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For our first I Asked, You Answered I asked the question: What were the most useless baby items you owned?
A reader requested that I also ask the natural follow-up question:
What were the most useful baby items you owned?
The question was posed to my email newsletter subscribers (that’s the only way you get to answer the questions for these posts, so if you haven’t yet, sign up, and make sure to check your inbox after you do. An opt-in email will be sent to you and if you don’t open it, you won’t be put on the list.)
I told them to think outside the (diaper) box. We all know the absolute essentials of having a baby. Obviously they need diapers, clothing, and some form of sustenance, but I wanted to know the other stuff they couldn’t live without.
Here are the answers I received:
“Ergo baby carrier.” -Sharena B.
“I didn’t get one until my third, however the Fisher Price Rock n Play sleeper is a mom’s best friend. It was one thing I purchased (again) when I had my fourth. Oh how I wish I would’ve had it for all my girls!” -Lisa H.
“I love the NoseFrida…the whole idea behind sucking out their snot is pretty gross but it really works!” -Natalie H.
“I made these straps out of scrap fabric; one end with a snap to hook onto highchairs/strollers/shopping carts and the other a pull-through loop to hook onto toys/snack cups/sippy cups. So awesome for a restaurant where you’re picking stuff up all the time or at the store or in the stroller. You won’t lose anything!” -Jackie B.
Such a great idea! Photo used with permission from Jackie B.
“[The Itzbeen Baby Care Timer] was the most useful baby product, especially in those exhausting first few months when I was so terribly exhausted. The ‘how many days has it been since I brushed my hair’ exhausted. Both my kids were slow to gain weight, so I had to be very diligent on the feedings. I was so exhausted that this really did become my mental backup.” -Karen P.
“My most useful item was this portable co-sleeper. I was the breastfeeding mom that (against all advice) let my kid drink until she passed out milk drunk. But when I tried to put her in a crib or bassinet she would instantly wake up. With this co-sleeper I could stay skin-to-skin while moving her so she stayed asleep. So this thing saved my sanity and the best part is it was a PIF (pay-it-forward) gift from another mama so it was free.” -Angie B.
What baby items did you find essential?
Kristen says
For me the Ergo, and a white noise machine. Totally kept my dog from waking baby and when when cried the other wouldn’t wake at night! Great post idea!
Lauren says
We still use our white noise machines! The only problem is if we go away overnight and forget them, it’s really hard to sleep in a silent room!
Janine Huldie says
For me (at least for my second daughter) it was the swaddle all the way. It was like magic as she would fall asleep pretty much once the thing was fastened closed!
Lauren says
I got this thing called a woombie for my youngest. It was like a sleepsack without arms, so they’re all swaddled up inside it, feeling womb-like. Nope. She hated it, haha. All my kids liked having their arms free. I tried to swaddle them, but eventually did a modified swaddle so they could put their arms over their heads.
Susanne/The Dusty Parachute says
I second the Nose Frida. It’s completely midevil and gross but it works like a charm!
Herchel S says
Mine was the vibrating bouncy seat. I could set the baby in it while I folded laundry and she would happily drowsy.
Lauren says
I think the bouncy seat would be mine too. I loved how portable it was. I could bring it with me anywhere in the house and get work done while the baby was right there with me.
Creative Mama Renee says
I second the vibrating bouncy seat! When my son was in the infant stage, it was the only other place besides in arms/wearing him that he would sleep.
Lauren says
Sooo great to have a place like that!! Baby wearing is great, but there are some things that you just can’t do when you have a kid strapped to your chest!
Caryn says
Wow. There were so many. Now, six years later, I can barely remember. My son loved his pacifier aka pinky until he was three-years old, so we couldn’t have lived without that one. He also could be quieted easily with the Baby Einstein videos/music. He was in awe of the changing colors and moving toys all to classical music. So, when he cried at night, if I put on classical music, it soothed him.
Lauren says
Yeah, the pacifier was pretty essential for a couple of our kids too.
Echo says
Mine was my Boppy. That little pillow had so many uses and we used it for a long time!
Lauren says
I liked the Boppy too, especially when they were just learning to sit up. I could set it around them and not worry about them tipping over.