15 Baby Items a New Mommy Should Have

Well, I guess I'll start off with a 'Hello'. =) I took a break from blogging for about a year to focus on getting my house in order for our new little one that we were blessed with in December. What a huge change! My little one is 3 months old now & it is great. I wanted to write something that would help out new mommies. I asked a lot of my friends with kids their opinions & did a lot of research on the best items out there before I purchased anything.

I also didn't want my house to be overtaken by kids stuff. I know that may sound silly, but I know a lot of people who let their kids rule the house & I wasn't about to let that happen after my husband & I worked really hard to get our house the way we love it. I didn't want to buy things just to buy things for our new baby. I wanted to buy things that were useful (sometimes multi-uses) & only buy what I needed...not what I wanted or didn't need now. Now obviously I do have baby stuff around, but I feel like it's controlled. =) I guess I'll see how that works out when I have multiple kids. =) I just know it's possible for it not to have constant chaos in the house...my mom raised me with my 4 other siblings in a house full of antiques & we knew not to touch them. Hopefully, I can successfully train my kids the same way.

Anyway, I compiled a listed of things that I've found super useful & I'm glad I registered/purchased them. Some things we didn't even buy until after our baby was born because we weren't sure if we really needed it or not. These are just a list of things that work best for me...you may have to figure out what is best for you & your baby. In any regard, I hope this list helps a little bit.

1. Graco SnugRide Click Connect 35 Car Seat

I've linked this to Amazon, but you can get this at Target & BabiesRUs. I got mine from BabiesRUs in the color Tidalwave. The number 35 in the name means that it can hold an infant from newborn all the way up to 35 pounds. So, you're guaranteed this seat will work for your child for a while. I'll go into more on numbers 2 & 3.

2. Graco SnugRide Click Connect 30/35  Infant Car Seat Base

The reason I love this car seat is you can get multiple bases and put the base in every car you own or in the cars of your babysitter or parents...basically any car you'll use often. It's super easy to put in your car...you just buckle it into place. The base also has a little 'level' on the side. If it's red it means the base is tilted too much, if it's blue it means your level. And then the actual car seat itself just clicks into the base & that's how you'll know you have it in safely & correctly by listening for the clicking. There is a lever on the car seat that you push in and it releases from the base. Right now we have 2 bases that we use often. They are only $50. I received one as a gift & was able to purchase the second one with gift cards.

3. Graco Fastaction Fold Click Connect Jogger Stroller

Again, I got mine from BabiesRUs. Now, the reason I got the jogger stroller is because it's an all terrain stroller. It's really easy to push & it's a really smooth ride for the baby even if you go over bumps it doesn't jar the baby. I actually had someone tell me that I would need 4 different strollers!!! What?!?! I don't think so. I live in a townhouse that does not have a lot of storage. We don't even have a garage. There is no way that I would buy 4 big bulky strollers! I will say that I have a umbrella stroller, but they fold up super compact & don't take up a lot of room & they are super cheap. Maybe down the road when we have multiple kids we'll have to get a multi-seated stroller, but we don't need that now. Here is a tip...when you are registering, register for these items separately. The reason I'm suggesting for you to do this way is because if you register for the whole set (which is about $400+) it looks too intimidating to buy for one person or even a couple of people. If you register for these items separately they will look less expensive & you are more then likely going to get all 3 items maybe from 3 different groups of people.

4. Chicco Lullaby Magic Play Yard- Solare

I love my pack-n-play. I love the colors. I love the owls. It has 2 options for sound: nature & lullabies. It has a volume button & a button to turn on & off the rotating owls. The mobile actually moves from side-to-side so you can place your baby in the pack-n-play without it being in the way. There is plenty of room for your little one to lie in the pack-n-play with the changing table is attached. The changing table does detach super easy. The mobile is detachable too. The pack-n-play has wheels on one side so you can move it easily when it's all set up. I will tell you it was a little challenging to set up...but to our defense we were new parents & had never put anything like that together before. haahaa!

5. Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier with Auto Shut-Off

A little disclaimer, my baby was born in December. This winter was probably the harshest winter in a very long time! Of course, right? Murphy's Law Anyway, just a week after my little girl was born she got a couple of nose bleeds & my doctor suggested we get a humidifier & that her nose bleeds were a result of the air being too dry. My husband stopped at a Walmart on the way home from work & there were only a couple to pick from so he picked this one & we've been using it ever since....& haven't seen a nose bleed since. This is probably the only thing that I didn't review online, but I have no complaints about it. You fill up the water reservoir; one fill will last 2 nights.

