Top Product Picks for my Third Time Around!
Here it is... to answer the number one question I am asked in my DMs - what products am I using that I love?!
When I initially got pregnant with Esmé, I was so overwhelmed with how many new products were on the market since I had Floss 8 years prior and I wondered what I actually needed and if I would use them, and I can only imagine how much of a stressful experience a first time parent would have being bombarded everyday online & in-store with the latest gadgets and “must-have” purchases.
The reality is, every baby is so different and what works for one might not work for another. To give you an example, Bobby hated being swaddled. He wouldn’t sleep at all for the first few weeks despite the fact I was doing everything I thought I was told to make him warm and comfortable. I ended up listening to my mum and getting him an ‘arms free’ swaddle after only a couple of weeks and the moment his arms were free, he slept and slept and slept.
My two girls on the other hand, love nothing but a tight swaddle and now even Esmé will almost immediately wake herself up if her arms are not swaddled down tightly. She is also a magician at getting her arms out if in a muslin wrap. At only 7 weeks, the second she is put in her “wings” as we call them (the Love to Dream swaddle/sleeping bags) she knows it’s sleep time and contently puts herself to sleep.
So take everything with a grain of salt, and don’t stress yourself out if the latest, hot on the market product is something your baby isn’t taking to. Find your own way, and listen to your baby and what they like/don’t like. Personally, I look at those fancy new bassinets that rock your baby to sleep - I believe some of them are activated when baby stirs and adjusts it’s own settlings to what the baby wants and I think about how handy they would be for a baby girl like Esmé that loves movement. I, however made the decision that I’d rather suck it up now and get her used to falling asleep in a still position to save myself later down the track with a baby that perhaps wouldn’t adjust to stagnant cot feeling that in fact does not move when she wakes, nor does it play lullabies, vibrates, etc etc etc. Maybe she would have been fine, who knows, but I backed my own decision as her Mum and am happy in my decision, despite knowing every well it may have made these last 7 weeks a little easier.
Again, take this for what you will, but I thought I’d put together a list of products that I 1) used with my first babies and am again choosing to use because of how much I loved them and 2) new ones I’m using third time around and that have worked well for us and baby Essie.
Products I have used before and am using again:
Tommee Tippee Advanced Anti Colic Bottles & Steriliser
As I’ve always been a mixed-feeding mumma, introducing a bottle very early has been something I’ve always done from the start. Never have I had such a windy, spewy baby before like Essie so I had to shop around quite a bit to find the best fit bottle for her. I won’t lie and say these magically cured her vomits, however I have definitely seen a huge difference in the volume of liquid that she brings back up as well as how windy/gassy she is post-feeds. My other two fed from Tommy Tippee bottles and we also love the latest steriliser which is quick & easy to use when prepping bottles.
Chekoh Carriers
I love sleeping with my babies and I love holding them as much as I can, so I’ve always been a fan of the Chekoh Wraps. Don’t be scared - they might look confusing and too tricky initially but they are so easy to get the hang of and the feeling of baby-wearing your little ones is magic. Hands-free is great as well as not always having to get the pram out, especially if you have other busy kids that you need to care for. I find they love nothing more than being snuggled on your chest and this way they mimic the womb feeling all snuggled up. I’ve now seen Chekoh do other kinds of more traditional carriers too which I’m looking to try for our overseas trip coming up!
Love to Dream
We LOVE our “wings” as we call them in this house (actually my entire family of 3 older sisters and 13 grandkids who have all used these!). An easy swaddle system with one zip rather than wrapping all over the place which I find all of mine have been able to get out of. Essie already knows that once she’s put in it, it’s sleep time and she is able to self-soothe to sleep.
Glow Dreaming
I swore by this with Florence so I didn’t hesitate to re-purchase this time around. Every night before bed and her longest sleep, I turn on the red light therapy as well as white noise for Essie (which I’ve now become so used to sleeping with, I don’t know how I’ll sleep without it oops). It comes with other fancy features you might utilise such as aromatherapy, humidifier and an app but know that I used this well into the first few years of Florence’s life and she has always been a decent sleeper.
New items we’re loving:
Target $10 suits
Target have a range of $10 organic cotton baby onesies that I am OBSESSED with. $10?! The feel of them is so beautiful and they have a really nice stretch to them. The amount you need for the first few stages of life (and if you have a spewy butt baby like mine) makes it a little easier on your when they are so cheap. They are by far my favourite newborn suits on the market, as well as their organic cotton singlets that have the same stretch.
UppaBaby Vista V3Pram
Britax Capsule
Cushii
Bundl
Krumbled
Miista
Memo nipple balm
There are SO many creams and balms out there to save your poor, cracked nipples - this one honestly worked immediately for me. It also saved me cracked, dry lips on my face too.
