Reddit mentions: The best baby gyms & playmats

>Recommendations for the best crib mattress or what to look for and stay away from would be helpful.

I like the double-sided ones: firm side is for infants, soft side is for toddlers and older. As far as materials, many folks are looking into organic mattress material that does not have flame-retardant on it, but that's totally a personal choice you can determine on your own, with Google's help.

>Recommendations on bouncers or something that can be next to my bed for nighttime. I am also looking for something that is easily to move.

This is the bassinet we used next to our bed for the first 3 months of our daughter's life. It's easy to move, easily collapsable for travel and storage, and really easy to travel with. The only downside is that traditional bassinet fitted sheets don't fit the mattress, so I just used a receiving blanket as a "fitted sheet" instead. No biggie - just a mild annoyance.

But, my daughter had reflux so she napped in a Rock N Play and we kept her bassinet mattress inclined. Many parents of reflux babies use the Rock N Play for nighttime sleep as well, and it's very easily transportable.

> Bottle brands - which is best and why?

This is 100% totally up to the baby, not you. You can buy a hundred Playtex Drop-Ins (because that's what we use, and what my mother used with me!) but if your baby doesn't like it, then it's money wasted. I'd recommend buying one bottle of one brand and see if your baby likes it before buying more of them. Also, there are different nipple styles for some brands (Playtex is one of them) so it's not just about your baby liking the bottle style, but mainly the nipple style.

So, what's "best" is completely dependent on what your baby ends up agreeing with.

>What items can mom or dad not live without?

For me...

• video baby monitor
  
• velcro swaddles, because they're so much easier to figure out than plain blanket swaddles
  
• a baby carrier - I'm a huge, huge fan of Lillebaby because it doesn't need an infant insert, it doesn't use loud velcro, and it has lumbar support. Baby carriers are great even if you're not into attachment parenting. I can easily multitask when I wear my daughter, and it's way easier than pushing around a stroller in crowded, public places like museums, supermarkets, malls, etc. - especially places where there are lots of stairs!
  
  >How important are swings and play yards for a newborn?
  
  Depends on the baby. Play yards (I assume you mean this?) are great because you can just plop your baby on/in it and they will stare and eventually swat at all of the dangling toys. It's also great for tummy time. But, my daughter stopped using it at around 5 months and now it just sits in the corner of her play room, folded up.
  
  Swings are great for some babies, but others hate it. My daughter, again, had reflux and it's very common for reflux babies to need a swing to keep them upright and in motion after feedings so they don't get uncomfortable from the acid. But, in general, babies love the motion! We got a super cheap swing and it was one of my favorite things while I was on maternity leave - after her morning bottle, I'd put my daughter in her swing, drag it into the kitchen, and she'd just swing there while I did dishes, made breakfast, and cleaned. I'm glad I didn't spend a ton of money on it, though, because it's just a one-trick pony and she outgrew it by the time she was about 6 months. Friends of ours went off-registry and bought us a MamaRoo and my daughter liked it... but loved our $30 swing way better. I'm glad we didn't spend the $300 on the MamaRoo or else I would've been pissed!
  
  >Are there any items I can wait to get until the baby is a little older?
  
  Exersaucers, high chairs, walkers, doorway bouncers, sippy cups, bumbo seats... those can all wait until around the 4 month mark.
  
  Also, you may want to check out /r/babybumps if you're pregnant, and keep /r/beyondthebump on your radar if you want to ask current moms lots of questions. :)
  
  Congrats!

Get ready for too much information....

Amazon wants you to put something from every category under the sun, but you can also check "this category is done" or something so it will stop prompting and you can get your welcome box! Tips on getting your welcome box

I really liked Alpha Mom's list because she kind of goes through what you can get and what you can skip and wait until baby comes. It is really helpful to have people buy some of the stuff though! I also liked Lucie's list- I would still just concentrate on one or two categories at first, then come back around once I was less overwhelmed a week or so later.

I wouldn't register for : clothes, blankets, bibs, toys etc unless you have a particular one you really want. You may get a lot of those kinds of things. Ex I registered for 2 cute hooded towels and ended up receiving 5. For this baby that is not bathing everyday.... I did still want the muslin blankets from Aden & Anais (and we use them all the time). They weren't purchased off the registry so I got them myself later on. The only newborn clothes I liked for our summer baby was newborn kimono shirts - very helpful for easy diaper checking, don't have to pull over baby's head and helps you not put something over the cord stump in the first week. She was also swaddled so much of the time or skin to skin that we regulated her temp that way instead of with clothes.

I did register for a starter set of bottles from Dr Browns (baby still won't take a bottle- tried 4 brands so far)- I wouldn't register for a lot of any one brand of pacifiers or bottles- maybe just 1 set to try out. It totally depends on your child, but we got a hand me down swing and we bought a bouncer that can rock itself- both have helped a lot starting around 6 weeks when no sleep was happening (smarter parents might have tried them out sooner!). Bouncer we like Smartbounce. Some kids will love a bounce, hate a swing, and vice versa. Our girl is a movement junky but hates all car rides, so go figure.

I did like having a wrap early on. Baby ktan can be nice for the newborn stage if you're unsure about tackling a wrap, but you have to pick on for your size and I'm not sure how long I'll keep using it. I have a bunch of baby wearing options, but if I had to start with just one I would keep the Boba wrap- it's not as intimidating as it seems to tie once you practice a bit and baby loved skin to skin early. It's just a little annoying to put on, but really was the only sure fire way to make baby sleep, after about 2 min of protest crying.

