New Momma Tip #1
In all my baby books and online baby articles
that I read, they all said that it was very important to wash all baby clothes,
blankets, sheets, hats, socks, etc. with baby laundry detergent before you bring
baby home from the hospital. So, that's what I did !
Unfortunately, however, we recieved more 0-3 month clothes than my baby could ever possibly wear. And since I washed all the clothes as I got them, all tags were cut off. He has been growing out of clothes before he even gets a chance to wear them once !
My advice : Only wash about 5 outfits before baby comes home! That way for at least 5 days after coming home from the hospital you won't have to do any laundry. But really, newborns aren't very messy and you don't really have to change them every single day. Then you can take the tags off and wash clothes as you need them.
Between hand-me-downs we got from coworkers and siblings and all the new clothes from friends and family, Liam is set till he is 9 months!
And if you are attending someone elses baby shower and want to give them clothes, make sure you keep the tags on, include the gift receipt and try getting clothes 6-9 months and up. I understand how adorable and easy it is to get newborn clothes, but most likely that is what everyone else is thinking too! Try going up a few sizes, the mother will sure appreciate it down the road!
Also remember that all
babies are different in size and weight, so certain sizes might not fit them! I,
myself, have a rather chunky monkey so he was fitting into 3 month clothes just
over a month old and outgrew many newborn size outfits quickly. Some were too
small to begin with !
New Momma Tip #2
When the department stores and magazines and baby stores give you that checklist of "necessities" to buy for your new baby, there are some things that you really don't need, some things you do, and a few things that are just convenient to have.
One thing that I saw on a checklist that I thought was ridiculous and not necessary was a baby wipe warmer. "I'm sure my baby will survive with cold wipes..." is what went through my mind. But guess what I was out buying at Babies R Us just a few days after Liam was born? Yep. A stupid wipe warmer ! I learned fast that cold wipes were no big deal during the day, but in the middle of the night, would you want YOUR behind wiped with a cold wipe? Not so much. It was much easier using a warm wipe that my baby barely noticed at 3 a.m. And a plus : they actually are decently priced!
The one I have is called the Prince Lionheart Premium Wipe Warmer
It's $30 at Babies R Us
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3557338
this would make a great baby shower gift too !!
For most cleaning products , dollar stores are the place to go. I get my "pledge", glass cleaner, bathroom cleaner, toilet cleaner, and even wipes for my wet Swiffer! The only product I buy from other stores is a natural kitchen cleaner that does not contain any harsh chemicals.
Decorative items are also great finds at the dollar store, if you know what to look for and how to use them. Picture frames , candles, incense, vases, etc. are super cheap ways to add charm to your home. I love to get simple small baskets and use them for decorative storage around my home. Baskets can be quite pricey so buying them for a dollar means you can buy several !
Getting your home organized can get expensive once you start buying bins, totes, etc. to put all your items in. The Dollar Tree has a huge selection of plastic bins and containers that I use in every room of my home. They come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colors but the larger Dollar Tree stores have a better selection. I use them in my kitchen pantry, to organize my utensil drawer, to hold all my make up, hair things, nail polish, craft items, and all of my baby's small items in his closet. They are perfect size to hold his socks, hats, burp clothes, and so on.
This is under the sink in our guest bath where I have all our extra or rarely used hair and body products. Plastic containers also prevent staining and leaks from opened bottles
Crafting items can also be found at the dollar store for much cheaper than anywhere else. Styrofoam wreaths, balls and cones can be bought there as well as fake florals. (Styrofoam is an over-priced item at most craft stores).
Travel sized items as well as toothpaste , body wash and lotion are all extremely inexpensive things I like to buy there.
So head to your local dollar store and get creative with what you find !
Unfortunately, however, we recieved more 0-3 month clothes than my baby could ever possibly wear. And since I washed all the clothes as I got them, all tags were cut off. He has been growing out of clothes before he even gets a chance to wear them once !
My advice : Only wash about 5 outfits before baby comes home! That way for at least 5 days after coming home from the hospital you won't have to do any laundry. But really, newborns aren't very messy and you don't really have to change them every single day. Then you can take the tags off and wash clothes as you need them.
Between hand-me-downs we got from coworkers and siblings and all the new clothes from friends and family, Liam is set till he is 9 months!
And if you are attending someone elses baby shower and want to give them clothes, make sure you keep the tags on, include the gift receipt and try getting clothes 6-9 months and up. I understand how adorable and easy it is to get newborn clothes, but most likely that is what everyone else is thinking too! Try going up a few sizes, the mother will sure appreciate it down the road!
New Momma Tip #2
When the department stores and magazines and baby stores give you that checklist of "necessities" to buy for your new baby, there are some things that you really don't need, some things you do, and a few things that are just convenient to have.
