A Few of My Favorite Things

Having a baby is hard work, but it is the most rewarding job I could ever have.  I love being a Mom and at times there are things that you can buy to make the job of being a Mom a little easier.  Here are some of my favorite things for baby that I couldn't live without:

1. Burp/Lap Pads-http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4086285

-These are the best things ever! They are washable (going green) We use them for every diaper change.  Since Kenadie is sleeping in our room still at night we are pretty tired and change her diaper on our bed.  Thank goodness for these little soaker uppers, they have saved us numerous times for having to strip our bed and wash the sheets in the middle of the night because of an accident that Kenadie has while changing her diaper.  They soak up an entire bladder full and don't leak through to the other side.  Another use for these is under their sheets.  We use them under the pack n play sheets and the crib sheets where her head will lay so when she spits up it won't ruin the mattress or pack n play pad underneath.  LOVE THESE!

2. Bottle Warmer-http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2403663
-This is a life saver.  It beats having to wait for the water to boil to put the bottle in to heat up or microwaving the milk, ( which I hear is bad anyway).  This little beauty is wonderful.  I simply fill this little measuring device that it comes with to the desired amount of water for the amount of milk in ounces that I have and put it in the warmer and put the bottle in and it steams the bottle and the milk comes out at the perfect temperature every time!  It takes approx 2 mins for a 4 ounce bottle to heat up.  Life save for in the middle of the night when your baby is up screaming and hungry and you are barely functioning. 

3.  Tommee Tippee Bottles-http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3918819

-These Bottles are awesome.  They are said to be as close to a mother's nipple as possible.  Kenadie took to these with ease.  They also have an anti colic valve that allows babies to feed more comfortably with less air and vacuum build up.  They are easier to wash than Dr. Browns.  It serves the same purpose as those but you don't have as many parts to wash like Dr. Browns.  Great in saving time with the ginormous amounts of bottles to be washed on a daily basis.  The shape of the bottle will make it easier for her to hold as she gets older too. 

4. Target Brand Diaper Rash Ointment-http://www.target.com/p/up-up-Zinc-Diaper-Rash-Ointment-4-oz/-/A-11454279
-Kenadie has only had 1 case of diaper rash and it was due to Thrush.  This stuff works better than Bordeaux's Butt Paste, Desitin, A&D Ointment, you name it.  It has 40% Zinc Oxide vs the other's who have only 16%.  This stuff is a little more tough to wipe off, but for the bad case of diaper rash, this stuff really works. 

5. Colic Calm- http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/search/search.jsp?searchTerm=colic+calm&QP=N%3D92%26Ntk%3DAll%26Nty%3D1%26Ne%3D14%26Ntx%3Dmode+matchallpartial%26Nr%3DOR%7B92%2COR%7B93%7D%2COR%7B90%7D%2COR%7B122%7D%7D%26searchType%3DsearchHome

-This stuff works.  I know there are people out there, my husband being one of them that don't believe in this stuff, being that it is classified as homeopathic.  I don't really have much of an opinion on that matter except that when Kenadie was going through a period of time where she was getting fussy just at night time around 6-7p.m.  Thankfully that has passed.  I wrote on facebook about her fussiness and a friend of mine told me to try Gripe Water or Colic Calm, that they really worked for her child.  I thought hey, if it will help I will try anything to not hear my precious angel cry and be upset.  I tried Mommy's Bliss Gripe Water first and it seemed to calm her down a little, but a few days later I went to CVS and picked up the Colic Calm.  It was a little bit more expensive ($20)  and this product is made with vegetable charcoal, so it is black in color and it will stain their clothes.  This works within 10-15 mins and Kenadie was calm and no longer upset. It must taste good too, she sucks it down right out of the syringe.  I thought it may be a fluke, so we tried it for a few nights and it hasn't failed us yet.  Also, this product claims to treat the hiccups.  It works well for this too.  Poor Kenadie hates the hiccups. CVS is the only place I have found it.  Walgreens and Walmart do not carry it.

6. Fisher Price Lullabys and Baby Einstein Lullaby CD's.  http://www.target.com

-Kenadie responds really well to music.  When she is upset, we put it on and it is the automatic soother.  I have tried these two CD's and they are great. 

7. Baby Einstein DVD's

-These are awesome.  At 6 weeks we started putting Kenadie in front of our living room TV in her swing and turned on the Baby Einstein DVD's.  She immediately was interested and started focusing in on it.  I think it is great for learning shapes, colors, animals etc. 

8. Skip Hop Pronto Changing Station-http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2756998

- This has come in handy so many times.  This is a little fold out changing station, so in those nasty public restrooms you don't have to put your baby on the dirty changing station provided where who knows what has been on it.  It wipes clean and has pockets for wipes and diaper rash ointment.  Great Buy!

9. Pampers Swaddlers Diapers- http://www.pampers.com/en_US/proddetail/id/900826

-I love these diapers, they keep her dry and they have the blue line indicator in sizes NB, 1 & 2 to let you know if they are wet.  We have tried the regular Pampers and they don't have the blue line. 

Since Kenadie is only 9 weeks this Friday, I have come across several things that I like.  These are just a few.  I am sure as time goes by and she gets older there will be several others that I will find and update everyone on them.