The Baby with Errthang! Fifty Things You’re Gonna Want!

There are some amazing things, primarily things gifted upon us, that we probably couldn’t imagine living without, and there are other things we were certain we needed that we maybe did not. There were the things we bought ourselves and the things we would buy others, because they are SO wonderful. Here is our tentative definitive collection of the most awesome crap you can buy for when you have a baby. We also include where we found it, and where YOU can find it too. These are organized by type…

Decreasing SIDS risk and creating Piece of Mind

1. Snuza Hero. This is amazing, and you can read our other post about this device. It sounds a LOUD alarm if baby stops breathing for too long. It will allow you to sleep without spending every waking moment worrying about SIDS
2. Binkies! We received pacifiers as gifts from a multitude of people and were not entirely certain we would use them, but we decided to and it has been a blessing. They are alleged to help prevent SIDS AND they are super comforting to our little guy when he’s stressin’. He IS particular… our little guy will only take MAM and I know another gal whose little one will only take NUK brand, so I think its important not to acquire too many until you know if they have a preference, but they have been a great choice for us.

3. V-Tech Baby Monitor… We have audio-only baby monitors, but its all we need since the Snuza is so loud. It alarms if something is wrong. Video monitors are pretty awesome, but we largely chose things we needed when registering.

4. Crane Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier- these come in cute animal designs

5. Any Fan that makes a lot of white noise- Fans are proven to decrease SIDS risk. If you already have a fan, move it in to baby’s room! If not, head out and buy one. Fans can be pretty inexpensive.

6. Sleep Sack (for once swaddling is done)- We found these at a Mom-to-Mom sale. I recommend this, or if you sew, I will add patterns shortly.

7. Arm’s Reach Ideal Co-Sleeper– This is great. Baby is within arm’s reach and is at no risk for having anyone roll over him. It also makes late-night feedings a lot easier if you nurse, as baby can easily be pulled into the bad and put back into his bed after he’s done eating.                                                                                      

8. Large Receiving Blankets/ Hemp receiving blankets- For Swaddling- The receiving blankets at the hospital are the best… with that said, they are at the hospital… when you get home, and realize standard receiving blankets are just plain smaller, you can let out a couple explitives because you have thirty of those.. but then… you can look at the bright side…. You have options A) make them bigger… this is easy and requires minimum sewing skills (I will add a how-to shortly) or you can B) use those smaller blankets for the inner blanket and buy some larger ones (I like the hemp ones, because they breathe well) for the outer blanket.

9. Swaddlers- These generally velcro and are easy-to-use and eliminate your risk of blankets loosening around your baby. We found these at a Mom-to-Mom sale as well, but you can also make these, with intermediate level sewing skills (I will create a How-to for this as well).

*SIDS can happen, and does happen to people who take many precautions. These are proven methods for lowering the risk, and the proper utilization of these methods as well as making sure baby sleeps on their back, and is away from smokers is a part of why the SIDS death rate is a third of what it was in 1990.

Save Some Doe!

10. Cloth Diapers. I was going to do cloth at home exclusively, but we were gifted with more than a half a year’s worth of disposable diapers at a diaper party, so we didn’t use these much… you should have them though. They are less wear on the environment, however a little harder to maintain, but even if you’re disposable committed, you may find yourself with circumstances that don’t permit you to go fetch diaps from the store, and you’ll be at ease with an alternative. We only have about a dozen, and they’re all adjustable…its a great option! AND if you want to save money, these will save you a fortune! I found LOTS of great choices, and inexpensive on Amazon.

11. Disposable Diaper liners… these are for the cloth diapers… toss solids with needing to scrub as much yuck away. A wonderful invention and FAR less waste for the bin than a disposable diaper. Lots of people make these and some are even made of recycled materials. They seem to function similarly across the board.

12. If its something you can pull off, breastfeeding will save you a lot of money, and will lessen what you need to leave the house with. Investing some time with a lactation consultant is the only product you may need and however intangible, is highly worth the money, and is often free or covered by insurance. If you have WIC, I believe they provide this service free-of-charge. A simple Google search could let you know about consultants in your area, or you could email us and we’ll find someone in your area for you… we’re very Google-friendly.

Clean & Convenient

13. DIAPER GENIE!!!! Holy #$%&! How wonderful we’ve never had to smell a poopy diap after we get them into the bin. We have two, one Diaper Genie brand and the other Arm & Hammer. Both are fantastic!

