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When I was pregnant, I read loads of "registry must-have" blog posts, compared reviews for similar products, and asked my mama friends for recommendations on everything from strollers to swaddle blankets. And my research paid off--I've been really happy with (almost) everything we got! So today I thought I'd pass on the knowledge and share my favorite baby products so far. These are some of the "essentials" that I love and would definitely recommend for the early months.
For sleep
1. Babyhome Dream Air bassinet - I know some people go straight to the crib, but if you're getting a bassinet, I love this one. Its legs adjust to three different settings--rolling, rocking, and stationary--and it has mesh windows in the sides so we can easily seen Ian (and vice versa). It's really lightweight and easy to move from room to room, the whole thing is washable, and I like that we can bring it with us when we travel so Ian has a familiar place to sleep. I mostly use this for him to nap in during the day.
2. DockATot - I had never heard of this before Ian was born, but a friend recommended it and after reading all the rave reviews, I had to try it. The DockATot is a cozy, plush, portable dock that is supposed to be kind of "womb-like." It creates a safe and comforting space for Ian to hang out in wherever we go, and we put him in it at night. It makes cosleeping safe by providing a stable surface for him to lie on (with correct back positioning), as well as thick sides to prevent us from rolling over onto him. Nighttime feedings are so much easier since we started using this, and Ian sleeps sooo well in it (he did a 7 hour stretch shortly after we got it!). I think he just loves being in bed with us.
3. Fisher Price Rock 'n Play - Yet another product we have for Ian to sleep and hang out in. It's like a sling/hammock that rocks and plays music. What I like best about it is that it's super easy to fold up for travel (all you do is press a button on the side), so it's super convenient to bring to other people's houses. I read that this shouldn't be your baby's main place to sleep, since it's soft and inclined instead of firm and flat...so the main times I use this are when we got to visit friends/family, or when I need to cook dinner or something and he's fussy in his bassinet. He likes the consistent motion, and since it's inclined he can watch me if he's awake (and vice versa).
4. Video baby monitor - I love this baby monitor for peace of mind, whenever we are in a different room. You can move the camera remotely, which is awesome, and you can also speak into it which will be nice (I think) for when he gets a little older.
5. HALO SleepSack Swaddle - I never even knew about velcro swaddles before having Ian--I always just assumed I'd use blankets. But let me tell you, it's hard to do a good blanket swaddle...Ian usually busts out of mine within minutes! We were given a SleepSack velcro swaddle in a care package that a bunch of friends put together for us after Ian was born, and it's amazing. Ian loves it, and it's so easy to use. Best of all, I know he's not going to end up with a blanket over his face in the middle of the night.
6. Basic sound machine - I had read that babies like white noise because it reminds them of being in the womb, so we registered for this sound machine, which has been great at night! It has a variety of different sounds (I really like the thunder one), but we mostly keep it on plain old white noise. I do think it makes a difference--Ian seems to wake up more when it's perfectly silent.
7. Babyletto Hudson crib - Ian hasn't slept in his crib overnight yet, but as far as looks and quality, I am really happy with the one we picked out. We'll probably transition him into it when he starts sleeping through the night consistently.
For getting out and about
8. Solly baby wrap - Ian absolutely loves being held, but obviously I can't get anything done if I literally hold him all day (plus, my arms get tired). This wrap carrier makes him feel snug and happy, and I have my hands free to do dishes, fold laundry, write a blog post, etc. I wore him in this for our first family "hike" and he slept peacefully the whole time! P.S. If you're debating between the Solly and the Moby wrap, I would recommend this one as it has less fabric and is not as thick, which makes it easier to put on, lighter, and more breathable. I know they look basically identical but I tried the Moby one first (since it was cheaper) and I really could tell a difference.
9. Ergo baby carrier - We haven't actually used this yet since Ian is still under the recommended weight, but we have practiced putting it on, and it's super easy and straightforward. A lot quicker than the wrap, and I think it will be better for our backs, whenever we need to carry Ian for a long period of time. Update: We've started using the Ergo since I wrote this post, and it's great! I prefer it for sunny days, since it has a fabric cover to block Ian's face from the sun, which the Solly wrap does not. I have a feeling the Ergo will be our go-to for outdoor adventures, and the Solly will be my go-to for babywearing in the house.
10. BOB jogging stroller - We go on lots of walks, so it was important to us to get something that could handle all different terrain. I've seen people struggling with cheaper strollers that can barely go over a curb, which looks so frustrating (also, the little ones seem really bad for your back--always hunched over like that?). Anyways, I think BOBs are definitely worth the extra investment, and they're not as expensive as some of the more designer-y strollers.
