A Top 5

Today I decided to a top 5 list of my most useful baby items this time around. This is a very different list than what I would have said with Miranda. It just goes to show you how every baby is different and has different needs, even within the same family. These are items that you can buy in the store and aren't a big *D'UH* necessity like diapers, wipes, clothes, food (of the mom's choosing), car seat, etc...

#1: A bouncer seat! With Miranda I would've told you that the bouncer seat was a useless piece of junk. She hated it! She was a 100% swing baby. She would spend HOURS in it. Elliott, not so much. He is almost the opposite. He doesn't really enjoy the swing at all but he loves a bouncer! At first we were borrowing one from my neighbor who is due at the end of the month. I didn't even think to buy one because Miranda hated hers. This was my first lesson that just because two babies are siblings, does not mean they will enjoy the same pieces of baby equipment. Now that my neighbor is going to need her seat back, I had to ask myself if buying a bouncer was really worth it. The answer I came up with was THIS. I said to myself, at least it goes to 40lbs and not just 25lbs like most infant bouncers do. I've only had it a couple days, but it has been an awesome addition to this household. He's sleeping in it right now! Take a look:

#2: A pack 'n play with bassinet feature. This is where Elliott sleeps at night and I love having him in my room. It's right next to my bed, and super easy for me to just sit up and grab him from the bassinet part. I think I'll cry when he outgrows it. Even though he's been sleeping well at night and it probably wouldn't even be that big of a hassle for me to walk to the crib to get him, it still makes me happy to have him near. Again, with Miranda I was the exact opposite! She was a loud sleeper and I couldn't wait to get her out of my room. She only used the pack 'n play for a couple weeks and only because of an incident that happened on my first night home with her (a story for another day). Her pack 'n play didn't even come with a bassinet feature so it was really painful (in the beginning) for me to bend over to put her in or take her out. Maybe I would've liked it better if it did have a bassinet, who knows? Either way, this makes my list this time around because it's just so handy!

 

(I would like to add, however, that the changing table is useful too...as a place to hold blankets, pajamas, burp cloths, diapers, wipes, even the remote. I have only used it as an actual changing table a couple times. I usually just change him right on the bed.)

#3: A diaper changing table. I know, this completely contradicts what I just said about the pack 'n plays changing table, but I'm weird like that. From what I've seen most moms will tell you that a changing table is useless, kind of like the one on the pack 'n play. However, in the main area of the house I actually enjoy having the table for diaper changes. With Miranda I had an actual changing table in her nursery. I loved it and used it all the time. Now, we're improvising. We have a table from Ikea with a changing pad (also from Ikea) on top of it. It's proven itself very useful. I will say that I really only find it good to use for the first 6 months or so. Once they really start squirming through diaper changes I feel much safer doing it on the floor. When babies are nice and little and needing a new diaper every hour it's easier to plop them on a table. 

 

(This is not my changing table. It is only a generic Google image that I found.)

#4: A Bumbo seat. Again, this is one I could agree on for Miranda and Elliott. Before a baby is really able to sit up on their own, a lot of times they still have a desire to be sitting up. That's where the Bumbo comes in handy. It sits them up while at the same time allowing them to work on the valuable core strength that will get them sitting up on their own. It's also something that doesn't put pressure on the back of their head like everything else. This is probably another item that a lot of moms will disagree with me on, but I like it.

 

#5: Last but certainly not last: a baby carrier. This actually isn't very useful to me at the exact moment in time. I only have an Ergo and I don't have an infant insert and he's a bit to big to froggy in it and too small to comfortably sit with his legs sticking out. If I had the money I'd buy myself a Beco Butterfly 2 as well since they fit infants better. I was trying out a K'tan I borrowed from a cousin, however I found it too stretchy and I just couldn't get the hang of it. He kept sliding down and it just wasn't working. It makes me think that a Moby wouldn't be that great for me either. I really prefer a buckle carrier. I really think a carrier (whichever you like best) is the greatest baby item to have though. Hands-free closeness. What could be better?

 

I know that non of these are *necessities*. Babies in actuality need very little but, they are nice luxuries to have.