Parenting Archives - The Basic Housewife

Best Gifts for New Moms | 20 Postpartum Gift Ideas

Danielle at Basic Housewife — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 20:34:04 +0000

Are you looking for the best gifts for new moms? From pampering gifts to practical essentials, this list has the best postpartum gift ideas for new moms.

*This article contains affiliate links, meaning we earn a small commission when you purchase through them.

This article is all about gifts for new moms.

Motherhood is amazing, but whether she’s a first-time mom or going from three to four, welcoming a new baby into a home can be a huge adjustment.

So if you’re here because you’re looking to support a new mama, you’ve come to the right place!

In this post, we’ll look at some of the best gifts for new moms that combine thoughtfulness with practicality, ensuring that they feel loved and supported during this transitional time.

1. Homemade Food

A home-cooked meal is always so appreciated! Ideally, you want to make something that can be frozen or can sit in a fridge for a few days. Also be sure to take allergies or dietary restrictions into consideration.

2. Food Delivery Gift Cards

DoorDash, GrubHub, Uber Eats — these are all great options for new parents and will allow them to choose meals they are in the mood for!

3. Button-Up Pajamas

Button-up pajama sets are perfect whether mom is breastfeeding or not. This set is highly rated by customers and comes in tons of different colors!

4. Audiobook Subscription

Taking the time to read a physical book can be hard in the postpartum stages, but parents can listen to audiobooks while doing feedings, cleaning, rocking babe to sleep, etc.

5. Kindle and/or Kindle Unlimted Subscription

For mom’s who love to read, a kindle is a godsend! You can hold a kindle in one hand, baby in the other, and enjoy some snuggles and stories at the same time!

6. Neck & Shoulder Massager

It might seem gimmicky, but this massager works WONDERS! New parents will love relaxing with this at night after a long day of holding and carrying baby around.

7. Self Care Gift Basket

This is such a cute gift that any new mom will love! All the items are super functional and it’s the perfect way to say “congrats!”

8. Affirmations Gift Basket

This gift basket for new moms is the perfect way to remind her how strong and amazing she is!

9. Hair Growth Kit

I wish I would have started this hair growth system earlier in my postpartum journey. I started using Vegamour about a year pp and it’s helped with so much regrowth!

10. Cleaning Service

The house can easily get out of hand after having a baby so hiring a cleaning service can be a huge help for new parents, even if it’s just a one-time cleaning!

11. Cozy Robe

This robe was a godsend for me during pregnancy. and post-partum. I love the longer length, but the thickness was perfect for cozying up without overheating.

12. Personalized Ring

These personalized rings are beautiful, subtle, and are a bit more practical than necklaces or bracelets, especially if baby likes to pull on things.

13. Non-Toxic Personal Care Kit

For moms who are breastfeeding and want to be careful about what they are putting on their skin, this body care set from Primally Pure is a must!

14. Bed Tray

Especially great for moms recovering from a C-section or who just plan to spend time lounging with baby, this bed tray will be great for eating, reading, holding bottles, etc.

15. Noise Reduction Ear Plugs

Babies can be super overstimulating and it’s totally normal to feel that way! These noise reduction ear plugs will help dull the noise, but still allow you to be aware of your surroundings!

16. Foot Massager

I was on my feet a LOT as a new mom and man, I wish I would have had one of these foot massagers. It would have been the perfect way to unwind each night.

17. Coffee/Tea Mug Warmer

There are 374 distractions as a new parent so finding time to enjoy a warm cup of coffee can be difficult! This mug warmer will keep warm for hours on end so mom never has to sip a cold cup of coffee.

18. Supportive Slippers

I was CONSTANTLY on my feet rocking my daughter to sleep and these orthopedic slippers would have been an absolute life saver for my feet and hips.

19. Large Insulated Water Bottle

This 40oz tumbler is the perfect way to keep mama hydrated all day long. Not only is it cute, but it’s leak-resistant and has a cute hidden straw!

20. Postpartum Grace Guide

As new parents, we can be pretty hard on ourselves. This grace guide has daily checkins so moms can feel empowered, supported, and encouraged.

The post Best Gifts for New Moms | 20 Postpartum Gift Ideas appeared first on The Basic Housewife.

The 20+ Best Montessori Toys for 1 Year Olds

Danielle at Basic Housewife — Fri, 24 May 2024 14:40:00 +0000

Are you looking for the best Montessori toys for 1 year olds & 2 year olds? Check out this list of must-have Montessori learning toys that are parent (and kid!) approved!

