I've been wanting to do a post about this for a long time, but I keep forgetting. I finally remembered to do it, and it's going to be sort of an ongoing post.

It's always helpful to know what baby products out there are really useful to have while ALSO being worth the money. A lot of times people register for things and don't necessarily end up using them. So, here's my list of helpful baby items(if you click on the item, you can go to a link on the web that displays it. Some links don't show are the exact item I bought, but is very close and gives you a good idea):

1. Bumbo baby seat: I like it because sometimes, Naveen gets really tired of laying on his back or his belly. This helps him sit up with support until he learns to sit up by himself. Totally worth the money.

2. Pacifier clip (aka pacifier leash): Make sure you buy one if you are going to use a pacifier, and make sure that it snaps on to the pacifier with snaps, not velcro. The velcro will come undone the minute your baby learns how to pull on the pacifier. I bought mine at Babies R Us for like $2. SO WORTH IT. Minimizes me having to wash the pacifier everytime it falls on the floor.

3. Graco Pack N Play playard/bassinet: This is a great thing to have because you will get 3 uses out of it. It serves as a bassinet while the baby is little so he/she can sleep in it. We put it in our room next to the bed so we could easily feed him and check on him at night. It also has a little changing table and a tray that hangs off the side where you can keep diapers and anything else you need. It's so convenient for middle of the night changings. Once you don't need it as a bassinet anymore, it can be the playard that you keep the baby in when you have to leave him unattended to do something. Definitely worth the money b/c you are getting 3 things in one: bassinet, convenient changing table, and playard.

4. Graco Swing: This is the greatest invention. When Naveen is cranky and wants to fall asleep but can't, I plop him in this and he's out like a light. Plus it's another great thing to snap him into when I need to cook or clean. It has harnesses so he's safe and secure. A must have.

5. Papasan: Another great item to have to help hold the baby when you can't or your arms get tired. Naveen falls asleep in this too. It plays music and vibrates as well. The vibrations are supposed to settle a baby's stomach.

6. Sleep positioner: This item will give you peace of mind. It prevents the baby from rolling over on his sides or tummy. It keeps him on his back, which is how the American Pediatric Association recommends babies should sleep to prevent SIDS. Because of this item, I can sleep at night knowing Naveen can't suffocate himself. Plus it's adjustable as the baby grows. Very handy. Side note: we have another sleep positioner that keeps the baby at an incline. This one is also very good. I recommend having 2 positioners, because babies diapers leak at night and if one positioner gets wet, you have a second available and can wash the dirty one.

7. Diaper Champ: Can't live without this. We throw all of Naveen's dirty diapers in here, and you can't smell ANYTHING. We chose this over the Diaper Genie because you can use regular trash bags, and believe me you need this option. We empty this thing and change the bag once a week. The Diaper Genie only takes its own trash bags. I recommend this Diaper Champ over anything. It's awesome.

8. Changing table: You have to get one. I don't know how I could have gotten along without one. Yeah, you could position the baby on the bathroom counter or a dresser, but if you get a changing table, you'll be able to store everything you need in one place. It also helps when you have a wiggling baby and can't afford to leave him/her unattended to go grab a diaper or diaper rash cream from somewhere else(plus, in that split second you walk away, you better believe he/she is going to pee everywhere). We even use this table after we bathe Naveen because it gives us a place to lay him while we dry him off, put lotion, and get his diaper and clothes on. And ours has a mirror at his eye level, so he loves staring at himself in the mirror while we get him dressed or changed. Very handy b/c it stops him from wiggling all over the place, sometimes. Get a changing table, it's worth the money. You'll use it to death.

9 & 10. Changing pad/covers: You'll need both of these things. The changing pad comes with straps so you can strap the baby in while changing. Keeps him secure. The covers are great. If he/she pees before you can get the diaper on, you just pull off the cover and throw it in the wash. I recommend getting two so if one is in the wash, you can put the second one on the pad. I have terry cloth ones and they work great.

11. Waterproof pads: These are the best because they are washable and save everything from getting wet or stained. We have about 8 of these and lay them everywhere Naveen lays. We have one in his bassinet, on the quilt he lays on when playing, his crib, one for our couch in case he lays with us, and on his changing table pad over the changing pad cover. If he pees, drools, spits up, or anything else, it goes on the pad which absorbs it. Then we wash the pad and it's clean again. It has really preserved everything and keeps all of his linens looking clean and new. It has saved our couch too. You gotta get these.

12. Fisher Price Aquarium: I wrote about this toy in a previous blog. Check out my post and get one. Naveen loves his.

13. Little Tykes 5-in-1 Adjustable Gym: LOVE THIS TOY. It keeps Naveen busy for at least an hour, sometimes more. It's adjustable as they grow. Right now, as a baby, he lays underneath and kicks the spinning ball and rattle with his feet which causes music to come on and the lights to flash. That helped him develop purposeful, controlled movement with his legs and feet. Now that he can reach the balls/rattles with his hands, we position it over his hands so he can learn to grab things and develop purposeful movement with his hands. It's an awesome toy. Totally worth the money.

14. Infant Carrier Toy Bar: We bought this to attach to his car seat bar. It keeps him busy when he is in the car seat. It plays 4 different songs and also has things hanging down from it so he can use his hands to play with them. Naveen loves it. A great thing to have to keep him busy in the car. I searched high and low to find something to attach that would fit on the carrier bar, stay attached, and keep him busy. Bought a couple of things before I bought this. This is the winner.

15. Baby Einstein DVD's: A must-have. They are about 1/2 hour each and a set of 10 is $100 at Costco. Buy it, it's worth the money. Naveen is completely fascinated by the videos, talks at the TV when he watches them, and of course, he is learning too. We let him watch one a day because we don't want him to watch too much TV. It's a great investment.

16. Crib sheet clips: These keep the crib sheet securely fastened to the crib mattress so in case the baby pulls on the sheet, it won't snap off and suffocate him. And they are super easy to install.

17. Stay-Tuct suspenders: When you put a shirt on a baby, it constantly rises up when you pick him/her up, when they wiggle, etc. They never stay straight on, unless there are snaps on the bottom. These solve that problem.

18. Summer Infant video monitor: This is an awesome monitor. It's audio and video. It took us 5 minutes to hook it up and voila! We could see Naveen on the screen, in color. It's obviously pricier than an audio monitor, but we bought it anyway because we initially had an audio monitor and I still felt the need to check on him visually. You never know when babies can pull blankets, bibs, or anything else over their faces and suffocate themselves. And the handheld has a stand and belt fastener so you can prop it on the counter or fasten it to your pants. The picture is very clear too. We also didn't have any interference problems, even though we have cordless phones and wireless internet running in the house all the time.

So far that's what I have. I'll be adding to my list as he grows. Hope this helps, especially if you are a new parent!!