Favorite Baby Products Series: 3-6 months

Hi there! I’m excited to be back with round two of my favorite baby products. Around the 3 or 4 month mark, we found ourselves making more baby purchases. We had all of the stuff from our baby shower and all of the newborn essentials, but things change drastically within a few months, and you find that there are things you haven’t thought of, or things you need now that baby is bigger, more active and out of the newborn “pet rock” phase. Below are my favorites that we used every single day and really helped us navigate months 3-6!

(more…)

Continue ReadingFavorite Baby Products Series: 3-6 months

Favorite Baby Products Series: 0-3 Months

When I was pregnant with Jackson, I remember reading sooo many reviews about baby gear! There were just so many options, and as a first time mom, I didn’t want to spend any time or money on things that weren’t good quality, or things we wouldn’t end up using. Predictably, some things we got were great and some weren’t. But now I love to share my best recommendations for other mamas looking to add to their shopping list or registry. Over the next several weeks I’ll be sharing my favorite finds (so far!) from newborn-1 year.

(more…)

Continue ReadingFavorite Baby Products Series: 0-3 Months

Promoting Infant Circadian Rhythms

 

You may have heard the phrase “She has her days and nights mixed up” in reference to a baby who sleeps all day and is up most of the night. The reason for this “mix up” is that brand new infants have not developed what is called a circadian rhythm.

A circadian rhythm is essentially a 24 hour internal clock that gives us cues as to when we should sleep and when we should be alert. Many of these cues are influenced by our exposure to light and our hormones. It generally takes 2-5 months for an infant to develop a good 24-hour circadian rhythm.

As a human who needs sleep (that’s you!) it is a good goal to work towards naturally helping your baby cultivate a strong circadian rhythm. You see, it is usually not the amount that a baby sleeps that is the problem- it’s that they don’t want to sleep when you do! (more…)

Continue ReadingPromoting Infant Circadian Rhythms

Never Wake A Sleeping Baby (and Other Sleep Myths)

Most of us (if not all) have been the victim ahem, beneficiary, of well-meaning parenting advice. Whether it is your great aunt at the family reunion, that mom in your play group or the man in the check out line at the grocery store, people tend to be very eager to give moms sleep advice (actually, any advice!) regarding their children. While sometimes the advice can be a little nugget of wisdom or motivation, sometimes they are myths that- while well-meaning- only end up causing more trouble if followed! Below I address the top myths I hear regarding sleep, and why you should politely smile, nod and ignore when the sweet lady at the gym gives you one of these lines 😉 (more…)

Continue ReadingNever Wake A Sleeping Baby (and Other Sleep Myths)

The Problem with Sleep Shaming

I don’t know any mother (even a first timer!) who goes into motherhood expecting to get 12 hours of beauty sleep when their little bundle of joy enters their life. We all know that things are about to change drastically, at least for a while. We understand we will be up in the middle of the night caring for a newborn, probably feeding every couple hours, and changing diapers. No big surprise. Especially for exclusively breastfeeding moms (like I was), our willing spouses are not even able to help as much because we are the solitary food source. Most notably during the “fourth trimester,” when babies are still getting used to life outside the womb and their needs and wants are the same thing, we have to be as responsive as possible. (more…)

Continue ReadingThe Problem with Sleep Shaming

Waking Up in the Bathtub

Imagine this: it’s a normal night. You snuggle up with your partner, fluff your pillow and pull your covers up to your chin and sink into a deep sleep. A couple hours later, your eyes snap open. But something is not right. The surface below you is too hard, and you can’t feel your pillow anymore. Your partner is nowhere to be found and you sit straight up, only to realize you are sleeping in the bathtub. You freak out, start yelling “How did this happen??” while you step out of the tub and head back to your bed.

Weird, right? Imagine that this happens five times a night, every night.

Stay with me… (more…)

Continue ReadingWaking Up in the Bathtub