Toddlers

Back to Sleep: Woolino Sleep Sacks

Back to Sleep week, which is focused on safe and healthy sleep for baby. Today’s post features Woolino’s sleep sacks, which are a year round must have for babies and toddlers. Plus, head to the bottom of the post to enter for a chance to win one!

If parents are looking for a safe and comfortable way for baby to sleep, sleep sacks are a perfect solution, since they are safe for baby to sleep with in the crib. However, not all sleep sacks can keep baby cool in warm weather and warm in cool weather! Babies don’t have the ability to regulate their own body temperature that adults have, so it’s important to make sure they’re not too cold or overheating, especially during the night time. However, merino wool is the perfect solution to this issue; merino wool creates a micro-climate around your baby, which maintains a consistent temperature for them. It has the ability to absorb water away from your baby’s skin and release it into the atmosphere during the summer. In winter, it will trap and circulate warm air, keeping your baby warm. A more comfortable temperature allows for a deeper and more restful sleep for your baby, so that that energy can be diverted to growth and development.

Woolino’s award winning 4 Season Merino Wool Baby Sleep Bag will keep your baby at a perfect temperature all year round. That means there’s no need to worry about which weight sleep sack to use, or whether your baby will be too hot or cold while sleeping – they’ll always be just right! It’s 100% natural, fully machine-washable, and is excellent value, as it comes in one universal size that fits babies from 2 months to 2 years. This is the only sleep sack you child will need, right up until they turn two.

Babies with sensitive skin or conditions such as eczema love merino wool – it’s hypoallergenic, so won’t irritate their skin. Not only is it incredibly soft and breathable, but because it is composed of the same protein that makes up the outer protective layer of our skin, it works in total harmony with our skin’s own protection mechanisms. It also inhibits bacteria, so minimizes other allergenic problems. Merino will not itch or irritate delicate baby skin. In fact, it’s one of the softest materials around. The wool fiber produced by merino sheep is significantly finer than other types of wool, so feels luxuriously soft and gentle against a baby’s skin.

Back to Daycare Essentials

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-Sponsored Post-

It’s the time of year again when many little ones head to daycare, either for the first time, or seasoned little ones are heading back – what are the essential items which you need to remember for heading back to daycare? We rounded up some top daycare essentials which you don’t want to forget!

Labels: Labels are a must have essential for daycare, especially when you’re sending bottles, diapers, and baby gear. We’re big fans of Stuck on You labels for all of your little one’s stuff – everything needs to be labeled, from clothing to pacifiers, to bags, to bottles, to food items. Stuck On You Name Labels are safe in the microwave, dishwasher and freezer, plus they come with a scratch resistant coating making them waterproof and super long lasting. These quality stick on name labels will go the distance on plastic toys for ‘show and tell’ and playtime! Multi Use Labels are ideal for using on stuffed toys as it will not only give them more personality, it will ensure that these treasured companions make it home if they are misplaced. We recommend sewing down the Multi Use Label to their stuffed toy for added security. We love how creative you can get with these labels – you can personalize them down to picking font, which means your little one’s labels will be unique and special.

Diapers: While cloth diapering is becoming very popular for many parents, many daycares don’t allow for cloth diapers. Here’s a hint: remind them about a reduction in trash with cloth and that could make them reconsider. If you’re unable to talk the facility into cloth diapering and looking for an safe alternative to cloth diapers, we love Babyganics Diapers! Made with a new blend of plant-based materials, Babyganics diapers are intended for superior comfort and fit and enhanced absorbency. They have NO chlorine, latex, petroleum based lotions or fragrances. They are made with NeoNourish Seed Oil Blend: Babyganic’s own blend of tomato, sunflower, cranberry, black cumin and raspberry seed oils. They feature soft-stretch sides, leak control, and have a wetness indicator.

Safe Shoes: While not a concern for infants, toddlers need to have safe shoes to run around in! Many daycares ask that parents not send open-toed shoes, or sandals, as beginner walkers can have issues with them. We’re a fan of Bobux shoes, which has sturdy, safe and stylish shoes for newborns through kids. Bobux has been making incredible baby shoes since 1991, in fact Bobux invented the soft sole shoes with the ankle elastic system that makes these shoes easy to put on and they stay on! Made from 100% buttery soft leather that molds to baby’s feet. Many parents report that Bobux are the only shoes their baby will wear, because they are so soft and comfortable it’s like not wearing shoes at all.

