Rebecca M Gruber
Editor, Moms
Rebecca M Gruber

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Pregnancy

Illegal Baby Names From Around the World

What's really in a name?

What's really in a name? In some countries it's more than you think. Selecting your lil one's moniker is never easy, but doing so when there are government-imposed guidelines can make it an even more daunting task. New Zealand's Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages just released a list of banned baby names, and while some are to be expected (Lucifer has been turned down six times and Messiah was also forbidden), others may be a bit of a surprise (Justice and King were also ruled illegal).

While some parents use their religion as a guide, others use places they love or movies to narrow the field. But unique names aren't welcome in all corners of the world. Take this quiz to see which countries have banned certain names.

Take the Quiz
Kid Shopping

Our Must Haves For May

Is it possible that Spring's finally here?

Is it possible that Spring's finally here? It's certainly feeling that way, and with warmer weather in the air, we sense our overall mood changing. Helping it along are some fun new finds for the month of May. Among our favorites for the month are a new DVD by one of our all-time favorite kiddie show characters (here's a hint: he's fuzzy, red, and speaks in the third person), an adorable pint-size raincoat from an iconic design house, a cookbook from the sons of one of TV's most well-known chefs, and more. Check out our must-have items for the month of May, and tell us which ones you're adding to your shopping list!

celebrity moms

Who's the Mama?

Which haute mom of three recently told an audience of admirers that her children come first over her career?
Which haute mom of three recently told an audience of admirers that her children come first over her career?
"My children are my priority and always have been. I'm up early in the morning doing spelling tests and maths quizzes before the school run, then up late with a baby and a 14-year-old who refuses to go to bed . . . I've got great people who handle my schedule and everything does revolve around the children. If there's a parents' night or an Easter bonnet parade or a nativity play, whatever it might be, then I plan everything around that."

Which Designing Mom Puts Her Kids First?

Kid Shopping

LeapFrog to Introduce LeapReader Reading and Writing Learning System

Reading, writing, 'rithmatic? LeapFrog's about to have you covered.

Reading, writing, 'rithmatic? LeapFrog's about to have you covered. It's been four years since LeapFrog introduced the Tag Reading System to preschoolers everywhere. The system, which brought written words to life as the stylus contacted pages in the specially developed books, inspired tots to learn how to read on their own. But with time, the company found that parents are just as interested in teaching their kids to write as they are to read.

That brings us to today, where LeapFrog is taking things a step further with the soon-to-be released LeapReader ($50), a new device designed to teach kids how to read and write all in one place. As a next-generation Tag — LeapFrog will begin phasing out the Tag system this Summer — the LeapReader continues to teach tots to sound out words and read sentences through its library of 150 or so books, and it also teaches preschoolers how to write their numbers and letters through structured stroke lessons.

We got a quick sneak peek of the LeapReader last night (it won't hit store shelves until July) and were quickly impressed with its functionality. Slimmer and easier to hold than the original Tag, the new system's reading experience feels exactly the same as the old version — place the stylus on the page, and it will sound out words, read whole words, or read entire sentences. Where the system excels in in the new writing experience. In addition to providing instructions for drawing the sequence of strokes that create a letter, the system includes mess-free LeapFrog Learning Paper that allows tots to see what their letters look like on a real sheet of paper (the stylus writes — only on that paper — like a pencil). Finally, the new stylus includes a listening experience where kids can enjoy downloaded ebooks, music, and games.

In all, the new LeapReader appears to be an all-in-one solution for families looking to encourage reading and writing at home. It will take some hands-on play with the device to see how it improves upon the Tag, but so far, we're impressed — are you?

Celebrity Baby Roundup

April's Most Adorable Celebrity Baby Pictures!

With Spring in the air, celeb parents came out of their homes and into the fresh air with their families this month.

