Well it’s been 5 weeks since our little bundle of joy arrived, and I think we’re finally hitting our stride. Each day is getting easier and more predictable and we are adjusting well to the new normal. Don’t get me wrong, each day also brings a new challenge (cough, #mallmeltdown, cough) but we’re lucky to have a pretty chill little dude on our hands, who just rocks the heck out of baby cargoes. I can’t even.
I’ve been thinking about some things that have made our lives a little bit easier over these past several weeks and thought I’d share 5 Must-Have Items for New Moms including helpful products I find myself using every single day. Funnily enough, I only had one of these items on my registry (the monitor) and have found out the “hard way” how much they’ve all come in handy. Hope I can save you the trouble! :)
Baby K’Tan Sling
I ordered the Baby K’Tan Sling one hot minute after reading fellow blogger Kayla’s post on Babywearing about a week after Lincoln was born. This carrier rocks and let me tell you why. First of all Lincoln loves it. ‘Nuf said, right? If he’s being fussy or just wants to be held, I’ll pop him in the Baby K’Tan and he’ll fall into a deep sleep within 5 minutes if he’s tired. And when I say deep, I mean deep. I have vacuumed with him in it and he doesn’t bat an eyelash. Furthermore, when I transfer him from the K’Tan to his swaddle to go down for a nap, he usually sleeps more soundly.
Besides all that, wearing Lincoln lets me keep my hands free to do stuff around the house. He loves directing me through emptying the dishwasher, doing the laundry, and taking walks around the neighborhood. Selfishly, I love snuggling him close and tight to my chest, too. :)
Order the Baby K’Tan based on your height, as the sling will stretch and grow with your child (up to a certain point/age, of course.) If it becomes too loose just wash/dry, then blammo, it’s back to normal. Visit Kayla’s post above for more benefits on babywearing!
SwaddleMe Swaddles
For the first week I was convinced that Lincoln hated being swaddled. He’d fuss, fight, and wriggle his little arms out every single time I attempted to swaddle him in a blanket. I was seriously stressed because once his arms were free they’d wave and wiggle about keeping him awake. Then I remembered my sister-in-law had given me one of these SwaddleMe Swaddles and it seriously saved our lives. Turns out Lincoln LOVES being swaddled…correctly!
I wasn’t swaddling him right or tight enough with a regular receiving blanket. These SwaddleMe Swaddles are easy to use and wrap him up super tight, which babies love. I went out and bought a zillion (ok, 4) as soon as I realized how well they worked. We use them everyday and Lincoln just loves his little straight jacket.
Motorola Video Baby Monitor
This Motorola Video Baby Monitor is a life saver. Not only can we hear when Lincoln fusses, but we can also SEE what he’s up to. A lot of times he’ll semi wake up, squawk for a minute, then put himself back to sleep, and if I wasn’t able to see that his eyes were closed while he was doing all this I’d be running up and down the stairs even more than I already do! This monitor is a bit pricey and a “nice to have” item, but it sure makes life easier.
Hands-Free Pumping Bra
Wow, awkward picture much? I don’t think this must-have item needs too much explanation. If you are a pumping Mama, you’ve got to get one of these hands-free pumping bras. Just trust me!
Aden and Anais Blankets
I had so many people recommend Aden and Anais Blankets to me when I was pregnant, and now I know why. Most receiving blankets are tiny and shrink in the wash. What I really needed was big, soft, light-weight blankets to use in a variety of ways, and these are it.
I use these blankets for laying out during play time, covering Lincoln’s car seat carrier and stroller to block the sun, and as a light-weight breathable blanket when he gets a chill. I know many people also swaddle with these blankets, but the SwaddleMe’s are working best for us. Bonus points for Aden and Anais blankets coming in the most adorable patterns!
Honorable Mention: Total Baby App
I used the Total Baby App on my iPhone religiously for the first two weeks after Lincoln was born. It keeps track of feedings, diaper changes, sleeping patterns, and more and comes in so handy when you’re so sleep deprived that you can’t even remember what you did five minutes ago, let alone what side your baby last nursed on. I don’t use it so much anymore, but honestly couldn’t have lived without it at the beginning. $4.99 well spent, in my opinion!
