What We've Needed

Like most new parents, we've quickly amassed a pile of baby things all purporting to be the miracle item for getting baby to sleep/stop fussing/become an infant genius of unspeakable proportions. And like most new parents, we're discovering that the majority of it is bunk. (Aside from the genius bit, which is undoubtedly exactly how our daughter will turn out.) Halle hates the miracle blanket. She refuses to sleep in the co-sleeper. And forget about those Velcro swaddling blankets. But you know what does work?

My breasts. Oh, and:
Her moby.

I don't like to endorse products, but the moby wrap may be the best baby-care invention since the papoose (since, to be a bit cynical, the moby is just a papoose for yuppies). For those of you who've never used one, it's basically just a long stretchy piece of fabric that you can wrap around yourself in multitudinous ways to create a carrying pouch for your baby. Halle likes the "Hug Hold" which snuggles her kangaroo-like on my chest and belly. The moby's a little difficult to put on at first, but there are a plethora of you-tube videos and a handy booklet for guidance; and it is well worth the training effort, because once your baby's in the moby, you can cook, clean, write your blog, and even go to the bathroom (sorry, baby). The moby mimics being swaddled in mom or dad's arms, so once installed, your baby will likely either snooze contentedly or look into your face or around the room with interest. I've even been teaching Halle to cook! (It's never too early with geniuses.)

Other than the moby, the only items I've really found useful are the vibrating chair, which our congested baby sleeps in each night, the Swedish NoseFrida snot sucker (parenthood, I'm finding, redefines gross), and this crazy Fisher Price kick and play piano gym which converts for back play, tummy time and later for sitting-up music sessions. Halle's patience for the toy is limited, but she loves staring and batting at the dangling, colorful animals, and I think she likes the music. Actually, aside from a wooden rattle, my little brother's old crib mobile, and a couple of dangling car seat animal chimes, this is the only toy we own. (I was being a bit facetious with the genius bit, above. We own zero baby Einstein or like items. Just loads of totally useless--for us--sleep aids.) I am sure the toy overload comes later, but I do have this fantasy about buying mostly old-fashioned toys like wooden blocks and simple dolls that stimulate, rather than provide, creativity. But more on that later.

In the end I think all new parents have to try a million things in order to discover what works for their unique baby, and that no attempt--whether it be a miracle blanket or a Mozart CD--is silly. Every try is a show of love, and in the end, that's the number one thing a baby needs to develop both physically and intellectually.

That, and a boob. And really, the moby.