Before we dive into this awesome list of 7 bike trailers for kids, it's important to remember to protect those baby blues with our kids' rubber sunglasses. They're light, comfortable, and they keep your junior's eyes safe from harmful UV rays!
Going for a bike ride as a family is a fun and fit bonding activity, but if you have a tiny one who isn't quite riding a bike on their own yet or can't keep up the same pace as older children, it could be difficult to execute. Don't skip the ride or have anyone stay behind — with one of these accessories, you can bring the entire family to the bike trail with ease.
Read on for seven bike accessories that will change your family's bike rides this Spring and Summer.
The WeeRide Kangaroo Carrier ($61, originally $70) sits your child in between you and the handlebars for a smooth and centered ride.
3WeeRide Co-Pilot
For the kiddo who can balance on his own but just can't keep up with the herd yet, this WeeRide Co-Pilot ($90) is the perfect solution.
4Aosom 2in1 Double Child Baby Bike Trailer and Stroller
If you're looking for a multipurpose carrier, the Aosom 2in1 Double Child Baby Bike Trailer and Stroller ($125, originally $140) is for you. Not only does it support two children, it has an attachable wheel that turns it into a functional stroller to use when you arrive at your destination and take the rest of the day on foot.
5Flipper Bike Carrier
The Flipper Bike Carrier ($170, originally $200) goes behind your seat and keeps your kiddo securely strapped in for a comfortable and safe ride.
6Burley Cub Trailer
The Burley Cub trailer ($699) is a seriously tough cookie for serious mountain bikers. It has an all-weather cover, has an adjustable suspension, and supports up to 100 pounds.
They say necessity is the mother of invention, but motherhood may be the real inspiration behind many of the life-changing products we have in our parenting arsenals. It's not until you're truly in the trenches and up to your elbows in dirty diapers and unwashed dishes that you realize there has to be a better way, and you're determined to make it happen — now.
That's the motivation behind 12 products — including the disposable diaper, the dishwasher, those ubiquitous muslin baby blankets, and more — that moms have created over the years. As we celebrate women throughout the month, take a moment to imagine what life would be like without these dozen products and start dreaming up your own inventions.
When changing your child's diaper, you probably don't take a moment to thank Marion Donovan, but you should. After the birth of her second child, she was tired of coming into the nursery and finding a soggy diaper and damp sheets due to a leak. So she set out to create a waterproof diaper that didn't cause diaper rash like rubber diaper pants did. She started crafting a more breathable diaper cover out of waterproof shower curtains, moved on to nylon parachute material, and finally settled on creating a waterproof diaper cover out of nylon that could be stuffed with absorbent paper and fastened with snaps rather than safety pins to make it safer. She called it the Boater. But when Marion tried to sell it to manufacturers, she was repeatedly turned down.
Not one to take no for an answer, Marion struck a deal with Saks Fifth Avenue, which began selling the Boater in 1949. Two years later, she patented the invention and began work designing the first truly disposable diaper. She never found a manufacturer willing to make the throwaway diaper — the men at the companies didn't find it necessary. But 10 years later, Proctor and Gamble did introduce an all-in-one disposable diaper.
While serving as a nurse in the Peace Corps in Togo, West Africa, in the 1960s, Ann Moore was taken by the way the mothers tied their babies to their backs in fabric slings. "The babies were so calm because they felt secure and close to their mothers," she told the Smithsonian. When she was ready to have her own child, Ann tried to re-create the experience by fashioning a sling of her own, but her baby, Mandela, kept slipping. She and her mother, Lucy Auckerman, decided to create one based on the principals of a backpack but softer, ultimately leading to the creation of the Snugli, the first soft baby carrier available in the US. The design was patented in 1969, around the same time the natural parenting movement gained popularity. The design has been modified and enhanced in recent years, leading to the rise of a baby-wearing culture.
Leave it to a frustrated and sleep-deprived mother to develop a fuss-free swaddle that can comfort a baby back to sleep. Karen Barski's third child was born five weeks early and just couldn't get on a sleep schedule. As a nurse, she knew the importance of swaddling, but the baby ended up in a heap of blankets each night. So she sat down with her grandmother's sewing machine and made the Woombie, a soft yet snug cocoon-like swaddle that simulates the sensation of being in the womb. After seeing how it comforted her daughter, she launched Woombie as a product in December 2007. Since then, babies have slept a bit more soundly, leading to more rested parents.
