Toddlers

YZ Light Up Shoes from Lighting Shoes Review

We were fortunate enough to recently receive YZ Light Up Shoes from Lighting Shoes to review. You may remember them as a craze from the nineties but if you haven’t heard of LED shoes, you’re in for a fun surprise — especially if you’re the parent of a toddler who is just learning to walk. LED stands for Light Emitting Diode and LED shoes are shoes that light up. This fun footwear promotes dance, art and movement all around. Read on to learn more and check out the promo code for Gugu Guru fans at the end of the post!

Unlike original LED light-up footwear, Lighting Shoes’ line of cutting-edge sneakers light up the whole sole rather than just the heel. One of my kids’ favorite features of these LED shoes is that you can select from a variety of different colors for the sole. The YZ Light Up Shoes have seven static color modes, one strobe mode, or three color changing modes that you can customize based on your outfit or mood. My kids often expressed their individuality and changed the color of their YZ Light Up Shoes to mismatched colors for each of their feet.

Another very cool feature is that these shoes are USB-rechargeable. Each LED shoe is equipped with an easily accessible USB rechargeable battery that takes only 2 hours to charge the LED shoes and lasts up to 6 hours. One thing I was questioning was whether these shoes are waterproof and durable. Well, a recent trip to Adventureland and several trips on the “Crocodile Run” and “Little Dipper” water rides, proved without a doubt that these shoes can get soaked and still light up like a charm.

Overall, I highly recommend these shoes for toddlers, kids and even teens. We have really enjoyed them. Visit lightingshoes.net to grab LED kicks of your own and use code guguguru15 for 15% off any shoes and free express shipping. No expiration date either!

Toddler Tuesday: Robeez First Kicks Collection

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This installation of Toddler Tuesday – our new feature that helps moms navigate the transition from infant mom to toddler mom – turns the focus to toddler summer style!

My daughter’s first “real” shoes were a pair of super cute brown suede Robeez boots with fringe. We got compliments every time she wore them, so imagine my delight scrolling through Instagram and landing on THE CUTEST little pink ballet flats ever from the new Robeez First Kicks Collection.

Approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association, the First Kicks Collection is perfect for new walkers and seasoned walkers alike. Made of real leather, these stylish shoes (think espadrilles, oxfords and ballet flats) have a shoe-like fit and cushioned insole with a soft sole suede bottom. Because of the soft suede sole – which gives newer walkers the flexibility their feet need – these shoes are definitely for indoor and light outdoor use. We love our Ellie Espadrilles and Rachel Ballet Flats for days spent babywearing or exploring in the stroller, when there will be some walking outside, but not a ton.

Bonus: If you’re budget-conscious like me and like to buy shoes with “room to grow”, you’ll love the elasticized back of the shoes. It keeps the shoes on without slipping, even when there’s a bit of extra room. It also lets your toddler be an active participant in putting on their shoes – and you know how much toddlers love to do everything themselves!

Check out the entire collection, and more: Robeez.

By Shana, Gugu Guru Director of Content Marketing

Mom + Baby Style Gift Ideas for Summer

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-Sponsored Post-

With summer heating up, we wanted to share some great style gift ideas for baby showers this summer. Did you know it’s now a very popular trend to gift your best mom friend with a shower dress for her baby shower? Check out the ideas below and don’t forget to add these to your registry, too!

Mayarya is known for their cutting edge fashion designs for maternity and nursing wear. Made with soft, luxurious fabrics sourced from the best suppliers in the world, Mayarya collections offer investment pieces that are comfortable yet modern in design for women to enjoy before, during and after pregnancy. Founded by a mother (of course), Reika Kato Shetty, she uses her attention to fine details that are intrinsic to her Japanese background, experience of working for trendsetting boutiques in New York and Los Angeles to create unique pieces that every expectant mother is going to find refreshing.

