I'm a list maker so here's my list

• 1 Boppy, she's 8 months and we still use this thing
  

• Rock n Play
  
• Zip up swaddles + muslin blanket. The standard swaddle never worked with my daughter nor did the velcro one. We had to double swaddle her with a muslin blanket and then zip her up in one of these just to keep her from hulking out
  
• Swing - every baby is different but the swing was a Godsend for us, we ended up spending $140 on one that plugged in and it was worth every penny. I don't know that I'd register for one because you can find really nice ones for $40-50 on online yardsales and since they're only used ~4-5 months they're in great condition.
  
• play gym for baby
  
• changing pad
  
• baby medicines/saline spray/nose freda. You tell yourself you'll never use it but you will and when your 3 month old is sick in the middle of the night because they can't breathe you'll be grateful you have that stuff.
  
• we have an Eddie Bauer travel system, I like it ok and seems pretty good quality
  
• high chair - I wish I had registered for one, you won't use it for a while but they can be pricey
  
• a bath seat, don't spend money on an expensive tub. The minute my daughter found out she could sit up it was game over.
  
• bath toys!
  
• bathing supplies, towels, soaps, and this shampoo my daughter came down with a case of cradle cap overnight, this got rid of it. She's used it at least every other night since 6 weeks and we're still using it at 8 months.
  
• one toy for every age, my daughter had no interest in toys until around 4 months. These are easily her top 3 favorites: little people this is her favorite toy right now, she loves putting the people in the bus and taking them out. This V-Tech Drum she loves this thing, she can hold the pieces in her hands perfectly, she likes to hit the drum, and when we place the pieces in the holes she likes to push them through. this elephant toy it rattles, crinkles, has rubber for chewing, which makes it an amazing toy to take while traveling or going places. An honorable mention would be any musical instrument toy, we have shakers, bells, and other musical toys for her to play with and she loves them. Board books, she likes to flip through the pages. If you register for a jumper just go for the inexpensive one from Fisher Price that folds up easily, I bought a Jumperoo and she loves it but it's big, in the way, and doesn't get enough use to really validate the space it occupies.
  
  
  Things I would not register for:
  
• Clothes, you think that if you put it on the registry that people will buy what you want but they wont.
  
• blankets, you'll get so many blankets. You'll use all of them at one point or another but unless you want everything to match perfectly I wouldn't bother.
  
• receiving blankets - I registered for one set and ended up getting 4. Don't get me wrong, I used all of them but probably could have handled just the 3 that people picked up for me off registry.

No problem.

I don't want to sound condescending, but when my daughter was 6 weeks old I felt the exact same way. I was so anxious about doing everything 'right' and I worried constantly that I should be stimulating her, playing with her, feeding her enough but not too much, etc etc etc. I can see now that she's 2, watching her, her little playmates, my son (5 months old today!), and other kids growing up that they all pretty much develop in their own way no matter what you do. As long as you love your baby and take care of her, she'll be fine. She'll learn to roll, to sit, crawl, walk, and talk.

Trust her to know how much she needs to eat, and when she's full. Be patient, and whether it's breast or bottle feeding or solids, encourage her to show you when she's had enough. If you're bottle feeding, make sure you are pacing the feeding (taking breaks) so that she doesn't drink too fast (her tummy needs time to be able to register that it's full).

With regard to stimulation, babies (especially little babies) find just being in the world stimulating. They're learning to see, learning to hear, listening to voices and laying the foundations of language. You talking to her is stimulating enough. Her seeing the shadow of a chair on a sunny wall is enough. Her hearing the sound of the pots and pans clattering as you make dinner is enough. The best thing you can do for her is be near her and involve her in what you're doing (unless you're like a WWE wrestler or something, don't take her to that :P).

I found it helpful to read a book called The Fourth Trimester. It's on Kindle and gives a basic outline of what very little babies are learning and doing. As babies get older it becomes pretty obvious what they want. For example my 5 month old is trying to move and reach to get to his toys. If I put them just out of his reach, he gets frustrated and works to get them. That will become the foundation of him learning to crawl. If he's grumpy or bored he fusses until I pick him up. If he's happy on the ground just rolling around and playing with his toys, I just leave him there until he gets unhappy or needs a nap. If I'm not doing anything, I lie down with him and chat to him, show him how I can shake a rattle, and sing a couple of nursery rhymes.

I think just trust your baby to show you what they want and need. Also google! If you want age-appropriate activities, just google "Activities for 3 month old" and then do a couple of those a week and see if she likes them. If she hates them just stop doing it. They generally just want food, cuddles, sleep, and you talking to them and being with them. You can also google "milestone chart" or look up the "Ages and Stages Questionnaire" (PDF) to see if your baby is broadly on track with milestones.

Given that your baby is only 6 weeks old, focus on: feeding her whenever she wants it, getting her to sleep for naps, holding her and talking to her. Nothing else is super important at this stage, so don't stress :) I can definitively say that I am no longer worried about my 2 year old at all. I think "Is she happy, healthy, and does she have plenty of opportunities for play and learning about the world?". If the answer is yes, I'm doing a good job. She doesn't need soccer lessons, she doesn't need the newest toys, she doesn't need me to be 100% present and playing with her all of the time. I saw her today pretending she was going to the swimming pool, putting toys in a bag and saying "Have you got everything you need? Mummy's togs, a towel, my goggles". I have never played that game with her, but she is clearly learning by just imitating our daily life. I can see her imagination is growing, her language is improving, and her creativity is getting a chance to shine while I let her play by herself. So I feel much more confident now about being hands-off and just enjoying my kids :)

I hope this is helpful!

I'm glad I didn't read that newborns can go through 4-5 outfits a day or I would've been freaking out about clothes! I think every baby is different on that and burp rags. My lo never spit up, so we never needed burp rags. She also never dirtied any outfits so we were pretty lucky. She was small, and we were woefully unprepared for newborn sizes! But like you said, easy fix if you need more. We sent my mom and dad while we were in the hospital. I would definitely recommend getting a ton of zip up sleep and play jammies. Lo lived in those for the first few months! So convenient, easy to change her diapers in and kept her comfy. I found them to be WAY easier than onesies. In fact, I had probably 30 onesies in newborn and 0-3 and I think she wore maybe 3 of them. They were just so much less convenient than having her in the sleep and plays. Diapers...oh boy did she go through a TON of diapers! I had stockpiled a couple large boxes from Amazon of newborn and size 1. She was in newborn for quite a while, but again every baby is different. I found that the huggies newborn were bigger than the pampers newborn. So we started with pampers, then transitioned to huggies newborn because size 1s were too big still. Then every size after I've found Huggies to be smaller than the same sized pampers. So when we went up to size 1 we started with Huggies then moved to pampers. Until size 3 that is..now she's fully in Huggies little movers. I just like how they fit her. Wipes, you're right - can never have too many!
We definitely got baby towels, the ones with an animal on the hood. They're softer, and they get washed in Dreft, so not with our stuff. But I'm sure you could use regular towels too! Do you have a baby comb/brush? Thermometer? Nose Frieda, I can't recommend that enough! Baby nail clippers? Aquaphor or whichever diaper cream you choose to use?
I saw you mentioned a breast pump, if you're planning to EBF I would say get plenty of lansinoh!! Or any other nipple cream you want to try that's ok for baby. Also these ice packs are amazing in the early days of nursing. My boobs were not happy! They can also work as warm compresses. Also these soothies were great. Bonus points - pop them in the fridge first for extra cooling relief! Loved those! We got the giant pack of small boxes of Kleenex from Sam's also, we found that we went through a TON of them. I liked to have a box on hand everywhere I was. Definitely get some boob pads too to wear in your bra! Leaking happens, and in the beginning it can happen A LOT! I don't need them anymore, but man did I go through a ton of them in the first few months.
You sound pretty prepared! I was like you, stockpiled and still worried I wasn't prepared! Best of luck, you've got it under control!!!

