Naturally, babies stink. If you were fortunate enough to have had your newborn on your chest right after popping out, you know what I am talking about. That “baby smell” everyone is so fond of is nothing but the Johnson and Johnson soap, shampoo and lotion you slather your babies with.

The cradle me blanket blanket and baby sleeves just look more cumbersome than anything. We swaddled the baby with a regular blanket, and I seem to remember it made a pretty sturdy little “baby burrito” package. Maybe some babies are floppier? The baby sleeves probably would be helpful for having older/frail relatives hold the baby I guess…we just used the Boppy pillow.

Products like these often have specialized, niche markets and are developed by people who are trying to solve a problem they’ve experienced with their own family.

Is this something everyone needs? No way. But would it have been worth it to me to spend $20 or so on a product that would have made Gran a happy woman, instead of leaving her feeling like this was one more thing that her illness had robbed her of – damn straight I would have.

Ok I’m going to go ahead and ‘fess up right now…. I’m the mother who didn’t bathe her infants every day. I kept a little pink bottle of J&J’s lotion and put a dab on that spot where every grandma sticks her nose and exclaims, “Oh, I just love that baby smell.”

That third one kinda reminds me of a cradleboard. And if you don’t think cradleboards are still in use you’ve never been to a Class C state basketball tournament…. they are everywhere. I could see where it might be handy for that helpful toddler sibling who always wants to “howda baba”