Hospital Bag

Before you proceed, let me preface this by saying, I was induced 10 days after my due date. So, I did have some prep time, well a lot of prep time. Our hospital stay was also 5 days long. We did need multiple outfits and all the things.

I’d like to think we are semi-minimalist. We only want the necessary things, but we don’t comprise comfort, whether that be sleeping or just being content, for less things, if that makes sense. We don’t like lots of “stuff” but what is necessary to us may not be for someone else.  

After talking with Nick about what all I needed for the hospital, we discussed that we should probably include a Dad list too. I have included what he recommends for dads and what I recommend for moms and babies along with links and why we recommend these things. Keep in mind, we may have packed other things, but we felt these were the top things we should include. Also, if you aren’t using packing cubes, you really should start. LIFE CHANGING.

Top things for Dad’s Hospital Bag

Clothes – Obviously you have to have clothes, but Nick said having a mix of sweats and casual clothes was nice. He could be comfortable when it was just us, and look half decent (other than being sleep deprived) when other people were there. We had a 28 hour long labor, so him being able to change into sweats was nice. Also, he liked having a hoodie because it did get chilly in our room.  

Snacks – My husband should have been named Mikey after the kid on Recess. He loves to eat and will stand in front of the pantry, fridge, my mom’s snack bin, or anywhere that has food and stare at it like something magical is going to jump out at him. He just loves to eat. His favorite snacks to have on hand at the hospital were beef jerky, nuts/trail mix of any kind, protein bars, fruit, water, and Gatorade.

Change for Vending Machines – If your husband is like mine, the snacks may run out or get stretched thin (we are currently struggling to keep food in the house during quarantine, and I may or may not have to label food). So, bringing change for the vending machine was very necessary. This was supposed to be for “emergency” situations, but by hour 2 we were a code red in snacks, which meant "emergency" (totally kidding).

Long Phone Charger – Because there is no definite spot where the plug-ins will be, we suggest getting a long phone charger. Our phones were blowing up the entire hospital stay, so to keep the battery charged for those precious pictures, we really liked having these chargers. We had 2, one for him and one for me. 

Toiletries – He highly recommended bring your own toiletries that make you feel all nice and clean. He felt so much better each time he showered because it was something that made him feel like himself after being stuck in the hospital.

Bible/Devotional/Book - We obviously had a lot of down time and remember…I like to sleep. So, Nick needed something to keep him busy while he was stuck inside. He constantly needs entertainment (he’s 5 at heart). He packed a few books related to his work. He also packed his personalized bible that I got him. His favorite was his Dad Devotional. He says he enjoyed this because it helped him get in the mindset of this new journey in his life. 

Top things for Baby's Hospital Bag 

Boppy Pillow – I did not bring one of these and had to ask for fityleven pillows just to get comfortable and in a good position to nurse. If you are bottle feeding, I still think this would help out tremendously. I'm not saying you won't have to ask for more pillows, but I think it will make it a little easier. 

Swaddle – I highly recommend getting the Ollie swaddle. It is the EASIEST swaddle in all the land, and you can still change diapers while they are swaddled. 

Car Seat – You obviously have to have this to go home, but I would recommend this car seat so you can just make it into a stroller and go. 

Going Home Outfit – This was really the only clothing we brought for Lewie. I think we may have brought onesies, but we really just used the hospital shirt and swaddled him until time to go home.

Blankets (to take home for the pup) – We brought small, receiving blankets and let him snuggle with them so that my parents could take them home and let our pup, Millie, smell them and get used to his scent. I really think this really helped her with his arrival.

Top things for Mom's Hospital Bag

Pillow – Having my own pillow was amazing. It allowed me to have some type of comfort while being there for 5 days, and it smelled like my house which was also comforting. 

Chapstick – I did not pack this, but my sweet husband ALWAYS has chapstick, and I used it about 2,000 times while in labor.

Fan/Noise Machine - We always sleep with a fan at home, but we found that we especially needed some type of noise for those small moments when all was quiet and we could sleep. Especially of you are staying over night in L and D and the lady next door has her baby in the middle of the night, probably without any pain medicine (bless her). I usually sleep with a fan right in my face, but being at the hospital I knew I just needed the sound. Feel free to pack a travel/battery operated one. We did not. We typically do for travel, but I was not compromising a smaller fan with a quieter sound. I packed my normal fan because I knew it would be loud enough for me to sleep when I could (ya girl loves to sleep). This is the fan we currently have.

