Walter is now 20 months old, and baby Henry is about 25 weeks along in utero. I have learned so much in the last 2 years. I will start sharing here as we know lots of pregnant people. If anyone stumbles across this blog and has any questions at all, please ask. For now, here are a few of my favorite things (for pregnancy and new baby).
So there you go. 22 things to look into. Please, whether I know you or you are a perfect stranger who happens upon my little space on the internet, feel free to ask me about any of these things or anything else too! I will post more on some of these topics that are especially important to me as I come across a few spare minutes.
These are in no particular order, other than the order they pop into my head. I will do detailed posts later on many of these items.
1. Car seat & stroller: Britax http://www.britaxusa.com/
We chose to go with Britax for our stroller and car seat. They manufacture most of their items in the US and are working towards making them all here. We have been very happy with our picks. We decided to go with a car seat that can click easily in and out of the car and the stroller and are soo happy we did so. It's great to not have to wake a sleeping baby when you. You can just take the car seat carrier in with you wherever you need to go without disturbing your little one. Here's what we have:
Stroller: Britax B-Scene http://www.britaxusa.com/strollers/b-scene We are still using this stroller.
Car Seat: Britax B-Safe http://www.britaxusa.com/car-seats/b-safe Walter has outgrown this and Henry will use it next.
Toddler Car Seat: Marathon 70-G3 http://www.britaxusa.com/car-seats/marathon-70-g3
We also decided to get a 2nd one for the Jeep (we're eventually going to need 2 anyway) and got the Boulevard 70-G3 http://www.britaxusa.com/car-seats/boulevard-70-g3. They are almost exactly the same; the Boulevard has thicker side padding, which we thought might make driving on the beach slightly more comfortable. We like them both.
Stroller: Britax B-Scene http://www.britaxusa.com/strollers/b-scene We are still using this stroller.
Car Seat: Britax B-Safe http://www.britaxusa.com/car-seats/b-safe Walter has outgrown this and Henry will use it next.
Toddler Car Seat: Marathon 70-G3 http://www.britaxusa.com/car-seats/marathon-70-g3
We also decided to get a 2nd one for the Jeep (we're eventually going to need 2 anyway) and got the Boulevard 70-G3 http://www.britaxusa.com/car-seats/boulevard-70-g3. They are almost exactly the same; the Boulevard has thicker side padding, which we thought might make driving on the beach slightly more comfortable. We like them both.
2. Earth Mama: http://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/
Love everything they make. They cover the pregnant mama, newborn baby, postpartum mama, and breastfeeding mama. Some of my favorites include their teas for every stage, baby bottom balm, & new mama bottom spray (buy this one and put it in your hospital bag, trust me). I have used the baby bottom balm on bug bites, scrapes, and general first aid. I have even used the mama bottom spray on the baby bottom too. Everything is so natural and has so many uses, it's awesome!
Love everything they make. They cover the pregnant mama, newborn baby, postpartum mama, and breastfeeding mama. Some of my favorites include their teas for every stage, baby bottom balm, & new mama bottom spray (buy this one and put it in your hospital bag, trust me). I have used the baby bottom balm on bug bites, scrapes, and general first aid. I have even used the mama bottom spray on the baby bottom too. Everything is so natural and has so many uses, it's awesome!
3. Green Toys: http://www.greentoys.com/
Awesome toys for every age. Made in the USA. Love them all!
They also make Green Eats which includes Made in USA dining stuff for baby/toddler- plates, cups, spoons.
Awesome toys for every age. Made in the USA. Love them all!
They also make Green Eats which includes Made in USA dining stuff for baby/toddler- plates, cups, spoons.
4. Ikea: Worth the drive to Charlotte! Make a full day trip out of it. They have so much inexpensive but nice baby stuff that we love.
-We stocked up on wash cloths and bibs (unfortunately they don't have their super cheap bulk bibs anymore, but they still have other inexpensive ones.)
-We have a crib and changing table from Ikea (at our Carolina Beach House)- they are nice and compact.
