Let’s talk baby essentials. Registry lists can feel overwhelming, and with the amount of information out there, it’s hard to tell what’s truly helpful versus what will end up collecting dust in a corner. Now that I’m nearly 12 weeks into life with our sweet second baby, I wanted to share five things that have earned MVP status the last few months.

These are the items I reach for every single day – multiple times a day – practical, well designed and extremely useful, especially when you’re deep in the newborn trenches.

If you’re prepping your nursery or looking to gift something that won’t end up in the corner, unused, read on

 

1. 1. Keekaroo Peanut Changing Pad: I’ve mentioned this before, and I’ll mention it again. The Keekaroo is gold. No covers, no laundry. Just wipe and go. Which, let’s be honest, is a dream if you’re dealing with early morning blow outs. It’s sturdy, and the peanut shape basically cradles the baby in place.

1. 1. Lovevery Play Gym: Yes, this item is a cult favorite, but for good reason. The hype is real. I had this play mat with my daughter (7 years ago) and it’s only gotten better with time. The play mat is truly thoughtfully designed. I love how it grows with baby; from tummy time to batting toys, to exploring colors and textures. All while looking pretty in your living room. It’s not overstimulating and I’ve used it every single day.

1. 1. BabyBjörn Bouncer: This bouncer is my saving grace when I need to take the worlds fastest shower. It’s lightweight, easy to move around the house, and it folds up nice and flat (easily!). Baby boy loves the gentle bounce and I love that no batteries or plug in is required.

1. 1. Hatch Rest Sound Machine + Light + Clock: This little gadget is everything. Another item we had with our daughter, that has since been upgraded for the better. We use the sound machine every night, and the soft light is perfect for middle of the night feedings and diaper changes. Having a soft clock to track those late night feedings is also helpful for this mama.

1. 1. Oilo Studio Drew Glider: This nursery chair checks all the boxes, comfort, function and style. The high back offers amazing support (seriously helpful when running on fractured sleep), not to mention it reclines, glides and swivels. And, let’s talk about the generous scale of this chair. there’s plenty of room when big sister wants to climb up and cuddle too.

These five newborn essentials I use and LOVE and have made the first three months feel a little less chaotic and a lot more manageable. If you’re building your registry or wondering whats truly worth it, I hope this guide helps steer you in the right direction. You truly don’t need THAT much and these few items will definitely get you through the first few months.

Special Shout Outs to two more items I absolutely love, but don’t necessarily use every day.

Doona Car Seat + Stroller: The Doona is a game changer. This item did not exist with our first born, and now, as a suburban mama juggling multiple kiddos, this item is legit. It goes from car seat to stroller in seconds which is beyond helpful when I’m doing drop off with big sis or running errands solo. No dragging around a heavy carseat or having to wake up a sleeping baby makes my life so much easier.

Artipoppe Baby Carrier: Babywearing – but fashionable – the Artipoppe is definitely a stylish and functional piece in my mama must have toolkit. It’s incredibly easy to use, even one-handed, because lets be real, when you’ve got a 3 month old, items that are usable one handed are essential. The fit is supportive for baby and comfortable for mom, making it perfect for a walk with the dog, grocery shopping, or just up and down the stairs in your own home trying to get something – anything – done.

Any questions about these? Or want me to share more baby gear favorites? Leave a comment below!

And, for mamas freshly postpartum, check out the few items that saved me after giving birth.

The post 5 Newborn Essentials On Rotation The First 12 Weeks first appeared on Lindsey Boova.

Alphabet Soup

Place letters/numbers (foam) into a water bin for your child to scoop out with ladles. This works as a great bath activity as well.

Bubble Water Play

Gather a few buckets/containers or set up at an outdoor water table. Fill the buckets with water and your preferred soap (we’re big fans of Babo Botanicals as mentioned in my registry guide), toss in a few foam shapes or letters and let your child reach in for the objects or scoop them out with a shovel.

Ice Grab

This is a highly sensory activity so it may be very engaging for some children and not so much for others. If the cold bothers your child, have them try it while wearing gloves. To play, all you need is a bowl of ice, tongs or a spoon, an ice tray/egg carton and a large container. Show your child how to grab the ice and transfer the pieces into the tray. The melted water will remain contained in the larger bin.

*Bonus, you can add a bit of food coloring and when everything melts, you now have a water bin to continue playing with.

Color Mixing

Set up a large container with ice. Add a few squirts of paint into a squirt bottle – perhaps start with only primary colors. Add water to the paint and fill the bottles. Invite your child to squirt the bottles into the ice and discover different color combinations. They’ll observe how red and yellow make orange, proudly share

Draw in the Tub

Bathtub crayons are a fun way to add art to tub time.

