If you can’t use it more than once, you probably don’t need it…

1. Belly Band – This little circular piece of tight-weave spandex doesn’t look like much, but let me tell you it is worth its weight in gold to an expecting mother. After using this pre and postpartum, I will tell you that I have found multiple uses for it. For one, during early pregnancy, it helps you stretch out your normal jeans a little longer by allowing you to fit the band over your unbuckled, unbelted, unsnapped pants as your baby bump grows. During the middle of your pregnancy, especially subsequent ones, the Belly Band helped me keep my maternity pants up. By the end of my eighth month, I was thankful for it because my tops weren’t quite reaching the lengths I needed them to and the belly band allowed me to keep some modesty. After delivering my second child, I also found that the Belly Band came in handy postpartum. By being able to wear it under my regular tops, it helped me gain a sense of body normalcy and kept the jiggling to a minimum. With my current pregnancy, I’ve found that it’s still holding together and holding me up! A great investment at under $20.
2. Pac-n-Play – With this economy, why pay for a separate bassinette, changing table, and portable crib? With my first baby, I felt the need to purchase a changing table that in less than two years I ended up giving away at a yard sale. Why? Because it took up too much space and it wasn’t multi-functional. With storage at a minimum, I was looking to simplify with baby number 2. The Graco pac n play helped me do just that. It has everything you need for a newborn (changing table, bassinette, and portable crib) in one easy to assemble and

disassemble package. While I am most impressed with the efficiency and economy of this product, I also have to say the pac n plays are super-stylish too. With multiple styles, colors, and features to choose from you are sure to find one that fits your needs. We love the Lowery brand with its own baby sound system. At a little under $150, it’s a steal!

3. Land’s End Diaper Bag – If you are a mother of multiple children, you have probably been through countless diaper bags. I know I went through several phases before I struck gold. The cute, stylish designer bag didn’t last much past the spit-up phase. The massive tote all bag didn’t last much past the muscle spasms in my shoulder. Finally a friend shared this fabulous find with me and I want to pass it on to you. You will never need another bag, period. This bag is wonderful for multiple reasons. First of all, it goes beyond the baby. My oldest is six and we’re still using it. It’s sturdy and gender neutral and can be monogrammed to make it fit your unique style. My husband and I chose the dark navy and have both carried this bag. It is so durable that it still looks brand new. It features wide, comfortable straps and a thick waterproof lining inside that makes it convenient to store bottles, sippy cups, and snacks. It even includes a well-made portable changing pad that has doubled many times for a seat cover during swim days and accidents. It also comes with a smaller matching purse that can be adapted into a clutch that helps you really organize everything you need in one bag. It is truly multi-purpose and multi-functional, and I have to say… multi-stylish. At under fifty dollars, this affordable bag will last through multiple ages and phases.

4. Boppy – I know that this item really needs no introduction. Since its debut into the motherhood market, Boppy’s have raced off the shelf. I have used my same boppy throughout the last six years and have discovered along with multiple other moms how multi-functional the Boppy really is. I originally purchased this plump crescent-shaped pillow for breast-feeding our first born. I quickly realized the Boppy also made a great tummy time toy and nap-time lounger. Within a few months it earned it’s keep as it was a huge help for my babies as they learned to sit up and needed a little extra support. Since then the uses I’ve found for our Boppy have become innumerable. We have used it for lap pillows on long trips. It has made a great prop for sprained ankles or sore backs. It has also doubled at times as a booster seat at home when we have had more toddlers than our booster seats could fill. Since I purchased my original Boppy, I have discovered that you can customize yours with slipcovers that come in a variety of styles and colors. The picture in the table shows the one I recently bought for our third baby, that also happens to be our first boy.

5. Fisher Price Baby Bouncer – There are multiple models of baby swings and bouncers on the market. From high-dollar, super-plush models that will soothe and comfort and even educate your newborn with classical music and mobiles to the bare basic bouncer there are tons of models out there. With our first daughter, I registered for the super model baby swing. It took up half of the living room it seemed and required new batteries each week to keep all the bells and whistles going. Our super model swing was going, going, gone by the time we were expecting baby number 2. We realized that the basic bouncer does what you need it to do – keep your baby safe and occupied and maybe even coerce sleep while you take a break, take a shower, or even just take a breath. We were given the Fisher Price baby bouncer at a shower and loved how easy it was to move from room to room and even from place to place. I could take Hannah to the bathroom and take a shower while watching her bounce happily. I could fold it up and take it outside or even to the church nursery with ease. I found that my babies were just as happy bouncing in this basic model than the super model of the market. So let me save you some super cash and some space by recommending this model.

1. Belly Band	Website: http://www.bebybellaband.com/	Price: We purchased ours for $16.99 at Target
2. Pac-n-Play	Website: http://www.gracobaby.com/Catalog/Pages/landingPage.aspx?catid=10:43%7C%7C1	Price: We purchased ours for around $150 at Babies R’ Us.
3. Land’s End Diaper Bag	Website: http://www.landsend.com/pp/BackpackDiaperBag~194178_-1.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::BLA&CM_MERCH=IDX_00018__0000002451&origin=index	Price: We purchased ours for $39.50 through the Land’s End catalog.