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Making the Whole30 Easy for a Busy Mama (+ giveaway)

Hi mamas! Olivia here and today, I’m excited to share all about my Whole30 tips and tricks for a busy mama. I’ve been doing Whole30s since before I had kids, and found once I had two littles one in the house, I had to really think about preparing for a Whole30! In the last few years, I’ve discovered some Whole30 hacks, as well as some favorite foods – plus, head to the bottom of the post for a fun giveaway with our friends at Whole30 Mamas! Check out my Whole30 post from last year, too.

Are you pregnant or breastfeeding and wondering if a Whole30 is right for you? Head to our friends at Whole30 Healthy Mama Happy Baby to learn more; together with Melissa Hartwig of the Whole30©, Stephanie Greunke created Healthy Mama, Happy Baby, a virtual pregnancy handbook consisting of a series of short videos with comprehensive information meant to guide women throughout their entire pregnancy. You can learn more about Stephanie Greunke from our Mompreneur Spotlight on her.

Make sure you’re following the Whole30 Healthy Mama Happy Baby account on Instagram, as I’ll be taking over their Instagram on January 20th to chat about my Whole30 tips and favorite foods. If you missed the Stephanie from Whole30 Healthy Mama Happy Baby on Gugu Guru’s Instagram, simply go to our Instagram page and click on the highlight “Whole30 Mamas.”

Tips: Doing a Whole30 can seem overwhelming at first, especially when you have little kids in the house, but I’ve discovered some tips which really do help!

Find a support group: whether it’s a real life group of friends doing a Whole30 together, the awesome Whole30 forums, or a Facebook group for Whole30 support, find your tribe and use them! Struggling? Confused? Have a non-scale victory to celebrate? Having a support group to encourage and guide you is seriously half the battle.
Prep, prep, prep: I prep foods literally whenever I can! Are the kids watching a movie for two seconds? Cut some carrots! Is the baby napping? Brown some meat! Use the time when you have it to prep for the time when you don’t. The last thing you want is to be out of time and flummoxed on what to eat.
KISS: Keep it simple, silly! Whenever someone tells me they are starting their first Whole30, I always remind them to just keep it simple. There is no need for gourmet level food at every meal. I’m a big fan of the Paper Plate Paleo concept – it’s okay to have simple meals – it’s still a meal, even though it’s simple!
Pre-packaged is OK: We know how hard it can be to find time to prep everything you need, which is why I’m a huge fan of pre-packaged Whole30 foods – while it can be more expensive to purchase pre-chopped fruit and veggies, think of it like an investment in your health for the 30 days! Plus, Trader Joe’s now has spiralized frozen veggies and cauliflower rice – stock up when you can!
Make it fun: Speaking of spiralizing veggies, why not have fun with your time learning to use all these new foods? We’re fans of the Inspiralizer from Inspiralized (check out Ali’s Gugu Guru registry picks!). Ali, the founder of Inspiralized, makes it so easy to learn all about veggies and how you can make them the star of the meal. She has a bunch of Whole30 compliant recipes on Inspiralized, like these chicken fajita bowls with spiralized sweet potatoes – yum! (head to the bottom of the post to WIN an Inspiralizer Lite!)

Favorite Foods: I’ve developed a love for some favorite Whole30 staples over time – these make life so much easier!

