registry

Cause-Driven Baby Registry: Lorena Canals (+ giveaway!)

Continuing with our cause-driven registry picks: Lorena Canals rugs, already a favorite, staple brand of European mothers and fathers, are carefully handmade from 100% cotton, safe for any baby’s room. The dyes used are also non-toxic, which is important when you consider you’ll be laying your infant on the rug for tummy-time and as they grow they’ll be crawling around everywhere. The rugs are of the utmost softness, making it comfortable for parents to sit on the floor and little feet to jump and dance.

The best part about Lorena Canals rugs is that you can wash these rugs right at home in your regular laundry machine. Lorena Canals understands that babies and kids can be messy, but you shouldn’t have to sacrifice style and ease! Not only are these rugs practical and safe, they’re also beyond stylish. They come in a plethora of colors and styles; these rugs will match any nursery theme, from polka dots, skulls, angel wings, butterflies, numbers, letters, clouds, stars, flags and more. Lorena Canals rugs will accent your child’s room now, and are guaranteed to become a family heirloom which you use for many, many years.

What’s even more wonderful is that with the purchase of a Lorena Canals rug, a customer helps a child attend school in Northern India through the company’s Sakula project. Lorena Canals believes that education is the key to mobility and vital in breaking the poverty cycle. Their customers not only help children to get an education but also the opportunity to live a better life.

Innovative Sleep Products Round Up!

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To say that newborns sleep a lot is an understatement, so Gugu Guru has rounded up a few products to help your little one get the best sleep possible.

Sponsored Post

Harlow’s Earth Crib Mattress Cover: Do nightmares about the ickies that might be lurking in your baby’s crib mattress like allergens and chemical off-gassing keep you up at night? Sleep more soundly knowing that your little one is protected! This waterproof, BPA and phthalate free mattress cover from Harlow’s Earth directs gases down and away from your baby, allowing the mattress – and baby – to breathe freely. Just slip in your mattress and secure the Velcro tabs. It wipes down easily with warm water and soap, so maintenance is a breeze. Now go to bed, mama!

Venta Airwasher Air Purifier and Humidifier: A good humidifier is an absolute must-have for teeny noses. The Venta Airwasher does double duty as an air filter and a humidifier and is super low maintenance. No more sputtering, drippy humidifiers and worrying about moldy basins, plus there are no filters to clean. Not only does it maintain the ideal moisture in the air and filter out things like pet dander and pollen – it even cleans common cold germs from the air! Yes! (Bonus: they even have their own line of aromatherapy oils that you can add to your Airwasher.)

Colgate EverTrue Diamond Mattress: Colgate has been handcrafting mattresses right here in the US since 1955, so it’s safe to say they know their stuff! With innovative features like SecureCore Technology™, a breathable honeycomb mesh core that allows for optimal air circulation, gel grooves that prevent air stagnation, and a cover crafted from Celliant, a biologically responsive fabric that helps regulate body temperature and increase oxygenation, the EverTrue Diamond is at the forefront of safe sleep technology. The dual-firmness mattress (extra support for infants, added cushiness for toddlers) is GREENGUARD® Gold certified, so no nasty off-gassing. Plus, it’s waterproof, stain/odor resistant, and hypoallergenic. What more could you need? Oh, yes, it’s available only at specialty stores, so it’s also a great reason to shop local!

WAHM Baby Registry Must-Haves

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Did you know? July 4th isn’t just Independence Day, it’s also National Work from Home Day. Gugu Guru’s team is comprised of many work at home mamas and we’ve learned a thing or two about some products that you should add to your registry if you plan on working from your home office too.

Working from home is so great for many reasons if your career allows it, but it still comes with its challenges. If you’re expecting it to be much easier than going back to work or being a full time stay at home mommy, then you might be in for a little surprise. Don’t get me wrong – I wouldn’t change it for the world but just be ready for the fact that you’ll still have the guilts and you will still feel isolated (maybe even more so than being a SAHM because you’ll have a work schedule and won’t necessarily be free to hit those mommy and me classes) so it’s important to have some basic gear in place to make it easier all around. Once you get into your groove, you will love the flexibility it provides and the fact that you can be close to your baby, while also continuing with your career if that’s something you want to do (or maybe need to do for financial reasons).

Baby K’Tan
Anyone will tell you that wearing your baby is one of the easiest ways to get things done. Thank you @MeghannBarone for showing how a new mama does it #LikeABoss

Graco Bumper Jumper (Seen here in Little Jungle)
This Graco jumper kept my son occupied and super happy; I could tackle emails or have a quick call. This is great for when baby is around 6 months old and can lift his or her neck.

