Better Baby Supplement Recommendations List

I've been reading The Bulletproof Executive and he has a lot of interesting life hacks/ ideas for making our bodies run better.  His wife, an MD, recently wrote a book called The Better Baby Book.  It's quite good (although it links to her website constantly).  I had trouble, though, finding a list of her supplement recommendations.  So I went through her book and here is my summary.  Please remember that this is a list only- meaning all of her reasons are in the book and some are on her website.  None of that info is here~ these are just my notes.  Also (duh but it bears repeating) these aren't my ideas- I just wanted a place to keep the info I collected.

Per Day: 6-11 Veg, 5-9 fats, 4-6 animal protein, 1-2 fruit (75% of veggies raw) - specific about which of each to eat - see book or website for details/ charts

Daily Shake:

D-ribose – for energy

Collagen – 2-4T scoops 

Lecitihin – 2T granular soy lecithin 

Green Powder

Liposomal Glutathione (fat encapsulated)- 1 teaspoon/ day or NAC (less good)

2 raw egg yolks

2 T MCT oil, 1 T coconut oil

Other (Daily):

Sea Salt- ½ teaspoon in large glass of water right when you wake up

Oil pulling- +/- 10 minutes in morning, then floss [not her idea]

Probiotics – on empty stomach

Vitamins:

Advanced Essential Minerals

Folic acid—800mg/day at least.

Vitamin E- 400 Q 800 IU

Vitamin K

Vitamin C - 1-8G

Multi

D3 2000-8000IU/ day, depending on sun exposure (1000 per 25 lb body weight)

Fish Oil (up to 10G)/ Krill Oil (500 mg)

Acetyl-L-Carnitine

COQ10 or ubiquinol if over 30

Other (non-daily):

Iodine (1 drop every 4-5 days)- temporary – if you get a runny nose just after, back off and take less for a bit

Detox:

Activated Charcoal – 1-3 teaspoons mixed w/cool water 1-3 x/day on empty stomach (and 1t with any not recommended foods)- can mix with:

Bentonite Clay (may need to up fiber or magnesium to avoid constipation)- 1 T/ day (less if taken with activated charcoal to avoid constipation)

Chlorella – 20-30 tablets for 1-2 mo then just with seafood or when exposed to heavy metals

Silymarin (Milk thistle)

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Primal Lasagne

I don't do a lot of imitating pasta dishes, but my son had a lasagna at a restaurant the other day and went crazy for it.  So I wanted to try one at home.

First, the layers:
1. The sauce (tomatoes, peppers, basil, stock, onion, garlic)
2. The meat (ground grass fed beef 85%, kale)
3. Eggplant "pasta" (Peeled and thinly sliced eggplant sauteed in coconut oil until translucent)
4. Goat cheese (in dollops)- you could skip this

 

I got 3 rounds of each layer in, starting with sauce and ending with the cheese.  Note I also didn't salt it because my peppers in the sauce were poblanos and I didn't want to scare the kids away with too too much seasoning.

This cooked for 45 minutes at 350.

 

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Fresh Clams in White Wine Butter Sauce

My kids got really into making these. Plus, they ended up SO tasty.



2 lb fresh clams (1 lb per person, plan accordingly)
3 T butter
3 cloves garlic, chopped
3 T chopped parsley
1/2 cup white wine

1. Clean clams (rinse all the sand out). Only use the closed clams.
2. Melt butter in dutch oven or similar.
3. Add garlic and wine. Bring to a boil.
4. Add clams. Cover.
5. Check often and stir until they open, which is about 5-7 minutes. Discard any which haven't opened.
6. Sprinkle parsley on top.
7. Eat with something to dip into the (delicious and salty) broth-- like broccoli or crusty bread.

 

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Birthday Cake Substitute: Baked Apples (Gluten Free, Sugar Free, Paleo/ Primal, WAP, Traditional Foods)

                

Was this five years ago already?  Has it only been five years?

My older son is five! Look at how big he is!

We have had an assortment of non-traditional sugar free birthday cakes (like watermelon cake, banana bread cake, coconut flour cake with whipped cream, and strawberry pie with whipped cream) - plus the ones I didn't blog about.

This time, most of what was served actually got eaten!

Baked Apples (makes 1 tray)

12 apples
1 cup diced walnuts
1/3 cup raisins
1 T cinnamon
1/4 t. sea salt
2 T butter
1/2 qt. bone broth/ beef stock

Preheat oven to 350. Core the apples, but do it wider at the top than the bottom, as if you are taking a cone out of the middle.  Set them in the baking dish.

In a small bowl, mix the walnuts, raisins, cinnamon, and salt.  Stuff this into the apples.  Put any extra around the apples in the dish.

Dot each apple with a dab of butter in the middle.

Pour the broth around the apples.  It should be about an inch or more up the sides of the apples.

Bake at 350 for an hour and a half to two hours.  Can be served hot, cold, or room temperature.

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Individual Strawberry Pies - Crustless

This is a mini version of this pie.  The kids love the gummies, and individual ramekins, so this is a nice extension of both for them.

Here it is with shipped cream on top.

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Recipe: Magic Mini Meatloves (aka Scotch Eggs)

Ingredients:
12 hard boiled eggs, peeled
1 bunch turnips, grated
1/2 cup cheese, grated
4 eggs
1 bunch spinach, grated
1.5 lb. ground beef
1 t. salt

Procedure:
1. Boil and peel eggs
2. Mix ground beef, eggs, spinach, turnips, eggs, and salt
3. Cover each egg with beef mixture. Place into muffin cups or onto cookie sheet.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes, or until beef is cooked.
5. Enjoy the meatloves with the surprise inside each one!

 

 

 

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Recipe: Turnip and Zucchini Latkes GF

 

Turnip and Zucchini Latkes

1 bunch turnips, grated (+/- 4 medium)
2 green zucchinis, grated
3 eggs
pinch sea salt
1/3 cup coconut flour
1 small onion, grated or diced
1/4 cup grated fresh parsley, optional
coconut oil, lard, or bacon grease for frying (can I use pigs and latkes in the same recipe?)

Combine ingredients in large bowl.  Heat oil (start with 2-4 T) in a cast iron skillet on high.  Turn down to medium-high.  Take a small handful of batter and squeeze out any liquid.  Drop into skillet.  Flip when brown.  Remove onto an opened up paper bag or paper towel (to absorb extra liquid).  Make sure there is visible grease/ fat in pan when frying each batch.

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Paleo Meal Recipe: Skirt Steak and Israeli/ California Salad

 

Skirt Steak
Grill a grass fed skirt steak on high on a preheated grill with the lid closed for 4 minutes per side.  Let rest for 2-5 minutes before serving.

Israeli/ California Salad
4 small tomatoes, diced
2 medium cucumbers, diced
2 T fresh dill, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 T lemon juice
2 T olive oil
1 t sea salt
1 avocado, diced

Combine and mix to serve.  Add avocado last so it doesn't get mushy.

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Recipe: Not Your Mama's Spinach Pie (It's Paleo Pie)

One of my favorite recipes of my mom's is her Spinach Pie (you can find it in the cookbook my brother and I wrote).  It is basically a pie crust with layers of spinach, cheddar cheese, and onion/ mushroom/ garlic.

In this, the Not-Yo-Mama's-Paleo-Pie version, I used a bacon wrap instead of the pie crust, added a meat layer, and kept the onion and cheese layers, and replaced my mom's frozen Stouffer's Spinach layer with a fresh wilted spinach layer.  I think she would have loved it.

Actually, I think the bacon wrap needs to be removed and the cheese should be made into a crust (the bacon was too hard to cut - this is why there aren't any finished photos- it got too messy).  I'd put the bacon on top instead of cheese as the top layer.



Layer 1: Bake cheddar and parmesan at 350 for 15 minutes until it resembles a crust.
Layer 2: Wilt a bunch of spinach (using broth, if you have it). Put half onto cheese crust.

Layer 3: Combine leftover chicken, cut into cubes, with random CSA box veggies like beets and turnips (left skillet, below).  Other meat would also be fine.
Layer 4: Sauteed onion, garlic, and mushrooms- half.  Add salt or other spices to this layer if you want more salt than the bacon provides.  My guess is that you won't want to add any.
Layer 5: Cheddar cheese, shredded.
Layer 6: Other half of wilted spinach.
Layer 7: Other half of sauteed onion, garlic, and mushrooms.
Layer 8 (top): Either lay strips of bacon on top, or cut them and put pieces, or skip the bacon and do another layer of cheddar.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Enjoy!

And let me know how it goes!!

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NY Sours are Done! Cucumber pickles.

 

All of this talk about pickles (here and here), and I haven't even shared the recipe.

You see, it's not mine to share.

It's from a great pickling book, The Joy of Pickling (aptly titled). Other great pickling books are Nourishing Traditions and Wild Fermentation.