We’re currently loving these four looks:

Tropical Leaf Maternity and Nursing Romper (left): Keep it playful in this tropical romper. The summery print is exclusively made by British designer Victoria Leigh. It features added popper buttons for ease of taking it on and off – and of course for nursing ability. Whether you have a bump or not, the elasticated waist and drawstring make it easy to adjust.
Eva Cape Maternity Dress (second from left): This limited edition dress is a sophisticated statement piece. Feel completely chic as the emerald green material drapes over your shoulders. The light material will keep you feeling fantastically fresh during pregnancy and even post bump.
Carmen Racerback Maternity and Nursing Dress (third from left): The little black number that all women need in their closet. A limited edition piece that’s easily styled and immensely flattering. The ruches down the side ensure a sleek silhouette and instant confidence. What makes this dress even more impressive is the discreet nursing access. There’s a hidden nursing cover inside the stretchy neckline that makes the process as seamless as possible.
Dikla Off the Shoulder Maternity and Nursing Dress (right): This limited edition dress flows in all the right ways, giving it that dramatic charm. It’s everything you want when it comes to femininity. The material is silky smooth and the elasticated top makes nursing a breeze. Just adjust the belt to suit your needs, bump or not.

And for the little one, we’re big fans of Smockingbird Children’s Clothing for unique and adorable summer wear! Smockingbird’s mission is to create stylish and unique, yet affordable clothing for babies and children. Smockingbird has a unique selling style in that they use a pre-order style of selling which allows them to keep costs low. They also utilize social media to sell, and have daily sales on Facebook and Instagram. Instagram sales are daily at 11:00AM ET, 1:30PM ET and 8:30PM ET, and Facebook sales are weekly Tuesday 8:30PM ET and Saturday 7:00AM ET. Check out more about Smockingbird, too.

Here are some of our favorite summer picks for your little ones:

Apple A Day Applique Bloomer Set (left): Adorable blue bloomer set with 3 applique apples on the top, and one on the bloomer bottoms! Tie closure in the back of the shirt. Elastic waist and leg openings on bloomers.
Apple A Day Applique Bubble (second from left): Light blue bubble with red trim. Buttons on the front and metal snaps in stride. Applique apple on front. Would look adorable for the first day of preschool with his initials!
Watermelon Ruffle Pink Seersucker Swim Suit (third in from left): Hot fun in the Summertime in this pink seersucker one-piece bathing suit with watermelon ruffle. Ruffle trim around top. This suit is perfect for monogramming!
Sailboats Smocked White Sun Bubble (right): Single sailboat smocked on white sunbubble. Red gingham piped detail and covered buttons. Metal snaps in stride.

Thank you to Mayarya and Smockingbird for making this sponsored post possible.

Gugu Spot at Target: Pride Picks

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Who doesn’t love Target, right? The Target Dollar Spot is a must-visit location for any parent, and today we’re introducing you to Gugu Spot – our Target picks! This month we’re celebrating Pride, as June is Pride month and Target has some awesome ways to show your pride.

For the kids – we’re loving this assortment of fun t-shirts for babies, toddlers, and kids:

I Love My Dads shirt; Take Pride Shirt; I Love My Moms Shirt; Unicorn Shirt; Lion Pride Shirt; Love Makes a Family Onesie

For the parents – Target fun picks for summer celebrating Pride:

Rainbow picnic blanket; Rainbow beach bag; Love Conquers All shirt

Don’t forget to check out our registry guide for two-mama families, and baby registry must-haves for two-daddy families, too!

Baby Style Find: Bestaroo

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-Sponsored Post-

The Gugu Guru team comes across a lot of baby pajamas and clothing, but when it came to trying Bestaroo, we were shocked, and quite thrilled, with how incredibly soft they were. It’s no shocker that this relatively new company has taken the mom-and-baby world by storm, with their modern designs and butter soft fabric, they’re sure to become a favorite bedtime staple.

You can find Bestaroo on their website, Facebook, and Instagram.

What makes Bestaroo simply the softest material out there? As they explain, “We source the modal fibers from Austria from a company called Lenzing. The fibers are then sent to Thailand where the baby apparel is constructed. Lenzing Modal®, a modal fiber from Lenzing, is naturally soft on the skin and exceptionally ecological. The fiber is produced, using Edelweiss technology. Edelweiss stands for a “symbiotic” production process – pulp, the raw material, is produced at the same site as the Modal fiber itself. Thus production can be done while going easy on energy and other resources. Simply Edelweiss! Lenzing Modal®, a modal fiber from Lenzing, is extracted from beechwood. The beech tree is quite unique and has grown in Europe for a very long time. Directly from beechwood forests, Lenzing Modal® gives each and every textile a natural image.”

