All my favorite new-mommy blogs have been featuring their own post-pregnancy-must-haves…so I thought that I might as well jump on that gear-wagon. So if you are pregnant, here’s what worked for us…if you aren’t, just skip directly to #6…because everyone can benefit from easy access tank tops.
1. Soothies Gel Pads – Let’s begin this with a story about my boobs. The day after Will was born, I was in the hospital and the lactation consultant checked in on our nursing progress. I told her that Will was a bit of a yanker even though I had a kungfoo grip on the back of his head. And then she asked to see me do the breastfeeding deed…again. I proceeded to pull all the pillows around me and then pull down my top. That’s when the LC was like “WHOA!” and I was like “I KNOW” and she was like “YOU ARE VERY DAMAGED ON THAT SIDE” and I was like “I TOLD YOU”. So I had to stop breastfeeding on the one side and use my pump for half the feedings. Needless to say, I ended up experiencing a lot of soreness. A LOT. I don’t care what the books say…transitional soreness is not mild…it’s worse than labor in my mind. And for those of you ready to say “Well, Katie, you weren’t doing it right then…” well first of all, if you could identify what I was doing wrong, then you need to become a lactation consultant because my LC didn’t know. She did know one thing that helped tremendously : Soothies! I would pop em in the fridge as I nursed so that when Will finished molesting me, I would get some relief. I would meticulously clean the gel part with an icecube and a papertowel so that they would last the longest time possible. I don’t know what I would have done without these.
2. Balmex – We are constantly battling diaper rash. We use Balmex at night because it has the ability to neutralize irritants in the diapers. It also seems to create more of a waterproof barrier between Will’s willy and Will’s pee. It seems to be working.
3. Maximum Strength Desitin – Like I said, we are attempting to evict diaper rash from it’s current home. The regular Desitin wasn’t working. So we switched to Maximum Strength during all the daytime diaper changes. You could smell the power. It was amazing. In one week we went from LOTS of bumps and redness to only three little dots and just a bit of pink.
4. Baby Bjorn – After the C-section, I was told the number one thing to help me recover faster was to walk. And sometimes I had a hard time pushing the stroller up and down the stairs. Plus, Will loves to face forward. Even before he could see farther than eight inches from his face, he loved to face forward. So we absolutely love this carrier because I can strap it on for our daily walks and he can face forward or lay his head on my chest.
5. Johnson’s Bedtime Lotion – We have a nighttime routine. Bath, Massage, Nurse, Read, Pray, Swaddle, Bedtime. It works like a charm. And during Will’s rubdown, I use this lotion. Sometimes he smells so deliciously cute that I want to kiss his little cheeks off. And Jeremy thinks I am deliciously cute when I let him sniff my fingers. Nuff said.
6. Target’s Nursing Tanks – Gotta love a shirt that can let the girls hang free! And Target carries the cheapest around in an array of different colors. Now you can whip out a tah-tah whenever the mood strikes you…or your baby. Also beneficial when attempting to cool off on a hot day, hiding small objects or when eating crackers. Warning: if your teenage daughter shows interest…immediately remove her from public school, bar all doors and windows, and enforce the “you’re not dating till you’re married” rule. Worked for me 🙂
7. Euro Sham – What the heck is a sham doing on here? Well, instead of one of those plastic changing mats, we use a green euro sham that I scored for $1 when we change the Willmeister’s diaper. Not only is it absorbent for those “HE’S SPRUNG A LEAK!” moments, but it is extra cushiony for his little head when the floor is our only option. Sure, I tried one of those plastic coated mats, but the liquids would just congregate on Will’s onesie…forcing us to change his entire outfit. This way when the little dude tries to tag me, I can use the sham to soak up any stray leakage that may or may not have landed on the carpet, my pants, and his face.
8. The Boppy – I never really used the sucker for breastfeeding but this little c-shaped pillow is worth it’s weight in gold for being the perfect perch for our newbie. Even at the hospital, when we both wanted to see him, the Boppy was the perfect baby-booster. And now, we love to place him in it during dinner which we eat on the couch…just like always 🙂
9. The Baby Book – My darling boyfriend bought me this humongous resource book when I was pregnant. It (along with tidbits from numerous others) helped me get prepared for breastfeeding (as if you can actually BE prepared! Insert me scoffing here!) and baby care. Currently, it is my go-to book whenever I get that new-mom-questioning-everything-disease (Does my baby need vitamin drops? What can I do for colic? What breastfeeding position is best for a yanker? Etc.)
