5 Fabulous Baby Products

If you're expecting a little one and want ideas for budget-friendly, versatile baby gear to help you care for your bundle of joy, I hope you'll find this vlog helpful:

Since that video ended up a bit longer than I'd anticipated, here's a summary:

1. Boppy pillow

• Tammy Mommy's recommended uses:
• counter pressure after surgical birth
• comfortable seating after an episiotomy
• arm support for mom during nursing or bottle-feeding
• infant upport for tummy time
• fall protection for supported sitters
• Pros: versatility, popularity (easy to find used, on Craigslist)
• Cons: originally designed to help supported sitters, not to aid in nursing; allows small new babies to roll toward you, especially if you have a small build
• Tammy Mommy's Suggestion: Get a "bare naked" pillow and at least two covers (find one to suit your unique taste here), or--for a product exclusively suited for nursing--try My Breast Friend, instead.

2. Moby-style Baby Wrap

• Pros: 
• more stylish and more comfortable than backpack-style carriers
• more conducive to movement and more comfortable, for mommy and baby, than pocket-style carriers or slings--particularly as baby gets bigger & more mobile
• versatile, with several ways to position baby
• easily transportable, washable, and "makeable" (I think I just made up that word!)
• Cons:
• a bit pricey, if you get the name-brand model
• slightly challenging to wrap, the first few times
• Tammy Mommy's Suggestion: Buy some fabric, and make your own or buy a homemade knock-off! Also be sure to check out these videos (& more on YouTube) that show you how to wrap it.

3. By-Your-Side Infant Seat

• Pros:
• Higher than most infant seats, providing greater safety (especially with animals and other children) and convenience (particularly after having a surgical birth)
• Longer than many similar seats, accommodating babies who are long
• Neutral colors, storage shelf, and soothing music
• Cons:
• A little pricey, compared to traditional bouncer seats
• Hard plastic and pathetic pillow
• Cover that's difficult to remove
• Takes up a lot of room, similar to a small swing
• Tammy Mommy's Recommendation: If you buy this  or a similar seat, be sure to use a protective pad, and use this seat for sleeping, but only when baby is congested and uncomfortable lying flat, and  only with baby secured in 5-point harnass.
• Side note: It's currently very hard to find, brand new; I'm not sure why, but I'll try to contact Bright Starts and find out. I am selling mine, soon, though, so if you live in Wisconsin, I know where you can buy one!

4. Piddle Pad

• Pros: inexpensive & time-saving
• Cons: NONE
• Tammy Mommy's Recommendation: Buy one of these to protect each item that has stainable, hard-to-remove fabric covers (car seats, infant swings, bouncy seats, etc.).

5. Diaper Champ

• Pros: Easier to use and less expensive than the Diaper Genie; helpful for those who use cloth diapers
• Cons: NONE
• Tammy Mommy's Recommendation: This is my #1 "must-have" nursery item! Make sure to be consisten with the "default position" so you eliminate icky odors as much as possible.

Wow! That took a lot longer than I hoped it would, this Friday afternoon! I hope it's helpful to Stephanie and other mommmies-to-be. If any of you other "seasoned" moms have suggestions for them, please comment below!

This is

reminding you that the days may at times be long, but the years--especially that first half year!--is really way too short!