Hey new moms! I am seriously so excited for you to be starting out this new adventure and amazing/life changing chapter in your life. One thing I can tell you from experience is that being a new mom requires asking for help, and relying on the experiences of other women who have gone through this process before. That being said, I wanted to share a helpful hint with you all about what to make sure is always handy in your baby’s diaper bag… let’s just say this list might help you out of some messy situations!
 

• Diapers. Let’s start with the most obvious one… Make sure to pack at least one diaper for every hour that you plan to be out of the house. And it really doesn’t hurt to have more on hand, so throw a couple extra in there just to be safe.
• Tide To Go. Yes, a change of clothes is further down on the list, but in order to prevent having to change baby after every single spit-up (or your own shirt for that matter), carrying around a pack of Tide To Go pens can actually make your day one outfit change less stressful.
• Wipes. You know those travel sized packs that sometimes come attached to a larger box of wipes? Whenever you get these, put them directly into your diaper bag! Another option if you don’t have  a travel-sized case with you is to grab a stack of wipes out of a larger container and stick the stack into a large zip-lock bag.
• Diaper Rash Cream. There’s nothing worse than not being able to soothe your little one when they need it the most.
• Changing Pad. If you have been out and about with baby, you know that many times public changing tables can be disgusting. Don’t get caught in a situation where you have to combine 27 paper towels to create a clean surface to change baby on!
• Extra Cash/Extra Set of Keys. Sleep can be scarce as a new mom, and a little bit of fogginess can result! Be sure to never leave the house with baby without a phone, cash, and an extra credit card, and even a spare house/vehicle key in case you need to get out of a bind while out and about.
• Hand Sanitizer. Sometimes changing happens where there’s no running water or hand soap.
• Snacks/Bibs. Depending on baby’s age, don’t forget baby food, a spoon, extra formula, and bibs.
• A Change of Clothes… Or Two. Expect the dreaded Baby Blowout. It will happen. It may even happen again directly after changing… never leave the house without at least one outfit change (for you and baby!), and throw another in for good measure.
• Baby Sunscreen. No matter the season, it’s is imperative to protect baby from harmful UV rays.
• Pacifier. If you use them, pack at least one, with a spare in case one gets dirty and there’s not a convenient place to wash it.
• Favorite Toy/Comfort Object. Depending on baby’s age, having something to keep your little one occupied while you are out and about is very helpful.
• A Hat. Again, it doesn’t matter what the season is. Always have a hat on hand to either keep the sun off of baby’s face, or to keep warm.

 
This is in no way an entire list of the helpful things that you could carry around with you, but it does cover the essentials! So pack that diaper bag and bring your baby to the barre at a class near you or so you're ready to go out to lunch after your online Babies at the Barre™ class! We’ll see you there!
 
Written by Tori Levine, mom and founder of Babies at the Barre™, a unique mommy & me exercise class and mom group / community all in one!  Meet other moms via in-person or online classes all while wearing your baby. Learn more about our low impact, effective mommy & me exercise classes here.

Every new parent quickly discovers that the life altering experience of bringing a child into the world means big life changes in amazing ways! With such drastic lifestyle differences, one thing that can get lost in the shuffle for parentsmom and dad is “me time.” This is especially common for mom because of the absolute dependence your child has on you in the first stages of life, and beyond. Below we’ve compiled some tips to help you still find the “me time” that you need and deserve in your life!
 

1. Possibly the most important tip for finding “me time” is defining “me time.” Be honest with yourself about what you really want to do during time that is for yourself. “Me time” doesn’t mean you get a break from the kids to pay the bills, it means you get a specific amount of time to do whatever you want! It might seem indulgent with all that you have going on, but it will truly bring you mental clarity and help you reset emotionally so that you will actually be more efficient at getting back to keeping the family running once “me time” is over.
   
   
2. A recent survey of US moms revealed that on average, women take on 78% of the chores at home and only get about 17 minutes to themselves each day. Communication with your partner about the necessity for you to have “me time” is key to ensuring that a dedicated time is set aside every day for your partner to take over the home chores and to take care of baby. A great way to approach this conversation is to express how a little “me time” is essential for any person to be fully present, whether it be as a professional, a mother, a wife, or a just as a human being! Part of this conversation can be focused on the opportunity for your partnerdaddy to bond with baby.
   
   
3. In addition to “baby-free me time,” you can also take opportunities to create “me time” even while you are with baby. BUT HOW? Do something you truly want to do, that is a baby-friendly activity. A great example of this is to take a mommy-and-me style class, like Babies at the Barre. You get to focus on your health and wellbeing as well as bond with other moms, and even let baby interact with little ones all at the same time .
   
   
4. When it finally happens, the glorious moment when you are alone and doing something that you genuinely want to do, be in the present moment. It can be tempting to allow yourself to get caught up in a sea of thoughts about what is yet to be done. But think about it this way, if you are truly present during “me time”, you will be that much more prepared to face the tasks of the day once you return to them. Being present during “me time” is key to ensuring that it becomes a sustainable and daily practice in your life.

 
Written by Tori Levine, mom and founder of Babies at the Barre™, a unique mommy & me exercise class and mom group / community all in one!  Meet other moms via in-person or online classes all while wearing your baby. Learn more about our low impact, effective mommy & me exercise classes here.