I've been two baby related and one not particularly baby related, but definitely comes in handy with a new baby around.
Baby Timer
This is a great app for keeping track of feedings, diapers, sleep habits. It uses both the US and the Metric systems, has options for keeping track of which side baby nursed on last, when and how much you pumped, bottle feeding and solid food feedings. It also allows you to time these events. The diaper tracking allows for wet, poopy or both diapers and is especially great for breastfeeding moms who really need to keep track of diapers to make sure that baby is getting enough to eat. I don't really use the sleep option because I continually forget to start and end the naps, but if you were trying to recognize a pattern this would be a great feature. It also has a journal option. When we first came home from the hospital, I used it to track which times I took my medications - not always an easy thing when your sleep deprived. I also used it to keep track of Baby K's bili levels when we were battling jaundice. Today, I use it to keep track of her weights that I take using the baby scale, but it would be a great place to note questions you may have at doctor visits, take notes at doctor visits or to record milestones.
Pressing the stats feature allows you to view your baby's 24 hour day, and to get averages on changings, feedings and hours of sleep. This information can be exported to a spreadsheet and saved to a computer or printed out. You could even use the info to make graphs if you're nerdy like that.
I love, love, love this app and use it religiously every day. It completely saved me in the first few weeks when I was completely sleep deprived (I still am, but getting used to it) and could not remember which side I nursed on last. The app also allows for multiple children.
I originally bought the iBabyControl App, and didn't like that it went on a 24 hour day. Who wants to try and figure out what time 1500 hours is when you barely have time to brush your teeth or shower? Yes I know that this is 3pm, but I also didn't like the interface of this app as well as Baby Timer.
New Momma Jomma Rating: 5 stars
Child Immunization Record
Baby K has only had one immunization so far, but I love this app for how handy it will be in the future. It allows you to keep track of multiple children and lists the immunizations on a table, which allows you to simply click the immunization and enter the date it was given. If your baby requires custom vaccines, there is an option for tracking that and also for keeping track of height, weight, head circumference, temperature, glucose and BMI. You can also keep track of your child's drug, food and environmental allergies should they have any. Once you've gotten your info in, you can have it emailed to you. Such a handy way to keep track of your baby's medical information.
New Momma Jomma rating: 5 stars
White Noise
We've had this app forever and use it to sleep on airplanes and in hotel rooms. Both JZ and I are big into having a fan going at night for the noise, and this has prevented us from many sleepless nights while travelling. Now that we're parents, we use this app every single night.
The noise level in the womb is similar to that of a vacuum cleaner. New baby's tend to sleep better with white noise in the background. We would normally have an oscillating fan running because we like white noise while we sleep too, but with Baby K in our room we didn't feel comfortable having a cold breeze blowing on her. The white noise app has saved us and also helps Baby K sleep better. When she's restless and having trouble getting back to sleep at night after a feeding, I turn this on the oscillating fan option and put it near her and bam...she settles right back down. If you travel, or have a new baby in your life or on the way, download this app...you'll be so glad you did.
New Momma Jomma rating: 5 stars
Anyone have and iPhone apps for baby that they love?
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Zzzzzzz
Now that she's a little bigger, we don't use the swaddle feature anymore, she fights having her arms tied down and we find that she sleeps better and longer without swaddling her. If you're expecting or a new momma or daddy, add the Halo Sleep Sack in several sizes to your registry. You'll be glad you did.
New Momma Jomma rating: 5 stars
Monday, February 22, 2010
Milestones and Breastfeeding
My baby is getting so big! She was 6lbs 9oz at birth and at one month old, she's starting to grow out of some of her newborn sized clothes. She also took a bottle of breastmilk from her daddy for the first time this weekend. I'm trying not to feel sad about these milestones, and know that we're a long way off from putting her on the school bus to kindergarten, but man, it's tough. I am thrilled that she's thriving, especially since I'm breastfeeding and sometimes feel like I'm under a microscope when it comes to her weight gain etc. Both my husband and I were not breastfed and our parents are incredibly naive about the whole thing. I've been asked how I know she's getting enough. My mom looked directly at me and told me that she wished she could feed her when she had to hand Baby K over to be nursed. It's kind of a bummer when you don't feel supported, but I'm proud of my decision to breastfeed, and while I don't think it is wrong to bottle feed by any means, I know this is the best decision for our family. I NEVER thought I would enjoy nursing my child as much as I do. There is something so sweet about it and it makes me really proud of my body's capabilities.
