Having a baby is all kinds of wonderful and brutal mixed up into one crazy shitstorm of a few months. What do you think? Did I describe that accurately? It’s such a unique and complex experience that is difficult to describe accurately in a few lines. When you become a mother, there’s a lot of talk about survival. And, let’s be honest: that’s what it can be about many days--just getting by. That said, after having my second baby a couple of months ago, I feel better equipped to handle the ups and downs of newborn life and am pretty committed to creating a life that looks a lot more like thriving than surviving. I want to share my own lessons learned and tips to thrive through these crazy days in hopes that it can help other new moms live even a little above that survival baseline and maybe even create a life with her baby that she always envisioned. #1 Get your feeds in and manage the daytime sleep This is probably my most specific tip and may not win me any popularity contests depending on your parenting style or school of thought. But I’m ok with it, because I can honestly say that this rule helped me stay sane with both of my babes and, because of that and the nature of this post, I can’t not share it. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I love baby sleep. And I don’t just mean babies that sleep (although, ultimately that is what we’re aiming for here). I mean I love learning the ins and outs of baby sleep. There is a boatload of literature and resources on this topic and it can be difficult to figure out how you want to approach sleep and how to get your baby to actually do it. But, a common thread I’ve found amongst most sleep resources and professionals is this: have your baby consume most of their feeds during the day. I’m no expert, but this screams logic to me. If your baby consumes the majority of their food during the day, they are less likely to be asking for it all night long. So, I always suggest starting there. Feed every 2-3 hours. Now, this inevitably affects daytime sleep. Sometimes, in order to ensure your baby gets in all of their feeds, you have to wake them from naps (gasp!), thus also controlling their daytime sleep. And here’s the thing: another concept that makes sense to me is that a baby who sleeps all day long will, at some point, sleep less during the night. I know this is the part of my belief system that doesn’t always sit so well with every parent. But, hey, this is my blog. And because I want to provide something really practical and actionable, here’s a rough daily feeding schedule that I used with both of my children from very early days (once they had reached birth weight after that initial loss), and spoiler alert: both of my kiddos have always been awesome night sleepers. By no means are they perfect, but they’re really good. I’m not saying that this is why… but I’m also not saying it’s not. If you’ve never done something before, and you don’t have anyone to tell you where to start, it can feel like driving without a road map. A schedule gives you a starting point, and thus, a little bit of confidence.
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Six weeks ago, we welcomed the fourth member of our family earth side and, needless to say, we’re pretty smitten. Austin Andrew Mundy arrived on December 22nd at 6:58am, weighing 7lbs 6oz. We didn’t have a “plan” that we were hoping would pan out when it came to the birth of either of our children. It was really about getting in there and seeing what felt right, and, of course, making sure baby was safe and happy. That said, we had a few ideas of what could happen this time around, based on some consistent family history. Myself, my mother, and my grandmother were all born at home due to precipitous birth--in other words, an extremely fast labour. So, with this top of mind, although we were hoping to make it to the hospital before delivery, we had a soft home birth plan… you know… just in case (it involves a lot of shower curtains). We had planned a family Christmas celebration with my inlaws, which included a full weekend of events and a sleepover party. I had been experiencing inconsistent contractions here and there in the days prior, so we threw the hospital bags in the car, prepared for anything. Around 5pm on Saturday, while sipping Perrier and snacking on horderves, I started to notice some light cramping in fairly regular intervals. Looking back, I’m not sure why I wasn’t concerned that I wouldn’t just pop my baby out in the bathroom of his Grandparents, given all of the discussion that had taken place around this possibility. I guess my intuition told me otherwise. As the evening progressed and contractions increased, it was clear that I would, in fact, have the full labour experience once again. But for how long was still unknown. I wasn’t even convinced it was really happening. However, around 6pm, I looked at my sister and said, “I think I’m in labour.” Contractions were still about eight to nine minutes apart and manageable. So, we put Ayla and her cousins to bed and planned to sit down for one of the few civilized grown-up meals of the year. However, halfway through dinner, we made the decision to head home. Contractions had become painful and required my focus to breathe through. They were still eight minutes apart, so we figured we still had a good chunk of time before things got serious, and I knew I wanted to be labouring in the comfort of my own home… without my extended family members as cheerleaders (no offence--love you, guys). I had some major mom guilt about leaving Ayla behind without being able to give her an explanation about why she would be waking up without us, but felt very fortunate that she had a slew of babysitters that loved her. It really could not have worked out much better. By the time we got home, contractions were six minutes apart… then five… then four. Dave was calling the midwife while simultaneously filling the bath, thinking we may not make it to the hospital if things continued to progress at this speed. I had just changed my clothes, turned on the John Mayer Live soundtrack and hopped on my exercise-turned-birthing ball when my midwife came, checked me and said it was time to go if we wanted to have this baby in the hospital. We hadn’t been home for an hour and contractions were now one minute apart. Preferring to labour standing up, the drive there was as excruciating as I remember with Ayla, but I was thankful to have avoided the long early labour I had with her, and was more rested this time around. When we arrived, everyone was fairly confident that I would hop up on the bed and push this baby out. Active labour was intense and contractions were starting to run on top of each other. But, after a quick check, I just wasn’t dilated enough. We made the decision to break my water, in hopes that that would move things along. Still, progress was slow, despite the fact that contractions had become “merciless,” as my midwife would later describe them. As I knelt on all fours in bed, they offered me nitric oxide, which I eagerly accepted. The pain was excruciating at this point, and without any breaks, I was growing weary and fast. I just needed a minute to rest, and it simply wasn’t going to happen. As I furiously sucked in the gas, desperate for relief, a nurse came and said if I wanted an epidural, I had to get it now before the anesthesiologist went into surgery. I remember feeling so vulnerable and helpless in this moment. I felt like I should be able to push my baby out now. It didn’t seem right that my labour would be so fast and furious without any progression. But, alas, I still was not dilated (this would make sense later). Feeling defeated, I said yes to the epidural. My feelings of defeat weren’t a result of choosing the epidural. A goal I had set for myself this entire pregnancy was to work with my body during labour--something I didn’t feel like I did with Ayla. I prepped for it. I visualized it. And when the time finally came, it actually felt like it was my body that wasn’t working with me. I didn’t know what else to do. If someone had been able to tell me, “You only have to do this for 20 more minutes!” I know I could have endured. But no one could do that. So, I hedged my bets and got the epidural (thank goodness). It's true what they say, that no two births are the same. The birth of my first-born, Ayla, was very different and nothing that I could have ever been fully