Carry on in Style

When your baby is around 2 months old his or her neck will be much more stronger than when she or he was a newborn. This will therefore be the perfect time for a short walk with your hands free.
The ultimate solution to a hands- free- walk is the Baby Carrier.
Each carrier is developed for a certain usage period based on the weight of your baby. Most carriers can be used when your baby is about 8 lbs (3.5 kg) up to 22 lbs (10 kg)
During the first period you can carry your baby towards you. When your baby grows you can positioning him forwards to look into the world.

Designer Baby Carrier
The ultimate choice for fashionata’s would be the Gucci Baby Carrier. This Baby Carrier has  adjustable shoulder straps and is recommended for babies 3 to 9 months or up to 20 lbs.  The Gucci Baby Carrier is available in 3 colours; Black GG fabric with black leather trim, beige/ebony GG fabric with white leather trim and beige/ebony GG fabric with dark brown leather trim. The Gucci Baby Carrier costs 850,- USD.

BabyBjörn Baby Carrier
The Swedish Award winning company BabyBjörn is founded in 1961 and is known worldwide for its innovative products for children up to 3 years old.
There are 4 types of BabyBjörn carriers; Original, Active, Air and Synergy.
From those four Synergy and Star (elegant version of the Original) are the newest in the baby carrier product line and are described in this article.
A guide to the BabyBjörn Baby Carriers can be found at the BabyBjörn website. All Carriers grow with your child, have easy on and easy off adjustments in the front and are machine washable. The Active and Synergy have an extra lower back support and wide, padded shoulder straps. The Original and Air are for babies from 8 lbs up to 22 lbs (3.5 kg up to 10 kg). The Active and Synergy are for babies from 8 lbs up to 26 lbs (3.5 kg up to 12 kg). The Baby Carriers are available in a price range between 89,- USD and 125,- USD.
For keeping your baby warm and dry when it’s cold outside, the BabyBjörn Cover is the perfect accessory. It is made from a soft, supple fleece material that is water-repellent and windproof, as well as breathability. The Cover can be used with all BabyBjörn baby carriers and has a protective, detachable hood that allows the child to face both forwards or towards you while in the baby carrier. You can also lift your child out of the baby carrier without removing the cover.

BabyBjörn Baby Carrier Synergy

The latest Baby Carrier combines maximum comfort and lightweight breathability in perfect harmony. BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier Synergy is made from a smooth breathable material and provides extra support for your back and shoulders, so you can carry your child for longer. The Synergy is available in black and white.
BabyBjörn Baby Carrier Original Star
Star quality and glamour are the keynotes of this year’s elegant version of the classic BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier Original. BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier Original Star is made from shiny black satin with a soft cotton lining.


The Fashion Design Package
The Fashion Design package is a limited edition and includes the BabyBjörn Carrier Original and a Soft Bag made from a Pop Green-colored fabric. You and your child will look extra special with your matching baby carrier and soft bag. The bag – which is also the perfect place to store your baby carrier – has plenty of space for everything you and your child might need. It’s also ideal as a shopping bag, even when you don’t have your child with you.

ERGObaby Carrier
Karin Frost, owner and designer of ERGObaby Carrier, had her son in 2001 and created a carrier for him. With the help and feedback from other parents the ERGO was born.
The all-in-one soft baby carrier, assisting you through all the stages of your baby’s growth and moving from front to hip to back position easily. Its innovative design makes wearing your baby comfortable hours at a time, gives you the freedom to remain active and productive in your daily life, and holds your baby secure to your body so your hands are free.

The ERGObaby carrier’s ergonomic design supports a correct sitting position for the baby’s hip, pelvis and spine growth. It disperses most of the baby’s weight between the hips and thighs, which helps to eliminate compression of the spine when hanging by the crotch which most other designs require. The ERGO also balances the baby’s weight to parents’ hips and shoulders, and alleviates physical stress for the parent.
The ERGObaby Carrier costs 92,- USD and is available in 6 colours; camel lining, black with green lining, blue with green lining, blue with tartan lining, camel and cranberry.

The usage of the ERGO varies considerably according to each baby and each parent, especially in relation to the parent’s stature and physical condition. The strain on the back increases naturally with the growing weight of the child. It is therefore a good idea to start carrying the baby early because the parent can slowly become accustomed to the increasing demand on the body by the growing weight of the child. This results in a conditioning of the body that reduces the strain of carrying. Frost still carries her son who is now 4-1/2 years old

Baby’s First Stocking

When your due date is before Christmas you might love the Pottery Barn Christmas Stocking. Celebrate your little one’s first holiday with the very special stocking embroidered with “1st Christmas”. 
Each stocking, 7.5 x 12″ h,  is made of yarn-dyed gingham, piece-dyed percale fabrics and colorful appliqués accented with plush chamois and hand embroidery. The “1st Christmas” Stocking costs 15,- USD.  Add a name to any stocking for $6 more.   There is now free shipping on orders until November 29.
Pottery Barn also just started with their Baby Clothing Sale with up to 30% discount. Unfortunately Pottery Barn cannot ship outside the United States.

