Having a baby is such an exciting time, but the to-do list before baby comes can be overwhelming. With so many products on the market, it is hard to know exactly what you need for pregnancy and when baby arrives. Here are my 10 tips to save money during pregnancy.
Don’t Spend Full Price on Maternity clothes
Maternity clothes are needed, but it is hard to justify and expensive price tag when they are only worn for a short amount of time. There are a few ways to avoid spending retail price. Check out the best ways to find inexpensive maternity clothes.
Hello! Today I wanted to share what I keep in my toddler’s diaper bag. Since my son just turned 18 months I finally feel like we are in full toddler mode. I’ve been through a few diaper bags and this Twelvelittle Companion diaper backpack is by far my favorite. It is the perfect size to fit everything we need (and more) and has just enough pockets to keep everything nice and organized. Click here to see a full review of the diaper backpack.
I keep all of my son’s things in the main compartment of the backpack. The bag is deep and holds a lot, but also unzips about half way down so things are easy to find. The 4 pockets on this inside of the bag also help keep things organized.
Diapers, wipes and Aquaphor- When Dawson was a baby, I carried a diaper clutch that had all of his diaper and wipes in it. Now that he is older I don’t carry the diaper clutch anymore because it’s so bulky. I rarely have to change his diaper in public, so I just tuck a couple of diapers and a small pack of wipes in one of the built in pockets in our diaper bag. The Aquaphor is a multi-use product and can be used for diaper rash or as a first aid ointment.
Changing pad- I use the changing pad that came with the diaper bag because it folds up nice and compact. It fits perfectly in the “secret” pocket on the back of the diaper bag.
Spare clothes- I haven’t needed to change Dawson’s clothes when we are out in a long time, but I know the second that I take them out I we are going to need them. I figure we will need them when we start potty training anyway. I make sure to keep a pair of socks too because he is always pulling them off in the car.
Snack pouch- Having a cranky, hungry kid out in public is never fun, so I always make sure I have a few snacks packed. I like to carry a bib and a reusable placemat to use when we are at a restaurant. It is nice to keep the mess somewhat contained and to keep food off of the table.
Water bottle for Dawson and one for me. The diaperbag has 2 decent sized insulated pockets on the sides.
Blanket- Michigan winters are cold. Sometimes I will use a blanket to cover him up in the cold car or the once in a while when he takes a nap away from home.
Disposable diaper bags- These are nice to use to throw away a dirty diaper when we are at someones house. They can also be used for any wet clothes after an accident.
Toys- I bring a couple of small toys to keep him occupied whenever needed.
The diaper bag has 2 zippered pockets in the front of the bag that I use for my “mom essentials.”
Wallet
Keys
Sunglasses
Hand sanitizer
Small makeup bag- I keep lip balm, lipstick, bandaids and other small essentials
Portable charger- I have a Mophie charger that I like to carry just in case my phone battery dies.
What are your diaper bag essentials for your toddler?
Hello! Today I wanted to share a review on the TWELVElittle Companion Diaper Backpack. I am someone who is picky about the bags I carry. For a diaper bag, I knew that I wanted a backpack with enough pockets on the inside and outside of the bag to stay organized. I was previously using an over the shoulder bag, but it was difficult to carry that while also carrying a toddler. I purchased this bag a couple of months ago and have been loving it so far.
The inside of the bag is nice and deep with 1 small zipper pocket, 2 elastic pockets and 2 regular pockets. The elastic pockets are able to hold a couple of diapers (size 4) and a pack of wipes. I am not sure if the inside fabric is the same in all the bags, but in mine was a cute animal print. The print is light in color so things are easy to find compared to a darker inside material. If you would like to read my post about the things I carry for my toddler, click here.
The diaper bag also comes with a decent size changing pad in the same animal print. The changing pad is compact once folded down.
The outside of the bag is a soft, quilted material. There is a large zippered pocket on the front that I mostly use for a “mom pocket.” On that pocket is a smaller one with a strong magnetic closure. I normally don’t use this pocket, but it could be great for keys or a phone. Above the mom pocket is a smaller zippered pocket. It is the perfect size to hold my sunglasses. That is about all that pocket will hold. On the sides of the bag are 2 insulated cup holders. They are a good size and are big enough to hold most sippy cups or bottles and a bottle of water.
The straps are adjustable and the bag is comfortable to wear because of the padding on the shoulder straps. The bottom of the bag has a small “secret” pocket that could be used for dirty clothes. I keep the changing pad there.
Color: I have the black, which is nice and simple. I also like that my husband feels comfortable carrying it. There are a few other colors to choose from including: camouflage, blush, wine, gray, cheetah print and olive green.
Pro:
There are a good amount of pockets to help keep things organized.
