baby

Baby Shower Gift Ideas: Gender Neutral

It’s shower season–and by that we mean it’s raining babies–not cats and dogs. Baby showers are a blast, but don’t let the stress of figuring out what to get your mom-to-be friend or relative put a damper on the festivities. We’ve rounded up some of the best baby shower gifts for moms-to-be who are waiting to find out the gender.

Best Gender Neutral Baby Shower Gifts

Real Baby Food: Easy, All-Natural Recipes for Your Baby and Toddler
Moms will be logging countless hours feeding their little ones. This new baby food cook book, written by the food editor of Parents magazine, is chock full of easy, peasy yummy recipes good for the whole family.

Rockabye Baby Lullaby Renditions of Maroon 5
If these soothing rock tunes don’t help to usher baby into some much needed sleep, at least they’ll provide some nice background noise to the sound of crying.

Aden+Anais Organic Cotton Lovey
It doesn’t get much cuter–or much more worry-free–than this line of super-cute lovies from beloved baby brand Aden +Anais. These cuddly lovies are machine washable, handmade from 100% cotton muslin and sure to be baby’s favorite thing to snuggle up to.

Baby Aspen Five Little Monkeys Gift Set
This all-in-one gift basket is packed with mom-to-be essentials, including a rattle, blankie, door hanger that alerts others of a sleeping baby and a plush stuffed animal, all in a cute five little monkeys theme.

Matimati Baby Bandana Drool Bibs
These unisex bandana bibs are a cool way to keep baby’s clothes free from drool and milk that will inevitably drip from his mouth. Made from 100% organic cotton and super-absorbent fleece with easy snaps to adjust the size.

Sophie the Giraffe Teether
Sure she maybe ubiquitous, but Sophie the Giraffe has become something of an icon for the modern mom set. Made from 100% natural rubber and totally adorable, Sophie is a must-have teething toy for every baby. This new rendition of Sophie comes with two teething rings of different textures attached, to help babies at different teething stages.

Tips for Packing a Hospital Bag

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

There are some no brainers that you need for your hospital bag. These include your drivers license, insurance card and eyeglasses/contacts + solution if you wear them. Apart from those items, we believe the best things to pack in your hospital bag are the little things that will make your hospital stay as restful as possible. Here is a round-up of Gugu Guru‘s top 10 picks for a more comfortable hospital stay:

For Mom

1. Nursing tank top – When your guests come visit you in the hospital, even though they’re aware that you just created a human, you’ll want to look somewhat put together (especially if there are photo opps to be had.) You’ll also need the ability to quickly nurse on-demand if you decide to breastfeed. We recently discovered BOOB Design and adore this line of maternity tops. They’re stylish, super comfortable and, most importantly, functional.

2. Pants or leggings for lounging – Of course, you’ll need a pair of pants to accompany your top – like Belly Bandit’s Leggings – for your hospital stay.

3. Slippers – You’ll want to break out of your room from time-to-time and will need a comfy slip on to walk the maternity ward. The World’s Softest Women’s Cozy Slippers in Charcoal Fuchsia Chevron are cute enough that we might wear them out and about on a regular day!

Footwear side note: you may also want to bring cheap flip flops to wear in the shower.

4. Big towel – A nice, soft towel is a key comfort of home. The towels provided at the hospital are usually not so plush – to put it lightly. Have your husband bring any used towel home to wash and replace when needed.

5. Comfy cotton undies – don’t pack thongs, whatever you do. Some hospitals offer mesh panties but we suggest picking up a pack of inexpensive full cotton briefs like this assorted pack from Fruit of the Loom.

6. Music playing device like Jawbone or your iPhone (don’t forget chargers!). It’s nice to have something to relax to aside from the little contraption emitting sound from for the TV in the hospital room.

7. Hair ties like these easy, ouchless ones from Goody (or headband – depending on the length of your hair.)

8. Toiletries (toothbrush, etc.) including your own shampoo & conditioner, body wash, lip balm and cleansing wipes for face. We like Burt’s Bees Face Wipes in Grapefruit. The scent is a sweet pick-me-up.

9. Pillow case – You’ll be spending a lot of time in bed and will have a few pillows propping you up. A soft, familiar pillow case is another comfort from home you’ll be happy to have with you. It will make your bed feel a bit more personalized.10. Eye mask and ear plugs – You may want this for some additional room darkening / quieting pleasure, especially if you’re sharing a room with another mom.