Seasonal Sanctuaries in Vegas

 

Something to add to your holiday wish list: special spa treatments designed especially for the season.

For those Babymooning, you can pamper yourselves with specially-designed maternity massages with the Expecting Mother Massage at Spa Bellagio or the Motherhood Massage at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas.

For those sans baby, indulge in sugar and spice at The Ritz-Carlton Spa with limited edition treatments from the “Holiday Indulgence” collection. Through the end of November, guests can delight in a pedicure, facial or sweet exfoliation, scented with brown sugar and cinnamon. In December, featured treatments will include gingerbread scents.

At Spa Bellagio, guests are invited to purify with pumpkin or relax with cranberry. A Purifying Pumpkin Facial energizes the skin with a delectable blend of botanicals, while cranberry lovers can choose between an exfoliating Cranberry Vichy Shower, Cranberry Hydrotherapy Bath or Cranberry Relaxation Massage.

You can also savor a Chocolate Body Treatment at Aquae Sulis Spa at JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa. Exfoliating rich chocolate meringue, hydrating Swiss chocolate mousse with shea butter and vitamins leaves you feeling scrumptious and delicious.  Or try the Candy Cane Scalp and Hair Treatment, a rejuvenating scalp massage, followed by a beautifying hair wash, condition and finish…all with a peppermint twist

Hello Baby at the Mohonk Mountain House

I had the luxury of visiting the Mohonk Mountain House recently in New Paltz, NY for a quick weekend getaway. Mohonk Mountain House is a National Historic Landmark and Historic Hotel of America located in the Hudson Valley region of New York State, just 90 miles north of New York City.

At 32 weeks pregnant,  getaways are priceless and my husband and I were on Mohonk’s Hello Baby! BabyMoon Package for expectant parents.  The castle-like resort was built in the mid 1800s and has been owned by the same family since then.  When you drive up you are captivated by the scenery and the sheer beauty of the building.  Apart from that and a beautiful antique-furnished room overlooking the mountains with a queen bed and a wood-burning firplace (as well as a  balcony with two rocking chairs), we were also well sated with three meals a day plus tea in the afternoon.

Hello Baby!  includes time together side-by-side in the Couples’ Treatment Room at the wonderful spa which features a fireplace in the solarium.  I had a 50-minute Maternity Massage (designed to enhance lower back comfort, relieve leg and foot tension-which it did quite well!). My husband had a choice of the 50-minute Eagle Cliff Deep Tissue Massage or the Gentlemen’s SkyTop Revitalizer Facial. He chose the massage and after our massages we met in the coed solarium for tea and fruit. The  30,000-square-foot spa also features a total of 16 treatment rooms, a solarium, and outdoor heated mineral pool, along with an indoor heated swimming pool with an underwater sound system, fitness center, and yoga/motion studio. Also included in the Hello Baby package were a beautifully illustrated photo album and rubber duckie–gifts for the baby– which we were presented with when we left the spa.

During the weekend we also walked along some of the 85 miles of hiking trails which had incredible vistas. There about 200 little wooden huts hanging off of the many cliffs that provide a space to take in the incredible views and well snap photos. The half-mile-long,  Lake Mohonk is perfect for boating, fishing, and swimming. There are also many other activities at Mohonk which I could not take part in (but will definitely be back as a family one day to do) such as horseback riding, carriage rides, boating, golf, tennis, and in the winter-ice skating, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. In addition Mohonk has this great Barn Museum with antiques it has collected through the decades (Model T Ford, farming equipment, carriages etc.) It really had a lot of history and if you go up into the reading room you can look at old hotel guest books from the 18-1900s.

We had tea in the afternoons and read a lot (there are no TV’s in the rooms) and just relaxed-which was heavenly. We also indulged in chocolate-covered strawberries delivered with the turn-down service each night.
Mohonk Mountain House is for people who appreciate what nature has to offer and who enjoy outdoor activities and beautiful sunsets.  If you like being immersed in an historical setting with antique furniture and surroundings, this is the place for you.

A Parisian Chic Maternity Look

The Séraphine maternity brand was founded by the Parisian stylist Cecile Reinaud.

Since its launch, the brand is very popular with the yummy mummies of London and many high profile celebrities like Claudia Schiffer, Paul McCartney and Jamelia.

Séraphine has two stores in London and the collection is also available at department stores in Paris and most major cities in France. Good news is that you do not have to go to London or Paris to buy, the clothes are available on-line as well.

