Whether you're pregnant and looking for your baby's first pediatrician, or you recently moved and are looking for a new pediatrician for your brood, it's not a simple task. You don't just look on the map and choose the nearest doctor. Oh no. There are a bazillion things to consider, and I hope my list will help you find the perfect match for your family! If I missed any key points, please do comment and let me know so I can add them!!

Actions to take when seeking out a Pediatrician:

• search online for reviews - check yelp, local Facebook parenting groups, etc
• come up with a list of possibilities and schedule a consultation with each practice (most offer this free of charge, some even have meet & greet events)
• come up with a list of "must", "ideal", and "not important" items (our list below can help you narrow it down)

Policies and Factors to Consider:

• Proximity - How far is their office from you? Is it easily accessible on foot or by public transportation when you have a stroller with you? If you'll be driving, do they have parking available?
• Insurance - Obviously you'll want to make sure they take your insurance! If you don't have insurance, find out what kind of payment options they have.
• Access to Second Opinion - is there more than one doctor in the office at a time, allowing for a quick consultation amongst doctors, or a second opinion on an urgent matter?
• Vaccines - Some practices follow the American Academy of Pediatrics (APA) Vaccine Schedule strictly, others allow for spacing vaccines out (without delaying them), and others allow delaying or skipping some/all vaccines. (Important note: It is very important for the health of your child, your family, and the community at large to fully vaccinate every child and adult, on time. Some cannot be vaccinated due to serious health conditions, and for some vaccinations do not provide full immunity, which is why it's SO SO SO important for the rest of us to be vaccinated. PLEASE do not take this lightly!!!)
• Antibiotics - Newer thought is that antibiotics aren't needed in some conditions they were previously automatically prescribed for, and overuse can cause more harm than good for that individual (gut health) and the community (antibiotic resistant bacteria). Each doctor and practice will have a slightly different stance on this, and it's worth considering - how do they handle ear infections, for example - automatic antibiotics or wait and see policy.
• Waiting Rooms - do they separate well and sick patients into separate waiting rooms, or separate appointment times? How do they clean the rooms, waiting areas and toys?
• Office Hours - are they "working parent friendly" with hours available on evenings and weekends?
• After Hours Access - Can you call a doctor or nurse with an urgent question? Can you text a photo for advice? Do they use a answering service where you leave a message and a doctor calls you back?
• Flu Testing - Some practices do not test for flu, they simply treat it as any viral infection - stay home, rest, hydrate. If you go to one of these practices and want to know if your child has the flu,  you'll have to take them to Urgent Care to be tested. This is a deal breaker for some families, and no biggie for others.
• Blood Work and other Testing - Many practices do blood work and other basic tests in-house, and others will require you to make a separate appointment at a lab. 
• Breastfeeding Support - Do they support breastfeeding or push formula? Do they have a Lactation Consultant in-house?
• Additional Services - Do they have any extra offerings for patients? For example, CPR classes, new parent meetups, nutritionist, expertise with children with special needs, support for single parent with multiple children (can a nurse come in to assist)?
• Access to Records - Do they have an easy-to-use online system where you can fill out forms before an appointment, get text or e-mail reminders for upcoming appointments or the need to schedule one, and see all previous labs and information about your children?
• Hospital Affiliation - Will your pediatrician have the ability to visit or care for your child if admitted into a hospital?
• Wait Times - What is their average wait time (ask the practice and word of mouth from others who use them)?
• Office Staff & Paperwork - What is the response time when calling the office or requesting forms (for school, camp, work permit, etc)? Do they charge extra for forms or sending records? How friendly and helpful are office staff over the phone, email, and in-office? What is the process for obtaining referrals? How is billing handled?
• General Vibe - How do you feel about the doctor(s) and office. Is it clean, modern, friendly? Do they answer your many questions without a condescending tone. Do you feel like this is someone you could trust and have open discussions with regarding your child(ren)'s health?

