In honor of my approaching due date my contributor’s were kind enough to put together a list of their favorite baby items. This is our third child so we do have a lot of things but after living in Japan for so many years and our youngest being 3 it has been a while since we have thought about and used baby items. This is a fantastic list! I have several of these items and plan on purchasing many of them as well!

I realize these are not photography related items but as you can see in the photos they make for great props and ways to document them when they are still a baby.

Kelly’s Favorites:

1. Miracle Blanket-Baby Swaddling Blanket
This swaddle blanket has saved us. It is the only thing Miles & Garrett both couldn’t break out of. Plus, it makes for good photo ops, too! We went with the blue. They have all different colors & ones with trim, too.

2. Fisher-Price Discover ‘n Grow Kick and Play Piano Gym
When Miles turned about 6 weeks old, he started kicking like a maniac. I went out & bought this right away (like a week ago!). HE LOVES IT!

3. BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier Air
I love how this carrier allows me to be hands free & do things I couldn’t do if I didn’t have it (like dishes, laundry, etc). Miles sleeps in this all the time, so I guess it must be comfortable. I live in Texas where it is really hot, so the mesh one works well for us.

Jen’s Favorites:

4. aden + anais 4 Pack Muslin Swaddle Wrap
I love these because they are the perfect size and weight for swaddling. The fabric is breathable so your baby doesn’t get too hot. The gauzy type cotton fabric also get softer with every wash! They have multiple uses such as burp cloth, nursing shield, stroller cover, portable crib sheet. I use them for everything! I also love these for taking photos. Since they are thin you can swaddle baby tight and still see the contour of baby’s body for the photo. And the texture looks great in photos as well.

5. Bumbo Baby Sitter Chair with Play Tray
This has helped my baby get his back and neck strong. I started putting him in the seat when he was four months old. It provides a way to sit your baby upright. You can get it with a play tray, which is nice to put toys or food on. I put my baby in his Bumbo while I’m cooking (he’s 6 months old) and give him some toys on the tray to play with. It’s like having an extra set of hands! It also gets my baby off his back to prevent “flat head”. The Bumbo seat is also cute in photos like the one in this post – 10 Tips for Photographing Your Baby

6. Boppy Pillow with Slipcover
I use this while nursing to get my baby at the right level so I don’t have to hunch over. Takes the strain off my back! I also like laying him in it on the floor to elevate his head. I lay him in it by the television to help him see better when he’s watching his Baby Einstein DVD’s. I will also use it to train him to sit up. As they get closer to learning to sit up you can wrap it around their waist and it provides support. If they topple over it’s a soft landing too! You can get the covers in a variety of fabrics and they are removable and washable. Hands down the most practical gift you can give a new mother!

Laurie’s Favorite

7. Evenflo ExerSaucer Triple Fun /Baby Einstein Musical Motion Activity Jumper, Blue
At about 4 months old, I started all of the kiddos in a play toy of some type. It kept all of them happy and busy so I could get a few things done around the house. When my second child was born, I even bought a second one that I didn’t have to keep moving our original one back and forth between upstairs and downstairs (call me lazy!). No need to go crazy when buying these. Bigger/more expensive isn’t always better. And once they start walking, well, they are through being immobilized.

8. Phil and Teds Explorer Stroller with Doubles Kit
My first two children are almost 20 months apart, so a double stroller was essential to my survival. I have to get out of the house on occasion and do a little shopping and this stroller is awesome! It is a single stroller with a second seat attached in the rear for a second child. It it easy to maneuver in stores and I have not regretted for a second spending the extra money on a stroller that is functional for my family. I can say that the price was a lot less 5 years ago! But I have LOVED this stroller. It is really great for moms with kids really close in age, where a sit and stand might be more sensible for moms with kids farther apart in age.

9. Waterproof Quilted Sheet Saver Cover, Natural
All of my kiddos spit up a LOT in the early days. The sheet savers saved me from changing sheets multiple times a day (and night). I really hate changing sheets in the crib, and this made my life much easier! These are also great for leaky diapers. My kids slept with a sleep positioner until they were able to roll over both ways, so I could easily place the sheet saver in position to catch spit up or wet diapers.

Melissa’s Favorite

10. BOB Revolution Stroller
To say I like my BOB stroller would be an understatement. I love this thing. It’s the perfect stroller for everything. It handles amazingly and I can guide it through crowds with one hand if need be. We’ve taken it everywhere including to Sea World and the San Diego Zoo. My daughter will nap in it and it holds everything we need. It also has lots of fun accessories. I will definitely be upgrading to the double stroller when we decide to have baby number two.

11. HoMedics Sound Spa Relaxation Sound Machine
This little machine was a HUGE lifesaver for us when my daughter was a baby. We still use it to this day every time she goes down for a nap or bedtime. She loves it. The waterfall sound is our favorite and is so soothing for her. It rescued us from many nights of screaming when my daughter was a baby.

12. Slim & Secure Handheld Color Video Monitor
Again, another lifesaver for us. I will admit it; I was a worry wart with my daughter and still can be when she’s sleeping. I would constantly go in and check on her and there were many times I would wake her up! Finally my husband told me to get a video monitor and it was perfect. It made me feel better when my daughter started showing signs of climbing out of her crib and when we switched her to a big girl bed. Worrying about her hurting herself was no longer an issue for me; I could keep an eye on her.

A few of your favorites:

I asked on our Facebook page a few weeks back what were some must-have baby items. Here are a few of the ones you mentioned.
– Ergo Baby Carrier

– CJ’s BUTTer® (Indigenous Essential Oil Blend, 12 oz tub)

– Itzbeen Baby Care Timer

– Hooter Hiders Nursing Cover

Did we miss something? What would you add to the list? Feel free to leave a link so we can go shopping!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. That means if you decide to purchase one of the items the company will give Click it Up a Notch and it’s contributor’s a small portion of the proceeds. At no extra cost to you. Thank you in advance if you decide to support Click it Up a Notch.