Baby Gear - What Is the Latest and Greatest

[maciec]

So dh and I sold everything off thinking we weren't going to have any more. DS is 5 so we are slightly out of touch with current baby products/gear.

Could you please tell me what you liked, didn't like, and what you couldn't live without for your baby?

I know that there was a thread a while back about this same topic, but I cannot find it.

 

[Lstar311]

Congratulations, what an exciting time! I had a baby 20 months ago and already some of the products have changed but here is what I liked:

a Boppy pillow: can be used for breastfeeding or bottle feeding
an Excersaucer or Jumperoo: replace walkers as the baby can move in them
but they are stationary
Bumbo seat: a little chair to allow baby to sit up on the floor. Some have
trays and can be used to eat at
Bottles: It is recommended to buy BPA free bottles. Baby bottles have a
number on the bottle that will tell you if it has BPA in it or not. BPA is a
chemical in plastic that leaches into the milk or formula and has adverse
side effects. Look for bottles that say BPA free or glass or the drop ins
Baby Bjorn or some type of baby wearing device
Swaddle Blanket: I loved the Miracle Blanket
White Noise CD

Those are the must haves for me. Good luck, have fun shopping!

 

[maciec]

I can't wait to start shopping! It's going to be so much fun!

 

[dznybound]

Here's my list of must haves:


Baby Papasan Swing
My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow (we have a Boppy too, but the Brest Friend pillow works better for us)
Lansinoh Double Electric Breast Pump
Microwave Bottle Sterilizer or Mendela Microsteam Bags
Baby Bjorn Carrier
Diaper Genie
Halo Sleepsacks
Tiny Love Symphony in Motion Mobile

 

[Tiffany_MommyOf3]

My oldest is only 11 months but we hadn't planned on any more - so now we are in the same boat - we have 10 month + stuff but all the baby stuff is gone haha.

I can't live without:

Orbit Baby Stroller - it's pricey but worth every single cent IMO

Boppy pillow - Nursing wouldn't be the same without it. LOL

Playtex Drop-Ins Premium Nurser - These are the only bottles my babes will take but they awesome bc of the liners that keep out air. Although these aren't new - they just made them prettier LOL - my mom used these with me when I was a baby haha

Medela Breastpumps - Freestyle if working, Swing if staying at home or working part time - Both are great pumps just one is a lot more expensive and is a double pump and the other is a single pump.

Fisher-Price Zen Collection Cradle Swing - Not only is it absolutely beautiful, the seat comes off to carry around as a bouncy seat. This set is only found online now and is supposed to be in stores in Spring.

Fisher-Price Zen Collection Bassinet - Again, beautiful like the swing and also isn't in stores until Spring. This bassinet glides to keep baby asleep.

Fisher-Price Space Saver High Chair - We have 2 of these for my 2 yr old and 11 month old - absolutely love them. I will never use another high chair. My children are sitting at the table with me (instead of off to the side) so they feel like they are included with dinner - since my older 2 sit at the table without a booster or highchair. The tray is great. The seat is fantastic - easy to clean. Love this thing.

Fisher-Price Jumperoo - Absolutely needed! LOL. These were just coming out when my oldest was a beginning to walk - but my other 3 have had one and every single one has loved it!!!

Snack Sack - I cannot imagine shopping without one. Seriously! They are reusable so we aren't trashing a million ziploc baggies with snacks on the go. They have a bowl inside so I can even give wet snacks like fruit. They have a clip on them so I can clip it to their carseat, the strap in the shopping cart, the stroller, whatever.

Earth Mama Angel Baby Products - These things are awesome - they smell yummy and they are all natural - mostly organic and some things are 100% organic. They don't have all of the crap that the stuff you buy in the store has..

ErgoCarrier - Similar to a Baby Bjorn but you can wear baby on your front or back and wear them until they are just too heavy LOL. These carriers also make baby sit instead of hang which is better for their hips.

Aden & Anais Muslin Swaddle Wrap - These are lightweight wraps to swaddle baby in - great for summer babies and so easy to work with.

If I think of something else - I'll be sure to post it.

 

[Disneychix]

My DS loved his FP swing (look for the one that plugs into the wall as it's worth the extra money you'll save not buying batteries) and the baby bouncy seat. Slept in those all the time.
He still loves his aquarium that attaches to the side of the crib. Don't know what I'm going to do since he's ready for a toddler bed now.
We did use the swaddlers with DS and he loved it. But my niece wasn't a fan so it depends on the baby.
We never did get a wipes warmer but my DH will tell you the would have been the greatest!

 

[Ariel8676]

A GOOD carrier...check out http://thebabywearer.com/ There is nothing better than being able to be close to your child while out and about and still have your hands free to take care of your other children. (and be comfortable while doing so). I used my carriers (ring slings, pouch and SSC until the girls were almost 2!!)

 

[left210]

We loved our swaddle blankets. Also, with regards to a carrier. I really liked my Baby Bjorn but DS has already outgrown it at 7 mo. or lets just say he is too heavy for me to carry him in it as it is starting to hurt my shoulders. I am now looking at the Ergo so that is something to consider when looking at carriers. The Ergo goes to 40 lbs I believe and it distributes the weight on your hips. We also had to have a swing and had the Fisher Price Oceans Aquarium which we loved when he was an infant but once he got a little older we switched over to a Graco open top swing because DS wants to sit more upright and it is easier to get him in and out. Just some things to consider when looking at items so that you dont have to spend money twice like we did. Thank goodness I got some stuff secondhand so it wasnt too costly.

