Drafts & Crafts

March 23, 2018 by Drafts & Crafts

More and more research is being done on swaddling so I wanted to create a quick blog post about what I think is important to know and why we loved the Ollie Swaddle for our newborn.

**donated product from The Ollie World

I wanted to cover a brief post on swaddling because I had a ton of questions about it as a new mom. It is becoming a somewhat controversial topic as more and more research is being done on swaddling. This is some information I have learned from when I was in the hospital with Winnie and from doing my own research online. So what is swaddling? It is wrapping your newborn in a somewhat tight blanket or swaddle to mimic the tight feeling of a mother’s womb. Since baby’s are so comfy and snug in their mama’s belly, people swaddle so their baby is cozy and may sleep longer stretches without flapping around and waking themselves up.

Swaddling can be safe and effective for newborn babies, but there are important factors to keep in mind. Research shows it is safest for babies to sleep on their backs. Only swaddle a baby who can not move and is sleeping on their back. Once a baby can roll over, it is no longer safe for their arms to be held down. Make sure the swaddle is loose enough around the legs that the baby has plenty of room to move their legs and hips. You do not want the babies legs to be “tied” down or held straight all night because it can damage their hip growth. You can see in the above pictures that Winnie still has plenty of room in her Ollie swaddle to froggy her legs out.

It is safest to get a “swaddle suit” (like The Ollie Swaddle), rather than just a blanket. Hospitals in the US no longer swaddle babies in blankets, they use a velcro swaddle vest. This is why we love The Ollie Swaddle that Winnie is wearing in the above photos. A velcro swaddle is safest since there are no loose ends that the baby could get stuck on or suffocate on if it becomes loose in the night. The Ollie Swaddle is breathable and made from a patented sweat wicking material. The swaddle is designed to wick any moisture away from the skin to keep baby warm and dry. At 2 months of age, we began to keep Winnie’s arms out of the swaddle so she can move more. I personally like to keep her swaddled because I know she is warmer all night without using loose blankets in the crib. We will eventually transition her into a sleep sack of some type. If you have any questions, never hestitate to call your pediatrician to ask about safe sleeping practices. If you have any questions about The Ollie Swaddle, check out their awesome website that has helpful information from doctors and doulas! I would love to hear about your swaddling journey so please comment if you would like to share!

Keep in touch,
Dani

February 25, 2018 by Drafts & Crafts

With recently having a baby and several friends due around the same time, I felt inspired to share what I would like to call some Labor & Delivery Visitor Etiquette. 

This post came to me in an organic way, thankfully, I did not have any bad experiences with hospital visitors. I thought I would share what I think is appropriate when visiting a new mama or family for the first time after they have a baby incase anyone is unsure or needs some friendly tips. If you are around my age, then you know plenty of couples in their 20’s and 30’s who are having kids! And even if you are not around my age, everyone knows someone who is having a baby- a family member, a neighbor, a coworker, so this is pretty relevant stuff if you ask me! Let me start by saying, anyone who is visiting someone in the hospital should be a family member or relativity close friend. Visiting a new mother is a personal experience, I mean within the last 24-48 hours she gave birth to her tiny human! IT IS A BIG DEAL! To keep in short and concise, here are some pointers.

Do’s

• check with the mother first to make sure it is OK that you visit
• ask if they would prefer a certain time
• bring something- my main suggestion is FOOD. ask what their favorite place is or get something yummy!
• wash your hands right when you get in the room
• don’t over do your visit
• ask if you can get them anything on the way. I forgot chap stick one time and just wanted some Burt’s Bees!
• if you visit the home, ask if you can do anything. Remember, just folding some laundry can be a HUGE help
• be mindful of the mother breastfeeding (espeically if you and your husband go to visit, it may be something that a women is not comfortable learning or doing in front of others)
• pick something up for the new mom or make her lactation cookies. Most people bring something for the baby, but I think its extra special to bring a little something for the mama. After all, she did just push a baby out or have her abdomen sliced open!

Dont’s

• don’t visit with young children (mainly wild toddlers, some hospitals have a no children, except siblings policy)
• don’t hog the new baby and hold he/she for too long
• don’t offer advice or tell the parents they should be doing something a different way
• don’t go if you have been any type of sick in the past 7 days. newborns immune system can not handle anything!

