Shopping

20 Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Your Pets

Are you buying a Valentine’s gift for your pet this year? If so, you are not alone. According to this article that was published last year, one out of five Americans will buy a Valentine’s gift for their pet. I admit, I’m one of those people. If you are one of those people too, but are still wondering what to get for your pet, I have some ideas for you. Here are 20 Valentine’s Day gift ideas for your pet.

Family feeding treats to golden retriever

Treats

What pet wouldn’t love a yummy treat this Valentine’s Day?


Cat playing with ball of yarn

Toys

Any of these toys will make your pet’s day!


Woman adjusting dog’s collar

Accessories

How about a nice new collar or leash with a Valentine’s Day theme?



20 Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Your Pets

Food and Water Bowls

Here are some cute bowls with a Valentine’s theme.

Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Your Pets

A Cozy Bed

Who knew they made heart shaped beds for pets? Why not give your pet the gift of a comfortable bed this Valentine’s Day?

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for Your Pets

Will you be buying any gifts for your pets this year? Tell me in the comments. If not, don’t feel bad. The best gifts you can give your pet are free. Time, snuggles, praise or a walk together will show your pet that you love them more than any store bought item ever could. As always, thanks for reading and enjoy your pets this Valentine’s Day!

8 Comments

22 Unique Valentine’s Cards and Party Favors for Kids

Every year throughout elementary school, we’d hand out Valentine’s cards and our children are continuing this tradition. Most of the cards were generic and ended up in the trash soon after Valentine’s Day just because what would we keep them for? Occasionally, I’d get a more memorable card. Either it was homemade and there was something special about it. There could be a hand drawn picture, a 2d collage of hearts or something else that made it unique. One person even outlined their hand drawn pictures with puff paints.

22 Unique Valentine’s Cards and Party Favors for Kids

I am crafty, but not when it comes to making cards or drawing, so finding something store bought, but unique is the plan. Rosebud will be handing out cards at preschool, so I wanted to share these unique Valentine’s Day cards with you in case you are in the same boat. If you are looking for cards that pop up, smell good, are interesting shapes or include a little something extra, keep reading. At the end of the post, there will be some Valentine’s party favors as well.

Kid making Valentine’s cards

Pop Up Cards

Three dimensional cards are so cool!

Animated Cards

I’ve never seen this type of cards before. Rosebud and her friends are loving Paw Patrol, so these came up in my search.

Little girl smelling red rose

Scented Cards

Scratch and sniff is always fun for kids. They’ll come back to a card like this again and again.

Shaped or Cutout Cards

A little more interesting than the standard squares or rectangles.

Shiny Cards

If you want to add a little sparkle to the Valentine’s party, why not get something with a little shiny foil or glitter.

22 Unique Valentine’s Cards and Party Favors for Kids

Cards With Candy

Kids won’t be able to wait to try the candy!

Just a note about candy. Many schools are nut free zones, so some candy won’t be allowed. If you are hosting your own party or you know the kids, you might want to hand out the Hershey’s candy. There are a lot of children with allergies and we all know candy is unhealthy, so I am including a non candy option as well.

Cards with Non Candy Surprises

Kids will be excited to see what comes with these cards.

Valentine’s Party Favors

If you are putting together Valentine’s goody bags, these ideas are for you. I’m sticking with non candy party favors.



22 Unique Cards and Party Favors for Valentine’s Day

What are you doing for your kids Valentine’s parties? Tell me in the comments. If you are looking for some awesome Valentine’s Day crafts, snacks or Activities, head on over to Amy’s Balancing Act where she has this fantastic Valentine’s Day Idea Roundup.

5 Comments

Valentine’s Day Gifts for Your Little Girl

Valentine’s Day is less than a month away. While I think it’s over commercialized like everything else, I want to make the day fun and special for Rosebud. Our tradition is that I surprise her with a small Valentine’s Day gift in the morning. I haven’t decided exactly what her gift will be yet, but I’ll admit that shopping for little girls is too much fun. It gave me inspiration for this post. If you are shopping for a Valentine’s gift for little girl, I got you covered. This post has plenty of gift ideas to get you started.

Valentine’s Day Gifts for Your Little Girl

Build A Bouquet Play Set

Rosebud loves this flower play set. There are a few different kinds and they all look like they can be connected. I got her this set last year and she still plays with it, but I’m thinking of getting her a second set, so that she can make her flower gardens bigger. This toy is great for color recognition, creativity and learning about different kinds of flowers.

