Product review

21 Books My Child Has Loved

July 3, 2015 by lauren.anvari@gmail.com Leave a Comment

I absolutely love to read. I can become so completely absorbed in a book that I barely remember to carry out basic human necessities for survival. For a while, Asher wasn’t that into books, but he has since really come to love them. Here is a list of his favorites thus far. Some he loved when he was under a year, some he loves now but all fall into his ‘read this book 1000 times in a row’ category. I’ve tried to list them by order of age, starting with books for younger babies and moving up to older toddlers.

1. Pudgy Pals – this is a book from my childhood and it’s very simple with sweet illustrations, my brothers and I loved it and so did Asher:

2. Baby be Kind – this is a wonderful book that teaches such virtues as kindness, sharing and others. It’s great for babies who are starting to interact with other children:

3. B is for Bear – this book is exactly what you’d think it is, but it’s a great way to teach letter’s and early reading. Asher loved the touch and feel aspect of it:

4. Moo, Baa, La La La – a delightfully silly book about animals and the sounds they make.

5. Red Hat, Green Hat – a great book that helps kids learn colors and never failed to make Asher giggle.

6. Good Night Moon – a classic go-to bedtime book, Asher loved it, I loved it, and its fun to try and find the mouse that is in every picture of the room:

7. Good Night Gorilla – this book contains almost no words, but that doesn’t stop it from conveying a sense of mischief and fun. Can you find the balloon in every picture?:

8. The Owl and the Pussy Cat – beautiful illustrations and whimsical writing, Asher loved having this read to him over and over…and over:

9. The Snowy Day – a book about a little boy’s adventures on a snowy day, it does a great job of conveying the curiosity of childhood:

10. I Know a Lot – a fun book that teaches children about opposites:

11. Each Peach Pear Plum – a great “I spy” book about some of the classic fairytale characters, with gorgeous illustrations:

12. You’re Getting a Baby Sister – when I was pregnant with Bennett I got Asher several books to prepare him for the arrival of his baby sister, and this one was by far the favorite. It does a great job of expressing the excitement of a new sibling, while also keeping it real:

13. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes – a wonderful book that helps children learn colors with a heart warming moral at the end. Asher LOVES this book! He is obsessed with singing the song!:

14. The Pout-Pout Fish – a book about learning to see the best in ourselves. Another book Asher is currently OBSESSED with:

15. Gideon and Otto; Best Friends, Lost and Found – Asher loves all the books by Olivier Dunrea but this is one of his favorites. It’s totally sweet and endearing:

16. The Baobab is Big and other verses from Africa – a collection of short verses that are sure to delight and inspire:

17. 1 to 20 Animals a Plenty – an amazing book that helps children learn their numbers and animals through the use of rhyming. Gorgeous illustrations!:

18. Boom, Snot, Twitty – another beautifully illustrated book that is all about learning to be content with whatever comes your way:

19. Coco Can’t Wait – this was my favorite book when I was 3 years old and I am just so thrilled that Asher loves it too. It conveys the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren:

21. The Dream Child – this book does a great job conveying the whimsy and magic of childhood and is another book from my childhood:

22. The Book with No Pictures – Asher laughs every time we read this. It’s a great book that teaches children the power of the written word:

What books do your children love?

Baby Products I Adore

February 28, 2014 by lauren.anvari@gmail.com 1 Comment

Woombie:

I love love LOVE the woombie! Due to Asher’s over active arms he had to be swaddled to sleep and the woombie made it effortless. The woombie is so amazing that I wrote a full review for it, which can be found here. Get at least two and don’t look back.

Fisher-Price My Little Snugabunny Bouncer

This thing was a life saver the first few months. The vibrations lulled my boy to sleep and kept him that way for a good while. Asher also had reflux in a BIG way and keeping him more up right helped reduce the amount of spit ups and projectile vomits. Some nights I would even drag the snugabunny into our room and have him sleep in that the whole night. Worked like a charm.

Graco Pack ‘N Play Playard with Reversible Napper & Changer:

Having a pack n’ play in our room the first few months was great! It allowed us to keep Asher close at hand when he was itty bitty and this particular one even had a napper attachment that cradled him in a safe way. Since we’ve moved Asher into is own room and crib we have still used the pack n’ play a TON. We take it on road trips, use it as a barricade in a pinch and create a portable play pen (just to name a few of the many ways we’ve used it). It’s great and I’m glad we have it.

