A calm daily life with baby, it takes preparation...
When I found out I was going to be a mom, I was, like many expectant mothers, overwhelmed with the joy of having a baby. I immediately looked online for birth lists to find out what I needed to invest in, and that's when I got scared...
"Do I really need to buy all that? Isn't there a way to save money? To reduce the number of products?"
Lack of means also led me to focus on my essentials for my baby's daily life. What would I really need for my baby's daily life?
I started by writing a list:
> products useful every day
> products that would be used for more than a month to amortize the investment
> multi-functional products to also reduce the number of items (especially since we live in a tiny house?)
> preferably Made in France products
> products with organic fabrics or organic prints
> but also beautiful products that I would enjoy showing off and using every day...
I'm lucky enough to be a children's creator, so there will be a few products I can make to simplify my daily life!
Of course, you can't avoid the stroller/car seat/bed/changing table combo... (I've also found some tips there, especially for not changing cars, which I'll share in a future article) but you can find ways to avoid sometimes unnecessary purchases and save some money in the process?
Here is my (of course non-exhaustive) list, my 5 essentials for baby's daily life:
1. The bib for all baby's meals
The number 1 essential for all baby's meals. For it to be usable for several months or even years, it must be a good size and especially thick and absorbent enough. It will be a bit big at first (but actually perfect in case of a geyser to protect the outfit, that's from experience?). I also wanted it with a plastic snap so as not to bother baby and to be able to put it on easily with one hand while holding the baby. The opening must also be large enough to grow with him. Ultimately, a large, well-covering and absorbent rectangular bib that he can keep until he learns to eat neatly. For my part, I only needed 5 bibs in total, enough to rotate through laundry cycles. Maybe plan for 1 or 2 more if you're often on the go and can't wash your clothes right away ^^
2. The mini bib to face teething
For teething, but not only...
Teething really wasn't a pleasant experience for my little one... Between the fevers and the liters of drool... The mini bib saved more than one outfit and allowed me to reduce laundry loads... Better to change the mini bib than the whole outfit!
Like the bib, I wanted a fun mini bib with pretty prints that I could match to my little one's outfits, ultra-absorbent, and that would grow with him thanks to a double snap system.
It also served as a newborn bib for the first 2/3 months and still serves today as a small scarf to protect his neck from the wind.
About 8 mini bibs were needed for Elliot. A small initial investment, but he still wears them today.
Vary them by alternating printed and plain bibs to match all outfits!
3. Reusable wipes for the whole family's daily life
For baby's care.
I am quite sensitive to the environment and sick at the thought of the amount of waste I was going to produce with my baby (diapers, wipes, etc.). Not to mention the cost of it all!
So why not switch to reusable wipes for daily care: cleaning the face, bottom, ear and nose care... It seemed like a reasonable alternative to avoid disposables. Especially since disposable wipes don't have a good reputation (endocrine disruptors, parabens, cause irritation, etc.) and are also very expensive.
At least with the washable version, you know what you're putting on it and you can use your own product, such as your liniment or a homemade micellar water.
I chose wipes with one side made of poplin and the other of soft and absorbent cotton terry. The terry allows you to remove dirt without rubbing too much; Elliot and I have fairly reactive skin and I wanted to avoid irritation due to friction.
For Elliot, I needed 30 wipes to have a stress-free laundry rotation. I have a small cotton pouch to carry them in my bag and to put dirty wipes in if I'm not at home. I still use them today to clean his face or hands and I always keep one handy in my bag for messy snacks.
After 3 years of use, I'm still just as convinced, and I even use them myself every day to clean my face and remove makeup.
I've only had to throw away 4 wipes since the beginning, which seems reasonable and has allowed me to save some money!
4. The 4-in-1 nomadic blanket for baby's daily life
For all outings. This was my essential whenever I left the house with baby. Changing mat, extra blanket, bath towel or even play mat, beach towel... I took it everywhere with me. Like the wipes, one side terry, one side printed poplin to facilitate numerous washes. I added a small tab with a snap to be able to fold it easily, like a small sleeping bag, and attach it to my bag's shoulder strap. And off we go on an adventure!
No more need to take a blanket, a changing mat, and a bath wrap; it has been very useful to me every day and my back still thanks it?
3 nomadic blankets were enough to make me happy, and my little bunny still uses them as a beach towel today!
> Blanket tutorial
5. The maxi swaddle for the first moments
Our grandmothers' essential, brought up to date. It's simple, it serves a multitude of purposes!
You can swaddle baby, cover them in summer, or for breastfeeding; it's also useful as a shoulder bib, to cover the stroller, or as a maxi comforter with mom's scent...
It has everything to please; it's ultra-absorbent, but also very breathable, so you can leave it on the stroller to provide shade for baby in summer because its weave allows air to pass through.
This is truly the product that will grow with baby; you can swaddle them with it in the first months to recreate the comfort of mom's womb; use it for discreet breastfeeding outdoors or as a shoulder bib for baby's burps. As they grow, it can be used as a summer blanket, or on the ground as a picnic blanket or play mat...
So I couldn't pass up the maxi swaddle for Carotte & Cie. I chose a super soft and light tetra cotton that doesn't take up too much space in the already-full changing bag. The more you wash it, the softer it gets; it's magical. I was able to add my personal touch with large, asymmetrically placed patterns.
For Elliot, 4 maxi swaddles were enough for me.
As explained at the beginning of the article, I didn't necessarily have the means or the desire to invest in a lot of baby accessories (too much investment for a short period of use, or too cumbersome!).
But above all, I didn't want to neglect quality and comfort.
I think you shouldn't be afraid to invest in quality products, even if they cost a little more initially; but to invest in products that will last over time, either because they are multi-functional, or because their material is qualitative, or because the product has a real and long utility; because ultimately you quickly realize that this allows you to buy less and thus save money! And if the product is also organic, beautiful, and made in France, you've won on all fronts?
Expecting a child is also a time when loved ones like to spoil us, keep that in mind ^^
And what are your baby essentials?