Living a tasteful life

Thursday, August 2, 2018

Life with a Newborn + Our 10 Favorite Baby Items

Photo: Meredith Hilleary Photography
Sawyer has only been waking up once during the night to eat, allowing us a little more sleep and I feel like a new person! It may not sound like much but it's a big deal compared to where we were a few weeks ago. Life has changed for us in so many ways, as I was warned it would. But it's all for the better and we have so much love for our sweet little boy. 
I've been asked by several people to share an update on how things are going and various other questions about life with a newborn, so I wanted to follow up with answers in this blog post. Carving out time to post has been challenging, so thank you all for your patience. First, I want to share a look into what life has been like since we came home from the hospital. We've come a long way since then!
Two pieces of advice I was given when I was pregnant: 1. Stay at the hospital the full 48 hours because once your home, you're on your own. 2. Take all of the supplies they give you. Trust me, you will use them. The first few days at home were all a blur. My eyes were constantly glued to the monitor when he slept, watching him closely to make sure he was breathing. I was too scared to close my eyes.
Breastfeeding has been a journey full of learning. I was (and still am) always wondering if he is getting enough milk and gaining enough weight. We were running on fumes, watching countless Youtube videos on how to swaddle, changing what seemed like 100's of diapers a day, and I was breastfeeding every two to three hours, all while putting a smile on my face to greet friends and family who were patiently waiting to meet him. Add dealing with ranging hormones and postpartum self-care. I was missing the guidance of the hospital nurses that take care of momma and baby everyday. But I'm so thankful for my mom and in-laws who stepped in and stayed with us those first two weeks. 
I'm not going to lie, it's nice to be on the more pleasant side of things. Sawyer is now six weeks old.  Today, I feel more confident, we're getting a little more sleep (emphasis on a little), I'm more comfortable with breastfeeding and diaper changes, our swaddle game is on point, my hormones are leveling out and I'm feeling much more life my old self again. It's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel during those first few weeks of life changing newness but as everyone promised me, there is one. When Sawyer looks up at me with his big blue eyes and that sweet little smile of his, all of the rough patches become more and more of a distant memory. 

I am so happy to report that we are now on a schedule. I owe this to the Moms on Call book. It's a wonderful guide for people who thrive on routines. It has been so great to have something to refer to and it's also gotten us to this wonderful sleep pattern. Without it, I would have been lost. It's the perfect resource for first time moms.
Sawyer brings us so much joy. Our evenings are no longer spent sitting on the couch trying to find a Netflix movie to agree on. Instead we're carefully tackling bath time together, listening to his sweet coos as we are getting him ready for bed and embracing every smile and milestone. We are a team now more than ever. 

Many of you have asked about what items we are using the most and what's working, so I thought I would put together a list of my 10 favorite items we've been loving so far.

1. Fisher-Price Deluxe Newborn Rock 'n Play Sleeper - We would be lost without this. Sawyer has been sleeping in it since he was about 5 days old. At first we had him in it only during the day, but soon realized how much he loved it. It vibrates which naturally soothes him. I also like the fact that it's inclined vs laying flat in a crib. 

2. Portable Sound Machine- This is also key. Having that white noise helps with sleep and also distracts from the other noises throughout the house. Ours is a little different than the one I linked here but I've seen this one pop up a good bit.

3. Water Wipes- These are made with specially purified, softened water and a tiny drop of fruit extract. There are no harsh chemicals to worry about, making them perfect for baby's sensitive skin.

4. Moms On Call- The book that is saving our sanity. This book came highly recommended by many of our friends. It helps you and your baby get into a routine, outlining a schedule that changes with age. We owe his stretches of sleep to this book. It really is amazing and I highly recommend it for new moms.

5. Moms On Call Swaddle- In addition to the sanity saving book, they also make swaddles. This particular one is ironically is Sawyer's favorite and it keeps him nice and snug. It's large and made of a thicker material, similar to what the hospital used but softer. Once we discovered how well he slept when using it, we immediately placed an order for more. 

6. Magnolia Baby Onesie- I love this brand particularly because of the fit. Many of the newborn clothes that I have for Sawyer are still too big for him. This brand fits so well and the cotton is so soft. I also love the small detail on this onesie, dressing it up just a bit.

7. Pee-Pee Teepe- If you have a boy, these will definitely come in handy! 

8. Glowbaby App- This app let's you log so much info about your baby's care, including developmental milestones. But the main thing I use it for is a breastfeeding timer. It's a great tool to help you keep track of things.

9. Project Nursery Baby Monitor System- This is a great monitor with a lot of nice features like the temperature, a two-way audio intercom and it plays lullabies & white noise. It's also easy to pack up and take with you if you're traveling. 

10. Seventh Generation Newborn Diapers- We've gone through a ton of diapers in a short amount of time. Thankfully we've still been using the stash we received at various showers and haven't had to buy any yet. We've tried several different brands and this one is my favorite. These chlorine-free, unbleached diapers have a snug fit keeps everything in. I also love how high it sits on the back, blocking the blowouts.  
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1 comment

  1. Your baby looks so cute and thanks for sharing awesome tips and post.
    Great article.

    ReplyDelete

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