The Nipple Tweaking comment has me rolling! We are about to enter the second trimester over here at our casa and this list is perfect!

I loved my Moby wrap! I wish I would have gotten one much sooner! I also second the need for a swaddler with velcro closure. I found it super hard to get a good swaddle going in the middle of the night when I was half-passed out, until my lovely mother bought a couple different cocoon-like swaddlers for me. Lifesaver!

as a “first time mom” due with our little one in early May, I can’t tell you how much I LOVE this post and appreciate all the tips and tricks. I really love how much you share and explain about your life in the midst of a blog mostly about house tweaking. Headed over to Amazon right now to buy Happiest Baby on the Block!

I couldn’t do without a great nursing pillow. I used a “My Brest Friend” pillow, because it fit securely around my waist and still allowed me to sit all the way back on my chair. It was a lifesaver for my back.

Great suggestions! I am 30 weeks along with baby # 2 and was actually looking into baby wearing slings/wraps/carriers. Most of the items on your list of must haves are mine too. Another one of my favorites is the Bath Luve, http://bathluve.com. It is made of terry cloth and it kind of like a cover for the little one in the bath. My son would scream because he was cold during bath time. I put this on him and he would just hang out. I got it as a shower gift with my first baby and honestly didn’t think I would use it. Now I buy it for all expecting moms I know.

Yes … white noise! We got white noise for our oldest for his first birthday and suddenly he could sleep well. :D

My favorite baby items — booster/high chair that sits on a regular dining chair, our 12-year-old Combi stroller which folds up really small, sling, and bouncy seat.

We sold most of our baby gear three months before getting pregnant with baby #4. It was alright though. Like you, I’ve simplified and like knowing just what I need.

I tried several of the “baby carrier” things and got so frustrated I refused to buy the Mobi Wrap when someone suggested it to me. Now my best friend has it and I’ve realized it probably would have been the answer to all my clingy-baby-while-trying-to-deal-with-a-toddler-blues. She LOVES it and baby Ben is perfectly content when wrapped to Mom (or Dad). So even though I never used it myself, I WISH I had, and heartily second your recommendation.

The only things I can think of to suggest, in addition to the great things you already have on here, is a boppy pillow (especially great if you spend long hours at the computer with baby in your lap), and a swing of some sort (any rocking motion you don’t have to physically do yourself is a good investment, imho).

Fully agree with the Miracle Blanket. My two-month old is sleeping in one right now :) Maybe you can do some tutorial videos on the Moby Wrap. I have one but all that fabric gets me confused sometimes.

We use Aquaphor on the kids when their bottoms got dry or rashy, it would clear up whatever was there usually by the next diaper change. What’s nice is that the whole family can use it, my son (5yo) gets very dry legs in the winter, so we still put it on him after a bath and he’s good to go in the morning.
Question: do your older kids now still need white noise to sleep?

Love that picture! I’m sorry I don’t have more of my own pregnant belly – especially the second time with twins!! I agree with your fanastic picks. The sound machine we have lasted 10 years almost exactly – we used it every night, during naps, and on trips – better for all of us! My favorite book, though, was by Marc Weisbluth “Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child”. And the big old thing of Lansinoh is something the whole family uses in the winter on chapped lips and hands. All the best!

The only thing I’d add is a great thermos. My fav is Sigg. This became more and more important the more children we added. It is so useful to be able to carry around my drink without worrying about someone spilling it, even at home. My coffee stayed hot and my water cold. Kept me caffeinated and hydrated through 4 babies!

I wish I had discovered those convertible gowns. Slipping a baby in and out of gown is so easy, but they don’t work for car seats. These would have been perfect.

