As promised, I wanted to share some of our favorite baby products we found with Gray and are planning to use with baby #2. I have to be honest- when I was pregnant with Gray, I felt very overwhelmed when it came to baby products. I felt like I registered for anything and everything- it was just too much. I also felt like I was heavily influenced to buy certain things that were ‘cool’ and ‘hyped up,’ but in reality we didn’t really love them.
It’s tough because you don’t really know what your baby will like- they may end up liking a particular bottle after you try out 5+ or maybe they hate the swing you spent hundreds of dollars on….truly every baby is different. I tried to keep the list below concise and included only things that we feel very passionate about. I also broke this list down into different categories which hopefully keeps it more organized. I hope this helps any parents out there!
TRANSPORTATION/TRAVEL
- 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!
To convert the stroller for two children, I purchased this Rumble Seat that attaches to the stroller base with these clips. I also bought this ride-along board that can attach to the back of the stroller if Gray wants to stand and ride.
*IMPORTANT* As a side note, we have already transitioned Gray out of the Uppababy Mesa car seat into the Nuna Exec car seat. Again, I did a lot of research and ultimately liked that he could stay in this same carseat until he is old enough/big enough to use a traditional seat belt. This all-in-one car seat cleverly converts from rear- to forward-facing to booster mode and is usable from 5 to 120 lb- this means you could honestly use this one car seat instead of having to upgrade to different ones (rear to forward facing to booster seat). If I would have known about this car seat, I may have considered it from the very beginning with Gray, however one thing I don’t like is that you can’t take it out and click it into a stroller base (like the Uppababy one). You would have to have a completely separate stroller system from this car seat. For us, the Uppababy Mesa works best in the beginning (up to 35 pounds) and the Nuna Exec works during the toddler/kid phase.
Recently when we have traveled, we have actually brought this stroller (its actually my parents and they use it with Gray). It is very lightweight and super easy to maneuver. For two kids, I have heard the the Zoe double stroller is great for travel, but I haven’t done too much research into it.
- Nuna Pack and Play: we have traveled quite a bit and always bring this along. It is super easy to set up and break down and Gray has always slept well in it. We have this travel mattress (highly recommend- it folds up so well!) and use these sheets.
- 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! I used the larger size more with a newborn baby, but now we use the smaller size with Gray since I feel like I don’t need as much.
You can check out these items + more below!
SLEEP/SWADDLES
- Snoo Bassinet: This is the bassinet Gray slept in from birth until 4.5 months old- we transitioned him into a crib at that point in time. 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 or you are on the fence about buying it, I share lots of information in that post!
I do want to quickly touch on the fact that I felt like this was one of the items that I was heavily influenced to purchase- so many people seemed to rave about the Snoo when I was pregnant with Gray, so I thought it was an absolute MUST HAVE. Looking back, I truly think Gray was a pretty good sleeper from day one (and still is!) and he likely would have been just as happy being swaddled laying in a traditional bassinet. With this baby, I am going to use the Snoo, but I am essentially going to leave it off (it will function just as a simple bassinet). Game plan is to swaddle this baby and lay in the Snoo- if this baby isn’t a great sleeper only then will I turn the Snoo on and utilize the sound/rocking movement.
Like I mentioned in my detailed blog post about the Snoo, I was able to get a massive military discount on it which helped A LOT. If you aren’t able to get a discount on it, I would either a) rent it monthly or b) hold off and see how your baby sleeps. If you have a great sleeper than awesome- you saved some money and don’t need the Snoo. If your baby is fussy and not a great sleeper, than I would just rent it as needed. I mean, we ended up only using it for 4ish months, so I can’t really justify purchasing it at full price.
Although the Snoo comes with a built-in swaddle, I did end up buying an Ollie swaddle (they have been so hard to find because the company has had SERIOUS issues with manufacturing and basically hasn’t produced any in months…I found one on Ebay and literally paid and arm and a leg for it haha) and this swaddle to try out. Obviously, you can also swaddle with blankets and we really liked these from Lou Lou and Company with Gray. Personally, I just feel like you can never have enough swaddle options!
- 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 room every night + we bring it while traveling! I already bought a second for the new baby’s room. Speaking of sound machines, I also recommend this portable sound machine for when you are out in public. We also brought it to the hospital when I had Gray and turned it on at night so we wouldn’t hear all the hospital sounds and could get a *little* sleep.
- Baby Monitor: We used this monitor with Gray and have been pretty happy with it overall- we are switching over to this this split-screen version with baby arrives. Pros: You can see and hear clearly, it doesn’t need WIFI to work/doesn’t need to be connected to your phone, easy to travel with, and one full charge lasts about 12 hours. Cons: The temp reading on the one we used with Gray was always incorrect and would read a few degrees higher. Honestly, I wasn’t too concerned about the temp reading, but if that is something you would stress about then maybe this isn’t for you (maybe we just have a defective one?!). I’ll be curious to see what the temp readings say on the split-screen one I purchased.
- Owlet: Probably my #1 must have- nothing gave 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 used this every single night and it made me feel so much better knowing that Gray was 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!
- 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.
You can check out these items + more below!
