Products I've Used: All

Aquarium Crib Toy

This didn't work when my baby was little because it got him too overstimulated. But we put it on his changing table and it was great at distracting him during diaper changes. Also, once he was around 18 months I put it back in his crib and he loved it.

Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier

You are either a sling person or a Baby Bjorn person, and I am the former. Once I got the hang of my sling I found it to be so much more convenient and low-maintenance that the Baby Bjorn just sat on a shelf. However, most of the moms I know prefer the Bjorn, possibly because it's much easier to begin using than the sling. Try out both in a store and see what you think.

BOB Sport Utility Stroller

If I had created a graphic for six stars, this stroller would get it. I LOVE this thing. I found that after this stroller arrived I got out walking around town and at our local hike-and-bike trail a lot more. When my friends noticed my increased activity level I explained that it wasn't so much that I enjoyed walking as much as I just liked pushing this stroller around.

It's not meant for trips to the mall or restaurants, but if you ever go out walking this is a wonderful stroller. The sun shade is expansive (this is important -- your baby will be really uncomfortable if the sun's in her eyes); the shocks are great so baby doesn't bounce around too much; it's lightweight; it's tall, which is really important if anyone over 5' 10" will be using it; it's easy to collapse; and it's really durable -- I think you could probably summit Everest with this thing.

Also, a quick plug for the place where I bought mine, JoggingStroller.com. I was really confused about the difference between all the various types of jogging strollers out there and found their site to be extremely helpful and easy to use (and their customer service rocks). I particularly liked the fact that you can shop by activity, so you tell them what you plan to do (e.g. running 5+ miles vs. walking around your neighborhood) and they'll show you the strollers that are best suited for that.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT STROLLERS: If you are of an unusual height, do not order a stroller without trying it out in person or at least finding out how tall it is first. Particularly if you're really tall, you'll probably have to do some searching to find one that's comfortable for you.

Boppy Nursing Pillow

For the breastfeeding mother, this is one of the very biggest must-haves. I can't tell you how many times my son was nursing and I thought, "What did people do before Boppies?!" One of my favorite things about it was that I was able to comfortably prop my baby on the pillow to nurse and have my hands free to check email, write checks, etc. Love it!

Boppy Slipcovers

Ugh. I don't know whether to give these things one star or five. On the one hand, they were as poorly constructed as all the reviewers online said they were: the zipper constantly came apart (even when washed on the delicate cycle) and the fabric felt cheap. However, I would have had to throw my Boppy away after a few weeks without having a removable, washable cover on it. Bottom line: go ahead and get it, it's better than having to replace your whole Boppy after the zillionth time your baby spits up on it.

NOTE: If you know how to sew and want to make some extra money, start a business making Boppy covers that don't suck. There is a big demand for it.

Canon Rebel Digital Camera

I know, I know: it's too expensive, it's not in your budget. But you really have to have this camera. If you think you'll take pictures of your baby more than a couple times a month, the Canon Digital Rebel is a must-have. It's really easy to use yet has powerful features for the professional. But the big thing is that it's as fast as an old film camera at snapping pictures. Before I got my Rebel I had about 10 MB of photos of my son with his head turned or crawling away: all really cute moments that passed in the one-second delay that my other digital camera had between the time you press the button and the time it actually snaps the picture. The quick response time, ease of use and overall high quality make this a fantastic purchase for parents.

Davinci Futura Cradle

This turned out to be one of the most useful things I registered for. For the first few months it was so nice to have my baby right next to my bed in this cradle. You can also use a Pack N Play for this but I liked having a separate cradle since a) it looks a lot nicer than a Pack N Play, and b) the sides of the cradle are higher so you can use it safely for a longer period of time (I didn't switch my first baby to a crib until he was six months old).

Diaper Dekor Disposal Unit

Either a Diaper Dekor or a Diaper Genie is a must-have for everyone using disposable diapers. I used the Dekor and have found it to be adequate and easy to use. It wasn't smell-proof enough that I could put poopy diapers in it after we stopped exclusive breastfeeding, but I don't think anything is. Friends I know who have Diaper Genies like those as well, so either one is probably fine.

Eddie Bauer Weekender Diaper Bag

This diaper bag is OK, but I found it to be a bit small and wish it had a temperature-controlled compartment for storing bottles of pumped milk. It did the job, but I'm buying a different one for my next baby.

Eddie Bauer Wooden High Chair

I love this high chair. It looks great in the kitchen and is sturdy and easy to use. At first, when my baby was just learning to sit up, I didn't like the fact that the back doesn't recline, but he grew out of that phase so quickly it didn't end up mattering.

Eurobath Baby-to-Toddler Tub

One thing I didn't understand when I registered for this online is that it's huge! We lived in a small one-bathroom condo when I had my first baby and it was difficult to find a place for this thing.

If you have a bathroom that's just for the baby where you can leave the tub in there all the time, you'll probably like it a lot. If not, consider getting the Sure Comfort tub that's smaller.

