Fourth Trimester Top Picks
We are officially in month three of parenthood (what?!) which means we are wrapping up The Fourth Trimester. In that time (like all parents), I have found some products that have made life with an infant easier. Every baby is different and some products that are life savers for me, may be total duds for someone else, but these are my top picks for fourth trimester life!
This stroller is fantastic (and as a nanny for ten years pre-baby, I’ve tried ‘em all!)
Guys, this stroller is the business. I am completely obsessed with it, to the point that I would gaze at it excitedly before the baby was even born, just daydreaming about the walks we would take. And let me tell you, we take the walks and it’s glorious. It is so thoughtfully designed with great storage space, maneuverability, and easily folds down with the seat attached! The real kicker for me was that the main seat can be transitioned into a bassinet for infant use. That means I do not have to store another piece of bulky equipment in my one bedroom apartment! That is an organizer’s dream solution! Since Colugo is a direct-to-consumer company, they can offer high quality without majorly marked up prices. Plus they give you a 100 day trial window! Also, it’s sleek as hell. Strong recommend.
Trying to walk this baby out while strolling with my cool-ass leopard fanny pack!
Okay, I bought this with the stroller just as a bit of an extra and it has quickly turned into one of my fave items. It has plenty of pockets to keep bits and bobs stored and separated, and little collapsible cup holder dividers for when it’s on the stroller. But the best part is that it can be used as a cool-ass fanny pack or slung across your back as a mini diaper bag of sorts. I used it for walks when I was pregnant and needed all my covid sanitation supplies at the ready, and now grab it now for quick errands instead of a purse. And in the leopard print it’s just an all out win.
This little gadget has saved me and baby girl countless scratches.
Baby finger nails are like tiny razor blades. Truly, this seems like a design flaw. Trying to clip those tiny talons is just as perilous as letting them grow unchecked. Enter: the electric nail file. This little gadget can quickly and safely file down those sharp nails without concern of clipping their tiny little fingertips. I keep it right next to the couch and give her a quick file whenever she’s in enough of a milk coma to let me manipulate her hands.
She loves to snuggle down for naps in this cozy wrap!
This was recommended by a friend and it has proven to be a vital tool for our nap sanity. Our little one is a phase where she does not like to nap unless she’s resting on someone, and while I could cuddle her all day long, sometimes I need to get up and pee, fold laundry, or write this blog post. (I could also see this being super helpful if your babe has reflux, helping them stay more upright for rests.) Wrapping our girl up in the Solly has been a sure fire way to A.) get her to nap for a decent length of time and B.) have some semblance of productivity during those naps. Also, it’s just nice to have her snug and cozy on my chest and be hands free!
Lounging in her bouncer, living the good bouncing life!
This was an old favorite from my nanny days that I knew I wanted for my own little. Sure enough, my kid loves bouncing. She’ll happily sit in this while I’m on the couch typing or sitting at the table for a meal. I've bounced her while doing my makeup or brought the seat outside for hanging on the patio. It collapses for easy storage and is lightweight enough to move all over the apartment. It’s a great place to be able to safely stash a baby for a quick minute if you need to use the bathroom, get dressed, or even take a shower!
Little drooly girl crushes through these bibs but they are holding up!
Kennedy has entered drool city and requires a bib at all times or else we’re constantly changing her clothes. I ordered a few packs of these cute bandana bibs from amazon and they turned out to be excellent purchase. They are soft and super absorbent. She can completely saturate the top layer and somehow the underside stays dry. The snap closure means velcro wont get stuck to clothes in the dryer and they are stretchy enough to slide over my daughters 98th percentile size head. Plus they are affordable and come in so many different patterns!
This pillow makes feeding so much easier!
This was passed on to me from a friend and it just may be our most used piece of baby gear! It helps keep me and the baby positioned well for feeding, which as previously mentioned can be quite a production. My husband uses it for bottle feeds, it can serve as a rest/lounge spot, a prop support to encourage tummy time, and eventually a seated support for when baby starts to sit independently. All around A+ product in our household.
She loves kicking the hanging bells on this mat and even almost enjoys tummy time.
There are so many play mats to choose from, but I was particularly excited about this one. The research that went into developing it is compelling and as a fan of Montessori style learning I knew I wanted to give it a try. I’m so glad we did! It has different components that adapt for her age and even turns into a tent for when she’s a toddler. I’ve also taken some of the black and white contrast cards out on the road with us, tacked up on the inside of her stroller canopy! Plus, from a snobby, aesthetics viewpoint, it looks nice taking up space on the living room floor. Win/win!
The SNOO granting me extra hours of sleep and looking chic in the nursery nook.
This bassinet is a game changer. It was developed by Dr. Harvey Karp with the concept of the fourth trimester in mind. It has built in sound and motion sensors that respond to your baby and emulate the soothing environment of the womb. It also has a built in swaddle that prevents the baby from rolling over (that feature alone was enough to calm my anxious mind on our first night home). This magic bed has saved me countless hours that would have been spent rocking or bouncing her back to sleep, and for that it is worth the pretty penny it costs. It is expensive. The good news is they now have a rental program, which is amazing (and how we are using it). I totally support renting baby gear when possible, especially when it can only be in use for a short age window. Not only is it more economical, but also ecological.