JENNIFER’S BABY REGISTRY RECOMMENDATIONS
I love to plan ahead and even before I got pregnant, I started researching the world of baby gear (I know -- I’m crazy). Now that I’ve been a mama for almost 6 months (time flies!), I thought I would put together a list of some baby items that I recommend for anyone that’s expecting, or if you’re like me and like to do your homework first, anyone who is expecting to be expecting! ;) I hope that this is helpful!
It all started with a book called “Baby Bargains” and let me tell you, that should be every pregnant lady’s first purchase! A quick look at anyone’s baby registry and you can find words like Boppy, Bjorn, and Bumbo, then wonder: what IS all this stuff and what in the world does it do? The “Baby Bargains” book will help you decipher the crazy world of baby gear and give you the confidence to set up a baby registry without having to worry about product safety or quality. That’s what I loved most about the book -- it’s not necessarily about what’s cheapest, but what’s worth spending your money on. Each category summarized their top picks into three categories: Good, Better, and Best. You decide on your budget and where you want to scrimp or splurge, then this book narrows down your options! Incredibly helpful! They come out with a new edition every couple of years, so be sure to buy the most recent one. Also, if you need advice on choosing the perfect stroller, this book can help you find one that fits your lifestyle. (Another great resource for stroller reviews is Baby Gizmo online. Check out their YouTube videos to see strollers in action!)
While I felt like the book was a really good reference, nothing beats getting real-world recommendations from another mama! Luckily for me, my friend, Shawna of styleberryBLOG, shared her list of “Everything You Need to Have a Baby” and there were a lot of things that she recommended that I wouldn’t have discovered otherwise! The great thing about her list was that she chose many of the same baby items as the “Baby Bargains” book, so that just goes to show you that the book surveys and listens to real moms! Here’s a link to Shawna’s blog post:
http://styleberryblog.com/the-baby-list-everything-you-need-to-have-a-baby
(Her entire blog is amazing, by the way, so be sure to snoop around! ;) Her creativity is inspiring and her photography is absolutely stunning!)
Lastly, there was another blogger (this one I don’t know personally) who shared her favorite baby items and I liked the simplicity of her lists. Her name is Sherry of YoungHouseLove:
http://www.younghouselove.com/2010/06/something-free-five-lifesavers/
http://www.younghouselove.com/2010/07/keeping-it-real-the-baby-gear-factor/
(This is another blog that’s pretty amazing. If you’re into DIY/home improvement, be sure to snoop this blog too!)
Oh, and I guess I should also mention some things about stores and shopping. About retail stores:
1) I was never impressed with Babies R Us. Their lack of customer service was such a huge headache for me and Chris on several occasions. In lieu of this baby registry giant, we took our business elsewhere and registered at Buy Buy Baby instead.
2) Buy Buy Baby is growing, but they aren’t everywhere yet. They’re also owned by the wonderful folks of Bed Bath & Beyond, so they accept their non-expired coupons (hello, 20% off!). They are also AMAZING with accepting returns; truly no hassles! Love them!
3) If you’re looking for a Babies R Us alternative and Buy Buy Baby isn’t an option, I would also recommend Kohl’s and Target. Kohl’s has a very good return policy and their online store has a much better variety than what they carry in the stores. They have frequent sales, especially if you have a Kohl’s card, and you can usually get free or cheap shipping depending on their current promotions. Target isn’t as great about their return policy, but I’ve been impressed with their expanding selection of baby gear.
4) If you have Internet-savvy friends and family, Amazon is also an excellent option. They have a 365-day return policy on all baby items and of course they typically have the best prices around, with free shipping on orders of over $25 plus no tax. Their Amazon Mom program, which is free to join, gives you access to Prime Shipping on everything, which is an amazing perk! Love the 2-day shipping option!
About shopping online:
1) If you’re going to buy something online (which I’m sorry to say, but you won’t be able to find everything listed here at Babies R Us), Google is your friend! Before checkout, Google
2) Or if you have the patience to shop sales, another good way to find deals is to “friend” a store on Facebook and/or sign up for their e-newsletters to be notified of special discounts.
