Favorite Baby Items

One of my good friends is preggo (1 of many preggo friends :) ) and due this summer and was asking questions about registering.  I told her I would think of my favorite baby items.  So thought I would just make a list.  It's crazy how much new stuff has come out since Em was born.  Maybe I'll find some new favorites once Evan arrives.

Itzbeen Baby Care Timer

This wasn't something we originally registered for with Em.  Instead a friend told us about it after Em was born.  It was a life saver!  It's got 4 timers on it.  We mainly used it to keep track of when it was time for Em's bottles, but we'd also sometimes use it to keep track of her last diaper change and if she was on medicine, when her last dose was.  It was also helpful while nursing because it has a switch at the bottom for L and R.  Helps you keep track of which side you ended on.  We used this everyday for almost the whole first year of Em's life.  It was nice not having to remember how long it had been between feedings.  Shawn or I could easily just look at the timer.  We'll definitely be getting this out again once Evan arrives.

Homedics SoundSpa Lullaby Sound Machine

 This was another item we didn't register for, but were given after Em arrived by Shawn's dad.  From earlier posts you may remember Em was not a good napper.  We were hoping this would help.  While it didn't necessarily help with the napping, it eventually did help with her sleeping in general.  In fact, we still use this every night now (and naptime on the weekends).  It plays music (6 different choices) for 15 minute increments up to 60 min. or all night if you want and also projects pictures on to the ceiling.  There are 3 different slides for the projection.  Em likes to change it out every so often.  I love that the sound blocks out noises from the rest of the house, but also keeps her busy with the projection while she's trying to fall asleep.  We found this way more useful than a mobile.  We will be buying another one of these for Evan's room.

Fisher Price My Little Lamb Cradle and Swing

This was something we registered for. I know not all babies like swings, but all you have to do is look at earlier posts and you will see how much Emily loved this swing.  Pretty sure she spent much of her first year napping in this swing.  This was the best thing ever in my opinion!  With her acid reflux, Em seemed to sleep better elevated and the rocking motion always put her to sleep.  I like this one because it swings back to front and also side to side.  We usually kept it side to side as it didn't take up as much room that way.  You can adjust the speed on it and it also plays music and has a mobile on top.  We'd even fold it up and bring it with us when we went to other people's houses.  The downside is we went through a ton of batteries (wish it plugged in), but we also used it a TON.  I'm hoping Evan loves this as much as his sister does.



Baby Bjorn

Yet another item we didn't register for, but instead we got one passed down to us by my brother and sister-in-law.  My friend, Stephanie, had told us how much they loved theirs so after Em started hating the stroller, we put her in this.  This totally opened up our world and let us get out of the house more.  Em loved being up high and facing forward so she could see what was going on.  Once we started using it, we used it often! 

Aquaphor

I'd say this was our go-to miracle product.  It has so many uses.  We used it for diaper rash, cradle cap, dry lips, etc.  Em's ezcema was even worse as an infant and we would litterally slather her in aquaphor head to toe.  It helped a ton!!  Anytime she had a cut or when her cord fell off, we'd just put a little aquaphor on it and all would be well.  We've gone through a ton of tubes of this stuff.  It's definitely one of those multi purpose products that we could never have lived without.  We still keep in on hand to use for Em now.

Tiny Diner Placemat

This was another item we didn't register for, but one was passed down from my nieces.  We started taking this to restaurants as soon as Em could eat any solid food.  We still use this, everyday in fact.  Now that Em sits in a booster seat at the kitchen table, we have this as her placemat.  She still gets a bit messy and this is so much easier to clean than the table or a regular placemat.  Plus it has suction cups to hold it down and a place to catch the food that misses her mouth.  Our current placemat is pink, so we'll have to get Evan a blue one.

Of course we had a ton more favorite baby items, but I'd say these were probably my top 6.  These will all be pulled back out for baby brother to use.