Little girl playing with jewelry

Jewelry

Most little girls I know love jewelry. Rosebud has this bracelet and necklace set with rose pendant. She is not a fan of jewelry, so I’m saving it for when she’s a little older. This set is very pretty and I was surprised that it seems well made. I was impressed with it for a little girl’s necklace. There are tons of options for girls jewelry. The options are endless.

Little girl with teddy bear

Stuffed Animal

Stuffed animals are a classic gift. You can go with a classic teddy bear or with something unique. Something soft and cuddly is always nice.

Mother and daughter reading book

Books

You can’t go wrong with books. There are so many great Valentines books out there. Here are just a few to give you an idea.

Girl in red dress

Valentine’s Dress

If you are going anywhere fancy for this Valentine’s Day or if your little girl just loves dressing up, you could get her a nice dress.

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for Girls

Kinetic Sand

I got this sand for Rosebud for Christmas and it is the coolest thing. It doesn’t dry out, you can make so many neat things and it doesn’t make a huge mess. There are lots of cool molds you can buy and lots of colors of sand to choose from. I’m thinking of getting the purple shimmer for Rosebud because purple is her favorite color. You could go with red to celebrate Valentine’s Day or maybe white shimmer for winter time.

Mother and daughter doing crafts

Art Supplies

If your little girl is an artist like mine is, why not get some Valentines themed art supplies? I love art because it allows children to use their imaginations.

Little girl at play kitchen

Play Food

Speaking of imaginations, Rosebud is loving her play kitchen and all the pretend food to go with it. Why not get your child’s favorite food in toy form? Maybe one of these desserts or the fruit salad?

Mother and daughter with heart

Crafting Kits

Rosebud is still too young for some of these things, but if you have a school age girl, a crafting kit might be the perfect thing. Some ideas are jewelry making, latch hook, gimp, modeling clay etc. Not only is creating something fun, but you could do these activities together. It could just be a relaxing activity after a long day at school or you could make Valentine’s Day gifts for others together. Either way, it’s a way to spend quality time which leads me to the last gift idea on my list.


Little girl with Valentines gift

Quality Time

    This doesn’t cost a thing. Well, it doesn’t have to. The main thing to show your children on Valentine’s Day is that you love them and want to spend time with them. Do you have a favorite activity that you like to do together or as a family? Here are some ideas.
  • Baking cookies together,
  • Taking a sight seeing walk,
  • Doing each other’s nails,
  • Spa day with facials and or foot bath,
  • Watching a favorite movie,
  • Reading books together,
  • Planning and cooking a meal,
  • Playing board games,
  • Doing puzzles,
  • Exploring places around town that you haven’t seen before,
  • Writing in a 2-way journal.

If your child is older, this would be a fun way to stay connected. Sometimes it’s easier to talk about things face to face, so it’s a great way to keep the lines of communication open. While this is not exactly an activity that you would necessarily do together, I think it counts as quality time as you are taking the time to stop and listen.


Valentine’s Day Gifts for Little Girls
Will you be getting your little girl a Valentines gift? Do you have any special Valentine’s Day traditions? Tell me in the comments. Happy shopping!

6 Comments

Stocking Stuffers for Your Fur Babies

Christmas is less than two weeks away and I’m sure lots of you are doing some last minute shopping. I know I am! For many of us, our pets are like any member of the family. We want to spoil them too which is why I created this list of stocking stuffers for pets.Stocking Stuffers for Your Pets

Toys

Let’s start with the fun items first! There are so many options to choose from, but here are some of the toys my pets have enjoyed. The cats have loved these catnip toys and these Jolly Balls for dogs are basically indestructible. Even when there are holes in the Jolly Ball, it stays inflated.



Stocking Stuffers for your Pets

Treats

What pet doesn’t love treats? Here are some different flavors to try.



Dog next to Christmas tree and gifts

Food

I’m not going to list actual foods because there are too many, but here are some ideas to keep cats and dogs busy with their food. Sometimes it’s good for them to work for it like they would in a natural environment.

Dog knocks over Christmas tree

Grooming

These items would be Diamond’s least favorite. I’m not sure about your cat or dog, but she hates grooming. Unfortunately, with her long hair, it’s a must. If your pet is in need of some new grooming supplies, it’s the perfect time to stock up.




