Straight From the Bottle

One of those vibrating chairs with music.  Really helped to calm my colicky baby.  And if you are a mom who is pumping away from the house, Medela Pump in Style.  Quick and about as quiet as they come (though that's really not as quiet as you think).

The First Years Close and Secure Sleeper.  It's meant for co-sleeping, but we didn't use it for that.  I live in a town home and when my son was an infant, it was easier for me to have him sleep nearby on the couch instead of all the way upstairs (especially while recovering from a c-section).  It was also really great when we went visiting.  You can put it anywhere, on a bed, on a couch, etc.  Sold at Target, Wal-Mart and Amazon

www.walmart.com/.../product.do

All I have to say is that Fable is freaking gorgeous.

The Boppy pillows have been by far the best purchase I have made! With twins to care for and only 2 arms I don't know what I would do without them. We use the to help with feeding time, play time, tummy time and the occasional nap time! They keep one baby secure and safe while I am using my hands to help out the other.

I have also LOVED.... LOVED.... LOVED the double "snap and go"! I completely agree that their system is the most convenient way to go at the begining.

Oh, and in case anyone else with twins sees this we adore Old Navy baby clothes(I know big chain.... yuck...). However for B/G twins they have really great, more stylish than most, options for pink/green, brown/blue, boy/girl match clothes. Plus they have great sales and come on when your buying for 2 who doesn't love a sale!!!

It seems that after two kids, the youngest of which is 15 months, I no longer have the capacity to remember things about when they were babies. I suck at this!!

But I will give a hearty "Here! Here!" about the stroller frame. I had the Snap N Go (or whatever it's called) and I love, love, loved it with all my heart. I got it with my oldest son after watching my neighbor haul her big Graco stroller system in and out of her car trunk/apartment. That didn't look fun to me, so I opted for the smaller version when he was in the car seat. They are so cheap and when they outgrow the infant seat, you just upgrade to a lightwieight stroller and you probably still saved money over buying the whole big getup. Oh, and I thought of something else. I think it's called a Stroll N Ride or soemthing, but it's an alternative to a double stroller when your older is really too old for a stroller. The seat in front is for the baby, then there's a little bench in back for the big kid. It is a lifesave in airports, on shoppin trips and anywhere else you go where (a) your older kid will insist they are too old for a stroller then promptly slump to the floor in exhaustion after walking for 20 minutes or (b) you need to get somewhere quicker than a pre-schoolers legs (or attention span) allows. The downside is that the baby's seat doesn't really recline to allow for comfortable sleeping positions, but it beats the heck out of having to buy and lug around a double stroller for a 4 year old!!

Oilily everything!!But waay outta my price range...

Petit Bateau everything! Still kinda pricey...

Ok, Target. I knew I loved you for a reason:)

THANK YOU! I added the bottles to my registry now as well as any other items you have listed that is sold at Babies R Us. Keep the suggestions coming, much appreciated!

Fable is sooooooooooo cute!!!!!!  I just want to squeeze her!

My go-to sling is the Moby wrap - you can use it front and back as well.

For colicky babies - headphones!  Yes, the big construction kind with a 105dB rating.  Saved my sanity (and my husband's!).

Great list, GGC.

I come from Australia where no one is allowed to tell you not to breastfeed - it's against the law. (Yay!) However we live in a very conservative island in the Caribbean where I am VERY aware of offending people. I strongly believe that it's THEIR problem and shouldn't be mine, but I'm also very aware that I'm a guest in someone else's country... It's very frustrating as I'm a brand-new mother to a two week old daughter and if I had the confidence to 'whip it out' wherever I needed to I would be out and about more.

Anyway, the upshot is that on your recommendation I've just ordered the Hooter Hider (in Yoko), which despite the stupid name looks perfect for feeding in a conservative tropical climate! (And the company actually ships to our island - not many do!)

Thanks for the great suggestion.

Seriously... you need to have as many children as humanly possible. Your babies are gorgeous and you should do your part to make the world a lot prettier! :)

I do have an addition to you list. When my son was little I had this reclined seat thing that went in the bath so I didn't have to try to hold on to him while giving him a bath. It was great and it's the only thing I recommend to everyone I know who's pregnant. One similar to the one I had was featured on droolicious a while back (babble.com/.../design-with-david-netto-chic-baby-tub.aspx)

I loved my bjorn but my boy got heavy so fast that I couldn't carry him in there very long so I got the ERGO and I love love love it. You can carry you baby front, back and on your hip up to like 45 lbs, it's awesome.

