When Your Baby Just Won't Sleep...

Maybe I was spoiled with my first two kids.  Max and Ella were great sleepers from the day we brought each of them home from the hospital.

I actually remember thinking at one point, that Ella might be sleeping too much.  We would put her in her bassinet, and she would snooze for hours on end, day or night.

When Theo was born in early April, I was bold enough to think that he would be the same as his brother and sister... that we would bring him home and watch in awe, as he blissfully slumbered the days and nights away.

I couldn't have been more wrong...

I feel guilty referring to Theo as a "high maintenance" baby, because I know that it's pretty common for parents to complain about being sleep deprived in the early months, after bringing home a new baby, but if you're wondering what nights were like around here in the beginning, let me just say it wasn't pretty.

Theo would literally only sleep if I was holding him.  It was so bad, that I set up camp on our couch so that my husband could sleep, and M&E wouldn't be woken by his shrieking at 2:00 AM.  As if that wasn't enough, for while there, I even had to sleep sitting up, because it seemed to be the only way that he was comfortable.

All of this might have been bearable, if I didn't have a 2 year old and a three year old to take care of during the day as well.

I started to really miss sleeping... so I began desperately searching for solutions.

At first a tried swaddling Theo in swaddle blankets, but that was a big fat fail, because he's a pretty strong baby and he would break out in no time at all.  After that it was on to swaddle sacks... still no real improvement.

Now,  I know a lot of people are pro co-sleeping, but in all honesty, I'm basically just pro-sleeping in general, as in I'll do whatever it takes just to get in my precious beauty rest... so when I discovered the dockAtot, I was totally intrigued.

The dockAtot is a multi-functional spot made for sleeping, lounging, and playing, that you can take with you pretty much anywhere. DockAtot was designed in Sweden and is meant to provide a nurturing and cozy surrounding for your little one.

Everywhere I turned, parents were raving about this thing, and singing its praises as if it was the greatest thing that had ever happened to them

As I sat there in my sleep deprived state, large coffee in hand, reading people's reviews of the dockAtot, I began to want one desperately.  I truly believed that it would be the solution to all of my problems.

I am being 100% honest when I tell you that Theo's first night in the dockAtot was the longest he had slept, without waking, up to that point.  It was a bit of an adjustment in the beginning, since he was used to sleeping upright and in my arms, but thanks to the way that the dockAtot is designed, after a few nights, he got more used to it, and seemed to feel really snug and secure while sleeping in it.  We went with the deluxe size version, which is recommended for babies ages 0-8 months, and since it supposed to recreate a womb-like feeling, this seemed to be a great fit. There is also a Grand sized version, meant for ages 9-36 months. I should also mention that it comes with several options for covers in terms of  color and design, and they are all machine washable.

Theo is almost three months old now, and though he's still not 100% sleeping through the night every night, between the dockAtot and this amazing swaddle, he is only waking once or twice to nurse, and he immediately goes back to sleep, which for us, has been a huge improvement.

I love that with the dockAtot, I can sleep with Theo near me, but safely, and in his own little space.  We plan on transitioning him into his crib at night once he turns three months, but in the meantime, we have been putting the dockAtot in there during naps, and he has been doing great.  I think it will go really smoothly, since he is already so used to sleeping in the dockAtot as it is.

I also love that the dockAtot is so portable.  We recently went away for the weekend, and it was so nice not to have to lug a huge pack and play along with us to a hotel. It was so easy to bring the dockAtot along, and in addition to having a place to sleep, Theo also had a safe place to lounge, and I was able to throw a blanket over it and use it as a surface to change his diapers on while we were on the road.

We've also begun using the dockAtot for tummy time lately, and it has become a great place for him to play and explore things.

I've had quite a few people ask me at this point if I think the dockAtot is worth the price and I can honestly say yes, I think it is worth every penny.  I will likely purchase the Grand version when the time comes, because I truly believe that it is that good of a product!  The improvement in Theo's quality of sleep during naps and at night speaks for itself, and as someone who is exceptionally fond of sleep myself, any product that helps to provide me with that luxury, is worth any price!

Disclosure- I was provided a dockAtot to review for this post.  All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

xoxo,

Friday Favorites with Finn + Emma

{robot romper | lovey c/o stella and lu}

I love discovering new places to find cute and unique clothing and accessories for my kids...

It's been awhile since I shared a "Friday Favorite" with you guys, and this week I'm talking about Theo's adorable new outfits from Finn + Emma, that I totally can't get enough of.

{bandana bib | pacifier clip c/o loved by sophia claire}

Aside from the fact that the stuff that Finn + Emma makes is super cute and about as soft as it gets, all of their items are made with organic cotton and non-toxic eco friendly dyes, which makes me feel good about the material that is close to my baby's skin.

When I first checked out their website, I was immediately drawn to the great colors and modern prints that they featured in their collections.

For Theo, I chose from both the Robot and Sailor collections, and went with the romper, coverall, and bandana bib styles.

I love how their clothes fit... not too big, but generous enough in size, that he will be able to wear them for quite awhile.

In addition to clothing, Finn + Emma also makes adorable toys, rattles and teethers.

{sailor coverall | deluxe dockAtot c/o dockAtot}

If you're looking for a new place to find quality made items for your babe or to give as gifts, check out Finn + Emma!

Disclosure- This post was sponsored by Finn + Emma, however, all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

xoxo,

Babywearing with Solly Baby

I never really did much babywearing when Max and Ella were infants.  