Baby K’tan:

I can not rave about the Baby K’tan enough!! This soft baby carrier is awesome. SO simple to use and QUICK! It’s amazing to travel with and wonderful to use, especially when the baby is little. When the baby isn’t in it, you can either wear it as a scarf or toss it in a diaper bag. It’s amazing. This is another product that stands out and got it’s own full review, which can be found here.

Beco Gemimi

The Beco Gemini is simply amazing!! It is my go to structured carrier. It does everything the Ergo can do AND more!! Namely it allows for a front facing out baby wearing position. It can also be used for a newborn WITHOUT needing a newborn insert. This carrier offers amazing back support, which is KEY for when the baby gets to be on the heavier side. I’m obsessed, and this really deserves it’s own full review, which I hope to get around to eventually.

Shi Shu Baby Handwoven Baby Blanket

Being a winter baby Asher was gifted with tons of snuggly fleece blankets, which while soft, I didn’t love that they were all synthetics and Asher would sweat a lot in them. I wanted something made of natural fibers that would breathe and yet would still be soft and warm. Well the Shi Shu Baby blanket has surpassed all expectations I could have for a blanket. It’s cotton bamboo mix leaves it incredibly soft, while totally breathable. It’s just the right size for carting about and has traveled the globe with us. It has a great woven texture and silky sides! Asher won’t sleep with anything else.

Shi Shu Baby Handwoven Snuggle Blanket

When Asher began protesting separation from his beloved Shi Shu baby blanket I realized that we needed to get another, so we could rotate them for laundry day and to just generally never be without one. I opted for the snuggle size and I’m SO glad I did. Asher carries this one around the house with him, often chewing on it or cuddling with it, and due to it’s tiny size he doesn’t trip over it. Yet, when the bigger one is dirty, I’ve found that I can put this snuggle sized one in his crib with him and he sleeps soundly. They’re AMAZING!

Baby Jogger City Mini GT Single Stroller

When I was pregnant with Asher I watched COUNTLESS YouTube videos about this stroller. I was obsessed. I never thought I would be excited about a stroller let alone bouncing off the walls! Baby Jogger is a great brand in general, and I think that several of the strollers that they offer are awesome. I opted to go for the City Mini GT because I liked that it had a heavier weight limit, which meant that it would last us a looong time, the forever air tires are great, it has a full recline, you can maneuver it with ONE finger, it has a super smooth ride, the sun shade is EPIC, and it has a one handed fold (just to name a few of it’s features). I’ve even taken it jogging (even though it’s not technically a jogging stroller). I HIGHLY recommend this stroller.

Chicco Key Fit 30 Infant Car Seat and Base

I spent HOURS researching infant car seats and in the end I went with the Chicco Key Fit 30, because it is extremely well made, very safe and a breeze to install. It even clicked right into my City Mini GT stroller (with an adapter). For a while I debated getting a Maxi Cosi car seat but in the end I’m really happy that I stuck with the Key Fit 30. Despite having an upper weight limit of 30 lbs my super long baby out grew the length limit (29 inches) by around 6 or 7 months, but until that happened, I loved the ease of this infant car seat.

Chicco NextFit Convertible Car Seat

The Chicco Key Fit 30 was great but the Chicco Next Fit is spectacular! It is self ratcheting and so easy to install that the baby could almost do it himself (well not exactly, but close). I actually took Asher to the store and put him in 3 different car seats (Maxi Cosi Pria, Britax Marathon, and Chicco Net Fit). Chicco won by a land slide, he just looked way more comfortable in it. At the time this car seat was new to the market so there weren’t many reviews out there, but I trusted the brand and the store trial run really hit it home. This car seat is loaded with safety features and can even be reclined while it’s installed when it’s in the forward facing position. I love it!

*UPDATE*

Chicco recently came with the Nextfit Zip Convertible Car Seat, which has all the benefits of the original Nextfit, but with a few added features that take this already incredible car seat to a whole new level.

Inglesina 2013 Fast Table Chair

This travel high chair is so compact and easy to use that I even packed in my CARRY ON bag and took it to Ireland with us. It was a LIFESAVER. The flat we were renting didn’t come equipped with a high chair and having the Fast Table Chair with us allowed me to be hands free and gave Asher the freedom to munch his meals comfortably. There are a few others like it out there on the market, but again I took Asher to the store and put him in a few and he just looked SO much for comfortable in this one.