prepared for. Soon, I was able to relax, although sleep still eluded me because of the constant pressure of contractions. Still, hours passed without much progress, and although baby was still happy, everyone was a little confused. Then, during a check, my midwife told me that she wanted to consult the OB. The doctor came in to check me and both women decided that they were fairly certain they were feeling my cervix--and not in the way they wanted to. My cervix had begun to swell and protrude, essentially blocking Austin’s escape route. Neither professional had experienced this phenomenon before, but baby was still happy, so they decided the best plan of action was to wait it out and see if the issue would resolve itself. A couple of hours passed and the situation began to worsen. My cervix continued to swell and Austin’s heart rate suddenly began to drop dangerously low after the passing of each contraction. The doctor explained that the baby was getting tired and that things had become dangerous for him at this point. She said, although it was never her first choice, I needed to get to the operating room for an emergency c-section. This baby needed out. Not once in my nine months of being pregnant had I considered the idea that I may ever need a c-section. Ayla had been delivered naturally and the idea of anything else just hadn’t crossed my mind. But in the moment, I had to let go of any feelings of shock and fear and focus on what mattered most: getting my baby out safely. They quickly prepared me for surgery and I was whisked away to the O.R. within minutes. At this point, my epidural was wearing off (or I had been weaned off of it. Who’s to say at this point? I was an exhausted wreck), but I was told I couldn’t move as they administered the spinal. I was experiencing painful contractions, extremely close together, and was also beginning to feel nauseous while simultaneously fighting to keep my eyes open (a special cocktail of drugs and lack of sleep). One of the doctors/nurses/some kind of medical professional (I legitimately can’t remember what this woman actually did) stood in front of me, wearing a mask over her mouth, preventing me from seeing what she really looked like. She braced me from the front for stabilization as they began the freezing process, and I recall it being one of the most vulnerable moments of my entire life. Something about the exhaustion, the pain, the worry, not having time to properly process the idea of a c-section and not having Dave with me (he was getting scrubbed in and would join me in a few minutes). I clung to this woman I had never met, silent tears streaming down my face, trying desperately not to move through contractions. Such an odd feeling, being so desperate for a stranger’s love and support and trusting her to help me keep it together. And she did. Whoever she was. I still remember her eyes, and being so grateful for her in that moment. Soon, I was on the table, curtain up between me and my bump, and Dave was by my side, holding my hand. I remember thinking how badly I wanted this to be over so I could have a glass of water. I was parched! A strange thought when you’re about to meet your child for the first time. Within a few minutes, there were cheers as they pulled Austin from my body, lifted him above the curtain for a quick glance before my midwife whisked him over to the warming table. There was lots of commotion as my midwife and nurses rubbed his little body and performed some suctioning. Dave and I both anxiously watched the clock. A full three minutes passed before we heard the most beautiful cry from our son. The longest three minutes of our lives. We both let the tears fall and breathed a sigh of relief. Dave was able to perform skin to skin as they stitched me up and prepared us for the recovery room. They put Austin on my chest as they wheeled me out of the OR. The following few hours were peaceful and quiet as we went from recovery to our inpatient room and began to process everything that had just happened, as well as update our family. He was here and we were healthy. (Days later, I would work through some big emotions that I knew would come from having a c-section. At first, they were difficult to describe and understand, as my baby was happy and healthy, and I felt that’s all that should matter. But my midwife said something very important to me that I will remember forever and her words became the foundation of my healing: It is not selfish or unjustified to feel the way you do. You have to mourn the birth you did not have) The hours and days that followed included lots of baby snuggles and the beginning of a painful, unexpected recovery process. 48 hours after he was born, we headed home and introduced Austin to his big sister (an emotional reunion I will never forget. I missed that kid like crazy). And of course, we still celebrated a very toned down Christmas, something that was important for us to give Ayla, in spite of everything going on. Safe to say things were a bit of a whirlwind at first. But once the dust settled, we began to sort out what life would look like for our little family of four. Tiring, a little chaotic, lots of change, but mostly just full of love. Austin: we love you, little boy. Let the adventure continue. 11/19/2019 0 Comments A Call with My Naturopath + T3 UpdateThe postpartum experience, health choices during pregnancy and the authentic shareThe other night, I had a scheduled call with my naturopath which left me in a very reflective state (our appointments have a habit of doing that). We talked about a few interesting topics and I thought I would share some of our chat here, including my own reflections on our conversation. And, for anyone interested, I’m going to provide a little preggo update in terms of my nutrition and activity during T3. After having my daughter, I became very passionate about the postpartum experience. And maybe it was because mine wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies (read about my struggle with anxiety here). Maybe it’s because much of my own journey caught me off guard and inspired me to have as much open dialogue with other mothers or soon-to-be-mamas about the postpartum period as possible. And maybe it’s because I am about to jump head-first back into that whirlwind for a second time around. Regardless, this conversation really resonated with me. The most important thing that we discussed and that I think is most poignant for women to remember is that the postpartum experience is different for everyone. You don’t need to be diagnosed with the word “depression” to legitimize whatever it is you are going through. You don’t need to be sad or anxious all the time. Time-after-baby is real, regardless of what it looks or feels like for you and, likely, there are some huge adjustments that won’t be easily made. We are all different and our experiences can be difficult to label. I encourage every mother to make space and acknowledge this period in their lives in a big way, because it is so freaking important. Likely the biggest change of your entire life. Pay homage to that, as it is not to be taken lightly. My own experience has led me to give this piece of advice to anyone navigating this journey: community. Find other women who can relate. If they are currently in the same stage of life, even better. Lean on each other. Laugh and cry together. These are the people who will allow you to get out of your head and find the light in the midst of the dark days. I promise that community is key. That could mean joining a mommy-baby class once or twice a week. That could mean setting up a weekly play/coffee date with one or two… or seven people. Whatever reminds you that you are not in it alone. Because I promise you, you aren’t. This brings me to the next interesting point in our conversation: the authentic share. In a time when social media innodates our lives, it can be an interesting exercise to reflect on who we’re showing up as online. Many of us feel as though we can’t post about a difficult experience or day until we’ve worked through and moved passed it. Sharing “in the moment” isn’t always easy. I am definitely guilty of this. I’m not sure if it’s because, subconsciously, I am worried about a personal weakness it could portray, or if it’s because I need to be on the other side of this difficult moment to have the perspective needed to talk about it. Maybe it’s just that I don’t feel drawn to put my difficulties out into the world when I’m working through them. But I will say this: when other people post in these very authentic moments, I find I respect and often connect with them in a real way. And this is pretty special--to feel like we all go through these trials on a daily basis. It creates connection and community. And, on the average, crappy day, sometimes it’s just nice to find the humour in these moments by laughing together. So I encourage you (if you have a social media presence and enjoy this type of thing), don’t just share the perfect moments. Because that’s one of the biggest issues we’re facing with social media, isn’t it? And a world I am not thrilled to have my children growing up in. If we’re sharing our lives, let’s put real moments out there, the good and the bad, so we can all connect in a more authentic way.