There are 5 styles of maternity looks : Essential, Latest Look, Elegant, Business and Holiday (or should we say babymooning outfit) Besides maternity wear Séraphine also launched a capsule baby wear collection, nursery furniture, bags, belts and Mama Mio skin care products.

This Little Piggy went to Prada

Amy Allen, businesswoman and first time author and mother created the perfect bedside-table book.

This Little Piggy went to Prada is bound in contrasting hot pink and rich red linnen. In it, Amy Allen rewrites nursery rhymes with a stylish twist. The original rhymes are toward the back of the book.

This fashionable illustrated nursery rhyme book is the ultimate babyshower gift for those jet-setting, fashionistas in your life !

Bugaboo celebrates the 100th Anniversary of Neiman Marcus

Bugaboo is celebrating Neiman Marcus’ 100th anniversary with the Bugaboo Cameleon Special Collection Metallic Silver sold exclusively at Neiman Marcus.

Some special items are included like the breathable black microfleece blanket for your child and a special edition cup holder for you.

This exclusive stroller will be available in 31 Neiman Marcus US stores in November 2007.  Neiman Marcus is now taking pre-orders.

Luxury before Birth at The Ring in Vienna

The Ring, Vienna’s Casual Luxury Hotel, is offering parents-to-be an indulging “last hurrah” break which allows precious time to be spent together before the arrival of the newborn.
Treat yourself to absolute luxury and time together before the life changing arrival of your baby with the “Luxury before Birth” package at The Ring. Couples will be delighted to receive hospitality at the highest level, hospitality that caters to every need and wish.
The Luxury before Birth Package includes 2 night’s accommodation in a
X-Ordinary room including in-room “energy wellness” breakfast, airport limousine transfer, “Energy Welcome Kick” upon arrival, pre-natal massage for the mum to be, beauty treatment for the dad-to-be, your personal “Button booklet”, a guided city tour through Vienna with a limousine ,and a personal pre-birth present with the best wishes from The Ring and Belly Button. The Luxury before Birth Package costs 549,- EURO per person in a double room.

The pre-natal massage has been carefully designed for pregnant mothers bringing deep relaxation and wonderful tonicity of the total body during this very special time, and leaves you totally rested and relaxed. The  personal booklet and gift are from “Belly Button“, a famous company based in Hamburg, Germany, specialised in offering high quality clothes and cosmetics for mums-to-be and babies.

The Ring opened its doors at the beginning of November 2007. The Ring is located in one of Vienna’s top spots, just opposite the Vienna State Opera and the beginning of the famous Kärntner Street, 20 minutes driving time from Vienna International Airport. The Ring offers 68 rooms and suites, starting from 275,- euro to 1.250,- euro.
The jewel of The Ring is the Ring Suite with a size of 120 sq. m.

The Ring’s restaurant At Eight is the perfect place for fine dining. At Eight is equipped with furniture made of Zeprano wood and fabrics in fresh green colours and completed with a harmonious lighting concept.  The bar Drings has a great choice from coffee, pastries and snacks to exquisite wines and exotic cocktails (those last two only for the father to be!).

The Spa Treatment Room will offer guests a space to find equilibrium between body, mind and spirit. You can choose from various treatments but when you have booked the Luxury before Birth Package the pre-natal massage and beauty treatment for father to be are included.

Read this article to learn more about the exciting destination Vienna : A Babymoon in Vienna

The Oohs and Ahhs of Maternity Massage

I never realized how much I enjoyed a massage until at 26 weeks of pregnancy, I experienced the wonders of prenatal massage at a resort I was staying at on a short getaway. Many massage therapists are certified in prenatal massage, although not all spas offer this luxury. If a spa hires a new massage therapist who is not prenatal certified, they have to demonstrate their skill in draping and positioning a pregnant woman.  The spas provide basic training and information on working with a pregnant woman and they only qualify those therapists who demonstrate pregnancy massage knowledge.  Some spas have adjustable tables with openings designed to accommodate pregnant bellies. This allows the guest to lie comfortably, while also supporting the shoulders and easing pressure on the breasts. Prenatal massage may also be performed using a special maternity cushion that is placed on the table, allowing the expectant mother to lie on her side.

