While baby showers have their place in the world (getting that many presents can be a major help to a first-time mom), they’re also a little bit played out—and do you really need to go through the games and hoopla if it’s your second, third, or subsequent child? That’s why we love this viral video so much. A mom shared how instead of a traditional shower, her friend threw her a “nesting party,” where all her friends came over and helped her clean and organize to get her house ready for a new baby to arrive, and TBH, that sounds so much more helpful than a shower.
“Every pregnant mom needs a nesting party. If you’re pregnant and don’t want a baby shower, do this. If you have a pregnant friend, do this for them!” mom Nia Lui wrote in the caption of her now-viral video.
In the voiceover, she explains that she just had her nesting party, organized by her friend, Bree.
“I sent her a list of things that I wanted to get done before baby came and she made little cards for each person to take to take on a section of the house,” she says. “Then we took a dinner break, ate some soup, some sourdough bread, some treats, and just chatted about this baby and how it’s going to be. And then we got straight back to work and everything was so clean and organized. and I feel so much more ready for this baby.”
In the video, you can see Nia’s friends hard at work, cleaning, folding clothes, and getting her entire house, top to bottom, ready for her to relax with her new baby. Oh, and everyone who came brought a freezer meal so she’d be set with dinners post-partum.
It’s honestly genius.
In a follow-up video, Nia explained even more how she came up with the nesting party idea.
“This is our third baby, so we have everything. We basically don’t need a lot besides diapers and wipes,” she said. And for those wondering where her husband was during all the hard work? He had an important task of his own.
“He took our two boys. I have a six-year-old and a two-year-old,” she explained. “He took them out to an indoor play place, and they went to dinner and he kept them out of the house for three hours so that they wouldn’t be in the way.”
She added, “We got so much done, and it just made me feel so at peace in my own home and way better than a baby shower. So if you don’t want a baby shower or if this is your third or fourth kid, do this.”
You know that time when you have a newborn, and everything is chaos, and you’re so tired, and the days and nights and weeks just blend together, and you’d give anything for a break? This mom has discovered a truly life-saving hack for those postpartum moms. We’re going to just say this right now: it involves the gym, but don’t worry, there’s no working out in this story (unless that’s the form of self-care you need, in which case, you do you!).
Hannah, a mom on TikTok, shared this hack in a viral video, explaining how the practice “saved” her mental health.
100/10 would do this mum hack again, especially around the 5 month mark where life is just ramping up and theyre developing so much and you are just SO TIRED. Postpartum is HARD, and we’re just doing our best as new mums but this seriously saved my mental health in motherhood some days! #newmumtips#mumhack#motherhoodhack#momhack#mumsoftiktok#motherhood#firsttimemum#mummentalhealth
“This was way before I was willing to send my son to daycare—as a first-time mom that just terrified me—but we were out of the newborn bubble, and I was just f*cking exhausted,” she explained. “I just needed a break sometimes, like an hour.”
If that isn’t relatable to postpartum moms, I don’t know what is.
Hannah continued, “I had never even heard of a creche—first-time mom things.”
Now, Hannah is clearly not from the U.S., and you may not have heard of a creche either, since that’s not a super common term here. But basically, it’s free or low-cost childcare at places like schools, churches, or stores. Or, in Hannah’s case, at the gym.
“I found a gym right near our house that was beautiful. It had a pool, a sauna, and a creche,” she said. “Now, this isn’t another story about exercising and postpartum and bouncing back, because we are not about that. We signed up on a trial, and I can take my baby there every day for up to two hours… and I wouldn’t even work out. Sometimes I would just go sit at the coffee shop and have a coffee and stare into the abyss. Sometimes I could swim or have a sauna. Sometimes I’d walk on the treadmill. Sometimes I would work out.”
The important thing, Hannah pointed out, was that she got two hours per day to herself while her baby was being cared for. She could do whatever self-care felt right during that time. And the kicker? The creche cost her $8 per week.
In the U.S., you may not find a “creche” per se, but you can still find gyms that offer childcare to their members. And while you’ll still need to pay the cost of the gym membership, if it has the right amenities for the self-care you need during your postpartum journey, it’s probably worth it.
Of all the new experiences I expected to have as a first-time mom, I never thought I’d need to adjust to the most obvious one: I suddenly wasn’t pregnant anymore.
It shouldn’t be a big deal, right? I was not pregnant for most of my life; in fact, I’d had quite a run as a non-pregnant woman. I was 37 when I had my first child. You’d think it would be just business as usual once the baby came out, but it wasn’t, because during those last six months, once I started showing, my identity shifted.
I was the pregnant woman at work, the pregnant woman on the subway, the pregnant woman at the grocery store. It’s not that people did things for me, but it was the way many of them dealt with me. The smiles, the nods of familiarity, the spontaneous stories that came out from someone next to me in line or on the subway platform, even the guy at the deli I went to for lunch every day laughing when I asked him to make me a peanut butter & jelly sandwich, who drew a smiley face in the jelly for me.
When I first got pregnant, after we’d passed that first hurdle and felt like things were moving along nicely, I longed—yearned—for the fellowship of other pregnant women. I thought we’d be acknowledging each other all the time with an instant, fleeting connection that bonded us even if our interaction was momentary. That didn’t happen until my belly finally got that curve that comes from a growing fetus and not all those late-night pints of Ben & Jerry’s.
