So you're knocked up for the first time. You're participating in the obligatory google fest to try to find out what baby products you need. I get it, I did it. I registered for a bunch of stuff I didn't use. So my mommy friends and I wanted to help. We came up with a list that we think would be helpful to any new mom out there. Here's what we think are must-haves.
Can you guess which part of this picture is the on the list? Yup, the glider. You are going to be spending a lot of time in this chair, so don't waste your money on a piece of crap from walmart. And that doesn't mean you have to break the bank, either! This little beauty is a dutailier and is originally $700 with the ottoman, and I got it for $70 on craigslist. It's in excellent shape, it reclines, it glides with ease, and it is a must have for rocking your babe to sleep in those early months.
A Moby wrap. Seriously. Ever had a baby that just would not let you put him down? These things are a must have. When he's fussy and I need to get housework done, I stuff him in a wrap and he's content. When we're going to the grocery store, and need to get a lot of stuff and don't have room for his carseat in the cart? I stuff him in a wrap and he's happy as pie (On a serious note, it's extremely dangerous to put an infant seat on the top of the grocery cart. A moby wrap is a safe alternative. Read this for example). You can also discreetly nurse in it when in public! Seriously, get one. A moby is inexpensive and a lifesaver. You won't regret it.
Cloth diapers. Yep, you heard me. There are so many reasons to use cloth diapers. The biggest one for us was that it saves you thousands of dollars per child. THOUSANDS. What could you do with an extra $5000? There will be more to come in further blog posts about more reasons to choose cloth!
Many people will tell you that a wipe warmer is unnecessary. I disagree. Since we use cloth wipes, this little thing is awesome. I put a stack of flannel or cotton wipes in there, pour some homemade wipe solution over it, and viola. A money saver and it's nice and warm when it hits my little guy's bum. This one has a little light on it, which is perfect for middle of the night changes. No need to turn a light on and wake him up more.
The fisher price rainforest jumperoo. By far one of the best baby items we've purchased. This thing is freakin' sweet. It's high back allows for awesome support, it has an adjustable height so it grows with your baby, and it helps them to get out some of their energy (especially if you have an active little guy like I do!). If I could only keep one baby accessory, this would be it.
Of course a swing. I've never known anyone who didn't register for a swing so I'll keep this short. These things are lifesavers for when you have an itty bitty baby, and when you hit those growth spurts that tend to suck all desire to sleep from a baby. My son is 6 months old, and he still sleeps in his swing occasionally. You don't need to break the bank with this one, either. Look for swings on craigslist.
The fisher price rock & play sleeper. Hands down, this is the highest recommended baby accessory in my circle of mom friends. Before I became a mom, I was adamant that my kids would be crib sleeping in their own rooms from day one. Well, needless to say, Charlie was born with a lot of mucous that caused him to wake up choking numerous times a night. There was no way he would be sleeping further than 5 feet from me. This little number is amazing. It is small, but big enough to last until they're 25lbs, it rocks (literally and figuratively), and it has a slight incline which is perfect for babies with reflux. Several of my mom friends can attest to the fact that when their kids slept in the rock & play, they got much better and longer stretches of sleep. One note though, if your babe will be sleeping in this at night, make sure he naps flat on his back at least once a day, or else it'll be tough to transition him to the crib.
Omg, the motorola video monitor. Pricey? Yes. Worth it? I think so. This baby has everything. Night vision, pan/zoom, talk-back option, temperature reading, lullabye player, and this fancy thing that scatters the signal making it virtually impossible for someone to hack into it (yeah, it happens!). I may love this thing now, but I guarantee I will love it even more when he's a toddler and I can't be right with him 24/7.
A kick-ass playmat. We love this one. It's colorful, cute, and the music isn't as annoying as you'd imagine. My son LOVED this from the get-go, and still does, 6 months later.
Scout! Do you guys know about Scout? Turn this puppy on, and you're guaranteed a big smile from my little man. This isn't just a stuffed animal. you can program your information so that he sings about your child's name, his favorite food, favorite color, and you can pick the songs he sings.
This starfish. I'm telling you, we would not survive without this starfish. It is perfect for him to grab and put one of the "arms" in his mouth without gagging him. If you have kids, you know that sometimes they get so excited about a toy, they shove it too far into their mouths and then projectile vomit all over the place. This is a bath toy, but we take it everywhere. (And the blue paint was on it when we got it, ok?) This particular starfish came in a set similar to this one.
Now here is a list of things you absolutely do not need:
A pacifier wipes
A baby spa (uhh, a regular bath tub will do just fine.)
those booger suckers where one end goes in your mouth and the other end goes in his nose. Is anyone really mom enough for that?
Baby shoes. In case you didn't know, babies don't walk.
Hooded towels. waste of money. Don't you already have towels?
Baby bangs. Yeah, this is a real thing.
Sophie the giraffe. A $20 teether? I'll let you in on a little secret. This thing is exactly the same as a dog toy. Save your money and buy something from Petsmart instead.
what baby accessories do you find most useful?