Great list though. I'll keep it in mind when I get pregnant the next time.

Erm... mummy brain?

I hope it was clear in my comment above that I meant breastfeeding IN PUBLIC...

I just purchased the Target Dwell Studio sleeper in green for my little one that should be here in only 4 weeks!! I only wish it came with a matching hat!

Thanks for all of the product ideas!

I had registered for the boppy travel swing because my place is really small, and i'm glad to know you liked it too!

"so cute your eyes will fall out of your head and roll under the couch like marbles."  

Giggling like crazy & making a mental note to use this phrase at the first possible opportunity.

This list is great!

I am so with ya on the snap n go & the babyhawk. I actually purchased the babyhawk after seeing you with one and got a great double-sided custom pattern and its lovely.

I think I may do a list like this too! You are inspiring, little lady!

(BTW I have just started this blog - I have been following you as Samtastic on GGC.)

Also. Fable. Shut up. To die for.

Baby swing is essential, but we have one that rocks side to side like a cradle as well as front to back like a swing, which is great especially at first. It is, however, large and totally ugly, so it will be nice when The Bun outgrows it. Which may be soon, because he and Fable seem to be on the same track - he's now 20 lbs at 6 months!

But the thing I buy for every new mother is the thing I love most - it's called a babywrapper, and it's like a long towel apron, sort of, so when the babe comes out of the bath, he goes right on your chest, and the bottom half of the apron flips up over him, keeping him warm and dry and tucked snugly in your arms. *Love* it.

That, and a good pump, a good umbrella stroller for after 6 months, a serious fistful of clothes and sleepers so you don't have to launder constantly, a bunch of linking rings for playing with or securing other stuff to the stroller, awesome Pottery barn Kids stroller blankets (thicker and softer than anything else I've found), my SkipHop messenger diaper bag (big enough to handle cloth diapers, but small enough to not be overwhelming, and simple enough not to look like a diaper bag - awesome), and the co-sleeper, which I am fully loving, but which may end its reign in the next week or so. *moment of silence*

ok looking at Fable and wanting another baby !!! My son lived - and i mean - LIVED - in the Baby Ktan sling - and i can't say enough about it because i tried 3 others (including a wrap which i tripped over twice) and so that's my one recommendation.

oh and the bumbo seat rocks too!

The two things we couldn't live without:

The Baby Bjorn(I can't wait to try the Little Roo cover next time around!)

and

Swaddle Me baby wraps.

The 2 things that could calm our colicky boy.

Oh- also, a white noise machine!!! We still use this...it drowns out all of the background noise. No more tippy-toeing around the house.

You put your child in the baby hawk in a forward facing position. I did this with my daughter all the time (my little social butterfly) just fold down the headrest. The shape of the carrier puts the baby kind of in a sitting position so that they are not uncomfortable as it would seem. Or you can fold up the legs into the baby carrier, froggy style which works well also.

I second the Boppy Swing. We went to BRU in the middle of the night to buy one, out of desperation. Our lives changed immediately.

Others on my list:

1. The ring sling, which saved my sanity after Alice got her first vax shots and would only sleep for an extended amount of time, on me--not dad, not the swing.

2. The Sleep Sheep. Amazing.

3. Co-Sleeper, especially if you are BFing.

4. Swaddling blankets. I didn't like those pre-swaddled ones...too complicated. My favorites were the ultimate organic ones from Giggle.

PS We use an ergobaby now, but I keep hearing rave reviews for the BabyHawk, so I might have to check that out for baby #2.

Oh, that poncho is adorable! Dare I give out one of my favorite etsy finds... ManiMina. LOVE!

Steph

The Ergo Baby Carrier is *great*!  Face you, face forward, on  the hip, on the back, works for newborns (with simple insert), a zippered pocket, and a shade you can use for keeping the sun off their head.

Oh yes, agree totally on the Graco carseat frame.  

I couldn't live without my Baby K'tan carrier. i was able to nurse in public without even needing a nursing cover. a life saver!

ergo does not allow facing forward (in case you don't read the instruction). The cover, though, is perfect for discreet brestafeeding

My 16 month old son comes to work with me, and I'm co-owner of a maternity/nursing clothing/baby and kids' store, so my business partner and I do A LOT of product research.