Ikea Antilop High Chair with Safety Belt

Right away I knew that I wanted a super simple high chair with NO fabric on it anywhere. I wanted something, compact, easy to clean, functional and light. Well the Antilop wins in all those categories PLUS it’s only around $30 for the chair, tray and support cushion. The legs pop off so you can throw it in the car and take it with you when you’re going to visit someone that doesn’t have a high chair (read: almost everyone). If you don’t feel like using the tray, just pop it off and slide the high chair right up to the table. It’s versatile, simple, efficient and pretty.

Chicco Dance Walker Activity Center

We didn’t get too much use out of this, because even before Asher walked (at 9 months) he was pulling to standing and cruising around and had decided that he didn’t want to be contained. BUT when we did use this, he LOVED it. I could put him in here and run to the bathroom or set him in it while I cooked and I could rest assured that he was contained and not trying to peel a cover off of an electrical socket with his tongue. It’s collapses to be totally flat, makes lots of fun sounds and is totally interactive. If you get tired of all the sounds it makes you can plug your ipod into it and play songs you like better. The toy console also pops off and you have yourself a handy tray. Plus it’s super cute to watch your baby zoom around in.

Okkatots Baby Depot Diaper Bag Backpack

This backpack is the KING of travel diaper bags. We’ve taken this one on several international flights as our one and only carry on item. One carry for all of my stuff, Raf’s stuff and Asher’s stuff. Seriously, it fit everything we could ever want and then some, while keeping it all organized and easily accessible.

Boogie Wipes

Baby noses are tiny and sometimes they get crusty with boogers and these boogie wipes making cleaning that situation up painless and SO easy.

Nosefrida The Snotsucker Nasal Aspirator

The Snotsucker is a lifesaver! I never thought that sucking snot out of my infant’s nose with a tube that ends in my mouth would sounds appealing, and well okay, it still doesn’t BUT this thing is a miracle worker. It’s gets rid of the snot river that tends to run from Asher’s nose straight into his mouth and helps him breathe easier when he’s sick. Plus there is a filter so the snot doesn’t get anywhere near your mouth. The Snotsucker is WAY better than those stupid bulb syringes, it gets out 3 times the snot in a fraction of the time and since I’ve never met a baby that likes having their nose messed with, that’s really priceless.

The Menstrual Cup – Sckoon & Lunette Review/Comparision

January 28, 2014 by lauren.anvari@gmail.com 12 Comments

Left: Lunette Cup, model 2 in color: Selene – Right: Sckoon Cup, size 2 in color: Balance

Ladies, this is a game changer. A life changer. I’m talking about the menstrual cup. These things are Amazing with a capital A! I honestly can’t rave about it enough, except to say that the cup almost makes me look forward to my period and that’s really saying something.

If you thought tampons were great, you’re going to laugh at how horrid they seem after trying the cup.

So what are they? Well, a menstrual cup is a small cup like vesicle that gets inserted into the vagina during menstruation in order to collect the menstrual flow. The vast majority of cups are made from medical grade silicone. Unlike a tampon, which is worn high in the vagina, the cup is worn low in the vagina and is soft and pliable so it creates a seal with your body to ensure no leaks happen. The cup get folded for insertion and then opens up once it is inside the vagina. To remove, simply pinch the bottom to break the seal and remove. After emptying the cup, simply rinse in COLD water and re-insert, you can wash it with a mild soap and some warm water after the initial cold water rinse if desired. Between cycles, you can sanitize your cup by boiling it in some water for a few minutes, giving it a rubbing alcohol bath or washing it thoroughly with warm water and a mild soap.

Now let me just say that there is a bit of a learning curve when it comes to using a menstrual cup, so you should expect to wear a liner or pad in addition to your cup for a cycle or 2 before you master the hang of it.

Even though menstrual cups have been around for a looong time, they are only recently becoming more mainstream. There are many brands of menstrual cups available on the market today. In my experience the ones that are the easiest to access in the United States are: Diva cup, Lunette cup and Sckoon cup. After doing a bunch of research, reading tons of reviews and watching a whole load of youtube videos, I decided to purchase the Lunette cup in model 2, however right after I did so, the Sckoon cup came onto the market and it was just really appealing so I went ahead and got one of those in a size 2 also.

