Newborn Travel, Diaper bag and newborn travel essentials

Can My Baby Handle a Trip? Your Helpful Guide to Newborn Travel

By Christie Collbran | May 18, 2024

Are you planning a trip soon? Planning on taking your sweet, precious baby along?   There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to traveling with your baby.  First off… We understand that traveling with a newborn can be daunting.  Not only are you getting used to your at-home routine, but you’re…

Postpartum Birth Control Guide, pills on top of a calendar with a pencil

What’s Best For My Body? Your Personal Postpartum Birth Control Guide

By Christie Collbran | March 12, 2024

You’ve made it! You’re finally no longer pregnant. I know at one point you convinced yourself you’d be pregnant forever. Your baby is here, and now you can breathe a sigh of relief. But, not so fast… You’ve recently survived labor and navigated a roller coaster of emotions. Now you’re in the newborn stage…neck-deep in…

Gender disappointment, magnifying glass looking at boy or girl symbol

Gender Disappointment: You’re Not The Only One

By Christie Collbran | March 4, 2024

For some this may be a taboo or controversial topic, but let’s go there together. We are all having a human experience and it’s okay to be authentic about our feelings.  As a Mom of two amazing boys, who are now 17 and 11, these young men mean more to me than anything in the…

Intimate Connection With Partner, Mom and Dad kissing, baby lying next to them

5 Helpful Ideas to Create Intimate Connection With Your Partner

By Christie Collbran | February 3, 2024

It’s been a while since you brought your new baby home. So many emotions… Joy and stress. Mountain tops and valleys. Moments of pure bliss followed by moments of panic and overwhelm.  What a rollercoaster!  You feel like your brain cannot bear to hold one more responsibility or emotion.  That’s why during this time, connecting…

childproofing checklist, baby playing in a drawer in the bedroom

Your Ultimate Childproofing Checklist: 5 Easy Tips For Childproofing Your Home

By Christie Collbran | January 28, 2024

Did your sweet baby just take their first steps?  Amazing, isn’t it?  As they do so, the light in their eyes shines. They are awakened with a newfound skill and curiosity.  You finally have a “walker,” and you’re equal parts excited and terrified. But you can’t help feeling anxious about their safety.  You already know…

Mom holding baby, parenting challenges, do I hate being a parent?

“Do I Hate Being a Parent?” 3 Helpful Ways to Shift Your Mindset

By Christie Collbran | January 21, 2024

Being a parent has its challenges.  There’s no way around it.  While it has beautiful moments, there are equally ugly moments. Being pushed past your limits at times, you may want to quit.  Sometimes, you question yourself and ask: “Do I hate being a parent?”  A simple internet search reveals many people feel burnout when…

A Mom Holding her Hand to her head - "Mommy Brain"

Is “Mommy Brain” Actually Real? New Moms Need Real Answers

By Christie Collbran | December 18, 2023

You woke up today with a lot of things to do. You have housework, a doctor’s appointment, and a million other things.  Then this happened: You made coffee but you can’t remember where you left it.  It’s in the microwave. Your husband called and you told him you lost your phone.  You’re talking on it.  …

Hiring a Newborn Photographer: What to Look For

By Christie Collbran | April 2, 2023

We are happy to welcome to our friend, Tampa Newborn Photographer, Melanie Amparo, as our guest blogger this month sharing her tips on what to look for when hiring a newborn photographer: CONGRATS! Your life is about to get a whole lot sweeter (and challenging)! You’ve landed here because you’re looking at hiring a newborn…

Surviving the holidays with a newborn, newborn baby in a Santa hat

Surviving the Holidays with a Newborn

By Christie Collbran | December 6, 2022

The magic of the holiday season is magnified by the arrival of your baby. Of course, it is natural to want to create the perfect first Christmas for your growing family. Be that as it may, bringing a newborn home means your daily routines have undergone a major adjustment. Add in the bustle and flurry…

Holiday Family Events Tampa Bay

Holiday Family Events in Tampa Bay

By Christie Collbran | November 22, 2022

The holidays are in full swing! So, we’ve compiled a helpful list of some of the wonderful family friendly holiday events and happenings in and around Tampa Bay. To start, a great way to take in the sights and sound of the season are at some of Tampa’s local theme parks. Here’s the inside scoop…

introducing your pet to your baby

Introducing Your Pet to Your Baby

By Christie Collbran | November 7, 2022

Your pet is a cherished member of your family and should be included when big changes are happening. Here are some helpful tips to eliminate stress and concerns when you bring your newborn home.  Start preparations before your baby arrives. In all of the excitement of preparing for your new baby, you might not have…

