The Mom Survival Guide: The Products Every Mom Needs To Survive

When I found out I was pregnant with 2.0, I started reading every single book I could get my hands on about pregnancy and birth and what my son's first year was going to be like.  I wanted to be as prepared as I possibly could and wanted to know what stuff was essential since I don't have an unlimited baby buying budget.  I wanted to know what I could buy used and what had to be new, what I could borrow and what I wouldn't want to part with.  Now I'm going to share with you the products you need as a mom to make it through the first year and possibly even beyond.

1. A Rocking Chair: A must have for every mom on the face of the planet.  It has to be comfortable and sturdy and lightweight as you'll probably move it from one room to another.  You need to be able to sit in it for several minutes (maybe even hours if you have a colicky baby) and still feel comfortable.  If you're tall like me, you need a chair that doesn't sit too low to the ground so you can get up easily with your arms full of baby.  My rocking chair was the best gift I was given (thanks Mom!) and it's very sturdy and lightweight.  With a pillow in the small of my back, it's also the most comfortable seat in the house.
2. A Boppy Pillow:  Even if you don't breastfeed, you need a pillow to help take the weight off your arms while your child is feeding.  While a Boppy is not required (there are plenty of other nursing pillows out there and you should find one you are comfortable with), you may want to consider buying brand specific.  I used my boppy (courtesy of Karrie Morris) to help 2.0 get comfortable on his tummy and exercise those core muscles.  I also use it still today to prop him up in his crib when he's congested.  
3. A Really Good Bra:  I breastfed my child until he was about nine months old.  In that time frame, my breasts hurt something horrible.  I needed a bra that would support them while I was nursing and especially after I stopped.  As a plus size woman, I wear Cacique from Lane Bryant.  You get what you pay for when it comes to foundation garments, so my bras are something I save up for and wait for sales to purchase.  They last forever.  Even if you don't nurse your child, your breasts will go through changes in those first few months that will require them to need extra support.  So skip the cutesy stuff for a little while and give your girls the support they need (even at night!).
4. A Pacifier Your Child Actually Likes:  Some of you are saying "but I'm not going to use a pacifier for my child".  I used to be one of you and let me just say this: your child will need to suck on something to find comfort in the first year.  If it's not a pacifier, it will be a thumb or fingers.  If you're okay with that, more power to you.  I wasn't.  So I went out before 2.0 was born and bought a few different pacifiers. I bought the gumdrop pacifier and 2.0 hated it.  I then gave him the Nuk by Gerber and that's the only one he'll take now.  Find something that works and don't change it.  2.0 still uses a Nuk when he goes to bed or is in a situation he's not familiar with.  It helps to soothe him and I'm all for a happy baby.  Don't be surprised if there's a 'magic paci' either.  2.0 had one pacifier that he preferred over all others for about two weeks and if I didn't have that particular paci, his world didn't make sense.
5. A Pacifier Clip So You Don't Lose Said 'Magic Paci': I didn't have one of these until it was too late, but I wish I'd had one, especially in those first few months when 2.0 would fall asleep with his paci in his mouth and it would fall to the ground where I would have a hard time finding it.  This is just a good product to keep your wits about you in a screaming baby crisis.
6. A Good Diaper Bag: Think about this scenario: You have a two year old child who is not potty trained yet.  You no longer carry a purse because...well why carry more than you have to?  Now look down at the diaper bag you're carrying in your mind.  Chances are that you don't want a diaper bag two years after your child is born that looks like a pastel nightmare of blue or pink with little ponies all over it.  I have a black Jeep diaper bag that I loved when I got it, but has since started to fall apart.  It has tons of pockets and space inside, so while it's not holding up to the amount of abuse I've put it through, I'm probably going to get another one.  Plus, you want a diaper bag that your spouse or significant other will carry around.  With so many cool choices out there right now, why pick something that's embarrassing to look at a year later?

There are so many more things that society will try to trick you into buying.  But if you start with these six things, you'll be in a good position.

And now something completely adorable: