Monthly Archives: September 2019

Your baby registry should contain these 13 baby essentials.

When you discover that you’re having your first baby, putting a baby registry together can seem like an overwhelming task. How do you know what products are essentials and which are unnecessary? And when you know a product to add, which brand do you choose?  Having family and friends by your side to guide you is the best thing for any soon-to-be mom. Still, with new, revolutionary products constantly coming to market, you may not be aware of some of these amazing inventions. That’s why we’re putting together a quick list of 13 baby registry essential products that will be total life-savers when your bundle of joy finally arrives. Check these out and soon you’ll be recommending these to all of your new mom friends!

A Breathe-Through Crib Mattress 

The SafeSleep Breathe-Through Crib Mattress is unlike any other crib mattress on the market today. The SafeSleep has no fiber fill or core.  It has a 1/8 inch thick open celled topper that makes it completely air permeable.  The scientifically tested SafeSleep Breathe-Through crib mattress features a hollow base with openings in the sides that allow constant airflow. The surface is a 3D open weave fabric where oxygen-rich air goes in and harmful exhaled air (carbon dioxide) goes out and away from a sleeping baby. Tested and recognized as the safest crib mattress, SafeSleep has the highest airflow rate compared to any other mattress or topper on the market.  This is the only crib mattress that shows a 100% oxygen level rating when an infant is face down.

My son sleeps on his tummy so this product was a lifesaver! I have peace of mind every time my son sleeps knowing he is safe.

Be sure to add the SafeSleep Breathe-Through Crib Mattress to your baby registry, you will be glad you did!

Woombie Air

The Woombie Air® is the first breathable swaddle that allows excess body heat to escape and requires no wrapping. Invented by a mom of five, 20+ year RN, and Infant Care Specialist, the multi-award winning Woombie is a unique peanut-shaped patented swaddle that imitates the comfort and security of the womb resulting in longer periods of sleep. It helps reduce the risk associated with SIDS as well as, face-scratching, startling, and colic. Over a million babies and counting have used the Woombie and parents swear by it!   It’s the ideal item to add to your baby registry.  

My son wore his Woombie from birth and as soon as we put him in the Woombie at night he fell right to sleep. So amazing!

The Beebo

The Beebo is a free-hand baby bottle holder invented by an engineer, hands-on dad, Martin Hill, so he could read to his baby while feeding him! Now parents with disabilities can feed their babies and use feeding time as bonding time. With a new baby, feeding times are quite often, so this is an awesome opportunity to enrich this bonding experience. The Beebo brings families closer together and aside from reading to baby while feeding, the Beebo is amazing for feeding baby while eating dinner as a family, tending to other sibling babies/toddlers, and much more.  You will want to add this awesome product to your baby registry.

I love this product, but my husband loves it even more!  I pumped breast milk and we fed via bottle and supplemented with formula so this was amazing to have. I could feed baby and pump with the free hand!

Handsocks

Invented by a mom of two, Handsocks mittens prevent newborn face-scratching and are the perfect solution to keep babies warm without falling off. They are also changing the lives of babies with eczema, babies in the NICU (prevents them from grabbing tubes, etc.), and babies with wounds. The fling-proof mittens have an elastic end for a snug fit with a stretchy sleeve that keeps them on. The mittens are designed to grow with your child’s needs.  The are a must for your baby registry.

Our newborn son’s first photo was adorable, but he had a big scratch on his face from his own nails!  I knew right away we needed something and Handsocks are amazing. The other hand mittens for babies always fall off, but Handsocks stay on and are super soft.

Graco Modes^™ Click Connect^™ Travel System

This lifestyle stroller truly grows with your child from infant to toddler. It includes the Graco top-rated SnugRide^® Click Connect^™ 35 Infant Car Seat, rear facing from 4-35 lbs. and up to 32.” It is 3 stylish strollers in 1 and provides 10 versatile riding options. The reversible stroller seat allows your baby to face you, reclines flat to create an infant carriage and then converts to a forward-facing toddler seat. Convenience features include lockable front-swivel wheels for increased maneuverability, one-handed standing fold, pivoting child’s tray with cup holders and a parent’s storage tray.