Evenflo Expression High Chair

This high chair was quickly banished to my mother-in-law's house for use only when eating over there since I didn't like it for day-to-day use. It's kind of ugly, rickety and the tray is hard to get on. Also, the tray must be slid into place rather than set down onto the chair from above, which means that if you put your child in the chair close to the table you have to back the chair way up in order to get the tray on.

Basic Stroller (Evenflo Journey)

This has been a perfectly good stroller for us. Nothing fancy, the wheels occasionally get squeaky or fall of when I'm taking it out of the trunk, but for the price I've been very happy with it. Also, this was one of the few non-jogging strollers that was actually tall enough for me.

This doesn't have an attachment for a carseat. If you want to be able to pop your infant seat into the stroller when your baby's little then you'll want to get a "Travel System."

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT STROLLERS: If you are of an unusual height, do not order a stroller without trying it out in person or at least finding out how tall it is first. Particularly if you're really tall, you'll probably have to do some searching to find one that's comfortable for you.

900MHz Baby Monitor (Fisher-Price)

I don't think there's a big difference between baby monitors, but this one has certainly worked well for us. The only must-have when buying a monitor is that you get one that has display lights that indicate when it detects sound. Many times you won't be sure if the noise you heard came from the monitor or not, so the lights are really helpful.

Infant Car Seat (Graco Snugride)

My baby was very comfortable in this and I had no problems with it. It's a nice, basic car seat. Definitely go ahead and get the base that goes with it so that you can easily pop the car seat in and out to use it as a carrier.

Infant Car Seat Base

This is pretty much a must-have for infant seats, I don't know why they don't just sell them together. Bases are great because you secure the base once with the seatbelt, then just pop the car seat/carrier in and out with a simple little latch.

The only circumstances under which you wouldn't use this is if your baby didn't like her car seat. A friend of mine had to carry her baby around at the grocery store and other errands since she didn't like being in her car seat/carrier, so having the base wasn't all that useful to her.

Infant-to-Toddler Car Seat (Evenflo Triumph)

I had spent quite some time researching car seats online and decided on one in particular. Then one day while I was at Babies R Us I decided to look at car seats in person and found one that I liked best. When I got home I realized that the one I picked out online based on reviews and the one I picked out in person based on look and feel were the same car seat: the Evenflo Triumph Infant-to-Toddler seat.

I'm sure there are other car seats out there that are just as nice, all my friends have different ones and all like theirs, but I have had no problems with this one. It's easy to adjust and my son is very comfortable in it (I switched him to this one when he was about a year old, so I don't know how much an infant would like it).

Inflatable Baby Tub

My son was thrilled when I switched him from the movement-restricting infant tub to this one at about eight months. He loved being able to move around and splash and play, and it was a lot more convenient (and safer) than filling up the whole big bathtub with water.

Jardine Convertible Crib (converts to toddler bed, daybed)

This crib is great -- it's beautiful, comfortable, sturdy, and a good bang for the buck since it converts to a toddler bed and then a regular bed. It's pretty expensive but it will save you money in the long run since you won't need to buy a bed for your toddler.

Lightweight Stroller (Trendsport)

I registered for this stroller based on all the good reviews it got online. People said that it was nice and lightweight and was very reasonably priced. I found this all to be true once I got it, but unfortunately it was too short for me. When I had on even a slight heel the handlebars hit me about 7" below my hips, so I looked like a hunchback pushing this thing around. But, as long as you're not really tall, this is a good buy if you want a no-frills, light stroller.

This doesn't have an attachment for a carseat. If you want to be able to pop your infant seat into the stroller when your baby's little then you'll want to get a "Travel System." (I didn't want one of those since they're more bulky, but a lot of people like them).

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT STROLLERS: If you are of an unusual height, do not order a stroller without trying it out in person or at least finding out how tall it is first. Particularly if you're really tall, you'll probably have to do some searching to find one that's comfortable for you.

Maya Wrap Baby Sling

I almost gave this thing away when my son was a newborn because I couldn't figure out how to use it. But once I got the hang of it it became one of my favorite items. I like the Maya Wraps in particular because they're so basic and versatile (see this page for some photos of all its different uses). The nice, big pocket allowed me to carry my wallet, keys, sunglasses and a spare diaper right there in the sling, and the lack of padding made it easy to wad up and throw in a diaper bag for travel. A must have for the minimalist mom.

NOTE: If you're having trouble getting used to yours, try to find someone who can demonstrate it for you in person, maybe a Maya Wrap distributor. That made all the difference for me.

Medela Pump-In-Style Original Breast Pump

Once I got the hang of it, I found this pump to be lifechanging. My milk supply was never huge so this was the only pump that allowed me to even get one bottle's worth of milk (which therefore allowed me the occasional trip out without the baby).

This pump has good power and adjustable suction speeds, which makes all the difference. If you're planning to go back to work you'll definitely need a pump in this price range (around $300) because you really get what you pay for.

Medela Single Breast Pump

If you have an overabundant milk supply and don't plan to pump very often, this pump might work for you. Otherwise, like me, you'll need a higher quality pump. My supply was always about "bare minimum" level, and it was really hard for me to even get half a bottle's worth with this thing. I wish I'd skipped this purchase and just gone straight to the big guns.

