for dad

What’s New on Gugu: October 30, 2019

This week many of our finds are aimed at helping our parents and parents-to-be. Work-life balance is a thought of the past and now everyone is trying to squeeze 30 hours of activity into a 24 hour day. Many of these items will help you stop, relax, and care of yourself! Take a look and let us know your favorites!

For a number of our other favorites, please check out our Explore page!

Mother Mother: This brand is all about putting self-care first! As new moms (and dads) if we don’t take care of ourselves, how can we possibly take care of our little ones! While your life changes dramatically with the arrival of your little one (or ones), it’s so important to remember your needs! Take a look at Mother Mother for all of your pre- and postnatal needs!

Good Medicine Intuitive Skincare Mama Glow: This amazing line of skincare and beauty products is perfect for any new mom or mom-to-be! Safe for pregnant and nursing mothers, this line is naturally gluten free, made in the USA, and does not test on animals. The products are all meant to be used together to help create your self-care routine. The set of minis makes a great gift!

Daddy’s Club: Started by a stay at home dad in LA, Daddy’s Club aims to create a community amongst all dads. There are a number of fun t-shirt and sweatshirts available to “join the club.” Remember not to cry over the spilled milk!

Tiny Human: Perfect for babies and parents, Tiny Human has created a line of products using gentle, natural, plant-based ingredients. They all have adorable names to help you keep a sense of humor while in the thick of it with baby. Plus, they donate 1 meal with the purchase of any product to a healthy child.

TWELVElitt le Bags: A brand our team discovered at the OC Baby Expo this past weekend, TWELVElittle Bags are created with parenting moments in mind. Perfect for any moment you will run into with your kiddos, we love their assortment of high-quality bags and accessories. Find your perfect fit today!

Please note that these opinions are 100% my own and I have not received any products in exchange for placement in What’s New on Gugu!

Like what you see? Check out some other What’s New on Gugu posts:

What’s New on Gugu: August 21, 2019

What’s New on Gugu: Chicago Baby Show Edition

What’s New on Gugu: September 12, 2019

What’s New on Gugu: October 25, 2019

Gugu Guide: Dad Founded Brands

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

June is all about the dads and we’re excited to introduce you to some amazing dad-founded brands today! Read on to learn more about these brands, they’d make ideal gifts for new dads, baby showers, or even birthday gifts for dad.

Travel Tray: Founded by a dad, My Travel Tray was invented to help dad stay focused on the road, while the kiddos were creating chaos in the backseat. Now his kids can keep their food, toys and goodies off their laps, out of baggies and off the floor and in a tray. My Travel Tray keeps your drinks and snacks within arms reach while out and about, helping keep you organized and everyone a little bit happier. My Travel Tray easily fits just about anywhere a cupholder is found, in cars, carseats, strollers, shopping carts, even beach chairs! Whether dad is at the helm of the car zig-zagging through traffic, or enjoy a relaxing day on the beach, help keep dad organized with the Travel Tray, which is made in the USA and BPA Free, so he can use it for snacks, too! This Father’s Day, gift Dad something unique, practical and affordable! My Travel Tray helps keep his food and drink organized and convenient as he commutes between school drop off (hello, breakfast in the car!) meetings, while outside camping and at sporting events. Use code 15LOVEDADS for 15% off, valid through 6/30.

Mission Critical S.02 Carrier : Mission Critical was founded by a dad to inspire other dads to get into the world with their little ones. Mission Critical believes that getting out and exploring the world together is a fantastic way for dads and babies to bond, so they invented a dad-centered baby carrier as a way dads can head into nature with their little ones. The Mission Critical S.02 carrier is an Alpine inspired technical baby carrier, and is safe, secure and comfortable for extended adventures for dads and their little ones. What makes the Mission Critical S.02 Carrier unique is that it is flexible and modular for expanded fits and attachable accessories. Whether dad is heading out for a short trip or a long hike, he can adjust his Mission Critical S.02 carrier for all his personal needs. The Mission Critical S.02 Carrier makes an ideal gift for any new dad.