One thing that I saw on a checklist that I thought was ridiculous and not necessary was a baby wipe warmer. "I'm sure my baby will survive with cold wipes..." is what went through my mind. But guess what I was out buying at Babies R Us just a few days after Liam was born? Yep. A stupid wipe warmer ! I learned fast that cold wipes were no big deal during the day, but in the middle of the night, would you want YOUR behind wiped with a cold wipe? Not so much. It was much easier using a warm wipe that my baby barely noticed at 3 a.m. And a plus : they actually are decently priced!
The one I have is called the Prince Lionheart Premium Wipe Warmer
It's $30 at Babies R Us
this would make a great baby shower gift too !!
New Momma Tip #3
Newborns can't really play
with many toys just yet and sometimes it's hard to keep them occupied for just a
few minutes so you can clean, cook , even go to the bathroom ! I was using my
baby sling while I did everything. And even though it works
quite well because then you are hands free, my back and shoulders started to
really feel the strain. And for me, it is a little hard to get him in and out so
having to change him became a pain. The only thing we had to put him in besides
his cradle was a swing and he was quickly getting bored and irritated with
it.
So another Babies R Us trip we went ! And we picked out the perfect play mat for our active baby. Liam is a kicker- he was in the womb too- and so we found a playmat that has a piano on the end so baby can kick it and play music with his feet ! There is also the typical bar above his head with toys he can grab and shake and the best one- a mirror ! He loves looking at himself in the mirror and "talks" to it all the time.
Now he stays busy playing for up to 30 minutes ! Smiling and cooing and getting a good workout too ! He usually needs a nap afterwards so I can somewhat plan my day now. This playmat has given me the freedom to get some stuff done around the house, catch up on some reading and the best part- my baby loves it and I love watching him play in it !
Fisher-Price Discover 'N Grow Kick and Play Piano Gym $54.99
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11835073
Dollar stores are my new favorite place to get cleaning products, personal items, décor, craft items and more !So another Babies R Us trip we went ! And we picked out the perfect play mat for our active baby. Liam is a kicker- he was in the womb too- and so we found a playmat that has a piano on the end so baby can kick it and play music with his feet ! There is also the typical bar above his head with toys he can grab and shake and the best one- a mirror ! He loves looking at himself in the mirror and "talks" to it all the time.
Now he stays busy playing for up to 30 minutes ! Smiling and cooing and getting a good workout too ! He usually needs a nap afterwards so I can somewhat plan my day now. This playmat has given me the freedom to get some stuff done around the house, catch up on some reading and the best part- my baby loves it and I love watching him play in it !
Fisher-Price Discover 'N Grow Kick and Play Piano Gym $54.99
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11835073
NEW MOMMA TIP #4
For most cleaning products , dollar stores are the place to go. I get my "pledge", glass cleaner, bathroom cleaner, toilet cleaner, and even wipes for my wet Swiffer! The only product I buy from other stores is a natural kitchen cleaner that does not contain any harsh chemicals.
Decorative items are also great finds at the dollar store, if you know what to look for and how to use them. Picture frames , candles, incense, vases, etc. are super cheap ways to add charm to your home. I love to get simple small baskets and use them for decorative storage around my home. Baskets can be quite pricey so buying them for a dollar means you can buy several !
Getting your home organized can get expensive once you start buying bins, totes, etc. to put all your items in. The Dollar Tree has a huge selection of plastic bins and containers that I use in every room of my home. They come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colors but the larger Dollar Tree stores have a better selection. I use them in my kitchen pantry, to organize my utensil drawer, to hold all my make up, hair things, nail polish, craft items, and all of my baby's small items in his closet. They are perfect size to hold his socks, hats, burp clothes, and so on.
 |
| Here under my bathroom sink I use plastic containers to organize my lotions, perfumes, make up and bath products |
Nursery organization
This is under the sink in our guest bath where I have all our extra or rarely used hair and body products. Plastic containers also prevent staining and leaks from opened bottles 
Crafting items can also be found at the dollar store for much cheaper than anywhere else. Styrofoam wreaths, balls and cones can be bought there as well as fake florals. (Styrofoam is an over-priced item at most craft stores).Travel sized items as well as toothpaste , body wash and lotion are all extremely inexpensive things I like to buy there.
So head to your local dollar store and get creative with what you find !
There is a large awkward space under our vanity so I put some baby magazines in this basket from the dollar store (the other basket was $3 from Goodwill that holds extra towels and toilet paper)
This tray/platter was $1 and I use it on my dresser to display my glass bottle perfumes. The blue porcelain box is also from the dollar store and holds my rings !
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