I am mostly taking this list from a magazine article out of Parents magazine, but editing it according to my desires & adding my own comments because I can! It is a pretty good list with some good reminders for all of us moms out there!
1. ask for help (don't be afraid to admit you're not a super-mom & let people help you out!)
2. leave the house - now (I totally agree that getting out, especially to go outside and go to a park or over to a friend's house to play is one of the most fun and uplifting things to do, although it is very true that it is a lot of work. But most everytime I do this, I am glad I did!)
3. plan some big fun (like a vacation :)
4. exercise
5. find a way to have some alone time
6. find ways to serve & help others
7. don't be envious of other moms (& try to avoid those self-pity trips where you silently lament your lot in life of very little sleep, lots of unappreciated work, no pay, and little or no time off...that's just all part of the job description of "MOM")
8. hang with your gal pals (spend time with other moms in the "trenches of motherhood" with you)
9. spend some one-on-one time with each of your children
10. remember that nothing lasts forever (both to enjoy all the blessings that won't be there forever, and to patiently endure the difficulties that will be gone soon enough)
11. laugh & smile a lot (one of the things that makes me the happiest is just to watch my kids & realize how cute and funny they are -- to just enjoy who they are in all of their specialness)
12. dance & play music (kids love this, and it makes mom happy too!)
13. give & get lots of cuddles, hugs & kisses!
14. and the one I would probably consider the most important: BE THANKFUL! Many women these days can't even have children. Remember what a blessing it is that you have been given children, & learn how to love every minute of being a mom, because it is one of the biggest blessings God can give us!
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Flying with Babies
oh my goodness everyone! I'm so sorry it has been so long since I wrote a post...a month! Well, I was in Hawaii for a week, and then we are moving at the end of the month, so I have been trying to start getting rid of stuff and packing to get ready for that! So hopefully after June I will get a little more consistent with writing posts!
So after my 5 and a half hour flight to Hawaii with a 6 month old baby, I thought I should write a post with some helpful hints I've learned and heard about flying with infants. I've also flown a lot with my son to visit my parents in Texas, a much more doable 3 hour flight.
Well, first of all, you've just gotta pysche yourself up and tell yourself you can do it, no matter how hard it may be at moments! The goal really is getting there, and sometimes that might be a messy process. While I am sure many moms have had great flying experiences with their children, and I've had my handful of relatively easy ones, there can also be moments where you feel as though you're on the brink of disaster and aren't sure if you will survive! But take heart, you will!
Okay, so on a more practical note... if you're traveling with someone else, don't sweat it. You'll have someone to help bear the burden and to help you put all of that stuff through the conveyer belt at the security check! On that note, gear yourself up for the security check, because it is one of the more intense brief moments of flying with a baby.
Well, this post is a little sporadic so far, so let me take you through flying with an infant somewhat chronologically and give you some tips as I go.
First, you need to remember to take the car seat with you as you get out of the car to go to the airport unless you already have one wherever you are traveling to. Also, I highly recommend taking the stroller too, because it is great for lugging all of your baby stuff through the airport, and you can check it at the gate. They actually make traveling with your stroller super easy.
So, you go into the airport dragging all of your luggage, pushing the stroller with the carseat in it, and finally make it to the check in line. I recommend doing the original check-in style with a real live person, because you have to tell them you are flying with an infant. Also, you should always ask how full the flight is, because if it is relatively empty, they will often book you an extra seat for the baby for free, then you can take their car seat all the way onto the plane, and you are set! Don't panic if the flight is full and you can't though. You'll still be fine (I had to have Hope on my lap the whole time flying to and back from Hawaii).
So, then you get your tickets and get all checked in. With a baby, I highly recommend checking all you can at the ticket counter, except the stroller, and I also choose to not check the infant car seat until the gate. You can either check it at the ticket counter or the gate, it is up to you, but I have found that it gets taken a little better care of if they check it at the gate and it doesn't have to get all tossed around with the rest of the luggage.
Alright, then the security line! This gets a little crazy because you have to get your shoes off, get all of your stuff up on the conveyer belt (diaper bag, purse, car seat, stroller) and then carry the baby through the security line. My advice is to just not stress, take your time, and don't worry about the annoyed people in line behind you :) You're doing the best you can!
So then as you wait at the gate, at some point you have to get a tag for the stroller and car seat to be able to check it at the gate. You just go up to the person at the counter at the gate and ask them for this.