And then, I’d arrived. Not only did I get the “we’re in this together” look from pregnant strangers, I also became, if not a conversation piece, a catalyst for conversation, and (as my teenagers will attest to with dismay), I love chatting with strangers. People would tell me about their kids or their families or their own pregnancies, they’d ask me questions, and we’d talk about food or the baby mafia that tried to sell us all products we’d never need. I was the person who got noticed.
I confess—I loved it. I was basking in the miraculous feat of growing a baby inside my body, so it was awesome to find no shortage of friends, coworkers, and strangers who wanted to talk about it. I remember being in line at a gourmet chocolate shop and chatting with the woman in front of me, who was pregnant with twins… you could hear our laughter for miles.
And then, I had the baby. We brought him home, and I took him out for walks. But then, for the very first time since he was born, I went out alone. And it was the oddest sensation.
It was a simple walk to the grocery store down the street, but it was enough to discover that I had once again become invisible. In that moment, I realized just how much I’d enjoyed the extra attention. It had nothing to do with being fussed over or given a seat… that wasn’t what I missed. (Even pregnant, I was happy to give up my seat to anyone who looked like they needed it more.) Without my big belly or a newborn in my arms, I was just another schmo.
I had started my walk to the store that day feeling newly unencumbered and oddly free, and on that short journey, those feelings transitioned into something else: loneliness. Nobody looked at me twice. Parents with kids didn’t meet my eyes with an unspoken connection. No one laughed when I accidentally got in their way, and no sweet smiles were sent in my direction. I was the same old person I’d been before I had a belly that preceded the arrival of the rest of me, and that person, at passing glance, was just not that interesting.
I have friends who were relieved post-pregnancy when strangers finally stopped paying so much attention to them, and it took me by surprise that I didn’t feel the same way. I long ago learned to relish the times when I get to be just me; I even go on a yearly trip with friends, without family. I’m thrilled to go, and I’m just as happy to come back and be reunited with everyone. Being a mom is about constantly adjusting to the new status quo, which never stops shifting. When you’re in one of the good stages, try to remember to enjoy it.
No parent imagines themselves navigating the NICU until it actually happens, and the dreams of taking home your new baby, or in my case, babies, are put on hold. The NICU, as a serious reality, met me at 29 weeks. I can still recall my first visit from the neonatologist so clearly even though it was nearly four years ago. While on bed rest in the hospital for constant monitoring, he came in to discuss the “odds.” It was awful. The almost robotic, stripped-of-emotion forecast of what to expect was all medical and all about the babies. Rightfully so, they were the ones in jeopardy, but here I was a first-time mom, trying to understand what could medically happen to my babies, but there was no discussion of emotional care or support. Not for me, not for my husband.
I don’t envy medical practitioners: their words hold so much gravity for families. They communicate the odds of mortality, complications, and if/then scenarios in such a matter-of-fact way that they must have to turn themselves off to interact with families. And in my experience, medical jargon leaves no room for your emotions.
The twins were taken out at 32+0. My son had stopped growing. Their environment was dubbed “toxic” by my perinatologist. My daughter was 3 lbs 15 oz, but my son was just 1 lb 15 oz. No one could have prepared me for the journey we were about to take, but my hope is that from the journey we walked, I can help another mom or dad prepare for what navigating the NICU might look like; your emotions, and that there are some things that sound scary, but aren’t.
First Things First: Don’t Feel Pressured to Feel a Certain Way
The feelings I had after giving birth scared me. They scared me because I didn’t have many feelings at all. It felt like an alternate reality. I was no longer pregnant, but I never went into labor, and I didn’t get to hold my babies. They were immediately taken away. I had a rough recovery and didn’t see them for more than 24 hours. Not because I couldn’t, but because I was afraid to. I went home five days later, never having held them (I wasn’t allowed to), and returned every day but one for 56 days. I finally got to hold my son and daughter after two weeks.
Until then, all I could do was sit by their isolettes, pump, lay pressure on their tiny bodies, and just be. It took weeks to feel like a mom, to connect to them, and start to feel that love grow. NICU or not, not everyone feels that instantaneous love that movies and social media often portray. Love, at first sight, is not what everyone feels, and that is ok. We need to talk openly about that so it’s normalized and women don’t think something is wrong with them if the love takes time to grow.
Second: Find Your Voice
Your friends and family won’t really know what to do. Sometimes people respond by giving you more space than you want or need (which can feel like they don’t care) or laying it on too thick with constant checking in. Be vocal about what you do and don’t want or need from them. Finding your voice in the midst of the journey is key for processing and navigating. The sooner it’s found the better.
And on That Note…
If you need more time with a doctor during rounds, don’t let them rush you. It’s always helpful to let one of your nurses know you have questions and need more time so they can prep the doctor beforehand. Ask questions until you understand what you’re told. Doctors often forget not to talk to us like we’re another doctor. If you don’t like how a nurse interacts with you, or how they are with your child, ask for another one. You are the only one who will advocate for yourself and your baby—you have to find your voice even when it’s uncomfortable.
The Role of the Social Worker
In the NICU, social workers are your friend. “Social worker” always had a negative connotation to me, so when I was told one was going to meet with me, my first thought was they must think I did something wrong in my pregnancy that caused this “situation.” Not the case. Social workers are there to help you get services for your child when you leave the hospital. That can be in the form of financial aid and therapy assistance that is often required to get NICU babies “caught up.”