Primal Kitchen Mayo and Dressings: I am not the type of person who will have the patience to make my own mayo, so when it comes to my mayo for Whole30 time, I always stock up on Primal Kitchen’s Mayo. I use it for tuna salad, chicken salad, marinades, and most importantly, making delicious and fun flavored dips that my kids love with veggies and chicken. Primal Kitchen also makes the best salad dressings, I use them all the time, not just when I’m on the Whole30. My favorites are their Greek Dressing and Ranch Dressing, they’re creamy and so healthy! Use code GUGUGURU for 10% off at Primal Kitchen.com
Aidell’s Chicken Apple Sausage: I could eat this chicken sausage every day, and I pretty much do on the Whole30. It’s delicious fried up with eggs, or even in a salad; and, my kids love it chopped up for breakfast! It makes a great toddler food.
Safe Catch Tuna: I’ve been a fan of Safe Catch tuna ever since I was pregnant with my oldest son and only wanted tunafish! My grandmother found Safe Catch at our local health food store and there was no turning back for me; what makes Safe Catch Tuna so special? Safe Catch is the only canned tuna company that tests each and every fish (before they purchase them) to ensure that the mercury levels in their Elite Wild Tuna is 10 times lower than the FDA’s limit! Tuna is full of healthy omega-3s and is a great source of lean protein, which is why I want to make sure it’s safe enough to give to my sons; I feel so much better knowing that Safe Catch tests all of their fish. Plus, not only is Safe Catch free of fillers or additives, it’s also non-GMO verified and sustainably caught so we can feel great about eating tuna again. If you’re pregnant and going to enjoy tuna, you definitley want to make sure you’re eating Safe Catch.
Nutpods: If you talk to anyone doing a Whole30, they’re going to start telling you about Nutpods! Nutpods are a life-saver during the Whole30. These non-dairy creamers are made from coconut and almond milk, and come in three flavors: hazelnut, French vanilla, and original. I use Nutpods all the time (we recommend adding them to your registry!), and sometimes even use the original flavor in my curries and soups. I carry one with me wherever I go and it’s so nice to have an additional to my coffee, whether I’m home or out. Use discount code GUGUGURU for 25% off your order at Nutpods.com (until 1/31/18). This is a great deal, so stock up now!
Not Ketchup: If you’re looking for a marinade or dipping sauce on the Whole30, check out Not Ketchup. This line of sauces is sweetened with fruit juice, so it’s Whole30 compliant. My kids love it too, so it makes preparing for meals easy – I just grill some chicken ahead of time and slice it into strips, add some celery strips and snap peas – and a delicious dipping sauce made with Not Ketchup, and everyone’s happy with a simple and healthy meal! Use code WHOLE30FCHUP for 20% off any Fruitchup purchase (single bottle, 2-pack, 4-pack) through Feb 28th at Not Ketchup.com.

Are you doing a Whole30? Let us know – and head below to enter an amazing Whole30 Giveaway – enter to win The Whole30 Fast and Easy Cookbook, a subscription to the Whole30 Healthy Mama Happy Baby Program, 2 Bottles of Not Ketchup, $30 to Safe Catch Tuna, the Inspiralizer Lite, and a Variety Pack of Nutpods!
Whole30 Giveaway

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Must Have Essentials: Makeup for New Moms

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Often when the baby comes along, the mama totally forgets about herself – and we are huge fans of self care here at Gugu Guru, even if it just means throwing on some makeup really fast! We asked our baby planners, plus some special friends, what their must have essentials are for makeup when it comes to new motherhood – and some handy tips!

Abby Ludwig, Gugu Guru Registry Consultant –

Must Have New Mom Makeup Essential: When my twins were little and deep exhaustion had set in, there was always one thing that made me feel better; mascara! In 5 seconds, I could easily offer my eyes the little pick-me-up they so desperately needed. My current favorite is the Phyto-Pigments Mascara by Juice Beauty, which is a natural plant-based mascara that offers all the smudge-proof, flake-free feathery lashes a new mama needs!

Check out Abby’s must have essential pick for baby basics.

Lindsay Neely, Greenville, SC, of Your Milk Shoppe –

Must Have New Mom Makeup Essential: I could get Bobbi Brown foundation on in 2 secs and with one hand. Highly recommend it and remember specifically asking the BB counter person if all I had to do is quickly put it on….zero additional steps! ???? and there’s a mirror in the compact too!

Ginny Lawler, Atlanta, GA, of Your Milk Shoppe –

Must Have New Mom Makeup Essential: All new moms need under eye concealer or anti-puffer. Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Puff eye roller or whatever may be your favorite. A little concealer under the eyes can make you look refreshed and like you actually slept through the night. Sing to your baby while getting ready, distract them all you can while you put makeup on.

Check out Ginny’s pick for newborn lockdown must have essential.

