Month Three & Four: Need-to-Haves

  

1. Bumbo Floor Seat: Now that Sullie Girl is sitting up {with support obviously}, it's been fun to put her on the counter while cooking in the kitchen, sitting at the dinner table with us while we eat, or in the bathroom while I'm getting ready {yes, we watch her carefully}.
2. Activity Very Hungry Caterpillar: This is super cute and so fun! I typically hang it from our baby carrier. It has so many fun features and it so bright. This always distracts baby, in the car and at the grocery store!
3. Burt's Bees Baby Bee Face & Hand Wipes: These are great, especially since Sullivan has discovered she has hands and loves to shove them into her mouth at any opportunity! I also started to realize that people love to touch babies hands... so now I'm constantly cleaning them. I also use these to wipe her face off when she takes her medicine {it's sticky and sometimes drips out of the corners of her mouth}.
4. HoMedics Sound Spa: I personally sleep to the sound of the ocean every night, and so Sullivan did for the first couple months of her life while she was still sleeping in our room! When we moved Sullivan to her room {right around 3 months} I knew I wanted something soothing for her and it helps drown out any other noises {although she doesn't typically wake from loud noises}. I put this on for naps and nighttime, and I think she's starting to make the connection that the ocean means sleep. Hopefully this summer she can stay awake when we go to the beach.
5. Philips In.Sight Wireless Baby Monitor: Once we moved Sullivan to her own room this was essential. To be honest, I'm not sure if this is the BEST video monitor out there, but I do recommend a video monitor of some kind! This monitor has to be hooked up through wifi, the problem with that is wifi {at least ours} is it can be so inconsistent sometimes. I worry that one night it won't work, and we won't hear our little baby crying since she's on the other side of the house. BUT I do like that we can use our phones from ANYWHERE. For nighttime, it has a feature "always listening" which is just audio. The monitor tells you the temperature and humidity of the room AND has a night vision feature, you can also set notifications but I got super annoyed by them.
6. Sophie the Giraffe Teether & Go GaGa Squeeze & Teethe Elephant: Since three months Sullivan began showing signs of teething. She drools EVERYWHERE and literally chokes herself by shoving her hand so far in her mouth. We were given Sophie the Giraffe as a gift {so thankful, because everyone says it's a must have item}. As a member of the Target Baby Club we get coupons in the mail, and one was $2.50 off Kiki the Elephant- so I figured why not! Sullivan loves both! She still doesn't have the best control over her hands, so they fall a lot but she really likes chewing on her "friends". They both have a squeaking feature, and she could take it or leave it. Overall, I like these as alternatives to her hand!

And as always, so pictures to prove these items are our faves...

Month Two: Need-to-Haves

1. Burt's Bees Baby Bee Shampoo & Wash: It smells SO great! After we give Sullivan a bath we always spend sometime smelling her {seriously}. We give her a bath almost every night and it doesn't dry out her skin at all. It is also gentle and tear free, which I'm sad to admit, but we know it REALLY is tear free. It's so nice to only have one bottle/product for bath time.

2. Baby's Journey Bath Hammock: We used it for her first baths on the counter in our kitchen, and now we use it in the bath tub. I am somewhat of a minimalist and HATE clutter and things that aren't easily concealed. This hammock folds up so perfectly and hides anywhere {under bathroom sink}. It's easy to travel with if needed. I just knew I didn't want one of those big baby tubs, and now I'm so glad I didn't.

3. Wubbanub Soothie Pacifier: At first we had the soothie pacifier with a clip/lanyard thing, but then found this. There are several reasons this is great. First, it's so easy to find when the pacifier falls; second, it adds a little weight to the pacifier which helps keep it in the mouth better; third,  Sullivan is able to grab it easier {although she ends up chewing on the stuff animal rather than trying to get the pacifier back in her mouth} and finally, she cuddles with her "friend" and it's SO cute!

4. Medela Pump in Style Advanced Breast Pump: On-The-Go-Tote: WE GOT THIS FOR FREE! Everyone check with your insurance company BEFORE registering or buying a breast pump. Recently, a lot of insurances are paying/reimbursing breast pumps! I didn't use this much for the first month or so, but as I started leaving Sullivan {for basketball games and going back to work a little} it was great! The black "purse" makes it so desecrate. I work at an elementary school part time and the students have no idea that the bag I carry around is my breast pump. I also love the battery pack it comes with, I've used this a lot in the car. Personally, I had to buy different sized flanges {the funnel piece}, because the standard size didn't work well for me, but no big deal. The cooler and ice pack that it comes with are great and add to the convenience.

5. Hooter Hiders Nursing Cover: I try to avoid breast feeding in public {personal choice}, but sometimes it's impossible. This has been perfect to hide under. It has a flexible "bar" in the neck line so that you can look down an easily see your baby. AND when we hang out with friends, rather than be exiled to a separate room for what seems like forever, it's been so nice to have this cover {as long as everyone is comfortable, knowing what's happening under}.

