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Q&A: What’s the Deal with Moonlight Slumber Mattresses?

We reached out to Patty, of Moonlight Slumber, to explain the ins and outs of the crib mattress industry.

Getting a newborn, toddler or child to sleep through the night or nap can be a challenge. Oftentimes parents are tempted to buy calming and soothing baby products that may get their child to sleep throughout the night. But in many cases, the right crib mattress will set yourself up for the best possible success in getting your child to sleep through the night. The right crib mattress can even help him with putting himself to sleep!


Figuring out which crib mattress to buy is another challenge. This is why we’ve asked our Moonlight Slumber crib mattress expert to explain some of the safety standards and other considerations of our popular and bestselling Moonlight Slumber crib mattresses to help guide our consumers so their child can sleep through the night.

What makes Moonlight Slumber crib mattress eco-friendly?

96% of the materials used to make our Moonlight Slumber crib mattresses are recyclable.  We also utilize plant oils as part of the mixture to produce the foam.  Harvesting plant oils versus 100% petroleum-based oils leaves less of a carbon foot print.

Are essential oils used in the mattress foam? If so, why? 

There are no essential oils used in the formulation of our foam.  Essential oils have not proven to be able to withstand the vigorous use that foam would be put through during the life of a crib mattress, so any use of an essential oil would be more of an additive that would not enhance the performance of our product.

The word “organic” is often used in the product description. What part of the mattress does it refer to and is it always toxin-free?

The word organic is misused so much in the baby product description that it seems to have lost its efficacy.  Moonlight crib mattresses are not organic.  If they were organic, they could not be waterproof as we do not believe you can start with an organic component like cotton, have it coated in a plastic, and still tell the consumer it is organic.  We believe that is misleading.

We do have a few crib mattress covers that are either made from 100% organic cotton that go on our mattresses or covers that are made with 30% organic crib mattress covers, but the mattresses themselves are not organic.  In the end, Moonlight Slumber is committed to providing a safe, hygienic product, that delivers all the conveniences our parents need with all the crib mattress safety certifications they deserve.

What health benefits do organic products have over non-organic?

This question would be impossible to answer as I would need to know what the non-organic product was made of.

A better question a consumer might need to consider is if both crib mattresses are given a UL GREENGUARD GOLD CERTIFICATION, why would I assume one is healthier or better than the other?

What is meant by a plant-based crib mattress? 

When plant oils were first introduced to the oil mix used to create foam, many manufacturers referred to the foam as “plant-based.”  The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ruled this was misleading to consumers, as only a percentage of the oil was from plants while a larger percentage remained petroleum based.  Moonlight Slumber swiftly changed their language, but many competitors are still using “plant-based” which could mislead consumers.

What federal guidelines are used in determining the safety and security of a crib mattress?

Federal guidelines have been set in relation to the U.S. standard crib size mattress as well as the flammability standards that must be met.  Moonlight Slumber has met all of these requirements since it started producing crib mattresses over 15 years ago.

What do you do in the area of safety and standards to differentiate Moonlight Slumber from other mattress companies?

Moonlight Slumber continually certifies its mattresses and the components to build our crib mattresses to ensure the highest level of safety for our littlest of customers.  Our mattresses are both CertiPur & UL GreenGuard Gold Certified on a yearly basis.

What goes in ensuring the mattress foam is certified and up to standard?

Both CertiPur & GreenGuard Gold Certifications.

Which safety features are critical for supporting younger babies or are they one and the same?

The certifications previously mentioned above, as well as the utilization of the proper density of foam to ensure the appropriate amount of firmness for all infant sleep surfaces.

Which safety features are critical for supporting older babies and toddlers or are they one and the same? 

All of the above mentioned certifications.

Which safety features and certifications are important for ensuring breathability in the crib mattress? 

It is important to note that a crib mattress is an inanimate object and therefore does not breathe.  I am unaware of any type of certificate for breathability.  It is worth noting though that a crib mattress or some of its components can however allow for air flow.  For example, Moonlight Slumber has an air flow cover that allows air to easily pass through it at the child’s sleep surface.

How do manufacturers ensure additional product safety? How often is testing done?

Yearly testing to maintain certifications is required by the testing facilities.

What’s the difference between waterproof and water-resistant in terms of certifications and materials? 

Waterproof material will not allow a liquid to penetrate it.  Water will accumulate on the surface and remain until wiped away.  Water-resistant implies that liquid will run off and whisk away. However if left to pool and sit for lengthy periods of time it could eventually seep into the object.  It is important to note that Moonlight Crib products are waterproof as well odor and stain resistant, but not waterproof.

