There's also a checklist of must-have items for a new baby and a short list of some of the things out there that may seem like necessities. You decide. All the following are available at Target, but these products, or variations by a number of manufacturers, are sold at other stores and Web sites.
Bumbo Baby Seat, $40
This unique infant chair is designed so that babies as young as 6 weeks (or as soon as they can support their own heads unaided) sit upright. Big enough to accommodate a baby to about age 14 months, the Bumbo is a step beyond the sloping infant seat, giving a small baby a real view of the world. Great for feeding or for making it easier for your baby to socialize with the family at the dinner table, the park, the beach. The Bumbo's key feature is a seat at a lower level than the leg openings to provide correct support for the spine. The front support prevents your baby from sliding forward.
Sassy Ultimate Sleep System, $20
This gadget combines the advantages of a crib wedge and sleep positioner and some parents swear by it as a way to minimize colic and help a baby stay asleep. The crib wedge elevates the baby's head, and the foam provides support with a layer of memory foam for comfort. The adjustable curved bumpers - one is adjustable, the other fixed in place - conform to your baby's shape. Good until your baby is able to roll over freely.
Infantino Shop & Play, $20
The Infantino Shop and Play is designed to turn a shopping cart into a clean and comfortable activity center. The front wraps around the shopping cart bar. Removable toys that squeak, rattle and crinkle are also included. When you're done shopping, roll it up, Velcro it shut, sling it over your shoulder and go. Can be used at home, too, as a play mat.
A simple, inexpensive tool for keeping an eye on your baby while traveling. You can see at a glance if there's something really wrong, so you can get off the road and solve the problem. As the name implies, this mirror attaches to your rear-view mirror and flips down to use or up and out of the way when the baby's not in the car. Another type of mirror attaches to the back seat to give you a view of a rear-facing infant.
Munchkin's Safety Baby Bath Cradle, $5
Anyone who has ever tried to hold a soapy, slippery baby in the hard tub or sink will see the benefits of this foam cradle. With cushioned edges and slip-resistance, the foam fills and drains quickly. It's also nonallergenic and mildew resistant. Best of all, perhaps, is the "White Hot" safety disc that turns white when the water is too hot and blue when the water becomes a safe temperature.
The First Years Easy-Wrap Swaddler, $10
For some reasons, even after they teach you in the hospital how to swaddle a baby, you get home and can't remember or can't do it. Because the snugly wrapped baby is a happy, calm baby, you may want to try this blanket. All you have to do is slip the baby into the pre-made pocket of fabric, fold the sides over and fasten the tabs. Couldn't be easier.
Wee Wave Bikini Bottoms and Sunglasses, $6 each
The fashionable little bikini bottoms or swim trunks for boys have a built-in waterproof diaper to contain small "accidents." They're washable and come in sizes that fit babies as small as 13 pounds. The sunglasses, equally colorful, have a Velcro strap that wraps around your baby's head and protects his or her eyes from the sun. Yes, as they get older, babies will likely just pull them right off, but they stay on a lot better than regular sunglasses.
Regalo Easy Diner Portable Deluxe Series Hook-On High Chair, $30
Great for taking to Grandma's, on vacation, to a restaurant, this little chair has a foldable metal frame for easy traveling and adjustable shoulder straps and a lap buckle to keep your baby safely in the seat. Comes with a mesh insert for a cup, a removable seat pad and a carrying bag.
Baby's Quiet Sounds Day and Night Handheld Color Video Monitor, $170
This goes way beyond the tinny-sounding squawk box that was the first generation of baby monitors. Those work fine, of course, if you just want to hear when your baby's fussing. But if you can afford it, this product allows you to hear - and see - the baby anywhere within 350 feet. You can stand at the sink doing dishes or in the family room reading and still check on your little one. It's small, lightweight and has a 1.8-inch screen. Night vision allows you to see your baby in a darkened room or use the video on/off button for sound-only monitoring at night. The rechargeable battery lasts 10 hours, and the power saver feature powers off after three minutes. An AC adapter, belt clip and stand offer added convenience.
Sticky juice, gummy half-eaten cereal, you name it and a baby gets it on the seat of your car. Yes, you could just use a sheet, towel or even a shower curtain, but this colorful plastic seat cover has added value. It's water resistant and padded to protect your car's seat from the inevitable indentations, scratches and marks caused by car seats. Grips on the top and bottom keep the car seat securely in place, and a tether on the back secures the mat to the seat. There's also a toy tote with storage pockets that buckles to either side of the mat, allowing you to take toys along when you leave the car.
SIDEBAR
These baby products are nice, but are they needed?
By Jane Clifford
Now for five products that make some experienced parents scratch their heads but may be indispensable for others:
Munchkin Warm Glow Wipe Warmer, $20
The idea of a cold baby wipe may bother parents more than the baby and, if so, this product will make mom and dad more comfortable. The top-warming system has a flip-top lid that activates a 10-minute light for changing your baby at night without waking him or her up. It holds up to 100 pop-up wipes and has a window for checking the level.
The First Years Nursing Privacy Wrap, $17
It is designed to make breast-feeding more discreet and stay in place better than the old blanket trick. It does have a clasp that adjusts for a custom fit around mom and a "peek-a-boo loop" at the top to keep an eye on your baby. It's black and, frankly, looks more like one of those capes you wear at the hair salon. It's billed as breathable lightweight fabric, but if you're nursing in the sun, it might not be so comfortable for you or your baby.
If you really want to spend money on something like this, more than one nursing mom swears by the very popular Hooter Hider, now also sold under the Bebe au Lait name. Available at bebeaulait.com and upscale maternity stores, starting at $35.
Summer Heart-to-Heart Prenatal Listening System, $20
If you have to hear your baby's heartbeat, and can't wait between trips to the obstetrician, then this product's for you. The battery-operated monitor doesn't use ultrasound technology, so it is non-invasive. Package includes a recording cable, a heartbeat sensor, two pairs of headphones, a positioning belt and an instructional audio CD.
Munchkin Deluxe Bottle & Food Warmer, $20
Using a "Quick-Steam warming system," this product heats milk and food evenly, without any hot spots, in about five minutes for those who prefer not to use the microwave out of safety or nutrition concerns. The warming chamber fits all regular, angled, disposable and wide-mouth bottles. The LED indicator tells you it's on, an alarm sounds when the bottle is ready, and it automatically shuts off once the warming cycle is complete. Seems like you'd have to be sure of what is meant by "warm," and there is still the "pan of hot water" method, safe for all those plastic bottles and glass food jars.
Pee-pee Teepee, $12 for a five-pack
From tiny little red Santa hats and blue circus hats to blue or green camouflage and a baseball pattern, these cone-shaped cloth products were designed to make diaper changes on boys "safer" for the one doing the changing. They are cute and amusing and certainly would be the highlight of a baby shower. But mothers of grown boys will tell you that a washcloth or cloth diaper has provided the same "protection" for generations. See them at bebabean.com but be prepared to buy them online only, unless you can make it to a store in Europe, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand or the United Arab Emirates.
