Phi Beta Momma-The Mommy Sorority

One thing I learned VERY quickly after I became a mommy was the importance of a good support network.  I call it a network because that’s what it is.  I wanted to make sure I dedicated a post to the importance of having this network…I call it the Phi Beta Momma.

 

So when SG was about 8 weeks old she went through her first growth spurt and mild colic (self-diagnosed).  The poor thing just couldn’t settle herself and she was just a fussy lil nugget.  I remember sleepless nights where she would just wake up every hour…just fussing and crying.  I couldn’t figure out what was going on.  Nothing seemed to appease her UNLESS she was in my arms.  Well we all know how ridiculous that is.  No one can hold their baby 24/7.  Trust me, I know because I tried!  This was about the time I really started reaching out to all of my  mommy friends.  Thank goodness I have an unlimited text plan because I was sending text messages out at all hours of the day.  And God bless my mommy friends who always responded.  More often than not I just needed someone to vent to.  Someone who could understand the level of fatigue (it’s indescribable), anxiety, fear, frustration, love, happiness, sadness…..and the list goes on….that I felt.  Husbands are wonderful but I firmly believe having a new baby is vastly different for a mommy than it is for a daddy.  My husband is literally one of the most amazing men I have had the honor of knowing but unfortunately there were times when he just couldn’t relate.  So I depended a lot on my mommy friends.

 

One day after about 10 weeks and MANY sleepless days and nights I was almost at my wits end.  I literally thought I was going to die from exhaustion.  Up until this point I took all the night shifts because I thought it was only fair since my husband had to go to work and I didn’t.  This seemed like a great plan until my little nugget decided she was no longer interested in napping unless I held her which meant no naps for me.  On this particular day SG had been up literally EVERY hour the night before.  I was exhausted but needed to get out of the house so I went to visit a dear friend (you know who you are).  When I arrived she had invited another friend of hers who had recently had a baby as well…in fact her lil one was about a week older than SG.  That day was one of the BEST days ever for me since becoming a mommy.  The three of us, plus our lil ones sat around for hours and shared stories, laughed, even got teary eyed.  I felt AMAZING after I left.  What a relief.  It was like mommy therapy!  I felt recharged.  It was so great to hear that I wasn’t the first, or last mommy to have all these emotions going on.  That day was like a rebirth (I know that sounds dramatic but you mommies know what I am talking about when you get some good mommy time) and I made a new friend who I still text regularly to share stories.

 

Moral of the story…find yourself a mommy network stat.  Being a mommy is the coolest sorority there is.  The best part is that even if you haven’t talked to one of your friends in a long time and you decide to reach out to one who is also a mommy, you will reconnect and be as close as ever.  I could seriously not have made it to 4 months without some of these wonderful women in my life.  Whether you text, email, have lunch, chat on the phone, Facebook…whatever….I can’t stress the importance of making sure you rush this sorority.  J

 

Newborn Survival Kit-"Must NEEDS"

Ok mommies, I call this post my newborn survival kit because these were the items that were not just my "Must Haves," but my "Must NEEDS!" 

As we all know each child is different.  What works for one may not work for another.  This is something I quickly discovered.  I was surprised how many techniques, items, etc. that worked for one family and didn't work for another.  I guess I shouldn't be surprised.  A quick glance at the aisles of Babies-R-Us will show you that the there is a HUGE market on baby "solutions" and must haves.  One of my first questions when I brought SG home was, "what worked for you."  Every mommy had something different to share so I thought I would talk about what worked for us.  Now keep in mind this may not all work for your sweet one but maybe, just maybe, one item will work.  Also, this is just a SMALL sampling of things I could remember---sadly pregnancy brain has morphed into mommy brain.  I am sure I will have more posts similar to this one with lots of add ons!

 So here it goes, my Newborn Survival Kit complete with links.  As always, I invite you to comment and add your "Must Needs."

