Essential Baby Gear For New Moms - Part 1 of 4

There are so many different baby accessories out on the market today that it can be overwhelming for any new mom. After being in the baby business for the past 3 years, I have seen a trend in what products are the most useful and practical for moms. Moms want practical and functional baby gear but at the same time, they want the gear to be chic and fashionable.

This article will be the first of four articles and will feature nursing covers.

Nursing Covers

For those moms who are nursing, you should not wait another day before purchasing a nursing cover. Nursing covers allows you to nurse you child in public without having to use a clunky blanket that keeps falling off, or having to find a private place in order to nurse, or having to excuse yourself from your friends to nurse. There are different styles of nursing covers but generally, they are similar to aprons where you put over your head and it drapes down to around your waist. The popular nursing covers usually have some sort of boning around the neck so you can look down and watch your child nurse. These nursing covers can also be used as a shade for your stroller or even as a light blanket.

By far, I have noticed the most popular brand of nursing covers is Bebe au Lait or Hooter Hider was the original name but also came out with the Bebe au Lait label. They offer many different patterns or styles, approximately 22 in all. Bebe au Lait also offers matching burp cloth (set of 2) for a lot of their popular patterns. The Bebe au Lait nursing covers features the boning around the collar for easy viewing, as well as cotton corners to wipe the dribble from your baby's mouth after nursing. The nursing covers are machine washable and you basically wash similar to how you would launder your bra. Note that Bebe au Lait came out with 2 silk designs which is dry clean only.

Another up and coming nursing cover is made from Peanut Shell. They are more well known for their baby slings but recently came out with a new line of baby slings based on requests from customers. The design is similar to the Bebe au Lait, except that the Peanut Shell nursing cover is a bit wider and uses a clasp for the neck fastener vs. rings on the Bebe au Lait. Another advantage of the Peanut Shell cover is that it comes with a free matching burp cloth.

An alternative to the Bebe au Lait and Peanut Shell nursing covers is a nursing shawl. A very popular brand right now is the nursing shawl from L'ovedbaby. This nursing shawl is very versatile. You can use it for nursing, as a blanket, stroller shade, and can even be worn as part of an outfit. This shawl comes in a drawstring pouch which is convenient for travelling , extremely lightweight, and easily washable. It's made from a microfiber so it doesn't harbor bacteria.

For moms who are nursing, these nursing covers are a lifesaver. They are one of the most practical items any mother can buy and very affordable. The price ranges anywhere from $29 - $35. The silk nursing covers by Bebe au Lait are bit more expensive, around $42. I hope this article is helpful for you moms out there looking for essential baby gear.

Stay tuned for my next article which will feature Diaper Changing Kits.