If someone said the name StitchFix, would you know what they were referring to? Several years ago my answer would have been no. StitchFix is an online styling service where, for as little as $20 (that applies towards your order), you are paired with a personal stylist who chooses 5 items to mail straight to your front door.

If you’ve never pulled the trigger with StitchFix or are currently on the fence about their service, read on to hear about my first experience. No hype. No fudging the truth. Just my experience, what I received, and my honest Stitch Fix review.

This is not a Sponsored Post, however, it does contain affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and decide to sign up we will receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you). This helps us to continue providing this resource for the twin parenting community.

Stitch Fix Review: How I Got Started

After they told me it was twins I knew my life would forever be different, sure.  But did I really even know what that meant? Like most new moms, no. I knew I would be tired, but honestly, I didn’t know what newborn baby tired was.  I knew I would have little time to myself, but again… I didn’t truly know the extent of how little time I would have.

To add to all of this newness of two new babies, my body had also changed throughout my twin pregnancy and all I was left with was a few pieces of clothes from pre-pregnancy and my maternity clothes. Life with one newborn baby is hard to let alone life with two new babies, so sitting on the fence between fitting into pre-pregnancy clothes and maternity clothes starts to wear on you after so long.

 I was exhausted. It seemed like I always had at least one baby crying, somebody needing a diaper change or another that was hungry.  Then there was the fact that I had pretty much determined I was just going to have to live the next five years of my life within the walls of my house because mustering up the ability to get two babies in car seats out my front door and out in public was just too much to wrap my head around.  Remember that part about somebody always crying, hungry or needing a diaper change? Yeah. It was a lot to wrap my head around.

Fast forward a little bit and I finally got tired of being stuck at home.  I was tired of fitting my new body into clothes I didn’t feel comfortable in. So slowly day by day I figured out how to get those two babies out and about. I wasn’t going to live my life trapped at home.

But one thing; I had my sneaky ways of making it through Target without all the people noticing and questioning whether I had twins, but I couldn’t have one baby strapped to my back if I was going to try on clothes.  Enter StitchFix.

First Steps

For all of us who want to dress like we have our lives together, StitchFix is perfect. New clothes paired with never really having to leave the house? Yes, please!! If we don’t like something just send it back? OK, sign me up!

I was a little skeptical though, still. How could someone really pick out anything that would fit me (I am tall, like 5’10” tall, so finding things long enough can sometimes be a challenge.)  They have a great system though. Once you create an account they ask you several questions to figure out your sizing, style, likes and dislikes so you’re more likely to get pieces you’ll love verses send back.

• Do you dress more casual or dressy?
• Do you like to show off shoulders? Mid-section? Legs?
• Is your style more classical? More edgy?
• etc.

They also have the option to take mini quizzes where they show you different outfits and you can give it a thumbs-up or thumbs-down to help your stylist get a feel for things you tend to pick out for yourself. I pretty much took these until they told me, OK that’s enough for today.

From there you are placed with a stylist who picks 5 pieces to match your style and then boxed up and shipped directly to you.  And then everyone said Amen!

To get started you pay a $20 styling fee which is credited to your purchase or if you choose to purchase all 5 items, StitchFix will you give you 25% off the total price as well as apply your $20 styling fee to your purchase. There is no obligation to purchase all 5 items, but obviously, you get the best deal when you purchase all 5.

My Fix

Opening my first box was exciting. Kinda like Christmas… except at the end of all this I was going to be paying for my own presents.

I peeled back the beautifully folded paper that encompassed my 5 items and slowly opened up each article of clothing.  I was so excited to see what they had picked out for me. Ok… I like it… good… ehhh maybe not so much….

Honestly, I think one of my favorite features of the StitchFix service is the style card sent with each order. If I’m being completely honest, I don’t see myself as super stylish. I see others with these put-together outfits and think, wow, as I stare down at my shorts and black T-shirt. So this little extra feature was like sprinkles on my cupcake. The style card lists each article of clothing they send along with images of how to style each piece to get 2 different looks. Boom! Exactly what I needed. Spell it out for me!

The Clothes

Like I said, I’m tall, so finding the right clothing for me can be difficult. I told my stylist I am 5’10 and wear a 36” inseam to hopefully help when she was selecting items for me, but evidently 5’10 didn’t really resonate, because, well, just keep reading…

The first item I received was a floral Kimono.

I was on the fence with this one for a few reasons. 1. I have a few kimono’s hanging in my closet already and 2. The colors are very muted which doesn’t really compliment my fair skin and blonde hair. I tried it on anyway, and as much as my daughter told me I looked beautiful, I decided to send it back.

Next was this floral tank.

At first glance, I loved the pattern of this tank.  It was made from a nice slinky material that felt very expensive. I slipped it on and, well, felt a little frumpy, so I tied it up in the front and knotted it to help give some shape.  So much better, but again, I felt like I had so many tops similar to this so, even though my daughter said this was the prettiest top she’d ever seen, I decided to send it back.

