sleep

Toddler Tuesday: Lublini Custom Bedding

When I first set eyes on the Stokke Sleepi, I knew I had to have it. It’s sleek, modern, smaller-scaled, wheeled, and convertible up to a junior bed (that’s 10 years of use!) However, if you own a Stokke Sleepi, you know that buying stylish bedding for it is not as easy as popping into your local baby super store or ordering on Amazon Prime. It takes EFFORT. Combine that with all the feelings that come with converting the crib to a toddler bed (your little one suddenly seems so…grown up) and buying new sheets can make for a not-so-easy time.

Black and White Raindrop Sheet

Enter, Lublini Custom Bedding. Like many of the other great brands that I love, I stumbled upon Lublini on Instagram. They were launching a black and white collection that caught my eye because I’ve been obsessed with black and white decor since I was in middle school. They are clearly THE oval bedding experts. Their bedding is made to order and handcrafted in Austin, TX, using only natural and organic fabrics. In addition to their custom bedding, they offer a ready to ship collection. Note: Babyletto Hula, Ubabub POD, and Nursery Works Gradient mamas, their new “Hula” collection has those oval cribs covered too!

Polka dots, bunnies, hearts, stripes, and more, their Stokke collection is clean, graphic and modern and you can mix and match the patterns and colors for your sheets, skirts, and rail guards. Plus, when it’s time to convert your Sleepi to a junior bed (welp!) they’ve got sheets for that too.

Organic Goodnight Sheet

*Black and White Art Cards by Wee Gallery.

By Shana, Gugu Guru Director of Content Marketing

Sleepytime Find: ergoPouch

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-Sponsored Post-

Melbourne, Australia-based ergoPouch was founded in 2009 by Alina Sack. As a mother, Sack drew on her own personal experiences of sleep deprivation to come up with innovative products designed to help babies and kids get a better night’s sleep. The award-winning ergoPouch collection includes premium quality baby swaddles, sleeping bags and sleep suits available from birth to 6 years. All ergoPouch products are made with natural fibers including Organic Cotton, Bamboo and Merino. ergoPouch products offer great functionality and versatility with swaddles that can easily transition to a sleeping bag, and sleep suits that convert from bags to suits with legs for easy use from bassinet to stroller.

You can find ergoPouch on their website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can buy any of the ergoPouch sleep items at Babies R Us.

The organic natural fibers that make up the ergoPouch are breathable and skin friendly, which keeps baby at an even and controlled temperature, unlike with polyester. ergoPouch offers a range of tog (warmth) ratings available to suit every temperature and every season, so you can pick the suits perfect for your baby at all times of the year. The .2 tog Ergococoon swaddle is designed to be easy to use and difficult to escape from! The simple zip up design will keep baby snug and securely swaddled without the need for complicated wrapping. For babies 0-4 months, the Ergococoon swaddles with arms in to contain natural startle reflex, and at 4-12 months transition from swaddle to sleep bag (arms out) with armhole poppers. The two way zipper makes diaper changes super easy, too!

ergoPouch Baby Sleeping Bags come in a range of fabrics and tog ratings to suit your little one – if you’re transitioning out of your ergoCocoon you might try a jersey sleeping bag. Made with organic cotton they have the same super soft feel as the ergoCocoon and come in size 8-24 months only. For a more luxurious feel, the organic cotton sheeting Sleeping Bags are made with 600+ thread count and organic cotton fillings. They have unique stretch inserts on the sides and shoulders to allow babies to move more freely and comfortably while they sleep.

For ages 2 years through six years, the award winning ergoPouch Sleep Suit converts from a Sleeping Bag to a Sleep Suit with legs using zippers – making the transition from crib to stroller or car an easy one. Like the Ergococoon Sleeping bags, ergoPouch Sleep Suit Bags are a safe way to keep baby warm without the need for extra blankets, which can place baby or child at an increase risk of SIDS. This is also a perfect choice for older babies and toddlers who like freedom of movement, with grip pads on the feet for little walkers. The Sleep Suit Bag is made from a skin-friendly organic cotton outer layer with a breathable cotton filling.

