Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means that if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions shared are my own.
Years before Eila was a tinkle in our eye, I started cleaning out, painting, and creating a nursery in the hope that one day we would welcome home a little baby. The room itself is the smallest of the bedrooms in our 1890's farmhouse with limited storage space in the form of a tiny closet. We knew, though, that although this room was small that it was the perfect space for a nursery. The alternative bedroom options are all on the second floor up a narrow, steep staircase that has been the cause of many late night tumbles. Since our room is also on the first floor, we figured that having her close by would make the most sense long term as she grows and eventually spends the nights in her own crib. After refinishing the floors and painting the room a neutral tan (beige, Patrick says), we started the nursery by buying the Delta dresser and matching crib. Once we had those items, the hunt began to find the perfect chair. Keeping in mind that this room is small, we had to find a chair that was narrow enough to fit, while also wanting to find one that would enable us to rock and recline. (Soon, I'll do a post on the nursery and link the items, wallpaper, etc.) With such little storage, I knew immediately that I wanted to keep the dresser open for her clothing, sleep sacks, etc. The meant that I needed an alternative solution for diapering. After deciding that a shelf above the dresser wasn't for us, I scoured pinterest to find a solution that was inexpensive, small, and practical. Forty dollars later, this little, black Ikea cart became the perfect addition to the room. The fact that we can wheel it from room to room if needed, and that it has three tiers of storage made it the perfect addition. Prior to delivery, I even outfitted a second cart for our bedroom to make the late night diaper changes in these early days easier. The only deviation from this cart and the bedroom cart is that the bedroom cart has an ample supply of nursing pads, while the cart in her bedroom doesn't. Let's Dive In!
The diaper cart is divided into three tiers. The top shelf is the readily accessible, regular use items. Since the cart is right near the chair that we feed Eila in throughout the day, we keep several burp clothes on the top shelf for easy access. In the corner organizer, we keep her brush, comb, snot sucking bulb, and nail file. The convenience of having these items right there is incredibly helpful to eliminate late night rummaging through all of her stuff. We also keep a baby thermometer on this shelf. In the middle of the top shelf, are all of the creams and lotions we could need or want for our little lady's delicate skin (more on this below) and a notebook in case we need to jot anything down during a feeding session. A jar of Earth Mama organic Nipple Butter can be found near the other lotions and notions. Probably the most important items, a pack of diapers and wipes can also be found on this top shelf. The middle shelf of the cart is our easy access storage shelf. Granted, this, in theory, is optional for her nursery since we have an under crib pull out with diaper and wipe storage as well. I wanted to make sure, though, that if the top shelf was running low or if we ran out before adding more that we would have a new pack of each in arms reach. I have visions of baby booty blow outs when the last diaper has just been used that I would love to avoid. The bottom shelf has a number of swaddle blankets and wraps of different fabrics and sizes. This has come in handy especially after bath time. After her bath, I bring Eila into her room wrapped in a towel to get a fresh diaper and clothing. The access to a swaddle blanket right there means that I don't need to step away from the changing table to grab a swaddle for her. Although she doesn't roll or really try to wiggle off the table as a newborn, this is something that will be even more important as she grows. Since babies cool off quite quickly after bath time, we try to get her dressed and wrapped up as quickly as possible. Diaper Creams
Like most babies, Eila's tush is already showing signs that the frequent poops and cleanings are irritating her skin. For some reason, before she was born I purchased not one but three different #diapercream (why? I have no idea.) In the weeks since her birth, we have had a chance to use all three and have some thoughts. Going forward, we are planning to continue using the three we have and are going to try a fourth type of paste soon that was recommended by my sister. We have found that Eila, like her parents, has sensitive skin so I have a feeling that our search for the best products for her may take some time as she grows.
Hello Bello Diaper Rash Cream
Because we live in rural Maine with only easy access to a Hannford and Wal-Mart unless we want to drive 40min - 1hr, the HelloBello cream is the one of the most easily accessible of the trio. This cream means business! If you're looking for a paste most similar to Boudreaux's Butt Paste in texture, this cream is the ticket. Super thick, this diaper rash cream goes onto your baby's booty smoothly and stays on until the next changing. Advertised as a non-nano zinc oxide cream with soothing organic oils, this cream is hypoallergenic and pediatrician tested. Since this cream is on the thicker side, it also means that if your little one has a particularly wet poop or has been sitting in a wet diaper for a bit, you may need to take an extra moment to really make sure you wipe off all of the cream and, perhaps, let their tush air out for a moment before re-applying. All in all, we like this cream and have multiple tubes on hand for times when her butt looks most annoyed.
Honest Company Diaper Rash Cream I would consider this one a true cream - it is thinner than the HelloBello cream, but does apply just as smoothly. This cream is also a zinc oxide cream and is made with natural ingredients like organic shea butter, jojoba, tamanu, olive oil, and coconut oils. We keep this tube generally in our bedroom diaper changing cart since it does go on the smoothest of the three and is a little less thick than the HelloBello cream. Out of the three, this one seems to calm her skin the most - after a few applications her skin tends to look less red and chapped.
Not in the cream or paste family, this balm stands on its own in the group. I use this balm with almost every changing during the day and keep it squarely on the top of her bedroom changing cart. The balm itself, which is organic, smells good, applies easily, and gives her booty a little extra protection from what the day has to offer. Although this jar looks tiny, a little goes a long way! This balm can be used head to toe and has no petroleum, parabens or artificial fragrances.
Comments