If you’re anything like us, patience is easier said than done, so we’ll get straight to the something free. After many (many) requests, we’re happy to announce that we’ve finally created a downloadable PDF or Word Doc (click here for print-ready PDF, here for editable Microsoft Word) of our “DIY Baby Book” that we revealed in our getting-ready-for-baby post a few weeks back. Just to jog your memory, here’s how we whipped it up:
The idea was actually John’s brain child (I’m telling you, he’s the sweet sentimental one and I’m the neurotic fool who worried about ruining our sofa if my water broke). He suggested that we get a fabric covered album and create our own little baby book of sorts, with fun patterned paper and printed prompts that you see in typical baby books like “The First Week Was….” and “My First Word…” I loved the idea of adding in keepsakes like Clara’s inked footprints from the hospital along with a ton of photos, so we headed over to Michael’s (with a 40% off coupon in hand) and snagged a sweet 8.5 x 8.5″ album covered in super fun Amy Butler fabric for just $9 after my coupon.
We also picked up a pad full of 8 x 8″ patterned paper to use as a backdrop in our keepsake album (to the tune of $6). So our entire DIY baby book project ran us $15 total. And after adding all the decorative paper and leaving room for notes about momentous occasions- along with photos and other memorabilia- we were left with a pretty sweet way to document many of Clara’s firsts (a few of which we’ve already written in!):
And since we made it ourselves we had fun sprinkling in a few quirky things, like this page of “Future Predictions” where John and I guessed everything from Clara’s hair and eye color to her first word, her favorite subject in school, and even her future profession – before her arrival of course. It should be fun for the beanette to look back at all of our goofy (and most likely completely wrong) guesses someday.
Plus the fact that it looks so cute in the nursery is the icing on the cake…
So now you can download the print-ready PDF or the editable (and then print-ready) Word Doc by following the links in the first paragraph. Then you just have to grab some pretty paper and an album and you’re ready to print out our little PDF/Doc, cut each caption out, and arrange them in your new homemade memory book.
And now on to those five lifesavers that we mentioned in the title. Much like the frequent requests for a version of our DIY baby book, we received a lot of questions about what household items have come in handy since Clara came along. And although this isn’t exactly home improvement related, it definitely falls under the “what makes your house more efficient” category so we figured we’d dedicate one post to this much asked question. Although at first we wondered if we’d even have any favorite items at just three weeks into parenting, but we’re happy to say that we most definitely have a small collection of items that we ABSOLUTELY LOVE. As in probably couldn’t have lived without. So although every baby is different and every parent has varying opinions, here’s what we’re so glad that we had on hand to help us adjust to life with Clara-Clara-Bo-Bara:
1. These Aden and Anias swaddle blankets are amazing. They’re made of thin stretchy (and breathable!) muslin and they’re giant (44″ x 44″)- which makes them perfect for giving Clara that back-in-the-womb feeling. Ever since we noticed how happy she was when she was swaddled by the all-knowing nurses at the hospital, we vowed to carry on that tradition at home. Have we mentioned that we actually have to set an alarm and wake her up to feed her at night when we swaddle her before putting her to bed? Note: be sure to securely swaddle your wee one before putting him or her to sleep since loose blankets can pose a suffocation hazard- just google “how to swaddle” for some great step by step tutorials.
2. This little clutch from Skip Hop can be slipped into any large purse to make it an instant diaper bag- which appeals to a deal hunter like me. See, I’ve noticed that bags billed as “diaper bags” can be over $150 for something that looks polished, while non-diaper bags of the same quality/size can be found for a lot less. In fact I grabbed a chic oversized black bag from The Gap for $25 (on clearance!) and just slipped the Skip Hop clutch right inside. Now I always have diapers, wipes, and an extra outfit on hand – I even have a clean mat to change her on while we’re on the go. Plus I can easily drop it the clutch into other purses and bags if I feel like changing up my look without buying another official diaper bag. Oh the versatility. We actually plan to pick up another one because the changing mat part (which can be detached) is great for dropping over our changing pad in the nursery. Clara LOVES to pee when she’s being changed- seriously the girl does it 8 out of 10 times. Thankfully, the slippery waterproof material makes those little impromptu pee-fests so much easier to clean up!
