It's sort of surreal to look back and think about how much my life has changed in the past 12 months. I've spent the last year in full mommy mode: first, in my very first pregnancy and for the last few months, as a new mommy to baby Hannah. And being both pregnant and a mom for the first time, I've basically become a sponge soaking up all of the knowledge and tips from the more experienced moms around me. Among all of those tips, a few have proven to be most valuable: Use high quality diapers-- because blow outs and leaks are pretty much the worst things ever-- and get a Costco membership-- because babies are expensive.
Hannah's first Costco trip! And for the first time, we visited the diaper section and it was all about her. |
We headed over to Costco recently to buy Hannah some size 2 Huggies Little Snugglers Plus diapers (how is she a size 2 already!?) and were so excited to find that Costco is offering them at a great price! Currently at Costco and Costco.com, you can find the following amazing deals on Huggies diapers:
- Little Snugglers Plus (Sizes 1 & 2) – $37.49, $31.49 after $6 discount and Free shipping (this offer valid 9/1 to 9/25)
- Little Movers Plus (Size 3, 4, 5, & 6) – $42.99, $36.99 after $6 discount and Free shipping (this offer valid 9/1 –to 9/25)
- Starting in August Little Snugglers Plus will also be available in size Newborn starting - $29.99 available in select warehouses and online at Costco.com
As I mentioned earlier I've been taking in all the parenting tips I can as I navigate new mommyhood. However, in my short 4 months of being a parent myself I've come up with a few of my own tips too. And one of those tips is to have a stocked diaper caddy at the ready. We have only just started using Hannah's room regularly in the past few weeks. Prior to that, she spent all of her waking and sleeping hours in our bedroom or the living room. In the interest of time and my sanity, it didn't make sense to run back and forth to her room every time she needed a diaper change, a change of clothes, or a clean pacifier-- especially in the wee hours of the morning. So I stocked the perfect diaper caddy that could conveniently follow us from the living room during the day to our bedroom at night with everything we needed to take care of Hannah. And it was a lifesaver!
So if you're a mommy-to-be, take it from a new mom who has been there, done that and get yourself a diaper caddy and get it stocked and ready for your return home. It's a little thing that will make your life feel a whole lot easier. And if you're shopping for a mommy-to-be, consider gifting her a stocked diaper caddy. She'll be so thankful!
How to Stock the Perfect Diaper Caddy:
- Plenty of Huggies Little Snugglers Plus Diapers - Especially with a newborn, you'll go through tons of diapers everyday, so stock half the caddy with Huggies Little Snugglers Plus diapers and you'll be in great shape for a diaper change no matter where you are.
- Huggies Wipes - Every good diaper change needs a good wipe! Include a package of Huggies wipes too.
- Diaper Cream - Another diapering essential. I recommend having a diaper cream and/or ointment at the ready in your caddy and another at your nursery changing table too.
- Changing Pad - A portable changing pad that folds or rolls up small allows you to change a diaper anywhere-- on the couch, on your bed, etc. without worrying about making a mess underneath baby.
- Lotion – Newborn baby skin goes through some weird stages and extreme dryness is definitely one of them. I always have baby lotion and a super moisturizing ointment at the ready so that I can moisturize Hannah’s skin. And post-diaper change while you’ve already wrestled your baby out of her pajamas is the perfect time for that.
- Socks – Especially when Hannah was very little, I was always concerned she was too cold. Her bare feet always seemed freezing! Have an extra pair of socks in the caddy for when things get chilly—or for when your baby inevitably kicks one or both of her socks off and you can’t locate them.
- Burp Cloth – You never want to find yourself with an infant that’s just eaten and no burp cloth. That is almost always when you’ll find yourself with spit up down the front (or back) of your shirt. Always be prepared with a spare burp cloth!
- Change of Clothes – Babies are messy and it’s not uncommon that they’ll end up needing at least one change of clothes throughout the day. Keep a spare onesie in the caddy so that you’ve got it at the ready when a mess strikes!
- Hand Sanitizer – Hand sanitizer is a quick and easy way to clean your hands after a diaper change or even to quickly rid your hands of germs before handling your little one. They put everything in their mouths-- including your hands—so make sure they’re clean!
- Small Toy – Having a small toy within arm’s reach (like this little ring of links) is a great way to keep a baby distracted while you deal with a diaper change!
- Washcloth – I like having a baby washcloth nearby for so many reasons. It’s a gentle way to wipe up a messy face or hands. It’s also helpful if you’re in the midst of treating cradle cap (which we are just getting over) so that you can moisten baby’s head before moisturizing and then clean her up afterward.
- Gas Drops – Hannah is generally a really happy baby. However, gas pain makes her absolutely miserable—and it usually strikes in the middle of the night. Gas drops are sometimes the only thing that will calm her, so we always make sure they are at the ready.
- Nasal Aspirator – A baby with a stuffy nose is usually an unhappy baby. They don’t love having their noses cleaned out either, but a nasal aspirator is a necessary evil—especially when you’re trying to feed or put your stuffed up baby to sleep.
- Pacifier – My pacifiers seem to vanish into thin air. They’re either in some pacifier blackhole somewhere or in my dog’s belly… I’m hoping for the former! So, I like to make sure there’s always one stashed in the caddy for when a cranky baby needs soothing.
- Bib – You may have noticed the theme here that babies are messy. At about 3-4 months (where we currently are), they begin to drool nonstop. Be prepared with a cotton bib for baby to roll around in, which will spare her outfit from getting totally soaked!