Ain't No Mom Jeans

15 Totally Hot, One-Piece Swimsuits For Moms

It's taken me over two years as a mom to be able to say this...but I now think that one-piece swimsuits deserve a little love.  The current crop of one-piece swimsuits are not only practical and flattering, they are downright hot.  Hot in a wildly sexy way.  And let's face it, for postpartum moms facing a looong summer, do they really have any other valid options?  The postpartum jelly-belly is pretty frightening.  And even if you've managed to tone down the jelly-belly, many of us just don't look like we used to.  So if the thought of lounging pool-side in a bikini (while your flab hangs out with its best friend, Gravity) makes you want to run screaming....fear not.

...

Post-Baby Pooch?  Ruche it Away!

  The brown suit pictured at left is the Sweetheart One Piece by Ron Beattie for La Blanca, $119 at Nordstroms.com.  This suit offers good support for the 'girls' (shelf bra with foam-lined cups), as well as a seriously ruched midsection to hide any post-baby belly.  

Need more tummy control?

Miraclesuit's Sonatina One Piece (shown at right in gray), boasts shirring at the bust, straps and waist to make you look 10 lbs trimmer.  This suit has some post-baby belly banishing powers.  The Sonatina is available at Nordstroms.com for $130.

Need better support for the girls (at a lower price point)?

Reading: The Best Swimsuit Guide For Real Body Types on Glamour.com

M and I have often thought that a killer Ain't No Mom Jeans article would be a before-and-after series using real moms and swimwear.  You know - get real moms to volunteer, then help them find a more flattering bathing suit.

Any volunteers?

See, that seems to be the problem. Not many of us (myself and M included) have any burning desire to be photographed in our swimwear, then uploaded to the web.  Not even for "educational" purposes.  (NOTE:  If you are that brave and live in Denver, shoot us an email. We'd love to help.)

Thankfully, Glamour magazine has found folks much braver than most.  Glamour's article, How To Find the Sexiest Swimwear For Your Body Shape, is probably the best swimsuit guide for real bodies that I've found to date.  They use real women (not models) and show before-and-after pics for each woman, as well as listing a few other swimsuit options per body type.  Their real women models are all young, and Glamour doesn't deal with mom issues specifically (like nursing or maternity, for example) but they do cover a wide range of body types including: athletic, curvy, apple shapes, large bust, and a small pooch (pic shown above).  

I have a newfound respect for the one-piece suit.

Thanks, Glamour!!

xo,

S

$5 Bucks to Help Beat Breast Cancer?

 Meet Ms. Katie Kitchen, a BFF of Ain’t No Mom Jeans.  She’s on a mission to help cure breast cancer by walking a 39 mile trek through the Rocky Mountains in honor of her Aunt Joanne, who fell victim to breast cancer in 2007. 

Katie is a wee bit short of her $1,800 goal, and the walk starts tomorrow!  Can you help out with a late donation, say $5 - $10!?  Click here to read more about Katie, her team Save the Ta-Tas, and to make your donation.

Finding a cure for breast cancer is a cause near & dear to Ain’t No Mom Jeans’ heart.  One in seven women will get it in their lifetime, but by committing ourselves--even though micro donations--to finding a cure, we can all help beat this terrible sickness that ravages women of all ages and their families. 

All our best to you and yours this summer, mamas and thank you for helping out.

 

How To Wear Swim Skirts

Us Moms, we love ourselves some swim skirts.  I say this, because every time I'm at the pool, the moms in swim skirts are out in force.  And I get the appeal.  After baby, there's just a bit more cellulite, a bit of softening, a bit of droop. Yes.  But swim skirts are tricky - they are hardly the panacea of mom-friendly swimwear.

J.Crew's tulle swim skirt (pictured at left) is one of my very favorite swim skirt options.  To keep it mom-friendly, I'd pair it with a simple solid color halter top instead of the bandeau top.  Unfortunately...most of the swim skirts at the pool are not nearly this cute.  What makes the difference?  (Hint - it's not the tulle)

Should You Buy Maternity Swimwear? (Swimwear Tips By Trimester)

Dressing a pregnant body has its challenges.  Dressing a pregnant body in next-to-nothing is a whole different ball game.  One on hand, your boobs are fab.  On the other hand, depending on the trimester and the type of pregnancy, you are dealing with an expanding waistline (and butt), cellulite, odd skin discolorations and a whole host of other changes.  "Baring it all" takes on a whole new meaning.

First Trimester

If you will be going through the summer in your first trimester (and it's your first baby), the key thing to realize is this:  you will not actually look pregnant.  Your boobs will be nice and full (you may go up a cup size or two), and you will mostly likely look thick in the middle, but you will not necessarily look pregnant.  Here's the first trimester bikini body rundown:

Boobs:  Fab and full

Butt:  Most likely bigger, cellulite might start, even if you haven't ever had it before

Stomach:  At best it'll be soft, at worst, flabby

Rest of your body:  General softening - watch for muffin tops and back fat!

Best Swimwear Strategies For the First Trimester

1.  Try a swingy tankini top.

If you are very self-conscious about your thickening middle section, then a swingy tankini top is your best bet. 