3. Our next must-have Clara item is actually a super handy iPhone app that we downloaded on the day that we returned home from the hospital. We were obsessed with trying to keep track of how many diapers she was wetting and dirtying (since the docs & nurses stressed that as a great way to monitor her health and the quality of my feedings). I also kept blanking out about which side I needed to start nursing her from every few hours. Enter Baby Brain stage right. It’s just $4.99 and it keeps track of all my feedings (it even has a ticker at the top to track how long it’s been since the last one) and it also tracks wet & dirty diapers. We love that we can push a button and see everything there is to know about Clara’s day (and even compare that day to others) . Especially since products like the ItzBeen Timer are sold for around $25 and this app does pretty much the same thing for $4.99. Plus we didn’t have to acquire yet another baby gadget. Score.
4. This mouthwatering lasagna photo represents all the amazing frozen meals that were dropped off by friends & family members after returning home with our little bundle of baby. John and I joke that we’ve never eaten better. Seriously, the kindness of our loved ones has been amazing, and if you’re not sure how many relatives and friends will show up with meals as you adjust to having a wee one around we would definitely recommend making (and freezing) a few meals before delivery day, just so you have them on hand. Anything that makes things like feeding yourself a no-brainer is pretty much guaranteed to be a hit when you’re so focused on providing for your babe that you forget to eat!
5. This last gadget is totally a personal preference thing. We know some moms who scoff at the idea, but personally it’s been the reason that we sleep at least 8 hours a night (interrupted by just one feeding!) so we’re eternally grateful. Basically, it’s a monitor that detects movement in your baby as he/she sleeps- even just their chest rising and falling as they breathe. And if there aren’t any movements/breathing in 20 seconds it sets off an alarm. John and I can’t tell you how much peace of mind this gives us. Plus it allows us to sleep more soundly and not do that hover-over-her-crib-to-make-sure-she’s-breathing thing. Seriously, I haven’t done that once. It has also helped us to get her into her crib from day one (as opposed to a moses basket in our room) which has done wonders for her sleep schedule since she isn’t disturbed by us moving or the dog bounding around the bed at night. Remember, we have to actually wake her up to feed her or she’d sleep right through the night! Oh it’s also a sound monitor so we get to hear her cooing… and if she were to wake up and cry someday, we’d hear that too.
So those are the five things that have been indispensable these first few weeks. And in case it’s not obvious without this little disclaimer, none of the makers of the items mentioned above have paid us or perked us in any way to call them out here, they’re just honestly the five things that have helped us out immensely so we thought we’d share ’em (especially since we get so many emails from new parents or parents-to-be who want our opinion). We’re honestly kind of shocked that anyone cares about what we like, but there you go!
And now, since that’s an awful lot of words up above, let’s break things up with a few photos:
We’ve decided, like many other fellow bloggers, that we’ll be documenting Clara’s growth with a series of weekly photos. And we came up with the idea of using a white onesie (along with some Photoshop magic to add the week) and a colorful swatch of fabric for the background. We already had some great textiles laying around, but we also look forward to hunting down some cheap remnants to keep the project going (and using baby blankets and even our bedroom duvet if we ever get desperate). In fact the last photo was taken with Clara laying on the fun pillowcases I got for the hospital (mentioned in this post). By Clara’s first birthday we’ll have 52 weekly photos showing how much she’s changed on a slew of punchy graphic backgrounds to compile in a photo book (you know, one of those Snapfish or Kodak Gallery ones?). Should be fun. Oh and we’ll be adding all of our weekly beanette photos to this album in Flickr, just in case you’d like to follow along…
But back to the subject of those five favorite lifesavers, we’d love to hear your top five can’t-live-without-’em baby picks. And if you’re not packing the parental card in your wallet just yet, we’re definitely interested in hearing the five must-have items that make your life easier. What’s frying your bacon these days?
Psst- This post contains affiliate links.
Amy says
Fun! There are probably more than 5, but the immediate things I can think of are:
1. The Miracle Blanket. Actually, this is one thru five. Without this I’d have been in an insane asylum. My children would not even close their eyes without being swaddled.
2. Pacifier. See above.
3. Lansinoh
4. Cosleeper, so I didn’t have to get out of bed to nurse (c-sections)
5. One of those big yoga balls to bounce on. My son always needed to be in motion and would only calm down with mucho bouncing. My daughter never needed it. Go figure.
Honorable mention to the Twilight series (books and DVD) and Harry Potter books. My daughter was a marathon nurser, and I loved having these books to plow through! Just a tween at heart, I guess.
sherrie says
Clara’s facial expressions are hilarious.