I also would recommend taking a baby carrier in case you need to use this while you wait. I used my Ultimate Baby Wrap when travelling with Hope to get her to fall asleep several times. Another random tip is to choose carefully if possible the times you are flying. Try to set it up where you will be ON the plane for nap time, not sitting in the airport, or getting off right in the middle of a nap. Most babies (at least mine), DO NOT sleep through all the commotion of getting on and off the plane, even if it is in the middle of the night.
Alright, boarding time. Sometimes I've chosen to take advantage of the early boarding you can do with infants, but more recently I've decided against this and instead choose to be one of the last ones on the plane. This is because I find that the less time with a baby on your lap in a small space where you can't stand up, the better!
So, now you're on the plane... depending on the age of the baby, it can be pretty hard to get them to sleep until the plane has actually taken off (but at which point it is usually pretty easy for them to sleep because of the lull and humm similar to a car). So, I use this time before take off to play with a toy or something to keep them occupied. It is always a good idea to bring a few toys/books on the plane, even with a 3 or 4 month old. You never know when you might need them.
-TAKE OFF: often babies will cry at take-off and landing because their ears pop like ours. To help with this, nurse them at these points, or have them suck on a pacifier.
-IN THE AIR: don't be surprised if at some point on the flight, your baby has a melt-down. I've had it happen to me several times, and you feel really helpless and miserable, but it usually ends before too long. Here are some tricks I've found to help in these moments:
- don't be afraid to use nursing as a calming tool at any time during the flight
- pull out any toys or use any fun tricks to get your baby happy again
- bounce them up and down on your lap
far and away, the most helpful is the nursing though!
So, hopefully your baby will sleep all or at least part of the time while flying in the air. If not, hopefully they will be able to play contently on your lap or in their car seat. And if they don't, at least you'll be able to look back one day and laugh!
The good news is that when you get off the plane, most of the time your car seat and stroller will be waiting for you just out the door of the plane!
Okay, I think that is about it for now. Hope this helps in some way! Happy Flying!
So after my 5 and a half hour flight to Hawaii with a 6 month old baby, I thought I should write a post with some helpful hints I've learned and heard about flying with infants. I've also flown a lot with my son to visit my parents in Texas, a much more doable 3 hour flight.
Well, first of all, you've just gotta pysche yourself up and tell yourself you can do it, no matter how hard it may be at moments! The goal really is getting there, and sometimes that might be a messy process. While I am sure many moms have had great flying experiences with their children, and I've had my handful of relatively easy ones, there can also be moments where you feel as though you're on the brink of disaster and aren't sure if you will survive! But take heart, you will!
Okay, so on a more practical note... if you're traveling with someone else, don't sweat it. You'll have someone to help bear the burden and to help you put all of that stuff through the conveyer belt at the security check! On that note, gear yourself up for the security check, because it is one of the more intense brief moments of flying with a baby.
Well, this post is a little sporadic so far, so let me take you through flying with an infant somewhat chronologically and give you some tips as I go.
First, you need to remember to take the car seat with you as you get out of the car to go to the airport unless you already have one wherever you are traveling to. Also, I highly recommend taking the stroller too, because it is great for lugging all of your baby stuff through the airport, and you can check it at the gate. They actually make traveling with your stroller super easy.
So, you go into the airport dragging all of your luggage, pushing the stroller with the carseat in it, and finally make it to the check in line. I recommend doing the original check-in style with a real live person, because you have to tell them you are flying with an infant. Also, you should always ask how full the flight is, because if it is relatively empty, they will often book you an extra seat for the baby for free, then you can take their car seat all the way onto the plane, and you are set! Don't panic if the flight is full and you can't though. You'll still be fine (I had to have Hope on my lap the whole time flying to and back from Hawaii).
So, then you get your tickets and get all checked in. With a baby, I highly recommend checking all you can at the ticket counter, except the stroller, and I also choose to not check the infant car seat until the gate. You can either check it at the ticket counter or the gate, it is up to you, but I have found that it gets taken a little better care of if they check it at the gate and it doesn't have to get all tossed around with the rest of the luggage.
Alright, then the security line! This gets a little crazy because you have to get your shoes off, get all of your stuff up on the conveyer belt (diaper bag, purse, car seat, stroller) and then carry the baby through the security line. My advice is to just not stress, take your time, and don't worry about the annoyed people in line behind you :) You're doing the best you can!
