Best Baby Gear
July 29, 2008
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR THE TOP REVIEWED AND MOM APPROVED BABY GEAR ON THE MARKET? NEEDING A CHECKLIST OF ALL THE MUST HAVE’S AND NICE TO HAVE’S BEFORE BRINGING BABY HOME? Read More Here..
Well, this is where the fun begins! Now that your little bun is about to make her arrival, it’s time to get the goods. But how do you know what’s the best quality item of the best for the price? What will you really use, and most importantly is it safe?
Here are a few tips and reviews of my favorite products. Now, I should note that these are not just my favorite products, but a lot of people’s favorites. Websites such as Amazon have hundreds, even thousands of consumer ratings posted by people like you and me, so you get the real skinny on how well the products perform.
If at anytime you would like more product information, or to view reviews just click on the BLUE hyperlinks throughout the article. Good Luck and Congratulations!
MY FAVORITE ITEMS:
Mini Co-Sleeper**: I Love, Love, LOVE the Mini Co-Sleeper! From a very early age, my daughter slept through the night. I literally had to wake her up to eat so I would not get engorged. This is the perfect compliment to co-sleeping and the bassinet.
What I love about it: The side rolls down, so you can literally roll over pick up the baby, feed and put them back to sleep. Because the sleeper cozies up right next to the edge of the bed, they are in close proximity to you and your “scent”, but because they are not “in” the bed you reduce the risk of SIDS. Not only that, babies feel comforted by a small space, so they sleep more soundly.
Drawback: You may not have the space to extend your bed any further in either direction.
Natursutten Pacifier**: Some people are of the school of thought that a child should not get a pacifier because of “nipple confusion” or dependency. With my child this was not an option. The child came out with a sucking reflex like no other and by day 10 I succumbed and reluctantly gave her a pacifier.
Come to find out, the pacifier not only sooths baby, but it also reduces the risk of SIDS. To get tips on how to get baby to take the pacifier click HERE.
Now in my midst of preparation I did a lot of research, and there was not a lot of information on “safe” pacifiers; meaning free of BPA, Phthalates and PVC. So originally I started her on the “Advent Naturally” pacifiers but then discovered these great pacifiers from Natursutten**. What I love about these is that they conform with EU standards (European safety standards are more stringent that US safety standards), they have:
*No artificial color
*No chemical softeners, parabens, PVC or phthalates (i.e. no hormone disrupting chemicals or xenoestrogens.)
* Are molded out of one piece, so they are more hygienic because there are no cracks and joints for bacteria and germs to accumulate.
Finally, my daughter LOVES this pacifier!! It’s her favorite toy and teether. NOTE: Pacifiers should be replaced every 4-6 weeks especially when the baby is teething and may be chewing on it.
Nosefrida Nasal Aspirator**: At the hospital they will most likely give you a nasal aspirator. Keep it! They work great. However babies’ noses are so sensitive that if they get a cold or stuffed up using the aspirator frequently can irritate the tender membranes. The Nosefrida system is awesome! It is used at the tip of the nose, and it gets the mucous deep in the nasal passages to reduce relieve baby and reduce ear infections. Use both an aspirator and the Nosfrida with Little Noses Saline Solution**.
The Happiest Baby on the Block Video**: The night we got home from the hospital, we had a family showing of The Happiest Baby on the Block. This is a MUST for new parents. I like the video because it’s easy and I think that the steps that Dr. Harvey Karp provides are better translated in a video. Bottom line his methods are amazing!! I would watch this a week before bring home baby, and the night you bring baby home.
Baby Bjorn Sitter**: Although this bouncer is more expensive than conventional bouncers I love it because it is made of safe, non-toxic materials, very easy to wash, and my baby is so comfortable in it! It has 3 positions so she sleeps in it, plays in it (she loves the little wooden bears), and she can use it until she’s 29lbs (about 24 months.) It does not require expensive batteries and she loves to kick her legs and get it going. It folds up easily for travel and storage as well. I say it is a “need to have” because its easy to carry around (i.e. shower to the kitchen) and it allows you to put the baby down. I use mine everyday!
