Lots of Love for a Lovey!

When I packed my “Go” bag for the hospital my Mom asked me if I’d included a “Lovey”for the baby. A Lovey? What on earth was she talking about? To her that was a soft blanket usually trimmed in a silky fabric. ( i.e. the infamous security blanket) I packed it in my bag without much thought. Little did I know the ultimate importance of such an item!

In the first few weeks my Mom would always remind me to get the Lovey when I put Sebastian to bed. Honestly, I didn’t think the baby was that into it, but I decided it was worth a shot. Then miraculously at three months old, Seb discovered his Lovey. Guess what? It’s an AMAZING sleep aid. Not to mention just an overall comforting tool!

My three favorite brands of Loveys/ Security Blankets are made by Little Giraffe, Aden and Anais and Bunnies By the Bay. Most baby’s chose their own, despite your best efforts to lead them to your choice. But it’s nice to try and encourage something that you can carry, replace and wash easily!

How many Loveys can you find?

The first Lovey I tried was by Little Giraffe called “Luxe Satin Blanky” retails at $42. I received it as a shower gift. This is a perfect winter Lovey because it is soft, warm and cozy. My baby sleeps with his head resting on top of his. I highly recommend their LUXE style. It’s remains the softest even after washing. Air dry it. Once you dried it in the dryer it never feels the same.

When summer arrived, I tried a light weight muslum Lovey by Aden and Anais. Their security blanket’s come in a two pack and retail for $19.95. They are perfect for the summer because of their light weight material. They are also trimmed in silk and come in a variety of fun patterns. It’s my nephews favorite Lovey and most of the time he can be seen carrying one in each hand. He never goes to bed without several in his crib.

Sawyer holding his A &A Lovey

My third and favorite Lovey is by Bunnies by the Bay. This item is my ultimate shower gift because it is so adorable and functional. They retail for $30 for the full size. It was love at first sight when Seb got this Lovey. They come in cute animals shapes (not just bunnies) and you can have your baby’s name embroidered on the silk fabric that flows from their heads. They also make a smaller, take along version for traveling! They retail at $17. PERFECT!

Seb at 4 months with his Bunny!

My nighttime routine is never complete without Seb’s favorite frog Lovey by Bunnies by the Bay. From the moment I hand it to him he starts to get sleepy. I have his crib literally lined with them. I also see him looking for them in his crib in the middle of the night on my monitor. Saves me a trip to his room every time! I always make sure I have a travel size one in my diaper bag as a back up. Thank goodness for Loveys!

Now I’m craving one by Little Giraffe made out of the same Luxe ultra-soft fabric in a robe version for Mom’s! The ultimate grown-up Lovey!

Do you have a favorite security blanket/loveys for your baby? Did you have a favorite one as a child?

Let’s Go Out to Dinner

When Sebastian was a newborn going out to dinner was easy because he would sleep sweetly in his car seat. Well those days are long gone! When he graduated from the car seat and was able to sit up on his own, I thought I had found a solution to dining out. Restaurant high chairs, with a chair cover, seemed like a reasonable option. The problem was most were lower then the table . So, of course my baby took every opportunity to put his mouth directly on or under the table. YUCK! Even with a table top cover, he managed to find some place dirty to put his mouth. He was also too small to fit the seat properly and squirmed around and slipped from side to side. To entertain him while we gulped our food down, my husband and I would take turns handing him toys. His favorite game was the drop them on the floor and watch Mommy and Daddy pick them up game. Not exactly the “date nights” we were used too!

Trying to make the high chair work!

My baby is now an extremely active seven and a half month old. And thankfully I have found the perfect solution to dining out. In fact, I never leave the house without my Chicco 360 Hook On High Chair. It can be purchased at www.diapers.com for about $69. It attaches easily right onto the table and comes with a snap on tray. It has an innovative seat that locks in six positions for a happy mealtime. Baby can face Mom for feedings or be turned and face out to keep him busy and let other views entertain him. Rubber grips clamp to the table quickly and securely. It folds down completely for easy transportation to and from your car. The only problem I have noticed is that the buttons that folds the arms in can stick at first. After a few uses they loosen up. I feel completely secure putting my baby in the seat and I love the fact that he never touches anything on the restaurant table. So it is really a germ free environment for him. Because the seat places baby at our level, he seems more content to sit there and eat his meal or even play with his toys. Speaking of toys, I highly recommend the Sassy high chair suction on toys. They can also be found at Buy Buy baby or online at Diapers. com. for about $7.99. They suction to the tray well and so the dropping to the floor game is avoided.

