Whether it is your friend or family member, throwing a baby shower is a great way prepare for and celebrate the upcoming arrival of a new little one! Here are some tips for throwing a great couples baby shower:
Set a date and send out invitations: Choose a date that is convenient for the majority of the guests and send out invitations at least a few weeks in advance. Consider including both the parents' names on the invitation to make it clear that it is a couples shower. A link to the parents' baby registries is helpful, as are practical, yet unique baby gifts.
Choose a theme: A theme can help to tie everything together and make the shower more cohesive. Some popular baby shower themes include "diapers and wipes," "books," "baby animals," and "baby's first wardrobe."
Plan the menu: Consider the parents' dietary preferences and allergies, and try to include a mix of sweet and savory items. Don't forget to have non-alcoholic beverages available as well.
Choose games and activities: Baby showers are a great opportunity for guests to have fun and celebrate the new arrival. Some classic baby shower games include "guess the baby food," "diaper raffle," and "name that baby tune."
Consider incorporating practical gifts: In addition to traditional baby shower gifts, consider asking guests to bring items that the parents will actually use, such as diapers, wipes, and other essential baby items.
Don't forget the favors: Favors are a small way to thank guests for attending the shower. Consider giving out small items like candy, candles, or small potted plants.
With these tips and special touches unique to the new parent, you will throw a terrific baby shower to be remembered.
]]>There are many things you can try to calm a fussy baby:
Try holding and cuddling your baby. This can help soothe and comfort your baby.
Offer your baby a pacifier. Sucking can help calm and soothe your baby.
Swaddle your baby. Swaddling can help your baby feel warm and secure, which can help them relax.
Rock your baby or take them for a walk in a stroller. Gentle movement can be soothing for some babies.
Try white noise. Many babies find the sound of white noise, such as a fan or a white noise machine, calming.
Offer a warm bath. A warm bath can help relax your baby's muscles and soothe them. Swaddle Bathing is particularly helpful with a Warm Hug Bath Swaddle to keep your baby warmer longer.
Check for basic needs. Make sure your baby is fed, has a clean diaper, and is not too hot or cold.
If your baby is still fussy after trying these techniques, it may be helpful to contact your healthcare provider for additional advice.
]]>Swaddle bathing, also known as "baby-led bathing," is a gentle and soothing way to bathe your newborn. It involves wrapping your baby in a soft, cloth or bath swaddle, similar to the way they were swaddled in the hospital.
Hummingbird Infant's Warm Hug baby bath swaddle, is durable, helps keep your baby warmer longer, and is easy to use and care for, making it a great choice for busy parents. That's because it is designed with baby-soft neoprene layers. This helps to create a secure and comforting environment for your baby, which can make the bathing experience less stressful for both of you.
One of the benefits of swaddle bathing is that it allows your baby to feel more comfortable and secure during the bathing process. Newborns are used to being swaddled, as it helps to mimic the feeling of being in the womb. When your baby is swaddled during bathing, it can help to calm and relax them, making the experience more enjoyable for both of you.
Swaddle bathing also allows you to be more in tune with your baby's needs and cues. You can gently rock and sway your baby as you bathe them, and you can also use soothing touches and gentle strokes to comfort and calm them. This can help to create a strong bond between you and your baby, and it can also help to promote healthy development and attachment.
To swaddle bathe your baby, you will need a Hummingbird Infant's Warm Hug Bath Swaddle and a safe place to bathe your baby (such as a sink or a baby bath). Here are the steps for swaddle bathing:
Gather all of your supplies, including a clean towel or cloth, a washcloth, and any other products you will need (such as baby soap and shampoo).
Place your baby on a clean, flat surface (such as a changing table).
Gently wrap your baby in Hummingbird Infant's Warm Hug Bath Swaddle, making sure to tuck their arms in and secure the cloth around their chest and waist.
Hold your baby securely and gently lower them into the sink or baby bath.
Use a small amount of baby soap and a washcloth to gently clean your baby's face and neck.
Unwrap your baby's arms and gently wash their armpits and under their arms.
Unwrap your baby's torso and gently wash their chest and back.
Swaddle bathing is a gentle and soothing way to bathe your newborn, and it can help to create a secure and comfortable environment for both you and your baby. Hummingbird Infant's Warm Hug Bath Swaddle is designed with micro fiber neoprene layers to help keep your baby warmer longer. It is also a great way to bond with your baby and to promote healthy development and attachment. So give it a try, and see if swaddle bathing works for you and your little one!
]]>Babies and Toddlers
Infants and toddlers require special care and attention. This information will help you understand their needs and establish healthy habits in their first few years.
School-Aged Kids
As your kids get into preschool and grade school, they’ll become more independent. These resources will help them learn, grow and stay healthy as they try out their interests.
Teenagers
Many teens like to think they can take care of themselves alone, but they still need guidance, patience and understanding. Find resources for helping your teens navigate through these tough years below.
Each stage of raising a child presents its own unique set of challenges. By educating yourself and seeking out resources like these, you can get through any struggles you face together.
Guest Article By: Jenna Sherman, Parent-Leaders
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Reducing Stress
There’s no point in beating around the bush: Having a baby is stressful. Likewise, getting a new business off the ground can be an anxiety-filled roller coaster ride. Fortunately, there are many ways to alleviate the stress of each.
For many parents, one of the most stressful things about having a new baby is bath time. Tiny little bodies get cold easily and they don’t like to let go of warmth. Hummingbird Infant products were developed using the input of three pediatric nurses and countless parents. These bath swaddlers regulate your baby’s temperature and keep them warm longer. This will result in less crying and a faster bath experience.
As a parent, another source of stress that you may not have felt until now is the worry over your finances. When you’re single, it’s easy to take the stance that you can just find a new job or a new apartment if things go south. It’s not that cut and dry anymore. Now that you run your own business, you should know that your personal assets might be at risk if your business goes downhill or faces a lawsuit for any reason. To reduce this type of liability, form an LLC using a formation service. This will keep money in your pocket (because lawyers are expensive) and you’ll have management flexibility should you grow in the future.
Next up: Establish a routine. Parents magazine suggests that part of this should be making a sleep plan for your baby. You also want to know when you plan to feed them and, as they get older, have predictable play and activity times. Knowing your baby’s schedule can help you better plan your office hours. And considering that business owners often work upward of 50 or more hours per week, having a schedule in place is crucial so that you can achieve work/life balance.
Practical Matters
Squashing stress also requires that you’re diligent in every area of your parenting and professional planning. One of the biggest things to remember here is to be practical in both. If you work from home (especially), you’ll need to be able to access your baby and your work almost all the time. It can help to have a bassinet or enclosed play area in your home office.
When your little one is napping or still sleeping in for the morning, use a baby monitor to listen and watch for signs they might be waking up. In many cases, watching their movements will give you enough time to save your work so that you can tend to your little one in the early morning hours. Do keep in mind that not every noise coming from your baby’s mouth means they are waking up — you will learn their sleep sounds soon enough. But if you do find that your baby is routinely rising much earlier than you’d like, What To Expect notes they might be going to bed too early. Try moving their bedtime later in 10-minute increments until they rise at a time that makes the most sense for your family's lifestyle. Chances are, you're most productive in the morning, so buying yourself even an extra half an hour can help you get more done during your day.
They say having a baby changes everything. Well, having a business does, too. That doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy both. With the above tips, you can be less stressed and ready for success from the bassinet to the boardroom. Let Hummingbird Infant be a part of this journey. Shop now.
Guest blog post. Written by: Jenna Sherman, Parent-Leaders
]]>FABRIC FACE MASK EFFECTIVENESS
To be most effective, your fabric face mask must:
1. Fully cover your nose and mouth. This video shows you why.
2. Only be worn by those over the age of 2 and those able to remove the mask without assistance. This is for safety.
3. Be disposed of in the laundry and washed between wears.
HOT TIPS
10 Pandemic & Pregnant Surprises (some for little or no money)
1. Old fashioned snail mail with a new twist. Send a postcard from your phone.
A perfect use of that hilarious, memorable or sentimental photo of you two together. No trips to the post office for stamps. Win. Win.
Touchnote and several other apps allow you to easily pop an image from your camera into a postcard and send it to your expectant mom in the mail.
Better: Encourage 10 friends to do the same.
2. Groceries
Ever had a craving and not been able to leave the house? Pregnant mamas are encouraged to not leave the house, even for groceries. Ask for her grocery list, and order away!
3. Food delivery gift cards so there is no cooking required. And, local restaurants could really use your business right now, too.
