Squishy Mats Review
Top 10 New Mommy Must-Haves

As a first time mom, everyday you wish there was some type of handbook to walk you through the newest and most unfamiliar challenges that you are now faced with in this journey.  Mommy blogs and youtube were my two go-tos as soon as my bundle of joy graced us with his presence and I realized no amount of baby book edited and published wisdom would trump first hand experience and learning on the fly! With that said, one thing that I wish I had looked into more (especially when registering) was new mommy must haves, simply to avoid registering for 130 things and only using half of them at most! Case in point, is why I decided to compile a top 10 list of mommy must haves to save you the headache.

10) Muslin Blankets

Please believe the hype surrounding these little blankets of joy. I used for my little every single day and continue to do so! I have the child who will scream that he is cold at the top of his lungs when it is 110 degrees outside just so that I will whip out his blanket and he can feel "cozy'. They are lightweight which is perfect for Texas weather no matter the season and get softer as you wash them. The word Amazing doesn't being to cover them.

9. A Travel System

The options for a travel system seem to be endless but believe me when I say, purchasing or registering for one is the best move. I grappled with the idea of buying pieces separately but I am so incredibly glad I opted for a travel system. He is almost 3 and we still whip out his stroller at the drop of a hat and off we go.

8. A car seat canopy/ cover

I had my son in November so for weather purposed his carseat cover made perfect sense; However  what most new moms take into consideration is the number of people, STRANGERS, who feel it is completely acceptable to walk up to you beautiful baby and tough their hand and face with hands, that have been only god knows where, without blinking an eye! In comes the need for a car seat cover, baby is cozy and protected from unsolicited touches and kisses. Win-Win!

7. Sleepers with buttons

From many suggestions I received when my son was a newborn sleepers with zippers were absolutely the most popular but from my own experience they were the most inconvenient.. Imagine it being 3 AM, your little one wakes up for a feeding and diaper change and you have to completely unzip their sleeper and practically undress them in order to achieve a diaper change. It seemed crazy to me! Instead I found sleepers with buttons to be the best option for us. Simply undo a few buttons, get a quick change and snap them back up. Bang! All set!

6. Breast Pump

For any breast feeding momma, a breast pump is going to be your new best friend! What I wasn't aware of was how handy having both a electric and hand breast pump would be. Whether you have 15 minutes to pump a quick bottle or 30 minutes to sit down with an electric pump, they both are such a help!

5.Nose Frida

Now I know most people who pick up a Nose Frida are instantly put off to the idea but let me tell you, it is the one of the absolute best things I picked up for my little guy! He is almost 3 and he will ask me to use it when he is stuffed up and just not feeling his best. I promise you, there is no direct contact with the contents of your little one's nose. I promise! 

4.Jumper

I had an infant who would jump like bunny whenever he was held in an upright position long enough. The baby Jumper we got him was his favorite and was absolutely essential in making sure his legs were strong and ready to walk when the time came. 

3. Baby Carrier

Before having my son I had no idea how imperative baby wearing would be when it came to getting anything done or going somewhere that was not necessarily stroller friendly.  We wore Aaron until we literally could not because of the weight restrictions. Try several on and see which works best for you and your little one but I promise, you wont regret getting one! Keep them close.

2. Diaper Bag

 I know some new moms are anti-diaper bag but I lived out of mine until Aaron was 100% potty trained. I am a serial over packer but my diaper bag came to my rescue in many a mom emergency. If I had one piece of advice when it comes to selecting a diaper bag it would be to pick on with a backpack option, it comes in handy when your two arms are occupied with a little one but you still are toting along all nursery essentials. Trust Me!

1. The Squishy Mat!

We are a traveling family and anywhere we go, as you can expect, our son goes! What I quickly learned was that not every location we went would have the most baby friendly accommodations especially when it came to sitting, laying my little one down, and even changing a diaper. Let me introduce you the game changer.. The Squishy Mat!

It comes in 3 different sizes ranging from a changing pad(16X32)to larger mats (3X3 and 4X4). It contains 1 inch of memory foam and let me tell you, If i could get away with lounging on it, I would! It is so deliciously soft and comfy and folds up to fit perfectly in your diaper bag! To top it off it has a rubber non-stick backing to ensure your little one is safe and the mat remains in one place instead of slipping it out from underneath them. *Spoiler Alert: Each one of my expecting friends can expect one as a baby gift because they are most definitely a mommy must have!*

If you would like to check one out, here is a code for 15% off that you can use on squishymat.com!