Easier Said Than Done but… Don’t Panic
There are machines and cords everywhere. If I got a crash course on the machines, it’s a blur. One day an alarm sounded for my son that sent me into a panic; it was longer, louder, and harsher sounding than any I had heard before. It was only alerting that his feeding tube “feed” had completed. Don’t try to interpret the numbers or the beeps on anything. Trust that if there is something that needs attention, a nurse, or five, will be there in an instant.
There Is an Upside
While the NICU is an uncertain place to be, you will bond with nurses and have an instant connection with other NICU parents. You’ll see new babies come and others leave while you wait. A friendly smile or knowing when to avoid eye contact can go a long way. And while there is so much uncertainty, one thing that is certain about having a NICU baby, if you are blessed to take them home, you will look at them differently and savor every single milestone.
Lauren moved to California in her mid-twenties where she met Brandon; they’ve been married for almost 7 years and have 4-year-old twins. Lauren had the twins prematurely and left her job at Google to care for them. Though grueling, Lauren considers it a blessing and the most rewarding job (in addition to running bökee)!
The Property Brothers‘ Drew Scott has been waiting a long time for fatherhood. He’s learning quickly that with it comes the good and the, well, stinky. He recently posted a photo of himself with son Parker lying on his chest, describing perfectly the moment when you just know what’s coming.
“RDF (Resting Dad Face). This is the look when you just heard the (poop emoji),” he joked. He and his wife, Linda Phan, welcomed Parker on May 12, their fourth wedding anniversary. While the little guy looks completely calm sleeping in his tiny jammies, Scott, on the other hand, knows what he’s in for as soon as Parker wakes up.
Phan chimed in, commenting, “But the sweetest poop ever,” because everything they do at that age is adorable, even dirty diapers. Scott’s twin brother, Jonathan, also had to comment, writing: “I think being on diaper duty is your true calling.”
Scott announced his son’s birth in a sweet post with his tiny, perfect baby hand wrapped around Scott’s finger. “Our lives are forever changed. Welcome to the world Parker James,” he wrote in May. “Parker decided to come very efficiently on our anniversary. He’s stealing the show. It’s no longer about you and me on our anniversary,” Drew joked on his and Phan’s At Home podcast.
Phan and Scott met during Toronto Fashion Week in 2010 and got married in 2018. The couple has been open about their fertility struggles, sharing their two-year struggle to conceive in an essay for the Scott brothers’ Reveal Magazine.
“It has been an adventure to get here! We know we’re not alone in this experience and that everyone’s is filled with unique challenges along the way,” he added. “…We hope as we grow through this, that even one of you reading this can also feel a little less lonely in whatever path you’re on!”
Scott seems to be entirely appreciative of everything his wife has been through, including her role as a first-time mom. “This is a Linda appreciation post for kicking butt as a new mom,” he wrote earlier this summer.
He’s been open about his new role as well, adding that fatherhood is “amazing” and saying, “Our new baby boy, he’s a healthy baby, he’s adorable.” Poopy diapers and all.
My husband ordered me a few books for mothers about parenting when I was in a funk, and all I could do after skimming each of them was chuck them across the room. “Your tribe,” “mommy circle,” “trusted group of friends.” The foundational element of sanity in each book was the same: find other moms you can connect with and share and support one another.
But what if you don’t have mom friends?
Each book explains how and where to find these friends—join a club, class, community events, post on mom meet-up forums—and even realistically explains that it takes time and trial-and-error to find the right people to form genuine connections with.
Right.
Well, not everyone has that. I currently live in a foreign country where I don’t speak the language, and there aren’t any ex-pats in the area with young children. There are no playgroups, clubs or meet-ups, and the majority of the locals send their babies to daycare at a very young age. It wasn’t until my oldest was school-aged, and I enrolled her in an international school, that I saw a bunch of kids under the age of 5.
For four years, I was flying back and forth between countries and changing cities, so making real friends was not going to happen very quickly. Also, as a first-time mom, and now with two kids, my life was 24/7 babies, so there was no time or way to cultivate a social circle with nap schedules, breastfeeding and no family or outside support. I was so overwhelmed with taking care of my children’s needs, maintaining a relationship with my husband and connecting with my parents over the phone, yet I found myself so lonely.
And ya know, that’s a very boo-hoo-sounding first-world problem. I fully recognize the women out there who are too busy and too stressed working 2-3 jobs, living far from or without family. All the fear and stress that consumes their minds to provide the basics probably helps mask the emotional emptiness that having no one to call a friend does to a woman. Solo, overworked moms, I am absolutely in awe of you. I see you.
To be fair, I am a private, unsocial person by nature. I like people, I do, and I am really good at introducing myself and making people feel welcome, but after that, you’ll probably never hear from me again. I hate the follow-up, making a plan, committing to a date. I just can’t do sustained small talk until that acquaintance/friend barrier is broken. I have no childhood friends, school friends, university friends or old co-worker friends I stay in contact with. I am just a loner by nature, I guess.
But motherhood brings out a deep primal need for community, for connection. Not only to have someone to watch a kid for two seconds, or to help do mundane things with like errands, chores, cooking and having play dates, but to have someone who completely knows what it is like—an unspoken understanding so that all the gross, private, personal, awful, wonderful things can be shared with no disclaimers, context or explanations. Maybe I just romanticize what having these sorts of friends must be like, but reading and viewing the volumes of content on the miracles of mom friends, it sounds just magical.
Being a lifelong loner prepared me somewhat, but there was a rough two-year period I thought I would lose my mind from the need for kinship.
