Wrap your little one up in the honey sweet goodness of Winnie the Pooh and his friends from The Hundred Acre Woods. The Winnie the Pooh collection for Pottery Barn has just launched. Featuring beloved characters Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger and Piglet, this collection includes everything you need to outfit your nursery.
The Winnie the Pooh x Pottery Barn Kids Collection captures the classic characters and friendship of Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger and Piglet.
The collection includes bedding, wall art and bath wraps as well as nursery pieces including a detailed quilt and swaddle set.
Surround your little one with the sweetest sayings.
The first rule of baby sleep is you DO NOT talk about baby sleep.
The minute you talk about baby sleep, baby will CHANGE HOW SHE SLEEPS. I bragged to ONE person—not even a parent, just a normal person—that my daughter had been sleeping eleven hours straight at night…and she promptly stopped. She also, just for fun, stopped with the blissful and surprising two hour morning naps and now just does an hour which is exactly enough time for me to fall asleep or start something fun or…clean, I guess, but not enough time really to have any free time or really do anything at all. Basically, I have enough time to read the internet and then she’s up and giggling.
Look at me breaking the first rule again already.
If she had her way, her ladyship would be held all the time when she sleeps…which is precious, of course, but we want to instill good habits and not suffocate her with our pillows by accident and whatnot, so we have the following “sleep routine” (the internet says it’s very important to have a sleep routine) in place:
1. Boo looks tired.
2. Feed Boo boobs
3. Snuggle Boo with binky
4. Remove binky and continue snuggling
5. Try to put down Boo (pretend you’re going to put her to sleep on her back but gently encourage her to roll onto her stomach where she immediately takes on “child’s pose” with her baby booty in the air. Pat pat booty and run away silently)
6. Half the time Boo wakes up crying
7. Repeat previous steps
8. If not successful, turn on the projector that plays classical music and walk away. She usually stops crying and puts herself to sleep in under three minutes.
9. If not, call in Dada who is always successful in under ten minutes. If he is not home or willing, start over.
10. She will be asleep within five minutes to three hours and will stay asleep for one to eleven hours.
Did you know that babies aren’t consistent? Or, rather, mine isn’t. I’m sure there are clockwork babies out there who do everything the same all the time and you can just live your life predictably and I’m sure your house is also very clean and you also work full-time saving people’s lives or money or something.
During the day, she’s nearly a person, lately. She makes yummy noises when she eats people food and can clap her hands and crawl and stand up and pet (grab) the kitty. She’s no longer merely a squish of tears and poop. For funsies, we looked up her horoscope and, I gotta say, she is pretty much living up to it as much as a baby can. Aries are independent, driven, energetic, aggressive. If you ever get the chance to witness Boo versus the cat, you will agree.
But at night, The Creature emerges. I’m not saying The Creature is bad, it’s just, not quite a person. Ever since she was a tiny squish, nighttime Boo has been more bug than human. When she was little, she had a green, Velcro swaddle that made her look just exactly like a larva. And that’s what she was: squirmy body and a mouth, sucking the life force from me to sustain her. Her night time cry is not like that of a day time baby. It’s fetus-like, impulsive, and unemotional. It’s only id. Its only want: hold me, feed me, I feel alone, make me feel less alone. The Creature doesn’t know she’s a person. The Creature still thinks she and I are the same person.
The Creature is the cutest and the sweetest. She is all mouth, no eyes. Give her the binky and she immediately is subdued. Give her the nook of my arm, and she shakes her head into it and her whole body relaxes. Her little squish face is the most placid thing you’ll ever see. Such a different face from that of the person emerging in the day time. In the day time, she’s expressive and opinionated and not a little bit judge-y. At night, she’s soft eyes, petal lips slightly parted.
The Creature does not care about my emotions or needs and I can’t blame her. She doesn’t care that it’s inconvenient for me to sit upright, nuzzling her at all hours. The Creature requires sleep. The Creature does not find things funny, only cold or scary or displeasing or, eventually, acceptable.
Sometimes I feel embittered toward The Creature because she occasionally sprouts a tooth and that means she must be held at all times. Then I tell myself, stop. Look at this little thing. Soon she will change into something else entirely. The larva will hatch or whatever bugs do, and she will be her own person in both the day and night. She won’t reach for you with desperation, her eyes pinched tight, knowing you’re there because you’re always there, waiting to be received in your arms. Soon she will grow up.