4Scotchguard
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Mark Popovich
Not many women have heard of Patsy Sherman, but they've likely thanked her many times over the years. A 3M chemist, Patsy was one of the only women in her field in 1952. She worked on fluorochemicals and was charged with developing a new form of rubber for jet fuel lines. But when some rubber spilled on an assistant's shoe and wouldn't come off, all of that changed. The rubber stain repelled water, oil, and other liquids without changing the color of fabric. 3M ultimately named the product Scotchguard, and parents everywhere have joyfully filled their homes with adult furniture ever since.
You don't have be a mother to see a necessity for moms. Lauren Levy Feuer was babysitting her nephew when she became frustrated with the Velcro on his bib pulling at his fine baby hair. She replaced the offending closures with magnets, and Magnificent Baby was born, making overnight diaper changes faster and quieter than ever before.
While Adeline D.T. Whitney probably wouldn't view herself as a pioneer (in the late 1800s, she wrote antisuffragist books that touted her belief that a woman's place was in the home), she invented something found in most homes and schools across the nation: wooden alphabet blocks. Today the blocks — originally a wooden cube with colorful letters and symbols on them — come in various sizes and materials, and one from her original set, patented in 1882, sits in the National Toy Hall of Fame.
Muslin swaddling blankets have been ubiquitous in Australia forever, but after relocating to New York City and having her first child in 2003, Raegan Moya-Jones couldn't find one anywhere. She was determined to swaddle her newborn in the lightweight, breathable cotton wraps she grew up with, so she created them herself. Aden + Anais (Anais is Raegan’s eldest daughter) was born in 2006 and took the baby world by storm.
Before Rebecca Matthias entered the maternity-wear market, clothing for expectant moms pretty much consisted of muumuus. In 1982, while searching for maternity clothes she could wear to work, Rebecca was struck by the lack of options for professional women. Determined to fix that, she started a catalog called Mothers Work. After a few bumps along the road, the company took off in the form of three retail chains — Mimi Maternity, Motherhood Maternity, and Pea in the Pod — that made maternity wear accessible to women everywhere at every price point.
Sure, you could hand your child a tissue, but after discovering Boogie Wipes, you'll never go back to the dry stuff again. The saline-soaked wipes were created by Mindee Doney and Julie Pickens in 2008 after Mindee couldn't convince her daughter to use drops in her congested nose. A clever parenting hack — putting the drops on a tissue and then quickly putting it in her daughter's nose — worked like a charm, and a multimillion dollar business was born!
10Snack Trap
Image Source: Made For Moms
You can thank Christine Moss for keeping your floors clean and your tots' tummies full. While pregnant with her second child, she was tired of her toddler's snacks constantly spilling on the floor. So she gathered up some heavy vinyl, a hot glue gun, and a tot-sized cup to invent the Snack Trap — a tip-proof cup that little fingers can reach into for a snack. After testing several prototypes at a local day care center, the product was born, and moms everywhere breathed a sigh of relief that they didn't have to bend down every two minutes.
Here's an invention we all can appreciate. In the 1880s, Josephine Cochrane was dismayed when her household servants chipped her heirloom china while washing it by hand, and when she tried to do it herself, she realized there must be a better way. She was determined to develop a machine that could do it faster and more safely. Working in the shed behind her house with a local mechanic, she created the first dishwashing machine. She built wire compartments based on the size of the plates, cups, and saucers. Those compartments were placed in a wheel inside copper boiler. When a motor was turned on, the wheel turned and soapy water jetted onto the dishes. Josephine received the patent for the machine in 1886 and went on to sell them to hotels and restaurants. It wasn't until the 1950s that homes were designed with the time-saving machines, something every busy parent can truly appreciate.
If you've ever seen a baby with a stuffed animal seemingly hanging out of his or her mouth, you can attribute it to Carla Schneider. In 1999, while on vacation with her infant son, the special education teacher became frustrated when her son's pacifier kept falling out of his mouth. Armed with the hotel sewing kit, she attached the pacifier to his favorite stuffed animal and the WubbaNub was born. Once people on the street started asking where they could buy it, Carla filed for a patent, found a pacifier she wanted to partner with, and began manufacturing the WubbaNub.
This list is popping with inspiration, just like our fun kids' sunglasses are popping with color, and they fit perfectly under the tree, too! Check out our blue color changing sunglasses that will delight kids of all ages! Cute Christmas ornament crafts and gifts kids can make from our favorite craft blogs.
