Now that I have almost a year of motherhood under my belt, I feel somewhat qualified to talk about some of the products we love and use everyday! There are sooo many, but I have chosen five of our most-used items to talk about. All of them have helped me ease into motherhood and made my life easier in one way or another, while also being so good to my baby. If Lewis could talk, I bet he’d recommend these products, too 🙂  Read about them all below and let me know what your top baby item is in the comments!! 

1. BABY BJORN BOUNCER

This bouncer you guys — magical!! From the first day we brought Lewis home we were using this bouncer, and we are still using it today at 11 months. This item is definitely on the pricier side as far as baby items go, but we have definitely got our money’s worth! There are different levels of reclining, which makes is what makes it great for all stages of baby. When Lew was teeny tiny, we would swaddle him up and put him in the totally reclined setting and he would be 100% content. It’s basically like a laying in mama’s arms 🙂 And now, at almost one, we use the bouncer every morning as I prepare brekky. The little man has fun playing with either the little toy attachment or random kitchen items like a wooden spoon that we give him to explore. This is definitely my top recommendation for must-have baby items!! This bouncer can be found at most online baby stores – but you can buy directly from them as well on babybjorn.com. 

2. MEBIE BABY PAJAMAS

I love this baby brand for so many reasons! One, they are soooo comfy and soft. Two, they are based in Utah, and I love supporting USA companies. Three, they have so many sales throughout the year! I found this company on instagram a few years ago, and when I found out I was pregnant I immediately purchased swaddles, pajamas, and so many cute outfits. And while I recommend any items from Mebie Baby in general, their pajamas in my mind are a must-have! They are so soft and comfortable, and have so much stretch to them which makes them last longer than other pajamas we’ve tried. They also have both full jammies and footless, which is great as babies get older and need more traction when they crawl and walk. They are also the perfect weight to add under other layers in the winter, I’ve never felt like my baby was overheated or too cold when out on walks in his bear suit with these pajamas underneath. Lew has been wearing these to bed basically every night since he was born and I’d like to think he loves them, too 🙂 You can find them at mebiebaby.com – and definitely follow them on Instagram to keep an eye out for sales!

3. SUSTAINABLE BABY CO NURSING PILLOW

I feel like most new moms will agree that a nursing pillow is a must-have, but this one is just a little different! For one, it is made by a woman in Colorado, and again, I love supporting USA made businesses 🙂 She has put so much thought into this pillow, and reading everything on her website is so informational! She has several different versions of this pillow, along with other baby products. I also love that it comes with a little built in pocket for an optional pouch that holds lavender and chamomile flowers, helping calm both you and your babe! The second thing that is great about this pillow is all of the different uses. It was obviously a great nursing pillow, but also helped Lewis with tummy time, gave him support while starting to sit upright, and was useful in containing him on the couch so I knew he wouldn’t roll off when he was really little. Now that Lewis is a bit older, I am looking into getting one of their toddler pillows! Definitely check out their website sustainablebabyco.com and think about this alternative when buying a nursing pillow – so good to support small businesses!!

4. SKIP HOP ACTIVITY CENTER

At about 4.5 months we started using this activity center and it has been a huge help! As with all containers, its obviously just meant to be used for a little everyday, so we just use it when both my husband and I can’t be 100% watching him or we both need our hands, lol! In the beginning, we used to play the songs from the piano feature over and over and Lewis would get a kick out of us dancing, now he actually interacts with the toys the way they were meant to be used (not just teething toys!!), and it is great! The little standing platform is adjustable so it can grow with him and it’s always sad when you have to move it down — babies just grow too fast!! We got this at my baby shower, and it has definitely been a lifesaver!! You can find this guy pretty much anywhere, but we got ours from Target!

• 

• 

5. BABY CARRIERS

Baby carriers are a MUST!  Not only do they allow you to walk and hike and be more flexible with your baby, but they also help with nap time, falling asleep in general, and daily tasks like unloading the dishwasher or grocery shopping when your babies are really little. They also keep your little baby protected and close to your chest, which, for little covid-babies, is very important! We have two carriers, and they are both great! I’ll break them down below!
Sakura Bloom
This carrier was great from the very first day. It is like a tiny cacoon for your baby and is the one we used most until he was like three months. He sat like a little froggy against both my and my husband’s chest, and we still use it now! This company is based in Southern California (do you see a theme here??), and we actually stopped into their showroom when we were on vacation in Oceanside while I was pregnant. The carrier is super adjustable and can be used as both a front and back carrier. Check out their website sakurabloom.com and follow them on instagram for their sample sales that happen a few times a year. Their website also has tutorials on how to put baby in – which is very helpful for first time users!!
Ergobaby
We have the Omni 360 baby carrier from Ergobaby and it has been wonderful! We use this one for more physical activities like hikes, but I’m sure other people use it as their main carrier! It’s a little more complicated to get on, but once you figure it out, it isn’t bad. We also love that babies can face forward in this carrier, so Lewis can take in all the pretty views on our hikes! Again, it is super adjustable so both my husband and I can wear him! You can find these carriers on a lot of sites, but to read up on all of their different style carriers, check out their site, ergobaby.com!
​

Well there you have it! Those are five of my must-have baby items 🙂 Stay tuned for my top five postpartum items, coming soon!! And like I said before, tell me in the comments if you’ve used any of these products or if you have any questions!! 

xx julie renee photo