The Snot Rocket

The NoseFrida is fondly referred to in our house as 'The Snot Rocket'. My husband gave it the name and I continued using it. We do this a lot. I'm sure Logan is going to think we're so weird! Hopefully fun, but weird.

We have used two different nasal aspirators since Logan was born. The first was BabyComfyNose, which I ordered off Amazon while I was still pregnant. We loved it! But then it got boiled when I was sterilizing bottles and this ill-fated event caused the body to not close right. Total fail.

I had seen The NoseFrida as another great option and decided to try it instead of replacing our BabyComfyNose. I must say, we like both. It's a matter of personal preference, but both get the job done! I keep BabyComfyNose in our diaper bag because in a pinch, I can force it back together. I'd say the pros for BabyComfyNose are that it's easier to clean and it's smaller. But we love having actual filters for our NoseFrida instead of stuffing a tissue into the barrel of BabyComfyNose. Either way though, every parent needs a nasal aspirator that is NOT a blue bulb syringe. Seriously, do not use those. If you don't believe me, get on Google and look at some of the pictures people have posted after cutting one open. Let's just say, you cannot clean them well enough! Yuck!

When Logan was really new and squishy, he got a super bad cold. One of the things that helped the most was BabyComfyNose. We couldn't give him anything to dry him up, but at least we could help him breathe easier. Then I killed BabyComfyNose. Whoops.

Enter NoseFrida. The second cold Logan had was just a couple weeks ago. We're talking that really nasty, thick green goo leaking out of your kids nose. He hated us wiping his nose with tissues. To paint a picture it took two people holding him down and you were still at risk of getting scratched or kicked. That kind of hate for tissues. He wasn't going down without a fight. Now he shreds tissues into tiny pieces anytime he gets near them and I'm pretty sure that's him enacting his revenge. So instead of battling to the death every time we needed to wipe his nose ( A LOT!) we turned to our trusty nasal aspirator, he tolerated it better, not great, but better. And instead of just wiping away what was out of his nose, we could actually pull out the snot and free up his nasal passage. Better breathing equals better nursing! And our breastfeed baby loves to breastfeed when he is feeling poorly. So win for the NoseFrida!

Now, something I hear very often is that it's gross to use a nasal aspirator. Seriously? Come on. Your kid can't breathe, help them! (And because you're an awesome parent, I know you will!) The ick factor really isn't a big deal because you do not, I repeat DO NOT, get snot in your mouth. So stop worrying about that. Plus, if you're a parent I'm sure you've cleaned up a massive poop blowout. Now, that is gross. If you can handle that, you can handle this! Also, I'm not judging if you think it's gross. I can see why the concept seems nasty. So I'm coming down off my soap box now. I'm squeamish about other things, so no room to judge. So to recap, it's not gross. It's not as bad as what you're thinking. Trust me, nothing can be grosser than the mold that builds up in the blue bulb syringe!

I highly, highly recommend a nasal aspirator! Every new parent should have one!

Back To School Basics at The Baby Burp

The Baby Burp has all your basics for back to school shopping. The best part is you don't have to leave the comfort of your own home! Clothes, Hair Bows, Accessories, Lunch Containers,  Blankets & Nap Pads for the wee ones! You can check out our New Products page to see the latest uploads of one of kind or unique products. Tell you friends and go shopping now! 

4 Books For Our Child

I was recently asked  the question, "If your son could read only four books while growing up, which books would you have him read?"

Only 4 books!  That is not only quite the challenge, but also a major decision to be made!  I decided this was not one I should make alone.  I consulted my husband, and we each chose 2 picks for the hypothetical tiny library our children might be exposed to.

Dave's Picks

Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."

This is one of Dave's favorite books. He would pick if for Patrick because it has essential life lessons for both kids and adults, but different ones for each.

Oh, the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss

"So be sure when you step, Step with care and great tact. And remember that life's A Great Balancing Act. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed) Kid, you'll move mountains."

We love Dr. Seuss books, but this book is a favorite for both of us.  The idea that the world is open, and our children can go anywhere is something we want them to know.  This is even the theme for our son's nursery!  This book can follow him from the time he is little, up through adulthood.  It is now a popular graduation gift, and my sister even had it read at her wedding!