Señor Sangria: There is nothing more dads love than making memories with their family and friends, so we’re excited to introduce you to a dad-founded brand, Señor Sangria. Señor Sangria is an authentic sangria with only 3 ingredients; wine, can sugar and natural fruit juice. Whether it’s a family barbecue, parents night-in, or a special little date night for mom and dad, Señor Sangria is our top pick for delicious drinks that everyone will enjoy. Family owned and operated since 2006, Señor Sangria is a simple way for everyone to celebrate together and enjoy the moment. You can choose from their classic red, or classic white, and either one makes an ideal gift for any new dad, as a Father’s Day gift, birthday gift, graduation gift, or simply to say “we love you, dad.”

Check out more gift ideas for dad:

Thank you to Señor Sangria, Mission Critical, and My Travel Tray for making this sponsored post possible – we are so appreciative!

Mission Critical S.01 Carrier – The Ultimate Dad Gift

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

Father’s Day is just around the corner and we have identified the ultimate gift for any new dad in your life – the Mission Critical S.01 Carrier. Mission Critical was founded by a father who wanted to inspired other dads to adventure into the world with their little one. They believe that it is the act of exploring the world together which helps strengthen the bond between a father and child; there will be long days ahead, but going with your fatherly instinct and heading into nature is a fantastic way to spend time and get to know your baby, and know yourself as a dad.

The Mission Critical S.01 Baby Carrier was designed with this thought process in place. The S.01 Carrier is build technically and tough from the ground up specifically for dads; designed for dad’s comfort, as well as baby’s, the carrier fits more like a vest, which allows full mobility and safety with easy adjustments using a simple four-step process. The carrier also features a removable washable liner, for all of life’s messier days.

For sunny days, this military inspired carrier features a sunshade which stashes away in the front zip pocket and quickly snaps into place to protect your baby or help them nap. And, don’t worry about those super hot days, as the Mission Critical S.01 Carrier has breathable air mesh lining on the chest and back to keep dad cool and comfortable. But, the coolest part about the Mission Critical S.01 Carrier is that it is fully customizable so you can easily attach accessories on the front and back of the carrier to keep essentials close by. Help a new dad feel more confident on their fatherhood journey this Father’s Day and gift them a Mission Critical S.01 Carrier (don’t forget the accessories!) for all of life’s little and big adventures with their little one.

Don’t forget to also check out the Mission Critical S.02 carrier that we featured in our Get Outside gift guide.

Thank you to Mission Critical for making this sponsored post possible – we are so appreciative!

Dad’s on Duty : Domino’s

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

Okay, we know dad really isn’t “babysitting,” when he’s on duty – but why not take one thing off his to-do list and order some Domino’s pizza while he’s home with the little one?

Check out our must haves for dad, including some Domino’s pizza (with ranch dressing, of course)!

B+Me Booker Coat + Vest: What’s the best way to get around town when Dad’s Babysitting and chilly weather is on the forecast – the Booker Vest, an expandable vest that fits around both you and your baby in your favorite baby carrier. Wearing one vest together makes leaving your home simpler and getting around town more comfortable!

Bryson’s Books: Dinnertime, storytime and bedtime are extra fun when dad’s in charge! The Woogilyboo and the Hot Lava is a wild story co-written by a father and his five-year-old son and 25% of the profits from this book are donated to help children in need!

Baby Tula’s Explore Baby Carrier: The easy-to-use Tula Explore Baby Carrier is their first carrier that allows an ergonomic front facing out carry. That way, Dad is comfortable and baby is happy while they tackle the “to do” list together!

Diaper Dekor: Make dad’s life a little easier with the Diaper Dékor; it makes multi-tasking that much more possible with its one-step and toss functionality. The Diaper Dékor is a must have for any daddy on duty.

Lifestyle photos via Wear Love Wanders, Kim Barnes

Dadchelor Party : Domino’s

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

New dads need a chance to celebrate the baby too! Dadchelor parties – sometimes called diaper parties – are becoming increasingly popular and Domino’s makes them even more fun.

