Hellobee

I can’t believe Liam is 6 months old!!! I was thinking about the early weeks of his life and WOW have things changed. The items that were so necessary when he was a newborn have mostly been packed away and we’ve been using new things that I feel like I can’t live without. Here are our new essentials:

1. Sleep and plays – I dress baby TTT in footed pajamas every night and usually leave him in them in the morning when I leave for work and the nanny takes over. At some point, she changes him into a onesie or outfit, but I love that they have a dual purpose.

2. Bottles – We use the Playtex drop-ins system with the pump attachments so I can pump directly in the drop-ins and store them in the fridge for the nanny to use the next day. It’s nice to not have to pour any milk because the drop in storage system screws right on to the bottle and nipple.

3. Picnic blanket – This might seem like a strange essential item, but I use this large picnic blanket from Target almost every day. Liam usually starts getting fussy around 5pm and since it has been so warm lately, that’s usually when it is cool enough to hang out in the yard for a little while to get some fresh air and give him a distraction. He likes looking up at the trees and listening to the birds, and it helps make the last hour before bath time a little more bearable. What I love most about this blanket is that one side is waterproof and the other is a soft fleece, so it’s comfy and functional. It also folds up with handles so it’s easy to grab and go.

4. White noise machine – We use this for all naps and always at bedtime. I don’t know if it actually helps Liam sleep, but it definitely helps to drown out any other noises so he isn’t startled awake. The dogs can bark at squirrels and we can watch TV in the next room without worrying about waking him. I like that it plugs in and never shuts off on its own. It plays many different sounds and also plays music, though we stick to the static noise most of the time.

5. Strollers – Yes, that is plural because we now have two strollers. Before Liam wanted to be sitting upright all the time, our First Years Wave stroller base with car seat or bassinet attachment worked great. Now that he’s using the big boy seat, it is kind of a pain to use it on the go, so we recently bought an umbrella stroller, also by The First Years, called Ignite. I like that it’s tall, so we’re not hunched over when pushing it and the seat reclines for naps. We use the Wave at home for walks around the neighborhood and the Ignite stays in the car for when we’re away from home.

6. Bum Genius 4.0 and hemp inserts – Cloth diapers are going really well for us, even since I’ve gone back to work. The nanny loves them and will stuff and fold them for me if I don’t have time (which is quite often these days). We use the hemp inserts for overnight as Liam is now sleeping 12 hours (I probably shouldn’t even type that because I’ll curse myself).

7. Ergo – I was handed down both a Moby and a Baby Bjorn, but right before I flew with Liam by myself when he was 4 months old, I bought an Ergo after trying out my friend’s. It is the best baby carrier I’ve tried and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to be able to keep their baby happy while having their hands free. He loves being close to me and will always stay happier in the carrier than in the stroller, so it’s great for shopping, traveling, or getting things done around the house.

8. Toys – Liam loves Sophie, tiny board books, his Sesame Street phone, and lots of things that aren’t really toys, including cardboard, my phone, paper, and my earrings – ouch!

9. Sippy cups – Liam is now drinking water from a sippy cup! I love this one because it is small, has handles, and uses a straw that doesn’t leak when tipped over. It can also be closed up when taking water on the go. I like straw sippy cups better because drinking from a straw is a useful skill (he is now a pro, but it took some time for him to get used to it), and he doesn’t have to tip the cup and his head back to get a drink.

10. Inflatable bath tub – We used the Puj tub until Liam was about 5 months old and pretty much sitting up on his own. At that point, he never wanted to be reclined anymore, so we started using this inflatable tub inside the regular bathtub. He can sit up really well in it and it can be deflated and stored away when necessary.

11. Diaper bag/backpack – My best friend originally got us this Scout bag from Petunia Pickle Bottom, but when Liam was about 3 months old, the clasp broke. After contacting PPB, they agreed to replace my bag with a new one they had just released that also had the option of being a backpack. This is great for when I’m wearing the baby in the ergo because I can put the backpack on my back and still have both hands free.

12. High chair – We have the Antilop from Ikea and LOVE it. He can sit up in it great and we don’t have to worry about food getting stuck anywhere because we can just hose it off outside if needed. We started putting him in his high chair a little before he was five months old to practice and would just give him toys and a sippy cup to play with, but we recently started baby led weaning, so now he gets food, too!

13. Foam play mat – I have this one in black, white, and gray from Soft Tiles. I originally bought it for our office that we thought we might turn in to a playroom, but now I’m thinking we might put it in Liam’s room instead of the cowhide that is in there now. Since he is now sitting up and starting to scoot around, having a firm, but cushioned surface is really nice for him to play on.