the one with the baby items

So, my preggo friend Anna gave me the idea to post about baby items that we love or NOT! I am a brand new mommy (12 weeks to be exact) so this is only based on that. Experienced mamas feel free to add your advice in the comments for sweet Anna. Baby registries can be so overwhelming!

One tip that I didn't know-don't bother registering for clothes-they won't be the right season anyway.

Here is my baby registry that we did for reference. And my suggestions....

• I used Baby Bargains religiously for help with purchases. If you will recall, I had it here.
• I do not have a wipe warmer. Some people love them though.
• I use the dishwasher for the bottles we use. And haven't sterilized them other than the initial boiling of the nipples (bottles, not mine :o) I would reccomend a big dishwasher basket!
• We use Dr. Brown bottles. Though Maya also takes the Medela bottles. I like DB, but sooo many pieces to wash! My friend Linds reccomends the Playtex drop-in bottle. I do have one sample of that and like it. I haven't switched to that for green reasons and because I already bought two boxes of DB (kinda pricey). The most important thing for nursing mommies is to check the flow-rate (learned from lac consultant). I believe the breast is 5mL per minute and the lowest bottle is about 7 and some are considerably higher!
• We have a Graco folding high chair, but haven't used it yet (obviously).
• We didn't do a travel system and glad we didn't because I am a babywearing mama! I have a baby trend car seat that works fine. It is on the heavy-side, but doesn't matter for us cause I typically wear her when out. We have a babytrend jogger (a bit heavy but most are) that her car seat snaps into and also a baby trend snap n go that is super light-weight. I decided against a travel system after watching people trying to push plastic wheels over gravel!
• We used pampers swaddlers and then switched to Costco when she was big enough for the 1-2 size. Also use costco wipes. I didn't like huggies, but the costco brand is great! Loved the pampers when she was little though.
• We have a diaper champ but actuallly haven't used it yet. Her diapers don't smell so we just throw them in the trash. Maybe we will use it later, but have heard that once the diapers smell that it doesn't really help anyway.
• LOVE my Graco pack n play (vibrate function and changing table are MUSTS). We didn't have room in the nursery for a changing table so the pack n play serves as our primary changing table. Maya sleeps in the pack n play nightly beside my bed, (when she is not in bed with me).
• Slings: love my Baby K'Tan and also love my free hotsling from this. Want to know more? Follow me on twitter. I can't sing enough praises about babywearing. So many benefits for baby and mom. I am never without one of my slings and she spends lots of time in it everyday. It makes her so happy and drastically reduces her fussiness. She used to be a colicky baby and is no more. Daddy uses a baby b'jorn that she recently is comfy in. I have also heard great things about mei tais and the ergo. I am likely going to become a baby carrier collector.
• LOVE my miracle blanket. I got one as a gift and then got two free ones from the contest. Maya has slept in her miracle blanket from the day she was born. It is pretty much fail-safe that wrapping her in it and putting in her in her swing calms her instantly. We are big swaddle fans here!
• We have a Graco swing that Maya loves. My only thought on this is that is a large A frame swing. It can be moved from room to room, but not really easily. They make small ones that you can easily move. Not too big of a deal though.
• One clothing note....i don't like the gerber onesies. They seem to fit snug. I like the carter ones and the circo ones (Target).

Okay, I think that is all I have. I hope this helps Anna! And anyone else who needs it :o)

Oh, and oops! I missed my blogaversary .....look how far we've come in a year!