-Bedding! When I was pregnant, I looked at all the fancy, expensive bedding. Ultimately, we bought all of our bedding at Ikea. Let me tell you something, when you have a baby, all you need is a couple of fitted sheets. That's it. Babies don't use blankets or pillows or anything else in their cribs. Not even bumpers are recommended anymore. Literally the only thing that goes in their crib for about the first year, is a fitted sheet. Over a mattress protector for the instances where they leak through their diapers. We did buy a few inexpensive blankets at Ikea too, but were gifted many more. We have never needed any fancy bedding.
-Mattress- We got both of our crib mattresses, and now Walter's big-boy bed mattress from Ikea. Great prices and quality seems good from what we can tell. (Made in Mexico. There are brands out there Made in the US, and I feel somewhat guilty for not buying them, but the price and convenience of these were great.)
-Toys- We have many toys from here that are not made in China. Not necessarily made in the US, but not made in China, which we try really hard to avoid, especially with toys and anything that baby might put in his mouth. Walter's personal favorite are the trains! He loves them, and they are nice and compact (so we can always have a couple in the diaper bag), and way less pricey than popular brands.
-Misc- We have hooks, organizers, wall art, puppets, plates, cups, spoons, and more from Ikea. They don't have everything, but they sure do have a lot!
-We stocked up on wash cloths and bibs (unfortunately they don't have their super cheap bulk bibs anymore, but they still have other inexpensive ones.)
-We have a crib and changing table from Ikea (at our Carolina Beach House)- they are nice and compact.
-Bedding! When I was pregnant, I looked at all the fancy, expensive bedding. Ultimately, we bought all of our bedding at Ikea. Let me tell you something, when you have a baby, all you need is a couple of fitted sheets. That's it. Babies don't use blankets or pillows or anything else in their cribs. Not even bumpers are recommended anymore. Literally the only thing that goes in their crib for about the first year, is a fitted sheet. Over a mattress protector for the instances where they leak through their diapers. We did buy a few inexpensive blankets at Ikea too, but were gifted many more. We have never needed any fancy bedding.
-Mattress- We got both of our crib mattresses, and now Walter's big-boy bed mattress from Ikea. Great prices and quality seems good from what we can tell. (Made in Mexico. There are brands out there Made in the US, and I feel somewhat guilty for not buying them, but the price and convenience of these were great.)
-Toys- We have many toys from here that are not made in China. Not necessarily made in the US, but not made in China, which we try really hard to avoid, especially with toys and anything that baby might put in his mouth. Walter's personal favorite are the trains! He loves them, and they are nice and compact (so we can always have a couple in the diaper bag), and way less pricey than popular brands.
-Misc- We have hooks, organizers, wall art, puppets, plates, cups, spoons, and more from Ikea. They don't have everything, but they sure do have a lot!
5. Haba: Great toys made in Germany (most of them- stick to their wooden toys). One of my favorite items that we used a lot was their pacifier chain that clips his pacifier to him, but also doubled as a toy. http://www.habausa.com/products/baby-toys/pacifier-chains-and-clips/jungle-caboodle-pacifier-chain.html
6. Avent: http://www.avent.philips.com/
Most of their products are made in England. We chose this as our main bottle and pacifier brand. It is easy to find everywhere and we have been pleased with the quality. I also used their pump and storage containers and have been happy with the whole system. As Walter got older, we bought a transitional cup for him to learn to use the cup and were disappointed that that was made in China. Hopefully they will keep their bottles and pacifiers made in England, or we might have to switch brands.
We also like Lifefactory which is made in the USA and glass, which we would prefer but they are more expensive, less easy to come by (sold at Whole Foods) and we didn't discover them until later. We have a sippy bottle from them which we use all the time. http://www.lifefactory.com/catalog/straw-cap?gclid=CJeavNKIv7kCFUid4AodeBkAxw I use my bottle from them daily.
Another brand that we did use with Walter for glass bottles, and really like was Born Free. They didn't integrate with my pump so we didn't use them as much as we would have due to convenience.
Most of their products are made in England. We chose this as our main bottle and pacifier brand. It is easy to find everywhere and we have been pleased with the quality. I also used their pump and storage containers and have been happy with the whole system. As Walter got older, we bought a transitional cup for him to learn to use the cup and were disappointed that that was made in China. Hopefully they will keep their bottles and pacifiers made in England, or we might have to switch brands.