10. bumGenius 3.0 One Size cloth diapers – We are cloth diapering. It’s crazy I know. But we figured that if we wanted four kids, then we could literally save thousands of dollars over the course of our diapering lifetime. After some number crunching, we calculated that we would probably pocket about $400 in the first year alone! That’s a lot of bacon people! So after I convinced Jeremy of our savings, we compromised in some areas…first, we did receive numerous boxes of diapers for the newborn stage. So we didn’t actually start with the bumGenius’ until three weeks after Will was born. Also, we make sure the diaper bag has at least two disposable diapers for when we drop Will off at the church nursery. (No need to get on the nursery worker’s bad side especially with all the chaos in there!) Lastly, we decided to only travel with disposables. Personally I love the smell of dirty diapers in a hot car in the Georgia summer but apparently Jeremy gets two votes on the subject. (oh and for those of you wondering – I scored our diapers at BellaBlu Maternity.)
11. Always Ultra-thin Overnight Pads – Let’s just state the obvious – there’s a whole lotta stuff goin’ down after birth. Literally. It has the option to go down your leg or down onto your pants or down into some highly absorbant, ultra thin, extra long pad. I chose the later. And since I was still ‘adjusting’ to non-pregnancy for weeks and weeks after I delivered, these prevented me from a highly embarrassing situation. Plus the thin profile allowed me to walk without looking like I had a watermelon between my thighs. I vote that hospitals should use these for their post-delivery leakage needs…they are a heck of alot better than those throw pillows they hand out.
12. Ocean Spray Cran-Grape Juice – My name is Katie and I am a Cran-grape-aholic. Hmm. I love this drink. And it loves me. After Will arrived, all I wanted was fresh fruit. But I didn’t always have the energy to get up and grab some. Especially for those late night nursings. So each night I would have a glass of this juice next to my rocker so that while in the middle of the feeding, I could gain some energy to continue with the quest of the missing burps. I still drink it like a banchee. It’s delicious. And it does not qualify as a fuss-food so it is A-ok to pass along to my main man Will.
So there you have it folks…a list of my must haves. And because I know that there are lots of new moms, soon-to-be-moms, and I-think-I-passed-some-lady-in-the-supermarket-that-was-totally-knocked-up-gals out there that need to know all the latest and greatest baby gear, here are some links to my favorite must-have’s lists:
The Stamford Wife’s List of Necessities
Leah’s Young Infant Must Have’s
And for those of you just busting at the seams to add something to the must-have baby list, I’d love to hear it! Maybe you just couldn’t live without your bouncer, swing, or stroller? Or maybe you adored the zipper sleepers, or the easy to match granimals or the Breast Friend? Or perhaps your favorite baby item was a ceiling fan and your kneepads for those diaper changes? Whatever your favorite baby item, put ‘er right there in the comments.
If you keep having diaper rash issues, I’d check out Triple Paste (you can get it at Target or Walgreens). It’s crazy expensive, but it’s like the superhero of diaper rash creams. Pretty amazing stuff.
The only other thing I can think of that was a lifesaver when my 3-year-old was a baby was the Miracle Blanket. I wasn’t a great swaddler, and the MB saved me countless nights. I’m stocking up on them for my twins who are due in September.
Stupid question but how does cloth diapers work? i told my husband i want to use them when we have kids because they are more eco friendly but im actually not even sure how they work? do you scoop the poop out? is there a pad that goes inside of it? tell me your ways oh great one.
Maggie,
Not stupid at all…actually I was surprised to find that cloth diapers have evolved into some sort of marvelous velcro unicorn. I don’t know how they all work – but the bumGenius have velcro tabs and little snaps in the front to allow for more or less room (according to how long your baby is). There is a pocket on the inside that holds the absorbent microfiber insert and you have to pull it out before laundering. Since Will is breastfed only, his poo is more like mustard than the normal poo you would imagine…so you can’t really scoop it. We prerinse it out anyway just to make sure the diapers stay nice and fresh!
Hope this helps!
XO – KB
Dear Katie-
Can we be friends? Great, glad we got that out of the way!
Thanks for sharing! We’re currently trying to navigate the registry for our wee one (overwhelming much?!) and it’s wonderful to hear what has worked for real live people and their real live babies. 🙂
Question on the cloth diapers: We’ve definitely decided to do some sort of cloth diapering, but are having a heck of a time picking which ones! Most of our friends are going the gDiaper route, and the more traditional cloth diaperers seem to be picking FuzziBunz. ANy great insights on how you chose BumGenius?
Good luck with the bambino!
Hi Erin,
I thought we were already friends….hmm…awkward.
As for the BumGenius…I chose them based on the price (they seemed to be the cheapest brand new) and the fact that they were highly recommended. I honestly can tell you that I did not try any other cloth diaper so I don’t know what would work best…but so far, we love these. They clean up great (we spray ours out first and use our sanitize cycle on our washer) plus they are supposed to grow with him since they are one-size fits all.
