Monday Minimalist: Baby Registries - Diapers & Formula

This is the second in my Monday Minimalist series about registering for your Baby Shower gifts. Last week I went over the nursery. In today's post, we're going to cover all of the "must haves" of Diapers & Formula.

Formula

Oddly, this "list" had nothing... at all. No bottles, nipples, dishwasher accessories. There was no actual list. You just click through to the formula page. That said, there is a section under Infant Care for nursing/feeding, so this topic will be revisited later.

Diapers

This one doesn't have a specific list, either. It just clicks through to diapers (disposable and cloth) as well as subcategories that are already included under Diapering Accessories.

Diapering Accessories

• Baby Wipes - well yes, you'll need these! Unless, of course, you decide to use wash clothes you already have. Remember that you could request for cloth baby wipes on Etsy! They don't have to be disposable.
  
• Travel Wipes - This is more about packaging than content. I do have a travel wipe box that I keep in my diaper bag.
  
• Wipes Warmer - I definitely see this as a luxury item! I've wanted to own one a couple of times, but I never have had one. I always suspect that the wipes dry out faster anyway.
  
• Diaper Bags (small & large) - 2 of them, really? Well... I don't like the style of most diaper bags, but they do have a lot more variety than they did 20 years ago. I went with a freebie I got from the hospital (with formula in it). It is a backpack with one shoulder strap. I got it FREE and think it works just fine. So would any backpack or small duffel you have lying around. It just depends on how many pockets you need, I guess. Mine has few.
  
• Baby Changing Mat - As I have said before, I often changed diapers on the bed, the floor, the couch, etc. If I felt a need for a "changing mat," I simply used a waterproof lap pad. Kind of the same thing, aren't they? At least these are versatile!
  
• Disposable Changing Pads - why do we need more disposable stuff? The great thing about those lap pads? They're small and light. They fold up and fit into any bag with great convenience. And they're washable!
  
• Diaper Rash Cream - I'd recommend having some on hand. I'd be pretty picky about what you get, though. Research the options, check the ingredients. This is one item that is probably easier to purchase for yourself.
  
• Diaper pail - if you're using disposables, these are nice but totally a luxury item. The garbage can works just fine. If you're going with cloth (good for you!), then you'll want to decide whether you're going with a wet or dry pail method and then choose a pail for your situation.
  
• Diaper Pail Refills - that sounds like more disposable stuff to me! You get what you need, though. I think I'm going to use a 5 gallon bucket with no liner.
  

I hope you find this series useful when deciding what you need or want for your expanding family. I'm providing my own opinions on the items listed, but these are just what worked for me. I also hope you'll come back for more categories in the series.

The next category on the list is Safety.

What is your must have item for diapering?

Let me know if you have a Monday Minimalist post and I'll share it on my blog.

Click the icon to grab the button for your MM posts or for details on how to join the movement.

Sunday Surf: A Little Help from my Friends

As of last Sunday, we were still waiting for our son's arrival. I even said that while we had been saying he could come any time now - we were then changing our tune. Our doctor was off from December 25^th through December 30^th. So we wanted to put it off and preferably Spencer would arrive on the 30^th or 31^st.

Fast forward to Sunday night and we were headed to the hospital! So yes, this is probably first mention of it here, but Spencer arrived very early Monday morning! (I had posts scheduled to cover for this occasion.) I have already been released (read: kicked out), but Spencer is still in the NICU. Yes, I will post my birth story and photos soon! You can find some photos by following the first link...

Virtual Benefit for Momma Jorje

One of my parent friends (Joella from Fine and Fair) that I met while volunteering for Natural Parents Network posted this virtual benefit for our family. (She did ask for permission to use personal information and photographs.) I was moved to tears by the effort and especially the kind words of our mutual friends used in the post. And then... the response!

Joella posted links to our benefit on her own Facebook pages and on some community pages, asking people to share the link further. The link was shared, shared, and shared again! There were at least 30 shares on Facebook alone! Others even passed the information along on their blogs! I could not believe the response!

