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8 Tried & Tested Bath Tips to Keep Baby Calm for New Moms

12/30/2020

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Hey there! Bringing home that new baby can be pretty overwhelming. I found there were a lot of things that seemed pretty self-explanatory, but then I was a little stumped on how I should go about doing it. Bathing was one of them. The first bath Jack hated it and cried the whole time. By the next week or so, I had finally found the secret formula that worked for both of us.

I am a visual learner, so I decided to take pictures of our bath process that we have used to show our setup for a smooth bath transition.
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1. Set up everything ahead of time. When I say everything, I literally mean everything. You want these transitions to be as smooth as possible. I get the bath stuff out; the tub, the towel, the peri bottle, washcloth, and soaps. When he was really little (newborn - 4 months) I would have his bathtub out on the floor with a towel underneath it. Now that he is getting bigger and likes to splash, but still needs his tub to sit up, I place the tub in our clawfoot tub.

PRO-TIP: We use the peri bottle to rinse his hair, genius I know. I can't take credit for it. It was a trick I learned while watching the nurse bathe him for the first time. She was nice enough to let me keep the bottle to use at home! ​
2. I also get everything out for after the bath too. I place it all on the floor because I find it the easiest and safest too. That way, if I forget something and he decides now is the first time to roll over, he isn't going far, and he isn't going to hurt himself.

3. Get out a muslin swaddle. Fold it in half into a giant triangle. Once baby is undressed, place baby's head at the top of the swaddle so that the shoulders line up with the crease. 

4. Fold the bottom corner up in between the legs quickly. Especially if you have a boy, so you don't get peed on in the process. 

5. Fold over both corners on the left and right of the baby to swaddle him or her.
6. Place baby in the bath and get the swaddle nice and wet with warm water. This will help them stay warm and calm during the bath. You will eventually need to rewet the swaddle with more warm water to keep the cloth warm. 

When I bathe Jack, I will unswaddle and wash one half of his body.  I usually start with the right side for whatever reason. In doing so, he still has the swaddle on half of him keeping him nice and warm. This is also a good chance to dunk that unswaddled corner into the water to reheat the cloth.

PRO-TIP: When bathing the baby, pour the water over their head and let the water run down their face. TRUST ME ON THIS. You might think it is mean, but I promise it will save you from issues later down the line. 

This was one of the very first things I learned what not to do as a kid watching my younger twin cousins experience bathing. My aunt would shield the water from their eyes and face when they were babies. 

Later as toddlers, my mom was giving the twins a bath. When the water hit their face, they cried so hard that one of them vomited in the tub. When their brother was born a few years later, my aunt made sure to pour water over his head and let the water run down over his face.
7. Wash all those little cracks and crevices. Seriously, babies get gunk in the weirdest spots; behind their ears, in between their little fat rolls, etc. 

Also, side note, if you are a first-time mom or dad reading this, the baby only needs a bath 2-3 times per week. CRAZY RIGHT!?!
I loved bath time with Jack because he was so cute and fun in the tub, plus who doesn't love that clean baby smell. I was only bathing him 3 times a week and this still was too much for him. His skin started drying out and he started to get dandruff. He now has a Wednesday night & Saturday morning bath schedule.

8.Dry off that cute little nugget and bring the baby over to get diapered and clothed. I will usually just leave all the bath stuff out until after Jack is dried, clothed, and settled. That is one thing you will learn is that things can wait and you can come back to them even if it is 30 minutes later. It is not going anywhere!

I hope this helps make life a little easier bathing that sweet little babe. Bath time is one of my favorite moments and I hope this process makes it a little bit easier on you and baby too! 

Happy bathing!

Newborn Jack Taking a Bath

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D.I.Y Hot Cocoa & Coffee Bar

12/17/2020

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It is that magical time of the year when the holidays are rolling around; it is time to get cozy and warm. This year I am trying to make things extra special since many of our family traditions are looking a little different this holiday season. 


Why not start a fun new tradition that both kids and adults will love? There is nothing better than cozying up with a hot cup of cocoa with all of the fun toppings and fixings, especially on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.


This is a fun and easy d.i.y. project that will cost around $20 or less to make depending on what materials you have at home.


You will need:
  1. A set of mason jars. (I bought mine from Target for less than $9 for the 12 pack of 8 oz. jars.)
  2. Baby It's Cold Outside FREE PRINTABLE
  3. Hot Chocolate and Coffee Bar Jar labels printable
  4. Scissors
  5. Ribbon
  6. Hot Glue
  7. Yummy Ingredients (hot chocolate mix, marshmallows, caramel sauce, crushed peppermint, chocolate chips, cinnamon sticks, etc.)
  8. Optional: I also bought some To-Go coffee cups with lids and sleeves to make it a little more fun and festive. ​
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Directions:
First, you need to download the jar labels and print them out on cardstock paper. Once printed, slowly cut out each of the circles with some scissors.​

When I created my jars, I placed four dots of hot glue, evenly spaced out around the jar. Place one dab of hot glue on the front of the jar, one on the back, and one on each side. 

Afterward, I took the ribbon and wrapped it around the jar. I had the two ends of the ribbon meet in the front. Having the two ends of the ribbon come together on the FRONT OF THE JAR is important, stick with me. Haha... get it...? Stick...? Glue...? Okay enough of the cheezy jokes. 

Next, I dragged the hot glue across the back of the label in the middle in a straight line, going from left to right horizontally. I then placed it on the front of the jar to cover the ends of the ribbon. In doing so, I had a nice, seamless ribbon wrapping my jar. 

Once you have done this to all the jars, it is time to fill your jars up with the different coffee condiments and treats.

I bought one of these wood platters to place it on to make it a little more festive and rustic.

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I hope you and your family have fun with your d.i.y cocoa and coffee bar!

CHEERS!
Download your FREE Hot Chocolate Bar Printable
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Cranberry Cream Cheese Pinwheels

12/17/2020

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​Prep Time: 15 minutes
Rest Time: 30 minutes
Assemble Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Serves: 15-20 people

Ingredients
  • Pack of 4, 10-inch tortillas (green or red)
  • 10 oz. softened cream cheese
  • 1/2 large green pepper, finely diced
  • 4 oz. fresh cranberry, finely diced
  • 1 tbsp of white vinegar
  • 3 tbsp of granulated white sugar
  • 2 tbsp of sliced green onion
  • 1/2 tbsp of salt
  • OPTIONAL: For spice, finely chopped jalapeno 
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Directions

Step 1: Mix all the ingredients together
Step 2. Refrigerate for 30 minutes
Step 3. Remove from refrigerator and drain any liquid
Step 4: Spread evenly on the tortillas
Step 5: Roll up
Step 6: Slice into 1/2 inch pinwheels 
Step 7: Place on a cute platter with an ornament in the center to give it a little festive fun and serve!

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    Hey there, I'm Melissa.

    Just a vintage loving new mama sharing ideas, recipes and ideas for the home.

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