Kristen's Picks

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein.

"And all the colors I am inside have not been invented yet."

I have been in love with this book since I was young.  I would check it out from the library and renew it the maximum number of times, and then wait the appropriate period of time until I could check it out again.  My mom even bought if fore me...but not until my 30th birthday! I love all the creativity in the poems and drawings, the silliness in the words, and the hidden profoundness.

Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne

"We'll be Friends Forever, won't we, Pooh?' asked Piglet.

Even longer,' Pooh answered."

My last pick is the original collections of stories about Winnie-the-Pooh.  These tales tell stories of adventure, imagination and friendship. The friendships are really the most important reason I would want my son to read this collection of stories.  Each one warms my heart!

What 4 books would you choose for your own children?  It is tougher than you think to narrow it down to just 4!

The Baby Burp Featured Product: Recycled Sari Toddler Quilt

This featured product  from The Baby Burp is a Recycled Sari Toddler Quilt! It also works very well as a throw blanket.  The size is perfect for a toddler bed or a shoulder wrap for cold evenings. Here is what the Seller, Buy The Change, had to say about their product that can be found on our home page at The Baby Burp. 

This blanket is handmade in a women's sewing/quilting cooperative in a village just outside Kolkata, India called  Bawali Village. The women meet weekly to have community time and to exchange orders. Most of sewing and quilting is done at each woman's home between her household duties.  

We are inspired to help create a market for these blankets because the income they bring to the very poor women who create them is life changing. For some women this income is the only household income, for others it is money to send their children to school. Each woman has a different situation and story but each is working very hard to earn the money that can change the situation of her family.

How our products are different:  We offer our customers beautiful handmade products but we also offer the opportunity to help a mother on the other side of the world change her life, and the lives of her children, through business building and hard work. The sari is the traditional dress for women in India. Our blankets are made from recycled cotton sari fabric. Because it was a dress, the fabric has been hand washed and air dried many, many times which is what creates the wonderful softness of the blankets. These blankets are hardy though, no need to handle with care, they can be machine washed and dried.

Each blanket is one of a kind and completely unique.

Buy The Change was launched in 2011 by Kari Hughes and Shanan Bunzenhahl because of a deep desire to make a difference for women and children, especially girls, in the developing world who are struggling to gain safety, equality and financial independence. We have traveled extensively to meet with our artisan partners, each of which is living a unique story of struggle and determination, some are home based, some live in shelters after being rescued from sex trafficking or domestic slavery, some go to community workshops daily, they all have the same goals of safety, independence and better futures.

We want our customers to be as excited as we are about the ability to make a difference through our buying choices. 

Buy The Change is a registered Benefit Corporation which means we are a "for profit company" focused on creating social change rather than profits. 100% of our profits are used to support our artisans partners through the purchase of their handmade products. We have made the "Best for the World" list published by BLab, an independent nonprofit organization that certifies B corps, for the last 2 years.

Learn more at http://buythechangeusa.org/our-story

You should buy the Recycled Sari Toddler Quilt because it is a beautiful, unique, handmade product that your child will fall in love with. You will know that you made a difference in the life of another mom on the other side of the world.

Becoming A Mother

Becoming a mother has been the most amazing and natural experience. It still rocked my world like I assume it does most people. Reading every book in the world will not prepare you for the selflessness it takes to be a mother.I prayed throughout the entire pregnancy for patience and wisdom to raise my child. I would not be making it today without God's help with both of these things. I've actually been shocked with the amount of patience he has blessed me with.

I have honestly loved every step of the process. My pregnancy wasn't perfect but it was an incredible experience. In fact, I told Ryan that I could not imagine it being my only pregnancy. I would have 4 more if he let me. haha The moment I saw my baby boy, my heart melted. He was exactly how I pictured him. I just knew he would have my brown eyes because brown is a dominant color. I knew he would have his daddy's nose because that gene is strong in his family. I also knew he would have hair because the ultrasound tech told us he had a head full at our last visit. He was everything I imagined, but so much more.

