Here’s a wonderful article from the Huffington Post that should be a great help to any mom.
6 Things Moms Should Do For Themselves As Often As Possible
Author: The Stork Bag Team
The Stork Bag specializes in pampering moms to be with curated subscription boxes full of goodies! Learn more at www.thestorkbag.com
8 Terrific Teething Products For Teething Relief
Teething pain can cause problems for even the happiest of babies, but these safe and effective soothing options can help your little one feel better as she starts to pop those pearly whites. Add them to your registry so you’re ready whenever those first teeth start to show.
1. Baby Banana Infant Training Toothbrush and Teether
2. BEBE Cookie Teethers and Gum Massagers
3. Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether
4. Nurtureland Teether Massage
5. Comotomo Silicone Baby Teether
6. Manhattan Toy Teether Fox Snuggle Blankie Toy
7. Octopus and Friends Teether
8. Infants Tylenol Oral Suspension
2017 Nursery Design Trends
By: Arika B. (http://thehomegnomes.com/)
There are few things that get us more excited than cute baby clothes, but decorating nurseries might be one of them! 2016 saw plenty of nurseries being swathed in light pastel colors—especially with the Pantone colors of the year being rose quartz and serenity. So we decided to save you some time and scoured Pinterest, magazines, and interior design websites to take a guess at where we think 2017 nurseries are heading. We can’t help ourselves; We love interior decorating and baby things! This is the best of both worlds.
With pastels making such a big splash this year, we don’t see them going anywhere anytime soon. However, we might see less pink and blue and things will get a lot more earthy, and muted. Kidsinterior.com suggests that we will see turquoise, terracotta, beige and olive all becoming more popular options for nursery color pallets. We love these color pallets from Seeds for paint color inspiration!
One more trend that absolutely sticks out for me is using nature for inspiration for decorating. Looking for suggestions? Check these out!
Think about using:
- Woven wood baskets– perfect for dirty clothes and storing loose baby things.
- Sheets, bedding, and window treatments with natural materials.
- Nature inspired art—we love these birch vinyl decals and deer prints from Etsy!
Green plants—these real ones are great because they are easy to care for, but don’t worry, we won’t tell if you use the fake ones!
With Love- The Home Gnomes
Pregnant Chicken: Why You’re Not Failing As A Mother
My grandmother used to tell the story about how she forgot my mother at the grocery store in the early 40s. She walked up to the store with my mother sleeping in her carriage, parked it outside with all the other sleeping babies (I’ll let that sink in), went inside to do her shopping, then walked home forgetting that she’d taken the baby with her. She quickly realized her mistake and walked back and retrieved my mother who was still sleeping outside the store.
There were no flashcards, there was no sign language (unless you were deaf), there were no organic, free-range bento boxes – your job was to just see a kid through to adulthood and hope they didn’t become an idiot.
This article was originally posted on Pregnant Chicken. Continue reading here: http://pregnantchicken.com/why-youre-not-failing-as-a-mother/
I’m Pregnant, Now What?
Congratulations, you’re pregnant! Now, I’m sure you have a million questions, regardless on if you’re a first-time mom or seasoned, each pregnancy is different and each pregnancy comes with it’s share of questions. Below, we’ve complied some need-to- know mommy knowledge to help you along your 9 month journey.
Q: Are all home pregnancy test the same?
A: If you’re like most expecting moms, you’ve probably taken multiple pregnancy test before coming to the realization that you are indeed pregnant. No shame, we all do it but are all pregnancy test created equal? Home based pregnancy test aka urine test, detect a hormone called the Human Gonadotropic Hormone or hCG. These test can detect the hCG hormone at different levels, some can detect very small levels while others can not, positive home pregnancy test are almost never wrong while negative test can sometimes be wrong, if you suspect pregnancy even after a negative pregnancy test, you should retest again after a few days. Most pregnancy test are accurate about 10-14 days after your missed period.
Q: What foods are a no no during pregnancy?
A: During your pregnancy you may crave many different foods but it is important to avoid certain food during your pregnancy. Here’s a list of some foods you should avoid: raw meat, raw eggs, fish with lots of mercury (Swordfish, Shark, King mackerel, Tilefish), unpasteurized milk, some smoked meats and uncooked or refrigerated seafood. (This list is NOT a complete list, please check with your care provider before ingesting certain foods, if in doubt.)
Q: Is sex during pregnancy safe?
A: Yes, unless your care provider has placed you on any restrictions. Don’t worry about hurting baby, your precious cargo is safely protected by the strong amniotic sac and your mucus plug seals the cervix to help protect against infection. Want more info about positions to try and avoid? Click Here to check out, Do This, Not That: Sex Positions to Skip When You’re Pregnant on Parents.com.
Q: Can I take over-the-counter pain meds?
A: Regular Tylenol has been listed as a pregnancy safe OTC pain medication but you should always check with your care provider before taking any medicines. You can also check with the pharmacist for general questions about pain meds while pregnant. There are also really wonderful ways to relieve pain or discomfort during pregnancy that doesn’t involved meds such as meditations, pregnancy safe essential oils, certain fruits (i.e. strawberries linked to headache relief) and even good ole’ fashion fresh air, water and rest.