I spent hours last weekend meandering through the 2018 New York Baby Show, the biggest baby expo in the country!! It was my 6th year in attendance, and as always, I was simply blown away with some of the innovative and amazing new products out there for baby, toddler, and parent! Keep reading for my top picks, and don't miss my highlights video at the bottom featuring exciting demos of some of my favorites! I'd also like to give a big shout out to Momtrends for their ongoing support of us NYC mom & dad bloggers, and their sponsorship and organization of the #NYBSBloggerLounge!

Please note, there are some affiliate links below - if you shop through these links, you won't pay anything extra but we will receive a small commission to help fund this blog - win win!!  ​

**1st PICK!!**
Best for Bath:  Summer Infant My Bath Seat
Bath time can be fun for baby and parents, but it can also be terrifying and exhausting, not to mention downright dangerous - especially when bathing twins or multiple children!! The Summer Infant My Bath Seat provides a baby or young toddler a safe place to sit and play - the seat secures to both sides of the tub and the back!! Please take care, even if using a safety seat such as this one, please PLEASE never never ever leave your child unattended in the bath (or even in the bathroom when water is running)!!!

• ​Buy: $39.99 on summerinfant.com or Amazon (affiliate link)

**2nd PICK!!**
Best for Twins:  Romp & Roost
Snap in the mesh divider for a play pen built for two, or remove it for an oversized play yard or roomy toddler bed! It also folds up for easy transport (about 32 pounds, same as a double stroller). Where was this when my twins were itty bitties?!?

• ​Buy: $218 on Amazon (affiliate link)

**3rd PICK!!**
Best for Sterilizing:  Coral UV
From baby bottles to pacifiers, and tooth brushes to make up brushes, the Coral UV will sterilize (without use of heat or water) any non-waterproof products that can fit inside, in just 10 minutes!! It also has a 30-60 minute dry feature which could come in handy to dry freshly washed items, as well as a storage option that sterilizes every 2 hours to keep items super clean and ready to go.

• Buy: Look for their Kickstarter/Indiegogo campaigns starting this summer!

Best for Toddlers:  STAYnEAT, The Helping Plate
This plate pretty much addresses every issue I've had with my toddlers' self-feeding messes and mishaps! It is non-slip but you can also press in the center to activate the toddler-proof suction stay power (simply lift the corner to unseal). It has an outer lip to prevent spillage, and the inner plate has an incline to keep juices from mixing in and messing up flavors and textures of other food on the plate. It's double sided with one side being divided and the other side being a simple plate. And oh yeah, It's also dishwasher safe. 

• Buy: $15 - $29 on stayneatplate.com and Amazon (affiliate link)

Best Infant Bed:  Mumbelli
With a removable inclined wedge (great for babies with reflux) and an adjustable foot support for a comfortable womb-like fit, Mumbelli makes a wonderful co-sleeper, crib-insert, or travel bed for baby's first few months of life (until they're ready to start rolling over).

• Buy: $129 on mumbelli.com or Amazon (affiliate link)

Best for Car Travel:  Travel Tray
So simple yet so brilliant - this little tray fits into any cup holder, making it the perfect accessory for a car seat (or stroller, movie theater seat, you name it)! It'll still hold your child's cup or bottle, but also snacks and small toys. 

• Buy: $15 on traveltray.us or Amazon (affiliate link)

Best Stroller:  Evenflo Pivot Xpand
There are a few strollers out there boasting the ability to transition from 1 to 2 kids, but the Evenflo Pivot Xpand is the only one I've seen that does so without the need for any tools or extra parts (you just need to buy the 2nd seat and/or stroller board, but no add-on converters - they're already built in!!). It can hold up to 150 pounds of cargo and kids (up to 3 kids: 2 in seats and 1 on ride on board), has an expandable basket up to 2 feet long, and it's also gorgeous! Be sure to check out the demo in my video at the bottom of this post to see it go from infant seat to toddler seat to 2 toddler seats (both are infant compatible making it a great option for twins) and adding the ride-on board (which just snaps on!!). Up to 22 configurations!!

• Buy: $280 for standalone stroller, $400 including infant car seat (on Amazon - affiliate link)

Best for Dribble:  Bibby
Babies drool and spit-up, some more than others, and even the best bibs often allow that dribble to hide deep in those adorable neck folds. Until now. Say hello to Bibby, featuring a thick tall turtleneck type top and a velcro closure! BRILLIANT!