Accessories

Does your cat or dog need a new collar or leash? They can make great Christmas presents either for your own pet or someone else’s.


Stocking Stuffers for your Fur Babies

Small Animals

Do you have a critter at home? Why not get them a little something too? Some blocks to chew or yogurt drops might be the perfect stocking stuffer.

Pet Lovers

Do you have a pet person in your life, but don’t know what to get them? Why not a gift card to their favorite pet store, a picture of their best friend or a cool Christmas ornament representing their fur baby. The options are endless.


Stocking Stuffers for Your Fur Babies

What are you getting your pets this year? Tell me in the comments. Happy last minute shopping!

1 Comment

Toy Recommendations for Christmas 2019

When I asked Rosebud what she wanted for Christmas this year, she didn’t have an answer. Luckily for her, I have found some cool toys that she will be excited to find under the tree on Christmas morning.

Toy Recommendations for Christmas 2019
When I’m looking for toys for her, I try to choose things that are open ended to encourage creative play. I also look for toys that will grow with her over time. I like it when toys are educational, but not in a traditional sense. More importantly, I want to get her toys she’ll have lots of fun playing with, so I’m looking forward to seeing what she will do with these new toys. Everything on this list is great for preschoolers ages three to five.

Magnet block castle

Building

Rosebud loves to build and she loves these Picasso magnet tiles. I bought them for Christmas last year and highly recommend them. She’s played with them almost every day since. We’ve made houses for animals, castles for Barbie, trees, divider boxes for sorting items etc. She comes up with new buildings every time she uses these. I was thinking of getting her a second set, but I wanted something different for to add to her creations. Magna Tiles are a great brand and admittedly, they are on the expensive side, but I caved and got her this Stardust set. These tiles are either glittery or have mirrors. I think she’ll love pairing these with the PicassoTiles.

Magnet block bakery

I also saw these magnetic people that work with this kind of blocks. She loves playing with toy people and these community helpers will be great to add to her buildings.


Magnet block tree

Toddler playing in sink

Science

Kinetic sand

This stuff is amazing! It’s popular with my preschool class, so I just had to get some of this for Rosebud. I love how it sticks together like real sand. It’s not too messy and I even like to sit and play with it. I was torn between the beach set and the bakery set, so I bought both. Rosebud is loving the color purple right now, so I’d like to get her the purple shimmer too. The beach set has the most sand out of all of them and it’s actually a good buy. If you want a quiet sensory activity, I highly recommend this sand.


Toy Sink

I originally wasn’t going to get her this, but I got one for a friend of Rosebud’s for his birthday. Since Rosebud saw it, she has asked why she can’t have one. I think I’ll give this to her on her birthday. You put water in the bottom of the sink and when you turn on the fossit, the water comes out like a regular sink. It comes with dishes to wash, pretend dish soap and a sponge. Why not teach kids to wash dishes along side you?

Boy playing with dollDramatic Play

Rosebud loves to play in her pretend kitchen, so I wanted to get her some new play foods to experiment with.

She loves pancakes, so I got her this pancake making set by Melissa & Doug. It has everything you need to make perfect pretend pancakes.

She loves to bake with me, so I got her a spice rack. This way, she can addd spices to her baking or cooking up a nice meal.

She has a lot of fruits and vegetables, breakfast foods and sweets, but I wanted her to have some food to make pretend meals. She loves pasta and I found this cool Melissa & Doug pasta making set. It has a variety of pastas with all the toppings. I know she’ll have fun with this.

To wrap up the dramatic play category, I got her this Baby Alive doll with cupcakes. Her birthday is right around Christmas and I thought this would be a great gift. She has started to really enjoy playing dolls in the past few months and she loves to set up pretend birthday parties.

Kids playing board game

Games

Rosebud is starting to have a better understanding of games and I found a couple simple games to start off with.

First, there’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar. She loves the book, so I thought the game would be fun and easy for her to play. Next, there’s Pete The Cat buttons game. She loves all the Pete the Cat books, so she’ll definitely love this game. The Pete the Cat cupcakes game would be fun too and I may still get that one for her as well.


Toy Recommendations for Christmas 2019

I am also getting her some books, but I will save our winter book list for another post. What will be under your tree this year? Tell me in the comments.

