Now that some of the home-build decision-making has come to an end, (AMEN, HALLELUJAH!) I feel like I can fiiiiinally get all of my baby gear rounded up for y’all!!! I am super excited that we officially have a family of four after a rocky journey to finally have another baby, but it’s also definitely GO TIME in terms of nesting and getting all the baby gear ready for baby #2. And for the new parents out there who don’t know where to start, this gear has been WELL tested by yours truly and Leni Bow so I know you’ll love it!! This Friday Finds is alllll about the babies, baby!

1. Milk storage system-If you plan to pump a significant amount, these were the BEST THINGS EVER. Once you start freezing milk, it fills up the freezer SO fast and it’s so hard to keep track of the dates and also have enough storage for the milk itself. These pouches attach straight to most pumps (you need an adapter that comes with it) and they are so easy to heat up and store and saves cleaning so many bottles. I had an entire deep freeze full of these. They were a HUGE help. They come in 4/6/8oz pouches I believe and are the easiest pouches to use of all the brands.
2. Sleep sack–This mama-founded company has such a neat idea behind it (you might’ve heard me bragging about them on Instagram stories recently)–but a weighted pod in the center of this sleep sack makes baby think your hand is on them for comfort. GENIUS.
3. Wipes Container– I tried multiple wipes containers (including the ones that warm the wipes), and this is my favorite. The lid pops up with one finger (sometimes that’s all you have free when you’re elbows deep in diaper matter!) and they are nice looking if you have them stashed around the house like I do.
   
4. Crib Mattress-Just like us, babies need comfort: but more than comfort, this mattress has the added benefit of being extremely breathable and firm, making it a super smart choice when shopping for safety.
5. Happy Mat–It is suuuuuper fun to do baby-led weaning, but also realllllly messy. When it’s time for baby to eat solids and you want to let them exercise a bit of freedom, this plate that will not budge on them is perfect! Super easy to clean, too. 
6. Pacifier- Besides being the freaking CUTEST things ever, Leni permanently had one of these soothers/pacifiers with her at all times. Since it has a stuffed animal attached, it’s a lot harder to lose than a traditional paci that can basically hide in plain sight.
7. Sippy Cup- We actually started using this with Leni before she was a year old so she would be able to give herself something to drink when she had mastered the whole grasping thing–and it worked!! Fingers crossed it goes smoothly with baby boy down the line.
8. Bottles– I know this feels kind of crazy, but babies are SO particular about bottles and this is the one we used and loved with Leni. 
9. Highchair- Before we were able to use Leni’s amazing Learning Tower, I was able to cook and be in the kitchen with her in this high chair and we LOVED it! She gets to be involved and safe, and I’ve got eyes on her while cooking or prepping for the grill–the best!! Plus it’s not a bunch of crazy colors so it actually looks good in the house, which is always a plus.
   
10. Diaper pail-This is TOTALLY one of those items where you never know how useful and important it’s going to be until you need it…it’s not glamorous, but it. is. essential.
11. Stay-put Plate- Remember what I said about baby-led weaning being messy?! This helps with that, too. Plus–how cute is this bamboo bowl set?!
12. Thermometer- I hate to say it, but babies do get sick eventually–and having one of these forehead thermometers made me feel so much better about when to take Leni in to the doctor or not. A thermometer can seriously be a parent’s sanity saver!
13. Dock-a-Tot- I love how snug and safe this makes babies feel! As long as you follow precautions and directions (and your own intuition!) this is a seriously great place for baby to nap. It also made traveling a looooot easier, because you can bring this along when they’re little and they can have a bed basically anywhere!
14. Sound machine-I have about five of these now around my house – they’re the best for keeping the environment consistent if you move around with the babies. And also, we can make noise and she would never know. AND I tried a few different styles but this was my favorite because it’s small enough for traveling so I bring it with me everywhere.
15. Formula Maker-Say it with me: fed. is. best. Feed your baby however you need to, and know that once Leni was about 6 months old we were using this alongside her new love: solid baby foods. This was a GAME. CHANGER. It’s like a Keurig for formula–the perfect temperature and mix every time!
16. Baby Monitor– We have definitely had some trial-and-error with monitors, so we’re excited to have found Nanit for baby boy!! Sleep consultant and monitoring that helps us help him sleep?! YES, please!! Sign. Me. Up.
17. Pack and Play– This is a must for traveling! This is the one I have but there are lots of options, and some have more pieces (like an attachable bassinet, etc. but I didn’t have that on mine)
18. Diaper Bag– I definitely changed diaper bags a lot, but this one was helpful with the different compartments and not having to carry it on my arm or shoulder like a purse: you’ve got enough to lug around, mama!!
19. Stroller– I have an absolute must-have stroller favorite in the Doona USA (convertible car seat into a stroller–SO cool!). It has wheels attached and is my favorite invention ever, especially if you do any traveling. It just simplifies everything! It has a base so it would just replace your car seat completely (we used our other car seat for Tim’s vehicle, so we didn’t have to remove mine all the time). 

What is your favorite baby gear? What would you get off of this list if you could have anything?! I can’t WAIT to share baby updates with y’all soon!

-Eva

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