Naturpedic Mattress**: Now most likely you will at some point have a crib for your child, and this crib may come with a mattress. I know it is tempting to keep that mattress but there are a few things to consider: For the quick and dirty, click HERE to view the 5 problems with crib mattresses. That being said, considering that a baby spends 10-14 hours per day in the crib well into toddler-hood, the mattress is a MUST HAVE investment in your child health. We love the Naturpedic mattress. These mattresses are all natural organic cotton, contain no PVC, Phthalates, or synthetic chemicals, yet they are still waterproof, have dust-mite protection and are safe for baby.
ERGO Baby Carrier**: Like many of the baby products I originally purchased, I went with an Uber popular soft baby carrier. I could never really get into it, because as soon as Emilia hit about 12 pounds it killed my back and shoulders and felt awkward. Then before a trip we were taking I broke down and got the best baby carrier out there the ERGO baby carrier.** Although this carrier is made for children 16-40 lbs, it has Infant Insert , which I’m definitely getting for the next time around. This carrier is fantastic! You can wear baby on your front, hip and back. It’s SUPER comfortable for both of you. This is on my must have list, but I realize not everyone wants a carrier. However if you are going to get a baby carrier, this is the one!
Germ Guardian NS - 2000 Nursery Sanitizer**: This is kind of a hit or miss as it received average reviews
.
Pros: Quickly sterilized pacifiers, breast pump parts, bottle nipples etc.
Cons: Too small for regular sized bottles.
I love mine and use it everyday!
BebeSounds Angelcare Movement Sensor Monitor**: After returning and re-returning monitors I finally found one I love. Originally I like the idea of the movement sensor, but we haven’t really used that as we can’t figure out the right place for it so that it does not mistakenly go off. However what I love about the Angel Care Monitor is that it is clear as a bell, even if the baby is across the room. It does not pick up on any other radio waves (i.e. no interference) which is important because I live in between 2 houses with children Emilia’s age and it only picks up our frequency. Plus, it’s easy to travel with. So far I’ve loved it! However, if you are thinking you want a video monitor, check out the Summer Infant Day and Night Handheld Color Monitor, that was the highest rated for video systems.
Stroller: There are so many strollers on the market, however we’ve done the research!
Please click HERE to check out the reviews in various categories.
BOON Flair Pedestal Highchair**: This you won’t need until your baby is at least 6 months old, but it’s never too early to start! I like the “Boon” high chair for a number of reasons. First of all, it’s surprisingly small and is easy to wheel in and out of the way. Its design is fantastic because you could literally hose it down if you needed too. It has no cushions for food to get stuck in etc. Just a washable chair and 2 trays, which is great because if one is in the dishwasher, you have back up. Plus I always get compliments on the design.
Nature Babycare Diapers**: Please click HERE to link into our article “Healthy Diapers”. In the meantime I recommend Seventh Generation, 365 Brand (Whole Foods Brand), gDiapers, and Nature Babycare. Seventh Generation is the only brand I’m aware of that has a “newborn” size, all the others start at 8 lbs. We use Nature Babycare and LOVE THEM!
Please click HERE to check view online store of Disposable Diapers and Wipes.
If you are interested in Cloth Diapers, visit our online store HERE.
Seventh Generation Wipes: Again our article “Healthy Diapers” covers them in depth. But I recommend, Seventh Generation, Nature Babycare, Natracare, Tushies and Tendercare. We use Seventh Generation and Natracare.
Basic Comfort Nursing Pillow**: Whether or not you decide to breast-feed your baby, you will be holding your little one A LOT and your arms, elbows and wrist can get very tired. Traditional “boppys” are great, but they are very small, so babies outgrow them rather quickly. The Basic Comfort Nursing Pillow is actually designed for twins, but works great for a single child. It’s bigger and more comfortable than standard nursing pillows. It also comes in handy if you have someone holding your child who may not be as comfortable handling a newborn by giving them support.