Photo Frenzy If you want to take your snapshots to the next level, whip up these memory globes from Little Pink Monster, perfect for your mantle or as a gift for grandparents. Kids will love picking out photos and decorating their own.
Shoe In Did you know you can make advent calendar out of a hanging shoe rack? Start collecting odds and ends to create this countdown-to-Christmas door decoration from Whimsy Love.
Pony Up Here's a DIY craft for pony lovers! This felt pony farm from Smashed Peas and Carrots can be folded up so it's perfect for on-the-go. And her pony collection fits perfectly in the side pockets.
Have a Ball For an easy project you can make from what you have in your recycling bin, try one of these pretty paper bulbs from How About Orange. Use wrapping paper or magazine pages to make the ornaments pop even more.
Jingle All The Way These cute jingle bell hair clips from Little Pink Monster are fun to make and even more fun to wear. They're perfect for Christmas parties or to wear all season lon
Sweet! Using real candies and yarn, you can brighten up the Christmas tree (or any nook in your house that needs some holiday cheer) with this sweet crocheted candy garland from Dollar Store Crafts.
Pin-Up Old fashioned clothespins make great ornaments, and they only cost a few pennies each. These angel ornaments from Dollar Store Crafts can be decorated any way your kids can think up.
Stockings in a Flash These stockings from Prudent Baby look like they're straight out of a catalog, but they can be whipped up in 15 minutes and require minimal sewing skills.
Snow Daze If subtle cheer is more your holiday style, try making these wooden snowflake ornamentsfrom The Crafty Crow. They're minimalist chic and easy to make.
Home Sweet Home Here’s a sweet idea from Dollar Store Crafts: Pick up porcelain houses for a buck each at the craft store to make a pretty painted Christmas village. Kids will love adding their own touches, like feathers, glitter and fur.
Tech Cozy Here's something kids can make for Dad that will bring back fond memories. This Etch-a-Sketch iPad cozy from Smashed Peas and Carrots is practical and will bring back memories of the days when he was writing Santa.
Say Cheese! We love to get Christmas cards in the mail, and these homemade photo ornaments from Fireflies and Jelly Beans are a great way to re-use them instead of throwing them away. Paste on a family pic to make it even more personal.
Gumdrop Snowflakes Use your favorite gumdrop colors to make fun paterned snowflakes with toothpicks.
Have a fun and stress-free vacation with baby by navigating on-the-go naps, time differences and cramped hotel rooms
By Colleen Lanin, Originally published on parenting.com
Does "vacationing" with your baby sound like an oxymoron? As someone who has ventured on road trips, beach getaways, cruises and more with my two kids, and who is writing a book about family travel—The Travel Mamas' Guide—I know that vacations now are not as easy as they were prebaby. And while there are tons of tips on how to get there, there's not much advice for how to manage once you arrive. A few simple tricks have saved some of my family's trips.
Strategic Unpacking
Just as important as what you pack—and you can check out get-ready checklists here—in my opinion, is how you unpack.
Do it immediately
As soon as you arrive (unless someone in the family is overly cranky or tired), set up your room to make it as close to home as possible. Put the baby in the playpen or hotel crib with a pile of toys and occupy an older kid with a coloring book. Or have your partner take the older sibling out to get the lay of the land while you unpack. Settling in will help you remain organized (and sane) throughout your stay.
Designate a baby-changing station
Bring a box of wipes, lay out a changing pad (I like to put a disposable changing pad on top of a hotel towel) and stack a bunch of diapers in one area. That way, you won't need to chase down the diaper bag when that first big poop occurs.
Create a play space...
Stash toys and books on a low shelf or in a drawer, or keep all the playthings in one corner. Creating a place for your baby to play will make the room feel homey and keep it from looking like a disaster area.
...and a kitchen
Even if your room doesn't have a kitchen or bar area, establish a spot where you'll keep bottles, dishes, baby food, snacks, formula and dish soap. Sometimes the bathroom is best if it has the only sink in the room.
Napping Smarts
Your baby needs her naps, but you don't want to spend your whole vacation watching her snooze. Follow these strategies for squeezing in that daytime sleep:
Start walking
When my daughter, Karissa, was a baby, she wouldn't nap in a strange crib while on vacation. So we planned our days around taking long walks with her napping in a stroller. Some momsadvise bringing the lightest, most compact umbrella stroller on vacation to save room, but I always pack a stroller that reclines completely to make stroller slumber easier.
