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in Episodes on March 13, 2018 by The Mom Hour

Baby Shower Gift Ideas (& My, How Things Have Changed): Episode 147



Whether you’re expecting a new baby or love showering friends with thoughtful baby gifts, this episode is for you. Meagan and Sarah enlist the help of some savvy new moms to get the latest product must-haves, plus rely on our own experience and the benefit of hindsight to dissect what’s really essential, what you can probably pass on, and which gifts go the distance. Join us!

Sponsor Spotlight: Annie’s Kit Clubs

Annie’s Kit Clubs makes it easy for your kids to become makers and builders with their crafting and woodworking kits for kids ages 7-12. Kits arrive every 4-6 weeks with the materials kids need to make a beautiful craft or woodworking project completely on their own (little to no supervision required!). For 50% off the Young Woodworkers Club or 80% off the Creative Girls Club, visit annieskitclubs.com/life.

Sponsor Spotlight: Canvas People

What are we doing with all these photos on our phones, mamas? Now you can print your favorites on a beautiful piece of art with Canvas People. Get your own 11×14 Canvas People print for FREE (you just pay shipping and handling) when you visit Canvas People.com and use our special code MOMHOUR.

Links we mentioned (or should have) in Episode 147

All the product links are in their own lists below. Special thanks to our own Katie Addiss and the awesome focus group of new moms from Denver and Minneapolis for their contributions and ideas!

  • Struggles, Successes & Discoveries (Episode 133 that contains the lengthy discussion about cleaning humidifiers)
  • Gift Ideas For Babies, Toddlers & Little Kids (one of our holiday gift guide episodes that contains more great gift ideas for new babies, including some of our favorite books and toys for baby’s first year)

Baby Shower Gift Ideas

Amazon links are affiliates. That means if you click through and make a purchase you’ll be helping support The Mom Hour at no additional cost to you. Thank you for helping us continue to produce the podcast!

Go-to gifts from moms who know what’s up:

  • All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon – Sarah’s new favorite book to give as a new baby gift
  • Zutano Cozie Fleece Baby Booties With Grippers
  • Soft moccasins for pre-walkers, like any made by Robeez or these from Minnetonka
  • We both love Tea Collection for their soft cotton play clothes and jammies
  • Boppy Newborn Lounger
  • Leachco Podster Sling-Style Infant Seat Lounger
  • Boppy Nursing Pillow and Positioner
  • Magnificent Baby Unisex Newborn Footie
  • A pretty Chewbeads Necklace for mom
  • Fisher-Price Deluxe Rock ‘n Play Sleeper
  • Skip Hop 3-Stage Activity Center
  • Little Giraffe Luxe Blanket
  • Fisher-Price Bath Tub
  • WubbaNub Infant Pacifier

Gifts and gadgets we scoffed at until we realized they really ARE that great:

  • Fridababy NoseFrida Nasal Aspirator (aka “the snotsucker”)
  • Windi the Gaspasser by Fridababy
  • Burp cloths shaped to stay on your shoulder, like these
  • Baby Bargains: Secrets to Saving 20% to 50% on baby cribs, car seats, strollers, high chairs and much, much more! (recommended for moms who want to sort through what’s worth the extra money and what you can go cheaper on)
  • Working moms in our focus group recommend registering for a LOT of pumping storage bags because you’ll go through them faster than you think!
  • Fisher-Price 4-in-1 Sling N Seat Tub (because bathing baby in a sink is harder than you think!)
  • Keekaroo Peanut Changer (so you never have to wash changing pad covers again)
  • Katie’s new favorite humidifier is this one: Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier

Supposed “essentials” that some of us found over-rated (and others did not!)

  • Teeny tiny newborn-sized dresses for baby girls
  • Impractical shoes for babies who can’t walk
  • Expensive sound machines (that’s what electric fans are for!)
  • Co-sleeper bassinets, or any pricey one-purpose place for baby to sleep
  • Super adorable but not-super-necessary diaper stackers, like this one
  • Dockatot

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Filed Under: Episodes Tagged With: gifts, new mom, pregnancy, products

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Comments

  1. Liana says

    March 14, 2018 at 3:19 am

    Hi ladies! I’m an American living in Sweden. I love your podcast! My daughter is 20 months and the windii saved my life so many times when she was a newborn. I think it actually is a Swedish invention, as are all the nose frida products. It helped when my daughter had to pass gas but also sometimes a bunch of poop would come out too, haha. So watch out! But afterwards my daughter was always so much calmer. Buy a bunch of those!

