My Favorite Baby Products

(Again, in no particular order...)

1. Baby Shusher
They say that babies love the "sshhhh..." sound because it mimics the sounds in mama's womb. So some genius out there is a millionaire because s/he invented the baby shusher. It sounds dumb but it gets pretty tiring to "sshhhhh" for long periods of time. Buy a shusher! It really works! I used it on E and he would instantly calm down and fall asleep in <5 minutes.

2. etsy.com
Not just for baby, but for everything that's beautiful and not cliche. I bought E's pillow from here, our gender reveal invitations, and my favorite: his baby book!

3.  Dr. Browns Products
E was a colicky baby, so I switched to glass bottles.  Best decision EVER.  Since he's formula-fed, I use Dr. Brown's formula mixer pitcher.  I love this thing!  I pre-make 2 pitchers at a time and it makes feeding faster because I don't have to sit there and hand mix each bottle.  Super easy to use and NO clumps!  Then, you stick all the bottle parts into this handy rack and wash them in the dishwasher.

4.  The Boppy
I don't think I've met a <recent> mother who didn't have one of these.

5.  Mamas & Papas Seat and Activity Tray
E LOVES this thing.  He's starting to learn how to play with the toys.  This is also a great activity to put your 3 month old on and make him/her super tired.  He sleeps like a charm after 15 minutes on this thing!  The Bumbo chair's leg openings are super small and I was afraid E's thighs wouldn't fit...so they recommended this one.  It's great.  The tray is removable so you can use it as a chair alone.  The toys are also removable so you can use the tray and the chair.  Very versatile.

6.  The Honest Company
I didn't like The Honest Company very much at first because I put their diapers on E and he leaked right through them (later I found out it was a sizing problem because we changed sizes and he's been fine w/them ever since). But the more I read into their products and their mission, the more I loved it. If you can afford to splurge a little, it's totally worth it. The prices on the diapers really aren't that much more than Pampers, and I just recently started using them. The best part, tho, is the subscription service. Just pay a monthly premium and you'll never go to the store for diapers/wipes ever again - they come to your front door!

7.  Pre-made formula
Lucky for us, Enfamil makes these pre-made bottles. I only use these when we're out and about -it takes away the task of making every bottle when you're at the store or out to dinner. Just uncap, pour into his bottle, boom. Ready to go. Super easy (these were a Godsend on our plane trip!)

8.  Diaper Rash Cream
This is more of a Hispanic remedy. It's not really a diaper rash cream. It's just healing cream! On our trip to California, E got a horrible diaper rash. He was so uncomfortable. My Tia Irma came to the rescue w/this cream she bought in Mexico. It works wonders. I'd never heard of it but I tried it and it made his rash almost instantly better. It was mostly gone the next day. I had googled "best remedies for diaper rash" and one of the things I saw suggested was Lanolin - which, if you're breastfeeding, you probably have this stuff. It saves your nipples. Well apparently you can use it on diaper rash, too! This cream has Lanolin in it, which totally explains why it works so well.

9. Stroller/Car Seat Covers
If you plan on taking a plane trip w/car seats and strollers, I highly recommend covers! I couldn't really fathom not using these, because the thought of putting E in a car seat that had just been tossed around w/the rest of the germy luggage made me cringe. We have the Britax system so this stroller bag and this car seat bag were amazing. We risked it and checked them w/our luggage (gave us MUCH less to carry to the plane!) so because we did that, we stuck random stuff in there, too, to make our regular luggage lighter. Hehe. You can also get universal bags.

10. Boogie Wipes
These are gentle wipes made w/saline that easily wipe away caked on boogers, tears or spit. Love them - and they smell like grape!

11. Mesh Wash Bags
Because baby's socks and gloves are tiny itty bitty, I put them in these wash bags and then toss the whole bag into the washer. I have yet to lose a pair!

12. Britax B-Safe System
I love my stroller/car seat! I'll tell you what - nothing makes you feel more like a mommy than pushing a stroller. I think it's SO MUCH FUN!!! E falls asleep 30 seconds into every car ride. It never fails. So knowing that I can just take the seat and snap it onto his stroller w/out waking him up is amazing. Once he gets bigger, the stroller can be used without the car seat, of course.  The stroller is super easy to use - you push one button and pull it up and it collapses instantly. I highly recommend!

13. This Book
OK I know people may be skeptical about this book, but it really works. I first heard about it from my sister's mother-in-law. She used it and recommended it multiple times, and every time, the couple gets the gender they want. I got pregnant too fast to use it, but as soon as we were preggo, I knew it would be a boy just by listening to my sister's explanation about how the book says to make one.

