5 Products That Got Me Through My Long and Very Cold Winter Maternity Leave
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Bringing home a new baby is one of life's greatest (albeit scariest) milestones. After the initial feelings of euphoria (or terror) start to wear off and the throng of visitors begins to dwindle, you'll be able to establish and settle into your new maternity leave routine. When my first baby was born, our routine was pleasantly simple and, because she was born in Spring, included lots of time outdoors. My twins, on the other hand, arrived just 10 days before Christmas, and oh my god — being on a Winter maternity leave was a special kind of torture.
We live in the Northeast, where frigid temperatures and icy roads are the norm for a solid three months and every flu season seems to be worse than the last. So while I didn't expect to be the kind of mom who holed up with a newborn, I wasn't taking any chances. It only took about two weeks before cabin fever hit — and it hit hard — which made it feel like the longest Winter ever. But luckily, I had the following five things to get me through my hibernation.
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Dyson Hot + Cool Tower Fan Heater
If you live in the Northeast like I do, then you know how expensive it can be to heat your home in the Winter. To combat this, we keep the heat on downstairs during the day but turn it off at night when we're all asleep upstairs. But being up at all hours with a newborn (or two) throws a wrench in whatever your normal might be. Dyson's Hot + Cool Tower Fan Heater ($280, originally $450) allowed me to keep the downstairs family room at a comfortable temperature for me and the babies without cranking the heat or jacking up my bill.
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Hamilton Beach 1.7L Illuminated Glass Cordless Kettle
When you bring home a new baby, it can seem as though your house has a revolving door. An electric tea kettle, like the Hamilton Beach 1.7L Illuminated Glass Cordless Kettle ($35), brings water to the perfect temperature in record time, so offering your guests a cup of tea or hot cocoa is anything but an inconvenience.
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Solly Baby Wrap
It didn't happen often, but we did venture out of the house on occasion. When we did, the Solly Baby Wraps ($65) were lifesavers. This thin, stretchy wrap was easy enough to put on under my coat before I left the house, and when we got to wherever we were going, my husband and I could quickly pop the babies in and go about our day out.
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Sunbeam Slumber Rest Reversible Sherpa Electric Throw
The Sunbeam Slumber Rest Reversible Sherpa Electric Throw ($75, originally $150) is perfect for those long, cold Winter days where you allow yourself to just lounge in front of the TV with your snuggly new baby. I ended up purchasing three of them — one for each room I spent a considerable amount of time in — because that's how perfect they are. Their automatic shutoff feature is great for moms who are running on little to no sleep and don't need anything else to worry about.
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8-Quart Instant Pot
One of the best things about bringing home a new baby is that almost everyone who visits brings food. I loved not having to cook for those first few weeks! But once you've made your way through a refrigerator full of casseroles, it's back to preparing your own meals. Having an Instant Pot ($120) was an absolute lifesaver! When you're constantly cleaning bottoms and bottles, the last thing you need is a sink full of pots and pans. This magical appliance ensures every dinner you make is a quick one-pot meal. The best part? You can make so many tried-and-true favorites in your handy Instant Pot!
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