I've now been a mommy for almost 6 months. How in the world has half of a year already gone by?When people tell you it flies by, they're not kidding! It FLIES BY. It goes way too fast, but you'll never truly understand what I'm saying until you experience it yourself. One minute you're running on little to no sleep, changing diapers and feeding every 2 hours, then the next he's got his own little personality and is trying to crawl. Being a mommy has been the best gift I've ever been given! There are lots of trying times and second guessing yourself, but even when it's hard it puts any day job to shame. :)
With all that being said, there are some things I don't think we could not have survived these first 6 months without. All of these items have come in very handy for us. I'm call this my "Top 10 Baby Must Haves". These are all things that I think every new mom & dad should have in their house.
aden + anais swaddle blankets | layette gowns | nose frida | baby swing: similar | sleep 'n play footed pjs
boppy lounger | diaper genie | aden + anais burpy bibs | boon grass counter top drying rack | bouncer: similar
- aden + anais swaddle blankets THE BEST blankets ever! You cannot have too many of these. They're super soft, light weight, and big! We use at least one of these every day. I always have one in the diaper bag, and these are what we swaddle with every night.
- layette gowns These are great for those first days/weeks at home. They keep baby warm and covered, but also make it easy to change diapers because those first few weeks you change A LOT of diapers! :)
- nose frida I know, it's gross. Let's be completely honest, it's disgusting but this thing works wonders! It's way better than any bulb you will get, even the hospital one. Just close your eyes and suck, that's what I have to do so I don't gag.
- baby swing This was one of the best hand me downs we were given. Yes, it's a complete eye sore for the living room but it was a lifesaver for us! Mac took naps in his swing, and at times it was the only thing that would sooth him and let mommy get things done.
- sleep 'n play footed pjs These are the best baby pjs! Mac still is sleeping in one of these every night. Babies sleep best when they're warm and these help keep them that way. I recommend the zip up ones because it's easier to get back in tact during those middle of the night diaper changes. It can be difficult to snap 10 buttons when you're half asleep yourself. They run great sales on these at Carter's and Target. I don't think you can have too many! Mac lived in these and gowns the first few weeks of his life.
- boppy lounger In my opinion, this was the BEST GIFT WE RECEIVED. Hands down. We could not have lived without this, especially that first week at home. It's different than a regular boppy. It's kind of like a newborn "chair." Mac spent A LOT of time in this. (awake and asleep) The dog loves it too, and now that Mac has outgrown it, it now belongs to her.
- diaper genie This thing is really magical! It traps the smell of stinky diapers, fits nicely in a corner, and isn't an sore in baby's room.
- aden + anais burpy bibs These are my favorite burp clothes. They're super soft and absorbent. They also make into a bib for when baby gets bigger and starts eating food.
- boon grass counter top drying rack This fits lots of bottles and doesn't take up too much counter space. It will hold breast pump parts very well too! It also catches the water in the bottom, so it prevents a wet mess. I also bought a couple of the flowers and twigs that fit in it to hang nipples and bottle tops on.
- bouncer Mac didn't like this until he was about 6 or 7 weeks old, but then it became our best friend. We referred to it as our at home babysitter. I suggest one that vibrates and plays music. Ours does and it was very soothing for him. It was also fun to watch him grow in it because once he figured out he could kick and make it bounce, it then became a game for him.
All of these items can be found at major baby retailers: Buy Buy Baby, Babies R Us, Target, or Walmart. If you've got something to add to this list I'd love to hear it! I am still discovering new things every day when it comes to mommy stuff. Just leave a comment below. I hope you'll share with all your mommy to-be friends!
