Best products from r/DecemberBumpers2017

I would just like to say that I recently revisited the baby book that my mom did for me and it was SO AMAZING, and that is the sole reason why I will be doing one for mine. I always knew about it and had looked at it several times throughout my life, but I thought it was weird. Until recently, now that I'm more mature and maternal and can fully appreciate it. She used a template book, so it wasn't particularly creative, but it was more important to me that I could read about what her pregnancy was like, the things she was excited/nervous about, and (after I arrived) she included things like daily entries from my first nanny, and cards from loved ones to congratulate her on the baby. Just a bunch of random things that really painted a picture of my mom as a young mother, and I absolutely loved experiencing that part of her. And how special that she put such time into someone she barely even knew yet (me)! I guess what I'm getting at is - it's never too early. Pregnancy memories will mean a ton to your grown-up child, maybe even more than the ones about his/her young self.

P.S. I found a templatized one that I liked, though I haven't started it yet. I love love love that it a) has really unique writing prompts that aren't all cutesy, b) gives a lot of focus to "mom and dad's" relationship, pre-baby. I wish I had known more about that part of my mom and dad's experience/romance/pre-baby life. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1462112684/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If you're just looking for a decent backup when you can't babywear- I've really been pleased with the Kolcraft Cloud Plus Lightweight Stroller.

I originally bought the Chico stroller because it fit the car seat and looked super plush, but I wore my son so much I just ever used it.

We bought the Kolcraft stroller when we needed something light weight and portable for vacation. I love it because it folds up with one hand, and it gets pretty small, and is pretty lightweight. It has decent storage underneath and has become my go-to choice for the zoo.

Only downfall really is that I wouldn't recommend it for tiny babies, but once they can sit up, it's great. Also I'm pretty tall and it feels short to me, but that's true of the chicco stroller too.

You probably don't need to get anything, but it sure is convenient and something you can keep an eye out for sales. I skipped the nursing clothing and just got the bras and tanks and then layered more weather appropriate clothes in top. Cardigans and full zip hoodies are your friend if this is what you want to do. Also, stretchy scoop neck tops are usually great too, but it will stretch them out so don't use something you actually want to use again.

I had bras and tanks from the Gilligan and OMalley line at Target and they were fine. I'm small chested (30B) and have a long torso and the tanks were a little on the short side for me, especially after a bajillion trips through the dryer. I had a pack of these and they were great for longer torsos. I've already ordered a pack for this time around.

I found bras with no underwire to be more comfortable, and I had one in black and beige and found that to be a sufficient number IF I had enough nursing pads on hand to keep them from getting leaked on between loads of laundry. This was really only a problem the first month or two until I got the hang of it. I also had a few of the "sleeping" bras for around the house, but can imagine those wouldn't be enough for someone larger than me, plus a couple sports bras because I went back to running as soon as I was cleared to do so. I'm buying all new this time around and will probably do roughly the same amount, which was just fine to get me through 17 months of nursing but everything was looking pretty worn out after that length of time.

Sure! I went with this one: Element Pre & Postnatal Yoga: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002EWD0BS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

As I said, the yoga is very relaxing and a great stretch session, but the commentary is a little granola for my taste. If you don't want to be told to put one hand on your heart, one hand on your baby, and breathe radiance and love into your baby...this probably isn't for you haha :)

This week my husband told me that he was listening to a podcast about the blankets that Prince George had when he was a baby. He couldn't remember what they were called, but he said the podcast talked them up and that they were super popular with parents all over the world. I asked him if they were the Aden & Anais blankets, to which he exclaimed, "Yes! Those are the ones! Do we have some on our registry? Little guy needs some of those."

It melted my heart because A) I pretty much did the heavy lifting with the registry (husband has been slammed at work) and B) we're trying to stay pretty reasonable with our registry -- keeping it pared down to just the essentials. I felt guilty adding one set of Aden & Anais blankets, but I figured that since they would be gifted it wasn't so bad. Husband was thrilled with the set I picked and he can't wait to see what the blankets are all about.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MQRI584?colid=3FYUAKZNU6F2L&coliid=I2GPFDWGSHUY2E&th=1

I've found r/asianbeauty to be life changing. Basically, you need a SUPER gentle face wash and tons of moisturizer. I can tell that my skin is a lot oilier now, but because I know how to manage it and my hormonal acne, I haven't had many breakouts. When you use too harsh of a face wash, your skin freaks out and over produces oil (simplified explanation).

My super simple AB routine:

• [coxrx low PH face wash]
  (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016NRXO06/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
  
  
• Laneige bright renew emulsion (I used to buy at target but they've stopped carrying it so I'll need to find another. An emulsion is just a super liquidy light moisturizer you use in addition to a full moisturizer and has extra benefits. This one in particular is "lightening" which I find helpful for those stubborn red spots that are leftover after zits)
  
• Belief The True Cream Aqua Bomb
  
  These are somewhat on the expensive side, but r/asianbeauty can point you to more options that are dupes for these products. I have hormonal acne normally and somewhat normal to oily skin.

I'm looking for a good pregnancy book too, with a focus on natural birth. The two I'm considering are Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and Husband-Coached Childbirth: The Bradley Method. I had an early 2000s edition of the Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy during my first pregnancy and found it informative and helpful.

When my baby was about 5 months old I read Magda Gerber's Dear Parent: Caring for Infants With Respect and it changed our little family forever. I recommend it to every new parent. Completely amazing! although I don't agree with everything in it for the newborn time period -- I'm big on babywearing and cosleeping.

We're about the same height, but your inseam is a bit longer than mine.

Last I looked, Long Tall Sally only carries maternity leggings.

My jeans are Indigo Blue skinny jeans from Motherhood Maternity, and they're comfortably long for me, but maybe not for you.

I also have these pants Beachcoco Women's Maternity Fold Over Comfortable Lounge Pants https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J971FFY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_mpJkvc5f6JAOH and they're plenty long.

I was definitely at some website the other day that carries tall size maternity, but I can't remember where now. Maybe Old Navy or Gap?

We have the safety 1st one from Amazon - very affordable. As he got bigger I did add a topper to it. It's perfect for a newborn. I don't know that it's great for toddlers.

https://www.amazon.com/Safety-1st-Heavenly-Dreams-Mattress/dp/B01BTYXEDK/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1499963177&sr=1-1&keywords=crib+mattress

Thank You! I purchased it on Amazon in Large. It's super comfortable!

I totally gave in and have been wearing these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01AEHV2YQ/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They are super comfy!! And smoothing too. I'm thicker to begin with, pre preg size 12, and I feel so much more comfortable with these on. And these are so comfy I barely notice the higher waist!