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0 In Baby/ Motherhood

Products for new mom and baby – a Babbleboxx review

Products for new mom and baby - babbleboxx review

This post is sponsored by Babbleboxx but all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own

Welcoming a new baby is an exciting time! One of things I looked forward to each time was trying out new products and gadgets for mom and baby. Babbleboxx recently sent me their new mom and baby favorites and I had the opportunity to test out some cool goodies. Read on below to see all of the products and read my review.

Baby Magic Bath and Body Products for Baby

Baby Magic’s Calming Baby Bath, Calming Baby Lotion and Gentle Baby Lotion keep your baby’s skin hydrated and soft. Baby Magic has been a trusted skincare company for little ones for several decades. All of their products are hypoallergenic and free of sulfates, dyes, parabens, and phthalates so you can feel safe using them on your babies. And they smell really good too!

Starting in September, Baby Magic will be donating a portion of proceeds to Baby2Baby. Baby2Baby is an organization that provides children living in poverty with all of their basic necessities, something every child deserves.

To purchase, click the links below.

Calming Bath

Calming Lotion

Gentle Baby Lotion

Disney Lullaby Playlist

One of the greatest gifts you can get as a mama, whether you’re a new mom or a veteran is the gift of sleep. Disney Lullaby is a playlist featuring calming renditions of all of your favorite Disney tunes to help soothe your baby to sleep. Music has been a huge help as far as getting our little guy into a sleep routine. (Read more about my sleep tips here). Download Disney Lullaby on whatever streaming service you use to stream your music.

Download the playlist on your preferred streaming service here

Auto-Dish Detergent Pods from Lemi-Shine

With a new baby around, you’re going to have alot more dishes and bottles to wash. Lemi-Shine dishwasher detergent pods combine citric extracts for extra cleaning power that helps remove hard water stains, stubborn grease and food. I love cleaning products that use less chemicals and these detergent pods are a cleaner version. They’re available at most major retailers like Target, Walmart and Amazon.

Get up and Go B12 supplement

Boost your B12 with these great tasting and quick dissolving B12 supplements by Pink Products. Each tab offers a blend of 5,000mcg of Vitamin B12 and L-Carnitine so 1 tab is all you need! Plus they’re free of gluten, dairy, artificial flavors and preservatives.

Visit pinkproducts.com for a $2.50 off coupon and to find a retailer near you! Valid through 12/31/20

My First Horoscope Book

I love all things that tell me more about people’s personality types, horoscopes, enneagrams you name it. This book is so cute! My First Horoscope would make a cute baby shower gift for expecting moms to learn more about their little one’s personality. Mav is a Cancer like me and Maxwell is a Libra like his dad. It’s so crazy the similarities.

Baby Banana

Baby Banana is a company most well known for their baby toothbrushes and teethers. These are a huge hit in our house right now since Mav is teething. All of their products are 100% non toxic and BPA free. We personally love the Mystical Dragon Toothbrush (also comes in a Unicorn) to help introduce little ones to oral hygiene as well as soothe achy gums (works great in the freezer!). The Lil Squish Jellyfish is also a great sensory toy and teether as well!

Use code FALL50 to get 50% off through 9/30/2020

Breastfeeding Consultation from SimpliFed

Lastly, if you plan on breastfeeding or pumping, this is a great resource for you! SimpliFed is a group of highly trained lactation consultants available online for virtual appointments to help you make decisions and guide you on your journey through feeding your baby. I love their mission which is to help moms through the decision making process of infant nutrition – whether that means exclusively breastfeeding, deciding what pump to buy and/or supplementing with formula.

SimpliFed is offering a 10% discount for all of my followers and subscribers ! Once you book an appointment, you will enter OURTINYNEST-SimpliBox110. This code will get you 10% off a 30- or 60- minute lactation consulting appointment.

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August 27, 2020 By Nicolle

0 In Baby

5 tips to get your baby to sleep through the night

5 tips to get baby to sleep through the night

This post is sponsored by Phillips Avent but all opinions expressed are my own

Our first baby was an awful sleeper. To this day, 3 years later, he still isn’t consistent. So when it came time for baby #2, we were determined to create a better sleep routine. Teaching your baby to sleep is actually a learned skill but there are a few things you can do to help them sleep for longer stretches. Below I’m sharing 5 tips to get your baby to sleep through the night.

