Sometimes in our busy days as parents, we forget how some of the simplest things keep our day running as smoothly as possible. Today, we wanted to share one of those little tricks with you. In three words: the bottle brush.

This item is sure to go on your registry, but it’s likely to not get much attention. However, it is a daily staple for those of you who use bottles, and the right one can make ALL the difference.

We have two favorites, for two different reasons.

1. Dr. Brown’s

The Dr. Brown’s brush is a winner for two reasons – the sponge is terrific for getting good lather, and the narrowness of the brush makes it really easy to wash the bottle. The drawback – because of the narrow base, you are likely to burn through about 3 of these in the first year, as the handle will weaken and start to break. The sponge will wear out, too.

2. Munchkin

The Munchkin bottle brush is sturdy, and will last you at least a year. The problem is that it’s wider, so you have to really pop it in to the bottle and pop it back out, using some elbow grease. If you lather it up enough, you may end up with a sudsy shirt when you’re done.

You can’t go wrong with either, these are just the little details we keep in mind and love to share with our clients. After all, dishes are dishes, so let’s make them as simple as possible, right?!

For those of you who have seen our services, you may have noticed that we offer some food related goodies. Stocking the freezer for couples who return home from with a newborn, providing catering for baby showers, and more. And, you also may have noticed that we pay particular attention to providing only the BEST services for our clients.
That said, we want to share the news of our favorite private chef and caterer, Rachel Nason, owner of D’Lish Intimate Catering. We met Rachel early in our Perfecting Expecting days and we instantly loved her. Her passion for food, paired with her amazingly cool and fun style, convinced us that she was our go-to gal for all things food. She is the consummate professional, yet you feel like she could also be your best friend. Her clients (including celebrities!) have absolutely RAVED about her performance as a private chef, as caterer to super swanky black tie affairs, and everything in between. She serves it up good…and with style.
Soon, Rachel will be featured on the Food Network on the 24hr Restaurant Battle. We hope you join us in watching her HUGE television debut on July 21st, and cheering her on. Rachel, we knew you were a shining star…now the world will see you work your magic.

We love a good giveaway ~ especially ones that help breastfeeding mamas! We are giving away one My Brest Friend nursing pillow. This pillow is the #1 recommended nursing pillow of lactation consultants. To enter the drawing, simply “contact us” and tell us why you think this pillow has your name on it.

Mommies Who Shop is where the hippest moms meet the hottest designers featuring the very best in unique clothing, gear, gifts and accessories for
chic-baby and trendy tots. For Mama, they also feature a carefully edited selection of apparel and accessories including clothing, jewelry, handbags, fine stationary, gifts and more! All of the items at Mommies Who Shop will be offered at special event pricing.

May 20, 2010 6-9pm
Regis College Grand Foyer
235 Wellesley Street, Weston, MA

June 3, 2010 6-9pm
The Community House of Hamilton and Wenham
284 Bay Road, South Hamilton, MA

At the May event - Enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres catered by Healthy Habits Kitchen, desserts from Finale,, wine, a luxurious Spa Lounge by Best of Boston’s Bella Sante, and amazing door prizes

In June – Enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres catered by Dream Dinners, wine, a luxurious Spa Lounge by Best of Boston’s M. Lekkakos, and amazing door prizes!

To purchase tickets, or more information about these events, please visit the MWS website: www.mommieswhoshop.com
info@mommieswhoshop.com • 978.282.1854

Just when you think they’ve covered everything, What to Expect When You’re Expecting does it again!  The award-winning book series has developed WhatToExpect.com, an independent content and community site that guides expecting mothers and parents from the early stages of preconception and pregnancy to infancy and parenthood. WhatToExpect.com offers parents-to-be with the essential tools, information and expert advice from Heidi Murkoff, renowned author of the New York Times best-seller, What to Expect When You’re Expecting. 

Some of our favorite tools on WhatToExpect.com include the week by week pregnancy tracker, month by month infant development, the teething guide, potty training guide and A-Z parenting tips and advice.  So, next time you are surfing around the web for a great pregnancy or parenting resource be sure to check it out!

Here at PE, we are always on the lookout for unique, one-of-a-kind baby clothing and that’s exactly what we found at My Little Pakora. Based here in Belmont, MA, owner Sonia Gupta has created an adorable line of South Asian inspired, organic baby clothing and accessories. Wondering what a little pakora is? A pakora is a South Asian appetizer, similar to a vegetable fritter or tempura; Sonia uses this as a term of endearment for her daughter. Inspired by traditions of her Indian heritage and it’s similarities to the principles of organic living, the playful designs of the clothing line are symbolic images in Indian or South Asian cultures, printed on 100% organic cotton. Some of the designs include animals and the matching Hindi name written underneath.

My Little Pakora is a PE favorite for so many reasons; not only is it a local, mom-based business, but it also incorporates organic living and cultural education….all bundled up in high quality, incredibly soft and gorgeous baby clothing.

This holiday season, Room to Grow has partnered with RunMyErrand.com. During this hectic time of year, RunMyErrand gives you the gift of time by having trusted neighborhood runners do your shopping, shipping and running around. Post your to-do’s now so you can spend your time doing the things that bring you joy.  
For every errand run this holiday season, RunMyErrand will make a donation to Room to Grow. And, RunMyErrand is offering our friends their first errand free* with the use of promo code HOLIDAYGROW. Visit www.runmyerrand.com for all the details.

This newest PE pick is one of those brilliant products that will make you stop and wonder “why didn’t I think of this?” Any mom of a spitting, drooling baby will tell you that it is nearly impossible to keep your nice shirts clean and stain free; well, M is for Mommy founder, Emily Daigle, has come up with a fantastic solution for this ~ the skyoozmee burpee!

A uniquely designed burp cloth, the skyoozmee burpee covers the front and back of your shirt as well as both shoulders simultaneously (can you say perfect for moms of twins?!). A Velcro closure in the front helps to keep the burpee in place as you shift baby from one shoulder to the other. The burpees are made with two layers of flannel material that not only function to keep drool or spit up from seeping through but come in adorable patterns and colors too (we particularly love munchkin and sweet pea). Since the drool does not end here, Emily continued the concept of wider coverage with her line of skyoozmee bibs for baby…..now several outfits can be spared a drooly disaster!

M is for Mommy donates a portion of all proceeds to the Boston Children’s Hospital and the American Heart Association.  See the skyoozmee website to order yours.

Recently, we were thrilled to find a brand new copy of Baby’s First Journal in our mailbox.

Not to judge a book by its cover, but the cover is very appealing! It doesn’t scream BABY when you’re out and about, and the colors are nice and soft and practical. Now, to the inside…the log tracks baby’s feedings, both breast and bottle, as well as diaper changes (even indicating if it’s a pee or a poo!) and sleep times. It’s very user-friendly, and we loved the organization of the pages.

Our first thought is that this log is PERFECT for new couples who have a baby and are sharing the caretaking responsibility. For example, if mom is napping (ahhh, naps!), what did dad/grandma/babysitter do with the baby? Mom can wake up and be caught up in no time. If the parents are out of the house and the nanny is home with baby, this is the ideal way for everyone to get up to speed when they return home. It’s also a fabulous way for you to report to a pediatrician (if needed) on your baby’s schedules.

We’ve seen parents try to create these spreadsheets on their own, and often times spend more time setting it up than actually using it. Waste no more of your precious time…grab this book!!

So, I’m pregnant, and I have to say, pregnancy is a long process! I find it fascinating that some people experience their pregnancies as going by “too fast” because I truly feel like I have been pregnant for over a year already.

One thing that keeps me going week to week is a series of books that Kristen and I both love. It is the Your Pregnancy series, and it includes two noteworthy books.

First, the week-by-week book. This is by far and away the best weekly book we have found for expectant parents. Every week it gives a sketch of your baby, talks about baby’s developments, and changes for YOU to be aware of. It is not overly frightening like some weekly books can be, but it does bring important issues to mind.

Second, the Father-to-Be book. My husband has been reading this along side me at night, and he seems to get enjoyment out of it. More than he has with many other baby-related reading materials I have put in front of him as of late.  This guide covers everything dads-to-be need to know about pregnancy, childbirth, and getting ready for a new baby.

Written with the expectant dad’s needs and concerns in mind, this new edition includes:

• Up-to-date medical information and a comprehensive glossary of terms
• The latest information about tests and procedures your partner may undergo
• Information on how pregnancy may affect your couple relationship and ways to handle it
• Ways to evaluate the financial impact of having a baby
• Guidance on how to be a great labor coach
• Tips for supporting your partner during pregnancy and the birth of your new baby

Lastly, but certainly not least, we’d like to mention the super fun “Postcards from the Bump.”

The perfect gift for a mommy-to-be, it offers a host of stress-free things to do while waiting for your bump’s arrival, including:

• Uncover your Prego Persona: Are you a Gucci, Gucci Glamour Mama, an Earth Mama, or something else?
• Plan Your Baby Moon Getaway
• Get Tips for Eating Well while You’re Swell
• Help Daddy-O Relate to Bump
• Create a “While We Were Waiting for You” Scrapbook

With the hundreds of books available to expectant parents, we like to trim the fat and tell our clients where they will get the most bang for their buck…. These are it!

For further information about the books and their authors, visit: www.yourpregnancybook.com and www.postcardsfromthebump.com.