What were your "can't live without" items that you'd recomme

It will be nearly 5 years since I've had a newborn… and when I went through it the first time, money was a huge factor/burden in what we did/didn't have for the baby.

What items did you have, even of they were a splurge, that ended up being worth every penny? I remembered really wanting a boppy pillow and couldn't justify the price.

All categories of baby swag are welcome!

ETA: Be as specific with brands/specs as possible- they make a big difference

carrier/wrap

<blockquote><b>Quoting Piecey.:</b>" carrier/wrap"</blockquote>




Any specific kind? I had one I NEVER use because it was poorly designed for ergonomics and it was complicated/dangerous getting the baby in and out

Playtex drop in bottles....those things were amazing to me and seemed to make life easier when it came to make a bottle or cleaning bottles.

A carrier, Fisher price newborn rock n play sleeper, and a changing table. I had C-secs both times and I could not easily bend down or over for awhile so the changing table was a catch all for diapers baths and everything else. Also if you're bottle feeding, Ventaire bottles are ah-mazing! I used them with my daughter, I wish I had tried them with my son because I feel like they would have eliminated a lot of issues we had. A mobile, or the rainforest soother (we called it Zookeeper lol) or both.

The only one that was a for real COULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT was the changing table, the rest was just very convenient or the kids liked them a LOT

The boppy pillow is worth the price tag. It has more uses than just breast feeding support.

Carrier/wrap.

A swing.

That's really all I can think of on my MUST HAVE baby gear list.

As for what to skip, I say skip the changing table. It's never in the room you need it.  

Quoting StinkyPossumLover!:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Piecey.:</b>" carrier/wrap"</blockquote> Any specific ... [snip!] ... had one I NEVER use because it was poorly designed for ergonomics and it was complicated/dangerous getting the baby in and out"

I use a moby, for now. I'd like to get a woven wrap (like kokadi, didymos, or girasol) and an ergo.

I loved my wrap, though she was a few months old when I got it.

I got a Boppy with DD, because I didn't with DS and felt like I "needed" it. I didn't use it nearly as much as intended.

My breast pump was great to have. And lots of burp cloths, because I make pukey kids.

Having a swing and a bouncer was great, and I loved having a bassinet to have her close when she was smaller.

And then obviously bottles, diapers, lol. Stuff like that.

But I didn't need much with her. Or with DS.

Diaper, wipes, clothes, crib, car seat, swing and bassinet(only because she had a bili-blanket and it was hard to lay her in the crib with all the wires and tubing) we are pretty basic babies don't really need that much since they sleep 90% of the time while they are newbs. Oh and swaddling blankets dd was swaddled until she was almost 6 months old

Bouncer and Moby wrap. I also find it's useful for us to have a pack n' play. I get one with a bassinet feature and skip buying a bassinet. We travel a lot so it comes in handy.

The only item I thanked god for every day was my swing! If DD was cranky, wouldn't sleep at 3am and I was at the end of my rope...20 seconds in the swing and she was out like a light. It was my godsend! The only other item she really liked was the jumper...she'd play in it forever. Jumped herself to sleep numerous times haha!

I love my mei tai wrap, I wouldn't get anything done without it. I have this one:
http://www.infantino.com/product.cfm?product_id=1415

Also, the Swaddle Me is great at night.

A changing table. Don't care what anyone says... You will change A LOT of diapers in the first years... It's nice to have everything in one spot. Also easy to get the baby/toddler dressed on. The one thing I got at birth that I still use 15+ moths later

Changing table for sure! Idk how I survived so long without one, ds was 10months before we moved into a place where i had enough room for mine (it's a big heavy one) my back used to kill me even changing him on the bed. Now the only back pain i have is normal pregnancy pains