Comfy PJs/Clothes - I know a lot of moms wear cute gowns, but I'm not a gown gal. I really enjoyed these BF pajamas from Amazon. I actually still wear them because they are so soft and provide easy access without your belly getting cold during nursing sessions (I can't stand that!!). I also packed a Latched Mama shirt to wear home. Their clothing is also extremely soft. I purchased a few more tops once I got home to wear around the house, but I also wore them to work. 

Nipple Cream, Nipple Cream, Nipple Cream - I wish someone would have told me to use this religiously in the hospital, so I am telling you to please use it after EVERY single nursing session for quite a while. It will get annoying, but I promise you won't regret it. Also, you should have about 10 tubes and place them everywhere in your house. 

House Shoes - I really liked having my house shoes for when I walked around our room. Remember I was there for 5 days, so you may not need them if you don't have a long stay.

Long Phone Charger - Again, this is something we both needed. 

Folder for Papers - They give you so much paper work, and I was very thankful that my friends recommended bringing a folder to keep it in. 

Fuzzy Socks - I absolutely loved wearing fuzzy socks while in the hospital. 

Hair Ties - I broke 3 or 4 while in labor trying to quickly get my hair up. Thankfully, I had back up. 

Cardigan to wear over T-shirts - Lewie was born in March, and it was cold. I wore a cardigan to go home, and would sometimes wear it when we had visitors. 

Toiletries - Like Nick, I loved having my own toiletries. It really made me feel refreshed when I could shower and use my own toiletries. 

Nursing Bra - You may not even wear a bra in the hospital but if you do, I recommend these. I still wear these, and really enjoy them. They are very comfortable and super easy to adjust. 

Nurses/Hospital Staff

My mom has the best heart, and she thought that we should bring something for the nurses/hospital staff that helped me deliver. She made them baskets with different sweet treats in them that had a little note. I can't remember what it said, nor do I have any pictures (which is a big surprise). There are many different ones on Pinterest that you could create. I did not take this to the hospital, my mom brought it. I realize things are a little different in the world right now, so if you are being induced you could take them something, but if not, I wouldn't worry about it.  

I hope you find this beneficial, and I am so excited for you new moms and dads and you parents who are adding to your precious family. This is such an exciting journey, and I hope this helps you prepare for it in some way. As always, please let me know if there is something else you would like for me to write about!

Here's a cute picture of our sweet, rainbow baby, just because 💙

Lauren

I miss my students

This week my school system was supposed to return from Spring Break, but instead we are quarantined. Instead, I walked into my classroom with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes as I prepared to call my students and their families to check in with them.

I love a good break, and I think breaks are well deserved and necessary (ask any parent who is currently attempting to home school 😁). Breaks are good for students and teachers. But this break, well it sucked, and it continues to suck.

For me, a break allows me to rejuvenate, get refreshed, and get pumped back up for my return. I always look forward to a break, and I always look forward to returning from one. For me, my breaks are when I have my teacher “aha” moments. Whether that’s my daily break during my planning, my nightly break when the baby goes to bed, my weekend breaks, my holiday breaks, or my Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer Breaks.

I am able to reflect on my teaching and how my instruction is reaching my students. It allows me to figure out how to extend one student’s learning while re-teaching the material to another student to match their learning style. It allows me to think about one student’s behavior and analyze their emotions and body language to determine what is going on in their world and how to approach the situation. It allows me to talk through tough conversations that I need to have with students before actually doing so. It allows me to plan celebrations and room transformations. It allows me to study the curriculum while learning to own the content and teach it to match my students’ learning styles.

While teachers are in the trenches, we often forget to reflect on our own teaching abilities, but, thankfully, breaks allow us to do that.

But this break, it is so different. Now, we are reflecting on the school year and what we taught and didn’t get to teach and what we are going to do to still keep in contact with our students until April 24. That’s FIVE.MORE.WEEKS! Most of us are clinging to those “aha” moments our students had, their terrible jokes, their smiles, their hugs, their laughs, their handshakes, and even their frustrating moments.

I’m praying for my students. I’m praying that they are making the most of this break. I’m praying that there is more sunshine than rain so that they may go outside and play. I’m praying that their bellies stay full. I’m praying that they are getting to rest at night. I'm praying that they are continuing to learn. I’m praying for grace. I’m praying that they are given grace and they are giving grace, as this is a very trying time. I pray that years down the road we get to look at this as a time when we got to do the things that we “never had time to do.”

