Today on the blog we thought we’d share some real talk – some baby etiquette, if you will. We’re both first-time moms. We realize there are several stereotypes that come with that title, including over-protective, slightly anal and 24/7 worrywarts (do people still say worrywarts?). And while bringing up this topic will likely do nothing to banish those titles, we still would love to know if any other moms feel the same way we do.

We spend every minute of every day caring for very tiny humans and we’ve not surprisingly become completely obsessed with them, We do everything in our power to always make sure they’re safe and comfortable. Because of this, we’ve had the somewhat awkward misfortune of saying the phrase, “No, you may not hold my baby.” Today we’re sharing a few tips that we feel moms should be completely comfortable enforcing when it comes to their babies interacting with others.

No two babies are alike
We can’t tell you how many times we’ve heard, “Oh, babies love me.” Well that’s great, but we can’t guarantee our babies will love you. What’s so incredible and beautiful about babies is each one is born with their own personality. Each baby has his or her own likes and dislikes, comfort levels and random quirks. While we’re sure many babies have loved you, that doesn’t mean we’re ready to hand ours over to you, an individual whom he or she does not know, and just expect it to go swimmingly. Don’t take it personally; perhaps she’s just not that into you.

If we don’t offer, that may be a sign not to ask
Timing can sometimes be everything with a baby. If she’s tired, fussy, getting hungry or just feeling clingy, that’s likely not the best time to be passed off to someone else. Parents know their baby best, so they’ll let you know when they’re ready to be in someone else’s arms.
 
Small children
Furthermore, if we’re not ready to hand our baby over to you, then your small children are definitely on the hands-off list. Yes, we’re sure your children are lovely, but children are children and they have very little experience holding fragile objects in their hands. There’s a reason why our mother never let Lindsay into any retail stores selling crystal vases and fine China. She just couldn’t be trusted. And don’t get us started on the germs kids can carry with them once they start mingling with other humans their own age. No thank you!
 
Sanitize
If you’re visiting a newborn, as soon as you enter the home head straight for the sink and wash your hands thoroughly. We keep organic sanitizer in our homes so it’s on-hand (no pun intended) when guests come to visit. A brand we love is Babyganics. It’s alcohol- and fragrance-free and comes out as a foam.
 
Can’t touch this
If you see a cute baby, please resist the urge to touch or kiss (aahhh!) their feet, hands or (dear God, help us) their face! There’s a bubble that should not be broken with a newborn. Stay outside of that bubble perimeter.
 
No close talkers
Remember on Seinfeld when that man Elaine was dating would get right in people’s faces to talk to them and it was awkward and uncomfortable? For some reason, people have the same instinct with babies. Yes, babies are small, but they’re not ants. There’s no need to put your face directly into theirs to see their features. A little bit of space might make the meeting much more enjoyable for them and for you.
 
At first we felt uneasy and somewhat apologetic about this subject. But with every passing day, our mama bear instinct seems to increase ten-fold, and if we know our baby is not going to feel great joy by being passed off into someone else’s arms, then it’s just not going to happen. Sorry…not sorry. Any other mamas feel the same way?

*Photos by Welcome Arms Photography

When we found out we were pregnant (within weeks of one another), we quickly realized we were entering an unknown world. All of a sudden, our minds were consumed with questions like: What items will I need within the first few weeks of giving birth? What’s the deal with babywearing? And what on earth is an Ubbi? Once that stripe turned pink, we had nine months (and two weeks) to jump into this new world and try to figure out what works best for us. 

When we first walked into Nurtured, we immediately felt like the store was giving us a great big hug. We know that sounds cheesy, and yes, we were slightly nauseous and overly fatigued at the time, but there was just something about this baby oasis, located in the north end of Halifax, that had us talking to the staff for over an hour about all things baby- and pregnancy-related. During that conversation, we also found out about their annual Pregnancy Party. That’s right, they throw you a party for being pregnant, and there are no awkward ‘guess what’s in the diaper’ or ‘don’t say the word baby’ games (thank God!). Needless to say, we bought our tickets immediately and circled the date on our calendars. 