Thank you to ergoPouch for making this post possible.

Baby Style Find: Softsie

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The Gugu Guru team first fell in love with Softsie when Live Sweet Photography included them in the registry ideas for adoption mamas. When our team got our hands on some to try, we fell head over heels for their modern designs, adorable fit, but most of all – how incredibly soft they are – hence the name! Why are Softsie pajamas, hats, and bibs SO soft? Read on to find out!

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

Natalie started Softsie after her daughter was suffering from itchy eczema and dry skin; after struggling to reapply lotion on a squirmy baby all day long, Natalie stumbled upon a brilliant idea – why not infuse her pajamas with lotions and oils to help moisturize and hydrate her baby’s skin all night long? And from there, Softsie was born!

Infused into the Softsie Footie are Aloe Vera, Jojoba Oil, and Vitamin E. These ingredients are infused into our fabric through a capsulation process. Microscopic, airtight and waterproof capsules are applied by immersing or “dipping” knitted fabric in a controlled laboratory setting. The fabric is then laid out to dry, and as the fabric dries, the infusion becomes deeply embedded into the yarns of the fabric. The capsules open to release the treatment only when the fabric is touched or rubbed by human skin. Essentially, every time an infused garment is worn, the capsules break open and the materials are released gently.

The Softsie clothing is made of a cotton jersey fleece with the following properties (47% modal, 47% cotton, and 6% lycra). Their fabric is of medium weight and incredibly, super-duper, buttery soft. The fabric is cozy yet breathable, and can be worn comfortably all year round. The infused products are organic, all-natural, hypoallergenic, Fragrance-free, Nut-free, Dairy-free, and Vegan – plus everything is machine washable! Softsie is made in the United States and offers gender neutral, modern colors and prints that are fun and stylish. These would make a wonderful baby shower gift!

Introducing: The Owlet 2 Monitor

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We’ve written many times about why we think Owlet is an essential item for every baby registry, and now we’re excited to announce that Owlet has released the Owlet 2 Smart Sock! As part of its vision to transform infant health and safety for every baby, Owlet is revolutionizing the way infant care is handled with the release of this new Smart Sock and the corresponding Connected Care platform.

Building on the award-winning design of the original Owlet Smart Sock, the new Smart Sock 2 is the result of parent feedback and a continued investment in making the product comfortable, safe, and functional. The new and improved Owlet Smart Sock 2 can be worn on both feed, and has updated fabric for baby’s comfort. The Smart Sock 2 also has breathable toes through all sock sizes. The re-design of the actual sock is a more secure fit, which allows for a better reading of baby’s stats. The advancements in firmware and hardware to reduce false notifications, and the improved Bluetooth range means there can now be up to 100 feet between the Smart Sock 2 and the Base Station. Plus, the smartphone app is updated as well, making it an easier user experience overall.

Once you get the sock on your baby’s foot, what kind of information can it relay? Revolutionizing the monitor industry, Owlet has released their Connected Care platform. A first of its kind, the Connected Care platform tracks more data from the Owlet Smart Sock than parents previously had. It allows parents to view trends and use the insights to be proactive about their infant’s health; making decisions based on trends and data, as well as charting a course for development. Connected Care works by visualizing the data collected from your Owlet Smart Sock 2, which uses pulse oximetry to track heart rate and oxygen levels. Parents can view this data via the Connected Care app on their smartphone. The app also allows parents to access their baby’s sleep trends and analytics, a powerful tool to help parents create bedtime routines and develop healthy sleep habits. As Dr. Ken Ward, Owlet’s medical director says, “By making this information accessible to parents, we are striving to improve infant health and to help chart a course for proper development.”

