baby

New Mom Series: Car Seat Installation

This is our first post in Gugu Guru’s New Mom Series, where we will be providing helpful information for new and expecting moms about preparing and registering for baby. For this Infant Car Seat feature, we have partnered up with expecting mama Terra LaRock, the leading brand in infant safety Britax and, the Baby Safety Zone powered by the JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association). JPMA is a national trade organization representing 95% of the prenatal to preschool industry dedicated to the safe manufacturing and usage of products.

When Terra LaRock, who is expecting her first baby, was researching car seats the most important factor was safety. Terra is 36 weeks along and most experts will tell you that installing your car seat 4-6 weeks before your due date is a smart idea, just in case you go into labor early. As you may or may not know, most hospitals won’t let you leave without an installed car seat.

Based on her lifestyle and budget, Gugu Guru recommended the Britax B-Safe 35 Elite Infant Car Seat for her registry. The B-Safe car seat is engineered to exceed the highest safety standards out there. Aside from the B-Safe being built to last, parents and caregivers love that the seat is easy to adjust and comfortable for your child as s/he grows. In Terra’s words:

“We settled on the Britax car seat because it got rave reviews for safety and it is much lighter to carry than many of the other car seats we tried out. We also love how easy it is to click in and out of the base and the fabric appears super easy to maintain and keep clean. The extra bonus of this Britax car seat happens to be the color and pattern choices—they are so fun!”

Terra loved the perfectly unisex Cactus Green color (Baby LaRock’s gender is a surprise!)

The next step? Reading up on Car Seat Safety on Baby Safety Zone‘s website. The Baby Safety Zone is an information hub and community for parents and caregivers. Baby Safety Zone helps make safety fun, one baby product at a time. It’s very important for new parents to check resources like this because the unfortunate fact is that *most* car seats are installed incorrectly.

Tip: Some parents will tell you that you can go to the your local fire department for installation. We see this as a “checking your work” step and don’t recommend you have a safety technician or fire department personnel install the seat from the start. While these are great resources, it’s important that YOU know how to install it yourself.

For example, did you know that a properly installed car seat should not move more than an inch in any direction? Learn more helpful tips for proper safe use and installation of a child’s car seat with Baby Safety Zone’s informative car seat safety infographic. (Find it here or scroll down to the bottom of this post.)

Featured in this week’s New Mom Series:

Terra LaRock
Terra is an educator who lives in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado with her husband, Perry, and their husky named Rio. She enjoys gardening, floral design, bluegrass music and getting their home ready for baby’s arrival. Terra is expecting their first baby at the end of October and the gender is a surprise!
Follow Terra on Instagram at @LoveAndLaRock

Britax
Britax has been leading the way in child safety technology for more than 70 years. Always innovating, always focusing on what’s best for the child, always going beyond ‘good enough’. From Europe’s best-selling car seat brand, Britax has become one of the brands most trusted by American families since they launched here in 1996.

Since then, Britax has revolutionized side impact protection, transformed safe seat installation, and introduced a range of smart strollers designed around the changing needs of today’s families.
Visit Britax at: https://us.britax.com/

Baby Safety Zone
The Baby Safety Zone is an information hub and community for parents and caregivers. We’re helping make safety fun, one baby product at a time. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to immerse themselves in the Baby Safety Zone experience and become a part of a circle of parents dedicated to making their child’s first years, happy, safe and sound.

The Baby Safety Zone is powered by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association. JPMA is a national trade organization representing 95% of the prenatal to preschool industry. Today, JPMA represents 250 companies in the United States, Canada, and Mexico who manufacture, import and/or distribute infant products such as cribs, car seats, strollers, bedding, and a wide range of accessories and decorative items.
Visit the Baby Safety Zone at: https://babysafetyzone.org

Learn helpful tips for proper safe use and installation of a child’s car seat with Baby Safety Zone’s informative car seat safety info graphic here:

DockATot

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Today we feature DockATot – a completely unique, versatile and chicly designed product developed in Europe.

