I see so many mamas out there just rocking it every single day.  They wake up at the ass-crack of dawn.  Have their hair and make-up done.  Have a gourmet breakfast ready for the entire family.  Have their husband’s lunch packed, keys out on the counter… and so on. My average day of being a stay-at-home mom looks nothing like this.

I’m the kind of mom who would like to have all of this achieved and accomplished, but let’s face it. 

It’s just not me! 

My day sometimes feels like a struggle to get through.  Don’t get me wrong, I love every second of being home with my little one, but I definitely don’t have all my ducks in a row.

I would like to start off by saying that this is obviously what works for me.  My daughter is probably one of the calmest babies known to man. 

I’d like to keep it that way for as long as I possibly can!

**This post contains affiliate links to products that I have personally used and love!**

Must Have Coffee First

(Between 5:00 – 8:30AM)

My daughter will generally wake up before both my husband and I.  That can range anywhere between 5 and 8:30 AM.  Yes, I completely understand that we are LUCKY when it comes to our toddler sleeping the way she does.

Before I can function to do anything as far as putting myself together, I need at least one gallon of coffee.  So I get the little girl up, change the diaper, and plop her in her high chair. 

My husband will usually be the one to get the coffee going, but sometimes he gets in the shower in the morning so I will let the dog outside and make a huge pot of coffee start us off.

What’s For Breakfast, Mom?

(Generally around 7:20AM)

While doing this I will grab an Eggo Waffle and toss that in the toaster to keep little bit happy until I can get around to making her “gourmet” breakfast of champions. 

(Some sort of blueberry pouch mixed with oatmeal, a banana, some yogurt, and her milk.)

Of course a lot of this will end up on the floor to feed our mooch of a dog. 

I have just recently gotten into the parfait life. So I will just have some low-fat greek yogurt, blueberries, and some granola on top. 

Most likely I’ll top breakfast off with whatever my daughter doesn’t finish or throws on the floor.

(Half a banana.)

FaceTime and The News

(8:00 – 9:00)

Once we finish up the solid foods, we move our party into the living room where I will turn on the news and FaceTime with Ma’am Ma’am – aka Grandma.  

I plop her down with the remainder of her milk onto her little couch.  Which by the way, is one of the best things you could purchase for your mini.  She feels like such a big girl on her own sofa.

Seriously the best little sofa money can buy. My daughter LOVES this thing so much!

We will usually watch the news until Rachel Ray comes on, and she LOVES her some Rachel Ray.  Up until the interview portion of the show.  Then it’s time for a break from the tv.  

Yes, I am one of the parents who keep the television on ALL day.  More for just background noise.  Remember, I’m home all day with someone who doesn’t talk a whole lot.  So I need to hear some adult voices to keep me from going bonkers.

It’s fine. Don’t worry about us.

Bust Out the Reading Material

(Between 9:00 – 9:30ish)

Once we made it to the interviews on Rachel,  I will ask baby girl to find a book from her “book tote” that just chills on the floor.  She does her little knee walk over to the tote and picks out a few books and will either knee walk them back over to me, or chucks them in all directions.  

Just depends on the day, I suppose.

With about 4 books in hand, and more on the way- we get to reading.  Sometimes I will let her just go off on her own and “read” to herself for a while.  This usually looks like her face smooshed up to the board book pages and going “dbabdbdabdba”.  But, she gets the idea!

Another big gulp of coffee down the hatch during this time.

Play Time and Practice Our Runway

(9:30 – 10:30)

Once we get a bit of reading done, it’s time to get our play on and burn some more energy.  Right now since she is 16 months old- her big thing is throwing a ball.  So that is what we will do.  We play catch and fetch.  Sometimes she will just toss it herself, and chase after it. 

My independent lady.

This is also the time where she will dig through her toy bin and make a huge mess. Get her walker going and then get pissed off because she doesn’t quite know how to turn it around yet when it runs into the wall/couch/other toys. Bounce on her lion-bouncer-thing. 

You know all the FUN stuff!

Here are a few of her favorite things as of right meow:

I’ll Take a Nap Right Here

(I’d say starting anywhere from 10:30 – 11:30)

I’m still waiting for the moment she will simply fall asleep anywhere.  But for now it’s still milk in a bottle, rock, and being as gentle as possible to ease her into her crib before she wakes up.  

Babies and toddlers are ticking time bombs – I swear – when it comes to laying them down!

I have learned once again that it’s OK to let her cry for a while if she does happen to wake up in the process.

She WILL go to sleep!

And she will stay asleep for a good 1.5 to 2 hours. 

This is generally her only nap now during the day, so she likes to make it a good one.

Mommy Time

There is always a HUGE list of things that I need to get done during the day.  This is the time when I try to get as much of that done as I can.  Whether it be switching laundry, dishes, floors, or like right now… blogging, or slinging my other side hustle.

Of course, sometimes I like to take this time easy-peasy and do something for myself.  

Have a cup of tea, watch Court TV, Catfish, any reality show really.

I seriously need to start reading some books again while I have some tea.  That actually sounds SUPER relaxing to me right now. 

Maybe tomorrow!

I’ll also use this time to shower, and get myself somewhat put together.  If I don’t, then I will wait for little Miss to wake up and I put her in her high chair and put on some Blue’s Clues for a few minutes.

(I set the highchair right outside the bathroom, so I do have my eyes on her.  Again, don’t worry about us.)

I might even get a chance to snack before she wakes up.

Wake Up and Lunch

(Wake up around 11:45 to 12:00)

Now on the days that I shower while she naps, she will actually wait until I get dried off and then wake up.  It’s like she has some sort of radar.  Thanks baby girl!

But once I get dressed, and her up and changed- it’s chow time.

What’s for Lunch?

Lunch can be somewhat picky.  I found that she needs to wait a while before actually eating right after she wakes up.  Otherwise, it all goes on the floor.

So… outside the doggo goes.  I will then empty out the dishwasher.  Clean off the counters. 

Let the pup back in.  Swiffer the floors if he made a mud mess.

Then lunch time begins.

She will usually eat a toddler meal from Gerber, or I will slap some chicken nuggets into the air fryer for a few minutes.  While that is cooking, I’ll bust out the applesauce.

This kid LOVES her some applesauce.

I also found that she will eat as many cauliflower tater tots as she can! 

I love them too, so it’s a nice snack for me.

Toddler Lunch Time Checklist:

• Chicken/Veggie Nuggets
• Cauliflower tots
• Applesauce
• Dr. Praeger’s ANYTHING
• Sketti-o’s
• Banana
• PIZZA
• Something from GERBER

Lunch for Mama

Usually lunch for me looks like leftovers.  Sometimes I’ll get me some Jimmy John’s delivered, or pop in a cauliflower pizza myself.

Nothing too crazy! 

Dance Party Time

(12:30 – 1:30 or longer!)

Being a stay-at-home mom with some serious back issues, I don’t get to work out like “normal people”.  So I do it in my own way and include my daughter.

“Hey, Alexa: Turn on dance party jams.“

We will have a ball just dancing, and singing.  