From the moment we arrived home from the hospital, I was extremely overwhelmed. Not only was I feeling very uncomfortable from the episiotomy, I also walked in to a house FULL of company. I immediately felt like I had to entertain. I probably should have sat down and relaxed, but that is hard for me to do with a house full of people. We ended up having guests until 10:30 that night. I was exhausted, hungry and I lost it. I balled my eyes out to Ryan (bless his heart). The first 4 weeks of Hampton's life were like this. We literally had company over every day and night for 4 weeks straight. I didn't think we would ever get back to our normal lives again, but finally we did. Once we started getting out of the house and doing things like taking H to church, shopping or out to eat with my friends, it was amazing the difference that it made. I had a life again!

My mom was also supposed to stay with me for the first week home, but only ended up staying for two nights because of some other things going on at her home. That was tough. I felt really stressed about being alone with him so soon and while I was still trying to heal. It actually worked out well because it forced me to do it and it proved to myself that I could do this whole mom thing and do it pretty well.

I was joking with my dad the other day about how it was only 10 a.m. and I had been pooped on, peed on, spit up on, and sneezed on. He said: "so does this mean you aren't having anymore?" and I said "absolutely I am!" haha It really has been so natural for me. Falling into this new life and new routine has been a huge adjustment but now that we have done it, I couldn't imagine my life any other way. It has obviously had its challenges at times, but it has been so wonderful. Those first few weeks were tough with all of the company and lack of sleep, but it was also such a wonderful time. I enjoyed showing off our baby boy to all our friends and family.

If you are about to experience motherhood for the first time, all I have to say is don't ever think you are prepared, because you aren't. The only advice I will give you (because everyone has been giving you advice and it's annoying after a while) is that you need to be prepared to be unprepared. Everything you've read will go flying out the window. That schedule you've worked out will not work for your baby. That rock n' play you bought for him to sleep in for the first few weeks? He won't sleep in it (yes, that happened).

Becoming a mother has been the most amazing and natural experience. It still rocked my world like I assume it does most people. Reading every book in the world will not prepare you for the selflessness it takes to be a mother.I prayed throughout the entire pregnancy for patience and wisdom to raise my child. I would not be making it today without God's help with both of these things. I've actually been shocked with the amount of patience he has blessed me with.

I have honestly loved every step of the process. My pregnancy wasn't perfect but it was an incredible experience. In fact, I told Ryan that I could not imagine it being my only pregnancy. I would have 4 more if he let me. haha The moment I saw my baby boy, my heart melted. He was exactly how I pictured him. I just knew he would have my brown eyes because brown is a dominant color. I knew he would have his daddy's nose because that gene is strong in his family. I also knew he would have hair because the ultrasound tech told us he had a head full at our last visit. He was everything I imagined, but so much more.

From the moment we arrived home from the hospital, I was extremely overwhelmed. Not only was I feeling very uncomfortable from the episiotomy, I also walked in to a house FULL of company. I immediately felt like I had to entertain. I probably should have sat down and relaxed, but that is hard for me to do with a house full of people. We ended up having guests until 10:30 that night. I was exhausted, hungry and I lost it. I balled my eyes out to Ryan (bless his heart). The first 4 weeks of Hampton's life were like this. We literally had company over every day and night for 4 weeks straight. I didn't think we would ever get back to our normal lives again, but finally we did. Once we started getting out of the house and doing things like taking H to church, shopping or out to eat with my friends, it was amazing the difference that it made. I had a life again!

My mom was also supposed to stay with me for the first week home, but only ended up staying for two nights because of some other things going on at her home. That was tough. I felt really stressed about being alone with him so soon and while I was still trying to heal. It actually worked out well because it forced me to do it and I proved to myself that I could do this whole mom thing and do it pretty well.

I was joking with my dad the other day about how it was only 10 a.m. and I had been pooped on, peed on, spit up on, and sneezed on. He said: "so does this mean you aren't having anymore?" and I said "absolutely I am!" haha It really has been so natural for me. Falling into this new life and new routine has been a huge adjustment but now that we have done it, I couldn't imagine my life any other way. It has obviously had its challenges at times, but it has been so wonderful. Those first few weeks were tough with all of the company and lack of sleep, but it was also such a wonderful time. I enjoyed showing off our baby boy to all our friends and family.

