When you are having your first baby it can be very overwhelming. It is such a special time, but there is so much to think about, your hormones are out of control and you do not know what to expect. On top of it all, your friends, parents, grandparents, work associates and even the stranger in the grocery store seem to have opinions they want to share with you. Here’s the truth of the matter, everyone has good intentions and just want to help.

I wrote this article not to give you one more opinion to overwhelm you, but to just tell you the things that made our lives easier, and hope they help:

Pregnancy Products –

Pregnancy Pillow – this is a must have as you get further along and start to have a lot of aches and pains.

Pregnancy Massages – Help so much with all of the aches and pains and relaxation.

Preggie Pops – Helps with nausea from morning sickness.

*in your last trimester if you have access to a pool, it feels amazing. You feel weightless and all of the pressure is off of your joints.

Baby Products –

Nose Frida – Babies always get runny noses. This is a life saver. I know it looks and sounds gross, but I promise it isn’t.

Formula Sorter – These are very inexpensive and allow you to portion out the amount of formula you need when you are on the go. You just fill the baby bottle with water and pour the formula in. This eliminates the need to take the formula can with you and measure on the go.

Swing – This was probably was the most helpful product that we owned. We had one from Fisher Price that had multiple sounds and swinging speeds. Make sure to purchase one with a remote box to turn it off and on and not one that you have to wind up. Each time you wind it up, it wakes the baby. And purchase a swing that has three levels so he can rest in it comfortably when he’s drowsy.  You can use the swing after the first month making sure to put a rolled up receiving blanket on each side of his neck. 

Keekaru Peanut Changer– This is a fantastic changing pad, as you do not need to cover it with a sheet and wash the sheet, you just wipe it off with a rag.

Aquafor – This was the best product for our son’s diaper rashes.

Bathing Sponge – Makes your baby’s first bath’s so much easier. It fits in most sinks, keeps the baby from sliding around and and keeps them comfortable and warm. And you don’t have to hold him in the water to keep him from slipping.

Hooded Towel – I even use these now for my five year old.

Boon Drying Lawn – This is amazing for drying bottles, nipples, silverware etc..

Dr. Brown’s Bottle Warmer – We tried a couple of others and they broke. This lasted the longest and did a great job quickly warming the bottles

Steel Diaper Pail – Most people get the Diaper Genie. The Diaper Genie has to be replaced after about a year because the smell is so bad, and you have to use their bags. Steel diaper pails like the Ubbi keep the smell inside and you can use your own trash bags.

Humidifier – Babies get colds and runny noses, and you can not give them anything when they are really little. So, aside from the nose Frida, and some saline solution, you will want to have a good humidifier.

Noise Machine – Getting one with lights, lullabies, a timer and white noise is the best.

Bouncy Chair – We kept one upstairs and one downstairs.

Pack and Play – We liked the Chicco with the changer.

Car Seat – We liked the Chicco Keyfit travel system. It comes with the stroller, car seat and one base. Then you just buy additional bases for Dad or Grandma’s car. It is important when looking for a good car seat and stroller to read the reviews and look at the weight. Some are very heavy.

Exersaucer– Our son loved it. Couldn’t keep him in their long, but long enough to put away the groceries and get him a bottle. And it’s not safe to use until your little one can sit up. But you may still have to pad the back by his neck to keep him stable. 

Mesh Food Feeder – This is a great tool for experimenting with new foods. You can put bananas, avocado, melon etc.. You can also put frozen food in for teething relief. You do not need to worry about your baby choking.

*It should go without saying, never leave your baby alone while eating.

Teething Rings – There are so many out there, ours liked the raspberry teething pacifiers.You can also put his binky in the freezer to make those sore gums feel better. Don’t use once he has teeth. 

Again, these are just some of the items that we loved. One thing to remember, is that you can get a lot of great items second hand or from a friend. Make sure if you do this, that you check the product recall list, which is updated weekly. Visit this link to view all recalls: listserve@cpsc.gov

If you are looking for a great book with easy to find tips, you should order, “Help My Baby Came without Instructions by Blythe Lipman. Every Mom should have a book they can refer to quickly, when they don’t know what to do.