Crib, changing table or to not changing table, etc all depends on your needs. We did an IKEA crib and chest of drawers with changing pad on top. If you're really tall or have a bad back you may want the changing area taller, but that hasn't been an issue for us so far. I also really like having changing pad liners (lots of options on Amazon)- we get these a little to a lot dirty throughout the week and just wash them as needed- my changing pad cover has only gotten poop-tagged once- so much easier to not wash it all the time.

Someone here mentioned safe spaces to put baby and that really helped. We have a bassinet in our room, crib in her room and a bed, pack n play in the living room with portable napper/changer - this is one of our most used changing stations and an easy safe space for baby to nap early on, especially when she was less sensitive to sound. I like the pack n play we got because you can pop the napper/changer out and use it on the floor of needed. We took it to the in laws for a day trip and that was nice, but not totally necessary. Only $10 more than the "reversible" (not "portable") one- the ones that just say reversible can not be put on the floor. We also have relatively big dogs so we got child safety gates to install on key rooms (ex her nursery, where she might be on the floor while I run to the restroom).

For toys, I would register for an activity mat- I got this hand me down but use it everyday. She's still really enthralled with it.

For carsear/stroller, we went with the Chicco keyfit magic (the hood comes out farther than the other chicco once you unzip the back portion and expose the mesh for air circulation) and the stroller frame because its such a light weight stoller for before they are ready to sit up. But this will depend on what you like. I did a lot of research online and then went to the most overwhelming stores to finalize /change my mind. :)

Other stuff that is stupidly expensive but people will buy so let them IMHO are: diaper bags ($60 or more! My hand me down bag was $200!), travel changing pads (we'll be using these in the living room once she outgrows the changer in the pack n play), diaper organizers for the house (I like the Sarah Bear ones here and here- we have one for living room and one for bedroom. This one has a changing mat too).

Lastly, wipes dont get outgrown, so mega box of those is great to register for. Depending on if you think you'll have a big baby, newborn diapers might be outgrown quick, so 1s might be a better thing to register for. We also got little packs of newborn diapers from people. We didn't need to buy diapers or wipes until about 7 weeks which was nice!

It is so overwhelming to tackle the registry - but I found that 1) having slow weeks at work and 2) taking only 1 category at a time then going baby brain dead before trying to do the next category helped me get through it.

Wishing you luck! I'd be happy to share my registry if you'd like to PM me.

Crib mattress - Just make sure it's firm, fits your crib tightly, and highly reviewed. You don't have to spend a ton on one. I think we bought a $50 Sealy and it's gone through three babies without showing any signs of wear.

Bouncer - I used one of these for a reflux baby and it was awesome. My second and third slept in their crib from birth, but it was still nice to have something light and easily transportable to put them in while I was cooking or doing other chores. Lots of parents rave about the Rock N Play for a bassinet substitute. For that, I used a cosleeper type thing. I like it because we travel to visit family a lot and it's easier to carry and set up than a pack n play. It's good to use until they start sitting up or crawling.

Bottles - I personally prefer Dr. Browns. They were the miracle bottle for my babies, and with this specially made dishwasher basket getting them clean is super easy if you have a dishwasher (I wouldn't have them if I had to hand wash every time though, that's kind of a pain). However, you might find your baby prefers something different, especially if you mostly breastfeed. Don't make a big investment in one type of bottle until you know your baby will like it.

Misc. items - If you are formula feeding, do yourself a favor and get one of these pitchers. Also, I don't know how anyone survives without a Boppy pillow. And like /u/glory87 mentioned, skip the glider and go with a rocking recliner, sleep deprived you several months from now will thank you. Personally, I have loved my cloth diapers, but that's a whole other investment and something I'd be happy to talk about if you want to hear about it. If you can spare the money, I love my video monitor. It's one of those things you don't really need, but are wonderful to have.

Swings and play yards - Only one of my three babies liked the swing. And even then, she could have done without it. If you have a colicky baby or one that's otherwise difficult to settle, it might be worth it. So my personal experience says wait and see, and if you do end up finding you need something like that, just go out and buy one then. I've never used a play yard. I liked play mats like this one for tummy time.


The biggest thing is that newborns only really eat, sleep, and poop. If you've got boobs/bottles, a crib/bassinet and some pajamas, and diapers, anything else can come as you find a need for it (Amazon prime shipping is pretty amazing for those instances!).

Top 5 Favorites!

1. Crib mattress! We did tons of research and ended up going with this one based on reviews and affordability.
   
   https://smile.amazon.com/Graco-Premium-Mattress-Resistant-Breathable/dp/B010S7VZI0/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=crib+mattress&qid=1563984741&s=gateway&sprefix=Crib&sr=8-3
   
   
2. Not really pictured well in photo because it's folded up, but I'm so excited about this portable pack and play! Fisher Price On the Go Baby Dome:
   
   https://smile.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-On-The-Go-Baby-Dome-White/dp/B01K7VHHBG/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?keywords=portable+baby+bed&qid=1563984792&s=gateway&sprefix=Portabme+bab&sr=8-7
   
   
3. 4 Moms Momaroo Swing, I got this secondhand for like $35.
   
