-
Tommee Tippee’s Perfect Prep machine makes the perfect bottle! {Giveaway!}
It’s 3am and I hear Asher waking up for a feed. My heart is saying yes, but my body says no as I try to rise out of bed to see to him. I mean, I had literally just closed my eyes. Need sleep… can’t function. I nudge Hubstopher… it’s a silent “tag you’re it” and he grunts as he tries to escape my plea for help. I decide to grab baby, prepare his bottle and kinda just, you know, deposit him into his father’s arms, as one does.
The boy is a giant. And I’m not just saying so because it sounds like a fun thing to say. He is heavy. Juggling him, his blanket and bottle, while not stepping on toys, as I creep towards the kitchen, is probably what ninja training is made of. Once I reach the kitchen, I switch on the kettle, trying to shush him and prepare the bottle at the same time. It takes forever. The shushing is now accompanied with a little dance, as I try to keep him quiet. If the other
monsterskids wake up my dream of getting some rest tonight will be just that – a dream. The water is finally boiled and I now have to figure out how I’m going to get it into the bottle, and get the bottle made AND cooled, without upsetting my hungry baby even more. I silently mouth a prayer, while wondering how much Hollywood would pay me for my life story since it pretty much feels as if I am living in a sitcom. Baby starts crying again. This time, it’s loud enough to wake the others up. Jonah cries. Karis cries. I cry. The end.Okay, okay, my evenings aren’t thaaat dramatic. Well, not all the time atleast. And especially not since we got our hands on the Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Perfect Prep machine. Now, I know what you’re thinking… it’s the same thing my mom said when she realised that we use a whole machine just to prepare our baby’s formula bottles: “Seriously Luchae, do you really need a machine for that?!”
And the answer is yes. The biggest, fattest yes!
The perfect bottle… every time!Because I combo feed my baby, I may not always have a readily prepared bottle on hand. I mean, sure you can prepare your formula bottles ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. But even then, it would probably need to be heated up, before baby would take it. Heating a formula bottle in the microwave is not advisable since it might heat unevenly, creating ‘hot spots’ that would burn baby’s mouth. So doing it the old school way is probably your safest bet. And yep. that takes time.
The Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Perfect Prep machine prepares the perfect bottle in under two minutes! And friends, I’m talking perfect temperature, correct amount of water, in under two minutes AND you can operate it using only one hand… which, in my opinion, is the biggest score!
Your bottle will be the correct temperature for your baby pretty much immediately! No wait time. No screaming children. No headaches.The Perfect Prep has a filter system that removes impurities from the water and it’s initial “hot shot” kills any bacteria that may be in the formula.
And, my favorite thing about it is that it’s so easy to use, I even have my teenager prepping bottles! This machine is great for when you’re leaving baby with a babysitter or a helper and you’re concerned that they may not prepare their bottles correctly. There is no way they can get it wrong! Perfect Prep gives you the extra peace of mind that comes from knowing your baby’s bottle will be perfect every time.
Win a Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Perfect Prep machine!We’re giving away a Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep dream machine to one lucky reader! To enter, simply follow the prompts below:
1. Find the specially marked post on Instagram and follow instruction to grab 1 entry.
2. Find the specially marked post on Facebook and follow instruction to grab 1 entry.
3. Comment below and let me know what you think of this amazing machine, to grab 1 entry.Giveaway open to SA residents only. Winner announced on 6 December and has 24 hours to claim prize.
This review and giveaway was done in collaboration with Tommee Tippee.
-
The four gift rule: why giving books is a must this Christmas! {Giveaway}
We all love a good Christmas gift (or two… or three) and, sure, we get a kick out of seeing our children’s eyes light up at the sight of a gazillion gifts under the tree. But, friends, the days of going on a spending spree to satiate my children’s need for a gazillion gifts is over.
I recently heard about the four gift rule and I love this concept so much! So basically, parents are pledging to give their kids just four presents this Christmas. AND (here’s the plot twist) they can’t all be toys. (Mind blown)
So, the rule is: Something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read.
This works for us because, seriously, they have a ton of toys sitting at the bottom of their bottomless pit of a toy box, that they do not play with. Why add to it?! Also, pajamas is on my list of things to buy anyways… giving it as a gift would be a double score.
Lastly, I freaking LOVE giving books as a gift! And if you’re going to give them a book, why not one written and published in South Africa?
Kenny the Kudu and Ozzie the OstrichWe were recently introduced to Kenny the Kudu and lovable Ozzie the Ostrich – both characters in the stunningly illustrated children’s books by Grahamstown native, Victoria Mallett.
Victoria shares that she and her business partner and illustrator, Riëtte Basson, are passionate advocates of instilling confidence and essential life skills in children. With captivating illustrations and clever rhyme, the duo are focused on sharing stories that help to raise happy, well-rounded kids who believe in themselves and have the confidence to pursue their dreams.
I mean, Victoria and Riëtte even took the decision to not sign with a top South African children’s publisher, choosing instead to pursue their passion project themselves, a 5 book animal series with powerful themes and messaging, and they haven’t looked back.
