Finding the Best Baby Products
Putting together a baby registry can be overwhelming. Hearing different feedback from different friends on what items to put on a registry can be overwhelming. Shopping for a friend or family member’s baby on a registry can also be overwhelming! I get it. I’ve done it, and it seems every few months there are new types of newborn baby products or solutions out there to replace something you just got.
Whether you are putting together your first baby registry, you’re getting ready for your second or third baby and want to make sure you haven’t missed any of the best baby products or important mom savers, or you are shopping for a friend, I’ve put together a list of the biggest gamechangers in baby products that made my life easier for both my babies.
Surviving the First Six Months
The number one item that I loved from my baby registry is the book Moms on Call. It is by far the best baby book I read, and probably one of the easiest how-to books I’ve ever followed. It is less than a 60 minute read and following the book’s suggested scheduling closely from day 1 of bringing home baby, sleep was in my near future! Both my now toddlers have been wonderful sleepers since they were young, and I do think the book and the day-to-day schedule was a very large influence. Even better, there are books for 6-15 months and 15 months-4 years too.
Sleeping
Bassinets: For a bassinet, I used Halo Swivel Sleeper. I appreciated the vibration option for when the baby was first trying to go to sleep. A few of my friends warned me before my first baby that you just don’t know how long they will be in the bassinet, so finding a good quality one at an affordable price range is a good way to go, in the chance your baby goes straight to the crib in a few short weeks.
Crib & Mattress: While actual crib options and preferences vary based on personal style, I really liked Newton Mattress. This is 100% breathable, and reduces the risk of suffocation, and worth the investment. I used this all the way through the toddler bed stage for my kids. If you are looking at cribs, consider the ones that do convert into a toddler bed like the Babyletto.
Sound Machine: The savior of sound machines in the Hatch Rest Baby Sound Machine. We have one not only in the kids rooms but our room as well at this point and they all are on the same sound for consistency from room to room. For travel, we just invested in the Hatch Mini, and they recently came out with the Hatch Rest Go, which is smaller and even more travel friendly.
Swaddles: While I was a terrible swaddler, the one that proved to work magic for me was the Ollie Swaddle, as it doesn’t require a lot of technique and kept my baby safely secure. I also used the Adan and Anais super soft swaddles as light blankets throughout the newborn stage.
Sleepsacks: I used Nested Bean and Halo for my kids, and have heard great things about Kyte baby.
Humidifier: A humidifier helped my babies when they were stuffed up and assisted in clearing their passages a bit while sleeping. I find that they get grimy pretty quick and would rather replace them every year or so, but there are multiple options out there that do the job. I currently am using the AquaOasis for my toddlers.
Feeding
Formula Dispenser: The time and sleep saver for my second baby was using the Baby Brezza Pro Formula Dispenser to mix, warm, and fill my baby bottles once I switched over to formula. There was so much less mess, and no need to wait for those bottles to warm during the middle of the night feedings!
Bottles: My go-to bottles for both of my babies were the Dr. Brown’s baby bottles. There are various nipple sizes that grow with baby and allow for a slower flow to reduce spit-up and gas. The hard part with these is the many parts, but I just stocked up so I had at least a days worth to reduce cleaning time every day.
Pumping; I was also no expert at pumping, and there are many different types of pumps available based on need and preference. The one baby registry regret I had was not getting a hands free portable pump when I had my second child. It was harder to stay still with another toddler running around. If I could go back, I would likely go with the Elvie. My go-to pumping bra was Momcozy.
Lactation Flow: The LaVie Lactation Massager helped me improved milk flow and reduce clogged duct issues.
Baby Scale: A baby scale was really helpful during the first few weeks and ensuring my babies were gaining the appropriate amount of weight in between appointments.
Bath Time
Baby Wash: I tried a few different brands throughout both my kids infancies, and I liked Dove the best for sensitive skin baby wash and lotion. I still use it now for my toddlers.
Towels: I loved (and still do love) using bamboo towels for my babies. My favorite hooded towels are Bamboo Queen and come in a two-pack. I also use Bamboo Organics for the wash clothes.
Baby Tub: There are many options out there for tubs, and my only suggestion based on my experience is to get one easy to wipe down and clean, like the Summer Infant version. Additionally, consider a sitting option for when they are learning to sit.
Baby Toys: Babies don’t really need toys until they can sit on their own, but if you are interested in adding some to your list, check out my post on bath toys with the least amount of mold.
On the Go
Baby Carriers: I said I couldn’t swaddle, I also couldn’t do the baby wrap carriers. I found peace in the Baby K’Tan which also made it super easy to carry a baby, and I loved how light and compact it was for when I traveled.
Pack N’ Play: I love my Graco pack n’ play, but the real gamechanger is getting a comfortable mattress to go with it.
Strollers: While I won’t go into recommending specific car seats and strollers that work together since there are new ones coming out every few months, and peoples budgets for strollers vary, I will recommend a stroller for those going on a second kid. We have a wagon stroller that we use all the time to take our toddlers on walks, to the park, and we even pack it for events like the pumpkin patch.
Travel Chair: The Summer Infant portable high-chair is compact and great for car trips.
For additional ideas for travel baby products for your registry, check out my post on travel essentials for toddlers.
Completing Your List
While the must-haves I shared above are nowhere near comprehensive of what a registry should have, and while I’m a mom of two I am not an expert in baby products, but they made early mom life for me a lot easier! If you are are still looking for items to put on your registry or reviews of other types of products, Babylist was a great source for me when I was doing my registry research. Or, feel free to leave a comment and I can provide ideas for other items you may be thinking about.
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Diana Lynn 
What are your thoughts??