If you’re anything like us, patience is easier said than done, so we’ll get straight to the something free. After many (many) requests, we’re happy to announce that we’ve finally created a downloadable PDF or Word Doc (click here for print-ready PDF, here for editable Microsoft Word) of our “DIY Baby Book” that we revealed in our getting-ready-for-baby post a few weeks back. Just to jog your memory, here’s how we whipped it up:
The idea was actually John’s brain child (I’m telling you, he’s the sweet sentimental one and I’m the neurotic fool who worried about ruining our sofa if my water broke). He suggested that we get a fabric covered album and create our own little baby book of sorts, with fun patterned paper and printed prompts that you see in typical baby books like “The First Week Was….” and “My First Word…” I loved the idea of adding in keepsakes like Clara’s inked footprints from the hospital along with a ton of photos, so we headed over to Michael’s (with a 40% off coupon in hand) and snagged a sweet 8.5 x 8.5″ album covered in super fun Amy Butler fabric for just $9 after my coupon.
We also picked up a pad full of 8 x 8″ patterned paper to use as a backdrop in our keepsake album (to the tune of $6). So our entire DIY baby book project ran us $15 total. And after adding all the decorative paper and leaving room for notes about momentous occasions- along with photos and other memorabilia- we were left with a pretty sweet way to document many of Clara’s firsts (a few of which we’ve already written in!):
And since we made it ourselves we had fun sprinkling in a few quirky things, like this page of “Future Predictions” where John and I guessed everything from Clara’s hair and eye color to her first word, her favorite subject in school, and even her future profession – before her arrival of course. It should be fun for the beanette to look back at all of our goofy (and most likely completely wrong) guesses someday.
Plus the fact that it looks so cute in the nursery is the icing on the cake…
So now you can download the print-ready PDF or the editable (and then print-ready) Word Doc by following the links in the first paragraph. Then you just have to grab some pretty paper and an album and you’re ready to print out our little PDF/Doc, cut each caption out, and arrange them in your new homemade memory book.
And now on to those five lifesavers that we mentioned in the title. Much like the frequent requests for a version of our DIY baby book, we received a lot of questions about what household items have come in handy since Clara came along. And although this isn’t exactly home improvement related, it definitely falls under the “what makes your house more efficient” category so we figured we’d dedicate one post to this much asked question. Although at first we wondered if we’d even have any favorite items at just three weeks into parenting, but we’re happy to say that we most definitely have a small collection of items that we ABSOLUTELY LOVE. As in probably couldn’t have lived without. So although every baby is different and every parent has varying opinions, here’s what we’re so glad that we had on hand to help us adjust to life with Clara-Clara-Bo-Bara:
1. These Aden and Anias swaddle blankets are amazing. They’re made of thin stretchy (and breathable!) muslin and they’re giant (44″ x 44″)- which makes them perfect for giving Clara that back-in-the-womb feeling. Ever since we noticed how happy she was when she was swaddled by the all-knowing nurses at the hospital, we vowed to carry on that tradition at home. Have we mentioned that we actually have to set an alarm and wake her up to feed her at night when we swaddle her before putting her to bed? Note: be sure to securely swaddle your wee one before putting him or her to sleep since loose blankets can pose a suffocation hazard- just google “how to swaddle” for some great step by step tutorials.
2. This little clutch from Skip Hop can be slipped into any large purse to make it an instant diaper bag- which appeals to a deal hunter like me. See, I’ve noticed that bags billed as “diaper bags” can be over $150 for something that looks polished, while non-diaper bags of the same quality/size can be found for a lot less. In fact I grabbed a chic oversized black bag from The Gap for $25 (on clearance!) and just slipped the Skip Hop clutch right inside. Now I always have diapers, wipes, and an extra outfit on hand – I even have a clean mat to change her on while we’re on the go. Plus I can easily drop it the clutch into other purses and bags if I feel like changing up my look without buying another official diaper bag. Oh the versatility. We actually plan to pick up another one because the changing mat part (which can be detached) is great for dropping over our changing pad in the nursery. Clara LOVES to pee when she’s being changed- seriously the girl does it 8 out of 10 times. Thankfully, the slippery waterproof material makes those little impromptu pee-fests so much easier to clean up!
