To Mike from Ram

"We don’t have the Doona X, but we’re definitely considering getting it! It seems amazing for traveling, especially since babies shouldn’t stay in the upright car seat position for extended periods. The Doona X has a recline feature that allows you to adjust the seat into a more comfortable position when using it as a stroller, without having to take baby out. Such a convenient option for airports, traveling, and days when you’re constantly on the go!"

"A newer version will be released soon, called the Cybex T 360. The rotating feature is a game changer."

"We currently have this one and really like it! It’s completely wire free, which makes for a super clean setup with no cords running through the car. The only downside is that once the battery dies, you do have to remember to take it out and charge it which is just one more thing to add to the never-ending list of baby things to remember lol! 😂"

"Heard many great things about this! Check out their official website because I believe they have many different types for your car"

"If you don’t mind wires, this will suffice! We used this for our first born."

"This is my top recommendation for a primary, hospital-grade pump! Check out AEROFLOWBREASTPUMPS.COM and enter your insurance information to see what pumps your plan covers. If this pump is available through your insurance, I definitely recommend choosing it. Insurance covered the majority of mine, and I believe I only paid around $50 out of pocket. The process through Aeroflow is super easy. Once you select your pump, they handle the insurance paperwork and, if your insurance requires a prescription, they’ll contact your OB/GYN directly to get it signed. Once everything is approved, the pump is shipped, they also send you free breast milk storage bags every month or 2. You can also get your pump replacement parts from them as well! Important! There is another version/color of this pump that comes in pink, but that model has to remain plugged in while you’re using it. I would definitely avoid that one and choose the blue rechargeable/portable version instead. Being able to pump without being stuck next to an outlet makes a HUGE difference!"

"1 Recommended Bottle for Breastfed Babies! They are on the pricey side but worth it. These are our personal favorite bottles! We love that they’re glass, especially since we prefer to avoid heating plastic in a bottle warmer. The nipple shape is also great for breastfed babies and is designed to encourage a latch that feels more similar to breastfeeding, which can help make transitioning between breast and bottle easier."

"1 Recommended Bottle for Breastfed Babies! They are on the pricey side but worth it. These are our personal favorite bottles! We love that they’re glass, especially since we prefer to avoid heating plastic in a bottle warmer. The nipple shape is also great for breastfed babies and is designed to encourage a latch that feels more similar to breastfeeding, which can help make transitioning between breast and bottle easier."

"As baby gets older, the nipple size changes. All the sizes are available on Amazon"

"2nd best breastfeeding bottles if you don’t mind plastic."

"A MUST HAVE! Washing bottles by hand is not it… That was the most mentally draining part with my first born. Definitely get an amazing bottle washer!"

"This is simply amazing and was honestly one of our favorite baby purchases! Both of our boys naturally tried to turn onto their sides as newborns, so the SNOO gave us so much peace of mind. The swaddle clips into the bassinet, which is designed to keep baby positioned safely on their back while they’re swaddled. The SNOO also detects fussing/crying and can automatically increase the white noise and rocking motion to help soothe baby. We personally didn’t start using the rocking feature until around 1.5 months old, and even then, we never let ours go above Level 1. That was just our personal preference and what we felt comfortable with. I know there’s a lot of conversation and different opinions surrounding the SNOO, but Ram and I have genuinely loved it with both boys, especially because of the peace of mind it gave us during those newborn months. Important note if you also plan on using the Nanit Breathing Band: We did not use the Nanit Breathing Band while baby was in the SNOO. The SNOO swaddle/clip setup isn’t really compatible with wearing the band the way Nanit intends, and Nanit’s breathing-motion monitoring also isn’t designed to be used when baby is sleeping on a moving surface. Once baby outgrew the SNOO and transitioned into the crib, that’s when we started using the Nanit Breathing Band. By that stage, once he could roll independently and started choosing to sleep on his tummy, the Nanit gave us that extra peace of mind. The Snoo is controlled via an app and it has many features. If you’re not comfortable with the rocking going above the baseline, you simply lock the motion on the app. It also helps baby get ready for the crib transition by weaning them and car rides! Sometimes persons sell their pre loved SNOO on Facebook Marketplace as well. That’s where we got ours."

