Top 10 Must Haves of 2006 for New Parents

Having a new baby is a pretty exciting time. Everyone knows the basics to ask for at baby showers such as crib, monitor, diaper bag, etc. But after having my baby I found several lesser known items that were extremely handy to have. So here is my list of the top 10 items of 2006 that are must haves for new mommies.

1. Boppy Pillow
Boppy pillows are nothing more than "U" shaped pillows. They are a must have for any mom who is breastfeeding. You place the pillow around your middle and your baby will lay on it. This makes things much more comfortable and less awkward when holding your baby. But even if you do not breastfeed, these pillows are very handy. Baby can lay back in them with neck supported, and then as they get older these are great for when baby is first learning to sit up. You just place the pillow around baby's legs and if baby topples over then the pillow is there for support. Boppy's retail from about $15 and up at Babies R Us.

2. Safer Bather bath Pillow
When my son was first born, I was a new mom and had one of those plastic baby tubs that you see so often. I was so nervous back then trying to hold him up with one hand and bath in the other. It was very awkward. With the Safer Bather pillow, you can just put it right down into your big tub and lay baby on it. It's super comfortable and doesn't mold up. After baby baths, just hang the pillow up and it will dry super fast. Once baby is sitting up you can just sit him right on the pillow to create a slip-free surface in the tub. At 11 months old, my son still uses this pillow to bath. The pillow only costs about $15 and is available from Babies R Us.

3. Baby Sling
Baby slings come in all different sizes and colors and I had never heard of them until after my son was born. Most of us have heard of baby carriers which are used when a baby can hold its head up well. A sling is also a baby carrier but it is good for newborns. It is generally a soft piece of fabric that is wrapped around you in a particular way and baby snuggles up inside. They are wonderful when you are out on the town or just simply walking around your house and need your hands free. They range $30 and up from Babies R Us.

4. Baby Einstein DVDs
A lot of TV is not recommended for babies for obvious reasons. Baby Einstein movies are recommended for about age 1 and up and some believe they make your baby smarter. Forget all that I say. I bought one of these when my son was 2 months old in a desperate attempt to help keep my colicky son content. I remember putting the DVD in and thinking, "You've got to be kidding, and I paid $20 for this??" The movies are nothing more than images, puppets, and toys set to music. They hardly look like much. But then I realized for the first time in weeks, my house was silent! Babies are absolutely fascinated by music and colorful images. Obviously you should not sit your baby in front of the tube all day long. But when mom needs a break, these DVDs are a must!

5. Sensory Bouncer
Bouncy seats are definitely a must have and the Fisher-Price Sensory Bouncer is easily the best bouncy seat out there. It's not as pretty as some of the others, but this seat is built for baby's enjoyment. It comes in bright contrasting colors that baby can see easily (newborns do not see pastel colors well). The seat is very comfortable and vibrates. It has arms that pull up with interchangeable rattles. It plays music and has a mode that sets off the music when baby bats at the rattles. It also has a mirror-globe over head for baby to look up and see her reflection. There is also a contrasting black and white mobile which spins and is very easy for a baby to see. The best thing about bouncy seats is that they are a great place to set baby down so you can give your arms a break and they keep baby entertained. The Sensory Bouncer is available from Target and retails for about $47.

6. Swaddle Me Blankets
Most newborns love to be swaddled up, but some are pretty crafty at wiggling their way out of them. Swaddle Me blankets are the answer to that problem. They are made out of a very soft, warm fleece material. They have a large pocket that you pull over baby's feet and then the sides fold over and then Velcro close to keep baby nice and secure. You can get them for about $10 at Babies R Us.

7. Snuggle Nest
For those considering co-sleeping with their baby, Snuggle Nests are a must have. Snuggle Nests are small plastic boxes with a soft pillow-like covering over them. They are only about 3-4 inches high and baby lays inside the box on the soft pillowy bottom. You can place the Snuggle Nest in the middle of your bed and the hard outside of the box will prevent you from rolling over onto it in your sleep, but it is still low enough to be close to baby. These range for about $50 from Babies R Us.

8. Angelcare Monitor
At this time, it is recommended that babies lay on their backs to avoid SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). However, there are just some babies that won't sleep on their backs. You should certainly do all you can to have your baby sleep on his back, but should you choose to let your infant tummy-sleep, then you certainly want to purchase an Angelcare Monitor. At around $100, these monitors are pretty pricey. But they detect the slightest movement such as breathing. If there is absolutely no movement at all for 20 seconds, then an alarm will sound off. This will give you added peace of mind if you choose to let your child tummy sleep. The Angelcare monitor is available at babies R Us.

9. Sleepsacks
There are many great brands of sleep sacks out there. Sleep sacks are a way to keep your baby warm at night without giving a blanket. Putting blankets in the crib increases the risk of SIDS. These blankets fit onto baby and zip up. They cover the feet but allow the arms and head to come through giving baby the added warmth they need at night. They range anywhere from $10 and up and can be purchased at Babies R Us.

10. Safe Lift Crib Wedge
Babies are prone to spit ups as well as congestion and laying on a flat surface can make sleeping difficult. The crib wedge raises up your baby at an angle of about 10 degrees which helps make breathing easier and less spitting up. They slip right under the crib sheet and can make a huge difference in how well your baby sleeps through the night. They retail for about $13 at babies R Us.