Learn more about the different kinds of our Moonlight Slumber crib mattresses along with their safety and standard features.

Power Proteins for Pregnancy and Postpartum Health

Protein Rich Diet in Pregnancy and a Postpartum Diet Plan

During pregnancy, eating habits affect your baby’s growth and development and prepares your body for pregnancy. Your body will change drastically, and many nutrients will be needed to support the growing fetus and developments taking place from that first month onward.

A healthy pregnancy diet may help you reduce birth defects and other related issues and give the mother the nutrients needed to stay healthy and important eating habits that help sustain the pregnancy.

Why is protein so important during pregnancy?

In pregnancy, protein is necessary for the development of baby tissue as well as the repair and development of breast and uterine tissue, blood and muscles. A developing baby needs protein which supplies the adequate amino acids needed for bone and muscle development. Protein is also necessary for regenerating healthy new cells in the placenta and maternal tissues as well as  increasing healthy blood production.

Protein Recommendations for Pregnancy

A pregnant woman over 30 would need 5 ounces of protein daily. You may need to make leaner and more varied selection of the foods in the protein foods group.  Protein rich foods for pregnancy come from lean beef, skinless chicken, fish as well as a plant based diet for pregnancy that gets protein from dried peas, beans and nuts such as pistachios, coconuts, hazelnuts, almonds as well as seeds like sunflower, sesame and pumpkin. To ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy, a pregnant woman must take at least 60 grams of protein daily.

Other protein rich foods during pregnancy include dairy products such as yogurt, eggs, milk, and cheese.

Postpartum nutrition boosts recovery

Healing tissues that have been stretched, torn or cut require plenty of protein during postpartum recovery, especially the amino acids glycine and proline, which your body uses to make collagen, need postpartum nutrition to boost recovery. The Great Lakes Bone Collagen (on Amazon)  for example, is a pure, versatile protein dietary supplement fully digestible containing 19 different amino acids including 8 of the 9 essential amino acids.
These amino acids forming the building blocks of protein to help support the growth and foundation for enzymes, hormones and all kinds of body tissue, can be consumed in the form of hydrolyzed collagen powder as a collagen peptide postpartum supplement . If you are suffering from symptoms of chronic fibromyalgia in the postpartum recovery stage, research has shown that collagen powder helps aids in the pain from fibromyalgia.

An expectant mother’s diet that does not consist of protein can result in a number of health issues in both the mother and the developing baby. She might feel weak or light-headed and lethargic which would make it difficult to manage day-to-day tasks. A lack of consistent protein in the baby’s diet results in poor muscle, bone and joint development, deformities with muscle and bone, miscarriage, brain damage and a high risk of birth defects.

A healthy postpartum recovery diet that is protein rich helps you feed your body while setting you up for the next stage of motherhood. If you are breastfeeding, you can provide your growing baby with optimal nutrition. A healthy postpartum recovery diet can help maintain energy levels as well as protein, calcium and iron intake.

For safe postpartum recovery, you’ll want to continue a postpartum diet plan of protein-rich foods. Fueling up on fruits and vegetables, whole grains and also, lean protein like fish, beef and soy will give you the necessary energy especially for those early morning feeding sessions.

4 Ways to Increase Milk Production for Postpartum Moms

4 Ways to Increase Breast Milk Production After Delivery

Breast milk production is based on supply and demand. If a baby demands the breast milk, your body will work hard to supply it. One of the biggest concerns a mother might experience after delivery is how to produce enough breast milk for her baby. Sometimes natural appetite growth and shorter nursing sessions might be cause for a mother’s concern.  However, if a baby isn’t gaining enough weight or losing weight, there is a need to increase breast milk production. Read on for tips and strategies how to increase breast milk flow.

Strategy #1: Increase pre-breast milk production with a higher calorie intake.

While breastfeeding, increase your water intake by at least 6 additional glasses and calorie intake of 1,800. Minimum calorie intake may vary according to metabolism, physical activity level and other factors. As a rule of thumb, your body will need on average an increase of 450-500 calories to sustain the increase in breast milk production.

Keep in mind that nutrition plays a huge role not just in breast milk production but also in an infant’s development. Here are some guidelines to remember about diet and breast milk:

  • Calcium-rich foods dairy (low fat is best) products (there are vegan options as well), leafy greens, fish such as sardines and salmon.
  • Increase your daily servings of fruits and vegetables as they include vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
  • Complex carbohydrates such as brown rice, whole-grain pasta, bread and beans are a healthier option than processed carbs.
  • Lean meat (meatless options include tempe, tofu and soy based products), skinless chicken breast

Strategy #2: Consult with an herbalist, lactation specialist or doctor about herbal supplements or medication to increase breast milk supply.