WiFi Baby Monitor
Regardless of whether you’re stay at home, work from home or back to the office, you’ll need a good monitor. WiFi Baby is a top-rated wireless network-based monitor and Nanny Cam that keeps you connected to your child via apps on iPhone, iPad or Android. Anywhere.

Treadmill Desk Mount
Fitting in workouts when you’re a WAHM is tough. My sister told me about a treadmill desk. The entire desk with treadmill is a few thousand dollars on Amazon – thus out of my budget – but we have a treadmill and I spotted this attachment for around $40. I set it at 1.1 miles per hour when I work and wind up burning a whole bunch of calories. I’m a pacer anyway (like I can never sit when I talk on the phone) so this works great for me. It has also helped my back since I am not leaning over the laptop on my dining room table anymore.

DockATot
It’s important to also have a portable place for baby to relax when you’re working from home. Some bassinets or play yards are just too heavy or wide to carry from room to room. We love the DockATot for a lot of reasons but one of the big ones is the portability factor. Plus the Deluxe seen here can be used when your baby is a newborn (and he or she is sure to love it!)

Trend Report: Japanese Minimalism

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We have seen the simple yet very thoughtful design and style influences of Japan trickling in to the mom & baby category recently. Brands like Tea Collection have been drawing inspiration from Japanese culture with the Citizen Blue line and its Japanese florals and we expect to see more inspired design in light of Tea’s textile designer’s recent trip.

It’s not just the patterns and aesthetics of Japan that are finding their way into the mom & baby category, there is also a big lifestyle aspect. You may have heard of the best-selling book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing where Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes readers step-by-step through her revolutionary KonMari Method for simplifying, organizing, and storing. This book has described as life-changing for many and the Japanese minimalist approach is now being applied to all aspects of the home. As a result, we’re increasingly seeing the word “minimalist” on Gugu Guru registries. Here, our report on what we’ve been spotting and loving from this trend and cultural influence:

As far as mini style, aden+anais kimono tops are a must-have for your layette.

While the Micuna OVO High Chair is manufactured in Spain and not Japan, its clean, modern design certainly fits with the Japanese aesthetic. Moreover, the high chair is multi-use (it converts to a toddler chair), which is key to a practical, minimalist approach for baby.

What’s Japanese fashion without some super comfortable footwear? These Iori Baby Stripe Shoes are made with the softest cotton. Perfectly simple in design – yet totally functional.

Again, multi-function is an important feature if you’re building a minimalist registry and cribs are no exception. There are lots of great options in convertible cribs but for a thoughtful and sleek style, we like the Danish-designed Leander baby bed that coverts from crib to toddler bed to junior bed.

100% organic cotton and soft as cashmere, it seems like no Japanese-inspired registry would be complete without luxurious, organic towels from Imabari, the cotton capital of Japan, like these Kontex Organic Cotton Towels. Imabari towels are known for their construction using traditional slow-weaving techniques to bring out the natural softness of the material.

Another Spanish company – Babyhome – offers the thoughtfully constructed Wave Chair that is so simple yet smartly designed. The pleasant, steady, front-to-back rocking motion will help relax your baby and ensure a zen experience.

The Puj Tub is a minimalist’s dream with its compact form. The tub cradles and comforts baby and fits in all standard-sized bathroom sinks. It also hangs flat for easy and convenient storage.

This beautiful 100% GOTS certified organic Karamiori Pillow from Coyuchi presents the perfect finishing touch to Japanese minimalist themed home or nursery. Karamiori, an ancient weaving technique in which a pair of warp threads are entwined in figure eights around the weft, is used in Japan to create textiles ranging from gauzy mesh to strong netting.

And as baby grows or maybe as something for the older sibling, Japanese parents rely on a Jinbei for reliable but functional fashion – like this set from Watanosato constructed in a super comfortable “shrink textile.”

Snuggin Review

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Comfort. Babies need it. All. The. Time. And love them or hate them, pacifiers very often provide the comfort a baby needs, when nothing else will do. The problem is, sometimes they have trouble keeping them in their mouths, and their cute chubby hands, while adorable, lack the dexterity to put them back in once they have fallen out.

Hang on, I’m about to solve all your problems….it’s called The Snuggin. It’s a cute, flat, plush elephant that holds the pacifier and is easy for baby hands to hold. “But I’ve seen this before,” you say. No….it’s way better. On each animal hand and foot there are Velcro closures so you can hold more than one binky at a time! It even opens up in the back to store a few more binkies!

Each animal hand has the Velcro closure for the binky of your choosing!