So then as you wait at the gate, at some point you have to get a tag for the stroller and car seat to be able to check it at the gate. You just go up to the person at the counter at the gate and ask them for this.
I also would recommend taking a baby carrier in case you need to use this while you wait. I used my Ultimate Baby Wrap when travelling with Hope to get her to fall asleep several times. Another random tip is to choose carefully if possible the times you are flying. Try to set it up where you will be ON the plane for nap time, not sitting in the airport, or getting off right in the middle of a nap. Most babies (at least mine), DO NOT sleep through all the commotion of getting on and off the plane, even if it is in the middle of the night.
Alright, boarding time. Sometimes I've chosen to take advantage of the early boarding you can do with infants, but more recently I've decided against this and instead choose to be one of the last ones on the plane. This is because I find that the less time with a baby on your lap in a small space where you can't stand up, the better!
So, now you're on the plane... depending on the age of the baby, it can be pretty hard to get them to sleep until the plane has actually taken off (but at which point it is usually pretty easy for them to sleep because of the lull and humm similar to a car). So, I use this time before take off to play with a toy or something to keep them occupied. It is always a good idea to bring a few toys/books on the plane, even with a 3 or 4 month old. You never know when you might need them.
-TAKE OFF: often babies will cry at take-off and landing because their ears pop like ours. To help with this, nurse them at these points, or have them suck on a pacifier.
-IN THE AIR: don't be surprised if at some point on the flight, your baby has a melt-down. I've had it happen to me several times, and you feel really helpless and miserable, but it usually ends before too long. Here are some tricks I've found to help in these moments:
- don't be afraid to use nursing as a calming tool at any time during the flight
- pull out any toys or use any fun tricks to get your baby happy again
- bounce them up and down on your lap
far and away, the most helpful is the nursing though!
So, hopefully your baby will sleep all or at least part of the time while flying in the air. If not, hopefully they will be able to play contently on your lap or in their car seat. And if they don't, at least you'll be able to look back one day and laugh!
The good news is that when you get off the plane, most of the time your car seat and stroller will be waiting for you just out the door of the plane!
Okay, I think that is about it for now. Hope this helps in some way! Happy Flying!
Friday, May 11, 2007
A Word of Caution
This morning as I went into the bathroom for a minute while my 5 1/2 month old layed on the bed, I remembered the stories I've heard of babies falling off of couches or beds when left alone for just seconds. These stories often come to mind and serve as reminders to be extra diligent with where I leave my children and how far I get away from them. I realized the blessing it is to be able to learn from other's mistakes so that we don't have to experience them ourselves. These are the stories I was able to hear that have made me diligent and have prevented my babies from falling off of stuff (at least so far). I heard of a mom who left her sleeping baby on the bed while she was in the other room doing something. The baby was not only asleep, but couldn't roll over yet. However, she heard a loud thump and returned to the room to find her baby on the hard wood floor. He had somehow managed to roll off upon waking up.
Another friend had her baby on the couch while she was only a few feet away. He rolled off the couch and she had to watch it happen, only milliseconds away from being able to catch him.
These stories often come to my mind and serve as reminders that we must be very diligent about where we set our babies down, even if they can't roll over yet. We must stay within arms reach at all times when they are on anything high. I wanted to share these stories in order that some of you might be helped to prevent a similar thing from happening.
Also, if any of you have stories that you would like to share so that we can learn from other's mistakes and not have to repeat them, please e-mail them to me so I can post them.
Another friend had her baby on the couch while she was only a few feet away. He rolled off the couch and she had to watch it happen, only milliseconds away from being able to catch him.
These stories often come to my mind and serve as reminders that we must be very diligent about where we set our babies down, even if they can't roll over yet. We must stay within arms reach at all times when they are on anything high. I wanted to share these stories in order that some of you might be helped to prevent a similar thing from happening.
Also, if any of you have stories that you would like to share so that we can learn from other's mistakes and not have to repeat them, please e-mail them to me so I can post them.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
funny stuff
kids often say the darnest things, and I have always enjoyed reading some of the hilarious things they say. these are some pretty funny ones that I got in an e-mail forward that I thought I would share. the last one is my particular favorite! hope you get some good laughs!