• Buy: $9.99 on bibbybaby.com

Best for Monitoring:  Nanit Smart Baby Monitor
Baby monitors are getting smarter and smarter, and parents have to decide exactly how much they really want to keep track of. The Nanit is a cool new monitor that not only offers a birds eye view of your sleeping angel (on multiple users' phones) and keeps track of room temperature and humidity, but also helps track, monitor, and improve your baby's sleep! It'll send key notifications to you such as when baby wakes and falls asleep, and track on an app sleep cycles, when and how often a parent tends to baby, and give suggestions about how to help baby sleep longer and better based on current trends. Do note, the higher level tracking and tips require a $10/month subscription.

• Buy: from $280 on nanit.com or Amazon (affiliate link)

Best for Boobies:  Ta-Ta Towel
Now, I haven't tried this personally, so I can't attest to how good the support is, or how well it lays under a shirt, but you can't argue that this isn't a truly unique nursing bra!! If I could rewind 2.5 years I would totally lounge around the house in this day and night! To top it off, the Ta-Ta Towel bras are handmade by women for women, in an eco-friendly factory in Los Angeles!

• Buy: $45 for original or $55 for nursing bra on tatatowels.com or Amazon (affiliate link)

Best for Screen Free Digital Stories:  Lunii
If it's for sale at MoMa, you know it's gotta be cool! This screen-free interactive digital device allows children to select their main characters, setting, and central object, which provides them one of 48 pre-loaded stories!! What's more? It's available in 8 languages! I see this as a great road trip item - since it's screen free, it shouldn't contribute to motion sickness (once all the characters are selected they just sit back and listen to the story)!

• Buy:  $69 on store.moma.org or Amazon (affiliate link)

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE BABY SHOW:

Looking for other great innovative products for babies and families? Check out my top picks from past years' New York Baby Shows!!

• ​2017 New York Baby Show
• 2016 New York Baby Show​
• 2015 New York Baby Show

If you are a new or expecting parent in the Tri-State area, this post is for you!! We're giving away TEN TICKETS to the 2018 New York Baby Show, to be held on May 19 & 20 at Pier 94 in NYC!!

The New York Baby Show, now in its 8th year, is the largest show for new and expectant parents in the country. No other event provides a better experience for thousands of expectant and new families from New York and neighboring counties, seeking a family-friendly jamboree of top brands, great speakers and seminars, big giveaways, and lots of learning, support, bonding, and fun as you make your way into parenthood. 

To get a better feel for what the New York Baby Show is like, check out my roundups from the previous years I've attended:

• ​Best Baby Products from the 2017 New York Baby Show
• Highlights from the 2016 New York Baby Show​
• ​Latest & Greatest for Baby & Mama from the 2015 New York Baby Show

Normal ticket price is $30 per family (for 2 adults and up to 4 children), and $20 per individual, but you can enter in the Rafflecopter box below to win one of the 10 tickets we have to give away! Each of our 10 winners can choose a single or family ticket. The giveaway will end Monday, March 26 at 11:59PM EST and winners will be e-mailed with a special link to claim their tickets. Even if you don't win the giveaway, you still win because you can click here to get your tickets for 50% off!!

It just dawned on me. I have officially been pregnant or breastfeeding for the past 5 years straight, with only a 1 month break around January 2015. Like, whoa. The twins are nearly 18 months old now and I've been weaning them gradually. We're at the point where we may have already had our last nursing session - it's kind of hard to ever know when it's really your last, and we may have already had it.

The truth is, as hard and overwhelming as it can be at times, it's been equally awesome. I loved being pregnant. Even at 39 weeks with twins, being the size of a house with debilitating hip pain, it is the most amazing experience you can ever imagine - creating and growing life in your body. Every hiccup and stretch, even every kick to your bladder, it's simply breathtaking (in the good and bad way!!). Likewise, birth, though excruciating and disgustingly mortifying (yes, please, let's have a dozen strangers watch babies eject from my vagina, thank you, this is such fun!!!), is incredibly beautiful and life changing. It's truly an experience I wish everyone (who wants it) could have, and leaves my heart weeping for friends who are not able to.

