When having your first baby, it can be hard to know what all you are going to need. You could look through reviews or ask your mom, but that takes a lot of time and honestly, there have been a lot of advancements in baby products since your mother was having babies. Sometimes having that mommy friend advice is incredibly beneficial. So, here are my top 10 must-have baby items to make motherhood go just a little more smoothly.
Ergo Baby Carriers
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I put an Ergo baby on my registry but didn’t end up getting one until my daughter was close to 6 months old. I struggled with other carriers, which worked, but not as well as my Ergo. I LOVED it. I could wear my daughter for hours with no back pain, because it takes all of the weight off of your shoulders, and directs it to your hips. Plus, you can front, back, and side carries, so as your baby grows, the carrier adjusts to what your child needs and wants. They even now have the new Ergo 360, which can also front face safely, without putting the stress on their hips. I always recommend Ergo to any of my friends that are expecting. They are a little more expensive than some of the other carriers, but I have been using mine for three years. It can even hold the weight of a four year old, though I suspect they would be pretty uncomfortable. It is an extremely high quality product that can be used for multiple kids or handed down to an expecting friend. Don’t forget about all of the colors and prints, too!
Fisher Price Rock N Play Sleeper
I got this item on a whim a week before my daughter was born. We didn’t have a crib, and I wanted a safe place to lay my baby for naps. This was, by far, one of my most favorite baby things. It’s a sleeper that rocks and even has a soothing vibration to help baby sleep. This was the only way my daughter would let me set her down for more than a few minutes. The incline is great for when a baby is having reflux issues, or even has a cold. These are really affordable too, with the standard option and the deluxe option, neither of them goes over $80.
BumGenius All-In-One Cloth Diapers
If you are considering cloth diapers, it can be overwhelming about which brand to try. I went through four different brands before I settled on BumGenius. The all-in-one design means that there is no stuffing diapers and no worry of losing inserts. They are all attached. They come in fun colors and release limited edition prints. Cloth diapering can seem a little scary because of the initial cost and the time it takes to wash them, but you really end up saving so much money not using disposables and the washing is easy to get used to. The cloth is also a great option for babies who get diaper rash easily because there are no chemicals against their skin.
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Orbit Baby
Orbit Baby has some of the coolest stroller options out there. The seat can rotate so that baby can be turned to face out, face the parent, or even to the side, making bonding easy, even when out and about. They are very compact for easy storage and have a very modern design. They are pretty pricey, but have many different options, including travel systems. They are also incredibly high quality, so you are less likely to bounce baby all over the place and just have a smooth ride.
NoseFrida
Have you ever tried to suction a babies stuffy nose with a traditional nose bulb? Babies hate it! They can also get really gross and full of mold if they aren’t being taken care of properly, increasing the chances of sickness in a baby. No one wants mold near their baby. That’s where a NoseFrida comes in. You use the suction from your mouth to remove snot and boogers from baby’s nose. Now, I know that sounds pretty yucky, but there are disposable filters that keep all the yucky snot and germs safely away from your mouth. My daughter didn’t mind the NoseFrida at all, and would scream when I tried to use the suction bulb.
Fisher-Price Rainforest Jumperoo
I love jumpers for babies. They love being able to bounce around freely while still having the support they need before they are walkers. This jumper is great because it develops baby’s leg muscles and provides a ton of fun. There are so many toys attached to it that offer different types of sensory experiences. It is adjustable as baby grows taller so that it can be used for a very long time.
ChewBeads
CheawBeads are great for when the baby is teething. They are silicone teething beads or pendant on a necklace or bracelet. They are secured by thick, breakaway cords, and have not in between each bead. No more lost or dirty teething toys while out and about. We used one of these for a very long time. Are you hesitant about wearing a teething toy? They come in beautiful color combinations from bright and fun, to more modern, all the way to very classic looks. I always got compliments on my ChewBeads necklace.
Boon PULP Silicone Feeder
This was invaluable for us. My daughter became fairly independent early on, and wanted her to feed herself baby food. This can get incredibly messy. The Boon PULP is a silicone pouch, that you can fill with baby food. As baby chews on it, the baby food comes out of little holes and into their mouth. They can use it before they have mastered the use of spoons! It’s fun to watch your baby enjoy meal time so much, while having free hands to eat your own food. My one suggestion with this, would be to use thicker baby food, or to thicken it with a bit of baby oatmeal. Doing this helps to keep the baby food from just leaking out before baby gets a chance to chew on it. I always include one of these in my baby shower gifts.
Baby Bullet
Buying baby food can get pretty expensive and sometimes you want the baby to start enjoying the same foods you are eating. A Baby Bullet is great for this. It perfectly purees foods into the consistency that baby needs. It comes with reusable baby food jars, and a tray to freeze pre-sized portions. It even has recipes for the first combinations for baby. This is better than a regular food processor because you know that only the things baby is going to eat are going into it, to help keep baby from possible allergens. It also makes smaller batches.
Baby Subscription Boxes
A baby subscription box is great for finding new products. A lot of the smaller items I’ve already talked about came out of a subscription box. It’s so much fun to get something in the mail that isn’t a bill and open it with your baby. There are also a ton of different boxes to choose from. There are boxes to suit every family, from monthly cloth diapers, all natural and organic products, clothing boxes, and even more traditional items. There are a variety of prices, so I would suggest looking into several and deciding which one sounds the best for you and your family. This is also a great option for a baby shower gift if you don’t know what to get someone. You can usually choose between 3, 6, and 12-month subscription options.
All of these products are great, and I would recommend any of these to new mothers or family and friends that are trying to find that perfect shower gift. None of them will make parenting a breeze but they all help to make everything go a little bit more smoothly.
