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Registering for adorable baby items is one of the best parts of pregnancy. You get to carefully select items for the cutest nursery, pick the softest, most adorable clothes you can find, and focus on getting ready to meet your little love.
All of the photos below are clickable links so you can easily find what you need for your baby!
Boppy Newborn Lounger
Our newborn lounger was a lifesaver. It was a safe place for Rae to hang out while I did whatever I needed to do during the day. And it was portable, so it was super easy to move wherever I needed her, and we could easily bring it with us to visit friends and family. Rae loved it!
Boppy Nursing Pillow
Another essential, the Boppy Nursing Pillow was perfect because it transitioned with Rae as she grew. When she was a newborn, it helped support our arms as we held her. When she got a little older, we used it to prop her up. Then it helped her with tummy time, and finally, it became her favorite seat. We ended up putting it on the middle cushion of our couch so that she could sit with us during board games and movie nights!
Car Seat Cover
Having a baby in winter makes you extra cautious about germs. I love our Milkmaid goods car seat cover. It’s easy to use, fits any infant car seat, and covers your baby perfectly when you’re out and about. I also love the bright colors and adorable patterns available on their website!
This one from Amazon is less than $10 and has over 3,400 positive reviews:
White Noise Machine
This tiny white noise machine is a godsend. When Rae hit the 8-month sleep regression hard, and we were consistently exhausted until we bought this little miracle worker. It has a variety of sounds, but Rae prefers the soft ocean waves. The night light is perfect for the nursery. And the noise is just the right level to help your baby stay asleep while you watch TV or talk to your husband in the next room.
Pacifiers
Did you know pacifiers come in different shapes? That was one of the first lessons I learned as a new parent, and it made a huge difference. Rae preferred this shape, and it helped her sleep and kept her calm for the 1st 6 months of her life.
These pacifiers are perfect for 6 to 18 months. She sleeps with one every nap and every night to this day!
Pack and Play
Pack and plays are so useful for newborns all the way up until around age 1. They’re portable, so you can easily bring them anywhere you go. This was especially helpful during the many outdoor visits we had last summer.
The one linked in the picture above has a removable bassinet and changing station for younger babies, and the area in the bottom is perfect for sleeping and playing. I used to drag ours out to the deck all the time so Rae could play on her own terms but be safely contained.
Kick & Play Piano
The sweet music from this toy became the soundtrack to our lives for months, and we loved it. This toy is so great because it grows with your child and has tons of settings you can change as they grow.
Rae started out laying motionless and just watching the lights and hanging toys. As she got a little older, this was her favorite spot for tummy time, and eventually, sitting up and playing the piano (we propped her with the Boppy so she wouldn’t topple backward). Now, she still loves the piano and the elephant is one of her favorite teethers.
This play gym will truly grow with your little one.
Large Pop Up Tent
This summer, we lived in Rae’s sun shade tent. It was easy to bring with us to the park, family’s houses, and the beach (although not on windy days). Plus, it was big enough to fit Rae, me, and a bunch of her toys. She rolled, played, and napped in there for hours at a time!
Sadly, ours broke at the end of the summer after I didn’t fold it up properly, so we will need to get a new one. The one linked in the photo above has over a thousand positive reviews on Amazon, so we plan to get it this spring!
Sunglasses
On a gorgeous summer day, the last thing you want is for the sun to shine directly into your baby’s eyes. I picked up these sunglasses for Rae, and they were perfect! The adjustable strap grew with her (they still fit today), the color is adorable, and the frames were the perfect size for her face.
Sun Hat
A good sun hat is a summer essential for every baby. I love this one’s wide brim, and it’s available in tons of bright colors! Plus, the velcro under the chin breaks away easily so your child won’t get stuck in it.
Travel System
I love our Chicco Viaro travel system. The car seat was secure and easy to use when Rae was still little enough to fit in it.
I still use the stroller all the time, and it works well over pavement and dirt paths. It can get over grass, but it’s a bit of a bumpy ride for a younger baby. It folds up easily, and I can lift it up into my car with one arm while holding Rae with the other.
Baby Wipes
Rae has sensitive skin, so finding the right wipes wasn’t easy for us. These work perfectly for her, and we use them a thousand different ways. They’re great for food spills, smudged make-up, messy faces and hands, or pretty much any other mess. I’ll carry them in my purse for years after Rae is out of diapers!
