Friday Favorites - Baby Essentials

My sweet baby turns 1 tomorrow and it is killing me. K-I-L-L-I-N-G ME! I want to halt time and live with my 11 month old bundle of love forever.

I'm wondering if it will always be like this with the last born? Will I continually resist him growing up? Probably. (Our adopted daughter may actually be our youngest however, the likelihood of her being an infant under 12 months is small so I know I'm saying good-bye to infancy. And I am in mourning.)

In celebration of Parker's birthday I wanted to make today's Friday Favorites a collection of my most loved baby items. I do believe that less-is-more when it comes to parenting, however, through the generous support of friends and family I did acquire quite a collection of baby items. And while they are no necessities they do make life MUCH easier.

The Newborn Stage

My favorite pacifiers are: Wubbanub Infant Plush Toy Pacifier - Monkey. The weight of the animal keeps them in baby's mouth easier and, most importantly, they're easy to find in the car seat while driving, reaching backwards, and trying to plug a screaming infant.

Many friends insisted on the need for Aden by aden + anais 100% Cotton 4 Pack Muslin Swaddle Blanket, Safari Friends with Parker. But I already had a huge basket of swaddlers so I refused to go buy more. Than a friend gave me an Aden + Anais blanket and I became a believer. The perfect weight, amount of stretch, size, etc.

As for baby carrying I love my Moby Wrap Original 100% Cotton Baby Carrier, Black for the first few months and then I'm a huge fan of the ERGObaby Original Baby Carrier, Camel.

And if you have a newborn with reflux, or a baby that refuses to sleep on his back, as my Parker did then the Fisher-Price Deluxe Newborn Rock 'N Play Sleeper, Snugabunny is a LIFESAVER. I would not have slept at-all the first three months without this thing.

3 -6 Months

I know they've been recalled in the past but I love my Bumbo Floor Seat, Blue. Just use it safely and you can't beat it. Especially if, once again, you have a baby that hates being on his/her back. Without the Bumbo I would have had to wear Parker since he hated laying on a play-mat on the floor.

Glass bottles are the best. These ones are perfect for the breastfed baby: Dr. Brown's 3 Count Glass Bottles, 4 Ounce

6- 9 Months

If you're going to make homemade baby food the Beaba Babycook Baby Food Maker is worth every penny. It makes baby food cooking an absolute breeze.

BEST teether - Born Free Silicone Gum Brush Teether

After much trial and error I've decided the NUK Learner Latex Spout BPA Free Cup, Single Pack, 5 Ounce, Colors May Vary is the perfect starter sippy cup.

99.9% of Landon's babyfood was homemade. As a second baby Parker was subjected to quite a bit more purchased foods. However, I never felt bad at all giving him Plum Organics Baby Second Blends, Spinach, Peas and Pear, 4.0-Ounce Pouches (Pack of 12). And since he's not a big veggie eater I still give him these. Especially when traveling.

And, we recently discovered the The Sili Squeeze with Eeeze, Apple Red 6 Oz. for making your own baby food squeezers. Combined with the Beabe Babycook I can easily make Parker healthy snack options that he can feed himself. We will be using this niffy device for months and months to come!

9 - 12 Months

For camping and traveling you can't beat the Chicco Caddy Hook On Chair, Red. It's also great to have around for when friends come over and we need two highchairs.


And for all stages I could definitely not live without my BOB Revolution SE Single Stroller, Orange

or our Graco Pack 'n Play On the Go Travel Playard, Go Green.



Uggg, just writing all this gives me major baby fever!

What are your favorite baby products? Or what product did you think you would love but didn't?