It was a Friday afternoon, four days after my son was born, and I was stressed. Moments before I was discharged, I was required to make my son’s first doctor’s appointment. I had researched several options months ago and selected the pediatrician of my choice, but unfortunately, they were booked. My son was required to have his first appointment within the same week he was born. Who knew? I was exclusively breastfeeding, so they wanted to make sure he was gaining weight with my milk. If not, they would advise me to include formula. Although I was uneasy about seeing another doctor, I was more stressed because I had to pack a diaper bag for the first time. I wondered what to pack! After hours of debating and second-guessing myself, I packed the entire nursery into my diaper bag.

I finally left the house, knowing we would be late. When I know I’m running late, anxiety sets in, and I begin to regret sleeping a little longer, scrolling on social media, and not getting ready earlier. I was a little ashamed to be late for my son’s very first appointment. Was I not ready for motherhood? No one talks about the struggles in getting you, the baby, and a diaper bag ready every time you step out of the house. After a few more late appointments, I knew there had to be a better way. And that’s when Waddles was born.

I created Waddles Diapers because I wanted to provide an easy, grab-n-go solution for moms. As a newlywed and first-time mom, I juggled many things. When it’s time to head out with your little one, whether to a doctor’s appointment, visiting family, or daycare, having everything you need ready to go is super helpful. A grab-and-go diaper bag is one less thing to do. I’ve heard many say they planned and packed a diaper bag the night before with extras. Whether it takes you ten minutes or two hours, I want to give you that time back. If there is anything a mom could use more of its time, time could be spent playing more with your little one, making a second cup of coffee, or enjoying a moment to yourself.

Waddles Diaper kits are filled with the essential items needed for diaper changes. Every kit includes diapers, wipes, and disposable bags. These eco-friendly kits allow you to pack light (no more bag lady here) and be prepared for those just-in-case moments because they will happen. Our goal is to make the lives of families with babies easy, especially moms. We love Dads too, but typically they do not pack diaper bags, and if they do, we spot check after them.

If you’d like to get more time back or help a mommy friend of yours, head over to www.waddlesdiapers.com and grab the perfect time-saving essential kit.

The first time my son slept in the bed with my husband and me, he was five months old. He was beginning to outgrow his bassinet, and I wanted him close to me during the night. I remember staring at him for some time before I was comfortable enough to go to sleep. Is this a good idea? Will I hurt him? I thought these things to myself but ultimately decided that everything would be okay. He cried in the middle of the night as usual, and I nursed him back to sleep. Later, this turned into night nursing, which I often slept through—one bad habit after another.

Fast forward to the present day. My son is two and a half, and he still sleeps with us. His crib has been converted to a toddler bed, but I can count how many times he’s slept in his room. I’ve tried to transition him by getting him ready for bed in his room and putting him down for a nap in there, but he is yet to sleep through the night in his bed. He always wakes up after a few hours and comes into our room. At that point, I am too tired to get out of bed, and I give in. The last time he came into our bed, I slept through him climbing on top of me to make his way to the middle, between my husband and me. When I woke up, I was shocked because I thought he slept through the night since I didn’t feel him. I was slightly disappointed when I turned over to share the news with my husband, and I saw my son snuggling with his dad.

“Again? What are we doing wrong?” I thought to myself.

I’ll be honest with you. I still co-sleep with my son because I am not ready for him to leave my side, and I’m inconsistent with transitioning to his bed. I enjoy having my son close to me. It gives me a sense of protection over him. If he is too warm, I can take the covers off. If he is too cold, I can pull the covers back on. If he wakes up in the middle of the night, I can comfort him sooner without breaking his sleep. I know what you’re thinking… too many excuses! As hard as it may be, parents are required to teach their little ones independence at an early age. It’s important for them to know how to go to sleep on their own, how to feed themselves, and how to use the bathroom, all within the first few years of life. These things prepare them for daycare and school full-time. This will also allow your child to be self-sufficient if you or Dad are not available.

