Baby stuff: 0-12 months the diaper bag

Previous baby gear posts:

contraptions // feeding // toys // diapering // sick kit // bath and skin care

I'm continuing on and talking about the diaper bag today. In the beginning, anytime we left the house -- our diaper bag was bursting at the seams. I'll be totally honest, I never really knew what to pack so I opted for being over-prepared. But eventually, I refined what was in the bag and narrowed down the contents to what I felt I actually used and needed while away from home. I also always think about the fact that I'm never too far away from a major store... and I could always just buy what I needed in a pinch. I will say that I didn't include any food/milk/water in this round-up. That's really up to your baby and what your baby is eating before 12 months. Javi didn't eat much and he really lived off formula (which I always brought with me), water, and cheerios. He's a much better eater now, thankfully. But here is what I do always bring:

diaper bag - This is our go-to diaper bag. It's the one we used from day one and it's nice because it's cute but not too flashy so Sean doesn't mind carrying it around too. I like all the pockets and a lot of stuff does fit inside. I will say that when the side pockets are full, not much fits in the center, main part of the bag. But I think that's probably common.

diaper bag - This is our go-to bag for traveling. I bought it when Javi was under 3 months old and we travelled on a plane for the first time. It was SO worth it. I love that it's a backpack, it has so many pockets, a designated spot for wipes, cooler packs on the side for bottles -- it's pretty intense. The more I think about it, the more I think I should use it more often!

wet bags - So I know these are generally for people who use cloth diapers but I use these for outfits. There are 2 zipper compartments so I keep the clean clothes in one and dirty clothes in the other. And when I get home, I throw the whole thing in the wash. Easy.

diapers - It's a diaper bag so clearly it needs to hold some diapers. "They" say you should have 1 diaper for every hour you're away from home. I don't know if that's true and maybe it was in the very beginning. Now I just make sure I have 3 or 4. Unless I'm gone all day or something (which is never). I guess it depends how frequently you change diapers! I do keep extra diapers in our car though. And the places Javi spends a lot of time at, like my parents house, has its own diaper stash.

changing pad - (similar) I got it as a gift and I like it. I think if I had picked it out I would have chosen a changing pad that has a wipes holder and a head rest -- the possibilities are endless. But it's compact and useful so I never saw the need to replace it.

pee pads - No, but really. I buy puppy pee pads and I always pack a few in the diaper bag. Why? Well, it makes it really easy to change a diaper in a place that is disgusting to start with. One time I had to change Javi on the floor in a public bathroom. They didn't have a changing table. I didn't want to put my cute changing pad on the nasty floor... enter puppy pee pads. I threw one of those down on the floor in the bathroom stall and then put the changing pad on top of it. I even use them to put all my stuff down on while I change him. After, you just throw everything away. They're the best.

travel wipes - You need wipes like you need diapers.

arm & hammer bags - These are the best. Sometimes they aren't necessary... like if you're somewhere that has an appropriate trash bin for diapers. But if you're anywhere else, the general public or the people who are hosting you at their house, will thank you for putting a dirty diaper in one of these bags before tossing it in their trash.

outfit - In the beginning I used to carry around an entire wardrobe for Javi. But I try to just have 2 full outfits now. Sometimes... it's not enough and sometimes it's way too much. I'm still learning there. But I think 2 outfits is a good rule of thumb.

blanket - I always try to have at least 1 blanket in the diaper bag and usually I keep a heavier one in the car. When he was really little, blankets could be used to block the sun, keep him warm, or to put down for him to lay on and play on. Now it's basically just to keep him warm or play peek-a-boo.

lysol wipes - I use these to wipe down surfaces like restaurant tables and highchairs. I also use wet ones to wipe down my hands. I typically have SO many different type of wipes in the diaper bag. If he's sick I have boogie wipes, I use the Johnson and Johnson wipes to wipe down his face and hands before and after he eats. I have diaper wipes. In the beginning, Sean used to complain that he didn't know what each pack of wipes was for. Now... I think he knows. :)

hand sanitizer - I love this one. It leaves your hands feeling smooth and not dried out. I think it's worth the price.

toys and books - You always want to make sure you have stuff to keep them occupied. Or else they want your phone and that's no good for anyone. :)

