Every single one of us wants our baby’s nursery to be adorable. For many, it’s part of the experience of new motherhood, especially once those nesting instincts kick in toward the end of pregnancy. But every experienced mama knows that when it comes to raising kids, function always comes before form. No matter how stylish you are or how well you’ve curated your baby’s aesthetic, you’ll eventually realize that convenience and ease are paramount to making your days with a baby as enjoyable as possible.

Not to mention that most of us don’t have the money to splurge on high-end nursery items exquisitely designed for both functionality and visual appeal. We have to make it work and do the best we can within our budgets.

With that in mind, we teamed up with influencer and toddler mom Miyaeva Renae, who has totally mastered creating the simple but stylish look in all areas of her life, including for her baby. Here, she’s sharing her top 10 tips for creating a stylish but still functional nursery.

1. Keep it neutral but cozy. I love a soft base (greens, creams, light colors, light wood) and then layering blankets, toys, or little pops of color so it doesn’t feel overwhelming.

2. Choose furniture that does double duty. A dresser that’s also the changing table or a crib that grows into a toddler bed = less buying later and more room now. 

3. Use all the baskets + bins. You literally can’t have too many. Diapers in one, toys in another, and blankets in a big basket by the crib. Keep it looking put together without stressing about clutter. 

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4. Choose easy-clean everything! Sheets, rugs, slipcovers … if it’s not washable, it doesn’t belong in a nursery. Cute and realistic. 

5. Select lighting that sets the mood. A dim lamp, soft nightlight, or even a salt lamp makes late night feeds way easier and the whole room feels calming. 

6. Use the walls!! Add floating shelves for books, little hooks for swaddles, or even a hanging organizer for quick-grab stuff. Saves floor space and looks cute. 
    

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7. Your corner matters too! Choose a cozy chair, small side table, and maybe a basket with snacks and water for you. Night feeds are a lot easier when you’re comfortable. 

8. Textures > clutter. Instead of cramming it with décor, add texture to your baby’s nursery with a rug, curtains, or knit blanket. It still feels styled without being “too much.” 

9. Hide the mess in style! A cute hamper, storage ottoman, or lidded baskets help to minimize visual clutter, something that tends to add to the overstimulation factor for both mom and baby. Put things out of sight but not out of reach. 

10. Keep it pretty but safe. Anchored furniture, cordless blinds, and soft rugs are all great for functional safety. And if you pick the right pieces, they can still look aesthetic, even on a Target budget.
     

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You’ve heard of baby showers, but what about grandma baby showers?

That’s right, as today’s grandparents are more involved with their grandchildren than ever before, some are choosing to stock their own living spaces with baby gear.

Today explains how the ‘grandma shower’ trend is evolving, ranging from full-on showers with the mom-to-be and the grandma to a small gathering to celebrate a new grandparent.

The grandma baby showers can be practical, with gifts and gear actually needed to help parents care for a new baby, like extra car seats or a playpen in their home, to more thoughtful in nature. For instance, a small afternoon tea where a grandma-to-be’s friends gather to present her with a thoughtful book or congratulations.

Some think the trend is sweet (and often helpful if grandma is now fully stocked for sleepovers!), while others are calling it full-on “stupid,” but as with all things parenting, to each their own, right?

If you were curious about the trend or interested in throwing your own grandma shower, we found some products to make it happen!

The post People Are Hosting ‘Grandma Showers’ and Not Everyone Agrees They’re a Great Idea appeared first on Mom.com.

Pregnancy is beautiful, but it can also be deeply uncomfortable. From first trimester morning sickness, to second trimester round ligament pain, to third trimester swelling, moms-to-be go through a lot. Growing a new life can be hard on an expecting mom’s body. Luckily, there are a lot of products to help keep pregnant people comfortable. On Mother’s Day, celebrate the mom-to-be in your life by helping her enjoy her pregnancy more.

Here are some Mother’s Day gifts that will keep pregnant women comfortable:

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During pregnancy, it’s important to be conscious of everything you’re putting in your body. We all know to be cautious about the common culprits (soft cheese, alcohol, caffeine), but a lot of people don’t realize there are herbs that aren’t safe for pregnancy. So before you ditch your cup of coffee for an herbal tea, make sure you know what ingredients are safe for pregnancy.