Madelyn, my eight month old, has been experimenting with her Snuggin for the last few weeks, and I can say without a doubt that it’s her new favorite thing. She can easily find the binky if she has dropped it, and I have found her several times in her crib just holding the soft material next to her cheek. I feel comfortable giving it to her in the car seat being that it’s not too plush that it could obstruct her breathing in any way. I love that it can hold multiple pacifiers, and that you can change them out to suit baby’s needs or wants at any given time.

Here is Maddy, giving me the side-eye, looking very protective of her Snuggin. You can see the Velcro opening for storage in the back of the elephant.

Unlike other pacifier-holders that have only one type of binky permanently affixed to the plush toy, the Snuggin allows for more personalization. We’ve even put teething toys on there, which really holds her interest. Which cuts down on the crying. Which allows me to shop longer at Target. Everybody wins!

Like what you see? We’ve teamed up with Snuggin to give away three Snuggins – enter below to win one! It’s the perfect baby shower gift.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

About Lisa Marchione Rankin
Lisa is a 37 year old mom of three (Ethan-7, Lily-4, Madelyn-9 months). She is a former theater teacher, part-time actress, and sales associate, who also ran her own bridal makeup business on the weekends! She is currently working towards her graduate degree in elementary education with a concentration in special education for children with autism and special needs. In her free time (what?????) she enjoys cooking and baking, and an occasional, very easy crafting project. She has been happily married to Jason for almost 11 years.

DIY Crinkle Toy

by Gugu Guru 3 Comments

See Kate Sew partners with Gugu Guru again to share a fantastic DIY tutorial. This time? A DIY crinkle toy to match up with her TWELVElittle diaper bag. Read on to get the details…

I’m thrilled about this post, I love the project and I love the bag that goes with it! Today’s DIY project is a Knotted Crinkle Toy for baby! It’s a fun, sensory toy with a wooden ring. Lots of things for baby to touch and hear. This is a type of sewing I’ve never done before (with crinkle material!) but it was super easy and fun! Even if you’re new to sewing, you’ll be able to tackle this project.

TWELVElittle is a modern diaper bag company, but you might not even know it by looking at their bags. I fell in love with this 3-in-1 Foldover Tote. Having a big diaper bag has been so nice! One baby alone is a good enough reason to have a diaper bag that can hold a whole bunch, but since I have 2 other kids, too, the space is extra useful.

A few other things I love about this bag:

The color is so nice and dimensional, plus the fabric is wipeable and just nice!
It can be a tote, backpack or sling bag, depending on how you clip the strap! A hands-free option is a must with kids!
The color and style won’t be embarrassing for my husband, he carries the diaper bag often, and he likes it, too.
The interior is wipeable and has lots of pockets and they’re big – for bottles, sippys, diapers, wipes, etc. Plus a few zippered pockets (on the inside and out) for my stuff.
The style is classy enough for date night!

I couldn’t quite decide which pocket was best for my wooden ring crinkle toy, but let’s make one anyways!

DIY Baby Crinkle Toy

Materials:
-6 Fat Quarters of solid colored fabric (I’m using Cotton + Steel solids)
-1/2 yard crinkle material* OR an old, clean chip bag
-3″ unfinished wooden ring
-Free Pattern Download

*I used a clear CPSIA and EN71 compliant crinkle material which you can find with a quick google search. A chip or similar food product bag will give you a similar sound, so it’s up to you what you want to use.

Instructions:

Use the pattern piece to cut SIX layers of fabric. Align the Fold Arrow on a fold of the fabric and cut out with fabric scissors. Use the same pattern piece to cut THREE layers of crinkle material.

Decide which colors/patterns you want to pair together and stack them up. You’ll put the two fabric layers together with the right sides of the fabric together. Then pin the crinkle material to the backside of one fabric.

Sew around the edges of the stack, 1/4″ from the edge of the fabric. Leave a 1-2″ opening on one side, right in the middle of the toy.

Clip the points of the fabric and turn through the opening. Push the edges out and press with low heat.

Make 2 more fabric pieces with remaining materials.

There is no need to finish the opening, since we’ll be knotting it onto the wooden ring.

To wrap up this project, grab your wooden ring and tie the fabric piece around it. Make a knot and then make a second knot and pull the ends so the knot is really tight. Repeat with all 3 fabric pieces until you have 3 fabric knot pieces with extra ears sticking out.

All done! The fabric is crinkly and makes a fun sound, and the wood is also great to grab. Hopefully this toy will be a hit!

