Hi everyone and happy Thursday!! I thought, that after 10 years of parenthood and five (I still can’t believe it) babies…it’s time to share the baby products I love and use religiously.
If you hang on until the end of the post, you can enter to win two of my favorite products. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments and I will answer there!
Oh- and we haven’t navigated teething with Cora yet (like all my other chickies, she’s a toothless wonder!) but I’ll share my teething favorites at a later date. It’s highly possible I forgot something, and if I did I’ll just add it on later.
Enjoy!
- Little Giraffe Blankets // Cate and Lucy have the large versions of this blanket and they are worn to shreds. They are still so soft, though. Cora has the version below and has to rub it on her face to go to sleep. So sweet. We love Little Giraffe.
2. Fisher Price Rainforest Jumparoo // All of my babies have LOVED their Jumparoos. This is probably the only toy that all five have adored.
3. Halo SleepSack // These are perfect for transitioning from swaddling. They also keep little legs warm without the suffocation hazard.
4. Organic Thermal Swaddle Blankets // I like the muslin blankets for itty bitty babies, but I think the stretchy thermal/waffle blankets are the BEST swaddle blankets around. All of our babies have loved being swaddled and I think that’s why we have such great sleepers. The nurses in the Italian hospital (where I gave birth to Cora) asked Jimmy for swaddling lessons!
5. HappyBaby Teething Biscuits // Cora is not that great at crackers/etc. She chokes easily and these are the only wafers she can tolerate. They are AWESOME. I also love HappyBaby baby foods.
6. Avent Bottles // I’ve tried ALL of the bottles out there. I like the Medela bottles for teeny babies, but these are my favorite bottles over all. They hold up beautifully over time, too.
7. Tula Baby Carrier // I don’t like this one for newborns, even with the insert. See my newborn rec below. But I do LOVE my Tula. Cora, not so much. Okay, let’s be honest. She hates being worn. Like…she shoves off of me with both hands and screams. Independent much? GAH! I use it anyway. It’s a lifesaver when grocery shopping!
8. BinxyBaby Shopping Cart Hammock // BUY THIS NOW. Just do it. It’s a game changer. Truly. Every time I was out with this hammock I got stopped. I contacted the business to get business cards to hand out. True story!!
Oh, and I’m giving away one today! Read to the end of the post to see how to enter.
9. Moby Wrap // THIS is what I carry my newborns in. It snuggles them right up to you, just like they are back in the belly. It takes some practice (it’s one long piece of fabric you have to learn to tie) but is fabulous.
10. White Noise Machine // I’ve tried many and purchased many iPhone apps. THIS is my favorite. We even take it with us when we travel.
11. Boudreaux’s Butt Paste // Magic. Tiny baby butt magic. We’ve used this on many tiny Howell hineys.
12. Ella’s Kitchen Baby Food Pouches // We use this brand for Cora’s dinner pouches. She loves every single one of them.
13. MAM pacifiers // We’ve bought them all, we’ve tried them all, we’ve probably lost them all. But MAM is the Howell family winner for best paci.
14. Honest Bubble Bath // Honest Shampoo+Body Wash // These smell delicious and are natural. I use them on all five girls, but mainly Cora. Sometimes I add them on to my monthly bundle, sometimes I order them from Amazon or grab them at Target.
15. Itzy Ritzy Nursing Infinity Scarf // So cute and functional too. I didn’t really need it in Italy though- people are far less judgmental of nursing mamas there. But I still loved it when I did use it!
Oh, and also I’m giving one of these away today! Read to the end of the post to see how to enter.
16. Honest Company Dipes and Wipes Bundles // I wish I would have had this service for all of my girls. Cora has never had a blowout or rash in these diapers. Plus the patterns are TO DIE FOR. I have never regretted paying for a bundle. This would make a great shower gift,too.
17. My BrestFriend Nursing Pillow // SO SO SO much better than the Boppy. I mean.. no contest. Every new mama needs one of these. There is a travel version,too.
18. LittleHighbury Headbands // I won’t even admit how many of these Miss Cora owned at one point. HA! How CUTE are these? And I love supporting mama-run small businesses.
19. Earth’s Best Baby Food Pouches // Yes, I know I can make my own baby food. But…COME ON. That ain’t happening. More power to those of you who do, and as Amy Poehler would say… “Good for you, not for me.” I had the best of intentions, but when it came down to it, I bought some dang pouches. Cora especially loves the fruits mixed with oatmeal and brown rice.