FYI: Mac.com also allows you to create a more personalized photobook if you have iphoto.
kim says
My top 5 when my kids were infants were: The sling (not just for holding, but for a changing pad on the go too), a water bottle with me all the time, the boppy, lansinol and a nap. :)
Juilet says
I would Love to know how you got the photoshop part of Clara’s weekly photos to look like it is part of the onesie! If I put that graphic on a photo, it would just look like a graphic I added to a photo. I know there’s a trick/skill there and would be most appreciative if you would be willing to share! Also, I would love to know any sites and/or books you have found useful for Photoshopping! Thanks! p.s. if the reply is too long for a comment, please feel free to use my email. Thanks again!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Juliet,
The photoshopped weeks on Clara’s onesies are an overlayed layered set on “Multiply” and I also decreased the opacity a bit, that way the shading of her shirt comes through. On the most recent one I had to transform the 3 a bit to make it match the fold in her shirt better too. It’s not perfect, but we think it does the trick. As for books just check out Barnes & Noble or even the library (we both learned Photoshop in school bur there are lots of how-to books available). Hope that helps!
-John
Tra says
Thanks so much!
Leah says
HI, I read your blog alot, and am inspired most of the time! It’s great. But gee this time, I am very uninspired regarding your comments on your tips for your baby. This is obviously your personal opinion but to other new parents you are setting or giving advice that is (in my opinion) completely over the top. What works for one doesn’t work for all. You don’t need a phone app to monitor your babies feeding or diapers. Those monitors are for some but not for all, there is nothing wrong with standing and staring watching your baby, nor with it sleeping in your room. Given alot of people read your blog, I think you should stress these opinions are purely yours. And lastly I wanted to say and I am sure you know- babies change! I hope Clara keeps sleeping through the night for you so you can continue your blogging but they do change.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Leah,
We agree that we needed to stress that these opinions are purely ours, which is why we included all of these statements in the post:
So although every baby is different and every parent has varying opinions, here’s what we’re so glad that we had on hand to help us adjust to life with Clara-Clara-Bo-Bara.
This last gadget is totally a personal preference thing. We know some moms who scoff at the idea, but personally it’s been the reason that we sleep at least 8 hours a night (interrupted by just one feeding!) so we’re eternally grateful.
They’re just honestly the five things that have helped us out immensely so we thought we’d share ‘em (especially since we get so many emails from new parents or parents-to-be who want our opinion). We’re honestly kind of shocked that anyone cares about what we like, but there you go!
We definitely did our best to make it clear that these were just our opinions and that every baby is different! And by no means do we think that everyone will have the same experience as us or agree with us that these five items are necessary for them since it’s something that’s so subjective. We’re just sharing our personal journey and what works for us along the way (like we do so often here at YHL). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Robbyn says
My goodness, Clara is *beautiful!*
My son is a bit older now, but for the baby days, our top 5 were:
-Boppy pillow. Silas always seemed to want to nurse when I was couldeatahorse starving and the Boppy was the only thing that allowed me to be hands free while I sat to eat.
-a wrap-style carrier. I have/had a ton of carriers, and the woven wraps have always been my favorite due to their versatility. We didn’t even buy a stroller until Silas was 11 months old.
The Ergo comes in close second.
-our mesh water sling. The thing was a godsend. I never wanted to waste his precious nap time on a shower; if he was sleeping, I either wanted to also be sleeping, or collapse onto the couch with some bad daytime television. The water sling allowed me to take him into the shower with me without the fear of dropping him (or trying to figure out how to shave 2 armpits with 1 hand).
-a good lactation consultant. We had a rough time with breastfeeding for the first few weeks. Without our LC, we definitely would not still have been nursing at 15 weeks, let alone 15 months.
-Old Navy socks. As a previous commenter said, they really do have super special staying powers.
katie says
I think you guys sound like amazing parents. Anyone that puts as much thought and preparation into parenthood as you do all while actually ENJOYING yourselves has to be doing a good job. No one should ever pass judgement on other’s parenting styles.There’s not always a right or wrong way to do things like raising a child! You guys are obviously so full of love and thats all that matters. Clara is adorable and extremely fortunate to be part of your family! xxxoo katie
Amy says
Okay, so we, too, loved the skip hop clutch, so that’s on my list. In the same vein, the JJ Cole Diaper Caddy was life changing!
Being that my husband and I met working at a record store, we’re music lovers, and so we love the They Might Be Giants kids albums (Here come the 123s is our favorite, but we also downloaded the free podcasts to calm her on the go.)
My Babyhwak Mei Tai was our favorite carrier and was a Godsend when she was fussy or I needed to get something done with her in tow.
