The Motherhood Survival Kit (15 Things I Can't Live Without)

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My dear readers, I’ll just say it: motherhood is hard. Joy-filled and wonderful, yes. But it is hard. Are you a mom? A new mom? A pregnant, soon-to-be mom? Then this list is for you. If you’re just thinking about motherhood or know someone who is, tuck this post away for the future (or forward it to that haggard, sleep-deprived new mom in your life–just don’t tell her she’s haggard. But you know that already.). These are the things that make my life just a wee bit easier, and I suspect they will do the same for you, too. This one’s for you mamas!

1. White ramekins. I can never have enough of these little desert dishes. No, we don’t do a lot of creme brulee (though I used to make plenty of it before kiddos came along). Nope, white ramekins, as it turns out are the perfect size bowl for baby food. Not to big, not too little. Small enough to fit 9 of them in the dishwasher. Perfect. My advice: Buy a dozen.

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2. Old Navy maternity nursing camis. Yes, these little godsends are sold in the maternity section of OldNavy.com, but don’t let that scare you. Even if you’re not breastfeeding. Even if you’re not pregnant, these camis are amazing. They are comfortable and best yet: they are long (code for: they won’t ride up on your postpartum muffin-top belly!). I have at least 10.

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3. The Ergo. Guys, as far as I’m concerned, there is no other baby carrier you will ever need. This can be used as a backpack or a front pack. It’s way more cuddly than a Baby Bjorn and won’t give you an aching back. I promise, I have the world’s largest baby, and my back never hurts when I carry my guy in it. Don’t mess around with other carriers. Just buy this thing. You won’t regret it! (P.S. While this carrier is best for babies who can keep their neck stable–5 months+ or so–you can get the infant attachment to use it sooner!) Oh, and this thing is a celeb favorite. Check out this cute photo of Keri Russell toting her kiddo.

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4. A mini Cuisinart food processor. This product is about $30, and it’s a lifesaver. It purees anything in an instant and is so easy to cleanup. Plus, it’s tiny so it doesn’t take up too much space on your countertop.

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5. Probiotics for toddlers. I’m a huge fan of yogurt and my 2 year old hates it. The solution? These little chewable probiotic tablets from Vidazorb that keep his immune system at its best. He thinks they’re candy. I’m so sneaky.

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6. Happy Bellies Baby Cereal. Put simply: All the other brands of baby cereal are gross (I’ve tried them). This one–which contains probiotics and DHA–is not. Promise: I tried it. My 9 month old wolfs down 3 bowls a day.

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7. The Sleep Sound Noise machine. We have two, one in each kiddo’s room. They’re not cheap ($50 a pop), but I’ve done a ton of research. This is the best noise machine you can buy for under $100. We bought ours from Hammacher Schlemmer. And, after one broke a year in, they replaced it free of charge.

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8. A Blackberry. A lot of people think that a Blackberry will stress them out–that you constantly have your email in front of you so you can never detach. I see it the opposite way. As a work-at-home mom who’s constantly dealing with kid issues and shuttling from one kid emergency to the next, at least I have the assurance that a work emergency isn’t raging without my knowledge. And if one is raging, then I can quickly get the message and tackle it (even if I’m at the park).

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9. Grocery delivery service. I use AmazonFresh for half of my grocery purchases. It’s not available everywhere, but I pray it comes to a zip code near you. Order by midnight, groceries on your doorstep the next morning. Amazing concept, huh?

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10. Trader Joe’s cereal bars. I’d rather he ate spinach (yeah right), but if my 2 year old is refusing to eat, I know that one of these bars with a cup of milk will give him some good fortified nutrition. I always have about 3 stuffed in my bag. Yes, they are smashed, but he still loves them.

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11. A big Coach bag that doubles as a diaper bag. I don’t believe in diaper bags. Frankly, I hate them. Yes, I have one, but it’s kept in the car and I hardly ever bring it out. Instead, I pack my purse with diapers and random kid necessities. So, yes, my bag has to be huge. I love my cross-body hobo from Coach. But if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t have gotten a white one. Hello! What was I thinking? White bag with two messy boys? P.S. This thing makes me feel mildly classy, even if I’m wearing yoga pants and have regurgitated crackers smeared on my sleeve.