Wear your baby
If your baby doesn't sleep well in a stroller, try a front carrier (like the BabyBjorn) or baby backpack. If you've never used one at home but think it might be convenient on vacation, try it out a few times before you leave. Not all babies will like it, and it might be too hard on your back.
Go for a scenic drive
Try taking leisurely drives to check out the area while your baby naps in the car seat. And on some trips, you can coordinate drive time between destinations with sleep time.
Take turns nap-sitting
If your tot isn't an in-transit sleeper, don't be afraid to schedule naps back in the room. While it's a different vacation rhythm than you're probably used to, an a.m. break and midday siesta can be relaxing for you, too. Just consider your baby's napping style when booking accommodations; if you'll need to return to the room often, a hotel near the beach may be a better bet than a spot farther away, even if it's a bit pricier. If you can, book a room with a balcony or patio so the parent "on duty" can enjoy the outdoors, too.
Easier Bedtimes
One of the most worrisome things about traveling with a baby is getting your tot to sleep in a new place. Here's how to up your odds of at least a few peaceful nights:
Do some trial runs
If you're bringing a portable travel bed, have your baby sleep in it for a few nights before you leave. That way, it will feel like a familiar, comfy spot to go night-night on vacation.
Give it a few days
While it can be tempting to throw in the blankie and drive home in the middle of a sleepless vacation night with an inconsolable baby, I implore you to power through. Eventually, babies will adjust to their new surroundings and schedule, and sleep. If you can survive a couple of nights, I am (almost) willing to promise happy vacation days ahead.
Book the right room(s)
If bedding down in the same room means no one will get any sleep, consider booking a suite or connecting rooms. A suite may offer the convenience of a kitchen area, but connecting rooms may afford more space at a cheaper price.
Stick to the routine
If your baby's bedtime ritual at home includes a bath, lullabies and a bottle, do the same on vacation to make up for the change in location.
Get adjusted
Instead of expecting your infant to shift her internal clock and adjust to a new time zone, shift your day: Stay up later or get up earlier than usual by a few hours.
Meals on Wheels
Sampling local cuisine and splurging on restaurant meals are vacation pleasures I refuse to give up. Dining with babies can be done.
Breakfast in Bed
Because our times to swim, hike, shop or visit an aquarium are limited by morning and afternoon naps, it makes sense for the entire family to eat something quick in the hotel room. So we pack plenty of ready-made breakfast foods like mini-bagels, cereal bars and fruit (bananas, apples).
BYOF
If your baby drinks formula, it helps to pack more than you think you'll need. To save space, empty powdered formula into zipper-lock plastic bags. Or order heavy staples like diapers and formula—even baby shampoo—from a site such as diapers.com or Babiestravellite.com that will ship to your destination (and since you won't have to carry the formula, consider splurging on the ready-to-feed type).
Nurse wherever you feel comfortable
You can breastfeed anywhere you are legally allowed to be.
Bend the rules
To enjoy dinners out, you may have to encourage what you would normally consider bad behavior. I don't let my kids watch TV while eating at home, but we always bring portable DVD players when we eat out. Putting on some Sesame Street for them allows us to actually taste the food we're shelling out big bucks for.
Eat early
Sure, a romantic dinner would normally be at 8 p.m., but by dining out at 5:30, you'll likely have an empty restaurant, room to park your stroller, and a short wait for your food. Alternatively, if your newborn loves to sleep in her car seat, make later reservations and then feed her a bottle or nurse her while you wait for your appetizers. Hopefully, she'll be out for the rest of the meal.
Now, go enjoy! Toss out all your old ideas about what a vacation should be and embrace the new craziness that is traveling with a baby. Laugh at the fact that you're at the local playground by 6 a.m. and in bed for the night at 8 p.m. Consider all the gear and baby-lugging as great vacation exercise. And then savor going back home to "regular" life that much more.
Everyone knows how stressful (but wonderful) our lives become once we bring a new tiny human into this world. All of a sudden our days are centered around eating and pooping, and we're not even the ones doing it. But alas, lucky for you you have a wonderful network of friends and family who helped ease you in to this transition by getting you the best baby shower gifts ever!
1. Laundry Basket DIY
You wouldn't believe how many loads of laundry the mom-to-be is about to run for the next 5 years. Why not get her started with an adorable basket like this full of baby clothes, detergent, blankets, diapers, etc. To make one exactly like the one shown above, check out what The Inspired Hive did here!
