Hi Bumpies,

Mark your calendars! This Wednesday, September 12 at 2 p.m. EST, we’ll be chatting with the authors of Sh*tty Mom: The Parenting Guide for The Rest of Us ($13 on Amazon). If you haven’t read this book yet, you seriously need to — “hysterical” doesn’t even begin to describe it. (Read our full review here.)

To participate in the chat, make sure you’re following @thebump, @todaysmoms and @shttymom on Twitter and tune in with the hashtag #shttymom. The best part? There are freebies! 10 lucky Bumpies who participate in the chat will win copies of the book.

Plus, more from The Bump:

You Know You’re a Mom When…

Worst Things To Say to Working Moms

7 (Annoying) Moms You’ll Meet at the Park

Today, we were lucky enough to chat with the lovely Rosie Pope (the maternity clothing designer and star of Bravo TV’s “Pregnant in Heels”) and Philips AVENT on Twitter. If you missed it, here’s a roundup of some highlights from our conversation. And don’t forget to follow @thebump on Twitter – that way, you’ll be the first to know about our future Twitter chats and giveaways!

The Bump: You’re mama to sons J.R. and Wells and now daughter Vivienne! How do your boys like having a baby sister?

Rosie: They love it.  They are so sweet, gentle, and kind with her.

The Bump: What tips would you give new moms who are struggling to find enough time to get everything done?

Rosie: Try to think less about doing it all in a day and instead think about achieving it in a week.

The Bump: Let’s talk clothes! What are three items that all new moms should have in their closets?

Rosie: Great pair of wedges, RPM Pret Pants, highlighter colored pashmina!

The Bump: What is the #1 piece of advice you would give moms-to-be about dressing stylishly during their pregnancy?

Rosie: Stay true to your original sense of style.  If you didn’t wear it before, don’t wear it now.

The Bump: What are your top 5 new mom must-haves?

Rosie: Philips AVENT Natural Bottle, steam sterilizers, swaddle clothes, RPM London Shopper, soothing playlist of classical music.

The Bump: We love the helpful advice you give moms on Twitter! What’s the best new mom advice YOU’VE received?

Rosie: Have some empathy for yourself.

The Bump: What’s been your craziest new-parent moment? How did you deal?

Rosie: My son just broke his arm. He’s only 18 mos old.  I remembered that bones heal and it could have been worse. Keep perspective.

Plus, more from The Bump:

Read The Bump Magazine (with cover girl Rosie Pope!)

Rosie Pope: Pregnant in Heels (And Sometimes Sneakers)

Lookbook: Rosie Pope for A Pea in the Pod

Hi Bumpies,

Exciting news! Tomorrow, 8/29 from noon-1pm EST, we’ll be hosting a Twitter chat with Jane Buckingham (@Jane_Buckingham) and Huggies (@Huggies).

For those of you who may not know her, Jane Buckingham is the author of The Modern Girl’s Guide to Motherhood (check it out on Amazon!). She also blogs about her parenting experiences on The Modern Girl’s Guide to Raising Decent Daughters. She’ll be chatting with us tomorrow about pregnancy and motherhood. Make sure you follow Jane, Huggies and The Bump, and tune in with the hashtag #MommyAnswers to participate in the discussion!

The best part? We’ll be giving away freebies during the chat! Five random winners will score gift bags with Huggies Natural Care Wipes and a copy of Jane’s book.

For more information for first-time moms, check out Huggies’ (super helpful!) Mommy Answers tab on their Facebook page, Facebook.com/Huggies.

Plus, more from The Bump:

“Like” The Bump on Facebook

Get Advice from Other New Moms

Join Our Community on Google Plus

Is there anything cuter than the cutest thing in the world (a baby) with the second cutest thing in the world (a pet)? We didn’t think so. For this week’s Instagram challenge, we want to see pictures of your little ones with their furry friends! Everyone who participates in the challenge will be entered to win a bag of baby products, and we’ll also feature a few of the submissions in a slideshow here on The Bump.

How it works:

From today until midnight EST on Monday (8/27), upload your favorite baby & pet photo on Instagram with the hashtag #BabiesAndPets. Make sure you include both the hashtag and @thebump so we can see it. (Need some inspiration? Check out these way-too-adorable pictures of babies with their animal BFFs!)