Yesterday, as some of my grade level teachers and myself sat in the hallway (6ft. apart) to plan materials for our students, we talked through how we would feel if we were not allowed to return to school. Most of us said we would be absolutely heartbroken and definitely shed lots of tears. We don’t want to be without our students, we want to be in the trenches. As we talked, it was very prevalent that, although being in the trenches is tough, and these next 3 weeks we’re supposed to be deep in the trenches since testing is coming up, that we would do absolutely anything to get back our normal. We were all feeling yucky that we had to create material for our students instead of present it to them in our homes away from home, our classrooms.

There are so many things we want to tell our students. I want mine to know that I’m so proud of the accomplishments they have made this year. My 17, sweet thirdies have worked so, so hard this year. They have made such great growth, both academically and socially.

Thankfully, I teach third grade, so my students have two more years at my school, but I want them to have two more months in my classroom.

I pray often that we get to step back into our classroom and rejoice in each other’s presence. Oh, what a day that will be! We will never again take for granted the ability to go to school and learn.

I know we will come out stronger from this, but I miss them. I miss their morning greetings. I miss repeating myself 750 times a day. I miss being referred to as mama. I miss having my second run girls make sure the classroom is in perfect condition for us so we can come in and learn the next day. I miss all my leaders taking control of their jobs and never missing a beat, so that my focus is on educating them physically, emotionally, socially, and academically. I miss singing and dancing with them. I miss reading to them. I miss each one of them so fiercely. 

I miss number 1 coming in with his bright smile and forgetting where he puts everything.

I miss number 2’s many stories and how sweet of a friend she is to everyone.

I miss number 3’s energy and love for Kahoot.

I miss number 4 laughing at EVERYTHING.

I miss number 5’s calmness and ability to brighten everyone’s day.

I miss number 6’s assistance on everything.

I miss number 7’s efforts to try so hard to not smile, but we always make him.

I miss number 8’s sweet smile when I beg him to sing louder for us.

I miss number 9’s work habits and how great she is at Habit 3.

I miss number 10’s giggles and many, many stories that she has to share.  

I miss number 11 telling me she loves me each day as she goes to wait for her bus.

I miss number 12’s personality and how willing he is to do whatever he’s asked.

I miss number 13 asking me every day if I need ice and what else she can do so that I can go get Lewie from school because she knows how much I miss him.

I miss watching number 14 come out of her shell at recess while cheering with the girls.

I miss number 15 and her precious compliments.

I miss number 16's sense of humor and understanding of my sarcasm.

I miss watching number 17 grow each and every day, in each and every way.

Today I was supposed to walk in to my classroom and get ready to shake 17 little hands, look them in the eye, and ask them how their break was. Today, I was supposed to begin reading Peter Pan. Today I was supposed to watch their imaginations come to life with Wendy, John, Michael, Peter, and Tinker Bell. Today, I was supposed to introduce area. Today, I was supposed to teach my favorite science topic, weather. But today, I’m making plans on how I can see their sweet faces through a computer screen.

- Mrs. Lauren

Hey Mama

Shout out to my mama...she the real MVP.

I just have to brag on her because...well I can!

There is no one in this world that has a more giving heart than my mama. Many call her Honey, but only two of us have the blessing of calling her Mom. We are the lucky two.

She is Honey to all my students, her dinner table at church, and her beloved grandchildren. My brother chose that name for her and it fits her perfectly. She is as sweet as Honey.

I get so much joy in watching her be a grandmother to her 4 grandchildren (2 biological and 2 chosen). They all love their Honey and light up when they see her! She always has the most fun activities planned, which always involve learning whether they know it or not (she should have been a teacher!). She will do anything at the drop of the hat to make Natalie, Allison, Mary Carr, and Lewie happy.

She is like The Fairy Godmother as my boss says. Whatever needs to be done, she will make it happen. My mom and my husband spend countless hours helping me prepare the "home" for my students and myself for each new school year. She also spends time and money helping me prepare experiences for my students. Not fluffy lessons (that's a topic for a different day), but experiences that take learning to the next level. She comes to visit and always has a treat in hand for our (because they are hers, too) students. She makes a trip at the beginning of each school year to buy supplies and clothes for our future students. When a student is in need, the items they need magically appear just as a Fairy Godmother would do. My students know her as Honey, but they love when The Fairy Godmother visits.

State testing is coming up and just like every year, she will prepare a note for each student and a treat for each day. Seeing the reaction of my students when they get to experience the sweetness of Honey makes me realize just how much of her "sweet" she has given me and my brother over my 26 trips around the sun.

