Don’t miss the deals at Chulamama during their Red, White and Blue Sale running now through July 6th. Save 30% on apparel that is red, white or blue including Designer Denim!!

Sakura Bloom is proud to debut the new Linen Artisan Collection. Handcrafted from luscious Irish linens, these new slings are truly one of a kind! Colors selected straight out of nature, and matched with an artisan’s eye, each sling is a wearable work of art. Double-layered and fully reversible, these slings are soft, strong, stylish, and comfortable for you and your child. The Firefly, French Vanilla, and Taos slings feature bursts of color on the tail, while the Caffe Stripe, Fig Stripe, Freesia Stripe, Honeydew Stripe, and Sakura Bloom Stripe slings feature handpieced stripes that run the entire length of the sling. Every baby deserves one!

One-week sale for Swell Readers: 25% off your purchase starting  July 1 through Wednesday, July 8 at midnight EST. Use code SBLOVESME at checkout. Order here

You don’t have to be Brad and Angie…or raising 6 children…to know that being a parent is a wonderful and rewarding…but tough, job. And, now more than ever, papa-bears are rolling up their sleeves and pitching in to help care for their cubs. May has come and gone and mama has had her much-deserved special day. Now, it’s time to shine the light on the daddies who are “Changing the World One Diaper at a Time.” Surprise HIM on Father’s Day with a daddy-tee by 2 chix! 100% cotton, super-hip, daddy tees… A great way to show a little appreciation for “The Man Behind the Belly.”

NOW THROUGH FATHER’S DAY- SAVE 25% WITH CODE DADSDAY. www.2chix.com

Expecting parents aren’t just taking vacations, they are taking Babymoons!  Babymoons are an increasingly popular trend which allows expecting parents to take a break from the stresses of their baby’s arrival to enjoy each other’s company and relax.  They are usually taken in preparation for the incredible joys of childbirth and parenthood but can also be a celebration of the child’s birth.

What better place to get away, than sunny Los Cabos, Mexico. The Westin Resort & Spa, Los Cabos offers The Babymoon Package, starting at $328 USD per night, per double occupancy room with a required two night minimum.  The package includes welcome sparkling cider and chocolate covered strawberries for two upon arrival, an energizing breakfast in bed for two each morning, a prenatal massage and spa pedicure for the expecting mother, and a scrumptious in-room dessert for two every evening.

The couple is also invited to take full advantage of the Westin Resort & Spa Los Cabos’ endless array of amenities and services.  Located on the tip of the Baja Peninsula, guests have an opportunity to experience seven sparkling pools, expansive views of white sand beaches and the Sea of Cortez, lavish outdoor hot tubs, seaside lounges, a healing and invigorating spa, championship golf courses and a wide range of gourmet dining experiences.

The Spoiled Mama's Tummy Butter

Tamara Johnson, RN, founder and CEO, created The Sp-OIL-ed Mama in 2005 while pregnant with her first child. During her pregnancy, she became increasingly frustrated by the available prenatal skincare products available today that often contain harmful chemicals and preservatives, and was then inspired to create products that are not only safer but also luxurious to help Mamas feel ‘Spoiled’.

All The Spoiled Mama products are made with finest organic and Fair Trade materials possible and are formulated using a superior quality of natural, organic ingredients free from parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, harsh surfactants, artificial colors, and petroleum derivatives.

With over 50 products from the pregnancy, postpartum, breastfeeding and baby lines, you can definitely find something to ease your woes. Order online and schedule your in-home spa day today.

Why not introduce your children to the idea of great original art from the beginning?  Honeybee Gallery, (honeybeegallery.com) a new and unique website offers parents fabulous, colorful and sweet art just for babies and kids. Search the site by artist, style and theme to find the perfect fit for your space.

“I was so excited to decorate the rooms of my two young children. However, after spending many hours searching the internet for something special, I quickly realized that no single site offered a well-organized and diverse selection of original, child-oriented art. This is how and why Honeybee Gallery was conceived. We are dedicted to offering the finest artwork for babies and children, none of which is mass produced or widely available, ” explains Founder, Joanna Hakimi.

