What is your favorite baby Item

I'm a first time mother-to-be trying to get ready for my little one and was wondering what everyone's favorite item for baby was?  Also are there any common items that were not needed at all?

Thanks!

[SaylornPipersmommy]

No mommy or baby should be without the Pottery Barn chamois blanket!!! I LOVE them!! My girls each have 4 of them and I always get them as baby gifts! Make sure to order one!

http://www.potterybarnkids.com/products/chamois-stroller-blanket/?pkey=bnursery-blankets

[crysandjeff]

Baby gowns.They have elastic to keep the baby's feet in but are open on the bottom for easy diaper changes. I love them!

[jschoch8]

this is the swing im getting and its just the cutest thing and gender neutral

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3090973

[SaylornPipersmommy]

One thing that was a big waste was the little bathtub. I thought I would need it but it takes up so much room and I hate storing it. I only used it once...the rest of the times I put a towel in the bathtub, put a tiny bit of water in (just enough to cover the towel) and washed my baby that way. She loved it and she could move her arms and legs and I didnt have to worry about her slipping.

[julianovak]

ummm, I think my favorite baby item would have to be a musical toy, or anything that moves and entertains baby. and a little bouncer was AWESOME, bc you could go tan outside, or just lay out in the sun while baby either naps or snoozes.... and when they move they bounce the seat themselves by moveing.... she LOVED it!!! small and portable was the key....And another AWesome example, when you want to keep an eye on baby whether in the kitchen or Brushing your teeth, bring the little bouncer with you

[waitn838]

my favorite baby thing is an exersaucer....my son spent hours in that and loved it...im making sure to get this little one her own exersaucer because it was well worth the money

this one is my favorite right now:

http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Einstein-Discover-Activity-Center/dp/B000WJPCFW/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2F2W882CRU15O&colid=1JUUJUDT39J67

[ebll]

I love the portable swing...... you can take upstairs and downstairs and very soothing.....

[Majikat]

Wipe warmer is great cause newborns hate cold wipes on their bum. Play mats with toys that hang over baby is good. Swaddle blanket is great for the newborn stage. Jumparoo was my kids favourite. Vibrating baby char and a swing

[30something13]

A ring sling! I had three little ones and hated carting them around in anything but! I used mine from age a monthe to over two years. My second one was very active and loved to climb and with one older and younger I would of ahd not time for them if I had nto had her in it. It also kept them close to me where ever we went. They are very safe as long as you keep their heads above them from being suffocated. The one that got recalled was literally like a duffle bag for baby and I can not even imagine using one like that. Hostlins, Mie Tie and the Moby wrap are very good ones to use. I still have mine a No Jo Baby Sling that I got with my first and it is wonderful and still going strong.

I never liked all the seats and such to keep baby in, I have seen to many babies that have head molding if put in them more then an hour total throughout the day. I did use a swing that had a cradle motion but not for long and never for naps and such

[LMK12]

I am a mother of 2 and just found out I am preg with #3! I love stain, stain, go away by babyganics. It's a natural stain remover. I also love totally toddler, which is not organic but it's the best. I would say have a million onesies and not too many gowns that can only come off over their heads because if they have a blow-out poo then you have to pull it over thir heads to get it off. I know it's gross but it's the truth. Good luck with your new family!

[Steph_b]

Thanks Ladies!  I have some adding and deleting to do to my baby registry!

[SaylornPipersmommy]

I have never accually used the "Nap Nanny" because they came out a little bit after my last daughter was born but I have heard great things about them and will get one with number three. These seem like they would be great if your baby has a cold and has trouble breathing with all the build-up. Any of you ladies have the Nap Nany and what do you think?

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?sku=17286390

[Limonada]

You never know what your baby is going to like until you try it!

My first son loved his Fisher Price aquarium swing....my second son really dislikes it!

Both of my sons have hated the bouncy chair that vibrates.