3. Our next must-have Clara item is actually a super handy iPhone app that we downloaded on the day that we returned home from the hospital. We were obsessed with trying to keep track of how many diapers she was wetting and dirtying (since the docs & nurses stressed that as a great way to monitor her health and the quality of my feedings). I also kept blanking out about which side I needed to start nursing her from every few hours. Enter Baby Brain stage right. It’s just $4.99 and it keeps track of all my feedings (it even has a ticker at the top to track how long it’s been since the last one) and it also tracks wet & dirty diapers. We love that we can push a button and see everything there is to know about Clara’s day (and even compare that day to others) . Especially since products like the ItzBeen Timer are sold for around $25 and this app does pretty much the same thing for $4.99. Plus we didn’t have to acquire yet another baby gadget. Score.
4. This mouthwatering lasagna photo represents all the amazing frozen meals that were dropped off by friends & family members after returning home with our little bundle of baby. John and I joke that we’ve never eaten better. Seriously, the kindness of our loved ones has been amazing, and if you’re not sure how many relatives and friends will show up with meals as you adjust to having a wee one around we would definitely recommend making (and freezing) a few meals before delivery day, just so you have them on hand. Anything that makes things like feeding yourself a no-brainer is pretty much guaranteed to be a hit when you’re so focused on providing for your babe that you forget to eat!
5. This last gadget is totally a personal preference thing. We know some moms who scoff at the idea, but personally it’s been the reason that we sleep at least 8 hours a night (interrupted by just one feeding!) so we’re eternally grateful. Basically, it’s a monitor that detects movement in your baby as he/she sleeps- even just their chest rising and falling as they breathe. And if there aren’t any movements/breathing in 20 seconds it sets off an alarm. John and I can’t tell you how much peace of mind this gives us. Plus it allows us to sleep more soundly and not do that hover-over-her-crib-to-make-sure-she’s-breathing thing. Seriously, I haven’t done that once. It has also helped us to get her into her crib from day one (as opposed to a moses basket in our room) which has done wonders for her sleep schedule since she isn’t disturbed by us moving or the dog bounding around the bed at night. Remember, we have to actually wake her up to feed her or she’d sleep right through the night! Oh it’s also a sound monitor so we get to hear her cooing… and if she were to wake up and cry someday, we’d hear that too.
So those are the five things that have been indispensable these first few weeks. And in case it’s not obvious without this little disclaimer, none of the makers of the items mentioned above have paid us or perked us in any way to call them out here, they’re just honestly the five things that have helped us out immensely so we thought we’d share ’em (especially since we get so many emails from new parents or parents-to-be who want our opinion). We’re honestly kind of shocked that anyone cares about what we like, but there you go!
And now, since that’s an awful lot of words up above, let’s break things up with a few photos:
We’ve decided, like many other fellow bloggers, that we’ll be documenting Clara’s growth with a series of weekly photos. And we came up with the idea of using a white onesie (along with some Photoshop magic to add the week) and a colorful swatch of fabric for the background. We already had some great textiles laying around, but we also look forward to hunting down some cheap remnants to keep the project going (and using baby blankets and even our bedroom duvet if we ever get desperate). In fact the last photo was taken with Clara laying on the fun pillowcases I got for the hospital (mentioned in this post). By Clara’s first birthday we’ll have 52 weekly photos showing how much she’s changed on a slew of punchy graphic backgrounds to compile in a photo book (you know, one of those Snapfish or Kodak Gallery ones?). Should be fun. Oh and we’ll be adding all of our weekly beanette photos to this album in Flickr, just in case you’d like to follow along…
But back to the subject of those five favorite lifesavers, we’d love to hear your top five can’t-live-without-’em baby picks. And if you’re not packing the parental card in your wallet just yet, we’re definitely interested in hearing the five must-have items that make your life easier. What’s frying your bacon these days?
Psst- This post contains affiliate links.
Meaghan says
I’m so excited about the downloadable pdf! I went to Michael’s, bought an adorable scrapbook and cute paper to go with it, assembled everything, and now it’s sitting empty in our babies room. Now I can fill the pages :)
Thanks for the great idea
AEOT says
Our new addition was born 5/15 and I could not live without the dreamsacks bamboo blanket. It’s stretchy, breathable, and lightweight- seriously heaven for a summertime baby. Plus it swaddles better than any other blanket we have. You should definitely try one- amazing!
