Nesting with Intention: A Gear Resource Guide for Year One : simplebooklet.com

QUICKNOTEB E F O R E W E G O O N . . .I tried to make the suggestions in this guide broad enough toaccommodate hand-me-downs, Craiglsist scores, and resale shop findswhile still specific enough to give helpful, practical guidance based onpersonal anecdote (things I used or wish I used) and my professionalunderstanding of infant development. They are all earnest suggestionsand I don't make money on any of the links with the notable exceptionsof the RAD Furniture links and the Topponcino Company links whichare absolutely earnest recommendations but I want to be clear that I doget a small commission from sales from those links :) I also recentlycurated a list of books on Bookshop.org (a site that allows you to buyonline while also supporting small, local bookstores). If you'd like tosupport my work, peruse and purchase here. Please consider using Nextdoor, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist,local kid resale shops, Goodwill, etc. to find gently used items. Ofcourse we want what's best for our child, but that doesn't have to meanNEW. SO much of our family's gear (crib, stroller, baby wrap, clothdiapers, clothes, etc.) came used -- it was a nice way for me to connectwith other parents, spend time nesting through collecting, and also notfeel like I was contributing to the commercial rat race of the ParentingIndustrial Complex.

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N E S T I N G W I T H I N T E N T I O N |  4NICE TOMEET YOUB y C o u r t n e y D e r no f B e e c h S t r e e t P a r e n t i n gH E L L O F R O M C O U R T N E YHi! I’m Courtney and I've been inthe field of early childhoodeducation for over a decade as astudent, classroom teacher, andinstructional coach. I earned a bachelor’s degree inpsychology, a Master’s degree ineducation, and most recently agraduate certificate in Infant andToddler Mental Health.Babies rock. For me, learningand teaching about babies isintellectually interesting andphilosophically stimulating. In addition to professionalexperience, I have personalexperience: I'm a mom! At thetime of writing this, my son isthree and a half and my daughteris nine months old. I know, first hand, that being aparent is hard, humbling, andHUGELY important work.I started Beech Street Parentingwith the ambitious goal of helpingradically reframe infants andtoddlers for expectant parents,families, caregivers, and society atlarge. Beech Street parenting is RIE-inspired, research-minded, andbased in kindness. My goal is to help adults see youngchildren as people who deserverespect from day one. "Respect" can carry a somewhatempty connotation. Beech StreetParenting helps break downspecific, actionable mindsets andmoves caregivers can make toensure intentional, attuned care fortheir children. Confident parents,peaceful babies, ya know?Learn more atBeechStreetParenting.comB e e c hS t r e e tP a r e n t i n g

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N E S T I N G W I T H I N T E N T I O N | 6ABOUTTHE GUIDEB y C o u r t n e y D e r no f B e e c h S t r e e t P a r e n t i n gA L I T T L E B I TOne of the biggest complementsI've ever received was on the daymy first child was born. One of thenurses casually asked how manychildren I had at home, thenseemed genuinely surprised whenI said he was my first. "Wow,you're so calm," she said. I tell that story not to toot my ownhorn but to illustrate the power ofpreparedness. I was lucky enoughto feel prepared because I waslucky enough to work withamazing infant educators whotaught me about the RIE approachand helped me learn about howtruly amazing babies are. I had thegreat honor of commuting with andbefriending one of them (thankyou, forever, Tanya). This is all to say, preparing forparenthood should involve morethan acquiring the right gear.That's why I'm now in the businessof teaching parenting preparationclasses. I feel wildly passionateabout passing on the helpfulinformation I've learned as a momand educator. I fully believe in the concept of peopleover products when it comes toparenting. There is no "silver bullet."There is no "if you buy this, yourbaby will sleep through the night"(and don't let advertisers tell youotherwise). Parenting is hard,ongoing work and I believe we shouldapproach it with radical acceptance. That said, there's also a lot of stuffthat babies require. Here's whatworked for us, or things I wish wewould have used.This guide is designed to help youthink through what you might need asyou wrap your head around having ababy in your life.I leave the style and specifics up toyou (because that part is fun andeveryone has their own tastes) but tryto explain the why behind the itemsso you can decide whether it makessense to acquire, based on yourlifestyle. Happy nesting!

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DIPES & WIPESS o m e m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n t o h e l p y o u m a k e y o u r c h o i c e sT H E I N T E N T I O N P I E C EDiaper changes are in desperate need of a radicalreframing. Repeat after me: diaper changes are notan unpleasant chore to be rushed through, they arean intimate time to connect to your child.Your child's diaper will be changed between 3,000 -7,000 times during their life. The messages wesend during diaper changes add up. Here are some messages worth sending: this is asign your body is healthy. This is time we spendtogether. I'm happy to help you. I'll involve you andinvite your participation. 4. Changing pad sheets. I recommend getting two,just make sure they fit the dimensions of whateverchanging pad you decide on. 5. Changing pad liners. Babies have the tendency topee and poop when their little booties are exposed toair. That means they will likely pee and poop on thechanging table at some point. Be prepared with abundle of these changing pad liners so you can keepyour cool and don't have to switch the sheet each time.6. Wet Bag. For soiled clothes. You can just dump itout in the machine and wash the whole dang bag.Breast and formula poop is water soluble. 6. Pre-fold or "trifold" diaper inserts. I recommend abundle of these even if you're not using cloth diapers.We usually stack two under our child's bottom, so that ifthey poop during a diaper change you can whisk awaythat one. Also helpful to put one on top of the peniswhile the diaper is off (the pee will soak that, not you). 7. Wipes. We never used a wipe warmer. Instead, wealerted our children to the sensation: “this is going tofeel cold -- here, I’ll put it on your hand first so you canfeel it.” 9. Bed risers. Big maybe here. If you have a changingtable that is too low for you (or your partner) these bedrisers are an easy way to make it more comfortable. Ijust wanted to include them in case you're in the samesituation as us. Take care of your own body, too :) 10. Changing table or non-slip mat. People usuallyseem to either buy a changing table or use a dresserwith a non-slip mat to prevent slipping. If you go with achanging table and it works for your room, the cornerchanging table is nice because you get to look at yourinfant head on. 1. Diapers. Every disposable diaper that has everexisted still exists. That's a sobering reality. We use acombination of disposable and cloth in our house.Disposable diapers are super absorbent, which isgreat, especially at night. Cloth diapers allow childrento feel the sensation of their pee because their diaperbecomes wet (as opposed to the wicking aspect of adisposable). If you go with disposable, baby sizes aresomewhat difficult to predict, so don't sign up for anauto-delivery at the beginning. Have a small box ofnewborn (N) size as well as a box of size 1 ready to gowhen baby arrives. Avoid diapers with fragrance(which can contain a whole host of bad chemicals). 2. Diaper cream. As the American PediatricAssociation's Healthy Children's website states, "Zincoxide and petrolatum are both good choices, andfragrance-free products are best." Start with one tube.3. Changing pad. I am a BIG believer in conductingdiaper changes with "ceremonious slowness," so I'man advocate for a comfortable pad that avoids asmany neurotoxins as possible. N E S T I N G W I T H I N T E N T I O N | 9

