It's amazing how much "stuff" tiny humans require.
I remember being insanely overwhelmed when it came time to register for our little miracle, and that may or may not have been due to the fact that we refused to find out the gender of our tiny human. But with seasoned moms in hand (by way of two cousins and my sister) we managed to register for everything from wash cloths to pacifier holders to bottle brushes.
Did I use it all?
Of course not.
But here's what we do use on a daily basis, and can't live without:
Aden + Anais Bamboo Blankets-The only blankets we use-because they are breathable and therefore safe when close to or covering the face-but are also great for nursing, burp rags, drool catchers, chewing, swaddling and covering. We have six, one for almost every day of the week, and the very second that more patterns are introduced, I will own them too.
Moby UV Wrap (turquoise)-Scarlett loves to be held at all times, but that's just not realistic. So even now, at six months old, I use this just about every day; and even for extended periods of time (like trips to the zoo or the amusement park) it never disappoints. In fact, it gets more use than my stroller.
Boppy-Number one must have for nursing; it's even great for anyone who's bottle feeding or just holding a sleeping baby, because it's fascinating how heavy eight pounds can be after your arm falls asleep. Also great for tummy time and supporting a sitting baby.
California Baby Products-Convinced my tiny human would have sensitive skin like her father, I did my research. This stuff smells amazing and does exactly what it's supposed to. We love the Calming Baby Wash, Lotion, and Calendula Cream, and the fact that it's accessible and affordable (thank you, Target).
CJ's BUTTer-Trust me, you want some of this. We use the Spritz'O'BUTTer and the Stick versions for her not-so-tiny tush because they are cloth diaper friendly, but I've become a non-paid spokesperson for this company and have several friends who now use it on there baby's disposable diapered bumms too. We use it with every diaper change to help her skin repel moisture, but it also works wonders on cradle cap, eczema, dry skin, and fifty-million other things. When in doubt, go for the blueberry crumble.
Petunia Pickle Bottom Boxy Backpack-Best diaper bag, ever. It's big, it's wipe-able, and it's fabulous, plus you can wear it slung over your shoulder or as a backpack.
Summer Infant Monitor-I almost went to the extreme and purchased the Angel Baby Monitor that sends an alarm off in your room when the baby stops breathing for more than ten seconds, but decided to go with this slightly less neurotic one after a recommendation from several friends. The picture and sound are perfectly clear, and the camera moves to cover all angles of the nursery, which fascinates my husband and I.
Gerber Cloth Diapers (as burp rags)-Not knowing if Scarlett was a girl or boy eliminated a lot of things, and cute, colorful, girly burp cloths was one of them. However, I'm convinced that nothing works better than these big white burp rags anyway, and they never clash with our outfits.
Bath Sponge-Old school, yes, but the best advise my mother ever gave me. Hard plastic bath tubs that sit on the counter and take up space seem so cold and uncomfortable, and even the soft, padded ones keep the baby up and out of the water. Mix that with rubbing even the softest wash cloth on new, sensitive skin and it's no wonder babies hate bath time. As soon as her cord fell off, Scarlett has been bathed in the bathtub, lying on this soft sponge in a few inches of water, and I just use my hands to apply the body wash and shampoo. (I found mine at Target)
Doidy Cup-Never a fan of anything that didn't come straight from the tap, Scarlett always fought the bottle. And around three months old, she completely refused it. So after some research I found that young babies actually sip from a cup with the same motion that they use to breastfeed, so this funny looking little cup was inexpensive enough to give a try. It was messy and time consuming to feed her from a cup, but it was the only thing that worked as a temporary replacement of the mommy bar on the days I was at work. And even though she finally accepts the bottle again, we'll continue to use it for teaching her to drink out of a cup instead of a straw or spout.
Reusable Breast Pads-Since I took a stand and chose to do cloth diapers, I just didn't feel right using disposable breast pads either. These are super absorbent, comfortable, and so easy (I just throw them in the wash in the mesh bag with baby socks and small things). And just to prove a point, I did use disposables once-just to try them-and hated them. It was like folding up tissues paper and placing it in my bra, very similar to the feeling of putting crepe paper on my baby's butt when using a disposable diaper.
Chicco Hook On Chair-This high chair takes up very little space (perfect for our duplex), is easy to clean, and I love that it places her right at the table with us, instead of off to the side or down at a lower level.
Hylands Homeopathic Teething Tablets-We call these baby crack, and for a good reason. (can be found at Targets and Walmart)
All moms and baby's are completely different, so what works for us won't always work for everyone. For example, you'll notice a lack of fundamental baby gear, like bouncers, swings, pacifiers and play mats. That because like her mama, Scarlett Grace likes the simple things in life. She's just not amused by otherwise brilliant contraptions that keep most babies entertained, only living, breathing people giving her full and undivided attention will do for my tiny human. At times this can be exhausting, but I also find it fascinating how demanding something so little can be.
And here are the things we wanted to love, but didn't:
Dishwasher Basket-Maybe it was because Scarlett never took a pacifier, or the fact that she really only takes bottles from my mom while I'm at work two days a week, but we never had a use for this cute little basket. It just sets in our dishwasher, taking up room on the top rack, empty.
Swing/Bouncer-I know; not normal. But I wasn't joking when I said this girl of mine isn't amused by otherwise brilliant contraptions.
Nursing Cover-Tried them, didn't like them, they were sort of awkward and obvious. I preferred my Aden + Anais Bamboo blankets because they were light, breathable, comfortable and discrete. I even nurse her while walking around in town or setting at a restaurant, and everyone just thinks she's napping with a blanket covering part of her face.
Bottle Warmer-I suppose this would be more useful if we fed her formula, but even frozen breast milk thaws and warms quickly and simply under hot, running water.
Hooded Bath Towels-Though incredibly adorable, these irresistible baby towels are super thin and completely nonabsorbent. For us, their usefulness stopped after pictures of the first bath were taken.