Why Gugu Guru loves the super stylish DockATot:

Careful consideration given to the overall design, functionality and safety.
Unique shape and design allow babies to comfortably lounge, play, snuggle and log in some tummy time.
Little one feels snuggled in a safe haven that feels a lot like the womb.
Bumpers made with a special air-permeable fabric that makes DockATot particularly worry-free.
Lightweight and perfect for travel.

Don’t just take it from us, here’s what certified baby and child sleep consultant Jenni June has to say:

Favorite Gender Reveal Ideas

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Guest blog from Cheryl Seidel of RegistryFinder.com

Gender reveals were virtually unheard of ten years ago, but today, they’re everywhere! Many couples are choosing to host gender reveal parties, while others are opting for a gender reveal photo shoot. Photo announcements on Facebook or Instagram are also popular ways to announce your baby’s gender. Pinterest is overflowing with great gender reveal ideas, but we’ve selected some of our favorites to share with you!

Use Confetti!

Photo Credit: Kara’s Party Ideas

Confetti is included at many celebrations, so we think it’s a great way to celebrate your new little one! The balloon pop has become a very popular gender reveal recently. If you want to get all of your guests in on the action, fill lots of balloons with confetti and hang them from the ceiling. Instruct your guests to simultaneously pop their balloons! An alternative to the confetti filled balloon is the pull string piñata or box, also filled with pink or blue confetti.

Get Messy!

Photo Credits: Macon Photography (L) and Triplet Living (R)

These are especially fun if you don’t already know your baby’s gender. Give your guests silly string (or if you’re feeling really adventurous!) squirt guns filled with paint. Stand with your honey, close your eyes, count to three, and prepare for the deluge. When you open your eyes, you’ll know whether it’s a boy or a girl.

Embellish Your Ultrasound Picture

Photo Credits: Charlotte and Rae (L) and Thrift Mom (R)

We love this sweet, but simple idea- embellish your ultrasound picture with boy or girl accessories.

Share a Sweet Treat!

Photo Credits: 8- Love To Be In The Kitchen | 9- Dessert Now Dinner Later | 10- TwoTwentyOne | 11- The Sweet Adventures of Sugarbelle

Like I mentioned earlier, the cake seems to have started the gender reveal phenomenon! But what about gender reveal cupcakes, cake pops, cookies, or Oreos? Have your guests bite into their treat all together- everyone will love joining in the reveal!

Include Older Siblings…

Photo credits: 12- Life Your Way | 13- Beth Lee Photography | 14- Erica Joyce Photography | 15- Simple Suburbia

What’s cuter than mom and dad revealing their baby’s gender? Siblings doing it! We love all of these cute ideas to get older siblings involved and excited for their new baby!

About Cheryl Seidel:

Seidel is a sought after etiquette expert and regular contributor for The Huffington Post and author of the popular Ask Cheryl blog. She helps advise readers with handy tips on how much to spend, when gift giving is appropriate and other would-have-loved-to-know-that-when moments in gift giving, She is also the creator and founder of www.RegistryFinder.com, an intuitive search engine that helps gift givers quickly and easily find online registries for weddings, baby showers, graduations and more. Seidel has 22 years of business experience, with concentrations in new product development and consumer advertising and promotion.

Baby Registry: Stylish, Economical “On The Go” Picks

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We plan on regularly featuring some of our favorite budget finds for your baby registry. Whether it’s gear, clothing or nursery decor, the team at Gugu Guru knows for sure that you don’t have to spend a mint to have high quality, stylish products for mom & baby. Here, our stylish economical On The Go gear picks:

Urbini Omni 3-in-1 Travel System

The Omni 3-in-1 system from newcomer Urbini is a stylish, good quality option at a really great price. Its sleek modern design is similar to some of the pricier prams out there so you can look good without the sticker shock. Plus, we’ve been impressed that the product exceeds industry safety ratings — proving that you don’t have to sacrifice peace of mind just because you’re paying less. Oh, and if you’d like a jogger instead so you can get back to your weekend runs with baby in tow, check out their Avi system.

