Products I Can't Live Without

So, I've been thinking about doing this kind of a post for awhile now but keep hesitating because I know how annoying it was to hear all the advice that came flying my way while pregnant.

But, after much consideration, I have decided to give it the go ahead anyway. From time to time, I will post on a product that has made a difference in my family's life, one that I have come to love and couldn't live with out. Remember, this is just my opinion--which usually isn't worth much ;)

First on my list......drum roll please.............

The Miracle Blanket

This truly has been a life saver for Michael and I! My friend Emily use TMB for her twins and swore up and down about the quality of sleep that her girls got while using the blanket. She graciously loaned me her three blankets (you can never have too many--one to use, one in the wash, one to leave at Gramps, the sitters, friend's house for a test run of their own), which helped me go green in another aspect of mommy-hood.

Like most of you, MJ and I swaddled Abby with the techniques that we learned in the hospital, though I never really got it right...you guessed it, she always managed to get her arms out by the end of the nap. Night after night, Abby would just cry and cry and cry and cry. It got to the point where I would take her downstairs and put her in the swing because it was the only thing I could do to get her to sleep for more than 30 minutes at a time. After about two weeks of little, wait no sleep, we busted out "The Happiest Baby on the Block" since everyone told us how great the techniques are. Now, I won't lie, the "five S-es" were great but the receiving blanket swaddling just wasn't cutting it. So MJ an I decided to bust out TMB for bedtime sleep. What a difference that made! I think that first sleep after putting her in TMB (A.K.A. Burrito-ing the baby (because she gets wrapped up tight like--you guessed it--a burrito)) she slept for two hours without so much as a peep!

At first we only use TMB for night sleep because I was afraid of her associating it with night sleep and then mixing up her days and nights. So, needless to say, she was sleeping well at night but only taking 20-40 minute naps during the day unless I was holding her. Now, we know how great it is to cuddle with your newborn, but honestly...Mommy needed sleep too. So, after much hesitation I started to use TMB for naps as well as for night sleep. Hallelujah--Abby took a 2 hour nap!!! Looking back, I was absolutely CRAZY for not using burrito-ing her sooner! Looking ahead--our next baby will be burrito-ed from day one--for night time, nap time and any other time Baby needs it!

So how do I know that TMB really works and that Abby enjoys this product?
#1: Not until this last week has Abby been able to break free of TMB (and I only think this is because she is sleeping in a bouncer due to nasal drainage with her feet out of the pouch)
#2: Once Abby has both arms tucked under by the arm flaps, she turns her head to the side and closes her eyes while sucking on her paci.
#3: To this day Abby will only nap for 20-40 minutes without being burrito-ed and 9 out of 10 times she will take a 2+ hour nap while being burrito-ed.

Truly, we don't leave home without our Miracle Blanket! Thank you makers of The Miracle Blanket, I LOVE you!!!!!