4. Forget dinner. Give me snacks!
Zoom to the rescue! Luckily, What to Expect has a full tutorial on how to set up a zoom baby shower with a free call (keep it under 40 minutes or just go back to the link if it drops), free baby shower background, and keep it at a 40 - 90-minute time frame. We at Hummingbird Infant have participated in a virtual baby shower and they are SO much fun. This one is an Instagram Giveaway. (See #5)
7. Ease their fears
8. Make them laugh in your own special way.
9. Plan a weekly zoom or facetime call on your newly open calendar.
10. Social distance walk. If your state and health permits, take a walk with your masks on and six feet apart. While texts are nice, time together is priceless.
Hummingbird Infant assures your time bathing baby is quality time! Our products keep your baby warm, secure, no-slip, safe, and naturally calm at bath time, so you can be too. Because while a hard, plastic infant bathtub can be useful, being wrapped in a cozy, snuggly, womb-like Warm Hug Bath Swaddle and Warm Heart Bath Bib makes bath time enjoyable and stress-free for you both.
>>>LINK TO DIRECT-A-DRAW YOUTUBE VIDEO!!! Make your Mom a Heart with Wings for Mother's Day!!<<
More so than ever this year, moms are stretched. They are often mom, 'chief of staff', 'housecleaner', 'teacher’, ‘principal mommy’, ‘lunch lady’, 'house manager', 'chef', 'errand runner', 'cleaner', 'earner'…..it’s no wonder the number one thing moms REALLY want for mother’s day this year is a break.
The clear winner of what mom really wants this year is a break, according to a study by MiliMili with momtrepreneurs.
1. A break
... think solitude, think cocktail service, think of banning the phrase 'hey mom' for a couple hours
2. Coziness
...something that feels nice
3. A future trip to look forward to
...no further explanation needed! Plan a future trip for her!
4. Stocked kitchen
...the kitchen has never been busier. Maybe something your home can share like these artisanal pretzels delivered to your door.
Of course, a sweet hand-drawn card will round out her day. No trips to the store required!
Happy Mother's Day to the tough mothers out there giving it their all.
Hummingbird Infant is passionate about removing the stress from the tiny moments in parenting. Starting with bringing warmth and love to your baby’s bath. Learn More.
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Try these tips to soothe your fussy baby:
1. Do the opposite of the current situation
2. Talk it out.
3. Warm Hug Bath Swaddle.
4. Repetitive motion + repetitive soft sounds.
5. Try a pacifier or assisting in falling asleep.
Babies can cry for long bursts of time as they acclimate to their new world outside the womb. Often, this will be a discussion in your one month check up. Sometimes it is colic, gas, exhaustion, or your baby getting ill. If there is a lack of weight gain, feeding issues, or your baby turns colors or stops breathing from crying, see a Doctor immediately. Otherwise, know that from about 3 weeks to 12+ weeks, you may have to build a tool box of coping skills -- for you both.
Overwhelmed by the Crying?
Sometimes your baby can't be soothed, and what worked last time, won't work today. Doctors say if you are overwhelmed, it is OK to leave your baby in a safe place such as their crib, carseat or swing and walk away for a few minutes. You will come back better able to parent.
]]>CURRENTLY
Q: How do you expect your work situation will stay the same or differ after baby?
A: I am afraid it will become more difficult with my newborn at home, I work in the airline industry and my shift is extremely early – it will be so sad to leave my baby sleeping.
Q: How can others support to you as an expecting mom right now?
A: My boyfriend and family has been incredibly supportive – they help me with whatever I need and accompany me to all my appointments.
Q: What, if anything, has surprised you during your pregnancy?
A: The minor things, such as high proteins, that can impact what kind of pregnancy you carry.
Q: What are your thoughts on what your life will look like those first few months after baby? Say, a ‘typical’ day? ‘Good’ day? ‘Tough’ day?
A: I have tried to not get ahead of myself to not start feeling nervous, but I believe that with all the support of everyone around me things will go smooth, I hope Jayden will be as easy going as possible!
Q: What are the top things on your mind regarding your pregnancy at this point?
A: Since I am considered a high-risk pregnancy due to high pregnancy proteins, I am taking care of myself to avoid all the problems I could encounter throughout the end of my pregnancy – luckily until now I have not come across any of them and we are praying it all remains this way.
Q: We are happy to hear that! Keep taking care of yourself. Do you like being pregnant? We know not all women love the experience.
A: I have enjoyed my pregnancy all along, it’s been great to get all the love and attention from everyone!
Q: How are you coping with bed rest? Any tips and tricks?
A: Just be patient. I'm only supposed to get up to eat, shower and use the rest room. But it is difficult to do that every single day. No surprise, I've watched lots of Netflix. Every series possible. (Although when pushed for a favorite, she's going with "Pretty Little Liars." So, if you're reading this while nursing, or on bed rest, give it a watch!)
WHAT'S NEXT:
Q: Anything you are looking forward to after birth?
A: I am looking forward to meeting my baby boy, Jayden Ryan, spending time with him and loving him nonstop.
Q: Nonstop loving sounds perfect. Anything you are not looking forward to?
A: Going back to work and having to leave my baby at home, it makes me nervous.
BABY BATH TIME:
Q: It's always tough to go, but it makes the homecomings that much sweeter. Which moves us into some of the activities that happen after work. What are your thoughts on your baby’s bath time? Any expectations?
A: Since this is my first baby, I don’t really have any expectations – I just hope that my Hummingbird Infant Bath Swaddle makes it easier and warmer!
Q: We promise - it will! Who will give the baths?
A: Most likely me, but of course we want to try to get daddy to help out!
Q: Bath time, if Jayden is comfortable, can be a really nice time together! I'm sure daddy will want to partake. What does the ‘perfect’ newborn/infant/baby bath time look like in your mind?
A: Jayden enjoying his bath and staying warm
Thank you for chatting with us. We’d love to do it again in July to see how you’re all doing. Especially with bath time. Can we check back in after you have your baby and learn more about bath? Perhaps with a Warm Hug Bath Swaddle and Warm Heart Bath Bib?
"Of course, it will be fun to catch up and see how different everything will be once my baby is here."
Hummingbird Infant is passionate about removing the stress from the tiny moments in parenting. Starting with bringing warmth and love to your baby’s bath. Sign Up for a chance to win our monthly Warm Hug Bath Swaddle giveaway, or add to your Baby List Registry today, so you can enjoy bath time as sweet time with your baby, where you wash away the cares of the day.
]]>Packing for the hospital? Let's keep it simple.
Jessica is going through the Braxton Hicks contractions, is packed and ready to go to the hospital.
"When we had our first baby, I found myself over-packed."
"Now, about to go into the hospital with our second baby, I feel confident in what I have packed for a successful birth and hospital stay."
Here is Jessica's list, all perfectly packed in her Momkindness CarryAll Tote
For Mama:
“This helped me with nursing in the hospital bed, and it became a staple at home too”
For Baby:
“We plan to use the Warm Hug Bath Swaddle in the hospital too, for her first bath.”
Dad or Birth Partner Packing List:
Proud aunties holding each other’s babies in the hospital. Coming July 3, there is another on the way!
Anyone else both look forward to that day, and wonder if there is enough time to prepare for that day?
Today we interview our OG Hummingbird Infant mama, Jessica. She is both original and exceptional. When Jessica was at home with her first baby about two years ago, Hummingbird Infant tried our first prototype of the Warm Hug Bath Swaddle with Jessica and her baby Blake. It turned the stress of bath into a meaningful moment. But, before we get to bath, she has a pregnancy to get through.
Q: What are the top things on your mind regarding your current pregnancy?
A: In no order, I have a lot of competing forces on my mind right now.
We are so excited for Blake to be a big brother!
How am I going to do this being a new mom of two?
There are so many things left to get ready and not enough time!
Most of all how much I can’t wait to love on this sweet little girl, which leads into what I am looking forward to after birth. We are ready for her to experience the world and teach us new things as a family of four, but as we enter this new challenge, we are working on preparing for time commitments to be different, lifestyle changes, and overall family dynamics.
Jessica, we just love your perspective on her teaching you.
BATH TIME
You are the original user of the Hummingbird Infant Warm Hug Bath Swaddle. So you’ve had swaddle bathing as a practice since the beginning.
Q: What are your thoughts on baby bath time with a two-year-old and infant?
A: I am expecting them to be full of giggles and bubbles. I see big brother trying to be “helpful” and wanting to show his sister what it’s all about. Calmness is an expectation of what I have during this new experience of bath time for baby sister and giving Hummingbird Infant all the credit. She will be warm and snuggled up to enjoy the simplicity of a warm bath, while big brother is using the Chubber Scrubber to help get her “clean”.