Infantino Flip Front 2 Back Carrier

It’s not just the price tag that makes parents so happy with this Infantino Flip Front 2 Back Carrier (though admittedly that’s a big reason). The Infantino Flip Front 2 Back Carrier has been put to test and compared with some of the best and most popular carriers out there and manages to exceed all expectations. We love the three carrying positions that grow with your baby; the extra padded straps for your baby-wearing comfort and; the breathable mesh fabric so baby is safe and sound.

Baby Cargo Georgi Bag

It’s no secret that we’re huge fans of Baby Cargo and their smart line of affordable and stylish gear. We’ve blogged about them a few times – especially the Georgi bag, a cult favorite. These bags come in a variety of fashion-forward hues (shown here in Moonless Night/Teal). What we love most about this line is that it’s where fashion meets function. Slide the grommets of the bag over your umbrella stroller handles or use the strap snaps to clip on to your stroller bar.

Baby Registry: Stylish, Economical "On The Go" Picks

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Urbini Omni 3-in-1 Travel System

Infantino Flip Front 2 Back Carrier

Baby Cargo Georgi Bag

Registry Must-Haves for Adopting Parents

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Because we have many adopting parents coming to Gugu Guru to build their registries, we are in the process of adding special features to the website to assist these parents with finding the best baby registry items for adoptions. In the meantime, here are some of our must-haves to help adopting parents make more informed decisions in preparation for this wonderful journey:

Baby Wearing

For adoptions, we highly recommend baby wearing (like the fashionable Boba wrap, seen here in Stardust). We actually recommend baby wearing to ALL parents because bonding starts right after birth and babies benefit from as much attachment parenting as possible. This makes baby wearing very important to adopting parents because it helps solidify the bond and enables baby to attach more quickly.

Parent Facing Stroller

We also recommend a stroller that has a seat that faces the parent. This way the parent and baby can have as much eye contact as possible. Eye contact strengthens the bond between parent and baby. The UPPAbaby Vista Travel System (seen here in Maya) has everything you need, including a parent facing position, and is a stylish, versatile option. A more affordable choice is the Graco Snugrider Elite Stroller and Car Seat Carrier.

Ergonomic Bottles

If you are adopting a baby that will still be taking the bottle, we are huge fans of the Comotomo bottle because of its amazing ergonomic design that resembles a breast.

Bottle Warmer

If you’re adopting a baby 0-12 months, especially 0-6 months, you may want to save your sanity during late night feedings with a bottle warmer. Bottle warmers (like the Born Free Bottle Genius seen here) make it easy to prep a bottle in just seconds.

Travel or Mini Crib

Again, depending on the age of the child you’re adopting, we suggest considering having the baby in a travel crib or a mini crib (preferably with wheels) so babies 0-5 months can be in your room during the night. This helps with both feedings and attachment parenting. Plus baby is always close for a spontaneous kiss or snuggle. We like the Babyletto Origami Mini Crib (seen here in Lagoon) because it has wheels so you can gradually move the crib out into baby’s own room -OR- also a great choice is the Graco Travel Lite Crib with Stages, which is super lightweight and portable.

We hope this is helpful information to you as your build your registry. If you have any other questions, shoot us an email at hello [at] guguguru [dot] com.

Funny Onesies

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We just couldn’t resist sharing some of the rompers that made us “LOL” this week. These funny baby onesies make great gifts and are sure to be the talk at any baby shower. Comment below to let us know which one is your favorite.

I Just Did 9 Months on The Inside by Sarah Kety
We’re especially loving this for Orange Is the New Black fans. Consider giving this onesie with a OITNB box set so mom can catch up on the hilarious Netflix comedy while she’s on what we at Gugu Guru call “Newborn Lockdown”. By the way, Sarah Kety Baby & Kids calls its line the funniest snap suits on the planet and from Party Tonight in My Crib to Is There a Napp for That, we are thinking that’s not far from the truth.

They See Me Strollin’ They Hatin by Doozy Designs
This bodysuit is one of our all time favorite funny pieces for baby. A spoof on the catchy hit from the artist Chamillionaire. Good luck not having this stuck in your head all day as you push your baby’s pram. Be sure to check out some of the other awesomely funny onesies from Doozy Designs (including another Gugu Guru favorite with the lyrics from Rapper’s Delight for all you 80’s fans.)