I swear, this girl knows how to bust a move.  I on the other hand just try not to bust a hip.

But, this is probably my favorite time of the day.  Baby girl is well rested, fed, and ready to jam!!

Of course, we do put on classic rock, and the 90’s for a bit too!

More Play Time, Please!

(1:30 – 2:30)

Yes, I know what you’re thinking.  You two just had the most EPIC kitchen dance party.  Why are you settling down?

Because we DON’T WANT TO yet!

Now this play time is basically like the one from earlier in the morning.  Ball, walker, bouncer.. But this is when our imaginations get to play a little more.

AND of course…wear off some more energy!

We have a princess tent that she absolutely LOVES!  She has all of her friends loaded up in there with a blanket.  I honestly think she’s playing house already.

**It’s the FAO Schwarz Princess Castle Play Tent from Target!**

But she will grab some tinker toys and just go in and out of this thing and talk to her friends and “PEAK” through the windows at me.  

A good time was had by all!

This is also our puzzle time, more books, and whatever else she wants to get into.  

COLORING– the girl is an ARTIST.

Settle Down with a Movie or Show

(2:30 – 4:00)

Let’s be honest, sometimes it’s both a movie and a show.  This is our wind down time after a good play session.  Usually by this time she is already getting a little tired.  

Right now she is OBSESSED with the Labyrinth movie.  Yes, David Bowie in very tight pants, Labyrinth.  Jim Henson did it right with this one.

I’m not mad about having to watch this movie once or twice a day.  Luckily, it was one of my favorites when I was little. (Not going to lie- it still is one of my favorites). 

Just enough musical numbers to keep her entertained, yet remain nice and chill!

This is also another snack time moment for us. Because… why not?

If she isn’t ready to sit down for a movie, a couple episodes of Blue’s Clues will definitely do the trick.  Josh is basically her BEST FRIEND. (Sorry Steve and Joe).

Possible Second Nap?

(4:00 – 4:45pm)

Now that we are in the teething stage, this can be a big hit or miss.  My daughter tends to start getting a little crabby around 4:00pm. So if she hasn’t already fallen asleep during the movie, I will try to get her to take a little “recliner nap” with me as I put some white noise on my phone.

I will say that for the last couple of weeks, this has been a success.  Thanks to teething, of course.  Once she gets to feeling 100% again, it may be a different story.  

But, for now- I’ll take it

Winner, Winner- Chicken Dinner

(5:00 – 5:45)

Chicken dinner is pretty accurate.  My daughter is decently picky when it comes to food.  So while other kids have become pros at eating their fruits and veggies all by themselves, there’s my silly girl.  

Textures are not her forte- but the girl will eat a whole pizza- NO PROBLEM!

So a lot of the time we have to do applesauce, sketti-o’s or some kind of small pasta, chicken/veggie nuggets.  Truly a trial and error process every, single, day.

My husband is usually waltzing into the doorway around this time too.  

Just in time for some dinner giggles!

Daddy Play Time

(6:00 – 6:45)

Depending on what time my husband walks in the door is when he gets to join in on baby time.  So if he gets home early enough, he will take over feeding her while I scramble to get something made if I didn’t already throw something into the crockpot earlier, or we can just go ahead and order take-out. 

Crockpot Dinner Ideas

(Once again, it’s fine!)

Anyways, he will either take over feeding her or he will be able to jump right into evening play time.  This usually consists of her jumping on him and using him as a personal jungle gym.  

Following up with some laps around the house with her walker.  Making sure daddy is right there behind her!

Hubby Takes Over

(6:45 – 7:00)

My husband has taken over bath time.  Which is a nice tag team deal we have going on.  He gives our mini a bath, while I get somewhat of a break. 

Break meaning:

• Pick up all the toys
• Put the living room back together
• Wash bottles
• Get her clothes ready
• Turn on sound machine
• Clean out crib
• Wrangle up pacifiers
• Make sure he grabbed a washcloth and towel
• Get her bedtime milk ready
• Make sure her nose sucker and comb are ready to go!

Yes, I will still consider that a break.

Nighty-Night Time

(Asleep by 7:30pm)

Once we have our daughter all nice and clean, nose sucked, sound machine on- it is time!

It is time for one more bottle of milk and to catch some zzz’s. 

(She hardly ever finishes a bottle at night, so I should really start putting less in there. I’ll start tomorrow.)

Let’s just say she is typically out like a light within a few minutes!  Put her in the crib and we are good to go until morning.

During the few minutes that she is drinking that bottle and passing out, I have a moment to sit down and BREATHE.

Which then leads to our next topic.

What to Do With ME TIME?

This…this is what I’m doing with my “ME TIME”. Writing, or catching up on things I might’ve missed throughout the day.  

Most of the time this is when I will finally have a meal. Yes, I’m aware that it’s probably later than what most people would consider eating dinner, but it works for us.

My husband and I FINALLY have time to wind down and just relax.  While I type up a blog post, or make some graphics, he can sit and catch up on his Mandalorian. I will gladly leave him to it!

I will admit that we could and should work on doing things for us, together- but right now I think we are both in that exhausted stage.  Our daughter is in the “I’m becoming a toddler” stage, and my husband works quite a long day.  So the two together are draining. For now this is what we do before bed time.  Take time for ourselves!

(I would like to add that we do NOT ignore each other! Simply stating we have our own wind down times and activities.)

I Love You’s, and Goodnight!

(Anywhere from 8:30 to Midnight)

Like I said toddler and working all day makes for flat out exhaustion.  This means that I could fling myself into bed at 8:30. 

No Regrets!

Usually I will find myself finally crashing around 10:30 though.  I feel like this gives me the perfect amount of sleep to function the next day with my two gallons of coffee!

If the hubby decides to stay up a little longer, I say I love you and goodnight and turn on some ASMR to drift off to.

OR

If we go to bed at the same time, I will say I love you, goodnight, and turn on some ASMR to drift off to. 

Not much difference there.  But it’s the only way I can shut my brain off and fall asleep!

We pass out and get ready to do it all over again tomorrow.

My Day as a SAHM!

I understand I said a lot!  But this is my day in a nutshell.  Maybe it will help others realize that their life or days don’t need to be that “picture perfect” “#momlife” day. 

Maybe it will light fires under some butts if you don’t want to do this?

Who knows?

All I know is this is what we do, and what we like to do! 

I love every second of my mommy-daughter days.  Our dance parties in the kitchen at lunch time. Singing to the same songs from the Labyrinth over, and over again. Waiting for the next “recliner nap” just to get a little quiet time. 

This is perfect for me, and I wouldn’t change a moment of it.

The post A Day in the Life of A Stay-at-Home Mom appeared first on Life Of A Momster.

I couldn’t tell you how many times I have sat and spent a good hour or two… or more googling what to make for dinner.  This isn’t an easy thing to do when you have a toddler on your hands who is SOOO close to walking and getting into anything and everything she sees.  One text to my own mother, and that was all I needed. 

“Why don’t you just make Mama’s Lasagna?”

Believe I love me some pasta.. (If I could eat it for every meal, I definitely would.)

