Travel

Real Mom Review: Evenflo EveryStage DLX

One of the most trusted brands in baby, Evenflo, recently introduced its newest car seat – the EveryStage DLX. The EveryStage DLX acts as an infant car seat, convertible seat and booster seat. This car seat is ideal for a minimalist parent who wants to be one and done by choosing a high-quality car seat that can be used safely for 10 years. Evenflo generously offered Gugu Guru an EveryStage DLX car seat for review. We had a real mom, Alexandria Mooney, test one out with her adorable two year old daughter – here’s her take on why the Evenflo EveryStage DLX gets 5 stars as a car seat!

This has to be hands-down the simplest, easy-to-install car seat ever made. My husband, who’s always complaining what a nightmare it is to move the car seats around told me point blank, “Go order 2 more of these I literally installed it incredibly tight in less than 30 seconds.” He’s sold, and so am I!

Not only is it ridiculously easy to install with the EasyClick latch system, I love how the headrest and straps are easily adjustable with an easy up-and-down lever behind the headrest — no need to take the car seat apart to fish straps in and out of holes when you need to adjust the strap height.

My two year old told me it’s comfy and gets excited to ride in her new car seat, so if she’s sold too, it’s a win all around in our book!

More details on the EveryStage DLX car seat:

For Children 4-120 lbs
EasyClick Installation
Custom Cradled Fit
Proudly Built in America

Learn more about the EveryStage DLX on Evenflo’s website.

Cruising With Baby Travel Must-Haves

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Cruising with baby or considering taking a cruise in the near future with your little one in tow? Check out this ultimate guide from Gugu Guru mama and frequent traveler, Denalee, who just came off a 7-day cruise with her one year old son, Mikey. In this post, you’ll hear what products are a must-have for travel in general – but especially for cruising with baby.

Apparel & Accessories

1. SwimZip swimsuits and hat: We LOVE these swimsuits and the hat for travel or cruising with baby, and now for swimming in general. The prints are adorable, they’re really easy to take on and off (even when they’re wet) and they give nice full-body coverage from the sun. I could not find any cons to these bathing suits. I’m looking forward to using these swimsuits all summer. The sun hat (not shown here) is also really nice and lightweight.

2. Bitty Brah Hat: So cute and it fit him so well. The great thing about Bitty Brah is the drawstring that helps them stay on baby’s head. And, even though it was black it was very breathable.

3. pediped shoes: These are easily a favorite. Mikey walks really well in them and they were comfortable enough to wear without socks in the warmer weather. He probably wore these every day of the trip and still wears them in Boston – but with socks :). The velcro makes them really easy on and off, and the ergonomic design helped him keep his “sea legs” sturdy during the cruise.

4. Skip Hop Harness Backpack: This backpack that has a harness for parents to let their tot wander at a safe distance is super cute!!! I loved the idea of this and was so excited to try it. We love it but parents should note that the default position of the clip is on the bottom so if the baby is running away it makes him lean/fall forward. I realized later that you can move the clip to the top, which I think is a better position for it.

5. Ergopouch Layers Sleepwear: Whether cruising with baby on a ship or staying in a standard hotel, one thing that can be unpredictable is the room temperature. I was already a big fan of the ergopouch sleep sack (Mikey uses the winter sack at home and it seems so comfy) so I was excited to try the new Layers pajamas. They did not disappoint. They’re really soft and I love how the feet can be free or you can roll the pjs over them. This is great for walkers because Mikey walks best barefoot but in the warm weather he didn’t necessarily need a sleep sack so it was nice to be able to cover his feet in the night with the pjs. The zipper on the pjs also made it easy on/off and for a quick diaper change.

Feeding

1. b.box Sippy Cup: A sippy cup is a no brainer for travel with toddlers. Mikey liked this cup (read: he didn’t try to throw it across the room) and drank well from it. I like that it has the cover and that you can see how much they’re drinking in ounces. This is a very functional cup for toddlers.

2. Aden + Anais burpy bibs. These are great!! We used them as burp cloths when Mikey and for this trip we used them as a regular feeding bib. They’re cloth so they show dirt quickly but great thing is they cover a lot of his outfit, which is great when we were dressing up for the formal nights / Captain’s Dinners. Mikey has also recently stopped liking the plastic and silicone bibs and often communicates this through the act of tearing them off. The Aden + Anais cloth ones don’t bother him and they wash very well so they were nice to have along on this trip for sure.

3. b.box Snack Pack: this was great for days we were going off of the boat. I used it to pack some of Mikey’s leftovers from dinner and then I didn’t have to worry about the quality (or safety) of food off of the ship. This definitely gave us added peace of mind and the food held up better in it than if we had just used the paper containers the ship gives you at dinner.

4. Neat Solutions Sili-Stick Table Topper. Mikey is still into throwing plates – ha! Just laying out the silicone placemat so he had a clean place to eat was really convenient and it took up almost zero space. (Editor’s note: this placemat is and always has been a favorite of Gugu Guru.)

5. Babyganics Travel Foam Dish Soap. This is a must-have for travel with kids in general. It made cleaning cups, pacifiers, and everything else really easy in our stateroom.

6. Skip Hop matching snack cup. This dispenser paired with the aforementioned backpack that Mikey loved and he ate puffs from it all week.

7. Baby Food Pouches: It was nice to know that I had something healthy and fast for him on the go when we didn’t know what the cruise would be offering but I was actually pleasantly surprised at the food and the staff’s ability to accommodate Mikey. By the way, organic is very important to us, so for our pouches of choice when cruising with baby we liked Once Upon a Farm.

