The Magic of Swaddling

One of my very favorite baby products are my Aden + Anais swaddling blankets.  They are a MUST HAVE for newborns and my 9 month old still snuggles up in hers every night.  These Aden + Anais blankets are super thin and breathable, but are still able to keep baby really warm in the winter.  This is a big plus because overheating is linked to SIDS as one of the possible leading causes.


With Aden + Anais, you're in good company too--or at least rich and generally good looking company!  :)  Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Julia Roberts, Patrick Dempsey, Naomi Watts, Gwen Stefani, Jason Priestley, Minnie Driver, Jessica Alba and Isla Fisher are all big fans of Aden + Anais cozy swaddle blankets too (to name a few). Once you see one for yourself, you will understand why these celeb parents have made Aden + Anais muslin wraps a staple accessory!

Swaddling seriously is essential to getting your baby to sleep through the night.  These swaddling blankets make that a lot easier.  They are big, enabling you to swaddle your baby tightly and easily.  This also enables the blanket to grow with your baby.  When you have a tiny newborn, you can fold the blanket in half in a full triangle.  As they grow you can expand it into more of a diamond shape.  It is truly the most wonderful swaddling blanket.  They come in a great variety of cute colors and designs too.  I think my favorite might be the giraffes.  :)  These swaddling blankets are probably my #1 baby necessity that I would not be without. 

$$ Saving TIP for Aden + Anais:  These blankets are a bit expensive, but I truly think they're worth it.  To purchase a 4 pack it is around $40.00.  To make it a little cheaper, break them up.  Share with friends or give away for showers.  I'd recommend having two, so that if one is dirty the other one can be used; but even one would be enough!  Also, Target sells Aden + Anais for a reduced price.  They are a little different than their usual blankets, but still do the trick.  They're a couple of inches smaller, but are still great.  Target used to sell them in their stores, but they may only be available online these days.  These reduced price blankets are available only at Target.

MORE INFO ON SWADDLING

(My opinion and what I know about swaddling...)

Why is swaddling so great?  Your baby just came out of an itty bitty space where he or she was snug and warm and could hardly move at all.  Being swaddled makes them feel more like they are back in that comfortable space that they loved.  I hear all the time, "But my baby doesn't like being swaddled" or "But my baby doesn't like to have her arms swaddled down."  As far as newborns go, I don't think this is true in any situation.  (But that's just my opinion.)  Yes, I think that 99% of babies will fight the swaddle, especially the arms.  However, I also think they'll all sleep better and be more comfortable if you just SWADDLE THEM ANYWAY, arms and all.  Just do it, I tell you, JUST DO IT!  :)


How to swaddle?

These are the instructions included with the Aden + Anais swaddlers.  These instructions are pretty much what I follow, however I have learned a few other tricks that I prefer to do.  First of all when I wrap the first side (left point under right side of body), I do not swaddle the arm down.  I think that tucking the blanket under the armpit and then under the body with the arm over the top helps it to stay tight.  The bottom then is folded up and tucked under the body on the side that you have not yet wrapped (under the right side of the body).  The second side then wraps over both arms and holds them both down tight (right point under the left side of the body) and tucked securely under the whole body.  The wrap does not cover the shoulders--this was one of my biggest confusions with swaddling at first.  The shoulders lie square with the blanket and the blanket wraps around the side of the shoulders and arms, not over the top of the shoulders at all.

When to swaddle?  Swaddling always helps baby to sleep better.  However, if you really want your baby to get used to sleeping through the night, it is best NOT to swaddle baby at nap time.  Bedtime needs to be very different from nap time.  At nap time we don't darken the room or hush the house, we also shouldn't swaddle.  That way baby learns there is a difference between nap time and bedtime and they learn that bedtime is the time to relax and sleep for a long time.

