A couple weeks ago, as I was reading the Sunday paper (yes, how 1989 of me),  I saw an ad for a Mother’s Day 5 K called “Run Like a Mother.”  A Race for ‘women only’ to celebrate health and motherhood, on Mother’s Day. This seemed like an awesome idea, so I called up my running buddies and we made it a date.

The race was happening in a beautiful horse farm that has been converted to a park. What a great way to spend Mother’s Day morning, we thought.

Last night as we began to check the weather though, we got a little concerned.  The forecast called for heavy rains.

Whatever.  A little rain wasn’t going to slow us down.  I’ve run many races in the rain, as long as you avoid the big puddles, it’s really not a big deal.

As I pulled into the park this morning, I began to have my doubts.  As we gathered at the staring line,  a downpour began.  Next I realized that we weren’t running on pavement, we were running through the field.

A boggy field. Wet slippery grass. Mud. Awesome.

My shoes were sloshing, my socks soaked to the core as I rounded the first turn.  At times, I was running in 6 inches of water.

This was not what I had signed up for.

As me, my friends and 200 other crazy moms continued the race, we found our stride. The scenery was beautiful even in the rain. Faithful dads and tots stood with their umbrellas, cheering us on at the halfway mark.

It was definitely a unique experience: how often do I run through a horse field in a downpour?

As I rounded the final stretch with the finish line in sight, I realized that even in my cold, soggy state I was having a blast.

This race to celebrate Mother’s Day turned into a perfect analogy for motherhood itself: it’s  messy, much harder than I thought it would be, but exhilarating and totally worth it in the end.

What was the best part of your Mother’s Day?

Getting Ready to Run

We are so excited to launch our new “sister” community, GraceforMoms.com! We have thoroughly enjoyed the community that has been built here and will continue to blog about trying to conceive, infertility, pregnancy and birth. Our hearts are passionate about ministering to women on their journey to motherhood.

In order to expand our reach (and in preparation for The Baby Companion book that we are working on now). . .we are launching a brand new community for moms where women will find a place of grace to share and discuss issues of motherhood, family, ministry and more.

The site will go live on Mother’s Day, May 13th and we’ll celebrate with 12 Days of Giveaways! You don’t want to miss the party where you’ll hear from several of the amazing women that will be writing with us. These moms have stories to tell and we know they will inspire and challenge us all. Most of all, we know they will start conversations about motherhood that are covered in grace. Stop by the site now and sign up to receive email updates. Then don’t miss our 12 Days of Giveaways following the launch on May 13th! Here’s a list of the great stuff we’ll be giving away:

GraceforMoms.com 12 Days of Giveaways

May 14 – What’s In The Bible DVD Pack

May 15 – Tommy Nelson Princess Prize Pack

May 16 – Small Bird Studios $25 Etsy Shop Credit

May 17 – Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman Books and CDs

May 18 – Angela Thomas Book Pack

May 19 – The No Brainer Wardrobe Eb00k

May 20 – Praise Baby CD/DVD Pack

May 21 – New Christian Music CD Pack

May 22 – Spirit Led Parenting Book

May 23 – Faithful Provisions Saving Savvy Book

May 24 – Word Records CD Brick

May 25 – Grand Prize, $100 Spa Finder Giftcard*

We look forward to seeing you over at Grace for Moms!

*Grand Prize winner will be chosen from all entries for previous days giveaways. So make sure you enter each day for more chances to win the Spa Finder giftcard!

In case, like me, you need a good laugh today. . .

Well…I had planned to post yesterday but my sweet girl broke her leg on the trampoline Wednesday afternoon. So our world has been turned a bit upside down. I am feeling a tremendous amount of grace as we look toward 8 weeks of an immobile preschooler along with my becoming mobile 8 month old. Maybe I’m in denial but I am very optimistic about why lies ahead. I know his grace will continue to see us through and I am determined to take it one day at a time.

I am resting in his promise…“My grace is sufficient for you, my strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Whatever you are facing in this season, his grace is sufficient for you. Praying for all of you that are dealing with life’s inconveniences or struggles. He will see us through.

What are you dealing with this month? How can we be praying for you?

And if you’ve had a preschooler with a broken leg, I’d love any advice you can offer!