JACK (age 3) was watching his Mom breast-feeding his new baby sister.
After a while he asked: "Mom, why have you got two? Is one for hot and
one for cold milk?"
MELANIE (age 5) asked her Granny how old she was. Granny replied she
was so old she didn't remember any more. Melanie said, "If you don't
remember you must look in the back of your panties. Mine say five to six."
STEVEN (age 3) hugged and kissed his Mom goodnight. "I love you so
much, that when you die I'm going to bury you outside my bedroom window."
BRITTANY (age 4) had an earache and wanted a chewable aspirin. She
tried in vain to take the lid off the bottle. Seeing her frustration, her
Mom explained it was a childproof cap and she'd have to open it for her.
Eyes wide with wonder, the little girl asked: "How does it know it's me?"
SUSAN (age 4) was drinking juice when she got the hiccups. "Please
don't give me this juice again," she said, "It makes my teeth cough."
D. J. (age 4) stepped onto the bathroom scale and asked: "How much do I
cost?"
MARC (age 4) was engrossed in a young couple that were hugging and
kissing in a restaurant. Without taking his eyes off them, he asked his dad:
"Why is he whispering in her mouth?"
CLINTON (age 5) was in his bedroom looking worried. When his Mom asked
what was troubling him, he replied, "I don't know what'll happen with
this bed when I get married. How will my wife fit in?"
JAMES (age 4) was listening to a Bible story. His dad read: "The man
named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city, but his wife
looked back and was turned to salt." Concerned, James asked: "What
happened to the flea?"
TAMMY (age 4) was with her mother when they met an elderly, rather
wrinkled woman her Mom knew. Tammy looked at her for a while and then
asked, "Why doesn't your skin fit your face?"
The Sermon I think this Mom will never forget . . .
It was Sunday, and time for the Minister's sermon. "Dear Lord," he
began, with arms extended toward heaven and a rapturous look on his upturned
face. "Without you, we are but dust." He would have continued but at
that moment my very obedient daughter (who was listening!) leaned over to me
and asked quite audibly in her shrill little girl voice, "Mom, what is
butt dust?"
The most wasted day is one in which we have not laughed!
JACK (age 3) was watching his Mom breast-feeding his new baby sister.
After a while he asked: "Mom, why have you got two? Is one for hot and
one for cold milk?"
MELANIE (age 5) asked her Granny how old she was. Granny replied she
was so old she didn't remember any more. Melanie said, "If you don't
remember you must look in the back of your panties. Mine say five to six."
STEVEN (age 3) hugged and kissed his Mom goodnight. "I love you so
much, that when you die I'm going to bury you outside my bedroom window."
BRITTANY (age 4) had an earache and wanted a chewable aspirin. She
tried in vain to take the lid off the bottle. Seeing her frustration, her
Mom explained it was a childproof cap and she'd have to open it for her.
Eyes wide with wonder, the little girl asked: "How does it know it's me?"
SUSAN (age 4) was drinking juice when she got the hiccups. "Please
don't give me this juice again," she said, "It makes my teeth cough."
D. J. (age 4) stepped onto the bathroom scale and asked: "How much do I
cost?"
MARC (age 4) was engrossed in a young couple that were hugging and
kissing in a restaurant. Without taking his eyes off them, he asked his dad:
"Why is he whispering in her mouth?"
CLINTON (age 5) was in his bedroom looking worried. When his Mom asked
what was troubling him, he replied, "I don't know what'll happen with
this bed when I get married. How will my wife fit in?"
JAMES (age 4) was listening to a Bible story. His dad read: "The man
named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city, but his wife
looked back and was turned to salt." Concerned, James asked: "What
happened to the flea?"
TAMMY (age 4) was with her mother when they met an elderly, rather
wrinkled woman her Mom knew. Tammy looked at her for a while and then
asked, "Why doesn't your skin fit your face?"
The Sermon I think this Mom will never forget . . .
It was Sunday, and time for the Minister's sermon. "Dear Lord," he
began, with arms extended toward heaven and a rapturous look on his upturned
face. "Without you, we are but dust." He would have continued but at
that moment my very obedient daughter (who was listening!) leaned over to me
and asked quite audibly in her shrill little girl voice, "Mom, what is
butt dust?"
The most wasted day is one in which we have not laughed!
