Baby checklist… 15+ tips I’ve learned about 3-6 month olds

New mom equals major learning curve, at least for me! (Here are my tips for taking care of a newborn!) I love my nugget a bazillion and one, but he’s a mess! (Here’s his 6 month update!) He’s a mover and shaker and a very curious little dude. He crawled at 5 months, ahh! He will rarely lay his head down on my chest, he wants to twist his buddy around and see what’s happening. Heck, we sometimes even turn the wooden high chair around in restaurants so that he can see all of the action! He’e definitely a people person! So, I’ve learned a few new things to say the least. Here is the 2nd edition of our baby checklist: 15+ tips I’ve learned about 3-6 month olds! (Don’t miss tip #15, it’s the best thing ever!)

You can see the other posts in this little series Ive started here:

15 Tips I’ve learned about babies as a new mom

1. Babies grow out of diapers

I mean, duh. But, seriously, I forgot. Babies grow out of diapers fast. And after daily battles with poop explosions I finally realized it was my own dang fault. The kid needed a bigger diaper. To make it even more complicated all of the diaper sizes overlap weights… what the what?! I always keep a box of the next size up in the closet, just in case we need to test it out! Oh and here are the weights for the Pampers Swaddlers:

2. Only some diapers have the line

(See newborn tips.) We mostly use Pampers swaddlers. I really like the cute diapers form the Honest Company too! But, not all Pampers have the line, I think only the swaddlers do. Confusing, I know. Huggies Snugglers have the line too.

3. Plastic contraptions are good

Yep, I said it. We have a floor chair, jumper thing, and a play mat, and he loves them all… for about 15 minutes each. But, it does allow Andy and I to eat dinner or me to drink a pseudo peaceful cup of coffee in the morning. I suggest buying used or borrowing some of these big plastic items so that you don’t have to store them when you’re done, ha!

4. Bring plastic baby chair thing to dinner

When Maxwell was too small for the wooden highchair, we would bring this baby chair into the restaurant and set it on the table. I’m not going to lie, I ended up buying that brand because I liked the colors better and it came with the tray. We take this thing outside, and I think we are going to use it as our travel high chair! Beware: At some point they can wiggle themselves out of this contraption (Maxwell has only done this when the tray is not attached), we don’t leave him on counters or tables unattended.

5. Babies R Us and Buy Buy Baby accept Bed, Bath, and Beyond coupons

You know those 20% off coupons you get in the mail/inbox all of the time? You can use them at those 2 stores too. I learned this from the lady in front of me at the checkout line the other day! AND both stores price match! If you do a quick search on Amazon for the item and find it cheaper just show them at the checkout. You’re welcome!

6. Babies love paper bags and plastic bottles

Along with all kinds of other random kitchen things… any plastic water bottle is game for Max! Who knew? And why did I buy all of those plastic contraptions, ha (see #3). Popcorn kernels inside of the water bottle (with lid screwed on tight)… oh my greatness! You’d think I gave him a million dollars.

7. You can get a free breast pump through your private health insurance

(Currently this does not cover WIC or medicaid) Because of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) signed into law in 2010, you will most likely qualify for a free breast pump! Call your health insurance for more information, but here is a good read so that you know what to ask on the phone! I also learned through a friend on C.R.A.F.T. facbeook that if you don’t qualify for a free one, you can claim it on your breast pump on your taxes!

8. Babies can help you work out

True. Although, if you can escape for a real workout without baby, do it! Maxwell loves my baby workouts! I baby wear him (in this contraption) when we are out and about, and end up doing a ton of squats! (Because he drops stuff on the ground.) And these are good squats, like he forces you to keep your back straight and bend your legs all the way down, ha! If no one is looking, I’ll do 4 extra for a total of 5 and then make Max give me a high five! We also do arms… I lay on my back and bench press him 15 times a few times a day sometimes letting our noses touch. He loves that move too! (I’m also the freak that does lunges while I brush my teeth!) We might go to HEB just to do laps (and get a few samples) in the heat of summer or fall if you live in Texas!

9. The golden button trick

OK, so I stole this idea from Gap Kids, but check out the super simple DIY and how it simplifies the madness of bazillions of baby snaps.

10. Living in a shady neighborhood or mall/grocery store walking

This is really only helpful if you are thinking about moving, but seriously if you are and your prego, big trees are good. Especially if you live in Texas where the sun is insane. If your neighborhood has giant shade trees you can take more walks. And more walks (at least for Maxwell) equals more sleep and a little exercise for mama! After we make a lap and he’s asleep, I just wheel inside and leave him asleep in his stroller! Oh and if you’re thinking about moving, consider the schools. One might thing that is a no brainer, but alas we gave it no that when we moved into our current house! And parks. Can you walk to a park with baby swings from your house?!

11. Footed pajamas

Maxwell is a mover and shaker and well… moves and shakes all of his covers off of him every night no matter what. We started using long sleeve footed pajamas to keep him warm. We also have 2 of these sleep sacks, which are totally cute, but we put a long sleeve shirt underneath it.

12. Free classes for babies

I don’t know about your city, but Austin has so many fun, free things to do with babies! Check out local toy and book stores for regularly scheduled music and story times. We go to a free baby music concert every Wednesday morning and Maxwell loves it! Or mom and pop baby shops for other fun classes like sign language and even sleep training. Also, our swim school offers free swimming lessons to babies under 6 months. Google “Free things to do in “x city” with babies”, you’ll be suprised!

14. Hair and jewelry

Hair was on the last list, but I had no idea that by 3 months old Maxwell would be able to break my necklaces! I don’t wear delicate necklaces or bracelets anymore. I do have these cute teething bracelets that Maxwell enjoys! And also on the hair note, at this point 1/2 my hair has fallen out and it’s a new texture. I now have wavy hair. I asked about it on C.R.A.F.T. facebook, and lots of people seem to think it’s normal!

15. DIY Hands Free Pumping Bra

I had a fancy black strapless Medela nursing bra that was seriously life changing… as far as pumping goes. I did not have to hold my boob shields myself, I was hands free! But, then the zipper started breaking every time I tried to pull it over my head and it was so hard to zip it up the middle of my chest. And I got really mad at it, but I loved it when it worked. What to do? I took it back to the dang store. (Seriously, Babies R’ Us will take most things back and give you store credit!) I made my own dang bra, and it’s the best thing ever. Really. I’m super serious. It’s comfortable and you can put the holes wherever you need to (some of us are lopsided, not naming any names).

16. 10+ more tips on C.R.A.F.T. facebook

You can use formula checks and coupons together and most grocery stores, toybrary’s, and lots more…

Do you have any other baby tips that I need to add to the list? I’d love to hear…