My Favorite Things

Injured nipples? Silver has natural antibiotic and antifungal properties.

Silicone milk collectors are a game changer for nursing moms. Perfect for relieving overly full breasts and collecting leaking milk. Easy to use. 

Injured nipples benefit from gel pads to ease sore nipples.

Home infant scales need to be accurate and sensitive enough to do weighted feedings.

Protect your scale from your little one's accidents with these waterproof changing pads.

When access to care is limited, an infant scale can be a handy way to track and trend infant weight. A scale with an auto lock feature is ideal.

A hand pump is a must-have for working mamas. It is quiet, efficient, and discrete. 

2-oz. bottles are ideal for early supplementing where top-ups are needed. Similar to the original bottle but this can be used with or without the venting straw.

Slow-flow nipples and a 2-oz. bottle for supplementation or a 'snack' bottle.

Having options with a bottle can be helpful - one that can be used with an insert for added venting or without a venting straw or a simple 3-part bottle (nipple, collar, container).

A favorite swaddle sac that allows babies to keep their arms in a physiologically normal position (at midline) yet supresses the startle reflex. The covertible swaddle allows for an 'arms out' position as baby grows and promotes normal healthy movement.

Soft, stretchy pods like these help minimize the new-baby startle reflex while allowing baby to find a natural, ergonomic position with arms across the chest and hands near the chin.

Cylindrical-style pacifiers promote tongue cupping and build sucking skills. I particuarly like the concave outer rim that hugs the lips.

Soft, squishy, shoulder-less nipples help maintain a wide, open latch, especially babies that tend to chomp.

Cylindrical-style pacifiers promote tongue cupping and build sucking skills. I particuarly like the concave outer rim that hugs the lips.

Babies love being held. Soft cariers like this one are easy to use, keep baby safe and content, while liberating moms to hands-free care. 

Nursing pillows, for some families are a comfort. 

Newborns thrive on early skin to skin contact. A bandeau style tube top keeps baby securely on your chest for kangaroo care. 

Little people readily identify with the cute kitty nursing her kittens. 

Ready to night wean your toddler? Introduce the idea gently and share the plan. This unique book is written for children about night weaning.

Soon-to-be and new siblings will love these nursing pups that 'latch' magnetically to mama.

Help your toddler identify with nursing as part of a normal continuum. 

Newborns and infants need lots of carrying from here to there. Enjoy this beautiful story to help prepare your toddler for what is to come with their new sibling.

A book about the day in the life of a nursing toddler that normalizes extended breastfeeding. 

This is a great resource for preschoolers introducing life with a new baby in a breastfeeding, baby wearing, bottle feeding family.

A delightful picture book showing animals nursing their babies and ends with mother nursing her baby. Sequel to We Like to Nurse.

This simple board book is perfect for toddlers. Minimal text and picure based, this books introduces life with a new baby. 

A book that normalizes breastfeeding. Frequent feedings, locations, and even pumping.

Another book for toddler/preschooler favorite showing animals nursing their babies. Beautiful illustrated with a rhyming cadence.

 A toddler friendly book with bold colors and simple words describing mothers nursing babies.

Preschoolers will love to play with these adorable behaviors to mirror what they are experiencing in their life as the baby comes into their life!

Invite your preschooler to see what the maternity room where the baby sibling may have spent time before arriving home! 

Play is a way through which children work through changes in their lives. This picnic case allows for preschoolers to play older siblings with baby and parent.

The ultimate milk transporter for your milk for work or travel. Store and chill your milk in the same container.

The perfect complement to the Ceres Chill. This strap makes it easy to carry!

A great option for working mommas who want a professional work-pump bag the can accommodate pump life and work life.

This breast pump bag has the practicality of a pump caddy and the style of a purse.

Pumping in the car? No problem. This adapter allows you charge your phone and pump during your commutes. 

All-in-one style nursing-pumping bras are so much easier for pumping on the go.

This backpack style tote from Sarah Wells comfortably holds a Symphony hospital-grade pump and all your pumping essentials. There is room for a laptop too.

A great alternative for hands-free pumping.

Ideal for scalding high-lipase milk when paired with a stainless steel bottle and a thermometer. 