Garden Soup

Explore your neighborhood or yard and have your child pick flowers, petals and grass. Invite them to prepare the garden soup by filling a bowl/container with the items , a terrific pretend play set-up that allows children to create all sorts of concoctions in the backyard.Have them snip leaves, flowers and grass, scoop, pour and mix the items into a large bowl of ‘soup’ to strengthen their fine and gross motor skills.

Spoon it Out

Perfect for bath time or set up outdoors, spoon it out is a simple way to keep kids entertained with objects you already have around the house. With any lid or object that floats, place the items into the tub or in a large bowl/container of water. Give your child a large spoon and have them spoon out the objects.

Squeeze Sponges

Provide sponges of different sizes for your child to absorb, transfer and squeeze water out of the sponges. Provide two bins, one with water, and one without. This is a great activity to promote fine motor development.

Painting With Water

To set up, all you need is a bin/bucket or a few cups of water and some paintbrushes so your child may ‘paint’ outside on your patio, driveway or sidewalk on a warm day, or indoors at a chalkboard.

Pom Pom Water Bin

Pom poms are amazing because they’re reusable – they can get wet and dry perfectly. Grab two large bins, fill one with water and the other with the pom pom balls. Provide scoops, spoons and cups and let your child take over, transferring the poms from dry bin to water bin.

*Dry the poms by ringing them out and placing in a pillowcase. Tie a knot at the end, wash in a normal load and dry with head (always within the pillowcase). Busy Toddler swears by this method.  

The post At Home, Hands on Water Activities first appeared on Lindsey Boova.

Picnic in the Park

Lately, we’ve been enjoying picnic breakfasts at Pinkney, the Park here in town. On warm days we either pack breakfast in our handy Tingueli tote or pick up grab n go snacks from our local, Rowayton Market, lay out a blanket, enjoy our meal and watch the boats go by.

Visit The Beach

Wesleigh loves the beach, it’s always an effort to leave when it’s time to go. She could gather rocks and shells, throw them into the water and watch the waves crash for hours on end.

Go for a nature walk

We’re so lucky to be a short car ride away from a dozen or so amazing parks and trails here in Connecticut. Many nearby parks we have already visited and a few of which are still on our go to list. Some favorites we’ve visited with Wesleigh include Binney Park, Hammonasset Beach State Park and Selleck Woods Trail. We have found the walks to be a terrific opportunity for us to engage her senses and play ‘I-spy’, scavenger hunt, pick up sticks and follow the leader.

Backyard Toys

Warm, sunny days are perfect for the kids to blow off steam in the yard. These backyard toys keep Wesleigh occupied day after day.

Plant a Garden

Gardening with a toddler isn’t the easiest activity, but it has its perks. Toddler helpers like Wes may get a little handsy eating herbs and continue digging once the produce is planted but it is really sweet to see her with her watering can and literally see the fruits of her (our) labor.

Note: Affiliate links may be used in this post. I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you if you use my affiliate link. Full disclosure policy here.

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Chalkola Markers

Chalkola chalk markers are the latest addition to our art supplies and they have truly been a smash hit. Every morning, Wesleigh perches at our kitchen island and draws while I prepare breakfast. The bundle we were gifted has been perfect – Wes practices writing W’s and shapes and has loved getting creative with each of the 30! colors provided. Suitable for non-porous surfaces, Chalkola’s markers are dustless, non-toxic and created with a water based ink formula making them super easy to clean up. Trust me, Wesleigh got a bit carried away drawing on herself and even on our counters so I was thrilled to see the chalk wipe off with just a wet towel.

For more products by Chalkola, visit their website here (use code: LINDSEYp0 for 10% off) or via their Amazon store (use code: CHALKOLA10)

Dab and Dot Markers

I always encourage Wes to express herself through art and find that items such as these Doodle Hog markers (they come with a simple twist cap and easy grip feature) have continued to support learning (color names) and development of her fine motor skills. For extra measure, I’ve been able to contain some mess, the markers are water-based, washable and non-toxic, items this mama will consider before purchasing.

Kinetic Sand

Soft, stretchy and squeezable, Wes has a lot of fun playing and creating with Kinetic Sand. It’s a wonderful sensory activity and good alternative to play doh. We simply dump the sand into a plastic bin, our ‘sand box’ and let her focus on running the sand through her hands, scooping it up with shovels, creating castles, and even dropping in plastic animal figures. Wesleigh’s Barbie has even been known to take a trip to the beach once or twice. Because the sand sticks to itself it’s relatively easy to clean up – even when tossed around by a toddler. Safe for kids, it is non-toxic, gluten and casen free and bonus, it never dries out.