2. Washable and Squashable High Chair
How great is this portable high chair? It fits on most chairs for when you want to visit friends, family, or dare to take baby out to a restaurant. The best part is, you can just throw it in the washing machine after baby spills spaghetti all over it for the 3rd time. Buy it here.
3. Diaper Dekor
Diapers..as expected do not smell as adorable as the baby they are attached to. The mom-to-be will be so grateful to have a special diaper trash bin that is an attractive, odor-free disposal system receptacle. Buy it here.
4. A Classy, Functional Diaper Bag
You wouldn't believe how much stuff a tiny human needs. No purse is big enough to handle the depths of babies needs. Try a chic diaper bag like this one so mom can still look fashion forward and functional. Buy it here.
5. Sleep Safe, Sleep Tight
The safest crib is one that’s completely bare—no pillows, blankets or stuffed toys—so a Halo SleepSack is the smart, cozy choice for those cool nights. This product is also backed by First Candle/SIDS Alliance, which awarded it the #1 Safe Sleep Product gold seal. ($24.99, target.com)
Courtesy of parenting.com
7. Gift cards!
It's almost too easy, right? It's amazing how quickly mom's can run through things like diapers and formula, or how they can realize they forget to register for something that they really needed. Sure, it may not come in a big frilly basket or be covered in pink or blue ribbon, but trust us, no one was ever disappointed to get a gift card.
8. Ro•sham•bo baby sunglasses!
This one is a given. What better way to say, "I love your baby," by protecting one of their most important features -- their eyes! If you're feeling extra generous, buy mom a pair so the two can match on their daily outings! Check out our baby options here!
With the help of seasoned mom friends, an infinite selection of parenting books, and, of course, the internet, the good news is you'll be prepared for a lot of it. But no matter how much research you commit yourself to doing and how ready you feel to face parenthood head-on, having a baby will blindside you in the ways you least expect.
Here are six of the most surprising things about Motherhood: Year 1. Don't say we didn't warn you!
1. Getting out of the house will take forever.
Prebaby, you could say you were "just running out the door" and mean that you'd be at your destination in 10 minutes. Now, you'll always want to build in an extra 15-20 into your departure time. No matter how organized you think you are, you'll forget your cell phone, have to change a last-minute dirty diaper (after strapping Junior into the car seat, of course), realize you're missing a beloved lovey . . . trust us, it's just not as easy.
2. Your priorities will shift.
You may have a vision of yourself being a brilliantly well-balanced new mom. You'll hit the gym on your way into the office, have a monthly girls' night out on the schedule, fly through your unread emails while your baby's napping. In reality, having an infant sends your priorities into a tailspin.
If you'd rather spend a lazy weekend afternoon napping with your baby than checking items off your to-do list, that's A-OK. Cut yourself some slack!
3. Your weight may go up, then down, then up again.
If you're breastfeeding, there's a dirty little secret that the doctors and lactation consultants don't tell you. While one of the nice perks of nursing a baby is all the extra calories you burn, once he or she is weaned, you'll have to hit the gym to accomplish the same thing.
So be prepared — the baby weight might vanish quickly, but it could creep back when you least expect it!
4. Your period may stay at bay — for a while.
Dejpending on how long you breastfeed for and how your body reacts to pregnancy and childbirth, you may stop getting your period altogether (for up to a year or more!) or find that when it returns, your cycle is completely different than it was prebaby.
5. Just when you think you have it all figured out, you probably don't.
People talk a lot about sleep training, but sleep regression? Not so much. Many new moms are surprised to learn that a young baby who sleeps through the night won't continue to do so forever. Each developmental stage is likely to be accompanied by a change in your baby's sleep patterns.
When little ones are learning to crawl, walk, and talk, all that processing can be a lot for a little brain (and body!) to take. It's likely to keep them up at night, but you shouldn't panic. These phases start and resolve themselves (sometimes on their own, sometimes with a little help) when you least expect them to.
6. Your baby's appearance will change.
Hey, blondie! What happened to that blue-eyed, brown-haired baby I brought home from the hospital? Don't be surprised if everything from your infants' hair and eye color to facial features and height and weight percentiles change — multiple times — in the course of his or her first year.
Really? No sushi, no lunch meat, and I can't touch kitty litter??
[reposted from Lucie's List]
There are TONS of pregnancy myths and fact about what you should-- and shouldn't -- be doing during your pregnancy. Perhaps you've already been admonished by an annoying coworker about the dangers lurking inside your turkey sandwich.
