Today marks five weeks since bringing Zara Rose into this world. So far my motherhood journey has been all about learning in real time and consuming as much knowledge and information as I can through other blog posts, books, discussion forums, and facebook groups tailored to motherhood. Every time I breastfeed I consume whatever I can to learn and educate myself. Because I’m gathering information from all over the place, I though it’d be helpful to compile them and share with you all.
Apps That I am Loving
Whether your due date is just around the corner or you’re already in the midst of parenthood, you’ll know that it can be tricky to keep track of everything in your life. Thank god for apps to help keep us on track. These are just a few that I’ve loving:
Huckleberry
As a new mom, you need to keep track of everything because mommy brain PLUS lack of sleep is real. Huckleberry is a baby sleep, pumping, feeding, diaper change, and growth tracker all in one! I love tracking and seeing data so this has been my favorite app hands down.
Glow Baby
This is another great app that I’ve heard from other parents. Most people choose either Huckleberry or Glow Baby. It allows you to log your baby or toddler’s milestones and track their development.
The Wonder Weeks App
This is THE must have app for new parents. It provides all the ‘need to know’ info, including what leap your baby is going through. Plus you can log your own stories about your baby, which allows you to look back at these moments.
Baby Sparks
When I brought my newborn home, I had no idea what I could do with such a young baby when she wasn’t feeding or sleeping. Thank god for BabySparks. This app was designed to share expert-created, customized daily play programs that you can refer to every day. For example, I do tummy time on my chest or have my baby grasp my fingers to strengthen her grasp.
Products That I am Loving
Snoo
Let me start off by saying that to me there is no price to sleep. This has been a godsend since day one. The Snoo is a responsive baby bassinet that combines gentle rocking with soothing white noise. It is pricey but you can snag it during their holiday sales.
Hatch Sound Machine
The best sound machine on the market! I didn’t think I would need this sound machine since the Snoo comes with some white noise. However, this product has been a game changer to Zara’s sleep. I have found the magical combination is the TV static noise set initially to 50% while she falls asleep or soothes herself to sleep. Once she is down, I decrease the volume to 28%. I recommend you download a decibel app such as this one if you are worried about finding the right volume setting. You don’t want it to be too loud.
Swaddles
I double swaddle my baby for two reasons: an extra layer for warmth and to ensure she stays snug and arms down in her Snoo sack. We absolutely love the Ollie swaddle. However, they are sold out everywhere so I recommend checking out Facebook marketplace or Offer Up or a Buy/Sell/Trade page on Facebook. I set an alert for one on Offer Up and snagged one as soon as someone posted it.
The next best thing that does wonders for keeping a Houdini baby strapped down is the Anna and Eve swaddle.
If your baby likes arms up, check out the Love to Dream swaddle. You’ll know what works for your baby and what doesn’t. Some babies love being tightly swaddled a la taquito. Others hate it and prefer arms up. If you’re using the Snoo and doing arms up, there are arm holes in the newer Snoo sacks that you can stick the arms through.
Nail Filer
This nail filer is perfect for a newborn. I file her nails while she sleeps and she doesn’t notice a thing.
Lovery Play Mat
This Montesorri-based play gym is amazing! We do playtime on this mat every morning after her feed with some fun classical play music. Having your baby lay on their back with the freedom to move their limbs is important for development. Lovery also offers monthly subscription boxes appropriate for your child’s age.
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