Baby Swag - What to Get & What to Skip

Pregnant? Congrats! 

Looking for gift ideas? I've got you covered. 

In January 2019, I gave birth to my third baby. A perfect little boy. Babies require a LOT of stuff. Some stuff is more necessary than others. Some brands are better than others. It can be super overwhelming to navigate through.  I am here to help. 

In this post, written specifically for my pregnant sister, I will share what I loved, liked and would never buy again. 

Highly Recommended Baby Items

Evenflo Pivot Modular Travel System

I cannot recommend this type of stroller enough. The one I bought in 2019 has been discontinued, but it's essentially the same thing. 

When you first bring baby home, you'll have to go out for doctor's appointments and possibly other errands. It is a MUST to have a stroller you can just snap the infant seat into. The frame will be light enough to get it in and out of the trunk without hurting your healing mommy body. Trust me, you do not want to drag a 20-pound stroller around. 

The other benefit to this one is the seat. This thing will easily turn into a bassinet, perfect for a newborn. The bucket (as a bassinet or seat) will hold up to 50 pounds! So there will be no need for  a new stroller next year. Yay!

---

---

Boppy Nursing Pillow & Covers

This may seem like an extraneous purchase, but it's not! I still use mine. Even if you are not going to nurse, you need this guy. Dads can use it too. It makes snuggling, feeding, holding forever much easier on your arms and back. 

And definitely get more than one cover. Babies are VERY messy. Anything they come in contact with will inevitably get dirty. You will be tired, you will need to use the Boppy again before your laundry has finished. Get at least 2 covers. There are a bunch of options to choose from at Target. 

---

The BEST Burp Cloths 

Yes, there are cuter burp rags on the market. And you'll probably end up with a few, compliments of someone at your baby shower. Those won't be the ones you reach for when your cutie spits out your milk. The Gerber, plain white ones are simply the best. I'd say you need at least 20. I think we had like 3 packs of them. Remy used to spit up ALL THE TIME. I had these babies strategically placed all over my house, in my car, in my diaper bag, in the stroller. Everywhere. 

---

Skip It - Save Your Pennies

The Diaper Genie

I know, everyone registers for these things. Yours truly also - twice! Maybe some of my friends even love them. I do not. 

My biggest issue is the smell. There is NO possible way to keep them from smelling like crap (literally). Even if you only put pee-pee diapers in it, it will eventually make the room smell like urine each time you open it. 

"But Mindy, you can clean it. You can buy those Arm & Hammer smell remover discs." Sure, however, the Arm & Hammer things aren't powerful enough. And who in their right mind has time to scrub down the inside of a diaper genie?! Who wants to do that?! Isn't it enough for a new Mom to have to still clean the adult toilets? 

We used our Diaper Genie (because yes, I asked for one thinking this time will be different.) for a little bit. Then it started to stink. Then Remy's poops became nuclear in scent. For poopies, we bag 'em (in these babies) and take them outside to the trashcan. Pee-pee diapers go right in the regular trash can. 

I do recommend both of these:

The Sassy ones we use at home. They are cheaper - quality and money. For an exceptionally delightful poo, I double bag them.  

I LOVE the Munchkin ones for my diaper bags for three reasons: 
1. You can pick refills up at Target if you are running low and find yourself wandering through a Target (as I often do). 
2. They come in rolls and are easy to store in your bag. 
3. They are thicker than the Sassy ones. And they are lightly scented. These guys do an excellent job of hiding a poopy dipe... critically important if you are in public. 

---

This should get you started. It is by no means a complete list. As I said in the beginning, babies require a lot of stuff. If you have specific questions on brands or items, let me know. I am happy to help.

For all you veteran Mamas, what was the one item you LOVED and would recommend?

Other fun reads...