Nuna Baby New Product (Level Up)

Nuna Baby Introducing a New Product

I've been a big fan of Nuna Baby products ever since my wife got pregnant. It was one of the first few brands that popped out when I was searching for a stroller. They have a wide variety of strollers for all sizes and purposes. They also have car seats, a play yard, high chairs, bouncers, and baby carriers. Nuna is most famous for its premium quality 'Nuna Pipa' Car Seats, 'Mixx Next' Stroller, and '

Trvl' stroller.

Nuna's products check most of the boxes: safety, quality, materials, durability, comfort, and convenience. The travel system (a combination of a stroller and a basket-type car seat) is the best way to go for first-time parents. You can't beat the convenience of having one tool used as a car seat and a part of a stroller. There is no need to move the baby from one place to the other!

If you are actively looking for a travel system, click on the link below to explore the options: 

Nuna Travel System

Introduction of New Product

So, I've been following their Instagram account. They posted a video hinting at a new stroller. There is no indication on their website yet. The video depicts the outlines of what seems to be a stroller with the phrase "Level Up." This video is getting a lot of attention from parents who already own some of Nuna's products. 

Nuna Instagram

Trvl Double Maybe?

The anticipation is building and the followers have been commenting on the video guessing what the new product is going to be. The most common "request" is the 'trvl' double. The 'trvl' is a smaller-sized stroller suited for traveling with a child. It features an automatic, easy fold and is very light compared to the other segments. 

If 'trvl' comes as double, meaning two seats for two children, it would add a lot more convenience for those family who travels a lot. Unfortunately, most airlines don't allow 'trvl' in the cabin as a carry-on due to the slightly large size that won't fit in the overhead compartment. Still, it's easier than traveling with a deluxe-sized stroller. 

New Demi Grow?

Demi Grow is Nuna's only double stroller. It can attach up to 2 seats on top and bottom of the stroller. It is sturdy and comfortable, thanks to the large back wheels. 

People commenting are asking for the new Demi Grow because Mixx got a new and improved version as Mixx Next.  Demi Grow was launched in 2017 and has not gotten a makeover yet. It might be the perfect timing for the Demi Grow Next in 2024. 

Conclusion

Nuna has been putting out amazing products to improve babies' and parents' lives. That is probably why so many followers are hyped up about this Instagram post. No matter what the new product is, I'm pretty sure it's a well-thought product, and I have no doubt about it. 

Waiting for the 100th Day Miracle

Everything Gets Better After the 100th Day

In Korea, there is a tradition to celebrate a newborn's 100th day from birth. A long time ago, before the medical advancement, surviving 100 days was called a miracle. Malnutrition, unsanitary practices, and lack of biological knowledge challenged the survival rate of the little ones. 

Nowadays, fortunately, a lot of newborns make it through 100 days with very little or no problems. The term 100th Day Miracle is redefined for the new parents. It's not a miracle for the babies, but a miracle for the parents. In this blog post, we will explore the changes that come about on the 100th day.

Challenges up to the 100th Day

There are challenges and struggles for the new parents from Day 1. Aside from love, happiness, satisfaction, and a bunch of indescribable feelings, caring for a baby brings fatigue, sleeplessness, stress, worries, and a bunch of other indescribable feelings that can't possibly be healthy for the parents. 

Some challenges my family experienced in the first 100 days were:

• Feeding & sleeping schedule: Babies grow fast. Their patterns change over a few days. Our daughter had 2 hours intervals between feeding, but sometimes she'd sleep for more than 2 hours. Of course, she woke up in the middle of the night because she got hungry.

• Right amount of milk: First few weeks, our daughter ate surprisingly little. Then she kept on wanting more and more right after feeding. We tried a gradual increase, but she seemed to have growth spurts every now and then. In between, she went back to the normal amount. (All that precious breast milk wasted 😢) 

• Right product at the right timing: The baby welcome gift box from places like Amazon, Walmart, Target, or Buy Buy Baby can really come in handy. We did a lot of research for baby products and thought we were ready before the birth. How arrogant of us! We learned about all the different bottle sizes, nipple sizes, and shapes babies prefer after our baby came home.  There were so many necessary, helpful items we needed to buy: a thinner swaddle for summer, natural ingredient lotions, diaper rash cream, baby cams, toys, and on and on. Caring for a baby is a lot harder without the right products.

 

• Crying baby but why?: Babies cry a lot. That's how they communicate. It's like a foreign language that you can barely interpret. Fortunately, our daughter isn't much of a cry-er. Our nephew, on the other hand, cries for hours. If the parents can't figure out why, not only the crying hurts the ears, but it also hurts their heart for not being able to connect with their child. (Note: it's not your fault. Keep trying! Sometimes it takes practice.)