This stroller is amazing!  It even traveled all the way to Europe with us. So lightweight yet full of features and easy to use.

mamaRoo®

The 4moms^® mamaRoo^®4 infant seat bounces up and down and sways from side to side, just like parents do when comforting their babies. It features five unique motions and five-speed options for a total of 25 different combinations. Soothe your baby with one of the four built-in sounds, or connect any MP3 device. The mamaRoo4 seat offers full recline to allow baby to lie back and relax or sit up and play.

This is a perfect place for baby to be safe and secure during the day. The different movements are natural like I am holding the baby and rocking. It’s made very well and I love the design.  You will certainly want to add it to your baby registry.

Pello Luxe Floor Pillow

Designed by a mom, the Pello Luxe Floor Pillow goes beyond the standard play mat, positioning pillow, or baby gym. The Luxe Floor Pillow provides comfort and support, promotes muscle development, and encourages independent play. Pello is unique because it meets a child’s ever-changing needs. The Pello’s distinctive donut shape, with the raised edges and soft, padded center, has several benefits at all stages of a child’s life.  And it makes a great baby registry choice.

I love the Pello! If I needed to place my son in a safe spot while I made a bottle or something else, he stayed right in the Pello by me on the floor. Great for tummy-time too – and we use it now for reading books before bed so this product will grow with your child!

iBaby Monitor M6S

The iBaby Monitor M6S features include 1080p video resolution, temperature, humidity, and air sensors, two-way audio, and dual broadband connectivity. Parents can monitor and care for their baby anywhere they go thanks to the monitor’s ability to connect to Android and iOS devices.

This monitor is amazing and I love being able to check on our son without a clunky monitor. We just need our cell phone!  This is a great add to your baby registry.

 

Munchkin Nursery Projector + Sound System

Help lull baby to sleep with the voice-activated Nursery Projector and Sound System by Munchkin. This multitasking sleep solution helps provide a relaxing environment with 4 soothing sounds, 3 lullabies, 3 Mozart songs and 3 dreamy images to project onto nursery walls or ceilings. The night light has a soft glow that’s perfect for nighttime check-ins and diaper changes, and a sleep timer can be programmed to 15, 30 or 60 minute intervals.  You will definitely want to add this great product to your baby registry.

This sound machine is great!  We use the white noise setting and our son sleeps all through the night with no interruptions.

MAM Anti-Colic Baby Bottle

This BPA- free baby bottle can be sterilized in the microwave in just 3 minutes! It features wide openings and 5 parts for easy cleaning. The MAM Ultra Soft Silicone Nipple makes for an easy switch between breastfeeding and bottle-feeding. Base ventilation systems provides a smooth milk flow which reduces air swallowed by baby, gas and burps.

These bottles are awesome!  Our son spit up a lot and once we changed to these bottles he was less fussy.  This is the top choice baby bottle to add to your baby registry.

Seventh Generation Free & Clear Diapers

These safe + effective (and adorable!) diapers will help keep your baby’s sensitive skin protected and dry. The ultra-absorbent core in Seventh Generation diapers, made with sustainably-sourced fluff and 0% chlorine bleaching, helps prevent leaks. They design these diapers to care for your baby as well as the health of the next seven generations.

LOVE these diapers!  They have so much room and are easy to put on. They stay put and they are eco.

Dooky Baby Cover

The Dooky Baby Cover is universal and easily fits in seconds to any infant carrier, stroller and pushchair. Because of its unique and registered design, the Dooky is easily adjustable in height. Simply roll your Dooky up and down using the Velcro strips, keeping the sunlight away from your child’s face. When your child is asleep, simply roll it all the way down to create a dark and quiet environment. With the additional strings on the bottom you can easily fasten the Dooky, ensuring it is not affected by strong winds.

The Dooky is amazing!  Creates a dark spot for baby whenever needed – we used it so baby could sleep in the airport in the stroller. Also, it’s so lightweight and not bulky. This is a must. Other covers enclose baby and trap heat – this does not.

