As a soon to be mom or new mom, we are so overwhelmed by all the things we need to learn and the products we think we should have in order to best take care of our new little baby. Well, I was super nerdy about doing my research on everything I possibly could before Brady arrived. I had deep discussions with friends that are on their second child now, moms who cloth diaper, different schools of thought in child-rearing, what were the 5 best products they found most useful, as well as, what were the 5 items they didn’t use as much as they thought, etc… I’m so thankful for the community of moms that I can easily seek advice from.

Since I was so desperate to soak up all this info I thought it’d be helpful to share with other soon-to-be or new moms what I’ve found as the best products/routines that have worked for us in the first 6 months. Links/Details below.

 

My favorites:

1.  Activity Mat (we use this several hours every single day)

2. My Brestfriend Nursing Pillow (So much more supportive than the boppy. I have two covers so I can replace one while other is being washed.)

3 & 9.   baby k’tan Breeze, Ergo Baby, Moby wrap  (these have been life savers) – baby k’tan is small, pre-fitted so there’s not a ton of fabric to mess with, it folds into a little bag, & is comfy. Ergo baby carrier is a little bigger and feels like a back pack on the front – but a little better on the back and less trouble getting baby in and out. Only negative for me is it doesn’t fold down real small (which isn’t a huge deal).  Also good for dad.  Moby – you can adjust to your liking, but not good for public b/c there’s so much material and I don’t like to drag it all over the ground when positioning baby in/out of it.  Also only good for when baby is smaller. The heavier they are, the more difficult it is to support the baby/child. All these carries can be used in multiple positions across a range of ages for baby.

4.  Swaddleme Wraps!! These were like magic and would “shut down” Brady and he’d fall asleep immediately and there was no fussing with a blanket to swaddle him and we knew he’s stay in it all night without coming unwrapped.

5. – Bouncy chair (great for play and naps).

6. – The Ultimate Crib Sheet  (I put two of these in his crib so if he messes the top one, I can just take it off and there’s already a clean one under it. Easier to take on/off than changing a mattress cover and sheet each time.)

7. Puj Tub  (takes up very little space and hangs on a hook.) Also great to travel with (in the car) if necessary.

8.  Sleep sheep (wish it lasted more than 45 min of sound though) – We soon moved to an iPod speaker dock with a free “white noise/wind sound” app that plays all night long. 

 9. (see #3 above)

10.  Aquaphor (best thing for diaper rash, excema, and your own chapped lips!)

11. Carters footed sleep & play outfits (SO much easier than multi-piece outfits when diaper changing!) They are well made and fit little guy so well and Carter’s clothes are sold at so many places and are always on sale.

12. – BOB jogging stroller  (we spend several days at the lake on long walks/runs – great for afternoon nap time for baby. So smooth and easy to use.) Check Craig’s list – they’re always for sale on there.

13. Pacifier clip (removes a lot of frustration when baby drops pacifier several times over and over – or frantically searching for a pacifier.)

14. Burp cloths galore (Gerber) (who knew a baby could spit up so much?)

 

OTHERS:

– Foam Ear plugs (great for when I want to sleep while someone else is watching baby).

– Nursing tops/bras/dresses/ PJs  (Nordstrom will also convert regular bras into nursing bras with the clips for $10 / bra.)

– Books: On Becoming Baby Wise (helped guide me so much when putting baby on a more regulated schedule). Belly Laughs (just a good honest laugh from Jenny McCarthy on her experience). Shepherding a Child’s Heart (still reading with Brian) really great for Biblically shepherding and disciplining your child. Also good for an introspective look into your own heart.

 

What I wish I would have splurged on:

– Video baby monitor (I was so adamant about not needing this, but now it would save so many – albeit quick – trips to peek on him instead of just rolling over in bed to view the monitor in the middle of the night.)

Of course every baby and family is different. These are just the things that seemed to work best for us. Thankfully, we were prepared with most of these things before baby Brady arrived, and some of these things have been a saving grace.  You just do what works in the moment, especially the first several weeks/months. I had no idea diaper changes would be such a crazy/challenging ordeal so, clothes that make that as easy as possible are great. Also, anything that helps him sleep well (the swaddleme wraps were ah-ma-zing!) Keep in mind that baby’s are constantly changing and once you think you’ve “got it” BAM – something in the routine changes – hah… (nearing month 7 I’m just now starting to remember this).