Today on The Skinny Confidential HIM & HER podcast, it’s just me talking everything baby. You guys have been DMing me wanting to know major details on what I’m feeding Zaza, my compressionwear & belly binding, what our night nurse does, silver nipple covers & weight gain.
Recently I wrote a post about my weight gain, so be sure to check it out if you haven’t yet. Otherwise, we get into it on the podcast too.
In the episode we’ll also go over the reason behind Zaza’s name, breastfeeding, & a ton of other things you guys are wondering – trust me, we get into it.
Anyway, what better way to answer everything than dedicating a whole podcast to it! But I also wanted to compile & easy list on the blog so everything is in one place.
So there you have it. The things I’m using most post birth. Let me know what you guys think of the podcast episode below. Also, what were your post-birth essentials? Anything I’m missing?
Jada is back on the blog! Today, the celebrity sleep trainer & nursery designer is here getting UBER specific. You guys love a detail, so I picked her brain to the max for this post.
You can expect to hear all about the smartest bassinet, different bookshelf options, little things to make your life with a newborn easier, & the tiniest little accessories to get your baby to sleep. It is LIFE- let me tell ya.
Alright, the devil’s in the details, so here ya go!
♡♡♡
♡ Alright Miss Nursery Designer, what are the hottest accessories of 2020? Spill the juice.
Jada Neoni: First & most important are diapers! I’m so obsessed with the @coterie diapers- they are extremely soft, fragrance free, chlorine free, latex free- all the bad things we never knew existed in diapers Coterie has removed!
For moms looking to use bottles or as an addition to breastfeeding – Dr. Brown’s bottles are phenomenal! Dr. Brown’s bottles are scientifically designed to remove air bubbles from the bottle helping to prevent gas & reduce colic in babies!
One of the most used items ( yet sounds the scariest ) is the FridaBaby NosaFrida Snotsucker. Yes it sounds gross right? The NosaFrida does exactly what it says- it allows moms to suck out snot & tiny boogers from the little ones noses to help them get through those nights & days when they have colds!
The Snuggle Me Organic is a new way to do tummy time & also a great lounger for your baby during the day – great addition for you to have when you want to play or read to your baby! Put your lounger on the floor, lay your baby down, & grab some books. it’s a great way to free up your hands during the special bonding moments with your baby!
The Chomp n Chews teethers are a MUST during those rough teething months when your baby just wants to chew on everything including your fingers! What I love most about the Chomp N Chews teethers is they actually fit directly on the parents fingers & allows your baby to chew away! The teethers are super safe, BPA free, & made of food grade silicone! Those teething months come in fast & hot so be prepared for all the drool & chewing, moms!
For moms wanting more neutral color toys – The Manhattan Toy Wooden Natural Skwish toy is small for the nursery & easy to travel with. It will keep your baby entertained & amazed!
For those late nights & early morning feedings, a new accessory I love is the Bokee – it’s designed to serve as an extra hand for mom while she holds a baby in one hand & needs to prepare the bottle in the other hand!
♡ If you had to pick one thing every mom should have in their nursery, what is it?
JN: One thing every mom should have is The Jada Baby Sleep Edit. The Jada Baby Sleep Edit will help you build your nursery step by step. It will help you keep track of all the things you should always have stocked in your nursery, & what the must-have baby products are. My Edit also helps moms know if they are feeding their baby enough, how to put your baby down for naps & helps get you through those overnights!
The second most important thing is a comfortable glider. You will spend so much time in the nursery with your baby, so comfortable seating is important! If you are breastfeeding you will need the glider to position yourself correctly to nurse. Every night during bedtime stories you will be in the glider for a few or many good books before putting your baby down!
♡ When it comes to sleep training, you’re an expert. What are some essential accessories for sleep training?
JN: Safe sleep is important for every new mom. For getting your baby to be a good sleeper the must-have accessories are:
A good monitor – The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests the earliest you should have your baby sleeping alone in their room is 6 months- so having an amazing monitor is key – I only trust the Miku in my nurseries. I love the Miku because it’s a monitor you can install on your phone with their app- you can monitor your baby anytime from anywhere. The monitor gives you a complete report on your babies sleep patterns, breathing rates & any movements in the room.
A white noise machine is a non-negotiable & I love the Hatch Baby sound machine – this is a great mix of technology & design. The white noise can be controlled from your phone & it’s a soothing white noise to help your littles fall asleep & stay asleep!
Swaddling your infant is scientifically proven to help your newborn sleep longer – currently I’m obsessed with the Akooi swaddle!! It’s actually a mix between a pajama & swaddle. It’s made of the softest bamboo & is so easy to swaddle your infant!
Once your baby has grown out of the swaddle age – sleep sacks are so important because you should never use a blanket in a crib until over 18 months- I love the Kyte baby Sleep sack! It’s extra long for your growing baby & sooo sooo soft!
The SNOO is a dream for any mom! Yes the SNOO costs around $1200, but lucky for moms who can’t afford such a large purchase, they have a much lower monthly rental rate. The SNOO, designed by famed pediatrician Dr Harvey Karp, is a safe bassinet which can detect your baby crying & can turn on sounds & a rocking motion to calm your baby. The SNOO can also help you track your baby’s sleep & awake time!
