Doctor Recommended Health and Safety Products

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Owlet Baby Monitor (device monitor): What every parent wants is a good night's sleep! Hands down my favorite baby product, an absolute MUST HAVE! The Owlet Baby Monitor tracks your baby's blood oxygen level and heart rate, then notifies you if they go out of range. This means you no longer have to wake up every 30 minutes to check on your sleeping baby, let Owlet keep watch so you can get much needed sleep. (Owlet disclaimer)

LINK  (Read More)

What the Application looks like

The new updated sock on my almost 2 yr old

The original sock that Luke wore as a newborn

InstaTemp: What parent wouldn't love to take their child's temperature without touching them! That means not waking your sick little one whom you just spent hours rocking to sleep, and no more wrestling with your toddler to get the ear thermometer in place. It is also more hygienic because you don't touch their skin when taking their temperature, so no more spreading germs between your family members.
LINK

Lollipop Smart Baby Camera (video monitor): Tired of baby monitors where your baby looks like an abominable snowman? Of course, that is assuming you can even see your baby at all in the impenetrable darkness of their room. The Lollipop Baby Monitor is incredible, with nighttime picture quality that rivals the daytime! It's phenomenal! Plus you can set it to send noise and motion alerts directly to your cell phone. With the ability to mount it on the crip, wall,or even prop it on a dresser; your options are endless to get the perfect view into baby's crib. Plus, you have the option to add an environmental sensor that monitors air quality, temperature, humidity, and noise level!
LINK

Wall mounted

What alerts look like on your phone

The incredible view at night

The Application view

Hatch Baby Grow: (scale)

As someone with minimal space, I love products that serve multiple purposes. A scale within a changing table is the perfect combination. Sleek, easy to clean, and invaluable for any parent. Worrying whether your baby is eating enough and growing properly is a universal problem in parenting, Hatch Baby Grow solves it and more. Allowing for the streamlined tracking of feeding, diapers, and weight all in one place! No nursery is complete without the Hatch Baby Grow.

LINK

The Application with all it's options

Hatch Baby Rest (Nightlight/sound machine)

As mentioned before, Hatch Baby is the expert of quality products that serve a variety of purposes. The Hatch Baby Rest is a versatile night light, with the option to change colors and intensity. It is a sound machine offering everything from white noise, and environmental sounds, to lullabies. Than finally, it is programable to aid in sleep and schedule training. For example you can set it to be blue with rain sounds at bath time, yellow with a lullaby at bedtime, and green when they can get up for the day; this creates visual and audio cues to help your child transition for bedtime. It comes in white with many additional colors and patterns available to accessorize. The Rest is a nightlight sound machine that will carry you from newborn through grade school, ensuring good sleeping habits.

LINK

The Application is incredibly customizable

Hearing Protection: All of these are excellent options, each with their own benefits and drawbacks. 

- Ems (LINK)- Two styles, one for infants and one for toddlers/children.

        The infant version has two ear pieces attached by an elastic band. Ideal for distributing the compressive force across a delicate skull. Stays on well. Easy to use for young babies, becomes more challenging once they reach toddlerhood.

        The toddler/child version is headphone style. Moderate compressive force, although it can be stretched out by hand.

- Baby Banz (LINK)- Headphone style hearing protection. Not too stiff or compressive. Very easy to use.

- Smuffs (LINK)- These have the most unique design, made of a soft headband with hearing protection secured within. This one has the lowest profile and therefore was the only hearing protection he could wear while sleeping on my chest in his baby carrier. Being a toddler who pulls all hats etc off his head, this was also the only hearing protection that I could get him to keep on. 

Frida Baby: One of my all time favorite brand of products designed to solve common ailments of children. Rarely does a day go by that I don't recommend at least one of their ingenious products.

LINK

Nose Frida- Whether you are on your first or fifth child, every parent knows the struggle of caring for a baby with a cold. This is especially crucial for young infants under 4 months of age because they struggle to breath through their mouth when their nose is congested. 

Medi Frida- Giving babies medication is stressful, but it doesn't have to be. Frida Baby has combined the traditional medication syringe with a pacifier that allows you to easily administer medication along baby's cheek while they contently suck the pacifier. By administering the medication this way you bypass tastebuds and decrease gaging and spitting.

OogieBear

If you have ever tried to get a crusty or gooey bugger from your child's nose, you know how difficult it is to do without accidentally scratching them. Cleverly designed with a loop to grab sticky and a scoop for the crusty stuff, Oogiebear is the perfect size to help clean your child's nose and ears without risk of scratching them or going too deep. Plus it is latex, PVC, and BPA free!
LINK

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Returning to work: Easing the transition

After my son was born I had the privilege of spending the first 4 months of his life home with him before returning to work. As I re-entered the work force I experienced great anxiety over being separated from my son. Would he take a bottle? Would he cry the entire time we were separated? Would I be able to pump enough? Would it ruin our breastfeeding relationship? He was so little, I wanted nothing more then to just cuddle and nurse him all day! Unfortunately, that was not a financial option for my family. So I searched for products that would ease the transition and would like to share them with you.