Looking for tips for transitioning to daycare? We have some of our favorite tips from real parents in this post!

Thank you to Stuck on You for making this sponsored post possible.

Top 5 Must-Have Essentials: Toddler Diaper Bag

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One of the things that no one talks about when you become a new parent is the evolution of the diaper bag. You will start out, a worried and confused new parent, with a packed-to-the-gills diaper bag of infant gear. Over time, as you learn what you actually need for baby, your diaper bag will become less cluttered, and then slowly, as your baby grows to a toddler, all of the items you used to need (burp cloth, pacifier) will slowly disappear and make room for toddler necessities. We rounded up 5 essential toddler diaper bag must haves! What necessities for your toddler do you always carry?

Baby K’tan Smart Gear Diaper Bag: Did you know that Baby K’tan has an amazing diaper bag, too? Coming in chevron (pictured), black, or dandelion print, this diaper bag is a must-have for life with a busy toddler. What makes this bag so different and just so genius is that it includes a built-in wetbag with antibacterial lining and water-tight zipper as well as antibacterial pockets that kill germs and odor causing bacteria. That is perfect for a potty-training toddler, or any kid who loves to “do it my way!” and spills all over themselves (can you hear us sighing from there?). Plus, the K’tan diaper bag has 12 functional pockets to store all your toddler’s toys, snacks, essentials and more.

Also seen: Keeping Your Diaper Bag “Spring Clean”

Junkless Chewy Granola Bars: Speaking of snacks, it is literally a rule of life that you cannot leave home without snacks when you’re out with a toddler. Our team is a big fan of the Junkless Granola bars when it comes to feeding the little ones. Coming in peanut butter, chocolate chip, strawberry, or cinnamon, they have no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives, no hydrogenated oils, no high fructose corn syrup, 0g trans fat; and what’s more, they have less sugar than many other leading granola bars – only 5g per 1.1 oz. bar. Our editor’s kids got the chance to try these and loved having them for breakfast, too!

MAM Baby Sports Cup: Another thing about toddlers you should know is that they are always “sooooo thirsty, mommy!” Make sure you’re all ready to go with a MAM Sports Cup full of water. The innovative MAM Sports Cup opens automatically for drinking and does not have to be opened by hand. A patented valve system ensures that the cup remains leak-proof but is always ready for drinking. This cup also features a leak-proof cap that help keep bottles clean when not in use.

Also seen: On the Go Snacks for Busy Moments with Kids

B.Box For Kids Snack Pack: Yes, more snacks. We told you so! Pretty much a toddler diaper bag is 50% snacks and 50% ways to clean up after snack. With two separate compartments that seal separately, you’re able to serve different foods. Also great for crackers and dip, little sandwich shapes and berries. Fab for all ages and stages. Handy spoon stows away in the lid. BPA, Phthalates and PVC free.

Also seen: On the Go Snacks for Busy Moments with Kids

Little Giraffe Plush Toy: Every toddler needs a plush buddy to take on their journeys, and we love the sweet plush animals from Little Giraffe. Made from the same cuddly Luxe Dot fabric Little Giraffe blankets are known for, but this time with squeezable cuteness! The giant ears and curled trunk is sure to delight any toddler boy or girl. Coming in pink and blue, this little elephant, known fondly as Little E, will become the buddy you’re little buddy has always wanted.

On the Go Snacks for Busy Moments with Kids

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Our editor in chief is a huge fan of the Whole30 program as a wonderful way to reset your mind and body; a few months back we posted about doing a Whole30 with the whole family. We also had the chance to interview the mama behind the Whole 30’s Healthy Mama, Happy Baby program, Stephanie Greunke – the Healthy Mama, Happy Baby program and Instagram is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to all topics breastfeeding, pregnancy, eating clean, and even mental health. We are so excited to have teamed up with the Whole30 Mamas again – and this time all about healthy snacks for busy families!