The story line in both books are rather entertaining (I read them to the kids and actually wanted to see what would happen next #momlife). The illustrations are really gorgeous… my kids were captivated! (Even 2 year old Jojo, who only stops moving when he’s asleep).The story lines:
Ozzie the Ostrich, an awkward ostrich with a gammy leg, struggles to fit in with his very intimidating peers. And then one day a chance meeting with a flock of flamboyant flamingos changes everything!Kenny the Kudu contends for a position as a Santa-sleigh-puller (why should only reindeer’s have the honor, anyways?) This book shares about the power of believing in and never giving up on your dreams.
Both books would make such great Christmas gifts. In fact, the Kenny the Kudu book is perfect to add to your Christmas Eve box!
They retail at R150 each and you can pick them up at one of the following stockists:Blume and Co – Cnr 9th Ave and Main Rd, Walmer, Port Elizabeth
Fogarty’s Book Shop – Walmer Park Shopping Centre, Port Elizabeth
Lighthaus – 23 Bowls Rd, Arcadia, East London
Noom – Rautenbach Road, Grahamstown
Nuts about books & toys – 3 Mare Street, Howick
Cape Mohair – 35 Kendal Road, Diep River
Cape Mohair – Monkeyland Road, The CraggsFor more information about the books, author & stockists visit: www.vbinkstudio.com or contact Victoria – victoria@vbinkstudio.com or 083 633 1486
Win a Kenny the Kudu and Ozzie the Ostrich book hamper!We’re giving away a cool Kenny the Kudu and Ozzie the Ostrich book hamper to one lucky ready! To enter, simply follow the prompts below:
1. Find the specially marked post on Instagram and follow instruction to grab 1 entry.
2. Find the specially marked post on Facebook and follow instruction to grab 1 entry.
3. Comment below and let me know which of these two characters your kid would love, to grab 1 entry.Giveaway open to SA residents only. Duplicate entries will not be counted. Winner announced on 6 December and has 24 hours to claim prize.
-
Combo-feeding helped me breastfeed longer
Few things in life are as deeply satisfying as seeing your baby’s content face after they’ve been fed and burped. I mean, that’s the ultimate goal, when they are that little… you know, to get them to a place of contentness (i.e. dry, fed and burped). We do this because, well, for starters it’s against the law to starve your child. But also, we do it because when your child is content and happy, you are at peace and can finally rest.
And so when I started on my breastfeeding journey with my newest munchky, Asher, I knew that something was up when I wasn’t feel this peace and rest even after he had happily dozed off post-burp. I wasn’t at peace because I was kinda bracing myself for his next feed. In fact, I secretly hoped and prayed that the kid would sleep for as long as possible, cringing every time I hear him cry because that would mean that I would need to feed him again. Yeah, no drama, it was that bad. I was ready to give up.
The truth is that the start of our breastfeeding journey was bumpy. I had just experienced my first C Section (unprepared) and when he first latched, I didn’t consider the fact that laying in a flat down position (because of C Section) would mean that he wasn’t latching properly. The intense nipple pain that followed for like, 5 weeks, is something that you would find in a Stephen King novel… horrific. I’m talking “Bride of Chucky” bad.
It was then, during those painful early days of breastfeeding that I introduced my baby to the bottle for the first time. I expressed milk using my beautiful Medela mini electric pump and the kid took to bottle like a flippen champ. (Thanks to the cleverness of the Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature bottle, soother and nipple shields. No lie, it’s genius!)My plan was to toggle between bottle and breast until my nipples were somewhat healed and then go back to exclusively breastfeeding. But guys, something else happened… my two littlest kids (who were 4 and 2 years old at the time) started acting up. They were missing their mama and couldn’t understand why this new guy was hogging all the attention. It’s kinda hard to snuggle with your other kids when you permanently have a baby attached to your person. My kiddies needed me, but I didn’t want to stop breastfeeding Ash (who was cluster feeding as if he was permanently starving). All these barriers kinda stole away from the joy of breastfeeding. It suddenly felt like a burden.
It was ’round about this time that I had to make the decision… give up the boob OR attempt to combo feed. I chatted to a few moms and discovered that combo-feeding was a thing and people have been doing it, successfully, for many years (apparently I live under a rock). I mean, it wasn’t a foreign concept.
And so our new routine was birthed. He now bottle feeds once or twice a day and the rest of his feeds are still with me.
Friends, I know, breastfeeding is beautiful and magical and all of that but combo feeding totally freed me up! (Also, my nipples are rather ecstatic.)
I no longer feel “trapped” (for lack of a better word) when it’s feeding time but I have other things to take care of. My baby is fed and happy… which means I’m calmer and at peace, able to care for the needs of ALL my kids. Oh and double score: Ash still gets his breast milk straight from the, uh, cow, majority of the time.
Mood: Feeling like a Unicorn Mom.
I’ve learnt that breastfeeding is not an all or nothing situation… I mean, I can still breastfeed my child AND give him a bottle (and formula nogals) now and then. Obviously the more breast milk baby gets, the better. And there are great perks to exclusively breastfeeding… it’s probably the most magical experiences on earth (besides for actually giving birth to your baby, and like, going to Disney Land and stuff like that). You can read more about the magic of breast milk in a post I wrote here.
