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New Mom Review: 4moms moxi + car seat

Theresa – Gugu Guru’s head of design and new mommy to adorable Robbie – was so excited to be able to try out the moxi stroller and self-installing car seat from 4moms. If you don’t know 4moms, we think of them as Apple computer-like innovators for parents. 4moms’ gear is thoughtfully designed with some of the coolest tech around. Read what Theresa calls out as the pros and cons for the stroller and car seat below (and although Theresa received these products for review from 4moms, all opinions are her own.)

moxi stroller ($699.99)

Pro: Just Downright Cool Technology
This carriage has a cell phone charger port – totally handy! It will also tell you how fast you are going, distance, etc. I really love that the stroller features lights if you are out walking at dusk (trying to get baby to snooze) – super neat!

Pro: Self Charging! (most of the time)
The carriage has a generator in it so it does not require batteries for any of its awesome features! (Caveat: the generator will only last if the carriage is used frequently, if not, you have to plug it in and charge it to use all its cool technology.)

Pro: Easy to Open and Close
It was so easy to open and close the carriage for travel.

Con: Little Pouch for Belongings
The little pouch for your belongings is open. I didn’t totally love this because if my phone or wallet is in it I felt uncomfortable walking away from the carriage, even a little, while out in public. Editor’s note: 4moms really designed this to make your phone easily accessible, hence no zipper.

Con: Converting The Seat To Accommodate An Older Child
The infant carrier and the regular seat for older baby are two separate pieces (separate from the carriage base itself). Even though the regular seat is not hard to attach, it has to be completely converted to work. So if you have two kids, one older one infant, you can only use the carriage exclusively for one or the other in a single outing. Editors note: We spoke to 4moms about this and they said that their test parents have found this process to be very easy – clicking/unclicking two belts on the backside of the seat and turning the seat around. The three configurations are meant to grow with the child – so normally, you wouldn’t be switching back and forth regularly for two different children – although you certainly could.

Self-Installing Car Seat ($499.99)

Pro: Extra AWESOME Technology
The 4moms app will not only self-install the car seat as promised, it will also adjust positioning and tension as your baby grows. It will let you know if carrier is in correctly and it will also alert you if you leave the carrier (and baby) in the car. Pretty cool! Plus the software that runs the car seat base can regularly be updated with new features and functionality right through your smartphone.

Pro: Infant Fit
The car seat comes with an additional infant insert to be used for 4-11 pounds and really helps baby sit comfortably and securely – especially when baby is on the smaller side. Also, the bottom buckle is more rigid, verses just a fabric piece, so it makes it very easy to get baby in the seat (without them sitting on it.)

Con: Requires Eight (8) D Batteries
All the the extra technology that you get with the 4moms app will only work with the addition of the batteries in the base. When baby was only 6 weeks, the batteries died. (Who has time to run outside and change batteries in the carseat once a month?!) Editor’s Note: According to 4moms, this may have been an issue in some of the first units, but today, that issue has been resolved. By downloading the new update (version 4.16), the battery life will be significantly extended. The battery life should last the life cycle of one baby in the car seat. New baby, new batteries.

Con: A Couple Technology Fails
A couple of times the base alerted that the car seat carrier was not in correctly when it was. One of the times we were an hour from home and listened to it ding and false alarm the whole way home. We couldn’t fix this until we could take it out and reinstall which we couldn’t do being an hour away – a little annoying. Editor’s Note: We spoke to 4moms and they said if the carrier is not detected, as described, the issue can often be resolved just by lifting the carrier out, and placing it back in the base. Typically, a re-installation of the base is not needed. 4moms is launching another software update that will further improve the user experience and reduce the occurrence of false alarms, such as this one.

Making Mama’s Life Easier With BabyBjorn’s Bouncer Bliss

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We are so excited to announce that BabyBjorn, the Swedish family-owned company, has launched a new version of the beloved classic bouncer design from 1961 with a new look and style – Bouncer Bliss. Created as a tribute to the 1961 version, BabyBjorn realized how immensely popular and essential their bouncer was to families everywhere and wanted to update the style and design of the ever-popular baby bouncer.

As a new parent, we wish we could sit and stare at our sweet little baby all day, but there are bills to pay, dishes to do, and food to cook! The Bouncer Bliss makes a wonderfully safe and supportive space for baby to relax while in the same room as the rest of the family. It’s lightweight, so you can carry it from room-to-room, too.