And breastfeeding, ohhhhhh breastfeeding. "Breast is best" and all that. Well, there is a lot of pressure put on women to do this, and I want to say it's not for every woman - either because she can't or it just doesn't work well for her or her baby, and there is nothing wrong with that. FED IS BEST!!! With that said, breastfeeding was an incredible journey for me, with both my son and my girls, and I feel blessed that it worked out for us. It certainly had its highs and lows, though. The painfully cracked nipples and anxiety over whether or not they were getting enough in those early days. The soaked nursing pads and fear of having to nurse in public! But then, suddenly, it all became so easy and beautiful. Having the ability to calm a crying baby isntantly, nourishing them, bonding with them in a way no other person on this earth could. Not having to worry about packing enough formula or cleaning bottles. Over a cumulative 3.5 years of breastfeeding, I have nursed my babies pretty much anywhere imaginable - in a bar, on planes and subways, at the pool... I could write a breastfeeding version of Green Eggs and Ham!

But, here I sit, with 1800 wonderful, crazy, painful, beautiful days of pregnancy and breastfeeding behind me. They made up such a huge part of who I was and who I am as a mother. As I get further away from these days of my life, they will likely become fuzzy distant memories, so, I want to pay tribute and immortalize them with some photos of my journey below, and then, when I'm ready, it's about time to organize some sort of booze-filled getaway weekend with my girl friends. BECAUSE I FINALLY CAN!!! Talk about a silver lining :)

Collage of my first pregnancy, my son, who made me a mother! From the first sonogram to our first time breastfeeding in public!

Collage of my second pregnancy, my twin girls, who made our family complete :)

And of course I have to include in this tribute the best pregnancy keepsake ever: the stop motion of my twins featuring their adorable big brother!!

Did you do anything to commemorate being done with pregnancy and/or breastfeeding? Is it something you look forward to or dread?? Share in a comment below!!

Let's face it, when your sweet tooth craves sweets, it's pretty hard to resist. But why should you have to resist completely? Wouldn't it be nice if there were some treats that were not only delicious, but also nutritious? Well, you're in luck - I'm thrilled to be working with a brand featuring products that are just that. I'm pleased to introduce you to #MotherNurture!!

Mother Nurture products are marketed toward pregnant and breastfeeding moms, but I'll let you in on a little secret, you don't have to be pregnant or breastfeeding to find these tasty and packed with a little boost of nutrition! So, if you want to satisfy your sweet tooth with a bit less guilt, read on!!

I've tried several kinds of vitamin chews, and while they're not bad, they're certainly not mistaken for regular chocolate or candy. But Mother Nurture all natural Chocolate Truffles (in milk chocolate or dark chocolate with raspberry) are a whole other ball game. They are rich, creamy, melt in your mouth, scrumptious, OMG kinda chocolate. NO WAY I would in a million years imagine they were fortified, but they are!!! One truffle (but really, who eats just one??) contains 50mg of calcium, 40mcg of folic acid, 20mg of DHA, .75mcg of Vitamin D, 1 gram of protein, 5 grams of fat, and 70 calories. So, no, you shouldn't down an entire box, and they're not a replacement for a well-balanced diet and prenatal vitamins, but there's no need for an ounce of guilt for having one (or 3??) a day.

When you're pregnant or breastfeeding, you have to stay really hydrated. But drinking water all day and all night can be a bit tedious. Sometimes, you just need to taste something!! This is where Mother Nurture Enhanced Waters come in. They are sweet, delish, and packed with a nutritious punch to boot! Coming in 3 yummy flavors (Tropical Splash, Mixed Berry, and Pink Grapefruit), each 16.9 ounce bottle of triple filtered water contains 100mg of calcium, 50mg of choline, 75mcg of folic acid, .25mcg of Vitamin B12, 90 calories. There are a whopping 23 grams of sugar, however they use pure cane sugar, so none of those scary artificial sweeteners that you should avoid, especially when pregnant!

