Blog
February 15, 2018
Yoga to me is the art of being present. Living in the present moment has been my greatest tool throughout pregnancy and now, into motherhood. When we hear the word yoga we oftentimes think of posture or a series of postures performed in a set sequence. While this is certainly an aspect of the practice it is only a slice of the pie available to you when you practice yoga. We practice yoga through movement, meditation, mindfulness and awareness. By becoming more aware of what is happening inside of us we are better able to tune into our needs and respond in a way that bring out love, joy, peace and presence.
For me, I find my yoga while moving on my mat or closing my eyes to meditate. But you might find your yoga doing something else such as painting, cooking, walking, being outside immersed in nature, etc. Whatever it is that you do to become more mindful and present, do that with intention and purpose. It is when we start to add intention to our everyday lives that we discover our purpose
February 14, 2018
Self-care and self-love receive a lot of hype these days. And in theory, these sound like a dream. But as a new mama, what is realistic? Maybe you haven’t had a good night’s sleep in days. Maybe you have very little time to yourself. Maybe when someone tells you their idea of self-care is a two-hour massage or a day at the spa you feel like they’ve found some magic secret and you’re doing something wrong. In the month of February, love gets a lot of hype and attention but it’s hard to love others well if we aren’t caring for ourselves, first and foremost.
I took some time to talk with my fellow colleagues and mamas at Ergobaby that have passed through all sorts of stages of motherhood to ask them some of their favorite tips for caring for themselves as new parents. We thought we’d share some loving and realistic tips for loving thyself in the month of February.
Cut yourself some slack and don’t beat yourself up
You are doing enough. Don’t stress if the house isn’t
February 07, 2018
So you're a new mama. And although this is supposed to be one of the best seasons of your life, at times it can still feel a little lonely and isolating. Maybe you're living in a new city, or none of your friends have children, or perhaps you just haven't been able to find women to connect with just yet. If you're in that very common situation (been there!) here are some tips for finding your "Mom Tribe."
Be yourself. This seems like such an obvious thing, but it's always worth a reminder. Like attracts like, and to find "your people," work at being the most you, you can be! Authenticity always shines through, and to find women you can share those golden "me too" moments with, share your heart and who you really are, right from the get-go.
Branch out. Aim to try one new thing "Mommy and me" thing each week. Some ideas: library story time, local Mom and baby workout or yoga classes, babywearing groups, parenting classes or sessions at your local birthing
January 29, 2018
It's sunny, and you want to get outside...but it's cold! Babywearing and enjoying the outdoors doesn't have to stop just because the temperatures have dropped, but you do want to take extra precaution that both you and baby are warm and safe while you're out on the trails.
Dress baby in layers. That way as the two of you heat up, you're able to remove layers quickly and easily. Keep baby in their footed pajamas, and layer their legs with adult socks or baby leg warmers. If it's very cold, be sure there is no exposed skin between baby's pants and socks. Cover their hands with socks or mittens.
Consider using a winter weather cover, or a babywearing coat. Ergobaby's Winter Weather cover is the best- it's soft and water-resistant, and allow baby's legs to be completely covered while also offering a hood option. There are different babywearing coats on the
December 21, 2017
So you're having a baby. It's such an exciting time! Your due date is getting closer, and you've packed and unpacked your hospital bag more times than you can count- folding and refolding that first, cute outfit for baby to wear home, tiny socks, a nightgown for you...but what do you really need? How do you pack for something you've never experienced before?
If you're like many parents it can all seem a little overwhelming. Today I wanted to share five things I'm glad I brought along (or wished I brought along!) for each of my three children's births.
Comfortable pajamas. This was only something I packed with my third baby, and I was so happy I did. It was a wonderful, refreshing feeling to put on comfortable (nursing friendly) pjs after taking a shower at the hospital. I brought this set
December 19, 2017
Body image is an issue that’s really close to my heart and I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how it affects new moms. It seems to me that women’s feelings about their postpartum bodies often get overlooked, likely because there’s rarely discussion about it.
To start the conversation, I reached out to my amazing community of women, “Hey mama friends, I'm writing a piece about embracing your beautiful postpartum body. Would love to hear your experience!” The poignant, real responses I received from my friends made me cry. I chatted with each of them, thanking them for their honesty and asked if it would be okay to share their stories. They all graciously agreed. In the words of my pal Lindsey, “Anything in the name of female empowerment.” I’m so honored to share their strength, humor, and open-heartedness with you.
Lindsey
I think the first step is just like the first step in any change - acknowledging that your body is different and that it’s okay to hate it. It’s okay
December 13, 2017
Ergobaby's 180 Reversible Stroller reversible design is better for your baby than you may know. The way you use your stroller could very well be shaping your child’s brain development.
Neuroscientists have made great strides in the last decade in understanding how babies’ brains develop. It has relevance to all sorts of parenting decisions, including what kind of stroller to buy and how best to use it. Ironically, most parents still have little awareness of that information.
There are two particularly important insights that emerge from these discoveries. The first is that brains are developing more rapidly in the first 3 years of life than they ever will again. These are, of course, precisely the years that a child spends in a stroller. The second is that relationships with people have a massive impact on the pathways that form in the brain. The direction that a stroller faces naturally changes the way a baby experiences her relationship
December 07, 2017
From California all the way to the East Coast, today we find ourselves in Brooklyn, NY, in one of Wild Was Mama's two locations to learn a bit more about their store. You can see them online here, and follow them on Instagram and Facebook too!
How do you choose items for your store?
We are very particular about what we carry in the shop. Most people trust our selection because we put such extensive thought and research into our choices! Most of our carriers have been used and tested by me personally, and newer carriers are vetted by our staff that are still wearing kiddos. We look for function first - is a product comfortable, does it "make sense" and is it straightforward to use for new families? Is it manufactured in a responsible way and high quality? Once those criteria are met,
November 21, 2017
30 parents came together in Scottsdale, Arizona at Modern Milk to connect over parenthood and babywearing. New friendships were made as event attendees mixed and mingled while enjoying delicious appetizers and sweets, all while getting a chance to meet other local mamas. Our babywearing educators were on hand to help many expectant parents try on Ergobaby carriers for the first time, and new parents also got a personal fit session to make sure their little ones were snug and safe in their carrier.
The spotlight was on Ergobaby's new Omni 360 carrier, the ultimate baby carrier that is ready for baby from day one, without an insert and allows your little one to be worn all ways. Parents loved getting up close and personal with the carriers, trying on multiple color ways and getting tips for a great fit.
The evening was a huge success- their were door prizes, giveaways, and every mama
November 17, 2017
In recent posts, we’ve discussed the benefits of postpartum yoga and even learned a yoga sequence for new moms. Over the past five years, I've gotten to teach prenatal, postnatal, and kids yoga classes in New York City and Los Angeles. During that time, I've kept a running list of the hilarious / adorable / weird / poignant things I've heard in my kids classes. Today, I’m opening up the vault to share those gems with you.
Behold, my top twenty favorite kids yoga moments:
20. As a teacher, I’ve noticed that kids are obsessed with finding out everything about you. During my first teaching job in New York City, this five-year-old girl called me out in front of the class, asking the following spitfire questions: “How old are you? How many kids do you have? Are you married?” After I