They even make tutu tees for your furry friends!

Fun clothing like this can spark imaginative play and encourage children to develop an individual sense of style.

My favorite designs combine the frill of the tulle mini tutu with hip colors (like this black and hot pink hibiscus) or funky designs (check out the skull and crossbones).

For more traditional mamas, Tu for Tee has plenty of cute butterflies, hearts, and princess crowns for your baby ballerina. There are also funny animals like a bubbling octopus, a long-necked giraffe, and a wise owl. All in a rainbow of reds, oranges, yellows, greens, blues, and purples.

Whatever motif or color your little performer likes, you’ll find a tutu tee to match her taste at Tu for Tee.

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WANT IT: Visit Tu for Tee and use coupon code MAMANISTA15 for 15% OFF.

This is the lightweight,”stand on” stroller in sage green (one of my personal favorite colors). You can enter each and every week from now until June 1st at midnight.

If you need one right away, don’t hesitate to purchase and still enter–StrollerDepot.com will credit you back the full amount and send you a free gift!

Click HERE to find out how to enter.  This contest is hosted on StrollerDepot.com.

To all the mamas: Have a Fabulous Mother’s Day!

Stop by the 5th Annual MommyFest to find and check out some fantastic Mommy Bloggers and participate if you are a mommy blogger yourself. Leave a mommy blogger a fun comment on Mother’s Day and make her smile!

And if you are shopping for a mama…oops! Did you forget something? It isn’t too late to:

• Get her a gift certificate at her favorite store at GiftCertificates.com.
• Take her out to eat and save money by using Restaurant.com.Get 50% off + receive a FREE $10 deLa Flowers Gift Certificate. Use coupon code MOM! (through 5/11/08)
• Give her a Unique Experience from Giftybox: Each Giftybox Present features a guidebook describing a selection of different themed experiences (Wine Tasting, Outdoor Adventures, Spa Pampering, and more) plus an all-inclusive pass for the experience of the recipient’s choice, presented together in an attractive box. Gift recipients select the experience they like most and redeem their all-inclusive pass for the experience or product of their choice. Last minute printable gift descriptions available!
• Shop our Mother’s Day Gift Guide, print a pic of her gift, and put it in a nice card.
• Get nostalgic with some macaron, glue, construction paper, and glitter paint. Dad, help out the younger kids and this may even count as your gift.
• Let her know you love her with a Hipster Card, FREE e-Cards that are actually hip and cool.

Luckily, I’d received a sample of a new, mom-invented swaddler called the Woombie. While my husband and I had a good laugh about how goofy Baby Mwah (pictured above) looks in the Woombie, we can’t argue with results. The Woombie, a soft cocoon sack made of stretchy fabric, didn’t open, unravel or loosen during the night. Diaper changes were simple since the Woombie is opened and closed with just one zipper. While using the Woombie, Baby Mwah was able to stretch his arms and legs naturally without startling himself and waking up.

My only complaint about the Woombie is that Baby Mwah (who was born weighing close to 10 pounds) will outgrow it too quickly since the Woombie only fits babies up to 14 pounds. But I read on www.thewoombie.com that, due to popular demand, the Woombie will soon be offered for babies up to 20 pounds!

Want It?
The Woombie is available for $19.99 at www.thewoombie.com. Until the end of May, Mamanista readers will get an exclusive discount. Buy one Woombie to get one half off ($29.99 for 2 instead of $39.98). To get your discount, call the Woombie order line at 1-203-445-1252 and mention Mamanista.

The Scootababy is intended for babies five months and older (up to 40 pounds), and there are lots of pictures on www.scootababy.com of babies and toddlers using the carrier.

Since Baby Mwah is a newborn and still too small to try the Scootababy, I tested it on a friend’s 10 month old daughter. She fit easily in the lightly padded seat, and I was even able to feed her a bottle while holding her in the Scootababy. (Breastfeeding mommies can nurse while baby is in the Scootababy, and there are pictures on www.scootababy.com showing how to do this.)

The Scootababy was so easy to put on and adjust. All I had to do is secure the wide, padded waist belt and pull on the fleece shoulder strap. I could even adjust the shoulder fleece with one hand! It was easy to get baby in and out of the carrier– a handy feature since older babies often fuss to get down only to change their minds a moment later when they insist on being carried.

The Scootababy was comfortable to use. The fleece strap cups the shoulder, staying in place and spreading the weight across your entire shoulder rather than tugging at your neck.

The Scootababy is made in the USA with top quality materials (Polartec fleece, 100% cotton ring-spun denim, and performance EVA foam) from US suppliers. It comes in two styles: Classic Black and Jellybeans. Jellybeans (which is the pattern I own) is black denim with a cute jellybean fabric lining. Both patterns are practical enough to match most outfits, and my husband even remarked that he wouldn’t object to carrying baby in the black denim Scootababy.

Win It?
For a chance to win a Scootababy, leave a comment on this post by May 16 at 11:59pm EST telling us what you like best about either the Scootababy or babywearing.