We can’t wait to be there for it again, Jessica. Giggles. Bubbles. Helping hands for the big brother. Simultaneously calm baby sister in a Warm Hug Bath Swaddle. We will be there with our cameras ready. This should be good!
Q: What does the ‘perfect’ baby bath time look like in your mind?
A: I can picture her first bath in the kitchen sink wrapped up in the Hummingbird Infant Bath Swaddle, being held by two strong hands in the warm water. I look down to see a sweet babe’s face showing a smile or cue with excitement to the new experience, and of course from big brother’s silly faces he is making at her as he is ‘helping’.
Things don’t go as planned 90% of the time during motherhood, but that’s almost the best part.
Each day you get a new chance to try again and make the experience better such as warmer water, different swaddle technique, less/more water (for brother to splash), and many more unknown moments coming our way!
It sounds like Jessica is already anticipating life with a 2 year old and an infant being anything but predictable. We are so excited for you Jessica. Hummingbird Infant is so thrilled to be a part of your memorable bath moments along the way. Much love. Warm Hugs and Warm Hearts to you all!
Hummingbird Infant helps you embrace the memorable moments with your baby. To start, we are removing the stress and bringing warmth and love to your baby’s bath. Sign up for a chance to win our monthly Warm Hug Bath Swaddle giveaway, or purchase today, and enjoy bath time as sweet time with your baby, where you wash away the cares of the day.
]]>...we charge forward, knowing that teaching our kids to love others unconditionally, especially those that have lives that are very different than ours, is worth the hard stuff.
]]>.
This weekend we are interviewing Melissa, who has 4 kiddos, ages 7, 5 1/2, almost 3 and 10 months. She is a stay at home/work at home mom, birth mom, foster mom, church mom, school mom, and wife.
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Q: So, what’s foster care like as a part of your family life?
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A: We find ourselves loving non-biological kiddos in our home and building a relationship with their parents and siblings. We may have 3 children one minute and an hour later have 5! My husband works a typical job out of the home and I work for our church, my parents, and a local non-profit with pretty minimum childcare. This means we are maximizing our kids’ nap times and our evenings home, and our kids get to get involved in the things that are most important to our family. Our door is continually revolving with friends that have become family, people that are family-for-now and hopefully forever, social workers and lawyers, women interested in the nonprofit we work with or foster care or other ministries that we work with...and the grandparents that live a few miles away :)
Q: What are the top things on your mind regarding your parenting life?
A: We are constantly weighing the cost and benefit of things that we choose for our family to get involved with.
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For example, with foster care our kids experience the hardship of letting people that we love go - and it is SUPER hard to watch them experience those things. But through lots of discussions with our kids and with each us (my husband and I) we charge forward, knowing that teaching our kids to love others unconditionally, especially those that have lives that are very different than ours, is worth the hard stuff. And we just hope and pray that it pushes them towards our loving God today and the rest of their lives.
.
Getting involved with hurting people also keeps things in perspective. We can point our kids away from the latest toy that they want and towards kiddos that we get to share with because they don't have any toys. Our hope is that they learn a sense of gratitude and generosity, and that our lives look different. Then when people ask why, we and our children can point them to the cross which is the reason that we do any of it.
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That’s quite profound. Thank you. I’m sure those are some both joyful and difficult family moments.
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Q: What parenting hacks or advice can you share regarding life balance?
A: Margin.
Q: What’s margin?
We've learned through experiences that margin is SUPER important. I am one to pack my schedule to the brim, but then when a kiddo gets sick or a need of a neighbor comes up, I lack capacity to still manage my commitments. So, through lots of error and overwhelmed feelings, I've learned to keep some blank chunks of time on the calendar. If they don't get used up with meeting last minute needs or serving others, we use them to spontaneously invite friends over for dinner!
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But when that margin doesn't isn't there and something comes up, get creative!
Q: What’s today’s creative solution for the unexpected?
A: Well, today some things came up and I didn't get my work done when I expected. So, I piled all the kids in the tub for a water party. I sat in the bathroom on the floor with my computer, threw on some pump-up music, and we all go crazy :)
Hummingbird Infant is currently focused on making bath time warm, calm and connected time.
Q: When you talk to your pregnant friends, what should they know about baby bath time that maybe they hadn’t thought of?
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Pictured: Warm Heart Bath Bib and Chubber Scrubber Bath Cloth
A: Depending on the day, bath time can serve several different purposes. Maybe it is needed to get your baby clean. Maybe you're tired, feeling "off,” or in a funk - use a bath to switch things up and have some fun! Or maybe everyone is needing to calm down after a busy day, add a drop of lavender to the bath for and extra soothing or calming experience. Cater your bath time to your needs!
Want to know more? Have more questions for Melissa? Let us know in the comments, and we can continue the conversation.
Hummingbird Infant is passionate about removing the stress from the tiny moments in parenting. Starting with bringing warmth and love to your baby’s bath. Sign up for a chance to win our monthly Warm Hug Bath Swaddle giveaway, or purchase today, and enjoy bath time as sweet time with your baby, where you wash away the cares of the day.
This week, we spotlight McKenna, a newlywed and first-time mom to be who happens to have very useful experience. She is a Labor & Delivery/OB nurse. So, while many of us don’t know what to expect, McKenna is working nights helping to bring babies into the world.
McKenna, your experience brings up a question.
Q: I know nurses give the best to everyone, but let’s just say I need extra help with nursing after birth, or with the suspenseful bathroom visits, or any number of pre or post birth moments. In addition to using respect, any suggestions on how new mamas can be their own best advocate for care, and still be a good, or even favorite patient?
A: My best advice for new mamas is to just educate yourself as much as possible.
Q: How will your work situation be the same or different after your baby arrives in July?
A: My work situation will be the same once I come back from maternity leave at 12 weeks. I work nights, so it will be quite an adjustment for me and my husband. Definitely going to have to learn how to function on a lot less sleep than I currently get but I am sure we will figure it out together.
Q: What are the top things on your mind regarding your pregnancy at this point?
A: Because we didn't find out the sex, I spend a lot of time thinking about if it’s a boy or a girl and all the differences that come along with each. Spend a lot of time just praying for health.
Q: Anything you are looking forward to after birth?
A: To find out if it’s a boy or a girl haha :) Just bonding with the baby, seeing what he/she looks like, seeing my husband become a dad.
Q: Anything you are not looking forward to?
A: Things I am not looking forward to are all the hormonal changes and sleep deprivation.
A: Because of my occupation as an OB nurse, I give many baby baths so I have an idea of what to expect. I know that newborns don't really enjoy bath time so to make it short and sweet. Safety and warmth are the most important things when it comes to bath time! I love as they get older, they start to enjoy baths and see it as play time.
Q: Who will give the baths?
A I’m putting my husband in charge of bath time since I give baby baths daily…he’s not as excited about that as I am ha ha!
Practice makes perfect, and it looks like he’s already trying out the Warm Hug Bath Swaddle and Warm Heart Bath Bib on himself. So, he’s got this.
Q: What does the ‘perfect’ newborn/infant/baby bath time look like in your mind?
A: A perfect newborn bath to me would be a very tired baby who sleeps through the whole thing. Maybe giving us some cute sleepy smirks. Nice warm water with just a little bit of soap, baby swaddled in something warm. The bath itself last less than 4-5 minutes. Newborns are often sleepy after a bath, so afterwards I'd put babe in a clean sleeper and hat (especially if there is a lot of wet hair), enjoy the sweet baby smell, swaddle up and cuddle before bed.
That sounds amazing. Stress free. Warm, calm and connected. All the reasons we designed the Warm Hug Bath Swaddle.
Thank you for chatting with us. We’d love to do it again in July to see how you’re all doing. Especially with bath time. (We know your ‘shook’ photo is just for fun dad. You’ll love it!)
“Yes, let’s do it!”
#swaddle #swaddlebath #obnurse #Julybaby #baby #nurse #rn #nurselife #nooffdaysforme #scrubs #nursing #pregnancy #pregnant #maternity #mommyhood #workingmom #whoneedssleep #sleepbabysleep #newborn #sleepybath #babybump #babybuzz #warmhug #warmheart #babybath #bathtime #babyboy #babygirl #expecting #shook
Hummingbird Infant is passionate about removing the stress from the tiny moments in parenting. Starting with bringing warmth and love to your baby’s bath. Sign up for a chance to win our monthly Warm Hug Bath Swaddlegiveaway, or purchase today, and enjoy bath time as sweet time with your baby, where you wash away the cares of the day.