 And can we talk about that dirty mirror? Remember that part about having twins… yeah, dirty mirrors are a thing around here. My super power is making two babies at the same time, not cleaning mirrors.

Oh, I wanted to love this so much.  The double-strap detail in the straps. The gathered waist.  Pair it with a jean jacket and some sandals. Dreamy! I loved everything about this… but my fear, like every tall girl out there, would it be long enough? The answer is no. No it wasn’t.

Now, I could have knotted the front of the dress, which I often do and love, but I didn’t want to be cornered into only being able to wear this if it was knotted so it also had to go in the return pile. Plus, paying $55 for a dress that didn’t fit just right and I would have to alter with a knot in the front every time I wanted to wear it? No, thanks.

I know why my stylist probably picked out Bermuda shorts for me. I’m tall. You would think that goes hand in hand.  I get it.  But this just wasn’t my style.  I tried to give them a shot but I just couldn’t do it. I didn’t want to pay $40 for something I knew would just sit in my closet untouched. If they hadn’t been a Bermuda short I probably would have kept them. The material was nice and I loved the color.

Now this had potential.  I am a sucker for black and white and then stripes, ugh, they get me every time. 

When I first pulled this out of the box I thought it would love it. My style card suggested pairing it with some rose colored skinny crops and a jean jacket or even with a floral print skirt to mix prints.  Both ideas I loved! But then I tried it on and noticed the cold shoulder and I was turned off. I have never been able to get into the cold shoulder trend, so this automatically was out for me.

Sending Things Back

If I’m being completely honest, I liked a few of the items, loved the black dress even, but ultimately sent all 5 items back. A few were not quite in the price point I wanted to pay, the dress was too short and others I already owned so this fix wasn’t exactly hitting the mark. 

StitchFix makes returning items really easy though which makes signing up for a second fix a no brainer.

In your box they include a prepaid envelope so all you have to do is insert your return items and drop off at your local USPS.

The last step when returning items is to go online to your account within 3 days of receiving your fix and tell them what items you loved or would like to return as well as why you didn’t like certain items. This is important because it helps your stylist understand more of your likes/dislikes for your next fix, should you decide to order a second fix.

Things I Learned from my Stitch Fix Review

I’ve heard linking one of your Pinterest boards is another way your stylist can truly get a feel for what you like and so moving forward I am going to link my boards and pin a few more items I would be interested in. 

I am also not someone who spends a ton of money on my clothes. Remember that whole having twins thing? Yeah, a lot of my time is spent either at home with babies or getting spit up on by said babies so expensive clothes aren’t really my jam. Paying $40 for a top isn’t my thing unless I am just completely in love with it.

With that said, keep the pricing in mind if you’re thinking about trying StitchFix. Maybe pricing doesn’t bother you. Perfect. For reference, I also said I didn’t want to spend a ton on each article of clothing and had I purchased all 5 pieces, with the 25% discount, my total would have been over $200.

I feel like there was potential with the style picks sent to me so I’m anxious to see whether my next fix is more of what I’m looking for. After this first one I went back into my account and gave good explanations as to why I was sending back each article of clothing and took a few more of the clothing quizzes on things I liked and disliked.

If you’re like me, a mom of twins or multiples, have even just one kid, or aren’t a mom at all but simply wear clothes; I would at least give StitchFix a try. The most it will cost you is $20 and you can send all 5 items back if you just aren’t a fan or you might just fall in love with all 5 items and get to take advantage of the 25% off your total order which is a complete win!

Want to sign up after reading this Stitch Fix review? Simply click here.

Nightmares are a normal part of life for a lot of people, especially younger children. If this isn’t your first child, then you’ve probably experienced nightmares with your other children, but night terrors are something different.

Night terrors tend to leave your child inconsolable, only fading with time. It can make you feel powerless to see your baby crying, so knowing what night terrors in babies are, what causes them, and what you can do about them, is a huge help for most moms.

What are night terrors?

Night terrors are similar to nightmares but worse

Symptoms of night terrors might include:

• Suddenly sitting straight up in bed
• Screaming, shouting or crying out
• Breathing fast, flushes, sweating or other anxious symptoms
• Rapid, thrashing movements or spasms
• Actual fear symptoms, being scared of ‘something’

Night terrors are more likely to happen when your baby is:

• Tired or ill
• Starting a new medicine
• In an unfamiliar environment or being taken away from home
• Not getting enough sleep over a long term period
• Stress, from life events or illness

Almost every child will have nightmares at some point in their lives, usually between the ages of 4 and 12, but they can start from as early as 18 months old.

Night terrors on the other hand only occur in around 1 in 20 children, with an increasing likelihood as they get closer to 3 years old. They’re more likely in boys, and also more likely if night terrors run in the family. Three-quarters of babies who have night terrors have someone in their close family who has also had night terrors.

Night terrors can occur only once, or they might reoccur several times over a few months. In the vast majority of cases, night terrors will simply stop as your baby’s nervous system changes whilst they grow.