With Spring in the air, celeb parents came out of their homes and into the fresh air with their families this month. From the Alba-Warren family's Easter brunch excursion and Britney Spears's sideline cheering during her boys' soccer games to Beckham family's museum visit in Paris, April was filled with cute celebrity family moments. Check out how some of our favorite Tinseltown families spent the month.

photography

Shutterbug: 10 Tips For Photographing Your Baby in the Hospital

Baby's here — now capture all the details of the day before you forget them!
Tips For Photographing Your Baby in the Hospital

Baby's here — now capture all the details of the day before you forget them! Though a delivering mama doesn't need another thing to worry about, ensuring that her lil one's arrival is photographed is often at the top on her list. I asked mom and photographer Jennifer Little, founder of Fort Collins, CO-based Sugar Photography (no relation), to provide us with her best hospital photography tips. She said:

"My husband, Ryan, was able to capture these special moments for us, but he warns of the challenge, 'Playing the role of photographer, husband, father, and in some cases, new father can present huge challenges while trying to capture lasting images of some of the most important moments of your life. Understand that while your emotions will be up and down like a roller coaster, you can still capture those precious moments. In my case, there were times I couldn't even see through the viewfinder due to the swelling of tears, but in between all of the excitement and chaos, you can click away. It is important that the photos not necessarily be perfect, but that they capture your viewpoint of seeing your baby for the first time.' If you are able to hire a professional, do so, because the two of you will be able to [better] focus on your new arrival."

Keep reading for her 10 must-take photo ops in the hospital.

Food and Fun

The Kiinde Twist: Ga Ga or Gag?

Any mama who's ever stood in the kitchen squeezing every last drop out of a pouch of frozen breast milk will appreciate Kiinde's latest creation.

Any mama who's ever stood in the kitchen squeezing every last drop out of a pouch of frozen breast milk will appreciate Kiinde's latest creation. The company that brought us the Kozii bottle warmer will soon have parents rethinking how they store and feed pumped milk with the Kiinde Twist. The pumped milk feeding system centers around the Kiinde Twist Pouches ($10 for 20), which when connected to the company's Direct-Pump adapters ($7), attach to breast pumps made by all major manufacturers, allowing for leak-free pumping right into the pouch.

While other brands offer the same concept, Kiinde distinguishes itself when it's time to feed your infant. Rather than forcing you to transfer thawed milk into a bottle, the pouches slide right into Kiinde's new Squeeze bottles ($15), which baby can feed from directly when it is outfitted with the company's Active-Latch Nipple ($8) — meaning no drops are left behind. When pieced together, the entire system adds up, but given the value of mama's hard-earned liquid gold, it's hard put a price on convenience and effectiveness. So tell us, do you love the concept?

celebrity moms

Celeb Parents' Best Photos of the Week

From trips to the backyard strawberry plant and a family movie night to a playground visit and a TV show impersonation, celeb tots kept themselves busy with plenty of activities this week.

From trips to the backyard strawberry plant and a family movie night to a playground visit and a TV show impersonation, celeb tots kept themselves busy with plenty of activities this week. Good thing someone was there to capture it all on their phones so they could share the pics with us via various social media channels.

Click through now to see this week's cutest celeb tot candids, and don't forget to follow POPSUGAR Moms on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter!

Jeremy Scott

Jeremy Scott Speaks Up About Sacrificing Style For Motherhood and Kim Kardashian's Pregnancy

Just because you've become a mother doesn't mean you have to become serious and give up your style.

Just because you've become a mother doesn't mean you have to become serious and give up your style. That's the motivation behind Jeremy Scott's unlikely collaboration with Cybex, the infant and baby gear company, that was announced earlier this week. The designer best known for placing Bart Simpson-patterned clothes on his runway models and pink teddy bears on Adidas sneakers has created a fun, playful collection filled with animated snack foods ready to duke it out.

Hours before introducing his new Food Fight design, two editors and I were invited to sit down with Jeremy at London's Shoreditch Studios to discuss his inspiration, the moms he designs for, and what he thinks of the criticism of his friend Kanye West's pregnant girlfriend.

PopSugar: You just designed a Smart car and now a stroller. Do you have a thing for wheels?
Jeremy Scott: I would think the connection is that I love the idea of branching out into all kinds of design. For instance, I am the first designer ever to design a car now. Everything else has been an interior fabric . . . to have my designs go into a larger kind of spectrum in that sense. That's one of the reasons I agreed to do the collaboration with Adidas — to open that further. But then to do cars and strollers and next things, it's very fulfilling. I love the idea of my work touching people's lives in different ways. So much of high fashion can be so insular. As much as I love it, it, just by nature, is so insular. I like how these things can be parts of people's lives in different ways.

