Prepping For Peanut

Baby bouncer or baby swing?

A true baby prep dilemma, right?

Here’s the thing, these are actually very different items, and not registry redundancies. While both are containers/seats for baby, they…

1.) Perform very different motions - bouncing and swinging are different sensations for soothing baby.
2.) Are powered differently - a swing will be electrical or battery operated while a bouncer is put into motion by baby or an adult
3.) Their optimal use and timeframe for baby might be different - swings are mostly soothing devices and baby doesn’t need to be as upright to use it while a bouncer is more of a safe seated position for baby to play and observe the 🌎 .

Do you have a swing and or bouncer on your baby registry? Tell me ⬇️

Lots of questions about selecting bottles for your baby registry so here’s the scoop…

Regardless of your feeding goals and plans, it’s a good idea to have bottles on-hand. Where I see lots of expectant families go wrong is with QUANTITY, so what we recommend is starting small both in number of bottles and size of bottle.

1.) Your newborn will not be drinking 8oz/bottle so a two or three pack of 4-5 oz will do just fine. Upgrade to the larger size once you know how your feeding journey is progressing and what works for your baby!

2.) Skip the 15 piece sets! Not all babies have bottle refusal, for most, they are happy with what you give them, but if your baby does have bottle preferences, having 15 piece sets is a clutter situation that no one has the space for.

3.) Aim to select a more classic shape ni**le which encourages a deeper latch. These bottles are great for both formula and breastfeeding babies.

Remember you’re aiming to sample and not to stock up!

What bottle questions do you have?

❄️ Winter baby wearing ❄️ ⠀⠀
There isn’t really ever a bad time for baby wearing. Baby snuggles, hands-free benefits, bonding, baby’s development, mom’s mental health, all are at the top of the pro baby wearing list, but for winter babies there are some extra perks....
1️⃣ Leave the stroller at home! As a new mom the need to get out of the house is REAL, but the stroller and all of its accessories might feel like too much for a quick walk around the block. Going even further? Avoid the bus driver asking you to collapse your stroller by not having one at all (you know what I’m talking about NYC mamas). Enter baby wearing!
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2️⃣ You don’t have to fuss with so much clothing for baby. Just wear an oversized coat and zip baby inside for a cozy stroll. Your body heat will help keep baby warm and you won’t have to wrestle with coat, bunting etc.
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3️⃣ It’s cold and flu season and if you’re wearing baby people are less likely to try and touch her (stay away nyc strangers!)
Whether it’s extra cuddle time or getting to use BOTH hands (🙌🏻) a wrap, or carrier is a great go-to for baby wearing this winter.

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One of these things is not like the other!

So when you think of playards or travel cribs you might think they are all the same or similar, but there is one major difference to know about your options…

Brand and model aside, you will have those that have an elevated mattress and those that sit directly on the floor. A floor variety, like this multi level playard will only have a height limit, not a weight limit (bassinet mode excluded). For styles that are elevated like this one from among other popular options, it will have both a height maximum and a weight maximum.

Be sure to understand why the limit exists and how long you will realistically be able to use your gear.

Do weight maximums have you a bit confused? Tell me what playard you’re considering for your baby registry below!

Product recommended use and specs aren’t the whole story…

So yes, it’s important to know and keep track of your product weight, age, and milestone requirements, and I would never recommend using a product outside of those terms, but sometimes these specs do not tell the entire story, and are often confusing.

As a first time mom, it’s likely these numbers and recommendations don’t yet mean all that much to you. Did I know what a 25lb kid looked like or what a baby at 6 months was capable of developmentally vs a 3 month old? Definitely NOT! Also, all babies are different. So here are the real details….

Weight and technical specs for these popular items can get confusing and leave parents feeling like they didn’t get as much use out of the product as they hoped, or lead families to upgrade before they need to.

Swipe for a bit more interpretation around when baby will outgrow these items.

And please keep your manuals or mark your products with any limits noted by the manufacturer if you ever actually reach those limits! Because from one mama to another, if you’re carrying your infant car seat at 35lbs, you are buff! 💪🏼

Is this helpful? Save for later and comment below if you have questions!

This comes up a lot with clients and here’s what I usually say…

Planning for future children with your purchases and registry selections shouldn’t be a main priority.

Here’s why:

1️⃣You really just don’t know WHEN you’ll have baby #2. Sure you can plan, but sometimes things change. Items expire, there will always be something new and better (👋🏻 changing market), and recalls happen.
2️⃣Your needs with 2+ children looks different than with just 1 and many families have a change in lifestyle between children (moving to a new place etc.)
3️⃣You will learn a tremendous amount and figure out what works best between children. You might decide some items weren’t worth it. 4️⃣All babies are different! What worked for your first might not work for subsequent children.

Exceptions to the rule:

1️⃣Incorporate neutral colors - don’t get all pink and all blue so you can use again.
2️⃣Investing in furniture that can be used long term like your rocker and dresser. Long term can even mean for adults not just kids.

What items are you struggling to select?

Check the link in my bio for a complimentary baby gear consult so you can stop with the mental gymnastics and decision fatigue.