Bouncer Bliss is available in three new looks – a luxurious, quilted cotton in several lavish colors, a soft, cozy 3D jersey, and a lightweight, comfortable mesh in lots of fresh, modern colors. The gentle rocking creates a sense of bliss and tranquility, not just at the beginning of a baby’s life, but later on as well. By having a safe space for baby to recline on the floor, it promotes interaction with other family members, especially siblings. Baby can sit face-to-face with their siblings for baby games and playtime.

The soft and natural rocking, completely powered by the baby, requires no batteries or cords. This encourages babies’ interaction with their sense of balance and motor skills, by rocking in response to their own movements. Because it doesn’t need to be plugged in, you can bring the bouncer all over the house easily, while traveling, or even just in the front yard for some sunshine. The BabyBjorn Bouncer Bliss makes a wonderful baby shower gift and is an essential item for every baby registry too.

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Single Mom Registry and Self-Care Tips!

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When a woman is pregnant, it’s often assumed that she has a partner or family that will help her and the baby out. However, when you’re a single mom, that’s not always the case and even family eventually goes home. Gugu Guru rounded up some must-haves to help make life a little (and sometimes a lot) easier for all of you amazing single mamas.

Baby K’Tan
Recovering from a c-section alone? The Baby K’Tan is a lifesaver. Since most doctors/midwives recommend no heavy lifting until after 6 weeks, nestle your little one in her Baby K’Tan to transport her to and from the car. Plus, babywearing can help you get tasks done around the house (not to mention that babywearing is proven to have great emotional and biological benefits for both mom and baby.)
UPPAbaby Cruz
We can’t rave enough about this stroller. It turns on a dime (even when using only one hand), has a huge storage basket at the bottom that is big enough to hold a week’s worth of groceries for a solo mom, and is super easy to maneuver.
PostPartum Doula Services
If you don’t have family or friends who can help out, a postpartum doula can lend the educated, nurturing hand that you need. Whether it’s bathing the baby, giving you tips on helping baby sleep, helping you with your emotional recovery after birth, or light housekeeping and meal prep, a postpartum doula can help make the first few weeks much easier.
DockATot
Chances are you will be juggling a ton of tasks on your own around the house. The DockaTot provides a safe, portable napping spot for your little one anywhere in your home. Better still, it’s an easy way to make bedsharing safer. For a single mom, bedsharing can be a sanity saver. (Please seek your pediatrician’s advice if you have questions or concerns about bedsharing.)
Baby Bjorn Bouncer Balance Soft
This bouncer will become your best friend! It’s lightweight and easily portable, so bring it into the bathroom and baby can bounce himself while you shower. It also grows with the baby (just increase the angle of the seat as baby gets older and add on the toy bar when they’re ready).
Giftcards for Local Grocery Stores that offer Curbside Pickup
Or better still, gift cards to grocery stores or services that deliver groceries to your home. Save yourself the time and (precious) energy of having to shop!
Toaster Oven
You’ll wonder why it took you so long to get one! Consider freezing meals in individual sized disposable pans that you can pop them right into the toaster oven, so you’re not stuck eating the same casserole for 4 days straight. (This also works for individual portions of brownies. And yes, there is nothing like a warm brownie straight from the toaster oven at 2am.)
Veetee Rice
Microwavable rice, you say? Yes! And it’s surprisingly delicious. 11 varieties, 2 minutes in the microwave, 1 happy new mama.

Of course, surviving the early months as a single mom goes far beyond have just the right “things.” Here are some tips on taking care of your emotional health:

Emma Johnson, creator of WealthySingleMommy.com, a website for professional single mothers shared with us that as a new single mom, “it can be easy to compare yourself to all your traditionally married friends, and their Instagram-friendly pics of their nursery, baby room, cute outfits, and all the material goods that marketers push on new mothers. Tip #1: RESIST! Happy, healthy, thriving single mom families do one thing very well: Live within their means. This includes building a life on the budget you have now, building a network of friends, neighbors and family who will support you logistically in terms of child care, sick care, and other emergencies.” Plus, she added how important it is to take care of yourself, mama! For, “Martyr moms are not good moms, and the more you care for your physical health, with fitness, rest and quality food, emotional well being with time spent with positive people who love you and your kids, a romantic life, and give yourself the freedom to build a big career with high income goals. There is no such thing as decisions ‘as a single mom.’ Prioritize an amazing life, and make it work for your family, no matter what that family looks like.”

Psychologist Naomi Bernstein, from NaomiBernstein.com, speaks a lot about using the 5 Love Languages (Receiving gifts, Quality time, Words of affirmation, Acts of service, and Physical touch) as self-care for yourself as a single mama. As she says, “If these displays of affection are necessary for an individual to feel fulfilled in a relationship, the same is true for someone who is single. Knowing your own love language and loving yourself in that way is necessary in order to feel fulfilled. When you do not have a romantic partner to send messages of love and appreciation you have to find other ways to get the message across to yourself. You can provide yourself with any and all of these love languages. It may sound awkward at first but it is possible and necessary, especially as a single mother.”

Check out some of her tips for using the 5 Love Languages as a single mama:

Receiving Gifts – Make an Amazon wish list for yourself and if you’ve had an especially hard day or even just to recognize that you’ve done something worthy of special appreciation, buy yourself something!

Quality Time – Call an old friend for a chat, eat Chex Mix in front of the TV, read a good book, meditate, exercise anything that is all focused on YOU and what you want to do.

Words/thoughts of affirmation – Write down positive thoughts about yourself and read these to yourself daily. Create and write down a list of positive empowering mantras. Make sure you pay attention to all the good you do and take focus off of mistakes or imperfections.

Acts of Service – Ask for help. If you find yourself thinking, “I don’t need help, I can do it on my own” or if asking for help makes you feel weak or incapable, remind yourself that we weren’t meant to do this on our own. We were meant to be surrounded by friends and family to help one another.

Physical Touch – When you’re not in a relationship it can seem hard to provide this for yourself, but you can. Cuddle, hug or hold hands with friends, family and your children. Treat yourself to a massage, facial or mani/pedi!

Baby Registry Ideas for Adoption

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We are so excited to have a guest post today from our lovely friend Lindsey of Live Sweet Photography. Lindsey is the momma of two adopted babies and is sharing her must-have items for her adoption baby registry.

Hi I’m Lindsey of Live Sweet Photography and I’m so excited to be sharing with you a few of my favorite baby products! We adopted our last two babies and I wanted to make sure we got to bond as much as possible with our new little ones. Many of these products really made the bonding process and our daily lives with our new little bundles so much easier. I hope you are able to find some helpful items for your amazing adoption journey!

Solly Baby wraps are my favorite for getting that newborn as close as possible! Since I din’t get to breastfeed Libby or Finn I wanted them as close as possible any time they could be to encourage that bonding. Wearing them in the Solly was wonderful for both me and my husband to bond with them and they loved to sleep curled right up next to us!

The Beaba products are awesome for many different things. I love their formula and snack containers for storing formula for on the go and then when baby is old enough to eat baby food. I have loved their baby food maker so that I can make some of Finn’s food for him. It makes me so happy to know that I can help make his food and that he’s getting something fresh and healthy.

The Baby Brezza Formula Pro has seriously been a life saver for us! Making formula bottles in the middle of the night always stressed me out and I worried I would mix the wrong amounts of things. The baby brezza takes the stress out of night time feedings and day time feedings are a breeze too since I can make a bottle in seconds with just one hand. This is a dream!

The DockATot is a favorite of ours. When Finn was a newborn I loved being able to have him right by us, it was so nice for him to have his own cozy little spot to snuggle, lounge and relax.

Life Factory Bottles are our bottle of choice from infant to toddler. We used these for both Libby and Finn and have loved them. The quality is amazing, they are easy to clean and they both have loved the nipples.

Petunia Pickle Bottom are my favorite diaper bags. There are so many amazing ones out there to choose from one which is so great. Petunia Pickle Bottom have been my favorite though for Finn as they have lots of pockets and enough space for some of the older kids snacks and stuff too and they look like a pretty purse instead of a diaper bag.

A good baby monitor– we found one that you can get an app for on your phone so we can check it anytime, anywhere we have cell reception or wifi. I absolutely love it and love that I can check on the kids when they are sleeping even when I’m not home. (Editor’s note: the Gugu Guru team are big fans of the Wifi Baby monitor!)

We have loved the Puj baby bath for bathing Finn in the kitchen sink. I love bathing him right in the middle of all the evening activities that way the kids can help and we can all spend time together while Finn splashes and enjoys his evening bath!

Softsie footie jammies are so soft and cuddly, they are our favorite jammies for keeping our babes nice and cozy!

Back to Preschool With Stasher, skip*hop and Rockets of Awesome

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

Hey there – it’s Monica, Gugu Guru’s founder. It’s that time of year {sigh} summer is really coming to an end, people. This means it’s time to finish up all the prep for going back to preschool and I’m sharing a few product discovery picks that have made life a little easier in our home this year.