This recipe is what my mom had made for my dad on their first date. 

So knowing my mom, she was probably in a hurry too!

Once again, this is an AS EASY AS IT GETS recipe.  

I don’t have time to complicate my life with dinners that will take hours or prep work and cook time.  

SCREW THAT noise.

So here we go… my Mama’s Lasagna.

**This post contains affiliate links to products that I personally use, and LOVE**

WHAT YOU NEED

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 tbsp light olive oil
• 1 jar 32 oz spaghetti sauce
• ½ pkg lasagne noodles
• 1 lb ricotta cheese
• ½ c grated parmesan cheese
• 1 (8oz bag) mozzarella cheese

Honestly, you might already have everything you need in this recipe inside your cupboard somewhere.  

Go ahead and check the dark back corner.

I know you may be thinking why so much mozzarella? 

Well I would actually say go ahead and get a second bag.. But let’s just keep it to one this time!

**If you would like to use up the entire package of lasagna noodles, just go right on ahead and double everything else!**   
This is typically what I do anyway.  (No “ragerts”..)

How To Make Mama’s Lasagna

Like I said, I’m all about simplicity when it comes to meal-making.  If I can find time to make this dish, you can too!

To Start:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit.

For the Meat Sauce:

1. Heat olive oil in a large saucepan
2. Brown hamburger meat (of course drain it once it’s browned-up)
3. Add the entire can of sketti sauce and let that simmer for about 20 minutes

While the meat sauce is simmering:

1. Get that pot of water boiling for the lasagna noodles
2. Cook noodles until they are limp and chewy (They will finish cooking in the oven)
3. Drain and set aside

Time to Layer:

1. Spray an oven safe pan with some of that non-stick stuff
2. Spread a glob of the meat sauce around the bottom of the pan
3. Lay out one layer of the noodles
4. Smear some ricotta cheese on top of the noods
5. Sprinkle ricotta cheese with more cheese- the shredded mozzarella kind
6. Spread the meat sauce on top of the mozz.
7. Repeat until you are satisfied & end with the mozzarella cheese
8. Pour that Parmesan Cheese to top it all off

Bake that heavenly goodness for about 50 minutes!!

Once your timer has gone off, take it out and let it sit for 15 minutes.

I promise it will remain SCORCHING HOT!

Print

Mama’s Lasagna

An easy as it gets lasagna recipe that will save you time and your sanity when it comes to preparing dinner for the entire family!

Course dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American, Italian

Keyword Easy Lasagna Recipe

Cook Time 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Cost $20

Equipment

• 1 Large Saucepan
• 1 Large pot
• 1 9×13 Baking Dish

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 tbsp light olive oil
• 1 32 oz jar of favorite spaghetti sauce
• 1/2 package lasagna noodles
• 16 oz ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup gratednparmesan cheese
• 1 8 oz shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°

Meat sauce

• Heat oil in saucepan and brown hamburger
• Add spaghetti sauce, and let simmer for 20 minutes

Lasagna Noodles

• While meat sauce is simmering, bring water in a pot to a boil
• Cook noodles until limp/chewy
• Drain and set aside

Layer and Layer

• Spritz oven-safe dish with non-stick spray
• Begin with meat sauce to coat the bottom of the dish
• Lay down lasagna noodles to cover meat sauce
• Spread ricotta cheese on top of the noodles
• Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top of ricotta
• Glob meat sauce on top of mozzarella
• Repeat the process and end with mozarella on top
• Spread the parm on the very top of it all!

Oven Time

• Bake lasagna for 50 minutes
• Let sit for 15 minutes before serving
• Enjoy!!

There You Have It

The only real trick to this recipe is timing the meat sauce and cooking the noodles at the same time. 

But- you really don’t even have to do that!  If you need to, do it one at a time.  

I just like to knock out one bird with one stone…..

Wait…

I’ll just leave that the way it is.

Anywho, if you have tried this recipe, or have any questions- you know what to do!

Leave me a message in the comments.

I hope you all enjoy Mama’s Lasagna as much as my family does!

The post Mama’s Lasagna appeared first on Life Of A Momster.

Easy Tips for Air Travel

These easy tips to remember can help air travel with your little one a heck of a lot less stressful!

**This post contains affiliate links**

Fly Around Nap Time

Late morning is best if that is around your little one’s nap time. 

I always thought the best time was first thing in the morning between nap times.  That may work for others, but we learned that traveling during our daughter’s snooze time was the best way to go! 

The vibration and humming of the plane was a nice surprise to us.  Baby girl went right to sleep!

Get a Direct flight

Another thing you will want to remember is to get a direct flight if possible! Especially if you are flying domestic.

No stops is the way to go when it comes to traveling by plane.

 Less of a hassle when you can get where you need to go without any layovers.

Make a Check List

I have definitely learned this the hard way. 

I should have made a list and checked it three times to make sure we grabbed everything before heading out the door. 

Let’s just say things were forgotten. 

Just go ahead and make a packing list! Save yourself the trouble of having to scramble to find a charging cable for the baby monitor.

Diaper/Purse Bag

Most flights, if not ALL will allow you to bring one personal item/bag and a carry-on.  Usually this would be a purse and a carry-on bag. 

I just went ahead and put my wallet in the diaper bag, and that eliminated the purse altogether. 

Pretty sure most mama’s do this anyway, but figured I’d share that tip.

This is what I like to keep in my diaper bag!

Ready to Go Bottles

If your little one is still taking the bottle, make sure you have one ready to go for take off.  Ascending into the air can cause those little ears to pop. 

As long as your little one has a bottle or a pacifier in their mouths, that will take away a lot of that pressure they could feel at take off.  

I personally always have three bottles ready at all times. 

A little obsessive, but it works perfectly for us.

Be careful how you pack the liquids!

**Most BIG airports will only allow a certain amount of milk.  Be sure to have your diaper bag/cooler bag organized to avoid any security delays.  I will definitely make sure to be better organized for those flights. 

On our return flight home, we spent quite a while going through security because I had a bottle filled with water, two bottles filled with ready to go milk- she had already downed the first milkies, and a couple bags of frozen milk just in case.   

But the problem was- I had filled some of the bottles too much ( OVER 4 oz) which is what she drinks normally.  

Luckily the woman at security was gracious enough to not have us empty some of the breast milk out.  -I was about to lose it!!–

But now we know how to fly with a toddler.. so next time.. we will for sure be better organized!

Carry-on Toy Bag

This bag will be your baby entertainment bag for the most part. 

What I did was stocked it with toys, books, and snacks for my baby girl.

Best Toys to Keep Your Little One Busy During the Flight:

Anything that rattles or makes a little bit of noise.  

Of course- you don’t want to bring something that will completely annoy those around you! But just a little rattle and shake should do the trick.

Fidget Toys

I know our baby is the most content when she has something to keep her little hands busy. 

This can be something as simple as links, or a toy that has a “spinning” object. 

These things keep her busy during long car rides, so why not bring them on a plane?

Here are a couple of our baby girl’s favorites!

BOOKS

Books are a great way to keep your little one entertained. 