Friday, April 27, 2007
Crafts for 2-year-olds
thanks, Kristy Maligro, for these great ideas!
Craft ideas to do with two-year-olds:
- cut out shopping cart and have them glue on cut outs of food items (cut out of local newspaper) or cut out paper people and glue on clothes for them
- threading cardboard bookmarks (punch holes in cardboard and use string w/ tape around end to thread through the holes)
- glue cotton balls onto a sheep cutout to make an ornament
- maybe we could have everyone at playgroup bring a t-shirt and then use a fabric pen to trace all the kids hands on all the shirts w/ their names/age in the middle of their hand.
- Rice, oatmeal, beans or noodles in a dish pan is a great sensory experience let her use measuring cups, funnels, strainer, pastry brush etc
- Take two paper plates and staple them together putting beans or rice in the middle. Let the child paint or glue or put stickers and ribbon on the outside making their own tambourine
- have races with hotwheels cars… make ramps /tunnels for them
- make shakers w/ toilet paper roll (fill with beans or rice and cover each end securely)
- playdough day
- music day - bring any instruments/rattles/etc. or scarves/ribbons... for a time of music where the kids can sing or play or dance along... can do hand motions to songs they may already know too. tagen seems to be fascinated by this lately
- make cheerio necklaces (string w/ tape around each end makes for easy threading)
- crumple paper into crazy shapes and glue onto paper... or can use pasta shells or string or something
- fingerpaint day? do we dare? May be messy but we could do it outside on a big old sheet or in the kiddie pool/hose them down after
- paint a little pot then plant something in it... take it home and have them help take care of it and watch it grow
- bring a tshirt or onesie and we can tie dye them for the kids
- ideas for learning shapes, colors, abc's, numbers...
-Get a sand/water table. Fill it with all sorts of sensory things- hard beans, noodles, water, sand, cotton balls, etc. It really helps kids learn by feel.
-For ABC's, each person bring a stuffed animal. An animal they can easily recognize as that letter- a bird for B, a deer for D, a sheep for S, etc.
-A color basket. Fill it with all sorts of items that can be passed around of that color. Red apples, a red feather boa, red flowers, red stuffed animals, etc- stuff they can touch and feel, and enjoy.
-Kids paint or color paper plates, then a grownup cuts them in a spiral. (Cut a bit of a bulge for a head in the center.) Voila! Snakes! These can be hung, too
-Use old tights/nylons to pull around wire shaped like a butterfly. The body can be a sock filled with sand (rubberbands to separate head). Kids can paint or glue on glitter
-Finger painting with pudding. (outside in the kiddie pool)
-"painting" by putting paper into a 13x9" baking pan. Put some paint on the paper and have the child blow the paint around on the paper through a straw. The results can be really pretty and after they dry, they can be hung on the wall.
--Kristy Maligro is a mother of two (a 2-year-old boy and 9-month-old girl) who used to live in Santa Barbara and recently moved to Hawaii and is a good friend of mine--
Craft ideas to do with two-year-olds:
- cut out shopping cart and have them glue on cut outs of food items (cut out of local newspaper) or cut out paper people and glue on clothes for them
- threading cardboard bookmarks (punch holes in cardboard and use string w/ tape around end to thread through the holes)
- glue cotton balls onto a sheep cutout to make an ornament
- maybe we could have everyone at playgroup bring a t-shirt and then use a fabric pen to trace all the kids hands on all the shirts w/ their names/age in the middle of their hand.
- Rice, oatmeal, beans or noodles in a dish pan is a great sensory experience let her use measuring cups, funnels, strainer, pastry brush etc
- Take two paper plates and staple them together putting beans or rice in the middle. Let the child paint or glue or put stickers and ribbon on the outside making their own tambourine
- have races with hotwheels cars… make ramps /tunnels for them
- make shakers w/ toilet paper roll (fill with beans or rice and cover each end securely)
- playdough day
- music day - bring any instruments/rattles/etc. or scarves/ribbons... for a time of music where the kids can sing or play or dance along... can do hand motions to songs they may already know too. tagen seems to be fascinated by this lately
- make cheerio necklaces (string w/ tape around each end makes for easy threading)
- crumple paper into crazy shapes and glue onto paper... or can use pasta shells or string or something
- fingerpaint day? do we dare? May be messy but we could do it outside on a big old sheet or in the kiddie pool/hose them down after
- paint a little pot then plant something in it... take it home and have them help take care of it and watch it grow
- bring a tshirt or onesie and we can tie dye them for the kids
- ideas for learning shapes, colors, abc's, numbers...
