Erin Akin Carroll

This post is geared toward the mom, mom-to-be, or someone buying a gift for either of the aforementioned groups.

I have been trying to sit down and write this post since Hudson was a week old and knew that it would take me a long time. So now I’m just getting it done. I apologize. Maybe now my opinions will have a little more credibility because we have a big 4 month old and we’ve used a lot of this stuff.

We didn’t register for all of these items. Some were gifts and we went to buy some of the others (Exersaucer and Jump ‘n Go) as he got bigger and big enough to actually use these items. Our house is so small and we didn’t want unused baby gear to just sit around until he was old enough to use it.

We also didn’t register for personal items like furniture. I just didn’t feel right about someone (other than the grandparents) helping us furnish our nursery.

Graco Sweet Peace Soothing Center Swing

This was one of the items that I was most excited about it. It is an awesome swing. It has some great soothing sounds, it swings in lots of different directions, and it has an iPod docking station built into it. I think the best thing is that it is compatible with the Graco SnugRide car seat that we have. So if Hudson falls asleep in the car, we can take the swing seat out and replace it with the car seat. He can keep on sleeping and never has to be moved.

Now, does he like it? Not so much. When he was a couple of weeks old he spent more time in the swing. Now he doesn’t like to be strapped in to anything, but he tries to wiggle out of the swing, so we have to strap him in. He likes the swing if he is calm. We can’t put him in there to soothe him. I’m thinking that we’ll put it up in the next month or so because he’s pretty big and won’t be using it anymore.

BumbleRide Flyer Stroller

We got an adorable stroller. I’m liking it more and more as time goes on. It’s pretty lightweight (at least to me), it holds the Graco SnugRide car seat, and it’s cute. We got it in red and the inside lining is black and white with cute jacks on it.

Here are my complaints about the stroller. The handle isn’t long enough. I take pretty long steps when I walk and I walk fast. Sometimes my feet hit the stroller wheels. If the handle was longer I would stand farther back and my toes wouldn’t hit. The other complaint is that everything that controls the stroller requires two hands. Hello? I’ve got a baby in one hand. I need both hands to open it, collapse it, and move the handle from front to back. Not because it’s heavy, but because there are two buttons– one on each side of the stroller. I would have to lay the baby down on the ground to collapse the stroller. No.

So I’m thinking a mom didn’t exactly design the BumbleRide. I haven’t practiced with any other strollers, so they may all be like this. I don’t know.

Dr. Brown’s Bottles

We got “starter packs” in pretty much every brand of bottle out there. The best one for us are Dr. Brown’s. They have a nice little filter for excess air to prevent gas bubbles. Hudson likes them, so I like them.

Swaddle Designs Blanket

My baby is addicted to swaddling. We swear by the Happiest Baby on the Block methods because they worked for us instantly. The Swaddle Designs blankets are flannel and have a little give to them. They’re also the perfect size for him. Or they used to be. I think one of the saddest days was when we realized he was too big for those blankets because I wasn’t sure what we were going to do.

Then we found the Woombie and it has been amazing, too.

We’re going to try to transition out of swaddling next week. Hudson is rolling over all the time now and we have to use a sleep positioner to keep him from flipping over during the night. Since he’s swaddled he wouldn’t be able to flip himself back over to his back. So we’ll get him to sleep (hopefully) without being swaddled and remove the positioner. Then he’ll have the option to sleep however he pleases.

Summer Video Monitor

I think my favorite thing that we have for Hudson is the video monitor. It’s expensive, and fortunately some of my family members got it for us. It has been such a lifesaver– or sleep saver– for Todd and me. Babies make noise all the time when they sleep and I would be in his room every five minutes if it weren’t for the video monitor. I can just look at him in his crib to see if I need to go into his room or not. Love it.

It’s mostly helpful because we sleep upstairs and he sleeps downstairs, so going to his room is an event. This monitor is such a great thing!

