The research I did before having my baby was all well worth it, but now that I have the experience of being a parent I have some new insight into the best baby gear for the first three months. I've been meaning to post this list of favorites for awhile now so enjoy -- and let me know your favorites in the comments!
Best Crib
Fisher Price Rock & Play Sleeper
No crib needed in this house for the first 3 months! I didn't purchase a bassinet either. For the first 3 weeks my baby slept in a Snuggle Nest, and then she moved into the Rock & Play Sleeper beside the bed. I was able to scoop her up and feed her as needed during the night, and gently rock her back to sleep when she stirred all from the comfort of my own bed.
I didn't end up using it for naps as I had planned, but I got more then my moneys worth for night time use! More sleep for everyone is a good thing! As an added bonus this sleeper is angled to help babies with reflux as well.
Best Sleep Aid
Halo Swaddle Sack
In those first weeks and months almost all I thought about was sleep. You can spend a lot of money on sleep and still not get much with all the sleep aids out there, but there was one that I could not live without. Swaddling was essential in getting my baby to sleep longer, and after trying many a swaddle blanket I finally settled on the one that worked best for us. The Halo Swaddle Sack has the hook and loop closure to prevent escaping arms, along with a zipper that zips from bottom to top making night time diaper changes easier. My favorite feature about this swaddle is that you can sleep baby with arms in or arms out. Although we have not yet weaned baby from the swaddle, by the morning she sometimes sleeps better with her arms out after a long night of being bundled up. That extra hour I can get with the arms out trick is a treat when it works. I wanted organic cotton for sleep, but this design won me over so I ended up using this swaddle for the long run. I also have a soft spot for the pink cupcake design.
Best Toy
Freddie the Firefly
I didn't end up buying any toys in advance for my baby which was a good call since newborns aren't too into toys in the first few weeks. I won Freddie the Firefly in a contest, and I am so glad I did because he is still a favorite for my baby. This toy is one that you can get a lot of mileage out of.
In the first weeks my baby loved the black and white patterns on the back of his wings. As she grew she began to enjoy reaching for Freddie if he was hung from her car seat. Then she progressed to smiling at herself in the mirror, and touching the textures on his body. Now at 4.5 months he is still a favorite, but mostly for crunching and munching on his wings!
Best Stroller
Quinny Zapp Xtra
I just adore my stroller choice, and for entirely different reasons then I bought it for! I went with the Quinny Zapp Xtra for a stroller choice because it was the only stroller I could find that would fit in the trunk of my beloved Mini Cooper without having to put the seats down. A stroller that fits in your car is an important factor to consider when making a purchase, but my second criteria was I wanted a stroller that would last so I wouldn't be buying more then one for the life of my child. This stroller is lightweight, and has 5 positions to grow with baby. When my baby was born she wasn't a fan of her car seat, but she loved the flat bassinet setting on this stroller so it was a lifesaver for some early outings. When she got to about 3 months old I started to use the partially reclined setting where baby faces me which is ideal for my child since she likes to keep Mom in sight. All this in an adorable shade of brown. Storage space is limited on this stroller, but I can hang my diaper bag over the handles so that is enough space for me!
Best Baby Carrier
Boba 3G
I planned on wearing my baby from the start, but I didn't realize how tricky it would be to wear a small baby. She was born at just under 6lbs so I started in a sling, but soon realized that she and I were much more comfortable in a Boba 3G Carrier. Lucky for us this carrier features a snap up newborn setting so I was able to wear baby from the beginning with her legs in a comfy froggy position. Some days this was the only place I could get my sweet little one to nap and I wore her around the house doing my day to day tasks in the process. On the weekends it goes on my husband for hikes, or trips to the grocery store. I own 4 other carriers, and this one is by far my absolute favorite. I cannot wait for the coming months when baby is old enough to try a back carry!
* This post contains affiliate links, but I was not paid by the manufacturer to review this product - I just like it! I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC's 16 CFR, Part 255. Images courtesy of Amazon.
Best Crib
Fisher Price Rock & Play Sleeper
I didn't end up using it for naps as I had planned, but I got more then my moneys worth for night time use! More sleep for everyone is a good thing! As an added bonus this sleeper is angled to help babies with reflux as well.
Best Sleep Aid
Halo Swaddle Sack
In those first weeks and months almost all I thought about was sleep. You can spend a lot of money on sleep and still not get much with all the sleep aids out there, but there was one that I could not live without. Swaddling was essential in getting my baby to sleep longer, and after trying many a swaddle blanket I finally settled on the one that worked best for us. The Halo Swaddle Sack has the hook and loop closure to prevent escaping arms, along with a zipper that zips from bottom to top making night time diaper changes easier. My favorite feature about this swaddle is that you can sleep baby with arms in or arms out. Although we have not yet weaned baby from the swaddle, by the morning she sometimes sleeps better with her arms out after a long night of being bundled up. That extra hour I can get with the arms out trick is a treat when it works. I wanted organic cotton for sleep, but this design won me over so I ended up using this swaddle for the long run. I also have a soft spot for the pink cupcake design.
Best Toy
Freddie the Firefly
I didn't end up buying any toys in advance for my baby which was a good call since newborns aren't too into toys in the first few weeks. I won Freddie the Firefly in a contest, and I am so glad I did because he is still a favorite for my baby. This toy is one that you can get a lot of mileage out of.
In the first weeks my baby loved the black and white patterns on the back of his wings. As she grew she began to enjoy reaching for Freddie if he was hung from her car seat. Then she progressed to smiling at herself in the mirror, and touching the textures on his body. Now at 4.5 months he is still a favorite, but mostly for crunching and munching on his wings!
Best Stroller
Quinny Zapp Xtra
I just adore my stroller choice, and for entirely different reasons then I bought it for! I went with the Quinny Zapp Xtra for a stroller choice because it was the only stroller I could find that would fit in the trunk of my beloved Mini Cooper without having to put the seats down. A stroller that fits in your car is an important factor to consider when making a purchase, but my second criteria was I wanted a stroller that would last so I wouldn't be buying more then one for the life of my child. This stroller is lightweight, and has 5 positions to grow with baby. When my baby was born she wasn't a fan of her car seat, but she loved the flat bassinet setting on this stroller so it was a lifesaver for some early outings. When she got to about 3 months old I started to use the partially reclined setting where baby faces me which is ideal for my child since she likes to keep Mom in sight. All this in an adorable shade of brown. Storage space is limited on this stroller, but I can hang my diaper bag over the handles so that is enough space for me!
Best Baby Carrier
Boba 3G
I planned on wearing my baby from the start, but I didn't realize how tricky it would be to wear a small baby. She was born at just under 6lbs so I started in a sling, but soon realized that she and I were much more comfortable in a Boba 3G Carrier. Lucky for us this carrier features a snap up newborn setting so I was able to wear baby from the beginning with her legs in a comfy froggy position. Some days this was the only place I could get my sweet little one to nap and I wore her around the house doing my day to day tasks in the process. On the weekends it goes on my husband for hikes, or trips to the grocery store. I own 4 other carriers, and this one is by far my absolute favorite. I cannot wait for the coming months when baby is old enough to try a back carry!
* This post contains affiliate links, but I was not paid by the manufacturer to review this product - I just like it! I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC's 16 CFR, Part 255. Images courtesy of Amazon.
1 comments:
Love that crib I think I will get it for my sister
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