When to stop swaddling? I don't know!  I'll let you know when I get there.  :)  But here are my thoughts...I plan to swaddle my baby to a year (at least) although I am not certain if it is still completely necessary.  My baby usually pulls her arms out of her swaddle pretty quickly, especially if she isn't completely ready to fall asleep immediately.  Sometimes she is completely unswaddled when I go in to get her in the morning.  I am sure she'd be fine if I just swaddled her under her armpits instead of swaddling her arms down these days.  I do think that swaddling the arms down is essential for newborns.  This will greatly help simulate the womb much better than not.  But as your little one adjusts to living in this not-so-comforting world, I think you as a parent can determine at what point your baby will sleep just as well without his or her arms swaddled down.

I am sure that sooner or later I will stop swaddling my baby, but for now, it is still working well for us!  What I do know, is that even when we're done swaddling, she'll still be loving and snuggling with her Aden + Anais!  :) 

Homemade Baby Food

If you are interested in making your own baby food I found this great blog that could help. 

 I haven't actually done it yet...but I have definitely thought about it.  
If you try it out, let us all know how it goes. 

http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/

Mama Bargains

I found this really awesome website that has great deals for Moms. They only post one product on at a time. As soon as that product is gone then they have a new one. Everything is 40% to 80% off retail price. Check it out, you might like it.   http://www.mamabargains.com//

Nuk--the only way to go

I am a nursing mom and had an extremely difficult time getting my baby to adjust to using a bottle. While I still nurse, I wanted the freedom of leaving her home for a few hours without having to worry about her starving. At first she absolutely refused to take a bottle; but finally she came around to the idea with much persuading.

For a nursing mother, I think Nuk bottles are the only way to go. To prevent nipple confusion (especially with very young babies), the Nuk nipple is the most like the breast. Because of that, it is also easier for them to latch onto if they're used to nursing. Another great benefit to the Nuk nipple is that it has an air ventilation system that lets the air out, greatly reducing gas and colic. (Not to mention that it comes in silicone which--again--I find to seem so much more clean.)

I've received a lot of hand-me-downs from my sisters and with them came about a million Avent bottles. I could not get my baby to latch onto these but I was bummed about having to buy all new bottles. Luckily I discovered that I could still use the Avent bottles and just buy the Nuk nipples to fit on them. If my baby pulls on the nipple it's more likely to pop out than if it were a perfect fit, but it works fine. Nuk also sells the smaller size ones that would fit on regular bottles too--although I prefer the wide ones because they're more like the breast.

When my baby was tiny though, I would pump and feed her out of the pump's smaller bottles and was able to find Nuk nipples for those too (and even received some free ones with free samples of formula I received in the mail). These days my baby isn't so picky and will take whatever I give her. I was at my mom's house the other day and all she had was an Avent bottle and some no-name bottle. I've tried both. While my baby takes them fine I was shocked at how much more fussy and gassy she was afterwards due to the lack of ventilation (therefore causing her to swallow more air). Nuk really does make the best bottle!

For a newborn baby I'd probably recommend the SLOW FLOW nipples (I'm not sure if those come in the wider silicone variety, I only have the thinner latex ones of those), but soon your baby will be able to adjust to the MEDIUM FLOW (which is what my baby still uses at almost 9 months). I have the fast flow nipples but they're still to fast for my baby and she doesn't like that she hardly has to suck to get out the milk.

Here are some of the other benefits they list for their product:
Unique orthodontic nipple reduces Colic & promotes healthy teeth formation. Simulates & supports breastfeeding. Wider base, more like mother's breast. Feeding hole positioning so milk mixes with saliva for good digestion. Flat side reinforces correct tongue position. Unique orthodontic nipple reduces colic and promotes healthy teeth formation. "Nuk® Air System" vent to reduce colic. Upper face is convex to stimulate correct palate development. 0+ months. Slow, Medium, and Fast Flow available. Silicone nipple.

I also recommend Nuk's sippy cup--it's great for transitioning out of the bottle phase. You can also buy just the nipple and it can slip right onto the bottles you already have to turn your bottle into a sippy cup! :)

NUK's Learner Cups will help you transition baby from breast or bottle to cup with ease. The parts are interchangeable to make it easy to mix and match and expand as your baby grows.

