Clubfoot Baby Essentials

     
                                         
       
I've been wanting to do a post about the things I needed with Josiah that I didn't necessarily need with my other boys, being as Josiah is a  Clubfoot baby. 

-I've mentioned before that Baby Leggings are a must for all babies. They make diaper changing easier, protect baby's knees when crawling, and are just so dang cute! In Josiah's case they also cover the casts so they don't get too dirty, protect them from getting wet when bathing him and avoid everyone giving me the weird looks because my kid has casts. Don't get me wrong I don't care what people think, but I really don't feel like explaining the situation or what clubfoot is to everyone! When he hasn't worn the baby leggings and we are out people say, "What a cute baby! OH MY GOSH, how did he break his legs!!" It gets old. So if you're having a clubfoot baby and don't want to sound like a broken record, I'd suggest buying these. I have about 10 pairs and I love them!

-I absolutely love Carter's Bodysuits, yes you can buy any other bodysuits, but the fabric on these is my favorite and they have the cutest prints! Since clubfoot babies are in casts all the time for about 2 months, bodysuits are the easiest thing to put on, pick out and throw in the diaper bag in a hurry. Technically they can wear pants the next size up, but that was too much work maneuvering around the casts to change diapers. So bodysuits and baby leggings are my go to outfit.

-It was hot here this summer so Josiah didn't need more than the bodysuit, but on nights when it was cold I used the One-Piece Jumpsuits without the footies to keep Josiah warm. Most footy pj's won't work because the casts are too thick and the footie is so thin, but the jumpsuits normally can snap over the casts with no problem. 

-Aden + Anais Classic Swaddle Blankets are seriously the best swaddle blankets ever made! For my other boys I did not have these and once they were about 2 months I could no longer wrap them up because the boys got too big. Aden + Anais are very large so even though I don't swaddle Josiah anymore I can still wrap him up if needed, and because his casts are a bit bulky I need a big swaddle blankie. I can also use it as a play mat, a breastfeeding cover, a car seat cover, a burp rag -seriously these blankets are so useful. Last night Josiah had a fever, he's been teething, so I stripped him naked so he could cool off. I  wrapped him in one of these to sleep in and came back to check on him. His body was warm, but his temp had gone down. So the blanket can give a tight snuggle without overheating your baby! The fabric is awesome. 

-The Summer Deluxe Baby Bather is a must with all clubfoot babies. I can't submerge Josiah's body in water because of his casts, so this bather is useful as a supportive chair that can get wet. I get Josiah naked and sit him in it on top of the bathroom sink. I scrub his body with a washcloth and then rinse the washcloth and give him a scrub to take off the soap.This method is useful for bathing because his casts stay dry. The back of the chair is mesh so its soft on his back. Mine is older so it doesn't have the added pillow, but that is a nice feature.

-I wish I had done baby wearing with Abram and Eli, it has been such a Godsend with Josiah. He got so fussy after casting days that he just wanted to be held. Clearly I can't hold him all day, I have 2 other kids to tend to. The Solly Baby Wrap is the best for a clubfoot newbie because you can keep the baby closely attached to you safely and securely, you don't need any added inserts like most baby carriers need when they are newborns. Plus with the casts, inserts and carriers are almost impossible to use. The fabric is lightweight so even though it's been hot around here I cant still wear him without feeling hot and sweaty. We both love it!

-Once the baby is bigger its easier to use a carrier if preferred. I have used the Ergo and it is a great, but once Josiah goes into his special shoes (boots and bar) the Ergo's base is too wide. I recently ordered the Beco Gemini and I love it, this site has it the cheapest. The Beco has snaps on the base where you can adjust the width so that once he goes into the Boots and Bar it will be comfortable for him and easy for me.

-As I mentioned above, Josiah used to get really fussy on casting days. The Dr. recommended us to use Baby Tylenol on those days for the pain and discomfort. Also on his surgery day he was taking this for the pain for about 2 days. 

-None of my boys ever used a pacifier, they really didn't like them. However during castings Josiah would cry a lot and the Dr would always ask if we had a pacifier to give him. Sometimes he would take this pacifier, if he was in the mood to soothe during those awful casting sessions.

-Finally, clubfoot babies need lots of love and cuddles! They go through so many changes at such a young age -castings, surgery, shoe adjustments, and all these are discomforting for their little body. Josiah cried a lot through all these changes and it took a lot of patience, love, hugs, and kisses as reassurance from Momma that he'll be okay. 

I hope this is useful information for any clubfoot parents. If you are a been there done that clubfoot parent, what items would you recommend? Thanks for reading, have a great weekend!