Attention, Mommies! Baby & Momma 1-2 Month Must-Haves
I'll be the first to admit that I'm no expert Momma. I've only been at this gig for ten weeks, so naturally I'm still learning the ropes. I can, however, tell you what items have worked best for us and have been our favorites over the last few months. I stumbled upon several posts like this while pregnant and found them really helpful when registering; hopefully this will help some of you, too!
3. Munchkin Steam Guard Microwave Sterilizer- Trust me on this one, you do not want to have to boil water every time you sterilize baby items. Throw everything in, pop it in the microwave for 2 minutes, and you have germ-free bottles/pacis/etc. It's like magic.
7. Munchkin Arm & Hammer Pacifier Wipes- Just picture this: You're in Target, first official outing with Baby and without Daddy, and things are going smoothly. Dollar Section's got those good Frosted Animal Cookies you love. All of a sudden, Baby exhibits superbaby strength and manages to hoist his pacifier over the side of his carseat. You, being a first-time Mommy and not-so-great-diaper-bag-packer seem to have left all other pacifiers at home. The floor looks nasty. In fact, there's a pile of crumbled animal cookies right by the neglected paci. Oh, but wait, you did remember to pack the handy dandy pacifier wipes! You're saved. Superbaby is happy once again. Nice job, Mom. (this may or may not be based on a true story...)
8. Safety 1st Deluxe Healthcare and Grooming Kit- This was a shower gift that we have absolutely loved. We use the contents daily; from the nail clippers (use while baby's sleeping!) to the thermometer...we've used it all. Added bonus is that it comes in a cute travel bag, great for tossing in the diaper bag on your way out the door. You'll have all Baby's grooming necessities in one handy little bag.
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1. Bamboobies Super Soft Washable Nursing Pads- My mother-in-law picked these up in the hospital lactation center; silly me had no idea these things even existed, nor just how badly they'd be needed. This brand is amazing because they're organic, washable, and super soft. Each pack comes with three regular sets and one thicker overnight set, which you'll definitely want.
2. Babymel Satchel- I did a lot of research on diaper bags while expecting and finally decided on the Babymel Satchel. I wanted to make sure Baby and I would not only be out and about in style, but also have plenty of room for everything we need. This bag is the perfect size. I'm also a bit of an organization freak and love how the big front flap opens easily and keeps all my stuff seperate from Bear's (and not milk-crusted). I also really like, and use, the insulated side pocket for bottles.
3. Gillian & O'Malley Side Sling Nursing Cami- I own two of these, one black and one gray. They have been my best friends over the last ten weeks. They're perfect for both around the house and on the go nursing.
4. Cool Gear Chiller-I'm sure you've already heard, but breastfeeding makes you thirsty. Parched. Desperate for H2O at all times. With a cute chiller like this one, you're not only being green but also sure to stay hydrated. Zach can tell you, my "fancy pink cup" never leaves my side.
5. Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags- You will quickly find that throwing away breastmilk is not an option. You work hard to pump that milk and would rather dip your Oreos in it as to see it go to waste. Seriously. These storage bags are the perfect fix; rather than junking up your fridge with bottle after bottle of milk and constantly wondering which bottles have gone bad, pour milk into these storage bags and pop them in the freezer. So easy, so efficient. I tried several different brands and these seemed easiest to use.
6. Bath & Body Works PocketBac Holder- On our first few outings, I carried around a bottle of Germ-X in a pocket of our diaper bag. Didn't work. I could never find the silly thing when I really needed it. Yes, our diaper bag is organized, but in moments of "omg there's baby poop on my fingers and I really don't want to touch anything" crisis, you'll want one of these handy antibacterial holders on the strap of your diaper bag. Trust me. Plus, they're cute and come in all sorts of fun colors.
Other tips:
-Buy two or more Boppy (or other nursing pillow) covers. Baby will spit up, throw up, and all other kinds of "ups" on the pillow and you'll need back-up.
-Bring home the baby socks from the hospital. A-you paid for them, B-they're likely the only socks that'll fit your little one for awhile.
-Lanolin is amazing but will stain your clothes. I learned this the hard way. Remember those bamboobies I told you about? They'll also protect your bras/tops from permanent Lanolin stains.
-Gripe Water works wonders for gassy tummies (doesn't work on husbands though...I tried).
-Gowns are the best sleepwear attire. Zach frowned and called them "dresses" at first but quickly learned that late night diaper changes are much easier without zippers or snaps. Old Navy has really cute, soft gowns in 0-3 months; we looked high and low for gowns in that size and my Mom finally found them there.
-Enjoy every single precious moment.
Other things we love but I'm too lazy to rant about:
I hope some of you have found this useful! Please, please comment or email with any questions you have...it's pretty obvious I love to talk all things baby :). Congratulations to all you Mommas-to-be!
