Now that I am pregnant again, I have found myself thinking a lot about how quickly my other kids have grown. I still remember how it was giving birth to our first child — it was one of the most unforgettable, life-changing moments of my life! Of course, giving birth to our second and third children were also unique experiences… I can’t believe I am a mama of four now!

And because I am infanticipating, I’ve been trying to “review” the basics of caring for a baby again — not that I consider myself out of “practice,” since Anne was born only a little over two years ago. 😉 Anyway, I thought I’d share a bit of what I’ve been reviewing, and what I’ve learned from almost 9 years of experience, with you all — perhaps one or some of you might find it helpful!

So, without further ado, here are 3 simple ways to provide the best care for your baby:

1. Don’t overspend but invest in quality products.

You might be surprised at this first tip, but I just thought I should emphasize this: You don’t need to spend a mountain of money to give your baby the best care. However, I do believe in investing in products that are of good quality and come recommended by fellow parents plus experts in baby care. 🙂

So, if you’re out to shop for products that will help provide the best care for your baby, be discerning and wise, and spend your money on items that are useful and a good investment for your money.

For example, I am 100% pro-breastfeeding and plan to breastfeed our fourth child — just like her siblings — because . Because of this, I would consider investing in quality products that would help me in my breastfeeding journey. For example, the Snug-A-Hug pillow:

The Snug-A-Hug is a pillow created by local mompreneur , which can be used during pregnancy (like I do now), and after pregnancy — for breastfeeding, alleviating pressure from your pelvic area post-partum, etc. It can also be used as an “everyday” pillow of course, and for post-operation situations. I was blessed to receive a Snug-A-Hug as an advanced birthday gift of sorts from Minnie and the whole family has been enjoying it immensely! 🙂

Here’s a bit more info about the Snug-A-Hug pillow (just click on the image for a larger view):

Now, I just want to clarify something before I go on… If you noticed, I emphasized the word “help” in my aforementioned statements. This is because I believe that products like the Snug-A-Hug are “tools” to help make parents’ lives easier — they are not necessities (in my humble opinion).

I just want to clarify that because I am, after all, a frugal mom too, and I believe in spending one’s money wisely — all part of the journey to being #trulyrichandblessed, even financially!

Having said that though, I do appreciate well-thought-of products like the Snug-A-Hug, because you can use it for a long time, and help make things like breastfeeding more comfortable for mom and baby. 🙂 Every member of the family can use it actually! So, if you can invest in products like it, go ahead! 🙂

2. Get the support of your “village.”

I cannot emphasize this more: I believe that “it takes a village to raise a child,” as my friends from always say, and it is so, so, SO important to get your “village” to support you as you provide the best care for your baby.

Your “village” can be composed of your spouse, other family members, officemates, friends, extended family, househelp, and experts in different fields who can give you tips and information on how to care for your child… basically, every person who also wants the best for your baby, and is committed to helping you give the best to him or her.

I am a living witness to how important having a strong, supportive “village” is — I know I am a better parent because of everyone in my “village”, yet even on the days when I fail and am a “monster mom,” I know I can still count on my “village” to pray for me and help me out; to encourage me to continue giving the best care to my kids! 🙂

3. Use products that are clinically tested to be gentle and safe for babies.

I would like to confess something right now: I am all for practices like cloth diapering, using organic products, being 100% eco-friendly, using natural remedies, etc. But I must admit that doing all of these consistently is still a challenge for me — especially the cloth diapering, being 100% eco-friendly part.

I have three kids plus one on the way, no household help, work at home fulltime, homeschool, etc. I know some moms can do the things I mentioned earlier even if their situations are similar to mine — and I applaud them (and am a bit envious, ha, ha!).

Actually, I used to feel SO guilty about not being able to do all those things consistently! Cloth diapering especially! 😛 However, a few months ago, I decided to just kick that “mommy guilt to the curb,” as MommyProofing Coach Joy Dejos would say. I didn’t want to be bogged down by guilt — and depression because of that guilt — so I told myself to just.stop.it.

As a consolation-of-sorts, I also reminded myself that what is important right now is that I do my best to give the best to the kids, given our current situation and resources. 🙂 That’s why I’m glad that there are gentle and safe products for babies and kids out there that can help make the parenting journey easier for me.

For example: Huggies Gentle Care Baby Wipes

These baby wipes are clinically tested to be safe to use on our babies’ skin, and are enriched with aloe vera and vitamin E. They’re made from natural fibers, and are alcohol, soap, and fragrance-free. You can use them not just on your baby’s diaper area, but on his/her face and hands too! 🙂

Incidentally, a pack of Huggies Gentle Care Baby Wipes (80 pieces per pack) usually retails at P160 — which makes it a relatively good buy, considering its safe, gentle-to-use features.

So, yes, we can aim for the “ideal” when it comes to practices and products, dear fellow moms, but if we aren’t able to live up to the “ideal,” don’t beat yourself up over it! Just try to look for alternative options, that are still safe and gentle enough for our babies. 🙂 (Come to think of it, what is “ideal” anyway? Who can classify something as “ideal”? We each have our own preferences and parenting styles!)

Parenting itself is a challenging journey, and so I encourage you to just do the best you can. 🙂 You know what’s best for your child, and armed with enough research and expert-backed information, plus the support and encouragement of your “village,” you can provide the best care for your baby. So, go ahead — just keep calm and mother on! 🙂

How do you provide the “best care” to your little one? Share your tips in the comments!

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*This post is brought to you by . Thank you for being a blessing to our family! 🙂

*Special thanks also go out to Minnie Jumaquio of — thank you SO much for your gift! 🙂