DockATots and Starfish

There are so many things that I want for my children. Peace, happiness, love, and the freedom to sleep like a starfish. What I wouldn’t give to sleep like a starfish. Here’s the problem, I breed non-sleepers. Have you ever heard the story the Princess and the Pea? My girls may try to pick up bugs but they are both that kind of princess. I can go on a run with them in my arms, I can vacuum, hike, play Legos, dance, jump, and they will not wake up. But the MOMENT I try to lay them down, their eyes open wide and I can’t get them to go back to sleep. Putting them down is like that big red button that says “DO NOT PRESS”, and I press it anyway, and BOOM self-destruction. Until the DockATot.

The DockATot is the starfish sanctuary of nap time. It is spacey but snug, soothing, and safe. It provides comfort and security for toddlers switching to big-kid beds but it also provides the same ease for babies who have trouble sleeping away from their crib or without their parents. Now I no longer have to vacuum, jog, or play Legos while I hold a sleeping baby (I really should have Michelle Obama arms by now). I don’t need an “extra hand” I just need my two. Which is exactly the freedom the DockATot gives me, at least for a little bit. I can put Kate down, get some work done, scrub a bathtub, or just sit back and read a book. Oh, how I had missed my books!

I’d like to preface, I have REALLY wonderful kids. I really, sincerely, truly, lucked out with happy babies. They’re such sweet girls and they’re always smiling and laughing together. But the shift from deep REM to wide-awake, when I put them down, is enough to give anyone whiplash. Oh, and my dear Kate. Kate may be the little sister that tries to break out of her big sister’s shadow because she not only doesn’t like to be put down while she sleeps, she doesn’t like to be put down at all. Ever. I’m hoping we’ve just hit the “Mamitis” phase but The MOMENT I put this kid down, she freaks out. I should feel like that is sweet, right? I probably would if I wasn’t so tired. Point is, I could rarely get anything done, which is a problem when I work from home. I have completely mastered the skill of typing over a baby’s head while I nurse, and Kate is pretty stinking happy on my lap chewing a highlighter but there’s only so much I can get done, albeit a lot, with a child in my arms. Seriously, why don’t I have Michelle Obama arms? This is where the DockATot has really changed my life. Playtime. Just today, Isabella, Kate, and I gathered around our DockATot Grand and played princess castle. Kate may have tried to eat Snow White but, Once Upon a Time made us feel better about the “Evil Queen” so we didn’t put any labels on it.

Tummy time, playtime, work time, get-off-my-hip time, mommy potty-break time, there is hope for my sanity once again (although other factors considering, hopes are still not to scale, but I like it that way). The DockATot is a safe, comfortable, and cozy spot to dock-a-Kate. The rounded sides help prop her up during tummy time and provide a soft spot to fall on while she practices sitting unsupported or crawling (she face-plants so gracefully). The most beautiful thing about it, is that it’s breathable, I repeat, it does not harbor heat. Which is a game changer for my babies because if we’re going to be classy and say that “girls do not sweat, they glow” then my girls are the epitome of bioluminescence. Click it. Phytoplankton is cool, guys.

Kate is happy as a clam sitting on her DockATot Grand. Isabella probably loves it even more than Kate does. Isabella loves to snuggle on it while she reads, watches movies, or plays. She regularly uses it as a bed for all of her stuffed animals. I can’t blame her, I like it too. It’s comfortable. Let’s talk a little more about “comfortable” for a second. With Isabella, I lived in Utah and we had carpet in the bedroom and the living room. How third-world of me to have complained then about the floor being too hard for Isabella. Did you guys know that carpet isn’t really a thing in South Florida? At best, there’s an area rug. The standard is straight-up tile. We upped our game, declined South Florida tradition, and added an area rug for the sake of little bellies and tiny knees (and my knees, they’re important too). The rug may ease the hardness but it is by no means on the scale of cozy and comfortable.

Here’s the closer, as if you haven’t already left to buy your own. It’s hypoallergenic, made with non-toxic components, and you can unzip the cover, throw it in the wash, and keep that crisp-white glow. Yes, MACHINE WASHABLE! No pretending you’re hand-washing it by stopping the washing machine mid-spin cycle. Who does that? Not me. If you’re not into crisp-white, check out their selection of covers. Oh, how I love options!

I’ve officially traded in my prospects of having Michelle Obama arms, for two hands and a little extra reading time. Now, if I could only figure out a way to sleep like a starfish. What do you do with your free time? Let me know in the comments and send me some book recs while you’re there!

*Thanks to DockATot for providing the Grand. This review is not sponsored, all opinions are my own.

*BIG thanks to Susan Marinello Photography for the pictures!