Hope this helps!
XO – Katie
ok two things. we make our own diaper rash cream.. its a recipe from my inlaws pediatrician. its the BEST!!!! 2 parts desitin, 2 parts A&D and 1 part Pure Aloe liquid (not gel..have to get it at like whole foods or some store like that….maybe online ) mix it up and then you can slather it on.. i swear by this stuff.
second thing.. if your nipples are hurting cracked or just sore the BEST stuff is called Natural Nipple Butter by earth mama angel baby.. you may have to get this online as its not sold in most stores. I LOVE this stuff. It saved me when nothing else would!
ok maybe one more thing. I used a nursing pillow.. and mine was called My breast friend.. it truly was. loved that thing…
I would also recommend a paste for the diaper rash. This stuff is the best in my opinion 🙂
http://www.buttpaste.com/BLButtPaste.php
Our girlie had terrible diaper rash as a newborn. Our doc told us that it takes three months for the mothers hormones to leave babies bloodstream, and this is usually the cause of most newborn rashes. It was true for us, like magic at three months her rash was finally gone. Doesn’t really help the situation though does it! My MIL taught me to use a mix of vaseline and cornstarch for diaper rash and it works great!
You might want to check into the compatibility of oil-based barrier diaper creams and cloth diapers. Especially with microfleece inserts like BGs. They have a tendency to actually cause leaking, problems with detergent build up (a likely cause of diaper rash with cloth diapers) and decreasing absorbency.
Also, when your little one gets older, there are lots of other carriers that will be more comfortable for a larger baby. Check out http://www.thebabywearer.com for ideas.
A friend recommended using vaseline. It’s great becasue it doesn’t allow the poop to stick to their little butts. And it becomes a barrier with their pee.
Hi Heather,
Yeah, we actually were warned of the diaper cream problem with the cloth diapers but in the end, we decided that the best way to care for Will was to slather him good and then do our best in making sure the diapers were extra clean. I found that we could prevent decreased absorbency by adding a little bit of vinegar to the wash. We also are sure to double wash all of our inserts with extra hot water. So far, so good. His little crotch is on the mend and we haven’t had a leak yet 🙂 Let’s keep our fingers crossed!
XO – Katie
Get some Boudreaux’s Butt Paste for the rash and a wee cover. I don’t know what they’re called but it looks like a little baby sized athletic cup. They work wonders in keeping you dry and not ‘tagged’.
Hi Katie- I am looking for other good blogs about new moms or soon-to-be moms like me. any suggestions?
This post made me laugh out loud, maybe b/c I have 2 little boys or maybe b/c I have a terribly inappropriate sense of humor (I’ll go with the latter).
From the comment of Will molesting you to the many uses for nursing tank tops, this was hilarious!
Glad to see that you sense of humor is as “on point” as ever! I find it is my #1 best “accessory” to raising boys.
Enjoy your baby boy! My 2 year old is banging on the kitchen table with the TV remote, good times.
Amen to the Target tank-tops! I went and bought five – one in every color except brown (and I wanted that, but restrained myself). They’re all I use! I may have to go get some more larges/mediums; the extra-larges are getting too big (finally!) So comfortable and convenient!
My pediatrician recommended Resinol. I love Resinol for a diaper rash. You can get it at Kroger at the Pharmacy. No prescription needed. Best stuff ever. My boys are 3 and 6, but I still bring it to the beach every summer because they live in their bathing suits and that mixed with sand is a disaster. Clears up a rash and chaffing within a day. I swear by it!
I second the Butt Paste recommendation, it was the only thing that worked with Finn and didn’t irritate him even more.
I LOVED the soothies when I was BF. I always give them as shower gifts because they were that good. Have you tried lanoish on the girls? I used to let them air dry, pop a little of that on, then stick a soothie in my bra. It helped tremendously with the pain those first few weeks.
I second Triple Paste! Also, my daughter’s has gotten so bad that we have had to make a potion called “Magic Butt Paste” (this is actually what the doctor refers to it as). It is
1 part lotrimin (athlete’s foot cream)
1 part Desitin
a little Maalox (just enough to thin it out a little)
This worked when even the Triple Paste didn’t!
#11 – a throw pillow – HILARIOUS!!! And so true. I actually wholeheartedly agree with you on your list. I still nurse my 10 month old and LOVE those nursing tanks. Totally the way to go! Anyway, you crack me up as usual! Thanks for the laugh.
i so agree about how painful nursing is at first! it hurt for 6 weeks straight with my first….with plenty o’ lactation consultations. whoever said if you’re doing it right it shouldn’t hurt is smoking crack. it hurt with all 3 of my boys. luckily it gets totally pain free after you completely loose all nerve endings in your nips. so yay for that. also, LOVE target’s nursing tanks. those were the best.
