Oh hey, Collage Mondays are back! As you know, I’ve been doing this series to collect things I find on the internet, products I find and like and basically whatever I want you to know about. For this year’s first collage, let me share with you baby gear we have been using since Katie was born. There’s a lot of baby products out there, and it can get confusing for a first-time parent to choose things for the baby.
Believe me, Katie had a LOT of things (mostly gifts) that we weren’t able to use that just got stored back in the Philippines. When we come back for a visit, I’ll probably sort them out and donate them. Anyway, my only criteria is that the products should be durable, easy to use and safe for the baby. Some of these may cost a little bit more than other brands, but they are definitely worth it because we’re still using them until now.
Dr. Brown Microwave Steam Sterilizer
When we moved here to NZ, we brought along a small travel sterilizer which accomodated just two bottles. I kept complaining to JP that sterilizing Katie’s bottles was just a hassle because we had to wait for the sterilizer to heat up, and I had to take out the bottles for drying before I did another set.
When we got this unit, it was such a relief! I only have to pop in four or even 5 bottles, including the nipples and vents, pour in some water, heat it up for about 2.5 minutes in the microwave, and voila! Bottles are sterilized!
Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow Bottles
Katie has been using this from Day 1, and we haven’t had any incident of gas or colic so far. I just love these bottles because seriously, I probably couldn’t deal with the additional stress of soothing a gassy baby.
The only downside most people would find about these bottles is probably the cleaning part, since it has the vent attachments, but this is such a small inconvenience if you consider the benefit of not having any problem with burping baby.
Head on over to Dr. Brown’s website for a quick video on how the bottles work.
Aden and Anais Muslin Wraps
These wraps have been with Katie since she was born. We’ve used them to swaddle her in the early days, as a burp cloth, and now it’s her blanket. We just like that the cloth stays soft and it’s breathable. The designs are pretty too!
Skip Hop Diaper Bag
The size is just right–there are enough pockets to hold bottles, plus the usual extras–diapers, change of clothes, milk. There was a time that I used it as my bag too–I put my wallet, keys and makeup kit in there. The design is gender neutral too, so JP can use it without feeling self-conscious about the color.
Aprica Air Ria Stroller
Probably the biggest investment you’ll make when you have a baby is the stroller. You will definitely spend a LOT of time looking at different models, talking/arguing with your partner the pros and cons of a particular type and researching various brands. Take your time, because strollers (prams) can be expensive and you will be using it for about 2-3 years (or until your next baby).
For us, when we chose this stroller, my only criteria was it has to be light. I will be the one using it with Katie most of the time, and with my back problem, I don’t have the strength to fold/unfold those bulky strollers that are out there in the market.
To me, this was just right because it’s not heavy, I can lift it in one hand. I can even fold and unfold it with one hand. Also, the handle can be adjusted if I want Katie to face forward or face me. It also has a full-coverage canopy, so we can pull it down when Katie is sleeping. It fully reclines, which is helpful when Katie is taking a nap. The full-recline feature has also been a great feature during those times when there is no changing table available. We only have to put the changing pad on the seat (hey, you have to be resourceful!)
I guess the only downside to this stroller is that it’s so light that it’s not really suitable for rugged terrain. For example, during our trip to Rome–we had to carry her because the cobble-stoned streets are really not suitable for this type of stroller. But in any case, we rarely encounter those kinds of situations anyway, since we are mostly in the city.
So there you have it, five baby gear that I really love and vouch for. These are the same products we’ll be using for Baby #2 (coming in a few weeks).
How about you? Have you tried any of these products–or any other good brands you might know?