 

[HGD24]

Congratulations to you!!!!

Our favorites for newborns:

Boppy pillow (wish I had 2, one for each floor of the house!)
Wipes warmer
Playtex Ventaire Bottles (now BPA free!)
AngelCare monitor
Activity Gym/Mat
Patemm changing pad
Disposable changing pads & bibs
Waterproof multi-use pads - we used them everywhere! (http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2738021)
Travel bed - Nice for traveling w/infants too small to need a pack 'n play(http://www.gracobaby.com/Search Results/Pages/Search.aspx?search=travel+bed)
Baby Trend Snap 'n Go stroller - very lightweight and very inexpensive
Avent formula dispenser - can also be used as a snack cup

As baby gets older:
Cart seat & high chair cover
Biodegradable table covers (
Tethers for bottles, sippy cups & toys

 

[E-P-C-O-T]

My oldest is only 11 months but we hadn't planned on any more - so now we are in the same boat - we have 10 month + stuff but all the baby stuff is gone haha.

I can't live without:


Fisher-Price Zen Collection Cradle Swing - Not only is it absolutely beautiful, the seat comes off to carry around as a bouncy seat. This set is only found online now and is supposed to be in stores in Spring.

Fisher-Price Zen Collection Bassinet - Again, beautiful like the swing and also isn't in stores until Spring. This bassinet glides to keep baby asleep.



If I think of something else - I'll be sure to post it.

This is actually out already, my daughter loves this swing !

 

[mandynee22]

With DD, we had everything. Some was great, some didn't get used. With DS, I got a lot of stuff and hardly used any of it. Never used the crib, bassinet, swing, vibrating chair... used the rainforest jumperoo like 3 times... never used the play mat, never used the binkies or bottles.
I did love our sling though (it was a peanut shell). I did use a regular carrier- a snugli- once when DS was 3 weeks because I went on a GS trip with DD's troop and we had to climb up this huge trail with rocks and everything on a big hill up to an observation tower.
Oh. The trash can I used as a diaper pail was pretty convenient LOL. Using a genie for cloth diapers isn't really practical.
If I ever have more kids, I am way downsizing on the nonsense LOL

 

[Tiffany_MommyOf3]

This is actually out already, my daughter loves this swing !

SO NOT FAIR! LOL - The stores here say it will be in come spring. ;-( LOL. Luckily my baby isn't due until August LOL

 

[E-P-C-O-T]

You can order it on Amazon!

 

[tr-ray]

I totally second a lot of these opinions.

My faves:
The boppy. I almost didn't buy one, but I did on a whim cuz they were cheap at BJ's... Love love love it so the baby can sit on the couch with me. We use it alot to prop her up when feeding her.

Fisher Price Rainforest Swing. They have a new pattern out, but the rainforest ones are on clearance. This swing plugs in or takes batteries. Has saved me plenty of $$ by not having to buy D batteries constantly. Also, the seat part twists so that the baby can rock side to side or front to back.

Playtex Drop Ins. I love these bottles/liners. This totally makes my life so much easier. I wash the nipples after every use, trash the liner, and only wash the bottle part once a week.

Oh, and for the record, I think diaper genies are a waste! Dh and I invested in a medium sized office type trash can (about 1 foot tall) and we just take that bag out with the regular trash every other day.

My DD also never liked to be swaddled, so I have alot of sleep sacks/miracle blankets/swaddle me type things that I unwrapped/cut tags off of and never used.

 

[emh1129]

A GOOD carrier...check out http://thebabywearer.com/ There is nothing better than being able to be close to your child while out and about and still have your hands free to take care of your other children. (and be comfortable while doing so). I used my carriers (ring slings, pouch and SSC until the girls were almost 2!!)

Absolutely. A good baby carrier is, imo, the most important baby purchase!

 

[Juliet25]

I second the good baby carrier suggestion. I have a BabyHawk, but I've heard good things about the Ergo. My other suggestion would be an exersaucer. Both my girls loved theirs and it bought me a 15-20 min break a couple times a day. I can't say enough good things about the saucer.

 

[maciec]

Thank you all so much for the responses! Please keep them coming!

 

[msmama]

I second the Babyhawk carrier recommendation.

Also, I couldn't live without my Boppy pillow.

My guy loves his rainforest jumparoo - he doesn't go in it anymore but loves to walk around the outside of it now.

We ended up borrowing an Arms Reach Co-sleeper from a friend. If I had another baby I'd definitely invest in one myself.

Congrats on the new baby!

 

[la79al]

My recs:
Boppy pillow-never used it for nursing but DD layed in it a lot
Swaddleme-actually had to move up to the larger size because she loved it so much
Fisher Price infant to toddler bouncer-first it's a bouncy chair but it's also a rocking chair. DD never loved the bouncy part but we rocked her in it since about week 1
Trash can with foot pedal for diaper pail
some kind of crib soother (we started with a heartbeat bear and got a FP seahorse for Christmas, love both)
And these aren't new, but don't forget a GOOD pair of nail clippers for the little claws.
Congratulations and good luck!

P.S. It's never too soon to start planning baby's first trip to Disney!