Several folks have asked me for my recommendations on baby gear, diapering, etc. so I’ll devote a few posts to what has worked for us. Note what I just said: WHAT HAS WORKED FOR US.  One thing you learn the hard way when you have a baby is that just because something works for someone else, or the book you are reading “says so” doesn’t mean it will rock your baby’s world. You have to do what works for you…or, in some cases, what GETS YOU THROUGH!

Okay…so if you are only going to get one thing, we recommend a car seat & base (all photos click to product details). That way, you can bring your baby home from the hospital as well as be able to drive over to grandma’s to drop the baby off. There are way too many options out there. We asked around and decided to go with the smallest weight car seat. Apparently, most babies outgrow the length of the seat before the weight limit so you have to get a new size sooner than the weight requirement anyway, so the smaller car seat is much easier to lug around. We went with the Graco Snugride Platinum + Base.  It can be used until your baby is 22lbs or too long for it.  I would highly recommend it!

We did not realize it until the sun was shinning in Rand’s sweet little face one day in the car…but you will also need one of these:

Also, you might want to get an arm-saver. My friend Jane Smith gave me a super cute one from Oh Baby. Here is a similar one from Etsy:

Second, you need a stroller.  Your baby can ride in the car seat on the stroller from day 1.  By day 14 (or so) you’re gonna want to get out of the house and start walking. The Graco Snugride Car Seat snaps on to many different strollers, just pick the stroller you like and it will list what seats are compatible. We use the Bumbleride Indie Stroller in Black. I can’t tell you how much I love it. It is easy to open/close. We take it everywhere. It is expensive but worth it. If you can’t afford it or don’t have generous god-parents like we do to give you one…check craigslist!  Here’s a pic of Wes, Rand & the Bumbleride Indie at our cousin’s outdoor wedding (you can also see the graco snugride on top and the arm pad!).  In a few weeks, we’ll probably stop using the car seat on top of the stroller and just put Rand forward-facing in the stroller – he’s almost big enough!

Okay…now that you can take your baby with you wherever you want, the number 3 thing you’ll need is a breastpump so you can go somewhere WITHOUT your baby.  I lucked out and was able to borrow one, but this is the one I use and while I won’t get into all the details, it makes life easier.  All I had to do was order a set of tubes/shields/bottles.

You are also going to need some bottles.  We got the 5oz and 9oz Born Free bottles.  They have worked great for Rand.  Be sure to try one out before you open them all though – some babies are picky.  Also, we never used a bottle warmer.  If the milk is not already room-temp, I just stick it in a cup of hot water or hold the bottle under faucet for a few min to take the chill off.  It is key to not have a child who will only take a warm bottle!  Also, here is a helpful site a friend sent to me: http://www.kellymom.com/

While you don’t HAVE to have these next two things, we use them every day.  Rand did not start really enjoying them until about 2-3 months old, but now he loves them….

This “Treetop Friends” playmat

Rand invited Jackson over to his playmat one day:

And his Bright Starts bouncy seat. Click here for the link to it. It is a good deal at $20.  This is where Rand sits each morning while we have our coffee and eat breakfast as a family in the kitchen.  You can’t see much of the seat in this photo, but checkout that smile!

We have also just started to use the Ergo baby carrier.  We have it in “camel” color and Wes has really enjoyed wearing Rand around the house in it.  And, who would have thought that things like vacuuming and dusting could be so much more fun if you have a baby to wear while you work.  It is also great for trips out where you can’t use the stroller.

For clothing, don’t buy a lot of small sizes!  They outgrow it fast and you end up using the things you like the most over and over.  If you are going to get a few items, I suggest footie pajamas with snaps (the zipper ones bunch up), rompers with snaps, onesies, a few pairs of pants (to go over onesies if it is cold) and some socks.  Rand has yet to wear a pair of shoes and he is 5 months old.  In the winter we’ll probably need to wear shoes but, just so you know, it’s challenging to keep things on a baby’s feet. Carters.com has good web specials and their onesies fit Rand well.  I have found that Baby Gap stuff runs wide/short on Rand.  Here are some other short and long-sleeved options…all babies look cute in stripes:

We have found some good deals on designer brands and swim stuff on Zulily (it is free to join).  They currently have some cute stuff by Mooncakes…

Also, not 100% necessary, but items we have used daily include this bottle-drying rack and this OXO Dishwasher basket.  I have to admit, I chose the drying rack because it looked the “coolest” to me…and it works great/doesn’t clash too badly in my kitchen.  I have it in white/orange.