“Turnt Up” from Wry Baby
Wry Baby is the fabulously funny couple that put together the best-selling Safe Baby Handling Tips (which makes a laugh out loud baby shower gift by the way.) Check out more of their hilarious products here.

#TBT from KiddieCo
The illustration on this Throwback Thursday onesie for baby says it all. Sure you can only put this on baby one day a week, but it’s guaranteed to get smiles when you do. This is the ideal gift for any hashtag loving parent.

I Woke Up Like This by Sexy Girl Rock
The perfect onesie for the glam girl in your life. No make-up required.

Bottle Style: Plastic or Glass?

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Glass or Plastic – Which one is best for your lifestyle? Here’s the team at Gugu Guru‘s list of pros and cons to help you decide which is best for you.

Also consider: Stainless steel are arguably the safest bottles for feeding and will keep liquids hot or cold for longer, but they definitely need to be hand washed. If your interest is piqued, check out the Pura Kiki infant bottle.

PLASTIC

Pros

Plastic bottles are lighter weight than glass. Lighter bottles make it easier for baby to start self-feeding earlier.
Plastic bottles are less expensive than their glass counterparts.
And, maybe most notably: plastic bottles don’t break.

Hint: If you prefer plastic but don’t want the hassle of constantly washing the bottles try bottles that use disposable liners.

Cons

The most obvious reason moms are shying away from using plastic bottles is the BPA factor. The chemical Bisphenol A (BPA), which can leach out when heated, is linked to an increased risk of hormonal disruption. The FDA issued a ban on the use of BPA in baby bottles in 2012, however, alarmists are claiming that other chemicals in plastic are just as harmful as BPA, but there is no scientific evidence to back this up.
Many moms feel best washing their plastic bottles in the top rack of the dishwasher or even hand washing. If you don’t want to hand wash and you don’t have a dish washer, you’ll need to buy a bottle sterilizer.

GLASS

Pros

Safety rules with glass bottles. No potentially scary chemicals here.
You can give glass bottles a second life as water or juice glasses.
Glass bottles can get washed in the top or bottom rack of the dishwasher without any risk of harmful chemicals, like BPA, leaching out.
Glass is greener for the environment.

Cons

They’re heavy. Try schlepping one or two around in your diaper bag for the day.
They cost more money than plastic.
There’s always a possibility of breakage with glass.
Glass can get chipped without actually breaking, so you’ll need to be on the lookout for any cracks before handing it over to baby.

Double Strollers: Side-By-Side or Tandem

by Gugu Guru 1 Comment

Here’s a hint from the team at Gugu Guru. If you’re pregnant with numero uno and you think you’ll have another baby in the next two years, select a stroller that allows you to add a second seat and converts to a tandem double. Our favorite is the Baby Jogger City Select. Is the City Select inexpensive? No. But it will make up for that extra investment later on when you don’t have to buy a double stroller in the future and only need to get a second seat.

Now, if this is not your first baby OR you’re having twins, this means you’re probably ready to shop doubles now. When selecting a double stroller, you will have a choice between a side-by-side or tandem. Which one is right for you and your children? Here are our unbiased pros and cons for both styles from the team at Gugu Guru:

Side-By-Side

Pros

Pushes and turns very easily because the weight of your two children is very centered between the two side-by-side seats.
Easy access to both kids in case you need to give bottles or snacks.
A side-by-side stroller is easier than a tandem to “jack up” to get up over curbs, etc., when babies get bigger/heavier.
Side-by-side strollers are more agile in terms of quick turns because they are less wide vertically. You can worry less about smacking into someone with the front seat of your stroller.
The side-by-side position gives an equal vantage point to both kids. There is no argument between them about who gets to sit in front or on the top.
Many side-by-side strollers are only about 4” wider than a tandem and most are ADA compliant, meaning they will fit wherever a wheel chair would need to fit.

