What You REALLY Need: The Car
by leighFirst of all, go ahead and put your hospital bag in the trunk (double check Packing The Hospital Bag).
Car Seat - The Big Daddy of all baby equipment. I remember my parents buying me our first car seat/travel system. For convenience, the infant carriers that pop right into the base and then into the stroller are great. They range from very reasonable to super expensive. Our tip? Avoid the bulky ones (you will probably prefer a lightweight stroller when baby turns 6 months), and instead get an infant carrier and a ‘Snap and Go‘ style stroller base (cheaper, and fit most infant carrier models).
When baby outgrows the infant carrier, we love Britax (their straps never tangle!) Roundabout, Diplomat, or Marathon. Any brand will do, as long as they are rear-facing and front-facing. The rear/front/booster combos are nice, but can be very bulky and expensive (when you can buy a booster for $19.99!).
If you have an SUV or a larger car, sometimes the seats angle a bit, which can in turn angle your rear-facing car seat and make baby shlump over. We used this foam wedge thingy under the car seat base, but you can also roll a blanket. I also adored the special mirror to check back on my tiny ones without turning around.
Diaper Bag - Personally, I didn’t want to give up my purse. So I usually just kept the diaper bag in the car with the stroller. Don’t go crazy with stocking it, or you’ll never find a thing. Speaking of finding, check out this cool see-through tote from Old Navy. Or you can go nuts with a super expensive bag like my fave brand here, or these gorgeous things. What to include inside? 5 diapers, a spare outfit (how cool are these?), 2 burp cloths, a bib, wipes, a bottle of water (you never know), a bottle with formula packet if you go that route, or a nursing shawl if you choose to cover, and that’s about it!
Keep your gas tank full, check the tires, and you might as well give it a good cleaning inside and out (you might not have much time in the future!). Got a great car tip? Share…
