So I have a confession guys..... I am absolutely OBSESSED with baby gear! Before I even became pregnant, I was constantly researching the latest and greatest baby products. By nature, I like to be prepared for everything, so I made lists, pinned and goggled like crazy figuring out what we would need for baby Ari. I prioritized the things that I felt were a necessity, things that would be nice to have, and the things I could do without. Now that we are three months in, I can confidently share the products that I can't live without!
1. Swaddles- I'm not talking just any swaddle. Guys, I am telling you, this is the hands down best swaddle. It is probably my number #1 can't live without product as far as bed time goes, and I'll tell you why. When Aria was born I noticed she was always sleeping with her hands up by her face. Also, she had (and still has) a tendency to flail (is that a word?) and startle. This was a major problem when it came to her be able to sleep peacefully. Enter the Love to Dream swaddle. This swaddle was designed to allow babies to be in a hands up position, letting them self soothe while still getting the benefits of a traditional swaddle. This was a game changer for us. Aria started sleeping 6-7 hour stretches by 7 weeks, and now she sleeps through the night no problem.
2. Muslin Blankets- Perfect for using around the house during naps, as a car seat cover, nursing cover and also as a swaddle. They are light weight and easy to throw in the diaper bag. We use these by Aden & Anais. I love the cute, gender neutral Jungle Jam print! Originally, I thought I needed a TON of these blankets. I have seven and probably rotate between four of them. I highly suggest investing in at least three.
3. Soothie- This is a recent favorite. Now that I am back to work, Aria is having trouble taking naps. A coworker suggested that I sleep with her security blanket to help comfort her while I was away. I am not sure it has completely solved the nap problem, but Aria loves to rub this on her face and sleep with it. It is so soft and not to mention extra cute!
4. Stroller Blankets- I am sure you are thinking why do I need so many blankets? I thought the same thing until I received the sweetest monogram stroller blanket from my Grandma. I use it all the time in Aria's car seat because it is the perfect size! This is an item that I wish we had more of and I definitely plan on buying more in the future for baby #2. I also love these and these.
5. Rock n Play- So when I was pregnant, I knew I wanted Ari to sleep in our room for the first few months, however; we didn't have room for a bulky pack n play or bassinet. Also, I didn't want to spend major $$ on something that would only be used a short time. That's where the Rock n Play comes in. It is perfect for keeping next your bed for baby to sleep safely and it is extra portable for carrying room to room. I even take it to the babysitters house with no problems! I highly suggest this as an alternative to a bassinet.
6. Stroller System- This is where you need to do your own research. There are so many strollers out there it can be overwhelming! I suggest going to a place like Buy Buy Baby and actually "test driving" the strollers. We went and folded, unfolded, clicked car seats in and pushed around at least 6-7 different strollers before deciding. Ultimately we went with the Orbit G3. This was our splurge item. My husband and I love the design behind this system and its ease of use. It has a one hand fold and unfold, and also a 360 degree rotating dock making it so easy to get baby in and out of the car. I 100% do not regret shelling out the extra money for this item, and know we will be using it for years to come because it can also transition to a double stroller!
7. Baby Carrier- If I didn't have a baby wrap Aria probably would never take a morning nap and I would never get anything done around the house! In a previous post I mention that Aria has trouble napping unless I hold her. Well, one day I decided to try out the Moby wrap my dad bought me and within a few minutes Ari was fast asleep! Now there are a few things I dislike about the Moby, one being how much fabric there is making it difficult to tie around my body. I honestly could never imagine using it in public because of this. We also have this carrier which is a lot more compatible for on the go, but not my favorite for at home. I am thinking about trying the Solly wrap for around the house as an alternative to the Moby. If any of you have used either please let me know what you think!
8. Diaper Bag- This is another item that I decided to invest in. I am not into purses. I have carried the same purse for years and literally that is the only purse I own. During my pregnancy I decided I wanted to get a really nice, stylish and functional diaper bag because I knew it would take the place of my purse, and I would be using it for years to come. I ended up purchasing this bag by Marc Jacobs and LOVE it. Even my husband who rolled his eyes when I purchased it gives it 5 stars. There are pockets all over this thing, the inside compartment is huge, there are short handles and a cross body strap plus the fabric is easily cleanable. Ladies, invest in a good diaper bag because I am telling ya, you won't regret it.