Cons

Children will always be side-by-side so it’s less likely that they’ll engage with each other in the same way they would if they were facing each other.
They’re heavier and wider, making it much harder to navigate narrow passageways or any tight spaces.
They don’t fold up very easily, making travel and storage more difficult.
It’s harder to find a side-by-side model that will allow car seats to interchange with the seats.

Tandem

Pros

If you live in a small apartment or have limited storage space, the tandem will always be the way to go. Tandem strollers are narrower, making it much easier to navigate smaller elevators and doorways. They also fold more compactly than a double and take up less storage space.
If you want your children to interact with each other, certain models of tandems that allow reversal of the front seat – like the Baby Jogger City Select – are the best choice. Babies can face each other to talk or play patty cake.
Alternatively, if you don’t want your children to interact with each other, you can have them both face forward.
Some tandem models can also work as a travel system and will accommodate infant car seats in both seats.

Cons

You won’t be able to access the baby in the first seat easily, especially while you’re walking. You’ll have to stop what you’re doing and walk to the front of the stroller.
Baby in the front can feel like an eternity away. (However, there are some models of strollers – like the Baby Jogger City Select – that allow you to turn baby to face you, allowing mom a better vantage point and more security.)
Hard to “jack up” a tandem stroller to get up over curbs, etc., as babies grow and get heavier.
Turns are very wide vertically. If you have to make a quick turn onto a sidewalk or around a corner, you need to be incredibly careful not to smack into someone with the front stroller seat.
Be prepared for arguing about who gets to sit where when they get older.

Introducing Your Newborn To Your Dog

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The arrival of a baby into a home that contains your dog brings about a few issues and questions that need to be addressed both before the child arrives and after.

But before I give you a few quick tips on prepping the dog for the arrival and addressing issues during the arrival, I would like to note that no infant should ever be left unattended with any dog ever. It does not matter how long you have had your dog and how unaggressive the dog is, any dog can and will bite. For example, if you have ever picked up a dog not knowing it had a hurt leg, and the dog reacts to the pain by nipping at you, you can see that even faithful Fido will bite if he feels he is defending himself, when in pain, or in emotional distress. So please: no dog should ever be left alone with an infant.

When I am asked to do a consult to check a dog to see if there will be issue with a child, I run a few tests.

1. I make sure that I can freely take toys and treats from the dog. Even grabbing the toys or treats directly from the dog’s mouth. The majority of the time a child is bitten by a dog is because the child tried to take something the dog was guarding. Babies are grabby, combine that with a dog that guards toys or treats and that is a recipe for disaster. If you notice that your dog has an issue with resource guarding, consult a professional trainer/behaviorist for an evaluation and possible remediation plan.

1. Make sure that you can freely take toys and treats from the dog.

2. A seed test: I have sound effects loaded onto my laptop. One of these is a baby crying. I play the clip of the crying baby and observe the dog. If there is no reaction at all, that is a good sign. The dog might just look around, try to locate the source of the sound and be alert. That is also OK. Where I take note is if the sound of a crying human baby seems to cause the dog distress. Again, if you note distress, consult a professional. This is an easy problem to deal with with desensitization training.

Infant Cry Newborn New Born Noise Sound Effect

2. Play a clip of a crying baby and observe the dog. If there is no reaction at all, that is a good sign.

3. See how the dog reacts at a playground with excited children running and screaming (as you will find out children like to do). What we are looking for is an abnormal focus on the children that are running.

3. See how the dog reacts at a playground with excited children running and screaming

Again this alone might not mean anything but for dogs that have high prey drive, we do not want the child becoming the object of a game of chase for the dog. Also I look for general distress with normal noises from children playing. This can be addressed, but it is important to see when your dog becomes uncomfortable, so that you can keep your dog out of uncomfortable situations.

With common sense, a solid leader, and clear communication with your dog, bringing home baby should be joyous for all. If you notice anything at all that seems unclear, consult a professional and address it.

John McDonald is the founder of Zen Dogs. Zen Dogs is a full service dog training program focusing on the relationship between human and dog first as a means for positive reinforcement.

For more information, visit https://zen-dogs.com.

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