Baby Shower Gift Idea

We had a small baby boom amongst our friends (us included) not too long ago, and another friend of ours has a baby on the way. I am by no means an expert on babies, what they need, what's best for them, or the best way to care for them, however, I have discovered a few things that have really helped us out these past three months. *Greyton was 3 months old yesterday!

For our friend who has a baby on the way, I was thinking about making them a gift bag with some of my favorite baby items. For each item I'll add a little note with whose favorite thing it was (ie. mommy, daddy or baby) and why we loved it. I'll pack all of the items in an L.L.Bean tote with baby's name on it.

I'll take a photo of the finished gift once I get everything together.

Here is my list...

• L.L.Bean tote bag - great for when you have a bring a few things in somewhere with you and don't want to take the entire diaper bag.
• InchBug bottle labels - even if the baby does not go to day care, these are great for when there is more then one baby around.
• Kids II® Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes
• Manhattan Toy Winkel Color Burst Infant Toy
• Vulli® Sophie Giraffe Soft Rubber Toy - every baby needs a fancy, expensive 'dog toy'!
• Baby pain reliever and gas relief drops - gas drops are a must have!
• Kiddopotamus® SwaddleMe® Small Organic Adjustable Infant Wrap - our baby slept in the Bobby Lounger for the first month and a half, not the SwaddleMe is our saving grace at night
• Dr. Brown's Natural Flow Bottle Drying Rack - not pretty or fun, but who wants to dry bottles when they can air dry... takes a step out of bottle washing
• White Gloves and Party Manners - great book for a little girl!
• Natural Nipple Butter - enough said!

Anything else you think I should add? What was your favorite baby item?

Diaper Bag Pack List

We are movers and shakers and have a tough time for sitting still too long so we travel (not long-distances). Like I've said before I ALWAYS feel the need to be as prepared as possible for anything that may pop up. I have a few different pack lists for different events: daily, always in car, fully stocked diaper bag (Stays in the car most of the time, but I can bring it in places too.) and weekend. I have our fully stocked diaper bag in my car at all times, but a lot of times I don't carry it because I don't need to have it on me, just in close proximity.

Daily:

*We really don't need very much because Greyton goes to day care. When I pick him up, we are headed home, or I have his fully stocked diaper bag in the car in case I need anything.

-Medela® Pump in Style Advanced Breast Pump with On-the-Go Tote - It sounds crazy, but I work about an hour from home, so I pump every day on my way to and from work. Don't judge! You have to get it in when you can.
          -extra batteries
          -Medela Quick Clean Breastpump and Accessory Wipes
-L.L.Bean Softpack Cooler, Personal  - I put enough empty bottles to pump into. It also keeps his milk cold when I am on my way home with full bottles.
-Munchkin® Cool Wrap Bottle Bag - I put Grey's pre-filled bottles in this for him to have at daycare. I just leave the bag with full bottles and pick up the bag with empty bottles at the end of the day. (They even wash the bottles for me, which is great!)

Always in the car:

*His fully stocked diaper bag is in the car or with me at all times, but I always keep one things in my car at all times.

-diaper wipes! - They have so many uses.

Fully stocked diaper bag:

*With me or in the car at all times. We tend to decide last minute to go to the lake or something for the weekend and I don't want to worry about forgetting anything or having to pack everything at one time, which is another reason I keep the fully stocked diaper bag in the car at all times.

-L.L.Bean Carryall Tote Bag - great bag with a ton of pockets!
-hand sanitizer - travel size & attached to the zipper
-baby medications - prescriptions, baby Tylenol, teething gel, benadryl, gas drops, thermometer, vaseline, neosporin, first aid kit & thermometer
-plastic bags - for dirty diapers
-bibs (3)
-blanket
-extra bottle - bottle does not stay in the bag at all times. I bring a bottle for him incase he gets hungry while we are out.
-burp cloths (2)
-onesies (3) - in case of an accident
-changing pad
-diapers - 1 for every hour you are out. I always keep about 5 in there so I don't have to re-stock it or grab diapers every time we leave.
-diaper rash cream
-dreft pen
-lovie - a very small blanket with silky edges
-hair brush
-hat
-lotion
-nursing pads
-wipes
-nipple butter (for breast feeding)
-pacifiers (3) - in pacifier pocket
-pacifier wipes
-socks
-nasal aspirator
-sunscreen
-sophie
-Kids II® Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes - Grey LOVES this
-mom bag - (tiny cosmetic bag) chapstick, mints, ony tail holders, wisps, bobby pins, lotion, snack & waller)

Weekend Trips

*My fully stocked diaper bag is in the car already.

