Best Baby Gear 0-3 Months

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.

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Handmade : Ecoleeko

Welcome to the first installment of Handmade Friday at Blueberry Squash!  Learn more about Handmade Friday, and how to get involved at this blog post. This week I had the pleasure of speaking with Sue from Ecoleeko about her line of organic childrens toys, and it is my pleasure to share the interview with you.  

Brooke: Your childrens toys are awfully cute!  Why are organic toys great for infants?  

Sue: Thanks so much! Organic and natural toys are safe for young ones. They are thoughtfully made with all natural materials, using no petroleum based plastic parts that may contain chemicals that aren't child friendly such as BPA and phthalates. These have been shown to be possible endocrine or hormone disruptors in children.
Brooke: Your toys are also eco-friendly.  What kinds of materials do you use, and how are they good for the earth?  

Sue: I try to use a variety of natural materials, from the fabrics and fillings to the sewing thread and hang tags. I fill all my dolls with all natural kapok fiber filling, buckwheat hulls and walnut shells and double stitch all items with organic cotton thread. I use organic cotton fabrics such as sherpa, fleece, corduroy and terrycloth and use bamboo fleece in all my toys. I also use all recycled materials in my packaging and tagging.

As opposed to regular cotton fabrics that are grown with chemicals, materials such as organic cotton are grown with no pesticides or herbicides, so they are safer for your children and the environment. And Since all Ecoleeko toys are made with natural materials, they can biodegrade naturally in time, unlike polyester dolls and plastic toys that end up staying in landfills. You can read more about my materials and the environment at- http://www.ecoleeko.com/materials.htm

 

Brooke: The colors and designs you chose are simply gorgeous. What are your favorite color combinations?
 

Sue: All my fabric is hand dyed and printed in my studio. My personal favorite is the lime polkadot with bright colors. The polkadots are fun on any item and the bright colors are great unisex colors for all infants and kids.

Brooke: I saw in your shop that you offer a Baby Registry - how does that work?

Sue: Yes, I have an easy baby registry on my website. Any new mommy or daddy to be can create a small or large registry with my website. All they need to do is email me and let me know which Items they would like. I then set up their own special web page with their desired items and a checkout format for their guests to buy from. Once an item is sold, It is noted so noone else rebuys it. They are given a link to the page to give out to their shower guests. I can also send cards to include in their invitations if desired. For more information, you can visit my registry page at- http://www.ecoleeko.com/registry.htm

Brooke: If someone were looking for the perfect baby shower gift in your shop, which product would you recommend?

Sue: Oh, that's a hard question, as everyone is so different in what they like. The Ellybo elephant doll is a lovely snuggly favorite and the seahorse rattle is a great small gift for an infant, that has many ways to play with it; like the colorful tabs to chew, the tactile fabrics to touch and the bells with the buckwheat hull crunchy tail for sound.

Brooke: Are your childrens products washable?  Should we keep any safety concerns in mind?

Sue: Yes, all the items are washable. I recommend hand washing first for light soiling, then if needed, machine washing delicate on cold and tumble dry low. I do hand make the items and use a natural filling that may need fluffing so extra care should be taken when washing. For more care specifics, please visit- http://www.ecoleeko.com/care.htm

All my items have hand embroidered faces and no plastic parts so there is no safety concerns with swallowing any items. The dolls do have walnut shells inside the arms and legs for weight, so any parent with a child who has a tree nut allergy should be advised. All dolls can be custom made with no walnut shells if desired. As with any toy, no toys should be used in a crib or left with a small infant unattended.

Brooke: When you are not making toys, what are your other interests?

Sue: Well, now with a 9 month old, my interests have been making baby clothes out of recycled clothes and decorating his room with DIY projects, But usually I can be found making all types of crafts and other art pieces like art dolls and art quilts in my studio. I also do organic gardening, love to thrift store shop, buy handmade on Etsy.com, spend time with my husband and take care of chickens and two dogs, read when I get the rare chance and bake anything sweet.

Brooke: Where can we find your shop, and connect with you on the web?

 

You can find me at my Etsy shop  http://www.etsy.com/shop/ecoleeko
On my website   http://www.ecoleeko.com/index.htm
Read my blog and sign up for my newsletter  http://ecoleeko.blogspot.com/
See what I love at Pinterest   http://pinterest.com/ecoleeko/
Like me at facebook   http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ecoleeko/44966611231
And tweet with me on Twitter  https://twitter.com/#!/Ecoleeko

I also can be found at my local farmers market during the summer in Hamilton, NY and in Brick and mortar shops in states listed on my website retailers page. ( http://www.ecoleeko.com/retailers.htm )


Brooke: Thank you so much for sharing your products, and creative spirit with our readers!

* I was not compensated in any way to review this company.  Images courtesy of  Ecoleeko.

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Boon Animal Bag Stuffed Animal Storage

There are the things we need for baby, and the things that are just too fun to ignore.  The Boon Animal Bag is one of those products that is just too cute to ignore.

I found it while I was searching for some shelves for the nursery, and immediately added it to my personal wish list.  This cute little bag not only serves as stuffed animal storage, but a fun soft seat when full.  Where was this when I was a kid?

I am thinking it will stay on my wish list for a long time since it will take baby some time to grow the crazy collection of stuffed animals that every child seems to have, but I will admit to already asking my husband if we could get it for baby's first Christmas!

* 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.

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