I have a Spectra S1 and love it. Only difference between S2 and S1 is the S1 has a rechargeable battery- this was huge for me as I like that I don’t have to turn it off and unhook myself to just go grab water or something. Once you know what flange size you need, I’d recommend getting an extra set of parts as well. As an FYI the duckbill valves need to be replaced every couple months as they will eventually get little tears at the opening.

I have a couple Elvies as well which I mainly use to pump if I’m driving and need to pump at that time. I don’t get as much as I get with the spectra.

Boon grass also SO HELPFUL for drying all the little pieces. I thought it was just a frivolous registry item but it is CLUTCH.

I’d also recommend getting a haakaa (editing to add: this one specifically has worked best for me, the older styles have a weird neck that doesn’t suction as completely: https://www.amazon.com/Haakaa-Breast-Manual-Silicone-Breastfeeding/dp/B07CWK4S5W) to catch letdown - you put it on one breast while feeding from the other, and make sure to switch it to the other breast when you switch sides so it’s not ALL foremilk. It’s been huge for helping me build up a stash- I get 1-2 oz extra at each feeding without spending any extra time, because it just catches what would be dripping out anyway. Sometimes I’ll hand express a little extra into it at the end of a feed. You have to wait for the milk to all be at the same temperature before you can combine it, but every 1-2 days I have enough for a whole bottle and then I’ll give that to hubs to use and pump a full bottle’s worth to keep in the freezer or fridge depending on what needs we have coming up. I loved it so much that I just bought like 4 of them so that when I’m home all day on the weekend I have a clean one to grab for every feed.

If you are returning to work, find out if your lactation space has a pump there. Mine has a Medela symphony, so I got a set of parts for it so that I wouldn’t have to schlep the spectra around. It works great.

If you do need to carry your spectra around and want a professional looking bag, the Sarah Wells bags are great.

FWIW, a friend of mine got the Medela pump in style and HATES it. She says the Symphony works great for her, and she likes the baby Buddha as well. I find the Symphony to be comparable to the spectra, but wasn’t about to rent that giant hospital grade thing to keep at home.

Not sure how old your baby is so I'll start at the beginning - for my son, as a newborn we used the 2oz ready to feed bottles. You store at room temp, open, screw on a nipple, and serve. Toss the whole thing when you're done (each pack of 8 bottles only comes with one nipple though, so unless you save/wash/reuse you'll want to stock up on the nipples, too).

Once he hit the 2ish month mark we moved on from the Ready to Feed and we had a few options:

If we were going to be out and about for a few hours I'd fill up one or two of these formula dispensers with pre-measured scoops (3 per section of our formula brand) to make a 6oz bottle, and bring along bottles prepped with 6oz of water (we used bottled or jug water). Then it's just a matter of dump and shake. My son would take room temp bottles, but if you need to warm a bottle on the go something like the Tommee Tippee Travel Bottle Warmer works well.

If we were going somewhere quick and I'd just throw formula and a bottle in my purse and I liked these single use formula bags. Same thing as above - I'd fill with 3 scoops and carry a 6oz bottle of water.

In terms of daycare, our facility could not (by law) mix formula. All bottles had to be ready to serve. So on daycare days we'd use the Dr. Brown's Formula Pitcher to mix up enough formula for five 6oz bottles. 30 oz of water and 15 scoops of formula go into the pitcher, churn, then pour into bottles. Bottles then went into this cooler bag with an ice pack for transport, and were then stored in the fridge at daycare until warmed and served. I love and recommend this bottle bag as it's got the top compartment too, which is great for sending along bibs (if your kid spits up half as much as mine did you'll LOVE this feature) or snacks once kiddo is old enough for them.

At home I was all about dat Brezza Lyfe. Loved this bad boy. It's my formula baby BAE. The latest version just came out, too, and can be found here.

A lot of pharmacies/Walmarts/targets and Amazon carry something called a MediFrida that’s a system designed to do this - it’s a syringe-compatible pacifier that has a little tube in it that goes to the tip, so the medicine gets delivered just past the back of the baby’s tongue. My LO has to take meds as well and is not a fan, but with this thing, he doesn’t even notice. If you can, it helps to give it right before a meal when the baby is already hungry, so they gulp through the meds fast before realizing it isn’t milk/formula (nipple in their mouth + liquid coming out = oh yay, I’m being fed!). I then swap it out super fast for an actual bottle (or boob, if you’re nursing), and the baby can then chug their way through the rest of the meal.

We went from spilling/having the baby spit out almost half of each dose to giving all the meds with no issues. Totally worth the $13 in my opinion!

Here’s the amazon link for it (not an affiliate link, I promise, I’m just SO grateful for how much easier this thing has made our lives that I try to tell people about it whenever this comes up!). If it’s easier, I think most pharmacies carry them too, although that might just be the ones I’ve checked.

Oh! And you don’t have to use the syringe that’s included; most syringes will fit in the little tube. So infant Tylenol will work if you need that at some point, or smaller syringes like the 1ml ones you can order off of amazon, if you’re doing smaller doses and need to be more precise.

it's like you described my LO at that age! He loved just being plopped down on a towel on our carpet and would look around the room, coo, flail, etc. We got this book: https://www.amazon.com/Black-White-Tana-Hoban/dp/0061172111 and would prop it up around him (it stands on it's own as an accordian fold). He LOVVVEED looking at it. That might help with better focus/attention (again at that age, they get distracted by anything!) We got the skip hoptreetop nature playmat as well, though it was overwhelming to him at first. We put a plain blanket down over the 'playmat' part (to cut down on the patterns/colors, and only hung 2 toys overhead. That worked really well! He'd look and swat at things, but didn't actually grab anything until weeks later.

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For feeding, I did lots of songs or talking to LO to keep him focused on ME, which helped him not get distracted. Using a boring chair/corner/white walls helps too. dimming lights for nighttime works great too.

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for what its worth, my LO can recite the alphabet and numbers to 10 (gets a little messy on the way to 20-lol) at 15 months old. It's CRAZY how verbal he is. He's nosy about EVERYTHING, points at everything, repeats all the names we say of things, etc. He CAN however, focus very intently/well on something for 15-20 minutes at a time (and a youtube kids-songs video for about an hour at a time). Just keep an eye on LO's attention span, especially if you put super interesting things in front of him. If he really is antsy/can't focus on an activity (the book, for example) for more than 2 solid minutes, etc -- then bring it up with the ped.

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EDIT to add: do you use an app like glow baby to track feeds/naps? that was really helpful to us to spot LO's natural "patterns" and reinforce them to help get onto a consistent schedule.