We can’t wait to see your photos!

For the official rules, click here.

Here are the pictures that have been submitted so far!

Plus, more from The Bump:

Babies Wearing Funny Onesies

Ridiculously Cute Baby Animals

Sweet Dreams! Photos of Sleeping Babies

It’s here! Today (8/15) is Public Display of Breastfeeding Day (PDB). If you haven’t already, take the pledge to breastfeed in public today (not a mom yet? You can still take part by pledging to breastfeed!). Our goal is to empower moms and show the world that if a mom chooses to breastfeed, it’s her right to feed baby whenever (and wherever) she needs to.

While you’re showing your support by breastfeeding in public today, don’t forget to enter our PDB giveaway! We’re giving away one Celebrity “BUMP” bag from Jewels and Pinstripes (a $550 value!).To enter, all you have to do is follow The Bump on Twitter and tweet at @thebump with the hashtag #PDB and tell us where you’re breastfeeding today. (Make sure to include both @thebump and #PDB in your tweet so we can see it!) We’ll count all entries tweeted until 12 a.m. EST and then select a random winner.

The gift pack comes with: Sakura Bloom Baby Sling; Novena Maternal Organic Skin Care gift set; [bump] babies original [bump]-tee and [bump]-daddy tee; Gift certificate from Ladybugs and Lullabies hip accessories for cool kids; Life is good onesies; Itzy Ritzy Wrap & Roll™ Infant Carrier Arm Pad; Tummy Time Mat; Snack Happened™ Reusable Snack Bag; WubbaNub™ giraffe and lamb pacifiers; Stride Rite Jamie crib shoes; Project Nursery logo bucket hat; and Copy of The Bump Guide (total value: $550!).

Don’t forget to “Like” The Bump on Facebook and follow us on Pinterest — that way, you’ll be the first to hear about future giveaways!

Plus, more from The Bump:

Video: Real Moms Share Their Tips for Breastfeeding in Public

Top 10 Breastfeeding Tips for New Moms

How Breastfeeding Changes as Baby Gets Older

PDB Sweepstakes Official Rules

 NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS SWEEPSTAKES. MAKING A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

 TERM:

The PDB Sweepstakes (the “Sweepstakes”) entry period commences at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on August 15, 2012, and ends at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on August 15, 2012 (the “Sweepstakes Entry Period”). The Sweepstakes is sponsored by XO Group Inc., 195 Broadway, 25^th Floor, New York, NY 10007 (“Sponsor”), through its division, The Bump.

 ELIGIBILITY:

This Sweepstakes is open to any legal resident of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia, 18 years or older as of date of entry.  Entrants must be a registered member of http://www.twitter.com. Employees of the Sponsor; Prize provider(s); any promotional companies or advertising agencies participating in the Sweepstakes and employees of their respective affiliates and subsidiaries; any persons involved in the creation, development, or implementation of this Sweepstakes; and any other persons or entities directly associated with this Sweepstakes and any members of their immediate families or households are ineligible to participate. Entries for the Sweepstakes drawing must be received prior to the expiration of the Sweepstakes Entry Period. This Sweepstakes is void in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and wherever prohibited or restricted by law, and is subject to all federal, state, and local laws and regulations. By submitting an entry, entrants agree to abide by these Official Rules and all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations that govern sweepstakes.

 Grand PRIZE/VALUE:

One (1) Grand Prize winner will receive the following items, in each case, selected by Sponsor in its sole discretion:

• Sakura Bloom Baby Sling;
• Novena Maternal Organic Skin Care gift set;
• [bump] babies original [bump]-tee and [bump]-daddy tee;
• $50 gift certificate from Ladybugs and Lullabies hip accessories for cool kids;
• Two (2) Life is Good onesies;
• Itzy Ritzy Wrap & Roll^TM Infant Carrier Arm Pad;
• Tummy Time Mat;
• Snack Happened^TM Reusable Snack Bag;
• WubbaNub^TM giraffe and lamb pacifiers;
• Stride Rite Jamie crib shoes;
• Project Nursery logo bucket hat; and
• Copy of The Bump Guide.