Many people forget that herbs are the oldest form of medicine on earth. Before the boom of the pharmaceutical industry, herbs were prescribed for many ailments. I like to think of herbs as Mother Earth’s way of taking care of her creations (us humans). It’s important we do not underestimate their power, and do not drink herbs “just for fun” without understanding their properties.

Some herbs to avoid during pregnancy might seem obvious, as they are uncommon and hard to come by. A few examples include Ashwagandha Root, Blue Cohosh, Catnip, Feverfew, and St. John’s wort.

But other herbs aren’t as obvious, and are commonly used in food, herbal tea, and mocktails. In Western medicine, many of these herbs are often recommended during pregnancy to support morning sickness, upset stomach, headaches and nausea. However, in Eastern medicine, and among many herbalists, herbs such as Ginger are not recommended during pregnancy, especially during the 1st trimester. This is due to their emmenagogue and potential abortifacient effects.

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medication, it is best to limit consumption to no more than one cup of herbal tea per day. While most herbs are safe in small doses, it is still best to consult your healthcare practitioner before consumption, especially if you plan to consume them regularly or more than once daily.

A few common herbs to consider avoiding during pregnancy include Ginger, Lemon Balm, Peppermint, Rosemary, and Sage.

If you’re interested in learning more about herbs and contraindications, I highly recommend reading “Herbal Contraindications and Drug Interactions” by Francis J. Brinker. Here are a few highlights from the book, referencing the common herbs above and their respective contraindications:

Ginger

“Avoid using in pregnancy, due to its emmenagogue and potential abortifacient effects as shown by increased embryonic loss when ginger is consumed regularly as a tea (PO in rats). Some therefore indicate ginger should not be used for morning sickness, especially in large amounts. Use only with expert advice in this case.”

Lemon Balm

“Avoid in pregnancy, due to its emmenagogue effect as well as its antithyrotropic and antigonadotropic activity.”

Peppermint

“Excessive use should be avoided in early pregnancy, due to its emmenagogue effect.”

Sage

“Avoid in pregnancy, due to its emmenagogue and abortifacient effects and potential for fetotoxicity. It should not be used by nursing mothers, unless the intent is to stop milk flow.”

Turmeric

“Avoid in pregnancy, due to reported emmenagogue and abortifacient effects from its uterine stimulant activity (in vitro or in animals).”

Reminder that the above list is just a select few of the many herbs that may be unsafe to consume during pregnancy. In general, it is best to avoid herbs while pregnant unless approved by your healthcare practitioner.

If you find yourself still craving a cup of tea, try a slice of lemon with hot water or a decaf green tea. For non-alcoholic and pregnancy-safe mocktail options, check out “Why ‘Non-Alcoholic’ Doesn’t Always Mean Safe During Pregnancy“

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The non-alcoholic adult beverage market is booming and for many good reasons. But if you’re pregnant and planning to switch to non-alcoholic alternatives during pregnancy, you might want to think again.

Many non-alcoholic alternative products contain medicinal herbs (like ashwagandha root, lemon balm, and peppermint) that are contraindicated (not recommended) during pregnancy. As with any new market, regulations are not yet buttoned up and some brands are placing disclaimers on their packaging — but many are not. 

With off-the-shelf non-alcoholic alternative products trending, it’s important to be mindful of the ingredients and proceed with caution before consumption. Here are a few examples of non-alcoholic options that should probably be avoided during early pregnancy. Again, when in doubt, check the ingredients and consult your healthcare practitioner. Many unsafe items will have a warning; be on the lookout as these warnings are often printed in very small font.

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In today’s day and age, everything is political — even baby names. A study by Nameberry dives into red state and blue state baby names, and the results have caused quite a stir online. Although the study was originally published in August 2024, it’s getting widespread traction all over the internet recently. While many people probably assume that parents in red states choose more traditional names and parents in blue states choose more unique names, it turns out the opposite is actually true.

The data, which was collected from 2023 social security card applications and the 2020 US presidential election, was analyzed by Nameberry, and the findings are fascinating. The analysis looks at which of the Top 500 baby names in the US were chosen in predominantly red or blue states. It’s not just the top names in each state — instead, it’s about the names with the highest disparity in red states versus blue states.

