Nurturer for Life

This post is sponsored by Babyganics.

We are nearing two big milestones in our home–no more diapers, and no more crib…ever...and I have to admit, it hurts a little. Once we disassemble the crib, it will open up a whole new area for playtime and toys, but that crib? It’s been in our home for nine years, its wooden rails nicked with stories and its elaborate cherry trim scuffed with love from three babies and many nights. I’ve known our home more with the crib than without, and I can’t imagine not seeing it anymore. And the diapers? They keep me connected to the beloved baby aisles at our grocery store, although I visit them much less now that we’re in bigger sizes, out of bottles and beyond baby food. I love the baby aisles. I remember walking through them when I was barely pregnant with Lainey, the sight of pacifier packages and soft receiving blankets triggering the excitement to nurture. I was born a nurturer. I couldn’t wait to do it as my job, in my home, with my baby. And ever since then, I’ve always felt this sort of strange appreciation for baby aisles, for items in my cart that say “little ones at home.” And I know from holding friends’ hands who’ve waited too long for baby dreams that there’s some strange sort of magic there for them too–painful while waiting–but still, the simple act of buying diapers, tear-free shampoo, baby lotions, itty bitty nail clippers–it represents some deep desire to take care of someone. Those aisles whisper “swaddle and cradle, bathe and hug, sway and snuggle.”

And now? My littlest is my most independent. “Dash do it” and “no help,” he says…for everything.

(When I’m cleaning counters and bathrooms, he wants to clean too, so we set him up with toys to clean.)

Babies grow into toddlers, toddlers grow into kids, and kids…well that’s the beauty. They will always be my kids, they’ll always need my nurturing. They may not be swaddled anymore or need the safe confinement of a crib (still an arguable topic for Dash), and I may not hit the baby aisles for pacifiers and bottles, but I do still get to take care of them and, for as long as they’re in my home, choose many products for them–a process that calls for our best nurturing.

(“Dash do it.”)

And there are still many opportunities to nurture. He may not let me butter his toast without asking to help, but he still lets me rub lotion on him after his bath.

Oh, who am I kidding, he wants to do it himself then too.

Compromise. Because I know how to make the smiley faces.

While we’re nurturing the many phases of childhood–from buying diapers for the newborns to picking out laundry detergent for the third graders, Babyganics offers an entire ecosystem of cleaning and care products that create a baby/toddler/kid-safe world where babies can grow boldly and mothers can let go and let it happen. Babyganics, a company run by two dads and a team of hardworking parents, formulates all of their products starting with gentle, plant-based ingredients. All their skincare products are pediatrician and dermatologist tested and don’t use unsafe additives like cortisone, parabens, sulfates, phthalates, synthetic fragrances or dyes.

We love their Lavender Laundry Detergent, Toy & Highchair Cleaner and their Cold Relief Chest Rub stick (I use it too!).

And I especially love any opportunity to hit the baby aisles, long after the crib and diapers are gone.

Nurturer for life.