We also like Lifefactory which is made in the USA and glass, which we would prefer but they are more expensive, less easy to come by (sold at Whole Foods) and we didn't discover them until later. We have a sippy bottle from them which we use all the time. http://www.lifefactory.com/catalog/straw-cap?gclid=CJeavNKIv7kCFUid4AodeBkAxw I use my bottle from them daily.
Another brand that we did use with Walter for glass bottles, and really like was Born Free. They didn't integrate with my pump so we didn't use them as much as we would have due to convenience.
7. Free cover: We got an ad in the mail for a free nursing cover and actually ordered it. It cost a few bucks for shipping and handling, but was worth it. It was still very inexpensive (maybe $7 total) and I used it a lot. We actually got another one this time around so now I have two. (I'll look up the brand later.)
Update: http://m.uddercovers.com/
8. The Peanut Allergy Epidemic and others:
There are a lot of books to read during this time, but one that I think every soon-to-be parent is
There are a lot of books to read during this time, but one that I think every soon-to-be parent is
The Peanut Allergy Epidemic: What's Causing It and How to Stop It by
Vaccine Safety Manual for Concerned Families and Health Practitioners, 2nd Edition: Guide to Immunization Risks... by Neil Z. Miller and Russell Blaylock
(Dec 1, 2011)
9. American Apparel: http://store.americanapparel.net/subCategory/index.jsp?subCatId=cat1190025
Unfortunately we don't have one anywhere near us (and not all stores stock baby), but it's worth ordering some baby basics from their website. Their baby clothes are mostly 100% cotton, ALL made in the USA, and are very basic which is great for gender-neutral too. Mostly what you'll want for baby is onesies and pants. Don't buy too many t-shirts at this age b/c they ride up as baby is always laying down. They offer multi-packs and grab bags. The grab bags are fun- you tell them age and gender and they send you random stuff at a discount. We ended up with some cute things that I may have never thought to order.
Unfortunately we don't have one anywhere near us (and not all stores stock baby), but it's worth ordering some baby basics from their website. Their baby clothes are mostly 100% cotton, ALL made in the USA, and are very basic which is great for gender-neutral too. Mostly what you'll want for baby is onesies and pants. Don't buy too many t-shirts at this age b/c they ride up as baby is always laying down. They offer multi-packs and grab bags. The grab bags are fun- you tell them age and gender and they send you random stuff at a discount. We ended up with some cute things that I may have never thought to order.
10. Young America: http://www.youngamerica.com/?___store=default
Great furniture made in USA. Our main crib (at our house in Raleigh) is made by Young America. It is sturdy, beautiful and will probably last forever. We got ours at Tots to Teens on Glenwood. www.totstoteensfurniture.com/
Henry will be moving in to it when he comes around so we had to go shopping for Walter's big-boy bed. We knew that we wanted a bunk bed and decided to check out Heavner. They just happened to have a Young America bunk bed (in fact, the only bunk bed they had) and it is perfect. Very sturdy which we thought would be important in a little boy's bunk bed. We love it.
Great furniture made in USA. Our main crib (at our house in Raleigh) is made by Young America. It is sturdy, beautiful and will probably last forever. We got ours at Tots to Teens on Glenwood. www.totstoteensfurniture.com/
Henry will be moving in to it when he comes around so we had to go shopping for Walter's big-boy bed. We knew that we wanted a bunk bed and decided to check out Heavner. They just happened to have a Young America bunk bed (in fact, the only bunk bed they had) and it is perfect. Very sturdy which we thought would be important in a little boy's bunk bed. We love it.
11. Hugo Naturals: I have one of their baby oils, purchased at Whole Foods and I love it. I will definitely try more of their products.
12. Burt's Bees: A decent brand, most of it made in Durham, and mostly natural (some 100%- I love that the package is straight forward and tells you what % natural each item is). Easy to find and relatively inexpensive. We use many of their products.
12. Vitamix & Baby Bullet: The first thing that we ever bought was a cute Baby Bullet. Of course we didn't get to use it for months as newborns only drink milk (Walter was exclusively breastfed.) But once we did start introducing foods, this was worth it! Store bought baby food is way more expensive and processed than taking a $.69 farmer's market sweet potato (for example) and making a week's worth of baby food in about 10 minutes. When Walter was around a year old, we splurged for a Vitamix (made in the USA, with lifetime guarantee) and have loved it and use it a ton. Easy to make just about anything into baby food consistency and smoothies are part of our breakfast almost every day now. We mix my prenatal vitamins into my smoothie in the mornings too!
