Essential Baby Gear (IMO)- Part 3

Baby Jogger City Select  Double/Single Stroller- If you think you may have a 2nd child buy this stroller.  You will save money by not having to buy another stroller later on.  It fits infant carseats with a special adapter so it works like a stroller system too.   Converts to single or double whenever you want,  put the seats a dozen different ways, open one handed, glides with ease.
http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Jogger-City-Select-Stroller/dp/B003Q85CRY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318125108&sr=8-1


Ju Ju Be Bff diaper bag.  Washes in washer, backpack straps so your hands are free, tons of pockets, love the mommy pocket!!!,  antimicrobial so it doesn't get yucky from spills, crumb drains!!, memory foam changing pad, can access keys from key fob without taking off the bag, side bottle pockets, easy to see inside bag, stays up when open and you're trying to change a diaper!!!
http://shop.ju-ju-be.com//BFF-at-Ju-Ju-Be-in-PID10858-09FM02A.aspx


Ju Ju Be - Be Mine wallet. Who wants to have a purse and a diaper bag?  It's just too much to worry with.   This wallet is big enough for all I NEED to take into the store when I don't want to have to carry my diaper bag in or if I want to keep my credit cards close and accessible while my diaper bag hangs out in the cart.  It has a strap that you attach that makes it long like a purse strap or it can be a wristlet. 
http://shop.ju-ju-be.com//Be-Mine-at-Ju-Ju-Be-PID11163-06WR01A.aspx

Munchie Mug.  This thing is $15 dollars. I thought that was ridiculous for a snack cup but I love this thing.   I lost one once and bought another within 2 days of being without it.  Lid screws on to keep LO from popping off lid and dumping everything.  Neoprene opening that snaps back covering everything once their little hand is out.  A tip: I fill this with fruit from the free trial snack pods at the grocery store so I can get my shopping done. 
http://www.amazon.com/Munchie-Mug-Resistant-Toddlers-materials/dp/B001RJUVS4/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1318125439&sr=1-1

Medela breast cream.(sold in Target)  Don't buy Lansinoh.  It is too thick and sticky and is like trying to rub half dried glue paste on your SORE, TENDER nipples.  Medela is sooooo smooth and silky.  Thank you Lord for that stuff!
http://www.amazon.com/Medela-87122-Tender-Care-Lanolin/dp/B0011EB814/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1318125493&sr=1-1

ITZBEEN: 4 different timers you just press the button to reset and go. Lights up when you press button.  Has a light on it too.   Helps so much for breastfeeding and seeing how long they have gone since waking, having meds, etc.  You really don't remember  how long "it'sbeen" in those early sleep deprived days and with this you don't have to.
http://www.amazon.com/Itzbeen-Baby-Care-Timer-Blue/dp/B000MEB3GE/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1318125719&sr=1-1

Britax carseat:   I started with a Chicco and had to get a new seat around 9/10 months b/c it got cramped.  If I had started with Britax I wouldn't have had that problem.  The trade off is the Britax doesn't come out and snap into a stroller.  So you have to decide if that is gonna be an issue for you.  The Britax Marathon 70 convertible car seat is designed for children rear facing from 5 to 40 pounds and forward facing up to 70 pounds.  Basically the only seat you will need.. period.
http://www.amazon.com/Britax-Marathon-Convertible-Seat-Onyx/dp/B003OUWIJY/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1318126284&sr=1-1

Mobi Tyke Light Jr.:  We had the rechargable one and it died on us so we got the one with batteries and they lasted a LONG time.  Such a nice low glow.  I used it a lot for midnight feedings.
http://www.amazon.com/MOBI-70174-Mobi-Glomate-Junior/dp/B003WKW6J8/ref=sr_1_2?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1318125760&sr=1-2

Kidopotamus ray shade.  (If you get a baby jogger...you won't need this.  Their covers actually COVER your child.) Most strollers have really crappy coverage where the sun is concerned.  This thing COVERS the whole child.
http://www.amazon.com/RayShade%C2%AE-Protective-Stroller-Protection-Strollers/dp/B0007XTN6C/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1318126196&sr=1-1

OXO feeding spoons for when they begin self-feeding.  Something about these have just made them WAY easier for my LO to eat.  I only have one set and they never make it to the dishwasher b/c they are constantly the ones I go to.
http://www.amazon.com/OXO-Tot-Fork-Spoon-Aqua/dp/B0038JDV4W/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1318125842&sr=1-1