So, lonely mama, I know how it feels. I know that deep longing and yearning, all while being completely unwilling or unable to put oneself out there to try to get what it is you feel you’re missing. You can get through it, though, you can. It hurts, and it’s taxing, but it’s possible.
Honestly, I found a lot of comfort imagining the pioneer women who settled far out and away from much else. That sounds very random, but it was a solid example of women who ventured out to nowhere and had to make do with what and who they had. Many managed to raise families on their own, husband aside. If that was possible, what I feel is not unique or impossible to get through now. There are countless examples throughout time and place of lonely mothers who survived, all without self-help books or mommy groups. Maybe some resonate with you.
And in a way, after so long, I kind of like my super tight-knit family unit. It’s manageable. It’s compact. There isn’t any social drama to worry over or handle. I can count my people on the one hand, which is peace-inducing, at least for me. I feel a sense of pride that I am doing this mothering business on my own. Sure, I want some mom friends, but I am strong enough and seasoned enough to know I don’t need them.
I wish I could give an easy self-help-style solution. Yet after chucking so many of those kinds of books against the wall, lamenting that every solution could not be my solution, I know that isn’t always possible. Reading the words of those who feel the same is the most reassuring way to handle some sanity on the hard days. I don’t feel like I need to find you because I know you will find me. So when you type into google looking for solutions for ‘I’m so lonely and ‘I don’t have any mom friends,’ I hope you may unexpectedly land here.
I know you’re lonely, mama, and I am telling you that you can do it, from one loner to the next.
I am an expat, wife, mother, writer, and teacher (in training). Currently living in South Korea, I am married to a Greek, and raising my intercultural girls. Despite being a steadfast introvert, I enjoy writing and sharing my perspectives on motherhood, history and teaching, and life in general.
Sharing the news that you’re pregnant calls for some creativity. Check out these fun ways to tell your partner, besties, grandparents-to-be and social media about your big announcement.
Say It with Style Whether you had an "oops" or have been trying for years, telling your partner that you are expecting can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. If you don't trust yourself to tell your partner without crying or screaming in excitement, buy a pair of "Mommy and Daddy" shirts or mugs. We like this Mama Bear + Papa Bear mug set from Chalk Full of Love. YETI tumblers or coffee mugs are another great choice that will last. These will also be nice mementos to have as your child grows.
Sidekick on the Way Surprise your partner with a matching shirt and onesie to wear after the baby is born. If your partner has a special interest, get them a pair in a theme, like Batman and Robin. Or, leave no room for doubt about your roles with First Time Mom and First Time Dad shirts from PatPat. Grab a matching First Steps romper for your birth announcement that will double as a cute outfit once baby is born.
Surprise Some expectant moms want to catch their partner's reaction to the big news on camera. A professional photo shoot isn't necessary, but it can be fun to ask your partner to close his eyes then show him a chalkboard with the news "You're Going to Be a Daddy (again)!" while you have your camera rolling or are snapping away with your phone. Your partner's reaction will likely be priceless whether they are stunned, relieved, overjoyed or all three. Some moms-to-be get the video on the phone rolling and then lead their partner into a room with the big news displayed on a banner or posterboard. The video or photo can double as a pregnancy announcement on social media. Another fun way to surprise your partner is to whip out an ultrasound photo and wait for a reaction.
Surrogacy Some parents-to-be want to celebrate the role of surrogacy in becoming parents. Including a surrogate in a pregnancy announcement is a great way to honor the role someone else played in the creation of your family. Be creative and light-hearted by announcing "My Bun, Her Oven" or "No Bump but so Pumped!" like Alexandra French did on her Instagram account, @alexandrafrenchrealty; see image above.
Adoption Parents planning to adopt can share their news by letting the world know they were chosen to be the parents of a special little one. If travel is involved, share photos of the state or country where you will be going to meet your child with their expected date of arrival.
Single Parent If you feel like traditional pregnancy announcements don't work for you, try these: For a first child, share a letterboard that states "Mommy Is Excited to Meet Me" with a due date. If you already have a child, have them announce that they are ready to be a big sister or brother. Some creative captions you could include are "And Then There Were Two" or "Best Oops Ever."
Same-Sex Parents Same-sex parents may want to celebrate that their baby will have two mommies or daddies. Highlight your rainbow family by including "Love Makes a Family" or sharing a photo of a onesie that says "My Mommies Love Me."
Pregnancy After Struggle
Some pregnancies go exactly as planned. Others happen a little differently. Pregnancies that come after a loss or through IVF can be celebrated with their own unique twist.
Pregnancy After Loss Many parents of rainbow babies (babies born after a loss) like to honor the little one they lost when announcing their new arrival. This can be as subtle as incorporating a rainbow into a pregnancy announcement. Some parents also include a note thanking everyone who supported them through their difficult loss.
Pregnancy through Science Whether you share how you got pregnant is a personal decision. Some parents may choose to keep their use of assistive reproductive technology to themselves, while others publicly acknowledge the role of science in helping them become parents. You can tell the world how your baby came to be with a photo of a onesie stating "Made with a Little Love and a Little Science." Another way to highlight the role of science in a pregnancy announcement is to surround an ultrasound photo with syringes arranged in the shape of a heart.
Serve Pregnancy Delights Telling your best friends you are pregnant should be an event! Invite them over for a girl's night and watch their reaction when you serve them pickles and ice cream. Have some (non-alcoholic) bubbly on hand to celebrate once they figure out why you've served them such an odd feast. Another fun option is to order custom cookies like these adorable treats from @betsys_cookie_co, above.