]]>Spotlight on Jaycie: Mother’s Day Month Takeover
Jaycie is a first-time pregnant mom. Or, first-time mom to be (but, don’t say that to her four-legged babies!). She currently works full-time as a Nurse/ Healthcare Coordinator at the intersection of demanding and flexible hours.
“I am on-call 24/7 so hope that once baby comes, this doesn't disrupt our lives too much. My boss is very flexible with hours which is nice and will continue to be nice once baby is here. We will both continue working full-time after baby.”
On call 24/7, I would say that you are in training for parenting!
How is coming out of your first trimester going?
I. AM. SO. TIRED. Anyone else constantly think,
"How is baby doing today?"
"Am I doing everything I'm supposed to be doing?"
“When am I going to need maternity clothes?”
And then just, “I. AM. SO. TIRED.”
Ha! Yes, this sounds familiar. What are looking forward to after birth?
I am looking forward to the first moment when the doctor says whether we had a boy or a girl, my first look at my sweet baby, holding him or her for the first time and seeing Michael as a dad. I'm also looking forward to adding another sweet love to my already amazing family and watching them grow up in this family.
Anything you are not looking forward to?
I am not looking forward to a winter maternity leave. I worry that being closed in the house with an Iowa winter and not much adult interaction will make me depressed. I plan to deal with this by staying active on the treadmill, workouts (when cleared by doc), etc. because that always makes me feel better. I'm also hoping with the holidays we will be spending more time with loved ones which will boost the spirits.
It sounds like you have a good plan to stay social and active. Nothing like some adult interaction, holiday spirits (of both kinds!) and workout endorphins to help a mama funk. 😊
Me and My Baby to Be: Bath Time Expectations
With being so early in my pregnancy, I really haven't thought much about bath time. My only thought on bath time is that I LOVE taking baths so I want baby to enjoy this time, as well. (Although I don't think bath bombs and epsom salt are baby appropriate 😉)
In a perfect baby bath scenario, I picture my husband and I in our bathroom, baby in their little bath tub with warm water and a warm bath sheet covering them. I can imagine the smell of baby shampoo with their little toes splashing around and baby smiling. I imagine this happening once we get home from work and making our stressful day seem completely worth it, so in love with this sweet baby.
We hadn’t thought of it that way, but bath sheet for warms is a great description of the Warm Hug Bath Swaddle or Warm Heart Bath Bib. We just add neoprene so that your baby stays warm.
Can we we come back to you after your November birth and see how bath time goes?
“Absolutely!”
Hummingbird Infant is passionate about removing the stress from the tiny moments in parenting. Starting with bringing warmth and love to your baby’s bath. Sign up for a chance to win our monthly Warm Hug Bath Swaddle giveaway, or purchase today, and enjoy bath time as sweet time with your baby, where you wash away the cares of the day.
]]>Anything you are looking forward to after birth? (Hint: Sounds like cough eeee)
Anything you are not looking forward to? (Who needs sleep?)
]]>This week Heidi is sharing her journey. Heidi is due August 17, 2019, and has a 2-year-old daughter, Claire. She currently works full-time and expects this to continue after she has her baby.
Me and My Pregnancy
What are the top things on your mind regarding your pregnancy at this point?
My mind is focused on how things are going with my pregnancy. Is it going to be the same as last time? Will everything go well during the rest of the pregnancy?
And, then, after pregnancy I think about our family adjustment. I can’t wait to see our daughter become a big sister. But I don’t ever want her to forget how much her daddy and I love her. We will be bringing another bundle of joy into this world, and that will take some of our attention away from her.
Anything you are looking forward to after birth?
Drinking coffee and seeing our family grow to a family of four!
Our growing family. I can’t wait for our daughter to have a someone she can grow up with and form that sibling bond.
Should we send you a neoprene coffee cozy to your delivery room?
Yes. A hot coffee sounds great. Send along a coffee cozy, but more importantly, the coffee! I miss my coffee. It helps me get through the day.
Anything you are not looking forward to?
Lack of sleep and even more crazy/chaotic days to come until we find that rhythm. Some days I feel like I don’t get any sleep and our days are already busy with one child. Now with a second child coming I know our schedule is going to go get even crazier with even fewer hours sleep.
What are your thoughts on baby bath time? Any expectations? (Or had you not considered it at all?)
With our first child bath time was not my favorite task to do as a mom and is still challenging with a toddler. I always questioned myself is the temperature right? Will they get too cold or hot? Am I doing this right?
What does the ‘perfect’ newborn/infant/baby bath time look like in your mind?
The perfect bath time would be our happy baby sitting comfortably in the bath while his older sister is talking to him. All of this is going on while I am getting him clean. Then when the bath is over taking him out of the bath and getting him in his sleepers with no tears or saddens. Just smiles of joy.
Can we come back to you after you have your baby and learn more about your bath time experience, perhaps with our Warm Hug Bath Swaddle or Warm Heart Bath Bib?
Yes! See you with our baby boy in August or September!
Hummingbird Infant is passionate about removing the stress from baby’s bath. Making baby’s bath your favorite time of day. At the end of the day it can and should be enjoyable for you both. With the warmth and cozy cocoon of neoprene- based bath swaddles your baby’s cries and your slip concerns are unnecessary. Sign up for a chance to win our monthly Warm Hug Bath Swaddle giveaway, or purchase today, and take back bath time as YOUR loving, bonding, quiet time.
]]>You are their biggest cheerleader...
...You are very blessed to be a parent. Enjoy watching this unique -one of a kind personality grow!
]]>I’m one of 11 children. Then, I had five big, football player boys. Three of my boys now married with babies. Ironically, all girls. And, the babies keep coming. I just love it. Often, people ask me for parenting and grand-parenting advice. I guess I’ve become somewhat of an expert.
Here’s what I tell them.
As you are raising your babies:
1. Bonding Time
Hold and snuggle your baby as much as possible (while they still let you).
2. Socializing
Don’t be afraid to get out! I took my little ones out shopping, to ballgames,church, walks etc... just days old. It's good for both of you.
3. Exercise and Rest. Both equally important.
You'll be a better person, better mom and feel better when you get some form of daily exercise and adequate rest.
As you are raising your toddlers:
4. Eye contact
I love looking into my child’s eyes and really hearing them when they are talking to me.
5. Let them explore. All kids are washable.
So much learning and growing is happening while they go on walks, are jumping in puddles, painting, watching bugs, exploring sidewalk chalk, singing, blowing bubbles, playing in the sand etc... then bath time.
As these little people turn into preschoolers, elementary schoolers, high schoolers and young adults:
6. You are their biggest cheerleader
Always let them know how proud you of all their accomplishments no matter how small or big.
7. Pick your battles
Different situations and challenges can be great for teaching manners, kindness and life lessons for both you and your child.
As these young adults have their own babies and you find yourself an in-law and a grandparent:
8. Laugh often
Whether It be your little sweet heart getting into mom's makeup or the bathroom floor has been decorated with rolls of toilet paper.
9. Hug often
Tell your kiddos you love them daily with a big hug!❤️
10. ENJOY
You are very blessed to be a parent. Enjoy watching this unique, one-of-a-kind personality grow!
About Barb: Barb is the mom and nana we all aspire to be. She’s witty, funny, fun loving, compassionate, and somehow juggles being a mom of 5 boys and a nana to their babies, along with a full-time job and full-time life with ease, grace, resilience, love and laughter. She’s also part of the Hummingbird Infant family. Our sister.
Have a fussy baby? You're not alone. Following is some advice from a mom who has been there.
My advice is to not be too precious about keeping your baby in a quiet environment to soothe them, even if, or maybe especially if they have colic.
Babies need a little extra love and swaddle as they get used to this world and work through all their changes.
Personal advice:
My baby advice is to find the humor. Yes, there are difficult minutes, hours, even full seasons. But if somewhere you can find the humor in it all, it will help you to rise to the occasion.
It’s those moments you can’t believe you survived that make the best stories. Get some distance. Shake your head.
Then smile. Eventually laugh. Always love.
I have some great stories about my boys. And when they are all here for sleepovers with Nana (me) and Uncle Mark (my youngest), we add to them.
More info:
Warm Hug Bath Swaddle for bath time and colic relief
Here’s my granddaughter Claire from their Instagram using the Warm Heart Bath Bib
About Barb: Barb is the mom and nana we all aspire to be. She’s witty, funny, fun loving, compassionate, and somehow juggles being a mom of 5 boys and a nana to their babies, along with a full-time job and full-time life with ease, grace, resilience, love and laughter. She’s also part of the Hummingbird Infant family.