If you are about to experience motherhood for the first time, all I have to say is don't ever think you are prepared, because you aren't. The only advice I will give you (because everyone has been giving you advice and it's annoying after a while) is that you need to be prepared to be unprepared. Everything you've read will go flying out the window. That schedule you've worked out will not work for your baby. That rock n' play you bought for him to sleep in for the first few weeks? He won't sleep in it (yes, that happened).

Our Cloth Diaper Wash Routine

I started washing our cloth diapers in Country Save, but quickly ran out of sample packets (Thanks Go Baby Go for hooking us up with so many the first time we bought our cloth diapers). I had been researching and coincidentally had a bottle of Eco Nuts Soap at our house, so I decided to try it out before I went and invested in more laundry detergent. I really wanted to love this soap because I had read so many cool things about the brand, but I just didn't. For washing everyday laundry it does fine, but for washing cloth diapers, it just didn't work. I'd have to pour half the bottle in there to get good clean cloth diapers. I was so bummed out, but that's life sometimes, right?

I've got to attribute most of the problem to our terribly hard well water. It just takes some serious soap to get things done. Obviously, since Eco Nuts didn't work for the cloth diapers, I had to go out and buy new detergent or never do laundry again. Appealing, but unlikely! I decided to give Rockin' Green a try. I'm so glad I did! This soap works for our hard water and more than that after reading the back of the bag, I learned how to 'rock a soak,' which is why I added soaking to my wash routine. In our hard water, that extra step makes a pretty big difference in how clean my diapers come out. I admit if you have good water, this step is probably unnecessary except for every once in awhile. For us, we need it!

After Logan has a major poop (they're all major, I swear!), I always go through the trouble of rinsing them out. We toss whatever solid (he's basically exclusively breastfed still so not much) into the toilet, use our sprayer when we can, and then we wash the rest by hand in the sink. You do not have to do this to get the staining out, but my husband and I are very Type A. As long as you empty any solids into the toilet, you can toss the poopy diaper into the pail and wait till laundry day. We just do that extra hand rinsing because we're crazy about clean. Don't judge!

When we first started washing cloth diapers, I had a lot of trouble pinning down a good wash routine. There is a lot of contradicting information on the internet.

My very first wash cycle looked like this:

• Cold rinse
• Hot wash
• Cold rinse
• Extra rinse
• Line dry for 4+ hours
• Fluff in the dryer for 20 minutes on low

It worked fine--not great, but luckily I order a ton of cloth diapers from Kiwi Baby Shop (affiliate link) and the owner, Yazhi, told me about what the Real Diaper Association recommends. She also told me that in order to get a stain out it is easier if you rinse in the same temperature water as the poop comes out of the body (a little gross, I know). This made a lot of sense to me. Sometimes it just takes someone explaining something in a certain way for it to click in my head. The good news is I've had a lot more luck getting our stains all the way out by using this routine:

• Warm soak for 30-60 minutes (this step is completely optional, but I find it helps)
• Warm Rinse
• Hot wash with detergent
• Warm Rinse
• Extra Rinse
• Line dry for 4+ hour (Disclaimer: the sun will bleach out your stains, but it will also bleach your cute diaper colors/prints if left out too long.)
• Fluff in the dryer for 20 minutes on low

You can see the Real Diaper Association recommendations at Cloth Diaper Laundry Guide. While you're there, check out the informative article on the WATCH Formula. It describes the factors for getting clean diapers--Water, Agitation, Time, Chemicals (i.e. detergent), and Heat. 

I need it known that our diapers look almost brand new after a wash routine and time in the sun. I wanted to share these photos with y'all of the before the wash and after because I think they are so striking! Sorry that the poop stains are a little nasty, but seriously from that to white again? Amazing!

If I can do it, you can do it too! Don't let the worry that you'll never get your diapers clean enough deter you from starting cloth. It may take a week of washing to get your detergent ratios right or you water ratios right, but you'll get the hang of it. Trust me, when Logan pooped on his very first cloth diaper, I thought it was ruined forever. I was shocked when after some time in the sun it was back to normal. If you don't believe me, maybe these pictures will persuade you.

