Our youngest set of twins (babies number 4 and 5!)  turned six months old this past Saturday!  The past six months have flown by.  They are growing so quickly and it breaks my momma heart a little bit.  I am just not ready for these babies to grow up so fast!

I have reached the point in my motherhood journey that I have become the one giving advice instead of asking for it.  It feels weird to be giving the young women who are becoming moms for the first time advice.  I’m happy to share my experiences with them though.  One of the things I am often asked about is which baby products have I used the most.  So, in honor of my babies’ half birthday I am going to share the list of must-have baby products that I have compiled after having five children.

Best Baby Products for the First Six Months According to a Mom of 5

1. Fisher-Price Rock ‘N Play Sleeper

   Seriously guys, this thing is a lifesaver!!  Unfortunately, these didn’t exist when my oldest three kids were infants.  Our oldest three hated their bassinets so I knew I didn’t want to spend more money on a bassinet with these newest babies.  So many people recommended that we try a Fisher-Price Rock ‘N Play.  I’m so glad that we decided to get two of them!  Both of the babies love them and sleep in them every night.  They are slightly elevated which seems to help our little guys sleep and the seat cradles them perfectly in a way that mimics being held. I really recommend getting the more expensive version that has the automatic rock feature.  Just plug it in and let the soothing, rocking motion work its magic.  Several people told me that their babies only fit in a Rock ‘N Play until about four months old but our babies are still sleeping in them every night at six months old.  This has also replaced a swing for us.  We really don’t need  a swing or something similar because this does a wonderful job soothing our babies.

2. NoseFrida

   I know, I know.  This is kind of gross…or at least my husband, Daniel, thinks so.  He is convinced that this is the most disgusting thing on the face of this planet and absolutely refuses to use it.  I, however, LOVE it. I have given birth to babies in August, September, and October which means I have suffered with tiny babies during cold and flu seasons a few times.  When babies are small, there isn’t much you can do to help them when they have a cold except run a humidifier, use saline nose drops, and suction as much snot out as you can.  With our three oldest, we used the suction bulb the hospital gives you but I never felt satisfied with it.  I always felt like there was still so much snot left in their little noses and it wasn’t helping at all.  Then, I discovered the NoseFrida.  This thing is AMAZING.  You essentially put the tip of the tube on their nose and use the red mouth piece to suction the snot out.  It is so much gentler on their noses and it gets so much more snot out!  Like I said, Daniel thinks it is nasty but it saved us this past winter.  It was a huge help in January when both babies had RSV.

3. Fisher-Price Sit-Me-Up Floor Seat

   We were given two of these last summer before the babies were born.  I love them so much!  When the older kids were babies, we used Bumbo seats but I think these are so much better.  They are more secure than a Bumbo and provide more support since the back of the seat is higher.  We still have Bumbo seats with these new babies but rarely use them.  We prefer these Fisher-Price Sit-Me-Up Floor Seats and I think the babies prefer them as well.  Because of the added support, we were able to use these at an earlier age compared to the Bumbo seats.  You do really need to wait until your baby can support his or her own head to use these but they are wonderful.  I often put the babies in their floor seats and bring them with me in the kitchen when I’m cooking or cleaning.  I also use them when I’m doing laundry. These make getting household tasks while taking care of babies so much easier!

4. Boppy Pillow

   A Boppy Pillow is one of those items that I have used with all five kids and still love it!  If you are planning to breastfeed, it is a must have!  This pillow has saved my back during my breastfeeding days. It allows you to support baby and bring him or her closer to the breast without bending down and straining your back.  My husband also uses the Boppy when he gives the babies a bottle.  It is just a great way to get some support and help holding baby during those feeding sessions.

5. Munchkin Dishwasher Basket

   We have four Munchkin Dishwasher Baskets and with twins at least one of them has become a permanent addition to our dishwasher.  These are the perfect little contraptions to wash all those babies things.  It has two compartments.  The top compartment is perfect for bottle nipples and pacifiers. I use to bottom bigger compartment for lids and nipple rings from baby bottles.  When the babies get older and begin using sippy cups, these baskets are great for washing the stoppers that prevent leaks from from sippies.  These are also really great to throw small kitchen gadgets, plastic straws, breast pump parts, and medicine dosing cups in as well.  We’ve been using these since our oldest, Emily, was a baby (almost ten years ago!).

6. Moby Wrap

   The Moby Wrap is another one of those products I have been using for the past ten years.  I have bought a new one with every pregnancy.  Babywearing with the Moby Wrap gives me a chance to get some stuff done around the house while still keeping my babies happy.  I like the Moby Wrap because it is so versatile.  Since it is a long piece of fabric there are numerous ways to tie it and to hold baby.  It grows with baby and you can use it from the newborn stage well into the toddler years. I absolutely love that it lasts so long.  It does have a learning curve and I highly suggest watching several YouTube videos to learn all the different holds and ways to tie it. Once you get the hang of it, it is super easy.

This is certainly not a comprehensive list.  There are definitely other products you will need the first six months of your baby’s life. These are certainly ones that have made our lives so much easier.  There are a number of other products that I have found particularly useful in the second half of our children’s first year and I hope to compile that list and share it with you this summer as we approach the twins’ first birthday!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you).