all things baby
part one
One thing I learned when I was pregnant was that new parents often put together a guide of sorts and label it their Baby Google Doc. In it, a treasure trove of information on what products worked well for them and their baby. I became obsessed with the concept, which is unsurprising to anyone who knows me: I get a distinct high off of researching products, thinking through shopping decisions, and then, best of all, sharing recommendations. It is the point of this newsletter, after all.
I went about collecting as many of these guides as I could get my hands on, from friends, colleagues, friends of friends, and lots of internet research (The Strategist has some great content on baby registry picks, as does one of my all time favorite newsletters, A Thing Or Two, which you have to pay to access, but was the most helpful and comprehensive roundup that I found). I even had a photo album of just screen shots of things I had seen on Instagram from people who I deemed knowledgeable. Some may call me maniacal, I’ll go with informed. Eventually, I compiled all of this information from my various sources on the different options within each category into a master spreadsheet, which is too detailed and overwhelming to share broadly (although if you are really curious, let me know and I will send it to you), and from there, I went about making my final decisions. Most of which, I am pleased to report, were good choices!
Now that Mila is approaching six months, and I have a number of pregnant friends requesting my opinion on what to get, it’s come time for me to create my very own Baby Google Doc. Although in addition to just living on Google, I am sharing it here, too. Given its length, I’ve decided to break it up into a few different parts.
I want to be clear: I am not an authority — I only have one baby, and for most products, have only tried one or two versions. And most importantly: every baby is different, every parent is different, every budget and lifestyle is different. That said, I do want to share what worked for us, and also highlight what other people seem to like in order to give you a sense of what is out there.
So, without further ado, I present to you Part 1 of my Baby Product Picks.
General Advice
It’s tempting to acquire everything that you could possibly need but it’s better to start tight and buy as you figure out what you and your baby like.
We used Babylist for our registry because it allowed us to add items from multiple retailers. Register for the key functional items that you’re sure(ish) you’re going to want, like a stroller, car seat, changing pad, and diaper pail. Include only a small number of cute items like blankets, baby towels and clothes, as these tend to be popular off-registry gifts, and you’ll likely end up with plenty. And I’d leave books off all together — we didn’t have any on there and ended up with an entire library.
Hand-me-downs are ideal! Babies grow out of things so quickly and people like to clear out stuff they no longer need. We also appreciated the sentimentality of using something we knew someone else’s family got good use out of and giving it another chapter. So ask your friends/family/neighbors and see what you can take off their hands.
Places to Put Baby
Sleeper/lounger: Most people get the DockATot, but we like our Askr & Embla sleep pod because it doesn’t have a huge logo. We used this from day one until she was about six weeks old.
Bouncer: The Babybjorn is easily one of our most used, must-have items, and the attachment is good for when they are a little older.
Note: I was strongly considering getting this LEVO rocker which plays a similar role to the bouncer, but decided against it because we were tight on space and it felt redundant to the bouncer. If circumstances were different (e.g. we lived in a house), we may have gotten it.
Activity mat: We have the Lovevery Play Gym and like it a lot. As a rule, we avoid things that play music/light up, and this seems to be the best version that keeps babies engaged without over stimulating. The Skip Hop Baby Play Gym is also a good choice.
Diaper Changing
Changing pad: Highly recommend the Keekaroo changing pad — there are mats out there with fabric covers that are pretty, but not as practical.
Diapers: Coterie makes truly excellent products. We tested out pretty much every brand and they are our favorite. At first though, I’d say Coterie is not worth it because you are going through so many. Most people I know go with Pampers Swaddlers, which were great except that the smell bothered me personally.
Wipes: Again, our favorite are the Coterie ones.
Weighted wipe dispenser: Everyone told me I needed one so we got the OXO version but don’t actually use it. It might be because of the packaging Coterie wipes come in, but it’s not a hassle for us to remove a single wipe without the dispenser. I seem to be a minority in this opinion though.
