September 1, 2021
5 things you might not think to put on your registry
Help a Mama Out | Part One
I remember being so hungry for information leading up to having my babies. I read so many blogs and asked my mama friends so many questions because I realized that the best way to learn is to listen to other women who have gone before me. I don’t claim to be an expert, but after keeping two tiny humans alive and well, I have made mental note of things that really helped me and I would love to share them with you!
This is the first of five blog posts that I will be sharing in this series! These are mostly just quick lists of my favorite things for various aspects of being a mom. I hope you find them helpful!
So today we are starting with….
5 Things You Might Not Think to Put on Your Registry
There are a TON of baby “must haves” on the market and it’s hard to know what you will actually need. There are some obvious ones that everyone will recommend (a bouncy seat, sound machine, Doc-A-Tot, etc.) But I found that some of the items that I have LOVED and used the most are ones that not many people talked about. I really appreciated getting recommendations from my friends about items they used and loved so I thought I would share 5 things that we have been really grateful to have!
1 .Taking Cara Babies Newborn Class
In my opinion, this is hands down THE best investment you will make for your baby! (and by *investment* I’m only talking $80!) This video course is so easy to understand and implement! Cara helps explain how to help lay a solid sleep foundation for your baby from very early on and gives you the tools you need to have your baby sleeping through the night. (She also has a fantastic name, just saying!) In my opinion, this is just as much for YOU as it is for your baby. A baby who sleeps well, means a mama who sleeps well. And you can’t put a price tag on that!
People have a lot of misconceptions about sleep training so I think it’s helpful to know the following about this course:
1. This does not involve crying it out!
2. Cara is a big believer in a flexible routine vs. a rigid schedule. You will not be house bound by your baby’s schedule!
3. There is so much grace in her method! Cara gives you tools to use, but always affirms that YOU are the best mama for this baby and that you have to do what works for YOU.
4. Cara has years of experience as a labor and delivery nurse and her husband is a pediatrician, so she is very well qualified to teach on this topic! She includes a lot of the science behind sleep training which I found super interesting and helpful to understand.
Click HERE to take a look at the course!
2. A Velcro Swaddle
We specifically loved the Ollie Swaddle. We called this our “little baby straight jacket” because that’s basically what it is! Haha. It keeps the baby so nice and snug and is a huge component in getting them to take longer naps and sleep through the night.
Also, this particular swaddle is designed to grow with your baby, so it can potentially be the only swaddle you’ll ever need!
Click HERE to check it out!
3. Puracy Stain Remover
I’m not exaggerating at all when I say that there is NOTHING that stains like baby poop. Even just the smallest bit will leave a noticeable yellow spot on that cute outfit. This is my tried and true stain remover that has worked on every single stain I’ve used it on. See that picture of me? Every bit of that came out! *mind blown*
My favorite part about this product is that it is non-toxic. Super tough on stains but gentle enough to use on baby clothes. I have a bottle on my changing table, in my laundry room, and I even bought a sample size bottle that I keep in my diaper bag for those on the go blow outs.
Click HERE to grab a bottle!
4. Owlet Smart Sock Monitor
Being able to keep an eye on my baby’s heart rate and oxygen levels after we put them down gave us so much peace of mind. There are so many things you worry about as a mom, and I was so grateful to have this tool to reassure me that my kiddos were ok (and kept me from checking on them every 5 minutes), especially after we moved them into their own rooms.
The sock connects to an app on your phone and you can easily pull up the readings at any time. It will also alert you if the oxygen level dips too low or the heart rate goes above or below a certain threshold.
It is an investment up front but is 100% worth it and once you have it, you can use it for other babies down the road.
Click HERE to take a look.
5. Stocking your medicine cabinet!
You don’t realize you need these things until you need them and don’t have them! I’m all about being prepared and it has been incredibly helpful to have some basic things on hand for when the need arises. And it usually comes at super inconvenient times, after stores have closed, so trust me, you’ll be SO grateful to have a stash on hand! Here are a few of my faves:
Simethicone Drops – I SWEAR by these! Some baby’s tummies are super sensitive. If you are breastfeeding, you may find that your baby will sometimes react to something that YOU ate. There’s nothing so sad as a screaming baby with a bloated tummy. These gas drops help neutralize those painful bubbles in their bellies and really help calm them down. There were multiple times where we tried everything else to get our baby to stop crying but nothing was helping. Then we gave them some gas drops and within minutes, they had settled down. Now I always have a bottle at home and in my diaper bag!
Wellements Tooth Oil – This is made from essential oils and helps soothe little gums when they are teething. This is my go to before I start using meds.
Side note: Wellements has a ton of great products so keep that name in mind! Target and Walgreens both carry a lot of their items. They are one of the ONLY brands I have found that makes a cough syrup safe for kiddos under 12mo.
Zarbees Immune Support – Another natural supplement I love to have on hand! It’s safe for babies 2 months and older. Definitely a staple during cold and flu season!
Probiotic Drops – Probiotics are good for so many reasons! I like THIS one because it is organic, shelf stable, and contains 4 live strains.
Ibuprofen – It’s not my preference to use over the counter pain meds, but I like to have them on hand just in case! Once my kiddos hit 6mo, I prefer Ibuprofen to acetaminophen. It not only targets pain but also inflammation and is gentler on the liver. Plus, it’s a smaller, less frequent does which makes it easier for babies who don’t take meds well.
Acetaminophen – I like the Genexa brand because it’s free from a lot of the unnecessary, artificial ingredients that main brand formulas have.
Well, there you go! These things might not be as cute and trendy as that darling outfit or stylish diaper bag you just added to your registry, but I promise you will be so thankful to have these items at your finger tips when that sweet little one joins the fam!
Click HERE to see more of her work.