Christine Haddad of G20 Spa and Salon and Emerge Spa and Salon in Boston, MA, explained that her spas use a “BodyCushion System.”  Much like the maternity cushions, this system is a two-part cushion used to prop the client on her side. The cushions support the woman’s belly and torso, while taking pressure off the shoulder.
As many expectant mothers soon realize, carrying a baby shifts one’s center of gravity and puts a lot of stress on the back, neck, abdominal muscles, and shoulders. Pregnancy also relaxes ligaments and causes the pelvic joints to become less stable, and thus changes one’s posture, pulling the pelvis forward. Add to that the extra weight you’re carrying and you’ve got yourself an aching lower back.
Not only is prenatal massage beneficial to relieving lower back pain and neck pain, it relieves the stress that accompanies the heightened emotions/hormonal changes and physical fatigue that are characteristic symptoms of pregnancy.  It drains the edema (water retention that is often present, particularly in the legs).  It also detoxifies the system, giving a feeling of greater physical lightness and mental clarity. 

Tessa Kienow, Spa Director of Spa Terre at Little Palm Island in Florida Keys, FL said prenatal massage techniques are basic in nature; Effleurage, Petrissage, Friction, Tapotement & Vibration.  “It is how and where you apply these techniques that makes maternity massage differ [from other types of massage]. 
“Contrary to popular belief a maternity massage does not have to be a light pressure massage, but more important than applied pressure, you must be sure to avoid deeper strokes in the lower extremities, abdominals, pressure point work in the feet & ankles, and working on any clients with abnormal edema,” explained Kienow. 
Kienow added that range of motion movements as well as heat packs or wraps should be avoided.  “There is an extensive list of warning signs for high risk factors in pregnancy; we follow those strictly to be sure that all parties involved are safe.  In addition, whenever possible, we require a doctor’s consent for all services performed.”
If you are searching for a good prenatal massage therapist, ask for recommendations from your hospital, health practitioner, or friends. If you already have a favorite massage therapist, ask whether she has training in prenatal massage or can recommend a colleague who does.

Finally, the American Massage Therapy Association has an online referral system for the United States and Canada. Just click on the map or use the search engine.

Once you have a few contacts, ask the following questions to help make the choice easier:

• How long have you been practicing?
• How much massage experience do you have with pregnant women?
• Have you had any special training in pregnancy massage?
• Do you use a body cushion?
• How will you handle positioning me as I progress in my pregnancy?

All expectant mothers should check with their doctors prior to getting a massage. If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, or are on the early stages of pregnancy, prenatal massage may not be recommended. It is important to share information about yourself with your massage therapist when you arrive for your appointment. The massage therapist will adjust your prenatal massage to make it as relaxing and as useful as possible based on your personal needs and preferences.

Katie Amundson, Spa Director of the Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa in Arizona, added that in bodywork in general there is a real intention towards addressing the whole person. “Especially being in Sedona we have a lot of room to be open to acknowledging the emotional, mental and spiritual levels as well in our sessions. In our prenatal session, technical skill is mandatory as well as a reverence for the mom and baby and the journey they are on together.”

A Grecian Babymoon at the Island of Crete

Elounda Gulf Villas & Suites in Greece has recently launched a babymoon package for expecting couples. The Five Star Diamond Award Winning Elounda Gulf Villas & Suites stands majestically on the hillside overlooking the gulf of Mirabello. 18 stylish Villas with their own private pool and 10 luxury Suites, have been individually designed with the peacefulness and harmony of your home in mind. The Villas and the Suites are a destination for those expecting a special holiday, as they provide the rare combination of the facilities and services of a deluxe hotel together with the warm, private, and exclusive atmosphere of your home!

The Elounda Gulf Villas & Suites Babymoon Package includes a one way private airport transfer from Heraklion Airport, a personal Pre-Birth gift for the parents to be and relaxing Spa treatments in privacy of your Villa, Suite or at Elixir Spa Gallery (a sports massage for the father to be and a manicure and pedicure for the mother to be (or pregnancy massage if possible). This babymoon packages costs 250,- EURO without accommodation included.
The Suites start at 250,- EURO per night and Villas start at 600,- EURO per night.

You can choose the perfect accommodation from several types of Villas and Suites:
The Suites
The Luxury Senior Suites and the Luxury Family Suites are between 60 and 120 sq. m. All Suites are close to the seasonally-heated main swimming pool with Jacuzzi and jet for swimming against the stream as well as the children’s pool.

The Villas

All Spa Villas have a large infinity seasonally-heated private swimming pool, with jacuzzi and jet, but also a private sauna, steam bath, and gym room. All Villas have a large private swimming pool with Jacuzzi.
The 3 types of Spa Villas are Superior Spa Villa, Executive Spa Villa and Presidential Spa Villa and are between 100 and 200 sq.m. The 3 types of Villas are Elounda Villa, Mediterranean Villa and Aegean Villa and are between 120 and 150 sq.m.
Superior Spa Villa

The Royal Spa Villa
And on top of all this luxury there is The four-bedroomed Royal Spa Villa, the ultimate in luxury offering complete privacy. This villa has been featured several times within the ‘Top Property’ lists of both national and international magazines.

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