    Reply
  2. Shannon Allen says

    July 24, 2018 at 12:51 pm

    Hi Ladies. Looooove listening in every week to get my mom-fix!
    I could have sworn on this episode that y’all talked about a great umbrella stroller? I’m not able to find anything in reference to it on your site. Can you link me your recommendation for the umbrella stroller of your liking?

    Reply
    • Sarah Powers says

      July 25, 2018 at 8:28 am

      Hi Shannon! Meagan did talk about going with a slightly more upscale umbrella stroller after trying a bunch of cheap ones. I think the reason we didn’t link it up is that it’s been almost a decade since that purchase! It was a MacLaren, probably similar to this one (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/2LDFBRh, but we’re a little out of the stroller game these days so I’m sure you’ll find other great ones out there as well. Thanks for commenting!

      Reply

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Hear for yourself why The Mom Hour podcast is stil Hear for yourself why The Mom Hour podcast is still going strong after eight years, 644 episodes, and more than 15 Million listens! Click the subscribe links in our bio or ask your smart speaker to "play the latest episode of The Mom Hour podcast".

New episodes release every Tuesday and alternating Sundays all year round. Our archives have conversations about every stage of parenting from before-baby through launching young adults - and every aspect of motherhood, too.

#podcast #podcastformoms #mompodcast #parentingpodcast #mommypodcast #mamapodcast #womenpodcasters #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts #themomhour #motherhood
Do we call it a birthday or an anniversary? A podv Do we call it a birthday or an anniversary? A podversary? Birthcast? No matter how you slice it, The Mom Hour turns EIGHT years old on March 19!

Want to totally make our day? Leave a comment that tells us - in life milestones - how long you've been listening (i.e., "the baby I was pregnant with when I found you guys is now in kindergarten" OR "I have a middle schooler who was in preschool when I started listening" OR "I was on leave with my first when I discovered the podcast; now I have four kids!")

We appreciate this community so much - and we're not slowing down! Thanks for being here, friends. Talk to you Tuesday!

-M &S
Happy Friday! It's time for our monthly sponsor ro Happy Friday! It's time for our monthly sponsor roundup, where we thank our partners and remind you of their great deals. For our unique promo codes and links, just tap our saved "Sponsors" highlight or search the brand name on our website. Remember, when you check out our sponsors and use our links + codes, it helps support our show. Thank you!

We also collect ALL our active promo codes in our email newsletter - which is full of our latest episodes and blog posts, personal updates, community news, and more. Tap on this image at the link in our bio to subscribe today.

Shoutout to our NEW partner:
💰 @fearlessfinance ($50 off your 1st meeting!)

And welcome back . . .
⭐ @everyplate (meal kits for just $1.49 per meal!) 
⭐ @scholasticinc (books for kids of all ages!)
⭐️ @caraway_home (10% off cookware!)
⭐ @caredotcom (local, background-checked care!) 
⭐ @prepdish (2 weeks of free meal plans!)
⭐ @minted (art, bags, gifts & more!)
⭐ @chatbooks (the easiest photo books ever!)
⭐ @fabletics (2 workout bottoms for $24!)
⭐ @todoistofficial (2 mo. free of Todoist Pro!)
⭐️ @theessentialcalendar (10% off calendars!)
⭐️ @hiyahealth (50% off 1st order!)
⭐️ @kiwico_inc (50% off your 1st mo!)
⭐️ @athleticgreens (1yr of Vit.D + 5 travel packs!)
⭐️ @vionicshoes (free shipping on comfy shoes!)
It can *seem* like everybody has travel plans comi It can *seem* like everybody has travel plans coming up for Spring Break, but we know that every single year, just as many families aren't going anywhere - and that's OK, too!

This week on the blog @emilyeroark offers suggestions for mixing up your same ol' same ol' when kids are off for Spring Break. Check out the post by clicking this image at the link in our bio!

#stayathomemom #springbreakathome #staycationideas #stayathomeparent #toddlermom #preschoolmom #momofthree #springbreak2023 #spring #springbreakathome #kidsactivities
New episode! Bowling. Bonfires. The mall (no, rea New episode!