Sarah Slazyk, Columbia, SC, of Your Milk Shoppe –

Must Have New Mom Makeup Essential: My suggestion would be to invest in a good BB or CC cream! For all of those tired days when you have to run a few errands or want to look like there is still some life left in you around visiting friends– Taking less than 30 seconds to apply, BB creams can make all the difference by adding a little color to brighten up that sleepy smile! (Doesn’t have to be $$ either. Most make-up brands have it and it’s a great Target add on for around $12)

Check out Sarah’s one baby registry must have essential item.

Kimmie Johnson of Your Milke Shoppe –

Must Have New Mom Makeup Essential: BeautyCounter sells a kit with makeup essentials called Flawless in Five. Concealer (every mom’s best friend!), tinted moisturizer, brow pencil, mascara, lip gloss, and blush/bronzer for the extra frisky days. Voila! Mama is fresh-faced and ready to rock in 5 minutes or less.

We also asked our friend (and mom of 3), celebrity makeup artist, Jamie Makeup for some advice:

Must Have New Mom Makeup Essential: I think when you’re pregnant it’s all about taking care of your skin. So I would invest in some sort of botanical oil for your face. Two of my favorites are Vintner’s Daughter and True Botanicals. These oils are super hydrating, calming, and safe for pregnancy. Once your face is feeling good it’s easier to get makeup to sit naturally on your face. I would make your life easier and choose a tinted moisturizer with spf. Juice Beauty and Suntegrity are my favorite. Lastly find the perfect lip shade for you! I loved wearing clean skin and bold lip. I was rocking Charlotte Tilbury in Lost Cherry for months. And I’d use it on my cheeks too, to make my life easier.

Check out Jamie’s LA Baby Must Have Essentials.

Jordan Reid, mom of two and the writer behind Ramshackle Glam, adds:

Must Have New Mom Makeup Essential: Self-tanning face moisturizer. Moisturizer for obvious reasons, but I like a formula with just a hint of self-tanner because it makes you look like you haven’t spent several days or weeks (or months) hiding in a dark hole, utterly deprived of all sleep and (non-tiny) human interaction. If you choose a super-quick-drying brand – because obviously you’re going to forget you put it on immediately after you do – it makes you look instantly glowy(er) and awake(r).

Check out our baby registry picks over on Ramshackle Glam, and Jordan’s Mompreneur Spotlight, too.

Need more makeup help?

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Must Have Essentials: Early Feeding for Babies

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

There are two questions we often get from new parents when it comes to building a registry: one, “what will I need to feed my newborn?” And, the follow up, “can I register for items for early feeding of solid foods?” To which we always say, of course! However, there are must have essentials for each of those topics – and we asked our amazing baby planners for their picks for early feeding, when it comes to infants and babies. Don’t forget to add these picks to your registry!

Abby Ludwig, Gugu Guru Registry Consultant –

Must Have Essential for Early Feeding: My top pick for an early feeding item is the Boppy! As a mom of twins I had two Boppy’s which helped greatly while I was trying to feed my little ones. For those nursing, the My Breast Friend or Twin-Z Pillow are also great pillows to help support you and your children!

Tina Morton, Cloud Nine Birth Services –

Must Have Essential for Early Feeding: The ezpz Happy Mat for baby is the best for little eaters! This unique placemat sticks to eating surfaces without adhesives and has different compartments for all types of food. Another plus, it’s super easy to clean!

Jessica Zablan, The Birth & Baby Company –

Must Have Essential for Early Feeding: Baby Led Weaning (BLW) is a great to introduce food to your baby. BLW allows them to play with the food and for them to learn to put food into their own mouths. There website has some great resources.

Ashley Akselband of Wellsprings Birth and Baby –

Must Have Essential for Early Feeding: the Beaba baby food maker for stage 1 foods (steams and purées all in one) and the ezpz Happy Mat all in one mat/bowl combos – super cute and super functional for those first finger foods!