Breast pump bag:

As a pumping mother you feel a little like a dairy cow, so anything that brings style and fashion into life again is greatly appreciated! When I first returned to work I toted 4 separate bags with me: my work bag, pump bag, lunch bag and cooler. I felt like a crazy bag lady walking into my medical clinic. Now with the help of a stylish pump bag I only take 2 bags: my lunch bag and my pump bag/work bag that has special compartments for a breast pump and ice packs to cool my milk. Having everything in one place is wonderfully convenient and helps me get out of the house faster, a huge help when you are trying to get to work on time (especially with a new baby).

The brand I used has since gone out of business, however Sarah Wells  makes several lovely options.

SarahWellsBags.com

Lansinoh Breast Pump:

Pumping is difficult, frustrating, and at times painful. It feels un-natural and can be inconvenient so anything that makes pumping easier is a huge bonus. After trying three different pumps I finally found one that easily stimulated my milk let-down with minimal trauma to breast tissue and maximal milk collection. The Lansinoh Smartpump Double Electric Breast Pump has a specially designed let-down phase that automatically starts at the beginning of any new pumping session. Just like your baby takes frequent quick suckles, the pump provides quick gentle suction. Once the let-down phase ends it automatically transitions into pumping phase. With three different phase options and easily adjusted suction strength, it is easy to find the best balance for your body. Plus, all the information is stored in your phone to easily access anytime you need. 

Shop.Lansinoh.com

Freebie:

Pump with your shirt on! When you must pump at work, privacy can be a struggle. Freemie was designed by an Emergency Room physician whom struggled to pump while working. As a physician she couldn’t stop attending to her patients and lock herself in a private room. Freemie is discrete, fitting inside your bra, and hands free! It is so freeing to be able to continue your work flow while attending providing nutrition to your child. I no longer feel rushed to complete my pumping session in the short 15 minute break, that means I am less stressed which translates into improved milk production! Plus, you have the options to buy either the entire pump system or just the Freemie cups to work with your current breast pump. Freemie is truly innovative in the pumping world!

Freemie.com

Lactation Boosters:

Unfortunately, pumping does not stimulate milk production as well as nursing your baby does. This is because baby's mouth is able to compress and suction while the pump is only able to provide suction. Therefore some people notice a decrease in milk production upon returning to work. The number one lactation booster is maintaining hydration because if you are dehydrated, you won't be able to produce milk. Some people, myself included find that you can boost both your milk supply and the fat content in your milk supply by consuming galactagogues. Examples of galactagogues are oats, and brewer's yeast. The struggle I had was finding reasonably priced treats that also taste good. But after much searching, and sampling, I am excited to share my favorite brand with you. Milky Mama! A local brand that was created by a registered nurse, Milky Mama's treats are fantastic! With options that include lemonade, smoothies, brownies, and several varieties of cookies. All recipients avoid use of Fenugreek because it has been linked to gas problems in babies, breathing difficulties in women with asthma, and can cause a decrease in milk supply. 

Milky-mama.com

Traveling with Children : It's a breeze with the correct tools

While the idea of traveling with children is intimidating and scary, there is usually nothing to be afraid of. Babies enjoy adventure and new experiences, so take a deep breath and try to keep a sense of humor about any speed bumps along the way. Remember the calmer you are, the smoother your trip will go!

For Christmas last year we travelled to Georgia from California, which meant two 3 hour plane flights each way for our 10 month old son. We were terrified because Luke was an explorer and always wanted to crawl. He was also starting to have tantrums when he didn't get what he wanted, we packed enough earplugs for the whole plane! In the end, we didn't need any, Luke did wonderfully and slept through almost every flight! 

Age wise, babies that don't crawl or walk yet are easier to travel with because they are use to sitting. Older children will require more distractions and toys to keep them in their chairs. 

Here are some items that helped make our trip a breeze:

Stroller: Joovy Groove Ultralight

When we planned our trip to Georgia, I immediately knew we MUST take a stroller with us, but I also knew dragging our full size across the country was not going to be fun. So my search began for a nice compact umbrella stroller with some form of Sun cover for my fair little guy and adequate storage space. That is when I found Joovy! The Joovy Groove Ultralight is exactly that, and only 15.7 lbs! Complete with a basket underneath for generous storage and a HUGE canopy over the top! So nice! The Joove Groove Ultralight 2017 is amazing and can be used with newborns!

Joovy.com

Baby carrier: Lillebaby Complete

The ONLY way to survive traveling by airplane with a baby is to have a comfortable baby carrier. For extended baby wearing my Lillie baby was the PERFECT option. It has lumbar support and a large supportive waist belt that function together to reduce pressure points while helping to maintain proper body posture. 

Luke actually remained in his baby carrier the entirety of every flight we took. He would nurse on take off and then swiftly fall asleep to the rumble of the engine and vibration of turbulence. 

Lillebaby.com

Snack/wet bags: Itty Ritzy bags

Whether flying across country or making a quick trip to the park my Itzy Ritzy bags are always close at hand. They are the perfect size for packing snacks to keep baby entertained or packaging liquids for your flight that might leak. We also brought along the larger size wet bag in case we needed a place to stash soiled clothing!

