Ahhh the wonderful world of baby products. The amount of contraptions out there these days can be so overwhelming as a new mom. I can’t even tell you guys how much money Peter and I have probably spent on random different products when our kids were newborns just to get them to sleep. These damn brands really get you when you’re sleep deprived and vulnerable!
I thought it might be helpful to put together a list of our favorite baby products that I feel are actually necessary! I’m probably forgetting some things, but I did my best to round up our absolute favorites!
Postpartum needs:
First off, don’t forget about the things YOU will need after having baby! I highly suggest registering for this Postpartum Recovery Essentials Kit. You’ll want to be prepared with these items to make sure you’re taking good care of yourself those first few weeks after having your baby!
The Basics:
This Baby Basics Kit is a great thing for your registry. It includes nail clippers, a “snot sucker,” and “gas-passer” and a nice little bath brush for avoiding cradle cap!
You can also check out this electric nail trimmer for baby. It’s a great way to avoid nipping their tiny little fingers while cutting their nails! I love this thing.
Bassinet/Crib:
I cannot recommend the Happiest Baby SNOO bassinet enough. It has been absolutely life-changing this time around with William! Both of our older boys were absolutely terrible sleepers the first 6ish months of life (we didn’t have the SNOO with them). William has been a pretty amazing sleeper so far and I swear we owe it to this smart bassinet. It’s expensive, but you can also look into renting on a monthly basis. There’s also a great re-sale market for them! Don’t forget to buy a few sheets– you’ll want extras for the days baby pukes or poops on the sheet you’re using 🙂
Once you’re ready to transition them into a crib, make sure you get a safe crib mattress. We went with the Newton baby mattress because it’s extremely breathable, comfortable, and easy to clean! You can actually remove the cushion in the middle and hose it down with soap and water in the bathtub. Don’t forget to add a few crib sheets!
Sleep swaddles/suits:
*For newborns:
If you end up getting the SNOO, you will want to use the Happiest Baby Snoo Sack swaddles that are compatible with it. I’ve also talked to people who didn’t buy the SNOO, but loved their Sleepea swaddles! The velcro/zipper design is super durable and helps keep their little arms from breaking free!
If you don’t use the SNOO, the HALO sleep sack is an amazing swaddle. You guys, I tried like 20 different swaddles. My wild Benj man managed to wiggle his little arms out of every single one of them, except the HALO. The velcro design makes it so you can wrap him up into a super tight burrito baby so they can’t wiggle out!
Did you know: there is something called the Moro reflex that all babies experience. It’s an indication of a normally developing nervous system, but it tends to wake babies up if they’re not properly swaddled. Click here for more info/a video of what it looks like!
*Once you’re ready to transition out of the swaddle (typically recommended around 12ish weeks):
Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit, aka “the marshmallow.” Not only does your baby look freaking hilarious in this big snuggly puffer suit, but it really helps soothe them once you start trying to get them used to sleeping without being swaddled.
The Nested Bean: I used this one after the marshmallow, once Benji was ready to have his little arms completely free. The design has a little weighted “bean” on the chest area, giving them the soothing sensation that you have your hand on them!
White Noise Machine:
This is something that I never used with Peter Joseph, but should have! Babies can be so sensitive to noise and the smallest little thing can wake them up. AND THAT WOULD BE TRAGIC!
With Benji, I found this super affordable white noise machine that I swear by. It has multiple different sounds, cranks up SUPER loud, and will stay on the entire night/however long you want it to. Others that I tried would either turn off after an hour, or weren’t loud enough to drown out loud noises.
The one I love is called the Homedics Sound Spa. I even bought one to take to daycare so that they could use it to help Benji nap!
Carriers:
I’m a huge fan of having a few baby carriers you love. Baby wearing is so convenient and it’s also great for bonding…your baby loves to be as close to your heartbeat as possible 🙂
When they’re newborn, I loved using the Tuck and Bundle wrap. It’s super lightweight, comfortable, and doesn’t stretch out. If you want something more supportive, you can use something like a Baby Bjorn. This also works up until they’re over two years old and can covert to many different positions, depending on the size/weight of your baby!
Another great, super supportive option is the Ergo. Also loved using this one! I would recommend getting one of the lighter/cooler mesh styles if you plan to use it in the summer, or if you live somewhere that is warm year-round.
Swing/Seat:
We really loved the Momaroo, but it’s the Bentley of baby swings and is expensive. I do think it’s pretty amazing with five different motions and lots of soothing sounds, but this little vibrating chair is pretty great too (and much more affordable). This is the one we used with Peter and you would’ve thought the world was ending if the batteries died! It’s all he would nap or sleep in for the longest time. #dowhatyougottado
Having a little bouncer with a vibrating seat is great to be able to strap them in and set them on the counter while you’re cooking, on the floor of the bathroom while you’re getting ready, etc. This one is super affordable and I love it!
Nursing/Feeding:
Boppy Pillow: this is so helpful when you’re first learning how to position your baby to nurse. There are various different slip covers you can buy that you can throw in the wash when your babe pukes or poops all over it!
Burp cloths! You’ll want several of these. I love the Burt’s Bees brand…they are so soft and wash well.
Breast pump: I recommend visiting the Aeroflow Breast Pump website to see which pump you can get covered through insurance! They will look up your insurance for you within minutes and let you know which options are available to you for FREE!
I used a Medela with Peter and Benj. The Sonata is very small, easily transportable, and doesn’t need to be plugged into an outlet. You can pump discretely anywhere, and there are SO many different Medela accessories that are easy to find/purchase.