Oh that miracle blanket truly is a miracle, isn’t it?! I was lucky enough to be given one with my first child. Now pregnant with my second and due mid-August. I’m scared to death it is going to be too warm for it, but that’s not going to stop me from trying! Have looked into http://www.adenandanais.com for some breathable summer swaddling options, but no pockets so I’m skeptical! One other must have for me are the boppy lounger pillow. It is great for a quick, safe place to lay baby if you have to jump up quickly to do something. Also great for naps right next to me while folding laundry or other chores. We also use it as a safe place to lay baby in the bed with us if the night is getting too long and we need some rest as well! Really is so useful!! Thanks for opening up this great and helpful discussion!

As a mom of four kids ages 19, 13, 5 and 3, I admit that I bought a lot of baby paraphenalia for my first child. Later on, I got wiser and I agree that less is more. Your selections are right on. I also agree with your other readers that you might want to add a boppy pillow to you list of “must haves.” It made nursing a breeze for me because my baby was at the right height and there was no strain on my arms. Best of luck to you for an uncomplicated delivery in the next few weeks. Can’t wait to meet the newest member of the House Tweaking family!

Great choices! I love baby feet…….love running my index finger up them to have their little toes curl under. I also loved having my kidlet (now 13!) in the gowns in the beginning. Here’s hoping you have a quick and umcomplicated labor and delivery. I am guessing girl this time around. Can’t wait to see him or her though.

Thank you! I’m expecting my first in mid-August and have found the sheer volume of baby stuff out there completely overwhelming. It’s so nice to hear from experienced mamas about the real baby must-haves!

I love your list. Mine is almost identical! My son still has super sensitive skin and Aquaphor is a miracle worker for diaper rash, drool rash, eczema, etc. He’s 2 and a half and I still keep it on hand at home for the whole family. I would add a good jogging stroller. And a muslin swaddling blanket. They are so much bigger and are thin enough I didn’t feel like I was smothering my summer baby. Good luck! I love seeing all of the progress on the Underdog.

The Happiest Baby on the Block helped me in a huge way also! It feels like FOREVER since they were babies! Time is flying!! :)
If you’re looking for some fun things to do with the other two while you’re waiting, I’m doing a series of posts this week that are pretty fun! http://flutterflutter.ca/2012/03/12/spring-break-diy-eyebombing/

What a helpful list! I’m expecting my first in early August, and it’s always nice to hear from experienced voices. I love the idea of the Moby Wrap, but does it get hot? I tend to not be able to wear many layers because I get uncomfortable, so I’m worried about a stretchy wrap + baby in the hottest part of the summer…

You and I are the exact same kind of newborn mom lol! I used and highly recommended every single thing on that list. My 3.5 year old and 22 month old still use their sound machines and Burt’s Bees! And the gowns for the first few weeks cannot be beat – esp. for middle of the night diaper changes.

I’m excited for you!! :)

My little ones tend to have cold toes, but they kick their socks off, so the gowns didn’t work best for us. I found that using the sleepers with zippers were wonderful! After using a sleeper with snaps one bleary-eyed morning and later discovering that I had left my baby’s leg OUT of the sleeper, I stuck to zippers only.

I have put together a small diaper bag that I leave in the car (with diapers, wipes, change of clothes, pacifier) for emergencies (blow out at the store, out of diapers in the diaper bag, forgot the diaper bag, etc.) When I start buying bigger sized diapers, I update the loot in the small bag. It has been helpful on many occasions!

I love the picture of your belly. I really wish that I had taken more pictures of me while I was pregnant. Sigh…

I completely agree on the wrap. I had two different kinds and one was a Moby. I really loved the Moby when the Mogrunt was small – I took it everywhere. We even used it as a backpack carrier when he got bigger. A great buy!

For diaper rash cream, as a pharmacy technician and the daughter of a pharmacist, I made my own “Buttocks Paste” using a compounding recipe from our local children’s hospital, the IWK Health Centre. I ordered all of the ingredients from our wholesaler and set up a little “buttocks paste” lab in my kitchen. It cleared up diaper rashes overnight! I made two big batches that got us through to potty training.

