HugaMonkey® Baby Slings blogs

Mother's Day Giveaway! (comment on this post to enter)

Administrator — Tue, 08 May 2012 02:27:59 +0000

In honor of Mothers Day, it's GIVEAWAY time! Hugamonkey is giving away our 24x24" Square Resin Table. Worth over $96, it's perfect for your little ones (or grandkids) to create and have their own space! Simply "like" Hugamonkey on Facebook HERE, then leave a comment on this post with your email address (so we can contact you if you're the winner). That's it! Giveaway ends Saturday May 12th at midnight MST. Winner will be notified through email.

What do you use most?

Administrator — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 19:56:52 +0000

Spring is in the air, and with that seems to come babies being born! I'm going to my cousin's baby shower next week, and have been thinking about essentials for kids. What type of gifts do you give? I tend to generally give clothes or diapers in larger sizes, but here are a few other ideas:

1-Go in with others on a gift card for a newborn photo session. Who doesn't want gorgeous pictures to remember their newborn? I treasure the professional photos I got, and wish I'd done that with all three of mine.

2-Baby bibs like these Wupzey Waterproof Coveralls. They are lightweight and catch all those messes before they get onto their entire outfit.

3-Frames to go with their nursery colors/theme if you know what it is. Pictures are always so fun to put up when you've got frames to hang them in!

4-Hooded towels like this Funkoos Rubber Ducky Organic towel.

5-My kids love pacifiers and blankets. This stuffed animal blanket/pacifier-in-one seems so intriguing and easy for babies to hold and grab. Have you tried these before?

Let me know any tips for useful yet fun gifts for moms-to-be!

Baby Food Pouches

Administrator — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 19:02:07 +0000

The product for this week are baby food pouches! These are relatively new, at least, they weren't available when my first child was born six years ago. They have saved me. They are convenient, portable, recyclable, and have a 17:1 product-to-package advantage over glass containers (less is more!). You can start using them as early as 4 months. The sucking motion is easy for babies to figure out. Then, as they get older, they enjoy holding it on their own. I was worried it would be messy but my girl sucks them dry so quickly! The applesauce options are a hit too. It's like a smoothie for them-- healthy, easy, and quick. Happy Baby has a lot of veggie-based ones, and there are plenty of fruit ones out there too. I love knowing my baby is getting her fruits and veggies every day and enjoying it too!

Baby Essentials

Administrator — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 19:25:18 +0000

Are you pregnant or a new parent? Have a friend who's about to give birth? In the next few weeks, we'll be posting some essential baby items. There are so many things out there, and this will give you an idea of what items I feel are useful after having three children myself! First up: the Hugamonkey sling! I didn't use one for my first child--instead, I'd haul around that huge carseat everywhere. I did get strong biceps, but man, my back sure started to hurt. Once baby #2 came along, I found it awfully difficult to go shopping with a carseat and a toddler in tow, but I still didn't try a sling. I learned my lesson with baby #3. The sling became a need--I simply didn't have enough hands! With the sling, I could go shopping without the bulky carseat, and still keep the other children in tow. I could nurse in public easily with no one noticing. I could have my hands free while cooking, cleaning, and shopping! It made such a difference. I'd been scared to learn how to put it on, but it really wasn't difficult. There are many types of slings out there, and the Hugamonkey was wonderful for me because it was breathable (I always seem to sweat more when carrying kids around!) and sturdy. It didn't get overstretched and is cute too! (not to mention it covers up your leftover weight around the middle, ahem.) Do you have any questions about baby slings? There are so many types out there--what's worked for you?

Being a mom.

Administrator — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 00:50:49 +0000

While I love my children, so much, some moments are really hard. I think I am always frustrated when I am trying to shower and do my hair and when I am trying to get out the door. I try and try... but I'm always half-ready and 5-34 minutes late. WHY? I can't figure it out.

I stumbled upon this awesome link. Read it. All the way to the end. Eye rolling is allowed.

Keep reading the article. ALL THE WAY to the end.