Order in some Domino’s Pizza and make it a night with dad’s friends; we rounded up some dadchelor and dad-life must have items below.

ABBY & FINN Diapers: If you’re throwing a Diaper Party for dad, ABBY&FINN is the ultra-flexible diaper subscription company with a give back model that is a great gift for a dadchelor send-off. The brand’s hypoallergenic, affordable, high quality diapers are available through its easy-to-use online platform, and the company donates a Diaper-a-Day for every subscription purchased.

Mom Life Must Haves: Every new dad needs a shirt to show off his new status! We’re huge fans of these Love This Dad Live shirt and Dad Fuel insulated mug from Mom Life Must Haves.

Diaper Dude: Fatherhood Doesn’t Have to be Complicated

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

Diaper Dude is a lifestyle and brand that was born from the idea that fatherhood doesn’t have to be complicated or un-cool. Diaper Dude, created by Chris Pegula, is a movement that began after the birth of the first of his three children by turning feminine-style diaper bags into ones that dads would want to carry. And, don’t forget to check out Chris’ books, From Dude to Dad: The Diaper Dude Guide to Pregnancy and Diaper Dude: The Ultimate Dad’s Guide to Surviving the First Two Years (we happen to think these makes fantastic gifts for a dad-to-be!)

Father’s Day is almost here. In an effort to prepare those “dads to be” we’ve teamed up with a group of awesome companies that will help keep dad (and mom) prepared when it’s time for you to take on baby duty. So let’s get started with the latest products on the market that will keep you armed and prepared for that next trip you take with your little one in tow.

First off you need to choose a bag that is functional, easy to use and reflects your style. No better place to start than with the brand that started the “dad bag” revolution… Diaper Dude.

Diaper Dude’s convertible backpack plus will keep dad organized and hands free. Features include, an oversized front zip pocket for bibs, diapers, wipes & any essentials; large main compartment with divided pockets for diapers & wipes; separate Velcro closed pocket for laptop or tablet; cushioned changing pad; large zip closed pocket located in back for extra storage; zip closed insulated bottle holder; exterior mesh bottle holder; stroller straps and adjustable padded shoulder strap; carry handle; zip closed flap pocket for personal items like wallet and keys. Diaper Dude supports the work of Future Without Violence, a non-profit organization devoted to working to end violence against women and children around the world.

When it comes to feeding Think Baby gets it right. Babies start with a bottle base which transforms into sippy cup and again into the thinkster. The BPA free bottle line that transitions from newborn to 4+ years of age. The responsible choice for parents who want to save money and space, while simultaneously protecting the environment from needless waste.

Aden & Anais hands down will keep your baby feeling comfortable and secure with their muslin swaddling blanket. For generations parents have cared for their babies with muslin. Breathable, versatile and soft as a mother’s touch, the do-it-all fabric helps simplify what can be a chaotic time. No matter how you’re using their 100% cotton muslin swaddle—stroller cover, burp cloth or nursing cover to name just a few—it surrounds your little one in comfy goodness round the clock.

Chewbeads is recognizing dad’s role today and honors them with this hip dog tag teething necklace. Made of 100% silicone with no BPA, meaning that it is completely safe for your child to chew away on. The soft rubber on the baby dog tags will soothe your baby’s gums by letting them gnaw away with those new teeth. Their dog tag necklaces are great for a night in or while you’re out on the go. Give your little guy or girl the tag, and he or she will be occupied while you run those errands.

Skip Hop has numerous products for both mom and dad to keep them prepared. I dig their Wet/Dry bag which comes in handy when you are dealing with soiled clothes. A handy pouch makes for easy, on-the-go organization with dual compartments for separating wet and dry clothes or containing dirty diapers. The snap-on strap attaches to any stroller or diaper bag, making it a perfect accessory for travel or around-town use. We’ve all been there when your newborn accidentally spits up after finishing being fed. Burt’s Bees has a great solution to keeping you clean and free from spit up explosions. Their super soft and absorbent 100% organic cotton burp cloths combine cuteness with utility so you can always be prepared for the moment! Fabric and construction hold up beautifully through wash after wash, and their signature buzzy bee patch adds a sweet touch.