Pregnancy can be one of the best times in a woman’s life but it can also be one of the scariest. Your body was wonderfully made to carry and birth children so allow it to do what it was meant to do. There are lots of wonderful online resources for pregnant women, there are also wonderful books and journals that we recommend. Here’s a list: Mommy Picks: Top 5 Pregnancy Reads.
Hope you enjoyed this post, have a comment or question? Be sure to reach out to us: hello@thestorkbag.com
Tips from a New Mom: The Top 5 Things To Bring To The Hospital When You Deliver
*This guest post from The Stork Bag archives was contributed by Arika B.*
I have a problem. I am a chronic over-packer. So when it came to delivering my first child my bag was absolutely full of a million things I didn’t need, and as it turned out, a couple key items that I did. From a recent new mother to a mommy to be, here are the top 5 things you will want to have in your bag for the big delivery day!
1. Lip Balm!
Hospitals are notoriously dry, and while I was in the hospital I couldn’t get enough of my lip balm to prevent painful chapped lips! You also lose a lot of fluids during delivery. Some hospitals provide you with some, but just in case they don’t, it’s a really good idea to bring your own. The Stork Bag recommends organic lip balm made from shea butter or coconut oil, formulated without any harmful chemicals.
2. A Big Fluffy Towel (and Shower Supplies)
After labor, there are few things in this world that can make you feel more human than a shower. I will always remember that first shower after I had my son, it was glorious! But then, I realized that the towels supplied were basically glorified wash cloths—they were thin and I swear I needed about 5 of them to wrap around my head. Okay, that’s definitely an exaggeration but you will thank yourself if you remember to pack your own towel! Plus, there is nothing like your own towel. On that same note, it’s a good idea to bring your own shower items like shampoo and conditioner. Anything that will help you feel like yourself again goes a long way!
3. Breastfeeding Pillow
Whether or not you plan on breastfeeding, a pillow like the Boppy Pillow or My Breast Friend is great to bring to the hospital with you. I personally had the Boppy Pillow and loved it. It made it easier for my family to cradle the baby for long periods of time and was key in my breastfeeding success. If you’re bottle feeding, it certainly helps make everything a lot more comfy! Your partner will love being able to get involved too. This is especially true, if you have a tender C-section incision.
4. Comfortable Clothes
I greatly overestimated how I would feel post-delivery. I expected my stomach to magically shrink down, and was really surprised at how much even soft elastic waist bands bothered me. Things really hurt down there for quite a few days. I practically lived in a night gown with a henley style snap closure at the breast. I suggest long maxi dresses, depending upon the weather in your area at the time of your delivery.
5. Various Sized Outfits for Baby
Now, I’m not saying pack your babies entire wardrobe (although it is tempting! So many cute baby things!). But I speak from experience when I say that having one outfit that is Preemie sized, one newborn, and one 0-3 is a good idea. I thought for sure that I would be covered with the latter two, but my little man was petite. Perfect, but petite so he needed an emergency outfit from the gift shop in a preemie size. The doctor’s are not always right when they guess the baby’s size.
These are the things that I found super useful at the hospital. In truth, I didn’t need half of what I packed. What was your experience? What did you find most useful when you delivered?
Reach out to our team with your comments, feedback or questions at: hello@thestorkbag.com or through our social media.
Love vs Discipline: Toddler Parenting
*This guest blog was contributed by Dee Styles*
I noticed my daughter was becoming more difficult to deal with. It seemed like she was intentionally being naughty, and when I’d had enough of it, I told her to stay in the naughty corner.
The funny thing is, every time this happened she would apologize immediately with tears in her eyes. She would be quick with the hugs and to tell me that she loves me. But sure enough, it doesn’t take long before she gets right back to being naughty again. My hubby also noticed the trend so we talked about it and decided to do something different. Disciplining her was obviously not working, shouting (me basically screaming my head off all the time) was just wrong because she screamed right back and this wasn’t the example that I wanted to set with my child, or the relationship that I wanted to have with her.
When my hubby and I decided to do what we agreed on, there was a turn around almost immediately! Positive parenting for the win! So, how did we go about this?
Obviously a lot had changed; with her brother now in the picture she has to share her mom and dad. Not only that, but a new school term began with a new class, a new teacher, and new kids. My Princess had a lot to deal with and she definitely needed my help – more attention, extra patience, more love and positive words.
So this is where I revea the big secret. It’s all about using praise to get your kid to do the right thing.
Every child loves to be praised, and no child loves to be scolded. Praising your child more will make your child try harder at pleasing you.
While this method actually requires you to have some extra patience, trust me when I say that the reward at the end is worth it.
So if you see your older kid throwing more tantrums than usual, instead of giving more privileges or gifts and unnecessary attention (or worse intensified discipline or shouting like I initially did) try this instead: show more love by using praise. And when they do the right things, shower them with even more praise.