TheCarrot.com’s (www.thecarrot.com) new pregnancy tracker goes beyond basic journaling and provides moms-to-be with a more proactive approach to managing their health during pregnancy. The pregnancy tracker is part of a new suite of Women’s Health trackers that include ovulation, menstrual cycle and menopause to address the changing life needs of women.

The free pregnancy tracker, available on the iPhone or Web (and soon on the Blackberry), is easy to use, allows women to track important data to share with their OB/GYNs and is also a fun and unique way to capture milestones and special moments.

Improved health monitoring for proactive care

Giving an OB/GYN accurate health information during pregnancy can lead to improved outcomes:

• Women can use TheCarrot.com to track food, exercise, blood pressure, energy level, etc. to provide physicians and nurses better insight into their health.
• The Carrot.com also helps women and their doctors track new and existing health concerns that can impact their pregnancy such as diabetes, hypertension, sleep, medication and more.

Women can run personalized, easy-to-read reports based on the data tracked to reveal trends and cause-and-effect relationships. The reports can then be shared with a physician.

Share the excitement of pregnancy

Women can also use TheCarrot.com to track, share and make a keepsake of those treasured moments during pregnancy that all too often pass women by. As she watches the baby grow, she can upload photos of her belly, keep track of measurements and log the baby’s activity. With TheCarrot.com, she can even record how her baby responds to different foods and voices.

A Pea in the Pod Collection locations and apeainthepod.com will begin carrying Citizen of Humanity Maternity Jeans June 1st.

Britax® has announced the Chaperone™ Travel Collection — a new infant carrier and stroller designed to marry advanced safety with ease-of-use features — to help ensure greater protection for baby and mobility for parents. The Chaperone infant carrier features Britax True Side Impact Protection® and can accommodate children between 4 and 30 pounds up to 32 inches. The one-hand fold Chaperone stroller can be used with the infant carrier or on its own for children up to 55 pounds.  Together, these items provide new parents with everything they need when on the move with baby.

The infant carrier works seamlessly with the new Chaperone stroller, providing parents with superior convenience and style.  The stroller offers a smart, one- hand design that makes it easy to fold flat and stand once folded for simple storage.  It also includes a one-foot brake operation, an adjustable height handle designed for one- or two-hand pushing and extra large storage compartments. A recline allows children to sleep comfortably and an oversized canopy — included on both the infant carrier and stroller — protects baby’s sensitive skin from harmful UV rays. The stroller has deep cup holders designed to prevent spills for parents and a contoured child tray developed to help small hands pick up toys or food.

The Chaperone infant carrier (SRP: $229.99) will be available in independent and mass retailers in June 2009; the stroller (SRP: $299.99) starting in August 2009.  A single adapter strap will be available to allow the Chaperone stroller to be used with other major manufacturer’s infant carriers. The strap will also allow the Chaperone infant carrier to be used in other major manufacturer’s strollers.

Learn more here>>

Taking a daily prenatal vitamin ensures your baby is getting the proper nutrition during pregnancy, but for some women it isn’t that easy!

“After I became pregnant, trying to take a prenatal vitamin with “morning” sickness was a nightmare. Those prenatal pills became my adversary and on the days that I just couldn’t get them down because my stomach was too sensitive or my gag reflex too strong, I would feel guilty,” explains Bloom’en Nutrition CEO Rebecca Niehus.

Her solution? A citrus-ginger vitamin chew that is designed to be easy to eat and be gentle on sensitive stomachs. Each chew is designed to supplement expecting mothers with the essential fatty acids DHA and EPA as well as provide the folic acid, Vitamin D and lutein that are often recommended by heathcare practitioners as part of a healthy pregnancy.

Try the Blossoms free at bloomennutrition.com.