-Get a sand/water table. Fill it with all sorts of sensory things- hard beans, noodles, water, sand, cotton balls, etc. It really helps kids learn by feel.
-For ABC's, each person bring a stuffed animal. An animal they can easily recognize as that letter- a bird for B, a deer for D, a sheep for S, etc.
-A color basket. Fill it with all sorts of items that can be passed around of that color. Red apples, a red feather boa, red flowers, red stuffed animals, etc- stuff they can touch and feel, and enjoy.
-Kids paint or color paper plates, then a grownup cuts them in a spiral. (Cut a bit of a bulge for a head in the center.) Voila! Snakes! These can be hung, too
-Use old tights/nylons to pull around wire shaped like a butterfly. The body can be a sock filled with sand (rubberbands to separate head). Kids can paint or glue on glitter
-Finger painting with pudding. (outside in the kiddie pool)
-"painting" by putting paper into a 13x9" baking pan. Put some paint on the paper and have the child blow the paint around on the paper through a straw. The results can be really pretty and after they dry, they can be hung on the wall.
--Kristy Maligro is a mother of two (a 2-year-old boy and 9-month-old girl) who used to live in Santa Barbara and recently moved to Hawaii and is a good friend of mine--
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Newborn Layette Basics
Let me begin by defining "layette": the basic collection of clothing for a newborn baby.
There are many lists of what is necessary for a layette, and probably as many different opinions about what you REALLY need or don't need. From my experience, there are several factors that affect what you need in your layette. One, is the season of which your baby will be born. I've had my two babies in the winter, and therefore have needed to make sure I have some outfits to keep them pretty warm in. But summer babies will need cooler clothes obviously. Another factor is your own preferences. These can vary even from baby to baby. With Samuel, I LOVED putting him in the little one-piece footed sleepers, even all day long. I thought they were so convenient and warm and cozy. But with Hope, probably because she was a girl and I wanted to put her in cute little pink outfits, I mostly only used these at night for her to sleep in. Some moms love these things, and others don't. Okay, another factor -- how often you want to do laundry. I have found that I don't really need that many newborn clothes for two reasons - one, they grow out of it so quickly, and two, I do laundry so often that I could probably get away with about 6 outfits for them. Of course, I always have way more. But, if you think you don't want to do laundry that often, you will need more clothing. BUT LET ME GIVE YOU THIS SMALL PIECE OF ADVICE: don't wait too long to wash your baby's clothes because quickly washing things that get spit-up and poop on them is the key to keeping them from getting ruined. So, plan on doing lots of laundry if you can.
Okay, so let's get practical now. Here's a list, but remember, pick out the things that you think you will prefer to put your baby in, and try to start with less and then get more later if you are finding you really need it. (Because chances are, you won't) You can even buy things you think you will use, and not open them until you need them. That way, if you end up not using them, you can just return them. This often happens since babies grow out of their clothes so quickly. I did this with a swaddling blanket for Hope and am so glad I didn't open it, because it turned out that she didn't really like being swaddled and I never used it, so I was able to return it! (remember to keep your receipts!)