However, I just gave my friend a pickle from this batch and she asked for the recipe.  And I was going to give it to her, but thought posting it here would be similar to my sharing it with her...

Oh, and I just watched a Good Eats from Alton Brown about pickles so I may try some of his tricks next time; namely, using filtered water whenever it calls for water, and making sure to trim the end of the cucumber where it was attached to the plant.

Lower East Side Full-Sour Dills (from The Joy of Pickling)

4 lb pickling cucumbers, blossom ends removed

4-6 dill heads

2 small peppers, slit lengthwise (note to my friend- I didn't add these this time)

8 garlic cloves, sliced

1 T whole allspice

1 t whole black peppercorns

2 T whole coriander seeds

1/2 c pickling salt

3 qt. water

Layer cucumbers in a gallon jar with everything but the salt.  Dissolve the salt in the water, and pour enough brine over the cucumbers to cover them.

Put a gallon-size freezer bag into the jar, pour the remaining brine into the bag, and seal the bag.  Keep the jar at room temperature.

Within 3 days you should see tiny bubbles in the brine.  If scum forms on top of the brine, skim off daily and rinse the brine bag.

The pickles should be ready in about 2 weeks (note to my friend- I let mine go about 10 days but it was fairly hot- like 75 degrees inside- during that time).  They are ready when they are olive green and sour.  At this point, remove the brine bag and any scum, seal the jar, and store it in the refrigerator, where they will keep for several months or longer.

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Paleo Banana Bread - sweetener free

 

Primally Inspired posted a great recipe for grain-free banana bread, and we tried it and love it.  We made them as regular muffins (small and large) and as muffin tops (thin muffins in a flat baking pan) and like them both ways, but love them flat.  They were cooked more all the way through.  The second favorite choice was as big muffins, and third was as mini muffins.

The best part of these is the consistency- they have very little coconut flour in them, but feel like banana bread.  The kids and adults both loved them (both times).

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Pickles are Up

 

We did a lot of pickling last year, and cucumber pickles - NY Sours- were the biggest hit (see that link for the info).  So... we were excited to see pickling cucumbers at the Farmer's Market last weekend and had to put up the first pickles of the year.

My batch is in the big glass jar and my preschooler's batch is in the small glass jar next to it.  He wanted to make his own, but just like mine.  They differ in that he cut them up before fermentation, and mine will ferment whole.

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Homemade Olive Oil Mayo

 

I didn't really realize I liked mayonnaise until I was inspired by the great cookbook Well Fed and decided to make my own.  I have made it a few times now, and it is really easy.  We have used our eggs from our chickens, plus Meyer Lemons from the gorgeous tree the grandparents have, and the non virgin olive oil from Trader Joe's.  I even bought a squeeze bottle to store it in.  It is really good mayo, and without all the cr@p that store bought mayo has inside.  Super easy.

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Strawberry Harvest and Crustless Pie (GF SF) - Meyer Lemons Inside!

What a strawberry harvest!

So we are back to an old favorite with another new twist, the strawberry pie (here was our last one- with a crust).  This is a bunch of strawberries, rinsed and sliced and put into a pie plate.

Then we made Meyer Lemon Jello- 1 cup hot water- then sprinkle 1/4 c. Gelatin and dissolve.  Then add 1 cup meyer lemon juice and stir.

The the Jello goes over the strawberries and the whole thing gets refrigerated.  

 

  In addition to being delicious, it preserves the strawberries longer than refrigeration alone.

Mmmmmmm.

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Sports Bras Postpartum/ Maternity

There is quite a bit of  change in the breasts with pregnancy (duh).  But the reason I mention this is because many women who have never had to search for a supportive bra for exercise now need to find some help.

The ideal sports bra needs to have compression to keep movement to a minimum.  If you are making milk, it also must be comfortable- i.e. no squishing those precious milk ducts with an underwire or likewise.  The freedom of movement afforded once you find the perfect sports bra is unparalleled.  Not only can you keep making milk (if you so desire), but you can MOVE.  You can run, or dance, or do aerobics, or yoga, or whatever-- without those breasts getting in the way.

This is the Champion Smoothie.  I include it because the straps are adjustable, and they cross in the back or not, depending on your preference. It is also sized like a bra, and comes up high in the front, so your cleavage stays modest.  

This is the Title 9 Booby Trap.  I include it as merely a teaser of all the bra wonders that Title 9 has to offer.  They are an amazing resource for sports bras.  They have all levels of support, and all sizes covered.  Their bras are pricey, but so worth every cent.  This one even has straps that you could un-hook from the front if, say, you would need to nurse while wearing it.    It really keeps movement to a minimum, so you can jump around all you want and not be uncomfortable.

