I love these! I've "been known to" breastfeed while shopping, but my back was never exposed like that!! Haha! This is just too funny!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Birth Markings
After having my two girls, my body has gone through a lot. A LOT! My second daughter was born 6 months ago and I still have have a few pounds to get through to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. Even though I'm losing the weight, it still doesn't look the way it used to. My stomach has a bunch of excess skin and looks like a little pooch along with a few stretch marks. It's been an adjustment to get used to the new me, and accept that my belly won't ever look the way it used to. I'm not sure if I had all the surgery in the world that it would ever look the same... but you know what? This body has created a miracle. TWO miracles! This body has birthed!! This body has created two beings and done the imaginable. So I don't look at these silvery lines with shame - I look at them with pride! I look at them in awe as the evidence that a child has passed through here.
This image captures my feelings perfectly: "Your body is not ruined. You're a goddamn tiger who has earned her stripes."
I thought this video on Birth Marks was also inspirational. These women are so awesome!
Friday, April 27, 2012
If I had my child to raise over again...
If I had my child to raise over again,
I’d finger paint more, and point the finger less.
I’d do less correcting, and more connecting.
I’d take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
I would care to know less, and know to care more.
I’d take more hikes and fly more kites.
I’d stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I’d run through more fields, and gaze at more stars.
I’d do more hugging, and less tugging.
I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.
I’d build self-esteem first, and the house later.
I’d teach less about the love of power,
And more about the power of love.
~From the book “100 Ways to Build Self-Esteem & Teach Values” by Diana Loomans.
I’d finger paint more, and point the finger less.
I’d do less correcting, and more connecting.
I’d take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
I would care to know less, and know to care more.
I’d take more hikes and fly more kites.
I’d stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I’d run through more fields, and gaze at more stars.
I’d do more hugging, and less tugging.
I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.
I’d build self-esteem first, and the house later.
I’d teach less about the love of power,
And more about the power of love.
~From the book “100 Ways to Build Self-Esteem & Teach Values” by Diana Loomans.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Six Reasons to Break Up With Your Prenatal Caregiver
mothering.com
To me, changing practitioners is an indication that the birthing mother feels informed, empowered, and ultimately responsible for her birth outcome. She realizes it’s up to her to hire – yes, hire – the right medical expert. For some, this “right practitioner” is a hospital obstetrician, and for oth...
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Cribs, Carriers and Carseats! Oh My!
I have several pregnant friends that will be first time moms this year, and I get asked a lot what baby products I recommend. Thought I'd share it with you too!
First things first: I highly reccomend you get the book "Baby Bargains" by Alan Fields. It is a book written by a couple that rates baby products and gives you an A through F rating based on reviews from their forum and their own experience. I found it extremely helpful when I was overwhelmed by the baby stores when I had my first child!
I have a slew of other parenting books I highly recommend and you can check them out in my Recommended Books page.
STORES
Babies R Us is a hugely popular store, and before I had kids I never really noticed how terrible it was until I was a mom and needed a baby store regularly. Their customer service is horrible - teenagers work there and send you on a wild goose chase when you ask them where to find something. The store is disorganized and dirty. I've been to a few in my area and they're all awful. And when I was a pregnant woman who needed to pee every 5 minutes, I was so grossed out to use their bathrooms! Sadly, in some areas, BRU is usually your only option.
BUT if you're ever so fortunate to have a Buy Buy Baby in your area, you will absolutely ADORE this store. My husband and I practically lived in the one in Coral Springs, Florida as we prepared for our first daughter ! This store is clean and the staff is friendly. They have trained employees that will literally walk you through the whole store telling you about all of their products. My husband and I were floored!! Plus, the bathrooms are tidy! Oh, and did you know they are owned by Bed Bath and Beyond? Their floor plan is almost identical, except it's all baby items. But what's really great about them is that you can use those 20% off coupons for Bed Bath and Beyond at Buy Buy Baby - provided they are not expired. It has a few exceptions, but we got super great deals using our coupons! Hopefully you have one near you!
Also, don't underestimate the internet! Amazon carries a bunch of these things and offers great deals on shipping plus no taxes. Compare pricing! Don't think you must buy at a baby store! Target is also another great option for baby items.
3.) My number two item that I cannot live without is: my noise machine! We have this one: Homedics SS-3000 SoundSpa. Omg, this is like a baby crack machine! It helps both of my kids sleep soooo good and it muffles out any noise so I'm not afraid to turn on the TV or the microwave or talk on the phone while they're sleeping. I even take this with me when we travel. Seriously - you NEED this!! We like the "rain" setting. It also has a projector that has different cartoons that show on the ceiling, but more likely than not, that feature will stop working. But that doesn't really matter because the noise is the important thing. I looked into others, but I really liked that you can set the timer for 30, 60 or 90 minutes - or you can have it on all night! (Which is what I prefer.) Now that our second child is here and sleeping in our room, we bought another one. And now even I can't sleep with out it!
4.) Infant Carseat - We decided to use an infant carseat instead of a convertible carseat because we liked the idea of pulling out the baby with the carseat if she was sleeping. (You can't do that with a convertible carseat.) It also seemed to us that infant seats were made specifically for infants, which seems safer to me, so that's what we went with. We researched them and decided on this one because of it's good rating in Baby Bargains: Graco Snugride Infant Seat. We could snap it right into the stroller and it was easy. When our first daughter was a baby, she hated the car and our second daughter hated it too. By the time she was 9 months or so, she was alright in the car though. I know a lot of babies that hate the car as well, so when my second daughter came along, we thought maybe it's the carseat? Maybe she's not comfortable? A friend of ours gave us hers, the Britax Chaperone Infant Car Seat and we gave that one a try. And maybe it's just me, but it seems like she cries a tiny bit less in that one. My husband did research on it and he found the base of this Britax one is safer than the Graco, so we've kept it and use it in our primary car. We still use the Graco in the other car (it's a 2000 Honda Civic - a smaller car - and the Britax is too big and won't let the front passengers with long legs scoot their chairs back otherwise). If you have an extra car, and it's not too tight, you'll need an extra carseat base so you can use the seat in both cars.