I also breastfed, and so the Boppy definitely makes my list.
Sarah McGuire says
Just went to take a look at your baby book downloadable PDF, and had a good laugh. Right under the part that says “My Fist Picture” there’s an ad on the website for the Navy, and there’s a guy wearing Hurt Locker-style bomb gear. It wasn’t until I scrolled down all the way that I realized it was an ad.
Really cool idea on the baby book, btw. If I didn’t already have a journal for mine, I’d print it all out. I’m also impressed that you both are keeping up with the website, a baby book, and the weekly pics of Clara. For the first month after my c-section, I couldn’t function nearly as well as you two. Heck, it’s been 2 months and I still occassionally forget to do things, like eat.
Michelle says
Thanks so much for sharing what it’s like to be first-time parents! Clara is one lucky little girl who will be able to look back when she’s older at the incredible and creative ideas her parents had for her! I myself am not a parent, but a single 30 year old Kindergarten teacher :) So as a teacher of kindergarten kiddos here are my tips for parents…
1. Start reading to your baby as soon as they’re born. There are plenty of studies that prove that reading to your baby right away (consistently) has big-time positives later in their education :)
2. Singing to your baby is equally just as important as #1. And don’t worry if you’re off pitch, your baby doesn’t care :).
3. Expose your baby to touch. Let them feel the difference between a soft silky blanket and a bumpy rubbery toy. Activities such as this stimulate the brain and fires off new learning for later.
4. Introduce tummy-time!!! Back-to-sleep is the preferred method these days for your baby to sleep (SIDS) but it’s important to play with your baby on their tummy with you right by them. It encourages them to use their trunk muscles to raise their head, strengthening their neck.
5. Play play play with your baby! Early play = positive interactions with other children later in life.
Just a few thoughts :)
A big fan!!!
Michelle
KatC says
Our Sam is 5 months old, so we’re still making great use of all of these goodies:
1. Swaddling blanket. Love having one with Velcro so it’s idiot-proof(or sleep-deprived parent proof) on the middle of the night.
2. Travel speakers in his room so we can play white noise at night and fun music during the day.
3. Bouncy chair to keep him happy and close.
4. Ergo carrier. I also have a wrap, but the ergo is better for long walks now that he’s bigger.
5. iPhone for taking a million quick pictures and entertaining me in middle of night feedings.
Bonus thing: Daphne bath chair. Makes bathtime safer and more fun with hands free.
Extra bonus thing: confidence that you are good parents and doing great things for Clara despite feeling like there should be a manual, and it’s all so overwhelming sometimes. This can be the hardest thing to find, but it’s key for enjoying the process and brushing off people who feel the need to scoff at your apps or baby monitor. :)
How are the cloth diapers? We use the Flip ones and love them.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey KatC,
Clara is actually still a wee bit too small for her cloth diapers but we can’t wait to try them out as soon as they fit. Of course we’ll keep everyone posted when we do!
xo,
s
Mary says
Has anyone else tried to download the Word doc version of the baby book pages? I’ve tried a few times both yesterday and today and it isn’t working. The link appears to be correct but it never fully loads. :(
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
-Mary
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Mary,
We haven’t heard about this problem from others, but one idea would be to try opening the link in another browser (like Firefox or Safari or Chrome instead of Internet Explorer). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Emma Woo says
Hi Guys, I have to say I was a bit sad to read some of the comments on this post. I reserve the rights of any parents to do things the way they want. Personally I am a co-sleeping, breastfeeding, baby carrying hippy but I think you should go ahead and use any gadget that helps you parent in a positive fashion. Hurrah and bravo for you! Keep enjoying it. Oh and my couldn’t do without it gadget is a soft baby carrier. My 6 month old loves it and I just switched to carrying her on my back. Great for teething times!
Emma
Nat says
I’m so happy to hear that we’re not the only parents out there putting their child in the crib early. We did it at around 2 months, once she was down to 1 feeding a night. But with the 2nd one I would try it even earlier. I think the whole family gets a much more restful sleep this way.
Sounds like you guys are doing wonderful. Congratulations!
N
jessica says
It’s taking 5 minutes to load your blog now. Is anyone else having this problem?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Jessica,
So sorry you’re having trouble. We just checked our site’s average load time and it’s around 20 seconds so we’re not seeing a problem on our end. Maybe your internet is being slow? Or the site got a bit caught up loading for you that one time when you came over (perhaps refreshing will get things back to normal?). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Kasey says
Oh man… Baby pics! I really need to stay away from baby pics, especially the newborn kind.
