As I lay in bed at 2:15 AM and feed my sweet two month old baby boy, I can't help being thankful for the little things. I love his little profile and his little nose pointed upward toward his projected dancing lights. I love his little sounds that escape past his little binky, and I love his little body all wrapped up like a tight cocoon in his blanket his grandma made him. I am so blessed. Not only am I blessed to have him, but I'm also blessed with so many luxuries that make caring for a baby a cinch. Which is why I'm going to officially start to be a "mommy blogger". The reason for this is not because I wish to convey my perfection like a lot of mommy bloggers, because I'm far from perfection. The reason is because I wish I could've known about some of these things sooner! I'm sure I'll come it to find out more things I wish I would've known sooner, but for now, I'd like to help out new moms know what makes my life raising my angel so easy, other than his good temperament! So here's my list!
16 PRODUCTS EVERY BABY SHOULD HAVE, (In No Particular Order) And Why:
Soothie Pacifier:
We call it a binky! Of course this one is not for everyone, some babies won't take a pacifier, or some won't take this brand, but for us, this is a must have at all times! I have come to accept the fact that my baby won't take all the cute mustache, polkadot, or colorful pacifiers. He only wants his ugly Soothie, but he LOVES it! I think most babies do, actually prefer this brand. This is what they give them in the hospital and this is what they're usually used to. We never leave the house without one! Good thing I found yellow on Amazon to curb my hunger for a cute binky! Dear Soothie(TM): Please make more boy colors. Love, Hollie.
WubbaNub:
This is a product I used to think was bizarre. For some reason I couldn't get passed the stuffed animal hanging past the baby's pacifier, but I gave in just a couple days ago and thought I'd try it out for a number of reasons. The pacifier he loves certainly knows how to bounce. It can actually get quite frustrating. This way, I can always find it in the middle of the night, rather than combing through blankets. It's also easy for his searching mouth to find when it slips out. Before, I was using a burp cloth to hold it in. It will also be nice when he gets a little older as a comfort to hold onto the stuffed animal and help him self-soothe:
Boppy and Bobby Cover:
Here is another product I thought was bizarre, but gave into because everyone raved about it. Why not just use a pillow, right? Wrong! I'm obsessed! I have one upstairs and one downstairs. I had it from the beginning and really loved it in the hospital when I was learning to nurse. It's just one of those things you have to try to believe. I use it for feedings, he lays in it while he plays with me, Daddy, Grandma and everyone! I know I'm bad, because the warning label says not to, but I even have him sleep in it. He feels like he's being held and I like the comfort of knowing he's not choking on spit up because he's tilted a little. I think he might be getting to the age where we might make the transition from the bassinet to the crib and I'm afraid of the transition to no Boppy. The cover is also nice when he spits up or something gets on it. Just chuck it in the washing machine. LOVE this product!
Any Dish Drying Mat:
Weird right! I invented this, just for the record, and this has nothing to do with your dishes. I keep it next to his bassinet for two reasons. The number one reason is for nursing mothers. I found out the hard way by washing sheets after every night, and laying a blanket on top of a lake of spilled breast milk to get some sleep. There had to be a better solution! If you're perfect, the solution is to just wake up and sit up and feed your baby. If you're even more perfect, you sit in the nursery and rock them while your feeding them. If you're like me and not perfect at all, you sometimes/all the time do it in bed and you do it with a dish drying mat under you. (I'm sure I'm a beautiful sight to my husband in the mornings with my boobs flopped out as the baby and I sleep.) . . . Something I thought I'd use and never do is my changing pad. Maybe this will change when he's in his own room, but for now I like to sit on the bed and use my dish drying mat. And all I have to do to clean it is chuck it in the washer too!
Pre Folded Cloth Diapers:
Not for the reason you're thinking. For burp cloths! I love them! My mom bought me a ten pack of white ones and I dyed them bright blue for fun. I also love the crochet edge homemade ones I got a couple of. I actually didn't get any burp cloths at either of my showers. Luckily my husbands aunt had my mom bring a homemade one to the hospital because I didn't realize I would need them. They're always a great baby gift, and you can never have too many!
Any Sound Machine:
Because he's used to the sound machine, I have an angel baby. He can sleep through screaming cousins, vacuuming, doorbells and just about anything because he's grown accustomed to the sound of the sound machine. We also are a TV family (again, not perfect) and I think the sound of that has also helped keep him be a sleeper. Another thing I love about some baby sound machines is the projector lights on them. He loves to look at it and I love that it functions as a night light to see him better. My husband and I actually use the machine that we're used to (I had to run out and buy one when we were first married to drown out the sounds of his snores) and I use just the projector part on the baby one we were gifted. His pediatrician also mentioned that it's good for him because it's a cue that it's bed time.
