There are so many products for babies and just as many opinions! These are the 9-12 month essentials we have found most helpful as first-time parents. xoxo

Car Seat and Stroller: As mentioned in the Newborn Essentials, 3-6 Month Essentials, and 6-9 Month Essentials posts, we still love and use the Doona Infant Car Seat, UPPAbaby VISTA V2 Stroller, AMACOOL Battery Operated Stroller Fan, stroller blanket, and this Monogrammed Pacifier Clip Holder. The spring weather is quicking turning to summer so we now carry Supergoop! Sunnyscreen 100% Mineral Spray SPF 50 and these cute Zhengmy Kids Sunglasses with us in the stroller. When I am not able to make solo trips to the grocery store, this Boppy Compact Shopping Cart Cover has been so easy to use and has fit every cart we have run into.

Sleep: Previously mentioned favorites in the Newborn Essentials, 3-6 Month Essentials, and 6-9 Month Essentials posts, still include the Eufy Life S340 Smart Sock and Monitor, Hatch Rest+ 2nd Gen Portable Dream Machine, Kyte Baby Sleep Bag 1.0, Kissy Kissy Footie Pajamas, Moms on Call Next Steps Baby Care 6-15 Months, and Little English Fottie Pajamas.

Diaper: The Munchkin Step Diaper Pail, OXO Tot Perfect Pull Wipes Dispenser, A+D Original Diaper Rash Ointment, and Coterie Diapers continue to be favorites in our house. More detail on these can be found in the Newborn Essentials, 3-6 Month Essentials, and 6-9 Month Essentials posts.

Feeding: As mentioned in the Newborn Essentials, 3-6 Month Essentials, and 6-9 Month Essentials posts, the Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced, Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow® Anti-Colic Newborn Bottles, mushie Silicone Baby Feeding Spoons, mushie Silicone Suction Bowl, Comfy Cubs Muslin Baby Bibs, Dr. Brown’s Milestones Narrow Sippy Bottle, WeeSprout Glass Baby Food Storage Jars, Inglesina Fast Table Chair, and Hippypotamus Disposable Placemats Baby are now staples for us. I am still making all our baby food, especially as we moved into more solids, but when I am in a pinch I reach for Cerebelly Pouches and can feel good about the contents. The Dr. Brown’s Designed to Nourish have also been an easy way to introduce more difficult foods and make fun fruit popsicles for summer. We started the transition to sippy cups using the Dr. Brown’s Milestones Narrow Sippy Bottle and eventually fully transitioned to the Munchkin® Any Angle™ Weighted Straw Trainer Cup. We cut all bottles just after her first birthday, and while it wasn’t the most fun transition, she took to the straw sippy cup quicker than I expected and it is the only cup I have found to not leak. These Clear Waterproof Medium Name Stickers worked great on bottles and have worked equally well on sippy cups through many rounds in the dishwasher.

Bath: The 4-in-1 Grow-with-Me Bath Tub by Frida Baby, Noodle & Boo 2-in-1 Newborn Hair & Body Wash, Noodle & Boo Super Soft Moisturizing Lotion, NailFrida The Snipper Clipper Set, mushie Stackable Bath Boats Toy, Mold Free Baby Bath Toys, and Honest bubble bath still make bathtime a blast. More detail on these can be found in the Newborn Essentials, 3-6 Month Essentials, and 6-9 Month Essentials posts.

Play: As mentioned in the 3-6 Month Essentials post and 6-9 Month Essentials posts, the Lovevery Play Gym and subscription boxes, Frida Baby Not-Too-Cold-to-Hold, and Joovy Spoon Baby Walker & Activity Center are still favorites. Around 8 months, we started playing with the Wonder & Wise by Asweets Activity Push Walker, and closer to 12 months we started playing with the Wonder & Wise by Asweets Busy Box. Both of these toys are great to grow with and use differently in stages, for example, the busy box top can be flipped to a flat surface, perfect for pulling up and standing. We also added a Little Tikes Snug ‘n Secure Pink Swing in our backyard and have enjoyed being able to spend more time outside this spring.

