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- Stroller
- Car seat
- Diaper Bag
- Carriers
- Pack n Play
- Changing table or kit
- Swing and/or bouncy chair
Essentials
Stroller
We have 2: one that we can pop open really quickly for a store run or short walk, and another that we use for longer walks/runs/hikes.
If you want a stroller that you can pop your bucket carseat into, take that into consideration when choosing the right stroller for you.
We got the Chicco Quick-fold Stroller.
- It is very light
- Decent size – not bulky for city walking
- It can be set up and folded back with only one hand (awesome while holding the baby in a crowded parking lot)
- You can take off the seat and just use the frame to pop the bucket car seat into
- You can keep the seat on and either exclusively use that, or pop the car seat in on top of it
- It comes with a shallow cup holder – I added a stroller caddy to mine
- The below storage is a good size. I have made short grocery store runs using only the stroller and was surprised how much I could fit below.
Ok. Let’s talk running/jogging/trails – or long walks.
I asked around for the best jogger, and multiple people recommended the BOB Revolution Flex 3.0. It is expensive, so I was hesitant. By the time my baby was 3 months old, I bit the bullet and purchased it for myself – and I could not be HAPPIER. I wish I had known about it when creating my registry! I have zero complaints about this stroller and have used it on all terrains for almost 2 years now.
- It has a mountain bike style suspension system, so walking along bumpy sidewalks or trails is a breeze
- It is pretty light for a jogger. This was important to me.
- It is easy to fold back together! Impressive for a jogger
- The back wheels are bigger than the front, so you do not have to push very hard for it to move (this is especially helpful if you are a runner). This seems to be the biggest difference between the 2.0 and the 3.0
- The front wheel can lock or swivel
- The handle is adjustable to 9 different angles. It is also large enough that you can comfortably add a stroller caddy if you want more storage than the included 6 pockets. It also includes a wrist strap.
- The cover is UPF 50 and hangs down far enough that it actually blocks the sun from baby’s face
- The storage at the bottom is a decent size for a jogger
- It has a 5 point no re-thread harness that is very easy to use
- You can use it for babies from birth-75lbs. (For babies 0-8 months, you would need an infant car seat adapter with a compatible infant car seat – Bob, Britax, Chicco, Cybex, Graco, Maxi Cosi, Nuna, Peg Prego).
- It is durable– I know a couple of people who have used it for multiple kids
- It does have cup holders, and a zip pocket, but I added a stroller caddy.
Car seats
Infant Bucket Seat
- We chose the Chicco Keyfit 30 Infant BucketSeat. We have two cars so we just got one carseat and two bases. * You’ll need one Chicco KeyFit Infant Car Seat Base for each car that you have *
- Strap holders make it a lot easier to get baby in the car seat. They are NOT necessary but nice to have.
Convertible Seat
- We chose the Britax Boulevard Clicktight. Again, I won’t bore you with all of the safety details that you can read online, but I could not be happier that we chose this one. It will last until he no longer needs a car seat of any sort. It is SO easy to install – huge plus!
- The only downside to this carseat is that it doesn’t have cup holders – we got the Munchkin Cup Holders for when baby was older and had water/snacks in the back with him.
Diaper Bag
JuJuBee BFF
- You can use any bag or backback to put your baby’s things in, but I didn’t have anything the right size so I got a new diaper bag. I prefer the JuJuBee BFF because it is a backpack. It comes in a lot of cute patterns and has the perfect amount of space! It also comes with a changing pad.
Skip Hop
- We also have the Skip Hop diaper backpack which has more of a classy purse feel if you want it to look less like a diaper bag.
Makes Life Easier
Carriers
Soft
- Moby Wrap – We LOVE this one!
- It has enough material that you can fold it back after the baby is in to create airway space
- The material is thick enough to be very supportive (I used it when my baby was 10 months old and 22lbs)
- Ring Slings – we used our ring sling as baby got older/heavier and no longer wanted to face inward. You can use it for little babies in the newborn position, or for older kids sitting on your hip! It is so versatile.
Structured
- Lillebaby All Seasons – we LOVE the one we got. It is structured enough to support baby and my back. There is a flap at the front the supports the head when they are newborns. You can get an infant insert (we sometimes used the Ergobaby one) OR to save money, you can just roll up a muslin blanket. This worked just fine for us as well.
- Osprey Poco – it is a bit pricy, but it is the best hiking pack around! I have a bad back and I am able to comfortably carry our 2-year-old. It is ultra-supportive for both parent and kid and even has storage!
Pack’n’Play
- We used this for traveling until we were done with cribs, but it is also so handy to have in the living room during the first year. We used it as a space to safely put baby down for a moment!
Changing Table/Kit
- This attaches to a dresser so it saves a lot of space!
- We got a small changing table for the downstairs area and used that for the first 9 months. This is a huge “convenience” item and was absolutely not necessary. However, it was nice to have downstairs during those first few months when he needed to be changed often – sometimes multiple times an hour! This, like many other things, also depends heavily on your lifestyle. I used the couch downstairs as my nursing station during night feedings for the first couple of months so that my husband wouldn’t wake up from the crying. Baby also cried a lot during changes, so it was helpful for us to have a place to change him downstairs.
Swing/Bouncy Chair
- This swing took up a bit more room than I thought it would, but baby loved it. We used it until he was 6 months, at which point he tried to climb out of it. Our baby liked the swing months before he liked the vibrating chair, and he fit in it much better when he was small. Safety note: according to the AAP, babies should be moved to a firm and flat location after falling asleep and should not sleep in a swing.
- We mostly used this as a way for me to be able to get ready for work in the morning, to shower, or to make dinner. Since it is so portable, I could bring it wherever I was and baby would be content for a while. I know people who have one on each floor of the house. No matter which bouncer/swing you choose, most of the people I know say that having at least one of them is super helpful! Safety note: according to the AAP, babies should be moved to a firm and flat location after falling asleep and should not sleep in a bouncer.
