What You Really Need For Baby’s First Weeks

Wear

5 short-sleeved onesies or undershirts
3 long-sleeved onesies or undershirts
7 one piece sleepers – zip or snap
2 pairs soft cotton pants
6 pairs socks or booties
1 light cardigan or hoodie
1 snowsuit or bunting bag for a winter baby
3 pairs scratch mittens
Swaddle and Cuddle

2 thick cotton blankets
8 thin muslin receiving blankets
3 “swaddlers” with straps

Feeding

1 Boppy pillow, or similar
15 burp cloths (to also use as bibs)
2 Lansinoh cream/ointment (for breastfeeding)
1 breast pump (optional if not returning to work shortly after birth)
6 pairs of nursing pads
2 – 3 nursing bras
6 four-oz. bottles (if formula feeding…1 – 2 or buy as needed if exclusively breastfeeding)
6 eight-oz. bottles (if formula feeding…buy as needed if breastfeeding)
1 bottle and nipple brush
bottle drying rack
Formula (if planning to exclusively bottle feed – check the expiration date and don’t buy too early!)

Diapering

If cloth diapering:  4 dozen reusable diapers, 8 water proof covers, 6 snap closures OR about 3 dozen all-in-ones
If disposable:  1 box Newborn size, 1 box size one
diaper pail
changing pad
2 boxes disposable wipes OR 12 washcloths designated as diaper wipes
1 diaper rash cream, paste or spray

Bathing

1 plastic bath or sink bath insert (optional)
12 washcloths NOT used for diaper station
baby soap or wash
2 hooded towels (optional…you can always use the family towels)

Sleeping

1 approved crib, bassinet or Co-sleeper with appropriate mattress
3 waterproof pads
4 fitted crib sheets
2 sleep sacks
white noise machine (optional, but often useful)
(If bed-sharing follow the Safe Sleep 7 Guidelines, available at www.llli.org.)

Health and Hygiene

infant nail clippers
1 baby-specific or rental, near-natural free and clear laundry detergent
1 soft bristle infant hair brush
1 baby comb
1 infant thermometer
1 bulb syringe

Travel

approved stroller
car seat (have it installed BEFORE you leave the hospital)
pack and play (optional)
1 – 2 slings or soft baby carriers

Extras (all optional)

changing table
rocking chair
diaper bag
sun shade for car
2 – 4 pacifiers
rattle
toys
mobile
floor gym
Don’t Forget

Food plan for parents!
Support and help!

What Do You Need to Know About Herbs For Breastfeeding?

Herbs to affect breast milk supply – sounds a bit risky, don’t you think? What goes into the milk, goes into the baby.

There are definitely herbs that should be avoided while breastfeeding, but there are also herbs for breastfeeding that have documented effects on breast milk supply if used in the right amounts; both to increase and decrease milk supply.

Here you can learn which herbs that may increase or decrease milk supply, which herbs to avoid while breastfeeding and what myths there are on the topic.

Herbs to increase milk supply

Perhaps the most well known milk-increasing herbal remedy is fenugreek. Fenugreek is a plant grown primarily in the East, particularly China and India, but can also be found throughout some European countries. Many Moms are familiar with fenugreek as it’s a main component of store-bought curry powders. Studies have found that consuming fenugreek tea daily not only increases maternal milk supply but also helps newborns put on weight. In one study, babies whose Mothers consumed fenugreek tea generally lost less weight immediately following the birth and also regained this weight quicker than others.

Similarly, fennel has also been found to increase breast milk supply. Fennel is known for its aniseed-like flavor and, like fenugreek, is often added to Indian curries for a bit of flavor and spice. It’s thought that fennel helps to increase the milk supply because it contains phytoestrogens which are chemicals found in plants that mimic the actions of female sex hormones, particularly estrogen. Researchers suggest that phytoestrogens stimulate the milk glands, producing more milk.



To make fennel tea, crush 2 teaspoons of fennel seed and add 1 cup of boiling water.

A third helpful herb for breastfeeding milk supply is blessed thistle. This one is less well known than the others, but comes from the same family as milk thistle which is a common remedy for liver problems.

Blessed thistle, along with fenugreek, is one of the few herbs actually medically recognized as an aid to breastfeeding. Blessed thistle is consistently shown to work so well that it’s the recommended herb for inducing lactation in non-biological Mothers.