The outer material is water-resistant and can be easily wiped clean.
Padded straps making it comfortable to wear.
2 nice sized insulated pockets on the outside of the bag.
The zippers are nice and smooth.
There is a hidden pocket for dirty items.
Cons:
The price point is a little high. The retail value is $189. I was able to purchase mine for $100 by stacking a sale price with a coupon. If you are interested in this bag, make sure you shop around for the best price.
The bag can be wiped down with a wet cloth, but it shouldn’t be machine washed.
This bag is not sold in many stores. If you’re like me, I like to be able to go into a store and look at the bag in person before purchasing.
Overall I have enjoyed using this bag and would definitely recommend it if you are looking for a good diaper backpack. It holds everything I need and more for my toddler.
Hello! Today I wanted to share 25 things you can do to prepare for a baby. We had our son about a year ago, but there were a few things we did that lessened some of the stress and a few things we wish we would have done before he was born.
1. Write a birth plan. Some women choose to write an in depth birth plan and others choose to keep it on this simple side. Think about who you would like in the room with you when you give birth and if you will have an epidural. Would you like you partner to cut the umbilical cord? Do you want baby to have Vitamin K and the antibiotic eye treatment? I like The Bumps guide to writing a birth plan.
2. Sign up for classes you would like to take. We took a breastfeeding class and a Newborn Care class that were both beneficial.
3. Pack a hospital bag for you, dad and baby.
4. Put the car seat base and car seat in the car.
5. Stock up on diaper and wipes- Once we found out we were pregnant, I bought diapers whenever I could get them on sale and with coupons. I purchased a few different brands just in case the baby was sensitive to a particular brand so we weren’t stuck with a lot of diapers we weren’t going to use.
6. Stock up on personal items. It’s good to have a few extra things like toothpaste and toilet paper so you don’t need to run to the store to pick one thing up.
7. Learn how to set up and fold down the stroller. I thought we knew how to set up the stroller, but that was not the case when we needed to use it for the first time. It took about 10 minutes and a YouTube video to figure it out. Not the best timing in 80 degree weather with a newborn.
8. Sterilize and wash bottles, pacifiers and breast pump parts.
9. If you plan to breastfeed, familiarize yourself with your pump.
10. Decide on sleep arrangements– Will baby use the crib or a bassinet near your bed? Then set up the crib or bassinet.
11. Wash babies clothes and organize them by size.
12. Clean any preowned items. We purchased a used pack and play and received a used swing as a gift. I made sure to wipe down the plastic surfaces and washed all of the fabric parts in the washer or by hand in the bathtub.
13. Prepare freezer meals. I only had a handful of meals prepared, but they were nice to pull out the first couple weeks after he was born for a quick, easy meal.
14. Pack the diaper bag and have it ready to take to the hospital.
15. Clean your home. The couple of weeks before my due date I made sure to clean up the house to make sure we came home to a clean space. The last thing I wanted to worry about when we first got home was cleaning.
16. Purchase a couple of nursing bras or camisoles. These make a huge difference when breastfeeding.
17. Make arrangements for pets and other children and pack a bag for them.
18. Select a pediatrician. Before our son was born, were able to take a tour of potential pediatrician offices and meet some of the doctors. This helped us select the pediatrician we wanted to go to.
19. Take a tour of the hospital. Know where to park and what door to go into if you need to go to the hospital in the middle of the night. Also know what floor labor and delivery is on.
20. Add baby’s expenses to your budget. If you follow a budget for your finances, make sure you add expenses like diapers/wipes, formula, daycare, etc
21. Fill out FMLA paperwork for your job. My husband and I both needed to fill out this paperwork to take time off when Baby was born.
22. Declutter– Babies are so small, but all of the things you need for them take up a lot of room. When I was in nesting mode, I tried to go through most of our house and get rid of items we no longer needed. Click here if you would like to read my post about preparing for a baby in a small home.
23. Charge the baby monitor and set it up.
24. Go on a last date before the baby is born.
25. Take time for yourself and rest. You will be busy and tired when baby is born. Make sure you take some time for self-care.
Hello! Breastfeeding is tough! Breastfeeding and being a working mom comes with a new set of challenges. I am not an expert, but I am just speaking from personal experience and what worked well for me. These are my best breastfeeding tips for working moms. From the beginning, I struggled with my supply and ended up having to supplement with formula for the first couple of months. I worked really hard to build my supply by pumping the one side while feeding my son on the other. I also pumped once during the night to increase my supply. After a couple of months, we were able to shift towards exclusively breastfeeding after that. I went back to work when my son was 2 months old and pumped for about 10 months, until my son was one. I never had an excess supply of pumped milk, but I did have a few days always stocked up.
