Products to Survive the First Three Months

Today it finally feels like spring in Michigan. It's a beautiful day.  I took Grace to vote in the primary elections, we went to Meijer to stock up on essentials for daycare, she drank 3 bottles today (still "bottle bootcamp"), and she's napping peacefully in her crib.

It's a day like this where I think to myself, "I can handle this!  I can be a mom and a functioning adult.  I've survived newborn stage and now I have a real baby and I feel like a real mom!"

It's almost like I hibernated this winter.  The best possible hibernation, with the sweetest little baby bear, and now I'm emerging and ready to re-join the world, this time as a mom.

As I look back on those first three months of her life, there are a few products that I want to make note of, NOT forget about, and use when (if) we have a second child someday.

A note to remember: My sister in law, Colleen, told me when I was pregnant: "You're going to want a baby swing and a baby bouncer for sure." I nodded but honestly did not believe her.  A swing and a bouncer?? Sounded like useless clutter to me. I didn't know that a baby swing is actually more like a bassinet that rocks, and that would lull a baby to sleep (valuable, precious sleep)!  I didn't know that a bouncer is more like a safe yet entertaining place to set the baby down when you just can't hold her 24/7.  So, I didn't register for either of those.  When Colleen saw me a week after giving birth, she kindly offered me to borrow some of her baby gear, and I realized she was 100% right. You definitely need a bouncer and a swing!

Here is my list of products that helped us survive months 1-3:

Swaddled tightly in the swing =
recipe for good sleep

1.) The swaddle. And I don't mean the swaddle blankets they give you in the hospital.  The nurses are pros, and can tie those up tightly, but I never picked up that skill.  Maybe because I was also learning so many other skills all at once. I mean the kind of easy swaddle you can purchase.  Swaddling is vital to survival.

2.) The swing.  I'll admit I didn't want the swing in my house.  I didn't want ANY baby gear.  I thought it was tacky and unnecessary.  Boy was I wrong.  The swing is absolutely vital to survival.  Even now at three months, it's still useful to calm her down or when she's in need of a longer nap than she'll take in the crib.

3.) Lansinoh cream.  This was the best stuff for my poor poor nipples.  The pain for the first month of breastfeeding was excruciating at times.  We tried several creams, but this was the best for me.

4.) Desitin cream.  My poor baby will get diaper rash any time I don't use this.  I bought a few fancy organic diaper rash creams, but none of them worked as well as old fashioned Desitin.

5.) Outfits with footies and cuffs, and also baby mitts.  My baby came out of the womb scratching her face.

6.) Nursing tank tops.  These are amazing.  But honestly, by the second month, I just started going braless all day (on days that we weren't having visitors).  I wasn't leaving the house.  I wasn't trying to impress anyone but Grace, and she was very impressed with how much quicker she could get milk when there was no bra to fuss with.

7.) Baby bouncy seat.  This also was amazing (and something I previously thought unnecessary).  For new parents to sit and eat dinner, or start some laundry, the bouncy seat is perfect for babies.  It's different than the swing, because it's not meant to lull the baby to sleep.  It's supposed to be for awake time, when mom and dad just need a moment.

Nursing pillow: Used for lots more than just nursing!

8.) Nursing pillow.  Preferably in a neutral tone without any patterns or colors, because it's likely going to be in lots of pictures.

9.) The Rock and Play OR a bassinet!  A bassinet is nice because it's flat (to prepare for future crib sleeping) and can be reached easily from your own bed.  The Rock and Play is nice because it's on an incline (to help with reflux) and it can gently vibrate (babies love motion). Grace slept in the Rock and Play for the entire first three months of her life.

Now that she's officially three months, some of my current most used items now are: 1.) Merlin's Magic Sleepsuit! Seriously, that sleep suit has saved my life and it helped us transition her to sleep in the crib!  2.) Ergobaby carrier.  It is the easiest and sturdiest of all baby carriers.  I love it. 3.) Video baby monitor.

I always knew that the first three months would be challenging.  And it turns out that the cheesy "clutter" of baby gear is actually totally worth it.

Grace is growing more and more each day.  So I'm off to find out from Colleen what gear I'll need for ages 3-6 months.  And this time I'll trust her off the bat!