Wondering if you’ll really need that wipe warmer or Boppy? We’ve polled our writers to discover which baby items they love most and which ones never escaped their packaging. Some of their answers may surprise you!
The Must Haves
Alanna – a wet wipe warmer, stroller with cup holder for mom, Sofie the Giraffe, an exersaucer and Little People!
Tania – the Ergo carrier, Maclaren Volo, Bugaboo Bee, Jellycat Bashful Bunny and the Going to Bed Book.
Ami – aden+anais swaddle blankets, a swing, the exersaucer, zippered sleepers and a good car seat!
Ai – a two-in-one walker, baby gym mat, diaper rash cream, stroller and leg warmers.
Gina – the Moby wrap, Peanut shell pocket sling and Ergo carrier, swaddling blankets, footed pants, cloth diapers and the Magic Bullet food processor.
Emily – swaddle blankets, a swing, a bouncy seat, activity gym and a great car seat and stroller system.
Madeline – a good nursing pump, the Miracle Blanket, large but lightweight diaper bag, Mustela diaper cream.
Beck – aden+anais swaddle blankets, the Boppy, books, the Medela Swing single pump, green Soothie pacifiers.
Sarah – swaddle blankets, a pack-and-play, books, the Baby Bjorn and nipple cream!
Ana – let’s see… what else that hasn’t been said? The Angelcare baby monitor, a bulb syringe (it’s not pleasant, but it works!), a humidifier and yes, lots of board books!
Better Off Without
Alanna – a baby medical kit, bibs (until she had a boy), stuffed toys, baby oil and an oversized diaper bag.
Tania – a Bumbo chair, some wooden toys, changing table, the Baby Bjorn (too expensive and too heavy) and a swing.
Ami – too many bottles, tons of newborn size clothing, a plastic baby bath, a Bumbo chair and the PeePee TeePee (doesn’t stay on, doesn’t block the pee)!
Ai – a maternity belly belt, massage oil, maternity clothes, stretch mark creams and pregnancy teas.
Gina – a changing table, the Diaper Genie, a swing, newborn shoes and a baby bath tub.
Emily – a wipe warmer, photo frames and other knick-knacks.
Madeline – formula containers, baby booties and hats!
Beck – too many receiving blankets, bottles, infant shoes, special occasion dress shoes and knick-knacks.
Sarah – the Boppy, nursing bras and tank tops, newborn clothing, a breast pump, bumpers and a crib mobile.
Ana – hmm… I second a lot of these! Never used the Boppy, C did not like the swing, and we were out of newborn clothes in the first month! So much we could have done without to be completely honest… sometimes it really is best to wait and buy things as you need them, and as you discover what your baby really loves!
– Ana, Mama Moderne
Wow! I am surprised how many said no to the boppy. My little one LOVED laying/sitting in the boppy…and my hubby liked the extra support when she was tiny! I’m also surprised at the lack of swing-love. We would have never survived the first 5 or 6 months without our swing! Our must-haves: swing, large blankets for swaddling, medela pump-in-style advanced, bottles, playtex binky pacifiers. Our better-off-withouts: too many receiving blankets & burp cloths (yeah…we used them, but we had about 15 times more than were needed), off-brand diapers (never fit right), baby oil, newborn shoes…
Ooh yes! Forgot burp cloths… we still have drawers full of them!
No love for receiving blankets! I loved them, my two girls still like to hold one when they go to sleep, they called them “Night-nights”. And my oldest one carried one everywhere when she was little, just like that characters from Charlie Brown.