I heart swaddling

If someone was to ask me for a mom tip or trick, the #1 thing I would say to them would be to SWADDLE YOUR BABY! I seriously can’t say enough good things about swaddling. I credit it with Cooper’s great sleeping habits – habits that didn’t start until I started swaddling him regularly.

If you’re a regular reader, you know that I was a walking zombie for the first 10 weeks of Cooper’s life. He woke every 2-3 hours during the night for the first 2.5 months of his life. He would nap during the day, but only in short bursts. In desperation, I asked friends for advice, and they directed me to The Happiest Baby on the Block. In my opinion, this is required reading/viewing for new moms and dads. Here’s a secret though: rent the DVD and skip the book. The DVD is 30 minutes long and covers everything in the book – and Netflix has it!

In The Happiest Baby on the Block, Dr. Karp talks about the 5 S’s: side/stomach position, shushing sounds, swinging, sucking, and swaddling. Used together, these methods will supposedly calm your baby. While I had results with all the S’s, nothing worked as well as swaddling. Cooper would calm immediately once swaddled. He went from taking 20 minutes naps to taking 2 hour naps. When I swaddle him and put him in the crib, he’s out within 10 minutes with no crying. We’re still using swaddling, and Cooper is 4 months old. I plan on using it until he gives me cues he’s ready to give it up.

Kiddopotamus SwaddleMe

Swaddle Designs

We’ve tried a lot of different swaddling blankets. We used Kiddopotamus SwaddleMe for awhile, but I prefer blankets. When he was itty bitty, I liked thermal receiving blankets, but he soon outgrew those. We also tried Swaddle Designs blankets, and I liked those, but they weren’t my favorite blankets.

aden + anais

I love, love, love the aden + anais swaddle blankets. LOVE. They are made of muslin and are very lightweight, which make them perfect for summer months and warmer climates. They also have a lot of give, unlike some blankets which are very stiff. They’re huge as well – 47’ X 47’, which make them perfect for larger babies. They are a little expensive ($40+ for four blankets) but I use them for everything: blanket, swaddle, burp cloth, cover, etc.

*I wasn’t paid or given free stuff to promote any of these products – I just like to recommend products I love and that work for me to others.

Dr. Karp goes into detail about how to swaddle your child in The Happiest Baby on the Block book/DVD. Also, Swaddle Designs and aden + anais give you detailed instructions in their packaging. However, I have my own method that works for me that I am going to share with you. The hospital showed me to swaddle this way, and I’ve just kept using it.

Step 1: Start off with a halfway naked baby on a blanket.

I swear he has clothes.

Step 2: Bring one side of the blanket up over the baby’s shoulder, holding his arm down. Tuck under his side. Bring the reminder of the right side of the blanket over.

Realize how impossible it is to swaddle and stop to take pictures. Wonder why you tried to do this, as it is not working out the way you intended.

Step 3: Bring the left side of the blanket up over the baby’s shoulder. Tuck behind his right side, holding his arm down.

Realize you have man hands and need to vacuum your carpet.

Step 4: Bring up the middle of the blanket. Tuck the right side underneath the baby’s body, bringing it back up around to his stomach.

Seriously, man hands.

Step 5: Tuck the left side underneath the baby’s body, and bring up the reminder of the blanket to his right shoulder to make a tail. Tuck the tail into the blanket.

Step 6: Enjoy your baby burrito!

I hope that made sense. It is very difficult to swaddle a wriggling baby, stopping to take pictures. Swaddling must be done quickly and with precision, or your little Houdini will bust up out of that swaddle in second.

Got questions? Leave a comment or email me and I’ll get back to you ASAP.

***The winner of the Judy Bag Company giveaway is Michelle from Wifey in Training! Michelle, please email me.***

White Trash Tip of the Day

I'm a little embarrassed to show this photo but here goes:

I read about this on one of my message boards. The topic was tarts and oil burners, and someone shared that the best their house has ever smelled was when they put a tart into a tuna can and set it on a candle warmer. I had to try it, and man, it works! The smell is so much stronger than when I use my tart warmers (but the tart warmers sure are prettier!). I think I will use these before my company arrives - my own version of the Glade candle commercial. Try it and let me know what you think.

***This goes without saying, but of course you must clean out the tuna clean thoroughly. Don't forget this important step, or your results will not be quite the same. ;)***

Tips & Tricks

New uses for hanging shoe organizers
I hang these on the back of all of my closet doors. Besides storing shoes, I use them as a medicine cabinet, spice rack, and cleaning caddy.

How to make your panty hose last
Freeze them prior to the first use. I've never tried this personally, but I heard it works. Of course, defrost them before wearing.

How to remove scuff marks on patent leather
Wipe off dirt, and then buff with vegetable oil. Erasers also work on scuff marks.

How to clean your dishwasher
Who would guess that a dishwasher would need cleaning? Use a packet of Cool Aid to clean your dishwasher of lime and iron deposits.

How to clean stainless steel
Use car wax! I also use Windex on my trash can and faucets to remove fingerprints.

Going Green!

I have a confession: I'm one of the least environmentally aware people you probably know. I know, don't stone me! It isn't that I don't care, but I have to admit I haven't been very aggressive about caring for the environment. However, I am ready to admit my shortcomings and take action. I've been doing some research on small ways you can help the environment, and I figure I'll tackle one step at a time, until these steps become habits for my family. I'm going to share with you some of the ideas I've complied from various sources to hopefully give you some ideas. You might already be doing these, or they may be new to you. Either way, I want to hear from you - what are YOU doing to help the environment?