Breastfeeding is hard work though and last week I missed pumping (I've been trying to get a good freezer supply going) for four days and when I went to pump, I got nothing. As a result, I began worrying that Baby K wasn't getting enough milk from me, that my supply was disappearing and that I was essentially starving my child. I ignored the fact that her hewborn onesies were getting too small, that I could hear her swallowing while at the breast and that she is exceeding the peeing and pooping guidelines. I know a lot of this stems from one of the pediatricians in our office giving me a hard time about Baby K's weight gain being off a half an ounce and also that she had a tough time latching on when she was first born resulting in the use of a nipple shield for the first few weeks (she's latching like an old pro now).
Baby K had a very stubborn case of jaundice. Side note: apparently breadfeeding can delay the leveling out of bilirubin levels. We were in the ped office every couple of days to have my poor daughter's heel poked and blood squeezed out. Can you tell that I am traumatized by having to go through that over ten times? Hate seeing my sweet little baby cry. Each time she was, of course, weighed. Our regular ped never had a problem with her weight gain, saying that it was right on track...but one time, we had to see a different doctor and Baby K was off a half an ounce from the ounce a day weight gain that is supposed to occur. So, instant questions, has my milk come in? (yes), how often am I feeding her? (at least every three hours) - all served to make this first time mom doubt her decision to breastfeed. Seriously, they preach and preach about how breast is best and then do things to make you feel like you're doing things wrong. It's a touchy topic and I think a lot of doctors would be well served to take some lactation support training.
Anyhoo, back to my rough week filled with doubts. I broke down in tears after a morning pumping session that resulted in maybe a quarter once and called a local breastfeeding support center. Gosh those lactation consultants are awesome. She said that your supply can change quickly and since I had missed pumping, my supply had probably adjusted to what my baby was taking. She told me to get back to pumping twice a day again and eventually my supply would adjust and I could stockpile once again. She was right, that day, I pumped and was indeed getting a couple of ounces once again!
Back to putting my mind at ease as far as Baby K's weight gain, I ended up buying a baby scale (yes I know it may not match up to the one at the doctor's office), but I wanted to have an idea of where we are for my peace of mind. Since we are in the heart of cold and flu season, I am not really into making unnecessary trips into the peds office - even with the well child waiting room, you still have to walk through where the sick kiddos are sitting to get back to the exam rooms. If you're breastfeeding and feeling a little worried about how your baby is gaining weight, for about $50, you can get a decent baby scale that will put your worried mind at ease. If nothing else, weighing your baby on your scale regularly will at least let you know that he or she is gaining weight at the pace they should be. Here is the scale I bought. Yes, it was from Amazon again! I really like it, it's pretty easy to use, but the Kg/Lbs mode was a little confusing because the digital display doesn't indicate which mode you're in. We ended up having to weigh a bottle of pasta sauce that indicated a weight in order to be sure we had it in the right mode.
So, what did I learn from the week that was? I learned to have more confidence in myself as a mother and in the decisions I make for my child. Now if only I could get my father-in-law to quit telling me how difficult raising a child can be amongst other annoying things, but that's a whole other topic ;).
Breastfeeding is hard work though and last week I missed pumping (I've been trying to get a good freezer supply going) for four days and when I went to pump, I got nothing. As a result, I began worrying that Baby K wasn't getting enough milk from me, that my supply was disappearing and that I was essentially starving my child. I ignored the fact that her hewborn onesies were getting too small, that I could hear her swallowing while at the breast and that she is exceeding the peeing and pooping guidelines. I know a lot of this stems from one of the pediatricians in our office giving me a hard time about Baby K's weight gain being off a half an ounce and also that she had a tough time latching on when she was first born resulting in the use of a nipple shield for the first few weeks (she's latching like an old pro now).