6. Munchkin Light My Way Night Light

Ok, now you can choose any ole' night light you want, but I really like this one because first of all, it's portable...you don't have to be limited to the plug-in light now. At night I have a routine with my little one. I turn off all the lights in her room, turn on the nightlight, fan, humidifier, & music. I feel like she knows it's time for bed. It's just enough light to feed her, change her & put her to bed. Second, the best part about this light is it turns off automatically in about 20 minutes. When she gets to be a 'big girl' and wants to have a night light we can turn this one on & it will turn off when she is probably fast asleep.

7. Fisher Price My Little Lamb Cradle and Swing

This we bought after we had our baby. I was on the fence about buying one because I had so many friends say their baby loved or their baby hated it, but when we brought our little one home and she screamed & screamed for the first couple weeks we found out that she liked to be moving. My husband insisted that we needed one & he bought it pretty much without us even discussing it. =) I'm so glad we did because she really loves it. It was a huge life saver for use in those early weeks of her life...sometimes it was only way she would take a nap. It's better now & she'll take a nap in her crib now, but I still rock her to sleep first. I like this particular swing because it had 2 different swing directions. The only thing I don't like is it eats up the batteries. My husband finally bought a wall adapter & is going to wire it straight to the swing so all we have to do is plug it in for it to work instead of killing 4 D batteries at once. If you don't want something that is as big as this swing here are a few other options:
Option #1. Ingenuity Portable Swing- Bella Vista.

My church's nursery has this one & it is really nice. It's perfect for if you plan on going on a trip with your baby. This is lightweight & easy to move anywhere in the house. It does not take up a lot of room. If I would have seen this portable swing before we bought the bigger one, I probably would have bought this one instead.
Option #2. Fisher Price My Little Lamb Rock n' Play Sleeper.

This is a portable "swing"...but you have to manually rock it. It does fold up so you can put it away nicely. It also has a vibrator you can switch on & off to sooth/comfort baby. We've used this often. I pull it up next to the table while we eat dinner & she likes to sit in it & a lot of times she dozes off in it. I purchased this because I wasn't sure if I wanted a bassinet or if I wanted to put her right in her crib. I never used it as a bassinet because I put her in her crib from day one of bringing her home from the hospital. A lot of the reviews I read though were mommies that used this as their bassinet. The baby can sleep comfortably in this & it's small enough that you can put it right next to your bed. It's also a little inclined so if your baby is struggling with reflux it would be better than laying flat.
Option #3. Graco Snug Glider Infant Car Seat Swing

Now this is really cool. Just cut out the middle man & use your car seat as your swing....your car seat is already inclined, it swings, vibrates, plays music, & it all can be folded for travel. Very cool.

8. Swaddle Blanket

There are two types of swaddle blankets that I've used. The Swaddle Me and the Muslin Swaddle Blanket. The Swaddle Me blanket has velcro on it & is super easy to secure into place. It's great to use when you are getting up every 3 hours through the night to feed your baby...your brain isn't functioning because of lack of sleep you don't have to even think about how to swaddle the baby properly. I think I used these through the night for about a month and a half with my little one. It helps at this young of age because a lot of things startle them & they wake up or they scratch their faces. I did find she didn't like the velcro sound & she eventually grew out of the Swaddle Me blanket. Now I just use a Muslin Swaddle Blanket, the nice thing about these is it takes a while for your baby to grow out of these. I only use the Muslin Swaddle Blanket for naps now or when she gets into a screaming fit. It really helps to calm her down. I just swaddle her, put her binky in her mouth, and rock her (or sway if you're standing). She eventually calms & goes to sleep. The reason I don't swaddle her at night anymore is she found her thumb super early and she self-soothes.

9. Skip Hop Treetop Friends Activity Gym

This floor mat is great. It's not obnoxiously bright colors. My daughter loves to "play" on the mat. She loves to be able to kick her legs and wave her arms freely. She will lay there laughing at the animals hanging above her. A lot of times I sit next to her and jingle the toys. The owl is a rattle, the squirrel is a squeeky toy, the bird is a visual rattle, the other bird squeezes in the middle to make chirp sound, & the apple is a mirror. It folds up nicely into its packaging that seconds as a travel bag. And it transitions with your baby throughout the baby's first year. Another play mat to consider is Fisher-Price My Little Snugabunny Ultra Comfort Musical Gym.

