Organizing My Kitchen

After watching the food network channel yesterday, I had this urge to tidy up my kitchen. To be realistic, I started with only my dry kitchen. So I went through some of the articles on tips to arrange the kitchen. One of the tips that I really like said that before I can afford the kitchen that I dream of, it is good to make use of what I have.

So last night, I started at 9.30pm and finished at 12.40am. Blasted out some nice chinese pop songs. I kinda enjoyed the night.

Some tips that I bore in mind as I cleaned up:
1. Throw or give or sell away the stuff that I no longer use or I thought I still needed but haven't touched for years.

- I thew away some pots and pans which I thought I should keep for a "back-up", but they are not of good quality anymore (scratches on the cooking surface).
- Went through my medicine cabinets and threw away the expired ones.
- All those teas, coffees, snacks, packaged food.. it's good to dig through and throw away those that no one in the family will ever eat. (and the expired ones too of course).
- Posted some stuff online to sell away, i.e. bottles drying rack, sterilizer, etc. With all the preloved groups in Facebook nowadays, it is not hard to sell the stuff that we no longer use. Thanks Facebook for that!

2. Categorize the kitchen
- I put all the utensils that are frequently used at a place that are accessible.
- Moved the packaged food to the top (hardest to reach) cos the easier you can reach, the more likely you will eat them.

- Moved all the cleaning products to the top shelves so that the children can't reach them.
- Cleared the kitchen countertop. Stored my air fryer & pressure cooker in a convenient place (at least the countertop looks clean and tidy and I can still take those equipments out easily).
- Took out some stuff that are going to expire to a visible place so that I remember to eat/drink them, i.e. tea, supplements, etc.
- All the new unopened products (i.e. honey, jam, etc) went to the same shelf.
- Tidying my "Tupperware" shelf took the longest time, cos some lids were missing, some containers had scratches, and it was so hard to organize them neatly.
- Basically place the kitchen tools according to their category.

3. Wiped the shelves and tables with Dettol to clean and disinfect.

After all the housekeeping and cleaning, it is not the time to sit back and relax though. It's important to maintain and go through the food and meds again every 6 months. And probably I'll have to start cleaning my fridge and wet kitchen soon. I'll remind myself to take pics of before and after this time.

Cooking Soup Made Easy: Electric Pressure Cooker & Claypot

Months ago, I posted the ways I steamed all my dishes using the 3 tiers steamer.

Today, I wanna introduce to you my 2 fav kitchen equipments to boil soup. Now,  I don't have time to keep checking on the soup or rather *cough* I usually forget that I'm cooking some soup when I'm babysitting 4 children. So I found these two appliances to be super useful.

1. Electric Pressure Cooker.
I bought my "mini" 2 Litres pressure cooker about half a year ago. I wasn't so sure if I was going to use it regularly, so as a try-out I bought SKG brand from Lazada and it was only RM149.00, and now it's RM146. (I never heard of this brand before this, but apparently the quality is pretty good.) It is good enough to cook for 3 little children (lunch and dinner). But if you want to cook bigger portion, you have to buy the 5 Litres one.

So this is my unit. You can cook rice, porridge, soup, chicken, cassarole etc with it. So far I've tried cooking rice (with vco), butter rice, porridge and soup. So far so good. It's very time-saving but the electricity consumption is quite high.

It keeps warm automatically after cooking. 

2. Claypot

Again, with this pot I don't have to check on the soup frequently. After scalding the meats, I throw all the ingredients (except leafy vegetables which i usually throw in 5 mins before serving) in the pot and let it boil at high temp on the stove for about 5-10 minutes then turn to lowest temp and let it continue boiling for about 2-3 hours. 

The thing about this pot is it reserves the water, so you don't have to worry the soup gets dry. And usually, after boiling for hours, the fragrant of the soup is thicker and the meat is so tender. And this pot is big enough for the whole family.  

So these are my 2 favorites, what's yours?

First Outing After 2 Weeks of Quarantine

After 2 weeks of quarantine, I'm SO GLAD that I can finally bring the 2 kids out. But I still prefer that they have no interaction with other kids yet, just to be safe. Keira will be back to school next week. 