11. OneDuo diaper backpack - I originally hadn't planned to get a diaper bag because I thought they all looked cheesy. But then I realized that I didn't want my favorite leather tote bag to get ruined by dirty diapers and other spills...plus, it didn't have nearly enough pockets! So I was thrilled to find this stylish diaper backpack that is excellent quality, machine washable, and isn't embarrassing to carry. It's also not super girly, so Ben can wear it too.
12. Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper tote - For days when I want a diaper bag that's more like a purse, I use this nice and roomy tote. I like that it's a simple design that doesn't scream "diaper bag!" from the outside...but on the inside, it has loads of pockets and a water-resistant lining.
13. Gathre mat - This thing is sooo nice for trips to the park, to the beach, etc. It's essentially a soft leather picnic blanket, which we can shake off and wipe down as needed. Now we can do tummy time anywhere! They also have a mini size, which I might get for under Ian's high chair when he gets older, and a micro size that I like to use for diaper changes.
14. Binxy Baby shopping cart hammock - This is one of those things that I never thought about before, but it's awesome. It's a hammock that attaches securely to any shopping cart, and rolls up for easy storage in your diaper bag. You can put your baby directly in it, or put the car seat in it if your baby is smaller (which is how we used it). So nice! The first time I went grocery shopping with Ian, I had his car seat in the shopping cart itself, and I had to put the groceries all around it. This is nice because it frees up that space again--and it keeps nasty raw chicken germs (or whatever else) away from Ian.
For nursing & feeding
15. Medela breast pump - Did you know you can get a breast pump for free through insurance? So definitely get one, even if you plan to stay home and breastfeed exclusively. It's nice to have the flexibility to let your husband or a babysitter take a turn feeding! I pumped every three hours round the clock while Ian was in the NICU, and it totally sucked (pun intended) but now we have a nice supply of milk in our freezer so Ben can feed him at night sometimes and give me a break.
16. Simple Wishes hands-free bra - If you're doing a lot of pumping, you will definitely want to get a hands-free bra. I can't imagine pumping regularly without one. It's so nice to be able to read a book, eat something, or check your phone at the same time, instead of being in pumping jail for fifteen minutes.
17. Dr. Brown's bottles - These are the bottles that they used in the NICU, so we just stuck with the same brand. That said, these are supposed to help reduce colic, spit-up, burping and gas, as well as preserve vitamins and minimize oxidation. We've been happy with them so far!
18. Bottle warmer - You don't necessarily need a bottle warmer...but with this one being under $15, we figured why not? It makes the process very simple, shuts off when the bottle is the right temperature, and you can also use it to sterilize pacifiers, nipples, small breast pump parts, etc.
19. NüRoo nursing scarf - I'm not comfortable whipping my boob out in public, even for breastfeeding...so after a couple times where I tied a swaddle blanket around my neck at the park or someone's house, I decided that a nursing cover was a necessity. I like this one, because you can also wear it as an infinity scarf, poncho, etc. when you're not breastfeeding.
20. Nursing pads - These are exactly what they look like--pads for your boobs. As weird as they look, they've definitely been necessary for me, otherwise I'll end up with a shirt that's soaked through. There are disposable nursing pads and washable ones. The washable ones are reusable and softer BUT I read a review where someone's washable pads got moldy, which really grossed me out especially since they're touching Ian's only source of nourishment! So I'm using disposables for now.
Other stuff worth mentioning
21. Ubbi diaper pail - If you already have a metal garbage pail with a lid, you may be able to just use that. For us, we've always used paper grocery bags for our garbage...so getting a designated diaper pail (with a lid that closes!) made sense. I like this one because it's steel instead of plastic (so odors won't soak in as much) and it works with regular kitchen garbage bags instead of requiring special ones--which will hopefully save us money in the long run.
22. Puj tub - We started bathing Ian in a regular plastic baby tub (the cheapest one from Babies 'R Us), but I found it to be hard on my back and stressful--we needed one of us to hold Ian up and the other to actually wash him. So we got this Puj tub as well, which folds up to fit in the bathroom sink. It holds him snugly so his head won't slip into the water, which makes it a lot easier for one person to do a bath. And it unfolds to hang up flat, which is great for storage and travel!
23. Carseat mirror - When we first brought Ian home, we were soo nervous about having him in the car, so I sat in the backseat every time we drove to keep an eye on him. We received this carseat mirror as a gift, and it's fantastic for nervous parents to keep an eye on their baby from the front seat! We are planning a big road trip later this month, so I know I will be very grateful to have this for peace of mind, so I don't have to sit in the backseat all the time.
24. Milestone baby cards - These are just for fun--they have cards for major milestones like the first time your baby sleeps through the night, says "mama", etc. as well as cards for the weeks and months in his first year. They're beautifully illustrated, and make it easy to take monthly photos and keep track of those milestones so you never forget when they happened!