Summer is winding down, which means you’re probably gearing up for back to school. We know how busy things can get in the frenzy of packing lunches, school pick ups, and work deadlines. Today we’ve partnered with our friends at Whole30 Healthy Mama, Happy Baby to bring you some healthy snack ideas for on the go!

Pre-made snacks:

Epic bites: think beef jerky, but with clean ingredients and in bite-sized form
RX bar kids: clean ingredients and 7 grams of protein in kid-friendly sizes and flavors
Serenity Kids pouches: purees that include protein, veggies, and healthy fats in easy-to-grab pouches

Easy whole foods:

Mini cucumbers
Mini peppers
Baby carrots (Serve any veggies with Wholly guacamole snack packs or a pre-filled tupperware of Tessemae’s ranch dressing)
Raw nuts (toddler-friendly, but not so baby friendly!)

Minimal prep snacks:

Lunch meat roll ups (clean lunch meat – we like Applegate Farms – + cheese + condiment if you like, rolled up and held together with a toothpick)
Cut up fruit and add a small tupperware of natural almond butter + honey
Hard boiled eggs dipped in Primal Kitchen mayo

Interested in hearing even more advice recommendations from the Whole30 Healthy Mama, Happy Baby team? This month they are focusing on all things baby and toddler feeding! Recently they wrote about their personal experiences with introducing solids and how their now toddlers eat. They’ve also compiled a list of their favorites plus recommendations from their community on Instagram for baby and toddler feeding over on their blog: HMHB Loves: Baby and Toddler Feeding.

Toddler Style: Back to School on a Budget

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When it comes to buying toddler clothes for back to school, we want to buy the cutest, most fun styles – but with the knowledge that kids grow like weeds, it can be hard to feel great about clicking the “buy” button sometimes. Lucky for you, we rounded up some amazing styles and sales for Back to School time! Kids should feel excited about getting dressed in the morning, and we want all of you parents to feel excited on getting a great Back to School deal.

Purple Construction Trucks Dress; Superhero Leggings, Blue Baking T-Shirt, 3D Rainbow Print Dress, 3D Dinosaur Dress, Fruits + Veggies Leggings, 3D Dinosaur Shirt, Steam Engine Leggings

Mitz Accessories: We’ve shared why we’re fans of Mitz before, and this year we’re loving their message for empowering kids as we all head back to school. Their clothing is super soft, super comfy, and even a little…dare we say, educational?! Looking to save? In time for Back to School, Mitz is offering a “buy more, save more,” deal – use code August15 for 15% off everything, use code August20 for 20% off orders $50+, and code August30 for 30% off orders $100+. (Don’t forget to check out why we added Mitz to our Post-Consumer Recycled Baby Registry)

A-Okay Natural Tee + Black Bamboo Harem Shorts; Kid Ringer Tee + Dip Dots Harem Shorts; A-Okay Pigment Dyed Shirt + Ice Cream Trackies

Little Adi: Little Adi clothing is a fresh take on vintage style, with hip designs and modern colors, your little one is going to be styling in daycare and preschool this year. All of the looks above are on major summer sale! Check out more sale items here.

Cactus Henley Romper; Pineapple Henley Romper; Palms Henley Romper; Watercolor Leaf Henley Romper

Lot801: When it comes time to getting dressed for school or daycare, simplicity is the best answer to every harried morning – which is why we’re loving these beyond adorable rompers from Lot801. With sizes from newborn to 4t, you can match your kiddies in these 100% cotton modern prints. Use code “back2school” for 20% off your order!

Getting Ready For Feeding Time with Kizingo

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-Sponsored Post-

It is always exciting when a baby transitions from eating baby food, to grabbing their own food, and eventually using utensils on their own. However, teaching a child to properly eat with utensils is not always easy. Luckily, Kizingo has come up with a new way to introduce using utensils to toddlers and kids.

Founded by two moms, the mission of Kizingo is to help children learn to love to eat, and therefore, learn to love mealtime, as it is such a special time for families. The name Kizingo means curved in Swahili and honors that time of exploration and discovery. Learning to feed yourself is difficult, but it’s so important and Kizingo believes that kids should have the tools they need to do this, successfully, for themselves.

