Consumerist Mama

Ever since I signed up for the Amazon Mom program, and found myself heavily pregnant and with no free time or energy, I have been using the hell out of Amazon. I used it for free shipping on Christmas presents, my baby registry, my wedding registry, and all sorts of last minute and staple items for the home and for baby. I know that there are some workplace conflicts at differing Amazon warehouses, and I support the workers, but damn if this website isn't handy. Also, as a new mom sometimes I am just laying around with baby at naptime and BOOM! ZAP! WOW! I get an idea. An idea of a product that will change everything. Make my life so complete, easier, more efficient. As if. Here's a quick listing of these spontaneous products that did or did not improve my life.

World Map Art Decal - This was actually a really good find and easier than wallpapering a map onto the wall. For baby nursery.

Pledge Fabric Sweeper - I keep thinking that the next pet hair sweeper contraption that I get is actually going to work. You know what I think might work? Duct tape. But I also know it will leave a lovely adhesive film over everything. Sigh.

Vitamin D Drops for Baby - every time I go to the doctor, I swear its something new I have to get at Walgreen's. This I refused to pay full retail for and found a good price online. Walgreen's got me on the Milk of Magnesia, the infant Tylenol, the water bottle, the Lotrimin, etc etc etc.

Mother's Milk Tea - another reco from the pediatrician. This stuff doesn't taste bad, but 5-6 cups a day? Who has time for this with a needy newborn? Oh I think I'll just sit down and have my 4th cup of tea today. Yeah right. I ended up brewing big potfuls of it and putting it in a pitcher in the fridge. But now I'm over the taste and can't tell if its really helping. Have 5 more boxes to go.

Gripe Water for Colic - have no idea if this works, but in her 4-6 week stage when she was really fussy at night (and probably hungry as this was before we started supplementing regularly) I would put a little in her last bottle of the night. It doesn't come out too often anymore since we brought the swaddle back.

Nursing Bra - these actually go on really tight at first but I like them a lot. So I bought one and then quickly turned around and got two more. Don't get white though, too easily stained.

Key Hooks - don't wait around all day for your ADD husband to go get the key hooks. We have a baby, a dog and two cats who like to bat shit around the house. Put some freaking key hooks up in your joint.

Baby Bath Towel - how can I wash my baby without her own towel? Don't bother. This towel is not softer than the towels you already have. She loves bath time but hates being dried and has no idea there is a cute frog on the towel. I should just use my TJ Maxx towels on her.

Infant Car Seat Insert - this is going to solve all our problems! The reason why she hates the car and the stroller is because she's swimming in them. This will make her feel snuggly and secure! While that might be true, it didn't make her like the car or the stroller any better. What she needed to do was get a bit older to the point where she can see out the window or out the stroller.

Chore Magnets - I will stop feeling like an overworked housewife if I can just get M to visually SEE what I need for him to do around the house. I know I'm here all day but it doesn't mean I have time to do it. And since they are the same chores (recycling, litter box, vacuum) I just made an E list and an M list and move the chores around. "Be nice" and "help mom" also included. Missing: the word "mop."

Weekly Wipe Erase Board - instead of using the ipad app for babies (it was too hard to get it open and closed) I thought I'd get a handle on her schedule and food intake by keeping notes. After a week and a half of careful note taking I felt I had a handle. On how much she ate at least. She has a 'schedule' until about 1pm and then its anything goes. So I stopped using this for now but I can see it being handy again when she's in school or even sooner if we join playgroups or something. And yes, it looked totally OCD there for a while "7p-BF FAIL 5 OZ Form" / "9-9.15 nap" / "9.45 Mom bkdwn." Jokes!

Pilates Ball - One of M's workmates told me she spent many months bouncing her baby girl in the carrier while sitting on a workout ball. After two months of dancing in the Bjorn I thought I would give it a go. And I'm sitting on it this very moment with a sleeping baby in the carrier. Some of the reviews warned that the measuring tape that comes with it was the wrong size, and indeed mine was. So I just kinda eyeballed it and blew it up until firm enough. Other reviews warn that it blew apart after one use so I'm ready for that at any moment, but its been a few weeks and so far so good. Bonus: other kids visiting the house love it too.

Bottle Brush - My friend C, who has a niece in D.C., insisted that we needed a bottle brush. So I hurried up and ordered this well reviewed bottle brush. Which I never use as our bottles are wide mouthed. It did inspire M to wash bottles though so that was a benefit. Also C bought us the grass dry rack thing at Target, where we line up all our precious baby bottles and caps and nipples. A good combo to get dad inspired to clean.

Ergo Baby Carrier - the Pièce de résistance! Since I am a baby wearer, the proud mam of a baby who loves (has) to be carried about half of her waking life, I was advised that this carrier would be great for my back. After babies get to be about 12-14 lbs the old design Baby Bjorns will be horrid for your back and neck. I was so excited to get it, read almost all 300+ reviews on amazon while I waited nearly an entire week for it to arrive. And....she doesn't really like it. I can get her in there and she cries pretty loudly and then promptly falls asleep. But I think she's just too small and I don't want to get the infant insert because at 12 lbs she's close. I'll keep trying but am comforted by the fact that they can use this right up to and through toddlerhood as it converts to a back carrier too.

And...taking us right up to today:

Snugabunny Bouncer Seat - my friend P has this for her little boy and swears by it. I tried out baby A in it last night and she was so comfy she sat in silence for 1/2 hr stretches at a time, and even crapped her pants in it, requiring P to wash the padding! Am desperate for her to have a little more independence at some point during the day, so for the cost of a meal out at our neighborhood grille, I'm going to try this and put the swing away, which she now associates with me just putting her somewhere safe so I can make a bottle. Which is what I do with it.

Wish me luck with the last one because I TOTALLY NEED IT TO CHANGE MY LIFE.

E