We have loved any and all toys made by the company called Green toys because they are made from recycled materials and they are safe in the sense that there is no small parts, no chemicals in the plastic and if my son(s) chews on them I'm not worried. My Step-MIL actually introduced me to them and I am so glad they did. Amazon has a bunch just search "Green Toys".

http://www.amazon.com/aden-anais-Muslin-Stroller-Blanket/dp/B00BMMOKYW/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1394632384&sr=1-1&keywords=aden+and+anais+stroller+blanket We have two of these blankets and I love them. They are the muslin cloth so keeps baby warm but not thick enough to overheat. Plus I love the fact that they are huge which makes them great to cover baby in the carseat or have a floor blanket.

http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Birdseye-Count-Flatfold-Diapers/dp/B007VBYVVA/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1394632645&sr=1-1&keywords=gerber+cloth+diapers We used these when my oldest was an infant and using them again with my youngest. We primarily use them as burp clothes but we've also used them as wash clothes for cleaning hands and faces. I'm sure there many more uses for them--like turning them into cleaning rags when you no longer need them for baby purposes.

For toddler dishes we really like these http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007HZBOFG/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1VA53QENRTP66&coliid=I2TQV3KCX2FQSF. The same company makes bowls and sippy cups and I believe utensils (for spoons and forks we use a set made by Oxo). They are durable, and made from recycled materials. They are dishwasher safe I believe (idk because we don't currently have a dishwasher). My son has been known to throw them on the floor and in the sink and they have yet to crack/break. Definitely worth the money in my opinion. Amazon carries them and some Target stores do.

A lot of babies will protest being swaddled at first but will eventually calm down (with that bouncing/shushing/white noise thing you've got going on) and then being swaddled is what will help them stay asleep.

You might look up the double swaddle to make sure he can't break free.

Are you using a yoga ball? That was my baby's favorite form of bouncing and easier than doing it manually, lol.

They also make a baby shusher to save your vocal chords - my friends swear by it: https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Shusher-Soothing-Miracle-Babies/dp/B00D2JN87I

ETA: Maybe he would like Merlin's Magic Sleepsuit better than being swaddled? If I were you, I'd try anything at this point. http://www.magicsleepsuit.com/

Dr. McKenna's Mother-Baby Behavioral Sleep Laboratory is another great source for evidence-based and clear best practices (OP, you might not need this as much but I wanted to add this to the list of mentioned sites). I highly recommend it, as well as his book.

My parents did bedsharing with all of us, but even so I was a little nervous about the prospect of it! But after reading McKenna's book and browsing the website resources, I feel much more informed and comfortable about the prospect of bedsharing (if it works for baby), and ready to take on the naysayers because there's plenty of evidence that when done safely it's a great sleep practice!

YAYS:

Chux pads, hands down, were the best purchase we made. Those saved us so much laundry and so many diapers. The link is hit or miss - one box we got was great and quilted, the second box was not quilted and they fall apart more easily. Which really sucks because we're not going through several a day anymore, so it has time to really fall apart before it gets soiled. Even the shitty ones are incredibly helpful.

A Haakaa breast milk catcher. Best money I've ever spent. I stopped using it every day at 11 months PP. 11 months of daily use.

An electronic nail file. I cut too close once, and decided I don't ever want to do that again. It's quiet, it has a little light on it, two speeds, and a bunch of different nail heads.

Stacking cups. Don't know why we even have other toys. Did you know you can throw them and chase after them and then throw them again, mom? You can put them inside each other! You can put them in the toy basket and then take them out and then put them back in again! You can knock them down when mom & dad foolishly stack them up! You can clack them together! You can bang them against EVERYTHING!!

This inflatable tub. It has a little shoehorn for the crotch so you can use it before baby can totally sit up by themselves. We're still using it because my child is dead set on committing suicide in the bathtub.

Sleeved bibs. Or as we like to call them, eatin' ponchos. We got some "art smock" cheaper ones to alternate with, but the Bumkins one is 👌👌👌 so much better. The art smocks are fabric-y on the body, so they stain.

A ring sling. No link because I actually borrowed from my local babywearing community. But I checked out a ring sling back to back to back. My chonker outgrew the Moby wrap I had (which was super hot and a PITA to get on and off) by 3 months when I finally discovered ring slings. Ring slings are like the cool, breezy older sister.

A yoga ball. We spent hours bouncing our child.

NAYS:

This Graco Swing. Well, any swing, but this is the one we had. Of the several swings at daycare, my baby tolerated one kind...for a few minutes. Obviously this is a my baby thing.

A walker. We got one used from a garage sale before we realized they're not really recommended for babies anymore.

Any chew-toy specific type teether.

I don’t use the Dr Browns bottles but I use the Phillips Avent Naturals and four fit really well in this bag . It says it can hold six, but I’m assuming that’s six narrow bottles and not the wide ones. My LO usually eats 3 bottles at daycare, but I pack a fourth just in case.

For my daycare, they ask me to mix the formula at home. I use the Dr Browns pitcher and mix it up the night before, put it in the fridge over night and take it to daycare in the morning. They have a fridge (since mixed formula is good for 24 hours), and it works out just fine.

Double check with your daycare/provider and see what they prefer. Also- I almost spent the money on fancy bottle labels (because they were cute lol), but my daycare has specific labels they wanted me to use and give me for free. Your daycare may have some similar so it’s always good to check in with them first.

Good luck! ❤️

I've tried a lot of different things and what has worked has changed consistently so my suggestion is take what I tell you and just try it all and try other things too that I might not even say because you just don't know what will work for your baby! I try not to nurse to sleep for naps because I don't want him having that association.

In the beginning naps were easy because he would just fall asleep in a swing or in the rock n play. Then he would only fall asleep while I was wearing him. So I would strap him in my Tula carrier and go on a long walk in my neighborhood until he was asleep and then come home and do chores while he napped in the carrier on me. Other times I have put him in the rock n play and done this - started with a swaddle (we have loved the Love to Dream swaddle and the Halo fleece swaddle sleepsacks...each of these has worked at different times) and then sat on the yoga ball and bounced with him and shushed him (with white noise playing in the background with this white noise machine AND on the rock n play) and patted his back (I hold him in my left arm with his stomach facing me and his head resting on my arm and pat his back with my other arm) until he fell asleep. Sometimes I would have to use a paci and other times he would be indifferent to it. Once he's asleep I carefully place him in the rock n play. Heating up a blanket in the dryer beforehand and putting it under him while warm helps him a lot. Then putting a warm blanket over him (around his waist) and putting the rock function on the rock n play. We also have the Solly baby wrap that he falls asleep in pretty easily. Now he is 16 weeks and in daycare so he naps in his crib at home and I rock him in a rocking chair instead of on the ball for his naps. Patience is key. And trying different things and realizing that what works today may not work tomorrow and what didn't work yesterday may be the thing that does the trick today!!

He will also fall asleep in the car if he's tired or in his stroller on a walk whereas just a few weeks ago he wasn't doing either of those things. Good luck mama!

Never too early to start! It's good for them to hear your voice and be exposed to lots of spoken language even if they can't focus on pages yet or show obvious interest.

During the potato stage, I read aloud whatever I was reading, read random children's books, and would also hold up high contrast picture books (like this). High contrast patterns are especially attractive to young babies because their vision isn't very good at first, and those were definitely the first ones she showed signs of interest in.

