Baby #2 Faves

One of the best things about having a child after your first, is that you know what you're doing (for the most part, I mean you kid is still alive and well taken care of right?). You also know what you like and what you didn't. Granted, every child is different and may prefer one paci or bottle over another, but you can navigate the aisles of any baby store like a pro to find what will work.

Most of what we used with Eleanor has been working with us, we purchased a few of the same things that needed to be replaced or bought the updated versions of them. That's another plus for the 2+ child is that you own most of the baby items you need!

Rock and Play : Ours is one of the OG styles and is no longer available, but now there's so many options and patterns to choose from! Ours is in perfect condition, but I would love the one I linked to that rocks itself, how magical is that? Me and all my mommy friends all swear by this and it's the first thing I tell new mommies they need to get. When checking out of the hospital with Emma, the baby doctor came by and had a picture of a Rock and Play and said that if we didn't already have one to stop on the way home to pick one up! I'm telling you, they're a must-have!

Zip Swaddler // Velcro Swaddler: We love swaddles for sleeping, both naps and overnight. I prefer these swaddles that make it super easy for me and hard for the baby to escape. We don't really have a preference for one over the other, the biggest differences is the zip is pretty tight whereas the velcro has some more wiggle room for Emma. The zip swaddle will be great when we start to transition out of swaddling since it opens on each side to let an arm out (I'll have to get a larger size when Emma is ready for that). She is actually outgrowing these right now and I'm going to pick up the next size this week for her.

Swaddling Blankets (first two, the next four, last three): One can never have enough blankets! I love them and went a bit overboard with Emma. We use them at home, when we're out, as a nursing cover, to throw over the carseat, to lay down for playtime, etc. There's so many uses and Ellie still uses hers all the time- for her babies, as a lightweight blanket for herself in the summer, and in the car. The top two blankets aren't as big, but the fabric is thicker. I like that they're a heavier fabric for cooler days and make a good transition blanket for the season. I also prefer my blankets to be large, over 40 inches each way.

Boppy (I have this and this slipcover): Anytime I nurse at home I use the Boppy. It's just the most comfortable way for me to nurse and it was the same with Eleanor too. I also brought it with me to the hospital for both babies, it was great for me to use and for visitors who wanted to hold the babies.

K'Tan: With Eleanor, I tried several carriers before finding this gem. It's super easy to use, I can put it on really quickly and by myself. With Ellie I used it mostly because it kept her calm and my hands free, but with Emma it's a whole new ball game. This is the only way we can go shopping! I put Ellie in the shopping cart and wear Emma at every store. It makes errand running so much easier! I'm thinking about picking up the breeze version too.

These are my tried and true favorites that worked for both our babies. I swear by these products and have been so happy with my experiences with them. It's only been two years since my first baby and so many of these items have been updated with new features, colors, or prints. I thought about getting some new items just for the updates, but I'd rather just save that money for college...or headbands.

What are your favorite baby items? What worked best for your growing family?

Baby Must Haves- Reviewing the Year

These last few weeks I’ve been thinking about my monthly Baby Must Haves and which products I shared that have really lasted the test of time. The idea first popped into my head to check back through the posts when I was nursing Ellie using our Boppy and then again when we cleaned out our garage and are storing some of the baby items for Baby #2 (whenever that happens).

Overall, I think my monthly must-haves were pretty accurate for that month and the items featured. I wanted to do a blog post on items that we have really used a lot, focusing on items that I used for several months and would consider as Baby Holy Grail items for our family. There are only a few items that didn’t stand the test of time and we only used them for a very short period. I’ll go over them in detail and why I feel like they’re just ok in a future post since this one is so long. I'm leaving out toys for now, those change so frequently, there are definitely some stand outs and I may do a future post on those too. Would you be interested?

Backpack Diaper Bag: We’ve used a backpack for Ellie since the beginning. A few people made comments to me about being such a “fashionista” that they were surprised that I would be using a backpack instead of some trendy bag, but I prefer to have my hands free. Plus, the pockets and extra storage is nice to have and it’s easy to switch between Matt and myself without having to either keep two bags stocked or switching items back and forth. Ok, so this wasn't featured in any of my must have posts, but I don't know why! I can't believe I've left it out and had to include it in this post!

Glider: We didn’t get a glider for several months, we were using an old school rocking chair and I think that is one of my biggest regrets. Get yourself a glider! They are so much nicer to sit and rock your child. We still use ours with Ellie, and I really wish we had bought one to start. I just didn’t think it would make that big of a difference for us. Looking back to when we were first home and I had to sleep on the couch sitting up for the first few nights, if we had a glider, my nights would have been 100% better. Get one from the start! This is another item I didn't post about in my must haves, but it is definitely a must have!

Boppy: I swear by my boppy! I used it from day one, it makes nursing so much easier for me. I have used a pillow as well, but prefer the boppy. Definitely take it with you to the hospital! It puts everyone at ease to hold such a little one in their arms. Originally posted in my very first monthly must have.

