Cute cuddles from Kayatine
As Emilie pointed out, in French a ‘doudou’ is a little soft toy that small children take everywhere with them. I think all mums love the thought of a ‘doudou’, or at least I do — a little toddling toddler, thumb in mouth and doudou in arms, what can be cuter? (BTW, my kids never sucked their thumbs, but I did as a kid and was punished with braces when I was 12… A pretty sight, especially paired with the glasses!)
Kayatine is a French mother and daughter design team, and their main line of products are cute doudous in a diverse collection of fabrics. I like the way Evelyne and Julie-Anne stick to one design — it’s simple and cute, so why look for more?
Kayatine’s doudous make perfect gifts for baby showers or for newborn babies. Or even for a pregnant mum (this one for sure)!
xxx Esther
Blossom maternity jeans
Now that I’m ‘officially pregnant’ I can officially start talking about all things maternity. (A prelude to discussing all things baby — even better!) Like maternity jeans…
The one thing I learned from my previous pregnancies is that a good maternity jeans is a necessary investment. Previously I made my own pregnancy jeans (replacing the waistband from a ‘normal’ pair with an elastic band), and they worked quite well for the first few months. But they soon started to hurt at my tummy and I was longing for a well cut, comfy pair of maternity jeans. I guess you just forget how uncomfortable things can get!
These great jeans by Blossom Mother and Child are nice and long (too long for me even), make me look even taller, are a great colour, are just about the right mix between skinny and straight, make my bum look sexy and provide plenty of room for a growing tummy. Just perfect.
The only thing I’m sorry about? That I didn’t get them for my previous pregnancies!
xxx Esther
NOTE: Blossom is now kindly offering a 25% discount on all Blossom jeans (which never go on sale) exclusively to Babyccino readers: just enter promo code EC0068 at check out!
Is three the new two?
I’m pregnant with number three. Wow!! Call me crazy, but we’ve always wanted three children; this is 100% planned and not at all unexpected. To have a tiny new baby in my arms again — such joy! (Although sometimes I wonder what the heck I am thinking — another pregnancy, another birth, more nappies!) Our children are about as excited as we are; you should have seen our 4-year-old’s face when I broke the news. Loads of our friends have had a new (third) baby recently, so she has seen her little friends with their baby siblings, and the anticipation of having her own baby brother or sister made her beam with joy!
Lately I keep hearing the phrase ‘Three is the new two’. Must be the proof I’m a trend-follower instead of a trend-setter! The stats are proving it: since the late nineties more and more parents decide to go for a number three, or even a number four. (more…)
Firmaman
I have been trying to travel a bit further a field, leaving my usual habitat of North-Eastern Paris, to try and discover new places for Babyccino. On one of my trips I met up with Estelle from the lovely e-shop Nordinary and she took me on a whistle-stop tour of the 17th arrondissement.
One particular shop deserves its very own Babyccino post: the fabulous maternity shop Firmaman, Paris’ first concept store for pregnant ladies.
I had been looking for a place just like this during my pregnancy in Paris and never found one. It is a lovely boutique, full of great clothes — some of which are maternity clothes, some of which are not, but all of which will look great on a pregnant woman. You can find great coats, jeans and dresses. There is also a great newborn baby section, a gift section and a lingerie section with some beautiful nursing bras. (more…)
Win!
I’ve already mentioned being a huge fan of the uber stylish maternity boutique, Mama-La-Mode, which sells everything from maternity basics to designer dresses for the style-conscious mums-to-be. Whether it’s a pair of trendy pregnancy jeans, a winter coat, or a maternity swimsuit, Mama-La-Mode has it all.
In fact, just recently they launched their very own label of maternity staples — a collection of core essentials made from soft jersey and intended for all 9 months of pregnancy. Think skinny strap camisoles with built-in bra support, basic fold-down black trousers, and must-have black leggings.
In honor of their launch, Mama-La-Mode is offering a pair of maternity leggings to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment below by next Wednesday, September 9th, and we’ll pick one winner at random.