Next up: health decisions during pregnancy. My family was hit pretty hard with some gnarly sicknesses this fall and it knocked us on our asses pretty aggressively. During these times, as my naturopath and I discussed, it can be hard to know the right treatment route to take, particularly when pregnant. I tried a whole host of natural remedies before succumbing to the extent of my illness. Eventually, I ended up in the doctor’s office, likely later than I should have. I was told I had a significant case of bronchitis and decided, with my doctor, to use two different puffers to battle the breathing and coughing issues. Ultimately, we said the threat of not enough oxygen reaching my baby was far more dangerous than the potential risks of the steroid puffer I would need in the short term. This treatment also allowed me to sleep without waking up several times a night in raging coughing fits. All of this is to say that, during pregnancy, you need to make the right choice for you in the moment. Ask yourself what you are comfortable with and don’t worry if others are shaking their heads at you. You know your body and, with the guidance of your healthcare team, paired with your own intuition, you have the power to choose the right options for you and your baby in that moment. There is no one right answer. And also remember that, just because you did something once, doesn’t mean you have to do it again, should a similar situation arise. Every experience is unique. Whatever you are comfortable with in the moment, right now, is likely the right decision during pregnancy. So, those were some of our big talking points on the call, obviously extending beyond just physical health, and crossing over into our common ground of family and parenting. Next: is my nutrition during the final weeks of pregnancy. I am now 35 weeks along, and there have been peaks and valleys in terms of nutrition quality. I was feeling pretty decent in my second trimester and I also think there was something about the warmer months (and being on vacation for 8 weeks, of course) that made nutrition choices easier. In the third trimester, a lot of food aversions returned and just a general lack of interest in food. We survived the Halloween season. And by ‘we’ I mean ‘me’ because for some reason I used pregnancy to justify a lot of poor food choices. And by food choices… I mean I just ate all the sugar. Listen, my sweet tooth is real, which I own wholeheartedly, but I felt like there were a few days there where things got out of hand. There were just too many tasty treats at my disposal. And I don’t mean the dark, organic chocolate variety that I tend to use to satisfy any sweet cravings. I mean the crap that ends up in kids’ Halloween bags. The fake food. I got to a point where I had to say, out loud, “I’m done with sugar,” and I legit just threw any remaining sweets in the garbage. And that was that. I also got scared of my baby gaining an additional 2 lbs simply due to my poor food choices and delivering an unnecessarily large kid. That was motivation enough to kick the crap food to the side (within reason, of course). After I made that decision, I was able to get my nutrition back on track! I started making choices that were far more reflective of my core values and, no surprise here, started feeling a lot better because of it. Can we also just talk about how dumb it is to eat additional sugar when your immune system has already been compromised? Guys, I am no saint. I am here confessing that I was making some bad calls for my body. That said, I am feeling much more revitalized today and making choices that are serving my body, as well as my baby’s development. Amen. Moving on to activity: as mentioned, sickness knocked our family out in a serious way this fall, so this de-railed the great workout routine I had going! Which brings me to my next point: grace. It’s very important, in these moments, to find grace for yourself. I wasn’t able to work out for a good 3 weeks, which can be challenging for me, but also just how it had to be. I wasn’t well enough. And that’s ok. It was better to let myself heal and recover. Another way I’ve needed to show myself some grace is around what my workouts look like. During my first pregnancy, I was still able to get to the gym 5-6 days a week! Life doesn’t lend itself to that kind of schedule these days (or, at least, I don’t prioritize that schedule). This time around, I invested in a decent online program and some basic home-gym equipment. 90% of my workouts take place in my basement. Slightly less glamorous, but I’m making it happen. If I can get myself to the gym 1-2 times a week, I’m happy. It’s not even the fact that I think my gym workouts are better. It’s more about the mental clarity and reset it provides me. So I do try to get there on the weekends when I can. It’s just as much for my mental health as it is my physical. So there’s my update! Only a few weeks left before life gets a whole lot crazier. I am half scared, half excited, to be honest. But either way, I know our hearts are about to explode with love and that will be the craziest part of all. Oh hey--still here. It’s crazy how I can enjoy something like writing so much and still make so little time for it. This seems to be the theme of motherhood, I’ve found. As much as I preach putting on your own oxygen mask first, I have to admit that, when time is precious, I tend to choose physical activity and time with my girlfriends before my other hobbies (blogging being one of them, etc.). My guess is because it takes a lot of brain power and I feel like that’s not something I have a surplus of these days! All I know is that I hope a second maternity leave comes with a little extra writing time. … Did I mention I’m pregnant? Numero dos is on the way and we are pretty stoked to announce it’s a boy! It’s the first grandson for both sides of our family and we couldn’t be more excited about it. That said, excitement isn’t the only emotion I’ve felt throughout this pregnancy. It definitely took me some time to wrap my head around the fact that we will soon be a family of four! I have also dealt with my fair share of mom guilt, especially knowing that Ayla isn’t really old enough to understand that she won’t be the queen of the castle anymore and is going to have to share her parents. As much as we try to explain it to her (and I do think she knows something is up) I know she doesn’t truly get what’s about to happen (and potentially thinks we’ve just changed the name for “bellybutton” to “baby”). And let’s be serious: she is going to be pissed. For a while, anyway. And then I’m hoping that she, ya know, loves her brother. I’ll keep you posted (but for real: do you think I should read at all into the fact that she wouldn't hold the pregnancy test or the sign for the photos above? It's fine, right?). That said, I’ve been working really hard not to dwell on that aspect of this life change. I really try to focus on the fact that we are so lucky to have a growing family and I know everyone’s heart will only grow with this new addition. If you recall from my last pregnancy, I wrote about being horrendously ill for the first trimester (plus a good chunk of the second). I wish I was here to say that things were different this time, that I was nausea-free and just fed an insatiable, human-growing hunger. But, alas, that was not the case. Around week 8, the full-day nausea and extreme exhaustion kicked in like clockwork. Growing a kid is hard work! However, unlike last pregnancy, when I put a lot of energy into trying to make my sickness go away, I