Baby K had a very stubborn case of jaundice. Side note: apparently breadfeeding can delay the leveling out of bilirubin levels. We were in the ped office every couple of days to have my poor daughter's heel poked and blood squeezed out. Can you tell that I am traumatized by having to go through that over ten times? Hate seeing my sweet little baby cry. Each time she was, of course, weighed. Our regular ped never had a problem with her weight gain, saying that it was right on track...but one time, we had to see a different doctor and Baby K was off a half an ounce from the ounce a day weight gain that is supposed to occur. So, instant questions, has my milk come in? (yes), how often am I feeding her? (at least every three hours) - all served to make this first time mom doubt her decision to breastfeed. Seriously, they preach and preach about how breast is best and then do things to make you feel like you're doing things wrong. It's a touchy topic and I think a lot of doctors would be well served to take some lactation support training.
Anyhoo, back to my rough week filled with doubts. I broke down in tears after a morning pumping session that resulted in maybe a quarter once and called a local breastfeeding support center. Gosh those lactation consultants are awesome. She said that your supply can change quickly and since I had missed pumping, my supply had probably adjusted to what my baby was taking. She told me to get back to pumping twice a day again and eventually my supply would adjust and I could stockpile once again. She was right, that day, I pumped and was indeed getting a couple of ounces once again!
Back to putting my mind at ease as far as Baby K's weight gain, I ended up buying a baby scale (yes I know it may not match up to the one at the doctor's office), but I wanted to have an idea of where we are for my peace of mind. Since we are in the heart of cold and flu season, I am not really into making unnecessary trips into the peds office - even with the well child waiting room, you still have to walk through where the sick kiddos are sitting to get back to the exam rooms. If you're breastfeeding and feeling a little worried about how your baby is gaining weight, for about $50, you can get a decent baby scale that will put your worried mind at ease. If nothing else, weighing your baby on your scale regularly will at least let you know that he or she is gaining weight at the pace they should be. Here is the scale I bought. Yes, it was from Amazon again! I really like it, it's pretty easy to use, but the Kg/Lbs mode was a little confusing because the digital display doesn't indicate which mode you're in. We ended up having to weigh a bottle of pasta sauce that indicated a weight in order to be sure we had it in the right mode.
So, what did I learn from the week that was? I learned to have more confidence in myself as a mother and in the decisions I make for my child. Now if only I could get my father-in-law to quit telling me how difficult raising a child can be amongst other annoying things, but that's a whole other topic ;).
Friday, February 19, 2010
Nipple Shields, Spit Up and Burp Cloths
Baby K didn't really spit up in her early days, but because she arrived at 37 weeks she had difficulty latching on so I was using a nipple shield. If you've ever had to use one, you know it makes for extra messy feedings. I found out pretty quickly that we had a burp cloth deficit in our house (and that breast milk stains). I needed to buy more or I was doomed to be scraping together loads of laundry every day so I could wash the few I had.
It's winter in MN, who wants to drag a newborn out into the snow and cold to buy burp cloths? Not me. So back to Amazon I went...seriously, it's starting to look like I have an Amazon problem! After a little searching, I decided to purchase three different kinds.
It must have been fate or maybe mother's intuition because right after they arrived on our doorp step, Baby K started spitting up after pretty much every feeding. The lactation consultant said she probably has a bit of reflux, again due to her near term birth and the fact that she is taking more milk now. We are going through 4-5 burp cloths every day. Add together burp cloths, the clothing changes for both us, plus the boppy cover changes (thank goodness we have an extra) and you have a new momma spending some extra time down in the kind of icky basement of the house we are renting while building our dream home, doing crazy amounts of laundry. No need to scrape together loads anymore, now I can't keep up. Umm...I will say that the elevated washer and dryer in our second floor laundry room in the new house will be so appreciated. I already warned JZ that he will likely catch me sitting on the floor in there crying tears of joy.
Where was I again? Oh yeah, burp cloths. On with the reviews....
Gerber Pre-fold Cloth Diapers
What you say? Cloth diapers are not just for diapering? No way! These pre-fold cloth diapers work fabulously. I sprung for the organic ones just because. They're soft, absorbent and relatively reasonably prices, especially if you don't buy the organic ones. Regardless of brand, cloth diapers are a great burp cloth option.
