Tatyanna Wright's Haute Mama

Lala's Noonie

Take the age-old practice of swaddling into the 21st century with a noonie. A what? A noonie - a practical papoose created by Alessandra Gutierrez. Her noonie gets its name from when her eldest son was little and wanted to go to sleep. He would say: “I want to go to noonie” Gutierrez tells me. She thought the name was perfect for her designs since this is a cozy pouch babies love to sleep in.

Gutierrez created the cone shaped noonie for a friend’s baby shower. The idea took off and Gutierrez found herself creating her Lala’s Pequenos line of noonies. The cone shape allows the baby to naturally go into the swaddle position and the hood gives mom a little privacy when she’s nursing. Babies especially love to get in it after a bath- just with a diaper on. And it makes a really lovely gift.
Noonies are for newborns that weigh up to about 13 pounds. That’s about 1-3 months depending on your baby. Noonie is essentially a swaddling papoose and therefore cannot be used in your car seat, as it does not accommodate safety straps.

Noonies are available in organic fiber grown and certified organic to GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standards). The fabrics are produced in India and is fair trade certified, and the fabric is produced in a Fair Trade certified facility.
Alessandra’s passion for the environment doesn’t end with organic baby products. She is dedicated to helping preserve a special rain forest close to her heart – the Rainmaker Project.
Proceeds from the items sold from the Lala’s Pequenos line go to support the Rainmaker Project. More on Rainmaker in Haute Mama’s next blog post.
To purchase a noonie, visit: lalaspequenos.com

The Swedish Snot Sucker

Whilst at the pediatrician the other day I noticed an interesting device – a snot sucker to be exact. The Swedish apparatus is called the NoseFrida Nasal Aspirator and European parents swear by it. I have always used the bulb aspirator and never had problems using it with my first child – perhaps my new baby will prompt a purchase of this interesting little piece of equipment. 

Usually my reviews are born from personally testing a product, but in this instance, I want to know – have you tried this product? I am intrigued by it. The fact that you place one end in your mouth and cipher the snot right out from your babies nose makes me feel kind of gross, yet at the same time I’m curious to discover how much phlegm is successfully removed, how baby reacts, and if in fact you do suck up snot.

One of the nurses at my pediatricians clinic told me mothers with fussy babies, or babies who do not like the bulb aspirator are the general purchasers of the NoseFrida. Dr. Sears loves it, and I have to say I do like Dr. Sears and follow much of his advice. 
Please let me know if you’ve used the NoseFrida or know anyone that has.

Green Block Party

Join my favourite eco-store Green Depot and New Museum this Sunday for a day filled with fun and exciting hands-on activities for kids and grown ups alike!
Performances and activities will take place at Sara D. Roosevelt Park and Green Depot’s flagship store on the Bowery.
Join the fun and participate in:
•    Learning how to compost                      * Arts and Craft with Citibabes
•    Painting (zero-VOC paint)                     * Test drive energy saving devices
•    Learn how to keep your air clean!         * Win tickets to the zoo
•    Learn how to lower your energy bills, and create a healthier home

Haute Mama Video - Eco Baby Toys

In this segment we learn about eco-friendly toys with Green Depot founder, Sarah Beatty. From handcrafted old fashioned wooded rattles to home spun wool animals. These are toys your child will cherish forever.

Real Food

I’ve never been into dieting. That is to say, I’ve never consumed diet or light foods, beverages or any other manufactured food with the word ‘diet’ in front. My outlook on food has always been to enjoy what I eat.
Growing up I was lucky to spend a lot of time in Europe where eating is an absolute pleasure, people eat slowly, butter is sweet and salty, pastries are rich and the farm animals most of the produce derives live in open pastures feeding on lush green fields. This exposure taught me the importance of a harmonious ecosystem and showed me that it was healthy for woman to enjoy what they ate, rather than pick at a salad or deprive oneself of dessert.
I love pastries and cheese, and combine my indulgence with plenty of fresh organic fruit daily, we cook at home almost every night using fresh food - with the exception of dining out (at a restaurant that serves local, seasonal fare) once or twice a week. So when I read Nina Planck’s new book Real Food for Mother and Baby I was thrilled to discover it filled with common sense advice on eating. Her advice extends to how eating real foods can affect fertility, pregnancy, breastfeeding and babies starting out on their first foods. Her book is extremely well researched offering excellent facts.

I’ve always thought ones diet affected milk production and how quickly your body recovers post pregnancy since your body requires a certain amount of calories. Depriving your body deprives your baby when it comes to nursing. I strongly recommend Nina Planck’s Real Food for Mother and Baby for pregnant woman, new mothers, parents seeking to prepare better meals for their children and themselves as well as anyone struggling with food issues, or simply wanting to learn more about real food. Real Food for Mother and Baby is not a cookbook it’s a complete guide to eating real foods and why.
My motto has always been never deprive so get yourself a copy and start eating how you were meant to.

Haute Mama Video - Pregnancy & Body Piercing

In this installment of Haute Mama's new online web series, we find out what happens to your body piercerings when you become pregnant. Haute Mama met with Venus, by Maria Tash, regarded as the premier body piercing studio in New York City to find out.  

Post Partum Bottom Balm

Post partum recovery can really take a toll on some very specific parts of your body. Take it from me, as the imminent arrival date of my second child drew near I wanted to be as prepared for those post birth pains as I possibly could.
The discomfort I’m talking about hails from the nether regions… specifically your rectum and “birth canal” as the vagina so becomes known during pregnancy.
Prenatal and postpartum hemorrhoids, vaginal swelling, bruising, and episiotomies can create some serious anxiety about your next bowl or urinary movement. So when I discovered Earth Mama Bottom Balm, I packed a jar in my hospital bag and thanked the creators for this wondrous innovation.

Earth Mama Bottom Balm soothes and cools with an organic olive oil base infused with healing organic herbs - St. Johns wort, yarrow, witch hazel, calendula, shea butter, and more. From front to back you’ll feel the cooling effect of this powerful healing potion immediately.

The packaging asks you to store it in the fridge, but who seriously has the time to dash from the kitchen to the bathroom home alone with a new born? I keep mine right next to the toilet and I suggest you do to! Although my OB permitted me to apply the balm hours after giving birth vaginally you should ask your OB how soon they will allow you to use it.   
You can pick up a jar at Whole Foods or online at Earth Mama Angel Baby.