Honestly- I would try books before busting out any sort of electronic.  Once the screen comes out, and that fails…well it could make for a long trip. 

Make sure the book has vibrant colors to keep that attention towards the page. 

Reading in different voices makes for great entertainment as well. 

I made sure to pack a few books just in case we got stuck with any flight delays-which of course did happen on one of our flights home.

Also you can’t have too many books, especially if you are going to be spending some time in a hotel.

Got to keep that little one entertained!

Don’t Forget the Blankie!

Airplanes are not always the coziest, so make sure you bring a little extra comfort from home.  The plane can get a little chilly, so make sure you grab a blanket to wrap that baby up with.

The blanket could also be used as an arm pillow to save your elbows!

A Less Stressful Way to Travel

There you have it! That’s How to Fly with a Toddler.

I know this wasn’t a huge list, but this is what has worked for us!  I was pleasantly surprised at how well our daughter did.  Just a few things from home, and a bottle of milk for the air.

If you have traveled with your little one- I’d love to hear your stories!!

The post How to Fly with a Toddler appeared first on Life Of A Momster.

What’s In My Diaper Bag?

Here are 12 essentials for my diaper bag checklist! I will never make the mistake of leaving home without these things again. Take a Look!

** this post contains affiliate links**

#1 Diapers Obviously

What’s a diaper bag without diapers, really?  I always keep at least 5 diapers handy whenever we go out.  Just in case my baby girl has one of those blow-out days.

#2 Wipes

I know, I know- diapers and wipes are a given.  Well I will say if you don’t have this stocked in your bag already, these two diaper bag essentials are really easy to forget!

Side Note: I absolutely LOVE the HONEST COMPANY.

#3 Bottles

I usually have two bottles filled with breast milk, and another cooled milk baggy and empty, clean bottle tucked away.  Sometimes my daughter likes to go through milk like none-other.  This also comes in handy if your adventure out of the house tends to run longer than planned.

#4 Snacksss

Puffs, puffs, puffs… did I say PUFFS?!  I swear by this tiny, dissolvable things.  Puffs will get you through a sit down restaurant meal without a meltdown.

Other snacks I carry are fruit/vegetable yogurt melts, and teething crackers.  I ALWAYS make sure these things are in the diaper bag before heading out.

#5 Bottle Attachment Strap

Bougie or genius?  Maybe both.  But, having a bottle strap OR two can make your outing so much easier.  My daughter is now in the throwing stage of her life, so these straps are definitely diaper bag essentials!

I will use these straps for toys as well so she can’t chuck them across the room!

Life-savers!!

#6 Back Up Outfits

I’m pretty sure I mentioned blow-outs earlier? Sooo, yeah… make sure you have at least two outfit changes for your little one.  Blow-outs, spilled milk, vomit.. Time for an OUTFIT CHANGE.

#7 Extra Storm Plugs

Pacifiers! It will be a BAD day if you forget the extra pacifiers.  Sometimes my daughter will do everything she can to make sure the pacifier she has attached to ends up on the ground.  Unless you have some type of pacifier sanitizer, just grab a few extras for the trip!

#8 Portable Changing Pad

Who else has opted out of the store or a restaurant changing table and took the back seat of the care diaper change option?

ME!!

Some establishments don’t supply or replenish their stock of changing table covers.

Most diaper bags will come with a changing pad anyway, so USE IT!

I actually took mine out and replaced it with this wonderful item.

I don’t need to take the entire diaper bag with me to the restroom when I’m out and about.  This little thing carries everything I need for a quick changing trip. ALL IN ONE!

#9 Hand Sanitizer

I will never leave the house without some hand-sani in the diaper bag.  It’s gross out there, and you need to be prepared for anything! I like to use the wipes, so I can also wipe down surfaces while we are out and about.

#10 Mommy Wipes

These little wipes have saved me a time or two. They are awesome for milk stains, baby vomit, food, etc. The wipes comes in single packages which takes up NO room at all in the diaper bag.

#11 Bibs and Burp Cloths

I combine these two because if you are packing for a tiny one, burp cloths will be the way to go.  If your little one is starting to eat some purees or any type of solids- BIBS for the win. 

#12 Travel Toys

I like to pack up a few little toys to keep my mini-me busy.  She doesn’t go anywhere without her “letters, keys, suction star, and a plush animal”.  These four things make traveling with her so much easier, and a hell of a lot less stressful. She especially LOVES her letters.  Flipping through those cards is the greatest thing in the world to her.

Only the Essentials

There you have it.  I know a lot of other moms pack everything but the kitchen sink, but I like to keep it somewhat simple!  Your preferences may be different from mine, but this is what works for us to make our little outings less hectic. Let me know what you keep in your diaper bag!!

The post Diaper Bag Essentials appeared first on Life Of A Momster.

I know this is easier said than done, especially if you’re a worry-wart mom like me.  Being a stay-at-home mom, every day is filled with taking care of my little one, the dog, the housework that never seems to end.  I mean it’s every..single..day.  We need a break!

Us moms bust our butts all day, every day. Seven days a week.  365 days a year – taking care of our families.  Why shouldn’t we get some personal days thrown in to recharge?

All part of the Mama Life!

Just Go for It

Like I said, I’m a worry-wart mom.  A helicopter mom. A whatever-you-want-to-call-it Mom that likes to be in total control when it comes to taking care of the little one and the housework.  Why? Because it’s what I do all day long.  

But I had to learn that I needed to take a break.  I needed a day to myself.  

I had to acknowledge the fact that everything was going to be OK if I took a day and had the hubs take over- or the grandparents if it happens to be during the week.

You just have to do the dang thing!

Get the Family Set

Make a list of everything that you do during the day.  I know my husband  and parents can take care of things! I just like to ease my own mind- and write everything down that needs done.

I’ll get things out where they are easily seen. So I’ll put baby tylenol, baby food, clothes, etc… out where it is right there for whoever is watching little bit.

Then I’ll make sure to just create a little schedule for the day.  It’ll cover meals, nap time, bath time, and bedtime.

Cross my T’s.. Dot my I’s.

Get this all ready the night before.

Remember- from the moment you wake up.. This is YOUR day off.

Mommy Day Off Ideas

Here are my 8 favorite “ME Time” activities that I enjoy for my mommy day off.  I like to search through Groupon as well for any steal-deals for events happening- or any fun activity really!

#1 Get Yourself Some Coffee

I’m not talking about the stuff from the coffee pot that you have to make yourself.  Get your butt out the door, out of the house, and down to the coffee shop! It’s your day to relax, and do your thing- so start it off right!

#2 Take a Long Walk

Once you get your jolt of energy for the day, go take a nice stroll!  This can be at any point of your day.  I like to get some coffee to go and hit the park.  By park I mean County Park.  Somewhere with a nice walking trail. Or a river walk if you have one! Just get outside and breathe some clean air.

#3 Enjoy Your Favorite Food

Hit up your favorite restaurant on your Mommy Day Off.  It’s just you, so you don’t need to worry if anyone else wants to go there. Get your favorite dish, beverage, and relax!! Also a plus if the place happens to have some live music.  I like to go to a local brew-house.  If I go a bit earlier in the day, I can avoid all the craziness that the evening hours bring out.

#4 Spa Day for Mama

Pampering yourself will definitely help recharge your batteries.  Make sure to book appointments beforehand. Especially nowadays with the ‘Rona causing mayhem for businesses.  Anyways- get your hair done.  Get your fingers, and toes looking fabulous.  Get that massage you’ve been desperately needing after having to carry around 25+lbs of tiny humans all day long.

#5 Watch That Movie

I don’t know the last time I was able to watch a movie and actually “Watch the Movie”.  I’ll always throw something on during the day.  To grab the attention of my child for just a moment, or for the background noise of other adults talking. But, I’m never able to just sit down and watch a movie anymore.  If you find yourself in the same position- go to the theater and watch a movie!

Popcorn, skittles, largest soft drink known to man all to myself? Yep, done deal.

#6 Take an Adult Class

It’s your day off, why not learn a new skill?  Most cities, towns, what-have you, will have some type of an adult class.  Take a painting class.  Channel your inner Bob Ross.  Take a pottery class– and just picture Patrick Swayze right there with you.  There’s all sorts of crafting, baking, and cooking classes.  Just find one and enjoy!

#7 Shop ‘Til You Drop

OK, not literally.  But get to your favorite store, and get yourself at least one new outfit.  Just to get yourself out of your daily sweats. Or anything for YOURSELF. You can never go wrong with Super Target- I’m just throwing that out there.  Such a magical place filled with goodies.

#8 Invite the Squad Out

Bring out the best buds!  Make a dinner reservation and get the band back together.  Enjoy some time having adult conversations and a few beverages.  I know for a fact that we all could use more adult conversations after speaking baby or toddler language all day, every day. 

Remember It’s YOUR Day

These are just a few things that I like to do on my Mommy Day Off.  This is your well-deserved day, so fill it with activities you enjoy! 

Let me know what you’d like to do on your Mommy Day Off.

The post How to Take a Mommy Day Off appeared first on Life Of A Momster.

You might need a bit of help getting everything you need together.  

Here’s a nice little checklist to make sure you have on hand after baby gets here.

You have a lot happening in the last few days before your baby arrives. It can feel overwhelming making sure you have everything ready!

After having birth, you need to remember to take care of yourself.  Avoid infections, don’t move too quickly, no heavy lifting.. Etc.

You can read about Becoming a Mom: What Nobody Talks About here 

You’re probably going to be hurting for a while, so why not go ahead and have everything good to go? 

Stock up on these 9 Postpartum Recovery Must-Haves to make healing a hell of a lot easier.

**This post contains affiliate links**

1. Over-Night Heavy Duty Maxi Pads

You can bet your boots that there will be blood.  Good O’l Lochia. The first few days are the worst- basically an extremely heavy period.  I couldn’t stand the pads that were supplied by the hospital. So thick, and felt like a bloody log trying to wedge itself up in the no-no areas.  These heavy duty over-nighters are amazing, and you really don’t need to worry about spilling over! SCORE.

I bled quite a bit for the first few days. I only had to use one of these pads, instead of needing to use two to make sure I didn’t spill over!

2. Upside Down Peri Bottle

Just know that the hospital will usually supply you with a perineal bottle, but they just look like nasal spray bottles.  You need an upside down peri bottle in your life!

This Frida Upside Down Peri Bottle worked wonders. It’s curved perfectly to spritz all that ICK away after a potty break or a pad change.

I made sure to put this in my basket, and I’m so glad that I did!

3. Donut Pillow

A donut pillow came in handy so much! Your vagina, ass, and everything else down there are bound to be sore for a while. 

If you walked away without hemorrhoids- well good for you.

If you didn’t and had to deal with them like I did- it was so nice to have a donut to sit on, and alleviate that pressure!

I found this Frida Pillow a few days after being home. I wish I would’ve know about it before hand.

Fun fact: this pillow also comes with an ice pack that you can slide into a pocket. So, sit down and chill

4. Witch Hazel Pads

Who would’ve thought to get these things? Not me, until the maternity unit handed me a little container of them. 

Witch hazel reduces swelling and helps calm down any pain or irritation you might be experiencing. These pads are nice a cold- which feels AMAZING!

They go fast, so make sure you have these things on hand!  Witch Hazel Pads are great for those nasty hemorrhoids too.  Actually, these pads are great for damn near everything when it comes to healing down there.

If you ended up with a lovely tear- these witch hazel pads will really help calm things down.  AND since they were nice and cool, it took a lot of the “itch” away. Thanks, perineal stitches.

5. Dermoplast!!!

Magic is a spray can! What else can I say about this stuff.

A MUST-HAVE to help your lady bits heal from all that trauma! 

Dermoplast is used as a perineal spray to help numb the area.  I honestly don’t know what I would’ve done without this stuff.  My downstairs needed to be cooled and soothed like none-other. 

After every other pad change, I would go ahead a spritz this stuff on, and I’d be good to go for hours!

6. Laundry Day- Granny Panties

A lot of women will go to the disposable panties, but after a day- I couldn’t stand them anymore. 

I had gone out and got some big, comfy undies. 

I’m sooo glad that I did too!

They were so much more comfortable, and I didn’t have to worry about ruining them. *Especially since I used the over-night maxi pads!*

7. Stool Softeners

After having a baby, everything down there is super sore.

I was honestly terrified to do my business after pushing out my 7lb baby. (I know that’s a pretty average size tiny human- but still didn’t hurt any less)

This was probably my biggest fear after having my little one. Just the thought of having to push anything else out- I completely FREAKED!

Stool softeners saved my life! And after actually trying to go- that fear went right the toilet too!

Remember to drink plenty of water with these things.  I took these for a couple weeks- with hemorrhoids, pooping is awful without softeners!

Let it slideee right out.

8. Sitz Bath + Epsom Salt

Nothing feels more relaxing than putting your bits and booty in a tiny basin tub. 

No, really.  I’m not kidding.

If you are feeling any pain or discomfort, don’t hesitate to do this. 

Sitz baths are perfect for cleaning, alleviating pain, and overall healing of the nether-regions.

Take a nice 20 minute breather sitting in this

Fill that little basin with 2-3″ of warm water and Epsom salt and let the healing begin!

9. Ice Pack

Of course, you need to put some ice on that ouchie!

I used your typical ice pack from the freezer, but I also found that these pads did wonders too!

The FridaMom Perineal Ice Maxi Pads were a nice two-in-one options. I didn’t actually wear these though- I felt like I was going to pop them. You won’t though! It was just my weird senses coming into play.

I would however hold them while I was sitting down with my feet propped up. (Leaned back in the recliner).

They are wonderful!!! and No need to take up freezer space. These pads are pop and shake

Whoop, There It Is

Not a super long list, just the essentials! 

My top 9 Postpartum Recovery Must-Haves!!

These products really helped me during my healing time after having my daughter.  

Have you tried any of these products? Let me know in the comments!

Also, don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more MOMster Talk. 

The post 9 Postpartum Recovery Must-Haves appeared first on Life Of A Momster.

