The First Year: Top 5 Baby Products
I am officially the mom of a one year old. It still feels odd to say that out loud. The truth is, this last year has gone by SO fast. There is a saying that many moms mentioned to me right after having Emma :
“The days are long, but the years are short”
While I understood what they were getting at, at the time the days felt very long. But just a few short months later, I find myself looking at pictures from when Emma was first born and missing her being so small. Even though she was not sleeping through the night, even though breastfeeding was a constant struggle for me, and even though I had no idea what I was doing. Looking back, that was such a period of growth for me. I’ve learned so much about caring for a little one, and how to function as a family of three.
Don’t get me wrong, I still feel like I don’t know what I am doing ALOT of the time. And I still google everything. But, I do feel that I came into my own as a mom and I am a lot more confident in my ability to figure things out.
Part of that what allowed me to gain more confidence as a mom was finding products that truly helped make things easier. Through some trial and error, I found these next five items to be holy grail products that I would recommend to others, and will for sure be using for any future kiddos!
Breast Friend Nursing Pillow
There are a lot of nursing pillows out there, but I found this one to be so comfortable and useful.
In addition to the large pillow in the front, there is one that goes behind your back for added support when sitting down. You fasten the strap around your waist, and can tighten or loosen it the same way you would a belt. It stays put so there is no constant adjusting, even with a squirmy baby.
It also has a little pocket in the front that is really handy! I used it to hold extra hair ties, lotion, and even my cell phone and the T.V. remote! You can also remove the pillow case to throw in the wash, and it’s very easy to spot clean.
Guys, I used this DAILY even as Emma got older to comfortably feed her a bottle and it is still in great shape!
DockATot
During the first few months, nights were rough. Emma could not get comfortable enough in her bassinet to sleep very long stretches. Some nights she would sleep in our bed, since that was the only way we would all get some sleep. Obviously, this was a concern because we did not want to have her sleeping in bed with us. We didn’t feel that it was safe. We tried several similar (less expensive) items, for lounging and co-sleeping, but nothing worked like the DockATot. As soon as we put Emma in it, she slept so much better! The base of the DockATot is slightly padded, and the outer bumper makes the baby feel nestled in.
We used it both in her bassinet, and in our bed for co-sleeping on the nights that she refused to sleep unless she was lying right next to us. This may not be the recommended way to use the Dock, but it worked so well for our family.
We also used it when traveling – which was such a game-changer! I found it easy to carry on the plane, and Emma slept great in it- making our vacation that much more enjoyable!
Hatch Baby Rest Sound Machine and Night Light
I never knew people used sound machines for babies until I was pregnant with Emma. We used ours since Day 1, so I’m not sure how she would sleep without ever having used one. But, I will say, if you are going to try a sound machine, this one is it. It has a ton of sounds setting – including waves, rain, and wind. It’s also a night light, which you can set to a number of colors. You can also dim the brightness of the light to match your needs.
It is so easy to use- it connects straight to your phone using the Rest app. You can adjust the light color, brightness, sound, and volume from your phone. So there is no fumbling around with any buttons on the actual device during the night.
Another item that gets used multiple times a day, that is a big part of Emma’s nap and nighttime routine!
Tubby Todd All Over Ointment
Or the “Magic Cream” as we like to refer to it in our house.
This stuff is SO good. It cleared up Emma’s baby acne within just a few uses. It has a number of plant based ingredients, which are safe for newborns. It can be used all over, as the packaging suggests – for diaper rash, any blemish, or anywhere on the body and face as moisturizer. We use it all the time. A little goes a long way so the tub lasts a really long time!
Doona Car Seat and Stroller
This last product is a splurge, but so worth it if you live in a city and take public transit or cabs with baby; or if you travel a lot.
The Doona is essentially a car seat and stroller in one. The wheels fold in when used as a car seat, and can drop down to push as a stroller. The stroller ride is very smooth, and the stroller handle does extend to a comfortable height, even for someone tall (like my husband). It is set lower than a normal stroller, so the baby is riding closer to the ground. However, we didn’t find this to be an issue. It was actually really easy to pull it up to a table at a restaurant.
It is also so convenient navigating through an airport, which may require you to go up and down several escalators. No need to search for an elevator because switching back and forth between the stroller and car seat is super easy! The Doona is also considered safe to use with or without the base, which makes moving it into different cars a breeze. We traveled with and without the base, and felt that regardless Emma was secure. However, for daily use, we did have the base in the car.
One thing I will say about the Doona though, is that it is pretty heavy once baby is inside. We used it up until Emma was maybe 11 months old, and toward the end of that period, Felipe was doing all the lifting. It was a struggle trying to take her out on my own. Being 5’2 and trying to lift this into the back seat of an SUV was very difficult! Even still though, I would recommend this if you live a more “on-the go” lifestyle.
Best App for New Moms – The Wonder Weeks
I wanted to tack this on at the end because it is another thing we used constantly this past year. This $3.99 app takes you through and helps you understand the developmental leaps baby is experiencing. It identifies when baby might be a bit fussier, more needy, more curious, etc. based on when they are going through a leap in their mental development. For us, anytime we noticed Emma was doing something new, or was acting a bit differently, we checked the app and it was pretty spot on. It explained what baby could see and feel, and it made it easier to navigate the different stages of her development. It even gives you tips on what you can do to help your little one along. Definitely worth the download!
Bottom line- having a baby means accumulating a lot more stuff. But hopefully, you are able to find things to make your life easier that fit with your family’s needs. For us, these products were it!
Let me know if you have any holy grail baby products! Would love to hear from you!
Until next time,
Jannette
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