Baby Registry Picks: Feeding + a Giveaway with Whisper Baby! (CLOSED)

Baby Registry Picks: Feeding by oykristen // 1. Whisper Baby Milkmaid Nursing Pillow // 2. Medela Pump in Style Breast Pump // 3. Bebe Au Lait Nursing Cover // 4. Lifefactory Glass Baby Bottles // 5. Lasinoh Storage Bags, Breast Pads & Soothies // 6. Boon Lawn Drying Rack // 7. Keekaroo High Chair // 8. Tommee Tippee Bibs //

Baby Registry Picks: Feeding

Today I am so amped to share my absolute favorite baby registry picks with you!

Since my son arrived in my life 7+ months ago, it has been an ongoing adventure of trial-and-error with different products as we approach each stage. And it feels like we are in a new stage every 2 weeks (sometimes sooner!) Over the course of this month of March, I will be sharing 5 categories of my baby registry picks with you, along with some awesome giveaways. Today, we focus on feeding! And be sure to enter the giveaway at the bottom of the post, it's a gooooooood one!

1. Whisper Baby Milkmaid Nursing Pillow

I cannot say enough excellent things about this divine nursing pillow. The Milkmaid has been the single most important feeding item (other than, you know, my nursing udders) that I have utilized during this new season of feeding my baby. Learning how to nurse a baby can be an uncomfortable, and sometimes, frustrating process. But this pillow eased the struggle of that transition. It is super structured, strong and supportive, constructed with layers of firm and malleable foam to create that perfect pillow "squish". It made the seemingly constant nursing sessions seem not so laborious on my back, neck and shoulders. I've tried out friends' nursing pillows, the traditional ones you find in the typical baby stores, and none of them are nearly as comfortable or supportive as this pillow. It's so worth adding to the registry and keeping your fingers crossed that some wonderful, compassionate relative purchases it for you! Side note - my husband has used this pillow to bottle feed Everett, and he loves it just as much as me. So it's great for both bottle and breastfeeding your babe :) Make sure to scroll to the bottom of this post to see pics of the pillow in action and enter the giveaway to win a pillow for yourself!

2. Medela Pump in Style Breast Pump

This pump took me a minute to get the hang of it, but once I did, I loved it. I'll be honest, I am not a diligent "pumper", but when I do, this contraption gets the job done! Thankfully, most insurance companies cover the cost of pumps these days (check your policy), so the hefty price tag doesn't have to make you choke. I also really appreciate (and use!) the tote bag and little cooler that comes with the accessories kit.

3. Bebe Au Lait Nursing Cover

This nursing cover has simplified the activity of feeding my baby in public places. In restaurants, while traveling on planes, in the middle of the park, at church... just to name a few. I couldn't find the link to the exact color of my cover (it's a orange one), but I would recommend a solid-color or darker patterned print. My child is always distracted by the pattern of the cover and it's enough to deter him from nursing sometimes. He gets all wide-eyed and transfixed, as if he's on the inside of a kaleidoscope. So, a little tip... maybe aim for a less busy print.

4. Lifefactory Glass Baby Bottles

I love these bottles. My baby does not. But I still want to share this brand with you because it's pretty amazing and I can't really get my child to really love any bottle - we've tried several different brands including different nipples - so I think he's just a little spoiled rotten (if you have tips for tricking a 7-month into suddenly loving bottles, I am all ears!) But I personally love this brand because the bottles are made completely free of BPA, BPS and phthalates and designed with medical-grade silicon nipples. I love quality materials. Next time around (if there is a next time around!) I will attempt to introduce bottle feeding a little sooner, and hopefully my child will fall in love with these products the same way I have. 

5. Lasinoh Storage Bags, Breast Pads & Soothies

I am grateful for this product line by Lasinoh - these are all necessary "tools" to have ready for when the baby arrives! The storage bags for expressed breast milk, the pads for those sore nipples and soothies for the occasional (but necessary) nipple therapy. These are simple "must haves" for those breastfeeding and pumping mamas! Go ahead and have these on-hand before the baby arrives. You won't be sorry.

6. Boon Lawn Drying Rack

This is a drying rack with personality. Some creative genius came up with a fun way to jazz up the annoying process of cleaning and drying those rascal breast pump parts. This is a peppy kitchen accessory that you will be happy to leave out on your kitchen counter top.

7. Keekaroo High Chair 

Best high chair ever. My darling physical therapist friend Lorin shared the tip that this chair is developed to be ergonomically correct for baby's sitting posture. And hey, if the physical therapist says its true... well then I trust her! It's super safe (with a 3-point harness system), made without BPAs or harsh chemicals (lacquered with a plant-based, non-toxic finish), is made in the USA (American manufacturing, woohoo!) and is pretty darn beautiful to look at. Everett has gotten really comfortable in his special seat after only about 8 weeks of using it - it's made meal time really hilarious and fun for all.