The biggest godsend for us is the Winnie the Pooh musical (with lights) crib toy that we got.....it plays a very monotonous tune (choice of 3 different ones plus nature sounds) that play for 10 minutes and lull baby off to sleep!  We used it with our first son and are now using it with DS no. 2.  

[Steph_b]

Thanks for the link.  I've never seen that before but it looks very cool.  I think I will add it to my registry.  My mother keeps telling me I need more things on there anyways....

[Melka76]

The boring thing is an ear thermometer - but my kids always spike fevers in the middle of the night - I could check without waking them.  For fun - a bouncy seat that vibrates!!

[mamaofonetrying42]

IF you are planning on asking for a Swing and a Vibrating chair...I would get a Graco SweetPeace Newborn Soothing Center. Its great, It does both!! Its also has a lot of extra things like it plugs in to the wall no need for batters and you can plug your MP3 player(is that what they are called)  in to it. And if baby is sleeping after a car ride you can place the carseat into it! Its Great!

[mommyagain123]

My children loved the swing.  I just had the aquarium swing that changes directions.  My 2nd daughter actually spent entire nights in it lol.  A great investment.  Also we found that a heat pack was a life saver.  about 10 mins before laying my daughter in her bassinett, my husband would pop the heat pack in the microwave and then put it in the bassinett, then when we would lay her down, the bed would be warm and she wouldn't wake up instantly!!!  One thing that ended up being a waste of money was the changing table.  I'm only 5 ft tall and ours came to my armpits lol.  anyway we just ended up changing the on a towel laid on the sofa most of the time.  congrats and good luck

[leighanne143]

a swing is a def.  I loved the boopy because i could lay him in it when he was sleepy and its great for tummy time when that time comes.

I liked the wipe warmer because it did prevent the baby from crying because of a cool wipe.

[DoulaSummer]

A moby or sleepy wrap!!!  Seriously a godsend.  You get to carry baby directly on your body, you can nurse discretely, and it keeps nosy neighbors from poking and prodding your baby while you are out!!  Both of your hands are free and you baby is snuggled on your chest and gets to hear your heartbeat that they love so much and comforts them.

Unlike carriers and backpack seats, the wraps are VERY versatile and can be used for many positions, is custom for your body (whether curvy or small), no hard parts so no pinching you or baby, and can be used from birth to toddler years.  You will never regret it.  There are great videos online to show you how to use them to create different positions.

[Clysta]

My favorite thing I got is my babyhawk mei tai. They're so amazing. Like the wraps that the poster above put. I can't wait till I can use it.

[feather2e]

My favorite thing was the boppy.I used it all the time, for breastfeeding and for putting around my son.  I do have to say my son hated the swing, I never used mine. For later on, the fisher price healthy care booster seat.I take this everywhere I go to feed him.

[tiredbuthappy]

i could never figure out the moby wrap, or many other wraps. ANd i have a masters degree =) I do have a mei tei and found it to be easier. i WANTED the wraps to work... they just didn't. Don't bother with slings. Both my girls were lost in them.

for my last baby who was colicky- couldn't live without the SwaddleMe. LIFESAVER. and a noise machine. I like the Sleep Sheep because it's portable, but I also bought a noise machine that plugs in. Helps the baby sleep deeper and to fall asleep.

For both of my babies- a good bassinet with a vibrate feature ;) Puts the baby to sleep. I loved the First Years 5 in 1 bassinet because of the vibrate feature and also because it converts into an infant seat. I never used it as an infant seat, but because it has the crotch strap and because it can incline, i was able to prop the infant safely during the night. This was great for my first who was stuffy and crucial for my second who had reflux.

Another must-have is the Bundle Me, especially if the baby will be small enough for an infant seat during the colder months.

Gerber has water-proof pads. These are great for the changing table, under the baby in bassinet, etc... Breatfed babies have a lot of blow-outs, and newborns pee everywhere. It's much easier to swap out the pad than to change a sheet or a changing table pad each time the baby pees all over herself.

Links (the little plastic links that hold toys to strollers)- infants love playing with this simple toy, it's easy to hold, and it's very practical for attaching toys to strollers, high chairs, etc...

