Baby Got STUFF. ~(updated)~

By popular demand, here's a list of some of our favorite baby products (so far!). Keep in mind, we live in less than 300 square feet of space, so we don't have a lot of the common essentials in our home. I'll be updating this as we go! 

Rule #1 of baby necessities: look for hand-me-downs of anything you're comfortable with taking used. Look on Facebook marketplace. Look at garage sales. 

Some hot soapy water or antibacterial wipes can go a long way for a lot of things, cause believe me, baby stuff gets expensive really quickly.

Rule #2: Put anything and everything you want on your baby registry. 

Don't forget about yourself! 

Most registries have the option to mark certain items as preferred, that way you can encourage folks to buy certain things and then use that percent off coupon after your baby shower to buy anything you didn't get. 

BEABA formula dispenser- can be found at Target or Amazon. 

I find it to be more fitting in a diaper bag than the circular dispensers, and honestly just cuter.  

Oball everythinggggg- found on Amazon, Walmart or Target

These toys are fantastic for little hands. Easy to grasp, softer plastic, circle links to connect toys to each other, a stroller or especially the Oball Activity Arch. 

The Arch has clamps that thread to tighten so you can attach it to virtually anything. 

Our lactation consultant said they're also great because the holes encourage infants to stick their tongue out when they bring the toy to their mouth to taste and explore it, as tiny enquiring minds love to do. 

Boon Drying Rack- found at Target.

We love the Boon Lawn (their biggest of the drying racks) because to be honest, we simply don't have much of any room in the cabinets to store Atlas's bottles and my pump parts. So, they chill on the drying rack. 

A spoil I bought was the Boon travel lawn, thinking we wouldn't use it much. Now I take it for any overnight trip we go on! It's just big enough to be practical, it's easy to keep clean,  and even fits in the diaper bag in a pinch. The real saving grace is it has brushes in the lid.

Pacifier tethers- found at Walmart, Amazon or Target

With a small loop on one end and a clip at the other, these bad boys can be used for pacifiers, toys, burp cloths, anything your babe loves to "accidentally" drop constantly. 

FridaBaby MediFrida- found at Target

This little pacifier is a lifesaver. As pictured below, you can insert an oral medicine syringe into the center, in order to give your little what they need without all the mess and fuss. I'm especially thankful we have this when Atlas is falling asleep.

B. Foam Playmat- found at Target. 

Honestly, pick a playmat. Any playmat. But when babies get to moving boy can they MOVE. This is easier to clean than carpet, and softer than bonking his little head on the linoleum as he learns to crawl.

Manhattan Toy Co. Skwish- found at Target

This is Atlas's favorite toy right now, at five months old. It's made of wooden beads and rods, but the design of it is deceptive. It can squish nearly flat in your hands, so it's not as rough for them to play with as you think. Easy to clean, colorful and just a little noisy as all the best toys are. 

Summer Glimpse Digital Video Baby Monitor- found at Target

When making our registry, I made it blatantly clear to my husband that I thought he was ridiculous for wanting a video monitor. I figured our house is smaller than the average hotel room. I've seen bathrooms bigger than our home. Why do we need a video monitor when we can hear him from anywhere in the house?? 

I apologized to my husband after one week of having this monitor. 

I'm so glad we got it. 

It's a wonderful compromise as far as price goes, and it's just perfect for first time parents like us. If you press the button you can see the feed for 10 seconds before it turns the screen black, but continues to pick up sound. It has great reception and quality, and it's compact all the way around. 

Downside, the range of the monitor is only about 80 feet, and it doesn't record or send to your phone or anything fancy. 

Still, I love being able to see him just for a second, then go back to my chores as i let him sleep. If you want a video monitor on a budget, this one is definitely the way to go. 

FridaBaby NoseFrida- Target

Can you tell we're fans of FridaBaby products?? Real talk, this thing is invaluable. Unless you're Matthew, who cannot stand even the sight of me using this when our kid has a stuffy nose. 

It's a great alternative to the old school bulb nasal sucker, and all of the parts are easy to clean. The sponge filter keeps you from ingesting any snot, and is changed each time. 

*Bonus!* 

Hugg-A-Planet Earth-

I just want to add this one because dude, Atlas loves it so much! We got it as a gift. Holds up to a wash and it's soft, fluffy, and so colorful. Atlas loves to just stare at all the colors and one day we'll use it for learning, too! 

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**Edited To Add** 5/30

Atlas is nine months old! When did that happen!?

Here's some more things that we've come to love these past few months. 

Chicco Pocket Snack Booster Seat- found at Target

We went in search of a compact, collapsible highchair, and I was shocked at the prices throughout. Not to mention too many parts and too many crevices for food to get lost in on all of them. 

Matthew noticed this one on the top shelf and it was even the most reasonably priced! It's labeled as a booster to be attached to a traditional dining chair in order to save space, but it can be used on the floor without the feet extended. We don't use our dining room table as a table, we keep it collapse in the bed form to work as a couch. So this little chair couldn't be more perfect. It's approved for use for 6 months old to 3 years old! It has a three point harness, extendable legs, and an adjustable tray. 

Skip Hop Explore & More Baby's View 3-Stage Activity Center- second hand find, available on Amazon and Target

After researching bouncers, walkers, and tables (oh my!) we decided to look for a bouncer or activity table as Atlas got more and more mobile. I found this one on a second hand site and drove nearly an hour to pick it up. For nearly a quarter of the retail price, it was worth it. It is an a activity table, not a bouncer, but Atlas loves it regardless. The seat portion is completely washable, the bottom platform is adjustable, all of the toys are completely removable. When Atlas outgrows it, the bottom platform detaches and attaches to the top to form a table Atlas can sit or stand at. Multifunctional for the win!

Grabease Infant Utensils- Amazon.com

Now that Atlas has met all the signs of readiness, we've begun baby-led weaning! It's wonderfully fun, terribly messy, and a learning experience for all of us. We found that these utensils are easier for Atlas to grasp and bring to his mouth, and seem to be more comfortable for him. A little pricier than traditional baby spoons, but as we are letting Atlas navigate learning to feed himself rather than feeding him, they're worth it.