Graco Pack ‘n Play

This is set up in our bedroom because our room is upstairs and his room is downstairs. Our laundry area is also upstairs. So if I’m working up there I may put him in the pack ‘n play. We have also taken it on trips with us and it is a great portable crib. I know I’m really going to love it when we lower the bassinet setting and use it as a play pen.

Hudson and I have slept in the same room three total nights since he was born. We were both miserable. We were both waking each other up all night long. He sleeps fine in the pack ‘n play, but every time I moved I think he could hear me and he woke up. Every time he moved — or breathed– I would hear him and wake up.

He has been in his crib in his room since the day he came home from the hospital and we’ve only shared a room when we were on vacation. I have so much respect for the mothers that can do it. I think I would be a zombie.

Even Flo Exersaucer

We love our Exersaucer. I chose it because it has three stages and works with the babies from 0-24 months or something crazy like that! It can be a fun place for them to stand and play when they’re walking and pulling up on things. It plays fun songs and Hudson’s little face lights up every time he hears the songs.

Fisher Price Activity Gym

This was a great purchase, too. The colors are bright and there are lots of little animal friends to keep Hudson company when he’s on the floor playing. He’s just now reaching and grabbing things, so this has taken on a whole new level of entertainment for him.

Bumbo Seat

So I know a lot of babies love this, but not mine. And he loves for me to hold him so he’s sitting up. I thought he’d love his Bumbo. But he tries to flip out of it and really can’t stand it. But all babies are different, so just because mine doesn’t like it doesn’t mean anything.

Bottle Warmer and Munchkin Car Bottle Warmer

Both of these were amazing. In the beginning we were having to use hypoallergenic liquid formula and it had to be refrigerated. We used the bottle warmer seven times per day. Love it.

And then when we drove to Florida we used the car bottle warmer a lot. Both of these were worth it.

Boppy Bouncy Seat

This is another one of those items that I think every baby probably needs. Hudson loved his when he was a newborn. He would nap in the bouncy seat and we could swaddle him and put him in there and he’d be fine for an hour or so. He doesn’t like it now– at all. But that’s because he doesn’t like to be still.  The bouncy seat we chose was very soft, but I began to wish that it had more toys on it. The toys aren’t easy to for the baby to grab. Hudson is so active that he needed a little bit more, so we started attaching his own toys to the bar that goes over the top.

Even Flo Jump ‘n Go

This is a new purchase and so far he’s loving it (despite the look on his face)!  He loves to move and grab things, so it’s perfect for this stage in his life. He doesn’t fully understand the, “I’m supposed to jump now” part, but he’s getting the hang of it.

Wipe Warmer

He LOVES this. He can’t stand cold wipes. Maybe I have a high maintenance baby, but he likes his wipes warm. Wouldn’t you? Hee hee…

Baby Bjorn

I never wanted a Baby Bjorn. I didn’t want to WEAR my baby. I was silly.

When we flew a few weeks ago, I realized that without Todd with me on the plane, I was going to struggle trying to manage the baby, our luggage, and the diaper bag. My cousin, fortunately, had an extra Baby Bjorn and Fed Exed it to me so we could fly with it.

It was a lifesaver and Hudson loves it. Now, whenever I need to get something done around the house (cook, vacuum) I put on the Baby Bjorn and he comes along with me. Not every time, of course, because I don’t want him to be dependent on me holding him all the time, but sometimes it’s just a lifesaver.

The other day, I was working in the kitchen and talking to my best friend on the phone. Hudson was in the Baby Bjorn. I walked past a mirror and looked at him, and this is what I saw.  He loves the Baby Bjorn.

I’m sure I left something really important off the list. Our favorite brands of layette and baby clothes are Kissy Kissy and Magnolia Baby. They’re really soft and sweet looking. I also love the Boppy pillow for babies for breast feeding and for propping the baby up on the floor.

Also keep in mind that all babies are different and what mine loves yours may not like at all and vice versa. And my opinion is obviously not a professional opinion. I’m just a mom and can see what my child likes and doesn’t like.

So if you have any questions just let me know!