What triggers night terrors in babies?

Night terrors are caused by your baby’s nervous system being overstimulated whilst they’re sleeping.

Sleep happens in several phases, 1, 2, 3, and REM.

Your baby will progress through these stages in sequence, multiple times whilst they sleep. Normal sleep cycles can take anywhere from an hour to two, slowly getting longer as they spend more time asleep.

Dreams, and nightmares, always happen when in deep REM sleep, but night terrors happen after that when your baby is in deep non-REM sleep.

Night terrors aren’t dreams, they’re a fear reaction that happens as your baby’s body changes from REM sleep to non-REM sleep cycles.

How do I stop my baby’s night terrors?

As hard as it is to hear, there’s very little you can do for your child when they’re having a night terror.

Night terrors mostly just go away in time. After a few minutes, most night terrors will fade and your baby will just lie down and go back to sleep as if nothing had happened.

Because night terrors occur whilst your child is asleep, they’re not likely to remember them afterward. This is one of the major markers that your child is having night terrors and not nightmares.

Of course, if your baby is young enough, they won’t be able to communicate that they’ve remembered nightmares, but you’ll be able to tell by seeing how your baby feels when they wake up.

You shouldn’t wake your child when they’re having a night terror. It doesn’t help them feel better. In fact, your child is likely to wake up feeling anxious and confused and might find it hard to get back to sleep, which will make night terrors more likely the following night.

Because you can’t do anything for night terrors, it’s best to try and prevent them from happening in the first place.

The best way to do this is to make sure that your baby is adequately rested, going to bed early and unstressed.

If you notice the night terrors tend to stick to a pattern, for example recurring at the same time every night, you could wake your child up for a few minutes half an hour before the night terrors are due to start. This will have the effect of resetting their sleep schedule and might stop the terrors from occurring.

Should I see a doctor about my child’s night terrors?

The main issue when considering whether to go to the doctors about night terrors is how it’s affecting your child’s sleep. Apparently, 1 in 2 children is affected by their night terrors enough to consider talking to the pediatrician.

If they’re recurring, or you’re concerned about your baby’s welfare, always talk to your doctor. They may be able to give you the advice to reduce the frequency or effect of these night terrors.

When do night terrors go away

Almost all children outgrow their night terrors naturally, as their bodies, brains and nervous systems mature.

You can expect night terrors will cease to be an issue once your child hits adolescence, at the absolute latest.

Whilst they’re obviously concerning, night terrors in babies aren’t going to affect the health of your child unduly, as long as they’re still getting enough sleep.

Did your baby suffer from night terrors? How was the first experience? How did you know it was a night terror and not a nightmare? Share your stories below so that other moms in your situation can deal with it better. Every story helps!

The one thing that holds more people back from using cloth diapers is worrying about cleaning them after they’re used.

If it’s not the gross-out factor of having to clean out handfuls of cloth diapers every day, then it’s the concern about making sure you get them properly cleaned and sterilized.

But cleaning cloth diapers doesn’t have to be hard, and once you learn how to clean cloth diapers, you can save an awful lot of money and help the environment at the same time. Read on to find out how to do this.

How to remove cloth diapers

When taking off a cloth diaper, you’re going to be wondering what to do with what’s inside. That depends entirely on how you’re feeding your baby

Breastfed babies have poop that’s generally more liquid, and it also happens to be water soluble. That means you don’t have to do anything special. Just drop the diaper into your storage container and wait to clean them all together.

Formula fed babies tend to have poops that are more solid and held together, so just drop the contents into the toilet, then store the diaper as above.

What’s a diaper sprayer?

A diaper sprayer lets you spray down your cloth diapers directly into the toilet. It clips on and allows you to pre-clean your diapers before you actually clean them.

This obviously saves on time and smell in the long run. You don’t have to use a diaper sprayer, you can use a shower head if it’s close enough to your toilet, just be careful not to turn it on too high. That tends to end messily.

What are diaper liners

Designed specifically for cloth diapers, it sits inside of the diaper and provides a tight, waterproof seal on the inside, so you can remove the liner, drop it into the toilet and reuse the diaper, as long as it’s clean and you’re careful.

How to clean cloth diapers

Cleaning your cloth diapers is as simple as putting them in the washer with detergent and switching it on like you normally would.

That’s literally it.

It might help to run them through a cold cycle first, because that helps free up everything that’s in the diaper and get everything flowing, ready to be cleaned.

Run the second cycle on hot, and if your diapers need it, you can always run an extra rinse to make sure that everything is extra clean.

It’s recommended that you use scentless or specific baby detergent so that your little one doesn’t suffer from any irritation or other skin issues.

It’s also recommended that you don’t wash more than 15 – 20 diapers at a time. Any more can overload your washing machine.

How to dry cloth diapers

Drying cloth diapers is, if anything, easier than washing them.

