Top 10 Newborn Favorites

While I was pregnant, I scoured all over the internet for the best newborn and infant products. I relied on blogs, reviews (good and bad), 5 star rankings and Pinterest to help gauge my pre-baby mindset of what would work for this little baby I had yet to meet. I am the first to say that what works for one mama and baby may not work for the next, but there is that moment in time when mamas rally together and raise our coffee cups to the best baby products we love. So, grab your warm (or rewarmed for the fifth time today) mug of coffee and read on to find the Roberts' favorite newborn products that we've loved these past 3 months. 

1. Solly Baby Wrap. I am marking this product at number one on the list for good reason! I knew from the beginning that I would want to babywear, not only for the health benefits, but also for convenience and comfort. The lightweight fabric of this wrap is perfect with our brutal Florida heat we have to put up with and is incomparable to other wrap competitors. Who wants heavy fabric wrapping your body heat and your baby's body heat up in a sweaty mess? I am regularly stopped by onlookers, who are jaw-dropped when they feel the lightweight and breathable fabric. This is perfect for babywearing on the go while shopping, traveling (easy to pack!) and freeing up your hands in those long afternoons with a baby who just wants to be held all day. I have the wrap in "Butter" and it is perfect for a baby boy or girl and matches everything.
   
2. On Becoming Baby Wise. I found a trend among my mama-friends who have well-behaved and well-rested babies (and well-rested parents): they use BabyWise. I purchased the book, and honestly, started in the middle where they talk about putting your baby on a schedule. I occasionally glance through other chapters as Paul has growth spurts, I need some troubleshooting tips or I want to get ahead on upcoming changes, but see everything as guidelines. I just take and pull what works for my baby and our family and implement it in the best way that I see fit. I absolutely credit BabyWise for Paul sleeping through the night by 8 weeks (and mama and daddy, too!) and love that I can quickly predict and know when he needs to eat, will want to play and will be ready for a nap. I call not so secretly call it my "baby manual" and recommend it to all new mamas.
   
3. Graco Glider DLX Gliding Swing. Oh, swing. We just love you over here in the Roberts' house. While this was the last item that we added to our registry and the last item that we were gifted, we had no idea that this would be a life-saver in our home. Since Paul had some respiratory issues early on, had had to sleep propped up. We immediately found that the angle of the swing was perfect for him. We kept the swing in the living room during the day, so that he could nap in plain sight while I worked around the house or napped on the couch. We tried to transition him to the bassinet at night, but it didn't work for him. So, we just moved the swing to our room at night and he slept soundly with the swing moving gently and the added white noise playing for the first few weeks. It wasn't my plan to give in to swing sleep, but motherhood = survival, ya'll.
   
4. Ergobaby Original Baby Carrier. In our house, we call this the "Daddy Carrier." The durable and soft framework of this carrier makes it perfect for Matt to carry Paul (and it also doesn't look "mommy" in any way!). We keep the snaps sized for Matt's body, so that it's easy to grab and click on when we're traveling, hiking or playing basketball with daddy in the driveway when he's home from work. I'm excited to use this when Paul can sit on my back and completely free up my arms while babywearing.
   
5. Baby Trend Go-Lite ELX Nursery Center. This was also one of the last items we were gifted with and a huge favorite. We transitioned Paul from the baby swing to the smaller bassinet around 4 weeks, which was the perfect height next to our tall bed for midnight feedings and soothing. Paul transitioned directly out of the bassinet and to his crib by 8 weeks, but we still regularly use this while traveling for a portable crib. The front storage area is also perfect when traveling for quick access to diapers, pacis and anything else we need to throw in a safe spot away from baby hands.
   
6. Graco FastAction Fold Jogger Click Connect Travel System. Sure, there are plenty of high-end strollers out there, but I'm just not that person to drop, or ask someone to drop, one grand on a stroller that will get poop stains (done), dirty tires and never used again after our short stroller years are over. We've already taken this stroller on all of our vacations this summer and have loved the durability of the entire framework and tires as well as the incredible storage underneath the infant seat as well as cup holders for mama and daddy's coffee and even a little storage at the top for keys and cell phones. One of the coolest things about this system is that the stroller and car seat all come together, so the car seat easily can fit inside the stroller for a newborn and removed for an infant/toddler. Paul loves riding in this front facing, so that he can see the world.
   
7. Graco Snugrider Elite Stroller Frame. When I first registered for strollers, I swear I had about four strollers on my registry and not the slightest idea of what I would need or what made sense. I credit my amazing co-mama friend, Kaylynn, for letting me know about this genius stroller frame. Instead of keeping a massive stroller in the back of my SUV, I keep this super lightweight and easy to fold (I can do it with one hand!) stroller frame handy in the trunk. It even has extra storage underneath. I simply unclick Paul's car seat from the backseat and click it into this frame. No unbuckling and buckling a sleeping or crying baby. No lugging around massive strollers. I can get in and out of the car in a snap. Easy. Cheap. Does the job. Every mama's dream.
   
8. Infant Baby Bather (similar). There is only one thing that I registered for that I wish I could go back in time and tell myself that I don't need: an infant bath tub. My amazing neighbor, Holly, gave me a baby bather sling that she had used with her babies right before Paul was born. I had never seen anything like it before, and while beyond thankful for her generosity, was sure I wouldn't be using it over my brand new, beautiful, baby blue, highly reviewed baby bath tub. I.was.wrong. The sling that came with the bathtub lays him down too low to actually hold more than an inch of water in the tub. At that point, especially with a new baby who shouldn't be submerged, why would you put any water in the tub? I pulled out the sling, and since his first bath, he has loved it. Big and small enough to use from newborn through infancy, it can lay the child back or sit them nearly upright. It folds up beautifully for travel or storage. I still use it to this day, since Paul can't sit up on his own and plan to use it until he goes straight to sitting in the tub. Thank you again, Holly!
   
9. Long Sleeve Onesie with Mitten Cuffs. I really don't know if it was just my child or all children, but nails. Wow. Babies not only have them, but they want to scratch their faces off with them it seems. Even in the hospital, Paul was nonstop scratching his perfect, fresh from the womb skin, leaving huge marks and even making himself bleed. I had my mom go and grab a pack of these onesies with mitten cuffs and they were perfect. The cuffs stay on since they are connected to the onesie and the cuffs keep his little hands out of his face. I also loved that these were simple white onesies, so when he spit up or had a poop explosion, I wasn't as sad to change him out of a basic onesie vs. a cute, perfectly planned outfit. ;) #momprobz
   
10.  Dr. Brown's Bottles. I missed the mama memo that Dr. Brown's bottles are a God-send. I registered for and was gifted another brand, and unfortunately, Paul never used them. He had such incredibly bad gas, so I resorted to these and see if they would help. Oh goodness, did they ever. We've been using them since he was born and have upgrades the nipple sizes as he grows. Love love love.

There are a dozen other products that I would say I can't live without, but these are definitely the ones that I claim made my new mama life easier and were immediately  baby approved. What are your favorite newborn products?

* I am in no way compensated for reviewing or recommending any of these products.