Katie, I am a cran-grape fan too! Recently I’ve tried to find the to go bottles at gas stations and they no longer carry them. I’m still trying to figure out how to deal with this. 🙂
I’ve been stalking your blog for months now, but this is the first time I’ve commented!
As a mom to a 15-month old and one on the way, I want to say “Way to go!” on using cloth diapers. We use BumGenius, also – but after about 15 months of use, the velcro is getting a little worn, so we’re thinking about converting to snaps…there are a few people on diaperswappers.com who do this for a fee, but the snaps will last for our future children (we’re going with 4, too!).
Also – I know you love your bjorn, and I loved mine, too…until I discovered the Beco Butterfly carrier – it’s way more baby-friendly than the Bjorn because it lets your baby cuddle you as you carry him/her – instead of dangling him by the crotch like the Bjorn does! And it comes in super cute patterns (my hubby would only go for plain black though)! It’s a little pricey, but I recommend becoming a fan of mamabargains.com on Facebook – they offer AMAZING deals on SUPER AWESOME mom/kid stuff – only one product at a time until it sells out. A Beco normally goes for about $140, and I scored mine for $65!!!
Love your blog!!!!!
I’ve been a long time reader, but never commented, but I must comment on the boob thing! I also had a c-section and to me the first 2-3 weeks of breastfeeding hurt worse than the surgery and recovery combined! My husband and mom could hear me gasp everytime she latched on!!
I enjoy your blog – thanks for keeping me entertained!
I love “My Brest Friend” breastfeeding pillow. It has saved my back and neck.
I love my glider. It’s the one big ticket item we splurged on, and I am eternally thankful because I spend more than half of my waking hours in this thing.
I second Boudreaux’s Butt Paste. We’re using disposables, but we got some bad diaper rash too. Our routine was (1) changing to plain water and t-shirt scraps instead of ultra sensative wipes, (2) using a hair dryer on our son’s little bum after every changing, (3) giving the little man some “naked baby time” every opportunity (usually a couple of hours at night while he’s winding down to sleep and we can sit together and watch a movie), and (4) this butt paste.
If I might make a suggestion, consider looking into Beco or Ergo baby carriers. The Bjorn brand actually dangles babies by their crotch which can lead to hip problems, and the Beco and Ergo are both forward and tummy facing soft carriers that promote proper hip development. I’ve also had luck with lying on my back with baby lying on my chest to nurse “gently.” If you haven’t tried that yet, give it a whirl.
Also, since you have Dr. Sear’s book, he has a section on diaper rash that identifies what KIND of diaper rash it is by appearance, and which treatment works best for it. For instance, our diaper rash looked like a burn rather than raised bumps, so our butt paste might not work for your rash!
I’m definitely going to look into some target nursing tanks. I need about a million more nursing shirts, between having a boy “tag” me and the girls leaking every time he makes a tiny noise, I need a neverending supply.
You mean I didn’t have to spend $75 each on GlamourMom tank tops that do the same thing? Sigh. There’s another strike against no-Target-in-Canada.
Had to chime in about the Always pads, though. My midwife recommended specifically against Always brand women who deliver vaginally. She said there’s something in them that really irritates the area post-childbirth. I used Kotex Overnights which, yeah, were total watermelons, but so was every other part of me at the time. 🙂 It’s a good thing babies are cute!
i mean…
i wish i lived in ATL so we could hang out. because your blog makes me laugh out loud all of the time. so i’m thinking you would too in real life. DANG. 🙂
love this little blog of yours. and will is darling.
I just had my fourth baby in March.
I would add to that list #1 Lasinoh nursing pads. They are super thin and barely noticeable under a shirt. And they are a little bigger for those of us who swell up to like a double D with all the milk. I’m past the bloody/sore nipple stage, but man I wish I had known about those gel pads before now!! (And you’re totally not doing anything wrong – I have nursed now 3 times and every time I have gotten sore nipples that crack and bleed for the first few weeks. I think it’s just normal no matter what those lactation people or books say. I mean unless your nipples are used to being sucked on and pulled on for the majority of the day, they’re going to have to toughen up a little!)
And #2 I would add a fan. I know, it’s just a normal household thing, but it gets transformed into a white noise machine in my nursery. It shuts out enough noise so that I’m not shushing all my other kiddos while the baby is sleeping.
10 stars for the “my breast friend.” My baby girl is 8 weeks old and this has been the best ever! I do love the target tank top as well! I can whip them suckers out in no time at all! If I were to make a list I would put my mom on it!
