Travel

Summer Travel Must Haves with Baby K’tan

Summer is the season for fun getaways but for some new parents, traveling with a babe – whether by car, air or rail – can seem daunting. However, if you equip yourself with the right gear, summer travel can be a snap. In this post, we’ve partnered with our friends at Baby K’tan to feature some of our favorite products for summer travel.

Top Summer Travel Pick: The Baby K’tan Active Baby Carrier

Regardless of season, there is arguably nothing that is more necessary for travel than a great baby carrier. For air travel, it is an absolute must because you’re likely going to have to at least gate check your stroller and a carrier gives you the vital capability of keeping baby safe, hands-free.

However, for summer travel and hot weather in general, not all carriers are made the same. The Baby K’tan Active Baby Carrier is the ideal carrier for warmer days. Why? The Baby K’tan Active Baby Carrier is constructed with a high-tech sport mesh performance fabric that wicks away moisture and sweat – keeping both parent and baby cool even on the most sticky and humid days. Moreover, since pediatricians don’t recommend applying sunscreen on infants under 6 months, this carrier will help protect baby’s sensitive skin. How so? In addition to acting as a sun shade for baby, the unique fabric blocks over 90% of the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays.

Here are some other products we love for summer travel with baby(s) in tow:

Of course, you first need a bag to pack. We love the Baby K’tan Weekender, which is roomy enough to fit all your essentials but compact enough to throw in the overhead bin.
For pregnant or nursing moms, we absolutely LOVE this easy essential from Belabumbum: the Reversible Maternity & Nursing Dress. (Hint: use code GUGUGURU for 10% OFF plus FREE shipping.)
Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter if it’s summer or not, when you travel with a baby you will be exposing him or her to new germs and also generally disrupting your routine. The Fridababy Baby Basics Kit has everything you will need for baby care in a wristlet style silicone carrying case.
If flying, the TSA does allow you to carry formula, breast milk and juice in excess of 3.4 ounces in your carry-on bag but you’ll have to let them know before you start the security screening process. We are big fans of Dr. Brown’s bottles and sippy cups for feeding on-the-go. Plus Baby K’tan’s awesome diaper bag offers two insulated bottle pockets for storage.
Once you get to your destination, some essentials for sleep include a compact and wireless monitor such as our favorite the Evoz, a Crane travel humidifier (read why this is a must for traveling while breastfeeding), some swaddles or a sleep suit if baby is out of the swaddle and a safe, portable sleep space such as the 4moms Breeze GO (that also offers a super quick one-push set up and convenient carrying bag.)
Lastly, a great travel system that includes a car seat and a stroller is an absolute must for most types of summer travel with an infant. We are huge fans of the Britax B-Free & Endeavours Travel System for a number of reasons. First and foremost, in our opinion, it is the top of the line brand when it comes to next-level safety. For summer travel, we love that it boasts an expandable canopy on the Britax stroller protects your baby from the sun. It also has seven pockets and an extra-large storage basket offering plenty of room for baby’s gear, and yours.

Best Natural Deodorant – Earth Mama Review

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Best Natural Deodorant – Review of Earth Mama’s New Travel Size Deodorants (Just in Time for Summer!)

Hey everyone! Monica here – founder of Gugu Guru. I distinctly remember a conversation that I had with another mom about ingredient safety when I was pregnant with my first baby. She said to me, “You know what keeps me up at night when it comes to personal care during pregnancy? Anti-perspirant – there’s so much toxic stuff in there.” I hadn’t really thought about it until that moment but it made sense. Clearly there is something in anti-perspirant that represses perspiration, which seems unnatural altogether. In case you didn’t know – aluminum compounds found in many popular anti-perspirant products actually clog the pores of your armpits so that you don’t sweat. So generally, we advise sticking with deodorants and not anti-perspirants because of this. (If you want to learn more about why you should think about toxins lurking in your anti-perspirants, check out this article from Don’t Mess With Mama.)

It was because of this conversation that I started my journey to find the best natural deodorant out there, which leads me to this review of Earth Mama® Organics’ Mini Deodorant 4-pack.