This is a compression bra from Target.  At a time when I was multiple sizes on any given day, having a bra sized S-M-L-XL was more useful than one with a cup size.  They are also inexpensive, which is useful when you only need a size for a few months.

These are a few ideas-- so you can get out there and MOVE!! Go buy a couple, and see what works for you.


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Maternity and Nursing Wear for Sale

Please comment if you would like to buy anything and include your email address and I will email you back privately. Thanks!

Bottoms:

• Mimi Maternity L tan khakis. Stretch twill. Faux Fly. Pockets in front and back. Mid Belly panel. (similar to these but belly panel is different). $10
• Motherhood Maternity L Super Stretch Boot Cut Secret Belly Maternity Jeans. Dark Wash. $10
• Liz Lange Maternity size 10 jeans. Under belly panel (thick elastic covered in spandex). Light stretch denim.  Full length. $10

Lounge Pants:

• Gap Maternity M capris in black. Fold-over waist. $5
• Old Navy Maternity M Stretch full length black pants. Fold-over waist. $5
• Old Navy Maternity XL Fold-over waistband yoga shorts in grey. Never worn. $5
• KLD Signature L Yoga Pants in Red.  Foldover waist. Light and flowy. $5

Dresses:

• Majamas XL Black Sleepy Nursing Dress. Nearly new. $10
• JoJo Maman Bebe tan linen with teal and pink flowers wraparound dress. Size 12. Just above knee length. $10

Short Sleeved Thin Tops:

• Liz Lange Maternity L Silky shirt. Bright Orange, muted orange, and tan. Cap short sleeves. Elastic shirring around boat neck. Adjustable thin tie for above belly. Nearly new. $5
• Meet Me in Miami short sleeved stretch silky top. V-neck. Wide sleeves. Tan and orange and red with ladies' faces print. $15
• Duo Maternity short sleeved top.  Brown and tan silky on top and stretch brown along belly and as an accent on v-neck and arms. Tie behind back at empire waist. Medium. $10
• Duo Maternity cap sleeve polo shirts semi-fitted with 7 small buttons at top. Size medium. One mint green and one lavender and white and green striped. $5 each.

Tanks:

• Meet me in Miami hot pink camouflage tank with adjustable straps. Silky and stretchy. Seam above belly and between breasts. Form fitting. $10
• Old Navy wide strap loose tank. XL. Grey and Teal impressionist pattern.  Empire waist. Cut generously. $5
• Old Navy L ribbed tank with gold sequins in front. $3
• Old Navy Maternity stretch cotton size small tank. Red and pink and light pink horizontal stripes. $5
• Raising a Raquet size large white lycra stretch v-neck tank (wide straps and looser fit). Empire waist. $5
• Liz Lange Maternity Small Light Blue tank. $5
• Duo Maternity Black cotton tank loose fitting wide straps size medium. $3

Long Sleeved Thin Tops:

• Duo Maternity Long sleeve beige shirt medium. Boat neck. Stretchy cotton feel. $5
• Mimi Maternity Long sleeve shirts size medium in teal in dark red. V-neck and rouching on sides.  Stretchy cotton feel. $5 each.
• Gap Maternity 3/4 sleeve light cotton medium grey top. Deep v neck to empire waist. Rouching along arms. $5
• Motherhood Maternity size small pink long sleeved top with v neck with pink stitching and empire waist with pattern at waist (pink with wooden beads). $3

Sweaters:

• Duo Maternity medium red cardigan. thin knit and soft. 4 little buttons at top and bottom stays open. $10
• Motherhood Maternity medium hoodie sweater in hunter green.  Super soft and thick knit with 3 chunky buttons at top. $10
• Gap Maternity Medium white sweater with thick cowl neck with short (4") silver zipper asymmetrical off-center. $10
• Motherhood Maternity lavender size small cardigan. Lacey but still warm. Ties with one knot above belly. $10

Misc:

• Stork Sport Saunders Sports Maternity Support Belt
 size S/M (dress size 4-14) $5
• Japanese Weekend Triangle Bikini size small (generous).  Hot pink paisley with teal and yellow. Top and bottom are the same colors but different patterns. $5

For Nursing:

