I have three kids, ages 9, 7, and 4. With the third child, we appreciate how we still use for our third child some of the things we were using for our first child.
Here are some of the things that we used for all three kids.
Car Seat/Stroller
The car seat is a requirement. To leave the hospital with your baby, you need to have a car seat. But I recommend getting a car seat/stroller combo. We used the same combo for all three kids. The car seat is useful for the first two years, while the stroller is useful for the first three or four years. You can attach the car seat carrier to the stroller to push your baby around once they are out of the car. The brand we used was Graco.
Ergo carrier
These come in handy when you need to keep your hands free but can’t be pushing a stroller. I have used the Ergo carrier while walking around shopping, doing some chores around the house, or while traveling.
Pack’n’play
Not all places have cribs for your baby to sleep in. The pack’n’play provides a makeshift crib that your child can sleep in when you’re on the road because it’s portable. It can also be a useful enclosed play area for those times when you just have to put your baby down for a few minutes and not worry about them crawling to somewhere dangerous while you’re pre-occupied.
Saline Spray
Small kids get stuffed up with boogers all the time. The saline spray will dissolve those boogers so that they’ll fall right out.
Sleep machine
A sleep routine is crucial for babies and young children. Playing the same sounds every day at bedtime signals to your child that it’s time to sleep.