NICU Awareness Month

September is NICU awareness month. I just want to shine a light on the NICU at Peyton Manning Children's Hospital at St. Vincent in Indianapolis. When my son was born he was 3 weeks early. I had gone in because he wasn’t moving. Despite his lack of movement, his heart rate was great the entire time. When he was finally born he wasn’t breathing. To this day, we have no idea why it happened. It took the nurses 10 minutes to get him breathing. He was rushed to the nursery where I found out shortly after that he had a seizure. At that point the Neonatologist told me that he needed to be transferred to a hospital with a NICU. He was just a couple of hours old when he was flown to another hospital. They brought him to be in one of those incubator crib things. I was allowed to touch his hand but I wasn't allowed to hold him. I was absolutely terrified. I was told that he had something called Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy. He had to be sedated and cooled for 72 hours to reduce or reverse the effects that the lack of oxygen could have had on his brain. I wasn’t able to hold him until he was 4 days old. Despite his rough start, he was a model NICU baby. Passed all his tests, no signs of anymore seizures, was never on supplemental oxygen, and ate like a champ. He came home when he was 9 days old. 3 days before Christmas! 

I wish that I could remember off the top of my head the name of all the doctors and nurses that took care of him. I would thank them all personally if I could. Eli will be 2 in just a few months and he is absolutely perfect. He has had zero issues since coming home. He has hit all of his milestones when he should have, he talks up a storm, he is so smart, and well, he throws fits like a typical toddler. Honestly though, I would have loved him whether he had issues or not. He’s my baby. 

The day he was born. My nurse took my phone and took these pictures since I wasn’t allowed to see him. I will forever be grateful to her for that. Shout out to Martha at Hendricks Regional in Danville, IN! 

The first day in the NICU. Seeing him like this was terrifying, but he was such a champ. 

The first time I got to hold him. I cried the entire time. 

Right after he pulled out his feeding tube. The nurse let him keep it out for a little bit so he could take a break. He was so cute! Still is. 

A couple days before coming home! 

The day we broke out of there. He was so small compared to his cousin. They are 5 months apart to the day. Don’t worry, 6 months later they were the same size, and still are. 

His first Christmas! The best Christmas present a mom could ask for! 

One year old! He tested positive for Covid 5 days after his birthday. Luckily he wasn’t very sick. Just a little extra tired, a little extra cranky, and a lot congested. The second picture is 5 minutes after he tested positive. 

His second Christmas, he was more interested in the candy than the toys! He had Covid here, you can see it in his face that he didn’t feel good. Poor baby.  

Here we are now! My big boy! He’s such a goofball, and a big water baby! 

My Favorite Nursery Themes

The following list is a list I have compiled from several different sites (Etsy, Amazon, & Walmart) of some of my favorite nursery themes. The 6th one is the one that I personally used for my son! I think figuring out how to decorate the nursery is the most exciting part. Once you decide what you want there are so many different options on what you can use to make your dream nursery come to life!

Boho Rainbow Crib Bedding

Boho Moon and Stars Crib Bedding

Hot Air Balloon Crib Bedding

Bedtime Originals 3 Piece Crib Bedding Set

Sweet Jojo Designs Boho Crib Bedding Set 

The Peanutshell Nautical Crib Bedding Set

Winnie The Pooh Crib Bedding Set

The Peanutshell Boho Story Crib Bedding Set

Dumbo Crib Bedding Set

Top 10 Cribs on Amazon

The crib is the most used piece of nursery furniture in my opinion. Most cribs these days can go from a crib, to a toddler bed, and then some of them can even convert into a twin bed. Talk about getting your money's worth. The crib that I had for my son was able to go from a crib to a toddler bed. We used it as a toddler bed for several months before I switched him to a normal toddler bed. The crib however will be going to his dad's house so that he can use it as a toddler bed when he goes over there. The following list is going to be a list of the most popular cribs on Amazon, including the one that I personally used which is number 4. Just click on the name and it’ll take you directly to the Amazon page for that crib. All of these cribs come in different colors and therefore the prices will vary between them. 

