Must Have Baby Essentials and Gifts

Must Have Baby Essentials and Gifts

I couldn’t make a gift guide without some gifts for babies.  Last year my family and I welcomed Mase, he’s my fourth child and since he was born so close to the holidays we didn’t really focus on gifts for him, if you’re expecting a baby near the holidays or anything during the year here’s a few must have baby essentials and gifts.

So you’re having a baby, you may already know all the things to add to your registry or maybe you’re looking for some suggestions.  I have a few great must have baby essentials and gifts for baby and I’ve even threw in a bonus for parents as well.  I received samples of these products for review purposes any opinions expressed are my own.

The RaZbaby Vaporizer Clip and Pacifier Holder is a must have for young kids especially during the cold and flu season.  Mase recently picked up a cold from his siblings and was having trouble breathing, which was keeping him up at night.  I remembered the RaZbaby Vaporizer and I attached it to him and within thirty minutes he was asleep.  He used the one pad for an entire day and felt much better.  This clip is amazing and probably one of the best things I’ve tried for my kids when stuffy as babies.  My sister saw it and immediately ordered one for her son to help with his stuffy nose.  The RaZbaby Vaporizer Clip is safe and effective to use.  It’s 100% essentials oils on the pads, the package includes a lavender and eucalyptus & menthol pad in the box and you can purchase additional refill pads.  RaZbaby Vaporizer Clip and Pacifier Holder retails for $7.99 and you can order it online.

The RaZbaby Keep-It-Kleen Pacifier is another innovative product that is a must have.  Pacifiers fall all the time, or babies drop them on the ground, this pacifier is designed to keep the pacifier clean and safe if it drops on the ground.  The shield snaps close when it drops on the ground and keeps the nipple from touching the ground.  It’s not like a cover that can pop off or can get misplaced, it’s attached to the pacifier so you always know where it is at all times.  The RaZbaby Keep-It-Kleen Pacifier retails for $4.99 and comes in a variety of options for both boys and girls.  You can purchase it from the RaZbaby website.

The best way to describe this gift was to just include the video.  Boogies Be Gone! is a lifesaver.  Even after four kids I still have a horrible time with those nasal bulbs.  I still think I was using it wrong.  The first time I heard about Boogies Be Gone! was from our pediatrician, she recommended we use it on our son instead of the regular bulb we got from the hospital.  She shared that lots of parents shared with her how well it worked and after some research she found it to be safe and very effective.

Boogies Be Gone! can be used with infants, toddlers and young children.  It’s small but effective and not scary looking to children.  It’s a great solution to a problem that faces all parents.   Boogies Be Gone! features an ergo dynamic comfy tip design that fits snuggly into the child’s nose, providing comfort, support and suction, as well as a top-mounted, repositionable hose that allows for use in multiple positions for maximum comfort and effectiveness. Made in the USA for kids ages five and under, Boogies Be Gone! is BPA, phalate and lead-free. MSRP is $13.95 and is available online at BreathEasierUSA.com and select stores.

Safari Chimes by Nuby Baby is perfect when traveling in the car.  The soothing sounds of the chimes keeps baby entertained while traveling in the car, plus it doubles as a fun little toy for them to pull at while traveling in the car.  It is easy to attach to the car seat and remove when you’re not traveling in the car.  These are also very affordable and easy to wipe off and clean.

We had the opportunity to review our first cloth diaper recently.  I received the Zanadu 2.0 from Rock-A-Bums.  I was born in Trinidad and my mother used cloth diapers with me and some of my other siblings, I remember her washing them and using them with one of my brothers.  Personally I had never used them with my kids but when the Zanadu 2.0 showed up at the house I was intrigued.  I tried this diaper on my infant who’s almost one and my toddler who’s three.  It fit both of them great.  I couldn’t believe that they would wear the same diaper.  The snaps adjust to right size.  I even let my toddler go to sleep with it and he woke up the next morning and didn’t have any leaks at all.  If you’re going to use cloth diapers or you know someone who does this is definitely one to get.  It’s amazing.  I’ll be sharing a full review of this diaper so be sure to check it out.  You can purchase this and more clothe diapers, inserts and more from Rock-A-Bums.