What I Loved:

The variety. You get four different “flavors” to try out: Refreshing ginger-lime GingerAid Deodorant, tangerine-y Bright Citrus Deodorant, unscented Non-Scents Deodorant, and fresh, soothing Calming Lavender Deodorant. If you’re like me and can be picky about the scents you wear (I was once haunted on a business trip by a “powder fresh” fragranced antiperspirant I had accidentally purchased), then being able to give different scents a test-drive is a must.
The ingredients. When you read the list of all-natural ingredients, you can see why the organic formulations are totally safe for pregnant & nursing mamas (and also humankind in general!)
The beneficial scents. When I opened the box, the first thing that struck me is that these deodorants are like the benefits of essential oils for pregnant and nursing mamas + non-toxic deodorants all in one stick. If you feel a little nauseous, try the GingerAid. Tossing and turning at night? Calming Lavender has your back.
The size. These are travel-sized, which means that they’re compact enough to throw in your weekender for getaways, gym bag, beach bag and even your diaper bag. As it’s currently the month of July as I am writing this review – and a scorcher at that – it’s always nice to tote around one of these sticks just in case I need it.

What I Didn’t Love:

Note: I think that the two things that I didn’t love about the Earth Mama® Organics’ Mini Deodorant 4-pack are probably due to user error.

The residue. When you look at the sticks, they look transparent so I figured that these deodorants are invisible once applied. I think I may have applied way too much but when I put on a black t-shirt, I did have streaks on the side. This is not a big deal because the next time I threw something black on, I just more carefully put it on to avoid any streaks.
The volume. Again, I think I may have applied way too much but these did seem to go somewhat quickly. I took the unscented stick on a recent trip to Florida and found that all-in-all the stick lasted me about 6 or 7 days. Since these aren’t full size and I was doing multiple applications each day due to swimming, showering, etc., I am not sure what I was expecting.

UPDATE: In response to our review, our contact at Earth Mama had this to say, “Since the texture is soft, we recommend keeping the amount out of the tube somewhat low, to reduce the amount of waste. Personally, I take the extra off the side of the tube and rub that in too! When I first started using our deodorants, I piled it on – I find now that I don’t need that much.”

Overall, I give the Earth Mama® Organics’ Mini Deodorant 4-pack a big A+ and will now be referring to it as Gugu Guru’s pick for best natural deodorant. (Psst: Pick it up with their organic herbal sitz bath – another must have for prenatal and postpartum mamas.)

Must Have Gear: B-Lively / B-Safe 35 Travel System

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When it comes to strollers, parents are often overwhelmed not only by picking a stroller that will work well for baby, but also picking the correct stroller for their lifestyle. However, the Gugu Guru team has found that the B-Lively/B-Safe 35 Travel System is a great fit for most parents; there are so many reasons that this Britax stroller system will help so many new parents get out of the house and travel comfortably with baby.

The complete B-Lively/B-Safe 35 Travel System, featuring the Britax stroller and B-Safe 35 Infant Car Seat combo will help a new parent feel free and ready to explore with baby and beyond.

What makes the B-Lively system with the Britax stroller and B-Safe 35 Infant Car Seat different than other travel systems? For one, this Britax stroller has an extra-large storage basket which offers plenty of room for baby’s gear, and yours, plus it has access through the front of the stoller. With more pockets for everything you need, it means you can stroll longer without worrying about running out of anything you need. A stroller becomes a second home, of sorts, your home-away-from-home, and this Britax stroller’s storage basket has all the room you will need and more. We love that Britax eliminates certain chemical flame retardants containing bromine, chlorine or other halogens, from all components used in its car seats and all other products — while still ensuring their ability to pass federal government standards for flammability. Additionally, Britax strollers are not treated with any chemical flame retardants.

