Baby Things I Can't Live Without (and what I wouldn't buy again)
I had a baby nearly four months ago and I’m here to tell you, as a new parent, you will use a few things all the time and everything else very few times. Like every person embarking on parenthood, hindsight is always 20/20. I’m here to be your guide and tell you what has been invaluable for me and what I’d definitely recommend skipping. Let’s go!
what’s keeping me sane (and happy)
THIS. THING. IS. MAGIC. If you buy one baby seat to have in your house, let it be this. Babies love it. It’s lightweight. It’s portable. It’s easy to clean. It is a lifesaver. DM me I will wax poetic about it. Just register for it. The end.
If you choose to breastfeed, let me tell you, it makes you THIRSTY. And even if you don’t breastfeed, staying hydrated is always a good idea. Having a bottle of water near me at all times has been such a lifesaver.
Before I had Finn, I worked with my team here at Space Camp to set up systems in his drawers. We organized clothing by size and type and made sure it was all clearly labeled. This has brought me SO much ease and peace of mind in the early, sleepless newborn months.
Because his drawer system is from Ikea, we mostly used these grey felt bins with labels from The Container Store.
Let me tell you, I spend SO much time in this Babyletto recliner. I rock him to sleep in it, I feed him it, I sometimes nap in it. It’s so comfortable and quiet and takes up a relatively small footprint for how cozy and versatile it is. It’s also stain-proof and believe me, I’ve spilled on it and they’re so easy to wipe clean. My only critique is that the fabric hangs on to little threads that you have to use a vacuum or lint roller to get off, but honestly it’s a small price to pay for such an excellent, useful chair.
I have found baby wearing to be such a great way to keep Finn happy, to help him nap better during the day, and to allow myself to have my hands free and get stuff done around the house. I even sometimes bounce on a yoga ball while I’m wearing him and it calms even his fussiest moods! My favorite carrier so far has been this Ergo Baby one that was a hand-me-down from a friend, but I also really like to use the Moby wrap carriers too. They’re soft and nice to just bop around the house in. I’ve heard great things about the Baby Bijorn and WildBird ones too but haven’t personally tried them. I’ll update you if I do!
We use this diaper bag by Skip Hop and I like that it has just the right amount of pockets and compartments to help me stay organized but not be too fussy.
what I’ve found to not be necessary
I know every parent is different, so this is all just my personal opinion, but I’ve found that we haven’t really needed or used:
playmats (I just use a quilt covered by a swaddle or something that’s easy to wash if he spits up)
baby swing (we have a couple that friends handed down to us, and while they’re nice in a pinch, I think the baby bjorn bouncer works just as well and takes up far less space)
bottle warmer (maybe I’m a mean mom but I just don’t warm his bottles and he’s fine with it)
wipes warmer (I actually bought one of these at first but felt like the wipes got cold like two seconds after they left the warmer and it seemed like waste of space and energy to use it)
