share in the highs and lows of parenting twins. Natalie’s book, “What To Do When You’re Having Two” is a global bestseller in Twins & Multiples Parenting.

Filed Under: Mama Wellness, Multiples, New Mom Series, Nutrition and Health, Working Mom

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Best Prenatal Vitamins: Ritual’s Essential

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

Hey, Everyone – it’s Monica here, founder of Gugu Guru.  I know what you’re thinking, “Best prenatal vitamins? Aren’t all vitamins the same?” Quite simply, the answer is no, absolutely not. Today I want to share a vitamin company that you may have heard of already. It’s called Ritual and the brand just launched its new prenatal vitamin. At Gugu Guru, we think these are the best prenatal vitamins available today and the best multi-vitamins for women. Period.

best prenatal vitamins

If you take a vitamin every day, like 50% of Americans do, whether you’re pregnant or not, you need to check out Ritual. Like now. So what’s the hype? I was seriously blown away when I watched the video on why Katerina Schneider set out to create a better vitamin.  When she was four months pregnant, Katerina turned her house upside down to get rid of products with ingredients that she couldn’t stand behind from her laundry detergent to her deodorant.  However, she had a hard time figuring out what was in her daily multivitamin.  Then when she dug a little deeper, what she found was profoundly disturbing in terms of all the – for lack of a better word – crap that are in the average vitamin. Newsflash: some of these ingredients aren’t just crap – they’re actually potentially harmful.

So Ritual was launched and the brand is committed to creating the purest, most effective vitamin formulations, and sharing every ingredient, source & scientist that makes its vitamin a reality.

best prenatal vitamins

Gugu Guru believes the Essential Prenatal formula are the best prenatal vitamins because they contain all of the essential nutrients for mom that support energy, mood, and even her fertility, for a healthy pregnancy from conception to delivery, as well as all of the essential nutrients for baby that fuel health-vital development, including baby’s brain, vision, immunity, and metabolism. These include:

  • Folate – Helps prevent neural tube defects (which develop in the first 28 days). Our bodies can’t store folate and our need is almost doubled during pregnancy, so it’s important to take it early and consistently.
  • Iron – Maintains healthy blood cell levels for oxygen delivery and energy support.
  • Omega-3 – Sourced from DHA, omega-3s affect mood and support on-time, healthy babies.
  • Iodine – Crucial to producing thyroid hormone, which helps baby’s brain development. We need 50% more iodine during pregnancy, and our bodies don’t store it outside the thyroid.
  • Choline – Newly classified as an essential nutrient for infant brain development.
  • Vitamin D3 – Influences healthy birth weight. Plus, the more vitamin D mom has during pregnancy, the better her mood, which may help prevent postpartum depression.
  • Biotin – Helps the body convert food into energy. Up to 50% of women may get less of this vitamin than they need during pregnancy.
  • Vitamin E – protects cellular structure, helping to protect against free radicals and oxidation.
  • Vitamin K – Supports bone and blood vessel health.
  • Vitamin B12 – Supports blood cell production and brain health.
  • Magnesium – Balances calcium, while supporting healthy mood and cardiovascular health.
  • Boron – Works with calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D3 to support their functions.

Essential Prenatal utilizes a proprietary delayed-release nested capsule technology to combine these essential nutrients in their most easily absorptive forms. The innovative delayed release capsule bypasses the stomach and releases its contents evenly in the small intestine, for better absorption and reduced nausea.

best prenatal vitamins

Another reason why we think these are the best prenatal vitamins? While most prenatals require women to take 5-7 large, often nauseating pills to satisfy all their nutrient needs, Essential Prenatal’s two, small, once-daily capsules offer a more pleasant experience. Essential Prenatal also contains a natural, lemon-essenced tab since citrus is commonly craved in pregnancy.

best prenatal vitamins

Priced at just $35/month, Ritual will provide soon-to-be moms with monthly deliveries of 60 impeccably-engineered, naturally lemon-essenced capsules (two pills per day).