Brought them out to eat their favorite spaghetti... HAPPY!

what is an outing without chocolate ice cream?!?

Their smiles were precious!

And after that, we came back home so that Caedy could take her nap and Keira and I did our baking! I've never really baked, in fact, I don't like baking but seems like Keira has been into it lately. This is our second time baking this week.

We used estimation for all the ingredients and it turned out OK. Not the best cupcakes (and we forgot to buy cupcake liners) but pretty decent for amateurs like us. 

Ingredients:

1.5 cups of cake flour (i used "Radiant")

1 cup of sugar (i substituted it with molasses sugar)

1 egg

1 cup of milk

0.5 cup of unsalted butter (at room temp) / vege oil / coconut oil

1 cup of cocoa powder (unsweetened, i used "Van Houten") 

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

0.5 teaspoon of salt

1 teaspoon of baking powder

1 teaspoon of coffee powder

Chocolate chips ("i used "Hershey's")

I just mixed all the ingredients using a spatula. Preheat oven 175 deg Celcius and start baking for 20 minutes. Again, you don't expect super moist perfect cupcakes but they are soft (unfortunately, not fluffy) and taste is just nice (not too sweet). Most importantly, Keira likes it and she's proud of herself after the baking session. 

For me, with a cuppa OldTown White Coffee, it's good enough for my tea time snack. 

I quite enjoy a day like this, but definitely can't afford to do it daily. 

New Necessities

During this water rationing period, I realize these have become the necessities in the house. In case you don't know, I have 6 children and 2 adults to look after, so no water can be quite disastrous.
But thank God it's still manageable so far. Phew!

1. Large packs of Spritzer (5 packs to be exact)
I refill them with espring water (Amway water filter) every time the water supply is back. 5 packs of 9L water is usually enough for 2 days.

2. Baby wipes
I know I know.. we need to go green. But please just excuse me for this season. I need to stay sane. It's to wipe the kids, to wipe the spill, to wipe my hands after every diaper change, to remove make-up ... well basically everything.



3. Buds' Nappy Time Rinse Free Cleanser
Usually I rinse the kids' bumbum instead of just using the wipes, but since there's no water supply, this nappy cleanser comes in handy. *wink*

4. Disposable foam food containers and disposable spoons
I only use these for my family though. I'm still using proper bowls and spoons to feed the children I'm babysitting. Well, at least I reduce the need to wash those plates and spoons.

5. Glass containers

So I bought these glass containers to store our lunch and dinner. Basically I cook a big pot of dish that can last for 3 days ... Therefore 3 containers. Usually 1 will go to the fridge (to be consumed the next day) and 2 containers go into the freezer. So yeah quite pity the kids actually, they have to eat the same dish for 3 days in a row. Oh well, probably it can be a good time to teach them to be thankful for whatever food we have :D




6. Pails of Water (Duh??!)
I have 5 pails of water downstairs, and 2 big ones upstairs... Yeap usually enough for 1 day. And another day using water from the "tangki".









Oh!! now that it's raining outside, probably I should store some rain water for toilet use eh???

BYE!

WORRY NOT

OK at first, I thought I am probably not the right person to post anything to ask people not to worry cos usually I am the first one to get frantic and paranoid especially when it is in regards to my loved ones. Then, there's this voice that whispered to me (of cos it wasn't an audible whisper, else I'D HAVE TOTALLY FREAKED OUT) that says someone can't write anything about worry unless he/she has experienced and overcome it. Well, I won't say I have totally overcome my tendency to worry but I have improved (a little bit). 

Many times, things are just out of our control. I know many parents are worried about the haze that has been around for like ages, the crazy hot weather that causes water disruptions, the annoying blood suckers aka Mrs. Aedes Aegypti, the ever increasing illnesses and diseases, stories about maids abusing babies, not to mention the rising cost of living and the list goes on. Recently, all 3 children that I'm babysitting are not well. Some has been having prolonged cough and runny nose for weeks, some has viral fever and is on antibiotic. It's not easy for the parents, and for me. 