   https://smile.amazon.com/4moms-rockaRoo-compact-gliding-motion/dp/B00I0BVQFO/ref=mp_s_a_1_10_sspa?keywords=4moms+mamaroo+swing&qid=1563984842&s=gateway&sprefix=4+moms&sr=8-10-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyTkpGQ1pSNlFMRzFGJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNzYyNTM3MjdBRjFFSjRZTFhMVCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwODczMzU2MzQxQjQ3UVVXRlpRSSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX3Bob25lX3NlYXJjaF9tdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl
   
   
4. Baby ballpit/ activity mat. Another registry gift I was so excited to receive! It is an activity mat with sides to contain baby and also has balls to play with for when she's older.
   
   https://smile.amazon.com/Infantino-Grow-Activity-Gym-Ball/dp/B00DJPKA76/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?keywords=baby+ball+pit+activity+mat&qid=1563984922&s=gateway&sprefix=baby+ball+pit+ac&sr=8-2
   
   
5. Hatch Sound Machine and Night Light - this thing is AWESOME. There's an app so you can control it from your phone, it plays music and white noise sounds, it has calming lights to light up nursery, and there's also a tap on/ tap off feature. We've been using it already!
   
   https://smile.amazon.com/Hatch-Baby-Night-Light-Machine/dp/B06XMRCC94/ref=mp_s_a_1_17?keywords=white+noise+machine&qid=1563984994&s=gateway&sprefix=White&sr=8-17
   
   I hope you guys like my bumblebee nursery! Most of the stuff was secondhand/ hand me downs other than what we got for the baby shower. The thing I'm most proud of is the decorations above the crib. The flowers were my husband's idea! I hot glued sparkly scrapbook bee stickers into them and also painted the sign. The honeycomb decor by the couch didn't turn out quite as well as I hoped but I'm still proud! And the "sweet as can bee" sign that's hard to see on the bedside table was hand painted by one of my childhood friends, I can't believe how adorable it is!
   
   Now we're just missing a baby!

I know it's hard not to get caught up in the cuteness of this stuff - I 100% failed with my first. And I ended up wasting so much money on things that were only used for a few months. So trust me when I say - I get it. I was/am you. I am also a person on the other side looking at a $100 wooden walker that does the same (less, even) than the $15 one. An $80 bouncer my son actually hated that I could have replaced with one for $20. Etc. It's a hard pill to swallow when you're looking back on your gear but with the eyes of someone who knows how much it did/did not get used. ESPECIALLY when the whole reason you splurged in the first place was to satisfy your initial goal of not turning my entire house into a fucking playpen and yet, somehow, your house STILL ends up... well... looking like this 😂😂😂

Regardless! To answer your question. A hanging toy rack thing is nice because it encourages baby to start reaching. You can do without one though and just dangle toys yourself, use mirrors to encourage neck turning, whatever. But sometimes it's nice to just... lay there and watch baby and not.fucking.move. for a minute. In either event, any rack will do as well as any other. They say babies see contrasting colors more at this stage than anything else - so black and white geometric hanging shapes are great. But having wooden ones verses geometric ones probably won't be the difference between the next Einstein and the average Joe.

A plushy mat is nice because, well, its plushy. And floors are not. You can 100% get away with piling blankets on your floor and laying baby on those. Or using a foam mat. Having the baby gyms all together in one piece is convenient though, but it's up to you.

As far as use - for sure. Tummy time is recommended multiple times a day, and this mat is how you'll probably do that. I used mine a ton. BUT - you're looking at... 5... 6... months of use. And then baby tends to be more mobile and there's no keeping him/her on it. So between your two items, you're looking at like... $160 for 6 months when you could get the same exact thing at price points like $20, $60, or $80.

ETA - I have a teepee style still left over from my son. It ended up not being my favorite, even though it IS cute, because its bulky and really closed off from natural light. I couldn't walk around the room and see my son from all angles. And getting him in and out around the tent like sides was cumbersome. Live and learn. I'm going to reuse it for #2 because - fuck it. It worked. But if I was buying another I'd probably go with something like this one.

Everyone is different. Some really like the diaper genie. I don't because it's annoying. I also use our changing tables but many don't.

I highly recommend a JJCole Bundle Me http://www.amazon.com/Cole-Original-Bundleme-Infant-Graphite/dp/B003KN27C8 for winter babies.

I love our bottle sanitizer even though we breastfeed. It's nice to have for pump parts and bottles when we do use them.

We use the cradle n swing during the day for naps. I love it.

I wish we had this http://www.amazon.com/Infantino-Wonder-Whale-Kicks-Giggles/dp/B00DJPKA4Y for our son or the one with the piano. He loves his activity gym but also loves kicking. This one also has a funny time area.

Fleece sleep sacks. Carters runs 0-9 months and they do fit at 0 and looks like they'll fit our beefy baby for a while.

Here is a link to more photos

Our nursery is finally done at 37 weeks! This has easily become my favorite room in our house. It is also our cat’s favorite room (cat tax included in the pictures above). She thinks we redecorated it for her - she loves the soft rug, the play-mat with dangling toys for her to play with, and hiding spots under the chair and crib. I originally wanted to go light on any theme, but I fell in love with the mural. We travel a fair amount and got married at a Zoo, so the nursery is very fitting. This was our first time putting up wallpaper and we didn’t do the best job, so don’t look too closely at the seams. The large window in the room has significant rotting and mold at the bottom, and after a 4 month wait for a new custom wood window, it should be replaced in the next week (hopefully before the baby is born).