Thanks so much for this list. We are preparing for our little bundle of boy joy in August so this was very helpful! We are debating on cloth diapers so it is nice to hear someone elses perspective.
My must haves are-
Newborns-
Kiddopotaums Swaddle Me
Sleepy Wrap
Gripe Water
Anything that vibrated (swing, bouncy, pack n play)
White noise app on my iPhone
Happiest Baby on the Block DVD
Wubbanub pacifier
3 months +
Playmat/Gym
Kozy Carrier
Swing (took him 2 months to really like it)
Rompers (we don’t like the tshirt and shorts/pants combo, the shirts always ride up)
Check out the Sleepy Wrap or the Kozy Carrier for wearing your baby. Sleepy Wrap is good until they are about 5 months and the Kozy Carrier is great until they are 2 years old!! I did a lot of research on the baby carriers. My son is now 5 months.
I also had a very rigorous breast feeder…it does get better, eventually…and if not, it’s not like he’ll be sucking forever though it might seem like it now! I found that Lansinoh Breast Cream was a great help for getting me back in the world of healthy nipples.
In other news, Will is gorgeous, and I’m incredibly impressed with how brave you were/are through the whole scary birth process! Welcome to motherhood and keep the pictures and stories coming! (I always love a good bacon or celebrity joke :))
You have my sympathies on the nipple ouchies. I had blood blisters and ugly scabby fun on my nipples for 7 weeks with my little guy. As for essential items… I can’t live w/o my Moby Wrap!!!!!!! It’s comfy and I can nurse the little guy while cooking dinner at the same time. Food for all! Also – I crave white-cranerry peach ocean spray all the time – definitely an addict!!
Thanks for the advice on the Target nursing tanks. I only have one and I wear it all the time. It would be mag to get some more!!
Could you post about baby massage? I’ve just started trying it and I’ve watched some informational videos on youtube, but I still don’t know much about it.
I love it – I can’t believe you put pads on your “must have” list, but I’m not surprised. You crack me up. I wish I lived in Atlanta so we could be real-life friends. I even like bacon, though admittedly not as much as you!
I too highly recommend Triple Paste, but I didn’t use cloth diapers with my kids (wish I could have, but as a working mom it didn’t seem practical), so I’m not sure if that would effect how well it works?
Also, I can’t say enough good things about the Miracle Blanket (also already recommended in these comments). I didn’t even start using mine with my second daughter until she outgrew the hospital blankets at like 3-4 months. It truly was a miracle – suddenly, sleep!
Oh, and…touching the back of a baby’s head during a feeding causes an instinctive reaction for them to pull off the breast (or at least that’s what my lactation consultant told me as she watched me do that with one of my kids).
But anyway, the BEST thing to have on hand after giving birth to a baby you are going to breastfeed is APNO – All-Purpose Nipple Ointment. Your OB can write a prescription for it, and it’s a compound drug that you have to have made a special pharmacies that actually make drugs, not like Walgreens or something. But it’s got anti-inflamitories and anti-fungals and all this other stuff that helps prevent cracking, soreness, etc. I didn’t know about it until about a week after my first daughter was born. Let’s just say I got the prescription prior to the birth of my second daughter, and made sure to have it at the hospital with me in my birth bag. Started using it right away, and never had a problem!
Hey Katie, great post, even though I don’t have kids and don’t actually plan to it’s always neat to see what other people love!
Just thought I’d let you know that Sherry’s link has your “bowerpowerblog” rather than “younghouselove”. 🙂
Hi! Due in August and really appreciated this post and all the links to similar posts! Thanks!
btw Will is super cute!
Katie I am curious if you think it is possible to breast feed and work??? Is that a crazy thing to try to do? Debating.
Katie –
Thank you soooo much for the list! I’m due in less than two months and am bookmarking this baby for future reference! On my list of to-do’s: buy several nursing tanks, get those soothies, and buy stock in Always. I even read somewhere to bring your own pads with you to the hospital to have an option over the grown-up diapers they provide. 🙂 And love the cloth diapers. My Hubby and I are venturing into that territory as well – we’re trying gDiapers. Hope it goes well!
As always, I love your posts. Thanks!
I had a very similar experience nursing my 3rd child. I told my husband I’ve never said so many cuss words in my head as I did when she would latch on. When she hit 6 weeks old, it was like something magical happened and now nursing doesn’t hurt AT ALL. It was like night and day. Hope the pain goes completely away for you! If you’re still having redness and soreness you might consider taking Advil and putting a little cortisone and polysporin on the girls. I would wipe it off before feeding though.
Okay, putting in my 2 cents here – Super Duper Diaper Doo for diaper rash. This stuff works like a miracle on REALLY BAD diaper rash and prevents it. Also, it is easy to clean up (no crowbar needed like with the Destin stuff) and it is not full of chemicals and medicines. I had a hard time finding it when my nurse sister-in-law recommended it, but our Target pharmacy carries now (you still have to ask for it). I never had to use anything else on my two boys – ages 3.5 and 5 now. 🙂
This post is further proof to my hubby that cloth diapering isn’t weird at all! Have you been bothered at all by the velcro? I read a few blog posts here and there about poop getting stuck in the velcro. One month into FuzziBunz and I am loving them. However, I was able to score several at around 11 bucks a pop so…I may want to check out the bumgenius for when baby needs the next size up.
Cloth diapers are the best. We’re finally diaper free around here, but bought 18 Fuzzi Bunz over 5 years ago (bum genius weren’t around back in that day) and they diapered 2 kids. I loved my Fuzzi Bunz (a medium worked the whole time for us), but if I had wee ones now…I’d go with the bum genius. We also used disposables for travel. The breast fed baby poop just sprays off cloth diapers and the good ol’ real food eating kids’ poop just rolls off into the toilet. And yes, diaper cream can cause them to leak….but it takes awhile. Ours just started having leakage problems as the youngest was potty training. (We used a lot of diaper cream on our oldest…a boy!) You just need to change the diaper sooner or double stuff it when leakage happens. I recommend air drying the cloth diapers, unless you’re in diaperless mode and need to stuff one or two in the dryer!
I love reading lists like this, and babies are (unfortunately) not in my near future.
I don’t want to be “that childless girl giving unsolicited baby care advice”, but you may want to look into alternatives to the Bjorn. The way it positions the baby in a front carry can cause damage to their hips because it is basically a crotch dangle. There are many other carriers out there that put the baby in a much more natural sitting position while facing out that is better on the their little hips. Most will be much more comfortable to you too as he gets bigger because they will have support coming from your waist and not just your upper back.
I agree with almost all of these!! I LOVE The Baby Book!
Hi Katie,
It’s great to see another mom using many of the same items I do.
I love the carrier for times when I need to run into a store/bank and don’t need the stroller, diaper bag and the kitchen sink! I’m also using cloth diapers and use a similar brand called AppleCheeks. They are Canadian but work the same way. For diaper cream I use Druide during the day and on the road. At night I use good old EVOO [extra virgin olive oil] It works great, we’ve only ever seen slight red bumps when we forget to “ahem”… fall asleep without changing Olivia’s diaper at night. I am also reading “The Baby Book” I love all of the attachment parenting stuff. It makes me feel less guilty about carrying and holding Olivia all the time 🙂 I love your thoughts on the plastic diaper pads. I find they allow the “liquid” to run, and we end up changing the entire outfit, just like you. This may sound strange but we have 2 waterproof bed sheets from when my Gran was sick. One side is cloth and the other is water proof. I use these for night changes on the bed. In fact I have Olivia sleep on it so that in case she “leaks” the mattress doesn’t get wet. Wow, after all of that I think I am going to make a mommy favorite on my blog too!
Sorry for the rambling, I know you understand,
Lisa
Hi Katie. Thanks so much for the post. I’ve got about 6 weeks left until baby makes his appearance so this was very helpful. I had a quick question…you mentioned your routine included massage. Im really interested in infant massage but there is so much info out there. What book do you use? dvd? thanks.
brandi
Great List!!! I just love reading your blog!!! Little Will is just adorable!!! I have to agree about the Baby Bjorn. It is horrible for your little fellow and will cause you shoulder and back pain when he gets bigger and heavier. I have a Beco! It is FAB!!! LOVE IT!! I also have a Moby Wrap and could not live without it and I would have never ever bought it but the NICU would not let me fly home with my preemie without it. Now I love it! Ergo baby carriers are very nice to but I love the color selection on the Beco! I changed to the same Always pads at the hospital because I could not stand the pillows of pads they give you. And I did have a vaginal delivery and they were fab! I did not breastfeed but I did use the soothies when my milk came in they made life so much better. Also you can freeze the kids round boo boo pads and they fit perfectly in your bra!
You’ve got a great list going there. When my kids were fresh from the womb til about 6 months old, I was major into wrapping them a la Moby or a Gypsy Mama wrap. My husband rocked the Bjorn, but after a short time we both found it to be way too uncomfortable. I had big babies too and after they hit 15lbs they just are NOT friendly to my back anymore. Someone else here mentioned thebabywearer.com and I have to second it big time. Great resource on so many things, not just baby carriers. With my first I tried a lot of different carriers. With my 2nd (who is now 10 months old), as soon as he was able to fit well we transitioned him into a Beco and have not looked back. It’s hands down the easiest carrier to use for bigger kids (my guy is 23 lbs now!) and can be used on the front, back, or side.