But then, "Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?" (Matt 6:27).

Choosing not to worry doesn't mean being ignorant. I am taking precautions and doing my best to protect the children and my family. I make sure the kids stay indoor as much as possible, I spray the mosquitoes repellent in the rooms an hour before the kids' bedtime and then ventilate it before they go in to sleep, I wash their hands & wipe their faces frequently, I increase their probiotic intake to make sure their bodies have strong immune system to fight in this season etc. 

That's pretty much what I can do for them. Other than that, I'm just trusting God that He is in control. I have done my part and I let Him do the rest. This season, too, shall pass.

2 Corinthians 4: 17-18 “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long.  Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever.  So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen.  For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” 

So don't worry.

YOU CAN PREPARE HOMEMADE BABY FOOD!

I can't believe my last post was 6 months ago! How time flies.

Anyway, since Caedy was 6mo, I have started her on solid food. And from these 7months experience, I learned a lot. Some of you might think it's so troublesome to prepare baby food, so much work, so many things to wash and clean after that, bla bla bla... Before you decide to stock up your cabinet with those sugar-loaded cereals, think again. Why do you think it's hard? Is it because you didn't plan properly? Or is it because you don't have any clue how to go about it?

I gotta tell you, preparing baby food is so simple and compare to other cereals, it costs so much lesser. Here's some tips to help you start out:

1. Plan ahead
Yes, take out your organizer, or use your smartphone, or just pull out a sheet of paper. Plan out what you wanna cook for your baby this week. Start with a weekly menu sheet. (Therefore, you only need to do groceries shopping once a week). You don't have to serve different food everyday. (You'll get what I mean as you continue reading.)

2. Invest in the right kitchen equipments
Of course, not everyone can afford to buy everything, but if you can invest in one or two of these items, you'll save lots of time and energy. I used to think the conventional ways are the best, but boy was I wrong? I used to steam food (veges, chicken, fish, etc) using this:

I guess it works for some people... But well, it's definitely not the best way if you are a busy mom or if you have to cook few other dishes at the same time.

So I invested in this:

It's one of the best things I have in my kitchen:
(i) I can cook few dishes together.
If I'm preparing food for kids only, I cook them altogether, 1st tier (from the bottom) - steam veges, 2nd tier - steam egg, the 3rd tier - steam meat.
(ii) Sometimes I even use the lowest tier to steam Caedy's bottles.
(iii) You don't have to watch the time. Just set the timer, make sure the water is enough. Voilà!

Other kitchen equipment that you'll find useful:
- Blender (hand blender is good too)
- Slow cooker
- Multi function Rice Cooker (you can cook rice, soup, porridge, casserole, or even for steaming). Some rice cooker allows you to set the time you want the food to be ready. How smart!
- Microwave (to defrost and heat up the food)
- Oven (for baking)

3. Get some knowledge
Old folks will tell you that it's bad if you don't feed your baby fresh food.. Well, errr... hmm... it really depends on how you store the food. My simple guideline: cook the food thoroughly, cool it, keep it in clean air-tight containers, store in the refrigerator (max 3 days) or in the freezer (up to one week). Storing in an air-tight container & keeping it in the fridge/ freezer will prevent oxidation and therefore preserve the nutrients. So if you can't cook everyday, cook in batch! It's definitely better than giving your baby other food from the shelves.

-----
So today, this is what I prepare:

Purees:
1. Steamed green and yellow zucchinis for 10mins with the steamer.
2. Cool them quickly
3. Blend them together
4. Divide into 5 portions and keep in air-tight containers
5. Keep 3 in the refrigerator and another 2 in the freezer (I usually put the batches purees in one big air tight container in the freezer together with my expressed breastmilk, but since I'm not pumping anymore, I find that container too big. So temporarily, I use a ziplock bag, to double make sure the food remains fresh).

Porridge:
1. Cook brown rice & millet in a slow cooker
2. Cool it down
3. Divide into 3 portions & put in air tight containers
4. Keep them in the fridge
OK I seldom freeze porridge, cos it's too easy to cook, I can just dump all the ingredients (usually multi grains & meat) into the slow cooker before leaving to work, and come home with nice smooth hot porridge.