was more accepting of it this time. Experience taught me that there was little I could do to improve the situation except wait it out. So, I slipped into survival mode and buckled down for a rough few months. The first trimester with a toddler was a whole new ballgame. Gone were the days where I could crawl into bed at 4:30pm and stay there for the remainder of the evening. Parenting continued, as it turns out, and my daughter had very little empathy for my situation. Like last round, I was forever thankful for my rockstar of a husband who picked up the slack in so many ways when I was unable to function. Fortunately, soon after the first trimester was up, I started to feel really great. Energy returned and nausea subsided. Eating can still be tricky at times, but totally doable and I really can’t complain! Having summers off meant that I was able to get back into the gym on a regular basis. Knowing that I am holding onto strength and preparing my body for labour and beyond is a big motivating factor for staying active. It gives me mental clarity and a true sense of fulfillment. As a teacher back at work this fall, I’ve set up a minimal but decent little home gym for myself and work out primarily in my basement in the evenings and try to get to the gym once or twice a week when I want to do some heavier lifting or change up my environment. If you’re able to, I really encourage you to find an activity that you enjoy and makes you feel good throughout your pregnancy. You will be so thankful you did, particularly after baby arrives, as it will support your recovery in a big way. Many women will agree that food aversions are real during pregnancy. So I chuckled to myself a little bit when my midwife told me, during our last appointment, that now was the time to eat EXTRA healthy and really get my nutrition in. Listen, I get it. Of course you want to be fuelling your body with an optimal diet when growing a person. But it’s not always that simple. Often, the last thing I want is a high protein, high veg dinner (her suggestion. Love her, by the way… but still). So, my goal is to always eat as well as I can manage that day, but not worry if my meals don’t turn out being optimally balanced and include every nutrient I would ideally choose. Overall healthy (or healthy-ish) options are the ticket. Good. Not perfect. My mantra is self kindness and eat… as healthy as I can stomach. Not bad, right? I will admit that regularly thinking about my diet as a way to fuel my body and baby’s growth, mixed with my own education and habits, supports me in making good, overall choices. So I encourage you to think of food as fuel, as well as something to be enjoyed/stomached. Many of the strategies I used to survive those first few difficult months still rang true this time around, so if you want to check out my top tips for getting through the first trimester, take a look here. At 27 weeks, I am entering full nesting mode and am so excited to welcome this little guy into our family! Not knowing if this is my last pregnancy or not, I am soaking up all of the little kicks and flips (even the late-night ones), regular reminders of the life growing inside of me, and appreciating everything my body is doing right now. Pregnancy and birth really are complete miracles and I want to relish in this feeling until the end. 2/25/2019 0 Comments More Than a MomI was in denial for a solid month before Ayla started daycare. I just chose not to think about it. It seemed easier than dealing with how difficult it was going to be. But, inevitably, Ayla’s transition plan showed up in my inbox one day and I had to face reality: my maternity leave was over and it was time to hand my child over to someone else’s care. This entire period seems a little unfair: going back to work, sending your child to daycare for the first time and celebrating a first birthday--a glaring reminder that their infancy is somehow over. It’s a lot to process. You may not be surprised to learn that I cried every day for a week leading up to my return to work. It wasn’t the work part I was upset about; it was worrying about Ayla. Would she learn to sleep at daycare? Would they be able to meet her needs? Would she be happy? Did we make the right decision? Was she ready? Should I have extended my maternity leave and kept her at home for longer? Would she feel abandoned? All of these questions played on repeat in my head. But, inevitably, time marched forward, and before I knew it, I was dusting off my work clothes and putting my professional hat on after a year of messy buns and stretchy pants. 2/17/2019 1 Comment Feeding the Picky ToddlerAyla began eating solid foods at five and half months. We started with vegetables, slowing introducing each food group until she had tried most things by the time she was ten months old. I was thrilled that she seemed to be a great little eater, rarely turning down new foods that were offered (with the exception of broccoli). We primarily chose to follow the methods of baby led weaning, but threw a few purees into the mix as well. All in all, Ayla was exposed to numerous textures and flavours by an early age. She didn’t experience any obvious allergies or intolerances and we moved confidently forward, much to this nutrition nut’s satisfaction. I have learned over and over again that, when it comes to babies, nothing lasts forever. If you’re going through a challenging phase, most of the time it will pass and you just need to put your head down and shoot for survival. Alternatively (and unfortunately), if you’re experiencing a good phase, learn to enjoy every moment… because there’s a good chance it won’t be sticking around either. Knowing all of this, I shouldn’t have been surprised when Ayla began to turn her nose up at most foods. It all began around 12 months (she is now 13 months). Trusty, staple foods were being left on her tray or thrown to the ground. Lunch time would result in very little food being eaten at all. Ayla began to create a rather short list of acceptable food items and before we knew it, we had entered the dreaded picky eater stage. I thought for sure I had another year before hitting this phase of our lives that most mothers talk about. If I’m being honest, I was thinking maybe we would even avoid it altogether… you now… because I was using all of the right techniques and nutrition is "my thing". Spoiler alert: even if you think you’re “doing it right”, your child is their own person and will do exactly what they damn well please, whether you like it or not. And that is precisely what the universe is taking the opportunity to teach me, yet again. And one more note on "doing it right": we loved BLW, but Ayla’s current favourite foods are smooth or pureed. So if you went down the puree route, don’t worry too much about your baby having a “texture” issue later on. We are a prime example that it can happen either way. So, how am I navigating this phase of Ayla’s nutrition journey? The biggest thing I do is try to keep my stress levels in check. It’s easy to be concerned about whether your child is getting all of the nutrients and calories they need when they seem to be surviving on yogurt and bananas alone. But trust that, if you remain calm, and continue to be their nutritional guide, they will get what they need. Even with a short list of acceptable food items, there are still little daily hacks that you can use to boost the nutritional profile of each meal. For example, as you may have guessed, one of the foods that Ayla is currently always down with is yogurt. Yogurt is a great food in and of itself. If you choose the right brand, it is high in fat, protein and probiotics. I flavour it with different foods so she continues to be exposed to various tastes (nut butter, unsweetened applesauce, mashed berries, cinnamon, etc.). I also always add a fat like chia seeds or hemp hearts. This is also where I toss in Ayla’s vitamins, like fish oil and D. So, although yogurt may seem like a simple food, it can be a catalyst for a ton of other nutrients. Another hack I use is adding things like grated zucchini and eggs to oatmeal! If you make your oats on the stove top, you can stir in an egg until cooked without changing the flavour or texture of the dish much at all. So, although Ayla doesn’t currently enjoy eggs on their own, I know she’s getting the benefits of this nutrition powerhouse in other ways. The other main thing that we continue to do during this