There were a lot of baby safety, pushing positions, who to call if your child gets into something.. but none of these classes went into what you would experience right after your baby is born.

I take that back, they “mentioned” maybe one- postpartum depression- but let’s be honest, nobody goes in depth!

Here are my biggest issues I have personally run into after becoming a mom. 

**This post contains affiliate links**

Fair warning: none of these topics are fun to deal with, and if you are struggling right now with postpartum ANYTHING– please know that it is OK to ask for help!!

1. Let’s Talk Aftercare

Everyone talks about how painful labor and the whole damn birthing process is. However, nobody seems to talk about though is the mess that comes afterwards. 

I mean literal MESS.  

Yeah, it’s a known fact that you will be wearing the finest DEPENDS money can buy because you are constantly leaking fluids, chunks, chunks of fluids- you get the point.  But nobody said it would be for days, let alone WEEKS. 

If You Happen to Tear

I think a lot of women are terrified of this! I mean, you really have no idea you did or not until the doctor is down there stitching away.  But afterwards… ick. 

I had no idea that I wouldn’t be able to gracefully get out of bed when the baby woke up to feed.  Nope, I was too afraid of busting anything open and had to “inch” by way off the bed or chair.

What helped me was to sit on a good doughnut of sorts while I was healing. It made it a little more comfortable, at least.

I was afraid to even look down yonder for the longest time. So, that constant fear of Oh, Crap is it infected was trapped in my head for those first 6 weeks.

Tearing is a bitch, let’s just say that.

Do I Really Have To #2

Nobody talks about the fact that you will be terrified to poop for DAYS or WEEKS. 

Stool softeners will become your best friend! But it still doesn’t change the initial fear to do your business. – especially if hemorrhoids decided to join the party.

So Many Pads

Like I said, you will leak-bleed- a lot! Well for me, I bled for probably a good two weeks, if not more. That is a lot of pads!

Every potty break seemed to take a good 10 minutes, just changing and cleaning all your areas.

Also spritzing yourself with warm water after every potty break or pad change- NOT FUN.

2.Those Baby Blues

You hear about the postpartum depression to a point, but nobody really mentions the baby blues. 

I for one had no idea what was going on when I had these awful feelings about becoming a mom. Like what the hell did I do? Why did I do this? I don’t want to be a mom. My baby hates me! 

Apparently, all these horrible feelings are due to the hormones being so completely out of whack.  As if becoming a parent wasn’t stressful enough, let’s just tack this on too. 

You should start feeling better after a few days of adjusting! So hang in there.

3. Fear of Being Alone 

Once the husband went back to work, it was time for me to be on my own. 

On my own with a baby.  I was the one solely responsible for taking care of this little one! 

Now that was a very scary thought.

I was terrified! I had no clue how I was going to do everything I needed to do to get through the day without my husband there with me. 

For the first week, I actually had to have my mom come over. Not to take care of my baby, but to ease my own mind. It was really nice to have her there to let me know I was doing OK.

4. Postpartum Anxiety

Now here is the big one!  Postpartum Anxiety.  I knew about postpartum depression, but not necessarily the anxiety portion of it. 

When I had my checkup at 6 weeks, I filled out the postpartum depression test or form- whatever you want to call it. 

My doctor had then said that I was experiencing postpartum anxiety.

I never had any bad feelings towards my baby.  No resentment.  I didn’t want to harm her or myself. Nothing like that.

What I was dealing with was:

Intrusive Thoughts

Meaning I was constantly worrying that something bad was going to happen.

For Example: … I would be having thoughts or dreaming that I was holding my baby at the top of the stairs and either we would both trip and fall or I would drop her.  Another where there would be a dog attack involved.  Just horrible, beyond horrible thoughts!

Mom Guilt

I mean come on, how could I not have mom guilt after having these images and thoughts pop into my head. 

I must be a horrible mom!

WELL I’M NOT!  I actually think I’m a damn good mom. I just needed to ask for help.  Postpartum Anxiety is actually pretty common. So please do not wait to ask for help if you need it!!

**I would also like to add that this ties in with baby blues. If those feelings do not go away, and last longer than a few days- you should contact your doctor.  You could be experiencing postpartum anxiety or depression. **

5. Disconnected From Hubby

Before you have a baby, you could have the most amazing relationship with your spouse.  Having a baby will just add to the fun, right?

Well for some, yes! For others, it can be the biggest obstacle in your marriage or relationship.  

If you suffer with any postpartum anxiety or depression, this can make everything 1000x worse. 

For the most part you want to be left alone, because you have absolutely NO time to yourself. 

But you also might get upset, angry, turn into a monster-etc.- because your partner is actually giving you that space- and you’re wondering what you did wrong for them to not be all over you.

It can be a never-ending cycle of emotions.

How long does it last?

Sometimes this can last for just a few months, sometimes it could last well over a year.

There is NOTHING wrong with you! 

Everyone’s postpartum journey is going to be different.  The best thing you can do is sit down and explain everything you’re feeling.

What can you do?

Make one night out of the month a date night. Even a daytime date to just get out and be alone together will help!

Drop the baby off with the grandparents and go get some coffee, or whatever you want to do.

It also doesn’t hurt to go to see a professional if you are having trouble connecting with one another. Maybe your needs or feelings aren’t being understood – this goes for both of you!

Many will say that the first year after baby comes is the worst for your relationships.  We are just over a year in, and still working at it!

So, if you are feeling like this- hang in there, talk it out, and be there for one another!

6. Reminder to Take Care of Yourself

Those first few months can be rough.

I know I would completely forget to eat anything during the day.  It would be going on 4 in the afternoon and I’d have no recollection of doing anything for myself. 

Set an alarm on your phone to remember to eat, drink, or nap if you need to!

It is very important to remember to take care of yourself.  

Once you have fed your little one, put a fresh diaper on, and they are content- get in that shower. 

Even if it is a quick two-minute shower – IT WILL HELP.

There You Have It

Like I said, everyone’s postpartum journey is going to be different. 

These are the experiences that I have had, and I wish that I was better prepared for them!

If you can relate to anything mentioned in this post, I would LOVE to hear about it.  Let me know in the comments.

And be sure to subscribe for more MOMster Talk.

The post Becoming a Mom: What I Wish I Knew appeared first on Life Of A Momster.

How Much Do Babies Sleep?

A baby’s sleep schedule constantly changes as they grow.  When they are fresh out of the oven, they will tend to sleep all day, every day. As the days pass, you’ll notice that your baby will start to stay awake longer between naps. 

Eventually they will start dropping naps one by one. 

Here is a look at how many hours of sleep your little one should be getting.

*Total hours of sleep is within a 24 hour period.

**This post contains affiliate links**

When to Start a Bedtime Routine

A bedtime routine can usually start up around 2 or 3 months. 

When your baby starts to get “predictable” with their sleep and awake patterns, it’s probably a good indication that they are ready for a bedtime routine.  

The next step is to set a time that you’d want to begin this sleepy-time ritual!

We initially started WAY later than we probably should have. Our baby’s bedtime routine began around 8:30, and it could be an hour or more before we had her in her crib.