• Huggalugs Bump Hugger Navy Blue. Size regular. Just for an extra layer while pregnant. Works well after baby, too, to help cover belly while nursing. $10
• Title 9 "The Best Nursing Bra Ever." Sizes XL and XXL in white. $10 each
• Motherhood Maternity Grey Sleeping Bra XL but I stitched the straps shorter. Wraps with lace along middle. $5
• Bravado Nursing Tanks. The Essential Nursing Tank. 2 brown and 2 white in size 38F (DDD)/G. $10 each.
• Boppy with Slipcover (red patterned pillow and slipcover is tan with a pale square pattern, gender neutral) ($20) 
• My Brest Friend (dark blue cover with white suns and flowers, clip to close). Great for newborn age!! ($20)
• Cloth Nursing Pads: 3 pair white terry outer and white sports mesh inner, 1 pair leopard suedecloth inner and cream knit outer, 2 pairs nonmatching PUL outer and lightweight patterned inner) similar to these: ($5 per pair)

Maternity Bottom Panel Guide Here.

Smoke-free and pet-free home.  Everything has been stored clean (Trader Joe's Laundry soap and no fabric softener).

I also have Baby Items for sale HERE.

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Goddess Statue- Venus of Willendorf

 

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Recipe: Milk- Making Cookies (Gluten Free, Refined Sugar Free)

What better excuse to eat cookies?  Oh- they are helping me lactate.  Brilliant!

I saw them here and was inspired.  Her key ingredients are flax, brewer's yeast, and oats.  I took one of her recipes and modified it to make it without refined sugar or gluten.  Here is what I came up with.  They are pretty tasty.  Toddlers even like them.

3/4 cup almond butter
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup flax
3 T. Brewer's Yeast
1/3 cup stock
1 t. cinnamon
1/4 c. maple syrup
1 banana
2 t. almond extract
3 eggs

1 1/2 cups oat flour
1 t. baking soda
1 t. sea salt

1 cup nuts
2 cups oats

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a stand mixer, combine almond butter, butter, flax, brewer's yeast, stock, cinnamon, maple syrup, banana, and almond extract.  Add eggs and mix again.  Gradually add flour, baking soda, and salt.  Mix in nuts.  Add oats last.

Place balls onto cookie sheet.  Bake for 12 minutes.

Option: Make one big tray of cookie bars; double cook time.

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New Baby Gear List - Comprehensive

There is so much GEAR that seems to be needed to have a baby. Well, it's true and it isn't. I did a post when I had one baby about what an EC'd baby needs -- just the bare essentials.  Now that I am on baby #2 I want to revise and re-do a new baby list. This one is a bit more exhaustive, and consumeristic.  Take it or leave it, but these items have been useful for us.