My mom loves so fiercely. She shows her fierce love through small acts of kindness, and it goes such a long way. She never expects anything in return, and it makes her the happiest person when she is able to do something for someone. She doesn't seek to be praised, she simply looks for the next person she can serve. I love to watch those react when they receive an act of kindness from her, but I revel in her response to serving others.

She always wants what is best for her children, our spouses, and her grandkids. She always has our best interest at heart. I look forward to our daily phone calls at 4:30 so that I can reflect on my day with her. When I'm in a dilemma and seek out her advice, she empathically listens and never tells me what to do but guides me to make the appropriate decision.

One of my favorite things about my mom is her relationship with my husband. They would both do anything for each other and anything for Lewie and myself. When Nick and I were in college, we spent most of our nights with my mom. We often talk about those memories...like when Mom learned how to "rap" and the many dance parties we had. We did and still do lots of things together. They are a perfect team when it comes to me. They worked so well together during my 28 hours of labor and were the best support I could have ever asked for. During all the intense labor, I was in awe of how seamless they were through all the bumps along the way...from epidural complications to Nick needing a snack 😂, they worked hand in hand to get Lewie here safely and to keep me healthy.

My mom feeds Nick's belly by always having a treat for him when he comes over, and Nick feeds my mom's soul with how he cares for Lewie and myself. Having a mom who loves your husband and a husband who loves your mom is quite an extraordinary thing. Their bond is so special to me.

I could go on and on about how amazing Honey is, but all that know her are already aware of that. I'm just so proud to be her daughter.

-Lauren

Hands Free Pumps

The whole time I was pregnant and someone asked me if I was going to breastfeed, I would tell them that I would give breastfeeding a fair shot, and if it worked...great, and if it didn't...that was okay too. 

It did take 5 very long days for my milk to come in (I did not go into labor naturally), but once I figured out that breastfeeding was going to work out, I knew I needed a plan for when I went back to work. I know there are laws in place that allow women to pump in peace, but I am a teacher. I didn't want someone to come in and cover my class while I went and made some liquid gold (I can be am controlling when it comes to my students). 

So, I came across two hands free breast pumps, the Willow 1.0 and the Elvie. I have included information about both pumps for you to make a choice based on what you are looking for in a hands free pump. I have also included the pros and cons of both pumps based on my experience with each one. 

Both of these pumps are purchased as two separate pumps, so they operate independently. When Lewie was sick and wasn't nursing great, I would wear one pump on one side while he nursed on the other. Otherwise, I would use them both at the same time. 

They both have different suction settings. On the Willow I never increased the suction. On the Elvie I have but didn't necessarily need to. On both pumps you can change to the letdown setting or they will automatically go into that setting after a certain time. 

Sizing

The Willow offers breast shield sizes in 24mm or 27mm. If you buy a milk container, you can get the 21mm breast shield. 

The Elvie offers breast shield sizes in 21mm, 24mm, and 28mm. The Elvie pump comes with 24mm and 28mm but you can purchase 21mm if that's the size you need. 

Storage

When I used the Willow 1.0, the milk bags held 4 oz. and when the bag was full, the pump automatically shut off. Then, I would have to remove the pump, and get the remaining milk into the bag, which was struggle sometimes. This would frequently happen during a letdown, so by the time I replaced the bag and put the pump back in I wouldn't produce but a few more drops of milk, and then I wasted a bag. However, now they have reusable milk containers, so this process would be a whole lot easier and less expensive. 

Elvie has 5 oz. bottles that store milk while you pump. Having that extra ounce was really all I needed. Occasionally the pump would shut off indicating that it was full, but I could start it back for a few moments, if needed, to let the letdown finish. The process of changing out bottles is very easy and quick. 

Care for Parts

The Willow only has 2 parts to clean. If you use the milk container, it adds a third part. These parts can also be put in the top rack of the dishwasher, but I always hand wash all of my pump parts. 

The Elvie has 5 parts to clean. Some of these parts are also pretty small. In addition, when using the parts after a wash, they must be completely dry in order for the pump to work.

Price

The cost of the Willow and Elvie is $500 unless you just want to purchase only one of the pumps. Insurance may cover these depending on what you have. You can also use your HSA or FSA to purchase them. I was not able to use either of these, but the investment was worth it, and I would definitely do it again if it meant I was able to be this successful in my BF journey. 

