1. Endangered Species Dark Chocolate with Cranberries and Almonds Squares
Chocolate makes moms happier, and—hallelujah!—it makes babies happier too. A Finnish study found that babies born to women who ate chocolate daily during pregnancy were more active, smiley and giggly at six months of age than babies whose mothers abstained. Indulgence (but not overindulgence) is easy with these snack-size squares. The all-natural, 72-percent chocolate is sourced from ethically traded cacao farms, and 10 percent of net profits supports species and habitat conservation programs. Other flavors include mint, dark chocolate, extreme dark chocolate and milk chocolate. $3.29 for a pouch of 10; chocolatebar.com
2. Mountainsmith Modular Hauler 2 System
Baby equals baby stuff. Lots of it. Wrangling everything together for a hike, campout or other adventure can take more time than the outing itself. Enter the Hauler. Organize and store gear (clothes, diapers, snacks and so forth) in the cubes. The color-coding, along with the see-thru laminated mesh top and label sleeves, makes it easy to keep like with like. When it’s time to hit the trail, pop the cubes in the hauler, a freestanding compartment with handles that lets you schlep all the cubes at once. The ballistic nylon hauler fabric and rip-stop cube material ensure that the Hauler will last for, well, the long haul. (It also comes in three- and four-cube systems.) $60; mountainsmith.com
3. Prana Holly Sun Hat
Back up your sunblock with this printed canvas, UPF 50 hat. Unlike most traditional wide-brimmed, stiff sun hats, which look best suited for strolling the gardens of Buckingham Palace, the soft, raw-edged cotton here drapes your face with a stylish, vintage look. Caveat: the fit is snug, on large heads. $35; prana.com
4. MyChelle SunShield-Coconut SPF 28
The hormone hullabaloo of pregnancy makes your skin extra sensitive to sunlight, exposure to which can cause melasma (a.k.a. pregnancy mask)—splotchy, dark skin discoloration on the face. Protect yourself with this nontoxic, environmentally safe sunblock that smells like the Bahamas. Its zinc oxide and titanium dioxide reflect both UV-A and UV-B rays without irritating your skin like chemical UV absorbers (such as oxybenzone or PABA) sometimes can. Plus, it goes on clear (no mime look) and it’s gentle enough for baby once she arrives. Not cuckoo for coconuts? It also comes unscented. $19; mychelle.com
5. Klean Kanteen Insulated
Made of food-grade stainless steel, this bottle lacks bisphenol A (BPA)—a hormone-mimicking chemical that can disrupt fetal development and is found in some polycarbonate plastic water bottles. It’s supremely functional too: The double-walled vacuum insulation keeps drinks hot for six hours and cold for 24 hours, and the wide neck also makes it ideal for foods like stews and pastas. Postpartum tip: Klean Kanteen now makes baby bottles too. Starting at $23 (price depends on size, color and cap style); kleankanteen.com
6. BornFit Torrey Full Zip Jacket
With a Colorado 14er as its namesake, this form-fitting jacket brings technical performance to the maternity world. The polyester-and-spandex fabric wicks away sweat and helps block wind, while the long length covers your belly. The stretchy material that hugs your shape so you can still wear this jacket postpartum. Pair it with BornFit’s Lindsey running tee ($44) and Princeton workout pants ($68). $76; bornfit.com
Kristin Bjornsen is a freelance writer living on the Front Range with her husband, four-month-old son, Ivan, and dog, Clyde, who loves the new milk-flavored addition to the family.
