Jamie Grayson, also known as TheBabyGuyNYC, is said to be America’s most famous baby gadget expert.
He runs an online community based on his recommendations for baby products and has about 400,000 followers – that’s more than the population of Australia’s capital city.
Grayson is currently in Australia to give out his gadget advice – but why do mother’s trust his opinion?
“Because I’m not a mum, honestly,” he says.
“I’m not coming from – ‘this is what I had when I had babies and this is what worked for me’ – I come from a very unbiased standpoint of actually getting stuff.”
Grayson is promoting the Love to Dream swaddle. Image supplied.
"When I get stuff in the mail to review and work with, I obviously try it with kids but then I try to break everything. I kick strollers, I do everything I can to try and test quality to see how everything holds up. But it’s a very non biased, subjective objective standpoint when it comes to product."
Grayson was an out of work actor when he started "a random job talking about a stroller on the weekends" and now he can't imagine doing anything else.
He admits he has created a "very weird little gig" but he's committed to helping mothers make smart choices when it comes to baby gear.
"Car seat safety is obviously the most important, and in America we have about an 80% misuse rate, so at my events, that’s what I really focus on - proper car seat information," he said.
Top Comments
As a mum of three I agree with all of his items, with the exception perhaps of "skin products". Babies are much better bathed in plain water than chemicals. No shampoo or baby wash needed. I used lotions only occasionally for baby massage, but they're not really essential either. A good nappy rash cream is useful though.
I am glad to read this article. We're starting our family, and I know you can never be fully prepared for babies... but in preparation - i.e. the months I waited for him to be fully ready - I made a list of so-called essentials on a spreadsheet. Yeah, yeah Dork Central over here! :)
I have slowly ranked each item in terms of how many of each item, when they need to be purchased, which items are not truly essential but 'nice to haves' (after lots of reading and research online), and any notes on advice about each item. I have also put in estimated costs.
I figure that around the time we learnt we're expecting we'll get caught up in health, announcements, emotions, medical decisions etc, so now I feel a little ahead in terms of practical planning and organising.
I've also kept a document updated with general pregnancy care, parental care and life with babies advice from experienced parents and professionals that I have read online and which struck a chord with me. Including the well-being of us as individuals and as a couple. We need to be organised as neither of us have close family nearby to help us out.
While we plan to be diligent and hands-on, we also wish to work towards the kind of family environment/ parenting approach we want to have. Balance is everything. The lists I have started, to me, are gold!
You will honestly need far less than you think! I definitely recommend love to dream swaddles, our babies have loved them.