Being a mom of 4 kids, I've used my fair share of baby stuff. With my first baby, I wanted everything and anything I might need, and the cuter it was the better. Over the years I've learned a few things about what works and what you actually need. By the time my fourth baby came along, I was ready for a minimalist approach. If my house was going to be overrun with baby gear, I only wanted the essentials, not the clutter no matter how cute it was. Here are a few of my favorites.
Essentials for baby to wear
I've blogged about how much I like this swaddler HERE. I received one as a gift with my fourth child and wish I would have had it for all my babies. This makes swaddling so easy and it grows as your child grows.
So much easier to get on and off baby with the zipper rather than snaps. Attached footies means you don't have to worry about loosing socks or cold feet. My babies lived in these for the first couple of months.
Robeez Soft Sole Leather Shoes
These shoes are great for beginning walkers. They stay on their feet and the soft sole makes it easy to maintain balance.
My Favorite Baby Gear
A good baby carrier is a must have when you have more than one child. This is a great way to keep your baby close yet your hands are free to play, work, clean, whatever. Also it's a great way to travel with baby when a stroller isn't an option such as hiking or in a crowded place. Some of the carriers/slings/wraps feel like my baby could fall out and I use my hand to hold onto them just in case. Not so with this one. I felt like my baby was safe and secure.
Having a second place for baby to nap or to change a diaper is great if you have a two story house. I didn't have this exact model but I did have those features. I kept mine in the living room so I could keep an eye on my other kids too.
Snap and Go Stroller
If you are looking for a minimalist approach, then this stroller is for you. You just snap the car seat in here and off you go. Once your child outgrows the infant carrier type car seat, you will have to get another stroller, but that is when I start using the umbrella strollers. No need for big bulky strollers if you go that route.
Having a lightweight stroller is handy. So much easier to store in the back of your car. I started using one when my babies were about 6 months and could sit up pretty well. This is not a cheap umbrella stroller. It is small and light but it's sturdy too. I've had several and I prefer the Chicco brand. There is a basket for storage on the bottom and the seat part is larger than most - great if you have big kids. I had this for 3 out of my 4 kids and then accidentally ran over it so I had to get a new one for my 4th. I found a used Maclaren which I thought would be better since it's a more expensive brand. Nope, I much preferred the Chicco.
OK, so here is a big bulky stroller and it's worth it if you take your baby on a lot of walks. Having only one wheel in front makes it more easily maneuverable than the other strollers. Plus the large wheels are great for traveling over gravel and grass. My youngest is 3 and has outgrown the umbrella type strollers (yeah, he's big) so this is the only stroller we use now. It's bigger than traditional strollers but it also accommodates bigger/older kids so you'll be able to use longer.
I've never used this car seat, but my friend raves about it. Her daughter had an unfortunate accident in it and taking off the cover to wash it was super easy. She didn't even have to uninstall the car seat to clean the cover. As one who has had to do that several times due to sick kids and diaper blow outs, that's a life saver right there.
I had both of these. One on the main floor of the house, another upstairs in my bedroom or bathroom so I have a place to put the baby while I'm getting myself ready for the day. They made my life easier and the baby loved sitting in there. It also was a safe place to put the baby so siblings could interact with him.
Feeding Must Haves
Since I had gotten rid of all my baby gear by the time I had my fourth baby, I got to pick and choose what to buy instead of using a hand me down. I went through several high chairs before finding one I loved. Good thing I bought them used and was able to resell them for what I paid. I thought I wanted something nice, not plastic, so it would blend in with our home a little better. The first high chair I got was a Graco wooden high chair. It looked nice, the dark wood matched our kitchen cabinets, however, it was a pain to clean.
All those nooks and crannies for food to get stuck in. And even though the cushion was machine washable, it was just another part that needed to be cleaned. Since my little guy was a messy do it yourself eater, this chair was more work than it was worth. I sold it when I found something different.
My second highchair was sleeker and more modern looking, the Keekaroo Height Right Highchair with insert and tray.
It had several height adjustments and could convert from high chair to booster chair. Again, it was wood so it didn't look all cheap and plastic-y. The seat cushion was rubber and much easier to clean than the fabric cushion of the Graco high chair. However, once again, food would get everywhere: in the seams/joints of the wood parts, under the cushion. This also became a pain to clean and I knew I had to get rid of it too.
That led me to do an internet search for an easy to clean high chair.
The Antilop high chair from Ikea got rave reviews about how easy to clean it was.
And for only $20!
Even though it was plastic and not as nice looking as the wooden high chairs, I instantly fell in love with it after my son's first meal. The seat is all one piece so no joints or seams for crumbs to get caught. It was a breeze to clean and I wish we would have gotten it sooner. I wouldn't recommend it for a baby just starting out in a high chair since it doesn't have much support to hold them up, but for an older baby or toddler, it's definitely the best high chair around.
Kangaroo Bib
Long before I had the perfect easy to clean high chair, I had the perfect easy to clean bib. I actually found this at a yard sale and bought it for my 3rd baby. It's a kangaroo bib. It's plastic and has a food catcher at the bottom. I just wipe it up after every meal and it's clean and dry in seconds. I used this bib multiple times a day for a few years. I don't think they sell it in stores, so here is a link to a similar one on amazon.com
I like to use metal utensils when my child gets enough coordination to feed themselves. The plastic ones or the metal with plastic coating on them, never really picked up or held onto the food like the all metal ones would.
Silicone divided plates
I like these because the silicone provides a little bit of grip to them, making it harder to just slip away. The divided sections are great for separating out food since many toddlers don't like their peas to touch their carrots.
I like these because the silicone provides a little bit of grip to them, making it harder to just slip away. The divided sections are great for separating out food since many toddlers don't like their peas to touch their carrots.
Gerber Graduates Spill Proof Sippy Cups
A lot of sippy cups say they are spill proof but they aren't. I've used a lot of different kinds, and I can say these truly are spill proof. I Still use these on car rides just to make sure there aren't any accidental spills.
A lot of sippy cups say they are spill proof but they aren't. I've used a lot of different kinds, and I can say these truly are spill proof. I Still use these on car rides just to make sure there aren't any accidental spills.
And A Few More Things
A must have for any breastfeeding momma out there.
I have these Light Blocking Basketweave Curtains from Target in both my master bedroom and my 3 year old's room. Our bedroom has the tan color, while my son's room is done in blue. The darker the color, the more light is blocked out, but compared to other light blocking curtains, these are the best I've found for the price (about $25 per panel). If you have windows that get direct sun, these will help keep the light out and you can get more sleep, something that is a precious commodity when you have little ones.
I'm planning to do at least one more edition of My Favorite Things, so check back in a few days to see what toys have stood the test of time with my kids. Happy Shopping!
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