Ashley’s Baby Essentials
I’m a mom. I’m an architect. And I’m a VERY picky consumer. My favorite types of products are: space efficient, beautifully & thoughtfully designed, time savers, reasonably priced (though in some cases I’m willing to spend a little more for better quality).
If you’re trying to figure out what to get the pregnant woman in your life, this is a great place to start! All of these make amazing baby gifts.
PS. Big thanks to all my mom friends who recommended (or loaned to me or purchased for me) MANY of these products.
PPS. I have zero financial incentive to recommend these products
Bed Time
DIY Swinging Crib
My dad made us a swinging crib that currently hangs at the foot of our bed. Apparently my siblings and I all had one. Dad attached a rope to the bottom that allows us to rock the swing while we’re lying in bed. It’s AMAZING.
Borrowed from a friend. Perfect until about 2 months when we moved Leona to the swinging crib.
Leona still sleeps in this thing! (It fits right in the swinging crib.) LOVE it. Easy to clean, easy to carry, comfy, safe. And SO dang cute.
We didn’t purchase one until Leona spent some time in the hospital with heart issues. Now it provides invaluable peace of mind. We haven’t had the false alarm issues that many reviews talk about.
Leona calms down as soon as we turn this on. I love that we can carry it around the house or throw it in our diaper bag.
Love the velcro & the shape. Easy to use.
Baby Gear
My friends love this one but we got a smaller, simpler one second hand for $5! It’s worked great so far.
Perfect for when they’re in between the Baby Bjorn and sitting up.
Soother, lovey, and best friend all in one. We own multiple.
We ALL love this thing. Leona will jump in it forever, especially if we play music.
I researched the heck out of this and am very glad we went with the Jolly Jumper. It just fits her little body better than the less expensive options.
Our saving grace in the first few months. Just get one. You won’t regret it. Also, it folds up nice and small.
Travel
Love this carseat. Mostly how easy it is to click into the car or stroller. The button on the handle is ESSENTIAL. The only thing I don’t love: the head padding wasn’t great for a tiny newborn.
We bought two extras. One for for our other car and one for my MIL.
Great for crappy weather. Equally great for a baby COVID shield.
Got this second hand from a friend. Bought the car seat to go along with it. Love how easily it folds up. Just chuck it in the trunk.
Also, some people say, “You don’t need a stroller. A carrier will help you bond with baby AND drop the pregnancy weight.” To that I say, “My body already hurts, carrier makes it worse. Give me the stroller!”
Stable, shatterproof, wide viewing window, affordable.
We got 3 hand-me-down carriers: Lillebaby, OnyaBaby, & Baby Bjorn. So far the Baby Bjorn is our favorite.
Just trust me on this one. Incredibly comfy for both parties involved. :)
These glasses are SO stinkin cute. And really quite useful. (Model: Baby Leona!)
Feeding
We started Leona on formula around 3 months. She tolerated this very well. Fun fact: most humans digest goat milk more easily than cow milk.
Honestly, we still haven’t found a good bottle warmer. We’ve owned two so far and we still have to use a meat thermometer to know when the milk is ready. But I prefer this warmer over the more expensive Avent warmer. It heats more quickly and with less water.
Haven’t used this yet but I think every kid needs one. Parents need comic relief whenever possible.
First we bought a fancy bottle brush. It broke so we went back to the basics.
Love this thing. Great for our tiny kitchen.
Bath Time
Love this thing. Collapses and stores in the 6” gap next to our vanity cabinet. Great size for growing baby.
Diapering
So functional. Wipes right off.
My friend loves this one (no pad cover necessary) but we got ours for $5 second hand and just took it to the dry cleaner before using.
Fantastic stuff. Smells great. Still haven’t had a single diaper rash!
These basic muslin squares are incredibly handy. Just the right balance of soft and absorbent.
Super functional. And fashionable for me AND husband.
Nursery & Decor
We put pieces of this all over our house. Easy to create play space on our hardwood floors. Only negative: I don’t love that the letters come out. Wish I’d bought something with one-piece squares.
Safe. Affordable. Good enough.
Big ticket item worth every penny. Glad I got it in a dark color, stains don’t show.
One of the few that doesn’t use wifi. (I’m a little paranoid about creepy people.) Huge screen. Functional. Love it.
Fun, easy, and removable nursery decor.
Health & Safety
Hilariously named and surprisingly effective. Saved our butts a few times. Pun intended!
Books (a few favorites)
Baby Clothes
Soft, comfy, easy to dress baby.
Putting a long sleeve onesie on a baby is torture… I like this brand for other clothes, too.
For Pregnancy
Clothes
• Target for pregnancy joggers and t-shirts.
• Breastfeeding tank tops from Bamboobies.
• Latched Mama for affordable breast-feeding clothes.
• Seraphine for everything else.
Love this one. Mostly organic and from real food.
Ridiculously expensive but WORTH EVERY PENNY. If a friend hadn’t gifted it, I never would have bought it. Now I don’t know what I would have done without it.
For the New Mom
It may feel weird to buy this stuff but Momma will thank you. Trust me. The supplies they give you at the hospital SUCK.
Other Stuff
Food!
When friends ask how they can help, ask for food! Home cooked dinners, snacks you can eat with one hand. Anything freezable.
We’re still working through our freezer stash. It’s amazing.
Toys
We didn’t put any toys on our wishlist. We figured people would buy us their favorites without being asked. We were right! Leona has more toys than she can possibly play with.
I know it seems weird but having a reliable weather station has been so helpful. Did tons of research before buying this one.