Motherly Advice

It is official!  I have earned a new title - AUNT Leslie!  My precious niece was born on Saturday, November 26!

In honor of my sister becoming a new mommy, I thought I would take this opportunity to share my (limited) wisdom from my own first six months as a mommy. I thought I would share a top ten list of things that have made life easier with a baby.  Now there are of course the essentials - crib, bottles, pacifier, pajamas, etc.  But the things I want to share are not the essentials - they are not items you will find on the baby registry at the store or even items that are necessary for caring for a baby.  These are 10 items that have made life a little easier on all of us.  (in no particular order!)

ONE



SLEEP SACK

As cold weather rolled around I had a lot of hesitations about putting a blanket on Aiden.  The thin blankets would no longer do and I was worried about a thicker blanket covering his face.  He always seems to kick quite a bit right when I put him down and then again before he wakes up.  Blankets just made me nervous, but he needed something!  This was perfect!  He wears his pjs and we put him in this right before he goes to bed.  It is snuggly and keeps him warm and I don't have to worry about him kicking it over his face! 

TWO

GAS DROPS

At first I was very hesitant to give Aiden any sort of medicine.  But the fact of the matter is that his little digestive system was still adjusting and sometimes just needed some help!  Matt and I made it through several weeks of cries and wiggles before breaking down and giving Aiden gas drops.  What a difference it made! 

THREE



EXERCISE BALL

We had one of these around the house and I initially started using it when I was pregnant.  It was often tough to sit for long, causing tremendous pain on my back.  Sitting on the exercise ball was the most comfortable way to sit, especially when eating dinner.  Once Aiden came, I found so many other uses for it!  Along with being a great chair, it also became our rocker.  There was a mix-up with our glider, so we went quite a while without a rocker to use to put Aiden to sleep.  This did the trick!  I was able to hold Aiden while softly bouncing and was a pro at getting him to sleep.  He loved the slow, rhythmic bounces and I loved that it also helped me tone at nap time!

FOUR


PACIFIER STRAP

We initially had to get one of the for Aiden for dayschool,but it has been well worth it! It was very helpful, especially around the house.  It has also been helpful when we are out and about.  I always try to keep an extra strap in his bag and use it to attach his toy to him or his car seat.  This way he doesn't throw the toy on the floor and get it dirty or throw it out of the seat and lose it.

FIVE



SPACE HEATER

We had one of these, but never thought to bring it out for a baby - especially in the summer.  Aiden squealed through his first two baths once we came home from the hospital.  It was not until we went to his newborn photo shoot and the photographer used a heater to keep him warn and he LOVED it!  It has definitely been the key to our bath times!  He now LOVES bath time and it has been a great way to calm him and almost put him to sleep during the bath.  Just be sure to be careful with the heater around the water and not get it too close :)

 

SIX



SOUND MACHINE

This is the actual sound machine that we have by Homedics and we love it.  In fact, when Aiden moves out, Matt and I decided we might need one in our room for ourselves!  It has several sounds from mom's heartbeat to ocean, rainforest, and rain.  This has been great for giving Aiden that white noise during naps and overnight.  It has even been helpful in the mornings to drown out the sounds of Matt and me getting ready for work.  Let me NOT recommend the sound machine by First Years.  Someone gave us that one as a gift and we tried it first - the sounds were TERRIBLE!  Matt even asked if one of the sounds was Satan talking.  Seriously, it was that bad!  We love this one though!

 

SEVEN

 

DVR

Now, I can't even remember what I did without DVR before a baby came, but now I REALLY can't imagine what I would do!  Now I don't love putting my child in front of the tv, but sometimes there is no other way to cook dinner or get ready for work.  I don't let Aiden watch more than a half hour of tv a day, but I can tell you that there are several episode's of Blue's Clues handy for when Aiden wakes up and unexpected half hour early or mom needs to cook dinner and Aiden won't play on his mat or in the exersaucer in the kitchen.  Blue's Clues is about the only show he will watch, but never fear!  With the DVR, Blue's Clues comes on any moment of the day!

EIGHT



FISHER PRICE ROCKER

Now, I am not sure what the technical name is, but we call it the hammock in our house.  Two of my high school friends gave me this the week before I was due and it has been wonderful!  I have used this more than a bouncy seat.  It was especially helpful when we got home from the hospital in the weeks after having the c-section.  I did not have to bend down so far to pick Aiden up, which was a huge help!  I have also liked having Aiden higher off the floor, especially when I have had Aiden in the bathroom while I get ready and the kitchen while I cook.  It also rocks when Aiden cries or while he is playing and throwing his arms around!

NINE

  

PORTABLE DIAPER PAD

Oh the many places I have used this!  This is a little pad that folds up smaller than a placemat and stores diapers and wipes inside.  It has been great when we are on the go and we keep it in the diaper bag at all times. I love that this is something I can use one-handed.  I can unfold it and fold it up again while I have Aiden in my arms.  It has been so helpful in changing Aiden - especially in the places where there is no "family" bathroom or changing station.  (Even where there is, I put this on top of it)  I have used this to change Aiden's diaper in the stroller, in the car, and when we are over at friend's houses and they don't have babies. 

TEN



BABY PAPER

My sister gave Aiden one of these and it has been his favorite toy so far!  It is a small square of fabric (Aiden's is black and white striped) and inside is some type of paper that crinkles when Aiden plays with it in his hands.  Aiden still loves this toy, but he would not put it down around 3-4 months when he was discovering his hands.  The best part?  I can put it in the wash!  It was also a big help at our photo shoot when Matt and I were in the pictures with Aiden and could not help him smile.  Our photographer was able to hold it and the camera at the same time so Aiden would look at her rather than us.  Definitely a must-have toy!!!