Apps

Both of these hands free pumps have apps that Bluetooth with the pumps. The app tells you the battery life, the suction setting, and how much milk you have pumped. It allows you to track your pump session and your milk output. 

Noise

The Willow is a quiet pump, while the Elvie is a silent pump. 

Battery

Both pumps take about 2 hours to charge. The Willow provides you with one charger while the Elvie provides you with 2, if you buy the double pump. I have found that the Willow has a longer battery life. I think you could get 4 pump sessions out of the Willow, while I can only get 3 out of the Elvie. 

Pros and Cons based on my experience

The Willow

Pros:

1. You can wear it anywhere and anytime. I never had any issues with it leaking or the milk being spilled no matter how active I was. 

2. It stores the milk for you, and syncs nicely with your phone.

3. It has few parts, and they are easy to clean and assemble. 

Cons:

1. If you have the 1.0 it can get costly. It was costing me $3 a day, on top of the $500 I initially spent. However, generation 2 and 3 has reusable milk containers that would eliminate the $3 a day cost. 

2. They are louder than the Elvie and are more noticeable. 

3. The suction was quite strong, and it took a while to get used to because it was uncomfortable at first. I realized later, that I was wearing the wrong size breast shield, but even my friends that were wearing the correct size said the suction was quite strong. It is definitely something you have to get used to. 

The Elvie

Pros:

1. You can reuse the parts, which saves $3 a day. With both pumps I made sure I had enough parts to last a whole day without washing between sessions, but I liked how these stored the milk in a reusable bottle.  

2. It is not noticeable and fits quite comfy. The Willow tended to stick out a little further. When I'm pumping with my Elvie, no one notices, and I am not uncomfortable.

3. It is a lot quieter. It makes very little sound. 

Cons:

1. It can leak if you lean over or are walking fast, causing the milk to slosh around. I haven't had this problem in a long time, but it can happen. 

2. The battery life will last for 3 pumps only. 

3. There are more parts to clean than the Willow and the breast shields and suction parts must be 100% dry before you can use it.  

BF is not for all. If is it not for you, know that it is okay. It is extremely hard. It's actually how I came to name my blog. Grit and Grace is exactly what it takes to BF. I have never in my life faced something so challenging. It takes a lot of research and trial and error to do what's right for you, your baby, and your family. I so wish we had more education/tips and tricks on BF at our fingertips. There are lots of places on social media that you can find to help you throughout your journey, but you really have to look and be open to different views. 

I have used both pumps in many different places while doing many different things. I pump frequently in the car. I pump daily at school. I have pumped multiple times during different conferences I have attended. I recently went to Broadway in downtown Nashville and listened to some good music on the rooftop of Kid Rock's place while pumping. I even took my pumps out while walking down Broadway and the people I was with never even noticed. No shame. 

In my opinion, these pumps don't limit what you can do while BF. I don't have any excuse that I can't go somewhere or do something because I have to pump. Pumping is so simple with the Willow or the Elvie. 

I carry my pumping bag around with me, and a lot of people just think it's a purse. 

Both pumps are great; it depends on what you are looking for/care about with a pump. As always, if you have any more questions about either pump or BF, please reach out!

-Lauren

Top Ten Items for Your Baby Registry

Creating a baby registry can be so overwhelming. The number of baby items out there is truly remarkable. I searched and searched for things that I thought Lewie would need. After Lewie was born, I realized there were many things we received that we truly needed, and there were a few things that we did not register for that I definitely wish we would have.

To those of you who are not becoming parents or planning on becoming parents, these may be gift ideas for you! You could also give them a gift card to purchase one of these items. 

These are my top ten must haves!

1.     Owlet – Hands down, number one thing parents need. I don’t care what anyone says, if it does nothing else, it gives parents peace of mind. We loved this during the newborn stage because it kept track of his oxygen levels and his heart rate. In addition, it tracked his sleep. When Lewie was around 9 months, he had RSV. This was truly a life saver. He loves sleeping in his crib, and this gave me the peace of mind that I needed. We had an issue with it alarming us that it could not get a reading. We simply contacted Owlet, followed the steps they provided, and they sent us a new one very quickly. 

