We love babies, bloggers, and brand new gear--so, of course, we adore our annual trip to the Chicago Baby Show. We peruse new products, engage in panels and seminars, and host influencers in our own VIP lounge and broadcast booth. But the absolute best part is trend-spotting the ...read more
Selecting a name for your child can be a daunting task. There are so many things to consider, and it's a huge responsibility for a soon-to-be parent. I had an easy timing naming my son, Grant. I liked that it was a simple, strong, and suitalble name. It means tall and handsome, ...read more
Working moms, stay at home moms, celebrity moms... at the core, we're all the same. We want what's best for our kids, and we strive to raise healthy, happy, productive little people, who can--you know--go on the potty at will! Indeed, toilet training young tykes is just one ...read more
We love a good designer collaboration here at The Shopping Mama. Of course, we also adore sweet nursery knick-knacks and fun decor for kiddie rooms! And so, naturally, we are obsessed with the latest exclusive line for Pottery Barn Kids. Late last month the retailer debuted a ...read more
If someone in your family suffers from a peanut allergy, you know how difficult it can be. From preschool snacks to the weekend birthday party, it can feel as though danger lurks around every corner. While the old guidelines recommended that parents kept children away from ...read more
I remember when I was pregnant with my first. I didn’t realize how important, tricky, and consequential some seemingly minor decisions could be. For example, I just “eeny, meeny, miny, moe” picked a reputable bottle brand from the plethora of options on the shelf, registered ...read more
I see a big hole in the holiday fashion market. There are plenty of Christmas outfits for children and loads of Halloween options, but a very small slew of Thanksgiving-themed attire. Sure, you can find one or two styles for your wild little turkeys, but the pickings can be super ...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
Shoving a thermometer in a squirming toddler's ear is no fun. For anyone. But it's especially (and also literally) painful when your little one has an ear infection. Poor little muffins. But taking a babe's temperature just got a little simpler (and a whole lot cuter) with the ...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
This post is sponsored by Huggies. Baby P was a late crawler and a late walker. Fortunately, this gross-motor delay had nothing to do with her development and everything to do with me, her adoring helicopter Mama. You see, I held her and strolled her and wore her—a lot. Like, ...read more
Target… It’s my happy place. Give me my Venti two-pump vanilla latté and unlimited time to explore, and I’m blissfully content. Some people do yoga to get their Zen on; others choose cardio to blast away stress. Me? I go to Target. And I shop. For anything… For ev-er-y-thing! ...read more
I'm a sucker for preppy clothes. I dress myself and my littles in nautical pieces all summer long. (I embrace the horizontal stripes—as long as they're navy and white!) I especially love crab and lobster-embellished looks for the littles. I mean, my babies are usually pretty ...read more
My children are picky eaters. I feel like on any given week I’m rotating between three or four options for each kid at every meal. For the little one, it’s either a yogurt and fruit, a cheese stick and toast, a piece of pizza (she’s actually eaten two giant slices in one ...read more
Compensation was provided by Go & Grow by Similac® via Mode Media. I’m pretty sure my babies belong in Alaska. Or, maybe, Maine. Better yet, somewhere that’s just really temperate and mild with constant breezes and minimal moisture. One thing is for sure: They do not belong in ...read more
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIQkQvw4RAI I’m going to be honest here… I love my kids, but sometimes I don’t feel like playing with the same ole toy or game over and over and over again. It can get a bit tedious, repetitive, and, um, exhausting... Especially at 5 AM. (It's ...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
"Give a kid a cardboard box, and you've got yourself a happy camper." I used to think this was a silly thing people just said. Then I had kids of my own, and I realized that this is one of the single unifying common truths of parenting. It never ceases to amaze me how ...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 have a secret drawer high up in my bedroom closet... It's filled with yet-to-be-discovered toys, trinkets, and treasures for the kiddies, and chock-full of silly surprises. It's for rainy days... for potty-training triumphs... and, yes, for those days my son pitches a major fit ...read more
(All that's missing is the iPad...) My children are still babies… and, yet, at one and three, the two of them are surprisingly savvy with an iPad. It amazes me that my fourteen month old can swipe images on my device like a pro. She picks up my cell phone and immediately puts ...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
Happy Thanksgiving! We hope you have a wonderful, warm, bright, delicious, festive, and fun holiday with family and friends. To celebrate, The Shopping Mama is sharing a few of the things we're grateful for this year (besides, you, our loyal readers, of course!). Enjoy and have a ...read more
