New Mom Essentials: Up to 10 months!

We are a few days shy of eleven months and again I feel like I say this in every post but I cannot believe how quickly time flies. Ava Rose is growing and doing something amazing every day. I honestly cannot get enough of her. Having a baby is expensive but I’m blessed to have the opportunity to try many products whether it be through blog, gifts or just my husband and I seeing something cool and buying it. Here are some products that helped up in the past few months.

Yoomi 
Yoomi Bottle with Warmer ($39.99 CAN)
I was actually gifted the yoomi feeding bottle a while ago. I thought it was super unique. I can admit- I didn't get to use it for night-feeding (baby girl slept through the night). I can totally see how a product like this could be ideal! No fumbling in the dark at 1am trying to warm up milk. The yoomi self-warming bottle warms your baby's feed in just 60 seconds using the bottle warmer that inserts into the nipple.

Quick and Easy Apple Puree Mixes for Your Baby

Making food for your baby at home might seem high maintenance for some. When Ava was 5 months we started to feed her "solids". For the first few days, she was like... what is this!? Then after a while, she was obsessed. For the purposes of this article, I'm going to base my tips on a simple fruit that we all start on as babies: Apples.

You know how that old saying goes, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Well, in this case, an apple a day might just make their transition to solids so much easier!

Guest Post: Road trip with a baby under 3 months old

Road trips are meant to be fun right? 

I personally love taking them every chance I get. I like packing up, wearing my sunglasses and singing songs on the highway like I’m the artist on stage while driving to my destination. It was all so simple before our daughter Juliette was born. Now I try my best to plan it all out before hitting the road. Our first road trip as a family was to Atlanta, GA luckily for us Nashville, TN is only 4 hours away by car. I must admit I was a bit nervous to take our 3 month old on a road trip, but she really enjoys car rides. We decided to leave early in the morning to beat the morning traffic here in Nashville and arrive before the after work rush home from the Atlanta drivers.

I nursed Juliette at 5:30am then got her changed into a clean diaper. I dressed her in a sleep and play onesie to make sure she would be comfortable. This outfit also helped make diaper changes on the road swift. Afterwards, I checked her diaper bag to make sure I didn’t leave anything out while my husband loaded our luggage in the trunk. Anytime we head out the house I always make sure Juliette has her 3 favourite items a soft blanket, a WabbaNub and her lovie. Juliette’s lovie is a small bunny with a tiny security blanket attached. I tend to keep them in her car seat so we don’t have to go on a wild goose chase searching for them. She loves holding them all while traveling in her car seat.

An hour later it was finally time to hit the road. My husband Johnathan loves to drive and I sat in the back with Juliette. We closed our eyes and prayed for safe travels and opened them to see we needed to get gas. I highly recommend getting gas the day before. We grabbed a quick bite to eat and was on the highway by 7:00am. Literally, 7 minutes later Juliette was asleep. Two hours later we stopped in Chattanooga, TN to change Juliette’s diaper at a restaurant nearby the exit ramp. I like stopping at a restaurant so I can eat a snack, if needed and nurse her at the same time. After Johnathan got a few good burps from Julie it was time to it the road again.

Guest Post: Travelling on a plane with a baby over 6 months

Hey everyone, my name is Jennifer.

Just before heading back to work from maternity leave, my husband and I wanted to take a two week trip over to London, England with our 11 month old son, Eli. While planning, I thought it would be best to fly overnight so Eli could sleep for most of the flight and he did. He slept for the whole 6 hours in my lap. He was very comfortable, but I will say, I was not. We ended up getting seats in the middle of the plane and wished we had seats on the sides. I think I would have been more comfortable if I had the window to lean against if needed. But with that all to say, it was still a good flight. On the flight back home, it was a little different. It was a morning flight and I knew that I would have to find things to keep Eli busy. He did have a nap but when he was awake, we walked around the plane and played with the few toys I had. The toys we brought we from the company Fatbrain Toys. These toys can be suctioned to the trays in front of you. Eli was going at them for a quite a bit of time, they kept him entertained. We also had snacks. DO NOT FORGET THE SNACKS!! Lol. Those helped a lot.

Natural Teething Remedies For Babies

A few mornings ago Ava woke up at 5:30am. Most the time (when she wakes up early) we give her a pacifier and she’ll go right back to bed. But this totally was not the case.

Is there anything more heartbreaking then a teething baby? We feed them, we diaper them, we care for them but try as we might, it seems like there is nothing we can do to relieve the pain of their new teeth coming in.

Trying out Aleva Naturals

Have you heard of Aleva Naturals? 

I’m no stranger to the brand. I actually received a massive box of their wipes from my BabiesRUs registry. It honestly helped me get through the first two months of life with baby Ava. A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to try out a few other products from the line.

The line is ideal for moms like me who don't want to use any products which might be an allergen on their children. From the very beginning I knew that I only wanted to use mostly Vegan brands on Ava.

