This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of UPPAbaby. All opinions are 100% mine.
Now that Gray is 4 months old, we have had a little time to put quite a few baby products to use- and figure out which ones are our favorites! Scott and I registered at Amazon, Pottery Barn, and Nordstrom (vast majority of our registry was on Amazon)- I linked our registries here!
I wanted to include a few of our favorite products below and explain why we love them!
Most Loved Baby Products
UPPAbaby VISTA stroller and UPPAbaby MESA car seat: After researching quite a few different brands and speaking with our parent friends, we ultimately decided on this stroller and car seat. The UPPAbaby MESA car seat is for infants 4-35 lbs. and up to 32 inches in height. It installs in seconds and has a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 5-star rating- which we loved! The adjustable headrest with side impact protection keeps your baby’s head stationary during a side impact collsion and the soft, breathable fabric keeps your baby cool. The car seat easily connects to the UPPAbaby VISTA stroller base- this is how we normally use the stroller! We loved that the stroller could also be configured multiple ways, making travel and running errands with a second (maybe third haha!) child easier. The stroller is lightweight, has puncture-free wheels, and gives your baby a smooth ride. The stroller also comes with a Bassinet- great for newborns and napping babies!- and a Toddler Seat for babies 3 months to 50 pounds. We also bought this travel bag, but haven’t used it yet!
Snoo Bassinet: This is the bassinet Gray slept in from birth until 4.5 months old (he just recently moved into the crib yay!). I actually wrote a very detailed blog post here about this bassinet, our thoughts, and Gray’s sleeping schedule- if you’re interested in reading more/on the fence about buying it, I share lots of information in that post!
Hatch Baby Rest Sound Machine & Night Light: We love that we can control this device from our phones and customize the color, brightness, sound, and volume level. You can program it to turn on automatically, manually tap it, or adjust settings via your phone- which means no disrupting a sleeping baby! We have been using this in Gray’s nursery every night! We have this portable sound machine for when we are out and it works great! *Side note- we also brought this one to the hospital and turned it on at night so we wouldn’t hear all the hospital sounds and could get a *little* sleep.
Hatch Baby Changing Pad & Scale: Okay, I know- this one is a little pricey and isn’t necessarily a must….but, we love being able to track and record Gray’s weight with this changing pad. In the beginning, Gray lost quite a bit of weight and we struggled getting him back on track. This device made it so much easier to keep up/record his weights and track the increase over time. I could also weigh Gray before a breastfeeding session and then after to determine how many ounces he was ingesting. So, for our family, this product was great, but honestly I wouldn’t say it is exactly a must for everyone.
Ubbi Diaper Pail: Lots of our parent friends recommended this as it is the most award winning pail on the market. Pros- you don’t need special bags (saves you money!), steel design locks in odor, and there is a childproof lock. I love how sleek the design is too! We haven’t had too many smelly diapers since Gray hasn’t been introduced to solids yet, so I can’t speak to its ability to lock in odors, but so far we are happy with it!
Bath Sponge: We actually registered for this tub, but we felt like Gray looked so uncomfortable in it when he was a newborn! The seat part just didn’t seem very comfortable and it is hard. My mom recommended this as she said she used it when we were babies- and we love it! So simple too! We just sit it in our bathtub, fill the tub with a little water, and lay Gray down. He loves it and it seems very comfy. Easy clean up too- just hang to dry!
DockATot and Snuggle Me Organic: We have both loungers (and they are both GREAT products), but ultimately we are bigger fans of the DockATot. When Gray was a newborn, I appreciated that the Snuggle Me seemed to cocoon him better- especially on the sides. The DockATot almost seemed too big for a little newborn. However, the DockATot’s bottom is cushioned whereas the Snuggle Me is not. This means that you can put the DockATot on a hard surface and it is still soft and comfy, whereas the Snuggle Me would not be- I shared a video comparison on my Baby Must Haves Instagram highlight!
mamaRoo: Hands down one of our absolute favorites! When Gray was a newborn he slept in this a lot during the day and now it is one of his fave places to hang out! *Important: get this insert for your newborn! I know some babies don’t like this product, but Gray loves it so that means we do too haha! The settings include 5 different motions and speeds + sound options. We are waiting for them to come out with an adult version haha!
Floor Seat: Great once your baby has head control and is able to sit supported. We sit Gray in this a lot and he loves looking (and now holding) the toys! We also plan on having Gray sit in this once we start solid foods! Big pro- you can take off the seat material and throw it in the wash for easy clean up!
Baby Monitor: We ended up getting this baby monitor and have been pleased with it, however if I had to do it over again, I would likely get this monitor. Initially, we didn’t have a monitor for the first month because Gray was in our room basically at all times. Once we decided to move him into his own room at 6 weeks, we knew we needed to get something. Scott ended up ordering the Motorola one because he thought it looked like a good deal. Ultimately, it gets the job done- we can see and hear Gray which is really all you need. However, our monitor has never been in color (even when the room is brightly lit) and the temp is always wrong. We keep the monitor on our nightstand at night to charge and it will last about 12 hours before the battery dies. A few of our friends have the Nanit monitor and love it- definitely seems top of the line! We will definitely be considering it for our next child.