DIAPERS/WIPES
- Again, 100% personal preference, but we have been using Pampers swaddlers since the day Gray was born with no issue. We recently started buying the 360 FIT ones (as he can remove the diapers with tabs now haha) and we also use these wipes. I prefer this Desitin and can vouch that Gray has never had a diaper rash.
- 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! Overall, we liked this product for Gray, but honestly once we started having some serious poop diapers we would just put them in plastic bags straight outside to the garage can.
You can check out these items + more below!
LOUNGERS/SWINGS
- DockATot and Snuggle Me Organic: We have both loungers and I feel like they are for different ages. The Snuggle Me is perfect for a smaller newborn as it seems to cocoon them better on the sides- overall a more snug fit when you lay the baby down. The Snuggle Me must be placed on a soft surface as the bottom of it is not padded/cushioned. On the other hand, the DockATot doesn’t cocoon a newborn (there is more space on the sides), BUT the bottom of it has a cushion. Personally, I like the Snuggle Me more during the first few months of life and the DockATot when older.
- mamaRoo Swing: Hands down one of our absolute favorites! When Gray was a newborn he slept in this a lot during the day and it remained one of his favorite places to lounge! *Important: get this insert for your newborn! I know some babies don’t like this product, but Gray loved it and we are hoping this baby does too. The settings include 5 different motions and speeds + sound options. We are waiting for them to come out with an adult version haha!
- Baby Bjorn Bouncer: Used this with Gray sometimes…he liked the swing better, but sometimes we would lay him in this and bounce him around. Another option if your little one doesn’t like swings.
You can check out these items + more below!
FEEDING
- Bottles: Obviously, this varies baby to baby, but Gray preferred these Comotomo bottles. We bottle fed pumped breast milk from 1 month old to 5 months old (I talk more about why exclusively pumped here). Once Gray was 5ish months old, I weaned myself from pumping and we introduced him to the HiPP Organic formula– which he THRIVED on!
As far as my feeding plan with this baby, I do plan on nursing for as long as possible. Nursing was a struggle with Gray and even though I met with lactation consultants, no one could really tell me why I was struggling or why Gray was slow to gain weight. The entire experience was very stressful, but I am hopeful that things may be easier this time around. I am going into this with a positive mindset, so we will see what happens!
With Gray, I exclusively pumped from the time he was 1 month to about 5 months. Although I had a simple Medela pump, the lactation consultant recommended that I rent a hospital-grade pump (Medela Symphony) from our local hospital as it was more powerful. I used that pump the most while at home, but if I was out/on the go, I would use my simple Medela Pump…I think it was the Freestyle?! I know that I got it from this website– you input your insurance information and it shows you what pumps are covered. Such a great resource if you want to check out breast pumps! I actually just submitted my insurance information to that website today to see if I am eligible for another pump – lord knows I need an upgrade (plus I am missing so many parts) haha! I am also interested in possibly getting the Elvie pump (based on rave reviews), but my main focus will be nursing first, so I don’t feel in a rush to purchase a pump.
- Nursing Pillow: Last time around, I just used pillows stuffed around me when nursing Gray, but I bought this one per your recs! The My Breast Friend pillow has great reviews, so I will let you know how it goes!
- Haakaa Breast Pump: a must have if nursing! While you are nursing on one side, attach this manual great pump to your other breast and it will catch any leaking milk…yes, your breasts will leak. This allows you to save as much breastmilk as possible instead of it leaking into your bra.
- Bottle Warmer and Drying Rack: Since Gray’s bottles had 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 was also a great place to store all of Gray’s bottle parts- it fits a lot! We also used this stand for drying smaller pieces and this bottle cleaning brush set.
- Brezza: This is a formula dispensing machine- think a coffee maker for babies. 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.
- Sterilizer: Automatically sterilizes and dries bottles, pump parts and other accessories in 1 easy step – saving you time. Definitely a must have! We also have this portable sterilizer which is great for dropped pacifiers when you are out! This rack is also great to use when washing baby items in the dishwasher.
- Bibs/Burp Cloths: Obviously, these are a must for feeding and drooling! These were my favorite ones for Gray- 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. I also purchased these for baby- they are more simple and get the job done.
- Floor Seat: Great once your baby has head control and is able to sit supported. We sat Gray in this a lot and even started feeding him solids while sitting in this chair. Big pro- you can take off the seat material and throw it in the wash for easy clean up!
- High Chair: not something you need immediately, but this is the one that we use. It is a little futuristic looking, but we love it! I did quite a bit of research on high chairs and this one had rave reviews. Can be used from 6 months up to 300+ pounds (converts to chair) which we thought was cool!
- Pacifier: Again, this is certainly your baby’s preference, but Gray loved these!
All of these items + more linked below!
BATH TIME
- I included a note below, but we hated this bath tub we used with Gray. Maybe it was just us, but we felt like the surface was way too hard, so this time around we will be using the Angelcare baby bath support (per your recs). I am a little concerned it may be a bit too hard of a surface as well, so I may end up purchasing something like this for the newborn stage.
- Bath Set: highly recommend this set! The kneeler and arm rest make giving Gray a bath a breeze!
