I thought that breast milk was supposed to start regulating itself after the first few weeks. Seeing as it has been six months, this is getting ridiculous. Would someone come over to my house and tell my boobs to behave? Please!! How is it possible to soak through the disposable nursing pads twice in one day? Child, you will have to start eating more!!
A note on nursing pads:
I really want to use the wool pads from Evymama. I keep trying to use them; sometimes they work, sometimes I leak straight out the middle or dribble down and out the bottom. I even bought the washable cotton ones. That was a joke. The no name disposable ones fell apart on my boob. Literally. I was covered in fluff. The other disposable brands I find very similar, and they do usually work for me (but they are still heavy with boob juice at the end of the day).
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
What nobody every told you about having a baby
As if having a baby wasn't hard enough, you've read all the books and gotten all the advice, but somehow they all forgot to tell you a few things...
Here is our list of things nobody ever told us about having a baby:
Here is our list of things nobody ever told us about having a baby:
- babies get toe jam
- babies get tons of ear wax - don't use Q tips!
- babies get fluff in the creases of the palm of their little hands
- newborns peel all their skin off like a snake
- baby poop is liquid mustard
- babies fart really loud man farts
- breastfeeding hurts and can be really hard, blistering and scabbing may occur (but it does get easier and is worth the agony)
- breast milk is sticky!
- breast milk does not come out of one hole in the middle of your nipple, but from an array of holes at different angles
- breast milk has a spraying radius of at least 3 feet
- it burns to pee for about 2 weeks if you've had a tear and you have to spray warm water on your perineum (that means your crotch) with a water bottle for relief
What was news to you? We want your feedback! Let's compile a list so new moms aren't as surprised as we were!
Don't forget Mom
It's easy to forget about gifts for mom when everything baby is adorable and cute, but something thoughtful for mom goes a long way. There are many things that you could gift mom with that would be fun but useless, and in our opinion no one needs crap from crapcity.
Things that are nice to get include new pyjamas and slippers (let's face it, you'll be stuck in the house a lot), a magazine subscription to something easy-read like People, US or Hello, even a great book of short stories.
We're big fans of supporting breastfeeding, so gift certificates for nursing bras or tops is great. Nursing pads and lanolin nipple ointment also are great and needed.
Offering up time once the baby is born so that mom can get her nails done, a hair cut or a massage is awesome. It's hard to do these things while holding your baby. Of course you gave her a gift certificate for these things too.
Give your gift in a nice storage container that can be used for toys or clothes. There's a great toy box from Ikea that we LOVE http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30079407, it looks like a red treasure chest.
Remember: Thinking about mom will help her not go insane.
Things that are nice to get include new pyjamas and slippers (let's face it, you'll be stuck in the house a lot), a magazine subscription to something easy-read like People, US or Hello, even a great book of short stories.
We're big fans of supporting breastfeeding, so gift certificates for nursing bras or tops is great. Nursing pads and lanolin nipple ointment also are great and needed.
Offering up time once the baby is born so that mom can get her nails done, a hair cut or a massage is awesome. It's hard to do these things while holding your baby. Of course you gave her a gift certificate for these things too.
Give your gift in a nice storage container that can be used for toys or clothes. There's a great toy box from Ikea that we LOVE http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30079407, it looks like a red treasure chest.
Remember: Thinking about mom will help her not go insane.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Prewalking Shoes
Seriously, what are "prewalking shoes"? Are shoes not made for walking? If you are worried about your babies feet getting cold put the booties on that grandma/aunt/grandma's friend lovingly knit for your little one.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Great Stuff We Actually Use
New parents are bombarded with baby products. The urge to buy everything for your new baby is overwhelming, and the manufacturers know it. Be leery of over buying before the baby comes, asking for exorbitant things on your baby shower registry or getting caught up in the hype of trendy products. A newborn baby needs only five things for about the first month: milk, diapers, blankets, mom and dad. Okay, maybe six, a nursing pillow. It's nice to have a carrier like a wrap or pouch sling. You obviously already had the car seat. Crap.
Okay so you need stuff.
But not a lot and nothing expensive and that's the point. The bouncy chair that costs $30 that has toys attached to it is better than the $100 dollar wooden one that goes with your decor. Why babies like the tacky plastic toys and not the neutral coloured organic cloth toys is a whole other topic entirely. But I digress. Really new babies need very little because they don't start playing with their toys until 3 months. But when they start to play and roll around having a few choice toys and gadgets is really important for their development. Some babies love the stuff that lights up and makes noise, some are happy with rattles, stuff that shines, is crinkly and textured.