• Unwashed Bottles: Being so caught up with watching the baby, we forgot to wash the bottles at times and ran out when the hungry roar began. We got so nervous and blamed ourselves for taking that 10-minute nap when we should've been doing the dishes.

The Hundredth Day Miracle

It is known that most babies settle into a pattern by the 100th day. Their growth spurts stabilize into noticeable intervals. They start to sleep at night, for a long period of time! If parents enforce a schedule, babies get used to it. They now can make eye contact, respond to your voice or appearance, laugh, and smile more. The 100th Day Miracle is here!

Parents grew their expertise in caring for their little ones. Diaper change: done. Feeding: done. Products: ready. At this point, most parents can connect with their child a lot better. The routines and habits are suited to the best practices. Parents can get some sleep at night or at least figure out a sleeping pattern to secure some dream time. I personally enjoy a lot of our daughter's wake-up laughter. We sleep in the same room. She wakes up at 7 AM every day and hangs out by herself for a while. If her parents don't come by, then she starts to make all these noises to wake them. When I half-asleep walk over to her, she gives me the brightest smile and laughs.  

Conclusion

These words might keep you going in the first 100 days:

• Is this why we had a baby? YES, that is exactly why.
• Everybody has gone through this path. I can get through this path. This is how I become a father.
• Everything is alright. I'm on the right path. 
• It will pass. The 100th-day miracle IS coming!

Even though it might be a tough time physically, mentally, and emotionally, when I look back, every single moment was so precious. I'm very glad that our baby is healthy and growing fast. Enjoy the ride. It's worth it!

How I Chose My Baby's First Crib

Picking the Best Baby Crib

From day one, babies sleep a lot. That's what they need to do. As parents, we need to prepare the one piece of furniture that they spend the majority of time for a couple of months. A crib, or a baby bed, is an essential part of the nursery room for newborns. In this blog post, I will share my thought process on finding the perfect baby crib for my child.

Where to Find Them

There are quite a few places where you can find cribs. As important as it is, a lot of manufacturers are in the market.

• Delta Children (online)
• Ikea
• Target
• Pottery Barns Kids
• Crate and Barrel

Most of the furniture brands carry some pieces for babies. Some premium brands are rarely on display, but I was able to find some at Nordstrom, ones like Nestig Wave Crib. 

What to Consider

Here are some key points to consider:

• What material are you looking for?
• What's the budget?
• Are you looking for a crib that can turn into a toddler bed?
• Are you looking to buy a bundle with other pieces of furniture?
• Is there a theme in your nursery room?

Notice there is no question about safety. Any baby crib sold in the U.S. needs to pass the safety tests. We still need to practice safety caution in using the crib, but the furniture themselves are built with safety standards. For more information about safety tips, click on this link: 

Crib Safety Tips.

Parts of the crib you need to purchase together:

• Mattress
• Mattress protector
• Mattress sheets

A baby's mattress needs to be firm to prevent suffocation and to support the baby's back. They don't have enough muscles to pull themselves together yet. 

Sometimes, diapers fail. Infants throw up a lot. When they get to the 4-5th month mark, they start drooling all over the place. You will need a mattress protector that's water-resistant. 

For the same reason, you will need multiple mattress covers. Get the soft cotton ones for your baby's soft skin. 

Budgeting

Now that you have an idea of what to look for, you need to fit it into your budget. To be honest, when I saw the cribs in person, I couldn't tell much of the difference in functionality. Differences were in the quality of the finish, details in materials, or how nice they looked. If you are having the first child, you might want to look into the bundles from websites like Delta Children. They have a great selection of nice-looking furniture. We found the 6-piece set of a crib, dresser with a changing pad, glider (the rocking chair for feeding), mattress, mattress protector, and sheets at a great price. They have a variety of styles and colors to choose from. Take a look before you start visiting the offline stores to get the feel of what you want.

Conclusion

Shopping for your baby is always exciting. Make sure to plan ahead and spend some time looking at different options. Don't wait until the last minute. Some furniture will need assembly and it might be challenging if your wife is at the hospital about to deliver a baby. 

You want to get a safe, durable, and comfortable crib for your newborn. In terms of economics, try to find a nursery set to slice off some cost. The cribs are where your infants spend most of their time for a while. Their focus is on growing and they do it by sleeping. Let's give our precious little ones a cozy, quality sleeping environment.