Good luck!
P.S. Mama-La-Mode is also offering 10% off to all first-time customers. Just use the promo code babyccino at check-out.
P.P.S. The winner of our last give-away, the Bear Feet shoes, is Claudia from Italy!
Choice of buggies
At the moment I am really enjoying cutting corners, recycling and making do with what we have, embracing a simple lifestyle. However, there are a few things that are not worth skimping on and children’s security is one of them, but being security conscious does not mean breaking the bank.
I found this article in the Guardian about how to choose a buggy sensibly and they had some really good tips.
I actually wish I had read it before getting mine. I am the proud owner of three buggies, and that is exactly two buggies too many!
- Emilie
Carry it good
Akua-Ba is a well fitting pregnancy top made out of thick and stretchy, fair trade cotton. Which is nice to start with.
To make it special, it is complemented with an original, small wooden Akua-Ba doll that you can attach to the strings at the back of the shirt. An old African legend says that ‘the doll brings luck and helps the mother to give birth to a beautiful child, not only in appearance but also in character’.
To make it extra special (and I love this part), for each top sold Akua-Ba gives a mosquito net to a pregnant woman in Burkina Faso (West-Africa).
A pregnant woman is 4 times more likely to get malaria. In Africa 3,000 children die of this disease every day… A mosquito net protects the mother and her child against malaria, both during her pregnancy and after.
Check the Akua-Ba website for retailers (Shak-shuka ships internationally).
xxx Esther
Win an Eva and Oli Maternity Bag
To celebrate the arrival of Courtney’s new little bundle of joy we are giving away a fabulous maternity bag by the great French Company Eva and Oli!
I have written about Eva & Oli before — they make great clothes for kids and the maternity bag is great — big enough to stick everything you could ever need into it, easy access side pockets, and it turns into a laptop bag once you’re finished with nappies (trust me, the day will come). But what I really like about it is that it looks fab, it is funky and does not look out of place in a chic Parisian café, which is more than you can say for a lot of maternity bags!
Here’s your chance to win the bag! Just leave a comment below by Sunday, May 31st with your top tips for dealing with a newborn and the best tip will win!
- Emilie
A new baby?
No, I still haven’t had the baby! We’re still anxiously awaiting the arrival — all snuggled up in our house, lying low, waiting, waiting, waiting…
Last week, in anticipation of the baby, Esther sent us a copy of Dick Bruna’s Miffy and the New Baby
Short, simple and sweet, it is the perfect book to ‘prep’ your kids for a new sibling on the way.
Fingers crossed it’s not much longer now…
-Courtney
Popje cards
These cute cards are designed by Dutch illustrator Marenthe Otten. Marenthe feels that ’special moments deserve to be celebrated’ and that ‘this begins with the card’. I couldn’t agree with her more!
On the Popje website you can find different sorts of greeting cards, envelopes and cute address stickers. Perfect for those special moments that need to be celebrated.
But if you’re looking for a special birth, adoption or wedding announcement, Popje has some really cool choices too!
xxx Esther
Rub that pregnant belly
Unfortunately for me, there was just no avoiding stretch marks. I inherited the gene from my mom, and despite all the lotions and potions I tried, I ended up with a tummy that looked like a road map after my first pregnancy. I think you’re either going to get them, or you’re not. But I do think there’s still something nice about rubbing oils on your pregnant belly. Whether it makes your skin less dry and itchy, or it just encourages you to take a few minutes out of your busy day to pamper yourself, pregnancy oils definitely serve a purpose.
My favorite one by far, both for the smell and for the consistency, is the Mama Mio Tummy Rub Oil. My friend Britta gave it to me, raving about the lovely smell, and I couldn’t agree more. The smell is divine, and the oil is perfectly balanced to make your tummy soft without leaving your hands all oily. I really, really recommend it!
-Courtney
Where do babies come from???
