Gearing up for baby.

In her best-selling parenting memoir, Operating Instructions, Anne Lamott writes, “There really are places in the heart you don’t even know exist until you love a child.” And for many of us, this is true. But what’s also true for new parents, myself included, is this: So many products—more each year—exist that none of us knew about before parenthood. Diaper bins, bulb syringes, bunting bags. What is all this stuff that we need—and where do we find it?

While nothing beats the shared wisdom of friends and family who’ve product-tested before you (the Moby sling saved my life), local shopkeepers are another excellent source to help new parents navigate the baby gear jungle.

Parenting upsides: Mother and baby recharge at Saraswathi Devi’s postnatal yoga class in Berkeley. Sandra Culp.

What to wear

Dressing little ones doesn’t have to be a complicated affair. For newborns, swaddling, sleepsacks, and receiving blankets are important to help a baby feel securely bundled. Onesies (short-sleeve, long-sleeve, and footed coveralls) should be easy to snap and unsnap. Likewise, sweaters and jackets that snap or zip in front are preferable to those that pull over the head. Infants do not need shoes, but do stock up on socks—by the time my son was six months old, he owned 15 socks, all mismatched.

Despite this fashion faux pas, I went in for some stylish outfits from Ruby’s Garden, a Temescal boutique in Oakland with trendy clothing and a gently used section in the back. Ruby’s carries items that are not only cute, but practical, such as hats (I found one with a baby-safe strap), separate shirts and leggings, swimsuits (for summer babies), and warm bunting bags (for winter babies).

There’s also Hannah’s Children’s Resale, a long-established consignment shop on Solano Avenue in Berkeley; inventory rotates seasonally and the store’s small size means that shopping is never overwhelming.

But beware of the temptation to load drawers full of adorable, brand-new baby togs. Being a baby is a messy business and clothing bears the brunt of the damage. Also, kids seem to grow at the speed of light—a lesson I learned the hard way with a beautiful baby sweater that I intended to save for special occasions. Big mistake; my son grew so quickly that he wore it once.

Because little ones burn through their duds so fast, the local KinderCycle swap program, held monthly at various locations, is a valuable resource. Five bucks gets you in the door when you have clothes or gear to swap; it’s $10 if you show up empty-handed. Either way, you take home whatever you want. Arrive early, though—this is an increasingly crowded event.

Both Freecycle and Craigslist are also worth scanning, as parents are often looking to unload boxes of outgrown clothing, either gratis or at modest prices.

Of course, the most essential baby garment of all is the diaper. Even the finest togs won’t survive a day unsullied without these. Although the disposable-vs.-cloth issue has been hotly debated for years, many experts say that cloth diapers are greener, since they don’t wind up in the landfill. Certainly they are more economical—if you wash them yourself.

Some cloth-friendly families spend that extra cash on diaper services such as EarthBaby Compostable Diaper Service (serving Alameda, Oakland, Berkeley, Albany, and El Cerrito) or Tiny Tots (serving Oakland and other locations). If you choose to go the disposable route, you’ll need a diaper pail, pail liners, unscented baby wipes, cloth or safe disposable diapers (such as Seventh Generation), and many soft washcloths, too.

Regardless of the diaper decision, though, you’re going to be washing clothes nonstop. When selecting laundry detergent, watch for synthetic ingredients, fragrances, and parabens, all of which may be allergenic or harmful to baby’s skin. Eco Nuts, sold at local Marshalls department stores, are saponin-based soap “nuts” that are certified organic. For bath soaps, Earth Mama Angel Baby, available at Whole Foods Markets, is a popular organic skin and hair care line. Episencial, also at Whole Foods, has a parent’s library online, addressing issues such as nontoxic protection from bugs and sun.

Besides sunscreen and soaps, the medicine cabinet need not be stocked for every possible baby contingency. Among the most useful products (all available at any drugstore) are a petroleum-free ointment such as A&D, cotton balls or swabs, a baby thermometer, a bulb syringe for stuffy noses, and baby nail clippers.

Gotta have it

Two savvy shopping destinations for baby gear are Baby World on Telegraph Avenue and Rockridge Kids on College Avenue, both in Oakland. Baby World, which has been in business for over 30 years, carries nursery furniture, bedding, and decor, as well as car seats, strollers, clothing, and more, with an emphasis on the organic and environmentally friendly.