Swaddle Designs Swaddle Blankets**: I am a firm believer that newborns must be swaddled. What an amazing technique! In the meantime I love the swaddle me** blankets because they are easy to use and can later be used as lightweight blankets and cute sun/rain-shields. You’ll get lots of use out of them. I recommend getting 2-3. In the meantime I also like the Kiddopotomus** one’s for the little babies who are not strong enough to break out of the swaddle. I have many friends who swear by the Miracle Blanket, though this never worked for my baby. NOTE: Be careful not to swaddle baby too tightly to reduce the potential risk of Hip Dysplasia.
Security Blanket: Also known as a “Lovie” these little blankets are great for soothing baby. The one’s I like are the “Under the Nile” Organic Cotton Bunnies. So if she is sleeping with it, and chewing on it, I know she has that much less exposure to chemicals. Wear the blanket against your body and it will pick up your “scent”. This sooths baby and makes them feel close to you. I have 2 in case one is in the wash etc. These are also safe because they are small, and do not have buttons or plastic pieces that can come off. We have BLUE and PINK available through the online store.
Diaper Champ**: I like this particular brand of diaper disposal because it’s clean, easy and you can use any old trash bag with it. It does not require special bags. Plus, it works great by keeping the smell of the diapers at bay, and holds a lot of diapers!
Safety 1st 30 Piece Kit**: I love this kit because it has everything. Tiny nail files, a brush and comb etc. It’s a great bringing home baby must have. You will be surprised at how many babies are born needing a nail file right away.
Red Cross Underarm Thermometer**: In the first few days babies are regulating their body temperature, so it’s important to keep them appropriately dressed. That being said, under the care of your medical professional, this is a great healthcare tool to have off the bat to monitor your baby should any concerns arise.
Primo Euro Baby Bath**; I love the Primo Euro Bath. It is such a great tub! It was a little big for her when she was a newborn, so I would probably go with the First Years Tub with Newborn Sling **, but even though it says it goes to toddle size we bought this tub and it’s very small even for Emilia at just 6 months and of average stature. So it may be a good purchase for the newborn phase, but the Primo tub is a great larger tub for when they get a bit older. There is also the bath seats, but the only problem here is that sometimes you may have a hard time getting them totally clean, and they can be difficult to get the child in and out of.
Baby Bath and Skincare Products
There are TONS of Skincare products out there, however most contain Parabens, Phthalates and/or “Fragrance”.
Check out our complete article HERE on “Safe Baby Skincare Products”.
BPA Free Baby Bottles: Please click our link HERE on “Safe Baby Bottles” for more information.
Safe Baby Toys, Birth +: Visit our hand picked selection of BPA, Phthalate and PVC free baby toys and teethers.
Medela Breast Pump**: If you so choose to breastfeed, you will most likely need a breast-pump. I love the Medlea Pump in Style. It’s very easy to use and clean and quickly pumps. If you are pumping very infrequently, you may want to go with a little hand held pump. I got all excited for my pump and bought the Pump in Style (which I love!!) but since I was strictly breastfeeding and really only needed to pump every so often I would have been fine with a handheld. However if you are pumping once or more a day, I would definitely go with the Pump in Style.
Lansinoh Breast Milk Storage Bags**: No time like the present to start saving! Breast-milk is literally like liquid gold. You will find this when you go to, introduce a bottle, have some downtime to do errands, start solids etc. It is importantly to find BPA free storage bags as freezing can disrupt the plastic and leach chemicals from the plastic into the milk. Check out: * Mother’s Milkmate Breast-milk Storage System * Medela storage bags * Lansinoh**
Babycare Books: There are a million out there but I recommend and have found all I need are: * Your Childs Health** * The Pocketbook Pediatrician * The No-Cry Sleep Solution**
Mobile: I got a mobile and Emilia was not very interested in it, plus once they start getting on their hands and knees (about 6 months) it is recommended you take the mobile out of the crib. However the Fisher Price Rainforest Peek-A-Boo Waterfall Soother** is amazing! She loves it and it truly is soothing for baby. If you are set on a mobile, look for one’s that hang from the ceiling rather than the crib. I love the HABA mobiles.