Bowling. Bonfires. The mall (no, really.) And board games (maybe?). What's fun for our families right now looks quite different than it did years ago, so today Meagan and Sarah revisit an oft-discussed hot topic on The Mom Hour: family "fun." We share several ideas for ACTUALLY FUN family activities that work for our current seasons, as well as some gripes about things that feel like they should be fun but aren't. Join us!

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast#podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast#podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
New episode! It isn't always easy to appreciate t New episode!

It isn't always easy to appreciate the mundane tasks of our daily lives, or to see the glass half-full when something goes awry. Inspired by yet another social media trend that had us scratching our heads at first (and then reflecting in spite of our forty-something selves), today Meagan and Sarah talk about situations from our own lives where we romanticized the hard stuff to get by.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
If you fill Easter baskets for your kids, do you g If you fill Easter baskets for your kids, do you give them a theme? On the blog this week @hopefulsmiles makes a case for themed Easter baskets helping to simplify shopping, avoid clutter, and stay on budget.

Check out Sandy’s ideas for themed Easter baskets by clicking this image at the link in our bio - she's got over 35 different gift ideas listed!

#easter2023 #easterbasketfillers #eastergiftideas #themedeasterbasket #giftsfortoddlers #giftsforpreschoolers #giftsfortweens #giftsforkids #eastergiftguide #eastertips #easterwithkids
"As a mom you’ve been building a youth sports co "As a mom you’ve been building a youth sports coaching resume for years," writes @twinningtheweekend on the blog this week, "You just didn’t know it."

🥎  Through potty training, you’ve shown incredible determination.
⚽  Sibling rivalry has made you the ultimate expert in team dynamics. 
🏀  You’ve displayed grit in the face of a stomach bug. 
🏐  Organizational skills? You keep track of all 47 of the elementary school’s dress-up days.
🥎  You’ve developed patience as your child has figured out zippers.
⚽  You are not easily intimated…hello science projects and fractions. 
🏀  You have a keen eye for what motivates your child. (Hint…it’s snacks and Bluey.)
🏐  Toddler temper tantrums are no match for your perseverance.
🥎  You folded 16 loads of laundry with a (mostly) positive attitude.
⚽  Multitasking? That’s your specialty. 

Raise your hand if you've coached a youth sports team as a mom! And click this image at the link in our bio to read Jennifer's tips for making it less time-consuming and stressful than you might think!

#youthsports #sportsmom #littleleague #littleleaguemom #girlsinsports #littleleaguemom #soccermom #baseballmom #coachmom
New episode! Worrying as a mom is a universal exp New episode!

Worrying as a mom is a universal experience (and, spoiler alert: it never REALLY goes away). Today Meagan and Sarah look back over the years on the worries that surface most often in our community. Going by the questions we get from listeners, moms worry a lot about safety (our kids', our own, the state of the world); and we also worry about WORRY (are we worried about the "right" things? is our worry creating anxiety in our kids?). Join us as we revisit these questions and more with that well-worn reminder: it's (probably) all going to be okay.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
This week's podcast episode (out Tuesday!) is abou This week's podcast episode (out Tuesday!) is about worry. The worries we have in common, the ones that start to interfere with our daily lives and need addressing, the really specific ones and the more general and exisential ones. One thing we both know about worries is that silence fuels their festering.

If you're worried about something right now, feel free to share. Maybe someone else can offer a "oh, me too!" or send a virtual hug. Maybe you can do the same for someone else. And if your worries feel too tender to share specifically, feel free to just drop a 🙋‍♀️ and know you're not alone.
One productivity trap I (Sarah) fall into is to ge One productivity trap I (Sarah) fall into is to get big bursts of task-energy and work way ahead on "adulting" stuff…and then to mentally check out for a few weeks. This was really coming back to bite me when it came to things related to the kids and school, so I thought I’d share the small tweak that helped me stress less in the lead-up to big events.

Take a big school trip, for example (see also: competition / tournament / fundraiser / bar mitzvah: anything that sits weeks to months out on the calendar, that involves a lot of smaller tasks, and that will get extra-demanding in the final lead-up). I used to spend a ton of time and energy as soon as the Big Thing was announced – printing packing lists, inputting details into my calendar, reading all communications thoroughly, etc. – and it felt great: Look at me! Working so far ahead!

Then I STILL found myself scrambling as Big Event got closer because I’d forget to check BACK in with those lists and instructions. I’d assumed a kind of mental complacency originating from that first eager dive into the details. Often there were new instructions or updates, plus tasks that were objectively too far out to take care of during my initial power-session would later sneak up on me and send me scrambling.

