My Essential Baby Gear
When I became a mom a few years ago, I first searched online for a list of essential baby items, just to make sure I didn't make too many mistakes and, most importantly, didn't forget anything.
Very quickly, I felt literally overwhelmed by the quantity of products / items / articles that I "absolutely had to invest in" to welcome the baby...
"You need: a car seat, a stroller, a bed, a travel crib,..."
The problem is, our house isn't expandable, and we didn't want to change cars either... And budget-wise, we had to make choices anyway...
I wondered if all of this was really necessary and if there weren't alternatives like compact & durable products, so that baby would wear out their things as little as possible...
I then became somewhat "minimalist". The less I have at home, the better I feel!
I started by writing a list of my essentials based on my daily life (car size, baby room size, habits...) but without compromising on quality and design (being a designer, I had to!) and here's what came out of it...
1) The Stroller: The Yoyo + by Babyzen, compact and urban.
No introduction needed; the most compact stroller on the market.
We quickly chose the Yoyo +, a true two-in-one that, thanks to the 0-to-6-month baby pack, can be used from birth until the baby goes to school.
Ultra-compact and comfortable, it folds up and can be placed behind the driver's seat (practical when the trunk is super loaded for holidays, for example ^^). It's also the ideal stroller for Parisians because it fits through standard security gates (you don't have to ask for the stroller gate to be opened) and for frequent travelers, it's not necessary to put it in the plane's hold since it fits in the cabin.
Their new model is great! They've added an adapter for infant car seats; no need to buy either the newborn kit or the infant car seat anymore!
For me, it's excellent value for money and a purchase we don't regret!
2) The High Chair: SUPAFLAT, Slim and stylish
With its all-wood look and Scandinavian design, it literally captivated us...
Super practical, it folds up like an ironing board and stores easily in a closet or under a bed, out of sight (but without the cushion and straps!)... No more ugly and/or bulky plastic high chairs!
A slight downside is the slightly high price (design comes at a cost!).
The cheapest one found: At Bambinou.com
3) The Travel Crib: BABYBJÖRN, easy and ultra-compact.
Who hasn't struggled to unfold or refold a baby travel crib?
I had that luck thanks to the Babybjörn travel crib. It truly has everything to please: elegant design, ultra-simple to fold and unfold and store (2 minutes flat). It stores in a compact bag and, like the stroller, you can easily slide it behind the driver's seat in the car.
It can be easily found in large stores like La redoute
4) The Bouncer: DOOMOO, the soft bouncer.
We were lucky enough to borrow the DOOMOO for the birth of our son. For those who don't know the DOOMOO, it's a super stable and soft bouncer where you can let baby sleep peacefully.
My son slept in it day and night during the first months of his life. Its inclined position and harness reassured me about reflux and SIDS. And its softness is perfect for stability compared to other bouncers.
In short, another one of my essentials that I will happily reuse for the next baby carrot ^^
This list is representative of my daily life as a mom, and there are undoubtedly many other essential and practical items for baby's daily life.
The price of some products may seem high, so consider buying second-hand or having them offered to you by several people around you instead of a dozen outfits of the same age that baby won't have time to wear ^^
What are your essentials or your favorite brands?
(Also read: My 5 essentials for baby's daily life )