3) And if you have even more patience, you can take advantage of limited-time-only websites. Supply is usually limited and you do have to take shipping into account (both in cost and time), but there can be some really great deals this way. There are too many stores to list here, but BabyDealsDuJour.com is a good place to start, listing some of the most popular ones. So far, I’ve been happy with these websites, but there is one that I do NOT recommend, which is Totsy. I had a huge error with my order and when I tried to contact them to cancel it, I couldn’t get a hold of anyone for DAYS. If you expect good customer service, avoid them!
Okay, now that all that’s out of the way, let’s get to the list!
DURING PREGNANCY
* Plain hair tie -- Great tip: I was able to wear my regular jeans for quite a while by just looping a plain hair tie through the button-hole. This gave me enough room to grow before I had to switch to maternity jeans. I did buy a Bella Band when I had to wear dress pants for a couple of events instead of buying maternity dress pants, which did save me a few bucks. This tactic sufficed for my purpose, but I didn’t use it beyond that. I never used it with my jeans.
* Old Navy and Gap maternity shirts -- I resisted buying “maternity” shirts, but I really needed them because my regular shirts weren’t long enough to accommodate my pregnant belly. The maternity shirts from Old Navy and Gap were reasonably priced and were very soft.
* Old Navy maternity jeans -- I bought several different pairs, but the one that I liked the most was the one with the “low rise” waistband. I bought a pair that had the full panel belly and ended up hating it. Turned out, I preferred having the pant line below my belly rather than over it. This isn’t the case for everyone, so wear what feels most comfortable to you.
* Snacks -- Especially in my first trimester, I couldn’t leave home without a baggy of something to munch on! My snacks of choice were MultiGrain Cheerios and Luna Bars in Chocolate Peppermint Stick. The Cheerios were bland enough that I didn’t have to worry about them making me feel nauseated (though I was very lucky and ended up not having any “morning sickness!”) and the Luna Bars helped me get some protein when I had no appetite for meat (a common occurrence in early pregnancy, I hear).
* Water!! -- Staying hydrated is SO important during pregnancy. Use whatever tools you need to make sure you’re drinking enough.
* Sugar Cane Body Polish by Alba Organics -- Once my belly really started to grow, it needed exfoliating on a regular basis and this organic sugar scrub helped immensely! Felt wonderful!
* Earth Mama Angel Baby Natural Stretch Oil -- Smells good, absorbs quickly, and feels great on a growing belly! Also fantastic to use for perineal massage during the last couple of months of pregnancy. 100% natural and made in the USA.
* FuzziBunz Mattress Pad -- This thing WORKS! I was worried about my water breaking, so I bought this as a layer of protection. Instead of investing in a waterproof mattress pad for our bed, I opted to buy this because of its portability; I could take it with me to bed at night, to the couch with me during the day, or even in the car when I drove. Because I labored naturally, my water actually did break at home and this mattress pad did its job! Plus it was MUCH easier to toss it into the washer on our way out vs. having to change the sheets. In hindsight, I should have bought 2, so that I could have used the second one in our car on the way to the hospital. (You still have the potential to leak after your water breaks, though I didn’t really, thank goodness.) In a pinch, we used an old bath towel. Don’t want to have to do that again!
FOR THE HOSPITAL
A good idea recommended to us by a local doula: have mom set out everything needed, but have dad pack it, that way he knows where everything should be. I know I’ve been accused of “hiding” things from my husband on several occasions, so this was a good tip for us!
* Relaxing music -- Whatever this means to you. I labored naturally, so I listened to Marie Mongan’s Hypnobirthing scripts and although I didn’t really “listen” to them, it was nice to have it playing in the background. I brought my iPod nano and speaker dock, the iHome iP90 (I purchased this model because it has a remote control and the clock display has a dimmer, perfect for a baby's nursery). (An alternative to bringing your own setup, would be to see if the hospital has a CD player in the delivery room: ask about it when you take the hospital tour.) While laboring at home, I listened to the Hypnobirthing-recommended CD, Comfort Zone by Steven Halpern, purchased from Amazon. (I purchased the mp3 download, so I had it instantly!) All of the tracks are so peaceful and relaxing, it is worth every penny!