Bebe Au Lait Nursing cover

Looking for a little extra privacy while nursing in public? Only Bébé au Lait Nursing Covers have a patented open neckline that holds the cover away from mom and baby—allowing them to maintain eye contact so they can continue to bond while breastfeeding on the go. The open neckline provides airflow and allows mom to see that baby is properly latched, which is key to breastfeeding success. Secure and adjustable, the neck strap holds the nursing cover in place, giving you privacy and confidence while breastfeeding, wherever you are.

I love how easy to use this cover is and the designs are so beautiful. Affordable too!

These 13 essential baby registry items are sure to impress any new mom!

 

There are many baby sleep myths that parents often believe.  We realize baby’s sleep and sleep patterns can certainly be a mystery to some parents – it’s a topic that requires important education.   With so much information available through books and online, you’re bound to find some outdated baby sleep myths,  tips and suggestions that have since been debunked. Plus, many sources offer such different advice it causes confusion on what parents should really follow to help baby sleep. Here are a few of the most common baby sleep myths all parents should know about:

Baby Sleep Myth #1: It’s never too early (or too late) to sleep train

Starting sleep training early is definitely a good idea, but it is possible to start too early. During the first few months of your child’s life, he/she will spend most of their time sleeping. You don’t want to do anything to disrupt their sleep and keep them awake when their body needs sleep just so that you can get baby to sleep on your schedule. This can end up having a serious negative effect on baby’s development. According to our friends over at SleepWell Baby certified child sleep consultants, a baby can begin sleep training at four months of age.

Why four months? Well, it’s all based on baby’s internal biological clock.  We all operate on internal 24-hour clocks, which are genetically controlled. These clocks drive our circadian rhythms to tell our bodies when we should be sleeping.  As baby adjusts to the day’s darkness and daylight, a baby develops their own circadian rhythm at four months of age. “If we overlook their need to sleep during the times when their body temperature dips and melatonin production increases, we see babies who do not settle easily or sleep for long stretches.” Read more about baby sleep at SleepWell Baby.

With this said, it’s also never too late to start sleep training.  For example, I started sleep training with my son at nine months old (After 16 long weeks of hoping and praying his constant night wakings would end, but guess what? They only got worse as time went on!). We saw immediate results after working with SleepWell Baby and our son now sleeps 12 hours a night and two 2-3 hour naps a day like clockwork.

Baby Sleep Myth #2: Add rice cereal to your baby’s bottle at night

The idea behind this baby sleep myth is that if you add rice cereal to your baby’s bedtime feeding, baby will stay full longer and therefore sleep longer through the night. The truth is, it’s just not safe to give a baby under four months old rice cereal because their digestive system can’t handle it. Some pediatricians even recommend no solids until six months and no grains until 12 months.

Giving baby rice cereal at such a young age could cause tummy trouble which can keep baby awake and increase crying.  Additionally, young babies need to eat every two to three hours so trying to get a baby to remain full for a longer period of time prevents baby from getting the nutrition they need to grow and thrive.  As a mother I know it’s not easy to get up every two to three hours during the night, but it does not last forever and you will get through it.  We must do what is best for our babies.

by ready to go longer without night feedings?  A good rule to follow is if baby is gaining weight and weighs at least 15 pounds then baby is able to sleep 12 hours a night with no feedings. (Another tip I learned from SleepWell Baby)

Don’t worry that your baby won’t get enough nutrition because another cool thing I learned about babies is that they self-regulate their own bodies!  When we started sleep training we went from 24 ounces of formula a night to no bottles at night COLD TURKEY and we noticed that our baby started eating more during the day instead. It’s truly incredible. We were so uneasy about stopping night feeding like that so suddenly, but we trusted our sleep consultant and they were right! Our baby did not wake up or cry to eat. He slept 6 hours straight the first night of sleep training and then 11 hours straight on night two and then since then 12 hours straight every night.

Baby Sleep Myth #3: You have to be quiet to not wake the baby

This is something that is constantly being said about a new baby, especially when visitors are over. Of course, you don’t want to go around making a huge racket, but babies are actually used to hearing loud noises from inside the womb. Baby finds these noises to be comforting, which is why white noise machines are recommended as a nursery must-have. Let your child get used to sleeping while the rest of the household is up and about making typical noises.