What are some of your must-have recommendations for new parents?
(FYI I bought all of these items myself, and the links in this post go to my Amazon affiliate shop!)
My little Iowa baby is 5 weeks also and I don’t have any of those items! I do have a few similar ones though. My little dude doesn’t like to sleep while being held so the slings/carriers were no help to me :( And we have about 6 of that type swaddle, but little dude would stick his arms out the slot around the midsection & then get angry that he was tangled–but he does really well in the Halo Sleep Sacks! Our hospital used them instead of blankets and we got home & immediately ordered more from amazon! My mom also found lighter weight cotton ones at target. Those are probably the only thing we couldn’t live without! Little dude does love his swing too, I couldn’t get anything done without it! And our pack n play has a little portable bed that he snuggles right into & I love bc I can take it anywhere in the house. All babies are different! :)
We love the Wubanub! And I would also suggest Magnificent Baby magnetic sleepers. (Magnets keep the sleeper together instead of snaps — genius!) At 2 a.m. when you’re trying to change a baby not having to worry about those darn snaps is amazing. They are a little pricy, but worth every penny and now we buy them for every friend who has a baby! AMAZING!! http://www.amazon.com/Magnificent-Baby-Boys-Newborn-Footie-Months/dp/B00BEC8P5U/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1378821998&sr=8-5&keywords=magnificent+baby
I love the aden + anais burpy bibs! The are burp cloths that can also be used as a bib.
Not a mommy here but love your list for my friends and the cute swaddlers you mentioned are very popular as they swaddled the newest royal baby too!!
My babe turns 3 months today (time flies!) and here are the things that we love.
1. Rock n Play – it’s super portable (it’s easy and light enough to carry one handed – even after a c-section!) and our little guy loved to be rocked in it. We moved across country one month after he was born and this was perfect for hotel rooms. Much easier to pack than the Pack n Play and he slept well in it. We use it instead of a bouncy seat.
2. Wubbanubs – like everyone else said, these things are awesome. Now that our little guy has figured out that his hands are connected to his body (yay), the animal is big enough for him to find and maneuver to put the paci back in his mouth. The animals are ever so slightly weighted, which means that they sit perfectly on the baby’s chest in the car seat.
3. Skip Hop Pronto changing kit – This thing makes any bag a diaper bag. It’s small, but fits all the essentials (we keep five diapers, wipes and a wubbanub in it. In a pinch, I’ve also jammed a Medela small bottle and small ice pack in the front cover.
4. Ergo Performance – This thing makes Target a breeze. Like you mentioned, baby wearing makes them fall asleep. This thing has the added advantage of a sunshade (awesome for walks!) and fits both me and my husband. We use the infant insert. It can be a little hot for mid-day, but it’s perfect for the evening (and the performance insert is very breathable).
5. Medela Pump in Style Advanced – I’ve only ever used this pump (so I have nothing to compare it to), but it works great. The case is ugly, but I just leave it in my office.
6. Not a product, but La Leche League/Breastfeeding facebook groups have been a godsend. They are a wealth of information on all things breastfeeding. Is it 2am and do you have a seemingly urgent poop/breastfeed/other baby related question? These mamas seriously know everything (and they’re up at 2 am, too!). I also appreciate knowing that there are other mamas out there dealing with breastfeeding questions/challenges, etc.
7. Breathable Bumpers – at 2.5 months my son started rolling….and getting his limbs stuck in the crib slats. Every night he would start screaming and we would find him dangling by his crotch with both of his legs out of the crib. The breathable bumpers put an end to that craziness.
8. Burt’s Bees baby wash – baby smell + honey = heavenly
9. Bob Revolution (with carseat insert) – I hate strollers and I was adamant about not being a stroller mom (you know, the moms that block the aisles at the fair/mall/public spaces with their stroller). But then I fell in love with the most massive of all strollers. (Although I don’t take it to crowded spaces.) The Bob has been awesome for walks around our neighborhood and around walking trails. I haven’t started running with it yet (they advise not to run with it until 6 mo), but I’m looking forward to that day.