You can either toss them into the dryer, without any softeners or other products, and let that sort them, or just hang them up and leave them to dry naturally. Either works and considering the small amount of material, they’ll be dry in just a few hours.

How often should I wash my cloth diapers?

You’re going to need a certain amount of cloth diapers so that you’ve always got spares in rotation.

Bear in mind that in their first few months, a baby might be using anywhere up to twelve diapers a day on average, so having that many on hand, with a few spare, is almost essential.

That means that you need at least twenty four diapers on hand. Twelve for the day, and the other twelve being washed.

This means that you’re going to be washing your cycles of diapers every single day.

You should also bear in mind that you’re probably going to want to wash your dirty diapers every day anyway. Otherwise, they’ll start to smell and they could become a breeding ground for bacteria.

If you’re using diaper liners, or you’re using hybrid diapers, then you’ll need a lot less overall diapers, which means a lot less washing. This is because you’re going to be changing the liners as they catch all of the waste, and only changing the diapers when they actually get dirty because of accidents or overspill.

Having a large stash of diapers isn’t essential, but it is very handy. Don’t worry if you can’t quite manage that, though. As long as you keep on top of things and keep everything washed and up to date, then you’re not going to have any issues.

Where can I keep my dirty diapers?

If you’re going full on with cloth diapers, then a diaper wet bag can be a fantastic pick-up. They’re a great place to store dirty diapers, and they go a long way to sorting out any issues you might have with smells, too.

If you’re going to get a wet bag, get two. That way, you can wash each bag with the set of diapers that were stored in it, keeping everything clean and tidy.

Diaper cleaning services

If you live in a metropolitan area, then there’s probably a service close by who will clean your diapers for you. They might even pick them up and drop them off, too.

Obviously, this is an extra cost, but if you’ve got the option, then go for it!

Hints and tips

• Breastfed baby poop is water soluble, so it’s much easier to clean cloth diapers if you’re breastfeeding
• Formula fed baby poop is a little more solid, so empty the diapers into the toilet first
• Cleaning is as easy as putting the diapers into a standard wash, maybe with a rinse first
• You can dry your diapers in the dryer or by hanging them up
• You’re going to need at least two days worth of diapers, maybe more
• Check your brand of diapers. Some require dedicated cleaning products or wash settings
• Instead of using whitening detergent, add half a cup of lemon juice to the wash
• If diapers get smelly, add half a cup of baking soda and some white vinegar to the wash

That’s all you need to know. Now you know everything you need to know about how to clean cloth diapers. Cleaning your cloth diapers doesn’t have to be hard, but it does require work and a set routine.

Once you know what you’re doing, you’ll fall right into it. It’ll be absolutely natural and you can feel great knowing that you’ve got your baby’s cloth diapers handled.

One of the biggest expenses for new parents can be diapers, and trust us, you’re going to use a lot of them!

You’re going to get a care package from your hospital that gives you a few days worth of free diapers, but you’re going to need more.

Bear in mind that your baby might use ten diapers a day for the first six months of their life. That means almost two thousand diapers. It adds up to around $80 per month per baby! So getting some for free can help allay that cost. That’s why knowing how to get free diapers in your area is incredibly important.

Here are several ways you can get free diapers in your area.

Speak to your doctor and your hospital

Generally, the best option, your pediatrician and your hospital will be able to hook you up with so much stuff to help you out with your new baby.

If they can’t give you freebies, they’ll be able to point you to people who can, and they can probably get you into special mom clubs that have everything you need for the first few weeks.

Request sample diapers

This is probably the simplest way to get free diapers. Most manufacturers will offer free samples of their products.

True, you might only get a handful from each sample, but you can ask for samples from several places, and free diapers are given away enough that you can probably amass a decent little stash. Plus you’ll be able to see how different brands and sizes work for your baby, helping you decide which diapers you want to use long term.

On top of this, you might even be able to bag some other freebies, like coupons, formula, journals, etc.

Join diaper company free memberships

Diaper companies love to give away free samples because they’re hoping you’ll love their products and buy more of them. That’s why they’re more than happy to give you a handful of free diapers or diaper coupons to knock a huge chunk from the price when you buy them.

Some of the best companies for these memberships are smaller, less known brands because they’re trying to hook you in and get you using their products.

Eco by Naty is a great option. They’ll send you a free box, no questions asked, if you sign up at their online checkout.

Honest Company also have a free box option, with diapers and their own baby wipes. You have to sign up to their membership program, but as long as you cancel the membership within the trial period, you won’t get charged for it.

You should also check out the major retailers, including:

• Huggies
• Pampers
• Luvs
• Goodnites

A little tip. If your diaper company of choice doesn’t offer free diapers right now, look up their customer support number and give them a ring. Let them know that you’re thinking of changing diaper providers and you’d like to give them a try.

Use diaper sales

Scouring every resource available to you, you can find so many options for picking up freebies and diaper sales.

