Tag: Baby Essentials

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Newborn Baby Toys

Best Baby Toys to Improve Fine Motor Skills

The first time your baby grabs for an object or builds a stack of blocks (and then knocks them down, of course) is pretty fun to watch. What looks like a simple, ordinary activity for adults is a pretty big deal for babies, and mastering these types of skills requires lots and lots of practice for your little one.

Fine motor skills—movements that involve small muscle groups like the hands and wrists—are a huge part of your little one’s development. Strong fine motor skills will help your little one better explore the world around them and reach crucial developmental milestones like picking up and manipulating objects, feeding themselves and even turning the pages of a book. And since little ones learn best through play, toys can be a great way to encourage this type of skill-building while having some fun along the way.

Babylist’s Best Toys to Improve Fine Motor Skills

Rainbow Stacking Rings

Rainbow Stacking Rings

This modern twist on the traditional stacking ring is just right for helping your baby practice fine motor skills. We love the rings’ bold colors and engaging patterns and that they’re made from a soft, plush fabric that’s safely chewable. The rings can be stacked on the pegged base or played with on their own and, in addition to brushing up on those fine motor skills, this toy also helps with other important skills like hand-eye coordination, problem-solving and visual development.

Recycled Plastic Stacking Cups

Nesting cups

What’s the opposite of stacking? Nesting! Nesting cups are another great way for your baby to work on fine motor skills, and these eco-friendly cups in six different sizes are a perfect example of a simple, open-ended toy that holds so many play possibilities. These also make fun sand or water toys.

Hape Pound and Tap Bench

Pounding Toy

Simple cause and effect toys are always a good choice for capturing your baby’s attention. This one will captivate your tiny explorer as they pound the ball through the hole and hear the twinkling of the xylophone keys on its way down—all while improving their fine motor skills without even realizing it. It’s great for color recognition and hand-eye coordination, too.

 
Categories
Diaper Products Newborn Baby Products

Best Diaper Bags of 2022

diaper bags

Gone are the days of leaving your house with just your keys and your phone. A diaper bag is a must-have for toting diapers and wipes, of course, but also bottles, snacks, toys, books, blankets and alllll of the other things you’ll need to take your family show on the road.

Do You Need a Diaper Bag?

Real talk: kids are unpredictable. Just when you think your child is full, minutes later they’ll want a snack. It’s practically guaranteed that your baby who always poops in the morning will have an afternoon blowout if you’re anywhere inconvenient (think: on a plane, hiking, shopping, at that nice-ish restaurant). Having key essentials at the ready means you can deal with any scenario without having to pack up and head home.

If you want to skip the diaper bag, you definitely can use a regular backpack or even a tote to cart around whatever you need. (You can even slip a diaper changing clutch—a compact changing pad that can hold a few diapers and other bare essentials—into your usual bag.) But lots of parents choose to register for a diaper bag since they’re specially designed for organizing baby + kid gear and often feature extra compartments, insulated pockets for bottles and other helpful perks.

Figuring out which diaper bag is best for you is a matter of personal preference and can also depend on how much stuff you’ll want (or need) to carry around when you’re out with your baby.

Skip Hop Diaper Bag Backpack

Skip Ho

A bestselling favorite among Babylist parents, the Mainframe backpack diaper bag backpack from Skip Hop is utilitarian but stylish and has a place for everything. This structured bag opens wide so you can fill it with all the things (and actually see and find them), and it has lots of pockets: interior, side, tech, insulated and more. It also comes with carry handles, backpack straps and stroller straps.

Freshly Picked Classic Diaper Bag – Cognac

Freshly Picked

Freshly Picked, maker of some of our favorite baby mocs ever, also makes one of our favorite (and most beautiful) diaper bags. Their classic bag is made from vegan leather and is 100% wipeable and spill-resistant inside and out. The clean, unfussy lines give it a stylish, minimalist look, the metal feet on the bottom keep it upright (and prevent it from touching the ground) and there are 10 pockets to stash all of your stuff. The bag can be worn as a backpack, crossbody or purse.

Ju-Ju-Be BFF Diaper Bag 

JU-JU-BE

Another popular diaper bag among Babylist parents, the standout feature here (other than the bag’s fun sense of style and its incredible functionality) is washability. The whole thing is machine washable; just pop it right in your machine when it starts getting yucky and it will soon be as good as new. Other thoughtful details include lots of interior and exterior pockets (including a quick-reach one for your phone, which we love), convertible straps to wear it as a shoulder bag or a backpack and tons of space for all of your stuff.