New Momma Jomma rating: 5 stars
Gerber Flannel Burp Cloths
These are more expensive than the cloth diapers, even the organic ones, and dare I say, the exact same thing. They are a bit stiff and not quite as soft. I won't buy more...the girly prints definitely not worth it.
New Momma Jomma rating: 3 stars
Under the Nile Cotton Burp Cloths
Ok - these guys are EXPENSIVE and honestly, they are maybe/kinda worth the money. They are huge, super soft and really absorbent. I feel extra good wiping the curds off of Baby K's sweet little face with these. I won't buy more because of the price, but these are almost always in the dirty laundry because I reach for them first. A nice little splurge for yourself and a wonderful, luxurious gift for an expecting or new mom.
New Momma Jomma rating: 4.5 stars - I'd rate them 5 stars if not for the price
It's winter in MN, who wants to drag a newborn out into the snow and cold to buy burp cloths? Not me. So back to Amazon I went...seriously, it's starting to look like I have an Amazon problem! After a little searching, I decided to purchase three different kinds.
It must have been fate or maybe mother's intuition because right after they arrived on our doorp step, Baby K started spitting up after pretty much every feeding. The lactation consultant said she probably has a bit of reflux, again due to her near term birth and the fact that she is taking more milk now. We are going through 4-5 burp cloths every day. Add together burp cloths, the clothing changes for both us, plus the boppy cover changes (thank goodness we have an extra) and you have a new momma spending some extra time down in the kind of icky basement of the house we are renting while building our dream home, doing crazy amounts of laundry. No need to scrape together loads anymore, now I can't keep up. Umm...I will say that the elevated washer and dryer in our second floor laundry room in the new house will be so appreciated. I already warned JZ that he will likely catch me sitting on the floor in there crying tears of joy.
Where was I again? Oh yeah, burp cloths. On with the reviews....
Gerber Pre-fold Cloth Diapers
What you say? Cloth diapers are not just for diapering? No way! These pre-fold cloth diapers work fabulously. I sprung for the organic ones just because. They're soft, absorbent and relatively reasonably prices, especially if you don't buy the organic ones. Regardless of brand, cloth diapers are a great burp cloth option.
New Momma Jomma rating: 5 stars
Gerber Flannel Burp Cloths
These are more expensive than the cloth diapers, even the organic ones, and dare I say, the exact same thing. They are a bit stiff and not quite as soft. I won't buy more...the girly prints definitely not worth it.
New Momma Jomma rating: 3 stars
Under the Nile Cotton Burp Cloths
Ok - these guys are EXPENSIVE and honestly, they are maybe/kinda worth the money. They are huge, super soft and really absorbent. I feel extra good wiping the curds off of Baby K's sweet little face with these. I won't buy more because of the price, but these are almost always in the dirty laundry because I reach for them first. A nice little splurge for yourself and a wonderful, luxurious gift for an expecting or new mom.
New Momma Jomma rating: 4.5 stars - I'd rate them 5 stars if not for the price
EZ Pasta
I'm in the new momma phase where the freezer meals that I made and that were dropped off have all been eaten. The time to grocery shop doesn't really exist and our fridge looks like a ghost town. I scraped together this delicious pasta dish with things that were in the fridge and pantry and it was delicious.
EZ's Empty Fridge Pasta
1 pkg proscuitto
2 cloves minced garlic - I used pre-minced so a couple of teaspoons)
1/2 pound of any type of pasta - I used Cavatappi
4 oz of cream cheese
1 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup or so of grated Parmesan cheese
Salt
1 tbsp of olive oil
Bring water for pasta to a boil, while waiting cut proscuitto slices in to strips and separate.
Once water is boiling, throw in a handful of salt and toss in the pasta - cook until al dente.
While pasta is cooking, heat up olive oil in saute pan with a cover and saute proscuitto slices and garlic for a few minutes. Add in the peas and cook another minute or so until they start to defrost. Add cream cheese, a pinch of salt and cover pan and cover for a couple of minutes until it starts to melt. Add a ladle or so of the pasta water, depending on how thick you want the sauce, to thin out the cream cheese. You may want to reserve another ladle of pasta water in case you want to thin out the sauce a bit more once you add the pasta in.