Plus, the expandable canopy on the Britax stroller protects your baby from the sun, which means you can head to festivals, run errands or stop for coffee without worrying about the sun being too strong on baby. The B-Lively Britax Stroller is suitable for newborns and children up to 55 lbs. With its lightweight design for everyday strolling, and one-hand, quick fold, this stroller makes it easy to store and go. The B-Safe 35 Infant Car Seat has the next-level Britax safety technologies that protect your little one beyond standards, plus an easy and secure installation with or without the base.

The B-Lively & B-Safe 35 Travel System combines the safety of the B-Safe 35 Infant Car Seat with the flexibility of the B-Lively Britax stroller. They work together to help you navigate family life safely and smoothly. Whether you’re an urban parent, suburban dweller, or a little of both, the B-Lively travel system featuring the Britax stroller is your must have choice for easy and comfortable strolling, both for you and baby.

Evoz Monitor Review

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On the market for a new baby monitor? Check out this Evoz Monitor Review from our friend and Gugu Concierge expert, Amber Michel, founder of Your Milk Shoppe.

When opening the package what I noticed first was how compact the device is, which means the installation is super quick and easy. Can we say parent WIN??!! Because of its simplicity and easy install, traveling with this Evoz monitor is super easy, as all you’re packing is the one device that syncs up directly to your phone app that acts as your personal monitor.

Because this device is married with your phone, you have a bit more freedom to walk around with phone in hand acting as your very own monitor. Again, this is a major win for any parent who does not want to sit in one place, monitor in hand, with the fear of losing reception and the screenshot of their baby. You can truly go anywhere in your home, back yard included.

Evoz provides you with a lot of helpful parenting tools for your baby’s sleep patterns; it helps you get a better idea of how long it takes your baby to fall asleep. It also helps you determine how to respond when your baby wakes up at night through an option called “cry alert” and that can be sent to you via SMS, Email or Push alerts. You are truly plugged in, even when you’re not staring at the monitor, and that is liberating.

What I enjoyed most when using the Evoz monitor with my little one was that I wasn’t the only parent dialed into the app on my phone. My husband could also access it on his phone. (And, keep in mind, when we are using this app, we can talk to our little ones through our phones, soothing them back to sleep). And get this, when I wanted to take a bath, I was able to relax and take a bath while my husband could keep an eye on the baby while she slept (or didn’t ?). There is total freedom in sharing the parenting responsibility at bed time!

Evoz Monitor Review bottom line: Evoz Vision WiFi Video Baby Monitor is a great pick for modern, connected, working parents.

About Your Milk Shoppe
A Gugu Concierge network partner, Your Milk Shoppe is a group of certified Maternity Consultants and Child Prep Educators. They affordable services to moms such as Parenting Classes, Baby Planning, Product Recommendation, Local Referral Partner Lists and Nanny Placement. The goal is to support and empower moms, while ensuring a seamless transition into their new life that is parenthood. Your Milk Shoppe is the milk that keeps the moms alive throughout their parenting journey – because moms need milk, too!

Check out these other posts from the ladies of Your Milk Shoppe:

{Sponsored} Video Overview: Neat Solutions On the Go Products

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We are so excited to be talking about On the Go products from Neat Solutions to Gugu Guru’s audience! These products are must-haves for any parents who plan on leaving the house with baby – whether for a trip to Starbucks or traveling. Check out Gugu Guru founder Monica’s video overview here:

Thank you to Neat Solutions for making this video possible.

View more of our video overviews here:

Real Mom Review SnoofyBee

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We had to review SnoofyBee! We first saw this awesome diapering invention popping up in our Facebook newsfeeds and then this past November, we saw the founders on Shark Tank and we just had to get our hands on one to try. Why was our interest piqued? Ever try to change a wiggly baby? It’s no fun. Add a wiggly baby who likes to explore the nether regions during diapering and it can be a really crappy experience for a parent (yep, pun 100% intended.) That’s why we were so excited to try out the Clean Hands Changing Pad from SnoofyBee.