♡ What’s a ‘mistake accessory’ everyone gets but doesn’t really need?
JN: The biggest mistake everyone gets for their nursery & doesn’t need are those damn diaper pales! I don’t care how pretty they are or how much they promise to keep the smell in the pale, they all STINK! I’m not sure who said they were needed in nurseries, but I personally don’t design with them in mind. Most moms end up just putting the diapers in their normal trash bins! So moms, save the spot on your registry- don’t get a diaper pale!
♡ What’s a baby shusher?
JN: Everyone says it’s the best thing ever. One of my best kept secrets in designing celebrity nurseries is The Baby Shusher. I know the name alone is hilarious but trust me, it delivers just as it’s name suggests. The Baby Shusher is a mix of white noise with the tried & true shhhhhh sound all in one tiny portable machine! What makes the Baby Shusher so genius is it allows the calming of the shhhh sound to help your baby sleep,
♡ What are some bath time accessories that every new mom needs?
JN: My current favorite bath tub is the Schnuggle Tub – it’s a little costly but so worth it! It has a grid at the bottom to prevent your baby from slipping & has just enough water to keep your baby from feeling cold.
Once your baby grows out of the infant tub & you are now bathing them in your bathtub, EVERY parent should have the MagicFun bath kneeler – your knees, back & elbows will thank you! Bath time can be such a magical, special bonding time with your littles, but bending over the tub on your knees isn’t the most glamorous, comfortable job. The padded kneeler is a lifesaver.
Also, the softest, most dreamiest washcloths are from Numpher. They literally feel as if you are bathing your baby with a cloud!
For soaps/lotions – Everything Mustela ! The products are the most gentle & safest for sensitive newborn skin! I read every label & what I love is that Mustela is free of parabens, phthalates, & phenoxyethanol.
For those mamas dealing with eczema or flaky newborn skin, I love Aquaphor for babies. An easy fix for those delicate newborn skin!
For diaper rash we love Pinxav because it’s extremely gentle yet helps comfort & heal those unavoidable diaper rashes. It’s so on brand for The Skinny Confidential.
♡ Talk to us about clothes. I’m a fan of L’ovedbaby & I know you are too. Why do we love them so much?
JN: My absolute favorite clothing for newborns is L’ovedbaby hands down! L’ovedbaby just does everything right with their collection. First off, it’s 100% organic cotton so it’s safe for your baby’s skin! What I also love is L’ovedbaby’s fit. Normally baby clothing, especially onesies, are cut to be so boxy, but L’ovedbaby’s fit is very structured to snuggle your babies body- it’s a very custom-like fit.
L’ovedbaby has been around for years & been a favorite of celebrity moms like Halle Berry, Kelly Rowland, & Gwyneth Paltrow! What I think most modern moms love most is the chic selection of colors- the black onesies , the greys, & all the neutrals!
Another clothing line I think is so genius is the Bondsie Baby – it’s designed for moms with the importance of skin to skin in mind. It’s two piece clothing where the top completely opens allowing the infant to be placed against the mother’s skin. Skin to skin is very important for Parents from the very beginning for bonding with your newborn. I love that this can encourage skin to skin & still keep your baby warm!
♡ If you’re going to shop online what sites do you recommend for accessories?
JN: Let’s just be honest, most moms & moms-to-be do their shopping from home, late at night after the baby is sleeping. My favorite online shop is The Tot– it’s a very well-curated online shop that only sells safe, toxic-free clothing, skincare, toys & furniture.
When shopping for fashion & a little bit more of a curated look, Maisonette is a dream website! Maisonette has traveled the world to create a place where you can shop the latest tiny designer trends & specialty toys!
You can also never go wrong with Amazon! Almost anything & everything you need to get for your nursery can be found on Amazon. & if you have Amazon Prime, it’s your best friend!
♡ What pieces of furniture do you recommend to hold accessories?
JN: I love to use the unexpected when shopping for nursery accessories. When thinking about storing toys or stuffed animals I use gorgeous wicker baskets in neutral earth tone colors. This immediately gives a nursery a high-end feel.
For the smaller accessories & mementos I love the idea of clear acrylic bins. Something so you can still see what’s in the bins yet cute enough to be on display. For rooms that require larger storage, a well-designed shelving unit is always the right way to go. We used the most beautiful acrylic & gold shelves in Zaza’s nursery.
♡ What are some bigger accessories you recommend?
JN: When designing a nursery, after you’ve selected the major items, it’s time to focus on the big accessories you will need for your baby. Like the perfect bouncy seat. For Zaza’s nursery we went with Charlie Crane Paris. Their rockers are just so chic & safe for newborns & has a gentle rocking movement.
For the very important ‘Tummy Time’ – which EVERY baby should do – I accessorize every nursery with the Lovevery Play Gym. It’s perfect to help keep them entertained by looking at themselves in the little mirror while stimulating their vision with the special black & white patterns.
