April showers may bring May flowers but Urba Baby is bringing you all the new spring styles! It seems to be all about the nautical look this spring, and we couldn’t be happier about that. We have three different lines that are mostly stripes! Above is the Hatley rain coat with a really great terry-cloth lining. Below is our favorite new line Nui!

All made from organic cotton, we couldn’t be happier to carry this line. Come quickly  because these pieces are walking out the door as we speak. They also come in red and dark blue stripes. Next up is another new line of stripes we love called Under the Nile. This line also has a coordinating line of stuffed animals!

With lots more spring stuff on the way, come in and check out our stripes collection! Dress your baby like a little Parisian, it’ll make you feel less bad about eating cheese and bread before swim suit season.

We’ve all seen those parents. The ones who somehow managed to hoist a giant double stroller up the uneven stairs of a Red Line station only to push it into the center of a crowded car. We admit, some people simply do not have any other travel choice, however, it’s safe to say blocking the doors of a subway car is rude. Not only is it terribly inconvenient for other riders but, (and from the perspective of someone who’s moved apartments over the train) it’s not much fun for the stroller-mom either. At Urba Baby, we specialize in making city living for mommies and babies as smooth as possible. That’s why we offer a bevy of options for families-on-the-go. If you’re your family is in the position where the CTA is your main travel option, consider some alternatives to make your commute simple this spring.

The QuickSmart stroller is a great stroller for parents constantly on the move. Weighing in at 11 lbs, this easily foldable stroller fits into a wearable duffle bag. Perfect for airports and crowded train cars and can easily be packed away when in small cafes and restaurants.

The Ergo Carrier is an absolute must for all parents regardless of travel need. Sometimes in life, the stroller just isn’t an option. Why not wear your baby and have your hands free? As far as baby carriers go, Ergo is the best. Designed for comfort and support, Ergo fits all body types and tends to be more comfortable for baby too.

With Spring upon us, there are more things to do for active urban families. Don’t fear the CTA, just watch for the signs and grab a few things to make your life easier.

March 12th, 2013

Marti Goyal grew up in a charitable-minded family and is very active in the Chicago community, donating her time and resources through Urba Baby, the store she opened in 2011.

When Goyal was seeking an organization to raise funds for via the April 7 Shamrock Shuffle, she found exactly what she was looking for in Charles Tillman’s Cornerstone Foundation.

“We always believe in giving back and doing something for the community,” said Goyal, whose store sells baby clothes and products. “We’re always looking for charities where we can give back that are related to children and families because that is the main concept of why I opened the store.”

Goyal is expecting to lead a team of up to 12 runners in the 8K run that starts and finishes in Chicago’s Grant Park. Through Urba Baby, she will match the $45 registration fee for her team members and place logos of companies who donate over $50 on the back of her team’s t-shirts. She’s also planning on soliciting donations from customers and vendors.

Goyal appreciates the charitable work Tillman does through the Cornerstone Foundation and enjoyed speaking with him at one of the organization’s fundraisers.

“He’s a very nice person and very genuine,” Goyal said. “And I know he cares about his family, which is right up our alley because we do too. We love the Bears. We’re a big sports family and we believe in giving back, so it felt like a really good fit. He’s doing such great things.”

A two-time Pro Bowler who has been an integral part of the Bears defense since he joined the team in 2003, Tillman created the Cornerstone Foundation in 2005 to provide children with educational opportunities and resources to excel in the classroom.

After his three-month-old daughter, Tiana, was diagnosed with a rare heart disorder and received a life-saving heart transplant in 2008, Tillman and his wife Jackie changed the foundation’s mission to improving the lives of critically and chronically ill children.

Goyal hopes to raise at least a couple thousand dollars for the Cornerstone Foundation through the Shamrock Shuffle and would like to develop a long-term relationship with the organization.

“If it works out really well I’d love to keep trying to raise money throughout the year,” she said.