I had initially told Joella that we would not likely use gifted money for a hotel because I didn't know how long Spencer would be in the NICU and wanted to be cautious spending it too fast. I explained we'd likely use it for fuel. And then I actually lived the first night home without Spencer! And the money flowed in for support! My husband pressed me to check into hotels. I am able to miss far less time and much needed nursing sessions with Spencer thanks to Joella and so many others!

Anyway... WOW! You can click the link for some more details (and photos!).

Route Sixty-Sicks

Another dear friend from the Natural Parents Network team asked me if there was anything she could do to help me. I asked her for a very personal favor. Our daughters have a LOT in common and have recently become fast friends on Facebook. I asked her if she might be willing to take my daughter for a vacation at her place. I've hardly been home and feel awful about only seeing Tyler long enough to say goodnight. She has been awesome about the situation, but misses me when I'm gone.

Joni Rae (of Kitchen Witch) jumped at the opportunity to help in a way that only she could! She packed her kids up at 4 o'clock in the morning to come fetch Tyler for a vacation. Our daughters have been having a great time ever since!

There is no way I could have planned something special for Tyler for New Years Eve, so this way she gets to celebrate in a fun way, with a dear friend!

Click the link to read the very strange tale of Joni Rae coming to fetch Tyler.

Update: Virtual Benefit for Momma Jorje

Joella asked me for an update so she could write a post for her blog. I gave her some news... then I got MORE exciting news. I was on my way out the door to run some errands, so Joella got to share a lot of news with the world before we did.

You can see my favorite photo so far and a photo of Spencer's foot. You can also get the latest scoop, since I haven't written anything for my blog yet.

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Thank you for your support (be it comments, prayers, healing energy, happy thoughts, or cash money) at this rough time for us. I am amazed at the outpouring of support and the number of people that check in with me every day for Spencer's progress. He has a lot of people pulling for him! Thank you!

Free Play, Accidents, and... the Fridge?

NOTE: I wrote this article back in February 2011 to submit to another site. I never did finish it... until I was preparing for my babymoon!

My daughter certainly isn't short on toys. She even has enough that I rotate them out for her. However, I am all about free play with things that aren't considered toys. You know, real life stuff. There are some dangers there, though. For instance, what kinds of plastics do they use to make an oil funnel?

When we picked one up while shopping, Sasha loved playing with it in the basket. Once we got it home, it just made sense to let her have it for a couple days before using it (especially considering how lazy we are about the truck). Then she was walking with it and tripped. The small end of the funnel hit right in the center of her forehead. Ouch! Poor dear had a small circle on her forehead for a couple of days.

We haven't had any hospital visits from dangerous toys, but then we try to use common sense and we watch her more closely if it is something that isn't already "baby friendly."

One of Sasha's favorite places to play lately? The refrigerator! So what do you do if your kid wants to play with your groceries? Well, I've let her. It started with moving things to different shelves. Then she started just pulling stuff out and putting it on the floor. Still, I let her play in the fridge for a few minutes at a time. She enjoyed it and no harm done. Until I found a package of Laughing Cow Cheese and a container of cucumber sticks in a cabinet. Ew! So we still let her play in the fridge, but we have to keep a closer eye on her.

Sasha (1½yo) in the Fridge
February 2011

She seems more familiar with the fridge contents now, including what she can generally have. So now she asks us to open the door and gets out my Garlic & Herb cheese. She closes the door, then hands it to me. I get her a bite of cheese, hand it to her, seal the bag, hand it back, and open the fridge again. She puts the cheese back where she got it and closes the door again. It makes for a fun little game and encourages me to have more snacks readily available for her. (Have suggestions for me?)

This game has also now carried over a bit elsewhere. We kept our kitchen garbage can on top of a step stool... until she got tall enough to put toys into it anyway. Now the trash can is in the pantry. I can give her any garbage and ask her to throw it away. Once I open the Pantry door, she will throw it away and close the door.

I am not real sure what, exactly, she is learning through her free play choices, but I try to remember that most anything she does is teaching her something.

What strange things have become toys in your household?

Wordless Wednesday: Out with the Old

Burning my wedding dress...
worn twice - both marriages ended.
(different brides)

Click over to Natural Parents Network: Wordless Wednesday: Out with the Old for more photos on the topic and link up your own Wordless Wednesday post!

