Let’s talk baby products that NEED to be on your baby registry! Whether you’re a first-time parent trying to navigate all the choices out there, looking to upgrade some of your items for a subsequent baby or its simply been a while since your last babe and you’re wondering what the best baby products out there are these days – this post if for you.
Not only am I sharing my personal choices with you today – the items we used and LOVED with Fischer – but I’ve also enlisted some of my mama friends on Instagram who have shared their thoughts as well! I’ve even gathered a few things I’m eyeing for when WE have another baby at the bottom, so be sure to read this post in full!
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My Favorite Baby Products
Alright, let’s get started with the products that we’ve personally loved for our little guy – beginning with nursery items.
In the Nursery
Ubbi Diaper Pale
I was a nanny all throughout college for two different families who did NOT have an Ubbi and let’s just say.. you could tell 😉 I honestly just thought a nursery was always going to smell like wet diapers and baby wipes – but I was so pleasantly surprised by how well the Ubbi keeps in smells. We’ve even used it for Fischer’s cloth diapers and it does such an amazing job at trapping odors! I also love that you can lock the top because we’ve definitely found toys in the diaper pale before (when we forgot to lock it haha). It’s also really easy to use and holds a LOT of diapers.
Hatch Baby Rest
One of the things we use EVERY.SINGLE.DAY – and I love it so much. It’s got tons of different sound options (though we just use the white noise), connects to an app on your phone and includes a time-to-rise feature that I know will be sooo helpful once Fischer transitions to a ‘big boy bed’. You can completely customize the color and brightness of the light, the volume and sounds from your phone and it even allows you to create ‘favorites’ for different combinations. They’ve since come out with a newer version of this, but this is one of our tried and true favorites!
Serta Changing Top
If you’re getting a regular changing pad, I highly recommend this changing top. I love that it helps to keep the changing pad in place and makes it look more finished. It also leaves a little room to tuck a few products on the side so you always have them handy (i.e., diapers, wipes, lotion, hand sanitizer).
Play Time
Fisher Price Sit-Me-Up
This could also go under the hands-free section – but is such a great thing to have on hand! Fischer loved hanging out in here once he could hold his head up – I’d let him play in it while I worked out, cooked dinner, cleaned, etc.!
Skip Hop Explore and More
This is SUCH a great investment. Fischer still uses his! It starts out as a sit-in activity table where they can either sit or stand and play from 4+ months on. Once they grow out of that part, you can remove the seat, cover the hole and use it as an activity table! Fischer’s is currently in our playroom with chairs where he can sit and read, play, color, etc!
Clover & Birch Activity Gym
We were gifted this beautiful activity gym by Clover & Birch back before Fisch was born and I was/am so in love with it! It folds up really easily so that you can store it away between uses and the dangling toys are customizable. They also carry a host of other neutral, wooden toys and accessories!
Plush Play Mat
Or some sort of soft playmat that you can easily move from room to room. We had this one for Fischer and loved it! I love that you can put their name or monogram on it – would make for such a sweet gift too!
Jolly Jumper
This is for a little later on when they can obviously hold themselves up – but we all LOVED it. It made Fischer so happy to be in this and would easily by me 30 minutes here and there to do this and that. It does take up some room, but it’s foldable and easy to store when you need to! Totally worth the price and space IMO!
Co-Sleeping
By co-sleeping I mean that period of time after you get home from the hospital that baby is sleeping in your bedroom!
Pack ‘N Play
In my opinion, a parent can’t live without one of these! This is the exact one we have and I absolutely love it. When we first had Fischer, he spent a lot of time in that seat with the mobile (which can rock, vibrate and the mobile spins on its own)! It comes off of the pack ‘n play and is easy to move from room to room. It’s where Fisch would hang out when I would shower (among other times). We still use it now for his bed when we travel! These things can be pricey – but trust me, you’ll get your money’s worth!