What to expect
For this festive affair, the Nurtured staff puts together a super team of experts and wellness gurus, ranging in everything from naturopathic and chiropractic care to a massage therapist to give expectant mommas a little rest and relaxation. A certified babywearing educator will show you how to turn a piece of cloth into a hands-free holder (still blows our minds!) and a party isn’t a party without drinks and nibbles! Couples will float from station to station and the goal is to leave the party feeling well informed and a little more prepared for this next crazy/amazing chapter of life! 

Did someone say discount?
While we loved the many helpful tips provided by local experts, we must admit that the fantastic giveaways and exclusive party discounts didn’t hurt either! We have two of the items that will be on special for this year’s party. Besides the cute names, the Ubbi diaper pail and Peanut Changer by Keekaroo have become an important part of our daily routine and we can’t imagine changing a diaper without them! The Ubbi is fashionable yet functional and comes in a kaleidoscope of colours (not to mention it masks those dirty diaper smells like a boss). The Peanut, also available in multiple colours, is a sleek alternative to the traditional change pad. Its water-resistant material makes cleaning a breeze and it can easily be transported from room to room. 

Shop ‘til you drop
By the end of the evening, our cars were bursting with amazing products (a lot of which were snagged at discounted prices!), that we not only knew would keep our babies safe, but because of the product experts on-hand, we actually knew how to use them!
 
Besides looking fabulous on a Sunday stroll, the Guzzie + Guss Connect stroller is easy to collapse, has an adjustable handle and seat for forward or face-to-face positions and its extendable canopy with ventilation provides serious sun coverage. We were so excited about this purchase that we were tempted to take it for a spin around the block before our baby girl was born.

THE CONNECT STROLLER BY GUZZIE + GUSS
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Another Guzzie + Guss favourite (did we mention this is a Canadian company?) is the super sleek Perch highchair. This floating phenomenon takes up little space, hooks directly onto the table and closes up into a tidy carry bag for on-the-go dining. How cool is that?

GUZZIE + GUSS PERCH HIGHCHAIR 

There are certain items you want to make sure you absolutely love when shopping for baby gear. Items that will be complete game-changers and just make you say, ‘yyyaaassss’. The Baby Knightly Everston Glider Recliner (say that five times fast) is one of those items. As soon as we sat down in this chair, we knew we had to have it. We were ready for a nap as soon as our somewhat swollen feet were propped up by its leg rest on the Nurtured retail floor. Word on the street is that the Knightly glider has a new sister chair featuring a tufted back that is just as cozy as its counterpart. (Are two chairs in one nursery over the top? We’re asking for a friend.)

BABY KNIGHTLY EVERSTON SWIVEL GLIDER RECLINER
Photo credit: Welcome Arms Photography

And what’s a party without a goodie bag? Each couple will leave with the infamous Nurtured swag bag, full of fun and useful items for mommas-to-be and their babes. Three cheers for free stuff!
 
The bottom line is, if you’re expecting, this is a not-to-be-missed event. This year’s shindig is slated for Sunday, February 25 at 5:30 p.m. at Nurtured’s retail store, located at 2543 Agricola Street in Halifax. To snag your tickets, click HERE. We know you’ll have a blast!

Click HERE to see more of Nurtured's products and to check out other upcoming events.

*Unless otherwise stated, all images by Craig Flinn.
*This blog post is sponsored by Nurtured Products for Parenting. All opinions expressed are our own.

We are so excited to share this recipe with you! Honestly, it's so good. Valentine's Day is just around the corner and this chocolatey breakfast is sure to impress your Valentine.

Serves 2

Ingredients
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup chopped strawberries
3/4 cup almond milk
3/4 cup plain Greek yogourt
3 TB honey
2 tsp cocoa
pinch of salt

Directions
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Refrigerate overnight in an airtight container.

To serve, spoon into a bowl and top with slivered almonds or additional fresh strawberries if desired.

This super simple breakfast will have you feeling the love this Valentine's Day.

XO

What would we do without our girlfriends? Don't forget to show them some love this Valentine's Day. Our super simple, super effective coconut lip scrub is the perfect way to show you care.

Ingredients
1 1/2 tsp coconut oil
1 1/2 tsp brown sugar

Directions
1. Mix all ingredients together with a spoon until completely blended.
2. Transfer to a lip gloss container (available at most craft stores). We reused an empty lip gloss container we had on hand.

Besides hydrating and smoothing lips, this yummy scrub also smells delicious. (Just try to restrain yourself from sampling on your sugary smackers.)