I really wanted to love the Lunette cup, it was so easy to use and the silicone wasn’t too soft, which made inserting it a breeze, the tab wasn’t hollow (a must for me), but it did poke me a bit so I ended up trimming it. However, I kept having leak issues. No matter what I did or how I inserted it, the thing would leak but when I went to remove it there was hardly anything in it. Now, this is not a testament to the cup, because it really is an awesome cup. It just simply didn’t work with my body. During menstruation my cervix drops fairly low and sits inside the cup, leaving little room for the blood to collect. So feeling disappointed but determined I tried the Sckoon cup and voila! Success!! The Sckoon cup in shorter and has a wider base which allows my cervix to sit inside the cup, while still leaving plenty of room for collection. The Sckoon cup is softer than the Lunette, and the tab is really flexible and soft, so I found I didn’t need to trim it at all. The softness of the Sckoon makes it a bit more difficult for me to get it to pop open after insertion, but I’ve figured out a method that works just fine. Basically I use the punch down fold to insert the cup, then I wiggle it around a bunch while pinching the bottom to get to open up, finally I run my finger around the perimeter to ensure that my pesky cervix is actually inside the cup. It’s a bit hard to explain in writing, so I highly recommend the channel, MenstrualCupInfo on youtube to learn more about all the cups out there and to help you get an idea about what may work best for you (but of course I’m always happy to answer any questions you may have as well).

The Pros:

Use of menstrual cups is not associated with Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) (ahem, TAMPONS)

Menstrual cups are reusable and some brands can last 10 years, hellooooo savings!

They are super comfortable, since they don’t absorb your vaginal moisture along with your flow (dammit, TAMPONS)

In some cases they reduce cramps and leave you with a lighter period, score!

They can go 12 hours before needing to be emptied (of course on heavy days they may need to be emptied more frequently)

No gross smell (stupid PADS)

Can be worn swimming, running, sleeping, jumping and generally any other activity you can think of EXCEPT during intercourse.

Won’t leave behind icky cotton fibers in your vagina (die TAMPONS die)

Most come in 2 sizes (before children and after children) to ensure the perfect fit

The Cons:

There is a learning curve – unlike tampons or pads, a cup takes a bit longer to get the hang of and in some cases you may need to try several different brands before you find one that works best for you.

They have more of an upfront cost ranging anywhere from $20-$40 per cup- but since they’re reusable, they actually save you money in the long run. AND many companies will refund your money or send you a different size if one isn’t working for you. So really it’s a risk free investment.

Emptying your cup in a public restroom takes a little forethought, but it’s really not that complicated. All it involves it bringing a water bottle with you or a cleansing wipe, but really since they can be worn for so long, you can usually plan your day accordingly without ever having to empty it in public.

Sckoon – punch down fold

Sckoon – C fold

Top view – L: Lunette – R: Sckoon

Left: Lunette – Right: Sckoon

Lunette side view. You can see the seem if you look closely. Also note the lip and suction hole placement.

Sckoon side view. Note the diagonal suction holes to allow for maximum capacity.

They come with pretty storage bags!

Sckoon, bottom view. Awww, it has a pretty yet functional flower grip pattern.

Lunette, bottom view. Note the stem has been trimmed.

Left: Sckoon – Right: Lunette. Note the Sckoon had a slightly wider rim.

Sckoon top view

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So there you have it. Try a cup and thank me later.

To purchase:

http://www.sckooncup.com/

http://www.lunette.com/store/index.php

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=menstrual%20cup&sprefix=menstru%2Caps&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Amenstrual%20cup

The First Years Ignite Stroller Review

May 31, 2013 by lauren.anvari@gmail.com Leave a Comment

When it comes to strollers we are pretty obsessed with our Baby Jogger City Mini GT, but decided that we needed something smaller for ease of use when travelling. I opted for the The First Years Ignite Stroller, in black stripe.

All in all, I’m not overly impressed or unimpressed with this purchase. The stroller feels pretty sturdy, and maneuvers beautifully, even with just one hand. It is very easy to fold up and comes with a handy parent console that even fits my beloved nalgene water bottle. It has about a 5 inch recline, which isn’t much, but at least allowed Asher to nap on the go with his head falling forward onto his chest. The undercarriage basket is a decent size for an umbrella stroller although it’s a little tough to get to due to the criss-crossing metal frame. It has a great 5 point harness that is very easy to adjust. The sun canopy was a bit small, and since it can’t be adjusted I felt like it didn’t really serve it’s purpose well. When folded the wheels touch the inner portion of the canopy, which can leave dust and dirt behind. Although it folds easily, it doesn’t lock automatically and locking it, while holding a wriggling babe was a bit challenging at times. Lastly, I’m 5’6 but tend to have a rather long stride and occasionally I wouldn’t hold the stroller far enough away from my body and my foot would graze the back wheel, which I found annoying.