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What is colic?
Colic is when babies cry for long periods of time, about 3 hours, for no apparent reason.
Colic often starts around 2 to 6 weeks old, and subsides around 3 months.
Colic often results in stress and crying for the whole family.
Who is to blame?
Not you. Not your baby. Colic is a medical mystery.
How to cope.
This is going to be tough time, but you need to remain soft. And to do that, you need a break.
Ask for relief, even if for a short time, from a patient partner or friend.
“Remember when you asked how you could help? My baby has colic. I trust you as a calm ‘baby holder’ despite their crying. I need some relief. Can you come over?”
Then, leave. Go for a walk, go to the store alone, go somewhere you can’t hear the crying.
Return after you’ve had some peace.
Alone and feeling overwhelmed?
It happens. Perhaps more often than you’d like.
Simple Comfort Techniques That Remind Them of the Womb
Silver linings: your baby gets to see different parts of the house, being held in different ways promotes developmental benefits and your house is getting clean
Touch
Silver linings: you remind yourself and your baby that your love them always, forever and no matter what. And, after their swaddle bath, they’re nice and clean, too.
About Sarah Shoemaker: Sarah is passionate about removing the stress from the tiny moments in parenting. Trained in child development from top Harvard child development experts such as the late Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, having the benefits of an on-staff parenting expert, and a consumer insights process while working in a juvenile product career, led her to a consulting career centered on consumer insights, and now, Hummingbird Infant . It’s a passion project. Understanding infant development and what parents and babies are capable of is front and center. Drop her a line. She’s happy to email you all the good stuff.
]]>There are many types of infant massage, but these techniques are most universal for soothing.
How to ‘I Love U’
“I Love U” stroke = clockwise
Infant Massage for Gas Relief:
Soothing Warmth
TIP: Try microwaving rice in a doll size pillow case, which can be a soothing warm compress. Just be sure to shake it up and test it on your wrist for an extended time so it’s not too hot.
Provide your favorite massage tips in the comments.
About Sarah Shoemaker: Sarah is passionate about removing the stress from the tiny moments in parenting. Trained in child development from top Harvard child development experts such as the late Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, having the benefits of an on-staff parenting expert, and a consumer insights process while working in a juvenile product career, led her to a consulting career centered on consumer insights, and now, Hummingbird Infant . It’s a passion project. Understanding infant development and what parents and babies are capable of is front and center. Drop her a line. She’s happy to email you all the good stuff.
]]>We share answers for both. Prevention.
That’s baby wellness!
]]>Baby bath and eczema go hand in hand. Did you know that babies with eczema are more prone to future food allergies?
We share answers for both as we team up with our friends at Ready, Set, Food. Learn preventative measures here on the guest blog we wrote. Because...
that’s baby wellness!
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Baby baths aren't as easy as they may look. Babies can be soapy, slippery little guys, and they can get chilled quickly, too. Parents like you said they wanted to take the stress out of first newborn baths and infant baths. Don't be stressed. Here's everything you need to know about a stress free bath. You've got this.
Get your bearings. Gather all necessary supplies. Here’s a running list to start.
Prefill. Fill the bath or basin with a few inches of warm water. Do this in advance, never while baby is in the tub, as water temperatures from the faucet can be inconsistent. In the end, you want comfortably warm to the inside of your arm or elbow, and not hot or cool. For those with temperature gauges, that is between 99.9 and 103.9 degrees Fahrenheit.
Keep it snuggly warm. Undress your baby on a warm surface like a towel. Babies lose body heat 25 times faster in water. Very quickly. Keep it stress-free by keeping them gently swaddled. Trust us. Warmer is calmer.
Support. Holding your baby in the loose swaddle that opens in the front, support the head and underarm with one hand and use your other hand to support the baby’s bottom.
Slow dip. Gently dip your swaddled baby in the water feet first, using your other hand to support the baby’s bottom.
Let them warm up to the idea. Talk to them. Sing. Know that this by nature unplugged time together is building their connection with you. Focus on the eyes, then the face. Both with washing, and with your gaze.
Enjoy your no stress baby bath!
A great gift for a new or soon to be parent. New colors!
Sarah is a birth mom, adoptive mom, wife, working mom and optimist. She is the founder of Hummingbird Infant and shares this so parents understand the latest in newborn bathing. Sign up for our free confidence-boosting monthly Baby Buzz email for insights to help you in your parenting journey.
]]>You CAN shower with your baby. Whether he or she likes it depends on your baby and their level of comfort.
OVERALL:
1. YOU shower first. |
HOT TIP: "Sometimes YOU need a shower, and you are home alone with your baby. Bring your baby's bouncy seat into the bathroom. Undress them, loosely wrap them in the Warm Hug Bath Swaddle, clip them into their bouncy just outside your shower door. Finish by giving your baby their shower."
More than the shower floor being slippery, a wet body is slippery. Especially when you add soap. You are going to want a vice like grip.
Sarah is passionate about removing the stress from the tiny moments in parenting. Sign up to open the door to Hummingbird Infant’s Baby Buzz – snackable insights for new parents -- to help you bring your best parenting self forward.
]]>We did demos of our Warm Hug Bath Swaddle to show you why it's unnecessary for your baby to cry at bath time.
It CAN and should be womb like and stress free for you both. Neoprene Warm Hug Bath Swaddle!
Fabrics were made available for design your own options.
You can see them here hanging from the edge of the table in front of this adorable family.
Many designed. We took the top designs and made them a part of our spring line.
So, now your baby can be warm, calm, connected, and swaddled in spring! And, you both can enjoy bath time.
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Dana is a mommy ninja. She can eat a naked burrito while feeding her baby. Dana is a mom of five. She has lived both in the US and Nicaragua. While Pregnant with #5 we were volunteering together at the local elementary school. Alas! FINALLY, a valid excuse to get out of sorting papers. Santos was born. Soon after I was invited into Dana’s home. I asked her if I could watch her day in the life with Santos.
While I argue any parent bringing their baby home is immediately an expert, there was something about having 5 kids, a fiance and different global view that intrigued me. I was keen to learn her tricks and what is most important in her parenting process. I had worked in the juvenile product industry on product development, so I love this stuff. My mind was ticking. Watching. Wondering. Ready to learn.
And did I ever learn. Bath time.
“Ok, where’s the tub?” I asked.
“Those bulky things? I think I had one once. No thanks. I’ve become a bit more “simple living” having lived in Nicaragua. Seriously? Who wants to store that big hunk of plastic?!” Dana replied.
Expecting to go to her kitchen sink, she instead led me to a tiny hand washing sink. It was shell shaped. She tossed a washcloth in there and started the water.
I expected her to use that cloth to scrub Santos down in a counter bath. Nope.
“I throw the terry cloth down there to soften the sink.”
“So, have you ever used a bath sling with the fabric over a wire frame for bathing?” I asked. I mean, they’re soft. They cradle. They position well.
“Those are too far away from the warm water. I figure they would just slide down anyway. Plus, I like holding Santos,” said Dana
“Is this a typical bath time?”
“Yes. I do what I can with these zillion towels to wash him in sections and keep him warm. But, he cries. He’s still cold and a little mad.”
She was confidently bathing with towels, washcloths and even a muslin swaddle. She had everything she needed right there. She was washing in sections. She was awing me. Despite her efforts, Santos wasn’t happy.
What about the rest of her house? What does Dana want and need? What does she appreciate?
There were swaddles everywhere. She double swaddles him after a bath to calm him down. She has extra padded sleep locations, she has lavender; in other words she’s definitely a mom who appreciates some comfort and soothing for baby Santos. The sense of touch, helping him relax, and him getting sleep for his own good and “so I can cuddle with my guy and nurture our relationship,” is important to her. So, this not-so-soothing bath didn’t sit well.
And that was the light bulb moment. Hummingbird Infant’s “inspired by parent needs” moment.
How do we bring that nurturing to first baths?
So, we tested out different scenarios and settled in on a neoprene bath swaddle to keep babies like Santos warmer longer in the tub, give parents a better grip, and bring a sense of confidence to the warm, loving, connected experience. Some parents feel they can skip the bulky infant tub all together. Others like to use the Warm Hug Bath Swaddle™ in conjunction with their existing plastic or fabric tub or sling.