Nap Nanny Chill-please read my recent post regarding the NN.  This is still the best way SG sleeps and we continue to use it. To Nap Nanny or Not Nap Nanny-That is the Question

Graco "Sweet Slumber" Sound Machine-I researched many machines and found that this one had the highest rating for the money.  I also like that I can plug in SG's iPod (no she didn't get a new one, we just gave her an old one) so she can listen to different sorts of music (I am a music nerd and like to expose her to as many genres as possible). Graco "Sleep Slumber"

Summer Swaddle Me-I was VERY late in the game using this because I thought SG hated to be swaddled but a friend recommended I try again.  She told me her newborn (NB) hated being swaddled at first but got used to it and she slept MUCH better with a swaddle.  We tried and she was right...eventually SG became accustomed to it.  NBs startle very easy and due to developing nervous systems they also startle often.  The swaddle kept SG's arms and hands from flailing around which would always wake her up.  We now swaddle for naps and nighttime sleep and when we swaddle her she knows it's time to sleep.  Swaddle Me

Huggies Little Snugglers-I wondered what the difference was between all these diaper brands and types, so I thought I would do a little research.  I found that the Huggies Snugglers are slightly thicker and absorbent.  They are more expensive but now that our sweet girl sleeps longer stretches (especially at night), I find they are a must for leak prevention.  They also include the cutout for the umbilical cord and have a wetness indicator (not that you can't tell if your baby is wet but it's a cool bell and whistle).  I also preferred the Natural Care line as well as they didn't irritate SG's skin. Huggies Little Snugglers

Huggies Natural Care Wipes-Since my husband has eczema I had a feeling SG would be born with it as well...which she was.  I know from experience that anything with scents can cause the eczema to flare up so I registered and purchased all natural, scent-free or organic diapers, lotions and soaps for SG.  These wipes are still thick and sturdy but lack the artificial scent many wipes have. Huggies Natural Care Wipes

Burts Bees-ANYTHING BBs has worked for us.  I  made the mistake of using Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo and lotion on SG because I selfishly wanted that "baby smell."  BAD idea.  She broke out in a severe case of eczema.  Once I started using BBs she cleared up and all is good.  It is much more expensive but definitely worth the money.  My favorites are the Baby Bee Multi-purpose ointment, Baby Oil, Baby Bee Bodywash and Baby Bee pump lotion.  I use the multi-purpose ointment at night to act as a barrier with SG's wet diapers.  Oh and soon-to-be mommies...I also used Momma Bee Belly Rub while prego. Baby Bees by Burts Bees Products

LOVE this stuff!  You can use it for almost anything!

Lil Remedies Cradle Cap Shampoo-At the first signs of cradle cap on SG I purchased this shampoo.  It didn't say it was organic (I had a hard time finding an organic cradle cap shampoo...they are out there but BRU didn't have any on stock so I reluctantly bought this instead) but it worked like a charm.  In fact we still use it on her.  She never experience bad cradle cap and it smells pretty yummy too! Little Remedies Cradle Cap Shampoo

Vaseline-Sounds simple and generic but it works!  We put this on SG's big ol' cheeks every night and morning to help with her eczema.  Works like a charm, no flare ups!

California Baby Diaper Area Wash-this product was fantastic for the one time SG got diaper rash.  It's a gentle cleansing spray (all organic) that you spray on baby's bum and let air dry.  It soothes their sweet bum skin and it smells great too!  Actually, this is another great organic line for those sensitive lil ones.  California Baby

Boudreaux's Butt Paste-Again, we used this the one time SG got diaper rash.  First, we used the old standby, Desitin Extra Strength and that did nothing.  One application of BBP and her diaper rash was almost gone.  Butt Paste

Dr. Brown's Bottles-LIFE SAVER alert!!!  We started out with Avent Natural Flow bottles but SG had such bad gas (like all newborns) that she was constantly struggling and in pain.  A daddy friend of mine recommended Dr. Brown's.  I ordered them on Amazon for next day delivery and saw results IMMEDIATELY.  They also have different nipples for different stages and flow. Check out the link which details the Dr. Brown's vent system technology.  A friend of mine just told me that Tommy Tippee also has a vent system in their bottles.  I highly recommend these from the get go.  Sadly I have over $50 worth of bottles sitting in a cabinet at home.  Dr. Brown's Bottles

Spa Vapor Diffuser-Ok this may seem a bit gimicky but we LOVE this.  We purchased this diffuser and add a few drops of baby friendly Lavender essential oil (and sometimes Ylang) which both promote relaxation and sleep.  Every night we turn it on to help SG sleep.  I bought both the vapor diffuser and essential oils on the site attached.  Great deals here!  Spa Vapor Diffuser

Chamomile Tea-Ok another one that sounds a bit gimicky but I swear by this.  At about four weeks through six weeks SG went through a very difficult time.  This is when a lot of babies have difficulty with gas, colic and often have trouble sleeping.  My mom told me that chamomile tea would work.  What?!  Do I just make her a cup of tea?!  Not exactly.  All you do is brew organic (decaf) chamomile tea...make it very weak.  Then you can either mix an oz. of the tea with formula or a medicine dropper to administer it to your baby.  Chamomile has soothing effects on the tummy and promotes relaxation.  It worked like a charm for us!  See proof in the photo below taken the morning after Sofia Grace had a marathon night of gas and crying.  Chamomile Tea

Proof Positive that Chamomile works!

