A Girl Named PJ

the best baby app

January 31, 2012

I was recently asked by a fellow mom on Twitter to recommend iPhone apps. Happy to help!

Topping my list? Baby Connect. To say that I’m a bit obsessed with this baby tracking application would be an understatement. A simple way to figure out how long it’s been since Levi’s last feeding, I use it multiple times a day to keep track of his nursing schedule — and have been since we left the maternity ward in July. The app tells me the length of each feeding session and on which side he last nursed, which is helpful even today. Mommy brain is legit, people.

In the beginning, my husband and I also used Baby Connect to track Levi’s wet and dirty diapers because we knew his pediatrician would ask for those numbers. While we no longer enter that data, we do log his naps. I love how the charts and graphs help me determine patterns and changes in behavior. (Or in our case, Levi’s lack of patterns.)

JB and I have the app on both of our iPhones as well as our iPad. We also purchased it for our nanny’s phone so that she can keep track of Levi’s activity during the work day. When will we stop using Baby Connect? Probably when Levi stops nursing and when he is on a predictable napping schedule. Who knows when that will be…

Baby Connect is so much more convenient that tracking all this information in a notebook or on random pieces of paper. It’s definitely worth the $4.99 for the iPhone version. (Oh! And there’s even a free web version!)

More of my favorite iPhone apps for new moms coming later this week!

top 10 newborn essentials

January 30, 2012

This weekend I learned that a good friend is pregnant with her first baby! As soon as I heard the news, I started compiling a list of my newborn essentials to share with her–and then decided that I should share them with you, too!

Without further ado (and in no particular order), here are the 10 items I swore by when Levi was born.

1. Summer Infant SwaddleMe
Some friends swore by the popular Miracle Blanket, but JB and I thought this Velcro “straight jacket” was much easier to use, especially during post-diaper change re-wraps while we were half asleep. We also had Aden & Anais muslin blankets for swaddling, but we found we could swaddle Levi tighter and more securely in a SwaddleMe.

2. Sleep Sheep
I remember other bloggers complaining that this white noise machine was ugly yet effective. Of its four options, the sound of “Mother’s calming heartbeat” seemed to truly calm Levi. Eventually, I began to hear in my head the rhythmic beating of the sheep even when it wasn’t on, but Levi benefited from it, so it played.

3. Gerber long-sleeve onesies
These were a gift from another new mom, and I quickly understood why she recommended them. They met three important criteria: practical, inexpensive and cute. I loved that these kimono-style bodysuits didn’t have to go over Levi’s head and that they had built-in mitten cuffs to protect his face from scratchy nails.

4. Medela Tender Care Lanolin
Another friend recommended the Lansinoh version, but I found it to be too thick and difficult to wash off my fingers after applying. Medela’s lanolin went on thinner but worked just as well. (And while you’re in the breast care aisle, pick up a couple boxes of Medela Disposable Nursing Bra Pads — you’ll need ’em!)

5. Changing pad liners
“Open air incidences” are inevitable, especially with baby boys, and swapping just the pad liner is so much easier than replacing the entire changing pad cover. Buy yourself two changing pad covers and a couple of liners to keep in rotation.

6. BabyLegs legwarmers
If you have a warm weather baby, you don’t need to dress a him or her in anything but a simple onesie (see #3). BabyLegs legwarmers keep baby’s legs warm (duh) while allowing easy access to a onesie’s snaps make diaper changes a snap (pun intended). They come in a variety of fashionable patterns and colorways, adding a bit of whimsy to a plain bodysuits.

7. Stella nursing bra
This seamless Basics by Bravado nursing bra offers virtually the same comfort and support as Bravado’s signature line but for almost half the price. I found mine at Target, and they’ve become my favorite bras because of their smooth fit and lightweight construction.

8. Infant gas drops
We learned early on that Levi experienced painful gas, and Mylicon became our magic remedy. After giving him the recommended dosage, we’d quickly put his pacifier back in his mouth so he could suck down the medicine. Some people claim that infant gas drops don’t work, but we found them to be an effective treatment for Levi. Worth a shot, at least.

9. My Brest Friend
I debated between this nursing pillow and the Boppy and ultimately got both, but I quickly found that My Brest Friend offered more support during breastfeeding. Its wrap around design really did help me maintain my posture, especially in bed where I nursed Levi the most. Don’t forget to bring it to the hospital with you!

10. Bassinet for bedroom
A friend loaned us a bassinet so that Levi could sleep next to our bed rather than down the hall in his nursery as we had originally planned. I’m so glad we were able to keep him close to us during those first few weeks. It made middle-of-the-night diaper changes and feedings easier and relieved some of my new mom anxiety about whether Levi was breathing. In those early days, I also think it helped the three of us bond as a new family.

There you have it! My top ten must-have newborn items. I’ll share a couple of close runners-up throughout the week, so stay tuned. In the meantime, if your list of baby essentials looks different than mine or if you think I forgot something major, please leave a comment below!

Homemade playdough recipe

January 27, 2012

Levi is obviously too young for playdough, but I’m going to file away this homemade playdough recipe for when he’s older. I also love the idea of gifting this D.I.Y. kit with a mini rolling pin and cleverly shaped cookie cutters.

Have you ever made your own playdough?

storytelling

January 26, 2012

While we’re on the topic of books…

How would you rate your storytelling skills? If you’re interested in honing your craft, hop on over to Claudia’s blog to learn a bit about the fine art of storytelling. There are also adorable photos of her daughter reading La Chenille Qui Fait Des Trous, which is the French version of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Too cute! And is that not the largest board book you’ve ever see?!

We love to read Sandra Boynton’s books to Levi, especially Moo, Baa, La La La. Have you read it? It’s a fun book to read to babies, and popular, too–we received 3 copies of it when Levi was born. How sweet does baby guy look during story time last night? He was so sleepy!

good night florida

January 25, 2012

Do you buy souvenirs while on vacation? I try not to bring tchotkes like magnets, t-shirts and the like home from my travels. In general, I find them to be a waste of money, and I don’t want to give up precious refrigerator, closet or drawer space for items I’ll probably never use. Just say “no” to clutter!

But when we were in Miami last weekend, my mom spotted the perfect souvenir for Levi: Good Night Florida, a board board from the Good Night Our World series. Each book highlights the attractions of a particular location, going through a day’s worth of activities. Thanks to a childhood friend, we already own Good Night New Jersey; she wanted to make sure Levi was connected to his mama’s East Coast roots. (She paired the book with Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of Bon Jovi–so clever!)

It’s hard to think of books as silly souvenirs, and I love the idea of starting a collection of Good Night books from all the places we visit. These books are not literary works of art, but they are cute and fun to read.

PS: Here are some photos from our trip to Miami and South Beach!

{images via Amazon}