As she got able to grab stuff, we liked having some fabric/crinkly books, and the "indestructible" books like this are also great because they don't tear and can be washed.

For the most part, though, we just have regular board books. Stuff by Sandra Boynton are favorites in our house, as are the "touch and feel" kind. My baby is in the "must grab any available paper and try to eat it" stage, so non-board books with pages that can be torn are temporarily off the table for us, but I'm so excited for when she's old enough to handle those!

You don't need all the different kinds of books I mention, and most libraries also have board books in the children's section. Reading to your baby every day is one of the best things you can do for him, however you go about it.

Edit: Wow, that got long. Um, can you tell I like books?

My boys have never been good sleepers. The advice in the No Cry Sleep Solution combined with Weissbluth's sleep 'schedule' helped a lot in the beginning, but at 6 months out, I needed something stronger as my boys still had opposite schedules and were up a lot at night. I read through a ton of baby sleep books and picked bits and pieces from a bunch. The Sleep Lady's Good Night, Sleep Tight is my current favorite because it has detailed breakdowns by month and a plan that's basic and easy to follow. I don't follow her guidelines 100% because I breastfeed on demand rather than schedule, and they still wake each other up overnight, but, with her help, I have my boys taking naps semi-together and nighttime has gotten a lot easier.

The thing about baby sleep is that you need to figure out what works for you and your baby. Some babies are fine being up every hour. Other babies are not. You can often tell how well a baby has slept by how quickly they go to bed after waking up in the morning or by fussiness. Since tweaking my boys' schedule and being more diligent about putting them down to sleep, both boys are less fussy and my night owl no longer spends all morning trying to get back to bed.

Sleeping through the night should come with growth, but some babies need help more than others. Read through the books and try out a plan for a few weeks. Don't be afraid of letting them grouse or cry for a bit if nothing else works. I swore I would never do CIO before I started on this sleep journey. Haven't had to yet, but I do now believe it's a necessity for some kids, perhaps if better sleep habits aren't taught to them earlier.

It really depends on if she's eating or comfort nursing. Eating can disrupt sleep but comfort nursing doesn't as much and it's fine to continue. I've had two comfort nursers who like to sleep with a nip in the mouth and we've had to set up co-sleeping (safe) set ups to get them through the first year... (well I'm only at 6 months with #2...)

Doctors often assume nursing is just for food and it's only one of the reasons babies wake to nurse (they often just need contact, cuddles and reassurance). You can transition her sleep association from the breast to something else when she wakes but I'd suggest going slowly rather than using a CIO/Ferber method if she's under 1. I've read the No Cry Sleep Solution and Ferber's Solve Your Baby's Sleep Problems books a few times now and there are a lot of different approaches you can take - I highly recommend reading those books and picking a method that works...but only if you decide that you need to cut down on night nursing.

That being said, if she's growing and you're ok with night feeds, then you don't need to make changes (they can backfire and make her wakings WORSE! at least in my experience!) You might want to check in with a different pediatrician, too. You know your baby best and what works for your family. As long as she's growing and developing, then you're doing what's best :)

Hang in there, mama! We definitely went through a sleep regression around 4 months too and it passed with time! I'd recommend sticking with a set bedtime routine and keeping any of her comfort items (i.e., the paci) or you won't know what's working and what isn't. As for naps, our LO didn't have a strict nap schedule at that age, we just let him sleep whenever/however long he needed to and only woke him up if his last nap was getting too close to bedtime. CIO can work to help babies go to sleep at bedtime, but is not very effective for middle-of-the-night wake-ups.

Some tips that helped us:

• Frequent feeds in the evening (every 90 mins) to make sure he went down with a full tummy (adding formula could potentially upset her tummy),
  
  
• Our LO has great fine motor skills, so we put extra pacifiers in his crib for him to find in the night (he uses the Soothies which are soft so it doesn't hurt if he rolls onto them),
  
  
• White noise (just an app on my phone), seems to help put him to sleep and keep him sleeping longer,
  
  
• A heavy-weight sleep sack (like this one), keeps him cozy warm and prevents him from waking himself up from wriggling,
  
  
• Overnight diapers, no need for nighttime diaper changes that wake him up too much.
  
  Good luck! The 4-month sleep regression definitely sucks!!

We did our first trip when my son was 8 months old. Full disclosure: it was super stressful. I vented online that I was on vacation but it did not feel like a vacation at all. It took an older mom friend to tell me “That’s because you are on a family trip, not a vacation.” That stuck with me a lot and helped shift my perspective. In hindsight, he probably did really well given the circumstances, but it was much harder for me (more night wake-ups, I’d nurse him to get him to go back to sleep, which meant another night feeding I had to work to eliminate once we got home. However, right now we’re on a trip with our now 20-month-old and it’s going amazingly.

Tips: we bought a portable sound machine this one I think, and some travel blackout curtains, these ones. That’s helped mimic the sleeping conditions he has at home, which has helped a ton. For us, that also means bringing a sheet from home and books and keeping the bedtime routine as close to home as possible. We’ve been pretty rigid with our routines at home for so long that I honestly think that’s why this trip is going well and it’s allowed us some flexibility in a weird way.

Make a couple stops on the drive. Aside from sitting in the backseat, there is not much you can do to keep him from falling asleep. Maybe plan the stops for when his normal “wake” times would be and hopefully that can help have the sleep be during his normal “nap” times. I know they aren’t always recommended, but I like having a backseat mirror to have a rough idea of awake/sleep time. You can also bring some small, soft toys to introduce and periodic points during the drive (with the disclaimer that, like the mirror and anything else loose in your car, there is the risk of them being projectiles in the event of a crash).

You mentioned wishing your baby could entertain herself. Our babies are the same age and I completely hear you. It's exhausting trying to entertain a baby, whenever they are awake. I've started putting my baby in his bouncer [This one - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IVNEFCM/ref=sr_ph_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1474756338&sr=sr-1&keywords=Price+Bouncer] or on his play mat [This one - https://www.amazon.com/Infantino-Twist-Fold-Activity-Vintage/dp/B002DWALTI/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1474756447&sr=1-4&keywords=Baby+Play+Mat]. He's been pretty good at hanging out there for a good while and focusing on trying to reach the dangling toys. So, something like this might help give you a few moments peace and let baby entertain themselves.

Ours cleared up at about 2.5 months, but we had to take some action on it.

First, we rubbed his head down with olive oil, and let him lay with his head on a burp cloth for about 20 minutes. Then I combed things through with a very fine comb like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Safety-1st-Cradle-Brush-Comb/dp/B011EVXIIE/ref=sr_1_cc_2_a_it?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1459366501&sr=1-2-catcorr&keywords=cradle+cap+comb

Then we hit the bathtub with warm water. We use a gentle newborn shampoo designed to help with cradle cap, and it hasn't caused any trouble with sensitive skin. We scrubbed a little with the brush, and combed again.

http://www.amazon.com/Mustela-Foam-Shampoo-Newborns-fl-oz/dp/B00D4OH20K/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=luxury-beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1459366487&sr=1-1&keywords=mustela+foam+shampoo

We did the olive oil treatment probably 2 or three times in the span of a week, and it took care of the worst of it. Since then, we do a bath 5 or 6 nights a week with just the shampoo, and that's kept it clear since.

