The Necessities: Part 2

I said I'd try to follow up when I could remember, so here it is: installment #2!

• Travel Sleep Toy--We have the Sleep Sheep and the Sleep Giraffe. Both are worth their weight in gold! When B was born, one was in his crib and the other in his bassinet in our room downstairs. Once he stared daycare, the sheep went with him (he LOVES the ocean whale sound!). During his hospital visit and travels over Thanksgiving, the giraffe went along. It's great to have in the car or on the stroller for those days when he's just fussy. I've accidentally hit it on the car seat before and even though we had a 5 minute drive home, it knocked him out! Here it is in the hospital with Bennett:

• The picture leads us to #2: the Wubanub pacifier! I didn't believe it was the best until B was about 3 months old, and now I truly believe it! One: it's easier to find; Two: it's easier for him to grip/push into his mouth since it has more substance (AKA--a monkey on the end of it!). They come in many other animals (just gave a friend an elephant one), and I'll be curious to see if I have to buy more or this one will do.

Not to mention....the wubanub provides entertainment when it flips due to B's spastic hand movements! It's the small things that make me smile!

• Pacifier! I didn't care either way if Bennett took a pacifier or not, but I love that he does sometimes. Sometimes he likes to just chew on it (he's definitely a baby that sucks to soothe himself), and this one is just made to be chewed on all the way around instead of having some plastic piece to it! We tried many different kinds, but the green one just seemed to work best (Even after I swore that the Tommy Tippee one was the one he liked the most!!)

I know you'll be will be waiting on pins and needles for Installment #3!

"The Necessities"--Installment #1

I've realized that in my first 5 weeks of being a mom/parent, there are certain things that you NEED and certain things you THINK you need. Believe me...there IS a difference! I have a lot of pregnant friends right now and I won't remember the important stuff when they ask, so I figured I'd write it down (that way if a Little Dickens #2 comes along, I'll also have this to look back on!).

1. Washcloths--the little baby ones. I had lots and washed them all thinking, "I'll NEVER use all of these!" Yeah right! Not only do I use them for bathing, but I use them when feeding Bennett b/c he is one messy eater! At a friend's house today, she also used a wet one for a toddler's bleeding mouth instead of ice...adding that to my bag 'o tricks!
2. Multiple changing locations for a 2 story house. Sometimes we're upstairs, sometimes we're downstairs. Enough said! Diapers, wipes, diaper rash cream, pacifier, etc. at each station. Just do it = you'll thank me later!
3. Burp cloths -- LOTS! Do I even need to explain why? If I do...you're in trouble!
4. Newborn clothing --I thought that since most newborn clothing tags said "5-8 lbs" they actually meant it. They don't! I truly thought I'd have a bigger baby that I did (Bennett was 7 lbs 4 oz), and although I had a lot of things that people had donated, if we got something new that was newborn, I exchanged it for a bigger size. Don't get me wrong....my child still has clothing, but in the past week or so, I've realized I'd like a few more things!
5. Mittens -- I knew these were handy, but just didn't "get" how handy! When you want to show off your precious child and they have scratches all over their face because mom forgot to cut the nails (again), you'll put them on!
6. Bouncer/swing/playmat/etc -- BUY them! They will truly save your sanity!
7. Sleep Sheep/Sleep Giraffe -- otherwise known as "white noise machines", these are truly a sanity saver as well! We don't use it all the time and they don't work all the time that they are used, but in general, Bennett does like them. You may think that you'll get annoyed at the sounds they make, but you eventually get used to it and like it!

This is it for Installment #1. Hopefully I'll keep on finding things I LOVE and remember to write an Installment #2! :)