Velcro Swaddles
Fischer ALWAYS found a way out of a regular blanket swaddle – and our sleep suffered for it. These Swaddle Me and Halo swaddles are the best for quick and efficient swaddling! Makes middle-of-the-night changes so much easier and faster for getting them back to sleep.
Lounging + Hands-Free
We used a variety of items to help with lounging and getting us to be hands-free. Here were our favorites.
Boppy Newborn Lounger
This was, hands down, the thing we used most in the early days. I’d put Fischer on this while I cooked dinner – he’d hang out on the kitchen counter with me. You can put it on the floor, bathroom counter, etc.! Of course, it’s only good for as long as they’re not mobile or flipping themselves over, but it’s fairly affordable and was one of my BEST FRIENDS in terms of being hands free at the beginning. Highly recommend.
Solly Baby Wrap
I remember Fischer loving this sling. I’d put him in it to fold laundry, make dinner and things like that. He’s nap really well in it! It took a bit to figure out the best way to tie it – but once you get it down it’s great!
Baby Bjorn Carrier One and Ergobaby Carrier
We, at first, had the Ergobaby carrier with infant insert and then were gifted the Baby Bjorn Carrior One through a partnership when Fischer was a little bit older. I remember really liking both, but the Carrior One was sooo much easier for me to put on by myself. It also offered me more back support so I think I’d recommend that one over the Ergobaby! However, the Ergo is nice because it has a newborn insert that you can buy separately (so they can use it a little sooner). Either way – a structured carrier like these is WONDERFUL for outdoor venturing – shopping, hiking, etc.
Dock A Tot
So, there’s a silly story that goes with my experience with the Dock A Tot. I was in such a hazy newborn fog during Fischer’s first few months that I completely forgot we even had this! I know- CRAZY. But we did get a small stretch of time with this and it was WONDERFUL. Especially for travel when they’re really small. I’ve even heard of people using it with their infants on planes!
Moses Basket + Rocker Stand
This was Fischer’s hang out/nap spot in the early days downstairs! I loved it because it was a good, safe spot to put him down in if I needed to do something like answer the door or just get something done. And, especially in the beginning if you have stairs, it’s nice not to have to go up and down floors while you’re trying to recover. I used this both with and without the stand as just another useful hands-free option! Now, there are a lot of different moses baskets out there – but this is the set we had personally!
Stroller, Car Seat, Accessories
Nuna DEMI Stroller
Okay, so we had the Nuna MIXX Stroller – but only because they hadn’t come out with the DEMI yet! We loooooove our Nuna stroller, but I would HIGHLY suggest the DEMI because it has the option for 2 seats if you’re planning to have more kids down the road! I’m going to see if I can sell our current Mixx Stroller and put the profit towards the DEMI in the future. Our Nuna stroller is easy to use, collapsible, has plenty of basket space and delivers such a cozy, smooth ride. The seat is easily adjustable in terms of incline and SO easy to switch from forward to back-facing.
Nuna PIPA Car Seat & Base
Naturally, we got the compatible Nuna Car seat that easily fits into the Nuna strollers without the need of an adapter. The PIPA is lined with lots of cushy, soft pads for baby’s comfort and easy to clean! It also comes with an extendable cover that keeps baby covered while sleeping – I loved that feature. No need for extra covers!
Skip Hop Stroller Organizer
I found this little stroller accessory to be SO convenient! It has Velcro straps that you just attach to the handle bar of your stroller and is so convenient for carrying water bottles, snacks, your wallet, etc!
Meal Time
Inglesina Fast Table Chair
This is another MUST in my book. Fischer has used this every single day since he was old enough to sit up on his own and eat. Works best if you have a counter with an overhang (he sits at our island) or a table top that isn’t too thick/has a decent overhang area. We use it at both – but it mainly stays attached to our counter in the kitchen! It’s also great for travel and even taking into restaurants if you don’t want to use their highchairs.