“It’s just something that I strongly believe in. I grew up in a family where we always did things like that. My mom was always on the board of directors for different charities, so I’ve always been brought up in a really giving family. That’s really important to me. I have two children of my own, so obviously I care a lot about kids and families and trying to help out as much as I can.”

Goyal does exactly that through Urba Baby, a store she founded in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood (1117 W. Armitage Avenue) in July 2011 after her first son was born. Her idea was to give city parents a place to find all of the baby products they needed while also providing families with community services.

“I felt I just didn’t have the resources that I needed in order to be a parent in the city,” Goyal said. “I didn’t know where to go. I didn’t have a ton of ‘mom’ friends and my husband didn’t have a lot of ‘dad’ friends.”

Goyal opened a second Urba Baby location in the Wicker Park community (1751 W. Division Street) last summer. In addition to selling baby clothes and products, the stores offer free classes, events and workshops involving music, prenatal yoga, prenatal Pilates, infant massage, stroller fitness and story time.

To view this article CLICK HERE.

So now  you’ve had the baby, but what to do with all that fabulous maternity clothing you bought? Still pregnant? Not sure whether or not to buy that amazing dress you know you’ll only wear once? Moms, save those dresses. If you’re yet to be a mom, go for the spend, there are ways to repurpose all those clothes you only thought had a nine month shelf life.

1.)  Keep wearing them:  I know several young women who occasionally peruse the maternity section of Target. Since layering is totally in right now, why not wear that billowy top with a belt and some tights? If it’s cute enough nobody will notice. Maternity clothes are also great for warm winter layers.

2.)  Keep it in the closet: Planning on a second child? A third? Why not save those cute dresses and pricey maternity jeans? Styles don’t change that much between babies and you’ll kick yourself the second time around if you have to go out and try on all new stuff. It was hardly pleasant the first time.

3.)  Donate: Done with being pregnant? Don’t just throw them away. So many organizations in Chicago make a lot of money off thrift stores. Donating keeps clothes out of landfills and makes your great finds more affordable for their next owner.

4.)  Alter: For some reason nobody has clothes altered anymore. The poor seamstresses of Chicago must be really hurting. If you spent more than $150 on something and it no longer fits, for generally less than $20 it’s totally worth the money to have to tailored to your new size. Love that dress you wore to a holiday party when you were pregnant? Spent too much on it? Make it part of your permanent collection with a few simple alterations.

5.)  Give Them Away: Know anybody who’s expecting? Maybe they’d like to go shopping in your closet. We all hate hand-me-downs, but for something as seemingly ephemeral as maternity clothing, why not borrow a few things?

I’m not quite sure what to tell you to do with your nursing bras. I think those are okay to toss once used, but for all other maternity items, get a little longer than nine months out of them!

Every other week both locations welcome out our favorite story reader, Nili Yelin.  Nili comes not only with a following but a bag of her favorite books and even some off our own shelves. The question we always get is, “how old is Story Time aimed at?” My reply is this, every age. No matter if you have a babe in arms or a full grown child, literacy is important. Studies show that the earliest you expose your babies to reading and listening, the quicker they learn to read.

The great thing about Nili is that she throws a lot of clean jokes to the parents. Often I eavesdrop and get a little chuckle at her commentary. Several parents have even met and become friends through the bi-weekly Story Times. Often parents who are in the social transition into motherhood can feel left out, or lonely because they haven’t yet met the “moms.” At Urba Baby we want to help our Urba Mamas connect and form new friendships with neighbors.

In addition to the regularly scheduled Story Times, we offer special holiday events. During the winter holidays we had two very fun themed Story Times with cookies, juice and coffee! Story Time is on a somewhat open house basis, we really appreciate pre-registration just so that we know how many seats to put out. Please check the event section of our website to determine which locations and dates work best for your family. Nannies and babysitters more than welcome!

Join us the 2nd & 4th Thursdays of every month at 10:30am for our FREE Story-time with Nili Yelin at Urba Lincoln Park!