Filed Under: Health & Fitness, Health & Wellness, Nutrition and Health, Pregnancy Tagged With: maternity, pregnancy

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Lactation Lab : A Food Label for Your Breastmilk

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

Hey, Everyone! It’s Monica – founder of Gugu Guru and I am taking to the blog today because I want to personally tell you about this incredibly innovative breastfeeding testing product – Lactation Lab. If you’re a Type A breastfeeding mama, who is information hungry or a breastfeeding mama who has deep interest in Health & Wellness – this product is 100% for YOU (and we have a discount code at the end of the post for Gugu Guru readers.)

Do you know your breastmilk?

A couple months ago, I was introduced to Stephanie Canale, M.D., the founder of Lactation Lab. Stephanie told me about her “a ha moment” and how the idea for Lactation Lab came about when she was returning to work as a breastfeeding mom, and couldn’t figure out why her daughter was not gaining weight.  She went to multiple resources to gain an understanding of the quality of her breastmilk and realized that nobody was testing breastmilk in this way.

Later on Stephanie discovered that she had iron-deficiency anemia and hereditarily low B-12 levels. What was unfortunate was that it was too little, too late – her daughter had developed some health issues. Stephanie couldn’t help but wonder if her daughter would not have developed these issues if Stephanie had the information that she needed about what her breastmilk was lacking.  Stephanie envisioned a home testing kit that would analyze breast milk, empower moms and therefore result in healthier babies – and Lactation Lab was born.

The analysis Lactation Lab gives moms is analogous to a food label or nutrition panel for your breastmilk. More importantly, the company also provides the resources and support to understand that analysis and what if anything you can do to improve on your breastmilk. So you don’t get the results and say, “Ok, now what?”

Here is one mom’s testimonial: “I always assumed ‘breast is best’ but being a vegetarian, wanted to ensure my milk was providing optimal nutrition for my baby girl. The Lactation Lab test was eye-opening! I learned where my milk was falling short and was also given the tools on how to correct the deficiencies. I feel fortunate to live in a time where a test like this exists.”

Lactation Lab

Now, if you’re like me and a little skeptical about having TOO much information and making yourself anxious about things you don’t need to be anxious about, one thing that I found very interesting is that Lactation Lab sees that moms who find that their breastmilk is perfect and just as super nutritious as it’s supposed to be are encouraged by the results and aim to breastfeed longer.

Of course, I am not breastfeeding anymore so I sought out a real Gugu Guru mama, Shawna, to give it a try.  Here’s what Shawna had to say in her own words:

This product was SO cool. I absolutely LOVED this product. It was super simple to use – upon arrival the package was complete with instructions and packaging / shipment information. Within a few weeks I got a comprehensive write up about the makeup of my milk. There were a lot of very important mentions that I will definitely take into consideration now and for when I have my next child.

It is so important for women to understand how diet and supplements can enhance the nutritional impact your milk has on your baby. And this service is something I would recommend to all new moms! Having this information is insightful and empowering.

If you’re a breastfeeding mama, check out Lactation Lab and learn more on their website here: https://www.lactationlab.com and be sure to use GUGU20 for 20% OFF your first order.

Filed Under: Breastfeeding, Nutrition and Health

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Real Mom Reviews: Mumum Baby Food Maker

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

When it comes to making your own baby food, the process shouldn’t be stressful, as often parents are busy or holding a baby on their hip; but, the Mumum Baby Food Maker is the best baby food processor for busy parents and families, as it prepares healthy food for babies and toddlers with no mess or fuss! Check out more on the Mumum here, too.

