New Baby Essentials

Every mom has her list; the items she couldn’t live without in her baby’s first few months and the items she really didn’t need. Do you really need a swing, tub, bouncer, wipe warmer, bottle rack, Pack ‘n Play, bassinet, etc? Truth is, baby items are expensive and a lot of them are only useful for the first six months or so. So, to hopefully help another mom save a little money and not junk up her house with half of the items I have in my house that I don’t use, here is my list.

Essentials

I’m going to start with the disclaimer of essentials. Obviously you’re going to need clothes and blankets for the baby, pick your favorites and avoid overstocking those teeny tiny newborn clothes (they may only wear them for a week). Bottles, pacifiers, diapers and wipes, will come down to what you and your baby prefer. So, my advice is to wait on stocking up on those items before the baby arrives. If you want to have pacifiers on hand, get one of a couple different brands to test out on baby to see what they will take. Same goes with diapers and wipes, you’ll want to see which fit you prefer on your baby and you wouldn’t want an arsenal of wipes that give your baby a rash, so hold off on bulk buying until you know what works best for them. Oh and don’t go crazy with newborn diapers. There is a pretty good chance your baby will only wear those for a little over a week.

Next, the stroller, infant carrier and baby wearing gear. These items will also be up to preference. The size of your car, budget and daily routine will dictate a lot of that. Personally, we use a Maxi Cosi Mico infant carrier, Baby Jogger, City Mini and an Ergo Baby carrier. We love all of them and they work great for our lifestyle!

Extras.

1. Most used item – Fisher Price Rock ‘n Play. With baby #1 I was obsessed with his swing. He loved it, it put him to sleep and gave me a place to put him down so I could take a shower. Well, because the swing had lots of lovely cushion in the headrest, his little head would stay in one spot and he developed a flat head, that he had to wear a helmet for. I was traumatized. I had no idea their little heads could get flat so easily. You would think I left him in there all day, but no, I didn’t. So, this time around, I gave the swing a rest and opted for an item that would elevate the baby, in case of reflux, and he could still move his head from side to side. I chose the Rock ‘n Play, which was new to me this time, but it has quickly replaced every other piece of baby equipment I have. I no longer use my Pack ‘n Play, swing, bassinet or bouncer seat. The Rock ‘n Play easily moves through the house, rocks and soothes him whenever he stirs and gives me a great portable place to lay baby down so I can cook, take a shower, etc. Of course, this item will only last about six months, just like a swing or a bouncer and the Pack ‘n Play may become a better option for a place to lay down, outside of his crib, but for the first few months, I highly recommend the Rock ‘n Play.

2. Medela Pump in Style. I exclusively breast feed, so I don’t need as much in terms of feeding gear, but if you ask me, this pump is the holy grail of breast pumps. With baby #1, I exclusively pumped for the first four months and toted this bad boy around everywhere. However, this time around, I rarely pump, mainly because I have an issue with oversupply and recurrent Mastitis if I pump too often. But, if you’re going to breastfeed, you need a pump to stash away extras and for the times you’re away from baby. I highly recommend this one, it is fast, easy to carry around and with the a/c adapter, you can pump just about anywhere! Personally, I use the bottles that go with the Medela pump, because it’s easy and we’ve never had an issue with them. I also use their storage bags, sanitizing bags and cleaning wipes for on the go.

3. A Boppy pillow is a must. Great for breastfeeding, tummy time and a place to prop baby up; our Boppy pillow gets use everyday. Definetly a must have, if you ask me.

4. Diaper Caddy. I don’t have a specific brand recommendation for this one, I use one I picked up at Pottery Barn Kids, but a diaper caddy is something I can’t live without. In lieu of a changing table, I have a little basket that holds diapers, wipes, a changing pad, a change of clothes and necessary ointments. I carry it wherever baby and I go throughout the house so I don’t have to tote him back and forth to a changing table 50 times a day. It specifically is the most useful at night when I am so tired and can hardly function through diaper changes.

5. Swaddle Blankets. If you’re baby is into being swaddled, you’re going to want some of these awesome blankets. If you’ve ever tried to swaddle a baby with just a regular blanket, you will know why I prefer the little pods with velcro or buttons. They make life easy, keep baby warm and keep baby from breaking free and covering their face with a blanket in the middle of the night (ya know, the things I worry about). Of course, these are only a must have if your baby is big into being swaddled, my first baby was, second baby, not so much.

6. Baby tub. I’m putting this one last because you can certainly just wash your littlest in a sink for the first few months, but I do prefer using a baby tub. I would recommend going for the cheapest option because they won’t use it for very long, but it sure is easier to put the baby in a seat in the tub than to have to hold their little head while your scrub away.

Once baby starts to sit up and rock and roll, the list gets a little more in depth, from feeding tools to toys. But, for those first few months, save yourself some hassle and opt for just a few key items!

I would love to hear what other moms loved or hated in their baby’s first year. Let me know in the comments!

-Brooke

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