Check it, friends! I am happy to report that my song "Piece of Quiet" has been nominated for a San Diego Music Award in the category of Best Folk/Acoustic Song. If you'd like to help me snag the SDMA, please do me a solid and vote daily (you don't have to vote all the other categories if you don't wanna). My last win was in 2018 so it'd sure be nice to have a more recent "accolade" on my resume. Big love to everyone who submitted, and thanks to the SD Music Foundation for putting music in schools! Make sure to get your tickets for the event on April 19!

I wanted to make sure I followed up on the "products I use" [affiliate] posts so you know what made its way into our regular routine as Riv transitioned from baby to toddler. Away we go! (PS - gonna back date this post so it's with the other ones, but I really wrote it on 5/29/23)

This saved my knees and back.

My kid is a wild animal. We need suction. Silicone way better than the bamboo stuff in my opinion.

My friend turned me on to this butt paste. It's the best we've used out of ones we've tried.

The only face wipes I've found so far that Riv's sensy face doesn't have a reaction to.

We lagged on this but finally made a purchase to protect Riv's little face from the sun - no complaints.

Gotta have a pair of around the house shoes. Beats trying to keep socks on all the live long day.

Swear by these to help calm down a fussy fuster.

We are a como tomo family. She hated all other bottles.

For awhile we were doing pea milk because of some digestion issues. We gave her this since she wasn't getting it from cow's milk. Still give it to her and I'm not a scientist or a doctor, but she's basically a genius, sooooo...

Too cute. Had to share. Bought two pairs.

No one has time for dryer sheets, plus these are better for the ol' environment.

Great for snacks on the go. Get one for you and one for the babes.

This beeyotch has books for days. Here's how we store them.

Am I mom of the year because I can cut quesadillas into stars? YES I AM.

Inflatable-inshmateable. Get this thing instead and save your lungs.

One of the bougey-er purchases I've made. Too cute. Can't handle.

Still the preferred lovey of our house.

Great for designating a soft safe area for your kiddo.

Get through teething hell with these cute critters.

I hate to break it to you, buuuuut you're gonna need one of these.

If your stroller lacks in storage, please make your overworked overwhelmed life just a TOUCH easier with this.

Riv loathed a swaddle and this saved us before she grew more and transitioned into all the Merlin magic suits and sacks.

Look how cute. LOOK HOW CUTE. We used this for her first photo shoot and saved it for a keepsake.

Why is this musician writing about diapers on her website? Well, I'll tell you why. This musician just had a baby, is trying to survive through a pandemic, and genuinely likes to help people. I thought it might be nice to write out for any pregnant or birthing people who happen upon my blog the various products and supplies I actually used and liked during my pregnancy and postpartum journey. If you like this blog, check out the other topics in the series by scrolling through this link! (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, but as always, I only recommend what I actually think is worthwhile.)

Diapers and Wipes
Our friends who were kind enough to throw us a baby shower had the wonderful idea to incorporate a raffle where attendees were invited to bring diapers (and/or wipes) ranging from NB to size 2 in exchange for a raffle ticket. The winning ticket received a gift card to a local restaurant. People really came through, thank goodness - we are still using the gifted diapers and wipes going into month three! It's also been a great way to try out various brands - there is so much out there and it can get overwhelming. So far, we've been digging the Huggies Little Snugglers diapers and Huggies Natural Care wipes. But honestly, every baby is so different. I would encourage you to try out different brands until you find a great match for your little and then stock up once you know what works for their bum and your budget.

Changing Pads
We got this awesome changing pad for the nursery as a hand-me-down from friends, but if you don't feel comfortable buying this bougie little booty pad, I promise that something affordable and simple like this portable waterproof travel pad will do the trick. We have one for the diaper bag and one for the house (we lazily change a LOT of diapers in the living room). No matter what kind of pad you get, I also recommend snagging a few soft/washable liners. Those pads are nice for easy cleaning and all, but they can get pretty dang cold, and the last thing you want is a cold and shrieky nakey baby. (Wipe warmers are a little extreme imho, but do you boo).

Diaper Caddies
We do diaper storage two ways in our casa. For the changing table, we have this cute and compact little caddy that holds a few other items like creams, clippers, etc. And for a more utilitarian approach, we have this portable cart, which we use to store everything baby and breastfeeding-related. Love and use them both, but cart for the win if you struggle with storage options for tiny spaces like we do.

Diaper Pail
I knew going into this whole smelly shebang that I wanted a Diaper Genie, as I have changed many a diaper of my friends' kids and have had the unique opportunity of testing out various dirty diaper disposal situations prior to becoming pregnant. We got a hand-me-down version of the hands-free version, which was great until the little foot​ pedal kept breaking. So off we went to the store to get a replacement, and all they had in stock was the Expressions model. We were wary at first because it didn't have the foot opener thingy, but I actually ended up liking it much better. Despite it's smaller size, it holds a shit-ton of diapers. People in the reviews seem weirded out that you have to slide the diapers in with your hand, but in my experience, they just glide ride in. I've never had anything disgusting happen, even with poopy diapers, plus I'm always thoroughly washing my hands after a whole diaper changing debacle anyway. Either way you go, I just don't think any other brand of diaper pail comes close to controlling odors. PS - don't forget to stock up on some liners...they have name-brand, but the generic kind work fine as well!