Nameberry creator Pamela Redmond said, “Our findings show an America deeply divided on baby names in ways that point to larger and more profound conflicts in American culture and ideals.”

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Here are the main takeaways from the study:

• The reddest baby names shun traditional naming conventions around gender, spelling, and first/last names.
• The reddest names “set forth an American ideal deeply rooted in the land and family heritage.”
• The bluest baby names “celebrate America as a melting pot while also honoring tradition.” Many of these names reflect the diverse population of blue states.
• The bluest names tend to be traditional first names that draw inspiration from historical, religious, and international sources.

The Bluest Baby Names

Here’s a quick explanation of how to read these charts, using Fiona as an example: 77.7% of baby girls named Fiona in the US in 2023 were born in blue states, while 21.3% of baby girls named Fiona were born in red states.

Other baby girl names that are much more popular in blue states than red states include: Brooke (70.5%), Rachel (70.5%), Celine (70.3%), Adelina (69.9%), Maia (69.6%), Maya (69.3%), Viviana (69.3%), Esme (68.6%), Fatima (68.6%), Kaia (68.2%), Colette (68.2%), Anya (68%), Maeve (67.9%), and Sienna (67.8%).

Other baby boy names that are much more popular in blue states than red states include: Colin (72%), Francis (71.8%), Angelo (70%), Remy (69.6%), Desmond (68.4%), Felix (68%), Frank (68%), Zayn (67.9%), Gianni (67.9%), Hugo (67.8%), Sean (67.8%), Rhys (67.8%), Rory (67.5%), Kian (67.3%), and Connor (67%).

Takeaways:

The name disparities in blue states can primarily be explained by ethnic differences — and 70% of the bluest baby names have theological ties. Many of the bluest names are rooted in Jewish (like Moshe and Miriam), Muslim (like Muhammad, Yusuf, Ibrahim, Maryam, Ali, and Aisha), Italian (like Santino, Viviana, and Nico), and Irish (like Maeve and Rory) culture — and 84% of these names come from non-English languages.

The Reddest Baby Names

Other baby girl names that are much more popular in red states than blue states include: Palmer (60%), Haisley (59%), Armani (58.5%), Sutton (58.5%), Marlee (58.4%), Charlee (58.4%), Brynlee (58.2%), Remington (58.1%), Hallie (58%), Evelynn (57.4%), Paisley (56.4%), Navy (56.1%), Emory (56%), Macie (55.4%), and Allie (55.3%).

Other baby boy names that are much more popular in red states than blue states include: Jensen (60.9%), Lawson (60.7%), Hayes (60%), Colter (59.7%), Waylon (59.4%), Shepherd (59%), Banks (58.9%), Karson (58.3%), Kayson (58.3%), Beckham (58.2%), Knox (58.2%), Daxton (57.8%), Tucker (57.6%), Kashton (57.4%), and Dallas (57.3%).

Takeaways:

Some of the biggest trends among the reddest names are last names as first names (like Collins, Cohen/Kohen, Baker, and anything ending in -son), romanticized rural imagery (like Stetson, Paisley, Shepherd, and Colter), nature motifs (like all of the Oak- varieties, Palmer, and Banks), and military/gun-themed (like Gunner, Knox, Remington, Navy, and Saylor). Spelling is also up for interpretation with many of the reddest names, which is why we see so many different versions of Oakley/Oakleigh/Oaklee.

Public Reactions

People have had a variety of reactions to the name data — some find it fascinating, others find it funny, and still others are upset that even names have become “politicized.”

One woman wrote, “Why are we making baby names political? It’s hard enough without the ‘red name, blue name’ thing.”

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Since the information started going viral recently, there have been even more reactions. One recent tweet that referenced the data said, “We have actual American White ethnic names now. It took 250 years but it happened.”

“I must be getting older,” one person tweeted. “All these names read like a Hunger Games character list.”

The data even reached other countries, where people were baffled by some of the red state names. One man wrote, “It’s interesting, too, because they’re genuinely AMERICAN white ethnic names — I have never met or heard of a single child called any of them here in NZ. Or in any other country I’ve been to. Kind of mind-blowing.”