Convertible Carseat - Britax Roundabout 55 - My 2 year old is now in this carseat. She's rear-facing and I plan to leave her rear-facing as long as the weight limit allows. Why rear-facing for so long? Here's one reason why. If you prefer a convertible seat from birth to toddler, this one has been great so far. We transitioned her to this seat soon after she turned 1, but it depends whenever your kid reaches the weight limit. We've been using it for almost a year and my 2 year old is happy in it.
5.) Stroller - Baby Jogger City Mini - I love this stroller! I researched a ton of strollers and this was just such a great buy. We have the 2009 version, but I've read the newer ones have great improvements. My favorite things about it are that it is a quick fold - one pull and it's done! It's lightweight and easy to put in the car. They canopy is HUGE and living in Florida, this is a big deal for me. You can buy additional accessories for this too - we have the parent console for your drinks or sippy cups and we also have the snack tray for the kids. The only thing I don't like about it is that the storage bag underneath is not too accessible, but I've read the newer versions have helped make it much better. We loved it so much we bought the Baby Jogger Citi Mini Double when we had our second daughter. (Carseat Bar for stroller sold separately.)
6.) Crib - We bought a Bonavita Crib - Peyton Style convertible crib that will turn into a toddler bed later and then even into a headboard and footboard for a full sized bed later on. However, as much as I loooove my crib, I'm not so sure that was the best buy. Kids use a crib as long as they don't try climbing out of it. But believe me - you'll WANT them in the crib as LONG as possible! (There's something to be said about having them sleep somewhere where they don't have too much freedom and aren't wandering your house late at night!) So far, we still have our 28 month old in her crib even though we have a 6 month old waiting to use it. (She's still in the pack n play in our room.) The point is, looks like I'm not using the convertible feature any time soon. But, on the other side, if I hadn't gotten this convertible crib - since it's tall - would my 28 month old still be in it? I'm almost positive she probably wouldn't be - she would've climbed out by now. So bottom line: I love my crib - it's beautiful and my daughter has gotten more use out of it than I would have planned.
Crib Mattress - We got a double sided mattress for the crib that is extra firm on one side (for babies) and the other side is a little less firm (for toddlers). Experts say to make sure your babies' mattress is a firm one so they don't bury their heads in it and I guess that makes sense. However, those things are HARD! I don't know if I could sleep on them. When my daughter was 8 months, I overheard another mom talking about how she thought the mattress was too firm and that she put a blanket in between the fitted sheet and the mattress and her baby slept better. I gave this a try and I think it helped when my daughter was having a hard time sleeping. I used this blanket: Koala Baby Luxe Blanket. (I'm only sharing my experience and what has worked for me. Please do this at your own risk.)
Guardrail - This one has worked great for us. If you're co-sleeping, I highly recommend getting a guardrail. Not just so your baby doesn't fall out of the bed, but so YOU won't either! Between my husband and the baby taking up most of our queen-sized bed, there have been many nights that I wake up with half my body hanging precariously off the side of the bed!
7.) Nursing Pillow - I have both the Boppy and the Breast Friend. I have to say I love the Boppy more because of it's rounded shape (the Breast Friend is flat) but I wish the Boppy had the belt that the Breast Friend has. If you can sew a belt on it, you'll have the best of both worlds.
8.) Ameda Purely Yours Breast Pump - We got it at the hospital and it works great. If you pump, make sure you also get breastmilk bags to go with it so you can store it in the freezer.
9.) Glider - I didn't get one with my first daughter but I got one for my second daughter and it is the most comfortable place for me to nurse. I have a small Tablemate Folding Table and my laptop and I do a lot of nursing while online or working on my photography business or writing my blog. (As a matter of fact, I'm nursing my 6 month old and typing with one hand right now!) A simple glider is fine. My glider is a hand me down Dutalier. I don't have the ottoman, but seriously, I can't imagine ever using it. It would just take up space.
10.) Motorola Video Baby Monitor - Love this monitor. Definitely get a video monitor. I like to see what my kids are doing - are they sleeping on their backs, on their tummies, are they awake, asleep, sitting, standing? You can move the camera remotely, has night vision and it has an intercom feature.
10.) Infantino Activity Mat (Birth+) - I didn't get one when I had my first daughter because I thought I didn't need one, but we got one as a gift from my sister for Christmas when I had my second child and I loved it. I was kicking myself for not getting one when I had my first. So good to have a place to put baby down, especially when I was by myself and wanted to run for a bathroom break! (The sofa or the bed isn't a very safe alternative.) My 6 month old still uses it! She loves hitting the toys and grabbing them so she can chew on them. It comes with a mirror too.
11.) Carter's Cuddle Me Musical Bouncer (Birth - 6 months) - Another item that I thought I wouldn't need and I didn't register for with my first but we got as a gift anyway and I was so thankful! You really don't realize how nice it is to put baby down somewhere for a few minutes! This came in really handy when I was home with my baby and needed to shower. I just put her in her bouncy in the bathroom with me and I could shower in a jiffy! I felt much more at ease knowing she was right there with me! I don't know how I would have showered without it!
12.) Bumbo (4 months+) - It's really great to have someplace to put baby down especially when you're by yourself and you need to run to the bathroom, shower or make yourself a sandwich. Once baby can support his or her head, you can put baby in the Bumbo. I like having options to where I can put her and she does too.
13.) Exersaucer/Activity Center - We got this one when we had our first, the Evenflo ExerSaucer Triple Fun - Jungle Theme and I think my baby liked it but I don't think she understood all the toys until she was older. It's "supposed" to grow with your child, and while I think it's a great idea to have toys last a while, the time she most spent in it was before she was crawling/walking and I don't think she got the most out of it. When my second daughter was born, my mom's friend gave us the Baby Einstien Discovery Activity Center and she LOVES it! She plays with all the toys and I really think she enjoys this one more. I especially love that the music it plays is not annoying (like the other one was) this one plays classical music!