The Baby Burp Featured Product: Personalized Baby Beanie

How adorable are these personalized baby beanies featured on our home page at The Baby Burp? We did a little Q & A with the Seller, Oh Baby! Personalized Gifts, and this is what she had to say!

1. What is the name of your Featured Product with The Baby Burp this month?

Personalized Baby Beanie

2. What inspired you to make it?

I wanted to make a product that would be a special keepsake for new parents and their new bundle of joy!

3. How is your's different from other products that are the same?

I have a variety of colors and designs to choose from and can even add custom logos on the beanie.

4. Tell us a little about yourself.

I am a stay at home mom with an 8-year old son and 6-year old daughter. I really love to create unique personalized gifts for new babies and toddlers.

5. Finish the sentence. You should buy a Personalized Baby Beanie because.....

You should buy these baby beanies because they are hand made with love from one mom to another!

Well said! Get yours today!

5 Ways Toddlers Are Like Zombies

I was sitting at home the other day when a thought came to me.

Toddlers are like zombies!

Now I am not a zombie expert by any means. I don't enjoy zombie movies and have only watched half of the first episode of The Walking Dead.  I am not well read about the Zombie Apocalypse, or how to survive in case it actually occurs.  Michael Jackson's Thriller video is about the extent of my knowledge about zombies.

However, I have met my son.  I like to think I am an expert on him.  In the short 14 months that I have known this child, I have come to notice some similarities between him and (what I know about) zombies.

1. Their overall appearance

Their hair appears often disheveled.  It is often matted with remnants of their last meal (whether it was applesauce or human brains).

They seem to be missing teeth, and they are sometime located in random places throughout their mouth.  What few teeth they do have are razor sharp!

Their clothing is often dirty and sometimes tattered.  It appears to be either too small or too large most of the time.  Toddlers and babies have a knack for never actually seeming to fit into their clothing.  Overnight it somehow goes from being too large to too small in the blink of an eye! Perhaps they are in cahoots with the clothing industry.

2. The walk

Zombies and toddlers who are just starting to walk have the same, Frankensteinesque walk.  It appears they haven't learned what knees are for, and walk without bending their knees.  This straight-legged walk has them traveling very wobbly, from side to side.  They often have their arms outstretched to let you know that they are in fact coming for you.  Often, there is no where to hide.  Once a zombie or toddler starts teetering towards you, they usually won't stop until you are caught.  There is no use trying to hide.  They will find you!

3. Humans are delicious

After my child was recently gnawed on three times in one week at daycare, I realized this similarity between toddlers and zombies.  The main difference is that zombies bite for nourishment and to reproduce, while toddlers bite...well I have no idea why.  It is typically a phase (a very painful one) that they grow out of.  Unless they later become a zombie.

4. The talk

Both zombies and toddlers rattle off a serious of unidentifiable gibberish.  The string of grunts, cries and screams seem to mean something to them, but we are incapable of translating this into our own dialect.  Perhaps if todders are around during the Zombie Apocalypse, the two groups will in fact be able to communicate with each other and form some sort of peace treaty.

5. You better be prepared

Whether it is the Zombie Apocalypse or toddler playdate, you better come well prepared, or be prepared to face your doom!  As I said, I am not knowledgeable of all things zombie, but here is a list of 25 Things You Need to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse.  Seems helpful.  Here is a list of 5 Things You Need to Survive a Toddler.  I feel that there should be more, but that will get you through the first 30 minutes or so.   

The Baby Burp Featured Product: First Bow Newborn Hospital Hat Pink Cutie Bow

You can find "First Bow Newborn Hospital Hat Pink Cutie Bow" on our home page as a Featured Product this month at The Baby Burp! Here is what the seller, Cradle Cuties, had to say about her popular hat. 

Cradle Cuties is the Traditional Newborn Hospital Hat with a Stylish Twist. I was inspired to make these Adorable hats 8 years ago with the birth of my first daughter Mia.  A nurse made a makeshift bow by cutting a slit in a hat and pulling another hat through.  I LOVED that touch of girl and I used that hat often!  2 years later my daughter Ella was born.  Same hospital no hat.  I wanted to create Stylish hats without taking away the functionality, comfort and warmth that is essential for all newborns.