Featured photo from Lunch Pails and Lipstick

Product Discovery: Snuza Pico Movement Monitor

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–Sponsored Post–

As a new parent, when you’re handed a tiny infant to take care of, it can feel very overwhelming! Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a way to monitor your new little one while they’re sleeping, so you can rest easy and sleep too? Snuza, known for spearheading the innovation in one of the biggest trends in the marketplace right now, wearable tech for infants, has just released their Snuza Pico Movement Monitor, which is unlike anything else on the market. While some of the newer baby movement monitors are fitted beneath the baby’s mattress, Snuza monitors attach directly to a baby’s diaper and alarms if no abdominal movement is detected. This early detection provided by Snuza monitors offers a solution to help bring peace of mind to parents.

However, Snuza has recently revolutionized the monitor market with their Snuza Pico. The revolutionary new Snuza Pico is the first wearable baby movement monitor in the line that allows parents to directly connect to a smartphone or tablet via a Bluetooth App! The Pico attaches to your baby’s diaper and using a patented contactless sensor, monitors abdominal movement of your baby. By using this contactless sensor, the Pico does not need to touch your baby’s skin, which in turn reduces the amount of false alarms caused by loss of contact. If there is no abdominal movement detected after 15 seconds, the device will vibrate in an effort to rouse the child awake. After 20 seconds of no abdominal movement, the Pico will alarm. Parents can also select an optional movement rate warning, which alerts parents if baby’s abdomen moves less than eight times per minute.

The App, which is Apple and Android compatible, also monitors a baby’s abdominal movement, skin temperature, sleeping position (side, face-down, face up) and fall detector. It also features an on/off button and alerts parents if they become out of range. The Pico unit can be accessed by multiple smartphones so that parents and/or caregivers can monitor multiple Pico units from one or more smartphones. Snuza wearable movement monitors are made with hypo-allergenic, medical grade plastics and do not send or receive radio frequency signals. There are NO wires, cords, cables or sensor pads that could potentially harm baby. Weighing only 1oz, these monitors are the lightest of their kind on the market today.

For more information, check out the Snuza website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Thank you to Snuza for making great products to keep our babies safe and for also making this post possible.

Oilogic: Kids Better Sleep Project

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–Sponsored Post–

What would you do if bedtime wasn’t a long drawn out hassle anymore? Do you have hobbies you’d pursue, or a book you’ve been waiting to read? Maybe spend some time with your partner? Oilogic Essential Oil Care, which creates skin care items with 100% essential oils, is asking parents all over, “what can you accomplish when your kid goes to bed?” in their new Kids Better Sleep Project Sweepstakes. In honor of National Sleep Awareness Month, Oilogic is launching the Kids Better Sleep Project, raising awareness for the importance of using natural solutions to rest well, helping parents recognize all they can accomplish when their kids go to bed. The video below, from Oilogic, gives some very funny examples of activities mom and dad can do when baby goes down 1-2-3!

The therapeutic, solution-based brand uses 100% pure essential oil blends to safely and naturally comfort your child, and with the help of their Slumber & Sleep product line, including the Vapor Bath, Calming Cream and Roll-On, parents can establish a dependable nighttime routine the whole family can rely on. In case you don’t know yet, Essential Oils are all-natural, non-invasive, non-toxic and are very easy for the body to absorb and use for care. And when you blend multiple oils together and dilute them appropriately with a moisturizing carrier oil, you can create powerful mixtures which will help you and your little one.

The Slumber and Sleep product line is the perfect bedtime trio. At bath time, just pour the Essential Oil Vapor Bath solution into warm water so your child can breathe in the natural lavender and chamomile vapors. Then, rub the Essential Oil Calming Cream all over your child’s body to calm the senses, and finish off by applying the Essential Oil Roll-on to the back of the neck, chest and bottom of the feet.

In honor of Oilogic’s Kids Better Sleep campaign, they are kicking off an amazing sweepstakes, which runs through Mother’s Day! You can head to the campaign’s site to enter for a chance to win a gigantic entertainment bundle (seriously, you can win a flat screen TV), plus Netflix subscriptions, money to Barnes and Noble and of course, Oilogic products.

Thank you to Oilogic for sponsoring this post!

