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At SmartMom, we’re all about the quick tips for new moms. Coming home for the first time with your new bundle of joy, just having given birth and in full-swing recovery mode, we have a five diapering tips to make the “change” easier for you and your growing family.
Photography by Elza Photographie
If you’re expecting a new baby, chances are you’re overwhelmed by everything you’re reading in the baby books. People will tell you to look for the basics — teething toys, diapers and baby clothes — so we talked to several new moms to find out exactly what you’ll use…and use…and use during the first weeks at home with a new baby.
From taking care of your newest addition to taking care of yourself as a brand new mom, we have four must have products for new moms that you’ll find at your very own drug store or makeup counter.
One of the first things you’ll learn as a mom is that you need to be prepared for everything. Along with planning your baby registry, organizing and stocking your nursery and baby proofing your home, one more thing you need to prepare if you plan on a hospital or birth center birth is your hospital bag.
To stay ultra-organized, have your bag packed before you hit full-term, which for most moms is 37 weeks. Before you stock up on nursing pads and newborn diapers, ask your hospital or birth center what supplies they provide — you might be able to save a few dollars! Continue reading
This week, most kitchens are dedicated to preparations for Thanksgiving turkey plus all the trimmings. If you happen to be a vegetarian who is gearing up to say “no, thanks” when Aunt Martha passes the bird for the seventh time, then you need a back-up plan. Not to mention we all have experienced picky eaters at the dinner table. Skip the drama with a fancy, yet easy to follow recipe that will surely become a family favorite. Who knows, you may have just started a new family tradition. 
Paula Jones at bell’alimento has a Roasted Butternut Squash Lasagna recipe that you could serve as one of your favorite family recipes any night of the week, but also makes an exceptional pinch hitter for poultry around the Thanksgiving table.
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When you’re a parent, the only thing you can accurately predict is that when you have a newborn, you’re going to lose some sleep. Though some parents will joke that once you have a baby, “you’ll never get a full night’s sleep again,” Dr. Harvey Karp, M.D., creator of the DVD and book, The Happiest Baby on the Block believes that it’s important to have realistic expectations during the first three months.
“It’s a given that babies get up a lot during the first three months,” Karp told Parents Magazine. Even though there are strategies that you can put into play to make those 4 a.m. wake-up calls more bearable, there are a number of lesser-known nighttime survival strategies that you can try to help everyone at home get more shut-eye. Here are some newborn sleep tips for a better night’s rest.
Photo by Rhonda Robbins
The reason I am a midwife today is because I had my son Larsen at home 22 years ago. Many people are embarrassed to admit this, but not me. The main reason I looked into birthing at home at that time was because the cost was lower than that of a hospital birth.
Today, home birth remains a safe, relaxing, and affordable option for birthing moms and their partners. Though everyone has different reasons for choosing a home birth, there are a few that are common among expectant parents. Continue reading
Photo by Eden Frangipane
One of the first things that you’ll learn as a mom is that you need to be prepared for everything. Along with planning your baby registry, organizing and stocking your nursery and baby proofing your home, one more thing you need to prepare if you plan on a hospital or birth center birth is thinking through what to pack for the hospital.
To stay ultra-organized, have your bag packed before you hit full-term, which for most moms is 37 weeks. Before you stock up on nursing pads and newborn diapers, ask your hospital or birth center what supplies they provide — you might be able to save a few dollars! Continue reading
Photo by Jamie Jones
When your little bundle of joy becomes a baby on-the-go, you’ll sleep better knowing that your home is baby-proofed. Most parents wait until their children start to crawl before baby-proofing the home, but to avoid a last-minute panic, you can begin the baby-proofing process before your baby even arrives.
Whether you’re a first time parent or a veteran looking for a few more savvy tips, here’s everything you need to know about how to baby proof your home.
Everyone knows that the best part of Thanksgiving is eating leftovers the next day. Kris Orborne knows how to make those leftovers last without perpetuating the indulgences of Thanksgiving Day.
So what do you do with all of those sweet potatoes that languished in your crisper after you finished your sweet potato casserole? Enjoy the exotic flavor of the Sweet Potato Spanish Tortilla from 80 Twenty, a blog about eating nutritiously and finding a healthy balance that so many moms strive to achieve.
There’s nothing more comforting then a big bowl of spaghetti and meatballs. Whether you’re a new mom stocking the freezer with reheat-able meals for post-baby or a dutiful neighbor bringing dinner to a friend, you can’t go wrong with a hearty classic.
Tanya Schroeder loves the combination of ground pork and ground beef that make her Spaghetti and Meatballs on Lemons for Lulu hearty and flavorful. Her entire family reached for seconds – even her son who typically avoids red sauce. Continue reading
