Falling back into routines with Graco #extendTheTrip
A huge thanks to Graco for providing the products featured in this post. As I mentioned previously, I am part of the Generation Graco panel this year. All opinions are my own.
This month has been tough on us with the whole falling back an hour almost two weeks ago, and just growing. I don’t remember my oldest being this tough to transition, but it could be he didn’t sleep well to begin with so I was too sleep-deprived to remember. I stayed home one day the week of the time change and I had the baby most of the day, and let me tell you. The struggle is real.
Right now we’re trying to get back into routines. Routines that are kind of screwy from too many scheduled things, the time change, the time of year…and soon the holidays. Our routines are also ever-changing with a (quickly!) growing baby in the house.
We were fortunate to keep a lot of the baby equipment from our first go-round, but have been lucky enough to be gifted a few things for the baby. I can’t believe how much baby equipment has changed in just five years! A few weeks ago, I received the Graco® Oasis™ Swing with Soothe Surround™ Technology. My daughter? She’s not a traditional swing-lover. Thankfully, this is not your average swing. I can swing her side to side or front to back (depending on which direction I turn the seat) and I initially thought the bears dangling over her head would be a tad too simple, but this girl LOVES them! They are ripped off (velcro) almost immediately and then placed directly in her mouth. Thankfully they’re washable.
See the panel below her feet? That controls the vibration of the seat, as well as the sounds. I can play white noise or music for her. AND THE SEAT VIBRATES. She loves it.
If you’re a parent, then you understand the pain of keeping all sizes of batteries on hand – you don’t want to be caught empty handed when the swing batteries die! Lucky for me, this swing also runs on a plug adapter!
Lately, my daughter wants to be on the floor and closer to the cat (or her brother. Whoever is closest.) This swing detaches and can be a rocker on the floor. I don’t know how we made it so long without this set.
I also received the Graco® Pack ‘n Play® Playard Newborn Napper® Oasis with Soothe Surround™ Technology. I’m such a fan of the Pack ‘n Play. This one has the newborn napper and oh how I wish this had arrived six months earlier (or that I’d registered for it.) The downside to the napper is that I initially put it together backwards. It took a few minutes to correct my mistake.
The Pack ‘n Play has a vibration box that plugs into the bassinet or the napper. (And it’s velcroed in – away from where the baby can reach it.) The napper plugs into another box that controls the sounds and the vibration – again away from where baby can get to it. I’ve photographed my baby just so you can get a feel for what it’s like with a real baby in it. It snaps inside of the Pack ‘n Play – not just on top of it.
Our house is two levels, and I’ve gotten into a habit of taking the baby downstairs so I can workout and keep an eye on her, or I can do other things (laundry, sewing, cleaning.) It’s nice to have this in our downstairs area so she’s not getting into things she shouldn’t be messing around with.
The changing pad is so convenient, and clips onto the sides of the playard. It can hold up to 30 pounds! My baby is right in the middle of her weight range for her age, so we’ve got a good 15 pounds to go before she outgrows this! Another feature of this Pack ‘n Play that we didn’t have on our previous one is the storage compartment that easily attaches on the end of the whole unit! My baby is almost too big for the bassinet piece, but she’ll be able to use the playard for quite a while. I can also easily remove the changing pad when she’s sleeping or playing.
We have at least two trips planned before the end of the year, and the Pack ‘N Play will be traveling with us. If you’re shopping for a new mom (or even a second time mom!) I can’t recommend these two products enough! The swing itself is like two gifts in one and it will be a very sad day in our house with baby girl outgrows it.
What is your favorite piece of baby equipment? (My son slept in a baby swing for much of his first few weeks of his life – the pediatrician was on board with it, as long as he was getting some rest.)
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We used a pack-n-play for a long time, through two kids. It is a must-have for any newborn!
I will definitely keep this in mind if I have the need to get another baby shower gift. Both these items sound amazing!
I haven’t had a baby in over 5 years. When I attend baby showers I am always amazed at all the new baby products that I wished I had received.
Omg just loving the swing!!!!! My bestie is due any day now with her new baby… I need to tell her about this swing!
I am going to a baby shower in a few months. This looks like a perfect gift. I am loving your sweet baby modeling the Pack N Play! So precious!
The new innovative Graco Oasis Swing looks so cool! I remember the only Graco product when I had my son was the stroller. This looks like a great gift for new mommies for baby shower or holiday gifts. Your baby girl looks so cute.
Wow! Baby products have improved a lot. We re-used the same swing, bouncer, and pack ‘n play from when my son was little so I didn’t even look at the items again to realized how much they have changed. I finally parted with our swing & bouncer, but I have kept our old pack ‘n play for when friends/family visit. Sadly our 2 year old has outgrown it all now.
Looks like a great swing and a pack n’ play is a must! Sophie la Girafe is too :)! I like that these products are gender neutral.
I love Graco! We got a Pack ‘n play for my daughter when she was a baby. Now that she’s one, we still get a lot of use out of it.
My best friend has the swing and the pack and play and she loves them! We spent a long weekend at the beach this summer and had both at the beach house and they were great for the baby.
I love that this is not like other swings. My cousin just had her first baby and I think this would be perfect for soothing her to sleep.
My oldest slept in his swing first the week too. He had a little reflux. I had a pack-n-play for my youngest, The bassinet attachment was perfect. I placed it next to my bed, and it made those sleepless nights bearable.
What a sweet baby girl! my youngest slept in a swing for nap time so that I could get some rest too. It was a life saver!
I can’t believe how much baby technology has advanced! 😀 We relied heavily on the Pack & Play when my daughter was an infant and my husband was staying home with her while writing his thesis.