Little Remedies Saline Spray & Bulb Syringe:
I can't do it. I can't give in to the NoseFrida craze. It grosses me out too much. And I didn't realize how nice the saline sprays are. They're nice because they are the perfect size for baby's nose but also because it loosens up the boogies that prevent baby from breathing and feeding. I prefer the smaller white bulb syringe than the larger blue ones like they give you in the hospital, but that's just me. Props to those of you who suck your baby's boogers through a straw, but I'll stick to my bulb syringe. I know, I know, there's a filter. I still can't do it.
Little Remedies Gripe Water:
Those annoying hiccups are cured in seconds! Every single time, they have cured his hiccups, and that's actually it's intended use. I'll also give it to him in the case of a tummy ache, which is it's other intended use. Love it! Be sure to let your little one get used to the cold for a second before you just go shooting it down his or her throat.
Baby Magic Lotion:
Everyone loves baby lotion. But I love this brand! It smells good and it has a formula that works great on his dry skin, whereas the Johnson and Johnson brand doesn't work as well for that. It really is the best. The only problem is that it's sometimes hard to find. I know Walmart is pretty good at carrying it, but I don't think that Target does.
Pampers Saddlers:
When I ran out of Huggies when he was new, I was sad I had to use my Pampers. Boy was I missing out!! In Huggies he'd get leaks all the time, I kinda just thought it was part of having a newborn, but as soon as I used Pampers, no more leaks! There's also this cool netting stuff in them that catches everything really nicely. I've heard that Huggies are better for when they get older, but I'll just have to see when I get there I guess. Right now I'm loving the Kirkland brand size 1-2, actually. I think I might even like them better than Target's brand. But as far as newborn goes, defiantly go with Pampers. I believe they don't even offer newborn size in the bulk brands, but I could be wrong on that one. And once again, props to you hipsters who use cloth diapers. Not for me. And while I'm on the subject, props to you people who have a natural childbirth. Drugs are for me. . . I guess especially in the case of a c-section.
Huggies Wipe Case
(This Particular one)
It's the only one I've found that doesn't dry out your wipes, it's easy to push and they come out nicely, and you can refill it with whatever wipes you want! Not to mention it's super cute! I have one upstairs, downstairs, and in the diaper bag. Here's a tip though. Make sure you keep a wipe pulled out and under the flip top to create a bow like effect. This causes the case to pop open more easily. After awhile you don't have to do this, but you will at first. I was sad when I thought it didn't work at first, but then I discovered this helped.
Battery Powered Swing:
Need I explain why?
Two Car Seat Bases:
It so nice not having to trade the base from car to car. Simply find your brand on Amazon and order just the base part.
Breast Pump (If you're nursing):
My milk came in while I was in the hospital. Thank heavens! I loved all the help through the learning process. But once it did come in, I was so engorged that he couldn't latch back on. The nurses said it was like trying to suck on a bowling ball. I tried everything, massaging, a hot shower, finally I had the idea to ask for a pump. That's all it took! He latched on again right away once there was a little room for him! . . A lot of people don't realize that most insurance companies will cover a pump. I love mine and I didn't pay a dime! And it works great (The brand I think most insurance companies cover is purely yours, which is pictured above.). I'm lucky I don't have to work, but even though I don't have to pump, I enjoy the luxury of him taking a bottle while we're out, rather than fumbling around under my hooter hider (which is another nice thing to have). People don't mind you feeding your baby at a restaurant with a bottle, but they'd feel awkward knowing what you were doing under a blanket. Major props to those of you who could give a crap what other people think. I for one am too uncomfortable, although I wish I wasn't. It's ridiculous that it's socially unacceptable to feed our babies. But whatever I guess.
Avent Rounded Top Bottles And Any Bottle Brush:
There's sooooo many kinds if bottles but this is the only one I've found that doesn't leak. And it's important that it's the rounded Avent. There's two kinds, as pictured below, but it's important to get the ones on the left. I don't know why, but they just don't leak like the other ones do. I think if he took a bottle more often I'd like the Playtex Drop Ins, but the one I did have leaked and it's not too hard for me to wash a bottle every once in awhile, which is really easy with the bottle cleaner I finally gave in and bought. I felt like a tight wad when I realized that the two bucks I finally spent on one at Walmart was actually worth it. Especially with the nipple cleaner built into it.
And last but certainly not least. . .
Bumbo Seat:
It's just cool, okay? It's another one of those things I can't explain, you just have to try it. My little baby is barely holding his bobbing head up and it's so fun to see his little head so strong and proud. It'll be a blast when he can fully hold his head up. I'd say that's when it's ready for use, as soon as they can hold up their head. You don't need to worry about them being able to sit up on their own. That's the beauty if it, really. Otherwise you'd just have them sit up. Be sure to watch them well, however, because when they grow out of it, they can arch their back and fall out of it. As with all of these products, use your head and your own discretion.
Now that it's four-freaking-thirty in the morning, I'm done with my "mommy blog". Probably you're like me and too lazy to read crap like this, which is why I tried to keep it in heading format. But I guess if you're reading this, that wasn't too important to you, thanks for hanging in there with me. I can't wait to try more things the older he gets! Please let me know if there's any other must haves!