My nephew Sawyer hanging out in his Hook On. He is 18 months.

Sebastian is very happy in his "Hook On"

Don't forget the high chair toys!

I love this portable high chair and would highly recommend it! A must for every Mom and perfect for the shower registry.

What do you like to entertain your baby with at restaurants?

Lets Talk Bathtime!

Nothing soothes a fussy baby more than an evening bath. I lay everything out ahead of time so it’s all within easy reach once baby is out of the tub.

First thing you need for a bath is the perfect tub. For newborns I prefer the Puj tub. It’s fits neatly in your sink and now comes in a variety of fun colors. It also unfolds and hangs on the bathroom door to dry. This tub is meant for the first few weeks of bathing, depending on your baby’s size and your comfort zone. It makes a perfect shower gift .

Once baby is able to lie in a tub comfortably, buy the Primo tub. Forget all the cutesy animal shaped tubs and the vibrating tubs. This one is primo and the only one you’ll need until your baby graduates to a bath seat. The baby can also sit in the primo tub when they are ready. Buy plenty of bath toys. Bath time should be fun.

The bath seat I bought on Diapers.com is the Dream on Me baby bath seat. I chose orange but it also comes in five other colors. It’s easy to suction on your bathtub. It has a bar that releases to allow baby to be lifted in and out. Sebastian has fun reaching for toys safely from this seat. When you are kneeling there watching your little one play with toys don't forget to buy a kneel pad for your knees! I love the one I bought at Target.

Now that your baby is happily playing and relaxing in the tub you need the best bath time products.

For those of you who are too afraid to bathe your brand new newborn, the Mustela company invented a product called PhysiObebe. It can be applied directly to the skin with no rinsing required. It cleans baby and leave a nice fresh, addicting smell. I often use it in the mornings to freshen up baby parts instead of another morning bath. It’s also perfect for the post poop explosion clean up times.

My other favorite bath time products are the Dermo-Nettoyant and Shampooing Bebe by Mustela. They also make a lightweight body lotion which is good for summer baby’s called Hydra Bebe. For diaper rash prevention their Vitamin barrier cream can’t be beat! Aveeno makes a wonderful Smoothing Relief Moisture Cream for baby in the winter for dry skin. I also love their packets of Soothing Bath Treatment. It helps relieve dry, itchy skin due to rashes, eczema, diaper rash and insect bites. The only downside is that it has to be rinsed from the tub immediately following bath or you’ll have lots of scum to scrub off later.

At the conclusion of bath time,a luxurious bath towel is a must for the pampered baby. The top of the line Little Giraffe is my first choice of towel. I love the ones that come with the soft fur inside the head with little ears. Aden and Anais also makes wonderful towels. Their washcloths are oversized and probably my favorite to use. At Target, I bought baby bath time covers that are made by the Circo company. They come shaped like little animals and fit over baby’s tummy to keep him cozy and warm in the tub. I loved them for the first few months until Sebastian was sitting up in his tub.

What are your favorite bath time products?

The Perfect Carrier?!?

From the minute your little one arrives home, the hunt begins for the perfect baby carrier. As a new Mom you wonder how you are going to do all the newborn laundry, wash bottles and hold the baby all at the same time! And from those questions my journey began to buy the perfect carrier.

FIRST ATTEMPT: The Traditional Sling

I began as a practical Mom and purchased the traditional sling. From the moment I tried to squeeze my nine pound baby into it, I knew I would be in the return line at the baby store! Sebastian looked so uncomfortable and I constantly worried I was going to smother him in it. Also, I could never get it to sit right on my somewhat narrow shoulders.

The one time I figured it out!

SECOND ATTEMPT: The Ergo with Infant Insert

I LOVED how easy the Ergo was for me to get on and off. This carrier is also extremely easy to get your baby in and out of. The biggest problem with this product is that in order to fit a newborn you need to use the infant insert. It’s the only fabric they use for this insert and without it your newborn is not secure. It’s like wrapping your baby up in a down comforter. It was a 100 + degrees outside and poor little Sebastian would be a sweat ball when I took him out. I was also very hot and sweaty wearing it too. Not a good choice for a summer newborn. However, something to consider for winter newborns.