Want the condensed list? Shop my full collection of 30+ Montessori toys here.

*This article contains affiliate links, meaning we earn a small commission when you purchase through them.

This article is all about montessori toys for 1 year olds.

What are Montessori Toys?

Montessori toys are a category of educational toys inspired by the Montessori method of education, which was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori in the early 20th century.

Montessori toys are designed to encourage hands-on learning, independence, and exploration.

Unlike traditional toys that may be flashy, noisy, and overly stimulating, Montessori toys are typically (but not always) made from natural materials.

They focus on simplicity, functionality, and promoting specific skills such as fine motor development, problem-solving, and sensory exploration.

Overall, Montessori toys are carefully crafted to support the natural development of children by providing open-ended play and allowing them to use their imagination and creativity.

Montessori Toys for 1 Year Olds

These toys are perfectly tailored to meet the needs of young, curious minds. Check out our curated list of the best Montessori toys for toddlers, below.

1. Wooden Stacking Animals

Great for developing fine motor skills and imagination play, Kids will love stacking these animals.

2. Shape Stacker Puzzle

This shape stacker is great for learning puzzling, colors, and shapes.

3. Sorting Sticks

A great way to practice colors and sorting, these sticks will be a household favorite!

4. Busy Board

Busy boards are a great way to practice different skills like zippers, locks, laces, and so much more!

5. Ball Drop Box

This is one of my daughter’s faves and is a great way to improve hand-eye coordination.

6. Wooden Stacking Rocks

These colorful stacking rocks help kids practice balance and stimulate their creativity.

8. Montessori Dinosaur

This is a popular occupational therapy toy that’s perfect for dinosaur lovers!

8. Farm Animal Sorting

Kids will love playing with these cute farm animals while practicing colors, numbers, and object permanence.

9. Montessori Jungle Gym

The perfect gift for adventurous kids — these wooden climbing toys are a customer-favorite.

10. Bead Lacing Kit

This lacing bead set is a great way to keep kids busy during screen-free time, while practicing hand-eye coordination.

11. Travel Busy Board

This busy-board is perfect for entertaining littles in the car or at restaurants!

12. Coin Box Toy

Great for practicing hand-eye coordination, toddlers will love putting their coins in the box,

13. Wooden Balance Beam

Improve balance, coordination, and muscle strength with this transformable Montessori balance beam.

14. Color Matching Puzzle

What better way to practice color matching and counting skills than with ice cream?!

15. Montessori Carrot Harvest

Not only is this toy cute, but it exercises logic skills since every carrot is a different size!

16. Shape Sorting Puzzle

This stackable shape sorter is a customer-favorite on Amazon!

17. Bird Feeder Game

Kids will get a kick out of the woodpecker eating the worms from the tree.

18. Pretend Play Food Set

This adorable food set encourages imaginative and independent play.

19. Shape Sorting Puzzle

A must-have Montessori learning toy, this magnetic animal train is well-loved by customers!

20. Shape Sorting Puzzle

An aesthetic way for babies to learn color matching and improve hand-eye coordination.

21. Magnetic Ice Cream Truck

Learning has never been sweeter! This toy is designed to promote fine motor skills in a fun and interactive way.

Looking for even more montessori toys for 1 year olds? Check out this collection of montessori toys to find all of the ones above and more!

The post The 20+ Best Montessori Toys for 1 Year Olds appeared first on The Basic Housewife.

Is The Dreamland Baby Weighted Sleep Sack Worth It? | An Honest Review

Danielle at Basic Housewife — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 20:42:13 +0000

Are you wondering how to get your baby to sleep through the night? Looking for the best baby sleep sack options? If you’re struggling with newborn sleep, check out my review of the Dreamland Baby weighted sleep sack and how it changed my daughter’s sleep…for the better!

And if you’re just here for the discount, no worries. Use the code DANIELLEWEBER to save 15% off your Dreamland Baby Co. order when you shop here.

^{This article contains affiliate links, meaning we earn a small commission when you purchase through them, but your support means the world to me and my famil}^y.

Our Newborn Sleep Journey…

As a new parent, one thing that no one can truly prepare you for is your baby’s sleep schedule.

You could do all the prep and research in the world, but each baby’s sleeping habits are unique to them and as soon as you get accustomed to a schedule, they change it up on you. It’s rude, honestly.

