Breast pump
I think you definitely get what you pay for with breast pumps. Besides, who really wants to spare money on a machine you attach to your breasts??
Hospitals have breast pumps for you to use when your little one is born, mostly to encourage breastfeeding, and for mommies whose milk doesn't come in immediately, or can't get a hang of breastfeeding right away.
Double pump, easy to figure out/ use, super portable, and comes with a shoulder bag, portable mini-cooler, and bottles. Nothing about pumping is comfortable, but this pump is supposed to mimic a baby's sucking motions, has two phases to stimulate let-down better, and has adjustable strength settings.
At around $250, this a moderately-priced pump, but will be worth your money if you pump full-time, while at work, or even occasionally.
Note: breastfeeding really wasn't for me, but I did try and breast feed/pump breast milk for about a month. Breastfeeding is the best, obviously, but don't feel bad if you end up choosing formula. Aiden has been a formula baby every since, and he has continued to be perfectly healthy and happy.
Bottles
I only tried one type of bottle (recommended to me), and there are SO many different brands, so I am far from an expert on this one.
However, it seems to me that you get what you pay for and, seeing as they aren't disposable, you can spend a bit more on 4 or 5 good ones without breaking the bank.
There are tons of credentials, BPA-free, Phthalate-free, vacuum-free feeding, interchangeable nipples for flow levels (slow for newborns – to fast flow for older babies), microwave-safe, dishwasher-safe...
I used
Born Free bottles - they met all of the above credentials and worked great! So they are my pick :)
Target always has a great supply of Born Free bottles (I used plastic as opposed to glass) and nipples.
Car Seats
I'm a big fan of Graco, and while researching car seats they seemed to have consistently great reviews from mommies, consumer's report, and the experts.
It can be a bit confusing buying a car seat for your infant, because now you can choose strictly infant car seats, or 3-in-1 car seats.
3-in-1's can be used for babies 5 to 100 pounds, which seemed pretty ridiculous to me, and I just felt more comfortable putting my little guy in the typical, infant car seat. In their defense, they are supposed to be just as safe, and you won't need to buy a new car ceat when your little guy reaches the infant car seat weight limit....but I just couldn't imagine my tiny, floppy little man in one of this tall, wide, armchairs.
We used:
There are many versions of the graco snugride, but they all come in a variety of adorable prints, and are moderately-priced.
They aren't the lightest car seat you can buy, but you should really invest in a stroller for your little one. I lugged Aiden around in his car seat too many times – yes, its a great workout, but it really isn't worth the pain. Take a little extra time and get your stroller out of the back of your car if you have a ways to go with them.
Graco has
Travel systems – coordinating car seat , stroller, and a car seat base – that many mommies use, too. For less than 200 you can get a car seat , stroller and base. You can pop the car seat right into the stroller when they are infants, and it serves as a regular stroller as they get older.
I have the best sister and brother a mommy-to-be could ask for...and I received a
Bugaboo for Aiden's stroller. They really are the smoothest ride, easiest to push, and easiest to maneuver across any terrain.
-comes with an infant bassinet with a plush liner, for strolling around with a little one who is the comfiest laying down. We kept the stroller this way for the first couple months and took tons of walks.
-Has an adjustable recline for the regular stroller seat. We kept it tipped back when Aiden still didn't have the hang of sitting, and now use it completely tipped forward, so he can sit up like a big boy.
-The regular stroller seat flips in one miotion, so your little one can either face you, or face away from you. Aiden wanted to look right at mommy and daddy when he was younger, but chooses to face the world, now. :)
-Comes with diaper bag clips so you can hook your diaper bag right on, as well as an under-seat storage bin and an adjustable sun shade. You can purchase tons of other fun accessories, like cupholders and rain shades.
Bugaboos are crazy-expensive, but you will 100% notice a different if you test one out. We walked everywhere when we lived downtown, and we were so lucky to have our bugaboo.
Most double strollers sit side by side, or one in front of the other, and are enormous. These are okay for twins, but not ideal for a baby + toddler combo.
The Phil and Ted functions as a single baby stroller for your firstborn, then transforms into a double stroller when you add another munchkin to the family. It places one baby on top of the other (see photo), which uses stroller space much more efficiently. And, it is lightweight, maneuverable, and looks super chic. :)
For traveling, shopping strolls, and car-to-stroller strolls,
Maclarens are the best.
They come in a variety of styles, sizes, and colors, and range in price from $100 to $900. The less expensive versions are super portable, easy to fold, and easy to push, perfect for casual strolling or traveling. Nice and narrow to squeeze between the racks while shopping. You can purchase tons of great accessories for you and baby, and you can make it your own with one of their many
liners
My other recommendation for strollers is
Graco, as previously mentioned. They produce dependable strollers, with a variety of features, at a price you can afford. Tons of different models/versions, so take your time and shop around before purchasing!
Bouncy Seats and Swings
We lived at my parent's house right after Aiden was born, and our bouncy seat was a godsend – it is super lightweight and portable, basically a portable seat and napping spot for your little one. As long as they are sturdy, comfy (well-cushioned), have a few fun dangling toys to peak your baby's visual interest, and vibrate, you can't really go wrong. Here are a few I like, for every budget
You can't hold your newborn 24 hours a day, and it's not convenient to have them in their crib everytime they doze off, so Aiden spent the remainder of his time swaddled up, lounging in his bouncer.
We didn't have a baby swing, but some parents prefer them. These typically take up more space, are less portable, and are more expensive. But, the swinging motion works wonders on some babies. The swings I researched online had significantly lower reviews than bouncer. Here is one I like, that is also rated well:
-Recognizes your baby's weight to adjust the swing speed as they grow.
Swaddlers and Burp Cloths
I never really knew about swaddling before having Aiden, but it is a genius idea. Newborns tend to “startle” often, and wrapping them up nice and tight in a swaddler prevents this, helping them stay asleep.
We received a lot of expensive swaddlers at baby showers – for example,
SwaddleDesigns swaddling blankets – but they ended up being way too big for Aiden, and the material was too stiff and thick. If you have a winter baby, this might be appealing (Aiden was a spring baby).
My thought is that you dress your little one in season-appropriate onesies or sleep-n-plays prior to swaddling, so the blanket itself just needs to be soft and easy to fold and tuck.
We ended up receiving numerous packs of
Carter's receiving blankets, and they were the BEST for swaddling. So inexpensive, soft, and easy to wrap. And by far the cutest. Don't waste your money on expensive swaddling blankets!
As for burp cloths, the same rule applies: don't waste your money on expensive brands! Carters and Gerber make great multi-packs – they are much thinner than expensive brands, but you go through a ton everyday, anyway. I used these the most.
For a step up, I recommend burp clothes made of cotton with a soft, absorbent strip of material sewn down the center. They look pretty and collect that gross spit-up quite nicely. For an affordable version of these, check out my latest burpies :
mommy-made baby burpies
I just ordered 6 new designer fabrics that are absolutely adorable. I can't
wait to get them and make more burpies! I will be selling them for $5 a burp cloth.