What I do NOW is to set a recurring reminder for myself once a week to check in with Big Event stuff. When it appears on my Todoist “Today” page, it’s always kind of a surprise. Oh right! That thing IS getting closer! The check-in means I review any recent communications and add more granular tasks to my list with specific deadlines attached to them (ask neighbor to borrow duffle; sign release form; etc.).

It’s completely changed the way I feel as Big Events get closer. Do we still scramble? 100%. But I don’t feel as gobsmacked by the reality-check that there’s still more to do when I felt as though I’d already done it all.

Are you curious about how I use Todoist to reduce overwhelm? Leave a comment and I’ll do my best to answer.

And if you’ve been meaning to try Todoist Pro, you’re in luck! Click this image at the link in our bio to get 2 months of PRO for free!

#affiliate #todoistpartner
It’s normal to feel worried as a mom. It’s unp It’s normal to feel worried as a mom. It’s unpleasant for sure, and when worries go unchecked they can dominate your life in ways that are worth addressing. But even when you’re not clinically anxious, freaking out or fixating on something having to do with your child is a universal experience.

In our “Things We Shouldn’t Have Freaked Out About” series, we look at motherhood worries with the benefit of hindsight. We share what we fretted over, how it turned out, and whether we might have been able to dial back the worry and enjoyed the journey a bit more.

If you haven't listened to these episodes already and you're feeling worried right now, we highly recommend queuing them up. We've been there, and it mostly turned out okay. Plus, next week on the podcast we're talking more about the things moms worry about - some of the universal themes that come up again and again in our community. 

Click this image the link in our bio and you can see all five of these TWSHFOA (how’s that for an acronym!) episodes on one handy page. Or just search "freak out" in the episode list wherever you get your podcasts.
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Hear for yourself why The Mom Hour podcast is stil Hear for yourself why The Mom Hour podcast is still going strong after eight years, 644 episodes, and more than 15 Million listens! Click the subscribe links in our bio or ask your smart speaker to "play the latest episode of The Mom Hour podcast".

New episodes release every Tuesday and alternating Sundays all year round. Our archives have conversations about every stage of parenting from before-baby through launching young adults - and every aspect of motherhood, too.

#podcast #podcastformoms #mompodcast #parentingpodcast #mommypodcast #mamapodcast #womenpodcasters #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts #themomhour #motherhood
Do we call it a birthday or an anniversary? A podv Do we call it a birthday or an anniversary? A podversary? Birthcast? No matter how you slice it, The Mom Hour turns EIGHT years old on March 19!

Want to totally make our day? Leave a comment that tells us - in life milestones - how long you've been listening (i.e., "the baby I was pregnant with when I found you guys is now in kindergarten" OR "I have a middle schooler who was in preschool when I started listening" OR "I was on leave with my first when I discovered the podcast; now I have four kids!")

We appreciate this community so much - and we're not slowing down! Thanks for being here, friends. Talk to you Tuesday!

-M &S
Happy Friday! It's time for our monthly sponsor ro Happy Friday! It's time for our monthly sponsor roundup, where we thank our partners and remind you of their great deals. For our unique promo codes and links, just tap our saved "Sponsors" highlight or search the brand name on our website. Remember, when you check out our sponsors and use our links + codes, it helps support our show. Thank you!

We also collect ALL our active promo codes in our email newsletter - which is full of our latest episodes and blog posts, personal updates, community news, and more. Tap on this image at the link in our bio to subscribe today.

Shoutout to our NEW partner:
💰 @fearlessfinance ($50 off your 1st meeting!)

And welcome back . . .
⭐ @everyplate (meal kits for just $1.49 per meal!) 
⭐ @scholasticinc (books for kids of all ages!)
⭐️ @caraway_home (10% off cookware!)
⭐ @caredotcom (local, background-checked care!) 
⭐ @prepdish (2 weeks of free meal plans!)
⭐ @minted (art, bags, gifts & more!)
⭐ @chatbooks (the easiest photo books ever!)
⭐ @fabletics (2 workout bottoms for $24!)
⭐ @todoistofficial (2 mo. free of Todoist Pro!)
⭐️ @theessentialcalendar (10% off calendars!)
⭐️ @hiyahealth (50% off 1st order!)
⭐️ @kiwico_inc (50% off your 1st mo!)
⭐️ @athleticgreens (1yr of Vit.D + 5 travel packs!)
⭐️ @vionicshoes (free shipping on comfy shoes!)
It can *seem* like everybody has travel plans comi It can *seem* like everybody has travel plans coming up for Spring Break, but we know that every single year, just as many families aren't going anywhere - and that's OK, too!