8. Tommee Tippee Bibs

These bibs. Are the bomb. Don't buy any others! Draping your child in a rubbery food-catcher is the only way to ensure a stain-free mealtime experience. Which means less laundry. Which means mommy is happy. Also, Everett likes to store prizes in these bibs, from time to time. It's darn cute.

These are the most-used, best-loved products in our feeding arsenal. Do you have any feeding picks to add to the list? If so, make sure to comment below! It's been an exploratory 7+ months for me and my little one and I love sharing what I've learned. Hopefully it will help you in your own baby-feeding journey! For in-depth (and perhaps an overshare) of nursing info, see my post about about breastfeeding and postpartum recovery. For more info on baby food resources and recipes, you can check out my post about Stage 1 Baby Foods. 

Now for a Giveaway!

I am so so SO thrilled to be partnering with Whisperbaby to give away the mother of all nursing pillows, the Milkmaid! I cannot possibly describe this pillow grandly enough - it's made my entire transition into nursing as flawless as it could be. It's such a quality product for such a vulnerable time in every mama's life - I am stoked to gift one of my lucky readers with this incredible product! And for the next month (until April 9th)

Whisper Baby is offering a 15% discount to Oy! readers using the code OYKRISTEN. Seriously, if you are pregnant or nursing (or ever plan to!) you should really take advantage of this stellar deal :)

*Photos by Rachel Spencer

Enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter below (sorry - U.S based entries, only!) You just have to "like" Whisper Baby and Oykristen on Facebook and follow on Instagram, simple as that! 1 winner will be chosen at random within 1 week and contacted by email. Best of luck to all of you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Many thanks to Whisper Baby for sponsoring this giveaway for Oykristen readers :)

The Winner of the Turbans fot Tots Giveaway! (Drumroll Please)

And the Winner Is...

Congrats to Meagan Dickerson, the winner of our Turbans for Tots Sibling Set! You've won this bow tie for him and a matching hair bow for her! We will contact you for your mailing address :)

Many thanks to everyone who participated in this giveaway, it is officially CLOSED. And of course, many thanks to Jenna at Turbans for Tots for collaborating with Oy! - we're pretty obsessed with your gear.

For all who entered and didn't win, don't cry yourself a bow tie river. Right now, Turbans for Tots is offering FREE SHIPPING on all domestic orders with the code "50SHIP" and make sure to follow on @turbansfortots on Instagram for other exclusive discounts and giveaways :)

Check back here for info on giveaways in the future!

Happening Lately.

// 1. Bedtime is equating to sleep time these days. HALLELUJAH HANDS. // 2. Sweet Auburn Barbeque in the Highlands. Rad spot, less rad parking. // 3. 4 hawks in the sky. Oh wait. Those are vultures. // 4. Our little family out and about this weekend. Happy 1st birthday to baby Ethan! Everett has friends yall. //

Happening Lately.

The new year is a little less new these days. There has been an attempt in our household for a bit of grounding, refreshing and re-focus. Probably like many of you, my little family is grasping for our center of gravity and licking our lips in anticipation of Spring. I know, we have a while to go. But we live in Georgia this year! Which means spring is coming sooner for us than it has in years! Our stints in Boston and New York really left a freezer-burn kind of scar on our hearts in terms of the monumentally blistery winters. I will gleefully accept a pass this year and prematurely skip on into the sunshine, if the groundhog allows such a frivolous delight. BRING IT, LITTLE HEDGEHOG.

Our life lately:

1. SLEEP.

People. We have been sleeping. THERE HAS BEEN SLEEP IN THIS HOME. It's been a long road (almost 6 months) of gently nudging my child into the direction of a peaceful state of rest. I haven't been shy about it. I haven't modestly pretended like I have it all together, as if we have nailed this whole "having a baby"-thing. I have not had it together. I have not slept well in over a year (pregnancy can do a great job robbing you of that, too.) I've read the books and tried the methods. And I have been pretty vocal in asking, nay, begging for help. Some of your suggestions have worked. For like 3 days. And then things would change again. But I am happy to announce that for the month of January, my son has sifted into a much more manageable sleeping routine at night (still working on the daily naps situation, more about that below.) But these days, we are putting him down to bed between 7-7:30 pm, and he sleeps until about 3:30 am. Halle-LU-jah. I change him and feed him then, and then he's up again at 6:30 am. That's usually when I whisper to him about the wonders of dreaming and MORE sleep and I prod him into another mini-slumber, always attempting to inch him past the 7:30 am mark. Sometimes it works. But the point is, this routine. Is SO doable. I mean, we aren't in the sleeping-through-the-night phase, but we are close. Closer. We are ballparkin' it. Thanks to everyone who willingly shared their stories and encouraged me - you have no idea how valuable your kindness was during a time that can only be described as the dark night of my soul.