• Newspapers
• Facebook and other social media
• Mom and baby clubs
• Hospitals and doctors

All of these places can keep you up to date on what’s going on in your local area. How to get free diapers? A little tip, if you combine this with coupons and memberships, you can pick up loads of diapers almost for free.

Diaper banks or parent support

If you weren’t already aware, there’s a National Diaper Bank Network, that can provide assistance to low-income families.

Click that link and follow the state list to find out exactly how you can claim assistance in your area.

Other moms

Obviously, don’t overstep boundaries, but moms tend to hang around with other moms, and babies can outgrow diaper sizes pretty quickly. So moms tend to have spare diapers hanging around, and nothing to do with them.

Just remember to return the favor when your babies get too big for their own diapers. What goes around comes around, after all!

How to get free bottles and formula

Free diapers aren’t the only thing a new mom can count on. If you know what you’re doing, there’s an awful lot of other things you can pick up for nothing or almost nothing.

Lots of baby stores have welcome bags available for moms who sign up with their membership and join their baby registry. Normally, there’s at least one bottle included, as well as formula and other samples.

Sometimes, when you sign up for a store’s baby registry, they’ll give your details to other companies who might also send you welcome boxes. If you happen to receive a random box or two through the mail, then awesome, but don’t count on it happening.

If you need formula, you’re normally able to get formula samples from customer reward schemes, and especially from your doctors.

Getting a free breast pump

Thanks to the affordable care act, If you’ve got health insurance, you’re entitled to a free breast pump, free of charge.

Contact your health insurer, let them know that you’re pregnant. They’ll tell you the next steps. In all likelihood, you’ll have to ask your doctor for a reference and wait until you’re close to your due date.

There’s a lot of help out there for moms, especially if you’re smart about what you do. Knowing how to get free diapers, bottles and other necessities can take an awful lot of pressure off. So claim everything you can. You can always store it and pass it on to other moms if you have to.

Did we miss anything? Are there any other essentials that you can get for free, especially locally? Drop us a comment and let all our readers know!

For new moms, especially first-time moms, the question of when and how to feed their baby can be a question that’s surprisingly complicated.

After all, there’s a lot to the question. For example, how many times should you be feeding them? How long should they be feeding at a time? How do you even know they’re hungry?

Once you’ve got the hang of it, feeding time can be deceptively simple. But until then, if you find yourself asking the question of how often should a newborn eat, then you should read our handy guide.

How often should a newborn eat?

When they’re just born, your baby should be eating from 8 to 12 times per day. This is dependent on a few things, like:

How hungry your baby is. Whilst all newborn babies are hungry little things because they’re growing so much, some babies will be content with 8 or 9 feedings per day, and some will need more.

Whether they’re being fed on breast milk, formula, or both.

Breast milk is digested a little bit faster than formula, and it goes through their tiny tummies a little bit faster, which means that your breastfed baby might need feeding a little more than formula fed babies.

The easiest way of feeding your baby whenever they’re hungry. This is called On Demand feeding, and it’s what’s recommended by doctors across the world.

Basically, this means that whenever you get a sign that your baby is hungry, or when you get a feel for their feeding routines, you feed them.

On average, you’ll find that this will be from every one and a half to every three hours. As your baby gets a little older, they’re going to nurse less often as their bodies mature, stomachs get bigger and more capable of dealing with the rigors of regular feedings.

How often should my new newborn eat when breastfeeding

How do I count my feeding times?

You should count the distance between feeding times by noting the time that your baby starts feeding, rather than when they end.

Yes, this means that if you’re nursing 8 to 12 times a day, you could and should be nursing almost all of the time. This is entirely normal, and you’ll soon get used to each other’s routines. Once you’ve got the hang of baby’s feeding patterns, everything will just slot into place.

How do I tell if my baby wants to eat?

When it comes to social cues like hunger, every baby is different. They’re all tiny little people, after all, and they’re going to have adorable little quirks and idiosyncrasies.

But there are several signs that almost all babies have and a few others that are common enough to look out for, including:

• Moving their heads around, searching for something, even when you’re right there
• Opening their mouths, sticking out tongues or pursing little lips
• Putting hands, fingers or fists into their mouths
• Nuzzling against your breasts
• Moving their mouth towards you if you’re touching their cheek. (This is called the rooting reflex.)

Bear in mind that sometimes baby won’t be hungry, and could just be uncomfortable, bored or in need of a change.

It’s also good to note that crying can be a sign that your baby is hungry, but should not be used as a sign of hunger. If your baby has to cry to let you know that they are hungry, you’ve left it far too long.

How do I know when my baby is full?

Recognizing the signs that baby is full can be simple, once you know what they are. Look for things like:

• Moving away from your breast or the bottle
• Crying when you try to feed them
• Extending or flailing with their arms and legs, as if trying to escape
• Being distracted or overly interested in the world around them
• Slowing down their feeding
• Falling asleep or seeming drowsy

Remember, burping isn’t a sign of fullness. Just wind them gently, give them a little breather, then see if they want to continue to feed, or you should take a break.