But, hey, sometimes a mom’s gotta do what a mom’s gotta do to stay mentally and physically healthy enough to love and care for her kids without putting her sanity on the back burner. No regrets here, whatsoever.Also, I’m quite chuffed with my kid for being clever enough to take both boob and bottle without, you know, throwing his toys out of the cot (see what I did there). I mean, who can blame him… he has a Unicorn Mom.
If you want to know more about how to successfully combo feed, you can read these:
Baby Center
-
The pros and cons of having a big family
I sometimes wonder if I give off a false sense of “okayness”. I mean, I’m not sure if I accurately portray the fact that it’s flippen challenging to parent many (many) kids while maintaining your sanity, career and marriage all at the same time. I’m sure that having a big family (AND a blended family, nogals) may appear to be very Kardashian-esque… you know, all quirks and light-hearted bickering while eating salad in the kitchen at midnight. But having a large-ish family is not all TV sitcom moments and learning life lessons the quirky way.
So to prove a point (aka my kids are all napping and I have nothing to do because I’m boring), I thought to list the pros and cons of having a big family:
Pro – After giving birth many (many) times, you’re basically your own midwife and your babies practically “walk out”. I know, the visual is gross, but you get the gist. You kinda know what to do and you’re more aware of your body and what it is capable of, so birthing your third, fourth and fifth kid is less daunting.Con – After giving birth many (many) times, your body forgets what shape it was in, pre-babies. I don’t know what “alone” feels like anymore. It also takes a touch longer to “snap back” because you have additional lives to care for.
Pro – You become an expert memory maker because you have a few more people to make memories with. I mean, now that we’re more than 4 people everything is ‘next level’ and I can’t help but be a little bit (read: alot ALOT) extra, when planning special celebrations, or weekend activities.
Con – You become an expert memory maker and therefore you are permanently tired and broke. Consider the fact that you now have to feed many (many) faces and paying a 50 bucks entrance fee is suddenly not as affordable because there are six of you.
Pro – You permanently have little arms around your neck or little voices filling your head with entertaining stories or older kids bombarding you with their big ideas and dreams. And when you’re sitting at the supper table, enjoying the symphony of voices, as everyone tries to tell their story at the same time, you catch your husbands eye and share a “isn’t this moment absolutely perfect?!” grin. It feels good to belong to a grand group of various sized people who each have their own personality.
Con – You permanently have little arms around your neck… like, constantly. Like, my child is practically a limb I never knew I had. Also, their voices do not have a volume control or mute button. And yes, its wonderful to hear your older kids big dreams but seriously, they often aren’t that realistic and it takes all the patience in the world to not want to tell them to go read a book. You catch your husbands eye and give him a death stare while trying to say the words “take your children away from me!” without, you know, actually saying it because that would make you a terrible parent.
Pro – When it comes to marriage, adding many (many) kids to the package makes it somewhat sweeter. I mean, you have miniature versions of both of you running around being all cute. The two of you get to work towards the common goal of raising your kids to be decent and successful adults and you feel a sense of accomplishment at each prize giving and school concert.Con – When it comes to marriage, adding many (many) kids to the package sometimes means that you forget that your husband was your boyfriend a few years ago. He has since graduated to driver, dog poop pick upper, shop runner and the person who allowed the toddler to tear your tissues up into tiny pieces while he was watching a soccer game. It takes some effort to maintain the spark in your marriage when you’re both drained emotionally and physically. And no, attending yet another school concert does not qualify as a date. Put some effort in, would ya?!
Pro – Your family photos are lit. I mean, there are a whole bunch of you and you’re all wearing outfits in the same colour scheme, so it’s very much Brady Bunch vibes. People see your photos on Facebook and Instagram and comment to let you know how blessed you are and how inspiring your family is and that you guys are parenting goals etc. I mean, life couldn’t get any sweeter than that.
Con – Your family photos are lit. No, I mean, one of your kids actually set your photo album on fire, while you were trying to cook, bath the baby, help with homework and have a constructive conversation with your husband, all at the same time. Jokes aside though, people see your photos on Facebook and Instagram and comment to let you know how blessed and inspiring you are and you say thanks (with a smiley face emoticon and/or a ‘lol’) but deep down you KNOW that its merely a fluke and the work of the Lord that you’re all still in one piece because raising a large family is pretty intense!
Okay, okay, I must admit, I gosh-darn love my big family! Is it hectic? Uhh yes! But do I regret having many (many) children? Uhhh yes again! KIDDING! I love my kids… I can’t imagine having a quiet life and being able to actually sit on a couch without someone needing me.
So even though I joke around about it, I am so thankful for my many (many) children and I look forward to receiving many (many) returns on investment once they are able to buy me Mother’s Day gifts.
Disclaimer: Whatever family looks like to you, I’m sure it’s beautiful! I am simply sharing from my own personal experience – i.e. a large family, with many (many) kids.
-
Safe sleep for your baby
It’s 2am. I should be sleeping but I’m wide awake, my eyes fixed on my baby, who is sound asleep in his cot. I don’t want to a miss a thing! I mean, what if he stops breathing in the middle of the night?! What if the blanket isn’t as secure as I thought it was, and he ends up with a blankey over his face? What if he overheats? Is he warm enough? What if, what if, what if?!
Yep – I’ve been that psycho mom probably all four times, with each of my kids. I would check on them literally every half hour, and (here’s the “psycho mom” part) if they are sound asleep I would rouse them a bit just to make sure that they are still alive and breathing.
