My little sister is pregnant with her first little one. We are looking forward to celebrating his arrival with a baby shower soon!
This is very exciting for me since I won’t be purchasing any of these wee items for myself anymore.
I have a small confession: I used to fill online baskets of baby supplies (I never actually bought the items) and create registries for someday-maybe babies in between pregnancies. 😮
I have some pretty strong opinions after three kids about my favorite things. Here’s my list:
1. Ultra-soft newborn nightgown like this one:
http://www.gap.com/browse/category.do?cid=1014026&departmentRedirect=true#department=166
I love these for the first month or two because they make night-time diaper changes super simple and allow for skin-to-skin contact for baby’s own legs, which most infants enjoy. Quick, drama-free diaper changes are important for teaching newborns the difference between night and day.
2. Swaddling blankets
I love Aden and Anais, especially for the summer:
Or if your baby is extra wiggly, they make easy swaddles too:
http://www.adenandanais.com/en-us/content/easy+swaddle/easy-swaddle.aspx
3. Nursing cover up
My favorite is the Bébé au Lait Nursing Cover;
http://www.target.com/p/bebe-au-lait-nursing-cover-camden-lock/-/A-13460026
they are extra long and come in all different designs. I have given these as gifts often and they are always a huge hit.
4. The best nursing bras ever!!!
I have tried many, many different nursing bra brands and styles. They are typically itchy, ugly and poorly made. Itchy things are the worst! Bravado nursing bras are truly worth the expense when you weigh them against the cost of organic formula and the health benefits your children receive because you didn’t give up on breastfeeding. My first two months of breastfeeding were an awful experience for me. I just kept telling myself another week. Then I made it another week and I would do another. Having itching ill-fitting bras didn’t help my cause. By my third child, one of my BFF’s gave me a few of these and the difference was AMAZING! I was able to comfortably breastfeed her for a full fifteen months. With my first two children I eventually gave up on nursing bras and just wore regular bras and tried to wiggle in and out of them. That was my best option until I discovered these comfortable, soft, well-made little beauties!
http://www.bravadodesigns.com/shop/the-bliss-nursing-bra
5. Infant Wrap
I had the Boba Wrap back when it was the Sleepy Wrap. BOBA CLASSIC WRAP
Some women say their babies don’t like to be wrapped in these things, but my experience was quite the opposite and I wore mine during church, walking through Disney World, even for public speaking situations. I just strapped baby in and kept going.
6. Some kind of baby bouncer
These are great items if you ever want to take a shower again!
Seriously, I would always carry my bouncer into the bathroom with me. I could easily calm baby if he was upset. Not to mention, the warm mist can be a helpful little humidifier too! Here’s a shot of one of my girls fast asleep from the warm bathroom shower in her little bouncer.
After I created this list I realized that these are also some of my top-picks because they are all pretty essential in my sleeping plan too:
http://newbornlove.net/2014/04/16/9-steps-to-get-more-sleep-with-a-newborn-in-the-house/
And I have to thank my girlfriend, who introduced my to the Bravado Bras, but pretty much everything else on the list too! You know who you are! XO
PS-Eventually I trained her not to suck her fingers. When she was in the wrap her arms were strapped in so she reluctantly learned to take a pacifier.
Newborn Love 