Clever Target.
Making me buy extra stuff so I can get the free shipping on the gift certificate-based items I was originally trying to buy. Making it oh so unclear as to which items were eligible for the free shipping offer minimum, so that I kept clicking on things. Buy buy buy.
Some we need, or at least probably need. Flannel crib sheets (one day — when he grows out of co-sleeper, you know, after I finally birth the bugger), flannel receiving blankets — I know, everyone says you get a ton at your baby shower. Well I had two bountiful showers and did not receive a ton. More like one. My doula says we’ll need 12 for swaddling and such. Can snag a few at the hospital, but didn’t hurt to buy a 3-pack from the big red T.
A 0-3 months cotton sleeper with snaps. An organic “swaddle me.” Little leg warmers called “baby legs.” (He is being born in winter, after all…) Seat protectors to go under the infant car seat base. Glad someone invented the item because my little old car still has pretty nice leather seats and I’d like to keep it that way, or at least try.
But why did I order the sheepskin from the organic baby care website? The baby in the picture looked so happy…
And then there was the organic hand sanitizer I picked up at the grocery store this week — because it’s easier than making guests go to the bathroom to wash their hands when they come over to visit. Our babycare class teacher suggested putting a bottle by the front door for this purpose, and a bottle by the bed for late night breastfeeding because she says we should wash/clean our hands every time we go to put the boob in the baby’s mouth.
Really? Do you wash your hands every time you breastfeed?
I got two bottles of the sanitizer, just in case, but need to know if this is truly something I should concern myself with. Anyone want to weigh in?
No way! I mean I’m sure it wouldn’t hurt to keep some extra hand sanitizer handy but don’t drive yourself nuts.
Never! I had a bottle of sanitiser on the changing table for after changes, but that was it. I firmly believe that babies are over sanitised now, a few germs never hurt anyone, and if you’re breastfeeding then it’s even better, they have mama’s inbuilt immunities
Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy and birth!
I wouldn’t worry about the hand sanitizer (especially for yourself!). Of course, I’m not a big believer in that stuff–kills off weak bugs and leaves the strong ones to become resistent. I’d just have visitors wash their hands. Honestly, I’ve never even been religious about this, and I have kids who are almost never sick.
I was thinking, and thought I’d tell you about something my midwives do, in case you want to do it. They put (cooked? soaked?) camphor in cheese cloth, wrap them in saran wrap, and freeze them. Then, they put them (maybe only partially frozen) on tears after the baby is born. Soothing, and it is supposed to promote healing. I thought it might appeal to you, since it is herbal.
So, one thing you haven’t mentioned if you have. A name?
Ooops! My insomnia-addled brain wasn’t fully functioning when I wrote that last comment. I meant comfrey. My midwives use comfrey compresses.
Katie:
Ah, yes. Am saving the name for the big reveal! Coming soon…
I hadn’t heard of the
camphorcomfrey. Thank you! Our childbirth education teacher recommended refrigerating pads soaked in witch hazel so I bought some of that, too.Everyone: I promise not to go crazy with the sanitizer. The stuff I got is just alcohol (non-gmo) and aloe and lavender so hopefully that’s pretty mild, anyway. I agree it will probably be more useful for diaper changes and/or in the diaper bag…
Yeah, I’ve heard the stuff can be dangerous for babies as it is near pure alcohol, so as long as it is safe and not near the baby’s mouth..
Don’t need squat for breastfeeding germs – the stuff is full of antibodies, germ decoys, the boobs secrete protective factors – each drop has a million white blood cells. Breastmilk kills germs, that’s all you need to know!
Best wishes, look forward to hearing of your EC adventures! (I just came from your intro there)
Actually, I try to avoid hand sanitizers myself and head straight for the bathroom and the soap. If I see it’s antibacterial I look for regular soap without that stuff.
Immunities – a famous young writer who was an immunologist before she started winning writing awards told us in writing workshop that we Americans are too sanitary. We don’t pick up enough immunities because our lives are too sterile. She described conditions in her native country, where she was a member of the elite – shockingly gross.
But of course with a newborn and always with diaper changing one wants to practice good hygiene. Later on however it’s probably better to let them grub around and get dirty. I used to fret about this. What about raccoon poop in the yard? Cat poop? can’t they get terrible diseases? And my eldest did indeed get a horrific case of salmonella from Alice Waters’ chickens in the famous, swanky schoolyard garden. My insurance company made noises about suing.
So I don’t have the answer exactly. But they’re right about the breastmilk being extra special germ killing. God forbid you should use sanitizer on your tits. Soap and water’ll do ya.
Before we cast aspersions on the nice nurse who taught my babycare class… She did not suggest we put sanitizer on our boobs. She was very clear about the boobs manufacturing our own anti-whatevers needed.
Sanitizer was for hands. I agree that it’s overkill, and I agree about kids needing to get dirty. I personally don’t have any anti-bacterial soap in my house.
The sanitizer I bought is “plant-based,” composed of 62% non-GMO organic alcohol, glycerine, aloe, and lavender oil. Here’s the website that describes it: http://www.eoproducts.com/shopping?rs=product&id=111234
Dunno what more commercial (read – cheaper, chemical-based, popular brands) are made of. But I promise not to overuse in any case.
Germ-phobic isn’t really one of my issues (am too worried about man-made toxins… hah!).