Listmania!
Best baby gear for the first year
By an Amazon.com customer
Fisher-Price Galloping Fun JumperooFisher-Price Galloping Fun Jumperoo
Buy new: $180.00
He couldn't get enough of this starting at 4 months. He outgrew it at 8 months. It looks better than a lot of the others out there. This was an absolute favorite! He would jump and squeal and laugh - makes great videos. To increase adult enjoyment of the jumperoo, I highly recommend removing the batteries and the cloth side panels.
Miracle Blanket - Baby Swaddling Blanket - BlueMiracle Blanket - Baby Swaddling Blanket - Blue
Buy new: $29.90
Swaddling was a big key for having him sleep well. He could break out of anything but this. Once I got the hang of it, it was easy to do in the middle of the night after a diaper change. I wasn't able to do great tight wraps with regular blankets while only half awake. Much better than the velcro style blankets we tried which never seems to fit him right.
BabyBjorn Baby Sitter 1-2-3 - BlackBabyBjorn Baby Sitter 1-2-3 - Black
This was great and is still being used. We used almost daily up for the first six months and still use it when we need to keep him safe.
Winkel (Boxed)Winkel (Boxed)
Buy new: $11.85
He still loves this. It is light and easy for baby to hold. And it's soft so that they won't hurt themselves with it. (They tend to bang toys against their heads when they're really little.)
Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether, Brown/ WhiteVulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether, Brown/ White
Buy new: $18.19
He LOVES this. I wish we had had it from the beginning. He loves the squeaks it makes and it's so easy for him to hold. It's his favorite thing to chew on.
Kiddopotamus PoshPouch Premium Baby Carrier Cover Faux Seude & Fur, GraphiteKiddopotamus PoshPouch Premium Baby Carrier Cover Faux Seude & Fur, Graphite
I had something very similar to this by Eddie Bauer and loved it. This kind of cover, that fits around the outside of the car seat, is much safer than the kind the baby sits on top of, like the 'bundle-me'.
Secrets of the Baby Whisperer: How to Calm, Connect, and Communicate with Your BabySecrets of the Baby Whisperer: How to Calm, Connect, and Communicate with Your Baby by Tracy Hogg
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $3.04
Simply the best baby book we found. I wish I'd read it much earlier as we probably could have avoided some sleep issues when he hit 12 weeks. Her philosophy is great and I also love her message board.
The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems: Sleeping, Feeding, and Behavior--Beyond the Basics from Infancy Through ToddlerhoodThe Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems: Sleeping, Feeding, and Behavior--Beyond the Basics from Infancy Through Toddlerhood by Tracy Hogg
Buy new: $12.96 / Used from: $5.28
You really have to get this along with the original book.
Belly Laughs: The Naked Truth about Pregnancy and ChildbirthBelly Laughs: The Naked Truth about Pregnancy and Childbirth by Jenny McCarthy
Buy new: $9.32 / Used from: $1.45
So important to maintain a sense of humor during pregnancy. This book was surprisingly well written and hysterical. We both enjoyed it.
Baby Laughs: The Naked Truth About the First Year of MommyhoodBaby Laughs: The Naked Truth About the First Year of Mommyhood by Jenny McCarthy
Buy new: $10.08 / Used from: $0.82
Also hysterical. A sense of humor is even more important for me now that the baby is here, but I need help sometimes finding the funny. Jenny does a great job with that and with helping me keep perspective.
Multi Color Stripe Throw About BlanketMulti Color Stripe Throw About Blanket
Buy new: $32.99
This blanket is great. So much more practical for outside than the traditional soft baby blankets. You can lay it anywhere and not worry about grass stains, water, etc and it's huge, and cute.
American Baby Company Waterproof Quilted Lap and Burp Pad 2 Pack SetAmerican Baby Company Waterproof Quilted Lap and Burp Pad 2 Pack Set
Buy new: $11.90
These were a must-have. We used them everywhere, especially on top of the changing table and on top of his crib sheet. They saved us many a sheet change.
BornFree Gift SetBornFree Gift Set
Buy new: $33.00
These bottles are great. They seem to help some with gas, but are much simpler than the Dr. Brown's bottles. Plus, they have safe materials. He was mostly breastfed but we started him on occasional bottles too at 2 weeks to ease the transition when my wife went back to work.
Bugaboo Cameleon Complete Stroller (Dark Grey Base, Red Fabric)Bugaboo Cameleon Complete Stroller (Dark Grey Base, Red Fabric)
Buy new: $979.00
Love it. The big wheels and shocks make it great for city streets and trails.
Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD2 7.1MP MPEG4 High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical ZoomSanyo Xacti VPC-HD2 7.1MP MPEG4 High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom
Buy new: $799.95
We love this camera. Great quality video and it's fits in my purse. I'd never end up using it if it was bigger. We upload the videos directly to YouTube.
Dreambaby Swing Close Gate with Extension, WhiteDreambaby Swing Close Gate with Extension, White
Buy new: $44.59
Love this gate. It is extremely sturdy, has top-of-stairs mounting cups if you want, and closes on its own (which is very nice when you're carrying a baby in on hand and something else in the other).
Skip Hop Splash - WhiteSkip Hop Splash - White
Buy new: $28.00
This works great - much better than others. and it has a fun look.
Graco SnugRider Infant Car Seat Stroller FrameGraco SnugRider Infant Car Seat Stroller Frame
Buy new: $63.49
This was great. We just left it in the car and used it with his infant car seat at the mall or stores. It's easier to fold down and lighter than the bugaboo, so we used it when we was an infant and when the bugaboo wasn't needed - like at the mall or airport. This is a must for air travel if you're taking the car seat!
Give Peas A Chance Bib By Crocodile CreekGive Peas A Chance Bib By Crocodile Creek
Buy new: $7.00
These are our favorite bibs for feedings. They just rinse off, as opposed to the ones that are all cloth. And they have a little pocket at the bottom to catch any crumbs or run-off. And they are the right length - many others are too long for a baby. Also, the firmer bibs (like Baby Bjorn) were uncomfortable and cut into his neck if he leaned forward.
Boon Flair Pneumatic Pedestal Highchair - Frosty Blue and WhiteBoon Flair Pneumatic Pedestal Highchair - Frosty Blue and White
Buy new: $176.00
LOVE this. For a while we just used our portable high chair(fisher-price). It was good until about 8 months when he learned how to take the tray cover off. This chair is sooo easy to clean - I can't imagine having one that's fabric or wood. The break doesn't really work on hardwood floors, but that hasn't been an issue for us. Actually, he uses it as a push-toy to walk around the kitchen.
BABYBJÖRN Plate and Spoon in GreenBABYBJÖRN Plate and Spoon in Green
Buy new: $19.95
They are in between a plate and a bowl, which is perfect for holding his pureed food and oatmeal. The spoons are great too. They're big enough to hold a decent amount of food and easy for him to get food off of. He also loves to chew on the handles and hold them himself. I don't think he can do that with our gerber spoons.
Safety 1st Kirby Inflatable Tub in BlueSafety 1st Kirby Inflatable Tub in Blue
Buy new: $29.70
Once he started trying to sit up around 5 months the infant tub wouldn't hold him - he just tried to climb out. This is soo easy to use and he loves it. He can really splash around safely. It sits inside the bathtub and protects him from slipping and banging himself on the tub. It fills up quickly and we just turn it upside down on the tub at night. Plus, it can double as a small swimming pool.
Small World Toys Neurosmith Together Tunes TooSmall World Toys Neurosmith Together Tunes Too
Buy new: $55.49
I got him this when he started pulling up. He uses it to help him stand, loves the activities on each side and especially the songs. (They even have the lyrics printed covertly on each side for the parents.) I considered getting a big wooden activity block but read one too many scary reviews about stuck hands and injuries from toppling. I had to watch him until he got sturdy enough.
Bright Starts Tropical Fun Around We Go Activity StationBright Starts Tropical Fun Around We Go Activity Station
Buy new: $79.96
We got this when he outgrew the jumper. Despite our desire to avoid brightly colored toys, we love this! He loves crawling over to it and pulling up to play with the toys. Or, if I need to keep him safe, I put him in the seat. The pedestal is hollow, so I filled it to weight it down some more - just to be extra sure he was safe.
Panasonic BL-C131A Network Camera Wireless 802.11Panasonic BL-C131A Network Camera Wireless 802.11
Buy new: $253.20 / Used from: $175.00
This camera is connected to our wireless network and let's our parents login to a website to see their grandson from hundreds of miles away. It's a little tricky to setup but it's worth it.
Fisher-Price Papasan Cradle Swing -  Nature's Touch N1973Fisher-Price Papasan Cradle Swing - Nature's Touch N1973
Buy new: $349.99
This was a great swing for his early years. It was a very big help when we were tired and needed a quick break. Well worth it and not as ugly as most swings.