I heat up the purees, then mix it with the porridge before serving. So I can prepare 2-3 different purees on the same day and I can alternate them throughout the week (if it's the 1st time you're feeding your baby that particular food, make sure you feed the same food for 3-4 days consecutively, to identify allergies if there's any).

So this is Caedy's dinner for the next 4 days! Easy!
So mommy, don't keep telling yourself you can't do it, because you can...

Go ahead and try... Take out your organizer and start planning today! :)
(Note: http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/ is a very good website about baby food).

Introducing Solid Food

Caedy is now 7 mo +. I enjoy preparing solid food for her. One of the main reasons is Baby Bullet set. It's this cute blender set that comes with date-dial cups to store the food, blend blade, milling blade, and easy pop batch tray to make food cubes. 

So far I've tried apple puree, pear puree, carrot puree, avocado puree, sweet potato puree and homemade pearled barley cereal... Except apple & avocado (which will turn brown if you keep in the fridge), I usually prepare 3 days food and store the food into the cute little cups. The good thing about these cups is it has date-dial system, just twist the date dial to the preparation date and store in the fridge. Easy peasy lemon squeezy... No more "oh man.. when did I prepare the food again?" U know... post-pregnancy brain.

For apple, pear, carrot and sweet potato puree, what I did was: steam the fruit / vege until it's soft, usually it takes about 20-30mins, cool them, and then blend it using baby bullet blender. And voila... you've got your healthy puree!

As for avocado, when it's ripe, scoop the meat out with spoon, add a little bit of water and blend into smooth texture. Mix with breastmilk. And... it's done. Yum yummm and healthy!

Whereas for barley, cook the barley until it's soft, then cool it and put inside the blender and blend until smooth. Alternatively, you can use the miller to make the barley into powder. then simmer in boiling water...

I'll start cooking porridge when Caedy is 9months.

I think all mommies are very excited when their baby is almost 6mo. For more info about baby's first food, do refer to http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/. One of the best websites that gives info about baby's food.

I usually fed Caedy solid 30-60mins after she drank her milk. i started with only 2-3 teaspoons of solid once a day, then slowly add another meal then slowly add the portion. Now she's eating about 2-3 tablespoons twice a day. And yeap she's growing healthy and happy!

 7mo & she has started pulling herself up! I'm definitely happy with her developmental milestones! Yippie!

No Wheezing - Breastfeeding

Caedy is now 5 mo 2 wks. She could hardly sleep for the last 2 nights, her nose was blocked, her cough was phlegmy ... Doc checked her, he said other than lotsa mucus in the nose, there is no problem at all. Her lung is strong and clear. 

I still remember Keira's lung constantly had wheezing sound since she was a little infant, she outgrew it when she was almost 3yo. Now I'm even more convinced that breastfeeding really benefits Caedy. If I could turn back time, I'd breastfeed Keira no matter how hard it was. Well, if only.

I have to say the first 2 years of raising Keira wasn't easy at all, we brought her to doctor very frequently. Even until now, her immune system is still quite weak. I know breastfeeding can be quite tough, but it's tougher to see our baby is weak & easily fall sick.

Keira when she was 2yo+

 Feb 2011, suspected pneumonia. lotsa wheezing sound in her lung.

Let me say again, the key to successful breastfeeding is support and persistence. 
You can do it, for the sake of your little one :)

xoxo

TRAVELLING WITH INFANT, WHAT TO PACK?

When it comes to travelling with newborn or infant, you won't want to forget to bring the important stuff. So what to pack in the luggage? Here's the list to help you get started:

(It depends on how many days you are away from home, in this list, let's make it 5 days 4 nights)

1. CLOTHING
i. Clothes for daytime - 6 sets (4 sets for the next 4 days and 2 extra sets, if you are using cloth diaper, you might need to bring more).
ii. Pyjamas - 6 sets (same as above)

2. DIAPERS (depends on the age & how frequent you change the diapers daily.) Usually, I just pack enough for 2 days, and I'll buy the rest when I reach the destination.

3. TOWEL

4. BABY HEAD TO TOE CLEANSER

5. NAPKIN / HANDKERCHIEF / BIBS

6. BABY OIL (if you do baby massage)

7. MOSQUITO REPELLENT (optional)

8. SOCKS (6 pairs)

9. HAT (optional)

10. SHOES (optional)

11. BLANKET

12. BABY SLING/ CARRIER (optional)

13. TOYS (2-3 toys)

14. STROLLER (prefer a light one)

15. LIQUID CLEANSER & BOTTLE BRUSH (to wash the bottles)

16. WET TISSUES

17. BOTTLES (at least 2 bottles)

18. PACIFIER (if using one)

19. BABY  LOTION (if going to cold weather country)

20. SUN BLOCK FOR BABIES (if going outdoor often)

21. DIAPER BAG

22. MEDICINE (don't forget this if your baby is prescribed any meds by her doc)

23. MILK POWDER (bring extra, unless you are sure you can buy the same brand in the destination).

24. THERMOS FLASK

25. NAPPY RASH CREAM

26. NAIL CLIPPER (infants' nails grow very fast) - make sure you check this into the luggage, instead of hand-carrying it.

If you are breastfeeding, you gotta pack more stuff:
1. BREASTPUMP (esp if you know you won't be able to direct-feed when you are not in the hotel room)
2. STORAGE BAGS/BOTTLES to keep the expressed milk in the fridge
3. COOLER BAG
4. ICE PACKS
5. BOTTLE WARMER (optional)
6. DISPOSABLE PADS
7. NURSING COVER
8. EXPRESSED BREASTMILK (if needed - but make sure it remains chilled in the cooler bag)

Probably you need to imagine how your days are gonna be like, what activities you're gonna have (i.e. if you're going to swim, then you need to add swimsuit, and so on).

Hope this list helps~

HAPPY TRAVELLING

Breasting Feeding Journey Pt 2 - FTWM

So I'm officially a full time working mom (FTWM). It's not too hard for me cos I send my kids to the daycare downstairs =D But I have to say, staying at home is so much more convenient when it comes to BFing. Btw, just FYI, the way I breastfeed is left right, right left. That means I'll let Caedy latch on the same side as the previous feed, reason is I want her to empty the (.) if I don't pump out so that she gets the hindmilk, if you don't understand what i'm saying pls let me know, I'll explain in more details. 

OK back to the topic, pumping is not so convenient... When I'm not with Caedy, I have to pump and let her drink from the bottle, that means I have to wash and sterilize the bottle + the pump. Not to mention I have to bring the pump (the super bulky heavy pump) to the office and bring it home on every Friday and bring it back to office on Tues. Oh in case you don't know, I'm using Spectra Dew 300. 

I've not been diligent in pumping. Yeah sad to say. But, amazingly whenever I pump, I can get about 7-10oz of BM. Caedy is only drinking 3oz per feed. So that's like 2-3 feeds already. *wink* not too bad huh?

So what's the secret of having enough supply? (thanks for asking...) 

These are the things I've tried:

1. Fenugreek pills - hhmmm.. it doesn't really work for me and it kinda made Caedy's tummy gassy. But fenugreek is also good for general health, so no harm trying. Diff moms have diff reaction though, it works for some of the mommies I know.

2. Sacred Tea for Nursing Mom - bought it at RM84.90 from fabulousmom.com (PWP - purchase with purchase). Original price is RM99.90. OK, I have to say this is a heaven-sent. It works miracle. Not only it increases the supply, it also makes the BM creamier. (basically thicker la, more fats...) but again diff moms react differently.

It tastes herbal-ish, not too bad...

**Btw this tea contains fenugreek + fennel + other stuff. When fenugreek is mixed with fennel, it doesn't make baby gassy.

3. Papaya soup. I don't know if it worked (everyone is talking about it when it comes to BF), I just drank once =D that's also because Auntie Linda boiled the soup for me. It tasted very sweet and nice, so I just drank it. Yang penting enak...!! =D

4. Milo / Horlicks - yummmyy..... it's just so nice that I can't resist. Some moms testified that their supply increased after drinking them. So, no harm trying too. 

5. Instant Red Dates Tea - I simply like the taste. But I always got ulcers after drinking. Too heaty I guess? It doesn't work for me btw.

Some friends said eating fatty fried chicken boosts their supply (aka McD ayam goreng & Chicken McDeluxe), cos of the fats and proteins in the chicken. But I didn't try la, I'm dying to lose weight, I better have self control kan? 

I've also known friends that do not take any supplement whatsoever, just be as natural as possible. The more you feed, the more the supply you have - that's the key (but remember to increase your calcium intake).

So I'll say, whatever works for you.

Next round I'll do a review of diapers. So far, I've used Mamypoko, Huggies, Diapex Easy, Diapex Premium (gonna try for the 1st time today), PetPet, Drypers and gonna try BabyLove soon too. Stay tuned :)

Bonus Caedy's pic =D

The Breastfeeding Journey Continues...

Caedy is 2mo today. I thank God how I have pulled through and am still breastfeeding her exclusively.

Even tho breastfeeding her has been an amazing journey (I love the intimacy we have when I'm nursing her), but I, too, have moments of weakness. There are times I feel like giving up, especially when I'm physically tired. But thinking of the health benefits of breastfeeding (and btw, the book "Brain Rules for Kids" says that one of the brain boosters for kids is to breastfeed for a year), I chose not to give up.

There are many websites and groups that support breastfeeding and you can find useful info to keep you keeping on:
1. FB group - The Breastfeeding Advocates Network
2. kellymom.com
3. breastfeeding.com
4. mother-2-mother.com

I believe there are many more, but I often refer to no.1 and no.2.

She has been growing healthily, at 2mo, she's now 5.1kg and at night she'll sleep for 3-4.5 hours, sometimes less, before waking up to drink again.

Love my chitty chatty darling daughter :)

The Confession of a Guilty Mom

So I proudly posted a blog on breastfeeding last week. Happy with the fact I managed to pump out 12.5oz before baby's full moon.

Now guess what? I've overslept for 3 days now!!! The worse was last night; pumped at about 10.45pm and guess when was the next pumping session?? 6.30am!!!!!!!! I was basically sleeping with 2 rocks on my (.)(.) and they didn't wake me up. So yeah, milk supply decreased. Gotta buck up! :(

---
Confinement lady is leaving this Saturday. *sad* Yeah I wish she can stay here at least until baby is older. So this weekend onward, no more good night sleep!! wish me luck!

Breastfeeding 101

Feeding. Pumping. Feeding. Pumping. Feeding. Pumping. The list goes on...
Well, that's the only way to increase the breast milk supply.

Wanna share my breastfeeding experience with new mommies. Today marks day 20 of my confinement period. Things have been going well so far. I was able to pump 12.5oz at 4am today.

If you plan to breastfeed, first of all, I think you need to join a facebook group "The Breastfeeding Advocates Network", all the mommies are super helpful there. Also, check out their docs file, they are so generous in posting helpful tips & knowledge about breastfeeding. I have been much benefited from that page.

Finding a support group is perhaps the most important thing, esp when you have no experience. Your mom might not be the best supporter (at least not in my case), cos all she wants is that the baby has enough milk so that he/she can sleep more & mommy can rest too. And seeing the new mommy struggle in breastfeeding & having engorgement, sore nipples, blisters, cracked nipples (you name it...), your well-meaning mom might "strongly" suggest formula.

Secondly, breastfeed and pump as often as possible, even when your breasts feel empty. Caedy wanted to latch on every 30-60mins during her first week. It was normal. I think for the first 3-4 weeks, forget about the clock, forget about schedule... Just feed whenever the baby is showing the sign of hunger.

Thirdly, try to pump out the remaining milk. After each/ alternate feed, I will usually pump out both sides (i think unless your breasts are very empty already).. it's to send a signal to the brain that it's time to reproduce. Btw, if you have sore or cracked nipples, apply your own breast milk on your (.)(.). It's amazing how fast it heals.