It makes me want to have another one! :/
On a side note… don’t let the comments about how your baby ‘shouldn’t’ be sleeping in her crib at this age and that she ‘should’ be in the room with you. My son was sleeping in his crib at 3 weeks old and [GASP] was sleeping ON his belly! [That usually gets em stirred up]. We tried the co-sleeper thing in our bed. We tried the Bassinet in our bedroom… We even tried him in his swing out in the living room while we took shifts sleeping on the couch and NONE of it worked. He hated it. Cried and cried. My Mother-in-Law finally came to stay when he was around 3 weeks old and asked if we had tried putting him in his own bed and of course [from listening to ‘everyone else’ we gave her ugly eyes like she was evil or something for saying what she did]. BUT she reassured us and we agreed to try it out. She put him in his crib, on his belly and wow he slept like a charm. [The reason we did the belly was because he was a very gassy newborn and being on his belly helped relieve some of that gas… Of course we consulted our Pediatrician and he said as long as our son wasn’t having any problems with it, it was fine].
SO… just always remember -YOU know her better then anyone else and only YOU can be the ones to know what is best for her and her needs. Don’t ever let people try and ‘Parent’ your own kids :)
Lisa says
Would you believe my number one baby item (for baby number 4) was my Mitsubishi Lancer’s trunk area. In good weather we used our very immaculate trunk as a diaper changing station when we were out on the town. So much easier than changing our little darling on the seats in the car or in some icky restroom. We had it stocked with changing pads, diapers, wipes and even a few plastic bags to store that “gift” until we were near a trash can. After a few months of seeing us in action, many of our friends adopted our little trick as their own.
Stacy says
Found your site a couple of months ago and have visited every day since. Love the practical yet lovely decorating ideas. I already told my sister, cousins, friends about you… :o) I have three children (Boys 7,5 Girl 2)and here’s my list of essentials:
1- A comfortable glider – Don’t know who enjoys the cuddle, rock, and sing time more, me or them. 7yr old barely fits on my lap and still gets cuddle time on the glider. The repetitive motion also soothes and relaxes a wound up infant/toddler (and mommy or daddy).
2- The crib- We tried co-sleeping with our first and decided against it for our second and third. Reasons: –Fear of smothering (my grandmother was a midwife and knows of a case in which this happened); — Above mentioned fear led to tense sleeping positions which led to many a stiff neck and achy back; — my hubby sleep walks, talks, and even punches(Lol!), — lack of intimacy for my husband and I.
3- Nerves of steel- A must have when breastfeeding an infant while simultaneously soothing a screaming two year old.
4- A strong back…bone- (strong back is also needed but in this case I am speaking figuratively) You’re the parents, you know your child, you know what works for your family. So, when Auntie Advice, Susie Supermom, or Bully Blogger come to give you “constructive criticism”, “much needed advice”, or to insult you only to add “Just different ways of doing things, I guess” or to sarcastically “hope Clara keeps sleeping through the night for you so you can continue your blogging”…politely and respectfully tell them to keep their nonsense to themselves. ;)
5- The patience of Job – For the “It’s MINE!” stage, the “Why?” stage, and the “I wanna do it by myself!” stage.
-Stacy
Rachel says
I love your week-by-week photo idea. Kind of like doing week-by-week pregnant pictures. I wish I had done both types, but I thought I was “too busy” before my babies came & after…well, I learned what being busy was really like!
My little guys turn one today, as a matter of fact! In the beginning, I didn’t think we’d ever get through it, but now it feels like the year flew by.
My top five sanity keepers have been:
1. Gerber cotton diapers as burp clothes. We purchased 5 dozen (!!!) & used them ALL every day until the boys hit 6 months. An added bonus: now that we rarely need them, I’ve packed most away for the next baby & kept a few for washing windows/mirrors/etc.
2. Kiddopotomus Swaddlers. My guys loved to be swaddled, but got way too big/strong/smart for just using a blanket & we would find them with one arm out & crying a few hours after putting them down.
3. Gas relief drops, any brand. They just couldn’t figure out burping! (I know they’ll make up for it later in life!)
4. The hospital lactation consultants. My babies came 5 wks early & didn’t understand nursing. W/o the LCs, I would have missed out on a wonderful & beneficial thing.
5. A simple notepad & pen that I kept next to my nursing rocker. While I nursed, I wrote down all the funny & sweet things they had done lately.