Huggies Diapers & Wipes are a no brainer when it comes to keeping your little one comfortable and clean. America’s #1 branded baby wipe, now softer than before. Their hypoallergenic Natural Care® baby wipes are paraben, fragrance, and alcohol free providing a soft and gentle clean for your baby’s soft and delicate skin. The gentle absorb liner has tiny, soft pillows that provide a cushiony layer of protection between your baby’s skin and the mess. Their color-changing wetness indicator lets you know when your baby’s diaper is ready to be changed. Their breathable outer cover helps keep your baby comfortable and lets their skin breathe. And, to protect your baby’s naturally perfect skin, their diapers are fragrance and lotion free. Designed with a pocketed-back waistband to help keep the mess inside where it belongs. It’s perfectly shaped to protect healing belly-buttons.

So whether you are planning a day out to the park or a stroll around the neighborhood, you want to make sure you are ready to handle it all. If you have a favorite item not on this list, let us know.

Hot Dad Gift Guide: Creating Memorable Moments With Dad

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

With Father’s Day around the corner, we wanted to put together a gift guide to help pick out the perfect gift for all the dads in your life – especially all of those new dadas! We teamed up with actor (and new dad) Ryan Cooper from the almost released movie Rough Night to celebrate making memories with dads and their babies – plus, we spoke to Brian the Birth Guy about great ways dads and babies can bond, so read on for more!

Rad Dad Box: What a better gift for a new dad than to celebrate how rad they are with a monthly box dedicated to them? Rad Dad Box was created and founded by a new mom who felt that all of the new baby gifts were geared towards moms, and dads needed some gift-loving too. The Rad Dad Box is a monthly subscription box containing items to support new dads and their children. We include self-care products, such as soap, deodorant, and hand sanitizer, dad-themed books and apparel, and dad-approved toys and products for baby. Rad Dad Box curates items from small shops for dads of all kinds! They offer month-to-month, 3, and 6-month subscription plans, as well as a variety of one-time boxes in their online store. If you don’t want to commit to a subscription box, Rad Dad Box offers a plethora of thematic boxes, including boxes for the new dad, a Father’s Day box, a box for hipster dads, a box to fight the winter blues, and much more! Rad Dad Box is a really awesome way to celebrate fatherhood and shower a new dad with gifts, they can even customize boxes, as well.

You can find Rad Dad Box on their website, Facebook, and Instagram.

Being a dad is all about making memories, even from the very beginning. Brian the Birth guy recommends dads “make a recording welcoming their baby and telling him/her all of the things he loves about mom and why they started a family. Talk about all the things they hope their baby gets to experience. They can talk about making mistakes and how they know it is a growth thing […] When your child gets older and experiences hardships and trials, give the recording to them so they know how wanted and loved they are. It can restore their sense of purpose.”

However you choose to make memories of baby and dad, we love Pearhead for all of their wonderful products to savor those memorable moments. Pearhead has a huge variety of items to capture all the moments in life, whether big or small. If you’re particularly looking for Father’s Day gifts, we think a My Dad, My Hero Mug for his coffee is the perfect gift from a little tot to his papa. And, you can’t go wrong with a picture frame; what dad doesn’t want a “We Have a Hero, We Call Him Daddy” frame? If you’re looking for a way to remember the moment that your spouse became a dad, check out this hospital bracelet frame – it’s a perfect way to save the little hospital bracelet from your baby. Pearhead is known for their memory making gifts which can be easily personalized at home – even by the littlest of babies. A Newborn Baby Handprint and Footprint Photo Frame Kit is an easy way to capture your baby’s footprints and turn them into a special gift for a new dad. If you’re looking for a way to create special and customized gifts for dad, check out all of Pearhead’s frames, mugs, baby books, and more.

