Shop the Collection
Shop the Collection
Shop the Collection
I keep my skincare routine super minimal in general, and pregnancy is no exception. Here are some of my favorite pregnancy and breastfeeding safe, quality ingredients, actually work as intended products.
When I was first looking into stroller systems, I absolutely fell for the UPPAbaby Vista. It checked all my boxes: high quality, bassinet and toddler seat options, a car seat that clicks in as well, the ability to expand for a second child, and even a ride-on board option for a third. We went for it and it’s an absolute luxury to push around our walkable neighborhood. I do not regret buying it. But if I didn’t live somewhere that I could just push the stroller out the door, I would invest the money elsewhere. What I’ve learned since is that the Vista is a pain to fold up and store. It’s a two-handed process that’s awkward and never quite results in my feeling that it’s stable enough to stand up on it’s own. The handle needs to be extended for the stroller to stand up, and even then it’s never quite sturdy, but is quite heavy and can take itself down. We never fold it up for this reason, and instead tuck it into a corner fully set up. And because of this awkward fold setup, it’s an absolute hassle to bring in the car. There’s no easy way
I hesitate to even say this at the risk of offending nearly every woman who has ever been pregnant, but I never had morning sickness. What DID plague me for both the second and third trimesters was a feeling of indigestion that followed me night and day. Do check with your OB or midwife, but these are the things that helped me through.
When we were preparing to bring our first baby home, I spent a lot of time worrying about his safety with our three cats. All of which were used to sleeping in our bedroom, and would be more than happy to climb in a cozy bassinet to snuggle a warm new human (adorable but not safe!!). Initially I tried using one of those bohemian tent like curtains on a ring above the bassinet (like a bug net but pretty), which was set up weeks ahead of time. My cats pretty quickly showed me that they were happy to forge through the fabric and make their way in. With just a week to spare, I found this bassinet with a zip-top canopy. The top folds down for the bassinet to be fully open and accessible, but when baby is inside you can pull them up and zip the whole thing closed. The top and sides are all breathable, but it prevents the fur babies from climbing in too. Bonus that it’s super affordable (less expensive than your usual crib!).
When you first start looking into strollers, the options are numerous. From affordable, simple designs, to luxury setups that come with multiple seating options and can even expand for multiple kids as needed, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the choices. We did choose one of the more deluxe setups, but in addition to that, and the one I would buy again, is the mid-price point and endlessly useful Doona. The Doona is an incredible car seat/stroller combo that doesn’t sacrifice on either end of its uses. It’s so convenient for new parents when you arrive at your destination and baby is asleep. Just lift the car seat out and drop the wheels with one click. Baby keeps snoozing and you’re on your way. If you live in a city and need to hop in a cab, the stroller can collapse and the car seat can be buckled in using the seat belt. It’s amazing for airplane travel so you have your own clean seat at your destination (and save on the rental company car seat fees which add up quick!). We invested in the travel bag so we can gate check it stress free and know it will arrive
I wasn’t always a minimalist. In fact, up until my first baby was born 2 years ago, I actively described myself as a maximalist. But once my son came home and my focus became him, I realized all my ‘things’ were just that – things. So I started a months and maybe years long endeavor to clear our home of the clutter, one room at a time. Doing so has brought more me clarity and future free-time (I can reset my house in 10 minutes) than any mindfulness meditation or organization hack has ever done. What remains is a home with only those things that add value to our life. Looking through our rooms now, it’s so clear which pieces are worthy to remain in our space, and all of them lend themselves to multiple uses, that will serve us over many years.