This isn’t as easy as it sounds, so you’ll want to exercise patience with them. Remember, this is your child, and you need to invest the time in helping them to grow up to be great adults. with patience and the right approach, you can begin to help them to make the right decisions for themselves.
xoxo Dee Styles
Today Show Parent: How To Sleep When Pregnant
Pregnancy insomnia is REAL, especially during your 3rd trimester! Thankfully, Today Show Parents has a series called, New Baby Basics and they’ve shared some secrets to sleeping better while you’re expecting.
Click here to read more: http://www.today.com/parents/new-baby-basics-how-sleep-when-pregnant-t101516
Article credit: Emma Davis (Today)
New Baby Basics: How to sleep when pregnant
6 Helpful Tips for Expecting Toddler Moms
*This article from our archives was written by The Stork Bag Founder, Ericka Perry.*
And then there were two…
Oh my, I have decided there are different stages of motherhood and each has its own challenges and solutions.
As a mother of a toddler and infant, I am constantly looking for ways to cheat time. I always want to squeeze out another hour from the 24hours in a day. It’s impossible!
I have learned that nothing is easy, you only get better at it with time. Don’t get me wrong, I love my kids plus the laughter in my home has doubled, the joy has increased and with two kids there is never a dull moment. But it isn’t easy, so we’ve put together a few tips for you.
Are you a mom of a toddler and expecting another baby? Well, here are 6 tips to help you:
Don’t forget that you already have a child. Anytime your toddler calls for your attention, make sure you give him/her your attention.
Kids act out sometimes. Refrain from blaming the toddler for anything that happens to the baby.
Have special activities for your toddler. Know what your toddler loves that can keep him/her busy for 20-30 minutes and use it whenever baby needs your undivided attention.
Routine and stability are important to toddlers. Ensure your baby’s arrival does not upset your toddler’s routine.
Give each child one on one time when possible. You and your spouse should exchange one on one bonding time with each kid. Daddy and toddler time, mommy and baby time; daddy and baby, mommy and toddler.
Help your toddler to feel important. When family and friends come to visit, let your toddler introduce the baby, and let them know that they have been a good big brother or sister.
This whole situation must sound difficult and stressful, but don’t worry – parenting two young children at the same time can be done. And if you’re ever feeling overwhelmed, don’t be hard on yourself – being a mom isn’t always easy! Be sure to reach out to family and friends for help, and to access parenting and community resources.
Mommy Picks: Top 5 Product Picks For Breast Feeding Moms
It’s World Breast Feeding week and with all the beautiful breast feeding pics floating around social media, we thought it would be a great time for TSB Mommy Team to compile our Top 5 Product Picks For Breast Feeding Moms. Check out our list below. Now of course, bottle feeding mommies are equalling exceptional but in light of WBW, we’re spotlighting breast feeding moms today. There are other super awesome products out there for breast feeding moms, these are just a few that we’ve came up with.
- Bamboobies: Heart-shaped, ultra soft, nursing pads!! Need we say more…Bamboobies have been promoted and raved about by new mommies all over the nation and there’s a reason why! This mom-created product is a perfect staple to add to your breast feeding arsenal. Find out more about Bamboobies here: https://www.buybamboobies.com/.
- Earth Mama Angel Baby-Organic Milkmaid Tea: USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified AND Certified Kosher, EMAB Organic Milkmaid Tea, is another one of those must have breast feeding products! Earth Mama Angel Baby Organic Milkmaid Tea is perfect for supporting milk production and healthy lactation. To learn more visit EMAB at: http://earthmamaangelbaby.com/products/organic-milkmaid-tea
- Milkmakers Lactation Cookies: Soooooo yummy, these delicious cookies come in a variety of flavors including, lemon and oatmeal chocolate chip. Made with organic oats, flour and flaxseed these cookies are perfect for promoting milk production and did we mention how yummy they are?! Find out more about Milkmakers Lactation Cookies here: http://www.milkmakers.com/
- Medela Tender Care Lanolin: All natural ingredients, hypoallergenic, and 100% safe for baby during feeding, yes, yes, and yes! Medela Tender Care Lanolin is designed to help sooth and protect tender nipples and can be left on during breast feeding. We are definitely a fan of products containing all natural ingredients and are especially picky when it comes to products that baby will react with, the Medela cream is great. To learn more visit: http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/products/580/tender-care-lanolin
- Breastfeeding Made Simple: Seven Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers: This Amazon Best Selling Book is a great guide for breast feeding mothers. It offers great tips, and has useful advice for mothers regarding overcoming discomfort, establishing ample milk production and even shares info on relaxing breast feeding positions. To learn more about Breastfeeding Made Simple: Seven Natural Laws of Nursing Mothers, visit: https://www.amazon.com/Breastfeeding-Made-Simple-Natural-Nursing/dp/1572248610
***None of these items are sponsored.
Have some picks of your own to add to this list? Comment below!