Parents' Must-Haves

People don't ask me for baby advice, but I tend to give it anyway. Here are some items I recommend to new parents that they might not think of:

Swaddle blankets - When my son was a couple days old, I was getting really frustrated because he would fall asleep in my arms and wake up every time I laid him down. Someone suggested that he needed to be swaddled tightly so he would feel like he was still being held. These swaddle blankets were miracle workers. He slept in them every night.
 
Munchkin ducky bathtub - My son has always been very active. When Sam outgrew his baby bathtub around 5 1/2 months, I got him one of those bath seats that sits in the tub to contain him. He screamed the whole time, and I knew that would not be a proper solution (BabiesRUs wouldn't let me return it since I waited too long, so let me know if you are interested in purchasing it). He needed something to contain him as he would get so excited, he would throw his head back, which would definitely cause some injuries in a bare bathtub. A friend suggested the inflatable ducky bathtub, so I got it right away. I set it inside the real bathtub, and used my detachable sprayer to wash Sam. He liked it and enjoyed it when I pressed the beak to make it quack. The temperature sensor is not accurate, but I gauge the water temperature before I spray him. I really like the drain feature and the suction cup to hang it inside the bathtub to dry. He is now 16 months old, and still loves his ducky bathtub today. It has saved countless head bumps on the hard bathtub surface and is worth every penny. The box says it is good up to 24 months. 

Padded crib rail guard - I have a beautiful lifetime crib that would look a lot better if I had purchased this item sooner, before I leaned over the crib countless times with a belt or jean buttons that scratched the rail. It is also great for preventing teeth marks on the wood.

Baby Einstein Sea Dreams Lullaby Soother - this is a great item for the crib to soothe baby to sleep. It has swimming fish and music that plays for about 30 minutes, gradually getting quieter and quieter. When the baby can reach it, he can turn it on himself too. It has a remote, but we haven't used that yet. If you read the reviews, many of them talk about batteries not working. Just be sure to read the instructions, because there is a less obvious place for the C-sized batteries. It does go through batteries every few weeks, but we still think it is worth it.

These are the soaps that my doctor recommended when my son had eczema. I believe she said they don't have as many dyes, chemicals, or perfumes as baby washes. Be careful because they are not tear free!
-  Soap to avoid drying the skin: Dove, Cetaphil, or Cerave cleanser. We use Dove for Sensitive skin.
-  Lotion to apply to damp skin after bathtime: Moisturel, Lubriderm, and Cerave. We use Lubriderm.

Let me know if you want more suggestions. I have lots; I just don't want to overwhelm you. :)