First off, let’s talk about what this product is. As the site explains, the SnoofyBee Clean Hands Changing Pad provides all the benefits of a standard portable changing station and diaper clutch. Aside from the 3-in-1 multi-purpose design, what is so genius about this product is its patent pending barrier to hang toys from and gently redirect your child’s curiosity away from the mess.
Here’s what Gugu Guru registrant and new mama, Sonny, says about her awesome experience with the SnoofyBee:

Pros

It does exactly what it’s supposed to; I could easily change her diaper without her little hands flailing in the way.
It’s extremely easy to get on, and she really can’t even interfere with the barrier going up. It just folds up and velcros. It also comes off easily. Once you unvelcro it it falls down flat – doesn’t curl over her.
I love the color/pattern.
It has 2 little rings to attach her own toys to for further distraction.
I could see this being very useful for travel as it would even contain a baby’s arms when you’re using a KoalaCare changing station, so he or she wouldn’t be rolling over rubbing little hands all over it!
It’s very easy to clean; all the sides are just a little stiff making it super easy to wipe them down.

Con

It’s still a little bulky once folded up for me to want to carry around in a diaper bag for daily use.

Interested in seeing the SnoofyBee in action? Check out this video:

Check out these other Real Mom Reviews on the Gugu Guide:

Thule Urban Glide

Moba Bassinet

Snoo Smart Sleeper System

Meddy Teddy

bloom BABY Wipes

Real Mom Review: Thule Urban Glide

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This post contains affiliate links.

A Day in the Life of Mom with Neat Solutions

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Neat Solutions – have you heard of them? That’s the brand name but “neat” is the perfect word to describe this innovative portfolio of products that have been designed to help parents out throughout the day. These products are truly “neat” because they’re neat-o, cool and “that’s exactly what I need” kind of “neat.” And also “neat” as in the other meaning of the word: simply keeping it nice and clean. In this post, we’re pretty excited to show you how five real moms from the Gugu Village community use Neat Solutions and share how these products make life with baby much easier. Once you learn more, you’ll see why these might be better named as “Lifesaver Solutions.” From feedings to on-the-go to bath time, here’s a round the clock round-up of Neat Solutions products. (Spoiler alert: our Gugu Village moms say that the Sili-Stick Table Topper is now the one product that they can’t live without.)

7am Feeding Time

Mom of twins, Abby L., tries Neat Solutions’ Paw Patrol Bibs – These are an adorable way to keep your little ones clean while letting them “wear” their favorite characters. They clean up well with just warm water, but you can throw them in the washing machine as well. Also, my little ones have extremely sensitive skin and they did not seem to be too tight around the neck/chin area, which often causes rashes for us. We also tried a toddler bib, which has an extended covering on top of each shoulder. It is a bit longer also, which helped keep our laps clean during lunch. After we were done eating, it was really easy to wipe this bib clean and it dried within minutes.

Mom of 2-year old, Shana S., tries Neat Solutions’ Sesame Street Bibs – Like most 2-year-olds, my daughter is currently obsessed with Elmo and Abby Cadabby. She also isn’t very keen on wearing bibs anymore either, even though mealtimes can still get pretty messy. This bib solves both problems – it goes over her head, so it can’t be pulled off like her velcro closure bibs and it has very wide coverage, so it helps keep her clean better than smaller bibs. The best part, since it has her favorite characters, I don’t have to convince her to put it on!

Mom of 10-month-old, Lori W., tries Neat Solutions’ Bib & Burp Products – My initial thought when I unpacked it was that it is quite small in size. However after using it I actually like how compact it is without extra fabric, which my baby usually paws at. The pocket is great too.

Mom of 1-year-old, Alyssa J., tries Neat Solutions’ Printed Coverall Easywipe Bib With Clear Crumbcatcher – This is super cute and generously-sized to cover more of my baby’s clothes while she is eating. I appreciate the extra coverage for my messy eater! The clear crumbcatcher is really useful for seeing right away what has been caught in the pocket so that I can clear it out after the meal without finding any squishy surprises later. I love how easy it really is to wipe the bib down, and the hook and loop closure is a lot easier than tying string too.