“We deliver everything but the baby,” says Tracy Burnham, the store’s creative director. “Cavemen did it with rocks,” she adds, “so whatever you do will be fine.” But for parents living in the 21st century, Burnham says, “Your number one purchase would be your car seat, so you can leave the hospital with your baby.” State law prohibits medical facilities from releasing newborn babies without proof that the parent has a properly installed car seat. If you’d rather not tackle the task yourself, Baby World can arrange for a certified technician to help.

Rockridge Kids is also a well-stocked source of all kinds of essentials like strollers, cribs, mattresses, clothing, toys, and especially car seats. Store staff closely follow changing state laws and teach parents how to install the seats in their cars.

“We try to calm parents down. They’re worried about everything and we try to get them to relax and enjoy it,” says owner Nishan Shepard, whose employees, half of whom are parents, regularly spend up to an hour with customers.

Also, the company has worked with the Center for Environmental Health for several years to avoid products with off-gassing, bisphenol-A (BPA), phthalates, lead, and other dangers. In fact, since opening in 1993, Rockridge Kids has never had to remove a product in the baby section due to a toxic recall, Shepard says.

Besides car seats, strollers are the other must-have transportation item. Smart shoppers do their stroller research online, then check out their top picks at a store, according to Brianna Lau, manager of Tot Tank in Alameda. When you actually get your hands on a stroller to “push and fold it . . . what looks easy online may be a lot more awkward in person,” says Lau. She—like many a parent—can also offer some advice that online retail blurbs may not tell you: A stroller system that works with the car seat is essential to your sanity so that you can move a sleeping infant from car to house without waking her.

Hungry baby

If you’ve got friends with babies, chances are you’ve already seen the Boppy—a curved, often whimsically patterned nursing pillow that props up baby and saves mom’s back during the early days of frequent nursing. Some babies also take comfort in a pacifier—we stocked up on several sizes of the sustainable, 100 percent rubber Natursutten variety from hip Kid Dynamo on upper Shattuck in Berkeley, but our little guy was never interested. Lesson learned: Don’t buy too many of one thing too far in advance.

That said, though, do invest in a few bottles—a must even for breastfeeding moms, if they ever rely on pumped milk. Natural Grocery Store (in Berkeley and El Cerrito) carries Born Free’s dishwasher-safe, BPA- and PVC-free glass bottles—a good alternative to plastic. Natural Grocery also stocks Baby’s Only and Earth’s Best infant formula; both are organic, non-GMO, and kosher.

Founded in 1956, La Leche League has branches in most major American cities (including Oakland and Emeryville); it remains a fine source of breastfeeding support. Likewise, Janaki Costello and her two colleagues at the Albany-based East Bay Lactation Associates have 54 years of combined experience in the esoteric art of supporting nursing moms. For supplies such as rockers, pumps, and parts, check out the Nurture Center in Lafayette or Day One in Walnut Creek.

Sooner or later, though, your baby is going to start eating solid foods, and he’ll need a place to sit while mastering this skill. Many families today opt for clip-on chairs such as the Chicco Caddy. However, a traditional high chair does have the advantage of allowing you to wheel your baby around while he eats, a big plus if your household is anything like ours. Waterproof bibs with pockets, like the Bumpkins Super Bib (free of BPA, PVC, phthalate, and vinyl), tend to last the longest.

An alternative to plastic spoons and sippies are Bambu bamboo sporks and Eco Bay Home dinnerware made from rice husks (reusable and dishwasher safe), available at the Berkeley Ecology Center.

And I keep referencing California-born author Anni Daulter’s The Organic Family Cookbook for inspiration—the book includes a pantry makeover list of good oils, sweeteners, seasonings, and quick organic snacks.

Healthy family

In retrospect, as I obsessively combed “what to buy for baby” lists during my pregnancy, the one element missing on many of them was self-care. Treat this as a non-negotiable: Any registry must include parents’ needs. Tara Levy, a naturopathic doctor whose Oakland and Livermore practices focus on women and children, says well-baby visits (at three to six weeks, then three, six, nine, and 12 months) offer more than a chance to chat about diet, feeding patterns, and sleep habits.

Equally important, Levy says, is checking up on the health (physical and mental) of the whole family. And sometimes, she says, a little chiropractic care, lactation consultation, craniosacral therapy, nutritional recommendation, or other wellness support for a mom can restore balance to an overwhelmed new family.

Likewise, Elon Bartlett of the Acorn Wellness Center in Oakland recommends bodywork for women who have recently given birth. “Lifting, carrying, and nursing a baby constantly is demanding on your body,” says Bartlett. “[Regular bodywork] will prevent any misalignments or problems becoming firmly entrenched after the pregnancy hormone relaxin diminishes and your joints resolidify.”