Favorite books for 9-12 months:

Favorite clothes for 9-12 months:

Other baby-related posts:

Newborn Essentials 

3-6 Month Essentials

6-9 Month Essentials

Nursery

Traveling with an Infant (3 months)

Traveling with an Infant (10 months)

We braved our second airplane ride with a baby! We took the same trip and stayed at the same hotel as our first trip with a baby, however, this time she is 7 months older.  Below are the products we found most useful for traveling with an infant and a few tips based on our experience on a plane and in a hotel. xoxo

Feeding: Dr. Brown’s Travel Formula Dispenser with Lid, Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow® Anti-Colic Newborn Bottles, and OXO Tot Travel Size Drying Rack with Bottle Brush were still crucial for traveling while bottle feeding. Now that we are starting to incorporate solid foods, we did have to pack quite a few extra things. The mushie Silicone Baby Feeding Spoons and mushie Silicone Suction Bowl were easy to wash in the hotel room and dried quickly on the same drying rack we used for bottles. I typically cook all of our baby food myself, but traveling with refrigerated items sounded like such a hassle. I found these Peter Rabbit Organics pouches at Whole Foods and felt they were a clean nonrefrigerated option. We knew that we would be dining out for most meals, so I also packed plenty Comfy Cubs Muslin Baby Bibs, Hippypotamus Disposable Placemats, and the Inglesina Fast Table Chair. The chair took up most of my suitcase and we probably could have gotten along without it, but since we are new to restaurant highchairs it did prove useful on a few occasions.

Note: We traveled with a sealed container of powder formula in our carry-on suitcase. While this is allowed by TSA, a chemical on the packaging flagged our suitcase and they had to search our bag (this happened on our first trip as well). On the trip home, we put the remaining formula in our checked bag to avoid the hassle. A few friends had similar stories, so I recommend packing any formula on top of your carry-on for an easy search. TSA has different rules for flying with breast milk. I packed the baby food pouches in our checked luggage since they were less important than the formula and to avoid hassle.

Transportation: This is probably the last airplane trip where we can use the Doona Infant Car Seat, and we will greatly miss the convenience! The Padded Travel Bag, BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier Mini, and Pacifier Clip Holder were once again useful on the plane ride. I planned our first trip to align with bottle feedings, so I could feed at takeoff a help with ear pressure. This trip was more difficult to schedule with feedings, so we relied on the pacifier to help with ear pressure and had no issues at all. At 10 months, we were much more aware of our surroundings, particularly the drink cart, so there was less napping on the airplane. I packed plenty of books and these Suction Cup Spinner Toys for entertainment.

Note: You do have to walk through security holding your little one (even with pre-check) and strollers will go through the belt scanner. When you check a stroller at the gate, they will also unload them at the gate and not through baggage claim. When we arrived back at DFW they were slower than we were coming off the plane and an employee told us strollers would be at baggage claim. This was not the case and we had to go back through security to get our stroller at the gate. A few friends had similar stories, so spare yourself and wait at the gate for your stroller!

Sleep: Since we were flying and staying in a hotel, it was easier to coordinate a crib in our room than fly with a pack-n-play. We had no issues coordinating this at the Hilton property we stayed at, but I did check a few hotel reviews in the area to confirm the cleanliness of rooms and cribs (you would not believe some reviews). I also packed a crib sheet and used it over the hotel-provided one. The Yogasleep Hushh Portable White Noise Sound Machine and Kyte Baby Sleep Bag made sleeping in a hotel room a breeze.

Note: When we go to the lake for a long weekend we travel with the Eufy Life S340 Smart Sock and Monitor. However, when staying at a hotel the monitor and smart sock would not connect to the hotel wifi. We ended up with the crib next to our bed, but you might consider a Bluetooth monitor or a secure hotspot to keep the crib in a separate part of the room.

Diapers: I packed our diapers in the carry-on suitcase so that no matter what happened we would not end up strapped for diapers. I also packed the Joey Changing Kit and these Ubbi Retractable On the Go Bags Dispenser for Travel for changing diapers in our hotel room. I bagged all our diapers up as a courtesy to the cleaning staff and to keep our room from stinking.

Note: I am always shocked to find most public restrooms are not accommodating for babies and airports are no exception. In both the DFW and Atlanta airport I found one changing table per restroom (always in the way of a line or the sinks) and one handicap stall that would fit a stroller. Keep this in mind when planning your diaper changes, you might have to wait for another mom to finish or for a line to die down.

