New Mommy Survival Kit – At Least in My Book
Saturday, December 4, 2010 at 6:23PMAlright I’m nearly 8 weeks into this mommy thing and I feel like I’ve got a good idea of what items have really been lifesavers. I know this was something I was always curious about when I was pregnant so I thought I would share my top five list. What are your top 5?
1. The Happiest Baby on the Block DVD
I feel very lucky because I watched this DVD the night before I went into labor so the techniques were fresh in my husband’s and my mind. I don’t know what our baby would have been like had we not known the five “s”, but I know one thing: I don’t want to find out. These techniques really work to calm babies – at least they did with our little girl. Moneysaving tip: you can rent this from the library!
Wow! Has this thing been incredible or what? It’s like my own personal babysitter while working. I’ve actually been trying to launch a company in addition to learning how to care and caring for my baby girl. It’s been a wild ride and this thing has gotten a LOT of use. I use it for napping and it’s helped me get many a shower in. Money-saving tip: Borrow one from a friend (we did!) or check out craigslist.
3. TWO bouncy seats
Okay, so you don’t really need two bouncy seats. I chose two because one was a traveling, fold-up kind that we could take to grandma’s and the other really helped build her leg muscles and could grow with her. To be honest, she wasn’t a fan of either until she reached about 5 weeks. I keep one in the living one and one in the kitchen so she can watch me make dinner, clean up, etc. I even pulled it in the bathroom yesterday so I could get ready while she was awake. Moneysaving tip: put them on your registry!
4. Crib
This seems like a gimme, but I know many parents who say that you won’t need a crib for at least the first six months. I was even given the advice not to purchase one because it would be a while before we would need it. Turns out our baby didn’t care for the bassinet and given the close proximity of her room to ours, we moved her in her crib her second week home from the hospital, and she LOVES it. (Knock on wood.) It’s been great too not to have the stress of “What’s it going to be like when we move her to her crib.” on her minds.
5. Perseverance
Can’t buy this one, but it is something that has to be drilled into you – or at least it did with me. My husband is incredible and he taught me that you know what? Maybe it doesn’t work the first time around, but keep at, and the baby will eventually take to it. He did this with our play mat and bouncy seat. I had written both off as things she didn’t really care for. Not him. He kept putting her on them week after week and you know what, she loves them now! He’s done the same with putting her to bed. He’s adamant about getting her down before she’s completely asleep (the whole self-soothe thing). I’m a pushover though and originally thought her being all alone in her crib, thinking we didn’t love her. But, again, he was right and she’s been putting herself to sleep. Hope it continues!
Reader Comments (3)
I love that DVD. I can't imagine parenting without it! Baby Mo is no match for the 5 S's!
The story about your husband and his persistence is so adorable. These daddies have a lot better instinct than we I could have ever imagined, don't they? Maybe you imagined but I sure hadn't!
So glad the swing is helping you get a little mommy time. It was a lifesaver for us too!
Maybe I should have take a few lessons in perseverance from Tom--I wrote of our bouncy seat early on too. :)
That's funny. I agree on the Happiest Baby on the Block DVD. I also discovered that the travel swing my friend sold me along with the full-size swing was a LIFE SAVER! I used to take it to grandma's house or put baby girl in it to go to sleep on the bathroom floor while I took a much-needed bubble bath. * nostalgic for the slower days before toddlerhood *