This baby must-haves post contains products I was sent for review and affiliate links. All opinions expressed are my own.
Now that Prestyn is 4 months old, and we are starting to get in a good groove I thought I would share a collection of baby must-haves that helped me along the way. Quite a few of these products weren’t around when I had my first two boys. It is amazing how products change and evolve.
When we brought Prestyn home after spending a week in the NICU I was worried sick. He went from being monitored 24/7 to nothing. I remember that I woke up so many times in the night checking on him. Once we received the Owlet I was able to get a lot more sleep. I can sneak a peek at my phone and see that his oxygen and heart rate are in range. I wrote more about our experience with the Owlet over on their blog. A rested mama is a happy mama.
2. Dock-A-Tot
Prestyn loves sleeping in the Dock-A-Tot. I think it helps him feel secure and comfortable. I love that the cover comes off and is washable. He spits up a lot so this is very helpful. The deluxe is for kids 0-9 months and then they have the grand that is for kids 9-36 months. I think I may need to order the next size up soon because I don’t see him wanting to give up this comfy bed any time soon. This has really been a lifesaver. We took it on vacation back in December and it helped him feel at home. As you can see by my other photos we use it a lot.
Photo by Whitney Norko Photography
The Freshly Picked Moccasins are so well made and super adorable. They are great shoes for babies because they actually stay on their feet. I can’t remember how many times I would put shoes on my older boys feet as babies and they would immediately fall off. I love the story behind how Susan started her company, that is called determination and hard work. They recently started selling a baby bundle which would be a perfect gift for a new mom.I plan to get him a few more pairs in different colors. Unfortunately, he was was a huge baby so he only wore the above mocassins a couple of times before he outgrew them. Lucky for you I am going to give them away to a lucky reader below. Giveaway: Petite Weathered Brown Moccasins
I love how soft the aden + anais blankets are, plus the prints are amazing. I would love to have a blanket in every print they offer. The blankets are perfect for everyday uses, like a nursing cover, stroller/car seat cover, or a soft place to play. Of course, I picked out the High Seas swaddles because they went perfectly with his nursery.
5. Sugar Chic Baby Bibs & Burp Cloths
These bibs are the best, and so absorbent. They are backed by super soft chenille fabric. We use them with Carsyn too, because of his Cerebral Palsy he drools a lot. Sugar Chic Baby just started making the Bandana Bibs. I think I need to order a few of those next. I love her fabric choices, they are adorable! She makes matching sets of bibs and burp cloths. Giveaway: Bib & Burp Cloth set from Sugar Chic Baby
I remember both of my boys loved the swing, but we were replacing batteries every other day. The mamaRoo plugs in which is awesome. It also moves differently than the traditional swing. We tried a traditional swing with Prestyn and he was not having it. He even enjoys just hanging out in the Mamaroo and swatting at the toys. Sometimes the Mamaroo is the only way I am able to get anything done. He sleeps really good in his crib at night, but not so much for naps.
7. Be on the Sea Activity Floor Mat
Prestyn loves playing with this and the colors are amazing. It looks so nice in his whale themed nursery but is easy to bring out into the living room so he can be around the rest of the family. There are squeakers, mirrors, noise making crinkle material, pockets and more. He has a lot of exploring to do.
8. Zipadee-Zip
The Zipadee-Zip has made the transition from the swaddle so easy. Prestyn loved being swaddled but he quickly outgrew all of his. We went to the Zipadee-Zip and it has worked amazingly. They also sell a Flying Squirrel for older kids, which we use for Carsyn. Prestyn has just started using the whale teether they sell too. It is super cute. They give a portion of their proceeds to Ronald McDonald house which is just plain awesome! Giveaway: Zipadee-Zip of your choice
Prestyn was on heavy duty antibiotics when he was in the NICU after he was born, so I knew he needed probiotics to balance his system back out. The Gerber® Soothe Colic Drops contain L.reuteri, which is a probiotic, to help balance an infant’s intestines. Research indicates that the type of bacteria in the infant’s intestines could determine whether a child is colicky. Colic is pretty common, 3 out of 10 babies may suffer from it at some point. Dustyn suffered from it terribly. I remember every day from 4-6pm he would scream no matter what. We would walk him, take him for rides, feed him, and nothing would calm him. I really wish I had these colic drops when he was a baby.
The probiotic in the Gerber® Soothe products are clinically shown to reduce crying in colicky breastfed infants. If you do not breastfeed they offer Gerber® Good Start® Soothe Infant Formula that also contains L.reuteri probiotic. The formula is specially designed to ease excessive crying, colic, fussiness and gas while providing complete nutrition. These products are not intended to treat or cure any diseases. I received a free sample of Gerber® Soothe probiotic colic drops from Gerber. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
Did your baby have colic? How did you help to calm them? Have you tried probiotics for your baby?
Prestyn loves the Fisher-Price Elephant Soother. It vibrates, which felt good on his gassy tummy, plus it plays nice, soft music. It was such a help on our vacation to Florida back in December.
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