Top 5 items:

Crib - Babyletto Hudson 3-in-1 Convertible Crib, Grey

Rug - Safavieh Hudson Shag Collection, 9’ x 12’, Ivory/Grey

Mural – Safari Kids Map Mural Wallpaper

Dresser – Baby Relax Georgia Campaign Dresser – Blue

Play Mat – The Play Gym by Lovevery

We also love the handmade quilt and afghan made by our moms. For more info about our nursery.

Sure, I'd be happy to give some recommendations.

Now the first thing is, babies don't really care that much about stuff. They don't really do much or play with much for a long time. They'll get more joy out of you just playing peekaboo than any actual toy

That said, it's the thought that counts, so you can pick up a rattle or something. If they don't have one already, you can get a tummy time playmat like this or something similar, that comes with a bunch of toys with it. Alternately, honestly you can just walk down to the dollar store and see whatever cheap stuff they have, it doesn't really matter

On the other hand, you can do something more practical. Baby wipes are a sure thing, they will 100% absolutely be used. You could get similar stuff, like burp cloths or baby soap or whatever. But that stuff isn't really fun, though it's usually appreciated.

Then there's the last category, the one I'd personally go with: Stuff for the parents that makes parenting easier. This is actually a little for your cousin too, because it tends to be stuff that makes the baby more comfortable, which makes the parent more comfortable.

For instance, do they have a baby carrier? You could look into getting them one, or getting them another one (it doesn't hurt to have two), or-- a lot of people don't think about this-- one specially sized for your uncle, because I can practically guarantee unless someone specifically thought about it, any baby carrier they have is going to be sized for mom, not dad.

If you want to go a little more expensive, you can do things like a jumper which the little gal will probably be a little young for, but not by much

or a swing both of those were honestly absolute godsends for keeping my sanity, because i got to put my little guy down and they'd keep him actually quiet, and sometimes even put him to sleep! And for some reason no one ever thought to get us one as a gift.

So anyway, those are some ideas.

But like I said, clothes aren't the wrong choice, just keep in mind that really, any clothes you get the baby now are for you, because you think it'll be cute to dress them up. The baby doesn't care, and I'm sure the baby doesn't really need clothes right now (in a year or so? More likely)

My son was this same age last year so I'll chime in.

• High chair if you don't have one already
  
• Portable high chair if don't have already
  
• All things feeding as others have said. I really like the Bapron bibs because by 1 year my son was ripping off the others!
  
• Stacking cups (Seriously, the $2 on Amazon are the best toy)
  
• Board books with flaps
  
• Baby proofing items/gates
  
• Clothes in the next size
  
• If you have hard floors in the area you play a lot - we got a mat like this for our living room and it's one of the best purchases for us. When baby started planking/crawling/scooting, it was a nice soft area and we are so, so happy we have it now!
  
• We got a nice Woolino sleep sack last year after I got sick of buying new Halo's every other month. It still fits great this year and I only wish we had done the buy 2 get 30% or whatever deal because when he used to wet through or like last night when he puked, having a clean one ready to go would be nice!

Hey there! Just finished setting up the nursery and writing this from my hospital bed during the induction process. Loved seeing everyone's nurseries! 


A few very smart humans before me said to decorate with things that you like or things that can live in the rest of the house. It really stuck with me and with kids toys being so loud, I kept the base elements simple and soft.  Honestly it's my favorite room in the house and both my doggos love to chill in there waiting for their bud to join :)




Amazon:

Doggo lamp (so far so good, but don't lose the allen keys.): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0746CX88D?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share


Tripod lamp, great deal imo: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BDPJXGH?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share


Wood & Steel Side Table: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017ADG15W?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share


Promise Babe Baby Play Gym Wooden Frame: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LCN2TL7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_R47gDb6WH0RCJ



WayFair

Glider: https://www.wayfair.com/baby-kids/pdp/davinci-piper-reclining-glider-dv2203.html



IKEA

Bakvam Spice Racks for the books

Raskog rolling cart for extra diapers and the whatnot.

Hemnes dresser and tall dresser (in the closet) found on Nextdoor. I kinda followed: https://www.twotwentyone.net/nursery-dresser-organization/ for the large dresser organization (with the drawer organizers). 


GOOGLE

Camera, home, nest smoke alarm, and hue lights bulbs.



From around...

The plants :) most hailing from Flora Grubb in SF and planters from Etsy and Flora Grubb.

Pillows, pretty sure the succulent is from Society6

Black and White throw, won't last long in the kids room, but from the couch and probably Ikea.

Rug: originally in our office (now kids room) is from ruggable. It's machine washable and w two older doggos, totally saves the day. 

Posters from Society6.

The crib was a hand-me-down from friends. 




Moar photos:

http://imgur.com/gallery/Y8gS2nF


Thanks! 

Edit: he's out! 3 days of inducing and then an emergency C-section. Fun.... Birth story coming:)

Most importantly: you are a great mother. You are not only caring for your child, but you are making personal sacrifices so he gets the best possible food and care. Go mama!

Maybe you could always set up an Amazon wish list? There's still a few hours to choose next-day shipping on Prime items and have them arrive tomorrow. My son liked these toys a lot a that age, since you asked for suggestions: Toy Car, Book, Rattle, Tummy-time Mat


And Mister Michael is adorable.

My kid is 6 months old now and growing out of a flat head. He hated tummy time and from day one slept flat on his back without stirring!

