There's no way I could have just chosen one, so here you get my Top 5. These are things that I buy for my new Momma friends and/or recommend that they include on their registries because they ARE SO AWESOME. Also? Check out my list of all of the baby things we loved. In no particular order:
1. Aden and Anais Swaddle Blankets
Yes, these bad boys are expensive, but they are truly the best swaddle blankets out there. We probably have close to 20 different receiving blankets and these are the only ones that we could still use for swaddling as Carina got older. They are large and a little bit stretchy; just perfect for swaddling! They also double as burp cloths, a light cover for the car seat or stroller, and even now at 20 Months we still use them as light blankets when it's a little chilly out. We actually bought another set after it became clear that these were the be-all end-all of swaddle blankets. The prints are adorable, too. Carina's favorite is the monkey one. She loves playing peek-a-boo with it.2. My Brest Friend Pillow
Forgive corny Mama G here, but this pillow literally became my best friend when Carina was tiny and squishy. It is thick and supportive (not mushy like the boppy) and even has a back rest. You don't have to hold the baby in position; your arms are free! It is adjustable and can fit snugly enough that you can actually stand up and walk around while baby is feeding. I managed to cook dinner while Carina was nursing on it a handful of times. It also has a pocket that you can put your cell phone, lanolin, Itzbeen etc., in. Most importantly, Carina loved it! I think she found it more comfortable than our Pack 'n Play because she preferred to sleep on it when she was really little. Over the course of my 18 Months of breastfeeding I used both this pillow and the Boppy, but hands down this one is the best for the newborn stage.3.Itzbeen Pocket Nanny
The Itzbeen was a life saver for us. Every time you feed baby or change her diaper, you press the button and a timer starts counting. This means at any given time you can see how long it has been since you fed or changed her. I cannot tell you how helpful this was! There is also a nap timer which we used often to track sleeping patterns, and a miscellaneous timer that can be used for medication or something else. Did I mention that it has a button to turn on a backlight? I can't wait to use it again when Aurelia is born. I was fortunate enough to have Itzbeen as one of my BlogHer12 sponsors! For more details on the Itzbeen, check out my Ode-to-the Itzbeen post in which I express my love for this tiny bundle of electronic joy.4. Wubbanub Infant Pacifier
Whoever invented the Wubbanub is a genius. It is a Soothie pacifier attached to a little stuffed animal. They make all different kinds of animals including giraffes, dinosaurs, dogs, and monkeys. We first gave Carina a pacifier when she was about a month old. At that time she could loosely hold onto the kitty to keep the pacifier in her mouth. If it fell out, she could sometimes get it back in by moving the kitty around. Not having to get up in the middle of the night to replace a fallen binky over and over again? PRICELESS. This was the only pacifier she ever took, until she chewed through her only remaining one just two weeks ago. Another bonus, is that the Wubbanub is much easier to keep track of than a lone pacifier. Trying to find this in the diaper bag is so easy! They need to start selling these in multipacks.
This white noise machine helps Carina fall asleep at nighttime and during the day. It plays four sounds: Rain, Stream, Ocean, and Whales. Ocean is her favorite. It has two time settings, 23 and 45 minutes. The difference between the "On the Go" sheep and the traditional sleep sheep is that the "On the Go" one is a bit smaller, and it has velcro so you can attach it to anything. We alternate it between her nursery and the Pack n Play (where she naps during the day). My only wish is that it had a constantly on setting, as Carina would sometimes wake up after it shuts off. We still use it periodically now, at 20 Months. Whether you get this model or opt for a different sound machine, in my opinion they are an absolute must for a newborn!
My co-host for Toddle Along Tuesday this week is Janelle from Domestically Seasoned and the topic is your favorite baby item! With my due date only 5 weeks away I am eager to hear
what item you loved most when your little one was a newbie. Momma needs
to make a shopping list. There are no rules here, except that you link up a relevant post (old or new) rather than your whole blog. Please don't link up your shop or business - I have pretty inexpensive advertising options should you be interested in exposure.
Next week's topic is easy go-to recipes! Again, with my due date approaching I need some quick and easy meal ideas! Can't we all? ;)
If you like advance notice for TAT, check out the bottom right of my blog - topics for the next couple months are listed. Would you like to submit a topic idea and/or volunteer to co-host one week? E-mail me!
Next week's topic is easy go-to recipes! Again, with my due date approaching I need some quick and easy meal ideas! Can't we all? ;)
If you like advance notice for TAT, check out the bottom right of my blog - topics for the next couple months are listed. Would you like to submit a topic idea and/or volunteer to co-host one week? E-mail me!