* Pillow(s) from home -- Our hospital said that they would only give me 1 pillow (not sure how strict they really are with this policy though). I had recently upgraded my bed pillow to a memory foam one, so I wanted this “comfort of home” with me anyway. If you want more pillows for support during labor, you should check with your hospital’s policy beforehand, so you can bring extra.
* Soft blanket from home -- This was another “comfort of home” item I was really glad to have with me. My blanket was a fluffy soft throw made by Berkshire Blanket. It was much nicer to cuddle up with that than the hospital blanket! A couple of the nurses even commented on how soft it looked. :) I bought mine at TJ Maxx a few years ago.
* Soft robe from home -- Also another “comfort.” Much nicer to throw on your own robe and wear around the hospital than just the standard-issue hospital gown. (Also, instead of my own socks/slippers, I asked the nurse for a pair of hospital-issued grippy socks. Did the job of keeping my toes warm and gave me traction on the slick tiled floor!)
* Cottenelle Fresh Wipes -- My delivery went smoothly, but I still wanted to be gentle to my postpartum parts. I thought the hospital toilet paper was kind of rough and thin, so these were nicer to use!
* Car seat -- You won’t be able to go home with the baby without one! We got the Graco SnugRide 22 in Platinum, which is very lightweight. I really like that it came with its own infant head support; newborns definitely need it. Check out the “Baby Bargains” book for other top rated car seats. DO NOT rely on Consumer Reports for this purchase. They do not test them properly.
* Nursing pillow -- If you’re planning to nurse your newborn in the hospital, it’s helpful to bring your nursing pillow of choice. I tried the Boppy and wanted it to work, but it didn’t. Ridiculous name, but I liked the “My Brest Friend” pillow much better!
FOR RECOVERING AT HOME
I had an amazing birth experience that went relatively smoothly, so my recovery was pretty easy. Still, here are a few things that were helpful.
* Tucks pads -- A nurse showed me how to use these and they were nice for the first couple of weeks. The hospital sent me home with a small tub and I didn’t even use all of them.
* Always Infinity pads -- These worked well and I liked how thin they were.
* Earth Mama Angel Baby New Mama Bottom Spray -- The hospital sent me home with Dermoplast, but I wanted a more natural alternative. I felt better using this spray instead. I can’t compare the difference in pain relief between the two because I only used the Dermoplast once. I only had minor discomfort, but this spray was soothing!
FOR THE NEW BABY
* Travel yard/playard -- We set this up in our bedroom to make late-night feedings easier. We got the Graco Pack ‘N Play with the Newborn Napper and LOVE it. It comes with a changing table for diaper changes, as well as a newborn napper for the baby to sleep in. The napper cradles the baby and our sweet baby Caitlin always slept soundly in it from the day we brought her home until we moved her to her crib. We never used the vibrating or musical features of the napper.
* Playpen sheets -- The Quilted Velboa Play Yard Sheet by Eddie Bauer is soft and cushy!
* Cloud B Sleep Sheep -- We got the mini version. This was strapped next to her napper, now in her crib, and we use this every night when we put her to bed. We sleep to the sound of the ocean!
* Skip Hop Pronto changing kit -- Love the changing pad that comes with this. It’s easily wipe-able and the top part has a thin cushion for the baby’s head to lay on. We used it on top of the changing table of the Pack ‘N Play and now we use it on the upper tier of the Pack ‘N Play for diaper changes. Travels well and turns any purse into a diaper bag instantly!