Every nursery should be accessorized with cute plush stuffed animals. The must-have brand for any nursery is Jelly Cat. It’s important the accessories keep the same theme or color scheme going that you’ve already set up. In Zaza’s nursery we needed glamour even in the plushies, so we got the oh so glamorous Pom Pom.
For book storage accessories, sometimes I install the bookshelves on the wall. It’s such an easy & fun way to showcase your books & super affordable with the shelves from Amazon.
Be sure to check out the podcast episode where Jada talks about sleep training, nursery design & baby CPR. Plus, she’ll be back for one more post to talk about sleep training, so stay tuned.
x, lauryn
+ check out this post on how to have a baby & still live your life.
Today we’re talking with my favorite baby food brand. The brand I plan on giving my daughter: Serenity Kids.
Serenity Carr is the co-founder of this amazing company that makes nutrient-dense baby food that’s also convenient for parents. Their food is super high-quality & I can’t wait to introduce some of their products to Zaza.
Serenity is here to give us the inside scoop on what to do to prepare for your baby’s arrival. In this post you’ll find tips on pre-mama self care, how to set up your house for baby success, & how to prep if you know you’re having a c-section.
Let’s welcome Serenity Carr to The Skinny Confidential.
♡♡♡
Becoming a parent is a huge decision, because it’s one that you can’t back out of. You can’t quit, ghost, or divorce a baby. Once a parent, you will be one forever.
By now, you’ve been through the Oh-Shit-I’m-Pregnant stage & now are rapidly moving towards the day that will radically change your life. You’re probably thinking a lot about how to spend these last weeks, how your delivery will go, & what life will be like afterwards. I had my daughter 16 months ago via unplanned c-section. I did some stuff right & some stuff wrong. I’ll tell you what worked well & what I would change next time ( shhh… don’t tell my husband I said anything about having baby #2 ).
But let me tell you a bit about myself first.
I’m Serenity Carr & the co-founder & CEO of Serenity Kids Baby Food. I’m on a mission to promote wellness with infant nutrition. Formerly employed in tech & logistics, I left my corporate career to pursue my passion of health coaching, where I helped clients achieve their health goals.
Having healed a lifetime of digestive issues through switching to a diet of only clean meats, vegetables, & healthy fats, I have transformed the baby food industry by developing innovative, nutrient-dense products. The recipes are modeled after the macronutrients in mother’s milk & stress the importance of minimizing sugar to reduce inflammation. I lives in Austin with my husband & co-founder, Joe, & our 16-month old daughter Della.
Let’s get into what worked for us… & what didn’t.
♡ Pampering Your Pre-Mama Self
Give yourself a HUGE break. Hormones can make anyone feel crazy, so I blamed much of my grumpiness on hormones. Thankfully, my husband blamed them too, which helped him deal with my pregnant & postpartum ( and let’s be honest — everyday ) moods.
Let yourself be as comfortable as possible. I have always had trouble sleeping, & it got worse with pregnancy. At the beginning of my third trimester, it was summer in south Texas, & my body was on fire. Nearly every day around 3pm at the peak of the heat, I made a tasty, hydrating, sugar-free slushy using raspberry LMNT electrolyte powder, a little water, a lot of ice, & a powerful blender. I splurged on a Chilipad, which is a mattress pad that keeps my bed cool ( & now that I’m back to normal keeps my bed warm ). From my second trimester on, I only wore marshmallow-soft Oofos sandals, because the relaxin hormone made my feet sore & flat. The shoes received some questionable looks, but I totally rocked normcore!
Hang with your friends as much as possible, especially if they’re childless. And prepare for the possible loss of those friends. Yes, it’s sad. REALLY SAD! But the sucky truth is that most childless people don’t like hanging out with babies. Babies take a ton of attention, & unless your friend is hardcore baby-crazy, they won’t want to hear about your clogged duct or baby’s poop. If your bestie is one of those rare, baby-loving people, consider yourself truly, truly blessed. If not, maybe your little bundle of joy will inspire your friend to get busy making a playmate! And don’t worry, you’ll make lots of new parent friends who will give you life-saving advice & support.
This is the last time in probably a while that you will have time to yourself, so fill yourself up with adventures, pampering, & creative hobbies. Take lots of baths, get as many massages as you can afford, cook your favorite meals, read lots of books, or write as much as possible. And go on a babymoon! We went to Hawaii & spent some time brainstorming about what sorts of family culture & traditions we wanted to start. It’s thrilling to build an actual family- one million cells at a time!
♡ Your New Job: Feeding the Baby
That said, you probably want to do some nesting & preparing to be a mom. My biggest, #1, MOST IMPORTANT tip is to start learning about breastfeeding before you have the baby. Mother’s milk is the healthiest possible food for your little one, who will hopefully be drinking it exclusively for at least the first 6 months. I took the advice of a friend & attended a couple of free La Leche League meetings before I had Della. Then I went to monthly meetings during the 9 months she nursed. Due to her lip tie & poor latch, my breastfeeding journey was painful, exhausting, mentally challenging, & filled with shame. The meetings I went to kept me going when I wanted to give up, which was embarrassingly often.