I am one of the "<1 baby has no wants, just needs" camp, although 1 is pretty arbitrary. I just can't imagine that an infant has the wherewithal to distinguish between the two ... yet.

I am so grateful to have a good sleeper, because I know if I were in your shoes, I would be a sleep-deprived zombie who spent the whole night with her finger in her kid's mouth.

The way I see it, he needs comfort and you need sleep. You've got to do what you can to balance those needs, or you'll go crazy and that's no good for him, either.

I've heard a number of folks say that by 6 months if a baby is at a good weight, there's no nutritional reason he should NEED to eat during the night, so he probably needs some help learning how to self soothe. My doula highly recommended this book over Ferber's CIO, largely because she knows I can't stand the thought--she says CIO totally works, too.

Good luck to you! So sorry you're having such a rough time.

Getting them to put themselves to sleep was definitely important for us. Around 4 months old I started laying down my daughter when she was almost asleep but not quite. I'd still stand over her crib and push her pacifier back into her mouth for about 45 minutes until she was good and out. She'd sleep through fine after that. With my son he didn't even want to be rocked, it was too stimulating. One time I rocked him for an hour and he still wasn't asleep. I laid him down to go to the bathroom and by the time I came back he was asleep. Ever since then (he was about 2 months old) I rock him for a few minutes and then lay him down. At 6 months old the little one should be able to suck thumb or grab onto a pacifier a little easier and not need quite as much help.

That was the recommendation from Happiest Baby on the Block and it worked well for us.

if white noise helps and you want a sound machine in the future--this one's affordable and great. I esp like it bc according to precious little sleep you need to keep the sleep environment consistent so you'd need the white noise on all night. HoMedics SS-2000G/F-AMZ Sound Spa Relaxation Machine with 6 Nature Sounds, Silver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A2JBMRE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_.yirybCGGXK92

For your nips (if you're breastfeeding): Bamboobies reusable and disposable pads are my favorite of all that I tried. Lanolin, a billion comfy bras (leakage and sleeping in them makes you go through them faster), and gel nipple pads! These ones were my favorite: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002KGHUL4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_6mFyDbYGRYXSS They reaallly help with healing and discomfort of rubbing against fabric.
Also, some of those hot/cold packs for the boobs were also very helpful, especially with engorgement. And if your baby starts massacring your nipples, nipple shields can be very helpful to let them heal while still being able to feed.

I was happy with the Peri bottle and witch hazel pads the hospital gave me. Honestly, my episiotomy didn't burn or itch much at all during healing. But COLACE! Get yourself a stool softener. All the water in your body goes to your boobs and thus, your poops get rock hard (if they aren't already) and pushing is real difficult after your pelvic floor has been wasted.

And everyone bleeds a different amount. I was really heavy and diaper-worthy for like, two days. Normal period level for about a week, and then just moderate spotting until around week 5/6.

Adding on: get some comfy jammies or a robe that are easy to breastfeed with. Again, assuming that's the route you go!

My top three picks would be the No Cry Sleep Solution, The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and the Happiest Baby on the Block (I've seen the DVD, didn't read the book).

I also highly recommend the blog Parenting Science. I teach child development, and what the author writes is backed by recent research (citations included) so it isn't just one random person's thoughts but essentially a literature review of what to do for the best outcomes when it comes to infant sleep and behaviour. Oh, and definitely KellyMom if you're breastfeeding. :)

My daughter spent 5 weeks in the NICU and had to transition from tube feeding. She also took to the bottle much easier than my breast, but here is what worked for us:

-Pump like crazy until and when your milk comes in.

-Give the baby as many chances as you can at the breast (we could only do 2 a day per doctor's orders at first).

-But the real hero was a nipple shield - https://www.amazon.com/Medela-Contact-Nipple-Shield-24mm/dp/B000067PQ0/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1525885051&sr=8-3&keywords=nipple+shields

The shield shaped my nipple to be more like the bottle. Once she got used to BF with the shield we weaned her off the shield (doing one feeding without the shield for 3 days, then two....).

I was told that when you use the shield you still have to pump after, because the baby will take less via that route.

I know its a huge pain, but I do think that this made it easier for her to transition back to taking the bottle when it was daycare time. The conventional wisdom is to not give the baby a bottle nipple at all for a while after birth, or the baby will reject the breast. But that wasn't a choice for us, and in retrospect I think that wisdom might be wrong. I think giving her a variety of feeding experiences as soon as possible made her a flexible eater. We've used several kinds of bottles, in addition to BF, since and she has had no problem. (But that is just my experience)

Our daughter would wake herself up trying to get her hands out of the swaddle and up to her face so we tried the Swaddle Up. It's tight around her torso and her hands are up by her face but her startle reflex is subdued and her legs are loose like a halo sleep sack. First night she wore it ~6 weeks old she slept for 5 hours straight! We have since bought 2 more, a backup and a backup for our backup lol.

Love to Dream Swaddle UP Original, Gray, Medium, 13-18.5 lbs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005ULUZIQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_KaEYVo2vjDUF4

So, what I have done is pump one side and nurse the other. That way I'm not stuck in the chair all day long. I usually do it once or twice in the early morning (thats when your milk is usually most plentiful, from 4am on) and it is enough for one solid feed at night.

I also have a fast let down and pumping for just one or two moments on that side can help with the squirt to the back of the throat. A haaka is a nice affordable option for this as it doesn't require lot of cords and tubes.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CWK4S5W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_wJlPDbQZ0BJNJ

I know it's exhausting. I also know you are a great mom for giving it your best.

What are you doing to take care of your nipples, if you don’t mind such a personal question 😂 ?


If you don’t have them, I HIGHLY recommend Soothies Gel Pads , and refrigerating them. They’re reusable for a couple of days. I also loved this Nursing Balm.


I distinctly remember the desperate loneliness of being literally attached to another human while stuck in one place for hours on end, often crying at the latch. Promise it gets better and for me, it was worth it, still BF’ing at 8 months old and it’s awesome.

Wife needed a nipple shield so the baby would latch (inverted nipples). Lactation consultant handed it to us and it worked like magic.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000067PQ0

Baby might not take nipple anymore because bottle is usually easier. I think babies like to keep with bottle if they start that way. But even if baby isn't on the tit, making that breastmilk is a great benefit for baby. Keep it up!

Being a young mom has nothing to do with it. We all are struggling! :)

Are you swaddling? If you are not getting a swaddle tight enough, may be time to switch to a velcro or zip-up swaddler like Woombie, SwaddleMe etc.

If you haven't already, please check out the 5 S's from The Happiest Baby On The Block

Good luck!

We went through SO MANY cups! I finally found this one and it works like a charm (kid is almost 3 and still uses them). We just take the straw on the inside out, because he can't grasp the concept that you DON'T tilt the cup to your face.

I agree with the OP of this comment, too. Your kid is just doing normal 11 month old stuff. Early intervention isn't going to be much help when he's pretty much done with bottles!

You definitely want a dedicated sound machine if you plan on using it all night. I would go separate, because where you want the nightlight is not necessarily where you want the sound machine. Our daughter does not use a nightlight yet, but we use the LectroFan white noise machine, although right now they are running a buy one, get one free special on their combined white noise/nightlight that you control with your smartphone on their website, so you could decide if you want light, white noise, or both from each of them.

This one doesn’t have a remote but it’s worked great for us it’s cheap too!