Easy to moderate fitness classes also help. Saraswathi Devi’s popular postnatal yoga classes for parents and newborns at Yogalayam in Berkeley help new families stretch, strengthen, and relax. A yoga teacher since 1976, Devi also offers classes in prenatal yoga, as well as parent-toddler yoga.

Cynthea Denise, a registered nurse in maternal-infant and pediatric health for 23 years who studied with prominent yoga instructor Rodney Yee and movement therapist Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen, also teaches mom-and-baby yoga and infant massage at Namaste Yoga Studios in Oakland’s Rockridge and Grand Lake neighborhoods, and at Monkey Yoga Shala in Grand Lake.

Finding your village

The Bay Area is home to a vast array of networks, classes, and workshops for new families. North Berkeley’s Birthways functions as a hub for expectant and new parents, offering classes, meet-the-doula nights, support groups, and even CPR for infants. BANANAS, a lauded counseling and childcare referral service in Oakland, has connected thousands of parents to caregivers and nanny shares.

Also, the Tulip Grove, with two Oakland locations, one next door to Rockridge Kids, offers new moms’ groups, and classes in childbirth preparation, breast-feeding, and more.

And the online Berkeley Parents Network offers a wealth of heartfelt recommendations and advice—albeit unedited and definitely not impartial—from local parents.

Such resources are a good reminder of the most important things we can provide for young children. When asked what she considers essential products for babies, nurse Denise replies, “A baby’s most basic needs are these: love, warmth, nourishment, and nurturing, all of which is best provided by a human. I don’t know of any manufactured gear that can provide that.” Yes, let’s all be sure that goes at the top of the list.

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Elizabeth Kennedy is a freelance writer and editor living in Richmond. She’s at elizabethkennedy.org and Elle_Kennedy on Twitter.

Baby Brigade

Acorn Wellness Center, 2929 Summit St., Ste. 103, Oakland, (510) 452-2929; acornwellness.com.
Baby World, 4400 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, (510) 547-7040; babyworldonline.net.
BANANAS, 5232 Claremont Ave., Oakland, (510) 658-7353; bananasinc.org.
Berkeley Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley, (510) 548-2220; ecologycenter.org.
Berkeley Parents Network; parents.berkeley.edu.
Birthways, 1600 Shattuck Ave., Ste. 122, Berkeley, (510) 869-2797; birthways.org.
Day One, 1403 N. Main St., Walnut Creek, (925) 933-3291; dayonecenter.com.
EarthBaby Compostable Diapering Service, (650) 641-0975; earth-baby.com.
East Bay Lactation Associates, 828 San Pablo Ave., Ste. 110, Albany, (510) 525-1155.
Grove Street Kids, 1385 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, (510) 843-5437; grovestreetkids.com.
Hannah’s Children’s Resale, 1871 Solano Ave., Berkeley, (510) 525-3488.
Krista Keim Mosaic Belly Casting, (510) 532-9429; kristakeimmosaics.com.
Kid Dynamo, 1481 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, (510) 649-7446; shopkiddynamo.com.
KinderCycle, (510) 967-5467; kindercycle.org.
La Leche League, (510) 496-6009; lalecheleague.org.
Tara Levy, 6536 Telegraph Ave., Ste. 201C, Oakland, (925) 949-8604; taranaturalmedicine.com.
Monkey Yoga Shala, 3215 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland, (510) 908-1694; monkeyyoga.com.
Namaste Yoga Studio, 5416 College Ave., Oakland, (510) 547-9642; 3229 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland, (510) 832-9642; namasteoakland.com.
Natural Grocery Company, 1336 Gilman St., Berkeley, (510) 526-2456; 10367 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito, (510) 526-1155; naturalgrocery.com.
The Nurture Center, 3399 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, (888) 998-2229; nurturecenter.com.
Rockridge Kids, 5511 College Ave., Oakland, (510) 601-5437; rockridgekidsstore.com.
Ruby’s Garden, 5095 Telegraph Ave., #C, Oakland, (510) 595-5325; rubysgarden.com.
Tiny Tots, (408) 866-2900; tinytots.com.
Tot Tank, 1413 Park St., Alameda, (510) 865-8265; tottank.com.
Tulip Grove, 5511 College Ave., 2078 Antioch Court, Oakland, (510) 339-2225; thetulipgrove.com.
Yogalayam, 1723 Alcatraz Ave., Berkeley, (510) 655-3664; yogalayam.org.

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