Sound Machine Tip:  Choose a white noise setting that is constant and does not have high and low pitches. Choosing a sound like ocean waves or rain is actually stimulating for baby which can keep baby awake. Also, place the sound machine across the room on medium so that it’s not right next to baby’s ears. (Again, I must accredit SleepWell Baby for this educational tip).

Baby Sleep Myth #4: Rush to your baby if he/she cries

We all know that parental instinct to rush to baby’s crib the minute we hear a cry through the baby monitor. However, if you make a habit of this, your child will never learn how to self-soothe which means you’ll be waking up every time baby wakes up. This is not a good sleep habit to practice. Instead, when you hear baby wake up, give her a few minutes to put herself back to sleep.

As new parents, we made the mistake of picking up baby as soon as he cried and our son became dependent on mommy rocking him back to sleep EVERY SINGLE TIME he woke up which was every 1-2 hours a night. We then got into another bad habit of giving our son a bottle to help him go back to sleep faster. Because of this, our baby developed two sleep associations (or sleep crutches) that prevented him from learning how to self-soothe:  rocking in arms and drinking a bottle.

After we worked with SleepWell Baby, our son quickly learned how to self-soothe. Now if he wakes up, he instantly will go back to sleep or sometimes he will babble and play and then go back to sleep. Babies wake up often throughout the night too as their sleep cycles are every 40 to 50 minutes based on age. So they naturally will wake up in between their cycles. It’s crucial that babies learn how to self-soothe.

I want to mention that don’t think you are abandoning your baby by not picking baby up instantly when he or she cries. You are actually helping your baby tremendously. There is a certain method that we used with SleepWell Baby that reassures baby that you are still there so if your baby already depends on you to go back to sleep, it’s best to work with a professional baby sleep consultant to help baby learn to self-soothe. I only say this because when we tried on our own, we were not successful or confident but when we worked with SleepWell Baby we were confident, educated and empowered which made the transition easy for us as parents and better for the baby.

Baby Sleep Myth #5: Put baby to sleep later at night to keep him/her from waking up early

While this sounds like it could make sense, it really makes bedtime worse for baby. By putting baby to sleep later, it makes baby overtired which makes it harder for her to fall asleep and get good quality sleep. If you put your baby to sleep earlier, he/she will be better rested and can actually sleep for longer hours so in this case, the opposite of this myth is true.

Depending on baby’s age there are certain windows of time that parents must follow to give baby optimal, healthy sleep. If baby stays awake past that window of time, they produce the hormone cortisol which makes it harder for baby to fall asleep.

Another myth worth mentioning is that skipping naps does not make baby more tired for night sleep!  Again, it works exactly the opposite. Remember sleep begets sleep.

Make sure you are using a crib mattress that supports longer, better, and safer sleep.

Most young infants have difficulty regulating their body temperature.  This is especially true for premature and low-birth-weight infants.

Crib mattresses with fiberfill, quilted toppers, mattress pads, and vinyl covers can artificially elevate your infant’s temperature while sleeping.  This may cause infants to overheat – a know SIDS risk factor.  The SafeSleep Crib Mattress keeps your baby’s body core temp stable for a safer and longer sleep.    

The air permeable, 3-D open celled  SafeSleep Topper helps keep your baby’s core body temperature stable – not too hot and not too cold.  A stable core body temperature results in a longer, better, and safer sleep for your baby and longer, better sleep for you.  No more worries about your baby waking up from being  too hot or too cold, the SafeSleep Crib Mattress helps regulate their ideal body temperature for them!

The SafeSleep Breathe-Through Crib Mattress is endorsed by Certified Sleep Consultants and is the preferred crib mattress recommend by Sleep Well Baby.

 

Creating a soothing bedtime routine for your child isn’t always easy but it’s crucial for your baby’s health and development. Creating a soothing bedtime routine should start with nightly rituals that are consistent each night before bedtime so your baby will start learning sleep cues. Once a soothing bedtime routine is established, your baby will start feeling sleepy each time you start these activities and will be ready for bed in no time. The key is to make sure the routine includes soothing activities to calm your baby down so he/she will be prepared to sleep!

Tone it down

15 minutes before you start creating a soothing bedtime routine, take it down a notch. Dim the lights, turn off the TV and other electronics, and use quieter voices. This will start to soothe baby.