Bahahahahaha! Isn't it awesome? I mean, really, the idea life of motherhood is something that is totally a dream. Is it possible to excel in areas? Yes, of course. But to DO IT ALL? I don't think so. At least not today.

I asked y'all what the most frustrating part of motherhood is and there were responses that we are all familiar with. We are all trying our hardest! Chin up, HugaMoms!

Bath time!

Administrator — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 22:33:12 +0000

My little girl loves (LOOOOOVES) bath time. She has loved it since her first bath. She used to scream and scream when it was time to get out. She must want to turn into a raisin.

We have the perfect accessory for bath time: an embroidered rubber ducky hooded towel. This super-soft towel is perfect for your little one (and perfectly cute too!) The extra bonus is that it is 100% certified organic cotton, so you know your little one's skin is going to love it just as much as you.

Pick one up today for only $26.98. Free shipping! See it by clicking here.

Date Night!

Administrator — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:54:07 +0000

My husband and I are always looking for something fun to do on the weekends. We are new in town, so we don't really have access to family (aka babysitters) to go to our usual dinner and a movie date. I ran across this great date night idea list and I thought I would share -- it's a bonus that the ideas are budget friendly!

My favorites are:

Dress up, cook dinner, and have "restaurant night" at home (or take out!)
Boardgames & card games & video games--include cheap prizes
Go to different spots in your city and have strangers take your picture. Make a photo album or scrapbook of the day.

Some of the others are kinda cheesy, but hey, they're fun ideas! I also heard about a bookstore date, if you're going out.

What are your date night ideas? We'd all love to hear them!

"I think I can... I think I can..."

Administrator — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:33:14 +0000

The other day my sister came to visit me and we took our kids all over town. We went shopping, to the beach, out to dinner and more shopping. One time we had loaded up everyone into the strollers (slings in tow too) and my four-year-old was on his Buggie Board. We had to go up the handicap ramp to get in the store -- the distance of a flight of stairs -- and my little boy starts chanting "Mommy! I think I can... I think I can..." I about died laughing because he must think that is the size of the hill that little poor engine that could was trying to conquer!

But I loved the encouragement. Us moms are always with our kids (except for when we're not!) and some days are easier than others. I decided to take his application to life as a funny thing and take the inspiratinon. Don't worry, we made it to the top.

What funny thing has your child done or said lately? Did they motivate you?

Image source

Creative Consequences

Administrator — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 03:59:34 +0000

We each have our own way of disciplining our children. And we all know that just because one way of discipline works for one child does not mean it will work for another. I did run across this list of creative consequences that I thought was worth sharing. Here are some of my favorites:

16. If your child likes to stomp off to his room or stomp around in anger, send him outside to the driveway and tell him to stomp his feet for one minute. He'll be ready to quit after about 15 seconds, but make him stomp even harder.

18. Another way to handle temper tantrums is to simply say, "That is too disruptive for this house. You may continue your fit in the backyard. When you're finished, you are welcome to come back inside." When there isn't an audience, the thrill of throwing a temper tantrum is gone.

19. If a job is not done diligently, have your child practice doing it. She'll learn to be more thorough if she's made to sweep the floor three or four times because her first effort wasn't good enough.

Taking a Baby on Vacation = Miracle

Administrator — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 21:54:55 +0000

I think most of what we buy for our baby is because we are going to travel with them. Even the HugaMonkey is just to make it easier to take your baby on the move. Strollers, car seats, blankets, backpacks, slings, carriers, diaper bags and toys. So many things for such little people!

Then, when you take them on vacation, you have to figure out how to make everything that you didn't buy for travel travel-able. Take apart toys to fit better in the suitcase, find bags your carseats fit in, get a travel swing and be sure and not forget anything. Sigh. How do we do it? How do we get everything we need to take care of our little ones?

Then, when we're extra lucky, the travel plans don't go as planned because of weather or sickness or emergencys. And we have to conform and figure and work at how to make it better.

What are your best travel tips? Doncha love it when motherhood throws you a challenge and you conquer it?