 

1. Dream On Me Synergy 5-In-1 Convertible Crib  

2. Dream On Me Chelsea 5-in-1 Convertible Crib

3. Graco Benton 4-in-1 Convertible Crib and Changer 

4. Dream On Me Carson Classic 3-in-1 Convertible Crib

5. Storkcraft Portofino 5-in-1 Convertible Crib and Changer

6. DaVinci Kalani 4-in-1 Convertible Crib

7. Dream On Me Addison 4-in-1 Convertible Mini Crib

8. Babyletto Gelato 4-in-1 Convertible Crib 

9. Carter's by DaVinci Colby 4-in-1 Low-Profile Convertible Crib

10. Delta Children Bentley S Series 4-in-1 Convertible Baby Crib

 

Now that you have gone through the list I hope it helps you find a crib that works for you and your new little one! 

 

Top 10 Portable Cribs on Amazon

Portable cribs, playards, or pack n' plays, whatever you want to call them are probably the most important piece of furniture that you can have for babies and toddler, at least in my opinion. For me personally, I have several. I have one that I keep at my sons dad's house, one at my moms house, and even an extra at my moms for my nephew who is 5 months older than my son. These are items that have been used multiple times a day for almost 2 years and to be honest I don't know what I would do without them. 

This is a list of the most popular ones that are being sold on Amazon, at least today. That could change tomorrow. Hopefully this list will help you find a suitable one for you and your little one, or at least give you some ideas on what you want. 

If you click on the name of the playard it will take you directly to that page on Amazon. Some of these have different colors and patterns to choose from and therefore some prices may vary. The prices listed are the the specific crib in the picture. 

Good luck, and happy reading! 😀😀

         #1:  Pamo Babe Portable Crib Baby Playpen with Mattress and Carry Bag

             $60.99 

This portable crib is easy to assemble and fold. It takes up very little space when folded up.. It's perfect for on-the-go families  with it’s easy to use case. The playpen is suitable for infants and toddlers from 0-36 months, and up to 33lbs. 

 

#2: Baby Trend Lil Snooze Deluxe 2 Nursery Center

$89.99

From day to night, your little one will feel comfy and secure in the adorable Lil Snooze Deluxe II Nursery Center in Twinkle Twinkle Little Moon from Baby Trend. The removable napper with canopy is perfect for a little shuteye throughout the day and the hanging toys keep them entertained while awake. Diaper time is a breeze with the flip away changing table and storage pocket for changing essentials. As your baby grows, the nursery center transforms into the ideal play time center and the large caster wheels with brakes provide added mobility and stability. The Nursery Center folds compact and easily fits into the included travel/storage bag for convenient portability. The playard had a weight limit of up to 35lbs, the changing table and sleeper go up to 15 pounds.

 

#3: Lotus Travel Crib 

$239.00

Designed to be easy to fly with the compact, light backpack carrying case. Set up is simple in 15 seconds and only weighs 15 lbs packed. The lightweight 13lbs crib packs into an easy to carry, hands-free backpack carrying case. With no assembly required, and a simple setup, the Lotus Crib sets up and packs quickly. Cuddle, let them crawl in & out, or put them in without leaning over. 

 

#4:  Baby Trend Nursery Center, Floral Garden

$65.99

The Baby Trend Deluxe Nursery Center in the Floral Garden fashion is fun, perfect for any home or nursery setting. This Playard is featured with a removable full bassinet, a mobile with three adorable plush toys and a diaper stacker for baby's essentials. Ideal for keeping your child entertained and happily occupied, you can have peace of mind as you tackle household chores. Lightweight and portable, this Playard comes with a travel tote bag so you can easily take it on trips to the park or beach. The one-hand locking mechanism allows you to easily open or close the portable Playard and the two large wheels with brakes provide greater mobility and stability. This Baby Trend Deluxe Nursery Center has a weight limit of 30 lbs.

