12 Modern Mama Favorites and the *Amazing* NOOK Cloud Crib Mattress!

One of my favorite things about being pregnant was finding (and stockpiling) all of the unique and special baby items that I anticipated adoring with our new babies. Some things I bought were total 10’s while others missed the mark, weren’t used, or just plain didn’t work for our family. When NOOK’s new Cloud Sleeper Crib Mattress arrived at our door (a Target exclusive) I’ll have to admit I was a sceptic. Would it be just another product stashed as mediocre or useless? Or would it really provide a better night sleep for our -just recently- not sleeping 18 month old?

After a solid two weeks of using the mattress, I have to say I am fairly impressed.  Call it coincidence or call it genius, Gracie has slept through the night with her new mattress set comfortably in place, beneath our favorite gray chevron top sheet. While half of me wants to question how a mattress could possibly change the quality of my baby’s sleep, the other half of me is shouting OF COURSE a better mattress increases the quality of my baby’s sleep!  I’m assuming if you are reading this post, you have slept at least once on a mattress that ISN’T comfortable and definitely does nothing for quality sleep. Why is the same not recognized as true for infants?

So we are talking about superior comfort.  NOOK Sleep Systems Cloud Sleeper Crib Mattress is made sans metal coils and artificial materials. Eco friendly to the core (really!) and soft to the touch. No squeaking, no crinkling. Soft but firm support.

Now let’s talk about those clouds.  The Cloud offers a unique benefit by providing more breathing room for air to move around your baby.  More oxygen = better sleep. Did you know more oxygen also decreases the risk for babies to die from SIDS? You can find some info on that here. But really, Grace doesn’t wake up sweaty anymore which is proof that there is more air moving around and beneath her as she sleeps.

The other thing I love about the NOOK Cloud is that the mattress pad is water repellant (liquids bead on the surface) (vs. absorbent like our old one) and the cover is completely machine washable a.k.a. super easy to maintain.

If you are looking to upgrade your standard crib mattress in hopes of better sleep for your littlest loves, definitely add the Cloud to your list. Or add it to your Target registry. It’s amazing!

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And speaking of lists, I’m so excited to share some of our favorite baby things with all of you!  I LOVE everything on this list weather it’s a silly toy, a fun book, a stylish diaper bag, or a cool Mom find and I KNOW you will love everything too.

And p.s. – we are a little giraffe obsessed 😉

 Love this list? PIN IT to remember them all for your next baby, or next new baby gift 😉

1. Of course, the Nook Sleep Systems Cloud Sleeper Baby Crib Mattress,  sold exclusively for Target (online).

2. Two of my favorite baby “toys” : The If I Were A {Giraffe} series of texture rich board books by Anne Wilkinson and Jellycat stuffed animals. Hands down my absolute favorite stuffed animal brand. And that book is Gracie’s FAVORITE. She loves every page.

A few of my favorite Jellycat friends.

3. Overnight Bamboobies Nursing Pads These are an absolute must for new Mom’s who are nursing. I hated waking up wet in the morning (or anytime in the middle of the night for that matter- joy’s of nursing!) but these helped tremendously. The fact that they are washable means they are super soft and so absorbent without any of the crinkly uncomfortableness that comes from the disposable version.

4. An heirloom crib quilt from my shop, The Sweeter Side Mom, on etsy. These can be custom made in any palette or design. My favorite version is designed with organic flannel “batting” making each quilt cozy, soft and suitable for all seasons.

5. The Skip Hop Duo Diaper Bag in Luxe French Stripe. I have no words. It’s phenomenal. I use it right now as my camera bag but it’s a fabulous diaper bag- perfect pockets, amazing style and practical design. The quality is so good and after dragging this thing around for months it still looks brand new. Love the two carry handles for convenience but the large, adjustable shoulder strap is great too.

6. A Nova Naturals amber teething necklace. These are just too cute for words. Soft and individually knotted, they claim to ease infant teething pain when warmed through contact with skin.  I’m hoping this necklace helps soothe some of my daughters teething pain when she wears it. But even if it doesn’t, Grace LOVES having it on and it looks adorable! So I’m good with that 😉

7. Amanda, from Baby Moccs on Etsy, is my favorite infant moccasin maker to date. Not only are her little shoes completely swoon-worthy, but her color palettes are to die for. Brights mixed with neutrals, fun metallic golds and silver, and of course the basics. The quality of the stitching is superb and come on- the tiny shoes are just the cutest things you’ve ever seen! These might be my top shower gift from now on. So unique.

Some of my favorite colors from the Baby Mocc Shop

8. If you have a paci baby, you know how hard it can be to find and retrieve pacifiers that fall in the car, get lost in the black hole that exists behind a crib, or even how hard it can be to constantly slip a well-loved paci back into the mouth of a sleeping baby. The little animals that are attached to each Wubba Nub make the pacifier much less likely to fall behind tiny spaces, and much easier for baby to hold and grasp. Plus, with the adorable little animal resting gently on baby, the pacifier doesn’t fall out of babies mouth even if she takes a break from sucking for a minute or ten. We are currently in the throws of not being able to find our last remaining giraffe wubba nub (lost one on our cruise!) and we’re dyin’ over here.

9. A giant Melissa and Doug stuffed animal. Is there anything that makes a nursery more magical than an oversized/life size stuffed animal?! Plus, if you have Uncles vying for the title “favorite” this is an awesome suggestion 😉

10. Squeaker bath toys from Elegant Baby. Dab a little clear nail polish on the squirt holes and you’ve got a moisture free toy your kids will love. The soft rubber is squishable, chewable, and playable- my kids have loved all versions of these for years.

11. Sophie. Loved by all. I don’t think she needs an introduction.

12. And last but not least, a fabulous floor pouf- my favorite all come from The Land of Nod. So many fun styles to chose from, these are a great place for older siblings to sit, babies to be changed or set down for a moment or Mom to prop her feet up while rocking, feeding or nursing. Of course they look really great too.

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