How long should it take to nurse

Nursing is an art as well as a science, and it depends hugely on you and your baby. Not only that, but nursing can change massively day by day, all depending on how you and baby are feeling and what’s going on in your lives right now.

For newborns and new moms, you can expect a feeding to be anywhere up to 20 minutes, all depending on:

• How your milk supply is doing and how quick your let-down reflex is
• How fast your milk flow is in general
• How you and baby are positioned, and whether they’re latched on correctly
• Your baby’s sucking reflex and power
• Whether the baby is hungry or not really right now
• How the baby is feeling. For example, feedings in the middle of the night tend to be faster than others

When should I feed my baby during the night?

A lot of younger babies will wake during the night and let you know when they want a feed, but if they don’t, you should probably wake them every 3-4 hours and feed them anyway.

As long as you’re feeding your newborn at least once every night, you should be fine, just feed them as soon as you wake as well, to make sure.

After a few weeks, and once you’re sure that your baby is gaining weight at the proper rate, you’ll be able to relax and let them sleep a little longer, only waking when they want a feed.

How do I know if my baby is eating enough

If you’re feeding baby formula, then you know exactly how much baby is eating, because you can see what’s left in the bottle after you’re done.

Baby doesn’t have to finish the bottle every time. If there’s a little something left in there, then don’t force the baby to finish it. A little gentle encouragement is fine, but overfeeding is one of the biggest contributors to unhealthy weight gain in children.

But if you’re breastfeeding, it’s a different story. Because you can’t tell how much your baby is eating when you’re breastfeeding, it’s only natural to worry about how much milk they’re actually getting.

If you’re getting some or most of these signs, you don’t need to worry, your baby is probably fine.

• You’re feeding the standard 8 to 12 times per day, and baby seems happy and content when they’re fed, letting go and not still trying to suck.
• Breastfeeding feels good, and your breasts feel softer and less full after feeds. You might have a little bit of pain with your let down, but this won’t last long.
• Your baby is awake, alert and generally bright, especially when it’s time to feed.
• Your baby sleeps soundly and well.
• You have one or two full, wet nappies in the first couple of days, then half a dozen every day after that.
• After a few days, your baby poos two or three times per day.
• You can hear, see and feel baby latched on, sucking and swallowing, without struggling or getting frustrated.
• Baby feeds when they want to, taking time to relax whilst feeding, before latching back on.

Remember, a good rule of thumb is that if your baby is gaining weight at the rate they should, they’re eating enough.

Signs that your baby might not be getting enough to eat are:

• Dissatisfied or upset after feeding, or trying to continue to feed
• Constant signs that they might be hungry
• Lower numbers of wet or poopy diapers
• Being generally grumpy or miserable
• A lack of good weight gain

I’m worried I might have low milk supply

Don’t worry. You’re not the only one.

It’s natural for a lot of moms to worry about having a low milk supply. First-time moms will obviously be concerned about how they’re doing, and breastfeeding can feel different every time you do it. Your body will be in a different place than the last time you breastfed, so you might not get the response you’re expecting.

The rule to know is that if your baby is gaining weight at the rate they should, then you don’t have a low milk supply, but if you’re still concerned, there are two things you can do.

• The first is to read our guide on having a low milk supply, and what you can do about it.

• The second is always to speak to your pediatrician. If there’s something wrong, they’ll be able to point you towards a specialist who can help.

Like we said earlier, knowing your baby goes a huge way to understanding how and when to feed.

How often should a newborn eat? It depends on the newborn, but at least 8 to 12 times a day is the rule, and it’s one you should follow.

As always, if you’re concerned about your baby’s wellbeing, contact your healthcare provider immediately, but we know that you’re going to do great. After all, you’re here, learning how to be the best mom you can be!

Establishing a regular pumping schedule is the single best thing you can do to maintain and stimulate milk production.

But if you’ve never pumped before, the process can be relatively daunting. There are so many questions: How do you do it? How often should you pump? How long should I pump for?

That’s why we wrote this handy guide to breast pumping. Read on to find out all you need to know.

What are the advantages of using a breast pump?

The purpose of using a breast pump is to encourage your body to produce more milk. It’s the single best way to get your body to start producing more breast milk, whether you’ve already got a ready supply or you’re worried that you’ve got a low milk supply.

You can also use a breast pump to express milk for storage. This is great if you’re going to be away from baby for a little while, for example running errands, babysitting, or going back to work.

Breast pumps are also perfect for moms who love the idea of feeding their baby breast milk but might have trouble with breastfeeding.

Lastly, some moms donate their milk to a milk bank or a milk exchange program, and it obviously has to be bottled for that.

When should you start pumping?

If your baby doesn’t start nursing immediately post-partum, or you’re using formula as well as breastfeeding, then you should start pumping within 6 hours of birth.

The earlier you start, the better it is for your body and your milk production.

How much milk should I be pumping?

Within a week, you should be pumping around 25oz (750ml) per day if you’ve got a singleton. If you’re lucky enough to have twins, you should aim for 30oz (900ml) per day.