Nursing through Pregnancy - final weeks (36-37, so far)

36th week

I hate nursing. Really. Every time I nurse, I just keep thinking how much I want to tell someone how much I hate it. It isn't terribly uncomfortable. It isn't even that painful, most of the time (though sometimes it hurts enough to make me gasp). However, now that I know Spencer could arrive at any time... I find myself desperate for his arrival, when I'm nursing. I've pinned such high hopes on how his birth will change my nursing relationship(s). I truly hope my expectations aren't too high and leave me falling very far down.

Also, I now have random times (though generally I'm a bit cool, I think) when my nipples get really hard. It feels a tiny bit like let down... only not. Its painful. And weird.

37th week

I still hate nursing. Sasha has been slightly under the weather, so she has been nursing more. It seems like she wants to nurse at least once between waking and nap time every day. She has also gone back to biting down in her sleep, especially if I don't remove her during that perfect window of opportunity.

My belly has gotten so large that, if just supported by pillows, Sasha's chin rubs against my belly. Yet another annoying sensation. I just find nursing so very annoying in every way lately. That said, I did imagine nursing her while in labor. How insane would that be?!

To be continued...

Find the other posts in this series:

Nursing through Pregnancy - final weeks (39th week)

Nursing through Pregnancy - final weeks (38th week)

Nursing through Pregnancy - final weeks (36-37, so far)

Nursing through Pregnancy - 35 weeks

Nursing through Pregnancy - 29/30 weeks

Nursing through Pregnancy - 25 weeks

Nursing through Pregnancy - 20 weeks

Extended Breastfeeding, So Far! (posted pretty much the weekend I got pregnant!)

Monday Minimalist: Baby Registries - Nursery

Lots of babies are conceived in the Winter. About half of my babies were. Anyway, on that note (and because as I write this I'm expecting Spencer any time), this Monday Minimalist post series is about registering for your Baby Shower gifts.

You can register at just about any and every store using their website these days. It isn't quite as much fun as going shopping with a friend or family member, but it is certainly less exhausting!

During this pregnancy I registered at Walmart, Target, Babies R Us, Buy Buy Baby, plus one or two other stores. Some of those were by request (okay, at least one was).

Whether you register in person or choose to use the internet, every store offers you a list of things for which they think you should register. They wouldn't want you to be without, after all! In today's post, we're going to cover all of the "must haves" for the Nursery.

Furniture

• Crib (+ mattress) - do you plan to cosleep? You totally don't need a crib! You can get a toddler side rail instead.
  
• Cradle / Bassinet / Portable Crib - when we weren't in the bedroom, we literally put Sasha down on the floor on a blanket for naps. We did, however, also use a playpen on occasion. It has a bassinet insert as well as a changing "table" insert. Evaluate your home and your needs to decide if you really need these items.
  
• Dresser / Chest / Armoire - How many baby clothes do you have? I used a simple, cheap, 3-drawer plastic thingamabob. It costs $20. I'm still using it for Sasha's things and we even got one for Spencer's things recently. If you'd like a nice dresser, register for it. But if you don't get it - consider your options. Or could you make room in your own dresser for baby's things?
  
• Changing Table - Really? It seems silly to me now. I wanted one so bad when I had Sasha. My mother helped me find a good deal on Craigslist and even bought it for me! When it was upstairs, I hardly used it. I eventually figured out what a waste of money and space these things are. Most people I know wind up changing diapers sitting on the couch or using an ottoman or end of the bed. Many even use the floor. This is definitely a luxury (unnecessary) item.
  
• Glider / Rocker (+ Ottoman) - This is another item upon which I truly had my heart set. Again, my mother helped me find a good deal on Craigslist and helped me get it. I enjoyed it, but didn't use it a lot. Think about your space and how you plan to tend to your little one. This certainly need not be considered a necessity item.

Bedding

• Crib bedding set - This would be nice if you've gone all out with a themed nursery. I didn't even have a need for an extra room to be a nursery. (We hardly used the room at all!) Also, at least one state has outlawed crib bumpers! Also, if you are skipping the crib, this is more stuff you can skip as well.
  