"Any crib that gives you the option to convert it into a mini or midi crib is such a great perk! Once baby starts rolling and outgrows their bassinet, they’ll need to transition to a safe sleep space like a crib. Instead of moving our baby straight into the full-size crib in his own room, we converted ours into the midi crib and kept it in our bedroom because we wanted him sleeping close to us for a little while longer. I definitely recommend looking for a convertible crib with different sizes. It gives you so much more flexibility during those in-between stages and lets the crib grow with baby!"

"The Nanit with the floor stand is probably one of my most highly recommended baby products. Discount tip: Log into ID.me before purchasing. Nanit sometimes offers military discounts and may have discounts available for law enforcement as well. You also do not have to purchase the Nanit tablet/iPad if you already own an iPad or another compatible device. From our experience, the battery on the Nanit tablet dies pretty quickly, so I usually have to keep ours plugged in anyway. Our regular iPad battery isn't amazing either, but if you already own one, I personally wouldn't spend the extra money on the Nanit tablet. Nanit Breathing Band One of our many favorite Nanit features is the Breathing Band. It can be worn over compatible sleepwear, including certain swaddles and sleep sacks, and Nanit offers breathing wear for different stages. Nanit does We used the breathing monitoring feature a lot when Raju was a baby. By around age 1, we stopped using it regularly because I felt comfortable taking it off, but I would occasionally use it again on nights when he was sick because it gave me extra peace of mind. Obviously, every parent's comfort level is different, but Nanit has easily been one of our most-used and most-loved baby products, right up there with a good car seat and bassinet/crib. Nanit even has breathing band sleep sacks! They do have a subscription to keep memories etc."

"Awesome non WiFi travel friendly camera"

"If you have a large shower, the STOKKE Flexi Bath is perfect! After giving birth especially after a C-section bending down and leaning over to bathe baby can be so uncomfortable. Being able to use this in the shower made bath time so much easier for me during recovery. Another huge perk is that it collapses completely flat, making it super easy to store and perfect for traveling. Definitely one of those baby items that made those early postpartum weeks a little easier!"

"This trio is amazing, both my boys had baby acne and this cleared it up in less than a week!"

"Once baby starts to “break out” of the swaddle, this is an awesome option as long as baby has not rolled as yet. Purchase size accordingly to weight"

"Kyte Baby is 1 of our favorite baby clothing website. The quality is unmatched and the prints are ADORABLE! They have everything from swaddles, onesies, sleep bags etc!"

"LOVEVERY - Sign up for the subscription!!! We absolutely love Lovevery and I definitely recommend it. Every few months, based on baby’s age, they send you a box of toys specifically picked for the developmental stage they’re in at that time. I love it because it takes the guesswork out of figuring out what toys to buy and what they should be working on at each age. The toys help with things like tummy time, reaching and grabbing, fine motor skills, problem-solving, cause and effect, imaginative play, etc. As they get older, the boxes grow with them and the toys become more advanced. They also send little guides that show you how to use everything and give you different ways to play with the toys as baby grows. The toys are really good quality too! We’ve kept ours, so we’re able to reuse them with our second baby, which makes the subscription even more worth it IMO. Definitely one of those baby purchases I’d recommend starting from the newborn stage and continuing into toddlerhood!"

"HOUSE OF NOA - is amazing for all their tumblings mats and play mats! Non toxic, vegan leather mats, so easy to clean. It’s a worthy investment! So many cute options to chose from!"

"Baby Bjorn Bouncers are AMAZING! We call it the poop chair because it helps them 💩🤣! On their website they have so many more fabric options and colors to choose from!"

"This toy bar is awesome from month 1-3 since they only see black and white for the first few months. They also have a bright color option that you can start baby on around month 2.5 as well!"