8. This travel size activity board from etsy. While this may seem odd to put in feeding, we loved that this fun Montessori-style activity board kept Mikey entertained at meals (and on the plane!)

Gear

1. Beco Gemini Baby Carrier. Whether cruising with baby, hopping on a plane or simply going sightseeing, I just could not live without this carrier for any kind of travel that we do. I’ve been using this ergonomic carrier since Mikey was an infant and will continue to do because it grows with your child and offers multiple carrying positions.

2. BABYZEN YOYO+ stroller: This is another piece of travel baby gear that we could never live without. While cruising with baby, it folded up so nicely in our stateroom and was easy to maneuver on board in the narrow hallways. I noticed a lot of parents on board had the Baby Jogger City Mini or City Mini GT (I have a City Mini GT at home) and I could not imagine storing that in the small state room. Though the City Mini folds easily it still takes up a good amount of space. Actually, even when I didn’t feel like folding the BABYZEN YOYO+, it still fit in the room using minimal space, which was really convenient.

3. b.box stroller organizer. We LOVED this new item! It clipped on really well to the YOYO+ or you could just throw it over your shoulder. It is big enough for all the essentials (diapers, wipes, hand sanitizer, sippy cup, pouch, sunscreen, and even a toy!) It was nice while on board to not have to bring the big diaper bag around and since there isn’t a lot of storage on the YOYO+ this gave us more space and kept us organized with all essentials within reach. We’re even using this more now upon returning to Boston when we’re going out and about for a short time instead of lugging the whole diaper bag.

Personal Care & Wellness

1. Earth Mama Organics sunscreen: This new line of organic sunscreens is just what I want for my baby: natural, thick, and protective. It was a bit too thick for me (although my very fair skinned husband didn’t have an issue with it.) Heads up! Gugu Guru followers can use coupon code BeamOn to enjoy 20% off regularly priced EarthMamaOrganics.com orders through 2/28/19. (Please note that it cannot be used with any other discounts and is valid for US orders only.)

2. Babo Botanicals: I LOVE these wipes – especially for feeding. They’re really soft to use on Mikey’s face, which was great post meals. I also constantly used these wipes to clean all of our hands and even some surfaces. They smell so nice. For mama, I also enjoyed Babo’s sheer lip tint that has a very mild color but again smells nice and kept my lips hydrated and protected from the sun. I am also now officially addicted to their face stick they sent. It was a tinted spf stick that I used every morning. It just glided on my skin really nicely and gave a nice smooth, glowing look to my skin.

3. PlaneAire. This new all-natural, organic sanitizing spray formulated with essential oils was great for our stateroom and on the ship in general while cruising with baby. It now lives in our diaper bag.

4. Rookie Human Crib Sheets. I’m type A and worried about my son using the sheets that the cruise ship pack n play came with so I brought a sheet from Rookie Humans because it’s so stretchy and actually wound up fitting well over the pack n play mattress. Bonus Tip: the cruise offers two sizes for pack n play. We requested the big one because although the smaller size would have given us more room to walk around the stateroom, I knew Mikey would not sleep as well in such a compact spot so the Rookie Human sheet worked well with the bigger play yard.

Another Bonus Tip: One weird thing that was super helpful to have was duct tape! We used it to cover corners, keep drawers and the mini fridge shut, and even hung a sheet with it so Mikey had a “private room” (he sleeps better when he can’t see us). Such a simple thing to bring but it was a life saver.

Disclaimer: Gugu Guru’s editor received some of these products for this guide, however all opinions expressed are solely those of the editor. This post may contain affiliate links. When purchasing an item through affiliate links, Gugu Guru earns a small commission at no extra cost to the purchaser.

PlaneAire Travel Mist: A NEW Diaper Bag Must-Have

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

Hey everyone – it’s Monica, founder of Gugu Guru. Today I wanted to share a new travel and diaper bag necessity that I discovered recently – the PlaneAire travel mist. Here’s why I am loving this all-natural sanitizing spray.

We were officially days away from our 7-day holiday cruise this past December when I read an article in the NY Post about how to stay healthy on a cruise that lists tips and advice on how to avoid germs and illnesses like the Norovirus on crowded cruise lines. It made me feel even more relieved that I had picked up a new organic sanitizing spray to bring with me on the trip called PlaneAire.

PlaneAire Travel Mist is a surface & air purifying spray. Made from 100% organic ingredients, one spray of PlaneAire’s mist kills 99.99% of illness-causing bacteria such as Staphylococcus, Salmonella, Pseudomonas, MRSA and more.

PlaneAire Travel Mist: What I Like

First and foremost, the ingredients and formulation. I would not consider myself someone whose purchases are highly driven by whether a product is natural or organic. However, there is something about many common sanitizer products that feels yucky to me. It could be the smell, it could be the formulation or the fact that the product does in fact use harsh chemicals. PlaneAire Travel Mist is made from a unique, proprietary layered blend of natural essential oils, Its ingredients were carefully selected for their antiviral, antimicrobial and antifungal properties. It’s a safe, non-toxic product that contains no alcohol, bleach or harsh chemicals and has an herbal scent versus a chemical smell.
The size. The PlaneAire Travel Mist bottle is definitely made for, well, travel. It takes up minimal space and is convenient to throw in your carry-on bag, your diaper bag or even your regular purse.

