The Minimalist Guide to Baby Gear

I really hate clutter. I don't mind mess, my years working with small children and growing up with two younger siblings made me immune to mess. But too much stuff? Drives me crazy? It almost makes me a bit stressed out seeing things that are just hanging out unused with no purpose.

When it was time to create a baby gift registry, I was way overwhelmed by the HUGE amount of baby products out there. There is seriously a product or gadget for EVERYTHING. And it seemed like everything was a necessity. I still hear things like, "What do you mean you don't have a swing? You NEED a swing." or "Don't you have an infant car seat? What do you do with him when you are out of the house?"

Instead of relying on the lists of hundreds of items that I needed, I decided to make my own based on what a baby needs. I didn't want tons of stuff that I either hardly used or was left sitting in a corner and I wanted to save money for all of the items I knew had to be purchased in the future (bigger clothes, more books, etc.) So here is my minimalist guide to baby gear, broken down by basic subjects:


Feeding:
If you are breastfeeding:
-Reusable/washable breastpads (the softer the better, and at least enough to last a week)
-5-6 nursing tank tops (I found the bras to be less useful, tanks can go under anything)
-boppy pillow (multi-functioning pillow of awesomeness... can be used later to prop baby up)
*optional:
-breastpump (check to see if your insurance covers it, I got mine for free)
-2-3 small bottles and 2-3 large bottles

If you are formula feeding:
-7-10 small bottles
-5-6 large bottles
-bottle brush (because cleaning bottles is a pain)

Bathtime:
-Baby bath tub (Some just say to omit this and bathe with baby instead, but I had a tricky recovery and was not allowed a bath for 8 weeks)
-Gentle soap like Dr. Bronner's (Johnson's is filled with nasty ingredients, plus baby doesn't really need soap until they start crawling around and getting dirty)
*you do no need extra baby towels, they are so thin that they really don't work anyway. Just use the same towels and washcloths you use

Clothing:
-2-3 newborn size outfits (you may not even need this size, so wait on it. Dominik was too big for newborn sized clothes)

Spring/summer baby:
-5-6 onesies
-4-5 long sleeve pajamas (if nighttime is cool enough)
-1 hat (one that will protect from sun)
-5-6 pairs socks
-2-3 pairs of pants and/or shorts
-1-2 jackets
-swim diaper

Fall/winter baby:
*same as above just take away swimsuit and shorts and add:
-3-4 more hats, beanie style
-3-4 long sleeve onesies
-2-3 more pants
-If needed: a few heavier coats/jackets

*You do not need shoes yet. Unnecessary and prevents baby from experiencing touch and movement with their feet. Also, a ton of hats are also not needed. The smell of your baby's head helps you to release the proper hormones for milk production and bonding. Plus, leaving their head bare inside will help develop their temperature control. Most of the time, Dominik is in a onesie and that's it.

Diapering:
-Changing pad
-2-3 changing pad covers
-5-6 cheap prefolds to protect changing pad (sooooo much easier to switch out that the whole cover)
-1 diaper bag (one that comes with a changing pad is a bonus!)

If using cloth diapers:
-24 prefolds, 5 covers, 3 snappies OR 24 pocket/all-in-one diapers
-40-50 cloth wipes
-2 large wet bags
-2 small wet bags

If using disposable diapers:
-1 box of diapers
-1 container of wipes
-any trashcan for diapers (maintaining airflow actually helps with smell)
*The reason I advise only 1 box of diapers/wipes is your baby may need a different diaper for these reasons: that brand may cause a rash, they may need a different size, or it may leak because of a poor fit. I know it's hard, but wait for baby)

Sleeping:
-Some sort of bassinet so baby has a safe place to sleep (Co-sleepers are great!)
-Crib*
*If you are bedsharing, the crib really isn't necessary

Travel:
-1 diaper bag (one that comes with a changing pad is a bonus!)
-Convertible car seat (Because it's not safe to leave baby in a car seat for too long, plus convertible car seats last longer and are safer)
-baby carrier (wraps, slings, and other carriers are used instead of toting around a heavy carseat. Waaay safer and more developmentally appropriate for baby)
*Optional:
-Stroller (more useful when they are older, but nice for longer outings when babywearing gets hot and uncomfortable)

