For the past couple of days the baby fever has been coming in hot over here y’all! And rightfully so, for two reasons. 1-I’m an Auntie again to a sweet little boy that I haven’t met yet, but hope to soon! 2- Also found out a good friend is expecting and couldn’t be more excited for her. I’ve mentioned before that we plan to try for a third, and its just so hard not to get all the feels when I’m surrounded by such happy baby news.
Amazon is one of our favorite places to shop because 1-convenience, 2- selection, and 3- price. So naturally it is always my go-to for baby related items as it helps me avoid dragging my kiddos out into a store when I can just get it on my doorstep in two days. Definitely a winner for me.
Also, being a mama of two I feel like I’ve mastered the list of essentials and wanted to share my recommendations. Anything to make life a little easier for you during that first year.
Aden and Anais Swaddles– Out of all of the blankets we have (and let me tell you we have a LOT!) the Aden and Anais were always my favorite because they are large, lightweight, soft and breathable, and super cute! Definitely not just for swaddling–for stroller rides, burp cloths, play blanket, changing mat, etc. I literally used ours for everything!
Sound Machine– That white noise is so important to help soothe baby! Both of my girls still have sound machines in their room. Isla still has white noise/ocean waves, and Josie now has a lullaby.
Happiest Baby on the Block– This book. This book saved us with Josie. Being a new parent we had no clue what we were doing, so thanks to a recommendation from a good friend (Thanks Anay!) we purchased this book and it literally changed everything! 100% recommend.
Bib w/ Pocket– These bibs are great when baby starts eating solid foods. Especially when they start to self feed. They don’t catch everything, but they help! And they are wipe-able and dishwasher safe.
Fresh Food Feeder– This is a great little gadget to help introduce solids to baby, and also to soothe sore gums while teething. I’ve personally never owned the silicone version here (we had the mesh and it was always a nightmare to clean!), but would totally go this route if I were to need this again. 😉
High Chair– Warning! Stay away from the high chairs with fabric that cannot be wiped! I made that mistake with our first high chair and it was such a pain to always take off the cover to wash it. Would’ve much rather just wiped the seat and been done! This chair has great reviews!
Swaddle Me– If you aren’t down with swaddling the old school way, no worries! Get some of these velcro swaddles and you’ll be good to go!
Play Mat– Great for tummy time and strengthening those motor skills. I think this little rainbow mat is too cute!
Drool Bibs– Not only are these bibs ahhh-dorable, they are perfect for drooly babies!
Crib Teething Guard– We never had a teeth guard on Josie’s crib so lord only knows how much paint that kid ate! We still laugh when we see all the little teeth marks along the top of her foot-board. (We converted her crib to a full size bed so they are all still there). We wised up a bit with baby #2 and got this exact guard. I love it because it’s soft, washable, and reversible. And so far, no teeth marks!
Room Darkening Curtains– They may not be the prettiest option on the market, but trust me–get some room darkening curtains for babies nursery. Especially for those summer nights when it’s light until 9pm and naptimes!
Rock’n’Play– We didn’t own a rock-n-play until baby #2 and man, I have no clue WHY! This appears to be the Cadillac of Rock’n’Plays, but as long as you have one with vibration (vibration is key!) then you will be all set!
Baby Monitor– Our monitor is so old school I couldn’t even find a link to it anymore! Haha, but we only use it at night and it serves its purpose, most nights. This one looks super nice though with color screen and zoom! There are so many good ones on the market these days, just depends on your budget and the features you need. But in my opinion, I would say you definitely need a monitor.
Diaper Subscription– You guys, this has been sooo convenient! They come every month with no thinking whatsoever. Yes, there have been a few months that we run out, but you can always bump your order date up, or just get a small pack to tie you over. I’m actually going to look into some other “subscription” types items that I can get on Amazon.
Immersion Blender- If you are in to making your own baby food you don’t really need a fancy “baby food maker”. Just get yourself one of these immersion blenders–they’ll do the trick just fine, and at a cheaper price! I made all of Josie’s baby food, and Isla was about 50/50. (second baby always get slighted-ha!) They are also bomb at making milkshakes during pregnancy–just saying! I’d also like to add that there is absolutely nothing wrong with buying the jarred food, and there are so many good options out there these days with all natural ingredients.
Mini Fan– Perfect fan to clip on a stroller, car seat, crib, or even a pontoon boat! All of which I’ve done. 🙂 Overheated babies are no fun so keep those sweet babes nice and cool with one of these.
Carrier– Again, so many carrier options out there and its really just a preference of comfort and style. I used the Moby Wrap and the Ergo carriers and preferred the Ergo because it’s a clip and go type style. The Moby definitely took some practice and I could never tie it right after the newborn stage. But it was great when my babes were itty bitty.
Triple Paste– I had two girls with super sensitive bums that would get a rash by just looking at them! It was awful, especially during stomach bug times! Ugh! But I SWEAR BY THIS STUFF and its the ONLY diaper cream I use on my girls. It’s a little more expensive, but so worth it!
Boppy Pillow– This pillow is not only for breastfeeding folks! It’s great for tummy time, propping baby up, supported sitting, or a neck pillow for mom and dad. 😉 But in the few months that I breastfeed my babies, I can tell you I didn’t do it without my boppy!
Jogging Stroller– When planning for our first baby, we invested in a travel system (infant carrier, base, and click-connect stroller) and it was money well spent. We’ve used all with baby #2, and think it even has enough life left for one more! (I’ll just have to check expiration on the infant seat, but the stroller is still in great shape!) I love the rubber wheels and that its a smooth ride. It is not the most lightweight option, but still very manageable. After baby comes you’ll need something to escape your house and stroller rides around your neighborhood or in Target 😉 are good for mom!
Again, these are just my recommendations and obviously there are a ton of other options out there. But something you learn after two babies, or even one, is how there is SO much you get either unknowingly, or you “think you need” to put on that registry, that you simply just won’t need.
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