What to Wear at BlogHer 2008: A Sleeping Baby

If you don't have one, you might want to snag a wee baby before the BlogHer Conference this summer because they are the "it" accessory for mom bloggers these days. Granted, I would want a baby I could give back after the weekend since I value sleep almost more than my life, but the great thing about a going out with a baby is that you can wear anything and nobody cares.

And there's no need for a nametag because they know your baby.

The truth is, I would have never ventured out to a bar (note to readers: I was actually outside the actual bar) with Quinlan. In fact, I barely ventured outside of my house with her. It was work and then home again. I dreaded the post office, and the grocery store was a nightmare.

And the huz and I almost never had a night out because I was not privvy to this myth called "the trustworthy and responsible babysitter." That's really what they should give you when you check out of the hospital. A list of babysitters.

And The Rookie Moms Handbook.

I've known Whitney and Heather, self-proclaimed geeky girls, since I started blogging. We featured their site on Cool Mom Picks back in the olden days when it was an offshoot of this blog (did you even know that?) and I met both of them at my first BlogHer in 2006.

At the time, I was past my rookie year (basically the first 12 months of a baby's life) and so I didn't take as much notice about the cool stuff they were doing on their site. But if you happen to have a new baby (be it your first or your 16th -- you Duggar, you) or one on the way (oh wait, that's me!) their blog is a must-have resource.

And now so is their book.

It's nothing fancy (although I think it's a swanky looking little gift book) and the activities aren't brain science. They're mostly just common sense activities that you would never ever ever think of doing because you're too sleep deprived to even wipe your own ass or wash your armpits. (They actually give you a quick "how to shower with baby" rundown in the book).

Some of the activities might not appeal to you, but others are must-do-this-instant sort of things -- like emailing your baby. Snag an email with their name and forgo the baby book; just send them email updates of what they are doing, saying, pooping, you name it.

It sure would have saved me scrawling shit out in a stupid flimsy notebook, that's for sure.

This is definitely a book to keep in your "awesome shower gifts" stash. Kudos to them for taking their blog and making it into a kick-ass book. I'd try it with Motherhood Uncensored but I don't see my pubic hair post going over well at a baby shower.

Motherhood Uncensored for New Moms: Shave it Before You Have it. Well, it sort of has a nice ring.

And take my advice, maybe a bar isn't your type of outing with a baby, but the power of a fantastic mei-tai is worth its weight in gold. If my kid can sleep through the gabbing of super fabulous mom bloggers in a loud bar, getting out of the house to anywhere other than the mailbox might be something to think about.

Psst. Share your best, bizarrest, coolest, whatever rookie mom year outing and win some prizes (all weekend long). Go here to learn how to participate. WOO! And if you want to hear what the ladies sound like (and me too), check out my podcast with them!

And thank you thank you for your wonderful birthday wishes and sweet comments about The Today Show. If you live in NYC, I'd be happy to recommend a fantastic hair stylist, make-up artist, and eyebrow genius!

[photo via Rebecca Woolf]

Comments

[Swistle]

Hee! I went to a wedding when my new baby was 3 weeks old. It was awesome: I think I could have worn a bathrobe and no one would have seen it, they were so busy looking at the baby.

[cagey]

I will gladly lend Bossy my own baby who I will be schlepping to BlogHer 08.

[Christina]

So if babies are the hot thing to wear this year, were we the trend setters last year?

With all of the new babies and pregnant bellies, I'm going to feel left out this year.

[Lady M]

Not sure whether I'll be bringing the baby to BlogHer 08, but if I do, it'll be in the Rockin Baby Pouch that you kindly recommended.

By the way, you sounded smart and professional on TV. I had a few silly thoughts on the segment overall:

http://nupboard.blogspot.com/2008/05/today-show-mommybloggers-and-early.html

[GIRLS GONE CHILD]

Ha! I love that photo of you and is it just me or will everyone this year be either pregnant or carrying babies on their chests this year at Blogher? So much for sneaking ciggies and "spiked" cookies. Sigh...

