How to make a baby nursery?

 

Let’s face it a baby needs a designated space to sleep - safely and on his/her/their backs as prescribed by the experts; whether that’s a shared bed (co-sleeping), shared room or a separate nursery. 

Scenario 1: Co-sleeping nursery

Opinions are still divided about whether parents should share a bed with a newborn but for now we know for a fact that it’s not illegal and that parents have got to do what they have to do with the child rearing resources they have. 

Let’s say you live in a one bedroom or studio apartment where there isn’t much space for a traditional crib and there is just one bed. You can get a cot to put the baby in the bed beside you. There are several of these bassinets designed for the bed on the market. However, like all bassinets, your baby can no longer sleep in it once they start rolling over (around 3 months) because of the risk of suffocating. Alternatively there are the bassinets that attach to the side of the bed so that baby is not actually in the bed but safely within arms reach. 

For a more long term sleeping option in a small space you can invest in a mini crib that is considerably smaller than a standard crib. There are mini cribs that are convertible up to toddler beds etc. just like the standard cribs and also come in rectangular or circular form depending on what works best for your space. 

Scenario 2: Separate Nursery

The recommendation to date is that baby sleeps in the same room with mom/caregiver for the first year of life. So an essential is definitely a bed for mom/caregiver in baby's nursery or you may opt to have a section of your own room designated for the nursery.

Whatever the case may be here are some other items, aside from the crib, to consider for your nursery if you have the space or resources:

✳Dresser or Chest of Drawers

✳Changing table/Changing topper for dresser

✳Rocking Chair/Glider

✳Diaper bin

✳Dirty clothes basket/hamper

✳Extra hanging storage (if you need it)

✳ Baby nursery decor 

✳ Lamp or other dim/ambient  lighting for late night feeds.

What else would you add?

They say a picture is worth more than a thousand words. So here's another baby nursery pic.

Comment below if you'd like to share your own baby nursery and be sure to follow @expectingmami on instagram for more baby nursery inspo. 

Child Travel Checklist: Part 2

Here’s a handy checklist you can use when packing for your child. See Child Travel Checklist: Part 1 for a list of things to check off before you even touch the suitcase.

Essentials

• Travel Stroller (Light) or Baby Carrier
• Car Seat (Light) (or rent from car rental)
• Milk, Baby Food, & Snacks (Enough for airport/flight)
• Refillable Water Bottle
• Clothing (Based on activities planned) + spare clothes for carry on
• Daily Grooming supplies, Diapering Essentials (Travel Size)
• Sunscreen & Insect Repellant (Child friendly)
• Extra Bags (to pack away soiled clothes)
• Hand Sanitizer & Child friendly sanitizing wipes
• Inflatable Bath tub
• Small Toys, books or fun distractions

Nice To Have

• Baby noise cancelling headphones
• Small tablet or iPad (with pre loaded games & kids shows)
• Toddler headphones

What are some must haves on your child's travel checklist? I'm curious to know...

Breast Pumps: Are They Even Necessary?

“Breast Pumps, are they even worth buying?” This is a question many first time moms have asked themselves (myself included). This may seem like an obvious yes or no to those who are already moms and especially moms who have breast fed but for the budget conscious and minimalist mom, this is definitely a question worth exploring. Here are some results to this question as answered by real moms on social media:

Based on the results many moms believe breast pumps are not must haves (in certain instances) while others believe they are must haves in other scenarios. So let’s start with some of the reasons for moms saying it’s not a must have.

The number 1 reason  moms give for not needing to own a breast pump is if you are a stay at home mom who is rarely away from your child. In this case it may actually be more beneficial to spare yourself  this expense and to borrow a pump as the need arises. You can borrow a breast pump from a close friend or family member or rent one from your hospital or breastfeeding clinic.

Another alternative to owning or borrowing a breast pump is to practice the hand expression technique that lactation specialists teach in breastfeeding classes. The hand expression technique can help to deal with any temporary engorgement issues. Recap: If you are constantly with your baby, a breast pump may just be a nice to have or luxury item for you.

Here are some reasons/cases moms gave for saying a breast pump is a must have item for expecting moms. A breast pump is a must have for:

• Moms who have to go back to work early, travel or be away from their baby in general
• Moms who want to (or need to) take a break from breastfeeding every now and again
• Moms who want to involve other family members in the feeding process for family bonding
• Moms who need to release pressure in the breasts from milk over supply or engorgement in general.  

For those moms who fall in the breast pump as a newborn must have category here are my top picks (that I’ve actually used - you’re welcome!) for a breast pump: 

1. Medela Pump In Style - A pump with lots of useful accessories like a stylish tote, breastmilk storage bags, a cooler and ice pack, a battery powered charger, breast pads, nipple cream and extra bottles to store milk. 

2. Spectra breast pump - powerful, programmable suction that gets the job done in little to no time. Has a neat bottle holder to rest bottle of expressed milk and a night light so it's great for expressing in baby's nursey in the wee hours of night (if you need to.)

3. Hakka Breast pump - light weight, portable and gets the job done. Depending on your breast size it could even be hands free.

What is your take - is a breast pump a must have, nice to have or a luxury item? Have your say by commenting below! 

The Boppy Pillow: Breastfeeding Must Have

National Breastfeeding Month cannot end without me talking about one of my favourite new mom must haves - the Boppy Pillow!

As a first time mom I did not start out with a Boppy nursing pillow. I started out with a twin size My Brest Friend pillow because it was recommended by a friend. Turned out that pillow was way too big for me and I was having issues keeping the baby propped up on the pillow. 

I remember another mommy friend had used the Bobby Pillow for her first baby so I decided to try out the Boppy Luxe nursing pillow. Two babies later I've been breastfeeding with the Boppy pillow like a pro!

In my experience the Boppy pillow is great because:

• It fits moms of most shapes and size
• It is completely machine washable and can be popped in the dryer.
• No matter how many times it is washed it still maintains its shape and firmness.
• They sell affordable beautifully designed cases if for any reason you choose to change the look of your Boppy pillow.
• Great value for money as with proper care it can last a really long time and can even be regifted.

  

What is your favourite nursing pillow and what do you like most about it? Comment below!

Amazon Prime: 5 Mom Perks

Another great must have for new moms or just busy moms who need extra time in the day 😅 is Amazon Prime!
Here are 5 things that new moms will love and appreciate about Amazon Prime:

1. Amazon Prime membership can help you keep on top of your baby, home, self care and even some grocery essentials with subscriptions (read power of automation). You can subscribe for all your baby essentials that do run out like Vaseline, formula, wipes, diapers and the list goes on.

2. Speaking of Diapers; Amazon Prime members also get 20% off the cost of Diaper subscriptions. 

 3. Free Same Day/2 Day Shipping for Prime members is also a good perk when you need your baby essentials pronto but don’t have the time (or energy) to visit the store. 😅

 

4. One of my favourite Prime benefits would have to be the self care options for moms (read Amazon Video and Amazon Reading). You can get Prime Video on your TV (with Amazon Fire TV Stick or even Roku) on your tablet device and on your Android or iPhone. Amazon Reading is a fairly new perk where you can read hundreds of titles for free! There really is nothing like a good show or a good read to relax the mind every now and again. My favourite show on Prime Video right now is Hanna! 💁‍♀️

 5. Finally, if you’re a mom who loves a good deal then you will love that Prime Membership gets you early access to lightening deals (read deep discounts) throughout the year and to member exclusive shopping events like Prime Day. 💃

~ You’re welcome 🤗🎁🛍

Vaseline: The Ultimate Diaper Rash Blocker

Now to talk about an experience that can scare any new mom and some seasoned ones too and that’s the first time baby gets a diaper rash. The last thing a mom wants is to see her little one uncomfortable and in pain; so here’s how new moms can prevent it from happening in the first place.

Step 1: Be sure that baby is wearing the correct size diaper. It’s especially important for chunkier babies who may be prone to skin irritation around the thighs.

Step 2: Change diapers often and on time. During each diaper change, properly wipe all of baby’s private area that is covered under the diaper which includes the genitals + inner thighs and the bum area. Be sure to completely dry the area with a clean rag after wiping.

Step 3: Apply a generous amount of petroleum jelly to the entire area covered by the diaper. A popular and well trusted brand is Vaseline but any petroleum jelly should work fine.

Remember it’s important to complete all these steps each time during the diaper change, to prevent diaper rash.

Disclaimer: Despite our best efforts as moms and despite following these steps, diaper rash could still occur for a number of other reasons including allergic reaction to a specific diaper etc. It’s important to seek medical help from your child’s doctor if the rash sticks around for more than a couple days after using diaper rash ointment. 

What steps do you take to make sure your baby is diaper rash free? 

Q-tips Cute Tips

My number one use for a Q-tip is to dry between my baby's cute little toes after a bath! Q-tips are especially useful when they are newborns and their toes are so tiny that it's difficult to dry inbetween their toes with thick towels and rags.

I also use Q-tips for other purposes such as cleaning my baby's outer ear (note that a Q-tip should never be used to remove wax from baby's inner ear as this can have damaging effects.), applying any topical ointments, applying diaper rash cream and the list goes on.

Retailing under $4 it certainly is a good buy for baby and definitely a must have item for baby's on the go first aid and grooming kit!

What is your number one use for a Q-tip?

Jolly Jumper Snuggle Cover

It’s cold weather season and full blown winter is fast approaching. It’s also the season of merry making, family parties and get togethers and mom’s need to get in on the action too! Enter the Jolly Jumper Snuggle Cover! This cover works with your baby carrier and provides a layer of warmth for your baby when you are on the go with baby in a Winter Wonderland.

This was such a convenience for me as a new mom in our first winter. If I had any errands to run around baby’s nap time,, I would just put baby in the carrier and sling the cover over. My baby would  instantly go to sleep in this natural moving sleep pod once we started out on our errands. I also love that it’s dual purpose and doubles as a stroller blanket! I definitely got a lot of bang for my buck in this product.

What products do you use to keep baby warm when on the go in the Winter?