You can find Pearhead on their website, Facebook, and Instagram.

As Brian the Birth Guy explains, dad and baby can bond begins even before baby is born, and directly afterwards, “Once baby is born, dad can cut the cord, help with breastfeeding and change baby after mom feeds. He can also skin to skin that sweet bundle of joy and sing a special song to his baby. Dads have such an important role in care of mom, baby and breastfeeding. This can really help his psychological bonding with baby as he assumes a role of care for them both and even assists in breastfeeding.”

Dadpreneur Spotlight: Nathan Day of LugBug

by Gugu Guru 1 Comment

As a parent, you know that lugging around an infant in a car seat is a lot of work – but, who wants to wake the baby and take them out just because the carseat is cumbersome? After new dad, Nathan Day, dislocated his shoulder lugging his baby daughter around in her carseat, he knew there had to be a better way. When he realized there was nothing else on the market to make carrying an infant seat easier and safer on the parent, he set out to develop his own.

LugBug is a lightweight, ergonomic and exceptionally strong little handle that adjusts to any single-handle baby carrier and offers a range of better, more comfortable and enjoyable carrying positions that support the arm and wrist. The LugBug is a necessity for any parent who needs to take the carrier in and out of the car, whether it’s to the park, grandma’s house, or daycare – why make it harder on yourself? Just attach the LugBug and ease the pain of carrying the carseat. Offered in six different colors, the LugBug handle works with all major carseats, and would make a great baby shower gift which new parents never even knew they needed!

GG: How and why did you start LugBug? Tell us the concept behind LugBug!

ND: The idea of LugBug was born out of necessity after I dislocated my shoulder while lugging around my infant daughter in her car seat. After much research, I was shocked to discover there was nothing on the market to make baby carriers easier to hold. My idea was to build a sturdy, reliable and easy-to-use handle for parents to prevent strain-related injuries when lifting inherently awkward infant car seats. The concept started with a sketch, which evolved into making LugBug a reality with molds, testing, patents and now manufacturing. The result is LugBug, a lightweight, ergonomic and exceptionally strong little handle that adjusts to any single-handle baby carrier. It offers a range of better, more comfortable and enjoyable carrying positions that ease tension on the wrist, forearm and shoulder.

GG: How do you balance work and family?

ND: The great thing about LugBug is it is a product for parents so when I work on LugBug a lot of time it involves my family. My wife was the product tester for quite a while before we launched it. And my kids are always up for seeing what LugBug is all about.

GG: What’s the best part of being a “Dadpreneur” and running your own business?

ND: The best part of being a Dadpreneur is my girls love that I invented LugBug and they now come to me with their own little inventions. They see that their ideas can amount to anything and they love talking to me about their ideas and problems they want to solve. Thalia always tries to solve ways she can get more ice cream. Her latest idea was a freezer you could carry so the ice cream wouldn’t melt on you! I love fostering that creativity in them.

Baby Registry Must Haves for Families with Two Dads

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

On the heels of the historical Supreme Court ruling on same sex marriage last week, we thought it was appropriate to delve into the baby registry must-haves for families with two dads, including highlighting the picks of some our favorite gay male couples. While every new parent may need a baby carrier, there are some special considerations to remember when you’re two dads (e.g., breastfeeding = not happening). Here, the top baby registry picks for families where dads rule.

Team Gugu Guru

Stroller Handle Height
Two words: Handle Height. Not all strollers are built the same and men are often taller than women. If you don’t want to be hunched over when pushing your pram, strollers from brands like Joovy, UPPABaby (see here), Britax B Agile and Inglesina all have taller than average handle height.

Patemm Pad
Be prepared for diaper changes. Anywhere. This is especially true for daddies because men’s rooms don’t tend to have changing tables. We love the Patemm pad because of its genius, award-winning round design that accommodates squirmy infants. Oh, and P.S., over at Gugu Guru we use the Patemm even when we have changing tables.