14.) Swing - We bought one for our first and she never really liked it. She would only stay a short time in it. My second hasn't taken to it either. Maybe it was the swing itself? I don't know. Sorry I can't be more helpful with this. We had the Graco Sweetpeace Newborn Soothing Center.
15.) Eurotub by Primo Bath tub - This tub is great. It's nice and spacious. The specs say you can use it on kids 0-18 months, but I still use it for my 27 month old! We have a stand-up shower in her bathroom and we put a table in it with the tub on top. That way, we don't have to be bent down, on our knees awkwardly trying to bathe her. Our 6 month old has also been using it and it's great! (The picture below is of my oldest daughter when she was still a baby - we have since learned that the Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo pictured has a buck of carcinogenic chemicals that I'm not comfortable with so we no longer use it.)
16.) Long sleeve side button shirts - When a baby is born, it takes about a week for their belly button stub to fall off and I hated the thought of putting her in a onsie that would be brushing up against it. So we'd leave her in a shirt and pants or in just a diaper that first week. It also helped make it easier to clean. Before you buy any other clothes, wait until after your baby shower - I got a ton of clothes and barely had to buy any that first year. People LOVE buying baby clothes. Resist the temptation to buy too much - they grow so fast they'll probably wear every outfit once (if you're lucky) before they outgrow it. Also - keep seasons in mind. Baby clothes is sized by month of baby's age so don't buy sleeveless tops and shorts in size 6 months if by then it will be winter! Same thing with pajamas!
17.) Fisher-Price Precious Planet 2-in-1 Projection Mobile: I love this mobile. I love the projection! I used it when my first was a baby, but once your little one can reach it you should remove it. However, the hanging part is removable an it will continue to project onto the ceiling! My toddler STILL loves this!
18.) Baby Bjorn Smart Potty - I learned about Elimination Communication after my first daughter was born and I vowed I would do this with my next child! It's picking up on your child's cues when they need to pee or poo and sitting them on the potty. It's not potty training. It can lead to earlier potty training, but this is just getting them used to signaling you when they have to go. I've just started doing this with my 6 month old and I'm having some success! This potty is perfect for her - simple and easy to clean. (For all you expectant mothers out there, PLEASE do yourself a favor and do this with your child! I didn't do it with my oldest and she's 27 months old and REFUSES to use the bathroom. When I put her on the potty, she cries because she wants to "go" in her diaper. I've essentially trained her to go in her diaper! Save yourself this struggle and get them used to sitting on a potty from a young age!)
Prince Lionhear weePOD Potty Seat - I've found this to be a great potty for my two year old. Fits right on top of the toilet! It's the only one she'll tolerate although she's still not potty trained at all. (Read my comment on the Baby Bjorn Smart Potty above.)
19.) Padded Playmat - We had this ABC one and my oldest took this apart and would chew on the pieces. Plus, the letters would pop out all the time and it was so annoying. We had to put it away. A mommy friend had this natural wood looking one and I thought it was so much nicer and her son had no idea it came apart. I'd recommend that one.
20.) High Chair - You won't need one until baby starts eating solids at 6-7 months. We have the Graco Duo Diner (we have an older pattern design) and it works for us. The seat comes off and you can strap it to a chair for when you're traveling, but honestly, it's bulky and I'd rather just use this compact Fisher Price booster seat when we travel. But for when we're home, it's perfect. Just don't forget to by a plastic floor mat to protect your floor - there WILL be messes!
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS
- Diaper Bag or Back Pack - I prefer a back pack.
- Cloth Bibs for drooling - you'll need lots of these! (You can use either velcro or button. Velcro is good but make sure you close all the snaps before putting in the wash! The velcro sticks to everything and can ruin your nice clothes and blankets. It does not play well with satin. :( The button ones are good too, but they are hard to snap/unsnap especially when you want to take it off while baby is sleeping. I hate it when I forget to take it off!)
- Plastic Bibs for eating solids (after 6 months old) - Tommy Tipee bibs are awesome!
- Boon Spoon - one of the greatest feeding inventions ever! You'll need this when your baby starts eating pureed food - which is best after the first 6-7 months of life.
- Baby nail clippers
- Cloth Diapers for burp cloths (for drool and spit up!)
- Humidifier - When baby gets his first cold you'll be so thankful you have it! We just bought a simple one at Target. Just know they need to be cleaned after every use with vinegar. It helps decongest them and helps with a cough. I never used these before my kids were born, but now when I'm sick, I use it for me too! I got a cheap one at Target.
- Tiny Love Car Seat Toy Bar - I've learned most babies don't like to be in cars, especially under 8 months... they're strapped down away from mom and dad! I would be unhappy too! - This toy definitely helps!
- Towels to dry baby as well as wash cloths
- Socks - baby's feet get cold!
- Big blanket to play on the floor with baby
- Changing Pad - make sure to get the one with 3 sides (one on each side and one on the top)! At around 5/6 months babies start to kick and could totally arch their way out of the diaper changing station! You'll also want a cover or two for the pad.
- Diapers - For disposables, we like Pampers Swaddlers. I like that the Newborn, Size 1 and 2 diapers have a "wetness indicator" and will tell you when their wet (only pee, not poo). Something to keep in mind though - babies grow FAST so I wouldn't stock up too much on Newborn sized diapers. Instead get 1 or 2 packs and the rest get size 1. And make sure the wetness indicator picture is on the box. They also make a "dry max" version that doesn't have the wetness indicator and I found it hard to tell when my baby had peed.
- Cloth Diapers - I haven't used cloth diapers with my oldest, but now with my second, I'm researching into giving cloth diapering a try. BumGenius is the brand I'm considering using.
- Wipes - We use Huggies Natural Care. We got a free pack of Pampers Sensitive skin and it irritated my little girls bum.
- Desitin for diaper rash - If you use diapers, diaper rash WILL happen. :(
- Teething Cover for Crib - around 6 or 7 months your kiddo will be gnawing on anything they can reach - even their crib! My daughter's crib has it's share of teeth marks and she even peeled off some of the paint. Don't forget to get a cover for the side rails too! They are washable and easy to use.