1. Bottles- These are something I researched extensively. I knew I wanted to try to breastfeed so I searched for bottles that closely mimicked the breast. We ended up buying the Comotomo and Tommee Tippee bottles. Once we started introducing the bottles to Aria she quickly preferred the Comotomo. My advice, buy at least two different brands of bottles and only wash one box of each. We ended up returning all our Tommee Tippees. Currently, we have nine 5oz bottles and only use about six of them. I mostly breast feed and only work 4 days a week so we do not go through too many. If you primarily bottle feed or use formula you may need to buy more. Also, I wash dishes every night.
2. Burp Cloths- Stock pile these ladies. I do not care if you breastfeed or bottle feed, you will go through them like crazy! I actually use these cloth diapers as burp cloths. They are cheap, durable and effective. Originally I had registered for cute Aden and Anais ones but quickly realized that those particular burp cloths didn't fall into the "priority" list. Looking back, I am so glad I went with the cloth diapers.
3. Bottle Warmer- I can't say enough good things about this bottle warmer. All you have to do is fill it with water, place the bottle in it and turn the timer to the appropriate time. So easy and fast! It takes us 6 minutes to have a bottle ready and it takes up very little room on the counter!
4. Drying Rack- How cute is this drying rack? Not only is it super stylish, it holds three sets of pump parts, multiple bottles and our snot sucker. Seriously I was amazed at how much I can put on this thing. We also have this accessory on it.
5. Baby Bath- This is another item I thought I needed the latest and greatest of. A fancy bath for all my baby's bathing needs. Wrong. I ended up getting this and turns out it is the greatest! At the price point you really can't beat it. Its simple design makes it safe and easy to give baby a bath. It is on the larger side though so we just keep it in our bathtub, fill it with water and dump it when were done. If you are limited on space, or do not have a bathtub to store this thing in, it might not be your best option.
6. Shampoo & Body wash- We use Honest Company. I have sensitive skin and wanted something that would be gentle on Aria so I went with this. It smells awesome and so far we have had no problems with it. I think after our bottle is gone though, I am going to try Tubby Todd. I have heard really great things about them as well.
7. Hooded Towels- I had the hardest time finding gender neutral hooded towels until I came across these. I ended up purchasing two of them in grey, and went back for the matching washcloth set. They are so soft and durable and make bath time extra cute! These towels are worth the money and will hold up for years. If you are like me, some things are worth paying for better quality and towels are one of them.
1. Saline Mist- This is something I bought last minute before having Aria and I am so glad I did. When she was born she was super congested, and to this day she still is. I spray her nose and suction it everyday and this stuff really helps loosen it all up.
2. Humidifier- Another item that helps combat the constant congestion. We use this one by Crane, and so far so good. Honestly I wish we had used this pre baby because I can tell a difference in the air.
3. Nosefrida- Ok. My husband thinks the concept of physically sucking the snot out of our baby's nose is disgusting, and I can't blame him, but this seriously works wonders! Like I said, I suction her nose every single day, multiple times a day and this is so effective. Also, it is way more gentle than traditional bulbs. I promise you will not swallow any snot unless you have the lung capacity of a super human ;)
4. Baby Wipes- We use these because they are made up of primarily water and super gentle on Aria's skin. We actually switched to Seventh Generation free & clear because they were cheaper, and Aria broke out in a terrible diaper rash. Needless to say we returned to Water Wipes and will never look back!
5. Changing Pads- Along with the saline mist, this was another last minute purchase that I am so glad I made. We use these in our living room for the changing station. I bought three packs and we go through them so quickly!
All items linked above are products we personally use and love. I would recommend any of them to family and friends or anyone currently expecting. As always, what works for us may not work for you but I hope this helps you navigate the sea of the endless baby products out there! Other items not mentioned are extra pump parts, milk storage containers and freezer bags, nursing pads and a gigantic water jug :)
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