Baby stuff: 0-12 months sick kit

Previous baby gear posts:

contraptions // feeding // toys // diapering 

Sean is traveling and Javi is sick (how does that happen?! did Javi wait for Sean to board the plane or something?!). So I figured, what better time to talk a little bit about what we use when he's feeling a bit under the weather.

humidifier - In general, I think humidifiers are annoying to clean. This one looks nice so I'm a fan and it makes up for the annoyance of filling it! -- Because it's annoying!

boogie wipes - These are lifesavers! I don't like the scented ones but the unscented ones are something I always have on hand. They really do make a difference and help so much more than just dry tissues.

saline drops - Javi HATES these so much. But they really make a difference if you can actually get them in those tiny nostrils!

motrin - Lots of people have different thoughts about pain medication but I think it's okay to give, in moderation. I prefer motrin to tylenol (he easily swallows it, it lasts longer, so requires less doses and it's clear so it doesn't stain!) so this is what we use -- for teething, fevers and before getting vaccines.

thermometer - Honestly, I'm still learning to use this thermometer -- I find it really confusing. I'm not sure if all are like this but if I was to buy a new one I'd get a different one.

constipation ease - The worst is when your little one is uncomfortable and has tummy troubles. The screams! This stuff is a lifesaver!

vapor rub - In the beginning, if he was sick, I put this on the bottom of his feet and then put his socks on. Then I put a bunch on a blanket and tied it to his crib. Eventually, I just put it directly onto his chest. It helps a little but it's more trouble than it's worth! It gets EVERYWHERE and is greasy.

face and hand wipes - I really like these! Just like the boogie wipes, I try to always have these on hand.

We feel very fortunate that he hasn't been too terribly sick in his lifetime -- just typical illnesses he's acquired at school. But all these things are handy to have in the house and I'm always so grateful when we don't have to run to the store to get more!

Baby stuff: 0-12 months diapering

Previous baby gear posts:

contraptions // feeding // toys

Diapering is a huge part of baby gear... because, obviously, babies get changed like 12 times a day. Sometimes more! Some of these items are disposable like diapers and wipes and it's definitely worth it to try different brands and kinds when you finish a box of something. But anyway... this is is what we used:

changing pad -  I put this right on top of his dresser (with a non-slip pad). It seems really big, at first. Like when he was a newborn I thought to myself WHY IS THIS SO BIG? But now that he's 15 months -- I'm so glad it's the size it is. He still fits!

diapers - In the beginning, we used Pampers Swaddlers. That's what the hospital had, and what I registered for so we got lots and lots for our shower. I liked them a lot and LOVED the line on the diapers that indicated if he was wet. I also used Huggies which were fine, and Babyganics diapers which were SO cute but didn't hold much and all natural diapers (good for the environment and his skin, etc.) but were horrible and he peed through EVERY SINGLE ONE. Ugh. But once he started sleeping through the night (at 11 weeks :) ), even the Swaddlers weren't doing their thing so I switched to Baby Dry. They were a life changer. He still wears them and pees through every once in a while but it's not as bad. So we're sticking to them.

changing pad liners - These changing pad liners fall under the category of things that are unnecessary but HELPFUL. We still use them when things are particularly messy :) and it's just nice to protect the cute changing pad cover we have. You just put one down, do your thing and wash it. No need to strip down the entire pad.

wipes - I'm a fan of pampers (maybe it's just the name brand). I've used Huggies wipes and Babyganics and store brands but I prefer Pampers.

wipe warmer - I received this for our shower and I thought I would use it, especially with a fall newborn. It quickly became winter and it was freezing and I had good intentions every single day... of filling it and using it. I never did. It's still on his dresser... looking cute, but unused.

diaper genie - We have two of these in the house, one in his room and one in the downstairs bathroom. They worked well in the beginning but over time the carbon filter holder fell off, somewhere maybe inside the whole thing? I don't know but they are SO expensive to replace. So... they smell. It takes a lot to make sure they don't smell. It's convenient and I guess feels more hygienic because it's specifically made for diapers... but they smell and I think they are hard to clean, and open to empty. I'm sure there has to be a better way.