Word of Advice:

Start at an earlier time if you don’t want to be up too late. During sleep regressions, those later hours can be rough if it takes 2 or 3 hours to get your baby to sleep!

Our Baby’s Bedtime Routine

• Start with a bath
• Lather up with some soothing lotion
• Get baby dressed
• Read a bedtime book
• Swaddle, or put on sleep sack
• Turn on white noise machine
• Rock or Feed to sleep
• Slip out of the room like a Ninja

Bedtime Tips

Just to break down our sleep time ritual a little more- these are the steps we go through every night to keep our baby happy and snoozing.

1. Bedtime Bath

Some people will tell you not to give a bath every night.  We decided to incorporate a bath into our bedtime routine to let baby know that it is time to wind down.

Using calming wash and lotions such as lavender and chamomile has worked wonders for us.

2. Read a Book

The sound of your voice will help to calm your baby down for the night.  Reading before bed has been in our night time routine since day one.

Here are a few of our daughter’s favorite books!

3. Swaddle, Swaddle, Swaddle

Swaddling is amazing! Especially if your baby has a bad startle reflex like ours did.  This keeps them nice and cozy and feeling like they are being held close to you.

The zipper swaddles are the way to go too, if your baby allows it! Soo much easier for everyone.

Of course, you will want to ditch the swaddle once your baby starts trying to roll over!

4. Sleep Sacks

Once you are out of the swaddle stage, the next best invention is the sleep sack. We have tried two that have worked wonders for our little one.  Both the Nested Bean and the Woolino Sleep Sack are fantastic to keep baby comfy and stay asleep.

5. Turn on the White Noise

White noise machines are another life-saving hack! A white noise machine can mimic the sound inside the womb to help put your little one into a deep sleep, and stay asleep.

They will cancel out any disrupting noises such as the dog barking for no reason- just for an example.

6. Rock That Baby

When babies are teeny-tiny, something as simple as rocking could put them right to sleep. Make sure the room is dark and quiet where you are rocking your mini-me. Light and noise can be very distracting!

We would rock our baby girl once we covered all of the basics above, and let her drift off to dreamland.

7. A Little More Milkies

Really though.. is there anything more powerful than the milkies? That’s a negative. Just a little milk before sleep insures that they won’t be waking up hungry any time soon. (Hopefully at least 5 or 6 hours)

This has always been the icing on the sleepy cake for us. The “last milkies of the day” is the final step in our baby’s bedtime routine. Most of the time she will fall asleep before she can even finish the bottle!

Whatever Works for You

This bedtime routine is what we have done since our little girl was about 5 weeks old.  Getting them into a schedule for bedtime makes your life so much easier! It also keeps your little one calm around night time, because they know what to expect.

Any of these tips can be incorporated into baby’s bedtime routine. 

Do whatever works for you, and do your best to stick with it!

If you are in the process of developing a bedtime routine for your baby, let me know!!

Be sure to subscribe for more mama tips!

The post Bedtime Routine Tips for Baby appeared first on Life Of A Momster.

A cranial helmet is an orthotic device to help reshape a baby’s noggin that has become flattened either from birth or something as simple as sleep positions. They are used to correct the flatness and asymmetry.

These are usually made up of a hard outer shell with very soft foam on the inside.

A helmet works by adding constant pressure in certain spots, while also allowing growth in the flat regions of the head.

I would like to add that they are super cute, too!

In this post, I will be going over a mama’s guide for the baby helmet. Ways to ease your baby into full time wear, and things to remember along your journey.

**This post includes affiliate links to products I have used and trust. If any purchase is made through these links, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you!**

Why Would Your Baby Need a Helmet?

Your baby may need a helmet if you notice a lot of asymmetry with their head. Two of the main reasons are plagiocephaly and brachycephaly. 

Plagiocephaly

This was my daughter’s noggin.

Plagiocephaly is when the head flattens on one side or the entire back of the head.  It is mainly due to sleeping positions, and babies favoring one side.

My baby decided that she was going to favor one side over the other.  So she would turn her head to her right, that’s how she would sleep, feed, and eventually even started to lean that way. This caused the right side of her head to flatten, and the left side looked as though it was “bulged” out. 

Brachycephaly

This form of “flat-head” syndrome is when the back of the head is flat- not just one side.  The head will initially be wider than it is tall. This could also cause the forehead to protrude.

When are Helmets Recommended?

Depending on your child’s pediatrician, a helmet could be recommended right off the bat- or they will want to try everything else first to correct the asymmetry, or overall flatness of the head.

Doctors may recommend trying these first:

• Repositioning
• Tummy Time
• Simple at home neck stretches 
• Physical therapy

If these do not help to relieve pressure from your baby’s head, and there doesn’t seem to be any improvement – a helmet may be the next step.

Our daughter DESPISED tummy time! The only things that actually helped distract her from the fact that she was on her stomach were these here toys..

Most doctors will have you wait until the 4 month mark to see if there is any improvement, and then send a referral to a cranial specialist.

It’s Worse for the Parents

No, seriously- it really is.  I dreaded the fact that my baby was going to need a helmet, but once she got it, it was like nothing was even out of the “norm”.

I have to say that she even slept better with it. Of course the worst part was putting the helmet on, and taking it off. (It’s a learning curve). But you’ll get it!

I was even concerned about taking our daughter out in public, and having people stare and make comments. Honestly, most people would compliment on how cute she was, and asked questions about her accessory.

Just educate them!

*I know every baby will respond to a helmet differently, but this was our personal experience with our little helmet-head.*

Dress it Up

Before we got a helmet for our daughter, I had that girl in bows every.single.day.

I’m not sure why, but this was a huge downer for me- I wouldn’t be able to put a bow on her.

What I didn’t know is that people make bows specifically for cranial helmets!! In fact most places that do the helmets even offer a wrap design for them.

We personally went with a unicorn and ice-cream theme!

What is the Process?

First thing is first. Most likely you will need to get a referral to a specialist. Then the fun begins!

• First initial visit
• Scan of your baby’s cranium 
• Helmet fitting
• Follow ups- generally every 4 to 6 weeks

Follow the schedule!!

There will be a schedule that you will need to follow to ease your baby into wearing the helmet for those 23 hours of the day!

Day #1

One hour on – One hour off

(Keeping helmet off for naps and bedtime)

Day #2

2 hours on – 1 hour off

(Keeping helmet off for naps and bedtime)

Day #3

4 hours on – 1 hour off

(Keeping helmet on for naps and off for bedtime)

Day#4

8 hours on – 1 hour off

(Keeping helmet on for both naps and bedtime)

Day #5

The FINAL transition day!

23 hours on – 1 hour off

(Obviously keeping helmet on for naps and bedtime)

We followed this schedule exactly, and our helmeting journey was actually shorter than what we had initially planned.

We were advised that our daughter would need to wear her helmet for about a year, as she had severe plagiocephaly. However, we were determined to see improvement- FAST! And in the end that is what happened. Baby girl only needed to wear her helmet for 12 weeks. Then it was her first graduation time. HELMET GRADUATION!!