Do you really need a:
bumbo chair? No, it's nice to have but definitely not on our essentials list.
baby spa? No, use the sink or just a plain baby tub. You don't need all the gadgets.
play mat? Yes, but not necessarily the $100 Baby Einstein one. I got one off Kijiji for $10 that he loves. Tiny Love makes nice ones.
Jumperoo/Excersaucer? Yes, the circle of neglect is great to have. Also recommended buying one second hand to save some money.
Swing? No, never used one.
nursing pillow? Yes and No, it depends on how your breastfeeding experience is going. I thought I could do without one but found that I really needed one in the beginning. My Breast Friend was the one I had and was a great choice. Even though I only used it for maybe 3 months it really helped.
Highchair? Yes but, there are a lot of different options for this one, check what is available and choose what will fit for your lifestyle. The big bulky plastic chairs are hideous. The booster seats or seat wraps are good choices for small kitchens where space is at a premium. There are new high chairs for the well off parents who want to show off how much money they can burn- the Hi/Lo chair that is Canadian made, or the Stokke Tripptrapp are so uber expensive it's ridiculous. But they look so cool!!!
Jolly Jumper? Yes, babies love it and will use it before the jumperoo because it is more supportive. Please be sure to sing "Jump Around" by House of Pain while baby is jumping. It's just better that way.
video baby monitor? No, unless you are obsessive parents who need to see your baby at all times these are just over priced monitors that feed off of our fear that something will happen to our baby while it's sleeping. There's nothing wrong with the regular monitors. If you need to see your baby in colour on a screen, then watch your home movies.
bouncy chair? Yes, I find mine really useful when he doesn't want to lay down but I can't carry him- like when I'm cooking in the kitchen etc.
Baby Bjorn? No, we don't recommend these types of carriers. There is debate over pressure being on the baby's soft hip/pelvic bones.
Carriers we do like: Baby Hawk Mei Tai, Cuddly Wraps, Sleepy Wraps, Pouch slings, Ring slings and the Ergo. The Mei Tai is a lot like the Ergo but instead of the clips it's long wrapping straps.
gliding/rocking chair? No, I really wanted one, have one and don't use it. Unfortunate purchase. A lot of moms we know bounce on an exercise ball to get their little ones to sleep. That seems more economical than the $300 chairs.
diaper bag? No, use your backpack or another kind of bag. It's all the same in the end.
coordinated baby bedroom furniture? No, as long as you have drawers and a closet don't feel like the furniture needs to be new and/or from the same designer. Your baby has no idea that you paid $50 for the crib or $500. Make sure it's safe but it doesn't need to match the shelving unit. Use Ikea, Goodwill, Kijiji or Craig's list to get any furniture you need.
In the end what ever stuff you can get used or hand-me-down is great, but everyone will use different stuff and like different stuff. This is just great stuff that we actually like and use.
E
Hannah's input:
I bought the Oeuf Lounger and we've used it almost everyday. I bought it because I liked the way it looked, neutral and matched the decor.
I also use the rocking chair that was ridiculously expensive almost everyday. It's a fully covered one and is very comfortable. It's good for story time. I think it was a good purchase for us.
You do not need a change table! They take up a lot of room, are expensive and dangerous. It takes half a second for your baby to fall off. It's happened to friends who strapped their daughter onto the table only to have her fall out the bottom. Use the floor and that way when someone else is changing your babies diaper you won't have to worry.
Okay so you need stuff.
But not a lot and nothing expensive and that's the point. The bouncy chair that costs $30 that has toys attached to it is better than the $100 dollar wooden one that goes with your decor. Why babies like the tacky plastic toys and not the neutral coloured organic cloth toys is a whole other topic entirely. But I digress. Really new babies need very little because they don't start playing with their toys until 3 months. But when they start to play and roll around having a few choice toys and gadgets is really important for their development. Some babies love the stuff that lights up and makes noise, some are happy with rattles, stuff that shines, is crinkly and textured.
Do you really need a:
bumbo chair? No, it's nice to have but definitely not on our essentials list.
baby spa? No, use the sink or just a plain baby tub. You don't need all the gadgets.
play mat? Yes, but not necessarily the $100 Baby Einstein one. I got one off Kijiji for $10 that he loves. Tiny Love makes nice ones.
Jumperoo/Excersaucer? Yes, the circle of neglect is great to have. Also recommended buying one second hand to save some money.
Swing? No, never used one.
nursing pillow? Yes and No, it depends on how your breastfeeding experience is going. I thought I could do without one but found that I really needed one in the beginning. My Breast Friend was the one I had and was a great choice. Even though I only used it for maybe 3 months it really helped.