& I have to give honorable mention to my Columbia backpack diaper bag. With 2 babies, a regular bag could slip off my shoulder & hit someone. This bag is big enough to hold everything & truly looks like a backpack (great for when hubby has the kids).
Sarah says
Great list! You have some higher-end stuff,so I’ll go ahead and do a poor-woman’s version. (BTW, nothing wrong with i-phones and fancy baby monitors–I’d buy them too if I could!)
Anyway:
1) Lansinoh. Especially if nursing hurts like the dickens.
2) A pump. Saved me in the first few weeks when nursing was really difficult, but not all women need one.
3) Sleep sacks. Makes for easy diaper changes.
4) White wash cloths. I bought 2 dozen from Costco and use them for everything-then bleach them when they get gross.
5) Boudreaux’s Butt Paste for any rash yeast/fungus related, and Triple Paste for any rash that is painful. So awesome.
6) Aveeno baby wash. Love how this stuff smells! (the blue bottle-not purple one)
7) Love it!
Congrats on the little one–she’s gorgeous!
Sharie says
I love the weekly pics and the baby album, great use of Photoshop!
You have given me so much inspiration for the five baby showers I have coming up in the next few months (my friends are good breeders), I just hope I can find fabric and paper of the same calibre in my side of the world. You have a real little cutie, I will be checking out your flicker album regularly!
Finally, thank you for the product tips, I love those posts and squirrel them away for future reference!
Steph.anie D says
Firstly, Clara looks beautiful and happy! Congrats on a first few weeks well done!
Secondly, you guys are fantastic writers even with a newborn on your hands! I loved reading this, and I don’t even have kids. :) Keep up the good work!
Kim @ Don't Kid Yourself says
My son is 11 weeks old, so this is fresh in my mind!
I could not live without:
1. My Boppy!
2. Nursing Tanktop
3. Pacifer
4. My Husband…aka my handy assistant :)
5. Although I can live without it, the diapers that change color when wet are great!
Cass says
Nothing brings out the Judgy McJudgersons like a discussion on parenting. Just keep doing what works for you guys, because they will certainly keep doing what works for them (and letting you know it! Haha!).
I can’t wait to hear what you think of cloth diapering. We’re planning cloth diapers as well, but we don’t know anyone personally who has done it. And, as always, thanks for the product reviews.
Ami says
Thanks so much for sharing all the products that have worked for you and Clara (and the baby book ideas which I am currently making myself)! I have been reading your blog for over a year now and have had such great luck with your recommendations for the home, I figure your baby product recommendations will prob come in just as handy :). It’s so much fun (and helpful) watching two of my favorite bloggers go through new parenthood just a couple months before me. Also, I just want to say that I admire your strength having to deal with all advice and opinions that some people feel the need to rudely post. Sometimes it just shocks me how much certain people feel that everyone needs to do things just like them in order to do it “correctly”.
Jamie says
My baby is almost 4, but I couldn’t live without these things:
1. Calmoseptine; THE BEST diaper rash cream, and it doesn’t smell like H&D(yuck)
2. Flannel receiving blankets; essential for everthing from swaddling to burp protection
3. Single-serve formula packs; great for traveling.
4. Stroller with huge basket; essential for trips around town, plus helps walk off the baby weight.
5. Small fan; white noise saves the day, and the air circulation is good for preventing SIDS.
Clara looks adorable! Such an expressive face!
Mary says
I WISH we had put our newborn in her own room straightaway. I hated getting up for feedings so she was in a bassinet next to our bed. Well that quickly turned to in our bed after the first feeding (we both fell asleep). It took weeks to get her to sleep in her own crib! Now she happily does and we have our bed back. However with the next one s/he will start in their own room straightaway! I love the “advice” other parents give each other. We were the first of 10 (yes 10!!) of our friends to welcome their first baby in 2010. I get a lot of calls from friends by my only advice is this: You have to do what works for you and your family! I am happy to tell you what worked for us but you’ll probably need a different solution!!!
Susie says
Precious little girl! Can’t wait to see all the pictures lined up…the time goes by so fast!
Abby says
My mother in law was really sweet to send a cake to our house when my son was born. She used Very Vera. It was really yummy! We thought she sent it for us to pig out on but her intention was for when people stopped by the house so they would have something to snack on. I like to be a good hostess, but with a newborn baby my home was a wreck! I felt like the delicious cake distracted baby holders from the fact that I had no makeup on and my house looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in decades! What a sweet idea :)
Meredith says
We have an Angelcare monitor too, and also love it. We really don’t understand the argument about “Well, our parents didn’t have the monitor, and we turned out just fine.” Because the sad fact is that lots of babies DIDN’T.
