Birth–the way it should be. Joyous!

Not every woman needs to learn how to cope with special breathing techniques.  Check out this wonderful video of a woman using a very unique way of bringing baby into the world.  Thanks to Sweet Beginnings,  of Las Vegas, who featured this on their website.

*note: It’s her daughter holding the camera and husband playing the music. : )  Talk about a family affair!  And guess what? Her baby was 10lbs.  WOW, what an amazing job.

New Baby Must Haves

You might think working in a baby store would automatically mean I can recommend the one “must have” item for an expectant family at the drop of a hat.

Not so. 

Naturally, I feel that all of our products are “must haves”—it’s nearly impossible for me to narrow it down to just one! : )

But, seriously, all jokes aside, I was recently confronted by my dental hygienist with this very question.  And I balked.   I was so embarrassed!

So, after much deliberation on my part (and checking in with the other team members at our store), I decided I’d put it down in writing so that I am NEVER caught in that situation again.

So here it is…what we all consider to be “must have items” –together it makes a great  guide to use when registering for baby, picking out the things you need for yourself, or for friends and family to consult when picking out a gift.

Andrea (mom of 2):

The ring sling was what really saved my life.  Because baby wants to be held so much, it allowed me to go about everything else in my day and snuggle baby at the same time.  It’s a great tool for bonding and reducing stress for the moms who “need to get everything done”  all the time (*cough* like me.)  There’s a learning curve, but once you get the hang of it, it’s a cinch.

Denise (mom of 7)

I think it’s important to not forget mom during pregnancy.  A nice lotion or cream for her itchy tummy should be a “must have”.  And early on, something for morning sickness would be nice.  Like ginger flavored suckers or hard candy.  For after baby arrives–you can simply never have enough burp clothes or cloth diapers.  They are so multi-functional.

Lyndsey (owner of B&B and mom of 5):

I think one of the biggest mistakes expecting moms make is to buy maternity bras rather than nursing bras while pregnant.  A good nursing bra is a life saver and can be worn during pregnancy and after baby is born. Whether you decide to breastfeed or not, quality nursing bras are comfortable and supportive during a time when your body is changing.

Lissett (birth and post partum doula):

I see my clients struggling to swaddle baby in receiving blankets they’ve gotten as gifts, so I’d say, an extra large swaddle blanket is a must have.  Also, because baby’s fingers are so tiny, and their nails can get so sharp, a good baby sized nail file is essential.  

Our Lactation Consultants and RN’s weigh in on this topic below as well:

From Ann Keppler RN, MN mother of two and grandmother of two and co-author Pregnancy,Childbirth and the Newborn:

My must haves would include Carlson Vitamin D drops necessary for breastfed infants and for formula fed infants receiving less than 400 IU of vitamin D from their formula.  The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends infants receive 400 IU vitamin D daily starting within days of birth.  Just one drop of Carlson’s on a finger or nipple provides just the right amount. 

A yoga ball to bounce an infant on while holding them – works so well to soothe a fussy baby.

The Aden and Anais blankets are wonderful for swaddling babies and are large enough to last through the first year.  They also drape well over a nursing baby in a public setting.

Just in time for those of you who are traveling this season

NOW in stock in the store, the My Brest Friend Travel Nursing Pillow.

All the same great features of the regular My Brest Friend Pillow–but inflatable for easy storage and extra portability.

Just $27.95!

• Packs flat and fits in diaper bag pockets
• Ideal for airplanes and overnights
• Lightweight and easy to store

The Cutest Way to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Uber Cuteness Alert!

 

 

Too Cute

Check out these twin “elves” sporting our NEW Wool Caps.

And beyond being cute–these little guys are environmentally conscious too.   Their wool caps are made right here, in our store, out of recycled wool sweaters! 

OK, one more... a "classic" look!

Just $24.95/ea, while they last.  Available in store only.  A variety of sizes and colors.  No two exactly alike.

*photos courtesy of Linda Brooks Photography

 

SAVE big at Birth and Beyond this Season!

From now until 12/24/09

For every $50 gift certificate you purchase, you’ll get a $10 Baby Bucks coupon to apply to a future purchase in our store.

• Both gift certificate and Baby Bucks redeemable after 1/1/10
• Baby Bucks redeemable 1/1/10-3/1/10 (only one redeemable per purchase, may not be combined)
• One $10 Baby Bucks coupon per $50 gift certificate purchased
• Gift certificates only available in $50 denominations

The Belly Bandit is here…

So guess what just recently hit our shelves?