The new Mommy Measure is a keepsake and tape measure in one.  Keep track of how your belly grows over weeks and note special milestones along the way.  A perfect gift for the newly pregnant!  Order one online at mommymeasure.com

Looking for the perfect Mother’s Day outfit to showcase your new shape? This beautiful dress from Pea in the Pod is a great choice for dinner out or Sunday brunch with the family. Find a store location near you at peainthepod.com.

Get top kids fashions for less at theminisocial.com, the online sample sale site. They will offer the following sales this month:

May 11th, Robeez

May 12th, Anne Claire Pettit

May 13th, tea collection

May 15th, Go Go Baby

May 18th, Kidcase

May 19th, Naturino

May 20th, Penguin

May 26thm Umishoes

May 27th, egg by susan lazar

May 28th, Giddy Giddy

Visit the site for more information

Whoa Mama, the company that creates upscale maternity and nursing lingerie/sleepwear, has just introduced a new line on Target.com called Glow Chic. The collection includes nursing pajamas, chemises and bra/panty sets designed especially for the pregnant shape.  Whoa Mama would like to pass along a discount coupon for 10% off your purchase at Target.com.

New Studies Show Dental Care While Pregnant is Important For Moms and Their Babies to Be.

When scheduling your appointments, shopping and other essentials on your pre-baby ‘to-do’ list, be sure to include regular trips to your dentist, says Dr. Stacie Calian, DDS, MS, MPH, a dentist with offices in Yonkers and Mt. Kisco, New York.

According to studies noted by the American Academy of Periodontology and the Academy of General Dentistry, pregnant women with poor dental health are 7 times more likely to have pre-term and / or low birth weight babies.

Learn more…

Dads love it when the moms in their life make gift suggestions.  It keeps them from having to get creative and keeps you from having to pretend you appreciate their gift selection. The folks at online baby boutique, have a great gift idea and an offer to go along with it! Most dads love a good deal.

These polished organic-style charms are made by hand from 100% recycled silver. Choose from a variety of shapes and gemstones and customize your charms with names, initials, and dates.

Order your Heart & Stone Mother’s Necklace by April 18 at Sylvie & Bruno and receive 15% off!  Use code mama09 at checkout.

Winter Warmth Swaddles: aden + anais double layer wraps will allow you to safely swaddle your baby knowing they will sleep comfortably and securely during the cooler weather. We use the softest, open-weave natural fibers that help your baby’s body temperature adjust naturally, so your baby will remain snugly and warm, without overheating.  Normally $49.95, Winter Warmth Swaddles on sale for $29.95

Dream Blankets: aden + anais extra warm and cozy blankets are made from the same 100% cotton muslin used for swaddling newborn babies. With six layers of waffled cotton, these quilted blankets provide a layer of cushiony warmth produced from only the most natural of fibers allowing babies and toddlers to feel warm and toasty without overheating. Normally $59.95, Dream Blankets on sale for $39.95.

Visit adenandanais.com and enter promo code “wintersale” to receive the discount.

Another sign of the times…babystyle is closing its remaining stores.  The good news? They have extended the offer below to our readers. It is valid for their LA-area retail locations in California and Bellevue, WA. Print it and take it to the store with you.

the mini social is a new members-only shopping site conceived by moms for moms.  Offering high style at fabulous prices, the site provides online sample sales featuring designer clothing and accessories for babies, children and parents.  Each week, the mini social hosts three or more collections for up to 60% off.  Top brands teaming up with the mini social include: Junk Food, Kingsley, Aden + Anais, Skip Hop, Knuckleheads, C&C California, Nurseryworks, Chaiken Maternity, Eberjey, Isa Booties, among others.

Their vision is a simple one that they believe has strong appeal; an at-home haven for savvy, stylish moms who want to avoid the generic department store brands and stroller mazes. “It’s so exciting to launch a site featuring designers and brands that we (and our kids) love,” says co-creator, Melinda Marinack. “To be able to shop from home, plus the great value, is just such a convenience.”