Diaper Cremes
Tbh, I don't really use cremes on Riv's little tush unless her skin seems to be a little more irritated or red than usual. Or mayyyybe after a bath if I'm feeling like giving her a little spa day. I don't really have a fav, but so far I've used and had no problems with good ol' fashioned Desitin. I also really like Weleda.  

Cloth Diapering
I admire you so much, but I've got nothing for you. I practiced cloth diapering once for one of the kiddos I watched, and I knooooooow it's so much better for the planet, but I just couldn't make myself swing it in this household. It wasn't even the poops that grossed me out - it was this persistent faint spell of urine, even on a clean dipe. Maybe one day I'll revisit being a better human. Please don't judge me too harshly.

Okay byeeeeee! Don't forget to check out these other blogs in the series!

​*Postpartum Recovery Products I Actually Used
​*Postpartum Vitamins and Supplements I Actually Used
*Pregnancy Products I Actually Used

Hello birthing people of the world. I'm back with another post in this pregnancy and postpartum series - hope you're finding them helpful so far. Today, I'm going to be spilling the tea on postpartum recovery products I actually used. I hope to baby Jesus that your labor, delivery, and healing experience is quick and painless, but just in case you're having trouble like I did, here are some suggestions for ya:

First suggestion: If you give birth in a hospital or birthing center of some sort, take everything. Pads, sprays, ice packs, underwear - whatever you can shove in a bag, take it. And after all that runs out, check out my below recs! (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, but as always, this is all the shit I actually used).

Postpartum Underwear
I had a lot going on downtown after River came literally ripping through my vagina. I was also extremely swollen for about a week after her arrival and couldn't have worn my own underwear if I even wanted to. Disposable mesh undies were the solution for awhile. Pro-tip: get a size bigger than you think so you can shove in them all the other crap I'm about to recommend. It's gonna be a party down there.  A pity party, but still. 

Maxi Pads

These Stayfree super maxi pads were absorbent without being annoyingly bulky. They come 66 to a pack, which is important when you're going through a billion of them a day. I will be forever haunted by visions of my bathroom trash can full of these bloody suckers, but they got the job done. 

Witch Hazel
I had never even heard of witch hazel pads until the day I gave birth, but I sure had a close relationship with them in the weeks following. I was BFFs with these soothing circles. The nurse taught me how to line them up, three to a pad, like a little salami sandwich for my torn perineum to munch on. For awhile there, these were the only things in the universe that gave me any kind of comfort. Oh yeah, and I guess my baby, too. 

​Perineal Spray

Consider perineal spray as a condiment for your your little witch hazel sandwich. Just a little zhuzsh to keep the whole thing so fresh and so clean. At first, I used the hospital grade Dermoplast (which makes it sound like you're drywalling your vagina or something), and when I ran out, I ended up ordering the Earth Mama kind. 

Peri Bottle
I just used the straight-up squirt bottle from the hospital, but if you're angling (I crack myself up - get it? Angling? Cause it's at an angle?) for something different, check out this one from the fine folks at Frida. 

Seat Cushion
I liked having hemorrhoids about as much as I like figuring out how to spell hemorrhoids. Something is just not right about your insides on your outsides. (Newborn babies are the exception). After delivering River, it was difficult to sit upright at all, let alone try to take care of her needs from a seated position. In a genius move, my sister took the cushion out of her car and brought it into my house so I could have a little comfort while seated. It helped a lot. And once we ventured out into the world, I took that m-f-er with me. In the car, to the park, to restaurants - everywhere. No shame in my game. Swollen veins in my rectum, sure. But shame? No.

Epsom Salt
Once I got the all-clear to resume bath time (and could actually tolerate the act of sitting), I stocked up on lavender Epsom Salt. Love me a good soak on any given day, but baths were especially sacred to me during the "fourth trimester," and I imagine they will continue to be throughout parenthood. Mama needs some me-time, ya know what I mean? ​Also, I'm no doctor, but I think this stuff really helped the healing process along and soothed an otherwise very angry perineal area. (PS - if you're into CBD, head straight to Magic Mama Co for all your bath bomb needs, plus so much more).

Tens
If you've ever experienced back pain or cramping of any kind, I highly recommend ordering a Tens unit. Even before pregnancy, I used this device on my raging cramps during periods and also on my aching back after intense workouts. This magical machine has come in handy yet again during my postpartum journey. I don't know how the science of it all works, but who needs a practical explanation when the proof is in the pulses? I always feel so much better after each session. I wish human bodies just had this feature built-in!

Armrest Drink Holder and TV Tray
Okay, before you laugh at me for these seemingly non-relevant, superfluous purchases, I want you to picture a tiny ass living room with no space for a coffee table. And then picture my swollen, torn, exhausted, non-walking self trying to nurse a baby and pump at all hours of the day/night while also trying to manage some sort of nutrition for myself. This over-the-couch drink holder and this portable TV tray made life just a little more do-able. The TV tray also makes a great mini-desk for late night work-n-pump sessions (this is literally where I work on my new line of journals!)

That's all, folks! Hope any of these ease products ease your postpartum journey in some way. Stay tuned for additional recommendations based on my experience. In the meantime, check out past posts below ICYMI!

​*Postpartum Vitamins and Supplements I Actually Used
*Pregnancy Products I Actually Used