My other current favorite it our Ergo baby carrier. I use it all the time and Spence LOVES to be held close to me while I’m getting things done around the house. I use my Mod Mum sling as well and that also gets the job done though I think the Ergo is more comfortable for me.
Our Lamb swing is also a favorite. It helps to keep him occupied during mealtimes and other times when I just need him to be quiet and alert but not held. He seems to love it!
liz @ bon temps beignet says
Who wouldn’t wanna know whether their baby was breathing or not!? I would buy that for my dog. Lol Sometimes I find him sleeping & barely breathing.
artsy fartsy says
Thank you for the diy baby book template AND the top 5 lifesavers! Our baby isn’t due until August, but it makes me feel better knowing that you guys like your baby monitor (we have the same one), and really use the function on your iPhone. We got the itzbeen as a shower gift, and I wasn’t sure if we would use it. Reading your post really, really makes me glad we have our our little baby tracker!
Jenny says
I didn’t think I was ‘crunchy’ enough for what folks call ‘elimination communication,’ but my number one favorite thing for my baby (or maybe number two — those Aden and Anais blankets are pretty awesome) was the book “Infant Potty Training,” By Laurie Boucke. I friend mentioned it and I read it out of curiosity while nursing and during those sessions holding a napping baby, then tried it one day on a whim when the napping baby woke up. And it worked! And it’s been great ever since. If Clara pees from the chilly air at diaper changes, it might work great for you!
Kate says
I don’t have any kids, but my niece’s mom has that diaper clutch thing and it’s great :) The baby book is a great idea and Clara is adorable!
Jennifer S. says
I’ve had 5 babies and my 5 must-haves are:
1. Diapers
2. Onesies
3. Baby “gowns” for changes in the middle of the night (no snaps!).
4. Tiny washcloths for tiny bodies.
5. Spit up cloths.
Everything else is extra! With my first baby, I had way too much stuff that every one said was necessary, but I gradually figured out what works for me and I definitely like a minimalist approach. Good luck with Clara!
Tracy says
I really appreciated this post, because I am expecting in September. I never had not thought much about the different monitors that were out there and I am so grateful for the recommendation. It was also great to see everyone else’s ideas in the comments!
Allison says
LOVE the DIY baby book! And OH MY GOODNESS – Clara is just precious!!!
Del says
Love your blog. I can’t get enough of it! The link you provided isn’t working for me either. It loads up the template, then refreshes the page which then says “Oops, the page you were looking for isn’t here”. Not sure what’s going on.
Chrissie says
Best item ever: Front carrier! From about month three to month 10 when she started walking well it was invaluable! We went for walks every day using that thing. I think for the next one I’ll get one for a smaller infant too, ours wasn’t comfortable till she was big enough to face forward.
dana J says
Great post! I love (and still do) taking photos of my girls monthly when they were little (til 2) with a giant bear. Now I take yearly and are able to compare year to year. I have a friend who has done the same thing witha rocking chair. You just need some sort of item that is a constant size. :) Keep up the great blog and great parenting!!
amelia says
boo :(
still not working…i tried searching you under “Young House Love” and “DIY Baby Book”…got nothing. I guess i’ll try again later.
Jill says
Could not have lived without the AngelCare Monitor. Hands down, the best baby product on the market. He has never stopped breathing, but it has gone off a few times if he moves to far to one end of the crib. At least that way I know its working! I also love my Medela breast pump so I was free to leave him with a babysitter or the hubs for awhile.
Jeni says
“Remember, we have to actually wake her up to feed her or she’d sleep right through the night!” and “we sleep at least 8 hours a night (interrupted by just one feeding!)”
Yikes! Newborns need to eat every 2-3 hours, right?! I’d hate for readers to think newborns eat only once in eight hours! Babies can dehydrate pretty quickly so folks need to consult with their pediatricians about feeding frequency and look to YHL for house-decorating ideas.
