Baby Gear I (clothes), Baby Gear II (sleeping, eating, diapering, grooming) Okay, here is the final baby gear installment, including playtime, hanging out, and getting out of the house! These are the things we've found useful to have for the first few months of having a babe. In and around the house:
- bouncer (its nice to have one you can move around the house while the baby is in it, not one that collapses)
- swing
- playmat or "gym" that dangles toys
- after 3-4 months, an exersaucer or jumper (nice, but not necessary!)
- some kind of high chair (not needed until 5-6 months and up)
- Bumbo Seat or similar product (definitely not necessary, but fun and handy, for sure!) Note: At first, I didn't think we'd need both a bouncer and a swing. Supposedly, babies tend to take to one or the other as a favorite. We found the bouncer to be invaluable in the early months as a place to put the baby, awake or asleep, during the day. We moved it all around the house, wherever we were. She was never really soothed by it, though, like some babies are, though she was fine sitting in it for a bit here and there. The swing we got later, and it, too, is a good soother and occupier for a short time here and there, and every once in awhile she sleeps in it. Many people swear by it for getting their babies to sleep....but ours, of course, is not all that taken with it. Real arms a sooooo much better....
- high contrast pictures or mobile
- baby mirror (This one is intensely popular at our house!)
- 5-10+ infant toys, of various sizes, shapes, and textures. I like the Lamaze and Manhattan Toy brands, but there are tons of other great ones out there too!
- pack of interlocking rings for dangling toys
- stacking cups for bath
- floating toys for bath (mostly for 4 months and up)
- board books with bright colors and bold pictures. Baby faces are a hit!
- carseat, either an infant style or convertible (see my post about carseats and the advice I was given -- we ended up getting an infant seat, and it has come in handy, though I really try to avoid carrying it around all that much.
- baby mirror for car -- really nice to have so you can see the baby!
- diaper bag, stocked with stuff
- stroller 1
- sling, wrap, or other soft carrier 2