If you are wondering what other things need to be prepared before you baby gets home, click on the link below:

Essential Furniture for Your Newborn

How Things Change When Your Baby Gets Home

Delta vs. Constant with a Newborn

*Delta means "Change" in math

A lot has changed since our baby was born. Our daily routines, weekend schedules, and to-do lists for short and long-term plans. But, we are still who we were. We still enjoy the after-dinner Netflix hours, daily catch-up during dinner, and the weekend cleaning. New parents go through a lot of emotional changes. We figured that keeping some constant events would help us to maintain who we are. The first month or so, deeply into caring for the baby, we might have lost focus on each other a few times. It's very important for the parents to not lose the relationship over the baby-duties. In this blog post, we will explore the changes when the baby comes home and the things to maintain for your family's relationship.

Daily Routine

Before the baby, I went to work every morning from Monday to Friday. Returned home whenever the work was finished. My wife was doing her master's program, finished her last semester right before the baby was born. We didn't get to travel as much as we wanted to, but we took short trips around on the weekends quite often. During the weekdays, after work was mostly having dinner and watching Netflix for couple of hours, then go to bed before 12. 

Constant: About 40 days old girl started to get into the sleep routine from 7 PM to 11PM, one feeding and falls asleep, then wakes up at 7 AM. We got to keep our dinner, Netflix, and the quality married couple time. 

Delta: Every hour is planned. Planned for the baby's essential needs: diaper, feeding, and sleeping. 

Noise Level

We really enjoyed a lot of movies. We bought a LG large screen TV and a Vizio sound bar to get into them. All has changed. In about 30 days after birth, our baby started to hear things and hear them very well. Noises would wake her up and startle her. We had to keep things quiet. 

Constant: We still watch movies on the big screen.

Delta: The sound bar is kept at the lowest noise level most of the time. We started to using the Apple Air Pods and the Galaxy Buds a lot more.

Weekends

The weekends were our stress outlets. Going into nature, looking at new and expensive things, or finding a local hot spot for exotic foods. For the first month or so, we barely went out except to get groceries. Our baby was sleeping most of the times; we were exhausted with the sleepless nights. Once the baby got used to sleeping in the car seat and enjoyed looking at things through the sun screen of the stroller, we took as much chances as possible to go out and see the world. 

Constant: We still go out and relieve our stress.

Delta: Our selection of destinations became very exclusive. The place needs a clean bathroom, diaper changing station, not too much crowd, able to return home within a hour or less, etc. No out-of-blue trips. 

Conversation

Before the pregnancy, we heard from the married couples with kids that a couple tends to lose conversations when a baby is born. And it is very unhealthy for the family if the mother and father doesn't share their feelings and events unseen. 

We didn't think much of it, but we caught ourselves only talking about the baby. We didn't share anything about each other. We had to bring back our common interests and fire up the conversations.

Constant: If we don't express it, we won't know it. The need hasn't changed. We still wanted to encourage and build each other up. 

Delta: There are actually a lot of things that needed to be talked about the baby. We got caught up with the needs and forgot about wants. Our focus shifted from each other to the baby. 

Conclusion

Our roles changed from a husband and wife to a father and mother. Our sense of responsibility went to a whole new realm. We were so busy perfecting our new roles, we neglected some duties of the older but still current roles. People have a desire to have the perfect family deep inside. We can't let go of the role as a loving husband and wife, even when new role that seem to be so important came upon us.  We got used to the new routines and preparations. Though we might miss the spontaneous trips later, we surprisingly enjoy having to plan ahead and shortening our stress relieving trips. The joy of being a family of 3 is far greater than just a couple.  

How I Chose My Baby's First Stroller

Picking the Best Stroller 

Choosing the perfect stroller is a tough job. For Dads, purchasing anything with wheels becomes a serious consideration. I've done my fair share of research on my own: specs provided by the manufacturers, product reviews by the sellers, and reviews from the users. There are so many good choices to consider. A recommendation that stuck with me when buying any of the baby products was "Think of what you need now, not what you want your life to look like."

Things do change when the baby comes home, but your preferences will most likely not vary too much. For example, you are not going to jog outdoors pushing the stroller every day if you are not a regular jogger. Of course, you'd like your child to experience outdoors more, but is it going to be a challenge for you? Then you'd be better off looking at other options.

After a long period of consideration, we picked the Nuna MixxNext stroller. It best suited our lifestyle and it looked really luxurious.  In this blog post, I will introduce you to my thought process in picking this handsome stroller for my baby girl.