The truth of the matter is that the majority of miscarriages, stillbirths, and birth defects occur from reasons that are totally outside of your control. This will either give you comfort or totally freak you out; hopefully it's the former.
As it turns out, many of the rules of the pregnancy police come not from actual data or studies, but from the "why-take-a-chance" philosophy that pervades American medicine, no matter how infinitesimal the actual risk.
First, a biology lesson.
Mr. (or Ms.) Fetus
Only half of your tiny peanut is identical to your own biology (the other half belonging, of course, to your sperm-donor-of-a-husband, or boyfriend, or fiance, or one-night-stand --- no one's judging here).
Because of this dissimilarity, your little ball of baby cells would normally be rejected by your body's own immune system (much like with a transplanted organ). Thankfully, our immune systems have evolved to NOT attack the developing fetus.
Essentially, your whole immune system lets down its guard for the duration of your pregnancy. As a result, pregnant women are more vulnerable to nasty stuff. This also explains why you'll get every strain of cold under the moon during the 3rd trimester, even if you are normally quite healthy.
So which of the rules are justifiable and which aren't? Let's have a look at some pregnancy myths that have been debunked or confirmed.
Listeria Hysteria
Listeria is the big bad bacteria that you want to avoid during pregnancy, mainly because it can cross the placental barrier and infect the fetus, which can result in miscarriage or fetal death.
True, pregnant women are about 20 times more likely to get listeria than the non-pregnant, but EVEN SO, it is EXTREMELY rare, infecting about 50-100 per million for those with a bun in the oven (3 to 5 million without).
~ This is even less likely than your chances of dying in a plane crash (1 in 30,000).
* For comparison's sake, 1 in 84 people die in car crashes.
It should also be noted that most listeria infections in pregnancy occur in the 3rd trimester, when suppression of Th1-mediated immunity is at its maximum.
The highest risk foods for listeria are preserved fish (lox and stuff), cheese from unpasteurized milk, and deli meats. Pate (pa-TAAAAAY). Under cooked hot dogs. Stuff like that.
Bottom line: With those kinds of odds, you should worry more about your driving and less about your turkey sandwich.
Sushi
Most American OBs say, "No sushi for you!" However, if you look at the data, 85% of seafood illness comes from eating raw shellfish -- that's right, bivalve mollusks, namely, raw oysters and clams.
If you take those out of the equation, the risk of falling ill from eating seafood is 1 in 2 million servings. [By comparison, the risk from eating chicken is 1 in 25,000.] So... can we agree that we won't eat raw oysters and clams? I mean, really? Millions of Japanese women are not wrong (and yes, with some of the best public health officials in the world, they've looked into it).
Furthermore, fish eaten in a sushi restaurant in the US is almost always flash frozen before it gets to the restaurant, so any parasites or bacteria in the fish would have been killed during the process.
Bottom line: No raw shellfish, but your salmon roll shouldn't be any more scary than your chicken sandwich.
Freddy Mercury
"You should eat lots of fish when you're pregnant." No wait... "You should avoid fish when you're pregnant."
Well, which is it?
"Between the warnings about parasites in sushi and about mercury in certain species of fish, pregnant women are being scared off fish altogether. And that's bad news, since the fatty acids in fish are the ideal nourishment for a developing baby," said Steven Shaw, a former food writer for The New York Times.
So is there a "too much"? All researchers can do is guess at it, but many suggest that the warnings against seafood consumption are dramatically overblown.
In fact, a study in the Seychelles [a high fish-eating population] showed no link between the children's development over their first 6 years and the levels of mercury contained in their mothers' hair during pregnancy, which is a measure of the amounts to which fetuses were exposed.
Bottom line: Common sense would tell us to limit consumption of fish that are high in mercury, such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish (sorry, no shark for you this week [snort]).
The Truth About Kitty Litter
Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite whose only natural host is the cat. Reeeer.
The truth is if you've had an indoor/outdoor cat for years, your chances of being immune from a previous exposure are fairly high - perhaps as high as 90%.
Studies show... of the 10% of pregnant cat owners that are susceptible, about 2% of those are exposed to toxoplasmosis during pregnancy. Of those (now 0.2%), only 30% of the 0.2% become infected. If infected (this keeps getting better, huh?), only 30% of those are "clinically infected", meaning their newborn will be impacted in some noticeable way.