Amber Michels of Your Milk Shoppe –

Must Have Essential for Early Feeding:

Your Milk Shoppe’s one “must have” essential for feeding is the Lactalite Breast Pump Device. Lactalite Breast Pump Lights were created out of necessity. Dr. Patrick O’Malley watched as his wife, Kelly, was struggling to see whether or not she was producing milk while pumping. Juggling a breast shield and bottle with one hand and the LED light of her iPhone in the other, they both agreed that there was a better way. They created an easy to use light, attached it to the breast shield, and in Kelly’s words, “This literally changed my breast pumping experience on the spot. I felt that I had to use the Lactalite every time I pumped, day and night, it was that helpful.”

Victoria Zimmerman, Aspen Baby Planners –

Must Have Essential for Early Feeding: I can’t recommend aden+anais Burpy Bibs enough! Their unique shape keeps them on your shoulder when feeding, burping, and even when bending over to put baby down (there’s nothing worse than a burp cloth that’s constantly falling off and landing on your little ones face!). Pro-tip: stick to the cotton; the bamboo ones shrink up when washed!

Victoria Facelli, Durham Lactation –

Must Have Essential for Early Feeding: I love a sturdy flat breastfeeding pillow like My Breast Friend as you learn to feed your wiggly new baby. I think a water bottle with a straw is essential because breastfeeding makes you so thirsty!

Olivia Howell, Gugu Guru’s Editor in Chief –

Must Have Essential for Early Feeding: I formula fed all my boys and found the Dr. Brown’s Formula mixing pitcher was so helpful for middle of the night feeding.

See also: Dr Brown’s for Formula Feeding

Photos via Pics and Paws Photography

Must Have Essentials: Baby’s First Thanksgiving

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Thanksgiving crept up quickly this year, and for many parents out there, it’s an exciting one, because it is their baby’s first Thanksgiving! We asked the Gugu Guru team and our baby planners for their must have essential items to celebrate Baby’s First Thanksgiving. Check over on Instagram to see some tips for enjoying your baby’s first Thanksgiving, too!

Victoria Facelli of Durham Lactation: Mine would be the Inglesina Fast Table Chair with tray. This way baby can be right up at the holiday table with you, plus it is so foldable to take to grandma’s house! the tray helps the feet of the seat not get cruddy and protects your beautiful heirloom linens from babies first cranberry sauce.

See also: The Inglesina Fast Table Chair on our Foodie Mom’s Registry and Minimalist Baby Registry.

Jessica Zablan of The Birth and Baby Company: Ezpz Mats (pictured above). It’s a silicone suction mat that sticks right to the table or high chair. You don’t have to worry about your littles throwing the bowl or plate on to the floor. They are also dishwasher safe.

See also: Meet the Maker behind EZPZ Mats.

Lauren Daylami, Maternity Consultant with Your Milk Shoppe in Charleston, SC: The Oxo Tot Roll Up Bib is a must! It’s an essential item for parents to have for their kiddo at Thanksgiving. It has a convenient silicone pocket that will catch all the yummy food at dinner and is super easy to wash in the sink!

Ginny Lawler, Maternity Consultant with Your Milk Shoppe in Atlanta, GA: Bumkins Bibs! These come in a 3-pack, and are simple, easy to clean and easy to pack up. An extra bib for Thanksgiving is never a bad idea and so smart to pack when traveling! EZPZ Happy Mat; if your kids are up to solids, this placement and plate set is great for an easy cleanup. It’s completely dishwasher safe and it suctions to the table to avoid the plate from being thrown or flipped over!

Sarah Slazyk, Maternity Consultant with Your Milk Shoppe, Columbia South Carolina & Charlotte, NC: Nothing is more important than capturing these precious months, years, and LIFETIMES of your sweet babies. My tip for creating lasting memories this holiday season (and every year after) is Groovebook! This day in age, we take So. Many. Photos. on our phones…but how many of us actually have the time to print and organize them? Groovebook is amazing and affordable! To get started, simply download the app, sign-up, and add a credit card. Each month, for only $2.99, you can upload up to 100 photos by the deadline. Groovebook will print all of them (4×6) in an adorable little booklet and automatically mail them to you. Have more than 100 photos you want printed in a month or want a duplicate book for all of your realtives? Easy peasy! You can add additional books for $2.99 each. Seriously, this app is fantastic and a great way to easily save these special memories!