My favourite all-time baby carrier is by far the BECO Butterfly. It is the one product I CANNOT live without! It goes from newborn up to 45lbs, and the infant insert is included. You can wear it on your front or your back. At work I usually wear him in front, but on dog walks it's easier to have him on the back. You carry the weight on your hips, and it's super-easy to get baby from front to back or to switch baby between parents because you don't have to take them out.

I've tried the Ergo as well, and I much prefer the Beco for safety reasons (baby can't fall out if you undo the waist-belt), and also the Beco is made in the USA. An added bonus is that you can roll it up and wear it like a fanny-pack hip seat for a toddler. Plus they choose gorgeous fabrics which are always changing, and offer organics too. There's my spiel! www.becobabycarrier.com

i am so jealous!! there were absolutely NO hooter hiders when i had my kids!! i had to cover with baby blankets, well placed plants, room dividers.....

you guys have everything now. i am glad to see that you appreciate it because i sure would have loved one of those. hmmm, maybe i'll just have to have another in order to use all of these cool new things!! baby daddy would be happy about that- i'm the one who says no more. but that little fable face makes think just maybe....

Love the list and also ned to add the genius and beautiful nursing covers to your list. They keep busy babies entetained while nursing so that you won't flash yourself in public. A must  have for anyone breastfeeding.

Www.amusemebaby.com

These are all great recs! Thanks so much! Good to know about using Babyhawk front-facing. Will have to try this week!

My three must haves have been

A swaddle me wrap www.babyearth.com/kiddopotamus-swaddleme-bamboo-small.html

A happiest baby on the block cd www.thehappiestbaby.com

Any swing

and since we live where there are cold winters.  The Halo sleep sack.  We are on our third size. These things are awesome.

This post was a lifesaver! The Born Free Bottle tip was a lightbulb moment for me. I was convinced my 4.5 month old  son wouldn't take a bottle, but the problem was actually the nipple was too short and narrow so he'd just chew it.

Luckily in Canada all bottles are BPA-free, as of some recent legislation, so I went with an inexpensive Playtex version with a nice wide nipple seeing as I wasn't sure he'd take it.

Sure enough he did, no problem. Awesome tip, thanks!

My fake Moby wrap (Fauxby wrap?!) was a lifesaver when my boy hated both the Hotsling and the Ergo. I got mine here:

www.etsy.com/shop.php

I've borrowed a ring sling one week ago and oh my god, how the hell did I manage before?! it is BRILLIANT. my two month old is happiest facing me in it [legs froggied up]. When she  falls asleep I just loosen the sling and slip her out. tonight she was a little grizzly so I just put her to bed with the sling still wrapped around her.

When it's time to feed I just loosen the sling, slip her sideways into a cradle hold....ta da! AND the tail works as a nursing cover. I can even nurse hands free by tightening the sling back up again once she's latched on and comfortable.

The ring sling can also carry a older baby or toddler on your hip, on your back, or facing forward at the front. what  else could you possibly want?!

My mum hemmed up a whole pile of big squares of muslin for swaddling wraps and they work brilliantly. And they dry super fast.

Hot Milk maternity bras are my other must-have....comfortable, practical and SEXY! who knew such a combo existed?

Wish I'd realised how good the car seat strollers were back when I was still shopping for a stroller. Getting a sleeping baby out of a car seat and into a stroller/sling or vice-versa is the WORST.

Great list!  My favorites are the Bobby pillow, Bumbo seat, and the temporal thermometer.  They all made my life so much easier...especially the thermometer.  It is great for hourly temps and baby doesn't even notice.  

Fable is so cute!!!!!!!

Agreed with other mommies: the Boppy and Bumbo are *must* haves.  I also love our stroller.  The model name escapes me at the moment, but it's a Combi and it folds up really small like an umbrella stroller, but also fits the carseat on it.  Perfect for urban mommies with little cars.

I got those awesome bottles recently, i really hope Conrad likes them when he comes (In 3 weeks!!!)

You mentioned that the Boppy swing is smaller, so I have a question.  Will it still fit a larger baby?  My husband's 6'7" so I'm always worried about longer, larger babies fitting in things.