So, go on, go get you some! Did I mention they are non-GMO, Gluten-free, & Kosher with BPA-free packaging! And don't forget to follow Mother Nurture on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram!

​Disclaimer: Although I did receive these products free of charge, all thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased.

Eating right is a challenge for many women, even more so when you're eating for two (or more)! There's never been a time in my life I was more aware and concerned about my nutrition than during my two pregnancies (especially the twin one!). Eating the best you can is important but not always easy what with morning sickness and terrible cravings/aversions), which is why prenatals and other nutritional supplements are so important! I'm excited to be working with a brand that has in mind the health and well-being of moms-to-be and breastfeeding moms!

Premama is the first nationwide line of natural powdered nutritional supplement drink mixes for women from preconception through breastfeeding. They allow women to skip that dreaded horse-pill sized prenatal vitamin, instead downing a delicious drink! They've got supplements to support fertility or lactation, a complete prenatal vitamin, prenatal vitamin with DHA, and now, they've just released, drum roll please... 

Premama "Digestive Aid", a prenatal fiber and probiotic chew

Soft and absolutely scrumptious, each vanilla-caramel flavored digestive aid chew contains 2 grams of fiber, 1 billion CFU's of probiotics, 20 calories, 1 gram of sugar, and 4 carbs. Mamas are directed to consume 1-4 chews a day for optimal benefit, and after you taste one you just might find yourself having to resist the urge to down more than that. But remember, they're not candy (though they taste like it) - they are nutritional supplements and you don't want to overdo it!

Where to buy Premama Digestive Chews:

Promoting both healthy digestion and immune system, Premama's Digestive Aid is already available online ($15.99 for a box of 28 on Amazon) and will be in stores at the end of July (you can search for a store near you here)!

What do you think? Do you take vitamins or probiotics regularly - for general health or specific issues?

​Disclaimer: Although I did receive this product free of charge through MomSelect, all thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased.

In need of some beautiful clothing that will work throughout your pregnancy and beyond, and that is breastfeeding-friendly but not obviously so? If yes, I'm thrilled to introduce you to Loyal Hana!!

The most unique and fabulous thing about Loyal Hana is how discreet they make their breastfeeding slits. Rather than simple nursing tanks with clips similar to nursing bras, Loyal Hana tops have breastfeeding slits that zip. That's right - zip! And when they're zipped up, you cannot tell they're there at all (see the pic below on the right - that is the top and bottom of the zipper - you can't see it!!). Really really cool. This means no one will possibly know you're wearing a nursing top, and you can keep it in your wardrobe even after you finish breastfeeding / pumping! SCORE!!

All of their pieces are wonderfully flowy - so they will fit you through all 4 trimesters of your pregnancy. Yes I said 4, that includes the "4th trimester" - the one where you are no longer pregnant but still have quite a bump that you wish to disguise. Let the dresses and tops flow or add a belt to accentuate your baby bump or postpartum waist.

I tested out the Amanda Black White Chevron v-neck tank ($90) and the Anya arrowhead print dress ($105). Both are a silk-like 100% polyester, light-weight and comfy. I found the quality to be top-notch and felt so super stylish (especially compared to my normal wardrobe of basic nursing tank and jeans), yet still able to quickly and discreetly whip out a boob to feed one (or both) of my babies. They are on the pricier side but their ability to work with you throughout pregnancy, breastfeeding, and beyond (so for years really) makes them quite a good bang for your buck in my opinion!!

You can check out all of Loyal Hana's chic, stylish, and comfortable maternity and nursing garments on their website here.

When you grow a human in your belly, things change. Some things are temporary and some are permanent. From stretch marks to hair loss, many women struggle with low self-esteem over their new "mom bod," and this saddens me greatly.

​To me, each tiger stripe is a reminder of your most wonderful accomplishment. That remaining "baby bump" brought life and completed your family. So, acknowledge your imperfections, stay fit and eat mindfully, but embrace your mom bod for what it is: beautiful, strong, loving, and amazingly awesome!!

With the help of a few mom friends, I've put together the following video to encourage moms to love themselves and their bodies. I hope you'll help the #MyMomBodIs movement by commenting below and sharing this blog post and video! Thank you!!