Join us the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of every month at 10:30am for our FREE Story-time with Nili Yelin at Urba Wicker Park!

Written By: John Accrocco

I am not saying I am a superwoman but I normally, pardon my French, have my “shit” together and am at the top of my game 24/7 (or at least I think I am). Now skip to the past two weeks as I have reached approximately 36 weeks of pregnancy and welcome “baby brain”. For some reason I have blacked out everything I went through while I was pregnant with my first son, “little e”, and feel like everything is so different this time. I was reminded so nicely last night in fact, that indeed I was going through the same things I did previously by UrbaDada. Of course he would know! Anyways, the bottom line is this whole “baby brain” aka “hot mess” is so true. I am a serial hot mess pregnant mama and I can’t stand it.

Let’s just start from the beginning, since Monday I have…

1. Gotten stuck: Yes, my oversized bump makes it hard for me to navigate myself through the simplest everyday situations. Seriously, who gets stuck like a beached whale when trying to rotate from one side to the other when they are sleeping? Come on! Then I so nicely smack my baby bump into my manager’s chair everyday when I try to get up from my desk. She laughs, I laugh but it’s starting to get annoying. Here’s a good one, since I am peeing like a race horse right now every 2 – 3 minutes it feels like, try fitting your baby bump into a normal stall at any public place.  Jeez!

2. Forgetful Mama: I can’t remember CRAP! I mean, the littlest things I can’t remember.  I can be mid conversation and if I get even remotely distracted with something else I completely forget what I was talking about. I start a conversation with, “so I wanted to tell you…” and they say, “what” and I say, “O I forget what I was saying”.

3. Multitasking…No way! I was the queen of multitasking; I could write, talk, text, eat, and nurse a baby at once. Not anymore, just forget about it! My team will be talking and my head feels like it’s rotating around and around like the girl in Exorcist and I can’t even focus on what they are all talking about. I have to say, “slow down, one thing at a time”. Who the heck is this lady?!  I never have to say that, I am in the “move it, or lose it” mindset all the time.

4. Clumsymumsie: Who taught me how to walk? Come on, I am 29 years old and I freaking trip at least 3 times a day. I even banned high heels from my wardrobe for the past two years or so since having kids; flip-flops and flats are my shoe choice lately how difficult can that be?

5. Messy Mommy: I have a 1.5 year old who makes less of a mess eating than I do lately; I think he should be putting the bib on me. I can’t eat one meal without spilling half of it on “the bump”. It’s almost stopped me from wanting to eat in public because I just know it will end up on my belly at some point. Then there is the go to the restroom, try to reach the faucet, and bam! Water on my belly from the sink; gaad!

The amount of giggling, “your so cute” moments from my husband have increased so much lately it’s out of control. I don’t want to be “cute” I want to me a supermom that has her shit together with some sexy on the side. But certainly the “sexy” has taken a backseat to the hot mess appearance I have been displaying lately.

Don’t get me wrong, I love being pregnant, adore my husband and love being a mommy but come on, can’t I catch a pregnancy break? I am already a big mamasita, I’d at least like to feel functional and able to make it through the day without one of the items listed above. I have realized that if I just have good humor about all of this it’s easier to get through, so you will catch me laughing at myself. I mean, there is not much I can really do about it at this point, right?!

I hope all you UrbaBumps out there realize you’re not alone and if you need to vent stop by Urba Baby and let’s chat! We can laugh together at ourselves.

Father’s Day is just around the corner, so let us take some time to reflect on the roles dads play in our lives. One of our hottest selling children’s books titled Daddies Do it Differently by Allen Lawrence Sitomer sympathizes with a lot of moms when they leave the kids at home with dad. Luckily for the kids in Daddies Do it Different, time with daddy ends up being a fun change-up from time with mom. Sitomer has a great way of pointing out the inherent differences in the ways women and men parent but in a comical and relatable way. He concludes the book with the message that no matter what, both mommy and daddy always have their kids’ best interest in mind and at the end of the day the important things stay the same.

