When you`re a new mom you`re in for all sorts of surprises, to say the least. Sure, you expect the basics - baby crying, hungry, diaper changing, etc. What you`re not prepared for is baby playing with the dirty diaper as you try to change him, they care more about trash than actual presents and the stuff you thought you had to have - you never use! Forget what you've read in the baby books -- we go beyond the basics and get right to the good stuff. Here`s some MUST have items!  

 

 

 

Everyone will tell you: Get teething toys. No one will tell you: Get this very specific one called Sophie.

There will come a time when you'll do just about anything to make baby`s teething pain go away. Let us introduce you to the miraculous healing powers of Sophie, the giraffe teether. She`s made of natural rubber and food paint, with no toxic gunk whatsoever, which moms love. But why does baby love her so much? The jury's still out on that one. Maybe it's because her chewable appendages stick out every which way, making her easy to chomp on; or that she squeaks when you squeeze her and seems to be the perfect size for baby's kung-fu grip. Whatever the reason, one thing's clear: Her miraculous ability to keep baby happy (and silent) makes her a definite must-have.  

 

Of course, you'll need a stroller to move baby from point A to point B, but a travel system will get you a lot more mileage. Say you're cruising around town with baby in the backseat, ready to embark on errand number three, and all of the sudden the little guy dozes off. Abort mission, right? Wrong. With a travel system, you'll be able to slide baby's car seat out of its base and stealthily snap it in place on your stroller in a matter of minutes -- all without waking your sleeping babe. Sound totally brilliant? That's 'cause it is!  

 

We know what you're thinking: Two strollers? But hear us out. You won't always want to push around a heavy stroller everywhere you go. Having a lightweight and easily collapsible umbrella stroller on hand will be a lifesaver (and a back saver) in the long run.  

 

You'll need a swing to put the baby in and keep her occupied while you're running around your house like a madwoman trying to get a load of laundry done, make a phone call or even just go to the bathroom! But no one will admit that flashing lights, hookups for MP3 players and self-rocking mechanisms will buy you extra time and may even lull a fussy baby to sleep. At 2 a.m. when nothing else is working, you'll be glad you don't have to use your hand to continually push the baby back and forth.  

 

The Graco Simple Sway Swing is a great swing option. While you do have to assemble it yourself (booo!) once complete it`s rather nice.  Putting it together is a bit of a task though, thankfully my husband got it done in about 20 minutes. This baby swings small frame design fits in any room of your home so you can easily keep baby close wherever you are. The swing goes from side to side with 6 swing speeds, offers a 2-speed vibration in the seat of the swing, and plays 15 songs and sounds. Compared to another swing we have this is a bit wider so it works for our 1 year old still, while the other swing we had was more snug and geared more towards infants. A downfall? The cord isn`t very long when it`s plugged in so you have to get creative depending on your outlet set up (or a simple extension cord works nicely as well). Then again it does have the option to use batteries instead (5D batteries to be exact).   While Jace wasn`t too fond of being strapped into the 5-point harness, he was in there securely and couldn`t get out. Of course, I still have to keep an eye on him since he has become quite the escape artist. The swing is well made, durable, stays in place as it swings and I love the neutral color so it`s suitable for either gender. What`s funny, Jace never was a swing lover as an infant, but when I put him in this one and got it in front his favorite cartoons, he actually just laid back, relaxed, and enjoyed the swing. It actually made me jealous and wish I had one to lay back in for my size!  

 

Consolidate your gear and baby's by springing for a diaper bag that doubles as your own bag. That's right -- there is such a thing as a stylish, all-purpose diaper bag, sans the paisley flowers or hideous bright polka dots. (Who knew?) As long as it's got tons of pocket space and a washable matte finish, and easily attaches to your stroller, you'll be good to go.  

 

Everyone tells you: You need a baby carrier. No one will tell you: Try it on before you buy it. Toting your tot around will become a much easier feat with a baby carrier that's actually comfortable to wear. You'll want to look for one that has easily adjustable straps on your shoulders and hips so you can evenly distribute the weight (and save your back some pain).  

 

Trust us, you don't want to be lugging around a huge nursing pillow when you're boarding a plane or adding to your already packed car trunk. But you'll come to rely on this thing to keep you from straining your back while breastfeeding. Get a nursing pillow that's compact and easy to carry around.  

 

We won't beat around the bush: Attaching two suction cups to your boobs won't ever feel normal, but if you plan on nursing, then chances are you'll want a reliable pump. And if you're heading back to work or find yourself always on-the-go, you'll want to invest in a sturdy, daily-use pump that can stand the test of time. Things to look for: portability and durability.  

 

You won't be able to drag your high chair with you out to a restaurant. It's no secret that babies and restaurants don't always mix. But at least there's one invention that will cut down on the chaos when dining out with your little one: the travel chair. Fixing itself easily onto the side of any dining table, you can store a travel chair in the back of your car. While it's perfect for restaurants, it's great for those trips to Grandma's too.  

 

The Graco Swivi Seat 3-in-1 Booster is definitely a nice pick to consider for a booster chair. What I like about this one is that it`s adjustable in multiple ways. First you can adjust the straps as you would in a car seat depending on your child`s size. Then you can even change the level of "recline" the chair has. So if you`re feeding an infant you can do so in this by pulling the little latch on the side. As your baby gets bigger you can sit him/her upright and use the tray that attaches for feedings. The booster attaches to your kitchen chair easily and is easy to take off when not in use or if you want to bring with you on the go. The chair is suitable for up to 50 pounds in weight so getting this as an infant or toddler your child will get a lot of use out of it. The chair is well made, super easy to put together (seriously, I didn`t need instructions or my husband to do this one for me!), and is actually rather stylish. I got the one with a white cover with colorful kitchen utensils throughout and love it. I love the padding of the material as well to protect your baby. I think I`d honestly be comfortable in the chair if it were my size. The one thing Jace doesn`t like? The 5-point harness. He`s not a fan of being strapped in - what 1-year old is? Then again, even as an infant he threw fits about being buckled in to things. Overall though this is an awesome booster chair that can be used though the baby years! I love it!  

 

Ah, the swaddle blanket...comforting babies (and saving the sanity of moms) everywhere for centuries. By wrapping up baby snugly, you'll not only help her self-soothe, but also ease her off to sleep faster, since being swaddled will remind her of her days back in the womb. But you'll need a swaddle blanket that you can easily wrap baby in. You don't want to spend an hour (or more) trying to get a good wrap -- only to have it kicked off in a matter of seconds. Look for lightweight, large swaddle blankets or the kind with Velcro to keep them closed.  

 

It pretty much goes without saying why you'd need a first-rate car seat, so weâ'll skip the overview. In fact, you'll probably put more research time into baby's car seat than you did with your college thesis -- and with good reason, since baby's safety and comfort are your number-one priorities these days. Here's a tip: Don't just look at popular car seats; be sure to read up on all recently recalled products and newly issued safety standards too.