Are you still co-sleeping with your little one? If not, at what age did you stop? And if you never co-slept with your kids, what did bedtime look like for you? What advice would you give to parents struggling with transitioning their kids to their beds? Please feel free to share your story below.

The struggle of juggling motherhood and wifely duties is real. Children are more likely to seek mom first, even when Dad or someone else is available. Studies show that a mother’s physical and emotional presence provides babies with protection from stress and emotional regulation, both of which are important to healthy brain development. Whereas when Dad nurtures a child, the oxytocin produced makes a child more playful, encouraging children to be independent and explore. That explains why it is always playtime with Dad.

Now let’s define wifely duties. Since everyone’s list may be different, I will share the Google definition. The duties of a spouse are to love, support, cherish, and respect each other. And, yes, making each other feel happy, including sexual obligations. Interestingly, folding laundry and loading the dishwasher did not make the cut. Hmmm, I guess they could be a form of support. With all that comes with being a wife, mom, and everything in between, it is important to make a plan.

Being a wife and a mom will always be your top priority. Everything else is tertiary. Whatever your roles and responsibilities consist of, be sure to prioritize your tasks. What must be done right away, and what can wait? It is also important to identify your goals within each area. Are you trying to drink more water? Incorporate a bi-weekly date night? Teaching your little one their ABCs? Set SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic/Relevant, Time-Based) for yourself. Well, include your partner as your accountability buddy. This will also take items off of your plate while helping you evenly distribute or ask for help.

My independent game is strong. I always want to ensure things are done correctly, or should I say, done my way. However, this creates stress and anxiety and never ends well for me. In the past, I had turned down help when I needed it to prove that I was Superwoman. But I’m not. One of my favorite quotes is, “I see all these moms who can do everything, and I think I should have them do stuff for me. Statistics say that being a mom is equivalent to 2.5 jobs. That does not include your 9-5, self-care, or managing other relationships. Word of advice: Do not overwhelm yourself and take one task at a time.

Give yourself some grace. It is completely normal to be unsuccessful or make mistakes along the way. Instead, applaud yourself for getting through the day because that is an accomplishment. I encourage every mom to ask for help when needed. Your future self will thank you. Your future self could be an hour to a few days after the offer was made. I remember when my mother-in-law offered to watch my son at the house so that my husband and I could rest. Two years later, I still regret turning down her offer.

How do you balance being a mom and your responsibilities? Do you have a routine in place? Please feel free to share your questions, tips, or advice with us in the comments. We would love to hear from you.

I always knew I wanted to have children. The plan was to get pregnant while on my honeymoon. I had finally ditched my birth control, and my period app showed that was my week to ovulate, so the timing was perfect… or so I thought. The app had been pretty accurate when determining my cycle, so I thought this would be no different. Weeks went by, and before I knew it, Aunt Flo showed up. I remember texting my friends like, “what is she doing here?” I was determined to start a family, so I used the next month to research tips on conceiving. And guess what? It worked!

So, without further ado, here are my three major keys when trying to conceive:

