Most Used Baby Items : The First Year

It’s crazy to believe that Bridget is turning one! It’s been the most wonderful year. A year of joy, growth, hurdles, and lots of love. There was also a lot of learning (for mom and dad, too), as well as trying things and finding systems that worked for us. After a lot of trial and error with baby products, looking back there were a number of standouts that we got a lot of use out of over this first year. 

I researched quite a bit when it came to our baby registry, and most of it in the end came down to personal preferences. There are a lot of great and safe baby items out there, these are just the ones when looking back stood out to me and worked for our family. There are plenty more I could add to the list, but in the spirit of keeping things brief here are ten in no particular order!

1. Uppa Baby Vista Stroller (and bassinet stand)
   
   We love the Uppa Baby Vista! My criteria for a stroller was simple: I wanted a bassinet for easy naps while out, a large basket for groceries, and something that was comfortable for Bridget throughout all stages/ages. The Vista checked each of those boxes for us. It glides like a dream, the travel system is simple, and it’s very user friendly/functional. Our infant carseat clips right in without the need for an adapter. It collapses very easily and I can take it in/out of my trunk without stress. We also got the bassinet stand and kept it in our living room, it was an excellent docking station in the newborn days. We also loved the Nuna Demi Grow, but at the time their bassinets weren’t available, so that made the decision for us! 
   
   
   
2. Lovevery Play Gym
   
   I feel like I owe a lot to Lovevery for this play gym, it got us through some of the most challenging early newborn days. Bridget would be enamored with the different hanging elements. As she grew, it became more interactive and she loved to play here! This was huge for us in our tummy time journey and we used it daily up until about 4 months! 
   
   
   
3. Baby Bjorn Bouncer
   
   Another hero from the early days! The Baby Bjorn Bouncer was heaven sent. I would place Bridget in this when I needed to get something done (always near me/attended) and it was so helpful. Folding laundry, unloading the dishes, or getting some work done – this bouncer saved the day.
   
   
   
4. Baby Bjorn Harmony Carrier
   
   When Buy Buy Baby was still around, I went in the store to try on carriers, hoping to find one that was truly size inclusive. I wanted support, comfort, durability, and most of all, a hip healthy and safe product. I narrowed it down to the ErgoBaby and the Baby Bjorn Harmony and ultimately I found that the Harmony fit my body better! I am obsessed with it, and you can use it from the early days through toddlerhood. (note this is hip healthy, not all baby bjorn carriers are)
   
   
   
5. House of Noa Playmat
   
   The House of Noa Playmat has been such a gift. It’s non-toxic, easily cleans, and provides a safe place for baby to play. What began as a tummy time mat, has now grown to be in our playpen and by our toy shelf and bookshelf to create a safe landing while exploring. We added more squares as we needed them, they’re great! They also launched a tumbling mat, which has more support and cushion.
   
   
   
6. Stokke Tripp Trapp Chair (newborn attachment, highchair, and chair) c/o
   
   We have gotten so much use out of our Stokke Tripp Trapp ! This is a chair that grows with baby into toddlerhood and beyond. We used the newborn attachment at our kitchen table to eat dinner together when she was just a brand new baby. At around 6 months it became one of our most used items when started solids. If you are in a small space or simply prefer aesthetically pleasing but also functional things, this is a great size and profile.
   
   
   
7. Lovevery Play Kits 
   
   People rave about the Lovevery playkits and for good reason. They are stage based kits curated with developmentally appropriate toys and books for whichever age you select. Every two months a new kit comes and Bridget has loved each one more than the last! They take the work out of toy research, and everything is Montessori-esque. They also come with small booklet guides to help provide activities and explain the benefits behind each item. 
   
   
   
8. Mina Baie Diaper Bag 
   
   I love this diaper bag. It’s on the pricier side and we were fortunate to receive it as a gift off our registry. The nylon is simple to clean, the interior fabric is light so it’s easy to see things, and it’s chic! It converts from a backpack to a tote and has so many internal compartments and a lot of space. 
   
   
   
9. Snuggle Me Organic Feeding Support & Boppy Latch Belted Feeding Pillow
   
   Our feeding journey ended up being exclusive to breastfeeding, so these pillows were lifesavers. The early days were very hard, I remember showing up to our lactation consultant in tears, but we figured it out in the end! I found that the boppy latch pillow was integral in the success our feeding journey. It’s size inclusive, has two sides (one is firmer the other is plush), and it buckles behind your back. As she grew, the snuggle me organic was our go to. Both are comfortable and helped a lot. Note: neither are used for sleep, they are not safe sleep items and we used them exclusively for feeding.
   
   
   
10. Uppa Baby Minu Compact Stroller & Uppa Baby Mesa V2 Infant Carseat
    
    I think I may love the Minu even more than the Vista, if that’s even possible! It’s sleek, compact, comfortable, and very user friendly. We use this as our travel stroller, when we go to restaurants, or for times when having a smaller profile makes sense. This stroller folds insanely easily, has one of the largest storage baskets, and our Uppa Baby carseat clips in with the help of simple adapters (I don’t mind the adapters here since I used this less frequently). We’ve flown with this stroller and it was a dream in the airport, and when I flew alone with Bridget, the ease of the stroller and carseat system made things easier. 

Honorable mentions: Fisher Price Kick n Play Piano, Kiwi Co Toys, Manhattan Toy Company Toys, and The Skip Hop Activity Center.

Like I mentioned, there are so many great and safe baby products out there, these are just what worked for our family. There were plenty more I could have added to this list!