Skip the Cocktails If you regularly go out for drinks with the girls or have a cocktail with dinner, changing your routine may raise some eyebrows. Be prepared with an epic mocktail order and let your friends know that will be your regular drink for the next nine months.
An Interesting Fact Once you are ready to spill the beans, tell your friends you want to show them something on your phone. Instead of pulling up another selfie, show them your pregnancy tracker app. Wait a moment for them to figure out what's going on, and then get ready for some massive hugs.
Gift with a Message Many grandparents love spoiling their grandchildren with presents. Gifts are also a great way to let your parents know about the big changes coming. Surprise your parents with a set of "Grandma" and "Grandpa" mugs. Or, watch their surprise as they unwrap a onesie that says "I'd Rather Be at Grandma's." Check out more awesome grandparent messages you can get from @fabricatedkeepsakes above.
Mother's Day Surprise If the timing is feasible, wait until Mother's Day or Father's Day to spring the news. If the baby you are announcing will be the first grandchild, buy a card meant for a grandmother or grandfather. Watch the grandparent-to-be's face as they work out why they got such a card! If the baby you are announcing is not the first grandchild, hide an ultrasound photo in a mother's day card and then have fun explaining when their special gift is due!
Sibling Secret If an older sibling is in the picture, let the big sibling-to-be share the news! Dress your older child in a "Big Brother" or "Big Sister" shirt for a visit or video call with their grandparents. Or, enlist your older child to make a big show of telling their grandparents the secret. Your older child will be thrilled to be a part of the big reveal.
Social Media
Social media is a low-effort way to spread the good news far and wide, and you'll want an eye-catching photo to stand out.
Movie Poster Even if you have limited photo-editing skills, you can come up with a unique and creative pregnancy announcement with a movie poster theme. Take a photo and then choose a tagline like "Meet the Parents" or "What's One More?" Incorporate your due date by typing "Coming This May" or "The Adventure Begins This December" at the bottom. If you don't trust your Photoshop skills, choose a customizable template from Etsy.
Say It with Balloons Social media is largely a visual medium, and not everyone reads the captions, so get creative with balloons that say it all. A foolproof way to get your news out is to use Mylar letter balloons that spell out "baby!" Enlist a friend to take a photo of you and your partner holding the balloons. If there is a sibling-to-be, include them! If you wait until you have at least a little baby bump, announcing your pregnancy by standing in profile in front of a bunch of balloons will help accentuate your beautiful belly and create a celebratory mood.
Plan Monthly Updates Social media is a great way to keep family and friends updated about your pregnancy. Many pregnancy trackers compare your baby to the size of a fruit every week. Share your news by letting your followers know your baby is currently the size of a poppy seed, bean or lemon. Keep up the theme every time you post pregnancy news.
The Omaha Zoo just got bigger! The Nebraska institution announced that Betty Francis just became a first time mom to a new baby giraffe.
Baby boy was born on Jul. 31 and already stands six feet tall. While he doesn’t have a name yet, the newest addition the giraffe barn is already up and very mobile with mom.
Mom, Betty Francis definitely paid her dues after a long 15-month gestation period (can you IMAGINE?) and is keeping baby boy to herself for now. The zoo reports that he will receive his name at Zoofari 2021 and will be introduced to his fellow reticulated giraffe family in the next few weeks.
Wildlife enthusiasts can catch a peek of baby and mom at the Syd and Betty Cate Giraffe Herd Rooms at the Omaha Zoo.
Moms know how to get things done, and that’s especially true for getting their kiddos to eat. When we can’t get our own picky eaters to finish their plate, we can rely on fab mom inventors who have crafted sneaky smoothie blends, gourmet baby food and plant-based kid-friendly foods. Keep scrolling to see some of our fave mom inventors who are ruling the kitchen.
Healthy Guts: Sour Lemon Beverage Co.
Mom to four kids, Callen was finding it hard to get her kids to reap the benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar. The traditional taste of the immune boosting drink just wasn't kid-friendly––yet. So in the Spring of 2018 she set out to make a tasty version that was free from artificial ingredients and sugar. After just a few weeks, she finally whipped up a pitcher of ACV lemonade that passed the test! Great for both kids and adults, Sour Lemon Beverage Co.'s ACV concentrates reduce cravings, enhance your body's natural detox process and improve gut health. Made with organic ingredients, there's a flavor for everyone, like Pink Lemonade and Cherry Limeade.
Longtime friends Zein Mangalji, Staci Belew, and Maryl Georgi each come from an entrepreneurial background. The idea for Clarified Living came to Zein one day as she realized she wanted to create as many moments as possible with family, and how her childhood was seasoned with memories that involved her mother's cooking with ghee. So together she set out with her mom, Farida Mangalji, to craft a version with higher quality, consistency and variety. The two found the perfect recipe and started production in Houston. Now the team is busy creating unique flavors that include Jalapeño, Garlic Ghee and Cinnamon/Vanilla Ghee and educating consumers about the health benefits of ghee.
Kabrita was founded by moms and is led by a small team, making this goat milk-based line one of our favorite go-tos! Goat milk is naturally easier to digest than cow's milk, has a mild taste, and is rich in crucial nutrients! Kabrita offers baby formula, snacks, and toddler nutrition formula. Curious if Kabrita is right for your family? Try a free sample!
