Surviving with your baby

Having a baby is indeed life changing moments for anyone.

When Rania was born, being a first time parent means that there are a lot of things which I am ignorant of. A lot of money was spent with trial and error with so many things.

I am hoping that the next baby will cut costs to half (or maybe even more)

I started off having two teats and six bottles, thinking I could breastfeed for a long time. Then a week before my father passed away, he managed to buy 4 more Pigeon bottles and a Tiger flask from Indonesia which is cheap!
So that gave me six bottles and made it easier for me. I ended up washing her bottles twice a day i.e in the afternoon and at night.

Her feeds were every 2.5 to 3 hours and I was alternating between breast milk and bottle.

Then came when my dad was in the hospital for two weeks. I was struggling with pumping out milk which I only did once a day and eventually I stopped. Later I added on 4 Avent bottles of 120ml because I did not have a maid and I was managing so many things.

My own family, the baby, settling my dad's things and everything else in the house.
That gives me 10 bottles to work with.

But it didn't last long too. Eventually, Rania was on a 150ml feed and off I went to buy another 6 Avent bottles of 260ml.
Today, she is using 9 Pigeon bottles, 6 Avent bottles and 2 small feeding bottles.

At 6 months, this was how Rania look like.



Her expressions are priceless.
To get ready takes about 2 hours because (again, using first time mother as an excuse) I would not want to miss out anything when I go out.

Here was how many things I put inside her diaper bag now. That is excluding 3 sets of clothes which I bring everytime.

Kiasu much?



Rania at 10 months



Better bonding with her dad



Today, these are the things I bring for her whenever we go out.



1. 2 feeding bottles, milk powder container & Zojirushi thermal flask
1 empty, 1 filled with lukewarm water for her to drink.
The good thing is that if I run out of warm water for her milk, I just ask for hot water and add on to the luke warm water.

The milk powder container is a gift and a Tupperware brand. I love it!

2. Favourite pillow
She used this a lot when she was teething. Because the pillow was soft, she bit on it often and a must have if she needs to go to sleep or calm her down.

3. Kangaroo
Yeah, I know.. she sleeps with her favourite pillow but her Kangaroo is what she toy she carries around everytime. She will enjoy biting the nose, the tail and throwing it on the floor just to catch our attention.

4. 2 diapers and 1 or 2 sets change of clothes
Anything more required means it is time to go home

5. Dettol wet wipes
Heck yeah, I sanitize anything that I can get my hands on especially the baby chair in restaurants. I cannot imagine them using the same cloth to wipe trays and then wipe tables and whatever else and then wipe the baby chair.
The next thing you know, your baby is biting off the handles, licking and sucking the surrounding bars.
*shudders*

6. Cusson Wet Wipes
Love this wipes. It is a one wipe for all.
Bottom, hands and mouth.
And I love this one because the smell is so nice and refreshing.

7. Dry tissue
Trust me, you no longer need those small packet ones. Travel size is the best.
My favourite brands are Kleenex, Paseo, Fair Price.
This one happens to be Watsons brand because it was on sale for 50cents a pack.

8. Biscuits
These are really cheap biscuits. A box of 20 packets (2 biscuits in a packet) costs $2.60 and Rania really enjoys them because they make the 'crunch' sound.

9. My wallet and medication bag
I cannot live without these.

And all these to fit into the Kipling Backpack.
This the diaper bag that has lasted with us for 4 months. The longest running.
I like it because it is very practical.

Either myself or the husband can carry it.
Even when I am alone, it is manageable to handle Rania on a carrier, with a backpack and even add a pram to that!

Yes, I am one mummy filled with much gusto.
(I still miss my heels though)

I know that there are a lot of mummies who gave birth just before or soon after me.
How has your diaper bag evolved or what are the things in there?

We used to share what is in our handbag.
Times have changed.

What is in your diaper bag?
xoxo