In Rand’s nursery, we also use a humidifier.  Something I thought we wouldn’t need, but ended up having to get.  He got so stuffy as a baby, we used this from day one.

You also need something “kind” to hang on your front door to make people go away.  People at the door during nap time are your worst enemy.  Just imagine you have spent an hour trying to get little one to go down for a nap.  Finally, you succeed only to have the friendly Fed-Ex man ring the doorbell (we disconnected ours) or bang on the door (which is what happens when your doorbell is disconnected)…if you don’t want to buy something you could print a small sign and laminate it.

Currently, we put Rand in his footed pajamas and then one of these sleepsacks at night.  They help prevent SIDS by keeping your baby warm without having a blanket that could accidentally cover the child’s face.

Since Rand has been sleeping in his crib, we have used the heck out of the baby monitor.  We did not go for one of those snazzy video monitors and haven’t missed it.  You go in and check on your baby so much anyway, you don’t really need it.  Instead, we went for the distance factor and got a monitor with a long range so that we can be out doing yard work (aka by the pool) and still hear him if he wakes.

Blankets…chances are if you have a baby shower, you will get a TON of blankets.  We especially liked these blankets by Aden & Anais.  I have used them for all kinds of things and they are thin and dry quickly.   Not gonna lie, they are pretty “up there” on the stylish baby products list too.

Drumroll please…we could not have survived the first few months without this magic potion.  Our friends Rob & Katie Barrett gave us a bottle of this with their baby gift and it got us through some colicky days with Rand.  When he would go into “wild scream” mode we’d give him a few drops of this and it would calm him down enough so that he would take a paci.  It is all-natural.  I guess the best way I could describe it is like baby ginger ale minus the fizz.  It worked wonders for his little hurting tummy.  It is also hard to find in stores.  CVS has it, but Rite Aid and WalMart do not.  We usually order it online or go to our local pharmacy, The Prescription Shoppe.

Bibs and burp cloths.  You need a lot of these.  Rand has been drooling his face off since he was 3 months old.  So we put him in a bib and it cuts down on how many times a day we have to change his outfit.  Also handy to put on baby in the car so that when you arrive somewhere you don’t have to immediately change the baby’s drool-soaked clothing.

If you are pregnant, or have a friend who is pregnant, tell her to put down the pregnancy book right now.  I think I spent 8 months of pregnancy reading about pregnancy when I should have been reading up on how to take care of a baby for the rest of its life!  The book “Happiest Baby on the Block” taught us some helpful soothing techniques.  We also read “Healthy Sleep Habits” and “Baby Wise”  - both have some great nuggets of wisdom but can also make you feel like you and your baby are not doing things right when you do what it says and it doesn’t work.

Rand has been teething since about 3 months and he loves this teether named Sophie the Giraffe.   Only thing I wish is that it didn’t squeak because while Rand is not really interested in the noise it makes, our dog Nina is all about it.  It is made by Vulli.  He also loves these teethers made by the same company.

Last but not least is the swing!  A sweet friend gave us this lamb swing at a baby shower – it is awesome.  Every time I look at it I wish they made one in my size.  Don’t tell our pediatrician, but Rand still naps like a champ in it.  (I don’t feel too bad now that I’ve found this image of someone else’s baby sleeping in the swing)

We also just purchased this travel crib. It is a little pricier than some of the other travel cribs but after doing some research I was confident that we needed something that packed up really small and was easy/quick to set up and take down (on the website, it shows people assembling it in less than 30 seconds). One reviewer said they used theirs until their child was 3 years old. When we get back from our trip, I’ll let you know if it is a winner.

Next up: nursery & diapers.  When I get around to it.  I can hear my little bubs waking up…