Have you been a psycho mom? Join me, friend! I have snacks. We can sit in a semi circle and sing kumbaya while staring at our sleeping babies, simultaneously.
Seriously though I am such a fiend when it comes to sleep safety. Not to be a bummer, but sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) aka cot death usually occurs during sleep, you guys. Although the exact cause of SIDS is unknown, factors that could come into play include baby overheating and accidental suffocation.
I was so excited when one of my fave brands, Tommee Tippee, introduced me to their sleep time products. From sleep bags to comforting toys and night lights, they’ve thought of it all you guys. I want to cry tears of joy! I probably did cry tears of joy. But let’s pretend that I am not still raging with post-birth hormones, shall we?
GrobagThe Grobag baby sleeping bag provides safer sleep and is a better alternative to loose sheets and bedding, in the crib. This product is recommended by The Lullaby Trust – the UK’s leading charity for safe sleep. Here’s why I love it: it keeps Ash warm, without overheating him (choose a grobag weight that will suite the temperature in your room for better sleep). According to a study done in the UK, 71% of babies slept for more than 6 hours at a time, when using the Grobag. It’s made of 100% cotton, is machine washable and the YKK zipper has a chin guard that prevents schaffing on baby’s skin.
These bags come in various weights, keeping baby at a safe sleep temperature. How flippen genius?! They include a nursery thermometer and what to wear guide.
Groegg2Okay, to be honest, when I first learnt of the Groegg2, I was like, “uhhh why would I need a fancy night light?!” And then I learnt that this “fancy night light” is actually a room thermometer and I was floored! You guys, the Groegg2 changes color, letting you know immediately when the temperature in the room has changed. Why is this helpful? Well, remember that you need your baby to be at a safe sleep temperature to, well, ensure safe sleep.
I mean, I too thought that piles of blankets and heat is just what a baby needs to thrive. But nope, studies have shown that high temperatures increase the risk of SIDS.
AND the amazing thing is that you can use your Groegg2 in conjunction with your Grobag, ensuring that baby is in the correct bag for the temperature of the room. I KNOW, RIGHT?! Somebody call Oprah! Also, I’m here for the color changing… hello lava lamp vibes!
Groegg Shell
You can personalise your Groegg2 and give it a bit of personality with this totally adorbs Groegg Shell. Choose between the Oona the Owl, Mikey the Monkey and Percy the Penguin egg shell companions. The shell simply fits on top of the Groegg2 and it gives your room thermometer/night light that little something extra, to make it even more of a cute feature in baby’s room.
GrolightAlso, while on that topic of “fancy night light”… you’d think that you won’t need a night light for your baby. And then you spend a whole night bumping into things, in a dark room, because your baby won’t fall asleep with the light on. (Based on a true story)
The Grolight is genius because it is attached to your light fitting. So yes, this means you can toggle between your normal overhead light or night-light, in one switch! I think it’s amazing because the night light glow then fills my entire room (and not just one little corner, ala traditional night lights). Also, I get to keep a (psycho mom) eye on my little one, without disturbing him with a bright overhead light. Win-win, really.
GrofriendsI was also impressed with the Tommee Tippee Grofriends… plush buddies that help your baby to sleep better by playing music and white noise when they wake up.
I mean, it’s practically a ninja, because your Grofriend can detect and activate when baby cries, soothing them back to sleep. The Grofriend sounds include a heartbeat, rainfall, white noise static and beautiful Brahms lullaby. What’s more, your Grofriend also lights up, acting as a gentle night light! The volume and light are both adjustable.
You can choose between the Ollie the Owl and Percy the Penguin characters (both equally adorable, in my opinion) and you can attach your new buddy to a car seat, crib or stroller thanks to the velcro fastening.
I must admit, I wish we had all these nifty gadgets and contraptions “back in the day” when Kyle was born. These are so helpful and help you to ensure that your child gets a SAFE, good night’s sleep. Also, I get to keep my “psycho mom” tendencies at a minimum. Kinda.Which of these Tommee Tippee Gro products are you keen to try out?
Disclaimer: This post was done in partnership with Tommee Tippee, but the opinions shared are my own.
-
Get sun smart with Oh-Lief’s organic sunscreen {Win!}
Guys, we love Summer! We are water babies and would do anything to be in the pool for, like, the whole month of December. I’m hoping that this love of swimming and sun-soaked pool days will rub off on my kids.
To kick start this communal – uh – love affair with Summer, I made sure to get my smallies some funky swimming gear and sun hats. I also knew that I had to stock up on sunscreen because sunburn is no joke. So I was quite keen to try out Oh-Lief’s new range of organic sunscreen.
I mean, this local family business has been around for more than 9 years. If you’re big on earth-friendly product, that boasts 100% natural, raw and organic ingredients, then you need to give Oh-Lief a try. (Plus #proudlysouthafrican – did I mention that yet?)
One of my favorite things about the Oh-Lief range of sunscreens is that it’s made using non-nano zinc oxide… which sounds like a bunch of clever words to say. But what this actually means is that the natural soft mineral sits on the skin and isn’t easily absorbed. So it acts like a real sun BLOCK, protecting your skin, without absorbing into your bloodstream. Super important, especially when you consider the fact that your tiny humans will be wearing this cream on their skin.