Expectations

When choosing a stroller, the first thing to consider is your lifestyle.  I do workout from time to time, but mostly at the gym within the apartment complex. I liked to take a walk outside, just not every day. The neighborhood doesn't have the fairest pavement on the sidewalk. So, I wanted the one with bigger wheels and a good suspension. We live on the second floor of an apartment without an elevator. I would've liked a lighter option, but bigger wheels and weight always go together. It was a fair trade-off. Knowing us, we are not the most prudent people on the planet, we sure needed the stroller to be durable. 

We can manage the weight. Figure out a way to avoid heavy lifting on my wife's weakened wrist. But we definitely wanted a premium design and safe materials for the spots where the baby will be touching. 

Candidates

The market is flooded with awesome strollers. First time at Buy Buy Baby (Rest in Paradise), we were struck by how many strollers exist and they don't even carry all lineups per brand! A simple Google search will return all these names and plus:

• Doona
• Uppababy Vista, Cruz
• Mockingbirds 
• Graco
• Bugaboo Donkey, Butterfly, Fox5
• Nuna MixxNext, triv, trvl, tavo, demi grow
• Babyzen Yoyo
• Joolz 
• Baby Jogger
• Thule
• Cybex

I categorized and ruled out the smaller ones and stuck with the "Deluxe" size, infant strollers. They are the ones with big wheels, great suspension, and a lot of safety features. I narrowed the list down to Bugaboo, Uppababy, and Nuna. The signature lines all have competitive prices and great features. 

How I tested them

Buy Buy Baby, unfortunately, didn't carry Nuna strollers at the time. Nordstrom carried all three brands and their stock came in and out. Visiting multiple times over a month, I got to test most models. I was focused on the Deluxe line: Mixx Next (Nuna), Fox 5 (Bugaboo), and Vista V2 (Uppababy). I also tested the lighter models and double strollers (for 2 kids), but we looked into what we actually need now. 

I compared the weight, push-feel, stability, durability, and design all based on my own judgment of the physical product. Bold is the winner.

• Weight: Bugaboo < Nuna < Uppababy
• Push Feel (Smoothness):  Bugaboo < Uppababy < Nuna
• Stability: Bugaboo < Uppababy < Nuna
• Durability: Bugaboo < Nuna < Uppababy
• Design: Bugaboo < Uppababy < Nuna

Nuna Mixx Next wins.

Special Edition

While researching Nuna Strollers online, I found out that Nuna has a wide range of color options and a few exclusive colors: Nordstrom and Pottery Barn Kids collaborations. When I visited Nordstrom, they were cleaning out the "Refined" color inventory and told us there was a new color coming in a month. When we were actually about to purchase, the new color "Curated" came out with light beige with a hint of gray. Any uniqueness added to the premium-looking stroller was a huge plus.

Available Accessories

Nuna has quite a bit of accessories: a Cup holder, sling bag, rain cover, wheeled padded travel bag, child tray, and organic cotton infant insert set.  None is included in the purchase of a stroller. We decided to find better-priced products from Amazon. 

Conclusion

I spend a lot of my break time looking into strollers. At first, I had to learn new vocabulary words. The more I learned, I could see why people recommend certain products over others. And as I understood more, it became more fun to compare and find the best match. The key, as mentioned in the beginning, is not to over think how your life will change when the baby comes. Most of it stays the same. Find a stroller that suits your lifestyle the best.

Halloween 2023: Costume Ideas for Your Family

Fun&Creative Costume Ideas for Halloween

Halloween is a chance for your family to become someone else for a night. Children love to dress up as superheroes, princesses, monsters, robots, etc. In this blog post, we will explore some of the hot themes of costumes for your family for Halloween 2023.

Popular Movies

• Barbie 2023: The world-famous dolls in live action. This movie came out this year depicting the dolls and animation in real life. There are enough characters for you to choose for your family. Link to Amazon for a lead:  Amazon Barbie

• Lightyear 2022: My all-time favorite movie is the Toy Story series. If I had a son, he would've been the Buzz Lightyear every year until he'd started to decide. Toy Story theme also has a variety of characters that all family members can dress up as.  Link to Amazon for a lead: Amazon Buzz Lightyear
  

• Top Gun: Maverick 2022: Who hasn't had a cool pilot wannabee phase in their lives? The sequel to a successful movie "Top Gun (1986)" was a big hit in the theaters last year. 36 years between the series covers a wide range of audiences. Father, son, and grandfather all can enjoy the theme. Link to Amazon for a lead: Amazon Top Gun

