new mom essentials

As a mom of three, I often get asked what to get new moms as gifts. While there are so many wonderful baby products on the market, I love creating a little gift basket for a new mom that is filled with all of the firsts that a new mom will experience in her journey of motherhood. Here are a few of my favorite items:

1. For the First Time Baby Gets Sick: I remember the first time Macks got sick. He was only about six weeks old and it was so heartbreaking knowing that I couldn’t do much other than cuddle and love on him to help make him feel better. To help keep mom prepared for that unexpected moment, I love to give them this Little Remedies® New Baby Essentials Kit that has everything you need to safely and effectively relieve your baby’s most common symptoms. Little Remedies has always been a favorite of ours since Harlan was born and I continue to use their products with all three kids. The kit includes Infant Fever/Pain Reliever, Soothing Syrup, Saline Drops, Gripe Water, Gas Relief Drops, and Nasal Aspirator. I’d never want a new mom to have to run out to the store when her little one gets sick and this kit has everything she would need in a nice convenient travel bag!

2. For the First Time Baby Reaches Those Important Milestones: Because you all know I love taking pictures, these Milestone Cards are perfect for every milestone your baby makes (big or small.) The set that I have comes complete with weekly cards, monthly cards, and moments like the first smile, first time they slept through the night, crawling, etc. that has a place for the date to be written on them. It’s a great gift for mom to help remember all of those special moments.

3. For the First Time Baby Starts Teething: This is a classic baby toy, but one that all three of my kids have used and has proven to help while keeping them entertained. Sophie the Giraffe  is made of a soft rubber that is safe for baby to chew on. The little legs made it easy for them to grasp with their tiny hands so that they can get a good chew on Sophie’s face. This toy definitely helps relieve some of that discomfort with teething.

4. First the First Time Baby Sleeps at Home: Taking your little one home for the first time is nerve racking. All of those things that the nurses and doctors did in the hospital are now left for you to do. I was never good at getting the baby swaddled perfectly like the nurses did, so I used this Ergobaby Swaddler to swaddle Macks to bed each night. It’s easy for me to put on, is secure, and even has a flap to change the diaper without having to un-swaddle the baby. Although Macks wasn’t the best sleeper, this swaddler helped give him the comfort he needed each time he fell asleep.

5. For the First Time Mom Takes Baby Out: When I had Harlan I was scared to leave the house in fear that she might cry, want to eat, have a blow-out, and anything else that could possibly go “wrong.” Little did I know that it’s absolutely necessary for new moms to get out of the house in order to avoid cabin fever. For that first trip out of the house, I loved bringing a swaddle blanket with me. My absolute favorite it the aden + anais merino muslin swaddles. They are so soft and can be used for nearly everything. I’ve used blankets to cover up the baby, as a sunshade for the car seat carrier, as a nursing cover, changing pad, and so much more. It’s a great item to always have with you when you are out and about with baby.

6. For the First Time Mom Needs a Pick-Me-Up. We all know that those sleep deprived nights can get the best of us. A gift card to a coffee shop is the best pick-me-up for mom so she can get some extra energy to help her get through the day.

 

What do you love to give new moms?

{This post is sponsored by Little Remedies. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks again for your support.}

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I always underestimated the value of sleep when I was younger. It wasn’t until I had Harlan and she refused sleep for months (which meant I wasn’t sleeping either) that I truly valued all that sleep has to offer.

While I don’t get as much sleep as I used to, I do know that the more sleep that I can try to get each night, the better off I am the next day and even in the future. I’ve started to get better with my bedtime routine each night so that I can wake up feeling and looking refreshed. Since being firm in my routine each night, I’ve noticed a drastic improvement in both my skin and my energy level. Even with three little ones to watch after, I wake up feeling as good as new. Here’s a peek into my nighttime beauty routine and what I’ve found works best for me.

