If you were anything like me as a new Mom, you questioned your every move! Did I do that right? Am I starving her? Should I call the doctor? Do I need to change formula? How do I take her temperature? Did I burp her enough? Does she need gas drops? Did I give her too much?? It’s all so overwhelming! Well, if you were confused, imagine how your husband probably felt!

Until you settle in and get your confidence back, it can be unnerving - especially for fathers. Help them get comfortable with their new little ones with these ten Daddy must-haves:

1. Daddy Diaper Bag: You probably carry either a designer or a femininely designed diaper bag. Don’t make your man carry the same one! Get him a manly bag for his days taking the baby out. Believe me, it’s a small thing, but it will make a difference.


2. Book: Think “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” but funny, and for a man. This book “She’s Having a Baby and I’m Having a Breakdown” will give him a comical view of what’s happening … and proof that others have been through it, and even survived!


3. Carrier: Let’s be real, there is nothing sexier than a man at the park, store, or anywhere – with a baby in a carrier. And it’s a way for Dad to bond with baby that’s different than just holding her. This carrier is perfect!


4. Sports Toy: What’s the best way to get Dad comfortable playing with your baby? Get him in the right element! Nothing is better than this Lil Champs Sports Center. He can teach baby to shoot basketball, score a touchdown, and hit a baseball all in one! And it’s perfectly baby-sized.


5. The Medicator: Just ask your husband to give your baby medicine for the first time and he’ll look at you like you’re crazy! Make it easy for him with this pacifier and medicine dropper all in one. Just poor in the medicine, give it to baby, and they practically medicate themselves.


6. Thermometer: Another difficult task is taking the baby’s temperature for the first time. Honestly, this is no fun for Moms or Dads! You can forget the rectal thermometer for sure. This easy one-second ear thermometer is an easy win and a great way to get Dad involved in some of the less pleasurable tasks.


7. Tall Stroller: This lightweight stroller comes with tall handlebars so Dads don’t have to break their backs pushing the little ones around. It’s sporty, has a big storage basket, and easily pushes with just one hand.


8. Team Spirit Pacifier: Your baby probably uses a pacifier, right? Get a special one for Dad times … pick his favorite team!


9. Toddler Tractor: Boy or girl, they all love ride on toys! Get this toddler tractor and Dad will love it because it’s not totally baby designed and the baby will love it for the same reasons!


10. Car Organizer: Does your man have a thing about a clean car? If so, grab this car organizer and fill it with all the little things he might need: diapers, wipes, antiseptic, band-aids, extra socks, whatever you can think of! He’ll love the lack of clutter and be thrilled to know he has all he needs.

Visit www.onestopshopforkids.com to view all of these great items for new dads.

How did you feel during your first few weeks home with your baby? I know I felt completely overwhelmed, emotional, exhausted, scared, worried, and confused! Why was my baby crying? Why did she wake up several times at night? Was she eating enough? Was she constipated? Did she not feel well? And what in the world could I do to get into a routine and feel human again?

Luckily, I had some good friends who had been there before and they shared their survival guides. So, I’ll pass on my top 10 must-haves for new Moms to you as well. Get one as a gift for a friend and something for yourself too!

1. Swaddle blanket It might look cruel, but I promise you, the ONE thing I knew without hesitation about my daughter was that she would cry if she didn’t like something. This blanket was the most soothing thing I could find and after two swift wraps, the crying always stopped.


2. Ultimate Crib sheet: Who knew changing sheets on a crib was so much work? Remove the bumpers, take out the mattress completely, change the sheets AND mattress protector, and put it all back in. Oh, and this is at 2 am when you’ve had about 28 minutes of sleep. No way! Get the ultimate crib sheet and save your sanity!


3. Formula travel case : How many bottles do you need if you are leaving the house for 1 hour? And you better get it right or you will pay for it, believe me. Get this formula travel case, which holds exactly how much formula you need for four separate bottles! Take four bottles with water and prepare as needed. Presto!


4. Diapee Wippee : Running to the store for 5 minutes and you don’t want to carry a full diaper bag? Completely understandable! The Diapee Wippee holds plenty diapers and wipes for short trips and fits easily into your purse!