The Oh-Lief sun care range contains body sunscreen, face sunscreen and a face stick.
Oh-Lief Natural Body SunscreenThe body sunscreen is lightweight on the skin and is fragrance free. I like that it is SPF30 and water resistant… I mean, we plan to never be out of the water! It provides UVA and UVB protection (which means it a broad spectrum sunblock) and won’t irritate your skin, dry it out or clog your pores. This is perfect if your kid has sensitive skin.
Oh-Lief Natural Face Sunscreen
A special sunscreen for your face is a thing and yep, it’s so important, you guys. This one contains green Rooibos which is a powerful anti-oxidant that is apparently 200 times more effective than vitamin E. This means its super good at protecting the skin and it even repairs existing damage! You can wear it directly on your skin or under make-up.
Can you believe it took about two years for them to formulate this special sunscreen? They’ve put only the best stuff in here… including non-toxic ingredients such as beeswax, carrot, zinc oxide and pomegranate extracts.
Oh-Lief Natural Face Stick
And while we’re on that topic of the face, the Oh-Lief natural face stick is such a must have! The compact tube is perfect for your beach bag or handbag. The unique formula, containing beeswax and coconut oil is so beneficial for your skin and contains an SPF30.
Win with Oh-Lief and Mom Says!You can win the entire Oh-Lief baby range (including the entire sunscreen range) and R500 cash compliments of Mom Says. The prize is valued at a whopping R1479!
To enter, simply pop into your nearest Dischem and purchase any Oh-Lief product. Share a pic of your product on social media and tag @momsaysa and the hashtag #MomSaysOhLief. Competition closes 10 November at midnight. Opened to South Africans only.
Hot tip! You get a special 20% Oh-Lief products (all except the sun care range) if you shop at Dischem before 8 November!
(This competition is not endorsed or sponsored by Instagram or Facebook. Winner is chosen randomly by
MomSays.) -
A swallowed coin and a trip to the operating room
There are few things in life that challenge me the way that parenting does. I mean, if you think about it, you’re responsible for keeping a whole human being alive. Easier said than done, sometimes. Well, this is what I learnt on Friday night when I heard my 2 year old gagging.
Now, disclaimer: Thanks for saying my family is beautiful but here’s the (hard, ugly) truth about having three kids under the age of five… you often have to put one kid’s needs on hold, while you’re seeing to the other one. I mean, it’s not exactly ideal. So when the baby made the biggest poo of his life (you know, the type that goes practically everywhere), I had to leave Jo alone with Moana (thanks Disney) while I quickly changed baby. In those few minutes, my Jo managed to find a 10 cent coin (I mean, who even has coins these days?! I have NO IDEA where he got it from!) and he decided to find out what the coin tastes like.
And that’s when he accidentally swallowed it.
Even though I didn’t see him swallow anything, I know my child. The gagging and coughing totally freaked me out and I could immediately tell that something was wrong. He started crying and I noticed that he was drooling a lot and his chest was wheezing. Since I watch Grey’s Anatomy (I’m practically a doctor), I knew that the drooling and sudden wheezing could mean that something is lodged in his throat/airway. He also said that it’s eina, pointing to his throat.
We rushed him to the ER, where a very polite doctor looked at me as if I need to keep my drama in check, telling me TWICE that the kid has tonsillitis and that’s it. I mean, as the doctor pointed out, I didn’t exactly see the kid put a foreign object into his mouth. I had no proof. But at this point, I just knew.
Now, my friends, if I’ve learnt anything it’s that the spirit of God speaks to us – if we care to listen! And so, because of this, when I get a “feeling”… a surety… I trust that instinct. Needless to say, our facial expressions told the doctor that he can point out the kids tonsils to us as many times as he wants, but we still want an x-ray to prove that nothing is lodged in his throat.
A trip to the radiology department later and yup, a whole 10 cent coin was stuck in my baby’s esophagus. The feelings that ran through my body were a mix of: Ha! Take that doctor!/Oh my gosh I’m a terrible mother!/Thank you God, it didn’t constrict his breathing!
There is nothing that comes close to the feeling of sheer terror when you realise that you could lose your baby. And even though the doctor said that the coin is essentially in the “right” pipe (not blocking his airway), I needed it to be removed like PRONTO! The surgeon suggested a bronchoscopy procedure, where they put him to sleep and then use a device, inserted down his throat, to try to grab the foreign object. This could only be done the next day though, so he had to overnight at the hospital. It was quite an experience. I mean, a whole 18 hours with a foreign object stuck in your throat is not a fun time for a bouncy toddler. And, as a parent, not being able to do anything to relieve the pain and discomfort, well, that totally sucked.
I’m so thankful to say that the procedure (which took all of 20 minutes) was successful and our boy was back to his usual ball-of-energy self, as soon as the anesthetic wore off.
My biggest takeaway from this experience was the reminder that God’s hand is on my children’s lives. I mean, Jonah was a promise birthed in our hearts before we were married!
