I spent months honing my baby registry in preparation for Abel. Some necessities were obvious, but there were some aspects of having a baby that I wasn't prepared for at all. Here are some of the items that I didn't anticipate needing, but ended up being a godsend.
1. Zipper/Velcro swaddles
Some newborns love to be swaddled, and others hate it. I refrained from purchasing any specialty swaddles until after we got a feel for how our little guy preferred to sleep. Turns out he loves to be wrapped up snug and tight. We attempted to swaddle with blankets first, but he always broke free. We had hand-me-down woombies and halo sleep sacks. The first night we put him in a Woombie, he slept for 6 hours straight!
Some newborns love to be swaddled, and others hate it. I refrained from purchasing any specialty swaddles until after we got a feel for how our little guy preferred to sleep. Turns out he loves to be wrapped up snug and tight. We attempted to swaddle with blankets first, but he always broke free. We had hand-me-down woombies and halo sleep sacks. The first night we put him in a Woombie, he slept for 6 hours straight!
2. The Nose Frida If you watch TV, chances are you've seen an advertisement for this product, which was originally featured on ABC's Shark Tank. Parents use their mouth to suck the snot out of a baby or toddler's mouth. Now, I know it sounds repulsive, but the mouthpiece is protected from snot by a 12 inch tube and a 1 inch foam filter. And it works. Really, really well. Abel has only been sick once, and that time, the nose bulb from the hospital just wasn't cutting it. I used this contraption (which is the number one best selling baby item on Amazon!) and the difference was amazing. My baby could breathe. That's worth it for a little extra storage space and a stomach churning task. |
3. Breast Pumps
Some people have an easy-go with feeding their babies. Many people did not, and I was one of them. For some reason, my milk just wasn't producing, and my baby was losing weight. I ended up with 3 different breast pumps as I attempted to build a supply and feed my baby only breast milk, even though it was expressed. It took 6 weeks for me to be comfortable breastfeeding and be confident that he was getting enough. I used a breast pump rental, a used breast pump I bought online, and a new one I got through my insurance. Now, I didn't NEED three, but I did need at least one, and I needed to trial and error to see which one worked best for me. A breast pump became an unexpected necessity for us.
Some people have an easy-go with feeding their babies. Many people did not, and I was one of them. For some reason, my milk just wasn't producing, and my baby was losing weight. I ended up with 3 different breast pumps as I attempted to build a supply and feed my baby only breast milk, even though it was expressed. It took 6 weeks for me to be comfortable breastfeeding and be confident that he was getting enough. I used a breast pump rental, a used breast pump I bought online, and a new one I got through my insurance. Now, I didn't NEED three, but I did need at least one, and I needed to trial and error to see which one worked best for me. A breast pump became an unexpected necessity for us.
4.Silicone Feeder Abel loves this thing. Many parents are choosing to forgo feeding their child bland, runny cereal and purées in favor of a variety of grown-up foods. So far, we've taken this approach, mostly because I just haven't taken the time yet to prepare foods for him. It's so much simpler to just give him whatever we are having, minced up. He gets to learn how to chew and experience different flavored and textures. However, giving big chunks of food can be a choking hazard and babies need to by monitored. This feeder allows baby to chew his own food, but prevents him from trying to swallow pieces that are too big. He loves to gnaw on this while we are eating. His favorite food so far is carrots. |
5. Stokke Tripp Trapp High Chair
This is the best high chair I could find that goes from infant to adult. Other convertible chairs only hold up to 100 pounds. This can hold up to 300 pounds. We currently have it set up with the the baby seat and tray. Abel can't quite sit up yet, so he needs the extra support. After 5-6 months, we can remove the structured seat and secure him with the strap. We'll be able to use it too at that point. We searched and searched for the perfect high chair since we don't have much furniture. We debated getting a collapsible one or not using a high chair at all. I'm really happy with this piece. It keeps Abel and his food mess contained, and we can use it for years.
This is the best high chair I could find that goes from infant to adult. Other convertible chairs only hold up to 100 pounds. This can hold up to 300 pounds. We currently have it set up with the the baby seat and tray. Abel can't quite sit up yet, so he needs the extra support. After 5-6 months, we can remove the structured seat and secure him with the strap. We'll be able to use it too at that point. We searched and searched for the perfect high chair since we don't have much furniture. We debated getting a collapsible one or not using a high chair at all. I'm really happy with this piece. It keeps Abel and his food mess contained, and we can use it for years.
So there you have it. There were some products that were no brainers, like the car seat, clothes, blankets, diapers, and the baby carrier (We have a baby k'tan and ergo baby!). But these 5 products were a surprise to me. Sure, they are all things that we could live without, but to be honest, I like living with them better.