I couldn’t make this list and not include Wubba Nub Pacifiers.  The first time I saw one of these was on Instagram and I knew I wanted it for Mase when he was born.  We reviewed the Lion Wubba Nub earlier in the year and for the holiday guide we received a Pink Bear Wubba Nub for inclusion in the guide.  My son loves his Wubba Nub.  He goes everywhere with his lion one and when the pink bear arrived and he saw it he ripped open the package and started using that one as well.  It’s very soothing for him.  Perfect for rides in the car when he’s cranky and doesn’t feel like being bothered.  Now that he’s getting older we’re in the process of reducing his pacifier time but when he’s cranky and need some comfort we make sure his Wubba Nub is close by to soothe him and help him feel a little better.  I highly recommend Wubba Nub as a gift and they have lots of animal options for all babies.  I should note that when you do buy one get at least two.

The holidays are a busy time for everyone. While bath time is often a hassle, Baby Mantra makes this process as easy and efficient as possible for busy parents! Baby Mantra’s 3-in-1 Bubble Bath + Shampoo + Wash is a multi-tasking, all-encompassing must-have to make bath time fun for mom and baby too! This gentle formulation cleanses and moisturizes baby’s sensitive skin and keeps mom’s hands smooth. The 3-in-1 is made with key nurturing ingredients like aloe vera and lavender, making it perfect for babies, kids, and adults with sensitive skin. Baby Mantra 3-in-1 Bubble Bath + Shampoo + Wash retails for $13.99 and can be found on BabiesRUs.com, Amazon.com, and Walgreens.com.

Babies need a way to be carried and I recently had the opportunity to review the original Baby K’tan Baby Carrier with out infant.  I’d heard lots of great stories of moms babywearing and I wanted to do it as well.  I wish I had this thing the first day we brought Mase home.  I love this baby carrier.  I was using on the the store strap things with him when we would go pick up his brother and sister from school, since making the switch I notice that my back hurts a lot less when using this as opposed to the other carrier.  This one carrier features six different carrying position that works for you and your child.

Baby K’Tan has several baby carriers for parents.  They come in sizes XS to XL and prices range from $49.95 to $59.95 depending on the carrier that you choose.  This would be a great gift for any one that’s expecting and it can be used with both men and women.  It’s a gift that will be used over and over again and the new parents will love having something that works great for babywearing.

As a bonus for parents Secrets of the Nanny Whisperer, is available for pre-order now on Amazon and other online retailers.  I am a stay at home mom and one of the reasons why I choose to stay home was because after I gave birth to my first child I had a rough time adjusting to leaving her with the baby sitter.  It’s not that I didn’t trust the woman, I just was constantly worried about my daughter.  I decided to stay home but not all parents can stay home.  Secrets of the Nanny Whisperer is a great guide to helping you find the right care for your child.  Nothing in the world is more important than that in my book.

About SECRETS OF THE NANNY WHISPERER: A Practical Guide For Finding and Achieving The Gold Standard of Care For Your Child (Perigee Paperback; ISBN-13: 978-0-399-16988-5; $16.95; On Sale January 6, 2015) by parenting and child care expert Tammy Gold, MSW, LSW, ACC.

We’ve all seen the unsettling headlines surrounding nannies: live-ins that refuse to move out, drunken nannies that injure or even end the life of the children in their care; even relatives of the family can accidentally cause harm if they aren’t fully knowledgeable.  Statistics show that 50% of all U.S. children are in some type of formal childcare arrangement by the time they are 9 months old and as the number of two-income households increase, that number is sure to grow. And yet most parents do more due diligence when buying a car than they do when hiring their child’s caregiver.  With no regulations or hiring standards to go by, parents typically feel their way through this most important process without a plan, often approaching it completely backwards.

Secrets of the Nanny Whisperer by Tammy Gold can help parents improve their experience and achieve a much better standard of care for their children.  The nanny-parent relationship is often the most challenging; you may be a CEO of a company successfully managing 20 other people, but communicating your needs or expectations with your caregiver may be leaving you completely perplexed.  Drawing from Gold’s background in psychotherapy and child development, this forthcoming release fully explains what a nanny is and does, and shows parents how to:

• assess their family’s needs with her Family Needs Assessment form,
• screen and select the strongest caregiver for their family,
• communicate clearly and effectively with their caregiver of choice,
• and most importantly, identify, evaluate, and resolve any issues that arise in a productive, positive way.

Filled with useful advice from a renowned parenting expert, Secrets of the Nanny Whisperer is the childcare handbook that all parents should have on their shelves next to What to Expect When You Are Expecting, a must-read for any parent who employs ANY form of childcare. 

If you’re looking for more gift options for infants & kids, stockings stuffers and more, be sure to check out all my different guides for the holidays.