that's what we call our baby shopping list here at our nest. i decided to start a post dedicated to my bird list, aka baby must-haves, baby needs & wants. i know that i could have used one and actually still could... there are a few gear lists that i found out there in web land but i just couldn't find a very good one that covered everything i was looking for and they weren't very detailed. there weren't opinions as to why they chose those particular items... so here is my attempt at making things a bit simpler.
the 'must have-not so exciting' list of baby gear:
there are 'of course' baby necessities that baby needs. i am going to show you the ones that we ended up buying since there are literally hundreds of baby products on the market. it's confusing when shopping for baby, there are so many options. who knows which ones to get and why... well let me tell ya, i've done my research and i have compiled a list of my personal faves. shall i begin...
*warning... we purchased most of our must have baby gear in black as it doesn't show dirt & wear as easily plus it's a great sleek & neutral color for either a baby girl or boy. some may not prefer black and that's fine, most of these items come in a variety of colors.
here goes...
1. the crib... what we went with: ikea gulliver crib, $99.99. and why? we decided to go with the gulliver crib because it was a) a very reasonable price. b) sturdy and well made. c) had a simple modern look. d) we'd rather spend the big bucks on pretty things like accessories, clothing and other odds and ends to make the birds room look cute!
2. the stroller... what we went with: bugaboo frog, $759.00+. and why? well to be honest, i just really wanted this stroller. it's a celebrity favorite and it's one of the very best and safest on the market. it's also made to grow with your baby from infant to toddler. it's super light weight and has a bunch of super cool ad-ons like the wheeled board for a big brother or sister to catch a ride on the back. there's a video on the bugaboo website that is pretty worth watching if you ask me.
3. the diaper bag... what we went with: skip hop duo deluxe, $54. and why? there were so many diaper bag options out there. i wanted one that was a) not too bulky. b) not too expensive. c) not covered in corny cartoon characters. d) easily accessible in a diaper emergency. e) easily stored when not in use. well, let me tell ya... this diaper bag is all of the above and then some. i looove it! there's plenty of pockets and spaces for all of baby needs. the bag is light weight, has easy to open and close magnetic closure and the shoulder strap is comfy and my favorite feature of all, it clips to the back of the stroller and creates a handy little stroller bag.
4. the infant car seat... what we went with: peg perego primo viaggio sip 30-30, $250-299. and why? well, i have always loved peg perego. i used them with my other kiddos when they were babies and still love them. this car seat is one of the highest rated on the market and it looks good. plus they make attachments for the bugaboo. the only down fall to peg peregos is that they are a bit on the heavy side, but they are also extremely sturdy and well made.
5. the high chair... what we went with: ikea antilop with tray, $24.99. and why? ummm... look at that price tag! that should explain it right there. so inexpensive and really easy to wipe down and clean. there is another high chair that i want terribly bad but it comes with a whopper of a price, so we went with this one strictly due to price and the fact that it is simple and modern looking.
6. the play pen... what we went with: joovy room2 play yard, $149.99. and why? this thing is super roomy! 10 square feet of baby play space and i liked the nice solid colors that it comes in. it also has really great reviews and is easy to move around plus it's super sturdy and high quality. down fall is that since it is quality made and bigger than other pack n' plays that it's a bit heavier.
7. the baby carrier... what we went with: baby bjorn, $79.99-120. and why? we had the same baby bjorn for my daughter milla when she was a baby and she loved it. it comes in neutral colors which i like, so it's not a big fashion faux-pas and it's sturdy and makes me feel like baby is safe and staying put. we are looking for a second baby carrier that swaddles to have for when the bird is teeny tiny, but haven't purchased one just yet. i'll keep you posted on which one we decide to go with, but the baby bjorn is great and i have no complaints.
8. the gro egg color changing thermometer, $24.99. and why? i saw this little device while shopping at babies r' us one day and just had to have it. our birds room is upstairs, small and gets really hot during the summer time and really cold during the winter. this little egg shows when the room is the perfect temperature and glows so you have the perfect night light.
9. baby seat... what we went with: bumbo baby sitter seat, around $40. and why? we decided to get a bumbo baby seat because a) it seems like a genius little seat to help babies sit up before they can on their own. b) i've seen so many other babies enjoy their bumbos. c) it comes on a variety of colors including some really cool retro ones. we bought the lime one. d) it has a little tray that attaches to it for play time or feeding time. these little seats are tough to find in the good colors and seem to be sold out most of the time online so keep your eyes peeled.
and there you have it! my very first bird list post. i hope it helped some of you mama's in the baby gear department. i have a 'what i still need to buy' list in the works along with a 'baby bird wish list' coming shortly.
these lists are made of my own personal recommendations and opinions. i know that every baby is different and some babies prefer different products. this is my third baby bird and i still had questions so this list is meant to be helpful and of course comments and suggestions are appreciated and welcomed.
have a lovely monday! xo, j.
p.s. mixed tape & style muse posts coming this week!