Find Out What to Eat While Breastfeeding

Do you remember the long list of foods to avoid while pregnant? It is all gone now. What you can eat while breastfeeding is… almost everything!

Most foods will not harm your baby, but his or her wellbeing may be affected. Then there are some foods, especially some fish, that really should be avoided. And for colicky babies, breastfeeding mom can make a difference by adjusting her diet.

This article will show you what foods are and aren’t appropriate while breastfeeding and why.

The good news is that the body will more or less produce excellent breast milk no matter what you stuff your body with. (OK, within limits!)

The bad news is that if you follow a really poor diet, your body will be depleted of important nutrients, such as iron and calcium. You might become more tired than necessary; get headaches, experience poor complexion, as well as other issues.

My first piece of advice is to remember to eat food in the first place!

It is very easy to not prioritize eating when you have a baby who wants to be in your arms more or less all the time. So make a choice to eat healthy food or you will almost certainly reach for convenience food such as candy, and other choices that are not that great if you want to feel good and maybe lose some weight!

What To Eat While Breastfeeding

★ Water
★ Whole grain
★ Fruits
★ Spicy foods
★ Gassy foods
★ Fish

Warning: Never ever get drunk while you are responsible for your baby – breastfeeding or not!

The First Six Months of Lovely Baby

I intended to post this as a monthly type of deal but it got away from me. So instead, here's a more compact version of baby Hezekiah's first six months on Earth. :)

Weight & Height: At birth, Mister Hez was 8 pounds, 2 ounces and 21 and 1/4 inches long. At his two month checkup, Hezzy weighed 11 pounds, 5 ounces and was 22 and 1/2 inches long. Now at six months, he's around 17 pounds and is around 23 inches long.

Medical Issues: Hezzy has a medical condition that all my boys have had. He will most likely have outpatient surgery between 11 - 16 months. Otherwise, he's been very healthy. He's had one little cold/sinus infection type deal when the seasons changed but it cleared up very quickly.

Sleep: Hez started sleeping "through the night" from around midnight or so until 8 AM around 3 months. Then he started going to bed a little earlier, like around 10 and sleeping until 7-ish. Right now he's waking up around once - twice during the night. He takes either 2 long naps or 3 short(er) naps.

Sizes: Around 2 months he started to edge out of newborn stuff and move into 0-3 month clothes. Around 4 and 1/2 months I started moving him into 3-6 and now at 6 months, he's wearing 6-9 month stuff. So he's stayed pretty much right on target. At about three months, he moved from size one diapers to size twos and has been in them since.

Diet: EBF (exclusively breastfed) but I am looking to start him on some first foods here in the next month or so. We are probably going to do BLW (baby led weaning) like we did with Zac.

Baby Gear Love: My Moby wrap has been great while we're on the go but since he's getting better and has much more of an interest in what's going on around him, we don't use it much anymore. My momma-made meitai and my Ergo carrier work better for the stage he's at now. He's really starting to outgrow the bassinet so we'll be moving him into a crib probably within the next couple weeks. Otherwise I guess I don't really have any "gear."

Milestones/Firsts: He first appeared to be teething on 4/27. He's a drool machine and he's chewing on everything but still no teeth. He started "army crawling" and scooting around 4 months and is now pretty much full blown crawling, albeit very slow and he still gets tripped up on his arms/legs. He can also now push himself up on all fours and practically stand on his head!

4 Travel Places for Young Toddlers and Babies

You’ve got your “go with it” attitude adjusted to super smooth. You’ve got your packing list and your airplane tricks laminated AND memorized. Now then. Where to go?

While you really can go ANYWHERE (almost) with your baby, you might not want to. Keeping your “chill the heck out” in check might be easier in a quiet costal town than — say — at Carnival in Rio.

Family Friendly Beach Resort – a la Beaches or Club Med. Clean, quiet, somewhat secluded. All inclusive means no fuss for the tired parent and an easy way to budget. Plus, most have excellent child care programs for the occasional date night or trip to the spa. Best perk:  naps with Baby in a beach cabana!

