In my best Oprah voice, IT'S MY FAVORITE THINGSSSSSSS!!!!!!, you won't each be getting your own for free. But I can tell you where to buy them. :) This is my TOP 10 new baby must-haves. Ready? Here we go!
- Baby Jogger city mini.
- Aden and Anais bamboo swaddle
- Boon Flair
- Sophie the giraffe
- Itzy Ritzy wet bag
- Ergo
- Baby K'tan
- BabyLegs
- Ju-ju-be Pack-a-be
- La Leche League
Are you wondering how or why these are my faves? I'd love to share why.
1.Let's begin with the Baby Jogger City Mini.
Do i have one myself? Of course I do. I highly recommend them to first time moms. Skip the bulky, over priced travel system. I purchased my first BJCM in 2010. It was my first birthday since having my son and I wanted a lighter stroller. This was my dream stroller and yes, I got one for my birthday. I prefer practical gifts. It's so easy to use with a one handed fold, easy to push, compact and light weight. At 5'11 this stroller was a perfect fit for me. My almost four year old still has plenty of head room is this sleek stroller. I even converted my sister -mom of three-to a baby jogger lover. They hold their value and if you can grab one used, you should be able to sell it for close to what you paid. Baby #2 on the way? I also have a bjcm GT double. Best part about the double? they fit through any doorway.
2.Aden and anais bamboo swaddle
AH-MAY-ZING! I love these SO much.They are super soft being that they are bamboo. That's what I like about these over the regular A&A swaddle. Only down side, they tend to snag easily. It doesn't bother me enough to stop using them though. I can roll them up so small and have an extra without it taking up much room in my bag. I also use it as a nursing cover. It's a very generous size and the lightness of it allows for a more comfortable nursing experience. Well worth the money. Check a local store. I purchased mine on sale at a local eco baby store I LOVE and now work at.
3.Boon Flair.Futuristic highchair?
That's my Julia on her first birthday! Why is this highchair better then say, a graco? We had a graco. I literally had to use a toothpick to clean every peach packed crevice. It was so disgusting. The boon Flair has a easy to clean surface, with no cracks or crevices. A smaller eating tray to teach baby to eat in a smaller space, rather then spreading food out. It glides across the floor as if it's a skate on ice. If you buy this, prepare for a plethora of questions from your guests. Ive heard it all from,what is it? to, It's like a rocket ship! It wont disappoint. I don't have a con about it yet and we've had it about five months.
4.Sophie the giraffe,of course!
Why is Sophie such a huge success? Sophie the Giraffe is BABYS FIRST TOY, stimulating EACH OF HIS SENSES from the age of 3 months:
*Sight:
At the age of 3 months, a baby's eyesight is still limited and he can only make out high contrasts. The Dark and contrasting attention-catching spots all over Sophie the Giraffe's body provide visual stimulation and she soon becomes a familiar and reassuring object for baby.
*Hearing:
Sophie the Giraffe's squeaker keeps baby amused and stimulates his hearing. To begin with, the funny sound Sophie makes when she is squeezed helps to stimulate baby's hearing, and then later, helps him to understand the link between cause and effect.
*Taste:
Sophie the Giraffe is made of 100% natural rubber and food paint, and is completely safe to chew, just like a feeding bottle teat. Her soft texture and numerous chewable parts (ears, horns, legs), make her perfect for soothing baby's sore gums during teething.
*Touch:
Touch is the first means a baby has of communicating with the outside world. Sophie the Giraffe's soft feel, like baby's mother's skin, stimulates physiological and emotional response that soothe baby and promote healthy growth and well-being.
*Smell:
The singular scent of natural rubber from the Hevea tree makes Sophie the Giraffe very special and easy for your child to identify amid all his other toys.
*Easy to grip:
Sophie the Giraffe's shape and 18 cm (7 inches) size are perfect for baby's small hands. She is very light, and her long legs and neck are easy for baby to grip, even from his earliest days.