Not enough research exists to show the effectiveness of herbal supplements. Fenugreek, blessed thistle, and red raspberry have been known to increase breast milk production but consult a doctor about the herbal supplements or medication to improve breast milk supply. A doctor can also tell you which medicines also decrease breast milk production and other side effects.

Strategy #3 Increase breast milk supply with a lactation massager

The lack of breast flow caused by breastfeeding ailments such as breast engorgement, plugged milk ducts, tender breasts, can be released with a lactation massager which helps with expressing milk and restoring breast milk flow. More effective than hand expressing breast milk, the Lavie Lactation Massager helps with improving breast milk supply by assisting with common breastfeeding ailments such as reduced milk supply in one breast or two, and breast milk undersupply.

Strategy #4: Reduce stress and rest as much as you can.

One mother I know who worked hard to increase her breast milk supply went on a “nursing vacation” where she did nothing but nurse her baby on demand for as long as she wanted to stimulate her breasts. Together they did nap nursing, and this greatly helped increase the stimulation of milk-producing hormones. This helped get her baby to feed on demand while helping her increase breast milk supply. It also took the stress away of trying to pump. One mother I know would treat this time away as her own “vacation” as well as she’d relax to nature music or read a book or magazine.

As you can see, there are many ways to increase breast milk production which require patience and perseverance so give yourself the time and space you need. You are doing yourself and your baby a great service by taking control of your breast milk production. More power to you!

5 Calming Techniques for Fussy Babies

Overwhelmed by Calming a Fussy Baby? Check Out These 5 Calming Techniques for Babies

 A baby’s only way to communicate is through crying. Parents trying to learn how calm their fussy baby, might feel their patience is wearing thin and feel frustrated. Fussiness may also be associated with a cranky baby or a colic baby.

Sometimes, we know right away how to help a fussy baby and other times we have to do some detective work. Start by determining the problem, addressing physical needs, eliminating discomfort and using sound. Once we hit the jackpot and calm our fussy baby, we’ll have more confidence when dealing with the next crying episode.

1. Check your baby’s physical needs.

Something as simple as a fever can transform a usually quiet baby into a fussy one. Here’s a quick checklist:

  • Is her diaper too wet or dirty? Waiting too long to change a diaper can cause a baby to be very uncomfortable.
  • Is your baby hungry? Baby hunger cues can change dramatically during the first two years of life.
  • Is your baby overly tired? Calming a fussy baby may be just a sign of over-stimulation or tiredness. Yawning or eye rubbing are signs a baby is tired.
  • Could your baby be sick? Sometimes it’s easy to mistaken tiredness for illness. Knowing when to seek medical attention and help your baby with a cold is extremely important.
  • Could your baby be teething? Signs and symptoms of teething can induce sickness.

 

2. Use self soothing techniques. 

A baby’s physical environment plays a strong role in one’s ability to calm a fussy baby. Over stimulation such as toys, screens, noises, or crowds can cause a baby to feel irritable or become hyper. Baby swaddling is one of the more common self soothing techniques because it mimics the feeling of being protected and comforted in the womb.

There are many baby swaddling techniques and this article provides a step-by-step guide on how to swaddle a baby. Baby wearing can also provide a lot of comfort.

3. Use Baby Sleep Sounds

If your colicky infant won’t stop crying and nothing seems to help, use baby sleep sounds to give both you and your baby well-deserved rest. White noise mimics the sound of the womb and blocks distracting noises thus calming your fussy baby. The baby shusher is an award-winning sleep device reminding baby of in-utero noise and can comfort your baby. A family member uses the baby shusher all the time with calming their feisty newborn, and it magically works every single time.

4. Do Baby Massage

Massaging your baby creates a close relationship with your infant while also creating a calming environment. There are many baby massage benefits including increased immune system, weight gain, and development of motor skills. Check with your doctor whether the timing is right for a newborn baby massage. Skin to skin contact with baby has also been shown to help regulate emotion. As much as she loved massaging her baby, one mother had to stop because her baby would cry, whine, whimper, and squirm, so be on the lookout for those telling baby cues.