TIPS AND TRICKS

***Reduce, REUSE, and recycle: How much of the things that you throw away could actually be used again? Keep those empty baby food jars - they make great catch-alls for nails, office supplies, or craft supplies. Do you have old eyeglasses or cell phone? Donate them. You can even donate your old tennis shoes to Nike, and they will be turned into playground flooring. You can also recycle your computer print cartridges at places like Office Depot or Staples.

***http://www.freecycle.org/ - do you have lots of junk laying around your house? Post it on freecycle, and arrange to have someone come and pick it up.

***Sign up for paperless bills for as many of your bills as you can. Most businesses now offer this. You can either download the statement to your computer or access the statement online. How many times have you actually needed a copy of an old bill? You can still access your statement and print it out through your home computer if you truly need it. If every American did this, 2.3 million tons of wood would be spared annually. Also, skip the receipt at the ATM. I always get the receipt and end up tossing it at home once I balance my checkbook. Better to save the paper and not have it printed in the first place!

***Shop at farmers' markets and roadside produce stands. You'll be buying locally and getting better quality and fresher food.

***Turn down (or up) your thermostat! The average American emits about 13 tons of carbon dioxide each year through boilers, furnaces, and water heaters. Lower your thermostat to 68 degrees in the winter and raise it to 76 degrees in the summer. Plus, you will have the added benefit of lowering your electric bill. Cha-ching!

***Lowering your speed, staying in the same lane vs. weaving in and out of traffic, and not braking constantly can improve your fuel efficiency by 30%. Let's face it, gas prices aren't going down, right?

***Switch to rechargeable batteries. Regular batteries are seldom disposed of properly (although your landfill should have an area just for batteries) and they emit dangerous toxins.

***Visit http://www.catalogchoice.org/ to opt out of receiving those unwanted catalogs. These add up to 4 million tons of paper a year!

***Turn off the lights when you leave a room. Pretty easy, but how often do you forget? I know this is one of the biggest things I need to work on.

***Unplug your appliances when they aren't in use. Shut down your computer each day or night. To aid in this, use power strips - it is much easier to unplug and shut off one thing than five, right?

***Purchase a reusable water bottle. It's wonderful if you are reusing your bottled water bottles, but the plastic starts to break down after 3-4 uses. That's not good for you or the environment.

***Invest in a Brita water pitcher if you don't have good water at home. It filters your water, which is the same thing those pricey bottled water companies do, at a fraction of the price.

***If something breaks, fix it or donate it. Did you know that 40% of the trash in landfills are old electronics?

***Turn off the water while you brush your teeth. Ladies, same thing with shaving!

***Use the cold cycle on your washing machine. Washing 4 out of 5 loads in the cold cycle could keep 50 tons of carbon emissions out of the atmosphere per year. Plus, your clothes will last longer AND you don't have to sort colors.

***Purchase some reusable totes for the grocery store. I got mine from Costco - 3 huge bags for $4. If you do get plastic bags, find a way to reuse them. I personally find them great for doggie poop duty (hey, just keeping it real!) and lunch bags for work.

DID YOU KNOW?

***Washing your car at home actually uses more water than a professional wash.

***Running your dishwasher actually uses less water than washing by hand.

"GREEN" CLEANING RECIPES

***Baking soda is a great all-purpose cleaner. I like to halve a lemon, sprinkle some baking soda on, and use the lemon to scrub my counters. Then I toss the lemon down my garbage disposal.

***Castile soap is great for cleaning floors and counters. Dr. Bronner's makes a natural, organic, nontoxic brand of castile soap. At Walmart it is located with the body washes and scrubs, and at Target it is on speciality soaps/lotions/makeup aisle.

***A vinegar/water mix and newspaper will get your windows sparkling clean.

***Used dryer sheets are great for dusting.

***Multi-purpose cleaner: 1 cup ammonia, 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1/4 cup baking soda, and 1 gallon warm water

***Hydrogen peroxide/water mixture can be used to attack bathroom mold. You can also try lemon juice or white vinegar.

Bottom line, there are many little things we could do that could possibly lead to big results. Do I do all these things? No, but like I said, I'm going to start, one thing at a time. If you have other ideas, please share them, and feel free to share this link with anyone you feel would benefit.

Tip of the day

I thought I'd post some tips & tricks that might give you a few new uses for some items you probably already own. Check back next Monday for more!

Gift Wrapping 101

• Use dish towel to "wrap" gifts of wine. You can also use fabric remnants or cloth napkins. Use pretty string to tie it all together, and you have a great alternative to those expensive wine bags or boxes.
• Use last year's Christmas cards as this year's gift tags.
• When you're short on ribbon, use colored card stock. Cut a long strip, and go to town with your hole punch.

Cheap Home Decorations

• Use a toothbrush holder in a fun, funky print as a flower vase.
• Use wine glasses as candle holders. Fill the bottle with a little sand (I use flavored coffee beans for a nice scent) and top with a small candle or tea light.
• Don't have a frame for your favorite picture? Display photos with binder clips. The clips will sit upright on a flat surface.
• Use dishtowels as placemats.
• Need a storage idea for your extra rolls of toliet paper? Stack them in a tall, clear vase.