Thursday, June 18, 2009

Things I Swear By: Baby Addition, newborns

While searching for nursery ideas for Johnna I was reminded of how tough it was to try to register for my first baby. Walking into Babies R Us and staring up into the great wall of bottles felt like I was visiting another country whose language I didn't speak. So I thought I'd throw my 2 cents into cyberspace to see if anyone cares! This addition of "Things I Swear By" is for babies in infancy.



First of all, we couldn't have gotten Davy home from the hospital without the Kiddopotamus' Snuzzler (see above). I remember convincing Russ to go get it the week before she was born and he was all, "Nah. We won't need it." But when we put Lil' Bit into the car seat there at Baylor Hospital, she looked so tiny and I was so grateful for the Snuzzler. It kept her from flopping all around on that precarious (to me) drive home. We used it for the first 3 months.


The Boppy was also immediately put to use. There are other pillows like Boppy, I'd just suggest getting something to help you breastfeed so that your back isn't killing you from slumping over your little one. *Even if you aren't planning on breastfeeding, the Boppy will save your arms - and Dad's arms as well!

Thank you to the Davidsons for loaning us their Fisher Price Nature's Touch Cradle Swing! Davy is now 20 pounds and she STILL loves to sit in the swing after breakfast. When she was just a smidge of a girl she would take naps in it. (note: most retailers will tell you not to do this - as if you're going to wake up that baby to go put them in the crib!)

See?


(for breastfeeding moms) There is NO way I would have made it through the past 10 months without this pump, the Medela Pump in Style. If you are forced to buy it for yourself, I would suggest that it might possibly be the best investment you'll make. Whether you are going back to work or not, this pump will ensure that even if you need to leave your baby with a sitter at the last minute, you can still pump a bottle's worth of food in just a few minutes. As I've increased my workload, this pump has also allowed me to keep my milk supply up. (Aren't you glad you stopped by here today?)

Oh people, we would be lost today were it not for baby blankets from Gymboree. We received one as a gift (along with MYRIADs of other blankets, all good ones) and something about the softness, the stretchiness, not to mention the adorableness of this blanket just made it so easy to swaddle Davy. We immediately began calling it "The Blanket." As in, "wait, where's The Blanket? These others don't work." I've since purchased several more. I think at least 3 are in her crib with her now. Anyone who has held Davy knows that if she's crying, just give her The Blanket and she'll hold it up to her face lovingly and calm right down.

I'm purposely not mentioning diapers or bottles here. We are Pampers and Medela bottle people but I promise every baby seems different in these areas - or, to be fair, every mommy has her own preferences! I'd welcome input from you on what you couldn't live without when your baby was an infant! I only had time for so many! More to come for older babies soon...

6 comments:

Stacey said...

My favorite baby product has to be my Hooter Hider (or, more discreetly, "nursing cover"). I don't like to hide in a back room and miss out on socializing just because my baby has to eat, so that little piece of cloth has been well used.

Bennett was a swaddle baby but busted out of our very best burrito wraps after just a few weeks so the Miracle Blanket was a must for him and a sanity-saver for us. Dayton wasn't interested in being swaddled so it is still folded in a box somewhere.

Jack said...

Great tips and I agree with all of them! Glad to know your mild supply is still going strong :) Saw your post on FB about stress and running-don't know the stress, but know how much you love running and I share the addictive love that is running-so will be praying! Baby will be here in the AM! Love you

jess said...

Love this post, and I'm not even a Momma yet :) I'll have to file it away for later!

Kristie said...

I've never had a baby, but I've done enough babysitting in the last 13 years or so to know that I LOVE the Boppy and the swing. I get really sad when I babysit tiny babies and they don't have these wonderful items nearby in the house. :)

Holly said...

I agree with Mike and Jess. I might have to bookmark it too! :)

Unknown said...

We became big swaddlers with our second child - Caroline - who is now 6 months old & still loves the swaddle. She has been sleeping through the night since she was two months & I think a lot of it has to do with the perfect swaddler.

I highly recommend some specific swaddling blankets. The first is from Aden + Anais http://www.adenandanais.com/pink-brown-muslin-swadling-blankets.html These are large & light weight - perfect to get a tight swaddle. They are not sold in large chain store, so you may have to shop online from these. For when daddies are running solo, I recommend the Swaddle Me by Kiddotamus. The velcro can help anyone perfect the swaddle.

Happy Babies make Happy Mommies!!!