[BOSSY]

Where can Bossy buy a faux baby?

[Amanda]

You did look incredible on the Today Show! I'm looking forward to Blogher with a babe in arms...I'll check this book out for my friends soon to be joining in the mom club.

[Asianmommy.com]

Thanks for telling us about the book. I'm sure my new mommy friends will love it. I used to shower while the little one was strapped in the car seat, pointed at the TV, watching Baby Einstein.

[laura]

well i could bring my very first grandchild...she is due next month and is the reason why i won't be at blogher. i promised my daughter i would be helping her. maybe she won't notice if we sneak off to the city for a day trip. but then again she might.

[canape]

You might have just pushed me over the edge to come to BlogHer. I mean, if bringing the baby will make me cool, then I'm all in. Because Lord knows I've got no other chance to be cool. It's a sad life I lead.

[susiej]

You did look awesome on TV. Send the names.
And yes -- love the sling... it's the only way to travel with baby.

[dana]

I think I'm going to wear a doll in a sling at BlogHer. It looked so cute when you and Christina did it last year. Dawson offered up his Tyrone stuffed doll thing. You think anyone would call me crazy? ;)

[mothergoosemouse]

You outed me. I'm bringing Oliver to BlogHer '08 because I want to be JUST LIKE YOU.

[Mom101]

I second the book even if you don't think you need it. We're all rookie moms at heart, even with the second (and third) babies.

And wow does that old website scare me.

[RookieMom Whitney]

I laughed aloud at the thought of me being given a list of babysitters upon hospital check out. So smart, but would I have wanted that more than more vicodin? Or more of the topical painkiller you can spray on your cooch? Plus, I would have lost the list. And actually, what I would have rather been given instead of that newborn baby was probably a five month old baby. They are so much more friendly without those scary wobbly heads.

[Heidi]

My kid came to me at age 6 (stepson) and a couple of nights before my wedding I realized that I needed underwear - actually blue underwear because I didn't have a blue thing. Since my husband needed a few things he couldn't discuss with me either, we jetted out to the mall and I somehow got stuck with the kid (not a bad thing unless you are shopping for underwear). We headed over to VS. I stood in the doorway trying to figure out if I could just leave him out there - I couldn't. Too worried someone would take this incredibly cool kid soon-to-be mine. So I put my hand over his eyes and told him to not peek. It became a game of who could stop laughing the fastest because that is all we did the whole time. Giggled. I finally decided just to flag down a girl and have her find me some panties - any blue panties that were somewhat wedding night-ish and shove them in a bag. As we walked out, my stepson turned to me and said, "I peeked." I asked him what he saw. He giggled and said "Boobies." Great my future husband would know I was the one to christen the kid with seeing boobies for the very first time ever. Thankfully they weren't mine, but rather a manikin.

[Angie in Texas]

FOUR days after having the second child, I went to Gymboree with my daughter (the baby boy was in a sling and asleep the ENTIRE time - and I wouldn't let anyone *touch* him!)

but I carried #1 regularly in the sling right up until #2 was born though.

[Kamrin]

The Duggars just announced baby number 18 is due Jan 1st.

[jennielynn]

Wait, I'm going to BlogHer to escape my children and now you say bring one? HERESY! HERESY!!!

[All Adither]

Reliable babysitters are better than diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sex. And even better than Cadbury Carmello.

[Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah]

I'd wear my baby to BlogHer but 1) She isn't that great at sleeping during the days and 2) She's damn near 40 lbs.

[Motherhood Uncensored]

Actually, the RMs say DO NOT shower while the baby sleeps. You can actually do it quite well when they are awake. Save their sleep for yours!

[Amanda]

Thanks for the book tip. I've got 2 myself now, but our babysitter (ACK! I have to find a new one) and a really good friend are both having their first and due soon. Ahhhh how I remember the days where it was an accomplishment worthy of the 6pm news if I got dressed and brushed my teeth. And a shower - well that was only dreamed about becuase let's face it, as a new parent faced with the choice of sleep or shower while the baby sleeps, we choose sleep almost every time.