Better Beauty Vermont

I’ve learned a lot since my first baby- As I attempt to clean out the house before winter (eeek!), I’m finding hidden caches of baby stuff people gave us or I purchased that I never used and never needed… as we begin to contemplate adding to our family, I’m hoping to limit the amount of additional stuff that arrives along with a new addition.

The main thing I’ve learned is the amount of harmful or potentially harmful chemicals found in soaps and shampoos for babies. In fact, sitting here writing this is really winding me up. We spend so much time worrying about vaccines, what to eat while breastfeeding or the best formula, or whether or not to go organic, but then we cover our babies in carcinogens and endocrine system disruptors.

Compare these ingredients:

• Zinc Oxide 
• Cera Alba/Beeswax/Cire d’abeille
• Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter^*
• Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil^*
• Silica
• Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil^*
• Tapioca Starch

^*Organic/Biologique

• Zinc Oxide
• Petrolatum (crude oil by product)
• Cod Liver Oil
• Lanolin
• Talc (Google this for a scary read)
• Glycerin
• Sorbitan Sesquioleate
• Beeswax
• Tocopheryl Acetate
• Fragrance (can be literally anything- usually one of 3,000 industrial chemicals)

So obviously, I’m going to grab product number one- Beautycounter’s Calming Diaper Rash Cream. I wrote more about it here. While I’m at it, I’m going to grab the rest of the baby line– Beautycounter formulates all products with utmost safety in mind- we don’t use any of the ingredients on our Never List and continuously test for safety, even after introducing a product to the market.

Generally, I try my best to shop locally, but in my part of the world, the nearest baby store is a few hours away. I turned to trusty Amazon to create an Amazon Baby Registry (click this link and sign up! It won’t cost you anything, but I’ll get a little money to support this blog). Here are some of my must haves:

Boppy Nursing Pillow and Positioner – Bare Naked  This was a godsend- helpful throughout nursing, tummy time and early sitting. Worth the money.

SwaddleMe Original Swaddle 3-PK, Busy Bees (SM) These were great for sleeping- easy to use for a tired mom, and my baby liked it. I also knew she was warm enough without a blanket (a no no…)

Nora’s Nursery Baby Cloth Pocket Diapers (7 Pack) with 7 Bamboo Inserts and 1 Wet Bag I wish I found these sooner- we didn’t use them from the beginning, but I’m loving them now and intend to use them with the next baby. The price is nice, and we haven’t purchased (or thrown away) diapers since.

CapriClear 100% Coconut Oil Spray 5.2 fl oz (154.7 ml) This was a godsend during nursing and for itchy pregnant belly. With sore cracked nipples, the last thing you want to do is touch your nipple to apply any sort of cream. A few sprays and bliss. Plus, my baby liked the taste, and there was no need to wipe off before nursing.

Organic Bamboo Nursing Pads (10 Pack) With Laundry Bag by Baby Zeli – Ultra Soft, Reusable, Hypoallergenic, Washable Breastfeeding Pads I wasn’t prepared for the amount of leaking… these were a great, and less wasteful than the disposable kind. Be sure to wash them a few times before use- the absorbency will get better with use.

Coobie Seamless Nursing Bra 9120 I lived in this bra when I was home. As a professional bra fitter, I highly recommend going to a local shop for a professional fitting and you should own a few well fitting underwire nursing bras, but for overnight and hanging around, these are great. You also have no idea what’s going to happen when your milk comes in- for me, it was another two cup sizes, so wait a month or so and let it settle before you invest.

This list can go on, but what I really learned is you don’t need as much as you think you need. We washed our daughter in the sink until she was big enough to bring in the shower. We had a hand me down bassinet that had sentimental value and functioned well. We had too many swaddles and blankets- just a few are plenty, and people will give them to you. Add them to your list to control the number, but they don’t have to be expensive or fancy. I had a simple hand pump because it seemed like a good idea. You don’t know at first if you’re going to need a pump, and your insurance will cover it, so wait. The hand pump was helpful and it allowed her dad to enjoy a few feedings just because.

Clicking these links helps me out, and commenting below helps others- what are your favorite must haves? Are you a minimalist mom? Researcher? Fly by the seat of your pants? I can’t wait to chat!