Monica Banks, founder of Gugu Guru: I’m usually flying somewhere for Thanksgiving, so I’ve found having a baby carrier to wear the baby is key. Make sure that you practice with the carrier before you journey with baby. We’re big fans of the Tula Free-to-Grow carrier because you can use it from infants to toddlers – it’s also super lightweight. See our full review on it here.

Olivia Howell, Gugu Guru’s Editor in Chief: I’m a big photo taker, so when it comes to the holidays, I want to make sure I am all set up for good photos; don’t forget to get baby a cute outfit – I have two boys, so I love browsing Cuddle Sleep Dream for their Thanksgiving outfits for baby boys. Also, don’t forget to get a cute apron for yourself!

This post may contain affiliate links.

Top photo via Pics and Paws Photography

Helpful Products for Pumping at Work

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-Sponsored Post-

Going back to work can be daunting for many moms, but the logistics of pumping at work are often overwhelming for new moms (and even seasoned mamas). We asked all of our social media moms what they think the essentials are for pumping at work, and rounded up some top tips to share with you all!

Bravado’s Clip and Pump Hands-Free Nursing Bra Accessory: Whenever we ask moms for nursing bra suggestions, time and again, they tell us how much they love Bravado bras – it’s no surprise to us – with many options to pick from, including plus size bras, Bravado provides flattering, comfortable, and functional nursing bras for breastfeeding (and not breastfeeding) moms. The Clip and Pump Hands-Free Nursing Bra Accessory is an essential item for going back to work! The Clip and Pump Hands-Free Nursing Bra Accessory’s revolutionary design offers moms the convenience, ease and discretion they’ve been asking for. It’s ideal for work because it is discreet, no need to remove your top or nursing bra. The patent pending figure 8 opening is engineered for easy breast shield insertion and removal – no need to detach breast shield from bottle. It is made from super soft, breathable cotton modal fabric blend and even has the option to pump on one side and breastfeed on the other! You can learn more about the Clip and Pump in our original review here, too!

Not sure how to even get a breastpump for work? Aeroflow’s quick guide will help you get one through your insurance! Check out the Freemie Collection Cups for discreet milk-saving at work, too. Looking for a way to carry your pump to and from work? Check out the Nurse Purse – it comes in mod designs!

When it comes to heading back to work and preparing to pump, many moms suggested a great nursing cover, such as the Goodbody Goodmommy Multitasking Cardigan (which is totally work appropriate), and many mamas sang the praises of companies such as BURU, Loyal Hana and Allette. Our friend Carly Walko from Thirty Something Fashion rounded up some stylish and functional looks for going back to work while breastfeeding. Looking for tips on how to head back to work after maternity leave? We have some helpful hints. If you head to our Instagram, you can see all of the helpful tips from mamas, but the one tip we loved? “Watching videos of my baby helps with a faster letdown,” such a great tip!

Thank you to Bravado for making this sponsored post possible.

Urban Style for the Suburban Mama

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Did you know that Gugu Guru was started because Monica Banks was living in New York City and realized that city mamas have different needs than suburban moms? Many young couples start their life in an urban environment and move out to the suburbs when they start a family – but how does this affect your personal mom style? Today’s post is by musician and model, Cassie Taylor; she is known for her mod-urban style, but as the mom of a 2 year old boy, she needs to make sure she can run around and keep up with her toddler as a suburban mama. Cassie is sharing her favorite ways to transition you and your kiddo’s style from super urban to suburban mama – all while still feeling hip and modern. You can find Cassie on her Instagram or Facebook.

Mom Life Must Haves’ Permanently Exhausted Shirt; Rowdy Sprout’s Nirvana Shirt

I was a size 10 before I got pregnant, and after I had my son, Woods I was a size 20. It was emotionally painful for me to get dressed every morning and my entire closet just hung there and made me feel pathetic. Rebuilding my life and wardrobe postpartum has been a struggle, but also a pleasure. I have found a new standard of beauty and embraced my curves, with a new easy styles that work for me as a mom, business woman, artist and wife. I love Mom Life Must Have T-Shirts! The shirt is so soft and they are versatile. I can combine it with leggings and a jacket for a cool and easy look for a toddler play date or jazz it up with a leather skirt and rock it for a mompreneur outing. I love this tank, it pretty much sums up my existence. My son is an adorable happy toddler but a terrible sleeper, despite my husband’s and my efforts. I am in a constant state of exhaustion which is fueled by my love of caffeine. (Check out some gifts for coffee loving parents!)