Clean Camping – not necessarily the time to pitch a tent and pummel your infant with bug spray. ‘Tis the age for cozy and CLEAN cabin rental. You’ll get away with the comforts of home available to you.   Best perk:  cozying up by the fire for bedtime stories.

Italy and France – if you can handle the long plane ride, don’t be afraid to venture abroad. Italy and France are perfect places to tour with Bebe or Bambino because the cultures tend to embrace the idea that your child comes out and about with you. Young infants will gladly sleep in the sling or stroller through museums and city walks. Older infants and toddlers will delight in a sidewalk gelato or morning croissant.  Best perk:  wine, cheese and bread al fresco tends to erase the memory of a sleepless night.

Disney – while they will surely enjoy it more at a later age, the Disney parks and resorts were BUILT for families. Infants can ride most rides with parents, diaper stations are clean and plentiful and baby necessities from stroller to crib are available to rent.  Best perk:  Baby’s first Mickey ears.

Tips For Traveling With a Baby

Your baby sleeps for hours and you have all the time in the world to drive, talk to your travel companion, read a book or sleep…

…Or it can be hell with a baby that is crying as soon as you put him in his car seat and that refuses to sleep. Then you’ll plan to
go by plane the next time or to stay at home for the next five years or so…

You can’t really know in advance what traveling by car with your baby will be like. You can’t be sure that it will be like the last time you tried. Babies grow and change. But you can plan to make the best of the situation.

Below you’ll find tips to make traveling by car with a baby as easy as possible.

Tips for Traveling by Car With a Baby

Safety

Frequent stops

Toys

Easy feeding

Liquid

Shelter from the sun

Safety

Safety first, of course! Make sure you have a good infant car seat
and that you install it correctly.

If you rent a car, ask about air bags, so that you don’t put your baby in a seat with an airbag by accident. And if you don’t bring your own infant car seat, ask about what type they can provide and how old it is. It should never be older than five years.

Also, don’t drive if you are very tired. Take turns with your travel companion if you’re not traveling alone. If you are alone, stop the car and go for a walk if you get sleepy.

Frequent stops

When traveling by car with a baby, plan for frequent stops and realize that the journey is likely to take much longer than if you were traveling without a baby.

Particularly newborn babies should not sit for too many hours in a row in a car seat. It may hurt their backs. So make frequent stops to let your baby stretch out on blanket or in his stroller. Older babies need to get some time to use their bodies for crawling, jumping or whatever they like.

Toys

Bring a lot of toys! Either take away a few favorites a week or two before traveling, or consider buying some new toys.

Easy feeding

If you breastfeed you must stop the car to feed your baby. Even if it can be tempting to pick up your starving baby to feeding him on the highway, don’t!

(Yeah, I know it sounds totally crazy, but with a baby crying at the top of his or her voice, you can get all sorts of desperate ideas!)

If you get very stressed by hearing your infant’s crying, don’t take any chances. Feed him or her slightly ahead of the usual schedule. Or bring formula or baby snacks if your baby is old enough.

It is quite convenient to teach a baby to accept cold food, so that you can feed him on the road. If that doesn’t work, consider buying car bottle warmer that plugs into your car adapter outlet, like this one at Amazon.

You can also bring hot water in thermos.

And don’t forget bringing a baby bib and lots of paper napkins!

Liquid

Bring water for both you and your baby, if your baby is old enough to have started to drink water! Getting dehydrated will only make you sleepy, and might impair milk production if you breastfeed.

Shelter from the sun

Make sure you can protect your baby from sun with some kind of sunshade that you can put on either his car seat or on a window. A hat for your baby may also be good to have available.

For trips to Grandma’s or a world tour, here are a few of our favorite must-haves:

Lotus Travel Crib – carry-on size, easy and quick set up, also a play yard, wide age range, backpack portability.

Maclaren Volo Stroller – lightweight umbrella stroller, ideal for 6 months plus.

White Noise Machine – street noise in New Orleans? Older cousins playing at Grandmas? Not for nap time…

Baby carrier – pick your favorite. Ergo and woven seem most travel friendly, but having one you like is a must.

Baby wash – because the hotel brand mini shampoos won’t do. Our favorite is California Baby.

Beyond that — travel light, don’t over think it, pick up last minute needs on the go…and Bon Voyage, Baby!

