Wow, as a parent we are overwhelmed by things; gadgets, furniture, electronics, all of which is supposed to make life easier as a parent. Often, I've found myself on line at a store with a cart full of things then asking myself, "Do I really need all this stuff?" and of course I don't. So after I put it all back, I swear not to do that again. But gosh it's hard. There's so much we need, or do we?
In all seriousness, how much does a baby need? Besides the basics; love, food, shelter, clothing what is a must? Well when we went on a search of all things baby, no way did I realize how so many of the items that attracted us were European. The first and foremost is the
Maxi Cosi car seats. For practical reasons we initially bought the convertible car seat and after a month of trying it out we invested in the
Maxi Cosi Mico, which is really a life saver on baby and mama. The infant seat also has adapters for our awesome
Bugaboo Frog, which is small but rugged enough for our SF sidewalks.
Another must is the
Stokke crib. I really don't know what I would have done without it. It's been the best investment. We didn't use the sleep system which includes the bassinet. But our little guy didn't mind the largeness of the crib once we transitioned him out of our bed. The sleek oval curves and gliding wheels make this a must for all parents. The baby stayed in our room for 4 months and occasionally comes back when we use his room for guests. If we had a stationary crib there would be no way we could or even should move the crib in/out of rooms.
Now at 5 months we are on to all things solid. So the highchair and feeding system are very high on the priority list. We love the
Svan highchair and
Beaba Babycook (and so does Edward). The highchair is also a beautiful piece of well made furniture. It has a great adjustable height and width as well as a sturdy base and a removable dishwasher safe tray.
Our Beaba Babycook is also marvelous. It steams, chops and defrosts all in one! It's really light and mobile, making it simple to pack up for vacations. For moms who want good wholesome foods for their babies, this is a another must-have. Also great for busy moms, there's the option of cooking and then freezing the food in
baby trays which pop-out for single use feedings. Edward also loves their
spoons. He has no problem holding the spoon and feeding himself, it's wonderful to watch.
Besides the fact these products are safe, environmentally friendly and good looking, they are also so simple and practical. There are too many products on the market that lack those traits. Another important factor is that both the Stokke and the Svan grow with our baby. I think it's genius!
I'd love to hear about your favorite must-haves.
Love Lots,
MommySF