Pros:

Light weight, sturdy frame – 14 lbs

Parent console

5 point harness

Great maneuverability

Descent storage basket

Relatively inexpensive – $57

Reclines a bit

Very easy to fold

One handed seat recline

Cons:

Inadequate sun shade

Hard to reach storage basket

No automatic lock when folding

Seat lacks a deep recline

When folded wheels leave dirt on the sun shade

Feet sometimes hit rear wheels while walking

Putting the seat back into the upright position is a bit of a hassle and requires two hands.

The pros do out weigh the cons and since we plan to just use this stroller when we’re traveling, it’s fine and the price is right. If we were going to use it for any more than that though I would probably want to invest in something a little nicer.

Woombie Review

May 16, 2013 by lauren.anvari@gmail.com 3 Comments

Asher was a swaddle houdini. No matter how I swaddled him he always managed to get the fabric up around his face and I was worried that he would suffocate. Not swaddling wasn’t an option due to his over active arms, which would constantly flail about and keep him awake, so I was thrilled when I discovered the Woombie.

This thing is seriously amazing. There was absolutely no way that he could get out of it and I especially love the two way zipper, which made changing his diaper in the middle of the night a breeze. They also come in a variety of fun colors and styles that suit any situation. They have fleece ones for winter, cotton and mesh ones for summer and even a slightly tighter one called the ‘houdini‘, which was the very first one that I got Asher. I eventually ended up getting a second woombie in their original style, just so that I would always have one handy if the other was in the wash. I am in love! They come in two sizes, but we never ended up needing to get the bigger size, since we stopped swaddling Asher before he got that big. The whole idea is that it’s supposed to mimic being in the womb. The babies can still move their limbs about and bring their arms up to their chest (which is much nicer than having their arms strapped to their sides) but they can’t escape, which is key. At around $26 a piece, they are a bit pricey for a swaddler, but they’re a good quality stretchy fabric that held up beautifully to countless washes and I’ll be able to use them again for the future babes. Overall I am really impressed with the Woombie. I suggest getting two, I thought I’d be able to get by with just one, but boy was I mistaken. Get two, trust me. The houdini is a bit tighter and shorter than the original. So I suggest starting with the original and going from there.

I’m sorry, for this awful picture, but I promise he really did like it better than any other swaddle. This is just the way Asher looked at me or anyone for that matter for the first two months of his life, with deep unbridled concern. In fact, I took this very picture in order to send Rafaan an email, saying something like “this is why you need to be extra affectionate, how would you feel if you spent your day with someone who looked at you like this 95% of the time?”

Thank goodness, he’s all smiles now!

I should also mention that for the first couple months we only took iphone pictures of him, so that’s why all his early pictures are sub par. I’m kicking myself over this, but at least his early months got documented. Lastly, I’ll mention that one of Raf’s favorite things to do was free him from his cocoon after a long nap and to watch him perform an amazing stretch.

Seriously, the woombie was a lifesaver.

Baby K’Tan Review

April 26, 2013 by lauren.anvari@gmail.com 8 Comments

When I was pregnant we were given two different baby carriers; the Moby wrap and the Beco gemini. These are both great carriers for different reasons, but when we were planning our trip to Israel when Asher was 2 months old I realized that neither of these were ideal. The moby wrap was too much of a pain to get on and off and didn’t lend itself well to international travel. I didn’t want the tails dragging on the floor and it is a bit too big to fit comfortably in my diaper bag. The gemini is great, but also takes a bit of time to put on and is WAY to big to fit in the diaper bag. So I scoured the internet and discovered the Baby K’tan.

This carrier is AMAZING. Seriously. It functions almost exactly like the moby wrap but without all the wrapping. It is essentially two loops of fabric and a sash. It is the perfect carrier for travel. When Asher wasn’t in it, I wore it around my neck like a scarf and that way it was already on me and ready to go. It took me about 60 seconds tops get him in it and he loved it. It is comfortable and light weight and since it isn’t a ton of fabric it is very compact. It has about 9 different carrying positions, including front facing out, which was a big deal for me. The only down side to this carrier is that it is a sized carrier, meaning that you have to get it in your specific size. This meant that Raf and I couldn’t share it because he is so much bigger than I am, however we solved this problem by agreeing he would carry the diaper bag and I would carry the baby for the duration of the trip. I highly recommend this carrier, in fact it is still my go to carrier just because it’s so small and easy to put on. Asher’s favorite position was the hug hold, but he also really liked being able to face out. I rarely ever used the extra sash that came with it because I didn’t feel it needed it to be secure, but I probably would use it if I were hiking or doing something fairly active.

