10) Video Baby Monitor
The reason this is so low on my list is simply because my child just turned six months and I just broke down and ordered one. But with the various stages of sleep training and my highly anxious personality, my lack of one caused many sleepless nights. When I let Jackson cry for the presribed ten minutes when breaking the swaddle, I was convinced he had slipped his leg through the crib slats and broken his leg. Irrational, yes, but I know I'm not the only one. Save yourself some stress and shell out the extra money for peace of mind. I got mine on Ebay for $99.
9) Sleep Sack
A perfect bridge between the swaddled to unswaddled stages, this is also the only approved "blanket" for babies under the age of one. Mine has been invaluable and I even bought a second one that was lighter weight because the first one I bought was definitely a bit hot for summer nights in the south. My only complaint is that the one I ordered has "Back is Best" embroidered on the front along with jungle animals. I was a little irritated that the company felt like I need to be lectured about SIDS safety by a giraffe.
8) Bassinet
I never actually bought a bassinet. I borrowed one from a friend, and I'm still kicking myself in the ass for this one. Although Moms on Call preaches "straight to the crib" from the hospital, I used the one I borrowed for the first six weeks. It was easier to have him right next to me after I let him cry for the prescribed 2-5 minutes rather than trek across the house multiple times a night. Later he got sick a few times, and I had already given the bassinet back. I was up multiple time at night administering Children's Tylenol and snuggles. Ultimately I just brought him in bed with me to provide some sort of comfort so he could get the rest he needed.
7) Hyland's Teething Tablets
I put off getting these because my pediatrician said it was best to use something topical (i.e. Baby Orajel) rather than systemic medications. I gave him teethers (both frozen and regular), let him chew on my fingers, and pretty much let him do whatever he wanted to do. Finally it got to the point where he wouldn't eat. My poor little man as so miserable. All he wanted to do was eat and sleep, and his poor gums wouldn't let him. I finally got some of these tablets, and within ten minutes, he was full and sleeping on my lap. Seeing his little content face made me decide to always have these little saviors on hand. I have a bottle in my diaper bag and medicine cabinet at all times.
6) Doorway Bouncer
My little man, like most little men, is extremely hyper active. It got to where I couldn't just sit him in his Bumbo or Exersaucer to entertain him while I was tending to the house. Then I realized I had gotten this bad mamma jamma. I hooked it up, and he started going crazy. He got a running start and rammed anyone walking by, he jumped all around, and he slammed all the buttons until if I heard Yankee Doodle Dandy one more time, I swore to God I would take my own life. That being said, he started being able to put more weight on his feet and understanding how to walk. I now get an hour every morning with him totally entertained and giddy while I do household tasks.
5) Baby Brezza
So I understand that not all parents make their own baby food, and I am not knocking that at all. With my son's food allergies, I'm perhaps a bit overly anal retentive about what goes in his body. Just ask my in-laws, they'll tell you. My father-in-law tells my regularly. Anyhoo, I realized it's pretty easy to make food for Jax. All you have to do is peel it, chop it, press the button, and BAM! You're super mom.
4) Bumbo
Seriously this thing is awesome. It helps babies learn how to sit up, which is my favorite development so far. It also sits them up so that they can see the world while your hands are full doing something else (always in the same room!) Even though my son is at the super active stage where it's easy for him to roll right out of the Bumbo and start crawling(ish) somewhere else, I still use this for feeding. I don't even have a highchair because with the feeding tray, this does the job at this stage.
3) Boppy
Obviously the Boppy is awesome for nursing and that is my main use for it. It is also great for propping your baby, tummy time, and helping your baby sit. Sometimes my husband even uses it as a pillow. I will say this is one of those things you have to get the name brand. I had the off-brand originally and the middle sunk in. Jax would slowly slump down while feeding and get his head in all sorts of ridiculous positions.
2) Sleep Sheep
As part of the Mom's on Call program, you need a while noise machine. The Sleep Sheep has 4 different options: heartbeat, rain, ocean, and ocean with whales. It automatically shuts off after 45 minutes, which is great for not making your baby dependent on white noise for soothing. We love it so much, we even got the travel Sleep Giraffe that has all sorts of jungle noises.
1) SwaddleMe's
Ok, so realize this looks a little ridiculous, but it is a beautiful sight to see a sleepy little baby burrito in the crib every morning. Many parents say, "Oh, my baby didn't like to be swaddled." Bullshit. Just because they break out doesn't mean they don't like it. My son would struggle and grunt and cry, but once he got to sleep, if his arm got loose, he would raise hell. Breaking the swaddle was so hard, but it was way better to go through that at a latter stage than when he was still a newborn trying to get used to everything else. That being said, I was AWFUL at swaddling. I was so "thrifty," that I swore I would figure out how to swaddle. I was not about to spend $20 on a glorified blanket with Velcro. About a week of sleepless nights had me running to Babies'R'Us, cash in hand.
What could you not live without the first six months? Did I forget something? What can I not live without for months six through twelve?
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