Our favorite gifts for new moms are ones that merge practicality with a bit of fun and indulgence. A bespoke British tote featuring an image of baby, an agenda to keep her on task (with a chic animal print cover), stationery with a sense of humor . . . these are the things that are sure to make a newly minted mama smile on her first Mother's Day. Celebrate Spring, and the new mom in your life, in style!
While there's something to be said for receiving a beautifully printed, hand-addressed invitation in the mail, digital invites offer a time and money-saving solution for busy baby shower hostesses. With a range of websites offering chic and modern designs, there's no reason to feel bad about bucking tradition and digitizing your message. Here, eight of the absolute sweetest digital baby shower invitations that we think even Emily Post would approve of.
Matthew McConaughey appeared on Late Show With David Letterman last night and had the audience in laughter as he described his home as a circus, thanks to 4-year-old Levi, 3-year-old Vida, and 3-month-old Livingston. "I've got a wonderful woman though," he said of wife Camila Alves. "She's the ringleader of the circus!"
There's been a lot of buzz in the media lately about the challenges of maintaining a happy and sustainable work-life balance, and it's one of those topics that spurs strong opinions and countless debates. Yesterday, the New York Post ran an article on moms who bring their babies to the office with them, an alternative take that while still fairly uncommon, is gaining popularity, especially in smaller workplaces.
According to Carla Moquin, the founder of the Parenting in the Workplace Institute, there are currently 186 organizations across the US with formal baby policies. "I think there’s a lot more understanding that this is a viable concept as long as you set it up right," says Moquin. This includes establishing formal policies regarding where parents can change diapers, breastfeed and handle crying babies, as well as designating a co-worker to serve as an alternate caregiver when the parent needs to attend a meeting. In most workplaces, the policy holds until the baby is about 9 months old.
Over the past seven years, Moquin has interviewed hundreds of parents who bring their babies to work and cite lower stress levels and fewer financial worries as two of the benefits of the arrangement.
Do you think that having your baby at the office with you would help, or hinder your work productivity? What kind of an impact would it have on your happiness? Sound off! We want to hear what you think.
If hundreds of miles or expensive flights have ever kept you from celebrating a friend's special occasion, you're likely to love Annie Campbell of Après Fête's Baby Shower in a Box concept as much as we do.
"I love my friends. I really do. But since I grew up in Oregon, went to school in New York, and now live in Los Angeles, those friends are pretty spread out. And since life continues to be full of celebrations — birthdays, engagements, weddings, showers of all kinds, babies, and more — it's impossible to fly around to celebrate all of them in person," Annie said of her inspiration to devise a "Baby Shower in a Box" for her expectant friend, Deirdre, who lives across the country in Charleston, SC. See how she did it!
If you have an infant who's ready (or almost ready) to start on solids, you've probably heard mixed reports on whether or not white baby rice cereal is the best thing to start them on. Last Fall, concerning levels of arsenic were found in rice, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended diversifying baby's diet to reduce risks.
"For a baby’s first food, rice cereal is not as nutritious as other food options and only became popular in the past 30 to 35 years because it was thought to be the least allergenic of the cereals," the AAP's Dr. Frank Greer noted. While we always recommend asking your own pediatrician's opinion when it comes to your baby's diet, most will agree that these seven options are safe alternatives to white rice cereal for your early eater.
Parents of fussy teethers will try just about anything to ease their babies' pain as those first teeth make their entrance. While there are tons of great teething toys on the market, they don't always do the trick. Amber teething necklaces are a new(ish) trend embraced by celeb moms who prefer a natural approach, like Rachel Zoe and Jewel. Jewel even cited an amber necklace as one of her must haves for baby Kase. "It really helps cut down on his pain," she told us back in November.
Amber is a fossilized resin derived from prehistoric trees. In nature, it serves as a natural antibiotic, and when it comes in contact with a baby's warm skin, healing oils and resins are released and absorbed. The amber beads are said to reduce inflammation, soothe baby, and relieve pain.
Have you tried putting an amber necklace on your baby? We've rounded up five strands of beads that just may do the trick if you've been in search of a way to soothe your teething tot.
I'll be the first to admit my weakness for Scandinavian toys and kids clothes, so when I learned that Danish brand MINI A TURE Copenhagen was making its US debut, I couldn't wait to share the news.
MINI A TURE was launched in 2003 by design director Anne Katrine Montag with a focus on high-quality, functional clothes for kids. The broad use of bright colors and sophisticated, fun prints give the line a sense of humor that sets it apart. Click through to see some of the Spring/Summer collection's standout pieces for boys, girls, and babies.
Because they grow up so fast, tracking your little one's progress through the years (or even months) with a growth chart is a fun and low-maintenance activity that you can share together. Gone are the days of ticking off a child's height on the kitchen wall, though. When it comes to growth charts, there's something out there for every style and type of home. From vinyl decals to personalized pieces, and even vintage surfboards, check out 10 very cool growth charts for your tall tot.
If you're a mom-to-be living in London, there's a new resource that's just popped up, and we have to say — we're more than just a little bit intrigued. Mermaid Maternity is a nonmedical maternity retreat designed for the sole purpose of providing support for pregnant women and new moms. The center offers a one-stop destination for everything from birthing classes and nutrition workshops during your pregnancy to baby-feeding support, parenting workshops, reflexology, and postnatal yoga classes once your little one has arrived.
"We aim to bridge the gap between hospital and home, by giving you the skills and nurturing that will help you embrace your new responsibility with confidence," says founder Nick Balfour (who's also a dad to four girls).