Magic Doodle Paint Mat

Wes received this Magic Doodle Mat as a gift for her birthday this year. The water paint pad is large enough for more than one child to paint at a time and because it does not require actual paint, the toy is nearly mess free. The additional stencil tools provide a fun educational component that Wes can use for years to come.

Paint in a Bag

This simple, mess free painting requires little prep. Simply grab a Ziploc bag, your child’s finger paint and add the paints into the bag – you can sort into ROYGBV to create a rainbow, whatever your child’s preference may be. We used four colors and placed them in the bag horizontally. I cannot emphasis this next step enough – make sure to seal the bag properly. Once the bag is sealed tightly, tape the bag down onto a flat surface. We use Wesleigh’s kitchen table (currently on sale!). Encourage your child to blend the colors with their fingers (you can put a white piece of construction paper down beneath the bag so serve as a canvas). Enjoy what beautiful artwork your child creates with paint – mess free!

Pottery Painting

Another fun art activity we’ve enjoyed lately is painting pottery. If you’re local to Fairfield Country in CT, a favorite pottery studio of ours is Hands On Pottery in Darien that I’ve mentioned previously here and here.  Their to-go kits include pottery of your choice, a selection of 3 paints along with paintbrushes. The custom pottery has offered a special, DIY alternative to holiday gifting. It’s been gratifying to watch Wesleigh paint, see the finished product after firing and ultimately, gift the piece to a loved one. To keep this activity relatively mess free, we use a drop cloth under Wesleigh’s craft table and she wears an apron. I also limit the amount of paint she’s given and provide her with one paintbrush at a time to contain any mess. If you don’t have a pottery shop nearby, check out this kit to order online.

Note: Affiliate links may be used in this post. I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you if you use my affiliate link. Full disclosure policy here.

The post Our Favorite Less Mess Arts & Crafts For Kids first appeared on Lindsey Boova.

If your child is getting ready for swim school, splashing in the pool or making waves at the beach, here are some of my favorite swimgear well suited for every occasion.

 || SWIM ||

Comfortable and cute swimsuits with easy zippers, snap bottoms, rash guards or built in UPF protection.

|| SUN PROTECTION ||

Sunscreen, sunglasses and hats to keep your kids protected from damaging UVA and UVB rays.

|| STAY DRY ||

Plush towels for naps in the sand and cozy cover-ups for playtime in the yard.

|| GEAR ||

As Wes continues to learn to swim, it gives us comfort to know she has extra support through secure footwear (for rocky beaches), water diapers (still working on potty training…) and floaties (to build confidence in the water).

Note: Affiliate links may be used in this post. I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you if you use my affiliate link. Full disclosure policy here.

The post Swimwear for Toddlers first appeared on Lindsey Boova.

Picnic in the Park

Lately, we’ve been enjoying picnic breakfasts at Pinkney, the Park here in town. On warm days we either pack breakfast in our handy Tingueli tote or pick up grab n go snacks from our local, Rowayton Market, lay out a blanket, enjoy our meal and watch the boats go by.

Visit The Beach

Wesleigh loves the beach, it’s always an effort to leave when it’s time to go. She could gather rocks and shells, throw them into the water and watch the waves crash for hours on end.

Go for a nature walk

We’re so lucky to be a short car ride away from a dozen or so amazing parks and trails here in Connecticut. Many nearby parks we have already visited and a few of which are still on our go to list. Some favorites we’ve visited with Wesleigh include Binney Park, Hammonasset Beach State Park and Selleck Woods Trail. We have found the trails to be a terrific opportunity for us to engage her senses and play ‘I-spy’, scavenger hunt, pick up sticks and follow the leader.

Backyard Toys

Warm, sunny days are perfect for the kids to blow off steam in the yard. These backyard toys keep Wesleigh occupied day after day.

Plant a Garden

Gardening with a toddler isn’t the easiest activity, but it has its perks. Toddler helpers like Wes may get a little handsy eating herbs and continue digging once the produce is planted but it is really sweet to see her with her watering can and literally see the fruits of her (our) labor.

Note: Affiliate links may be used in this post. I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you if you use my affiliate link. Full disclosure policy here.

The post Summer Activities for Toddlers first appeared on Lindsey Boova.

As we continue to stay mostly inside our home, movement songs have been a great activity for Wesleigh to get her wiggles out through dance. Children are born musicians, they can feel music physically and emotionally and there is a lengthy list of developmental benefits to the combination of music and movement instruction.