Mom Sleep Essentials

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When you have a baby, it’s almost a guarantee that you’ll hear this sage advice from a friend or relative, “Sleep when the baby sleeps.” When your little one is snoozing, it can be so darn tempting to attend to some of the mundane tasks that are piling up like paying bills, laundry or – heck – even showering! Our advice? Sleep. It’s not just because you don’t want to be a disheveled zombie walking around the house, it’s because it’s critical to your wellness and postpartum recovery, as well as helping you to think clearly and generally function in life.

So instead of focusing on essentials for baby sleep today – because we’ve covered that topic a lot – we’re focusing on essentials for you, mama. And these aren’t your run of the mill products either…

RECLINER Sleepwear

Developed by a fashion industry executive who was frustrated by the lack of options in sleepwear, RECLINER is luxurious and stylish, yes, but we’re talking about it today as an essential because it’s truly functional and may even help you sleep better. Their featherweight Japanese satins are machine-washable; the bamboo jersey incredibly soft and comfortable. It’s also temperature-regulating so you can wear it year round. We also love that because bamboo is more absorbent than cotton, it helps prevent sweat from pooling on the skin. For those of us mamas who had crazy postpartum sweats, this is definitely a plus. Lastly, and possibly most importantly, you’re going to be lounging a lot those first few weeks so why not look cute while doing it?

The Queen Rose Pillow

This U-shaped total body pillow provides side sleepers with the ideal alignment of the spine reducing strain on the lower back, helping to alleviate back pain. The pillow’s unique filling provides comfort for side sleeping and retains fluffiness for better performance and longer use (and there is no chemical-y smell.) By the way, if you haven’t had your babe just yet, the Queen Rose is also ideal for pregnant women, in fact one Amazon reviewer says, “any husband whose wife is expecting should buy this now!”

Venta Kuube

The Venta Kuube is a powerful yet compact 2-in-1 humidifier and purifier. Incorporating a “Cold-Water Evaporation technology”, the Kuube operates with a whisper-quiet multi-speed motor to put the perfect amount of humidity into the air, never over-humidifying and never creating white dust or mold. Simultaneously, the Kuube removes airborne pollutants like odors, allergens, dust and dander from the air without the use of filters. The Kuube’s dual purpose coupled with its size make it perfect for small spaces and minimalist parents alike. Perfectly humidified and pure air means moisturized and rejuvenated skin, more restful sleep and increased concentration – three things that every new parent needs. Bonus: crafted air also helps with many of the breathing problems that cause snoring.

basq Lavender Calming Oil

Due to its pregnancy- and breastfeeding-safe formulations, basq has always been a favorite brand of the team at Gugu Guru. Monica, Gugu Guru’s founder, swears by the brand’s Lavender Calming Oil for the amazing benefits it provides in her personal care routine. Lavender, after all, is shown in sleep studies to help both infants and adults sleep longer and deeper. Plus the Lavender Calming Oil is also dual purpose for mama + baby; moms can use it on their skin as a relaxing essential oil, while also using it on their babies for infant massage. Basq’s Lavender Calming Oil is free of parabens and phthalates and clinically tested for ZERO skin allergens. Note: as a little extra refresher, Monica also likes to balance her skin and mind throughout the day with Naturopathica’s Lavender Honey Balancing Mist.

Dirty Lemon [sleep]

While we believe it’s important for new moms to get as much sleep as possible, we caution about getting too drowsy, especially if you’re nursing or co-sleeping with your baby. Therefore, we 100% recommend consulting your doctor about Dirty Lemon [sleep] (or really any thing you ingest) before you try this product. The [sleep] drink, best taken before bed time, supports a restful night’s sleep by way of its proprietary herb blend, along with Magnesium and rose water. Dirty Lemon’s [sleep] ingredients include filtered water, cold pressed lemon juice, pure rose water, lemon balm, passionflower, chamomile and magnesium glycerinate chelate. Again, check with your physician or Lactation Consultant but all of these ingredients seem fine for nursing (in fact, many experts recommend that nursing mamas take more magnesium) though, according to Kelly Mom, some research suggests that consuming heavy, heavy amounts of lemon balm could affect breastmilk supply – though this is not proven and this may be a plus if you currently experience over-supply.

QuickZip Sheets

If you’ve been following Gugu Guru for awhile, you may know that we are big fans of QuickZip crib sheets, but you may not know that we love this brand for us grown ups too. That’s right! We need easy changing bedding as well. As we mention above, new moms can sweat a lot, especially when nursing. And, if you’re breastfeeding, your boobs can leak on the sheets when you sleep. To top all of this off, sometimes babies have accidents when they’re in your bed – spit up, urine and the occasional diaper blow-out (hey – it happens!) So all of this means that you’re going to have to change your sheets a lot more often than usual and maybe even in the wee hours of the night. Make it easy on yourself and go with QuickZip sheets for your adult bed – you can just zip off the top layer without fuss or, more importantly if you’ve had a c-section, without pain. Plus they didn’t sacrifice quality with the functionality, the sheets are 400-thread-count luxurious sateen cotton – soft and smooth against your skin for a great night’s sleep.

Wanderlust Must: DockATot

by Gugu Guru 10 Comments

This week we are so excited to be featuring amazing products ideal for traveling with baby. Today we’re highlighting the ever popular DockATot, the ultimate lounger for baby!

DockATot is a multifunctional and ultra stylish baby lounger. The unique shape and design allow babies to comfortably lounge, play, snuggle and log in some tummy time. The idea is that your little one feels snuggled in a safe haven that feels a lot like the womb. The bumpers are made with a special air-permeable fabric that makes DockATot particularly worry-free. If you’re traveling, the DockATot is the ultimate piece of baby gear to tote along because it’s a wonderful place for baby to lounge and relax while you’re on your journey.

Airplane Tips with Baby
Fear of airplane travel with a baby is definitely a thing for new parents. If you’re well prepared then all will be ok. Here, some of the best plane tips for traveling with baby courtesy of DockATot:

Bring extra changes of clothes for baby. We love the cheap white onesies you can buy in sets. If there’s a diaper explosion or a major spit-up, you won’t feel bad just tossing the onesie in the nearest trash can.
Bring extra changes of clothes for you! If said poop or throw up lands on you, you’re going to want to get those clothes off pronto.
Invest in some noise-canceling headphones. There’s nothing worse than a sleeping baby being awoken to an announcement on the loudspeaker letting everyone know that the seatbelt sign is off.
Try and book a flight time that coincides with baby’s nap schedule.
Bring your DockATot Deluxe on the plane with you! The Deluxe size can easily be carried on and fits perfectly into the seat, making it super cozy for the little ones. All the better for them to lounge! Invest in a new DockATot travel bag, so you can easily transport your dock anywhere you go.

Dealing With Nap Time While On Vacation
While it’s tempting to stray from baby’s nap schedule while away from home, don’t do it. Proper sleep time is so important to their growth and development. Rather than sending your entire family back to the hotel room for each nap time, here are some ways to still enjoy your trip while making sure baby gets proper sleep.

Trade off nap-sitting times. Take turns with your significant other. One of you watches the baby while the other gets to cross something off their personal vacation bucket list. Sounds like a good deal to us!
If you’ve rented a car, take a scenic drive during baby’s nap time while they snooze in their carseat.
Plan meal time to coincide with their naps. Make sure to bring a reclining stroller so they can snooze while you enjoy a long and relaxing adult meal.

Traveling with baby may seem daunting at first, but knowing you have a safe and cozy place for baby to rest will keep everyone calm and happy.

You can follow DockATot on their website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Gifts for a Cozy Baby

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It’s the time of year when all a mama wants to do is hunker down with her little ones and stay cozy! We rounded up some cozy and adorable baby products – these would make wonderful baby shower gifts or add them to your registry.

Sponsored Post

Baby Merlin Magic Sleepsuit: Transitioning from being swaddled to not being swaddled can be difficult on some baby’s sleep; Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit gives baby a warm, cozy, and comforting feeling to help them fall asleep faster, and stay asleep, too! The Magic Sleepsuit is designed for babies who are ready to transition from the swaddle, yet still need that cozy and contained feeling to aid in their sleep. Made with soft, comforting materials, the Magic Sleepsuit will give your baby the sense of security and warmth they need to sleep well through the night. This is a wonderful piece of baby gear for traveling because it keeps baby feeling secure wherever they are sleeping. Use in Winter months with a simple onesie and you’ll never have to worry about baby being cold at night! Use code GUGUGURU15% for 15% off!

PRODUCT WIDGET – ID: 58187b42f3e6915391d70092

Nook Niche Feeding Pillow: This 100% organic, luxuriously soft, and breathable pillow is the perfect accompaniment for breastfeeding and bottlefeeding to keep you and your baby cool and cozy. Made from non-toxic and sustainable materials, this pillow has a plethora of uses and will last well beyond baby years. The Nook Niche Pillow makes a great sitting prop for baby while he’s learning to sit on his own and is works wonderfully for elevated tummy time. For the older kids, it acts as a comfy body pillow, and mom and dad can even use it for side-sleeping. Baby’s not the only one who can cozy up to this pillow, as it makes a wonderful armrest for knitting, sewing, or reading. The pillow cover is liquid and stain resistant and easily washable.

PRODUCT WIDGET – ID: 586b9641428ba05a419d86a5

Big Bee Little Bee’s Snow Angel Cushioned Baby Bath Towel: Big Bee Little Bee has solved an age old problem – where do you put a cold, wet, and slippery baby just from the bath? The solution: the cushioned baby bath towel! Made from 100% cotton, and machine washable, this helpful towel features padded back panel to protect baby from hard surfaces. The more you wash the towel, the softer it gets! The adjustable-length hood grows with your baby, and the super soft terry-velour wings allow for easy drying of arms, legs and all the bits in between. This towel takes the stress out of bathtime – simply have it on the floor ready to go and when you take baby out of the bath, lay them down and wrap them up! Because the back of the towel is super cushioned, baby will be comfortable getting dried off and oh so cozy.

PRODUCT WIDGET – ID: 586b9519f3e6916aa210b603

Thank you to Big Bee Little Bee, Nook and Baby Merlin for making this sponsored post possible.

Back to Sleep Day 19: HALO Bassinest

by Gugu Guru 3 Comments

On our final day of Back to Sleep, we present the HALO® Bassinest® – one of THE most popular products on Gugu Guru registries. The HALO Bassinest Swivel Sleeper is the only bassinet that swivels to bring baby to you for close and safe sleep. This means your little one can sleep as close to you as you want – even right next to you in bed – and still sleep safely in his own separate space. Read on to find out if this product is a fit for your lifestyle and/or baby registry.

From the 360 degree swivel to the retractable side wall with lock, the HALO Bassinest is chock-full of smart features that make tending to baby in bed easy (score for nursing mamas!) Other features for gadget geeks include its Soothing Center that offers 3 lullabies, 3 soothing sounds, 2 levels of vibration, nightlight and a nursing timer (yes, you read that right.) Also handy? The floor light to help you see without disturbing your baby and the storage caddy to keep baby’s essentials organized.

Breathability is of the utmost importance when it comes to baby’s sleeping arrangements for both temperature regulation and also for reducing suffocation risk. The sidewall panels of the HALO Bassinest are constructed of mesh fabric for maximum visibility and breathability. This means that it’s not only easy to keep an eye on baby, but you can also rest assured that if baby rolls, the panels of the sidewalls are fully breathable.

Recovery from c/s surgery can make any movement painful and difficult – including lifting your baby, or having to get in and out of bed to take care of him. Unlike stationary and attached bassinets, the Bassinest Swivel Sleeper’s 360-degree range of motion allows mom to tend to many of her baby’s needs without having to get out of bed. And when she does have to get in or out of bed, the swivel design allows mom to gently reposition it to accommodate her – so getting in or out of bed can be done easily and with minimal discomfort.

Note: all sleep tips are independent to all the products featured in Back to Sleep and Kim West is not endorsing these products unless otherwise indicated.

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