Fed up with bottles. Try pooling your pumped milk into Mason jars. Inexpensive and easy to clean. This style lid makes it easy to pour and prep bottles. 

These lids are an easy, no-fuss option for moms who pump and consolidate their workday milk into a mason jar for transport home.

Use with a Medela connector and the standard Spectra back flow protector, to accommodate Pumpin' Pal flanges.

These long-stem backflow protectors are part of the Spectra hack.

Pair this connector with either the flange adaper or the long-stem back flow protector when hacking a Spectra pump.

For scalding high-lipase milk, a digital thermometer like this one is key. Pair with the uninsulated stainless steel bottle and a high temperature bottle warmer.

Newer CDC guidelines recommend storing dirty bottles and pump parts in a holding basin (vs directly into a kitchen sink) until ready for washing. This basin is collapsible for easy transport. It has a built-in stopper and strainer. Clever!

This pint-sized personal refrigerator is perfect for streamlining pumping at work. A set of bottles and flanges fit into this mighty machine to save time and clean-up hassle during your workday. It's small enough to fit on shelf, desk, credenza or at your bedside.

Compact travel-sized bottle brush perfect for on-the-go and travel needs.

An uninsulated stainless steel bottle like this one is perfect for scalding high lipase milk. Milk can safely be heated and then rapidly cooled without concerns of glass breaking or chemicals leaching from plastic bottles. Pair with the digital thermometer and a bottle warmer.

These silicone lids are a perfect 'add on' option scalding high lipase milk. Store milk in the stainless steel bottle until it is ready to be scaled. 

Pumpin' Pal Flanges offer more comfort with their sophisticated design. This set includes the silicone XS and S flanges and hard Medium flange.

Pumpin' Pal Flanges offer more comfort with their sophisticated design. This set includes the silicone Small flange and the plastic Medium and Large flanges.

Pumpin' Pal Flanges offer more comfort with their sophisticated design. This set includes the hard flanges in M, L and XL.

Pair this strapless tank with your favorite nursing bra for 'muffin coverage' while nursing or pumping. 

A book filled with actual journal entries from women that visited their lactation room at work. Helps working mamas gain perspective on balancing work and motherhood.

Ideal for discretly storing and transporting pump parts. I love the detachable 'work surface'.

I love this all-in-one nursing-pumping bra. It saves time, is convenient, and it's (gasp) feminine looking.  

Slim travel-sized brushes specifically designed for cleaning the nooks and crannies of flanges.

Another all-in-one nursing-pumping bra with the coverage of a cami. You will need 2; one to wear, one to wash.

Set of 12 milk collection bottles. Perfect for collecting & storing 2.5 oz or less. Ideal for sending as a 'snack' bottle to daycare. 

Freemie cups can be a great option for milk collection when privacy and access to lactation spaces are limited.

The CDC suggest replacing pump tubing if milk enters the tubing.

Teether toys with 'arms' are ideal for building oral skills.  This is one of my favorites. With a little guidance 3-4 month olds are ready for this one. It is great for post-frenectomy skill building.

When baby explores this gem with his mouth, it encourages tongue lift and extension.  The open holes make it easy to grasp and it is extremely light weight.

Another favorite teether toy for skill building. The mushroom cap helps baby hold on to the stem. The two 'ears' are great for building lateral tongue movement.

Another great teether toy for developing chewing and munching skills. The protective collar minimizes gagging.

These are a favorite tool for building oral skills. When baby is in tummy time and mouthing a sensory ball it encourages tongue mobility, especially tongue extension and tongue lift. 

Short utensils are ideal for building self feeding skills. Help your baby by pre-loading the 'spoon' and then encouraging baby to bring it to his mouth.

Many babies learning staw skills will benefit from a little assitance.   Squeeze Honey Bear's belly to prime the straw while encouraging baby to close the lips around the straw. Model staw skills and your baby will catch on faster. 

Current recommendaions for reducing peanut allergies include regular exposure to peanut proteins.  These puffs are covered in peanut dust. It's an easy and safe way to provide peanut exposure without the risks of offering whole peanuts to young babies

Straw skills and open-cup drinking build oral skills. These are the gold standard. Avoid sippy cups with spouts that promote immature oral skills. 