We asked some of our Gugu Village parents to try out the Mumum and here’s what they had to say about it:

Lauren K.: The Mumum Baby Food Maker is a great addition to any parent’s kitchen. The machine is small and compact but holds a surprising amount of fruits/veggies. The ingredients can be quickly transferred from the steam basket to the blender without trouble or mess. In a little over an hour, I was able to prep, steam, puree and pack 84 ounces of various flavors of baby food without having to clean multiple machines. I like that the Mumum Baby Food Maker allows me to control and limit the ingredients in my baby’s food. I would highly recommend this product.

Denalee M.: I have a 7 month old son, Mikey, who has been traditionally weaned since he was 4 months old. Prior to ordering the Mumum I was just making baby food using own kitchen supplies (steaming or cooking as usual then pureeing in a nutribullet) and relying on some pouches. The Mumum has made making baby food so much easier and actually enjoyable. Even on nights when I am too busy to make food for my husband and myself making my son’s meal has been a breeze in the Mumum since all I have to do is chop and everything else is done in the machine for me. Mikey even seems to like the food better than when I was pureeing food I had cooked on the stove or in the oven.  Prior to the Mumum he wasn’t a big fan of chicken and this week I made chicken and carrots which he loved (I even sampled it and it was pretty good).

I do want to share what I think are the general pros and cons if you’re considering buying this product.
Pros: It’s fast (depending what you’re cooking the longest it will take is 25 minutes and then just a few additional minutes to puree); the machine is easy to clean, and it looks nice on the counter and does not take up much space.
Cons: everything needs to be chopped pretty small to cook up in the intended amount of time (although this is typical for baby food processors); you need to hold down the button when you’re pureeing (it would be simpler if there were some automatic options); the meat I made came more shredded than finely pureed although I probably could have blended it longer it was hard to tell while it was all in the machine. It ended up being the perfect texture for my son but I do wish it had been easier to tell the texture as you go.

Margaret W.: Upon opening Mumum, I was immediately impressed by the packaging. The baby food processor came in two boxes, which may seem a bit much but was good for me since the Amazon box it arrived in was damaged. Upon removing Mumum from the box, it seems the company put a lot of thought into the product. Included with the processor is the product manual, a steamer basket for cooking, a measuring cup, a splash lid, and a spatula for holding the steamer basket to safely pour out excess water after cooking. The cleaning process prior to steaming food the first time emits a good amount of steam, but the steam is minimal while cooking the food.

Mumum cooked chopped carrot sticks perfectly and made a smooth puree afterward. It is convenient to be able to use one product for cooking and pureeing with minimal mess. Mumum has a blue light that appears once the steam timer is set but only if the product is put together properly. The light is a good indicator to check for proper alignment of the parts prior to cooking. Mumum won’t cook if the parts are not aligned properly, and the blue light won’t appear. The timer dings audibly when the food is done cooking.

The process: The manual instructs to steam the product twice for 15 minutes to clean before using. I used the measuring cup, filled the water tank to the “15” mark with distilled water, and ran two cycles. After cleaning the processor, I peeled and cut one carrots into sticks to be cooked. I poured out the old water and replaced it with clean water and set the timer for 20 minutes as instructed by the image on the product itself. When the cooking was complete, I had soft carrots perfect for feeding my 9 month old. I left some as the were and used the blending function for the rest. The water left after steaming was more than enough to puree the carrots. I blended for about 15 seconds and had a good puree.

So far I like Mumum, and I look forward to using it to cook and puree meats and more veggies. I do have a problem with the user manual as it is clear that it was poorly translated from another language making it hard to follow. There are even words in the manual that are obsolete in the English language that I had to look up to find the meaning. The manual definitely needs lots of work. [Editor’s note: Mumum was made aware of this and is fixing it.]

Heather L.: The Mumum baby food processor is a must for parents that wish to make their own baby food! The all in one steam & process makes it easy to make & clean up. The Mumum has pictures on the timer that come in handy if you forget how long to steam a certain food. The Mumum makes the entire process pretty brainless to complete, which my sleep deprived brain appreciates!