Did I feel guilty that I wasn’t around to prevent my two year old from sampling a shiny 10 cent coin? Uhhh, yeah. Honestly, you guys, I had to move away from the feelings of guilt and fear that threatened to consume me. It is overwhelming to realise that you can’t protect your child from everything. You aren’t able to be around them every second of their day. And even so, eventually they grow up to live their own lives and you have even less control over them then!
So this experience reminded me that all I can do is pray and partner with God. All I can do is trust that He will equip me to be the best parent I can be, and that the “still small voice” will continue to instruct and empower me to make the best decisions concerning my family.
So yeah, this parenting gig is quite a challenge. The hours are crazy and the pay is terrible. But the perks? Well, that makes it all worth it.
-
What you really need in your hospital bag
Now, given the fact that I’ve been pregnant thrice in under five years, I’m kinda immune to the over-catering of things, when it comes to preparing for my pending birth. I mean, call it what you want (efficiency, wisdom, “she has two small kids and no time”), I’ve just decided to not be extra this time around and it’s giving me life.
With that said, when I started packing my hospital bags the other day, I realised just how much nonsense I packed when I gave birth to my other
minionschildren. I mean, have you tried rummaging through a bag filled with stuff, while trying to care for your freshly squeezed out (haha) newborn? Let’s just say I learnt a hard lesson in keeping my bags light and filled with necessities.Anyways, needless to say, I’m keeping things easy this time around and I thought that maybe you guys would want to know about it. (How presumptuous of me). So here are my mommy and baby hospital bag check lists… please, hold the applause:
What you really need in your hospital bag (for mommy):
Practical pajamas (because calm down Sophia Loren).
Seriously though, chances are you’ll be messing on your pretty silky pj’s anyways, so keep it practical and if you’re choosing to breastfeed, opt for button down tops, for easy access. You usually labour in a hospital robe, so your PJ’s are for afterwards, just fyi.You definitely want to take along a comfy gown as well.
Maternity undies and pads
Bless the person who was like “you know what, these maternity pads cannot fit into our teeny tiny delicate undergarments, so I’m going to create underwear that is big enough to accomodate it AND make it disposable too because aint nobody got time to wash that.”Seriously though, stock up on disposable maternity undies (The Carriwell brand is top notch, but the Clicks brand also does the job and is much more affordable) and maternity pads. You would need more than one pack. Just saying.
Socks and slippers
You want to take along your favorite comfy pair of slippers (again, let’s not get too fancy) and for some reason, your feet always gets cold during labour (I don’t understand it, but I embrace it) so take along a pair just in case you’re a weirdo like I am.
Breastfeeding gear
Comfy cotton breastfeeding bras are a must, if you plan to breastfeed. I know you get the cool, semi-padded clip ones. That’s nice. But when you’re introduced to your newborn, while trying to navigate your new body sans child, from a hospital bed, the last thing you want to worry about is clipping your bra. I love these cotton crossover bras for those early days. Simply pull down, to feed your kid. Ta daaaah! (BTW you could probably pick these up at a fraction of the price, in sports shops)You also want to take along your breast pads and nipple cream (remember, I swear by Lansinoh! Yes, it’s safe for baby.)
A towel
Some hospitals will usually provide a towel, but if you like your own stuff, you would want to take your own towel along with you.Toiletries
Most hospital’s also provide hospital-grade soap, in their showers, for you to use. To be honest, with my previous births, I found myself opting to use that instead of the fancy body wash I brought along with me. (Mainly because I’m not standing in the shower, lathering myself up, ala TV Advert moment. It’s an “in and out” kinda vibe, when you know your baby is waiting for you).Oh and you definitely need to pack your own toothpaste and toothbrush, Harriet.
Things I don’t take with: shampoo and conditioner, lotions and potions (unless you really need it), bucket loads of make up (if you must, maybe just the bare necessities?)
Frivolities
I use the word “frivolties” but these are the (often forgotten) little things that kept me sane:
– A set of earphones (if you are wanting to watch TV)
– A cellphone charger AND a 2 point plug (tip of the day: your plug point could be at an awkward spot, so consider taking along a portable charger and extra cable as well, so that you can toggle between the two)
– A few hair bands and grips to pin that hair back
– A packet of tissues
– Chapstick is a must
– Extra snacks… so very important! I’m not even joking. I’m always SUPER hungry after giving birth. Remember: breastfeeding requires that you stock up on resources (food) since your body has to create milk.Going home outfit
Now, I know that we see something else when we watch The Bold and The Beautiful. Our friend, Brooke Forrester, is selling us lies, ladies. Your body does NOT bounce back to it’s original state a day or two post-birth. So I usually take along a comfy pair of maternity pants and tshirt along, for my going home trip. Also, one year I forgot my shoes and exited the hospital wearing slippers. Don’t be like me. Do the right thing. Shoes are important.Important documents
Did you know that you can register your baby’s birth at the hospital? No jokes! This definitely helps with not having to stand in those long Home Affair’s ques! So don’t forget to have you and hubby’s ID cards on hand.
What you really need in your hospital bag (for baby):My baby bag is usually a lot less involved, but it looks a little something like this:
3 little onesies and vests
A hat and socks
A receiving blanket and a warmer blanket
Newborn nappies (I like the Huggies brand because it accomodates the belly button area)
Wet wipes and a gentle bum cream
Surgical spirits and cotton buds
Top to toe baby wash
Baby towelI don’t take along any other baby toiletries because, honestly, I just don’t feel that they need it.