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6. *Swaddle blankets. LOTS of caveats toswaddling (IF you use them, please do it correctlyand sparingly when they are itty bitty and pleasedon't bind them when they tell you they are over it).Mostly we use these blankets to cover the car seatwhen we are out and about to help the baby snooze,protect from sun, or as a quick blanket to put on theground to play. We have about five in rotation. 7. Zipper PJs It's nice to keep it simple at night,zippers tend to cause less adult frustration thansnaps, so zippers might help keep you, and thereforeyour baby, calm. 9. Sleep sacks. Sleep sacks provide more freedomof movement than a swaddle blanket in those earlymonths and are safe after they roll (though I wouldn'tkeep sizing up after it's safe for them to have ablanket). 10. The Happy Sleeper by Heather Turgeon &Baby Ecology by Anya Dunham. Read thes!There's so much to say about sleep and this isabsolutely my number one recommendation.Whatever route you choose, do it with confidenceand conviction. Don't follow polarizing Instagramaccounts, just read long-format information thatresonates with you and is based in research. 11. Crib sheets. We have two (though I wish we had three). 12. PS! A "Lovey" AKA an infant-safe "transitional object" that stays in their crib. SNOOZEVILLES l e e p i s d e e p l y p e r s o n a l a n d u n i v e r s a l l y i m p o r t a n tT H E I N T E N T I O N P I E C E1. Crib or Floor Bed. Most people think cribs are anessential piece of baby gear, but the Montessorimethod actually advocates for a "floor bed" when theinfant is ready to move out of their bassinet. RIErecommends a traditional crib. The choice is yours,but it is a choice! We've done both it both ways.2. Mattress. I recommend a mattress without flameretardants which are neurotoxins and harmful togrowing brains. A crib size mattress (or possibly twinif you're going the floor bed route) is a great registryitem that you could even crowd-fund. 3. Portable Sleeper. In the early days, it's nice tohave a safe, flat surface for your infant to rest whileyou're out and about or outside in the yard. 4. Bedside Bassinet. The American PediatricAssociation recommends "room sharing" with yourbaby early on. Having a bedside bassinet allows youto respond easily to your baby in the middle of thenight. The bassinet shown here is a Lotus TravelBassinet which might be a versatile piece of gear thatyou would use immediately and also down the roadwhile traveling. Arm's Reach is another popularbrand, though the bassinets are like mini cribs so it'sa relatively short-lived piece of gear. 5. Bassinet Sheets. I recommend two or three tightfitting bassinet sheets that fit your model. 6. Sound machine. Sound machines can helpchildren sleep by providing a sleep cue and byhelping them link up their cycles in the night. I like thesound of the mechanical sound machine better, butthis digital Hatch Smart Sound Machine could age upinto visual alarm clock for toddlers. Plus, it has a redlight feature. We used a red light in the early nightswhen I needed some light for feeding but wanted tokeep it dim and cozy to help build the day/nightassociation in the wee hours. Magda Gerber's Letter about Sleep"Helping your baby to get the sleep she needs"N E S T I N G W I T H I N T E N T I O N | 1 1

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1. Nail Scissors. I recommend packing these littleyellow Simba nail scissors in your hospital or birthcenter bag. I was nervous about the scissor shape,but please believe me they are the best. Babies areusually born with talons and people tend to cover theirlittle paws up to prevent them from shredding theirfaces, but I'm a big believer in giving infants access totheir hands. Babies use their hands to soothethemselves in utero. Sucking on their fingers is called"non-nutritive sucking" and helps calm their nervoussystems. Free the paws, I say. 2. Forehead Thermometer. Knowing whether or notyour infant has a fever when they are sick is superimportant. Get a high quality (Exergen) thermometerand plan to pack it (or an extra one) when you travel. 3. Environmental Working Group Skin DeepDatabase. This isn't something to buy, but rather adatabase to consult if you're considering buying otherbaby bath products (or diaper cream). Look up theproduct to make sure it doesn't have allergens orother harmful chemicals (a lot of them do,unfortunately). 4. Nose Frida Snot Sucker. We've used this thing alot. If/when your child becomes congested, it's nice tobe able to give them some relief before they are ableto blow their nose independently. Just make sure youexplain to them what you're doing (don't sneak up onthem). I see that Frida has an electric option now. 5. *Humidifier. Humidifiers can help when your childgets congested. Might be a wait and see sort of thing,or maybe you already have one you can use. 6. Bathtub. A small bathtub can help reduce theamount of water you use. We never had one that fit inour sink because that felt like an extra product thatwouldn't be used for that long. I'd use a used one if Igot it free, I think. The one pictured here is Stokkebrand, but I think this is a great piece of secondhandgear because brand doesn't mater much. 7. Baby Towel. Baby towels, especially those withhoods + ears are super cute, though I don't think strictlynecessary. If you're looking for things to weed out, useyour own dang towel :) 8. *Frida Flake Fixer. "Cradle cap" is common ininfancy and is often just left alone, but if your child hascradle cap that bothers them, this is a good option.9 *Sensitive Skin Soap and Lotion. Most babies don'treally need soap or lotion. If your child happens to haveeczema, this is the combination of products that ourpediatrician recommends and seems to work really wellfor us: Vanicream lotion & Cereve Baby Wash.10. Vitamin D drops. The little glass bottle takes afrustratingly long time. Ask your pediatrician for aplastic syringe option.ALIVE AND WELLT a k e a b r e a t h a n d a r m y o u r s e l f w i t h t r u s t e d i n f o r m a t i o nT H E I N T E N T I O N P I E C EBathing a Baby, Pikler StyleWatch this beautiful video to see a caregiver'sslow, attuned, connected pre-bath processE W G ' sS k i n D e e pD a t a b a s eH e a l t h y C h i l d r e n i s t h e A m e r i c a n A c a d e m y o fP e d i a t r i c s f a m i l y - f r i e n d l y w e b s i t e . D o n ' t m a k ey o u r s e l f c r a z y b y G o o g l i n g i n t h e m i d d l e o ft h e n i g h t , j u s t g o t o o n e t r u s t e d s o u r c e . N E S T I N G W I T H I N T E N T I O N | 1 3