- We use these washcloths (so soft!) and I really like the Honest Company and Hello Bello bath products.
I included all of these items + more below!
HEALTH & SAFETY
- 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!
- Baby Basics Kit: Absolutely love this brand! Kit includes NoseFrida (great for stuffy noses), NailFrida, Windi (great for gas!), and the DermaFrida (perfect for babies with cradle cap/dry scalp). Highly recommend this brand and their products for mom and baby!
- 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.
- 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.
- We used the Wellements brand and loved this gripe water when Gray was fussy, vitamin D drops, and teething oil once Gray started teething. All organic and preservative-free!
I included all of these items + more below!
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WRAPS/CARRIERS
- Solly Wrap: I absolutely loved these wraps! The first time you use may feel a little confusing, but once you get the wrap down it is easy! Gray always felt fully supported in this and I loved being able to carry him while still being able to use both my arms. These wraps can be used up to 25 pounds. I liked using this wrap more at home where I could watch myself ‘wrapping’ it on me in a mirror- wasn’t my favorite to use in public.
- Artipoppe Carrier: Definitely a splurge, but WOW these carriers are gorgeous! The best colors and prints + super easy to use (versus a wrap which can be so confusing the first few times!). The Zeitgeist Baby Carrier has padding and buckles built in for quick, simple assembly. This is a beautiful option for parents who enjoy the flexibility of a wrap carrier but desire more structure – plus, there is no need to learn any of the tying techniques you would need for a traditional baby wrap. Liked this more for when we were out/traveling because it is so easy to put on. Can be used in a child up to 45 lbs and baby can be worn on your front or back.
- Baby Bjorn Carrier: this is the carrier Scott preferred as it was fairly simple and more ‘manly’ in his opinion. Honestly, we didn’t use this carrier often (I think Scott only used it 3 times), but it’s a great option and Scott had no complaints! Personally, for us, I was more of the ‘baby-wearer’ versus Scott…and I preferred it that way!
BOOKS FOR PARENTS
These are the books that I purchased while pregnant with Gray that I found to be helpful during the newborn period. Highly recommend!
- Moms on Call: Everything that modern parents need to know about caring for babies in the first 6 months, including: step by step guidelines for getting babies on a routine hour by hour schedule at a glance; feeding instructions for breast, bottle, or both; what symptoms warrant a trip to the emergency room; how to get your baby to sleep all night so you can too; plus much more.
- Womanly Art of Breastfeeding: Lots of great information about nursing with tips and tricks!
PLAYTIME
These are things that Gray loved (most of which we still have) and are planning on using with baby #2! Everything from floor mats to car seat toys- just click on the items below and it will show you full product info!
ITEMS WE DIDN’T LOVE/NEED
- Hatch Baby Changing Pad & Scale: Definitely something I thought I just had to have, but in reality it’s an overpriced scale. Personally, we never used a diaper pad with Gray- we would just change him on our bed, couch, his crib, etc. We actually had this diaper pad on the dresser in the nursery and it really was just too high for me to comfortably change a diaper from. The scale feature is nice, especially if you are closely monitoring a baby’s weight, but I feel like you could also calculate baby’s weight by weighing you holding baby and then weight yourself and subtract that number to give you baby’s weight.
- We purchased this bath tub for Gray, but we felt like he looked so uncomfortable in it when he was a newborn! The seat part just didn’t seem very comfortable and it was hard. My mom recommended this sponge as she said she used it when we were babies- and we loved it! So simple too! We just put it in our bathtub, filled the tub with a little water, and laid Gray down. He loves it and it seems very comfy. Easy clean up too- just hang to dry! This time around, I asked you guys what your favorite baby bathtub was and this Angelcare baby bath support was the top answer. I bought this for baby, but am a little concerned it may be a bit too hard of a surface?! We are just going to see how it goes!
Baby Clothes
Last but not least, I wanted to share a few of my favorite retailers for baby clothes. Obviously, I only have experience with boy clothes and I honestly felt like I was a little all over the place with Gray’s style- sometimes he was a preppy, Southern boy (seersucker items) and other times I felt like he was more trendy (joggers, Adidas sneakers). I definitely felt like it was more difficult to dress a newborn boy, but now I LOVE it… so much easier and I can just put him in shorts and a tee! Some of my favorite places to shop for little ones:
- Rylee + Cru
- Spearmint Love
- Lou Lou and Company: Gray lived in these knotted gowns the first few weeks- baby 2 will definitely be in these too!
- Baby Gap
- Target
- Carter’s
- Little Bipsy
- H&M Kids
- Zara Kids
- Angel Dear
- Petitami
- The Proper Peony
- Kissy Kissy
- Baby Breez:
- Livly Clothing
- The Beaufort Bonnet Company
Okay…. I’m done! Told you guys this would be a long one! 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. Drop any questions below and feel free to send this post to any of your expecting mama friends too!
As always, thank you for reading! XO- A
ALEXA! This is so so helpful!! 😍 Thank you for taking the time to make this post! I added a handful of these to my list – especially some of the baby clothing stores!
So glad this helped! Sorry it was so long haha!