As a new mother, there were so many baby items to choose from and registering was quite overwhelming. Thankfully, I had several mom friends review my list and tell me what I was missing or what was not necessary. I pulled together my top 10 list of items that every new mom and baby “must have” so hopefully it will help someone else who may be confused.
- Bassinet, Cradle or Co-Sleeper: Having baby sleep in your room makes night time feedings much easier, especially if you are breast feeding. Baby will be hungry every couple of hours and the last thing you want to do is walk back and forth between your bedroom and nursery. It’s convenient to just scoop baby up when he or she is within your arm’s reach.
- Boppy Pillow: The boppy saved my life and positioned baby perfectly for breast feeding. There were many nights that my son would fall asleep on top of the boppy and I’d lock my arm around him so he couldn’t fall while kicked back in our rocking chair. I would have been lost without this pillow! It also proved beneficial for propping baby up for photos.
- Rocking Chair: Invest in a good rocking chair. Make sure it is comfortable and that you can easily get in and out of it with a sleeping infant in your arms. I used my rocking chair faithfully for feedings and there were many nights my son and I slept in it. I also recommend having an ottoman so you can get as comfortable as possible.
- Swing or Bouncer: All babies are different, but it is important to have something safe to confine your child in (and vibrations and/or movement help soothe baby). My son was easy going and he enjoyed being in both his swing and bouncer, but I have heard stories of babies never using either. These items were a life saver for me. I was able to secure my son then jump in the shower or do housework.
- Baby Carrier or Sling: We started using our BABYBJÖRN when my son was approximately 1 month old. For the first 5 months of his life, we never pushed him in his stroller since the BABYBJÖRN was so convenient. My son thoroughly enjoyed the carrier, especially when he was strong enough to hold his head up and we could turn him to face the world (instead of our chests).
- Infant Car Seat: Even though you only use an infant car seat for a short amount of time (my son was only in his for 7 months), it is so convenient to snap it out of the base and carry your sleeping baby into your home or store. The last thing you want to do is wake your angel. It’s also great to leave baby in the car seat if you want to enjoy dinner out. I highly recommend you purchase some dangling toys that will keep baby occupied while seated. Also, having an extra base installed in your second vehicle is convenient.
- Boppy Changing Pad & Liners: My son had a lot of diaper explosions or would react when the cold air hit his diaperless bottom, so having multiple changing pad covers and liners on hand made my life much easier. They helped lessen my loads of laundry. The liners especially helped because only they would become soiled and I wouldn’t have to discard the changing pad too. It was also very helpful having a sink in my laundry room to soak the liners in OxiClean Baby.
- Stroller: I purchased the Bugaboo Cameleon mainly because of the bassinet feature (#1 on this list). Instead of purchasing a separate sleeping unit for inside my bedroom, my son slept inside the stroller for the first 3 months of his life. This worked out very well for us and I have no regrets. I absolutely LOVE my Bugaboo and am glad I splurged on it. My son will be able to use it until he is 40 lbs, so I will definitely get my money’s worth out of it. With all of that said, I highly recommend you test drive strollers before purchasing. I spent a lot of time in Nordstrom understanding the stroller’s features before committing to it. I purchased the stroller at Piccolini since I had a 12.5% discount code (greenshop) plus no sales tax or shipping charges.
- Rainforest Jumperoo: Words can not describe how obsessed my son became with the award winning Rainforest Jumperoo the instant I placed him inside. He’d jump for hours if I would let him. We first put him in at 4 months and he is still using it (he just turned a year old). This is a great way for baby to exercise (and it confines baby so mom can get some work done too)!
- Pack and Play: I registered for a playard (thinking that was where my son would sleep for the first couple of months while in my room). My husband put it together and was very quick to decide it was going back to the store! Neither of us felt it was sturdy enough for our infant to sleep in (which is another reason we opted for the Bugaboo with bassinet). Instead of purchasing another pack and play, I waited until my son was in his crawling stage and purchased the Phil and Teds Traveller. All I can say about this product is WOW! It really is light weight, attractive and so easy to travel with. This has been a lifesaver when I need to confine my crawling baby and keep him out of trouble. It also has a UV sunshade which is perfect for outside in the Florida sunshine!
Obviously, this list doesn’t contain essentials such as diapers, wipes, disposable liners to take in diaper bags, pacifiers, etc. I tried to concentrate on the bigger items since there are so many out there to choose from. A diaper genie is something I never purchased but wish I had. Instead, I take soiled diapers out to the garage trash can which can become rather stinky after a few days (our trash only picks up twice per week).
What are the “must have” products that you recommend? Let’s help all the new mommies with their registries!
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