25. Play gym - Last but not least, I really wanted to get Ian a wooden play gym. It's a bit of a splurge, but I couldn't resist this Finn & Emma one. It's just sooo much prettier than the plastic versions. Ian is still a bit young for it, but I'm excited to see him start playing with it soon!
As a disclaimer, let me say that I fully recognize this is a lot of stuff, and most of it is not strictly necessary. We probably went overboard, as first-time parents. But I wanted to include everything we've loved, and let you decide which items (if any) might make sense for you and your babe.
Whew, that was a long post! Hope it's helpful for other new mamas and mamas-to-be...and I'd love to hear your favorite baby products too, both for the newborn stage and the months to come.
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My sister is going to start trying to get pregnant soon and this list just made me SO EXCITED! I think this list is spot on...all great recommendations. The one thing I'd add that I will FOR SURE get next time is a mini fridge for my bedroom or my pump room.
I love the canvas diaper bag but I would not be able to spend $100 on it...like I just can't. WAAH.
Awww, yay! That's so exciting! Ian is the first baby on my side of the family and I will definitely be super excited when my brother and sister start having kids too.
I remember you recommended the mini fridge before! I can definitely see how it would be SO nice to be able to do everything without having to get out of bed. We live in a small house, so I'm ok with walking down the hall to the kitchen. But if the kitchen was on a different floor of the house, then that might change things. :)
And yes, isn't that diaper bag gorgeous?! I love that it's a backpack too. I wore it this week to the state fair, and it was so convenient to have my hands and arms free. It's definitely on the pricey side, but I'm hoping it'll last for a long time so I can get lots of use out of it!
I think it's totally normal to have this much stuff! I did not have all that you have but pretty close. I think the muslin blankets and wubanub binky were the only other things I would have added to my list. I never did have a bottle warmer, that actually looks really useful, especially that it sterilizes pump parts. Awesome!
Oh yes, I like the muslin blankets too! I thought I'd use them for swaddling, but instead we mostly use them for keeping him warm in the stroller/car seat, or to block the sun. I know your kids love their wubanubs! Maybe I need to get one of those too. Ian just has the binkies that the hospital gave us for free.
A great list!! There are so many products out there, it's good to hear your experiences as a new momma. I love that you all have the ability to have products that can fold and travel with you. That makes even grammahood easier :)!
Yes, so true! Lightweight and travel-friendly are definitely huge plusses. I still want to get the pack 'n play that Jenn has--it looks perfect for travel!
I am on my third baby (he's two months old), and I still find this list and your perspective on these items helpful! Good tips if there is a fourth baby.
DockATot - How neat! The fact that it's womb-like and would cuddle and comfort the baby would be very neat. I like how it's fairly small but would block the adults from rolling over onto the baby. We have a bassinet attached to the side of the bed, but since I didn't experience much success with my baby sleeping long periods in it (sleep for 10 minutes and CRY!), we unfortunately resorted to our typical resort - a large swing. Like the other two kids did as babies, my baby sleeps in this reclined swing literally every night. Not something I like to advertise to the pediatrician, but the kids seem fine having done this, and it gave me more sleep.
Fisher Price Rock 'n Play - So cool that it rocks and is portable. I could really use this.
Baby monitor - After we sleep-trained our first baby, once he fully got the hang of it but would sometimes wake up too early (for example), it was effective to speak into the monitor and tell him "It's still night time; go back to sleep." This worked! So I loved the fact that I could speak to him from my bed.
Sound machine - Use it for all my kids. I ended up purchasing the one that Emily Henderson suggested (LectroFan). $50, but small, and we like it.
Swaddle - Completely agree about when *I* do the blanket swaddle (like they do in the hospital), it comes apart every time! So we love the velcro sleep sacks, too.
Your crib is adorable.
Shopping cart hammock - What a neat idea!! It is a struggle for me to go particularly to Trader Joe's, where they have the small carts. I've put the seat in the cart itself and put the groceries around it, but... that really limits my shopping! So what a cool and cute idea.
Medela pump & Simple Wishes - Use both of these every day and like them. I will mention that experimenting with different sizes of pump shields really helped (to find my proper size). There are some off sizes available on amazon (maymom) that are compatible with Medela that I now use exclusively.
Oh - I just noticed the DockATot has the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification! Wow!! This is huge. I've spent a lot of time researching safe materials and fabrics for babies to be using, and seeing this certification puts me at ease. I don't like the thought of products with unsafe coatings or core materials being what my kids are breathing and having against their skin.
I've started a trend of buying undies for my kids with this certification.