Mom Life Must Haves’ Mom Life shirt

I have had the pleasure of living in Chicago, Denver and Memphis and spent months at a time traveling abroad in Europe with when music was my full time gig. But when I met my husband we moved across the plains to the Missouri countryside. After our son was born we knew we needed to meet in the middle somewhere. He’s an avid outdoorsman who hunts, fishes and rock limbs on the weekends and I’m a gal who wants to dine out, shop and see live music. It was a compromise on both of our parts but in the end it’s been a wonderful place for the both of us and a safe place to grow up for our son.

When it comes to urban style for the suburban mama, it’s all about looking rad while staying comfortable. Old Navy is a staple for the suburban mama, with their Rockstar jeans that you can easily bend, stretch, run and jump in.

I love to have fun styling my little guy, which is why I turn to super comfortable children’s clothing with a modern twist! I’m a huge fan of Mitz Accessories; their clothing promotes education, creativity, and empowers kids to make their own decisions about what they wear. Blade and Rose has a huge assortment of funky leggings for both boys and girls. And, as a musician, I’m a personal fan of Rowdy Sprout, because, let’s face it – every little guy needs an assortment of rocker tees! And, really, what’s a toddler without a bow-tie? Exactly. Lillabarn is my go-to for rad bow-ties for my son.

Lillabarn Bow-Tie; Mitz Accessories Rainbow Shirt; Rowdy Sprout ACDC shirt

And, as any urban turned suburban mama knows, babywearing is the way to go! I’m a huge fan of Lillebaby – not only because they have the most awesome designs on their carriers, but because I can wear my son on the front or back. It’s ideal for weekend trips, errands, or just hanging out at home with a grumpy toddler.

Baby Palate-Training Tips from Little Foodie Club

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One of the questions we see all the time in our mom groups online is “how do I even start baby on solids?” We know that anything food related can cause great anxiety for parents, so we’re excited about today’s guest blogger. Little Foodie Club is the brainchild of Kerstin Kühn, an international food writer, who has traveled and eaten her way around the world for more than 10 years. When it came to feeding her daughter Maxine, she realized the importance palate-training plays in raising a child who loves to eat vegetables and is willing to try new foods. So Kerstin developed her own range of baby purées with a culinary touch. She’s here today with some helpful and easy tips for making the introduction of solid food seamless and fun for both mama and baby. You can find Little Foodie Club on Facebook and Instagram.

Starting solids is one of the most exciting and fun milestones in a baby and new parent’s first year of life. But it’s also such a minefield of different opinions and contradictory information that it can quickly turn into a source of anxiety. Do you start with rice cereal or vegetables? How often can you safely introduce a new ingredient? Are nut butters and gluten safe? What if your baby chokes or has an allergic reaction?

It is essential you consult your pediatrician before starting solid foods, ensuring your baby is ready and there are no underlying food intolerances to worry about. But once you’ve been given the go ahead, you can let the fun begin. Here are a few tips on giving your baby the best start to a lifetime of happy, healthy eating habits.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Highchair
Feeding spoons
Plastic bowls
Bibs
Blender

LET THE FUN BEGIN!

It’s important for you as the parent to stay focused on building your little one’s positive relationship with food. Here are a few tips on how to turn mealtime into fun time:

Highchair happiness: In the week before you start solids, sit your baby in the highchair and play games so there is a fun association with it.
Don’t worry: Your baby senses your emotions and will pick up on your excitement or anxiety. So try not to stress during mealtime.
Make faces: Smile, open your eyes and mouth wide and show your baby how excited you are that he or she is eating.
Talk about the food: Explain what your baby is eating by naming the ingredient, its color, smell and taste.