 

#5:  Delta Children LX Deluxe Portable Baby Play Yard

$85.68

Keep your baby safe, close and comfy with the LX Deluxe Play Yard from Delta Children. You'll love all the convenient features. The removable bassinet provides the ideal spot for naptime or bedtime, and the removable changing table means you'll always have a sturdy place to change diapers or dress your baby. The detachable storage compartment keeps changing necessities nearby, so you never have to run to another room for diapers or wipes. When your baby outgrows the bassinet, the insert is removable and the LX Deluxe Play Yard functions like a full size playard. Designed to be used at home or away, the play yard's wheels make it super-easy to move around the house, and the quick fold construction and included carry bag make for fuss-free travel. The weight limit is 25lbs. 

 

#6: ADOVEL Baby Bassinet Bedside Crib

$195.88

Peaceful co sleeping Time - A full size ADOVEL Pack 'n Play can turn into the bedside sleeper with the side zipper down for mothers to take care of your baby in the middle of the night without having to move around too much. The bottom layer can be Used as a playard, available from baby to toddlers (0-3 years old). It provides closer space for mother-infant interaction. The diaper stacker can help you change diapers faster, and have access to bottles quicker without the backache.The mobile has 3 soft toys and several  cheerful songs that can soothe your little one back to sleep. The weight limit for this playard is 77lbs.

 

#7: BABY JOY 5-in-1 Pack and Play

$189.99

This multifunctional baby nursery center can serve as a baby rock bassinet, bedside crib, activity center, U-shaped diaper changing table with added strap for safety, and baby crib. Whether it provides a comfortable resting place for your cute baby, or daily activities and care, this 5-in-1 crib is the best choice. The armrest on the side can be quickly selected from  4 different heights with the user-friendly button to keep the height of the adult bed consistent. Therefore, it can be used not only as a playard, but also as a co-sleeping bed. The zipper-style entrance and exit design on the side makes it easier for babies to enter and exit.

This baby crib is stable enough for babies from 0-36 months old, and up to 110lbs. 

 

#8:  Pamo Babe Portable Nursery Center

$84.99

This baby travel cot combines a bassinet bed, diaper table, cute toys and activity center. The diaper table helps parents easily change diapers without arduously bending their backs. The bassinet bed has a comfortable mattress that delivers a soft touch for the baby. The basic playpen can be used as an activity center that  allows your baby to freely stand and play. For utmost convenience, the baby travel cot does not require extensive setup and can be stored away or reassembled in mere minutes. Just snap the bassinet’s frame in place and the crib is ready for use. Both diaper table and bassinet bed can be easily removed from the baby playard and stored separately. Can be used for infants and toddler 0-36 months and up to 33lbs.

 

#9: Baby Trend Retreat Nursery Center

$153.00

The Baby Trend Retreat Nursery Center features a removable rock-a-bye bassinet with a canopy and carry handle, plush fabric and mesh sides for proper ventilation, and 2 toys. The playard includes a removable full bassinet, changing table, and a deluxe parent organizer. Easy one-hand locking mechanism makes the playard stable and allows it to be moved from place to place easily with it’s large wheels and secured with brakes. Also included is a convenient travel/storage tote bag. Your baby will enjoy the electronic music center with volume control, nightlight, and vibration which includes two styles of music and nature sounds. The bassinet and changing table can hold up to 15lbs, and the playard up to 30lbs.

 

#10:  Baby Trend E Nursery Center, to Rising Star

$94.99

Your little one will enjoy the world from the comfort of the Trend-E Nursery Center in Toucan n Friends from Baby Trend. The full-size bassinet provides a secure and comfy environment for your infant to rest and recharge. Keep essentials close in the mesh parent organizer and remove it when not in use. As your baby grows, the nursery center becomes the ideal play time center and the large wheels with brakes provide added mobility and stability. The nursery center folds compact and easily fits into the included travel/storage bag for convenient portability. The playard can hold up to 30lbs and the bassinet up to 15lbs.