Some Things to Remember!

*Make sure you are checking for redness every time the helmet comes off.  The redness should go away within an hour’s time. Contact the doctor or specialist if it has not dissipated.*

Less Layers

It will take a week or maybe even 2 for your baby to adjust to the heat of the helmet.  They will SWEAT! Guarantee it.  Dress them cooler than you would normally.

We actually used the Woolino Sleep Sack at night. She did wonderful in that as it kept her nice and cool.

Milestone Delays

It’s OK – I promise!  This sounds terrifying, but it just means your baby might take a little longer to figure some things out.  Remember a helmet is awkward, and can make your little one a little top heavy.  

You may find that your baby was starting to roll over, and then stopped.

Or starting to crawl, and then stopped.

It’s OK!! Your baby will figure it out, and there is no need to worry.

Shoot, the helmet will probably make them stronger if anything!

Aquaphor is KEY

Since the helmet will be rubbing against your baby’s skin, you will want to give it a little protection against the irritation.  

I found that Aquaphor works the best.  Once that hour off is up- go ahead and put a little dab where you see a red mark.

Stinky Noggin

That’s right, your baby’s noggin will stink to high-heaven! All of that sweat and heat getting trapped in there is enough to make you gag from the smell. 

Side note:  We were not able to keep our baby cool enough no matter what. The temperature in the house was at 68 degrees, she’d only have a onesie on (no shorts, pants, sleepers). We ended up having holes drilled into the back of the helmet for ventilation.  Once that was done, we didn’t have any more issues with her dripping in sweat, and the stench was SO much better.

Also be sure to bath your baby every day during that hour off! This will make your baby feel so much better, especially if you use a little hair brush to scratch that noggin for them.

We used the FridaBaby Cradle Cap Silicone Brush, and our baby girl LOVED the feeling from that.

Cleaning the Helmet

Just like your baby’s head, the helmet will reek!

I’m sure every place is different with their cleaning instructions. But we found a simple solution that was sooooo easy! And it could be done within that one hour off.

How to Clean the Darn Thing

1. We would wait until bath time to clean our baby girl’s helmet.  
2. Take a clean wet washcloth and wipe the helmet out.  
3. Take a little bit of baby’s shampoo and scrub it
4. Wipe it back off with another clean, wet cloth. 
5. Let it air dry for about 15 minutes.

Next step is very important to clean this thing.

1. Spray the inside of the helmet with rubbing alcohol.
2. Wipe it down.
3. Let it dry.

**Please be sure not to submerge the helmet under water!!**

You Got This!

Hearing that your baby will need a cranial helmet is some scary crap!  But the choice is ultimately up to you if you want to do this.  Yes, doctors and specialists will recommend it, but it is your decision. 

We decided to go for it, realizing it’s only a temporary thing- and believe me IT GOES BY FAST!! 

Honestly, we could not be happier with the results.  Our baby girl has a perfectly round head. Her cheek isn’t protruded forward anymore- which could’ve caused issues later on in life. And it didn’t phase her one bit!

Like I said- it is way worse for us parents than it is for them!!

I actually find myself missing the little helmet.  It was a nice built in pillow, and a bumper!

Talk to ME

I’d love to hear about your baby’s helmeting journey, or if you are thinking about going on the adventure!  

Let me know in the comments.

I hope this Mama’s Guide for the Baby Helmet has helped you as much as it has for me.

Be sure to subscribe for more mama talk!

The post Mama’s Guide for the Baby Helmet appeared first on Life Of A Momster.

Are you ready for The Ultimate Pepperoncini Pot Roast?!

The Best Damn Pot Roast

Every now and then I will surprise my husband with a “home-made” meal that took hours upon hours to prep and cook.  But in reality- nobody has time for that! I know I don’t being a stay-at-home mom. 

I’m about to share with you The Ultimate PEPPERONCINI POT ROAST.  This is a big hit with my family, and it is even requested for birthdays or special occasion dinners.  

And it’s so simple- annnnnnnnd… I make it in the crock-pot!

Just 5 Ingredients!

When it comes to prepping a dinner, this recipe could not get any more simple.

You just need 5 ingredients, and a crock-pot!! How easy is that?

The biggest contender here is the roast itself.  Find a good size chuck roast (about 3lbs).  If you have a smaller family like me – just the hubby, myself, and baby girl– then this will give you plenty of leftovers!

So everything you need is:

• 3lb chuck roast
• 1 packet of ranch seasoning mix
• 1 packet of Aus Jus mix
• 8 or more pepperoncinis peppers
• 1 whole stick of butter

How Does One Make It?

Well it is honestly one of the easiest meals to make!  With only 5 ingredients, it is literally IMPOSSIBLE to mess this up.

Here is a little step by step on how to make this delish-dish:

1. Stick that chuck roast in the crock-pot
2. Pour the ranch and aus jus mixes all over the roast
3. Stick that big stick o’ butter on top
4. Place the pepperoncinis all around the roast (I like to pour a little of the juice in too to give it even more of a kick)
5. Turn that crock-pot on LOW for 8 hours
6. Shred up the meat
7. Stuff your FACE!

Side Notes: 
*If you are in a little bit of a hurry- sometimes I don’t get dinner started until around 1:30 in the afternoon- You can turn the crock-pot setting to HIGH for about 4 to 4 ½ hours.
*You can use less pepperoncinis to cut down the "heat" for your preference.
 

Low-Carb Dinner Until It Isn’t

Is that confusing? Let me explain.  This dinner is actually a low-carb meal.  However, I like to pair it with some homemade Mashed Taters.  It is soooo good to lather up the potatoes with the roast and all the juices. 

You can pair it with whatever you want!  Try cauliflower, carrots, onions. There are ENDLESS possibilities.

The Ultimate Pepperoncini Pot Roast

The best pot roast you have ever tasted! You only need 5 ingredients and a crock-pot. It doesn't get any easier than this.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 8 hours hrs

Total Time 8 hours hrs 5 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 8 people

Calories 470 kcal

Equipment

• Crock-pot

Ingredients

  

• 1 3lb Chuck Roast
• 1 packet Aus Jus Gravy Mix
• 1 packet Ranch Seasoning Mix
• 1 stick Butter
• 8 Pepperoncini Peppers

Instructions

 

• Take your chuck roast and place it in the crock-pot.
• Pour both of the mix packets over top of the roast.
• Place that stick of butter SMACK DAB on top of it all.
• Place pepperoncini peppers around the roast and a few on top.
• Cook on LOW for 8 hours
• Stuff Your FACE!

Keyword Pepperoncini Pot Roast, Pot Roast, SAHM Recipes

Nothing Like Leftovers

Like I mentioned earlier- you are bound to have leftovers with this dinner!  Unless you have a family of 8 or 10, then it will be just enough.

With my little family, especially since my daughter is JUST NOW getting into more solid foods, we have leftovers for days, or freeze the stuff and have it later on in the month.

There You Go!

This is such an easy meal to make, and it is a go-to with my family.

Let me know in the comments if you tried this recipe! I’d love to hear how you and your family liked it.

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