Garance Galore

Towards the end of my pregnancy I sometimes asked myself “Will I ever miss being pregnant?” And while it did not feel like I would miss it AT ALL at the time, I still wondered. Well, nop! Not one bit. Not then, not now.

Pregnancy wasn’t fun even thought it wasn’t necessary a complicated one. I definitely prefer the newborn stage! Don’t take me wrong… Caring for a baby is no easy task either – but thankfully there are a few little things that made this season of life a lot smoother. Dare I say… easier? Ok, I’ll say it: easier! So, here are my 10 pregnancy/newborn essentials :))

#1 A salt lamp

Earlier in my pregnancy, my husband and I had to move appartement. The idea was to downsize (I 100% recommend – great decision!) and move into a quieter town. Knowing that the coming months were about to be hard, I began thinking about all the small things I could put in place to make our life easier.

One thing about me? I love a dimmed light! I never turn on “the big light” in my house and this was not about to change. I also knew that newborn = several wakes at night so I wanted to get a bedside lamp that would allow me to see enough to change a diaper without waking up too harshly. And a salt lamp seemed like the perfect option; beautiful and practical! 3am third trimester insomnia? 4am feed? This lamp is a saviour.

#2 Diaper baskets all around the house

The best organization tip I have for any expecting mom is to get (at least) two baskets with diapers and all the essentials for baby, this way you do not have to run from one room to the other all day long. In our case, we spend most of our days either in the living room or in the bedroom so that’s where I placed them. I’ve seen online that some people use trolleys, which I considered for a while but I wanted to avoid the clutter… and I’m not regretting it.

#3 My reusable bottle

Your girl has never been SO thirsty. Having my water bottle within reach was primordial. Especially postpartum, water is your best friend! I love mine because it has a straw, which makes it extra convenient especially when you are holding a baby.

#4 Disposable changing pads (instead of a changing table)

Getting a changing table (at least for now) did not make sense for me. It’s extra clutter and you have to get up (call me lazy). Instead we bought disposable (I know, sue me) changing pads to place on any surface, I reuse them until someone has a little accident ^^ and it’s amazing, so convenient!

#5 TV set up in the bedroom

I used to say things like “a bedroom is to sleep, not to watch tv” ah ah ah. That was before my husband and I started binge-watching The Walking Dead in-between feeds, fighting to stay awake… I do recommend starting a long show together before baby comes!!

When you have a clingy < 3 newborn like mine, you can end up stuck where you are and for hours sometimes. When this happens, you might have to make a difficult choice: “should I move and take the risk of waking him up or should I stay where I am for 2 hours?”

When this dilemma presents itself to you, you’re happy to have a tv in your bedroom!

#6 My fully-charged kindle

For the same reasons mentioned above, I move around the house with my kindle never too far. Being stuck on the couch for 1 hour isn’t such a big problem when you got a good book to get back to! The reason I’m keeping my kindle and not whatever physical book I’m reading is because an e-reader allows you to read despite of the intensity of the light, you can switch books as you please AND last but not least: it’s gentler on the writs (and my wrists hurt thanks to my lovely baby I need to carry all day:)

#7 A breastfeeding pillow

I don’t know what I would do without it…. This wonderful and versatile object is a must to avoid bad pain while breastfeeding or even if you’re holding your baby a lot. But hear me out: It’s amazing to sleep with as well, pregnant OR NOT! (ask my husband)

#8 The Sleepy Wrap baby carrier

As you’ve probably noticed, I’ve been rather minimalistic when buying “baby items” but this long piece of fabric is well worth the investment! Like I said, my baby needs his mommy’s arms A LOT (can’t blame him) but sometimes you just need a little bit of freedom and that’s what the carrier gives you!

It’s also a sweet bounding moment for both of us, and I don’t have to worry about him because he is right here with me. The more I move, the better he sleeps. I’m being productive & he’s getting bounced to sleep. It’s a win-win!

#9 Preparing all bottles the night before

Because I combo-feed, I spend a good chunk of time cleaning bottles, which can sometimes be stressful (do I have enough bottles? Do I need to wash them before he naps so it’s ready? What if he won’t let me put him down?) My aunt showed me the trick (not sure if it’s a trick, maybe I’m the only one who didn’t know that): sterilising the bottles, adding the right amount of water and leaving them next to my bed at night (alongside a formula dispenser >> also an essential). No getting up and no extra thinking at night – and no, I do not warm up the milk, I honestly don’t see a reason why!

#10 My bathrobe

It’s sometimes hard to find time for myself, even for a shower. But there are sacrifices I am not ready to make just yet, so when it’s just me & my son, I put him in his rocking chair (in the bathroom) while I shower – if he starts crying before I manage to do my skin care and moisturize I will simply put on my bathrobe and proceed to my mommy activities. Once he’s asleep or quiet, I will resume what I was doing. No stress of getting dressed quickly, no frustration of rushing without taking time for my rituals… but a few extra minutes chilling in my comfy bathrobe… See, it’s all about perspective (and practicality)!

I’m curious to hear more about your essentials/ tips. After all, I’m in the very beginning for my postpartum journey!

Take care,

Garance