Mommy Must-Haves :: Baby Items I Couldn’t Live Without

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Mommy Must-Haves - Baby Items I Couldn't Live Without - Columbia SC Moms BlogWhen I started my baby registry, I was completely overwhelmed by the options and the amount of stuff I needed, or thought I needed, to prepare for baby. There are the obvious things, like diapers and bottles, but there is so much other stuff.

If you’re like me, you read baby books, you checked blogs and websites, and you polled your mom friends for guidance. By the time the due date approached, you had the nursery set up, you had the must-have items, and all you needed was the actual baby. After all the pre-baby research and careful registry building, these are the things I couldn’t live without.

1. Fisher Price Rock ‘n Play

I seriously thought that I was going to put the baby in the crib the night we got home. That was my plan. I was all, “It will be easier for him to not have to transition later, blah blah.” Then we got home, and I saw just how tiny he was in that big ol’ crib. Plus there was no way I would be sleeping in a separate room from my baby because I needed to check that he was still breathing every five minutes. Luckily, we had already purchased this sleeper on the advice of another mommy friend, and it was just right for us in the beginning.

Pros:

  • Portable and lightweight. I could move it from the bedroom at night and into the living room during the day for naps. It folds flat to make it perfect for traveling. It was also just the right height for late night breastfeeding, and it is just the right width to fit through doorways too, so in those early months, I could put the little guy in there and move him into the bathroom while I showered (when I showered) without bumping into every door frame.
  • Rocks and vibrates. Sometimes that combo of the light vibration and the little humming sound soothed my little man into the best naps.

Cons:

  • Short life span. Once he got too big and too mobile, we moved him to his crib. He needed more space to stretch out, but we used the rocker for around 4 or 5 months.
  • The restraint system is a little awkward. There are little rings for playing attached to it that were in my way – he didn’t play with it, it would just slide into the seat and I would have to awkwardly move it while trying not to disturb the sleeping baby I was holding. Not a deal breaker, but be aware of it.

2. Video Baby Monitor

I love being able to see and hear my baby with the Summer Infant Digital Monitor.

Pros:

  • Easy to install and use.
  • Clear image and good sound quality.
  • Monitor is portable.

Cons:

  • The monitor IS portable, but the screen will turn off if it isn’t plugged in.  You can push a button to get the camera view on again, but it’s goes into power save mode if unplugged. Slightly annoying to have to push the button every 5 minutes or so to get the image back.

3. Aden and Anais swaddling Blankets

I received these as a gift and still love them.

Pros:

  • Large and lightweight. My baby was not a great swaddler, so these large blankets gave me extra fabric to work with.  The fabric breathes and is soft.
  • They are really adorable.
  • Long life span. We are still using these sweet blankets when we take strolls during the cooler evening or when there is little bite in the spring morning air.

Cons:

  • Pricey. There are less expensive swaddlers out there, but I still think it is a good deal.

4. Nursing Pillow

My Brest Friend … the name makes me giggle, but it speaks the truth. A Boppy or any pillow designed to support your baby while he’s breastfeeding makes feedings more pleasant and takes some of the strain off your arms.

5. Nose Frida

Those darn snotty noses can be conquered using your own suction. There is a filter so obviously you don’t suck the snot into your mouth, but you can get a lot more out of there than most bulb aspirators. Even with the filter, my husband thinks this thing is super gross, but it. is. amazing.

6. Extra Pacifiers

If you choose to use a paci, get way more extras than you think you will need. Pacifiers are eaten by that same monster who takes the matching sock from the dryer in my house, so I learned quickly to buy back ups for my back ups.

7. Batiste Dry Shampoo

Not for the baby, for you. I used to wash my hair every day … isn’t that the craziest thing you’ve ever heard?! This stuff works miracles on my hair that normally looks greasy quickly. Spray it on to refresh that dirty hair into a manageable style because we are all too busy to worry about it!

8. The Book Baby Bargains

This book was really helpful for my research about other necessities like car seats, strollers, and high chairs.

9.  Seasoned Advice

And of course, the number one thing I couldn’t have lived without is all the advice and love from other mothers who have been here before.  Everyone’s must-have product list will look a little different, but I am forever grateful to those who shared their insight, their time, and their love and support, and I hope my list will help you new mamas and mamas-to-be!

What were your must-have items for life with your new baby?  

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Sarah Shuster
Sarah grew up in Lancaster, SC but has called Columbia home for nearly 10 years since her undergrad days at Presbyterian College. Columbia holds a special place in her heart, as it’s where she got her first “grown up” job, obtained her Masters of Library and Information Science degree from USC, and met her husband, Todd. She became a mother for the first time three years ago to Todd’s two sweet daughters, and loves watching them grow into unique and interesting young ladies (12 & 14) who inspire her daily. She is also experiencing life with an infant for the first time with their newest family member, a silly, happy 6-month-old baby boy. Sarah is a full time children’s librarian, and loves that her passion and her career have aligned to form dreamy days of sharing her love of literacy and learning with children and families. Sarah enjoys practicing her cake decorating skills, reading, brunch, ridiculously long showers (a luxury now with an infant), working out, good coffee and perfecting the art of crockpot cooking.

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