Baby Essentials for Stay-at-home Moms on the Go

With Ava being 6 months old, I feel that I have a decent list of what I consider to be baby essentials. All of the items that I am about to list I own, use on a regular basis, and highly recommend as baby shower gifts. Now, when you read this list keep in mind that I am a stay at home mom who likes to take Ava out for a little mommy and baby outing about once a week, if not more.

Baby Essentials for Stay-at-home Moms on the Go #1: Munchkin Baby Powdered Formula Dispenser.

I love this item. I gave breastfeeding a go, it didn't work out, and so I found myself having to bottle feed and when you are on the go, this requires a little bit more preparation. This dispenser holds 3 servings of powdered formula and is so nice and compact for the diaper bag. The lid twists around to the different compartments, locks on a compartment, and then you flip the snap down lid, tip it over the opening of the bottle and shake the formula into the bottle. Could it get any easier? I got mine at Target for $3.49.

Baby Essentials for Stay-at-home Moms on the Go #2: Kiddopatamus & Co. Swaddleme Swaddler.

Swaddle, swaddle, swaddle. If you ever want to sleep, I highly recommend investing in a good swaddler, and not just one, but at least a couple. We have these swaddlers in both fleece and cotton so that no matter how warm it is in the house, Ava is nice and comfortable. They can be found at almost every location where you can purchase baby items and usually retail for around $10, so they are an affordable alternative to some of the more costly swaddling options. Another wonderful thing about these swaddlers is the convenient hole in the back of them that allows them to be used with any baby gear item that have a harness. We use the swaddler with her swing, vibrating seat, stroller, carseat, and even with a sling carrier that has a lap harness in it.

Baby Essentials for Stay-at-home Moms on the Go #3:. Big purse/overnight bag that can double as a diaper bag.

I used an actual diaper bag once. It was heavy, not attractive, and just not for me. I decided after that one use that I was going to invest in some larger purses that were big enough to house my things as well as the stuff that I needed for Ava while we were exploring the world together. I found my current favorite in the least likely of places, Borders, a little over a month ago and I am in love. The bag I use is actually an overnight bag by Paperchase that cost me about $35. I use it with a little makeup type bag in the same pattern. I put my things in the little makeup bag so that I can find them easily and then throw everything for Ava in the space that is left. This system is the one that works best for us and I still get to feel feminine with my adorable bag in tow.

Baby Essentials for Stay-at-home Moms on the Go #4: Planner that can double as a wallet.

I use a Franklin Covey planner that I found at Target for $20 and I never leave home without it. There are enough credit card slots to hold debit cards, insurance cards, discount cards, etc. There is also a place for business cards, a zipper bag in the back for anything I might need to put in it, a loop for my pen, and a pocket in the front for my checkbook and pieces of paper which I am always making lists on. And then there is of course the planner part of it so that I can keep doctor's appointments, birthdays, and all other important events straight. And since I am already carrying a bigger bag, it isn't too clunky for me. It is less than half the size of a standard notebook.

Baby Essentials for Stay-at-home Moms on the Go #5: Boppy Pillow.

Whether you are nursing or not, do not have a baby without a Boppy Pillow. In all honesty I didn't really use the Boppy Pillow for breastfeeding while I was still breastfeeding. Instead we used it to set Ava in when we wanted her to take a nap, when we needed to quickly free our hands, and when other people held her. We are still using the Boppy pillow multiple times a day at 6 months old. I am not going to lie, I did cringe a little when I saw the price, but it was definitely a sound investment. I think I paid $35 for the pillow with a cotton cover. I never purchased a spare cover, instead we laid receiving blankets down over the pillow before placing her in it incase she spit up. Every other mother I have talked to feels the same way about the Boppy as I do--it is a must!

Baby Essentials for Stay-at-home Moms on the Go #6: Hard travelsize wipes case.

I purchased a Huggies travelsize pack of wipes that came in a hard case so that I could keep it in the diaper bag and I just fill it with the cheap wipes after the ones that came with the case ran out. It only cost around $2-3 dollars I believe and I just picked it up on a regular grocery shopping trip to Kroger. Simple and very useful.

Baby Essentials for Stay-at-home Moms on the Go #7: Carrier.

Unless you are going to get a travel system and your baby really loves their carseat you will need a carrier to survive outings during the first few months. I purchased a Snugli carrier for $20, again from Target, and I love it. It is inexpensive compared to the Bjorn, and Ava was secure and close by while we were out and about. I also love this carrier because, since we rely on the bus, it made outings much easier than the stroller, which she hated anyways. My sister purchased a sling carrier by Infantimo for Ava for Christmas and it was awesome when Ava was young because she was colicky and I could swaddle her in this carrier and she would just sleep while we were out because it was like being back in the womb. The sling carrier was around $30. I definitely recommend having one of each kind of carrier, a sling and one with more structure to it. If you think that getting both of these seems too expensive then think of it this way, together they run around $50, a baby Bjorn is going to be at least $70. It is worth it, I promise.

Baby Essentials for Stay-at-home Moms on the Go #8: Bumbo Baby Sitter and Play Tray

So, I purchased this right after Ava turned 4 months old and we use it multiple times a day--she loves it. This is one of the more expensive items that I have purchased for Ava, but since it replaces the need for a highchair, I feel the expense is justified. We don't just use these two items for feedings but also for play. We pop her in the chair, snap the tray on and place a few toys in front of her and she will stay entertained for up to an hour. This item is great for the few months between the time when a baby gets bored with sitting at an incline in the Boppy but isn't old enough to sit up on their own yet. I purchased both of these items for a combined total of about $50 at Toys R Us.

Baby Essentials for Stay-at-home Moms on the Go #9: Pacifier clip.

If you don't want to lose every pacifier you own while you are out and about then you need a pacifier clip. Not to mention, if you do manage to notice when the baby spits a pacifier out onto a store floor you are not going to want to stick it back into your baby's mouth. They usually only cost a couple dollars, just make sure you get one that is compatible with the kind of pacifiers that you use because they generally aren't universal.

Baby Essentials for Stay-at-home Moms on the Go #10: Playmat with detachable toys.

We bought a playmat for Ava for Christmas for around $20. The toy arch on the playmat detaches and honestly we don't really use the mat part unless we are traveling. I attach the toy arch to her crib when we are home and to her stroller when we are out. Ours is Infantimo and we found it at Target, however I don't think they carry the same kind anymore, but Toys R Us does.