Baby necessities (2 weeks in)

Jamie, this one is for you...

So although we are brand new to this whole parenting thing, we have certainly learned a few things over the past 2 weeks.  The biggest thing that we have learned is that you really don't need all that much stuff early on.  We got so many nice things at our baby showers and I know eventually we will need/use most of them, but right now, there isn't much that we/Max couldn't live without.

That being said, the items that we have found to be necessities are in fact, necessities, at least for us.  Some of them may be considered luxuries, meaning we could live without them,  but we have found them to be extremely helpful these past 2 weeks.  So here is our list of top-ten baby items, 2 weeks in (in no particular order...)


1.  MAM pacifiers- We had really wanted to hold off on giving Max a pacifier but I soon found myself awkwardly walking around with my finger in his mouth and gave in.  Since he had no issues early on with breast feeding, it has not seemed to cause any confusion.  These pacifiers are great, BPA free, and Max loves them.

2.  Aden and Anais Super Stars Swaddle Blankets- These were a gift (thanks Hil!) and I fell in love with them right away.  I love the way they look (such colorful stars), the way they feel (super soft muslin) and the versatility of them (swaddle blankets, burp cloths, stroller cover, etc).  We have 4 of them and I would highly recommend them.

3.  Carter's Receiving Blankets-  We actually have 2 sets of these, 8 total, and I love them all.  The first few nights at home, we swaddled him in these to sleep and they worked really well.  The cotton is very clingy, which allows them to stay put, even with the squirmiest of babies.

4.  Seventh Generation Chlorine Free Diapers-  We have g-diapers and will be switching to them in the next week or so, but since Max was born so small, we have stuck with disposable ones for now.  These diapers have been great, keeping him dry and comfy.  We also use the Seventh Generation wipes, which are also great.

5.  Petunia Pickle Bottom Pistachio Layer Cake Diaper Bag- Ok, so this is clearly not a necessity, but c'mon, this is an amazing diaper bag.  I am usually not a big spender on things, but once I saw this bag, I decided I could make an exception.  I LOVE this bag.  I am using it as my pocketbook too, and probably will continue to do so long after Max is out of diapers.

6.  Halo Micro-fleece SleepSack Swaddle- While Damien is an amazing swaddler, we found that we needed something a little more substantial for Max to sleep in at night.  While in Vermont, we used a friend's Swaddle Me, which worked really well, but we had this SleepSack at home and have been using it ever since.  It is warm, comfortable, and really keeps him wrapped up tight until the morning. 

7.  Gerber Long Sleeve Onesies with Cuffs-  We weren't completely prepared for how small Max would be and we soon found that many of his clothes weren't going to fit him for a long time.  Most of our onesies were short sleeved and although they were good for layering underneath his other outfits, they did nothing to protect his poor face from all of the scratching he does.  Plus, there was no way mittens would be staying on this little guy, so we have found these onesies to be the best, day or night.

8.  Graco SnugRider Infant Car Seat Frame-  There were plenty of travel systems that we longed for at first, mainly the Uppa Baby Vista, but after reading the trusty Baby Bargains book, we decided to hold off on an expensive stroller purchase.  We registered for this frame, which cost less than $60 and we couldn't be happier with it.  It is perfect for now; it works with our Graco SnugRide 35 car seat (which I also love- houndstooth!) and is light and easily portable.

9.  Graco Pack N Play Portable Playard- Rittenhouse- This, too, may not be a true necessity, but when choosing our Pack N Play, we really wanted something that went with the decor in our house.  The black and white design of this one was what really sold us.  But, 2 weeks in, really the fact that it has a changing table is what puts this item on this list for me.  It is where Max gets changed 9 times out of 10, since it is in our living room.  We honestly haven't used the canopy, but the vibration feature is also a key component.

10.  A good pair of socks and a nursing tank-  I couldn't decide between these two items so I am including both of them.  First, a good pair of socks (for the baby) that actually fit.  My brother's girlfriend gave us a great pair, the only ones that actually fit Max and stay on his feet.  Most of his outfits have feet on them, but we do have some great union suits that don't and these socks come in handy.  They are long, narrow and very comfy (this is not a picture of the actual pair but they do look similar).  Second, be sure to get some nursing tanks.  I didn't buy any but a good friend gave me a bunch and I have been living in them (thanks Stacy!)  I wear them under everything so I am able to breast feed where ever I go without having to worry about taking my shirt off completely.

So that is my list, 2 weeks in.  I plan on doing this every once in a while, as Max gets a little older and starts to necessitate more things... Hope this was helpful.