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6. Lactation Support. PLEASE seek out a lactationconsultant ahead of time if you want to chestfeed.Nursing is hard physical and emotional work and youdefinitely want an expert on your side. Look one upnow that you can call if you need to. Many will cometo your house. Consider crowd sourcing this resource(and scope your insurance options) if it's out of reachfinancially. It's really important. 7. Reusable pads. Some people leak milk, somepeople don't. I recommend the "wait and see"approach here because these are inexpensive andyou can order them if you need, though sometimesyou might leak the first week then not after that! 8. Haakaa pump. Anecdotally, I swore by this thingbecause my boobs were engorged and it helped takethe edge off. It was nice not to have to set up theelectric pump. To be a broken record: talk to yourlactation person about what makes sense for you. 10. Milk Storage Bags. Pumping people in the knowstore fresh milk in Maytz or Lifefactory glass bottlesand freeze milk in Lansinoh bags. 11. Pump. Which pump to choose depends on whereyou'll be pumping and IF you'll be pumping. For lotsof folks, the insurance-provided, desktop clunkerworks just fine. If you have a job like my doctor palswhere you're on your feet a lot, a wearable pumplike Elvie or Willow might make sense.MILK MILK MILKF e d i s b e s t . F e d i s b e s t . F e d i s b e s t . T H E I N T E N T I O N P I E C E1. Burp cloths. Some babies spit up a lot, somedon't as much, but people love buying people burpcloths so you might as well put some on your registrythat you like. We didn't really use them with our first,but boy am I'm glad we saved them for our second :) 2. Nipple Cream. Cracked nips hurt. This nipplecream can add some measure of comfort. So cansoaking your nips in a saline solution. Talk to yourlactation consultant and take good care of yourself.3. Bottles + Nipples. Depending on if, how, andwhen you want to introduce the bottle, you may wantto buy different sized bottles and nipples. Again,consult your lactation consultant about your uniquesituation and probably don't invest in a huge amountof any one type before you meet your baby. This isan area where trying some out will be beneficial. TheAvent bottles shown here are "boob-like" and workedfor us. 4. Nursing Pillow + Two Covers. We received theBoppy for free, some folks swear by the My BreastFriend. This is a good used item because there are alot of them floating around and they are used for ashort period of time. I recommend bringing thenursing pillow to the hospital to have the lactationconsultant show you how to situate it. Newborns arefloppy and these cushions can really help. Plus, theycan double as a donut seat for sore vaginas. I don'trecommend them for propped tummy time. 5. Nursing Bras + Tanks. Total personal preference.My two cents here is that chests change a LOT inpregnancy/postpartum, so softer, more size-flexiblebras at the beginning are nice. I think wearing anursing tank under any shirt is the One True Methodbecause voila! You can pull up your shirt, keep yourbelly covered, and nurse your babe without having tobuy a bunch of specific nursing gear that you won'twear that long. "There's a Person on your Breast"Don't take the intimacy out of breastfeeding By Janet LansburyN E S T I N G W I T H I N T E N T I O N | 1 5

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5. Baby Wrap. When they are ittty bitty, babies take a lotof contact naps. It's sweet and cozy. If they are onlynapping on you, they will gradually grow accustomed tothat sleeping situation because babies are born ready tolearn. So I always suggest respecting their sleep byletting them take a few practice naps in their bassinet aswell. Still spend plenty of time snuggling them, though!Skin to skin rocks and is well-researched! 6. Portable Sound Machine. We use these little botswhile traveling. I think it's respectful because it provides alevel of familiarity in unfamiliar situations and seems tohelp my children sleep. 7. Physical Sun Protection. Because doctors don'trecommend putting sunscreen on babies until they areabout 6 months old, you'll need to make sure that youhave ample physical sun protection when you're out andabout. Don't forget about the sunglasses. 8 Running Stroller. Depending on your lifestyle, arunning stroller can be really great. Bob and Thule arethe most popular brands. You won't use this in the firstfew (maybe 6) months because you're baby won't havethe muscle control. Also consider a framed hikingbackpack (w/sun shade), if that's your thing! 9. Changing Pad. The one pictured is by Pantemm andisn't in production anymore, though you can sometimesfind them used. This "clutch" style isn't as big, but seemswell reviewed and practical. Pack it full and load it in yourbackpack or shove it under your stroller. 10. Backpack. I think you can skip the diaper bagspecific backpack (I never missed bottle holsters). Use abackpack you already have or buy one that you'll useafter your baby ages. In addition to a change of clothes ortwo for the baby, I also recommend having an extra shirtfor yourself packed in there. Plus all the diaper-changingsupplies, of course, including hand sanitizer."MUTUAL ADAPTATION"Y o u r l i f e s t y l e w i l l a b s o l u t e l y a n d n e c e s s a r i l y c h a n g e w i t h a b a b y : e m b r a c e i tT H E I N T E N T I O N P I E C E1. Travel Crib. Shown here is the Lotus Travel Crib,which would be a good option if you're buying new,especially if you want to use the bassinet attachmentfor the first few months while they are sleeping in yourroom. Just make sure you scope the dimensions toensure it will fit in your room and set it up early to let itoff-gas (if new). There are one zillion Pack N' Plays inthe world. We got two for free and use them loads. Ifyou're buying new, I'd look at this set up has a bassinetfor an infant as well as a changing station so in theearly days you'd have everything at the bedside. Thetravel cribs can double as a "yes space" in the verybeginning when they don't need a lot of space to move. 2. Car Seat + Stroller + Mirror. We use the Britax setup because it was a hand-me-down and don't have anycomplaints. It's nice to be able to click their car seatinto the stroller when they are snoozing. 3. Bassinet Attachment. I'm a big believer in givingbabies freedom of movement and the bassinetattachment allows them to be in a supine position andtherefore more able to move their limbs. Plus, it candouble as a safe place to sleep when you're out duringthe day. Not great if your kid has reflux, though. 4. Ergo 360 This recommendation comes with somecaveats. I don't love the term "baby wearing" because Idon't want babies to ever be seen as a fashionaccessory and the term feels objectifying. I think babiesshould be given more freedom of movement than theysometimes are. That said, there are some superpractical times to have a baby carrier: airports, hikes,the beach, etc. My husband and I both use the carrierwhen we're out and about, but not in the house doingchores -- that's a great time for them to be movingaround, playing in their yes space. We/they were neverin the habit napping in the carrier in the house.Snuggle, smell, kiss that baby intentionally, but theydon't have to be smooshed against you while you cook. N E S T I N G W I T H I N T E N T I O N | 1 7

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1. Soft Clothes. You'll be spending a lot of time in bedearly on, basking in the animal fluids. Avoid zipperswhich can hurt their skin, be bear chested tons. 2. Depends. You'll likely get some from the hospital, butmay still need some disposable underwear. Dependsare soft. Some people put flannel in their undies whenthe flow gets light (or use nontoxic period undies). 3. Maxi period pads. Again, you'll get some from thehospital or birth center (ask if you don't) but you'll likelyneed a larger supply. 4. Witch hazel pads. These are little "medicatedcooling pads" that help with hemorrhoidal relief/irritationfrom stitches or tears. 5.Water bottle. Nursing and postpartum healing isthirsty work. 6. Stool softener + pain meds. The hospital hookedme up, but I bought my own when I gave birth at a birthcenter. 7. Book of short stories or essays. Babies are a realtime warp (the time you have "to yourself" is very smallat the beginning) and you'll likely be spending a lot oftime in bed in the early weeks. Rather than picking upyour phone to scroll, it's nice to have a wholesome bookon hand. Might I recommend Ross Gay's Book ofDelights? 8. Compression leggings. It felt good to me to have alittle compression support around my core. Belly Bandithas a lot of options. 9. Upside-down peri bottle. You'll likely get a peribottle from wherever you give birth, but this Frida designis nice. Not necessary at all, but kind of nice? 10. Journal/Baby Book. There's a lot to process and to remember. BIRTHING A BEBET h e h e a l i n g p i e c e m i g h t n o t b e t h e r e , b u t t h e c a v e - l i k e , s l o w p a c e s h o u l ds t i l l b e f o r f a m i l i e s w h o u s e s u r r o g a c y o r a d o p t i o nT H E I N T E N T I O N P I E C ELactation ConsultantMedical AdviceEmotional SupportBefore baby arrives while you still have somebandwidth, consider lining up circles ofsupport. As in, do your homework to havenames and numbers to call, just in case:CALL O R T E X T O U R MESSAGE LINE AT 1-8 0 0 - 5 5 7 - 8 3 7 5P o s t p a r t u mH o m e w o r k : S u p p o r tt o C o n s i d e r :Meal Train for Food Delivery?Postpartum Doula?Email announcement list?Photo sharing conversation?Setting up "Visiting hours" and"Helping Hours"? (Plus Have a clearlist of things your helper could do:laundry, dishes, food prep, etc.)Scheduled C? Click HERE.N E S T I N G W I T H I N T E N T I O N | 1 9

