We were really happy with a lot of the products we ended up using and others not so much, so I wanted to break down my previous baby product list (pre-baby) and share what I liked, didn't like, and products I am looking forward to trying. 

Nursing Gear

Electric Breast pump: Medela pump in style breast pump

I'd say this is my favourite product we purchased with baby number 1! I ended up pumping quite a bit so it was definitely worth the investment. 

Manual pump: I tried a traditional manual breast pump, but it wasn't suitable for me and my needs. 

I am looking forward to trying the Haakaa silicone breast pump. 

"Made from 100% food grade silicone. Simply suction to your breast and let the pump do the work for you as it draws your milk using suction. It's 100% eco-friendly and safe for mum, baby and our environment."

Stroller & Carseat

Strollers are such a hard purchase because it's a big investment. We ended up getting the Peg Perego Book on a bit of a whim because it was on sale and I knew it was a good name brand. I had done a lot of research on strollers but not on this specific model. The stroller was a bit of a disappointment for a couple of reasons; the mechanism to fold the stroller tends to get stuck, the basket has ripped a little bit and isn't very easy to get items in and out of, and the leg rest portion of the seat is flimsy. I also found it wasn't a very smooth ride for outdoor use which made it difficult if you have a sleeping child out for a walk.
We bought the Peg Perego Primo Viaggo 4-35 carseat to go along with it and I must say that I was really happy with it and still am happy to use it for our second baby.



Double stroller 
We are looking at some double stroller options right now, but they are so expensive! I need your advice! What have you used for a toddler and infant that is compatible with various carseats, easy to fold, and light weight?

Bottles & Accessories

I'd say that the advice I received to not buy too many of the same bottle was spot on! We did end up getting a set of Dr. Brown's bottles that included large and small sizes, and though they are good bottles, there are so many pieces to clean! We got a Nuk bottle as a gift and it ended up being our favourite. The orthodontic nipple and shape of the bottle was ideal and we have still been using them for our 2 year old. Note: The hard plastic bottle did end up getting a crack, so we purchased another of the silicone bottles instead.
The formula dispenser, bottle drying rack, and microwave bottle sterilizer are all things I would still recommend.

Noise Machine
We ended up purchasing the Skip Hop Owl Moonlight and Melodies Nightlight and we love it. There are lots of options for sounds, projection, and night light brightness. It's a little on the expensive side, but I know it's something we'll be able to use for many years.

Baby Carrier
I used the Baby K'tan Cotton Baby carrier with my daughter, and really liked the comfort it provided at home and it was very easy to use. I also used the Original Baby Bjorn carrier that my sister handed down to us, which worked out great while baby was still under 1 year old.
I enjoy the closeness that baby carriers provide and forsee using it a lot more with baby number two, so we decided to get the Ergobaby All Position 360 Baby carrier which can be used for up to 4 years old! We hope to do a lot of travelling with our kids in the next few years, so it will be great when we don't want to travel with a stroller.

"All the parts are really easily removable which makes it super easy to wash. It's the only thing I'm used to and don't have an electric one to compare it to. I figured I would start with a manual pump and then if I really enjoyed pumping or felt like I needed something more efficient, I would get an electric one." 

- Kate, first time mom 

|  5 My Brest Friend pillow

Stroller & Carseat

Uppababy stroller & carseat
"My Uppababy vista stroller is a lifesaver and I'm in love with the uppababy mesa car seat."

Bottles & Accessories
I was told not to buy too many of the same type of bottle because sometimes your baby won't like the flow or specific type of nipple, so you'll have to experiment to see what works for your baby.

 Baby Brezza

- Kristen, first time mom to twins

"I definitely recommend registering for a bottle warmer, even if you only plan on using bottles occasionally, because most can be used to warm baby food as well. My favourite is the Kiinde Kozii bottle warmer. Although it's at a higher price point, it has a lot of great features, including; a timer, auto shut-off, a long lasting reservoir and a universal warming chamber.

- Kristen, first time mom to twins

Noise Machines
You may be thinking do I really need one? Yes, you do. They help soothe your baby to sleep and establish a bed time routine, which will be the biggest thing on your mind in the few months after baby arrives.

"My favourite is the Munchkin Nursery Projector & Sound System. It not only provides soothing sounds and songs to your babe, but has a projector that displays a variety of rotating colourful images. Features like a nightlight (bright enough for night time changes) and a sensor that turns the machine on when baby cries, set this product above the rest."
"We found that our baby really likes white noise. We had used the fan on our microwave for a while until we found a noise machine we liked. We use the Skip Hop Owl Moonlight and Melodies Nightlight."