 Approximate retail value of the Grand Prize is $550.  Actual retail value may vary. The Grand Prize is not transferable or assignable, or redeemable for cash or any other consideration (other than the gift certificate from Ladybugs and Lullabies, which is redeemable for Ladybugs and Lullabies merchandise in accordance with its terms), and no substitutions will be allowed except by Sponsor, which reserves the right to substitute prizes of equal or greater value or nature if advertised prize (or component thereof) is not available. The Grand Prize winner is responsible for compliance with all applicable federal, state, and/or local laws and regulations, including, without limitation, the payment of all applicable taxes.

 HOW TO ENTER:

You may enter the Sweepstakes by tweeting a message as a targeted reply to @TheBump using Twitter’s “@Reply” function, with the hashtag “#PDB”.  Limit one (1) entry per person/Twitter account.  If your Twitter account is set to “protected mode”, your message will not be visible in Sponsor’s @Reply inbox, and you will not be entered in the Sweepstakes.  Normal Internet access and usage charges imposed by your online carrier apply.  If you opt to receive Sponsor’s tweets via your wireless mobile device (which may only be available via participating wireless carriers), standard text messaging rates, airtime and carrier charges will apply for each text message sent or received from your handset according to the terms and conditions of your service agreement with your wireless carrier.  Sponsor is not responsible for any charges related to tweets made by or messages received via mobile phone.  Incomplete or late entries will be disqualified.  An entry will be deemed to have been made by the “authorized account holder” of the Twitter account utilized at the time the entry is made. For purposes herein, the “authorized account holder” refers to the person assigned by Twitter to an account.  If an entrant is determined to have sent more than one entry, that entrant will be disqualified.   Any attempt by a person to use multiple accounts, or “Reply” more than once, in order to enter more than once will result in disqualification.  Sponsor is not responsible for transmission and/or computer error. For the avoidance of doubt, acceptance of entries or submissions will not be deemed to waive any provisions of these Official Rules, and the entrant may subsequently be disqualified.

 RANDOM DRAWING/ODDS OF WINNING/WINNER:

The potential winner of the Sweepstakes will be selected in a random drawing, on or about August 16, 2012, from all eligible entries received. The Grand Prize will be awarded and winner will be notified on Twitter by Direct Message to the potential winner’s Twitter account on or before August 23, 2012.  Sponsor is not responsible for changes to the Twitter Direct Message function that may interfere with winner notification.  The Grand Prize drawing will be conducted by Sponsor. The Grand Prize drawing shall be final and conclusive. The odds of winning the Grand Prize will be determined by the actual number of eligible entries received. Potential Grand Prize winner(s) will be required to sign and return an Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability Release, and where legal, a Publicity Release within ten (10) days of notification attempt. Noncompliance within this time period will result in disqualification and forfeiture of the Grand Prize, and Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, award the Grand Prize to an alternate winner selected at random from all eligible entries received. If Grand Prize notification is returned as non-deliverable, potential winner will be disqualified and the Grand Prize forfeited, and Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, award the Grand Prize to an alternate winner selected at random from all eligible entries received. The name of the winner of the Sweepstakes will be available after September 17, 2012. To obtain this information, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: PDB Sweepstakes – Winner, c/o The Bump, a division of XO Group Inc., 195 Broadway, 25^th Floor, New York, NY 10007.

 CAUTION:

Any attempt by any person to deliberately damage any web site or undermine legitimate operation of a sweepstakes may constitute a violation of criminal and civil laws, and should such an attempt be made, Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages from and/or to prosecute any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. Any such tampering will also result in ineligibility to win the Grand Prize in the Sweepstakes.

 CONDITIONS:

By participating in this Sweepstakes, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of Sponsor, which are final in all matters relating to this Sweepstakes, and acknowledge compliance with these Official Rules. Each entrant acknowledges that the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use found on the www.thebump.com website are hereby incorporated by reference and apply to the submission of entries pursuant to these Official Rules.  By participating in this Sweepstakes, each entrant hereby agrees to Sponsor’s collection and usage of the entrant’s personal information and acknowledges that entrant has read and accepted the above-referenced Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. 

 Sponsor is in no way liable for any damage, loss, or injury resulting from computer malfunctions, misdirected or incomplete entries, or acceptance and use of the Grand Prize. Sponsor and its agents shall have no liability or responsibility for injuries, damages or liabilities caused or claimed to be caused by participation in the Sweepstakes or the use or misuse of a prize.  Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, modify or suspend the Sweepstakes should virus, bugs, or other causes beyond the control of Sponsor corrupt the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper play of the Sweepstakes and award the Grand Prize from all eligible entries received prior to cancellation or suspension.