The greatest wish you can wish for your kid is that they’ll grow up. As much as we want to plead with them to stay little, you want them to move on with their lives, to be free, to develop new skills and get big and tall, to fly like a beautiful butterfly or some cliché like that.
Laura Wheatman Hill lives in Portland, Oregon with her dentist and two children. She blogs about parenting, writes about everything, and teaches English and drama when not living in an apocalyptic dystopia. Her work has appeared on Sammiches and Psych Meds, Her View From Home, Scary Mommy, and Motherwell.
Missing Baby Yoda now that The Mandalorian is over? You can bring one home of your very own to love!
Sideshow is selling a life-sized collectible replica of The Child. The little alien is incredibly life-like from the fuzz on his head down to his fabric coat swaddle and his size, which is a 1:1 scale replica. He measures 16.5 inches high including the display base he’s standing on. The curious little creature is also grasping his favorite toy, the shifter knob.
photo: Sideshow
Of course, owning an adorable Baby Yoda of your own will cost you a steep price––about as high as the bounty on the Mandalorian himself. Sideshow is currently taking pre-sale orders for the limited edition collectible for $350.
photo: Sideshow
The Child Life-Sized figure is currently expected to be delivered between Aug. and Oct. 2020. You can order your own from Sideshow here.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recently announced a recall for more than 165,000 inclined infant sleepers made by four different companies due to the possibility of a suffocation risk if the infant rolls from their back to their stomach or side.
According to the CPSC’s recall notices, there are no current reported injuries or incidents due to these specific sleepers. Injuries and fatalities from similar sleepers prompted the recall. Even though the current recall hasn’t caused problems yet, parents are cautioned not to use these sleepers. If you have one of the recalled sleepers, made by Summer Infant, Evenflo, Delta Enterprise Corp. and Gracco, read on for important information.
— US Consumer Product Safety Commission (@USCPSC) January 30, 2020
Summer Infant Swaddle Me By Your Bed Inclined Sleeper
Summer Infant voluntarily recalled about 46,300 Swaddle Me By Your Bed Inclined Sleepers after infant fatalities were reported with other manufacturers’ inclined sleeper products.
The recalled sleepers include the model number 91394 and were sold by retailers including Amazon and Buy Buy Baby (as well as other stores nationwide) from March 2017 through December 2019 for $99.
If you have this sleeper stop using it and contact Summer Infant at 1-800-426-8627 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday for more a refund, voucher or more information.
Evenflo Pillo Portable Napped Inclined Sleeper
The Evenflo Pillo Portable Napper, Model No. 12132125 is also part of the recent recall. Visit Evenflo’s website here or call 1-800-233-5921 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET for a $75 refund or voucher (with proof of purchase within the past 12 months).
Delta Incline Sleeper
The CPSC’s recall also includes
Delta Enterprise Co.’s Beautyrest Beginnings Incline Sleeper with Adjustable Feeding Position for Newborns
Disney Baby Minnie Mouse Incline Sleeper with Adjustable Feeding Position for Newborns
Delta Children Deluxe 3-in-1 Activity Rocker Feeder and Sleeper
Simmons Kids Beautyrest Deluxe 3-in-1 Activity Rocker, Feeder, and Sleeper and 3-in-1 Activity Rocker, Feeder and Incline Sleeper and others with model numbers 27404-2255, 27404-437, 27404-758, and 27404-942.
If you have one of the 5,900 sleepers recalled contact Delta at 1-800-377-3777 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday for a cash refund or voucher.
Graco Little Lounger Rocking Seat
Nearly 111,000 Graco Little Lounger Rocking Seats with model numbers 1872034, 1875063, 1875102, 1877160, 1882081, 1896313, 1908957, 1914283, 2047734 and 1922809 sold at Target, Babies “R” Us and other retailers (from 2013 through 2018 for $80) are also part of this major recall. If you have one of the recalled models contact Graco at 800-345-4109 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the website here for a cash refund or voucher
—Erica Loop
Featured photo: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Now you’re littlest of littles can enjoy the magic of the Wizarding World. Baby care brand aden + anais recently launched a new Harry Potter Limited Collection—and it features everything from burpy bibs to full-sized blankets.
