A few of my favorite things (Baby edition).

With the ho-ho-holidays around the corner, I thought I would share a few of my favorite baby things with everyone. So here they are, by category. No one paid me for any of these. If any of anyone would like to, I would gladly accept a cashier's check or cash.


Eat (FYI, I was a formula mom--evil, boo, hiss):

Dr. Brown's Bottles
I fought buying these to the very end. They just seemed like too much work to me. They aren't. They are super easy and my daughter never had gas pain once using them. Just don't buy the Dr. Brown's drying rack or dishwashing basket. Get the cheap Munchkin's basket instead.You don't need a drying rack at all if your dishwasher is worth its weight.

Munchkin's Formula Separators
These save so much time if you formula feed. Plus, they make on-the-go bottle preparation effortless. Since we did room temperature formula (like in the NICU), all we had to do was mix in a section of formula with a bottle pre-filled with water, swirl and feed. Awesome.

Fischer-Price Rainforest Healthy Care Booster Seat
We live in a loft. This doesn't leave a lot of room for a big high chair. The best feature, to me, is its portability. We have taken this on trips, to grandma's to restaurants, etc.Plus, the removable toy deck is priceless when trying to entertain a baby AND cook.

Bumpkins Bibs
I love these things. They can hold a crapload of food and never leak. They are also easy to wash and cute. I like them better than other pocketed bibs because they are more flexible and mold to the baby's body more than the stiffer ones.

Baby Cubes
I made my own baby food (cheap hippy) and these were the easiest for storing. I only recommend the 2 ounce ones. Before you know it, chubby will be inhaling 16 ounces a meal, so the one ounce cubes don't cut it for long.

Ninja
This thing rocks. You can go from pureeing peas to making mama a margarita in five seconds flat. Who doesn't love that? I use the crap out of mine.


Sleep (For the baby. You will never sleep again.):

Carter's Gowns
Whether you have a boy or a girl, changing a sh*tty diaper at 3 a.m. is just easier when the baby is in a gown. The Carter's ones are way better than the others I have tried. Don't even bother with the Gerber kind!

Aden and Anais Wraps
These are the best swaddling wraps I have used. They are big enough to get a good baby burrito going, but thin enough to not make the baby a sweaty Betty. I bought bamboo ones for my second go around but can't comment on them yet, though they are so soft I want to make sheets out of them!

Fischer-Price Rainforest Mobile
I recommend a crazy mobile over the cutesy ones any day. Babies don't care if it matches the bedding. They care if it is cool. My daughter was enamored with this from day one. Even after the mobile part was removed and it was just a music box, she still loved it.

Taggie
Hideous. Horrible. Totally necessary. My daughter loves her Taggie woobie. She won't touch any of the cuter ones.


Poop (There will be lots and lots of poop.):

Aquaphor
You know how on the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding the dad thinks that putting Windex on something can cure everything from psoriasis to poison ivy? Well, I kind of feel that way about Aquaphor. I use it on diaper rash, burns, cuts, dry skin, pretty much any ailment a baby can have of the skin. It is awesomeness.

Butt Paste
Way better than Desitin. Doesn't smell toxic either. Plus, it is called Butt Paste and I am an eternal 3rd grader.

ONA Block
OMG. This thing will take the dirty diaper smell out of the diaper itself. We have one in the bottom of our diaper genie and it is a freaking miracle.




Play:

Sophie
My daughter almost gnawed the face off of poor Sophie she loved her so much. Great for beginning teething.

OBall Rattle
An awesome toy for babies. It was my daughter's favorite rattle by far.


Misc.:

Wubbanub
Super cute and babies loves them. My daughter liked it because she could "hug" it to hold on to it when she was just a little baby. I loved it because it didn't fall out as much.

City Mini Stroller
I love this stroller. It is lightweight, folds easily and doesn't make you look like a douche when you push it.

Kiddopotamus Posh Pouch
Way better than the J.J. Cole Bundle Me. Full baby winter coverage in a zip.Plus, it covers everything but the face.

Zo-li Backteether
If it weren't for Zo-li backteethers, I might have ripped The Quiet Contemplator's molars out by hand. The Zo-li is perfect to fit back in the back to chew on and has a gag guard so it won't choke babies. When I gave one to TQC, she was instantly happy. So was I.



Books for Mama-to-Be:

12 Hours by 12 Weeks
If I didn't need it for my unborn child, I would have totally sold my unborn child for the information in this book. Awesome for sleep training. The best lesson: there is no bad habit that can't be broken in three to five days (before your will to live does). Also a super quick read (Ie: less than a day).

The Baby Whisperer
Good general baby info. Easy to understand but a long read.

What to Expect the First Year
Not a phenomenal book, but good for general info.

Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy
Funny and informative.


Belly Laughs
Funny and somewhat informative.


Books for Babies:

Dwell Look 
Great for new eyes to focus on.


Dog
Fun and lots of textures for babies, action of toddlers.


Heads
Fun and lots of textures for babies, action of toddlers. 


In My Tree
Adorable and fun.


Peek-a-Boo Forest
Interactive cloth book.