These Cutie Bows are a Cradle Cuties Original!  I went back to my daughters first hat and tried to Create the classic hospital hat bow with more structure!  It is SO Classic yet Unique and Stylish!  There are starting to be a lot of competitors trying to imitate Cradle Cuties!  They say imitation if the best form of flattery!  So many of the styles both boys and girls that others have, were originally created by Cradle Cuties.  I use this as incentive to keep creating new and fabulous items as often as possible!

I am a Stay at Home Mom and started selling online as a hobby.  It quickly became a hit.  In August of 2013, I was contacted by Hope's Chest Showroom at the Dallas World Trade Center.  They wanted to sell Cradle Cuties Wholesale to Children's Boutiques!  It was a whirl wind Official Business Start Up!  Official logos, retail packaging, etc.  It has been so Successful!  Cradle Cuties can now be found at Retail stores all around the US!  I have been truly blessed!

You should buy Cradle Cuties because we take the classic hospital issued hat and Style it up to make your Baby the Star of the Nursery!

What It's Like To Be A WAHM

I am a work at home mom. That means that I work from home while also keeping my 7 month old. I have worked many jobs and have had a part-time or full-time job since I was 12 years old. I worked from home for 2 1/2 years before having my baby. It was my full-time job. It still is. I just added a baby to the mix.

Are you a stay-at-home or work-at-home mom? I applaud you. A lot of women openly admit that they work to get a "break" from their children. Seriously, I've had multiple friends and family members say that to me. While I think that is so sad, I can also understand. Being a full time mom is so stressful. It is literally the only 24/7 job in the world. You are always on call.

Trying to work while also entertaining a baby is tough work. Can you imagine doing both at the same time? I do it every work day. In fact, about 90% of my weekends, I'm also having to work to make up for all that I didn't get done during the week. I feel like a lot of people don't understand what a WAHM does or what that means. A WAHM has a job that she works from the home while also raising her children. I've had a lot of people laugh at me and say I do "nothing." HA, if only they knew.

Personally, I made the decision a long time ago to stay at home with my children. I feel a sense of responsibility for my child because I chose to bring him into this world. I wanted him. I prayed for him. I want to raise him and spend as much time as I can with him. Motherhood is about sacrifices, and I've had to make a lot, but I wouldn't change it for the world.

I work as a web content manager for local lawyers and restaurants during the week, and if you missed my post a couple of weeks ago, I am now the BOM coordinator and social media expert for ALWB. Doing these along with my blog is a lot, but I enjoy every minute of it. Sure some weeks I could rip my hair out, but most of the time, I genuinely love working from home, raising my child and blogging about all of it.

Want a little bit more of a glimpse into what it's like to be a WAHM?

I'm on a conference call while tending to a screaming child and wrestling with my mute button on my phone to try to sound like I'm not dealing with a screaming child while trying to conduct business in a professional manner.

I know the importance of a nap not necessarily because it's good for my baby to sleep, but because it is my one opportunity to finally get some work done, uninterrupted.

I start working early with the intention of actually finishing on time only to realize it's 3p.m. and I'm not only still in my PJs and showerless, but I've still got hours worth of work to finish. Sigh.

I have mastered the art of feeding my baby with one hand while talking on the phone and answering emails on the other.

Featured Product: Refresh-A-Baby

The Baby Burp is blessed to have such genius products, and Refresh-A-Baby is one of them! Gina is a mother and inventor of this amazing product which she is going to tell us more about it her own words.

I came up with this simple solution while on-the-go accidentally  leaving behind the one thing I needed to get my baby fed, the baby bottle itself.  Frustrated with the situation with a baby bottle nipple in hand, a water bottle in the other, and a crying baby in front of me, I wished I could just pop this nipple on a water bottle and everything would be fine.  That's how the idea came about.

 Refresh-a-Baby is 100% Made in the USA, it's leak free, has a superior non-collapsible nipple, and fits more than just water bottles fitting perfectly on the leading "ready-made" baby formula bottles.

