Used, Not Just Bought

The next experience that stands out for me is when we travelled to Ernakulam for a job interview. This was for my wife, and we decided to take our son along with us. He was close to one year old at the time. There were quite a few challenges to manage. He was not used to travelling much, and travelling by plane was something we knew would be a big challenge. Still, we felt we should try. We prepared ourselves as much as we could. We packed all the essentials he would need, from diapers to extra towels. We carried wipes as well, knowing they would come in handy during emergencies. Fortunately, airports had breastfeeding areas, which made things much easier. He was able to feed properly, and that helped keep him calm. Our biggest concern was the flight. We were worried about how he would react during takeoff and landing. To our surprise, he appeared completely fine. Even during the flight, which was barely forty minutes, he was calm and composed. Honestly, we felt quite lucky. Illust...

The 28th day after our son was born is considered important where we come from. As per our culture, a function is usually held on that day. The baby is adorned with bangles and ornaments, and relatives and guests who attend bring their gifts, most of them gold ornaments. This is also the day when a small gold chain is tied around the baby’s waist. It is considered symbolic and important. The baby’s name is also formally called out on this day. Until then, the name mostly exists within the family, but this is when it is said aloud as part of the ritual. There is also another part to this function. During the ceremony, people present, starting with the father or grandfather, give the child a sip of milk. It is usually diluted. This is something that has been happening here for a very long time. Everyone accepts it as normal. The problem is that very often, after this function, babies end up with loose stools. Sometimes it is mild, sometimes it is not. In many cases, it is nothing but foo...

When our child was an infant, we realised very quickly that buying decisions mattered less than we thought. What changed over time was not the number of products we used, but how we decided what was actually necessary. In the early days, it is easy to feel that every problem needs a product. Crying, sleep, skin care, comfort, hygiene, there seems to be something available for everything. We live in a time where there are far too many choices. For every small issue, there are multiple products, suggestions, and strong opinions coming from all directions. With time, we learned to slow down, and that turned out to be very important. We began to think differently before buying anything new. This post is about how that thinking changed for us and how it helped us during the infant stage. We stopped buying in advance In the beginning, we bought things in anticipation. It felt like the responsible thing to do. After all, this was our first child, and we did not want to be caught unprepared. R...

In the first few weeks, you’re constantly trying to stay one step ahead. There is this desire to overdo things... especially if it is your first child. You want to be prepared for every possible situation, and that often leads to buying more than you actually need. That was also true for us. Initially, we selected a number of items, thinking they would be useful. As time passed and we settled into a routine, we realised that some of them were barely being used. Not because they were bad products, but because they did not really fit into our day-to-day life with a newborn. This post is about what we slowly stopped buying after the first month, and why. Illustration simplifying newborn care over time Too many newborn clothes Like most parents, we bought many newborn clothes. We had so many of them. We tried all kinds of shapes. But in reality, we kept using the same few comfortable clothes again and again. Newborns grow quickly, clothes need frequent washing, and comfort matters far...

Illustration of an early hospital moment Before our child was born, we bought a lot of things, thinking they were essential. Some of them were. Many were not. Like most new parents, we were excited, a little anxious, and surrounded by advice. Over time, we realised that newborn care is less about buying everything available and more about knowing what actually gets used day after day. This post is not a list of “must-haves”. It is simply an honest account of what we used during the newborn phase, what helped us, and what quietly worked without creating more confusion. Skin care: keeping it simple Soap We were very careful about what we used on our baby’s skin. We chose a soap from Sebamed , which is commonly recommended for newborns. What we liked was how mild it was. It did not dry out the skin and did not cause any irritation. We stuck to it instead of experimenting with multiple products, and that consistency mattered. Oil We used extra virgin coconut oil , which is very common...