desitin - We didn't want to use a lot of lotions and creams and things on Javi's newborn skin. I did some reading and generally thought it would be okay to not use anything -- kind of like chapstick, the more you use it the more you need it, type thing? So we never used anything on his skin and he was perfect! However, once he went to school, diaper cream was on their list of required items so we provided it and they used it EVERY single diaper change. Whether or not it was because of this -- now he needs it. At home, we just use baby powder but they still use this at school. :/

little swimmers - Javi swam, starting at 3 months -- during vacations and then almost every day starting in the spring all the way through the summer. At first we used pampers swim diapers because I was using pampers every day diapers and I was all about their brand. But I didn't like them! So I switched to Huggies in the midst of a vacation and they were so much better. Must easier to put on and take off!

That wraps up what we used for diapering!

Baby stuff: 0-12 months toys

I'm back for another baby gear post! So far, I've recapped what we used for contraptions and feeding and today I'm talking: toys! I try to subscribe to the thought of the less toys, the better. So I only have a few things, what I have I rotate, and if I notice that he's not playing with something, I get rid of it. If I like it, I store it for a bit and bring it back in a few weeks to see if his interest is sparked. If I don't like the toy... I konmari it. So, in the beginning this is what I had:

play mat - Javi hated tummy-time. I didn't want a really large play mat but still wanted to encourage tummy-time so this was a good compromise. He didn't use it for very long each day but I did make it a point to put him down on the mat every day. He liked the mirror and I liked the measurement piece because I could see how much he had grown!

Sophie - My guy LOVED Sophie. It was the first toy he grasped for and we brought it everywhere for many, many months. She's expensive but so worth it.

oball - Javi loved this. We had an orange one and he learned to hold it and toss it and roll it. It was a lot of fun for him and he also really loved these sensory balls. They were all great because as they rolled, they encouraged Javi to chase them.

teether - Javi loved teethers and this one was a favorite. We kept it in the car so there was always something around. Quick and easy!

water mat - This also encouraged Javi to stay on his stomach for a few minutes a day. I didn't have this exact one but it was very similar. The cats enjoyed this too and I was afraid they would pop it! But it survived!

teether - I had so many of these, I couldn't even count them. Javi loved them (still uses them). They don't stay cold for that long which isn't too good and they're pretty small (not a choking hazard) but they fall down in between the seats in the car, like where the seatbelt buckle is, and they are hard to get back.

carseat toy - Everyone needs a carseat toy! This was Javi's. It was given to us and it was cute. Once he learned to pull it down to make music he liked it even more. Again the velcro didn't last long and it would fall and bump him in the face when he pulled on it. What is it with velcro?!

As he grew and started to become more mobile (lifting his head, rolling over, sitting up, crawling, and eventually walking) I changed out his toys as much as I could. I still try to only have 4-8 items out on his shelf at one time:

object permanence box - Javi mastered this pretty quickly and I was so excited! It's expensive and I bought it on amazon rather than a real Montessori site. The one I got came with a wood ball that was WAY too small and such a choking hazard. So I changed out the ball. But I highly recommend this.

solid wood drum - I thought I would love this because it came highly recommended by Montessori blogs but I found the mallet to be a choking hazard. Maybe I'm too scared, I don't know. But it was always in his mouth and he would chew the yellow part right off. Once he was crawling it was alway in his mouth and he would fall on it and it would still be in his mouth. AH! No, thank you. I quickly took the mallet away and just let him drum with his hands. It's not the same, but it's safer. 

wooden bead maze -  This was also highly recommended on Montessori blogs and I didn't like it. The suction cups sucked (no pun intended) and it always moved on him when he would try to use it. It was nice that it was so little and compact and didn't take up so much space but it wasn't practical because of it's size.

stacking cups - He loved these from day 1 and still uses them EVERY single day. They are the toy found everywhere in the house, one of the first to be taken from the shelf each day and he loves them.

juggling scarves - He loves these! It's especially fun to put them in an empty wipes container and let him pull one out at a time. What excitement!

foamnasium step // foamnasium wedge -  I cannot recommend these enough. They have been played with every day since he was 5 months old. They encouraged him to move and crawl. They let him pull himself up and fall down safely. They are comfy to sit on and watch tv or read books. And now he just runs up and down and all around them. Just the best!

jelly cat soft books - We have so many of these books. He loves them! They're adorable and bright. So worth it! The velcro doesn't stick though so don't think you'll be able to fasten them to your stroller or carseat. 