First- obviously you need to keep an eye on it and encourage tummy time and all that but don't stress too much. Once they start rolling and squirming around more the problem starts to fix itself.

One thing that helped my son was a tummy time activity pillow made by Tiny Love. Here's the Amazon link http://www.amazon.com/Tiny-Love-Tummy-Activity-Ladybug/dp/B0015CA3EK

He loved the crinkly noises and the little rattle/teether thing as well as the mirror. If you don't want to spend money I would definitely recommend trying a stand up mirror in front of their face. I found this pillow better than a boppy type pillow which was simply too big. We have the girl version because we didn't know if he was going to be a he or a she and really, who cares. I assume the boy version is the same but don't actually know for sure.

I was hanging out with one of my best friends last night and we were scrolling through my registry together (she wanted to know if there was anything I really wanted from it). She got super excited about this ridiculously expensive play-gym that I really didn't think anyone would actually buy. She was like, "My husband is going to be so excited about how it turns into a tent, he's totally going to want to get you this!" I am surprisingly excited about this because I had really written off getting it at all, and I probably wouldn't have bought it myself either. Yay! :D

You mentioned wishing your baby could entertain herself. Our babies are the same age and I completely hear you. It's exhausting trying to entertain a baby, whenever they are awake. I've started putting my baby in his bouncer [This one - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IVNEFCM/ref=sr_ph_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1474756338&sr=sr-1&keywords=Price+Bouncer] or on his play mat [This one - https://www.amazon.com/Infantino-Twist-Fold-Activity-Vintage/dp/B002DWALTI/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1474756447&sr=1-4&keywords=Baby+Play+Mat]. He's been pretty good at hanging out there for a good while and focusing on trying to reach the dangling toys. So, something like this might help give you a few moments peace and let baby entertain themselves.

This happened to us at about 3 months for each of our kids, it'll get better soon but they're just crying because that's their only means of communicating. Try making eye contact and smiling at him. Talk to him and engage him, they really like that and if you can engage and communicate with them, it'll help them develop communication and cry less.

Your baby is trying to tell you something and if he's got a fresh diaper, been fed and isn't tired, a lot of times they're just bored and want attention.

If you don't have a play time mat, they're a great investment at this age something like this:

https://smile.amazon.com/Baby-Einstein-Caterpillar-Friends-Play/dp/B0051POK1E/ref=sr_1_7_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1520259806&sr=8-7&keywords=play+mat

Babies do get frustrated when they aren't getting what they want and they can sense your frustration, try to force your outward body language to be positive and just hang in there, it'll get better.

We won't find out the sex of the baby for at least another month or so, but I am already envisioning the bedroom...

Many shades of gray, with white accents and bits of color pops- "weather/sky" themed. I found this darling playmat and fell in love with it.

Now the entire nursery will be focused around it :)

(Also considered a "Neverland" theme for a while, but unlikely to go with that)

Honestly, none of the "gear" was life-altering. Diapers, wipes, and full boobs, and my daughter is good to go.

If I had to pick 1 fun item that has been most useful it would probably be her play mat. Early on she hated it but since 6 weeks or so it has been great. She loves it, it keeps her occupied, and I don't feel bad about leaving her there while I get stuff done because I can see her building motor skills and learning while she plays.

Swaddle Blankets

Burp Cloths


Bottles. I've had a lot of friends that love the playtex drop-ins

If you're going to breastfeed pick some pads for yourself along with some nipple cream. I liked motherlove.

Swing, rock n play or bouncer so that you have a place to set baby down to accomplish dishes/shower.

activity gym/play mat


That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

Honestly, I would go in a different direction. Those bins will buckle, making them hard to open.

Have you considered a drawstring playmat? A 5’ one like this will hold a few thousand pieces. Even if you have more pieces than will fit in one, I’d just get two. Playtime and cleanup are so easy.

Another, dustier option is a modular shelf system like the Ikea Trofast line. Even a rolling drawer cart like this should be easier to open and close, though again dust might be a problem.

Hope this helps; good luck!

My LOs favorite from that age were:

Infantino Hug and Tug Musical Bug https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IR4F466/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_UrvRzb9ZFMJC0

Bright Starts Start Your Senses Sensory Giraffe https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003LQMZS0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_-svRzbDQXDNVX

More than anything she loved her play gym. She would play there for 40+mins by herself.

Infantino Grow-with-me Activity Gym and Ball Pit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DJPKA76/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_muvRzbBQ218J9

We bought This mat. It’s expensive but really nice and thick and easy to clean. The tiles trap crumbs and dirt between the tiles and our kids were constantly pulling them apart and throwing them making a huge mess. They are also harder to clean. So if you can afford it and don’t mind spending the money, this mat is reversible, high quality, and awesome!

That is my room :) I live on my own, I have autism and disabilities and live in a supported living program which means they come to my house to care for me, because my house is located above a garage the floor is very hard on my knees when I am building with lego and playing and dancing, so that is my play floor :) I found them at a clearance section of a store.

I am also a moderator of /r/lego :) and if you called those lego tiles they would get cranky!

http://www.amazon.com/Edushape-Edu-Tiles-Piece-Letters-Numbers/dp/B002FKAMLA/ref=sr_1_18_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1465017848&sr=8-18&keywords=alphabet+floor

I bought a little play gym from Fisher price, there is a piano keyboard the baby can kick. It's a freaking lifesaver. Our son has loved it since around week 6. He's always been a kicker and loves kicking the keyboard so it makes noises, plus there are dangly things you can hang above that he loves to stare/swat at!