picky period is expose Ayla to a variety of foods. This can be frustrating, preparing food that you are fairly confident is going to be left on the plate. But I encourage you not to give up, because exposure is the only way they will ever have the opportunity to enjoy new food items. It may not happen tomorrow or even next month, but you can bet it won’t happen at all if they are never given the chance to try it. I try to choose foods that we are already eating for dinner and preparing anyway, or add simple foods to her plate like sliced cucumber or cheese (hey Ayla, remember when you liked both of those things three months ago? Good times). I am not a child-specific nutrition expert. My training is primarily rooted in adult nutrition. But I have done extensive reading on this topic, as it has definitely become a passion since becoming a mother, and the one word that comes up time and time again is exposure. Just keep at it. Build it and they will come… Dave and I work very hard not to have any sort of an agenda during meal time (easier said than done). We serve Ayla a meal that includes a few (but not too many) flavours and textures, providing her with some choice. We try not bring many items of food to her mouth for her (even though we’re sure that, if she just got a small taste, she would love it!) and we try to keep the mood light. This may sound kind of dumb since Ayla is only 13 months old, but I am very confident that babies can read your mood and that she understands a great deal more than she can communicate to us. This is also just a practice that I hope we continue well beyond Ayla’s toddler years, in hopes that it will help her develop a healthy relationship with food. We eat as a family as often as possible so that she sees us enjoying a variety of foods and has proper eating behaviours modelled for her daily. Finally, I try to keep in mind where we are in our lives right now. I just returned to work four weeks ago after a year of maternity leave, and Ayla began daycare. She cut her first teeth and has been hit with about 37 viruses since being exposed to so many new children (feels like 37, anyway). All of these things have the ability to drastically affect her appetite, which makes sense. I remember that she won’t have the same hunger levels every day, just like we don’t, and that’s ok. It will take time to fully adjust to our new routine, and once she’s accepted it as her new normal, we may see another shift in her eating. So, that’s where we’re at! If you are experiencing anything similar with your little one, know that I feel your pain. It can be a huge source of worry and frustration as a parent. But know that you are doing great. Our children are not robots. They are likely still getting most, if not all, of what they need and their eating habits will probably change again before you know it. Remember the old saying: you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink. Keep pushing forward, as I will be, and let’s all take a deep breath together….
Parents of picky eaters, unite! Starting your baby on solids is a big day! Maybe more for some than others. I admit that I didn’t understand the excitement that offering peas and carrots to someone for the first time could bring until I had a baby. It was actually embarrassing how excited I was to start Ayla on solid foods. So when she began to show readiness signs, the nutrition wheels immediately began turning in my head. What should her first food be? Should it be a puree or finger food? How slowly should I introduce each new food? Do I want to hold off on anything for a few months? I am a planner and a researcher at heart. I have always liked to have all of the information before I get started on a project, and I instantly become a sponge for knowledge. My favourite research topics are health and nutrition related, and over the years, I have done a lot of related reading. But when it came to the world of baby nutrition, I was a pretty blank slate. Sure, lots of basic nutrition principles apply to all of us, regardless of age, but I knew there was a whole world of baby-specific nutrition articles and healthy mamas to be inspired by for this chapter of my life. The first step is to decide: purees or finger foods? There are arguments for both. Baby Led Weaning is very child driven. Baby's cues are at the forefront of their feeding. But purees provide parents with the power to ensure their young baby is receiving all of the nutrition they need during important developmental months. The Nourishing Traditions Book of Baby & Child Care suggests that many high iron foods, for example, may be difficult for a baby to self-feed at the six month mark. In the end I decided to go with… both. Just like nutrition “labels”, I’ve never liked the idea of limiting or pigeon holing anyone into a category of eating. The same is true when it comes to feeding littles. Here's what's enticing about Baby Led Weaning (or baby led feeding, as it is sometimes referred to): baby is in charge of what goes into her mouth and how much; it fosters a positive relationship with food from the very beginning. The self feeding method supports fine motor development and offers a variety of sensory experiences. Even though constant supervision is required, of course, it frees up mom and dad’s hands so they can eat at the same time. That means that family meal time can be established from the get-go, allowing parents to model eating skills at the dinner table. The women behind the Feeding Littles course really encourage this methodology when introducing solids. Serving finger foods, as opposed to strictly purees, also means it’s easier to offer your baby a version of what you are eating, cutting back on the meal prep time. This particular feature of BLW is particularly attractive to busy parents. That said, in our home, it took a couple of months before we really saw that come to fruition. Because foods are introduced slowly, it takes some time before baby’s meals mimic your own. More on this later. But what about purees? I think they have an important role in baby's diet too. One: smooth foods are a real-life texture, and it's important that your baby have plenty of exposure to them. Secondly, it was a more sure-fire way to ensure your child is getting a healthy dose of nutrient dense foods, daily, particularly during those earlier months. Lianne, from Sprout Right, is a big proponent of starting solids with purees, also emphasizing that your baby will most certainly get more nutrients through their food this way. For example, you may have a difficult time getting your babe to mow down on a slice of chicken, but when it is pureed with spinach and sweet potato, no problem. Personally, I love knowing my daughter had a healthy dose of iron-rich protein during at least one of her daily meals. Know that iron-fortified cereals may not be as beneficial as many medical professionals suggest. The Nourishing Traditions author sites studies that state the iron used in fortification is not processed the same way as iron naturally occurring in food. Babies can get all of the iron they require through whole food sources (plus a host of other benefits).So, where did we begin and why? This may be a point of contention for some, so I will preface it by saying that this was the direction our family chose to take, and by no means does that make it the only or right way. It’s what worked for us. Against my family doctor’s suggestion, we did not begin Ayla on the very common rice cereal at four months. We decided to give her little digestive system more time to develop and hold off on all solid foods until around the six month mark. Up until this time, she was exclusively breast fed and we believed, based on current research, that this would be more than sufficient, even when it came to her iron stores. I did a lot of research, prior to this, as well as worked with her naturopath to determine when she was ready for solid foods and what to begin with. We decided Ayla’s first foods would be vegetables and fruits (Update: 2.5 years later, after further research and a second child, I would suggest that beginning with high quality animal products, including meat and/or bone broth would be another incredible option as a first food) As you may know, we were traveling around Europe from the time Ayla was four months to six months old, and the initial plan, for simplicity reasons, was to wait until we got home to introduce