mismikado down the sidewalk: Our Favorite Newborn Gear

Well we survived the 1st month. At many moments it felt just like that - SURVIVAL. Since Minion developed colic right around 2.5 weeks, we started to try everything to calm him down. Since I really appreciated other bloggers' lists of helpful baby gear when I was preparing for motherhood, I thought I'd share what was and wasn't most helpful to us during the 1st month.

ABSOLUTE NECESSITIES

1. Breastfeeding has not been an easy endeavor. After latching issues, intense pain, a 10.5 % weight loss, and a bleeding nipple, I finally broke down and used the nipple shield I had ordered while pregnant just in case. Latching became super easy and my tender nipples got a break. I don't know if I would have had the conviction to continue breastfeeding without it. 2. As noted above, I definitely needed help to make nursing bearable. I put off using lanolin for almost a week because I have a wool allergy. But finally in the middle of the night I couldn't take the shooting needle stabbing pain any longer. I did a test patch in my wrist and was happy to be reaction free. It was like instant relief when I applied this stuff! 3. Because of couponing I had stocked up on thousands of diapers in advance. I was not brand loyal because I had no clue what we would like. So for the first two days we used Huggies and they worked as they should. But it wasn't until our pediatrician commented on loving the wetness indicator strips on these diapers. She showed us how they worked and knowing when to change Minion's diaper has been so easy. 4. These were my favorite thing to put Minion in for the first two weeks as we developed our diaper changing skills. His feet tend to reject socks so these were great since he could curl his feet up inside but were easy to slide up for changing without having to deal with snaps or zippers. 5. I originally planned on not giving Minion a pacifier until after the 6 week mark. Well that went out the window after that horrible second night. We had been given two newborn pacifiers (a soothie and a mam) and in a moment of desperation, I popped the soothie in his mouth and he immediately calmed down. This kid LOVES his paci. We quickly realized we need to keep one always within arm's reach, so we ended up with a dozen. He definitely likes the mam pacifiers best but will tolerate the soothies, and interestingly hates the gundrop kind which we bought a couple to try. 6. I had heard these prefold cloth diapers were great for burp clothes so we registered for a few. They are awesome! Minion doesn't spit up so we haven't had to use them for burping, but they are great for catching leaks while nursing and wiping his milk drunk face after. Plus they can double as a changing pad liner on the go and serve an infinite number of other uses. 7. I hadn't really thought I would need a backup cover or even use liners but my mom convinced me otherwise. And I'm happy she did because in the very first night we went through two sets. The liners help stretch the pad cover's use beyond the first accident but we've definitely had messes that go through both. We've found the perfect quantity for us is 3 changing pad covers and 4 pad liners with a every other day washing schedule.

GLAD WE BOUGHT/WERE GIVEN

1. Our changing pad had the obvious handy intended use but a friend of mine gave me another genius idea for it when Minion was super colicky ave only wanted to co-sleep. Instead of buying an expensive co-sleeper that he may or may not like and won't get used very long, we just moved his changing pad to the bed between us. The contoured sides keep him in place and are so thick that we don't have no worry about rolling over. 2. Not only was my stability ball the comfiest chair at the end of my pregnancy, but it's been great for bouncing on to soothe Minion to sleep. 3. This kid LOVES motion and only wants to nurse when I am in the rocking chair. Plus its another tool to help calm him on colicky nights. 4. Minion finds great comfort in being swaddled and wants to always be held. So our Moby wrap has been a major player. Everyone in the family has used it except for my dad and my only complaint is how thick the fabric is. Temperatures having already reached the 100's, wearing so much heavy fabric can get suffocating. I ended up ordering some gauze to make a cooler wrap. 5. We had picked up this cute metal trash can from Ikea to use as a diaper pail for when we start cloth diapering but in the meantime it has been the perfect hamper. I think I want to go ahead and get a second one to serve as his hamper when this one takes on its intended purpose.

6. We were given so many plush blankets but we've gotten to use every single one. Since the A/C is on a lot, having a cozy blanket handy has been great and it makes snuggling with minion even more enjoyable. 7. I never planned on getting an infant stroller since I didn't think we would use it enough to justify the expense. But since generous friends offered to buy one for us and Luke want completely sold on my exclusively baby wearing idea. So we accepted their offer and I'm so happy we did. We've only used it once in the first month when we went to the zoo but it was so wonderful to not have to carry my super heavy diaper bag all day. I love having a stroller just for the storage capacity of it. 8. I have a love/hate relationship with my nursing cover. While I don't enjoy the added work it adds to our feeding sessions or the feeling of a lot of fabric around me, I do enjoy being able to comfortably feed minion anywhere. I have used it everyday we've gone out, several times in restaurants, once while walking through the doctor's office, and in the evenings when we hang out with my parents. 9. I know a lot of people are grossed out by the concept of the nose frida (even I was at first), but when minion git suck and was too congested to even nurse comfortably, we had to do something. We tried the old fashioned bulb for two days and it just didn't work. The first time I used the nose frida, I got a huge boogie and minion felt so much better. We swear by it now. Every time we use it, we can control the suction pressure and we can tell that we are really clearing out Minion's poor little nose.

HAVE, BUT HAVEN'T USED/NEEDED

Breast Pump
Baby Monitor
Crib
Cloth Diapers
Fisher-Price Newborn Rock n' Play Sleeper

WISH WE INVESTED IN SOONER

Rocker Recliner

I had nice detailed explanations for the above categories but somehow this post got reverted from published to draft and lost all my updates. As a new mom, I cannot justify taking the time to try to remember my explanations so this is what you get now ;)