Mẹ’s Way, authentic Huế-style chili sauces are small-batch, carefully crafted and 100% mom-invented. Founder Chau Tonnu, a first-generation Vietnamese America and mom to a 7-year-old daughter herself, created a product from a recipe that has been passed down in her family from three generations of mothers to daughters. Choose from regular or vegetarian.
When Emily Groden's daughter was born in 2018, she wanted to have easy and healthy food options. When she couldn't find a good option for mini waffles on the market, she set out to make her own clean version that contained no refined sugars or preservatives. The Harvard-educated lawyer soon found herself making a huge career change into the waffle business! Evergreen Waffles are made with 100 percent whole wheat and flavored with real fruits, vegetables, nuts and spices. Each Evergreen variety contains 12 ingredients or less and makes for a quick breakfast or snack, anytime during the day.
You know your baby’s developing new skills every moment of every day. Support her growth with nutritious food that is customized to her stage of brain development. Launched in Sept. 2019, Cerebelly does just that. Founded by Dr. Teresa Purzner, neurosurgeon and mom of three, think of Cerebelly as neuroscience meets nutritional science. As baby’s brain develops, it needs specific nutrients to grow and reach its full potential. Cerebelly’s formulas are customized to the baby’s stage of development, and they’re yummy to boot (it was the first food our Editorial Director’s baby actually gobbled down).
Simply tell Cerebelly about your kiddo’s age and what they’re up to, Cerebelly recommends products to fit her stage of development and they deliver the food straight to your door. The organic blends include combos like black bean/sweet potato, carrot/chickpea, sweet potato/mango and white bean/pumpkin/apple. We’re impressed with taste of the food and felt confident we were feeding our baby nutrients he actually needed to grow and thrive. Bonus: Cerebelly recently expanded to Target!
When mom Beth Porter and her seven-year-old daughter went vegan, they struggled to find meals that were packed with nutrients but still tasted good. After experimenting in her kitchen, Porter developed the perfect amount of organic fruits, nuts, and seeds that resulted in frozen ready-to-eat organic spoonable smoothies. Sweet Nothings was born! Now, the delicious cups are available for purchase online, in 1,500 grocery stores across 10 states and include flavors like Strawberry, Peanut Butter, Chocolate, Coffee and Blueberry Beet.
Ashi Jelinek was at the beach with her three-year-old when she realized that the only options for beverages were packed with sugar. After that day, she set out to create a healthy kids drink that had tons of nutrients and zero sugar. KidsLuv launched in 2017, and now the brand sells their vitamin enhanced beverages that are vegan and contain Vitamins A,B,C and more! Jelinek's products are now sold at over 2,000 locations and at Thrive Market and Amazon.
Australian mom, Antoinette Jackson grew up with a deep respect for sustainable living and respecting nature on her family's rural farm. After touring the world, she settled with her husband and children in Chiang Mai, a mountainous area of Thailand. To help find per place in the Thai culture and combat the feelings of depression from the loss of a few friends, Jackson founded SuperBee Wax Wraps in 2016. Gleaning the process from her paternal grandmother, the eco-friendly product replaces plastic wrap in the kitchen. It's naturally antibacterial and handmade in Thailand by women in the mountains, providing jobs in the community and a sense of empowerment.
As a child, Linda York didn't entertain an interest or love for veggies. It wasn't until she became an adult and mom that she finally started to enjoy them. When she became a grandmother, she saw her grandkids express a waning interest in all things green, and she knew that bribery wasn't the way to help them become adventurous eaters. That's where the idea for "eat-able" stickers came in: using a kids love for stickers as a way to make fruits and veggies exciting. York created StickyLickits, all natural, food-based edible stickers that contain no sugars or dyes. After years of testing, StickyLickits now has their own original characters and licensed Nickelodeon and Sesame Street options, too! Kids just lick, stick to fruits and veggies and eat StickyLickits: healthy eating accomplished!
In 2008, Registered Dietician Katie Thomson became a mom. After becoming fed up by what she found for baby food options, she set out to create a better solution for parents. She met her future business partner Kendall Glynn at their children's elementary school where they worked together in volunteer roles at the school over the next few years. They created Square Baby® as a solution to feeding kiddos. Their program offers handmade meals made with whole, organic foods and the Square Meal System,™ which is made up of balanced meals with organic veggies, fruits, whole or sprouted grains, and various protein sources. Parents can rest easy knowing that meals have half the sugar and twice the protein and healthy fats as most pouches. Square Baby is also the fresh baby food company that offers a comprehensive allergen introduction option for each of the Top 8 Allergens.
As a new mom, Betsy Fore's main goal was making sure her son ate healthier early in life. With a decade of experience as an inventor, product founder and CEO, she and cofounder Sofia Laurell decided that the world needed more healthy, flavorful and textured food options for little eaters and Tiny Organics was born! The company's products helps introduce babies and toddlers to their first 100 flavors that will build adventurous eaters, are all 100 percent organic, fresh-frozen, plant based and built on essential fruits and vegetables.
Ready-to-Eat Meals for the Entire Fam: Nurture Life
When her son started eating solids, Jennifer Chow started making all of his meals from scratch. When he started eating foods beyond the easy-to-make purees, she found she was spending hours making "mini adult meals," like many of her friends. Wanting to avoid fast and frozen foods and provide fresh, nutritious meals Chow and her co-founder Steve created Nurture Life. The company provides freshly made and ready-to-eat meals that are balanced and made from antibiotic-free meats, whole grains and organic produce. Parents can choose from baby, toddler, kid, teen and adult meal options which are then made from scratch, delivered to your door and ready to eat in two minutes or less.