The collab between aden + anais and Warner Bros. Consumer Products includes four print designs, each with a distinct Potter theme. Look for Snitch Dot, Invisibility Cloak, Hedwig and Hogwarts Grounds patterns in the brand’s muslin collection.
Christina Campisi, Director of Integrated Marketing for aden + anais said in a press release, “Many first generation Wizarding World fans are now having families of their own, and we want to inspire them to continue passing down the Harry Potter fandom to their own children through this collection.”
Collection designer Lauren Hauck, Associate Textile Designer for aden + anais added, “What I loved about reading Harry Potter stories growing up is that they evoked visuals that sprung to life before my eyes.”
Hauck continued, “I wanted to do the same with the designs we created for the aden + anais Harry Potter Limited Edition Collection. Majority of the collection artwork is hand drawn or hand painted, including everybody’s favorite imagery. In the ‘Snitch dot’ design, we etched the Snitch as it darts through the sky, the sketchy circles imitating the shadowy glimpse you catch as it quickly escapes your eye through painted clouds. For the ‘invisibility cloak’ design, we portray the famous lightning bolt, and the six-point stars that imprint the pages of every Harry Potter book.”
The collection includes swaddle three-packs and singles, burpy bibs, dream blankets, light sleeping bags and oversized muslin blankets. You can find the Harry Potter Limited Edition Collection ($22.95-$174.95) in select retail stores and online at www.adenandanais.com until it sells out. Hint, hint: We think that might be soon!
Wrapping up your newborn like a burrito looks adorable and can soothe babies and help them sleep, but getting the hang of swaddling takes a little practice. Read on to find out the tricks to keeping your little Houdinis from breaking free of the blanket while giving them a safe and cozy spot to snooze.
Why should I swaddle my baby?
The swaddle mimics the womb environment, which keeps baby warm and feeling secure and may even help with colic, according to the Mayo Clinic. Young babies also experience the moro reflex, or startle reflex, which can wake them up, and the swaddle can soothe baby and lessen the intensity of the reflex. That said, talk to your health care provider about whether swaddling is right for your baby.
How do I safely swaddle my baby?
Take a prenatal class in swaddling or watch the numerous YouTube videos on the subject and you’ll find two main swaddling styles. Both follow a similar format, in which babies’ arms are tucked at their side or on their chest and then a thin blanket is wrapped around their bodies, tight around the chest but loose enough around the hips and legs for baby to move their legs freely. Leg movement is important, as you’ll learn about in the following videos.
Shriners Hospitals for Children Offers Advice on Swaddling Infants Safely
In this video, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at the Shriners Hospital for Children demonstrates a popular swaddling technique and answers related questions about hip and leg movement and the importance of swaddling correctly.
How to Swaddle a Baby
In this video, UC San Diego Health shows a similar technique, which involves laying the blanket in a square shape, instead of a diamond with the top point folded down. The bottom of the swaddle is folded up like a blanket and then tucked into a side fold so it doesn’t unravel.
Are there risks to swaddling?
As you saw in the videos, there are risks. Babies should only be swaddled when they lay on their backs, and their legs must be free to move. Swaddles can also contribute to overheating or, if not wrapped securely, can cover your child’s face. Here are recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on safe sleep for babies, which you can also find on the AAP website:
AAP Safe Sleep Recommendations
The AAP recommends parents follow the safe sleep recommendations every time they place their baby to sleep for naps or at nighttime:
• Place your baby on her back to sleep, and monitor her to be sure she doesn’t roll over while swaddled.
• Do not have any loose blankets in your baby’s crib. A loose blanket, including a swaddling blanket that comes unwrapped, could cover your baby’s face and increase the risk of suffocation.
• Use caution when buying products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS. Wedges, positioners, special mattresses and specialized sleep surfaces have not been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS, according to the AAP.
• Your baby is safest in her own crib or bassinet, not in your bed.
• Swaddling can increase the chance your baby will overheat, so avoid letting your baby get too hot. The baby could be too hot if you notice sweating, damp hair, flushed cheeks, heat rash, and rapid breathing.
