Each week I'll be sharing my musings on motherhood. As we wind up our fourth trimester here, I wanted to share a few things things I couldn't live without over the last couple months.
I saw this on a friend's instagram while I was pregnant and waited until they had a sale to pick one up. These Milk Snob nursing covers double as carseat covers and I couldn't be more obsessed. They have a snug fit, protect your babe from the elements, and allow you to easily check on the babe without removing the entire cover. Plus, they keep strangers away from your little one. I love it so much, I bought two - the fun safari print here and plain black. I also have my eye on this one. My little man loves to stare at the animals and it totally calms him down. Plus if he's snoozin' when we go some place, the cover helps keep him that way! I could go on and on, but trust me, I love our Milk Snob.
I've mentioned it before, but with a new baby, showers become a luxury. I only wash my hair a couple times a week but having some dry shampoo on hand is essential during those first months. Add a little blush and mascara, and you'll feel like a whole new woman.
There are SO many apps out there and I will probably do a future post about all my favorites, but the WebMD Baby App is great for the first weeks because of the tracking feature. Keeping track of feedings and diapers can be difficult when you are working off no sleep. This app syncs between both our phones and it's easy to see when the little one last ate or had a poopy diaper. Plus it's free!
Once our kiddo hit about one month, he was much more alert and ready to look at more than just mama. This play mat has plenty for him to look at and keep him interested. The day he discovered he can kick the sides and make the things move was awesome. He thinks it's just the coolest. And so do we.
For a while, the Rock 'N Play was the only place our little man would sleep. It's about as simple as these rockers get. There are a lot of versions out there that light up and rock 50 different ways, but that seemed like overkill for us. We just wanted something that would keep our guy movin' when our backs gave out. This fits the bill. We are now slowly weaning him out of it and it makes me a little sad that he's growing so fast!
It is well documented on this blog that I am a voracious reader. So of course, I had to include at least one book on my list. This book is great because you absolutely don't need to read it all. It's great as a reference when you have a question about something and don't want to google it. i.e. Is it normal for my kid to get the hiccups every day? Answer: yes.
Date Night
via Spoon and Stable
We took a baby prep class at our hospital and while I didn't find it overly helpful, we did walk away with one excellent piece of advice: Plan a date night at six weeks. Turns out that was the perfect timing for me to be ready to leave the babe with my folks and have a nice dinner with K. We talked mostly about becoming parents, but it was lovely to put the focus back on our marriage. So make a reservation, put it in your calendar, and go out, no matter what.
Alright, so those are just a few of my fourth trimester essentials. Obviously, every baby and couple is different so what works for you might not work for the next person. But, I love reading recommendations whether I take the advice or not!
What are/were your essentials during the first months of motherhood?
xoxo,
Alex
Alright, so those are just a few of my fourth trimester essentials. Obviously, every baby and couple is different so what works for you might not work for the next person. But, I love reading recommendations whether I take the advice or not!
What are/were your essentials during the first months of motherhood?
xoxo,
Alex
Anything I could eat with one hand :) Protein bars, apples, almonds, chocolate! I don't think I ate a real meal for the first month, unless someone else had prepared it, and even then, I barely had a chance to eat between nursing, consoling, etc...and I fully agree on the dry shampoo! Showers are usually still restricted to 2 minutes long - who has time to wash and blow dry? My app of choice is: the wonder weeks - based on the developmental leaps babies go through :)
ReplyDeleteYes! I think I've lived off popcorn and fudge bars when I wasn't able to make a salad or sandwich! Someday when our babes are grown we'll take long showers again!
DeleteThe boba wrap- I am obsessed. Both baby #1 and baby #2 have instantly fallen asleep in it, and I have used it while cooking, going through airports, or long walks. It's especially helpful during fussy periods- immediately calmed my babies down.
ReplyDeleteI love babywearing! I'm putting together a future post about my favorite three. being able to go hands free is a must sometimes!
DeleteI think our babies are about the same age - our lil PK is 11 weeks right now.
ReplyDeleteI am with you on the Rock n play: we still use it for naps (but will be moving to the fisherprice ultra lite day and night play yard for naps soon) and had him sleeping in his crib at nights at month 2 (elevate one side of the crib mattress with a pillow underneath it to help transition from rocknplay).
Play mat also was a good one at 1 month for us too.
We didn't use any apps or a car seat cover - but a car seat mirror so you can see the baby while you drive - a MUST! Also, for the first 3 months the Halo Sleepslack swaddle was fantastic. Our hospital sent us home with one.
Hi Sage! We just hit 11 weeks today! We're starting our crib transition next week - he's been napping in it but it's time for the overnight. Hopefully he's more ready than I am! And those sleepsack swaddles are gold, aren't they?!
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