Want It?
You can purchase the Scootababy online at www.scootababy.com for $107. Through the end of May, Mamanista readers can get free shipping with coupon code “Mamanista.”

As you can tell from our frequent reviews of breastfeeding products, we’re very pro-breastfeeding at Mamanista. But– most importantly– we are pro-mama.

After her c-section and some other delivery complications, one of Mama Mwah’s friends developed post-partum depression. She also was having a difficult time breastfeeding and suffered a painful nipple infection.

Through all of this, the doctors she spoke with were more concerned about how baby was latching than with her health. She felt like they were treating her like a pair of breasts instead of a person. And all of the pro-breastfeeding messages in the blogosphere made her feel that she would be a failure as a mother if she chose to bottlefeed or even to supplement with formula.

Sadly, other mothers weren’t that supportive either. When one mother saw her feeding baby a bottle at the mall, she stopped to lecture our friend about the nutritional benefits of breastmilk for baby.  Our friend mentioned that she was having a difficult time breastfeeding, and this complete stranger replied, “well then…you’re not trying hard enough.”

Motherhood is hard enough already. So let’s support– not judge– each other. We’re mamas– not cows! No woman should be made to feel like an inferior mother if she cannot (or chooses not to) breastfeed. So…in the spirit of supporting other mothers, we’d like to share the following article from www.postpartumstress.com. It is by Karen Kleiman, a post-partum stress expert and breastfeeding advocate.

Thanks for reading,
Mama Mwah

The message is all around us, breast is best. Human milk is superior for infant feeding. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that exclusive breastfeeding is the ideal nutrition for every infant.

I’m a strong breastfeeding advocate. I breastfed both my children. Although my intentions were to breastfeed each until one year of age, in both cases, I had medical circumstances that forced me to stop breastfeeding against my wishes. It was worse with my second, when I had to stop at two months postpartum, with the realization that she would be my last child. The loss was devastating, though I knew there were few people I could talk to about this because, well, who could relate, other than perhaps another breastfeeding mother? I understand the indescribable commitment to a relationship that is not easily understood by women who have never breastfed. I am familiar with the unique properties of this attachment as well as the feelings of loss when this balance is disrupted.

So I pause and think hard about this. About the pressure to breastfeed. And I wonder where it all comes from. The pressures are monumental. They come from society, they come from our friends, our mothers, our doctors and nurses, our husbands, but most of all, they come from deep within ourselves. We hear it all the time: Breastfeeding is natural. It’s least expensive, it’s convenient, it’s healthiest, it initiates a bond between mother and baby that is unmatched by other feeding options and so forth. I certainly would not dispute the truth of these statements, even now. I used to think these declarations were important. Now, I think they’re potentially dangerous.

In our attempt to educate, promote optimal health and support the breastfeeding mother, we have let a vulnerable group of women fall through the cracks. For the 20-30% of postpartum women who struggle with postpartum depression, the situation can be critical. Because of their illness, this is what they hear:

If you choose not to breastfeed… you’re not a good mother.

If you have difficulties breastfeeding… you are doing something wrong.

If you don’t enjoy breastfeeding… your maternal instincts are impaired in some way.

If the breastfeeding relationship does not go along smoothly… you are unable to do what comes naturally to all other women.

If you quit breastfeeding…you will continue to fail as a mother.

The feelings attached to these statements may be obvious at first glance, but the extent to which they impact a woman is unimaginable to anyone who has not experienced a major depression after childbirth. The profound feelings of guilt, shame, inadequacy, fear, insecurity, abandonment, failure, and despair can immobilize the mother and prevent her from taking steps toward recovery.

Depressed women do not think clearly. They get lost in the battle against their own distorted thoughts, misguiding them toward a decision they cannot adequately make. Depression will rob a woman of her ability to make informed decisions because confusion and lack of clarity predominate. Things that were previously black and white now appear blurry. Issues that are usually vague and open to compromise, become rigid and inflexible. What might be evident to a non-depressed person may be incomprehensible to someone preoccupied with faulty beliefs.

Those of us who consider ourselves enthusiastic supporters of breastfeeding have an obligation to examine this carefully. Because we are the ones that are in a position to help mothers best understand their options. It must come from us. Because when opposition to breastfeeding is offered by individuals who do not possess a passion for this relationship, it will be dismissed as uncaring advice and likely to fall upon deaf ears. If, on the other hand, this message comes from those of us who have fought hard to protect the intrinsic value of this connection, I think women will listen.

What should this new message be? It’s okay not to breastfeed.

It’s that simple.

It doesn’t matter who we are in relation to this woman. We might be her friend or her counselor. We might be her sister or her doctor. If this woman is suffering with postpartum depression and breastfeeding, we might have to help her through this process by explaining her options, by telling her there are medications that are compatible with breastfeeding, or by giving her permission to stop. That option doesn’t feel good to a depressed mother. It feels like someone is yanking the anchor from the very last thing that is keeping her afloat. It feels terrifying and incapacitating. It feels absolutely impossible and nothing short of catastrophic.

