Blogging our first pregnancy and child rearing, all the ups and downs, tears and laughs and overthinking that not only comes with being knocked up and a new Momma, but with just being me.
Mommy Stuff- Food and Food Gear
I realized, that early in my Mommy-hood I did more sharing of the stuff for babies. What I liked and didn’t like. What I used and what was useless.
Now that Emilio is exploding in to toddlerhood I find myself using much less- kid stuff- and much more of the things I’d normally buy. Score one for the budget! So, in an effort to help others I thought I’d share my go-tos and my- I never really needed that. Let’s start with the Food category.
Food:
Puffs- Emilio has been a fan of Puffs- I bought the HappyBaby puffs early on because I liked that they were sweetened with apple juice and not sugar (I’m a HUGE proponent of reducing sugar in children it is unnecessary and doesn’t set them up well for future health). I don’t give him them often anymore because he can eat so much more now, but they are a good emergency snack for the car- that said- when we finish our current tube I won’t be buying more.
Freeze Dried Fruit- This was my favorite early eater snack for Emilio. I found Just Tomatoes line of Just Veggies and Just Fruits at Fairway and was sold. He loved it all, and I loved giving him something natural and easy to eat. I used to toss some fruit in to his oatmeal for breakfast as it was cooking, but ended up going through a lot of packages and they aren’t cheap. I’ll probably keep some around, but the days of buying 3 packs are over. The other freeze dried fruit I loved is Tiny Fruit. I found them at Whole Foods and loved that they were, yes, tiny and again just freeze dried fruit. I think he’s outgrown it at this point, but it was a fabulous affair while it lasted- if you have an early eater- go get it!
Teething Biscuits- This was our go to emergency food. On a plane and he’s getting fussy? Teething Biscuit. In the car and a melt down is starting? Teething Biscuit. Now that he’s older and a better eater they don’t last as long and they are even more messy so they’re pretty much over, but it is a good go to snack in a pinch.
So now, what does he eat? What we eat! If we’re heading out and I want to make sure we have something for him to snack on I pack some fruit and a PB&J (I found a great jelly that is sweetened with apple juice, no sugar!). I feel like I have such a big kid saying that- but the good news is, it is all stuff we’d eat too and not marked up for the baby market!
Food Gear:
Snack Containers- When we first started traveling with snacks for Emilio I stocked up on Oxo and Boon snack containers. These were great for about 2-3 months, and now- they just don’t hold enough to satisfy him. Looking back, I wouldn’t have bought them. The darn baby marketing people got me. Honestly, what works best is just to give Emilio a tupperware container (small) with the snack. Sure he spills it sometimes, but I’m still not convinced those specific toddler snack holders work. It is easy to spill them too, and half the time what the kiddo has reached in to get falls out of their hand on the way out!
Plates- I stoked up on little plates for Emilio early on too- but then, his appetite out grew them and I had to buy bigger plates. If I had to go back? Just start with the bigger! Again, a baby marketing sneak attack. Never go in to Buy Buy Baby unarmed! The plates we use now are toddler size plates, one has 3 sections and one has 2. I got them both on Amazon, which really is the best bet for baby gear. No gorgeous displays to distract you, and really helpful customer feedback!
Cutlery- I’m sorry but plastic forks? Pointless. Metal is the only thing that will teach LOs how to stab the food! Just be present when they’re using them to avoid injury!
So there you have it- next- Bath Gear!