* Aden & Anais swaddle blankets -- Made of breathable muslin and lightweight, but still keeps your baby warm. They’re a generous size for swaddling and they have cute designs (although I will say I really like our plain white ones). Buy Buy Baby and Target carries their own versions of the A&A blankets, if you want to save a few bucks and don’t mind them being slightly smaller. [Sidenote: swaddling is the KEY to having your baby sleep peacefully! Watch the DVD “Happiest Baby on the Block” to learn how to swaddle OR if you want the piece-of-cake version, get the Summer Infant SwaddleMe blankets. We like the fleece ones!] When Caitlin was a newborn, we used the A&A blankets to swaddle her, but then we transitioned over to the SwaddleMe blankets once she got more squirmy. We still use the A&A blankets: one is always with her in the car seat (to keep her protected from the elements, plus stores and restaurants can be quite chilly during the summer) and we use another for bedtime, as an added layer of warmth over her swaddle.
* Summer Infant SwaddleMe blankets -- No-brain way to swaddle your baby! The fleece ones don’t get as stretched out as the cotton ones, so you can can use it multiple nights in a row. Get 2.
* Leachco Podster -- Absolute must-have! Great as an extra set of hands; a safe place for baby to sleep or lounge. Has a permanent home on our couch, but works on the bed or floor too. Also inadvertently acted as a backdrop in MANY of Caitlin's photos, haha. ;) Useful for at least the first 3 months or so, or whenever your baby gets too wiggly to stay in it.
* BabyBjorn Babysitter -- Really cool bouncy seat that also acts as an extra set of hands. Only bounces when the baby moves; gotta' love that it's baby-powered! ;) The wooden toy bar is a separate purchase, but totally worth it. Caitlin started paying attention to it around 2 months.
* Itzbeen timer -- Nifty little gadget that easily keeps track of time between feedings. LOVE THIS. Dad can also see at a glance how long it’s been instead of always asking mom. ;) Simpler to use than a mobile phone app. Lightweight and small, so it's easy to tote around.
* Feeding log -- Any spiral-bound notebook will do as long as you know what to record. Excellent visual aid to know how many feedings and diapers there are per day. The one I got for Caitlin's first few months is called Baby's First Journal by Glow Baby in Canada. I had to modify it for my needs, but it was a good starting point.
* Pacifiers -- We used Soothies/Gumdrop and Wubbanub (we got the penguin one, of course) for the first few weeks until breastfeeding was well established, so as to avoid nipple confusion. After that, we switched to Nuk pacifiers with Bella Tunno pacifier holders, which keep the pacifier from falling onto the ground -- genius! We have 3 of these out at a time: one for the crib, one for the car seat, and one for Pack N’ Play. We’re never far from a pacifier!
* Gerber side-snap shirts -- Perfect for the first week or so, until the umbilical stump falls off. Doesn't go over the baby's head, so easy on/off for newbie parents, and leaves the stump exposed to air for proper hygiene.
* Seventh Generation diapers -- We started with (hospital-provided) Pampers Swaddlers and the yellow indicator strip was handy for us as first-time parents. When those ran out, we started using Seventh Generation diapers and I immediately liked them a lot better! They're hypoallergenic and chlorine-free. Best of all, they didn't reek of baby powder and make everything else in my diaper bag stink of it too! Plus, I LOVE that "new baby smell" and those baby powder diapers completely overwhelmed my nose, so that I couldn't truly smell my sweet newborn!
* Cosco diaper pail -- I knew I wanted to eventually switch from disposables to cloth diapers, so instead of buying a fancy diaper pail I bought this cheap one. Works perfectly! Love the foot pedal; very easy to toss dirty diapers and wipes in there hands-free. (Not gonna' lie, sometimes changing diapers gets messy, so the less you touch and the quicker you can dispose of the culprit, the better!) Caitlin is exclusively breastfed (no formula), so her diapers don't really stink, though I think it contained the smell pretty well. It's small, so we had to empty it every few days anyway. This uses regular 8 gallon trash bags, so that's also a cost-savings. I found mine at the Home and Garden Store on base for less than $20.