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While your baby is busy growing in your womb, your friends and family are prepping for your little one’s arrival by showering you with presents. Before browsing all your favorite stores online, think about the basics to put on your baby registry. Whether you’re a first-time mom or have done the baby thing before, making a list of baby registry essentials will make life easier for you and the people who are buying you gifts.

Here are some of our baby registry must-haves for first-time moms:

Driving and Strolling

A car seat is a baby basic that you’ll need in order to take your little one home from the hospital. A rear-facing seat is necessary for your baby — the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping babies rear-facing for as long as possible (usually around 40 pounds). You can also register for a convertible car seat — one that faces the rear and is good for up to 40 pounds and also works facing front for up to 80 pounds. Baby registries can also include items for walking such as a wrap or structured carrier or a stroller. Stroller choices include combination travel strollers with car seat compatibility, strollers with bassinet attachments for infants, reclining single strollers, jogging strollers, double strollers for twins or siblings, and light-weight umbrella strollers.

Care and Cleaning

Baby care basics include soap, shampoo, lotion, and other cleansing items. Look for an all-purpose cleanser that is mild and made for infants. Continue the bath-time items list with infant-sized washcloths, hooded towels, and even bath toys. You may also want to include diapers, wipes, mild baby lotion, diaper rash cream, and a place to pitch the dirty diapers, such as a plastic diaper pail. If you have chosen to use cloth diapers, add on coverings and fasteners. Don’t forget a changing pad and changing pad liners/covers.

Feeding

If you’re planning to breastfeed, choose items such as a nursing pillow and a breast pump. Although you may plan on breastfeeding, adding bottle basics to your registry may prove helpful if you decide to pump or combination feed with formula. Parents often need to experiment with bottle type and nipple combinations to find the one that works best for their baby. With this in mind, register for a few different options along with bottle cleaning brushes and burp cloths. Look ahead and add sippy cups — which your child will start to use by 12 months — as well as bibs, toddler-sized bowls, dishes, and utensils.

Dressing and Sleeping

Add baby clothes to your registry, including onesies, socks, caps, pull-on leggings, snap-front T-shirts, and sleepers. Don’t forget non-clothing items that you will wrap your newborn in, such as swaddling blankets. You’ll also need crib/bassinet sheets, mattress covers, and blankets for when your baby is older (blankets are not recommended for newborns or infants).

Health

There are a few health products you’ll want to make sure to register for, like a baby nail clipper/file, a thermometer, a nasal aspirator, a humidifier, and infant medication. Although you won’t need it right away, a baby-proofing kit is also a great registry addition.

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“Pregnancy is natural, normal, healthy, and safe for me and my baby. My baby is healthy and safe inside me now. I am completely cooperating with my body as I nurture my baby….”

These are the first words in the “Joyful Pregnancy Affirmations” track from the Hypnobabies learning course. The idea of the affirmations is to help soon-to-be mothers approach labor with a “positive attitude.” Hypnobabies, and hypnobirthing in general, is so focused on positive attitude that the program even discourages the use of words like “labor” and “contractions” — which tend to have negative connotations — opting for words like “birthing time” and “pressure waves.”

In my final weeks of pregnancy, I found myself listening to these hypnobirthing affirmations every day, along with not one but two 30- 40-minute hypnosis tracks. In addition, I spent a few hours each week completing the online course, learning about things like the “finger drop” technique and spinning baby exercises.

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As you approach your due date, it’s natural to want to start prepping for the baby’s arrival. You can do this by decorating their nursery, organizing their items, and just generally getting your life in order to welcome a newborn. But if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of building furniture, washing and folding a ton of baby clothes, and preparing your home, one thing you can do is have your friends and family help. That’s right, throw a nesting party.

Here’s everything to know about the party trend, and how it helps to build community.

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Somewhere in the third trimester of pregnancy, many women experience the urge to clean, organize, and get things in order before baby arrives. Nesting while pregnant is a totally normal experience, and it can be accompanied by a burst of energy. You might go from napping multiple times a day to washing and folding all of your baby’s clothes in one day. Everyone prioritizes different tasks while nesting (some people clean their entire house, while others focus on creating the perfect nursery), but it’s all worthwhile.

Here are some tips from real moms on how to make the most of that nesting instinct.

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