Whether you decide to breastfeed or use formula, the choice is ultimately yours. Not everyone can produce milk, and not everyone can physically do it due to a variety of reasons. I've heard countless times from my clients how adoptive moms or cancer surviors are guilted by strangers when they see them bottle-feeding their babies. So let's not be judgy here. Bottom line is that a happy mom equals a happy baby.

The products we list below are wonderful, tested and tried, and will make your experience easier and less stressful.

Nursing Pillow - hands down My Brest Friend. Its ergonomic design keeps your baby close to your breast. You wear it around your body at a height that is comfortable, eliminating the need of stuffing extra pillows under it, like you would have to with some other brands. No wonder it's recommended by most lactation experts!

A glider or rocking chair - any will do. What you should look for is a firm back. It will make it so much better for your back. We love Monte gliders as they are eco-friendly, hand-made in Canada and have the smallest footprint. The dozens of fabrics they're available in also makes them a top choice.

Nipple Cream - We love the one by Earth Mama! Organic, super gentle and most importantly - safe.

Bottles - We love MAM and ComoTomo. Both brands are wonderful. MAM bottles are also self-sterilizing, so if you're on the go - this is a great brand to consider.

I also like Avent and Boon bottles. You might want to have a few bottles of different kinds on hand to start with, after all, each baby is different, to see which works best for your little one.

Formula Dispenser - not a must, but if you get Baby Brezza, it'll make your life easier at the 4am feeding. It's like a keurig for formula.

Burp Cloths - endless choices here. The two brands we gravitate to are Burt's Bees Organic Burp Cloths and KeaBabies Organic Burp Cloths. Keababies are thicker in design and are ergonomically cut.

These are your essentials to start with. If you have any questions, just drop us a line!

We get asked almost daily on what does one need to convert their VISTA from a single to a double. So here's a little cheat sheet with the parts you will need and what was included when you purchased your VISTA.

As always, if you have any questions, just drop us a line at info(at)baby-koo(dot)com.

Shop fo your adapters and extras here!

So how do you choose what you'll really need in the first few months without wasting your money and a ton of your time?

You can ask other parents, your friends, or spend countless hours online reading everyone's opinions. And after all of that, you'll need to narrow down which of their reccomendations will work for you. Or you can just read this.

Let me preempt by saying that I hate clutter. I won't buy something just because everyone has one or it's the latest gadget. It has to work, and it has to be well made. Not too much to ask, right? I think so too. So after being in this amazing baby business for almost a decade, here are the items I reccomend to my clients at the our store on daily basis.

1. An infant car seat.

I really like the Nuna Pipa (original), it's like, it can be used without a base on a seat belt installation, and it's GreenGuard Gold certified. The dream shade is also great especially for spring babies. If the Pipa is outside your budget, Chicco KeyFit 30 a true and tested seat. Both are compatible a lot of strollers too!

2. Nursing Pillow

Breast or bottle, you need one of these. My Breast Friend is hands down the only one to get. It's light and portable. You wear it around your upper waist, it clips on the side. It has lumbar support. It's firm and ergonomic to bring baby close to the breast (or bottle). Available in Organic too.

3. Pacifiers

OK, this might end up a trial and error as every baby is different. My daughter never took one, and not because I didn't try. My go to brand is MAM. Their pacis are made in Austria, they are BPA free and no chemicals, and it seems to be the only one newborns don't discriminate against. You'll want to start with newborn size and move up from there.

4. Lounger

My go to two options are the DockaTot and SnuggleMe. Both serve the same exact function at keeping your baby cozy and comfy. Main difference is that SnuggleMe is organic and is made in USA.

5. If you're nursing - nipple cream

Mambino Organics makes the best one! It comes in a handy dispenser so it won't make your hands all sticky like the tube ones. Their Nursing Balm is made in USA and is completely organic.

6. Changing Pad

By this I mean the Peanut Diaper Changer. This is the original. While there a few knock offs, and there always are, sorry, but you get what you pay for. This one is solid on the inside, which makes is cushy for you baby. It's made in USA. It will keep the temperature of the room, so make sure your A/C or heating vent is not blowing right at it. Best part - no covers! Wipe it clean and you're done. Imagine how much time you'll save on laundry?!

7. Diaper Pail

Not everyone wants one. If you do decide to get one, UBBI is my go to. It's made from stainless steel, which unlike plastic, is non-porous aka it doesn't absorb odors. It is compatible with ANY kitchen garbage bag - so you don't need to buy anything special for it. And it's not bad looking either, grey, white and chrome are our best selling colors.

8. Mattress

If you're setting up your nursery from day one and will have a crib, then you need one. There are endless brands and options. Here are my top 3: Naturepedic Model MC34, Lightweight, 2-in-1, LullabyEarth Classic or 2-in-1, and Oeuf Pure & Simple Dual Firmness.

Here is why I like them: Naturepedic is organic, really organic. Made in USA. The guy who started the company is a chemist. They are as clean as you can get. Don't fall for the 'breathable' fad. Main thing is not to overheat your baby, and this is regulated with room temp and layers they have on. Optimal room temp for babies is 68 to 70 degrees.

LullabyEarth is also made in USA. It's a waterproof and they completely avoid conventional fabrics such as vinyl/PVC, urethane coated nylon and PFC treated damask. The waterproof surface doubly functions as a dust mite / bed bug barrier and is so pure that it even meets food contact standards. And it's only 7 lbs!!

Oeuf Pure & Simple is made in USA by Colgate. It's made of renewable plant based foam, is eco-friendly and also lightweight. It also has dual firmness. The cover top is organic too.

9. Diaper Bag

You will need one when you leave the house with the baby. Yes, you can repurpose your backback or your messenger bag, BUT, you need pockets, lots of them, to organize all of the tiny clothes, diapers, creams, etc, So, a true diaper bag will be most handy and it'll keep you organized. And you don't have to spend a fortune. Find one by a good brand, with a print or color you love.

My favorites are either cross body or backpack styles. UPPAbaby, Skip Hop, Nuna and 7 AM Enfant all make great ones!

Congratulations! You're expecting!

Now, don't be overwhelmed by all of the choices out there, follow our tried and tested steps, and you will narrow down your baby gear to your perfect stroller and car seat in no time.

First, here's is how we help you pick your stroller. Here is what we ask our clients at the store:

• Where do you live?
  • City vs suburbs matters.
• Do you like to walk?
  • As in every day for a few hours. A stroll a few times a week is a different need from daily walks.
• How active are you?
  • Would you like for your stroller to have an amazing suspension to take it off-road, on the grass and then later on (6 months +) be able to jog with it?
• Would you like to have more than one child?
  • Having an option to expand your stroller into a double, or even a triple, later? UPPAbaby Vista V2 would be great.
• When are you due?
  • Seasons matter. If you hate winter and will not be outside, you might want to rethink that massive all-terrain you sister-in-law reccomended. Or that bassinet upgrade your bff suggested. Since you'll be mostly indoors you might never need nor use either of the above.
  • If you love snow, and don't mind the cold, and will be out and about, then you'll want air tires and a great suspension - our best seller is the Bumbleride Indie.
• Are you traveling a lot?
  • If yes, try to go for a lighter stroller. If you want to bring your everyday one, opt for a travel bag. Missing wheels have been known to happen.

Want a bit more help?
If you're local, make an appointment or come by during our walk in hours and we'd be happy to help you sort all of these out. If we're a bit far from where you are, not a problem - book one of our concierge consultations and we'll be happy to help!

This is the beauty of shopping small - you get honest and practical advice that is custom to you and your lifestyle. #shopsmall