My Baby Gear + Essentials Guide
It’s been a long four years since being on the market for all things baby. Naturally, the gear and primary essentials have increased in variety and improved in efficiency making for the rather overwhelming task of navigating though it all. It’s taken me months of research- watching countless YouTube reviews and asking around to other mums- to come up with a solid list to share. Whether you’re shopping for mom-to-be, expecting a singleton or multiples like me, the following is a curation of exceptional brands and products that we’ve carefully decided on. My hope is that this guide may help some of you in making selections in the essentials as it can certainly be a tedious process when starting over like me!
The Wheels
First and foremost it is SO important to love the ride that you’ll be pushing your baby (or babies) around in because it often becomes the main form of transportation for quite some time. After careful consideration of various strollers, we decided on Bumbleride for a number of important reasons. Bumbleride was created in San Diego by a family inspired by their children. Their mission was to create high-performance strollers to roll with any active lifestyle, and what’s most admirable is that the materials selected in the manufacturing process are sustainable and free of chemicals. When you choose Bumbleride, you know you’re not only getting a sleek, safe and durable design, but one that’s also better for the planet. We were thrilled to assemble our new Indie Twin model and cannot wait to test it out with the babies! The side-by-side seat design is compatible with dual carseats, dual prams, or can easily be converted into a very convenient ready-to-ride “Infant Mode” with no attachments.
The Carseats
Up next are the enormously important carseats. Compatible with the Indie Twin, these Nuna Pipa lite lx’s stole my heart from the moment I reviewed them because of their luxe Merino wool design and feather weight of only 5.5 pounds! Besides having incredibly reassuring reviews, these car seats boast a number of exceptional design features that gave us all the confidence in the world. Aeroflex foam provides side impact protection which minimizes force transferred to the babies. This model also features a steel reinforced true lock installation system for extra safety, full coverage UPF 50+ canopy as well as Dream Drape to protect from the elements. The Pipa lite lx was our winner through and through, and if you’re living in Victoria they are available at Momease Baby Boutique.
The Cribs
When it came to the cribs, Storkcraft stood out as a well-manufactured Canadian company with a focus on quality and safety. Family-run and operated for over 75 years, Storkcraft delivers on exquisite product design at a very reasonable price-point. We fell in love with the Beckett 3-in-1 Convertible Cribs for their clean lines and conversion capabilities. Upon receiving, they were both easily assembled and brought so much life into our nearly-finished nursery. We decided on the colour “Natural” for its modern boho accents, but they also come in white or grey. These cribs are timeless pieces of art and we are so happy with them!
The Loungers
Four years ago when I had Hudson, I don’t remember having a convenient, comfortable and portable docking station but I know it would have made life a lot easier. There’s a reason why Snuggle Me Organic Sensory Loungers are so popular and I’m so excited to have them this time around. They are specially designed to curve around baby’s back while also providing the comfort and support of a hug. Snuggle Me’s are the ultimate on-the-go lounger intended for supervised rest and tummy time- not for sleeping. They come in a wonderful variety of colours too- we went with Sugar Plum and Birch. 🙂
The Dresser
We decided to go with the Hudson Changer Dresser– not only because it’s named after our first born 🙂 – but because it combines a changing table, a three drawer dresser and storage cabinet all in one solid and practical package. With twins, two cribs took up a lot of space in the nursery so this particular dresser was a modern space-saving convenience. Babyletto is known for its award winning designs, commitment to sustainability, and popularity with modern families, and the accents of this dresser matched our nursery’s modern boho theme perfectly. The removable changer tray’s raised sides help keep your little one safe, and the storage cabinet includes an adjustable shelf, perfect for keeping diapers and wipes handy. These pieces of furniture aren’t easily available in Canada, however, so I was thrilled to find them carried at Momease Baby Boutique– my favourite local unique retailer specializing in innovative furniture, baby gear and parenting accessories.
Shop the stunning Babyletto collection here
The Breast Pump
Medela’s Pump In Style Double Electric Breast Pump is designed for frequent, daily use and helps you maintain your precious milk supply. With this model, you’re able to pump more milk in less time with a 2-Phase Expression technology- something I’m definitely going to require with twins! I also love that this product is discreet and portable- it’s integrated into a self-contained backpack that packs up quickly for moms on the go.
The Carriers
Second to the stroller, the baby carrier is your fundamental transport essential because it allows you to keep baby close in a convenient manner. Whether going for short walks, hikes, or wearing them at home, carriers allow you to free up your hands and get things done for the day. The only caveat is finding one that suits your lifestyle preferences and doesn’t wreck havoc on your back. I loved Ergo Baby with Hudson years ago because it gave me that extra lower back support where I often felt pain over the years. Ergobaby Carriers are ergonomically designed to cradle your baby in a natural sitting position and to evenly distribute baby’s weight between your hips and shoulders. They are the ultimate carrier for use, comfort and ergonomics, allowing you to carry your baby from those early days to toddler (12-45 lbs). For the twins, we deiced to go with two Adapt Baby Carriers because we prefer to have the babies facing us without needing the infant insert. On the main page, Ergobaby helps you select which model is best for your preferences!
The Diaper Backpacks
Sometimes you need things in twos, and aside from having twins, the diaper backpack is something I’ve decided I need a few options for to suit my needs depending on where I’m going.
First are the stunningly-chic Bow & Rattle luxury baby changing bags. I fell in love with the Jenny Baby Changing Backpack because it looks like an every-day chic bag that I would wear anyways and dress up with a nice outfit. A beautiful tan colour made from vegan fabric, this backpack has the rich aesthetic of genuine leather, but is water resistant and easy to clean. It has plenty of space to store those extra necessities and comes with detachable straps so you can easily hook them over the buggy or stroller!
Second is the Delnice Unisex No. 1 Backpack. To me, this product is an absolute essential for families on-the-go living active lifestyles. It’s also just as perfect for dad to throw on and feel comfortable wearing as it is for mom which was an amazing selling feature for us. We’ve been rocking this bag already now for months and love all the thoughtful compartments including two 8oz baby bottle holders. It’s also made from recycled water bottles and is completely eco-friendly. Love this bag and the local gal who created it!
I hope you found this guide helpful in getting started with the primary gear and essentials for baby. Keep in mind this is a very subjective process and investment, but definitely one that can rely on the suggestions form others, too. As well, this is of course not an exhaustive list of items but I’ll be sharing many of my smaller essential suggestions on my upcoming baby shower post. This will include a list of what was on my registry and some favourites from other moms too!
Love always, Momma Mills xo