It seems like the smaller the baby, the more stuff you need. But don’t worry, you won’t be hauling everything but the kitchen sink for long. The older baby gets, the less you’ll need. But for now, here is a good list of what to put in your Diaper Bag to get started created by Valerie Swack, president of e-tailer, BabyBrowns.com

Full feeding and storage line gives moms everything they need to collect, store and feed breastmilk to their babies

A new 8-ounce Polypropylene Breastmilk Bottle and two Wide Base Nipples designed to complement breastfeeding are now available from Medela. The new products build on the company’s extensive breastmilk collection, storage and feeding offerings. Like all Medela products that come into contact with breastmilk, the new additions are Bisphenol A-free.

Designed for long-term breastmilk storage, the 8-ounce breastmilk bottles attach to all Medela pumps — including the new hands-free Medela Freestyle — for pumping directly into the bottle. The bottles are made of a safe polypropylene plastic designed to retain breastmilk’s beneficial properties and feature colorful, easy-to-read volume markers. They are dishwasher- and microwave-safe. The bottles are sold in a set of three and the set also includes travel caps, solid lids, collars and Medela’s new wide base medium flow nipples.

Medela’s new wide base nipples are shorter in length and feature a wider base, making them the preferred choice of breastfeeding moms and babies. The new wide base nipples come in two varieties: slow flow for newborns (0-4 months) and medium flow for infants (4-12 months). They are sold in individual three-packs, and are also included in Medela’s breastmilk feeding sets.

To find a retailer near you visit www.medelabreastfeedingus.com

The Best Birth by McMoyler

“How can anyone possibly decide what and when they will choose for pain management before actually experiencing the pain?  It has always puzzled me that women somehow think that pain management options need to be decided on in advance,” explains acclaimed childbirth, perinatal and newborn care educator and author, Sarah McMoyler, who as a labor and delivery nurse has assisted in the delivery of over 5,000 babies.

Sarah has provided Swell Pregnancy Guide with some tools to assist you in coping with pain throughout the labor experience. Read the article on our site.

Pantone, the global authority on color, recently named Mimosa, a warm yellow, its color of 2009 because the color embodies hope and reassurance. In that spirit, the Ingrid & Isabel BellaBand Colors Collection for Spring 2009 is full of bright, bold colors that will be popular this season in maternity and non-maternity fashions. Expectant women can wear the Colors Collection BellaBands to coordinate with prints or to add a punch of bold color to any outfit.

The Colors Collection has the same functionality as the Everyday BellaBand with the added benefit of being popular colors. Worn at the waistline over unbuttoned pre-pregnancy jeans, shorts or skirts, the BellaBand allows women to wear their pre-pregnancy favorites a little longer. The BellaBand also holds up too-loose maternity wear, holds up any styles that fall down around the hips late in pregnancy, and helps mom transition back into her non-maternity wear sooner after giving birth.

All of the colors in the Colors Collection will be available in sizes 1, 2, 3 and 4. The Colors Collection will be available in select maternity stores and online boutiques nationwide starting March, 2009. For more information on where you can find Ingrid & Isabel products, please visit www.ingridandisabel.com.

M.I.A. is wasting no time getting back on stage after giving birth. M.I.A. will be performing at the Oscars this coming Sunday night. M.I.A. has it tough but it seems her producers are going to do whatever they can to help her perform.

According to Popeater, her producers said “”We are happy to bring some sort of fabulous bed on stage if that means M.I.A. can be there to perform her song,” Mark and Condon told MSNBC.”

Doctors usually encourage pregnant women to take regular exercise to stay fit and healthy. But could high levels of exercise cause problems? A new study suggests that exercising more than about 40 minutes a day may increase the risk of pre-eclampsia. Read the whole article here >>

As the national rate of c-sections surpasses 30% and the U.S. ranks 41st in terms of maternal mortality, it is more important than ever for women and their partners to be educated about the options they have during pregnancy and birth.