Stasher

Disclaimer: I received Stasher bags for review but all opinions are my own.

I would not describe myself as an “eco mama” by any means, my cupboards are a good mix of organic and the not so organic stuff. However, I would say that my family is really good about recycling. One item that we use a lot and that does make me feel guilty is ziplock bags. We use a TON of them to store just about everything – from leftovers to crayons and more – leaving me constantly rinsing them out in an effort to re-use them and do my part to save our planet from all this trash. Well, my worries have come to an end folks. Enter Stasher – the world’s first—and only—self-sealing, airtight, non-plastic bag!

Why am I loving on Stasher for Back to School? It’s just genius in terms of not being wasteful. I don’t only mean for the environment but also for all the leftovers your picky baby or toddler or kid will be generating over his or her childhood. I cannot tell you how many times, I have had food on the tray of the high chair and pondered, “Is this ziplock worthy?” Now the answer can always be “yes” with Stasher.

These bags are super functional; easily going from the freezer, to the microwave, and to the dishwasher. Also, you’re not limited to storing food, they make great travel bags, organizers and more.

skip*hop Zoo Lunchie Insulated Lunch Bag, Owl

I just love skip*hop; it’s a classic brand with iconic designs. You’ll be met with a lot of choices when you go back to school shopping – especially when it comes to backpacks and lunch boxes. Don’t be fooled into grabbing that cartoon character lunch bag. Smart, high-quality design like skip*hop is always a good investment for parents.

This roomy, insulated PVC-free lunch bag keeps food and drinks cold. The large main compartment is big enough to hold a sandwich, fruit and juice box and it also has an interior mesh pocket for utensils (or snack!) The top handle attaches onto another bag – which is great for kiddos that are new to handling backpacks.

Rockets of Awesome

Full disclosure here: Rockets of Awesome used to be a baby registry site called Cricket’s Circle and I guess you could say Cricket’s Circle was a competitor to Gugu Guru of sorts. So, needless to say I was very intrigued when the company evolved into a kids’ clothing subscription service called Rockets of Awesome and I signed up for my boxes the day the site launched. The first thing I thought was, “Who needs another clothing subscription service?” I am here to say, I do – and you probably do too!

Fiona rocking her first day of school outfit: a striped dress with tulle skirt and matching crown headband from Rockets of Awesome.

To get started with Rockets of Awesome, you take a style quiz for your kid(s). The more information, you give about your child’s style, the better. Then you get a note that the stylist is working on your box and you should receive it within the next few days.

Here’s what I liked:

There is NO FEE to try this subscription. Just pay for what you keep. There are so many subscription boxes out there that charge you a fee just to get a box – even if you don’t keep anything. When I saw this, I felt like Rockets of Awesome did their legwork when it came to researching what parents would appreciate from a box service.
My kids were thrilled to open their boxes and see what was selected for their style. That was the highlight of the experience – the element of surprise.
The clothes are all unique & stylish, mostly well constructed and a very reasonable price.
Very easy to return what we didn’t want to keep, as well as provide feedback to the stylists on why we kept what we did.

Some minor things to be improved:

A few of the items – just a few – seemed a little lower on the quality side.
My son is very tall but very skinny; some of the pants sent to us fit his waist but looked like floods. Sizing with kids is a tough nut to crack sometimes. We’ll see how it’s handled with the next box.
A glitch with billing that was resolved relatively quickly, but I had to contact Customer Service to point it out.

Could you just hit Old Navy and shop for clothes there? Yes, but this is more fun. However, the real deciding factor of whether I will continue with RoA will be the upcoming boxes. Will update you all in October. In the meantime, if you want to try it out, you can use this link to receive a free item with your first purchase.

How did Rockets of Awesome know that Rory is camouflage-crazed? Not sure. But this outfit in his box was a total winner.

Photography: Sinnerman Photography

Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. If you make a purchase through an affiliate link, you help to support Gugu Guru as we receive a commission on the sale. Thank you in advance!

DIY Paint Splatter Bibs

by Gugu Guru 3 Comments

See Kate Sew partners with Gugu Guru again to share a fantastic DIY tutorial. This time? Paint splatter bibs to match up with her BABYBJÖRN Watercolor collection. Read on to get the details…

Make these cute and contrasty bibs for your curious new eater. They are also great for younger droolers and the stark black and white contrast will keep the attention of any little.

These bibs are super simple to make and chic enough for your modern baby bag! And I had a great time splattering paint everywhere!

