Monroe is almost 3 months old.... where in the heck did the time go? It makes me so sad that we are kind of out of the newborn phase. Although I miss how little she was I am happy we are to the phase where we have 3 predictable naps and where she sleeps 12 hours straight with no nighttime wake ups! She has really been such an easy baby, she really only cries if she's hungry or in her car seat. With Leo we relied on a lot of movement and bouncing with her we really haven't had to do much. You just lay her down and she falls asleep. I tell Jay on a daily basis, "how did we get so lucky getting such an easy baby"... then he reminds me that she will get us back in her toddler and teenage years. So now this second time Mom is rounding up my all star newborn items that were key with both Leo and Monroe and a few things that I needed to get me through the first month.
First Few Weeks
Top Items:
Rock n' Play - Both my kiddos loved the rock n' play. She didn't sleep in it for as long as Leo did he was in it till he was like 5 months but for the first few weeks babies seem so congested and I just felt more comfortable having her propped up. Even a few weeks ago she kind of caught Leo and I's cold and for a few days we had her sleep in it. I think babies just like being propped up a little and this is perfect for that.
Newborn Bows- I love the little simple bows for the first few weeks. I got my little small bows from a great little etsy shop called Made By Mae . I still love them on her but we are now starting to go more toward the bigger bows.
Rock n' Play - Both my kiddos loved the rock n' play. She didn't sleep in it for as long as Leo did he was in it till he was like 5 months but for the first few weeks babies seem so congested and I just felt more comfortable having her propped up. Even a few weeks ago she kind of caught Leo and I's cold and for a few days we had her sleep in it. I think babies just like being propped up a little and this is perfect for that.
Newborn Bows- I love the little simple bows for the first few weeks. I got my little small bows from a great little etsy shop called Made By Mae . I still love them on her but we are now starting to go more toward the bigger bows.
Podster or Lounger- The 6 weeks Monroe spent so much time in her Podster. She is now starting to grow out of it but both with Leo and Monroe they were in it like 10 hours a day. Plus it is so portable so I would be able to put it anywhere and lay her down.
Orthodontic Nipples- Monroe struggled with a bottle the first few weeks so my girlfriend gave us these orthodontic nipples to try and we really loved them. I loved that they just screwed on to my medela pumping bottles and could feed her. She will now use any type of bottles but if your kiddo is struggling to take a bottle I'd give these a try.
Orthodontic Nipples- Monroe struggled with a bottle the first few weeks so my girlfriend gave us these orthodontic nipples to try and we really loved them. I loved that they just screwed on to my medela pumping bottles and could feed her. She will now use any type of bottles but if your kiddo is struggling to take a bottle I'd give these a try.
Wrap- Monroe lived in a wrap the first few weeks. She doesn't go in it as much anymore and that makes me a little bit sad, but makes my back happy. We had this Moby wrap from when I had Leo and I wore it a bit with Leo I soon realized I needed my hands free with a toddler. I actually liked it better than the Ergo baby 360 because it crossed in the back and gave my back more support. I know there are tons of different wraps out there but this one worked for us. Weirdly enough this is probably one of my most asked questions I got was what type of wrap I was using. The Moby worked for us.
Now for the New Mamas!
Here are a few things that were key for me the first few weeks.
Button Up Pjs- I got mine at both target and Victoria Secret. I was up nursing so often that it was so easy to unbutton the top and nurse.
Nursing Tanks- Lived in these and am still living in them. I liked the ones I got from Pea in the Pod best over the target brand. I liked the more nylon feeling ones vs the cotton ones.
TV Tray- I loved having a TV tray for the first week. After having a c section and then my postpartum issues I would stay upstairs in my bedroom for the first few hours of the day with the baby so I didn't have to go up and down the stairs. So Jay or my mom would bring up my breakfast so I could have breakfast in bed. So C- Section Mamas this is a great thing for you to add to your list.
Button Up Pjs- I got mine at both target and Victoria Secret. I was up nursing so often that it was so easy to unbutton the top and nurse.
Nursing Tanks- Lived in these and am still living in them. I liked the ones I got from Pea in the Pod best over the target brand. I liked the more nylon feeling ones vs the cotton ones.
TV Tray- I loved having a TV tray for the first week. After having a c section and then my postpartum issues I would stay upstairs in my bedroom for the first few hours of the day with the baby so I didn't have to go up and down the stairs. So Jay or my mom would bring up my breakfast so I could have breakfast in bed. So C- Section Mamas this is a great thing for you to add to your list.
