It seems like it’s baby season! Everywhere you turn there is a swollen belly with a new little bundle waiting to make their arrival memorable and special. Having two of my own I know the excitement, anticipation, angst, and full range of emotions that comes along with each pregnancy. Since each pregnancy and child is different, being a seasoned mom does not make you immune to going through the same motions each time.I’ve put together a gift guide of a few baby and new mom Must Haves, which I do at least once a year on A Time Out for Mommy, with some of my favorite brands.
The first item is something we don’t always think about, but having bad allergies I’ve learned that air purifiers help trap allergens and keep me breathing easier at home. I was first introduced to air purifiers by my mom, who had one constantly running in her home. After this, I learned that not all air purifiers are created the same, and there really are some great options out there after weeding through them. Fellowes is known for their home products, like shredders, but they also make top-quality air purifiers that can help keep allergens out of baby’s room. The Fellowes® AeraMaxTM Air Purifier comes in different models, depending on the size of your room, and uses a true HEPA filter which can remove 99.97% of airborne particles. These particles include dust, mold, pollen, and germs, and are beneficial for everyone but can help those with allergy and asthma ease their symptoms while they are home. What I loved about the AeraMax Air Purifier was it’s portability and ability to move from room to room, super quiet motor, and LED indicators that tell me when the filter needs to be changed. The AeraMax is different from other models out there because it boasts automatic sensors that monitor air quality and can automatically adjust the fan speed. The Fellowes AeraMax has received independent certifications from the following: Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) and the California Air Resource Board (CARB), Certified asthma & allergy friendly™ by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA)
When it comes to feeding products, Avent has something for every stage. For newborns, they have pacifiers, bottles, and sterilizing equipment. As baby gets older, Avent offers various stages of drinking and sippy cups, as well as feeding utensils. For all stages, they offer baby monitors, and for new moms, they have a comfortable breast pump.
When my second child was born, we had just come across Philips Avent Natural Bottles which offer a breast-like shaped nipple. We purchased them for my daughter because they offered an anti-colic system which was built right into the nipple and didn’t require extra pieces. At the time I was pumping, I didn’t know that Philips offered a breast pump, but recently I learned that they have the Philips Avent Comfort Breast Pump which can be used with the Natural Bottles. The Avent Comfort Breast pump product line carries three styles of pumps, including a double electric, single electric, and hand pump. The silicone petals are gentle while allowing you to have a natural let down and stimulate milk flow. There are three settings on the electric Comfort Breast Pumps that allow you to control the level of comfort while pumping.
For all your Avent infant products that need to be sterilized, Avent offers a 2 in 1 Electric Sterilizer which can accommodate various sized products, from pacifiers to breast pump accessories, bottles and all the pieces that come with the bottle. The Avent 3 in 1 Electric Sterilizer uses steam to kill 99.9% of harmful germs and just takes 6 minutes to work. If you don’t open the lid, then the contents remain sterilized for 24 hours. How easy is that? It takes more than 6 minutes to boil a pot of water, so this handy sterilizer is a great item to have for any new or seasoned mom who has infants!
HALO SleepSacks have been my favorite since my first baby. I love that I can keep my babies warm without having to worry about covers coming off and covering their face. HALO has provided my family with peace of mind during long night time stretches (when they would actually sleep through the night) because we knew they were warm and safe. Since being introduced to HALO 5 years ago, they have added so many new products and styles to their product line, which can be found on the HALO Sleep website, as well as your favorite baby stores like Babies R Us, Buy Buy Baby, Target, and Amazon. Their latest style, the Muslin Sleep Sack, offers one of the most comfortable materials in 100% soft cotton muslin with fun designs. Muslin has become a personal favorite of mine, because I love the look and feel of this breathable fabric. The Muslin Sleep Sack is great as a light spring/summer covering for your baby. You can connect with HALO on Facebook and Twitter.
If you’ve been following my Instagram feed, then you know that I recently became a Boba Ambassador. If someone told me I would have been an avid baby wearer when I was pregnant with my first, I would have laughed at them. The truth is, I’ve come to love the closeness and bonding that has come along with baby wearing. My youngest is almost 2, and we still baby wear comfortably with a variety of Boba carrying products. The Boba wrap was my favorite when my baby was itty bitty, and still seems to be her favorite til this day. Who can blame her? The super soft fabric always provides a comfortable fit. My new favorite is the Boba 4G (shows above) comes with an infant insert, so you don’t have to buy anything else during the course of your baby wearing. It even has a purse strap holder and foot rests. The lightweight fabric make carrying during any season a breeze, and the is an integrated hood to protect baby from the sun, or hold their head while they are sleeping. You can find out more by visiting Boba.
What are some of your favorite new baby and mom items?
Air purifiers or fans are great for clearing out the air and creating white noise in a nursery! We still use ours and my youngest is 2!