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…

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…

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…

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…

Newborn Sleep Essentials | Get More Sleep!

By Christie Collbran | November 4, 2019

“Newborn sleep essentials, what are they?” “Will I ever sleep again?” Among new parents, these are frequently asked questions. Newborns often wake after short intervals of rest, leaving parents tired, frazzled, and ready to invest large amounts in coffee stocks. While it is true that newborns physiologically need to wake to eat around the clock,…

Outnumbered Parenting

Outnumbered Parenting: More Kids than Adults

By Christie Collbran | November 4, 2016

After the birth of my first child, I wondered how it would be emotionally possible to add another child to our family… where would I find the love? How could I possibly subtract anything from what I give to my darling daughter? And where would I find the time? It turns out that just like…

newborn and siblings

Who Hires Postpartum Doulas?

By Christie Collbran | July 6, 2016

As awareness of postpartum doula support grows, many people ask us what type of family hires a postpartum doula. Here are just a few examples: First-time parents.  When bringing your first baby home, everything is new! Feeding, sleeping, diapering, washing, doctors, daycares… it’s enough to make even the most level-headed people feel slightly batty. Add in…

Father bonding with baby

Partners Are Parents, Too! 3 Ways to Promote Bonding with Newborns

By Christie Collbran | April 26, 2016

 It’s a pretty common idea that a “great way” for partners/fathers to bond with your new baby is to express milk and let him/her feed the baby. And while it is a fun activity, expressing before your milk supply is well established – by your baby – is not recommended. It’s best for your baby…