YoungHouseLove says
Jeni- No worries! Once a newborn is steadily gaining weight the doc gives momma the ok to do “on demand” feedings at night. We got our pediatrician’s blessing at our two week appointment. And even though we’re allowed to let her sleep as long as she’d like, we still wake her up after five hours (we set an alarm) just to be on the safe side. Of course we feed her every two hours during the day, and she’s still steadily gaining weight and 100% healthy. The doc says she couldn’t look better. Yay Clara!
xo,
s
AJ says
Even better than letting little Clara pee on the chic new changing pad, sit her on one of the little tiny baby bjorn potties! they are cheap, no fuss, sanitary, handy, portable….. Your family has the perfect ‘lifestyle’ to do infant potty training (there it is, I said it, the hippy crunchy lingo for ‘elimination communication)– and instead of having to keep track of poopie diapers on your iphone aps you can keep track of how many poopie diapers you don’t have to change b/c she’s doing her funny business on the potty! we did it with both our boys as part science experiement, social experiment and environmental statement for the environmental scientist-turned-stay-at home-mom. The best was when our little one was crawling over to his potty at age 6 months to ‘tell’ us he needed to go. Or the time we all came back from a holiday with more than fun presents from granny. Everyone vomiting for a week but no one had to change a dirty diaper b/c it all went in the potty. This put a whole new spin on the cloth vs disposable debate….we went with neither! Its not for everyone but it’s WAY easier than you think and never too late to try. plenty to read up about it online but I can never let a statement like this go. you’re obviously in tune to her needs if you’re recognizing that she is uncomfortable before she actually wets the diaper — just take it a tiny step farther and see what happens. If you don’t get ‘results’ I’d be surprised but it’s really not such a risky investment — a $12 potty that you’ll need soon enough anyway. Please give it a thought! We had one boy out of diapers at one year, mostly dry at night as an infant and the second out of diapers at 16 months. My best ‘green’ parenting experiment ever. THANKS
Camila says
She looks so cute! I’m looking forward to all of the weekly pictures.
I must say I’m also swooning over the fabric Ms. Clara is laying on in week 2.
Tell her to please mail it to NY when she is done with it.
:)
Jamie says
Just wanted to chime in that I am having the same problems as Ruthanne with the spacing of both the PDF and word document being funny, and I have a mac :(
Diane says
My 18 year old daughters recently found their baby books and were delighted with them, much to my surprise! I had forgotten I even had them. ; )
When they were born, whenever one of us had to head out with both girls, there were no free hands. So we used a nice backpack as our diaper bag.
I LOVE your Photoshopped onesies. You know that if you were to actually produce these, they would sell like hotcakes, don’t you?
Stephanie says
She is just beautiful! She’s stretching out and already getting bigger. Oh how I miss those newborn days :) It sounds like you are enjoying them.
Erin Cook says
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE those swaddle blankets. Did not have those with my first and this time around I can’t live without them! I am 100% with you on the angel care monitor too. All my friends tried to talk me into a video monitor but I can’t watch the baby all night so I thought the angel care made more sense.
kat says
Friends of ours that are new parents signed up for carecalendar.org to help organize meal dropoffs, etc. As a friend who offered to drop some meals off, it was such a blessing. The couple can input any allergies or food preferences and it helps make sure the family doesn’t get 10 lasagnas!
Melissa says
My top 5, in no particular order: 1) giant swaddling blanket (I made my own from stretchy cotton fabric)–we swaddled our babies until they were at least 6 months! 2) Aristocrat or Lana wool diaper covers for nighttime; 3) Bundle Me fleece car seat cover for winter babies; 4) HALO sleep sack, especially for babies who wiggle around the crib in their sleep; 5) Hanna Andersson Wiggle Pants to fit over cloth-diapered bottoms!
Amy M. says
We love our baby movement monitor!!! It allowed us to sleep at night in the beginning and now ensures that she hasn’t climbed out of her crib in the middle of the night. One thing to keep in mind with this type of monitor is that they detect movement…any movement. Ours was reading vibrations in the floor from a fan we had near the crib. It began to work properly once we moved the fan but floor vibrations are something to keep in mind and you might want to test yours while your fan is running just to be sure. Congrads! Clara is beautiful!
catherine says
things I love
1. Swaddle me blankets
2. Ergo baby carrier– better when they are about 4 mos old
3. hotsling– better for little babies
4. johnny jump up–
5. phil and teds stroller than can be a single or a double..
Amy says
1. Maclaren Easy Traveler. So much better than a Snap-n-go. It turns easily, folds small, and takes a beating. A strap secures the car seat – I felt super secure with my baby riding along. I loved it so much that I ditched my Chicco stroller and bought a Maclaren Techno XT when he outgrew his infant seat.