Owlet: Probably my #1 must have- nothing has given Scott and I more peace of mind than this thing. Basically, it is a little sock that you put on your baby to track their heart rate and oxygen levels. We use this every single night and it makes me feel so much better knowing that Gray is okay! If his heart rate or oxygen level drop below a certain parameter, Scott and I would be alerted and could intervene. It’s super easy to use too!
Humidifier: Definite must have! Not only can humidifiers help alleviate congestion, but they are also help with dry skin by adding moisture into the air. I loved the design of this one and have it sitting on Gray’s dresser. This product also acts as a diffuser and nightlight which is an added bonus!
Nose Frieda: Every parent needs this! I preached about this product as a nurse practitioner! Great for congested babies or to get a big booger out- all you do is place one end in your baby’s nose and the other end in your mouth and suck! I know, kinda weird and gross, but don’t worry- nothing goes into your mouth! This product works wonders and your baby will be so happy (and able to breathe!) after!
Mattress: We opted for this mattress as it is 100% breathable and reduces suffocation risk. No other baby mattress is like it on the market! I also like that the entire mattress is washable- the cover can go in the washing machine and the inner core material can be hosed down in the tub/shower. We also bought the Newton waterproof mattress cover and then I have a simple, white, cotton sheet overtop. If you purchase from the retailer’s site here, you can get $50 off with ALEXA50.
Nail Trimmer: If you’re like me, you may be terrified to cut your baby’s nails. I knew I had to have these nail trimmers, as they make trimming your baby’s nails a breeze- and not scary! The little pads gently file their nails, but if it touches their skin it isn’t painful.
Bibs/Burp Cloths: Obviously, these are a must for feeding and drooling! These are my favorite ones- they are on Amazon Prime and come in the cutest colors/prints. I also love that the bib’s inner lining is a super soft material. Sometime’s I just put these on Gray because I think they look cute with his outfit- not necessarily because he is feeding haha!
Bottles: Obviously, this can vary baby to baby, but we really like these Comotomo bottles. They are most breast-like and Gray never had any feeding issues with them. They come in 5 and 8 oz sizes with 2 different nipple flows.
Bottle Warmer and Drying Rack: Since Gray’s bottles have a slightly wide shape, this was the only bottle warmer that they seemed to fit into. The bottle warmer is easy to use- just add a little water, drop the bottle in, and press the button. Warming the bottle takes a few minutes, but it’s the fastest method we found. The drying rack is also a great place to store all of Gray’s bottle parts- it fits a lot!
Brezza: This is a formula dispensing machine- think a coffee maker for babies. I got this product about a week ago and have been pleasantly happy. Basically you fill the water compartment, add your formula to the top, and with the press of a button, the two mix and warm formula is dispensed. *Disclaimer: there have been lawsuits against this product for incorrectly dispensing formula. Just want you guys to know! We did our research and conducted our own test here at the house to confirm that the correct amount of formula was being dispensed- which it was. You also have to clean this machine daily (takes two seconds) and deep clean it monthly. I think this is a time-saving product for babies taking formula, but not a must.
Pacifier: Again, this is certainly your baby’s preference, but Gray loves these pacifiers more than any other! We have the fawn, lamb, and elephant and I think they are so cute!
Solly Wrap: I absolutely love this wrap! The first time you use may feel a little confusing, but once you get the wrap down it is easy! Gray always feels fully supported in this and I love being able to carry him while still being able to use both my arms. I recently ordered this color!
Diaper Bag: I have this diaper bag in both the large and small size. I absolutely love that I can carry it or wear as a backpack. It is so functional and has so much room- plus it looks so chic! I can easily fit all of my baby necessities- and there is plenty of extra room!
Although Gray is still little, we do have a few items to help stimulate him and help him develop! In the beginning, we really focused on showing him high contrast photos (black and white), but now he loves watching things move! We use and love every one of these products! I linked all of them below!
Baby Clothes
Last but not least, I wanted to share a few of my favorite retailers for baby clothes. I honestly feel like I am a little all over the place with Gray’s style- sometimes he is a preppy, Southern boy (seersucker items) and other times I feel like he is more trendy (joggers, Adidas sneakers). These are my favorite places to shop:
- Rylee + Cru
- Baby Gap
- Target
- Carter’s
- Little Bipsy
- H&M Kids
- Zara Kids
- Angel Dear
- Petitami
- The Proper Peony
- Kissy Kissy
- Baby Breez: use ALEXA10 for 10% off your order!
- Livly Clothing
- The Beaufort Bonnet Company
I hope this post was helpful! I know how confusing registering for baby items can be and believe me- there were many products we ended up returning/not needing. Feel free to send this post to any of your expecting mama friends too!
As always, thank you for reading! XO- A