Miscellaneous:
-5-6 swaddling blankets (Aden + Anais blankets are worth every penny)
-2-3 heavier blankets
-7-8 burp cloths (prefolds work perfectly)
-Activity center for play and tummy time
-3-4 pacifiers (even if you swear you'll never use them...desperate times call for desperate measures!)
-a rock and play type seat (for times you need a safe spot for baby so you can use the bathroom or eat. I like Tiny Love's Rocker Napper)

That's it! That's really all I use! It still seems like quite a lot, but it's the bare minimum to care for a baby comfortably in my opinion. :)
Happy baby shopping!

Baked Zucchini Fries

I really love breastfeeding, it's free and easy to pull out the boob whenever he's hungry. But it makes me so hungry and thirsty ALL the time! It totally makes sense when I look at Dominik, he's definitely growing! Last night, all of the sudden I was so hungry, but I didn't want to eat any more sugary or salty snacks...but I did have a beautiful looking zucchini in the fridge. Zucchini fries! A fry that's actually healthy!

Zucchini Fries

Ingredients:
-1 large or 2 small zucchinis, sliced into "matchsticks"
-3/4 cup flour
-1 cup almond milk or other unsweetened unflavored milk
-1 cup breadcrumbs
-1/2 cup nutritional yeast
-1 tsp paprika
-1 tsp salt
-1 tsp garlic powder
-1 tsp pepper

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 420 degrees F.
2Cut zucchini and prepare "stations" for dipping. One bowl of flour, one of milk, and the last with the bread crumbs, nutritional yeast, paprika, salt, garlic powder, and pepper.
3. A few at a time, dip the zucchini in the flour, then the milk, then the breadcrumb mixture and place side by side onto a cookie sheet.
4. Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until the breadcrumbs are golden brown.
5. Serve with ketchup or marinara sauce for dipping.

Orange Soba with Tofu

Oh my has this been one crazy week! My mother in law as well as my grandmother in law came to stay with us from my birthday (Thursday, May 8th) through the following Monday (May 12th). I tried to get the house as clean as possible while caring for Dominik. The week before we had a heat wave on top of a case of mastitis that gave me an 103 F fever. That type of infection is no joke and I could do little more besides lay in bed shivering from the chills. Luckily, I was able to knock it out quickly by feeding mostly from the infected breast.

My birthday and first Mother's day were very busy, but nice. Both were spent at home with the visiting family, which is stressful but at the same time very nice to be surrounded by family. It was a bit overwhelming at times, especially for Dominik, because we did quite a bit of touristy things outside of the house. But he did great being carried around everywhere and now we are slowly getting back into a routine.

This week we have had another intense heat wave that has fueled NINE wildfires in my area. Yup, San Diego's on fire again.  We can see the smoke billowing from our house, but the fires are still quite a ways in the distance (knock on wood). At this point all you can really do is keep the news on and hope that nothing starts in nearby. It's incredibly heartbreaking to see so many people loose everything they have. I am so grateful that no one has been seriously hurt and the fire department is staying so on top of everything.

With a particularly crazy and stressful week, I was even more inclined to do as little cooking as possible. And so this recipe was born! It's incredibly easy, very little prep and chopping (you could even substitute the chopped garlic with powdered and do no chopping at all). 

Orange Soba:

Ingredients:

1 package soba noodles

1 package frozen vegetables

1 cup orange juice

1/4 cup soy sauce

2 cloves garlic chopped finely

2 Tbsp arrowroot powder or cornstarch

2 Tbsp oil (either olive or canola will be fine)

*optional: a few Tbsp of sriracha 

Directions:

1. Cook soba noodles according to package directions and set aside.

2. Mix orange juice, soy sauce, garlic, and arrowroot powder in a bowl. 

3. Pour orange/soy mixture along with the frozen veggies and oil into a large pan and saute until vegetables are heated through and sauce has thickened.

4. Stir in the noodles and cook until everything is well combined and heated through. Serve with simple tofu.

Simple Tofu

Ingredients:

3-4 Tbsp oil

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup orange juice

2 tsp garlic powder

1 package firm tofu

Directions:

1. Slice tofu and arrange on an oven safe platter/pan.

2. Mix the rest of the ingredients and pour over tofu. Let marinate at least 30 minutes.

3. Bake at 375 F for about 20 minutes.

Enjoy!

