This definitely isn’t an exhaustive list of all the items you might want to have on hand when a new babe arrives, but they are the items I find myself suggesting to friends and being especially thankful for now that we’ve been using them a while. There are so many clever gadgets available, but sometimes (often) simple is best…
1 / I’m probably starting to sound like a broken record here, but I have to say once more that if there is a way for me to avoid purchasing a baby related item that is only going to end up in storage within the year, then I am happy to pay a little more for longevity and reuse. Our Nest Cam purchase is one of those cases. We already have the Nest Thermostat installed at home to keep an eye on our energy usage, so it made sense to add the camera to the mix instead of getting a separate baby monitor. The picture is fantastic and we are able to access the camera from our phones, laptop or computer. We can login when we are away to check in on things, and can connect over wi-fi wherever we need to monitor a nap. The best part is that once we are done using the camera as a monitor, or even on the days where we don’t need to spy in, it is super easy to move into other areas of the house as a simple security camera (or recorder of dog shenanigans). One more reason to love this cam is that we can rewind and save some (many) adorable moments one of us might have missed throughout the day.
2 / Ikea’s Antilop Highchair is really one of my cheapest and favourite purchases so far. We have a pretty small kitchen, so we needed a highchair that could easily fit in a small space or could be moved when not in use. It turns out, since the crawling happened, that it is never not in use, which makes it’s small footprint even more important. One thing I won’t sacrifice on however is style so we customized the seat cushion with a custom cover. All in, we’ve invested under $50 for an item that can easily cost over $200 with the higher end models.
3 / I wasn’t sure how this one would go over. The wood on this teether seemed a little rough for delicate gums, but boy was I wrong. In the depths of the teething trenches, this rattle has been a lifesaver. I have noticed that on the verge of a tooth breaking through, it’s actually the wood that gets the most use.
4 / This is one of the purchases I am most thankful for. The Keekaroo change pad has eliminated a lot of laundry. Way more than I thought it would! I now suggest this product to every single one of my friends with babes on the way.
5 / Sophie the Giraffe. Need I say more? I wish I had created this product because if there is one item you can be guaranteed to find in every single diaper bag, besides diapers, it’s Sophie. That’s proof enough for me that this is a must-have.
6 / Oh my gosh, there are so many strollers out there for so many prices and with so many features. It’s a lot to consider, and we took our time selecting the right one. The Baby Jogger City Select was our pick for two main reasons. The first was adaptability. This stroller accommodates two seats, two bassinets or a combination of both…facing any direction you choose. I do not want to have to buy another stroller as our family grows, so this was a no-brainer for us and narrowed the field considerably. Our second criteria was price. We have three dogs so a walk is a daily activity for some or all of us, but we do drive a fair bit as well. Having the top of the line model makes sense for a family that spends most of their time commuting on foot, but for us we didn’t need all the bells and whistles. Unless there is a stroller out there that accommodates three leashes…Then I’m in! Anyways, we were looking for something middle of the road. Something we could use daily for a dog walk or a casual stroll, but we did not required it to be off-road ready. This was our pick and we are very happy with our choice thus far.
7 / I had to go on a bit of a hunt for our Boppy Nursing Pillow here in Canada, but thankfully found them at Pottery Barn Kids without having to order it online. Once again, I don’t really do pink or blue polkadots so we had custom covers made once again. I’m showing my favourite one above, made with Cotton + Steel’s basic XOXO print fabric in Ghost. I read so many ‘top 10’, ‘best choice’, and product review posts on nursing pillows and landed on this option, once again, for flexibility and longevity. We still use it for nursing, but we have also used the pillow for tummy time and as a sitting support. I appreciate that it has more than one purpose, and look forward to using it again for future little ones.
What did I miss? Leave a comment below with any other finds that you could not have lived without during those first wonderful, tiring, incredible months…
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