This week on the blog @emilyeroark offers suggestions for mixing up your same ol' same ol' when kids are off for Spring Break. Check out the post by clicking this image at the link in our bio!

#stayathomemom #springbreakathome #staycationideas #stayathomeparent #toddlermom #preschoolmom #momofthree #springbreak2023 #spring #springbreakathome #kidsactivities
New episode! Bowling. Bonfires. The mall (no, rea New episode!

Bowling. Bonfires. The mall (no, really.) And board games (maybe?). What's fun for our families right now looks quite different than it did years ago, so today Meagan and Sarah revisit an oft-discussed hot topic on The Mom Hour: family "fun." We share several ideas for ACTUALLY FUN family activities that work for our current seasons, as well as some gripes about things that feel like they should be fun but aren't. Join us!

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast#podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast#podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
New episode! It isn't always easy to appreciate t New episode!

It isn't always easy to appreciate the mundane tasks of our daily lives, or to see the glass half-full when something goes awry. Inspired by yet another social media trend that had us scratching our heads at first (and then reflecting in spite of our forty-something selves), today Meagan and Sarah talk about situations from our own lives where we romanticized the hard stuff to get by.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
If you fill Easter baskets for your kids, do you g If you fill Easter baskets for your kids, do you give them a theme? On the blog this week @hopefulsmiles makes a case for themed Easter baskets helping to simplify shopping, avoid clutter, and stay on budget.

Check out Sandy’s ideas for themed Easter baskets by clicking this image at the link in our bio - she's got over 35 different gift ideas listed!

#easter2023 #easterbasketfillers #eastergiftideas #themedeasterbasket #giftsfortoddlers #giftsforpreschoolers #giftsfortweens #giftsforkids #eastergiftguide #eastertips #easterwithkids
"As a mom you’ve been building a youth sports co "As a mom you’ve been building a youth sports coaching resume for years," writes @twinningtheweekend on the blog this week, "You just didn’t know it."

🥎  Through potty training, you’ve shown incredible determination.
⚽  Sibling rivalry has made you the ultimate expert in team dynamics. 
🏀  You’ve displayed grit in the face of a stomach bug. 
🏐  Organizational skills? You keep track of all 47 of the elementary school’s dress-up days.
🥎  You’ve developed patience as your child has figured out zippers.
⚽  You are not easily intimated…hello science projects and fractions. 
🏀  You have a keen eye for what motivates your child. (Hint…it’s snacks and Bluey.)
🏐  Toddler temper tantrums are no match for your perseverance.
🥎  You folded 16 loads of laundry with a (mostly) positive attitude.
⚽  Multitasking? That’s your specialty. 

Raise your hand if you've coached a youth sports team as a mom! And click this image at the link in our bio to read Jennifer's tips for making it less time-consuming and stressful than you might think!

#youthsports #sportsmom #littleleague #littleleaguemom #girlsinsports #littleleaguemom #soccermom #baseballmom #coachmom
New episode! Worrying as a mom is a universal exp New episode!

Worrying as a mom is a universal experience (and, spoiler alert: it never REALLY goes away). Today Meagan and Sarah look back over the years on the worries that surface most often in our community. Going by the questions we get from listeners, moms worry a lot about safety (our kids', our own, the state of the world); and we also worry about WORRY (are we worried about the "right" things? is our worry creating anxiety in our kids?). Join us as we revisit these questions and more with that well-worn reminder: it's (probably) all going to be okay.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
This week's podcast episode (out Tuesday!) is abou This week's podcast episode (out Tuesday!) is about worry. The worries we have in common, the ones that start to interfere with our daily lives and need addressing, the really specific ones and the more general and exisential ones. One thing we both know about worries is that silence fuels their festering.

If you're worried about something right now, feel free to share. Maybe someone else can offer a "oh, me too!" or send a virtual hug. Maybe you can do the same for someone else. And if your worries feel too tender to share specifically, feel free to just drop a 🙋‍♀️ and know you're not alone.

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