20. Rock N’ Play // This is a new discovery to me, these weren’t around when my other girls were babies. We LOVED our Rock N’ Play. Cora loved it. It was her happy place. 🙂
21. Nose Frida // yet another new baby item. And YES. I know it looks gross. Jimmy refuses to do it. But..people, it’s another game changer. And theres a filter. A filter. The snot is not going in your mouth. Trust me here, this thing is amazing.
22. Gerber Cloth Diapers // These make the absolute best burp cloths. The best. I have used them religiously for all five babies.
Okay, here’s where I’d like to throw in a couple of pre-baby/childbirth suggestions. I decided pretty early on that I wanted to try to have Cora without an epidural. I think I was successful due to a lot of things, but I definitely credit the two things below. The whole story will have to be saved for another day. Maybe I’ll finally write that birth story?
23. Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth // I learned SO much from this book. So much about what my body was capable of. It totally changed the way I looked at childbirth.
24. Hypnobabies // I did not get to study this program as much as I should have. Hello..I had four other littles. I didn’t dedicate enough time to the program, and I admit that. But this helped me prepare for labor and helped me get through some really bad contractions in the hospital. I totally believe in the power of Hypnobabies.
Comment below for a chance to win a Nursing Infinity Scarf (value of $25 – #15 above) or a BinxyBaby Shopping Cart Hammock (value of $49.95 – #8 above). Please specify which item you would rather win. I will announce the winner on next Wednesday. International entrants welcome!
Good Luck!!
xoxo
Stephanie
This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. If you aren’t into that, then don’t use the links- that’s okay too! xoxo
The rock n play and nose Frieda were my favorite finds for my last little one. 🙂
Awesome list!!! Love it. I’d go for the shopping hammock. What a cool thing! 🙂
I’m doing pretty good! I have about half of these already!! Go me! Definitely need to get the grocery cart thing though. What age do you use that through?
Claire has a little giraffe blanket, a gift from my aunt, and I honestly don’t think she could live without it.
The rock and play was also a new found love and I now have 2 for our upcoming baby, one for upstairs and one for down. It was perfect for my reflux baby.
Thank you for the contest opportunity – the baby hammock is my preference – how cool!
I love that hammock for the grocery cart, omg, where was that when my babies were tiny?!?!
I’m definitely going to check out Ina May’s book! I read some of her breast feeding book 4 years ago.
I’d love to win the hammock (#8)!
Emily
Mannnn I forgot to come pick up the rock and play from you before you left…. ooops! We made it though. The cloth diapers are my favorites for any kind of mess! Great post.
Love all these recommendations! Baby is due in three weeks. The infinity nursing scarf would be my preference if I were to win. Cute and functional!
Hi, I’m Victoria s mom. I’m so glad you did this list. I’m not expecting but my little (okay barely 2 yrs apart) sister is expecting her firat and I’m already looking for cool stuffs for her.
Does the baby hammock fits european cart aka french cart? Thanks
Love your blog, Stephanie! Baby #4 and loving this list, but haven’t seen the BinxyBaby cart hammock before. I think sweet Olivia might need this in her life! Crossing fingers!!! Thanks!!!
I would love the hammock! Sometimes using my Moby wrap is hard when doing major grocery shopping alone. This would make things so much easier!!
I would love the BinxyBaby Shopping Cart Hammock! And by the way i love seeing pictures of your sweet girls 🙂
Thanks for sharing your helpful tips!! This new gig with twins is a game changer!! I’m always looking for new products, and reviews from experienced parents! I know you’ve got a lot of experience with kids, twins, etc 🙂
I love the cart hammock-what a neat idea! The website even showed an example with 2!!
This post came at the perfect time 🙂 It’s probably supposed to be easier the second time, but I feel way more overwhelmed prepping for this baby. I’m usually not that into birth stories, but I would love to hear yours! I’m especially interested in your experience since I’m getting ready to give birth here in Italy. Which is totally awesome, but still — yikes!
I’d love to win the hammock 🙂
Great recommendations!
The grocery cart hammock would be awesome!
We’ve used the same bouncer for all three of our kids and I have to agree. I’d love the hammock. Super cool!
I love the little hammock! Looks absolutely perfect for shopping with littles!
Due with baby #3 any day now! I’d love to win the hammock!
My daughter is expecting (probably boy) #3. She would love the shopping cart hammock. Thanks for the give away.
Love that your blogging again! I need more Howell in my life!
Definitely the shopping cart carrier!
My little just turned two weeks old. I’d love to win the BinxyBaby shopping cart hammock!
Love this! Thank you! I used and loved lots of these items and look forward to trying some of the others! 🙂 I would like to win the hammock!
Thanks
Great recommendations! I’m due in Nov & I would love to try that shopping cart hammock…I’ve never seen them before until you!