- Fitted Mattress sheet - this is the only thing that should be in the crib with your baby (no pillows, no toys, no bumpers, no blankets - contrary to what you see at all the baby stores!)
- Breatheable Baby Bumper - While you shouldn't have a bumper in the crib, this would be a safe alternative. I didn't want my baby's arms arms or legs getting caught between the slats. I preferred the brown bumper that matched my expresso colored crib, but they have many other colors.
- Balboa Baby Shopping cart cover/high chair cover - you'll need this when baby can sit up by themselves, usually after 6 months. I like that it has a belt, it covers all sides of the shopping cart and high chair AND it folds itself into a carrying case. However, just note it does not fit on big shopping carts like the ones at Costco, BJs, Sams Club or Target.
TOYS
Babies don't need a lot of toys, but here are a few I thought were worth getting:
- Baby Einstein Tag Along Tunes - Both my kids love this toy. I wish I had invented it! You press a button and it plays classical music and lights up. Soo cool.
- Cloud B Constellation Twilight Turtle - my 2 year old still plays with this
- Lamaze Brand Baby Toys - we have several of these and they're all great
- Here's another toy my daughter couldn't get enough of: Playskool Busy Poppin Pals
- Blocks and stacking cups are a wonderful learning toy.
- And you can't go wrong with BOOKS!
IN MY DIAPER BAG
In my diaper bag, when I just have my 6 month old with me:
A gallon sized ziplock with 5 diapers and a travel pack of wipes and a pee pad. An extra onsie and pants in case of blowouts. Antibacterial Wet Ones wipes for hands. Nursing cover (optional - used it a lot with my first... but not so much with my second). A couple of extra bibs because after a short use, they get drenched with drool! A burp cloth or two for spit up messes. An extra pair of baby socks - so easy for baby to loose one of them. Babies feet get really sweaty and without socks they get sooo cold! I let my babies' feet air out at home but she's usually wearing socks. My Ergo - I don't leave home without it!! A bottle of water for me and some cashew snacks for me. My wallet and my cellphone. Sometimes I pack a small blanket if I think it'll be cold outside or wherever we're going. And a point and shoot camera - kids do things you'll want to document! :)
If I want to just go out for a quick trip, I'll just grab 2 diapers, wipes and my Ergo.
In my diaper bag, when I have both kids with me:
All of the above PLUS: 3 diapers for the toddler, snacks, sippy, a sweater, and a couple of small toys. I also usually pack washable crayons and some sheets of folded up paper in case we go out to eat, along with plastic table toppers.
NOT RECOMMENDED
I do NOT recommend: talcum powder (bad for baby's lungs), jumpers (cause hip dysplasia), "crotch dangler" baby carriers like the Bjorn (causes hip dysplasia), baby bumpers (can cause suffication), elaborate baby bedding (can cause suffication) or pacifiers (I just don't like them).
Things I bought that I realized later I did NOT need:
1.) Diaper Geenie. - This has been the biggest waste of money ever. Just toss out the diaper with the regular trash. The reason this was not a good buy is because the special garbage bag inserts are expensive! I even tried to put a regular garbage bag in there and while I've seen some people have been able to, I think this is such a waste! Seriously, save your money. Don't buy this.
2.) Diaper Bag. There are so many diaper bags out there to chose from. I bought one and it never worked for me. I am much happier with just a regular, old back pack!
3.) Buying any kind of shirt that does not have easy boob access. I need to be able to reach my boob quickly and inconspicuously. Nursing shirts and bras are the way to go!
4.) Carseat adapter for my double stroller - After my second daughter was born, I thought I'd need a carseat adapter for my infant car seat. I thought I'd need it for when the baby is asleep and I needed to get her out of the car without waking up. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN WITH A TODDLER! My oldest will ALWAYS make noise that will wake up the baby, so I never take the carseat out of the car - and therefore never use it. However, when I had my first baby - I used it all the time because there was no one to wake her!
5.) Shoes for a baby that doesn't walk. Seriously - very cute if you have the money to spend but so not worth the money! Babies don't learn to walk until they're somewhere around 8-15 months.
6.) Baby knee pads - I really think babies will be fine without them.
7.) Reusable Changing Pad - These come with almost every diaper bag and while I think it's great to have something to change your baby on - I just think this is gross. Imagine you're using a public restroom and you put your changing pad down to protect your child. One side of it has now touched that icky changing station - so now when you fold it and put it back in your bag you've got this gross thing touching your kids' sippy cup or clean clothes or clean bibs! YUCK!!!! I prefer disposable pee pads. I get mine at CVS. I use them on my changing pad at home too.
FOR OLDER KIDS
- Prince Lionhear weePOD Potty Seat - I've found this to be a great potty for my two year old. Fits right on top of the toilet! It's the only one she'll tolerate although she's still not potty trained at all. (Read my comment on the Baby Bjorn Smart Potty above.)
- Baby Bjorn Step Stool - my 2 year old likes to stand on it to wash her hands. Easier for me too! It's such a pain to hold her over the sink!
- Aqua Duck Faucet Extender - my 2 year old LOVES this and gets so excited to wash her hands with this!
- Learning Tower - I haven't gotten this yet, but I just know my 2 year old will love it! She always wants to be a part of cooking and what's going on up on the counter top and I can't wait to get this for her! I love that it folds up when we're not using it.
Check out OneStepAhead.com - they have a ton of toddler friendly stuff! Use this link and get 15% off your first purchase of $85 or more (and I'll get $10 for referring you!)
(Please note, I am simply sharing my experiences and opinions about these products. I hope you find this as a useful guide, but please use these products at your own risk. Have a question about something? Leave me a comment below and I'll get back to you! )
I'll be updating this document if I remember new items to add.
(First Published: 04/13/2012 - Last edited: 04/13/2012)
First things first: I highly reccomend you get the book "Baby Bargains" by Alan Fields. It is a book written by a couple that rates baby products and gives you an A through F rating based on reviews from their forum and their own experience. I found it extremely helpful when I was overwhelmed by the baby stores when I had my first child!