2. Toddler towels. Tiny infant towels are such a waste! My MIL bought us cute bigger ones with hoods, and I was so stubborn about them at first. Too big! When he outgrew his baby towels at 2 months, I changed my tune.
3. A consistent cd that is played while he sleeps. It is now a trigger for him – the minute he hears the first song play, he visibly relaxes. I used it to stop a meltdown in the airport recently! At first we used white noise, but we moved on to classical – Yo-Yo Ma’s Bach Cello Suites is soothing and soft, without any loud parts to wake him! It plays through the night and during naptime. It was one of the smartest decisions about sleep that I made.
4. My bum genius diapers, plus some hemp inserts for the one year mark when he got bigger and started leaking a little! I love love love cloth diapering.
5. My Skip Hop diaper bag, or any bag (or clips) that allow you to hang a bag on the back of the stroller. I can’t do without it. You have to be careful not to overload a hanging bag, or it can tip when you take the baby out.
Cris says
Couple of notes from an ex-preschool/nursery teacher and nanny.
All babies pee when they’re bits are exposed to air – something scientific about sensory stuff. When you go to change the diaper, pull the front of the diaper back and wait a bit…she’ll then pee right into the back of the diaper.
Second, this a general suggestion for anyone about to have a baby. Instead of having people cook you stuff in their kitchenware (which takes up tons of space and returning servingware gives you one more thing to be concerned about post baby) – about a month before you’re due, pick out three to four of your favorite cooking pieces. Pass them around to the people offering to cook and ask them to line each piece with tinfoil and then add the food. Then wrap and freeze. This way, you’ll have a stack of tin foil wrapped entrees in your freezer (labeled with instructions)that pop right into your kitchenware and in the oven. This saves space and loads of time (no endlessly cleaning).
Jeni says
Whew! Thanks for the baby-feeding elaboration. Gave me a fright! ;) Yay Clara indeed! And thanks for your blog – I dig it!
Julie says
You never cease to amaze me. Earlier today I went back a few weeks in the archives, looking for your baby gear scores. You are so good about responding to your readers’ trending questions!
YoungHouseLove says
To everyone having trouble with the spacing of the DIY Baby Book,
Scribd was making the spacing funny when you tried to download it as a PDF. Sorry we didn’t catch it earlier. Now there are two different versions to download.
One is a Word Document (in case you want to edit the text), but note that the spacing still looks funny on Scribd but for me it is correct when I download the Word document:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/31874129/Young-House-Love-DIY-Baby-Book-Word-Version
The other is a PDF Document (if you like it how it is, or just to be safe on the spacing). I made the PDF myself so that Scribd couldn’t mess with it:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/32542218/Young-House-Love-DIY-Baby-Book-PDF-Version
Sorry again for the issue, but hopefully this clears it up for everyone. Happy baby booking!
-John
dansem says
Hi and congrats!!!
Not really a product tip, but when it came to working out which side I last fed my daughter from, I found the easiest method was to use a hairband on the corresponding wrist. I started out keeping track of everything milk-related with more elaborate methods, but it’s easy to eventually get caught up with something else, leave it for later and then forget… Plus, after a while, I began getting overwhelmed with the amount of information I documented, and felt the need to stop overanalyzing something as simple and natural as food. I nursed for quite a while, way after solids were introduced, and after a certain point the only thing I cared to remember was which side. ;-) Soooo, the easiest thing to do was just switch the elastic band to the right wrist and leave it in peace until the next feeding.
A.J. says
I love seeing all the baby tips and tricks. Do you think that you may consider adding a tab at the top of your website? It’s nice to have such an organized site: I can send my engaged friends to your wedding tab, new home owners to your house tour and hopefully my momma-to-be friends to a baby tab link.
Best wishes.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey AJ,
Instead of adding a tab at the top of the page (since we have so many already) we actually made a category called “Baby Business” which you can access by clicking the tab that says “Topics” in the box with the search bar on the top right corner of our site. Just scroll down and click Baby Business to see all bambino-related posts. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Laura @ youngDCliving says
I have to say, you guys are BRILLIANT photoshoppers. Do you have any online or suggestions for easy tutorials?? Thanks :)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Laura,
We’re learn as you go people, so we google around for tutorials and tips (don’t even know which ones they are since we find ’em, learn what we need to, and click away). They also sell Photoshop how-to books and manuals (maybe you can even check some out at the library?). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Sara says
Must. Share. Diaper. Trick.