When pasta is al dente, drain and toss with the sauce and parmesan cheese and Enjoy!
A sprinkle of some fresh minced flat leaf parsley would be good as a garnish if you have some on hand - I didn't.
EZ's Empty Fridge Pasta
1 pkg proscuitto
2 cloves minced garlic - I used pre-minced so a couple of teaspoons)
1/2 pound of any type of pasta - I used Cavatappi
4 oz of cream cheese
1 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup or so of grated Parmesan cheese
Salt
1 tbsp of olive oil
Bring water for pasta to a boil, while waiting cut proscuitto slices in to strips and separate.
Once water is boiling, throw in a handful of salt and toss in the pasta - cook until al dente.
While pasta is cooking, heat up olive oil in saute pan with a cover and saute proscuitto slices and garlic for a few minutes. Add in the peas and cook another minute or so until they start to defrost. Add cream cheese, a pinch of salt and cover pan and cover for a couple of minutes until it starts to melt. Add a ladle or so of the pasta water, depending on how thick you want the sauce, to thin out the cream cheese. You may want to reserve another ladle of pasta water in case you want to thin out the sauce a bit more once you add the pasta in.
When pasta is al dente, drain and toss with the sauce and parmesan cheese and Enjoy!
A sprinkle of some fresh minced flat leaf parsley would be good as a garnish if you have some on hand - I didn't.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
The Poop on Cloth Wipes
I confess, I read what seemed like a million books, blogs, message boards while I was pregnant, but some where along the way, I missed the tiny tidbit of information that breastfed babies poop more (in the beginning at least). Not sure how I missed it, or if I did in fact read it and just didn't retain it. Maybe I was in denial.
When we were in the hospital, we had these handy dandy little wipes that you wet with water. They were kind of gauzy, but the texture was perfect for cleaning up the tarry black meconium. I liked them and debated telling the nurse that we were low on them right before we left the hospital so they would bring me a big pack that I could bring home. I did that with the mesh undies (love them) and those awesome ice pack pads, but that's a whole other story. Anyhoo, I had a whole case of Seventh Generation wipes and didn't really think much about using disposable wipes. It wasn't until the millionth diaper change that we did in the first few days that Baby K was home and her tiny little bottom was looking read and irritated. It was while I was smearing Mustela Vitamin Barrier all over her tiny tushie, that I remembered reading in the information booklet our pediatrician left us at the hospital, that using water alone was really the best method for wiping our baby.
So, to save my poor baby's behind, I got my rather large postnatal behind on to Amazon and did a search for cloth wipes. Do you ever read the reviews on Amazon? Seriously, one of the best sources of info ever! After reading the reviews on several kinds of cloth wipes and learning a ton about how to use them, I ordered three different kinds to test out and a warmer to keep them in - all shipped two day because of my rockstar Prime membership. God, I love Prime...seriously worth the money! I'll review them in order from my best to not my favorite (none of them were horrible, so there isn't a worst).
Needless to say, since switching to cloth wipes while at home (I still use disposables on-the-go), Baby K's bottom has been red-free. Even JZ loves using the cloth wipes better!
Unbleached Flannel Baby Wipes
New Momma Jomma rating: 3 stars
When we were in the hospital, we had these handy dandy little wipes that you wet with water. They were kind of gauzy, but the texture was perfect for cleaning up the tarry black meconium. I liked them and debated telling the nurse that we were low on them right before we left the hospital so they would bring me a big pack that I could bring home. I did that with the mesh undies (love them) and those awesome ice pack pads, but that's a whole other story. Anyhoo, I had a whole case of Seventh Generation wipes and didn't really think much about using disposable wipes. It wasn't until the millionth diaper change that we did in the first few days that Baby K was home and her tiny little bottom was looking read and irritated. It was while I was smearing Mustela Vitamin Barrier all over her tiny tushie, that I remembered reading in the information booklet our pediatrician left us at the hospital, that using water alone was really the best method for wiping our baby.