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12. Kefir! This probiotic-rich drink keeps my immunity up–a must, since I’m constantly sleep deprived.

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13. Raffi! This children’s musician, simply known as “Raffi,”  has a voice that instantly soothes my kids. Could I live without “Baby Beluga”? The answer is no.

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14. Weleda Baby Calendula Face Cream. This stuff is amazing–for your face or your baby’s. My 9 month old, Russell, has a tendency to rub his face on everything (the carpet, me, his crib), and he does it with force. His poor little cheeks are often chapped and irritated, but after a bath, this soothing face cream takes care of it. Voila!

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15. Strong coffee. This is no-brainer. But the two caffeinated musts for me these days are a.) Starbucks’ instant “Via” coffee (perfect when the baby is screaming and I have no time to grind beans, etc.) and b.) the freshly roasted whole-bean coffee delivered by a local company called Small Cog–they roast the beans, then deliver them to my doorstep via bicycle! So fun! Live in Seattle? Send them some love.

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Mamas out there, what’s on your list?

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15 Comments
  • October 6, 2009
    reply

    I’m a mommy to be and I love this post! I really love the ramekins…My husband and I received a bunch of ramekins for our wedding and he’s always bugging me about what we’re going to use them for. Now I have answer!

  • October 6, 2009
    reply

    I’m with ya on the coffee, the yogurt, and the cereal bars! And that pic of you and Russell is an absolute treasure.

  • October 7, 2009
    reply
    Maggie

    Sarah, love love love your blog. So classy and cute. I’m not a mom yet — I’m still in college! — but I love your tips about motherhood and everything else! Your boys are adorable, and that picture is the sweetest thing. It brightened my morning!

  • October 7, 2009
    reply

    Love all these great items. Would love to cross reference on the non-profit org site for post pardum and birth traumas, http://www.mothersemergeworldwide.wordpress.com.
    Have a great day!!!

  • October 7, 2009
    reply
    Leah

    Bookmarked. 🙂

  • October 7, 2009
    reply

    THANKS! I’m 6 weeks pregnant with our first … perfect timing, because I’m starting to research “stock up” and “necessary” items … items that the doctor doesn’t necessarily fill you in on because they aren’t medical!

    You rock! 🙂

  • October 7, 2009
    reply

    I would change the blackberry for an iphone and my list would be a little different as I am a mother of teenagers:) But Wendi sure could use some of these things:)

  • October 7, 2009
    reply
    Libby

    I used to work at Coach and depending on what the hobo is made out of (what type of leather), you might be able to use their leather cleaner and leather moisturizer..ask before you buy it though! You def can use the moisturizer though and i totally recommend it, it keeps your bag beautiful for years!

  • October 7, 2009
    reply
    Anita

    Hi Sarah! I just came across your blog and I love it! Your boys are so cute!! Thank goodness my daughter is ten now so I am done with the baby stage, but now I am dreading the teen years!

  • October 9, 2009
    reply

    Wow you’ve posted quite a bit since I was here the other day lol

  • October 9, 2009
    reply

    love this!

  • October 14, 2009
    reply
    Melissa

    I am a mom of a 4 year old and 3 month old, both boys and I would agreed 100% with the list. I think the only other thing I would add is a few toys…cars, trains, whatever the big boy is into for those spontaneous dinner stops.

  • October 15, 2009
    reply

    I love the list

  • December 18, 2009
    reply

    I too used 13 of the 15 above listed items …HA! My kids are now 9 and 11 and all is well. 😉 Our Minivan was nicknamed ‘Baby Beluga’, it was white of course. When we lived in L.A. and they were little, I don’t know how I could have survived through ‘nap time’ without the ‘white noise’ machine.

  • August 14, 2010
    reply

    I still own a centrifugal juicer from when our son was born in 1988. With a grated, reticulated bowl, we were making blended apple carrot juice, and so many others, well before Naked, Odwalla, what have ya! Best of all, he loved our concoctions, is a healthy eater today.

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