Tina's Top Picks for Baby (0-3 mo)

Selecting items to put on your baby registry is such an overwhelming experience for first-time moms. First, you select all the things that the baby NEEDS (crib, car seat, diapers, etc). That's the easy part! Then comes what you would like to have. I made a list of everything I would like to have and then started researching reviews for the best brand/kind there was of that item. Then, which one of the highest review was the least expensive? That's how I decided on everything for our daughter.

I have compiled a list of baby items that were NOT necessities but made life a lot easier with our daughter. I am so thankful we did get these items!

 1. BRIGHT STARTS BOUNCY CHAIR When we first brought our daughter home, we found out quickly that she would only sleep at an incline for the first several weeks. So, we let her sleep in this bouncy chair the first several weeks. CLICK HERE

• She seemed so cozy in this chair and I owe that to the attachment piece that contours the baby's body. This piece also comes off easily once the baby gets too big for it.
•  It also has a vibration switch and musical switch. It operates off of batteries.
• When she was awake, I would pull the 'cover' down so that the bird and flower entertained her. This was the first thing she ever 'batted' at. When she slept, I pushed the 'cover' above her head. This piece can also be removed easily.
• It also has two different incline adjustments and a comfortable strap. 
• And I should mention, it was extremely easy to put together!  
• This chair is also lightweight and can be moved anywhere in the house easily. When I am home alone with my daughter, I set it on the floor in the bathroom while I take my shower and I know she is ok.

 2. SOUND MACHINE I actually heard of the white noise machine from another parent who said it was a must-have! Since I had never heard of it, I got the cheapest one there was just to try out. I found one for $10 at Target. It's actually a travel one. It's small and runs off of batteries. My daughter sleeps SO GOOD with this machine. It has several different settings (rain, heartbeat, ocean, white noise). It also has a timer (15min, 30 min, 45 min). The heartbeat doesn't do a thing for her but the other noises work wonderfully. The one downside to this is that it is battery operated. I am now looking for a machine that I can plug in since we use it so much. When my husband gets up for work, I have him turn on the machine again so that she doesn't wake while he gets ready. It works wonderful. Definitely a must have!

3. WIPE WARMER This was actually not on my registry, as I didn't see the need. It seemed like such a luxury. My aunt actually gave it to me as a baby shower gift and so I put it on the changing table. My daughter is one that does NOT like having her diaper changed. I think it is mostly because of the cold wipes. But, when I change her upstairs, where she has the wipe warmer, she doesn't create such a fuss. It is easy to use. The directions are easy. It does require a bit of 'upkeep'. You have to wet the pad in the bottom once a week and replace with a new pad every 3 months. I haven't had an issue yet and it's not an inconvenience at all. CLICK HERE

4. NURSING PILLOW (BOPPY) Oh my! I have TWO. One upstairs, one downstairs. AMAZING! AND, it can be used for more than just nursing. CLICK HERE

• Use for nursing. I am still using mine to nurse our 3 1/2 month old daughter. 
• Use for sleeping. Like I said before, our daughter only wanted to sleep at an incline. Once we figured out we could lay her on it, we put the Boppy inside her crib and put her on it to sleep!
• Use for sitting up. Whenever we have her on our bed (which we do when we are getting ready for the day or folding laundry) we put her on it so she can't roll side to side and she can still see us.
• Use as an 'arm-rest'. When our daughter falls asleep against our chest, our arms become tired from holding her, so we put the Boppy underneath our arms and it provides support!

 5. BATHTUB Some parents use a sink, some use a BIG wash-tub. I went ahead and got the Baby Bathtub. Giving her a bath was something that was the most challenging for me. I was so scared to handle her while she was slippery wet. This tub made it easy! CLICK HERE

• It's a 'Grow-with-me' tub. It has a sling for babies 0-3 months. Then, you can remove the sling and insert another piece for when they are 3-6 months. After that, you can use it up until they outgrow it or are ready for the big bathtub. 
• It fits onto a standard kitchen sink. YAY! So, it grips the sink and it won't slide right off the counter.
• It has a drain in the bottom.
• The price isn't bad either!

6. CLOSET ORGANIZER Well, you already know I'm all about organization! I couldn't afford one of those closet 'systems' but I found the next best thing at Babies-R-Us. I absolutely love it. Nothing else to say. It was definitely worth the money. CLICK HERE

7. CLOTH DIAPERS Nope, you have got it all wrong.... my baby dons the disposables! I use cloth diapers as burp cloths. They aren't as expensive as those fancy-shmansy (yep, locate that one in your Webster) burp cloths. Also, bleach is your friend. You can bleach them over and over again. And last but not least- don't throw them out once baby has outgrown  the spit-up phase - use them as dust rags!

8. BREAST PUMP I can not imagine self-pumping. When I found out that was an option, I was like "say whaaaa?" Not this lady. After a week of breastfeeding, my nipples were in so much pain. They needed a chance to recuperate. So, I started pumping and my nipples felt so much better. I pumped for 24 hours and then started nursing again. I waited a few days for the pain to return, once it did, back on the pump I went. So, having the pump definitely saved me from throwing in the towel altogether on breastfeeding because I was definitely at Witt's End. CLICK HERE

9. SLEEP POSITIONER I'm not exactly sure what it is called but I love it. This was a hand-me-down item from my sister's children.

• No risk or rolling over. When we started putting Autumn-Skye down in her crib, I had no worries of her rolling over. 
• The pieces are adjustable so that you can adjust them to your baby's body. 
• It has a slight incline. Just enough to help with reflux issues (which is common in infants)

10. SLEEPER GOWNS These are amazing!! Get them!I have lots. CLICK HERE

• Fold-over mitts to keep baby from scratching face during the night.
• Elastic bottom for easy changing!
• We have the Carter's brand in 0-6 mo. My daughter is nearly 6 months and still wearing the same ones we had her in at birth. They don't outgrow as quickly as footed PJ's.