Dummies

While I was pregnant, I was convinced I would not be using dummies.

2 weeks after delivery, I was using dummies. Regularly.

The truth is, babies like to suck. It comforts them and makes them happy, it would almost be mean to stop them from doing it.

To be honest though, after a couple of weeks of sleepless nights, the Other Half and I were staring at our wonderful little girl wondering what the hell was wrong with her. She was fed, dry, warm. What else could we do to stop her from screaming the house down?

We tried the dummies we received in a hamper just after she was born. Thrown in the nearest drawer because we would never need them. Ha!

We tentatively put the dummy in her mouth. Silence. 

Blissful, amazing and wonderful silence.

We're still using them, and so glad we are. Sometimes, the Little One is perfectly okay, but just needs to be soothed.

I'm very aware that dummies have a had a bad rep, but they have kept me and the Other Half sane, and the Little One quiet. A very happy family indeed.

Sleeping bag

Get one. Now. Right now.

Honestly, they're a lifesaver. Before our Little One arrived, I dutifully bought some cellular blankets and I've been given a gazillion different blankets from friends and family. However, our little kicker hates them.

Granted, they're very handy for the car, but as for sleeping all night - the blankets are off in a matter of seconds.

After a couple of weeks of our Little One waking up cold at night, we tried a sleeping bag and she slept like an angel. Well, most of the time.

So, get one - now!

A few things to bear in mind when you're buying one.

1) Make sure you get the right tog rating. We're currently using a 2.5 tog sleeping bag, which keeps our Little One nice and toasty.

2) Don't buy light coloured ones - babies tend to dribble on the top bit - and no-one has time to wash them every morning!

3) Make sure you can open and close the zip without any hassle and that it doesn't have too may buttons. The first one we bought had a very awkward zip, and just as the Little One was dropping off and we put her in the sleeping bag, we spent so much time faffing with the zip, that she was waking up!

4) Get a sleeping bag that is big enough, especially if you have a little kicker!

Photos:
Blanket
Sleeping bag 1

Sleeping bag 2

Sleeping bag 3

Sleeping bag 4

Bibs!

Like most mums-to-be, before the arrival of our Little One, I looked at all the pretty babygros, the cute little cardigans and gorgeous miniature leggings. But no-one told me that even if I did buy all these beautiful clothes for my Baby Girl, no-one would actually see them.

Most newborns feed every 2-4 hours, and therefore, the potential for any spitting up/posseting/full on projectile vomiting is extremely high. And so, in order to save that gorgeous cardigan your Little One is wearing, you put a bib on her. A big bib.

And so no-one sees her cute outfit. Boo!

It's a shame then, that no-one sells beautiful, practical bibs.

We were given a lot of bibs as gifts, but they're either very pretty but too small to catch any sick/dribble, or very practical (i.e. large and of the pullover variety (have you ever tried taking a bib off a baby when she's asleep, only to find that it closes with velcro - every mother's worst nightmare!)).

After a bit of googling, the only pretty-ish and practical bibs I could find were DIY (I can't sew!)...

...or only sold in Australia.

So, if anyone knows where I can find beautiful bibs, please do let me know! I'm tired of hiding my Little One's pretty outfits, or winging it without a bib and finding her covered in God knows what!

Pink bib
Yellow bib
Heart bibs

She's here!

So, 6 weeks after her arrival, here's a short post about the new addition to our family.

Our little girl, Lucy Lloyd, arrived at 03:10 on 17 November 2015, weighing a healthy 8lb 3oz.

Even though the birth didn't go quite according to plan, all that has faded from memory by now, and I'm loving motherhood.

The first couple of weeks were hard, trying to adjust to this new person in our lives. But now that the Other Half is back at work, we've got into a rhythm and I love seeing her change and develop every day. She's perfect in every way...even when she's filled her nappy or is screaming the house down for no reason whatsoever.

Welcome to our world Lucy Lloyd, I can't imagine life without you.