Since having Zoe, I have had several people ask me which items I use the most, or what they should buy their expecting loved ones. Well, here you go! Here is a list of some items that you may not think of that Zoe and I use every day.
- Boppy Newborn Lounger
I use the Newborn Lounger every day. If you follow me on social media, you have probably seen several pictures of Zoe smiling while using one. It has been a lifesaver for me. It enables me to have her safely seated on the couch or bed while I get dressed, eat lunch, or write in my blog. At $30, it is fairly affordable and is well worth the money. The only downside is that it does not come with a removable cover.
You can find the link to purchase a Newborn Lounger here.
2. Gerber Flannel Burp Cloths
Zoe spits up. A lot. In fact, just the other day she projectile-vomited straight into my face. It was glorious.
Anyways…
These Gerber Flannel Burp Cloths are lifesavers. They soak up everything and are the perfect size for throwing over your shoulder during burps. They come in several colors, and you can find them on Amazon or at your local Walmart. I suggest you buy a dozen. They’re amazing. Seriously.
3. Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow Bottles
Before I started using these, Zoe had terrible gas and stomach pains. She cried constantly. Someone had given me the gift set at a baby shower, but I had forgotten to open them. Desperately looking for a solution, I found them in the kitchen cabinet where we keep the rest of Zoe’s feeding items. We tried them out, and her gas pains have reduced significantly. We were given the Natural Flow set, and given that Zoe has ZERO nipple confusion (as I do breast and formula feed) I would say that they are very effective. You can find the gift set for less than $15 at Target. The gift set includes three 8-oz bottles, two 4-oz Bottles, three steel cleaning brushes, two storage/travel caps, two level 2 silicone nipples, three 8-oz bottles, and five Level 1 Silicone Nipples. Some say that they do not use them as they can be difficult to clean; however, we have not found that to be an issue (perhaps it’s because we don’t use anything else).
4. SwaddleMe Velcro Swaddles
Guys. Embarrassing motherhood secret: I never caught on to swaddling with a muslin blanket. I just can’t do it. I know, I’m horrible. But we have these Velcro swaddles, and Zoe only wakes up once a night at 7 weeks old, so I’d say we’re doing pretty great. You can find them pretty much anywhere that sells baby items, and they come in several adorable prints and colors. They go for about $24 at Walmart for a pack of two. Before you buy your favorite mother-to-be ANOTHER muslin swaddle blanket, look into these instead. She will get plenty of blankets…Promise.
5. Bubula Jr. Steel Diaper Pail
I know this is a controversial one, as many moms hate their diaper pails. But in my work running group homes for adults with disabilities, we used our diaper pails every day and I could not see myself having a baby without one. The Bubula diaper pail is made of steel, so the smell does not permeate the can. It is compatible with regular trash bags (which is my favorite feature) and looks sharp in the baby’s room. We received the Junior version, and it is plenty large for our singleton baby. If we were to have twins, I may have considered the larger version, but for us–this is perfect. The only downside is that it is not readily available. You can find it in store at Buy Buy Baby, or at their online store and Amazon. Here is the link for the one we have here.
6. Graco Pack ‘n Play Quick Connect Portable Bouncer with Bassinet
While the other items on my list are very affordable, I thought I would add my favorite splurge item: Our Pack ‘n Play. I know a lot of people say that they never use their Pack n’ Play, but I’m glad Kylar and I received one, because it has been well used. This thing is amazing, and has already accompanied me to Abilene, Garland, and McKinney to visit family. Not only can it turn into a crib on road trips, it also has a changing table, bassinet, and a storage basket included. We use our Pack ‘n Play every single day, and it was worth the investment (Thanks United Way for the gift!) You can find it here on Amazon.
What are your favorite baby items? Is there anything that you would recommend?
She Will Call Me Mom 