My tips to get your baby to sleep through the night:

1.) Set a routine – After dinner, we give the baby a bath and he gets a nice massage. I have his sound machine playing in his room and the lights down low when I bring him into his room to get him changed so that he knows it’s time for bed. He gets his nightly bottle or dream feed and then goes right down in his crib. Whatever your nightly routine is, just be consistent so that your baby can learn those cues and recognize when it’s time for bed.

2.) Dream feed – If you haven’t heard of a “dream feed”, it’s basically feeding your baby to sleep. Think of it like topping off your gas tank. Basically you rouse baby awake enough to feed and then put them back to bed. This cuts down on the number of times baby will wake to feed.

3.) Use a soothie – Both of my kids loved their Philips Avent Soothie Snuggler. The Soothie Snuggler is a BPA free soothie with a plush toy they can play with as they grow. There is a secondary piece that can attach to backpacks, bags etc. so they can use them when their older. They’re easily detachable which also makes them really easy to clean. Check out the cleaning instructions from Philips Avent below or this video.

To start, detach the Soothie pacifier from the Snuggle.
Sterilize the Soothie either in a Philips Avent Steam Sterilizer bag or in
boiling water for 5 minutes.
After sterilizing, allow the Soothie to cool for at least 5 minutes and
squeeze any trapped water out of the nipple.
Check the product before each use and replace the pacifiers immediately
in case of damage or weakness.
Philips Avent recommends replacing your baby’s pacifier after four weeks
of use.
You can wash the plush toy in a mesh laundry bag with your normal
laundry cycle. Set it out to air dry.
Once you’ve cleaned both parts of the Soothie snuggle you can connect
them back together and give the pacifier to your baby.
The plush toy is compatible with all Philips Avent Soothies and pacifiers
which can be swapped out and replaced with age appropriate
soothies/pacifiers as baby ages.
Philips Avent Soothies are designed for babies 0-3 months and 3+ month,
and other Philips Avent pacifiers are designed for babies 0-6m, 6-18m and
18+ months.
Once your child outgrows pacifiers altogether, his or her snuggly friend
can still stick around and conveniently attach to car seats, strollers, or
backpacks.

4.) Use a sound machine – I literally swear by mine! (Click for ours. It even projects little stars on the ceiling). Over time, my little guy has learned that it’s a cue that it is time for sleep once he hears the music playing. Now at a year old, when he’s tired, he goes in his room and brings me his little elephant sound machine to tell me he’s ready for bed.

5.) Give yourself grace – all babies are different. My first was an awful sleeper and my second has been a great sleeper since a very young age (me knocking on wood). At the end of the day, you have to do what works best for you and your family.

And be sure to check out these other posts

Nursery Reveal

Must haves for baby

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July 13, 2020 By Nicolle

1 In Baby/ Baby gift

Creative Baby Shower Gift Ideas

This post is sponsored by Linqia but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

So someone you know is having a baby. You want to gift them something special but don’t know what. I’m sharing some of my favorite creative baby shower gift ideas they are sure to love.

1.) Something handmade or personal – I love handmade, personalized gifts. One of my favorite handmade gifts that I received at my shower was a toy box that was made by my aunt and uncle. My mom and sisters displayed it at my baby shower and people each brought a book to start the baby’s library and stacked them on the toy box.

Some of my other favorite ideas are a personalized blanket with the months so that mama can capture those monthly photos to see how much baby has grown.

Another cute idea is this wooden sign you can personalize with baby’s name to be hung in the nursery. I got one for each of my boys from Hickory Hollow Designs and they are gorgeous!

2.) Newborn photography session – My sister’s gave this to us when I had my first and I was so glad that they did. With everything I had going on, I never would have thought on my own to book a photographer to take photos when we came home. And those photos, I will treasure them forever.

3.) Invest in their future – Whether you have a newborn or a teenager, it’s never too early to start saving for higher education. With the NY’s 529 College Savings Program Direct Plan, parents and family members can start putting away money for college now so that it’s less loans they or their children will have to take out later. It’s something you can always contribute to, so when birthdays start rolling around you always have a go to thoughtful gift. Plus, they have an easy gifting portal called UGift that allows you to give friends and family members a unique code to add to your 529 account My parent’s did a 529 plan with my sisters and I growing up and it was definitely helpful since higher education is very expensive and we were able to choose any eligible school, this includes vocation, trade schools, community colleges and graduate schools! For more information go to NYsaves.org.

What are some things that you received for your baby shower that was your favorite gift?