For a lot of today’s parents, the traditional gender roles of mom at home while dad is at work have been completely reversed. Even TV sitcoms like NBC’s Up All Night examine the lifestyle of the stay-at-home-dad. When the recession hit full-force back in 2008, the U.S. saw a huge increase in stay-at-home dads as one or both parents got laid off or started working from home. In 2008 an estimated 140,000 men became the primary childcare givers while their wives went to work. Even though that seems like a high number, it still only accounts for about 2.7 percent of all households with children in the U.S. What would you think about your husband being the primary childcare provider in your household? Would it make things easier for you? Or would you spend more time worrying that things weren’t going how you want?

From our storefront in Lincoln Park, we have the advantage of seeing a lot of different kinds of families walking by. Almost half of the stroller brigade walking up and down Armitage are being helmed by dads. Perhaps in 2012 the typical gender stereotypes are fading away as gender equality becomes the norm. This year instead of celebrating what popular culture says dads should be like, take time to tell your dad or husband what he does specifically to benefit your household.

I have been asked several times from my pregnant friends and Urba Baby customers, what do I register for? So with that said…I have decided to write a baby registry 411 list for you.

Registering for your baby can be an overwhelming experience especially when most baby registry checklists have over 100 items on them! Seriously, do you need all that stuff? NOPE!

I can honestly say, that the first time I registered for my first baby I broke down crying in the crib section of Babies R’ Us picking out the bedding. So yes, I was totally overwhelmed. Now that I am a mom and am expecting baby #2 this summer, I thought that I could help ease the stress of registering for your baby shower by sharing some of the “must-have” items I couldn’t live with out during the first year. You certainly do not need everything on this list or any list for that matter, but this is what I liked, why I liked it, and what I used on a daily basis.  Hope this helps when you are trying to register and eases your mind!