Just because you're pregnant or breastfeeding doesn't mean you can't look and feel beautiful... stunning... and simply fahhhbulous!! But you'll need the right clothes. I recently wrote about maternity wear rental with Bella Gravida, but how about your sleepwear and underwear? Sure sure, you can just wear your hubby's oversized tee to bed. But wouldn't you rather wear something super cute, comfy, practical, and *gasp* sexy!?? If you answered YES, then I'd like to introduce you to You! Lingerie!

All of their bras, sleep and lounge wear are pregnancy and nursing friendly - that means they're comfortable, supportive, and convenient (with easy access for breastfeeding). On top of that, they're seriously stylish. I don't know about you, but it can be hard not to feel frumpy during pregnancy and the postpartum period, but You! Lingerie is here to help unfrump your bump!

I recently got the Ashe Maternity & Nursing Tank and Rosette Super Mom Super Tired Maternity & Nursing Pajama Set and I'm totally in love. Funky colors, super soft and stretchy, what's not to love!? The nursing clips work perfectly, and the Tank has cute little bows on them which is super cute!!

They both have inner-shelf / built-in bras, but personally I like my milk monsters to feel super duper supported, so I wear these with a bra on (which you really can't see, so it's a non-issue in my book). The two-layered-look tank on the left has a kind of pleated baggy front which will highlight your beautiful baby bump but is also great for hiding any postpartum muffin top you might be sporting. Not saying I have a muffin top... not saying I don't... but it's a nice feature, as is the fact that you can wear the straps straight or criss-crossed on the back!

The red "super mom super tired" tank set said "hand wash only" and I was like ohhhh heck no... I don't do "hand wash"! Ain't nobody got time for that! But before throwing caution to the wind and tossing it in the laundry basket I decided to do a quick test to make sure it wouldn't bleed. But it did. BIG TIME. I rinsed it out in the cold water for a good 5 minutes and the water kept turning pink. So, yeah, they're serious about the hand wash thing but it's such a cute shirt, I'll just deal with it. Though I'll be extra careful to not get spit-up or other wash-necessitating things on it! (The leopard pants and the black/pink tank on the other hand did fine in the wash, phew!)

OK, now that we can agree that You! Lingerie has some awesome stuff, are you ready for some awesome news?? The grand prize winner of my "Get Your Sleep On Giveaway" will receive a Maternity & Nursing Chemise from You! Lingerie's Sprinkles Collection (pictured below). The winner can choose size and color.

Head on over to the giveaway (running February 15-25, 2016) to enter to win this and $300 worth of awesome sleep-related products for babies, toddlers, and mamas!!

[Disclosure: I participated in a Blog Blast Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Bella Gravida. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.]

You'll only spend half a year or so in your maternity clothes (per pregnancy of course), and while being pregnant is a really great excuse to go on a grandiose shopping spree, it's just not in the budget for most of us. So, you buy the absolute bare minimum and reach out to friends for hand-me-downs. Those were your only options, until now... 

Did you know you can actually RENT maternity wear now? This is so freaking fabulous, I just can't even!!!

Bella Gravida, which means Beautifully Pregnant in Italian, is a brand spanking new clothing rental service (website launched TODAY, September 18!) with thousands of designer maternity and nursing outfits, a flat monthly fee (from $39 for 1 item/month to $119 for 7 items/month), free shipping, laundry service included, 6 categories (Classic, Modern Trendy, Romantic, Bohemian, Dramatic, and Southern Chic), no return deadlines, and unlimited exchanges.

I worked throughout my first pregnancy and always felt so frumpy in my hand-me-down office-friendly maternity clothes that didn't quite fit right or weren't my style 100%. This second time around, I was home and able to stick to very simple tank tops and t-shirts, but man oh man I wish this service had launched just a few months (or years) earlier so I could have used it. What an amazing way dress your bump in the latest trends and give your struggling self-esteem a boost! It would also come in handy for that random black-tie wedding you have to attend at 8 months preggo!

So, if you have a bun in the oven or are expecting to be expecting anytime soon, go check out Bella Gravida's website ASAP and let me know what you think! You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter.