My Baby/Postpartum Must Haves

Compared to most the lists I've regarding baby/postpartum must-haves, I like to think mine is pretty unique. So without further ado...

 

1. A House Coat - What is a house coat you may ask? It's a classy alternative to wearing a robe all day. I was totally that lady who answered the door at 3PM still in their robe and glasses with a baby on their hip when the Quest guy came knocking. I may or may not have flashed him my undies. It was at that point I decided I needed a house coat to wear. The only requirement was that it feels like a robe, without actually being a robe. This was the one I ended up getting. Cost? $80. Feeling like crap but not looking like crap? Priceless. 

2. Giant Maxi Pads - It was like I was in middle school all-over again, but post-pushing out a child of your lady land causes you to bleed for like, a billion years (billion years being roughly 6 weeks). And because you need some time to heal before sticking anything up there, that means you are basically wearing a glorified diaper for a month and a half. I won't even talk about the squirt bottle or hospital grade Dermaplast - if you've had kids, you know, and if you haven't, well you are in for a treat. 

3. Car Seat Cover - This isn't the one I made, and I'm too lazy to source it right now (Just Google "infant car seat cover" and look under "Images") but this thing is clutch for carrying baby around, especially during the colder months. Additionally, it protects them some germy germs they might otherwise come in contact with, and gives them a nice cocoon for sleeping in when you're out and about. I will be making these for everyone I know who ever becomes pregnant, that's how much I like it. 

4. BOB Stroller - I only got this because it was a gift, otherwise I would not have been able to afford it. The first couple weeks I used just a basic stroller carriage with a snap in, but it wasn't very luxe in terms of maneuvering. My friend came over with her babes and let me test out hers on the way to Target (I hadn't yet taken ours out of the basement) and I was shocked at how much better it handled. I excitedly squealed to my husband "It turns on a dime!!!". But after assembling it, it didn't turn on a dime. In fact, it didn't turn at all. That's because I had registered for the model WITHOUT A PIVOTING FRONT WHEEL. Don't do what I did. We ended up taking that one back and shelling out an extra $60 for the one that could turn. Worth. Every. Penny. 

5. Miracle Blanket - This is the only swaddle that keeps Mr. Houdini all snug and sound at night at almost 2 1/2 months. Yeah, we swaddle the crap out of him. Only recently had he figured to break out of another type we had, leading to him waking up every 3 hours during the night. Not okay for a baby who is now sleeping in 8 hour stretches (love you boo). With this swaddle he's snug and tight for the whole duration of his sleep. And he looks like an adorable baby burrito in it.

6. The Ugliest Swing Ever aka The Magic Swing aka The Fisher Price Swing - I know, it's an extremely offensive swing to look at. It was a hand-me-down and I was very upset with the colors, so refused for the first 4 weeks to let Ran Man use it. My friend had a similar one, just less ugly colors, and raved about how well her baby does in it. What she didn't tell me was that the swing is magic. I kid you not. With the music, the mobile, and the swinging, Ransom is absolutely hypnotized in it. It's freaking fantastic. And, it's my last resort when he's acting all crazy like. I swaddle him in his Miracle Blanket, then put him in the swing. Calms him down and puts him to sleep every single time. Magic I tell ya, magic. 

7. Garnier BB Cream - I was introduced to this during the summer by my assistant softball coach who went to beauty school (who because of that I take everything she says as gospel). This is a great moisturizer/foundation in one which can be applied extremely quickly for those mornings you don't have a lot of time to get ready. Which is probably every morning, am I right, or am I right. It's not going to give you the coverage of a full foundation, but this combined with concealer is enough to get me through the day. 

8. Burp Cloths - You can never have too many. In fact, have one in every room within reaching distance. Just trust me on this one. The one time you neglect to have one, spit up all in your hair and down your back, and front. And arm. And pants. 

9. An Electric Pump - If you aren't feeding formula and would like to leave your baby for a period of longer than 3 hours, you need this. Maybe you don't want to leave your baby for a period longer than 3 hours, you still need this. Trust me, you need to be able to leave your baby for a period longer than 3 hours, for your own sanity. The first couple weeks before we introduced the bottle I grew a wee bit resentful toward Handsome Ransom because he felt like a ball and chain who needed to eat all the time. The two times I tried to go to Target I get a call from S saying that I need to come home ASAP because Ransom's freaking out and needs to eat. Cue the violin music. 

So there it is, my personal items I loved. Here are some other things that should probably have been included on the list, but weren't because I was tired of cutting and pasting pictures - Birth control, some sort of baby carrier, baby monitor (if you kick him out of your room like us), a Breast Friend (I only used mine the first week or so, then I decided to toughen up and just use my arms to support him while I nursed), baby clothes (he can't be naked all the time, although it's sofreakingadorable), value-size laundry detergent (because somehow that's still a mystery to me your laundry will quadruple from your tiny addition) and ridiculous amounts of thank-you cards, because people will come out of the wood work to give your baby gifts. It's kind of awesome.