I realize this sounds like the most boring way to spend your time, but figure out your breast pump now, while you still have a few brain cells left. Like actually try it on your breasts for a minute. After baby comes, you may not remember exactly how it works, but it will make things a little easier. Set up a nursing / pumping station on a table next to your rocker or glider ( more on that later ). Make sure there’s room for your pump ( I loved my Spectra), water bottle, lip balm, snacks, Kindle, etc. And get an extension cord for your pump so you don’t have to sit so close to the wall. Get a pumping bra so you can pump hands-free. I loved the Simple Wishes pumping bra because it was comfortable, washable, securely held the pump, & had super adjustable sizing.
Start following Legendairy Milk’s Instagram, which is hilarious & helpful. You may not get all the jokes now, but you will remember them when the time is just right & you need to laugh about your child screaming all night while cutting canine teeth, which is what happened to me last week. They also regularly have tips on optimal pump settings, supplements that increase milk supply ( which they sell & I loved ), & help with nursing & pumping.
I also recommend bottles with a gradual widening between the nipple length & base such as Dr Brown’s, Lansinoh Momma, & Evenflo Balance +. These nipple shapes promote a wider latch, which is less painful for moms & helps baby switch between breast & bottle more smoothly.
Oddly, one of my biggest stressors postpartum was getting dressed. All of a sudden, I had only one robe that fit. And nothing else except my socks! Here’s the thing you don’t find out until you have the baby: every item of clothing must allow for full boob accessibility. Your girls can either flop over the top of a low-cut / stretchy neckline or peek out from underneath a t-shirt. If you want to wear dresses ( believe me you won’t want much waistband around your sensitive bellyv), you’ll probably want to pull your breasts out over the top to avoid blanketing your child with billowy skirt fabric. I LIVED in my Latched Mama Drawstring Midi Dress & Kindred Bravely’s Angelina Nursing and Maternity Nightgown because they had soft stretchy fabric & easy boob access.
Babies don’t start eating solid foods until around 6 months, so don’t worry about getting a highchair, plates, sippy cups, or food just yet. Once you do, plan to start baby on a nutrient-dense diet of clean meats, healthy fats, bone broth, & organic veggies. When the time comes, check out my baby food company, Serenity Kids. Our pouched purees are the most nutritious baby foods on the market because we mimic the nutrients of mother’s milk with pasture-raised & wild meats, organic vegetables, & healthy fats. You will soon learn the value of squeezing as much nutrition into each bite that your baby manages to actually swallow.
♡ Building Your Nest
My biggest house tip is to get a super-supportive rocking chair or glider. By super-supportive, I mean one with a firm seat & back, AND has armrests close to your elbows. That way you don’t have to lean or scrunch to reach them. That 8-pound baby will feel like a kettlebell after 45 minutes, so having armrests right underneath your elbows is helpful. Also, make sure you can get out of the chair smoothly, without jostling your little one. Once they’re asleep, you don’t want ANYTHING waking them up. I used a wooden glider for the first few months, but my back was killing me. We splurged on this Joya rocker & it’s now the most comfortable chair in the house.
Set up a way for baby to sleep in your room for the first few months. Della slept in the Snuggle Me on our dresser for the first 4 months, or whenever she started rolling over. The Snuggle Me company doesn’t officially recommend your baby sleeping there all night, but we did it & it worked great. Also, set up diaper changing stations at least upstairs & downstairs. You will want a surface at waist-level so you don’t have to bend way over. Initially, I was 100% opposed to setting up ugly diaper changing tables & then ended up buying two used ones after a month or two. They’re the right size & hold all of your diapers, creams, wipes, & extra changing pad covers. We love these lockable diaper pails to keep the stink away. They work for cloth diapers or paper.
♡ Have The Talk With Your Partner
This one is near & dear to my heart, because I had such a great relationship with my husband pre-pregnancy, & I still do today. Granted, we got pregnant on our honeymoon, so we were in the lovey-dovey phase, but I wanted to prioritize my relationship with him during this crazy journey towards parenthood. Once the baby arrives, you will be consumed by all the things on your to do list, your new identity as a mother, & grieving the loss of your former self. Less attention will go towards your partner than ever before, so make sure he or she is prepared. I highly recommend reading The First Forty Days by Heng Ou, which gives you a sort of script to follow & also outlines a plan for supporting you in what is known as “the fourth trimester.” You can also send them my husband’s blog Tips for Pregnant Fathers, where he lays out how a man can fully participate in pregnancy ( and boy did he! ).
Make a plan for how the two of you are going to connect & spend time together once you’re parents. I didn’t feel like having sex for a couple of months after giving birth, but we made sure to cuddle a lot & get out for fun ‘couple only’ time. Our first date was at 2 weeks postpartum while my sister was babysitting. We went to the dairy-free ice cream shop & the grocery store. It may sound lame, but it felt nourishing to be away from Della for a couple of hours & just focus on each other.
Someone told us to go on tons of dates before the baby comes, so we did & we quickly learned why. We had a great time trying out new restaurants & were even at the theater the night before I went into labor. But leaving the house with a newborn is difficult — putting clean clothes on you & the baby, changing diapers, packing the bag, & calculating the window between nap & feeding times, etc. Spoiler alert: babies go to bed around 7:00, so you will soon have a curfew. Crank up the Netflix & wine delivery!