Link

There's also tummy time if you're not already doing that!

If this is allowed, I'd love to enter for my sister's baby (my new niece/nephew!). She had a miscarriage about a year ago and we were worried for her. But now she's pregnant again and it's looking good so far! Due date is around Christmas! She finds out the gender in a month ish... I'm so anxious!

ALSO

I'd totally get her this because she loves the color green and animals are awesome! <3

https://www.amazon.com/Skip-Hop-Treetop-Friends-Activity/dp/B0042RU2SW

We got that one and she loved it. It has like 9 or more places to hang toys so you can rotate them as you want and there are no parts to break or need batteries. Comes with a handy pillow for propping baby up while they scream about tummy time and a unbreakable soft mirror thing to look into on the mat as well. Some crinkly leaf bits to grab onto and a squeaker sewn into a flower. A whole bunch of patterns and fun things for them to stare at along with different textures of fabrics. Also, we love owls in this house and it was full of them :)

My gosh, my SON LOVES this

http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Rainforest-Melodies-Lights-Deluxe/dp/B000FFL58Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371668591&sr=8-1&keywords=baby+floor+gym

It is amazing, he pulls on everything and looks at the lights. He is 6 months and we sit him on it and loves to play with the butterflies.. BUY IT.

I have the skip hop forest friends play mat at it's great. Nice colors without being wayyyy too bright

Edit: It's absurdly expensive now, but there are definitely other color options out there that still are skip hop (and the quality is definitely nice)

You need to get a Lay-n-Go. It's a drawstring bag that lays flat on the floor like a mat.It holds my 18 pounds of legos perfectly. I love bringing it to party because nobody expects that and then when everyone sees it they just dive in.

We use this one, which is also good for the falls from early walking:

https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Care-Animal-Floor-Farm/dp/B00DTGGOO8

I think it's superior to the puzzle-piece foam tiles because the child can't take it apart, and it's also very easy to clean.

I'd look at the recommendations on mamaot.com and candokiddo.com before buying anything. They have a lot of ideas for things you already have at home as well as ideas for purchases that will work for your baby through a few stages of development. At your baby's age we relied on our play mat for most of her entertainment (like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Infantino-Twist-Fold-Activity-Vintage/dp/B002DWALTI?th=1) with a few extra toys and plastic links hung on it. Once she could sit up she could play with the toys that way.

Stuff like jumpers and walkers aren't recommended for too much use but if you do want one, there are usually a ton of jumpers on short plastic stands for less than $20 on Craigslist and at Once Upon a Child. If you're just feeling generally spending on the baby (understandable :) ) but don't want to go crazy go to Once Upon a Child. They have lots of toys and should have some of your basic stacking and other simple toys that will work at this age and hopefully for longer too!

At that age my daughter loved the little plush mirror that she looked at during tummy time and her play mat. She also liked those little mini crunchy books that make sound like crackling paper when you turn the pages...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01GCH64CC?psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002J4U8M0/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1497471878&sr=8-1&keywords=sassy+mirror+baby&dpPl=1&dpID=51R8Pgj9dDL&ref=plSrch

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002DWALTI/ref=pd_aw_sim_sbs_107_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=EDSMZQ3FK9M11G0W48FK&dpPl=1&dpID=91CItN2WZ9L

For larger playmats with a side length up to 36 inches, go to Amazon.com and search for Alvin Tubes. I have 8 of the 24 inch tubes and 2 of the 36 inch tubes. They come in clear and translucent colors and include a carry strap. They are fantastic. If your playmats are smaller with a short side of 14 inches or less, the Monster triangular tubes and Monster double tubes are great. I'm still looking for a solution for mats between 36 and 48 inches wide on the short side. I just received the Western Legends Playmat and it's 25x48inches. When rolled to the short side, it's a hair too long to fit in the 24 inch tube and must be rolled very tight to fit in a 36 inch tube (too tight for my preference). Once I have the playmat in a protective tube, I always store them horizontally. I worry about long term storage damaging the bottom end if stored vertically.

We got a TON of use out of our play mat. But try and find a used one! The one we have is this one, which I got for $5 at a rummage sale!
EDIT: Forgot to say I liked that it played music and had lights, and was easy to fold up and set aside.

My baby loves ours! He’s 3.5 months but has loved it for a while already! We have this one: https://www.amazon.com/Skip-Hop-Treetop-Friends-Activity/dp/B0042RU2SW/ref=asc_df_B0042RU2SW/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198058909844&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8774663139021550983&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007386&hvtargid=pla-365069349533&psc=1

Something like this - https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Rainforest-Melodies-Lights-Deluxe/dp/B000FFL58Q/ref=sr_1_1_a_it

They key is the shiny vs fuzzy material, it's easy to wipe down, machine washable, and hair may be statically attracted to it (e.g. if the cats decide to rub themselves all over it, don't ask how I know lol) but it doesn't stick to it and in it like a fuzzy material might allow.

not sure of the carrier, but the base is WAYYYY too loose. it should be tight to the point where you can shake the base and the entire car is moving along with it. if youre worried about the leather of the car, get a car seat protector (i personally have a prince lionheart that has worked with great results).

if you’ve tried tightening it down with the LATCH and it still isnt secure enough, use the seat belt instead (my preferred method and safer/stronger than LATCH as well).

best method of installation is to literally stand on top of the base, push down with your legs (with your upper torso against the back of the front seat or the roof of car) and tighten like a motherfucker. a second pair of hands always helps as well.

