With so baby products on the market, it's so hard to tell which ones really make a difference. So to help us we read a ton of books to educate us. In the end, however, it's a mom's testimonial that can sway you in the right direction. My baby is almost four months old and by now I've learned what baby products make my life easier and which ones money were only hype. So from my brief experience, here is a quick list of my must haves- think gifts for your preggo friends or new moms. Note: none of the companies mentioned have asked me to write about their product or asked me to test them.
1. Baby carrier- While I'm loyal to the Moby Wrap, many friends and family members swear by Baby Bjorn. All I know is that when my baby is crying at the top of his lungs and his face is red, I gently place him into the Moby Wrap and the closeness to my heartbeat and chest calm him down AND I get two free hands to have a snack or do some reading while my baby relaxes. Apparently many women breastfeed while the baby is in the Moby Wrap, I'm not that talented.
2. Swaddle blankets or Swaddle Me- The first thing I learned about babies in the hospital was how to swaddle my baby. And while the nurse did a fantastic job of teaching my hubby and I how to do it, not all blankets are created equal leading your baby to Houdini his way out of his swaddle. Therefor, I strongly recommend investing in a few Swaddle Me type outfits that keep the baby tight at night helping him to sleep longer. After all, swaddled baby means happy parents.
3. Pacifier wipes and hands/face wipes- Do you have any idea how often an infant drops his pacifier in one day? And while you may have like 10 pacifiers, somehow when he's falling asleep and you're nowhere near another pacifier the one he has just happens to fall to the ground. Enter pacifier wipes to make your life easier and keep moms everywhere a little bit further away from going insane. To add to that, the hands and face wipes come in very handy after a baby spits up and you don't have the time to give your baby a bath right then and there. (But please, if your baby is spitting up constantly do bathe him more than the recommended 3 times a week.)
4. Breastfeeding pillow- I know that this isn't a necessity, but it sure makes your life easier. My hubby bought me a Boppy pillow and I absolutely adore it. I go from room to room in my house with my Boppy as it serves multiple purposes. One use is to facilitate breastfeeding, but my favorite one is to put my baby to sleep. Yes, there is a version of the Boppy pillow that is strictly for newborns. But I simply put a receiving blanket over it and close it and the baby LOVES to sleep there. He must feel warm and cozy. Whatever it is, I'm just happy he is able to sleep and that I can put the pillow on my bed or on the couch next to me when I'm watching TV.
5. Baby monitor- Whether it is the one that only provides sound or a high-tech one with a touchscreen digital monitor, this will provid peace of mind to any parent. In those rare occassions when my baby is sleeping in his crib and I'm in the kitchen or family room, I simply take the monitor and enjoy some time to myself. Think about it, alone time is extremely limited so why not help out a new mom with a monitor?
6. Bouncer or swing- I preface this by saying that my child doesn't fancy either one, but he's one of the few who doesn't like them. My doll of a niece on the other hand loved her swing/bouncer. How I wish my son enjoyed at least one.
7. Noise machine or white noise CD- So they say babies enjoy white noise because it makes them feel like they did when they were in the womb, and I believe it. My baby easily relaxes at the sound of any white noise- let's just say that the exhaust in my kitchen has become my best friend especially at 4 am when he decides he won't go back to sleep and needs to more attention than usual. They range in price from $10 for a disc to about $50 for a more sophisticated noise machine. Huge return on investment here.
8. Infant Toys- Fisher Price has this dancing and singing dog that my baby just goes crazy for. As for me, I love it. Not only is it educational but also my husband and I have learned the songs and sing along- it's become quite the family affair to play with my son and the Fisher Price doggy on a daily basis. We received it as a gift but I think it's not more than $20. My sons other favorite toy is Sophie the French giraffe. Oh let me count the ways that I love Sophie. While a bit pricey for one toy, she definately keeps my son entertained- he chews on her, squeezes her to make the squeaky noise and holds her long giraffe legs. I feel that this is a toy that grows with the baby. By far, one of the best gifts- thank you to Enzo's godmother for such a thoughtful gift.
9. Socks not shoes- I've had the hardes time finding shoes that fit my newborn (now soon to be a 4 month old). So I decided to forgo the socks and buy the socks that look like shoes- Trumpette and Carters have some really good choices. Not only do they cover his feet but they don't bother him. When he's old enough for shoes, we'll start looking.
10. Bumbo chair- It is all that and a bag of chips. After a few months of sleeping on their backs (as recommended by pediatricians) your baby may suffer from flat head syndrome. To help with their heads becoming completely flat, try sitting them up in the Bumbo chair. Although my son doesn't like to sit in it, well because he doesn't like to sit still period, I still love it. Friends have raved about this product so it is with no hesitation that I tell you invest in one for yourself or your friends.
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