Postpartum gals:  This swim option will also work post-baby to help cover any remaining jelly-belly. 

I've already mentioned the DKNY Faux Wrap Tankini pictured at left in red, but I also really like J.Crew's tankinis because they have a nice amount of swing.  The Twist Front Swing Top is shown strapless below, but does come with a detachable halter (which you'll need post-baby). 

 

Wooden High Chair Review: Comparison of the Svan, Stokke Tripp Trapp and the Keekaroo Height Right High Chairs

It probably won’t surprise you to learn that I was not satisfied with my initial high chair purchase for my eldest son.  Despite my best efforts, I, like many parents-to-be, did not make the best baby gear choices with Boy Wonder No. 1.  And I mean really, how can one be expected to select all the right accoutrement, having never had a babe before?  Particularly given that most shortcomings aren’t apparent until the gear has been used, rendering it un-returnable?  While many people feel compelled to rationalize and justify their purchases, regardless of their dissatisfaction, I feel the need to rectify these situations.  And with a blog like this, why not?  Thank you, CraigsList, for making this possible.  Here I compare three modern-style wooden high chairs, including the Svan, the Stokke Tripp Trapp and the Keekaroo Height Right High Chair.

How to Pack for a Summer Post-Partum Road Trip (Or For Anyone Who Wants to Be Really, Really Comfortable While Traveling)

Reader Question:

Hello! I just had a baby 3 weeks ago. We are driving to Arizona June 30th to visit family. It will be a long road trip, with baby and my two other boys ages 6 & 8. My question is …..what do I wear?! I am severely postpartum and about a size 16/18 right now. My belly is still pretty flabby ( from my 8 year old? Haha) I want to be comfortable, but I refuse to  wear yoga pants or maternity gear! After following your site for awhile and agreeing with your style…I am hoping you can lend some advice!! I am usually very good at packing and putting together outfits, but this soon after baby has me mystified ;)
 
Shannon

Answer:

Wow, girl!!  A road trip, several weeks postpartum, with two boys and a baby!  Impressive.  Let's see if we can't figure out some insanely comfortable, yet stylish outfits for you to pack.

In-Line Double Stroller Review: Baby Jogger City Select vs. Phil&Teds Vibe

 As I may have mentioned before, I have a serious stroller affinity.  I walk a lot, more than I drive (in sunshine, rain and even knee-deep snow), and take my two wee ones, both well under three, with me everywhere I go.  So, I consider my stroller to be an alternate vehicle and it needs to function as such.  

Since reluctantly giving up my Micralite Toro early last year for a Phil&Teds Vibe ($809 with extra seat) in anticipation of our Little Lou, I’ve acquired three additional strollers to meet my various strolling needs.  These include an umbrella stroller, a higher-end umbrella stroller with recline and a Maclaren Twin Techno.  

The question is, though, why, after paying an arm and a leg for a Phil&Teds Vibe + doubles kit, the in-line stroller that’s touted as an all-around solution, did I purchase three other strollers where previously just one Micralite Toro did the job?  A good question indeed.  One my dear husband has oft asked, until he too fell for my latest and greatest stroller acquisition, the new Baby Jogger City Select ($660 with extra seat), which I now take everywhere I go. 

Mamas, it's sad but true.  Just 28 months into parenthood, I finally figured out what you may already know. When it comes to a stroller, for me at least, it’s all in the fold and that is Baby Jogger's speciality.

Words To Live By: "Children Learn What They Live" by Dorothy Law Nolte

I was reading a back issue of the "Grandma Says" newsletter (published by the Growing Child folks - read more about how much I love them here)...and I came across this poem, published in 1972.  Apparently, this poem used to be posted everywhere:  schools, doctor's offices, daycares, etc.  Ask your mom about it - I'll bet she recognizes it. (mine did!)

If ever there were words for parents to live by, this is it.  

Reading: Growing Child Newsletters - Inspiring yet Practical Advice for Parents (based on your child's age)

Have you heard of the Growing Child newsletter?  If not, you are in for a treat. 
Growing Child is a monthly newsletter, sent via email (or post), that matches the age of your child.  When you sign up, you simply enter your child's birthday and voila!  You will receive the appropriate newsletter each month.

Growing Child newsletters cover developmental stages and quirks, tips and strategies for coping, as well as age-appropriate learning games and toy recommendations. 

What I like best, however, is the fact that their advice is real.  This is not a newsletter that will advocate the purchasing of expensive toys, or demand that that you redesign your entire house.  This is not a newsletter that assumes you have boundless patience, or endless amounts of time. 

This is simply a newsletter that started in 1971, and will, very patiently, explain to us newbie mums why manners are still important (hint:  it's all about "caring and consideration"), and what you can and cannot expect from your 2-year-5-month-old in terms of manners.  This is a newsletter that teaches parents specific language and behaviors to make us more effective parents (Say, "Hitting hurts Peter" rather than "Don't Hit"). This is a newsletter that encourages parents to focus on what's important:  helping your child develop courage and independence, empathy,  imagination.