STOKKE high chair.  I had a Graco that was huge and took up the whole kitchen (at least it felt that way).  This chair looks like a REAL chair.  In fact I discovered it at someone else's house and they had to tell me it was a highchair b/c I didn't realize that's what it was.  Needless to say it slides right under the table like a real chair and takes up very little space.  The strap is AWESOME.  My son could wiggle out of the Graco's strap.  My son loves to climb in and out by himself so most of the time I don't even strap him in (19 months).  He sits right at the table with my husband and I.  And it is SOOOOOO easy to clean.  I know they come with coushins but why bother with one more thing to clean?  I leave it off and just wipe the chair with a rag.  Way easier than the Graco I had!  There's nowhere for food to hide!  Oh and this chair grows with your child.  It adjusts all the way up to an adult chair.
http://www.amazon.com/Stokke-Tripp-Trapp%C2%AE-Highchair-Cherry/dp/B001D187G4/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1318127600&sr=1-1

Learning Tower:   The Learning Tower  is a kid's step stool that allows them to work on the counter right beside you.  My son lives in this thing!  I don't even know where to begin with this but I would give up every other baby item I have to own this thing if I had to.  It has saved my sanity as a SAHM.
 http://www.amazon.com/Little-Partners-Learning-Tower/dp/B001ECHXVC/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1318127649&sr=1-1


DIAPERS:
Only buy diapers when they are on sale and with a coupon.  Other than that the cheapest is Amazon.com's subscribe and save.  I get alerts from Totbargains when they are having a sale and I get them that way super cheap.  I use disposables at night, when out and about, or just plain feeling lazy.  When at home I use cloth. 


CLOTH DIAPERING:

Love GroVia/Gro Baby- so easy to just snap in another insert and go.  Requires way less outer shells than an all-in-one.  The newer ones dry faster in the wash. Don't use diaper cream with these. I would go with the snaps vs the velcro if I had it to do over.  The cotton is still nice and soft after a million washes.  They have no bumpy cotton piling.
http://www.amazon.com/GroVia-Snap-Diaper-Shell-System/dp/B004GVA3AQ/ref=sr_1_10?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1318125952&sr=1-10

Charlie's Soap gets all the gunk off.  You can get it from Whole foods to try out and also buy on subscrive and save on Amazon.  One lasts a LONG time and I wash every other day. 

Thirsties are awesome cloth wipes!  Super soft on the one side.  The other side has gotten bumpy after tons of washing though.


BEFORE YOU PAINT:

Many people paint their nursery.  But before you do...think about putting magnetic paint on the bottom half of the wall before the color goes on.  This will add a fun dimension to the room and you will have done it beforehand so there's no need to do it later.   It is super easy to apply (3 thin coats is best-30 min between coats)...you don't have to get it right up to the edge of the wall and you cover it with primer once done.  Try to apply it in areas you know there won't be furniture later on.

Things you may want to avoid:

A hands free breast pump bra.  Go to walmart.  Find a fruit of the loom exercise bra that claps in the front.  With a little work you can figure out where to cut the holes for the breastpump shields to fit through and you will have only spent $5.00! 

A nursing cover.  They ALWAYS pull the thing off even if it buckles around your neck.  Use a Moby wrap.  Search YouTube videos "Moby wrap + nursing" and you will see that the fabric comes around you both enough that it hides everything and they can't pull it off as easily b/c of the way it is wrapped around you.

A round mirror so you can see your baby in the back seat.  Every time you turn a curb it will roll out of place!  Grrrr!

Birthday

Pom Pom Push- DIY

I made this for way less than the $30+ dollars it cost new.  At 12 months C can't push the pom poms through.  He tries but it requires a good bit of single finger fine motor skill and he's not there yet. Mostly the cat just bats the pom poms around the living room and I have to go searching for them under the furniture every morning. 

Materials are:
2 foot by 1.5 in PVC pipe- get them to cut it for you the length of a toilet ppr. tube
Piece of sand paper
1 Pkg Machine Screws #10-32 X 3 inches Round head combo (comes with 3 nuts for btm.)
Gorilla glue
Screwdriver that is very skinny
Drill Bits (I used .5in, 3/8in,5/16, 7/32)
Blocks to mount the tube on
Large Pom Poms at least 4 (I bought the mixed bag at Michaels)
Wooden Rounded Plaque  9X12

Essential Baby Gear (IMO)- My Faves Part 2

* Wimmer-Ferguson Infant Stim-Mobile:  I took the cards off and my LO LOVED playing with them.

* Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether: Best Teether!

* Aquatopia Deluxe Safety Easy Bath Kneeler: Totally unnecessary but worth every penny. Difficult to wash in the washer. If it gets wet (from hanging things over the curtain rod and letting them drip on it) it gets a funky smell and is hard to get out.

*A bathtub mesh toy holder that holds more than two toys. I got the Boon Frog toy holder and ended up selling it.

CAN LIVE WITHOUT
*Diaper Champ: If you take the trash out regularly, flush the poops when they start having only 1 bm a day, and breastfeed (it doesn't smell as bad as formula). I have one but at 11 months my son started putting everything he could get his hands on into it.  (Boy I miss my eye mask!) So now it's in the attic.
*Changing Table: but buy a changing pad with a soft fuzzy cover
*Wipes Warmer:
*Baby Swing: Never got one and didn't need it. Can be overstimulating for some.
*Pack-n-Play: But it's nice to have when you want to take a shower. It's also nice if you ever keep someone's kid for them.
*2nd base for your carseat unless you are doing daycare
*Multiple size nipples for bottles: If you nurse and give a bottle, your LO may decide he likes the faster flow of nipples with bigger holes. Stick to the first and smallest size. If you have a reflux baby then you'll be adding cereal to bottles and will need larger holes for nipples.
*Sippy cups with chewey spouts: When I introduced these my LO started biting me during nursing. When I took them away..problem solved.
*Bottle Warmer: Unless you pump N freeze breast milk and need to heat it often for feedings. It is a pain to wait for frozen milk to thaw under the faucet if you need it pronto. Thaw it the day before.
*Breast Pump: You may not need this but don't buy used unless you know the history. I bought used and it lost power 1 day leaving me racing to Toys R Us to get a new one.
*Crib: If you decide to do a Montessori Floor bed.  We love ours!  Just buy a Moses Basket for the first 3 months and move to floor bed after that.

HELPFUL Websites: 

Baby Whisperer Forums:  Go here when you have questions about ANYTHING.  There are different forums for EVERY baby topic and a wealth of moms who have been there and done that and want to help.
http://www.babywhispererforums.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=38b518bfb18f0a38173043df2fde7af2&


Infant Potty Learning Info (In our culture people wait till 2.5 or 3 to start potty learning and in other cultures they start at birth. )  We started at 11 months (wish I'd started at around 6 months) and are almost done at 20 months.  I HIGHLY recommend it.  
Find out why here:

http://www.diaperfreebaby.org/index.php?module=article&view=6&page_num=9



WHY DOES BABY ONLY NAP 20 minutes:

http://www.babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=64161.0


Other FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS about GETTING A BABY TO SLEEP

http://www.babywhispererforums.com/index.php?board=86.0

HELPFUL Books:

The Baby Whisperer
The Baby Whisperer solves all your Problems
The Happiest Baby on The Block
The Happiest Toddler on the Block

HELPFUL Youtube videos:

See The Happiest Baby on the block clips of the 5 S's for soothing a crying baby.  THIS WORKS!!!!

http://www.happiestbaby.com/book-dvd-excerpts/the-happiest-baby-clips/

Here is a parent using the 5 S's with a real crying baby and he is using the MIRACLE BLANKET to swaddle his LO.  We LOVE the miracle blanket!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx2shYNtZVk&feature=related

Essential Baby Gear (IMO)- My Faves Part 1

I was putting together a list of my faves for a friend and decided to publish it for others too.  Since most of it is available through Amazon I decided to monetize my site so I could earn money if anyone decides to buy something.  The money will fund travels home to see my mom. Every penny helps!









* Toddler Table and chair set by Tag toys: At 12 months my LO eats his snack at this table only he pushes the table around the kitchen as he does.  Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, "eat and run".

*Baby Signing Time: Started this with C at 6 months. At 10 months he was signing back. His first sign was "milk" which meant he wanted to nurse. 
Baby Signing Time Volume 1 DVD. 

READ THIS!!!!!!

