We recently asked our social media moms and dads for their advice on which Baby Einstein product they would recommend as a must have for an expecting mom to include on her registry. They gave us tons of great suggestions on Facebook and Twitter!

Since you may be asking the same question, we thought we’d share some of their tried and true recommendations for the products mom, dad and baby can’t live without.

Frannie08 tweeted, “any of the dvd’s r great for my almost 2 y.o when we are traveling! She loves the World Animal Adv.”

Jane Lewis said, “My son loved Baby Galileo. I’d recommend the Tug and Teethe Pals too! And of course the puppets. The cow puppet is really cute.”

Imperfectmomma tweeted, “The nighttime cd & the traveling cd too . . . best investments we ever made.”

Mica McDole Wiemann said, “Definitely the exersaucer- my 9 month old still loves it.”

MommyLiving tweeted, “My 16-month-old can’t get enough of the Numbers Nursery DVD when going for a drive. She loves watching it over & over.”

Lori Bassford de Leon said, “The Baby Einstein Jumper! My youngest loved playing in it.”

Ruth Kobrin said, “Your music CDs . . . my boys love them and they’re now 5 and 3.”

LKWHTMomFound tweeted, “The board books are my fave; colorful, sturdy and eye-catching.”

Still not sure what to get the new mom-to-be? Try the You’re Expecting gift set or use our gift finder to discover the perfect gift.

A big thank you to all those who gave these great suggestions. We are sure that fellow parents will be grateful for the tips. And congrats to our expecting moms on your new arrival!

Ah, finally summertime is here. It’s a great time to get back outside and the perfect opportunity to introduce your little one to some really neat new sights & sounds.

Go, go garden!
Your garden is filled with colors and textures that will be brand new to your little sprout so bring him along for the adventure (and don’t be afraid to get a little dirty). Introduce him to new textures by sprinkling a handful of dirt on his hands or tickling his little arms & feet with a leaf. Let him smell the crisp scents of fresh herbs. Take some time to show and tell real examples of bright colors with a red tomato, yellow sunflower or anything in your garden. To make garden discovery even more fun for your toddler bring along Baby Einstein Nature Nesting Blocks. Together you can match the photos on the blocks with real examples of what he is seeing. Each relaxing gardening session time out can be filled with new experiences for your new little helper!

On the run.
You are probably itching to get back to old routines like your morning jog. Once your baby is about 6 months old, you can get back to business as usual bringing him along for double duty (provided your doctor gives you the okay to resume physical activity). Who says exercise has to be a solo activity? The stroller is as good a place as any to discover nature. As you run, explain what you see and pick up a few tactile natural toys along the way, like a shiny leaf, smooth stone or craggy piece of bark. From the woof of a puppy to the color of passing cars, use everything you experience as the chance to explain the wonderful world around you (and ask your little one questions about what he sees if he’s old enough to talk). We’re sure that watching him in total wonder is awesome motivation to put on those running sneaks!

Park playtime
A day in the park may require a little more prep, but can be a lovely relaxing day for both you and baby (and a new universe filled with fun stuff to explore together). From the rustling of tree branches to a scampering squirrel, everything outside is the opportunity to see him amazed by the beauty he sees and a great chance to snap his reaction, so have your camera handy.

Get up and out, mamas and papas! Take advantage of this summer to explore the beauty of nature with your baby and enjoy every minute. Happy trails!