• Consider using a pacifier for naps and bedtime.
• Place the crib in an area that is always smoke-free.
When should you stop swaddling?
Talk to your health care provider for advice. The main sign to look for is that your baby is trying to roll over onto their belly, as swaddles are only safe when a baby is laying on their back. This could occur as early as two months after birth.
Struggling with the swaddle blanket?
If the traditional swaddle blanket isn’t working for you or your baby, check out our guide to swaddles and sleep sacks. No wrapping required; zippers and other enclosures keep your baby all bundled up.
When Jessica Schuster’s would-be husband Josh repeatedly asked her out, she said no. The single mama of three worked at a Milwaukee Qdoba and Josh, a regular customer, was a man on a mission.
Luckily, for everyone involved, Jessica eventually said yes. Fast-forward more than a year later and the couple are married and have a brand-new baby!
But the story doesn’t end there. The Schusters, who clearly have a bit of a burrito obsession, staged an absolutely awesomely adorable photo shoot with their son, Sebastian. The pics, which were taken by Jessica’s sister Sarah Swihart (a professional photographer) showcase the couple’s cute Qdoba love story with a baby burrito theme.
Every mama knows the feeling of total satisfaction when you get that baby burrito-like swaddle just right. In this case, baby Sebastian got the full treatment—Qdoba style!
The purpose of this article is to provide some insight of why choosing a lifestyle newborn session is the right choice for a modern mom. Early on in my photography career, I followed some of the traditional concepts for newborn shoots. The traditional method involves setting babies in adorable poses with prop equipment (e.g., beanbags, baskets) and accessories (e.g., headbands, hats). However, over the years, I have discovered my love for lifestyle sessions. The lifestyle method is a much more organic approach to capturing a newborn in the first few weeks of his or her precious life. Lifestyle photography is about capturing your new baby in a very natural and honest way and it’s about portraying the special connection between the parents and child. It is minimalistic in approach with main focus on shared moments between family members and the natural beauty of a newborn baby.
Home Is Where The Heart Is.
A family’s home is an ideal location for a newborn session. Parents and children alike feel more comfortable at home. The added comfort allows the family to feel more at ease. As a result, the family is more likely to exhibit the unique aspects of their relationship with one another, including a shared love and happiness. The home is also where a family spends a majority of their time after the birth of their child, and thus, is an appropriate stage for capturing these early moments. Finally, in choosing to select the home as the setting for the newborn session, the family has the opportunity to show off the baby’s nursery. At home session provides a perfect chance for parents to implement their own style. Parents often decorate their child’s nursery with such love and care that it would be a shame not to preserve its memory.
Natural Beauty.
The goal of a lifestyle newborn session is to photograph the baby in natural poses. We want to capture the baby as he or she naturally lays, sleeps, explores her/his environment visually and even sometimes flashes a smile. In so doing, we can preserve a memory that reflects the true personality and uniqueness of each child. A real memory, as opposed to just another cute picture. Another goal is to use items that are on hand and specific to the family photographed while still trying to keep the environment simple and organic. Such items may include the baby’s blanket, stuffed animal, the parent’s favorite outfit for him or her, or a favorite swaddle. Sometimes, even a family pet that loves to lay next to the child may end up being a great addition to a picture.
Families, Families, Families.
Lifestyle photography sessions do not solely focus on close-ups of the newborn. Rather, an equal portion of the shoot is dedicated to photographing the family’s interaction: the emotion and joy between the parents, the parents and child(ren), and sometimes, the extended family. I adore catching that perfect moment when a new dad looks at his bundle of joy with pure love in his eyes or that smile only a mom can make when looking at her newborn. Those honest connections are impossible to recreate in the studio environment.
Just Relax.
Unlike more traditional newborn sessions, lifestyle sessions are much more relaxed. We don’t adhere to a strict timeline or design. We go with the flow and let the child lead, relieving the stress normally attributed to traditional shoots. When the baby sleeps, I have the opportunity to capture his or her natural un-posed beauty. When the baby is awake, I can capture the parents cuddling or playing with him or her. The relaxed environment helps the parents, who are already dealing with a great deal of stress, and also helps prevent the baby from getting upset. Baby doesn’t need to “perform” in any sort of way and parents get to enjoy all the moments as they naturally occur.