This is because breastfeeding, to the depressed mother, is more than breastfeeding. It is a lifeline. It’s as if it provides the single opportunity for her to feel that her presence is making a difference. This is why we need to help her navigate the rough waters and make the right decision, particularly if she needs medication. It may be to continue breastfeeding. It may be to stop. Either way, she may not be able to make this decision without the clarity of an outside perspective.

This process is complicated and raises important questions:

Does she need medication?

How does she feel about taking medication while breastfeeding?

Is it possible that breastfeeding may somehow contribute to her feelings of despair?

Is breastfeeding depleting her of her strength and energy, thereby worsen her illness?

Is her insistence on breastfeeding interfering with her treatment?

Does she have proper guidance to wean sufficiently so as not to aggravate the delicate hormonal balance?

Does she have enough information and support to discontinue the breastfeeding relationship, should it come to that?

These are considerations that I dare say have been largely ignored by breastfeeding organizations and the medical community. And frankly, I’m afraid for the women who continue to work so hard, with painstaking determination, against such formidable odds, to stay on track, to prove something to someone. I’m not sure what they are trying to prove, exactly. Perhaps they strive to meet their own self-driven, impassioned expectations. To follow the rules they’ve always believed in. To do it right. To be the best mother they can be.

It’s time we let them off the hook. So they can rest easy. So they can learn that good mothers, indeed, have lots of choices. So they can get the treatment they need.

So they can get better.

______________________________
Editorial by Karen Kleiman, MSW,
Founder and Executive Director of
The Postpartum Stress Center in Rosemont, PA.
She is author of The Postpartum Husband: Practical Solutions for Living with Postpartum Depression, What Am I Thinking? and co-author of This Isn’t What I Expected. Overcoming Postpartum Depression. www.postpartumstress.com

“This might be the best thing I have ever seen. I exclusively breastfed my daughter and now I am breastfeeding my son. It’s hard to be discreet with very large breasts but this would be fantastic to take in public with us so I don’t have to feel like I have to excuse myself all the time.”

Didn’t win? You can buy the Slup &  Burp at www.slurpburp.com for $36. (The organic version costs $48.) Mamanista readers can use coupon code “mama” to get 20% off.

The Slurp & Burp is also available at Mom4Life. Click HERE to visit Mom4Life and receive 10% off (Valid through 5/31/08), use coupon code: “MothersDay” for 10% off. Make sure to enter the coupon code right away in the area on the left hand side of the homepage (not at checkout).

Medical professionals caution parents against introducing a pillow too young and say that most children do not really need them.

A BabyCenter expert explains:

…pillows are not recommended for children under 2. Kids that small can easily suffocate while using one…If you want to introduce a pillow, it’s best to wait until your toddler moves from a crib to a bed. But if you want to give him one while he’s still sleeping in a crib, go with one that’s small (the size of an airline pillow) and firm. Stay away from feather pillows, which are too soft, can set off allergies, and can smother a child if his head sinks into it while he’s sleeping.

If you do decide to introduce a pillow, a great one that meets all these requirements is the Toddler Memory Foam Pillow. The pillow comes with a velvety soft, removable, machine-washable cover, but you can also get a personalized cotton flannel or poplin cover or purchase a separate cover that matches the room decor.

The memory foam is so comfortable, I want one now for myself. And because it is super dense and firm and just the right size, it is safer for my girl. So mama sleeps better, too.

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WANT IT: Purchase the Toddler Memory Foam Pillow at One Step Ahead (use coupon code 15SAVONE for 15% Off Orders $100+ through 6/30) or under the name “My Very Own Pillow” at Target ($24.95).

i really liked the chocolat baby cover the best…

Lisa exercised a woman’s prerogative to change her mind and selected the Bebe Au Lait Kimono Cover.

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WANT IT: For gorgeous nursing covers and other natural and organic baby and mother gifts and gift baskets, visit Love & Blessings and receive 5% OFF all purchases with coupon code MAM01.

So, I was thrilled to find Princess Bow Bow. The mom who makes these beautiful hair accessories has a huge selection of hair bows, clippies, korkers, and more, with alligator clips, French clips, or no-slip baby clips. You can see the dedication to customer service in the efforts to help you find the right clip for your child. And the prices are extremely reasonable for these high quality clips.

Princess Bow Bow has the the more traditional solid and plaid bows in a rainbow of colors, Disney Princesses, sweet cupcakes delicious enough to eat, pretty flowers you can practically smell, and even some edgy styles to accent funkier ensembles. Personally, I’m a big fan of the lovely ladybug clip modeled above and the pirate bow.

Princesses made of both sugar and spice will find a bow to match their own style at Princess Bow Bow.

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WANT IT: Visit Princess Bow Bow and use coupon code “posh” for 15% off until December 31, 2008.