*a going-home-from-the-hospital outfit -- try to pick one of your smallest outfits unless you think you're going to have a big baby, because even most 0-3 mo. clothing swallows up a newborn (and also, make sure it is something where you can still put them securely in their carseat - so no gowns or long dresses)
*5-10 legless sleepwear outfits (sleeping gowns / kimonos / sleeping bags / newborn sacques / blanket sleepers) or footed sleepers (with the gowns or bags, some people love them and some hate them...with Samuel I hated using them because they always slid up, but with Hope I got more into them)
*6-12 onesies (short-sleeved, legless bodysuits)
*a few pairs of pants or leggings
*a few other outfits, either all-in-one piece outfits with or without feet, or some sort of top and bottom outfit
*undershirts / T-shirts (I actually rarely use these, the white onesies work better for this)
*receiving blankets (no more than 5)
*swaddling blankets (2 or 3)
*hooded towels (2 or 3)
*baby washcloths (6-12)
*socks / booties (6-12)
*hats / beanies / sweaters / bunting (depending on the climate)
*burp cloths (cloth diapers are often recommended - I usually use TONS of these at first, like probably 1 or 2 dozen)
There are many lists of what is necessary for a layette, and probably as many different opinions about what you REALLY need or don't need. From my experience, there are several factors that affect what you need in your layette. One, is the season of which your baby will be born. I've had my two babies in the winter, and therefore have needed to make sure I have some outfits to keep them pretty warm in. But summer babies will need cooler clothes obviously. Another factor is your own preferences. These can vary even from baby to baby. With Samuel, I LOVED putting him in the little one-piece footed sleepers, even all day long. I thought they were so convenient and warm and cozy. But with Hope, probably because she was a girl and I wanted to put her in cute little pink outfits, I mostly only used these at night for her to sleep in. Some moms love these things, and others don't. Okay, another factor -- how often you want to do laundry. I have found that I don't really need that many newborn clothes for two reasons - one, they grow out of it so quickly, and two, I do laundry so often that I could probably get away with about 6 outfits for them. Of course, I always have way more. But, if you think you don't want to do laundry that often, you will need more clothing. BUT LET ME GIVE YOU THIS SMALL PIECE OF ADVICE: don't wait too long to wash your baby's clothes because quickly washing things that get spit-up and poop on them is the key to keeping them from getting ruined. So, plan on doing lots of laundry if you can.
Okay, so let's get practical now. Here's a list, but remember, pick out the things that you think you will prefer to put your baby in, and try to start with less and then get more later if you are finding you really need it. (Because chances are, you won't) You can even buy things you think you will use, and not open them until you need them. That way, if you end up not using them, you can just return them. This often happens since babies grow out of their clothes so quickly. I did this with a swaddling blanket for Hope and am so glad I didn't open it, because it turned out that she didn't really like being swaddled and I never used it, so I was able to return it! (remember to keep your receipts!)
*a going-home-from-the-hospital outfit -- try to pick one of your smallest outfits unless you think you're going to have a big baby, because even most 0-3 mo. clothing swallows up a newborn (and also, make sure it is something where you can still put them securely in their carseat - so no gowns or long dresses)
*5-10 legless sleepwear outfits (sleeping gowns / kimonos / sleeping bags / newborn sacques / blanket sleepers) or footed sleepers (with the gowns or bags, some people love them and some hate them...with Samuel I hated using them because they always slid up, but with Hope I got more into them)
*6-12 onesies (short-sleeved, legless bodysuits)
*a few pairs of pants or leggings
*a few other outfits, either all-in-one piece outfits with or without feet, or some sort of top and bottom outfit
*undershirts / T-shirts (I actually rarely use these, the white onesies work better for this)
*receiving blankets (no more than 5)
*swaddling blankets (2 or 3)
*hooded towels (2 or 3)
*baby washcloths (6-12)
*socks / booties (6-12)
*hats / beanies / sweaters / bunting (depending on the climate)
*burp cloths (cloth diapers are often recommended - I usually use TONS of these at first, like probably 1 or 2 dozen)
The First Six Weeks
I want to write a brief encouragement about the adjusting process most, if not all, moms have to go through. I would have to say that the most dramatic life experience I've had so far was having my first child. I believe many moms would agree. In my opinion, becoming a mom definitely tops any other major life changes such as moving (which I've done many times), getting married, or going off to college. It was a very difficult experience for me in many ways, and yet has for sure been the biggest blessing in my life.
I just want to encourage you pregnant and new moms out there that when you have your first baby, if things are very hard, don't worry -- you are normal and things WILL get better.
After the first few months after having Samuel, I remember thinking, "why didn't anyone tell me that it would get better?" I realized that we as human beings can endure just about anything for a month or two, but in our enduring, it is very helpful to know there is an end to it. So, be encouraged, things WILL get better. Even if you're a mom struggling through 7-8 mo. old sleep problem regressions, things WILL get better.
I just want to encourage you pregnant and new moms out there that when you have your first baby, if things are very hard, don't worry -- you are normal and things WILL get better.
After the first few months after having Samuel, I remember thinking, "why didn't anyone tell me that it would get better?" I realized that we as human beings can endure just about anything for a month or two, but in our enduring, it is very helpful to know there is an end to it. So, be encouraged, things WILL get better. Even if you're a mom struggling through 7-8 mo. old sleep problem regressions, things WILL get better.
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