September is Baby Safety Month—and as a blogger and mom, I want to do my part to spread the message about keeping infants rear-facing in car seats until they turn two. That’s right, Mamas, resist temptation and keep those bucket seats backwards for as long as you can... But, ...read more
I had a baby just a little over two years ago… and yet somehow it feels like it’s been forever—especially when I see all the latest and greatest baby gadgets, gizmos, and must-have gear. How have their been so many game-changing product launches in the 28 months since I was ...read more
When my nephew was born, my brother’s world was rocked, but so was mine! Looking into his tiny face I could see all the possibilities his life could hold. He was born into a family who adored him from the very beginning. Given so much love, I know his future will be filled with ...read more
We've been reading to both our little ones since before they were even born. We read to them in the womb and we still read to them: board books, picture books, and, now, chapter books. We make the silly voices, we read them the same book a thousand times, and we read to them ...read more
“Hey, Baby Sister… You see that camera over there? That’s how Mommy and Daddy spy on us at night.” Yes, my four-year-old son actually said this to my one-year-old daughter a few weeks ago. It was hilarious—and my husband and I just looked at each like, “Uh-oh. He’s on to us! “ ...read more
Penelope’s first word after “mama” and “dada” was, no joke, “SNACK.” Fast forward 10 months and it’s still pretty much her favorite thing to say. Better yet, is the way she actually drags out the vowel sound with her high-pitched nasally little tone, “snnnaaaaaaaaack,” whilst ...read more
This little one just made the major switch from an infant car-seat to a a big-girl convertible car seat. It was a transition that was over due. While she's pretty small for her age, she is 21 months old, so, yeah, it was about time. (Bye-bye hot-pink bucket seat!) Obviously, ...read more
During the summer, my kiddos and I always head back East to Georgia or North Carolina to visit family. Being on the road with children is a different kind of family bonding, that's for sure. Shoving everyone in a small space—whether it be a car, plane or train—for an extended ...read more
I've always loved Nordstrom. It's my favorite store, and also my first place of employment. The summer between my sophomore and junior years of college, I worked in the BP section—and spent my entire earnings on trendy clothes and shoes. (Because, employee discount!) It was back ...read more
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOgiyD-MA0U The first few days and weeks and months after Baby’s big arrival are difficult and daunting for a new mom. It’s hard enough to track sleep schedules (or lack thereof), mealtimes, bowel movements (yes, I went there), tummy time ...read more
Nothing gives me a case of "baby fever" like touching, testing, and trying amazing baby gear. Well, except for maybe watching newborn-wearing mamas touching, testing, and trying amazing baby gear. (Ooph! My uterus!) Last weekend, I hit Pier 92 to attend the New York Baby ...read more
Baby’s bedtime… It’s my favorite part of the day. (And not just because it means Mama gets an hour or two to herself before hitting the hay.) I just enjoy the tranquility of it. The kisses. The whispered lullabies. The feeding cuddles... It’s pure sweetness. I’ve weaned my ...read more
As if growing a child in your belly isn’t hard enough, expectant moms have a lot of planning and preparing on their plates. There are doctor’s appointments to make, childcare to be sourced, and items to register for. It can be downright daunting for a first-timer. And shopping ...read more
I never even tried making my own baby food. I thought I would. I said I would. And then, once my babies were born, I just didn’t. Both times. I had too much to do. Too little time. And too many dirty dishes, pots, and pans that already needed cleaning. Did I actually need to ...read more
(Photo via @teammomtrends Instagram) This Toy Tuesday, we’re coming at you “live” from Toy Fair New York, an annual event that brings together buyers, brands, and press to show the latest, greatest, and newest in PLAY! We thought we’d share a reel with a few of our favorite ...read more
When my firstborn would drop his binky on the floor, I’d practically go through a three-step sanitation process before popping the pacifier back in his precious little mouth... I’d clean every new toy thoroughly with hot water and organic cleanser before he so much as touched ...read more
A dear friend of mine just became a mama for the first time and she asked me for one solid piece of advice that might help her navigate through the early days (months, years..) of mamahood. My advice? Get baby into a routine. I never followed a schedule per say for any of my ...read more
Allow me to set the serene scene for you: The kids are (finally) asleep, the husband is watching some game or another, and you've got a blissful hour or two of quiet time to relax your body and restore your mind before you beeline it to bed. You light a few subtly scented ...read more
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKwizIpEOPM As you'll see in this video, someone really loves her "baba." I could barely get Baby P to sit still on my lap when she saw me prepare a formula bottle with the help of BabyNes. (And by "prepare," I mean push a button.) It's that ...read more
What did parents do before video baby monitors? I truly don't understand... How did moms survive with audio alone?!? My husband chastises me for literally watching our baby-monitor screen like it's a compelling soap opera. I'm glued to it from the time my sweet love-bug's head ...read more
The market for baby-gear is saturated with… stuff. So many “things” you MUST have as a new mom. I definitely bought into a “more is more” mentality when I was pregnant with my first child. I needed ev.er.y.thing—to keep my soon-to-be baby happy, of course. But soon after the ...read more
During the day, this Tiny Love double-sided crib toy keeps Baby entertained with colorful pictures, knobs, buttons, and music. It stimulates Baby’s senses and encourages fine-motor development. (And, take it from this sleep-deprived mama, it’s a great option to keep infants ...read more
