It seems like everywhere I look, there is a friends and family sale happening! Bloomingdalesis having yet another one (even though they just had one in October!). I’m not complaining… its 20% off nearly everything with code BFAM.
Gap is having another F&F sale of 35% off everything (40% off if you’re a card holder) and it has been extended until Tuesday, November 12. Use the code GAPFRIENDS and ask for it in store. The signage instore says 30% off but the code should get you to 35%. Also, don’t forget that for every $50 you spend, you’ll get $25 in GapCash redeemable in December.
Gap Warmest Ruffle Jacket (Not available online, try in store) (Orig: $65, Sale: $42.25)
I went into the store today and I picked up two adorable coats for my daughter. We only need one but I couldn’t decide so I brought them home to see what my husband thought. The blue one’s sleeves are oddly extremely long. My daughter is tall so I suspect its just proportioned strangely. The red one’s sleeves are perfect, though I like the overall length of the blue one more since daycare will be taking her outside to play twice a day, rain or shine. The red coat’s hood also stays on her head, while the blue one slips off for some reason. I am thinking we may keep the red one but that blue one is just so darn cute with those ruffles!
New Furniture!
I posted about looking for a new dining table for our eat in kitchen and we got that in last week. I’m just waiting for the scotch guard to arrive so that we can spray our dining chairs and start using them!
Over the weekend, we also went to a local furniture store’s sale. Kasala Furniture has some amazing pieces and we unexpectedly fell in love with a new dining table for our formal dining space while we were there browsing. We slept on it and decided to go back the next day to purchase it. Our formal dining area has been sitting empty since we moved into our home 5 years ago so this was rather exciting news for us. We also purchased a sideboard but I’m kind of having second thoughts. I am thinking about going back to the store and staring at it a little more. It’s such a big purchase that I really want to be 100% sure that I love it since its not an easy return like bringing back something to the mall!
Packing for a vacation with baby is never easy. I’d like to share what we learned from going on our trip to Mexico. I am hoping this post will help other parents embarking on their first beach/pool/hot weather vacation!
Sun Protection
If you’re going to be out in the sun, you need to protect baby’s delicate skin! Our pediatrician did not recommend any sunscreen for babies under 6 months old so please check with your baby’s doctor for their recommendation.
We consulted the EWG Sunscreen Guide which rates sunscreens on effectiveness and toxicity of ingredients. We chose the BabyGanics Cover-Up Baby Sunscreen, SPF 50+ which is very highly rated on the EWG Sunscreen Guide and is fairly inexpensive. It has a hazard score of 2 which is considered a low hazard item. The best score is 0, and worst score is 10. Be aware that the commonly sold size is 6 oz so you won’t be able to bring this in a carry-on bag.
BabyGanics Cover Up Baby Sunscreen (Approx $9-10 at Amazon or Target)
We also brought along a hat with a strap since our little one tends to rip hats off her head.
Bug Protection and Treatment
Since we were attending an evening wedding, we had issues with mosquitos the night of the wedding. I got absolutely eaten ALIVE! I think the problem was that I was sitting in front of the wedding lights which were attracting tons of bugs. In the first 5 minutes sitting at the dinner table, I got about 10 bites on my legs and feet! A friend got bitten so many times her ankles swelled up dramatically! Thankfully, my little one did not get a single bite. Also thankfully, one of the other moms was prepared with an organic bugspray that was safe for babies. My friend with the swollen ankles quickly ran to the hotel convenience store to get some anti-itch cream. Fortunately, they had something. Unfortunately, we didn’t recognize any of the ingredients. I really wish we had brought our own supply of hydrocortizone that our doctors have told us is safe for breastfeeding and for babies. I took the risk and used a bit of the topical gel on my bites but I am just glad I didn’t have to decide whether or not to use that questionable gel on my daughter. Next time, I’ll be packing the hydrocortizone that I know is safe for her.
Pool Essentials — Toys & Diapers
A friend brought along their baby spring float toy and this thing is a lifesaver for playing with babies in the pool! Since our 1 year old doesn’t know how to swim yet and can’t use a regular donut pool float, this made it really easy for her to sit and enjoy the pool while mom and dad splashed around her. Without this, we would have to always have 1 arm around baby. By using the pool float, we could stay within arms reach, but still have our hands free. This is one reason why we love hanging out with other parents — we always seem to learn something new from them!
To hang out in the pool, you’ll also need a supply of swim diapers. Swim diapers will contain your baby’s poops, but not pee… so don’t put them on until you’re ready to jump in the water! You may have a warm accident otherwise 🙂 We use Pampers disposable diapers though there are lots of great reusable swim diaper options as well. The nice thing about the Pampers ones that we use is that the sides tear away. I think several of the reusable options also have this feature. Friends have told me that they recommend the Charlie Banana brand.
Our little one is eating table foods now, though we still like to give her puree pouches since she still can’t chew crunchy veggies very well yet. For breakfast, she ate eggs and banana off my plate. For lunch and dinner, she would eat cut up chicken and beef and puree pouches. All of that was available from the resort. We also brought puffs and dried fruit bars with us. She really enjoys Happy Baby Organic puffs and Ella’s Kitchen Nibbly Fingers Bars. There was no problem bringing any of that with us into Mexico. The other baby we shared with seemed to enjoy these as well.
In Case of Emergency
One thing that I truly hope no parent experiences is a medical issue while on vacation. Not only are you worried about your little one, you are now faced with dealing with it without your regular pediatrician and perhaps in a foreign country with medical professionals speaking a different language. A friend gave me this tip long ago that I hope that you’ll find useful as well–bring baby tylenol and a thermometer with you on all your trips! You don’t want to be trying to find a store that sells this in the middle of the night when your baby has a fever. Also, don’t forget to bring the information that lists the proper dosage amount! Our pediatrician provides us a leaflet that lists dosage amount of tylenol by the weight of the baby. I keep a copy of this on my phone, though I should really keep a printed copy tucked in with the bottle of tylenol as well.
Did I miss anything from my vacation essentials list? I’d love to hear your opinions!
