Must-Have: bkr glass water bottle

Well, this is just an obvious must-have for everyone. Especially with summer around the corner.

We all need to drink more water and stay hydrated.

But ESPECIALLY pregnant mamas, post partum mamas, and breastfeeding mamas.

I first KNEW I was pregnant because of being SOOOO incredibly thirsty. All day. All night. Yep, pregnant.

Your blood volume increases by 50%! You need the water!

And then if you breastfeed . . .

Breastfeeding = Thirsty. All. The. Time.

It’s amazing how the SECOND you sit down to breastfeed, you are suddenly PARCHED. Like you haven’t had water for days. Those little babies suck you dry! But I say, treat yourself . . . because these water bottles are way more fun to have lying around.

My new favorite water bottle. Stylish. Safe. Enviro friendly. Colorful. Refreshing. The bkr Glass Water Bottle. On trend and popping up amongst all the celebrities, too. There are always new colors, inspired by the latest fashion shows and runways.

You get the impossible choice of choosing your color. And then your size:

500 mL for $30
1 L for $42

The smaller of the two (500 mL) is great for the purse and diaper bag. It’s small enough and light enough to not weigh you down.

Whereas the larger 1 L bottle is great for stationary places, because it’s a bit bigger, and you don’t have to keep refilling it. Great for home, at work, on your desk, or on your nightstand.

Kind of a splurge. But I see it as an investment in my health.

I’m more likely to carry my pretty water bottle around and DRINK MORE if it looks refreshing.

These make great gifts, too. Something you maybe wouldn’t buy for yourself. Thanks Alison, for mine! You can find them on Amazon or at mybkr.com.

Happy Monday!
Kristi

This week’s “must-have” took me a couple years and a couple kids later to realize the obvious need.

Everyone knows you need a highchair. Preferably one with a few different transitional seats. And a booster.

But a travel highchair? Really?

Yes. Really.

This is Phil&Teds Lobster Highchair. It simply & securely clamps onto most tables and surfaces. They sit right up to the table to limit food dropping everywhere. It also includes a tray that snaps on and off for simple cleanup. It’s aluminum frame is lightweight. It also folds up into a handy carrying case for easy storage – just keep it in your trunk! Bonus: it can hold your baby OR your toddler. It holds up to 37 pounds!! 

When & Where Would I Ever Need This?

1. Grandma’s House
Ok. So Grandma is “Super Grandma” and has a highchair already. Either brand new or from 35 years ago. But guess what? Chances are, Grandma will have more than 1 grandchild pretty soon. Point made. (This also applies to Friends’ Houses, Great-Grandma’s House, Aunt Jen’s House, & all family gatherings, really.)

2. Dinner Alfresco
Snap this bad boy on the patio table out back and you’re set. This was a big one for us. Hauling our hefty highchair out the backdoor, off the deck, and onto our stone patio was not only hard on the wheels (concrete/stone), but also really annoying to carry out during spring/summer months of dining outside.

3. Picnics
Fits great snapped onto a picnic table. No more dripping all over the blanket. No more baby crawling off to chase bugs. No more eating grass and stones instead of watermelon.

4. Restaurants
Okay. Of course I have used the gross restaurant wooden highchairs. But they are far from ideal. The openings are huge, so your 7 month old is slipping out through the back and sides. The majority of the kids’ food ends up on the floor. And you know those high school and college kids could care less about wiping and sanitizing those nasty wooden highchairs. The buckles are broken 95% of the time, or else too coated with nastiness to function. Gooey ketchup smears and crusted food. Are you sold yet?

5. Playdates
When you go to someone else’s house for a “playdate”, they inevitably will be occupying their highchair and booster seat. Duh. And if you expect them to have extras . . . amidst the rest of the baby stuff oozing from every corner (jumper, swing, bouncer, chairs, strollers, shopping carts, entire toy kitchens . . . oi vey), then you’re either a mother of one or naive. Just bring this over and lock your child up for ten minutes! And be an awesome mom and savior and offer this up when you host your own playdates.

6. Breakfast Bar or Kitchen Island
Clip it onto the island or kitchen counter so you don’t have to be tripping over the huge highchair in the kitchen. Kids want to be near you. ALWAYS. The reason they crawl up your legs while you’re in the kitchen or emptying the dishwasher (or doing anything really) is because they love you and want to learn about the world and see what could be more fun than playing with them. Pop them in the seat and talk to them while you prep and cook. Throw a couple cheerios on it, or else just a few toys. Or a spoon for pete’s sake. Sometimes they just like to sit up at your level.

7. Family Vacations
Weddings, Hotel Stays, More Restaurants. Super light and compact to throw in a suitcase – or your diaper bag.

Alright, there are probably a bunch of other scenarios I could think of where this would make life so much easier. But this should suffice. It’s only limitations are clipping to a rounded edge of a table, or a table with a lip under it.

Seriously, check it out at Amazon.

Happy Monday,
Kristi

Once my kids were around 3 months, they LOVED hanging out in their crib. Mostly in part to this Tiny Love Mobile.

