I’ve tried a lot of different products for me and the baby during his first few months. Some just didn’t work for us so I wanted to share the items that did…these are the products I’ve been using the most and would recommend to new mothers:
From left to right, top to bottom:
1. The On the Go Sleep Sheep is the smaller-sized version and comes with a Velcro strap to attach it to the crib or the car seat handle. I love the different white noise options (rain, whales in the ocean, birds, etc.). I turn it on when Crew is drowsy and ready to fall asleep.
2. The Wipes Warmer is one of those products that we joked about and didn’t think we wanted. We soon realized that a freezing cold wet wipe is pretty jarring on a little Winter Baby’s tush.
3. aden + anais burby bibs are bean-shaped and snap around the neck. They are nice and long (spit up travels, you know!) and are also made to throw over your shoulder.
4. The Dairy Fairy all-in-one Nursing Bra is a comfortable and soft bra to use while you are pumping. A hands-free situation is a must and the other ones I tried with the Velcro backs itched like crazy and I dreaded putting them on!
5. I’ve become a little obsessed with Hanna Andersson Organic Cotton Baby Sleepers because of their high-quality cotton and easy zippers. I never knew how much I’d appreciate onesies that zip up, rather than button or go over the baby’s head. Waayyy easier. Hanna Andersson’s onesies are also footless, which means that your baby won’t grow out of them as fast…you just have to find cute socks to pair with them.
6. The Baby Bath Support by Angelcare works wonderfully and I feel comfortable bathing Crew by myself when he’s in it. I bought another bath insert before using this one and Crew kept sliding down in it. This one has mesh holes to let the water drip through and a little area for his bum to fit in.
7. The Boon Orb Bottle Warmer is a handy gadget that entails throwing a little water in it and pressing one button. The warmer uses steam to heat up a cold bottle and takes about two to three minutes.
8. HALO SleepSack cotton swaddle was recommended by my friend and I love it. My husband and I got the hang of the swaddling technique after a few weeks but this SleepSack makes it super simple.
9. Little Giraffe Baby Blankets have been referred to as “baby crack.” It must be because of their super soft texture and the silk edges. We use them on the floor and as stroller blankets.
10. I have cabinets filled with Honest Company home and baby products and feel comfortable using them because they are chemical-free. I received the baby arrival gift set and love this as a shower gift for a mom-to-be. Before Crew was born I stocked up on all of the home cleaning products I could get my hands on…all-purpose cleaner, bathroom cleaner, floor cleaner, floor wipes, detergent, dishwasher pods, etc. The scents are all great too.
11. I attach The Mommy Hook Stroller Hanger to my stroller and hang my diaper bag from it. Yes, you could throw your bag underneath but I like my bag to be a closer to me for easy access and that also frees up the underneath area of the stroller for shopping bags or groceries. I’ve even hung a little grocery store basket from it and shopped for food.
12. The Boon Lawn Countertop Drying Rack is just a simple nice-to-have item that is great for air drying just-washed bottles and pacifiers.
13. The Mini Boppy Tummy Time Pillow was something we purchased to help Crew with his tummy time sessions. Once you have a baby, you’ll notice everyone talking about the importance of tummy time to strengthen your baby’s neck and back muscles. We were laying him down on flat surfaces, which was/is fine but this pillow props him up a bit and makes it more enjoyable for him!
14. We resisted the urge to buy a swing for a couple of months until we realized that a swing would be a nice option if we needed our hands free to do something around the house while he was awake (like shower or make dinner!). We didn’t want to buy a regular swing, which are huge, but we found the Ingenuity Portable Swing and Crew loves it. It doesn’t take up much space and it’s easy to move around the house or take to Grandma’s. It also helps to calm Crew down if he gets tired and starts to cry. He can fall asleep in it and then we transfer him to his crib.