Where are we on the math? About 0.0018 (or, 1.8 in 100,000) of the fetuses of pregnant cat owners will get sick from toxoplasmosis. You can see why doctors really don't see this very often.
Should you tell your husband or partner that this really isn't a threat after all?
Hell-to-tha-NO! Let him think it's highly lethal for, like... the rest of your life (come on, you can't get drunk for the next few months, the least he can do is scoop some kitty crap, yeah?). It'll be our little secret. ;-)
Conclusion: Ladies, I'm not saying you can't get sick from things like listeria, sushi, and kitty litter. I'm just saying they're fairly unlikely (k, so don't sue me). The beauty is that everyone can decide based on their own risk tolerance. I love 'dis country!
People have been wearing babies for centuries. We could learn a thing or two from our ancestors.
American women went away from babywearing a couple of generations ago when doctors preached that a baby who received too much love, touch, and attention would be “spoilt.”
Now we know better: babies desperately want to hear the sound of your voice and the beating of your heart. They also have a very good sense of smell; just the scent of mommy or daddy is enough to calm their nerves. In fact, one study showed that infants who were carried/worn during the day cried and fussed 43% less (overall) and 51% less in the evening hours (4 pm to midnight)1. Yes, please! Sign me up for that.
The Tula Baby Carrier
Babywearing is also a practical logistical solution: wearing your baby allows you to go about your day like a normal person.
In the early days (before your baby can sit unassisted), babywearing is the only practical way to do things like grocery shopping, where you really need your hands free to push a cart. Things like getting the mail, walking the dog, going through airport security and boarding a plane, doing housework, or navigating through a crowded street market becomes infinitely easier with a baby carrier.
Nay, downright enjoyable!
Ergobaby Carrier
Your Lifestyle
As with strollers, there is no one carrier that is perfect for every situation, so my advice is to decidehow you will primarily use the carrier, then go from there. Meaning… will you use it for shorter periods of time, for doing things around the house, taking short walks around the neighborhood – OR – will you use it for longer periods of time, like going on long walks or hikes. Or both.
Speaking of lifestyle, excuse me while I grossly overgeneralize and stereotype people, but I really have noticed that there are two very different types of moms out there: the walkers and the drivers.
The walker is a mom who lives in a city or walkable suburb. They walk to neighborhood parks and cafes and take public transportation sometimes (or a lot). Perhaps they also go hiking, visit street markets/festivals, and generally have more of a metropolitan lifestyle. These moms greatly benefit from longer-term babywearing. (I just described all of my mommy friends in San Francisco.)
The driver is a mom who lives in the suburbs and rarely gets from A to B on foot. This mom mostly drives everywhere and her baby/toddler tends to spend most time away from home in her car seat or stroller. Perhaps this mom also has a long commute from work and doesn’t tend to leave the house again once she arrives home. These moms will be just fine with a “small baby” carrier and probably won’t need/use one after 6 months or so. (I just described all of my mommy friends in Atlanta and Tampa.)
After living in both environments, I can tell you that the needs of these two groups are very different (sorry for overgeneralizing, but it’s kinda true). (Yes, I know you can fall somewhere in the middle, just humor me.)
Picking an Infant Carrier
Infant carriers are smaller and meant to be worn anywhere from 0-4 to 0-9 months, at which point you would switch to a larger “soft structured carrier,” which will take you well into toddlerhood.
Nesting Days Newborn Carrier
You could also skip the infant carrier and go straight to a soft structured carrier to save some money – with the understanding that young babies (0-6 months) tend to get swallowed up in most SSCs.
Furthermore, many of the soft structured carriers (Ergo, for example), require the purchase of a newborn adapter in order to use it with a young baby (0-6 months). The newborn adapter is often about the same price as some of the infant carriers below, so…. you’re better off just getting an infant carrier that’s appropriate for young infants. Your choice.
Lucie's List (Meg Collins)2. Best Baby CarriersFollow On
Yes, she’s wearing socks on her hands. Sue me, it was cold…
For me, this is hands-down the easiest carrier to take on and off, especially if you leave it in its semi-intact position after taking it off. In the Bjorn, your baby can face in or out, which is fab. It can also be used very early on for newbs without needing a special newborn adapter. Lucie loved facing out in the Bjorn so she could watch the world go by.