Write your birth plan together — or at least talk through it. It’s very VERY important your birth partner understands the plan since you won’t be able to talk or think much during labor. I wrote two birth plans: one for a home birth & one just in case I had a c-section at a hospital. See mine here.
♡ Birthing Process
Yes, yes, I left the birth stuff for the end. I know it’s at the top of your mind, but it’s honestly the smallest part of this journey. It’s just so short! Definitely a magical few days, but I think more of the prep should be on the stuff that lasts many months. That said, I did learn a lot about birth by listening to real women’s birth stories on podcasts like Birthfit,Birth Kweens & The Birth Hour. I also got the Labor Signs contraction timer app & practiced using it.
Now that my birth experience was over a year ago, I really wish I had more pictures & videos. While it was happening, I was irritated that my husband was taking videos rather than helping me, but now I’m super glad I do have a few. Sadly, ( or perhaps happily for the future of the human race ), my memory of that day is fading.
If you’re considering a doula but your partner isn’t on board yet, find a way to convince them. My doula was the only person focused only on me during labor, & I’m beyond grateful she was there. My husband really wanted to be our doula, but I doubted his capabilities — mostly because he had never even been at a birth. Turns out, he was busy parking the car, grabbing stuff from our hospital bag ( like the birth plan, portable speaker, & my favorite pillow ), answering questions from doctors, & handling our maternity & paternity leave from our business. He was also deep in his own process of getting ready to become a dad & wasn’t able to focus 100% on me, which is exactly as it should be.
♡ Cesarean Section Prep
Most women don’t plan for a c-section. I certainly didn’t. The truth is that a lot of us end up having surgical births. My baby was breech, & they no longer teach doctors how to deliver breech babies in the US, & most midwives won’t either. I’m going to share two lessons I learned by doing it wrong:
First, make sure the nurses put the breast pump on you at the hospital to encourage supply. Soon & often! WARNING: You will NOT feel like pumping because you will be very tired. Just remember that the long-term benefit will be healthy milk supply for your baby. The painkilling drugs they give you during & after surgery are known to cause your milk to come in late. I lied to the nurses & told them the baby was nursing a lot, because I hated being in the hospital & just wanted them to leave me alone. I don’t recommend lying to the nurses about that. My baby was super sleepy & uninterested in nursing, so she didn’t nurse much, which further shrank my milk supply.
My other tip is specifically for TSC readers: postpartum fashion. After my c-section, I was super stressed out about all the clothes I couldn’t wear. I couldn’t wear any pants or my own underwear because the waistbands hit right at my surgery site. And yes, even if you have a c-section, you will have lochia draining from your vagina for weeks, so underwear is a must. None of my maternity dresses would allow a boob to get free for nursing, so I could really only wear a robe. Believe me, I flashed a lot of unsuspecting people those first few weeks. I finally ditched the hideous & uncomfortable mesh hospital panties after getting some lacy high-waisted c-section recovery panties from Kindred Bravely. Pay close attention to your size. Yes, it sucks to formally acknowledge that your booty is twice the size it used to be, but that booty will be way more comfortable. I naively thought that because my pre-baby size was small, I maybe now wore a medium…? Thank God for my sister who gently shook her head & helped me buy XL panties that fit nicely.
Whew! That was a lot. And probably TMI, but I wanted to tell you the truth, even if it was down & dirty. My hope for you is that you can be gentle with yourself as you navigate the sometimes chaotic journey of motherhood. One of my favorite mantras that kept me going during the darkest times was “women WAY dumber than me have done this.” You’ve totally got this mama!
♡♡♡
If you’re a mom you just have to stalk Serenity Kids. Also be sure to check out the nutrition section on their website because you’ll find so much good info on nutrients for kids, what they’re needed for, & they even have a nutrition ebook! You can follow them onInstagram too.
Today we have Zaza’s nursery on the blog. Could not be more excited about this post. You can expect a full tour of the baby’s nursery, with all the juice. Like all the details & tons of pics.
Ok let’s get into it.
The vision for the nursery was very clear & specific in my head. Flamboyant, but at the same time very calming. You should know that Zaza’s nursery was initially my glam room when we moved into this house.
Ya, that’s right. Before the baby I had a chaise lounge, a martini bar, & a bell all ready to go so that Michael could come make me a cocktail while I got my hair done. ( To be totally transparent that was all inspired by Patricia Altschul from Southern Charm. She has all that stuff in her dressing room, so I needed to have it too…naturally. I mean, her butler’s name is Michael, so I was halfway there already. LOL )
Those days are over though, because Zaza has moved in & she means business. Nothing from my glam room is the same. It used to be painted this eggplant color & now it’s baby pink. However, there is one thing the same: the wallpaper. The wallpaper in that room is MAJOR. It’s honestly the sickest wall paper I’ve ever seen. When you feel it it pops off the wall, like it’s 3D. I just couldn’t bring myself to get rid of it, so we kept it.