I Love My Daddies Onesie from The Spunky Stork
Just because baby registries shouldn’t be all about the must haves.

Bill Horn & Scout Masterson, aka “The Guncles”
You might recognize Bill and Scout from the Tori & Dean show, where they made frequent appearances as part of Tori Spelling’s inner circle and the Guncles (gay + uncles) to her kids. Now, Bill and Scout are parents of their own with two littles, daughter Simone (5 years old) and son Bosley (10 months old). Here are their tried and true baby essentials, in their own words:

Born Free Bottle Genius

Bill tried to breastfeed but it was a disaster. KIDDING! Obviously, with two dads we needed to bottle feed Bosley. But there’s nothing more exhausting, difficult, and downright annoying, than fixing a bottle at 3am for a baby who’s screaming bloody murder. The Bottle Genius made it so easy to fix a nice, warm bottle in a matter of seconds.

4moms rockaRoo

Our daughter Simone loved 4moms’ mamaRoo, but Bosley loved his rockaRoo. He was a VERY fussy baby, and sometimes the only thing that would calm him down was the gentle rocking motion of this great infant seat.

Baby Pibu Newborn Essentials Kit

Proper skincare is so important for everyone, especially newborns. Baby Pibu makes a great gift set that includes every item a new parent needs to care for and nourish newborn baby skin for the ﬁrst several months. And you know you can trust the products, because they were created by Dr. Amy Kim, a dermatologist and mom.

LILLEbaby Complete All Seasons tokidoki “Rebel” Baby Carrier

We love LILLEbaby carriers and the tokidoki ‘Rebel’ print is awesome. But get them while you can. They keep selling out.

The Stokke Sleepi shown in Bosley’s nursery.

Stokke Sleepi Crib
We used the Stokke Sleepi crib, which in its ‘Mini’ form can travel around your house on wheels and fit through door frames. It was great for pulling up next to our bed for late night/early morning feedings.

Summer Infant Baby Zoom Wi-Fi Video Monitor and Internet Viewing System, Link Wi-Fi Series

Summer Infant Baby Touch WiFi Video Monitor & Internet Viewing System

A sleeping baby is a happy baby… and happy dads. Our Summer Infant WiFi monitor gives us the peace of mind to know that Bosley is sleeping safe and sound.

Love To Dream Swaddle Up

Swaddling is hard! The Love To Dream Swaddle Up saved our lives. Bosley slept so much more soundly in his.

Bebe au Lait Nursing Pillow

You might not think two dads would need a nursing pillow, but you need to have good support under your arm when your sitting up and bottle feeding the baby – otherwise your arm will go numb. Bebe au Lait’s pillow was a feeding must for us.

Sean Maher
LA-based actor Sean Maher and his significant other Paul are dads to two kids–Sophia and Liam. Sean and Paul relied on an arsenal of carefully chosen essentials to help ease them into parenthood, plus many a bottle of chilled rosé and Blue Bottle Iced Coffee!

Diaper Dude diaper bag
Every dad needs a schlep bag to tote around baby’s daily essentials. The various styles from Diaper Dude range from messenger bags and backpacks to more buttoned-up canvas totes.

Sophie the Giraffe
Sure she’s everywhere, but this iconic chewing toy is a solid choice for new parents. Made from 100% natural rubber and food paint, you know you’re getting quality.

Miracle Blanket
“This saved us,” says Sean. When swaddling feels like an art form, this easy to use blanket creates the perfect swaddle every time.

Sleep Easy by Sleepy Planet
This is the book and method that many Hollywood parents have relied on to get their babies to sleep. Written by two sleep specialists and psychotherapists, this guide has garnered quite the cult following.

Nose Frida
This nasal aspirator from Sweden has helped countless parents find relief for their little ones’ stuffy noses.

Splendid Clothing
Just as well made as the adult clothes, Splendid’s baby collection is super-quality, super-soft and super-adorable.

for dad

Footer

Follow Us:

COME AND GET IT!