As an expecting mama, it was very easy to get overwhelmed with all the baby items that are available. It’s hard to know exactly what you’ll need and use. There are so many products and opinions out there! Also, a ton of factors to consider; quality, safety, reviews, affordability, practicality, etc! So for your benefit and mine ( for future babies), I wanted to list out what products we’re actually helpful and necessary. And when I say necessary, that may just mean that it made our lives easier.

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Baby Gear Products

• A Swing – we use our swing in the living room every day! When I need to put Brinley down while she is sleeping but I still want to keep an eye on her I use the swing. the motion helps keep her asleep and it also has a mobile and music feature to entertain her if she is awake.
• Travel System – we got the Babytrend set that comes with an infant car seat, base, and jogger. It is all so easy to use and makes running errands so seamless. We love the jogger on walks. It’s lightweight and easy to take in and out of the car.
• Bouncy Seat – this is a lifesaver the majority of the time. It can save a nap, allow me five minutes to eat my food, and keep her asleep while I shower! Ours vibrates so it’s super effective at soothing her! It can free up your hands when needed, all you have to do is bounce it with your foot!

Sleep Products

• Owlet – HUGE FAN of this product! It not only gives me peace of mind when she sleeps but it also will track her sleep so I know how well she slept that night. I know they are expensive but I got mine off of eBay.
• Sleep Sacks and Swaddles – New babies want to be cuddled, especially when they are sleeping! There a ton of different kinds and options out there so be prepared to have to try a few to find your baby’s favorite.
• Bassinet – this may be obvious but Brinley still has only slept in her crib a handful of times and just for naps.
• Lounger – we did not get the dock a tot because it costs an arm and a leg but we got a similar item from amazon and she LOVES it! Her bassinet was too open for her when she was brand new so we put her lounger in her bassinet and that’s how she slept until she started wiggling too much in her sleep.
• Hatch – I am sure any sound machine will do, but we have the Hatch and I love that I can control it from my phone. You can also adjust the sound and color. There are several sound options, Brinley’s favorite is the sound of falling rain!
• Monitor – perfect when you are trying to get things done during nap time! And for at night!

Feeding Products

• Haakaa – this product is a must! It comes in handy all the time! You can use it to collect your let down on the opposite side that you are nursing on, you can use it while pumping, and to help get clogs out!
• Dr. Brown’s bottles – we use the slow flow bottles! They have been so helpful for Brinley’s reflux. We tried a few other bottles but really fell in love with these.
• Gripe Water – we use this stuff at least once a day. Sometimes for an upset tummy, and sometimes for the hiccups.
• Boppy – I use this every time I nurse and sometimes for playtime! There are a ton of nursing pillows but we were given this one and I love it! Plus there are a ton of fun covers you can get!
• Muslin Burp Cloths – these are by far our favorite kind of burp cloth! Soft on baby’s skin and actually soak up stuff!
• Dishwasher Basket – This makes washing bottle and pump parts so much easier!

Diapering

• Ubbi Diaper Pail – this one is great because you can use any tall kitchen trash bags in it! It doesn’t have to be a certain brand.
• Huggies – I know every baby is different and you have to try out different diapers to find the best for your baby. But we fell in love with Huggies!

Bathing

• Bath Support – This one has worked great for us!
• Scoop – I know you can use a cup but I like how soft and flexible this material is.
• Wash & shampoo – Our favorite! And these last a long time!

Brinley is only 3 months old so there are a lot of things we have that we haven’t used yet! So I will do another post as she gets older on things we actually use! Stay tuned friends!

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