12. Dr. Pragers: http://www.drpraegers.com/
Every one needs frozen dinners to turn to. Once they start eating solids, this brand is our favorite. Healthy food that we store in the freezer and throw in the oven anytime we need a good meal with no prep. And Walter loves them all! We get ours mostly at Whole Foods.
Every one needs frozen dinners to turn to. Once they start eating solids, this brand is our favorite. Healthy food that we store in the freezer and throw in the oven anytime we need a good meal with no prep. And Walter loves them all! We get ours mostly at Whole Foods.
13. My Breast Friend: http://www.mybrestfriend.com/
I'll let you in on a little secret. Breastfeeding is not easy, and it doesn't just come naturally. It is hard work, and takes time and dedication. We struggled with it for a while, but finally one lactation consultant (about the 4th one we saw) suggested My Breast Friend. I couldn't thank her enough. It made a world of difference and really did pretty much become my best friend for a while during those first months. If you plan on breastfeeding (and really, it's worth it) you should buy one or register for one right away. Bring it with you to the hospital. A note about breastfeeding: Do it. It may be hard, and it may take time, and in the meantime you may be tempted to supplement with formula. Don't supplement, do cry it out, do stick with it. Eventually it gets easy. Eventually, you do develop a great bond with your baby. Your baby will be healthier for it, and your pocketbook will be fuller (formula is really expensive, breast milk is free (other than investing in a pump for when you are away from baby.)) Eventually, you will even be a little sad when baby decides he's done with you. Walter self-weaned at around 14 months.
I'll let you in on a little secret. Breastfeeding is not easy, and it doesn't just come naturally. It is hard work, and takes time and dedication. We struggled with it for a while, but finally one lactation consultant (about the 4th one we saw) suggested My Breast Friend. I couldn't thank her enough. It made a world of difference and really did pretty much become my best friend for a while during those first months. If you plan on breastfeeding (and really, it's worth it) you should buy one or register for one right away. Bring it with you to the hospital. A note about breastfeeding: Do it. It may be hard, and it may take time, and in the meantime you may be tempted to supplement with formula. Don't supplement, do cry it out, do stick with it. Eventually it gets easy. Eventually, you do develop a great bond with your baby. Your baby will be healthier for it, and your pocketbook will be fuller (formula is really expensive, breast milk is free (other than investing in a pump for when you are away from baby.)) Eventually, you will even be a little sad when baby decides he's done with you. Walter self-weaned at around 14 months.
14. Little Einsteins (different from Baby Einstein): Think what you want about how little your baby/toddler will watch TV. But know this, in those moments when you just need a minute and you want him/her entertained, this is the show to turn to. Walter loved it as a baby, and loves it still now. We even have the Disney Jr. app on our phone and can play this show during a fussy poopy diaper change to get him to be still for a minute. The show comes on the Disney Junior channel, and they have several DVDs. (We DVR'd every episode- it was made 2 years). Walter's all time favorite- worth checking out! Also worth mentioning, Disney Junior is prob our favorite channel due to it's limited amount of commercials (mostly Disney commercials.)
15. Ziggy Marley: Reggae is key to a calm baby (or so we may hypothesize.) Bob has many great tunes that we listen to often, but his son Ziggy also has some family oriented music. He has an album, Family Time, devoted to well, family time. It's fun. Walter has been called very mellow, and we wonder if the amount of Ziggy and Bob has something to do with it!
16. Nursery CDs- Bob Marley: More on that- we have two Rockabye Baby! Lullaby CD's and they are great. Every night and naptime, Walter falls asleep to Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of Bob Marley. We also own the Guns and Roses version which we use too.
17. iBaby Monitor: http://store.apple.com/us/product/H7559VC/A/ibaby-monitor
Before you choose a baby monitor, read reviews. Our first baby monitor was interrupted by wi-fi, and would stop working more than about 10 feet away (which of course is where we needed it to work.) JP searched reviews and found that pretty much any baby monitor where you could view the baby, didn't work great with wi-fi in the house. Then he found this one. We love it. We can both pull up live video and audio of the crib anytime on either of our iPhones. I haven't configured it to work outside of my house, but haven't found the need to. If you have an iPhone, I strongly recommend this product. iPhone is also great for Facetime whenever one of us is away.