What is a Postpartum Doula? Safety and Comfort Tips

We asked a WBC superstar…

“My name is Patti and I have been a CPD for almost 3 years, although it feels like much longer because I worked in the hospital postpartum/newborn nursery unit for 23 years prior to WBC. For all those mamas that asked, Can I take you home? Now I’m following the them home!
What is a postpartum doula? That’s actually a difficult question. I think a postpartum doula is love and support. Not only do I absolutely LOVE my job but everything about my job spells love. You teach and empower a new mama to love her baby not just emotionally but in everything she does. We are all about supporting a new mama and papa in their new role as parents, as well as supporting who they were before they became parents…..which brings us back to LOVE!!”

And a former client…

Sarah, Minneapolis, Mom of Twins, Full-Time Advertising Executive

“A GODSEND!!  Ha ha.  They were a helping hand when we needed it most – especially with no family in the area. They became our family. I felt cared for, was given such wonderful words of encouragement and had complete trust in my babies’ well being while they were in the doula’s care.”

If you plan to take your baby to a foreign country, and particularly if you are going to spend time with your baby in hot climate, some precautionary steps are needed.

Babies get dehydrated and overheated quickly. The sun’s rays are dangerous to a baby’s skin and for any baby not breastfeeding, there is the risk of food poisoning.

Below you’ll find tips on how to make your baby comfortable and safe in hot weather.

Stay out of the sun

Baby skin is very thin and delicate and can’t handle the sun very well. Babies younger than 12 months really should not be exposed to sun at all. Keep your baby in the shadow and protect him with thin clothes and hats. Sunscreen cream is really a last resort solution, as it can contain harmful substances. If you really need to use sun screen, use on especially made for babies and with really high sun protection factor.

If you haven’t yet bought a mosquito net for your baby’s stroller, consider buying one that contains UV protection for your child.

Or, actually even more convenient if it is the sun rather than the mosquitos that are the main problem, buy a sunshade for your stroller.. These are a great invention that allow air to flow into the stroller much better than most mosquito nets.And many of them do protect from mosquitos as well.

Avoiding hot spots

If your baby lies or sits in a car seat or stroller, check often how warm he is. Both strollers and car seats can become very hot. Putting a thermometer in the stroller next to your baby can be quite useful. Babies younger than 4 months, are at the highest risk for SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and being overheated is one possible cause.

In addition to the risk of SIDS, your child can get heat stroke.

Tips for Baby Twins Caring

Why should twin babies sleep together?

Co-bedded twins have synchronous sleep patterns and are subjectively “easier” to care for. However, neither co-bedding nor separate sleeping resulted in guaranteeing parents more sleep! (Darn.)

Research suggests that co-bedded infants might remain in the parents’ room for longer. Room-sharing (with a parent), which is practised more often when multiples are co-bedded, reduces the risk of SIDS.

Putting twins in the same cot can help them regulate their body temps and sleep cycles and can contribute to ease of soothing. Why? Because they shared a womb! They are used to a sibling’s presence and in fact might feel a little lost without it. Co-bedded twins will gravitate toward one another, “snuggling” close. This is not only safe but biologically appropriate and beneficial!

Parenting multiples and the importance of routine…

As postpartum doulas we’ve literally seen it all:  parenting styles that range from “go with the flow” to rigid routine. We see merit in both extremes and everything in between. We — of course, as always — support all parenting choices.

When it comes to parenting multiples we lean a little to the side of routine, only because things can go from zero to crazy FAST.

It is recommended that healthy term infants feed on demand. With twins you might experiment with this, making sure to always feed the second baby after the first, or even simultaneously if you’re able. You may decide to ALWAYS “schedule” one last feeding before your own bedtime, to maximize your own period of rest. This looks a little more like a schedule than life with a singleton and can be crucial to parental wellness and self-care.

Keep them in the same room. After you move them into separate cribs, keep them in the same room -- and make sure they can see each other. This will be calming and soothing for the both of them.

Put them down drowsy, but awake. You don't want to encourage any sleep crutches -- especially with twins. Rocking or feeding a baby to sleep might seem harmless, but if your little ones get too used to it, they'll need it every time they wake up in the middle of the night (and with twins, that could be a lot). The goal is to teach them how to get themselves to sleep on their own.

