Guys. Owen slept from 10:30pm to 5:30am last night. LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL! He'll be seven weeks old tomorrow and I'm hoping this new sleep thing continues. If not, I'm still going to revel in the glory that was last night (she says, skipping and whistling through her morning).
In the meantime, I've taken stock and thought about our "must haves" that have gotten us through the first six weeks. Here's what worked for us and I would love to hear what works for you! I know I have a few expecting mommies that read this blog that might find a list like this helpful. Disclaimer though: what works for one baby may not work for another. It's nice to have ideas of what to check out but there's always room for customization!
In no particular order:
1. Aden + Anais Swaddle Blankets. We got home from the hospital and realized we didn't bring any of the swaddle blankets with us. Panic set in. For the first few days of Owen's life, there wasn't much time that went by that he wasn't swaddled. All the nurses would wrap him up like a little burrito and he seemed to love it. How would we get him to sleep if we couldn't do the same?? Enter Aden + Anais blankets. I remembered that we had registered for them and after a little trial and error we figured out how to use them to swaddle. For the first five weeks, we'd swaddle him before bed religiously. Now we use them as little lap blankets in his rocker. We used one as a shield over his car seat to protect him from germs when we had to go to urgent care (that's another story). They are really versatile and will surely be used long beyond these first six weeks!
2. Boon Grass Countertop Drying Rack. I registered for this little rack because I thought it was cute. Turns out it's cute AND functional. I thought I'd just be putting pump stuff out to dry but, as we know, breastfeeding didn't go as planned. This rack is perfect for keeping all of O's feeding needs separate and sanitary. Also, this
bottle brush has played a role in that as well.
(*One thing I didn't think I needed was
bottles. If I could do things differently, I would have a few on hand just in case. Same goes for formula. I'd have a small amount on hand, just in case. The hospital gave us some Enfamil nursette bottles to help supplement but it left Owen a little constipated. Our pediatrician recommended Gerber Good Start to help with digestion and his tummy seems to handle it better.)
3. Breast Pump. I rented a hospital grade pump for the first month and when I turned it in all I had was this manual pump. A friend let me borrow her electric one to try out but I wasn't able to pick it up until a few days after returning the hospital one. I used the manual pump to relieve engorgement in the meantime...and loved it. For some reason, I can get a lot more, a lot more efficiently, with my manual. So this is what I've been using. I originally got it to use when traveling and a plug wasn't near by. But now I like the convenience of not having to be plugged in. I can use it watching tv, sitting in bed, at the table while eating breakfast...you pretty much don't want to show up at my place unannounced these days.
4. Rock-n-Play Sleeper. I've
already talked about my love for this rocker but it's worth repeating. I love how it cradles him and how it is so lightweight and portable. I'll be sad when he officially outgrows it.
5. Zip-front Onesie Sleepers. Whoever decided button snaps were a good idea on infant clothing must have been way more patient than I. I love his footed PJs that I can zip him in and out of. Beats snapping and unsnapping and realizing you missed a snap when trying to get a baby back to sleep as quickly as possible during a middle-of-the-night diaper change. I can't get enough of these.
6. Honest Diapers. The amount of diapers this one goes through makes me really aware of waste. If I had my own washer and dryer in my place, I might have tried cloth diapering. But since don't, we've opted to use Honest Diapers. I love them! They are made of plant-based material, making them more eco-friendly, have no harsh chemicals or dyes and they work great. Plus, they deliver a monthly supply to you, along with wipes, and the designs are adorable.
7. Boppy. It's so much easier to hold him while feeding or just while hanging out when I have the Boppy in my lap. I also have a
Brest Friend. Both are good but I find that I use this pillow more.
8. Pacifiers. I didn't want to use them before I had the baby. I didn't want any "nipple confusion" or for him to get hooked on his "passy." But when he wouldn't stop crying after we got home from the hospital (and since he wasn't really breastfeeding at that point anyway), I remembered that we were given a few pacifiers as shower gifts and I dug them out. They were a lifesaver that first night. And when we took him to the doctor three days later and had him using a pacifier, the doc commended us saying, "A lot of parents are hesitant to use pacifiers but the truth is, babies like to suck. It soothes them. If they don't have a pacifier, they'll find their fingers. And it's a lot easier to wean them off a pacifier than it is their thumb." Good enough for me.
9. Rocker/Recliner. I know a lot of people opt for the sleek gliders that can fit in their baby's nursery. Our nursery has no room for a rocker so we decided to get a rocker/recliner that we can keep downstairs in our living space. Thank goodness we did. And not for rocking the baby, like you may think. I slept in this bad boy for the first two weeks after getting home. With the c-section, I didn't feel comfortable laying flat in a bed. It hurt for some reason. Plus, it was difficult to get out of bed without using abdominal muscles and I was paranoid about busting a stitch. So Dan brought the chair upstairs and I convalesced there. Now it's back downstairs and I hold and rock and feed Owen in it. I've never loved a chair so much.
10. Activity Mat. He loves his activity mat. He'll lay there and look around, cooing at the animals. And tummy time is easier with the little pillow that comes with this mat. That way his face isn't smashed into the floor. And he holds up his head pretty well now, which I attribute to time hanging out face down.
11. Fingernail Clippers. I swear, I think my water broke because this kid scratched his way out. He's had long, sharp nails since he was born and I have to trim them every couple of days. I keep these clippers next to my rocker so that they're handy. I only clip when he's in a deep nap mode...otherwise he squirms too much!
12. Thermometer. We use the one the hospital gave us. Why? We check his temperature to ease our minds. He's sleeping too much or too little. Or he's eating too much or too little. Or he's crying too much or too little. Does he feel a little too cool or a little too warm? There are plenty of times to feel worried with an infant. If he's in normal range, we're just being paranoid. If he's not, it's time to call the doctor. And get comfortable using it rectally - that's the temperature that counts.
13. Bassinet Pad. A friend recommended these and I bought three. I love them! Since Owen's been sleeping in our room, we use one of these on our bed to change him in the night and avoid any accidents. We also have one downstairs that we use on this oversized chair so we don't have to go upstairs to his changing table every time.
The same friend who recommended the bassinet pads sent me a comprehensive list of her must-haves when I was pregnant. It was a great jumping off point for us so I thought I'd share the love and pay it forward. Big thanks to Michaela for inspiring this post! And, as Owen gets older, I'll continue making must-have lists for each different stage.
Happy Weekend, All!
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