Packing: It is amazing how much you have to pack for the smallest member of your family! We ended up packing all the baby necessities in a carry-on suitcase and checked a bag with our things to keep from carrying too much on the plane. I carried everything we needed during the flight in my large tote including bottles, diapers and wipes, a change of clothes for both of us, and a few books and toys. We often take long weekend trips to the lake and I can easily fit everything a baby could need in this Lands’ End Zip Top Long Handle Canvas Tote Bag.

Other baby-related posts:

Traveling with an Infant (3 months)

Newborn Essentials 

3-6 Month Essentials 

6-9 Month Essentials

Nursery

There are so many products for babies and just as many opinions! These are the 6-9 month essentials we have found most helpful as first-time parents. xoxo

Car Seat and Stroller: As mentioned in the Newborn Essentials and 3-6 Month Essentials posts, we still love and use the Doona Infant Car Seat, UPPAbaby VISTA V2 Stroller, AMACOOL Battery Operated Stroller Fan, stroller blanket, and this Monogrammed Pacifier Clip Holder.

Sleep: Previously mentioned favorites in the Newborn Essentials and 3-6 Month Essentials posts, still include the Eufy Life S340 Smart Sock and Monitor, Hatch Rest+ 2nd Gen Portable Dream Machine, Kyte Baby Sleep Bag 1.0, and Kissy Kissy Footie Pajamas. We have moved on to the Moms on Call Next Steps Baby Care 6-15 Months book and the Little English Fottie Pajamas have become our new favorite pajamas.

Diaper: The Munchkin Step Diaper Pail, OXO Tot Perfect Pull Wipes Dispenser, A+D Original Diaper Rash Ointment, and Coterie Diapers continue to be favorites in our house. More detail on these can be found in the Newborn Essentials and 3-6 Month Essentials posts.

Feeding: As mentioned in the Newborn Essentials and 3-6 Month Essentials posts, the Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced, Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow® Anti-Colic Newborn Bottles, mushie Silicone Baby Feeding Spoons, mushie Silicone Suction Bowl, Comfy Cubs Muslin Baby Bibs, Dr. Brown’s Milestones Narrow Sippy Bottle, WeeSprout Glass Baby Food Storage Jars are new kitchen staples for us. Since we had great luck with the mushi brand for spoons and bowls, we have added the mushie Trainer Sippy Cup and mushi Silicone Suction Plate into the rotation. When eating out we have found the Inglesina Fast Table Chair to be useful in some instances and the Hippypotamus Disposable Placemats Baby is a must when you have a baby who loves to chew on tables.

Bath: The 4-in-1 Grow-with-Me Bath Tub by Frida Baby, Noodle & Boo 2-in-1 Newborn Hair & Body Wash, Noodle & Boo Super Soft Moisturizing Lotion, NailFrida The Snipper Clipper Set, mushie Stackable Bath Boats Toy, Mold Free Baby Bath Toys, and Honest bubble bath still make bathtime a blast. More detail on these can be found in the Newborn Essentials and 3-6 Month Essentials posts.

Play: As mentioned in the 3-6 Month Essentials post, the Lovevery Play Gym and subscription boxes, Frida Baby Not-Too-Cold-to-Hold, and Joovy Spoon Baby Walker & Activity Center are still favorites. The BABY BJÖRN Bouncer with the Googly Eyes Pastel Bouncer Toy seemed to be most useful during 3-6 months. Dr. Brown’s Designed to Nourish has been a great way to introduce new foods while continuing to combat the pains of teething. Around 8 months, we started playing with the Wonder & Wise by Asweets Activity Push Walker, which is a great toy for many stages of advancement.

Favorite books for 6-9 months:

Favorite clothes for 6-9 months:

Other baby-related posts:

Newborn Essentials 

3-6 Month Essentials

Nursery

Traveling with an Infant (3 months)

There are so many products for babies and just as many opinions! These are the 3-6 month essentials we have found most helpful as first-time parents. xoxo

Car Seat and Stroller: We still love and use the Doona Infant Car Seat, UPPAbaby VISTA V2 Stroller, and AMACOOL Battery Operated Stroller Fan, which I have details on in the Newborn Essentials post. Since the weather has cooled down we are using the stroller fan less and this sweet stroller blanket more for our walks. This Monogrammed Pacifier Clip Holder is very helpful to reach and find the paci in the car quickly.

