CASH’S FAVS: MUST-HAVES FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS

I am the youngest of three and have been spoiled by all those I love for a little more than three decades.   If you’re the baby of the family, you know that once the baby, always the baby.  It has its perks. 

The most important one: you get the best advice.  Over the years, I have learned the irreplaceable value of having others who have been through the same joys and trauma as you in your corner.  This has never been more true than when I became a Momma.  

But, being the baby of the family, I was never solely responsible for taking care of someone else.  Sure, I like to think I am the cool auntie to my 10 nieces and nephews and spoil them to death, but their wiser, more adult parents were always waiting in the wings.

So, becoming a Momma to Cassius – terrifying.  Could I do it? Would I be any good?  How would I know what to do?  I made lists upon lists upon lists of ALL the things I thought we would need to make the best life for this little bubba.  After almost a year – don’t get me started, I am way TOO emotional about how fast this has gone by – I wanted to share a list of some of our must-haves for the first 6 months.  These were the things that got him to sleep, kept him asleep, made him smile, and helped us enjoy every single minute with him.  From his polar bear noises to his sneezes.  If you’re anything like me, trying to organize the chaos makes you feel a little more in control and lists are your jam.  If that’s the case, I got you.

It may not help deal with the overwhelming anxiety of whether you can keep a tiny human happy and healthy, but if there is anything I have learned, it is that when you got the small things under control, it helps you feel like you can conquer just about anything.  Even being a real-life adult.  Major key alert.

1. Uppababy Vista Stroller & Bassinet: CLUTCH.  One of our favorite things to do on the weekends is walk to our local coffee shop, grab oat milk lattes (Yes, we are this bougie), and explore our neighborhood.  We knew that when Cassius arrived, he would be accompanying us on these adventures and we needed a stroller that could handle the concrete jungle that is Houston.  This stroller is amazing – we have used it every single day since he was born and there has been absolutely no wear & tear.  Another pro, if we do have another kiddo, it easily converts into a stroller for two.  Cons: It’s heavy AF, which means that traveling with baby and stroller is not light work.  Otherwise, 100% recommend.

2. Hatch Sleep: This was a game changer.  You can choose between twelve different sounds and colors, it links to multiple devices so you can control it remotely, and there are also fancy programming features, which, to be honest, we have never used.  Our bubba prefers the white noise sound during sleep and we play the musical tracks during his bedtime routine.  I am CONVINCED this is what has helped him sleep through the night.

3. DockATot: I bought this purely based on aesthetics alone and did not think we would use it that much.  Don’t tell Ro.  It ended up being our number one must-have during the first six months.  Almost ALL his daytime naps were in the DockATot, and most days, he would just chill next to us on the couch.  In the first three months, the bubba was sleeping. A. LOT. It made it easier to let him rest in the DockATot while we used that precious time to catch up on Netflix shows and eat deliciously-cooked meals made by our mommas.  Side note: I would have included our parents on this must-have list if I could.  They were the real MVPs. 

4. Einstein Playtime Mat: Cassius was obsessed with this mat.  OBSESSED.  He would spend all his wake time looking at himself in the mirror and staring at the lights on the piano.  It’s easy to travel with, and all the pieces, including the piano, disconnect from the mat, so when your munchkin gets too big, he can still use it.  I am all about toys that can be repurposed as babies grow – mostly because I cry every time I have to put away something that he has outgrown BUT ALSO because I am practical and I don’t want to buy something new every three months. Unless its clothes.  Cassius still LOVES the piano – almost a year later.

5. Swaddle Blankets: My sister tried to teach us the art of swaddling the baby using muslin blankets but we failed.  Miserably.  Cassius was a strong boy, like his namesake, and five minutes into his nap, his arm and legs would break free.  In a sleepy haze, and on a recommendation from our ride-or-dies, Adam & Kathryn, we ordered these blankets from Amazon and fell in love.  They are quick and easy to put the munchkin in, which is SO important when they are wailing and wriggly, and are machine washable for all the spit-ups and explosions that occur within the first six months.  He LOVED these swaddles and it didn’t hurt that he looked so beyond cute in them. Such a nugget.

6. Baby Bjorn: LOVE LOVE LOVE.  There is nothing better than cuddling with your munchkin face during the first six months AND having your hands free to get things done around the house, or drink rose, or blow dry your hair.  We used this in airports, on walks, and even in the house during witching hour.  If you know, you know.  I will say that I have heard good things about the Solly Baby Wrap and if there is a round two, I will probably give that a try as it increases the snuggle factor. And I am all about that.

7. Bouncer: When Cassius was about three months, he lived for the bouncer.  He would chill there when I was putting on makeup, making coffee, emptying the dishwasher, or responding to emails.  We did not have this fancy one but I have heard nothing but good reviews, and if we did it all over again, I would make the investment. 

8. MamaRoo Baby Swing: I am convinced that if we had this swing earlier, Cassius would have been all about it.  Ro is less convinced.  So, take this next recommendation with a grain of salt, but the month or so that Cassius used this, he was obsessed.  It has multiple sounds and movements you can choose from – his favorite was the car ride. Obviously. 

9. Crawl Along Monkey: The love affair with monkey began the moment his Dodda (Cash’s Grandma) bought this for him.  It has a mirror, and as I mentioned above, the boy loves to look at himself in the mirror.  It also plays music, which we are surprisingly not sick of, and you can spin it or roll it on the ground.  He has grown up with this toy and it’s amazing to see the new ways he plays with it now that he can army crawl around the house.  It keeps him busy for hours. Believe me.  You need this.  You heard it here first.

Having a baby can be OVERWHELMING but I am hoping that this list of must-haves helps you feel prepared for those first few months so you can focus on more important things.  Like baby snuggles.