And while you don’t need them in your hospital bag, here are some things to keep in mind for Dad and Baby…

For Baby

Installed Car Seat – You can’t leave the hospital without this.
SleepBelt Hands Free Skin-to-Skin Infant Support System is a pretty amazing way to be hands-free and bond with baby.
Onesie – Something cute, comfortable and seasonally appropriate to bring baby home in.
Burp cloths or bibs – Just to tuck under baby’s chin for his/her car ride home.

For Dad

Camera / Video Recorder – Put Dad to work capturing some of the sweetest first moments with your baby.
Snacks – If there’s a long wait time before delivery, snacks are great to have. You’ll also likely wind up eating some of these after a long labor or when you tire of the hospital fare.

5 Things You Need to Know About Gugu Guru

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

The team at Gugu Guru is constantly updating and improving our site to serve our users. If you have a question or recommendation, please don’t hesitate to email us at hello [at] guguguru [dot] com. We read every email we receive and will reply.

Here are five very important things we want you to know about Gugu Guru:

1. We NEVER accept payment from brands to be recommended.

All of Gugu Guru’s recommendations are 100% organic and based on data from industry experts and other moms like you. In fact, we are so new that many brands haven’t even heard of Gugu Guru (yet). So rest assured while you build your registry that brands cannot pay to be recommended and that is our promise to you.

2. Get new product recommendations from within Registry Manager.

Access your Registry Manager at any time by logging in and clicking “My Registry”. Not entirely pleased with your recommendations or want to change the answers to some questions? Just click “Back to questions”.

3. We’re adding new products all the time but that shouldn’t stop you from adding what you want.

Something else you want to add from Amazon or another website? No problem! Just click the “Add A Product To My Registry” link within the registry builder and our team will add it to your registry.

4. Help is just a click away!

We’re here to help! Just send your registry to a Gugu Guru expert before publishing it. One of our baby registry experts will review your registry with your style and lifestyle profile and provide feedback, as well as answer any questions you may have.

5. Use our Must Have and Nice to Have buttons to indicate what you really need.

Gugu Guru gives you the choice to indicate to gift givers which gifts you really need versus the ones you’d just like to have. When gift givers come to your public registry, they’ll also be able to sort the items by your Must Haves and Nice to Haves, helping them shop by increasing the chances that you’ll get all the items you really need.

This is how we roll: The best new strollers for every budget

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Shopping for a stroller is a little bit like shopping for a car. There are countless models on the market and each have their differences—some subtle, some great. If you’re a city-dwelling mom, your stroller actually takes the place of a car. You’ll find yourself storing everything from extra baby bottles, changes of clothing, diapers and random flyers about Music Together classes in your neighborhood into the stroller’s storage bag. Navigating the stroller market can overwhelm even the savviest of moms-to-be. Since pregnancy should be as stress-free as possible, the team of experts at Gugu Guru narrowed down the best stroller and car seat options for every budget so you can stop losing precious sleep over strollers.

All around best budget-friendly choice: Graco SnugRider Elite Stroller+ SnugRider Car Seat

While there may not be many bells and whistles on this Graco stroller/car seat combo, you can feel great about the ease and convenience of this duo. You can easily fold it with one hand and the all-wheel suspension guarantees you a smooth ride on every surface. But just keep in mind you will still need an umbrella stroller (we love the Joovy Groove Ultralight) when baby grows out of infant car seat.

Best moderate choice for city OR suburban dweller: Britax B Agile and B Safe car seat

Britax is a trusted brand in the mom and baby world and their strollers and car seats are top-notch when it comes to functionality and safety. The stroller is super-lightweight and easy to fold while being the perfect size to walk down crowded city blocks without having to worry about how much real estate you’re taking up. We are big fans of the swivel front wheel, which makes maneuvering around bumpy sidewalks a cinch.

The best spare no expense stroller: Bugaboo Cameleon3

Bugaboo is the Lexus of the stroller world—it’s come to symbolize luxury, style and five-star design. If you can swing the price tag, the Bugaboo Cameleon3 is the way to go if you live in a four seasons climate, especially if you’re an urban-dwelling mom. This beauty handles equally well on snow and sand and will seamlessly take you from newborn through the toddler years. The Bugaboo Cameleon3 is compatible with many different car seats thanks to its wide assortment of adapters.

Best choice if you plan to have another child within two years: Baby Jogger City Select + Britax B Safe Car Seat

Despite the name, this stroller is not meant for jogging, but is one of the most versatile models on the market. This modular stroller is packed with features and transforms from single to double with the addition of second seat. You can also attach a glider board if you’ve got three little ones to roll with. It’s great for growing families and parents of multiples.