This was actually found in a Daddy book. When you lay Clara down on her back to change her, open up the fresh diaper and place it under her. THEN open up the dirty diaper. Pull it away and she is already on the new clean diaper. If she pees, there will be no mess to clean up. Now, if she poops, that may be another story, but it really helped us cut down on our laundry. I tell every new parent about it.
Things we couldn’t live without:
Medela Pump- although I stay home and don’t really have to pump, this allows my husband to feed the babies and have some real bonding times with them. It also helps me get a general idea of how much I produce/how much our little ones would eat. We used Dr. Browns bottles and highly recommend them. No BPA or other nasties!
Maclaren Stroller Triumph-we have received/purchased many strollers (hand me downs, etc). NOTHING compares. Light, compact, easy to use, cannot say enough good things about it. My large 3 year old still sits comfortably in it and I could lift it while pregnant (not easy with a full size). With strollers we found you get what you pay for. It was $185 and worth every penny.
Organic Wearable blankets- these came from Babies R Us. Inexpensive and perfect when our girls started to break out of their swaddling. My Infants wore theirs into the first winter. Helps reduce SIDS as it doesn’t pose a strangulation risk and oh-so-soft. Our girls pulled their socks off while in bed, so this kept their little feet from becoming ice cubes.
Diaper Dude Bag-It is a messenger style bag meant for Dads. Comes with a pull out changing mat and made to hold everything for baby. Even has a Don’t leave the house without:” list printed inside. We got ours on ebay (along with our $20 brand new baby bjorn). We don’t always bring ours inside with us, but it is always in the car with everything we need for our 3 year old and one year old.
Sorry for the ridiculously long comment, hope it helps first time parents out there.
Elizabeth says
Baby monitors are a MUST HAVE, specially since our house is two floors… it is wonderful for moms (like me) that want to start a sleeping schedule early on. I also use it whenever I travel for more flexibility while at other peoples homes or even when we stay at hotels (we usually get suites).
BTW Clara es Bella! She is BEAUTIFUL!
Carmen says
Congrats on the birth of little Clara! She is PRECIOUS! I love these photos! Funny thing, I’ve had three kids and not one time did anyone bring me a meal. Okay actually, I think with my son (my last baby, he’s 7 now) the people I worked with brought us dinner. I love the idea of the feeding/diaper app. I think I would’ve found that really useful.
Lori H says
Did I miss who won the birth-date guessing contest?
YoungHouseLove says
Hi Lori,
We announced the winner of the Baby Pool back in May shortly after she was born. You can read about it here: https://www.younghouselove.com/2010/05/the-yhl-baby-pool-winner/
-John
Kristi W. @ Life at the Chateau Whitman says
I love posts like this! Thank you for sharing. I know that whenever you guys post anything even remotely not-house-design related, you get commenters that sort of complain about it. But I just want to say that many of your readers (myself included) like the lifestyle/personal/parenting topics too, and we’re happy to read posts like this. The thing that I like most about your blog is that you two always care about what you’re writing about. It’s sincere and never fake. I think that’s why your blog is so popular. Now that you are parents, you surely care deeply about new topics that I think are absolutely welcome on your blog. Don’t ever apologize for being you! :D
Holly West says
I think Clara is going to be some kind of performer when she gets older–that kid never stops making entertaining faces!
Just wanted to say I’m glad you put the Clara pic link (and of course Burger’s blog) on the side bar. I get my daily dose of baby pics while still getting to enjoy all the home decorating goodness. Not that I mind the baby posts–it allows me to live vicariously through you guys since we’re not having kids. Fun!
Emily says
Back when my oldest son was a newborn, I “IKEA-hacked” that same diaper wallet out of a CD case:
http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2008/02/diaper-wallet-for-quick-change.html
It was a lot cheaper – and we still use it!
:)
Jennifer says
My own bean is almost three, but my top five things from when she was little (in no particular order):
1. Miracle Blanket (like a little straightjacket unfortunately, but when she got a little bigger and stronger, she managed to break her arms out of the tightest swaddle, this blanket kept her sleeping and her startle reflexes at bay).