Before you choose a baby monitor, read reviews. Our first baby monitor was interrupted by wi-fi, and would stop working more than about 10 feet away (which of course is where we needed it to work.) JP searched reviews and found that pretty much any baby monitor where you could view the baby, didn't work great with wi-fi in the house. Then he found this one. We love it. We can both pull up live video and audio of the crib anytime on either of our iPhones. I haven't configured it to work outside of my house, but haven't found the need to. If you have an iPhone, I strongly recommend this product. iPhone is also great for Facetime whenever one of us is away.
18. Water: This is I think one of the most important health tips I can give for a pregnant or nursing mother. And, it's free! Drinking water constantly throughout the day is not always easy, but I think it has been a major contributing factor to my overall easy pregnancies, and definitely to my good milk supply. I have a glass, cup, or bottle of water with me all the time, even when I'm not home. I keep my Life-factory bottle in the fridge and grab it anytime I leave the house.
19. Raw milk: Once Walter weaned off of breastfeeding, we switched him to raw cow's or goat's milk. From breastfeeding to raw milk, I believe are keys to his amazing health. It may sound crazy at first, but raw milk from grass-fed cows is best (besides breast-milk, which is actually raw too.) He is still drinking raw milk several times a day. In fact all he drinks now is raw milk, water (mostly steam distilled- no fluoride), and homemade raw milk smoothies. Ever since we started buying lots of raw milk for Walter, I too am drinking it on a daily basis. I will try to post more about raw milk later, and am happy to answer any questions. Here's a site to start: http://www.realmilk.com/
20. Pets: We really believe that our pets have taught Walter soo much. Including sharing and getting along with others. If you have pets, make sure that they are well trained and ready to share, not only their toys, but their mommy and daddy. One thing that we did that I think was great was to hire a dog walker during the first few weeks that baby was home. They got special attention and exercise while I could focus my energy and attention of learning to breastfeed and care for a newborn (and recover from the actual giving birth stuff which so many people overlook.)
21. Swaddles: Must haves for new baby. Like I mentioned before, baby does not sleep with a blanket. Instead, they sleep in a swaddle. Swaddling definitely helped Walter sleep and we even went through a transition period when he outgrew swaddles that he didn't sleep as well. There are several kinds of swaddles. Three most popular: 1-Swaddle blankets- good luck- we never really figured those out and ended up using them as nice lightweight blankets. 2- Types that wrap over and velcro. I personally liked these, but he did outgrow them a little faster. 3- Swaddle shaped with long arms that wrap around baby- JP's favorite. It worked well and they were easier to wash than velcro and lasted longer. They also seem more comfortable. Ours was called the Miracle Blanket. http://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Blanket-Yellow-Aqua-Swaddle/dp/B000MUA5DK/ref=sr_1_8?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1378760528&sr=1-8
22. School: It's a little (OK well a lot if you're still pregnant) early, but I have to recommend Walter's school. We were able to get away without daycare for a long time, but eventually, as my paperwork is piling up to the ceiling, we decided we needed to do something other than rely on the grandparents. A note about that- if you think that you can work from home and be productive with a newborn or a toddler, you will be surprised. The first few months, they have to feed every 2 hours, and it will drain you (quite literally too.) But then, I was able to get some work done while he slept. But once he was down to one nap a day and able to walk/run all over the house, forget about getting any work done. Maybe I would have the energy to work during nap or after bed, if of course there wasn't laundry, meal prep, or relaxing to do! So, we finally started looking for a daycare or daycare alternative. We ended up at the Montessori School of Raleigh and couldn't be happier. It is not traditional daycare; it is actually a school. He has the same teacher and teacher assistant every day, a structured environment with music and Spanish lessons. He plays on the playground every day. He makes bread and art. He started at 18 months (the earliest for this particular Montessori school, but there are others that start earlier.) He loves it, we love it, and we are very pleased with our choice. msr.org
So there you go. 22 things to look into. Please, whether I know you or you are a perfect stranger who happens upon my little space on the internet, feel free to ask me about any of these things or anything else too! I will post more on some of these topics that are especially important to me as I come across a few spare minutes.
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