I enjoyed reading your recommendations and I would love the shopping cart hammock.
Shopping cart hammock!!!
Loved this post! That grocery cart hammock looks like a game changer!
If I’m the lucky winner, I’d love to try that out with my newest little. 🙂
I read the Ina May book too, to prepare for my last birth, but then freaked myself out when I needed to be induced (baby had a low heart rate) because I knew all the downsides to the medication I was being induced with. : / Also completely forgot to do hypnobabies for the second birth in a row! So I still have no idea if it works or not! Haha! I succcck!
That shopping cart hammock looks amazing! Wish they had such great baby gadgets with my girls, who are all grown now. I do have a cousin who’s wife had their little girl last week- that would love this! Thanks for the wonderful list of goodies- makes for a great gift guide!
The hammock looks awesome! I would love to try a scarf too.
Thanks for this blog! I’m 9 years out of the loop and nervous to start this over lol. I think I NEED the grocery cart hammock.
Baby #5 here really needs the hammock!!
Great list! My kiddies have those little giraffe blankets too, they call them “binkies” 🙂
I love the nursing infinity scarf! What a great idea!!
Fun list of baby favs! And thanks for the chance to win. I’d love to own that scarf! :o)
I’m so glad to see you blogging again and this post is perfectly timed for me as I get ready to welcome my first baby in about four weeks!!
I would love to win the hammock! Thank you!!
Love to read your posts. The Binxy Baby hammock would be a nice gift for my 1 week old grand-daughter. Thanks for a chance to win!
My daughter is pregnant with her first child through IVF. She lost her ovaries at 25 and IVF is the only way for her. The Binxy Baby hammock would be a wonderful thing for her to have so I’m entering my name on behalf of her. Thanks!!
Amazing what new products come out and in so little time!
The infinity scarf would be great!
I would love to win the hammock for my first grandson. Thank you for the opportunity.
Great list! Would love to win that infinity scarf. Thanks for the chance!
Great post. I’m forwarding to my daughter-in-law.
The BinxyBaby Shopping Cart Hammock would me my choice.
Thank you for the chance.
What an amazing list!!! Perfect timing too! I’ve already started researching so many things on this list. That cart hammock though! Thanks for the chance to win!!!
Awesome list!!! Love it. I’d go for the shopping hammock. What a cool thing! 🙂
PS- accidentally replied to someone else’s message, not how sure to delete. However, thanks for the fantastic list of items!
Love this list! Your friend Kelly Reinhardt shared your post with me today and thought I would find it useful and it definitely was! Please enter me for #8. I love, love #8. I immediately shared the link with my husband as a hint to buy. I just gave birth to baby #2 on 7/5 and need this to go shopping bad, having serious withdrawals. Keep up the good work momma!
Well a quick follow up, after sending the link to #8 to my husband, he quickly sent me a screenshot of the order confirmation of one, amazing guy. So, please put me in the running for the infinity scarf instead. Thanks!!!
The hammock for SURE!! When you first posted about it way back when, I was in awe!!! With 6 kids and at least 2 in the shopping cart… it would be a LIFE saver!! I juts didn’t want to fork out the $50 for it! Also I really want to try the nose sucker thing… I do… I’m just little like Jimmy lol… but I bet I’d get over it! lol 🙂
I think I have to refer my “almost-daughter” to this post. She is expecting in December so this will be so helpful for her. I would say that she would definitely use the shopping hammock which I will give to her if I win. Thanks so much.
I wanted to second the power of the Ina May book. I read it with both of my pregnancies and I believe it helped me deliver two babies naturally (along with all the other factors I had not control over). Getting your mind right for the process was so powerful and helpful. Kudos for mentioning it.
This is a great list of baby things. My first grandchild is on the way and I will forward this post to my daughter. Thanks for sharing.
I would love the shopping cart hammock! 🙂
This is a fantastic list. I have a good start on getting many of these items for my little one. I would love the shopping cart hammock. It is definitely a wish list item for me!
Good list! I still can’t get behind the Nose Frieda but I would love to win the shopping cart hammock!
I love so many things on this list! I’ve been eyeing the binxy for our new baby because I’m still learning to manage three kids under four in the store. This would be a lifesaver!
I would realy love the hammock 🙂
I’d love to win the scarf!!!
Great list! I would love to win the shopping cart hammock.
That shopping cart hammock looks very cool! I’d love to win it for my baby sister…she just had her third girl and she is the third girl herself out of three! (I’m number one!) All three of us only have girl children!
I would love to win the shopping cart hammock. This will definitely come in handy for our 3rd little one on the way 🙂
I would love to win the nursing scarf