• Spill proof for out and about
• The special shape and natural softness optimally supports the transition from bottle to cup
• Extra soft spout made of natural latex or silicone
  
• NUK® ANTI-COLIC AIR SYSTEM® minimizes the swallowing of air

My girl LOVES that Nuk!  :)

The Best Binky on the Block

There are a lot of binkies out there to choose from. At most hospitals they give out Soothies brand pacifiers (those big blue ones). I have no objection to those pacifiers, but due to the sheer tininess of my baby's mouth, they didn't work so well for her and she often gagged on them. (And they aren't the cutest and are look HUGE in tiny little newborn mouths.)

At the hospital I was out they actually gave out vanilla scented ones and although my baby couldn't use them, I took lots home just to put around the house for the aroma. Mmmm! They also gave out Nuk brand ones that were pretty small and worked much better for her but even with her tiny mouth, they still left big indentations on the sides that looked uncomfortable.

When my friend came to visit me after having the baby she brought me a Playtes Ortho-Pro pacifier and said it was the only kind her little girl would take. It worked wonders. The nipple was small enough for her to really suck on. For the longest time it was the only kind she could really latch onto. Therefore I highly recommend Playtex brand Ortho-Pro pacifiers, especially if it is difficult to get your baby to latch onto a binkie.

Here are a few other reasons I love the Ortho-Pro:

• It's supposed to be better on their teeth
• Clinically shown to not interfere with natural teeth alignment and gum development
• Superior, patented, ultra-thin, wavy stem easily fits between baby’s gums, minimizing pressure on incoming teeth
• Unique, contoured nipple allows tongue to rest in a natural position without putting pressure on baby’s front teeth
• I love that you can buy it with a binkie cover. No matter what brand binkie you buy, be sure to look for one with a cover so you can keep it in the diaper bag and not worry about germs. Also, the Ortho-Pro cover works double duty as a sanitizer if you put a little water in it and microwave it with the binkie!
• Snap ‘n Clean™ sterilizer cover keeps dirt out and kills 99.9% of bacteria in just 2 minutes in the microwave
• My baby loves to hold onto the handle herself and she also likes to chew on the handle sometimes, especially now that she's teething.
• Moveable handle for easy insertion and removal
• Teething nubs on handle massages sore gums
• It's cute! And you can buy the ones with the clear nipple--which for some reason seem cleaner and don't gross me out so bad.
• Available in a variety of colors
• Available in silicone
• Other benefits:
• Vented shield allows baby’s skin to breathe to help prevent skin irritation
• BPA-free and Phthalate-free
• Available in Newborn and Older Baby sizes

WHY USE A PACIFIER?

Well, I'll be honest, my baby uses it as more of a teething toy these days than anything else, but it still entertains her. However, when you have a fussy baby, it is really convenient and nice to be able to just put a pacifier in their mouth and have them quiet right down. Also, babies are born with the need to suck. I don't remember the exact number but my pediatrician said that babies are born with the need to suck 12-19 hours a day. Well, they really cannot eat THAT much, and when you're nursing you really don't want to be used as a human pacifier (can I say OUCH?!). And last but certainly not least, did you know that pacifiers are recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics to help reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)?

Breast Milk to Formula

I have been trying for the longest time to get my baby to take formula but she wasn't going to have it. She is now 10 months old and I'm having the hardest time getting the baby weight OFF. It has been the most frustrating thing ever. I was determined to get her to drink formula so I could start to address this extra weight issue. 

I began asking everyone I could think of, what to do, and what they have done. Finally, I was talking to my sister and she said she was having the same problem with her little boy. She said, what she did was got the purple TARGET brand formula and mixed a little bit of her breast milk with it to get him use to it. I thought, ok I will give it a try. I bought a can but didn't know what to do about the breast milk because I don't have a pump. Then I thought why don't I mix a little bit of the Gerber baby juice to sweeten it up a little. Well...she LOVED it. At that moment I almost felt FREE. Knowing that if needed she could have someone other then me feed her. After sweetening it up for 2 or 3 days she now will taking it without anything added.

So... tip is try purple Target brand up and up formula if your baby is having a hard time switching over from breast milk to formula. Either add breast milk or some kind of juice to sweeten it up for the first few times. GOOD LUCK and hope this helps someone in need.