Double Duty Baby Gear & Products

By Carly Kirsch, Newly Nested Baby Planner & Founder

As both a mom and a baby planner, I fit a lot into my day.  Mostly, I’m able to get so much accomplished because of multitasking.  So, I began thinking about multitasking in the context of baby planning.  More specifically, I thought how a large part of our role as a baby planner is to provide expecting parents with great products that help make their lives easier.

If busy parents are used to multitasking, shouldn’t our baby gear and products do the same?  Even more so, maybe these products could save us some time, space and even money, too?

Is that possible? You betcha!

Thanks to our members here at IBPA and some fabulous product companies, we’ve saved you some time and rounded up some of our favorite items and suggestions just for you on double duty and multitasking baby gear and products.

• Boppy – The primary purpose and use of the Boppy is proper positioning for parents to not strain their backs while nursing or feeding baby or babies for those with twins. However, the Boppy is also fantastic for propping up your baby for tummy time.  Then, it may also be used as a stabilizer around the baby when they are learning to sit up.

• Convertible car seats – If you are considering skipping the separate infant car seat, then convertible car seats are a great way to get the most use from a car seat for quite a few years!  Pay close attention to the manufacturer’s ratings for weight so you can ensure you rear face for as long as possible and recommended, which is 2 years or longer.

• Play yards or pack and plays – Their main purpose is a safe place for slumber.  They also collapse and store well for ease of use and travel.  However, at home they can be used as a play pen with the bassinet portion removed, as well as become a place to store toys when not in use.  I’ve even used it to block off a door opening before to keep my curious crawler away!  Graco, Chicco, Britax and Baby Trend are some of the popular brands that offer many different selections and styles with different amenities.

• Fabric storage bins (like these ClosetMaid brand from Target) are excellent for holding diapers, burp cloths and accessories for baby now and can be used to conquer clutter later on.  They’re a perfect size for storing toys, books, and more.   They come in a variety of colors to fit your preferred color scheme or style and have sturdy handles for kids to carry or drag them around!

• Baby Wipes – These “magic” wipes are not only a must-have for cleaning your baby’s precious parts, but is also perfect for tackling sticky messes and spills, removing scuff marks from the floors and walls and much more!  There’s a reason to stock up on these as they definitely top the multitasking list!

• Diaper caddy – Denise Xagorarakis of OC Baby Planner share that one of her must-haves is a diaper caddy. While this is a great way to keep your diapers, creams and wipes organized (especially if you have a multi-level home and change baby in various areas) you can use it later on for an arts and crafts caddy or to store or organize smaller items later on.

• A reusable water bottle.  If you haven’t already, you’ll soon discover that bottles (and other everyday objects) make amazing toys for little ones.  Melissa Moog of Itsabelly Baby Planners recommends the Klean Kanteen water bottle because she says “You can convert into a sippy cup with the special spout by Avent (for your toddler to older child).”  This minimizes plastic waste and saving money!

• A high chair – This is on the list of most registries we come across.  Finding one that one that grows with your child from baby to toddler and beyond is a great investment. Your baby will spend quite a bit of time discovering food in their designated seat.  Also, a high chair that is easy to clean and will last with all the growth spurts is just a plus!  Denise recommends the Stokke Tripp Trap Chair or Melissa’s recommendation of Signet’s Complete high chair.

• A rocker/play space in one – Amber Carlson of Baby Ever After shares with us that Fisher Price’s Rock n’ Play Sleeper is one of her favorites. “It works great as a soother in place of a bouncer for babies who prefer to be rocked, but because it folds up, it’s also the perfect travel bed to take with you on the go. I also recommend it for babies with reflux issues in place of a bassinet because it keeps them on an incline.”

• Organic, pre-folded burp cloth or diapers – Not only are they super absorbent and soft, after your baby outgrows a use for them, Denise shared with us that “They make the best cleaning rag EVER!”  Saves on waste and they’re easy to clean, re-use and continue to wipe up the messes they continue to make.  (It’s never ending!)

• Baby Blankets – These are great for swaddling, a nursing cover, and a burp cloth if one’s not close by – oh, and of course for its intended use of an actual blanket!  Baby blankets of any kind are great for keeping in the diaper bag for any of those reasons.  BUT, if you’re looking for something fashionable as well as functional, then check out the DRIA accessory! You can read the full review on the ItsaBelly Blog.

• Infant Carrier-turned-tummy time mat – Infant carriers make transporting an infant a snap – but as you know, babies grow…fast!  That means that lightweight carrier can become heavy quickly!  Shannon Choe of Premier Baby Concierge shares with us this great dual purpose item that is sure to make that infant carrier more comfortable while offering a great on the go tummy time or play mat.  It even comes with three loops to hook on a favorite toy! 

• For a stroller that is functional and can expand to fit a potentially growing family (now or in the future), we love Britax’s B-READY. With over 14 configurations – that’s right – 14 ways to make this stroller work for both your babies/toddlers.

So, there you have it from the pros!

Do you have a favorite multitasking baby product?  We’d love to hear from you!