Bestaroo has pajamas, onesies, hats, and even the softest blankets – and editor’s note – these blankets are an amazing size! They are sure to “fit” your little one way into toddlerhood. The blankets, made from modal and spandex, are the perfect way to wrap up your babies and toddlers, giving them the perfect amount of snug, while still staying cool.

The thought process and attention put into Bestaroo’s clothing is very evident; although the clothing has a more snug-cut to it, it is soft and stretchy enough for babies to scoot, crawl, run and jump, all with ease. Our editor tried a bunch of styles on her 11 month old, and not only were the pajamas adorable enough to wear out of the house, but everything washed perfectly and came out looking brand new.

Thank you to Bestaroo for making this sponsored post possible.

Sleepytime Find: ergoPouch

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-Sponsored Post-

Melbourne, Australia-based ergoPouch was founded in 2009 by Alina Sack. As a mother, Sack drew on her own personal experiences of sleep deprivation to come up with innovative products designed to help babies and kids get a better night’s sleep. The award-winning ergoPouch collection includes premium quality baby swaddles, sleeping bags and sleep suits available from birth to 6 years. All ergoPouch products are made with natural fibers including Organic Cotton, Bamboo and Merino. ergoPouch products offer great functionality and versatility with swaddles that can easily transition to a sleeping bag, and sleep suits that convert from bags to suits with legs for easy use from bassinet to stroller.

You can find ergoPouch on their website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can buy any of the ergoPouch sleep items at Babies R Us.

The organic natural fibers that make up the ergoPouch are breathable and skin friendly, which keeps baby at an even and controlled temperature, unlike with polyester. ergoPouch offers a range of tog (warmth) ratings available to suit every temperature and every season, so you can pick the suits perfect for your baby at all times of the year. The .2 tog Ergococoon swaddle is designed to be easy to use and difficult to escape from! The simple zip up design will keep baby snug and securely swaddled without the need for complicated wrapping. For babies 0-4 months, the Ergococoon swaddles with arms in to contain natural startle reflex, and at 4-12 months transition from swaddle to sleep bag (arms out) with armhole poppers. The two way zipper makes diaper changes super easy, too!

ergoPouch Baby Sleeping Bags come in a range of fabrics and tog ratings to suit your little one – if you’re transitioning out of your ergoCocoon you might try a jersey sleeping bag. Made with organic cotton they have the same super soft feel as the ergoCocoon and come in size 8-24 months only. For a more luxurious feel, the organic cotton sheeting Sleeping Bags are made with 600+ thread count and organic cotton fillings. They have unique stretch inserts on the sides and shoulders to allow babies to move more freely and comfortably while they sleep.

For ages 2 years through six years, the award winning ergoPouch Sleep Suit converts from a Sleeping Bag to a Sleep Suit with legs using zippers – making the transition from crib to stroller or car an easy one. Like the Ergococoon Sleeping bags, ergoPouch Sleep Suit Bags are a safe way to keep baby warm without the need for extra blankets, which can place baby or child at an increase risk of SIDS. This is also a perfect choice for older babies and toddlers who like freedom of movement, with grip pads on the feet for little walkers. The Sleep Suit Bag is made from a skin-friendly organic cotton outer layer with a breathable cotton filling.

Thank you to ergoPouch for making this post possible.

Mompreneur Spotlight: Haylie Duff + Jessica Frank of Little Moon Society

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Little Moon Society is the labor of love between two lifelong friends, actress and lifestyle expert, Haylie Duff and veteran children’s clothing designer, Jessica Frank. The moment these two became mothers, they knew they wanted to raise thoughtful and unique children; Little Moon Society was born from that ideal. Each piece in the Little Moon Society collection is handmade in Los Angeles, California, using only the highest quality materials. Children express themselves through play, so wearability and durability are at the heart of each article. Like the constantly changing phases of the moon, children are always evolving. Haylie Duff and Jessica Frank are here to chat about being mom-bosses and how and why they started Little Moon Society.