5. Bottle organizer: Where in the world do you put all this stuff!? I am extremely obsessive compulsive and I did not deal well with all the immediate clutter! This saved my life. Ahhh, organized storage for bottles.


6. Bottle Dish Washer Organizer : I spent the first two weeks of my daughter’s life scrubbing bottles every waking second! Then I discovered that you could actually put them in the dishwasher? Why in the world did I spend one second hand washing?! You have to get this.


7. Activity Mat : I know I had the hardest time being able to get anything done! I was constantly holding, feeding, changing, reading, and bouncing – but what about the laundry that needs to be folded? This activity mat will totally engage your baby and give you a precious block of time to get things ready to go and she’ll have so much fun you won’t even feel guilty!


8. Baby Carrier : Did you ever think you could carry so many things at once? You still only have two arms after all! An easy way to grow a couple extra is this fabulous baby carrier. Sit your baby in there and go to the grocery store, cook dinner, or even head to the mall! She can see out and enjoy being close but you will have two hands to go through clothes racks or grab food from the shelves.


9. Bath- Boon Frog Pod: I thought I required a lot of items in the shower … until I had a daughter! Now there was body wash, shampoo, detangler, toothpaste, and toys, toys, toys! The best organizer – for all of it - is this adorable wall frog. Cute and functional too!


10. Perfect pacifier: There is simply nothing like a pacifier to soothe your child when he or she is upset (especially when paired with the swaddle blanket!). So, pick a good one, I personally think the message on this one is perfect.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

Recently I was pushing my nearly three-year-old daughter in the stroller I’d been using since she was an infant, the Aria Peg Perego Stroller. It had always been a great stroller and the thought of buying a new one frankly hadn’t even crossed my mind. Why would I? This one worked, she was comfortable, and everything was fine. Never mind the fact that she was nearing the weight limit (which I didn’t even realize) and that it was getting harder to steer (hmmm…probably due to the fact that she was nearing the weight limit?).

It was only when we were a week away from boarding a plane that I thought “should I take her stroller?” Which led me to many thoughts … could I take it on board? Could I check-it? Were there size requirements – did it need to fold like an umbrella stroller?

That’s when I started researching and realized she had nearly outgrown the Aria and I had to get a new one anyway (bad Mom - again). So, the research began. Did I want an umbrella stroller? What was important … did I need it to recline? What about a lap bar with cup holder? What about a cargo space? Was it easy to collapse? Did I need a travel bag? How in the world did they come up with so many options?

I decided on the Maclaren Volo, which turned out to be a perfect fit for us. It was a dream to steer, had a good-size cargo space, folded easily, came with an attached travel shoulder strap, and had a weight limit higher that all the other options. I found it, ordered it, and got it ready to go in time to try it out and head to the airport. We were so excited about the new stroller, and I was patting myself on the back for a job well done!

I’ll skip the part about delayed and cancelled flights, the travel day extended by nine additional hours and … did I mention the lost gate-checked stroller? Ahhh, the joys of parenthood.

About One Stop Shop For Kids

As working mothers of babies and young children, we were overwhelmed by all the things we’d need (and want) for them! Each baby phase required new toys, gear, and apparel … and the needs changed as babies grew to toddlers, but the constant addition of “stuff” didn’t.

Each time we needed to find that special something, we were faced with a challenging search through numerous websites and stores to find the top-rated items and associated research. Once a decision is made, where could we buy it?

So, we created this site as a solution for ourselves and other parents who were faced with these same challenges. Our site, onestopshopforkids.com, is meant to be just that. A one stop shop for everything you need and want for your children. We are constantly working to provide links to the best items in all categories and all stages, from the must-haves to the must-wants.

Our goal is to save you time, provide the information and links you need, and have some fun in the process. You can see what new products are added by visiting our What's New Link. If you have suggestions, stories, new products, or questions, let us know! We’d love to hear from you at info@onestopshopforkids.com.

Thank you! We look forward to assisting you soon.

Jessica and Jenny