During my adventures raising 2 babies, I've discovered that there are some items that have made my life loads easier. I never saw the need for a baby bathtub (just used the kitchen sink) or a fancy diaper pail (thought the refills seemed a little wasteful and expensive- just used the cheapest diaper pail I could find). These items below were especially helpful for me and they have become some of my go-to baby shower gift items.
1.
Lansinoh Ultra-soft Disposable Nursing Pads
These are the BEST nursing pads for the first week or as long as your nipples are sore. They are super soft and they don't stick to your skin. I have never seen them in a store. I've only been able to purchase them online. They are absolutely worth the extra money and your nipples will thank you.
2.
aden and anais Swaddle Wraps
I never used sleep sacks or those swaddle blankets with the velcro- these swaddle wraps are the best. Take a minute and ask a fellow parent (or the maternity nurse) how to swaddle. You'll get the best swaddle with a blanket like this- forget the velcro. I like these blankets the best because they are soft and so lightweight. They can be used over the baby's pj's without the fear of the baby getting too hot. In the summer, I used them over a onesie. In the winter, over a gown or pj's. Most babies love to be swaddled. It helps them feels secure. These blankets are thin enough to easily stuff in a diaper dag and they double as a nursing cover-up or a car seat/stroller cover to block the sun.
3.
Lansinoh lanolin
The hospital will give you little packets of Medela lanolin, which works great for some people. It's easier to apply than the Lansinoh brand, but it isn't pure lanolin and the additives can irritate some people's skin. While the Lansinoh lanolin is thicker and a little harder to apply, if you run the tube under hot water for a minute, it'll soften right up. Lanolin helps sooth sore nipples. It can be applied to a breast pad to prevent it from sticking to your nipple and it can be applied to your nipple before showering to help keep the water from bothering sore nipples. It's a lifesaver.
4.
Car Seat Stroller
This car seat stroller is the greatest. It is small and compact and your infant bucket seat can be easily transferred from your car seat base to the stroller without having to unstrap the baby. Jack always fell asleep in the car and this stroller enabled me to let him stay asleep while I got my shopping done. It is trim and easy to navigate around smaller store aisles and it has cup holders and a small basket on the underside.
5.
Sophie the Giraffe
I love Sophie. She smells good, she's all natural and she's helped both of my littles through their teething troubles. She's pricey, but I have found the best price on her via Amazon.
6.
Weleda Calendula Diaper Cream
A good friend gave me a tube of this cream at my baby shower for Jack. She said her sister swore by it. It wasn't until I was without it and had to use a different cream when Jack's bum turned a little red that I realized just how awesome it was. Apply a little of this at the first sign of redness and it clears it up by the next diaper change. Seriously. I've got 2 kids in diapers and neither one has had a bad diaper rash (Jack's never had any diaper rashes and the one or two that Charlie had resulted after I broke my "no need to wipe a pee diaper only" rule- but that's a different post).
7.
California Baby Calendula Cream
Both of my kids had sensitive skin and this natural baby cream helps clear up their dry patches without my having to worry about any yucky additives. This is especially helpful when I have to use it on their hands or face.
8.
Infant Acetaminophen
Unfortunately, there was a recent recall on the concentrated infant acetaminophen drops. Not because there was anything wrong with them, but because some people couldn't figure out how to not overdose their children. Ughh. I found this especially annoying because Charlie isn't a fan of taking medicine. With the concentrated drops, I only had to get 0.8 mL in her. The new drops require me to have to force her to take much more. The upside was that I was able to track down 2 bottles of the recalled concentration when she was 2 months old. Score! They are getting close to empty (sad face), so I will have to start dealing with the new stuff. Anyhow, I find aceteminophen to be a life saver when it comes to teething pain. I also use it to predose my kids prior to vaccines in an effort to not have a repeat performance of Jack running a fever of 103 after his pertussis vaccine at 6 months old. Since doing this, neither of my kids have suffered fevers after their shots (and, yes, I am currently knocking on wood).
9.
Nosefrida
Judge if you will, but when you find yourself with a sad little baby who cannot breathe, you too will be happy to do whatever it takes to help them out. Including sucking the boogies out with this- one of the greatest inventions ever. I didn't have one of these with Jack, but I was also lucky that I don't recall him ever having a stuffy nose. With Charlotte being the second born, she is exposed to many more yuckies. I have needed to use this thing many times on her. Now, she is not a fan of the process, but she is very relieved once it's over and she can breathe again. Babies are obligate nose breathers and when their noses are plugged, they are not happy campers. Get one. You'll think it's gross, but you'll find yourself desparately searching for it at 3 am when your baby won't nurse because she can't breathe. Trust me.
10.
Organic Baby Food Pouches
You won'te need these for the first 6 months, but once you begin solids, these things are great. No spoon required. They're portable and babies love them. I still use them with Jack from time to time. They're a great way to sneak some extra veggies into your toddler's diet.
11.
Old Navy Baby Socks
These are the best baby socks. They NEVER fall off. Gone are the days of the lost baby sock- at least until they are old enough to pull them off themselves. They come in cute styles and colors and they wash up really well. Plus, they go on sale all of the time. It's hard to find them in the stores, but they usually have a good selection online.
12.
Target Nursing Tanks
I love these tanks. More than the expensive ones that I've tried. I use them to sleep in. They give me some support while making night nursing easier. I also wear them during the day. It's easy to wear a bra under them without adding too much bulk and they allow you to keep your belly covered when nursing.
13.
Hydrogel Pads
These are wonderfully soothing when you have painful nipples. They can be cut down so that they are a little more cost-effective. They can be stored in the fridge for a cooling effect and they can be applied over lanolin.
14.
Cosleeper
I linked to my favorite cosleeper, which I like because it's so compact, but any sort of sleeper that keeps the baby next to your bed will be helpful. You won't have to walk into a different room to feed the baby and sleeping in close proximity to your baby has many benefits, including maintaining your milk supply. It's not for everyone, but I love having my babies sleeping next to me.
15.
Ergo
I have tried all of the carriers- Moby, slings, Bjorn- and the Ergo is my absolute favorite. It's expensive, but worth every penny. You can carry the baby on your back, your front or your hip. It's much easier on your back than the Bjorn and it positions the baby in a way that is much better for their hips. I'm a big advocate of babywearing, especially during the 4th trimester and especially when you have another little to chase around. And there's no need to pay for the pricey newborn insert. You can roll a couple recieving blankets up to support the baby until they fit in there better. The Moby is much cheaper and it's definitely a good alternative. It's my next favorite.
16.
Vicks Baby Rectal Thermometer
They'll give you a free digital thermometer when you discharge from the hospital. It sucks. Trust me. As a NICU and then postpartum nurse, I have used those thermometers many a time, they take FOREVER. This thermometer is fast- really fast. If you're afraid to take a rectal temp, you'll be less afraid with this thermometer. You'll know exactly how far to put it in and a rectal temp really is the most accurate temp you can get (plus it's the one that the doctor will want to know when you call them and tell them that your baby has a fever).
17.
Breastfeeding Pillow
I like this one, but any one will do. They help keep the baby in a good position and this one allows you to free up your hands a little bit while you're feeding the baby and you will be spending A LOT of time feeding your baby.
Well, that's it. Those are my favorites. I'm really interested to know what other people's are. So, I hope you'll share.
