by Krista Sullivan, CPD Jan 2024
After years of working with families and seeing what people actually use once a baby arrives, we assembled this registry of our favorite gifts! Whether planning your own shower, or attending one, we've got your covered with some practical, and thoughtful gifts that are tried & true! Lovevery Subscription Kit These aesthetic and wholesome toys get our full approval! Lovevery offers simple, durable toys that match your baby’s development as they grow. Based on your baby’s age and upcoming milestones, these toys come with an educational curriculum that explains both how to use them and why they are beneficial. From tummy time to fine motor, these toys are synced to your child’s growth, and developmentally appropriate for newborns-3 year olds. These toy kits can come as a single order, or subscription based on your baby’s age. Play Kits: https://lovevery.com/products/the-play-kits?irclickid=y8qz1t31ixyNUH-w4pxd4wO%3AUkDSueXNU1bIyc0&utm_source=sas&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_content=1241723&utm_campaign=text_playkit&irgwc=1 Amazon top picks: My Brest Friend Pillow: https://amzn.to/4aXGRHx Whether breastfeeding or not, you’ll spend a lot of time in awkward positions trying to feed your new baby. Make it easier on your back, neck, and shoulders by using a solid feeding pillow like this one. Consider adding a few covers too, because spit happens! Water wipes: https://amzn.to/3vy1TMJ After seeing hundreds of babies and many brands of wipes, these are my favorite. Simple, ideal for sensitive skin, and reasonably priced. Keep a pack in diaper bags, cars, strollers, and all around the house for easy diaper changes. Changing pad liners: https://amzn.to/47Evstv On the go, or at home, these disposable liners make life easier. Who wants to carry around a dirty diaper pad that gets placed on a public bathroom changing table and put back into your diaper bag? Or wash a reusable pad after a midnight blowout? Gross and unnecessary. All things considered, I think it’s your best bet to have a stash of these on hand anywhere you might be changing a diaper. Silverette Nipple Covers: https://amzn.to/3NZfTFB The first days of breastfeeding are intense! Dry, chapped, cracking nipples is a common struggle of new breastfeeding parents. Between feeds, using these can help to keep uncomfortable clothing from causing irritation, and the material is naturally antibacterial which can minimize risk of infections. Laundry detergent: https://amzn.to/48UjblD Out of all the products designed for babies, this one is the best and can be used for the whole family. It is free of fragrance, which commonly irritates a baby’s sensitive skin. Best bang for your buck, and allows you to not have another product cluttering your laundry area. My favorite baby carrier: https://amzn.to/3vDZNLx Especially for second time moms, being able to wear your baby is a gamechanger. While you could get carried away with many baby carriers on the market, I’ve found this one to be user friendly, comfortable, easy to wash, and not too pricey. Curious Baby activity cards: https://amzn.to/3O0QoE0 Wondering what to do with a newborn baby all day? This pack of cards has ideas on how to play with your newborn and support their development. Baby visual stimulation cards: https://amzn.to/3tTCJYB Reasonably priced black and white cards that can be used for tummy time, diaper changes, car rides, and playtime. Portable sound machine: https://amzn.to/3SjiMUr Life doesn't always stop for naptime! This rechargeable, portable sound machine can help babies to feel calm by drowning out loud noises. Perfect for strollers, car seats, or traveling. Diaper Bag: https://amzn.to/4aUBGs7 A practical backpack with lots of pockets that isn’t ugly. Keep it simple! Safe, non-wifi baby monitor: https://amzn.to/423xZwi Although there are many higher tech options out there, I like to keep it simple when using a monitor. One like this that isn’t linked to wifi means that it is still useful even when the internet isn’t cooperating. Planning to leave your baby with a caregiver? Rather than an app on your phone that requires a password, and often a costly subscription, this portable monitor is perfect for someone to use in your home without fuss. Dr. Brown’s Bottles: https://amzn.to/4b1cTmj Although there are more parts to clean with Dr. Brown’s than there are with other bottles, this one is far superior to others! Praised for its features to reduce gas and fussiness, I’ve witnessed this bottle be a Godsend for many families dealing with reflux issues. Even better, the glass ones tend to hold up better, and can be washed easily in the dishwasher. Services: Prenatal Massage Need we say more? Massage has so many health benefits that can extend to your baby- increased lymphatic drainage, lower blood pressure, stress relief to name a few. Plus, as your due date approaches, many practitioners offer an “induction” massage that can focus on pressure points that encourage labor to begin. Way more enjoyable than some medical interventions if you ask us! Our favorites in the RI/Southeast MA area: Tracy & Company Center for Healing-David Tribuzio; Marion, MA https://www.vagaro.com/tracyandcompanycenterforhealing/services Eucalyptus Wellness Sanctuary-Taylor Uhlman LMT; Falmouth, MA https://www.eucalyptuswellnesssanctuary.com/traditionalmassage Massage Loft NE- Ashleigh Dundas; Providence, RI www.massageloftne.com Overnight Care More sleep is one of the biggest wishes from new parents and we’re here to help! Postpartum doulas offer overnight care for newborns that helps everyone get more rest. Nursing? No problem! We still streamline those late night feeds by bringing your baby to you for feeds, and handle all the burps, fussiness, and diaper changes so that you can fall right back asleep. Reach out to a postpartum doula in your area using the site: www.DoulaMatch.net Professional Maternity/Newborn Photography Time moves fast with a little one! Investing in professional photos is often a tribute to your growing family. Timeless pieces to commemorate this time are an amazing gift to yourself now and in the future. Our favorites: Cindy Ko Photography; Mattapoisett, MA https://cindykophotography.com Gina Elizabeth Photography; Falmouth, MA http://www.ginaelizabethphotography.com Olivia Gird Photography; Providence, RI https://www.oliviagird.com Postpartum Care Our culture does a decent job of tracking and celebrating pregnancy with weekly doctor appointments, baby showers, gender reveals, adorable announcements, apps that analyze your baby’s growth down to the day. And then the baby arrives and we say, “Good luck mama! You’ve got this” But… what if you don’t? What if you have no idea how to care for a cord stump, how to use those 6 foot cloth baby wrap, bathe a squirmy newborn, or sanitize a million pump parts? Not to fear, postpartum doulas know these things, and won’t offer the snide comments your beloved, yet out-of-touch family members might! A postpartum doula can come to your home and offer newborn care and education, set up nurseries, organize baby equipment, and help around the house so you can recover and ask all the “is this normal..?” questions you can imagine. Reach out to us, or a postpartum doula in your area using the site: www.DoulaMatch.net Overall: Maybe the best gift for any new parent though, is a supportive community. Don't forget to check on them and honor boundaries once this baby arrives. As always, we are a trusted resource all along your perinatal journey and are here to help!
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