What I didn’t like:

Overall, I love the PlaneAire Travel Mist product so there’s not much as far as dislikes go. My one big piece of feedback from more of a customer communication standpoint is that due to the essential oils, the smell is strong. When we used a little on the plane initially, the scent was too strong for the enclosed space. We didn’t want to bother other passengers so we didn’t use it to spray all the surfaces that we were planning to. Similarly when we used it at restaurants to wipe down the high chair, we were a little concerned about others in the restaurant because such a strong scent when people are eating food can be bothersome. I think that PlaneAire should consider giving customers a heads up that PlaneAire Travel Mist can leave a very strong scent and perhaps use sparingly in smaller, enclosed places such as airplane cabins or in public dining areas.

Some things that may help with this:

Remember to shake the bottle a few times before use. This activates the oils and allows the mist to come out more evenly.
Don’t over spray. One good spray per section is good, for example, a tray table might only need 1-2 sprays. Your hands need one spray. A doorknob needs one spray.

Gugu Gift Guide: Holiday Gifts for Toddlers

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

With holiday season right around the corner, we wanted to share some of our top picks for gifts for toddlers! Read on to learn more about these unique gifts for toddlers and check out some exclusive discounts for Gugu Guru readers too!

Pooka Box: Have you found yourself asking, “What toys should I get for my little one this holiday season? What are the best educational toys on the market?” Pooka Box is here to help take the guesswork out of your holiday shopping. Pooka Box is a quarterly subscription box that automatically ships every three months. However, one-time boxes can also be purchased; giving customers options for the holiday season. Pooka Box is a subscription box (for children 0 months – 3 years old) that is filled with the highest quality books, toys, activities and research-based curriculum tailored specifically for your child’s developmental needs. Every box has 2-4 toys, 1-2 books, and 2-3 activities hand-picked by Pooka Box’s Head of Education, Abby Klein. Abby is an award-winning children’s book author and leading expert in early childhood education. Parents love Pooka Box because it is focused on promoting critical areas of early childhood development such as: Communication, Motor Skills, Problem Solving and Social/Emotional Skills. The Gugu Guru team is also a huge fan of Pooka Box because for every subscription purchased they donate a toy and learning material to a child in the foster system – you know how we love a giving back component! Use code Guguguru20 for a 20% discount.

People Toy Co: One of the hottest developmental toys straight from Japan! People Toy Company creates fun and educational baby and children’s lifestyle products for the discerning parent. Their products are developed from a parent’s point of view to help make parenting fun and easy yet they cater to the developmental needs of your little one. They take the research and guesswork out of parenting with their continuous life studies research and development so parents can focus on their families and be present. The Gugu Guru team loves their People Blocks for toddler fun and development! There are People Blocks Go Go Vehicles, People Blocks City Dwellers, People Blocks Zoo Animals, and People Blocks 31 piece set. People Blocks are perfectly crafted to fit in a child’s hand and allows them to stack easily with the power of magnets; children will develop beyond stacking to matching and pattern building as their imagination develops. Children will explore different angles, unique combinations, and asymmetrical designs. They’re colorful, fun, and a great developmental toy for both boys and girls!

Trend Lab Plush Cow Chair: Looking for a unique and fun gift for the toddler in your life? We are loving this adorable plush cow chair from Trend Lab! The Plush Cow Chair is the perfect holiday gift any little one will love lounging on! The cow has quickly became one of their top selling chairs, bringing delightful whimsy to your little one’s world and any room of the house. Providing a contoured support for reading, relaxing and snuggling, this super-soft character chair makes a fun, comfy addition to any room in your home. Whether your child is reading, watching a movie or just relaxing, they’ll love sitting in this cute, comfy chair.

CubCoats: If you’re looking for a toddler gift that serves more than one function – we love CubCoats – which are both a toy and a coat! Perfect for a minimalist household or family. CubCoats are a 2-in-1 stuffed animal which transforms into a super soft hoodie! CubCoats are made from durable and super soft material for cuddly comfort, and they are ethically sourced, double lined, made with premium materials. We love that they are machine washable, dry safe, and ready to play! Our editor’s 2.5 year old loved wearing his CubCoat and transforming into a little bear himself! As their website says, “We all remember that one stuffed animal we couldn’t sleep without…and the hoodie we had that just seemed softer than the rest. Here’s our hope: Your child will find both in their Cubcoat.” They have a ton of variations, and characters, even characters from some of your children’s favorite movies!

Jooki Music Player for Kids: When our team came across Jooki, we knew we had to share it with you all! Jooki is a super fun and intuitive – screen free way – for children to listen to music, audiobooks and more! The song or the story starts when the figurine is placed on Jooki. Jooki is so intuitive and perfectly designed that your little music fan immediately adopts it. You can listen to any type of music! You can stream your favorite music from Spotify, and Jooki also allows you to copy your music from an old CD, podcast, audio books. Once the playlists created on Jooki, whatever their source (Spotify, radio or files), you can link them with a figurine using the Jooki app on your smartphone or computer. Jooki is portable and strong, plus it has a solid strap to carry it. The characters are easily attached to Jooki. Your child will feel independent and can take Jooki to bed, in the car, to his grandparents house or to the beach. As a splashproof device it can be used in the bathroom and outdoors. Spice up your morning routine and start your day on the right foot by playing your kid’s favourite song. The Jooki app also offers parental controls, such as the ability to turn off Jooki remotely at bedtime. Jooki helps passionate parents create a musical environment for their families spending quality moments far from a screen. Check out this video to see the Jooki in action!

