Blogging Baby Size Six: Products I can't live without

Truth about SPF

The difference between a 30 spf and 45 or anything higher is infitesimal. So, don't worry about finding the highest you can buy, anything above 30 is fine. As a matter of fact, the FDA is currently reviewing requiring all manufacturers to just put "30+" on anything that is above 30.

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When my daughter was first mastering drinking from a cup, Avent sippy cups were wonderful. They are the only ones I found that are truly spill-proof and don't have a valve that's constantly falling out. The only drawback is they're hard to clean. I had to use Q-tips to scrub the inside of the sipping part. But I'd rather do that than constantly mop up milk from the floor.

I don't know about the rest of y'all, but I'd like to see a post about products that new moms are led to believe they need, but really don't. I don't think I'm that gullible, but as a new mom I really got sucked into the advertising vortex. Case in point? I registered for and received a baby monitor. It was on the "must have" list in all the magazines, after all. I quickly realized how stupid that was. I live in a small 2-bedroom duplex. My infant's cries had absolutely no problem penetrating my paper thin walls. This list goes on: diaper genie (broke by month two; wrapping diapers in salvaged shopping bags works much better); changing table (my wiggle-worm of a child made it more of a hazard than a help by month five); fancy bedding (fer cryin' out loud, you can't use the comforter and the bumpers have to go by month six or seven! that leaves you with a high-priced fitted sheet and dust ruffle). I could go on...

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I think what type of home you live in affects the baby monitor. We have a split floor plan and more than one level to our house so I found my baby monitor a must have. I also have to disagree with the diaper genie comment. I love mine and am still using it with my second child. If used properly it functions wonderfully. Diaper odor penetrates the garbage bags. Everyone has a varying opinion on these and I think it just depends on the person.

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I still use the monitor and diaper genie, but I would love to see a post on the un-needed things we received/bought! I think it would be hilarious!

Stefania, thanks for this post. I'm definitely trying the Snack Traps!!!

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wow - i've got some things to check out from your list, stefania. one thing that i love to use everyday is for bathtime - a towel with a ribbon sewn into the top so the towel hangs from my neck and keeps me dry. at the end of the bath i just pick up quin or nol in the towel (nolan thinks it's hysterical) and it dries them off right away.

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I Love the IKEA plates, not to mention the matching bowls and cups. The cups are great when they are ready for "big kid" cups...still small enough to hold, and not to tall so that if they spill, not a huge mess. In regards to diaper changing...I agree with the shopping bag. We just used a regular trash can in the baby's room, and then gave up on that completely and threw it in the kitchen trash (which pretty much went out every day anyway). Now, we just throw them in whatever trash can is available...if we are upstairs, that bathroom trash gets it, downstairs, the kitchen trash gets it. Of course, with only one in diapers now, it isn't near as bad as when all three were in diapers.

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I have to say that I always like to have some white flour sack towels around. On hot days at the beach I used them as a head covering, as a bib, burp cloth, changing pad, and I can put together a little bundle of things like diapers or baby food and spoons and keep all tied up in my purse. They're good for clean up, playing peek a boo and a five pack costs about 4 dollars. Definately a great tool for me.

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I have an ongoing list of handy things that I give to new moms-to-be for their baby shower. I ignore the registries, and give those things, like in this article, that I never expected to be 'can't live without's' and ended up being just that. Here is a portion of that list:

Carabiners - not the heavy-duty climbing ones, but the little keychain ones you can find at Wal-mart. They're indespensible for keeping your keys where you can find them when you need them... fast.

Diaper bag that doesn't LOOK like a diaper bag - many dads don't like carrying bags with little teddy bears on them, so I give a tan messenger bag or a neutral-colored backpack. Mom's love that Dad's will carry them.

ZipLock baggies - make great in-a-pinch diaper pouches, AND they keep the nasty smells in if you have a diaper change without a garbage can (like on the road)

Lanisoh - ahhhhhh.......

Flannel Burp Cloths - useful not only as burp cloths, but as emergency changing pads, and when baby grows up, they're awesome dust rags!

I could go on for days, but these are the things I found most helpful.

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Ok, I know I'm going a little crazy here, but this is a great topic! I thought of two other things that come in very handy...

Those long, skinny, pinchy things. I have no idea what they're called, but you can get them at hardware stores. They're used for grabbing things when they fall into small spaces. There's a plunger-type handle, a 2-foot long flexible piece of metal, and at the other end is a claw. Push the plunger, and the claw opens up and grabs the object. I've rescued more toys, socks, and other small objects from under stoves, refrigerators, and inside dryer vents than I can count with one of these!

Appetizer Silverware from Crate and Barrel. In the quest to find small utensils for my son that didn't have those fat handles that he couldn't handle, my brother found appetizer silverware at Crate and Barrel. There is a fork, spoon, and a cheese knife that are perfectly child-sized. And the knife has no sharp edge, but will cut soft things, like eggs and noodles.

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That is so right about the carabiner...Once I had my baby for a few months, I remembered that I used to love mine and got another one. They're awesome. My siister has a Starbucks travel mnug on a caribener clip that I want to get. I also really like the idea of the grabby-thingy. I just found out my (other) sister was pregnant and I am definately going to remember this list.
Also, aside of th flour sack towels, I am in love with my LL Bean medium tote with long handles. Its roomy, goes over the shoulder well and it stands up on its own. It holds everything but the baby!

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