Guest Post on Positively Oakes : Baby Must-Haves

Today, I was invited to be a guest blogger on Positively Oakes!  I'm excited to pull from my personal experience as a mom of two beautiful girls to provide you some baby must-haves!

Starting a baby registry can be overwhelming for new parents. You want the best for your precious bundle of joy, but there is so much out there it can be hard to choose. Just because something is the most expensive item doesn't mean it's the best. I know the first time I was starting a registry I gave myself anxiety over reading all the ratings, getting advice from other parents, doing loads of research, watching videos. It was exhausting!

I remember never using certain items I registered for. I don't want that to happen to you.  Also included in this list are items I wished I had as well. Things have changed in the 3 years since having my youngest.

1) Diaper Sacks: I didn't care for the diaper genie at all. I registered for one and it was not fun to empty. Not only was it heavy, but the fact that you go through long periods before emptying it was disgusting to me. I came across these diaper sacks and I highly recommend them. After changing a soiled diaper I'd use these sacks and could throw them in our regular trash can without worrying about an odor. I packed them in my baby bag so in public it would be easy to dispose of dirty diapers. You can find this pack of 200 for $9 on Amazon.

2) Cloth Diapers: I used cloth diapers as burp clothes. I had them everywhere around my house. A great gift idea, they have lots of uses, from diapering and changing to nursing and burping. These Gerber ones come in a 10 pk from Target.

3) Swaddler: I love these swaddlers from Ergobaby. Newborns enjoy the comfort of being swaddled. They sleep better, which means, parents get more sleep :) These swaddlers are soft and made of breathable material promoting longer, safer and more comfortable sleep for your little one. I like this one because its easy to use and has a great option for easy diaper changes.

4) Lounger: Both of my girls loved their lounger. The one I had was closer to the ground, but I like how this has an easy  put-away option. It was great for me because I could get little things around the house done.  It is a great option to put in your bedroom too. The baby will not be sleeping in the nursery for a few months so this is a great item to have in your room. It comes with a projector and soothing vibrating unit. With a mom's gentle push, the lounger will rock too! Get it here.

5) Video Monitor. This is the best! It was so comforting to know I could check on the baby without having to go into the nursery for every little of sound. Sometimes the baby makes sounds in their sleep that don't need you rushing into the room. It was also helpful at the toddler stage when they like to try and escape the crib!

6) Moby Wrap : This baby carrier is ideal because it distributes the baby's weight evenly across mommy's body. This wrap is super soft and babies love it because it makes the transition from the womb to the outside world easier. The fabric is breathable and machine washable.

7) Convertible Stroller: I love this option for a stroller. As your baby grows, your stroller grows. I love the versatility of this one from GB. It's not too bulky and provides so many options for mommy and baby. Not sure if this brand provides additional bases so when stroller/car seat  shopping be sure to check! It makes transporting the baby so much easier if there is a base in multiple cars! Get it here!

8) Baby Moccasins from Freshly Picked: Baby shoes are adorable but let me tell you, they don't stay on at all! Don't waste your time on shoes unless you purchase these adorable moccasins. Not only are they super comfortable, uber cute, and easy to put  on/ take off but they stay on your baby's feet! These gorgeous moccs have been featured in Parenting Magazine, IN TOUCH, US weekly, People.com, Keeping Up with the Kardashians and Kourtney and Kim Take New York.

Other baby items I would suggest:

• Infant's Acetaminophen drops
• formula divider-- this came in handy because once formula is mixed it is only good for one hour. So to make trips out of the house handy, I would prefill the bottles with water and when it was time for a bottle I'd use the formula divider and dump the exact amount into the bottles and give it a little swirl/shake.
• manicure kit
• hylands homeopathic baby teething tablets
• onesies
• baby thermometer
• baby vicks vapor rub
• nasal aspirator
• Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo/wash
• oxiclean versatile stain remover
• pampers swaddlers
• baby blankets
• diaper changing pad
• Baby Einstein's take along tunes (baby toy)-- both of my girls loved this little toy. It plays music and has moving lights which helped when we rode in the car at night.
• changing stations for each room (basket to carry diapers, wipes, rash cream, baby powder, changing pad)-- This is helpful to have in every room because let's face it, you aren't going to want to walk into the nursery for every diaper change.
• extra crib sheets-- for those messy nights that involve throw up, diaper explosions, etc.

  And stuff for moms!

• extra long iphone charger
• hair ties
• dry shampoo
• always unscented pads with wings
• extra underwear (the ones you don't really care about)-- Word of advice: Before leaving the hospital, ask for extra mesh panties and pads!

Thanks for reading along. This list is not a complete list but it should help to get your registry started. Making this list brings back lot of memories and it isn't helping the baby fever I'm starting to feel. Before I know it I'll be starting another registry here soon :)

If you have any questions about any of the items I've listed you are more than welcome to email me and I'll try to help as much as possible. You can reach me at glitterandjuls@gmail.com.

Also, if you have not already, swing by my blog, glitterandjuls.com, for a visit. Follow me while you're there!
 
 A huge thanks to Positively Oakes for letting me guest post today! It was so much fun!