VEGETABLES AND VARIETY

Babies are very receptive to new tastes during the transition to solids foods so the more variety you introduce right from the start, the better. Research from the University College London found that starting babies on a variety of simple vegetables – i.e. one ingredient purees – during the first 15 days of introducing solids makes them significantly more willing to try, accept and like new vegetables later on.

WHAT ABOUT ALLERGIES AND THE THREE-DAY RULE?

Unless there is a strong family history of food allergies – in which case you should consult your pediatrician – you can confidently expose your baby to a new ingredient every day. The most recent scientific research suggests that the earlier potentially allergenic foods like peanuts or gluten are introduced, the less likely a baby is to develop an allergy later on.

AVOID RICE CEREAL

Experts don’t recommend starting with rice cereal as this has virtually zero impact on a baby’s taste development and very little nutritional value to boot. Studies have even suggested that babies who are first given rice cereal are more likely to be obese later in life and grow up to prefer processed over fresh foods.

FIVE FIRST FOODS TO START WITH:

Avocado: Loaded with essential vitamins, minerals and good fats, all of which are great for a developing baby, avocados are easy to digest and simple to blend – simply blitz with a few drops of water, breastmilk or formula.

Broccoli: The king of vegetables – packed with minerals (iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc and potassium) as well as vitamin C and B-complex vitamins – is a really great food to get your baby into as early as possible.

Carrots: Bright and colorful and packed with goodness, carrots are a brilliant first baby food. They are an excellent source of beta-carotene, which turns into vitamin A in the body and contain fiber, iron, calcium and vitamin C.

Pears: One of the least allergenic of all foods pears contain good quantities of fiber, making them great for digestion. If a little hard, simply poach in water for a few minutes before pureeing.

Zucchini: This summer squash is a wonderful first food as it’s mild tasting rich in B vitamins as well as lutein and zeaxanthin, which are excellent for promoting good eyesight. Steam for a few minutes until soft and blend.

21 DAYS TO SOLIDS

At Little Foodie Club, we understand that starting solids can be daunting. That’s why we have designed the Little Foodie Club 21 Days To Solids Plan: to help, support and enable parents to introduce their baby to solid foods with confidence and ease. Use promo code GUGUGURU17 and get $10 off.

More Foodie Inspiration:

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.

Space-Saving Products for Parents of Twins: Gugu Guru Answers

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A Gugu Guru registrant asks for help, and one of our registry consultants answers! When a mom of twins mentions on sign up, “I share a small room with my two babies and am interested in space-saving products for parents of twins” – our registry consultant, Abby, who is also a mom of twins, comes to the rescue. Here’s what she has to say:

I am so excited to send you this list of space-saving products for parents of twins that I think will *hopefully* help with some of your dilemmas. I even use some of these with my twins, so I can personally say they are ‘Twin-Mom Approved!’ I am sure you have solutions for sleeping and clothing storage so I tried to stay away from the basics.

Space-Saving Products for Parents of Twins: Diapering

Diaper Changing

The best solution for a small space diaper station is the Skip Hop Pronto Changing Station. With compartments for extra diapers, wipes, and diaper cream, this is a great go-to for floor changes.
My other recommendation is the Keekaroo Changing Pad, which makes diaper changes on top of counters/dressers/even on the floor completely possible! Bonus: the changer is slip resistant, meaning your little ones won’t be able to move it.

Shelving and Displays

Wall Shelves can be a great way to display items in a fun (and out of the way) way.

The Babyletto Spruce Tree Bookcase can be used for books/toys/pictures/etc.
These Floating Shelves can work for both your items and things for the kids.
Lastly, these acrylic book shelves take up hardly any space and can be used in many areas of your house.

For the Kitchen

The first item that popped immediately into my head is a compact highchair. Here are a few options you may like (at different price points).

Many twin moms prefer the Ikea Antilop high chair. At just $19.99 it is a steal. It is also easy to take apart for quick storage.
The Joovy Nook highchair is the one I currently use for my boys. I love that it folds completely flat for easy storage when it’s not meal time.
The Stokke Tripp Trapp is a favorite high chair of moms everywhere. It slides easily up to the table, or you can use purchase a separate tray. Also, I love this chair because it grows with your kiddos.

