It is so crazy to think that my baby girl is almost a year old! This time last year I was waddling around and ripping my pants at work (true story), doing everything I could to induce labor, and sitting in the shade outside reading parenting books while trying to imagine what life would be like with a baby. Turns out, it's so much better than I could have ever pictured.
I thought I would share some of the baby products I have fallen in love with the past year. I really feel like these items made my first year as a mother better and easier in different ways, not to mention Gracie loves a lot of them too! So, here we go!
Links to items below:
1.
Urbini Omni 3-in-1 Travel System - This was a totally new product a year ago when I was looking for strollers and it was only sold at Walmart (now available on Amazon and other sites). When I came across
this cute little commercial, my interest was piqued, but there were NO reviews for the item anywhere! The only customer info I could find was very limited on forums and no one had used it for a very long time because it was so new. Long story short, we decided to get it and I went back and forth for weeks on what color I wanted, then, it kept going out of stock on Walmart's website! We ended up getting black and I love the sleek look, although it has a lot of other bright color options that are very fun! I love that I can have the stroller base in the trunk of my car and transfer the carseat straight onto it, and then pop the carseat right back on the seat base afterward. It is so lightweight and SO easy to set up and fold back down. The other insert can either be used laying flat for more of a carriage style for newborns (so cute and fun), or can sit up for older babies and toddlers. It has kind of a European style and similar 3-in-1 strollers are $1,000+. I am SO HAPPY we went with this stroller!
2.
aden + anais bamboo swaddles - We have cotton swaddles, a cotton dream blanket, and bamboo swaddles all from aden + anais and I love them all! I do especially love the bamboo ones because they are so soft and I loved wrapping up my tiny baby and snuggling her in it. Now, she is always cuddling her blankets to her own face.
3.
Sound Spa on the Go - Okay people this was a LIFESAVER! It was an amazing thing when we figured out the power of white noise on our restless newborn. For weeks we used white noise apps on our cell phones but then our phones would be stuck in the nursery when we needed them or someone would call and cause a disruption. I love this white noise machine because it has a clip so you can clip it right on the car seat, swing, or whatever. It is so small and convenient to throw in the diaper bag. It has the options of playing white noise, heartbeat sounds, music, and waves.
4.
Baby Bean Bag - So this baby bean bag pictured and on the link is not the one we used. We used a hand me down from my sister-in-law that her friend had made her and I loved it! This was the closest thing I could find to it, but it would achieve the same thing. It is just a comfortable little place for your newborn. We would set it on the floor, couch, or our bed (obviously before she was old enough to roll) and set her on it and she loved it. It was also nice because she had a lot of reflux and we could position the beans so that it helped her sit up more.
5.
Solly Baby Wrap - My only regret is not getting a Solly Baby Wrap right away! I was sold on it when I felt how amazingly soft my friend's was, and I got mine when Gracie was over two months old. It was so nice to have her right on me while I had my hands free to get things done. She slept in it through almost a whole football game at about 4 months old. She is a small gal so I still use it here and there with her when she wants to be held. For the record, I had a different wrap the first couple of months and it wasn't near as comfortable or lightweight. Also, these wraps are all amazing colors!
6.
Graco Swing & Bouncer - This seat on the swing can come off and be used as a bouncer on the ground. It vibrates and swings, plays music and other soothing noises, and the swinging and volume can be adjusted. This was the only reason I ever showered in those first few months of being a mom!
7.
Shea Moisture Bath Set - This was given to me along with a number of other baby bath items from various brands. My poor baby had really bad eczema and I tried a number of different soaps and skin products before I stuck to this one. It is all natural ingredients, which I love, and her skin has had pretty much no problems since we've been using it! It also smells heavenly.
8.
LeapFrog My Pal Violet - My sister gave this to Gracie for Christmas and it is hands down her favorite toy. At 6 months she would get so excited to even see it! You can program it to say your child's name, and program their favorite food and favorite color too. It has a number of different sayings and sings different songs. It has a "bedtime music" button too that we use for every nap and every night for bed. Boy version (My Pal Scout)
here.
9.
Baby Einstein Walker - Gracie especially loved this before she was able to crawl and get around on her own but she still uses it and enjoys it now. The steering wheel lights up and plays music and there are toys right on it, along with clips to clip your own toys too. We call her "demolition Gracie" in it because she will go full speed ahead...the dogs have learned to get out of her way or they'll get hit, haha.
10.
Ergobaby Performance Carrier - This carrier is so perfect for older babies and toddlers. We specifically love the Performance Carrier for hikes and being active. I recently started using it and I love it. I had a different carrier I used a little bit and this one is much more comfortable and so much better on my back! It has a mesh lining so it is super breathable. I use it for housework, hikes, walking the dogs, and just whatever else. It has a pocket with a little rain guard or sleeping sling or something that you can pull out and snap on (it holds the baby's head and covers it), and another large pocket for your phone, keys, binky, toy, etc. Another great option that is very similar, just less breathable fabric is the
Ergobaby Original Carrier (this is what is pictured in the graphic). The only downfall to the performance and original carrier is that you can't wear your baby facing forward, which I think Gracie would like. The
Ergobaby 360 Carrier, however has that option.
11. BabyLit Books - I am absolutely in LOVE with these books! I spend a lot of time reading to Gracie and these books are my favorite! Each book is from a piece of classical literature with different themes such as counting, animals, noises, etc. They are simple and I believe will be great learning tools as she gets older, but also have fun quotes from the classic pieces. The artwork is colorful and fun (baby loves looking at them) and they are cardboard so can't be destroyed easily. I first bought a ton from a flash deal website that had them for cheaper than babylit.com, but as I was writing this post discovered they are on amazon, also for cheaper than the website! Some are as low as $6, plus if you have a Prime account they ship for free. So, needless to say I just bought a few more for Gracie's birthday.
12.
doTERRA Lavender Oil - Lavender oil has so many uses for a baby! I put it on her feet to help her calm down, on her gums when she is teething (doTERRA oil can be ingested, but not all oils can be!), on her skin when she has rashes, and used it on her eye along with prescribed eyedrops when she had an eye infection. The oil needs to be diluted for a baby, I used a couple drops in a Tbsp of doTERRA's coconut oil
here.
Do any other moms out there use any of these products or similar ones? Let me know what you think about them!