Note: You can get a dispenser that also heats the wipes, but I’d advise against this because your baby might get acclimated to warm wipes, which you won’t always have access to.
Diaper pail: This is a must-have. We use the Ubbi and like it a lot. We also have the associated bags but you can use any (scented) garbage bag.
Bum brush & diaper rash cream: This is quite handy for applying diaper rash cream and reaching all the crevices.
Travel kit: This one from Storq is helpful to have on the go. We keep ours in the stroller and use it whenever we need to change her outside the apartment. If you live in a house, I can imagine it would be helpful to keep this on a different floor than where your primary changing station is for those early days when you are constantly changing diapers.
Diaper bag: We never got one, and I don’t think you need to either if you have other bags you like that are an appropriate size. But if you feel strongly, this Loeffler Randall and Lewis collab is pretty, or I’ve heard good things about this one from Dagne Dover.
Bathtime
Infant Bath Tub: We have the OXO version. This Skip Hop option is also popular.
Shampoo & body wash: I love the smell of Paloroma products and appreciate that all the ingredients are clean and gentle (I worry less if a little bit gets into her mouth, which it inevitably will).
Towel and washcloths: Our favorite is from Weezie. As for washcloths, I don’t see a reason why you need a “baby version” of this — we have a few (also from Weezie) and they are no different from our regular washcloths, so in the future, I would just use what I already had vs. buying a separate set.
Sleeping Solutions
Bassinet: Everybody has a different opinion on newborn sleeping arrangements, but at first you will probably have them sleep in a bassinet in your room. A friend generously lent us their Snoo, so we used that, although we never actually turned it on as we were afraid Mila would grow dependent on it (and were very fortunate that she was a great sleeper from early on). It is a huge unlock for many parents/babies though. If you are not going the Snoo route, the most popular option seems to be this one from Halo. Another alternative is you could use a Moses Basket — there are all sorts of beautiful options out there, like these from Kind Label.
Crib: This really comes down to your aesthetic and budget. The most important thing is that it transitions to a toddler bed, which most do.
Crib mattress & sheets: Our mattress is from Newton Baby and we love the sheets from Pehr, Biscuit, and Hill House Home.
Monitor: We went with the Nanit Pro and like it, but I’m not convinced we need all the functionality it offers. It does allow us to watch her from wherever we are via an app, which is convenient. We also have the Infant Optics for travel, which is much more basic and limits where you can be, since it doesn’t get signal everywhere, but gets the job done. The Eufy is a popular alternative.
Sound machine: Everyone seems to buy the one from Hatch, so that’s what we got.
Swaddles: I recommend buying a few different types to see what works best for you and your baby. Our favorites were the Halo sleepsacks, the Ollie, and the Miracle. The Miracle was a little harder to figure out at first but a lifesaver once she started breaking out of the others because it secures the arms in place more so than any other option we found. I would also recommend buying one or two of the traditional swaddle blankets, as they are incredibly versatile — great for tummy time, as a cover for when you’re nursing, to drape over the stroller, etc. For these, I liked the ones from Lewis best.
Travel
Pack & Play: Many of our friends recommended the 4moms version so we got it and love it — it’s super easy to set up and pack. You’ll want to get a corresponding sheet, too. The Baby Bjorn version is a popular alternative if you’re looking for a very lightweight version.
Portable white noise machine: This one is great for when you are on the go.
Backseat mirror: This is helpful if you drive a lot, because it allows you to see them without having to turn around.
Okay, that’s a wrap on part one! Stay tuned for the next segment, where I will cover transportation, feeding, clothing, toiletries, and more.
Have a great rest of your week!
Xo, Marichal
P.S. A big thank you to my friend Haylee who has a son one week younger than Mila and was instrumental in helping me put this together!
I agree, amazing!
Amazing compilation of products and ideas 👍👍❤️❤️