What We Should Have Registered For (Baby Edition)

Several months ago I listed out what Josh and I should have put on our wedding registry if we could go back in time. Today I am sharing what I would ask for knowing what I know now when we were having our first baby. Here are my favorite nursery, feeding, bath, gear, and health/safety products for baby!

After 3 babies I feel like I have a fairly decent idea on what works (and doesn’t), what is needed, and what is a waste of money. Some of these items we did register for but most we didn’t and discovered them over the last 5 years.

Glider: They can be pricey but are so worth the money!

Swaddle Blankets/Sleep Sacks: There are lots of different types of these on the market. We bought the muslin swaddle blankets thinking we could swaddle our babies tight enough but it was a 50% chance that they would stay wrapped tight, which is why we ended up with the velcro saddles. I really like the muslin ones as baby grows and no longer needs to be swaddled.

Diaper Pail: Best diaper pail ever and your house won’t reek of dirty diapers.

White Noise Machine: We currently have 3 of these in our home and take them with us when we travel. I can’t sleep without mine now.

Blackout Curtains: The darker the room the better. These are great especially for those daytime naps and block out much of the extra light.

Bottles: I like these plastic and glass bottles.

Breast Pump: It is so nice that insurance covers these now! When I had Caden we had to buy our own. Check out Medela or Spectra brands and make sure to get a double pump. Be sure to purchase a pump bra too so you can be hands free!

High Chair: We have used this high chair that attaches to your table for all our kiddos. With our first we lived in a tiny townhouse that had little room in the kitchen so this worked perfect.

Infant Bathtub: For the teeny tiny new babes I love the puj tub! Once they outgrow that purchase a shunggle. It is hands down the best bathtubs for babes. Trust me I have tried several major brands it is my favorite and you won’t spend a fortune.

Carseats: Oh carseats! I could write an essay on you. We started with an infant carseat and then went to these convertible carseats. We still have and use both but if I was to do it all over again I would go with these because you can fit three of them across in the backseat of a van. This is one of those products that feels slightly overwhelming when you are purchasing because there are so many brands out there and different types.

Strollers: Before I had Caden one of my girlfriends told me she had 5 strollers in her garage and I couldn’t for the life of me understand why you would need 5 strollers. Well, I now understand why. Obviously the more kids you have the type of stroller you need changes and if you decide to go for a run that requires a different stroller then say a quick trip to the store, but seriously the stroller dilemma is real. If you are at all thinking about having two kids just buy a double stroller to begin with and save yourself some money.

Baby Wearing: I love this lightweight and easy to use wrap for newborns up to 3 months and the Ergo for up to 2+.

Pack n’ Play: We like our Joovy Room and have taken it on several trips.

Bouncer: In my opinion this is where you can save some serious money. Skip the frills and stick with a basic $20 bouncer. They are easy to move around the house and your baby doesn’t know the difference.

Play Mat: We have used this same play mat for all three of our babies and it is still in awesome shape even after going through the wash multiple times.

Humidifier: An item you don’t think about needing until your baby needs it. Those first sniffles and congested nose and chest can be rough so make sure you a humidifier. I like this cool/warm mist one. Also having some baby VICKS on hand to add to your little ones chest and feet is helpful too.

Baby Monitor: We have gone through several monitors and while I don’t think it is a necessary purchase a monitor with a video component is helpful so you don’t have to walk into your baby’s room and risk waking them up.

Owlet: While we don’t own of these I think they are worth mentioning for soon to be parents. Your baby wears the Owlet Smart Sock and it measures your baby’s heart rate and oxygen levels and notifies you in real-time if something appears to be wrong. For peace of mind this item is worth the money.

Roomba: Once your baby starts crawling they will find any little thing and put it in your mouth. We don’t own this but this is an item I wish I would have bought years ago.

And there you have it. These items would make great gifts for any soon to be mamas you know!

Share

Joovy New Room Review

Disclosure: The Workout Mama is a Joovy Moms ambassador and as such is provided with product for reviews. All opinions are 100% honest and my own.

Last summer after Josh had his vasectomy we thought we were done with the baby phase in our home. We went through our entire house and donated or sold all baby related items.

It was great…until a few months later when I came to Josh and said that I would be open to fostering a child and adopting. This is another post for another day but needless to say he was elated because this has been something he has wanted to pursue since we dated.

We slowly began gathering up hand me downs from our friends that they no longer needed. By the time we had our home inspection to get our foster care license we had a crib and a dresser. Several days after we passed our inspection we found out we were pregnant! You can listen to the entire story on our vlog Vasectomies, Foster Parenting, and a Pregnancy Test.

Our little boy, Jesse, joined our family 14 days ago. In case you missed Jesse’s Birth Story you can read it HERE. Over the last few months leading up to his birth we have been blessed by family, friends, and even amazing brands like Joovy! We have received hand me down baby clothes from friends and our family has helped with diapers and other items we needed! We are overflowing with gratitude! Joovy has sent us a Caboose Ultralight Stroller and Room, which I will be reviewing today.

