Saturday, April 28, 2012

These are a few of my favorite things :)

Being new to parenthood, we have developed a love/hate relationship with the immense amount of baby paraphernalia that has taken over our home, car, and life in general. Don't get me wrong, Claire is more than welcome to take over every aspect of our lives and all our belongings (i.e. our couch that has been victimized by a few to many bodily fluids to count), but there are some things we thought "we couldn't live/be parents without" that are nothing more than dust collectors. Here is a collection of our favorite things that have been nothing short of lifesavers!

1. Chicco travel system- We love our Chicco car seat! From it's simple base installation, wonderful newborn insert (Claire is actually still using), and #1 is its simple strap tightening. The stroller harness is still a little big, but we have been able to use it as a 3 point harness and with the car seat. Best of all, it one of the highest safety rated options for newborns :) http://www.chiccousa.com/gear/car-seats/keyfit-30-cubes.aspx


2. Fischer-Price Rock n' Play sleeper- This has been a life (well at least sleep) saver! Our sweet little snuggle bug fights sleep into the wee hours of the morning due to her waking up every time we would try to lie her down.  Plus, she still has a tendency to spit up if she is flat soon after eating.  This snugly cocoon, with its mesh sides, provides a safe, inclined, cozy sleep spot where she is happy to lay when our arms aren't available. Another great feature is how compact it folds for easy portability- we toted it from house to house on Easter to give Claire a cozy familiar place to relax :) http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=900004&e=storeProduct&pid=64684


3. Boppy pillow- This thing is incredible! We use it for everything- from positioning while she eats, plays, enjoys story time, sleeps (this is a no no- only allowed when I am sitting there), and most recently it is our tummy time pal.  We have one pillow and two covers, which meets our laundry day needs, ensuring it is always available :) http://www.boppy.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21/products_id/84


4. Bamboobies- Sorry if any Dad's are reading... These are wonderful for nursing Moms. They are so amazingly soft with the velour side, great absorbency due to the hemp layer, leak-proof (they really are!), and who can resist the heart shape (which actually fit quite nicely). Best of all- they can't be seen through clothes! http://www.buybamboobies.com/Breast-Pad-Day.html


5. G diapers- It took a lot of convincing to get Jason on board with the idea of cloth diapers, at least until I found this hybrid diaper.  They are so easy to use and really not as huge of a burden to launder and care for as anticipated.  The best part is how wonderful they are for Claire's sensitive bottom- they are so breathable, we have not had a single rash while using them! Plus, I love the flushable inserts for when we're on the go as opposed to toting around a dirty diaper. You also cant beat how adorable they are :)  http://www.gdiapers.com/


6. Chicco You & Me Deluxe infant carrier- This infant carrier wins out for one big reason- lumbar support! I know she is still small, but I can carry her for prolonged periods in this without getting even the slightest backache. Also, the several adjust options (carry high or low, forward or backward facing, etc.) make it something that can really grow with her.  The other huge bonus is how easy it is to get her in and out- we have strapped her while sleeping and she was none the wiser :) http://www.chiccousa.com/gear/backpacks-carriers/you-me-deluxe-carrier/you-me-deluxe-carrier-black.aspx

7. Babyganics product line- In the beginning, we had a love/hate relationship with this company due to its name and branding leading consumers to think they were organic products, which is not true. Reading more on the products we learned they are a natural derived product we prefer to the highly chemical alternatives. Best of all, they work wonderfully! One of my favorites is the stain remover which even removed set in stains from a year ago. We also use the dish soap,fabric freshener, multi-surface cleaner, and diaper creme (made her rash  from wearing Pampers in the hospital disappear in less than a day) http://www.babyganics.com/

8. Aden and Anais muslin blankets- These blankets are so amazing! Beyond being to softest we found (they actually get softer wash after wash), they are a great larger size. This makes for super easy swaddling or a substitute nursing/car seat/stroller cover.  They are on the thinner side, but I feel this makes them that much more versatile- we fold them for a warmer blanket and keep them a single layer when only a light blanket is needed. We use them more often than all her other blankets combined.  http://www.adenandanais.com/shop/itemdisplay.aspx?ID=18&SKU=2023


9. Skip Hop Via Messenger bag- After much searching, we finally found a diaper bag that met both of our (very picky and particular) needs.  Jason insisted on a messenger bag in a neutral style, while I insisted on simple organization and durability- this bag meets both! It looks great, has pockets galore, easily wipes down, and has a great strap design (padded shoulder and stroller attachments). I don't mind at all packing my purses away to sport it :) http://www.skiphop.com/product/21000.html


10. Bebe Au Lait nursing cover- Again, sorry Dads... This cover is wonderful! It is a great size to provide plenty of modesty, bowed neck to keep an eye on Claire, two terry cloth pockets (great for storing bamboobies), and several great patterns available. Even with the plastic bowed neck, it folds small for great portability.  The thicker fabric is great for it keeping its shape and staying in place, but can get a bit warm at times.  http://www.bebeaulait.com/products/bebe-au-lait-nursing-covers/papillon


11. Bright Starts Ingenuity Automatic bouncer- This is one of the only entertainment toys Claire will actually calm with.  We were skeptics, but it really does bounce on its own! The soothing sounds and hanging toys help her to love it that much more :) http://www.kidsii.com/brightstarts/p-212-ingenuity-automatic-bouncer.aspx


I hope this list can be a help to new parents, as well as those with experience, in the market for baby products. I am sure there will be many more products we come to love as Claire (and we) continues to grow and has ever changing needs- we will be sure to share when we find others we find amazing :)

Crystal and Jason

4 comments:

  1. What a great post for mommies-to-be!! I feel like everyone wonders what they REALLY need for their new baby...thanks for sharing...I'm going to direct Rachael to this post!!

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  2. Thank you! Definitely share with Rachael- I am so excited for her :)

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  3. Awesome list! I've added 2 of these items to my wish list :) we have the Boppy and G Diapers and they're awesome!

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  4. With your G-diaper do you use the cloth inserts?

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