• Waterproof mattress pads - no mattress, no need for mattress pads
  
• Waterproof lap pads - depending on your plans, these are so wonderful to have! If you're planning to use Elimination Communication, these are nearly a necessity.
  
• Receiving Blankets - alright, these are one of those things that can get a lot of use. They're even fairly versatile. We've used them to swaddle (I don't recommend swaddling, actually). We've used them to shade the carseat from the sun. Sasha has napped on them. I used them to fool Tyler into thinking I was still next to her when she would nurse down for a nap. They usually come in inexpensive sets and I'm sure one or two people will choose this gift if you include it.
  
• Heavier blankets - we wound up with 3 and we used all of them. We would have been fine with 2, but I do think they're nearly a necessity, depending on what time of year your little one is due to arrive. We still use the heavier blankets on Sasha's bed and for keeping her warm in the truck.

Room Decor

• Mobile - totally necessary, especially if you have nothing to which to attach it! However, if it is a tradition for you or something that you feel you would use or enjoy having, by all means include it on your registry.
  
• Changing Table pad (+ covers) - no need for this if you don't have a changing table, right? Those waterproof lap pads I mentioned before work great and can be left our OR packed into your diaper bag!
  
• Wall hangings / borders / decor / light switch plates - If you're renting your home, this may be a non-issue anyway. Since I realized we didn't need a separate nursery anyway, these sort of items would not have served me well. It just depends on how you're arranging your baby space in your home.
  
• Lamp / Rug / Hamper - Again, these depend on your individual needs. If you do have a separate room for the nursery, does it have a light fixture of its own? Many apartments in our area don't. Rugs seem like luxury items to me, though I love the play rugs with maps and things for later play. As for a hamper, we just shared our own.
  
• Closet Organizer - this would totally depend on your space. If you're dealing with a small amount of space, this could be a real necessity for you. We didn't / don't need one. Our plastic dressers are currently stacked in our closet.
  
• Trash can - do you really need a separate trash can for this room?
  

I hope you find this series useful when deciding what you need or want for your expanding family. I'm providing my own opinions on the items listed, but these are just what worked for me. I also hope you'll come back for more categories in the series.

The next category on the list is Diapers and Formula. That's right, formula is on the must haves list for some of these places! I do find it slightly amusing, maybe, that nursing / feeding falls under a completely different category: Infant Care. Isn't it ALL infant care of one sort or another?

Do you have an item in your nursery without which your life would truly be more difficult? What is your nursery must have?

Let me know if you have a Monday Minimalist post and I'll share it on my blog.

Click the icon to grab the button for your MM posts or for details on how to join the movement.

Sunday Surf: Happy Giftmas!

I considered skipping this week's Sunday Surf altogether, thinking no one will be online. But I'll be online, I'm sure! And I'm sure not everyone checks this out on Sunday anyway. Perhaps you're clicking around to unwind. And so...

Obstetric Lie #94: We Care About Your Birth Plan

I have been saving this one for months! I meant to include it with my own Birth Plan post, but forgot. I have been terribly unfocused lately. Anyway, there is some good information in here as far as what to expect from your birth plan.

Man Builds Fairy Tale Home for His Family – For Only £3,000

This one made me think of Monday Minimalist, but I don't think it is quite precisely minimalism. Still, this home is very cool and gorgeous! This guy is not an architect, either. He just figured out what he wanted and made it happen!

Mamatography 2012 – Are You Interested?

This looks like a fun challenge. Especially with a new baby in the house, I think it will be a perfect focus for my Wordless Wednesday posts in 2012. I will continue to participate in the Natural Parents Network WW as well, but will no longer match their themes once we get a week into the new year. (Much like the Mamatography founder, I'll take the extra days to get my photos together and posted.) Check out the challenge and see if you think it might be right up your alley as well!

The Care and Feeding of the Natural Male Penis

I love the amusing title of this article! It takes a very simple approach to the care of your son's intact penis, but offers some important warnings as well.

Why having fewer toys may bring more happiness to the family

This post could definitely fit for my Monday Minimalist series. However, it is SO perfect for the holiday, I wanted to share it right away! (And my Monday Minimalist post for tomorrow is already scheduled.)

I hope you had / are having a great holiday, whichever Winter holidays you chose to celebrate!