There is SO much STUFF accumulated with a new baby.  Between baby showers and shopping online with crazy pregnancy hormones (bad idea!) a new mom can end up with so much unneeded baby junk. 

Here are 5 things I could not have lived without and 5 things I very easily did live without during the first 12 months.

Must haves:

1.  Quality Running Stroller

I’m not a runner.  And this is still one of my favorite things we have.  Initially, we didn’t get one because they are quite pricey and we weren’t sure we’d even use it.  But then a friend was selling hers, barely used, so we jumped on that opportunity.   We have a BOB Ironman Single Stroller and we love it.

David takes Max out on runs with him and it’s win-win-win.  Max gets fresh air, David gets to spend some time with Max and it also improves his training, and I get time alone while they run!!  That alone time is worth every penny  

Running strollers are also just so much smoother and nicer of a ride.  Good investment for people that plan to really use it.  Plus it’s just nice to have 2 strollers.  One for each car, or one for my car and the other to keep in the garage for walks.

2.  Babywise book

I’ve talked about this so much before, I’m sure you are over it.  But I can’t recommend it highly enough for those moms that appreciate and enjoy predictability and routine.  You can read my review on the book here. 

3.  Personalized baby book

My aunt barbie bought all three of my older sisters baby books when they were born.  Five years later, when it was me being born, my aunt was taking care of her own 3 week old newborn, my cousin Ben.  She was a little too preoccupied to run out and buy her niece a baby book.  And so was my mom.  Thus, I have no baby book.  My mom bought one for my 25th birthday and started filing it out… better late than never.

Even with so much documented through blogs and social media, nothing can replace the traditional, old-fashioned, must have Baby book.

4.  Infant Seat

Not only did Max sleep in this seat for the first few weeks of life, it was my go-to place when I was alone with him and needed to put him down for a bit.  I remember moving that thing all around the house—to the bathroom so I could take a bath or shower, to the kitchen so he could watch me cook, and even to the porch on a nice day for fresh air.  The infant seat vibrated, played music, and had a belt to strap the baby in securely.  As he got a little older, he’d sit in it for awhile holding a toy or two.   

5.  A Fan

One night I read that a fan in a baby’s room could reduce the risk of SIDS.  I guess from the additional circulation of air.  Well, the second I read that, you better believe I had David get in the car and go buy a fan.  He came back with a $5 fan from Wal-Mart.  He said it would work for now, until we purchased a better one.  But the $5 one has turned out to be all we needed.  It is LOUD so it doubles well as a sound buffer.  Mommy slept better at night, knowing we had a fan in there, and I think Max slept better as it blocked out a lot of the noise.  Great investment for $5!

Better off Without:

1.  Monitor

I know what you’re thinking, “No monitor!! What the heck? This coming from the same woman that sent her husband out at 11 pm for a fan?”  We did not use a monitor, and honestly, it has been the most liberating experience.  I know this won’t work for everyone, but if the layout of your house permits you to easily hear your child, I recommend it. 

Because I was so worried at the beginning about SIDS,  having a monitor–especially a video one–would have just made me even more paranoid.  I would never have fallen asleep—I would have just watched or listened to every little thing on the monitor, over analyzing whether he skipped a breath or not.  I never would have slept.  Which means I would’ve been a crappy mom the next morning.

I ALWAYS woke up when Max cried out.  In fact, I oddly found myself waking up an instant BEFORE he cried out (motherly instinct??) Either way, I never had trouble hearing him the old fashioned and organic way– after all, we were only down the hallway.

2.  Shopping cart seat cover

I categorize this as “extra crap” babies r us tries to make us think we need.  I know some moms love these things, but I thought they caused more trouble than they were worth.  The idea is to cover up a highchair at a restaurant, or the front seat of the shopping cart at the grocery.  But honestly, I used ours maybe two times ever. 

Every single day—at least once if not many times a day– Max is transferred to a high chair or a shopping cart.  The idea of loading around this big fluffy seat and transporting it each time we go some where was way too overwhelming.  I would’ve driven myself crazy.  Instead, Max sits directly in a highchair at a restaurant, and directly in a shopping cart at the store.  He has not contracted some crazy germ-like grocery cart disease, and seems to be perfectly comfortable riding along without the extra padding. 

It sat in our trunk, taking up valuable space for months.  Better off without this.

3.  Diaper Bag

Of course we need something to carry all the baby stuff, but not necessarily a “Diaper Bag.”  I simply went to TJ Max and purchased a cute, brown leather oversized purse that I carry around as our diaper bag.  It fits everything, and I’d rather carry it than the traditional baby bags.  I also have an old coach purse I love, it’s also brown leather, and huge—I pop things in there as well and head out the door.

4.  Diaper Genie

Let’s get real.  Sh*t stinks. 

There is no magical trashcan that can change the inevitable.

My sister passed down her diaper genie to us–we did not purchase one.  And let me tell you… it stinks!! 

Of COURSE it stinks!! We throw dirty diapers in the thing!

The best way to keep the smell down is to have a small trash can with a lid and to take it out very often.  That’s it… that’s the only secret.  Sh&t smells.

5. Nursing covers

This was kind of like the shopping seat cover to me—more trouble than it’s worth.  I never really fed in that public of areas anyway, where I’d really feel the need to use this.  It collected dust in the corner of the nursery closet.  Max didn’t like using it (kind of can’t blame him—seemed dark and suffocating in that thing) and he’d fight to get out from under it.

If we were out and about I usually fed Max in the car and didn’t need this.  I used it one time on the airplane—but again, more trouble to take it along than  worth it.  On the next plan ride I wore a shawl instead, and used that to cover myself.  Sure, these nursing covers are cute, coming in a variety of colors and patterns, but that’s where the excitement ends.