Mama's Favorite Baby Items 0-6 Months

I've been meaning to write a post about my favorite baby items for a while now, but I keep forgetting.  It's like I'm sleep-deprived or something... Several of my close friends and family members have asked for advice when starting their baby registries lately, so I figured I'd share with all of you what I've shared with them. Honestly, there's not right or wrong answer when it comes to baby gear. A lot of it depends on your baby, personal taste/preferences, storage space, and budget. And just when you think you've thought of everything and have it all purchased and arranged (and rearranged) in the exact right place, baby comes! Then you spend the next several weeks and months rearranging/exchanging/adjusting to do what feels right. That's ok, it's called motherhood! But, while it's fresh on my mind, after doing it for the second time, here's a list of my favorite baby registry items and must-haves (according to us!). Mind you some of these have changed and been added this go-around. Every baby is so different!

Has it really been 6 months?!

Has it really been almost 3 YEARS?!

1. Diapers: I like Huggies for newborn because of the umbilical cut out.  After that Pampers (less bulky and seem to fit better) except for the nighttime diapers, we use Huggies.





2.  Serta perfect dream crib mattress - good SIDS rating, reasonably priced. (Not sure if this exact one is made still, but this seems to be the newer version of it.) Be sure to have a couple extra crib sheets and mattress covers.  While you're at it, get a waterproof cover for your own bed. Even though baby shouldn't be sleeping in it for awhile, between the chance of your water breaking, breast milk leaking, and future kiddo accidents, it's worth it to protect your mattress.





3. Chicco keyfit 30 infant car seat - highest safety rating out there, lightweight, and also great price!  We got this travel system and I liked it so much, we got the double stroller version now.  Invest in or register an extra car seat base.  It's worth it to have one in each car!  I know so many people who have used this car seat and never heard a complaint.  A friend if mine even used it along with a BOB jogging stroller and an infant seat adapter instead of buying the travel system.

little Squishy ready to come home!

our Chicco double stroller (in Butler colors, of course)

Making Our Own Baby Food, Part Two!

As crazy as it seems, the time has come for our little Squishy to start trying some solid foods. Although the general recommendation is for baby to have breastmilk/formula exclusively for the first 6 months, it is considered "acceptible" to start purees between 4 and 6 months, as long as it doesn't take away from baby's liquid diet. Just like anything else, it's a personal decision that you should base solely on the individual child and when you feel they are ready.  For my girls, this time has come around 4-5 months. This time I'm writing all this down so I don't have to look it all up again the next time. (Here's my first post on homemade baby food from when Annalyn first started solid foods.)

Emma's first sweet potatoes...

Anna's first sweet potatoes

The way I see it, we are simply introducing foods, to get them used to it before it becomes a significant part of their diet.  In the beginning, I usually offer them about a tablespoon or so once a day.  After 4-5 days, we try a different food.  After we've introduced several foods (always waiting 4 days between new ones in order to rule out any food allergies), I start making combination dishes.  And then the real fun begins!

Unlike the typical rice cereal that our generation was always given at first, I like to start with something more fun.  Something with, well, FLAVOR! While it's absolutely fine to start with a rice or oatmeal cereal, I like to start with things like bananas, avocadoes, and sweet potatoes, then add in the single grain cereals (I actually don't make my own baby cereal - I like this brand). Maybe I'm just strange like that, but I want my girls' first food experience to have more flavor and texture than bland cereal. Perhaps that's also why my 2.5 year old loves curry, requests tiramisu by name, asks for hot sauce on her tacos, and will tell you her favorite type of olive is a kalamata. We are flavor junkies in our family and I suspect nothing less from our kiddos.

I especially like to start with bananas and avocadoes because they don't have to be cooked.  Simply mash with a fork, add a little water/breastmilk/formula to thin, and you're done! It doesn't get much easier than that, my friends. Unless I have a use for avocado that day, I usually slice it up and freeze it right away.  This seems to be the best way I've found to keep it from browning. Check out my method for freezing avocado and the handy dandy little tool I love. As for bananas, it's usually best to keep in the peel and cover the end with plastic wrap. Or just share with big sis!

Now on to the cooking part! As I've said before, you can do without a lot of baby gear/gadgets, but they sure make life easier! With Annalyn, I bought this baby food maker that steams and purees with the touch of a button. You just check it for desired consistency, add liquid if needed, and pour into ice cube trays to freeze. The next day, toss the cubes into a labeled and dated bag for easy freezer storage. Easy peasy! (Well, I'm officially using mom language. Can you tell I spend most of my time talking to a preschooler and a baby?) 