I have a slew of other parenting books I highly recommend and you can check them out in my Recommended Books page.
STORES
Babies R Us is a hugely popular store, and before I had kids I never really noticed how terrible it was until I was a mom and needed a baby store regularly. Their customer service is horrible - teenagers work there and send you on a wild goose chase when you ask them where to find something. The store is disorganized and dirty. I've been to a few in my area and they're all awful. And when I was a pregnant woman who needed to pee every 5 minutes, I was so grossed out to use their bathrooms! Sadly, in some areas, BRU is usually your only option.
BUT if you're ever so fortunate to have a Buy Buy Baby in your area, you will absolutely ADORE this store. My husband and I practically lived in the one in Coral Springs, Florida as we prepared for our first daughter ! This store is clean and the staff is friendly. They have trained employees that will literally walk you through the whole store telling you about all of their products. My husband and I were floored!! Plus, the bathrooms are tidy! Oh, and did you know they are owned by Bed Bath and Beyond? Their floor plan is almost identical, except it's all baby items. But what's really great about them is that you can use those 20% off coupons for Bed Bath and Beyond at Buy Buy Baby - provided they are not expired. It has a few exceptions, but we got super great deals using our coupons! Hopefully you have one near you!
Also, don't underestimate the internet! Amazon carries a bunch of these things and offers great deals on shipping plus no taxes. Compare pricing! Don't think you must buy at a baby store! Target is also another great option for baby items.
Another hidden gem is a website called OneStepAhead.com - They have such innovative baby and kid items! Search their Problem Solvers Category and see what I mean! Use this link and get 15% off your first purchase of $85 or more (and I'll get $10 for referring you.)
MUST HAVE BABY ITEMS
1.) I have a slew of other parenting books I highly recommend and you can check them out in my Recommended Books page. From Baby reference guides to vaccine books to breastfeeding books - I'm certain you'll find it useful!
1.) I have a slew of other parenting books I highly recommend and you can check them out in my Recommended Books page. From Baby reference guides to vaccine books to breastfeeding books - I'm certain you'll find it useful!
2.) My number one item that I cannot live without is: my Ergo baby carrier! I use this more than anything and I recommend it to every pregnant mom!! Both my kids loved it - they loved being carried, being close to mom and close to the boobs! This carrier lets you nurse HANDS FREE!!! Yes - you heard it right! I can nurse and still be functional instead of tied to the sofa! It has a little hoodie so if I want to cover my daughter's head if she's nursing or sleeping, I can. If I go out to the mall and need to nurse, I can do it discreetly wherever I am. I don't have to worry that I have to sit or find a spot to nurse. It's AWESOME! It's perfect for traveling too. I have the Sport version because it's a bit lighter and since it gets so hot here, it works perfectly for us. For newborn infants, you'll need the Heart-2-Heart insert but once they can hold their heads better, you don't need it anymore. I stopped using it when my daughter was 4 months. I cannot recommend this carrier enough!
3.) My number two item that I cannot live without is: my noise machine! We have this one: Homedics SS-3000 SoundSpa. Omg, this is like a baby crack machine! It helps both of my kids sleep soooo good and it muffles out any noise so I'm not afraid to turn on the TV or the microwave or talk on the phone while they're sleeping. I even take this with me when we travel. Seriously - you NEED this!! We like the "rain" setting. It also has a projector that has different cartoons that show on the ceiling, but more likely than not, that feature will stop working. But that doesn't really matter because the noise is the important thing. I looked into others, but I really liked that you can set the timer for 30, 60 or 90 minutes - or you can have it on all night! (Which is what I prefer.) Now that our second child is here and sleeping in our room, we bought another one. And now even I can't sleep with out it!
4.) Infant Carseat - We decided to use an infant carseat instead of a convertible carseat because we liked the idea of pulling out the baby with the carseat if she was sleeping. (You can't do that with a convertible carseat.) It also seemed to us that infant seats were made specifically for infants, which seems safer to me, so that's what we went with. We researched them and decided on this one because of it's good rating in Baby Bargains: Graco Snugride Infant Seat. We could snap it right into the stroller and it was easy. When our first daughter was a baby, she hated the car and our second daughter hated it too. By the time she was 9 months or so, she was alright in the car though. I know a lot of babies that hate the car as well, so when my second daughter came along, we thought maybe it's the carseat? Maybe she's not comfortable? A friend of ours gave us hers, the Britax Chaperone Infant Car Seat and we gave that one a try. And maybe it's just me, but it seems like she cries a tiny bit less in that one. My husband did research on it and he found the base of this Britax one is safer than the Graco, so we've kept it and use it in our primary car. We still use the Graco in the other car (it's a 2000 Honda Civic - a smaller car - and the Britax is too big and won't let the front passengers with long legs scoot their chairs back otherwise). If you have an extra car, and it's not too tight, you'll need an extra carseat base so you can use the seat in both cars.
Convertible Carseat - Britax Roundabout 55 - My 2 year old is now in this carseat. She's rear-facing and I plan to leave her rear-facing as long as the weight limit allows. Why rear-facing for so long? Here's one reason why. If you prefer a convertible seat from birth to toddler, this one has been great so far. We transitioned her to this seat soon after she turned 1, but it depends whenever your kid reaches the weight limit. We've been using it for almost a year and my 2 year old is happy in it.
5.) Stroller - Baby Jogger City Mini - I love this stroller! I researched a ton of strollers and this was just such a great buy. We have the 2009 version, but I've read the newer ones have great improvements. My favorite things about it are that it is a quick fold - one pull and it's done! It's lightweight and easy to put in the car. They canopy is HUGE and living in Florida, this is a big deal for me. You can buy additional accessories for this too - we have the parent console for your drinks or sippy cups and we also have the snack tray for the kids. The only thing I don't like about it is that the storage bag underneath is not too accessible, but I've read the newer versions have helped make it much better. We loved it so much we bought the Baby Jogger Citi Mini Double when we had our second daughter. (Carseat Bar for stroller sold separately.)
