Since having Hayden, I've had several mom-to-be-friends ask me about my favorite baby items, so I've decided to put together an official list. Please keep in mind that every baby & every parent is different, but these are merely things that worked well for us.
THE LIST:
1. Halo Sleep Sack Swaddler- so much better than a SwaddleMe because you can use it with or without the swaddle part. I was never able to swaddle the "old-fashioned" way with a blanket- this is way easier and the zipper makes late-night changing a breeze. (We used these for about 3-4 months, then switching to sleepers with the zipper & footies).
2. If you plan to breastfeed and possibly pump- get the "Medela Pump In Style". It is expensive (about $300) - but totally worth it. I think most everyone I have talked to said hands-down the best pump on the market. I was so glad I had mine before even going into labor because I used it to get contractions going!!! I also used the Medela bottles for when I went back to work- it was nice that they fit right onto the pump.
3. A wipes warmer- some people consider this a "luxury" but your baby will love you for it, especially in the Winter. =)
4. Aden & Anais swaddle blankets- sold at some Targets & Buy Buy Baby. Not available at Babies R Us. Made of muslin, they are so soft and you can use them for blanket, burp cloth, nursing cover, play mat, etc.
5. A Rocker/Glider- again, expensive, but sooooo worth it in the middle of the night! At 11 months old, we still use ours 3-4 times a day.
6. Register for a few toys to put on the car seat or have around the house. I didn't think they would need toys right away- but they like to look at stuff!
7. A Boppy Pillow- great for feeding and tummy time! (Don't forget to bring this to the hospital for BFing!)
8. A lot of people like the Pack-N-Plays with the "napper" built-in. This could also be a "bassinet" in the early weeks, too. A bassinet or moses basket is something you will only use for a few weeks, and in my opinion, not worth the $.
9. Moby Wrap- for the fussy newborn stage. They only LOOK complicated to put on!
10. Night-time CD. I started playing "Baby Einstein's Lullaby Classics" for Hayden while she was still in the womb, and she falls asleep to this
every night.
11. Fisher Price Space Saver high chair - love that it does what it says it does, "saves space," and you can take them with you places easier than a full size high chair.
12. Lanolin- for those early days of BFing (and this also doubles as a wetness barrier on baby's bottom, like Aquaphor!)
13. Nursing Tanks- they used to sell some at Target- not sure if they still do. These are amazing for the 1st few days and weeks at home. They weren't "enough" for me to wear them in public, though.
14. Diapers- we LOVE Seventh Generation. They are the next-best thing to cloth (which didn't work well for us on a few levels). Easily biodegradeable & chlorine-free so there are no funky chemicals near my babe.
15. Wipes- we swear by Earth's Best wipes. They are bigger than Seventh Generation, thicker & they smell nicer although both are "Fragrance Free".
16. Baby Monitor- we decided against the video monitor because I didn't want some perv picking up the frequency & peering at at my child...or even the nieghbors! We went for the cheap, but highly-rated "SONY Baby Call" monitor. We never get any interference with it- and the sound is amazing- I can hear her breathe at night!
17. Co-Sleeper- Since I knew I would be breastfeeding through all hours of the night, I wanted Hayden in our room with us for a good couple of months. We decided to use the "Arm's Reach Mini Co-Sleeper". It slides right up to your bed- almost like a tiny crib with three sides. You can literally keep baby within "Arm's Reach"! (This was an item we borrowed from family- I'm sure they would also sing it's praises!)
18. Bibs- Didn't think I would need these until she started eating solids, but I was happy to have several cloth ones while she was young- it saved me from changing an entire outfit numerous times after spit-up!
19. Diaper Cream- we only use this when she is irritated, and for that reason, we don't have to use it very often. We found that "Skinfix Buttox Paste" is amazing- and actually smells good for a change! It is pricey, but well worth knowing that they're all-natural ingredients, plus, the tub lasts FOREVER!
20. Nursing Cover- I got mine from Uddercovers.com when they offered their "pay only shipping" offer. A steal for about $8.
21. "Sophie"- This tiny giraffe was Hayden's favorite. It was amazing that it was the very first thing she was able to pick up & manipulate on her own. Great for teething, or just something to entertain baby in the car.
My personal "DON'Ts":
1. DON't register for any clothes. People will buy you them regardless. Especially when the baby arrives- this is ALWAYS what people buy!
2. DON't Register for a bedding set. I personally think they are a HUGE waste of $. You can't use the blanket for a long time, bumpers are controversial (but I refuse personally to use them) and then you also get a dust ruffle. I would find someone on Etsy to custom-make a ruffle and bigger blanket they can use as they get older. Plus, then you don't have the same Babies R Us stuff everyone else does!
3. Don't get a BUMBO seat. Waste of money, waste of space, plus horrible for baby's natural development.
4. Don't buy a diaper pail. We have one and have used it only a few times. We've never experienced a poop so foul that the good ol' fashioned "taking the garbage out" didn't work for us. Then again, we are minimalists.
For all other recommendations:
The best book I found on baby stuff is "Baby Bargains"- TONS of great recommendations plus the latest safety info. Consumer Reports was ok but not as good as Baby Bargains.
Like I said, by no means is this a comprehensive list, but merely a few of my favorite items from my first year as a mama.
Lastly, if you have a favorite item that you don't see here, please add it in the comments!!!
Good luck!