Me and my friend, along with a lot of moms on what to expect, swear by the fisher price ocean wonders soothe and glow seahorse. Not only is it absolutely adorable it will either A) put your baby right to sleep all on their own or B) completely calm down a extremely upset baby. I seriously swear by this and so do many moms i know. My daughter can be screaming up a storm and she will immediately calm sown once i put it in front of her. And my friends baby would never fall asleep in the crib or on his own until she got this. and its less than $15.

Found at Toys r us- www.toysrus.com/.../index.jsp

Sarah-- Yup! The swing is just a shorter version of all the others, lower to the ground. Same size everywhere else!

I second the Beco carrier vote. We have had this since my first was 5 months old (this is when I found it online) and I am dying to use it with my new 3 month old baby. However, when I bought it two years ago, they didn't offer the infant insert so I think I may have to wait a bit longer for it.

Also, the Boppy pillow is just marvelous. I have used MyBreastFriend in the past, but I always found it too cumbersome to get on myself (you have to clip it on around your waist).

We are now borrowing the Cradle Swing by Fisher Price which swings side-to-side as well as front-to-back and my 3 month old baby just loves it. It has "nature" sounds, a cute little mobile and a comfy looking cradle seat (Papasan like).  It's awfully big and it barely fits in our tiny house, but the it works so great that I am willing to look at for a few more months and then it goes straight back to my friend! Voila.

We have also borrowed a co-sleeper from friends (are you starting to see a trend yet?) and it has really helped me get more sleep than I ever did with my first baby.  When baby wakes up, I just reach over and stick the boob in the mouth.

Our little guy has been living in one piece snap up footies since they are so easy to change (which we must do a million times a day). Again, we have borrowed every single item of clothing since my first is a girl.

We bought a cool little blanket from IKEA that is just the perfect size, warmth, price and totally hip. We use it all the time. www.ikea.com/.../60109714

This one is blue, but ours is orange/yellow.

And lastly, strollers. We have borrowed a snap'n go which is great, but we also found a cheap used Combi double stroller on craigslist that allows me to get out for walks w/ the kids. Since we live in DC, a double stroller is a must for us. However, since both my kids are on the heavy side, I just knew we wouldn't be using the stroller for long b/c of the weight limit so I could not justify spending gobs of money on it.

For cute clothes I go to second-hand stores and treat my kids to Tea Collection sale items.  

I'm so glad you posted this. I went trawling through your archives trying to find the name of the Babyhawk, but I couldn't find it.... And now the answer has pretty much come to me!

thanks for this posting - cute pictures and fun to read your thoughts on these products!  i'm eight months pregnant with my first (YAY!) and i actually registered for born free bottles, a babyhawk, and a boppy swing before reading this.  fansastic to hear they all worked out so well for you, since i have no idea what the hell i'm doing!  :-D

hope you and your beautiful kids are having a happy day.  cheers!

Oh I love the baby carries -- we're very into our CuddlyWrap right now, but we do have a Bjorn and I would love one of those pretty covers!

Also, hear hear for the Lansinoh Breast Pads!

I heart the snap n go

I also want to add the woombie to the list.  Elanor is a swaddle escape artist and the woombie is the only thing she can't break out of.  Kid #2 we're not even going to blanket swaddle--straight to the woombie my friend.

I'm another fan of the Lansinoh breast pads.  Even though they're more expensive, don't even bother with anything else!  All the other brands are lumpy and uncomfortable.

I totally second the hooter hiders - a total lifesaver when the kidlet is little. I also love the Tea brand of clothes - cute, not cutesy.

My own #1 recommendation is G-diapers. Biodegradable disposable diapers are absolutely the best of both worlds, and my daughter has yet to have even a whiff of diaper rash in 9 months. Check them out - www.gdiapers.com

The Born Free bottle was good for my baby too, she didn't mind switching back and forth between bottle and breast as long as it was that bottle!

My favorite carrier is the Cuddly Wrap.  It's just so ridiculously comfortable and versatile for babies of any size in any position.

My addition to the list would be BumGenius Diapers.  Seriously, even if you have never considered cloth give them a change and you will totally change your mind.  Better for the earth, your wallet and your baby's health all at the same time, also..cuuuute!

