What's in a Change Bag?

As a mum of three, I find myself rather well equipped in the realm of what to take where and when I might need this-or-that; it is an occasional thing for me to come unstuck. After all, I've had a lot of practice.

Sophie la Girafe: Dray's go-to comforter.

I'm one of those mums who pack everything. Right down to what some might consider 'the useless rag toy,' which is religiously stuffed into the baby’s change-bag right at that last opportune moment. I am sure my husband has looked at me many a time with that 'do we really need to take that with us' look etched upon his face. But I just smile and tuck it in a little deeper; knowing he is probably right on the money. But who knows when you’ll need that useless toy, right?

However, this hasn't always been the case. I used to be a first time mum too, once upon a time, and that was not so long ago. Although, I will admit, it does seem like a lifetime since I last left the house for a casual shopping trip and forgot my house keys, or those all important pack of wipes and sometimes even diapers.

Now that Dray is just a couple of months shy of turning two years old, I don’t need to carry nearly as much ‘useless’ stuff around in my bag. The infamous diaper bag has gone through an evolution of sorts throughout the last (almost) two years. Now, I only carry enough for a quick change or two, a snack, water and if we are going to be out longer then a small meal. The transition into toddlerhood has meant no more formula or associated accessories (although I still carry around his giraffe print muslin), less changes of clothing and fewer diapers as he now has good bladder control. Now, I carry more by way of food, definitely. And there is always some sort of activity on hand to distract the little tyke. Drayven truly is a little storm by nature. Destroys all in his path; a right Berserker.

So, here's what you might find in my mamma bag. and this is not including my personal essentials like purse, keys, cell phone, scarf, lip gloss and shades if it's a sunny day. I like to accessorize!

Mum's Essentials: What I tend to carry day-to-day.

 Some of The Basics

Koto Brimful: Incredibly spacious bag.

• Diapers
• Wipes and bags
• Sudocreme and vaseline
• Antibacterial gel
• Water bottle
• A home-cooked meal and some snacks
• Bib and Dray’s Tommee Tippee cutlery

Faye&Lou: Breastfeeding Butterfly.

Whilst breastfeeding I didn't have to carry around bottles of sterile water and containers of measured out formula, instead I just had a breastfeeding scarf or shawl. My husband bought me the Faye & Lou Breastfeeding Butterfly, which came in so handy when feeding in public. It was easy to use and fit over and around a baby perfectly but as Dray got bigger and more agile and independent with his feeding at the breast, he didn’t enjoy being cradled so much by the material. However, I definitely recommend this as it hugs around the hips and really does create this secure feeling of comfort for baby and give a good amount of protection from booby-exposure, if you worry about that kind of thing. The Breastfeeding Butterfly comes in its own little bag and can be folded so that it fits into your change bag, nice and compact.

Little Necessities: I carry these by default.

I've always used the Koto Leatherette Baby Changing Bag because it’s large and roomy with lots of little compartments to store your purse, keys, creams, lip gloss and all manner of things. The two outer pockets clip together via a simple magnetized fastening and gives you quick and easy access to your possessions. There is also a zip fastening compartment just above the pockets, which you can store your purse or phone in for added security.

Having reacquainted myself with the whole bottle and formula routine when Dray was about fourteen months old (he was only on formula for about seven months as we were unable to transition him onto milk at the time, I found there was more than enough space in my Koto to hold all of my gear as wells as two bottles and formula along with his baby blanket. A great investment and a wonderfully stylish little design, which comes in a dark chocolate brown faux leather material. It is also supplied with its own insulated bottle bag and foldable change mat; both are covered in a nice cream and mustard-yellow floral print and are fully detachable. Accompanying the two sturdy carry handles it also has a fully detachable large strap for attaching to you pushchair or pram. Given the price tag of £50 it was worth the money for me, although, I am sure that any large, sturdy tote style bag could do the trick.

Koto: Lots of pockets and storage space for diapers, muslins, wipes and other bits and bobs.

So in general, regarding the contents of your trusted, couldn't-do-without diaper/changing bag, what do you carry in your bag and how has its contents changed during the transition from baby into toddlerhood?

An Amazing Milestone... Reached.

I am marking today, with a post, by celebrating my beautiful boys seventh month in the world. Looking back on the day we brought him home from the hospital, I simply cannot believe how far he has come and how well he has grown. But I guess, somewhat more importantly, what I am really amazed by is the fact that he has thrived so brilliantly on breastmilk alone. So what this post truly honours, in essence, is my wonderful journey of exclusively breastfeeding my baby boy.