Baby in a Pumpkin Patch, Family Fall events in Tampa Bay

Family Fall Events in Tampa Bay

By Christie Collbran | October 10, 2022

There is so much to love about fall! My son was born in September, and at around 6 weeks old we were finally ready to introduce him to the world. We visited a local pumpkin patch at a small church and created such wonderful memories. It has since become a tradition for us to attend…

returning to work after maternity leave

Returning to Work After Maternity Leave

By Christie Collbran | September 12, 2022

My sweet baby boy was only a few days old, and I was already dreading the thought of going back to work. I tried to make the most of every moment we had together. I probably changed his clothes 5 times a day. Not because he needed me to, but because I feared he would…

Taking Your Baby on Vacation

Taking a Vacation with Your Baby

By Christie Collbran | June 20, 2022

Now that summer is in full swing, and traveling is pretty much back to normal, taking a vacation seems more needed than ever! It’s important to keep in mind that for your baby, almost everything is new and stimulating. And if you think adjusting to a new space and unfamiliar things is a tough transition…

Taking Your Baby to the Beach

Taking Your Baby to the Beach

By Christie Collbran | June 7, 2022

If you are anything like me, you know there are really healing energies offered by the sand and salt water of our gorgeous beaches here in Tampa Bay. We live where many people vacation, and there is a certain type of serenity that comes from the gulf breezes and gentle lapping of the waters. With…

Breast-feeding and Birth Control

Breastfeeding and Birth Control

By Christie Collbran | January 21, 2022

We believe it’s just as important to understand your options and feel empowered in your decisions about birth control as it is for giving birth. In this post we share insight into breastfeeding as a form of birth control, called the lactational amenorrhea method (LAM).  Is breastfeeding my baby an effective form of birth control?…

best-strollers-2021

Our Top Five Strollers for 2021

By Christie Collbran | May 27, 2021

Picking out the perfect stroller can feel a little daunting with so many options available. You may be unsure of what features you’ll like or need until your baby arrives. Whether you are pregnant and creating your baby registry, working on establishing a nap schedule with your newborn, or juggling an infant and a toddler…

Building-Confidence-In-Ourselves-As-Mothers

Building Confidence in Ourselves as Mothers

By Christie Collbran | March 19, 2021

I was invited by Kylie Kelly of the “This Mama Means Business” podcast, to talk about building confidence in ourselves as mothers. It was a great experience, and I hope you’ll take a listen here. Building Confidence In Ourselves As Mothers Podcast The ideas I share below are based on my own experiences as mother…

let-children-think-for-themselves

Let Children Think For Themselves

By Christie Collbran | March 10, 2021

What Growing Up in a Cult Taught Me About Parenting “College is overrated. You don’t have to go” my dad said to me. “L. Ron Hubbard, (founder of Scientology) says that in ancient Rome, by the age of 15, men were married, starting families and already working a trade. This modern system with so many…

common-car-seat-myths

Common Car Seat Myths

By Christie Collbran | January 13, 2021

Confused about car seats? You’re not alone! On the internet and social media, a lot of wrong, bad or outright dangerous info gets circulated around. So let’s put to bed some of these tired old myths with good and safe information instead. TRUE or FALSE: Fire stations are the best place to have your baby’s…

the-best-toys-for-your-baby

The Best Toys for Your Baby

By Christie Collbran | December 6, 2020

When I was expecting my first baby, I had so much fun buying baby things! Each item was researched ad nauseum, compared, considered and chosen with care. One purchase category got extra time and effort: toys. Of course, I wanted my baby to have the best. I was influenced strongly by natural parenting circles and…

Mommy-I-Pooped-My-Pants

“Mommy, I Pooped My Pants”

By Christie Collbran | December 3, 2020

The story of a Christmas tree excursion that didn’t go exactly as planned.  It was a dark evening in the Christmas tree tent, as 3 year old Jack and 8 year old Shane ran around giggling with glee during their annual hide-n-seek game. The other tree-shoppers didn’t seem to mind. They had also been touched…

overnight-postpartum-doula

Overnight Postpartum Doula Care: A Night With Our Doulas (updated July 2022)

By Christie Collbran | October 8, 2020

Overnight Newborn Care is sometimes a new concept. Tired parents often approach us and ask: “what does a postpartum doula do overnight to care for their family while they sleep?” It almost sounds too good to be true! Rest assured, this exists and works beautifully. The role of a postpartum doula is so varied from…