Mid City Tote Diaper Bag

I was really excited to get this bag at my shower since it looks like a stylish purse but I ended up not using it all that much. One thing I didn't think of when registering for it is that my husband would often be the one to carry the diaper bag, and he wasn't thrilled to have to carry around something that looked like a purse all the time. Also, it doesn't have a temperature-controlled compartment, which is useful if you're bringing pumped breastmilk with you.

Munchkin Teething Feeder

For the baby who shows an early interest in solid foods this is a great little gadget to have. My son was fascinated with what we were eating when he was still too young for finger foods, so I would put things like grapes, watermelon and oranges in there so that he could get the taste and the nutrition without it being a choking hazard. It kept him quiet and happy at restaurants on many occasions. Friends whose babies weren't all that interested in solids didn't find these things useful at all, so I guess it just depends on your baby's temperament.

Olympia Jardine Changing Table / Dresser Combo Unit

I've had no problems with this dresser/changing table. It's nice to save space by getting a changing table that's also a dresser. This purchase is really just a matter of personal taste, whatever goes best in your nursery.

Pack 'N Play

This particular Pack 'N Play is one of the more basic models, but I found it to be more than adequate. I can't imagine what the more expensive models offer that you'd actually need. The changing table attachment is invaluable for avoiding changing diapers on your poor host's couch when you travel.

Panasonic Mini Camcorder (PVGS12)

First of all, GET A VIDEO CAMERA. A lot of people skip this and just use their regular camera, but being able to look back and see and hear your baby is priceless. It's amazing how quickly you forget all their little sounds and mannerisms. You can find good, used models on eBay that are really cheap, so don't skip this purchase even if you're on a limited budget!

There are certainly newer camcorders out there since I bought this one in 2004, but it's a great little camera. You could probably get this one pretty cheap since it's now an older model, and I think it'd meet all your needs for taking videos of your family. I've made DVDs and emailable video clips from videos I took using this camera and they've all turned out really well with nice color and clear sound.

I don't think it works very well as a still camera, but I never really used it for that so I'm not sure.

Seat-Mounted Car Mirror (SafeFit Baby In Sight)

This mirror wasn't that great, but it's the best I've found. It got scratchy and fogged over from the heat, but some sort of back seat mirror is essential so that you can see your baby in a rear-facing car seat. I don't love it but it does the job.

Smugmug Photo Sharing

As a web developer and wanna-be photographer I've always been a bit snobby about photo sharing websites and for years simply did my own. I took great pride in my custom family photos website and never had any intention of using a professional service -- until I came across Smugmug. I switched over to them in November 2005 and have been thrilled with their service ever since. Here's why I love them:

• Your visitors don't have to log in to see your photos;
• You can make your photos available for viewing in small, medium or large sizes (no more straining to see tiny photos);
• You can make your original, hi-res files available for anyone to download so that friends and family can just print the photos themselves;
• It's easy to order prints and they're high quality and reasonably priced;
• There are no limits on disk space used or photo size;
• Their support staff is fantastic -- I always get a reply from a real person within 24 hours;
• It's easy to upload photos, create captions and do other fun customization stuff.

Their basic service (that includes all the features I list above) starts at less than $5/month. For me it's WELL worth that minimal cost. Also, if you refer a friend you'll both get a discount.

Snuggle Nest Co-Sleeper Infant Bed

The peace of mind this little infant bed gave me when I co-slept with my son was an infant probably made it worth the price alone. He seemed much safer in his Snuggle Nest than if he'd just been floating around in the bed. However, once he was a few weeks old he wiggled out of it easily and I didn't use it much after that.

If you're not planning to co-sleep you definitely don't need it. If you are you might find it useful, but probably won't use it much after the first month or two.

Suction-Cup Car Mirror

This mirror was too small and fell off the window frequently. The fact that it didn't stick to the window that well and is made of hard plastic also makes me think it must be a safety hazard. Get one of the soft, seat-mounted ones instead.

Superyard XT Play Yard

This play yard is useful even if it is horribly unsightly. It won't exactly add to the decor in your living room, but it works well as a place for your mobile baby to play while you get some cleaning done, run to the bathroom, etc.

Sure Comfort Deluxe Baby-to-Toddler Tub

The Eurobath is too big, but this one's a bit too small (I have no idea how this could ever be considered a "toddler" tub). I liked it well enough though, and liked the little trough it has for clean rinsewater. If you plan to bathe your baby in your own bathtub (meaning you'll have to move the baby bath out each time you shower), get this one instead of the Eurobath since it's smaller.

Video Baby Monitor

I thought that this would be such a great purchase, I was surprised to find that I almost never used it. For one thing it doesn't have a very long range, so I had to locate it in an inconvenient place in order to get a decent picture. Also, I found that just the sound over my regular monitor was adequate enough to make me feel comfortable since I could hear my baby breathing over that one.

I co-slept with my baby when he was an infant but if I hadn't I think this might have been useful back then, when he was still in the SIDS danger zone and I worried about him a lot. If you want to get this consider looking on eBay, I bet there are a lot of unused ones out there (like mine) that are up for sale.