The First Years Sound Machine: This is another item we use everyday for naps and bedtime. Ellie doesn't need it to go to sleep (which is great!), but it blocks out the noise while we're doing stuff around the house. She knows it's time to sleep when the noise goes on. It's also the only night light in her room, it's a soft blue calming light. It's not very strong so it leaves her room pretty dark. It's also from the first monthly must have!

Thirty One Tote Bag: This was a gift from my baby shower and was also included in our 3 Month Must Haves, and we use it every single day! It’s the bag I use to prepare for daycare, food/extra outfit/toy/etc. We also use in conjunction with our diaper if we’re going somewhere and need extra storage. I also use it for church to carry a few items for Ellie. It’s nice that it’s a tote and has easy access to get into and the extra pockets on the side are convenient to hold my phone, extra pacis, and sippy cup. During the week when I tell Ellie that we’re ready to go, she gets her bag and tries to carry it herself, it’s the cutest thing! I need to get a picture of her doing it.

Taggies Tag 'n Go Cart Cover: This was from our 6 Month post, and we still use it! It's nice to have something covering the carts when we go out, especially when there's some sickness going around. We don't use it every single time, but 2/3 of our trips for sure. It's a great baby shower gift!

Fisher-Price My Little Snugabunny Bouncer: This was a gift from above! We used this so much and we're hanging on to it for the next baby! Featured in our 4 Month Must Haves, Ellie was very particular about what she was snuggled in and this was one of the few items she liked. It's on sale right now too!

Baby K'Tan Baby Carrier: Also included in the 3 Month post, I love this carrier and will still use it on my hip to carry Ellie. It's in great condition after all the washes and times we've used it. This would also be a great gift for a mommy to be. It's super easy to use and the best carrier we tried.

OxiClean Max Force Gel Stick: This is an absolute must-have! It's been 15 months of uh-ohs and I don't have a SINGLE article of clothing with a stain. This stuff is the bomb. It gets out everything and has never bothered our little girl's skin. Included in our 2 Month Must Haves.

Fisher-Price My Little Snugabunny Cradle Swing: A swing is a need in baby days. I've also heard great things about the Momaroo, but have never tried it myself. This is the swing that we have and enjoyed, but I think most swings will get the job done. Included in our 2 Month Must Haves.

Muslin Blankets: The word on the street is right, muslin blankets are the best! They're big, soft, and great for use year-round. We have several from different brands, but my favorite are these from Carter's. We still keep one in the diaper bag, it's great to cover her when she's sleeping, to put on the floor when she's playing, etc. My 2 Month Must Haves, was on point since these last three items are from that post!

What are some of your Mommy Holy Grail items? Am I missing something from my list? Did these items work for you? If not, what and why not? I love hearing what items are must haves from other mommies!

Buyer's Remorse + Monthly Must-Reads

Buyers Remorse - have you purchased anything recently that you wish you hadn't? What is it and why do you regret buying it?

This month's question is such a good one! Don't we all have those moments where you are so excited to buy something, or you buy something on impulse and just immediately regret afterwards? Those are the worst purchases. I hate when that happens and the guilt and disappointment that follows. Ugh.

I've been pretty good about buying items that are versatile in my closet, can be worn to work or out with my family and friends. However, remember those late night shopping sprees I've been on while nursing during the night? Well, a purchase bit me in the butt.

These earrings were added to my cart from Very Jane because I thought they'd be easy to wear and could be worn any day with just about any outfit. When I got them in, they looked really cheap. I usually don't go for gems that have that iridescent look to them, but the pictures of them alone and on the model's ear looked so good I just went for them. They're just not my style though. I was pretty disappointed in their quality and I haven't worn them and really don't ever plan to. I've been happy with all of my purchases from their site, so I consider this just a fluke.

Another regret purchase is the Moby Wrap. Well, I didn't purchase it, it was gifted to me from my baby shower and I was so freaking excited for it. I'm really interested in baby wearing and thought that this wrap would be the best option for us.Like I mentioned in my Baby Must-Haves for 3 Months, it's like rocket science trying to figure it out. I read and re-read the handout it comes with, watched several YouTube videos, and just couldn't get the hang of it. The baby stores should really offer a class on using it, no joke. I would have taken it in a heart beat. Instead, I was able to return it and bought the K'Tan and love it. It's super easy to use and can be used in several different ways. Ellie loves being wrapped in it and it's great to use when we're at the store or doing things around the house.

Have you had any buyer's remorse recently? How do you avoid it?

Also, if you have any pregnancy or post-partum questions for me, feel free to ask in this post and I'll be sharing my answers next week.


Question of the month from Ella: Buyers Remorse - have you purchased anything recently that you wish you hadn't? What is it and why do you regret buying it?

• Beautygirl24 - Noelle finally found the perfect pair of strappy sandals, and paired them with a pink pleated skirt.
• Ella Pretty - Ella's dream came true - she was invited to Breakfast at Tiffany's!
• Lindsay J Everyday - Lindsay couldn't help finding some baby shower inspiration on Pinterest.
• Love, Lipstick & Pearls - Kristen shared her experience with the Baby Blues after having Ellie.
• Schnelle Couture -  Danielle shares Aubrey's 5 & 6 Month favorites
• Sequins and Stilettos - Skylette paired shades of pastel here
• The Currently Obsessed - Mehreen is sharing her products she's used up... What would she rebuy?