Aleva Naturals is...

• Vegan
• Hypoallergenic
• Paraben Free
• Phenoxyethanol Free
• Toxin Free
• Harsh Chemicals Free

How to take your baby's temperature: Newborn | Six Months | Nine Months

Oh no! 

You suspect your little one is sick. There is nothing more stressful than a sick baby. 

It's even worst because it's not possible for them to tell us what's wrong. 

If it could only be so easy!

The first time Ava Rose was a little feverish, I was instantly paralyzed with worry. Is this serious? Or am I just imagining that she's warmer than normal? After calling Telehealth, they instructed me to take her temperature. Thankfully she was okay but it totally could have been a serious situation.

The day after I googled instructions on "How to take a baby's temperature at multiple months" because I totally wanted to be prepared for my next freak out. 

**Please contact your family doctor for accurate information**

New Mom Essentials: Up to 6 months! Was it worth it?

Looking back, I can say I did quite well prepping for Ava. How? By talking to other moms and looking at baby registry must haves. I can admit not EVERYTHING is necessary but some things are essential.

I’m always asked what are my must haves... 

Now that Ava is 7 months I can tell you what made my transition to motherhood smooth.

Diaper Caddy
Why?
I wanted everything at my fingers when diaper changing.
I never wanted to have to leave her on the change table to have to run and get anything.
How did it ease your new mom concerns?
I always knew what my supply was.
I never was out of wipes/diapers/body lotion/diaper cream.
Plus it also helped my husband stay organized as well.
How long did I use it?
This is something that I will continue to use for a WHILE.
As long as Ava is still in diapers.
Would you purchase again?
I'm 50/50 for only one reason. I do feel like if you hit it (walking past it or whatever) with enough force. It will crack and eventually break. But I love how simple it as and cost effective- so I'm torn.

First Time Mom Must Haves- Four to Six Months

Oh my! How behind are we?!? I apologize. So much has been going on! I have been in school, working and taking care of the baby. Plus being wife! Can’t forget that one. I legit have no time for anything but that needs to change. This is the update from her being four months to six months old. 

UPDATE:

• She can say dada. 
• She’s been saying that since she was four months old. 
• She loves to roll back-and-forth.
• She’s working on sitting up without any assistance. 
• She’s good at doing it for a few seconds and then she gets excited and wants the clap but doesn’t have any balance to do so. So she ends up falling over. 
• She also loves singing and dancing. 

Baby: Hospital bag must haves

Say goodbye to the days where everything is provided to you in the hospital. (Some) Hospitals provide you with the bare minimum in terms of amenities. You get a bed, washroom and staff that will assist you with getting your bundle of joy out. But did you know that it was your responsibility to bring things like extra linens and pillows to stay comfortable. I totally did NOT!

Here are a few things that you should not forget to pack in your hospital bag for labour.

buybuy BABY: Breast Pumping Essentials

This post is in partnership with buybuy BABY. All opinions here are my own.
Making the decision to incorporate pumping into your daily life is a tricky one. I applaud moms who are exclusive pumpers. Which means that they pump around six-eight times a day. I pump about four times a day (on a good day) and I feel like I am tied to my machine...but I will do anything for my little baby.

If you're a first time mom and interesting in pumping essentials- you have found the right post!

All of these products can be found at buybuy Baby. If you have any questions: One of their staff members can explain each product to you. They can also let you know what would work for your unique lifestyle before you have your baby. You can even put it on your registry!

Diono Radian 3 RXT Car Seat

Safety is number one when it comes to choosing a car seat. When I was pregnant, my husband and I always decided that we would get two car seats. One for his car because he will be driving the most. The second car seat would be for my car or a family member (if they were helping out with the baby). 

A few factors go into choosing a car seat.

First thing is
Longevity:
We were looking for something that is going to last a long time. We have a very tall baby- so anything that is going to honestly take her from infant to onwards is ideal.

Design:
There are some awesome designs out there but wanted something that was black and sleek.

Safe:

This is number one! We wanted something that is sturdy and long lasting. Also because she’s so tiny right now- she needs comfort but style.

I was lucky that I was able to try the new Diono radian 3 RXT ($399.99 CAN).

Five Tips to consider when visiting a new baby

Around this time is when germs are around the most. People are battling colds, flus, fevers and God knows what else. There is a lot to consider before you make the trip out to see your good friend or family member.  Here are five tips to consider when visiting a new baby.

If u have a tickle in your throat.. Don't come

I don’t even care if it’s allergies... Don’t come. If it’s going to make you have to explain yourself to the mother/father- it totally isn’t worth it. What if that tickle isn’t from allergies and it's actually the beginning of a cold. Just reschedule when you feel better.

First Time Mom Must Haves- Third Month

Hello everyone!

We're back with another update. I’m gonna start doing these monthly. 