If you’re planning a trip or just want a baby carrier that is super easy and functional then this is your carrier. Get it here or here (I love amazon).

Here are a few videos by Baby K’Tan to help you get a better idea of how it works:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ThAv6JeVmA]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7COMasHLWw]

*I have not been asked to review or promote this product, but I just loved it so much that I had to share.

Postpartum Care Package

March 29, 2013 by lauren.anvari@gmail.com 4 Comments

My cousin had a really long and difficult labor so I decided to put together a little postpartum care package for her to make the transition home a little easier, because let’s be honest, having a newborn is amazing but it can also be pretty challenging.

Here’s what I sent her:

Galactagogue Milk Production Cookies: My midwives gave me this recipe after I had Asher. These cookies aren’t the tastiest things mainly because they’re pretty dry, but they do help support your milk supply, so you can’t argue with that. I listed the recipe at the end of this post.

Always Radiant Incredibly Thin Liners (unscented): Once the heavy postpartum bleeding (lochia) subsides, these liners were incredibly useful in dealing with the lighter stuff. They are SUPER comfortable. Seriously, I didn’t even notice they were there. They also can come in handy if you have a difficult time holding your urine postpartum. CLICK.

Arnicare Arnica Gel: This stuff is amazing! Use it on your nether regions to sooth and promote healing. Seriously, AMAZING. CLICK. You should also be able to find it at Whole Foods.

Hand Lotion: If you’re like me, when you have a newborn you kind of become obsessed with washing your hands, so a good hand cream can prevent dry, cracked skin, especially since dehydration is par for the course when it comes to the postpartum time. All that water you’re guzzling is going straight to your milk supply. Which brings me to…

Dried Fruit: Allow me to introduce you to dehydration’s nasty little friend, constipation. Generally the hospital will recommend that you take Colace and I TOTALLY agree, but it doesn’t hurt to stack the deck with some good old fashioned fiber. Bran muffins are also a good call. I opted to send the dried mango that you can find in the bulk food bins at most Whole Foods, because it’s SO good.

Witch Hazel/Tucks Pads: Helps to reduce swelling and sooth your sore nether regions. Also useful if you got hemorrhoids.

Bath Salts: Every woman deserves some ‘me’ time during the postpartum period that doesn’t just involve sleeping, although that is important too. Nurse your little one and then hand the baby over to dad or any other willing volunteer that you trust and give yourself a nice steamy soak. The hot water will help get the blood flowing, which in turn speeds up healing and a fragrant bath is just far more relaxing and luxurious than your run of the mill sitz bath.

Breastfeeding Bracelet: It’s not always easy to remember what side you need to breastfeed on next, so having a bracelet that you can easily move from side to side is super handy. I opted for chewbeads, because they can double as teethers later on. CLICK. You should always start on the side your baby fed on last, that way you ensure that your baby will drain your breast completely (which can help prevent mastitis) and gets the higher calorie hind milk.

Lullaby CD: To help sooth the little one. We made this CD part of Asher’s nightly routine and whenever he hears it, he knows it’s time to wind down and go to bed.

A Daddy Gift: Don’t leave Dad out. He deserves a little something nice too. I included Peanut Butter cookies, because this Dad LOVES them and dark chocolate covered espresso beans because he’s really into coffee and the caffeine doesn’t hurt either when you have a newborn.

I also sent some coupons that I didn’t need and thought she may be able to use. Babies are pricey y’all!

Here are some more ideas of things that you could include in a postpartum care package:

Nursing pads

A nice bedside carafe or water bottle

Sitz bath salts or herbs

Fenugreek capsules

Mother’s milk tea

Breast heating/cooling pads

C-Panty Incision Care Panty -For moms who have had a c-section

Nursing tank tops

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Midwives Milk Production Power and Comfort Cookies Recipe

2 c whole wheat pastry flour (regular whole wheat ok too)

1 cup oats

½ cup ground flax seeds

½ cup nutritional yeast (not baker’s yeast but the yellow flakes)

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 cup butter softened

1 cup raw sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 organic eggs

2 cups dark chocolate chips

1 cup walnuts

Mix up the dry, add to the creamed wet and bake at 350 until golden.