Cause-Driven Baby Registry: Finn + Emma

by Gugu Guru 2 Comments

We continue our cause-driven registry campaign this week with Finn+Emma.

Finn + Emma, is a 100% organic baby clothing, toys, play gyms, and accessories one-stop-shop. Finn + Emma is a blend of classic and contemporary, modern and whimsical, stylish and utilitarian baby items, all of which are free from any toxic chemicals. Finn + Emma believes that beautiful and healthy baby items can be both sustainable and stylish; there is no need to sacrifice style to keep your baby safe from chemicals!

Finn + Emma’s play gyms are made from a 100% birch wood frame finished with non-toxic stains and lacquers (free of lead, phthalate, nickel, mercury, and VOC’s). All of the attached wooden toys are non-toxic, made from all natural untreated indian hardwood buffed with vegetable seed wax. The knit dolls were made with phthalate-free rattles inside and hand knit from organic cotton. All of their clothing is 100% organic cotton and uses eco-friendly dyes, safe for your baby’s skin.

Do–goodies (pictured above) are lovies made from upcycled scraps of Finn + Emma products that are soft, hand-sewn in the U.S.A, and best of all — a portion of the purchase will be donated directly to KaBOOM!, a national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids the childhood they deserve, filled with balanced and active play.

Dadpreneur Spotlight: Michael Rothbard of Newton

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With June being the month that we celebrate fathers, we wanted to highlight one more Dadpreneur: Michael Rothbard is the founder of Newton – the brand behind the award-winning Newton Wovenaire Crib Mattress. Newton’s Wovenaire Crib Mattress features Wovenaire technology; the Wovenaire mattress core is 90% air and 10% food-grade polymer and provides the comfort of foam and latex without any of the drawbacks. These mattresses are highly breathable and don’t have any of the foam, latex, flame retardants, springs and glue common in other crib mattresses, which means no off gassing, toxic chemicals or allergens. What’s more, Newton’s Wovenaire Crib Mattresses are easily washable in your bath or shower, which means you can simply wash away allergens, dirt, liquids, and dust to help prevent mold from growing. Your baby will not only rest easy on these 100% recyclable mattresses, but you can rest easy knowing that they are breathing safely and in a completely clean environment.

GG: How did you decide to launch your business? Tell us a little more about Newton.

MR: I’ve been an entrepreneur in the specialty sleep category for the majority of my career. However, until I became a Father, I never realized the importance of providing better sleep for babies. As first time parents, my wife and I experienced firsthand the fear and exhaustion that almost every parent faces with trying to get our son to sleep well.

I decided there must be a better way. To me the problem was obvious, we expect babies to sleep on sweaty, rock hard surfaces that we would never be comfortable on. I used to look at my son lying on his crib mattress and think he must be so uncomfortable, no wonder he’s not sleeping! My wife and I also lost sleep ourselves, as most parents do, when the rollover stage started. This was a stage for me that safety and breathability were more important than ever.

I discovered that crib mattresses haven’t changed a bit over the years, they’re waterproof because they can’t be washed and they are stiff because you can’t have a baby’s face sinking into an airtight, waterproof surface. So it occurred to me if you could make a crib mattress both breathable and washable it would be both safer and more comfortable. When I discovered the Japanese technology, we call Wovenaire, I knew I had the answer.

Five years later my son, now a budding young scientist, was teaching me what he learned about Newton’s laws of rest and motion and I knew what the name of our new company should be. Newton is dedicated to providing families with better living through better rest.

GG: How do you balance work and family?

It’s not easy to grow a business and a family at the same time. Both are very demanding, but my priority is to be present for my children. This means not just being there for an adequate amount of time, but being present in the moment and not allowing my mind to drift off to my to do list, etc. I try to take at least one skiing trip a year with my oldest boy for some father/son time. These trips are the most precious moments for me and I look forward to doing the same with my younger twins when they’re old enough.

GG: What’s the best part of being an dadpreneur?

Being on my own schedule and being able to pass along my family’s heritage as small business owners to my children. I also know my children are now understanding daddy works on sleep products to make sure all families are comfortable and safe. They were all excited to attend the Newton 1^stbirthday party a few weeks back and demonstrate how comfortable and safe our Wovenaire crib mattress truly is. Little innovators and safe sleep ambassadors in the making!

You can follow Newton on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Nicole Ryan’s Cause-Driven Baby Registry

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Gugu Guru is so excited to announce the launch of a baby registry which is close to our hearts. Gugu Guru and popular, nationally renowned Sirius XM Radio Hits 1 Morning Mashup host Nicole Ryan have partnered on a campaign to make thoughtful product choices for Nicole’s second baby due in September 2016. Gugu Guru has handpicked select baby companies and products that are tied to a charitable cause and/or are mission-driven for her Cause Driven Baby Registry.

Each Tuesday on the Sirius XM Radio Hits 1 Morning Mash-Up, tune in to “Tell Us Something Good” segment, where Nicole will introduce a brand on this registry for good and discuss how the company gives back. Gugu Guru is teaming up with Nicole to highlight each of these socially conscious brands over here on our blog, along with a giveaway each week!

Here’s a full list of companies which we’ll be highlighting:

Finn + Emma: Creates baby clothes, toys and gifts made from organic cotton and wood with modern stylish prints and colors. Do-goodies are lovies made from upcycled scraps of Finn + Emma products that are soft, hand-sewn in the U.S.A, and best of all — a portion of the purchase will be donated directly to KaBOOM!, a national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids the childhood they deserve, filled with balanced and active play.

Loyal Hana is a collection of stylish comfortable garments that enables the modern woman to transition from the bump, the boob and beyond. Loyal Hana hearts baby2baby, which helps over 67,000 children a year in the greater Los Angeles area by distributing new and gently used items to over 50 organizations including homeless and domestic violence shelters, Head Start programs and hospitals.

Lorena Canals: Handmade machine-washable rugs that are stylish and practical. With the purchase of a Lorena Canals rug, a customer helps a child attend school in Nothern India through the company’s Sakula project.

Cuddle + Kind: Ethically produced, hand-knit dolls that help feed children in need. With the purchase of one doll, 10 meals are provided to children in need.

Owlet: The occurrences of healthy infants passing away at home in the crib due to breathing issues is far too high, and many of these deaths are preventable. Owlet hopes for a future where far fewer tragedies are happening to the infants we love so much. The ability to integrate medical technology in a baby sock is going to change that.

4Moms: Makes dramatically better baby gear by leveraging robotics, technology, and innovative design to solve parents’ problems. 4moms Cares is the charitable arm of 4moms. Our mission is to dramatically impact the lives of children and families in need through meaningful product donations, hospital discounts, and by supporting our local communities.

Naturepedic: Naturepedic handcrafts certified organic mattresses without questionable chemicals, providing a healthier night’s sleep for the whole family. Naturepedic supports dozens of organizations like the Environmental Working Group and One Percent for the Planet, promoting environmental stewardship and healthful wellbeing.

DockATot: DockATot is a multi-functional lounging, playing, and snuggling dock for baby and tots 0-36 months that was created with love in Sweden. DockATot will be donating $1 for each DockATot sold on our site during the months of June and July to Project Night Night, an organization that helps homeless children (ages 0-12).

TWELVElittle: TWELVElittle creates fashionable and functional diaper bags for the moms and dads who need it all. TWELVElittle dedicated one of their bestsellers – Carry Love Tote to Every Mother Counts, and for every bag sold, are donating 5%. For special occasions and holidays, they dedicate a month to a specific non profit organization for every product sold, donate 5% to the organization.

UPPAbaby: UPPAbaby makes high-quality baby products that fit the needs of your new life as a parent, while appealing to the sense of style you’ve always had. UPPAbaby is committed to giving back and supporting worthy causes and organizations that align with our mission and core company ethos.

Matimati Baby: Matimati Baby designs and makes stylish yet functional baby bandana bibs for all little ones. Through Matimati Baby’s “drooling for a purpose” campaign our brand donates a percentage of all sales to Chain Reaction, a non-profit organization that fights human trafficking in Asia.

Babies4Babies: Creates swaddle blankets with fashion forward prints and colors, made in America. Babies4Babies works with Saving Mothers to help prevent infant deaths in developing countries.

Follow Along!

To follow along week-by-week as Nicole introduces these products and companies, follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook – and, as always, Gugu Guru will be posting on our Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, too!

Nicole Ryan's Cause-Driven Baby Registry

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

Here’s a full list of companies which we’ll be highlighting:

Cuddle + Kind: Ethically produced, hand-knit dolls that help feed children in need. With the purchase of one doll, 10 meals are provided to children in need.

DockATot: DockATot is a multi-functional lounging, playing, and resting dock for baby and tots 0-36 months that was created with love in Sweden. DockATot will be donating $1 for each DockATot sold on our site during the months of June and July to Project Night Night, an organization that helps homeless children (ages 0-12).

Babies4Babies: Creates swaddle blankets with fashion forward prints and colors, made in America. Babies4Babies works with Saving Mothers to help prevent infant deaths in developing countries.

Follow Along!

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