Real Mom Gift Guide

Having a baby is supposed to be a wonderful experience, but for a world traveler like Vivian Chiang, the idea of it sounded like the end of global experiences. Before she was ever pregnant, Vivian and her husband, Joseph, his design partner, Bryan White, and his wife, Farrah, all realized that transportation could be made easier for families. As the four came together to create the Orbit system, they spoke to parents around the world to see what they would want in the ultimate travel stroller. Among the ideas they heard (and incorporated): car seats with side carrying handles so navigating narrow airplane aisles would be easier, one-handed folding so you can quickly gate-check a stroller, and a frame the folds down small so it can easily fit through the X-ray machine. Those features, along with using eco-friendly fabrics and placing the baby at table height, have made the Orbit stroller a favorite among globetrotting families.

Now a mom of three, Vivian continues to help the Orbit innovate (have you seen their new Double Helix carriage?), but she takes some time to care for herself. We asked the working mama what she'd like to receive this holiday season, and her list is filled with products we love too. Check it out!

Raegan Moya-Jones may have single-handedly changed the way US moms swaddle their babies. The Australian-born, Brooklyn-residing mom of four was shocked after she gave birth to her first child and couldn't find a muslin swaddling blanket to wrap around her newborn. The wraps, which are ubiquitous in Australia, simply didn't exist on this side of the ocean in 2005. So Raegan set out to introduce US moms to the importance of swaddling and the benefits of a cotton, muslin blanket. Today, Aden + Anais fans range from celebs shopping on Robertson Boulevard to our fellow playgroup moms who use them for everything from swaddling their tots to shielding them from the sun.

With the holidays quickly approaching, we asked the in-the-know Raegan what was on her wish list this year. Take a peek — it's filled with plenty of items we all might like to find under the tree!

Rebecca Campora loves good design. Add some fashion to the mix, and she's in heaven. That's how she came to design 7 A.M. Enfant's signature products, Le Sac Igloo and Blanket212 Evolution. The stroller buntings were the first to merge fashion and function, adding urban style to something as universal as the stroller blanket. The mom of three has an uncanny ability to predict baby and parenting trends and applies that sense to her products — have you seen the Polar Igloo WarMMuffs she designed for this Winter? They're genius!

Knowing Rebecca's love for form, function, and tasteful products, we assumed she had a few fun things on her holiday wish list year. Turns out we were right. Keep reading for the French native's (she now lives in NYC) eclectic picks this holiday season.

Serena Dugan, one half of the duo behind the gorgeous mom-friendly bedding, furniture, and decor line Serena & Lily, has a background as a textile designer and artist. In 2003, she stumbled into Lily Kanter's Mill Valley, CA, baby boutique, and the two got to talking about a void in the marketplace for truly special crib bedding. Eight months later, they launched their first line together. The rest, as they say, is history!

Serena & Lily's fresh approach to design is responsible for some of the most beautiful nurseries, kids rooms, and now, adult spaces — in the country. The brand's combination of original prints and patterns; comfortable, lived-in feel; and worldly aesthetic has garnered the attention of some of the industry's top editors and tastemakers.

Needless to say, Serena has impeccable taste. Check out what's on her holiday wish list this year!

We've been fans of San Francisco-based children's brand Tea Collection for as long as we remember. They offer high-quality pieces with adorable, globally inspired, and age-appropriate designs that can be passed from sibling to sibling. So we knew we'd love the company founders' practicality and style. Emily Meyer and Leigh Rawdon's globe-trotting (they travel to international destinations each season) not only influences their children's designs, but also their lifestyles at home.

With so many mamas putting Tea Collection pieces on their lil ones' holiday lists each year, we thought it would be fun to ask the company founders what they want for themselves. As expected, the two busy moms — each have two children under the age of 7 — came up with a list of ideas that we'd like to add to ours as well! Keep reading to see what they picked!

Ali Wing is known for her editing prowess. No, she's not the editor of a high-end magazine but the founder of Giggle, the baby emporium that is redefining the way parents create happy and healthy nurseries for their tots. A former securities lawyer, Ali noticed that this generation of parents were older and more educated than ever before and in need of a store that would cater to their needs. So she created Giggle, a high-end baby store of carefully curated baby gear that meets the store's rigid Giggle criteria.

The NYC-based mother puts most of her energy into her business and her family, but when pressed for what she might actually like for herself this holiday season, she was able to muster up a few things. Keep reading to see what's on Ali's list!

If you don't know the name Laura Ching, you most certainly know her work. The cofounder of Tiny Prints has almost single-handedly changed the way moms (and moms-to-be) order birth announcements and holiday cards. As a paper lover myself — my mom owned a stationery store when I was little — I can't help but love the way Laura has introduced modern design concepts to the world of baby paper goods.

The mom-of-two's melding of contemporary design to traditional letter-writing certainly extends to her life outside the office, too. Just look at what's on her wish list this holiday season — everything from an elegant French crepe cake to a family trip to the 2013 Rose Bowl to ultramodern (and fun) designer sneakers.

While most of our holiday shopping is dedicated to our kids, every hardworking mom deserves a little something special this time of year. When it came time to come up with a gift guide that's just for stylish, in-the-know moms, we went straight to the source — our very own editors. From a day at the spa to a delicate new necklace, a cookbook by the beloved Barefoot Contessa, and even a wish for whine-free holiday travel (we can dream, right?), the Sugar mom picks range from the practical to the luxe and lovely. Check out what's on our holiday wish lists this year, and if you happen to run into our spouses, feel free to share!

It's not all about the kiddos during the holidays. They may not be toys you can buy at the local toy store, but moms have a few wants of their own this time of year. So listen up dads! We're turning to some of the busiest and savviest mamas we know — moms who've started businesses catering to other moms (and moms-to-be) — to see what's made its way onto their wish lists.

Rosie Pope's a mom of many hats. On TV she's the maternity concierge to some demanding parents-to-be. In her store she's the designer of a high-end line of eponymous maternity clothes and the founder of MomPrep, an education center for moms and expectant moms. In between, she's the author of Mommy IQ: The Complete Guide to Pregnancy. And at home, she's wife to Daron and mom to sons James and Wellington and baby daughter Vivienne. To say Rosie's got a lot going on is an understatement, but when it comes to thinking of herself, she's looking to mix the practical with the fun. Check out what's on Rosie's holiday wish list this year.