Mama Must Haves

I was texting/chatting with this blogger this morning (3:38am to be exact), venting to her about what had just occurred in the wee hours of my day. Baby K woke up for his middle of the night feeding. I changed his diaper, fed him, and placed him back down for the rest of the night (Imagine me with crossed fingers, daring to breathe as I tip toe away from him in hopes that he'll fall right back to sleep). No such luck. He squirms, he grunts, and I pick him up again so that Daddy can sleep peacefully. As I'm walking back to the glider with baby in hand, puke erupts from his precious little mouth- all over his clothes. It then runs down my arm, my leg, and splatters on the floor. We're soaked. Time for a change. I put him in another fresh nightgown and just as I picked him up off the changing table...SPIT UP! Repeat this process. Then, in his next change of clothes, I pick him up again and feel pee running down my leg. Nooooooooo! I almost lost it. I might have said a cuss word if it hadn't been such an ungodly hour. Instead, I changed him yet again and told him (only half jokingly) that he couldn't do that again because (bless his heart) he'd have to sleep in it. Finally, I lay him back down and wonder what in the world just happened. There's puke in my hair and someone else's pee on my leg- not the best way to start a morning. It is for this reason that I decided to write this post today. Maybe someone out there will benefit from it. Designed to make your life easier (if you happen to be a new mom or a soon-to-be), here are my favorite things that I had no idea I would need!

1. The Fisher-Price Rock-N-Play. I can't put a price tag on this...seriously! I didn't know I would need this, but I really, really did. Baby K sleeps in this at night, takes naps in it during the day, watches his mobile while resting in it, and I truly think it's his safe place (aside from Mommy and Daddy's arms, of course). He loves it, therefore I love it.

2. Who knew something so cheap could bring with it so many hours of sleep for a new mommy? Infants like to be swaddled, ya know. If your little one is like Baby K, he or she probably outgrew those tiny little blankets the hospital wraps them in from birth. It wasn't long before K's feet were popping out of the bottom. Enter Summer Infant Wrap. It has been glorious. He's snug as a bug in a rug in these and it's our secret tool for bedtime.

3. The third life saver are these pacis. I don't know what kind they are...just what they look like (sorry!) But they're the only ones he can seem to keep in his mouth. I was one of those people who wasn't going to introduce a paci for a month or so. Insane. Breastfed babies often use mommy as a pacifier and I don't have to explain to you how uncomfortable and exhausting that can be. Give them a paci, people!



Now, the rest of this info is for moms choosing to cloth diaper. When I started out doing this, I had no idea what I was doing. With the help of friends and other bloggers, I finally started finding my way in the waves of terminology and techniques that are available. While I don't want to attempt to expalain all that I've learned in regard to modern day reusables yet, I will let you in on my little secret. Drifter and Holly (my puppies, remember them?) gave me the idea actually...

4. I use this as my "dry pail". It has a smell proof seal so the nursery stays smelling like a sweet newborn, not a smelly, poopy 2.5 month old ;) The dogs have one to keep their food in, too. I got tired of my laundry room smelling like a dog so I bought this food container. Then the lightbulb came on- 'I'll use this for Baby K's diapers!' Brilliant, I know.

Speaking of fluff, I still haven't found the perfect diaper for us. I do enjoy cloth diapering, but I have yet to find my favorite go-to brand and style. What are your favorites?

Moms (Dads) and Nannies, what are your favorite products that help make your little one happy? Do share!

Love,

Mrs. K

(*No one paid me to endorse their product. I just loooovvvveee these items!)