14. Stroller Organizer
This particular brand is discontinued, but they have similar ones everywhere. I stuck this on my stroller and it makes reaching for my drink/phone way easier than sifting through the diaper bag!

15. Bottle Warmer
When E was first born and before I discovered glass bottles, he used Tommee Tippee bottles, so we bought this warmer. And we still use it, even w/Dr. Brown's bottles! This one warms up his bottle in minutes. I use it every single day.

16. JJ Cole Agility Stretch Wrap Carrier
I loved this thing. It's super easy to use and I liked it better than having to learn how to wrap yourself with something like a Moby wrap (I'm too small for those - they're gigantic). It already comes done for you! You just watch the video on how to safely strap baby in and boom. This was especially great when baby is tiny. And even greater when all he wants to do is snuggle and you wanna walk around the house and do stuff! Now that E is bigger I can use one of the regular carriers.

17. The Diaper Genie
This apparatus came highly recommended to us, and it's totally worth it. You'll never have a smelly nursery because it's amazing at trapping the odors from diapers and wipes!

18. Wipe Warmer
This thing is great. E screams w/cold wipes!

19.  Playtex Nursers
These things are amazing. I also only use these when we're on the go. It keeps us from having to carry 5 heavy glass bottles in our bag - you just switch the liner out (and I switch the nipple out, too), and they're ready to go.  My diaper bag is so much lighter since I discovered these!

20.  Zippered Onesies!
When it's 3a, the last thing you want to do is clip together all those annoying buttons on baby's onesie. I'm so grateful for zippered onesies. They're way easier and way faster. Also, I'm probably the last to discover Sears for baby clothes. Sounds unconventional because I always associate Sears with my garage...but they have amazing deals on their baby clothes. They're always cheap! And I personally refuse to buy expensive baby clothes.

My Favorite Learning Moments (in no particular order)

1. When E sleeps on his side, his diaper leaks. Always. It never fails. 

2. I don't have time for petty drama. Not that I ever did before (who does?!), but I notice things that people do to me and say to me/about me that I used to totally react to. I've decided I officially have way better things to do and people to take care of. If there's a situation that I care enough about to let it bother me, I fix it. Or, I try. If I can't, then I can't. But I do try. 

3. As of right now, 3 months later, I have no desire to have another child. I hear that changes with time. We'll see. I'll revisit this again in a year. But even though I had the best pregnancy in the world, I have no desire to repeat that process again. I've done it once, I was happy. I'm good.

4. People will have an opinion now more than ever. You're totally forming one now about E being an only child.

5. Do NOT shake the bottle to mix the formula. Air. Everywhere. 

6. Changing a baby boy's diaper is a learning experience. Always cover the weewee! I use a wipe. 

7. Every child is different. I have stopped letting myself be guided by how others raise their children. I'll listen to advice all day, but I make my own decisions over the care of my child. I no longer keep thinking to myself, "How come E doesn't do that?" 

8. I have waaaaaay too many baby blankets. 

9. 12 weeks of maternity leave is not enough. We need, at minimum, 1 year. 

10. I hate restaurants with bathrooms that don't have a changing table. Like The Cheesecake Factory in Arlington. What in the world?!?! I had to run next door to Barnes & Noble the other day just to change him.

11. In reference to #10, all changing stations should have a hook on them.  For our diaper bags. Not all of them do. That would make life so much easier for mommies. At least for me.  Because I never put my purse on any floor!

12. In reference to #11 above, changing stations should be in the handicap stall. Or in a "mother stall." I HATE changing E in front of everyone. 

13. I will never ask other preggos "are you ready for this?!" whenever a baby screams or cries or does something bad. Because I hated it when people told me that! I will also never point out your swollen feet. I promise.

14. I have gained/found/discovered strength. I have no idea where it comes from, but it comes. Motherly instinct. I've been tired, yes. But I haven't been to the point where I feel I can't go on any longer. I don't know if it's because Eli is SO chill, but I have gotten away with 4 -5 hours of sleep p/night the last 12 weeks and I've felt great! Waking up for 3a feedings just happens. Like I get up and do what I have to do and be done with it. It's not a chore. Also, I wake up to every little noise E makes. It's crazy.

15. My least favorite question ever is "Are you breastfeeding?" I don't understand why people are so intrigued by this. I always feel judged when I say he's formula fed.

16. I don't pray enough. I find myself saying "God please help me with this one!" all the time, but I don't get on my knees often enough. I'm reading The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian and I LOVE how she teaches to be specific about the things I ask God for. I need to do that more often. I've started teaching Eli how to put his little hands together and pray for his food. We pray before every feeding. My hope is that as he grows he learns that that's just what we do- we pray and thank God.

The end.