Literally speaking, research suggests music supports language development, the precursor to reading. Music and movement strengthens listening, improves balance and spatial awareness, as well as many other things.  This is a terrific way to foster processing both left (language) and right (visual) sides of the brain for optimal learning.

While I’m not a child development professional, my mother-in-law is a children’s speech language pathologist and emphasizes how these songs relate back and reinforce daily activities which we have found to be helpful. Additionally, this past winter, USC announced it received a grant advancing studies into how musical training boosts childhood brain development. After Wes gets her dance moves and the lyrics down, looks like we’ll have to pick up an instrument and learn to play…

Until then, I’m sharing twelve songs (including a few well known classics) that have become a part of our day, keeping Wes entertained and stimulated for our own type of indoor recess.

Baby Shark, Pinkfong

Blippi, Fire Truck

Clap Your Hands, The Kiboomers

Freeze Dance Song, The Kiboomers

Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes, Mother Goose Club

If You’re Happy, Cedarmont Kids

Itsy Bitsy Spider, Barney

Shake My Sillies Out, Raffi

The Elmo Slide, Elmo

The Wheels On The Bus, Cedarmont Kids

This Is The Way, Super Simple Songs

Walking, Walking, Super Simple Songs

Note: Affiliate links may be used in this post. I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you if you use my affiliate link. Full disclosure policy here.

The post Fun Movement Songs For Your Toddler first appeared on Lindsey Boova.

DIY Cardboard Post Office

As a child, my Papa built me a cardboard Post Office. My cousins and I played with it all the time when we visited him and my Nana. Looking back, this brings up happy childhood memories. After placing many online orders, finally, a box arrived that was of suitable size to create a similar Post Office for Wesleigh to enjoy. I was thrilled to see her enthusiasm for this DIY project.

• What you need: Cardboard BoxScissors/Box CutterPacking TapeMarkers/Crayons/Stickers – whatever is on hand for your child to decorate the box with

As you can see from the photo, I cut out a window and smaller slot for mailbox drop. I also cut out a door and crafted a handle so it functions for Wesleigh to get in and out easily.  We used crayons and stickers to decorate along with a few print outs I quickly typed up in Word. Stay tuned as we’ll continue with this theme and create a letter sorter next.

Cereal Bracelets

A great activity for fine motor skills, creating cereal bracelets (and then eating them) strengthens hand muscles, improves hand/eye coordination and serves as a simple snack.

• What you need: Chenille Stems/Pipe CleanerLoop Cereal (Fruit Cheerios, Fruit Loops)Muffin Tin/Egg Carton *Optional

Pour the loops into a bowl or have your child arrange the cereal in the muffin tin/egg carton components. An older child may be asked to sort by color.

Twist up one end of pipe cleaner to serve as a knot for your child and to protect their hands from the end.

Show your child how to thread the cereal onto the pipe cleaner. An older child will be able to sort in a color pattern.

Wesleigh was able to continue threading on her own, but not for very long before eating the cereal off the stem.

Had Wesleigh not eaten off all her loops, we would have finished the bracelet by wrapping the stem around her wrist and twisting the ends together.

Play Dress Up

Wesleigh received a Fairy Princess Tutu Costume set for her birthday, which she absolutely loves. She dons her new wings and tutus for all her meals and is frequently seen holding her wand; she calls this her Bianca Wishenpoof set. Wes is already imagining she has magical powers like one of her favorite TV characters, Bianca, from Wishenpoof on Amazon. It’s great to see her engaged in role-play, developing her emotions and building her memory (even if this recollection is from a TV show).

• What you Need: A costume set such as our “Wishenpoof” set, Frozen, Elsa costume or Chef’s hat and apronAlternatively, you can reuse old Halloween costumes, loan your child costume jewelry, a hat of any kind (cowboy, fedora) and turn towels into capes.

Q-Tip Push

This is a great opportunity for your child to be engaged and improve their fine motor skills, using only a few items you can easily find at home.

• What you need: Q-TipsEgg CartonPencilScissors

Turn your egg carton upside down and poke holes in the bottom with scissors.

Make each hole wider by pushing a pencil through it.

Make sure each Q-Tip can fit through the holes.

Show your child how you can push the q-tip through the hole and let them follow suit.

Note: Affiliate links may be used in this post. I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you if you use my affiliate link. Full disclosure policy here.

The post Rainy Day Activities first appeared on Lindsey Boova.

This little lady loves a good pair of shoes and I rarely let her out of the house without a bow on her head. 

The post What Wes Wore first appeared on Lindsey Boova.