Why I Have Three Diaper Bags

Before my son was born, I read lots of tips that suggested having three sets of crib sheets and three changing pad covers. One that would be in use, one that would be in the laundry hamper/washer/dryer, and one that would be in the closet. Well, these are great tips, but do not apply to my three-diaper-bag situation. So why do I have three diaper bags?

Well, I got all of them as gifts (one off my registry and two from different military spouse baby showers) and wasn't really intending to use them all (at least, not all at once). But my mom suggested putting one (stocked with diapers and wipes) in the back of my car in case I ever run out of the house without my fully stocked diaper bag.

Then, just recently, I began using my third one. My main diaper bag is so heavy and really all of that stuff isn't necessary for quick trips (but it's great for all-day outings). So I put the most minimal stuff in that extra bag for shorter trips.

What is in each of my diaper bags:

Breastfeeding Clothes: Cute ideas for things to wear when you're nursing

Sure, you could wear nursing camis and tanks - I lounge in them all day. But when it's time to head out, you may want to wear something a little spiffier than a cami that unclips at the breast.

Sure, there are lots of brands that sell cute nursing clothes... but many of them charge an arm and leg! And for some reason, when I was pregnant, I had the strange idea that I could only feasibly wear clothes designed for nursing. It never crossed my mind that I could wear "real" clothes until my mom mentioned something. Ha!

Here's a couple of ideas that never occurred to me until I actually began breastfeeding.

I love this Zenana Outfitters shirt I found on Zulily!

1) Button-down shirts. I hate the standard, stiff kind. So professional and uncomfortable - plus it reminds me of when I was a waitress, which I loathed. But, I found a couple soft jersey-knit kind. They are more flattering, I think, and much more comfortable. Then there are shirt that only button half-way, which will work as well.

Simply Vera by Vera Wang from Kohl's. I have this top and it's very silky soft - a cute lace button-up over a camisole. Plus, the tie belt helps give new mamas a waist!

Forever 21's zip top disguises a tummy nicely.

2) Zip-up shirts. This is a new trend going around, and it's handy for breastfeeding. I have a couple from Forever 21 (though I'm too old for most of their stuff, their line Love 21 is a little more grown-up and I've been able to find a couple good pieces. Plus it's cheap). They are blousy and loose with a zipper on the upper half of the front of the shirt.

Surplice top from Body Central

3) V neck tops. A v-neck that's very stretchy, or a shirt with a very deep V-neck, surplice neckline, or wrap/faux wrap top will allow you to pull it down when it's time to feed the baby.

Old Navy cowl-neck top.

4) Loose, stretchy cowl-neck tops. Same as the v-necks, if the neckline is a bit low and loose and stretchy, then you can pull it down for nursing.











5) Of course, you could just wear any old top that allows you to pull it up from the bottom... but then you're exposing your belly (and what new mom wants that?) They do make nursing camisoles designed to go under your top so no one sees your stomach... but then you're just adding layers and it's June in Southern California so I'm already sweltering enough with just one layer.

Advertisement for Undercover Mama - they sell camis that clip onto your bra and are designed for layering.

This Sun & Moon dress from Zulily has a surplice neckline.

6) Most dresses don't work - you can't pull them up (wouldn't that be a sight!?) But, button-up shirt dresses, or dresses that zip in the front will work. So will stretchy v-neck dresses as well as wrap and surplice dresses. I had no dresses that would work prior to my son being born and since I love dresses, had to go out and get a few that would work.

Dana Buchman snakeskin shirt dress from Kohl's.

Old Navy wrap dress with another nice camouflaging pattern.

7) Now regardless of the type of top or dress you get... make sure it is in a darker shade or has a busier print. Those hide milk stains and leaks a lot better than a solid, light-colored shirt.


Places to look...

It's really best to try on the clothes before you buy them (which I hate doing... I love online shopping). But you have to know if you're going to be able to stretch the top down enough for nursing, or if the zipper or button works the way you want, etc.

I don't want to spend a fortune on clothes that are just going to get breast milk on them and spit up allover. So I like TJMaxx - I was able to find a few maxi dresses that work for nursing (I know I said to try things on first... but you can now shop online!). Also, Zulily (another online shop... but the prices are often very good. Plus they do have nursing bras and tanks from time to time, and though they aren't the height of fashion, they are a necessity for a nursing mama). Old Navy and Kohl's have a lot of button-up shirts and cute dresses. Forever21 is inexpensive and has a ton of clothes. Just steer clear of all the crop tops that they have now. Ick. Body Central's clothing is a bit "spicier" - which means lots of low v-necks and surplice tops. Great for breastfeeding!