Hopefully, I can keep up until 12 months!

Ava Rose turned three months on October 23. The most noticeable change is that she loves playing with her hands. From the earlier months, she loved hitting things like toys. Now she’s grabbing them and inspecting them. It's really cute! Also she’s in screaming stage. Which is funny because she only yells when she’s home. Usually when she’s outside she doesn’t really make any noise (AT ALL). Overall, still a very well behaved baby who sleeps through the night.

Meaning that this Toronto mom gets some sleep at night now!

Wooooo!

Now onto the products which have made my 2 -3 month transition easy.

I know how I have shared this on Instagram a while back but baskets are everything! 

I have a basket for everything relevant. 

Basket A is for clothes that are her under shirts, plush toys and bibs. 

Basket B is for her bows, clips and socks. 

Baskets C has her washcloths, burp cloths and more socks!

These can be found at ToysRUs/BabiesRUs.

buybuy BABY: Fall/Winter essentials for your baby

This post is in partnership with buybuy BABY. All opinions here are my own.

This is my first fall/winter with my new baby and I’ve done so much research to get both of us ready. Keyword: US. As adults, we can put on several layers of clothes and have the ability to take them off throughout the day (depending on how hot we get). Obviously, babies don’t have the same opportunity because they can’t regulate their own body. We constantly have to keep checking their heads, hands and arms for clues on how they’re feeling. Here are some tips and tricks that I have researched and learned to get your baby throughout the fall/winter season.

First Time Mom Must Haves- Second Month

I made it! I have a 8 week old baby girl. 

I'm so grateful that I was able to get EVERYTHING I needed for her before she arrived. 

There a few products that honestly have gotten me through the month. 

Truthfully- I don't know how I would have done it without these products!

Skin Care

When I was in hospital, it was really important for me to use my own skin care products on baby girl. Especially in the early days. I did a lot of research and ending up picking: Live Clean Baby! 

It’s vegan and super gentle on her skin. I have/tried almost everything from the line. I’d recommend trying their travel size kit. It was perfect for my hospital visit. My favourite product? The Non- Petroleum Jelly! I need a massive tub of that for Ava Rose!

UPDATE: She's here + Best advice for surviving your first month of motherhood

She’s here! I’m so excited! She’s absolutely beautiful! Everything I could’ve ever wanted and more. I’m not sure if I’m ever going to talk about my birth story. It didn’t go the way I wanted it to go. But there are more things to celebrate....Like a healthy happy and beautiful baby girl. One that smiles and kicks every morning. Ugh she’s so perfect!

One thing I will tell you if you are having your first child is that a STRONG support system is very important. In the delivery room, I was able to have my mom and my husband for moral support. ***I know some hospitals do not allow you to have more than one support person*... but if you can add people who will encourage and help you make decisions- I would do it. Now after it’s all said and done- it’s really important to lineup the proper AFTERCARE for at least a month. 

buybuy BABY: HALO Bassinest for Newborns

This post is in partnership with buybuy BABY. All opinions here are my own.

As a new mom, the decision of where your baby should sleep is one of the most important ones. There are a lot of options out there! 

• Do you want to put the baby in the crib?
• A bassinet?
• Or do you want to co-sleep?

Honestly researching all of them can make you go crazy! 

They all have their pros and cons.

When researching I had to think about what I wanted:

• I wanted her close to me.
• In her own space (but within fingers reach).
• Something mobile! Whatever it might be -to be able to move to the other side of the bed (In case I want to put my husband on baby duty).

Pregnancy Skin: First and Second Trimester - How I battled it!

I’m not gonna lie, I was able to hide my pregnancy for so long because I hardly had any changes. I was one of the lucky ones in my first trimester and second trimester: Amazing skin. I truly did not start showing until I was about 6 months or so. At about 7 months is when the real skin changes started to occur. Some people are probably going to tell me that I’m overreacting but that’s when I started to get dark patches and occasional pimple flare up.... on odd parts of my face.

 Think about it... if you’re not used to something and then you wake up and it happens out of nowhere... it’s totally overwhelming. This is ALL hereditary.
If your mom had all those pregnancy issues its totally going to happen to you.

Three ways to get an affordable cute nursery

I’ve never thought that having a baby nursery was that big of a deal. Until I came on Instagram! There is so much inspiration. So many things that can make a space unique. At the moment baby girl will be spending her first few months with my husband and I. We have spare bedrooms but I feel like they’re a little bit too far away from both of us. Across the hall is TOO far! So my task was to change up one portion of our room so that it can be a little oasis just for her. Here’s the thing my husband and I probably will be moving within the next six months and I did not want to put in too much money into something that I’m probably going to have to disassemble and start over in the next few months.

Soooooo I had to find ways to do it all on a budget and make it effective! I posted a picture of it on Instagram and got really good response so I thought you know what this blog post might help someone.