You can find Little Moon Society on their website, Facebook, and Instagram.

How and why did you start Little Moon Society?

Haylie and I have been best friends since we were teenagers. Haylie is such an incredible business woman, having her hand in so many different ventures: Real Girls Kitchen, acting, blogging, being an author – that design was just a natural next step for her. I have a lot of experience in design and have been in the kids clothing space for a decade now. Before we started Little Moon Society, I gave Ryan, Haylie’s 2 year old little girl, some clothing from my last brand. Haylie fell in love, and felt inspired to see where a joint partnership could take us, and the rest is history.

Where did you come up with the name?

Choosing our name was a true collaboration. We were hanging out one evening, talking about our love for all things moon and stars. We kept going back and forth, and thus Little Moon Society was born. We really wanted a name that would reflect all the phases of a child’s personality and the moon has always reflected that feeling for us.

How do you balance work and family?

I don’t know if it’s as much of a balance as it is a juggling act. Our kids are our #1 priority, and everything else comes second. We’re lucky because our kids are also best of friends, so we can get together and have the kids play while we work. It’s amazing what mamas can get done in an hour or two!

What’s the best part about being a “Mompreneur” and running your own business?

The best part about being a mompreneur is making our own rules and our own schedule. We don’t feel that there is a separation between our business and parenting our girls. Our children inspire every aspect of our business. Our designs come from what we wish for in their closets. Our fabrics come from what they feel is most comfortable and cozy on their little bodies. Our manufacturing decisions come from our love of supporting local businesses (our manufacturer is a family owned and operated business!). My 3 month old daughter Sloan comes with us to every meeting and appointment. It’s such a blessing for me to work and still be able to be with her full-time. Haylie’s daughter Ryan was a big inspiration for our summer collection and one of our models. She wears the pieces from our collection every day and we love how comfortable she looks playing and running around in them.

Little Moon Society is a reflection of our personal passions and beliefs. It’s important to us to give our children the best of everything – love, food, clothing, and so on. LMS was founded on this philosophy – the highest quality materials, made with love and care in Los Angeles, with pieces kids will love to wear and moms will love to dress them in

April Showers Style for Rainy Days

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April showers bring May flowers, right? Well, we rounded up our favorite April showers style picks for mama and baby. You don’t have to stay inside on rainy days, as long as you’re prepared, have fun jumping in the puddles with your little one!

3-in-1 Maternity Parka, Seraphine: This ingenious maternity coat is faux-fur lined throughout the body, with drawstring ties at the hemline and empire waist for a fit that’s flattering, flexible and fully adjustable throughout your nine months. The soft cotton outer is treated with a water-resistant coating to keep you and your bump warm and dry whatever the weather. After baby is born, simply zip on the kangaroo panel at the front to fit easily over your baby sling or front carrier. Also lined in soft faux-fur, the baby wearing insert features a section for baby’s feet, and can be worn open or zipped all the way up to protect baby from the elements.

Color Changing Raincoat, Holly and Beau: This toddler raincoat is not only adorable (they have a variety of ridiculously cute designs), but get this – it changes color when it’s wet! This pack away kids raincoat magically changes color when it comes into contact with water, returning to the original color once dry. This exciting process is repeated each time. It provides great lightweight protection against the elements and can be neatly stowed away in a convenient bag attached to the back of the coat.

Baby Rainboots, Bogs: Bogs is known for their sturdy footwear with adorable designs. Their baby boots come in a plethora of cool designs. They are 100% waterproof and made from 3mm Neo-Tech™ insulation with a plush cozy lining. They’re also machine washable and feature easy pull-on handles.

What’s a rainy day without some cute onesies? We love this umbrella onesie and rain cloud one, too.

Infants’ and Toddlers’ Discovery Rain Jacket, LL Bean: Every baby and toddler must have a classic LL Bean rain slicker! Isn’t that written in to some sort of baby law somewhere? This rain jacket, which runs from 6 months through 4T comes in 4 bright colors and is perfect for rainy day adventures.