Today I attended a new mom’s luncheon at my church. What a wonderful idea our leadership had to gather together the 15+ mommies in our body who gave birth in the past twelve months. Some were first time moms and some, like me, already had children. We sat around and swapped breastfeeding and poop stories while getting to know one another and our little ones. It didn’t matter our level of experience – each one had suggestions and new ideas to offer the group. Our pastor’s wife and children’s pastor both encouraged us to keep in touch, plan play groups and continue to fellowship. We are all apart of a shared community and this group will become our mom tribe. . .fellow mommies who dwell and learn together.

I’ve had the great privilege of having peer moms surrounding me since I became one myself. I don’t know what I would do without my best mommy friends to call on weekly, sometimes daily. The camaraderie that develops when walking through a season as tough as motherhood is invaluable. Even if you do things slightly different than your other mothering friends, there is still so much to learn from one another. You may do nothing more than offer each other an empathetic, “I hear ya girl” when sharing challenges and frustrations. This simple sisterhood may be the very thing that carries you through to high school graduation.

If you haven’t already, I encourage you to find a mom tribe in your area. If you feel like you are the only one in this stage of life in your church or city I assure you, you are not. There has got to be some other women keeping that OB office in business! You may not immediately click with women you find in your area. After all, relationships must be invested in and cultivated. But this is one of the most important things you can do for your child and for yourself. Here are a few suggestions for finding your mom tribe. . .

• Ask the leaders in your church to connect you with other new moms. Start with the children’s pastor. They should be able to introduce you to other moms of babies.
• Look for an established group such as MOPS in your town. These groups meet once or twice a month and usually provide childcare for a small, annual membership fee.
• Visit meetup.com to check for local play groups groups. Message the group leader for an introduction and details.
• Check with your local library for story times. Lots of moms attend these free events so it’s the perfect place to connect with others in your area.
• Don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation with another mom while your kids are playing at the park. Some of the best connections can be made around the jungle gym.

I am saying a special prayer today that all of the moms in our community will be able to find their mom tribe and connect quickly for support and friendship.

What are some other ways you have been able to connect with moms in your area? We’d love to hear what worked for you.

Before I get started, let me just say – this post is not completely comprehensive. I don’t think any post about any deal can be. But I’ve done my best in the midst of infant illness (did I mention he threw up all over the place while I was changing his large, poopie diaper this morning) and preschool craziness. I promised I would do some research on the NEW best place to buy diapers since Amazon.com announced they were changing their Subscribe and Save and Amazon Mom programs. Turns out, for some, Amazon might still be the best place to buy diapers.

Really, it all depends on your favorite, most trusted brand as well as whether or not you want the convenience of a subscription and delivery or if you want to search for and use coupons on a regular basis. Still, there’s some good information here (if I do say so myself) for the stores we shop at the most.

{A Few Notes}

• All diapers are priced in Sz 3 because a) that is the size my little man is currently in, b) it seems that is the size infants stay in the longest and c) it would simply be too much to include all sizes in a blog post. Use sz 3 as your guide and if your child is in a smaller or larger size, chances are the price comparisons are similar.
• These prices do not include sales tax for obvious reasons.
• These prices do not take into account coupon savings potential as that would vary greatly every week/month. If you can add coupons to these prices, you may decide one store is a better deal that week than another. {As a side note, Babies R Us always has great coupons/GC w/ purchase deals.}
• If you would like to include coupon savings into your consideration, I suggest you check out the weekly Top Diaper Deal posts on faithfulprovisions.com {Kelly is amazing and if you aren’t already, you should regularly check out her site for great savings and while you are at it, grab her book Saving Savvy!}
• If you are looking for a no-brainer diaper strategy, then simply choose your brand of choice below and look for the red entry (least expensive per diaper without coupons or deals).
• If you are not already an Amazon Prime member, the $79 per year fee would add an additional .02-.04 per diaper depending on box qty (based on 1 box per month est).
• Please also take into consideration you will not pay tax at Amazon.com so that is an additional savings if you have significant sales tax in your area.
• Prices for Sams Club and Costco do not include yearly membership fee. As with Amazon Prime, this would only make sense if you are already a member. If not, it would add an additional .02-.03 per diaper for your $50 yearly fee (broken out over 12 months at 1 box per month est).
• I did not even include diapers.com on this list. What a joke. Their prices do not even compare to any listed below. Even with their $5 off every case deal.