That wraps up what toys we had for his first year! 

Baby stuff: 0-12 months feeding

My last "baby stuff" post was all about contraptions. This one is all about feeding. I still enjoy reading all about baby gear (the good, the bad, the unnecessary, etc.) and wanted to share what worked for us and what didn't. Feeding items is one of those debatable topics because obviously you can just breastfeed and not need most of this gear. It didn't work out like that for me so I ended up with a bunch of stuff related to feeding AND breastfeeding -- though that could probably be its own post. But anyway... here goes:

breast pump - I registered for this even though I could have gotten one free from my insurance. After breastfeeding wasn't easy for me, I was happy to have this and know that it was new and it worked really well. I used it 8 times a day for 4 months. It was basically a third arm. I bought extra parts so that I had multiples and didn't have to wash every piece right after each pump (good idea for night time because nothing was worse than washing parts in the middle of the night just to have them clean for the next pump as the minutes are quickly passing and all you want to do is sleep). I also loved the cooler it came with and we still use that daily.

drying rack - This was good for us because we hand washed all the bottles and pump parts after every use. This fit a bunch of pieces but still fit inside our cabinet (important because we have cats...). I recommend it if you plan to hand wash items. If you use a dishwasher, it's probably unnecessary.

bottles - I love these bottles and we still use them. They are easy to take a part and clean and Javi was never fussy about bottles as long as he was eating! At first I tried to just have a few bottles so I had less to wash but it wasn't realistic for us. I ended up buying 6 of each size that way if we didn't wash them right away, there was still a bottle ready for his next feed. In the beginning especially, this was important. Now he's more patient... sometimes. The little snack container it came with is something I just started using recently because I forgot about it. I send it to school with him, and it's nice because it's divided and I can pack 3 different snacks together but separate. Ours doesn't seal all the way though so that's annoying because sometimes it opens in his bag.

bibs - Bibs are obviously important because babies are messy but these ones were awful. I wanted white ones because I like more natural looking/light items but the idea of a white bib is just dumb. Quick way to gain stains once they start eating food. They also didn't velcro together and would always fall off him. Once he could pull down he would pull on it so hard and the tough velcro would cut the back of his neck. Bibs with snaps are the way to go.

burb cloths - These are great. My aunts decorated them a bit by sewing colorful fabric down the center of each burb cloth. But babies spit up a lot. Javi did, anyway. We used these to protect our clothes, the couch, the bed... and everywhere else we put him down. We got a ton of them and probably didn't need so many but once they're decorated they fall under the "but they're just so cute" category.

bottle warmer - I think this is one of those things that some people see as unnecessary but I love it. Whenever I wasn't home and had to heat up bottles with hot water in a bowl I would get annoyed because the warmer is just so simple and quick. I do wish it had a "beep" sound after being on for so many minutes though. There were definitely times I totally forgot about a bottle sitting in the warmer and a "hey, I'm here" reminder would be nice.

baby bullet - When Javi was about 4 months, we were gifted this. I really loved and appreciated receiving it but I was never good at making his baby food. Sean did it a few times but Javi still wasn't ready to eat it so it went uneaten. I don't think this is necessary unless you are going to put in the time to make the food. For us it was easier to buy the pouches, which he sort of started eating at the same time as solid food, so there was no longer the need to puree his food. If you're a super clean eater and want to know exactly what's in baby's food -- you should get this.

highchair - We have a similar chair but a different pattern. I like that it sits on top of one of the regular chairs at our table so we don't need a whole other space for a different seat. I think I like this seat... I'd say the jury is still out. I feel like the seat is positioned so he sits too far back and sometimes I'm afraid he'll choke since he's leaning back. It's easy to clean because the cover comes right off but the buckle is not easy to clean and gets nasty pretty quickly. The tray also confuses me a bit because it never locks in place and makes a clicking sound during every meal when it finally clicks into place. I'm nervous it'll pinch him!

