Keeping in Shape for New Moms

It is a good idea to stay fit before, during, and after pregnancy. If you start a workout routine or activity before you become pregnant, it will be easier to stick with it. While pregnant, exercise can help you regulate your weight gain, ensure a speedy recovery after delivery, help you sleep better and  lift your moods. After baby is born and you are recovered, a workout routine will help you lose the baby weight, and give you the strength to carry and chase after baby. (Some exercises and activities are not recommended, please consult your doctor for more information)

I decided to combine a healthy diet with brisk walking and a pregnancy toning workout. I found The Perfect Pregnancy Workout  DVD, and I love it. The workout was easy to fit into my schedule, and I could do it at home. It is designed for pregnant women, and has three levels of difficulty, so that you have something to work towards. I did the workout 3 times a week and tried to go for walks the rest of the days.

The workout made me feel really good, and I had a relatively easy delivery. My abs were strong so I didn't have a huge belly and I was able to recover quickly. I am over 30, so knew it was going to be more difficult to bounce back.

I continued with the workout after baby was born, as much as I could, and the exercises have really helped me keep up with an active baby. The music in the video, and the woman's accent can get old after a while, but I memorized the routine and now I do it to my choice of music. I also take baby for brisk walks in the stroller. I have found that a  jogging stroller works best for this, and you can take it on a little rougher terrain.

Accessories for your workout:

Yoga Mat
Rubbermaid Small Step Stool
Neoprene Hand Weights

Baby Bath Time Products

Giving baby a bath can be a simple as using a sink or plastic basin, but a special baby bath can make it easier and more fun for both of you. I picked out the First Year's Infant To Toddler Tub with Sling. It has a sling for newborns, and after that there are two ways for babies to sit in the tub, reclining for infants, and sitting up for bigger babies. It has a drain in the bottom and is easy to use. This worked great for many months until my baby was ready for the big tub.


A bath-time necessity is a water temperature tester. I use the Munchkin 'White Hot' Duck Bath Toy. It says 'hot' on the bottom if the water is too hot, and it's also a cute toy to play with in the bath.

Once baby is big enough for the big tub, you need to make sure it is safe, with a Spout Cover, and a non slip Rubber Safety Mat. 

 I also like to use Aveeno Baby Calming Comfort Bath, Lavender & Vanilla. It's a nice calming scent and Aveeno is relatively gentle as far as soaps go.

I also use the Aveeno Baby Wash & Shampoo, but I add drops of Grapefruit seed extract because my baby had a little cradle cap and it seemed to help.
 

Baby Sleepwear- Newborn to Toddler

To keep baby snuggly and warm at night, you can't beat swaddle blankets and sleep sacks. Most newborns love to be swaddled, it calms them and helps them sleep. 

Unless you are an expert swaddler, like the nurses at the hospital, you will appreciate the new swaddle blankets with velcro. It's really easy to wrap them up and keep them happy and secure. The swaddle blankets come in a couple sizes and many colors. You can get jersey cotton for warm weather, Organic Cotton, or Microfleece for cool weather. Make sure you have at least 2 blankets for when you have to wash one. You can usually buy a 3 Pack in the Cotton Knit and save a little money.

My baby loved his swaddle blanket for the first few weeks, but after that he wanted his arms out, so I moved up the the sleep sacks. The sleep sacks are also available with a swaddle type flap, but it won't be wrapped as tight as the swaddle blankets. Every baby is different if what they prefer, so if you purchase several options, make sure you can return the ones you don't need.

Sleep sacks are great for any age baby. Even babies that are crawling or walking as long as they are used to being in the sack. The are great because baby is warm and comfortable and can kick and move around as much as they want and not kick off their blanket. They will sleep better, which means you will sleep better!

The sleep sacks come in Small, Medium, Large, and Extra Large. They are also available in several colors and fabrics. They come in thinner cotton for warm weather, Micro-Fleece for cool weather, and Deluxe Velboa, which is somewhat in between, and a little more breathable than the microfleece.

Make Nursing Baby More Comfortable

If you are breastfeeding your baby, you will be spending a lot of time feeding, especially in the first few months. It is a good time to bond with your baby, but after a while you will need something to occupy you. If you're like me, you don't watch television, so you read instead. Reading a book while nursing is not that easy though. I found that an eReader is a great option.

I received a Refurbished Kindle Touch, Wi-Fi for my birthday and it has turned out great. I can hold it and turn pages one handed, and it saves your place like a bookmark. I save money by borrowing ebooks from my local library. It is a wonderful tool, and I've been able to read many good books instead of killing brain cells watching television. I love it.

The refurbished Kindle saves about $20 compared to a new one, but it is not always available. I also looked at the Kindle Fire, but I already have a phone and laptop that can do what the Fire offers. I didn't think the extra cost was worth the additional features for me. It is a nice little e-reader though, from what I can see.

Boppy Nursing Pillow

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Another way to make sure your breastfeeding experience is good is to have a comfortable place to sit. Being relaxed and comfortable makes it a better experience. Make sure you have plenty of pillows. The Boppy Pillow is a great invention. I have two and use them all the time.

Baby Changing Station

Changing diapers is one of the not so fun parts about having a baby, but having a good diaper changing station helps make it easier. If you have everything you need in one convenient place, it is much more efficient. Plan on changing diapers up to 10 times a day at first, during the day and in the middle of the night.

Most people have their changing table in the nursery, but due to lack of space and the fact that I use cloth diapers, I decided to have my changing station in our half bath, which I found is much more convenient, especially with cloth diapers.

I selected the Badger Basket Sleigh Style Changing Table because it was attractive, fit into the space, and had a hamper and 3 baskets/drawers included. The hamper is great because you can throw dirty clothes right in there, and it is removable for washing. The 3 drawers hold all of my diapers, and accessories.

The changing table came with a thin pad, but I decided to use the Summer Infant Contoured Changing Pad with it, because it was thicker, and contoured to make it less easy for baby to roll off. A Basic Changing Pad Cover is a nice addition because it is soft and warm on baby's skin, and easy to wash. I also use a Carters Keep Me Dry Flannel Lap Pad on top of the cover because it is easier to wash than the whole changing pad cover in case of accidents. This is especially useful for baby boys!

I also have a Shower Caddy that I hung on the wall to hold my cloth wipes, washclothes, vaseline, and olive oil (for diaper rash). My homemade disposable wipes and solution are on the sink right next to the changing table. It also just so happens that a towel bar is above the changing table, which I use to hang up clothes and toys to distract baby. With everything within reach, a diaper change is quick and easy.