2. Cloth diapers – I used all the time as burp cloths, changing pad in a pinch, etc.
3. Sleep sacks – loved them, she’s just too big now :(
4. Bundle me – I didn’t need to buy more than a fleece jacket for her and a hat, as she was always warm in the bucket car seat.
5. A lovie or other attachment item. My bean’s ultimate pick was the Tiger Lovie by Angel Dear. She still has it (I was smart enough to get multiples) and is very soothing to her at bed/nap time or other times when she’s upset.
Otherwise echo other’s thoughts – sling and baby carrier (I used a bjorn), Medela pump (invaluable when I went back to work), bouncy seat, portable swing, pack-n-play (I still use it…)…
Hope this helps – and congrats – Clara is beautiful!!
Mrs. Forest says
I TOTALLY agree with 1 & 2. We loved the skip hop prontos so much we have two (black for dad and baby blue for mom). It replaced our regular diaper bag for the youngest two (out of three) of our children. As for the Aden & Anais blankets,
they are my go to baby shower gift – especially since my youngest on the back of the package!
Julie B says
Clara is beautiful–congrats to you and your growing family. Our little bean is 3 months, so we are getting schooled in parenting as we go. Here’s what we’ve discovered:
1.Breathable bumper–I’m so paranoid about SIDS that our crib bedding started pretty bare bones, consisting only of a fitted sheet. However, now that our baby likes to wiggle at night so she’s hitting the crib rails (complete with apendages dangling out) this has given me peace of mind.
2.Ditto in regard to the Angel Monitor, although the first time the alarm went off, my husband and I shot out of bed and flew down the hallway like crazed loones. (Since little bean wiggles to edge of her crib, the alarm often doesn’t register her breathing.) Still, we feel it’s worth the mini heart-attacks. (P.S. are we the only ones who forget to turn the darn thing off when we pick her up, lol?)
3. Old-school cloth diapers–make excellent burp cloths on the cheap. (The cute ones we received as gifts are gathering dust in the linen closet.)
KT says
Hi guys,
Congrats on the babe-she’s a doll! Maybe I am dumb or something but I am not seeing how to change from boy to girl and how to get rid of Burger (sorry-no cute dog for me )
YoungHouseLove says
Hi KT,
The easiest way to change it is to download the Microsoft Word version and just edit it like any other Word document. So feel free to get rid of the Burger references, change “girl” to “boy”, and add anything else you want! Also keep in mind that this is just a scrapbook-type print out, so you’ll be cutting each title or page out individually. Therefore any that don’t apply can just be omitted (just don’t cut ’em out and paste them in your book). Hope that helps!
xo,
s
Katie says
My little one is four months old, and so far my desert-island-picks are:
1.) The Miracle Blanket – she is an absolute Houdini, but this blanket keeps her safely swaddled
2.) My Baby ESP app on my Droid
3.) Her Seahorse toy – it comforts her as she is falling asleep
4.) in the early days, Lanisol. thank God it’s not such a must have now!
5.) lately, her Bumbo seat – she loves it and it provides a place for her to hang out while I do housework.
Melanie Beth says
Your little Clara is absolutely adorable! Our list for our Matthew Man was pretty identical. Swaddling was a life (and sleep) saver! I never tried the monitor, but only for lack of money. I have heard so many wonderful things about it.
Krista says
Cute pics…! You guys should now also start a baby blog…has anyone suggested that yet?? Doing nursery designs, reviews, etc!! Good idea, huh!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Krista,
If there only there were more hours in the day! Although we never say never…
xo,
s
Mallory says
What a wonderful post you two! I have to say it is such an encouragement to my husband and I that you have put Clara in her crib since day one. We are planning to do the same (especially since we have no room for a bassinet in our bedroom) and are happy to find out that it actually can be a pleasant experience!
Meggan C says
you guys never cease to amaze me. i’ve been compiling my favorite baby posts to keep handy when i’ll need them in about 6 months! this one, the “on your mark get set” and the toilet one are the best!
Sarah McGuire says
We LOVE the Aiden & Anais swaddlers from Target. They’re great for putting over the stroller/carseat to keep the sun out.
We spent the big money and got an organic mattress, so of course, our son has reflux and can’t sleep flat on his back. Putting the mattress at a slant only resulted in him rolling down during the night, our lifesaver has been the Fisher Price Rock and Play Sleeper. He slept 7 hours his first night in it, when before he’d only been sleeping 2 to 3!