Most hospital’s provide you with a baby bag filled with goodies. I usually send that home with Hubstopher, because everything that I need is in my perfectly curated bag that I brought along with me. I’m not going to give myself a headache trying to juggle between a gazillion different bags.So that’s it you guys. How efficient am I? (Read: Tired)
What other necessities did you add to your hospital bags? Please pop me a comment below, to let me know if I’ve forgotten anything. -
My favorite baby brands (and they didn’t even pay me to say so)
So being a blogger and a mama, all at the same time, means that I often get to test and try out new products and services in a bid to, you know, let you guys know if the product/service is worth your while. When it comes to raising tiny human beings, I love checking out new things that can help to make my parenting journey easier/better. (Call me the Debora Patta of the baby world.)
BUT this is my fourth baby and I kinda know which products work (for me) by now. Also, I’m tired, you guys and I have the added pleasure of raising a 4 year old and a 2 year old as well. Time is not a luxury right now.
So I made the decision to not try anything new with our next baby, unless I’m not 100% convinced that the product I currently use is doing the job that I need it to do. (Or if I didn’t even know that you get a product that can do that! Like, if someone designed a machine that made me coffee and fed my child all at the same time, I’m totally not going to say no to that.)
So yes, when it comes to baby products, I have a bunch of favorites. They are pretty stock standard, and by that I mean that they are tried and trusted household faves! (I mean, I’m not going to win a Millennial Mom of the Year award for this.) But I’m here to be totally transparent, and in all honesty, these are the things you’ll find my Hubstopher searching the aisles for, when I send him on a frantic shopping expedition at 19:50 on a Sunday night.
These are the brands and products that I spend money on… the stuff that I reach for, no questions asked, without me needing to do Debora Patta styled research on them first. Can I share them with you? It’s a rhetorical question, Susan, I’m totally going to share my list with you. Here it is:
My favorite baby brands (and they didn’t even pay me to say so)
Bath time
When it comes to bath time, I have a whole series on this here blog, and I often try out new products on my other kids. But when it comes to my newborn I’m a little more fussy and I prefer to stick to what I know and love and that, without a doubt, has to be Johnson’s Baby! The Johnson’s Baby Newborn Top-To-Toe range was my go-to product when Jo was born. It made his (and my) skin so soft and I was inlove with the gorgeous scent. So I’m very keen on the new Johnson’s Baby Newborn Cotton Touch range. I mean, get this, the wash and lotion are made with real cotton, purposeful ingredients, and no parabens, phthalates or sulfates. And again, the scent: heavenly!
Disposable diapers
I’ve tried out a bunch of different disposable diapers over the past few years. Mind you, as my kids have grown, I’ve often opted for the cheaper options! (But that’s another blog post for another day). But when it comes to my newborn’s bum-bums, Huggies is my diaper of choice. You guys, I don’t know if I’m doing it wrong but the other big name in disposable diapers leaked a lot, when I tried it out on Kari and Jo. When we eventually transitioned to Huggies, we had a lot less leakages and we felt it to be a better fit. We also prefer the Huggies pull ups, compared to, well all the other pull ups. It’s a brand that just works for us. Oh and guys, the Huggies Gold New Baby diaper is designed to accommodate the umbilical chord and (get this) also has a special runny poo pocket at the back of the nappy, to help prevent little accidents.
Wet wipes
So you know the saying “wet wipes make the world go ’round”? Well, you probably don’t because I made it up, but that’s not my point. My point is that wet wipes make the world go ’round… AND a lot less stickier. If you take a stroll down the baby aisle in your local shopping center you’ll probably find a ton of wet wipes brands all promising to do the same thing. But, for price (because we go through the stuff like coffee at the office) and value, I’ve always preferred Cherubs. The value packs are really so cheap and I love that the newborn range has a clip-lid, is pH balanced and is alcohol and paraben free. Unlike other more cost-effective wet wipes, this wipe is still considerably thick and is soft enough to remove the make up from your face on a lazy night.
Bum creams
If you’re a mom and you don’t know about the wonder that is Sudocream, then come a little closer my sister, let me fill you in! This antiseptic healing cream soothes sore skin, treats nappy rash, eczema and acne. In fact, when Kari suffered from that terrible teething dribble that caused a rash on her chin and lower cheeks, good ol’ Sudocream (spread lightly) cleared it up after one application! When my baby’s bums are red, one application of Sudocream is enough to speed up healing. I keep a small tub of the stuff in my hand bag… it’s just that good! And don’t let the price scare you my friend. The beauty of it is that you’re not lathering it on… a thin layer of the cream is enough to immediately promote healing. I know!
Breast pumps
So we all know that Medela is like GOLD when you’re on that breastfeeding journey. Well, I’m just here to reiterate that yes, my Medela harmony manual and mini electric pumps are the only things that kept me sane when I had to pump in a locked bathroom stall the size of Harry Potter’s room under the stairs. Investing in a solid breast pump is a definite must if you plan to take this breastfeeding journey seriously. (BTW, did you know that you can actually hire one from Breastpumps and Beyond?) I doubt I would ever change my mind about the rewards of owning a Medela pump!
