I have slowly been compiling a list of the things I found absolutely impossible to live without since becoming a mama. When I first went to register I had a full on melt down and had no idea where to begin. There were so many items that I hadn't even heard of. And I really wanted to avoid having a lot of STUFF. I didn't want every baby product on the market, or the latest trend. I just wanted things that would make Leah comfortable and my life easier. So I'm thinking maybe there are a few of you out there (hopefully expecting by whatever means) that may benefit from this.
In case you hadn't noticed and am a total nobody, so I am no way being compensated, nor am I officially endorsing any of the following products. I just like them, and think you might too.
Video Monitor - I never considered myself completely neurotic, until I had a newborn. Initially I didn't even think we needed a monitor. Our house is a about 1100 square feet. It's old and has no insulation, plus I have bionic hearing so I can hear pretty much anything coming from anywhere. (so much for privacy, ehhh?) But I will tell you that being able to peek in on her brought such peace of mind. Especially when we moved her out of our room from her bassinet. We purchased the Angel Care Video Monitor with the Motion Sensor pad. Now, I can't say I would invest the money in this exact brand again, because A. There are a lot of false alarms with the motion sensor - so much so that I have that function turned off 95% of the time. (Yes, I know you can adjust the sensitivity) B. For as much as the unit costs it doesn't come with any mounting hardware - I purchased a separate clamp assembly, then Brian built a little (white) bracket we mounted to the wall so we could perfect the view. Regardless it is worth the peace of mind to be able to see her whenever.
(the temperature is not always accurate for us
because it's right above a heater vent -
worth it tho since we have a terrific view of her crib.)
{Yes she is sleeping with her legs up on the side of the crib}
Bumpkins Bibs - This is where I am brand loyal. These bibs are the bomb. We of course did Baby Led Weaning, so Leah has fed herself from day one. Which as you may or may not yet know, guarantees a big fricken mess. But I love it. Anyway, these bibs repel moisture and have a pocket to catch all the food that doesn't make it into her mouth or back onto the highchair tray. (a little tip, I also put a kitchen towel in her lap, under the bib so that residual food doesn't end up in her chair messing up her pants) Anyway, these bibs wash easily so I can rinse it off after her meal, then throw it on the dish-rack to dry before her next meal. So I only go through one bib per day instead of three. And they are large enough to cover her entire torso and shoulders! Which means her shirt always stays clean too.
Shopping Cart Covers - I wouldn't put myself in the Germaphobe category, but Shopping Carts iz nasty. I once did a test in my high school Biology class where we walked around with little cotton swabs then tested them for bacteria. And shopping carts had more bacteria than Garbage Cans. (but less than shoes; shoes were the WORST.) Anyhoo, on top of that Leah wasn't really able to sit up completely by herself until about 10 months, so having a big puffy cart cover was safer for her too. Definitely a must.
Bassinet - I liked the idea of co-sleeping, but I couldn't sleep while she was in the bed with me. And in those early days, I needed all the quality sleep I could get. I LOVED having her next to me, I could peak over at her, and actually hear her breathing. Though I could also hear each little movement and peep she made, which usually woke me up - but still I loved her being right next to us.
Multi purpose pads - I don't know if anyone uses them the same way I do. But I put them on top of the changing pad cover. They are absorbent and keep moisture from going to the material underneath. I actually bought them for our own mattress- I have three friends whose water broke while they were in bed. And I did NOT want that happening to me, but most importantly to my beloved Tempurpedic mattress. Anyhoo, they are life savers for the changing table. Especially when you are a rookie with diapers and are in the midst of newborn excrement. (It's really runny, and often leaks up their back)
Wipe Warmer - I know it sounds extravagant. But I like to think of it more as courtesy on our part. I just hated the idea of goosing my kid with a cold wipey at 3am...
Sound Machine - As you may or may not know yet. Infants are used to noise. The human body is noisy on the inside, and when they come out to the outside world, quiet can be distressing! So do pick up a sound machine. We used one in Leah's bassinet, and I got so used to it, that I bought another one (which we also use in the car) for myself. And I am somewhat embarrassed to admit that I use it every night.
Sunglasses - Yet again, something that may sound extravagant. But I think of them more as an investment in her physical health rather than a fashion statement. We bought Baby Banz because they are lightweight and have polarized lenses. I have super sensitive eyes, and cannot bear to be outside without a good pair of shades. So I have assumed that Leah is possibly the same. Our pediatrician agreed!
Baby Carrier - I will be the first to admit it. I am a baby-wearing fool. And I love it. My wonderful bloggy pal, Shelby lent me her Moby wrap. I wore it on a daily basis for several months after I finally started to actually get out of the house. I loved it because it kept her so close to me, she could hear my heart beat and I always knew she was warm enough (winter baby and all), and it was so easy to get around. I wore it inside the house as well. But as she became more alert (around 6 months) she stopped liking being tucked away. Made me very sad, but I switched over to a Baby Bjorn that we had received second hand. Which I loved as well. Leah took sometime getting her neck strong enough, so the bjorn worked great as I faced her in towards me. Then as she got stronger, I faced her out and she loved that too! Now she is too big for both and it makes me sad... We also received an Ergo Baby second hand, but Leah was not a fan of that one from the get go.
Things I don't think are worth the money:
Bedding - Maybe I'm alone here, but I wasn't into picking a theme for the nursery. Maybe it's because I didn't find out what we were having, but my contention was that I didn't want to slap an identity on the kid just yet. I want to wait and find out who our child is to become and see what s/he grows to love as they get older. Then when we transition to a big-girl bed, we'll let her pick a theme. But mostly, on a practical note; Bedding sets are fricken expensive. I didn't want anything with the fluffy bumpers - I chose a breathable set. $20 bucks. And a set of sheets can run anywhere between $10-20 bucks. Two-three sets, and you're good! I eventually purchased a bed skirt to dress it up (a purple one!) Still all of that ran well under $100. And I guess since I registered for it, I only paid for the bedskirt out of pocket. :)
Bum.bo - It seemed like everyone made a BFD about these, but we hardly used it. Leah was not a fan, and my other two friends whom had babies around the same time felt the same way. Get a used one, maybe.
Things I wish I had chosen more wisely:
High Chair - I had it in my head somehow that Highchairs were overpriced and overdone with features. But I was wrong. DEAD wrong. We went with the Fisher. Pri.ce Space Saver . It's horrible. The tray is rickety and hard to get on, and the cushion that comes with it is a joke - you'd have to wash that thing everyday. I took it off and left it off. And now I regularly stalk craigstlist for decent priced gently used Boon, because I do believe they are where it's at. (Thanks to MTL for the recommendation!)
Diaper Bag - I know, this seems like a no brainer. You'd think I would have given this a great deal of thought, but I think I picked one after a long evening of registering and just wanted to be done. I didn't want to cram 10lbs of shit into a 5lb bag. I wanted something simple. Unfortunately it seems in this realm of product, simple = virtually useless. I still use the bag. But every time I open it, I give a little sigh.
Anyway, I'm sure I will find more to add here, but I hope this will be helpful to at least a few of you out there!