The Field: When it comes to gifts for toddlers and to toys for kids in general, we always love ways kids can unplug and play together with! Our editor’s kids loved this toy and we wanted to share it as a great gift for toddlers and kids this holiday season. Created in Ireland, The Field toy is a must-have holiday gift for kids that helps inspire real world, screen-free, and imaginative play. This must-have field toy features lush green grass, hedging, traditional wooden farm gates, farm animals, a tractor, and more! Creative play is proven to have intellectual, emotional and social benefits, and The Field toy is the perfect way to help boys and girls ages 3+ get away from the screens and use their own ingenuity to develop a farm or outdoor world right in front of their eyes.

7AM Enfant GlacierPOD: When it comes to holiday time, there is always travel to be done – and this gift idea is more for the family of a toddler, but so cool nonetheless! The 7AM Enfant GlacierPOD keeps your tyke warm and cozy during the cold winter months. The 5-point harness universal openings are ideal for securing into any stroller and car seat, plus the detachable cover can be used separately as a blanket. The removable center back panel eliminates material between baby’s back and the car seat and the water repellent outer shell features ultra-soft premium poly insulation with a plush lining that all machine washes. The elegant GlacierPOD is the perfect winter pop for the holidays. Use code: 7AMXGUGU for 15% OFF GlacierPOD

Thank you to 7AM Enfant, Jooki, The Field, People Toy Co, CubCoats, Trend Lab and Pooka Box for making this sponsored post possible – we are so appreciative!

Did you miss our other recent gift guides?

Gugu Gift Guide: Travel With Baby

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

Last week we chatted about our top gift guide picks to make travel easier for parents, and this week we’re covering our top picks for gifts when it comes to travel with baby. These make awesome holiday or baby shower gifts for any parents who are looking forward to traveling with their little one.

Ubbi’s On-the-Go Collection: When it comes to practical, functional, and stylish items for travel with baby, Ubbi knows what’s up! We are delighted to introduce you to their on-the-go collection, which includes a changing mat and bag, wipes dispenser and bag dispenser. The changing mat and bag is a great on-the-go diapering solution for quick and easy diaper changes, and it is easy-to-clean, super soft and comfortable changing mat made similar to a standard yoga mat, so it’s comfy for your baby – no more hard floors! The mat bag can hold a few diapers, travel size wipes dispenser, as well as a phone, keys, or whatever else is needed for busy parents on-the-go. The Ubbi portable wipes dispenser is a great solution for quick and easy on-the-go diaper change, the dispenser keeps wipes moist and fresh, is easy to carry around, yet compact and durable while out and about. Plus, it includes an easy-to-use silicone strap that conveniently hangs on strollers and diaper bags. The bags dispenser features a rewind mechanism lets you easily reinsert bags when too many are pulled out, and holds a roll of 12 bags, which includes 2 rolls of lavender-scented bags; plus, it fits easily inside a diaper bag, for on-the-go ease.

Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit: When it comes to travel, sometimes baby’s sleep cycles can get confused if you’re traveling long hours or in different time zones. We highly recommend traveling with a sleep product baby is used to and reminds them of being home. Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit gives baby a warm, cozy, and comforting feeling to help them fall asleep faster, and stay asleep, too. The Magic Sleepsuit is designed for babies who are ready to transition from the swaddle, yet still need that cozy and contained feeling to aid in their sleep. Made with soft, comforting materials, the Magic Sleepsuit will give your baby the sense of security and warmth they need to sleep well through the night, whether you’re staying at grandma’s house, a hotel, or camping! Plus, it’s ideal for any travel destination because baby won’t get overheated – as it features open feet and hands to help keep baby at a comfortable temperature. Coming in three adorable colors, the Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit is our one must have item for any baby registry – you can learn more about it in this handy video, too!

Stuck on You Mini Book Bag: When it comes to traveling with a toddler, they love to fill their own travel bags and feel like part of the travel-crew! We’re loving these adorable mini backpacks from Stuck on You which are totally personalized! The Mini Book Bag is perfect for playdates, short excursions or coffee outings with mom. The perfect size to fit in some yummy snacks, paper and pencils and their favorite toy. The Mini Book Bag features a durable poly soft canvas and fully waterproof living. The inside print is fun for kids, and the front zipper pocket is perfect for snacks or toys. The padded shoulder straps ensure comfort on your toddler’s back, as well. But, we really love the Mini Book Bag because you can customize it with your child’s name in a variety of fonts, as well as a fun design. Coming in muted blue or green, this Mini Book Bag is a must-have for traveling with your little kiddo.

B. Box Stroller Organizer: When it comes to traveling with a baby, often times your stroller becomes home base for everything you pick up along the way (including food, jackets, trinkets!). But, travel-sized strollers don’t always have the room or space to hold everything you need, which is why we are so impressed with the B.Box Stroller Organizer which attaches to stroller handle with secure click in clasps. Large fold away mesh bag means essentials are visible and within reach, can also be used for light groceries when doing a quick trip to the shops. Multiple storage compartments for drinks, phone, wallet and snacks keep essentials at your fingertips. BPA, Phthalates, and PVC free. If you need to run inside somewhere and leave the stroller outside, no worries, simply remove the organizer from the stroller to convert to a unisex bag – in a snap, using the handy shoulder strap. A must have travel item for traveling with families, and also for every day use to the park or shopping! This makes a great baby shower must-have gift which mom doesn’t even realize she needs yet.

Hoodini Swaddle: When babies are on-the-go, it often can be tricky to get them to calm down and sleep on their normal schedules, which is why you need a trusted swaddle to help your baby sleep while traveling. Hoodini is the world’s first 3D knit escape-proof baby swaddle. It is engineered with arm tubes to protect against moro reflex and face scratching and has hug technology® built into the chest area to give the sensation of a hug all night long. Baby will feel comforted and snug, even if you’re in a hotel room or grandma’s house. Plus, there is an easy access diaper opening at the bottom so the feet stay warm but you still have easy diaper changing access, which comes in handy for traveling in the car or airplane – easy access is always better! The Hoodini Swaddle is super soft and stretchy, and can fit in any diaper bag, purse or travel bag. It comes in three colors, and is a wonderful addition to any baby shower gift.