2. Getting Out. 

You know what happens when you get sleep? You feel normal again. I'm not saying that I feel normal yet (or that I expect I ever will! What is "normal" anyway?), but I'm starting to feel normal-ish again. I have the urge to leave my house. Do things. Eat meals in exotic places. Like Panera. You know, that kind of thing. I even ventured to Atlanta the other day and enjoyed

a tasty birthday lunch

celebrating my girl Tricia. That's right. Stella is getting her groove back.

3. My Goals.

My birdwatching is going very well, thank you for asking. I learned this week that all the hawks I've been thinking I've been seeing... well, a lot of them are turkey vultures. Womp womp. They walk like a hawk and talk like a hawk, but hawk they are not. They are a vulture. Yuck. The angle of the wingspan and finger-like feathers are a dead give away, so now I can spot the difference in the sky! And we still have our one close, personal hawk friend who frequents the back yard and sits on the brick fence. He'd rad. I've named him Moonhawk, for the gloriously Moonstone-colored feathers that warm his broad chest. He is most welcome here. Also, other than the bird watching, I've been *attempting* to meal prep a bit more so we eat healthier.

This gal inspires me. And last week I worked out 5 times! This week... well, I'm currently sipping coffee and eating a breakfast cookie. Yes. Breakfast cookies are a thing. Moving on.

4. Normalizing Routine?

I'm going to say two normal words that equate to one valiantly mysterious phrase: baby + schedule. This has been my Everest as of late. What in the world. How in the heck. WHAT IS A BABY SCHEDULE. How to get a child to nap on a schedule? I've started to notice ebbs and flows in Everett's sleeping urges, but it's not consistent enough to follow on a daily basis. And the thing is... I want this schedule more for me. Yes, the selfish truth is just that. If he could stick to a plan, I could get a few things done around here! I mean, when am I supposed to clean? Shower? Blog?! MAKE BREAKFAST COOKIES. I've started asking moms about their schedule, but it all seems so cryptic. Share your secrets, women! There are people in the world (cough*me*cough) who need to glean from your treasured knowledge and experience!

Fun Around the Web.

Just a few fun things I had to share because they made me smile this week.

This cop jamming out with his sassy bad self to "Shake it Off". I can't stop giggling.

I am still infatuated with Designlovefest's Dress Your Tech posts. It's like a free present every month! I won't stop sharing these with you because they are just so indulgent.

I feel like a lady again because I bought this organic lip glaze and it's super, ultra pink. I feel like I should smack my bubble gum and twirl my hair. Girl alert.

Also, have you entered my giveaway in partnership with Turbans for Tots? We are giving away this adorable Sibling Set, which is for a boy and girl, consisting of a bow tie (for him) and a hair bow headband (for her) - this Turbans for Tots stuff is so cute! You can enter the giveaway here up to three times and the winner will be announced and contacted next week. Share with your friends and deck out the littles of your life!

Love to you all.

The Boy's Bow Tie + a Giveaway with Turbans for Tots! (Closed)

Turbans for Tots. FOR BOYS

Yesterday I shared about my son's baby dedication and how meaningful it was. But I'm gonna be honest with you... a significant part about what makes baby dedications so frivolously fun are the outfits. FOR SURE. And I wanted my little baby doll to look like a dream boat, so fresh threads were a must. Enter Turbans for Tots. And this rad bow tie situation.

When I was thinking about what Everett should wear for his big day, I knew the centerpiece of his OOTD would have to be a swanky new Turbans for Tots bow tie. If you aren't familiar with Turbans for Tots, you should be! My friend Jenna makes the most adorable baby & toddler accessories, and when I was pregnant I would find myself pining away as I flipped through her Etsy shop of little girl hair accessories. When I found out I was pregnant with a boy, I knew I would have to put my Turbans for Tots obsession on hold, since her shop didn't offer any boy items. Sigh. But oh, the world has come into alignment, and recently they launched BOW TIES FOR BOYS. (Insert hallelujah hands emoji here).

// His big day outfit: Turbans for Tots Bow Tie, Baby Gap Oxford, Freshly Picked Moccasins, Baby Gap Socks (similar) (Not pictured: Polo Baby Blazer (a few seasons old, a gift!), Baby Gap Jeans (similar)) //

Giveaway!

I am excited to partner with Turbans for Tots to gift this Sibling Set, which includes a bow tie and a turban, for those adorable (and necessary!) matchy-matchy moments in your kiddos' lives. Easter Sunday ain't too far off folks, just sayin'. Everett will most definitely be sporting another bow tie for that occasion :) Enter the giveaway using Rafflecopter below. 1 winner will be chosen at random within 1 week. The winner will be announced here and contacted by email. Good luck to you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway