Infant - First Solid Foods

Starting Solid Foods (in-progress)

Disclaimer: Everything is purely based on my research and understanding.

References: Polina T.

How to determine if your baby is ready for solid foods?

• Typically around 5 (15lb)
• Baby shows interest in your food
• Baby seems hungry even with 8 feeding per day (breastfeed or formula)
• Baby has head control - can keep it up
• baby lost extrusion reflex
• Baby can sit down when supported
• Baby imitates chewing motions

What are good foods to start with? 

• Let infant suck on a piece of apple, make sure it's not small enough to swallow
• Reinforced Baby Cereal
• All baby cereal seem to be way to sweet
• if you continue to breastfeed - then iron should not be a problem 
• Vegetables - pureed or strained - we also add a little bit of breast milk
• Note: Nothing starchy
• Avocados
• Carrots
• Squash
• Sweet Potatoes
• Fruits - - pureed or strained - we also add a little bit of breast milk
• Note: Fruits are much sweeter, so I would hold of just a bit
• bananas
• pears
• apples
• prunes (note prunes are known to be good against constipation)
• apricots
• Protein:
• Buckweed (2 table spoons for 100ml)
• Rice (2 table spoons for 100ml) 
• chicken/turkey
• boneles fish
• lentils
• Pinto beans
• Quick foods - Sprout Organic Foods
• http://www.sproutorganicfoods.com/

What gear do you need?

• A chair to keep baby in sitting position 45degree+
• OXO Tot Baby Blocks Freezer Storage Containers - Green
• https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004QZBEFK/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_gdJJvbDWXC806
• BABYBJORN Soft Bib, Green/Yellow, 2 Pack
• https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CSBP3G/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_leJJvbDZH1ZBG
• Dr. Brown's Designed To Nourish Snack-A-Pillar Dipping Cups
• https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052TT6GI/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_efJJvb14AST82
• Munchkin White Hot Safety Spoons- 4-pack
• https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LJTNOL8/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_.fJJvb5192HHA

Baby Gear - Top 20 essential items

One of the biggest challenges for me in preparation for twins birth was the lack of knowledge of what to expect. There are tons cool items available on the market to make your life easier, such as bottle warmer, breast pump hands-free bra, swings that put baby to sleep and many other! So I have decided to compile a list of essential and life saving kids appliances.

Top 20 essential items:

1. Stroller (For twins I like bumble bee)
2. Crib (make sure one lowers easily)
3. Car seats
4. Feeding bottles
5. Pacifier toy (so it doesn't fall off - see my pinterest board for info)
6. Steamer for bottles, etc
7. Bottle Warmer
8. Baby Swings
9. Breast pump
10. Burp clothe
11. Diapers (preferably no chloride and no chemicals)
12. Soft tissues  - i used "Soft Puffs" (not enough research)
13. Wet wipes - Water wipes, no chemicals
14. Wipes warmer 
15. Receiving blankets
16. Pajamas with zipper (perfect for night time, super fast to put on, take off)
17. Sleeping bags - costco has those, very convenient
18. Hats/socks/gloves (for outside/bath time)
19. Small bath
20. Water thermometer
21. first aid kit (thermometer, cottons balls, etc
22. Mattress Covers

Follow my pinterest boards:
https://www.pinterest.com/n3m8tz/baby-gear/
https://www.pinterest.com/n3m8tz/baby-development/

Diaper Changing Checklist (0-3 month)

List of things that I find useful for changing diapers

• Disposable diapers - roughly 70 per week
• Diaper disposal system + disposal liner refills - might just keep diaper bag next to bed and system in bathroom
• Changing light
• Clean / fresh change of clothes
• Wet wipes + wipes warmer
• Soft tissues
• Changing table + changing pad
• Typically I layer it: changing pad -> mattress protector (easier to change) -> soft cloth sheet
• Burp cloth / tissues
• Baby rush cream

Procedure:

• Prepare gear
• Place infant on changing table
• Remove cloth to provide access
• Place clean diaper under dirty
• Open dirty diaper for a few seconds to let cold air in and wait for baby to pee
• Pull legs up or roll baby to a side to remove dirty diaper (you can also use clean part of diaper to wipe)
• Clean with wet tissue front to back only
• Damp with dry tissue
• Apply rush cream if needed
• Fix diaper tight to prevent leakage, do not put over umbilical cord (bend it if needed)
• Disinfect hands

Infant Night Time Checklist

Please note that all my experiences is based purely on personal from having twins. (a boy and a girl).
All comments / questions are appreciated and I will be happy to respond.

A typical list of things that you need to get you through the night:
* The numbers are per baby, so multiple by 2 if you have twins

• 2x mattress protectors
• (In case of twins sleeping together it's a good idea to have two protectors side by side to simplify changing the bedding)
• Cheap option is LEN from IKEA (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40143304/)
• 2x mattress sheets per baby (for twins in same bed, use two side by side)
• Pack of wet tissues - preferably with warmer
• Pack of soft tissues
• 10x Diapers per baby (They might use different ones, even with twins) - More Info
• 2x burp cloth
• 3x wiping cloth (more absorbent then soft tissues)
• Night light (additional light for changing table might be useful)
• 4x sets of change clothe
• 2x blankets or sleeping sacks
• Hand sanitizer (you probably wont have time to run to the bathroom every time)
• Diapers dispenser bag (you can use anything just to hold dirty diapers while you change them)
• Sterilized pacifiers if you use them
• Cotton balls, saline solution, med kit, etc

Feeding - infant eating schedule is unpredictable, for us every two hours worked. We were breast feeding and if they didn't take it well then top it off with pumped milk.

• Few sterilized clean bottles with nipples and caps - just in case
• Pumping machine + gear all sterilized and ready
• Pumping cleaning wipes - those save time at night
• Bottle warmer (just be careful not to overheat)

Food to last through night, assuming that you don't have much help at night time:

• Lots of water
• Lactation tea (We make some in advance and keep it in thermos) - mix with whole milk half/half before drinking
• Yogurt / kefir or anything else
• Berries / dried fruits / fresh fruits / nuts / etc - clean and in ziplock or container ready to eat