Pumping is the best indicator of how your milk production is going. At around the two-week mark, you should be close to the above indicators. If you’ve got a borderline supply, 15oz (500ml) or you’re actually low, <11oz (350ml) you should consider speaking to your doctor about using galactagogues (medication to increase milk supply.)

Your milk production at two weeks is a great marker to long term breastfeeding success, so make sure you start early and stay regular. If you’re worried about having low milk supply, or you need information on how you can increase your milk production at home, on top of pumping, you should read our guide on the subject.

How often should you pump?

You should be pumping at least 8 times per day. 10 times per day is ideal, especially if you have twins.

It doesn’t matter when these sessions are placed throughout the day, as long as you leave a few minutes between sessions. You should try and avoid leaving more than 5 or 6 hours between pumping sessions and make sure that you pump at least once during the night.

When you pump at night, it tends to be better if you wake up naturally, rather than setting an alarm. It’s most likely because your body is naturally ready to express when you wake up naturally, either because your breasts are full and ready, or your body has woken up normally.

Pumping sessions don’t have to be long. Even a short session can help stimulate milk production, and it’s better to have multiple short sessions rather than one or two long ones.

How long should I pump for to increase milk supply?

The length of time you should spend pumping depends on whether you’re nursing.

If your baby is not nursing, then start by hand expressing for the first 10 minutes, at least for the week after birth.

Then pump for at least 30 minutes, or for 5 minutes after the last drop of milk has been expressed.

If your baby is nursing, double pump for around 10 minutes after nursing.

The best rule of thumb is always to keep pumping for a few minutes after the last few drops of milk have been expressed. You can help by massaging the breasts before pumping, then compressing whilst pumping to help massage the last drops of milk from the breast.

Remember, the intent is to express all milk from the breast in each session, to encourage your body to produce more and increase long term milk production.

Can you pump for too long?

Yes, you can, but probably not in the way that you think.

The whole point of breast pumping is to get your body used to producing increased amounts of milk.

This is a good thing. As long as you keep to the same level and schedule of pumping.

The only time it’s a bad thing, and the only time you’re going to pump too long, is if you get your body used to producing increased amounts of milk, then you have to drop the schedule for an extended period of time.

This will leave your breasts swollen with milk and might cause soreness, plugged ducts and possibly even mastitis.

It can also result in producing too much milk for the baby. Normally this isn’t an issue, as baby will take what they’re comfortable with, but be aware of any indications that your baby might be struggling, for example pulling away, coughing or stomach upsets.

Hints and tips

• For best results, pump around 8 times per day, for a few minutes after the last drops of milk
• Pumping in the morning tends to result in higher yield
• You should express at least once a night, and try to wake up naturally

Learning to use a breast pump doesn’t have to be difficult. Once you’ve got the rhythm, you’ll fall into it completely naturally, and you won’t have to ask questions like ‘How long should I pump for?’ any longer.

If you’ve got any more questions, or you’ve got any tips for new moms around here, be sure to leave them in the comments. We love hearing from, and helping, all of our readers, so get in touch!

When it comes to pregnancy, a lot of women report the same sensation, like a ‘bubbling’ or ‘fluttering’ feeling, as if there are bubbles of gas moving up inside of them.

It’s only natural to think that this might be the baby passing wind. After all, we all get gas every now and then, right? So it’s a logical leap to think that those gas bubbles, which have to come from somewhere, are coming from the little person inside of you.

But can babies fart in the womb? Is this sensation your baby? If not, what is actually causing it?

Can babies fart in the womb?

The whole process of pregnancy is amazing and unique, from start to finish. The changes your body goes through, and what happens to your body and the body of your baby is nothing short of a miracle, and you’re both perfectly adapted to what’s going to happen.

We all know that when they’re in the womb, babies are kept alive by their umbilical cord, delivering all the nutrients baby needs to grow up strong.

What you might not know is that because of this, baby’s entire digestive system is essentially on standby, waiting for the day they’re born and they’re fed orally the first time.

Nothing passing through the digestive system means nothing’s being produced down there, so no gas to be passed out.

In fact, the only thing that will be in baby’s gut is meconium, which will sit in their gut and keep it healthy until they’re born, then be naturally passed out as baby’s first poop. (This is why baby’s first poop is going to be sticky, tar-like and a little bit strange. Don’t freak out. It’s natural.)

So no, the baby doesn’t fart in your womb.

So what’s the fluttery feeling, then?

Baby’s first movements.

Also called the quickening, all pregnant moms keenly anticipate their baby’s first movements, because there can only be one.

But there’s no guarantee that you’re going to get the same experience as other moms to be because all babies are different.

Some moms start feeling significant movements as early as the 13^th week, and the baby just won’t stop wriggling about all the time. Others are more subdued, and might not even start really moving until week 24.

In general, you can expect baby to start moving between the 18^th and 24^th week, that’s a good benchmark to look out for.

