1 month at home with our baby!?
I’m not sure how it’s possible, but apparently we’ve been parents for a whole month now! We’ve been soaking up all the time at home, with tons of baby snuggles and what doesn’t just seem like, but actually is a never ending cycle of diaper changers. Through that time I like to think we’ve learned a lot, but mostly we’ve gotten a lot of great advice and help from our friends and family! It’s surprising to me the items that have been such a big help, some are pretty obvious and talked about a ton, while others I only heard about from 1 or 2 people.
Some of the obvious items like diapers, swaddles, soothers, a bassinet, and sleepers (get the ones with the double zippers, you’ll thank yourself) have gotten a ton of use. But, let’s focus on some of the newborn essentials that were a bit less talked about!
Newborn Essentials Not Talked About Enough
1. Haakaa Ladybug Milk Collector: This thing will save your clothes! It suctions onto your breast, while you feed on the other, catching any milk let down you may have. I didn’t use this at hospital and my nightgowns were covered in milk pretty darn quickly. Plus having the extra milk stored for top ups is handy!
2. Medela Contact Nipple Shield: I had a really hard time getting Arlow to latch onto feed at first. Combine an over tired momma, with a hangry baby and there becomes a lot of frustration pretty quickly! These made it so much easier for Arlow to feed. I don’t know if they helped “shape” my nipples to make it easier for him to latch, but I used them for the first couple weeks and we’ve had no issues since! Plus they are nice to have incase your nipples need a little break!
3. Medela Pump In Style Double Electric Breast Pump: This isn’t the exact one I have (I have the older version), but I am so so grateful my lovely sister in law let me borrow this! Being able to pump so that John can also bottle feed Arlow has been amazing! This gives him the time to bond with Arlow in that way, and me some free time to either shower or sleep or do something I can’t with a baby attached to me! They’re a pricy unit, so if you can borrow one, or get one used, all the parts except the tubing (which you can buy replacement tubing for cheap) can be sterilized!
4. Momcozy Hands Free Pumping Bra: This is the thing no one talked about! While pumping makes it easier for your future self, actually pumping is a pain in the butt if you have to sit there and hold both the bottles. You can slip the shields into the bra so that they stay suctioned to you, with out having to hold them.
5. Baby Brezza Bottle & Breast Pump Sterilizer Dryer: This was a gift from our lovely friends and I’m so grateful! If you plan to bottle feed at all, this is such a time saver! You can sanitize and dry your bottles (and breast pump parts) in 45 minutes with the click of a button. No standing over the stove watching water boil!
6. Boppy-Nursing-Pillow-and-Positioner: Again, we were lucky enough to have one of our amazing friends give us this! It is a real back saver for breastfeeding and for holding baby for long periods of time. And here’s the link to the cover: Boppy Organic Fabric Nursing Pillow Cover
7. 3 in 1 Power Failure Night Light with Integrated Flashlight: This may seem like a weird one, but having motion activated night lights around the house has been such a help with all those newborn night feedings! This way we can still see while walking around to change him, get a bottle, etc. But you don’t have to be blinded by normal lights. I don’t know if everyone feels this way, but keeping the lights dim helps me not fully wake up too, so much easier to go back to sleep.
8. Electric Kettle Water Boiler & Warmer: Not needing to wait for the kettle to boil to heat up a bottle at 3am is just magical. Plus we also use this to make tea and coffee through out the day!
