Madeline’s Must-Haves: Gear for Everyday Life

• Carseat. Look, there’s lots of debate about what seat is best. In the end, go with what you feel is best after reading reviews. We went with the Graco SnugRide because the reviews were great, it was light and easy to use. They also were one of the few brands with nice gender neutral patterns, which we needed.
• A place to sleep. It’s different for every family. In our house, it was her carseat for the first four months, then crib only. We’d originally wanted to have a sidecar sleeper for our bed; you may want to co-sleep. It’s all up to you and baby.

• Sheets for crib. If that’s what you decide, that is. I registered for - and received – a ton in anticipation of a messy baby who I’d heard would vomit, poop and pee all over her bed. Knock wood, it’s never happened once. So I have a lot of sheets, but I bet 2-3 would be just fine.
• Receiving blankets. These were great to have on hand for spitup and other sundry mishaps (ours were used for swaddling at first, then moved on to duty as burp cloths).

• Burp cloths. I know that the link takes you to cloth diapers. Just trust me on this one – they’re hugely absorbent and work wonders.
• Diaper pail. Yup, they’re going to be stinky. Doing some odor control is necessary. Many moms recommend using the Diaper Genie; personally I couldn’t stomach the thought of having to replace parts for a diaper pail. This one is perfect for us and contains odor just fine (provided we remember to take the bag out on occassion).
• Diapers. This, again, is a matter of personal preference. We use disposable. Many moms find it’s helpful (and pleasing to the nesting instinct) to stock up on disposables in advance, but take note: buy some smaller packages of different brands before you open those giant boxes. Every baby is different, and as such will need a different diaper. Madeline ruined every Huggies diaper she ever wore; Luvs are shaped just right for her. Cloth diapers are something I have no experience with, but you can find resources and information here. I’m actually considering these for our next baby on cuteness alone!
• Wipes. I love the Huggies brand. They’re nice and thick.
• Baby bathtub. Some people just use the sink… but as a new mom with nervous hands, I wanted something that would allow for a few errors. This tub is amazing – it’s grown with Madeline from one week old to one year, and she’s still happily splashing away.
• Monitor. Hoo boy, I am not even going to go into all the different types out there! Currently, video monitors seem to be popular; I didn’t even notice them on the shelves in 2007. We used the AngelCare monitor and loved it - it gave me peace of mind once Madeline transitioned to her crib, and now that we no longer use the sensors it’s a great model with good sensitivity and a long range. Definitely recommend.
• Humidifier. I never needed one of these until I had a baby… now we use it in her room nightly.
• Feeding gear. Again, this is a matter of preference. I planned to breastfeed my baby, and did; however, I had bottles on hand just in case. There are a million types and styles out there, and I had several on hand. What was essential to Madeline, however, was…
• A good breast pump. This is Madeline’s must-have list, so your mileage may vary. However, this was essential to my ability to breastfeed. I used the Medela Pump-in-Style Advance, and I loved it (as much as one can love a breast pump). It was amazingly effective, and relatively easy to carry and clean. I would recommend that you wait until your baby is born to decide whether you need a pump; the hospital will be able to provide you with resources to rent one in the meantime.
• Breast pads. They’re not for baby, but if you’re nursing, chances are you’ll need them. I loved the Lansinoh brand – they were discreet yet super absorbent. Perfect.
• Breastmilk storage. If you’re nursing and plan to pump, can I just recommend these storage bags? They never split or spilled on me. I loved the ease of use and the compact way they stored.
• Boppy pillow. Since I ended up exclusively pumping, I didn’t use this much for breastfeeding (although it was very helpful in the time that I did). However, it got a ton of mileage for tummy time. It was invaluable.

• Diaper bag. There are a ton of really cute, really expensive diaper bags out there. I found mine on clearance at Babies R Us for $10. I wasn’t too attached to what the bag looked like, but the contents? Oh, I have a lot to say about that.
• Hand sanitizer. I know, I know: paranoid new moms, right? But babies do have delicate little immune systems, and there is nothing wrong with asking guests to clean up before getting their baby fix.
• Bouncy seat/swing. Every baby is different. Some loathe one or both of these products; others find their only solace in the motion or vibration. Since you never know what your baby will prefer, you may want to borrow one or both from a friend until you know your baby’s preference. Madeline ended up liking both, but was especially attached to her bouncy seat. Woe to us if we happened to be out of batteries; it was the only way I got to shower in those first weeks. The seat is, true to its marketing, still in use today. She loves to climb all over it and sit in it, and loves to rock.

• A sling. I didn’t use a sling, but I wish I’d known about them. In the first few weeks Madeline hated to be put down, and I bet that having one of these on hand would have saved me a few postpartum meltdowns. You can find great info and reviews on slings here.
• Clothing. Onesies in both the 0-3 and 3-6 month size will get you a good start at first; they make them in both short and long sleeve so you can choose based on the season. Sleepers or sleep&plays in the same sizes will also be lifesavers. Socks, bibs, little hats if it’s going to be chilly out… it’s easy to get carried away in this category. My three sisters did most of the “carrying away” for me! Adorable little outfits are nearly irresistable…