There were three items that we really loved when our wee boy was little:
A vibrating chair (in which he often dozed while we had supper) which I believe was Fisher Price – it collapsed down and is now in storage.

His “activity gym” which helped with tummy time and had cute animals hanging down for him to reach.

We also had an exersaucer, or as we called it, “The Circle of Neglect” – horrible and not entirely true. It helped a lot when it was time to make supper and Dad wasn’t at home.

Oh, and I should mention the thing we loved the most was our cloth diapers. We actually rarely needed that Buttocks Paste because the wee boy just didn’t get diaper rash very often thanks to his cloth diapers. And we saved a lot of money by using cloth.

I should note that my son was born during the hottest summer we had experienced in Nova Scotia for a long time. Wearing him in the wrap was out of the question during the day during his first two months, so the vibrating chair (a gift) was a godsend. The activity gym and the exersaucer were loaners from a friend.

So I guess that’s the best thing – Loaning items between parents of young children. As long as they are clean and safe, it’s a great way to avoid having too many things in your house

You must have been cold when you took that picture- the way all those fuzzy little hairs are sticking straight out! It’s a great picture, by the way, and a view of myself that I love remembering!
My mama must have (a long, long time ago) was A and D ointment. I’d goop it on my sore nipples before nursing, then again after nursing. I still love the smell of it!

I second most of your suggestions especially the wrap ( I use the sleepy wrap). I’d also would add the fisher price rock and play sleeper. We use it in bathroom while mama showers, during family dinner time, and as a bedside bassinet, basically anytime I needed to set the baby down – and it folds up for storage. For breast feeding I also couldn’t survive without a nursing cover so I can feed baby anywhere (except for a moving vehicle obviously).

I wrote a similar post a month or so ago, as we prepare for numero tres and I look back on what I needed and didn’t need for the first two.

One thing someone commented on was to stock up on cloth bibs. Much easier to change than the entire outfit, especially if you have a little one prone to spit-up! Nothing worse than being (finally) ready to get out the door, only to notice that your baby has yellow spit up all down their clean outfit. Cloth bibs are pretty handy!

Peggy – My belly is so hairy right now! I wasn’t cold, they just stand up on their own like that whenever I pull up my shirt to reveal my belly. I wondered if anyone would notice!

Steph VW – We’re giving cloth diapers a go this time around – although we probably won’t be able to use them right away as baby won’t fit into them snug enough. I didn’t use them with our other two kiddos but I’m trying to be more responsible {financially & eco-conscious} with this one. That’s why cloth diapers aren’t on my must-haves bc I don’t have any experience with them yet. Good to know they worked great for you and your lil’ guy!

Sherron – The Miracle Blanket’s leg pocket was good enough at keeping our bambinos’ toes warm, so we’d couple it with the gown. My last baby was a spring baby though, so we didn’t have such cold nights.

Kelsey – When we were hiking during the summer and I wore the Moby, I just wore a nursing cami underneath to avoid overheating. In the privacy of my own home, I’ve been known to just wear my nursing bra underneath. Neither me or my babies have overheated from it yet. Of course, if it’s 90 degrees outside then you’ll probably just avoid going outside altogether.

Rosa – Eyebombing?! I had no idea! Super fun!!

I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment of velcro-ed swaddlers. They are a life saver! Several people commented that Aquaphor was another must-have; I also love it. In fact, I just smeared it all over my two month old after his bath.
I would add to the list kimono style onesies and Mylicon gas drops. The kimono style is so nice for newborns because you don’t have to pull it over their heads. We all know how crabby babies can get about that. And Mylicon has been my saving grace with both of my boys. I must have gassy babies, but I know when they don’t have it, they are fussy and uncomfortable.
I’m on my way to buy Happiest Baby on the Block now. I need Henry to sleep a little longer at night!