7. Tea Collection, Zutano, Winter Water Factory – I’m not a fan of all the cheesy sayings on baby clothes (“Mommy’s little hunk” – really!?!) and boys clothes seem to be the cheesiest. These brands all offer bright colors, good quality clothing without the cheese factor. Downside: they’re all on the pricey side.
The Aden & Anais burpy bibs (bib/burp cloth) are AWESOME! Our 4.5 month old has reflux and they are the BEST burp cloths out there. They’re $10 each, but well worth it!
If you wear a nursing bra, you can pump hands free by using 4 rubber band type ponytail holders if you don’t want to buy the hands free bra. I used this method while I pumped at work for both of my children and it worked perfect. Instructions here: http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/hands-free-pumping/
Not for baby, but for momma – the second my daughter was off to be checked by the doctor in the hospital, my nurse brought me a giant 32oz travel mug filled with ice water. She told that every time I nursed my little girl, to refill the cup and drink it by the next feeding.
Simple but effective way to remember to stay hydrated (because it benefits mom+baby) when your brain is totally scrambled and your needs are last on the list.
Congrats again on your sweet bundle!
I LOVE these lists! Thank you! I’ve actually registered for everything you mentioned except the pumping bra, which I don’t plan on needed (*plan* being the operative word!) I was trying to decide between the SwaddleMe’s, Miracle Blanket, and Halo Swaddling Sleep Sacks. I’m leaning towards the Sleep Sacks since I’ll have a winter baby and it seems so cozy, but have you (or any other readers!) compared any of the three?
I have used all 3. My fav is the miracle blanket. I really liked the swaddle me too but when I washed them the Velcro hung on all the clothes. I didn’t really care for the halo sleep sack because I could never swaddle him good enough.
We loved the Halo sleep sack with our winter baby. She was born in Nov and loved the soft warm sleep sacks. She didn’t like being swaddled too much so these worked great!
The pumping bra is the #1 item I recommend to my friends. That thing is amazing!
I second the the Wubbanub recommendation! Both my kids loved them, even if they weren’t “pacifier babies.” My almost-four-year-old still carries her little animal with her (we have since cut the pacifier off). It’s a great item for them to soothe themselves with and, if you DO use it as a pacifier, it stays put/baby can find it themselves in the night. Must-have!!
Great post! I am expecting in 7 weeks so love these posts from new Moms. I do admit, I always thought the hands free pumping bra was crazy!
Wubbanubs! They’re pacifiers with stuffed animals attached and my little one just adores them!
http://www.wubbanub.com/
We transition to the fleece baby “sleep sacks”. Caleb was born in the winter and these were the greatest things to do a quick diaper change in the middle of the night (read all day long). There are some with elastic at the bottom that I wasn’t a huge fan of, but the Carter’s that zip up all the way we had Caleb in until it was too warm.
Thanks for these! I picked up a swaddleme blanket recently, but I already want to go grab a couple more. I’m sure they’ll come in handy!
We used all of the above 5 things – but what I would recommend to everyone is a Rock N’ Play sleeper. We used it all the time for the first 3 months! We even took it with us when we would visit family for the day. The baby needs a place to sleep, right? Ha!
I am so happy you are doing so well! You and Mr. Lincoln look great!
Love reading other people’s must haves. ours were the same as yours. I actually cut holes in a pregnancy bra I never wanted to see again for pumping. It worked really well!
Great list! I am completely with you on the swaddle me’s both my kids used them and they are perfect! When you are ready to transition from it if you have problems check these out, . We had one with our son who really resisted ending swaddling. Love the picture of Lincoln, each day will bring more and more joy your way. (and tears too)
I don’t know how moms survive without babywearing! It’s great with baby #1, but it’s crucial to survival with baby #2. I love my Ergo for quick carrying of my bigger baby and a woven wrap for longer wearing.
Great list! I am with you on the Aden and Anias swaddles. We only used them for swaddling for about a month or so, but I’ve used them for everything under the sun since (e.g.: stroller sun shade, light blanket for airplane travel, peek-a-boo cover haha).