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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Baby Brezza One Step Baby Food Maker Review

Baby Brezza One Step Baby Food Maker Review By Avital Greenbaum Once your baby is old enough to eat (and enjoy!) baby food,the fun really begins. As a Registered Dietitian, I have a special place in my heart for providing nutrition for my baby (or really any baby). I’ve seen a lot of sick babies who have to be fed from a tube for a long time and who can never appreciate taste. It’s incredible tragic. I’m so thankful that my baby is healthy and enjoys some of life’s finer things like food. My daughter Lyla started on solids around 5 months and it was very exciting. We went through all the cereals first and than the step 1 baby purees like banana and apple. The real fun began when she was able to eat stage 2 foods. Stage 2 is still a smooth puree but has a bit more texture. Out of all the jarred foods on the market, my favorite was Earth’s Best. They hare organic and have very creative blends like broccoli zucchini, apple sweet potato, and carrot tomato. I dabbled with homemade blends too. I would steam veggies in the microwave and then blend them with my blender.

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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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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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Maternity Stockings

This isn’t really a baby item. This is more of a mommy item. But at least for me, it’s a really essential mommy item, and it’s because of the baby, or the baby to be, so it’s going to have to count. I’m past the point where bending over to shave my legs makes me throw up. However it does still give me heartburn and its getting harder and harder to bend at all. So I’m not going to give up shaving, but I’m not going to stress about the spots I’ve missed. What I’ve done instead is buy myself some Motherhood maternity stockings for the days I’d rather show some leg. But that’s not why these are essential. Really, the main bonus about these is that they help me feel pretty again. No more do I feel like I’m spilling out of my maternity jeans, can’t find something that fits and matches, and boy do my feet hurt, and I’m really having trouble pulling myself together today, aren’t I. Put on a pair of these, a pretty black dress and beads, and some heels that won’t tip me over forward so much that I’ll actually fall, and I feel

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Contact Nipple Shields

Some people can’t live without their iPod, some without their DVR…me? I can’t live without my silicone nipple shield. A true nipple-saver, the contact nipple shields come in various sizes, help draw out flat or inverted nipples, and help babies (and mommies) deal with latch-on difficulties by protecting sore nipples. I’m pretty sure that they’re not intended for long term use, so my goal is to eventually wean myself off of them, but until then, I’m happy! And Hila’s happy! So what more can I ask for?

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Tough Titties

Sorry for the long delay in writing, but I was busy having my baby. Her name is Hila Zehava is she is one week old and perfect. For more about life with Hila, check out my other blog. But for now, back to business. Now that I am a mother, and not just a prospective mother, I think I can use the word “need” rather than simply “want.” And here is what I need: Tough Titties Nipple Rub. Waking up in the middle of the night, dealing with a crying baby, feeling a bit incompetent…none of these things compare to the pain and burn that I’ve got in my nipples. One visit to the lactation consultant is clearly not enough — Hila’s got a will to suck just the way she wants to… I’ve been using plain old lanolin, but this one is way cuter. So this is the first time that I’m actually going to make a request — if anyone comes to Israel in the next few months, will you please get me some of this? Thanks, my nipples will be grateful. P.S. Remember that when ordering from Chulamama you can get a 10% discount by entering the

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