Baby stuff can be EXPENSIVE. It can be unnecessary. Or just more trouble than it’s worth. Honestly, 99% of the time, I don’t think most expensive items are worth it. Like I said in my earlier post on saving money and being eco-friendly, we buy most of the babies’ clothes second hand, we cloth diaper (yes, the initial investment can be a bit pricey but the stash quickly pays for itself), make our own baby food, etc. etc.
BUT I’m not gonna pretend there aren’t some pricey/non-essential items we don’t enjoy! Most of these were on our registry, and our amazing family and friends were kind enough to either gift them to us or help pay for them. So if you’re crafting your own wishlist or debating what to contribute to a good friend’s baby shower–here are some ideas! And just in time for the holidays too if you’re thinking about gifts (you can always split the cost with someone else, which is what a few friends did on our registry for pricier items)!
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If I’m being honest with myself, a baby food maker isn’t a necessary item. And yes, it can be pricey–but I can’t imagine a more convenient system than this one. I use the same appliance to steam, drain, and blend any combination of foods for my little ones to my heart’s content! I love cooking, so I have a ton of fun with this one.
2. Newton Bed
At a whopping $299.99 these matresses are by far the most expensive singular items we have for the twins. Again, these are certainly not necessary, but that’s what this whole list is about right?
Though I try to keep it under wraps, I can be quite anxious about particular things–especially regarding my little ones. The Newton mattress has significantly decreased my stress surrounding sleep safety (especially since Amélie screams bloody murder if I try to turn her over onto her back after she flips over on her tummy). You can totally breathe through this thing (believe me–I stuffed my face right against it to test as soon as it arrived…and just look at that super cool texturing!), it’s hypoallergenic, AND 100% recyclable. Just make sure to get breathable fitted sheets to go along with it, like these from Aden + Anais.
I’m convinced this mattress also helps little ones get a sounder night sleep as it’s extremely comfortable and its composition helps with airflow/temperature regulation. This is definitely not to say your baby will magically sleep through the night with the Newton mattress (besides, waking up in the middle of the night is perfectly normal for babies), but it may help with the stretches of sleep they do get!
3. Nursing Clothes and Bras
This is a bit of a broad category, and there are definitely affordable options (including buying secondhand!) out there–but I kind of went all-out with these. My favorite nursing bras are easily those made by Cake Maternity…and this is where the “splurging” bit comes in. Each Cake nursing bra will set you back about $45 (which for me personally is on the pricier end)–but I want to be as comfortable as possible. Nursing twins is hard enough as it is, I don’t have the energy or time to be uncomfortable. I didn’t want a nursing bra with underwire, but I wanted good support–something I feel Cake does better than any of my other maternity/nursing bras.
I also wound up getting quite a few good quality dresses and shirts specifically for nursing. Yes, they were a bit pricey if you add it all up…but I don’t regret stocking up at all–they’ve already seen so much use!
4. My Little Snugabear Swing (looks like the Snugapuppy may be an even newer version)
Both Amélie and Lucien are obsessed with this swing–whenever we go to put them in it, they automatically start trying to reach for the little owls on the mobile right above the swing. You can adjust the swinging speed, pivot the seat to change direction, and have the choice of day/night music AND day/night nature sounds (anything that cuts back on the amount of times I have to hear the same children’s song ad nauseum is an A in my book)!
This thing has been a LIFESAVER simply because the babies both enjoy it so much, and especially when you have more than one little minion rolling around–you’ll need a safe place that baby will enjoy for a few minutes here and there throughout the day (just make sure someone is always there to monitor!)
This is definitely on the pricier end of baby play gyms–but I feel like the price has been worth it. Besides it being made of great materials (all non-toxic, sustainably sourced, and organic), the Montessori-inspired gym has really amazing activities to keep kids entertained throughout their earliest months. We’re just over the six month mark, and I can tell you there’s still a lot more for Amélie and Lucien to explore. From the time we started taking them out and about, we’ve brought the little high contrast flash cards in their diaper bag–and they love them!
Lovevery also includes a fantastic book to accompany the gym that will provide you with sample activities to do with your little one at different stages all the way through their first year. Plus, they can use the canopy it comes with as a cute reading nook after they’ve outgrown the accompanying activities–I’m sure we’ll be enjoying this for years!
Sidenote: If your baby has outgrown the gym but you’re still interested in Lovevery, they offer play kits and other products for older babies and toddlers.
So there they are, my top five things we (or someone gifting us) splurged on for the babies that were actually worth it! Obviously, these are all totally optional and there are certainly more affordable choices out there–but we’ve enjoyed each of these items so much. What would you add to the list?