For some reason (age??) I have quite a few pregnant friends. Four of them are pregnant with number three (Courtney amongst them), and the pressure is on for me to get pregnant again! (Not yet, I keep saying, not yet..!)
Last week our neighbour, Colette, gave birth to her third baby, a little girl. I called my 3-year-old daughter, who was on spring break and staying with her grandparents in the south of the country, and told her that the little baby in Colette’s belly finally came out. She thought about it a second and then asked me ‘But mummy, how did the baby get out?’.
Thankfully, I was able to pass the question back to my mother-in-law (‘That’s a good question honey, Oma will explain everything to you after we hang up’). But I keep thinking — how do you explain the whole thing to a nearly-4-year-old??
Like: First mummy will have a really bad tummy ache and then the baby will come out from between her legs? Or even: Mummy will have to go to the hospital and the doctor will cut her belly open and get the baby out, but don’t worry it won’t hurt and everybody will be fine??
Any thoughts about this, anyone?
xxx Esther
Hospital bag
I was on the phone with Emilie the other day and she asked me if everything was ready for the baby to arrive. Ready?!! I haven’t even begun to prepare! I ran out that afternoon and picked up some baby-sized diapers. Phew! At least I had taken the first step…
Now, with less than 3 weeks ’til due date, I’m thinking I should pack a hospital bag. (I just did a bit of research online, and apparently the appropriate time to pack a hospital bag is by 36 weeks!) If you keep searching on line, you can find list after list of recommended items to fill the bag. Things from headbands, candles, and snacks, to your own pillow, blankets, etc. My Cookie Mag pregnancy newsletter recommended taking some nice-smelling bath and beauty products, like lotions and body washes. I thought this was a good idea, as it will make you feel like yourself if you have your own scent after you’ve showered. A friend recently told me to take a CD that you like (something calm and beautiful, probably) to play in the hospital room, as it’s nice to forever have a song(s) that will remind you of the moment. I like the idea of having little associations to remind you of the day your baby was born (smells, music, etc.)
Do you have any good tips for what to take to the hospital?
-Courtney
Petit Bateau for future moms
Finally the good people at Petit Bateau have come to their senses, have done what they should have done a long time ago and brought out a maternity line!
During my two pregnancies I wore a lot of Petit Bateau T-shirts and dresses. The cotton is so soft and stretchy it is perfect to fit over a growing bump. But there were always bits that gaped and pulled and didn’t quite cover. So it is great to see some key, super comfortable maternity pieces. After all, why not dress well and feel comfortable when you are pregnant?
I have seen the collection in Petit Bateau boutiques all over Paris and it is available on the French and other European Petit Bateau online boutiques, but at time of writing it isn’t available in the USA. I’m sure it is only a matter of time!
- Emilie
Cookie’s new pregnancy newsletter
With six weeks left until my due date, I’m beginning to enter ‘crunch phase’ for getting everything organized before baby #3 arrives. Up until now I’ve been pretty relaxed about things, but now it seems I’ve got a long list of ‘to-dos’ that need doing.
Just as I was needing a little motivation and guidance, Cookie magazine launched a swanky new pregnancy newsletter which offers handy tips for every stage of your pregnancy, delivered weekly to your inbox.
But unlike the many other pregnancy newsletters which focus on health and fetal development, this one focuses on the mom and includes maternity fashion tips, nursery design ideas, advice for getting along with your spouse during pregnancy, etc. (Or, for week 34 in my case, tips for choosing the right rocker/glider!)
There are also loads of good discounts on baby gear and a handful of prizes to be won! Click here to subscribe.
-Courtney
My pregnancy books
I know most you have children already, but there is a chance someone might be looking for some suggestions about pregnancy books — if only to give as a gift to their good friend who is expecting for the first time.
To tell you the truth some people I know go through pregnancy (even the first) without reading anything but the NHS leaflets, and it’s perfectly fine! But if you are like me than you might want one or two (or three) books that tell you in depth what’s going on inside you.