What makes Kizingo spoons special? Kizingo encourages independence, as their curved form is easy for children to grip and therefore, children will be eager to hold them to eat. The short, wide handles are easy to hold, especially for small hands which are just learning to grasp well. They do not contain BPA, PVC, lead or Phthalates, and they are microwave and dishwasher save. They’re also designed and manufactured in America!

As baby will be learning to feed themselves before you know it, we highly recommend adding Kizingo to your baby registry! The Kizingo products are designed to promote successful self-feeding, giving confidence to parents and children. Babies and toddlers learning to feed themselves can get frustrated and most utensils are not well designed for how toddlers want to hold and use them. As a result, parents often take over feeding which can have unintended consequences. Kizingo spoons are curved to work with the way children hold utensils, making it easer for kids to successfully do it themselves. Help instill a sense of independence in your toddlers with the Kizingo spoon; a little independence goes a long way in toddlerhood, and anything to make meal time a little easier is always a plus in our book.

Thank you to Kizingo for making this sponsored post possible.

Staying Cool with Ubbi’s Bath Toys

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In the hottest days of summer, sometimes the only way to cool off is by jumping in the bathtub, right? Since your little ones need bathes year round, however, it’s imperative to find bath toys which not only will hold up and stay clean, but that your little ones love, too. We are excited to tell you all about Ubbi’s variety of bath toys today, especially about their one-of-a-kind structure.

Squeeze ‘n Switch Bath Toys: Ubbi’s Squeeze ‘n Switch Bath Toys are perfectly sized for those little hands to squeeze and squirt; to open, fill, close and pour; and to mix and match! These colorful and soft sea critters promise unlimited fun squirting outside of the water and bubbling under the water. Twist them open and close for easy cleaning to eliminate potential risk of mold development. These are PVC, BPA and Phthalate free; you can even wash them in your regular dishwasher!

Stack & Splash Bath Toys: Ubbi’s Stack and Splash Bath Toys are designed to enhance creative and imaginative play in the bathtub. Let them splash, float, fill and pour with their new bath time friends. The fun never stops with these colorful shark and dolphin cups, which even stack together for easy storage when bath time ends. These are PVC, BPA and Phthalate free, dishwasher safe, and can even be used outside, or for regular play, too.

Bathe ‘n Switch Bath Toys: Ubbi’s Bathe ‘n Switch Bath Toys are cute creatures designed to ignite your child’s imagination and promote development of hand-eye coordination. Switch up the body and head of the toy and make your own underwater animals with these easy to fit snap pieces. Children can fill, pour, mix, match and pretend with all four soft and colorful sea critters eager to splash and have a fun-filled adventure. As always, these are PVC, BPA and Phthalate free and dishwasher safe.

Bath Toy Draining Bin: With all of these wonderfully fun bath toys, you’re going to need a place to store them! The Bath Toy Draining Bin is designed with ingenuity in mind. This free standing bin allows you to conveniently contain bath toy clutter. Simply scoop the toys out of the tub using the whimsical handles, and place the bin on its base. The large holes in the bin allow for fast drying, and the base collects excess water that can be poured out later. Easy to use and wash, this drying bin makes bath time clean up a breeze.

Thank you to Ubbi for making this sponsored post possible.

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream Style!

by Gugu Guru 1 Comment

It’s National Ice Cream Day this weekend, and we’re celebrating by featuring some fun Ice Cream Styles – plus, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, as we are teaming up with Ice Cream Castles for a fun giveaway this weekend!

Ice Cream Castles is a line of children’s clothing inspired by vintage designs, music, magic and travels into the unknown! Founded and created by two moms, all of the clothing is super soft 100% cotton and perfect for daycare, hanging at home, traveling, playground adventures and more! Check out the adorable vintage inspired clothing from Ice Cream Castles below:

Ice Cream Castles: Cloud Lightening Repeat Print Tee; Unicorn Repeat Print Tee; Feather Repeat Print Tank Dress; Cactus Repeat Harem Shorts

We rounded up some fun Ice Cream inspired styles below!

