Last month, we took apart the last crib in our house and replaced it with a big boy bed. No more changing tables or high chairs. Goodbye bouncy seats and baby bottles. The nostalgia is getting me good! Thankfully I have a nephew arriving later this summer to take the heat off of this baby fever.

As we clear out the last of the baby items and replace them with sports gear and more character items than I ever hoped to own, I decided to take a look at the items we loved, and the ones that missed the mark.

Qualifications: mom of 2 kids under 18 months, and don’t forget about our 2 month NICU stay. I’ve learned a thing or two! Insert disclaimer here about you don’t neeeeed any of these things, you know your family best, your cousin’s sorority sister’s niece disagrees, etc. etc. etc. This is just my list of things that worked for us, that I recommend purchasing or avoiding! There are so many options out there and it’s overwhelming. Let this be a starting point!

My Favorites/Must Have Items

SNOO Smart Sleeper Bassinet
If you’ve followed me on Instagram or TikTok for more than 5 minutes, you already know my number one must have baby item is the SNOO. Is it ridiculously expensive? Yes. Have babies slept for centuries without a “robot bassinet”? Absolutely. But for us, it was worth every penny (literally, we made all of our money back when we sold it after using it with both boys). The SNOO links to your phone, automatically adjusts to your baby’s cues and cries, has a built in sound machine, and most importantly, keeps them safely swaddled and on their backs. It is also the only bassinet on the market that is FDA approved as a medical device (check with your employer benefits to see if it’s covered!) Bringing home a baby from the NICU can be really scary to say the least, and the SNOO gave me piece of mind he was as safe as he could be. The biggest concern I hear about the SNOO is that babies won’t be able to sleep independently in their cribs after becoming used to the motion of the SNOO. Thankfully, SNOO has a weaning mode and even suggests when it might be time to transition! Both of my boys transitioned beautifully to their cribs in under 3 nights.
Shop SNOO Here: Happiest Baby SNOO Smart Sleeper Bassinet

Hatch Rest+ Sound Machine
We’ve tried 3 or 4 sound machines, and this one always comes out on top! The lights, sounds, and volume are adjustable from the device or from your phone. It connects to Wi-Fi and has a battery backup, meaning when your power goes out your sound machine will continue to play seamlessly from the battery backup. You can create and adjust a schedule or use the color feature as an okay-to-wake clock.
Shop Hatch Rest+ Here: Hatch Rest+ Sound Machine

Medela Quick Clean MicroSteam Bags
I started using these when the NICU feeding team recommended them. I spent hours every day at my son’s bedside, and I worried about bacteria in my pump parts when they stayed in my diaper bag. These are a great way to quickly sterilize pump and bottle parts. They work for most pacifiers too, and I’ve even used them on the mask for our nebulizer (after removing the metal clamp). These make a great gift, and each bag gets 20 uses!
Shop Medela Steam Bags Here: Medela Quick Clean MicroSteam Bags

BabyBjorn Bouncer Bliss
File a bouncy seat under things I didn’t really think I needed but people kept recommending so I got “just in case”. We used this thing for ages! You can gently bounce baby in this adjustable seat. I used to move this into the bathroom if I needed to get ready while the babe was awake, or if he needed entertained while I tried to cook dinner or put away the groceries. The cover comes off for easy cleaning and doesn’t stain easily in my experience. We found ourselves using this a lot when we introduced purees / soft foods.
Shop BabyBjorn Bouncy Seat Here: BabyBjorn Bouncer Bliss

NoseFrida SnotSucker Saline Kit
Listen. I know. You’d never. I’d never. It’s disgusting. There are bulb suctions and electric suctions. Just. Trust. Me. This is the OG and the best. Kids are gross and sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do. The others are irritating and don’t work as well. You’ll thank me during baby’s first cold/flu/RSV season. Just make sure to buy extra filters!
Shop NoseFrida Here: NoseFrida SnotSucker Saline Kit

Okay, top 5 is a good place to start right?! Trying to decide if part 2 should be more favorite items or things I’d pass on next time around. Let me know your preference!

Love,
SB