* Cloth diapers -- I decided to go with the FuzziBunz system, recommended by my friend, Shawna. Learn more about cloth diapering from her blog here:
http://styleberryblog.com/an-accidental-passion-cloth-diapering-for-the-modern-mom
We have 21 one-size diapers (love all the fun colors!), 2 FuzziBunz wet bags (so there's always a clean one while the other's in the wash or line-drying), and 2 FuzziBunz diaper pail bags (love these; the zippered bottom is genius, so you don't have to touch the dirty diapers a second time!). We wash diapers every other day in our HE front-loaders using Rockin Green detergent. To dry, the diapers get hung up in the laundry room and the inserts go in the dryer for 50 minutes on low. (I have 2 PRESSA drying hangers from IKEA that look like octopuses. Perfect for the job!) DO NOT USE DRYER SHEETS. In fact, dryer sheets are actually pretty toxic and most of them contain animal fat/tallow, yuck! (You really shouldn’t use dryer sheets on baby’s clothes anyway, as it can reduce/remove the fire retardant chemicals in them.) Instead, we use wool dryer balls, which absorb some of the moisture and lets the air circulate better. I try to remember to wash the diapers at night that way they have all night to air dry, while Caitlin's sleeping.
FOR THE NURSERY
* Crib Mattress -- After reading the Baby Bargains book, I decided to go with a foam mattress because they don’t weigh as much as a traditional coil mattress. (I'm short and I know I won't always be able to rely on my husband to help me change the sheets.) We bought Moonlight Slumber’s “Little Dreamer” all foam crib mattress and I'm very happy with it. Weighs practically nothing and fits perfectly (snuggly) into Caitlin's crib.
* Crib mattress pad -- I bought the Ultimate Flannel Waterproof Mattress Protector by The Company Store, recommended by Shawna. Very soft and smooth without that "crinkly" plastic sound.
* Crib sheets -- I don’t have a specific brand to recommend, as I think they’re all pretty similar. I have one by Pottery Barn and a few from Carters; all are smooth and soft, which is why I choose them. I preferred the solid-colored sheets from Carters rather than the patterned ones because they seemed the softest to me.
* Sheet saver -- I got the Organic Sheet Saver by TL Care. Smart way to protect the sheet from getting drooled on before the baby is mobile. Easier to throw in the wash than changing the sheets. Also fits perfectly in the bassinet attachment we got for our stroller.
* Changing pad -- I wanted an organic one, but didn't want to spend $50 on it, so we went with the reasonably priced Serta Organic Contour Pad, available exclusively from Babies R Us. Instead of buying a changing table, we secured this to the top of Caitlin's dresser.
* Changing pad cover -- Any soft ones will do. I bought only a couple because I’m planning on using the Skip Hop changing pad on top anyway, as it’s easy to wipe down.
* Monitor -- There are a number of things you can do to reduce the risk of SIDS and the Angelcare Baby Movement and Sound Monitor gave me peace of mind. This actually works with our foam mattress and we've never had a false alarm. (The alarm goes off if it doesn’t detect movement from the baby for 20 seconds.) We only have one handset because we live in a ranch style home. (Tip: buy a baby monitor from someplace with a good return policy because with a house full of electronics, it's not unusual to have radio interference. Luckily, we haven't had any issues. We bought our monitor from Kohl's.)
FOR BATH TIME
* Bathtub -- We got the Puj tub to bathe Caitlin in the kitchen sink and love it! She hated sponge baths, but was very calm in this cradled foam tub. I also really like that it folds flat for storage. Pricey, but we don’t regret this purchase one bit. Eventually, we’ll transition her over to a plastic tub (which is why I wanted to go the space-saving route for her first tub) and went with the highly recommended Primo’s Eurobath.
* Earth Mama Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash and Angel Baby Lotion -- Chemical-free, smells great, and foams up really nicely. We only have to use a pump and half at each bathing, so a bottle will last us a long time! Not a tear-free formula, however, but we’ve safely used it without incident. California Baby (available at Target) is another good chemical-free option.
* Hooded towels and wash cloths -- You’ll need some of these too, but I don’t have any brand-specific recommendations. The hooded towels are more appropriately sized for drying a baby than large adult towels and thin wash cloths are soft on a baby’s face.
