I just got the Consumer Reports Best Baby Products book and am using it in tandem with some online research to try and locate the best baby gear to add to my registries. It took me 2 hours just to decide on a monitor!
Calling all moms: please let me know which baby products you absolutely swear by. It helps to have feedback from real human beings.
Hurry, before my head explodes!
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
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15 comments:
Alicia - do not fret. I was thinking of doing a post just like this. i'm going to try and do it either tonight or tomorrow.
I love you. Thanks!
Here is my list and trust me I've tried EVERYTHING!!!!!
Baby Bjorn infant carrier (worth every penny!)
Fisher Price Aquarium bouncer
Fisher Price Nature's Touch Cradle Swing (We just bought this and April LOVES it!!! She will stay in it for hours! A wise investment!)
Diaper Dekor
thermal blankets (these are the best blankets for swaddling b/c they are stretchy and can adjust with growing baby!)
pre-folded cloth diapers (I use these for burp cloths - don't waste your money on "cutesy" ones, b/c they are too small and trust me on this one - you definately need one that will give you coverage!! Plus you can bleach them to get all of the stains out if needed.)
These are my top picks. One small piece of advice on diaper bags. Don't spend a lot of money on one (they can be pricey) because you will change your bag like the weather. I have been through literally like a hundred trying to find the right bag! Too big, too small, not enough compartments, too many compartments, too heavy, looks too much like a diaper bag, etc... you get the idea! I think the best bag I found is from Disney world and it is not even a diaper bag. But I sure do use it as one! Good luck!
Too late on the diaper bags...my husband got me a Kate Spade bag for Christmas...I don't care if it's non-functional and sucks as a diaper bag, I'm going to use that sucker for life!!! ;)
Thanks so much - this is the best advice! Great tips!!! :D
Hi, I'm Michele's sister, Karyl. My daughter is now 16 months old almost, and there are a few things I couldn't live without. I have a small house, so I went with the Fisher Price Aquarium travel swing, which is really small and takes up very little room. However, some kids don't like swings and prefer bouncers, so I would wait on that so you can return what doesn't work for your baby. Also, I couldn't live without my baby sling which I got from www.kangarookorner.com. I have a Baby Bjorn and I don't like it because it a) hurts my back and b) it puts a lot of pressure on a baby's crotch which it can't support yet. A sling lets a baby lay down, and when your kid gets bigger (like the toddler my daughter is now) I can still use it to carry her on my hip. I've definitely gotten my money's worth with my sling because Grace has passed out at soccer games and the Washington state high school basketball tournament in the Tacoma Dome. Plus my back never hurts. Another item I can't live without is my playpen. Some people don't like "caging" their kid, but once your kid is mobile and you want to take five minutes to go get dressed, it's helpful to have somewhere safe to put the kid!! :o) Hope this helps!!!
Karyl,
This is WONDERFUL information - thank you so much for taking the time to post!
xoxo,
Alicia
I did the same thing. Before I registered for something I would check the comments people made about the product, it helped a bunch. With the strollers I did not like the travel systems because they were to cutesie for me and not my thing, but I have friends who love them and would not live without. I love the fisher price aquarium because my son loves to watch the fish. It is great to put him there while I make dinner. And since he loves the fish so much we got the mobile with the fish. I also love the co-sleeper. It is so great to have him close especially during the evening feedings since I am nursing. There really is not much else. The bouncy is great for when I take a shower, I have the carters one because I thought it was cute but I think my son would have been okay with any of them. Now with the activity center I absolutely love the one I have but it was a bit expensive. It is the barnacle boat by the Mamas and Papas. It was so cute I wanted it but I luck out because my son loves it also. We have this whole fish thing. My favorite diapers are the Pampers swaddlers hands down. We cannot stand any of the others and the huggies are horrible for boys because the cannot hold any amount of urine in the front. Bottles are so hard. If you have a colic baby then Dr. Browns, a couple of my friends say they are the best. I went with Gerber because I am nursing and they looked closest to me to the breast but everyone I talk to has a different opinion. Good luck. If I think of anything else I will let you know.
Baby Einstein products/CDs/activity centers rock
Anything that lights up and plays music
They love ceiling fans
Some babies like the swing and some don't (Mine hated the swing)
The baby bjorn is awesome too
You guys are THE BEST!!! I think I have my registries finished now -- of course I may change them up if I get additional information, but I'm feeling pretty good right now! THANK YOU!!!
I read the "girlfriends guide" for buying baby stuff. I checked it out of the library and can't remember the exact title - but I found it very helpful about what to buy and what not to waste money on. So far it has been right on!
