Join our HUGE Itsabelly giveaway events focused on Health & Wellness for Mom & Baby!

Hosted by Itsabelly Baby Planners & Sponsored by Britax, Cord Blood Registry & CityMommy.com

with new baby product giveaways from wonderful brands like Zoli, Plum Organics, gDiapers & more.

Win a Britax Car Seat & Stroller System valued at $500!!

See us in:

Seattle on 6/24 at Merry Go Round

Chicago on 6/24 at Galt Baby

SF Bay area on 6/26 at Lullaby Lane

Event details at:   Mom & Baby Events &   RSVP to info@itsa-belly.com.

Guest post by Candi Wingate, Founder of and Care4Hire.com and Nannies4Hire.com

Tips for Hiring a Babysitter



Choosing who will care for your child when you are away is one of the most important decisions we make as parents, and peace of mind that your child is safe and happy is top priority. Long gone are the days when finding a babysitter was dependent on word of mouth. Today, services like Care4Hire.com provide a massive database for everyone to find their perfect child care match with just the click of a mouse. With such a vast array of qualified candidates at your fingertips, here are a few tips to help make the process easier.

Make a list of your requirements.
Before you start the interview process, it’s a good idea to figure out what you’re looking for in a babysitter. Think about the hours you require, the amount of experience you’re looking for, the type of childcare philosophy, and whether any household duties will be involved.

Do your homework.
Your child’s safety is top priority. Conduct background checks and thoroughly check references.

Ask the right questions.
These could include things like the number of years she has had as a childcare provider, what type of training has she had, what ages has she dealt with, and what her ideas are on childrearing.

Include your child.
It is best to conduct initial interviews without your child present. There is no need to confuse your son or daughter by introducing him or her to multiple caregivers who they will likely never see again. Introduce your best candidate to your child and observe how they interact together. Does the babysitter actively engage him or her? Is she keeping your child entertained?

Be clear about discipline.
The babysitter must be able to relate with your family and administer discipline to your children in a manner that is appropriate and consistent with your family’s boundaries. You and your babysitter should discuss, prior to hiring, the discipline style that your family would like the babysitter to use.

Explain boundaries.
The babysitter should be capable of handling small “crises” on his/her own. You and your babysitter should come to an agreement about what issues may warrant a call to you and what issues the babysitter is authorized to handle on his/her own. Your babysitter should be able to act comfortably within the boundaries you have provided.

Finding the right babysitter for your child is a critical decision. Take your time and be picky in your choice. Ideally, this babysitter will be in your child’s life for as long as possible so they can form a long lasting relationship and truly enjoy their time together.

Candi Wingate is an expert in the child care industry with over 20 years experience. She is the founder of Nannies4Hire.com and Care4Hire.com, and author of 100 Tips for Nannies & Families and mother of two.

Itsabelly's New Seal of Approval

Stay tuned for details on how your product can receive our seal...

By Windy Gossett, Itsabelly Baby Planner  Seattle



If you are the parent of a new baby you know just how hard it is to get out of the house…..to do anything! You have to plan and try to remember everything you will need for your 2- 3 hour outing: the stroller, the carrier, extra clothes, diapers, binky’s, nursing covers or bottles and formula, burp cloth and the list goes on. Now try planning what to bring for baby on a weeks vacation. It can be mind boggling. You feel as if you need to bring the whole house. I have seen those parents in the airport with the carts of luggage pushing the baby with the car seat balanced precariously on top of the stroller frantically trying to make their way to their gate. It stresses me out just thinking about it. So here is the best Itsabelly Baby Traveling tip.

Check out baby rental gear in the city you will be staying in. These traveling with baby rental agencies have everything, so you can have all the comforts of home without having the stress of trying to bring them with you. You can rent practically everything; car seats jogging strollers, full size cribs, high chairs, bouncy seats, swings, exersaucers and more. By far, the best thing I have ever rented was 2 very large bags of toys from a company called Toddlers Travels in San Diego. This included age appropriate toys, books, blocks, puzzles, beach and bath toys.  We also rented a double Bob stroller and a port a crib and had everything delivered right to our hotel. Everything was high quality and very clean. We spent about $130 for the week and it was worth every penny. It’s the only way to travel with baby or toddler. Check out this site for a list of baby rentals by state Baby Travel Pros or search baby rentals and the city you will be in for a listing. Happy traveling!

By Windy Gossett, Itsabelly Seattle

Itsabelly is excited to partner with Kibbn. Kibbn is a little shop based in the Seattle, WA area that scours the globe for the awesome-est gear for your kids and family. Windy, Itsabelly's Seattle Baby Planner is now writing regularly for Kibbn's blog and sharing our baby product favorites list, see it here. Check out her first post on how a Baby Planner's tips on going green with baby:

A Baby Planner's Tips on Going Green with Baby

Stay tuned for more Kibbn & Itsabelly news!

Itsabelly Baby Planners is excited to present our expert tips on Preparing for Baby at Pottery Barn Kids, 1050 Bellevue Square in Bellevue, WA, on Saturday at 9:00 am.  We'll share our Top Mommy Must-Haves and also explain what a Baby Planner is and how we can help expectant parents navigate the overwhelming world of baby.

Attend and receive a special offer from Pottery Barn Kids as well as a chance to win a gift basket full of delightful nursery must-haves, a copy of Itsabelly's "Guide to Going Green with Baby" and a one-hour baby proofing consultation.

So, what are you waiting for? Sign up by calling (425) 451-2966 to register for this FREE class at Bell Square on Saturday, June 27th at 9:00 am. You must be present to win the fabulous give-away!

By Nicole Mabry, Itsabelly Atlanta

Atlanta is home to the hospital that delivers the most babies in the United States each year. Now Atlanta is also a new home for Itsabelly Baby Planners!

When I first heard of baby planning – businesses that help expectant families with all the preparations that come along with a new arrival, my first thought was “Why isn’t anyone doing that?” My second thought was, “Why am I not doing that?” Thus, Itsabelly in Atlanta was born.

I’m Nicole Mabry, a new mom and baby planner serving the Atlanta area. When I was expecting my first child, I found myself wading through volumes and volumes of information to make the best selections of products and services for my son. I wanted to be sure I was making the safest, healthiest and most green choices for him. Sorting through that volume of information can be overwhelming for many families, but since research is my passion, I soaked it all up and soon was passing along my findings to other expectant families. Essentially, I was baby planning for friends and family, I just didn’t know it yet!

My educational and employment background is in communications and marketing, but my passion has always been planning, organizing and helping other people succeed. So far, my most important job title has been “Mommy.” I think of baby planning as being a professional “expectant mommy”. I take planning for every new arrival as much to heart as I took my own as all of our babies are precious. I truly love learning more each and every day about supporting new families in their pregnancies, with their new babies and beyond!

If you or a loved one in the Atlanta area are expecting a baby, give Itsabelly a call! We’d love to assist you with all of your baby planning needs and help you get ready for and go green with baby!

To inquire about Nicole’s services please email her at nicole@itsa-belly.com. You can also reach her by phone at 678-920-2337.