Friday, April 8, 2016

Newborn products I've loved

Quick 6 week Baby update: Harrison is transitioning to Size 1 diapers {because pretty much every dirty diaper is a blow out aka everything is stained}. He is getting better at using a pacifier, more to keep him asleep than to sooth him when he gets really upset. He has taken a couple of bottles from me and two from Mom!! 

Sitting up in the stroller is much better than the car seat! 


Onto the list of things we have used a lot these first few weeks.
  • Mustela Bebe Dermo-Cleansing (aka hand soap). It is the simple things. With a new baby and lots of dirty diapers, you wash your hands a lot. I use less than a dime-size amount because I don't want to run out. This stuff smells SO good. The scent should be called "newborn baby." 
  • Brest Friend nursing pillow. Everyone debates this pillow with the Boppy. I liked this one because it hooks around me and is a flat, more firm surface. {I use the Boppy more now that nursing is more established and the squiahiness of the pillow is more comfortable, but it does move around a lot which is why the Brest Friend worked better in the beginning}. 
  • aden + anais blankets. I used this on top of the nursing pillow and then am able to easily fold it under Harrison's head to prop it up or tuck it behind his back to minimize his squirming and pulling. At first I used a smaller burp cloth for this, but the bigger blanket has been more ideal recently. 
  • Diaper tote. I used this as a nursing station. It was especially essential in the early days. I used one side for my water, snacks, kindle, phone. The other side had everything else... burp cloths, lanolin oil, nursing pads, hand sanitizer, pacifier... 
The nursing pillow... In our fav nursing chair. 
Diaper tote used to hold all my nursing station stash (sometimes it also included my medicine organizer, TV remotes, magazines, phone, Chapstick)
  • Lanolin oil. I used this before and after each feeding. I also use a prescription all-purpose nipple cream for when things are worse. The prescription has restrictions on no feeding 30 minutes after application and no wiping off, which made it tricky during cluster feeds and growth spurts. The lanolin oil worked really well - no restrictions. 
  • Glow Baby app. I used this to keep track of all the details... when he last fed, which side, for how long, how many diapers did he have, etc. When we first got home there were too many things to keep track of that my tired brain couldn't handle it. Ryan downloaded this app and when he'd hand me Harrison to start feeding, he would start the timer for me. I'm sure there are other apps that so the same thing. The only thing annoying is always trying to track down my phone when I started feeding. 
  • "Happiest Baby on the Block" video by Dr. Karp. We watched this the week before Harrison was born. Knowing how to trigger his calming reflex was CRUCIAL. We still had to figure out exactly how to apply these techniques, and we each apply them differently to be effective, but this knowledge was HUGE.
  • SwaddleMe newborn swaddles. Even though we got pretty good at swaddling in blankets, the SwaddleMe's are faster and tighter. They are less bunchy and easier to use. 
  • Greco's sound machine. I didn't understand spending $35 on a sound machine when you can download noises on your phone. BUT this has several different sounds that aren't horrible static. And the blue night light is easy to turn on/off and not as bright as a dimmed lamp. We have the light and sound on all night long. I'm so glad that I got this as a gift, it's not something I would have bought myself! 
The sound machine & must see video by Dr. Karp. 
  • Medicine chart & organizer. This helped us keep track of when I took meds (pain meds, prenatal vitamin, antibiotcs, etc.) and having them in the tray so I didn't have to think about it. I would have loved for this to be in the Baby app I used. I ended up setting alarms for meds so I wouldn't get behind, which helped too.
  • Hospital supply items that I brought home and really used included.... water bottle with large straw, ice packs, mesh undies, mini lanolin oil tubes, "the" spray bottle, flushable wipes. {However, take anything they're willing to give you... diapers, wipes, petroleum jelly, gauze pads...}
  • Pumping accessories.... The Medela steam bags for easy sterilizing. The "grass" drying rack for pumping/bottle accessories. 
  • Some helpful online resources... kellymom (http://kellymom.com) , la leche (www.llli.org) - both mostly for breastfeeding info. Some comical relief from Pregnant Chicken (www.pregnantchicken.com) - I get an email once a week that I like reading, titled "What the Cluck?" Lucie's List (http://www.lucieslist.com) which has great product reviews {when comparing bottles, car seats, strollers, baby carriers, etc) and baby things. I also get an email from them that is specific to how many weeks postpartum I am and like reading it too {the emails are NOT about what products I should be buying/using}. 
I am definitely not a huge product person - mostly I don't want to spend the money and I don't have the space. I took the approach that less is more, and even still, there were things we got that haven't been used. I'm sure each baby is different, so who knows what will work in the future. 


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