After a month of trial and error with my newborn, I have some pretty strong feelings about different baby products. And if you know me, I’m one to share my strong feelings.
When we were preparing for baby and creating our registry, there were a ton of items added that we just thought made sense or I had seen all the Instagram moms talk about. But actually using these products is completely different. You don’t really know what you need/like until you try it.
BESTS
1. Graco Soothe ‘n Sway Swing
When Haiden was first born, she wasn’t a fan of the swing and honestly, neither was I. It felt like she was drowning in the seat. But it’s important to note that she was an itty bitty 6 pound baby. Once she gained some weight and grew a little more, that swing was a lifesaver.
It’s perfect for when we have things to get done around the house and baby isn’t sleeping. Whenever Haiden is awake, she wants to be entertained or there’s going to be tears. So this swing is super helpful! I also love this one because it doubles as a portable rocker. Whenever I’m home alone and need to shower or cook, I can detach the seat from the swing in the living room, carry it wherever I need it, and strap her in.
2. Zipper Jumpers
I think everyone says this, but zipper jumpers are so much better than snap/button jumpers in the middle of the night. And after a while, they’re better all the time. I swear they’re all my daughter wears. I’m the type to want diaper changing to be quick and easy (but then again, who isn’t) so an easy zipper is a lifesaver. Even better than a zipper jumper? A double zipper jumper.
3. Forehead Thermometer
My daughter got RSV and COVID-19 at the same time before she was a month old, so we were constantly needing to check her temperature. We learned quickly at birth that she wasn’t a huge fan of the thermometers being shoved into her armpits or booty, so a forehead thermometer was a must. We have two and they’ve both been great so really any forehead or no-contact thermometer is highly recommended!
4. Avent Soothie Pacifiers
Yes, I was the mom to want to get my daughter hooked on the adorable Ryan & Rose cutie pat pacifiers. But that didn’t happen. A little over 24 hours after she was born, she was admitted into the NICU and the nurses got her hooked on the Avent Soothie.
I swear these pacifiers are magical. They solve every problem for this girl. They’re way cheaper than Ryan & Rose pacies and a lot easier to get your hands on.
5. Snuggle Rest Dream Portable Infant Sleeper
This little bed is Haiden’s favorite for naps in our living room. It’s especially helpful for traveling to visit our families so we don’t have to pack a whole playard. It folds up and has a handle for easy transport and my favorite part is that I can even pack things into it before I fold it and it holds things in like a second diaper bag. LOVE this!
WORSTS
1. Graco Snugride Carseat
We got this car seat as an attachment with our stroller, which we thought was a great deal at the time. But being a newborn in the winter, so far we’ve used the carseat more than the stroller. Don’t get me wrong- having the carseat attachment for the stroller is great. But the bulky, heavy carseat isn’t fun to carry around on its own.
2. Diaper Genie
Everyone says how great this garbage can is and how it’s a must have for the nursery. But then I heard some people say it’s a waste of money so I decided not to get it. So I didn’t.
But once we got it as a gift, I decided we’d give it a chance. The things they say about it are true. It does trap the smell and it does hold a lot of diapers. But what I really hate more than anything is when I push diapers into it and I get remnants of past leaky diapers all over my hands. I doubt it’s too common but it’s happened enough for me to put it on the worst list.
3. Chicco NaturalFit Bottle and Food Warmer
For the three-ish weeks, we weren’t warming her bottles. She seemed to like them at room temperature and our water jugs were at room temperature so we had nothing to worry about. But as it’s finally getting colder, we’re having to warm bottles before we feed her. And she loves it!
Here’s the problem with this warmer though. I thought it would be simple. You flip one dial and that’s it. It’s working. But the issue is that there’s only one time setting for each a bottle and food. Since we’re using smaller bottles, it takes a lot less time to heat her bottles up. So we can’t rely on the timer and actually have to continuously check her bottle. And if it’s too hot, we’re waiting way too long for it to cool.
I may be a little dramatic or maybe even doing things wrong, but that’s what has and has not worked for us. I’m a first time mom figuring things out as I go, so I’m bound to not have everything down. And everything depends on the baby and the parents, so what doesn’t work for us may be best for your family. With products just as much as anything else with your baby, I recommend not relying solely on the advice of others and doing what you think is best!
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