I'm a former elementary school teacher and a mother of two boys from Tampa, Florida. I moved my family in with my parents to be able pursue bringing Refresh-a-Baby to market. My family has been an amazing support system.  I feel so blessed to have them!

You should buy Refresh-a-Baby because it's a diaper bag "must have" to keep your baby easily hydrated without a fuss anywhere, anytime!  

7 New Baby Essentials

       

The first months after having your baby can be tough. You are tired all the time. You feel like you are in a daze and just going through the motions every day. Having the right items can really help you be prepared for those long nights. Here are the items I couldn't have lived without:

Mirror - This is a must have. I love the mirror because you can see the baby when you're driving. You know if he is crying because he spit up or if he is asleep, etc. It is a definite must.

Aden and Anias Swaddle Blankets - I love these. They were by far my favorite blankets and we are still using them (at 5 months). They are great for swaddling but also to cover your baby without using a thick heavy blanket. If your baby is hot natured like mine, that is an important factor. 

Boppy - We use our boppy All. The. Time. I use it when I'm nursing Hampton, feeding him a bottle, reading to him, etc. He is also starting to try to sit up and he loves propping up in the boppy. It's great to lay your baby in.

Swing - I was very back and forth on whether or not to purchase a swing. All kidding aside, I don't know how we made it the first month without it. Hampton loves his swing. It is great because you can strap them in while you fold laundry, wash bottles, pee (for the first time all day), eat, and all the other fun mommy things you get to do once your baby arrives. It's a win/win. They love it, you love it.

Mams Pacifiers - I loved these pacifiers because they were smaller and didn't look like they were swallowing my child's face. They are also much cuter. I mean, come on. Those nurser pacis are U-G-L-Y. No offense if you use them, but you know it's true. 

Baby Gowns - These were great for the first couple of months. I put Hamp in them every night. They make your tired exhausted life so much easier at 3 a.m. when you don't have to worry about snaps. You just pull it right up, change 'em and done! They also have mittens which are also great so that your baby doesn't scratch himself in his sleep.

Taggie - We have a taggie that was made by a woman at our church, however this one is similar. I don't know that we would have made it without taggie. Hampton started teething very early (around 3 months) and he was too little to hold a teething ring or anything for that matter. The taggie was perfect because he could grasp it and chew on it and it kept him very content. We still cannot leave the house without our sacred taggie.

What are some of your favorite baby items?

         

The Baby Burp: Featured Product- Happy Tones X's & O's Baby Quilt

Quilting is truly a art form and we at The Baby Burp are lucky to have a seller who makes amazing

baby quilts. Vanessa will tell us in her own words about her featured product and her knack for quilting.

The name of my featured quilt is Happy Tones X's & O's Baby Quilt.

I chose to make this quilt because nothing says I love you more than X's &
O's and it makes such an adorable quilt.  I just love the Happy Tones line
by Michael Miller Fabrics and even pulled some great coordinating pieces
from the Wild Safari line also by Michael Miller Fabrics.  This little quilt
is so bright & colorful and I think it will make a beautiful addition to any
baby girl's room.

I believe all quilts are unique to the quilter, but I almost always finish
my quilts with colored thread as I think it really makes the quilting stand
out.

I still work a full time job, but have the luxury of having my office in my
home.  So whenever I have downtime at work, I have the pleasure of quilting.

I was born and spent my early years in Kentucky and spent a lot of time with
my grandmothers, both of whom quilted.  I have always had a love of
quilting, but only recently started making quilts to sell.  I am married to
a wonderful and supporting husband who loves to help me pick out fabric,
though I'm sure he would deny that if asked.  I have 2 grown children and a
grandson that just turned a 1 year old earlier this year.  My husband also
has 2 grown children, 2 grandsons and finally got a granddaughter that will
be turning 1 in September and we are actively trying to spoil them all.  

I am very particular about only using 100% cotton for fabric, thread and
batting.  I love the softness of cotton and I also love the way it shrinks
just enough in the wash to give it that wonderful worn look.

I hope you will consider my Happy Tones X's & O's Baby Quilt because it will
brighten up your baby girl's room and bring happiness and joy for years to
come.  If this is not what you are looking for, please look around my shop
or contact me for a custom project.