new mom must-haves

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Being a new mom is hard. But there a lot of things that can help make the transition a bit easier. Many of them I already touched on in my newborn must-haves list, but these items are more tailored for mama. And believe me... these products are worth their weight in gold when you haven't slept in 24 hours, showered in days and don't even know what day of the week it is.


new mom



1// A Keurig goes without saying. The number one thing that I needed as new mama, even more than a hot shower (!!!), was a fresh cup of hot coffee accessible all hours of the day.

2// I discovered these Gevalia 2 Step Cappuccino Cups while on maternity leave and I could not rave about them more. Gevalia sells several flavors (cappuccino, caramel machiatto, mocha something or other) as a 2-Step process for your Keurig. There is a packet full of dry milk that you pour into the bottom of your cup before brewing the K cup over it and it creates a gloriously frothy cup of jo, in a matter of seconds. They are ridiculously delicious and such a treat without having to leave the house, baby in tow, for a Starbucks. 

3// I am very digital in many aspects of my life, but my calendar is not one of them. If I don't have a physical calendar with me constantly, listing out all of our appointments, events, work schedules, day care schedules, etc. I am a lost. This is even more necessary postpartum because you will have baby appointments, postpartum appointments, and your old regular life will seem like a blur that you need to keep track of more than ever before. Without my calendar, I would have missed regular things that I wouldn't have before because my brain was all baby! I do use my iPhone as backup, but my hard copy calendar is my bible. And I love this sugar paper for Target one for 2014.

4// Another mama recommended this product for easy, on-to-go coverage, so I checked it out. Amazing product!! This BB Beauty Balm by Physicians Formula goes on like a powder, but covers like a BB balm. It literally takes seconds to apply and worked wonders for me when I needed the coverage and quick pick me up, but seriously no time to apply makeup. Love it.

5// I have tried so many hair products throughout the years and I finally found the perfect one for me, Miss Jessie's Pillow Soft Curls. My hair is slick straight, but can have the tiniest bit of wave to it if I let it air dry. As a new mom, I never (ever) found time to do my hair, because let's face it, why bother? But this product helped me look actually normal without even trying. After washing and brushing my hair, I apply a small amount of this creme to both hands and scrunch up all of my hair to give it some movement and then let air dry (although I do blow dry my bangs... you don't want to see what that looks like otherwise). Within an hour or two my hair is dry, soft and has a little bit of soft wave and body to it, which is just what I was looking for. Completely effortless! And did I mention that it smells like fabric softener? Might not sound like what you want in your hair, but I assure you, it is light and wonderful. Combining this product with my post-baby hair chop (which I'm learning is about as common as the post-wedding chop) gives me perfectly effortless, without looking like a homeless lady, low-maintenance hair. (I found this at Target).

6// Of course my iPhone had to be on the list, because I'm not sure what new mom could survive without a smartphone of some kind, and the iPhone is mine. The iPhone has tons and tons and tons of baby tracking apps to help you keep track of feedings, diapers, sleep schedules, medicines, etc. I set alarms for feedings with my phone and even time how long she nurses with my iPhone. I joined several mama groups to chat with ladies in the middle of the night who were new mama's like me and trying to figure it all out. Very helpful since we all have babies of the same age and I am still really good friends with these ladies today! I checked facebook and pinterest and twitter and instagram at 3am while Lorelai enjoyed snacking on me until morning. I, of course, back up all of our appointments and upcoming events in the calendar. And most importantly, I always have a camera with me on my iPhone. I love my DSLR and love capturing some of Lola's moments with it, but nothing can beat the convenience of your phone because you always have it with you. I would have never captured her sneezes that she can't get all the way out, her giggles after bath time or her spontaneous smiles without it. And I always have hundreds (thousands) of photos of her with me wherever I go; something that was completely priceless when I returned to work.

7// I was so dehydrated for months after having Lorelai. Not only was it the dead of winter, but all of the medicines from birthing really messed with my body, on top of nursing a newborn. I never go anywhere without my water bottle. My favorite is this bkr because it's glass, but has a rubber nonslip cover, is small enough to throw in my bag, but big enough to get me to the next water fountain. And it's cute.

8// I learned very quickly to always have a snack of some sort in near proximity. Whether that means in my bag on the go, on my nightstand for midnight feedings, or in my car. My favorite are these oat and honey granola bars from Nature Valley because they taste delicious and they totally boosted my milk supply!

9// I included the Solly Baby Wrap on my newborns list, but I must include it here as well because it is one of my favorite products for both mama and baby. Lorelai loves being in her wrap and I love the ease and comfort of having her so close to me, while still being able to be mobile. On more than one occasion, this wrap has been the only thing to keep her calm when she's in the middle of a growth spurt or overly exhausted. Love our wrap!!!

10// What new mom has time to tie shoes?? I finally wore my Converse for the first time about two months ago since having Lorelai and only because our "getting-out-the-door" routine was finally managable. TOMS are a wonderful thing.. no laces, slip them on, are fitting for every season, AND they fit my postpartum swollen feet. Amen.

11// For the first month of Lorelai's life, showers were a rarity. I mean seriously, that is the last thing you have time for as a new mom. Batiste's dry shampoo was a lifesaver; making me feel refreshed and clean in an instant.

12// We love the Honest Company bubble bath because I hate even thinking about nasty chemicals and this bubble bath is chemical-free, smells great, and works great for both of us. We love taking baths together and this is our favorite product.

13// Yoga pants.

14// These Up & Up Exfoliating Apricot Facial Wipes are a miracle product. I love using them at night when I'm too tired to wash my face before crawling into bed. These are especially great because they have little exfoliating beads in the wipes, so it really wipes away all the dirt and makeup and exfoliates at the same time.

15// A big, classic tote that I can throw everything in to and run out the door. I love that it's big enough to tote everything I need to for Lorelai, as well as my necessities. And you can't beat the simple, effortless, classy look of the Madewell Transport Tote.

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