Petunia Pickle Bottom Boxy Backpack 

Petunia Pickle Bottom

There’s a lot to love about this roomy bag (other than just its good looks) that’s perfect if you’re toting around stuff for two (or more!) kids. The messenger-style shape means it’s large enough to hold lots of stuff, and parents like the top flap’s magnetic closure that you can open and close one-handed. It’s made from a durable cotton canvas so it’s sturdy enough to hold up to years of wear and tear and easy to wipe down. And it can be carried five ways: backpack, shoulder bag, crossbody, clipped onto the stroller or by the short grab handles.

Luli Bebe Monaco Diaper Bag-Stone Grey

Luli Bebe

For something with a lot of style—and vegan-friendly—this diaper bag from Luli Bebe is a good mix of casual and a little more formal. There are nine pockets and a quilted magnetic flap front pouch for easy access to all of your stuff. You can wear it as a crossbody, over your shoulder or as a backpack and the largest pouch is big enough to hold a 13” laptop.

Categories
Newborn Baby Toys

Watch baby get a little air and squeal with joy in baby jumpers

Baby-Jumpers

There are few things that make babies shriek with joy like jumpers. These seats, attached to elastic straps, let your little one use their toes to push off the ground and get a little air. The result? Huge smiles and a ridiculous amount of laughter. (And maybe even a few minutes to let you get a few things done—while still keeping an eye on the bouncing, of course.)

Jumpers come in two versions:

  • Doorway jumpers have straps that clamp to the top of the doorway. They take up less space, but can be inconvenient if you need to walk through said doorway on a regular basis. (Tip: If your house has really wide moldings or other unusual features, doorway jumpers might not work with them.)
  • Freestanding jumpers are all-in-one structure with straps that attach the jumping portion to built-in rods. They can be placed anywhere in the house, but they tend to take up more room.

Both designs require that your child can hold their head upright unassisted, which means you’ll get the most use out of your jumper when your little one is between six months to a year old. And even though watching your kiddo happily bounce around is pretty fun, you’ll want to limit jumper use to about 10 to 15 minutes per day; more time than that will put undue stress on your little one’s joints and delay the natural development like core strength and motor development that occurs when your baby simply plays on the floor. 

Fisher-Price Animal Wonders Jumperoo

Fisher-Price

This freestanding jumper from Fisher-Price is a popular registry pick among Babylist parents. It features a rotating seat for 360 degrees of fun for your bouncing baby and includes toys like a roller ball, bead bar, teether and a mirror. There’s also music, lights and sounds.

Graco Doorway Bumper Jumper

Graco Doorway

Your little one can bust all the moves they want without damaging your doorframe thanks to the built-in bumper that surrounds the entire seat of this doorway jumper. The no-mark door clamp is easy to install and won’t scuff your moldings, another bonus. The jumper features a play tray and two clip-on toys.

Skip Hop Explore & More Jumpscape Fold-Away

Skip Ho

Don’t want to stare at a baby jumper in your family room every day? The Jumpscape from Skip Hop folds flat so it’s easy to tuck away when it’s not in use. There are also tons of fun features like a 360-degree rotating seat, a light-up counter that tracks your baby’s jumps, sound effects and plenty of toys. A built-in parent reminder goes off at 10 and 20 minutes to alert you that it’s time to take your little one out of the jumper and move onto something else.

Baby Einstein Neptune’s Ocean Discovery Jumper

Baby Einstein

Your baby will never run out of things to do in this jumper, that’s for sure. It’s packed with tons of ocean-themed toys, a mirror, lights and sounds and even a removable activity center that helps your baby learn numbers and colors in English, Spanish and French. There are extra link loops to attach your own toys and the seat rotates fully around so your baby has easy access to everything this jumper has to offer.

Jolly Jumper The Original Baby Exerciser

Jolly Jumper

Making kids smile since 1948, the Jolly Jumper also makes parents happy with its slim profile. Unlike other doorway jumpers, this one doesn’t have a molded seat but instead has a fabric saddle that provides a safe and snug fit. It’s perfect for those who need something that doesn’t take up too much space and can be easily stowed away. (Jolly Jumper makes a stand version, too.)