Now, we have technology that can help prevent those tragic deaths…why NOT use it?
*Stepping off my soapbox*
Julie says
John and Sherry – Little Clara is such a sweetheart! Because my Jane Scarlett is down for her morning nap, I better hurry up and get straight to my 5 must haves. At the newborn 0-3 month phase:
1) Baby papasan chair (I used to always give this to friends for their showers, but haven’t been able to find recently – mine was a hand-me-down and Jane Scarlett’s favorite soother.)
2) Baby bjorn – how a work from home mom got a LOT done. Even managed business calls while straightening up the house while JS napped in her little cocoon.
3) G-diapers – my all time fave. Never had a blowout. Never…until I had to switch back to regular diapers for budget reasons.
4) Pashminas – so nice to nurse under and not feel exposed or so clearly “hello, I am nursing now” under what is clearly a nursing apron.
5)
Later? Paci clips, elastic hair ties)my girl loves to pull hair), the BUMBO (mine is a hand-me-down and the best thing I never knew I would LOVE, this toy http://shop.leapfrog.com/leapfrog/jump/My-Pal-Violet/productDetail/Scout-Toys/lfprod19157/My-Pal-Scout
NO idea how much she loves a stuffed animal at such a young age. She loves interacting with it and the lullaby setting is now our go-to for her wind-down period. And though this isn’t mine, I have a few “wet bags” to carry a clean set of clothes in the diaper bag and (ahem) gross ones when we needed to change her out of them. They get thrown into the washer and dryer and I like not using so many plastic bags to lug back icky clothes.
Julie says
Oops – forgot the link to the wet bags.
http://www.amazon.com/Kushies-Go-Wet-Bag-Large/dp/B0029DPGDW
Rebecca says
Was the album the kind with the top-loading pages? If so, I’m guessing you just pop them right in and then take them out when it’s time to write things down? Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Yup, just slip them in and slip them out to add photos or descriptions!
xo,
s
Katie B. says
thank you SO much for posting this. we are days away from welcoming our Bean into the world… and i am working on the baby book — which was inspired by you. the pages you posted could not have come at a better time… and your five faves– i’ll be registering/buying each of those ASAP. thank you!!!
~Katie B.
Shannon says
Thanks for all your sharing! Clara is so sweet!
My third baby is almost 9 months old, but some of my must-haves I only got with him and wished so much I’d thought of them with my first two.
1. The Ergo- So comfortable, easy to use, and my son loves being in it; front, back, or on my hip.
2. Cloth Diapers- I do bumgenius and the Chinese prefolds with Thirsties covers. It’s wonderful not having to panic about running out of diapers in the middle of the night. And they’re not as intimidating as I thought they would be.
3. Baby Food Mill- It’s nice that my baby can eat everything that I’m cooking and I don’t have to worry about extra junk going into his food. Plus, he can get used to eating the things that big people eat and hopefully not be a picky eater.
Wendy says
1. SwaddleMe blankets – must have for us! Our baby boy always got out of our own swaddle attempts
2. Side snap t-shirts – the ones they use at the hospital, no having to pull something over the baby’s head – yay!
3. Organic cloth diapers as burp rags – our baby boy had reflux and spit up all the time. We went through these like Kleenex!
4. Sleep wedge – helps keep baby slightly elevated, good for reflux
5. Munchkin multi-purpose pads – we had no idea how much newborns spit up, pee and poop on everything! These kept us from changing the sheets 3 times per day :)
Kelli says
I’ve tried to download the pdf and word doc for the baby book, and it says I have to have a facebook to do so….?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Kelli,
It’s probably asking you if you’d like to connect or sign in via Facebook, but you should be able to go around that (it’s just one of a few options). You might need to create an account (a quick name and password) to download those docs, but you definitely shouldn’t need Facebook to do it. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Lizbeth says
Your little one is very beautiful :) I am so jealous of you alls photograph skills!! Any tips???! I just got a camera like yours!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Lizbeth,
Check out the comments on this post, many of which we used to learn how to handle our new camera! Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Elizabeth says
Yea, I know this is probably super annoying but what fabric is the second picture (flowers with red bloom, hydrangea maybe)?
