Mommy Mondays: Baby Essentials

Welcome to Mommy Mondays,

my newest addition

to the Just An Ordinary Family blog.

Here I am hoping to shed light

on some mommy topics,

give some mommy tips and 

just talk about mommy stuff in general.

Today I am starting with items that

I believe are pretty essential

when it comes to having a baby.

Beside the obvious items

such as a change table, 

crib, etc.

I am talking about the little things

 I couldn't live without.

Not that I am in anyway claiming to be an expert,

but after having two kids I feel I have firm grasp on

what items I would want when/if I do it all again.

Okay here we go!

#1: Sudocream

This diaper rash cream can be found at any drugstore.

I bought one jar after I ran out the Burt's Bees stuff I was gifted 

and only just bought my second jar now when my second is 10 months old.

You read that right! 

I used one jar from the time my now 4 year old was an infant 

until my second at 10 months old.

This stuff is amazing.

I have never been afraid of using too much

diaper cream,

and with Sudocream I have never needed to use it more than a day or two.

It clears up the rash so quickly!

Along with using diaper cream I also aide it with lots 

of bare bum time and also an oatmeal and lavender bath.

#2: Essential Oils

This wasn't something I used much of with my first.

I didn't know much about it then.

You may remember me blogging this past winter

about our never ending colds.

It felt like for months we were just passing it back and forth between us.

A cold, sometimes a flu, but we were always sick it felt like.

Finally after Jane and I had been nursing a cough and runny nose

for almost two months I broke down 

and bought the Essential Collection Kit from doTERRA®.

Now I am totally hooked

and my collection and knowledge of 

essential oils is growing!

It has given me the freedom

to try a variety of home remedies first,

before running to the doctor for a prescription.

I feel like I can take charge of my family's health. 

If you are interested in essential oils,

I became a distributor with doTERRA®

and would love to help you get started on 

your journey with essential oil use.
Click here to visit my doTERRA® website.

#3: a nursing pillow

When I was nursing my oldest I had one of these but rarely used it.

I completely wrecked my upper back and shoulders.

My shoulders curled forward to accommodate the weight of holding

the baby up high enough. 

This made my muscles in my upper back overstretched 

and my pectoral muscles tight.

It has taken me months, even years,

 of trying to correct this posture.

With my second I made sure to always make sure the baby was

high enough up and supported below.

It saved me so much pain this time around!

The pillow also comes in handy for tummy time
and when they are learning to sit up on their own.
I bought mine second hand and made my own cover to go over top
in a fabric that I liked.
You can also purchase covers in different fabrics
that you can take off and wash.

(image from kinderfluence.com) 

#4: a carrier

Whether it is a wrap or a pack, a baby carrier is a must.

Especially if you have other kids.

We had an Ergo that we used with Claire that we loved.

There were a few things about the Ergo that didn't suit me,

so we traded it in and got a Boba.

I am in love with the Boba.

It is so incredibly comfortable and can carry 

a newborn to a toddler 

without having to purchase any extra accessories.
Plus, it is affordable and ergonomic.

Spencer wearing the Boba.

I also enjoy wrapping my babies.

I had a DIYjersey wrap with Claire,

and this time around I used a Moby wrap.

This time I also used a wrap made from a special kind of cotton.

It wasn't stretchy, but allowed me to try some new carries.

Having the baby on me and my hands free

was a huge must this time around. 

It was also very enjoyable for Jane and I.

Claire in my DIY wrap.

Jane in the Moby wrap with a fabric panel.
When she was little, I would put her in the wrap 
and she would fall asleep within minutes.
I don't know how I would have managed without
a baby wearing device.
I had a few!

Jane nursing in the wrap.
So easy, so soothing, so handy!

#5: Hazel wood/Amber teething necklace

These are necklaces that the babies wear.

Please use common sense with this one.

Don't let the babies sleep with it on!

Don't have it too tight, or too loose.

Buy the appropriate size for your child. 

A good idea is to place the top snap of the sleeper

over the necklace.

This way the necklace is looped through

and will help any kind of choking hazard you fear may happen.

It is advised to use real Baltic amber.

With real Baltic amber you can't get it wet

(or let your baby chew on it).

I have seen in several photos on Facebook and

Instagram of babies in the tub or water with their amber necklaces on.

This will actually ruin the effect the necklace has.

With both types of necklaces,

the hazel wood and amber,

it helps alleviate teething symptoms.

With Claire, the amber necklace worked well.

I would see a noticeable difference in her temperament 

when she wore it, and also she hardly drooled when she wore it.

With Jane, the Amber didn't seem to make a difference for her at all,

but the hazel wood necklace did. 

I even tried a different amber necklace

and it had little to no effect on her.

#6: muslin swaddling blankets

Those big, lighty swaddling blankets come in handy for so many things!

My favourite brands are JJCole and Aden and Anais.

There is another one my girlfriend gave me with a beautiful pattern,

but I can't remember the name and the blanket has since been packed away.

Anyway,

they can be used as a swaddling blanket (shocker!)

They can be used as a nursing cover,

a blanket to play on,

a burp cloth and even a towel at the spray park!

#7 - Dishwasher/Washer/Dryer

It seems kind of obvious
to have this on a list.
But if these things ever failed me
during these early years as a parent
I think I would cry for days.
I have a shameless love affair with each of these.

#8: Nose Frida

This was something we discovered the second time around.

Those bulbs you use to suck snot 

(to those who are grossed out, I'm sorry)

are hard to clean. 

Even when you boil the snot out of them

(ha ha)

they can become moldy and gross inside.

They don't always work well, either.

The Nose Frida is bizarre,

not gonna lie. 

The first time I realized what it was,

I was freaked right out.

But I promise you,

even though you are sucking snot through

a hose using your mouth,

you will not get snot in your mouth.

There is a filter to block all the gunk.

It is extremely effective and the filters are replaceable.

(Image from presidentmommy.com)

#9: A really good stroller

This one my husband added because it is so important.

Strollers range incredibly in price.

You can spend as little or as much as you want.

Let me remind you:

You are not buying a car.

There is no need (in my humble opinion) to 

spend ridiculous amounts of money on it.

However, that being said,

don't cheap out either.

You can buy one stroller that

is okay, and replace it two or three times 

depending how many kids you have.

Or you can spend a bit of money

and get a stroller that will last for all your kids.

There are so many varieties as well,

and it really depends on what your families lifestyle is.

Are you a city family who want style?

Or do you want to be able to run with it?

What about using it on rough terrain?

Some things you will want to consider 

are whether you want three wheels and the front wheel

to swivel and lock?

Or four wheels and have the ability to

switch a bassinet for a seat?

Do you want your stroller

to convert to a double,

or purchase a double stroller separately? 

We decided on the Phil and Teds Classic.

We love it.

We have taken it on some good hikes,

the beach and the city.

I love that it is narrow enough to wheel through shops

and arrow narrow corners on a hiking trail.

We can add a second seat on top or underneath without

adding width to the stroller. 

#10: Amazon Prime

Honestly, this has been a lifesaver for me in so many ways.

Amazon.ca has some amazing prices and

they have everything you can think of.

Best prices for diapers, hands down.

Plus, free two day shipping.

What else is there to say? 

Diapers delivered to my door at great prices?

Yes please!

They even carry the brand of cloth diapers we use now.

Runners up:
 baby swing (we loved the Mamaroo),

a great baby bath (we loved the Puj tub),

and a breast pump (Medela is a common favourite.)

Each individual will have their own must haves.

This list represents the things we couldn't live without!

What are your must-haves for baby?