Baby Must Haves: 3 Months

Month 3 has been so much fun!! Ellie is so alert and loves to look at everything around her. She’s rolled over from her back to her belly a few times all on her own, she loves chewing and sucking on her hands, being sung to, she loves to "talk", and she laughs and smiles all day. Her personality is really showing and I love seeing it develop each day. I try to look at the different cues and predict what type of a child and person she will be, what traits and such she’ll have. She’s also gotten really chunky, and I just love her little ham hock thighs! She's getting all breast milk now, we haven't had to supplement in a few weeks- which I'm just stoked about. I'll definitely be sharing more of our breastfeeding journey soon.

We’ve started a routine of Eat- Play- Sleep that my big sis told me about and it has really worked well for us. Before we were all willy nilly about naps and eating and we were both getting frustrated and overtired. I had tried doing this routine before, but I don’t think we were ready for it. I started it this past month and it worked like a charm!! Before, Ellie was never really napping during the day and now she takes 2-3 naps. I do feed her whenever she’s hungry and let her sleep if she’s tired, even if it doesn’t follow the E.S.P pattern, but she mostly follows the pattern all on her own. It’s easier for me to work my day around her schedule now that I know what to expect and it’s easier for her now that she has a good routine.

I started back to work on the 21st and Ellie started daycare last week. I cried my eyes out leading up to the days, but surprisingly it's been a somewhat easy transition. I think getting all my emotions out ahead of time really helped prepare myself. Also, having such an awesome daycare really eases me knowing how well Ellie is taken care of. She never cries when I drop her off or when we pick her up, so I know she enjoys going. It's definitely what's best for our family now. Thank you to everyone for all your sweet words of encouragement and tips for daycare and returning to work. 

Cotton Snap-Up Sleep & Play Pajamas
Now, after talking to other mommies, I may be the only one who prefers snap pajamas to zip ones. Here’s my reason: with buttons, I can unsnap just Ellie’s bottom half and not have to unzip her chest and bottom in order to change her diaper. I prefer keeping her comfortable and warm when changing her. She sleeps through the night, so I don’t have to fumble in my sleep to with the buttons, but even when she was waking up, I still preferred snap PJs.

Baby K'Tan Baby Carrier
I’m obsessed with this carrier. It makes life so easy and Ellie enjoys being wrapped up in it. I’m very interested in baby wearing and have bought 4 (!!!) carriers before finding this gem. It’s super easy to use and can be used for a few years before Ellie will out grow it. The Moby Wrap has to be the biggest let down of baby stuff I bought, it’s like rocket science trying to figure that thing out- even after watching a ton of YouTube videos! The K’Tan is a much simpler way to wear your baby with the same advantages as the Moby. Every momma needs this!

Infantino Twist and Fold Activity Gym
Ellie loves her play mat! This mat has extra loops to dangle the toys at different heights or to add on more toys using the Bright Starts Lots of Links. We seriously use this mat every single day several (hundred) times. We’re constantly changing out the toys and putting them at different heights so she doesn’t get bored. One aspect that I like about this mat is that it collapses and the matt rolls into itself for easy storage.

31 Bag
I was gifted the cutest navy and white striped bag with a hot pink monogram at my baby shower for Ellie. It’s nice having a large bag with pockets to tote around extras we may need for her. It’s come especially in handy now that we have started day care- I use it to bring her milk/cooler, extra outfits, and her favorite toys each day. An extra bag outside of your diaper bag is a must have, even just to keep in your car with extra diapers and wipes. Any bag would do, but I love these 31 Bags and how you can personalize them, plus they come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. They have several styles that would make for great diaper bags too.

Oball
Hands-down this is Ellie’s favorite toy. The balls are available in different shapes (like a football) and with or without the rattles. We have one of each and Eleanor prefers the rattle one. This toy is also a great occupational therapy toy since it stimulates several of your baby’s senses.

Bright Starts Lots of Links
When I first got these links, I didn’t really understand how to use them except to just link them to each other in a chain. I couldn’t help but think about what a boring toy that is for a child. Then it dawned on me to use them with her other toys and that’s part of the point of them. Duh. Blame it on the bleach sister. I like these links too for the fun colors and the different patterns on their sides to also help with sensory.

Crane Cool Mist Drop Shape Humidifier
Ellie has had a stuffy nose recently so we started sleeping with a humidifier at night. This is a cool mist which is neat, I remember how steamy and hot my family one was growing up. This humidifier also doesn’t use a filter- you just filler her up and turn her on. Ellie now no longer snores while she sleeps and is hardly stuffy at all during the day. Plus, my husband and I both have noticed how much more moisturized our skin has become since using it.

Sassy Inspire Vision Crib and Floor Mirror
Mirrors are like baby crack. Ellie loves looking at herself in the mirror and seeing the light reflect in it. Her playmat has a mirror attachment, but this mirror is much bigger and can be propped up by itself and has two loops to attach it elsewhere.

 

If you have any pregnancy or post-partum questions for me, feel free to ask in this post and I'll be sharing my answer in a future post.