1. Car Seat with extra base/s for all cars (with extra bases, you can just clip the car seat in.  They do slide in with a seat belt, but it just takes longer). The infant car seat (which goes in and out of the car easily) fits baby for about a year.  After that, you will need a front-facing car seat. Some then covert to a booster seat so you would only need two car seats ever. We found it nice to have two of the bigger ones, so we can keep one in each car.
2. Mirror for car seat so you can see the baby (they ride backwards, you know, at the beginning).
3. White noise machine for naps if your house is loud (i.e. if you have another child) - or humidifier or fan or dehydrator (sounds silly, a dehydrator in there, but we put ours in the bedroom because it is so loud and it works great when it's running to block out the other household noises). It has been said that having a fan move air in the room where a baby sleeps also reduces the risk of SIDS.
4. Swaddle blankets. Get more than one so you can do laundry.
5. Sleep sacks for as they get older (fleece or cotton).  These help with the pajama means time for sleep mentality, as well as keeping them warm and reducing SIDS risk if they are sleeping alone.
6. Nursing pillow (or couch cushions). With both babies, I used My Breast Friend at the beginning when they were tiny tiny.  I switched to the Boppy with #1 and the crook of my arm with #2 because I hardly had a chance to sit down and nurse with the first child also needing attention at the same time.  When I do sit down, I use the couch cushion because I no longer have a dedicated nursing station like I did with #1.
7. Nursing bras and re-usable nipple pads for leaking milk. I like Bravado brand bras, and I especially like their tank tops.  These let you just pull up any shirt you are wearing, and the tank top covers your belly, and the shirt covers the top of your breast.  Their bra tank tops (as opposed to other brands) are a full bra inside for those who have a larger cup.  Also, soft cups are recommended, at least when you are establishing your milk supply.  This is so you won't have a wire on a milk duct and clog it or cause inflammation of the breast.
8. You could also use a nursing cover.  These have boning at the top of an apron-type piece of fabric so you can see baby but nobody can see you nurse.  I prefer not to use these, thinking I am giving girls an image of what a nursing mother looks like, and helping someone else think it's not taboo to nurse.  But if you don't feel like a lactivitst, and it would help you feel more comfortable to nurse your baby, they are available.
9. A glider is a fancy rocking chair that is nice with a moving ottoman or nursing stool.  If you start using it early enough, baby gets used to the motion and it helps get him back to sleep.  With my first, I didn't use it for this, but we used it later to read books.  I have been using it for #2 and he finds it soothing.  They make narrower and wider ones of these.  The wider ones would be useful for a toddler to sit and a baby and mama.  Some recline, which a friend of mine found useful for middle of night bottle-feedings, and he and baby would both pass out together. Dutalier brand is sturdy and well-known.
10. Many parents use a crib, either in their room or in a different room.  If you use a crib, many then convert to a toddler bed and single bed later on.  You will also need a crib mattress and mattress protector and sheets.   "They" say not to use crib bumpers or blankets in the crib (SIDS risk), so you will only need a fitted sheet.  I recommend an organic mattress, or a used mattress.  SIDS can be connected to off-gassing, and when little babies sleep on a new or non-organic mattress, they can have lots of fumes and they could possibly overwhelm their little systems.  However, I think that if you are undecided on having a crib, you should wait until the baby comes.  Many cribs sit unused in bedrooms, like ours did for our 1st (he slept in the bed).  Our 2nd uses his for naps, and I am now a crib convert. Although I do like having a single bed in the room where the crib is, so I can lay down to nurse him when need be.
11. I am now seeing the wisdom of some parents using a Moses Basket with a rocking stand or Bassinet/ rocking cradle for the first few months.  This would be a way to keep baby close while still having him get used to sleeping laying down.  They all have a rocking option, which would help keep baby asleep. Note we used the Moby instead, but it makes sense to do something like this.
12. If you co-sleep, that technically means you sleep within arms-length or some even define it as room-sharing.  Note the American Association of Pediatrics recommends room-sharing for the first 6 months as babies learn to regulate their breathing.  Bed sharing is another option.  For bed sharing, you don't need anything.  You could also use a co-sleeping pad (Kapok) or bed rail or a sidecar arrangement like a crib with one side down or a dedicated co-sleeper.
13. Burp cloths are great, especially since (some) babies spit up a lot.  It's nice to have something cute to wipe it up with.
14. Receiving blankets (here, too) (or here) are nice when baby is young- to wrap baby in around the house or to tuck into the car seat to make it cozier.  When baby is a bit bigger, they make good cloths for wiping up.
15. Tiny cloths are useful all the time.  We keep them stashed everywhere and they are constantly in use.  They are nice for smaller messes (hence they are smaller in the laundry).
16. The benefits of using a Lovey, or Security blanket, are to help them sleep or to give some extra comfort at transition times.  I would get two, though, of either, since it is stressful when your toddler hides his and forgets he has hidden it and then you spend half a day looking for it.  Or, when they are younger, they may need it at laundry time.
17. Babywearing is so essential.  To do this, try lots of carriers.  What works for one mom, or even one baby, may not work for another.  Try the Ergo  (Ergo infant insert), Moby, sling, Boba 3G, or another option.  Keep trying them and returning them until you find one that works for you and your baby.
