@1:20 – How does he sleep, what sleep “practices” did you use?

• Little Z’s Sleep (instagram + website)
• We “sleep trained” and it was live giving.. and so great for our marriage.

 

@5:30 How has it been parenting during quarantine?

• We don’t really know anything else.. 
• It’s tough not being able to have a babysitter, doing normal “baby classes”, socializing him, or being able to have time to ourselves.
• It’s also been great being able to be home for everything when I didn’t think I would be.

 

@9:55 Did you buy a crib, a bassinet, and a pack and play?

• Borrowing items when you can!  Or buy off a friend/someone you know. 
• You’ll use the crib for three years.
• Pack and Plays are great and pretty essential for travel.
• Our crib: Wayfair Conversion Types: Day bed; Toddler bed (I may have lied..)
• The bassinet we borrowed: $80

 

@13:55 What did you do to Prepare (books to read)

• Books we read
  • The Happiest Baby on the Block
  • Bringing Up Bébé
  • Cribsheet (I forgot to mention this one.. and I really liked it)
  • Strong as a Mother
  • Like a Mother 
  • The milestones book from our doctor..
• Niles’ Birth Story
• Hospital bag 
  • comfy clothes, cute outfit for first picture, stuff to shower

 

@23:12 What are some must have items

• We have a blog post for this Our Practical Baby Registry – Favorite baby items for minimalist parents 
• Our camera – Nest cams. (we were looking at getting the Nanit but definitely didn’t need it.. we looked at all the cameras on this list) 
• Sound machine(s)
• Think about how portable your stroller is

 

@29:44 What are some unexpected things about parenting?

• Milestone pressure
• Working from Home – MUCH harder when they start moving.. (sorry about all the noise.. that’s him in the background)
  • His new walker.. that he LOVES
  • The average parent working from home during quarantine gets 3 minutes and 24 seconds of uninterrupted work time.
• Breastfeeding/formula (I was pumping, breastfeeding, and giving formula.. and it was terrible) and Rheumatoid arthritis

 

@38:05 How do you take his monthly pictures?

• I hate the monthly photo blankets.. they don’t sit nicely, they have to be laying down for it to work, and it’s hard to crop right.
• Tips:
  • pick a clean background and an area with great light
  • don’t feel like they have to all be the same – I wish we had used different outfits for all of them
  • a letter board or some other sign makes it fun (but also more challenging as he got older)
• Chatbooks links to our personal family instagram
  • Code for $10 off 
• Promptly journal 
• 1 Second Everyday 

 

Other blog posts about Niles and parenting..

Niles’ Birth Story

Niles turned 6 months – Medical issues and struggling to gain weight

Safari Themed Nursery 

Our Practical Baby Registry – Favorite baby items for minimalist parents

 

Other posts for Mom’s

Maternity photo tips