This rounds up what we used for feeding! :)

Baby stuff: 0-12 months contraptions

Javi is not a baby anymore! (I survived!) I enjoyed (and still enjoy) reading about baby STUFF... the good, the bad, the needs, the wants, etc. and I've decided that since I'm now out of that period of his life -- I'll write a bit about our experience with certain items. Depending on where you look and who's writing the article you're reading you "need" different items for a baby. I still don't know how much you actually NEED but if my minimalist hat was on my head -- honestly you don't NEED much. But many items make having a new baby in your house easier. Many items are cute. Many items are fun to have. And some items are just misses and Sean and I curse their existence! There's a lot involved so I'm going to break it up into different posts. Here goes:

Contraptions. In other words, ways to keep a baby contained/confined/still so that you can shower, eat, do laundry, pump, cry, wash bottles, breathe -- you know, all the mundane normal things you did pre-baby or decided were necessary post-baby? Yup, they still have to get done. I was positive that I wouldn't put Javi in these "things", because I was going to be a Montessori mom -- just like I'm a Montessori teacher. Yup, didn't happen. It does for other people and I'm a bit envious. But me? I needed to put him down and know he was safe and content. Enter, contraptions:

travel system - The stroller/carseat/base we got was a bit different than this one (same brand, color and name though) but I don't think it's available anymore. If I was do it again, I would get a jogging stroller (even though I don't jog). The stroller we have, and still use, doesn't steer well and it doesn't have the best "shocks" so Javi's on a bit of a roller coaster when we go for walks. But two thumbs up for these types of systems overall. I loved putting Javi in the carseat, clicking him in the stroller, unclipping him to put him in the car, carrying him in the house -- ALL WHILE HE WAS ASLEEP. It was the best. I'm a bit sad we've outgrown it...

rock n play - I can't express my love for the rock n play sleeper. I dragged this thing all around the house with me. First, he slept in it every night, next to our bed, for 11 weeks. I would bring it to the bathroom, drag it down the stairs and use it near the couch... or the kitchen, really wherever I was and wanted to bring him -- this lightweight thing came along.

carrier - I loved this carrier. I wasn't so sure I'd be a "babywearer" so I didn't want to spend the money on an ergo (which was really popular). I only used it at home on really terrible, fussy days -- (him, not mine I swear). But I used it a lot when we went out. I was certain (am certain?) that he'd be kidnapped from the stroller. So I preferred to wear him for that reason. It's comfortable on your back and shoulders and if he wasn't a hair puller I probably would still carry him in this way.

pack n play - I knew I wanted a pack n play type thing for travel but we got this whole set-up to put in our living room since the nursery is upstairs and I didn't want to have to go up a flight of stairs for every diaper change. The change "pad" is not a pad and barely held his weight once he started to gain a few lbs. I ended up breaking it one day when I tried to "easily flip it up and out of the way" as the site claims. Uh, no. It was difficult and a waste. We used the bassinet once (though the cats thoroughly enjoyed it). I think I'd skip this whole deal and just go for the cheaper, plain old pack n play the second time around -- and just change the baby on the floor, it's fine.

swing - Around 8 weeks, Javi started to associate the rock n play with nighttime sleep and refused to be in it during the day. So, enter a swing. We had one very similar to this though a different pattern I don't see on the site anymore. I loved it. He loved it. The downside was the legs are so wide (apparently so it's stable) and you need a large open space to put it so it has full range to actually swing.

exersaucer - Once he could hold his head up, he WANTED to hold his head up and no longer wanted to be laying down all the time. Enter: the exersaucer. I liked this one because it matched our house (haha) but he loved it because it made noise, it bounced, it spun; I mean it was basically a rocket ship. Again, it takes up a lot of space. But worth it. So worth it.

sit me up - I had never heard of this sweet slice of heaven pre-baby, but I can't tell you how much we used it. He wanted to see stuff, be up and about and in control and this thing was a life saver. This was another item I dragged all over the house from our room, to the bathroom, to the living room, to the kitchen, to the table to the everywhere. He loved it and I appreciated that it was cloth and didn't squish his legs or put him in awkward sitting positions. We had two!

walker - Oh, walkers how I loathe thee. But he had one even though I was dead against it pre-baby. But you know what? Babies love them. And when babies are happy -- parents are happy. I didn't love this one in particular (the one at my mom's house was much smaller and not so busy) but when we went to pick one out (with a crying baby in tow) this was all they had. We have narrow doorways in our house and the base of this walker is quite wide so he had a hard time maneuvering it. But he only used it for about a month and then he was more interested in pushing it around and HATED being inside of it. And then we quickly konmari'ed it.

