Blog Posts by MomFinds

Hosting a birthday party for your little one in your backyard this summer? We know all the planning can make them a little stressful, so we're helping you out this year. You've mailed the invites and ordered the cake, but here are some other, less obvious items you'll need to ensure your party goes off without a hitch. Best of all, you can use them again and again all summer long.

1. An Umbrella. Whether you have lots of babies coming to the festivities or grandma and grandpa will be in attendance, set up an umbrella to create a shady place for people to sit.

2. Picnic Table. If your party is going to be small, invest in these miniature picnic tables for the kids to sit at while they eat. After the party, you can reuse them at summer BBQs or pool parties.

3. Blankets. If you're expecting lots of kids, stock up on these outdoor blankets. The kids can eat lunch or rest on them. When the party is over, throw them in the wash and you can reuse them for family

Okay, moms, we're giving you that final push into the swimsuit section. Summer will officially be here next week, which means you cannot put off buying yourself a swimsuit any longer. I have a kid, so I know how scary strapping yourself into a swimsuit can be, but fear not-we searched and searched for the best swimsuits for moms and here they are. Whether you need to cover your C-section scar or can't feel comfortable with those stretch marks on your hips showing (me), check out these amazing swimsuits made with moms in mind.

1. There's so much to love about this J. Crew one-piece. The halter neckline means you can adjust the straps according to how much support you need; the ruched bodice is perfect for disguising a less-than-toned tummy; and the elongated bodice means your butt won't be hanging out.

2. Yes, the model is skinny, but you don't have to be a size negative 0 to feel comfortable and sexy in this swimsuit. Whether you're still nursing or your breasts just

Let's face it, moms: when you have an infant, much your time will be spent feeding in the nursery, changing diapers in the nursery and rocking your babe to sleep…yes, in the nursery. So because you're going to be spending so much time in there, it's important you make it a place both you and your baby feel comfortable and at peace in.

We're not here to tell you which theme is best or which crib linens you must have, but there are three essentials buys every mom should make in order to ensure she loves every minute spent in her nursery. Here they are:

1. We really don't entirely understand how one rug can be so amazing (and affordable!), but this Babycare Longwool soft rug is a must-have. Not only is it a beautiful rug in any nursery, but it can be used as a changing pad cover, a stroller liner or a play mat. It's so soft, you'll want to have your feet on it whenever you're in the nursery.

2. Allow us to apologize in advance for how ridiculously expensive this glider

I had a play date at my house for my 16-month old daughter a few weeks back with a woman I know through a friend. She arrived with her 17-month old son and after I led her to our sunroom, the mom said, "You don't have any gates in here?"

No, I don't have any gates anywhere downstairs. Except for climbing the staircase, there is really nothing I consider dangerous on the first floor. I'm never far away, and if I go to the bathroom or answer the door and she goes into a different room, well…so what?

The mom looked horrified at my lack of child safety. She then asked if I childproofed my cabinets (as though my gate-less state meant I probably allowed my child to freely drink Draino), and I said, "Yes, some, but she can go in most of them." Silence. "So, she can just walk around anywhere then?" She almost looked uncomfortable.

She's actually not the first person to question my lack of visible childproofing. Almost everyone helpfully "suggests" gates, as though they're this

This weekend, I read an interesting article on U.S. News about 20 things to never buy used. Topping the list were two children's products I totally agree with: cribs and car seats.

The sad fact is cribs get recalled like there is no tomorrow, so you never want to risk buying a model that's been recalled. Also, once a crib has been put together, it's basically impossible to determine if it was done right and that's a chance you just don't want to take.

As for car seats, the author of the article cites potential unseen damage, but I'm going with yuck. Kids eat, pee, poop and do so much more in their car seats; just for cleanliness alone it's worth dropping a hundred bucks on one of the newest, best car seats.

This article got me thinking about what I would never buy used, so I'm sharing my list with you.

1. Bottles. I don't care how many times they've been washed or sterilized, I just don't feel comfortable with the idea of my baby drinking from bottles that have

This weekend while shopping for a new pair of earrings for my daughter, I was amazed by how strongly some women feel about children with pierced ears. Ironically, the woman who was supposed to be selling me the earrings was the one giving me the most flack about having pierced my daughter's ears.

When I first had my daughter, I decided I wouldn't get her ears pierced until she was old enough to decide whether or not she wanted her ears pierced. But when she turned 6 months old, I changed my mind and decided to get them pierced. My reasoning was that she wouldn't remember the sting-okay, the downright pain-of getting her ears pierced.

As expected, she cried when for about three minutes right after they pierced her ears, and then it was over. She never fussed with them and didn't give me any trouble when it came time to clean them. If given the choice to go back and redo things, would I do anything differently? No, I don't regret getting her ears pierced when she was so

If dad hasn't stopped talking about the iPad since it came out or he has a special room designated just for his "toys," this guide is for you. Make dad smile ear to ear this Father's Day with one of these awesome gadgets.

iPad ($600): There's not a dad out there who wouldn't be thrilled to find this staring back up at him from his Dad's Day gift box. It's obviously a huge splurge, so give it to him preloaded with kid-friendly apps and videos, so the whole family can use it…every once in while, at least.

Browse the best diaper bags for new dads.

Kindle ($259): If dad is a bookworm, it's time his library went digital. This wildly popular e-reader weighs only 10 ounces, has a 3G wireless connection and can go a full week on just one battery charge.

Flip HD Video Camera ($199): Just in time for summer vacations, get dad this super-easy-to-use video camera to capture all the fun moments on your upcoming family getaways. The camera itself plugs right into

I don't know if it's a Southern California thing, but every day I drive past a car (correction-an SUV or mini-van) that has some sort of decal stuck on the rear window representing the driver's family.

Sometimes it's a subtle grouping of two large hibiscus flowers with one smaller flower in between. I can live with that. But other times it's a cringe-worthy stick figure family customized with their hobbies (there's baseball-loving boy with bat in hand next to his baby sister sucking on a bottle). To make it worse, sometimes their names are printed underneath!

I don't know what these parents are thinking. Yes, we know you love your family and want to shout it out to the world, but let's not get carried away and put the kids in danger. Not only are you advertising your children's names to complete strangers, but you're giving away information that could make it seem like these strangers actually know what they're talking about.

So if you really must use your rear window as