5 Baby Items You Can’t Live Without: The recent birth of our baby has reminded me that there are just some baby items you can’t live without. (Okay, you probably *could* live without them, but they sure make things a lot easier as a mom!) As frugal as I am, I would pay virtually any price for these items, because they have been that WORTH IT to me! I hope some of these make your lives easier too.
Angelcare Monitor – $110 – This is not just *ANY* baby monitor. This monitor actually monitors your baby’s movements and an alarm goes off if your baby has not moved in 20 seconds. With our first baby, I was absolutely paranoid about SIDS. I came across this baby monitor and it REALLY helped ease my mind. You put the sensor underneath the crib mattress and if baby stops moving or breathing, this monitor will let you know. I have slept SO much better since we got this. We’re using this with baby #2 now too. This picture is the newer model. It wasn’t available when we bought ours several years ago. I absolutely cannot recommend this enough!
Miracle Blanket – $29.99 – This will swaddle your baby so tightly they will not easily unswaddle themselves! Our kiddos are terrible sleepers (and get out of other blankets we’ve swaddled them in…), and these are the only blankets that allow us to get *some* sleep at night!
Breathable Bumper – $25 – If your baby gets up against the side of the crib, they can still breathe while lying against this. There are tiny little airholes! It keeps baby’s arms & legs from getting caught in the crib slats. This thing ROCKS!
Boppy Pillow – $25 – This pillow is supposedly for nursing, but we have used it for all kinds of things “baby related”. Our 2 year old actually uses it as his pillow to this day.
Graco Swing – $75 – $150 – (or some type of baby swing) – we went with Graco because it was cheaper. Our 1st kiddo HATED the swing, but our new baby loves it! It’s a lifesaver to help me get things done around the house!
ASK THE READERS: You’ve heard my “can’t live without” baby items. What are yours? 🙂
Rachelle R. says
My can’t live without baby item was the hand-held formula mixer/stirer. This item was very hard to find around our town, but luckily very cheap too. We’ve gone through 3 or 4 now and still use it for chocolate milk. No more clumpy formula. My son’s favorite baby items were the boppy newborn lounger (expensive but well worth it) and the bumbo chair (and tray).
kelly lehman says
My girls are now 3 and 7. I still buy all of these items for new moms! I wish someone had told me about some of these items. I found them to be lifesavers:
Snowbalm-for diaper rash. My girls would get really bad rashes and one application of this miraculously healed their bottoms before the next diaper change. (A local Dr. in Bethany Beach, De. created it.) I swear by it!
Boppy-No nursery is complete w/o one.
Hylands Teething Tablets-all natural and work right away
Bouncy Seat- this was my supper saver! When I finally got my girls in one, I was able to eat a meal while it was still hot.
Robeez Suede Pre Walkers- Totally cute, nonslip sole, and they don’t fall off like socks. (Target makes a less expensive copy that is just as good)
Emily says
I don’t have children, I do work pretty extensively with 6 wks to 5 yrs during the daytime. Do babies really move that much at night? Every 20 seconds?
Money Savin' Momma says
It detects the baby’s breathing as movement, so yes. 🙂
Melissa says
After 8 years we are trying for our second- so this is totally starting over. Thanks so much for the list of Baby Items You Can’t Live Without- I am taking notes….
Corrie says
I bought the Angelcare monitor with my first, and LOVE it!! I recommend it to everyone who’s having a baby.
I would say onesies are a must have. Baby gas medicine.
Julia says
The vibrating bouncy seat for sure! All three of my kids love(d) it! It wasn’t very expensive and all three of my kids have used it….so, we have gotten our money’s worth out of it and then some!
kelly lehman says
http://www.snowbalm.com/testimonials/
The above is the Snowbalm site. I really can’t say enough about this stuff! It is available at some Walgreens, RiteAid and Harris Teeter stores. My niece in Baltimore has to get it online so it’s not available everywhere. Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!
Mara says
We’re expecting our 5th next week, so we’ve definitely seen lots of must haves as well as things not worth your time or money.
I agree with Corrie – gas drops for sure! We used WalMart’s brand of Mylicon and it worked great for those times they seemed to be gassy and nothing else soothed them.
Also, binkies (Pacifiers, Nuks, whatever you call them, lol)! They brought such peace when the babies were fussy.
I would say definitely a bouncy seat or swing! It does depend on your baby though, we had a few who adored the swing and one or two who really couldn’t have cared less.
Boppy pillows were handy and we got lots of use out of it, but sold it after #3 because we were moving and weren’t sure if we were having more. Then with #4, I found a regular pillow to work just as well and it was already around the house so it was free. =)
Another thing that we found to be very handy are those little newborn gowns. They make dressing and diapering so much easier (especially in the middle of the night) without having to mess with snaps and buttons.
And, I’ve never tried the ‘Miracle Blanket’ Money Saving Momma, but I agree with you, our kids all slept *soo* much better when we swaddled them! We usually used a large receiving blanket. The smaller ones didn’t work as well though – if my husband wrapped them they weren’t going anywhere! But my technique wasn’t as great and they’d get loose sometimes, lol. I just may have to check this one out. =)
jess says
Wipe warmer! That was great for at night and in the winter (which is when most of our kids were born). I have to agree with the boppy, pacifier and gowns. Also if you have a boy, a squeeze tube of vaseline makes things a lot easier!
Elizabeth W says
I agree with the swing or bouncy seat! Also, this is for moms but my 1st wouldn’t take a bottle or a pacifier so a comfy night gown that buttons or zips in the front. Easy nursing! The teething tablets were a wonderful thing. I wish I could have gotten the sensor thing tho. I still check her every single time she sleeps to make sure she is breathing and she will be 4 next month. I am due with #2 in May and now maby I can get it! Thanks for the list, I needed a few reminders! 🙂
Elizabeth W says
Oh and sleep sacks! Amazing!
Sheridan says
I LOVED my miracle blanket too. 🙂
Elizabeth Stapish says
The MY Brest friend Nursing pillow ( over the boppy/bobby wa snot designed for nursing)
Baby Bliss GRIPE WATER ( A must have for gas and really anything…if they are cryingit fixes it) and all natural
The Itzbeen baby timer … so you are not up at 4 am writing down your feeding time in the dark…awesome.
Earth Mama Angel Baby Shampoo- all natural and SAFE for your baby…non toxic.
Natursuttin orthopedic paci- 100% natural rubber …
oh and the Sleepy Wrap is the best- no stress on your back and they sleep in like 5 min…