*Miracle Blanket: They really are Awesome!  I swaddled for several months and this kept my son's arms from getting out after he outgrew the hospital blankets.  This was too small at first and he would kick out his feet.  WARNING: You will eventually wean them from this.  Whenever you nurse/bottle feed and snuggle with them have a security object tucked in between you.  This will get them used to the item and when you transition from the swaddle they will have something that is comforting.  If you wait till you try to transition to introduce the security item it's too late!!!!! They won't take it.  I used a very soft velour Twin size blanket that I got from KOHLS.  I cut the blanket up into tiny squares and larger squares.  The small were for when he was little and now the larger one he uses at 19 months as a blanket.  I will never have to worry about loosing one b/c I still have tons of fabric to make more if I need to. 













*Pedipeds: Best shoes EVER! So soft and supple. Start with size 6-12months. Before that they only need socks. My LO is barefoot 95% of the time. I use shoes when we go out b/c he can take socks off too easily.











*Boogie Wipes: Super soft, gentle and will take off boogies and dried on cookie in one swipe. My fav. scent is original.  These have a strong scent but it is nice.












*Boon Spoon: This spoon is great for travel. Fill it and squirt the food out! Also great for a tot that is intent on grabbing the food container from you.












*Boon Bowl: This bowl sticks to the table but my LO can yank it up. At least it gives me a second or two to get to it b/f he dumps it.












*Munchkin Mesh Fresh Food feeder: Great for teething! C's favorite is nice cold apple chuncks and frozen mango.










 

BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier Synergy:
Don't buy a carrier that doesn't have back support. I took my LO to the zoo for the day and my back didn't hurt after 2 hours of walking around.   He was only 8 lbs at the time, but still!
 









*Moby Wrap: cheaper than Bjorn and awesome too! Has back support but not as good as Bjorn's. This has a "close to baby feel" that bjorn doesn't. Great for soothing a fussy baby and your hands are free to tidy up, cook etc.

 









*Magic Bullet: MYO baby food and smoothies 4 mom.


*Munchkin drying rack for bottles. This folds flat for storage. NICE!

 











*Balmex: Redness is gone the next day.

*Tot Locks- I have these and the plastic ones that you push with your finger. I prefer the tot locks even though they cost more. The plastic ones allow a small gap that a little hand can squeeze through.








 








* Gownies - Maternity Hospital Gown : Best thing I ever bought myself! 

This was truly a gift for me and I wore the 2 I got for several weeks after the hospital too b/c they were great for nursing (comes undone at shoulder with snaps) and VERY comfortable with my C-section.  Snaps down the back too. 

BUY THESE! YOU WILL BE SO GLAD YOU DID! Buy them somewhere else if you think I'm just saying it to make money.  I LOVE MINE!  Every post prego mom should have something pretty and comfy to wear during and after delivery.  Treat yourself!

Infant and Toddler Activities

I had to put this in b/c at 9/10 months he is fascinated with the toilet. First of all he wacks me in the back with the lid while I go potty (does this happen to other moms? Am I the only one who gets freezing cold hands on my legs while I'm trying to go?) . Then I have to hold his hands back while I try to put the lid down. Recently he has taken to throwing something in before I can close it. I do let him pull the toilet lock up. Then he screams for me to open it again. He also loves to pull down the bath-kneeler mat which is attached up with velcro.









C's current favorite 11 month activity is this drawer. He tried to stand up a lot in the beginning but hasn't for a while. Now he just likes to practice getting in and out. He has a bit of trouble getting his last leg up and over the edge.









C's favorite activity in the early weeks/ months was to sit in this bouncy seat and look out the window. I placed it up on our kitchen table in the bay window. I also put it at the front glass storm door which looked out to a tree whose leaves always rattled with a slight breeze.

Infant and Toddler Activities

Had to include this Eric Carle Lady Bug toy. This little bug is worth his weight in gold. Mirror on bottom, ring rattle with circles, crinkly toy on another arm, and a squeaky star. It has everything!















Our favorite summer activity. I put a Big towel on the ground and a the sprinkler in the middle. Turned the sprinkler real low and let the fun begin!


















This was a great place for C to play when he was little. He was able to practice batting and grasping. I had to be careful with what I put on it and what age I finally put him on it b/c he got way over stimulated at first. It messed up naps and night time sleep.