Comments Off on Toy Recommendations for Christmas 2019

Blast From the Past Stocking Stuffers

I was thinking about what else to post in my stocking stuffer series and remembered all the great toys and games we had in the 90’s. I thought it’d be cool to get a couple of things for Rosebud and to bring you all down memory lane with this list of fun toys, games and accessories from the 90’s. There are stocking stuffers for kids of all ages on this list.

Children playing board games

Games

Let’s start off with games. Board games were a big thing in the 90’s. I remember many weekends playing board or card games with my friends. Now kids are attached to their screens, but it might be fun for them to play an actual game with real pieces instead. Do you remember any of these?


Blast from the Past Stocking Stuffers pin

Toys

There were lots of toys to collect in the 90’s. I had my share of beanie babies, troll dolls and the horses from My Little Pony. I don’t remember the show, but I do remember the plastic ponies.


More Toys


Who remembers these water games?

Here’s something for the boys.

Girl with makeup at a vanity

Accessories

Here are some accessories and products for girls from the 90’s.
Scrunchies

Jewelry

Bath and Body

Who else remembers these fragrances? Bath and Body Works was one of my favorite stores as a teenager.

Candy land picture

Candy

Last but not least, how about some 90’s candy?

Blast from the past stocking stuffers pin

Did I miss anything? What awesome items do you remember from your childhood? Tell me in the comments.

3 Comments

21 Unique Non Candy Favors for Halloween

I’m a traditionalist and will be handing out candy on Halloween this year. While Rosebud doesn’t get too much candy, Halloween is the one day that we can go wild with the candy. Plus I can sneak off to the pantry closet when I have a chocolate craving. Times are changing though. With the increase in allergies, the obesity epidemic, the expense of candy and the craziness of the world, many people are skipping candy and offering non edible favors for trick-or-treaters instead. Some people skip trick-or-treating altogether and just attend Halloween parties or parades. These favors are also great for trunk-or-treat or for filling goody bags for Halloween parties. When I was a kid, if we got anything non candy, it was a pencil. Obviously, I was disappointed with this, but these days, there are so many more fun options to choose from. If you are handing something out this year, but want to skip the candy, you should definitely read on for my list of unique non candy favors for Halloween.21 Non Candy Halloween Favors pin

Practical and Fun

It gets dark early on Halloween night. Glow sticks can be fun and practical.

Rosebud loves these little flash lights for special occasions. She got a couple for Valentines Day and still plays with them. If you only have a few kids to buy for, these are a great option.

Something special to wear on Halloween night.

A throw back to the 90’s.

Rings are a popular goody bag filler, but these glow in the dark.

Girl in princess costume looking in the mirror

School and Art Supplies

If you want to get Halloween themed school supplies, these are great for class parties.

You could get these fun Halloween erasers.

To make the pencils more interesting, how about this Halloween scented version?

These mini notepads would be great for drawing while out and about.

Kids love stickers any time of year. These would also be great for your Halloween party crafts.

Kids will have fun with these stamps and they are also great for Halloween themed crafts.

Bowl of candy corn with spider

Novelty

If Halloween stresses you out, how about handing out these candy corn stress balls? Stress balls make great fidget toys for kids who have trouble staying still.

Small Halloween puzzles for toddlers. I’d never thought of handing out puzzles.

Temporary tattoos are fun for special occasions. Some of them even glow in the dark.

I used to collect keychains as a kid. These novelty Halloween keychains would’ve been a hit.

Children dressed up with Halloween toys

Toys


Bouncy balls are always popular goody bag items. Kids will especially love these that glow in the dark.

These rubber duckies are a fun addition. Good for bath time or play time.

I happened to find these when I was researching items for this post. I can’t wait to get these for Rosebud! You can either buy the mini dolls or a building blocks set.

Who doesn’t love windup toys?

Child witch cooking magic potion in caldron

Spooky Sensory Fun

Even the youngest kids will enjoy these bubbles.

How about these glow in the dark silly putty eggs?

It wouldn’t be a spooky party without a sticky hand.

Better yet, a stretchy skeleton!

21 unique non candy Halloween favors pin

If you are putting together goody bags, here are a couple to choose from.

I had fun putting this list together. There are a lot of things I never considered handing out that would be fun for kids to get instead of candy. What are you handing out this year if anything? Tell me in the comments.