Best choice for eco-conscious moms: UPPABaby 2015 Vista and UPPABaby car seat (available in June 2015)

This stroller is loaded with style and substance for the green-leaning mom—the bassinet liner is made from all-natural cotton and soybean fiber. There’s also a UPF 50 drop down sunshade to keep UV rays off baby’s precious skin. We love the foam and rubber wheels, which guarantee you won’t every get a flat.

Brand new for 2015 is their Mesa car seat, which offers side impact protection, an adjustable headrest and a one-button stroller release.

10 Essential Items for Your Baby Registry

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

[By Guest Blogger Serena Norr]

After the excitement of announcing your baby comes the surmounting task of figuring out exactly what you need. With all of the products and gimmicks on the market, there is something terribly daunting about a baby registry where it can be challenging to decipher the best brands as well as what products are actually necessary. As a mom of three, I vividly remember adding in so much random stuff when I had my first daughter. I didn’t have the context of knowing what was useful where I ended up with items that were never used (hello, bottle warmer!) as well as others like play gyms that I didn’t need right away. To decipher the junk from the must-haves, we have rounded up our favorite essentials that every new mama-to-be should have.

1. Onesies: Your newborn will most likely go through numerous outfit changes in a day. For a newborn you want clothing that is soft, comfortable, and easy to change. In between diapers and spit up, you are bound to have multiple onesie changings in a day. Also, consider the season when your baby is due to add on leggings, a baby bundle coat, socks, hats, and more, if necessary. For no fuss onesies we like everyday essentials from Carter’s, Gap, and Rabbit Skins with a mix of “stylish” ones from brands like PACT baby, Zutano, Burt’s Bees Baby and Jacadi. Other clothing items to put on your registry will depend on the season (such as winter coats). We also recommend hats, socks, pants and a light sweater.

2. Swaddles: Sleep becomes elusive when you have a baby, but the best way to promote a restful sleep for your baby is to swaddle them. A gently wrapped baby provides both warmth and security that also promotes a restful sleep. Swaddling can also keep your baby warm as it provides a tightness that is similar to the womb. For a traditional swaddle, we love the gorgeous collection from Aden and Anais, and for help we love the soft and knit terry from Baby Swaddle Wrap from Ergobaby.

3. Baby Carrier: As you venture outside with your baby, you will want to help keep them snug and secure. Babywearing provides a great way to transition your baby to the outside world while also maintaining skin-to-skin contact that they crave. Our favorite is the Ergobaby 360, a front and back facing carrier, that allows your baby to rest in a ergonomic frog-leg seated position (C position). This carrier also evenly distributes your baby’s weight and is super comfortable thanks to its wide velcro waistband and padded shoulder strap.

4. Diapers: Think practical when you set up a baby registry. The super cute stuff has its place but you want to make your life as easy as possible, especially during the first few days. One of the easiest essentials to add onto any registry is diapers. Your newborn will go through around 10-12 dirty diapers a day so we suggest loading up your registry with boxes of newborn (or size 1) diapers. A personal favorite is Pampers whose yellow tab turns blue to indicate that your baby’s diaper needs to be changed.

5. Bassinet: During the first few months your baby will be feeding on demand. To keep your baby close for feeding and sleeping, we recommend starting out with a bassinet in your room. One of our favorites is the HALO Bassinet Swivel Sleeper that has a 360 degree swivel so that you can keep your baby close by your bed. It also has a stable base to fit to most beds – providing you with a way to keep your baby at eye level. as Additional features include mesh walls for breathability and gentle lullabies and vibrations to ease your baby to sleep.

6. Car Seat: A car seat is a must-have when you leave the hospital. It is also essential for any adventures that you will have with your baby – both in a car and as an attachment for your stroller attachment. For babies, we love the B-SAFE Car Seat that includes a padded and supportive seat as well as a 5-point harness system where you won’t have to rethread or unhook any straps.

7. Stroller: You will be ready to stroll around to get your baby out and to explore your area. For ease of use, we recommend a stroller that can easily attach to your car seat. We recommend the B-Agile stroller, which thanks to the BRITAX CLICK & GO system, allows your car seat to attach with ease. When your baby is six months old, you can remove the car seat attachment and use the stroller. City dwellers will love its ample storage and those who use a car regularly will appreciate how quick and easy it folds up.

8. Baby Seat: While you will want to nestle with your new baby as much as possible, you will also need a break, to say, shower! A baby seat provides an ease in which you could put your baby down while also gently stimulating them. Our favorite is the Baby Bjorn Bouncer Balance Soft, a classic bouncer, that provides natural movement to your baby without the use of any batteries. It also provides support to their head and neck and can be used from the newborn age through age two.