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1. Inclusive books with real photographs. Thisbeautiful series of books, We are Little Feminists:(Hair, On-the-Go, and Families) by ArchaaShrivastav showcases many different types offamilies and bodies. Now that my toddler is re-lookingat them, they've provided opportunities to haveimportant conversations. Click the infographic forinformation about developmental conceptions ofrace:2. Song books. Singing to your baby can besoothing for both of you (or stimulating for both ofyou, depending on how you're singing -- there'sresearch). If you're not musical (like me) do yourselfa favor and buy some song books to remind yourselfto sing! 3. High-Contrast. In the beginning, babies arecaptivated by black and white. You don't need to gooverboard with black and white things (they arenaturally occurring). These are my top to high-contrast books: Hello Ocean Friends by Violet Lemay(one page simply reads, "What's going on, Crab?"and, hey, I think that's funny) and Black & White byTana Hoban. You can prop them up during floor time. 4. "Indestructibles." The tagline for these is: "Chewproof. Rip proof. Non-toxic. 100% Washable." Thewriting isn't super high quality, but you could go forsome of the simple songs. Nice that babies canhandle the crinkly, paper-like pages. 5. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown. Duh, I know. But here's why this is the ultimatebedtime book: as you read, the pages move fromlight to dark. It's sets up a peaceful familiarity. Itmirrors what a bedtime should be: a slow, predictablemarch toward sleep. 6. Slightly longer books you like. I suggest gettinga couple of board books you like, even if they arepretty long. Babies like hearing your voice andreading next to them, even if it's a story they aren'ttracking, can be nice bonding and good practice. 7. Personalized Books. Artifact Uprising is acompany that does this well, but you can also makeyour own (or just use photo albums). Children lovelooking at photos of their community and repeatedexposures to the same people will help children gainfamiliarity and comfort with their relatives and familyfriends that they don't see that often. 8. Repetitive, sing-song-y books. Games like peek-a-boo are classics for a reason: children squeal inanticipation and dig the punchline. Baby Feminists byLibby-Babbott-Klein is one of these books that myson went bananas for. He loved the "babies" refrainon each page and went through a phase where hewanted to high-five the waving Obamas. READING ROCKSR e a d i n g t o i n f a n t s l o o k s d i f f e r e n t , b u t i s s t i l l w o r t h i t !T H E I N T E N T I O N P I E C EWhen reading to babies, keep in mind the principlesof "dialogic reading." Dialogic reading is edu-speakfor "having a conversation with your child about thebook." So rather than feeling a need to finish thebook, delight in whatever your child is noticing oneach page. For an infant, that might mean lettingthem trip out about the color red on the cover ofGoodnight Moon for thirty seconds before you begin.For an older child, it might mean stopping the bookmid-way through when the picture of the bearreminds them of their teddy that they want to run andget and talk about. Point, ask questions, pause onpages. It's interactive, it's fun, and it helps establish ajoy of reading way more than pushing through tofinish a book. Use books as tools for conversation. W h a t i s d i a l o g i c r e a d i n g ?N E S T I N G W I T H I N T E N T I O N | 2 1

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6. Kitchen Play Objects. Thrift store finds! Kitchenraids! The best "toys" aren't usually toys. Look forbaskets, bowls, multiples of various sizes, shapes,and textures. Of course, always keep an eye out forsafety. 7.Teethers. Babies are oral explorers and mosteverything goes in their mouth. Plus, they cut teethduring the first year of their life and that can hurt. It'snice to offer a variety of materials for them to mouth.Choose high quality rubber, timber, plastic, andsilicone materials. PLAY TO LEARNI t ' s j o y f u l a n d o h s o i m p o r t a n tT H E I N T E N T I O N P I E C E1. Rug/Playmat/Large Blanket. Your baby needs tomove! They should have access to a clean area with afirm-ish surface. Also nice to let them lay on varioustypes of floors/rugs/carpets as they age. 2. "Tent-able" scarf. You can use a thin scarf orbandana, basically any small square of fabric that youtent upward so its easier to see in their periphery. Agreat first "play object" according to Magda Gerber. 3. Baby gate(s). I'm a pretty ardent believer in whatJanet Lansbury calls a "Yes Space" for babies to play.Paradoxically, there's a lot of freedom in a safe,enclosed space. 4. Stretchy Teether Ball by Ogo Bolli. There arevery few name brand toys I recommend for babies.This is one of them. Lots of babies love this thing. 5. Partially Deflated Beach Ball. This is a classic"RIE" toy. It's partially deflated so that babies cangrasp it more easily. I think it feels powerful to movesomething so big when you are so small :) Christina Vlinder's Toy GuideAnd "Supporting Solo Play" article from a RIE AssociatePlay is how children learn! I absolutely love watchingbabies completely immersed in play. Going throughcycles of sensitively observing your infant at play(without interrupting them) and then preparing theirenvironment is a great way to notice and delight inyour baby's current abilities and interests. I teach a whole class about uninterrupted play andnatural motor development (there's just SO much todiscuss) but I'll leave you here with these open-endedplay objects and this food-for-thought:"When you teach a child something you take awayforever his chance of discovering it for himself." - Jean PiagetP S - - B e f o r e 2 . 5 m o n t h s - is h , b a b i e s d o n ' tn e e d " t o y s . " T h e y n e e d f a c e s , l i g h t s , a ni n t e r e s t i n g e n v i r o n m e n t . G i v e t h e m t h es p a c e t o o r ga n i z e t h e i r o w n b o d i es b y n o tp u t t i n g a n y th i n g i n t h e i r h a n d u n t i l t h e yr e a c h o u t a nd g r a b i t .N E S T I N G W I T H I N T E N T I O N | 2 3