Sarah G.: Today I tested out the Mumum baby food maker. First of all, it came packaged very nicely. The box it came in was easy to open and holds the food maker perfectly, which will make it easy to store when not in use. The actual food maker has a very sleek and simple design. It is not too big and did not take up too much space on our counter. The instructional booklet that came with it was very easy to read and understand. I chose to test it out now, even though our baby isn’t due for a few months. I am so glad I did because it takes a little to get used to. It was difficult to unlock the parts from each other, but after a few attempts, I started to get the hang of it. The booklet suggested to use the steam setting twice before actually using it to clean and sanitize it. Putting the water in and starting the steamer was very simple.

I decided to try making peaches, since I had a few ready to go. I diced them up and put them in the steam basket. The booklet suggested to steam them for 10-15 minutes. I started at 10 and that was perfect. The food maker was very hot from the steam afterwards. I let it sit for a few minutes and then took the steam basket out. It comes with a stirrer, that also can be used to lift and pour the steam basket into the mixer. This was very helpful, since the basket was still a little warm. Once the fruit was poured into the mixer and locked back into place, I really only had to click the blend button a few times before it was pureed. The consistency was perfect. The clean up was so easy as well. Overall, I am very satisfied with this food maker. Making our own food for our babies is very important to me because I want to know where their food is coming from and make fresh, healthy food for them. This food maker will help give me a piece of mind and keep it easy to do so.

Filed Under: Economical Picks, Feeding, Gugu Picks, Nursing & Feeding, Nutrition and Health Tagged With: feeding

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Best Baby Food Processor: Mumum

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

When it comes to making your baby’s food, it can be overwhelming to try to create recipes and cook healthy food for your little one, which is why we’re big fans of the best baby food processor – the Mumum baby food processor. The Mumum is the best baby food processor with 4-in-1 capabilities to defrost, steam, cook, and blend for baby. It couldn’t be easier to use and is a huge time saver for all parents. Read on to see why the Mumum is the best baby food processor to add to your registry.

best baby food processor mumum

The Mumum Baby Food Processor is the best baby food processor for so many reasons! Not only is it a compact device, so it would fit in a small apartment or home, but it truly takes parents through the whole baby food making process in such a simple way. It’s the best baby food processor for work from home parents as well, because it has a built in timer, so you can prep, set, and come back to the bell – voila! Baby food is done. Mumum is the best baby food processor for parents who want to ensure they know what’s in their baby’s food, even if they don’t have much time to make the food, because it couldn’t be easier to make your own baby food with the Mumum. Simply chop your veggies or fruits up, place diced food into the steaming basket, pour water into the tank, steam veggies, pour the steamed veggies into the blender and baby food is done!

best baby food processor - why

One of the other reasons the Gugu Guru team thinks Mumum is the best baby food processor is that it is designed to have an open reservoir, this allows you to keep out rust, mold and any other bacteria buildups that a closed reservoir will present. It also makes it super easy to clean and put away, which means less time in the kitchen for you. The timer comes with food type examples next to it to help you set the correct time. Also included is a lid strainer to pour out excess water. A spatula to flip the steaming basket into the blender and a measuring cup. We love the compact size of the Mumum, as it can be used and kept on the counter or put away in a cabinet without taking up too much space. Plus, the ease of the whole process can actually be done with one hand, so you can safely babywear or hold baby in one arm and make their food with your other hand!

best baby food processor

The Mumum is also the best baby food processor for baby led weaning, too. Simply steam any veggies baby likes in the steaming basket and serve when they’re cool. Baby will be able to grab the veggies with their little fingers, but they will be mushy enough for them to not choke. At a very affordable price (and on Amazon Prime), we think the Mumum is the best baby food processor to add to your registry, as it will be beneficial not only for baby food, but baby led weaning, and even toddlers, too.

Thank you to our friends at Mumum for making this sponsored post possible!

Filed Under: Baby Registry, Feeding, Foodie Finds, Nursing & Feeding, Nutrition and Health Tagged With: registry

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