MOM MOMENTS: How did we live without it?

In this day and age we have so many baby/child products that help make our lives a small simpler. With many of them, once you use them you wonder how you were able to survive without them. Here are some items that fall in that category

• Plastic bottles – I know there are questions out there about the safety of plastic, which may not make it such a wonderful invention after all. I just wonder how much glass mothers finished up sweeping up back in the day. I’m sure bottles were made of heavy duty glass, not prone to break easily. Though, I have seen many a toddler with the arm of Roger Clemens launch a bottle crosswise a room.

• Foaming hand soap dispensers – It seems most kids have this aversion to hand washing. I estimate it is a drag to sit there with a bar of soap and lather up. Dispensers of antibacterial hand soap make it a small simpler, but make the dispenser one that shoots out foamy bubbles and how could a kid resist? It makes it fun to clean your hands.

• Boppy pillows – These are fantastic for numerous reasons. Any mom who has nursed a baby knows how trying and awkward it can be to find a comfortable position. Boppy pillows make it so simple. Then there’s the other wonderful use for them – helping baby sit up. Babies are so wobbly when they are first learning to sit up and the Boppy pillow makes playtime much more fun because you don’t have to hold your arms out on either side waiting to catch them when them when they tumble. It’s also fantastic for tummy time to prop them up so they can see things better.

• Adjustable pants – Whoever came up with the thought to insert supple adjusters inside the waist of children’s’ pants is a genius. Ok, it’s not rocket science, but it has eliminated the need for one of the most unlikable responsibilities of parenting – taking your kids shopping with you so you can have them try on pants.

• Car seats – Infant car seats and booster seats have prevented many, many deaths and injuries and it’s a device all parents should be grateful to have. Though, not only do they keep kids safe, but ahead of schedule car seats were meant more for confinement than safety. Our parents didn’t have car seats and might not have even had seat belts. I don’t know how they managed having a car full of kids bouncing, crawling and sliding all over and kept from pouring over a cliff in a moment of insanity.

• Pacifier holders – Ha! This eliminated the ancient game of “Let’s see how many times I can make Mom bend over and pick that up.” Also, thankfully it keeps lots of germs from making their way onto a binky.

• Baby wipes – I remember back in my ahead of schedule babysitting days, taking care of children in diapers and by washcloths to clean bottoms. I was always glad I wasn’t the one doing the laundry. Eewww … at least the diapers were disposable.

• Animated seats – Before batteries were added that would allow the seats to jiggle and lull a baby off to sleep, parents had to do the bouncing themselves. I had one of those manual ones back when my oldest was a baby. Though, it was a hands-free way to be eye to eye and interact with your baby and add a small comforting movement that could often silent a fussy one.

• Swings and slings – Both items in give comfort to a baby and give Mom a small freedom. The ahead of schedule swings had to be hand cranked and started out vigorous, slowing down as they’d go. Then thanks to the magic of batteries, they can now go for hours. I always had one that made sounds of water swishing around to imitate sounds of the womb. It always worked like a charm and he’s be out like a set alight in no time.

The slings allow baby to be close to Mom – feel her warmth and smell her scent, while allowing Mom to have her hands free. Of course it’s nice to just sit and hold your baby and delight in him, but unless you have a full–time housekeeper and nanny for the siblings, you’re going to need use of your hands from time to time.

• Cart covers – Shopping carts have always made me cringe. You’re pushing this thing along not know how many kids have sneezed on it or how many adults have picked their nose and then pushed it through the store. And naturally for a teething kid that desires something to gnaw on, that bar right at eye level seems appealing. I was so thrilled when cart covers came out, which enclose the child in a puffy fabric liner that can be machine washed. It covers the seat and handles and some versions have attachable toys to keep small ones occupied. Best. Thing. Ever.

The opinions expressed are solely the writer’s. Carrie Steinweg, the mother of five, lives in Lansing. Reach her at csteinw@yahoo.com.

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