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1. Balls. Balls and other things that roll provide greatintrinsic motivation for the child to move. I recommend alot of balls of different colors, textures, sizes, andshapes. I like to put them in baskets throughout theroom.2. Boat Rocker. This boat rocker can be turned over tocreate a small set of practice stairs. It's more common inan early childcare setting than a home, but if yourbudget and space allow, it can be a fun addition to a yesspace. This one is from RAD Children's Furniture. Theirwebsite is worth a look if you want to pursue this route --lots of big movement pieces. 3. Nugget cushions. This versatile "couch' is used inour home in a lot of different ways: forts, summersaultpractice pad, bed for our dog, couch for nursing, readingnook, etc. We got ours when our first started crawling,but if you know you want one, I don't think there's areason to wait: the wedges are nice to sit against duringwhat Magda Gerber called "wants-nothing" quality timewhile you're peacefully observing your baby play. 4. 5 Gallon jug + things that fit inside This is also acommon play object in RIE classrooms. It's such a big,unlikely item and children are often attracted to moving itand putting things inside. Because it's transparent,children can see the items that fall down into it. Makesfor good heavy lifting and rolling, too! 5. Pikler Triangle. Dr. Emmi Pikler taught meeverything I know about natural motor development andI'm so grateful to her for that. This triangle is great forchildren looking to pull up and, ultimately, climb. 6.*Stepping Stones or Balance Beam. These indoor"stepping stones" mimic the uneven terrain foundoutdoors. They are fun, but probably the best (andcheapest) thing to do is get out and about and let yourchild walk all over uneven surfaces. For those caregivers who areanxious about "risky play" pleaseconsider reading this insightfularticle by Christina Vlinder, a RIEAssociate: "Don't Stress -- Just Spot: How tokeep kids safe in challengingsituations without taking over."7. Wobble Board. Wobble boards are a fun piece and,when used, can help promote vestibular development(which is the balance sense). I've seen kids really likethem when propped on a couch as a slide and they canprovide a fun challenge for wobblers. GROSS MOTORT h e b i g e q u i p m e n t c a n b e f u n b u t i s S U P E R o p t i o n a l T H E I N T E N T I O N P I E C EH o w a n d w h y t os u p p o r t " R i s k y P l a y "N E S T I N G W I T H I N T E N T I O N | 2 5

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WHAT IS A"YESSPACE?"I f t h i s s p a r k s y o u r i n t e r e s t , c h e c ko u t m y 1 0 0 + p a g e Y e s S p a c eG u i d e !S U P P O R T I N G I N D E P E N D E N T P L A YI am a big advocate for whatJanet Lansbury calls a "YesSpace." Essentially, the yesspace is a safe area in yourhome where your child can playwhile you observe them and,occasionally, independently. A yes space should be:Safe -- safety (physical andpsychological) is key tobeing able to let your childexplore and play,uninterrupted. The idea isthat you're not followingthem around saying, "no,not like that, no, that's notsafe." Rather, you take atrusting, hands-off role. Enclosed -- the enclosedspace helps your child feel,paradoxically, freed to focuson their play in their ownspace. Predictable -- children don'tneed us to be continuallycycling through new toys.Choose open-ended playobjects that your child cankeep enjoying for monthsand months and months. Theway they use them willbecome more sophisticatedand you will learn about yourchild's current abilitiesthrough sensitiveobservation.For more information, listen tothis episode of Janet Lansbury'sUnruffled Podcast, "Yes Spaces-- What they Really are and Whythey Matter."

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CH OO SE G EN DE R-NE UT RA L CL OT HE S R EM EM BE R TH AT " LE SSIS B ES T" F OR P LA Y1. C O N S I D E R T H E SEASON YOUR C H I L D I S B O RNSL EE PI NG G OW NS /S ACK SCLOTHINGC l o t h i n g i s v e r y m u c h p e r s o n a l p r e f e r e n c e , s o h e r e a r e j u s t a f e wt h o u g h t s , r a t h e r t h a n s p e c i f i c i t e m s Y o u w o n ' t n e e d n e w b o r ns n o w g e a r i f y o u r b a b y i sb o r n i n J u n e i n L AC h o o s e t h e l e a s t r e s t r i c t i v ec l o t h i n g t o e n c o u r a g e f r e e d o mo f m o v e m e n t . T h e n c l o t h e s t h e yc a n h e l p p u t o n , d o w n t h e l i n e .B a b i e s d o n ' t w e a r o n e s i z eo f c l o t h e s f o r l o n g . F i n d ac u t e l o c a l r e s a l e s h o p a n dg o n u t s o r c h e c k o u tT h r e a d U p o n l i n e . B UY U SE DI t ' s 2 0 2 2 , g e n d e r i s n o t b i n a r y .CH OO SE R ES PE CT FU LME SS AG EST h e r e a r e a l o t o f b a b y c l o t h e so u t t h e r e t h a t m a k e a d u l t sl a u g h a t t h e e x p e n s e o f t h eb a b y . R e m e m b e r y o u a r eb u i l d i n g a l i f e - l o n gr e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h i s h u m a n .OP T FO R "E TH IC AL LYPR OD UC ED " CL OT HI NGT r y t o s h o p y o u r v a l u e s a n db e i n t e n t i o n a l a b o u t w h a tw o r l d y o u w a n t t o h e l p c r e a t ef o r y o u r c h i l d . P A C Tm a n u f a c t u r e s t h e i r c l o t h e s i na F a i r T r a d e F a c t o r y .SO FT -S OL ED S HO ESB a r e f o o t , w h e n p o s s i b l e , i s b e s t ,b u t w h e n t h e y s t a r t w o b b l i n g o u ta n d a b o u t i n t h e w o r l d , c h o o s es o f t - s o l e d s h o e s .S l e e p i n g g o w n s c a np r o v i d e e a s y a c c e s s t ot h e d i a p e r a t n i g h t . S l e e ps a c k s ( w e a r a b l e b l a n k e t s )a r e a n i c e w a y t o k e e py o u r y o u n g b a b y w a r m a tn i g h t w i t h o u t u s i n g ar e s t r i c t i v e s w a d d l e . Ir e c o m m e n d y o u s t o pu s i n g a s l e e p s a c k w h e nt h e y c a n s a f e l y u s e ab l a n k e t ( t o e n c o u r a g ef r e e d o m o f m o v e m e n t ) . N E S T I N G W I T H I N T E N T I O N | 2 6

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3. Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair. I love this thing. It'sexpensive, so try to crowd fund it or find it used. Reasons Ithink it's worth it: 1) It has a foot rest which OT's recommendbecause it helps babies and toddlers feel more secure (ratherthan having their feet dangle). 2. It's designed so that if thechild pushes back from the table, the chair just slides backinstead of tipping. 3. Without a tray, you can just slide it up tothe family table, which sends the message: we're all eatingtogether. 4. It ages up so that toddlers can keep using it. 4. Baby-Led Weaning book. I recommend reading this bookwhen your child is 4 or 5 months old. 5. Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert. We had this on thetable for about six months while my children were trying newfoods and learning words -- see if you can try them all! 6. Steamer. After burning far too many vegetable spears inthe oven, we switched to steaming and it's definitely better. 7. Towels + Dust Pan. BLW is messier (at the beginning)until they develop the dexterity to avoid spilling/dropping. 8. Small metal cutlery, shot glass, creamer. All of these areavailable at Ikea. Obviously observe the glass by being withinarm's reach, but my 9 month old can handle it and I like thatshe can see the amount of water in the cup. The shot glasssize is perfect for those small paws. The creamer is so theycan practice pouring their own water, Montessori-style :)FIRST FOODS“ Y o u n g c h i l d r e n a r e r e a d y t o e a t , b u t t h e y ' r e n o t r e a d y t o d i n e ” - M a g d a G e r b e rT H E I N T E N T I O N P I E C E1. Silicone bowl mat + utensils. These siliconeplacemats help prevent the bowl from moving allaround, which allows baby to focus on the food.Eventually, they will learn how to pick it up and that'swhen you just set a calm boundary, "I'm not going tolet you pick your bowl up." The rounded edge of thebowl plate helps children pick up food without slidingit all over. I prefer plates that aren’t divided (so oftenbaby's plates subtly encourage picky eating bydiscouraging food from blending with its plate-mates).I think two bowl mats is enough, but maybe like fivespoons? 2. Silicone bibs with scoop pocket. Two feels likethe right number here. They are super easy to washout. I had a bunch of cloth bibs that folks gave us thathonestly we never used. We generally weren’t as bigon bibs as most people, preferring our children to getwet/feel the sensation. Check out the SolidStarts website forwell-researchedinformation aboutintroducing solids.Learn about chokinghazards and commonallergens and scopetheir free, "first foods"database. I believe in some rendition of the Baby-LedWeaning (BLW) approach to introducing solids.Basically, BLW advocates for offering babies largerpieces of soft foods (like a steamed sweet potato cutinto a spear) rather than spoon feeding them puree. The main reason I like BLW is that it is a clearway of letting the child decide how much they wantto eat, which gives them the autonomy to trust theirown body. We don't need to coax babies to eat "onemore bite" by zooming a food airplane into theirmouths. You decide what food to offer your baby,they decide what they eat. Trust your child to knowwhat their body needs. And, PS, that doesn't meanyou have to be dogmatic about "no purees" -- we doa mix and I even spoon feed my baby sometimes. Ithink you can do either method respectfully whenyou pay close attention and follow the child's lead. U n d e r s t a n d t h ed i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e nc h o k i n g a n d g a g g i n g :C o n s i d e r t a k i n g a nI N F A N T C P R C o u r s eN E S T I N G W I T H I N T E N T I O N | 2 9