When we brought our baby home, her sleep habits almost seemed too good to be true. With a simple muslin swaddle, she slept through the night (we woke her to feed, of course!) with minimal fussing.

But after a few weeks, she was refusing to sleep on her back, breaking out of her swaddles, waking up every couple of hours during the night, and required endless bouncing to fall asleep.

Seriously, you guys. I was walking 10,000+ steps a day just by walking circles around my kitchen island to get her to fall asleep.

I was exhausted and trying everything. I can’t tell you how many middle-of-the-night Amazon orders I placed for different for different sleep remedies.

After a couple of months of not-so-great sleep, our neighbors gave us their Nested Bean swaddle to try.

If you aren’t familiar with the Nested Bean swaddles, they are very similar to other velcro swaddles, but they are very lightly weighted on the chest and arms to mimic the feeling of being hugged.

We used it every night for about a month and this was the first time I started to see positive progress with my daughter’s sleeping habits. But around 3 months, she started to outgrow it and was breaking through the velcro.

After having a positive experience with a weighted swaddle, I knew I wanted to try one again so I went back to the internet and that’s when I found Dreamland Baby Co.

I’m not going to lie, the price of the Dreamland Baby Weighted Sack was VERY intimidating. It felt like a big investment for something that may or may not work. But after reading reviews (and some late-night desperation), I caved and made the purchase.

Our Experience with the Dream Weighted Sleep Sack

Now, once we got it, it wasn’t one of those miraculous moments where you put the swaddle on and they instantly love it and sleep through the night. In fact, she didn’t seem to love it at all. So feeling defeated, I shoved it in her closet, cursing myself for wasting money.

A few weeks later, her Nested Bean was dirty, so needing SOMETHING to wrap her in, I pulled out the Dreamland sleep sack, and to my surprise, she didn’t fuss and seemed to sleep pretty well.

So we tried it again. And again. And after a week of consistently good sleep (about 1-2 wake-ups/night) we decided that the Dreamland Baby Co sleep sack was her new sleeping attire.

With all that being said, we have used the Dream Weighted Sleep sacks for 8+ months and it has become our absolute favorite baby product.

About The Dream Weighted Sleep Sack

If you aren’t familiar with weighted sleep sacks, they are all a bit different, so let me specifically tell you about Dreamland Baby Co.

The Dream Weighted Sleep Sack is designed to help babies feel calm, fall asleep faster, and stay asleep longer. The sack has evenly distributed weight all along the front to naturally reduce stress and give your baby the feeling of security and comfort – just like a hug.

Why we love it:

Our daughter gets better sleep, meaning we get better sleep
A 2-way zipper allows for easy nighttime diaper changes
She’s still able to safely roll, crawl, and stand, while wearing the sack
As a tummy sleeper, the neckline is reversible so she can wear it backward
It’s super easy to wash and clean

Depending on your baby’s age and mobility, Dreamland Baby Co has a whole line of weighted sleep products, ranging from a weighted swaddle, a weighted transition swaddle, and a weighted sleep sack.

Are Weighted Sleep Sacks safe?

Dreamland’s weighted products were designed in collaboration with pediatricians, NICU nurses, and certified sleep consultants and have been reviewed by pediatric pulmonologists for breathing safety.

As with anything, following sizing guidelines is key, but overall, they provide a safe alternative for babies who love to fall asleep in the comfort and security of their parents’ arms.

Is The Dreamland Baby Sleep Sack Worth It?

Sleep has been an uphill battle and with sleep regressions, is one we’re constantly battling. But since using the Dream Weighted Sleep Sack, it truly has gotten SO much better and more consistent.

I can’t recommend their products enough and I think the Dreamland Baby Co products are 100% worth it. (And no, they aren’t paying me to say that and they have no idea I’m writing this!)

We are currently on our third weighted sleep sack (0-6, 6-12, and now the 12-24 month) and I can’t imagine our lives without it.

If you’re ready to give you and your baby the gift of better sleep, it’s time to check out Dreamland Baby Co! And because I know they are pricey, I reached out to Dreamland to give you all a discount code.

Save 15% sitewide when you use the code DANIELLEWEBER at checkout.

You Newborn Sleep Experience

I would love to know what types of challenges you and your little are having with sleep. Drop a comment and let me know what your experience has been like!

The post Is The Dreamland Baby Weighted Sleep Sack Worth It? | An Honest Review appeared first on The Basic Housewife.