OK honestly, sometimes I get very lazy too. I rarely wake up every 3 hour at night to pump (even after I set the alarm). I usually let the boobs wake me up :P It's just impossible to sleep w the engorged (.)(.).

Fourthly, drink plenty of liquid & eat well...

Lastly, invest in a good breastpump. I used Avent electric single pump previously, the good thing about this pump is the suction. it's very comfortable yet able to pump effectively. But it's very noisy and it's a single pump, very time consuming. The price is about RM600+. I've just changed to Spectra Dew 300. The good thing: I bought dual pump, save time and it's quiet. I can peacefully pump at night without waking the kids. It's very efficient but the suction is not as comfortable, quite rigid, but so far I love it... very easy cleaning too. Price RM390.40 (from fabulousmom.com)

Other than that, I also take Fenugreek, calcium supplement (Abbott) & Neurogain (DHA is very very important). Check out the TBAN group page, they have a list of things that can boost & lower your milk supply.

I think your determination and perseverance in breastfeeding are the best gifts for your little one. If you bump into my blog and need to find someone to support, feel free to email me juli_leejj@yahoo.com. It's my privilege to help mommies w this matter.

Baby Shopping List

My complete baby shopping list (brand new + second hand):
Feeding:
1. Bottles - 4x 8oz and 1x 4oz
2. Sterilizer (alternatively, some ppl use boiled waters)
3. Pacifier (optional)
4. Bibs (optional)
5. Teats (teat size 1)

Cleaning:
1. Brush (for bottle & teats)
2. Liquid cleanser 
3. Citric Acid (to rid the sterilizer of lime scale    )
4. Detergent for babies (do not use softener)

To wear:
1. L/S and S/S onesies - about 6-8 of them (both Keira & Caedy outgrew the newborn size in a matter of days, so don't buy too many of them.)
2. Mittens (second hand is usually too loose, if possible, buy new ones although baby just needs them for 6-8 weeks)
3. Socks (I prefer normal socks for newborn, they are not too loose)
4. Diapers
5. Hat
6. Blanket
7. Swaddler
8. Receiving blankets
9. Shoes (this is unnecessary actually, until they start walking)
10. Baby sling (optional)

Shower & Baby care:
1. Top to toe cleanser - Buds
2. Rash Cream - Pureen (drapolene is good enough too)
3. Ru Yi Oil (for baby's tummy if she is having gas in the tummy)
4. Washclothes
5. Alcohol Swabs
6. Nail Clipper
7. Wet tissues
8. Cottons
9. Massage Oil - Aromababy (bought in Aus)
10. Precious Newborn Travel Set - Buds 
11. Thermometer
12. Baby bath tub
13. Bath Stand
14. Towels

Travel:
1. Stroller (P3)
2. Car Seat
3. Diaper Bag
4. Changing mat (if the diaper bag doesn't come with it)

Nursery:
1. Cot (preferably a size 24” x 52” that can be converted into a toddler bed)
2. Changing Table (optional but highly recommended to prevent backache)
3. Mattress
4. Mattress Protector
5. Cot Bumper (optional: it is to cushion the baby from getting their limbs stuck in between the ‘bars’ but it increases risk of suffocation)
6. Blanket

Others:
1. High Chair
2. Walker (optional)
3. Playpen (optional)
4. Large net bouncer (optional but I find it very useful)

Breastfeeding:
Side Note - if you plan to breastfeed, the most important thing is to get support from your family or friends. Without them, I have to say it's very tough. There are many breastfeeding support groups nowadays, so do not hesitate to find help.
1. Nursing pads
2. Nursing bras
3. Breastpump
4. Milk storage bottles/plastic bags
5. Awesome Mom Cooler bag + Ice Packs (convenient for working moms or those who travel a lot).
6. Bottle warmer - don't have to buy expensive ones... cheaper brands like Autumnz works well too
7. Nursing cover
8. Nursing Pillow (optional)