My Favorite Things

        New Years Eve I was speaking to one of my acquaintances, she is 9 months pregnant, like ready to pop pregnant. Because I spend about 40+ hours a week with children under the age of 5, I asked her questions that seemed simple enough; things like “what kind of diaper genie did you get?” She had no idea what I was talking about. We looked at each other like alien species. It was then that I decided I needed to save this woman with a gift basket of my favorite things, including the Diaper Genie II elite by Playtex (It’s wonderful.)

       Roaming the isles of Babies R Us with Kevin*, an 18 month old Gemini, I decided I needed to share the random knowledge that I have acquired about children through out my years as a Southern California nanny. Having just turned 25 I am surrounded by people who love the idea of babies and have no idea what they are talking about. So this blog is my attempt to help people out there with the questions we don’t even know we have until it is too late. I will start with my favorite things.  

• First of all is Baby Bargains (currently in it's 8th edition) by Denise and Alan Fields. This book is genius and it is not their only one. The writers originally wrote Bridal Bargains after the sticker shock of planning a wedding. I haven’t read that one yet but Baby Bargains, Baby 411, and Toddler 411, are nothing short of brilliantly life changing. They help you with everything from carseats to clothing. Plus bits of advice for situations you never knew existed. I will mention them often. I believe they update the book every year but I’m slightly OCD and would buy all three just in case I needed one of the other before I remembered their blissful existence.
• Next is the Diaper Genie II elite by Playtex.  I have come in contact with my fair share of diaper pales and let me tell you there is such thing as a bad one. The Dékor is amongst my least favorite just above the Baby Trend Diaper Champ, whoever invented that has never had a baby, but the Diaper Genie elite sausages each diaper into its own little smell capsule. No touching. No smelling. Love.
• Dear Angel blankets aren’t exactly necessary but babies everywhere LOVE them. Another company makes a “security blanket” that is similar but my heart belongs with the Dear Angel version. Easy to hold, they automatically become a baby’s’ modern day teddy bear and you can throw them in the washer!
• Kiddopotamus SwaddleMe will come in handy.  Let’s face it, everyone loves blankets and cuddling but sleeping babies can rarely have either. Enter the SwaddleMe. Kiddopotamus makes a version for older babies as well.
• And last but not least is more so for the toddlers. Plum tots. Toddlers suck these down like air and the best news is that they are good for you! Similar to a warm smoothie, these are a trade secret of nannies and moms everywhere. They are so easy to carry around, there’s virtually no mess during the eating process, and everyone ends up happy. Diapers.com has a large variety that can be shipped to your door or Trader Joe’s has a version called Crushers that come in two different flavors.

Love Always,

Candace (aka KiKi)