9. Bath Needs: Bathtime will soon become a ritual that both you and your baby treasure. For newborns, we love the My First Years Sure Comfort Deluxe Newborn to Toddler Tub. This multi-use tub includes a removable sling, a padded headrest, and a compartment that can easily hold your bath supplies. For bath care, we like the non-toxic baby shampoos from The Honest Company and hooded towels from 3 Sprouts.

10. Nursing/Feeding: If you plan on nursing, you will need a comfortable pillow like the Boppy so your baby can lay and you can rest your hands. You will also need a breast pump like those from Medela, which will help you to increase your milk supply – enabling to to have enough bottled milk when you return to work and/or need a break. Another essential is a comfortable nursing bra, like those from Bravado Designs and breast pads to soak in any leakage.

Other registry favorites: a first aid kit complete with a thermometer and a Nose Frida, a humidifier, a play yard for travel, a comfortable glider for breastfeeding, video monitor if your baby goes right in the crib, bedding, laundry basket, and a diaper bag.

About Serena Norr

A writer and mom of three, Serena Norr is the Editorial Director of Little Swappies a company whose mission is to make it easy and fun for families to reduce, reuse, and recycle. As the former Managing Editor of Momtrends, she has covered a variety of topics within the parenting space such as gear, theatre, beauty, fashion, family travel, and more! She is also the creator of Seriously Soupy, a website devoted to soup making, a freelance social media manager, and writer living in Brooklyn.

Always Glam

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

We have now reached the very far right of our style spectrum with Always Glam. The Always Glam mom never sacrifices style for practicality. Who wants to worry about what’s comfortable or machine washable when you look this good?

This style is always polished and put together. Here, mommy model Lisa dons a pair of oversized glamourous shades, a side bun and of course a rich shade of red lipstick to complete her look. The Always Glam mom is fearless in the face of fashion – rocking pieces like {gasp} dry-clean only knits – because it is all about presentation here and she isn’t going to compromise a thing.

Baby model Sofia Sky is barely three weeks old but the jewel encrusted headband is a clear indication that we have an Always Glam baby in training here.

Our pick for the Always Glam mom? The classic Baby Bjorn carrier seen here in black. It’s a classic, trusted brand and integrates well with any style.

Still questioning if a baby carrier can be really be “glam”? Check out Beyonce and Blue Ivy here and remove all doubt:

Photo credits: Sinnerman Photography
Styling: Carly Horen Walko of Thirty Something Fashion
Hair & Makeup: Elisabeth Kaiser

Chic And On The Go

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

Chic And On The Go lives in the exact center point of our mom style spectrum. The Chic And On The Go mom loves to glam it up but is so on the move that she cannot just turn a blind eye to practicality. She is a master of stylish travel attire and understands the pieces that can take her look up a notch, without weighing her down. To use a shoe analogy, if Comfort Is King is a sneaker and Always Glam is a heel, then Chic And On The Go is a pump or a fashionable flat.

Here mommy Shan is wearing a chic nursing top from BOOBDesign. The opening in the front of the shirt allows her to easily breastfeed on the go, without compromising her style. Baby Adelaide is also a micro fashion plate in her Appaman ikat onesie and matching sun hat.

Hands down our pick for carrier that fits with the Chic And On The Go mom style is the ERGObaby carrier (seen here in Teal). Super cute but ergonomic, this carrier is a perfect balance of style and practicality. (We have heard from ERGObaby moms that they’re able to nurse baby while cooking dinner!)

Plan to be on the move from the get go with your newborn in the ERGObaby carrier? You will want to purchase the Heart2Heart Infant Insert (sold together or separately.)

Photo credits: Sinnerman Photography
Styling: Carly Horen Walko of Thirty Something Fashion
Hair & Makeup: Elisabeth Kaiser

Considered Casual

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

This week’s look actually came about after speaking to moms about their style and showing them the super casual side of our style spectrum (Comfort Is King) and then our middle of the road style that is a perfect balance of glam and practicality (Chic And On The Go). So many moms saw these looks and said that their style is somewhere in between because they’re casual but a bit more chic… a bit more “thoughtful” or considered. Thus Considered Casual was born.

Considered Casual at its core is still a very comfortable approach but tends to be presented as a more layered and textured look. While Comfort Is King may use more neutral tones and everyday basic pieces, Considered Casual is not afraid of colors or patterns.

Even though the style is a notch up on our style spectrum, Considered Casual is still a relaxed approach. Mommy model Amanda is very comfortable in this super soft tank and graphic boho-inspired pants.