18. Books. Childbirth (or this for a little perspective). Baby book. The Continuum Concept. Our Babies, Ourselves. Sleep book. EC book. Books for baby. 
19. If you intend to Pump, you will need one.  I like an electric double sided one because its quicker.  Better yet is a hospital grade pump (you can rent these). You can store milk in Glass Bottles 4 oz or in storage bags (you can pump right into those, though you will need a bottle to feed baby from).  Try slow flow nipples at first so baby doesn't get lazy when nursing and expect the milk to flow as easily as it does when it comes from the bottle.  Be aware of milk storage rules, and know that whenever baby is getting a bottle, you should be pumping (hence it doesn't really give you "freedom," if that is what you are looking for-- I'd rather carry baby than a pump around!).  If you don't do this, your milk production cycle will be mismatched to your baby's... which is fine for working moms and hard for occasional pumpers.
20. I suppose you also need clothing (Under the Nile organic clothing is nice). Hats (Zutano makes cute ones) keep baby's head warm, and socks are good for little feet (we loved Trumpette and Baby Gap or Old Navy triple roll). For clothing, if you do EC, we prefer shirts to onesies, and find items like Baby Legs useful for easy diaper area access.
21. Robeez fit on little feet and don't fall off, though I don't think they need anything besides socks until they are really crawling and outside.  These are leather-soled and loose fitting, which I think is important for foot development (to have as little constricting the feet as possible).  As they get older, Pediped makes a nice shoe with a flexible sole and soft upper, as well as Shoo Shoes.
22. A Bouncer seat has its time and place if you must put the baby down somewhere and need a little soothing action.  A baby swing would also do this.  There is a cool one which fits the infant car seat, though I am loathe to recommend anything that encourages anyone to put their baby into the car seat for more time. I only mention it because I didn't know it existed and there have been times when the baby has needed a nap 15-30 minutes before it was time to go pick up the preschooler and it would have been easier to put him to sleep in the car seat than to transfer him later or wake him up after an incomplete nap.
23. A Changing table is useful, although we have felt it to be a lot less useful this time than last time.  Child #1 loved sitting on it and watching his Mobile (musical). Child #2 likes to sit on a changing Pad we have in the bathroom and eat his feet and look at the baby in the mirror.  We hardly if ever use the changing table and it was indispensable before.  Go figure.  Regardless, if you use one, you will need a couple of Covers- one or two to wash (depending on laundry frequency), and one to use.  You could always put baby down on a cloth diaper on top of the pad, though, to reduce this kind of clean-up (babies are known to pee and poop as soon as the diaper comes off-- that is one reason why EC works!)... or use pee-pee tee-pees for boys (a marketing gimmick for putting a tiny towel on his penis).
24. Toys? Not really.  Though we love wooden toys and all things Waldorf.
25. You will need to potty train-- if you do EC or conventional training, you will need a Little potty and seat reducer, Baby legs (you can always use these as Baby Arms for a few years), and a  Portable potty like the Potette Plus is useful, depending on how squeamish you are in letting your little one pee in parking lots and bushes.  Some just carry a potty in the back of the car and sit the kid there-- it's all a matter of preference.  We have a seat reducer on every toilet, and chose one brand of little potty and bought multiples.
26. Diapers and Cloth training pants (aka padded underwear) are also useful regardless of which potty training method you use.  G Diapers are a nice gateway diaper to cloth, since they have a re-usable component and fewer of the nasty chemicals found in disposable diapers.  The simplest route is to buy 2-4 light diaper covers in each size (Newborn, Small, and Medium, then later buy Large and XL if necessary), and 4 dozen Chinese or Indian Prefolds in size Regular (I like Indian), a diaper sprayer for the toilet, a wet bag for when you are out and about, and either cloth wipes or disposable wipes... or use those little cloths I keep telling you about... or cut up an old t-shirt... Then you wash it all yourself.  If you use cloth wipes, you can make wipe solution yourself or use water.
27. Waterproof pads/ piddle pads are great for naked bottom time.
28. Nightlights (nice to have sensors so they go on automatically) help because you are up and down all night long and it's nice to be able to see a little without being totally disrupted by the light.  It also helps at the beginning when you are doing night feeds because it is hard to even find baby's mouth at night in the dark at first!  Then baby and mom get used to it...
29. Dye free baby tylenol or motrin are nice to have on hand, just in case, and even if you never use them.  The dye-free formulas have fewer nasty things added in, and are harder to find at the all-night stores.  A forehead thermometer is less invasive and quicker than other methods of measuring baby's temperature, although we always do it a few times because the readings always vary by a tenth or two tenths of a degree.
30. Nail clippers (baby or regular).  I feel like I am constantly clipping nails.  If I skip this task, someone inadvertently ends up with scratches across their face... some use baby mittens, or shirts with the ends that fold over to cover baby's hands, but we prefer to clip nails.  
31. Pediatrician
32. Phone number for a local lactation consultant or the local La Leche League leader. They are always happy to answer your questions all the time and for free.  Also mark your calendar for their monthly meetings and go to one or two when your baby is young.  They are a great place to meet other moms with little ones and to hear stories about nursing.
