Here are some baby things that I've found very helpful. I tried to do as much reading and research that I could before Ava was born to figure out what would be essential and what we could do without. Nothing beats good old trial and error, though. Now that she's here, let me share some of our favorites with you. *This original post was created when Ava was 5 weeks old. The updates I made were when Ava was 5 months and 10 days old.*
1. Bouncer - this is perfect for when I'm trying to get dressed and I can't hold onto Ava. It plays music and vibrates. It can bounce, but you have to manually push it and she doesn't really care about being bounced.
Update: we were able to use this bouncer until she grew too long for it and her legs started hanging off. It was definitely worth putting on our registry. I also used it a couple times when I had to shower and daddy wasn't home to watch her. This was closer to when she was 7-8 weeks old. I would put the bouncer in the bathroom, then put her in it and peek out through the shower curtains at her as I was showering.
2. Aquaphor baby wash - Ava got baby acne at 5 weeks and this was a suggestion I got from another mom. It's nice and mild and I don't have to worry about it getting in her eyes since it's tear-free. We use it on her hair, her face, and all over her body. This stuff is the best for her sensitive skin. It's also fragrance-free and color-free.
Update: We have been using this since she was 5 weeks old, and she's 23 weeks old now. Granted, we only bathe her 1-2 times a week, but this stuff has lasted forever. I feel kind of bad for not using the 153 bottles of Johnson's baby shampoo that we got from my baby showers, but I'm sure we'll use them eventually.
3. Johnson's Bed Time Lotion - I try to put this on Ava several times a week. It keeps her skin moisturized and smells so good. She loves when I put it on and massage her legs and arms - she will stretch them out and coo as I do it.
Update: I still put this lotion all over Ava right after her baths. She lays really still and just stares at me when I put it on her. It's so sweet!
4. Gas drops - we have a gassy baby on our hands. I'm not sure if these drops actually work since we just started using them. I'm willing to try anything, though, because I hate when she spits up - it scares her. It's also hard to watch her writhe around and kick her legs when she has gas pains.
Update: We used gas drops for a long time, we even gave them to Ava's daycare provider to give to her after each feeding. I think they helped a little, but it really just took time for Ava to get bigger and thus, her stomach to get bigger before her gas problems went away for good.
5. Halo Sleep Sack Swaddle - we have been swaddling Ava to sleep since the day she was born. It definitely helps her sleep better, but she's starting to get so big that she can bust her arms out of the swaddle. We might have to wean her off of them and just start doing a Sleep Sack instead.
Update: We still use these, we just wrap the "bat wings" around her stomach so she has access to her hands. She loves to self-soothe by sucking on her fingers. She also prefers to sleep on her stomach, now. We also use the Halo Sleep Sacks, but the only size we have right now is small. We will definitely be getting her some bigger ones for Christmas (or sooner). When I try to zip the sleep sack closed, her feet poke out and I have to push them back in. We've got a long baby! Even the doctor told me at her 4-month appointment that she's going to be tall!
6. Nuk Pacifier - we tried two different kinds of pacifiers and these are the ones Ava loves. They fit really well in her mouth.
Update: Right around 4 months old, Ava started spitting out her paci and putting her fingers in her mouth instead. At 5 months old, our daycare provider told us that she never uses the pacifier at daycare. So, we put all the pacifiers in a bag and put them away in a basket. We're too nervous to throw them away since she's still so young. I think we're worried that one day she'll start crying and the only thing that we soothe her will be a paci. Or maybe we just don't want to admit that our little girl is growing up and doesn't need a paci anymore. I think we have the perfect child. Seriously, though - she doesn't want to be rocked to sleep; she'd rather be put in her crib awake so she can go to sleep on her own, and she doesn't need a pacifier to be soothed; she'd rather use her fingers or nothing at all since she's always so happy and calm.
7. Diaper Bag Backpack (Babies R Us) - I love that this is a backpack that both my husband and I can wear. It's so easy to throw on, allows you to have your hands free for your baby, and doesn't cause shoulder/back pain like those messenger bag-types do.
Update: We still take this with us everywhere we go. It's pefect.
8. Graco Classic Connect Travel System - the carseat and the stroller.
Update: I have no complaints with the carseat or the stoller. The travel system was expensive, but it is made well and we have had no problems with it.
9. Fisher Price Papasan Cradle Swing - we have a store where we live that's called "Mommy and Me." It has gently used maternity clothes, baby clothes, young boys and girls clothes, and other baby-related items. I took some of my maternity clothes in to the store, got store credit, and used it to buy this swing. It retails for close to $150 and I got it for free. Ava loves it. We try to limit her daily use to 30-60 minutes a day. When my grandparents babysit, they also like to put her in it because sometimes it's hard to get her to take a nap. This allows her to at least rest in it.
Update: Just like the bouncer, this was wonderful for Ava while she fit in it. She's almost outgrown this swing. Now that she can sit up pretty well, she doesn't really like the way the swing reclines her back, either. She always tries to sit up in it, and winds up just leaning to one side. This makes me so nervous, because I think she's going to fall out. We've asked for a Jumperoo and an Exersaucer for Christmas, hoping that these will be the next two things that she'll enjoy playing with.
10. Playmat - We have used this playmat almost every day ever since Ava was able to use it. She loves trying to reach for the jungle animals. At first the monkey was her favorite, now it's the elephant. Now that she knows how to roll, she loves rolling to her belly and touching the animals that are printed on the bottom of the mat. Once she's able to crawl (which will probably be soon), I'm sure we'll have to retire the mat. We've gotten a lot of use out of it, though.
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