We used the Summer Infant SwaddleMe and it was wonderful for keeping baby girl snug and comfy for sleeping. I think many use these for naps and nighttime, but we only used them for nighttime sleeping and swaddled with a swaddle blanket at naptime. Don’t ask me why…it’s just what we did.
I know that most wouldn’t consider this a top 10 for month 1 because most people still have their babies in their room, but Finley made the move to the crib in her room when she was only a few weeks old, so this was a wonderful thing to have! [Edit: I would say that the video portion of this monitor is definitely more entertaining when they are a bit older and rolling around…we sit and watch Finley play in her crib before we go in to pick her up from a nap! At an older age the video is great at night because you can see if it looks like they are just going to go back to sleep or if they are really up for a feeding or for the morning.]
Finley loved her swing throughout month 1 and would easily nap there. [Edit: we didn’t use the swing past 2 months old] There were days that putting her in her swing was the only way that I was able to get anything done around the house! Update: Now that we’ve used it longer, I would NOT buy a Graco Glider as shown in the photo above. The music stopped working shortly after we started using it and the swing itself was LOUD. The motor eventually gave out. Graco sent us a new one free of charge and it functions better, but too little too late. I think if I were to do it over again I would buy a small, portable swing…like an Ingenuity swing that folds up flat.
Bouncer seats make a great spot for newborn naps. My opinion of what to look for in a bouncer? Get one with adjustable positions (recline and upright) and one that is anchored to the base at the back of the bouncer so that when they are a bit older and kick they can get the chair bouncing themselves. There is nothing that I don’t like about our Comfort & Harmony Cradling Bouncer (and trust me, I’ve been through them all).
Comfort & Harmony Cradling Bouncer, Cozy Kingdom
I started an Amazon Mom free trial during my pregnancy to stock up on diapers and gladly kept the service once the trial was up! Online shopping is just too easy…especially when it’s quite a hassle to pack up a baby to go to the store for something small. Often I could find the things that I needed at a better price on Amazon, too.
I almost didn’t buy this, but am so glad I did because it has been one of the most convenient things that we own! The only reason I even bought it was because I was lured in by the big red sticker on the box at the end of the aisle at Target (read: clearance item). It was an online purchase that had been returned to the store, so it was super cheap and brand new. Couldn’t pass that up in my pregnancy-induced shopping frenzy. It’s lightweight, collapses flat, and super easy to grab out of the back of the car and click the car seat onto for running errands.
Graco SnugRider Elite Car Seat Carrier
Finley was born right at the beginning of winter, so we had to keep her bundled most of the time when we went places! Of course, it’s 99% impossible to keep socks on babies, so I loved these newborn slipper socks to keep her feet warm…they are the only things that would stay on! I absolutely loved this bamboo hat from Mod Swad…it was soft and stretchy so she didn’t mind wearing it and it kept her little head warm (the rest of her was usually bundled in blankets).
My husband pitched a fit when I showed him a few of the diaper bags that I was thinking of getting. He wouldn’t be caught dead carrying something like that. Too girly. Wrong color. Good lord, who knew he could be so picky. Luckily I happened upon this bag from Skip Hop which just so happens to match identically his favorite North Face jacket. Diaper bag approved. It also happens to be the perfect size and shape (in my opinion) and has pockets and zippers in all of the right places. Oh…and ‘shuttle clips’ to hook the bag to the handle of your stroller. Too easy.
9. Infant Bath Tub (with newborn hammock) and Hooded Towel
A baby tub in the sink is so much easier than bending over a bath tub. Plus, no one wants to be responsible for dropping a limp, slippery newborn.
Great for dry patches of skin and baby skin care in general.
Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment Diaper Rash and Dry Skin Protectant, 3 oz (Pack of 3)
