Ocean Wonders Mobile: Best Mobile Ever

Besides her pacifier, I think my little peanut's best friend is the Ocean Wonders Mobile. Hands down the best mobile. Ever. At least the best mobile I have owned. I even sold my other two because of this mobile's awesomeness.

One important thing about this mobile is that there is no winding up the mobile, who the heck has time for that? With this mobile, all it takes it one touch of a button to start and it plays for 20 minutes or so. The button is kind of hidden so just look for the fish buttons on the bottom to start. It took me 20 minutes to figure that out. I admit that if someone comes over and looks confused as to how to start it, I do like to act like I'm all-knowing (with the answers in my hand) like Alex Trebek on Jeopardy and say in an exasperated tone, "It's the fish button at the bottom."

Other Positives:
You can adjust the volume to different settings and it has a handy remote so you technically don't have to be in the room to start it. I do seem to have to lean into the room with my arm stretched out holding the remote high up, but maybe that's just me. The mobile also hangs well on pretty much any crib (especially like mine with the curved edges). Our other mobile kind of flopped down and was meant for a straight-edged crib.

Negatives:
None. I just really wish it came into my life much sooner.

I think my little one had her first baby-talk conversation with this mobile. Over the monitor, I could hear her talking as the mobile was playing in the background. When I came in to see her cuteness, she got completely quiet. Maybe she was talking about me...

I also think it calms me down just as much as her. I often turn it on when I walk in the nursery and then I realize that I don't have the baby with me. So my recommendation is to definitely purchase this one!

The Stroller that Has Got Your Back

One thing I wasn't ready for in parenthood was the amount of back pain that can result in taking care of a baby. With all the kneeling down, lifting, carrying car seat, and leaning over my back is often screaming for mercy. And my little peanut is not even 10 lbs yet!

There are also so many choices in getting a stroller and there is a temptation to buy a stroller with all the bells and whistles, like a fully-loaded vehicle. One of my friends gave me the best advice to invest in a light-weight stroller and I truly believe that has given my back at least a partial break when I am taking the stroller in and out of the car. I admit that we still don't go many places, but if we did it would be much easier for us because we have a Baby Trend Stroller that fits most infant car seats.

I admit that I was really hoping to master the one-handed unfolding of the stroller that I have seen many moms do. I have to use a second hand to unfold. It's a big disappointment for me because those few seconds of precious time eventually add up to probably a 15-minute nap a year. Ironically, the stroller has a tendency to slightly unfold in the car so we do use a bungee cord to keep it closed.

What I really like:
It is lightweight and fits in our trunk and also passenger seat very easily. There is a cup holder for parents and a little storage compartment for cell phones, etc.
It does have a storage basket (but see my comment below)
You can easily steer and push - I have done a somewhat hilly paved trail just fine.
There is a way to attach via belt the car seat to the stroller.
It's a pretty narrow stroller so you could probably maneuver going through a store pretty well. 

What I like not so much:
It is hard to get to the storage area if the car seat is already on the stroller. So I'm left carrying my jumbo diaper bag around my arm most of the time.
The stroller doesn't handle bumps as well.
Contrarily to the name, there is no snap and go. There is a "clip the belt to the car seat and go." I spent a few minutes looking for the snap!

For the budget-minded:
I have seen these strollers on Craigslist for a really good price. If you want to keep track of the price on Amazon, a handy tip would be to add the item on an Amazon list or registry (or keep it in your shopping cart) so you can quickly see the price change.

My Brest Friend: More than Just a Pillow

No that isn't a spelling mistake, although I do consider My Brest Friend Pillow to be a close pal because this pillow made a huge difference when I started to exclusively breastfeed little K. Little K was born 8 weeks early and still a little peanut even when we took her home after a month in the NICU. On our first lactation consultant appointment, we met My Brest Friend and have truly enjoyed the relationship since that day.

Why I like this pillow:
I don't have to mess with pillows to get the height I want. I just adjust the Velcro strap.
There are two elevated mounds on either side for the baby to rest his/her head on.
I am able to turn the pillow to help get the baby properly positioned rather than disturb a crank baby who is hungry.
The pillow makes it easier if you need to get up while holding your baby close if you have the habit of always forgetting something.
It has a ring to hang things on it (but I haven't figured out what yet). Car keys? Toys? Badges? I have no idea.
It also has a handy pocket for a bottle or a remote. Or a beer right after breastfeeding (I kid, maybe).

What might be some things to consider:
You may have to constantly adjust the pillow after your significant other wears it.
Try not to wear it when around other people because they will say you look like a hippo wearing a tutu.
It can be a little hard at first to put the buckle on while holding a baby. There was some frantic crying on my part at first.
You can easily knock down things like glasses of water that are in your path.
As your baby gets bigger, they may think this is a fun thing to stand on while you try to burp them.

Do I like this pillow better than the Boppy? Not sure if I can say that because of all the diverse uses for the Boppy. I would say this pillow has its advantages over the Bobby that may help mothers, especially those who struggle with positioning while breastfeeding. This pillow really helps lift your baby up, and there really is no hassle with any pillows or trying to balance your baby while breastfeeding. If I had to, I think I could go to the bathroom while holding the baby using this pillow. That is not as easy with a Boppy. I would say impossible but I know a lot of super moms out there. As little K gets older, I think the Boppy will have its place for us too.

For the budget minded:
You may be able to get this pillow on consignment (check out some consignment sales here) because it can be a little pricey at full price. If you buy used, make sure the pillow is still firm and the buckle and Velcro strap still work. Amazon does usually have a sale and at least you know where your brest friend has been if you buy it new. This pillow made such a difference for us that my "how much is it" husband immediately ordered it as soon as we got home from the lactation consultant.

I would buy this again a thousand times over because of the success we have had with this pillow.