Sorry . . . did not mean to make this into a babywearing manifesto, but carriers are great. 🙂
I’m a big fan of Lansinoh cream for the ladies and Boudreaux Butt Paste for the little buns. And Boppys for their many uses. I think that swings and bouncies and jumperoos and the like all have their place, but the kiddos outgrow them so quickly it’s kinda crazy. If you’re a fan of packing everything and the kitchen sink every time you leave the house this one won’t probably be for you, but if you want to travel a little lighter try Haiku To-Go bags instead of diaper bags (really, any Haiku bag . . . they have lots of sizes). Still tons of pockets, way cuter than most diaper bags out there, and you don’t feel like your shoulder is going to go on strike and leave your body because you brought along way more jazz than necessary on a trip to the grocery store.
Hi Brandi,
Actually I googled a bunch too about the baby massage but in the end, my version of a Will-rubdown is most closely described in The Baby Book mentioned in the post. It was the easiest to access when my brain went dead from lack of sleep. I could just flip to the right page and get a rubbin.
Xo – Kbow
I’m a mom (2 boys) and a pharmacist and I watch Oprah. All of these things led me to Boudreaux’s Butt Paste for my boys’ rashinesses. Best stuff ever for us. My other “can’t have a baby without it” item is The Miracle Blanket. My guys loved being straight-jacketed in that thing. BTW, are you still thinking of 4 kids? I always wanted 4 and then I had 1. I’ve made it to 2 but totally scared to have another and risk losing my sanity. Happy bf’ing! (that’s “breastfeeding”)
The Butt Paste is awesome, but a friend of mine told me to try out Aquaphor baby cream. [My son has sensitive skin] and within [I kid you not] an hour his rash was almost gone with the Aquaphor. So now we have a stock pile of Aquaphor in our ‘Baby Stash’!
This scares me a little. Will I ever be ready? If you do not mind I added you to my My Inspirational Blog List.
we cloth-diapered and struggled with nappy rash (aka diaper rash!) Living in Australia, our neighbours suggested Bepanthen ointment (by Roche). It worked like a dream. When #2 arrived, we lived in the US and couldn’t get it, but my parents were living in Switzerland and they sent us some. One tube goes a long way!
Looks like you can get it on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Roche-Bepanthen-Ointment-100-tube/dp/B0006NXVIY
i’ve been reading your blog for months and this is the first time i’m commenting. i have to say that i HIGHLY enjoy your posts and look forward to new ones. most importantly, congratulations on little Will. he’s just beautiful.
i have to agree with My Breast Friend pillow – this really saved my arms and back when my daughter was attached to me for hours. IMO this is more supportive that the boppy.
we started off with bjorn but we both hated it. i am currently using ring slings but there are some really great soft structured carriers out there. i personally haven’t tried any of them but i hear that ergo, olives & applesauce and beco are really great.
finally my absolute must have is The Happiest Baby on the Block dvd by Dr. Karp. this was an absolute lifesaver when we had our first crying jag.
Girls, if you all like Butt Paste, you will LOVE the Burt’s Bees Diaper Rash Cream. We used the Butt Paste, Desitin and a few others that came as gifts and nothing works as well as Burt’s. It goes on just thick enough that you know it is protecting that delicate skin and as a complete bonus it smells like heaven. I mainly use it when we are using dipopsables, I find that my son’s bum is rarely irratated when we are using cloth. BTW we also have the Bumgenius and LOVE them. It is most like a disposable so it puts anxious fathers, grandparents and other skeptics at ease. Congrats Katie on your gorgeous little one and keep up the good work!
I too tried the baby bjorn and hated it. I felt like my back hurt so much! I actually won a moby wrap on a blog giveaway and have never looked back! They are so intimidating when you first look at them, but once you get the hang of them, they are so wonderful. I have never tried another baby carrier that supported my back as well. I use mine multiple times a day now that I have 2 kids. My baby hangs out in the moby wrap and I still have 2 hands free to help/chase/ feed/discipline my 18 month old. Life is crazy, but my moby wrap seriously makes it a lot easier! So there’s my one “can’t live without” baby item!
My pediatrician’s office swears by their formula of diaper rash cream. It pretty much covers anything that could possibly be irritating down there. The mix is:
1 part classic Desitin (the thick white one)
1 part Lotrimin Ultra
1 part Polysporin
1 part hydrocortisone cream
It seriously clears up EVERYTHING in 2 diaper changes. I don’t know how my son would’ve gotten through the past 21 months without it.