Mom of 3-month-old and 1-year-old, Sunny L., tries Neat Solutions’ Bib & Burp Products – The biggest positive for me is the velcro fastener behind the neck. It doesn’t have any of the scratchy, coarse velcro, keeping my daughter from grabbing/itching at the back.

12pm and On The Go

Mom of twins, Abby L., tries Neat Solutions’ Sili-Stick Table Topper – The Sili-Stick Table Topper is hands down my favorite new product! I have never seen a silicone table mat like this, and it stays put on every surface I tried! My boys could not lift it up and it was so easy to clean. Plus, it’s dishwasher safe for big messes! I am definitely going to add this table topper to my new list of must-haves for parents with toddlers who like to eat away from home.

Mom of 3-month-old and 1-year-old, Sunny L., tries Neat Solutions’ Sili-Stick Table Topper – My favorite item from this bunch! It’s super sticky and says put. At home, it keeps my tabletop clean, because my older child is really into smearing things around. I love the size of this mat, and after meals I just peel it up and dump in the sink. So great for eating out, too. It rolls up pretty small, and could also be folded to make it more packable. I am always scrubbing restaurant tables when I get there to try to get them cleaner for her food to sit on, and this makes the process so much easier. It’s big enough to cover any area in public her little hands could reach and keep her food germ-free.

Mom of 1-year-old, Alyssa J., tries the Neat Solutions’ Sili-Stick Table Topper – This is my new best friend for meals out of the house with baby. I don’t have to worry about the cleanliness of our dining table when I can make sure the Sili-Stick is a clean surface for baby to eat off of. I also don’t have to feel guilty about baby making too much of a mess at the restaurant. All I need to do is wipe it down at the end of the meal and be on our way!

Mom of 2-year old, Shana S., tries Neat Solutions’ Potty Toppers – If you’re like me, the thought of your little one sitting on a public toilet makes you a bit squeamish, to say the least. The Potty Topper is the perfect solution! These plastic liners adhere to the seat, keeping wetness and germs away. Plus, they’re oversized so little bottoms and hands stay well protected from any yuckies that might be lurking. (Editor’s note: we love that these Potty Toppers are eco-friendly too!)

Mom of 10-month-old, Lori W., tries the Neat Solutions’ Neatnik Saucer – This thing came out of my dreams. We had lunch with a friend and her baby this weekend and I used this with the high chair the restaurant provided and it fit perfectly. We are a baby led weaning family so things typically get very messy at mealtime and I loved being able to contain everything. It was also easy to fold up and clean when we were finished. I love love love it. My friend asked for the link so there’s another fan too!

6pm Bathtime (and bedtime prep!)

Mom of 3-month-old and 1-year-old, Sunny L., tries Neat Solutions’ Bath Robe – in the picture, my daughter is petting the robe and was thrilled to put on something soooo soft after her bath! She would pat/pet it and then smile at me. It’s so cozy and warm, and perfect for wrapping her up to get from the bathroom upstairs to her room downstairs, rather than carrying her in a damp towel. The design and color is very cute and dark blue suits her! It had enough fabric to cross in front and tie without leaving a drafty space.

Mom of twins, Abby L., tries Neat Solutions’ Bath Robes – We tried on our bathrobes both before and after bath time. They were super soft and added in a warm change of routine after bath time. Plus the adorable animals/patterns just added to the cute factor.

Mom of 2-year old, Shana S., tries Neat Solutions’ Bath Robe – There’s nothing cozier post-bath for your little one than a snuggly hooded towel – until they hit toddlerhood. When my little one kept sprinting from the bathroom wearing her hooded towel like a superhero cap, I knew it was time to switch to bath robes. I love the Fleece Bath Robe. It’s super soft, cozy, and comes in four different designs. Plus, there are also coordinating washcloths, hooded towels, and bath wraps.

Mom of 1-year-old, Alyssa J., tries the Neat Solutions’ Whale Applique/Print Coral Fleece Bath Robe. This is super cute for both boys and girls. It’s very soft and fluffy! It kept my baby nice and warm after her bath. The robe is generously sized for younger infants, so they won’t be growing out of it too quickly!