Chest of Drawers with Changer: This is a “personal choice” item.
Crib: Obviously this is a personal choice dependant on style, budget and space. Please see the following link on Crib Safety to stay posted on the latest recommendations.
Bedding: Ideally look for Organic Cotton Bedding as many brands include synthetic fibers. Not to mention it’s oh-so-soft and comfortable against baby’s delicate skin.
Born Free Bottle Sterilizer: Fits with the Born Free bottles as well as the Medela breast pump parts.
I do not use enough bottles to need a sterilizer (I just wash or use boiling water) however this seems to do the trick.
Swing: I got the Fisher-Price Baby Papasan Nature’s Touch Cradle Swing**, actually I got two! This swing saved my life. I mentioned the colic that Emilia had in the beginning, well for the first 3 months of her life she was either in my arms, the baby carrier or this swing. This was the only thing I could put her “down” in that she wouldn’t cry, so I had one upstairs in my bathroom and downstairs in my kitchen…I would not have been able to do laundry or dishes for the first 4 months without it. However I put it as a “nice” to have because some people may not have the space, and some kids don’t like swings. It does take batteries, but with all the hours she logged in the swing(s) I think we only changed them once or twice. NOTE: You can swaddle your baby and strap them into the swing from day one. See Happiest Baby on the Block Video. It’s a lifesaver! Also check out the Graco SnugGlider. Great for putting down a sleeping baby right out of the car!
Pack N’ Play (Play Yard)**: If you have the need or the space, a pack and play is a must and you can choose from all kinds. However, I have yet to find a Pack N’ Play (play yard or travel yard) with an Organic Crib Mattress. There are a number of reasons why this is important. Traditional play yards are made of polyurethane (a byproduct of petroleum), which is a plasticizer and therefore most likely contains Phthalates among other things. To find out more about mattress options for your pack n’ play click HERE.
The next best option is the, Baby Bjorn Travel Crib for a number of reasons. The Baby Bjorn Travel Crib mattress cover and all fabric parts that come into contact with your child have been approved in accordance with the Oeko-Tex Standard 100, class 1, eco-certification, so as far as I can see it’s the safest on the market.
Jumper: I have the Fisher-Price Rainforest Jumperoo **, which not only got great reviews but also checked out clean on Healthy Toys. Emilia is not the biggest fan of the jumperoo, but it buys me a good 15-20 minutes to make breakfast and unload the dishes. As she gets older she gets more and more into it. So it’s a “nice to have” but if I didn’t have it, the world would not end.
Changing Pad: Chances are your diaper bag comes with a changing pad, however the Patemm Pad** is fantastic! The Patemm Padis round so when the baby starts rolling she’s not rolling on dirty changing tables. It also has pockets inside to store diapers, wipes, even an extra outfit so if you are traveling light you can pack this up and it’s all you need. Finally it’s vinyl, so it’s easy to clean and if there’s an “accident” it wipes right up and the round sides keep accidents all in and not on your friends’ carpets.
Activity Mat: There are so many playmates to choose from but my favorite is the HABA Dream Meadow Play Mat. Not only is it pleasant to look at, but it has sides that come up, so as your baby starts to roll around it will keep baby safe. Not only that but there are all kinds of tactile toys on the sides and the leaves for baby to look at above.
Rocker/ Glider: This is a personal choice item. Personally, my daughter did better being carried or in the carrier, so I this was a “nice” to have for me.
We hope that this guide has narrowed down the selection for you to include only the best of the best. On that note, 10% of all of the profits from www.pregnancyandbabyinformation.com go to various charities to improve children’s health and to protect the environment. Please support our site to shop for most of the items listed above by visiting our online retail store HERE , or by visiting our advertisers. We thank you for your support!
** Products I have
NOTE: All babies and households are different. If at all possible, buy or test out items prior to buying to make sure the item will meet you and your babies needs.
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