So here we go, this is what I read:
1. What To Expect When You’re Expecting: This must be the best-seller pregnancy book ever. It’s easy to read and it contains loads of information. Although I read the revised UK edition it felt a bit too much focused on the American system.
2. The Rough Guide to Pregnancy and Birth: This could be a good companion to any other more “serious” pregnancy manual you choose. It does contain loads of advice and information, but the week-to-week progress is narrated in a semi-fictitious weekly diary. Really funny — this will not allow you to take yourself too seriously.
3. Birth and Beyond…: This is definitely my favourite. I found it reassuring and empowering, something you badly need during your first pregnancy. It covers pregnancy and the first 9 months of the baby’s life. Written by one of the world’s leading obstetricians, it takes a holistic approach covering aspects regarding both parents and the baby. It also includes an extensive reference section.
So this is what I have in my library. What’s in yours?
-Michela
Bella Band
I had heard about the Bella Band concept before, but for some odd reason I never felt compelled to investigate. I can’t believe I spent the span of two full pregnancies without ever owning one! It wasn’t until I was at my sister-in-law’s house over Christmas that I took the plunge. She noticed my unbuttoned jeans, went into her closet and came out with the Bella Band. I’m now hooked.
The concept is simple. It’s an elastic band that fits over the top of your jeans and up onto your belly. You can use it to cover the fact that your jeans are unbuttoned, to hold up jeans that are a bit too loose, or simply to wear under shirts that are too short.
I’ve been walking around with my jeans completely unbuttoned (and unzipped!) and no one has a clue! Seriously… genius!
Check here for on-line retailers.
-Courtney
Koka Mama
Has it ever happened to you that you find a clothing label, love the entire collection, and feel as if the designer must have had your personal style in mind when the pieces were created? You know… where you just love everything the designer does, and if you could you would buy it all? (This has really only happened to me once before; I’m normally not such a slave to one particular designer.)
But… it has happened again, and I’m completely head-over-heels in love with a brand called ‘Koka Mama’, a super stylish, wonderful maternity line! (Seriously, since when do you ever really love a maternity piece, let alone the entire collection?!!)
I have about a hundred good things to say about Koka Mama, but probably what I love most about the collection is that while it was very much designed for pregnancy, the clothes are stylish and simple enough to wear even if you’re not pregnant. (Who doesn’t need a great white blouse which fits over the bump, but still looks good when the bump is gone?) The clothes are comfortable, easy to wear, flattering… and not even exorbitantly priced. (more…)
Dear Little Heart
I know it’s completely normal… but being pregnant with my third baby is so, so much different than the first, or even second time around. For one, I’m so distracted by my two monsters running around that I hardly have time to think about a third. And second, after already being pregnant twice before, I am more relaxed about everything.
I recently opened up a pregnancy week-by-week book (for the first time this pregnancy) to encourage myself to focus on this baby’s development. From 20 weeks on, the book said, your baby’s hearing is fully developed and so he can hear your voice and other sounds outside the womb. I should be talking to my baby, bonding with him or her already!
Just as I was feeling guilty about being a bad mum to number three, I got a lovely e-mail from Andrea Caro telling me about her CD, Dear Little Heart, designed especially for mums and their bumps! (more…)
Secret support vest
I’ve never actually gotten used to the term ‘vest’ for what I’ve always called a ‘tank top’, but nonetheless… this secret support vest by Séraphine has got to be one of my all-time favorite pregnancy wear staples.
Super soft and perfectly stretchy, it fits nicely over your bump (no matter how big it gets — I promise)! I also love that it has thin, yet supportive, spaghetti straps and a bit of ruching at the bust, which I think has a nice minimizing effect, or at least it keeps your breasts from looking like one big body part as some maternity tanks do.
I have one in each color (white, light pink and black), and I wear them ALL the time. I even sleep in mine, because the built-in breast support keeps everything in place, and is much better than sleeping with a bra!
-Courtney