14. Playtex Smart Steam 3-in-1 Sterilizer- wash bottles and nipples, load them into the sterilizer and microwave for 2.5 minutes. So quick, so simple! 

Entertaining Baby

15. Baby Einstein Aquarium– I put this on our registry to fill space, because everything we put on there was pretty much purchased already, and we still had a baby shower arranged for us… it ended up being one of the most awesome gifts EVER. Hours of fun for our little guy… he likes the lights, he likes the classical music, and he likes the moving plastic critters inside. My four months, he knew how to turn it on with his hands and by five months he could turn it on with his hands AND feet. He’s almost six months now, and he loves it as much as the first time he saw it (at around two months of age).

16. Mirrored Anything- Our swing has a mirror and our baby loved it long before we’re certain he knew it was himself. He laughs at it… cries at it… I discovered, he generally just likes mirrors though. My Mum bought him a hanging red fox mirror, and he loves it, I put him in the bathroom mirror, standing him on the counter and he thinks its HILARIUS! Mirrors seem to be really fun/ funny for the wee ones.

17. Swing- We got ours at a Mom-to-Mom sale… it wasn’t too cheap, but it was half of the list price. Its Fisher Price. Fisher Price Swings are notorious for having not-so-great motors, but the nice thing about buying a used one is that you know you either A. Got one without a faulty motor, or B. found one with a motor that has already been replaced. I recommend plugging in any high-ticket items before buying them however, in case you come across one that is just broken.

18. Ingenuity, The Gentle Automatic Bouncer, Bouncy Chair- This has been terrific. I needed to take our baby to work at twelve days old and it has vibration and music to help him sleep and was comfortable as well and easy to move in-and-out of the office on a daily basis. I would recommend vibration AND music, whether you choose this model or another. This one is awesome, though.

19. Cloth Books- Baby can chew on these and you can hand wash them easily, and some can even be machine-washed. I recommend these. Our baby truly enjoys both of the cloth books he has.

20. Tummy Time Mat- Tummy time is invaluable. It helps baby to build the muscles for lifting his head, and for crawling as well. This is very important! Tummy time also helps with other development. We have more than one, one with a mobile for laying baby on their back too, and another with a cushion and cloth-book style panels that insight different sensory effects. One crinkles, another is incredibly soft. All good sensory exercises.

21. Evenflo Exersaucer Doorway Jumper– We haven’t used this yet, but have heard nothing but awesome things from a great number of people about this specific bouncy seat. Extra perk is that it only costs about $20.

Travel

22. Diaper Changing Mat- I discuss and Changing Pad later, but I also recommend something like a receiving blanket that has a distinct top-side and bottom-side, so you can use it for changing table in public restrooms. An alternative too could be to use a thin clear vinyl to sew over a receiving blanket, so that you can wash it easily where you change baby. I will include a how-to for doing this. You can add velcro or toes to fold it up. Also, the diaper bag below comes with a thin changing pad, however, it didn’t seem to wash without a little shape shifting.

23. Baby Boom Spaces and Places Diaper Bag– Awesome Sauce, right here! I picked this at random, because we needed a diaper bag in our registry, and this ended up being awesome! It comes with TONS of storage, including an insulated pocket for keeping cold stuff cold, or warm stuff warm, and it comes with a changing mat AND it comes with an easily refillable wipe container… oh, and its a backpack. I often wear baby using Bjorn on the front and have the diaper bag on my back.

24. Pack N’ Play- This is beyond handy. I’ve actually heard of people bad-mouthing these, but I just cannot imagine why. They are mesh, so you can talk to your baby. You can put toys in it and watch your baby play AND its super easy to transport. I drive a car that looks to be suited for clowns, and even in that small state, it houses a very large car seat, a very large stroller, diaper bag, myself, obviously baby in the car seat AND the Pack N’ Play. Its GREAT!

25. Baby Bjorn– Tried and true! These have been around for a very long time and they’re great. The straps are adjustable and you can adjust baby’s position as he grows as well. It doesn’t put pressure on one part of your back, and they start at under a hundred dollars. If you’re on a budget, you probably wouldn’t have any problem finding one at a Mom-to-Mom sale.

26. Zip Lock Bags– Available pretty much anywhere and handy for too many things to count! I recommend buying the freezer variety, they’re thicker, and buying two sizes isn’t a terrible idea either. Coupons are available regularly for these as well. I use them for medicines, wipes, diapers, soiled linens, soiled cloth diapers if I use them…. anything and everything.