Lynn Lasher grew up in a home of entrepreneurs so when she lost her job one year, she decided to take matters into her own hands. Founded on the premise that when something is "homemade," it tastes better, Lasher started Somebody's Mother, with her first product inspired by her mom's own chocolate sauce. Now, almost 15 years later, Somebody's Mother sells a variety of dessert sauces, with every lid sharing a quote about mothering or parenting. Lasher says of her business, "I started Somebody’s Mother’s in April 2005 to teach my 3 children how to start a business and, more importantly, how to take matters into their own hands and to assume responsibility for their own financial well being."
As a registered dietitian, Lisa Mastela was overwhelmed by amount of nutritional needs that need to be met while pregnant and how on earth she was going to fit them all in. While a smoothie lover, she found it even more challenging to get all the ingredients she needed safely into the blender (an ER-worthy carrot situation really set things back) while navigating the kitchen with a belly. She set out to "help other soon-to-be mamas meet their baby’s nutritional needs and nurture their pregnancy symptoms in an easy, fast, and delicious way.” Bumpin Blends offers total customization based on your taste preference, dietary restriction and food aversions. In addition, customers have access to a Nutritionist around the clock via text message! Smoothie cubes come in 22 blends that support 22 symptoms, including morning sickness, heartburn and fatigue.
In 2012, Alison Cayne founded Haven's Kitchen, a cooking school, cafe and event space all in one. Mom to five kids, Cayne set out to make cooking at home more fun––and delicious. In 2018, she launched Haven's Kitchen Sauces, globally-inspired sauces with all natural ingredients inspired by recipes from her student's favorite classes. Now the mompreneur's products are available at over 300 locations, including Whole Foods Market.
Plant-Based Meals That Actually Taste Great: Splendid Spoon
Splendid Spoon was founded by Nicole Centeno, a mom who realized how difficult it was to attain a healthy-minded lifestyle with a 9-5 job and demands of family life. With Splendid Spoon, she’s made it her mission to make vegan plant-based meals accessible, nutritious and a daily habit that’ll power your day (no need to reach for that protein bar to get you through the mid-morning hangries) through a food subscription box. All meals come ready-to-eat, which is ideal for families on-the-go or new moms who may not have the energy to even boil water for pasta. Bonus: as of Jan. 2020 all of Splendid Spoon’s packaging is 100% recyclable.
Chef Kathy Fang, new mom and two-time CHOPPED champion, just launched Bon Petit, an innovative, freeze-dried, gourmet baby food line designed to provide busy parents a solution to feeding their children healthful, nutritionally rich, balanced meals. If you have ever traveled with a baby, you know what it's like to have to lug around tons of tiny jars of baby food. Bon Petit solves this problem as the baby food comes in freeze-dried packs that are liquid free, shelf stable and TSA compliant. They include whole food-based ingredients with protein, complex carbs, fiber and more. With options like Under the Sardinian Sea which contains Wild Dover Sole, Italian butter bean, oregano, tomato, olive oil and basil, tiny palates will be awakened.
Eat Your Veggies for Dessert: Peekaboo Organic Ice Cream
With flavors like mint chocolate chunk, cotton candy and strawberry, you may think that a scoop of Peekaboo Organic Ice Cream is just another sweet treat. But like most moms, founder Jessica Levison had a few tricks up her sleeve when she developed this line of ice cream that features secret spinach, cauliflower, beets and carrots in every bite. As a mom of picky eaters, Jessica knew first-hand what a struggle it was to get kids to eat enough vegetables. She put her ice cream skills to good use as the owner of Miami's Serendipity Creamery and developed this line of ice cream with hidden veggies. Look for it at a grocery store near you!
Necessity Is the Mother of Invention: Real Food Blends
When Julie Bombacino, an Indiana mom of two, found out that her six-month-old baby boy would need a feeding tube, she didn’t just sit idle. She began researching and discovered quickly that nearly half a million people in the U.S. alone rely on feeding tubes. The tube formulas made her son very sick, and Bombacino knew there had to be a better way. She began to experiment with real foods, pureeing things like carrots, chicken and sweet potatoes, to put in his tube. It wasn’t long before AJ stopped vomiting and began to improve. That’s when Bombacino knew she could not only help her son, but thousands of people like him, and Real Food Blends was born. Designed for people with a feeding tube, Real Food Blends comes in six flavors and each one has just five to eight ingredients. There are no preservatives, corn syrup, dairy, soy or nuts. Not only is it made and manufactured in the U.S., but it is also covered by home health companies and insurance companies.
Eating the Best at Any Age: Harlow's Harvest and FarmBox Direct
Ashley Tyrner, founder of Farmbox Direct, and her 8-year old daughter Harlow, CEO of Harlow’s Harvest, are bringing families together through food. Farmbox Direct is a door-to-door service that brings the freshest vegetables and fruits directly from organic farms. Harlow, a self-proclaimed vegan since she was two years old, wanted to follow in her mother’s footsteps and pass on what she has learned to bring the same quality product as FarmBox Direct to other kids in the hopes of them taking better control of their nutrition. She founded Harlow’s Harvest with Ashley so that parents and kids can make cooking together fun, interactive and educational. Harlow’s Harvest is a monthly subscription box that comes with recipe cards, a science project, background on the dish your child would be making and an online game they can play that is connected to that month’s theme.
