Must Haves for Mommies

Kushies Ultra All-in One Cloth Diaper Set Newborn

Amazon Price: (as of 06/03/2012)

Another decision I made with my first-born was to use cloth diapers rather than disposables (although we did use disposables while traveling). I selected Kushies all in ones and thereby didn't have to mess with pins or plastic covers. Not only did we save a lot of money (I laundered them myself, as well)... I know I did my part in conserving natural resources. :)

Boppy Pillow with Slipcover, Lots O Dots

Amazon Price: $33.99 (as of 06/03/2012)

This u-shaped pillow was a God-send, particularly with my first, when I was inexperienced at breast-feeding. The pillow allowed me to prop my daughter up in just the right position, allowing my arms to be free to read or more often, scrapbook! As she got older and I got more skilled at nursing, we didn't use the pillow as much. However, it continued to be employed to help her to sit in an upright position.

SwaddleDesigns Ultimate Receiving Blanket - Polka Dots - Chocolate Brown

Amazon Price: $15.99 (as of 06/03/2012)

I haven't really experienced the 'sleepless nights' that are so common amongst parents of young children. I believe that is due to the fact that I swaddled my babies every night before bed, and then nursed them to sleep. The wide-open world can be unsettling for a baby who's recently emerged from the closeness of the womb. Swaddling, or wrapping your baby snugly in a blanket, can help her feel secure as she adjusts to her new environment. I found the perfect blanket for swaddling was a large, light-weight, square baby blanket.

Original Maya Wrap Sling (Not Padded)-Bright Stripes

Amazon Price: (as of 06/03/2012)

Another indispensable product. I selected the pouch style as it seemed to be the simplest. It is basically a little hammock that slips over my head to carry an infant. It can be worn in a number of positions, but I was most comfortable as shown here. It can also be used to carry children up to 35 lbs, but in my experience, at this point, they preferred to walk themselves.

I love the pouch. My little ones would frequently sleep as I went about my errands (shopping, dining at a nice restaurant, picking up the house, etc.). Some people didn't even realize that I was carrying a baby! After a while, I became skilled at picking up the sleeping angel from the carseat and slipping him into the pouch, without waking him. With the pouch, I never carried a carseat out of the car... thus saving my back from having to carry such an awkward load.

The wrap/pouch also kept the baby close to my body... they could hear my heartbeat, feel the warmth of my body. Thereby enabling the baby to feel secure, safe, and comforted just as he did in the womb. There are many different styles and manufacturers of 'baby carriers' available today. But at the time I bought mine, they were relatively unknown. Maya Wraps were the only ones I could find.

Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood: Practical Parenting from Birth to Six Years

by: Jim Fay, Charles Fay

Amazon Price: $14.57 (as of 06/03/2012)

When my daughter was just beginning to walk and talk, I read a book on discipline called Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood by Jim Fay and Charles Fay, Ph.D. The tools presented helped give me the building blocks I needed to develop a successful discipline style. One of the things I liked best about this 'self-help' book was that it walked me through many "typical issues", providing examples of how I might tackle a situation using the Love & Logic approach (including potty training, daycare, back-talking, whining and many more everyday stresses faced by parents of toddlers).

Hush Little Baby

by: Sylvia Long

Amazon Price: $6.39 (as of 06/03/2012)

I love to read. I want my children to enjoy the written word as well. I have been buying children's books since I was in high school... long before I had children. I have saved them all. For my classroom. For my children. We read a few chapters from a chapter book every night before bed and many 'everyday books' throughout the day. My oldest is just beginning to read on her own.