You know how I posted about how great I was feeling on Monday? Hilarious! I woke up yesterday feeling awful and wanting to have the baby NOW. I keep reminding myself that 1) I am not technically due until tomorrow so I should probably take a chill pill and 2) the longer he bakes, the more time he has to develop and grow.

In the meantime, I am staring at (and occasionally playing with) all of the wonderful baby gifts we received over the last nine months. When I selected items for our registry, I spent a lot of time researching each item. I probably spent too much time doing this but I had a lot of time on my hands. I highly recommend the book Baby Bargains when creating a registry or for buying any baby item in general. This book is filled with bias free reviews for just about every brand out there. Here are some of the items I am looking forward to using the most:

aden + anais Swaddling Blankets

Made with bamboo and super lightweight for my summer baby. These are so soft that I want to be swaddled in them. Seriously.

UppaBaby Vista Stroller

This was a big ticket item for us that my parents generously purchased. I became a bit stroller obsessed when I found out I was pregnant, asking every mother I saw about her pick. No question, the UppaBaby was the most highly recommended and since we live in a place where we walk a lot, I know it was worth it. Plus, it is incredibly easy to use with one hand and made with eco-friendly materials. Mama like!

Graco SnugRide Car Seat

This was an easy pick: high safety rating and holds a baby up to 35 lbs. or 32″ so we should be able to use this for almost a year. Yes, it is a little heavier than some of the other car seats out there but I am just looking at that as an opportunity to work my arm muscles a bit more. Hopefully I won’t be cursing this decision later.

I have to mention this… people are always talking about how challenging car seats are to install but Reg installed this one perfectly the first time. We had it checked out at the hospital and even the staff was impressed with his skills. He was so proud. It was really adorable!

Planet Wise Diaper Pail Liner

I am pretty excited about these diaper pail liners because I can throw them into the wash with the cloth diapers and I didn’t have to buy a fancy diaper pail.

Snuza Halo Baby Monitor

I am really looking forward to using this product the most because it monitors the baby’s movement. This little device fits in the palm of my hand, clips onto the front of his diaper, and detects even the smallest movements. The Snuza uses vibration stimulation to gently rouse the baby if movement is not detected after 15 seconds. If no movement is detected after 3 vibration attempts, an alarm will sound. I like this because the baby does not need to be in the crib for us to use this monitor like the Angelcare version. He could be taking a nap anywhere. The Snuza was definitely pricey but I can’t really put a price on peace of mind. I have another monitor to use when he moves into his crib but for the those first couple weeks, this one should be perfect.
Humidifier

I love having a humidifier in my own room just because it is so dry in California. Plus, the white noise is highly recommended to simulate noise from the womb and help the baby sleep more soundly.

Petunia Pickle Bottom Diaper Bag

Originally, I did not want one of these Petunia Pickle Bottom Diaper Bags because they are EVERYWHERE. Seriously. But then I picked one up and played around with it. There are so many pockets and it is so comfortable even when full. I practiced using it with my squirmy pug and it was still really comfortable and easy to use. I told you I had way too much time on my hands.

Obviously baby boy is not here yet so I haven’t actually had a chance to use any of these yet. I will provide a follow up review for everything and of course include anything that made a huge difference that is not on this intial list.

Question to the mamas out there: What is your list of must have baby gear?

xo