This time around, I’ve been using the Spectra. It’s awesome too! It’s a powerful pump that supports supply while incorporating features like an ultra-quiet motor, backflow protection, adjustable suction levels, auto-timer, and night light. Combine it with the Spectra cooler kit, bottles and freezer pack, and you’re ready to travel while safely storing breast milk!
Also, try out the Haakaa! It’s a manual silicone hand pump that catches your milk when you’re nursing on the other side. You can collect quite a stash of milk just by using this thing!
A staple for your nips: good lanolin nipple cream. Cuz sore nipples need some TLC. I SWEAR by this exact brand. Nothing else works the same way… and I feel like I’ve tried them all. But be careful, this will stain your shirt! Learned the hard way when Peter wore one of his t-shirts to work and someone asked him if he was lactating. Haaaaa
Bottles: we have always used Tommee Tippee bottles with our boys. They’re supposed to be easier for breastfed babies to adjust to. It’s also nice that you can keep use the same bottles, but buy new nipples for faster flow as they get older and can drink faster. With William, I found these silicone ones that I believe are new. The silicone is supposed to mimic the feel of mama’s skin!
Once you’re ready to transition away from the bottle (most recommend doing this around 1 year old buttttt you do whatever works for you and your baby), this is a great transition sippy cup! Benjamin had absolutely no problem switching to this from the bottle. I transitioned him around 15 months.
Once you start solids, I love this little EzPz Silicone Mat. It suctions to surfaces so that they can’t pick it up and throw it because yes that does happen. Now I just need to find something that prevents them from feeding their food to the dogs.
Silicone bibs: these are so great because you can either wipe clean or just throw them in the dishwasher!
A Bumbo seat is another great item– this allows you to sit your baby pretty much anywhere! I always sat Benji in it and fed him right on the kitchen counter!
High chair:
I personally prefer one that doesn’t take up a ton of room. We have this one from 4Moms that was gifted to us, but it’s not cheap. I honestly think you just have to browse them and figure out which one fits your space best. Keep in mind, it’s nice if it can fold up and be tucked away, and it has to be easy to clean! HERE is a great article that breaks down some of the best on the market.
Baby Monitor:
We use the Nanit. It’s pretty freakin’ legit. This is another item that we’ve tried like ten of, but they all broke or were crap. We finally invested in this one and I am obsessed with it. Not only does it give you a notification on your phone if it senses movement or sound, but it also keeps track of how long your baby sleeps/naps, and gives you a summary of it each day. PLUS sleeping tips based your baby’s sleep cycles. Since it’s connected to your phone, I can peek at him from anywhere. No worrying about how far the monitor will reach! Even if we are out to dinner and have a babysitter, I can launch the app and see if he’s asleep or not. Creepy?
Watch the video on Amazon for a full idea of how it works and all the features! This video is what sold me on it.
Diapering:
Make sure you register for enough diapers/wipes! You can use this handy little chart to help you figure out how many to place on your registry. Diapers add up so fast and it’s so nice to have people buy them for you from your registry. It’s one of those things you absolutely NEED!
Wipe warmer with nightlight: I have LOVED having this wipe warmer with William. It has a built-in nightlight, so I never have to turn on a light in the middle of the night when he needs a change! It’s just enough light to be able to do so. Genius!
This diaper cream is the best over-the-counter that I’ve ever tried. It works SO well for diaper rash.
Tip: if you baby has an awful diaper rash that won’t go away with OTC cream, go to your pharmacy and ask for Resinol. You don’t need a prescription, but I’m telling you…it’s magic.
Bathtime:
Hooded towels are great when your baby is little, instead of having to use a big bath towel! Plus they just look so damn cute in them.
I loved the Blooming Bath while Benji was super little. It made it easy to give him a bath right in the kitchen sink, and then I could just throw it in the dryer!
Once he outgrew that, I just used a super simple baby tub that supported his back/neck. This is what I’m using for William!
Playmats/Lounging:
The Boppy Lounger has been something we have used constantly with William. It’s so great for them to lounge on while they’re little! You can carry it from room to room and lay them on it basically wherever you go!
This kick and play piano gym is great for tummy time, and for when you want to set your baby down and do something for yourself! It plays music and makes fun sounds, plus has a little mobile of things for them to look at.
Also loved this activity center — perfect for strengthening those little legs to learn to stand/walk!
Car Seat/Stroller:
We have used a Britax travel system with all three boys. I love the stroller– it moves super smooth and easy! We have the model called “B-Agile” but that was the 2017 model. I believe the newest model is called the “B-Lively” and is very similar!
I’d also register for a universal stroller organizer to hold your water, phone, keys, etc.
Diaper Bag:
This time around I have been using the Lily-Jade Caroline diaper bag and absolutely love it. You can wear it as a crossbody, or a backpack (and the straps are super padded so it’s comfortable on your shoulders). It has tons of pockets to keep things organized, a water resistant liner for easy cleaning, and an insulated pocket to keep bottles cold. It comes in several colors!
Don’t forget a portable changing pad/diaper organizer to keep in your diaper bag! It’s great for changing baby in public places (or when you travel) so you don’t have to lay them directly on dirty surfaces. I have this stylish little leopard one and love it 🙂
That’s all my brain can think of for now. If there’s anything I am missing and you’re curious about, leave a comment below! Just remember to read reviews and take the time to do your research. The best “research” in my opinion is talking to other moms to get their honest opinion on things!
<3