Ingenuity 2-in-1 Seat
When we were looking at highchairs/seats, my main concern was taking up the least amount of space possible. I loved this option because it can just sit in one of your regular chairs at the table. It starts out as an activity/feeding table and then can be used as a booster seat when they get older! It was our version of the Bumbo – which I’m so glad we chose because Fischer’s legs never fit in a Bumbo lol!!
NUK Freezer Tray with Lid
I LOVED these – especially because they came with a lid and were made of silicone which made getting the food out easier! If you plan to make your babie’s food, I highly recommend!
Glass Jars
These are so wonderful for putting baby food in to store in the fridge and even keeping leftover finger foods in! I’d even stick a cube of frozen food in one and heat it in the microwave for feedings.
Bath Time
Puj Soft Infant Bath Tub
This is what Fischer took his early baths in the sink in and we loved it! Super soft and can be folded and adjusted to fit different sized bathroom sinks.
Angelcare Bath Tub
When he got a little older, we used this for Fischer’s baths. It was comfortable for him, easy to clean and simple to use!
Mustela Foam Shampoo for Newborns
Y’all I swear by this stuff. Fisch had really bad cradle cap and this stuff cleared it up and kept it gone! Yes, it’s expensive but so so worth it.
Items I’m Eyeing for Next Time or Have Heard Good Things About!
Hatch scale + Changing Pad
We had bought a baby scale for Fisch because we had issues with him gaining weight at the beginning and then – even after that – it was such a useful resource to have in between check ups! I LOVE the idea of having it built into the changing pad instead of having to keep a separate device somewhere. Genius.
The activity mat we had for Fischer was fine, but it was super flimsy and just.. not that great. I’ve heard sooo many people rave about this Loveevery activity mat. I really like that it has so many compartments and high contrast features. Plus, it’s sturdy and can even grow with them!
Baby Bjorn Bouncer
This is one of those things we might’ve purchased/registered for if I’d known about it before Fischer. I’ve heard SUCH good things about it – and let’s face it – it’s a lot cuter of an option than a lot of the bouncers out there!
Exersaucer Activity Jumper
I’ve heard good things about this and LOVE that it’s a jumper/activity table in one. We love our activity center and jolly jumper, but having both in one would save some space and money!
Follower Recommendations!
I asked my Instagram peeps to weigh in on some of their favorite baby products and these are some of the answers I got!
“Johnson’s and Johnson’s vapor bath; ALL Baby Frida products; Momma’s bliss gripe water for gas; We loved Nested Bean swaddles and sleep sacks!” – @fitbeautybyrobin
“LOVE the DockaTot! They’re so amazing, especially for travel in the early months. Also lasts forever! Mine has survived 4 babies and is about to cradle a 5th to sleep in a few months!” – @heatherwingphotography
“Fridamom/baby EVERYTHING” – @yosoymatos
“Blooming flower bath ; Solly Baby Wrap ; Dr. Browns bottle sanitizer” – @mctrue1387
“The Snoo and my Breast Friend nursing pillow” – @rachellaurenhudson
“IKEA high chair ; Ring sling ; Sit-Me-Up ; Ergo Carrier ; A swing that pops out to be a bouncer” – @aubreyrussi
“Halo sleep sack swaddles! Wavhello portable sound machine! Literally had it for over 2 years!” – @annakateblog
“Neat solutions reusable placemat ; Swaddle Me Velcro swaddles ; Hatch Baby Rest ; Medela bottle sanitizer steam bags” – @trhires
“Jolly jumper!! My little guy loved it and it gave me 20 minutes of catching up on work!” – @brianabritton90
“Snuggle Me and a swaddle that zips and velcros” – @stefanilee_andrews
“Dockatot ; Mamaroo ; Wildbird sling” – taylorchapman_
Alright, my friends – I think that’s it! Do you have anything to add? Questions? Feel free to leave a comment in the section below!
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