Sadly, I didn't get it dry enough after the last time I used it, because when I dug it out it had a mix of hard water buildup and what looked like mold (?) on in the inside of the water compartment.  <sigh>  Now, I'm trying to decide if I want to buy another and if so, the same model.  I whipped up a batch of sweet potato puree using the microwave and Magic Bullet, and while not hard, it just wasn't as simple as the one touch steam/blend.  This week, I made apples, pears, and butternut squash in the oven and again, used the Bullet to blend them, but I'm still torn.  Any suggestions? Any gadgets/baby food makers I simply can't live without? Here are a few of my other favorite gadgets for making baby food (and food in general):
1. Avocado slicer - saved me from cutting myself for the umpteenth time trying to get the pit out of the avocado.  Plus it makes the most beautiful, evenly spaces slices.  I just love it.
2. Melon baller - works great for balling melons, but also for coring fruit like apples and pears.
3. Small cutting boards - So great for small jobs when you don't want to get out and wash the big cutting board.  I have probably 3-4 of these so that one's always ready to go.
4. Ice cube trays with lids - these are an absolutely must for me. I have 4 that I rotate between. Once frozen, I pop the cubes out into labeled freezer bags.

5. Reusable pouches/smoothie cups - I promise I'll do a summary post about our experience with all the different types of reusable pouches as Emma gets to that stage. We've tried several, but I'm sure there are even some newer ones out there. (Anna's favorite was the Sucup. She still uses it for smoothies!)

Here's my general plan for introducing first foods to a 4-6 month old baby (waiting 4 days after each new addition before adding another food.  This helps rule out food allergies if baby were to have a reaction to something):

foods:  bananas, avocadoes, baby rice/oatmeal cereal, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, apples, pears.  Start by offering single foods until each has been introduced, then you can start giving combinations using foods she's already eaten.

timing:  start with giving a small amount at lunchtime (Emma usually naps from 10:30ish-12).  She really likes to eat when we eat and it's helped her figure out what to do with this crazy spoon thing we keep putting in her mouth.  As she's gotten the hang of it, we sometimes also give her a small amount while the rest of the family's eating dinner (we always push her highchair up to the table and give her teething toys so she's at least included).

how much:  In the beginning, offer about a tablespoon.  Gradually increase to a whole cube (1 oz, about 2 T.).  As baby gets bigger/older and starts eating more, can mix 2-3 cubes for each meal.

I don't know why, but this is one of my absolute favorite baby stages.  Maybe because I love food and I love sharing that with my girls. It's so much fun to see her face each time she tries something new, and watch as she acquires a taste for it over the next couple days. I'll be sure to update our progress, but for now, we are still introducing first foods in addition to breastfeeding. And it seems to be working for her - just look at those rolls!

Strawberry-Banana-Avocado Smoothie To Go!

In a previous post, I talked about how much we loved our latest baby/toddler food pouch/cup discovery, the Sucup.  It's perfectly sized, easy to use, spill-proof, and best of all, even travels well.  Annalyn loves that it fits in the cup holder of her car seat.  Mama loves that she can have a snack or breakfast on the go without risking her making a huge mess in the car.  It's true, we definitely love this cup!  Here's a recipe for a quick and easy toddler smoothie that's been a big hit with Peanut lately and fits perfectly into her Sucup. 

Strawberry-Banana-Avocado Smoothie To Go

Ingredients:  (or double this recipe and store half for later or the next day.  Add a little lemon juice to help prevent the fruit from browning.)

- 1/2 ripe banana

- 1/2 avocado
- 1/4 c. strawberry yogurt

- 1-2 T. milk to thin to desired consistency

Baby Product Review: Sucup Feeder

Here's a new innovative product recommended by one of my readers.  As you all know, I'm a complete sucker for gadgets, especially baby gadgets, so I was super curious.  After checking out the site (www.sucup.com),  I was so impressed and intrigued by this unique design that I couldn't resist ordering one just to see how it worked. 

The product is made in the UK and received a prestigious double gold award at the British Invention Show in 2012.  The Sucup comes in two different models - the Teeny-Weany for babies 4+ months just starting on solids, and the Toddler for babies 10+ months which is designed for lumpier foods and purees.  (Obviously I ordered the Toddler version for Annalyn since she's 19 months and been eating table food for awhile now.) The cost from the US was $16.37 and I received it within a week!

After ordering the product, I actually received a personal email from the inventor thanking me for my order and asking for my feedback.  Wow, talk about amazing customer service!  They even waived my postage charge since I was their first overseas order (though I'd imagine there will be more coming soon!).