Thanks bunches!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Elizabeth,
We picked that fabric up for cheap at Joanne Fabrics (which is a chain, so hopefully you can hunt it down there as well). Good luck!
xo,
s
Wendy @ A Southern Accent says
Ok, she is already sleeping through the night??? That is like unheard of! Good for you! My little guy didn’t sleep through the night until he was two years old!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Wendy,
We still get up for one feeding around 5:30, so it’s not straight through the night- but we’re so excited to get a 5+ hour stretch out of her. She’s such a good baby! We’re still pinching ourselves.
xo,
s
heyruthie says
my favorite baby lifesaver is breastfeeding. plain and simple.
Mamatini says
I’m not one to offer suggestions on what to buy or how to do things to parents. Too many variables, for the most part.
But, I could help but offer some food for thought, as did Jenny and AJ. You seem wonderfully in tune with your daughter, and you might consider infant potty training. For one, the two of you are home with her, and so your lifestyle is well-suited for this technique. It reduces significantly the number of diapers (disposable or cloth) you use, and knowing how green (and frugal!) you two are, this is a huge plus.
But let me add my own experience which lead me to suggest this. When we adopted our second daughter from China, she was nine months old. We learned from her foster mother that she was potty trained, a common occurance there because diapers are such an expense. We were taught to hold her over the toilet with her back against our belly and a leg in each hand, so that she would be in a supported position, yet suspended over the toilet, and to say “sh sh sh” for #1 and a little grunting “uh uh uh” for #2.
Skeptical, but interested enough to try, we did. It worked like a charm! In fact, we never again had to change a poopy diaper! Woo Hoo! When we came home from China, and I was back to taking care of two children, I couldn’t keep up with – or thought I couldn’t – the more frequent #1s. But I swear, once we started “real” potty training just before she turned 2, it was as if she looked at us to say, “FINALLY!” She was fully potty trained by the end of the day! I guess it is sort of like riding a bike….
Just a thought. And can you imagine the interesting blog posts you can get out of that?
Rebecca Foxworth says
Hint: At least once a month, photography Clara near an object that doesn’t change in size…a favorite stuffed animal or a favorite book. You’ll be glad you did. Having something to compare sizes with will make her growth oh-so-obvious.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s definitely something we’ll be doing along with the weekly pics! We’re thinking we’ll use Clara’s favorite toy, once she makes it a bit more clear what that is!
xo,
s
amyks says
Clara is a”flippin”dorable…oh my gosh, how can you stand it? I love those photoshopped tees, too. What a great idea. Once again, congrats on such a sweet addition to your family.
Robin says
Hey! Clara is adorable!
I’ve been in love with the fabric of your pillowcases in the 3rd week picture since it came out. My boyfriend won’t let me get, because it’s too girly. But you’ve inspired me to buy the pillowcases and hold on to them until I have a baby. So my question is what size pillowcases did you get and how many? It looks like a sheet in the picture!
Thanks. Love your site!!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Robin,
We got two regular sized pillow shams (and used a little photoshop magic to make them appear to be one piece of fabric in the photo). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Alison says
We have an Angelcare monitor and love it, though it does have more false alarms since our daughter is 8 months and often rolls/crawls into a corner.
If Clara learns to break free of the regular swaddle (the Aden & Anais are still awesome for blankets, we used them to cover her carseat when it was hot) – try the miracle blanket, its amazing!
carissa says
here are 3 things I highly recommend (my daughter is almost 2)
1. camelbak bpa free titan (we both have one!). never spills. easy to clean because it is dishwasher safe!
2. prince lionhart bebe pod. she started using it at 5 months and still uses it now. plus I never had to buy a highchair! I just put this seat on the table (and never left her unattended up there!) it is so easy to clean, I just spray it off in the sink.
3. ergo baby carrier. I started using this when she was 1 month (with the infant insert) and I used it every day. I still use it frequently for hiking and traveling and my sister in law borrowed it the other day to carry my nephew (4) on a long hike. plus it is machine washable.
you will get so much advice, the best thing to do is whatever works for you. my mom thought I was crazy for not buying a highchair but we live in new york and we just don’t have space. and anything easy to clean/washable is KEY!
Lauren says
your baby is the cutest EVER!!!!!
let me know if you need a baby sitter :)
Jessica says
Quick question – I know you’re not cloth diapering yet, but does that Skip Hop bag have a zippered portion that could function as a wet bag for CD-ing mamas? I’m about to purchase a wetbag, but I’d rather just spend the money on the Skip Hop changing station (assuming there’s a place to put my dirty cloth dipes). Thanks!