Highchair? Yes but, there are a lot of different options for this one, check what is available and choose what will fit for your lifestyle. The big bulky plastic chairs are hideous. The booster seats or seat wraps are good choices for small kitchens where space is at a premium. There are new high chairs for the well off parents who want to show off how much money they can burn- the Hi/Lo chair that is Canadian made, or the Stokke Tripptrapp are so uber expensive it's ridiculous. But they look so cool!!!
Jolly Jumper? Yes, babies love it and will use it before the jumperoo because it is more supportive. Please be sure to sing "Jump Around" by House of Pain while baby is jumping. It's just better that way.
video baby monitor? No, unless you are obsessive parents who need to see your baby at all times these are just over priced monitors that feed off of our fear that something will happen to our baby while it's sleeping. There's nothing wrong with the regular monitors. If you need to see your baby in colour on a screen, then watch your home movies.
bouncy chair? Yes, I find mine really useful when he doesn't want to lay down but I can't carry him- like when I'm cooking in the kitchen etc.
Baby Bjorn? No, we don't recommend these types of carriers. There is debate over pressure being on the baby's soft hip/pelvic bones.
Carriers we do like: Baby Hawk Mei Tai, Cuddly Wraps, Sleepy Wraps, Pouch slings, Ring slings and the Ergo. The Mei Tai is a lot like the Ergo but instead of the clips it's long wrapping straps.
gliding/rocking chair? No, I really wanted one, have one and don't use it. Unfortunate purchase. A lot of moms we know bounce on an exercise ball to get their little ones to sleep. That seems more economical than the $300 chairs.
diaper bag? No, use your backpack or another kind of bag. It's all the same in the end.
coordinated baby bedroom furniture? No, as long as you have drawers and a closet don't feel like the furniture needs to be new and/or from the same designer. Your baby has no idea that you paid $50 for the crib or $500. Make sure it's safe but it doesn't need to match the shelving unit. Use Ikea, Goodwill, Kijiji or Craig's list to get any furniture you need.
In the end what ever stuff you can get used or hand-me-down is great, but everyone will use different stuff and like different stuff. This is just great stuff that we actually like and use.
E
Hannah's input:
I bought the Oeuf Lounger and we've used it almost everyday. I bought it because I liked the way it looked, neutral and matched the decor.
I also use the rocking chair that was ridiculously expensive almost everyday. It's a fully covered one and is very comfortable. It's good for story time. I think it was a good purchase for us.
You do not need a change table! They take up a lot of room, are expensive and dangerous. It takes half a second for your baby to fall off. It's happened to friends who strapped their daughter onto the table only to have her fall out the bottom. Use the floor and that way when someone else is changing your babies diaper you won't have to worry.
Friday, January 29, 2010
The Tooth Fairy Effect
I know it's not just Hannah and Luke. It seems like the Tooth Fairy has been making visits to our babies and waking them up at all hours. And just when we got them to sleep like champions! No fair! There is something criminal about how new moms are teased with a child who sleeps through the night at 3 months, only to discover that it isn't going to last.
Watch out for using certain kinds of teething gels, try it on yourself first. Would you want to have a numb mouth? They need to feel their mouths for nursing. Why not just try a bit of acetaminophen or an all natural camilia drop? You can get these anywhere. I've seen the camilia in the Super Store or any health food store like the Big Carrot should have it in their baby section.
How long will this phase last? I hear they just keep getting more teeth!
Yikes!
E
Watch out for using certain kinds of teething gels, try it on yourself first. Would you want to have a numb mouth? They need to feel their mouths for nursing. Why not just try a bit of acetaminophen or an all natural camilia drop? You can get these anywhere. I've seen the camilia in the Super Store or any health food store like the Big Carrot should have it in their baby section.
How long will this phase last? I hear they just keep getting more teeth!
Yikes!
E
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Sleep Deprivation
I haven't slept more than three hours since I was five months pregnant due to insomnia and frequent urination. Now Luke is almost six months old. I still have insomnia and he wakes up frequently for various reasons. Currently, he is teething and I can't sleep; not a good combination. We co-sleep and I love cuddling with Luke but when neither of us are sleeping it can be somewhat uncomfortable. I may have actually sat up at 4am last night after waking up every thirty minutes, and said "for fucks sake." I felt like a bad mother for a moment then got up and Luke and I watched an infomercial. I feel nauseous a lot of the time and my head is foggy but I keep reminding myself that Luke is only going to be this little once. I'm sure I won't suffer any long term brain damage. Right?
H
H
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