FOR BREASTFEEDING
Breastfeeding was TOUGH for me. It took a good 3 weeks for me to get into a groove with my baby. I was warned that breastfeeding would be hard, but to STICK WITH IT and that it would get better. And it did! I am SO GLAD I didn’t quit. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a book or website that I found particularly helpful. What really pulled me through was the supervision of a lactation consultant (during an appointment soon after Caitlin’s birth) and the unwavering support of my husband. Without them, I couldn’t have done it.
* My Brest Friend nursing pillow -- I originally tried the Boppy, but it didn’t work for me. The pillow I had was too “poofy” and didn’t give me the support I needed. My newborn kept rolling into me and the pillow kept sliding away from me. SO FRUSTRATING. In desperation, I begged for the My Brest Friend pillow because I had nothing to lose. Where the Boppy faltered, this pillow shined. It’s nice and flat, so that solved the baby rolling problem and gave me the wrist support I needed. It also wraps around the mommy and secures with a buckle, so that solved the “runaway” problem.
* Breast pump -- I got the Medela Pump in Style with Metro Bag during a sale (at AAFES online). I actually didn’t use this very much at all; less than 5 times. I discovered that I preferred manual expression better, plus I leaked a lot, so that’s how I collected my milk. Still, it’s a very good pump, especially if you’re a mommy that has to go back to work. The breast shields are the “soft-fit” kind, so they’re more comfortable than the all-plastic ones. The pump mechanism is removable from the bag, so as a stay-at-home mommy, the compact size is nice, not having to have a big bag out all the time.
* Baby bottles -- We have the wide-neck ones by Dr. Brown’s and we’re happy with them. But Caitlin hardly ever gets milk from a bottle because I just find it so much easier to feed her direct from the source; nothing to thaw and no bottles to wash. I hear that babies can be particular about which bottles they’re given, so they say don’t buy too many of one kind till you’re sure they work for you, but I doubt that Caitlin would have been the type to be so picky.
* Oxo Tot Bottle Drying Rack -- I wanted a drying rack that I could use later for Caitlin’s dishes (adult plates get ran through the dishwasher, but I want to hand-wash her plates) and that didn’t take up a lot of space on the counter. This one works great for drying bottles and breast pump parts in the meantime.
* Oxo Tot Bottle Brush & Stand -- The bristles are soft and this one comes with its own stand.
* Burp cloths -- Gerber Prefold Cloth Diapers are the BEST burp cloths and come highly recommended by many mommies! We bought 2 dozen, but you really can’t have too many. Tip: wash them on hot the first time, so that they shrink up as much as they’re able (because they will!).
* Other handy accessories:
-- Medela Quick Clean Microwave Cleaning Bags = Quickly and easily sterilize bottles, their parts, pump parts, and pacifiers.
-- Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags = No leaks and lay flat for easy stacking/storing of frozen milk.
-- Lansinoh Soothies Gel Nursing Pads = Refrigerated, these feel great when you need cooling relief.
-- Lansinoh Disposable Nursing Pads = Best brand for disposables. Used these at first when I leaked all the time.
-- Bamboobies Washable Nursing Pads = Softer and much nicer than disposables! Used these all the time after my supply was established. I recommend buying 3 pairs.
-- Earth Mama Angel Baby Nipple Butter = I wanted a lanolin alternative (once I found out what lanolin was, I couldn’t imagine using it on myself). Moisturizing and smells like CHOCOLATE, hello! Safe for baby. Used this all the time for the first few weeks. Never had any cracking/bleeding/other nipple horror stories.
-- Nursing cover: Hooter Hiders (Bebe au Lait) Cotton Nursing Cover = I try to avoid nursing in public because I like to nurse in peace (and consequently, Caitlin likes to eat in peace), but if you have to, this nursing cover rocks. The boning at the top of the cover allows you to easily peek in on baby to help with latch or just to have that all-important eye contact with your little one.
-- Milkies milk saver = I leaked A LOT at the beginning and this made easy work of collecting my milk. The design also made it easy for me to nurse on one side while manually expressing on the other. Anything to avoid having to pump, which I wasn’t a fan of!