2 Comments

9Baby Bath Time Essentials

Bath time was one of those things that really worried me when I was a new mom. I questioned everything. Was the bath tub I chose going to be safe? Am I using the right products? What if she gets water in her ears? What if she hates her baths and struggles to let me wash her? I was anxious in general about my baby being in a tub of water. Even though the tub might be made specifically for infants. As bath time helped Rosebud relax before bed, we quickly developed a nice bath time routine. Here is the list of baby bath time essentials that relieved my worry, kept Rosebud clean and made bath time fun.

9 baby bath time esssentials pin

Baby Bath Tub


Once we got started, we both became comfortable with bath time and she really enjoyed it. She loves anything to do with water, so that made my job that much easier, but when I first brought her home, she was so tiny. It was obvious that the baby bath tub I bought wouldn’t work. For the first month or two, I used the wash tub they give you at the hospital. It worked perfectly for her. I’d just keep my hand behind her head and wash the rest of her body with the other. Then when she was big enough, we started using this tub.

While it has mixed reviews, it worked perfectly for us. I picked this tub because it could be used until she was a toddler. The top part of the seat inflates so that the baby can lay back and be supported. When your baby is able to sit, you no longer have to inflate the top part of the seat. You just inflate the bottom part and it becomes more like a regular tub. I found that this tub had plenty of room for Rosebud to splash and play once she was sitting on her own. It was also easy to clean and it folds up for storage. Eventually, I had to stop using the tub because it didn’t fit well in my kitchen sink. One day I tried to move the faucet out of the way and it got caught on the tub ripping the plastic. I’d suggest using it inside your bath tub if you can.
Here are some other bath tubs to choose from.

Next, I bought this Munchkin duck tub. Rosebud was a toddler at this point, but I didn’t think she was ready to be in the big tub just yet. While the new tub was easy to clean, cute and definitely didn’t break the bank, I didn’t like it as much as the first tub. It served its purpose, but Rosebud quickly grew out of it. I’d recommend this tub if your baby can sit unsupported, but is not yet ready for the adult tub.

Mother bathing baby

Baby Body Wash

It’s up to you if you want to go organic. For the first few months of Rosebud’s life, I did. A couple of people gave me this Babyganics body wash at my baby shower, so that’s what I used. While I prefer something with scent, this is a great option if you are sensitive to smells and or if you want to go chemical free. Later I used this oatmeal vanilla body wash. It smells great, but it’s not for everyone. I’ll include a few options for you to choose from.

Baby shampoo label

Baby Shampoo


This is another case where you may want to go chemical free. I’ve gone back and forth between Babyganics and Johnson and Johnson since that’s what they gave us at the hospital. Both shampoos have worked for us, but once I get through my current bottle, I will try something different. You’ll have to find what works best for your baby’s hair and which product you feel comfortable with, so I’ve included a couple different options to get you started.

Baby girl in bath

Wash Cloths or Sponge


I prefer wash cloths because they are easier to hang and dry, but sometimes a soft sponge works well too. I found a nice set of wash cloths that have lasted us a while. They are a thicker terry cloth, they are soft and have stood up to many washings.

Bath Thermometer

There are different options for this, but I needed something simple that I could see. This cute little duck by Munchkin did the trick. Once the water was too hot, the word hot would appear in big white letters on the bottom of the duck. I could be sure that the water was at the appropriate temperature and as a bonus, this little ducky doubles as a nice bath toy. It is easy to clean because there is no holes where water can get in.

Baby bath time accessories pin

Hooded Towel


Rosebud would scream when I got her out of the tub because she was cold. Having a good hooded towel was a definite must have! The best hooded towels we had were hand me downs, believe it or not. Normally, I don’t take hand me downs because I get a little worked up over germs and not knowing where something has been, but these towels looked barely used and they were obviously good quality. I’ve looked in the stores and can’t find them anywhere, but there are quality hooded towels out there. I’ve found that thicker and softer is better. You need something that can absorb the water quickly and keep your baby warm. I also loved that these towels were large. Most of the towels I bought myself or got from other people were so small, but these towels fully covered her and the hood actually fit her head. In some cases, the old school products are far superior.

Baby Lotion

Since we live in the northeast, we have long cold winters. With the heat being on all the time, it can quickly dry out our skin. That’s why I’d put lotion on Rosebud most days after her bath. Just like with the body wash and shampoo, I’ve used Babyganics and Johnson & Johnson. I usually stick with the oatmeal and vanilla because I like the smell, but it is not all natural. Luckily, there are lots of options if you are looking for organic products. With the warmer weather, I haven’t had to use lotion on Rosebud as much, but I’ve continued to use it when necessary throughout her toddlerhood.