A friend has something similar with a battery operated mobile. My daughter is really loving mobiles lately so this is a great option to keep their attention a little longer. The only thing about this one is you can't pack it up as easily as the Skip Hop Activity Gym & you also will go through batteries with this one...so in the long run the Skip Hop Activity Gym may be better if you consider the cost of the batteries. Either way, I'm sure your baby will love these floor mats.

10. Infantino Swift Classic Carrier

This carrier is really nice if nothing else will suit your baby. It enables you to hold your baby hands free. It's also great if you're going someplace & you don't want to drag out the stroller. I've researched a bunch of carriers, but I didn't want to spend a couple hundred dollars on one before trying a carrier out first. This one is inexpensive & it does the job. It can hold your baby up to 35 lbs and it has 2 holding positions. I originally registered for a Baby Bjorn, but I read a lot about them & the reviews said it's really bad for the baby's hips. I was also considering a sling, but again I've heard a lot of negative things about them, like that baby can't move as well in them & if there is something wrong they won't be able to move or cry out to tell you something is wrong. There have been reports of suffocation. So, I just thought I better stay away, it's better to be safe then sorry.

11. Boppy Nursing Pillow

I cannot tell you how much I love this pillow. You don't have to try to hold the baby with one arm while trying to get her to latch correctly. You can have both arms free to help direct the baby properly. The packaging also seconds as a travel bag for it which I use often.

12. Exersaucer

I have one similar to the Evenflo Exersaucer Jump and Learn. Every parent that I talked to told me that I needed to have an exersaucer. They have stationary exersaucers...the kind that don't bounce up & down. I knew I wanted the kind that bounced since we couldn't have a Johnny Jump Up because we don't have any doorways downstairs for it to hang on...we have an open concept first floor. Plus, if I got the exersaucer that has the jumping feature then I wouldn't feel like I needed a Johnny Jump Up. Anyway, one of my best friends from college came to visit me after I had my baby & she brought her one year old daughter. She had tons of energy & one way we kept her occupied but in one place was putting her in the exersaucer. I was able to nurse my baby & my friend was able to take a shower without either one of us worrying what she was going to get into next. =) Let's just call it child prison...they just don't know it's child prison...shhh our little secret. =) haahaa!

13. The First Years Newborn Pacifier & clip

 The hospital will probably give you a pacifier, but I bought a 2-pack of these to have one attached to the car seat, one on the first floor, & one in her bedroom...always prepared. =) The clip is great because if she spits the pacifier out you don't have to play hot potato trying to catch it before it falls to the ground. When my little one was first born they gave her to me to try to feed. What an experience. It was painful, frustrating, confusing...but let me tell you it does get better. In the hospital every nurse (even my lactation consultant) would tell you something different. Feed the baby when the baby cries, feed on demand, feed for however long the baby needs, etc. Finally through tears and frustration and after an hour of nursing on one side alone a nurse came in and said my baby was just using me as a pacifier. She suggested only feed for 20 minutes on each side every 2 1/2 to 3 hours & if the baby cries you check to see if she's burped, changed, or needs a nap...otherwise give her a pacifier. Honestly, this helped so much. At first she fought it, but now it's an instant soother for her. She does suck her thumb, but the pacifier always is my go-to if she's fussy.

14. Burp cloths or receiving blankets

I know this is probably a no brainer, but nobody bought me any burp cloths, not one....BUT I did get a ton of receiving blankets. My family threw me a beautiful baby shower & they used receiving blankets as the table runners. After the shower they gave me all the receiving blankets. I actually really like using them as burp cloths. I feel like burp cloths get used and then you can't use them a second time, but receiving blankets being larger you can fold them & refold them so you can use them multiple times before having to wash them. My mom hates that I use receiving blankets as burp cloths...cuz that's not what they're to be used for...but it works for me. =) She did eventually buy me a couple of "real" burp cloths so I do have a couple of them now, but don't be afraid to repurpose things. =)