Sleep: We still love and use the Eufy Life S340 Smart Sock and Monitor, Hatch Rest+ 2nd Gen Portable Dream Machine and live by the Moms on Call Basic Baby Care 0-6 Months, which I have details on in the Newborn Essentials post. There are still times we use the Halo sleep sack with arms unswaddled, but we have mostly transitioned to the Kyte Baby Sleep Bag 1.0 with a pair of Kissy Kissy Footie Pajamas. The Moms on Call Next Steps Baby Care 6-15 Months has been great to read ahead on what is next after 6 months.

Diaper: We still love and use the Munchkin Step Diaper Pail, OXO Tot Perfect Pull Wipes Dispenser, and A+D Original Diaper Rash Ointment, which I have details on in the Newborn Essentials post. As for diapers themselves, we have found Coterie to be the consistent winner. Each baby fits differently and different brands will fit best at different times.

Feeding: We continue to be obsessed with the Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced and love Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow® Anti-Colic Newborn Bottles, which I have details on in the Newborn Essentials post. As we start to introduce solid foods the mushie Silicone Baby Feeding Spoons, mushie Silicone Suction Bowl, Comfy Cubs Muslin Baby Bibs, and Dr. Brown’s Milestones Narrow Sippy Bottle have been great additions. I am also making all the baby food at home with my food processor to ensure clean ingredients and save money, so these WeeSprout Glass Baby Food Storage Jars are handy for storing food in the fridge for the week.

Bath: The 4-in-1 Grow-with-Me Bath Tub by Frida Baby, which I have details on in the Newborn Essentials post, transitions to work well for 3-6 months. We also continue to use the Noodle & Boo 2-in-1 Newborn Hair & Body Wash, Noodle & Boo Super Soft Moisturizing Lotion, and the NailFrida The Snipper Clipper Set. Bath time is a favorite in our house, and it is extra fun when we rotate in mushie Stackable Bath Boats Toy, Mold Free Baby Bath Toys, or the occasional Honest bubble bath.

Play: There is suddenly so much play time in our house and I love it! The Lovevery Play Gym is a playtime favorite for us, especially when paired with the toys from their subscription box. We have also started the long process of teething and the Frida Baby Not-Too-Cold-to-Hold is by far the best teether we have found. As we start moving more we are enjoying the BABY BJÖRN Bouncer with the Googly Eyes Pastel Bouncer Toy, the Joovy Spoon Baby Walker & Activity Center, and the LAYCOL Baby Swimming Float for days at the pool. We also have an endless shelf of books, which we read daily, I will link a few of our favorites below.

Favorite books for 3-6 months:

Favorite clothes for 3-6 months:

Other baby-related posts:

Newborn Essentials 

Nursery

Traveling with an Infant (3 months)

We braved our first airplane ride with a baby! Honestly, three months was a great age to fly with since she slept the majority of the flight and required little entertainment. Below are the products we found most useful for traveling with an infant and a few tips based on our experience on a plane and in a hotel. xoxo

Feeding: Dr. Brown’s Travel Formula Dispenser with Lid made it easy to carry up to three bottles worth of formula in my bag through the airport and on the plane. I also carried three Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow® Anti-Colic Newborn Bottles with me and filled them with water once through security. We booked our flights around our existing feeding schedule so that we could feed at takeoff and help with ear pressure. Thank goodness our flights were on time and this trick worked well, we feed at take off and she slept the rest of the flight fuss-free! This OXO Tot Travel Size Drying Rack with Bottle Brush was the perfect tool for cleaning bottles in a hotel room and we use this same set when we drive to the lake.

Note: We traveled with a sealed container of powder formula in our carry-on suitcase. While this is allowed by TSA, a chemical on the packaging flagged our suitcase and they had to search our bag. On the trip home, we put the remaining formula in our checked bag to avoid the hassle. A few friends had similar stories, so I recommend packing any formula on top of your carry-on for an easy search. TSA has different rules for flying with breast milk or baby food.

