Alright Mummies-To-Be pay close attention because this blog is for you!
I often find myself in a baby store looking for things I need for Sammy Baby and plenty of times I see a stressed out Mummy-To-Be with a scanner in one hand, a list in the other with a look of panic on her face. Yup, she’s clearly working on her registry for the little bun growing in her oven haha. Well, I’m here to help you and be totally honest on what items you need to help make your life a little easier for when your little one arrives.
Before I start with my list, the best piece of advice I can give you is to find a retailer that has a great return and exchange policy (you know for the people who buy things but forget to take it off your registry so you get doubles or triples of the same thing or for those who don’t include a gift receipt…you know….THOSE people haha).
Ok you ready?
*Please note that this list is in no particular order*
1. STROLLER
You want to make sure you test drive a stroller before you buy because you’ll be using the stroller on different surfaces (pavement, rocks, grass, snow, rain, etc).
Here are a few questions to ask yourself when your shopping around:
– Will fit in the trunk of your car or truck?
– How much does it weight? You don’t want something that is too heavy for you.
– Does it allow you to snap in your infant car seat? Does it come with an adapter for this or do you have to purchase one separately?
– Do you have enough room for a diaper bag in the basket below?
– Can you adjust the height and direction the baby is facing? Adjustable handles (as people of different heights might be using it)?
– Do you prefer to have one piece that converts from a basinet to a seat or would you rather have two separate pieces? Do you even care and does this matter to you?
Also keep in mind that if you are looking for a deal, ask if there is a model from the previous year that you can purchase at a discount or ask for a floor model.
2. INFANT CAR SEAT
Weight for me was key when purchasing my car seat. Make sure you pick it up to see how heavy it is and keep in mind that you will need to add in the weight of the baby (and a growing baby). Also don’t forget to check the expiry date!
3. BABY FURNITURE
Major pieces to get would be a crib (if you can get a convertible crib that transforms from crib to day bed to double bed it’s the best bang for your buck), a dresser and a chair (rocking chair or glider).
4. BABY VIDEO MONITOR
Video monitors are great because not only can you hear the baby but you can also see them. When you’re a new mom going on zero sleep you don’t want to get up if you don’t have to. This allows you to take a look and see if it’s just a little sound or if baby is up and needs you. The video feature is a life saver and is a MUST have!
5. CHANGE TABLE & CHANGE PAD
If you have a low boy style dresser, then there is no need for a change table. Instead, you can just place your change pad directly on the top of the dresser which will save you tons of space.
6. CD PLAYER/RADIO/CLOCK
This is great for those late night feeding sessions and nap times. The clock allows you to make note of feeding times, while the CD/Radio feature is great for playing soft music at nap times.
7. SOUND MACHINE
The Sleep Sheep is a great sound machine and a must have for any little one’s crib. This cute and cuddly sheep attaches to the crib and features 4 soothing sounds from Mother’s calming heartbeat to soothing sounds of ocean waves, spring showers, and harmonious whale songs. Another great option is the Homedics Sound Spa Lullaby machine which offers three soothing sounds and lullabies. It can also project images on the wall or ceiling of your nursery.
8. DIAPER BAG
When shopping for a diaper bag make sure you find a good size bag because trust me you’ll fill it up! A great place to check for diaper bags if you want a more posh designer bag at a fraction of the cost, is eBay…you can thank me for this tip later LOL.
Basic Diaper Bag Items – change pad, wipes, diapers, thermometer, pacifier, bib, burp cloth, teething ring, diaper cream, receiving blanket (the muslin kind are GREAT), breast-feeding cover (if you are breast-feeding and if you care haha) and meds (baby Tylenol, Benadryl, etc but this stuff you won’t need right away).
9. BABY BULLET
The Baby Bullet is a fantastic product if you are looking to make your own baby food. It’s easy to use, clean and doesn’t take up much space. Plus by making your own baby food you’ll be saving a lot of money which with a new baby you’ll need to spend on other things haha.
10. BABY BOTTLES
I would suggest that you don’t go nuts and buy a bunch of bottles before baby arrives because they might not like the ones you bought and sometimes you go through 4 or 5 different types till you find the right one. I would suggest picking up just a few single bottles and then once you find the winner go back and buy a starter kit.
