This ain't your grandmas registry (or maybe it is)
Being a first time mom, or even a seasoned mom can bring on questions you may not have the answers to. Should I buy this swing, or that swing? Should baby sleep in my bed or in their own room? What brand of diapers am I going to use? Should I sleep train or not sleep train? Should I have no pacifiers or try a million of them? Should I buy 20 different swaddles?
When browsing influencers baby registries, or hear other moms talk about products, it can be a bit overwhelming and it's hard to sift through what you need and what are the "nice to haves".
With that being said, there are a lot of decisions you need to make when becoming a parent, and it seems as if some of the "minor" details can get lost in all of the major decisions like where am I going to give birth at, what provider am I going to use etc.
Some of those little things do matter though. Baby products can influence our parenting styles, whether you are going to "pop a binky in" so you can finish the dishes, have a crib in a separate room so "you can have alone time", and the list goes on and on. Should you put the "bottle box" on your registry? What if your baby doesn't like the bottle you try? What if you can't get your baby to sleep without the sound machine, without the special swaddle, without the 10 step process.
The space around us, the moms we are around, even our own mothers parenting journey can impact how we choose to parent.
You see, back in the early 50's, life was simple. Our grandmothers did not have to sift through 20 different baby swings, 10 different bottle brands, and people yelling from every side what you need to get for your new baby. They did, however, have aggressive predatory formula marketing and horrendous birthing practices based (but I'll save that for another post).
Let me get this across though, what kind of bottle, binky, and sippy cup DO matter on the influence of breastfeeding success, oral motor development, and a baby's overall well being.
When it comes to your baby registry, let me de-influence you, and let's get back to the basics, and simplicity. Mom and baby. Things that will promote healthy attachments. Products that can aid in your breastfeeding journey, not destroy them (cough, cough the snoo). Let's have things that can nurture proper oral motor and facial development. Let's get back to simple.
You will find the basics that I recommend you have when welcoming a baby into your family. Am I saying that all of these are necessary and if you don't buy these you are a "bad mom" or ill prepared? No, I'm saying let me help you with products that I actually see that are beneficial to babies and their development, your breastfeeding journey and your postpartum journey.
Is your baby having trouble with a bottle? Not sure why they won't sleep? Tried the colic calm? Book a visit with your expert IBCLC today.
Love, Hannah