2.     DockaTot– Whatever your sleeping situation may be, I feel like this is a great purchase to make. These are pricey, but worth every penny in my opinion. Lewie had his best sleep (until he was sleep trained) in this. I had a C-Section, so in order for me to nurse him, it was best that he was right between us, so Nick or myself could easily grab him. I felt that this was completely breathable, and with him wearing the Owlet and being right beside me I was able to sleep easy. We liked that, although he was in the bed, he had his own space and there was no chance of us rolling over on him. We ended up buying an extra cover for it, and we are so glad we did (especially for the nights he leaked through his diaper or decided to have a blowout at 3AM). I recommend doing your research and making the best decision for you and your baby. If you have big bucks, I would recommend looking into the Snoo!


3.     Ollie Swaddle – Oh swaddles, you name them, we tried them. No one could convince me to pay $60 for a dang swaddle...but I did...twice! We tried other, cheaper swaddles, and I don’t know if we just had the squirmiest little babe, but he escaped EVERYTHING. My mom is a complete pro at swaddling, like better than the nurses at the hospital, but Lewie would escape every time! These are the only swaddles I will ever use. They are pricey, but worth it. Lewie was a big, chunky babe and grew so fast, and we loved that these grew with him and were so, so easy to use (Dad was actually the best at wrapping him in it). 

4.     Noise Machine –  We used and are still using the Hatch Noise Machine. My bestie recommended using this. It bluetooths to your phone, which is amazing. We relied on it heavily while sleep training. Lewie sleeps with white noise, but when it's time to get up, we turn on bird sounds with a blue light. It's one of my favorite things to watch, because he gets so excited when those birds start chirping! We used a babyshusher when Lewie was a newborn, which I swore I would never do. I actually enjoyed it for him. We used it for naps during the day and when we went on car rides. 

5.     Diaper Caddy– My husband, Nick, and I are routine people. We are not rigid schedule people, but we love routines. After about a week and until 3 months, we got up once a night around 3 to tag team the middle of the night feed. I would warm the bottle up and get my pumping things, while Nick changed the diaper and onesie, if needed (because boys) and would get him ready to eat. Having the diaper caddy stocked with all the things was so necessary and made our routine flow flawlessly. We kept one in our bedroom and one in the living room so we would have one during the day. Some items we kept inside were all things Fridababy, diapers (we use Hello Bello and love them), wipes, A+D (for boys parts and sweet booties), Gripe Water, Gas Drops, syringes, Thermometer, Hello Bello lotion, a onesie, and an extra Ollie Swaddle.

6.     Carseat – I highly recommend this carseat. We did not have it, but we had to move Lewie into a big boy seat very early, because apparently milk does the body good, and we couldn’t carry him in his carseat. This one transforms into a stroller with a click of a button. It is pricey, but you honestly get what you pay for! The moms that I have seen use this car seat/stroller were able to use it for quite a while. We will definitely be purchasing this when we decide to give Lewie a brother or sister!

7.     Blankets - Lewie was born in March, so every outing required a blanket. Our favorites were Copper Pearl. They have lots of great products! We used their bibs when teething started. Their blankets are extremely soft. I wish they made adult sized ones because they would definitely be on my bed. They are a good spring/fall blanket; they aren't too heavy. We always carried a weighted animal with us (see below) so these blankets were perfect in combination with our beloved turtle. Copper Pearl has a website, but we have one or two local boutiques that sell their products. 

8.     Baby wearer – I had a Moby with Lewie when he was a newborn, I loved how cozy the material was. I currently use a Lillebaby, but when he was fresh and new I really wanted a cotton, cozy wrap to wear him in. They do take some practice to get the fit just right, but once you get it, it's like you have turned into a sweet kangaroo and your little joey is all snug right next to you while you do all the things!

9.  Weighted Animal – This little guy was a miracle worker. We put his weighted turtle on his feet at night, during naps, and while in the car. This helped calm him so, so much. He loved having his turtle on his feet. You could also warm the turtle, and it has a Lavender scent as well. This turtle was a sleeping necessity until he began rolling over.

10. Lovey - I highly recommend getting your little one some type of Lovey. My sweet best friend made one for Lewie, and he absolutely loves it! When he was a newborn we would nurse with it, and it wasn't until he started sleep training that he really got attached to it. He uses it to comfort himself, which I am so proud of him for learning to do. He didn't suck a paci very long, so he did not have that to comfort him. If your babe takes a paci then you might not need a Lovey. 

Goodness! This made me miss the newborn stage so much! There are many things not on the list, that I think are essential for parents, but I just narrowed it down to 10. Of course, if you want to know more, please reach out to me! If you are looking to buy gifts, but don't see something on this list you want to buy, please let me know, and I can point you in the right direction. 

-Lauren