NURSERY
Babyletto Crib: I love the Babyletto crib from Land of Nod. Buying a crib is such a personal choice. One thing to decide before you start looking is if you want a convertible crib. These types of cribs convert into toddler beds and will grow with your child.
Newton Breathable Crib Mattress: I would recommend spending the extra $ for a breathable mattress. Why take any chances? The Newton Breathable Crib mattress has an innovative design which allows air to flow freely for optimal breathability and temperature regulation. 100 Percent breathable, washable, recyclable and free of toxins!!! If your child throws up or has a blow out on the mattress, you simply throw the cover in the wash and wash the actual mattress right in the tub. The material is very cool!
Crib fitted sheet: You do not need sheets if you buy the Newton Mattress. If you do decide to throw a fitted sheet over the mattress, make sure it’s made out of a breathable material. A muslin sheet is a wonderful option since muslin is a finely woven breathable fabric. I love the Aden and Anais muslin sheets because they are not only breathable but come in a variety of very fun prints.
Halo SleepSack: This is a really great swaddle to use as your baby grows. Our son has been using it for the last 4 months. The wrap offers the feeling of security while the option for arms in or out as your baby grows really makes this swaddle last.
Dockatot Grand: Our son had some trouble transitioning from his bassinet to the crib. We decided to use the Dockatot Deluxe in his crib until he grew out of it around 8 months old. We replaced this with the Dockatot Grand and he now sleeps in it every night. The Dockatot Grand will be a lifesaver when we transition our son from the crib to his toddler bed.
Natursutten: Our son did not use a pacifier until he was 3 months old. We decided to wait, so he would satisfy his sucking urges by breastfeeding. He was an underweight infant so any extra calories were welcomed. It is such a personal decision. From around 8 months on, he now only uses it at night and on rare occasions, during the day. If and when you use a pacifier, I absolutely LOVE Natursutten. They are 100 percent natural, made from pure natural rubber from a Hevea Brasiliensis tree. They are softer than silicone and are molded into one piece. This is so important because there are no joints or cracks where dirt and bacteria could accumulate. Your little one is going to be sucking on this thing all day and potentially all night long, so I would recommend choosing the brand you use very carefully.
Marpac Dohm Sound Machine: We have not one but two sound machines in our little ones room. We use this machine and The HoMedics Sound Spa sound machine. I would not have it any other way and highly recommend using a sound machine for your baby.
FEEDING
High Chair: I recommend the 4 moms highchair. The tray is magnetic for easy on and off one handed use. There is also a tray liner you can throw right in the dishwasher or clean in the sink without having to clean the entire tray. The high chair also has bowls that are magnetic that stay secured right on the high chair tray preventing you baby throwing the bowl over the edge. Because the tray liner is so easy to clean, our son’s food goes right on the tray liner. The foam seat is removable and very easy to wash. Overall, I love this highchair for both functionality and its contemporary look.
Inglesina Fast Table Highchair: This is such a great chair to have for both on the go and at home use. We use it at home when we want to have our baby pulled right up to the table. It’s been such a great product for on the go use. Whether it’s a long weekend at my parent’s home or a nice lunch out, this highchair makes eating on the go easier.
BabyBrezza Glass One Step Baby Food Maker: As you know, I’m a huge fan of the BabyBrezza products, so their food maker comes highly recommended. We introduced solids at 6 months and I used that from day one. It is so incredibly easy. You simply put the raw food in whether it’s vegetables, fruit or meat and the BabyBrezza steams and blends the food in one application. The BabyBrezza also comes with recipes organized by age, so you know what foods are age appropriate for your little one. Clean up is also very simple just throw almost every piece in the dishwasher and that’s it! This is one of those products I still use every single day. Now that my son is one, I do not need to blend the foods, but I still use the steamer.
Fresh Squeezed Squeeze Station: This product works really great if you buy the Baby Brezza. Making all your own baby food is great, but you need a way for your baby to enjoy it on the go, right?! This unit presses your homemade baby food into individual pouches for convenient storage and feeding. Just pour in the puree, press down to fill, squeeze and enjoy. I used this primarily for preparing food when we were traveling or on the go!
Boon Pulp: This is a really fun way for your baby to explore foods and it’s also great for teething! These durable silicone feeders make it easy for your little one to test out fruits and vegetables with its ingenious design and baby-friendly handle, while the easy-clean, dishwasher-safe design makes it parent-friendly, too.
Comotomo Baby Bottles: These bottles have worked really great for us. I love how soft and squishy they are. The bottle features a silicone nipple that mimics feeding at the breast and eases breast-to-bottle transitioning. The wide-neck design makes for easy dishwasher cleaning, while strategic, leak-free vents are designed to help prevent colic. They’ve been dishwasher cleaned too many times to count and they still look brand new.
GEAR
Jumpers: Many of the jumpers on the market are very similar. I bought the Baby Einstein Jumper because it is small and I live in an apartment. Now that the Skip Hop Jumper just came on the market, my choice might have changed. The Skip Hop Jumper FOLDS DOWN!!! I really wish our jumper had that feature.
Activity gym: Again they are all very similar; it just comes down to personal preference.
Skip Hop Foam Floor Tiles: These are really great, especially when your little one starts crawling. These tiles are especially beneficial to place over hard wood floors.
4moms Playard: I listed two above and I’ll tell you why. If you plan on using the playard when your child is an infant, I would choose the 4moms Breeze because it comes with a bassinet attachment. If you plan on waiting until your baby is rolling over, I would choose the Breeze. I did not use a pack n’ play until my son was consistently rolling over because I just used the DockAtot when we would travel.
Joovy Spoon Walker: Our son lived in this walker for months. It was such a nice product to have when he reached six months. He loved running around our home in this, eating snacks and even watching movies all in this walker!
Nuna Reva: When it comes down to new and improved technology, I am always on board. The smart design of the Nuna Reva uses advanced safety technology making installation very straightforward and simple. This car seat is not only safe but it’s also very easy to move from car to car. Nuna is a brand you can trust which has one of the best customer service departments I’ve ever dealt with.