1. Use a digital ovulation test: Do not rely on your period app! A digital ovulation test identifies your most fertile days. With this test, you will know if it’s a low fertile day, high fertile day, or peak fertile day. Taking the test daily measures your estrogen and luteinizing hormones. You’re encouraged to have sex on the high and peak fertile days, but typically you will ovulate on the peak day. Notice I said, “peak day,” and that’s because it only occurs once. When the test identifies your peak day, the only thing you need to focus on is baby-making. You can stop testing until your next cycle.
2. Have sex at the right time: Timing is everything! You should always test your first urine of the day. If your test reads a peak day, you have 12-24 hours before you ovulate. This is when your egg is released to greet sperm (which you want) or shed the lining of your uterus (Aunt Flo). To increase your chances of conceiving, have sex on your high fertile days and your peak fertile day. Remember, sperm can survive for up to five days.
3. Journal the experience: Whether it’s a physical journal or notes within your phone, I encourage you to write out everything. Using a physical calendar helps because you can track the days of your cycle + the dates (ex., Day 1 of my cycle occurred on October 15^th.) The first day of your period is always day 1. Write out as many details as possible. Were you bloating, cramping, or constipated, and were your boobs sore? If those symptoms sound familiar, it’s because they are common. Many people experience these before and during their menstrual cycle, but those symptoms are also signs of pregnancy, which is why it’s important to track them, so you don’t write them off as just your period. You also want to track your discharge. If it looks like egg whites, it’s baby-making time! This is the best environment for sperm to swim toward the egg. While journaling, pay close attention and become in tune with your body. Even the slightest differences could mean a big change within. During my experience, I was able to feel my egg being released. It’s very similar to having period cramps. And I still feel it to this day. You should ovulate once a month with a normal cycle, releasing an egg from your left or right ovary.

Although I was successful after one month, it may be helpful to follow these tips for two to three cycles. This will allow you to learn your body and track your changes. It’s completely normal to ovulate on a different day every month, and every woman is different, even those in sync. If you are experiencing fertility issues, please seek medical attention for a personal, detailed treatment plan. If you have any questions, feel free to email info@waddlesdiapers.com and follow us @WaddlesDiapers for more mommy and baby topics.

Being a parent is no easy task. Life as you know it completely changes. “Have a kid!” they said. “It’ll be fun!” they say. When I was pregnant with my son, people only talked about labor and delivery and the first six weeks. I was inundated with information on like:

• Real labor vs. Braxton Hicks
• Epidural or not
• You may tear (OUCH)!
• How happy I’ll be once I lay eyes on them
• Irish twins are a thing
• Oh, and forget about ever sleeping again

Yet, no one ever gave me the full description of a mom.

Think of a time when you were looking for a new job. You searched through the career section of companies you were interested in applying to. Maybe you had an idea of the position you wanted to apply to because of the job description. And you get the job (yay!), but just days in, you realize you will be overworked and underpaid because they missed a few bullets on that job description. Follow me for a minute. Below is an example of a job that I would apply to.

Moms-R-Us is Hiring!

Location: Work from home

Salary: Priceless

Job Description: Moms-R-Us encourages all women to become mothers. Motherhood is the highest position with the greatest reward. You will cherish every moment of cooing with your precious baby and watching them grow.

Benefits: A lifetime of happy memories, countless smiles, and a new best friend.

Experience: A happy, healthy relationship with your partner (preferred but not required); a woman of sound mind and makes a consensual decision to have children (required).

However… if the job description were accurate, it would go something like this:

Mom Central Needs You!

Location: Anywhere (from home, while you’re on vacation, and when you are sick, too).

Salary: No monetary compensation.

Job Duties:

• Giving birth
• Nursing or making bottles
• Making meals once introduced to food (indefinitely)
• Washing clothes (18 years minimum)
• Bathing (six to seven years minimum)
• Teaching life fundamentals
• Reading
• Providing financial support (18 years minimum but more than likely much longer).
• Listen to backtalk (could begin as young as three years old until indefinitely)
• Discipline
• Entertain… indefinitely if they’re an only child
• Nurture
• Tidy the house
• Do the dishes or load the dishwasher
• Work your 9-5 job
• Pay the bills
• Make time for self-care
• Nurture personal relationships (partner, friends, family)

Benefits: Creating a legacy that will hopefully live on after you’ve passed.

Experience: Lots of patience

That’s a position I would skim by simply because the math doesn’t add up. I only have two hands, and that sounds like the work of 12 (shoulder shrugs). The job above is a never-ending list of things moms are responsible for whether they’re with a partner or not. Did your family and friends share your duties as a mom, or were you blindsided like I was?

All jokes aside, I love being a mom. This is truly a role that works you to the core, but I love it!

You can never truly be prepared for motherhood, but what’s one key thing you wish you knew before becoming a mom?