So, thanks to moms like Dana and other new moms who followed, the Warm Hug™ Bath Swaddle was born. Along with the Warm Heart™ and the Chubber Scrubber™ and Hummingbird Infant as a company.
Inspired by a Dana’s need to be a mommy ninja at her baby’s bath, while softening, warming and calming the experience. Built upon by the other parent testers who followed. Cheers to our inspiring parents who choose love. Choose Warm Hugs and Warm Hearts.
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A well planned, warm, calm, happy bath is the connection to your baby that you both crave so deeply. It might even be what you expected, but not the reality of your situation. Don’t worry, it’s the bath, not you.
]]>A well planned, warm, calm, happy bath is the connection to your baby that you both crave so deeply. It might even be what you expected, but not the reality of your situation. Don’t worry, it’s the bath, not you.
Slow the pace
See the world through your newborn’s eyes.
In theory, bath time should be easy. They just came from the warm bath tub known as their mother’s womb. In practice, a typical newborn and infant bath is much more foreign than that concept. In fact, there is a hard, plastic, infant tub, filled with not nearly as much water as in their womb swimming days, and that’s after the transition from the colder than expected air; much of which they’re exposed to during bath time. Therefore 93% of newborn hospital baths are stressful as measured by your infant’s crying. Yet it doesn’t have to be this way.
Lessen the Stress
Following are a few tips to pause, ‘enjoy the now’ and be mindful during your baby’s bath. After all, this is the perfect setting, as during bath time there are no mobile devices, there are minimal opportunities for outside distraction, aside from perhaps your ‘helpful’ older child. It is just you and your baby.
Baths are a moment in time when the building blocks of your bond, love and connection can be developed. How do you read your infant’s cues and respond mindfully?
The Warm Hug Bath Swaddle provides a self-warming bath, as your infant is lightly swaddled in baby soft neoprene to naturally warm the water around them, and the womb like feel.
Realizing that something that could be stressful has become a warm, calm, connected moment builds gratitude for the simple calm. And that alone can be a gift in a hectic world.
Keep it Real
A warm, calm, connected bath gives you the ability to talk, sing, or simply smile and enjoy this time together. Smiling and eye to eye contact with no distractions with babies helps them connect with you on a basic level. Scientifically, according to psychologist Ronald E. Riggio, smiling fires brain neurons and endorphins, releases serotonin, and dopamine all of which make you and your baby feel happier overall. This interactivity helps your infant to build trust in you, communication skills and the building blocks of eye to eye contact and speech development.
Of course, life is never perfect. We all have emotions. Newborns, infants and toddlers may not be in the physical or mental state for bath time, no matter how much we lessen the stress. We are parents and caretakers but were not made without shortcomings, too. Reading our infant’s cues and responding appropriately is part art and part science.
Sometimes we will embrace the balance, empathy and insight, and other times we will be strengthened because we are just doing our best. Life isn’t perfect. That’s simply keeping it real.
We hope you can take some of the naturally ‘offline’ time with out technology and phones to enjoy some peace. Should you have any questions about bath, please let us know. These are some of our favorite tips:
Do your best. Don’t worry. Your baby feels the love. That’s warm, connected parenting.
About Hummingbird Infant Hummingbird Infant is a product and parenting company grounded in warm, calm, connected parenting. Baby Buzz is our online blog celebrating daily moments in the new parent journey; and the Warm Hug Bath Swaddle is Hummingbird Infant's signature product celebrating warm, calm, connected and HAPPY infant bathing. Both are uniquely simple in approach. Sign up for our free confidence-boosting weekly Baby Buzz email, coming soon, for insights to help you in your parenting journey.
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The Warm Hug Bath Swaddle has been found to be helpful for infants with colic and those who previously hated bath. Why? Because it is soothing, especially for infants in their 4th trimester, adapting to the world. The Warm Hug Bath Swaddle is made with baby soft neoprene, so the baby’s own body heat warms the bath water around the, making bath time self warming and snuggly. Simply keep it open in the front and wash the baby in sections. It is designed to reduces an infant’s fussiness and colic because it mimics womb-like sensations. It can be thrown in the wash machine or rinsed after use, and it dries quickly.
Colic is the nerve-wracking albeit temporary condition of excessive crying. It is a behavioral condition that is emotional for all involved. Some suggest probiotics with your Doctor’s permission, holding baby as much as possible, swaddling, noise machines, gripe water, and other ways to soothe and mimic the womb experience.
A parent dealing with colic is already exhausted. But there is a way to soothe colic with a ‘self-warming and snuggly’ bath swaddle.
But up until now, the only way to add warmth was to continue to spike the water with warm cups of water or put a washcloth on your baby’s chest, both of which have downsides in temp control and longevity. The Warm Hug Bath Swaddle instead focuses on what your baby really desires. Warmth and snuggles.
Not only does this newborn and infant bathing process of a self-warming bath swaddle soothe babies and ease their colic, but it also provides a peaceful, comforting bath experience for parents. Reducing stress for everyone, and thus supporting warm, calm, connected parenting.
About Hummingbird Infant Hummingbird Infant is a product and parenting company grounded in warm, calm, connected parenting. Baby Buzz is our online blog celebrating daily moments in the new parent journey; and the Warm Hug Bath Swaddle is Hummingbird Infant's signature product celebrating warm, calm, connected and HAPPY infant bathing. Both are uniquely simple in approach. Sign up for our free confidence-boosting weekly Baby Buzz email, coming soon, for insights to help you in your parenting journey.
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Mom Squad
Mom squad. The people who get you. Your needs. Who are they? Where are they?
Squad life. Living as a group where all tasks are for the greater good. It has stick-togetherness feel. The premise of looking out for our neighbors and friends. And, as studies show our increased time on technology leads to a decreased happiness, I’d argue that your tribe must be in-person to be effective. Let’s consider new parenting, with some insight from Mary who embraced a communal lifestyle, just as she was starting a family. Different from your typical mom squad.
What Google Doesn’t Know
Welcoming a new baby is exciting. No matter how prepared you are, no one is ready for the challenges that arrive around the same time as the baby. Modern parenting affords us with information available to us 24/7 and, while we all have trusted sources, nothing can be more isolating than a Google search for "is my child's speech delayed" or "what is texture sensitivity?" Conversely, nothing is better than a support system that you can turn to for anything. Nothing rattles the old confidence cage better than a baby. "It takes a village" and "no single truth" take on new meanings, says Mary.
As you become more invested in relationship building, you may find that your mom squad is your trusted source. Questions that were once posed to Google as the all-knowing, are also posed to those you have come to know, love and trust as your own mom squad. Those that know and love you and your kids. Suddenly, Google is no match for the loving, supportive, warm and connected people you call your own. Your ever-trusted village on what worked for them, and what may or may not work for you.
Communal Lifestyle
“While pregnant with my first born, I read a book that both validated my personal feelings and communal lifestyle. TRIBE by Sebastian Junger explains tribal society and the deeper evolutionary connection that tells why we are attracted to a community. He specifically cites the many challenges that veterans face when transitioning away from the "closeness" of a combat zone, but ties in stories of tribal societies and western philosophies on parenting. Being all hopped up on hormones changes you forever and letting go of what I thought was 'normal' was both freeing and foundational to setting my core beliefs in stone,” says Mary.
She continues, “Junger spoke about one philosophy of 'self-soothing' and the concept of space contributing to loneliness and isolation, meaning the more space you have, the less happy you feel. Being married with roommates may have been strange to our family, and intriguing to our friends, but to us, it was abnormally normal. There were four of us. My husband and I, along with two male roommates.”
"We thought we were unique until one year later when articles about communal lifestyles started popping up in The Atlantic as a ‘millennial trend’. We also started seeing documentaries about dorm style communal living in the Netherlands. People need communities to thrive and building a squad after baby is purely about support and survival." Tapping into one large community of friends. Intriguing.
What Does It Look Like to Have Roommates and a Baby?
“My mom squad consisted of our two best male friends from college who chanted 'don't you know pump it up. You got to pump it up' when I went upstairs to pump. It was abnormally normal,” says Mary.
“Having roommates meant registering with two men who were not my husband. Their commentary on baby baths, stroller muffs, and wooden high chairs costing over $1,000 was priceless. I wish I had the Buy Buy Baby footage from that day. They found their way to the store after I dropped them off at Best Buy. Had I known they were coming, I would have filmed them.” It sounds like pure comedy. I think many women would agree, we’re all a bit jealous.
