When I was pregnant, I was completely and totally lost as to what my baby girl would need. Have you ever walked into a Buy Buy Baby? I’d like to think it’s a panic attack waiting to happen even if you know what you’re doing. Naturally, the only solution to my confusion was to just buy everything. You know, just in case.
I have piles of clothing that Dot will never wear – not because she doesn’t fit into them size wise, but because they just don’t fit our lives. Like, why did I think our “winter baby” would need a multitude of short sleeved onesies? I plead preggo brain on that one.
But even outside of clothing, Dot just has stuff. More stuff than Courtny and I combined, it seems (okay, that’s an exaggeration – but some days it feels like it). I recently have been thinking about what of that mountain of crap we actually use – and what would I gift future mommys-to-be. These are important thoughts when you have several friends who either are pregnant, or are bound to be soon.
If you think I’m talking about you, I probably am. Yeah. Pop out some friends for Dorothy already. ๐
So, after all of that introduction, I give you Dot’s Darlings. Below are our favorite (read: life saving) items from months one and two.
1: Johnson’s Baby Hand & Face Wipes | 2: JJ Cole Original Bundleme | 3: TY Beanie Boos | 4: Boon Grass Countertop Drying Rack | 5: Nosefrida The Snotsucker Nasal Aspirator | 6: Carters 1-piece Microfleece PJs | 7: Brica Baby In-sight Mirror | 8: Chicco Ultrasoft 2-Way Infant Carrier | 9: Diaper Genie Diaper Accessory Caddy
Johnson’s Baby Hand & Face Wipes: Dot has a clogged tear duct, which means her left eye is CONSTANTLY goopy, or teary, or sealed shut. These face wipes have been a lifesaver. Someone bought these for us while I was pregnant, and I have since cleared the shelves at Target to stock up. Not only are they good on a baby’s sensitive skin, they smell nice too. That’s a bonus when your kid constantly smells like formula.
JJ Cole Original Bundleme: This is a must if you are having an infant during the winter. Obviously it’s not safe to bundle a newborn up in a bulky coat and then strap them into their car seat, so this eliminates the need for a coat altogether. Heck, we don’t even need a blanket. She’s toasty and warm in her car seat with the Bundleme – and that matters when you are trying to survive an Indiana winter (-40*, anyone?).
TY Beanie Boos:ย Dot adores her Beanie Boos. She got Coconut the monkey for Christmas from Grandma, and has since received a turtle and an owl (which I have named Squirts and Hootie Without The Blowfish). It has to be something about the crazy huge eyes on these things, because Dot is mesmerized. She talks to them, and smiles at them, and generally is entertained for long periods of times by her “friends.” So far, it’s really the only toy she notices.
Boon Grass Countertop Drying Rack: If you plan on bottle feeding at all, you need Grass. Sure, there are plenty of drying racks that I’m sure work just as well, but the Boon Grass is fun. There’s all these different attachments, like Stem (a flower) or Twig (a tree) to hang bottle parts from, and I like to think my little “garden” looks semi-nice on my kitchen counter.
Nosefrida The Snotsucker Nasal Aspirator:ย I know what you’re thinking. I thought the same thing. Using my mouth to physically suck the snot out of my kid’s nose is something that I NEVER thought I would do, yet here I am. I hit my breaking point when Dot sounded like Darth Vader for the fifth day in a row, and the bulb sucker wasn’t cutting it. Let me tell you, this thing works. Yes, it’s a little gross, but at least my baby can breathe! Plus, I checked – there is no way snot is getting in your mouth. Thanks to my momma friends who recommended this to me!
Carters 1-piece Microfleece PJs:ย Again, winter baby + -40* temperatures = the need for fleece sleepers. Carters definitely has the softest fleece, but I have some cheapies from Babies R Us too that work just as well.
Brica Baby In-sight Mirror:ย I really didn’t like that I couldn’t see Dot when I was driving. If she decided to start screaming bloody murder, I was left to blindly dig for her pacifier with one hand and actually drive my car with the other. This way I can actually see where the paci landed before doing “the reach.” Don’t worry. I typically do this at stoplights, not when I’m actually moving.
Chicco Ultrasoft 2-Way Infant Carrier: Baby carriers are always a hot topic amongst moms. Everyone has a personal preference. Now I’ve never used any other brand of carrier, but I know the Chicco works just fine for us. I wear Dot around the house all day long. If I don’t, nothing gets done.The other day, Courtny caught me dancing in the kitchen while wearing her, making dinner, and drinking wine. I’d like to think I’m mastering the art of multitasking.
Diaper Genie Diaper Accessory Caddy: The diaper caddy might just be the best $20 we ever spent. I didn’t even know I needed this until I came home from the hospital, with my gut split open, and had to set up an impromptu changing station downstairs. I never thought through the fact that even though everything was neatly organized upstairs in our nursery, I would be spending 95% of my day downstairs with the baby. This bad boy is packed every day with diapers, wipes, bottles, formula, the Snotsucker, infant Tylenol, a hairbrush, etc. etc., etc. We would be lost without it.
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What things do you consider “must have” with a newborn? Let me know in the comments!
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