1) I love my baby ring sling! Colt loves to fall asleep in his baby sling and it lets me move around hands free. He can lay down in it, sit looking out at the world, or snuggle with me against my chest. He can also nurse while laying in the sling! I recommend the padded sling, which is softer on your shoulder. Slings are important for infant development too! They keep the baby in close proximity to the mom or dad which allows the parent to respond quickly to the baby's needs, it allows the baby to see the world from your perspective which helps him socialize with others, and it mimics the womb with it's warmth and confined space which leads to a happy baby! The sling is definitely a must have. Check out http://www.slinglings.com/ for more info. We also have a Baby Bjorn and an Ultimate Baby Wrap which I like for long excursions (because they balance the weight between both shoulders), but the sling is great for around the house or a quick trip to the store (plus, you can pick the fabric to accessorize if you want!).
2) Can't live without the swaddle blanket! We have the swaddle blankets that you can buy at BabiesRUs from Kiddopotomous (about $10). But my neighbor has one from http://www.miracleblanket.com/ ($30) that I would've bought if I didn't already have 3 from BRU. Swaddling mimics the confined space in the womb and is great for calming a fussy baby. (You can read Happiest Baby on the Block for further benefits of swaddling.) I've also found that Colt sleeps MUCH longer at night when he is swaddled than if he is not. His arms will flail around when he's not swaddled and that ends up waking him up. When I try to swaddle him in a receiving blanket, he just wiggles out of it... thus, the necessity of a swaddle blanket!3) If you are planning to breastfeed, you will definitely need a nursing cover (unless you aren't afraid to bear it all)! I originally bought some nursing shirts from http://www.motherwear.com/, but now I don't even use them because I just use my nursing cover to cover us up! The nursing covers from http://www.bebeaulait.com/ have a bit of wire or something that bends the top so you can look down at your little bundle of joy while they are eating, and it gives good air circulation! Plus, you can choose the material to make the cover shabby chic! I've used my nursing cover to feed Colt at home when we have company, at baseball games, in restaurants, at the mall, etc - it gives an ease to breastfeeding on the go! 
There are a number of gadgets available for moms and newborns, but these 3 are ones that I use EVERY SINGLE DAY! Thank God for such wonderful inventions :)
On another note, the reason I am in Houston is because Ty's dad is having some issues with his health right now. It was discovered that he has blood clots in his lungs, so Colt and I came to help out (me, not Colt) and give him moral support (more so Colt than I). Steve (aka Bang Bang) is a very wise man and already enjoys sharing his "pearls of wisdom" with Colt, and we want him around for many, many more years. Please pray for Steve and his health!
5 comments:
Good to know! I've always wondered what was so "special" about the swaddling blankets...but I was too embarrased to ask! :)
I hope your father-in-law gets better soon. I'm sure he's in good hands.
Keep the advice coming!!!!
I was on bloger looking for ACU people and saw your blog. Its great to see someone else who shares my interest in natural family living! I had a homebirth, I wear my babies, and practice extended breastfeeding...basically Attachment Parenting. I thought I might be the only one in our extended network of friends who was "crunchy". I enjoyed reading your blog! You should check mine out...I don't post as much yet but I plan to. My birth story is on there. God bless!
I've got one of the nursing covers from bebeaulait too. I invested in it after adelaide flashed a few people. she started pulling off to look around in the middle of a feed and then quickly pulling off any blanket I had over my shoulder. there was no helping it. however, now that she's older she figured out how to get out from under the hooter hider while eating too!
adelaide never liked the sling though i tried it multiple times. she didn't like the baby bjorn either til she could face out. she's just never been a cuddly baby and she always hated being cradled.
my friend, cami, has the miracle blanket and loves it. we had a couple of swaddling blankets but adelaide could somehow always bust out of them so we mastered the burrito baby wrap with just a receiving blanket.
thanks for sharing! i was planning to post a similar thing soon, my must haves.
You know what is funny? I never used any of those items with my child. In hindsight, I really wish I would have had a sling or a Baby Bjorn or something. I recall several times where I had to hold Jackson for long periods of time, and even though he didn't weigh very much, I am ashamed to admit that my arms were sore! A friend of mine swore by her nursing cover-up and swaddling blankets as well (do you remember Wendy?).
Thanks for the message! I love this post with all your helpful tips!
Yes, I can't believe how close we are either....but at the same time, I am sooooo ready!
We are registered at Target and BRU....but don't get us anything! Just give us more advice!!!!
Love, Minda
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