 By entering this Sweepstakes, each entrant hereby voluntarily and irrevocably releases, holds harmless and agrees not to institute any claim against Sponsor, Jewels and Pinstripes, LLC or any of their respective affiliates and subsidiaries, and their respective officers, directors, shareholders, employees and agents from any losses, damages, or expenses from any and all injuries, losses or damages of any kind arising from or in connection with, either directly or indirectly, (1) the awarding, acceptance, receipt, possession, use and/or misuse of any prize awarded herein; and/or (2) participation in the Sweepstakes or any prize-related activities.

 Under no circumstances will any entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and each entrant hereby waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, or any other damages, including attorneys’ fees, and entrant further waives all rights to have damages multiplied or increased.

 By accepting the Grand Prize, the winner grants Sponsor permission to use his or her name and likeness for advertising and promotional purposes without any additional compensation (except where prohibited by law). By entering the Sweepstakes, entrants shall be deemed to have agreed to have their entry information made available to the Sponsor.  The Sweepstakes is subject to these Official Rules.  By entering the Sweepstakes, entrants and the winner agree to waive any right to claim any ambiguity, inequity or error in the Official Rules of the Sweepstakes, and/or of the Sweepstakes itself, and agree to be bound by these Official Rules and by all decisions of, and interpretations of these Official Rules by, the Sponsor, which in all respects shall be final and binding.

 THE NEW YORK COURTS (STATE AND FEDERAL) SHALL HAVE SOLE JURISDICTION OF ANY CONTROVERSIES REGARDING THE SWEEPSTAKES AND THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES, SHALL GOVERN THE SWEEPSTAKES. ENTRANTS WAIVE ANY AND ALL OBJECTIONS TO JURISDICTION AND VENUE IN THESE COURTS AND HEREBY SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THOSE COURTS.

 All rights reserved. Official Rules may be copied for personal use only and not for any commercial purpose whatsoever.

 SPONSOR:

XO Group Inc., 195 Broadway, 25^th Floor, New York, NY 10007, through its division, The Bump.

 ADMINISTRATOR:

XO Group Inc., 195 Broadway, 25^th Floor, New York, NY 10007, through its division, The Bump.

Celebs love to tweet about their pregnancies and experiences as new moms (just like us!). Here’s a roundup of this week’s funniest, cutest and most memorable tweets from celeb moms and moms-to-be.

Tell us, do you share your new mom experiences on Twitter?

Plus, more from The Bump:

Celeb Bump & Baby Announcements

The Best Celebrity Baby Names of All Time

Crazy Celeb Birth Stories

Good news, Bumpies!

On Thursday, 5/24 at 2 p.m. EST, we’ll be hosting a Twitterview with experts from Sleep Number and health coach Amy Hendel to give new moms and moms-to-be tips for getting a better night’s sleep.

We’ll be hosting the chat on The Bump’s Twitter page. To get involved in the chat, make sure you follow The Bump at @thebump, Sleep Number expert Pete Bils at @SleepGeekPete and Amy Hendel at @HealthGal1103 and tune in with the hashtag #SleepNumber.

The best part? Everyone who participates in the chat has a chance to win a free Sleep Number bed!

Plus, more from The Bump:

New Mom Sleep Solutions

What’s Causing Your Pregnancy Insomnia

Get Support From Other New Moms on our Message Boards

Hi Bumpies,

Exciting news! Tomorrow, Friday May 11th at noon PST/3 p.m. EST, we’ll be hosting a Twitter chat with celeb mom Tia Mowry. You know Tia from TV shows like Sister Sister with her twin sister Tamera, The Game and Tia and Tamera on the STYLE Network, as well as from the movie Double Wedding and of course, from Twitter. Her new book, Oh Baby! comes out on May 15th (you can pre-order it here). Also, how adorable is that picture of Tia with her son Cree at our Bring Your Baby Matinees in LA last week?

We’ll be hosting the chat on The Bump’s Twitter page. To get involved in the chat, make sure you follow @thebump and @tiamowry and tune in with the hashtag #BumpChatsWithTia. We’ll open up the end of the conversation to questions from her fans!