6. Pottery Barn Classic Mom Diaper Bag: I love this diaper bag. It's a bit pricey, but this isn't JUST a diaper bag, it's my new purse as well. I carry this bag everywhere I go with the baby. It took Jeff some time to understand and cope with the price tag, but now that he sees how much we use it, he's in support. Unlike a lot of diaper bags, it comes in neutral colors, so a man can carry it with dignity {your welcome- I've actually had guy friends comment on this being the diaper bag they want their wife to get too}, but it's also classy and cute. It includes a detached changing pad {which I use ALL the time} and has plenty of pockets and sections, so it's easy to stay organized. I had mine monogrammed at a local shop, with a bright turquoise encircled T {for ALL future Thompson children as well}.

7. Baby K'Tan Baby Carrier: This has been perfect for me, as a cheerleading coach and being on the go. On nights I have to take Sullivan to games with me, she spends over 6 hours in this thing and loves it. It's really convenient because it's already formed for you, there's no long pieces or strips of long fabric and no learning how to wrap. It also comes in different sizes so it will be a perfect fit for whoever is going to use it {this is also a minor downfall, because unless someone is your size, they can't use it}. When Sullie Girl is in this she instantly falls asleep, I think she feels like she's in the womb again. She's super close to me, hears my heartbeat, is rocked with each step, really tight, and warm.

Sullivan helping me coach while in the Baby K'Tan carrier!

Throwback to 4 weeks old- a different Baby K'Tan "wrap".

Sullivan sleeping with her Wubbanub- we call him "Cliff Dog"

Throwback to her very first bath ever- in her hammock! Baha... she loved it! {she seriously does LOVE bath time now}

Month One: Need-to-Haves

1. Aden & Anais Swaddle Blankets: Everyone raves about these, and I'm apart of that parade! These are the best. They are so lightweight with a little stretch, so you are able to swaddle so tight! We had a couple of the "easy" swaddles, with the snaps and/or velcro, but we could never get them as tight as she liked to be. Once we mastered the perfect burrito wrap, when she would get fussy, all we had to do was wrap her up and she instantly calmed down. And even our escape artist struggled to get free.

2. Little Remedies for Tummys: Gripe Water: We didn't use this THAT often but when we did it was literally magic. When we didn't know what else to do or couldn't get Sullivan to calm down, we would resort to this and it worked EVERY TIME. The pediatrician and lactation specialist said you can use it as much as you want, because it's all natural ingredients. I definitely recommend to have this as a "just in case" tool.

3. Carters Long Sleeved Onesies: Sullivan lived in these for at least the first month! The best thing is the newborn size has little built in mittens that pull over the baby's hands, to avoid the dreaded scratching with those tiny razor nails! We barely left the house, so there wasn't really a need to have her looking cute and dressed to impress, but even when we did dress her up-we put one of these under whatever she was wearing.

4. Boob-Ease Natural Nipple Balm: First off, the name, hilarious "boob-ease" get it? Boobies. ha. I loved this stuff when I started breastfeeding. I never, not once, has sore or cracked nipples. Hard to say if all the credit goes to this stuff, but I loved it! Plus it's all natural and safe for baby, so you don't have to worry about washing off before the next feeding.

5. Happiest Baby on the Block: This book was wonderful! My biggest take away was the idea that babies are in the womb for 9 months, and when they are born we expect them to just adjust to a world that is the complete opposite of everything they knew. Karp {the author} calls the first 3 months of an infant's life "the fourth trimester". We can emulate the womb with the 5 S's {Suck, Swaddle, Swing, Side, Sound} in our big, cold world. It also helped me to have patience with Sullivan when she seemed to be fussy for no reason and also to keep in mind where she had lived before gracing us with her presence.

6. Baby Nursing App: This app has been a life saver! It is free if using just the nursing feature {definitely the most important and beneficial}, but you can pay $1.99 per feature {diapers, sleep, doctors visit, shot records, pumping sessions, bottle feedings, solids, etc} or the whole app for $5.99. I use this about 50 times a day. Especially in the beginning while establishing breastfeeding, i wanted to know what time she started eating, how long she ate for, I counted her diapers, and I also tracked her sleeping. It's NOT realistic to carry a pen and paper around your house, but as sad as it is I almost ALWAYS have my iphone with me. I also track her weight gain, and you can use it to record shot records, bath times, doctor visits etc.

7. Boppy Nursing Pillow: I know this isn't anything new, but we use this ALL the time. It's so great to have something to rest your arm on while nursing or just holding your baby. We also use it to prop her up. So many uses! I bought this custom cover. I normally wouldn't spend this much money, but with how much we use it and SEE it, it was worth it to me!

8. Jesus Calling: As a new mom with a newborn I wasn't having much quality time with the Lord. I love this devotional because each day quick and always on point. Scripture references are given each day as well. There is also an app you can purchase, which I also have, again making it convenient when nursing or holding the baby.

Please know that these things worked for us. I read a blog when I was registering for baby things and saw a post similar to this and I thought it was VERY helpful. There is SO MUCH baby crap stuff out there, and so much of it is unnecessary, in my humble opinion. Obviously this isn't the ONLY stuff we used/needed in the first month, but when I think about what was the best and most helpful.... this is it.

As always please comment and ask questions or give suggestions!