Rubber ducks in bubble bath

Toys

As soon as your baby can sit up and play, this will become their favorite part of bath time. This bath ball was one of Rosebud’s favorite bath toys. She loved to watch the water falling like rain.

Another one of her first bath toys was this set of squirting fish.

When she got a little older, she started to enjoy this tea set and this Fisher-Price boat.

Bath Organizer

With bath toys, you need a place to put them. That’s where this great bath toy organizer comes in handy. I have it hanging on my shower caddy, but it comes with hooks that you can attach to your tub. This bag is a mesh material that allows the toys to dry between bath times. It has one large pocket in the back and three in front. The bottles that I have don’t fit into those pockets, but smaller bottles would. I use the large pocket for toys. To clean the bag, I just through it in the washer. The specific one I bought is no longer available, so here’s something similar.

9 Essential Bath Time Accessories pinDid I miss anything? What are your baby bath time essentials? Tell me in the comments.

3 Comments

10 Must-haves for your Baby Registry

If you’re pregnant and have a baby shower coming up, you’ll definitely want to create a baby registry. You can create one almost anywhere you shop, but when I was in the market for baby products, I found some of the best deals on Amazon. You can use your registry in different ways. Since many of my family and friends prefer to shop locally, I used my registry as my personal baby shopping list, but the best way to use it is for your baby shower guests. It’s easy to navigate, you can find just about anything and if your guests are Prime members, they get free shipping. Plus you get a free baby box just for setting up your registry.

10 must-haves for your baby registry pin

Once you have created your registry, you’ll want to start adding products. There are so many products available, it’s hard to choose. You can end up spending a lot of money and buying a bunch of stuff you don’t need, so I’ve created a list of 10 must-haves for your baby registry. These are some of the products I used most in Rosebud’s first year. The obvious items are diapers, wipes, clothing and bath products, but this list includes products that you might not think of at first, but would find useful.

Baby drinking milk

Feeding

I’ll start off with some items for feeding your baby.
Comotomo bottles
I tried many bottles and these were the best by far! I love that they are easy to clean, were a softer material and their shape is most similar to breast-feeding. I bought some of their slower flow nipples and they were perfect for paced feeding. Rosebud also didn’t get gassy on these. We had some trouble with some of the other bottles. Whether it was with the flow or shape of the nipple. She would get too much air from the bottle, but not with the Comotomo bottles. The only complaint I have about these bottles is they can be easily tipped because of their shape, so I had to be careful when filling them, but it wasn’t a huge problem for me. They may be a little more expensive than other bottles, but they are worth it.

Spectra S2
If you are breast-feeding and are in the market for a pump, I’d definitely choose this one. In most cases, your insurance will pay for a breast pump and the Spectra S2 is usually on the list you can choose from. I did a lot of research before choosing a pump and I also tried pumps from other brands to compare. I was having trouble with pumping, so I tried a Medela pump to see if my body would respond better to another pump, but I always got the best results with the Spectra S2.
Other Benefits

  • It’s a closed system, meaning the milk can’t get inside the pump or tubing.
  • It’s more gentle than the other pumps.
  • Relatively quiet.
  • Includes a night light.
  • Easy to use and has multiple modes to choose from.


Space saving high chair
I had two different high chairs. My aunt bought me this really nice stand alone high chair that could grow with Rosebud, but it took up a lot of space in my kitchen. However, at my mom’s house, we had this much smaller high chair that did the trick just as well. It was one of those that you attach to a kitchen chair that was already at the table. Of course, I loved that it saved space, but I also liked that I could sit Rosebud right at the table. You can use the high chair with the tray on or off depending on the age and needs of your child.

Mother watching baby sleep

Night Time

Night time is important because we all need our rest. Sleep is hard to get in the beginning, but some of these products can help baby rest or give you peace of mind.
Owl night light soother
I got one of these when Rosebud was a baby and I still use it to this day. The noise from this machine helps block out other sounds. Rosebud has always been a light sleeper, so this has definitely helped. We prefer the ocean sound, but there are songs, white noise, the rainforest and even a heartbeat to choose from. It has a light with different levels of brightness and has a moon and stars projector. You can leave it on all night which is what I do or you can have it shut off automatically. It’s been running for three years now and is still going strong.