27. BOB Ironman Stroller– This stroller is ideal if you plan on running or jogging as the front wheel is fixed. Its light weight, so I use it for everyday walking too, but tend to keep the front wheel of the ground for that, as it makes it easier to steer. These are VERY heavy-duty strollers… We will be using this for our next child as well. It just doesn’t seem to show any wear and tear. The price (between $300 and $490, depending on where you buy it) is worth it if you’re planning on running with is daily or plan on using it for more than one little one.

28. Maxi Cosi Vello 65 Car Seat– This car seat has superb ratings, for both safety and functionality and is good for weight 9 lbs to 45lbs. Fully convertible as well. I think the only thing I’m not super excited about is that fact that you cant leave baby in it and carry it to restaurants or outings. Its bulky and designed for staying put in the car. I would buy it again, however. Designed for top-notch safety.

29. Brica Day & Night Light Musical Auto Mirror– Car Seat view Mirror- This is a peace-of-mind thing for me, but it also allows me to make eye-contact with and smile at baby when I’m stopped. I enjoy this. We bought one with a remote that lights up and plays music… we use NONE of these additional features as of yet, ha. There is one without all of the bells and whistles for under $15, this one runs about $27 list price.

30. Car Mesh Window Shades- These are too inexpensive not to buy. I think for under $15, we covered all three rear windows. The temp is less than without them, and they protect delicate baby skin from a harsh sun.

Feeding

31. Bottles- Different kinds if you’re nursing. The Munchkin Latch bottle is the BEST if you are nursing too. It can be annoying when baby is constantly pushing the nipple in, but it doesn’t really interfere with nursing. Some bottles say slow flow, but they’re flow is no different than a normal bottle, but these ones can be flipped upside-down and almost nothing will come out. Nipple confusion is really babies not wanting to nurse because it is more work than a bottle, and that isn’t an issue with these. After the first month, we didn’t worry about it so much and began to use the Tommy Tippee bottles as well as the Medela Bottles (which we still buy today) because Our little guy prefers the nipple on the Medela bottles.

32. Summer Infant Classic Summer High Chair or Bumbo Seat (with plastic tray that is sold separately). This high chair is great, is has good reviews and it fits in with regular dining furniture if you have darker colors, and all for about a hundred bucks. It comes with adorable cushions for comfort as well. The Bumbo runs about $45, but you can sit it on the floor and sit with baby. We used the tray (which I think was for toys) for his feeding and it cleaned off easily. The Tray adds another $15-20 depending on where you buy it… so worth it!)

33. Formula- Every baby is different, but our little guy barfed up several different formulas. We needed to supplement his breastfeeding, and the Enfamil with yellow packaging worked well for him. I recommend having formula on-hand in the event that something interferes with your nursing. Better safe than sorry.

34. Medela Nipple Shield (if nursing)- Our baby didn’t latch at first, and it was not only frustrating, it was really sad to think I was unable to nurse my own baby. Someone asked if I’d tried nipple shields in passing. I had not, but Alex went and bought one and it was a total game changer! %$*&ing awesome! Seriously! He could latch! I could feed my baby! He lost interest in nursing pretty quickly and I’ve been pump exclusive for over a month now, but I at least had the opportunity to give it a solid try!

35. Medela Breast Pump- I have a Medela Pump in Style Advanced breast pump, as well as an Ameda Purely Yours Pump and a Medela manual pump as well. They have all been used, but if I have my druthers, I use the Medela Pump in Style. Its worth the money (and most insurance will cover it). I have an a/c adapter for the car too. I attach it when I’m not moving (for safety) and then I put clothing to hold it in place… the suction helps to hold it in place as well. Storing milk is a great way to have milk on hand in case you cannot nurse, too.

36. Storage for Breast Milk- In addition to the pretty Pricey Medela bottles and caps, we also have very inexpensive Lansinoh Storage Bags. They’re great, because they’re pliable when you put them in the freezer, so they can go wherever there is space. Caveat for the bags, however… getting the milk out can be tricky, because of some poorly positioned holes on the top of the bags… a little messy until you get a routine.

37. Munchkin Time Saver Bottle Warmer– Warms a 4 oz bottle in about two minutes and an 8 oz bottle in like four minutes. Convenient and doesn’t take up too much space. Its also pretty easy to clean.

38. Baby Bullet– This is great if you have a couple of hours on the weekend (you can store the food in the freezer, and it will last a long while)

39. Storage for Blended Food- You need to put the food somewhere. You can buy baby bullet food storage or stick with any smaller, freezer-safe containers. Rubbermaid makes several solid options for a lower price, you can get a two pack of the heavy-duty 0.5 Cup containers for under five bucks.

40. Food Steamer- Baby bullet makes one, but its small for the price, and if you plan on making a lot of food at once, you may want something larger… The Baby Bullet one is ALARMINGLY cute however… seriously, it has a huge smiley face on it… and it works! You can get an Elite Platinum 8.5 Quart, 3-tier Steamer for about ten bucks more though.

*alternative to a bottle warmer, especially if you have multiple bottle-fed little ones, would be a Crock Pot with a warm setting.

Bath Time

41. Wash Cloths- I Made These! The dollar tree has thin Terry washcloths, I used these as a template for cutting cute designed soft-flannel from Joann Fabrics and sewed the pieces together… voila!

42. Summer Infant Baby Aquarium Tub– Great because the cushions are inflatable and you can adjust the depth of the tub. Additionally, it folds in half and fits in a smaller area. Our little guy doesn’t like this, we have to shower him :-/ but it is what it is. This was not our first choice, but that wasn’t ever available, and now I can’t locate one to sight the name, but the design of this one ended up being really good.

43. Natural Shampoo/ soap- Between Alex and my Mother, the reviews were not great for the scent of the Bert’s Bees Baby Shampoo (I DID like the scent) so we went for… wait for the long name….. Shea Moisture Baby Head-t-Toe Wash/ Shampoo.

Health & Other

44. Infant Tylenol and Gas Drops– Tylenol–Our baby didn’t care for teething rings, cold or otherwise, so we have used this option more than a few times, and it seems to be effective within a half hour and lasts for four hours. We don’t use it daily, because we want to keep his liver healthy, but in moderation, this has been a great option for us. Gas Drops- These are awesome and you can get natural gas drops right alongside the less expensive ones. This stuff can be used DAILY, so its great, and it helped our little dude months 2-5 until he could better digest on his own. I still use it once in a while, when we add a new food into his diet, but its on its way out necessity-wise.

45. Summer Pacifier Thermometer– The forehead thermometers are great, albeit pricey, and from what the hospital has told me, the anal testing is the best method, but that seems to me like something I would only trust a medical professional to do and the first two doctors couldn’t even get a read that way, because our little guy was so uncomfortable he squirmed… that’s where our Pacifier Thermometer comes in handy. Baby naturally sucks on nipples/ binkies (pacifiers) and though it is more solid in form than a standard pacifier, he adjusted quickly to it. We seemed to get a very accurate read as well. These run about $14, making them practical even for someone on a tight budget (we budget very tightly).

46. Nose Frida Nasal Aspirator– The concept of this grossed me the %$&* out, but when our baby was sick for his 2nd time in two months, I did it. There is a filter, so you don’t get boogies in your mouth or anything, but you are effectively sucking the snot out of your babies nose with your mouth. Gross concept, but this thing is FANTASTIC! I would easily buy it again.

47. Diaper Rash Ointment- We have many options for this, we bought everything for fear of diaper rashes, but since our baby’s initial meconium poop (sandy clay consistency) and that redness only lasted a couple of days. We bought A&D ointment, a tub of Desitin, Burt’s Bees stuff, oils, and made our own cream, and its mostly used as a preventative measure, but not having to know if stuff is working or our baby is just naturally diaper rash free is worth the expense of having the nice products.

48. Changing Pad (we bought a gardening mat that came with its own bag… less expensive and more comfortable).

49. Munchkin Wipe Warmer– This thing is great, especially if your baby is sleepy and you don’t want to startle them awake with a cold wipe… our little guy doesn’t mind cold wipes so much, so I generally only pull out the warm wipes at night (his Daddy uses warm wipes whenever they’re available).

50. Reusable Wipe Storage- There are many options for this… you could use something as inexpensive as a zip-lock bag, or you could use a hard container (like the one that comes with the diaper bag I’ve recommended here), but its nice to have a small package that is sealed so the wipes don’t dry up. I will include a how-to for making your fabric-clear vinyl wipe bag soon.

• I will include a how-to for making natural diaper rash cream at home shortly.