It was great. I could lay her down in the crib while I cooked dinner, and she was happy as a clam. Cooing and kicking away. Or while I showered. Or simply needed 10 minutes to myself. With my first child, that is 🙂 No toddlers to chase after.

Why This Mobile Is So Great:

1. It plays adorable, sweet melodies. For drifting off to sleep, or just hanging out in the crib.

2. It has BLACK AND WHITE spirals on the inside of the cones or parts of the mobile hanging. If you don’t know yet, babies love high contrast toys, books, anything. They can watch this thing for days.3. The mobile not only rotates the little guys, but also each little guy spins at some point, too. The babies like the element of surprise!

4. There is also a small light up piece on the mount that babies are drawn to.

5. You have the option of having the mobile quietly spin, or spin with the music on.

6. Once your baby is old enough to reach, crawl and try to yank ’em down, you can still have the music/light mounted on and simply take off the mobile part. Great for lulling them to sleep still.

7. There are mainly pink ones, mainly blue ones . . . yet they each still have oranges and pinks and greens either way, which is nice.

Consider getting this mobile! It can be a real life-saver. I found mine on Craigslist, like new. Otherwise, slap it on your registry.

Happy Monday!
Kristi

Lullabies. Always something I figured we’d just sing to our baby.

We had our nighttime routine. Bath, brush gums/teeth, diaper, pjs, nurse & rock to sleep while humming and singing the same 3 lullabies that came to mind.

And it was sweet. And I loved it.

4 months LATER . . . we received a gift from my husband’s coworker. This very CD.

 Lullaby CDs were off my radar. It’s something I never really thought about. You think about the safest stroller, the best carrier, the cutest nursery, the softest clothes, an audio or video monitor, etc. But such a little thing like this was nowhere on my mind.

It was the PERFECT gift. (Thanks, Pam!) Something useful, that I did not yet have. Something that all new parents can use, no matter their taste or personal preference. Just sweet baby melodies. And if they have music already, it’s a great change-up.

Rockabye Baby: Lullaby Renditions of Coldplay (and TONS of other rock bands like Aerosmith, Metallica, Journey, etc.), takes classic rock songs that parents love and put it to sweet, tinkly, soft, simple music for babies. So while you’re rocking baby for what seems like an eternity, you can rock out to a version of your own favorite music.

Don’t get me wrong . . . I still love to sing to my babies. But these CDs allow you to create a peaceful environment & and exit the room while it’s still playing. It’s also great to bring along on trips when baby is unfamiliar with their sleep environment. It brings along a touch of familiarity and safeness.

Happy Monday!
Kristi

Ahhh bath time. Tricky, tricky bath time. It took us quite some time to become comfortable with bathing our firstborn. Bathing a newborn with zero head control, who hated being naked and cold was a two-man job for a while. This Munchkin White Hot Inflatable Duck Tub is low-cost, fun, and necessary for the 3-7 month infant. I will break down the stages of bathing by approximate age and development, but it REALLY varies based on the development of your individual baby.

Stages of Bathing an Infant (Approx.)

0-10 Days (Umbilical Cord Still Attached)

You are restricted to a sponge bath until the umbilical cord dries up and comes off. You also need to take caution with circumcised boys. I actually liked being restricted to only sponge bathing. It was easier. Less stressful for us rookies.

Key areas to focus on are the neck, armpits, behind the ears. We found out the hard way that if you don’t clean between the neck rolls well, it starts to smell (from the milk that dripped in there). Same with the armpits. They will smell and may become red and irritated, especially if it is winter and their arms aren’t getting much airflow.

10 Days – 3 months (Weak Head/Neck Control)

Now that the umbilical cord has come off, you can give an actual bath! With our firstborn, we tried the classic whale tub everyone seems to use. I didn’t like it. Baby was chilly, she was exposed, she was on her back, she seemed vulnerable, and she didn’t seem very supported.

With baby number 2, I fell in love with the Tummy Tub (which I will need to dedicate a whole post to!). Basically, it replicates the womb by allowing baby to be immersed in the water, stay warm, and be in that familiar fetal position.

I’ve also heard great things about the Puj Tub, used in the sink or if you get in the tub, too, and place it in your lap.

3 – 7 months (Head Control, Starting to Sit)

This is where the Munchkin White Hot Inflatable Duck Tub comes in! Baby is outgrowing her first newborn tub and is more and more interested in splashing and playing in the water. Since baby is too small yet for the regular tub, you’ll need a transitional tub. Baby’s head/neck is strong but cannot yet sit up.

This inflatable duck tub is great because baby can lean into it and be supported. As baby becomes stronger, he can sit on his own with the security of the tub to catch him when he tips. Bonus: it quacks.

Also, I would frequently forgo any baby tub at all and lay baby on his back in the regular tub. Only fill the tub with a few inches of water. He loved being free and kicking & splashing! Took me a second child to figure this one out.

7 months+ (Sitting Confidently)

When you are confident in your baby’s sitting capabilities, let them play in the regular, big tub!

Hopefully this helps the bathing process for new parents . . . and provides insight into other options for all parents!