Birth Matters Virginia (an organization that works to improve the culture of birth in Virginia by promoting an evidence-based model of maternity care) is inviting mothers, fathers, filmmakers, film students, birth advocates, and others across the country to create a 4-7 minute educational video about birth. The first-place winner will receive a cash prize of $1000. Second place $500 and an “honorable mention” prize of $100 will also be awarded. The deadline for entering the contest is Mother’s Day, May 10, 2009.

Guest judges include: Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein, acclaimed producers of the Business of Being Born and Sarah J. Buckley., MD, international birth expert and author of Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering. Ricki, Abby, and Sarah will join a consumer-based panel of judges who will be evaluating the tone, educational content, creativity and more. You don’t have to be a professional to enter.

For rules and to see how to enter, please visit http://www.birthmattersva.org/videocontest.html

With the country in the midst of an economic crisis, and big business looking to the government for a bail-out, the American public is left to wonder, “what about us?” One small Los Angeles business’ answer is clear: Tastybaby’s Great American Stimulus Package. During the week of February 17, 2009, in locations all over Southern California, Tastybaby will be giving out a FREE CASE OF TASTYBABY FROZEN ORGANIC BABY FOOD (about $40 retail value) to every family that signs up.

The first stop on the Tastybaby Bailout Tour will take place on Tuesday February 17 in Malibu, CA. Locations, times and further information on the Tastybaby’s Great American Stimulus Package and Baby Food Bail-Out are available at Tastybaby.com.

Credit: Mark Liddell/ICON INTERNATIONAL

From Press Association:

Jennifer Aniston is said to have signed on for a new film in which she plays a woman who gets pregnant via artificial insemination.

Variety reports that Jen will team up with Juno star Jason Bateman in The Baster where they will play best friends.

Jason’s character, described as neurotic and insecure, secretly replaces the donor’s sperm with his own after hearing of his pal’s pregnancy plans. However, he later has to live with the secret that he is the child’s real dad.

The film will begin filming this spring and is based on a short story which first appeared in The New Yorker.

Link to article

Pregnant and feeling tickled pink?  When love brings out the child in you, go ahead and let the love grow.  After all, you’re knocked up and the man behind the belly loves you for the haute mama you are, both inside & out.  So you’ve got a little babyfat? That’s okay…pregnant is the new sexy! Besides, waistlines are overrated.

2 chix maternity clever, sassy & hilarious sayings will help make your Valentine’s Day oh so sweet!

Pick up one or two at www.2chix.com and save 20% with discount code: LOVEBUN now thru 2/28.

From having husbands pose in challenging labor positions, to providing insider tips for communicating with hospital staff, The Best Birth DVD is equivalent to getting labor and delivery insight from a best friend, who also happens to have assisted in the birth of 5,000 babies.  Not only does The Best Birth DVD give parents advice no one else will tell them, it also saves them the time and hassle of attending a birthing class, which often costs several hundreds of dollars and several days or weeks of commitment.

Developed by Sarah McMoyler, RN, BSN, a labor/delivery nurse and perinatal and infant care educator with more than 20 years of experience, The Best Birth DVD allows parents worldwide to participate in Sarah’s renowned San Francisco-based McMoyler Method Childbirth Preparation class.  Highly recommended by leading obstetricians, gynecologists and pediatricians in the Bay Area, since 1993 there have been more than 12,000 graduates from her classes.  Well-known graduates include Pierre Omidyar (founder of eBay), Dr. Dean Ornish, M.D. (bestselling author and physician), Alison Wing (founder and CEO of Giggle.com) and Jonny Moseley (Olympic gold medalist).

“As a nurse, I saw hundreds of expectant parents arriving unprepared at the hospital – mom didn’t know how to effectively cope with pain, dad was unaware of his role, and neither could communicate or make decisions effectively with the healthcare team,” says McMoyler.  “We developed The Best Birth DVD to empower, educate and entertain not only moms, but also their partners, so that both will be fully engaged and prepared for the upcoming arrival of their child.”

The DVD is available exclusively at thebestbirth.com.