This is not an exhaustive review of our registry, though I'll gladly discuss the finer points of car seats and strollers with you over coffee or wine. Probably wine. Rather, I wanted to spotlight those things that were most useful in the first two months. This could be due to frequency of use, sheer utility, or lifesaver status.
1. Aden + Anais blankets and burpy bibs
online at Amazon or at adenandanais.com
in stores at Nordstrom
For magical reasons I cannot explain, these are just the best. The blankets are thin but warm and can be used for a range of needs: swaddling baby, covering car seat, makeshift burp cloth, rolling up under car seat or mattress, grabbing a cat nap...the list goes on. I have used a lot of the other blankets we received to cover the play mat on the floor, etc., but these are the ones I grab every day for the basics. They get even softer over time. I would say you probably can't have enough (I received 2 of the 4-packs of the muslin swaddler blankets). If you are in the phase of your life where you're a frequent baby-shower-goer, these should be on your short list of go-to gifts.
The burpy bibs are also great. They're a little unusual looking but do basically what it says on the box. Their shape lets you tuck it over baby more easily, and you can snap it in the back if you want it to work as an actual bib. For now, I drape it over him and under his chin while he eats--he gets the dribbles for realz and I'm not in to changing my shirt after every feeding--and then it moves quickly up on to the shoulder like a standard burp cloth. I was gifted a 2-pack plus a bamboo one, which is even softer, so I bought another. I'd also say you can't have enough burp cloths (and many of ours are just the basic, cheap, prefold cloth diaper thing, so it's not like I shelled out for all the fancies). I think they're now stashed all over the house in any spot we might settle.
I chose this one before we knew the sex of the baby partly because I liked the color and found the "design" to be less offensive to my home decor than a lot of the others. But I stuck with the choice because of the features. Generally, such items are called playards and are great if you'll travel with baby. But, like Kleenex, the brand name has become the generic term, so people talk of their Pack n' Plays...but there are like 48 models. I'm here to help. Specifically, ours is the Graco Pack n' Play Playard with Cuddle Cove Rocking Seat in Winslet (phew!). Because our bedroom and the nursery are upstairs, but we spend most of our day downstairs, this is our main downstairs baby station. This was the right choice for that use because of these features:
- changing station on top with storage bin on side for diapers and other baby accoutrements (snot sucker, alcohol wipes for cord stub, etc.)
- the Newborn Napper Rocking Seat (that cozy-looking thing). A total life saver. It snaps securely into the top frame, like it is in the image, but that bad boy also comes out and can move around the house with you. Like, say, right outside the shower door. It rocks like a little cradle, but also connects to the little vibrating battery pack--which later can be hooked up to the bassinet pad, brilliant!--so it also vibrates. On 2 settings! He loves it.
- If you take those 2 items off the top, it can be used as a bassinet up to a certain weight. Lots of people opt to use this as their bedside bassinet before baby moves into his own room, and they swear by it. It's nice for that because not only does the bassinet pad hook up to the vibrating pack as mentioned, but you don't have to bend over as far to lift baby as you would if you were just using it as a regular playard
- Finally, the standard use: a portable crib for travel, grandparents' houses, etc.
Basically, what I'm saying is that this is your all-around workhorse, and they can be used in lots of different ways. Poke around and find the combo that works best for you (compact? no bells and whistles? twins?). My parents also have one at their house, and it's great because we have everything we need while we're over there (mostly a changing table) but my mom can fold it up easily or wheel it out of sight when we aren't around.
Not a ton to say here, other than it's what they use in the hospital, so it must be good for the itty bitties. The kimono style is easy in the new new phase because a) it goes around baby, rather than over the head (SCARY) and b) unlike a onesie, doesn't cover the cord stump. Once the cord falls off, the onesies/bodysuits are good too. The cuffs also flip over into little mitts to cover baby fingernails. They're really ok in this, a diaper, and wrapped in a blanket for the first little while. You've got enough to figure out without adding complicated wardrobe tasks to the list. Baby C started in the newborn size (5-8 lbs) and quickly moved up to the next size. Also good for when they're just having a spitty day and you're tired of changing "good" outfits.