If you are out of town

• send something, I recommend food over flowers. (I LOVE flowers, but when you get a few in the hospital it is just a pain to carry them all out)
• text message a friend or family member to congratulate them and let them know that you are thinking of them, that way they can respond at their earliest convenience.

These suggestions may seem like common sense, but it is nice to just be mindful when visiting anyone in the hospital or at their home. I have heard some crazy stories from friends who’s mother in laws just come in and start giving their opinion and let’s be honest, no one wants to hear that! I would love to hear if you have any ideas!

Keep in touch,
Dani

January 17, 2018 by Drafts & Crafts

We felt so many emotions as we prepared to become a family of 4:  nervous, excited, overwhelmed, & blessed. I wanted to share some tips that I believe made it a smoother transition on our first child and for myself.

Verance Photography

Since becoming a mother of 2, I have had a few mamas who are excepting baby number 2 to ask me how the transition has been and what they should expect from baby number 1. I always like to preface by saying that I am not an expert and every child is different, but I did want to share some ideas that helped our family. I can promise you I experienced every single emotion while pregnant with Winnie. I believe everyone does, but I think they happen at different stages depending on your current situation and the current temperament of your first child. For instance, from the moment I found out we were expecting baby number 2, I knew my kids would be pretty close in age and it didn’t scare me. Tanner was 10 months old when I got pregnant. He was the best baby so I was not worried at all about having another. Then when he started to become a wild toddler around 15 months, I was a nervous wreck, thinking what did I get myself into, why did I think I was ready for a second baby. BUT we prepared the best we could, I tried to work on the things I was worried about and now Winnie is here and Tanner is a wonderful big brother. I hope these tips can also help your family too!

While pregnant here are some ideas to start preparing child number 1:

• tell the child they are going to be a big brother or big sister from the moment you find out you are pregnant
• tell them they are getting a new baby, not that mommy and daddy are having a new baby
• talk about the new baby every day
• have the first child help get the nursery ready for their new sibling
• bring the child to a doctors appointment where they could see or hear their sibling
• get the child a baby doll of their own to teach them how to be gentle and hold a baby
• do your best to save up leave if you will be returning to work
• make sure your husband will be able to take a few days or more when the baby is born
• plan ahead and see if your family or friends can help you with your first child
• make some frozen meals because cooking with 2 kids is a big adjustment
• dependent on the age of your first child, work on those daunting tasks that need work (potty training, bed transitioning)
• get a gift for the first child and give it to them in the hospital when they come to meet their sibling for the first time.
• plan ahead and order some simple toys off Amazon to keep the first child busy when you have to tend to baby. They will be thrilled to have some new items and it will keep their attention for a little while. They do not need to be expensive or fancy. Winnie happened to be born the week before Christmas, which was lucky for us because Tanner had so many new toys to occupy him. If you do want to get crazy, I would get one big item, like a play kitchen or tool bench would be amazing for the first child to play with. Here are some items that we got for Tanner to play with after Winnie was born:
  1. Window Markers
  2. Coloring Book and Stickers (order a few coloring books and sticker books in their favorite characters)
  3. Play Doh and play kit – Tanner loves this Melissa and Doug Kit

While at the hospital:

• give the first child their gift from baby 2
• don’t hold baby number 2 when the first child walks in if you can help it. Sit the first child next to you in the hospital bed and have daddy bring over baby number 2
• introduce the second baby as “our baby”
• let the first child hold (with assistance if needed) their new sibling
• encourage them to touch, feel, smell, the new baby

When coming home:

• get the first child excited, remind them of their new role as big brother or big sister
• encourage them to help, even if it is simple things like, hand mommy a diaper or throw something away
• encourage them to sing to their sibling or bring then toys
• whip out one of those new toys if its a day when you need a break or the baby is extra fussy
• try to plan at least once per day (for 30 mins) where you give your undivided attention to your first time, color with them, make a snack with them, take them outback and play. This has been a big help for us, but also is very hard some days with all that has to get done.
• and last, listen to your mind and body! If you are having a tough time, ask for help. Remember anyone who has a baby knows how tough the transition can be. Ask a friend to pick up your first child if you need a break. Ask someone to come watch the kids so you can go to the grocery store alone. This can be life saving!!

I would love to hear if you have any more suggestions or what worked for your family! Best of luck to any expectant mother out there!

Keep in touch,
Dani