-milk
-bottles - some filled, some empty
-extra blankets - 1 thin, 1 thick
-Fisher-Price Newborn Rock 'n Play Sleeper - We don't feel comfortable with Grey sleeping with us so we use this. It's perfect for him to sleep in and even folds up nicely.
-diapers - in addition to the ones in his diaper bag
-toys
-sleepers (2)
-onesies - if I think he'll need more than the 3 already in his bag
-SwaddleMe
-Baby Carrier Original - We have discovered that it is easier for us to use this, then have to carry him everywhere or pull the stroller in and out of the car.

Packing for the Hospital... (Back Tracking a Little Bit)

I am one of those women that MUST be prepared (or feel prepared at all times). Don't get me wrong, I like surprises, but I like making sure that I always have everything I need. You never know when you'll get cold, have an upset stomach, etc....

So when it was time to pack for our hospital trip to give birth to Greyton, you better bet that I googled, researched & asked my doctor to tell me EVERYTHING that I may need at the hospital. Through my Googling (I Google EVERYTHING!) I determined that I needed to pack everything in my house, including the kitchen sink! My sister, who is a nurse in labor and delivery, told me I didn't need to bring anything for the baby but his going home outfit. For me I needed toiletries, pajamas, a robe, slippers, a hair dryer & make-up. Well, that's a lot less than what all might Google said, so I asked my doctor. My doctor said exactly what my sister said.... So that's what I did. Of course I included a few extras, just in case.

Here's my packing list for the hospital...

1. robe: I thought I would need this to cover up some in case I had to walk the halls or anything. Greyton was as healthy as an ox, so I never even used my robe.

2. toiletries: a MUST! The first thing I wanted to do, when I was able to of course, was shower. I wanted the best shower possible while in a hospital shower, so I brought ALL of my toiletries, including serums, face & body lotions. *I felt like a new woman after my shower!

3. toothbrush & toothpaste: self explanatory

4. make-up, pony tail holders, hair dryer, brush: (I wish I would have brought my straightener or curling iron.) A lot of visitors were in and out of our room, so I wanted to look at least halfway decent for all of the photos that I knew would be taken.

5. going home outfit for me: I just brought a comfy cotton dress. I wanted to be comfortable, not wear anything too restricting and look halfway decent.

6. slippers: Much like the robe, I didn't walk the halls while at the hospital, so I didn't use my slippers at all. I just wore flip flops once I had cleaned up.

7. going home outfit for baby

Other random must haves: camera, video camera, chargers.

That was the extent to what I packed/needed at the hospital.

A list of things I didn't need and a short why:

pillow from home: I didn't want hospital germs on my pillow!
boppy: again plenty of pillows at the hospital
baby needs: nothing... you are in a hospital that cares for babies every day. I promise they have everything you need.

Keeping Track of Baby

One A few of the things I was a little nervous about when I found out we were having a baby was... What if I forget to feed him? Do I really need to keep track of how many times he pooped? How do I know if his poop is the right color? Has he slept enough?... The list could go on & on.

I thought keeping track of his feedings & 'diaper usage' were only things that over protective moms did. Boy was I wrong... baby's feedings & 'diaper usage' tell parents a lot about their babies health. I received an itzbeen Pocket Nanny as a baby gift, but I took it back. I can simply just write things down. I did not think I would really need an itzbeen to tell me my baby is hungry. Fortunately, before baby arrived I found the Similac® Baby Journal app. It works perfectly for us & comes with an added bonus, it's FREE! Greyton is strictly a breastfed baby via bottle (For all of the exclusively breast fed moms, I have incredible amounts of respect for you! Breastfeeding was great at first, then got harder & harder. I could not get past the pain.), so this app helps me keep track of how much I am pumping daily.

Don't let the name fool you. The app allows you to keep track of your breast feeding & pumping as well. The app features all of these helpful tools:

• Feeding Trends - See feeding duration graphs and important stats, such as average time between feedings, average amounts consumed, average duration, and total bottles.
• Feeding Journals - Whether you breastfeed or bottle feed, the Baby Journal app makes it easy to track the details. Plus, it can link you to feeding tips and connect you to a live Feeding Expert.
• Record the Length of Each Nap - Predict the next nap time and duration, and see at a glance when your baby starts sleeping longer at night.
• Record Diaper Details - Track your baby's diapers for stool color and consistency. Use the mobile version of the Diaper Decoder to be sure everything is OK, or if your doctor should be notified.
• Track Key Developmental Indicators - Keep track of important physical characteristics such as weight, length, and head circumference.

NOTE: All of the app information was taken directly from Similac's website.

If you do not think the app is for you, check out stylebabyLOG. I just stumbled upon this log a few days ago & it appears to be perfect to keep track of  baby. This helps you keep track of baby by writing everything down in a spiral notebook. Very stylish, might I add!