My Little Lamb Swing by Fisher Price-Again I was LATE to the game when it came to swing knowledge.  At twelve weeks SG went through a stage where everything that worked before she hated.  AWESOME!  We had a swing before but it swung front to back.  A good mommy friend asked me if I had tried this swing.  I said no. She told me that her lil one hated swings that swung front to back but that this one swung side to side which she preferred.  We tested SG in hers and like magic she dozed off instantly!  At this point the only way she would sleep during the day was in my arms which was NOT ok.  This swing was my lifesaver!  On some days SG would stay in there up to an hour!  I found mine on a Facebook Neighborhood Buy and Sell site.  I highly recommend this swing.  I originally said, NO swings....but once you are sleep deprived you will try anything.  My friend told me she calls it the "Silence of the Lambs" because it always quiets her lil one.  I also get a kick out of the built in ears that make your baby look like a lamb.  I know...I am humored by the small things.  :)The only downside might be the size but who cares if it means you can go to the bathroom and eat uninterrupted! Little Lamb Cradle n' Swing

Behold...the "Silence of the Lambs!"

Baby K'tan-a very good mommy friend of mine told me about this wrap.  I thought, "I have the Baby Bjorn, what more do I need?"  WELL....this was absolutely perfect for SG when she was very tiny.  The Baby Bjorn was a bit too bulky for our new lil nugget so I used this much more.  The website shows you how to use this "strap thingy" (as my husband called it) in all sorts of different ways.  At first I used the "Kangaroo" style the most but then I moved to using the other styles.  SG loved to hang out in here.  I also did a lot of research on "wearing" your baby.  New studies are showing that babies that are "worn" by their mothers end up having less seperation anxiety and grow up more independant.  This also worked like a charm during SG's witching hours which was every day fro 4 PM-8 PM.  This was her fussy time.  I used to just stuff her (ok not stuff her but you get the idea) in her Baby K'tan and she would calm down immediately.  I would cook, clean, shop, even exercise with her in there.  She just hung out.  Up until last week (sad day for for me), I would put her in her sling for her last nap of the day, mainly because I was selfish and wanted good snuggles, but just last week she decided she was too big for her sling. Baby K'tan

Wine-ok, ok this one isn't necessarily for baby but let's face it...all new mommies all feel like we could use a drink every now and then.  I know many of you are breastfeeding but for those who aren't or if you have scheduled a planned "Pump and Dump" stress relieving sesh then I highly recommend these bottles.  All under $15!!!!  Cheers!!!

• Robert Mondavi, Private Selection-Pinot Noir
• Beringer-Founder's Estate-Pinot Noir
• Cupcake-Any Type---Proseco is delish

To Nap Nanny or Not Nap Nanny...that is the question.

Hi mommies! 

 

Today I want to talk about a topic that has received a lot of public attention over the last few weeks.  As many of you have heard there has been a heated debate over the safety of the Nap Nanny.  For those of you who are already mommies...the Nap Nanny may have been your savior.  It most definitely was for us.  For those soon-to-be mommies....you may be very afraid of the Nap Nanny (NN).  So, I thought I would give my personal account of the NN.  Please note, this is not a paid for advertisement (I wish, lol) but rather my personal experience.  No one is right or wrong here but I want newer mommies or soon-to-be mommies to feel comfortable with whatever decision they make.

 