Ice Cream Swirl Dress from LookieLooLoo

I.Scream Ringer Shirt from Little Adi

Ice Cream Baby Blanket Set from Little Faces Apparel

Popsicle Pants from Funky and Little

Handpainted I’m the Bomb Firecracker Jean Jacket from Shop BeMoShe

Toddler Girls Ice Cream Bracelet from MaksChicDesigns

Summer Ice Cream T-shirt from Shop Hello Sunday

Top 5 Tips for Photographing Your Kids from a Momtographer

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It’s the perfect time of year to capture photographs of your children which you will always remember as “summer memories,” but…wait a second, why won’t the baby smile? Why won’t the toddler stand still? Gah! Don’t worry, mama – we have you covered! Seasoned photographer Alex Mooney is here with her very tried and true Top 5 Tips for Photographing Your Kids! You can see Alex’s gorgeous photos on Instagram.

Ahhhh, so the time has come for you to snap a quick pic of your kiddos. What do you do?! How do you manage to capture that cute little memory you’re looking at so you can share away with your social media family or take advantage of Shutterfly’s free print promo they’re currently (always) running? Well, I have a few tips for you in your momtog ways to hopefully allow you to capture the best possible pictures of your kiddos that you can.

I’m a mom of three little ones myself (three kids four and under keeps me real BUSY) and am a photographer here in St. Louis. I snap everything from births to weddings to pets; however, hands-down the most challenging subjects to capture are kids! These tiny humans have their own little personalities, and unlike babies that just lay there and adults who are usually quite cooperative, kids definitely make me work hard to earn my paycheck. Besides the daily onslaught of pictures of my own children, I’ve been taking pictures for others for almost four years and I’ve gotten pretty good at managing to get some decent snaps of kids I’m photographing. I’m sharing with you my top 5 tips and tricks for photographing your kids — these work wonders for my own kids and kids I photograph, so hopefully they’ll work magic for you too! And whether you’re snappin’ with your iPhone or a DSLR, all of these tips can apply — they’re less about the equipment you’re using and more about capturing the moment (and capturing it well!) your kids are creating.

1. Know your camera, lighting, and surroundings

Get to know your camera — whether it’s a DSLR or smartphone, know how to use it! YouTube is a wonderful FREE resource for any tutorial on any kind of camera out there. I whipped up this iPhoneography tutorial a while back about how to take good pictures with your iPhone (or really any smartphone). Once you are relatively comfortable with your camera, it’s time to snap! You want to make sure you are aware of your surroundings and lighting — you don’t want to put your kids in direct sunlight and try to get them to look up at you for a picture while being blinded by the sun. Not-a-one of these tricks will help you combat that complete photo-taking resistance that’ll come from your kids! You want to make sure you’re putting them in a spot that is well lit (only use your flash if you have to; embrace natural light always!) and isn’t blinding them (hint: shade always is a good choice!)…I always like to have the sun behind my subjects. Obviously candid pictures happen sporadically and the beauty of candid is that they aren’t posed; however, if you are going for a posed picture, make sure you’re aware of your surroundings — try and eliminate any distractions in the picture (aka make sure there isn’t a random person in the background or a distracting sign) so you can focus just on your adorable kiddo subjects!

2. Bribery

I am most definitely not above bribery at.all. This is my number one go-to when photographing my own kids and any kids I have for a photoshoot. My favorite bribes are Dum-Dum suckers or bubbles (if you don’t want to load your kid up with a potentially sugary sticky mess). When I want to get a picture of my kids, I tell them that if they cooperate for a picture (or 70) that they’ll get to pick a sucker out of the sucker jar — or they’ll get to play with bubbles in the front yard. This trick works nearly every single time and I can usually get a few good snaps out of them before they realize that I promised them something tasty or more fun than sitting for a picture.

