A New Arrival at Walmart

A night with little sleep?
Baby rolled off the sofa when you ran to the bathroom for thirty seconds?
A teething baby and oh so rosy cheeks?
A diaper disaster when you were in the middle of your shopping trip?
This too shall pass.

I know all moms say it, but it’s really important to cherish those moments and not wish them away. Because they go by so very fast. My friend Terri recently gave birth to not one but two adorable baby boys (she’s an overachiever that way) and I hope to get a full dose of first-year-baby-love while she’s on her maternity leave – seriously, are they not the most adorable newborn twins ever?? Listening to her stories of sleepless nights  and of course the overwhelming love she has for her boys takes me back. I share my advice when I can (stepping back when I know to keep my mouth shut) and more than anything, enjoy seeing her live each moment as a new mom and make her way through like we all did (with dad right beside her, no discounting the dads here!)

What I will always offer advice in is baby gear, because after three babies over 7 years, I went through a lot of it and watched as certain items evolved in that short time (for my first, a digital sound baby monitor was a necessity, by my third video monitors were just coming on to the market, for example)  I am asked from time to time by friends going to a baby shower, “What should I get her?” or “Is that ____ really worth it?”

My favorite baby items, after three babies and seven years writing reviews, would be narrowed down to the following – in no particular order and brands left up to you (or a quick email to me for specifics):

1. A baby swing. There are many on the market and the price varies depending on the features but I feel you absolutely need  a baby swing. Babies love them, and will more than likely prefer sleeping in them as a newborn (if you’re on the couch all night feeding anyway, why not let baby sleep where he loves it the most so you can catch a few zzzz’s too – they won’t be sleeping in the swing in Kindergarten I promise!)

2. A bouncy chair – Also known as an activity chair, these little wonders are da baby bomb.  They’re portable, relatively inexpensive (again, depending on the bells and whistles) and babies love to play/eat/sleep in them so they get a tremendous amount of use until baby is mobile.

3. A video monitor – for that momentous event when a new mom is able to put the baby to sleep in her crib, in the nursery, and actually take a shower.  I swear that when I showered I heard “phantom baby” cries. I’d hop out, certain that the baby was in distress, only to peek into the bedroom and see her sound asleep. A video monitor plugged in helps mom avoid this and actually get out of the shower with all the shampoo rinsed out of her hair.

4. Muslin swaddling blankets – Even if you don’t swaddle baby five minutes after you’re home form the hospital and realize you can’t perfect the baby burrito the nurses at the hospital created, they’re still immensely useful for everyday use. They’re breathable, lightweight and adorable.  I’d sleep wrapped in them if I could.

5. Diapers and wipes – no really. If you’re stumped on what to bring to a baby shower, check ahead for the new mom’s brand of choice and buy her a crap-load (pun intended) of diapers a few sizes up from what the baby is currently wearing.  Feel satisfied knowing that you’re helping your friend when she’s knee deep in ___ just like you did before you had babies, just in a different way.  Keep the receipt so she can exchange the diapers for a bigger size if the baby grows overnight in the 3 hours of sleep she wasn’t watching him.

Moms to be and soon-to-be-moms-to-be, I have some very exciting news for you!  Walmart Canada has just announced that they have a new arrival to celebrate!  Just announced Thursday, Walmart is excited to share the official launch of its new baby registry on walmart.ca to help Canadians get ready for a new baby on the way. The registry features Walmart’s humungous assortment of baby products as well as more than 1,500 online exclusives at Walmart’s everyday low prices.

I KNOW RIGHT?

Baby registries are the easy way to shop and now Walmart, the store where we all go to shop is making it ridiculously easy to be a baby-shower-superstar!  Moms to be can create a registry online in just a few simple steps and then share that registry with everyone they know.

Not all baby registries are created equal, and here’s why the Walmart Baby Registry is the cutest one on the block:

1. Free shipping – you can shop on the other side of the country and have everything arrive at the new mom’s doorstep as if the stork had dropped it off himself!
2. Mobile friendly – we live and shop on our phones and tablets and even the Walmart Baby Registry knows this and makes it super easy to shop this way too!
3. A selection including 1500 online exclusives and brands like  Child of Mine by Carter’s, Mamas and Papas, Medela, Stroll-Air, and Tommee Tippee mean you don’t have to go to an over-priced baby boutique to get the latest and greatest of baby items.
4. Walmart’s fabulous return policy. Remember that diaper gift I mentioned earlier? Walmart gives you 90 days to return an item with your receipt so if the new mom gets doubles of items or needs to return something the baby outgrew before he even tried it on, it’s all good.
5. The Baby Resource Centre – Expert advice, helpful tips and relevant articles on topics ranging from how to throw a great baby shower to buying a car seat to creating a safe sleeping environment for baby.  While you’re shopping for the perfect baby shower gift, you can also find tips on the shower itself – all in one spot.  Genius, I’d say.

“Our customers told us low prices, a wide selection of baby products and a stress-free return policy are the most important attributes of a baby registry and that’s what our new baby registry delivers,” said Simon Rodrigue, senior vice president of e-commerce at Walmart Canada. “We’re so excited to be able to provide new and expecting parents additional value and one-stop shopping convenience just a click away.”

Congratulations Walmart Canada on your beautiful new addition from myself and my mommy readers – we’re celebrating right there with you!