Mermaid has 14 well-appointed, modern, and even soundproofed rooms where new moms can choose to stay immediately after their babies are born (they'll even pick you up at the hospital) or at any time during a newborn's first three months of life. The center has a staff of around-the-clock caregivers who will tend to babies while their moms are resting and a midwife who provides daily visits.
Mermaid Maternity doesn't come cheap, with overnight packages starting at about $1,215 (for a recommended three nights to a week stay), but for many new moms, the cost may be worth the comfort and support. What do you think?
Most every mama we know has relied on The Children's Place for its affordable selection of kids' basics. Now the brand's former CEO, Ezra Dabah, has a new children's line, Ruum American Kid's Wear, and it's about as versatile as they come. We previewed Ruum's Summer collection today and found a wide array of both classic and trend-driven pieces with kid-friendly elements galore — think (subtle) elastic waistbands, supersoft cotton tees, ruffly tote bags, and bright, bold striped polos.
There are currently 22 Ruum locations across the country (the brand purchased all of the assets from American Eagle's now-defunct 77Kids and is now operating out of its former locations), with more openings to follow. If there isn't yet a store in your area, you can still shop online. Check out our top 10 picks available on the site now!
The key to baby shower table success? Coming up with an unexpectedly beautiful centerpiece that sets the tone for the food and drink portion of your soiree. Whether your approach includes flowers, props, or themed decor, we've rounded up 12 inspiring ideas that are sure to be the shower's center of attention — after the guest of honor, of course!
The best way to ensure that your gift stands out from the crowd at a baby shower? Choose something that's completely one-of-a-kind. Thanks to Etsy, and a general upswing in the popularity of shopping through small businesses, finding high-quality, unique, and handmade goods has never been easier. Check out 15 of our favorite finds for personalized, customized, and handcrafted gifts for baby and mom-to-be.
Earlier this year, we shared the gorgeous pink and yellow Hawaiian-inspired nursery that brand stylist and award-winning graphic designer Erika Brechtel of Small Shop Studio designed for her little girl, Leighton.
Now that Leighton's 4 years old, her nursery's been transformed to an equally special "big girl" room, complete with a vintage wicker headboard for her bed. Click through to see how the room's been transformed, but be prepared — this is far from your typical room makeover story. The "before" pictures are just as gorgeous as the "afters." We refuse to pick a favorite!
Happy birthday to Suri Cruise, who turns 7 today! The on-trend tot has been making a splash in the kiddie style department since she was a flower girl in her parents' wedding at just seven months. Since then, she's drawn attention by stepping out in mini high heels, fur coats, and most recently supershort bangs. Check out seven of sweet Suri's most memorable style moments.
If you have a family trip on the horizon and are bringing baby along, then you may be feeling just a tad bit apprehensive. There's a lot that goes into organizing for any trip, but when a little one's involved, there's a whole new slew of things to consider. Here are five insider tips and tricks to make your journey just a little less stressful. Be sure to check out our guide to surviving your baby's first flight and how to pack your carry-on, as well!
If you're lucky, family trips to the farmers market are a year-round affair. No season, however, is as satisfying as the start of Spring. With spinach, strawberries, asparagus, and avocados taking center stage, it's tempting to fill bag after bag with the farm-fresh fruits and veggies. Here, 10 kid-friendly recipes that take advantage of the season's best produce, and the whole family can enjoy together.
When a close friend or family member is expecting her second (or third, or fourth) baby, the issue often arises of how to celebrate the pending arrival, and repeat mama, in an appropriate way. Since throwing multiple traditional baby showers for the same person within a couple years of each other can seem repetitive, we've come up with five fun ways to celebrate the very special expectant family, without her friends saying, "Didn't we do this already?!"
New dad Nick Lachey has a lot on his plate — he's just released a new solo album, A Father's Lullaby, 98 Degrees has a new CD (and subsequent tour) launching next month, and most importantly, there's 7-month-old baby Camden, his son with wife Vanessa Minnillo Lachey. We were lucky enough to chat with the very talented (and all-around nice) dad and learn more about what it's like to write music for his own child.
POPSUGAR: Congratulations on your new album and new baby! At what point did you decide you want to record A Father's Lullaby?
Nick Lachey: It was pretty early on in Vanessa's pregnancy. I had so many emotions running through my head, and music has always been my way of expressing that. I hadn't heard of any guys with lullaby albums, so I decided to go for it. It was really an inspiring time in my life. I started to write the melodies when she was pregnant, then waited on the lyrics until the baby was here and I could get to know him.
PS: Of the album's 12 songs, you wrote four yourself, and the rest are more classic lullabies. How'd you decide what you were going to include?
NL: Some of the songs are ones that I had a personal connection to. I've always loved "Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)," and my grandfather used to sing "You Are My Sunshine" to me as a child. The others are classic lullabies to give the album some context — like "Brahms' Lullaby" and "When You Wish Upon a Star."
PS: What's been the most surprising thing about fatherhood thus far?
NL: How it affects absolutely everything. It completely turns your schedule upside down, and your priorities change — definitely for the better, but it's a huge change.
PS: What's the best thing about being a dad?
NL: It's getting up with Camden first thing in the morning — going in to get him out of out of his crib around 7:30 and seeing him smile. That's our bonding time. I give him his first bottle, and I sing to him every morning.
PS: 7:30? That's not bad!
NL: Yeah, he's really a great kid. He sleeps very well. He's sitting up on his own now, and rocking. Crawling is just around the corner. He's becoming more and more expressive. It's a lot of fun.
