My Top 10 Momma Must-Haves
Fri, December 2, 2011 at 11:17 AM One of the benefits of being a second time mom is that you've already figured out what you really need (coffee!) and what you don't (a wipes warmer). Plus you're just much more relaxed about the entire experience and realize that if you don't have all the gear when you bring baby home, it's not a big deal. Little bitty ones don't need all that much at first, except lots of love.
But moms DO need stuff to make it easier for them to take care of a newborn while dealing with sleep deprivation, sore nipples, etc. So here's my personal list of the gear that is making each day a little bit more comfortable and enjoyable for me...and Leo too.
1. Oatmeal: This whole grain is unlike any other. It helps lower cholesterol, makes you feel full with fiber and Resistant Starch, and a warm bowl of it is like a hug from mom. Plus there’s a bonus for breastfeeding moms—oats actually help increase milk production. Though not scientifically proven, tons of moms and lactation experts have touted oats as a milk booster. It could be thanks to minerals in oats that help you relax. And that’s one thing that is proven—a stress-free mom makes a lot more milk than a stressed out one.
2. Keurig Brewer: Oddly enough, it's not usually the baby who wakes me up in the morning, but my 21/2 year old daughter. And she's often not in the sunniest of moods. So it's especially nice that I can have a hot, delicious cup of coffee ready in the time it takes to fill a sippy cup with milk. I just pop a K-cup into my Keurig Special Edition Brewer and press a button. Getting caffeinated has never been easier or tastier.
3. Orbit Baby Travel System: I used to rock a Bugaboo Chameleon. It was fabulous. But it was also really big and didn’t fold up easily. So with baby number two I’ve switched to Orbit Baby’s G2 travel system. I first fell in love with it because it’s so easy to use. Just strap baby into the car seat, then pop the seat into the stroller base or the car seat base. And it folds down with one hand. But beyond those great features, Orbit Baby also uses green fabrics and foams. I realized how important this was when Leo decided to use his chest strap as a paci. The fabrics are all Oeko-Tex certified, which means they’ve been independently tested for safety and pose no health hazards. Kind of important when baby is surrounded by that fabric for several hours each day. I feel like I’ve made the switch from a Lexus to a Prius, and I’m loving it.
4. Support for the Girls: If you’re a runner and a breast feeder, you’ve probably figured out that those two things don’t necessarily play well together. Your breasts are either incredibly engorged or resembling flapjacks. Either way you need some serious breast support. I’ve found that sports bras that zip up the front and have wide straps offer the most support. One that I love is Moving Comfort Women’s Grace sports bra. It’s made for women with C-D cups, and was actually designed for the needs of breast cancer survivors who are getting back to their running routine.
5. Aiden and Anais swaddles: I do not have great swaddling skills. In fact, when I brought Leo home from the hospital I had to Google how to swaddle a baby. But even I have mastered using the wonderful cotton muslin swaddle blankets from Aiden and Anais. The fabric is super soft, but has enough substance to make it easy to handle. And beyond turning baby into a burrito, the swaddles are also wonderful for shielding little ones from the sun, and shielding mom's breasts from strangers. They're also great as an on-the-go changing table and burp cloth. DIY ideas--when you’re done swaddling baby with them, turn the blankets into pillowcases or doll clothes. Just saying!
6. Lansinoh Lanolin: If you're breastfeeding, there is no way to prevent sore nipples. It just happens. But you can definitely prevent them from getting cracked and chapped with lanolin. Just a little dab after feeding will do ya. And it also helps tame flyaways, soothe chapped lips, and soften cuticles. Who knew?
7. Kindle for iPad: It's hard to believe, but just 2.5 years ago when I had Willa, my first child--the iPad didn't exist. Well, at least I didn't have one. I remember relying on the actual print edition of The New York Times and my favorite magazines to get me through non-stop feeding sessions. But now that I can access any book or magazine on my trusty iPad, I don't feel so lonely when a hungry little lion wakes me at 2:45 am.
8. Mama Mio potions: I used their Tummy Rub throughout both of my pregnancies and I’m happy to say that I didn’t get any stretch marks at all. But my skin is not looking its best right now and needs some TLC. Their Skin Tight product helps to smooth out crepey looking skin, while the Get Waisted cream helps your post-baby body look slim. I am slathering both of them on day and night and my belly is looking pretty darn good.
9. Hulu: Not that I’m an advocate for excessive TV watching, but hey, there are actually a lot of good shows on this season. So if I happen to miss Up All Night or Next Iron Chef, I can catch them the next day. I just wish they’d play on my iPad.
10. The Fabulous Four: Nope, not talking about Ringo, John, Paul, and George. I’m talking about Soap.com, Diapers.com, Wag.com, and the recently added Yoyo.com. Nearly out of diapers and wipes? No worries—just order now and the colorful Diapers.com box will arrive tomorrow. Just remembered the birthday party your daughter is attending this weekend and you don’t have time to run to the store for a gift? No prob—Yoyo.com will hook you up in time. I guess the thing that rocks so much is that you can shop across all four sites seamlessly. And for urban moms without a lot of storage, easy delivery is a godsend. And in addition to the mundane items like dish soap and diaper rash cream, momma can also add in a little luxury item (hello holiday gloss) for herself at Beautybar.com—a subsite on Soap.com.