Ointments, Creams and Pastes: One thing I didn't know - I'm sure this is common knowledge to all Mommies, but no matter how much baby sitting I did (a whole lot) I never had this explained or did I learn this. But you should always use an ointment, paste or cream when changing a diaper and not just baby powder. We didn't know and alternated between both when Naomi was first born and she got a really bad rash. We then only used an ointment and it went away and she didn't get another till she was 5 months old and eating solids. And even that was only caused by the Carrots. Or her sitting in her poo for too long (when she started sleeping through the night).
When she got her first really bad open sore one I went on a massive diaper cream/ointment hunt. I had to find which one worked! Amazingly the best thing was lots of nakey time and lansinoh (did you know it's not just for boobies?) right on the owie, then I put the thickest cream I could find. I changed her diaper every 2-3 hours and have continued with that. I tried out two different Desitin paste's/cream's (the two tubs you see) and found that the light blue "rapid relief" comes off easily. I wanted something that didn't. So I found the purple tub "maximum strength" (also super expensive.. yikes) and that was wonderful! It didn't come off easily (which means you use quite a bit of diaper wipes during diaper changes) so that when she pood or peed it would stay.
Once her rash was gone I went back to Aquaphor during the day (it's a clear ointment and is easy to remove and does a good job of protecting) since I change her diaper every 2-3 hours. Then at nights I put the purple thick cream on and it's still there in the morning with her super full wet and or poopy diaper! That's my diaper cocktail.
I like triple paste, too, but it's uber expensive as well, but only a few bucks more than the purple Desitin so I may try it once I'm out of that tub. I haven't seen what all the hoopla is about with ButtPaste. I've used it and it comes off pretty easily. But maybe the tub is thicker paste like the Desitin tubs?
First up: Changing Table
I don't have an actual "Changing Table". I have a borrowed dresser and put a changing pad on top. I personally think that buying a changing table with the frame for the changing pad built in is a little dumb. Because what will you use it for when your kid is either too big for the changing pad or is out of diapers? I would rather purchase a dresser and put the pad on it or a lot of the dressers that come with nursery sets have a removable frame. That way when they are older and you still want to use that dresser as a dresser you can and it wont look like it belongs in a nursery. That's my opinion.
Changing pad. I received one at my baby shower. I wanted one because I have a sister in law who has one and always uses it. I also have 2 other sister in laws who don't have one and just change their kid on the floor. I wasn't sure if I would use it or not. It sure looks cute in the room with the matching fabric from my bedding on it.
(I moved it to my family room for lighting purposes)
We have an automen and when Naomi was a newborn it was just easy to change her on that. I have a diaper caddy (talked about below) that comes with a plastic changing pad - I used that and then laid a receiving blanket over it. It wasn't until she was over 5 months old that we finally moved her changing station into her own room. I changed her on the changing pad for ever diaper change. And gradually in the last month or so, I've just started changing her diaper in the front room. Before she goes to sleep she get's a bottle and I change her while drinking that - so it's easy to do it on the floor. But, I still have my diaper cady in by the changing pad.
Do I think they are a waste of money? No. They are relatively cheap - here is one for $25 at Target. I think you have to think if you are going to keep everything for baby in baby's room. Jaren likes a nice clean picked up home and having Naomi's changing station in our living area bugged him. Also, do you have hardwood or carpet? I guess I prefer not to lay Naomi down on super hard surfaces - we have carpet.
Diaper Caddy: I love love love mine. I have a J.J. Cole Diaper + Wipes Caddy ($30 at Target) in brown and if I could buy one for each of my friends I would. It's easy to grab and take anywhere in the house and we even take it on road trips. I don't carry it to the rest stop (I use my diaper bag), but we take it to the hotel or house or wherever we are staying and have everything in one place. The plastic mat that comes with it is good sized. Right now I have it folded and put away in the front room for whenever I need it. I will lay it on the floor then put a towel over it for when Naomi takes her baths - I put her on it. Or when we are doing nakey time this is what she lays on. Always with a towel or blanket because I would think it would be uncomfortable to be laying naked on plastic. I highly recommend this!
This week I'll also do Diaper ointment/creams/paste's!
I am going to try to review some items and tell you what my favorites are. I'll see if I can start at what I loved for a newborn, 3 month old, 5 month old.. etc.
Baby Monitor
I didn't think much about these things before I had Naomi. Back when we went to Tahoe I noticed my brothers monitor that had a small video screen on it and I watched my nephew sleep. I thought, oh that's neat! And that's about all that ran through my head.
It was something like this from Summer. Priced on Amazon for $105.
Then Jaren's sister mentioned how she had free Amazon one day shipping the week before we went into the hospital. I told her I was pretty sure I wanted a video monitor. She sent me a lot of links to different ones and their reviews. They were all a bit spendy and I was looking for something somewhat like my brothers with that small screen.
Then I saw the 7 inch flat screen and Jaren was okay with the price. I didn't want to regret not getting the 7 inch and had already put out over 100 bucks only to want the bigger one and fork out the $160. Totalling to almost $300. So I bought it.
It was this monitor from Summer. Priced at $161.98 on Amazon.
We didn't end up using it until I started laying her down for naps in our room and I fast realized how grateful I was for it. Not just for the video, but for the big screen. I put it on my mantle and can see it from across the room. It wasn't until we had to send it in and replace it with a 5 inch T.V. like one that I appreciated the flat screen part.
The screen stopped working for some reason. The sound worked fine, but I wanted what I paid for. I sent an email to their customer service and found out the warranty is one year from date of purchase (if you have the reciept) or one year from manufacture date. Well, I didn't have the receipt and luckily I was with in the year of manufacture date. They sent me a label and I sent it in and had to wait a week for the new one. Well, I'm a spoiled little girl and had to have my video monitor! Jaren found a 5 inch T.V. like monitor at K-Mart for $70. We bought and now Jaren's parents have it at their house for when she stays with them. They had wonderful customer service - I just didn't like that I was stuck without a monitor for a week to two weeks (which was their estimated wait time).
This is the 5 inch monitor we bought as a replacement. $82.54 on Amazon. It was much much bigger, a lot louder (not so good when I wanted it turned way down while we slept) and didn't have color. Which wasn't too big of a deal. The picture wasn't as clear and it had more "noise". And you have to tune it like you did the old T.V.'s - kind of funny.
It was important to me to get her to have long naps (at least 2 hours) and to do that I would go in and replace the pacifier when she would start to wake up and she would quickly go right back to sleep. Which led into solid 2 hour naps. I also would be able to move the pacifier when it fell out of her mouth because she would lay her cheek on top of it and that would wake her up. I also could see when she spit up (she had really bad reflux) and I could go in and get her cleaned up so she wasn't laying in the wet and it wasn't drying on her face.
My camera's shutter is too loud to take a picture while she is sleeping in there so I get my pictures this way.
Not to mention that you can see what she is doing when she is crying. If she is just doing it because she wanted me to come in or if something was really wrong.
Of course, I love it the most for the sole fact that I catch the funniest, sweetest moments. It was worth every penny when I caught this (and this was the only time she did this):
Expensive? Yes. Worth it? Yes. The warranty is great, the picture is wonderful, the noise is perfect and only pick's up her noises. Many times I've heard a noise and thought to run in until I look at the monitor and see that it's in her sleep or that she is fine. It's easy to grab and move around. You can by extra monitors or camera's if you'd like. And we run this thing constantly (naps and sleep time) and it is still performing really well. I'm sure I could get away with no video just fine, but I kind of like this way too much - so why go without it? I love technology!
