Walk into the baby department at any store and you’ll find aisles stretching to infinity filled with “must-have” baby items. There are a few basics most parents agree are necessary, like cribs and car seats. Beyond that, though, what is worth spending the money to have? It will vary from family to family – and all babies have their own preferences and quirks – but here is my own list of the top five most useful baby items.
1.
Arm’s Reach Co-sleeper bassinet. Hold on, those of you opposed to
co-sleeping. Despite the name, this isn’t the same as having your baby in bed
with you. This bit of sleepy time heaven looks similar to a Pack and Play with a
bassinet insert, and it attaches securely to the side of an adult bed. The baby
sleeps in her own safe space next to mom. I love that I don’t have to get out
of bed and feel my way down the hall to comfort my baby in the night, and it is
bliss for breastfeeding moms who can prop themselves up in bed or lie down to
nurse. I love this bassinet so much that when we traveled during the holidays
and the baby slept in a borrowed Pack and Play a few feet from our bed, I was
bummed that I actually had to step out of bed to care for her at night.
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| I love my baby carrier... and so does Abby |
2.
Baby carrier or sling. It’s not easy to set a fussy
baby down, but there are some things that just have to be done every so often,
like washing dishes or doing your hair. The solution is to free up your hands
by wearing your baby. The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends
carrying your baby in one of these while shopping instead of perching the car seat on top of the cart. Besides,
people seem to think it’s extra adorable when you wear your baby while
shopping, and they will smile and compliment you like it’s show-and-tell day at
the grocery store! A word of warning: it may be tempting to tote your baby
around in a carrier all day, but young babies tend to fall asleep when they are
carried like this. If you want to improve the chances of your baby sleeping more
at night, go easy!
3.
Bouncy seat. This is another handy device for
moms who may occasionally want to indulge in such luxuries as eating a meal or
taking a shower. Best of all, it’s portable. Bring it on into the bathroom with
you so you can keep an eye on the baby from the other side of the shower
curtain.
4.
Nursing cover. This is only useful if you breastfeed,
but if you do, it is well worth having. I am more comfortable nursing in public
when I don’t have to worry about accidentally flashing someone. Yes, you can just
cover up with a light blanket, but nursing covers are harder for a baby to pull
off. Covers also are specially made so you can look down and see your baby,
which is something you can’t do as easily with a blanket, and covers come in
cute patterns so you’ll look stylish while feeding your baby.
5.
A good book about sleep. When my oldest child was born, I
didn’t know how to help her develop good habits that would eventually set her
on the path toward sleeping all night, and I was miserable. Someone recommended
Dr. Richard Ferber’s book, Solve Your Child’s Sleep Problems. We followed his technique and
ever since our daughter has been a fantastic sleeper. If you’re not crazy about
Ferber’s method because it involves some crying, find a book that fits your
parenting style. You may like The No-Cry Sleep Solution by attachment parenting author
Elizabeth Pantley. Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Dr. Marc Weissbluth also
offers sleep advice, but more interesting is the research he presents on the effects
of sleep deprivation in children. The one book to avoid is On Becoming Babywise by Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam.
Its method has been associated with failure to thrive in infants. Anyway, do yourself
and your baby a favor and visit the bookstore. Bonus points if you read the
book before your baby is born.
How
about you? What beyond-the-basics baby items are your favorites?
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