6.) Crib - We bought a Bonavita Crib - Peyton Style convertible crib that will turn into a toddler bed later and then even into a headboard and footboard for a full sized bed later on. However, as much as I loooove my crib, I'm not so sure that was the best buy. Kids use a crib as long as they don't try climbing out of it. But believe me - you'll WANT them in the crib as LONG as possible! (There's something to be said about having them sleep somewhere where they don't have too much freedom and aren't wandering your house late at night!) So far, we still have our 28 month old in her crib even though we have a 6 month old waiting to use it. (She's still in the pack n play in our room.) The point is, looks like I'm not using the convertible feature any time soon. But, on the other side, if I hadn't gotten this convertible crib - since it's tall - would my 28 month old still be in it? I'm almost positive she probably wouldn't be - she would've climbed out by now. So bottom line: I love my crib - it's beautiful and my daughter has gotten more use out of it than I would have planned.
{ TANGENT ALERT: Now, before all you attachment parenting mamas out there ask me - "Wait, your daughter's in a crib? You don't co-sleep? Why do you talk so much about co-sleeping then?" Since this is mostly a product oriented post, I don't want to go to far on a tangent, so let me give you a short story about my sleeping arrangements: with my first daughter I'd heard the horror stories about co-sleeping and was dead set against it. And I was miserable. I barely slept. I spent my nights nursing her, begging my baby to please fall back asleep and when she finally did, I'd tiptoe and put her in her bassinet... and then she'd wake up again. This happened over and over all night, every night. I was a sleepless, hormonal, crying mess. When my daughter was 3 month old, my husband went away for a week for work, and I had the bed to myself. Out of desperation I brought her into bed and nursed her lying down (not realizing this was what co-sleeping was) and we both fell asleep. And I got the most sleep I'd had in ages!! I woke up refreshed - both my baby and I were so happy! That's when I realized that co-sleeping doesn't have have to be an all-or-nothing arrangement. I'd nurse her to sleep and then put her into her bassinet at bedtime. Then, when she'd wake up during the night, I'd change her diaper, bring her into bed with me and she'd nurse herself back to sleep - and I'd sleep too. So we co-slept part-time. Slowly she she stopped waking up during the night, and our co-sleeping time ended. I think it was the perfect arrangement. As much as I support co-sleeping, I am happy that I still got time in my bed without her. Now with my second child, I went straight to co-sleeping and my relationship with her has been so much less stressful! }Arms Reach Co-Sleeper - Now that I've told you my sleeping arrangement story, I must tell you about the Arms Reach Co-Sleeper. This is the bassinet I would have gotten that I wish I had. It pulls right up to the bed and you can see and reach your baby without getting up. We already had a pack-n-play, but if I could do it all over, I would have gotten this instead.
Crib Mattress - We got a double sided mattress for the crib that is extra firm on one side (for babies) and the other side is a little less firm (for toddlers). Experts say to make sure your babies' mattress is a firm one so they don't bury their heads in it and I guess that makes sense. However, those things are HARD! I don't know if I could sleep on them. When my daughter was 8 months, I overheard another mom talking about how she thought the mattress was too firm and that she put a blanket in between the fitted sheet and the mattress and her baby slept better. I gave this a try and I think it helped when my daughter was having a hard time sleeping. I used this blanket: Koala Baby Luxe Blanket. (I'm only sharing my experience and what has worked for me. Please do this at your own risk.)
Guardrail - This one has worked great for us. If you're co-sleeping, I highly recommend getting a guardrail. Not just so your baby doesn't fall out of the bed, but so YOU won't either! Between my husband and the baby taking up most of our queen-sized bed, there have been many nights that I wake up with half my body hanging precariously off the side of the bed!
Graco Pack n' Play and play yard sheets - I used this as a bassinet for both of my kids. We had my first in it until she was 4 months and then we moved her to her own room. My second daughter is just a couple of days shy of 6 months and she's still using it since we're nervous about having the girls share a room.
8.) Ameda Purely Yours Breast Pump - We got it at the hospital and it works great. If you pump, make sure you also get breastmilk bags to go with it so you can store it in the freezer.
9.) Glider - I didn't get one with my first daughter but I got one for my second daughter and it is the most comfortable place for me to nurse. I have a small Tablemate Folding Table and my laptop and I do a lot of nursing while online or working on my photography business or writing my blog. (As a matter of fact, I'm nursing my 6 month old and typing with one hand right now!) A simple glider is fine. My glider is a hand me down Dutalier. I don't have the ottoman, but seriously, I can't imagine ever using it. It would just take up space.
10.) Motorola Video Baby Monitor - Love this monitor. Definitely get a video monitor. I like to see what my kids are doing - are they sleeping on their backs, on their tummies, are they awake, asleep, sitting, standing? You can move the camera remotely, has night vision and it has an intercom feature.
10.) Infantino Activity Mat (Birth+) - I didn't get one when I had my first daughter because I thought I didn't need one, but we got one as a gift from my sister for Christmas when I had my second child and I loved it. I was kicking myself for not getting one when I had my first. So good to have a place to put baby down, especially when I was by myself and wanted to run for a bathroom break! (The sofa or the bed isn't a very safe alternative.) My 6 month old still uses it! She loves hitting the toys and grabbing them so she can chew on them. It comes with a mirror too.
11.) Carter's Cuddle Me Musical Bouncer (Birth - 6 months) - Another item that I thought I wouldn't need and I didn't register for with my first but we got as a gift anyway and I was so thankful! You really don't realize how nice it is to put baby down somewhere for a few minutes! This came in really handy when I was home with my baby and needed to shower. I just put her in her bouncy in the bathroom with me and I could shower in a jiffy! I felt much more at ease knowing she was right there with me! I don't know how I would have showered without it!
12.) Bumbo (4 months+) - It's really great to have someplace to put baby down especially when you're by yourself and you need to run to the bathroom, shower or make yourself a sandwich. Once baby can support his or her head, you can put baby in the Bumbo. I like having options to where I can put her and she does too.