{Summary}

Store Brand/Value Diapers

Target and Walmart store brands have the best price. But it depends on whether or not you like the quality.

For value diapers like Luvs, Amazon has the best price at .15 per diaper (w/S&S). Amazon Prime membership brings it down to .13 per diaper. Your yearly membership fee would be paid for with this .02 per diaper savings so you would enjoy free shipping and streaming for basically no additional cost.

Pampers {Cr=Cruisers, Bd=Baby Dry}

Best price on Cruisers is Sams (in store or online w/ free shipping) or Amazon (w/S&S and free shipping) at .23 per diaper. Amazon Prime brings it down to .19 per diaper.

Best price for Baby Dry is Sams (online w/ free shipping) or Babies R Us (in store) or Amazon (w/ S&S and free shipping) at .20 per diaper. Amazon Prime brings it down to .17 per diaper. Again, your Prime membership would be paid for each year with this .03 per diaper savings.

Huggies {Sd=Snug and Dry, Lm=Little Movers}

Best price for Snug and Dry is Costco or Sams (Sams in store or online w/ free shipping) at .18 per diaper.

Best price for Little Movers is Sams (online w/ free shipping) at .23 per diaper. Amazon only meets these prices with Prime membership so it would not be worth the expense if you are not already a member.

For me, I’m a Pampers Swaddlers mom. But that is because I was getting them for such a good price through Amazon (.18-.19 per).  I didn’t include them in this analysis because they are considerable more expensive without the 30% off I was getting from Amazon. Now that things have changed, I’ll likely switch to Pampers Baby Dry. They are comparable and still much softer than store or value brands.

Are there any brands/deals I haven’t included on this list? We’d love to hear your secrets to getting great diaper deals.

My Mommy & Me

Dear Mom,

I’m so SORRY for all the times I THREW UP on you, POOPED on you, WOKE you up in the middle of the night, JUMPED on my bed after you repeatedly told me not to, acted BORED when there was plenty for me to do, REFUSED to eat the food you worked so hard to provide, acted UNGRATEFUL or SELFISH, blatantly DISOBEYED, INTERRUPTED when you were trying to talk, thought you DIDN’T KNOW ANYTHING, acted like I DIDN’T NEED YOU, FORGOT to say ‘I Love You’. . .

I finally know how you felt.

Please forgive me.

Well gotta go, the kids are screaming. . .

Love,

Your older and (hopefully) wiser daughter

If you ‘like’ us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter, you’ve seen my New Mom Tool of the Week posts over the past 6 months. These are items that I have loved having around since welcoming baby #2 back in July. It’s funny how, as a brand new mom welcoming baby #1, we have a long list of must have items that we see online or in magazines. I think with each subsequent child, however, we learn that less is more and we tend to gravitate towards the absolute ‘must haves’. There are many items I thought I needed when my first child was born that I am doing just fine without the second time around.

Those ‘must haves’ will vary from mom to mom because, let’s face it, we all have different lifestyles and preferences. We could probably sit around and chat for hours about our favorite baby items and why we just can’t live without them. I’ve asked several moms of multiple young children and these are the items we simply can’t live without. I’ve noted the approximate cost of these items along with some money saving tips as well as the time frame you are likely to use the item. So much of your baby gear is used temporarily (like 2-6 months) so it’s helpful to know how long your invest is going to last.

This list is, of course, in addition to general items such as clothing, various linens, a crib, bottles (if bottle feeding), etc. If you have our book, these special items would fall under the “Would Be Nice To” haves or the “Everyone In Hollywood” haves that I write about in Chapter 7.

Thank you to Facebook friend Bethany for the wonderful reminder that above all else, grace and wisdom are the two most important tools for any new mom. And you can’t find them at Babies R Us or your local consignment sale. Those tools come only from your relationship with God so remember to pray first and foremost as you go throughout your day with baby!

1. Graco Snap & Go Stroller – Twitter friend @mommyzabs seconds my vote that this is the way to go for an infant stroller. The Snap & Go is a frame that carries your infant seat so you simply pop the seat out of the car and into the frame without moving or disturbing baby. I found this much easier than a separate stroller and very compact. Several companies make these frames so find one that is compatible with your preferred infant seat. For baby #2 I purchased the double Snap & Go stroller and we love it! There is a place for my preschooler to sit and once baby is out of the carrier, there is a full seat for him up front.