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D I AP E R PA I L?M O N I TO R?B O T T LE D RY IN G RA CK ?P U M P IN G AC CE SS OR IE S ?MAYBE?I f y o u ' r e g o i n g t o u s eb o t t l e s a n d i f y o u d o n ' th a v e a s a n i t a r y p l a c e t od r y t h e m , s o m e t h i n gl i k e t h i s c o u l d b e c o o l .P S t h o s e p o p u l a r g r a s s -l i k e o n e s c o l l e c ts n e a k e r m o l d s o j u s tb e w a r e / c l e a n i t !A l o t d e p e n d s w h e n i t c o m e s t o am o n i t o r : h o w b i g i s y o u r s p a c e ?H o w l o u d i s y o u r k i d ? D o e s am o n i t o r a c t u a l l y b r i n g y o u m o r ea n x i e t y o r l e s s ? W h e n w i l l y o us t o p s p y i n g o n y o u r k i d ? I t h i n kt h e s e a r e a l l q u e s t i o n s t oc o n s i d e r . A s w i t h a n y o f t h i s , j u s tr e m e m b e r i t ' s a c h o i c e , n o tn e c e s s a r i l y a n e c e s s i t y . A na u d i o - o n l y m o n i t o r i s s o m e t i m e sa h a p p y m i d d l e g r o u n d .T h i s j u s t f e l t l i k e a nu n n e c e s s a r y p i e c e o fp l a s t i c t o b r i n g i n t ot h e w o r l d , b u t I ' d u s eo n e i f I f o u n d i t u s e d ,f o r f r e e ( a n d i f i t d i d n ' tr e q u i r e p r o p r i e t a r yb a g s ) . I a l s o n e v e rl o v e d t h e i d e a o fh a v i n g a t o w e r o fp o o p i n m y c h i l d r e n ' s" y e s s p a c e s " a n d h a v ej u s t b e e n i n t h e h a b i to f t a k i n g t h e i r u s e dd i a p e r s o u t o f t h e i rr o o m s . T r a v e l s i z e c o o l e r f o rs t o r i n g m i l k ? P u m p - s p e c i f i ca d a p t e r s s o y o u c a n p u m pd i r e c t l y i n t o s t o r a g e b a g s ?I n b r a c o l l e c t i o n m o d u l e s ?M i c r o w a v e s t e r i l i z a t i o nd e v i c e ? T h e s e a r e s o m et h i n g s t h a t m y f r i e n d s w h or o u t i n e l y p u m p u s e a n dl o v e .H e r e a r e s o m e t h i n g s t h a t I d o n ' t t h i n k a r e a l w a y s n e c e s s a r yb u t m i g h t b e h e l p f u l , d e p e n d i n g o n y o u r s i t u a t i o nN E S T I N G W I T H I N T E N T I O N | 3 1

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S O CK SH OE SF L E X IB LE R EG IS TR YS L EE PI NG C HA MB ERDANG!W e h a v e f i t o u r P a c k N ' P l a yi n t o a l l s o r t s o f l o c a t i o n s w h i l et r a v e l i n g ( c l o s e t s , s h o w e r s ,p a n t r i e s , e t c . ) I o n l y r e c e n t l yf o u n d o u t a b o u t t h e s e b l a c k o u tt r a v e l c r i b c o v e r s t h a t a l l o wy o u r c h i l d s o m e v i s u a lp r i v a c y / s l e e p - o n s e t -a s s o c i a t i o n s w h i l e t r a v e l i n g .T h e " S l u m b e r P o d " i s t h e f a n c y( e x p e n s i v e ) t e n t - l i k e t h i n g . W ew e n t f o r a n i n e x p e n s i v eb l a c k o u t c o v e r l i k e t h i s a n d i tw o r k s w e l l ( t h o u g h a s t a n d i n gc h i l d c a n ' t s t a n d u p a s w e l l )T h i s r e g i s t r y c a l l e d L i t t l e M o n e yH o n e y i s d e s i g n e d t o h e l p y o u c o l l e c tm o n e y r a t h e r t h a n p r o d u c t s , s o y o uc a n f o c u s o n s e r v i c e s y o u n e e d a s ag r o w i n g f a m i l y ( h i r i n g a d o u l a o r al a c t a t i o n c o n s u l t a n t , f o r e x a m p l e ) .S e e m s l i k e t h i s w o u l d b e g r e a t f o r as e c o n d c h i l d , t o o .A c h i l d i n m y p l a y g r o u p s r o c k st h e s e a n d t h e y a r e c u t e a n df u n c t i o n a l - - t h e y s e e m e a s ye n o u g h t o p u t o n a n d s u p p o r t i v ee n o u g h f o r o u t d o o r p l a y H e r e a r e s o m e t h i n g s I l e a r n e d a b o u t a f t e r m y c h i l d r e n w e r e b o r n t h a t I w i s h I k n e w a b o u tN E S T I N G W I T H I N T E N T I O N | 3 2T O PO NC IN OT h e T o p p o n c i n o i s a M o n t e s s o r i t h i n g - - i t ' s a s o f t , s o m e w h a ts t u r d y c u s h i o n d e s i g n e d t o b e a " p o i n t o f r e f e r e n c e " f o r y o u rn e w b o r n . B a s i c a l l y , y o u s l e e p w i t h i t w h i l e y o u ' r e e x p e c t i n g y o u rb a b y s o i t s m e l l s l i k e y o u . T h e n , y o u c a n u s e i t w h i l e y o u ' r e b a b y i sl i t t l e i n m a n y w a y s : t o c r a d l e y o u r b a b y w h i l e a g r a n d m a o r o l d e rs i b l i n g h o l d s y o u r c h i l d t o p r o v i d e s o m e c o n t i n u i t y a n d s e c u r i t y f o ry o u r n e w b o r n o r a s a p l a c e t o p u t t h e m o n t h e i r b a c k w h i l e t h e yp l a y o r r e s t - - t h e y g e t t o m o v e t h e i r l i m b s f r e e l y b u t a l s o h a v e t h eb e n e f i t o f s m e l l i n g t h e i r p e r s o n .