We have an older house with holes :-) The ants have been terrible this year, especially in the kitchen. These would be awesome to put under the kitchen chairs. My 5 and 1 yr old tend to be messy. Thanks for the contest.

What do I currently use? Wrapping paper. Lol. It might look tacky but it works. Haha!

I'd say activity mat all the way! You can always buy a bouncer/exersaucer second hand. We loved our little mat, especially because it folded up when we weren't using it, creating more space in our apartment. It would even give us time to make coffee and breakfast while LO was busy playing.

Remember his vision is not very good yet, so things to look at need to be close. Try putting him in a baby seat with a colorful small toy pinned on the side near his face, or a larger one (especially stuffed animals with faces) sitting next to the seat. He will like to look at all kinds of things. I would safety pin patterned towels, pillowcases and random fabric to the crib rails for a couple hours as something new to look at, or put the baby seat on the floor in front of a mirror. The little fabric rattles you can put on hands or feet are also good for tiny babies.

Edit: Also this http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Einstein-Caterpillar-Friends-Play/dp/B0051POK1E/ref=sr_1_3?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1405184080&sr=1-3&keywords=baby+gym

I have but one complaint with car seat anchors in the GLI. It's rather difficult to make the top anchor secure enough to feel safe because it's too close. I finally got it by pulling the top strap down and under the lower anchor strap, and using that as leverage.

I took some pictures to show what I'm talking about.

http://imgur.com/a/NEHI2

The seat brand is Evenflo, and it's a convertible. As soon as my kid hits the right weight, it'll get changed into a booster. Also, get yourself one of those car seat mats. I have this one from Prince Lionheart and it protects the seats really well.

We used this kind, but a different pattern. We paid less than this price, but was reversible so we could use in our living room in between kids and even after kids.

Baby Care Play Mat - Haute Collection (Large, Sea Petals - Grey) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MY709TZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_6ljSzbFXT68JS

You can always give them some toys (rings, books, etc) to see if they can entertain themselves without needing you. My mom warned me not to be the only source of entertainment for our boys or else we would regret it later. So I had some light up music toys or put them in one of these for about 5-10mins at a time. This seemed to work out great. Also singing to them (silly made up songs) entertained them with just me.

I have an Infantino Twist and Fold activity mat, and when I am done with it, I just fold it up so the cat and dog don't lay on it. It only takes a few seconds, and is definitely not complicated. It has been working pretty well so far.

My kid loved this thing: Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick 'n Play Piano Gym https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076HYFZ37/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_va6MDbW1EQZ07

Both our kids loved this play mat

Things we use every day are the Rock N Play sleeper, Miracle Blanket, and this gym. He will lay on it and bat at the hanging animals forever.

Found at a FLGS. Any game store that would sell playmats probably also sells tubes. This one is nice because it's actually shaped like a rounded triangle, so it doesn't roll.

Here it is on Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Playmat-Tube-Monster-Protectors-Prism-shaped/dp/B008NEOE48

I bought a foldable playmat ... i got it second hand on Facebook Marketplace for $40. On Amazon they are $125. It’s 8x10 ft and now at 13 months she still plays on it.

https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Care-Play-Mat-Collection/dp/B00DTGGOO8/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?keywords=baby+care+play+mat&qid=1567131708&s=gateway&sprefix=baby+care+play&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzOVhNQjlDQzU5SVlOJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMDI0Mzc3M0k4QVdQVENEMlQ2NSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNzcwMTgyMVdNOVNCS09IRThCSyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX3Bob25lX3NlYXJjaF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

I had a look at what else approx. $36 will buy you, I hope this helps.

HEAVY ABSORBENCY Pet Housebreaking Pad, Pee Training Pads, Underpads - 36.99
https://www.amazon.com/Puppy-ABSORBENCY-Housebreaking-Training-Underpads/dp/B01EW2INL4/ref=sr_1_137?ie=UTF8&qid=1482482283&sr=8-137&keywords=%2436

24' x 36' Dry Top Brown/Green Reversible Full Size 7-mil Poly Tarp - 35.43
(https://www.amazon.com/Brown-Green-Reversible-7-mil-124361/dp/B0035RQLJO/ref=sr_1_27?ie=UTF8&qid=1482482213&sr=8-27&keywords=%2436)

Ultrasorbs AP Premium Disposable DryPad - 35.99
https://www.amazon.com/Ultrasorbs-Premium-Disposable-DryPad-ULTRA2436SAMP/dp/B002NHA20G/ref=sr_1_244?ie=UTF8&qid=1482482342&sr=8-244&keywords=%2436

Edushape Edu-Tiles 36 Piece 6x6ft Play Mat, Letters & Numbers Set - 35.83
https://www.amazon.com/Edushape-Edu-Tiles-Piece-Letters-Numbers/dp/B002FKAMLA/ref=sr_1_59_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1482482233&sr=8-59&keywords=%2436&th=1

Liquitex BASICS Acrylic Paint Tube 36-Piece Set - 34.25
https://www.amazon.com/Liquitex-BASICS-Acrylic-Paint-36-Piece/dp/B000JESVA8/ref=sr_1_106?ie=UTF8&qid=1482482258&sr=8-106&keywords=%2436