1. Car Seat: Chicco Keyfit 30 Infant Car Seat – We loved ours and it’s one of the safest on the market (Ask to try it out in your car before you buy it!)
2. Stroller: Baby Jogger City Mini – We loved this because it’s lightweight, easy to use in the city, durable, one hand closer, which for moms & dads will make it easier when your trying to go up and down stairs or have your hands full; I am going to get the double one for the new addition.
3. Swing: Lifesaver for the first several months (6 months) – great for naps and to put the baby in when you are trying to keep the house etc. in order.
4. Snuggle Nest: Great for naps, we used ours on the bed between us a lot! Our son did sleep in our bed at the beginning and this was great because it protects them.
5. Boppy: I had three of these and slipcovers that I would wash non-stop – great for nursing, cradling the baby in and holding the baby so your arms don’t fall asleep.  When they get older you can use it for support to prop them up and sit up. I even had one in my car and took one on the plane when we traveled!
6. Breast Pump: If you plan to nurse I would highly recommend the Medela Freestyle Hands Free Pump – it was awesome and super easy to use! I liked the Medela bottles for storing the milk too!
7. Pacifier: If you choose to use them (we loved it because it soothed him) every baby is different but our son loved the MAM ones.
8. Bottles: I would recommend Medela, but again all babies are different so I wouldn’t buy many at first because you might end up wasting them like I did and he didn’t use them at all for us! I was a nursing queen 24/7 for the first year!
9. Baby Food Processor: You don’t need this right away but if you want to make your own baby food then I would recommend the Baby Bullet. I actually bought the Beaba, which is great but the bullet is so much easier to use.
10. Nursing Bras: BRAVADO all the way! You will live in these bras 24/7! I liked the seamless one.
11. Nursing Pads: I liked the Lansinoh brand the best – thin and they don’t show through your bra or shirt. If you want something organic I would suggest the Bamboobies washable nursing pads.
12. Nursing Cover: To have some privacy while you nurse I would recommend getting one of these. Bebe Au Lait or Hooter Hiders work great and I am also a big fan of the Molly Ades Nursing Poncho!
13. Bouncer: Great for when you need to take a shower, when you cook, clean;  it’s just a great safe place for the baby to be.  We used it a lot!
14. Swaddle Blanket: The Miracle Blanket all the way!! The gift of sleep!!!
15. Bassinet: For about the first 3 months we used this in our room, but again he slept in our bed swaddled in Boppy or snuggle nest a lot – just being honest.   I would recommend trying to get your baby into the crib sooner rather than later though (with this one I am going to do it sooner than we did with our 1^st son because parents need to get some sleep).  We did do a semi-cry out method with soothing with our son to transition him into his crib and I don’t regret it for a second because you can’t function as a parent if you don’t get sleep!
16. Fitted Hats, Booties, onesies, and scratch mitts: You’ll use these a lot! All of those cute outfits that they will wear once or never are just not practical when they are newborns. We love Kicky Pants Footie PJs with scratch mitts – they are AWESOME! Our son still uses the coverall version at 22m and sleeps like a gem because bamboo regulates their body temperature better than cotton; UrbaDada swears by them! We carry a brand called Westcoast Baby and their booties, mitts and hats are fantastic and actually stay on!
17. Socks: Trumpette socks are the best and the only socks that stay on!
18. Bedding: Bumpers are not allowed in the crib – so don’t buy one. All you need is a fitted crib sheet and bed skirt. Nothing else can go in a crib; no pillows or stuffed animals etc.
19. Crib: We bought ours both times at Beautiful Beginnings.  We bought the convertible cribs so that they can change into a toddler bed and then a full size bed.
20. Changing Table: You’ll need a changing table, changing pad and changing covers (get at least 2-3 of these); the blowouts will happen and you’ll need to wash them!
21. Diaper Container: We have a diaper genie, they are really all pretty hard to use to be honest, we use it because it contains the smell the best but I have the hardest time changing it out – UrbaDada always has to change it out for me. 
22. Diaper Caddy: I like the JJ Cole Diaper Caddy.  Simple, easy to use, has a drawer, changing pad etc.
23. For Winter: JJ Cole Bundle Me for your stroller and car seat, the BabbaCo Beep Beep Snuggle Fleece (it was perfect for going to dinner and keeping them asleep and covered so people don’t touch them etc.) and Zutano has the best hats and mittens for babies.
24. Toys: Get the Sophie The Giraffe toy!  Everyone has one because it’s awesome! Newborn babies do not need many toys at the beginning so basic rings, teethers and rattles are all good.
25. Rocking Chair: This should be comfortable enough to sleep in! I am serious! We slept in our rocking chair non-stop. We got ours custom made at Beautiful Beginnings and it was worth every penny.
26. Play Mat: Something for tummy time, and floor playtime that stimulates their senses – lots of color and music.
27. Diapers and wipes – you do not need a diaper wipe warmer or bottle warmer.   I liked Pampers Swaddlers with the indicator stripe (it turns green when they pee!) and Huggies wipes; you’ll find what you like, it’s just personal preference.
28. Diaper Bag: I bought a designer one and never used it. Go simple and easy to use – we love our Ju-Ju-Be Be Tween diaper bag.  Don’t go too big or you will end up carrying way too much stuff and also get something you’ll both want to carry (you only need one). With two I am going to get the backpack version of the Ju-Ju-Be bag we have.
29. Carrier/Wrap: This again is personal preference but I LOVED my ERGObaby carrier and UrbaDada liked the Baby Bijorn. The Bijorn hurt my back and was hard for me to put on by myself whereas the ERGObaby was more comfortable (sits on your hips evenly) and is easy for me to use on my own. We have both! I didn’t use a wrap with my first son but I might with this one so I would recommend you try the Baby K’Tan or Moby Wrap if you want to go this route. Also, we sell a brand called RoSK and it has an awesome blanket that ties onto your carrier or stroller (other blankets just fly off if the wind blows ,“Windy City”) so I would recommend this for sure, plus they have a NEW Sun Cover UPF 45+ too!
30. Travel Crib: Get the Bijorn Travel Crib, pricey but way better than a pack n’ play.
31. Bath Tub: Get whatever you think you will like, no specific one is better. Get some hooded bath towels with washcloths. I like Zoe Organics Skincare, Episencial or just basic Johnson & Johnson will work. Get a temperature tester and cover for the faucet too!
32. On The go stroller: McLaren snap and go.  We used it a lot! Keep it in the car and you can snap your car seat right in and go.
33. Baby Monitor: Summer Infant worked great for us.
34. Wipes: We use the Johnson & Johnson Baby Hand & Face wipes (you can clean the baby, sanitize high chairs, clean binkies etc.)
35. Safety/Health: Nail clippers, thermometer, etc.
36. Parenting Books: Baby 411 – This will save you many calls and trips to the doctor, it answers all of your questions and get Dads Pregnant Too (great for the daddy!)
37. High Chair: You won’t need this right away, so you don’t need to register if you don’t want to; they have some many different kinds out there. You can also get the claw type that hook right onto your counter and take up less space.

