Most helpful item?

[Nillarilla]

What was the most helpful thing/item in your baby's first year of life?
I'm trying to buy a shower gift for my best friend and I just can't decide.

[SeekingJoy]

What has she registered for? The most necessary was diapers, but if your bff doesn't cloth diaper that isn't the same really. Also on my short list was a carrier, swaddling blankets and a few really nice wooden toys.

[Sharlla]

Boppy and Hotsling are the most 2 helpful baby items I have.

[Xavismom]

I'll second that, and say boppy.

I had a really hard time breastfeeding without it at first. I dont need it now, but I still use it sometimes, and its usefull for other things as well. DS hated tummy time at first unless it was in the boppy, he didnt like being flat out, he wanted to be elevated.

[possum]

Hands down, it was a baby carrier. In particular, I loved a wrap, but a good hands-free carrier is a must, IMO.
Melinda

[crunchy_mommy]

Baby wrap. Cloth diapers. Burp cloths.

Yup, that sums up our first year!

[BetsyS]

I also loved a bouncy seat (the kind that isn't that expensive, has the baby semi-reclined and vibrates/bounces). It was heaven sent for taking showers!

[Sharlla]

Originally Posted by crunchy_mommy

Baby wrap. Cloth diapers. Burp cloths.

Yup, that sums up our first year!

I went a little overboard on the burb cloths and bought 10 receiving blankets. I only use one of them LOL

[Sharlla]

Originally Posted by BetsyS

I also loved a bouncy seat (the kind that isn't that expensive, has the baby semi-reclined and vibrates/bounces). It was heaven sent for taking showers!

My bouncy has become a cat bed LOL it's not uncommon to find 3 cats laying on it, and sometimes a puppy too. I got really nice one basically thrown in with my swing that I bought on CL. I love my swing though. Have you considered getting a shower sling? Panda loves taking showers with us.

[j_p_i]

Definitely a baby carrier! This was essential for the early baby days.

[PNCTink]

It was also my baby carrier, for both DC. Other than that it was swaddlers, but I did appreciate the larger clothes people bought. We had a plethora of NB and 3-6 months, but after that it was slim pickins and the 2-3 outfits I had for 9 months saved the day!

[jess5377]

1. Exercise Ball - not for her to exercise on, but to sit and bounce on while holding/wearing the baby. Nothing soothes our kiddo faster than a little bouncing action. The best for moms who are tired of standing and bouncing.

2. Baby carrier - I'm a wrap and Ergo fan.

3. $10 Camelbak water bottle - the kind with the bite-valve, you can drop it, leave it lying on the bed, pick it up with your toes, pick it up with your mouth, drink hands free and it won't ever spill. If you've ever been mid-nurse and about to keel over from thirst, you know how killer this is. Plus, it's 1-litre, so I know how much water I'm drinking in a day.

[crunchy_mommy]

Originally Posted by Sharlla

I went a little overboard on the burb cloths and bought 10 receiving blankets. I only use one of them LOL

LOL we went through 15-20 burp cloths a day. NO JOKE. And that was with reusing each a few times 'til it got too gross!

[tzs]

i'm going to agree on the sling...but let her choose. that was the best gift, the offer to buy a sling.

also the swaddling blankets, i still use them and she's 5 months.

small blanket for stroller/car seat/cuddling. i would have hated having to buy those things for myself

newborn plain onesies! you always need. and baby socks. nobody gives you these basics and it's pretty much all you need for the first few weeks.


bummers....
burb cloths i returned them all.....i just don't get it.

and boppy i used like twice, pillows were just more convenient. but i have a friend who uses hers all the time.

[BetsyS]

Originally Posted by Sharlla

. I love my swing though. Have you considered getting a shower sling? Panda loves taking showers with us.

My kids hated swings, so I gave mine away after baby #2. They loved bouncy seats so much that ours broke, and I have to buy a new one for baby #3.

I shower with baby, but I find the dance with wet mama/wet baby/towel to be difficult to get everyone dry before they get cold. Also, it's hard to wash my hair with a baby in my arms without getting the shampoo in their eyes. So, I lay a towel in the bouncy seat just outside the shower. Shower with baby. Put baby in the towel, wrap them up, wash my hair lickety-split, then get out and dry off myself. My dh refers to it as the shower dance. LOL

[BetsyS]

Originally Posted by tzs

newborn plain onesies! you always need. and baby socks. nobody gives you these basics and it's pretty much all you need for the first few weeks.
.

what do you use onesies for? I have tons of these, but I'm contemplating getting rid of them (pregnant with #3), since I never used them with the first 2 babies. I'm curious why they are considered such a staple.

[zenproof]

hmm.

a REALLY NICE HOUSEROBE. for the mama. lol.

honestly - i'm thinking about doing this for a friend for her shower. the baby will get plenty. my most prized item since becoming a mom is a pima cotton robe from JJILL (pure collection) i got from a friend for xmas. because lets face it - especially if its her first - most days i don't ever leave the house. OR MY PJS!

good luck!

[Italiamom]

A carrier has been our most used piece of gear (Moby in the beginning, Ergo now). But as another poster mentioned, they are a personal choice. The offer to buy the carrier of choice would be a wonderful gift.

The only other piece of gear that I felt was a godsend was my breast pump. I had a TON of milk, way way more than DS could drink, and that pump and I became best friends in the first few months. It helped me to build up a stash and saved my poor breasts from many, many painfully engorged hours!

[beebalmmama]

diapers, carrier, bouncy seat. I also appreciated the clothes we got in larger sizes 9+ months. I don't think we really bought him clothes until 24 month sizes and that was nice.

[Sharlla]

Originally Posted by jess5377

1. Exercise Ball - not for her to exercise on, but to sit and bounce on while holding/wearing the baby. Nothing soothes our kiddo faster than a little bouncing action. The best for moms who are tired of standing and bouncing.

Ooh good idea, I'll have to let DH know about that one