As clichéd as it may sound, Drayven really has had the best start to life and seeing him thrive every day is such a pleasure to behold. I have not seen a happier baby and I do believe that, while partly this is due to his cordial nature; breastfeeding has been an absolutely fundamental factor in his happiness and his experience of life to date. Dray is the smiliest little thing I have ever seen; he never stops smiling and this beautiful journey could not have played out more perfectly.

Despite all of the long sleepless nights of feeding, the fatigue, fighting off symptoms of mastitis and the sheer lack of energy to function on any given day of the week, I would not change a single thing. I wholeheartedly committed myself to this task and the rewards have proven exceptionally bountiful. I have made memories worth treasuring and have sealed a bond between us, which breastfeeding has only enhanced. Knowledge and experience is a wondrous thing.

Exclusivity: So proud to be able to look back at the  first two weeks after birth and see how far we have both come on this beautiful journey.

Exclusively breastfeeding at seven months. It was difficult getting here, but what a joy it has been; it almost seems easy now. What an achievement!

A special thank you must be made to my darling husband, Kade, for all your kind, loving words of support. Also, to our two beautiful daughters, Eden and Lydia, for all your precious help with changing diapers and making Dray laugh so heartily.

I love my incredible family.

X

Stay Calm, Keep Your Cool... It's Just a Growth Spurt.

This is a new thing for me; having to recognise and deal with bubba's growth spurts. Seeing as Drayven is an exclusively breastfed baby, the idea that growth spurts would cause such furore in this house, or to my sanity, did not occur to me. And by "furore", I do mean constantly crying, wailing, flailing, spluttering, screaming, kicking and shaking the entire foundations of my already dithering existence.

In fact, I was not even aware of this very significant stage as both of my children were exposed to some formula and did not experience the same torment during these stages of growth. Either that, or I simply do not recall such tyrannical episodes.

So far, we have survived one spurt and have now embarked upon our first day into the second. Sometimes, I feel as though I'm about to pull my beautiful hair out, but I must remind myself that it is the little fella who is in really agony... and whatever my pain or distress; this period of anxiety shall pass as did the last. I just have to survive the next two days or so.

Most exclusively breastfed babies experience at least five growth spurts within his/her first year alone. It is in my own experience that, for what ever reason, formula/mixed feed babies' growth spurts are not nearly as excruciating in experience compared to that of a breastfed baby. Perhaps it has something to do with the composition of breastmilk being so entirely different from that of formula - I mean, come one, one is produced from the same species and the other from a completely different species/source.

So, when DO babies have their growth spurts?

Really, a baby can have growth spurts at any time during the first year, but in general and in Dray's case, he has correlated with the general rule of  a spurt between 1 and 3 weeks, 6 and 8 weeks, then one at 6 months, and again at 9 months.

Just when Dray had settled into feeding every three hours or so, he suddenly (at around two weeks old) wanted to feed off of me non-stop - I mean constantly, all day and all night long. He would just howl and yell until he was put to the breast and once there he would latch on and suckle vigorously for a while and then yank his head back, still clamped on tight... OUCH! He would continue with this charade of latching on and attempting to latch off; it was almost as if he wasn't getting enough milk to satisfy himself. When my cranky boy want milk; he wants milk - now!

I will admit, it was frustrating. The next day, I got a call from a breastfeeding counsellor as a routine check-up. She advised me of all the useful titbits of information that made the previous few days and nights make absolute sense. It was like a shining beam of knowledge which made everything all better - growth spurts.

The BF counsellor was great! She explained to me that the more baby feeds, the more milk I will produce... so keep feeding him, even if I felt that he wasn't getting enough. Eventually, it will boost your milk supply and baby will be sated. And you know what, it worked. Bubba is getting plumper and rounder than ever. I can only hope for more.

Sleeping Babe: Finally back to his 'normal' sleep patterns, complete with his much loved skull blanket.

Now, my advise for all of you breastfeeding mothers out there...

"I know it's one of the most trying experiences in the world...But keep going!"

During these hard and strenuous times - don't be disheartened and certainly don't give up breastfeeding now because you have already come so far! It truly is awesome; the things our bodies are capable of - I totally love and appreciate mine. I grew a human... and now, I keep that little human alive and nourished. He is happy and getting bigger, gaining weight and producing more and more filled diapers for me each day. So I know I am doing a great job... What is even greater is that when he feeds, he smiles up at me with this perfectly joyful little smile. It is a visual reminder for us mums; a kind of quiet, peaceful recognition and appreciation of our efforts that is given to us in the most profound and momentous way. A perfect smile.

Remember, breastfeeding for six weeks means that your baby is less likely to have digestive problems, or get sick; he now has less risk of chest infections up to seven years. Breastfeeding for at least one month alone gives your baby significant protection against food allergies for up to three years, as well as respiratory allergies until seventeen years of age. Now it is my turn to smile.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7564787