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WHAT'SNOT ONTHE LISTB y C o u r t n e y D e r no f B e e c h S t r e e t P a r e n t i n gS O M E T H I N G M I S S I N G ?There might be a few things that youhave heard about from others asbeing "life savers" that areintentionally not on this list. For example, you may have noticedthat there are no containment devices(bouncers, swings, seats, activitychairs, walkers, etc) besides a carseat and a high chair. No judgement to parents who chooseto use these containment devices, butjust remember they are a choice, not anecessity. Also please be sure to giveyour child plenty of uninterrupted andunrestricted access to organize theirbody. The "yes space" is a safe,freeing alternative to containers. I don't recommend robotic sleepdevices, toys with lights/batteries,above-bed/above-changing padmobiles, or screens before they aretwo. Pacifiers? Like most things, I thinkthere can be a respectful way to offera pacifier as well as reasons to do so(like a lactation consultant tells youthey need to practice sucking). Just remember that crying iscommunication. Aim to understandtheir needs rather than turn off thenoise.I didn't include many close-endedMontessori-type toys on this listbecause I think there is already a lot ofproduct-pushing out there in theMontessori realm. I did enjoy (and dorecommend) reading both TheMontessori Baby and The MontessoriToddler books by Simone Davies andJunnifa Uzodike if you're curious. I lovethe spirit of Montessori but am having ahard time right now with theconsumerism associated with buyingexpensive products/subscriptionservices.It's also possible that I just plain forgotsomething. Please email me at beechstreetparenting@gmail.com.How to prepare for, welcome, and raiseyour child is entirely your decision. Ihope that these guidelines providesome food-for-thought and sometangible direction in your nestingprocess. Reach out for further explanation.

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2. LEARNING TOWERART SUPPLIES1. TABLE AND STOOL JESSICA SPANYOL'SROSA OR CLIVE SERIESPUSH/PULL TOYS RIDE-ON TOYSDOLLS1 YEAR OLDC h i l d - s i z e f u r n i t u r e t oi n c r e a s e i n d e p e n d e n c e F u r n i t u r e t o h e l p t h e m r e a c h( t o h e l p i n t h e k i t c h e n / t o w a s ht h e i r o w n h a n d s , h a n g u p t h e i ro w n j a c k e t s , e t c . )SIMPLE & ALSO RICHPICTURE BOOKS F o r t h o s e p o i n t - t o - l e a r n w o r ds o a k e r - u p p e r sS w e e t , d e v e l o p m e n t a l l ya p p r o p r i a t e , a l i t t l e g e n d e r - b e n d y ,t h e s e s e r i e s o f b o o k s a r e G R E A TW a l k i n g i s a f u n n e w s k i l la r o u n d o n e y e a r . P u s h a n d p u l lt o y s c a n p r o v i d e s o m ed y n a m i s m f o r t h e n e w s k i l lP l u s h d o l l s a r e c u d d l y , p l a s t i cd o l l s a r e g r e a t f o r b a t h i n gDIRT, SAND, & WATEREXPLORATIONPOSITIVEMUSICALEXPERIENCEST h i n g s t o r i d ea n d c l i m b . S c o p et h e " m o b i l e p l a y "s p r e a d f o r m o r ei d e a s ) . T h i s i s t h eP E W I Y B i k e , f y i . An i c e f i r s t i n d o o rb i k e t h i n g .A b o v e a l l : f o l l o w y o u r o w n c h i l d ' s i n t e r e s t s . C o n t i n u e t oo f f e r o p e n - e n d e d t o y s & a m p l e t i m e f o r u n i n t e r r u p t e d p l a yM y f a v o r i t e a r t s u p p l i e s f o r y o u n g c h i l d r e ni n c l u d e : g r a p h i t e , l i q u i d w a t e r c o l o r , d o tm a r k e r s , a n d t h e s e O o l y C h u n k i e s ( w h i c ha r e b a s i c a l l y t h e m o s t b u t t e r y p a s t e l ) . H o tt i p t o t a p e d o w n t h e e d g e s o f t h e p a p e r . N o t n e c e s s a r i l y m u s i c c l a s s e s P l u s , b u c k e t s , s c o o p s , e t c .

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R E CY CL AB LE SM O RE A RT !D R ES S UPP L AY DO UG HP O TT Y CH AI RR I DE -O N TO YS2 YEARSS u n g l a s s e s , h a t s , n e c k l a c e s( t h i n g s t h e y c a n p u t o n a n dt a k e o f f b y t h e m s e l v e s )S O M AN Y BO OK S!T h e r e a r e s o m a n y g o o d o n e s !B o o k s t h a t d e - c e n t e r w h i t e n e s s ,b o o k s t h a t f e a t u r e p r o b l e m s( l i k e C u r i o u s G e o r g e ) , m o r ec o m p l i c a t e d n a r r a t i v e s ,w o r d l e s s b o o k s t o e n c o u r a g ec o n v e r s a t i o nO p e n - e n d e d b u i l d i n g m a t e r i a l sE v e r y o n e i s d i f f e r e n t , b u t f o l l o wy o u r t o d d l e r ' s d e s i r e f o ri n d e p e n d e n c eE a s y t o m a k e y o u r o w nf o r h o u r s o f o p e n -e n d e d s e n s o r y p l a yA d d t o y o u r a r t c e n t e r ! A ne a s e l , s o m e t e m p e r ap a i n t , s t i c k e r s , b e a d s ,m a r k e r s , c r a y o n s , c o l o r e dp e n c i l sT h e g e n e r i c l i s t s g e t h a r d e r a n d h a r d e r . S e n s i t i v e o b s e r v a t i o n w i l lh e l p y o u u n d e r s t a n d y o u r o w n c h i l d ' s u n i q u e i n t e r e s t s a n d a b i l i t i e sI f y o u r c h i l d i s i n t e r e s t e di n b i k i n g , b a l a n c e b i k e sr o c k . S c o o t e r s a r e o f t e n a ne a s i e r f i r s t s t e pB L OC KS /M AG NA -T IL ESI m a g i n a t i v e p l a yP U ZZ LE S T h i s " p r o g r e s s i v e "s e t f r o m M u d p u p p yh a s p u z z l e s w i t h4 , 6 , 9 & 1 2 p i e c e s .N E S T I N G W I T H I N T E N T I O N | 3 5