ETA they advertise it to look like it’s timer-based but you can leave it on all the time as well.

I'd look at the recommendations on mamaot.com and candokiddo.com before buying anything. They have a lot of ideas for things you already have at home as well as ideas for purchases that will work for your baby through a few stages of development. At your baby's age we relied on our play mat for most of her entertainment (like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Infantino-Twist-Fold-Activity-Vintage/dp/B002DWALTI?th=1) with a few extra toys and plastic links hung on it. Once she could sit up she could play with the toys that way.

Stuff like jumpers and walkers aren't recommended for too much use but if you do want one, there are usually a ton of jumpers on short plastic stands for less than $20 on Craigslist and at Once Upon a Child. If you're just feeling generally spending on the baby (understandable :) ) but don't want to go crazy go to Once Upon a Child. They have lots of toys and should have some of your basic stacking and other simple toys that will work at this age and hopefully for longer too!

Baby DeeDee!

Baby Deedee Sleep Nest Sleeping Sack, Warm Baby Sleeping Bag fits Newborns and Infants https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003FZPD1I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_OwpnDb3MCQ5JQ

This has been our wonderful transition from Merlin sleep suit and they make different thicknesses which I love for the PA weather. She won’t sleep without some kind of fluff and only “naps” if not in her sleep sack at night. Just PJ’s in the crib won’t do! I have three of the medium weight, and one of the jersey cotton cause daycare is warm.

Love to Dream Swaddle UP Original, Gray, Medium, 13-18.5 lbs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005ULUZIQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_SkHizb9M9EHS6

These are LEGIT. We got the ones where the arm pods zip off and it's just a blanket. Perfect for transitioning.

At that age my daughter loved the little plush mirror that she looked at during tummy time and her play mat. She also liked those little mini crunchy books that make sound like crackling paper when you turn the pages...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01GCH64CC?psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002J4U8M0/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1497471878&sr=8-1&keywords=sassy+mirror+baby&dpPl=1&dpID=51R8Pgj9dDL&ref=plSrch

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002DWALTI/ref=pd_aw_sim_sbs_107_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=EDSMZQ3FK9M11G0W48FK&dpPl=1&dpID=91CItN2WZ9L

It's a book! The newborn one I mentioned is for younger babies, didn't see that your LO was almost 6 months, but she wrote one for older babies too! The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night https://www.amazon.com/dp/0071381392/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_hPE-ybQ6W280M

My daughter is only about a week older than your kiddo so I have no idea what I'm doing, but this sounds pretty normal to me. When my little girl is fussy, a change in position usually helps a lot. She likes to be held up in burping position (like this) and patted on the back, or have her legs bicycled.

If nothing else works we go for the 5 Ss, have you seen/read anything from the Happiest Baby on the Block? If we put her in a good, tight swaddle and then bounce/jiggle her she calms right down, even if she fights the swaddle initially.

I bought like 10 different kinds of cups. Lots of people say the straw cups are the easiest but I could not get him to drink out of any cup other than a open cup.

What finally ended up working as a "sports top"

http://www.target.com/p/multicolored-tear-drop-bottles-2-pk-colors-may-vary/-/A-13788730

Which help him figure out this camelbak kids water bottle

CamelBak Kid's Eddy Water Bottle, Dino Party, .4-Liter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NXX0N76/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_QPysybZADAHRV

Now he also can use

Nuby 2-Pack No-Spill Cup with Flex Straw, 10 Ounce, Colors May Vary https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003N49ML8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_hRysyb1E4YSRQ


Now that I look it seems like a logical transition. He couldn't figure out how to suck and once he figured that out he's been able to apply it to the other cups.

This took from 6 months to 15 months to find what works.

OK, I purchased this brush, [this shampoo] (https://www.amazon.com/Mustela-Foam-Shampoo-Newborns-fl-oz/dp/B00D4OH20K/ref=sr_1_8_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1503507599&sr=8-
8&keywords=cradle%2Bcap&th=1) and [this balm] ( https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Ointment-Certified-Seborrheic-Dermatitis/dp/B0194EGJRK/ref=sr_1_6_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1503507599&sr=8-6&keywords=cradle+cap).

What I would do was wet her head, add some olive oil (yes plain olive oil) and let it sit for a minute or so. Then I would scrub with the brush for a minute or so ( the brush is super soft, baby seemed to like it), then I would wash off the oil with the shampoo following the instructions(it says to let it sit for a minute or so), then after the bath I would use the balm over her scalp and on her eyebrows (because she also had dryness there). At that point she was getting a bath once or twice a week, the cradle cap would clear up and slowly come back and we would bathe her again.

My LO was a baldie with cradle cap from birth until about 3 months. Her umbilical stump didn't fall off until 8 weeks so she was only getting real baths from that point on and we didn't start treating it until that point. I say it took about a month for it to stop coming back.

I second this shampoo.

Mustela Foam Shampoo for Newborns, 5.07 fl.oz. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D4OH20K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_FI6Ozb5209V2S

It's very very gentle. It leaves my LOs hair so soft. I tried all the oils and special brushes and EVERYTHING for two weeks before I found this shampoo. Nothing was working. I used the shampoo once, and it was gone. I still use the shampoo whenever I wash her hair because it smells great and leaves her hair and scalp so soft.

I didn't have issues with nipple confusion and a bottle but I did use a nipple shield for a little while. That might be of some help for you. Here is one on Amazon. You can change the sizes as well to fit your nipple and breast.

I had a C-section. Here's my list of musts:

Nipple Cream: https://www.amazon.com/Motherlove-Certified-Organic-Cracked-Nursing/dp/B0007CQ726/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1524170982&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=nipplecreams+for+breastfeeding&psc=1

Nursing Pads: https://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-Ultimate-Protection-Nighttime-Discretion/dp/B0179BQBP0/ref=sr_1_8_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1524171034&sr=8-8&keywords=nursing+pads

Huge drinking cup so you don't have to get up so often: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DGMBG5Q/ref=dp_prsubs_3

Nursing Bras: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075DBJ53P/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Extra Long phone charging cords: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074296YH3/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Burp Cloths (which are useful for a million things, I bought 3 of the 10-packs and am so glad I did):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007VBYVVA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And my MIL got me this housecoat type thing made of sweatshirt material that was longer than knee length, zipped up, and had 2 massive pockets. I lived in the thing for like a month because I couldn't stand pants after my C-section. Plus it was warm and the pockets were really handy for carrying things (phone, water bottle, burp cloths, etc) while I was holding the baby.

At 1 month- 3 months my baby was mostly really into black and white images he could stare at while doing tummy time and laying on his back. Two books that were really good for this because they unfolded and/or stood up on their own well were Art For Baby and Black & White by Tana Hoban. He still likes them at 9 months too, especially as they were some of the first books he was able to manipulate well with his hands (better than all his other board books), so they a good investment.

I'd say activity mat all the way! You can always buy a bouncer/exersaucer second hand. We loved our little mat, especially because it folded up when we weren't using it, creating more space in our apartment. It would even give us time to make coffee and breakfast while LO was busy playing.

My son has these Nuby straw cups. They are easy to clean and a really good size for his little hands to hold. He drops them a lot and the plastic hasn't cracked or anything.

