My Favorite Newborn Essentials

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I can’t believe that Sidney is almost 2 months old! Having a newborn baby is so incredible, but like many of you who have kids or have heard from folks who have children, it can be a challenging time. We are learning about each other, our habits, and trying to establish a new groove.

It’s not a surprise that newborns require a lot of stuff. Learning what stuff they need takes a bit of trial and error, and I’m happy to report that we’re finally in our groove with products that work so well for us. After so many requests, I’m super excited to finally share my experience, and the products that we have been loving during the first 2 months of Sidney’s life! I’ve been thinking about this post since before Sidney was even born! What will she enjoy, and what products will make my life easier?

I divided the products into categories, and the widgets below will take you to the links!

My Newborn Essentials

Nursing & Feeding

Every new mom constantly has this topic on her mind. And I admit it took us awhile to find our stride. Here’s the newborn essentials for nursing and feeding that we use and love:

• Boppy Pillow – I’ve mentioned this before, but I’ll say it again. I absolutely love my boppy pillow and I can’t live without it! I even took it with me to the hospital!
• Bottle Drying Rack & Brush –  It is important to me to have separate pieces to wash and dry bottles so that they don’t get contaminated. These both work really well for that purpose. I also use the rack to dry my pump parts.
• Comotomo Bottles – After trying about 4 different brands of bottles, we finally found one that we all like. We had a lot of trouble with leaks, too much air swallowing leading to tummy troubles and too much crying, and comfort of use. These are soft, and have different nipples to switch out that allow milk to flow faster or slower. A sure winner!
  • Here’s why you need bottles even if you breastfeed. I breastfeed 99% of the time, but pump one bottle a day so that I can have a break. With 8-12 feedings a day, it is nice to have someone else help with a feeding. Right after I gave birth, Dan offered to bottle feed Sidney at night so I could rest and heal. I think it made a huge difference in the speed of my recovery. He still likes to o it, and it lets him bond with the baby, too.
• Bottle Warmer – The Kiinde Kozi warmer is compact and foolproof. Sidney had trouble taking cold bottles, but as soon as we started warming them she was much happier and more comfortable with the bottle feeding process.
• Muslin Cloths – Feeding is messy! I always have a couple of these handy to wipe down the baby’s face, on my shoulder for burping, and to clean unavoidable spit up. I recommend registering for 2 packs, because I have about 8 and I’m constantly washing and using them.

 

Bath Time & Potty

We love bath time! And while diaper changing can feel tedious, there are a couple of things that can make it more enjoyable.

• Bath Tub – this one is light weight and sits her up in the bath while we wash her. It has a grippy material inside so she doesn’t slide down.
• Bath Sponge – sometimes we use this sponge on top of the tub. It surrounds her with water and feels like a little hug.
• Mustela Bath Soap – I like the calming smell and it is perfect for sensitive baby skin.
• Wash Cloths – Any will do, but I particularly like this brand.
• Bath Towel – I love the ones that look like little animals. They’re so cute!
• Wipe-Down Changing Pad – trust me on this one. You need a wipe down changing pad. While you could easily remove a cloth cover and wash it, it would personally drive me crazy to do that every time there’s an accident. This one wipes down clean in a flash and is instantly ready for the next diaper change.
• Diaper Pail – Stainless steel traps odors, and you can use your own garbage bags with it, saving money in the long run.

 

Health, Safety, & Play

This is kind of a random catchall newborn essentials category – but all these products are essential nonetheless!

• Rectal Thermometer – Our doctor recommended we get one because it takes the most accurate temperature, and it gives me peace of mind knowing I can check her temperature if she seems ill.
• Gripe Water – Babies get fussy and gassy and sometimes need a little help digesting. A little dose of this stuff will most likely stop a baby from crying due to an upset stomach.
• Nail Files – To file down those sharp little nails!
• WubbaNub Pacifier – Sometimes a baby needs to soothe themselves. This does the trick.
• BabyBjorn Bouncer – Sidney loves her bouncy seat. I like being able to pop her in here while I’m answering emails or trying to eat a meal. The bouncing helps her digest sometimes, too.
• Play Gym – I lay her in her play gym so she can kick her arms and legs and look up at the dangling toys. We also use our play gym for tummy time: the time she spends on her tummy strengthening her neck muscles.
• Baby Swing – I love having a safe place to put the baby if I need to take a quick shower or tidy up the house. She really likes the swinging motion and music, and typically falls asleep right away.

 

Travel Gear

If you follow me on Instagram, you know we are always on the go. Daily walks, out to lunch, and road tripping to visit family. We thought long and hard on what newborn essentials travel gear to get and we absolutely love everything we chose.

• Stroller – This stroller is a splurge, but we use our stroller every single day and I’m so happy I got it. I love this particular system because it is so easy to go from the car seat to the stroller, or swap it out for the bassinet. The big sturdy wheels glide easily over bumpy sidewalks.
• Car Seat – This car seat grows with the baby and is easy peasy to install.
• Baby Carrier – A baby carrier is a great option, especially if your baby wants to be held all the time and you need to be hands free, or if you go somewhere where the stroller will be a nuisance.
• Baby Wrap – I have both a carrier and a wrap. The wrap is sometimes more comfortable to wear because it has less buckles and such. I like having options.
• Car Seat Cover – It comes in handy if the sun is getting in the baby’s eyes, or if you want to cover the baby so she can sleep. It also doubles as a nursing scarf!

 

Cozy Clothes

We like cotton products because they are soft, natural, and breathable.

• Soft Onesies – I especially love the ones with zippers for easy diaper changes. This frilly one is a favorite, too! We actually brought her home from the hospital in it.
• Mittens (also with velcro) – I happen to have a baby that loves to scratch her face with her little fingernails (those cheeks are irresistible, even to her!) so putting her hands in soft mittens avoids the baby bar fight look.

 

Sleep Essentials

Sleep is so important – both for baby and mom. These newborn essentials have helped us get much more shut eye.

• Hatch Sound Machine & Night Light – We set ours to the sound of waves with a soft blue light. But you can adjust the color and sound on your phone to so many combinations. Birds, running water, tv static…you name it. Turning it on lets Sidney know it is time for sleep. And I admit that I really enjoy sleeping with it, too.
• Dock a Tot – I chuckle, because I wasn’t even going to register for one, but it is one of my most-loved items. Sidney sleeps in hers all the time! She just loves it.
• Velcro Swaddles – I don’t like the idea of loose blanket swaddles, especially because my baby kicks through them. And I suck at swaddling. The velcro ones stay put and are easy to take on and off for night time diaper changes. Pro tip: change the baby, then feed them. Changing and taking off the swaddle will wake them up, and feeding will probably put them back to sleep.
• Sleep Sack – Lately, Sidney doesn’t love having her arms swaddled, so we’ve been using a sleep sack and she really enjoys it. She sleeps for 4 hours straight in this cozy sack!

 

I know that was a lot! But I really hope this post helps you mamas and future mamas who are looking to register or are in need of some good solid advice when it comes to newborn essentials! I’ve used every single product I recommend in this post and can attest that it has worked for us. I really do use all of these things pretty much daily. Feel free to leave questions and comments below!

–Roxanne

What are you favorite newborn essentials? Share in a comment below!

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