That rounds up what contraptions I had and how I felt about them! More to follow!

Javi's Party.

Our little guy turned 1 and we had a bash!

I wanted the theme of his party to be "you are my sunshine" since that's a song I sing to him nearly every day. So I ordered some invitations off Etsy and bought a ton of blue and yellow party supplies and we celebrated!

It was such a beautiful day outside that all the festivities were in the yard but I did a little bit of decorating by putting his monthly photos in frames on the food table. It's crazy how big he is already! I got the inspiration for the cupcakes and cookies on Pinterest, of course.

He wasn't totally a fan of the cake (we would have let him smash it but he didn't want anything to do with it). I think if we were to do it again now (at 13 months) he would be in heaven. (In the last week, he's become obsessed with food but at that time he was so not into it).

It was so nice to spend his birthday celebrating with family and friends!

Letter two.

Javi,

You are one! I can't believe it. I remember, so clearly, laying in bed writing a letter for you to read one day, all about the anticipation of meeting you. And somehow I've blinked and I've known you for a year. I remember hearing once to make time for your mother on your birthday because it's a special day for her too. That sentence means a lot to me now. September 20, is the day you arrived. The day I became a mother and the day I began looking at life a lot differently than before. It's incredibly different than the day before it and the day after it and I will forever love what September 20th marks for me and hope that you'll always celebrate your birth with me.

You've grown so much in your first year of life. I knew it would happen but it seemed to be one of those things that occurred so gradually that I feel like I missed it. Since the day you were born I feel like the world started spinning a little bit faster. I started moving a little bit faster, just to keep up, and I've sure stumbled. But here you are, in one piece and we are just so thrilled at who you are and who you will be. Before I met you, I wondered what you would look like. Now I find myself wishing for the future and daddy brings me back to reality. "Don't rush him. Enjoy him now." And I do. I enjoy every midnight wake up (it takes me a few minutes to get my act together), I enjoy every meal, every car ride, every story read, and song sung and smile my way. I enjoy every time you hold my hand, kiss my cheek, and race to get away from me when I'm trying to dress you. I enjoy every walk, family outing, and evening bath. I want these moments to be forever.

Your birthday is so special. Because you are so special. People flock to you because of the light in your eyes and the smile on your face. You are so loved. Family and friends and even strangers in the grocery store want just a moment with you -- for you to smile back at them when they say hi. And do you smile! Everyone comments on how happy you are. You are always in high spirits even when you're sick and have every reason to be upset. You rally. And it shows.

I don't know what your second year of life will bring. But I know that we're ready. We're so excited that you are apart of our lives and we wouldn't want it any other way. You are such a part of us and of me that I no longer remember the feeling of wondering what you would look like. Now I want to know who you'll be. I love you so much. And I can't wait to find out.

Happy birthday!

Love,

Mama

Water time!

Opening cabinets.

Easter 2016.

The easter bunny came! 

Javi celebrated his first Easter with THREE easter baskets! Lots of teething rings, toys and books were received. :)

In the morning, we had a bit of a photo shoot and then went to my parent's house for family brunch. It was a great day!

These rolls though...

First school picture.

On March 4th, Javi got his first school picture taken. He was 5 months old. :)

Scrapbook Weekend 2016

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

The Bike Path.

We took a walk on the bike path near our house and it was a beautiful day to do it. It was a bit chilly, for me, but Sean and Javi were very happy in their light shirts. I was bundled -- 4 layers.

The playground.

Eating carrots.

We started giving Javi baby food a few weeks ago. It hasn't been that successful. We started with oatmeal cereal, then rice cereal, then carrots, sweet potatoes, bananas and apples. He's not a fan of any of them though the carrots make him smile (sometimes). I hope he starts to like eating, other than his milk, of course!

:)

First time on the slide.

Valentine's day.