Bitty Brah Hats: As a parent, it seems there are 1000+ things to remember when traveling with kids, but one thing we always keep on hand are cute hats for our littles, as it protects them from sun, rain, and wind! When we came across Bitty Brah we had to share them with you – as not only are they beyond cute, but they have a great mission, too. Bitty Brah hats are a functional, surf-inspired hat for the modern family. Playful and stylish, Bitty Brah embraces the California casual lifestyle for the family on the go. Bitty Brah hats are water resistant, so they are ideal for rain or shine, and perfect in any weather. Their water resistant finish makes them durable enough for sand and sticky fingers. They’re ideal for travel, as the Bitty Brah visors bend in any direction, so you can throw them in any bag or stroller and you’re good to go. The foolproof drawstring is guaranteed to stay put. The drawstring is perfect of hat resistant children and action packed days on the water. But, most importantly, Bitty Brah donates the #1 most requested item to children in the U.S., not covered through federal government assistance: diapers. When you buy a Bitty Brah hat, you donate 10 diapers to a U.S. family in need. We can’t think of a better combo: cute and functional hats for baby, and a giving-back component? Sign us up for Bitty Brah hats!

CoziGo: Traveling with babies can be frustrating, because often they are over-stimulated and don’t want to rest, and sometimes, there’s not even a place to have them rest! Keeping consistent sleeping routines can be a challenge for parents when they have to be out and about. We are thrilled to introduce you to CoziGo, which makes flying and being on-the-go with babies carefree. CoziGo blocks 97% of light and distraction, helping to block distractions and provide a consistent dark sleep space for your baby. In tests, sleep improved by up to 400% when CoziGo was in use. Plus, CoziGo has a UV 50+ rating which makes it the ultimate Sun Cover when you are out and about with your baby. The unique dome shape can be fully opened so baby can watch the world go by. It also allows for plenty of kick space and the breathable fabric ensures air permeability allowing safe airflow. CoziGo is made from woven fabric, which means it is air permeable and provides a well-ventilated environment for your baby. It will allow your baby to breathe comfortably and also means your baby will be less likely to overheat while you are out and about. Simply, pop, clip and go in seconds, plus it packs into a small bag quickly, ready to be stored in a bag or in the stroller. CoziGo has a zipper on each side so you can open one or both of the zippers allowing your baby or toddler to see the world go by and still be protected by the sun no matter what direction it’s coming from. You will also have easy access to your precious cargo!

Ubbi Tweat Snack Container: Another must have for traveling with toddlers is the Ubbi Tweat Snack Container. It has a large enough opening for easy snack access and a soft spill guard with attached lid. The interactive weighted base leans and wobbles, and the rubber seal helps keeps everything fresh! If you’re traveling with kids, it is ALL about the snacks, but you definitley don’t want those snacks all over the car – just hand your little one the Ubbi Tweat Snack Container and they can access all the snacks they need, without spilling them out all over the place. It’s easy to throw into any diaper or travel bag and you’re good to go!

Thank you to, CoziGo, B.Box. Stuck on You, Bitty Brah, Hoodini Swaddle, Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit, and Ubbi for making this sponsored post possible!

Gugu Gift Guide: Travel Picks for Mom

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

With the busiest travel season coming right around the bend of the year, we wanted to share some of our top travel picks for you, mama – these are must have items to make your travel experience as a mom just a little easier and in style, too. Check out our top picks for travel gifts for moms, these make fantastic baby shower gifts for any new mom who loves to travel! Check below for exclusive Gugu Guru discounts, as well!

Sofia Fima Handbags: When it comes to travel as a mom, it seems as though there is never enough room to hold all of baby’s travel gear, all of your mama necessities, not to mention any work items you may need! Enter, the Sofia Fima Handbags, which help you effortlessly go from office to off-duty. Created by moms for moms, this handbag is your ultimate utility bag, which also happens to be made of gorgeous leather – ideal for work, mom-life, and of course, traveling! We’ve written about Sofia Fima in our Mom Style Gift Guide, but today we wanted to explain why they’re a must-have bag for travel, too. What makes Sofia Fima bags completely unique and ideal for travel are their one-of-a-kind organizers; these organizers, are made exactly for your different life needs, work, mom-life, and a mix-of-both – and easily snap in and out of the Main Squeeze Tote, making it easy to shift gears in your life in a cinch! The three different organizers, The Chief of Staff Organizer, the Momager Organizer, and the Senior Associate Organizer, are all made from super luxurious 100% wipe clean nylon handcrafted in the United States. These are ideal for travel, since each organizer has a different set of functions to help you stay organized. Whether you are traveling for work solo, or baby in tow, you’ll love having the essential organizational help from your Sofia Fima Main Squeeze Tote and organizer (or organizers) of choice! If you’re traveling for work with your family, bring the Momager and Chief of Staff organizer with you, and simply snap one out for the other when you’re off duty for the day – no worry about spilling formula on your work papers that way! The Sofia Fima Main Squeeze Tote is a truly special baby shower gift for a mom-on-the-go in your life. Use Coupon Code GuGuGuru for 15% off everything in your cart.

