Coast to Coast with Lyn & Leigh

First of all, go ahead and put your hospital bag in the trunk (double check Packing The Hospital Bag). 

Car Seat - The Big Daddy of all baby equipment.  I remember my parents buying me our first car seat/travel system.  For convenience, the infant carriers that pop right into the base and then into the stroller are great. They range from very reasonable to super expensive.  Our tip?  Avoid the bulky ones (you will probably prefer a lightweight stroller when baby turns 6 months), and instead get an infant carrier and a ‘Snap and Go‘ style stroller base (cheaper, and fit most infant carrier models).  

When baby outgrows the infant carrier, we love Britax (their straps never tangle!) Roundabout, Diplomat, or Marathon.  Any brand will do, as long as they are rear-facing and front-facing.  The rear/front/booster combos are nice, but can be very bulky and expensive (when you can buy a booster for $19.99!).

If you have an SUV or a larger car, sometimes the seats angle a bit, which can in turn angle your rear-facing car seat and make baby shlump over.  We used this foam wedge thingy under the car seat base, but you can also roll a blanket.  I also adored the special mirror to check back on my tiny ones without turning around.

Diaper Bag - Personally, I didn’t want to give up my purse.  So I usually just kept the diaper bag in the car with the stroller.  Don’t go crazy with stocking it, or you’ll never find a thing.  Speaking of finding, check out this cool see-through tote from Old Navy.  Or you can go nuts with a super expensive bag like my fave brand here, or these gorgeous things.  What to include inside?  5 diapers, a spare outfit (how cool are these?), 2 burp cloths, a bib, wipes, a bottle of water (you never know), a bottle with formula packet if you go that route, or a nursing shawl if you choose to cover, and that’s about it!

Keep your gas tank full, check the tires, and you might as well give it a good cleaning inside and out (you might not have much time in the future!).  Got a great car tip?  Share…

It makes me giggle to think back to those first baths with a newborn.  Craig had to go out of town for several weeks when Alyssa was just one week old.  I wasn’t sure if I could coordinate a slippery baby, the towel, and the tub, so I had my friend and neighbor come by at bathtime.  How silly is that? It was just that first night, but still.  So what do you REALLY need for The Bath?

Tub - I think the new-age looking tubs are cool.  They seem very much like the womb.  But we’ve never tried them.  Lyn loves something like this:

I used a multi-stage one with a newborn net/sling, a removable plastic ring, and an expanding tub.  To be honest, I preferred the kitchen sink.  

Washcloths - Lyn LOVES the thin, flimsy soft terry ones.  And they ring out so quickly.

All-in-one soap makes it very easy, and the cool soap filled cloths you can take on trips are a great invention!

Hooded Towels - Lyn and I disagree on this one.  She swears by the super thin ones (Southern climate, perhaps) and I loved wrapping up the babes in our plush Pottery Barn towels (Northwest climate, perhaps). You only need two (one to use, one to wash).

Newborns obviously don’t need bath toys yet, and when they do, they’ll probably enjoy a plastic cup more than anything else.  I now have the cool Frog Pod loaded with every kind of bath toy, plus bath letters (the ex-teacher in me).  For her newborn, my friend Christy had this cool printout of a black and white rubix cube type box.  Her baby was mesmerized and very calm staring at it.  

Tomorrow’s last post in this series:  The Car

Here’s the deal:  You might want to buy everything brand shiny new.  Especially if this is your first baby. Hold yourself back.  Your baby might not even like some of these things.  You may never use them.  And, as a rule of thumb, if anything is big, bulky and plastic, try to buy/borrow from a friend or get at a garage sale.  Especially if baby will only love it for a month.

A vibrating bouncy chair - I LOVED it.  Especially this one with the fish toy bar - so bubbly and relaxing (warning, though!  Might send newborn into STIMULATION OVERLOAD.  Take the toy bar off until the 2nd or 3rd month).  My girls dug their chairs.  Lyn’s daughter wasn’t having it.  Again - might be good to borrow.

Swing - Same thing.  It’s baby’s preference.  And be prepared:  Your Toddler, if you have one, will want to get into that swing.  It might be smart to train them before baby comes.  Have them put stuffed animals in it instead.

Gymini - or whatever these things are called that fold out on the floor.  For tummy time, simply roll up a blanket to prop under baby’s armpits for support.  Then roll them over and see how they love to focus in on the black and white.

Sling/Carrier - Great for hands-free toddler care, and for ‘taking laps’ around the house when newbie is seemingly crying for no reason.  I had a Bjorn, which is nice, but wished I would’ve known about the sling.  

There you have it.  This was my life with a newborn:  feed, change, begin rotation:  gymini, chair, swing, chair, sleeptime (and then start all over again).  Get ready to party, people.  It’s wild and crazy.

p.s.  Stock your freezer with meals (I love Dream Dinners), request that friends bring meals (and assign days- they want to help - LET THEM), and stock your pantry (since you’re nesting you’ll probably want to go through and organize it, too).

Yesterday we started Lyn’s New Baby Preparations with the nursery.  And now: The Closet. You’ve probably picked out adorable little outfits, plus you’ll be inundated with gifts from friends and family.  You have the layette checklists - this is not exactly that.  These are just what Lyn and I found our newborns LIVED in. Anyone who’s tried to get a 2 week old into denim overalls knows what we’re talking about…

Sleep Gown - because they poop ALL THE TIME at first, it’s brilliant to have the elastic.  And cause they love to tuck up and feel their feet like in the womb.

Swaddle Blanket - any blanket can be a great swaddle blanket, as long as it’s square.  Thin makes it easy to fold, pull and tuck.  Soft is obviously key too.

Bodysuits - also called ‘Onesies,’ these are just a great staple.  Long or short sleeve - all good.  Most of newbie’s time will be spent in a bodysuit (and swaddled).

Pants - when you need to cover those cutey legs, soft, elastic pants are great.  They pull on and off easily. Look for ones with great fit (you don’t want that ‘grandpa pants’ look with the waistband pulled up to the armpits!).

Socks - Most newborn’s feet will feel cold because their circulation is just learning to kick in.  It might not mean they are actually cold, it’ll just feel cold.  But if they’re not being swaddled, you might want to stick on some socks that will stay (remember their feet tucking up?  Well - they also rub them together). It’s not the size of the bootie, it’s the elastic that’s important.

That’s basically it!  Neutrals and earth towns (white, green, cocoa, etc.) always look classic and snuggly. You might want to have one pair of mitts on hand - my girls both scratched their faces, and I had to resort to using socks on their hands!  But Lyn never had an issue, so don’t buy a ton. Tomorrow:  The Home.

Lyn is starting to stress about getting ready for Baby Grant.  It’s her second time around, so at least she won’t be bogged down with all the STUFF that magazines and books tell you to get.  Here’s what we love for newborns - and let’s break it up so it’s, as my 5 year-old Alyssa would say, “easy-peasy lemon squeezy.”

For the Nursery:

Whatever sleeping situation you choose (we won’t get into that here!) - make sure it’s safe, soothing, and create a sleep routine from Day 1 (Lyn and I lived by Secrets of the Baby Whisperer for not just sleep, but for our entire parenting style!).

Did you ever think that musical fish might change your life?  Include this joker in the sleep routine, and teach baby how to turn it on so they learn to settle themselves at night.  And it helps put YOU to sleep, too (we are hooked on the songs from the Fisher Price model).  Stock up on batteries, because it can sound really creepy when the batteries are low. 

A monitor -  It’s nice for peace of mind.  But don’t get obsessed with cranking it up to hear every tiny noise, or you might drive yourself crazy!  Again, check the batteries.

Lyn and I loved the sleep positioner.  It helps baby from developing the ‘flat back of the head’ thing (make sure to turn baby’s face each night for balance), and keeps them feeling secure through that startle phase. Great for when they’re swaddled, and also for when swaddling transitions away.

Newbie diapers, obviously.  Lyn loved her wipes warmer, but I didn’t go that route.  I did, however, get addicted to the Kirkland/CostCo brand wipes!

A comfy place to feed baby, and a comfortable place for diaper changing (doesn’t have to be the standard changing table - just safe and easy).

And for a newborn’s nursery, that’s about it!  The rest are ‘extras,’ or for later.  Tomorrow we’ll tackle…

The Closet.

The first time around, packing that bag is quite a thrill. I mean, it signifies that the end is in sight. Or rather, the beginning!

• Contact Sheet (laminated, if possible). Medical info., Home info., Your phone tree for announcing the baby’s arrival, etc.

• Batteries, chargers, cameras, phones…  all the electrical stuff for capturing the moments, and for spreading the big news.

• Snacks for Daddy (during labor - oh yes, most first time labors are around 24 hours!), and snacks for Mommy (for recovery!). 

• Music - an iPod or portable CD player (I personally couldn’t stand the noise during labor, but it helps a lot of people)

• Comfy socks. Mine were velour. Any will do - make them special, so you’ll feel special.

• A Robe or Dear Johnnies (cute, personalized hospital gowns)

• A comfy nursing bra that is easy to work!

• Mommy’s going home outfit.  Something other than your maternity wear (depressing), but still stretchy (maybe a larger size of cute sweats).

• Makeup/toiletries. It feels nice to be wheeled out of the hospital with your baby in your arms and some mascara and lip gloss.

•  I should also mention that you’ll want to have some stool softener. Ask one of your best girlfriends about that one! I won’t go into detail, but it can be SCARY.

• Baby’s going home outfit - HELLO! Check out Bringing Home Baby! You’ll notice there are no pants included, since newborn legs are so tightly scrunched up to their bodies (like in the womb). Go for foldover cuffs, an adjustable hat, soft cotton, tagless, snaps at the neck for getting over that big floppy newborn head, and a coordinated blanket. It’s all there!

• The ultimate tip: TREATS FOR THE NURSES. They are your lifeline at the hospital. You’ll barely see the doctor. But you’ll bond with those great nurses. Have enough treats for several shifts. If it’s candy, donuts, or healthier fare, just have a post it on the box that says “Thanks for all you do! Love, the ____” 

• Another sweet thing: Pre-written thank you notes. About 10. Because you can’t forget the recovery room nurses. They have the joy of measuring your urine, checking your stitches, and walking your crying baby so you can sleep. As simple as: “Thanks for being a part of the most amazing time of our lives. You are appreciated! Love, the ____” When I went in for my second baby, some of the staff remembered us!

Happy Packing!

leigh & lyn