Did you know we have a guide walking you through every single week of twin pregnancy? If you want to find out what’s going to happen next in your pregnancy, you should definitely check it out by clicking here.

Do babies poop in the womb?

Because their digestive system isn’t producing anything, there’s very little for a baby to pass out in the womb.

However, sometimes the meconium will be passed out, especially early on in the pregnancy. This is a normal part of the process and nothing to be concerned about.

It’s also worth pointing out that babies do start to pee in the womb, as early as month two. This pee mixes with all the amniotic fluid that surrounds them, and (squeamish alert) is swallowed by baby again, only to be passed through over and over.

So if you feel a bubbling or fluttering sensation in your womb, don’t be concerned. That’s just baby adjusting, and your body adjusting around them. Can babies fart in the womb? We know the answer is no, so cherish every little flutter and movement.

Did you feel any fluttering during your pregnancy? How early on, and how long did it last? Be sure to let us all know in the comments.

Bassinets are hyper-popular these days, and it’s easy to see why. Portable and easy to carry, they’re light and comfy and pretty addition to every room, and they can be placed right up against the bed so that baby is right next to you all night long or carried all around the house.

But as convenient and comfortable as they are, sometimes baby won’t sleep in a bassinet, at least at first.

It can take consistent effort and a few tips and tricks to get them settled, but once you’ve got it down, you’ll realize just how easy it is.

What is a bassinet?

A bassinet is a bed that’s designed for your baby to sleep in for the first few months of their lives. From birth up until around the fourth month.

Unlike a cradle, which is designed to rock and move, bassinets are usually built around a fixed leg design, so they’re far more stable.

Once your baby gets old enough, they’ll transfer out of their bassinet to a crib, but don’t expect this to happen until they get a few months in.

Can my baby sleep in the bed with me?

One of the reasons bassinets are so popular today is because sleeping in the same bed as your baby just isn’t recommended anymore.

Being near your baby whilst you both sleep is great, but keeping baby in the same bed can lead to complications, and in the worst cases injury or even death, so don’t do it. By all means, chill and maybe snooze, but don’t sleep in the same bed together.

How you can help if baby won’t sleep in a bassinet

Keep to a fixed routine

A good routine gets baby comfortable and used to what’s supposed to happen, and why. This primes their body and mind to settling down and sleeping, so try and do the same few things in the same order before bedtime every day.

For example, bathtime could be followed by a feed, then a lullaby as you keep them close, diaper change then finally being settled down to sleep.

Keep their sheets in your bed

One of the reasons that babies don’t like sleeping in their bassinets is because it puts them away from mom. Even though you’re just across the room, maybe even within touching distance, that can seem like infinity to a teeny baby.

You can help sort this by sleeping with your baby’s sheets. That way they’ll pick up your smell, so when it gets time to snuggle down and go to sleep, the baby is surrounded by your scent and feels a lot more relaxed and natural, and that much more likely to fall to sleep.

Buy a bassinet that’s inclined or moves

Sleeping completely flat feels utterly unnatural for babies, especially really young babies like newborns.

Lying flat can also affect your baby’s reflux, otherwise called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD.) If your baby suffers, then definitely consider buying an inclined bassinet and make sure that they’re propped up and comfy. That way, you’ll both get a much better night’s sleep.

You can compensate for this by buying a bassinet that’s angled just a fraction, or has the option to rock and swing. That way, it’s easy to comfort the baby by gently rocking them to sleep, and they’ll feel that much more relaxed when they’re in a bed that’s built the way they like it.

Keep trying

We’re all creatures of habit. One of the reasons your baby might not want to sleep in their bassinet could literally just be that they’re not used to it yet, and that makes them grumpy.

Imagine if someone came into your room, changed all your bedding and pillows, then told you to enjoy your new bed. No matter how nice it all was, it would feel alien to you for the first few days.

So take it slow, give the baby a few days to adapt, and try to keep them in it for slightly longer times each day and each nap session. It’s absolutely fine to leave them in it to get used to it, whilst you hover around and make sure they’re alright.

The first few days of putting the baby in their bassinet can be hard on you both. They’re going to be getting used to an entirely new experience and environment, which can make them grumpy and grizzly.

You’re going to be worried, and likely to not get very much sleep because of this, not to mention if and when baby wakes up or refuses to relax and sleep properly.

But keep at it and you’re sure to get the hang of it quickly enough.

Remember:

• A strong routine
• Making baby’s bassinet smell like mommy
• Buying or inclining the bassinet, and
• Persistence

Will have both you and baby happy and settled quickly. We know that in just a few weeks you’ll have everything sorted. By then it’ll be time to switch out the bassinet for a crib! But you’ll get there, we believe in you.

If you’ve got any tips for other moms struggling as baby won’t sleep in a bassinet, or if you’re currently struggling to get a full night’s sleep, be sure to share in the comments. Our community love to pitch in and help out other moms, so no matter what you’re facing, someone’s sure to have seen it before.