BABY PRODUCTS THAT ARE GETTING US THROUGH THE 4TH TRIMESTER

This one is for all the mamas out there!

I don’t know about you, but before Ollie was born I was asking every parent I knew about what they recommended as far as baby gear goes. Putting a baby registry together was so overwhelming. There is so much out there! It can get frustrating trying to figure out which products are actually worth it.

I wanted to wait to do this post to make sure that these products were actually necessities. You really don’t know unless you’ve tried them out, right?! Now that Ollie is 10 weeks old, I feel confident in sharing what we found works best for him.

Here we go…

#1 THE DOONA

The Doona is by FAR one of my favorite baby purchases we’ve made.When we were leaving the hospital after giving birth to Ollie people were stopping us in the hallways saying, “Oh you have the transformer!”  It’s a car seat, carrier and stroller all in one! You just hit one button to change it into whatever you need.

Also, it’s designed to work in any car without a base. That means if you have a babysitter or grandma coming over to watch him and she wants to go somewhere she already has everything she needs. It also saves a ton of time and space because we don’t have to pack a giant stroller in the trunk anytime we go anywhere. Great for travel as well.

The infant insert and infant head protector is a must. We ended up only using the insert for about 7 weeks because Ollie’s torso is super long and he was getting squished. After we took it out, he slept like a baby in that thing! The price tag may shock you at first, but you have to think you’re getting three things in one. So, it’s pretty much what you should spend anyways.

I still get mamas stopping me whenever we’re out asking me what it is. Ollie LOVES his Doona!

#2 NUROO MULTI-USE COVER

The Nuroo Multi-Use Cover is great for covering the car seat/stroller to keep the sun out of your baby’s eyes. It’s also great to use as a nursing cover, to throw over shopping carts and will work over high-chairs as well. It’s a stretchable so it stays put and is super soft. Definitely easy to use. We always have it in his diaper bag.

#3 GRACO PACK ‘N PLAY

We really can’t live without our Graco Pack ‘n Play! Another dual purpose baby must-have. It has what’s called the “napper”, a diaper changing table, a diaper changing shelf where you can keep diapers and wipes, an infant bassinet and a playpen for older babies. The napper also vibrates, plays lullaby songs/white noise, and has a tiny light so you can check in on your baby without waking him up.

Ollie loved the napper because it hugged him similar to how he felt in the womb or when we hold him. We used the “heartbeat” setting on the sound and vibration machine so he felt like he was still in my tummy.

Now that Ollie is taller, we’ve removed the napper and he sleeps in the infant basinet, which is basically a pack n play elevated so you don’t have to bend over all the way to get him out.

#4 BRIGHT STARTS PLAY MAT

Mike and I were amazed at how much Ollie  loves this play mat! It’s great for his hand-eye coordination, and works as a tummy time mat as well. It’s also machine washable which makes clean up really easy.

#5 INFANTINO 4-IN-1 CONVERTIBLE CARRIER

The Infantino Carrier comes is handy when you need to get stuff done, but want to keep your little one close. We use it when we need to finish some house chores or when we go to the grocery store. Nine times out of ten Ollie will fall asleep in it. It works for babies 8-32 pounds, which means we’ll be able to use it when he’s a toddler as well.

#6 THE BABY SHUSHER

The Baby Shusher is SO helpful when putting Ollie to sleep. It’s compact so it’s easily portable. It also has multiple timer settings and you can adjust how loud you want the sound. We had friends that swore by this product, and now we know why.

#7 FISHER-PRICE AUTO ROCK ‘N PLAY SLEEPER

The auto rock n play sleeper is a rocking chair and playtime seat in one. Ollie takes a lot of his naps in here! It has a comfortable incline, two speed settings, a timer, multiple song options as well as a few white noise sounds. It also plugs int other wall so you don’t have to worry about batteries running out.

#8 ZIP UP FOOTED PAJAMAS

Not necessarily a specific product, but more of a suggestion. When your little one needs a diaper change, it’s so much easier to chnage them in zip up pajamas rather than ones that button up. Ollie loves his super-cozy Burt’s Bees footed pajamas and sleeps so comfortably in them.

#9 LANSINOH BREAST PUMP & HANDS FREE PUMPING BRA

If you choose to breastfeed, you may want a breast pump later on, especially if you’re going back to work at some point. Good news is most insurance companies will cover the cost of your pump equipment! I use the Lansinoh SmartPump Double Electric Breast Pump and love it. (To see if your insurance covers this product, just check out the insurance section of the Lansinoh website. ) This pump comes with everything you need, including bottles, nipples, a few storage bags and an instruction booklet.

The only extra purchase I needed to make when it comes to pumping is my hands-free pumping bra. It makes such a difference! I’m actually able to get stuff done while I pump. I recommend getting the black one because the pink tends to get a little dingy looking over time.

#10 BABY BATH TUB & THE BLOOMING BATH LOTUS

Bathtime is our favorite time as a family! We actually received our bath from friends, but I found one similar! The Fisher-Price 4-in-1 Seat Tub works from the time they’re a newborn until they’re a toddler.

Before we could start submerging Ollie in a tub, we used the Blooming Bath Lotus for his sponge baths. It made clean up easy and you can just throw it in the wash. When he can start holding himself up, we’ll be able to use it in sinks for easy baths. I just think babies look so cute in these little flowers!