solids. However, around the five to five and half month mark, she began to show us that she was ready for food! The boob is good and all, mom, but what’s that you have on your plate?? She was sitting fairly well, reaching for our forks and watching us like a hawk while we ate. So, while living in France, we decided to go for it. Much of this decision fell on the fact that we were in a country that offered easy access to high quality, organic foods. It is very important to us that we serve organic foods whenever possible. Babies are small, which means their body systems are small and cannot process large amounts of pesticides. I know eating organic can be challenging at times, particularly due to price. Use the Dirty Dozen list to guide your shopping choices and pick up the organic option of these foods whenever you can. If buying 100% organic isn’t an option for your family, The Clean 15 can help you decide which foods to buy conventionally. Ayla’s very first food was carrots! She played and sucked on them more than anything else, but it was still a fun experience and gave me the confidence to really dive head first into her journey with solid foods. As a nutrition nut, I find it very exciting that I get to be Ayla’s initial guide to healthy eating and teach her all about fuelling her body. It’s amazing to think that these lessons start so early, simply by exposing them to great food from the very beginning. So, what about the rest of the food groups? We took things very slowly (which I’ll expand on below), but after fruits and vegetables, we moved to egg yolk, followed by meats, legumes, dairy and grains. Ayla is now 8 and a half months old and we have had so much fun introducing a variety of foods to her. I want to share more details from this experience by giving a few tips for feeding your little one that we have learned so far. Tip #1: start slow Making sure that you take this process nice and slow will ensure baby’s digestive system has a chance to adjust to its new roll of breaking down more than just breast milk or formula. I also think introducing new food groups is something not to be rushed. Various enzymes are needed for different kinds of foods, and taking your time to ensure your baby is fully ready for each of these may help prevent negative digestive repercussions that could be mistaken for intolerances or allergies. Many experts will suggests introducing a new food every 3-7 days. Although this is best practice for identifying negative reactions to a particular food, I would suggest it may not be practical, long term. There are a lot of foods out there to try! If you wait a week before introducing each new item, it will take a year! That said, don’t rush it. Follow your mom gut as well as your baby’s cues. Be mindful. You’ll know when you have been given the green light to introduce something new, as well as when it may be time to pull back a bit. Watch your baby’s skin reactions, temperament changes, bowel movements, etc. These are all good indicators of how quickly to move through the food list. If you’re looking for tips on what order to introduce different food categories, feel free to use the one that I listed above. It worked very well for Ayla and could be a good fit for your little one as well. Tip #2: don’t mix a new food with her favourite food Ayla hasn’t turned down many new foods (although not crazy about anything broccoli related…), but I quickly learned not to put something new on her tray with a food that we already know she loves. For example, when introducing cauliflower for the first time, I made the mistake of giving her sweet potato at the same time--one of her favourites. Needless to say, she went straight for the sweet potato and showed little interest in the weird looking white tree. So, next time, I offered cauliflower first and on its own. She gobbled it up! Give you baby a chance to test out and enjoy a new food without the distraction of a tasty favourite. Tip #3: don’t shy away from new and bold flavours I was hesitant at first to offer Ayla flavours that were a little stronger in nature, such as curry. But I realized just because she’s a baby, doesn’t mean she won’t enjoy something flavourful like this! I don’t suggest loading up a dish with hot peppers if your baby has never had them before. Take it slow and add in spices and exotic flavours a little bit at a time and see how they react. He might surprise you! If strong flavour profiles are a big part of your family’s food culture, introducing them sooner rather than later may help ensure he enjoys these foods later on. Tip #4: prep ahead in bulk when you can and when it makes sense I admit, I haven’t nailed this yet-- a combination of being on maternity leave (not always needing to prep in advance) and facing new challenges in the kitchen. But one thing I have been doing is creating a weekly meal plan, both for Ayla and Dave and myself. This helps with shopping and meal prepping in advance when it makes sense. Having a weekly plan means you know what you will be serving each day and can help pinpoint any dishes or parts of a meal that can be made up in advance when you have the time. Since we do a mixture of BLW and purees for Ayla, I like to make up a batch of purees and then freeze them in individual servings. Then, the morning of, I simply pop one out of the freezer so it’s thawed and ready for meal time. You can also make up things like pancakes and muffins, etc. Healthy baked goods are easy to freeze and give you a quick, nutritious snack when you’re short on time. Tip #5: have a few go-to quick and easy snacks that you can rely on Some days you just don’t have the creativity or energy to come up with new and exciting meals and snacks for your little one (or yourself). Having a few go-to snacks that you know you can fall back on is key, like my homemade real-food baby cookies pictured above. These are things you can quickly grab from the pantry or fridge before you run out the door. For me, I like to have a couple of healthy baked goods either in the fridge or freezer. I also bake sweet potato with cinnamon weekly, cut into strips and keep in an air-tight container in the fridge so I can use them as a snack or add them to any meal. There are a couple of packaged items that I grab from the grocery store too. I basically use Nature’s Path puffed kamut as a daily activity. I grab a handful and throw it on Ayla’s snack tray in the stroller when we go for a walk, or on her highchair tray when I need to keep her occupied before her meal is ready. I also like the Love Duck brand. They have organic freeze dried fruit bites that have no added ingredients and make for a great little sweet treat. The journey of solid food introduction for your baby can be an exciting one, especially when you have a game plan going into it. Getting back in the kitchen for the purpose of nourishing my child has reignited my passion for nutrition, something that fell to the wayside when I was pregnant (due to the constant nausea…). When it comes to deciding what to feed your baby and how, be sure to do what works best for your family and use the method that you feel most comfortable with. Comment below with your favourite baby-friendly meal or recipe! 