Favorite Things

This fall I have 5 baby showers to attend. People often ask me, "What does a new mother need?" A couple of the mothers are a little freaked out by their pending arrival and nervous about whether or not they have everything they need. And I reassure them saying that an infant needs so little: a few sleepers, diapers/wipes, a safe place to sleep, food (formula or breastmilk), and car seat. That's about it for the first month or so, if you have those 5 items you are set (items that you wouldn't already have lingering around the house anyways).

I have compiled a list of essentials and some of my favorite luxuries (read: unnecessaries). This by no means is everything, but it's a start for those of you at a loss about what to get the mother-to-be.

ESSENTIALS:

Long Sleeved Footed, Zip Up Sleepers (3-6 months in size) - Buttons suck, especially when your changing your little one in the middle of the night. The zipper makes for fast, easy middle of the night diaper changes.

Body Bath Sponge - West hated the infant tub, the sling in it was awkward and the tub itself is hard and not comfy for baby. He loves his sponge, you can just put it into your bathtub from the day he's born and fill the tub up to the top of the sponge, it keeps their body warm while you bath them.

A cool mist vaporizer, must have, babies are stuffed up all the time.

Papazan - West lived in this until her was 3 months old, it was perfect for naps, bedtime when he was stuffed up and to keep baby close while you do chores or take a shower.

Pampers Swaddlers Size 1 - the perfect gift to any expecting mother. You can't go wrong with a good diaper. They are the only ones West doesn't leak out of.

My First Years Nail Clippers - I had 3 different kinds of nail clippers and this was by far the easiest to use. I found the easiest times to try to clip your infants nails was while sleeping/napping or while someone is feeding the baby so they are distracted.

LUXURIES:

Pottery Barn Kids Ultimate Diaper Bag - I LOVE this. It might be my favorite baby item and has and will be used more than any other extra. I love all the pocket, that it is neutral so hubby isn't embarrased to carry, it's bigger than a lot of diaper bags out there, the front two pockets are perfect for my cell phone and wallet.

Crib Aquarium - West was mesmorized by this by the time he was 2 weeks old. He still loves it and is now 9 months old. He now pushes it on himself (and has since he was around 5 months old)...sometimes it scares the crap out of us when we hear it come on in the middle of the night through the monitor.

Tiny Teethers - there are Weston's favorite teething rings. They are about 3 inches in diameter. I think he likes these best because they are small and light, they are easy for him to grab and not cumbersome for his mouth.

Diaper Champ - What I love about this is that you can use your own garbage bags, and it keeps the smell contained.

Electric Apirator - this gets all the snot out with minimal work. With a manual it may take you multiple pumps to get it all out, where with this it gets it all with the push of a button. It cracks me up that it plays music, like that's going to distract them from the loud motor and vibrations.