The Belly Bandit.  Have you heard of it? 

It does more than just whip that post partum body back in shape.  It can actually reduce uterine swelling and helps to decrease bloating caused by water retention. 

Plus it helps support your back and can improve your posture while breastfeeding.  You can get yourself into some pretty awkward positions when you sit down to nurse baby.   The Belly Bandit helps you keep a more ergonomic position, which eliminates back and shoulder pain later on.

Stretch marks?  The Belly Bandit can help with that too, by decreasing the tension on the skin of your tummy.  Hey–it couldn’t hurt!

Smooth, tagless–comfortable.    Come by the store and check them out.

Don’t miss the Mommy/Daddy Marketplace

Get your holiday shopping done early this year at Birth and Beyond’s Mommy/Daddy Marketplace.

December 3, 11am-8pm

Local entrepreneurial moms and dads will be in our Annex Classroom to share their handicrafts and start-up business products with you. It’s an excellent chance to get something truly one-of-a-kind for your friends and family this season (and even for yourself or baby!).

*please note that vendors are not employees of Birth and Beyond, nor do we carry their products. Each vendor is simply renting space from us in order to make their products and services more visible to you.

Traveling for the Holidays?

It’s the season of travel for many families. Are your prepared?
Whether you’re going by plane, train, automobile, or boat (ok, maybe not boat so much, ferry maybe?)–here’s how you can make traveling with baby a little easier.

Two excellent articles by local writer and baby expert Elizabeth Pantley.

• Taking a Road Trip with Your Baby: Filled with little jewels of info that any new parent can benefit from.  Includes some handy check lists even.
• Going Visiting with Baby: Great tips to make everyone comfortable and assure the visit will be a pleasant one.  Especially if it’s at someone’s house who isn’t accustomed to having a baby around.

No baby for the Holidays yet? 

If you’re pregnant this season you’ll be facing a completely different experience.  Here are some tips to enjoy your last holiday season without baby!  Next year–it will be whole ‘nother ball of wax (you may want to bookmark this blog post and revisit it in 2010.)

For now, here are some excellent tips for how to navigate without going bonkers.

Any of the following sound like something you might be up against at your family holiday get-togethers?:

• You’re pregnant, and everybody keeps urging you to have a drink.
• You’re WAY pregnant and everybody keeps patting your tummy.
• You’re pregnant and Great Aunt Edna is bugging you to name the baby after her dear departed husband, Melvin.
• You’re pregnant but nobody knows.

…if so, you have to check out the full article on babyzone.com.  Having been through many of these very same situations myself–I found them to be at times hilarious, other times heartwarming–but most of all extremely helpful.

gDiapers just got a whole lot better

Did you know you can now use re-usable cloth inserts in gDiapers? In addition to their disposable, biodegradable ones–you can get even more for your money with cloth inserts!
We just got them in to our store—FINALLY!

We are so excited to see these on our shelf now that they have a re-usable cloth liner option. We’ve always loved the gDiaper concept; the covers are cute and really cool because they fasten with Velcro in the back (away from baby’s probing fingers). But the disposable, flushable liners just didn’t quite capture our attention when they first hit the market.

Don’t get me wrong, it was a good idea—but it just didn’t fit with our store at first. Our customers like the idea of re-useable items and it would have been a touch sale.

Now the great thing is that with the same pair of gPants (that’s the cover) you can use both cloth and/or disposable liners, interchangeably– when it’s convenient for you to do either.

gDiapers, you have hit the market on the nose with this new development!
 

Get more info on them here. Or stop by our store to touch and feel.

Coming in January…

Finally, a stroller that suits just about every need you can imagine. The City Select by Baby Jogger is due to hit our store in Jan. But we can’t keep it a secret until then. Besides, now is your chance to pre-order from the first batch coming in!

Here’s the scoop:
The City Select is essentially a single stroller that allows parents to mix and match seats, bassinets, and car seats to customize it to fit their needs. As your family grows, simply snap on one of the second seat accessories and you have a double stroller in a matter of seconds!

It can do 17 seating combinations including double tiered car seats and a bassinet and single seat combo. It’s a great deal at only $499.99

Call or stop by for more details! 206-324-4831