We are so excited to have teamed up with Claire Holt again to highlight her favorite products now that her little guy has turned one! In the blink of an eye, her cutie has gone from infancy to rolling over, then eating and is now on the move! Here are some of Claire’s top must-haves that have helped her throughout her first year and beyond as a new mom! Plus, we love Claire’s social media posts about motherhood, especially as she gets ready to welcome baby #2– be sure to follow her on Instagram!
Fourth Trimester Must-Haves
Baby K’tan: I really loved using this wrap when James was a newborn. He instantly calmed when I wore him and it allowed me to actually get things done! It was so easy to put on (which was very important to me as I struggled with some of the other ‘rubix cube’ wraps), and I was able to pop it in the washing machine to keep it clean. Highly recommend!
Magnetic Me Onesies: These are a MUST!!! We tried many different types of onesies and these are the clear winners. They are so easy to snap, which is crucial for middle of the night changing and bath time fussiness. I love love love love this brand.
aden + anais Swaddles/Blankets: SO beautiful, soft, and very high quality. We really love these and they make great gifts!
Diaper Dékor Plus: The best part about this pail is how easy it is to empty. You simply cut the continuous liner on the side of the pail, tie a knot, and you’re good to go. It’s handsfree and really effective at trapping odors.
Travel Must-Haves
Doona Car Seat/Stroller: This is my absolute favorite baby product. We traveled with James from a very young age and this car seat/stroller made our lives so much easier. It’s lightweight, durable, very comfortable, and switches easily between the two modes. My only wish is that it came in a bigger size, as James grew out of it by 6 months. This is a MUST HAVE if you plan on traveling or just want to save a little space in your home!
Hatch Baby Sound Machine: Awesome product for home or on-the-go. It has such a wide variety of sound options and also works as a night light. We travel with it everywhere – it really helps to keep him in a deep sleep
4moms Breeze Playard: Really great for travel – so easy to set up and pack away. The mattress is super comfortable. We use this for sleep and for playtime.
Skip Hop Pronto Portable Changer: Really great for those times when you don’t want to lug around a large diaper bag. I found it very useful when I had to change him in places with limited space (like a plane bathroom!).
Ergobaby Omni 360 Carrier– I really love this carrier! It’s so easy to use and James loves facing both inward and outward. It was invaluable on my recent trip to Australia – I walked up and down the plane aisle wearing him for many hours. It saved my back and my sanity. While I love the Baby K’tan for newborns, this worked better for me once James got a little bigger.
On-The-Go Must-Haves
Nuna Pipa: We brought James home from this hospital in this car seat and I used this when we weren’t traveling until he was around 6 months old. The Nuna Pipa is a great design and James always seemed very comfortable in it. Safety is obviously the main priority and I always felt confident that he was safe and secure.
Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Convertible Car Seat– Obsessed with this seat. Now that James is bigger he is much more comfortable in this style. It’s beautifully made, very secure, and easy to clean. Huge fan.
Artipoppe Carrier: Another of my favorite carriers. This carrier is SO gorgeous. The quality is incredible, the patterns are really unique, and when I’m wearing it, strangers always ask about it!
Silver Cross Jet: LOVE this travel stroller. It’s so simple to fold, becomes incredibly compact, and most importantly is super comfortable. It also looks really stylish. James even prefers this stroller over the larger version. So glad silver cross released this model!
Sleep Must-Haves
Colgate Natural I Crib Mattress: Love that this mattress is eco-friendly and all natural. It’s hypoallergenic, very safe, and very comfortable.
Magic Merlin Sleepsuit: This suit was really helpful when we transitioned James from the swaddle. He slept really well and most importantly was safe in his crib. We didn’t use it for long but it was a very valuable tool when we needed it.
Crane Humidifer: We use this in the winter months. I like that it dispenses a cool mist making it safe for infants. The design is stylish and it’s easy to use.
Breathable Crib Liners: This liner stops James from getting his arms and legs caught in the crib bars. Love that it doesn’t restrict airflow and is a safer alternative to crib bumpers.
Playtime Must-Haves
4moms mamaRoo4: An excellent infant seat option starting right at the newborn stage. This seat has multiple movement patterns and is a great way to keep baby calm during playtime!
Monti Kids: I am a huge fan of Montessori and love that this is an age-appropriate subscription service. The wooden toys are beautifully made and specifically designed for development. The subscription provides parents/caregivers with access to the Monti Kids Learning Centre, which gives instructions and shares research. I did have an issue with the Level 1 mobile. I couldn’t collapse it and took up a large amount of space. Upon checking their website, it seems that they’ve addressed this and the new mobile is adjustable! All of the other toys are really great.
Toki Play Mat: Really great for newborns, it’s made of very soft organic material and has a machine washable cover. It’s portable and comes in lots of great prints.
People Toy Company- Mochi blocks: James is obsessed with these toys! I love that they’re free of harmful chemicals and made from rice – makes me feel better when they spend most of the time in his mouth!
DockATot: The DockATot does an amazing job at keeping the baby cozy. Great for supervised lounging and playtime. Plus it is super portable.
Feeding Must-Haves
Comotomo Bottles: These bottles are the best! We tried glass at first, but they were heavy and I was always worried about dropping them. I love that the Comotomo is made of food-grade silicone, easy to clean, and the nipple mound is quite large, which resembles a breast. By far James’ favorite type of bottle.
Boon Lawn Drying Rack: Large, easy to clean, and keeps the bottles in place as they dry. It seems very simple but I tried a number of different racks and this was the best.
Inglesina Fast Table chair: This is so great for travel! He does much better in this than a traditional restaurant high chair. Easy to clean and very comfortable.
Wabi Baby UV Sterilizer: Another of my must-have items. Great design, highly effective, and easy to use. Sterilizes and dries toys and bottles very quickly. We love it so much that despite the size, we packed it in the back of the car and brought it on vacation with us. (Side note – the Wabi Baby UV Sterilizer is currently
Beaba Babycook: We make our own organic food for James when we can (it’s a little more difficult when traveling), and this product makes it very easy. It steams AND purees the food, which means less equipment and fewer dishes! We have transitioned to more textures so don’t use the puree function as much anymore, but we still use it to steam fruits/veggies.
Clothing Must-Haves
Saint Haven Clothing: I am in love with these clothes. They are so soft yet incredibly durable. James lives in the one-pieces.
Little Crowns NYC Hats: The most adorable little hats. Super stylish and adjustable as they grow. Most importantly, he never tries to rip them off!
Thank you SO much to Claire for all of her insight and photos of her little guy and his favorite items.
