I have four kids ranging in age from 11 to 1, which means we’ve had our share of bouncer seats, bungee-style jumping chairs and exersaucers. I’ve come to believe a good baby activity seat, one that can sooth, entertain and even help develop motor skills, is worth the investment. That’s why I love what I see in The First Years’ new Kickin' Coaster, even with its $90 price tag.

The Kickin’ Coaster is a new baby seat from The First Years and is designed with a unique kick plate at the base that creates a back-and-forth glide exercise, perfect for helping baby develop motor skills and strengthening core and leg muscles. The motion is a natural one for babies even at a very early age.

Like other baby seats the Kickin' Coaster also has entertaining visuals and interactive lights and sounds. And when your baby has done enough kicking you can choose the stationary setting, which helps soothe him to sleep with vibrations and twinkling lights. The Kickin' Coaster has eight adjustable positions, a removable infant head support, multi-level volume control (one of my must-have features), a removable teether and is ideal for infants from birth to 25 pounds.

Though there are more affordable bouncer seats/activity centers out there, I'm thinking this has to be one of the most fun and physically stimulating for a growing baby. All my babies loved kicking their legs, whether it was in a bouncer seat, on mom’s lap or in their Evenflo Jump Up (only an option a few months down the road). They would have really enjoyed this seat had it been available. You can purchase The First Years' Kickin' Coaster for $90 (includes free shipping) from Amazon.com.

Does your baby have an entertaining bouncer seat/activity center? What are its best or worst features? - Emily H.

Normally I wouldn’t bother to feature something as simple as a children’s hairbrush and comb. You can find a soft-bristled brush and infant comb down any store’s children’s aisle. I have a light blue soft-bristled baby brush tucked in my daughter’s dresser and it probably cost less than $4. When would I spend $20 on a hairbrush and comb set? When it’s the Hare Baby Comb & Brush Set from Skip Hop. I love it when form meets function, and this little bunny does just that!

I have lost that light blue hairbrush more times than I can count; it even went missing for about two months. If we had Skip Hop’s super cute Hare Baby Comb & Brush Set atop the dresser my daughter would’ve suffered from far fewer bad hair days. It’s not that we didn’t have another brush in the house; it’s just none are as soft as those baby-specific hairbrushes.

The Hare Baby Comb & Brush with its cute rabbit base is an all-in-one grooming set. The brush and comb, each with soft-grip handles, double as bunny ears and are the perfect size for parents. The brush features soft bristles so they’re gentle on your little one’s scalp. The comb has wider teeth to help with untangling hair. (Unfortunately even at almost two years old we don’t have to worry about tangles in our daughter’s hair!) As cute as the “hare” set is, my favorite part is the hidden shatter-proof mirror on the base of the bunny!

The Skip Hop Hare Baby Comb & Brush Set is BPA-free, phthalate-free and PVC-free and would look great in any nursery. You can purchase the Hare Baby Comb & Brush Set for $20 from Amazon.com. - Emily H.

Registering for the real basics

A friend recently asked me what to register for. Now, my list of recommended items is probably more bare-bones than most, so I am likely to neglect things other people would want. So I thought I’d review some baby registry lists I found online to see what I thought of them. My assessments of six lists from leading parenting websites and retailers are below.

Good lists

Parents.com: I was impressed by this list. Sure, the quantities are off (8 pairs of socks? We had two, and we had a winter baby, and that was enough) and some things are not truly necessary (like a crib bumper, which is not recommended because of small increase in SIDS risk) but really, it is a good list. [Link]

Babyfit.com: A nicely organized, non-overwhelming list. Some things were a little odd (belly casting kit?) but most things were practical and safe. [Link]

Decent lists

Giggle.com: A good list. Again, too many of some things (seriously, how is a stroller blanket different from a crib blanket?) but not overwhelming and not very materialistic. [Link]

Target: Target’s Newborn and 0-3 month lists are comprehensive - overspendy but a good start to whittle down from. For instance, you do not need a diaper stacker, diaper disposal system, or diaper disposal refills, in my opinion. But that is your decision. And according to roughly 95% of the internet community, you can skip the wipes warmer. I know I did. [Link]

Bad lists

Baby/Toys R Us: Totally insane and overwhelming, this page would have made me cry. Unless you love to shop (and thus spend money), avoid. [Link]

Walmart.com: Whoa. Do not follow this list. Far too long, lots of unnecessary things, and at least one thing that is unsafe (sleep positioners). Finally, they completely lost me at “elbow cushion” for the bath list. Are they serious? I did not know such a thing existed. I think the "elbow cushion" of choice for 99.9% of moms is called a "towel." [Link] - Leigh G.

You know how the story goes. With your first child you sterilized her pacifier in boiling water every time it dropped on the floor. By the time your fourth arrived, you boiled it only when it fell in the toilet. Our fourth is now 14 months old and I can’t recall the last time I sterilized her pacifier (sad but true).

When I read about the Pipila sanitizer I realized it was the perfect gadget for moms like me and for moms who are still in the “I would never just wipe the pacifier on my pants” stage. The Pipila uses a patented UV/O₃ (ozone) lamp to eliminate up to 99.9% of harmful germs hangin’ out on your child’s pacifier. Simply insert the pacifier into the Pipila, push down and voilà! Five minutes later you have a germ-free pacifier. (I wonder if they could design one that would work on kids…)

The Pipila accommodates all standard pacifiers and does not change the shape of the pacifier nipple during sterilization. Hygienic, safe (both UV and ozone are natural elements) and environmentally friendly, this compact little sanitizer operates with only 2 AAA batteries, which means you can easily sterilize on the go. The Pipila comes in three colors (red, yellow and blue) and is available from Amazon.com for $33. For a mom whose sterilization practices include using her own spit, it’s probably a worthwhile investment! - Emily H.