7 Must-Haves for First Babies

A first time mama-to-be recently asked me for a list of must-haves. Here’s what I’ve come up with. 1. Stroller — I’ve been so many years out of the loop now, that I have no idea what’s out there. For starting out, especially if you don’t have a car and plan on taking cabs, I highly recommend getting a Snap ‘N Go (see here for a comparison of different carseat carrier models). That option will last you about a year. If you want to have a non-carseat options, then you sorta can’t go wrong, though, with a Baby Jogger City Mini. If you plan on having another kid in the next two years, then I highly recommend getting one of the Phil & Ted strollers — then, when #2 comes along, you can just buy the P&T doubles add-on kit (not that we’ve already pushing for #2 or anything…). 2. Swaddles — I recommend getting at least two of these. I prefer the Kiddopotamus Swaddle over the Summer Infant one. Ergo Carrier Beco Butterfly II Carrier 3. Baby carrier(s) — I recommend getting one cozy, stretchy wrap (like this one) and one soft structured one. I’m really happy with the Beco Butterfly, but I think I’d

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Medela 100% Cotton Washable Nursing Pads: Good for You, Good for the Environment

Whether you plan on breastfeeding for one month or one year, I recommend that you get yourself some Medela 100% Cotton Washable Nursing Pads. Not only will they save you money, but you’ll get to feel good that you’re doing your part to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Plus, they’re comfortable. There are other brands of reusable nursing pads, and I’m sure they’re all perfectly fine, but these are the ones I use and these are the ones I like. I recommend getting 4-5 pairs — what, you think with a new baby you can get away with doing laundry only once a week? Believe me, you’ll be doing lots of laundry, so 8-10 nursing pads should be plenty. Now, sorting through that huge pile of clean laundry is another story. So I recommend that you get one box of disposable nursing pads as backup. For these, I highly recommend the Lansinoh Disposable Nursing Pads. These are the thinnest yet most absorbent nursing pads I’ve come across. They won’t bulk up under your clothes and won’t end up dripping with excess milk. They’re excellent backup nursing pads. Happy breastfeeding!

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Motherhood Wrap Nursing Sleep Bra: The Only One You’ll Ever Wear

Motherhood Nursing Sleep Bra A couple years back I wrote a post about the only nursing tank you’ll ever need (also by Motherhood), so in the same, very enthusiastic vein, I want to introduce you to the Motherhood Wrap Nursing Sleep Bra. There’s not much to say here other than addressing that most important concern we all face when searching for “The Bra,” and that is: It is comfortable. Very comfortable. Why the Motherhood Wrap Nursing Sleep Bra is so comfortable: There’s no underwire, nor is the band that goes under your breasts too tight (though I did buy a size up). There are no clips to fumble with in the exhaustion of night feeding.  It’s soft and comes in a variety of colors. It’s supportive enough (at least for me) to wear during the day as well as at night. (And in case you don’t trust me, the reviews I’ve read say it’s excellent for large-breasted mamas too.) One thing that may bother you is that it’s not 100% cotton. It’s a cotton/spandex blend, which I find perfectly fine, but still, there’s a heads up for you. 

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Medela Pump & Save Breast Milk Storage Bags: A Leaky Mess!

Medela Pump & Save Storage Bags I am not a fan of the Medela Pump & Save Breast Milk Storage Bags. I’ve only used about 15 bags, and of those bags, I’d say 4 or 5 of them have leaked. The way I usually defrost the milk is place the bag in a cup of hot water. Before I realized that these bags tend to leak, I’d just leave it the water until the milk was defrosted. The first time I had a leaky bag, I ended up with a cup of hot watery milk as the milk had defrosted and leaked completely into the water. Now I just need to keep checking on it to make sure it’s not a leaky bag, and if it is, then I need to defrost it in another bag in the water. Only once did I catch the leak before putting the bag in the freezer, and never have I had a mess in the freezer, so maybe a tiny hole breaks during the freezing process? Once I left a bag in the fridge overnight to defrost it (fortunately I had put it in a mug), and in the morning the bag was

