Favorite Baby Stuff

In all my 6 weeks of experience, these are my favorite baby things so far! I'm pretty proud of myself that I already had pictures of all these things...

Fisher-Price - My Little Snugabunny Cradle 'n Swing
This swing is crazy expensive, but it's the BEST. Mostly we tried to be reasonable and not get top of the line things, but we love this swing. It's so cozy. It plugs in and has batteries, it swings multiple ways, it can lie flat or sit up, and it's pretty :) She LOVES to watch the birds.

Velcro Swaddlers
We use a fleece Halo swaddler every night, and I was using cotton Swaddlemes during the day before she grew out of them. It's soo much easier than messing with a blanket.

Sleep and Plays with cuffs
She pretty much only wears sleep and plays right now. They're just easier than messing with pants or dresses. She only has 2 with cuffs and they were great the first two weeks when she was cold all the time. Trying to keep mittens on is a pain! I also thought I would prefer fleece ones, but she does get too hot. It's better to have cotton ones and just layer her with blankets.

Hats and Mittens from the hospital
The nurse threw them in my bag and I wouldn't have thought we'd want them - but they stay on better than anything we had! When she was so cold and had to sleep with a hat I always used the hospital ones. Take anything the hospital will give you! My friend even went home with some receiving blankets.

Front Carrier
I know some people swear by the Moby Wrap or a sling, but I haven't tried either so I can't say. But we love our carrier - I use it everyday. Definitely get something to carry your baby in. I don't know how I'd grocery shop without it and it's great for when she's having reflux. Sometimes I even sit down with her in it just so she can be held upright. Ours is the Infantino one you can get at Walmart or Target. I will say that my back gets tired and the lumbar support strap does nothing. Maybe a wrap or more expensive carrier would be better for that. And I think a sling would be faster and more convenient for errands. But I like that Josh can use the carrier too - I've never seen a man wearing a wrap or a sling.

Fleece Blankets
This is something I would have never thought of, but I got a number for showers and I use them all the time. It's so much easier to throw a blanket over a baby than to worry about bundling her up. And they're a cozy spit up catcher to throw over the swing or Boppy. And they're great for when she has to sit around naked at the doctor's office.

The Boppy
Everyone already knows the Boppy is a must-have. I actually didn't use it much for nursing, but I lay her in it a lot. She even takes naps in it on the sanctuary floor when we're practicing music at church. I do wonder if they make water proof covers for them. I always put a towel or blanket over it.

Bibs
I specifically love these Green Sprouts bibs my mom bought. They are solid colored - so they match and don't say something strange. They are huge and have the waterproof inside. She also got these ones with a special milk absorbing neck. Though I do also like just cotton bibs for her to wear between feedings.
 

Dog gate
We don't have stairs, so I didn't register for a child gate, but we got one for the dog her first week home. Even the nicest dog can accidentally step on a baby playing on the floor. Plus you can never really trust an animal.

Pampers Swaddlers
I did not want to be a diaper snob, but they really are superior in snug fit and absorbancy.  The only time she leaked out of one was when she was growing out of newborns. Parents Choice have leaked up the back and Huggies leaked out the legs. I don't know if I'd spend the money myself (we haven't had to buy diapers yet - thank you everyone) but I would definitely get them for other people.

These are the things I don't like/use as much as I thought I would:

Two piece outfits or gowns - Have I said I love sleep and plays? No messing with socks, no over the head change, and no weird bunching when you hold her. I think two piece outfits are so cute... on other people's babies ;)

Onesies - I don't put onesies under her sleep and plays. Again, I'm all about the easy change, and I'd rather just put a blanket on her if she gets cold.

Fleece Sleepers - These were great the first two weeks, but now she gets too hot in them. I think I will like them again when she grows out of being swaddled.

Hats and Bows - You cannot really understand this unless you live in the South, but every girl baby wears a bow to church. I love hats, but (if you're noticing a theme) I don't like messing with them. I think I might do more hats and bows when she's sitting up and not rubbing them off.

Changing pad cover - This went away pretty quickly because she pees or spits up so often when I change her. It would help absorb the pee and keep it from flowing up into her hair... babies are messy :) It might return when she grows out of spitting up. I do have friends that don't use their changing table at all and just keep diapers and wipes in their living room. Right now I like using our little station, but I'm guessing that changes when you have more kids.

Baby bath - the sling was nice before her cord fell off, but now we use the big tub so she can lie flat. I might try the bath again when she's sitting up so I don't have to fill up the tub or worry about her hitting her head.