Third Time Around

This is our third baby.  It's nuts to look back at all the things I did with our first and second that I don't even ALMOST do with this one.  It has nothing to do with loving one more than another.  It has everything to do with learning what works and what wastes money, and space. 

With our last baby I bought EVERYTHING.  He had a bouncy seat, bumbo, boppy, swing,  johnny jumper, jumperoo, play pen, crib, changing table, walker, and portable bed.  You name it and he had it.  Part of me thought he would fall in love with all his "devices" and another part of me just hoped that maybe one of them would help him not cry so much. 

"OK...He hates laying down so lets try this new jumping toy."
"OK...He hates his new jumperoo so lets try this swing"
"OK...He hates the swing so let's try the bumbo"
"OK...He screams bloody murder in the bumbo so lets try a walker"

See a pattern?

He loved being held.  He loved one on one interaction.  Once he learned how to crawl he loved that too.  He always wanted to be on the move and exploring.  He didn't need all the extras I thought would solve everything. 

The worst part of all the baby gear I bought was the amount of space it took up!  I had wall to wall baby equipment and it drove me nutso.  My spacious living room turned into a cluttered daycare center. 

Now I feel like I have a little bit (key word LITTLE) of knowledge on what works and what doesn't.  I sold or gave away the majority of the baby equipment I had and I am NOT replacing it. 

This time around I do a lot of baby wearing.  She is with me and I still have mobility and free hands to take care of the boys.  I've done a lot of research and I can't find ANYTHING wrong with this method, and the benefits are awesome!! 

She has a walker (leftover from our last baby) and enjoys it but not for long periods of time.  Which is fine because I don't want her in it for long periods of time. 

She is content to lie on her back and practice her rolling over skills.  She loves taking in her surroundings and is usually wide eyed the whole time. 

I'm not torturing myself on what method of putting her to bed to use.  I lay her down and if she is fussy or cries then I pick her up and rock her until she falls asleep.  Is this method spoiling her?  Maybe.  She is only a baby once and if she is upset then I want her to know that I'm here.  If that defines a spoiled baby then I'm not worried about it. 

Overall I feel very laid back with this baby.  I worried myself sick with our last placement and ruined and/or lost out on a lot of bonding time.  I'm learning as I go and I make mistakes all the time I do not know it all or have all the answers.  At the end of the day it isn't about what they have, but who they have.  I'm learning that bonding trumps bouncy seats, jumperoos, and swings.  I will never regret holding and bonding with her.  She needs that more then she needs equipment.  I need that more too.