Sweating it out with Rookie Husband

THIRD ATTEMPT: Baby Bjorn

This baby carrier is a winner for months 0-3! It is very easy to use and is comfortable for your baby. I splurged and bought the Baby Bjorn Active which had a breathable mesh material and some back support. My son had reflux so he spent a lot of time upright in the Bjorn.

What a retail relief it was to know I was all done with baby carriers. Then Sebastian hit 13 pounds! Even with some back support the Baby Bjorn was starting to kill my back. I knew I needed a carrier with a waistband to help move the weight of the baby off my lower back. So back to the store I went...

Facing out

Facing In

FOURTH ATTEMPT: Beco Baby Carrier

This one looked great and I loved the options of all the cute prints. I bought the apple one because of my background as a teacher. I was so excited to get it! This was a huge flop! It worked for my sister, who has a longer torso, but for some reason when I tried it, it killed my back and Sebastian was not comfy. Was there a “perfect” carrier out there?

This carrier was so short lived I don't even have a picture!

FIFTH ATTEMPT: The Lillebaby Carrier

I loved that this one came in the color red and had a waist strap. It was the most versatile and could be wore five different ways! That being said, it had so many straps and directions that I found it to be very confusing. Too much over thinking for a new mother and therefore not user-friendly.

Facing out and having a waist strap for back support!

SIXTH ATTEMPT: The Kokopax

Suddenly my extremely active son was not interested in being snuggled in a tight carrier. So I decided to explore backpacks. So off to the baby stores I went to see my options. I immediately loved the Kokopax brand. They have many bright colors and patterns. The backpack also has terrific back support. That was a must for me especially with a older and heavier baby. The only downside to the backpack is that it is not designed for newborns. Most backpacks out there are designed for baby’s five months or older.

Thank you to all the stores who accepted my returns and to my patient husband who watched me bring several carriers in and then out of the house. What I learned is that there isn’t a “perfect” baby carrier. Rather a perfect carrier for a certain age of your baby. Also preferences may vary depending on your body type and lifestyle. So don’t be afraid to try many until you find what works for you. For me, the Baby Bjorn was my favorite for the newborn stage. The Lillebaby is great for those in between months after newborn weeks and before your baby becomes active. And finally, the Kokopax is a winner for both Mom and Dad for baby’s over five months old. Just ask your husband about color preference if he plans to wear the Kokopax too. Some Daddy’s care about baby fashion statements. Mine was just happy I stopped buying carriers.

What’s your favorite baby carrier?

Why Rookie Mama?

When I found out I was pregnant I knew I was going to be a pro with my baby! I am the youngest of four and I have had the privilege of watching my older siblings have children. I was also a first grade teacher so I believed that would somehow also make me an instant expert.After all I am around children all day! I will never forget the feeling I had when I got to take my beautiful baby boy home from the hospital and he was all mine…..SHEER PANIC!!!What happened to all my expertise?!? I suddenly realized my hubby and I had no idea what we were doing and are indeed a couple of ROOKIES! My friend Claire gave me a wonderful book about being a new Mom and I loved this quote.

It’s no surprise that everything feels different. When we give birth, we are as newborn as our babies. Relish this feeling, and enjoy seeing the world with new eyes.

This said it all BUT I wasn’t relishing this feeling! As a self-proclaimed control freak I definitely wanted to be an expert. Having Sebastian has taught me a lot.

You can’t be an expert overnight!

They wouldn’t sleep through the night for a while!

Your pediatrician doesn’t always have all the answers!

As my Mom would say “It’s a guessing game.”

Sometimes they have “hold me days”

Nothing is better then their smile and giggles

I can’t wait to share my journey about being a “Rookie Mama.” This blog will be about all my favorite baby products. In being a Rookie Mama I have tried and returned so many things and I would love to help some of you in your many baby purchases. I will also be blogging about this amazing journey as Sebastian’s mama.

Early Days as a "Rookie Mama"

Hospital Days

Our Ride Home

1st Day Home

Rookie Mama and Seb 7 Months Later

Seb's 1st Christmas