13.) Exersaucer/Activity Center - We got this one when we had our first, the Evenflo ExerSaucer Triple Fun - Jungle Theme and I think my baby liked it but I don't think she understood all the toys until she was older. It's "supposed" to grow with your child, and while I think it's a great idea to have toys last a while, the time she most spent in it was before she was crawling/walking and I don't think she got the most out of it. When my second daughter was born, my mom's friend gave us the Baby Einstien Discovery Activity Center and she LOVES it! She plays with all the toys and I really think she enjoys this one more. I especially love that the music it plays is not annoying (like the other one was) this one plays classical music!
14.) Swing - We bought one for our first and she never really liked it. She would only stay a short time in it. My second hasn't taken to it either. Maybe it was the swing itself? I don't know. Sorry I can't be more helpful with this. We had the Graco Sweetpeace Newborn Soothing Center.
15.) Eurotub by Primo Bath tub - This tub is great. It's nice and spacious. The specs say you can use it on kids 0-18 months, but I still use it for my 27 month old! We have a stand-up shower in her bathroom and we put a table in it with the tub on top. That way, we don't have to be bent down, on our knees awkwardly trying to bathe her. Our 6 month old has also been using it and it's great! (The picture below is of my oldest daughter when she was still a baby - we have since learned that the Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo pictured has a buck of carcinogenic chemicals that I'm not comfortable with so we no longer use it.)
17.) Fisher-Price Precious Planet 2-in-1 Projection Mobile: I love this mobile. I love the projection! I used it when my first was a baby, but once your little one can reach it you should remove it. However, the hanging part is removable an it will continue to project onto the ceiling! My toddler STILL loves this!
18.) Baby Bjorn Smart Potty - I learned about Elimination Communication after my first daughter was born and I vowed I would do this with my next child! It's picking up on your child's cues when they need to pee or poo and sitting them on the potty. It's not potty training. It can lead to earlier potty training, but this is just getting them used to signaling you when they have to go. I've just started doing this with my 6 month old and I'm having some success! This potty is perfect for her - simple and easy to clean. (For all you expectant mothers out there, PLEASE do yourself a favor and do this with your child! I didn't do it with my oldest and she's 27 months old and REFUSES to use the bathroom. When I put her on the potty, she cries because she wants to "go" in her diaper. I've essentially trained her to go in her diaper! Save yourself this struggle and get them used to sitting on a potty from a young age!)
Prince Lionhear weePOD Potty Seat - I've found this to be a great potty for my two year old. Fits right on top of the toilet! It's the only one she'll tolerate although she's still not potty trained at all. (Read my comment on the Baby Bjorn Smart Potty above.)
19.) Padded Playmat - We had this ABC one and my oldest took this apart and would chew on the pieces. Plus, the letters would pop out all the time and it was so annoying. We had to put it away. A mommy friend had this natural wood looking one and I thought it was so much nicer and her son had no idea it came apart. I'd recommend that one.
20.) High Chair - You won't need one until baby starts eating solids at 6-7 months. We have the Graco Duo Diner (we have an older pattern design) and it works for us. The seat comes off and you can strap it to a chair for when you're traveling, but honestly, it's bulky and I'd rather just use this compact Fisher Price booster seat when we travel. But for when we're home, it's perfect. Just don't forget to by a plastic floor mat to protect your floor - there WILL be messes!
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS
- Diaper Bag or Back Pack - I prefer a back pack.
- Cloth Bibs for drooling - you'll need lots of these! (You can use either velcro or button. Velcro is good but make sure you close all the snaps before putting in the wash! The velcro sticks to everything and can ruin your nice clothes and blankets. It does not play well with satin. :( The button ones are good too, but they are hard to snap/unsnap especially when you want to take it off while baby is sleeping. I hate it when I forget to take it off!)
- Plastic Bibs for eating solids (after 6 months old) - Tommy Tipee bibs are awesome!
- Boon Spoon - one of the greatest feeding inventions ever! You'll need this when your baby starts eating pureed food - which is best after the first 6-7 months of life.
- Cloth Diapers for burp cloths (for drool and spit up!)
- Humidifier - When baby gets his first cold you'll be so thankful you have it! We just bought a simple one at Target. Just know they need to be cleaned after every use with vinegar. It helps decongest them and helps with a cough. I never used these before my kids were born, but now when I'm sick, I use it for me too! I got a cheap one at Target.
- Tiny Love Car Seat Toy Bar - I've learned most babies don't like to be in cars, especially under 8 months... they're strapped down away from mom and dad! I would be unhappy too! - This toy definitely helps!
- Towels to dry baby as well as wash cloths
- Socks - baby's feet get cold!
- Big blanket to play on the floor with baby
- Changing Pad - make sure to get the one with 3 sides (one on each side and one on the top)! At around 5/6 months babies start to kick and could totally arch their way out of the diaper changing station! You'll also want a cover or two for the pad.
- Diapers - For disposables, we like Pampers Swaddlers. I like that the Newborn, Size 1 and 2 diapers have a "wetness indicator" and will tell you when their wet (only pee, not poo). Something to keep in mind though - babies grow FAST so I wouldn't stock up too much on Newborn sized diapers. Instead get 1 or 2 packs and the rest get size 1. And make sure the wetness indicator picture is on the box. They also make a "dry max" version that doesn't have the wetness indicator and I found it hard to tell when my baby had peed.
- Cloth Diapers - I haven't used cloth diapers with my oldest, but now with my second, I'm researching into giving cloth diapering a try. BumGenius is the brand I'm considering using.
- Wipes - We use Huggies Natural Care. We got a free pack of Pampers Sensitive skin and it irritated my little girls bum.
- Desitin for diaper rash - If you use diapers, diaper rash WILL happen. :(
- Teething Cover for Crib - around 6 or 7 months your kiddo will be gnawing on anything they can reach - even their crib! My daughter's crib has it's share of teeth marks and she even peeled off some of the paint. Don't forget to get a cover for the side rails too! They are washable and easy to use.