Disclosures:

Up to $10,000 is deductible annually from New York State taxable income for married couples filing jointly; single taxpayers can deduct up to $5,000 annually. State tax benefits for non-resident New York taxpayers may vary. State tax deductions may be subject to recapture in certain circumstances such as rollovers to another state’s 529 plan, nonqualified withdrawls, or withdrawls used to pay expenses for tuition in connection with enrollment or attendance at an elementary or secondary public, private or religious school. Please consult your tax advisor.
Investment returns are not garuanteed, and you could lose money by investing in New York’s 529 College Savings Program Direct Plan.
For more information about New York’s 529 College Savings Program Direct Plan, download a Disclosure Booklet and Tuition Savings Agreement at http://www.nysaves.org or request one by calling 877-NYSAVES (877-697-2837). This document includes investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses and other information. You should read and consider them carefully before investing.
Before you invest, consider wither your or the beneficiary’s home state offers any state tax or other benefits that are only available for investments in that state’s 529 plan. Other state benefits may include financial aid, scholarship funds, and protection from creditors.
The Comptroller of the State of New York and the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation are the Program Administrators and are responsible for implementing and administering the Direct Plan.
Ascensus Broker Dealer Services, LLC, serves as Program Manager and, in connection with its affiliates, provides recordkeeping and administrative support services and is responsible for day-to-day operations of the Direct Plan. The Vanguard Group, Inc., serves as the Investment Manager. Vanguard Marketing Corporation provides marketing and distribution services to the Direct Plan.
No guarantee: None of the State of New York, its agencies, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), The Vanguard Group, Inc., Ascensus Broker Dealer Services, LLC, nor any of their applicable affiliates insures accounts or guarantees the principal deposited therein or any investment returns on any account or investment portfolio.
New York’s 529 College Savings Program currently includes two separate 529 plans. The Direct Plan is sold directly by the Program. You may also participate in the Advisor Plan, which is sold exclusively through financial advisors and has different investment options ad higher fees and expenses as well as financial advisor compensation.

July 15, 2019 By Nicolle

3 In Motherhood/ printables

What you really need to pack in your hospital bag

This post contains affiliate links meaning I make a small commission

If you’re searching for a hospital bag checklist, you’ve come to the right place! There are tons of similar posts floating around the internet with checklists, but being a labor and delivery nurse and a second time mama, I’m sharing what you really need to pack in your hospital bag!

I remember with my first babe, we got sent in for induction after our appointment at 37 weeks. I was in no way prepared so I literally threw everything in a bag and off we went to the hospital. I remember strolling in looking like we were going on a week’s long vacation. This time, I definitely plan to be more prepared and intentional with packing my hospital bag.

Here is the down and dirty of what you really need to pack in your hospital bag

from a Labor and Delivery Nurse:

Flip Flops – I love these Croc flip flops. They are so comfy for walking around, grip to your feet and can also be worn in the shower.

Comfortable dresses/nursing gowns – I’m all about the comfortable dresses and these are like all I wore last time. They’re easy for nursing, a loose, non-binding option for csection recovery mamas and a simple way to look a little more put together. I love this one from the Nesting Olive. I bought it in a few colors.

Yoga Pants – I like these ones from Target because they are loose fitting and stretchy (so great for csection mamas).

Nursing Tops – I love this three pack of nursing tops on Amazon

Nursing bras – I got this three pack on Amazon. They are wirefree.

Swaddle blankets – seriously you can never have enough. I got a few from Copper Pearl and I love them because they are big, soft and super stretchy. They also have lots of different, fun prints.

Going home outfit for baby – Amazon has lots of cute ones. I like this one for a girl and this one for a boy

Boppy – I loved having my Boppy with me at the hospital to help with breastfeeding. The lactation consultant was able to show me different positions that were comfortable post c-section.

Pillow – your own pillow. I know sometimes on L&D especially when we’re slammed we run short on pillows so I always tell people bring your own from home. That means dad or your support person too.

Diffuser – Not only is it nice to have going during labor, but also in postpartum for overall rest and relaxation. I have mine that I use from Young Living but I like this one from Amazon as well. My favorites for sleep and relaxation are lavender and frankincense.

Phone charger – I have this extra long one from Amazon.

Camera

Headbands/hairties – I found these cute ones with a bow on Amazon.

Toiletries – Ok so the hospital does have some stuff but I’m a little particular. I got a cute cosmetic bag and hit the travel sized toiletry bins at Target and stocked up on everything I needed. Don’t forget the dry shampoo and chapstick!

Pacifiers – some hospitals no longer provide them especially if they are Breastfeeding Friendly. So if you know you are going to want them, bring your own just in case.