Baby 'It' List

Stuff, stuff, & more stuff! Who new going through pregnancy and preparing for a baby was similar to preparing for a major catastrophic event! My husband & I were told we needed 'this', had to have 'that' & would never survive without 'this. We purchased or tried everything we could get our hands on. Do you really need it all? You need some of it, but what works for some will not work for others. Side note: I wanted to have everything new so I made sure we had 'EVERYTHING' we needed in the newest model. Luckily a dear friend of mine just had a baby as well and offered us a lot of things their baby grew out of & the items were still fresh on the market! (Thanks Magen!)
One recommendation I can give you is, if you think you may need it, register for it! You can always return the things that you don't need & use the gifts cards to buy the things you do need (like diapers!). Check out the registry check-lists that almost every online & in-store baby registry provides to use as a guide. As friends what works for them too!

Below are the things that worked best for me/us so far during pregnancy & mommy hood. Some things that come highly recommended & I'm sure work are not on the list for the sheer fact that I just did not need them. (I really wanted to try to the Preggie Pops, but I just never really needed them.)

These 'reviews' are my own personal opinion...

For the Preggers...

• I used Mama Mia Tummy Rub Stretch Mark Oil & Mama Mia Boob Tube and still got a few stretch marks... I guess they could have been worse, but I believe there is something else on the market that would work better. If we are lucky enough to have a next time, I will try Palmer's Cocoa Butter. I've heard this is fantastic.
• I did not really start 'showing or not being able to fit into my regular clothes until really late in my pregnancy. (This is not bragging. Once my belly came out, there was no stopping it!) I used the classic hair tie to hold my jeans together that would not button. I ended up buying one pair of demi panel & one pair of full panel jeans and they got me through my entire pregnancy. I wore A LOT of dresses. Dresses were the most comfortable for me one I got 'BIG'.
• A must have for me was the Leachco Snoogle Total Body Pillow or what my husband calls 'Felix'. I believed the pregnancy body pillow was a scam until I got to be about 6-7 months along and would have paid someone ALOT of money to be able to sleep better. Felix took up a lot of room in our bed, but he was well worth it!

For the Hospital...

• We did not being anything special to the hospital for myself or the baby. My sister is a nurse in L&D & said the hospital would provide everything I needed for the baby (and they did!) The only thing I brought for Greyton was his car seat & going home outfit. I packed my toiletries, a few sets of pajamas & nursing tanks, make-up & what I needed to fix my hair with. Once Greyton arrived & I was able to shower, fixing myself up to look 'normal' meant the world to me. I felt like a brand new person!

Recovering at Home...

(I won't describe why these things were great, but they worked for me!)

• I had a very easy recovery. I just took care of myself & religiously did what the doctor told me to do to help myself heal.
• Tucks pads were a keeper & not just for hemorrhoids. You can even put them in the refrigerator too keep them cool.
• Pads. Let's be honest you need these. I didn't use a certain brand. None of them are appealing to me and are always too bulky.

For the Newborn...

These are for the first 6 weeks after baby comes home.

• Pack N Play This is used as a changing station in our living room. Our 'main' living space is on the opposite side of the house that the nursery is on, so this was a back saver! I put everything he needed during the day in it and changed him on the changing pad that sits on top of it.
• Sheet saver I didn't have this on his crib at the beginning and of course he wet through his diaper one night. It is not fun changing the sheets on a crib! This is a must from now on.
• Boppy® Newborn Lounger Love this! I know it says not to let baby sleep in it, but Greyton slept in this during the day & at night. *We had to take it out of his crib when he was about 6 weeks because I was afraid he would roll out of it.
• Changing pad. We have a cover for it, but since our little guy's nursery is very neutral, we do not even use the cover. This makes for easier clean up!
• Monitor
• Swaddle Me While Greyton was sleeping in his Boppy Newborn Lounger I didn't swaddle him and he slept just fine. When we took it out of his crib, I started swaddling him because he was waking himself up.
• Dr. Brown's standard bottles I had a big debate between the standard vs. the wide mouth. I was told the wide mouth more closely resembled nursing, however, they leak (FYI: Mine didn't leak). I got a set of both, but ended up sticking with the standard because I could pump into them.
• Lansinoh® Breast milk Storage Bags
• Dr. Brown's Bottle Drying Rack During the day, once Greyton finishes a bottle, I just throw it in the sink in warm soapy water. At the end of the day, I clean them with a sponge and sit them on the rack to dry.
• Fisher Price® Newborn Rock 'n Play Sleeper This is great to use instead of a pack-n-play. It's a lot easier to travel with and is tilted put a little for the baby.
• My Little Snugabunny Bouncer by Fisher-Price®
• Car seat seat protector No one wants indentions in their leather from the carseat...
• Play mat. We purchased this one, but Greyton likes this one better. Which makes since, the one he likes plays music & has a mobile that moves.
• Burp cloths. The pre-folded diapers work the best. We got a 10 pack of them and had them monogrammed & embroidered to dress them up.
• Bob stroller. The stroller was a tough one for us. We had no clue what we needed or wanted. After a lot of asking around we settled on this one. It will be great when it cools off a little & I can take the little guy for walks & it has a lot of great accessories. I am a big fan of gender neutral baby items so we can use them if we are blessed with a little girl in the future.
• Soothies pacifiers & WubbaNubs. These are the only pacifiers Greyton likes. Before he came along I thought babies being paci particular was a myth, however, it is true for us. Don't go paci crazy because some babies only like certain pacis, Greyton being one of them.
• Diaper caddy
• Mustela Cleansing and Soothing Wipes are my favorite wipes. They are the softest & smell the best as well.
• Gas drops!