About a month ago I awoke to a frantic text message from my loving mom.  "Please read email about Nap Nanny ASAP....very dangerous."  Wow, ok that's exactly what I wanted to read, considering at that very moment my sweet girl was sound asleep in hers.  You see since about two weeks our lil one has slept exclusively in her NN (naps and nightime sleep).  This was due to many factors but the main one being that shortly after she came home from the hospital she had to be readmitted into the NICU.  While in the hospital she slept in a somewhat inclined position.  Upon her arrival home she did not like to sleep in her Pack-N-Play (sadly she never took to it and it is now perfectly stored in her closet, lol) nor did she like her bassinet.  Nothing seemed to make her comfortable.  We wondered why she slept so well in the hospital but not at home.  Until it dawned on us that she was always asleep in an inclined position.  We also realized she had a minor case of reflux and we could never incline her crib, PNP or bassinet to the right angle (approximately 30 degrees).  If we were able to incline it the poor lil thing would slide down or end up all crazy crooked which would, of course, wake her up.  I had purchased the Nap Nanny "Chill" before she was born and it still sat in her closet.  One day I decided to pull it out to see if this would help her sleep.  Up until this point nothing was really working.  Not even her swing would make her happy.  I will never forget the day I put her in it.  She fell sound asleep instantly!  Now, I am not saying this product is a guaranteed baby sleeper...trust me if that had been the case I would have paid millions for one and resold them to all of you...I kid, I kid.  But it did give our baby girl what she needed which was the right angle, plus the comfort and security she desired.  For a sleep deprived mommy & daddy, you will do almost anything to catch just 15 minutes of solid sleep.  The NN gave us this.  Of course this wasn't the only reason we used it but it was a big factor.  Our lil one will be four months in a few days and she still prefers to sleep and nap in her NN and we let her.

 

Now a few things to note.  The NN was originally designed by a mother...for other mothers.  The intent was to create a sleeping solution for infants with reflux, sleeping problems and more.  Leslie Gudel was the founder of the NN company.  Her company was a very small company aimed at helping other mothers.  As many of you may know the NN gained much popularity with mothers, just like me.  We were looking for something to help our babies sleep comfortably.  The recent press states that five babies have died as a result of "using the NN."  Please note, just like any other baby product there is a correct and incorrect way to use these products.  That said, there are cautions all over the NN and instructions that detail the proper and improper uses of the NN.  This is not to discount the deaths of the five innocent lives lost but rather to further point out that in these instances of death, the NN was being used incorrectly.  Much like he controversy of the infamous Bumbo chair, these accidents were caused by improper use of the product.  Unfortunately, NN was forced to close down NOT because the CPSC closed them down, but rather because the company was so small (only 22 employees) that they could not afford the insurance to protect them against the lawsuits filed against them.  Sadly, most retailers have participated in the recall of this product and now it is virtually impossible to find anywhere.  I find this very sad as I truly feel that the NN was a saving grace to us and our lil Sofia Grace still loves her.  In fact, I have friends whose lil ones still nap in theirs as toddlers!

 

Again, this post is not to point out right or wrong but rather to give my experience.  After careful consideration and research into all the recent press my husband and I made the decision to keep SG in her NN.  She remains happy and gets a good peaceful nights rest and so do we. 

 

P.S. If you are interested in purchasing a NN I would highly recommend it.  Search Craig's List or Mommy Forums in your neighborhood.

 

P.P.S. I welcome your comments and experiences of your NN use.

 

For further reading I have included a few links.

 



Our happy SG in her NN.



The NN we purchased.

A message from Nap Nanny

Nap Nanny Founder Responds to Business Closure

Testimonials

The BEST of the BEST-How to Register for your Baby Shower

What to write about first?!  So many topics, so many things and yet I can't decide.  I think I will write about things in the order that they came up in my life as a new mommy.  When we first find out we are pregnant we go gaga over every gadget for new baby.  We literally want EVERYTHING and put just about all of it on our registries.  After all, one of the highlights of being pregnant is the baby shower.  Word of advice...when you go to register take a recent mommy with you.  I say recent because products and fads change so frequently that a mommy from five years ago may not know about all the new "cool" things that a mommy from one to two years ago knows about.  I remember being so excited and starting my registry super early....like when I was 16 weeks!  I registered for all sorts of things.  Then one day one of my mommy friends came up to me and said, "I hope you don't mind some unsolicited advice but would you mind if I gave you advice on a few items you registered for?"  "What?!"  How dare she, I thought!  But she was a very good friend and so I listened...and it was a good thing that I did.  Who was I to think I knew more than a mommy?  After all, I had never been a mommy before.  It seemed like EVERY product claimed to be the BEST product.  This one puts your baby to sleep instantly, this one NEVER creates gas, this one sucks all the boogers out, this one is sure to make your baby 10x smarter than the average bear, this one is the softest, the hardest, the safest, the this, the that and on and on.  And just about all of them were on my registry!

