Baby Bargains- the most helpful book a mother-to-be could have!

I honestly don't remember how I found out about this book... I'll update later if it comes to me, but I'm sure glad I did! Baby Bargains was attached to my arm for weeks during baby prep, and I even brought it with me into stores.  The authors of the book sure know what they're doing; the 11th edition is about to be released! (April 2015) Basically, they do the research grunt work for you. The information comes from consumer reviews, safety tests, customer service responses, and recalls. All types of products are covered, and the book is laid out more as a guide, not something you read cover to cover. I loved that they cover products of all price points, and really help you find what's worth the money and what's not. 

There are helpful charts, specific reviews, and overall best budget,mid range, and luxury picks. I followed the advice for many products, and was very satisfied with the information. I'll be giving this book to every new mom I know because it was so incredibly helpful. Be sure to check out the new edition if you are expecting, because things have changed a lot since my baby was born. There are many new products that won't be in the 10th edition that I have.

Thanks for reading!

The Zipadee-zip

This one got bumped to the top of my list because it really came to my rescue last week! 

The Zipadee-zip is a clever twist on the sleep sack to help babies sleep better.  It was designed as a transition for babies that struggle to stay asleep without a swaddle. The story is explained more in-depth on their website, but basically the zippy (as we call it) gives the baby boundaries for when they wake and feel like they're falling. Many have given rave reviews about how it instantly helps their baby sleep through the night, but I was not so lucky.  However, we still LOVE the zippy!

My son slept without a swaddle in our room (and sometimes our bed) after the first two months or so, but when the dreaded 4 month sleep regression wore me down, we decided to move him to his own room. The problem was, if he even cried for 30 seconds, he scratched his face so badly that it left scabs! He could get socks off of his hands, so I ordered the zippy out of desperation to keep him from hurting himself. For that purpose, it worked like a dream.  He very quickly learned to put himself to sleep, and I don't have to worry about what injuries he could inflict during my walk to his room for feedings overnight. It would have been nice for it to solve all of our night-waking problems, but I'm still a very satisfied customer.  He can roll around and grab his pacifier just like if his hands were uncovered. It's especially nice during the winter when we needed an extra layer. 

This past week, we were in New Orleans with my husband on business, and it was unusually cold while we were there.  I tried taking my son to do some sightseeing, but it was hard to keep him covered and warm (especially when I didn't expect that kind of weather). I often wear him in our ErgoBaby carrier, but his pants ride up, exposing bare leg, and once again, he wouldn't leave socks on his hands. Zippy to the rescue! 

We walked to dinner each night like this, and he was as content as could be. We had a beanie on his head, so all I had to worry about was his nose. I am so grateful for this bonus use of a product we already love and bring everywhere!

Pros: Hands (and nails!) covered for warmth or protection, covers whole body securely, safer than a blanket, helps baby feel secure, supports a small mompreneur business

Cons: a little pricy at about $37, hard to get quickly if out of stock, not available in stores

Tips for the Zipadee-zip if you're looking to buy one: 

-Sign up for email notifications from the company. They sell out of smalls and mediums as quickly as they restock. They'll let you know when they expect a restock so that you can be prepared. 

-Smaller is better.  You want it to be a little snug, and even at 9 months, my son still wears a small.

-If you have a friend who wants one, combine your order and split the shipping. They also offer discounts from time to time for ordering more than one!

-Singing Zipadee-doo-dah as you zip your baby up will make you both smile.  Ok, well us anyway :-)

Thanks for reading!

Boppy vs. My Brest Friend

VS.

Let's talk nursing pillows!

Prior to having my son, I knew I was going to give breastfeeding my best shot.  I knew all about the Boppy, and nearly all mommy friends had one, even if they bottlefed. I got it during a great sale at Target for a discounted price and a with a free cover. I was ecstatic and thought I was set. 

We brought it to the hospital, and I enjoyed having something to support his tiny little body with, but I felt like I was doing something wrong.  Not to mention, breastfeeding was NOT going well. (We had a pretty bad tongue tie, which I'll gladly post about later, if anyone is interested.) 

We went home still having extreme difficulty with his latch, so at 6 days old, I attended my hospital's support meeting. I brought my Boppy with me, but they had several of these pillows I had never seen before. It was the My Brest Friend nursing pillow. I tried it out and immediately went home and ordered one (after hunting for the best price, of course). Here's why:
The Boppy was constantly sliding away from me and the baby was sinking between me and the pillow. It also was a little too rounded on top, making it uneven for the baby.
Now I know there are many who say they didn't need any kind of pillow, or that regular bed pillows were sufficient, but because of the tongue tie, I had to be able to use both hands to help the baby latch, so I couldn't hold the baby up and steady the way others can. We also were stuck on the couch nursing for nearly an hour at a time.
 What makes the My Brest Friend pillow different, is the shape and the strap. It goes around your waist from the side and clasps into place. It can be tightened to stay close to the body. It's top is mostly flat with two raised spots to boost the baby's head, but my lactation consultants had me boost the baby even more with rolled up blankets. There is also a little bit of cushion on the strap up against your back. It felt nice as I tried to get comfortable. Now don't get me wrong, I don't hate my Boppy. I used it in our bedroom at night prior to figuring out how to side lie nurse, and then found other great uses for it.  I'll break down the pros and cons of both, because what worked for me, may not be best for you. Also, Boppy has now come out with a nursing pillow that has a similar strap feature. We stopped using a pillow at all around 5-6 months, just because he's tall enough to have his bottom on my lap now.  If you have the opportunity to buy secondhand or receive a hand-me-down, don't pass it up! The covers for both are washable!

My Brest Friend
Pros: straps to you, tighter fit, more firm and flat top surface, handsfree (and standing) capability, can be worn higher on the waist-closer to breasts.
Cons: Some don't like the shape, higher price (between $35 and $50)

Boppy
Pros: slides on quickly, lower price (about $29), great for children holding your baby, great for helping baby learn to sit up
Cons: slides away too easily, too rounded on top
Overall, it depends on what aspects are more important in your situation.  I'm grateful that I had the chance to own both, but for breastfeeding, My Brest Friend was the clear winner.  Having said that, I credit the Boppy with helping my son learn to sit up.  It provided the right amount of support for him to work on reaching forward and build his core muscles.

^These were all taken just days apart. I was amazed at how fast he got himself sitting up.

^I don't have photos of myself using them, but here is my niece! Both pillows help support her elbows so that she can handle the weight of the baby.

^Another use for the Boppy, aside from nursing (He hated tummy time, but didn't mind it this way!)

Hope this was helpful! Comment with your opinions so others can see. Feel free to post questions if you have any!