So now that I am a *slightly* seasoned mommy. I figured I would weigh in on all that worked and all that didn't work!
1. Cloth Diapers!
Overall I love them! You may remember this post that I did about what we had before baby was born.
So here is how it all road tested!
Newborn diapers: What we had: Lil Joeys by Rumparoos, Kissaluvs Size 0, Bummis Infant Prefolds, Thirsties Duos Wraps Size 1, x-small Fuzzibunz
Best: We loved, loved, loved the Kissaluvs Size 0. They were easy, absorbent, and folded down under her cord. We partnered these with the Thirsties covers (I prefer the snaps to the aplix.) These NEVER leaked!
Runners Up: x-small Fuzzibunz (we only had one) great fit and cute. Bummis Infant Prefolds they were very absorbent but not as easy to get onto a newborn that didn't much care for diaper changes. The Lil Joeys were hubby proof, which was good, but little Miss Fat Girl couldn't wear these past two weeks
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| x-small Fuzzibunz on 1 month Adelaide |
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| Thirsties cover on our Princess of Fashion |
Diapers for past after the cord fell off: FuzziBunz One Size, FuzziBunz Perfect Size small and gDiapers (we continued to wear the Kissaluvs until she outgrew them and we still wear the Bummis and Thirsties)
Best: FuzziBunz One Size! These are SO adjustable. Here they are on itty bitty Adelaide. They did fit but I didn't like how close they came up on her umbilical cord. Sometimes these do wick moisture from the leg holes so do make sure these are on correctly. At night we like to use a Bummis with a Thirsties cover, like I said these have NEVER leaked or blew out. Since she now likes diaper changes it is not near as difficult to get a prefold and cover on Puddle Duck
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| Two week old Adelaide in a One Size FuzziBunz |
Runner Up: Perfect size FuzziBunz. Cute and good fit but I don't like that there is only one snap on each waist side instead of two
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| Adelaide at 3 months in a Perfect Size FuzziBunz small |
Swim diaper: We only have one but we love it. Charlie Banana size small.
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| Adelaide in her Charlie Banana swim diaper , her first time in the pool! |
- FuzziBunz One Size are great once you get the fit right. Easy to use and dependable
- Kissaluvs are the BEST newborn diaper EVER
- We actually bought more of the Bummis inserts and Thirsties covers because we loved them so much and they are so affordable
If I had to restart my stash from scratch for a new baby I would buy:
- 12 kissaluvs size 0
- 6 infant Bummis prefolds
- 4 Thirsties Duo Covers size 1
- 12 FuzziBunz One Size (crushed berry and spearmint are my favorite colors)
- 12 baby Bummis prefolds
- 4 Thirsties Duo covers size 2
- 1 Charlie Banana swim diaper (though I have heard great things about the Bummis swim diaper)
- 2 Snappis (to hold on the prefolds)
Also, we adore all of our Planet Wise wet bags and pail liners! We have never had an issue with any leaks. I highly suggest their products. The medium size wet bag is perfect for the diaper bag for a day outing.
2. Nursing Pads
I thought that these were something that you used for just a little while and then didn't need anymore. That was certainly not the case for me. I started leaking at 7 months pregnant and just this morning leaked through my shirt (Adelaide is 4.5 months old)
I bought some plain flannel circles, Bamboobies, and my girl friend passed on her Knickernappies nursing pads to me. I know there are disposables but I didn't like the idea of chemicals all up "in my business"
Best: Hands down it is the Knickernappies! Large and super absorbent. Don't stick to skin either which is super important for sore nipples.
Runner up: Bamboobies these were much more expensive than the Knickernappies and not as thirsty though they do get bonus points for being super cute. They came in a set with light pink, hot pink and black hearts.
Worst: plain flannel circles... who thought something as exciting as plain flannel circles would score so poorly....
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| Circle=Knickernappis Nursing Pad Heart=Bamboobies Nursing Pad |
Being a little bit *cough* busty *cough* I had some trouble finding bras that worked for me. I found three brands that are great for larger cup sizes Cake Lingerie, Elomi, and Bella Materna
Best: Bella Materna, pretty, made in the US, pretty, supportive, and did I mention pretty!
Runners up: Cake Lingerie are cute but they look a little funny under cloths. I use my Cake Lingerie Cheesecake bra as my night time bra and that works great for us (us being me and the girls.) Elomi is super supportive plus you can order them online from Nordstrom and then return them in the store and get fitting help (which I did) the only negative is that they aren't as cute and have a difficult to use release for the cup to open (read as: crying newborn+exhausted mommy+this clasp=crying mommy+ hungry baby)
Also, check out Glamour Mom Busty Nursing Tanks! Awesome and long!
4. Baby blankets
You will be given oodles of these! OODLES But the best one for swaddling, cuddling, wrapping up in, nursing under, etc. is definitely the Aden + Anais swaddlers and a big plus is that you can buy these ANYWHERE (Target, Happy Baby Company, Amazon etc.) in all kinds of pretty patterns. They are a little pricey compared to plain swaddlers but I believe they are worth it. Adelaide still swaddles every night and these are generously sized so they keep my miniature behemoth in her burrito.
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| Still swaddled, despite TERRIBLE MOMMY KISSES! |
5. Clothing
For the early days pajamas are great. The sleep sacks are good but do ride up. I actually would advise something with legs. We love Hanna Andersson pajamas (they sell them at Costco for around $13 where as they retail at the HA store for about $30) The zipper is easy to navigate at night and they are super soft.
In Texas, during the summer, we usually put her in a cute T or tank with a coordinating cloth diaper when we are just hanging out at home. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
For cute out and about clothes check out Little Peanut by Peek. They are pricey but I found both of Adelaide's Little Peanut dresses on sale!
6. Carriers
We have several: Moby style, ring sling, Baby Bjorn, and a mei tei style
Moby style is great for a newborn because she is really, really, really secure in there but it is just too hot in Texas to use it in the summer time. I will use it again this winter
My ring sling was made by my wonderful friend. Check out her blog. Great for little bitty and great now that she is bigger too.
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| Adelaide at a month and a half asleep in her sling (pardon the mess, we were one week from our move to TX) |
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| Adelaide on the airplane in the ring sling |
Baby Bjorn is easy to use but not as easy on my back. Mitchell really likes it though. Adelaide can ride facing in or out.
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| Mitchell wearing Adelaide in the Baby Bjorn |
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| Adelaide and Mommy on the Fort Worth Zoo Train |
7. Sleeping
We loved our Arms Reach Cosleeper. Very handy having her close by. And when she would sleep on me I could store things, like my Boppy pillow, there.
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| Adelaide at 1 month in the wonderful cosleeper! |
8. Etc.
Must haves (for me at least):
- Boppy pillow, great for the busty and those that are long torsoed (I am not the latter)
- Chewbeads teething jewelry. You can see it on my wrist in the Zoo Train pic above. I use it to remember which side I nursed on last and Adelaide loves to NOM it!
- Non-dangly earrings. Babies, even little bitty babies, pull on things
- Quilts for baby to play on
- Milksavers I didn't have one but I wish that I did. You leak SOOO much milk in the early weeks
Things I didn't need/use:
- pump (until very recently I didn't even have one, don't buy one ahead of time unless you need to start building up a huge reservoir. Now I have a Medela manual pump)
- itty bitty socks... they just fall off. I highly suggested footed pants or pajamas
Any questions?
Anything I missed?