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M O RE I ND EP EN DE NC EM O RE A RT !M O RE M US IC !M O RE M OV EM EN T!3 YEARSM O RE B OO KS !B o o k s t h a t s p a r k c o n v e r s a t i o n a b o u ts i m i l a r i t i e s a n d d i f f e r e n c e s , e n c o u r a g et a k i n g p e r s p e c t i v e s , p r o m o t ei n c l u s i v i t y , s p e a k t o b i g f e e l i n g s , a n dc o n v e y f a c t u a l i n f o r m a t i o n . I f y o u d o n ' th a v e a l i b r a r y c a r d y e t , n o w ' s a g r e a tt i m e t o g e t o n e ! B a s i c c h a p t e r b o o k sa r e p o p u l a r a r o u n d 3 . 5 .C o n s i d e r h a n d i n g o v e r t h er e i g n s t o y o u r c h i l d - i t ' s e a s yt o f i n d a n i n e x p e n s i v eB o o m b o x / C D s a t G o o d w i l l a n dm u s i c a l i n s t r u m e n t s a r e g r e a t ! C o n s i d e r r e - w o r k i n g y o u r s p a c e t oh e l p y o u r t o d d l e r h a r n e s s t h e i r d e s i r ef o r m o r e i n d e p e n d e n c e . A w a t e rs t a t i o n t h a t t h e y c a n a c c e s s ? A m i n i -f r i d g e ( o r s p a c e i n y o u r f r i d g e ) w i t hs n a c k s t h e y c a n r e a c h ? A n a r t s t a t i o n ,s e l f - c a r e a r e a , r e a d i n g n o o k ? W h a t t o g i f t y o u r t h r e e - y e a r o l d t o t a l l y d e p e n d s o n w h a t y o u r t h r e e -y e a r o l d l i k e s ! E v e r y o n e i s d i f f e r e n t , b u t h e r e a r e s o m e i d e a s .C l i m b i n g , b i k i n g , s l i d i n g ,r u n n i n g - - t h r e e y e a r o l d sl i k e t o M O V E .E x p l i c i t l y t e a c h i n g y o u r c h i l dh o w t o c a r e f o r a r t m a t e r i a l sw i l l h e l p t h e m l a s t - t h e y g e t t od e c i d e h o w t o m a k e t h e a r tt h o u g h !M O RE P IE CE S!W e ' r e a b o a r d g a m e f a m i l y . C o u n t i n gC h i c k e n s i s a g r e a t p l a c e t o s t a r t - -i t ' s a c o o p e r a t i v e c o u n t i n g g a m e . W ea l s o l i k e p l a y i n g r e s p e c t f u l l y w i t h t h ep i e c e s o f m a n y a d u l t g a m e s ( B l o k u s ,C h e s s , T i c k e t t o R i d e , e t c . ) M O RE P AR TST h r e e y e a r o l d s a r e u s u a l l y ab i t m o r e a b l e t o h a n d l e al a r g e r q u a n t i t y o f s m a l l p a r t sa n d e n j o y p l a y i n g w i t h t i n yt h i n g s ( e g . L E G O S , r o c kc o l l e c t i o n s , d o l l h o u s e s )

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T O P P ON CI NOB A B Y G AT ESA D U L T BO OK SSIBLINGS!CH IL DR EN 'S B OO KSH e r e a r e s o m e t i t l e s t h a t I l i k e t h a t f e a t u r e : g e n d e ri d e n t i t y ( l o t s o f b o y / g i r l t a l k w i t h a n e w s i b o n t h ew a y ) , c o n v e r s a t i o n s a b o u t c o n s e n t ( h o w l o v e l y i ti s t h a t y o u r c h i l d w i l l l e a r n t o c a r e f o r s o m e o n ew h o i s p h y s i c a l l y v u l n e r a b l e ) , b o o k s a b o u tg r o w i n g u p b u t s t i l l b e i n g l o v e d ( w h a t a m e s s a g et o s e n d ! w e a l w a y s c a l l o l d e r s i b l i n g s " B I G " b u th o n e s t l y t h e y a r e s t i l l s o y o u n g ) , b o o k s a b o u ts i b l i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p s ( u s a n d d o w n s a r e s a f e t od i s c u s s ) , a n d a b o o k a b o u t t h e " b i r d s a n d t h eb e e s " b e c a u s e t a l k i n g a b o u t w h a t ' s g o i n g o n w i l lh e l p t h e c h i l d m a k e s e n s e o f w h a t ' s g o i n g o n ! G r e a t w a y t o h e l p y o u ro l d e r c h i l d h o l d y o u ry o u n g e r c h i l d . I t h e l p st h e o l d e r c h i l d t o f e e li n v o l v e d a n d c o n n e c t e da n d i t a l l o w s t h e y o u n g e rc h i l d t o f e e l s a f e a n ds e c u r e .Y o u ' l l h a v e t o t h i n k t h r o u g h y o u r s p a c ew i t h a n e w b a b y i n t h e h o u s e - - h o w c a ny o u m a k e s u r e t h e n e w b o r n i s s a f e ( f r o mt h e t o d d l e r / p e t s ) a n d a l s o h o w c a n y o uh e l p t h e t o d d l e r f e e l s a f e a n d s e c u r e( o n c e t h e b a b y s t a r t s c r a w l i n g a r o u n d ,g r a b b i n g a t t h e i r h a r d - e a r n e d L e g ot o w e r s ) . F e e l f r e e t o s e t u p a Y e s S p a c ec o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h m e f o r f u r t h e r h e l p !H e r e a r e s o m e t h i n g s t o c o n s i d e r w h e n y o u ' r e a d d i n g a n o t h e r c h i l d t o y o u r f a m i l yW o w d o m i n d s e t s m a t t e r .I r e c o m m e n d b u y i n gt h e s e b o o k s ( r a t h e r t h a nb o r r o w i n g t h e m f r o m t h el i b r a r y ) b e c a u s e I t h i n kt h e y w i l l c o n t i n u e t o b er e l e v a n t , i n d i f f e r e n tw a y s , o v e r t h e y e a r s .D O L L SS o m e t i m e s d o l l s c a n b e a h e l p f u lt o o l f o r r e d i r e c t i o n ( " I w o n ' t l e ty o u t o u c h t h e b a b y ' s e y e s , b u ty o u c a n t o u c h t h e d o l l ' s e y e s " )a n d s o m e t i m e s t h e y c a n b eh e l p f u l f o r s o m e p l a y t h e r a p y a sc h i l d r e n w o r k t h r o u g h f e e l i n g sa b o u t t h i s b i g t r a n s i t i o nC L I C K TH IS H EA RT F OR A B E A U TI FU LE S S A Y ON W EL CO MI NG A N E W B A BY

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N E S T I N G W I T H I N T E N T I O N | 3 8BUT ALSOTHEBEGINNING!T H E E N DDear Reader,My goal here is to give you more confidence, not less. Take what you want from thisguide, but also feel free to reject it (in my opinion, both will make you more confidentbecause you'll be making a considered and informed choice). I love babies and wantexpectant parents to feel empowered and confident going into parenthood. You willknow what’s best for you and your baby and your relationships and your family, sotrust your instincts (but also don’t be ashamed if you need or want help -- we all dosometimes). Please visit Beech Street Parenting for virtual classes and individual coaching support oremail me at BeechStreetParenting@gmail.com.And please know that Beech Street is a VERY small business, so please don't share thisguide with folks who haven't purchased it -- I'm earnestly trying to make this my living and Iwant to keep doing it! Thank you for understanding and helping! You are the best parent for your baby. Warmly, Courtney

Nesting with Intention: A Gear + Resource Guide for Year One

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