* Nusing bras: Medela Comfort Nursing Bra and Bravado Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra = Like Shawna, I liked the Medela at first, then transitioned to the Bravado Body Silk. I thought these were pricey, but considering how much use they get, it’s worth investing in quality nursing bras! The Bravado is comfortable, supportive, and easy to use.
FOR SOLID FEEDING
We haven’t introduced solids yet (we’re waiting until Caitlin is 6 months), but here’s what we have so far:
* High chair -- We’re skipping the traditional high chair in lieu of a booster seat, the Fisher Price Healthy Care Booster Seat.
* Dex Dura Bib -- An easily wipe-able bib that has a pocket on the bottom that, get this, UNSNAPS for easy cleaning of spilled food. So smart!
* Bumkins bibs -- Planning on using these while out-and-about/traveling because of how thin they are.
* Tiny Diner Placemat -- Great for baby when you go out to dinner, this provides a safe surface to eat.
FOR MOM ON THE GO
* K’tan -- This is a wrap-style baby carrier, similar to the popular Moby and the Sleepy Wrap, but because of the design, requires no wrapping. I wanted something that was quick and easy to put on, so I that’s why I got this. Works fabulously. What you gain in convenience, you sacrifice in customizing ability, however. They come in different sizes, S/M/L, so the size that I wear won’t work for my husband because he’s a foot taller than I am. My husband wasn’t really keen on wearing a Moby/Sleepy Wrap anyway, so this was a non-issue for us.
* Boba -- This is a buckle-style baby carrier, similar to the popular Ergo and the Beco. We haven’t gotten a chance to use this yet because it’s for older babies (6 months+), so I’ll have to report back with a review later! The unique feature of the Boba is that it provides foot rests for your baby, which is supposed to be more comfortable for your little one; no baby legs falling asleep!
* Diaper bag -- Currently we’re using a diaper bag that we bought on clearance at the Pottery Barn outlet years ago, which has worked out surprisingly well. It’s a messenger style bag, so it doesn’t scream “diaper bag” (so daddy isn’t embarrassed to wear it) and so far, it’s able to carry everything we need. I have a couple of other bags waiting in the wing that are a little more feminine and purse-like, but I haven’t yet transitioned to them. When/if I do, I can update with a review.
* Stroller -- Oh man... the deliberation that went into this purchase, oy! I knew I didn’t want your typical “travel system,” but that still left me with a few contenders. We finally decided on the Baby Jogger City Mini with the addition of the Bassinet Kit and Belly Bar. I’m REALLY happy with our decision. The City Mini is incredibly lightweight as far as strollers go (only 17 pounds!) and folds up really easily (one-handed!). The bassinet kit allowed us to use the stroller when Caitlin was a newborn and I loved that I could keep an eye on her while we went on our neighborhood walks. The stroller is amazingly easy to push and steer; it’s a dream to drive!
* Sunshine Kids Ultra Mat Car Seat Protector -- For the car, this protects the car seat from getting deep indentations from the car seat base. This is absolutely safe to use as long as your car seat base is SNUG in the car seat. (We had our car seat checked by the local fire department, which everyone should do!)
NEWBORN TOYS
Caitlin is still rather young, but here some of the toys we like the best:
* Wimmer-Ferguson Nursery Novel Soft Book -- This was the first “toy” that Caitlin loved. Some of the pages are crinkly and she loves the page with the baby’s face on it. Excellent visuals for a newborn.
* Activity gym: Skip Hop Treetop Friends Activity Gym -- Beautifully gender neutral. Caitlin’s current favorite toy is the birdie rattle, hands down. We take it with us everywhere we go. She also loves the squeaky squirrel.
* LeapFrog toys: Violet (interactive stuffed puppy) and My First Book -- Scout is a HUGE hit with my niece, so we got the girl version, Violet, for Caitlin. We haven’t gotten to play with her yet, but we have been “reading” My First Book each night and Caitlin likes the pictures and the music!
* Any of the “touch and feel” books (like this one) -- These really seem to grab Caitlin’s attention now that she’s a few months old. She loves reaching for the page and feeling it.
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