So many of our friends are having their first babies this year! So exciting! I remember when we had our first the amount of baby stuff out there was overwhelming and we didn't know what we actually needed or what was worth the extra cost. Without a clear idea of what is actually really useful and helpful it is so easy for your home to become cluttered with unnecessary baby stuff that turns out to be a waste of money and space. So I thought I would share the products that we think are well worth the price and the storage/floor space.
Top 5 Baby Gear Picks:
Maclaren Baby Rocker and Chair
This is a must-have! Everyone gets a bouncer, but this one is seriously the best. So sturdy and easily folds flat for travel. Unlike most bouncers, you can adjust how upright the back is which is awesome for babies that may have reflux. You can also set it such that it is stationary or rocking or vibrating. With both kids we have taken this seat everywhere for the first few months because it is great for napping and much easier than hauling the pack-n-play around. It is also nice to be able to tote them around the house from room to room easily {for kids like ours that refuse to sit in a car seat unless the car is moving}. Hubby and I decided that if there is one necessary baby gear item, this chair is it!
Ergobaby Carrier and Infant Insert
We have had multiple infant/child carrier devices and the Ergo is hands down the best. It may be more expensive, but after a couple months of lower back pain {when you've never had back issues before}, I think you'll agree that it is worth every penny. It puts all the weight of the baby/child in your hips and you can even tote toddlers around in it. Our advice- just start with the Ergo and don't waste your money on other carriers!
Aden + Anais Swaddle Wraps
The only receiving blankets you need! Most receiving blankets are too small which makes it difficult to swaddle a growing squirmy baby, but not these, they are huge! I don't think you will find a softer blanket either, they are all we use around the house despite the countless other blankets we have and they are large enough that kids can easily use them through toddlerhood. A big bonus is that they are breathable and won't suffocate your baby. Since they are light and breathable you do still need a heavier blanket for walks outside if you live somewhere it gets cold, but other than one nice big fuzzy blanket, these are the only ones I would buy if I could go back and do it again.
Bumbleride Strollers
Strollers are a very personal thing and not everyone needs a fancy expensive stroller depending on what you would use it for. We have two dogs that we walk at least once a day and I am a runner. I personally knew I wanted one stroller that would meet all my needs {long neighborhood walks, jogging, walks on the beach, trips to the store} instead of a whole fleet of strollers for different purposes. The Bumbleride Indie {and now that we have two, the Indie Twin} has been the perfect fit for us. Extremely smooth ride on all terrain, decent jogging while being less bulky {our Indie Twin fits easily through a standard doorway} and much more maneuverable than dedicated jogging strollers making it better for walking through town in and out of stores and such. Worth every penny for our lifestyle. Probably not worth it if you don't do as much walking/jogging on various terrains like we do. And if the only thing you need a stroller for is jogging, you'd be better off with a BOB, though I don't have any complaints about jogging with the Indie.
For travel we also love our Bumbleride Flite which is super light and compact. It is soooo superior to a typical umbrella stroller with almost full recline {for napping on the go}, high handles for us taller parents, sizable {for an umbrella stroller} cargo basket, car seat adapter bar, and much better suspension for easier pushing and a smoother ride. Our Flite served as our only stroller while living overseas which I toted everywhere {in and out of taxis, buses, subways} all over Southeast Asia and it's still in great shape.
Bumgenius 4.0 One-size Cloth Diapers
I do not know why anyone uses disposables. Cloth diapers are so simple, so cute, so economical, and so environmentally friendly. We've only ever used bumgenius so I can't tell you how they compare to other brands, but I know friends who have tried multiple brands and everyone seems to prefer bumgenius. With one kid we had 30 diapers and as an infant we washed diapers every 3-4 days and as a toddler, every 5-6 days. With two I ordered an additional 12 diapers and wash diapers about every 3 days with an infant and toddler sharing a stash of 42. Probably one of the best product choices we've made. {before baby #2 we switched to cloth wipes as well and I love them too}
Top "Splurge" Pick: Petunia Pickle Bottom Diaper Bags
Every mama has to have a diaper bag. Suuuure you could use any old bag... but if you're gonna have a bag attached to you at all times outside the house for at least a few months {after that you might be able to get away with shoving the necessities in your purse}, you might as well have a cute one! And let me tell you, having a nice organized diaper bag makes things so much easier when you only have one hand to try and find the item you need quickly while juggling a squirmy {and possibly screaming...} infant. I have two PPB diaper bags and love love love them both! I used the boxy backpack with Quinn which has an awesome fold out changing pad. With two kids in cloth diapers {much bulkier than carrying around disposables} I upgraded to the Wistful Weekender. I can fit everything I need for both kids {several diapers, wipes, change of clothes, blankets, toys, snacks} plus my own stuff {wallet, iphone, kindle, light jacket} with room to spare. My favorite thing {besides how cute they are} is the pocket placement which keeps everything perfectly organized. I also love that once my kids outgrown the need for a diaper bag I will still have nice {not exclusively "kiddie"-looking} bags I can use for travel and such.
Top 5 Toy Picks:
With my first, I never knew what toys were necessary and developmentally appropriate which resulted in us not getting things till after he was already ready for them {cos we didn't know about them} and having too many toys, only a few of which were really necessary. So, in an effort to help out others, here are our top 5 picks for the first year {in developmental order}.
Play Mat
For the first few months babies don't do a lot. You pretty much just need somewhere to lay them where they can do tummy time and where they have a few stimulating things to look at and eventually grab onto. We really like the Fisher Price Rainforest Play Mat because it has several fun, varied attached hanging toys for babies to grab and our kids really like the lights. It also folds flat so you can easily store it away when you aren't using it.
Plastic Links
They don't look like much, but these links are small enough for little hands to grasp, provide various textures, and can help attach other toys to hang from things. Every little one should have them and fortunately, they are cheap!
Jumper/Exersaucer
This is probably our favorite toy item for young babies because it makes them so so happy! Our kids both liked to "stand" {i.e. not bend their hips and kick around a lot} and we started using the Fisher Price Rainforest Jumperoo from the time they could hold their heads up steadily on their own {about 2.5 months for our kids}. We seriously love this toy because the kids enjoy it so much it gives us 20 minutes to get dinner ready without having to hold a cranky baby that is upset that they can't do what they want to be able to do. We prefer the jumperoo to exersaucers because our kids really like to jump, but exersaucers are the same idea.
Activity Table
Once babies become mobile they don't always want to be confined to a jumperoo and an activity table allows them to pull up and "cruise" around the edges while learning with more interactive buttons than the jumperoo offers. We like the Leap Frog Activity Table.
Fisher Price Learning Door
One step up from the activity table is this wonderful "door." Appropriate as early as when the baby can sit up, but still engaging to toddlers. It has been the favorite item in our home for every baby and toddler that has ever visited. And it has taught Q the ABC's :-P
Top 5 Board Book Picks:
There are lots of board books, many of which simply aren't very good {in my opinion}, but as a new mom I didn't really know baby books to know what to get him that was actually not annoying to read over and over again {cos you know they will make you...}. So here are a few that our family enjoyed to help you start or build your collection.
Flip, Flap, Fly!
When the World is Ready for Bed
Kisses for Daddy
Bath Time Peek-a-boo {okay, husband thinks this is annoying... but for several months it was extremely reliable that beating temper tantrums and thus, indispensable on air plane trips!}
The Belly Button Book {or really anything by Sandra Boynton}
For slightly older babies into toddlers we also love:
I Love You, Stinky Face
Click, Clack, Moo, Cows That Type
Little Blue Truck
The Elephant & Piggie Series {not board books}
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