ItzyRitzy.com

Sinkboss: A sanitary way to clean

Bottles, breast pumps, sippy cups, pacifiers, and teethers all require regular cleaning in order to maintain sanitary conditions. However, when traveling it can be difficult, if not impossible because research has shown sinks in hotels etc often contains dangerous bacteria. 

This danger lead to the CDC setting recommendations on how to obtain the most settle environment: 

1. Place all items in a clean basin or container used only to clean infant feeding items. Do not wash directly in the sink because it may contain germs that could contaminate these items.

 2. Fill wash basin with hot water and add soap. 

Sinkboss has a central silicone colander that creates a physical barrier between the contaminated sink and the baby items being washed preventing bacteria transfer. Additionally, there are two adjacent sanitary platforms perfect for drying everything once it has been washed. Then, Sinkboss has a hook  system which allows it to be hung out of the way while the items are drying. 

www.sinkboss.com

Some of my other travel favorites:
- Ju-Ju-Be bags LINK
- Lillebaby complete carrier LINK
- Owlet Baby monitor LINK
- Itzy Ritzy Bags LINK
- Toys: Kleynimals LINK, LouLouLollipop LINK, and Otherware LINK
- Diapers: Bambo Nature LINK

Recommended Baby Feeding Gear

Introducing solid foods into baby's diet is a fun and exciting time, but it can also be a time filled with questions and confusion. Having the right tools will make that transition infinitely easier. So below I am going to discuss the products that have made this transition much easier. 

Spoons- 

BEABA First Stage Silicone Spoons:

These spoons are perfect for babies delicate mouths when you first start your feeding journey and durable enough to withstand a teething infant's chompers. Available at an economical price I keep a couple spoons in our diaper bag for meals away from home and with the babysitter. I absolutely love them!
BeabaUSA.com

Kleynimals Stainless Steel Silverware:

Made of food grade stainless steel the set comes with 3 pieces. Feeding spoon for a young baby, spoon and fork for toddler. Now that my son is a year old he loves feeding himself with the toddler fork. Well made with incredible detail, this set is a favorite in my house and is one I plan to use for generations to come!
Kleynimals.com

NumNum (self feeding):

Made with a unique groove in the middle, comes in a set of two for different consistency puréed foods. These are great for helping your baby learn the basic steps of dipping their spoon and feeding themselves.
https://numnumbaby.us

Dishes-

EZPZ (plates):

Toddler equals messy, but it does not have to mean plates and bowls strewn across the floor (by accident or intentionally). EZPZ's genius design of bowls and plates solves this age old dilemma-- keeping plates on the highchair or dining table where they belong. Additionally, made of a smooth silicone material they are easy to clean and can be stacked for quick serving.
EZPZfun.com

RePlay Recycle:

Beautiful plates available in a wide selection of colors RePlay Recycle products are made from repurposed milk jugs, so buying their products is also great for the environment. I love how lightweight the pieces are while still being thick and impressively durable. As referenced above my son is one to throw his dishes on the floor when he is done, these stay looking as good as new!
Re-play.com

High chairs-

With Luke being my first baby this was the first time I have had extensive experience with different highchair brands and let me tell you-- a good one makes a huge difference!

Baby Bjorn:

We love this highchair for first foods onward. The compact footprint makes it easy to fold up and take with you (we had to bring it to several family member's homes for the holidays). While the sleek design easily fits into your decor without being obnoxious. With no textiles or fine crevasses, this highchair is quick to wipe clean after meals and the tray folds down so you never need to find a place to set it. The curved back and adjustable tray allow you to tailor fit the seat size and provide excellent support for even the earliest sitters.
BabyBjorn.com

Stokke Tripp Trapp:

Once baby has developed some sitting ability, this highchair is the perfect grow-with-me option. With the option to purchase add-on attachments which adapt the chair for infants, a child can comfortably use the Tripp Trapp all the way until adolescence and adulthood. Another great thing about the Tripp Trapp is that it can be used as-it-comes, without a tray and pulled up to the table, or you can buy the optional tray.
Stokke.com

Baby food maker-

BEABA Babycook:

Have you ever walked down the baby food aisle and wondered why a tiny jar of of carrots costs more then the whole carrot? Or what exactly goes into those baby food jars? Well thanks to BEABA you can now steam, and purée your own baby foods in a single appliance. PLUS, with accessory options you can make small batch pasta, or rice! Easy to clean, and easy to use, the BEABA Babycook can be used long after the baby years for appetizers and dips for the whole family!
BeabaUSA.com

Bibs-

Make my Day: 

These are the ONLY bibs that Luke doesn't pull off. Made of a soft silicone with a molded trough to catch any food or liquids dropped during eating. Easily cleaned with a simple wipe, these bibs are a must have! They come in a variety of adorable colors and patterns, plus they roll up easily to slip into your diaper bag.
Make My Day LINK

BapronBaby: 

Perfect for mealtime, crafts, and any of the day's messy activities. BapronBaby makes toddler sized smocks that cover your child's clothing with beautiful patterns designs to compliment every wardrobe. Plus she even does custom designs as seen on Luke below!
BapronBaby Link