4. Magnolia Baby snap-front gowns
(except BA has declared we must refer to them as "jammies")
- They snap down the front. It is way too scary to pull anything over baby's bobblehead at the very beginning
- They have cuffs to cover the baby talons if you have a little face-scratcher
- Easy access to diaper--but are convertible if you want them to have leggies
- I enjoy thinking of the ridiculous items a baby might need to keep in that tiny breast pocket
Available locally at Plaid Rabbit and Helen's.
5. baby washcloths
You need a bunch of these for bath time and wipe downs. Get as many as you think you'll need, and then get more. The cheapies are fine. If you have a boy, you REALLY need a bunch because they're the best option for stopping the geyser during diaper changes. You think they pee on you if you don't cover it, right? Wrong. The physics are such that they pee on their own little faces and it's the saddest thing because they can't figure out WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?!?! But you're laughing. But it's sad.
6. Baby Connect app
in iTunes store
At the beginning, you have to track every diaper to be able to report to the docs. This was especially important for us so we could make sure C was getting enough milk to clear out the jaundice. I still track almost every feeding--even though he's growing well and that's all going fine, I sometimes forget when he last ate. I have just started tracking daytime sleep to see if I can uncover his natural nap schedule. Since the iPhone is always in hand when feeding, I found it much easier to track everything on the phone rather than with paper and pencil. There's also an option to sync across caregivers, if that's helpful for you. It's $4.99 on iTunes, which is pricey for an app but very cheap for an essential item used multiple times a day. I especially like the different ways to look at the data, which I won't bore anyone with here but suffice it to say it is nifty and helpful.
7. My Brest Friend
Why, oh why the terrible name? Obviously I get the (terrible) pun, but must you spell it so, Mr. or Ms. inventor and CEO of Brest Friend, Inc.? Worst-named best product ever. Just get one if you are intending on breast feeding. And probably pretty great for bottle feeding as well. For the record, we do also have the beloved Boppy, staple of baby showers everywhere. I still recommend that--almost all guests prefer it just for holding baby. But when we are talking feeding, and the long hours it requires, the shape and support of the MBF is the way to go.
8. Moby Wrap
If this list were ranked, this might be my #1 choice for 3 reasons:
- He pops right in it (still in the "newborn hug hold" but probably about to outgrow that) and I suddenly have use of two hands. There is only a short list of things I cannot do with baby in the Moby, including but not limited to: shower, cook hot foods, drive, sleep. This lets you regain your productivity. Or, let's be honest, just your basic ability to eat something and go to the bathroom. If you CSI'd the Moby, you'd know everything I ate in the last two weeks.
- It keeps baby close and builds a force field that repels grabby strangers with their germ hands. I was pretty bold about taking baby out in to the world at the beginning (with the pediatrician's ok) because I thought it was best for both of us and for maintaining some normal people things. So if BA and I wanted to walk down to 12th for a quick meal, into the Moby C would go. And I didn't have to worry about people touching him or anything because there's something about wearing the baby on your body that keeps them away. So it's a sanitary sanity saver for the early weeks and probably beyond.
- He just likes it. He'll usually fall asleep on the walk down to 12th. For a couple weeks, he took a 3-hour afternoon nap in it while I puttered around the house. During the 6-week
fussfestgrowth spurt, it was the only thing that calmed him. To him, it's just like being held. To me, it's a lot easier.
Only caveat is that it gets warm, so don't overdress baby. Don't be terrified by the mystical wrapping process--videos on the website and YouTube guide you through it and you get proficient quickly. I think other carriers are fine and people love them...Bjorn, Ergo, whatever floats your boat. But I liked that I could use this one from day one, whereas others require baby to be able to hold his head up pretty well (or the purchase of an infant insert). We'll add additional carriers to the repertoire soon.
9. Naked (brand) smoothies
Quick and substantive sustenance you can manage with one hand.
10. Reese's eggs
Because mommy needs a treat, and it's probably better than day drinking. It has to be the eggs, though, because the chocolate and peanut butter are in a perfect ratio, and you can be satisfied with just one. Most days. I was fortunate enough to have a newborn in the Easter-candy season (which starts the day after Valentine's Day now, apparently), but I will be stockpiling them.
HONORABLE MENTION:
Aden + Anais Serenity Star and/or tap lights
The 5 S's from The Happiest Baby on the Block
A&D ointment
My Little Snugabunny swing
My Little Snugabunny swing
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