8/13/2018 2 Comments It's Not Depression... But Something Doesn't Feel Right: My Struggle with Postpartum AnxietyI, by nature, am not an anxious person. That was, of course, until Dave and I decided to start trying for a baby. Suddenly, I was ridden with anxiety and self doubt--a feeling that was very foreign to me. It was one of the first “goals” in my life that I could not achieve simply through focus and determination. There was, of course, the obvious act necessary to make a baby that I could participate in, but beyond that… I couldn’t will my body to conceive the moment I was ready. It became quickly apparent that a Type A personality was not going to play in my favour when it came to making and raising babies. The root of this? Control. Or lack there of, I should say. I am writing this from a very vulnerable place and it is not something that I am fully comfortable with. To shine light on a time when I felt out of control and less capable is, in fact, a very uncomfortable thing for me to do. I think as women, but particularly as mothers, it can be hard to show others that we battle with self doubt and mental health. For some reason, we feel there is this expectation to be Super Woman at all times. But, from everything I have learned through this experience, I can say with confidence that every mom feels this way at some point in her journey, if not on the regular. It is my hope that, by sharing my story, I will help other women climbing similar mountains know that they are not alone and that, with time, and maybe a little help, this too shall pass. You may feel weak, but you possess endless amounts of strength and wisdom. Know how I know? Because you are a mom. And no one can love or care for your child like you can. No one can know and understand their needs better than you. You are a mother. And that is synonymous with strength. The day our daughter, Ayla, was born was the happiest day of our lives. We could not have been happier or have loved her more. But, as very early days passed, I recognized the feeling that was settling into the pit of my stomach as all too familiar. It was the same feeling I had when I worried about not being able to get pregnant. However, this time, the anxiety was more difficult to pinpoint because I wasn’t sure where its roots lay. My daughter was healthy and thriving, so why did I always feel plagued by anxiousness? Even being on the other side of postpartum anxiety and writing about it months later, it is difficult to put these feelings into words.
The term postpartum depression is something that pops up all over the place during pregnancy. You are educated on the signs and symptoms well before baby arrives. It wasn’t until after Ayla was born and I was faced with daily anxiety that I began to research other postpartum mental health issues. I had no idea that postpartum anxiety was even a thing! Turns out, not only is it ‘a thing’ but it is extremely common. Most of my anxiety tended to be around how much Ayla was sleeping as well as the anticipation of anything new (like breastfeeding outside the comfort of my own home. Flash forward a few months and you can find me nursing anywhere and everywhere). I have a very vivid memory of Ayla waking one night at 10pm and me freezing in my tracks, not knowing what to do. As a new mom with a very young baby, I could only rely on one thing and that was Ayla’s night time sleep. She would go down at 7pm and wake twice for feedings, sometime around midnight and 3am and then wake around 7am. She would sleep well until those feeds. So when she broke routine one night and woke before midnight, I panicked. She broke her one consistent behaviour and that threw me for a loop. Was it a big deal? Of course not. Would I even blink an eye if this happened today? Nope. But then, in my very vulnerable state, something small like this rocked me. Another evening, I remember Ayla had gone to bed as usual and was sleeping soundly. Dave and I were enjoying our evening together, something that I continue to cherish today, but that was very precious to me in the early days of motherhood. The day had been fine. Nothing significant had happened. And yet, I remember sitting on the couch consumed by anxiety that I could not explain. My stomach was in knots and I was breathing deeply, trying to calm my nerves. That was an upsetting night. It was when I knew hormones were determining my emotions and that there was likely nothing I could do about it except let them run their course. During this time in my life, I was very thankful to be a reflective person. I understood that these feelings were rooted in hormones and generally triggered by situational factors. My fluctuating hormones combined with my need to maintain control was the perfect cocktail for postpartum anxiety. When I would talk to other moms about what I was feeling anxious about in regards to Ayla, they would assure me that this phase wouldn’t last and that I could relax and let her run the show for a bit. And although I knew they spoke logically and truthfully, I also knew I had to experience everything for myself. I had to watch Ayla grow and I needed to learn as a mother. I needed to see her go through various phases of her newborn life and live through them with her before I was able to successfully relinquish control and come to peace with the fact that, when it comes to babies, it’s often best to roll with the punches (within reason, of course. I can’t completely change who I am!). By the time Ayla was three months old, the anxiety had almost completely disappeared. A moment that stands out in my mind is when I took Ayla to the doctor’s for a routine check up. I had, of course, scheduled it perfectly to fit in between naps, but his office was running behind. Soon, I found myself right in the thick of nap #3, but certainly did not have a sleeping baby in my arms. I watched the clock as we sat in the waiting room. Nap time came and went. It was then that I realized that the world didn’t end when things didn’t go as planned. Ayla made it through to bedtime, perhaps a little crankier than usual, but no one was worse for wear. And I hadn’t succumbed to my anxiety either. I remained calm and my baby, happy. This sounds so insignificant, especially writing it today, but in the moment, it signified that I had emerged on the other side of my postpartum struggles. Aside from my own hormones settling a bit, I had also been a mother long enough to figure out that every phase a baby goes through is relatively short. So to try and control a particular baby behaviour is like trying to hold on to a fleeting moment. It’s barely worth the energy because it will be such a flash in the pan. The term, “this won’t last forever,” became all but my mantra. And it is these words that continue to keep me calm (as possible) through motherhood. Although I do not miss my anxious days by any means, I am, in a way, thankful for this experience as a new mom. It taught me valuable lessons about myself and provided me with ample opportunity for growth. I got to experience something difficult in the midst of something incredibly joyous, and then come out the other side, where even more joy awaited me in the calm. I love talking to other new moms, in the throws of hormonal chaos, not knowing which way is up, so I can tell them it gets easier. Today, Ayla is seven months old. She is our greatest joy and gives us, as parents, new and profound purpose. Every day brings new lessons (for her and myself) and some are more challenging than others. But, as physically and emotionally taxing as being a parent can be, I wouldn’t trade these days for the world, as I am sure other moms would agree. Each day I find myself begging time to, please, slow down as the months fly by. If you are a mom struggling, in any way, postpartum, I encourage you to talk about it. Acknowledge your feelings and give them a voice. I promise you are not alone and you will quickly find a band of women who will flock to you in support. I also believe that talking about these feelings and emotions allows you to make sense of them and get out of your head, so to speak. This was, without a doubt, my best coping mechanism. And although it was just time that my body needed to sort itself out, talking about my feelings and realizing their root, made the difficult days so much easier. If Dave and I ever give Ayla a sibling, I obviously hope that I can skip this phase. The unknown surrounding life with a newborn is now behind me and these life experiences are hopefully enough to keep my anxious triggers at bay and prevent me from playing into the crazy hormonal shifts. But, if I don’t, I will remind myself once again that, “this won’t last forever”. I will reach out to my support system to raise me up and I will come out the other side. Articulating this period in my life has been difficult. Not because I don’t like talking about it, but because I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to describe what it was truly like. I hope that this story finds its way to someone, somewhere who needs it. I hope that my journey through postpartum anxiety brings another woman comfort knowing that they are not alone and encourages them to soak up the joy of this precious, very short lived period of their little one’s life. 8/13/2018 0 Comments A Shift in Focus...I recently shifted the focus of Eat.Move.Live (the name of this blog) from ‘Nutrition and Lifestyle’, to the more general term of ‘Health and Lifestyle’. Not that health in the general sense hasn’t been important to me in the past, but since becoming a new mom, a few events have really ignited my passion for a holistic approach to achieving a healthy lifestyle. Since the beginning of my journey into nutrition, my interests have broadened to include physical and mental health, and an understanding that this is achieved differently by everyone. I hope that I can capture my ongoing journey through posts on nutrition, but also mental health, life as a mom, finding balance, supporting Ayla's optimal health, and more. If you have any topics you would like to see me write about, please shoot me an email or comment below!