5. Use Aromatherapy for Babies

Baby aromatherapy may help soothe baby colic, anxiety and restlessness in young babies. The big question: Is aromatherapy safe for babies? Check with your doctor to identify which oils are safe to use and avoid harming your baby’s delicate skin and respiratory health. Circulating the room via a baby aromatherapy diffuser can help your baby unwind and relax and can calm a colicky baby.

At the end of the day, you’ll want to tap into your baby’s wisdom and listen to your intuition to help you figure out how to calm your fussy baby. While it may feel time-consuming to try new calming techniques for your baby, ultimately, this method of experimenting will help nurture a close relationship with your baby.

How I Got My Baby to Sleep Longer and Stay Sane with Sleep

Wisdom From a Second-Time Parent

When my second child was born, I chucked the parenting books aside trying to encourage myself. At four months, she’d sleep for a few hours into the night. But I was craving sleep. How could I get my baby to sleep longer? And for how long?

She’d wake up and stay up for an hour wanting to be cuddled and fed. What was I doing wrong?

My intuition went into action. And yet a second time mom at age 42, I had never felt so unsure in my life. I kept asking myself, “how do I get my baby to sleep without nursing?”

Thankfully, I managed to dial down my fears, brush up on a few more infant sleep facts, and got my husband involved.

Sleeping through the night is so important for you and your baby and yet, it can be hard to navigate through a sleep schedule. This precious sleep schedule brings comfort and sanity to the home. So…how do you get your baby to sleep at night and alone?

There’s no magic secret. Getting your baby to sleep for longer periods of time at night takes time and requires a proactive approach. The key I would soon discover was consistency. My baby was super smart. She seemed to know exactly when I was tired and took advantage of that. When she finally started sleeping for longer stretches, I celebrated by watching Pretty Woman from start to finish!

The most understated part: When you help your newborn sleep throughout the night, your baby will be happier and more engaged.

1) Use the baby swaddle

Many experts agree that between two and four months of age, babies are ready for a general schedule. Their sleeping and sleeping habits become more predictable and consistent and the same also goes for knowing when to use the baby swaddle. Some babies might need more swaddling than others. This is where tuning into their baby wisdom can pay off.

How to get a tight swaddle just before bedtime when she had just enough to eat and wasn’t overtired or stimulated seemed to be the best way to go. Surprisingly, she also felt comforted by the tune of a spontaneous baby rap I’d make up, but eventually, she’d wriggle her way out of the swaddle.

2) Use baby soothing sounds for sleep

There came a period when the nights became so terrible that it became so difficult to put her to sleep that I allowed myself to get talked me into nature sounds and white noises. I was skeptical whether these “magic sounds” would work. But when you’re desperate and craving sleep, you’ll do almost anything!

So I whipped out my phone and introduced baby sleep sounds and white noise – a simple and easy tactic that encouraged sleep.

And when she woke up intermittently throughout the night, I kept looking for the best sleep sounds for baby that would help her fall asleep again. I found nature sounds for baby sleep and even hair dryer sounds for baby sleep but in the end, ocean sounds for a sleeping baby did the trick and I’d buy myself another two hours-worth of sleep.

3) Understand the difference between crying and fussing

Crying and fussing are different. In the beginning, I worked very hard to minimize the crying given my newborn’s age and developmental level. I couldn’t afford to let her cry her sleep out. When she’d fuss, I’d whip out my phone and start playing some nature sounds and white noises.  I’d follow the “fuss it out” advice in this article by timing her fussiness.

As a parent, it’s imperative to understand how your baby sleeps and trust your intuition so you can get your baby sleep longer periods at night. Not everything works for every baby. Tune into the wisdom of your baby and learn what works for her without trying to perfect the process otherwise you’ll end up exhausted.

Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Hamantaschen

Here is a traditional Hamantasch recipe in honor of our upcoming Holiday of Purim.

Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Hamantaschen

Every year My family and I look forward to baking these special jam filled cookies.  We have turned the whole process of dough preparation into a fun and absorbing family event.  First, someone rolls out the dough (we used a can last time for the rolling) A second person cuts out the circle shapes with the opening of a glass cup, while a third person puts in the center a dab of jelly (or chocolate chips). Lastly, a fourth person shapes the dough into a beautiful three cornered cookie. 

Afterwards, we hold our breath as the Hamantaschen bake in the oven and we  hope that the corners stayed down and the jelly stayed in place. Right, I should mention that after all of this, we do some very important taste testing 🙂

The original hamantasch recipe can be found in Beni’s Family Cookbook for the Jewish Holidays (on page 54). https://www.amazon.com/Benis-Family-Cookbook-Jewish-Holidays/dp/0805037357

This book was inherited from my Grandfather who was a bread baking blue ribbon champion.  I can feel some of his loving presence keeping me company as I peruse the whimsical pages and read the recipes.