Living Room Tray- This is my go to with everything I need within reach. Hand sanitizer for people who want to hold the baby, disinfectant wipes to clean phones or clean surfaces, burp rags, pacifiers, boogie wipes, all right there. It is not the prettiest thing to have on your ottoman but it is so darn useful. We still have it in our living room and I assume we will for awhile longer.
Haaka- If you plan on nursing all I will say is research this product because it is amazing.
Haaka- If you plan on nursing all I will say is research this product because it is amazing.
Months 2-3
Dockatot- It isn't a secret every new mom is going crazy for the dockatot. Yes it is an investment but one totally worth making. Both Monroe and Leo were obsessed with the Dockatot.
Swing- My kids are swing kids. I bought Leo's at a second hand store and just a few weeks ago it broke so we bought her a new one. Monroe will literally chill in it for 3 hours falling in and out of sleep.
Bouncer- Leo lived in his bouncer....Monroe doesn't like it as much but I use it on a daily basis when we are eating a meal I can put her on the floor in this and bounce her. Or if she is fussy and I need her to nap she will guaranteed fall asleep within a few minutes.
Ergo Baby 360 Carrier- We are big fans of the Ergo baby we just took Monroe on a hike in this the other day. She likes being worn as much as Leo and this one was great. Plus Jay will actually wear this he refused to wear a wrap. So this is a great one for the Dads.
Swing- My kids are swing kids. I bought Leo's at a second hand store and just a few weeks ago it broke so we bought her a new one. Monroe will literally chill in it for 3 hours falling in and out of sleep.
Bouncer- Leo lived in his bouncer....Monroe doesn't like it as much but I use it on a daily basis when we are eating a meal I can put her on the floor in this and bounce her. Or if she is fussy and I need her to nap she will guaranteed fall asleep within a few minutes.
Ergo Baby 360 Carrier- We are big fans of the Ergo baby we just took Monroe on a hike in this the other day. She likes being worn as much as Leo and this one was great. Plus Jay will actually wear this he refused to wear a wrap. So this is a great one for the Dads.
Frog Chair- Just like Leo Monroe loves her frog chair. I like it much better the bumbo because the back is higher and it allows them to sit in the chair when they are a bit younger as it offers more support in the back and neck area. She loves being upright and seeing whats going on. Plus it is nice to get her off of her head and try and save some of the hair back there.
Mom's Need A Break Too!
So this is new advice I never got and really wish I had with Leo. Once you get things figured out in the new baby department it is time to take a moment each day or every couple days and do something for yourself. That is what I didn't do with Leo. So I was determined to change that this time around. Although physically I was so much weaker after my postpartum hemorrhage I knew I needed to do some things for me. So instead of jumping right back into the gym I treated myself to getting a glass of wine with a girlfriend, had Jay watch the baby and go upstairs and paint my nails, took a cat nap, went to Starbucks and Home Goods with no kids just to have some time alone. I think one of the best gift I got after having a baby was a gift card to a spa. I can't wait to get a massage here soon.
Thankfully at 7 weeks I was cleared to work out and I have started back at it 5/6 days a week doing online workouts at home. I am really enjoying taking 30 minutes a day to do something for me. So that is my biggest advice second go around to Mom's is if you can try and carve out a little time for yourself even 20 minutes do it. It doesn't have to be exercise it can be whatever but it is so important for you mentally and physically and in the end having a little break makes me personally a much better parent.
Thankfully at 7 weeks I was cleared to work out and I have started back at it 5/6 days a week doing online workouts at home. I am really enjoying taking 30 minutes a day to do something for me. So that is my biggest advice second go around to Mom's is if you can try and carve out a little time for yourself even 20 minutes do it. It doesn't have to be exercise it can be whatever but it is so important for you mentally and physically and in the end having a little break makes me personally a much better parent.
*Me and my 9.5 year old pup after a kid free stroller free run!
Hope you all are enjoying your Christmas season! I had plans to do more blog posts but we've been so busy I haven't done it. We have been doing a new Christmas craft or activity everyday and maybe I will round some of my favorites up for you guys this week. So far the highlight has been the peppermint green slime!! It was a mess but Leo was obsessed.
Cheers,
Jess
Hope you all are enjoying your Christmas season! I had plans to do more blog posts but we've been so busy I haven't done it. We have been doing a new Christmas craft or activity everyday and maybe I will round some of my favorites up for you guys this week. So far the highlight has been the peppermint green slime!! It was a mess but Leo was obsessed.
Cheers,
Jess
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