Tiny Human Print Co. Blog

Pregnancy loss is complex, and it can be incredibly isolating, even though 1 in 4 pregnancies ends in miscarriage. Hopefully, with continued awareness efforts, we as a society can help end the silence surrounding pregnancy and infant loss and bring support to those who have been through it. 

How can you support someone who has experienced a loss?

• Give them some space to grieve. Some couples do not feel comfortable sharing their experience right away and need time to process and regain their strength. 
• Send flowers or bring food. Showing you care without invading their privacy and lending a helping hand is helpful.
• If some time has passed, then you can check-in. Many people are unable to speak about their loss in the beginning but do not want their child to be forgotten. These precious babies are still a significant part of them and their families.
• Let them know you are there for them and are a safe place to talk about these issues. 

Phases to avoid saying to those who have experienced a loss:

• Avoid 'if it was meant to be' speak or that 'it happened for a reason'.
• Do not dismiss their child or their experience.
• Do not tell them how to feel.
• Do not tell them 'You can have another child'.
• Do not tell them to be strong. They are already strong. 

What resources are available to those of you who have had a loss?

• Star Legacy Foundation is an excellent resource that provides family support materials and companion services to bereaved families. Their mission is to increase awareness, support research, promote education, and encourage advocacy and family support regarding stillbirth, pregnancy loss, and neonatal death.
• Another way to get support is to find a local loss support group.
• Find an individual grief therapist to help your family cope with loss. 
• Create a ritual that helps you remember and honor your child.
• Reaching out to loved ones or people you trust to help support you through this time. 

Through support and awareness, there is hope to change the way pregnancy and infant loss is viewed. Here at Tiny Human Print Co., we want to highlight we are an ally for all mothers and caretakers. 

You had your baby, congratulations! You took the birthing classes and read the pregnancy books, but now you wonder if you know anything about your actual baby?! No worries, we can help you with that because we have been there as well! Now let's break it down for you into a few categories to make it easier to reference.

• Clothes For Sleeping 
• Clothes For Outings
• Essentials 
• Clothing Pitfalls 
• Always Check With Your Pediatrician  

Clothes For Sleeping 

Sleep for a newborn is essential! (If not just to give mom or the caretaker time to sleep as well.) Setting the right tone for your newborn to sleep is vital. Making sure your newborn has the proper attire for sleep can go a long way in helping them get comfortable and be safe.

As far as materials go, try to stick with soft cotton and natural materials since baby skin is very sensitive. Always check for rough tags and scratchy fabrics as well. Since your newborn is unable to complain about these issues, it is best to eliminate them beforehand. Keep in mind no strings or ties and nothing on or around your baby's head. Try for fitted clothing which will keep your baby safe and warm. Shoot to keep the nursery or area your baby is sleeping between 68 - 72 degrees and dress in one to two layers. Keeping your newborn warm but not hot is what we are aiming for overall. Make sure to focus on function over style - unless you can do both! Having clothing that is easy to access is essential for the midnight feeds and diaper changes. Personally, I would rule out buttons if possible! 

Clothes For Outings 

Now for the fun and functional section of your baby's wardrobe. If you take your baby out, try to dress them as you would yourself, plus one layer. I like to keep an extra blanket in my bag, or even a muslin swaddle blanket just in case the weather changes or we are in the shade. Bring a washcloth in your bag for feedings and a nursing cover if that makes you more comfortable. Functional clothing can be cute! Just make sure to always pack an extra outfit (or two) in your bag for the inevitable blowout.

Essentials 

Baby clothes that are essential for every nursery are bodysuits, onesies, and layers. Bodysuits and onesies are pretty much the same: a base layer with buttons on the bottom near the diaper. These are perfect for easy diaper changes, and most of them have flip-down shoulders, so you don't have to move a soiled onesie over the baby's head (genius!). These items come in every color, and you really can't have enough of them. Bodysuits and onesies make for great gifts for any expecting mom as well since babies grow out of them so quickly. 

Clothing Pitfalls 

We will all go through trying to yank a shirt over a baby's head that just won't fit or pull down a onesie just to realize it no longer snaps together because of your baby's recent growth spurt. As long as we check for loose threads, keep our baby at a reasonable temperature, don't put them in the car seat with their coats on, and generally keep an eye out for other mishaps, it will all work out in the end. The newborn phase does not last very long and neither do the baby clothes! 

Always Check With Your Pediatrician 

Always check with your pediatrician for guidance on your own baby's temperature and safety regarding sleep. Everything we mentioned in this post is the information we have gathered through our time as mothers, not as advice from a medical professional. Keep in mind the guidelines can change from time to time.  

Mothering isn't intended to be a one-person job, and we are happy to be a part of your community. Please reach out to us and let us know what topics you would like to have discussed here! We love to hear from you all and make sure to check back for more information coming soon. 

It's time to set up your nursery! Step one in setting up your nursery is to take a deep breath. Everything about becoming a new mother can add up and make this time feel stressful. After collecting your thoughts and taking your deep breath, it is time to start with the nursery!

You can start simple with a color palette and general theme. A popular nursery trend right now is neutral colors, rainbows, and forest or woodland décor. Some nursery themes from our collection that we adore are:

Forest Adventures
Little Feminist
ABC's 123's
Kindness Collection

Next, we need items for the baby. These items might come from your registry or a fun shopping endeavor. Nursery items such as a crib, sound machine, night light, changing table, diaper caddy, rocking chair or recliner, and so on will depend on the space you have as well as your preferences. In our nursery, we added an air filter and humidifier because our house was 100 years old. Keep in mind each space will require different items.

Then comes items for the caretaker. If you are a breastfeeding mother, you might need a nightlight and a place to feed. In our nursery, we used the Hatch sound machine that has nightlight features and a family heirloom rocking chair for feeding. A portable caddy for diapers, wipes, extra pacifiers, teethers, nursing pads, snacks for momma is also a great help for a breastfeeding mother. If you are bottle-feeding, the caddy comes in handy for extra bottle storage as well as the diapering and comforting essentials.

Lastly, keep in mind you can always make changes to your nursery after the baby comes! Have fun with the process of decorating your little one's space, and make sure to have it feel comfortable and cozy for the caretaker as well.

The overwhelming amount of things that babies come with can surely put you in a head spin! Below are a few tips that helped me prepare for my two nurseries.