As an expectant and new mom, I have been bombarded with gifts and hand-me-downs for months. It’s been quite the blessing, as we certainly needed the help! But make no mistake that not all baby gifts are created equal. Five particular items have emerged as the essentials that have made life with my infant a heck of a lot easier.
#5 Thermal receiving blankets
I could do without the flannel receiving blankets, but the thermal ones have been a godsend. Large, warm, and stretchy, they are perfect for swaddling, lying baby on the floor, or covering up in the car seat.
#4 A white noise machine
We use the white noise machine in the nursery every time we put our baby down to sleep. Not only is the sound soothing, it also helps drown out any noise around the house to help the baby (or parents, if you have are co-sleeping with a noisy baby) sleep more soundly. Plus, it has become a sleep cue for our little one. The only thing I don’t like about the one have is that it automatically turns off after an hour. I would love it to be able to play for the duration of the slumber, like the Graco machine linked above.
#3 Munchkin bottle warmer
As a bottle-feeding mom, this thing is amazing. It heats bottles in about a minute’s time, which is great when your baby wants food NOW! It can also be used to sterilize pacifiers, nipples, and other small items.
#2 Moby Wrap
I use our Moby every day. It’s so easy to wrap the baby in and carry her around while I do household chores, dance around the living room with her, or trick her into sleeping because, after a while, she can’t resist the comfort!
#1 Fisher-Price Rock ‘n’ Play
We borrowed a Rock ‘n’ Play sleeper from a friend, and we will be investing in our own – if not now, for the babysitter, then definitely for the next baby. This amazing sleeper hugs the baby at an incline, and you can rock it to help soothe your baby to sleep. Our little one isn’t quite ready for the big crib yet, so we put her down for all her naps in this little gadget. You can also fold it up, making it portable for trips or simply moving baby to different rooms around the house.
Keep these in mind for shower gifts or treat yourself – new moms won’t be sorry!
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Disclaimer: I have received no incentive to endorse the products mentioned in this article.