Start with a bath

Many parents start off creating a soothing bedtime routine with a bath because it’s such a soothing activity and a great way to wind down for the night. The feeling of the warm water and being massaged with soap is so relaxing for baby.  A bath should be 5-10 minutes (if any longer this could actually stimulate the baby instead). Dry baby off with a soft towel and then have a quick cuddle before putting on PJs.

Set up the nursery

After the bath you will be bringing baby to the crib in his/her nursery so you want to make sure the perfect sleep environment is all set up and ready. Have a nightlight on for when you come in from the bath so the lights are low, but never keep the nightlight on during night sleep as babies need darkness to produce the sleep hormone. Plus a light is stimulating. A good way to make sure the room is super dark is to use blackout curtains or good ol’ black trash bags work great too. Once baby is in the crib, turn on the sound machine and make sure it’s on the white noise setting that is constant. No rain, waves or other sounds that go up and down with pitch as this is also stimulating for baby. Next, you will want to remove any blankets or toys from the crib making sure all that’s left is

Use a Breathe-Through crib mattress

a breathe-through crib mattress.   A breathe-through crib mattress is an important part of creating a soothing bedtime routine for your baby.  A breathe-through crib mattress gives your baby the safest, most comfortable sleep.  It also give parents peace of mind  knowing that baby will be able to breathe normally through the mattress if he/she rolls over onto their stomach in the middle of the night.

Put on pajamas/swaddle

Creating a soothing bedtime routine includes soft and comfy pajamas made from materials like organic cotton and bamboo are very soothing as they feel silky against baby’s skin. If your baby is still being swaddled, try using a zip-up swaddle that is ventilated like the breathable Woombie Air. The two-way zipper makes it easy and quick to put on so you won’t stir baby who may already be falling asleep (and it makes for easy diaper changes in the middle of the night!)

Story time

Story time is a pretty traditional way of creating a soothing bedtime routine; it is relaxing and a great way for parents to bond with their children. You may think it is silly to read your baby a bedtime story when baby cannot understand it yet, but reading to baby will have a big impact on his/her language development. Plus, hearing your soothing voice will also be helpful in putting baby to sleep. I’ve read to my baby since birth and now at 15 months he chooses his bedtime book and turns the pages.

Place baby to sleep

It’s important for parents to put baby in the crib to sleep before baby is fully asleep. Creating this soothing bedtime routine helps your baby learn to fall asleep on her own without relying on mom or dad to rock her to sleep each night. During the time while baby is in the crib but still not asleep you can sing to her or say a phrase like “Night, night” as a sleep cue. Say this confidently and exit the room. If baby cries don’t rush right in. Give it 10 minutes to see what happens. You want your baby to learn how to self-soothe. This is so important.

Sleep cycles

Babies actually wake up many times a night after their sleep cycles which can be between 40 to 50 minutes depending on their age. If a baby knows how to fall asleep on their own, they will fall right back asleep and start a new sleep cycle. If baby is used to mama rocking him to sleep or feeding before sleep, when they wake up, they will want this to fall back asleep again. It’s called a sleep crutch or sleep association.  Your goal is to have your soothing bedtime routine result in your able being able to self sooth and fall asleep on their own. 

If baby is crying

If baby is crying,  after 10 minutes, go into the room and shut the door behind you (no lights so baby does not see you and become stimulated) and shush the baby for 1-2 minutes. Do not touch or talk to baby. If baby cries really badly then a gentle touch on the hair is good. Never pick up baby! By shushing baby for a couple minutes then leaving the room again, this lets baby know that you are there for them. Repeat every 10 minutes for as many times as it takes for baby to fall asleep. There is much more to this method however and could change depending on your baby and parenting style. I learned it from SleepWell Baby, certified child sleep consultants. Using a sleep consultant to help you find you in creating your soothing bedtime routine does not mean you are failing as a parent.  Sleep consultants are amazing!  Our son went from waking up every 1-2 hours needing me to rock or feed him back to sleep to sleeping all night in his crib for 12 hours straight. I highly recommend you try their free 15 minute call to see how they can help your baby sleep well.