Approximate Cost: $50-$75 (for the single) depending on where you buy and what brand you land on. These are pretty easy to find at consignment sales or wait for a sale or coupon at Babies R Us.

When You Will Use It: 0-9 months, possibly longer if baby is small.

2. Baby Monitor/Video Monitor - Facebook friends Carrie and Shawn love their baby monitors. Shawn shared that although the video monitor is more of an investment, it’s worth it to be able to see baby while they are sleeping. Either way, the peace of mind that comes with hearing (or seeing) your baby while they are sleeping is worth the investment.

Approximate Cost: $35-$200 depending on brand (video monitors are between $100-$200). This is a good item to look for on Craigslist but make sure it works well before purchasing. I would not recommend buying an item like this at a consignment sale because there is no way to ensure it works before purchasing. Sign up for Amazon Mom and watch for weekly deals on high dollar items like this.

When You Will Use It: We still use a monitor for our 3 1/2 year old. It’s just helpful to hear her, especially when she is sick.

3. Swaddle Blankets – Our mommies love their swaddle blankets and it’s pretty unanimous that Aden + Anais are the blanket of choice. Facebook friends Claire and Colleen shared how much they love their Aden + Anais blankets. I couldn’t agree more. I don’t know what I did with baby #1 before they were around. These muslin blankets are soft, lightweight and worth the price. Target sells a few exclusive packs or you can purchase directly off of their website (more choices). Perfect for summer babies since they are light and breathable! They are a great, larger size so you can use them as baby grows.

Approximate Cost: $35-$50 (pack of 4)

When You Will Use Them: As long as possible!

4. Boppy - If you think the Boppy is only for breastfeeding, you are missing out! Facebook friend Brandi shared how she uses her Boppy for everything. Once again, I couldn’t agree more. Brandi used her Boppy as a neck pillow in the hospital (brilliant) as well as for nursing, sitting support and tummy time support for her little one.

Approximate Cost: $35-$50 for new pillow and cover but this is a great item to pick up at a consignment sale.

When You Will Use It: 0-10 months

5. Hylands Teething Tablets - This is one of my picks for mommies. Hylands went away between my two little ones but are back and better than ever with a new formula (perfect timing for me). These homeopathic tablets really do sooth teething babies.

Approximate Cost: $6-$10

When You Will Use Them: Approx 3-4m until baby stops teething

6. Sheet Savers – This is one of those items that some new moms don’t know about. I want to shout it from the rooftops and I think Facebook friends Angela and Carrie would join me. No one wants to change a crib sheet in the middle of the night (believe me it’s hard). Sheet savers are truly life savers! You can use the small size or the ones that cover the entire surface (I write about these in the book). Either way, they will save you the trouble of changing a hard-to-remove crib sheet at 2am enough times to warrant their price!

Approximate Cost: $8-$20 depending on size

When You Will Use Them: 0-12 months at least

7. Infant Carrier/Wrap – With my first baby, I didn’t use an infant carrier. She simply did not like it. With my second the need for two hands to care for my 3 year old outweighed his resistance to it. Many moms swear by the convenience and comfort of infant carriers and would recommend using them from the get go. Like anything, the more you use it, the more baby will become comfortable with it. There are many types of carriers on the market including wraps and slings. Facebook friends Mindy and AnnRose love the Moby Wrap (this is the one I used for my baby boy) while friends Adina, Kemmely and Grace @ourarmswideopen love the Ergo Baby carrier. You will need to do your research and find what works best for you. But we definitely recommend taking the time and making the investment in this helpful tool. . .especially for baby #2 and beyond!

Approximate Cost: $40-$200 depending on carrier (wraps are less expensive options). These are great items to pick up at a consignment sale. I got my Moby Wrap for 1/2 the price used. Just make sure with more involved carriers that all pieces are in proper working order.

When You Will Use It: 0m-2years depending on carrier choice and baby’s size. Wraps can typically be used sooner however the Ergo Baby has an optional infant insert.