Cleaning Clean

When I was pregnant, I went through my "nesting" phase big time. Suddenly the dust on the baseboards were glaringly obvious and every little mess drove me insane. This is pretty common and I had many friends share the same experience. However, during this cleaning madness, I was careful about what I used. After all, I was growing a child that would be exposed to whatever was absorbed through my skin or inhaled through my lungs. I couldn't imagine bleach or ammonia based products being safe at all. Whether or not you're pregnant, caring for small children, or even just trying to care for yourself, the junk in cleaning products is seriously nasty and scary.

And it's not like there is just one chemical laden thing that's used, there's a bottle for everything: all-purpose cleaner, wood polish, toilet cleaner, bathroom and shower scrubs, cleanser for the sinks, drain cleaners, floor solutions, carpet cleaners, the list goes on. A top to bottom cleaning of the house? Hundreds of chemicals.

Some of these chemicals, sure, you're getting minimal exposure to. But over time, certain toxins can build up in fat cells, just kind of hanging out. Why on earth would anyone want a carcinogenic chemical stored in their hips?

Because there are so many chemicals that make up a typical cleaning product, let's just go through a few common ones:
Bleach: causes skin irritation, coughing, vomiting, fluid in the lungs, and death. Exposure over time causes failure of liver, kidney, and lungs.
Ammonia: Inhalation causes skin, eye, and lung irritation. Direct exposure can cause serious chemical burns.
Denatured ethanol: causes nausea, dizziness, blindness, and death
Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride: found in toilet bowl cleaners and has been found to kill fish and crustaceans. Toxic to the gastrointestinal, respiratory, and immune systems as well as to the skin and liver.

Even if I were to be VERY careful with these chemicals, wearing gloves and a mask, there is residue leftover on the surfaces. These are surfaces that are possibly touched by myself, my dogs, my husband, and my child. Yes, they are devoid of germs, but that in itself has devastating consequences. All of those "super bugs" that are resistant to antibiotics and medicine were created because of the overuse of both antibiotics and antibiotic cleaners. Besides, as long as the microbial count is under a certain amount, exposure to germs is good for our immune system. It's like taking your immune system to the gym everyday, exposure to germs keeps it strong and on it's toes!

After doing a ton of research, I found some effective yet natural and safe alternatives. I essentially only use distilled white vinegar, baking soda, Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds, and BacOut. Sal Suds is an awesome all natural disinfecting detergent and BacOut is the best thing for getting rid of smells.

All-Purpose Cleaner:
Mix half white vinegar (yes, it is a disinfectant) and half water in a spray bottle. Add some drops of a skin safe essential oil like lavender or tea tree for scent and added antimicrobial power. Can be used on pretty much anything: countertops, mirrors, shelves, sinks, etc.

Toilet Bowl Scrub:
Sprinkle baking soda in the bowl and scrub away with a brush. Pour in some vinegar and finish scrubbing.

Showers and tubs:
Use a baking soda paste (water and baking soda) to scrub soap scum and mildew. Wipe down with vinegar. To get rid of hard water buildup, let vinegar sit for 10 minutes first. I also use Sal Suds for a bit of extra power since we have very hard water that builds up quite fast.

Hard Floors: 
Squirt a bit of Sal Suds in a bucket with mostly water (this stuff is reallllllyyyy concentrated) and mop away!

Smelly carpets and stains:
Let BacOut sit for about 10 minutes then vacuum or scrub up. We also use it in our carpet cleaner.

Garbage disposal:
Pour a bit of BacOut into the disposal and let sit for 10 minutes. Put some ice in the drain and let the disposal run. It's really loud but very effective. Chunks of lemon or lime work too.

Clogged drain:
For really clogged up drains I recommend getting one of those wire "snake" looking things too. It's gag worthy gross but way safer than chemicals. For mild clogs pour baking soda into the drain followed by enough vinegar to cause a ton of fizzing.

Get your spring cleaning on for both your house and your body! Happy clean cleaning!