• The Little Mermaid (2023): Despite the controversy and little success of the movie, the Little Mermaid is a popular story and one of the favorite themes of Halloween costumes. Since the movie was released this year, there are going to be a lot of products in stores.  Link to Amazon for a lead: Amazon Little Mermaid

• Wednesday 2022: Wednesday Addams from the Netflix show 'Wednesday' is a spooky daughter from the old-time show 'The Addams Family.' It features the perfect character for Halloween. Link to Amazon for a lead: Amazon Wednesday Adams

Classic Family Costumes

• Space Astronauts: The whole family can be super-smart scientists traveling to the Moon. It's easy to pick the matching outfits and accessories. Amazon Astronauts

• Pinkfong Baby Shark: It's been around for a while now. This is an easy costume for multiple people. It even has the roles all figured out for the family. Once in the costume, you can never get the song out of your head. Amazon Baby Shark

• Skeleton Family: Another very easy one to put on. Onesie pajamas with skeleton printed. Amazon Skeleton

• Ketchup, Mustard, and Hot Dog: The parents can become the perfect pair with Ketchup and Mustard costumes while the child is the Hot Dog. It's the perfect combination that always goes together. If you have one more child, let him or her be the hot dog vendor.    Amazon Hot Dog,  Amazon Ketchup and Mustard for Parents, Amazon Hot Dog Vendor

Conclusion

Halloween is a fun day to make tons of memories with your children. Don't let them have all the fun, join them and have fun together. Be involved in their trick-or-treating this year. You can use a lot of creativity in picking out the costumes. You might not even have to buy anything new. Pick a character that nobody dares to. If your child is old enough to choose, have a discussion with him or her. Let them learn how to convince the others to follow their ideas. ;) Happy Halloween!

Behaviorism: What You Need Know

Easy, Good to Know Information About Behaviorism for Your Child's Development

Congratulations, new dads! Parenthood is an incredible journey filled with joy, challenges, and countless opportunities to learn. One essential aspect of understanding your child's development is grasping the basic concepts of a few learning theories. In this blog post, we'll break down behaviorism theory in a simple engaging way, tailored specifically for dads like you.

What is Behaviorism?

The most popular example is Pavlov's dog theory. The one with conditioning a dog to salivate when they hear a bell ring. No, we are not trying to make our kids salivate when they hear a bell. We can utilize some of its principles in training our kids, like bedtime routine.

Behaviorism is the theory that focuses on observable behaviors rather than thoughts or emotions. It suggests that behaviors are learned through interactions with the environment and can be modified through rewards and punishments.

The Basics of Behaviorism

1. Classical Conditioning

Think Pavlov's dog. Discover how simple associations can influence your child's behavior. Make a connection between an incident and an action.

2. Operant Conditioning

Learn how consequences shape your child's actions and decisions. It's like teaching them the ropes of life! You can condition certain behaviors by giving rewards or punishment.

3. Behavior Modification

Explore practical strategies to encourage positive behaviors and address challenging ones. Using both conditionings, you can guide your child's development to the desired spot.

Why Behaviorism Matters for Dads

1. Building Strong Bonds

Discover how understanding behaviorism can help you connect with your child on a deeper level.

2. Effective Parenting Techniques

Learn how behaviorism principles can guide you in making parenting decisions that work.

3. Problem Solving Skills

Equip yourself with the tools to address common parenting challenges effectively.

Applying Behaviorism at Home

1. Positive Reinforcement

Praise and rewards can motivate your child to behave well. Focus your words on your child rather than the result. 

Ex) You got a 100 on your math test! Good Job! (x)

       You are such a hard worker! (o) 

2. Setting Clear Expectations

Learn the importance of communication and consistency in shaping behavior. Don't send mixed messages; it will confuse your child. Especially if you are trying to correct a behavior. If Mom says no, but if Dad says okay, it will confuse the child.

3. Time-Outs and Consequences

Explore when and how to use consequences as a teaching tool. Make sure not to combine multiple undesirable behaviors into one punishment. Soon the the consequence follows an undesired action, a better connection will be made.

Conclusion

As you embark on your parenting journey, understanding behaviorism can be a valuable asset. By focusing on observable behaviors and applying the principles of behaviorism, you can foster a loving, nurturing, and positive environment for your child to thrive.

Remember, every child is unique, and parenting is a learning experience for all. Embrace the journey, adapt to your child's needs, and use behaviorism as a helpful tool in your parenting toolbox.

If you want to find out more about Behaviorism, click on the link below:

Behaviorism

For comparison to other learning theories:

Learning Theories