Stuff I couldn't live without:
-Wipes warmer
-Infant to toddler bath tub (at Target - only $16!) This tub fits over the kitchen sink - it has a little hammock for newborn sponge baths, then take the net out of infant baths, then when he can sit up, it is set up so that he can still sit in the tub. Made me much more secure about bathing my slippery little guy and made him feel more secure.
-Boppy pillow for feedings & "tummy time"
-baby monitor (of course!) - just make sure you buy one that isn't the same
frequency as your portable phone. :)
-car seat that clips into a car seat base in your car. You can buy extra bases for each car, also goes with a stroller. Graco has great versions of these. You can move a sleeping baby around without waking him up.
- bouncy seat - get one that is light enough for you to carry around from
place to place in the house & has a little bar with toys hanging down.
- Graco pack & play - we never use this in the house, but we take it with us
when we travel as a portable crib & to the pool so we can relax and not worry.
Hope this helps!
Make sure you get a Travel & Go Infant Car Seat. This is the one that the base of the car seat stays in the car and you can take the carrier/seat and place it in the stroller. This is a life saver when the baby is sleeping. You can move him without picking him up.
Also you have to have a swing and "vibrating chair that sits on the floor".
my son did most of his sleeping in these things. He hated his cradle and
his crib.
I love Pampers diapers & Huggies wipes. But everyone has there own feelings
about this. Start buying now and stock piling. They are not kidding when
they say the baby goes through at least 10 diapers a day. We had a closet full of newborns, 1, 2 and 3's. About 6 months ago we just started our son on the 4's.
Target & Babies R Us are great for registering.
Hope this helps!
I sent a list to a friend of mine when she was registering for her showers. I'll see if she still has it-as I can't find it. I do agree about the sling over baby bjorn-but it really depends on what is comfortable to you. That's what makes this so hard-you really need to try the products out because we're all different. I also use the diaper clothes for spit-ups, etc. And I prefer the Brainy Baby videos over Baby Einstein-they're better narrated and have more kids & baby talent. Babies love to watch other babies. Don't register for too many bottles-just a few in different styles-until you know the kind your baby likes. A car seat that "clicks" into a stroller is the best-they also attach to grocery carts and restaurant high chairs well.
This is all such incredible information...you people ROCK!!!!
mwuah!!!!
We have the Ocean Wonders swing. My son loves it and it has been worth every penny! I bought this particular swing because of the angle of the seat and the support it gives the baby.
I have the papasan bouncy seat. It is good to put the baby in and bring it around the house if you are trying to take a shower, get ready, or cook.
We bought a graco quattro travel car seat and stroller combo. The only thing I would do different is buy a stroller with rubber wheels and not plastic. I think the ride would be smoother for the baby with rubber wheels.
We have a pack-n-play and I think we have only used it twice. Some people live and die by theirs but maybe wait until you actually need it before you buy one and not use it like us.
Get a good monitor. It is worth the investment. My friends have the one that
has a screen and it was about $200. If I had to do it again, I would buy one with a screen, that way you can check on the baby without going in his room and waking him up.
As far as a diaper pail. I have used the diaper genie and didn't like it. I have the diaper dekor and love it.
We have the baby einstein play mat and our son loves it.
If I think of anything else, I'll let you know!
i am a friend of good geeks kate :)
i have a 2 mo old and a 2 yr old and have tried it all too.
i have a baby bjorn, given to us for free. i really like it, but also ended up buying an infantino sling this time round b/c this baby LOVES to cuddle and I LOVE THIS SLING!! It has literally saved me.
we have an ocean wonders swing and bouncy seat. two items I COULD NOT live w/o.
we also have the baby einstein play mat thingy, again, once the kiddos start seeing and need more entertainment, i would switch them from bouncy, to swing, to play mat to - ??! :)
white cloth diapers for burp cloths, i ditto that - and buy tons of clorox too!!
don't waste your money on dreft, if you want, purchase (insert your fav brand here)FREE (ie: tide free, all free, etc) - does the job and is cheaper.
oh, and lastly, test drive all strollers and pick them up before you buy them. i am 5'4" and i picked up the regular greco stroller and about fell over it was so heavy. so we purchased the metrolite series - same great product, just lighter. :) easier to get in and out of said SUV.
oh, and a baby bath tub, we bought the blue one with the green netting from BRU - netting is great for when baby is first born and you can't get them totally wet yet :)
okay, i have rambled enough, but i am sure there is more :)
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