11. BOTTLE/FOOD WARMER
Warmers are a must have and there are many great ones out there just look and see which one you like best. These are especially great if you bottle feed because they are much faster to warm this way than on the stove top. Just make sure you get one that also fits little jars of baby food because heating up food with steam is much better than doing it in a microwave.
12. TRAVEL BOTTLE/FOOD WARMER
When I was shopping around for one of these I searched high and low for one that I really liked and I have to say I hit the jackpot with the Tommee Tippee one, it’s amazing! Check it out and see for yourself! Also works great if you are formula feeding and need to carry around hot water with you.
13. SANITIZER
You will find two different kinds of sanitizer; electric and microwave. Both work great it’s just a matter of what you prefer. You may also want to keep in mind size when you are shopping for storage purposes.
14. BEDDING
When buying bedding, I would suggest getting two of everything. (fitted sheets and waterproof mattress pad) This way when one set is in the wash you have the other set available. If you can find matching pillow cases, change pad covers and duvet cover you might also want to purchase it at the same time. (even though you won’t be using them for a while) You never know when styles will be discontinued. This is, of cousre, you have a convertible bedroom set and want to use the same bedding.
A few other bedding items you may want to look into is a skirt and bumpers. Bumpers add a great touch to the nursery and look great that’s for sure but there are dangers involved so that is something that you would need to research and see if it’s something you would want. Another option you could go with are breathable bumpers.
15. BASSINET
There are so many out there, it’s just a matter of what style you like best.
16. PACIFIER
The pacifier wall at the store will give you a headache so be prepared haha. Some things to keep in mind is, does it have a little handle for your little one to grab onto? Does it come with a cover you can put on it when it’s not being used? And can you attach a holder to it so it can clip onto your little one’s clothing.
17. THERMOMETER
You may want to pick up two of these…one for home and one for the diaper bag. For the diaper bag you can try a pacifier thermometer which are nice and compact and for the home spend the money and get yourself a good one! The Braun ThermoScan Ear Thermometer is a good one and it’s great for the whole family.
18. HUMIDIFIER
Humidifiers are great for the nursery and especially come in handy when your little one has a cold and/or is conjested. Crane makes some great ones that come in many different colours and styles.
19. BREAST PUMP & MILK STORAGE BAGS
If you are thinking of breastfeeding then a pump is always something good to have on hand for those missed feedings or if you are going to be away from the baby for a while. Medela is a great brand to look for, you just need to figure out do you want a manual one, electric, single or double? And don’t forget to get some milk storage bags because you may want to freeze some milk for a later time.
20. BABY VIBRATING CHAIR OR SWING
Be sure to get yourself either a chair or swing because they are great! Little ones love to nap in them and they are all small enough and portable so they are easy to bring along with you if you are going to visit friends or family at their home.
21. BREASTFEEDING COVER
If you plan on breastfeeding then you may want to find a nice breastfeeding cover for when you are out and about.
22. BABY CARRIER
These are absoutley amazing! It keeps your baby close to you where they can hear your comforting heart beat plus give you two free hands. Some brands that I like are Baby K’Tan (wrap style which is great for when your baby is very little), Ergo Baby or Beco. Make sure to keep your recipet if you buy this before your baby arrives, because all babies are different and what works for one may not work for another. So, it’s best to try them out with your little one to see which one works best for the both of you.
23. PACK N’ PLAY
If you live in a 2-storey home then be sure to register for one of these. It will make your life so much easier to have something with you on the main floor so you aren’t running up and down for naps and diaper changes (and you know that it’s all you do with a newborn). Not to mention they also pack up nicely and don’t take up much room so they are easy to toss in the trunk if you are going for a weekend trip.
So there you have it, my must have list! Don’t get me wrong there is plenty more that you will need, but this is to get you started and will last you a while before you need to worry about other things like high chairs and baby gates haha.
Now for a list of my fave stores to check out…
Babies’r’us (Their Babyfest sale is on right now till Thursday, September 20th…something worth checking out)
Walmart
Well.ca (free shipping on every order of any $ amount)
Dear Born Baby
Snuggle Bugz (free shipping on orders of $40 or more)
Happy Shopping!