eSCAping Type 1

“They grow up so fast!” I have never found more truth in a statement than this one.

My baby is somehow already 10 months old.

Leo now crawls and stands and claps and talks… basically, he doesn’t stop moving. So, in keeping with tradition, here’s a hopefully helpful list of items that have been essential in navigating through my favorite months of mothering so far. 

Food Pouches

Since I knew from the start I wouldn’t be able to spoon-feed my baby purees due to my fine motor skills, I was all about Leo feeding himself via Baby Led Weaning. Unfortunately, for various reasons, it didn’t work out…

So, after weeks of trying different things, I finally caved in and bought some food pouches. And wish I had just started with these things from the get go.

First off, they are the same exact things as the jars, just in different packaging. Which means they’re filling & nutritious. Second, they’re very easy to manipulate (Leo holds & I squeeze). Third, they’re surprisingly not messy & are extremely easy to throw in the diaper bag at a moment’s notice.

 

Inflatable Bathtub

At some point, your baby will grow out of that newborn tub, but still be too small and unsteady for the real tub. This nifty thing blows up quickly, provides great support & room to play, and is (obviously) lightweight & easy to move anywhere.

 

VTech Walker

Leo loved this gadget well before he could stand, so don’t think you won’t get any use out of it before that milestone. The whole front part can be detached to play with separately, on the floor. Now, it’s a great support for Leo as he shuffles about. Almost 30,000 5-Star reviews can’t be wrong.

 

“Touch & Feel” Books

Of course there are endless benefits of reading to your baby from the day they were born, but I don’t need to tell you that. However, I will tell you that Leo is now obsessed with interactive books. It’s more fun (for both of us) now that it’s not a single sided activity.

 

Primo LapBaby

I really love this thing. Now that Leo can sit, it’s nice being able to securely strap him on my lap so my wheelchair can double as a stroller. We’re taking Attachment Parenting to a whole new level.

 

Manipulatives

It really doesn’t matter what these are, so long as they can be grabbed/chewed/shaken/thrown… Leo will do this to anything he can get his hands on, so I’d rather it be some plastic cup rather than my phone.

 

Storage Basket

Seems obvious, but you’re going to need a home for all those little, random toys. Personally, since most of our days are spent in the living room, it doesn’t make much sense to store them in his nursery. Having something that’s small & easy to carry helps keep my carpet clean-ish, since I can just throw all his stuff in there every night.

 

Roomba

Speaking of keeping the carpet clean, this is really the MVP. While a crawling baby doubles as an excellent broom/mop, it’s nice having something that’ll eat the clumps of dog hair before Leo does.

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