Categories
Newborn Baby Products Newborn Baby Toys

4 STYLISH BABY SWINGS YOUR LITTLE ONE WILL LOVE

Babies get fussy — it’s a fact of life. Sometimes, after you’ve cradled, fed, shushed, and changed them, your baby (and you) just need a change — and that’s exactly where baby swings come in.

Baby swings keep your baby in motion, and more times than not, help them settle down, which gives you that couple of minutes to take a breather that you very much need. They’re also a great place to park your tot when you’re cooking, working out, and so on. But there are a few things you should think about when you’re shopping for one of these miracle contraptions — as they all have different features to best suit your baby’s needs.

BEST BABY SWING

1.InLighten Baby Swing

Key Specs

  • Size: 38.7 x 34.3 x 41.1 inches
  • Weight: 10.63 pounds
  • Cleaning: Easy to remove, machine-washable cover
  • Weight Limits: Birth to 20 pounds

More than one mom, including my deputy editor, told me that this swing is just the bees’ knees. It swings in three different directions, has a fun light show feature, 16 songs and three nature sounds, two recline positions, a timer, and it’s conveniently powered by a USB cord.

Joana Mascioli, new mom and our deputy editor, says that “My little one absolutely loved this swing as a newborn,” and that “It has great features like soothing lights, a mobile, and multiple sound options (you can even play your own music with its built-in aux cord!) It folds up easily for storage when it’s not in use and as different inserts to grow with your baby, too.”

2.Simple Sway Swing

Key Specs

  • Size: 30 x 31 x 38 inches
  • Weight: 13.55 pounds
  • Cleaning: Machine-washable cover
  • Weight Limits: Birth to 30 pounds

If you’re looking for an affordable, easy to love swing, look no further, you have found the holy grail of affordable baby swings.
Yes, it’s a bit basic, but that doesn’t mean that babies don’t absolutely love it. Babies love Tupperware, OK? Sometimes we just play the hits.

It has two vibration settings, six swing speeds, and the cover is machine washable (but a pain to remove and reinstall).

If you’re not sure about a swing, or even if you want to buy a second swing for Grandma’s place or your back porch, you can’t go wrong with this one. One drawback is that it is battery operated, which many parents don’t love.

3.Bluetooth Enabled Lightweight Baby Swing

Key Specs

  • Size: 23.6 x 23.6 x 15 inches
  • Weight: 8.6 pounds
  • Cleaning: Machine-washable and reversible cover
  • Weight Limits: Birth to 20 pounds

Part swing, part bounce seat, part gift from the heavens, this slightly more affordable sway chair from Munchkin has quickly become a user favorite.

It’s light, portable, and collapses for easy storage. It also mimics the gentle sway of a mother’s arms and has Bluetooth connectivity. Everyone I have spoken with who has this says that it’s a game-changer. They also love that it’s powered with an A/C cord, so you never need to worry about charging it. Very few high-tech baby swings are this versatile. Munchkin is leading the pack with this model.

4.City Sway Rocker

Key Specs

  • Size: 32 x 18 x 24 inches
  • Weight: 9 pounds
  • Cleaning: Machine-washable, easy-to-remove cover
  • Weight Limits: Birth to 20 pounds

This is another fold-away bouncer and rocker combination, but lower tech. It manually rocks and bounces and has a vibrating pad that’s battery-operated. The cover is easy to remove and machine washable — plus, the sweet mobile is removable.

It’s light and compact, making it super portable. The three-position recline makes the whole thing that much better because the lowest position is almost prone.

Parents love not only the portability of it but also how breathable the fabric is. There’s no sweaty swamp baby with this rocker.

Categories
Baby Clothes Newborn Baby Products

Baby clothes for the first six weeks

Planning your newborn’s wardrobe can be tricky, but it’s a lot of fun. There are so many little things to remember, from socks and hats to pajamas and bodysuits. To help you sort through the many options available, here’s a handy rundown of everything you’ll need for the first six weeks and beyond. Depending on how big your baby is and how fast he or she grows, this wardrobe may be everything you’ll need from birth until your baby is 6 weeks old.

Newborn clothing basics

What you need and why

Your baby will spend almost all of the first three months sleeping and eating, so you’ll want plenty of comfy sleepers, gowns, and pajamas, as well as a few simple outfits and accessories. Fancy going-home outfits and special-occasion clothes are nice to have for pictures, but for everyday life you’ll need durable clothes and accessories that can handle any messy situation.