Add-on’s: Basket for the dishwasher, brush for the bottles, Nap Nanny and Dapple cleaning supplies (We use dapple everyday in our house!).

Add-on’s for Mama: A Hot Mama Gown for when you are in the hospital and want to look & feel fabulous and Chewbeads which is wearable, but fashionable, teething jewelry (necklaces & bracelets), for moms but awesome for babies too!

Well Moms and Dads…I hope this list helps you when you are registering for your little one(s). Wishing you all the best during your pregnancy and delivery!

Sincerely,

UrbaMama

Founder of Urba Baby

P.S. When you have a tot be-sure to check back for my “UrbaMama Tot Must-Haves List”.

Real Chicago Mom: Marti G.

Marti G. is the mother of a 20-month old little boy and is expecting baby boy #2 in July 2012! She is also the owner of Urba Baby, the newest community baby store that caters to on-the-go city families and has hand-picked must-have essentials for your child’s every day. Urba baby believes in bringing community resources to city families by offering classes, workshops and hosting events. Urba Baby is currently located in the Lincoln Park and will be opening a new location this summer 2012!

Marti’s Family Travel Tips

When traveling with our UrbaTot we have learned to keep it simple, less is more! We love our Bijorn travel crib and Ju-Ju-Be Be Tween diaper bag. We always have to have our ZoLi Bot Straw Sippy Cup (Non-spill!) and snacks!

When traveling and staying in a hotel one tip I learned from my friend Cindy McCarthy over at On The Go Chicago is that we always request the handicap room because it has the larger bathroom which can double as a bedroom for the baby or we get a suite with a separate room, this allows the baby to go to bed and for us to still be able to hangout while on vacation.

Marti’s Favorite Family-Friendly Chicago Destinations

• Restaurant: Frasca Pizzeria + Wine Bar - Kids eat FREE M-F 4-6pm (Family-friendly, great deals and kids eat FREE!)
• Dessert: Scooter’s Frozen Custard - They give FREE mini cones with sprinkles to the kids with an adult purchase (The mini cones are so cute and our little guy loves this special treat).
• Outdoor Play: Adam’s Playground – Has a water park and playground! (Near Urba Baby and great for the summer)
• Best Classes: Bubbles Academy – Awesome classes with open play (We love Miss Sam and Miss Lauren who teach Bubble Prep and Music class)
• Indoor Play: Little Beans Café – Great indoor play space with a café
• Sports: Lil’ Kickers at Bradley Place – Our son LOVES Lil’ Kickers

You can find Marti on Facebook or follow her on Twitter!

Family Travel with Colleen Kelly airs this Friday, May 4 at 8:30pm on Chicago’s WTTW. If you can’t catch it, just DVR it!

To read the full article CLICK HERE!

Well, I am so glad I had my notebook because I learned so much and I had to share this info in case you missed this class.