3. Props

Kids like holding things — my kids always seem to have something in their hands. However, when you’re trying to take a picture of your kids, they’re usually more cooperative if they have a prop or something to hold. Even a stick or flag or tiny toy works wonders, and totally illustrates the reality of having a kid too (they always have something in their grasps!). I like to toss in pets as well as props; our dog Scooter makes a wonderful prop and I always end up getting some great snaps of the kids with him because they love hugging and petting him and I just keep snapping away! In addition to letting your kids hold something, you can also use props to get your kids’ attention for the picture. Bubbles (seriously, bubbles work magic when it comes to kids and pictures!) are a great prop and make for some awesome pictures. Other things like a stuffed animal or a toy that you can hold and shake to get your kiddo’s attention works well to get their eyes geared towards you.

4. Being silly

Kids respond SO WELL to anything that they think is funny and makes them laugh (and laughing = great smiles for a picture!). Do something silly, something you wouldn’t usually do or say, and this will instantly get your kiddo’s attention. I look ridiculous 99% of the time when I’m trying to snap a picture of my kids because I’m dancing around, singing (I NEVER sing otherwise!) crazy loud, and saying anything (usually involving the words poop or butt; I have no shame in my silly game) that will elicit a smile, laugh, or grin out of my kiddos. You can also bring a helper too to have them sing/dance/scream/whatever behind you while you’re snapping pics as well. You can then focus on the pictures and they can focus on being silly and gathering attentions.

5. Embrace the chaos and candid moments.

This is my number one tip for photographing your kids: you have to realize that most kids have the attention spans’ of a gnat and you may only have mere minutes of cooperation out of them before they’re DONE and want nothing to do with your picture taking. This is okay! Embrace it — if the ‘posed’ picture you’re trying to achieve timing is over, let your kids play, explore, giggle, chat, and keep snapping away. Some of my most favorite pictures of my kiddos are the candid, unposed, raw and real images of them just having fun — or not having any of your photo antics and have the most disapproving faces on you’ve ever seen! Stand back and just keep snapping. Try not to get frustrated if your kids aren’t cooperating or are totally over having their picture taken (easier said than done, I know!) and instead let them be kids and capture the chaos and realities of them being kids and I’m sure you’ll be happily surprised with the candid moments you capture.

Alrighty! So these are my top 5 tips for photographing your kids. All of them are tried and true by yours truly and really have made all of the difference in the world when photographing kids — my own to complete strangers! Kids sense your sentiments, so if you’re stressed and pressing them for a good pic, chances are you’re not going to get one. However, if you’re relaxed and having fun (back to number 4!) and embracing the moment (back to number 5!), you most definitely are going to get some good snaps of your kiddos that you’ll want to share so fast on Instagram and Facebook so everyone can see your adorable kiddos and what an amazing momtog you are.

Toddler Tuesday: Lublini Custom Bedding

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When I first set eyes on the Stokke Sleepi, I knew I had to have it. It’s sleek, modern, smaller-scaled, wheeled, and convertible up to a junior bed (that’s 10 years of use!) However, if you own a Stokke Sleepi, you know that buying stylish bedding for it is not as easy as popping into your local baby super store or ordering on Amazon Prime. It takes EFFORT. Combine that with all the feelings that come with converting the crib to a toddler bed (your little one suddenly seems so…grown up) and buying new sheets can make for a not-so-easy time.

Black and White Raindrop Sheet

Enter, Lublini Custom Bedding. Like many of the other great brands that I love, I stumbled upon Lublini on Instagram. They were launching a black and white collection that caught my eye because I’ve been obsessed with black and white decor since I was in middle school. They are clearly THE oval bedding experts. Their bedding is made to order and handcrafted in Austin, TX, using only natural and organic fabrics. In addition to their custom bedding, they offer a ready to ship collection. Note: Babyletto Hula, Ubabub POD, and Nursery Works Gradient mamas, their new “Hula” collection has those oval cribs covered too!

Polka dots, bunnies, hearts, stripes, and more, their Stokke collection is clean, graphic and modern and you can mix and match the patterns and colors for your sheets, skirts, and rail guards. Plus, when it’s time to convert your Sleepi to a junior bed (welp!) they’ve got sheets for that too.

Organic Goodnight Sheet

*Black and White Art Cards by Wee Gallery.

By Shana, Gugu Guru Director of Content Marketing

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