Jennifer – A Boppy is a great investment as well although I have – for a lack of better wording – ‘high’ boobs, so I’ve always had to add a pillow or two to the Boppy to bring baby up to the feeding grounds. :) Whenever possible, I nurse lying down and avoid the pillow pile-up altogether.

Amy – We use white noise in the boys’ bedroom but they are fine sleeping without it – like when they go on sleepovers to grandparents’ houses. But they are older and understand the concept of bedtime and sleeping through the night {most nights anyways!}. Mostly, it’s for us…me and HH…so we don’t have to be quiet!

Hanna – My babies looooooved swinging as well! We have one on loan from a friend and I’m sure it will be an arm {i.e. life} saver! Couple the swing with THBOTB methods and you’ve got yourself a happy baby.

Like I said, I was trying to come up with a few things that were beyond the conventional. We had the Boppy, swing, etc with our first but still had a cranky baby. It wasn’t until we discovered to couple white noise, swaddling AND swinging that we got some rest.

I couldn’t agree with you more about THBOTB! I think it should be given to every new parent before they leave the hospital! It saved my sanity, and kept me from begging my mom to raise my son ;-)

Also, for the white noise, we bought the Prince Lionhart Slumber Bear that has a womb sounds machine inside. We ditched the bear, but the sound machine is AWESOME because it automatically goes on for 5 minutes, then turns off, but if baby startles, stirs or cries (or another abrupt noise occurs) it automatically kicks back on for 5 minutes and usually my son would just go back into deep sleep. A miracle product! Very portable and the bear is only $25-30.

K – I’ll keep Moby tutorials on the back burner until I have a baby to feature. Great idea!

Dana,
I love your list! The moby wrap was a godsend the first 6 months with my son. I used the Lanolin on my nipples before and after every feeding for the fist two weeks and never got sore, cracked, or worse :)
The only thing I would add is my Hooter Hider Nursing Cover. I personally never care if people nurse in front of me, or doing it in front of people, but their are some social situations were it can be awkward, ie church. With that I wasnt banished to isolation, bothered with the flimsy blanket he always kicked off, and my baby was fed.

We love the Aden + Anais swaddle blankets. Plus, you can keep using them as lightweight blankets afterwards. My little guy is 2.5 and still uses them every night. I’ve already bought 3 more for this baby (I’m 34 weeks). I have two of the Miracle Blanket swaddlers, but my son was never a fan. I’ll probably give them a try again, though.

We use the Homedics Sound Spa Lullaby machine. It has a bunch of different white noises, along with a projector with different spinning scene disks. We’ve used it every single night since he was about 6 months, and we’re on our second one now as we finally burned the motor out on the projector. For under $20, you can’t go wrong.

I never read the Happiest Baby on the Block, but I do have the Happiest Toddler, so I’ll be looking into that!

I second a lot of these items (particularly the swaddle and the butt paste, which we use liberally on our 10 week old) … and I recommend some kind of app for your phone which helps you track nursing times and durations and most importantly, which side you last nursed on! (I’m currently using Baby Care for Android and it’s a lifesaver! So many older ladies have told me about how they used to keep track – safety pins on bras, etc…)

Hmmmm, I went with the ‘must have’ and missed the ‘less conventional’ part. It is amazing how quickly memories fade… I could tell you 101 weird things I do to keep my 2 year old happy, but remembering the things I did when she was an infant have already faded into the happy fog of memory!

Two sort of unconventional things I can think of — when I had my first baby I remember being completely and totally confused by the various “baby bath” options. On the advice of a friend I got a simple bath pad that I could wring out and hang in the shower after I was done. Best of all, it was really easy to store — I just hung it on the hooks on the back of the bathroom door. Here is a simlar item I found on babies r us: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3678334

The second thing is rather weird. One of the toys we got (as a present from a friend) was LeapFrog’s “My Pal Violet”. A musical dog. One of the settings is to play music for 10 minutes… and it got so that it was like a trigger. We’d put a crying baby down, turn on Violet, and within 10 minutes we had a sleeping baby. Sort of like a noise machine, but easier to cart to Grandma’s house, or bring with us in the car.

