What Do Babies REALLY need?

It can be exciting when you first find out your pregnant and you want to go out and buy all the cute stuff that goes with babies!   But you'll be surprised to discover that babies need very little.

Before Chris and I started our baby registry, we did our research into what was an actual need and what was nice to have. We asked many of our friends what they felt was something that they could not live without. The list below is what I believe are the essentials for a baby:

- crib/bassinet

- 8-10 onesies

- sheets for crib/bassinet

- cloth diapers (for burp cloths, rags)

- bottles (if you are bottle feeding)

- nipple cream (if you are breastfeeding)

- swaddles (I didn't think I would need these, but they have become a lifesaver!)

- pacifier

- car seat

- stroller or carrier

Now, 4 months after baby was born, there are things that I am particularly glad that I have because they get used daily:

- mobile (on top of the crib)

- blanket with a Winnie-the-Pooh head (My son loves gripping it.)

- cloth diapers (I didn't know I would need these everyday, but I do. I use them for spit up cloths)

- swaddle (Thank you Teresa and Mike for this. It is a pre-made swaddle that Velcros together)

- Transition sounds (CD transitions: soothing sounds for crying infants)

- Moby wrap (to hold Ryley when he is being fussy or whenever I need to use both hands)

I didn't buy any special furniture for the changing table. I used a bureau that was my mother's growing up, repainted it and added a portable changing pad. I didn't even buy a diaper bag to begin with but used the one the hospital gave us. I just didn't want a lot of extra stuff in my house.

Babies don't need much in the way of "things." As long as they have food, clothes, a place to sleep and a car seat they have the most important "things." Other gadgets and gizmos are helpful, but not necessities.

Below is a great website for money saving tips. She has a series out about having a baby without breaking the bank. Check it out for more ideas.

www.moneysavingmom.com/series/having-a-baby-without-breaking-the-bank

Mommy Needs a Time Out!

Monday night after an hour and a half of Ryley screaming and crying, I gave myself a time out. I put Ryley in his crib with his music and mobile and went into my room for 10 minutes or so. At that point I called my mom. Feeling like the worst mother in the world, I was reminded that many mothers go through this and I did the right thing. After assessing that Ryley was not hurt, didn't want food, had a clean diaper, and needed nothing I had to put him down and calm myself down. For me, it is very hard to put my baby down when he is crying. I feel like I am the mother and I should always be able to calm my baby down, when in fact sometimes that doesn't happen. Ryley has a fussy time between 6-8pm. Sometimes I am able to calm him down with tools I have learned, other times (like Monday night) I am not. On the days where I am not, I find that sometimes I need a time out for a couple of minutes to calm myself down and that is ok! In fact removing myself from the situation is probably the healthies thing to do. Babies just get moe upset when they know that we are upset. It also removes the danger of parents loosing their cool. Some tools I have learn to calm Ryley down during his fussy times:

• -Music: I put on some soothing music right by his ear


• -Rocking: I rock him from left to right


• -Bounce: I bounce him up and down


• -Dance: I dance with him, usually the waltz to some music


• -Baby wearing: I put him in my Moby wrap and sway back and forth


• -Sway: While holding him, I sway back and forth


• -Singing: I sing to him soothing songs


• -Swaddle: I swaddle him in a blanket


• -Warm bath: Lastly I give him a warm bath. (worked monday)


• -Call some to help calm you down.


• -Ask a friend or family member to come over to give yourself a break.

Finding Time to Exercise

So we all know that being a parent is a full time job, so when do we find time for ourselves, especially time to exercise and eat healthy.? With a little planning and flexibility, there is time in the day to eat healthy and exercise.


Do you remember as a child you used to play tag for what felt like hours? Or playing hide 'n go seek? Or playing on the playground till our parents dragged us off? At the time we didn't know that all that play was the best form of exercise or activity. At what point did exercise turn into something that has to be done in a gym or on a treadmill? Activity is what I like to call it! There are days where I am able to get on my stationary bike for 50 minutes and there are days where I only am able to walk the dogs. Both in my eyes are activity.


Who says that activity has to be in the form of 30 minutes at one time 5-6 days a week? I break up my activity throughout the day. I am able to get in a 15 minute workout (either walking or resistant band) during my morning break and then another 15 minute walk during my lunch. So before I get home from work I have 30 minutes of activity. This isn't the heart wrenching activiy, but it is getting myself moving instead of sitting on my butt.


Here are some suggestions of how to find time to exercise:

Don't be married to getting it all at once. If you can only do 15 minutes at a time it is better than nothing.

Get involved with your children. Have a hoola hop contest to see who can do it the longest. Play tag with them. Throw the baseball around with them.

Go for a walk/run. Instead of driving to the park, walk. Take your children with you and try to pick out different things while on your walk.

Put some music on and dance around the house.

Put music on and clean your house....make it a game with your children by seeing who can pick up their toys the fastest. The music will help motivate you to move more and get your heart rate up.


I know that somedays I will be able to get on my bike and do 45+ minutes, but that isn't everyday. For the days that I am not able, I make sure that I get activity in little spurts throughout the day.

Learning to be Flexible

As an adult I have an understanding of myself and what I can and can not do. Part of that understanding is knowing that I am not a very flexible person. I am a type A personality and like to have everything fit into a nice little box. I have had to learn in my adult life that life doesn't always fit in a nice little box and you actually need to be flexible and sometimes just go with the flow of life.



I knew that having children my demand for being flexible will increase tremendously, what I didn't realize that I would be put to the test almost everyday of my life. Before I started back to work, I had a perfect plan made out where Ryley would nap from around 12:00 to 4:00pm everyday, allowing me an hour to two hours when I get home to prepare for the next day, prepare dinner and workout. Well, I have been back to work for almost 2 weeks and Ryley has slept till 4pm only once. Normally he is awake right after I get home. So my perfect little plan doesn't really work if he is awake. I have now learned that I can plan all I want, and sometimes my plan make take form, but for the most part I need to be flexible .

I think, for me, I will always have a plan, but I am learning that it is ok if things don't go the way that I plan.