Being a mom is a totally time-consuming job. Any new mom out there knows her life transforms the moment her baby comes home. The newest addition is an alarm clock for all of life’s necessities. It is essentially a dance in which our babies lead and we follow; always trying to catch up and learn the moves allowing us to better navigate our next dance.
As a first time parent I went crazy registering for items. I searched almost every baby store and retail website. I wanted all the necessities and more. I looked at other expectant mom’s registries to see if there was something I missed. Months and months of scouring the Internet and stores, proved to be most helpful. My Fiance and Mother thought I was insane. They swore I didn’t need half of the things I purchased.
Boy, were they WRONG!
Many of my little gadgets proved to be life and time savers during the first few months at home with my son.
I complied a list of my favorite gadgets and how they helped.
Bath time Gadgets
I never would have guessed how helpful and important my bath thermometer became. I have the Aquatopia Deluxe Safety Bath Thermometer Alarm. It looks like a turtle and has a small digital display screen. You simply place it in the bathtub or basin if giving a sponge bath and within a few seconds it beeps. However, the device will beep continuously if the bath water is too hot; more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, or too cold or chills as you bathe your child; less than 89 degrees Fahrenheit.
The thermometer helped a lot, because I was so unsure; it took out all the guesswork at bath time and made me feel more confident.
Another great gadget is the Aquatopia Deluxe Safety Easy Bath Kneeler. It has compartments to store your bath time essentials and has a anti-slip cushioned pad, so you don’t hurt your knees. Best of all it attaches to the inside of the tub, but if you need the space it folds up for storage easily. It makes bath time pain free.
The other favorite bath time essential is the Bath Luve. It was invented by a mom, trying to find a way to keep her baby happy and warm. They have three designs; a duck, frog and fish. The Bath Luve covers your baby’s chest and genitals. It is 100 percent cotton and a miracle. Super easy to use, all you do is soak the Bath Luve in warm water and immediately place it over your baby when he/she enters the tub.
My son stays quiet and happy during his bath. You will have to remove it and dip it back in the water to maintain the warmth. To help with that issue, Bath Luve now has the Bath Luve Buddy. This allows you to re-wet the Bath Luve, without exposing your baby to the cool air. The buddy is like a sponge that triples as a washcloth and toy.
Changing Time
Wipe Warmers are relatively new to the baby market. I read many reviews and decided upon the Prince Lionheart Ultimate Wipes Warmer; it was a good price, held tons of wipes and promised to be anti-microbial, and non-browning.
This product was purchased after my son was born. I had been changing his diaper, using the disposable wipes, right out of the container – it was a very unpleasant experience. Anytime the wipes touched his bottom, he would scream. With the wipe warmer it is extremely rare. Just place the ever fresh pillow on the bottom and moisten with plenty of distilled water, place your wipes in and plug in the device. In a few hours, you will have deliciously warm wipes.
Additionally, I have found all of Prince Lionheart’s promises to be true – in three months I have not had a dry or brown wipe.
The Diaper Genie II Elite is very common. Some people have mixed feelings; worrying that it will attract unwanted house guests, since the dirty diapers sit for days. I can assure you, I am extremely happy with my Diaper Genie. This updated version of the classic has a foot pedal, so you can use it one-handed. Also, once the lid opens you drop the diaper in a clamp system that is separate from dirty diapers. The lid then closes and your diaper drops down with the rest.
The refill last around 2 months. The refill is a giant bag that gets cut and tied when your genie gets full. Best of all, there is no odor! Once a week I open up my genie cut out my bag, toss my diapers and start all over again – it couldn’t be any easier. I find this to be one of the biggest time savers, because I’m not running to the kitchen garbage or worrying about emptying it out every night.
Munchkin makes tons of great baby products! I find their products to be original and useful. The munchkin arm & hammer diaper bag dispenser is amazing. It’s a poopie bag dispenser for babies. It has a roll of lavender scented bags with the added strength of baking soda. It blocks out odor and is small enough to fit into any diaper bag. It is totally convenient when you’re on the go and your tot needs a diaper change. I have even used this when visiting a friend; disposing of the bag with soiled diapers before leaving. She was so impressed she wanted her own.
Other Great Gadgets
I cannot live without and absolutely love First Years Pacifier Wipes. While the wipes are a bit pricey (30 for $4.99), they are amazing. These wipes are great to use in between sterilizations. If the pacifier, bottle or toy drops on the floor, simply pick it up and wipe down the item. Several reviewers of this product have said that too many wipes come out at one time or that the pacifiers have a weird taste after. I have never had these problems. I love the smell; it’s fruity and is made with fruit making it completely safe to give your child their toy, bottle or pacifier after using the wipe.
The First Years Air-Flow Sleep Positioner has been one of my favorite gadgets since my son came home. He was born early, so he was small in size – only 5lbs 5oz. The sleep positioner sits in your crib or bassinet and is fully adjustable for your growing child. It can accommodate children up to six months of age.
Simply lay your child in the positioner – it will reduce the wiggling and flailing some infants due. This helped me because my son loves to move around and all the movement wakes him. Additionally, it’s a great buy because I put him on his side to sleep and this eliminates the possibility of rollovers.
I hope that some of my favorite gadgets will help you and your family. It is great to find items that can give you back some of that time you lose as a new parent. No one wants to spend all their time on chores – I know I don’t and I have gotten back some of that precious time to spend with my latest addition.