Each recipe begins with a cute little narrative about the imaginary bear family and their extended relatives.  There’s the Mama and the Papa and a collection of Aunts and Uncles and cousins all of whom have a favorite recipe to share.

I have substituted the wheat for Trader Joe’s gluten free flour mix as well as some almond flour. As for the cream cheese that is called for, I took a risk and used daiya dairy free cream cheese.  Instead of margarine I substituted with filtered coconut oil (filtering takes away most of the coconut flavor). I used almond milk instead of the regular milk, and I added freshly grated lemon zest and squeezed lemon juice to the mix to brighten up and counteract the sweetness.

Ah, yes, speaking of sweetness; I will probably cut back next time a bit on the sugar as well.  I think that since we already have a sweet filling, the dough should have a bit of a different flavor profile to compliment the sweetness. Don’t get me wrong. It was still delicious and tasty and had a good texture in the end, but for those who like to have a more subtle layer of flavor and have less of a sweet tooth, I definitely think a bit less sugar is the way to go!

After all is said and done, you probably wouldn’t be able to recognize the original recipe at all, but I have to give credit to the original inspiration which served as a solid base to work off of.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups gluten free flour blend (Trader Joe’s)
  • 1 cup blanched almond flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ⅔ cup sugar
  • ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ cup Daiya cream cheese
  • ½ cup coconut oil triple filtered
  • 2 tablespoons almond milk
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 1 medium egg
  • ½ cup filling (I like raspberry jam, and the kids also like chocolate chips.  Other classic choices are the poppyseed jam, and apricot jam)

Directions

  1. Mix together the flours, baking soda and baking powder.  Mix in salt, sugar, and cinnamon.
  2. In a separate medium pot, melt the coconut oil and beat into the oil using electric beaters the Daiya cream cheese.
  3. Zest and squeeze a large lemon.  Organic is recommended since you will be using the peel.
  4. Add the zest, lemon juice, and beaten egg to the oil and cream cheese and mix well with the electric beaters.
  5. Slowly pour the liquid into the flour mixture until a soft dough develops
  6. Place the dough into the fridge for at least an hour.
  7. Remove from fridge and preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  8. Roll out dough on a clean flat surface that is lightly floured.  Dough should be about ⅛ inch thick, Keep extra flour on hand to help with any stickiness.
  9. Cut circle shapes using an upside down glass
  10. Drop into each center of each circle a ½ teaspoon of filling
  11. Pinch the corners of the circle to form the shape of a neat triangle.
  12. Place the formed hamantaschen onto a greased baking sheet or parchment paper.
  13. Bake for 10 minutes or till light brown color appears.
  14. Wait for the cookies to cool down before attempting to move.  They are crumbly and delicate when warm, but will harden as they get cooler.  Feel free to double or triple this recipe and freeze your extras. Don’t forget to share with family and friend and…Enjoy!!

What Did Brittany Wish She’d Known with Baby #1?!

Invest in a Quality Crib Mattress

Nobody wants an uncomfortable mattress, including baby. I’m so excited to have the Moonlight Slumber Baby Bluebird Crib Mattress for baby boy! The safety, value and quality in Moonlight Slumber mattresses is unmatched. Baby Bluebird also the innovative airflow nest with cool gel memory foam to effectively regulate sleeping baby’s body temperature. A comfortable baby, is a sleeping baby!

Butterfly Nursing Pillow

A quality nursing pillow can really help make the nursing process much easier for you. The Butterfly Nursing Pillow helps your little one achieve the perfect latch with positioning wings that adjust the height. Even if you choose not to nurse, a nursing pillow is still a must-have! The butterfly nursing pillow can be a great support tool for supervised tummy time with baby or to help support baby to sit up. As you can see, my toddler loved practicing this with her baby doll.

Moonlight Slumber Changing Pad

Moonlight Slumber created a quality changing pad that contains no cardboard and was built to not sag. This changing pad is encased in a water resistant, easy-to-clean, medical grade stitch polyester. It’s water, stain and odor resistant. It’s easily sponge cleaned and is able to survive all of babies little (and not so little!) messes. This changing pad is also hypoallergenic and contains no indentations or areas that could cause germ entrapment.

