3 must have baby things

3 must have baby things

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When we were expecting our baby, it got pretty clear that the baby stuff is its own world. It seems like you need a lot of things for your little one. But that’s not quite true – you can totally buy less and see what you’re gonna need once you get there. Actually that’s what I recommend on some things, because you never know how your situation is gonna look like.

But some things you probably already know you’re gonna need – or rather – want. I think it’s helpful to hear different experiences, so I want to share some of the baby gadgets that have been a lifesaver for us.

I know it’s difficult to know what you’re gonna need, so I’m gonna share my recommendations with good reasoning. Without further ado, here’s my must have list for baby’s first year!

3 must have baby things you (probably) need for the first year

owlet camera review kokemuksia

owlet sock baby review

Owlet sock (the best baby monitor!)

I knew having a baby would be another opportunity for my tech-loving man to get new gadgets. And this gadget has been one that I totally get behind! The owlet sock includes a camera and the monitoring sock.

The camera acts as a baby monitor with some cool features. There’s obviously video and sound, but you can also talk to your baby through the camera and your phone’s owlet app. It also measures the room temperature and humidity.

The sock monitors your baby’s heartbeat and oxygen level. Basically it alerts you, if the heartbeat drops too low or goes too high. Or if your baby’s oxygen levels drop.

owlet sock and monitor

At least for us, it helped a lot with the need of checking if the baby breathes. Obviously you can’t just count on technology, but it was a huge help. We could and are still sleeping better, thanks to the sock. As an added bonus, it’s easy to check if your baby is in deep sleep and if it’s safe to move her.

Now that our baby is a toddler we only use it is she’s sick and we want to watch her oxygen levels.

sleepy troll baby rocker review kokemuksia

Sleepytroll baby rocker (hello 8 hour sleep!)

Sleepytroll baby rocker is something that I wanted to get. I started to dream about it, after quite so many nightly wake ups. If only someone else rocked the baby back asleep.

I didn’t really expect it to work as well as it did (we started sleeping full nights with it), but for us, it just simply worked. Sleepytroll has a sensor mode, that activates if it detects sound or movement. Then it starts to rock the stroller (or the crib) for three minutes. It also has the option of rocking 40 minutes, but that we rarely used. You can also adjust on how sensitive it is.

We used this until Eva was about 5 or 6 months. Then we just kind of let go of it. I was worried if we would need to let it rock Eva until she was 18 years old, but luckily stopping the use was also easy. And in the summer we sleep trained Eva and we are now (at 8 months) sleeping full nights again. But again, Sleepytroll was such a lifesaver in the early months. 5/5, do recommend!

Nowadays we use it every now and then for naps.

tommy tippee sangenic twist diaper trash

Tommee Tippee Sangenic Twist diaper trash

We used to have cats when I was little – and I hated the smell of piss and you-know-what that came with them. The same kind of applies to babies and their diapers. I’m fine changing them and I salute my daughter for filling them up majestically, but I don’t want to smell them once I put it to the bin.

Enter: Tommee Tippee Sangenic Twist bin! There’s a difference in the twist! It doesn’t even smell, when  I open the lid. I have seen other bins, where I have to smell the poo every time I slip a diaper inside. No thanks.

Thanks to this, our bathroom is still our bathroom. With no odours. Investing a bit more in a trash really has been worth it.

And those are pretty much the three big baby must have things I would recommend. I mean the list could go on, but those are the most important things. But for those interested, in short, I also love our Emmaljunga NXT90 stroller, our Babyzen Yoyo travel stroller (cabin size!), our Stokke Sleepi crib and for breastfeeding mums the best handsfree breast pump is by Elvie.

 

Are you familiar with any of these things? Any other fans?

 

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Dear diary,

lately our baby monitor hasn’t caught much crying, yet it keeps catching the birds’ singing. I think I prefer it this way. I used to be so amazed at all the birds I could see at Arabianranta (where we used to live), but this new place in Vantaa beats it with other animals. Yesterday I saw a fox, two times. And on Saturday I saw two foxes. Deer are also an every day thing basically. Rabbits, squirrels – apparently our small natural brook also is the home to at least 8 frogs. I’m still not sure this is the home for us, but I’ve been liking it more and more. (So I guess at least my friends can stop worrying – I don’t hate the whole Vantaa anymore.)

Just being home feels lovely. I just went for two different trips, so for now I’m happy seeing my suitcase empty, on top of my wardrobe. I could just spend the summer at home, on our backyard, watching Eva eat rocks. So far we don’t have much plans so it might just be like that.

Girls trip to Vilnius

My first trip was to Vilnius, Lithuania, with five of my girl friends and it was so lovely. I didn’t mind the rain. It was so relaxing, worrying only about me. And I didn’t really – worry I mean. Drinking my coffee in actual peace each morning and having the best company around me (one who didn’t require diaper change or me feeding them) was simply the best. I also didn’t mind wine Charlotta, who might have taken some dance steps walking home from the restaurants.

And yes obviously, coming back home to my dear family was also lovely after getting to miss them a bit. (If you never go away you don’t have time for missing.) Besides, they were also living their best life here without me, not a single problem. I’m so lucky to be an equal parent, not the number 1 (even though Risto keeps saying that mom is the number 1).

Family trip to Cape Verde

After Vilnius I was at home for a few days, then we went to Africa! It sounds more exciting than it is, I promise you. Cape Verde was beautiful yes, but 5/5 of us caught covid. Me being first in high fever. Oh well, the joys of starting daycare (and catching all them flus). I wasn’t prepared to spend the holiday basically under blankets at the hotel room, though. But focusing on the good stuff, it was nice to spend time with Risto’s mom and niece, seeing some pretty trees and enjoying the beach, although for only short amount of time. Eva also loved the kids’ pool (the one day she got to experience it). The time difference also made it so that at home we got to sleep late for three days. Those were high luxury, let me tell you (too bad we also needed them for our jet lag so the enjoyment was also just a necessity). We’re back to waking up at six now.

I’m focusing on enjoying this moment and the upcoming summer, because life might look quite different next fall. If all goes well, I start studying. I’m realizing that all the days spent at home with Eva are gone quicker than I realize. You know, those days that seemed never ending. They were quite lovely too. As tiring as it is as a parent to constantly have someone’s back, I’ll never get tired of my daughter’s smile. I’m so lucky to have her. And I’m so lucky to have friends who I can travel with or just drink coffee on the floor. And to have a soulmate. Ah, I guess now that I’m writing, all the cliches are coming to me (because they are true, as my sister would say).

So all in all I guess the sun is shining, life feels like it has adventures for me again, and I’m having a good day.
And if we’re being totally honest here, I might have been having a little writer’s block. It’s been a while. And I just wanted to chat. Someone wise once told me to not worry too much and just start doing. Just start somewhere.

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Just some words and feelings on digital paper. Light blue eyeliner and blue mascara. Dear diary, a horsefly bit me in the leg today on my run and I didn’t even notice. Instead I noticed the comics on the underpass and flowers blooming in the forest.

I guess I didn’t even realize it, but I was feeling a little worn out and grey. Worried and guilty for needing a little time, for putting Eva at daycare. Angry and sad for moving to such a different neighborhood. And tired, just tired.

This, a turn suddenly for the better, and not the least in my mind,

is very welcome. Thank you life.

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