Teat & Cosset: When it comes to travel style for breastfeeding moms, we’ve found the ultimate must-have clothing item for any nursing mama. Is there anything more necessary for travel than a comfy sweatshirt? The Teat & Cosset Gemma Sweatshirt has everything you need for a perfect travel style accessory; made from 100% cotton, the sweatshirt features natural fibers which are gentle and safe on baby’s delicate skin. But, the coolest part of these stylish sweatshirts are their two hidden zippers which provide discrete, easy, and fast breastfeeding access anywhere including buses, trains, planes, and boats! The Gemma sweatshirt is comfy and cozy – with a relaxed fit and cotton fleece for keeping you warm during your travels. Each piece in the Teat & Cosset collection is made in Italy, Extremely innovative when it comes to yarns, fabrics and machinery, Italians have adopted the best of garment engineering and combined it with the highest hand tailoring skills to create quality garments. As a hard working mama, you deserve the best in style and comfort, but at a price point you can afford; the Gemma Sweatshirt is under $100, which makes it a perfect gift for your favorite mama friend or yourself! Available with stylish snaps or zippers, and in a variety of modern colors, the Teat & Cosset Gemma Sweatshirt is a must-have travel item for breastfeeding mamas. Use code GUGU15 for 15% off at Teat & Cosset.

Marama Naturals Calendula Spray: When you’re traveling with baby, it seems as though everything is always sticky, sweaty, dirty, or prime time for dry-skin! We have the the perfect travel companion for both baby and mama – the multi-purpose Calming Calendula Spray from Marama Naturals. Calendula is touted for its anti-inflammatory properties, ability to improve and hydrate skin, and for speeding healing. It restores and cleanses. Marama Naturals has made calendula even easier to use with this convenient spray, which you can throw into your diaper bag. Combined with other therapeutic oils, this powerful, but gentle, spray is perfect to cleanse baby’s diaper area, and keep baby feeling clean in a natural way. If you’re traveling, this is a must-have item for both mom and baby; you can spray directly on the baby’s diaper area, or even use a baby cloth or wipe to apply the comforting liquid. Need hydration or a facial toner? This is great for that, too! You can even skip the baby’s drying bath and use the spray as a quick baby wash. If you’re on the road sans bath, it doubles as a no-rinse wash for baby, and keeps your skin feeling hydrated and clean, as well. Plus, who doesn’t need an extra reason to de-stress? The natural ingredients with soothing qualities of Calendula help to de-stress and reduce redness in your skin, so if you’re stuck in the car with many miles to go, simply spray this convenient bottle from Marama Naturals and feel at ease, clean, and refreshed!

Cold-Fix For Children: While traveling can be a true joy and a lovely experience, doesn’t it always seem like someone picks up some sort of sickness while traveling? We’re big fans of Cold-Fix for Children – formulated to help relieve cold and flu symptoms. Cold-Fix was brought to the U.S. by Dr. Shahram Jacobs, a father of 3, after nearly 20 years of popularity and success in Europe and Asia. It is a physician-formulated and doctor-approved remedy that helps to temporarily relieve cold and flu symptoms (congestion, cough and fever) and works to strengthen the immune system to help prevent sickness in the first place! It’s safe for kids six months and older and is a non-drowsy, homeopathic formula free of artificial dyes, gluten, and sugar. Plus, it has no reported side effects or interactions with other medications. Cold-Fix for Children is the choice for parents who are ready to help their children make it through cold and flu season – happy and healthy! For anyone who loves to travel – this is a great gift they can take with them to help their little one feel his/her best on every adventure! Use code cfguguguru for 25% of your order (expires 1/1/2019).

ToteSavvy: The key to being able to travel with a baby is organization – so, how does one stay so organized with a baby in tow? ToteSavvy! The ToteSavvy Deluxe transforms your regular totes into an organized masterpiece, chock full of spaces, pockets, and more to hold everything you need in exactly the right place. We love that the ToteSavvy Deluxe works with all of your totes from pre-baby life, so you can still use them, even when they’re full of diapers and bottles! Having everything organized will keep you feeling less stressed on your flight or travels, and everything is super easily accessible as well. ToteSavvy Deluxe holds unique features no other bag organizer has including a laptop sleeve, zip-top insulated cooler pocket, and rose gold hardware. We love that the ToteSavvy has eleven total multi use pockets, so if you’re traveling with baby, traveling solo, heading to the gym, work, or for fun – there is a pocket for everything you need, and you can switch your ToteSavvy from one tote to another without any muss or fuss! Use code GUGU for 20% off your order.

LugBug Handle: If you’re traveling with a baby, it can get very heavy, very fast carrying the carseat with the baby around from place to place. We came across the LugBug Handle years ago and it is still one of our very favorite must-haves for traveling parents. Baby carriers can be tough on the arms – so tough that daily lugging can put parents at rick of strain-related injuries, chronic pain, and even accidental drops. In fact, nearly half of parents experience shoulder, back, and neck pain due to the strain of lugging a baby carrier. The LugBug handle is a helpful device which attaches to you baby carrier and offers a range of better, more comfortable (and enjoyable) carrying positions that support your arm and wrist. The creator of LugBug, a first time dad, set out to design a sturdy and easy-to-use handle designed to keep parents comfortable and kids safe. The handle’s innovative and ergonomic design reduces tension on the shoulders and arms for a more comfortable lugging position. If you’re out and about with a baby carrier, the LugBug is a must have necessity for your family!