I was VERY sceptical of this toy when we first got it, because 1) I don’t really like mechanical singing toys and 2) any toy you had to hook up to the internet and download settings just seemed too high tech for an infant. But I was soooo wrong, and Violet has been an amazing toy. Plus, coming home late from girls night to find hubby fast asleep in the recliner, baby snuggled in one arm and purple doggie snuggled in the other? Priceless.

Okay, there is a third thing I should add. Saved my sanity many a dark night. Streaming Netflix through my XBox. Although I am now totally adicted to British TV shows darn it. I’m looking at you, Dr. Who.

I just saw up in the comments that you are planning to cloth diaper – we are also cloth diapering our 10 week old. Just a word of warning. Diaper creams, like butt paste, can’t be used with cloth. It can build up on the liner and stop absorbency. I had been just sticking my son in disposables when he had a rash, but a friend of mine suggested using a disposable liner layer (that some cloth diaper companies make now…) between his butt and the cloth. I’m going to try that next time.

As a Dad of 3 kids (6 yo, 3yo, and 3 months) I love your list. A couple of things that I’d add:

1. The Moby wrap is great and my wife loves it, but I get a lot of mileage out of our Ergo Baby carrier. I can wear it outside of the house and not feel like as much of a dork, plus I can still use it to carry our 3 yo on longer hikes.

2. We used to use exclusively Butt Paste as a diaper rash preventative/treatment, but have found that Aquaphor tends to work a little better as a treatment and Aquaphor mixed with some milk of magnesia is hands down the best diaper rash treatment on the planet.

I love lists like this, thanks for sharing! We still have about 4-5 months to go, but I’ve already started figuring out what I’ll actually need vs. what I think I will.

Great list! We used every one of these items when my girl was a newborn (and are still using some of them at 9 months).

Love this post – not that I’m planning any more kids – we have two boys already – but knowing what I know now, I would definitely not buy half the stuff we had and never used. My one item to add to your list would be a cool mist vaporiser. I wish I’d known about one of these when my boys were small. The appliance emits a cool vapour stopping all coughs and stuffed noses whilst sleeping. It really is amazing I think everyone should know about them. We still use ours every time one of the boys has a virus, it allows everyone including Mum to have a good nights sleep.

My top 3 items (my baby is 4 months old).

The Fisher-Price Rock ‘N Play Newborn Sleeper – our little guy is still sleeping in our bedroom and this is perfect for night time as well as naps.

My Kindle Fire – it plays Pandora (we like the Lullabye and Family Folk Song Stations) and it is great for reading books or perusing the internet when I am nursing.

An elastic hair band for my wrist. This is how I track what side to nurse on… pretty high tech :) I just move the elastic band back and forth to each wrist. It is the easiest way for me to keep track (especially in the middle of the night when I am tired).

ALSO, we have been cloth diapering since 8 weeks and our baby NEVER gets a diaper rash. Just thought I would throw that in. I gave away my butt paste and keep extra creamy desitin on hand for the occasions we have to use disposables.

That list is very similar to mine now that I’m a mother of a 7 month old.

We made our own moby—5 to 6 yards of jersey fabric (t-shirt fabric; doesn’t fray when cut) and cut it down the middle the long way (the width of an average bolt is about double what you need for the width of a moby wrap). Two wraps for what, a few bucks per yard? So cheap and so easy! No sewing required. We used this all of the time when he was smaller.

As for a must-have sleep book, we found Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child to be indispensable. At two months our son woke up every hour to an hour an a half, and would only sleep if held, all day and night long. If not held, he’d scream. He’d been that way since he was born. Someone gave us this book, we put it into practice, and not long after he could go down for the night easily (awake—but drowsy—and in his crib!) at 7:00 pm and not wake up until 7 am, minus one or two feedings. AMAZING!

As for the rest of your list, we found gowns the easiest with newborns, too; we swaddled ( it made a significant difference, especially for naps); used (and still do) a sound machine; I definitely needed soothing for my poor nipples; etc. We didn’t use any of the same brands as you, but the same kind of items. The only thing we don’t need on your list is butt paste, but that’s because he has hardy skin and has never had a rash down there. Our next baby could be different.

I’m due on may and was really hesitant about the moby wrap, I think now I will give it a try! Thanks so much!

The Miracle Blanket is called the “Baby Straight Jacket” around our house! I believe it the sole reason my two kids are such good sleepers. It was the only swaddle that would keep my son from “busting out” cause he’s a wild one! Great list!

Thanks so much for the list! I’m right behind you at 33 weeks. This is our first and I’ve tried to be as minimalist as possible — we just do NOT have room for the whole Babies’R’Us in this little house. I feel pretty awesome about myself seeing a veteran mom recommend stuff I’ve picked out (after hours of hyper-neurotic research).

And just some pregnancy humor, which you and Handy Hubby should both appreciate: witness the conversation we just had. Me: “I think I’m going to have to get a maternity bathing suit. I hate that they’re so pricey, but…” Mister: “Why does it have to be a maternity swimsuit? Why can’t it just be a fat girl swimsuit?” SILENCE. Mister: “I mean — not like — No WAIT!”

It was pretty funny.

What a great list! I’ll have to try out THBOTB book next time around… I’ve heard good things about it, but haven’t read it. Definitely will! Thanks! So glad you’re still doing good!

Val – That’s too funny! Lots of pregnancy humor going on over here too.

yes to everything on this list! My babies used the moby everywhere! I did get some funny looks unloading my youngest at the airport to go through security, but it may have been the breast he was attatched to, not the wrap……
I would add boogie wipes. they are saline moistened wipes that cut right through the snot that seems to stick to my boys faces. and they come in unscented for sensitive skin!

I second the miracle blanket! We swaddled until 12 weeks when her startle reflex stopped. I have been seeing more and more about swaddling causing hip dysplasia BUT only if you keep their legs from being able to bend at the hips. The miracle blanket allows for movement of the legs.

I am just 5 months in with my first, but I loved the boppy lounger. I think its relatively new but I used it for the baby to sleep anywhere and everywhere in those first few months. We took it when we traveled. I was a big believer is getting her to sleep in her crib/pack n play and the lounger didn’t hinder this, as she has been sleeping in her crib sans lounger since she was about 9 weeks old. She probably outgrew the lounger around 8 weeks.

We also cloth diaper and LOVE it. We started Olivia around 6 weeks when she could fit into them. We use mostly pocket diapers (bumgenius 4.0) and the gDiapers system. A friend of mine loves the thirsties and charlie bananas. Our babysitter uses the gDiapers system on her kids and I really like them, but they are a bit on the pricier side. I just found out yesterday that Target online sells lots of cloth diapers (all the aforementioned brands) and is a great place to buy some if you get target gift cards as baby gifts. If only I had known!!

Ditto to many of those items! I’ve heard great things about the Moby, but haven’t tried yet. Just tried a Seven sling and don’t care for it. Having a hands free carrier became a lifesaver with the first 2, and #3 is proving to be clingy sometimes, so I’m going to have to try a Moby out. Lanolin is a lifesaver, for lips and nips! YES to gowns! I use them as often as possible. I’m also a huge fan of the butt paste. One summer, when our oldest was about 18 months old, she got into a crate full of tomatos that we were preparing to can and pigged out. Her poor little bottom was so raw after all that acid got into her system, I’d let her go naked for a while, and the Boudreauxs was the only thing that healed her. For night time and car rides, I use A & D (which has a variety of other uses). #3 is also a swaddle baby, but I’ve found great success with some Carters blankets! Other swaddle blankets are too small, but the Carters two pack of lightweight cotton blankets are perfect and so soft! #3 is 7 weeks, and still loves being swaddled in these blankets.

A Boppy used to be on my must have list, but I find myself rarely using it this time. I think because I’ve switched from cradle holding while BFing to “laid back” or reclined BFing. I’ll use it to prop under my arm sometimes, though.

I’d like to add my current lifesaver – my Medala breast pump! I wasn’t so successful BFing my first two and stopped after 10 weeks. I have no intention of stopping that soon with this one! I did a little more research (lots of time on the LLL website and forums). All of our previous BFing issues have been resolved, and I am a pumping queen! (Which is a lifesaver while I’m at work!)

I’m expecting baby number two after a five year break. I had all the slings, wraps, and carriers and I liked them all for different reasons but if I had to choose the Ergo wins as it can be used through age 3 or 4 and is easier to get on and off when you are running errands. My girlfriend would loosen the straps and she could nurse in hers…I never mastered that. And remember young babies use you to regulate body temp so even in hot weather you and baby don’t tend to overheat each other the way a bigger critter would.

I had a friend tell me that gap/old navy sock were the only brand that stayed on. I found this to be true and never lost a baby sock on the go.

I found all nursing clothes and bras a waste. I had so much milk that it always dripped down my belly so it would soak a shirt. I just always lifted up my shirt and didn’t mess around with all the stupid clothes. Never wear a underwire while breastfeeding=mastitis.

I liked the cheap ikea blow up changing pad without a cover. I just put down a cloth diaper for baby to lay on and then if it got dirty a wipe was all that was needed to clean it-no need for a table.

I also really liked the Aden + Anais blankets because they were thin for summer and big and stretchy enough to get a great swaddle. I liked the miracle blanket in the beginning. We would actually swaddle him with a receiving blanket and then stick him into the miracle blanket as a outer cover and he was like a little burrito.

I needed the Lilypadz cause I was a milk machine and leaked for six months.

I also loved the tummy tub or pod bath which baby loved and would calm him right down and there was no danger of getting his head underwater, and it was about the cutest thing ever.

I used Ikea lamb skins that I cut holes in for all the straps and put them on my car seats, stroller, and in the swing (which I hated but was a life saver). Once we were potty training we used the sheep skins to cover a bed wetting at night so there was no need to strip the bed in the middle of the night. We love our sheep skins!

Skip the expensive crib and invest in a Stokke Trip Trap high chair which is massively functional and long lasting.

Thats my list.

Also pregnant with #3. Going to try the woombie this time around. A girlfriend of mine swears by it! Looks super easy instead of having to worry about swaddling!
http://www.thewoombie.com/?gclid=CPeayPX35K4CFUio4AodwWLRxA

Anna O – Love the sheep skin idea! Cutting holes in them to fit around straps in bouncers, car seats, swings, etc….genius!!

Hi Dana! I can’t wait until little Miller arrives! I laughed about the nipple cream! Hector about died when I ran out of chapstick and he had to use it once! I had a regular infant carrier with Katie, but when Anna had her body casts she wouldn’t fit so the “sleepy Wrap” that I had, like the moby wrap, worked perfectly. I never went back to the other carrier with my boys after I used the wrap. My husband’s aunt is a peds nurse and they are now handing out velcro swaddling blankets to new moms in the hospital because they say swaddling is very beneficial to the babies. I swaddled all of mine from 6-9 months, and all are also perfectly normal, active kiddos!

I am on board with so many of your suggestions (sleep book, marpac, creams, etc.) that I want to try the rest! That moby wrap & miracle blanket look fantastic. Thanks for your recommendations and good luck with the baby happenings in the near future. I love your blog.

A small correction: raucous is an adjective (meaning harsh and loud), and ruckus is a noun (meaning disturbance or commotion).

You boys cause a ruckus, not a raucous. Of course, it might be a raucous ruckus! (say that 5 times fast)