When Max arrived, he was my only baby and I had just become a SAHM... At the time, it seemed that I had all the time in the world to hold him in my arms, and snuggle him for hours on end.  

By the time that Ella arrived, I was convinced I had a pretty good handle on our routine, and thanks to the fact that she was a very low maintenance baby, I never really felt that babywearing was necessary.  We would do it occasionally, but definitely not regularly.

Of course I had no idea about all of the benfits of babywearing (besides the fact that it is a lifesaver when you have more than one child), but when I found out we were expecting baby number three, I decided that I would need to do some research.  One thing I was certain of, was that I would soon be totally outnumbered, and that I needed to find a way to accommodate the needs of an infant, while keeping my hands free to tend to two busy and needy toddlers.

I came across the Solly Baby Wrap on Instagram, and was instantly intrigued.  I loved the wide variety of color options, and what I read about how soft and lightweight the wrap was.

I began wearing Theo as soon as we came home from the hospital with him... it was a necessity for my survival as a mom, seeing as I was going to be home all day, every day, with three kids by myself... but I instantly fell in love with it, and I think that he did too.

Wearing Theo in the Solly keeps him cozy and snuggly, which is obviously comforting to him, but the wrap is also super comfortable for me to wear as well. It is just as lightweight as I had read that it was, and the material is super soft.  When I did babywear with Ella, I used a Moby wrap, and it always made me feel so hot.  The material felt thick and stiff to me.  I never feel that way with the Solly, and I have worn Theo on some pretty hot days.

I love the fact that I can still do so much while wearing Theo in the Solly, and still feel like I am keeping him close, since I don't have the time, like I had with Max, to just sit and hold him all day. Wearing him frees up my hands so that I am able to hold M&E's hands when we are out and about, and affords me the option of not having to always lug around our huge double stroller.

Theo generally falls asleep within minutes of being wrapped, even on days when he seems to be the fussiest.

We recently took a road trip as a family to the beach for the weekend, and I wore Theo the majority of the time we were away... I am 100% convinced that it was the reason that he behaved like such an angel for the entire trip. He slept in the wrap while were at the beach, and while we strolled around town and enjoyed both dinner and brunch.

Whenever I wear him in the Solly, I get stopped by women inquiring about it, and I honestly can't rave about it enough.  I know a lot of people are concerned that wrapping might be difficult, or that they won't be able to figure it out, but Elle, the owner of Solly, offers amazing tutorial videos on their site, and once I did a few times, it became second nature to me.  Now it literally takes me like 30 seconds to get the wrap on.

If we are heading out somewhere, and I know that I plan on wearing Theo, sometimes I will put the wrap on before we get in the car, so that when we arrive, it is that much easier to just put Theo in it and be on our way.  Even if I don't wrap ahead of time, the wrap folds up easily, so I always keep one on hand in my diaper bag.

If you are interested in learning more about the Solly Wrap, and babywearing in general, you can find more information here... but if you want my opinion, I think it's pretty clear.  I have become obsessed with babywearing, particularly in the Solly, and I feel pretty confident in saying that has saved my sanity over the last few months.  My only regret at this point, is that I didn't start regularly babywearing sooner.

Disclosure- This post was sponsored by Solly Baby, but I love the heck out of my Solly wraps, and all of the opinions you just read are 100% my own.

xoxo,

Replay Recycled Review and Giveaway

I have a confession to make.  I'm kind of a toddler eating utensil hoarder of sorts.  You name the brand, I've bought it.  I'm embarrassed to even tell you how much money I have wasted testing out different brands of sippy cups... So when I say I am excited to share a little bit with you all about the amazing Re-play Recycled, you can rest assured that I have road tested enough brands to tell you, that this one is by far a favorite in our house.

For starters, let me give you a little bit of background info about the line.

Re-play products are made right here in the USA from recycled milk jugs, making them an awesome alternative for parents who are looking to make the planet a better place for their children as well as future generations.

One pound of recycled plastic, equivalent to 2 of the gallon-sized milk jugs they use to make their products, saves enough energy to power a 60W light bulb for 6 days, charge a smartphone for 31 weeks, power a 32" LCD TV for 3 days, and charge an electric car for 6 hours.

As if all of that isn't awesome enough, their products are super affordable, with most of their individual items, as well as their sets, priced at under $10.

Now let me tell you some of our favorite features of Re-play products...

Durability-

These items are super thick and durable, which means they hold up to getting chucked from high chairs, a past time we've become quite fond of around here.  They are also dishwasher safe, which is a huge plus in my opinion.

Colors-

I'm a big fan of color, and the variety of choices that Re-play offers is impressive.  This makes it easy for me to designate specific colors for each of my children, so there is no confusion over whose cup is whose.

Safety-

Re-play products are BPA, Phthalate free, and PVC free... always important, especially when it comes to my kids.

Our #1 Favorite Thing- 

Re-play's No-spill sippy cups really are NO SPILL!!! My kids are rough with their cups.  They drop them, they throw them, they kick them... no matter what, these cups NEVER leak... and they are literally the only ones we own that don't, which makes them our go-to everyday cup.  As soon as I discovered this awesome feature, I stocked up on these cups!  Don't believe me?  Give their No-Spill Challenge a try.

Re-play products can be purchased online through Amazon, or at www.shop.re-play.com/.  You can also find them in select Wal-mart stores, Whole Foods, Kroger, and other grocers.

You want to know the best part?  Re-play has kindly allowed me to give away a set (like the one pictured below), in the color of the winner's choosing!  All you have to do is enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway