Must-haves for baby survival…

So the quote of the week comes courtesy of a Mama at Lily-girl’s school: “Mama, you also have a son?”

Guilty.

Mama clearly doesn’t take Baby Boy out in public enough or at least to drop-off and pick-up Lily-girl from school and sometimes I get very stressed out so I take her to night shift child care and sleep for a while until I have to pick her up. The Mamas at the school all know about CeCe because there was no denying Mama’s giant stomach four months ago but Baby Boy…he gets to stay at home where he is happy playing his cars, playing with Play-Doh or taking a nap because he really, really needs it. As you know all too well Mama is sure, that dining with a three-year old is a less than pleasant experience and so is school pick-up when you’re half dragging him up the hill while pushing a baby stroller with one hand past the speeding cars and speed bumps. So Mama prefers not to do it and then cart him all over town while Lily-girl does her gymnastics, tennis, dance…you get it. He likes his cars and rather be home sleeping with them or crashing them into our walls.

Perhaps Mama will try taking Baby Boy this week for a pick-up…just for fun…so then Mama can remember why we actually leave him at home.

Last week was a big week, CeCe turned four months and Lily-girl turned six. It was a crazy week full of baking treats, celebrations, doctor’s appointments and survival. Mama actually loves going into survival mode because then it means that stuff is getting done and at the end of the day you actually accomplished something…which is a fantastic feeling. However, those lazy days where all you do is eat, sleep and watch movies are nice occasionally too and don’t come around nearly often enough. So Mama got to thinking…these past four months with CeCe have gone by so fast and there’s not much to show for it. A few pictures have been snapped here and there but Mama really thought we’d be able to capture more and so far…it hasn’t happened. Always good intentions…never enough time to actually execute it!

So now as Mama starts to pack-up and giveaway the newborn items and the baby-baby things, a tear is rolling down Mama’s cheek and a list is forming of the five things that Mama used to survive the four months with CeCe and as a Mama to three.

Mama’s Must-haves for Baby

SLEEP: This is the bassinet that Mama used for all three kids. CeCe at four months is still in it as she’s not yet turned over but Mama knows that it’s on the horizon soon. This is such an important tool to have in your life; you can wheel it close to the bed at night and move it everywhere else during the day. It gives a slight elevation for those with acid reflux or stuffy noses and has a HUGE storage basket underneath for burp clothes, blankets, diapers, wipes, extra clothes or anything else you may need at your fingertips. While this isn’t the original one that Mama had with the Lily-girl, they each got their own new one (long story…), but Mama can’t wait to pass this on to another expecting Mama as it is the perfect bed for your perfect new little bundle of joy. Mama will be sad to see it go! First Years 5-in-1 Bassinet, $89, at walmart.com (Mama bought ours on Amazon.com but Walmart has it for almost $60 cheaper…go figure).

BATHE: When CeCe was first born, Mama thinks it took at least three weeks for her to get her first bath. Even then it was a huge event getting everything together to do it. While Mama definitely gave her a wipe-down everyday (especially in the neck…it gets smelly!), a bath was a different story. Now we’re in more of a routine where she gets a bath every other day and she loves to splash and dance in the water. However, she has now taken to push and arch her way out of the best tub invention ever for newborns — the Puj tub. It is a lifesaver and again something that Mama can’t wait to pass on because it makes giving your baby a bath so easy. It stores flat and snaps together to make a seat for baby to nest in while you bathe them in your bathroom sink. Truly…they fit, it works and all is well with the world. Worth every penny and much, much more comfortable for them than those large plastic tubs that you have no where to put. Puj Tub, $39.99 , at amazon.com.

PLAY: Babies don’t really play that much when they’re just born but they do love looking at you and staring a few colorful objects. Mama’s go-to place for CeCe to play is a soft, plush mat that she can lay flat on but also do tummy time. We pull it out every day and now Mama is thinking about getting one for downstairs too because although she’ll grow out of soon, it is something we’ve used since day one and everyday since. We do diaper changes on it and just gather around as a family to read together to her on it. It comes in all different animals like a cow, bear, hippo, monkey, giraffe and frog. Bestever Infant Play Mat, $44.99, at buybuybaby.com.

WEAR: Only one word needed here — pajamas. As cute as the Newborn Clothes are for babies…you just don’t have the time nor the need to change them in anything but onesie footie pajamas. Mama’s go-to place for the cutest and most comfortable (and reasonable) pajamas is…Carter’s. Cotton Snap-up Sleep and Play, $9, at carters.com. All three of the kids lived in these for the first six months and Mama thinks they turned out okay…don’t you?!

EAT: This is one of the most difficult things for any new Mama to get used to because it’s constantly changing. They eat so often that both YOU and baby must be comfortable for it to happen — whether you’re breastfeeding or bottle feeding. Mama has always had to do both in the beginning with Lily-girl and CeCe as they just weren’t proficient eaters or suckers when it came to breastfeeding but Mama always, always uses the Boppy for feeding to prop up Mama’s own arm for comfort and their little body and heads for easy eating, and one of the Peekaboo Baby breastfeeding covers so Mama feel comfortable when he feed her baby. Mama has three of them…one upstairs, one downstairs and one for travel. It’s a necessity and again…Mama will be so sad to part with them when we’re beyond the infant stage.  Boppy pillow with slipcover, $45, at amazon.com.

Mama survived thanks to these five things…what are your must-haves for baby survival?

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