Transportation: The Doona Infant Car Seat has served us well in daily use but was a complete game changer while traveling. We used the stroller through security up to the gate, then we put the Doona in the Padded Travel Bag and checked it at the gate. A friend also recommended this Padded Car Seat Travel Bag for Airplane that is a little cheaper and works the same as the Doona branded one. We did not travel with the Doona base and used the seat belt in our rental car to secure the car seat. Once we gate-checked the stroller, I used the BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier Mini to find our seat and have a hands-free flight. This Pacifier Clip Holder saved us multiple times through the airport and on the plane to spare our pacifiers from being lost forever. I also never leave the house without the AMACOOL Battery Operated Stroller Fan, especially in the summer, because you never know when you are going to find yourself in a hot car or airplane. We had to use the fan in the back seat of our rental car to combat the 100-degree-plus heat.

Note: You do have to walk through security holding your little one (even with pre-check) and strollers will go through the belt scanner. When you check a stroller at the gate, they will also unload them at the gate and not through baggage claim. When we arrived back at DFW they were slower than we were coming off the plane and an employee told us strollers would be at baggage claim. This was not the case and we had to go back through security to get our stroller at the gate. A few friends had similar stories, so spare yourself and wait at the gate for your stroller!

Sleep: Since we were flying and staying in a hotel, it was easier to coordinate a crib in our room than fly with a pack-n-play. We had no issues coordinating this at the Hilton property we stayed at, but I did check a few hotel reviews in the area to confirm the cleanliness of rooms and cribs (you would not believe some reviews). I also packed a crib sheet and used it over the hotel-provided one. When we are not traveling by plane, we love the Graco Pack ‘n-Play Dome LX-Playard. This pack-n-play is great because it also includes a bassinet for newborns and a changing table attachment that makes large diapers a non-issue. The Yogasleep Hushh Portable White Noise Sound Machine is so easy to pack and works fantastic in hotel rooms or for a nap on the go.

Note: When we go to the lake for a long weekend we travel with the Eufy Life S340 Smart Sock and Monitor. However, when staying at a hotel the monitor and smart sock would not connect to the hotel wifi. We ended up with the crib next to our bed, which worked well for a three-month-old. In the future, we might consider a Bluetooth monitor or a secure hotspot so we can keep the crib in a separate part of the room.

Diapers: A friend warned me that airplane travel tends to cause large diapers and that was no joke! Our flight was just short enough that I did not have to change a diaper on the plane (thank goodness) but I did put on a clean diaper right before boarding and we changed again as soon as we landed. The Joey Changing Kit was so easy to use on the airport changing tables and I carried A+D Original Ointment 1.5 Ounce with me to prevent a rash. These Ubbi Retractable On the Go Bag Dispenser for Travel were so helpful when changing messy diapers in our hotel room. I bagged all our diapers up as a courtesy to the cleaning staff and to keep our room from stinking.

Note: I am always shocked to find most public restrooms are not accommodating for babies and airports were no exception. In both the DFW and Atlanta airport I found one changing table per restroom (always in the way of a line or the sinks) and one handicap stall that would fit a stroller. Keep this in mind when planning your diaper changes, you might have to wait for another mom to finish or for a line to die down.

Packing: It is amazing how much you have to pack for the smallest member of your family! We ended up packing all the baby necessities in a carry-on suitcase and checked a bag with our things to keep from carrying too much on the plane. I carried everything we needed during the flight in my large tote including bottles, diapers and wipes, a change of clothes for both of us and a few books and toys. We often take long weekend trips to the lake and I can easily fit everything a baby could need in this Lands’ End Zip Top Long Handle Canvas Tote Bag.

Other baby-related posts:

Newborn Essentials 

Nursery

The day I found out we were expecting, I started planning ideas for both a boy’s and a girl’s nursery. A few months later, when we found out it was a girl, I had to think of ways to break it to our family that I was going to buy a black crib. I wanted the furniture we bought for the nursery to easily transition throughout our daughter’s life. I chose this dresser with a changing pad holder as opposed to a changing table that she would eventually outgrow. Her dresser has so many deep drawers, I am actually a little jealous it is not in our room. I also chose this crib because it will transition into a toddler bed as well. The crib skirt will only last as long as she is using the crib/toddler bed, but Biscuit makes bedding that will coordinate with the monogrammed pillow, roll pillows, and scalloped blanket for a future “big girl room”. I have included links to everything else in the nursery below! xoxo

Recliner/Glider // Side Table // Curtains // Curtain Rod // Monogrammed Pillow // Floral Prints // Crib // Crib Skirt // Roll Pillows // Scalloped Blanket // Dresser // Mirror // Changing Pad Holder // Lamp // Diaper Pail // Bookshelf