Levi's Men's 569 Loose Straight-Leg Jean - 34.99
https://www.amazon.com/Levis-Loose-Straight-Rugged-36x36/dp/B0018OY3J6/ref=sr_1_129?ie=UTF8&qid=1482482283&sr=8-129&keywords=%2436

Sennheiser PC 36 USB Headset with Microphone - 37.74
https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-PC-36-USB-Microphone/dp/B001SN8QJ0/ref=sr_1_209?ie=UTF8&qid=1482482324&sr=8-209&keywords=%2436

Check out these comments on another seat protector. All vendors have comments like these but some products, usually with fewer than 20 reviews, don't have these comments. So, I'm just going to go for it and see how it works in person. :)

Lily loved her activity mat and her bouncy chair at 2 months old. We would walk around the flat and look at things and we took a walk every day. She napped A LOT on me at the time so we watched A LOT of Netflix and 4OD. My favourite thing to do with her was just to stare at her and copy all of her noises and talk with/to her.

Take him for a walk outside (not too much sunlight) and talk about what he's looking at.

Put him on a playmat with the arches over it, like http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Rainforest-Melodies-Lights-Deluxe/dp/B000FFL58Q/ref=pd_cp_ba_3

Bouncer.

Infant stimulation videos.

Light tickling (not too much, then they cant breathe).

Last choice is super-colorful music-y cartoons, like you said, used sparingly.

We have this one and my kiddo loves it! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FFL58Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_2HF0xbYKV5PBS

It's on a Fisher Price play mat like this one.

That must be it.. Here's another one where it seems kinda practical. http://www.amazon.com/Lay-n-Go-Original-Activity-Mat-Blue/dp/B007BO5OAY

Thanks!!

At that age, my baby girl loved her play gym and her bouncer. She also loved her sit me up seat.



https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Einstein-Caterpillar-Friends-Melodies/dp/B0051POK1E/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=Play+gym&qid=1558843342&s=gateway&sr=8-7

https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Babys-Bouncer-Geo-Meadow/dp/B014D4HPXI/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Bouncer&qid=1558843389&s=gateway&sr=8-3

https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Sit-Me-Up-Floor-Seat-Tray/dp/B072LNTRGK/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=3IQUTNIM567BO&keywords=sit+me+up+floor+seat&qid=1558843456&s=gateway&sprefix=Sit+me+up%2Caps%2C172&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1 Only when she has strong head support but can’t hold herself completely up by herself yet.

Of course, trying to do tummy time and get her to play with the toys in front of her is a goal but I know it’s not easy for some babies. My baby girl hated tummy time til 4 months . And loved it more by 5 months. Now sitting up by herself at 8 months. Remember to have these things on the floor. Babies have fallen and gotten hurt by placing them on the bed, on tables, etc.



My baby girl didn’t use her jumper til 6 months of age. When they can sit well supported or closer to unsupported

We have this thing, which is essentially the same idea, but it has a pull string around the circumference that allows you to zip the whole thing into a giant pouch and store it securely until next time. It's amaaaazing.

We just got the Fisher Price Kick N Play piano two weeks ago and now our 13wo loves tummy time. We set her down facing the piano and she just holds her head up to watch all the lights.

Fair warning though: the songs will get suck in your head.

We have this one though I don't think it's any better or worse than anything else. Just pick something you think looks cute because it's going to be out a LOT.

If you are shooting stationary I’ve seen people lay down a tarp.

What about something like this

Playmat tubes like this : https://www.amazon.com/Playmat-Tube-Monster-Protectors-Prism-shaped/dp/B008NEOE48

I really like Monster playmat protectors. They're cheap, durable, and don't easily roll off tables.

We got this one: https://www.amazon.com/Skip-Hop-Treetop-Friends-Activity/dp/B0042RU2SW/

Although it may be too 'loud' for your tastes, we liked that there were no electronics to it, yet each 'activity' is something different. So one of the thing crinkles, one has a mirror, one pulls, one jingles, etc. On the mat, there is also a mirror and a couple 'crinkly' leaves. So in essence, this does more for learning/self-exploration of textures and sounds then a simple bar of 3-4 wooden shapes.

Monster "Prism" Playmat Tubes. They are triangular instead of round, which prevents the from rolling off of tables.

Amazon link.

I got mine on amazon.

Maybe these would quiet things down a bit.

http://www.amazon.com/Edushape-Edu-Tiles-Piece-Letters-Numbers/dp/B002FKAMLA

[Here you go] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UVPSSF8?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00)
EDIT:
[And This] (http://www.amazon.com/Playmat-Tube-Monster-Protectors-Prism-shaped/dp/B008NEOE48/ref=pd_bxgy_21_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1QXQ756RM0PNT35YRQT0)

I'm not sure how necessary it is and I'm also a FTM due any day now so we haven't actually used it yet, but we registered and recieved this one.

It's very soft and it folds up when it isn't in use. Only time will tell how much use we actually get out of it.

The only thing I can think of are the 'activity mats' which have toys and stuff that hang above the baby. Not sure how a dog bed would be an equal replacement in that case though: http://www.amazon.com/Infantino-Twist-Fold-Activity-Vintage/dp/B002DWALTI/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1410185422&sr=8-5&keywords=baby+mat

We have an exersaucer, a swing, a ball pit and a crib. The ball pit is awesome! If you only get one thing, do the ball pit.

Edit: Shit, just saw that he doesn't like laying on his back! :( Then I would go with an exersaucer.