Here is a collection of some tried and true products I love. Disclosure: There are some affiliate links below, but I would never, ever recommend a product that I don’t personally own, use all the time, and really think highly of.
Baby Items
Don’t buy changing pad covers that are impossible to remove with one arm. Let’s face it, you are holding your baby with the other. Use changing pad covers instead. They are easy to grab and wash. Plus, I have had no problems getting any stains out of mine!
People seem to have mixed opinions on wipes warmers. Are they useful or extravagant? Baby J has made it painfully obvious that she prefers her wipes warm!
We decided to buy these simple, no-fuss swaddle blankets. They are plain white making them easy to clean AND gender neutral- perfect for our growing family. And they do triple duty as a lap blanket, swaddle, and burp cloth. Just make sure you got your swaddle folding method down. As we say in our family we say, “Burrito that baby up!”
I have three Moby wraps. Is that excessive? Not when your baby wants to be carried, and your baby wants to be carried immediately! Consider having an extra in your car, multiple levels of your home, etc.
The Fort Knox of diaper pails. If you have someone with a high sensitivity to odors in your house (like we do), then this is the diaper pail to get. Yes, it might be more expensive that some others initially, but it doesn’t require a fancy liner, so the savings adds up over time. We just use regular ol’ Kirkland brand trash bags.
Are these organic? Nope. Are they stiff plastic? Yes, but if you are going to practice baby-led weaning, you will be so, so glad that you got these! Food falls into the well at the bottom of the bib. After a few uses and with age, your baby will realize that they can grab the food from the well and reinsert it into their mouths. Even less food waste!
As great as baby-led weaning is, it is also messing! We got this mat because the pattern and color were a little less off-putting than some of the others. It has held up well and air-dries in a flash.
This was indispensable the first few months of J’s life. It is easy to move around and seemed extremely comfortable. We often covered ours with a hooded towel and used it as a safe area to place J after showers.
We bought these for the same reason we chose our swaddle blankets. Basic white that can be used again and again. It also served as a great modeling prop during J’s first photoshoot. Who knew?!
Some lactation consultants warn against using a pacifier because it could cause nipple confusion. We waited a while before introducing J to a pacifier, but when we did, we used this one. We felt good about it being rubber. Word to the wise though: order multiple at a time from Amazon. It seems like none of the big box stores carry these, and you don’t want to be without one in case you accidentally misplace the paci during a crying fit.
Supplements and Personal Care
I took these when I found out I was expecting J and still take them. They are powerful stuff, and I can tell an immediate difference.
I usually alternate between this and the cod liver oil. There is also a cod liver oil/butter oil mix that I will sometimes take. This is the only dairy I consume, and when I did Whole 30 I held off.
I couldn’t take six pills a day. I tried. I couldn’t do it. These were easy. One and done. I had a great experience taking these.
Spray this lightly on the bottoms of your feet or the insiders of your upper arms, and you are guaranteed a good night’s sleep. Just remember that a little goes a long way.
When I first heard someone rave about Dr. Tung’s I thought, “Seriously? It’s dental floss. How great can it get?” The answer is pretty great. Dr. Tungs stretches between your teeth and inside super slick. In other words, it gets the food particles out way better than any other floss I have tried.
Significantly better than those plastic scrapers or your toothbrush. A few swipes is all you need to have a fresh mouth.
Every single morning, before I drink anything, I scrap my tongue and then rinse my mouth with this.
Books
The book that changed my life and my family’s life.