15. On Becoming Baby Wise

I guess technically this isn't a baby item, but this will help you. I really didn't read any baby books in prep for our baby. I started reading one but they gave every scenario known to mankind that could happen to your baby & I started worrying what if that happened to my baby. And if anything the doctors will tell you not to be stressed while pregnant; it's not a good thing. Just a disclaimer about this book. One of my best friends gave me this book & I started reading it the first week my little one was born. At first I loothed this book. I'll tell you why....it gives some schedules to try to follow with feeding, wake-time, & nap time, but guess what, your baby hasn't read the book (as my mom put it). The first few weeks of a newborn are tough & honestly your body goes into survival mode. The book is just meant to be a guideline...so, don't stress yourself out about how your baby isn't following the book's schedule. It took a couple weeks for my baby to get her days and nights worked out, but I would read the book & get myself all worked up because it's not happening they way the book says it's supposed to happen. Again, this book is just a guideline. It has helps & tips. It's actually a really good book. I would say I don't follow everything in it, but it's gotten me on the right track & I'm feeling more & more confident as a new mommy every day. Not everything in the book will work for you & you must be able to be flexible. Your baby is just a baby...if they came with manuals that would be awesome, but they don't...they are just trying to figure out things just like you are.

16. Medela Pump in Style Advanced Breast Pump with On the Go Tote

I know, I know...I said top 15 items. The reason I'm not counting this one in my countdown is because not every mommy breast feeds & that's fine. Some babies have a hard time latching, the mommy's milk supply isn't enough, it hurts too much.....whatever the reason it's just not for everyone. This is where you have to figure out what's best for you & your baby & tune everyone else out. =) Now, I do breastfeed, but it took a good 7 weeks before I was comfortable with it. You may not use the breast pump at first. I actually just started using it. At first I hated it because I felt like a cow...that machine is really dehumanizing. But when I realized that I could physically miss a feeding by pumping ahead of time so my husband could give our daughter a bottle it was liberating. Now instead of rushing around to be back within my 3 hour feeding mark I could go out for an extended period of time & not have to worry about my baby & her feeding schedule. Now granted, I don't go gallivanting around the countryside now, but I'm able to go to a bridal shower or even a date night with my husband & not have to rush around worrying that my baby is screaming her head off because I'm late in feeding her. Also, the cool thing now is that the insurance company gives you one...I didn't find this out until AFTER I had already bought one, but now you know. I would totally get a double automatic breast pump. It's fast, hands free, & easy to use. The one I have comes with a little cooler & ice pack. I guess you could say my pump & I have a love hate relationship. I love that it liberates me a little, but I hate that I still feel like a cow. =) I'm actually pumping twice a day and freezing the milk for any occasions I may need it for.

One last tip...I registered for everything online. I was able to read all the reviews on every item that I purchased. I only looked at items that received 4 or 5 stars. It enabled me to compare items & see which one was better for me. We did take a gander through the baby aisles a couple of times, but it was just to look, not to buy & not to register. I would write some items down that interested me & go home to research them out. My mom said I only did this because I was a new mom...maybe, but honestly I wanted to make sure I was getting a quality item because my husband & I plan on having more children. I want it to last for however many we have. I don't want to have to buy a large ticket item for each child.

Also, if you're just finding out that you're expecting your first child you probably haven't frequented a BabiesRUs or the baby section in Target or any baby section for that matter...It can get super overwhelming super FAST. I had a girlfriend who went to BabiesRUs to register with her husband & they left the store & she was a mess....crying & thinking she was going to be a horrible mom because she doesn't even know what to get for her baby. Now this was probably part of her hormones talking...but each of us ladies have gone through the 'I just have to cry' moments in our pregnancies. This is something that I wanted to avoid, so I just opted for registering online & when I got a little overwhelmed I just took a break in the comfort of my own home. Oh, & just for the record that same girlfriend had her baby a couple months before I had mine & she is a fantastic mommy!

Another option for you is to register with another girlfriend...this is key: who already has kids. We all love our husbands & they are super helpful especially when we have our big ole' prego bellies, but sometimes it's just better to do some things with other girls. However you choose to register, make it fun...try not to get too stressed about it. Take a break...go get a Starbucks (yes, you can have 1 coffee a day & your baby will be unharmed) =)

I'm sure that not everything on my top 15 list will be on every mom's top 15 list, but these are the things that have helped me the most so far. I do have a bumbo seat, but I'm unable to use it until I think my little one has more control of her head & neck. I'm just giving you a list of things that I use every day right now. If you have anything that has worked for you or that you love feel free to share! =)