PS: You actually changed the exterior of the Smart car. Is there anything you'd change if you could create your dream stroller?
JS: If it was all neon and lighting up! There is a lot of safety baby issues, so I had to think about what would make the most impactful punch while not causing any trouble. That's why I decided to go with print more than anything. I just thought, well, it could just speak volumes, and keep babies safe, which is the most important after all.

Keep reading to see what Jeremy says about who he designs for and his thoughts on Kim Kardashian's pregnancy.

Kid Shopping

Cybex Announces Collaboration With Fashion's Wild Child Jeremy Scott

The name Jeremy Scott and baby strollers don't usually go hand in hand — he's more well known for dressing the likes of Katy Perry and Lady Gaga for their stage shows than sending strollers down the runway.

The name Jeremy Scott and baby strollers don't usually go hand in hand — he's more well known for dressing the likes of Katy Perry and Lady Gaga for their stage shows than sending strollers down the runway. But in one of the most unusual and brilliant collaborations to come out of the fashion and baby worlds, the flamboyant designer is lending his talent to push chairs, baby carriers, and diaper bags for Cybex, the German infant and children's products company.

He's known for using bright colors and bold patterns in his designs, and the Cybex by Jeremy Scott collection is the designer's vision of the ultimate '80s high school cafeteria food fight — with animated hot dogs, pretzels, pizza and french fries — cheerfully battling it out across buggies, carriers, and accessories. The result is an exciting unisex collection that will quickly become the envy on the playground when it hits stores in June — Jeremy already has strollers put aside for several of his famous mommy friends, including Beyoncé and Kim Kardashian.

I attended the collection's launch event in London today and have to tell you that this is a truly fun and unique collaboration that's sure to make a style statement when out on the road. Click through to see all the pieces in the Cybex by Jeremy Scott collection, and stay tuned for my interview with the designer himself!

celebrity moms

Steal Their Style: Celeb Tots' Favorite Brands

They have the pick of the litter when it comes to filling their wardrobes, but somehow celeb tots just seem to get it right when it comes to dressing themselves (or, more accurately, when their parents dress them for the day).

They have the pick of the litter when it comes to filling their wardrobes, but somehow celeb tots just seem to get it right when it comes to dressing themselves (or, more accurately, when their parents dress them for the day). While some turn to classic brands that have been dressing stylish tots for generations, others are setting the trends with new, up-and-coming brands that are likely to take off once people notice a Tinseltown tot wearing the duds.

So just what are they wearing? We're taking a look at eight of the most popular brands among celebrity tots these days. Click through to see them all!

Bauer-Griffin Online, WireImage, FameFlynet

Baby Showers

16 Gender Reveal Cakes to Inspire Your Big Unveiling

It's not all about that private 20-week ultrasound anymore!

It's not all about that private 20-week ultrasound anymore! More and more parents are planning gender reveal parties to find out their baby's sex and share the excitement with family and friends through a big reveal, usually in cake form. So how is it done? Most moms and dads have their ultrasound technician write the child's sex on a slip of paper that is placed in an envelope. It's then dropped off at a bakery where a cake is baked in the appropriate color and iced to hide the news. When the parents-to-be cut into the sweet treat, they learn about their future offspring's sex. If you need inspiration for your own gender revealing cake, check out then 16 following adorable options, and happy cake cutting!

relationships

Your Guide to a Great Postpartum Sex Life

Take a walk on the wild side!

Take a walk on the wild side! Before baby, sex could take place anytime, anywhere, but once a lil one arrives, intimacy is often the furthest thing from a mama's mind. It's time to reprioritize and focus your attention on your relationship. Sex therapist and GoodinBed.com contributor Dr. Ian Kerner gives us reasons new parents' need to rev up their sex lives and the necessary steps for getting there.

celebrity moms

Celeb Parents' Best Photos of the Week

Celeb kids were awfully busy this week!

Celeb kids were awfully busy this week! From birthday parties and museums to trips to the ballpark and visits with mom on set, Hollywood tots kept their schedules packed with fun activities. Lucky for us, their parents captured and shared the highlights with us via social media!

Click through now to see this week's cutest celeb tot candids, and don't forget to follow POPSUGAR Moms on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter!