It’s funny – there are brands that you buy… and there are brands that become a part of your life. For the rest of my days, I don’t think I’ll be able to hear the words ‘aden + anais’ without cracking a smile.

For the last three and a half years, their silky soft baby items have been a part of our daily routine.

So whether you’re shopping for a gift or preparing for the arrival of your own bundle of joy, you can’t go wrong with the following items.

My 5 fave aden + anais baby items

1. Swaddle blankets: not just for swaddling

I think the stack of plush swaddle blankets in both my kids’ closets goes to show that I love (and love using) swaddles.

In the newborn days, we swaddled Elle and Emmett while they slept to keep them warm and secure. Swaddles also worked great as a nursing cover, burp cloth and as a soft surface for tummy time.

Fast forward a year to the ‘older baby’ stage, and they’re still incredibly handy as a lightweight blanket and stroller cover. They’ll be one of the first things I pack in the suitcase for our trip to Mexico next month. Plus – as you can see – Elle loves how much fun swaddles are for building forts and wrapping up her teddies!

2. Sleeping bags

The second my kids were too big to swaddle, we transitioned them into sleeping bags.

Made of breathable cotton muslin, they slip on overtop of pjs, giving comfort and warmth without the worry of loose blankets in the crib. Both my kids absolutely loved them and wore them during naps and at bedtime. They’re perfect during our cold Alberta winters and equally cold air-conditioned summers.

Elle loved sleeping bags so much she wore them up until we transitioned her from a crib to a bed. Emmett’s an even bigger fan and this winter we’ve had aden + anais’ thicker and more plush winter sleeping bag on non-stop rotation.

3. Dream blanket

Are you swooning as much as I am?

It was love at first sight when I saw this aden + anais Serengeti dream blanket. Made of four layers of 100 per cent cotton muslin, it’s both buttery soft and stylish, making it the perfect addition to Emmett’s nursery (and all the adventures we go on).

4. Lovey

If you’ve met my kids, chances are you’ve met their loveys. And by chances, I mean there’s a 100 per cent chance.

These small, lightweight security blankets go everywhere we go and have proven to be the perfect first sleep companion and comfort object for Elle and Em.

A word to the wise, though: you’ll want more than one! Elle has three and Emmett has five.

5. Bib

When Elle was small, I turned to muslin bibs to keep her chest dry when she was teething.

With Emmett, I have a new need and appreciation for bibs. Oh boy, is he ever messy!

I swear the little dude is either eating or looking around the floor for something to eat, so I always keep bibs nearby… and put one on him before we go out for the day. Because chances are, if I don’t, he’ll find a way to mess up his whole outfit before we make it out the door, lol!

Thank you to aden + anais for gifting my family these beautiful items. All thoughts are my own. As always, I’m happy to answer any questions in the comments below.

Xo Holly Hunka

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