When I found out I was pregnant, I did all the first time mom things. I pulled out my laptop, and google and I went to work. ordered First I ordered my baby books and my supplements. Naturally, I read every mom blog I could find, and went to amazon to start on my registry.
I ‘finished’ my registry at least 4 times. Because whenever I went to show my mom friends, they told me I didn’t have enough on it. Only to later realize, once I had it all, I wouldn’t use half of it. Lets not forget about the things I didn’t ask for that people just assumed I needed, like those fancy 4moms baby swings, which I had 4 of.
This is my short list of things that I used, and used often. Every day, for my first baby, and even my second. If I’m invited to a baby shower, its the hardest thing in the world to buy off the registry because I really only want to buy these things!
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Madela Manual Pump
Kickin it old school and I will not be judged! I had 3 electric pumps. Very expensive, hands free, cute on instagram, chargeable, fancy, bougie, wildly unnecessary pumps. I absolutely hated them. Breast feeding at first is a complete shock because it’s not like pleasurable boob play, its nothing like it at all. Having those little machines strapped to me made me feel like an animal.It may sound weird, but there was no finesse, just pressure and annoying sounds. And who cares how cute the carrying case is, it’s another bag! I have a purse, a diaper bag, my baby, and now I have to carry a bag with my boob machine? Absolutely not. My hand pump was a dream. I pumped a full bottle in 10-15 minutes. It’s small enough to fit in my diaper bag, gym bag, mom purse, basically anywhere. I pump while I’m driving, I pump in the restaurant under my hoodie and then go about my day. Anybody that says squeezing 1 hand at their own pace, for 10 minutes is too tedious, has the spirit of extreme laziness and I rebuke it right now. $20 hand pump for the win.
2. Doona
I have 2. And when my youngest finally grows out of it, it will be a sad day in my household.
This is a little pricey, around $500 on amazon, but it is worth so much more in my opinion.
The Doona is a carseat and stroller all in one. It can be strapped into a car with out a base which makes it perfect for traveling. When collapsed it sits perfectly on an airplane seat, and also fits over head in carry on compartment. This is not a theory, I’ve done it many times. This thing is completely daddy proof. He will not look at the Doona like a headache and wonder if he’s doing it right. Squeeze a button, and it’s an instant car seat. Put it in the car, throw the seatbelt over it, and thats it.
My very first purchase for my daughter was a gorgeous stroller. $1,500. I was clearly out of my mind. When I booked my first flight with her, I ordered the doona, and put that beautiful piece of crap stroller in the garage and never looked back. This could be my favorite baby item of all time, just sayin.
3. The Snoo
This was one of those hail marys on my registry. You know, the expensive one, and you’re like no way is somebody going to buy this for me and this stranger baby they’ve never met. But the snoo is legendary. It is also $1,100. But by the grace of God, somebody loved us (my husband) enough to ‘add to cart.’ I used it everyday for both of my kids until they were around 6 months. The snoo is ____
My first time using it (both times) freaked me out a little bit. You think your newborn is the most delicate thing in the world. So once you put baby in the snoo, and she starts crying, the snoo rocks a little faster, and goes faster, and faster depending on how much she’s crying. It will only rock on the highest level for a couple minutes, then it will stop so you can pick the baby up. Anytime it goes into the last level of rocking, it almost always works. Your baby is rocked to sleep.
Purists moms may not like it, and I guess I can understand some of the concern, but it gave me a break that I wouldn’t have had otherwise. I knew my baby was safe, and it doesn’t hurt that the app will alert you to any sounds the baby is making while asleep.
4. Baby wrap.
Any kind of damn wrap. I wasn’t into the heavy duty carriers with snaps and buckles and frames. I was a huge fan of the 50 foot piece of fabric that I had to YouTube how to use. It made me feel like one of those holistic, alternative living, hippie kind of moms. Once I got the hang of it, it was my favorite accessory. My little one loved to be snuggled up to me. For the times that he refused to be put down, I was able to wrap him up, and tackle my never ending to do list.
I could return emails, fold the laundry, talk on the phone, or clean up. I did whatever I could while he was asleep and strapped to my chest. It also made going through the airport so easy! It was all fun and games until he got too big and the wrap became hell on my back.
What are some of your essential baby products? And can we get it on amazon? Because typically, if I cant get it primed to my front door, I won’t buy it. Happy shopping mamas!