1. Get your beauty sleep. Easier said than done with kids (especially with a newborn) but get as much sleep as you can each night. I am such a night owl and love to stay up late to catch up on work and television because it’s the only time that the house is quiet during the day, but staying up late every night can not only to damage to my energy level the next day, it’s also not great for your skin.

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2. Take off your make-up. Even when all you do it just go to bed, make sure that you wash your face. It’s one of the best things you can do for your face and your skin. To make everything easy, I use Aveeno® Positively Radiant® Makeup Removing Wipes. They are super easy to use and I can even keep a pack in my purse when I am on-the-go. They’ve made a noticeable difference in my skin and I wake up with my face feeling so soft and refreshed. They are also great because they don’t dry out my skin, especially during this time of year when the climate can be damaging to our skin.   These nourishing makeup removing wipes easily remove makeup, oil and dirt that can dull skin.

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3. Hydrate your skin. Other than a great daily moisturizer, there are several things you can do to help keep your skin from drying out at night. MacKay and I always have a humidifier in our room that we fill up each night and let run all day long, especially this time of year. It’s cruicial for us to have it so that our skin doesn’t dry out and it even helps us breathe easier at night. I also keep a glass of water by my bedside each night because I often get thirsty before I go to bed and in the middle of the night. By the morning, that glass of water is nearly empty. I also make sure to grab a glass of lemon water each morning right after stepping out of bed (and before my coffee) to help jumpstart my day.

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4. Use two pillows. Using more than one pillow to help you prop yourself up each night is said to help reduce puffiness in the morning.

5. Exfoliate. Use a gentle scrub on your face, lips, and feet before going to bed each night to help get rid of the accumulation of dead skin and to help keep your skin looking healthy. Do this before you moisturize.

For those of you who don’t know, my sister and her (now) husband have been together over 11 years, so this weekend has been a long time coming and I could not have asked for anything better to celebrate both of them.

They got married in Charleston, SC at Boone Hall Plantation and the setting was absolutely stunning. I’ve never been to Charleston before and didn’t get to see too much over the weekend, but will definitely be going back.

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Friday in Charleston was absolutely freezing, so the rehersal moved quickly, but it was fun to see the kids practice their walk down the aisle. Harlan and Avery were flower girls and Macks was the ring bearer.

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If you’ve never been to Boone Hall Plantation, go. It’s America’s oldest working living plantation. It was also the setting of The Notebook as well as Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively’s wedding (fun facts.)

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These oak trees that lead to the mansion were planted in 1743 and are the oldest row of oak trees. They are all evenly spaced out and lead to a gorgeous ride to the house.

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Friday night for the rehersal dinner, we packed up both families on a white school bus and headed to dinner. It was so fun to have everyone together all in one place.

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My family hasn’t all been together for a little while, so it was so nice to be able to spend time with them.

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My sister was absolutely stunning and we were so excited to celebrate her.

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The day of the wedding was quite relaxing and most of it was spent getting ready.

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All of the bridesmaids hopped on this vintage bus and headed to Boone Hall for the main event!

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We watched as my sister got her photos done while patiently waiting to join her.

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The kids were so excited to be a part of this wedding and couldn’t wait to have their moment.

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I told Harlan that she was in charge as they walked down the aisle. She did a great job throwing flowers, but Avery wanted them all to herself and just walked down without throwing any, but did have fun smiling at everyone as she passed by.

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The car that my sister made her entrance in with my dad before she walked down the aisle made for such a grand a beautiful way to begin the ceremony.

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My sister had so many great accessories to go with her wedding dress, but this fur was my favorite because it is my grandmothers.

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My sister had a clear vision for this wedding and it was perfectly executed. She did an amazing job at planning. My Matron of Honor speech that I was so worried about went better than expected and I was so happy to be able to put into words just how special she is to me.

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Each table setting had different vintage china with gold flatware (my favorite.)

 

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Cutting the cake!

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On Sunday before heading back to the freezing weather in Connecticut, we had a nice walk on the beach with my family and most of the wedding party. It was so nice to spend this time with them. I returned home with so many wonderful memories and a new brother!