Mom of 10-month-old, Lori W., tries Neat Solutions’ Hooded Towel in Friendly Elephant – This hooded towel is so cute and does the job.

Want to discover more must-have products? Be sure to check out these other Gugu Village reviews:
The Village Reviews: bloom BABY All Natural Wipes
The Village Reviews: Gunapod Bamboo Duvet Sack

Thank you to Neat Solutions for making this sponsored post possible. Although the Gugu Village moms received products in exchange for their respective feedback, all opinions are their own.
Note: This post contains affiliate links.

Must Haves for Breastfeeding on the Go

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With the holiday season upon us, many families will be traveling to see loved ones; our urban mama, Megan, is back today sharing tips on breastfeeding while on-the-go, and in random places – read on to hear her helpful travel tips and learn all of the interesting places she’s breastfed! Where is the most interesting place you’ve breastfed or pumped?

See Megan’s NYC Mom Essentials, and her review of the BabyBjorn Carrier One Air. You can find mama Megan over on her Instagram, @GirlGoneChildinNYC and her blog, Girl Gone Child in NYC.

Just last month I nursed my daughter while we were on a tug boat racing down the Hudson River. The water was not smooth that day and trying to get my balance while standing on the bridge of the boat was hilarious. I’ve nursed on over 50 flights. I nurse riding the NYC subway on the daily, no one cares. When my youngest had colic I once nursed her all the way from NYC to West Virginia with a boob dangling over her car seat for 9 hours. Let’s just say when your kid refuses a bottle it forces you to nurse in some strange places.

Nursing is hard it takes a toll on your body, your social life, your sanity sometimes. It can be tough when your baby eats every four hours, but your boobs fill up in three. The timing feedings alone can make any woman insane. All these little things I never even thought about. Oh, sorry I can’t go to your wedding and stay 6 hours without considering if my boobs will explode. Once on our first outing six weeks after our first born arrived my husband wanted to go for drinks after dinner and I had to break it to him that unless he wanted to partake in a little Le Leche in the bathroom we had to go. Needless to say, he called it any early night.

To be honest I didn’t think much about nursing while I was pregnant. Yes, I planned on doing it. Yes, I bought all the accessories the internet told me I needed. I had no idea how hard it could be. In the end, I convinced myself it was part of nature and would come easy. Just like natural birth… Well, guess who had an emergency C-section. It’s like some General said, “Even the best laid plans don’t survive first contact with the enemy” or in this case my beautiful, hungry baby. I spent the first few weeks pumping because my son and I couldn’t get in sync. Eventually, after many frustratingly fruitless attempts, a lactation consultant verified what my husband had been cautiously mumbling all along, “Girl you need to chill! That baby isn’t going to take your boob when you’re a stressed-out mess.” I took a few deep breaths, got to my happy place and he latched right on.

I junked half the gimmicky crap I bought and focused on a realistic problem-solving approach. I realized that breastfeeding is different for every mother and I had to stop trying to solve problems that weren’t there to find what worked for me. Of course, there were a few bumps in the road, a clogged duct or two here and there, but I still look back on that time as one of the more rewarding aspects of parenting in those early years.

Enough about me. Back to nursing on the go. Here are my top traveling breastfeeding products.

H&M’s MAMA Line Nursing Bras: Nothing can make your life easier as a breastfeeding new mom than a decent Nursing Bra. H&M’s latest nursing friendly line MAMA is super soft and they have everything from comfy nursing bras and tops to even a Lace Nursing Dress.

Milk Snob Nursing Covers: It’s worth to stress you can breastfeed anyway you want too. It’s your boobs, your body and your baby. If you do choose to cover up I’m in love with these beautiful covers that also can be used for car seat covers, highchairs, shopping carts infant swings and more. They’re light weight, super soft and made of breathable rayon blend fabric. They have super cute designs too.