Oh! My LO is the SAME WAY. We use these and she LOVES them. She also can't close them and then cry when she can't open them back up, so that's nice. We've also recently bought one of these for water because it holds more than a sippy cup. She LOVES hitting the button to open it!

They make tv straps that can be attracted to the wall, or whatever it sits on (or both). Definitely secure any furniture that baby may have access to.

An alternative is using a baby gate, something like this to keep them confined to a smaller area (if you have room). This worked for us until our daughter was pulling up and trying to walk and then she started just pushing it around.

Some babies get into every little thing (like mine did) and some don’t. I would start with securing big things and then just seeing what your baby starts getting into. I would move breakables up high, along with anything that could be a choking hazard.

Have you tried using a haakaa? It suctions onto your breast and gathers milk from your let down. So when you breastfeed, you put it on the side the baby isn’t currently using. It’s a really good way to stockpile some bottle feeds, without risking creating and oversupply.

I could usually get an ounce or so per feed. You can combine several sessions to get enough for a bottle, then freeze. Just make sure that the milk is the same temp when combining. So if you already have a container of milk in the fridge, let the new milk cool before adding it to the container. You can leave in the fridge for several days before you need to freeze.

https://www.amazon.com/Haakaa-Breast-Manual-Silicone-Breastfeeding/dp/B07CWK4S5W/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?keywords=breast+pump&qid=1569093074&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyT01OQTkzREZXUTgwJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzk4MjAyM1RFNFMyMzlEOE9IRyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMTYwMjE2NTRUM0s0WElFTTAyJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfcGhvbmVfc2VhcmNoX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

I have sensitive nipples too and nipple shields saved me. I've heard some LCs don't like them but mine said if it works go with it as long as I need. Almost 3 months in and bf is going great with it.

http://www.amazon.com/Medela-Contact-Nipple-Shield-Medium/dp/B000067PQ0

I had really sore nipples from bad latching and a tongue tie on my little guy. For some reason my left is more sensitive than my right and eventually the damage started vasospasms on that side after nursing (or getting to cold, ugh, winter). I started only nursing him on the right at night and pumping the left to give it time to heal but keep my supply up. After a couple nights of this and a visit with lactation it's gotten MUCH better. I just started a prescription of all purpose nipple cream, which was stupid expensive but I need this nerve damage fixed!

My guy will take a bottle but I didn't want to take the time to pump then bottle feed, so this solution worked for me. We tried dr brown premie, mam, avent, and kiinde nipples. Kiinde is the only one he likes. I try to get him to try the others occasionally but he still refuses anything but kiinde.

You could try giving one boob at a time a break if you can't find a bottle your LO will accept. The pumping/nursing might give you some over supply but that seems better than undersupply.

Edit to add: coconut oil helped me more than lanolin. Also, you could try using a nipple shield. https://www.amazon.com/Medela-Contact-Nipple-Shield-Medium/dp/B000067PQ0. You may need to express some milk into it so your LO gets the idea and starts sucking.

so cute! but hang in there, have you read The Happiest Baby on the Block? it was a life saver for me during those early months.

I have an Infantino Twist and Fold activity mat, and when I am done with it, I just fold it up so the cat and dog don't lay on it. It only takes a few seconds, and is definitely not complicated. It has been working pretty well so far.

And a baby shusher!!!

Baby Shusher - The Soothing Sleep Miracle for Babies https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D2JN87I/ref=cm_sw_r_apa_OBUCxbZ1Q2J72

This thing was our go to for 3 months, I get it for everyone

We bought and really like this one. Has a USB plug so you can use AC with a wall adapter or an external battery. Doesn't have an internal battery though. It's truly continuous and doesn't loop. Lots of different white (brown, etc...) And fan types.


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E6D6LQY/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_QqrEDbGKH0JVF

A sound machine is a must! I love my lectrofan so much, we have 2. Adaptive Sound Technologies LectroFan High Fidelity White Noise Sound Machine with 20 Unique Non-Looping Fan and White Noise Sounds and Sleep Timer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E6D6LQY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_IMcUCbW93XSAB

I have this one. Works great!

Evenflo Versatile Play Space,... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072LTSWND?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

We LOVE this one and haven't had any problems with it in 3 months of useage: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072LTSWND/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

Not sure if you’re set on music, but Lectrofan has 10 fan sounds and 10 colored noise sounds (white, brown, etc) - it has the option to turn on and play forever or you can set it for an hour if you want.

My girl also favored her right side and didn't care for tummy time too much. We made sure to put all of her mobiles and toys and interesting things to look at like this book on her left side in her crib and pack 'n play to get her used to looking left. Now she doesn't automatically go right and is rounding out nicely.
As far as advice needed, my girl (3 months) has had a blocked tear duct since birth and her eye gets crazy goopy all the time. We're doing the warm compresses and massages but it doesn't seem to be working. Any tips?

My baby enjoys a shusher (any white noise machine would prob work) it calms him and he now knows it means time to sleep!

https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Shusher-Soothing-Miracle-Babies/dp/B00D2JN87I

Fridababy MediFrida the Accu-Dose Pacifier Baby Medicine Dispenser https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073XVXQ6R/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_VVrWDbJ7097TW

Absolutely love this thing!

I had this swaddle for my baby at infant size, and it was AMAZING. Arms can move pretty freely but this should stop the big startles!

https://www.amazon.com/Love-Dream-Swaddle-Original-13-18-5/dp/B005ULUZIQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=J42OB9YWFSXY&keywords=swaddle+sack&qid=1562096551&s=gateway&sprefix=swaddle%2Caps%2C177&sr=8-1

Not sure if she likes pacifiers but maybe the medi-frida could help? https://www.amazon.com/Fridababy-MediFrida-Accu-Dose-Pacifier-Dispenser/dp/B073XVXQ6R

A week at the most. We did it where where you go in and comfort every 5 minutes night one, 10 minutes night two and three, 15 night four, etc. Buying a shusher and this giraffe helped a lot as they gave my son comfort and now he knows when the shusher and the giraffe come on it’s time to sleep.

I've had success using this: Fridababy MediFrida the Accu-Dose Pacifier Baby Medicine Dispenser https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073XVXQ6R/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Ef9TCbSFCE657

It supposedly bypasses the taste buds!

We have used this one since my 18 month old was born, we love it. I'm not sure if it runs off of batteries though. http://www.toysrus.com/buy/sound-and-light-soothers/skip-hop-owl-moonlight-and-melodies-nightlight-soother-186000-us-57536656

I also bought this one for naps at the sitter's house: https://www.amazon.com/HoMedics-SS-2000G-Relaxation-Machine-Nature/dp/B00A2JBMRE/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1496787046&sr=8-4&keywords=baby+sound+machine

Baby Shusher Sleep Miracle Soother https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D2JN87I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_eyVXCbGTMYTDX

THIS. Fridababy MediFrida the Accu-Dose Pacifier Baby Medicine Dispenser https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073XVXQ6R/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_wTpWDbD7F0NT9

It is amazing. It is the only way I can get my kid’s iron supplement into her.

I got a haakaa pump to catch the milk that leaks from the opposite breast while my baby feeds from the other one. (I don’t use the suction though to avoid creating more demand for milk.) I just prop it under my breast to catch what drips out and then I store it in the fridge. That helps because I’m not wasting the milk and it doesn’t go all over me or the baby.

