Besides trying new foods, Layla is becoming more acquainted with her toys and it's been so awesome watching her discover and learn. Being a preemie can sometimes put them behind on their developmental milestones, so Layla does have monthly appointments with an occupational therapist to closely monitor her motor skills and cognitive development to make sure she's where she needs to be and isn't falling behind. She also has an Early-On developmental worker visit our house each month to monitor her progress. It feels so good knowing that there is a team of people encouraging Layla's growth and progress and knowing that we're not in this alone.
With all of our new discoveries these past few months, I have quite a few favorites!
2. Bright Starts Activity Gym - Layla is finally showing interest in playing with her toys, and I've really been trying to focus more on her tummy time, so this mat pulls double duty. She loves all the toys and there's tons of extra loops that allow you to add more, too. What sold me on this particular gym was NO LIGHTS! It's so hard to find baby toys, let alone a gym, without lights all over the damn thing. You can set the toy in the center to play music each time the baby hits it, so she's still getting rewarded with stimulation.
3. Earth's Best Organic Sensitivity Formula - Because Layla was so early, I had a hard time producing enough milk for her. I was able to get her through her NICU stay, but I eventually had to begin receiving donor milk. When Layla turned 6 months old, her donor (who is so so amazing), was no longer able to donate, so I began doing a ton of research on different types of formula. I was terrified because Layla was unable to tolerate ANY formula while she was in the hospital and I didn't want that to happen again. I finally decided to try this formula, and there have been ZERO problems! She loves the taste, there is no gas, no fussiness, no tummy problems, and I am one happy mama! It's a bit pricey and I use a can a week, but I refuse to use anything else. I don't want to upset her tummy by trying anything different, and some brands have so much crap in them. This is such a great formula with really amazing ingredients, so I'm very happy with it!
4. Lamaze Marina Mermaid - Layla LOVES this toy! She makes eye contact with her and smiles at her all the time. I hang it from the side of her car seat and she pulls it into the seat with her. She loves pulling her hair, which I may come to regret about this toy very soon. haha I have a ton of these Lamaze toys and she loves them all.
5. Munchkin Fresh Food Freezer Trays - I LOVE these things! Since I've started making Layla's food, these have been my go to accessory. Each cube holds 2 tablespoons, which is what she is currently eating, and the lids prevent ice from crystallizing on the top. It IS a bit difficult to get the food out once it's been frozen, but I learned a trick from reading the reviews...run the bottom under warm water for a few seconds then use a butter knife to pop them out! Works every time! I pop them all out and put them in a Ziplock freezer bag for long-term storage.
6. Nosefrida - Layla has bouts of congestion that no bulb syringe could ever conquer. This thing is AMAZING! While the thought of sucking the snot out of my daughter's nose with my mouth is vomit inducing, this totally takes that away with plastic tubing AND a filter. haha PLUS, have you ever cut open a bulb syringe?! So gross. This is all clear, and easy to clean.
7. Munchkin Fresh Food Feeders - Now that Layla is teething AND experiencing solids, these have been so great to have. She loves when I put watermelon or peaches in them and will seriously go to town. Word of caution, ALWAYS use a bib when you're using these. I have a hard time understanding how something so little can produce so much saliva...seriously, it's like a downpour. These are also a bit more heavy-duty than the Sassy ones, because you don't have to replace the mesh. I just toss them in the dishwasher after each use.
8. The First Years Take & Toss Bowls and Lids - These are so so great now that we're feeding! They're super cheap, very durable, and easy to clean. She's been eating carrots and sweet potatoes, but there's still no orange staining! The one thing I don't understand about these bowls is that they're purposely packaged with lids that don't match...that doesn't fly with me. But, thank the packaging genius that decided to put the matching lids in the other pack of mismatched bowls! So, if you buy the right two, you'll have a matching bowl and lid for each one! Ahhhhh...It soothes my inner OCD. Mismatching bowls and lids? That shit is not cute.
9. Munchkin Soft Tip Spoons - First of all, let me just indulge my inner OCD once again by pointing out the fact that these spoons all match each of the colors of the bowls that I use to feed Layla with. I cannot tell a lie...I do match her bowls to her spoons every time I feed her. Don't judge me. haha Another really great plus to these spoons is that they're not as wide as other spoons. Layla is tiny to begin with, so I had a hard time finding spoons that weren't gigantic. These spoons start at 4+ months and the size is great, and the price is perfect!
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