8. Breast Pump - If you are planning to breastfeed your baby then a breast pump in a must (unless you plan on never leaving their side during the first year). They are expensive but worth the investment. If you have trouble with your milk supply, a pump can also aide to keep you flowing until your supply picks up. Since I knew I would have trouble with my supply due to a surgery I had years ago, I used a breast pump for a month after baby was born to get as much milk as I could for my babies. I chose to rent a pump from our hospital medical supply since I knew I wouldn’t be using it long term. Breastfeeding moms would tell you to invest in an electric (non manual) pump if you can. And a double pump is much more efficient than a single. Believe me, you’ll appreciate getting it done in one shot when you are juggling a million things as a new mom. Twitter friend Grace @ourarmswideopen loves her Lansinoh pump and @SarahCaitS chose Medela. Once again, do your research and find the pump that you think would work well for you and is in your budget.

Approximate Cost: $200-$400 for double, electric breast pump, $60-$150 for single electric. $40-$50 for single or double manual pump.

When You Will Use It: 0-12m or as long as you breastfeed

9. Nursing Cover – Facebook friends Claire and Colleen could not live without their nursing cover. If you want to be discreet while feeding in public, a nursing cover is a must!

Approximate Cost: $30-$50

When You Will Use It: 0-12m or as long as you are breastfeeding

10. “Baby Stations” – A swing, a bouncy seat, a playmat and/or an exersaucer. . . I like to call these items “baby stations”. Because baby’s attention span in only a few minutes, you will find yourself moving throughout these stations with baby as you go through your day. If you have room in your budget, I recommend purchasing a few of these items to offer baby variety and you as much time hands free as possible. But these tools are not only about passing off baby for a few, sacred, hands-free moments. These toys help baby explore color, shapes, sounds and the world around them. Twitter friend @SarahCaitS chose her swing as a favorite. Facebook friend Bethany loves her bouncy seat while Kristy recommends a playmat and Crista swears by an exersaucer. These items vary in cost and appropriate age of use so think about your budget and what you will need throughout baby’s first year when deciding what to purchase.

Approximate Cost: Swing $75-$200 depending on size, Bouncy Seat $30-$70, Playmat $25-$75, Exersaucer $50-$120. These are all good items to pick up at a consignment sale or to borrow from a friend who is not currently using them.

When You Will Use Them: Swing 0-9m, Bouncy Seat 0-6m, Playmat 0-12m, Exersaucer 3-12m

11. Soothing Sounds – One of the most important tools you can have in your tool box for baby is anything that promotes peace in your home. Babies can sense stress and tension so the more peaceful you make your environment, the more peaceful they can be. As I write this, my 6 month old is watching a Praise Baby DVD. Twitter friend @mommyzabs and Facebook friend Crista both shared that they love worship music for their baby.  Kemmely shared that her baby loved their womb sound machine. Whether going throughout your day with worship music as your soundtrack or putting baby down for a nap and nighttime with a sound machine or lullabies, soothing sounds are a must for every mom. One of my personal favorites is the Rock A Bye Baby Collection. Sweet and soothing renditions of YOUR favorite music mom, including Coldplay, U2 and others!

Approximate Cost: Sound Machine $20-$50, CD/DVDs $10-$15

When You Will Use It: At least the first 3 years!

12. Baby Schedule Tracker – While in the hospital after having my second baby, the nurse instructed me to write down when baby ate, slept and pooped. She told me to do this for about a week. Then she jokingly said, “If you do it any longer than that, you need to get a life.” Facebook friend Shawn and I would definitely disagree with that statement. With the horrible effect that having a baby has on the brain, new moms cannot be expected to remember anything. . .even the last time they fed their little one. I found a schedule tracker so valuable for at least the first 3-6 months. Once baby was sleeping more consistently and eating regular meals, I was able to transition out of this practice. But before then, I simply had to write everything down. My personal favorite schedule tracker is The Essential Baby Organizer while Shawn loved her electronic Itzbeen Baby Timer.

Approximate Cost: $15-$25

When You Will Use It: 0-6m or possibly longer

Some other items suggested by our moms for baby’s body. . .Facebook friend Jessice loves California Baby Calendula Cream for babies with Eczema and Carrie loves Aquaphor for everyday use. I personally have really enjoyed Johnson’s Natural line this time around for baby wash, shampoo and lotion.

We’d love to hear from other moms on essential items that did not make this list. What other tools do you believe new moms (especially moms with 2+) need in their toolbox?

What do you believe?

{UPDATE: The winner for our What’s In The Bible giveaway is Kristy C! Congrats Kristy!}

This year we have a new stocking holder on the mantle adorning a complete set of stockings that I’ve waited to display for a long time now.