5.Itzy Ritzy what?
Wet bags aren't just for dirty cloth diapers. We use this wet bag for everything. Potty training accident? Throw it in this bag. No smells! Throw it in the wash when you get home. Pool day? Toss the wet suits in this bag and drive home dry. There are so many uses for this bags and of course your dirty cloth dipes are a perfect fit in the Itzy Ritzy wet bag.
6.Ergo!
That's my Julia again :)
This specific Ergo print is Galaxy Grey
So, why the Ergo? It just makes sense. You can customize the fitting of every strap on this carrier. Extremely comfortable. Unlike other carriers such as the Baby Bjorn, the Ergo keeps baby close to you, distributing the weight evenly between your lower back and shoulders. If you've tried other carriers, where baby's legs dangle, you'll notice all the weight is on your shoulders. Making long outings unbearable after a short amount of time. Longest I've worn my Ergo? 6 hours. She has traveled everywhere with us! I even wear Julia on my back at work. I can work 4 hours while she naps comfortably on me. Yay to the Ergo! (and my awesome baby friendly job.) Another thing, when Julia was born, big brother Micah was 2 1/2. Which means for trips to the park and shopping I needed two hands! This was a breeze with my Ergo.
7.Baby K'tan
I know I just professed my love of the Ergo, and if I could only have one the Ergo would win hands down. It's awesome from birth to toddler. But,I loved my k'tan as well. I used this from birth to about 3 months. I just love the feel of the fabric hugging me with my little newborn pressed against my chest. I'm also a warm blooded person and I just felt more comfortable in this. I also liked slipping baby out to nurse or change her diaper and not having to take off my k'tan. I would wear it under my jacket just incase I needed to hold her. She's an October baby so it just looked like a scarf. If you have the luxury of both,go for it! You wear different shoes for different outings,right? Carries are similar.
8.BabyLegs
We must have a 100 pairs of these. Why not just use pants? Because, pants are boring. What's really great about these, is diaper changes. It's super easy and quick. I hate trying to get pants on pissed, wiggly baby after a diaper change. Just snap the onesie and your done. If you have cute cloth dipes on, just throw on a shirt and BabyLegs and your outfit is complete. The great thing is the pair that fit my one year old, also fit my three year old. There is a newborn line for a better fit on tiny babies. I love them all and can't stop buying them.
9.Ju-ju-be Pack-a-be
Why is this different from other diaper bags? It's a convertible! Sounds sexy, right? No? Well, you can wear this bag as a backpack, shoulder bag or cross-body. Is it sexy now? I've been out so many times wishing I had a backpack. The next day wishing I had something cross-body. This bag does it all. Super easy to clean material, made for leaky sippy cups. I love this bag when I'm baby wearing, as a backpack. It allows me to be hands free chasing a toddler. The pockets on the front have hidden magnets in them, no loud velcro to wake a sleeping baby. Plenty of room for a newborn's needs, plus sibling and space for your phone, keys and wallet. I also throw in a Ju-ju-be quick for easy access to my mommy stuff. It also allows me to grab and go without digging through my bag when I'm baby-free.
10.La Leche League
If you're going to nurse,you're going to need a great support system. La Leche League provides meetings just for that. Best part? They are free. You can ask anything, from latch to weaning. They offer a great support system for first time nursing mama's, and experienced nursing mama's too. It's a great way to meet other moms, going through the same up's and down's of new baby and nursing needs. If they can't answer it -which is rare- they will help you find the resources you need. Give it a try, even before baby is born. Learn what to really expect, from a real group of parents. They are only there to help. I
found this a great help with Julia.
That's my list. I hope you enjoyed. These are things I really enjoyed when I had my babies,and highly recommend. Have a item you would like me to review? My top 10 toddler toys or Mommy-must haves? Ask me! You can comment or email and I 'll get back to you. Thanks for reading.
Jana