The initial setup of the New Room took Josh around 30 minutes. We attached the bassinet, changing table, and parent organizer. When is was all put together we realized that the Joovy Room is a very swanky nursery center.

joovy-new-room-2017-review

The bassinet can be used for baby’s up to 15 pounds. The mattress is securely attached to the bassinet insert. I love that Joovy includes a waterproof mattress sheet as a standard item with the Room.

joovy-new-room-bassinet

The changing table flips off to the side, making it super convenient for diapering, and is very securely attached to the side rails of the Room when in place. I love that I have an extra place to change the baby out in the living room and can easily keep in eye on Caden and Maisie while they continue to play. There is a large pocket on this side of the New Room that we are using to store extra outfits in case of the occasionally diaper blowout.

joovy-new-room-changing-table-attached

joovy-new-room-changing-table-detached

The surface of the changing table can be easily cleaned and holds your baby up to 25 pounds.

joovy-new-room-changing-table

On the opposite side of the changing table the parent organizer attaches and can hold diapers, wipes, ointment, and anything you might need while changing a diaper.

joovy-new-room-parent-organizer

Once the baby outgrows the bassinet the insert can be easily removed and the Room becomes a playard. This would be such a great purchase for a family who travels often with a little one, has limited space in their home, or is looking for an additional changing table and safe spot to let their little one rest. The Room has two wheels so it can easily be moved around the house as needed.

Everything neatly fits in a carrying case making it very easy to bring the Room on vacation, which we plan to do in January. Josh and I might be slightly crazy but back in October, before the baby was born, we booked a cabin up north because Caden has been begging to play in the snow. Wish us luck!

joovy-new-room-2017-the-workout-mama-review

I am so in love with this little boy and can’t imagine our family without him. He is our little miracle baby!

Joovy really thought about everything a parent would want or need in a playard. This would make an excellent gift for a soon to be or new mom!

ABOUT JOOVY

Joovy is an american based company that is a family-run business that considers their employees, customers and factory partners as members of the family. Their goal is to design and manufacture family gear products that are extremely useful, practical, good-looking and FUN. You will not be disappointed if you decide to purchase this stroller or any other product from Joovy.

WHERE TO FIND AND BUY

Joovy Website, Amazon, Joovy Facebook, Joovy Twitter, Joovy Instagram

Thank you Joovy for letting me review the Room! The Buschel Family is very thankful for how generous you have been to us!

Share

Joovy Caboose Ultralight Review

Disclosure: The Workout Mama is a Joovy Moms ambassador and as such is provided with product for reviews. All opinions are 100% honest and my own.

This blog has allowed our family the opportunity to work with several awesome brands over the last few years. We are very thankful to Joovy and their partnership with our family! Today I am reviewing the brand new 2016 Joovy Caboose Ultralight double stroller and the features our family really enjoys.

joovy-caboose-ultralight

This stroller is lightweight and comes in several eye catching colors. It is very easy to maneuver and weighs 24 pounds. We went with the firetruck red color. It is so pretty! There are also several different seating configurations that can be utilized with this stroller that you will be able to see in the pictures that follow.

There is a huge canopy with canopy extension to the rear seat offering even more shade for your little ones. When a child is seated on the bench seat the extender can be used for a shady ride. The extender is attached to the parent organizer and zips in place on the canopy.

joovy-caboose-ultralight-5

joovy-caboose-ultralight-6

The rear bench seat and standing platform are perfect for the older child. The Caboose Ultralight features a built in rear bench seat and also a stand-on platform that allows for your older child to hop on and off easily as needed. The rear seat is for children 2.5 years + weighing up to 45 pounds.

joovy-caboose-ultralight-4

If your child is younger than 2.5 years old there is an optional rear seat adaptor that can be purchased. The caboose rear seat adds a full-size, reclining, front-facing rear seat. This easily snaps on to the bench seat and around the stroller making it a secure and comfy ride for your little toddler.

joovy-caboose-ultralight-3

joovy-caboose-ultralight-2

The parent organizer, snack tray, and universal carseat adaptor come included with your stroller. This is huge! Most strollers that we have previously owned have not come with these items and needed to be purchased separately, which can add at least another $100 to the cost of the stroller. The included Parent Organizer holds two beverages and has a zippered pocket for keys, wallet or phone. When using the universal carseat adaptor there is still room for a child to stand on back platform.

joovy-caboose-ultralight-8

This double tandem stroller can hold a child 3 months + in the front seat and reclines to 3 different positions. The weight capacity for the entire stroller is 90 pounds, 45 pounds per seat. We are excited to use this new stroller even more in November when baby #3 arrives.

While we were taking these pictures Maisie decided she would like to swing from the stroller. Josh and I were shocked that it didn’t tip over on her. It was actually very sturdy and didn’t budge with the carseat attached. We pulled her off right away and told her not to swing on the stroller again. Of course several nights later as I was getting the kids ready for an evening walk she made her way over to the stroller and tried to swing on it again. This time the carseat was not attached but thankfully the stroller was parked on the carpet so she had a soft landing when she tipped it over. Oh Maisie, our little climber.

joovy-caboose-ultralight-7

Overall this stroller is the favorite we have owned! It is not super complicated to used, easy to steer, and is a fun color!

ABOUT JOOVY

Joovy is an american based company that is a family-run business that considers their employees, customers and factory partners as members of the family. Their goal is to design and manufacture family gear products that are extremely useful, practical, good-looking and FUN. You will not be disappointed if you decide to purchase this stroller or any other product from Joovy.

WHERE TO FIND AND BUY

Joovy Website, Amazon, Joovy Facebook, Joovy Twitter, Joovy Instagram

Thank you Joovy for letting me review the Caboose Ultralight Stroller! The Buschel Family loves it!

Share