Finding-a-nanny-or-daycare

Finding a Nanny or Daycare, Questions to Ask When Searching for Childcare

By Christie Collbran | September 14, 2020

Finding a nanny, daycare, or other childcare for your newborn baby can be a daunting task for parents looking to return to work. Sometimes it is difficult to know just whom you can trust with your newest little addition. The key to finding quality childcare is asking the right questions and following up. Ensuring quality…

Surviving-Remote-Learning

Surviving Remote Learning

By Christie Collbran | September 7, 2020

Well here we are again! Many parents have begun supervising their children through round 2 of Adventures in Remote Learning. Or, maybe this is your first year with a little one in kindergarten. In Hillsborough and Pinellas counties as many as 50% of families have chosen the option of remote schooling at home. So, will…

Concierge pediatric care

Concierge Pediatric Care Tampa Bay

By Christie Collbran | August 20, 2020

We recently met with Dr. Heather Thole (virtually, of course!) and learned all about her concierge pediatric care. We love that she comes to see you in your home and the freedom that this provides to families. We invited her to share more about this on our blog:  I am Dr. Heather Thole, a board-certified…

Music As a Tool

Music is a Valuable Parenting Tool

By Christie Collbran | June 9, 2020

We loved meeting virtually with Shalini, the owner of Play and Grow Music in Pinellas County, last week. She is truly a bright ray of sunshine! Shalini teaches fun, playful and valuable music classes for babies and children. We asked her to share more about music as a valuable parenting tool for our readers:  In…

Managing Stress During COVID 19

Managing Stress in the Time of COVID 19

By Christie Collbran | June 8, 2020

We have all been staying at home as much as possible and now as the Tampa area enters Phase II we need to plan what this means for our lives and the lives of our loved ones. How can we minimize exposure to Corona virus? How can we manage the fear that going out more…

crying baby with partner father newborn care

Letting Go When Your Partner is Struggling

By Christie Collbran | March 23, 2020

You’ve handed your brand new baby off to your partner so you can get into the shower for the first time in…days? Everything with babies is a blur so you’re not really sure. Then, the second your feet are wet, you hear it. Your baby is crying. Perhaps it activates your letdown and you spill…

partner father with newborn baby caring

Newborn Care for Partners: Tips for Staying Stress-Free

By Christie Collbran | March 16, 2020

Newborn care for partners can prove to be a daunting task. There are hundreds of helpful articles out there for newborn care but as we have perused them we’ve found they tend to come up short when it comes to helping partners! The incredible partners we have worked with want to be actively involved in…

COVID-19 Doula Support

COVID-19 and Doula Support and Safety

By Christie Collbran | March 13, 2020

As the COVID-19 crisis continues around the world, babies are still being born every day and more and more families may need the support of their birth doula, postpartum doula or lactation counselor. Your family’s health and well-being, as well as ours, is our top priority. We are closely monitoring the situation and will update…

newborn healing with a baby postpartum parents

Healing with a Baby Postpartum: Tips for New Parents

By Christie Collbran | March 9, 2020

Healing postpartum with a baby on you can be challenging! For the first few weeks, it often seems like your baby spends days attached to your side especially if you’re breastfeeding. Handing your baby to a trusted caregiver isn’t always an option nor a desire. You worked hard to grow and birth that baby and…

night nanny overnight care tampa

What is a Night Nanny? Choosing Newborn Care

By Christie Collbran | November 25, 2019

What is a “night nanny”? While searching to get some extra winks of shut-eye, new parents often find this term. It can get confusing because they will also find terms like “night nurse”, “Postpartum Doula”, and “Newborn Care Specialist”. These terms are not created equally. The primary responsibility (caring for your newborn) falls under each…

newborn care in tampa florida postpartum doulas

Newborn Care Options: Postpartum Doulas

By Christie Collbran | November 18, 2019

Newborn care options are often on the minds of parents all over the Tampa area. Buddha Belly isn’t just for birth, we offer a full range of options for bringing home baby! Postpartum Doulas are incredible sources of support and knowledge for both brand new and veteran parents. Bringing together knowledge of safety standards, real-world…

Camping in Ft. De Soto with Kids

Fort DeSoto Camping with Kids

By Christie Collbran | June 12, 2018

Looking for tips on camping at Fort DeSoto with kids? Recently I took my kids on their very first camping trip ever to Fort DeSoto. It was also my first time camping as a parent! My 11 year-old son’s reaction when he heard we might be going camping was priceless and is what really made…