“It also meant talking through my postpartum depression with men who were nowhere near close to fatherhood. My PPD struggles included a baby that wouldn't latch on one side of the spectrum, then feeling incredibly fortunate, to tears, with the amount of love we received on the other.” Research shows that not being embarrassed by what you’re going through with baby blues and full postpartum depression is important. Much like Mary’s breast pumping story, male best friends not familiar with new mom issues may not be the optimal choice for everyone, but it worked for Mary. We all need someone we can talk to, whether it be a mom friend, a good therapist, someone you meet up with for stroller walks, or in Mary’s case, male roommates and besties. It is important to accept help from others. And, I think I speak for all women when there is again, a twinge of jealousy that Mary’s was constant in her home, and seemingly trusted, helpful and empathetic.
Space Invaders
“Space is comfortable in our apartment, but not abundant. We choose to fill our rooms with a supportive group of parenting rookies, aka single men, who counterbalanced some of the crazy found on Google at 2 AM. Space is a topic in TRIBE which helped ease my mind of sharing a room with my daughter long term. I worried that she would be too attached, or struggle to sleep, but in the book, they discuss families from all over the world who share bedrooms or living rooms that convert to sleeping areas. It allowed me to let go and stop comparing myself to 'normal' families,” says Mary. We can all relate to the ‘am I doing this right?’ of motherhood and parenting. And, the pressure is to compare ourselves to what others are doing as our measurement. We respect Mary immensely for her ability to find her truth and reality in her unique situation and take a more global view of what is right for her family.
Sitcom Moments
“These same men went on an adventure with my husband to pick up a hospital grade pump in what compared to a drug deal; they handed the money over for the rental and the man slipped the breast pump through the car window. These men babysat while we went on a date, put diapers on backwards when we sold our car, taught our daughter secret 9-step handshakes, put her on the potty when "pee pee is coming" was shouted, encouraged us when we needed it, and called us out when our daughter watched videos of other children playing with toys.” As an outsider looking in, this sounds nearly perfect, Mary. We all can use a little levity and humor in parenting, with more than a sprinkle of flexibility, emotional intelligence and acceptance of much needed help.
“Our crew and our stories are the makings of a sitcom or movie, too bad the title of "three men and a little lady" is off the table. For now, we will stick with ‘three bros and a baby’.” Sounds like a great title to us! Your mom squad is strong.
What are The Takeaways for You?
It may be allowing the outlaws to babysit the kids, in their way, or it can be finding someone to support your brand of crazy. For example, should I go to China for a wedding with a baby? Or is it crazy to stop breastfeeding before my planned stop date? Should I take a new job pregnant?
Sometimes a sounding board is difficult to find. That’s a special group of friends. Plenty of people will look at societal norms, be quick to say ‘no’ to things you feel is your brand of crazy. Hold onto those who help you to think through the plan. Those who know what you need to hear to make an informed decision on your own.
Relying on men to discuss latching issues or explaining what nipple butter is, may not be familiar, but it sure lightens the mood, and pressure, that being a parent brings. And taking in the light heartedness from any friend, family or moment; well, just take it! Plant it. Grow it. A little levity in parenting will go a long way.
How about the rest of us? I don’t live with my besties. Where is my squad? It seems like every new mom has them. I don't want to relive being the 'middle school girl feeling left out' again. Help!
Breathe mama. Just breathe. It sometimes feels like starting over when you have a newborn. You become a different version of yourself. Still ‘you’ to the core but wearing different hats. Lots of them. After an exhaustive pregnancy and an equally exhaustive 4th trimester, it can be difficult to rally. But rally you can!
Broaden your circle. If you broaden your circle, you will realize that you are not alone. Others are going through similar situations. Even if you don’t initially believe it. You may have to reach out to mom fitness groups, baby and me classes, breastfeeding support groups, tummy time classes, church or religious groups, library or community centers with newborn classes, and/or ask your pediatrician for their suggestions. Walk to your local park with your stroller. Hang out and chat. And, of course, there's an app for all these things too. Your mom squad will come naturally in some senses, but you also must be brave enough to put in the effort to seek them out.
Give yourself some grace. Is it worth getting out of your cozy home, taking a shower, nursing in public, dealing with colic or crying with an audience? It is. And I'll tell you why. They won’t notice. At least not in the way you think they will. You are in a new club now. You have their backs. They have yours. Plus, everyone is so wrapped up in their own newborns, you don’t have an audience. You have empathy. Because, I promise you – they know what it took to get there, and they could be just what you and your baby need.
Try, try again. It’s not easy to get yourself out of the house. But the more you connect with others, the more normal you feel. You will learn from those you meet, and you will be a teacher, too. Believe it. Confidence and community are good for the soul. Cherish the mom squad you create.
About Hummingbird Infant Hummingbird Infant is a product and parenting company grounded in warm, calm, connected parenting. Baby Buzz is our online blog celebrating daily moments in the new parent journey; and the Warm Hug Bath Swaddle is Hummingbird Infant's signature product celebrating warm, calm, connected and HAPPY infant bathing. Both are uniquely simple in approach. Sign up for our free confidence-boosting weekly Baby Buzz email, coming soon, for insights to help you in your parenting journey.
]]>I am so thankful for fitness, mom friends with zero fitness and the ability to find my people. This was important to me with our second child after an 8-year gap between the two of them.
P.S. on the picture -- yes, I now know that those straps needed adjustment. It's the first thing I see now. But then? Didn't notice. And somehow, we all survived.
First, my ode to fitness:
I was running with my one-month old baby in his cushy Quinny stroller, when another runner raced up to catch me.
Her big question, “How do you look so good, so soon after having a baby?”
"Truth? I adopted."
Your body goes through the wringer in order prepare for, house and subsequently have a baby. It takes 40 weeks, yet sometimes we don’t give ourselves the grace of 40 weeks postpartum. And in other cases, we give ourselves much longer, dependent on our physical and mental fitness.
The excuses
Have you ever thought; “I’m not fit enough for THAT group,” or conversely, “I’m TOO fit for that group. They just do beginner challenges”?
In my case, I found with Fit4Mom, there were no opportunities for excuses. There is a pace and a place for everyone. And, no room for judgment.
I sat down with the co-owners of Fit4Mom, Thousand Oaks, Annie Davidson, and Rachael Weitz, to talk about some of the common questions they receive during and after pregnancy. As well as some other insights they’ve garnered as they support women in their new roles of motherhood.
The big questions
When considering getting back to working out after a pregnancy, Annie and Rachael describe two questions that come up over and over.
They are seemingly on opposite ends of the spectrum.
“We really emphasize, let your body heal first. You’re really looking at 6 – 8 weeks postpartum for letting new mommies into the group and of course being cleared by their physician.” says Rachael Weitz, co-founder, Fit4MOM Thousand Oaks
Modification is everything. There are varying degrees of physical ability whether you’re freshly postpartum or have been working out for months. It is important to have this self awareness and join others with this same mantra.
Thus, if you haven’t been working out and didn’t work out during your pregnancy, you will get stronger and you will not be judged.
“For some people it is all about the workout. They come here and work hard for an hour and don’t say a word until after. Others are here for the social aspect. Doing a couple of bicep curls and chatting up their baby or mom nearby.” Admittedly, I could have been perceived as a cheater myself, given I skipped the whole labor and delivery process the second time around. But I somehow straddled the line, chatting up the babies and then working out hard. Remember? I had the best arms ever then!
Truthfully, it’s really that comfort that both the hard-hitting workout mom and the socially charged mom are interested in. The village, the connection, and the adult interaction.
But, sometimes just getting out of the house is difficult. Emotionally.
New moms, you know that it can be comforting being in isolation at home with your newborn, but at the same time, depressing and lonely. There seems to be some trends in isolation with parents of newborns.
Is it because of our online and social media lives? Maybe.
Is isolation because of our fear of illness and germs? Maybe.
Hormonal shifts? A need to feel in control? A fear? A delusion? True anxiety? It’s just easier? Perhaps any number of the above. But here is what I do know. Being inside, and sedentary for too long can put me in a funk. Endorphins are released with exercise, movement and human connection.
It’s easier to hunker in and not step outside of your box. Anything new is challenging. It’s difficult. So it’s easy to keep where you’re comfortable. Which is why if you can build some fitness before you deliver your baby or join a group like Fit4Mom or something similar in your community, the inherent emotional support may fend off those emotional downturns before you’ve even had a chance to label what you’re going through.
Connection
When you have a newborn, you might have a different set of thoughts, emotions, physical and spiritual needs than you did before you started your journey to parenthood.
You have a place. Find a group. One that wants to support you. A tribe that is here for you. And when you find them, be thankful. They’re a life saver.