Unbuckle Me: One of the most frustrating parts of travel is getting the kids in and out of the car seat – but, we found a way to ease up the whole production of the carseat drama with the new Unbuckle Me. UnbuckleMe is the award winning solution for anyone who struggles with car seat buckles! So, how does the Unbuckle Me work? It easily slips around the buckle and uses leverage to make it 50% easier to unbuckle. Does not attach to the car seat & works on ANY car seat buckle. The Unbuckle Me was invented by a Grandma with arthritis (who is also an Occupational Therapist) and her daughter (a mom of 2 toddlers!). UnbuckleMe is intended to be used under adult supervision, which means it should remain out of reach of children while the vehicle is in motion. It is recommended that you store in a convenient location that is easily accessible, like the side door pocket of your car. UnbuckleMe includes a small loop on the “neck” that can be used to attach it to a convenient location, such as a key chain or diaper bag. This would make a perfect stocking stuffer or new mom gift – keep one in every car and make travel just a little easier on yourself! Head to their website and use code ‘guru’ for 15% off.

Travel Tray: When it comes to traveling with kids, it seems like there is always a toddler in the backseat asking for a snack! How can you solve this snacky problem? With Travel Tray! Travel Tray extends your current cup holder to hold your cup PLUS a tray to hold food or toys. Travel Tray fits into car seats, strollers, outdoor chairs; anywhere a standard cup holder is utilized! Made in the USA, easy to clean with a wipe and dishwasher friendly! Travel Tray are made in the USA, easy to clean with a wipe and dishwasher friendly, making it easier on parents. Plus, the Travel Tray is BPA, PHT, and PVC-free so it’s safe for your little snacker in the backseat. You won’t want to leave home without your Travel Tray, perfect for all trips, whether just down the block or across the country. Use code GURU for 20% off and free shipping on any order through 12/31/18.

Earth Mama Mini Deodorant 4-Pack: It’s no surprise we are huge fans of Earth Mama, their products are ideal for pregnant moms, post-partum, breastfeeding and beyond. So, when it comes to travel, no one should be without their Earth Mama Mini Deodorants! Four flavors in one box! Earth Mama’s mini deodorants are travel-savvy and squee-cute. Pop one in your purse, the diaper bag, your gym bag or keep one in your travel bag – they are the perfect size for road trips or flights! You get all four flavors in one fun-filled box! Refreshing ginger-lime Ginger Fresh Deodorant, tangerine-y Bright Citrus Deodorant, unscented Non-Scents Deodorant, and fresh, soothing Calming Lavender Deodorant. Think you’re too sensitive for deodorants with baking soda? You got another thing comin’! This formula was made for extra sensitive skin with the perfect balance of baking soda and magnesium. Just enough to work, not enough to hurt.

Thank you to Sofia Fima, Teat & Cosset, Unbuckle Me, LugBug, Earth Mama, Cold Fix, Travel Tray, Marama Naturals, and ToteSavvy for making this sponsored post possible!

Video Tutorial: Packing Your Diaper Bag for a Flight

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Expert traveler, Mary, from The Mom Friend and Gugu Guru’s travel mama shares her tips for packing your diaper bag for a flight.

Tips For Easier Travel With Your Little Ones

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

More than 75% of traveling families recently surveyed said simply getting through the airport, enduring a potentially grueling flight with young children, and not having the right gear at their vacation accommodations are the most stressful challenges of family travel.

Every day at BabyQuip we think about how to solve these challenges and lighten the load for traveling families. Here are a few tips for easier travel with babies and toddlers.

When Booking Your Flight

Timing – Consider a time of day that works for your baby. Is she grouchy in the afternoon but bubbly most mornings? Book a morning flight.

Sit up front – It’s a quieter ride and gets you in and out a lot faster.

Grab a window – The window area keeps your baby’s head away from the aisle, which can actually be dangerous. A window seat provides more privacy for nursing, and even offers a fun distraction for little ones who many enjoy playing with the shade.

Consider booking a seat for your children under age 2 – Even though they can fly free as a lap baby, it’s often worth the extra cost to have more space and freedom to stretch out and relax. The FAA also says babies in car seats approved for flights are safer than lap babies during unexpected turbulence.

Dress kids comfortably AND adorably – Your fellow passengers will forgive super cute children for noisiness or other minor misbehaving.

Avoid TSA Meltdowns

Explain the process to kids old enough to understand – Make it casual and positive. “They keep us safe. We put our belongings down and they go through a machine that takes a picture of them.”

You can bring formula, breast milk and juice in greater than 3.4 ounce bottles through screening – Inform the TSA officer you are carrying them and be ready to remove them from your carry-on bag for separate screening. Ice packs are OK too.

Ask to be put in a special line for families – This often moves you to the front of the line.

Encourage toddlers to walk through on their own – If you are holding a toddler when you go through screening and the alarm beeps, you are both subject to additional search.

Smart Carry-On List

Must haves – Diapers, wipes, plastic bags, a change of clothing for everyone (parents too).

Ear gear – Pacifiers for those who use them, or gum for older kids to help equalize pressure. Noise cancelling headphones may be helpful for some children.

Happy neighbor gear – Bring ear plugs to pass out to those sitting close to you. Candy or chocolate is helpful too. These are easy ways to keep the peace when your baby is cranky and extra loud about it.

Bring a tray table cover – Tray tables can be breeding grounds for all sorts of germs you don’t want your little ones exposed to. No one wants a sick baby on vacation. Bring disinfectant wipes or a tray table cover.

Extra baby food, snacks, drinks and formula – Always pack for a major delay.

Books and toys – Bring new toys, or toys from the bottom of the toy box so they seem new. Put them in a special package your child can open or unwrap. Nothing noisy though. Favorite books can be comforting on long flights.