Timeless.
Traditional methods of posing or dressing a baby often follow popular styles for the given period. The problem is that such poses, props or outfits go out of style in time. What might be popular today may look out-of-date when you later flip through your photo album. A lifestyle session avoids the risk and temptation of temporary fads. Instead, we capture the true and unique qualities of your newborn, family, and home. These memories will never go out of style.
Emotional Storytelling
Lifestyle newborn session is not just about taking beautiful photos, it is about creating a story, a story that is specific only to the family photographed. The first moments when new life is brought into a home is the happiest of times. Parents are filled with emotions of love and joy. New experiences are created and shared. A lifestyle newborn session documents these special moments and at the same time conveys in the most authentic way a beautiful story of one’s life.
Hello! My name is Bojana. I am a lifestyle photographer located in the San Francisco Bay Area. I specialize in newborn, maternity, child and family photography. I use only natural light to create real and beautiful imagery that represents your life in the most honest way.
It’s always refreshing when a celeb who seemingly has it all together gets candid about the challenges of motherhood. New mom Gabrielle Union recently opened up to Parents Magazine for a cover story and we can all relate.
Union and husband Dwyane Wade welcomed their baby girl, Kaavia, via surrogate in November after years of struggling with infertility. The couple has already been very open about their struggle to become parents—and now that they’ve finally welcomed their daughter, Union isn’t holding back on the challenges of parenthood either.
“I suck at swaddling,” she admitted to Parents. “I don’t know whether to use glass or plastic bottles. I never knew there were so many types of nipples. And installing a car seat is like taking the SATs! I don’t have all the answers, which feels terrifying.”
Finding time for herself hasn’t been easy either, as all new moms can relate. “Kaavia went through a phase of not napping,” she said. “I was like, ‘When do I shower or pee or live?’ So I had to get a little comfortable with her crying, which I had not been. And then I took the quickest shower of all time!”
Of course, in the end all of the hardship from the IVF treatments to the sleepless nights and missed showers is worth it. Union is happy to share her family’s journey with others. “Kaavia really is the personification of hope for a lot of people like us, who maybe didn’t have a lot to be hopeful about,” she said. “She represents that maybe there is a light at the end. And when you take people on the low points of your journey, it’s cool to let them be part of the joy.”
Every new mom has been there. Once baby exits your body, your thoughts jump on a roller coaster of emotion, and suddenly you’re along for the ride. One minute, you’re gushing over your baby (“How did I ever live without this child!”), and the next minute you’re questioning your ability to care for this tiny human being and your sanity for taking on the task. As you ride through the ups and downs of the fourth trimester, here are some thoughts guaranteed to cross through your love-full and sleep-deprived mind.
photo: Suzanna Piowaty-Palmer
1. A tiny human being is solely dependent on me for life. Whoa.
2. Leggings are everything. And, coffee is life.
3. Should I check on my sleeping baby? Absolutely. (Repeat process again in five minutes.)
4. Thanks, person 46,308,723, for the unsolicited advice about how to raise my child…but, no thanks. Really, you can stop now.
photo: Christy Blevins Photography
5. During early attempts at swaddling: “I’m never going to nail this human straightjacket thing.” After a few tries: “I should put in an application to Chipotle because my swaddling skills are off the chain.” (Basically, babies equal burritos when swaddled.)
6. If you don’t love my kid’s name, you should have your own kid and name it.
7. I should have invested in diaper stock because my kid could single-handedly fill a landfill. Cloth diapers, here we come!
8. Will this baby ever. stop. crying. Will I? (Related: Normal hormone levels = #goals.)
9. My emotions are completely stable…psyche!
10. My body will never look the same. And that is a-okay. I just birthed a freaking human.
photo: Suzanna Piowaty-Palmer
11. I should sleep while the baby sleeps. But I should also stay awake and stare at him to make sure he’s breathing…and because he is the most precious and perfect human ever.
12. Speaking of sleeping, not sleeping is my superpower.
13. When I say I want to “Netflix ‘n’ chill,” I actually want to watch television. Six weeks is the minimum waiting period, right?