Oh and the Tummy Band. Like a tube top that only covers your belly. Get it while you're pregnant to cover the lower slope of your bump as the maternity shirts ride up, then after the baby is born it's awesome to wear while you're breast feeding because you can lift your shirt without having your whole belly exposed.

Great list GGC!

I'd have to add Robeez shoes for early walkers.  Cute designs, stay on well, keep the feet warm, and no slipping on the wood floors.

I like the Johnson & Johnson breast pads. They are more bowl-shaped, so they dont wrinkle as much. And they arent individually wrapped, which can be more convenient (and less waste).

Diapers.com is a great website with good deals - we use it to order Earth's Best Organic Formula. One can costs $40 at Whole Foods, but on Diapers.com, it is $25 per can (when you buy a pack of 4) Plus free shipping usually.

We find that "Huggies Overnights" prevent nighttime leaks the best. Otherwise, we use Pampers.

Gap sleepers are nice if you live in a warm climate, and want lighterweight, super-soft sleepers.

Dreft is expensive, so we use "All Free and Clear", unscented. It's extremely mild and much less expensive.

I also have the Fisher Price papasan nature sounds swing, and if you can deal with the space issue, it has the two option swing direction feature and sounds, and most cool it has a mirror that baby stares up at.  Love and need the bumbo for early feedinga dn sitting, the boppy for any nursing mom, and the HANDSFREE MEDELA FREESTYLE PUMP for moms away from babies, or at least the easy expression bustier bra to use with any pump at all.  OMG, yes, I love my gear like I love my baby (almost) - Fable is a doll, just like my Hannah!!

Ummm ... rechargeable batteries for all the swings and Baby Einstein toys.  Seriously.

Also, anything made by Under The Nile--so soft and lovely and organic.  Someone gave us a crib sheet by that company, and little Noelle loves it (we think).

Lastly, anything you can find on craigslist that works for you and doesn't break the bank.  I found a great Baby Bjorn Active locally, for $25.  Might give the Babyhawk I have a try, but the hubs bought it--in all camouflage!  So, it's way ugly and I refuse to wear it outside the complete darkness.

I was desperately looking for a wrap/sling/carrier that my baby would like.  I tried the Baby Bjorn, ring sling, regular sling, etc.  Thanks to Andrea's comment above I found Baby K'tan.  It is AWESOME!  My baby is 2 months-old, over 15 lbs and generally does not want to be put down for a minute.   He loves the Baby K'Tan.  And it is so easy to use.  

I don't have many friends with kids so I'm loving the tips.  Keep them coming!

Miracle Blanket miracle blanket miracle blanket!!  :-)  Theo was colicky and this was the ONLY thing that helped OMG I wanted to make out with it a million times a day.

Aden and Anaiis muslin swaddling blankets.  My little guy escaped from pretty much every commercial swaddling gizmo available, including the Kiddopotamus ones, but these had enough fabric to hold him snug and safe and were light enough to  sleep in during our hot Texas summers.  I still use them as light blankets, and the patterns are cute.

Laptop + Netflix On Demand + the most comfortable chair you can find.  Seriously, you are going to spend 4-5 hours a day nursing, and a girl needs a little distraction during those zero-dark-thirty feedings that go on forever.  Netflix has a bunch of movies and TV you can watch over the internet available for the low cost of $8.99...way cheaper than cable and late fees at the rental place.

Natural Choice disposable diapers.  We have enough trouble keeping up with just our own laundry, so the idea of washing diapers just didn't work.  I tried a few different biodegradable brands, and this is by far the best in terms of cost, sustainability and quality.  At my local grocery store, these run about $8.99 per pack...only a dollar or two more than regular brands.  If you are thinking about using disposables, these are a pretty nice alternative.  (I loved gDiapers and would totally use them if my tree-infested plumbing would just cooperate, though.)

Thanks for this Rebecca!  I am 8 weeks prego, and I have been asking everyone I know with babies what they absolutely could not live without.  Your suggestions look great, I bookmarked all of those items to check out!  Thanks!!

Awesome little blog you got here!  I definitely agree with all your suggestions.  Especially the last one - Graco Sungride infant car seat.  It's a life save!  It's super affordable; lighter than most of the other ones, and just plain awesome.  I'm going to check out the baby bjorn stuff.  Looks cool! Go Graco Snugride!!