 

So again, my first bit of advice is take a recent mommy with you to register for your baby shower.  I have a great friend who created a list of "reviews" that she and her other mommy friends made.  It was awesome!  I took their list and compared it to what I had registered for and it made a world of difference.  Don't have a mommy friend?  Then I HIGHLY recommend the book Baby Bargains by Denise and Alan Fields.  This book is amazing.  It did make it on Oprah's Best Books list and even though she's never been a mommy you know she only showcases the best on her show.  Think of this as the Consumer Reports of baby products except in mommy talk.  Thousands of products are reviewed and given grades based on design, price and much more.  I especially love how the book breaks down reviews in both verbose paragraphs or charts (I am a chart girl, let's get to the point)...so if you like lots of words like my Husband the book caters to you and if you like charts like me then it also caters to you.  I would say that about 95% of all purchases I have  made I have first referenced in this book.  And I was surprised to find out that some of the claimed "best" products were not necessarily the best. 

 

As with just about everything that I purchase, my best friend, Amazon carries this book.  Below is a link to the newest edition.  I have dog eared and highlighted mine to death and passed it on to another soon-to-be mommy.  She was thrilled that all the work had been done for her.  So there's another idea...pass your book on to other mommies...eventually it will make its way back to you.

 

Happy registering!!!!

 

http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Bargains-Denise-Fields/dp/1889392448/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1357669044&sr=8-2&keywords=baby+bargains

Life's lil nuggets...

I must admit, I have been wanting to start this blog since about November of 2012 however, with a then 10 week old baby and the holidays I never got around to it.  Instead I've been making notes on subject ideas during middle of the night feedings.  I now have quite the list of topics to discuss on my iPhone.  There have been nights where I've literally woken up in the middle of the night and thought, "OMG, I've got to make a posting about this...do NOT forget."  Then a mere 2 hours later when I wake up to feed my lil one I'm left thinking, "what was I supposed to remember?"  Mommy brain...gets you every time!  Alas, eight days into 2013 I have finally found the time am sitting down to write my first blog entry.  Where is my lil one you ask?  Sleeping right on me in her carrier.  Multi-tasking...a mommy's most needed acquired survival skill. 

 

Before I get started I want to explain the purpose of this blog.  I am a first time mommy.  Before Sofia Grace arrived I was the girl who had it all together.  I am your typical Type A personality...controlling, organized, a planner, etc.  I could juggle about 100 tasks at a time, wifely duties, a full-time job, a social life, a fit life all while always managing to be fully makeuped (yes, I know this is not a real word) and ready to go.  Rewind to September 24, 2012 and that ALL changed.  Most days I am lucky to get 1/4 of my "To Do" list done, a quick workout (maybe) and makeuped---or even bathed (don't judge).  Let's just say that for the girl who could do it all mommyhood has kicked my you know what!  In fact becoming a mommy has been the most humbling experience of my life...I am sure this was what God was hoping would happen to me. 

 

I will admit that I was shocked at how little I was able to control when I first embarked on the journey to motherhood.  It seemed that just about everything was out of my control.  This along with extreme sleep deprivation (no one tells you that 2 hours of consistent sleep is considered good rest when you first become a mommy) led me to several breakdowns (don't worry, for those who have not had a baby yet, this will most definitely happen to you).  Had it not been for the AMAZING support of my mommy friends I don't think I could have survived the first 12 weeks for SG's life.  As I began to journey through new motherhood I learned so much, so much more than books can teach you, from my friends.  I also learned from a lot of trial and error.  This was when I realized that there are a ton of books that talk about pregnancy but where are the books that talk about what happens AFTER you bring the baby home?!  I don't mean cry it out, sleep through the night, etc. books.  I mean books that get down to the nitty gritty of mommyhood.  You know the books all about poop consistencies, breastfeeding trial and error, mommy recovery (ouch!), how to manage a marriage post baby, sleep (or the lack of it) and so much more?!

 

 It was somewhere around 12 weeks that I decided, after reading many mommy forum sites that I decided I wanted to create something that other mommies could use.  Whether you are looking for advice, tips, stories or a plain ol good laugh I want this blog to become a place mommies come to.  I am aiming to post everything from tips (learned from experience), product reviews, other mommy advice, jokes and just about anything mommies might be interested in.  The name Momma's Nuggets refers to those golden nuggets of advice or help you get and give as a mommy.  I am by no means am an expert and trust me, I have A LOT to learn but one thing I have learned is that it always helps to hear from other mommies.  After all, we HAVE to stick together. 

 

I would love for you to participate and leave your comments, experiences, stories, etc.  Please be kind.  This is not a place for judgement but rather a safe place for all us mommies to feel comfortable to speak freely.  I hope that you will find at the very least a good chuckle every now and then.  And if I am able to help just one mommy then my goal has been accomplished! 

 

Now on to the nuggets...