I loved styling them with BABYBJÖRN’s on trend Watercolor collection. The Baby Bouncer Balance in mesh is awesome for a few reasons! It packs down pretty much flat so you can hang it or store it easily when you’re not using it. We always put our bouncers in a closet in between babies and they are awkward and annoying to stow! But this is so flat it’s amazing!

The bounce is right on and it has 3 different levels, that adjust like a chaise lounge-chair. Super simple to set up and super simple to use. I took it out of the box, lifted it up and snapped it in place. Shown is the Turquoise Turtle color that is so pretty and gender neutral (but not yellow! Hooray!) My little model had a blast bouncing in this chair and we just can’t wait to put our newborn baby girl in it. The mesh will be especially nice this summer as the weather heats up.

The BABYBJÖRN Travel Crib Light is so different than our old travel crib. It was also designed to flat pack, including a soft mattress that folds right into the carry case. It’s totally amazing how little it folds down to, but mostly how easy it was to set up. I usually make my husband set things up (I can’t read manuals, too boring!) but I didn’t need to even read the manual to get this crib up in 5 minutes. We are excited to take it to hotels and to also have an extra safe spot to put the baby at home. Safe from her rowdy siblings, that is. 🙂

The best part about this collection is the minimalist color scheme that will really go with anything. No tacky kid designs, just chic and functional.

So to round out your chic and modern baby collection, let’s make some bibs! I started with pre-made muslin bibs that are super soft and good for size 0-12M. But you can also make your own plain white bibs if you like sewing and then decorate them

Materials:

–pre-made white muslin bibs

OR make your own white bibs with this basic bib tutorial

-spatula, large paintbrush or spoon (for splattering!)
–heat set fabric ink

Other Supplies:
-large paper or newspaper to cover workspace
-clean piece of cotton muslin for pressing
-iron for pressing

Instructions:

-Mix the ink with a little bit of water to get a better “splatting” consistency. The ink listed in the materials is water-based, so it will thin out with a bit of water.

-Do some practice splatting on your paper.

Unsnap your bibs and lay them all out on your work surface.

Then get splatting! There are no rules here, just dip your brush and fling paint all over the bibs and paper. You’ll figure out a technique as you go for getting good lines and blobs.

This is really a fun and satisfying project, so go crazy! You can do as much or as little as you want.

When you think you’re done, let the bibs dry. If you can leave them where they are to dry do that so you don’t smear any paint. Let them dry. This may take a day or two depending on how thick your splatters get. If you need to speed up the process, use a hair dryer.

When they dry, lift them up and follow the instructions on the ink to heat-set the bibs. Use a press cloth (or a clean piece of cotton muslin) over the bibs to protect them as you heat-set the ink.

And you’re done! Snap your bib on and enjoy the paint splatters! These are extra great because food stains won’t show up as much!

Product Discovery: Lulyboo Lights and Music Lounge

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

Now that the weather is warming up, families everywhere are itching to head outside again – sunshine, grass, flowers! But…where do you put a baby when the family is lounging outside? We’re so excited about the LulyBoo Lights and Music Baby Lounge, a perfect companion for your baby, whether you’re inside or outside.

The LulyBoo Lights and Music Lounge is perfect for heading out to a day at the park; it features a waterproof bottom and adjustable shoulder straps. If you’re going to the beach or on a picnic, you can simply wear the LulyBoo like a backpack and have somewhere safe for baby to rest and play. The 3 position canopy means that even if the sun is strong, baby will be protected; and speaking of protection, this lounger also features removable netting, so you can rest easy around mosquitos! Don’t worry about getting the LulyBoo dirty, the breathable mesh fabric is removable and easily washable.

While your baby rests in their lounger, they’ll drift slowly off to sleep while you relax! The LulyBoo Lights and Music comes with a unique soothing unit that rests conveniently on the lounge wall to gently stimulate baby. The unit incorporates mild vibrations, various melodies, and ambient lights to encourage playtime or help baby drift off to sleep. The music box comes with 11 songs and nature sounds, three vibration levels and a rotating color light show to keep baby calm and happy. As baby gets older, they can play with the two toys which hang down from the activity bar.

All of these unique features make the Lulyboo Lights and Music Lounge a wonderful necessity on your next trip to the park, day at the beach, or even just hanging out in your own house. Baby can drift off to sleep with a canopy and netting protecting them, or they can happily play and listen to music in their lounger. Not sure what to bring to a baby shower? This is a gift which will be used and loved many times over!

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