7 Must-Haves for First Babies

A first time mama-to-be recently asked me for a list of must-haves. Here’s what I’ve come up with. 1. Stroller — I’ve been so many years out of the loop now, that I have no idea what’s out there. For starting out, especially if you don’t have a car and plan on taking cabs, I highly recommend getting a Snap ‘N Go (see here for a comparison of different carseat carrier models). That option will last you about a year. If you want to have a non-carseat options, then you sorta can’t go wrong, though, with a Baby Jogger City Mini. If you plan on having another kid in the next two years, then I highly recommend getting one of the Phil & Ted strollers — then, when #2 comes along, you can just buy the P&T doubles add-on kit (not that we’ve already pushing for #2 or anything…). 2. Swaddles — I recommend getting at least two of these. I prefer the Kiddopotamus Swaddle over the Summer Infant one. Ergo Carrier Beco Butterfly II Carrier 3. Baby carrier(s) — I recommend getting one cozy, stretchy wrap (like this one) and one soft structured one. I’m really happy with the Beco Butterfly, but I think I’d

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Okkatots Baby Carrier System: The Word “System” Should Clue You In

Okkatots Baby Carrier I was excited to buy the Okkatots Baby Carrier System because I loved the idea of the removable pouch. I liked that you could remove your baby from the carrier without taking off the entire thing, making it easy to wear/un-wear the baby with minimum hassle. But then, after getting it, I realized: There are lots of carriers that allow you to take the baby out without taking off the whole carrier (like most stretchy wraps). And with a lot fewer clips and hassle. The Okkatots “Pouch” And here’s where I get to my main point (and my main complaint): Talk about a “system”! With the addition of the optional hip belt, there were a total of ELEVEN clips on this carrier. ELEVEN! It took forever to get the whole thing assembled, and if you wanted to take the baby/pouch off, you’d have to unbuckle SIX clips in hard-to-reach places (like under the baby’s thighs, very close to your body) in an order that didn’t really make sense. There is one very important pro, though, that I must mention: The Okkatots carrier is COMFORTABLE. There is nice thick (but not bulky) padding on both the parent part

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