I regret the fancy Graco travel system- the stroller is so bulky i leave it at grandma's as an extra. I do love the infant seat- i just would've gotten the infant seat and snap and go, and invested in a good LIGHTER stroller.

I regret the high chair. It's in storage and both my girls, ages 8 months and 2 1/2 years, both have a simple fisher price booster seat that straps to a chair instead.

i loved the exersaucer, cradle swing, and vibrating bouncy seat.

i would've loved the gowns with elastic, but both my girls hated it.

boppies are great for babies learning to sit.

like someone else said, i think the infant tub was a waste of space. in retrospect, i wish i had gotten the mesh sling seat that folds up and can be used in a regular tub.

[Limonada]

Sorry...but what are boppies?  Are they like the Bumbo chairs?  

[JoyRenee]

Temporal Thermometer is more accurate than ear thermometer. You just swipe it across your child's forehead.

Also my Boppy is my best friend! Baby is 6 months old and we own TWO and use them every single day.

[rebekah385]

a boppy is a almost circlular "U" shaped pillow! it's great because when you are breastfeeding it can go around you part way and support the baby, and when the baby is a little bigger it a good support to help them sit up!

[blueeyedtabbycat]

I have 4 children and have never tried a Bundle me untill we had our last. It is the great invention ever created, lol! Trying to put a baby into a snowsuit and then squezzing them into a carseat is impossible and uncomfortable, but the bundle me is so nice becuase your baby never gets over heated when going in and out of store. I wish I would have known about them with my first 3 babies!
And a GOOD swing is always a life saver. Also my daughter is older (almost 9 months) and the only thing I can still use to keep her contained is her jumperoo:~)
Great post~

[rebekah385]

My kid's hated the baby gowns and sack sleep, they move a lot in their sleep and were always getting them tangled around the legs and they would ride up around the hips and butt! I really like bouncy seats for when they are little, if i need to take a shower I just bring them and their bouncy seat in and they can sit there in the room with my while I shower or if I'm cooking dinner I can have them in a safe place and hands free while I am cooking. if you are going to breastfeed i think a good electric pump is the way to go! the manual pumps IMO are a pain in the butt and take forever, even if you only plan on leaving baby once in a while or just want another family member to be able to feed them you definitely want an electric pump. I also like stretchy recieving blankets because you can use them as regular recieving blankets or swaddle the baby with them without actually needing a seperate swaddling blanket!

[feather2e]

I have to agree with that the bundle me and the links are a must also but I  couldnt live without my high chair. I got a reclining one and my son was in this as a newborn while we were eating . He is 18 months now and still in it. There are not many purchase I have used for that long of a period and I just bought another one to use for my daughter who is due in 3 months.  

[mom2ariana]

okay i dont have a baby YET but my friend does and she said the diaper genie elite II diaper pail is amazing and works the best! she said you can't smell a thing! i got one for my daughter's room, and i can't wait to see if she's right.

[LauraB78]

I like my diaper dekor plus, and when Jaxson was a newborn, he LOVED his bouncy/vibrating seat with the toys. I also found my changing table to be so helpful, it had everything I needed in arms reach. Many people say they don't use theirs, but for us, it was a godsend. We both have back issues. We still use ours several times a day and our son is now nearly 16 months old. I also loved the Halo sleep sacks, and I used receiving blankets as burp cloths b/c Jax had reflux and puked constantly and the little burp cloth things were totally useless. A Temporal thermometer is great, and I would also register for Mylicon, Infant motrin, and Infant tylenol. These items are pricey, but you should have them on hand just in case you need them. I would also ask your OB/GYN for a sample of formula to have on hand just in case it's 2AM and your baby is screaming because bf'ing isn't working. I HATED the bottle warmers we bought, and I bought 4 different ones.. I found the "boppy' pillow pretty useless until my son was about 4 months old, it was good to help him sit. My son loved his swing the first 6-7 months as well.. Best of luck!