Read “10 Newborn Tips & Tricks That I Wish I Knew With My First Baby” from Anchored Mommy

Chatting with Shannan about Baby Registries!

Butterfly Nursing Pillow

I am absolutely in love with this Butterfly nursing pillow for instance! I am already getting a ton of use out of this one. As a pregnant mama in her third trimester, getting the sleep in that I need before baby comes is so vital, but we all know it ain’t easy! The Butterfly nursing pillow is my best friend. It honestly is perfect as a pregnancy pillow as well and adds lumbar support during pregnancy or post-pregnancy. I love when products can have multi-uses, especially as baby grows. In fact, it is even going to be perfect for supervised floor time when he makes his arrival.

Baby Bluebird Crib Mattress

Now if you haven’t already started checking out baby crib mattresses and changing pads, well then let me warn you: don’t let yourself get overwhelmed. There are so many to choose from, but not all are created equal. If you are like me, then safety and comfort are at the top of our lists! The Baby Bluebird Crib Mattress has thought of everything & is great for peace of mind. Baby is comfortable and happy and you’re at peace enough to sleep (*when he sleeps*) & all is right with the world!

Moonlight Slumber Changing Pad

Next on the list of necessities is a changing pad. This is also an important decision because safety and ease of use are also vital when it comes to changing your baby easily! The Moonlight Baby Changing Pad with Organic Cotton Cover is easy to clean (super important!), completely smooth, hypoallergenic, and odor resistant. I have to say that finding products that are actually worth the hype is something that I really care about. Trust me, as a third time mama this pregnancy, I am making sure that everything I get is going to make our lives EASIER! No one has got time for products that just don’t get the job done.

Read “Baby Registry Products To Make Mommin’ Easier” from Faithfully Beautiful

How Did Rachael Transition Violet to Her Own Room?

Set Up The Space

Before you even begin the transition, you are going to want to have their nursery ready. You will need a crib, and a firm mattress that is safe for infants. I use the Baby Bluebird Crib Mattress from Moonlight Slumber because it is Greenguard certified for safety. For my peace of mind, that is so important. I do not want to have to worry when I lay my baby down at night that their mattress isn’t safe. On the reverse side of the Baby Bluebird mattress is a cooling gel memory foam layer, for toddlers. So you can flip the mattress to add additional comfort for older children. Moonlight Slumber also has a mini crib mattress that will be perfect for your bassinet. With the same feel as the Baby Bluebird Mattress, this mini crib mattress will make the transition from bassinet to crib even easier. Your baby will hardly be aware of the change since their mattress will feel the same.

Be Patient!

Violet has been in her own room now for about a month and it just feels like routine. I don’t even think twice about putting her down in her own bed. It is her favorite place to sleep now. When we lay her in bed she just starts getting sleepy and usually will put herself right to sleep within minutes. The super soft, plush, stretch knit cover, that comes with the Bluebird Mattress, makes it extra comfy for Violet. You don’t even need to put a sheet on this mattress because the cover slips off for easy washing. The Bluebird Mattress cover is actually much more soft and comfy than most crib sheets I’ve tried.

Read “5 Tips For Moving Your Baby To Their Own Room” from Rachael Burgess

What did Elizabeth Learn the First 6 Months Being a Mama?

Bed Time is to be Honored

We love our Baby Bluebird Crib Mattress from Moonlight Slumber! It has real temperature control and a cozy base mattress cover that is comfortable enough to sleep on by itself, as well as anti microbial and waterproof! I picked her up from a nap (she was crying) and there were little drops sitting next to her from her eyes! Don’t worry, I snuggled her hard but got a kick out of the tears on the mattress!

Have One or Two Nursing pillows

The Butterfly Nursing Pillow by Moonlight Slumber is the best! The flaps on the side help me to push the pillow into the perfect nursing position and Hilde loves to snuggle up in it! The cover is also organic and easy to remove to wash (a must for any baby product!) And now that Hilde is growing, she loves to climb over it or sit next to it when we are done nursing!

Have Changing Stations In Multiple Rooms

We live in a three floor town-home and sometimes climbing two flights of stirs to change a poopy diaper is not my idea of fun. haha. Have a couple changing stations around the house to change a diaper when you need to without it interrupting whatever you are in the middle of doing. It also keeps baby happy. Hilde hates sitting in a dirty diaper for too long! We like to keep this Changing Pad with Organic Cotton Cover downstairs for diaper changes! It is comfortable, quality, and super easy to clean!

Read “What I’ve Learned The First 6 Months Being A Mama” from Elizabeth at Oak & Oats