I'm sure if you are a currently breastfeeding mom, you've already discovered these clothing options. Hopefully though, this will give some good ideas to new moms-to-be and other women who plan to breastfeed in the future! :)

Choosing a Babysitter: What to look for and questions to ask

What should you look for in a sitter? Well, my husband and I recently began searching for a sitter, though we have no immediate need for one yet. I’m not ready to be away from my 12-week-old boy; I am going to be a stay-at-home mom for a while too. But we will want to have a date night eventually, and I want to have a babysitter selected and available for when we are ready.

When interviewing and hiring a babysitter, you need to start by thinking of what you want in a sitter. Do you want someone that is a parent themselves, or a young college student? Do you want a sitter that will speak only English, or do you want someone that is fluent in another language? Do they need to be CPR and First Aid certified? Does your sitter need to have training in child development or education, or just plenty of experience? Would you like a sitter that will do light housework while the kids nap? Is a clean driving record important?

For us, the most important things in a sitter are experience with young infants, being comfortable with large dogs, and an outgoing nature. Even though our boy is still very young, we want a sitter that will take him out on walks and short outings – he seems to get bored and antsy when he’s inside all day. Behind those three things, we want someone who will continue to do baby sign language with him so it’s consistent, read him lots of books and sing songs. We don’t expect any cleaning or chores to get done – babysitters aren’t magicians, we don’t expect them to be able to accomplish things that two of us can’t do!

Also, think about what an acceptable rate is to you. It really depends on the area you live in – in Southern California where we reside (more specifically, Orange County) – the going rate is about $15 an hour. (The sitters we spoke to charge $17, $15, and $13). A high school or college student will accept a lower rate than someone who has been in the childcare business for many years. Some sitters and nannies may also charge higher rates for additional children, or if you run late coming home, or higher rates for additional services like cooking or cleaning.

There are a lot of good questions to ask sitters when interviewing, but speaking as both an interviewer and past interviewee, some of them are annoying, and some are more insightful than others. Here are (I think) the best questions:

What do you like most about being a babysitter? Obviously, you’re looking for an answer along the lines of  “I love kids,” not “It pays well.”

Do you often touch base with parents? This is important if you want a sitter that will text you updates and photos while you’re gone. (Something I want for at least the first few times away from my boy).

Do you have an example of a time you handled a crisis? Not everyone will have experience with an emergency (I never did have a crisis in my 3 years as a nanny/babysitter) but if they did have an emergency situation, you want to know that they will handle it calmly and take the appropriate steps (call 911, call mom, go to emergency room – whatever the situation dictates) – not a sitter that panics.

How would you describe your personality? Not the most important, but their answer can be very revealing. I like to hear things like, “friendly,” “outgoing,” “honest,” “easygoing,” “energetic,” and so on.

What are some of your hobbies? If you want a sitter that will spend time with your kids outside, you obviously don’t want to hear “reading magazines,” “playing video games,” and “watching tv.”

What do you look for in a family? They’re only just getting to know you, so you hope to hear some things that describe your family!

What are the top 3 characteristics you think are essential in caring for children? You’re going to be looking for things like, “patience,” “caring,” “kindness,” “sympathy,” “compassion,” “creativity,” and the like.

And finally... to search for sitters try Care.com or Sittercity.com (bonus: Sittercity is FREE for military!)

Graco Car Seat Tip!

This post is going to be no great work of litearature... I just wanted to share a small little tip about the Graco car seats!  

Many Graco car seats were recalled due to the clasp getting stuck. Our model was not one recalled, but it still was hard to undo sometimes. (And it frustrated my husband to no end!) This is no big revelation, but when I figured it out I was very pleased! :) It certainly does make it a bit easier. 

So here's the tip: Instead of pushing the button and then pulling the two straps up and out of the clasp (as we used to do), push the button and pull that piece down.  This also means that you can undo the clasp with only one hand! If you try to unclasp the buckle by pulling the straps up and out of the button piece, it requires two hands. And for us and our car seat, sometimes we had to pull pretty hard and really fight with it to get the buckle to release!

I was able to both unclasp the car seat and take a photo at the same time! Talk about multitasking! :P

Though it's not the most amazing tip ever given, hopefully it will save someone else a little grief and time. :)

Update 06.02.14:  I tweeted about my unbuckling tip, and Graco tweeted back with another tip!

@elrussell10 Thank you for the great tips, Laura. It also helps to press firmly on the small dimple located at the top of the red button.
— Graco (@GracoBaby) June 2, 2014

You can't see it in my photo, but the small "dimple" that Graco mentioned is about the size of a pin and is at the very top, under my fingernail.
I love that they replied and offered some help! :)