We are absolutely in love with the Citi Mini GT from Baby Jogger. This is the stroller for every mom. No matter what your lifestyle is like, the Citi Mini GT is very accommodating. Baby Jogger Citi Mini GT Features We love this all-terrain stroller. Here are some of our ...read more
We've used our fair share of strollers over the past 8 years so it's pretty noteworthy when we encounter one with a brand new feature. And, friends, the GB QBit compact stroller is definitely worth your attention. While the brand name is new, GB creates products for the world’s ...read more
To celebrate National Breastfeeding Month we have brought you a series of posts to provide all nursing mamas with some of our favorite finds to make breastfeeding easier, more comfortable and stress free. Check out our Breastfeeding video all about the essentials from a seasoned ...read more
Your baby's first birthday is a big deal. Mostly for you--because, at one, they don't quite know what all the fuss is about. Still, it can be a wonderful reason to celebrate your family. The couple featured in these photos had a particular proclivity for all things Paris so they ...read more
Pregnant mamas want the very best for themselves and their babies. Bump Boxes knows that expectant mamas can have a hard time finding safe products for them and their growing bumps. Bump Boxes is a monthly subscriptions service that offers a wide array of pre-curted boxes for ...read more
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvGVxJdUYMQ&feature=youtu.be We love a stylish stroller here at The Shopping Mama. And the Orla Kiely stroller doesn’t disappoint. It marries the functionality of a traditional Maclaren baby buggy with Orla Keily’s signature fashion-forward ...read more
Recently, I took my baby boy on a New York City date. It was a gorgeously, picture-perfect Manhattan morning, and we trekked from Penn Station to Central Park to FAO Scwharz (can’t believe it’s closing!) back to Penn Station. We went on the train and the subway and hailed ...read more
We’ve been on a quest to find a high-quality umbrella stroller—one that’s sturdy, offers a smooth ride, provides plenty of storage, and is lightweight, easy to handle, pleasing to the eye, and comfortable for Baby too. That’s not asking too much—is it? … Enter the Baby Cargo ...read more
Earth Day has come and gone, but, here, at The Shopping Mama, we’re always trying to embrace a greener lifestyle. We want to buy things, try things, and do things that are better for the eco-system around us. We want to feel good about the future of our world and our children. ...read more
If you need to reach me on a weekend afternoon, chances are, you’ll find me at a local farmer’s market. It’s sort of my “thing” in the spring. I could wander around endlessly taste testing raw honey, picking fresh fruits and veggies, and soaking up the sunshine with my little ...read more
We know it's so cliché, but children really do grow up quickly. Everyone tells you this but as parents sometimes it feels like suddenly they go from tiny newborns snuggling in your arm to big school-age kids doing homework just in the blink of an eye. While we can't keep them ...read more
Having a toddler around can make meal times a challenge especially when they want to start using their own utensils. We've had quite the mess at our house with tipped over bowls and forks and spoons that were a little too big for tiny fingers. Enter Zak Designs Toddlerific! ...read more
HALO is already well know for their cozy SleepSacks for babies but now they are expanding their brand. We're excited to share that recently HALO released their very first bassinet - the HALO Bassinest Swivel Sleeper. The HALO Bassinest is the only infant bassinet that moves to ...read more
We, at The Shopping Mama, are always on the hunt for the latest and greatest in baby gear. We pride ourselves on finding, testing and curating items that help make Mom’s life easier, better and a whole lot more stylish. One fabulous new find for the mama on the move? The ...read more
Petunia Pickle Bottom's newest silhouette is a modern bag that will go with you through the ages and stages of parenting a baby, toddler and beyond. The Downtown Tote is a sleek, modern bag that masters organization and allows the signature Petunia prints shine. Downtown Tote ...read more
Living in a close military community means I get to attend a lot of baby showers. Seriously, you wouldn't believe the amount of babies born in on our little base every year. I'm anticipating a bit of a baby boom this summer, too, because it's about ten months after a big group of ...read more
I love getting a new bag each season. There's something about updating your purse/bag collection that just makes you feel ready to start a new season. Here's a few of our favorite totes that are diaper bags but don't scream "diaper bag" and they'd all be great for ...read more
The Stokke Scoot is a smart and chic urban stroller. As you may have noticed, we at The Shopping Mama are already fans of the luxury baby line that is Stokke. We are excited to share that Stokke has improved upon the design of their Scoot urban stroller. Several upgraded ...read more
I think all parents can relate, installing carseats correctly can cause anxiety. You always question: Is it level? Are the straps tight enough? Too tight? Is it installed in the car correctly? Is it moving too much? How can I get this tighter? With the Britax ClickTight ...read more
We’ve all experienced a humidifier - whether it was during a bad cold and a stuffed nose or because our air conditioner leaves the room feeling dry. Colds,dryness, conjunctivitis, and respiratory problems can keep your baby from uninterrupted sleep. The BabymoovDigital ...read more
You don't have to give up fashion to have a functional and stylish diaper bag. In fact, we recently discovered an incredible bag that melds both worlds with the sleek Fiona Bag by Baby Cargo. As a go-to convertible diaper bag, the Fiona Bag functions as a crossover purse/diaper ...read more
Bringing home baby from the hospital or taking her out and wanted to secure that your baby sleeps soundly? Well, we found the perfect way to keep your baby sleeping and snug with Little Dream Bird, a new line of functional sleep covers for baby car seats and strollers in rich ...read more
When this came on the scene in 2014 it was a big deal and something parents applauded. The innovative Doona Carseat Stroller combo is a real life saver. Get the Doona Carseat Stroller on Amazon here. Doona Infant Carseat That Converts To A Stroller! While we love low-tech ...read more