I also bought the lansinoh ultimate protection nipple pads and they are AMAZING. They hold so much milk and you can avoid getting milk on your bra or clothes.

And I got the lansinoh nipple cream because it’s safe for baby, no need to wipe it off before she eats. And I haven’t had dry or cracked nipples yet!

My baby is only 11 days old but this combo has been working so far!

• diapers in bigger sizes (1, 2)
  
  
• cloth diapers to use as burp rags
  
  
• small basket to keep on the main floor of the house for diaper changes
  
  
• (boy) package of washcloths to prevent pee accidents during diaper changes
  
  
• white noise machine
  
  
• Gift cards - Amazon, Babies R Us, Target, a local restaurant that delivers food, etc.

Our little guy ended up self soothing by sucking his thumb, but I had bought this book and was enjoying the ideas in it. https://www.amazon.ca/No-Cry-Sleep-Solution-Gentle-Through/dp/0071381392 it’s just another method to try other than crying it out. It offers solutions for co-sleeping parents.

Baby shusher. You're welcome.


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D2JN87I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_uoEJAbJ93A9NV

Lansinoh Soothies Gel Pads for Breastfeeding, 2 Count, Soothing Relief for Moms With Cracked and Sore Nipples https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002KGHUL4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_bV.ZBb6E3DX35

Someone gifted us the Baby Deedee Sleep Nest http://www.amazon.com/Deedee-Sleep-Sleeping-Medium-Months/dp/B003FZPD1I before our son was born. It's been the best! It's cozy but not so warm that he overheats. We do footie pjs or long sleeves/long pants pjs underneath and he's always the right temperature in the house. We keep the thermostat at 67.

I have quite a few mom friends who are struggling with breaking the swaddle, a couple of them are using this and have been saying positive things: it's called a swaddle up and apparently it really helps with the startle reflex and it still holds them snug but gets them used to having their arms in a different position.

I use a MediFrida for vitamin d drops. It’s basically a pacifier with a syringe. Maybe it’ll work?

Here's the one we got. We used an old iphone hooked up to a speaker for the first year, that worked well too... until the iphone kicked the bucket.

I am so sorry. That sounds so incredibly hard. I completely understand. My son (a year next week!) is also not the best sleeper (I’m talking up for 3 hours needs to be bounced on a yoga ball in the carrier for hours kind of shit).

BUT, it’s been sooooo much better for the last month or so. This is what helped us;

-The No Cry Sleep Solution

-Doing something everyday, in the morning. It’s a mix of playschool, the daycare at the gym, playgroup, grandparents. Basically, he needs something stimulating every morning.

-Moving to one nap, in the afternoons.

-A solid and long night routine (for us: dinner, bath, pjs, play, move to a dim room, books, boob, massage, sometimes boob again, then sleep— which comes in the form of me laying with him while he flops around a while).


I don’t know if it’s something you can do with a toddler as well, but, we have found that our guy needs about an hour between the start of books until he’s wound down enough to sleep.

I got these off Amazon:
Gerber Birdseye Flatfold Cloth Diapers, White, 10 Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007VBYVVA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_OwkkzZeRxW7bO

Its $10 on amazon for me

My daughter refused traditional sippy cups at all costs. The only cup that worked for us were straw sippy cups like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Nuby-2-Pack-No-Spill-Flexi-Colors/dp/B003N49ML8

Non-mobile: Here

^That's ^why ^I'm ^here, ^I ^don't ^judge ^you. ^PM ^/u/xl0 ^if ^I'm ^causing ^any ^trouble. ^WUT?

Have you tried a straw cup? Like this one maybe?

If nothing else works, you might be able to get a large dropper from a pharmacy, just ask a pharmacist for a big one. My baby won't drink from anything, and I've had to give him formula that way. Gives him about an oz at a time.

Homedics SoundSpa

It's not called that, apparently. It's a foam baby shampoo but that is what it's for. This one https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00D4OH20K/ref=mp_s_a_1_7_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1498584556&sr=8-7&keywords=mustela+baby

Adaptive Sound Technologies... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E6D6LQY?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

We have been using this sound machine and it gets really loud for us!

This one

Haakaa Manual Breast Pump 4oz/100ml,2019 New Style https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CWK4S5W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ce4jDbG5WPXFJ

My son figured out the camelback straw cup at like 9 months. He snatched my cup and used it. We got him his own and he likes it. I wouldn't call it leak proof though. It leaks quite a bit after being bumped around a lot. We use these and so far they are the least leaky (it still happens on occasion but way less than anything else) and they can take quite a beating (our son throws his around a LOT).

https://www.amazon.com/Nuby-2-Pack-No-Spill-Straw-Colors/dp/B003N49ML8/ref=zg_bs_166801011_17?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=0WD0VFS2DCK9Y4390Z3J

Nothing worked for my son's horrid cradle cap. (More like cradle crap, amirite?) His doctor suggested this duo of Mustela treatments:
http://amzn.com/B00D4OH20K and
http://amzn.com/B000PJ2R0C
The cream worked almost immediately, and we still use the shampoo a year later. It's really hard not to pick at the spots, so softening things up helps.

Is the baby too old for the Harvey Karp, Baby on the Block method?

I'm a new dad and this book is working wonders.

My guy always busted out of a swaddle. He wanted his arms free/up but that moro reflex makes for shitty sleep.

we started using these:

https://www.amazon.com/Love-Dream-Swaddle-Original-13-18-5/dp/B005ULUZIQ/ref=pd_bxgy_75_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B005ULUZIQ&pd_rd_r=7C39P2V0VK8NR8HDPDGN&pd_rd_w=osNGQ&pd_rd_wg=VpXSi&refRID=7C39P2V0VK8NR8HDPDGN&th=1

you can buy them at targets for their real price of 29.99. He sleeps real well with this and looks so adorable. He was always an arms up baby. This also lets him nibble his wings and touch his face. He puts himself to sleep with this. They also make "half 'n' half" to transition to just being a sleep sack.

Okay, so I think you have a few options here.

1. Strictly waiting it out. Keep doing what your doing and hope that she will develop better sleep soon. Lots of people choose to do this.
   
   
2. Gentle sleep training, basically, doing a few things to help her get to sleep while gradually reducing your involvement in order to ultimately reach your goal of her staying asleep, reducing night feedings. It does take time and commitment, but they way I saw it when I was in your position is that I was unhappy, exhausted and I needed to try and change things. I found suggestions in the No Cry Sleep Solution helpful around this stage.
   
   The rolling is a phase and no matter you approach, I think it just sucks for a while until she has better control over her body.

We tried to skip swaddling when it became apparent that my daughter was just wiggling out of her muslin blanket swaddle at night, leaving a nest of blankets in her crib and giving me a nightly heart attack. It did not work at all for us. She really needed a swaddle to sleep more than 2 or 3 hours at a time. We finally found zipper swaddles and they were awesome.

There are a lot of baby things I would skip but a swaddle is so not on that list. I hate crap that's going to be useless in 3 months, but a swaddle really is an investment in your sanity.

If it's a money thing, try to buy used. If it's a space/minimalist thing just be merciless about passing it on when you're done. Somehow, it feels less wasteful than I thought it would when I pass things on to new moms with little ones. They're so grateful and I'm so glad for them that I have something that will help (plus my closet isn't stuffed to the gills)