However, this is not Sweden’s finest piece of engineering… the downside for the parent is the ouch-factor: think of carrying a heavy backpack on the front of your body. This carrier exerts a great deal of pressure on the lower back and the straps tend to dig into your shoulders. This results in a condition I call “Bjorn back” or “Baby back” (you may also be stricken with Baby wrist, Baby hips and knees, or Baby shoulder — none of which are pleasant). The BabyBjorn Miracle is slightly easier on the back, but for that price? I think you can do better.
People also love to hate on the Bjorn because it’s a dreaded “crotch dangler” [drink!], which means the baby is not in an ergonomically correct position and, in theory, could develop hip dysplasia. With casual use, I don’t think this is a real issue. However, for baby’s sake, I would not wear it heavily. Speak to your doctor if you have concerns.
Having just talked all that smack, I have to admit I LOVE the Bjorn for its easy on/off, around the house convenience. Need to throw it on to unload the dishwasher, get the mail, or tend to another child? YEP! For 0-4 months or so, this is a very handy carrier indeed. Closeted, crotch-dangling mothers around America agree. But after baby hits the 15 lb mark? Forget it, your back will be DYING. It absolutely pains me to see moms or dads carrying around older infants or even young toddlers in a goddang Bjorn. Ouch, people! It makes me want to have an impromptu baby carrier intervention.
I’m not sure I would buy one new, but if you can borrow one from a friend for the first few months, you’ll be glad you did. It’s all about options! BabyBjorn introduced a new carrier, the Baby Carrier One, named so to be “the only carrier you’ll need from birth through toddlerhood.” This is a pricey (but pretty nice!) carrier that behaves more like a traditional soft structured carrier, like the Ergo, but with the convenience of easy in and out that Bjorn is known for. Read our complete review of the BabyBjorn One.
The Moby is the bizzaro Bjorn: difficult to get on, but a pleasure to wear. The closeness and comfort that you have with a Moby is like no other, mainly because you are literally wrapping baby to your body so you move together as one unit.
The Moby is a single, long piece of stretchy fabric that you tie around you and your baby and, like grits, is an acquired taste. It takes a bit of practice to tie it correctly, but once you do, you’ll be in love. Unlike the Bjorn, it’s great for wearing for long durations because it doesn’t cause back fatigue. Seriously though, I would never have figured out how to tie it if I had just read the manual.
I made an instructional video here:
Just remember: it takes some practice and patience. If you lack both of these qualities, see #3. The Moby is totally perfect for your 0-6 month old baby and at ~$45, it’s very affordable.
A lesser known, but similar wrap is the Boba Wrap. Many moms like it better because it’s more stretchy and less bulky (and cheaper!).
Ergobaby released the Ergobaby Wrap in March of 2014. This wrap has a built-in pocket to store all the fabric so it doesn’t drag on the ground. It’s about $80 though; almost double the price of the others. So unless someone else is buying… see my review here.
The K’tan is the Moby without all of the intricate tying – the best of both worlds if you ask me. Your baby can face in or out (yay!), and can be carried on your hip when they get older. Unlike most other carriers, the K’tan is not one-size-fits-all. It is sized to fit the wearer (you), not your babe. Therefore, you may not be able to share it with your partner if there is a great size difference (which there usually is). This is the biggest downside.
For a video on how the K’tan compares to something like the Moby, click here.
Pay close attention to the sizing recommendations. If you are at all in-between sizes, get the smaller one. The material is quite stretchy.
It comes with an extra piece of fabric that you can tie around to give you extra support (more like a Moby) if you feel like you need it. Some people forget about this piece then complain it isn’t secure enough. It’s there – use it.
The Nesting Days carrier is different because you wear it around your tummy, like a shaper, which makes it very secure, comfortable, and totally hands free. This carrier also gives much needed tummy support after giving birth, especially for C-section moms.
Snug as a bug
The creator of Nesting Days, Julie Arvan, is a nurse and postpartum doula who also worked in the apparel industry. With the Nesting Days carrier, she brought together the best of both worlds. The fabric’s are soft, stretchy, and completely machine washable.
This has become my go-to gift for new moms and the friends who received one can’t stop raving about it. See our demonstration video here.
Nesting Days is ‘made-to-order’ in small batches in San Francisco. Immediate delivery is $99. Pre-orders that ship in 4 to 6 weeks are $89. Sizing is based on your pre-pregnancy dress size. They run a little small, so size up when you order. Wrong size? Nesting Days sends you the right size in a few days, and a pre-paid envelope for the return. Made for newborns 5-18 pounds. You’re going to love going skin-to-skin!