Stroll + Go On-Call Hand Muff, Skip Hop: No need to worry about getting your hands and phone wet if you get trapped in the rain! Baby may be covered in the stroller, but now your phone and hands can be covered too. Talk, text and stay toasty with this fleece-lined, water-resistant stroller hand muff. It features an innovative clear zip pocket that lets you see and operate your phone through the window, with a special port for headphones. Securely attach it to any stroller with the snap-together tabs so you can stay warm and “on call” as you stroll.

A Darling First Birthday Party Registry

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While Gugu Guru is known for being a baby registry, one of the benefits of being able to add products from anywhere on the internet, is using Gugu Guru as registry beyond pregnancy. The lovely and talented Christine Lakin, known for her delightful and sassy character Al on Step by Step is all grown up and a mama to the gorgeous Georgia James. When time came to plan for Georgia’s first birthday party, Christine worked with Gugu Guru on creating a first birthday party registry. We wanted to make sure that the gifts Georgia got for her birthday would last long beyond the party, so we searched high and low for both fun, and evergreen baby toys. Plus, we helped Christine find amazing party decor and it was so easy to add it to her registry, even the fun Etsy finds!

Want to see more of Christine? Check out the premier of her new show Hollywood Darlings, with Beverly Mitchell and Jodie Sweetin, premiering on POP TV, Wednesday April 12th at 8PM EST. Very excited to see our favorite childhood stars together for this unscripted look at Hollywood life and parenthood.

The theme of Georgia’s party was Owls, so Gugu Guru looked for pretty owl party decor! Georgia had two lovely cakes, one of which was topped by an owl from KrisKropMemories, and the banner is from one of our favorite Etsy shops, Kiss Me Kate Studio. The high chair banner was also from KrisKrop Studios. We wanted to make sure the birthday girl had something she could really drink out of, and Tervis happened to have lovely owl themed sippy cups and tumblers for mom and dad, too!

The birthday girl wore a personalized outfit from Sweet Family Crafts, and a sweet little crown headband from Mosey Handmade.

We worked with Christine on picking out gifts for Georgia which she could grow, grow, grow with! Little Bee Books sent over an awesome assortment of toddler books, and Raffi sent over his Owl Singalong CD (perfect, right?) – books and music are two things which never get old with kids! Melissa and Doug were kind enough to gift Georgia the ultimate pink kitchen, and Skip Hop sent over a ton of owl themed kid-life necessities, backpack, thermos, dishes and more. A wonderful way to commemorate an owl of a party!

Real Mom Review: Meddy Teddy

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Glowing mama Cristina Meloy has been practicing yoga for over 10 years. Here she shares her thoughts on the addition of Meddy Teddy to her yoga-loving family. Disclaimer: It is important to note that Cristina is not a yoga instructor nor is she a physician. Consult your doctor before trying these poses or before any physical activity before, during or after pregnancy.

When we received our Meddy Teddy it was the first time my Julianita voluntarily did a yoga pose with me. She was so excited about her new teddy so I showed her how he could do some yoga. I was sooo excited about her doing this that I forgot to do the pose myself! This is one overjoyed mama!

Meddy Teddy is a fun way to teach yoga, mindfulness, and meditation. He is a role model and cOMpassionate buddy for young ones, helping them lead healthier, more mindful lives.

Meddy has an internal frame allowing him to bend into lots of yoga positions. He is happy doing yoga with a room full of kids or sitting in lotus on your desk.

Meddy is here to make yoga, meditation, and mindfulness cool and fun. A great teaching tool and supremely soft.

I can’t say enough about this bear. It’s been one of the greatest additions to our yoga family. First off, he’s so so sweet, he just inspires love. Second, the girls absolutely adore sitting on the mat with him and coming up with poses they can all do.

He’s really helped with involving them in my practice and perhaps with the beginning of their own practice. We’re in love!

Bio: Born and raised in Costa Rica, Cristina Meloy has been practicing yoga for over 10 years and has loved her yoga journey during pregnancy and motherhood. Follow her on Instagram at @crismeloy

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