Parenting is one of the hardest but most rewarding journeys. Here we share all of the ups, downs and tips from our experience. Topics include: raising children, dealing with colic, coping with judgement, preparing siblings for the new baby, tips for partners, traveling with kids, and everything in between!

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…

newborn twin babies with mother nursery setup

Newborn Twin Nursery Set Up & Essentials

By Christie Collbran | December 2, 2019

Congrats, it’s twins! When you find out you’re going to have a newborn twin nursery it is often overwhelming. Setting up one room for two brand new babies can seem like a daunting task. With a couple helpful pointers, you can set up a nursery that works perfectly without all the extra clutter. Newborn Twin…

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…