Family Fun in Tampa Bay

Family Fun in Tampa Bay

By Christie Collbran | July 30, 2017

It’s hard to believe that summer is almost over and our kids are going back to school in twelve days. We have a blended family and my oldest son spends almost every weekend away with his father. This makes summer the one time of year we get to spend a lot of time with the…

prepare older sibling for baby

Six Steps to Prepare Older Siblings for New Baby

By Christie Collbran | April 28, 2017

Are you adding a new baby to your sweet little family? Preparing older siblings for the arrival of the new baby can be fun and joyful but it does require some preparation. Here are our tips to prepare your older siblings to life with a newborn. 1. Give older siblings some time and grace. Change is…

Older Mom

On Being an Older Mom

By Christie Collbran | April 5, 2017

This is me, at age 36, with my second daughter, Violet. Ignore the wrinkles.I didn’t have my first child until I was in my 30s. I got married young and needed time to mature, earn (discover?) a living, and get settled. And in truth, I was ready long before my partner was. At the time I…

Xmas-Gift-Ideas-For-Husband

Christmas Gift Ideas for your Partner

By Christie Collbran | December 19, 2016

Well, Christmas is here. Everywhere you look there is a new toy, book or adorable outfit to purchase for a child. But, my mind always goes blank when trying to pick a gift for my husband. This can be even trickier when you are new parents (or soon to be new parents). To help make your job…

santa baby

Welcome, Santa Baby!

By Christie Collbran | December 18, 2016

Amy Detweiler is a mother, nurse, blogger at Sarasota Moms Blog and former client of Buddha Belly Birth doulas. She graciously contributed this post about her special Santa baby, born in 2015. – Amy  Christmas means different things to different people depending on who you ask. We all know at least one Christmas fanatic who has their tree…

traveling with little kids

8 Tips for Holiday Travel with Littles

By Christie Collbran | December 13, 2016

As a breastfeeding mom with a demanding career, my oldest daughter went where I went! By the time she’d was one year old, she’d been to California, New York, Washington, DC, Vermont, Ohio, and Arizona, just on business travel! Along the way, we added two more daughters. While our travel has slowed down some, we’ve…

Leah Remini on Why She Hired a Doula

By Christie Collbran | November 1, 2016

My husband, Mike Rinder, co-hosts the TV show Scientology The Aftermath with actress, comedian and best-selling author Leah Remini. She visited the Tampa area a few months ago. At dinner one evening, I was pleased to learn that Leah had the support of a postpartum doula after the birth of her daughter, Sophia, 12 years ago. She graciously…

sex after childbirth

Sex After Childbirth

By Christie Collbran | August 15, 2016

Intimacy and sex after childbirth can be a source of concern or relationship tension for new parents. While this topic may seem taboo to some, it’s helpful to keep some factors in mind. Your midwife or doctor will likely recommend refraining from sex until at least six weeks postpartum whether you had a vaginal birth…

back to school

The Boo Hoo Breakfast Recipe

By Christie Collbran | August 9, 2016

My oldest starts kindergarten tomorrow. On this momentous occasion, I’d like to offer a recipe of sorts. Have you heard of the Boo Hoo Breakfast? This is when parents gather together at a diner or coffeehouse to commiserate and commemorate one of their babies heading off to school. Who wants to join us? The Boo Hoo…

how to do Disney

A Floridian Mom’s Tips for Disney with Kids

By Christie Collbran | July 29, 2016

I worked at Magic Kingdom in my late teens and it was my favorite job, aside from being a doula. I worked in a special section called “Glow.” We sold the light up toys at night during the parades. Each night I wore a different costume, based on where in the park I was working,…

the florida aquarium

Best Kept Secrets – Summer Fun in Tampa Bay – Part 2

By Christie Collbran | July 13, 2016

It’s mid-July and Tampa Bay parents are hot, tired and asking in unison… “When does school start again!” While we can’t make school start any sooner, we can tell you about a sort-of secret splash pad at the Florida Aquarium! Scroll all the way to the end for the best part of this cool destination. A…

MOSI

MOSI: Best Kept Secrets, Summer Fun in Tampa Bay, Part 1 (updated July 2022)

By Christie Collbran | May 14, 2016

Hey Moms & Dads, One of the best things I ever did was get a MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry) membership. There are different levels but we bought a basic membership for a family of five. MOSI in Tampa has wonderful features that both of my children enjoy. There are educational exhibits to interact with, rope climbing…

Baby Shane

Shane’s Birth Story

By Christie Collbran | December 20, 2014

Eight years ago today I gave birth to my first son, Shane. I have never published his birth story and it seemed appropriate today to share it. (*This story may be triggering for some.) “Sometimes the bad things that happen in our lives put us directly on the path to the most wonderful things that…