For this look, we love a sling – a baby carrier that can definitely make a fashion statement. Here Amanda is rocking the Joovy BabaSling.

There are so many great things about this sling (like the easy quick release buckle that will not wake up a sleeping baby!) but the feature we love the most on the Joovy BabaSling is the extra padded shoulder pad that ensures comfort for mom, even while baby grows and gets heavier. It’s 100% machine washable; important for this style, which still relies heavily on practicality.

Photo credits: Sinnerman Photography
Styling: Carly Horen Walko of Thirty Something Fashion
Hair & Makeup: Elisabeth Kaiser

Comfort Is King

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

Week 1: we are celebrating a look inspired by the “Comfort Is King” approach to style. Before we get into the DNA of this style, we want to explain that we firmly believe that no mom has any one approach to style. Sometimes we’re all about the comfy things in life and other times we like to glam it up. There’s a time and a place for different types of fashion – especially when you become a mom.

If there’s a style spectrum, ranging from super practical to glamour above anything else (including comfort), Comfort Is King is all the way to the left. Guided by practicality and features like coziness, ease of washing and relaxed fit, just because this style is easy breezy, does not mean it’s sloppy. You can be comfortable and still look stylish and polished.

Mommy model Jonessa and her beautiful baby daughter Jade (wearing Appaman) are rocking the Comfort Is King look here.

Key elements of this look include a super easy pony tail, comfy t-shirt, relaxed distressed jeans and a flat sandal.

For this approach to style, we love the Baby K’Tan (seen here in stretch denim). It’s 100 percent breathable cotton and available in a gender neutral t-shirt color palette. As a carrier, we love that there are six positions to choose from, there’s no (sometimes confusing) wrapping needed to be done and there’s also no hardware – making it easier to style than some other carriers. Not to mention it’s completely machine washable and dryer safe.

Photo credits: Sinnerman Photography
Styling: Carly Horen Walko of Thirty Something Fashion
Hair & Makeup: Elisabeth Kaiser

5 Stylish Diaper Bags That Don’t Even Look Like Diaper Bags

by Gugu Guru 1 Comment

When you’ve got diapers, you need a diaper bag. Unless you’re willing to subject your designer bag to bottle drips and wet wipes, you’ll need to invest in a diaper bag. Personally, we’re not huge fans of the term “diaper bag,” not only is it kind of yucky to say, but it also holds a heck of a lot more than just diapers. Moms schlep around an alarming number of essentials on a daily basis–we’re talking snacks, pacifiers, changes of clothes, 3 day old PB & J sandwiches (whoops) and a whole host of other things that collectively weigh more than the baby does.

Once baby is born, you’ll want to save the sleek little Celine number for non-kid outings and find a stain-proof, ergonomic, multi-pocket, carry-all bag that you can take with you everywhere. Here, our picks for chic diaper bags that you could actually feel pretty good about wearing out for cocktails, too.

Skip Hop Forma Pack & Go Diaper Tote ($70)
We love the stylish quilting and gorgeous berry shade of this water-resistant bag. We also love how lightweight it is, a heavy diaper bag is like adding insult to injury. With 11 pockets and two enclosed packing cubes, you have no excuses for not being able to fit everything but the kitchen sink into this baby.

Ju-Ju-Be Hobo Be Messenger Diaper Bag ($115)
No one would ever guess you’re packing diapers in your bag with this chic black and white striped messenger bag. It may look like a runway item from the outside, but the inside is a mommy’s paradise: Scrunchy key clip, gusseted pockets, lipstick loops, sunglasses pocket, memory foam changing pad, anti-microbial lining and even a crumb drain!

Lassig Green Label Diaper Bag ($190)
Eco-chic moms will love this chic and edgy bag, which is made entirely from recycled PET plastics. Stroller straps make it super easy to attach it to any buggy and a wet pocket is great for protecting your stuff from any damp offenders.

Timi & Leslie Dawn Diaper Bag ($105)
When this bag steps into the right light, it looks just like a Balenciaga motorcycle bag. But you won’t find an insulated bottle bag, stroller straps, changing pad and multiple pockets in one of those. The taupe color matches everything in your wardrobe–including milk-stained t-shirts.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Pretty Nylon Eliz-A-Baby Diaper Bag ($298)
Attention all downtown moms: This is the diaper bag for you! It’s hip and tough while still pretty and modern–just like the Marc by Marc Jacobs collection itself. With a bevy of interior pockets plus a changing pad and a cross-body strap, this stylish diaper bag is a home run for moms who are not willing to give up their love for designer labels.

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