Nipple ointment
So, with the beautiful, wonderful miracle of breastfeeding, comes the toe-curling pain of cracked nipples. I mean, your nipps go through something similar to a World War, during those first few latches. My nipple ointment of choice has always been Lansinoh. I’ve often applied one pea sized dollop of Lansinoh to eina nipps and (I kid you not) felt immediate relief! That’s how good this stuff is. Also, I totally use it as a lip cream, for sore winter lips, as well. By the way the cream is 100% natural, with no additives, preservatives or parabens.
Baby feeding
As I’ve said over and over and over again (you know, like a 7de Laan Omnibus on a Sunday arvie) I’ve only ever used the Tommee Tippee brand on my kids. That’s because I choose to combine feed them (boob and bottle) and I’ve found that the Closer to Nature bottles are the best for this. The original extra wide teat is very “breast like”, which makes it easy for baby to latch on, as if he were breastfeeding. Tommee Tippee also has an excellent range of soothers, toddler safe cups and even tableware. It’s pretty much a one stop shop and I’m very much devoted to the brand and it’s products.So that’s my list of faves, and some of the stuff I’ll be stocking up on, while preparing for baby Williams to arrive. Do you have a list of faves? Share them in the comments section below!
Disclaimer: I’ve received press drops from a few if these AND other baby brands, in the past. But the ones mentioned in this article are the baby brands that I prefer when caring for my newborn. This post is not sponsored.
-
Most quirky and popular baby names 2019
So I’m giving birth, like, tomorrow(ish), and we still haven’t decided on a name for baby. I mean, okay, we don’t even know what baby’s gender is, but even if we did, choosing a name has become the internal struggle within my marriage. We each have our favorites and both of us are not willing to budge. I mean, it’s pretty fun being stubborn right now.
While Googling name options the other day, I remembered a blog post that I had written in 2017, when I was preggers with Jo. In the post, I listed the hottest and weirdest baby name ideas of that season and kinda explained how we ended up naming our Jonah.
So, to motivate
meus, I thought to put together a similar list, hoping that one of the names will kindle a flame in both of our hearts, that will burn eternal. (I mean, I sound like an 80’s pop track, so surely you can smell my desperation right now.)Check out 2018/9’s most quirky and popular baby names:
Keeping it Kardashian
Apparently pop-fanatics are thankful to Mama Kris for starting the K-name trend. Fans of the hit reality show are opting for names that begin with the letter K, when choosing a name for their newborns. I mean, I could totally see myself doing this if both Hubstopher and I’s names had the same first letter. It’s a cool family tradition/trend, me thinks. But I’m not planning to keep it Kardashian, if you know what I mean.
Zoning in on the Zen
Because of the growing trend of, you know, being “super spiritual” and “enlightened” and stuff, people are now choosing names related to Eastern spirituality, ancient mythology and even natural world practices. Names like Peace, Rainbow and Sky are top on the list. The more deeply spiritual have opted for names such as Zen, Jupiter and Freya. Hmm… Kumbaya my Lord, Kumbaya.
Animal names
So the animal name trend is fairly new, and definitely unusual, but it’s a thing, you guys. I mean, how wild (pun intended) would it be to name your kid Bear, Birdie, Wren, Hawk, Drake, Fox or Otter. I can so picture me doing this and then telling people that kids are “a bunch of animals!” *ba dum dish!* You could be ‘Mama Bear’ literally.
N is for Neutral
With the rise of the non-binary trend, we find that millennial’s are opting for a more gender-neutral, un-stereotypical name, when naming their kids. Pretty much anything can be a name now a days… Story, Royal and Justice are top of the list! I personally love the names Gray or Riley. Other (more normal sounding) non-binary names include Finley, Parker and Bailey.
Netflix and chill?
For the most part we’ve all been hooked on some or other series or sitcom. Well, some people take their binge-watching commitment to the next level, by naming their kids after their favorite series character. I kid you not, Khaleesi! Grey’s Anatomy fans love the names Arizona, Amelia, Bailey and Zola. Game of Throne’s fans are naming their kids Tyrion, Daenerys and Arya. Other faves includes Luke (Modern Family), Axl (The Middle), Cyrus (Scandal) and Penny (The Big Bang Theory).
Gaming and naming
Video game names have opened up a whole new dimension of name ideas. Fortnite fans are naming their kids Garrison, Fable, Maverick, Rogue and even Bunny! Another fave is Xayah (League of Legends) and Noctis (Final Fantasy). I mean, how cool would it be to walk into Comic Con and introduce yourself as Kratos (God of War) or Corvo (Dishonoured).
Three letter names
Give your kid a head start by keeping his name down to three letters! Yup, the minimalist three-letter name is fast on the rise, with parents opting for ‘short and sweet’ first names such as Ida, Kit, Liv and Hal. I mean, it would totally be awesome (and easy) to teach a “Rex” how to spell his name, right? How’s that for efficiency!
So there you have it folks, some of the quirky and cool baby name trends for 2019. Which are your favorites? To be honest, none of these have struck a chord with me. And friends, at this point, we’re probably going to end up calling our child “Baby” for the rest of his/her life! (Which is actually very retro-meets-Dirty-Dancing.)
So will you help a sister out? Please share some baby name suggestions in the comments section below.
