When you’re pregnant or expecting a baby, you’re inundated with hundreds of baby products that you “absolutely must have” or “can’t live without.” But from my experience, you only use a fraction of those things. To help out new and expecting mamas, I created a list of the actual newborn essentials for new moms and babies in the “fourth trimester.”
Of course, the only things you really really need are diapers, wipes, a few outfits, and a place for baby to sleep. I like to be minimal, but not THAT minimal. So the list I’ve created are things that I used every single day or were lifesavers to have when I needed them — no fluff or anything extravagant.
Baby Leo just turned 5 months old, and I’ve kept a running list of baby essentials since day one. So these items are fresh on my mind. However, every baby is different and has different needs or preferences, so this isn’t a one-size-fits-all list. Nor is it every single thing we used for our baby. But, it’s a good highlight of the best-of-the-best baby items out there for newborns.
SO, here’s my favorite baby products for newborn babies and what I think all new mamas need to have…
Disclosure: Some links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through an make a purchase.
SwaddleMe Swaddles:
As a new mom, you have enough things to learn and swaddle blankets weren’t something I felt like dealing with. SwaddleMe swaddles do the exact same thing as a muslin blanket but they use velcro to keep your baby wrapped and secure. They take about three seconds to put on and your baby won’t be able to “Houdini” their way out of them.
Love to Dream Swaddle:
Once your baby outgrows the velcro swaddles, these “flying squirrel suits” are perfect to transition into. Your baby can have his hands up by his face, so he can learn how to self-soothe, but is still secure enough to prevent the moro reflex from waking him up.
Boppy Lounger:
My son LIVED in this thing for the first three months of his life (and he still loves it at five months). For naps or any time you need to set your baby down, you’ll love having a lounger pillow. It’s easy to carry around the house and is much cheaper than other baby loungers. Definitely in the top 3 baby items out there.
Baby K’tan Carrier:
One of the hardest things about having a newborn is forfeiting the convenience of two hands — so you need a carrier. The Baby K’tan is so great because you don’t have to deal with all the hectic wrapping and acres of fabric hanging off of you. All you do is throw it over your head like a t-shirt and slip your baby in.
AngelCare Bath:
It’s not an actual bathtub, but a support for your newborn while you bathe him in the sink or tub. I love this bath because its lightweight, smaller than other tubs, and it has a hole to hang it from a command hook on your shower wall so it can air dry — too simple!
Zipper PJ’s:
Your baby will live in these things day and night. Honestly, you don’t even need any other clothes for the first three months. Just make sure you only get zipper PJs and skip any outfits that have snaps. They’re just not worth the hassle.
Spectra S1:
If you’re going to pump, this is by far the best pump out there. It’s wireless, powerful, has different modes, and even a cute night light. The best part is that it’s much quieter than other pumps, which is great for moms going back to work.
Hatch Sound Machine:
A sound machine is a necessity, but the Hatch is amazing for so many reasons. Not only does it have a variety of lullabies/white noise/nature sounds, but it also doubles as a colorful night light that you can customize and program to change throughout the night or save your favorites to toggle through.
My Brest Friend Pillow:
I used other nursing pillows in the hospital, but nothing compares to the Brest Friend. It’s made of sturdy foam so it gives more support for your back and baby. I had a c-section and this thing saved me. I don’t think I would have been able to breastfeed without pain if I didn’t have this.
NoseFrida:
When babies are really little, they only breathe through their nose. So when they’re congested — which happens often — you’ll see that they’ll struggle to breathe a little bit. It sounds gross, but sucking the snot out of their little noses works better than any other product and it’s so worth it when you can help your baby breathe.
Kiinde Storage Bags & Bottles:
The entire Kiinde system is genius (and I plan to write an in-depth review later), but if anything, the milk storage bags are the best part. You can pump directly into the bags, freeze them, and then defrost and pop on a nipple when it’s time to feed. No need to move milk from the pump to bag to bottle.
Forehead Thermometer:
This is one of those things you won’t need on a daily basis, but when you do need it, you’ll be thankful you have it. As a first time mom, I was so worried my baby had a temperature all the time because his head felt so hot. Turns out babies just feel warm, but a thermometer helped calm my nerves.
Nanit Baby Monitor:
Everyone has their opinions on wifi vs. non-wifi baby monitors, but I’m team wifi — especially if you’ll be returning to work and want to sneak peeks at baby all day. The Nanit monitor has SO MANY nice features, but my favorite is that it saves all activities like motion or sound as video clips so that you can watch them later.
Bouncer:
Once your baby is about 2.5 months old, he’s going to take interest in kicking his legs and swinging his arms at toys in front of him. Having a bouncer is perfect for your baby to get all his energy out while keeping him entertained or just as a safe place to sit.
Car Mirror:
You may not go a whole lot of places in those first three months, but for the times when your baby is rear-facing in his car seat, you’ll want to be able to keep an eye on him. It’s just a peace of mind thing, and it’s totally worth the 15-20 bucks.
Like I said, this isn’t every single product you’ll need. But if you’re struggling on what to buy beyond diapers, wipes and cute little clothes, these products are a good starting point.
I know it’s fun to buy all the products for your baby, but they really don’t need much for the first three months of their lives. Keep it minimal — or go all out! Whatever you wanna do, mama!
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