Spit up and the Suburbs

After a pregnancy loss, shopping for a baby gift for a soon-to-be or new mom can be a very triggering experience. Browsing newborn outfits can feel painful. Even walking past baby gear still causes me pain.

Someone in my life is expecting, however, and I want to give her a present. In the past I chose a piece of custom wall art for a family member’s baby. This person is a more peripheral friend, so I’m thinking a more casual gift is appropriate.

A collection of super useful yet not cutesy items feels non-threatening. These must-haves will most certainly come in handy, but shopping for them won’t upset me, because, well, they’re kinda boring—but again, essential.

• Boudreaux’s Butt Paste. I really love this diaper cream. The price is right, and it works. What else could you ask for? With an overwhelming sea of options for new moms out there, Boudreaux’s Butt Paste is a reliable choice. Most importantly, I can buy this item without my emotions getting too heightened.
• Arm & Hammer Simply Saline Baby Nasal Mist. Unpopular opinion: When baby’s stuffy, keep it simple. Although other parents swear by fancy tech that sucks snot out, I’m a fan of good old fashioned nasal mist. In my experience, this is well tolerated and guards against ear infections by keeping passages flowing—instead of getting clogged. I have used Arm & Hammer Simply Saline Baby Nasal Mist with my baby for months with great results, i.e. easy clearing of the nose without a cold progressing into something worse. And how sad can you get buying nasal mist?
• Dr. Brown’s Baby Finger Toothbrush. This is a great first toothbrush for an infant. In fact, even before a baby spouts that first tooth, you can gently rub gums with this toothbrush, which you simply slide onto your finger. My baby always enjoyed the feeling on his gums, and even smiled when I “brushed” his teeth. It’s a piece of silicone, so no tears here!