What might seem like a simple and traditional piece of Christmas decor actually means the world to me for all it represents.

BELIEVE it boldly states.

As I sit peacefully in our dimly lit living room – brightened only by the light of our tree – I am asking myself what this bold statement means to me…to our family.

BELIEVE.

I’ve asked myself a similar question a lot lately as I begin to try to instill family values in our preschooler. It’s been easy to go about our lives – just my husband and myself – knowing deep down what we believe to be true about life and faith without ever really vocalizing it. I pray that our actions and our words have expressed those beliefs and while I think what comes out of you is the most powerful expression of what you believe, I know it’s not enough. Especially when trying to teach a wee one.

I am working to put into words the truths we hold in our hearts so that daily we can live them out in our lives. Christmas is such a wonderful time to do this because after all, it all started with Jesus…he is the reason we can believe in anything.

WE BELIEVE

in Jesus

in ourselves

in each other

in others

in grace

in love

in hope

in giving

in serving

in encouraging

in forgiveness

in redemption

in perseverance

in laughter

in prayer

in miracles

What do YOU believe? What do you want YOUR CHILDREN to believe? Make a list and challenge yourself to make sure your words and deeds match up with what’s on paper. Use the list to daily guide your actions and decisions allowing your children and those around you to see that you truly believe in those values. I am challenging myself to do just that. I know I won’t live up to it 100% of the time but 5th down from the top “we believe in grace” means I’m covered and so are you.

{GIVEAWAY!} This week we have the privilege of giving away the amazing What’s In The Bible: Why Do We Call It Christmas?* DVD. If you are looking for a fun and creative way to teach young children about what you believe, this series by Veggie Tales creator, Phil Vischer is a must have. Using fast-moving, catchy animation, puppets, music and more, What’s In The Bible shares biblical truths that may even teach mom and dad a thing or two.

To enter, simply leave a comment sharing a value your family believes in. Like The Pregnancy Companion on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for extra entries. Just leave a comment saying you did so. *Visit the link above for all kinds of great Christmas printables and resources!

Believing in the joy and wonder of the season,

Jessica

{Notice that I said, “When bottle works best”? Dr. Rupe and I both agree that breast milk is best for baby. But there are some moms who are not able to breastfeed for one reason or another. This post is for those moms.}

Photo obtained from istockphoto.com

I know that breast milk is best for my baby, but I had surgery several years ago that removed most of my milk ducts so this mama is a dry well. I gave breastfeeding my best shot when Hope was born and again when Joshua came this past summer, but I knew all along that I was likely not going to nourish them. Due to poor milk supply, I had to supplement with formula very early on. After a month of juggling bottles, breasts and pumping I decided that it was best for me and my babies if I switched exclusively to formula. I am thankful for a pediatrician who supported me in this decision. Since I am a formula-feeding mom, I felt compelled to do a post for other moms in my (or a similar) situation. There is so much information out there regarding breast feeding, I felt it was time to give a shout out to other bottle-feeding moms like me.

This is not a post about whether or not you should breast or bottle-feed. I ain’t goin’ there! That decision is very personal and circumstantial so I would be a fool to address it in a blog post. Again, we believe breast milk is best but we acknowledge that some women struggle to make breastfeeding a reality. It is my hope that we can encourage and empower those women.

TPC’s Top 10 Tips for Bottle-Feeding Moms

Get rid of the guilt. There is no reason for you to feel guilty about formula-feeding your baby. I repeat, there is no reason for you to feel guilty about formula-feeding your baby. Formula has come such a long way and there are many wonderful options that will completely nourish your child. I understand that not being able to do what God created you to do is disappointing. You may need to grieve the fact that you cannot breastfeed but once you work through those emotions, move on and don’t look back. You are doing what is best for you and your baby. Don’t let anyone make you feel like less of a mother for bottle-feeding.

Find other bottle-feeding moms. You know the saying, “misery loves company”? Well, minority loves company too. In this day and age, formula-feeding is the minority and understandably so. But no one wants to feel alone in anything they are doing, least of all how they are nourishing their child. Seek out other moms in your community that are formula-feeding and support one another. Discuss bottle options. Swap formula coupons.

