3 Years Later: Baby Products We Still Use and Love


As a lifestyle and baby photographer in Winnipeg, Manitoba, I have the privilege of seeing families grow and evolve. Over the past three years, I've had the opportunity to test and love many baby products that have stood the test of time. In this blog post, I'll share my top baby products that we still use and adore, along with some lessons learned along the way.


*Please note that I am not affiliated with any of these brands! I truly love these products!

1 STOKKE TRIPP TRAPP HIGH CHAIR


We found this gem on Facebook Marketplace for only $120 CAD! Although it didn’t come with the cushion or tray, it was in great condition and came with the infant strap. We got it when our little moon was about 5 months old, but she didn’t start using it until she was about 8 months old when she could sit up on her own.


Link: Stokke

Feeding herself cereal while sitting on the Stokke Tripp Trapp Chair

Why We Love This Product:


  • Blends in with Our Home Decor: It seamlessly fits into our dining area.
  • Adjustable for Growth: Easy to adjust for our growing child, providing great back support and a footplate, making it easier for her to sit at a regular dining table.
  • Independence: Now that she can climb, she loves getting up by herself.
  • Longevity: We’ve had it for over 2 years and will continue to use it well into the future as it can be adjusted to fit adults too!

things we wish we did:


  • Used a Cushion or Seat Cover: A cushion or seat cover, like the ones from Catchy & Crew, would have made cleanups easier.

2 pickler triangle

kimboo


We absolutely love our Pickler Triangle! The bars are perfect for her small hands. It was recommended by a vlogger, and after reading reviews, we knew we had to get it.


Link: Kimboo Combo

MJ climbing at 11 months

Why We Love This Product:


  • Versatile Play: Our child loves to climb, hang, and use it as a tent. We've also pretended it's a rocketship or boat.
  • Perfect for Little Hands: She’s been using it since she could grasp and furniture walk.
  • Long-term Use: As she gets older, she finds new ways to use it. She’s now hanging upside down! We know we’ll keep this for a long time.
  • Indoor Activity: It's great for keeping her active during winter months or hot days.

things we wish we did:


  • Chose the Right Model: I wish we had gotten the “Climb A” instead of Climb B for more versatility. She doesn’t use this as much yet.

3 twin mattress


While this might be unconventional, we started our child on a floor bed at 6 months old and upgraded to a bedframe at 15 months.


We got a firm foam twin mattress from Ikea but could've easily got on thrifted on Facebook Marketplace!

Link: I couldn't find the one we purchased but here is the one that is most similar.

MJ getting off her bed at 8 months

Why We Love This Product:


  • Cost-Effective and Minimalist: We only bought one piece of furniture until she outgrows the twin bed, saving on cribs and additional bedding.
  • Smooth Transition: No need to transition her to a "big kid" bed later.
  • Autonomy: She had full autonomy at a young age.

things we wish we did:


  • Bedframe with Pull-Out: A bedframe with a pull-out bed for sleepovers would have been great, but we can still get that!

4 Foldable play mat


Our child moves a lot in her sleep, so we initially got a playmat to catch her if she fell off her floor bed. Now, it serves multiple purposes. Again, we got it from Ikea but I've seen barely used ones on FB Marketplace for a fraction of the price!


Link: IKEA Slakt Folding Mattress

An obstacle course using the pickler triangle and the play mat

Why We Love This Product:


  • Versatility: Initially used as padding, then as an extra bed, and now as a reading chair.
  • Washable Cover: The removable cover is easy to wash, and we've had to wash it many times.
  • Washable Cushions: The cushions inside are also washable. We’ve managed accidents with no problem by using a laundromat's larger machines.

things we wish we did:


  • Color Options: Different colored covers to match our home better would be nice. The bright orange and yellow trim doesn’t fit our decor.

5 egg night light


We received this nightlight as a gift before MJ was born and have used it ever since. It's great because it has a variety of brightness levels! The brightest level can light up a small room while the lowest light level is great as a light. We use this every night when reading MJ to bed.


Link: Nightlight on Amazon

mj reading a book to herself

Why We Love This Product:


  • Versatile: It has two colour temperatures and a wide range of brightness levels.
  • Portable: Wireless and lightweight, making it easy for MJ to carry around and even travel with.

things we wish we did:


  • Nothing: I love this nightlight and will continue to use it until it breaks!

6 boon dish drying rack


I feel like this dish rack is on everyones list for a good reason. It's versatile, easy to clean and so simple. It can hold the smallest objects like baby utensils and bottles.


We received ours as a pre-loved gift however, I see tons on Facebook Marketplace. (Can you tell I love FB Marketplace? haha)

Link: Amazon Results of Boon Dish Drying Rack

Photo from Pinterest

Why We Love This Product:


  • Easy to Clean and Use: The simple design makes it easy to clean and accommodate almost any baby product.
  • Versatile: There are add-on parts you can purchase like flower petals or trees that are specifically designed for baby bottles and tops.

things we wish we did:


  • Matched Our Home: I wish we got the square white/grey color to match our home instead of buying one too quickly from Facebook Marketplace.

7 lovevery books


The Lovevery subscription was fantastic, especially during the early years! It was a stress-free way to ensure our child had curated, educational, and Montessori-aligned toys. MJ loved it!


As part of our subscription, we received a couple books. Since we stopped our subscription, I've been buying them pre-loved on Facebook Marketplace. We love these books so much! If they had a book-only subscription, we would sign up again!


Link: Lovevery

MJ at 8 months by her bokshelves

Why We Love This Product:


  • Quality Materials: The books are durable and have survived grabby hands and teething toddlers.
  • Simple Stories: Easy-to-follow stories with themes that align with our child's developmental stages.
  • Beautiful Photography: Real-life photography of people and kids, which appeals more to young children than cartoons.

things we wish we did:


Continued the Subscription: Part of the reason we stopped is because MJ received so many brand new and pre-loved toys as gifts. Another reason we stopped is because of the dramatic change in the exchange rate! In hindsight, we wished we continued because we noticed that MJ got tired of the gifts that weren't exactly "montessori aligned". We know that MJ would've continued to use many of the lovevery toys if we continued the subscription.

'montessori baby'

by Simone Davies and Junnifa Uzodike


More than any baby product, educating ourselves on how we wanted to raise our child has been life-changing. I’ve been learning about Montessori principles even before I knew I was pregnant. The best resource I found was the book “Montessori Baby” by Simone Davies and Junnifa Uzodike. It’s extremely easy to read and lays out the principles simply with actionable tips. I recommend it to everyone!


Link: Buy on Indigo

I purchased mine as soon as the books were available for purchased. These books were published as MJ got older. However, I did find these on Facebook Marketplace too!


We also have and love the sequels:


If you’re interested in what else I like reading, let me know!

honorable mentions

Wooden Blocks

Magnet Tiles

Jumbo Lego Blocks

Anything crafty!

conclusion


Reflecting on the past three years, these baby products have truly made a difference in our lives. From versatile play structures to educational books, each item has contributed to our child’s growth and happiness. As a photographer, I understand the importance of capturing these precious moments, and these products have helped us create a nurturing and joyful environment for our little one. If you have any questions or want more recommendations, feel free to reach out!