Wee Peats

Grandma's Essentials: Baby Swing

How fast do grand-babies grow? Seems to me they are growing way faster than I can remember my own babies growing. I am having so much fun with the little girls and fun is one of the things I want them to remember when they think of Granmakin.  

So, I am always on the lookout for the next thing that will make the babies smile! I saw this swing at Wee Peats and knew I “needed it” for the front porch. It was half the price of a brand new one and has been one of the best purchases I have made.

Olive laughs out loud when swinging and she likes to go high and fast, loving the feeling of wind in her hair. I like to put her in the swing after her bath (during the nice warm summer evenings) and before bed . . . it seems to have a calming effect. One time while Granpakin was swinging her, she even started dozing off. It was such an easy transition to going to sleep in the crib.

The swing will be a favorite for years to come.

Read more about Granmakins here.

Grandma's Essentials: Highchair

I’m amazed every time I realize how fast the grandbabies are growing. The little girls are 6 and 8 months now and doing new things every day. And, it seems at every turn I need something new for the house. (I am so lucky that they visit often!!) 

The latest need was a high chair. The older baby, Olive, is eating solid food and really needs to be sitting in a high chair to be able to successfully pick up the yummy bits of food off the tray.  The younger baby, Lúthien, is eating pureed foods and the high chair will be a necessity very soon.

I wanted to find a high chair that was “gently used.” I am not using it everyday so I don’t feel the need to buy something brand new. Wheels would be a nice feature and a way to secure the babies in the seat was a must.

Weepeats had just what I was looking for. A very nice chair in excellent condition. Yay!  Now I am wondering: “What I will be needing next?”

Today Olive enjoyed her first pancake (served plain and broken into small bites) made by Granpakin on a Saturday morning. Doesn’t get much better.



Read more about Granmakin!

Grandma's Essentials: Moving on Down the Road

I remember when I had my first child 30 years ago and my mother-in-law was preparing for our visit. We lived in another state at the time and could not bring much with us on the airplane. She was gathering her “essentials” to make our visit more fun and a stroller was something on her list since a big park was right next door and going for walks was certain to be on our must-do list.

Today’s strollers do amazing things. For me, the most important thing was to be sure baby was safe and comfortable. Then it had to be very manageable for me to get in and out of the car.  

My son and his wife, Paz, live in an apartment three flights-up with no elevator. Her stroller was too heavy to lug up and down the stairs and she didn’t get out for walks much. Their stroller stayed in the car, as my son drove off to school and work. We needed to find a fix for this problem. I found a great umbrella-type stroller at Wee Peats that fit the bill for me, but I also knew it would be perfect for my daughter-in-law too (here is a photo of Lúthien Luna in her Zooper stroller.)

Now mother and baby can get out of the house and go for walks around their neighborhood in style and most importantly, much easier.

I will be waiting to hear about another stroller from Wee Peats that fits my needs . . . maybe one is waiting there for you that is just perfect too.

-Granmakins

Grandma's Essentials: Entertain Me!

When my firstborn grandbaby was about three months old, my daughter noticed that a floor play-mat was her new best friend. The baby loves lying under the hanging toys. It entertained her and that was enough for me to want one at my house too. You can add and subtract the toys to amuse and delight the little one and keep them interested for a long time.

 

Another item that keeps baby happy (even if only for a short time, we will take it) was a chair that vibrates and plays soothing sounds or music. This is my granddaughter Olive in the Pod Bouncer that I found at Wee Peats (in perfect condition.) It is very cool and modern and I love the green color. My daughter calls her bouncey chair the “magic pooing chair” because each morning when she put baby in, she pooed (and we soon learn that a baby who has a poo is a happy baby!) You can read more about her experience here.

Wee Peats is my resource for staying ahead of the game.  I am ready for the next stage with my last purchase . . . a “jumper” that hangs in the doorway. Fun, fun, fun!! 

Read more about Granmakins!

Grandma's Essentials: Change Me, I’m Wet

Changing diapers is something we will be doing for years and having a good place for this task will make life much nicer for all. I have noticed that both of my new grandbabies love their changing spaces at their homes and also seem very happy on the changing table I have set up. Babies love to have something to look at, so having something nice to see (besides your smiling face) makes them happy.  

Your area does not have to be an official “changing table” and many pieces of furniture will work for this task. However, the most comfortable option is one that offers a good height for standing. Top with a contoured pad and cover and then secure in place, especially if it is a permanent spot for changing. Remember to secure baby with the straps once they reach the rolling around stage.

A lamp nearby helps for those late night changes. Also handy are disposable or washable liners to put under the diaper area to avoid having to wash the cover every time baby wets through it (accidentally, of course.)  Having diapers, wipes, and all the other niceties that go with changing make it so that mom doesn’t have to carry a lot with her when visiting. 

Grandma's Essentials: Burp Me!

I was just thinking how much we love to hear a little baby burp. I tell my grand baby, “What a good girl!” when I hear her burp, as I pat her on the back after she has eaten.

In a few years when she burps out loud after eating, I might say, “It is not polite to burp at the table.” Funny how that changes as a child grows.

Speaking of burping, I cannot have enough burp cloths around. I don’t mind a wet shoulder or arm (or side, back, or chest) from a drooling baby, but the spittle of milk doesn’t sit well on anyone’s shirt. When I visit one of my grand babies their moms know that Granmakins likes a burp cloth handy at all times. I also have a nice little collection here at my house.

Besides catching the spittle, there is another really good reason to keep burp cloths handy. I am all about the baby’s comfort and there are times a shirt is not so soft, or someone who wants to hold the baby has on a wool sweater.

Imagine a babies soft cheeks rubbing into that scratchy fabric . . . not so comfy.  

I suggest always offering a burp cloth to a guest (because everyone always wants to hold the baby) and it can double as a lap pad for when baby sits on the lap. Yes, babies leak from all ends, but I will always take the drool if I have a choice!

-Granmakins

Grandma's Essentials

We are starting a fun new series of blogs from Marie Kinnaman, or as she will be known to her two new granddaughters, "Granmakins". The posts will talk about some of the essential things a Grandma will find herself needing to make a cozy and comfortable place for the babies to visit.

The two girls are just seven weeks apart, so their needs are pretty much the same, but Marie still wants each baby to have their own items. She has two decorative boxes, one for each girl, and keep things like bibs, pacifiers, and a spare bottle in each of them. As the babies grow so will the items in their boxes!

Here's some background on Granmakins, and be looking for her first post later this week!

Marie Kinnaman was expecting two grand babies and wanted to think of a name to "go by" before they were born.  Grandma is fine, but Marie wanted something a little more unique, so she came up with Granmakins.  It reminds her of a character in Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit series, Squirrel Nutkin.

Wanting her two new grand babies to visit often, she began setting-up a space for them to be comfortable and safe, and have fun while visiting.  "It is also about making it easier for the new parents too," says Granmakins.  "They don't have to lug as much stuff when they come," she adds.

 

With a firm belief in buying second-hand when possible (as a way to save money and keep things circulating instead of going in a landfill) Granmakins loves shops like Wee Peats. "I love the new blog and facebook page so I can see the new items as they come in. And I am excited to be sharing stories on the new Wee Peats blog."

She's also looking forward to the day they will play dress-up with the clothes she is collecting for them.

Are you a grandma? If you have a great story about Grandmahood, email us at [email protected] so we can publish it!