33. Cloth swim diapers are great. You only need one per size, and they work as well as the disposable ones (all they do is hold the poop in-- the pee goes out just like in the disposable ones). Plus, they are cute and don't go to the landfill.
34. Everyone needs a camera with video (DSLR or point and shoot). Your kid is only a baby once- what better time to upgrade?!?
35. Itzbeen is a baby timer that I was given as a gift with Baby #2. It has buttons for when baby has done various things, or you can set it to go off when a certain amount of time has passed. I find it immensely useful when my brain is tired and Baby #1 (I mean toddler) needs my attention and I forget how long since baby #2 has gone potty, or nursed, or slept.  It is easy to check the timer, and when baby fusses, I have learned that when a certain amount of time has passed since last nursing or sleeping, I can help him by heading in that direction instead of feeding a tired baby (I can just put him to sleep).  There are apps for this, too, but I like Itzbeen because its numbers are always on (so if both hands are full I can still see it), and it has a flashlight. Yes, so does a smartphone, but I like this device.
36. A baby monitor - sound only- is nice if you have a larger house or multiple stories and will leave baby sleeping in one area and go to another.  This is another item we never used with Baby #1, and we rarely use it now, but when we use it, we really need it, and it gives us freedom of movement without baby getting too worked up and screeching for attention. Plus, it has a nightlight that plugs in.
37. A doorway jumper is a nice toy for getting excess energy out on a rainy day.  Some argue against it, like they argue against the Bumbo seat, because of the posture it puts baby in before baby is ready. The Bumbo seat and tray, by the way, are great for eating-- we used to put Baby #1 in it on the table so he was at eye level and we could clean up afterwards more easily.
38. You will eventually need a Toothbrush and we like Weleda Toothpaste because it is natural and tastes like toothpaste, not sugar or fruit. A Teething ring helps ease baby's growing pains, though I recall using a carrot or celery stick, and heard stories of friends using frozen bagels.
39. For bathtime you can use a Hooded bath towel and washcloth. The washcloth helps direct the water away from eyes and face (rather than pouring it over baby with a cup).  A Baby bath tub (or tummy tub) fits baby and helps hold them up so you can bathe them in the sink (while standing instead of leaning over a full-sized tub and making your back ache) and use less water. Eventually you will use a Medium inflatable tub in the regular bath so you can still use less water and have it come up higher on their little body. Baby soap doesn't sting their sensitive eyes.  We like Dr. Bronner's Bars. Bath toys keep them occupied, although we find kitchen tools just as useful.
40. In the pool, a Water floating ring can be useful, unless baby doesn't want to be apart from you.  Pool noodles after 18 mo can be used to float as well (they are supposedly the first flotation devices a toddler can learn to use independently).
41. An Itty bitty book light is nice for laying next to a sleeping baby when you don't feel like sleeping (an iPad or Kindle Fire would do the same thing).
42. You need a Diaper bag (definition) for outings... nothing fancy... or something fancy...
43. We loved Baby Led Weaning for introducing solids... but if you do it or not, you will get much use out of a High chair. Portable high chairs are nice for on the go, and Little cutlery (or these) helps little ones imitate mom and dad safely.  Water gets introduced with food, and you should use Straw sippy cups or old school sippy cups where the liquid flows out (they don't need to suck to get it out).  These don't interfere with their developing mouths. Wood or plastic cups and bowls will help save your nicer dishes!  Though we ended up buying cheap Ikea glass bowls so baby #1 could get used to using the real thing (and so we didn't have to use plastic).  Now that he is 3 and using glasses, they do break occasionally (and it is often my fault): we are hoping to eventually upgrade to matching glasses-- once enough break! Metal or glass to-go containers help keep plastic a bit further away as well. Snack traps are useful for finger foods like steamed cauliflower and blueberries on the go. Bibs help save shirts because it is a messy endeavor. Bibs with sleeves are even better, especially when feeding your child yogurt or any soups or purees. Bibs with pockets at least catch food as it drops.
44. Mother's milk tea and Raspberry leaf tea are nice at the beginning, when your body is getting used to milk production and the uterus is going back down in size (6 weeks, approximately).  The mother's milk tea is most useful if used five or six times daily, and each time with a new tea bag.  It really helps boost production.
45. Soft cozy blankets are also nice to have around.  Baby can lay on them, or they can go around baby on cool days, or help tuck baby into the car seat...
46. A bike seat (Topeak) and helmet are really fun and useful.  We started using ours at 20 pounds, which is when we turned the car seat around as well (I think the guidelines have changed since then).  We liked the Topeak because it slides into the rear rack.  The same rack is used for a Topeak bag.  So if dad and mom are riding together, one can carry the bag and the other can carry the baby, then it is super quick to switch jobs. We LOVED using the bike seat.
47. You may also want a baby jogger.  You can't use these until baby is a bit older, which I think is great because little babies are meant to be carried!  If you buy one of these, the front wheel on a swivel (not fixed) makes them more mobile and so much easier to maneuver. 

Whew. What a list. And sorry it was in no particular order.  Hope you find it useful.  And I hope you use these tools to nurse for a long time, carry your baby, cloth diaper, and love that baby up! 

"The days are long but the years are short."

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