Get Some Sleep

Use a full-size wooden crib – When babies sleep well, everyone is more relaxed. Do your best to replicate your little one’s sleep environment at home. Generally, this means renting a full-size wooden crib.

Bring the sheet your baby last slept on at home – Don’t wash it either, so that even if your baby is in a new environment, their sheet smells and feels like home.

Address jet lag – If you’ll be changing time zones, consider nudging your baby’s sleep schedule closer to your destination’s time zone the week prior to your trip.

Stick to your routine – If bedtime at home is always preceded by a bath and a story, maintain this ritual when on the road. Familiar routines are calming.

While family travel can have its stressful moments, the payoff for these adventures is lifelong memories. Traveling smarter and lighter, sleeping better on the road, and starting off your vacation with an easier airport experience opens you up to magical moments with your family.

Happy travels!

Want to ensure a home-like experience during your upcoming family vacation?
BabyQuip delivers exceptionally clean cribs, car seats, strollers, books, toys and a lot more to your hotel or vacation rental.

This post is a guest post from our friends at Babyquip the family travel experts. Here they’re sharing tips for getting to your destination stress-free, especially if you’ll be navigating busy airports and long flights with your little ones. Traveling this holiday season? Save the stress and skip hauling all your gear and baby stuff – just rent from BabyQuip. Looking for a side gig? Make extra income from home by signing up to be a trusted partner with BabyQuip.

This New Travel Car Seat is a Total Game Changer

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

Looking for the best travel car seat for your toddler to use on planes, trains and automobiles? We’ve got you, boo.

Every once in awhile, we get really, really excited about a new piece of baby gear and this is definitely one of those times. (Plus we are even more excited to share that we have a 40% OFF limited offer for our readers but more on that in a second.)

Meet the Pico travel car seat from WAYB (rhymes with “baby”.) Here at Gugu Guru we think the Pico from WAYB is kind of a big deal and we bet you will too. This innovative and totally game-changing travel car seat is intended for 2-5 year olds and designed to make any on-the-go parent’s life a heck of a lot easier.

What first struck us as super cool about the WAYB brand is that it was co-founded by the former CEO of Patagonia. When you think about the fact that parents and caregivers need durable, high-quality gear for navigating life with baby – it makes total sense that someone with experience in outdoor gear can probably help in that department, especially if he or she is a parent. What we also love is that Patagonia is a brand known for its commitment to our planet and those values have clearly transferred over to the WAYB brand.

Aside from their experience with gear, the entire WAYB team is comprised of parents who love to travel and who have a mission to reimagine and improve on the baby gear that’s out there. They want to make it more durable, lightweight, sustainable and just easier for caregivers all-around and we are pretty pumped about that.

The company’s first product, the WAYB Pico, was actually inspired by watching parents struggling in the airport. We’re intimately familiar with that struggle at Gugu Guru because many of us have experienced lugging a heavy car seat around to either check with our luggage in a giant, oversized bag or, worse, dragging it through security with all the other kid stuff you need to bring on the plane from diapers to snacks to ensure your flight goes smoothly.

To make life easier, the WAYB Pico travel car seat was designed to be easy to carry, stow, fold and take wherever parents or caregivers go – and we love that. However, that’s not the reason why we consider this car seat a game-changer. It’s how the Pico is constructed that makes all the difference. The aerospace-grade aluminum frame makes it ultralight at under 8lbs and instead of using typical car seat foams that can be full of toxins, WAYB made the Pico with a high-performance, comfortable mesh fabric instead.

What’s more is that Pico passes the same U.S. safety standards for cars and planes as big, heavy car seats, but it’s way better for people and the planet. ‘Nuff said.

With the holidays right around the corner, if you have a toddler age 2 to 5 years old and you’re looking for a travel car seat that breaks the mold with its lightweight features and sustainable, eco-friendly construction – look no further than the WAYB Pico. Go to this link to get your limited offer 40% discount for Gugu Guru readers of $209 (but hurry up because there are only limited quantities available at this price. Otherwise the non-discounted MSRP is $350.) You can learn more about WAYB on their website, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you to our partners at WAYB for making this sponsored post possible.

Keeping Your Diaper Bag “Spring Clean”

by Gugu Guru 1 Comment

It’s a fact, when you’re a mom, you lug around a lot of “stuff”. And every seasoned mom knows that sometimes the “stuff” that you need to carry in your bag can be a bit unsavory (sealed ziplock bag with poopy diaper or a pair of soaking wet, dirty toddler socks, anyone?) That is why the team at Gugu Guru loves the SmartGear Diaper Bag and the new Weekender Bag from Baby K’tan. 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. And – if you didn’t know already – a bevy of pockets is absolutely mandatory to keeping your life organized with a baby. In our post 7 Tips For A Clutter-Free Life with Kids, Shira Gill suggests creating a diaper bag list “so you can make sure you are stocked up on the essentials before running out the door. Make sure to include healthy snacks, hand sanitizer, lip balm, etc. for your own self care.” The Baby K’tan has you covered here, with a total of 12 functional pockets to store all your essentials and more.

But we all know that none of this really matters unless the bag is fashionable as well as functional. Baby K’tan gets a big check mark here too with the cute designs (including unisex styles for dad) with over the shoulder and stroller-bar straps included.

Also check out The Weekender Bag from Baby K’tan. It has a total of nine compartments for all your essentials, including a built-in antibacterial wet bag, an extra large insulated pocket to keep food cold and a padded laptop pocket for devices up to 14″. For baby it is outfitted with a matching changing pad with antibacterial lining, a wipes case for easy access wipes pocket and an antimicrobial pacifier pouch.

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