Set the tone for a seriously chic baby shower with one of these inspiring color palettes. If equating pink with girls and blue with boys doesn't apply to you (or the mom-to-be you're celebrating), then go beyond the expected and check out 20 of our favorite color combos. There's an endless rainbow of options out there!
If you're knee deep into shower season, you probably feel like you've exhausted all of your gift ideas (and perhaps your credit limit). Find the perfect gift for every new arrival on your list, all for less than $50! Check out some of our favorite picks for baby boys, girls, and surprises — and be the hit of every baby shower you attend this Spring.
Have extra diapers sitting around? When baby moves up a size quicker than expected, many of us often end up with spare diapers we can't return or exchange.
Whether you got more newborn diapers at your baby shower than you could possibly use or potty training took less time than you thought it would, here are six great solutions for the surplus from moms in our Facebook community. From donating to local families in need to creating a masterful diaper cake, they all make spare diapers useful again.
Finding a cool mobile that adds style to your nursery, but is also appealing to your baby can be a harder task than most new moms realize. Go with those ubiquitous big-box store mobiles and you'll get the lights, colors, and sounds that just might make your newborn fall in love with his crib — which for some new moms can feel like an impossible goal — but you're stuck looking at a plastic monstrosity in your otherwise-chic baby's room. Scour the upscale baby boutiques, and you'll find some incredible mobiles, but they can come with some equally outstanding price tags. Not to worry! We've scoured one of our favorite sources for creative decor, Etsy, and have found 20 gorgeous mobiles at a range of price points. The only problem now? Choosing just one!
Wondering what the growing diaper-free trend is all about? Keep reading to find out!
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 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.
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?
Even if you're starting to go stir-crazy being at home 24/7, returning to work after maternity leave can be an extremely emotional and difficult transition. To help you navigate some of the challenges, we've rounded up the best advice from working moms on how to make your transition as smooth as possible.
