Now that my little one has hit the 6-month mark, I have a whole new list of favorite baby products from the 3 to 6 month time period.
- Baby Brezza One Step Baby Food Maker: I’ve just started my son on solids, and this device has worked miracles. Allow me to explain. I never set out to make my own baby food – but after checking out all the options on the market, I simply decided that I wasn’t overly thrilled with any of them. So then I had to overcome my next challenge: I CAN’T COOK. (Seriously. Throwing a frozen pizza into the oven presents me with a myriad of challenges). So if I was going to go the make-it-myself route, it had better be E-A-S-Y. I checked out the Baby Bullet and other like devices, but the big issue for me was the number of steps everything took. First I would have to chop the veggies. Then I would have to steam the veggies (either the old fashioned away or by purchasing a separate steaming device). Then I would have to puree the veggies using the Baby Bullet or like device. Then clean-up. Call me lazy, but that’s just too many steps for me. Enter Baby Brezza. This device handles the steaming and the pureeing ALL IN ONE. So now I can buy organic fruits and veggies from Whole Foods, chop them (or for time-pressed folks like myself, buy them pre-chopped), dump them into the Baby Brezza, press a couple of buttons, and VOILA: 15-25 minutes later I have a BPA-free canister of fresh homemade baby food. Miracle accomplished.
- Fisher Price Luv U Zoo Jumperoo: My baby absolutely loves this contraption. His face lights up whenever we carry him over to it, and he can happily bounce and turn and bounce some more for up to a good hour (even crying when being taken out). We actually got it for him a couple of months ago. At that point, he was too short to touch the floor (we used a stack of three books), but he still loved it. Mommy and Daddy weren’t quite as enamored, however, because he hadn’t yet figured out how to bounce himself – so guess who was stuck sitting there bouncing him. Fun for a while, yes, but not practical if you’re setting him into the seat to get a quick chore or two done – especially since any attempt to stop bouncing him would result in wails. But now – we love it. He can self-entertain and we can get a few dishes washed or pieces of laundry folded. And he loves the toy attachments; he reaches for the hanging toys and spins the rattles. I especially like that while HE is mobile, the toy is NOT. So once he’s set into it, he’s not going anywhere until we take him out.
- Fisher Price Space Saver High Chair: My house has begun to resemble a Chuck E. Cheese with all the toys, bouncers, playpens, and swings laying around. The last thing I needed (or wanted) was another huge apparatus in the living/dining area. I was so happy to hear about this space saving high chair through a friend’s recommendation. It snaps to any chair with a skid-resistant bottom and back strap, has a 5-point harness, a dishwasher-safe table, and a table that is latch-able and releasable with one hand (while the baby is in the other). And my son gets to sit at the table with us while we all eat. An added bonus – it’s cheaper than most standalone high chairs (and more portable should that need arise). For us it was a no-brainer. We love it and so does our messy eater.
- Munchkin Shampoo Rinser: What’s that saying – It’s the simple things? While this is a simple thing that helps oh-so-much. It’s a soft/flexible shampoo rinser, just as its name indicates. WHY do you need this? Because it is so soft that it will mold to your baby’s head – which means that you can tilt your baby’s head back, press this towards the top of his forehead (where it will bend and give), and then rinse his hair without getting any water in his eyes. I like that it’s big, holds a lot of water, and has a one-piece design. Nice added convenience for bath time.
- The Mommy Hook: Now why didn’t I think of this? My nanny actually told me about it. It’s simply a hook that you can quickly hang on the handlebar of your stroller to carry diaper bags, grocery bags, purses, etc. So handy! If considering, you may want to check out Home Depot first – I hear they have hooks that are the same idea and design, but for almost a third of the cost. Either way, a great and useful idea.
- HALO Sleepsack: Once we stopped swaddling our baby, we started looking for alternatives to help him stay warm at night without keeping loose sheets or blankets in the crib (a big no-no for SIDS). Now we love HALO Sleepsacks. We zip them up right over his long-sleeved onesie (or PJs, depending on temperature) and he is good to go for the night. They do a good job of keeping him warm but not overheating him (also a concern for SIDS). We have both the cotton and microfleece versions and alternate depending on season. They are roomy and the sizes are big enough that you won’t be using one size bracket up within a few weeks.
- BOB Ironman Running Stroller: Prior to purchasing this stroller, we had been gifted a Jeep All-Terrain Stroller. The Jeep stroller is great for its own purposes, but we incorrectly and dangerously assumed it was a running stroller. Although we did notice that the front wheel swiveled, and that sometimes the stroller seemed unbalanced when jogging up or down hills, we didn’t have anything to compare it to so thought this was normal. Unfortunately (or fortunately, in our case), one day the front wheel exploded when filling it with too much air. That prompted us to search for a replacement wheel, which prompted us to review the Jeep website, where we were horrified to learn that this particular stroller is NOT meant for jogging and should never be used for that purpose. We immediately went on the search for a stroller that IS meant for jogging, and came across the BOB Ironman. By no means the cheapest jogging stroller, for us, it appeared the best. It offers a fixed front wheel (which we learned was far superior in safety to a swiveling wheel when running), easy-to-operate hand and foot brakes, a safety strap, and a surprisingly smooth ride. There is even a small basket where our little dog rides during our runs (spoiled, I know). Our baby is still in his infant car seat, so we also purchased the Infant Car Seat Adaptor which provides a reassuringly secure fit (unlike our other stroller which relies on a strap and a balance on the tray). Finally, my husband also purchased the Handlebar Console which is a negligible convenience for carrying bottled water and zipping up your keys and wallet. All in all, a pretty pricey package, but well worth it if you’re an avid runner (as this stroller is rated up to 70 pounds). One of our best purchases that we utilize almost daily.
- Aveeno Baby Lotion: After trying almost all different baby lotion brands packaged in cute pink and blue bottles, I could never seem to get rid of the red bumpy rash my son would always get. I knew I had to moisturize, but I was pretty certain that the moisturizers themselves were causing his rash. My pediatrician’s wife recommended I try Aveeno Baby. WOW. Within a day of using it, his rash completely and permanently cleared up. It’s rich and creamy with a pleasant scent, but not the harsh perfumy scent of the other baby lotion brands. I will be sticking with this one.
- All Free & Clear Laundry Detergent: After getting caught up in the hype of Dreft baby detergent (which granted, is an excellent detergent), I couldn’t justify the premium cost on an ongoing basis. So I decided to test out a few other brands. BY FAR, the best I have found for my baby’s sensitive skin is All Free & Clear detergent. And at almost half the cost of Dreft, I can feel good knowing that I’m saving a bit of dinero.
- Wee Wee Puppy Pads: Puppy pads as a favorite baby product?? Hear me out. When giving birth, I noticed that the labor and delivery bed was covered in puppy pee pads. Think absorption. I now stock these at home for the baby as well (it’s convenient that I also have a small dog who uses the same pads – so they actually share the supply). Anyway, I lay them over the changing tables, on the counter for before/after sink baths, stock them in diaper bags, basically anywhere where the baby may be laying “unprotected” (aka undiapered) for any period of time. They’re cheap and they work! Many a furniture top has been protected from a baby fountain or blowout.
So there you have it. My latest batch of favorite baby products. What are yours for the 3-6 month timeframe?
35mommy 