When I was pregnant with my first child, I was overwhelmed. How would I ever find the most useful baby products? With so many products available, it is difficult to know what you should really spend your money on or register for. It was extremely helpful to me to be able to view products online and see other buyers feedback. Also, companies are always developing and improving products. I found things with my second and third child that I didn’t have with my first. Here are my top ten favorites, in no particular order.
10. The Baby Bjorn
This front carrier was such a huge help. I used it from the time that I came home from the hospital until my boys were pushing the weight limit. (For them it was about 8 or 9 months.) When the babies are newborns, I used it to carry them around the house because it helped them to stay close to me and I could still move around with my hands free. I also carried it with me in the car because there were SO many times that it was helpful to use it when I was out. I also liked the fact that strangers didn’t really try to touch my baby because he was so close to me. It was machine washable and after being used for 3 babies it STILL looks great! Loved the Bjorn! We bought ours at Babies R Us.
9. The Bouncy Seat
All my kids were a little different when it came to liking swings or jumpers but all three LOVED the bouncy seat. I liked the Fisher Price models (we had two) that rewarded the kids by triggering the sound of the toys on the bar when they kicked their feet. As newborns, they mostly slept in the bouncy. The vibration was soothing and they slept great without forming any dependent habits with it. (They still were all good about sleeping in their crib at night.) As they grew, they loved to play in it with the toy bar. I also discovered that it was a lifesaver when my kids had ear infections because they could sleep without having to lay flat. I want to add that you should ALWAYS use the safety strap and discontinue using the product once baby can sit up on his/her own. These can be found at Babies R Us, Target and other retailers.
8. Pacifier Holder
I did not have one of these until my third baby and I don’t know WHAT I WAS THINKING! If your baby uses a pacifier, this is a great way to keep track of it and always have a clean spare. I have seen several types. I liked the plastic kind that can hook onto the stroller. It also doubles as a toy when my baby gets fussy. He loves to shake it and hear the sound it makes with the pacifier inside. This was purchased at Babies R Us in the section by the bottles.
7. Cart Comforter
This is the fabric seat cover that you use with shopping carts and high chairs at restaurants. I am a bit germ-phobic so this was a must for me. I loved how it kept my baby clean in the shopping cart. The style that I have, tightens at the sides with a pull string for a good fit and this allows it to lay flat to be used for a blanket, if need be. It also has leg flaps that snap together when it is in blanket form. It comes with it’s own strap that holds baby in. This is nice because sometimes babies want to chew on the strap. Yuck! You don’t have to worry about it when it is yours. Another great feature is the two loops on the top that you can use to attach toys. Another thing that I love about the style that I have is that the patterns are not bright and crazy. One is green and tan plaid and the other is blue with tiny trucks. As the kids get older, you can carry these in the car and they are great spare blankets.
6. Plastic Links and Toys With Loops
I am very picky when it comes to germs. If my child would lose his toy on the ground, he didn’t get it back until I could wash it. I loved any toy that had a loop or some way to attach it to plastic links. (My favorite were the stronger plastic ones made by Tiny Love.) The links could be a toy alone but also allowed me to attach toys to the stroller, front carrier or cart comforter. I also machine washed ANY soft toy that didn’t make some kind of noise. Most say to surface wash only but I machine washed them all and never had a problem. I didn’t buy it if I couldn’t wash it. Also, the BEST baby teether that I found is the Super Yummy Teether made by Discovery Toys. It has five different chew areas and can be attached to links so it doesn't fall on the ground.
5. Plastic Bag Dispenser and Small Bags
My dispenser is blue and has a hook on the end. I have mostly seen them with a duck or some other “baby” thing. I liked the plain blue design because I use it long after my kids are out of the baby stage. It is easy to find in the diaper bag and created for wrapping up used diapers. I also use it for wet or dirty clothes. After you stop carrying the diaper bag, it can be kept in the car to be used as small trash bags. I have used it for clothes that were wet from the water park. I once used it after one of my children fell asleep and awoke to a wet car seat. After we changed his clothes, we still had the wet seat problem so I split the bag and put it over the seat, keeping our son’s new clothes dry. Simple product but very helpful. I bought this at Target in the baby department.
4. The Swaddle Blanket
I really loved baby blankets for my kids. I had a couple of favorites. I love the softness and quality of Gymboree blankets. Also, a friend of mine made a cotton flannel baby quilt that was also my favorite. But there is a product out that is called the Swaddle Blanket. It is the softest brushed flannel cotton and has a tag on the side that reminds you how to swaddle your baby. This was a great gift and we still love it! It was purchased at Nordstroms.
3. Robeez
These soft little leather crib shoes have an elastic design that stays on your baby, keeping his/her feet protected and warm. I did not discover these with my first baby and had all the little matching socks for each of his outfits. By the time my second son arrived, I had all the same matching outfits but mostly one sock per outfit. I used to drive myself crazy backtracking to find my lost baby socks. Once I discovered Robeez, that all changed. They make a ton of cute designs and the leather is so soft. And did I mention that they are MACHINE WASHABLE? My husband thought that $30 was a lot to pay for baby shoes (I agree) but you will use these EVERYDAY, especially in the winter. These are also great for babies that are learning to walk because they are so flexible. Robeez can be purchased at department stores like Nordstroms. Target has a similar product for about half the price. The Target brand is not quite as soft and I am not sure if they hold up as well in the washing machine.
2. Lap Pads and Burp Cloths
Lap pads are square cotton water proof pads that have so many uses. My favorite are made by Carters and purchased at Babies R Us. I have had the same ones for all three kids, they still look great and hold up very well after numerous washings. I have used lap pads for changing diapers at home and out. They are easy to carry so I usually have my travel changing pad and a lap pad when I am out. For newborns, I have put them in the bouncy seat to protect from diaper accidents and also carry at least one in the car for any diaper accidents that happen in the car seat. Be careful of brands other than Carters. I tried a Target brand once and the color faded and the ends began to fray after the first washing.
My sons were breastfed and didn’t spit up a lot but I had a few fancy burp clothes that I loved to carry and use. My favorites were made my Icky Baby and Lil’ Buds Baby Boutique. It was nice to have a cute designed burp cloth to use. As newborns, EVERYONE wanted to hold my kids so I put a burp cloth on their shoulder to “protect” them from spitting up and keep my baby’s face on something clean. I picked out designs that were brighter colors so it would be easy to find them in the diaper bag. Because the design was so colorful and material was so soft, my babies LOVED to hold and play with them. The Icky Baby brand (I love their clothes too)is sold at Nordstroms and Lil’ Buds Baby Boutique is a company that has hand made baby items. I found them to be very good quality. They can be found at www.gleasongifts.com.
1. Diaper Bag
Your diaper bag will go with you everywhere for the next year or longer. It will carry everything you need to get you through the day. It is helpful to have a “spot” for things that you need quickly. (Cell Phone, pacifier, wallet) Spend your money on something that you like. Even if I felt that I didn‘t look my best, carrying a nice bag just made me feel better. It was also helpful for me to have a wristlet wallet. There were some times when I had to leave my diaper bag but this made it easy to quickly grab my wallet (wristlet) and have my cash and credit cards.
HAPPY SHOPPING!