This post is sponsored by Acorn Influence and it’s advertisers. All opinions are mine alone. #StockUpOnSoothingSoftness
Help make a new mom’s first days home a little less stressful with these first day essentials.
There is nothing more exciting (and terrifying) than having a new baby. Whether it’s your first or fifth the thought of coming home with your little bundle of joy is one that is met with mixed emotions. I know when I came home with my first all I did for the first week was feed him, change his diaper, nap with him, feed him, change his diaper…you get the idea. I wasn’t really sure what moms were supposed to do at that point and I basically did whatever he did. Boy was I rested!
Fast forward to the next year when we brought our second son home. No more living on the baby’s schedule. Now I had two little humans to take care of and I had to do more than just eat and sleep. Now that we are weeks away from expecting our third baby I’m looking back and trying to remember what those first few days and weeks were like with babies. For myself, but also for the dozen or so friends I have that are expecting in the next month t0o. I wanted to be prepared this time, not just for baby’s needs but for my needs as well. These are the things that came to mind about those first few weeks.
Man was I hungry! I was spending most of my time making sure my baby (and my toddler) was getting enough to eat and at the right times I often forgot to eat myself. I remember days when I would go until dinner without eating a thing and then sit down at the table and eat way more than I should have. I also forgot to drink. That’s one of the things they tell you when you’re leaving the hospital; make sure you’re drinking plenty of water. HA! Easier said than done. I also remember how dirty I felt. Not like I need to take a shower dirty, but like my shirt, my pants, my face had all been turned into burp cloths, wash cloths and everything in between. I remember after a month or two being home telling my husband I had to go buy new clothes because everything I owned had stains on it.
So now that I somewhat remembered what those first few days were like it was time to put in to place a plan to make this transition a little more smoother; and help the new moms I know get started on the right foot too.
One thing that I’m more aware of now that I have two little ones is that germs are everywhere! Especially with the fall and winter months coming up I know coughs, sneezes and runny noses are going to happen no matter what. So I started off my “survival kit” with a few things that will help keep the germs at bay. First thing was hand sanitizer. I’ve been blessed with healthy kids so far but already in the last month we have had to go to the doctor for 2 different cases of strep and a viral infection. I’m now going to be that mom breaks out the bottle of sanitizer at every cough and sneeze.
Next, I stocked up on some good quality tissues. Nothing is worse than having a runny nose and being stuck using harsh toilet paper to blow your nose (or the nose of your little one). When I was at Sam’s Club stocking up on some quick and easy meals I saw a 10 pack of Puffs Plus Lotion Tissues. I added a pack to the cart and was happy to see that they are dermatologist tested to be soft on sensitive skin. This is perfect for my boys and for our new baby girl. I’ve already set up boxes in all the bedrooms, living rooms and bathrooms. No runny, red sore noses this year! I also picked up some fun lip balm and lotion to keep my lips and hands smooth with the dry air.
Next I wanted to make sure I stayed healthy for my family and had plenty of energy to keep up with three kids. I stocked up on some quick and easy snacks that were high in fiber. One thing they don’t tell you after giving birth is how easy it can be to get backed up. I learned the hard and painful way with my first so I made sure to grab snacks that were high in fiber. I picked up some granola bars, fiber bars and dried fruit. I also got a cute cup and some water enhancer to remind myself to keep up on the water intake. If you want to make your own Mama Bear cup you can find the tutorial here.
To take care of the burp cloth shirts and pants I picked up a few packs of these stain removers. I have one in my purse, one in the baby’s room and one in the kitchen. That way whenever a spill, burp, throw up happens I have what I need right there.
Lastly, I added a fun coloring book and colored pencils to get my mind off mom things when the kids nap and to help me relieve some stress. Who knew coloring was a stress reducer but it totally is! I also picked up a notebook and some fun pens. As much I think I remember from those first few days I’m sure there is a lot I have already forgotten and I don’t want that to happen again. Now I can keep track of all the cute things that go on through out the days and also important milestones. I know that’s what baby books are for but with three kids, whose got time for that!
While I was at Sam’s Club I picked up multiples of everything so I could put them together in gift baskets for friends. I lined a basket with a swaddling blanket (because who doesn’t love getting a pretty blanket for their baby) and loaded it full of goodies. I opted to give full size boxes of Puffs Plus Lotion because you never know as a new mom when you’ll burst into tears for no reason and it’s nice to be able to have a soft tissue to dry our eyes, or baby’s eyes, with.
Are you expecting a little bundle of joy this year? What items would you want in your new mom survival kit? To help build your survival kit, or for anything else you could think of, Puffs Plus Lotion and Sam’s Club are giving away not one but TWO $250 gift cards; one for you and one for you to give to a friend! All you have to do is enter below.
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