Bamboobies Milk- Proof Regular & Overnight Washable Nursing Bra Pads: Nothing sucks (ha) more than being out and hearing even another baby cry and next thing you know you’re soaked. As my oldest son put it one day “Mom why are your boobies crying” These Bra pads keep you from the embarrassment of crying boobs and keeps you dry.

Swing Breast Pump by Medela: This on the go battery powered pump is a traveling moms best friend. Which means you can still pump without an outlet in site. It’s small compact and fits easily into the diaper bag.

Ergo Original Carrier: I love this carrier, I’ve tried a lot and I always come back to this guy. I can wear it all day without it hurting my back and it’s so easy to nurse in this carrier. They even has a hood so you can nurse discreetly.

Medela Quick Clean Wipes: These Wipes allow you to clean your pump parts quickly on the go. They also work in highchairs and changing tables!

Milkmakers Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies: Who doesn’t like cookies? These little guys help new moms boost their milk. They’re perfect to grab on the go and delicious.

Nurgo Traveling Nursing Pillow: Tired of killing your back while traveling on the plane or train while nursing your baby with out a boppy or nursing pillow. No problem, the Nurgo’s compact design allows mothers to feed on the go anywhere. The pillow is non-toxic, odor free, Eco-friendly, antibacterial, and hypo-allergenic. The unique carrying case is attached and allows the pillow to compress to it’s ultra portable size making it perfect for travel. The handle while carrying doubles as a Bottle Band to hold your water, coffee, wine, whatever.

See more on traveling:

This post may contain affiliate links.

All photos courtesy of Megan Harper.

Babywearing Month: LilleBaby Baby Carriers

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October is International Babywearing Month and today we’re sharing about one of our favorite and very versatile baby carriers, the LilleBaby Carrier. Plus, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and LilleBaby has a commitment to support breast cancer research. Our urban-turned-suburban mama, Cassie Taylor, is a huge fan of LilleBaby and both her and her husband love it for all of their travels. Check out all the reasons why parents love the LilleBaby below. You can find Cassie on her Instagram or Facebook.

When it comes to babywearing, parents are all about versatility and longitivtiy of the carrier. Since many carriers can be on the pricier end of the spectrum, it’s important to find a carrier which is not only versatile and will last a long time, but really comfortable for parents, too. LilleBaby’s 6-in-1 Original Carrier is the ultimate carrier for parents who want to be able to change up how they wear the baby in 6 different ways! The 100% cotton fabric carrier featutes six carrying positions, hood, two pockets, lumbar support, neck support, 2-way straps, and best of all, is machine washable. The 6-in-1 Original Carrier includes every carrying position without the need for an infant insert: Front-fetal, Front-infant, Front-outward, Front- toddler, Hip and Back carry. The COMPLETE grows with your child through all the baby wearing years, from 7 lbs to 45 lbs. The patented cupped seat adjusts to keep baby ergonomically seated in all six carry positions through every development stage. The wide padded straps and waist belt evenly distribute baby’s weight for maximized comfort.

The Original 6-in-1 Carrier has increased lumbar support, which in turn, increases comfort, maintains healthy posture and alignment, and prevents lower back strain. Combined with an extra sturdy waist belt to maximize parent’s comfort. There are two ways to wear the strap; this enables the wearer to carry “backpack style” or with straps crossed in the back. Dual adjustment buckles simplify breastfeeding and adjusting straps on the go. The extra tall, extendable torso is so comfortable your baby will fall asleep. Provides extra neck and back support and keeps taller babies secure in the carrier. The adjustable width gently cradles baby’s head. Elastic straps provide support while allowing for movement and easy adjustment. This is ideal for traveling! We’ve also had many parents tell us that the LilleBaby is super comfortable for tall parents.

In honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, LilleBaby is making a commitment to support breast cancer research. 10% of every sale of the LilleBaby Complete Complete Embossed LUXE in Pink will go to breast cancer research. 10% of each sale of this beautiful baby carrier will be benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, whose mission is to prevent and cure breast cancer by advancing the world’s most promising research.

Want to see more about LilleBaby? Check out these posts:

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