that's right, i broke out ye old credit card this afternoon and called ben's sister who works in lingerie at nordstroms. now that i'm done nursing i can finally get rid of all of the too big, way stretched out bras that i've been wearing (tim gunn would be seriously appalled at these things; actually so was b's sister!). it turns out i've been wearing the wrong size, like forever. i can't believe how supportive and comfortable a properly fitted (and high quality) bra is. wahoo! seriously, go get measured at a NICE bra store (read: not victoria's secret, they measured me WAY wrong for years...).
so as i'm packing up the baby stuff for my (very far in the future) grandbabies and to send off to be donated, i've been thinking about what stuff was necessary and awesome and what stuff was totally unnecessary and a no worth the money. here's what i've come up with:
so as i'm packing up the baby stuff for my (very far in the future) grandbabies and to send off to be donated, i've been thinking about what stuff was necessary and awesome and what stuff was totally unnecessary and a no worth the money. here's what i've come up with:
- chinese prefolds for me, cloth diapering was something i loved and chinese prefolds with a snappi was where it was at. add to it a nice wool cover (that your mom knitted) or simple nylon pants and the kids were set. and guess what? if you're not a cloth diaperer they're still awesome because they double as burp cloths, dishrags, car shammies, and on and on...
- a really expensive stroller okay, i'll admit it, i totally drooled over these things. we even went and test drove one when i was pregnant with mr. baby. but ya know what, i think i'm glad i saved my $800. strollers, at least around here, get really thrashed. they get bumped and scuffed and taken down dusty trails. they get left out on the porch to fade. we did just fine with a $15 umbrella stroller from target and it was so much more compact.
- the ergo baby carrier i'm a bit of a carrier/sling junkie (have worn and loved my organic maya wrap ring sling, a very stylish looking hotsling, a man-friendly mama-made mei tai, and moby wrap style slings that i've made myself) BUT, when i am recommending a baby carrier to a friend this is the one i go back to over and over again. the ergo is awesome because of it's versatility, comfort, and accessories. love love love this one and plan to keep it for miss p or 'renzo to use with their kiddos.
- rice cereal & jarred baby food didn't need it. both kids' first food was avocado. buy, ripen, mash, feed. i did have a handy little food mill that was great for taking into restaurants, but really, the kids never liked the jarred (even good organic) stuff and preferred to eat what everyone else was eating.
- weleda calendula baby cream talk about mileage... one tube has lasted me two years and seriously, this stuff works for everything. i've used it on cuts and scrapes, nasty diaper rashes, chapped cheeks, hives for both the kids and the grownups in the house.
- a network of family & friends you can't buy this shit but i'm telling you, if you have access to your community it is INVALUABLE, especially when the unexpected happens!
- a fancy crib yes, i drooled over these too. thankfully we couldn't afford them and only wound up with a pack n' play (what i refer to as the worlds largest laundry basket/cat bed). we co-slept and when we were done moved to a futon on the floor. (add to this a fancy changing table!)
- breasts, preferably two always warm, always fresh, no need to get up. honestly we could have lived without everything else on the list if we had needed to. and as a companion for those times when you need/want to pump, this little medela doohickey. inexpensive, powerful, and so small.
- a good midwife whether you choose to birth at home or in a hospital, the right provider is essential. i did a hospital birth with an ob/gyn and a home birth with a midwife. i strongly preferred the midwife model of care.
- the right pediatrician don't stick with a doctor because you don't think they'll turn you into cps for not vaxing/extended breastfeeding/co-sleeping/whatever. that ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH. you want a pediatrician who will support your family in its choices, trust your judgement and help you sort out difficult issues, and LOVE your child almost as much as you do. they are hard to find but worth looking for.
- a ginourmously expensive rocker another one we couldn't afford. we found that sitting/swaying/bouncing on a slightly deflated yoga ball while holding a colicky baby did the trick.