Let’s face it, when it comes to babies, there are so many product categories and sub-categories and so many brands and sub-brands within each of the categories and sub-categories, it’s enough to make your head spin!  This is why I’ve put together a few of my favourite things below, which I could not live without when I had my kids.  I hope you find it helpful…

Bugaboo Stroller
It took me a long time to be convinced that this really was the best stroller out there.  Before I invested in the Bugaboo - and yes, I agree it is quite an investment – I had gone through four different strollers and although I will not name the other brands, I will say this: NOTHING maneuvers like the Bugaboo.  If you do a lot of walking outdoors or indoors, this stroller will get you in and out of those narrow aisles in the stores, crowded shopping malls, or bumpy terrain at the park.  Some strollers you may be considering can get quite costly but this is probably going to be the most frequently used item that you will have and it is not the thing to save on.  My opinion: splurge on the stroller, save on something else.

Swaddle Blankets
You’ll go through these almost as quickly as diapers!  One of the biggest “secrets” to getting your cranky baby to settle down is to learn to properly swaddle him/her.  It takes some practice, but once you get it, you’ll never forget it.  My two favourite swaddling blankets are the GR8X swaddle blankets and the Kushies reversible blankets.  If you’re not sure how to swaddle, come in to the store and we’d be glad to show you our tricks.

Swing
This is one of those “nests” that hold your baby and rock him or her.  Some of them convert into toddler chairs, some have mobiles on top that play music or have different lights, etc.  The common thread between them all, is that that they all swing the baby.  For me, this was a life (and sanity) saver, especially with my first son.  He was very unsettled for the first SEVEN months!  The swing was the only thing that my husband and I could turn to when we had no strength left for holding, rocking, singing, jumping, dancing, humming, bouncing, etc.  The swing would always settle him.  Bottom line, it doesn’t matter which brand you get, just as long as you get one. 

Bumbo Seat
I did not have this miracle with my first child, but I did get one for my second.  Not only did my daughter love this thing, but it strengthened her back muscles and helped her sit up earlier and straighter!  It was designed by a chiropractor, so contrary to some opinions, it is not bad for the baby’s back, so long as it is not introduced too early.  I could seat my daughter in the Bumbo while I fed her, or even to take adorable pictures.  This is definitely a must-have.

Nursing Bras
If you’re planning on breastfeeding, you may try to use your old bras and somehow make it work… not an option!  Once you try using a nursing bra, you will not want to go back to anything else.  The truth is though, most of the nursing bras out there are not the most sexy little things.  Nummies has changed all this.  They’ve got a nice range of styles and sizes and colours that will make you feel sexy again.

Nipple Cream
Girls, just trust me on this one.  Please.  If you end up not needing it, great!  But I would suggest starting to use it BEFORE you think you need it because if you wait until you need it, it’ll be really uncomfortable (and that’s putting it very lightly).

Breast Pump
If you’re planning on breastfeeding, definitely invest in an electric breast pump.  If you’ve ever used a manual, you’ll understand what you’ve been missing

My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow
I’ve tried them all and this is the best one.  The way it wraps around your midsection, provides some very needed back support – especially right after birth.  It also has small bumps in just the right spots to help bring the baby’s head up to the breast. It features removable cotton covers, which are completely machine washable and replaceable.  Unexpectedly, it is not the most expensive nursing pillow.  There are many others available that may offer a more luxurious fabric (which may not wash as well) but the Brest Friend was the biggest winner for me.

Onesies & Diaper shirts – organic cotton
When your baby is born, you are likely to be deluged with generous gifts from well-meaning family and friends.  Many of the clothing gifts that you will receive will surely be the pull-over-the-head style onesies or t-shirts.  These look very cute in the hangers but are quite impractical with a newborn baby.  The last thing I wanted to do with my fragile little bundles is to start pulling things over their heads and trying to squeeze their little arms up through the tight shirts.  Instead, I much preferred the diaper shirts that use the snaps all the way down and have a piece that wraps around from behind and snaps up at the front.  Diaper changes are easier with these as well.  Save the over-the-head t-shirts for when your baby get a little older and had more head control (4 – 6 months).

Hats w/ earflaps
Even in the summer months, I learned to always make sure to keep a hat in the diaper bag in case it got windy.  The thing about most baby hats though, is that they would pop off in a matter of minutes because there was nothing securing them to my kids’ head.  Learn from my mistakes – for practical reasons, buy some hats with earflaps and ties.  They are  a staple for the diaper bag. 

Episiotomy pillow
If you’ve had a natural birth and didn’t have an episiotomy, any tears, and are not suffering from even a little hemorrhoids… well isn’t that nice for you?!  For the rest of us though, an episiotomy pillow will help relieve a lot of discomfort.  I found it very helpful especially in the first few weeks – when everything is healing… enough said.

Bassinette or Cradle
I used both – and found them to be very helpful especially in the night because I didn’t want to run to the nursery every 2 hours for a feeding.  I kept the cradle in our bedroom upstairs and the bassinette in the kitchen downstairs.  Having the cradle by my bedside made everything a bit more manageable – I was able to reach over and bring my baby into bed with me to nurse and still remain somewhat relaxed (sometimes, I could even snooze as they nursed).  I used the bassinette in the kitchen when they napped during the day and even when they got too big to sleep in it, I used it as a changing area.  I would keep diapers and wipes in the bottom basket and put them inside the soft cozy area to change.  A word of caution: if you are going to do this and your baby is old enough to pull up or sit up, do not take your eyes off him/her for a second, just as you would not step away from the change table of dresser while changing the baby.

Angel Care Monitor
If you are going to buy a monitor, invest in this one.  I didn’t get to use it with my kids but my girlfriends with babies can’t stop raving about it.  The Angelcare monitor comes with a very sensitive pad, which detects the slightest movements from the baby – even breathing movement.  It is placed under the baby’s sheet, and if no movement is detected for 20 seconds, an alarm will sound.  As frightening as it is to imagine, the truth is that SIDS is a reality and if this monitor is just one way for a new mom to have that extra peace of mind, it’s worth it. 

GroBag
This is the sleeping bag that a baby is put into to help regulate the body temperature at night. I have to admit that it took me a while to believe this and to try it.  Therefore, my son never got to wear the GroBag.  My daughter, on the other hand, did.  She was a really bad sleeper.  She would wake up and need to be soothed back to sleep sometimes every two hours!!! Needless to say, I was desperate and decided to try it.  It was probably one of the most surprising and amazing things I had ever seen.  She was not only sleeping better, she was sleeping longer and was waking up with a much cheerier mood than before… not to mention my cheerier disposition now that I was finally getting some rest at night!  Definitely put this on your registry or ask your girlfriend to buy you two – one to wear and one to wash. 

Daphne Seat
Bath time was a breeze with the Daphne seat.  Especially since my husband wasn’t always there to help me bathe the kids, this seat made it so easy to place my newborn into and still have my hands free to soap up and wash all those cute little baby parts.  It’s adjustable and good from birth until the baby is about 28” long.  Best of all, you can use it in the sink, in a baby bath tub, or even in your own big tub.  For me, this was a real winner.  I buy it for all the baby showers I go to and recommend it to all my pregnant customers. 

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