With baby #3, I keep thinking of those “If I knew then what I know now” items I wished I’d purchased (or gone without) with my first two children. Some of these are practical “will buys,” others are “would be nice,” and some, unfortunately, will probably never graduate from “wishes”. But it’s always fun to dream, so here we go.
Big Wishes:
1. A slim, lightweight infant carrier. I selected our Graco car seat system 5 years ago based on the price and positive reviews/ratings. As a first time mom, it seemed ideal. After using it with two babies, I can now say it is most likely the bulkiest and heaviest infant carrier on the market. Can anyone suggest a safe, lightweight, affordable carrier?
2. A Double Breast Pump that might actually help me pump more than 1 ounce at a time from each side. I really want to successfully pump with #3 because I think it will be a sanity saver for both me and my husband. Any suggestions for an affordable, effective pump or an affordable way to rent a high-quality one?
3. A Baba Sling from Toots n’ Tots. I am determined to be a “babywearing” mama this time around. I have a Sleepy Wrap sling that I tried out with Ezra when he was 1 and liked. I think it would be nice to have options, though, and the Baba Sling looks like an ideal sling for mom and dad. Plus, I love the features for comfortably and discreetly breastfeeding on the go!
4. A Brooke Van Gory Diaper Bag. If you’ve read my blog for awhile, you know I’ve been drooling over these completely custom bags for a very long time. I love the matching wet bag that clips on the outside and I think this is a bag that will endure beyond diapering. The kind of bag you’d want to carry around long after you were done toting diapers.
5. A Sit and Stand Stroller, the type that can accommodate a little one and an active toddler. This seems like such a great solution for trips to the mall, zoos, amusement parks, etc. I think Ezra (and sometimes Ella) would love it!
6. Extra Large Swaddling Blankets. Swaddling has been a lifesaver at our house and I’d love to have some large blankets that last! Anyone know a SAHM who makes these at an affordable price?
6. A Co-Sleeper. This is a maybe, but maybe this will help curb some of the late-night nursing exhaustion that comes from nursing. I can just see my husband’s reaction: Too much money. I am curious, though. Anyone have a co-sleeper they love or who would/wouldn’t recommend one?
Smaller Wishes with links from Shops I love:
Maxwell Designs Diaper Bags, Wet bags, changing pads, and onesies. These are sold at the same Toots n’ Tots shop that sells the Baba sling. Maggie, the owner of the store and creator of Maxwell Designs, is wonderful and has exquisite taste!
An Amber Teething Necklace. I’d love to see if this really soothes all that ails a teething baby.
Cloth Diapers: 3D DeebleDdo, Applecheeks, Smartipants, and some Nifty Nappy Woolie Wraps. (Plus, I’d love to try some new brands too!)
Cloth Diaper Inserts: I’m crazy about the Loopy Dos from Knickernappies and the Super Doopsy inserts. Both add ideal extra absorbency for heavy wetters.
A Wipes Warmer. I know this is a luxury, but I would love to keep wet cloth wipes in one at home.
Cloth Wipes from Wipeze and a cute Travel Case for them. because you can, seriously, never have enough. I saw a cute travel case during the Green Quest, but can’t recall the store. Anyone else remember?
A new fuzzibunz hanging wet bag. Mine is losing its waterproof liner.
Phew. This list got quite a bit longer than expected, but it’s so fun to dream!
What am I missing? Share some love for your favorite baby items and shops!
I have the ameda purely yours double breast pump and 1 month in am getting at least 4 oz every time I pump. I purchased mine online just google ameda. congratulations on Baby #3!!
I think ours was medela? when I was pumping full time (and right before I stopped and went cold turkey to nursing).. I was getting 16 ounces (9 from 1, 7 from the other).. I think you really have to train your breasts to perform tricks, though, because when I pumped to stash for my surgery it took a few days to get it up and going again, even though I had the milk, my boob was like, are you kidding? This is NOT a baby, not giving it up.. stuck up boobs, anyway 😉
Also My mom and another lady from church, just got some nice flannel and sewed 40×40 blankets for us. They have been in use (well, from newborn until rolling over, and then from 1 year to now, and are still in great shape).. so probably 18 months. A local embroidery shop could even put fancy edges on the blankets, the lady from church that did ours had a machine that did hearts on one, stars on another and ..hm.. something else on the third.. Anyway, basically all you need is the heavy pieces of flannel and the edges sewn shut. We swaddled with them for a long time. You just have to get used to the extra bulk and tucking it under!
I used theArm’s Reach Co-Sleeper. It was a god-send.
🙂
I have a Sit and Stand Stroller and I LOVE it!!! We got it when I was pregnant with Molly. Molly still sits in the front with Elley on and off in the back. We got the deluxe with the jump seat for the back so it was both a double stroller and a sit and stand….if that makes any sense at all. It allowed Molly to be in an infant carrier in the front and Elley had a 5 point buckle seat in the back (she wasn’t even 2 when Molly was born)Then, when she was old enough we took the seat out and she was able stand…..or sit without the buckle. It’s a great stroller….I like it anyway.
XL swaddling blankets are so easy to make! They were a lifesaver around our house too. Little Bud was a crazy sleeper even then, so we definitely needed the biggest ones so I could keep him wrapped up. I will happily help you for free! Email me if you want…
Great list! Let me know if you get and like the sit n stand, I haven’t been sure if I would like them. I used a double pump but I don’t remember the name, I would always get 4-8oz out of one and 4ish out of the other.
See what happens when I go and get busy and slack off my blog reading??? People go and announce they are pregnant and I MISS it!!!
Congratulations! How exciting!
-Ally
great list Mindy! I have a sit and stand stroller… It’s ok but the problem I found with it is, with a older child it’s sometimes hard to steer the stroller. My son was 3 when I bought this one and my daughter was about 6 months. It did it’s job but it was short lived since I didn’t have the strength to push it around much. Trips to the mall where a horror with the stroller but it was great for long days out since it gave my son a place to sit when he got tired. I left the pushing to my husband on those days… My favorite stroller of all time is a Maclaren… If you’re looking for a double stroller look into one of them! much easier to push… I have a single Volo and wish I would have bought it 10 stroller ago!
Great List Mindy!
I have stories about the Sit N Stand… you might want to just go with a double stroller that holds up to 35 lbs in a seat.. Maclaren is one of the best… Sit N Stand is hard to push when you start getting close to the weight limit and if the stand seated child is off centered at all the stroller is next to impossible to steer… I have a single Maclaren Volo right now and wish I’d have bought it 10 strollers ago!