- Fitted Mattress sheet - this is the only thing that should be in the crib with your baby (no pillows, no toys, no bumpers, no blankets - contrary to what you see at all the baby stores!)
- Breatheable Baby Bumper - While you shouldn't have a bumper in the crib, this would be a safe alternative. I didn't want my baby's arms arms or legs getting caught between the slats. I preferred the brown bumper that matched my expresso colored crib, but they have many other colors.
TOYS
Babies don't need a lot of toys, but here are a few I thought were worth getting:
- Baby Einstein Tag Along Tunes - Both my kids love this toy. I wish I had invented it! You press a button and it plays classical music and lights up. Soo cool.
- Cloud B Constellation Twilight Turtle - my 2 year old still plays with this
- Lamaze Brand Baby Toys - we have several of these and they're all great
- Here's another toy my daughter couldn't get enough of: Playskool Busy Poppin Pals
- And you can't go wrong with BOOKS!
IN MY DIAPER BAG
In my diaper bag, when I just have my 6 month old with me:
A gallon sized ziplock with 5 diapers and a travel pack of wipes and a pee pad. An extra onsie and pants in case of blowouts. Antibacterial Wet Ones wipes for hands. Nursing cover (optional - used it a lot with my first... but not so much with my second). A couple of extra bibs because after a short use, they get drenched with drool! A burp cloth or two for spit up messes. An extra pair of baby socks - so easy for baby to loose one of them. Babies feet get really sweaty and without socks they get sooo cold! I let my babies' feet air out at home but she's usually wearing socks. My Ergo - I don't leave home without it!! A bottle of water for me and some cashew snacks for me. My wallet and my cellphone. Sometimes I pack a small blanket if I think it'll be cold outside or wherever we're going. And a point and shoot camera - kids do things you'll want to document! :)
If I want to just go out for a quick trip, I'll just grab 2 diapers, wipes and my Ergo.
In my diaper bag, when I have both kids with me:
All of the above PLUS: 3 diapers for the toddler, snacks, sippy, a sweater, and a couple of small toys. I also usually pack washable crayons and some sheets of folded up paper in case we go out to eat, along with plastic table toppers.
NOT RECOMMENDED
I do NOT recommend: talcum powder (bad for baby's lungs), jumpers (cause hip dysplasia), "crotch dangler" baby carriers like the Bjorn (causes hip dysplasia), baby bumpers (can cause suffication), elaborate baby bedding (can cause suffication) or pacifiers (I just don't like them).
Things I bought that I realized later I did NOT need:
1.) Diaper Geenie. - This has been the biggest waste of money ever. Just toss out the diaper with the regular trash. The reason this was not a good buy is because the special garbage bag inserts are expensive! I even tried to put a regular garbage bag in there and while I've seen some people have been able to, I think this is such a waste! Seriously, save your money. Don't buy this.
2.) Diaper Bag. There are so many diaper bags out there to chose from. I bought one and it never worked for me. I am much happier with just a regular, old back pack!
3.) Buying any kind of shirt that does not have easy boob access. I need to be able to reach my boob quickly and inconspicuously. Nursing shirts and bras are the way to go!
4.) Carseat adapter for my double stroller - After my second daughter was born, I thought I'd need a carseat adapter for my infant car seat. I thought I'd need it for when the baby is asleep and I needed to get her out of the car without waking up. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN WITH A TODDLER! My oldest will ALWAYS make noise that will wake up the baby, so I never take the carseat out of the car - and therefore never use it. However, when I had my first baby - I used it all the time because there was no one to wake her!
5.) Shoes for a baby that doesn't walk. Seriously - very cute if you have the money to spend but so not worth the money! Babies don't learn to walk until they're somewhere around 8-15 months.
6.) Baby knee pads - I really think babies will be fine without them.
7.) Reusable Changing Pad - These come with almost every diaper bag and while I think it's great to have something to change your baby on - I just think this is gross. Imagine you're using a public restroom and you put your changing pad down to protect your child. One side of it has now touched that icky changing station - so now when you fold it and put it back in your bag you've got this gross thing touching your kids' sippy cup or clean clothes or clean bibs! YUCK!!!! I prefer disposable pee pads. I get mine at CVS. I use them on my changing pad at home too.
FOR OLDER KIDS
- Prince Lionhear weePOD Potty Seat - I've found this to be a great potty for my two year old. Fits right on top of the toilet! It's the only one she'll tolerate although she's still not potty trained at all. (Read my comment on the Baby Bjorn Smart Potty above.)
- Baby Bjorn Step Stool - my 2 year old likes to stand on it to wash her hands. Easier for me too! It's such a pain to hold her over the sink!
- Aqua Duck Faucet Extender - my 2 year old LOVES this and gets so excited to wash her hands with this!
- Learning Tower - I haven't gotten this yet, but I just know my 2 year old will love it! She always wants to be a part of cooking and what's going on up on the counter top and I can't wait to get this for her! I love that it folds up when we're not using it.
Check out OneStepAhead.com - they have a ton of toddler friendly stuff! Use this link and get 15% off your first purchase of $85 or more (and I'll get $10 for referring you!)
(Please note, I am simply sharing my experiences and opinions about these products. I hope you find this as a useful guide, but please use these products at your own risk. Have a question about something? Leave me a comment below and I'll get back to you! )
I'll be updating this document if I remember new items to add.
(First Published: 04/13/2012 - Last edited: 04/13/2012)
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
19 Things We Should Say To Our Children...
thematernallens.blogspot.com
Love this post, it so much reminded me of The Little Prince by Exupéry. All of this things are teaching kids to become loving, caring and resposible adults that is getting be rare in our times. Picture choises are perfect as well. Thank you so much for this post!
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Our Children, Ourselves
boingboing.net
I’m not talking about emotional bonds, which we can only hope will endure. I mean that for any woman that has ever been pregnant, some of her baby’s cells may circulate in her bloodstream for as long as she lives. Those cells often take residence in her lungs, spinal cord, skin, thyroid gland, live...
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