Bonafide Provisions was founded in 2011 by Sharon Brown, mom and clinical nutritionist who used bone broth to heal her son’s chronic illness. After her son suffered through years of sinus infections, ear infections and respiratory infections that resulted in numerous rounds of antibiotics, Sharon knew there had to be another way to heal him. That's where Bonafide Provisions was born. Sharon started making bone broth in her home and it is now available to purchase online. Bone broth is rich in minerals, collagen, gelatin, amino acids and other nutrients which detoxifies the body and heals the gut and joints.
If you want to feed your baby the best, but time isn't on your side (we hear ya, Mom!), turn to Once Upon a Farm. Their organic, cold-pressed blends are designed to enhance kiddo's nutrition and expand her palate without YOU having to shop, chop, blend and puree. The ingredient list is simple (never anything artificial or processed). In fact, many of the ingredients are sourced from farms the company knows and trusts. If Once Upon a Farm's mission sounds familiar, you might have heard of this beloved brand from Co-Founder and Chief Brand Office, Jennifer Garner. Garner, along with mom Cassandra Curtis, Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer, are bringing farm fresh baby and kid food to high chairs everywhere. These two moms are making it their mission to become a leader in the organic family food space, fighting for and supporting efforts to drive positive social change and food justice for families.
Lauren Jupiter and Jordan Gaspar started AccelFoods to help smaller innovative food startups make it to mainstream, with a specific mission—insure a healthier future of food. They raised the $40M venture fund in just four years and have helped over 30 brands like Kidfresh (all-natural kids meals with hidden veggies), Rethink Water (kid-friendly flavored boxed water), and Brami (plant-based protein snacks) grow their businesses. Not only are these moms inventors and entrepreneurs, but they’re also helping other moms find success as well.
In 1998, Gail Elvidge co-founded Vermont Nut Free Chocolates after her son was diagnosed with a life-threatening nut allergy. It was difficult for her to find nut-free baking products, chocolates, sweets, and products, so she and her husband Mark started the company to help families like theirs! What started as a small chocolate company in Vermont, has grown to nearly 40 employees, offering products like trail mix, gift baskets, fudge, truffles, baking essentials, hot cocoa, and much more. The company is proud to offer 100% peanut and tree nut free gourmet chocolates and products for those with or without allergies to enjoy.
When Dietician Dr. Michelle Davenport became a first-time mom she wanted to find (and make) easy, simple meals for her new eater that were big on nutrition and hadn’t sat on a shelf for months (or years). So, she co-founded Raised Real, a subscription-based meal service designed specifically for growing babes featuring organic baby food. The company uses superfoods and nutritional expertise to create each recipe—each one integrates fruits, veggies and micronutrients that are crucial for a child’s early development. They are delivered in pre-portioned, ready-to-steam packages that cost less than $5 per meal. You can opt to have meals delivered every two or four weeks, and you can skip or cancel at anytime.
As a first-time mom, I was clueless about what to get for my baby girl before she arrived. I read through countless blogs trying to figure out the best products to register for but began to feel overwhelmed with all the new gadgets on the market. I wanted to make sure that we had some of the best products to hopefully help aid in getting our baby to sleep better, eat better and ultimately be as comfortable as possible. Did my baby really need a $1,200 bassinet or some device that she wore at night to register her vitals? Again, feeling so clueless, I decided to do some major research to find the best products so I could feel reassured bringing her home the first night.
After trying out tons of different baby products first hand, which I am hoping may help at least one new mama (or maybe even a second or third-time mama!), I am rounding up the top five products that were the holy grail of our household, and that I would suggest everyone with a newborn has in stock before bringing the baby home. These products succeeded in helping us feel like we knew what we were doing, even when we had no idea.
ChiccoDUO Bottles
While these bottles weren’t around (yet) when my baby was born, I sure wish they would have been! It took me a long time to find a bottle that both my baby loved, and that I felt good about giving to her and the ChiccoDuo bottles check both of those boxes. These bottles are the first-ever hybrid baby bottle that combines the purity of glass and the convenience of plastic. This means that the milk never touches the plastic, but the bottle can still be thrown in the dishwasher and won’t break or crack if dropped. The nipples also have a 9/10 acceptance rate and breast-like flow!
We used ours so much. And when I say so much, I mean pretty much every day. I really loved the Solly baby wrap over other ones because it’s really just a soft piece of fabric that ties around your body and holds the baby in place. Some of the other wraps I tried were so bulky and uncomfortable. My baby seemed to love this one best as well, as she’d always fall asleep when being carried in it.
Getting the baby to sleep and stay asleep can be a daunting (and exhausting!) task, so having a good swaddle is a must. This one is slightly weighted and rests against the baby’s chest, so they feel nice and secure, just like they did in the womb. They also can be used for baby’s up to 30” tall, meaning you can use them for a generous amount of time without having to invest in any other type of swaddle.
These bamboo pajamas are so incredibly soft and feel like butter on your skin. They’re especially perfect for babies who tend to get overheated or have sensitive skin, as they are hypoallergenic and actually good for the environment! It’s a win-win knowing that your baby is wearing something that’s not only good for their skin but good for the future of the planet as well! (P.S. They come in adult and toddler sizes too!)
After having one of these in our bedroom when our baby was sleeping in the same room as us, we went out and bought the adult version because we couldn’t sleep without it! This machine is perfect for providing the baby (and adults!) with white noise (and blocking our other distractions such as dogs barking, traffic, etc.) for sleeping. We noticed our baby slept way longer and way better when we had the rain sound on.