A boy calls this 4-year-old ugly. Her response is perfect

    How many of us females remember being told that when a boy was being mean to you it meant that he liked you? It's time to stop perpetuating that LIE and teach our girls to respond like Cici did.
    Siahj, nicknamed Cici, was called ugly by a little boy at school. Her response is perfect and drips of confidence and sass. Her mom asks what she said back, "I said, 'I didn't come here to make a fashion statement. I came here to learn — not look pretty.'"
    The boy, not giving up on his rude statements, retorts that she looks "bad." Luckily, Cici has another truth for him: "Did you look in a mirror lately? Bye bye, see you later, you're making me mad."
    Of course, she is completely adorable, but her confidence in the face of being bullied is admirable. As mothers and fathers, we need to raise strong, confident girls who know who they are, even in the face of naysayers.
    Read this article on "Raising, confident, independent daughters."

    With so much uncertainty and mixed messages in the world, it is easy for girls to be influenced and become confused about who they really are. This knowledge and confidence starts at home. Giving your daughters (and sons) a sure foundation and understanding of who they are, and filling their lives with love and support, will help prepare them to stand up to the bullies of the world.
    It's not just boys who bully girls; often, it is other girls who can hurt other girls the most. Friendships turned sour can lead to gossip, hurt, broken relationships and embarrassment. We need to teach girls to be each other's allies instead of enemies. Read what two women did to combat girl-on-girl bullying.

Why it seems like moms get nothing done all day

The fact of the matter is, moms DO get stuff done, it also gets undone just as fast, if not faster.

This true-to-life video shows a mom and baby going about their day. The mom is folding and putting away laundry, doing dishes, picking up toys, feeding her baby and bathing her baby — more than once. Meanwhile, her adorable baby is unfolding the laundry and taking it out of drawers, thwarting her attempts to do the dishes and laundry, dumping toys out on the floor and getting herself dirty thus requiring another bath.

Do you have days like this? OK, it's every day, right? You think you're done with the laundry and then everyone gets ready for bed creating more dirty clothes. The dishes are done until someone gets a drink or has a snack. There's always trash to be taken out, toys to be picked up, bodies to be washed and kids who need attention. It really is a never ending job.

How many moms can relate?

We have grand plans of a clean house, clean kids, milk and cookies for the kids when they get home from school and dinner ready like clockwork. Usually, we're just lucky to have a somewhat reputable house, kids that are mostly dressed, a grab-and-go snack and a frozen pizza and bagged salad on the table before bedtime.

But, you know what? It's OK. We're not meant to be "Stepford" mothers. We're meant to be real moms. Moms who love their kids, sacrifice for their families and do their best — not be perfect.

Let's be real. Read "Moms, stop lying about your messy house." It's OK to be real and to have a messy house. Yes, we should still try to keep it somewhat clean, but it's nothing to get depressed about — your mom friends not only understand, but their house is a mess, too.

How is Baby's Hair Care?

With your baby, the main goal to keeping your baby's hair healthy is moisture. With that being said, you should only wash their hair once or twice a week when they are young, because this should be all the baths they have unless they are crawling. Once you start bathing your baby daily, still keep washing their hair to a minimum, unless it absolutely needs it. If your baby is biracial, you should adjust the number of times because biracial hair sometimes gets greasy if not washed daily.

 

With babies and toddlers, however, I don't recommend using these products just for the simple reason that you don't know what all is used in these products. What you'll want to do is take about a dime to nickel sized amount and rub into your hands before distributing throughout your baby's hair. Any more than this and it will make their head greasy.

Babies don't come with a manual, unfortunately. Even so, motherhood will not be the exciting journey that it is without the challenges along the way. But to get at least one thing out of the way, here's a little 101 on taking care of your baby's hair. Be very careful not to go obsessive-compulsive on your child. Applying pressure to the soft spot on top of your baby's head will endanger her.

That's called adolescence. But that's a whole other story. One reason could be that their shampoo has stung their eyes once before and they are afraid that it might happen again. One solution is to make sure you buy a shampoo that is especially formulated for babies. They are also free of sulfates that are in most adult shampoos. However, also consider that baby shampoos tend to have a higher pH-balance, which causes hair to tangle. One solution is to switch to very mild shampoos as your child grows older and develops longer hair.