Navigating through all the baby products is overwhelming as a new
parent. In 2008 Nathan and I wandered around the store trying to figure out
what we needed for our first baby not knowing what we really needed. We emerged
from the store 3 hours later exhausted and sure we missed important items.
When we registered for our third child, it was a much easier process. We
already had a lot from the previous 2 kiddos. This time we felt more confident
in the registering for the essentials and seeing through all the unneeded
things.
Now in 2013, I have several beautiful friends becoming mommies for the
first time. They have been amazing supporting me through three pregnancies and
celebrating my children.
So to my friends… thank you from the bottom of my heart. Here is a list
of my favorite baby products, ramblings and whatnot. Hopefully this will help
y’all get started.
Baby
products I like...
- Feetie
pajamas! Zippers tend to be easier than snaps when you are changing diapers in
the middle of the night. And they are so sweet on little baby feet.
- Uppa Vista baby stroller with Graco car seat: There are only a few Graco car seats that
work with the Uppa stroller adaptor. It has been very easy to steer, open &
fold up, and get in & out of the car.
- Bumbo
chair and tray
- Boppy
pillow: a must for nursing, good to help the baby sit & do tummy time
- Muslim
swaddling blankets: Aden & Anais is my favorite brand.
- Tommee
Tippee bottles (get a few different ounce sizes and nipple flows)
- MAMS
pacifiers 100%!!! (They don't have a 'top' or 'bottom' so it doesn't matter
which way the binka goes it. Plus the designs are the cutest.)
- Diapers:
- Pampers
Swaddlers Diapers Newborn or Pampers Swaddlers Sensitive Newborn: Super soft
for new baby skin and they have a sweet baby smell. These fit babies up to 8
lbs. and have a stripe indicating a soiled diaper. More important than you think!
- Pampers
Swaddlers and Pampers Swaddlers Sensitive also come in size 1 which fit babies
up to 14lbs. Huggies Little Snugglers are also really great.
- Sensitive
wipies are the softest. I think generic brand wipes can be rougher in texture.
- Baby
soap: Aveeno Baby, Johnson&Johnson Lavendar
- Baby
Bjourn: our favorite way to wear a baby
My
favorite post-delivery must have's...
- Nursing wrap: I have one from Bebe au Lait. It has allowed me to nurse anywhere I am. I am 100% for feeling free and comfortable to nurse in public. As a mom, you have every right to feed your baby. So do what you feel comfortable and be confident that you are doing what is BEST for your baby.
- Breast
pads: Lansinoh. Don't even try another brand! These are the thinnest and have a
double sticky to help keep them in place.
- Nipple
cream: Lansinoh. You really will need
this and it really does help.
- Always
pads: long overnight at first, then the regular ones as needed
- Boppy
pillow: A big plus for post-delivery. If you have an episiotomy, you can use it
to help sit for the first few days.
- Nursing
app on you iPhone - a must for keeping track of when you nursed and for how
long. I'm using Baby Nursing which also tracks diapers, sleeping, pumping, etc.
Don’t buy an expensive watch to keep track. Just download a timing app. SO much
cheaper and they work great.
- Nursing
bras – Sleeping and daytime: My favorite ones are from A Pea in a Pod. My
cousin Kim has raved about Bravado bras. The site also has some good
information to read about nursing.
- Medela
Swing breast pump – this serviced 2 babies. It’s a single so working mommas
might like a double to be more efficient with their time. Pumping can give you relief from any
engorgement while you and baby regulate supply and demand at the beginning. I currently have a
Tommee Tippee pump. It works well but is louder than the Medela.
What you need at the hospital....
- Your own
pillow: Use during labor and after delivery. When you’re ready to deliver, you
might not want it to be too close to the action.
- Slippers,
socks, bath robe
- Nursing
bra (if your milk comes in while you're still at the hospital, you'll want a
bra and the breast pads!! Most women's milk doesn't come in that fast. But play it safe. Nothing worse than your boobs leaking and you're
not prepared. Trust me!)
- Breast
pads, nipple cream
- You can pack some Always pads but you don't
really need to. The hospital will provide pads and some super-sexy, gauze-type, horrifically-awesome undies. Take any extra of the gauzies, pads,
Dermaplast, ice packs, whatever you can get. This way you are stocked to get
through the first days home.
- A pair
of big undies in case you don't want to wear the gauzies home.
- Toiletries
- Night
gown/nursing top & pj pants: a good idea if you don’t want to wear the
hospital gown after delivery.
What Dad
should bring.... (I talked with Nathan about these so the list has input from a Daddy.)
- Camera
- Phone
- Chargers
& extra camera battery
- iPad
with movies and a DirectTV app (this proved to be awesome while we were in the
hospital having Maggie)
- Pajama
pants/sleeping (the nurses tend to like clothed daddy’s – no sleeping in your
undies!)
- Slippers
- Pillow
& blanket
- A change
of clothes
- Baby
name book in case you’re not set on a name.
- Snacks
for himself & someone who you can call to bring food
What to bring for baby…
- Car seat – installed (required by law - you canNOT take you baby home without one.)
- Receiving blanket
- Newborn pacifier
- Going home outfit
- Baby book or paper for guests to
sign in. I love that I have the kids 1st visitors at the hospital
written down. It was really special to me.
- Also you might want to bring an
extra piece of paper or a page from the baby book for handprints or footprints.
The nursery nurses we had were super sweet and did prints on my paper.
*Take everything from the nursery
bed the baby is in at the hospital… you already paid for it. The hospital nose
suction ball is the best out there! Try to get 2 if you can.
Other stuff…
- Most
play mats are pretty much the same so just pick one that you like. Music and
lights are fun for the baby. Owen liked them but the lights really ticked Riley off.
It was hilarious! Maggie likes the mirror on hers.
- A
bouncer and a swing will be fun for the baby.
- Pack N
Plays and port-a-cribs are great for traveling. No matter where you go, you
have a proper bed for the baby.
Things I haven’t tried but look
cool…
- Summer Infant Rest Assured
Sleeper or the Baby Delight Snuggle Nest Surround – these look good until about
4 months… so a Pack N Play/port-a-crib is probably more worth the money
- mamaRoo Infant Seat
The only thing you 100% have to do off my rambling list is bring a car
seat to the hospital (state law and all…). Everything else is just from my
viewpoint and opinions based on my experience with 3 kids. You might try out
something I loved and hate it. And things my babies liked might not work for yours. But it's somewhere to start. We're all in this together.
Congratulations on entering Motherhood!
It is a blessing and the greatest adventure you’ll ever go on!
Ciao!
