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Beyond the Gear


This post is sponsored by Playtex Mommyville.

I was 37 weeks pregnant with my first baby and had already registered for my baby shower when I sat down at the computer and Googled “what does a baby need” for the first time. I was so focused on the pregnancy and the birth that I had barely thought about what would happen after — and what I would need.

So of course there I am, with layette list upon layette list and I started to panic. Would I have enough swaddling blankets, onsies, sleepers, hats, and socks? Babies need socks?! I started to add random things to my registry and tried to vacuum behind the bed. Well, either that or I scrubbed under the stove. Hey, I’m not the most rational and organized house keeper to begin with. Nesting messes me up.

 

Here I am in ancient times when they still made cameras with 2 megapixels, leaving for my baby shower.

Thanks to some very generous shower gifts and a slew of lovely hand-me-downs, however, I had most of what I needed before my baby arrived. (And by “arrived,” I do mean was thrust into the world after more than two days of early labour and nearly 24 hours of hard labour, two epidurals and half the world’s supply of oxytocin. You know, “arrived.”) I had all the onsies, sleepers, hats and socks I needed. I had a host of darling little outfits, a stack of receiving blankets and enough teensy little hooded towels to dry off the national swim team (if they were babies). I had a car seat, a stroller, a bouncy chair, a rocking chair, a cradle, a change pad, two slings and a tummy time mat.

You know what I didn’t have? I didn’t have the slightest glimmer of a plan for saving for my baby’s education. Nor did I have a one-stop resource for information and tools that would help me navigate the first year of parenthood.

This is why Playtex Mommyville looks so awesome. It’s an online community where you can connect with other new moms and check out local event listings in your own community, yes. But it also offers expert advice and tips on everything to do with the early years of parenting AND has really great tools that will actually help. How did I have three kids without an immunization chart or emergency information sheet? I don’t know, but I’m printing them up now! Oh, and there will also be monthly sweepstakes and coupons and special offers if you’re into that kind of thing. (Who isn’t?)

But right now, the contest you don’t want to miss is over on the Babies R Us Facebook page. Babies R Us and Playtex are giving away two $2500 contributions to an RESP and 12 $100 Babies R Us gift cards and Playtex gift baskets. Yes, please. Because your baby will be out of that bouncy seat in six months, but an education is forever. I just entered.

 Playtex is a licensed trademark. © 2012 Playtex Products, LLC

This post has been generously sponsored by Playtex Mommyville.