Kicking it into High (Baby) Gear

Anyone who’s ever stepped foot inside Babies R Us knows that baby gear abounds, nay, overwhelms. Strollers, car seats, bath tubs, humidifiers, diaper bags, bassinets, rockers, gliders, changing tables, changing pads, diaper pails, dressers, lamps, carriers, swings, loungers, portable cribs, high chairs, foam chairs, entertainment-type chairs, booster chairs, potty chairs, on and on and on and on… Until you want to sit down and cry. Which I did.

As we near the end of our baby gear phase with Ainsley, I’ve been thinking about what we could live without, what we might want next time around, and what I can’t possibly give up.

All the gear that any baby NEEDS is milk, diapers (we love Kissaluvs), a carseat (we love our Britax convertible seat) and a place to sleep (we love our crib — we don’t know the brand since it was a warehouse find). But what about all that other stuff?

My “Can’t Live Without It” List:

The Sling – I am firm believer in babywearing. I love my pink fleece Kangaroo Korner sling. I wish I had been more confident using it when Ainsley was teeny-tiny. I will definitely do more babywearing with our next baby (whenever that is). The sling can also be positioned differently for breastfeeding, and for later use with toddlers and children, which I love.

The Lightweight Stroller – Ainsley’s only stroller. Indecision resulted in our not registering for a stroller at all, and I’m glad we didn’t. My mom gave us a garage sale lightweight stroller with a generously sized basket below the seat and a moveable shade on top. My only two complaints: it doesn’t collapse (but it is very sturdy as a result), and I wish it had over-the-shoulder straps in addition to the lap belt (but Ainsley’s leaning-forward phase was ultimately short lived and we survived without shoulder straps). Regardless, we love it and won’t be trading it in anytime soon.

The Backpack – We didn’t register for a diaper bag, either. TOO MANY CHOICES! After a few months of struggling with the shoulder diaper bags (freebies), I found a backpack that was included with our luggage set. It ended up being the perfect diaper bag for us. It’s black and smaller than school backpacks. Scott is very willing to wear it since it isn’t “girly” and it fits inside the basket of our stroller. We can wear it and have both our hands free. We often put our things front pocket with diapers, toys, food, and the sling in the back. Perfect.

And let’s not forget:

• I also like our garage sale pack ‘n’ play by Graco. It’s just the “classic navy” model. There are so many models out there with a lot of accessories. Ainsley never spends enough time in there to need a singing, motorized mobile, swinging and vibrating basinet, and so forth.
• When I was learning to breastfeed, I was entirely dependent on my nursing pillow. I don’t know if I will need it with our next child, but I could not have managed without it in those early weeks.
• In the category of “mama gear” — my breastpump was vital. I like Medela’s electric model in the shoulder bag.

And maybe someday:

• If we ever upgrade our stroller (and who knows if we’ll need to), this is my dream stroller - Phil and Ted’s Sport.
• I would like to get a second piece of babywearing gear. Not sure what type. Any suggestions?
• I also like the idea of a lambskin blanket.
• I’d like to get a new crib mattress that is chemical-free.

So Mama’s, Daddy’s, Auntie’s, Sitter’s, and Grandparent’s — What’s the stuff you can’t live without? What brands do you like? What didn’t work for you? Please share!