A Semblance of Order
In new parenting moments, it can feel like there is no order to your life. But if you know you are meeting a friend or a group at a set time, that adds an order to your life. You just feel better. If it’s an exercise group, you don’t even have to shower first. We all know that is a bonus.
“You don’t have order with a newborn, even if you want to. Often it can feel like chaos. But, if you can say, ‘ok, from 9:30 – 10:30, I’m doing this group. I might have to stop to nurse. I might have to make modifications. I might have to stop to change diapers. But, that’s ok. I’m doing this and I’m going to be so happy I did,’” says Annie from Fit4Mom. I couldn’t have said it better. Some days I stayed until noon just to enjoy being outside with my baby.
Community, fresh air and exercise. It can help.
Everything feels better.
You’re outside.
You’re not isolated and alone.
“I can’t say enough about coming out of the darkness. People don’t talk about it until after, but it’s a real emotion at times for new parents. This helps. We have testimonials.”
I could be one of them. As a part of our adoption, I didn’t have the postpartum blues or depression. I didn’t have the postpartum body second time around. But I did have a lot of struggles, as many adoptive parents do. The courts, dealing with open adoption, closed adoption, learning to bond, our family life changing. Let me be the first to say, I got by on a little help from my friends. The early morning runs with my friends, and the Fit4Mom mornings. Only focusing on our health and togetherness for an hour was just what I needed.
Fitness During Pregnancy
“We have moms on both their first or second time around. They have their 2-year-old in the stroller and they’re expecting,” says Rachael.
Modifications for pregnancy are not only common but becoming a part of the fabric of the group. “One of our newest instructors is pregnant.”
“We really love it when a first-time mom joins us. You know, we are all about honesty. Child birth sucks, and the recouping is tough, but you can handle this, and we are here for you,” reassures Annie.
There’s magic in that support, connection and understanding of those who’ve been there.
“I wish I had this the first time around,” Rachael reminisces. “When you go through something that you think no one else has been through, and then realize you are not alone. It’s so nice to have that even before anything happens. Vital when you’re going through those ‘I thought it was only me’ moments.”
Exercise is so vital. In fact, child birth is easier if you stay in shape during your pregnancy. As is getting in shape after. But not everyone can exercise in pregnancy, yet many want to get their body back after.
You don’t get it. I have not taken care of myself in this way. I’ve been totally inactive.
Annie’s response? “Love those people. They get so much out of it. Grow so much in strength, endurance and confidence. It’s cool to start slow, walk and grow as we go.”
But, I’m Afraid
Here’s the thing. Everyone is afraid. Not only new moms. Everyone. Even the strongest person in the group.
“Getting out of the house is not easy,” says Annie Davidson, co-owner.
But, I witnessed, “how old is your child? 4 months? Oh, let me introduce you to Julie, she has a 4-month-old too. You guys are really going to hit it off.”
Why is this comfort level and connection so important?
That mom to mom connection that is so important. As you go through pregnancy, and the first few weeks of being home, you may dream of the snuggly days at home. But then, it can become lonely. And then you consider getting out of the funk and remember that there is nothing worse than being new in a group of women who seem like they have known one another since birth. Put that fear aside.
“We got you. It was all our first time at some point, and we know how that feels. And the last thing we want this to feel like is a return to high school,” says Annie as we share a laugh. “We are very much about making those long-term mom friends.”
Second, my ode to a group for fitness after baby. Fit4Mom/Stroller Strides.
Running is a part of who I am. I used to think that I was a solo runner, but upon having my second child, or more specifically, adopting our second child, I joined Stroller Strides. Personally, it was partially for fitness, but mostly I think, because I thought since I would be the older mom this time around, I needed to expand my mom tribe to others with new babies. I also loved the idea of being with my baby while doing something great for myself.
And, guess what? It was great. As a cardio junkie, it was nice to get strength training in, too, while loving on my little guy.
The benefits
For me personally, joining a group with other moms and babies allowed for:
Thank you to Fit4Mom, Stroller Strides, and my running friends as I traversed my days with a newborn. And now, several years later, I still have friends from this group and have become quite active in another running group, CVTR. My wish for you is that you all have the confidence in yourself to raise your hand and join in with a group of like-minded individuals. New moms wanting to raise each other up.
Sarah is a birth mom, adoptive mom, wife, working mom, cardio-junkie, runner, outdoor lover and optimist. She is the founder of Hummingbird Infant and shares her story here as a testament to all types of parents, doing the best they can. Sign up for our free confidence-boosting weekly Baby Buzz email for insights to help you in your parenting journey.
]]>What happens when you are living with space constraints? We are thinking of you city mamas out there or those living with families, or what happens when life has something bigger planned for you, and there was no time for a nursery?
What is ‘perfect’ or ‘normal’?
The questions that an expectant mother often hears include: “what color is the nursery?” “what is the theme?” “do you have the nursery ready?” “is the crib assembled?”
Following we share our two very different stories. One in LA. One in New York.
Welcoming a baby into a ‘perfect’ nursery is ‘normal’, but we are here to tell you, that the pressure to have the perfect pale hue or the Pinterest worthy pacifier vase filled to the brim is a beautiful thing, but so is welcoming a baby without one.
Our Stories:
Knowing Your Truth
The first story is from Sarah. If you were to bullet point my experiences, they look like this.
When asked if we could take him home immediately, I remember saying, “sure, I just need to go buy a car seat.” And hearing, “we can lend you one.” I talked through the rationality. When said aloud, "I guess all I need to do is get food and diapers". It was a vivid point of clarity. You are enough.
It turns out my husband was traveling. So, we went back the next morning so we could all greet our son as a family.
But at that moment, when I knew I could be taking our son home that night, my lack of preparation with respect to product was not an issue. I had the heart. All I needed was a car seat, a friend with a crib, and basic feeding and diapering supplies. No nursery. No problem.
Story TWO: Three bros and an expectant lady
The second story is from Mary in the space constraints of a city, combined with a non-traditional roommate situation
My husband and I moved into a large 3-bedroom apartment thinking we would have plenty of space for our family to grow, and that it did, says Mary.
We welcomed our two friends to live with us while they moved nomadically through life, becoming three bros and an expectant lady. One now lives the life of a traveler, but the other is still living with us and our two girls.
Taking Life as it Comes
When our first baby came along, she was welcomed to the world into 4 loving sets of arms at home. “But where will she sleep?” was the question that weighed heavily on other’s minds. We just continued to say that we would figure it out and make a change as we go.
For us, normal meant moving a dresser and a crib into our room and cohabitating with our baby, who turned infant, who grew to a toddler, and, as a preschooler, now shares her room with her infant sister.
It was not perfect in the eyes of many, but for us it worked. We watched TV, carried on conversations, put laundry away, and occasionally did pushups all while she happily snoozed in her crib. We still had a baby monitor for when we were out of the room, but there was something cozy about having her settled in her crib a few feet away.
Two babies, two parents, two friends and a small space
Our second was welcomed into 5 sets of loving arms, and our shared bedroom. Two babies, two parents, a small space, and a lot of love.
When one roommate moved out, we expanded to two rooms where big and little sister now share and mom and dad are just down the hall. Just like all transitions and milestones, we took them in stride. For example, when it came time for her to sleep in her own room, we assembled the toddler bed and made the rule, “you sleep in your room with your sister now”. Of course, it was not as easy as that but we did what all parents do, we caved at times when there was a hint of a sniffle and stood our ground at other times when we thought we should stand up to our toddler.
What did we learn? Like many parents struggling with toddler sleep, we learned that snuggling with our baby to help her fall asleep was cozy and comforting to everyone. Yet, it wasn’t sustainable for us. Now we read, listen to music, and sit next to her bed till she falls asleep, sometimes up to an hour. We learned to put our second baby down awake and let her play, coo, chat, and sometime cry herself to sleep.
Both ways (and both babies) are ok.
What is Your Truth?
Just know, as long as your baby is loved, held, fed, communicated and played with; your other choices are not the end of the world.
In considering your parenting and situational truth, are you more akin to a beautiful nursery for your baby? A tribe life? An organized and planned life? Making up the sleep as you go along? We all have our own parenting realities. It is important to understand your truth, what works in your house, and be flexible when it doesn't work at all.
- Sarah and Mary
Both Mary and Sarah had to uproot the idea of a perfect nursery for different reasons. And, both are a-ok with it. Sometimes your parenting truth gets in the way of your idealized perspective. It happens. Often. Sign up for our free confidence-boosting weekly Baby Buzz email for insights to help you in your parenting journey.
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