When I was 4 weeks pregnant, but didn’t know it yet, we were at Bergdorf Goodman’s enjoying a few mimosas. We walked by this lamp & I absolutely fell in love with it & NEEDED it for my office. Then I found out I was pregnant!! If I was having a girl, I knew this lamp had to be in her room. The entire nursery was based off of this lamp, you guys.
It has this beautiful, gorgeous body & huge pink ostrich feathers hanging off of it. It’s glamorous, loud, flamboyant ( of course ) & just so stunning in person. It screams drama in the best way possible. If you follow along on Instagram, you know that one of my best friends ( & Zaza’s godfather ) designed & built her bassinet off of this lamp.
So yes- the lamp has completely inspired Zaza’s room & all her stuff.
As much as I love pink, & we certainly do have pops of it in the nursery, we toned things down with a lot of black & white too.
So backing up here: I was connected with Jada Neoni who is a celebrity sleep training expert & nursery designer ( you can get acquainted with here in this post ). She helped me curate that flamboyant, calm space that I had in mind.
Another thing I knew is that Zaza needed a lucite crib to really open up the space. Jada found me one with gold at the bottom & it really helped pull in the wallpaper. We also chose to go with the Nook organic, breathable mattress because Jada raved about it.
As far as the delicious, comfy nursing chair, Jada helped me find one that was really comfortable, but also really chic. It’s kinda got a Yeezy vibe to it, & if you saw it in person you’d see it has a very ‘Yeezy’ type of fabric.
We kept the diaper change table super plain, opting for white, but made sure to have very specific organizers in each drawer. Everything needed to have a place from the diapers, to the wipes, to the creams, to the gripe water, to the pacifiers- EVERYTHING needed a home in her change table. Our night nurse is also very knowledgeable so she helped me put things in place where they made sense. It’s all very organized- just how we like it!
The change table is in the corner of the room because I didn’t want it to be a ‘main event’ in the nursery. On the wall near the change table we put a cute print that we discovered 5 years ago at the BG Restaurant at Bergdorf Goodman. It’s this little cartoon picture of a woman in a big fur coat standing by a table of friends & it says “She got it by going ‘br-r-r’ in front of Bergdorf’s.” It made me laugh so hard because it really reminded me of myself. LOL.
The cartoon was even in Playboy, but we couldn’t find it anywhere. Somehow Michael found it & had it printed & framed for me. It’s so perfect for Zaza’s room & it reminds us of all the fun times we’ve had in NYC.
Pulling in some little personalizations like the Bergdorf’s print was really important me. In saying that, another personal touch was this beautiful gold frame that Jada & I found from Framebridge. It’s this magnificent, huge, out of control frame that reminds me of something vintage, but it’s avant-garde at the same time. We used it to frame our pregnancy announcement, which is a pic of Michael & me at the Beverly Hills Hotel, recreating the famous photo of Faye Dunaway after she won an Oscar.
Highly recommend Framebridge for any kind of room whether its a nursery, hallway, living room, etc. Working with them was amazing, seamless, & streamlined. I got this print within a week & it could not have been more smooth. This is such a good company to use for any type of frame or print, especially if you’re designing a photo wall.
Speaking of frames, we also decided to frame another fun memory that Zaza will love as she grows up. Her cousin Daxton painted me a finger painting in bubblegum pink about 2 years ago. I wanted to use it for something but didn’t know what. Then, for my birthday, Michael wrote me this hysterical card, so I took the card & put it on Daxton’s painting so it was like the background for the card.
You know those things that you want to hold onto, maybe they’re in a drawer or a box somewhere, but you don’t really know what to do with them? Getting creative like this is a really fun way to use them & have them on display.
Auntie Erica of Fashionlush, my best friend, & her mom got us the cutest ‘little golden books.’ Do you guys remember those ones with the gold spine? They found the cutest ones from thrift stores called Very Busy Barbie & Barbie & The Spotlight. They said that I could use these books to explain to Zaza what her mom does for a living. I thought it was fucking hilarious. It’s so cute to have ‘a little golden book‘ collection for her because those are the books I remember reading when I was little.
The other shelves in the room are MAJOR! Jada found them & they have pops of gold that really pull the crib in. The shelves are filled with some personal details:
We also added little touches like having her baby bracelets from the hospital pour out of her silver cup, Michael’s actual baby rattle that his mom gave to me, special stuffed animals, tiny pink patent leather shoes & a comb with her initials on it from her Auntie Mimi.
There’s also this specific nightlight that I like to turn on when I walk into her room. It’s the Casper Glow Light. You just pick it up & flip it over to turn it on- it’s so efficient & produces this super nice glow in her room- it’s so sweet. It doesn’t up her cortisol, ya know?
Two of my guy friends came over & hung up these beautiful curtains & also did the lights which are so major. They hang from the ceiling & swoop down on pink silk.
As for the rug, Jada & I fell in love with this particular one because it doesn’t get dirty easily. You can walk all over it, it can handle spit up well, & it can be washed easily.
We’ll get into the closet in another post, but it’s worth mentioning we opted for pink velvet hangers.