Slim profile bibs that do not restriction movement are ideal. The silicone bottom collects debris and the fabric helps keep it light weight. Some babies are perterbed by heavy all-silicone bibs.

A grow-with-me highchair, like this one, has a small foot print, encourages bringing baby to the table for shared mealtimes, and will last for years.

Stokke is another grown-with-me chair with loads of options for young babies to school-aged children. The adjustable seat and foot rest allows baby to participate at the family table. The small footprint is a space-saving bonus.

Beginner spoons should be shallow. Most todder spoons have a deep bowl and are difficult for beginner feeders to master.

Babies are natural communicators. Signing with your baby helps reduce frustration and builds confidence. Start with some very simple signs such as: "eat,"  "water,"  "more," "all done" and, of course, "please and thank you." 

Looking for plastic-free options? This mini-yeti style cup is stainless steel, has a silicone straw, and is perfect for the experienced straw drinker. Encourage baby to hold cup with both hands.

Crinkle cutters are great for slicing steak-fry size foods. The ripple cuts make it easier for little hands to grasp foods and makes it easier to pick up food from a tray.

A perfect placemat and mini plate all in one. The silicone sticks to flat surfaces and prevents plate dumping.

Babies do best with short-handled utensils. This pint-sized fork and spoon are perfect for beginners. The long-handled spoon is for purees. 

Ezpz has a fantastic line of products that stay put when your little one's curiosity about gravity gets the best. This one-piece silicone bowl is perfect for beginners.

These tiny spoons are just-right for beginners. The soft silicone is perfect for learning and it is not unwieldy in little hands.

Open cups help little ones develop oral motor skills and aid in more efficient swallowing skills. This cup's weighted bottom helps guard against frequent spills and is designed to fit well in the hands of beginning drinkers.   

Early feeders are messy. A splat mat offers protection against spills and stains for your floors, especially carpeted areas.

Make Tummy Time inviting for your little one with this high-contrast activity mat. Babies will delight in the peek-a-boo mirror and find themselves pushing up to get a better view of what's below.

Up until around six months, a baby's eyesight gradually approaches 20/20 vision. Therefore, babies love the defined edges created by high-contrast, black and white images. Wow your little one with an undersea adventure!

Everyday objects pop in this black and white board book. Infants have difficulty focusing and the definition the contrast of color provides helps to engage with their world. 

An infant's visual field is 12-inches away. Starting with black & white, high-contrast pictures help a little one's eyes start to adjust. Adding red and gradually moving to more color. These cards are easy to pack and go and are a great way to see if your baby can track and follow the images, as you move them slowly.

These snap beads are great for sensory play! The different grips are great tactile exposure. The popping sound offer great feedback when pulled apart and pushed together.

Rattles like this Nuby rattle offer great engagement for sensory play. Variety is key for rattles - hard, soft, ability to freeze - it allows baby to experience different sensory input. This rattle has different shapes that move and spin, beads of different textures. Baby can hold with one hand and as baby grows can exchange from one hand to another.

Teether toys that can go in the freezer are great for sensory exploration. Baby can gain exposure to temperature change and work on visual input when the teether is thawed to watch the water move. The movement of the keys around the ring also offer sensory input.

Appropriately named, the fascination station offers exposure to texture, color contrast, sounds, and more to capture your baby's senses. The movement of the objects provide endless engagement options.

The soft texture of this Sassy rattle will allow baby to engage with tactile sensations. It provides further input with the different appendages (crinkle, chime, rattle, squeak) and the pull down and shimmy up movement will further help with visual tracking. The long arms make for practice gripping.

These sensory balls are great for exploration and integration. Roll them on your little one's hands, feet, show them how to grip the nubs, when they are in tummy time, they can encourage baby to experiment with how much they need to grip and use shoulder muscles to get a good view.

Bubbles for a baby? Yes! Bubbles for babies are great! They help with eye tracking and provide sensory input when they are gently blown towards baby's feet, belly, cheeks, and tummy. At first they might be a surprise, take it slow, blow gently, and avoid hands, eyes, mouth and do not give baby the wand.