At first look, the Sucup may seem a little intimidating because of all the parts, but it comes with great directions and is super easy to put together and use.  Here's my step by step directions on how to assemble the product:

Baby Product Review: Peanut's Favorite Smoothie Cup - Nuby Super StrawEasy Grip Cup

Nuby Super Straw Easy Grip Cup

First of all, I would love to tell you that I spend hours researching the perfect smoothie cup with a non-spill straw that's easy to hold, easy to use, and easy to clean.   But that just isn't the case with this one.  In fact, I didn't even buy it.  This cup was bought by my very own professional baby shopper (aka Grandma) and was convenienty waiting for Peanut in her cupboard last time we stopped through for a quick visit.  Annalyn was instantly drawn to it (what one-year-old doesn't love straws?) and so was I after watching her walk around the house without spilling a drop (minus the occasional mouthful she intentional dribbles down her chin to be ornery).   Shamelessly, we asked Grandma Cindy where she bought it (Target) and if we could have it!  Like any good grandma, she sent it home with us, saying she would just replace it next time she got to the store.  Ya just can't beat grandparents, am I right?

Baby Product Review: Sili Squeeze Food Pouches

Yet another reusable food pouch review!  What can possibly be different about this one?  Well... it actually has a spill proof spout similar to a sippy cup so baby can't squeeze goo all over the place (trust me, once they figure out they can, they will!).  Annalyn does great with the other pouches, but as of now, it has to be a group effort with Mama holding the pouch or she squeezes it everywhere then smears it all over herself and the highchair.  So, I decided that the Sili Squeeze might be worth a shot (especially in the car or on-the-go when it's harder to hold it the entire time).

Baby Product Review: Squooshi Reusable Food Pouches (& Mango-Carrot-Spinach-Applesauce)

After trying the Beaba Babypote and researching similar products available, I decided to give the Squooshi pouches a try.  They are similar to the disposable food pouches you can buy in the store, but have a zipper pouch on one end and cute animals on each side.  I ordered a 4-pack of the large (4.5 oz) meal size pouches, and they actually threw in a trial of the small (2.5 oz) snack size pouches.

this is the snack sized pouch

The pouches are easy to clean, easy to fill, and overall easy to use.  Annalyn has no problem squeezing them (but unfortunately she likes to watch herself do so, which can make for a mess... I really have to watch her while she eats these lately) and can easily get every last bit of puree out.  The zipper seal seems to be pretty strong and reliable, but I haven't pushed this too much (as in, see what happens if baby squeezes like crazy when the lid is on). 

washes easily with warm soapy water

I have, however, learned the importance of putting the lid on before filling the pouch.  Yes, I absolutely did that, and felt pretty embarrassed for making such a ridiculous mistake, but cooking/filling pouches is getting much harder now that Annalyn is mobile (and obsessed with the dogs' water dish).  To make things worse, not only did I let some drip through the spout, but my reaction was to quickly grab (and unfortunately squeeze) the pouch, sending more of it spewing out the zipper end... *sigh*  I then proceeded to remove the baby from the dog dish, wash her hands and set her down so I could start cleaning up the mess that covered my clothes, cabinets, counters, and floor.  Before I could even remove my puree-soaked sweatshirt, I looked down to find my daughter eating handfuls of it off the floor. *sigh*  There's a making mama moment for ya!  Of course, I did what every good mama would do... wipe her hand off, snap a pic, and quickly clean up everything in baby's arms reach!  

 

*fail*

Here's the recipe I  made that she seems to really like (from the pouch or off the floor!):

Mango-Carrot-Spinach-Applesauce

 

Ingredients:
- 1 c. mango, frozen or fresh
- 1 c. sliced carrots, frozen or fresh
- 1/4 c. water
- 1/2 c. packed spinach, frozen or fresh
- 1/2 c. no sugar added applesauce

Baby Product Review: Beaba Babypote - Reusable Food Pouch (Recipes included!)

Back when I bought all of my baby food making supplies, I came across this silicone reusable food pouch.  I didn't have a lot (well, any) experience with the disposable food pouches, but several friends had raved about how awesome they were for older babies and toddlers on the go, so I decided to give this reusable one a try.  Well, about a year later, we finally got to give it a shot! 

 

 

 

Countdown to Christmas: Gift Ideas for the Kitchen

One week 'til Christmas!  It's Christmas shopping crunch time! 

Depending on who you are shopping for, kitchen gifts are some of the best.  I say that cautiously because there are always those people who don't want something they need for Christmas, but rather something they want, and unlike this mama, kitchen gadgets don't always top that list.  Personally, I love getting kitchen items as gifts because I think about that person every time I use it.  My mixer reminds me of my parents and graduating from pharmacy school... my favorite salad tongs - Dan & Shawna and their trip to Costa Rica... my what-did-I-ever-do-without-this tiny egg beater - my mother-in-law and her awesome stocking stuffers... my pink silicone pancake turner - my lil sis... my new favorite blue dutch oven - my dear husband.  I could go on forever!  If you have a sentimental cook in your life, here are some great gift ideas for his/her kitchen.