Research your formula options. As I said, there are many wonderful formula options on the market today. Talk to your doctor about what formula they recommend. If you have friends that bottle-feed, ask them what brand they use. You may go through some trial and error figuring out which one is best for your little one but remember, you should discuss any sudden change in formula with your doctor. It’s usually best to stick with one brand for at least a week to allow baby’s digestive system to adjust to it.

Research your bottle options. Just like formula, there are many bottle options on the market today. Most, if not all bottles are now BPA free which should put your mind at ease. Take into consideration the bottle’s shape and parts. Many bottles have very intricate systems for relieving gas and bubbles. The jury is still out on whether or not these systems actually work. It really depends on the baby so once again you may need to perform some trial and error here. The bottle I used with my first baby had several parts that had to be cleaned and reassembled but it worked well for her. With my second baby, I found a bottle that didn’t have any extra parts. It also worked well and was much easier to clean!

Sign up for brand programs*. Companies such as Similac or Emfamil will send you great materials to guide you through baby’s first year as well as valuable coupons. You may even receive a gift in the mail from time to time. I have found the information in their packets very helpful in guiding me along the baby-feeding journey.

Do what you can to save money. Formula is expensive! But there are ways you can save money. Collect coupons. Ask your pediatrician for coupons. Chances are she has them (and some samples) lying around. My doctor gave me a stack of 20 $5 off coupons! Combine store deals with manufacturer coupons. Stores like Babies R Us and Publix may offer $5 off 2 cans of formula. You can combine that offer with a manufacturer coupon to save even more! Shop price clubs. Stores like Costco and Sams offer larger cans of formula at discounted prices {*please note, Costco and Sams do not accept manufacturer coupons but they will accept the coupon checks you will receive in the mail from formula companies}.

Create a space on your kitchen counter (near the sink) as your bottle station. Let’s face it, the worst part of bottle-feeding is cleaning all those bottles! Create a system in your kitchen that makes bottle cleaning faster and easier. Having a well organized bottle area will take the frustration out of feeding time when you would otherwise be scrambling for a clean bottle while baby is screaming. We use a separate tub {I can’t stand the thought of baby bottles touching the same sink I dump gooey chicken parts into} that fits right into our sink. After a bottle is used, we rinse it and throw it in the tub. When we are running low, we add soap and soak the bottles. Then we rinse them and hang them on a bottle drying rack, ready to be used for the next feeding. I end up washing bottles once a day {we keep seven on hand}.

Plan ahead. True, as a bottle-feeding mom, there’s more to it than simply pulling out a boob when baby gets hungry. That’s why it’s important to plan ahead. When you are out and about, bring 2-3 bottles full of filtered water and a formula dispenser filled with enough formula for each feeding {this is for those who use powder formula, if you use the ready made variety, it’s that much easier for you}. Our bottles have a great system where the formula holder fits right down into the bottle of water. When it’s time to feed, I open the bottle, remove the dispenser, dump it in the water, mix and feed! At home, you can either use filtered {nursery} water purchased from the supermarket or fill bottles ahead of time {so they come to room temperature} using your own filtered water. It is not recommended that you heat water or formula in the microwave due to possible hot pockets that can be created. If you choose to use a bottle warmer, water can be cold to begin with. We found it much easier however, to plan ahead and use room temperature water than to warm every bottle.

Share the load. That’s right. It doesn’t have to be all on you. Those poor breastfeeding mommies never get a break in the middle of the night. But YOU CAN! Look at this as an opportunity for daddy or grandma to bond with your baby. Ask for help so you can get longer stretches of sleep or a shower at least once in a while. This is one of the advantages of bottle-feeding so enjoy it!

Hold your baby close. One of the hardest things for non-breastfeeding moms is thinking the bond with our little one will be less because they do not receive their nutrition directly from our bodies. While their source for food may be external, the fact that YOU are the one providing everything your baby needs is the reason he or she will know you are mommy. Still, with all the craziness that comes with a baby {and your deep desire to keep some sort of order in your life} you may be tempted to perhaps, prop up a bottle for your munchkin to drink while you get the dishes done. I encourage you not to do this. Hold your baby close to you as you feed. The bond that comes during feeding is real whether baby receives their milk from your breast or the bottle in your hand. My sweet boy holds on to my fingers for dear life as he sucks away at his bottle. It is one of the sweetest things to have him holding my hand.

I’d love to hear from other formula-feeding moms out there. What tips and strategies have worked for you?

Off to make another bottle,

Jessica