We also went for the Miku camera which is great because it doesn’t actually touch the baby & you can watch everything through your phone. It’s also aesthetically pleasing which is VERY important to me. I’ll do a post & get into this more, but I just wanted to share that we love it for the nursery.
There you have it. That’s just a broad explanation of the nursery right now. But don’t worry, Jada is coming back on the blog to do a 3 post series on designing your own dream nursery, the baby accessories you need to know about, & sleep training 101. Also be sure to check out her podcast episode coming out on Friday March 6. Oh, & in the meantime stalk her Instagram here. Also be sure to listen to Zaza’s birth story on the podcast.
So yes, I just really wanted a calm but flamboyant space for Zaza. One that fit her name & my personality too. When you walk into her room it’s very extravagant but the energy is very calm- everyone says that. It could be because of her energy ( she’s a very calm baby ), but I like to think it’s because of the fabulous nursery.
Let us know if you have any questions below, & get excited !! Because Jada & I are giving away almost a WHOLE nursery to one lucky mom on Instagram in the next week & a half. Hope you guys loved taking a peek inside Zaza’s nursery.
Actually…. I think I’m going to steal the lamp for my office after all….I kid, I kid. But really, how major is that lamp?!
Hope you guys are all having a great day .
x, lauryn
+ if you liked this post check out our baby shower posts ( details 1 & 2, playlist, invites ).
To give you a refresh: she’s a celebrity sleep training expert & nursery designer. Get familiar with Jada in this post where she shares some tips & ideas for new moms wanting to design their own nursery. It’s a great post to read if you have no idea where to start.
Today she is here to talk about the specifics of Zaza’s nursery & share even more tips on how you can achieve a similar look at home. She’s also sharing some budget-friendly must-haves & how to make your own vision come to life.
If you haven’t stalked Zaza’s nursery tour yet, be sure to check it out so this post makes more sense.
With that, let’s welcome back Jada Neoni.
♡♡♡
♡ Quickly re-introduce yourself.
Jada Neoni: Hello! My name is Jada, I’m a celebrity nursery designer. I’ve designed nurseries for some of the top celebrity tots! I’m also a certified infant sleep coach, because someone has to help moms get their kids to sleep in the gorgeous nurseries!! I worked with Lauryn for over 5 months to create & stock the nursery of her dreams! I’m excited to take everyone behind the scenes on what it takes to create a special room.
♡ Talk to the audience about what the vibe was when designing my nursery with me.
JN: Upon first meeting you, the first thing you said was you had a pink feathered flamingo lamp being imported from Paris ( I believe), so from there I knew this would not be an ordinary nursery!
When a client starts off the first consultation with ‘pink feathered’ anything, normally I would run, but with this nursery I was up for the challenge. We decided to turn your current beauty room into the nursery, which already had the pink & green Versace wallpaper up. Normally when I design a nursery we start the vibe of the room by choosing the main accent wall, meaning the color of the accent wall or what wallpaper we will use.
Since you already had the Versace wallpaper I knew I would need to design a room with a very old Hollywood glamorous vibe! Keeping your baby announcement in mind, which was legendary by the way- I sat down & began sketching & envisioning the room. When designing your room I set the vibe as Glamour meets peaceful, this meant allowing the pink feathered lamp & Versace wallpaper to be the only strong colors. For the rest of the room we would only go with neutral, calming colors.
♡ What were the feelings that we were trying to evoke when it came to my nursery?
JN: When designing your nursery, we wanted it to feel very peaceful & serene while feeling like you’ve just walked into a nursery in an old Hollywood Hills home full of glamour & charm. I envision if Fay Dunaway got up from the pool after having her iconic photo taken at the Beverly Hills Hotel, she would have loved to enter Zaza’s nursery.
We were able to create a nursery with such bold details yet still keeping it so calm & serene with very soft pink walls, an oversized glider & a stunning plush rug. We kept the glamour level high with the acrylic crib & lucite & gold shelves.
♡ What were some pieces you knew I couldn’t live without. Break them down for us.
JN: The first piece we decided on was the Nursery Works Acrylic Luma Crib. From the moment I saw this crib I fell in love with it. I remember I texted you a video saying THIS is the crib & you immediately responded with ‘I LOVE!’ This was the perfect crib for the nursery because it’s the epitome of glamour mixed with chic. What I loved most about the Luma crib is it wouldn’t fight with the wallpaper because it is acrylic. It’s very subtle & bold at the same time with a beautiful gold bottom.
Safety is always my top concern, so for the nursery mattress we went with the NOOK organic breathable mattress. Selecting the right mattress for your nursery is so important because your baby will spend the next two years or more sleeping on it. I wanted to make sure Zaza’s mattress was the standard crib mattress size to be sure it would tightly fit into the crib for safety.
The Casper Glow Light is a must for those middle of the night feedings & changes – even though Zaza sleeping 12 hours a night ( LOL ), we wanted to be prepared just in case!
I know it seems so random, but one of my favorite accessories for your nursery that I knew you would love was her Uggs collection, because come on! How can you have a nursery without a tiny collection of Uggs?! It really is my favorite nook in the room. These ones & these ones are my favorite.
The blackout curtains are the true essential to any nursery & so important for having a good sleeper. Sleep was so important to you from our first conversation, so I knew we couldn’t go without blackout curtains. These will turn a nursery completely dark for naptime & will not allow any sun to come in during the early mornings.
The West Elm ivory blackout curtains were so perfect for your nursery because it gave the luxurious glamorous feel you wanted, while being 100% capable of keeping light out.
♡ What are some tips on how to make a vision come to life?
JN: The first step in designing a nursery is coming up with the vision. What theme do you want to inspire your design? Maybe you recently traveled to Italy & want your nursery to be inspired from your travels or maybe you are really inspired by a photograph you saw in a design magazine. Writing down your vision will help keep you focused while designing.
Once you have your vision set, you then begin designing the room by deciding what the focal point of the room will be ( ie. the crib wall- this is the accent wall where you will normally paint a special color or select a wallpaper. The next step is picking out your crib. The crib is the centerpiece of any nursery- it sets the tone of the room. Selecting the right crib is what determines the theme of your room & how the remaining furniture selection will go. It’s always important when designing your nursery to keep SAFETY first in your mind. Make sure anything going into the nursery, from furniture to toys, is safe for your baby. So safety should be the main concern when picking a crib & furniture to go in the room.
Once these major steps are accomplished, it’s then time to move on to designing the carpeting/throw rugs in a nursery. This is a very important step because your baby will spend a lot of time on the floor in the nursery. When designing a nursery I always try to encourage moms to think long term when deciding on a throw rug. Will it withstand spit up? Is it something your baby will comfortably be able to crawl on? The rug in your nursery should be one of your most important selections, not only for the aesthetic of the room, but also the durability for an infant & toddler! Once the major furniture selection & rugs are done, then the real fun begins! Choosing accessories, wall art, & personalizations. I love to bring in old photographs & mementos into the nursery to really tie it into the flow of your home.
♡ What are some details that I couldn’t live without?
JN: Some of the most important details in any nursery are the personal details. One of the details which really ‘made’ your nursery was the vintage Chanel bag Michael gifted you for your first Valentine’s Day as a mom. Another very special detail in the nursery was the handwritten note from Michael we had framed. The special items that symbolize the love between you & Michael is really what made the room feel so special.
A surprise important detail in the nursery came from books. The books in Zaza’s nursery were so important to both of you. In true ‘Lauryn style,’ the vintage Barbie books were sooo perfect & so YOU. Those mixed with the adorable Claris Goes To Paris book really brought the room to life & it’s exactly how I imagine Zaza’s fashionable life will actually be! Lastly, I think maybe the most important detail was having the iconic photo from your baby reveal framed by Framebridge. It made the entire room design come full circle as that’s really the inspiration that started it all!
♡ Talk to us about lighting. How important is it & why?
JN: Lighting is key to any room design. Choosing lighting when designing a room is vital because lighting is what sets the entire mood & feel of a room. We decided not to do the normal chandelier in the nursery & to go with something a little more costume to really bring your vision to life. Your friends did a phenomenal job in designing the lighting for the nursery. The floating suspended light on the silk lines was so unique & instantly sets the the mood of ‘glamour’ when entering the nursery. We also set up dimmers on the lights so Zaza can understand the cues for naptime & bedtime.
♡ What would you say the overall style of our nursery is?
JN: The ‘Zaza nursery,’ as it’s famously called, is serene-glamour meets modern. We went super glamorous with keeping your Versace wallpaper, but brought in the ultra modern vibe with the crib. We also kept the modern feel with the changing table/dresser – we went with a much smaller changing table because we had made such a statement with the crib & lucite shelves.
The room truly speaks to who you are: strong, glamorous with a hint of art decor vibes going on. Your nursery completes your home & it fits the style of your home.
♡ What are some products people can buy to achieve this look?
JN: It’s so easy to be inspired by your nursery- starting with the gorgeous lucite shelves I found to store all of Zaza’s special items.
The ultra plush rug really contributed to the luxurious feel & can easily turn any nursery into a luxe room.
Safety was so important to you & every mom can be inspired by you baby proofing with Bink products as we did. They’re affordable for every budget.
The easiest way to turn any photo or letter into a special part of the nursery is getting a super quick & easy costumized frame. Framebridge can make any nursery feel like “home.”
♡ Tell us a funny story about working on the nursery!
JN: Designing the nursery with Lauryn has been such an easy process. We really shared the same vision & made decisions easily. But the most hilarious part of designing the room was working with Michael – I’ve recently given him the name Dadzilla!!!
Before starting the nursery Michael had already researched every baby product & already had a list of what he thought the baby needed, which was so cute. He even purchased a few things where BOTH Lauryn & I had to ask “what is this?” Michael was also the time keeper on the nursery- he needed to know when everything would arrive & most importantly, who was putting it together. I remember he had several panic moments that the room wouldn’t be done before the baby arrived, even though Lauryn was three months away from the due date! It was such a fun experience to work with a dad as involved as Michael. It soon became a joke between Lauryn & I that whenever I needed something purchased for the room to send it over to Michael. He was the money man lol!