Keep in mind that your little one will likely outgrow newborn clothes in a few months or sooner – in fact, some babies skip straight to 3-month-old sizes. So try not to spend a lot, and buy basics in a range of sizes. Once your baby is born and tests out his or her wardrobe, you’ll quickly learn which clothes work best and you can buy multiples of items that you love. New babies need to be changed frequently, of course, so the more baby clothes you have, the less often you’ll need to do laundry!

Here’s what you’ll need for your newborn .

Gerber Sleep N’ Play Pajamas

For comfy nights and easy days

Your newborn will wear these one-piece footed sleepers around the clock, so buy a bunch! You’ll want to have six or more on hand. They’re 100 percent cotton, and since the zipper goes all the way down the front, it’s easy to get your baby’s legs in and out for diaper changes.

Burt’s Bees Baby Knit Infant Bottoms

Super-soft and warm as toast

Pair these ultra cushy stretchy pants in GOTS-certified organic cotton with infant bodysuits to create an instant outfit. You’ll want four to six pairs to keep your baby’s legs nice and warm.

Simple Joys by Carter’s Baby 6-Pack Short-Sleeve Bodysuits

Great for layering

It’s nice to have lots of bodysuits for your newborn – three to six each of long-sleeved for colder months and short-sleeved for the rest of the year. These are classics, with cute patterns and snaps at the crotch to make diaper changes easier. The expandable necklines make it easy to get them over your baby’s head. Pro tip: In case of a massive diaper blowout, you can pull these down over your baby’s shoulders and body (rather than over the head) to keep the mess away from your baby’s face.

Yoga Sprout Unisex Baby Cotton Gowns

Easy-open bottom for simple diaper changes

Some parents swear by classic baby sleeper gowns for easy diaper changes. You just push the gown up with no need to unzip or unsnap anything. (This makes a difference when you’re changing 10 to 14 diapers a day!) These Yoga Sprouts gowns are as cute as they come, and can be pulled off over your baby’s head or down your baby’s body. Start with a set and see if you prefer them to footed sleepers.

KiddyCare Baby Hats

Added warmth and cuteness

Cover your baby’s cute little noggin in these knit beanies. They’re made of silky-soft organic cotton and help keep your baby comfortable and warm. The top knot adds a sweet flair and makes the hat stay on more firmly, too. Three should be enough, unless you’re planning to be out and about a lot in chilly weather. Note: In warmer months, you’ll want a wide-brimmed sun hat for your baby, too.

Hudson Baby Cozy Fleece Booties

Keep your baby’s feet toasty

When your newborn isn’t wearing a footed sleeper, it’s nice to have baby socks or one or two pairs of booties to keep those tiny feet warm. These adorable booties come with hook and loop fasteners so they won’t fall off.

Buying guide

What to look for in newborn clothing

Between spitting up and diaper overflow, newborns are constantly needing their clothes changed. Make it easier for yourself by choosing clothes that go on and off without a struggle. Look for shirts with snaps that open in the front or on the side, or that have wide neck openings. Choose sleepers that zip (or, if you prefer, snap) and pants with a loose, stretchy elastic waistband.

No matter how adorable they look, pass on infant clothes that will make it hard to change a diaper (we’re looking at you, baby “skinny jeans”). Thankfully, most baby bodysuits and one-piece outfits have snaps at the crotch.

Look for clothes that are soft and gentle on your newborn’s sensitive skin. Some experts recommend all cotton, although soft cotton blends also work for many babies. Avoid itchy or irritating embroidery, ruffles, lace, and decorations.

(Note: If clothes have decorations like bows, ruffles, patches, and buttons, make sure they’re firmly attached so they can’t come off and become a choking risk. Remove any drawstrings on necks or waistbands – they’re a strangulation hazard. Major baby-clothing brands avoid these risky embellishments, but homemade items, hand-me-downs, and pieces from small companies may have them.)

Another caution: “tagless” clothing, where size and washing information are printed on the back of the neck, sometimes causes skin irritation. If you notice your baby has redness in the area, switch to clothing with tags – you can always cut them out.

Finally, new clothing is often treated with chemicals, so make sure to wash all items before your baby wears them.

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