Halo Sleepsack
I bought a couple of these for Rosebud because I wanted to cover her, but didn’t want to worry about blankets. In my experience, most baby blankets are too small to wrap with and of course there is always the worry of sids. The baby is in the sleep sack and the loose parts wrap around the baby to create a snug fit, so there is less of a risk of anything covering their face. These sleep sacks come in different materials and designs. I had good luck with these in my infant room as well since we aren’t allowed to use traditional blankets. Like anything else, these work well for some babies and not for others, but they are definitely worth a try.

Baby monitor
This was another useful gift I got at my baby shower and i still use this monitor to hear what goes on in Rosebud’s room. One cool thing about this monitor is if the sound coming from the room is louder, the lights on the monitor flash brighter. It also has a vibrating feature. I’ve never used it, but it may be helpful for some people. I’ve been using this particular monitor for over three years now and have never had a problem with it.

Baby crawling

Entertainment

FisherPrice rocker
I had to find a comfortable place for Rosebud when she didn’t want to play on the floor. She preferred to sit up, but the problem was she couldn’t support herself yet. That problem was solved when I found this Fisher Price Rocker on Amazon. I just want to note that this is not the Rock ‘n Play. This is simply a little rocking chair that can be reclined as well. This one also has a vibrating feature plus hanging toys to keep baby entertained. I’d put her in this chair while I showered and she loved it. It was nice having another place to put her while I needed to get things done.

Mirrors and Toys
Babies love to look at faces and Rosebud was no exception. I found these mirrors on Amazon and got a lot of use out of mirrors. The great things about these mirrors is that you can attach them to cribs, seats or just set them up on the floor. These mirrors also have other items attached that the babies can look at and play with.
Rosebud’s favorite toys were made by Oball. I don’t know if it was the fact that they were easier to hold or maybe they were more entertaining, but all of these were her favorites. I’d highly recommend this brand.


10 Must-haves for your baby Registry pin

Out and About

Lilibaby carrier
If you want to baby wear, I’d suggest the Lillibaby carrier. For me, it was the most comfortable to wear and the easiest to use. I also tried a sling, but could never get the hang of it. While the Lillebaby has a few clips to fasten, it felt more secure. It has several baby wearing positions that you can do depending on the age and size of your baby. It’s a mesh material, so it doesn’t get as hot. The best thing is that your baby can be close to you while your hands are free to do other tasks.

Shopping cart cover

This was an unexpected item that a friend gave me that I never knew I needed. When we went to the store, I would baby wear at first, but sometimes it was just easier to put Rosebud in the cart depending on what I needed to buy. I didn’t like the seats that they have at the store and there was no way I was putting Rosebud on the cold cart that is full of germs,so I was glad to have one of these puffy cart covers which kept Rosebud secure in the cart while she was able to sit up and look at everything while I shopped. I’d recommend one of these even though it’s not an absolute necessity.

What were your baby registry must-haves or those products you got that you didn’t expect to actually use? Tell me in the comments. Happy shopping!

6 Comments

Back To School: Cats and Dogs Edition

I don’t want to think about the summer ending, but September is getting closer. For the kids, that means heading back to school. Last week, I posted a unicorn themed list of school supplies. This week, all the back to school items are cat or dog themed. If your child loves kittens and puppies, this post is for you!

Back to School Cats and Dogs Edition pin

Backpack


Teacher explaining calendar to little boy

Supplies for Meal Times

Lunch Box


Ice PacksIn case your lunch box doesn’t come with one, here are some extra ice packs you can get. I couldn’t find any cat themed ones, but I found puppies and penguins.

Thermos
For those foods you need to keep warm. I also did not find cat thermoses, but here are a couple options if you are looking for one.

Water Bottle
I found plenty of cat and dog themed water bottles. Here are just a few.


Cat with notebook and pen

School Supplies

Notebook


Folders


3 Ring Binder


Pencil Case



Pencils

Pencil Sharpener

Erasers

Dog with books
Pens

Markers
I didn’t find any cat or dog themed markers, but here are the standard ones for your convenience.

Crayons

Scissors

Tissues and Wipes

Back to school Cats and Dogs edition pin

Extras


Well, that’s all for this week’s list. I hope I’ve helped you find something unique or have given you a place to start. I might do one more back to school themed post later in August. Are your kids wanting a specific theme for their back to school items this year? Let me know in the comments. to simplify your life, I’ll leave you with this back to school checklist. If you have younger children, click here for a list of what to pack for preschool.

0 comments