So, to save my poor baby's behind, I got my rather large postnatal behind on to Amazon and did a search for cloth wipes. Do you ever read the reviews on Amazon? Seriously, one of the best sources of info ever! After reading the reviews on several kinds of cloth wipes and learning a ton about how to use them, I ordered three different kinds to test out and a warmer to keep them in - all shipped two day because of my rockstar Prime membership. God, I love Prime...seriously worth the money! I'll review them in order from my best to not my favorite (none of them were horrible, so there isn't a worst).
Needless to say, since switching to cloth wipes while at home (I still use disposables on-the-go), Baby K's bottom has been red-free. Even JZ loves using the cloth wipes better!
Unbleached Flannel Baby Wipes
These wipes were the least expensive and by far my favorite. They are thin enough to get into all the nooks and crannies and are super soft and make quick work out of getting her poop-free. I wet them, fold them in half, roll them up and keep them in the wipe warmer. They hold up in the wash and I feel so good about using them.
New Momma Jomma rating: 5 stars
New Momma Jomma rating: 5 stars
These wipes do the trick, but they are kind of thick, which should be good in theory, but it actually makes it hard to get into all the nooks and crannies and only one side is soft. I also find that they get a bit of an odor - maybe it's the hemp, but I definitely don't like them as well as the flannel wipes.
New Momma Jomma rating: 3 stars
These wipes were the most expensive and my least favorite of the three. These are EXTRA thick and again, only soft on one side. They are so thick and take up so much space in the warmer that you would be constantly refilling, which I do every couple of days now as it is. They have great reviews on Amazon, and don't get me wrong, they do the job, but I don't like them as well as the flannel wipes. They do however make great wash cloths.
New Momma Jomma rating: 2 stars as a wipe 3 stars wash cloths
New Momma Jomma rating: 2 stars as a wipe 3 stars wash cloths
If you're interested in using cloth wipes, buy a wipe warmer. The warmer isn't so much to keep them warm, although I think that is nice, but rather a place to store your pre-moistened wipes. We bought two Munchkin brand warmers, one regular and one deluxe. I like them both, but any warmer you choose to purchase will likely work just fine.
Monday, February 15, 2010
The Greatest Bassinet!
We're renting a house right now while our new home is being built. There are two bedrooms on the main level and the master bedroom is upstairs. I knew from the start that I could not possibly have our brand new Baby K sleeping on another level when she came home, so I began the search for a bassinet. As soon as I saw the Contours Classique 3-in-1 bassinet at Babies R' Us, I knew I had to have it.
I loved the flexibility the Moses basket lent us for bringing Baby K downstairs with us, and the changing station is ideal for our current arrangement. Who wants to trapse downstairs in the middle of the night to do a diaper change? We all know that changing the baby on the bed is dangerous territory. The storage baskets are perfect for extra diapers, extra sheets and other supplies. I will say that the changing station option is great, but could be designed better. However, it's incredibly useful and makes those middle of the night changes pretty convenient.
The pad in the Moses basket seemed a bit thin and flimsy, so we purchased a bassinet mattress and it fits perfectly. Baby K is almost 4 weeks old now and this item has been the best purchase we've made by far. I love it and my sweet Baby K seems to dreaming away happily each and every night.
New Momma Jomma rating: 4 stars because of the flimsy pad that needs to be upgraded
I loved the flexibility the Moses basket lent us for bringing Baby K downstairs with us, and the changing station is ideal for our current arrangement. Who wants to trapse downstairs in the middle of the night to do a diaper change? We all know that changing the baby on the bed is dangerous territory. The storage baskets are perfect for extra diapers, extra sheets and other supplies. I will say that the changing station option is great, but could be designed better. However, it's incredibly useful and makes those middle of the night changes pretty convenient.
The pad in the Moses basket seemed a bit thin and flimsy, so we purchased a bassinet mattress and it fits perfectly. Baby K is almost 4 weeks old now and this item has been the best purchase we've made by far. I love it and my sweet Baby K seems to dreaming away happily each and every night.
New Momma Jomma rating: 4 stars because of the flimsy pad that needs to be upgraded
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)