I am in no way deeming myself an expert with this list, and, depending on personal parenting choices, I have left some very important items out. For example, if you choose to breastfeed, you will need a good breast pump. I left this out because a) I personally was only able to breast feed McKenna for 10 weeks and b) I received a free breast pump through my insurance company, that actually turned out to work really well (Ameda Purely Yours if you’re really curious). Below are the items that worked well for us and for McKenna over the last 6 months.
1. WubbaNub. These things are everywhere! As Mike likes to (defeatedly) say, “Somebody is getting rich off the idea of connecting a stuffed animal to a pacifier.” It’s totally one of those “Why didn’t I think of this?” products, but they really are adorable. So adorable that it’s hard not to buy every single one. We started out with one for McKenna, and eventually got 2 so that we could leave one in her crib at daycare. I would recommend two because, trust me, these things are gold. And if you lose one – you better have a back up ready. It’s a great pacifier and the animal helps it to not get lost. Plus, once your child’s older, you can cut the pacifier off and – boom! – they have a stuffed animal. Be careful when you’re shopping for these because some boutique stores really raise the price. Retail $14.00 (Amazon.com).
2. Inch Bug Labels. These are for all your mamas whose babies go to daycare or some form of school (or maybe even for mamas with more than one baby!). These customizable rubber labels are great for putting around bottles, sippy cups, etc. This site also has stick-on labels for baby’s blankets, spare clothes, spoons, etc. that you may have to provide at daycare. We went this route versus writing McKenna’s name on everything because I know one day I will either be donating these items or reusing them for another baby (way down the road), and I don’t want them marked up. These are available at inchbug.com. Prices vary depending on product.
3. Infant activity/play mat. This isn’t the exact one that we have, but they’re all pretty similar. Most are obnoxiously colored (ours is!), but that’s part of the “entertainment” for babies. The many colors and patterns keep baby stimulated and entertained. We went through two different types of swings (one was the ever-popular MamaRoo at $230.00) and one bouncer – all of which McKenna hated – until she took to the play mat. Retail average $40.00.
4. Avent Classic Feeding Bottles.This is a personal preference really. Some babies only take to certain nipples or bottles. McKenna loves food so much, I’m pretty sure she’d take to anything. We tried these out first and they worked! I do love the design and the ability to change nipple sizes as she gets older. Retail $19.00.
5. Fisher-Price Newborn Rock-N-Play Sleeper. We used this Rock-N-Play Sleeper as McKenna’s basinet from the time we brought her home to the hospital until she literally, physically outgrew it (around 8 weeks). It keeps the baby in an elevated position with the sleeper portion like a hammock that keeps them cozy. It also has a vibration setting that helps to soothe baby. Retail $74.99.
6. Tula Ergonomic Baby Carrier. I wasn’t sure how much baby wearing I would do, but I knew I wanted the option. We started out with an inexpensive Infantino carrier from Target, which was suitable for when McKenna got smaller, but I knew that it wasn’t supportive enough for either of us. As McKenna got bigger, I could tell my lower back was not digging this carrier. One day she fell asleep in the carrier when I was at a co-worker’s house for a work event, and her poor legs started losing circulation. I ordered the Tula Ergonomic Baby Carrier than and haven’t put her in the other one since. This carrier is 100x more supportive for both of us, and I can wear McKenna on either my front or my back (when she gets bigger). If I were still breastfeeding, this carrier allows for concealed, easy breastfeeding, too. It doesn’t allow for baby to face forward, but that is arguably not the best position for baby’s hip development anyways. Did I mention the Tula comes in lots of fun colors and patterns? Note: We also use the Boba Wrap, but it was too hot most of the time. (Boba Wrap + Florida summer = Not good) Retail $149.00.
7. Boppy Nursing Pillow. Whether you decide to nurse or not, a Boppy pillow is a great thing to have for you and the baby. Even after I stopped nursing McKenna, I still used the Boppy to help hold her when I bottle fed. It also helps during different stages of development such as tummy time and sitting up. Retail $39.99.
8. Fisher-Price Space Saver High Chair. We had originally registered (and been given) a standard high chair. But once that box came, I was so reluctant to set it up. The box was HUGE, and I knew that there would be some assembly required, making the high chair even bigger. Living in a 1,040 sq. ft., 4-level town home doesn’t give us much room for “things,” so after seeing the Space Saver High Chair, we knew the real one had to go. The Space Saver buckles securely onto an existing dining room chair. The seat cover (which comes in different pattern/color options) is easily removable for washing. This thing is awesome! I’ve even packed it in the car (without disassembly) for a weekend getaway. Retail $49.99.
9. Dr. Smith’s Premium Blend Diaper Ointment. We had been given a few different types of diaper rash creams/ointments at our baby shower. McKenna didn’t have a really bad diaper rash until her first cold, and it was unbelievable! She would flinch when we wiped her, and I felt so terrible. Between the butt paste and the A&D ointment we had on hand, it didn’t seem like anything was working… At least no fast enough. I had gotten some samples of Dr. Smith’s at the doctor’s office, and I started seeing a difference in one diaper change! I swear by it now, and don’t use anything else. It’s a little on the pricier side, but you can almost always find manufacturer’s coupons somewhere. Retail $10.99.
10. Aden & Anais Muslin Swaddle Blankets. I’ll be honest… McKenna only let us swaddle her for about the first two weeks. She absolutely hated having her arms pinned, and she actually slept okay outside of a swaddle, so I let her win that battle. However, when we were swaddling her, these blankets were the best! I had the velcro style swaddles, but McKenna definitely got the tightest, coziest swaddle from the Aden & Anais Muslin Swaddle Blankets. And the patterns are so cute! Retail $50.00 (4-pack).
11. Evenflo Exersaucer Doorway Jumper. After we realized the swings and bouncers didn’t work, all McKenna had “play-wise” was her play mat. She always showed a love for standing up (us holding her up, really) and “pretend walking,” so we went on the hunt for a doorway jumper. It was perfect for when I was cleaning/organizing her room or putting her laundry away – and so affordable! Retail $20.00.
12. OXO Tot Silicone Feeding Spoon. We got two of these spoons (with the travel case) as items in our swag bags at the Bump, Baby, & Beyond event sponsored by the Tampa Bay Moms Blog. McKenna had been eating solids for about a month so far, and we had previously been using the Munchkin 6-pack Soft Top Infant Spoons. Nothing at all against those spoons, as I am sure they will come in handy when McKenna is a bit older, but they were tons messier than the OXO Tot Silicone Feeding Spoon. The silicone feeding spoons have less of a “cup” at the end, so you don’t have to maneuver them around inside baby’s mouth as much to empty the spoon. Since McKenna has a bit of a tongue-tie, this was huge for us. During her first feeding I noticed a huge difference in how much food was actually staying in her mouth vs. ending up on her bib. Even Mike will feed her solids now (still with some reluctance) because it’s just easier. I could go on and on about infant feeding spoons (this is what life is like with a baby – you could talk about spoons for hours), but I’ll just say – they’re seriously great. And leave it at that. Retail $6.99 (2-pack).
Our Little "Whoops!" 