The euro sham is a fabulous idea! Like you, I hated the plastic ones. I never saw the point since the pee would either roll off of them and land on whatever surface I was changing on or soak the baby’s back! I found some pads at Target that are waterproof but are covered in a cloth material. They are hard to spot on the internet, but they were with the crib mattress pads. They were my go to pad for changing! I kept one in my car (or diaper bag) for quick changes on the go.
I am sorry you are battling a diaper rash! Next time, you are at the pediatrician, I would mention it to them. We battled with them. Our doc taught us how to tell the difference between a yeast diaper rash, one from wetness and one that was more acidic. He has us treat the 3 very differently and it made a world of difference!
LOVE the Target nursing tanks! I have one in every color (after stalking my local Target for the pink one in my size, I finally scored one last week!).
I also use Bum Genius 3.0 One Size and really love them. Not that you asked me, but here’s my 2 cents on how we came to the decision. We bought a few different brands and then tried them all out. I tried a Rumparooz One Size, Happy Heiney’s Mini One Size, FuzziBunz and the Bum Genius. The Rumparooz works well, but I didn’t like the snaps. The Happy Heiney’s leaked out the leg every time on my little guy, not sure why! The FuzziBunz I was so hopeful for, but I found the snaps confusing and we had leaks. I did also try cotton prefolds with a Thirsties cover and I do use these occasionally, they are cheap and great at holding in everything (but slightly more work than the BG).
The Bum Genius worked the best at containing both pee and poo and we found it was the easiest to use with the velcro closure. (Hubby was especially mystified by the snaps) We do rinse ours out first and I’m really surprised at how clean they get, we haven’t had any issues with staining so far. And we just have a regular old washer with really, really basic wash cycles.
But I have read really great things about the cloth diaper trial at Jillian’s Closet. You pay upfront and then you can send back anything you don’t like for a full refund. If I had known about that before I ordered all mine separately, I definitely would have done that.
Thanks for posting your list and the links to the other ladies’ lists. Very helpful!
These tips are great!
I’m not a mom {yet} but I’ll be filing away this post for future reference.
Thanks for sharing, AND thanks for sharing all of the other bloggers’ tips. That was very kind of you 🙂
That’s too funny about the Cran Grape juice. I became totally addicted to the stuff when I was in the hospital after I had my son. Literally, I could not get enough. He’s 6 now and I still like it but thankfully I am not as addicted as I used to be.
Thanks for the shout out. 🙂
And I love The Baby Book. I consult that thing almost every day!
We also use cloth diapers (my son is 6.5 months old now). Here’s a list of cloth-safe diaper creams, so your diapers won’t repel: http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com/diaperrashcreams.htm. I’ve read that some people will cut up microfleece from a fabric store to use as liners, so the cream doesn’t get onto the diapers.
And here’s my list of must-haves: http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AYc4tnDBJYmTZGQycjN6a21fN2c2Y3NzM2M2&hl=en
Love the pics of your little guy!
Hi Katie–
I don’t think I’ve commented before. I also just had a baby boy (June 2) and I agree with your statement that “…transitional soreness is not mild…it’s worse than labor in my mind.” I’m totally with you on this one.
Best wishes! I look forward to reading much more about you, Jeremy and Will. You have a beautiful family.
Love your blog! After 4 kids I have learned lots about what works and what doesn’t. My oldest had very sensitive skin and sometimes straight cornstarch rubbed onto his bum was the best diaper rash cure. Usually by the next diaper change the rash was gone.
I would also start using the Lansinoh nipple cream during pregnancy and before and after every feed once the baby was born. Breastfeeding still made my toes curl for the first week or so even after the 4th baby!
Congrats on your sweet little guy!
Just wondering…what are your must-haves now??
Hi Elyse,
Hmm…good question. I guess my must-have list for a 5month old would look something like this – food processer (for future rice cereal and banana puree!), one super soft and oversized baby blanket (for laying on the floor during tummy time), our stroller – the Phil & Ted’s Sport, Clorox wipes (for cleaning toys purchased cheap at Goodwill), a soft football with a rattle inside (Will loves to watch it tossed in the air), and any kindof colorful cardboard book.
Hope this helps!
XO – Katie
Awesome, thanks! I love the clorox wipes idea.
We’re in the process of researching cloth diapers for baby #2. I am curious about what kind of detergent you use to wash them. Do you use regular soap or do you buy a special kind like Sherry does?
Thanks!
How many cloth diapers did you decide to go with? I’ve heard 18-24 but I have no idea if that is right.
Thanks!
We went with 24. Two orders of 12. And we got a huge discount on the second set…so you might want to order fewer the first time around and see if the company will send a code as a thank you 🙂
xo -kb
Excellent tip! Thanks!