From Sara, at GRASP:

1. Regression with Baby #1 “aka your tot” is normal when baby #2 arrives
   1. Continue making them feel safe, secure and comfortable
   2. Continue their normal daily activities that make them happy
   3. They make start talking like a baby, want the pacifier again, a baby bottle, crawl etc – just go with it! They won’t do this permanently but if it makes them feel secure and happy then let it be.
   4. When they regress they are expressing their insecurity, don’t discipline, go with it! If you stop it or discipline you may cause some anxiety from your tot.
   5. Let your tot help take care of the baby!
      1. Give them a task “tot friendly” that they can do for the baby all the time (getting you the diapers, getting the bottle, etc.)
      2. Insure that you have ALONE time with your Tot!
      3. Don’t use “older” or “younger” or “baby” and “big boy” names – they will start to resent their title – use something like you were my #1 and this is #2 for example
      4. In Baby #2’s bedroom where you might be nursing, had a “special” box for Baby #1 that you can give them to keep them occupied and happy while you nurse – they will be excited when it’s nursing time
      5. Avoid change during this transition (new care giver, taking the pacifier away, changing to a tot bed, potty training etc.)
      6. When the baby arrives:
         1. Get them to bond “healthy bonding” – cuddle time and get them on the floor together “eye to eye” have the tot talk to them, sing, touch etc. and compliment the tot on how well they are doing
         2. Share with your tot how a baby “talks” aka when they baby stares at you that means he/she likes you – a baby crys vs. talks when they need something
         3. Give the tot a “job” a task that makes them feel apart of the babies care – it will keep them busy
         4. Your tot will feel emotions so honor those feelings
         5. Make sure your tot knows the plan
            1. Explain the steps of what will happen when mommy goes to the hospital to have the baby etc.
            2. Explain that “everyone is coming home”
            3. Take a visit to the hospital prior to having the baby to show your tot around so it’s more familiar to them
            4. Get books on new siblings  (age appropriate with explanations)
            5. Get a special gift from the new baby to the older baby “A gift from the baby”
            6. When your tot comes to the hospital to see you for the first time – give the attention to the tot, both parents should not be holding the baby. After he/she “the tot” gets comfortable and has gotten his attention, then have him go to the crib/bassinet to meet the baby and have him hold the baby etc.

From Cindy, at On The Go Chicago:

1. Don’t get trapped in your house – get out for walks, plan a play date or go to the park etc.
2. Check to make sure when you are signing Baby #1 up for classes that you are allowed to bring Baby #2 with you or if there is a fee or special day care space for them.
3. Ask for a sibling discount – you never know until you ask, and you get what you ask for!
4. Look for parks that are small and enclosed – if you have to nurse baby #2 you can also have an eye on Baby #1
5. Look for parks with bathrooms – you might be in the middle of potty training and having a bathroom at the park is a plus!
6. Check to see if the beaches are handicap friendly because handicap friendly = kid friendly (They have access ramps so you can roll your stroller right down to the beach)
7. Pick one museum depending on your kids “likes” and get a membership for the year! Or get the pass for all 4 museums so you can have FREE play dates anytime – also ask a friend if they want to buy a membership so you can go together.
8. Don’t be afraid of the “leash” when you have two kids in tow. You can get fun backpack style bags with characters that have a tail “aka the leash” but this way you are not restraining your child into a stroller to keep them safe. They can explore and you can keep an eye on both babies.
9. When loading Baby #1 and Baby #2 into the car put the older one in first while keeping the smaller one in their car seat by your feet and then put the smaller one in. The smaller one can’t run away like the older one will!

This is a lot of information but after learning all of this I know I feel much better about the whole two babies experience that will be here in no time! Please let us know if you have any questions, you can contact Cindy McCarthy, NPN Board Member and founder of onthegoChicago.com or Sara Sladoje, co-founder of GRASP - Support Services to GROW AS PARENTS, which provides consultation, therapy, mom “play date plus” groups and educational workshops.

*Real moms who have experienced having more than one child provided all of this information; this is merely just their personal thoughts.