Baby's come with a lot of stuff at the best of times. So you can imagine that packing for a two month trip with our 4 month old presented a few challenges. Dave and I had many conversations about what to bring and what to leave behind prior to leaving. We read online blogs by families who had done similar trips and gathered the opinions of friends and family members with children. Our goal was to ensure we had everything we needed, but nothing more. Here’s what we decided on: Baby Bjorn Travel Crib This was absolutely essential. We needed to ensure Ayla had a comfortable place to sleep no matter where we were. I also liked the idea that she would have a consistent bed, despite the fact that we would be staying in several different locations. It doubles as a pack and play and is worth the extra cash. This crib comes with its own carrying case and, as our travels continued, we learned to take full advantage of this feature. When leaving each destination, we would add all of Ayla's sleeping essentials to the bag, making for an easy bedtime set-up when we arrived at our next accommodation (think: pj's, sleep sack, diaper, wipes, stuffy, etc.). Baby Bjorn Carrier This was an absolute must-have for us. Ayla loves being toted around on our chest. She can stretch out and see everything that’s going on around her. She spends more time in the carrier than in her stroller. We use it every single day. It’s also great if you’re visiting a city that isn’t overly stroller-friendly (think: lots of cobblestone). Jolly Jumper with doorway clamp For us, the jolly jumper was an absolute must. Aya is a very active baby and happiest when jumping. Sanity saviour for mom and dad! Shout out to my sister in law, Kim, for sourcing the door clamp version from Once Upon a Child for $20. It’s super light-weight and easy to pack. Car Seat Even if you don’t plan to rent a car, if you are taking a taxi from the airport, you need a safe way to transport your baby. If you do plan to rent a vehicle, it’s possible to rent a car seat through the rental company. Personally, we wanted the peace of mind knowing that we had a carseat that Ayla was comfortable in and met our own safety standards. We did, however, leave the base at home, opting to use the seat belt technique to secure it in the backseat. Stroller Since we were planning on such a lengthy trip, we decide that taking our full size, Uppababy stroller was important. Ayla would be spending lots of time in it and we would also use it to carry things like groceries home from the store. However, with an older baby and/or a shorter trip, a more compact umbrella stroller may be more suitable (and easier to transport). Most airlines will give you the option to check your stroller at bag check, or take it with you to the gate. This is nice if you're well organized and have arrived with lots of time to spare before boarding. You can comfortably cruise the terminal and baby may even have a pre-flight nap. Travel high chair Kim also suggested that we purchase a travel high chair, as Ayla would be approaching the age when she would begin eating solids. This would be a nice way to include her in meal time and get her familiar with the idea of sitting at the table with us. In the end, we were so happy that this ended up on our packing list, as Ayla was clearly ready to explore solids several weeks before we were scheduled to return home. We found ourselves embarking on the journey of baby food a little sooner than anticipated! We ordered this one from Amazon and have been happy with it so far. It’s also great to bring along to restaurants that may not provide you with a high chair. The only downfall of these types of chairs is they are very difficult to clean on a daily basis. We ended up disassembling it every few days and throwing it in the washing machine. For this reason, I am excited to get home to our (very) inexpensive, plastic Ikea version! White noise machine and baby monitor: Ayla was used to sleeping with a white noise machine at home, so bringing it along was an easy decision. It would help recreate a familiar sleep environment, no matter where we were in the world. As it happened, our Airbnb in Valencia, although beautiful and in a great location, tended to be a bit noisy at night. There were restaurants and bars just below our apartment which drew a crowd in the evenings. We were happy to have the white noise machine drown this activity out and help Ayla have a peaceful slumber. Our monitor was a must-bring as well, since her room wasn't always in hearing distance of the common area where Dave and I would spend our evenings after she had gone to bed. Lotions and potions We chose to bring Ayla’s regular diaper creams with us, because we were comfortable with the ingredients and knew they worked. For day-to-day use, we like the brand, Earth Mama Angel Baby and for any signs of diaper rash, we’ve had excellent results with Matter Company's nappy ointment. Once in Valencia, we sourced out a great organic spot that had tons of awesome baby products and stocked up on a couple of things for the remainder of our trip. Still, creams and soaps were easy to pack and I have no regrets bringing along our favourites. We did, however, run out of our regular baby shampoo, but spotted Waleda, another trusted brand from home. What do we wish we had brought? The only item we truly missed in a few of our destinations was a baby bath. Ayla isn’t strong enough to consistently sit up on her own in the tub, making it difficult to hold her and bathe her simultaneously. We made do by one of us getting into the tub with her and acting as a human baby bath. Really not a big deal, and kind of a nice mother or father-daughter moment. That said, finding a very light, portable baby bath would be ideal if taking a long trip, possibly like this one. Otherwise, we would probably recommend just making do. Alternatively, you could purchase an inexpensive solution upon arrival that you don’t mind leaving behind. What can you leave behind and purchase when you arrive? This would really depend on where you are traveling to, but as we are hitting very well established European cities, here’s what’s on our list: Diapers: bring enough to get you through your flights and the first day or two. Otherwise, they are easily accessible at the local grocery store or pharmacy. Wipes: these are also available at the grocery store and we found a brand we were happy with at the local organic health food store. We did, however, make sure we brought a couple of packs from home to get us by for a few days. What do we wish we had left at home? Travel Bassinet: One of the things we were a little concerned about was Ayla sleeping on our overnight flight. She slept well in her crib at home and we weren’t sure if she would sleep on us on the plane (or if we wanted her on us the whole time!). We didn’t purchase a seat for her (not necessary for children under two), and thought a bassinet would offer us a bit of insurance should she want to lie down. We had the bulkhead seats, which provided a bit of additional leg room and some space to put the folding bed. In the end, there wasn’t a lot of room for the bassinet at our feet, comfortably. Plus, as mentioned in my previous post, she fell asleep on me during takeoff and I was too nervous to make the transfer in fear that she would wake up. Of course, we had other flights booked, but none with the extra space for a baby bed. Ayla was also rolling around in her crib at night, so it didn’t work as a full-time sleeping solution throughout our trip. In the end, although it would have been hard to anticipate earlier, we didn’t need the bassinet. That said, it was inexpensive and very lightweight. So if this is something you could see yourself using, it’s a fairly low-risk purchase. So, there are our baby packing essentials. I hope this list of must-haves comes in handy when planning your next big family adventure! |
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