Kids’ Activities

The hardest part of living in a small space is the amount of stuff the twins’ need for activity and stimulation. Finding small activity tables and toys that can be easily put away is a challenge, but possible! Also, utilize underneath bed/crib storage for items that aren’t being used.

Finn + Emma has a ton of play gyms that aren’t connected to a mat, which makes them easy to set down anywhere! They are adorable and easy to store when not in use.
My last suggestion is a little bit on the larger side, but it plays multiple roles! The Ruggish Play Rugs are great and stylish on one side, but turn into a play mat for the kiddos on the back. These are actually currently on my ‘To Buy’ list as my boys get a little bit bigger.

Interested in some other helpful posts for parents of multiples? Check these out:

Abby Ludwig, Gugu Guru Registry Consultant

Abby Ludwig is a Gugu Guru Registry Consultant and a mom of two adorable twin boys.

5 Things Every Breastfeeding Mom Needs with Yummy Mummy

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

In honor of International Breastfeeding Week, we reached out to the breastfeeding guru herself, Amanda Cole of Yummy Mummy, to share some of her quick tips for things every breastfeeding mom needs. Amanda conceived of the idea for Yummy Mummy after the birth of her daughter when like many other new moms, she was looking for help overcoming the challenges of breastfeeding and motherhood. She saw a need for a one-stop-shop for support, services and products to help new moms meet their personal breastfeeding goals and their needs as a new mom. Yummy Mummy is a retail store on the Upper East Side of New York City, and is a company dedicated to All Things Breastfeeding and for moms-to-be!

Breastfeeding is one of the best things that you can do for you and your little one, but just because it is a wonderful thing to do, doesn’t mean that it’s always easy. The most important thing you can do is make sure that you have the right support. Support from your partner, support from a couple key products, and if you are having trouble, support and information from experts. Here are five things every breastfeeding mom needs.

A Quality Pump –
Most nursing moms find that they need to pump, at least occasionally. If you’re breastfeeding, pumping is essential if you are planning to return to work, or even if you just need to take a break to run some errands, go to a doctor’s appointment, or take a well-deserved nap. Pumping allows your partner or another caregiver to give your baby a bottle while you are away. Most insurance plans now cover breast pumps often at no additional cost to you. Find out how easy it is to get a breast pump through insurance in this short video.

A Hands-Free Pumping Band –

Every new mom could use an extra hand. A sturdy hands-free pumping band gives you two. Send an email, have a snack or flip through a magazine. Moms we talk to love these bras because they can still get things done while pumping. Look for a pumping band made from a strong elastic material that won’t stretch out with repeated use. Here are two that keep their shape from your first pump to your one thousandth: the Pump Mate Hands Free Pumping Band, and the Snugabell Pumpease Hands Free Pumping Bra.

Three Great Nursing Bras –

Your ribcage and cup size change during pregnancy and your time nursing. A couple of great-fitting nursing bras can make a big difference in your comfort and ability to easily nurse or pump. The general rule is that you need at least three nursing bras. One on you, one in the wash and one in the drawer.

Check out some great stylish and supportive nursing bras here.

A Versatile Nursing Top or Two –

If you plan to pump or nurse on the go, a breastfeeding mom needs a nursing top that is comfortable and stylish. Many tops and dresses come with hidden panels or zippers so that no one knows that it is a nursing top except you and your little one. Check out some of our favorites here.

A Support System –

Emotional support from your partner is key and something every breastfeeding mom needs. Nobody does it alone. Don’t be afraid to tell your partner what you need (or what you don’t need from nosey family members!). And if you have questions or concerns, or are having a tough time breastfeeding, seek support and advice from a specialist. You can find an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) (IBCLC) in your area here.

Want to learn more? Check out our Mompreneur Profile on Amanda Cole! Plus, Six Tips On How To Successfully Return To Work After Maternity Leave and our Trend Spotter Report: All About the Boobs!

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