For Bath Time...

• We use all Aveeno products.
• A bath tub similar to this was loaned to us from a friend & it's been great so far.

For Breastfeeding...

• We decided not to purchase a pump until we were sure that my milk would come in & I was able to breastfeed. Honestly, I did not do much research on pumps but the Medela® Pump in Style Advanced Breast Pump with On-the-Go Tote had great reviews & works perfectly for taking to and from work.
• I am fortunate enough to have a very understanding boss who lets me pump at work. Which means I need a cooler to bring my milk home in. This cooler from LL Bean works great for me. (Plus I already owned it!
• Boppy. We were informed that this is a must have for breastfeeding baby.
• Medela storage tubes have been great since the beginning. They were great for small amounts of milk when I first started pumping & now I can use 1 of the tubes & a 4 oz. bottle to pump into.
• I use Lansinoh Breast Milk Storage Bags to freeze excess milk. They freeze flat and I store them in gallon zip lock bags.
• When I was exclusively breastfeeding, Medela Contact Nipple Shields helped our little guy latch on & it was more comfortable to me.
• Disposable nursing pads. I was afraid the reusable nursing pads would go to laundry lost & found like my husbands socks, so I prefer the disposal ones.
• My all time favorite breastfeeding accessory, Earth Mama Angel Baby Natural Nipple Butter. Works great one sore, cracked nipples! Lanolin felt too thick & did not go on as smoothly. You can even use the nipple butter as a moisturizer for your skin!
• I have yet to find a nursing bra that I like & I am not a fan of nursing tops, so I have been strictly a nursing tank girl. I will be trying this one soon, so I'll keep you posted on how I like it. {Addition 8.27.12: LOVE this nursing bra. Very comfortable and the best fitting one I have found so far!}

For Solid Feeding...

(We are not there yet, but thanks to some research & styleberryBLOG, these are the things I think we'll need/want)

• Stainless Steel Vegetable Steamer for making large batches of baby food.
• A blender. (Not just for margaritas anymore!)
• Spatulas for scraping food out of the blender & this one to help clean up the ice trays.
• Beaba baby food containers. I think these will be great to put frozen food in to warm and serve.
• A flexible ice cube tray. styleberryBLOG recommends this one to freeze food in.
• Zo li for on the go feedings.
• Beaba spoons, bento box, & bowls.
• BABYBJORN® Soft Bib to hopefully catch all of the food that does not quite make it to his mouth.
• Munchkin Snack Catchers for baby self feeding.
• KLIP IT Split Snack Container for snacks.
• Tovolo Perfect Cube Silicone Ice Cube Tray for making and freezing baby food.
• Sippy cups are TBD...

For Mom on the Go...

• BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier Original. My husband loves this because sometimes it is just easier to strap the baby onto you instead of having to lug around his car seat or carry hip in your arms.
• Pacifier wipes. This may be a first time mom kind of thing, but I want to make sure his pacis are clean before they go into his mouth.
• Diaper bag. For contents view this post.
• Baby Einstein Baby Take Along Tunes Infant. Is great! It takes baby from crying to going in no time!

For the Car...

• Car seat seat protector
• Shopping for a car seat for a first time mom is extremely over whelming! The guy at BuyBuyBaby (who could not have been older than 21) seemed to know everything about car seats & recommended this one.

For Traveling Long Distance...

• We purchased a PeaPod® Indoor/Outdoor Travel Bed for our trips to the lake so the little guy could be outside for longer periods of time & stay cool. I'll let you know how this works out...

Wardrobe Staples...

• Onesies, onesies & more onesies!

 Top Toys by Age...

• Newborn, play mat
• 0-3 Months...

For Daycare...

• Anything that is monogrammed or personalized always wins in my book, but the Bumpy Name Labels are cute & ensure your bottles will not get mixed up with the baby next door's.

Teething...

• We are not here yet, however, I plan on using Baby Teething Feeder for Solid Foods and freezing milk on a binky in a bottle lid. I'll let you know how these work out.

If you have any suggestions please fill free to chime in! This post will be updated everytime I have more baby gear info.