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10 Tips for Easy Pumping

(Hipster Mom, you asked if I had tips for pumping, and then we got distracted and I never answered. So this is for you.) I have learned quite a bit about the art of breast pumping. After all, I am a recovering pumpaholic. I have read a number of books, articles, and blogs on the subject, and I have tried many different techniques. Here are a few tips I’ve come up with to help other pumping mamas: Medela FreeStyle Breast Pump Medela Pump in Style 1. First and foremost, use a good pump. Hospital-grade ones are best, if you can get your hands on one, but otherwise, a solid double pump will work well too. I use the Medela Pump in Style, which I highly recommend. A friend of mine has the Medela Freestyle, which looks amazing, especially if you need to tote it around with you, pump at work, or anything else that would require a battery-run, hands-free pumping experience. Double pumping makes the most sense — you’ll get double the milk in half the time. 2. Pump early in the morning. Even if you’re breastfeeding through the night and to your tired self there doesn’t seem to be

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Nursing Things We Love

(For an update on the ups and downs of my breastfeeding adventure, please see my other blog.) If you’ve ever attempted breastfeeding before, then you know that the days of free nursing are long gone. Rarely does a modern mama get by with nursing her baby with nothing more than baby and breast. Instead, there is an entire industry of breastfeeding STUFF that are aimed at making the feeding experience easier, more convenient, and more colorful. Here are a few of our favorite accessories: 1. Nursing covers — If you plan on nursing in public, or even at your own house with guests around, then you will be much more comfortable doing so with a specially designed nursing cover. You may think that a blanket is adequate, but a plain blanket makes it difficult to see your baby while you nurse (which is particularly important for new nursers who still need to help baby latch on) and can be rather hot for baby and for you. The best nursing covers are the ones that include a wire rim at the top so that you can look straight down at your baby. We recommend the Bebe Au Lait Nursing Cover (see

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Best for your Breasts

When my first child was a few months old, I developed what my lactation consultant and my doctor thought was eczema caused by nursing (if that’s even possible). After suffering the same thing with my second child, I discovered it was actually contact dermatitis caused by an allergy to disposable nursing pads. I tried the cheapo brand, I tried Johnson’s, I tried Lansinoh, and then I finally discovered two products that made all the difference. When I absolutely couldn’t have anything against my skin, I used Medela SoftShells. These silicone shells keep a safe distance between your breast and your clothing. The vents provide for natural air flow, to help raw nipples heal faster. While they claim that their “natural contour” is discreet under clothing, I didn’t find I could wear them out of the house without looking ridiculous. Also, I don’t recall them coming with the reusable inserts to absorb leakage that they now include, so when I was done with them I had to dump some milk out. I don’t know if they didn’t come with those inserts two years ago, or if I was just so eager to start using the shells that I didn’t notice anything

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The Only Nursing Bra/Tank You Will Ever Need

(Yes, I’m still nursing.) Buy a bunch of these Motherhood Maternity Sleeveless Lift Up Double Opening Nursing Tanks and you will be set for your whole nursing career. Here’s why I’m in love with these tanks:First and foremost, the Motherhood Lift Up Tanks are comfortable. They’re made from a stretchy fabric but won’t ride up on you, are a nice length (not too long not too short), and have nice, wide, comfortable straps. Second, the neckline is just low enough that you can wear a shirt over it and you won’t see the tank, and just high enough that if you decide to go shirtless, you’re not revealing too much skin. Third, I do not like bras. More, I do not like nursing bras. I don’t like the clips and I’m not so savvy that I can do it quickly and modestly (if I’m out and about). When I do finally clip it open, the nursing pad tends to fall out. These openings, however, open from bottom to top. They lift up to reveal breasts through two individual cut-outs. Push up, push down — quick, easy, and painless. Fourth, since it’s a tank top, your stomach stays covered through a

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