I was cleaning out the girls' playroom yesterday to make some space for baby's things and it got to me thinking...
What are your absolute must haves for the newborn stage (like 0 to 6 months). What can you absolutely not live without and what did you find you didn't need at all?
Any category at all!
Plus it's a little slow here lately...😉
Re: Newborn Phase Must Haves
Bassinet that I can easily move from room to room
Carrier
Baby bathtub
Play mat
Bouncy seat
Our pink noise machine
And if he's like DD2 then a million burp clothes and bibs to deal with the constant spit up
Once baby is around 4 months I have an activity saucer that is a lifesaver
Around 6 months the jolly jumper
Music table
A toy that baby can easily and safely pull up on
And some toys for development at each stage:)
Oh, and the playpen!
These are definitely my staple must haves for those first few months! Or at least the things that I definitely will be sure to have in the house. Or at least they're the things that come to mind first, so probably the most important for me...:)
Must haves:
- Frida Baby Windi (these worked a lot better than gas drops for us when coupled with infant massage)
-Auqaphor
-Baby Bum Brush for diaper cream
-Sound machine (both a portable one and one for the nursery)
-SnuggleMe (obviously don't leave baby unattended and we didn't use in her crib overnight)
-Velcro swaddles
-Newman's ointment if you are nursing. It saved our nursing journey.
So so:
-I really didn't think the Nose Frida was worth it. Our electronic sucker was so much better IMO.
-I got one of those flower bath mat things and hated it. It was such a pain to dry and all that.
-The haaka didn't work for me. My flow wasn't strong enough I guess. I never really leaked at all so maybe that is why. I bought a big box of nursing pads that I never even opened.
Must Haves:
-My Breast Friend/ Boppy
because it helps a tired and sore mama position baby for breastfeeding with ease.
-Baby Bath
-Sleepsacks/ Velcro Swaddles
-A few Sleepers with two-way zippers
-Plain Cloth Diapers= Best Burp Cloths ever.
-A soft blanket for tummy time
-Pack N Play Bassinet for letting the baby sleep in our room the first few months easily.
-White Noise/ Music Maker for tough naps and car rides
Things I barely/never used with my Son:
-Bouncer (He kind of hated it)
-Pacifier (We opted not to, despite constant harassment from my mom and we think it made things easier in the long run. So probably will skip it again.)
-Mittens (We kept misplacing them or forgetting they existed and put socks on DS hands or sleeper with the flip cuff, we intend to try to use them this time.)
Boppy lounger (supervised, not for sleep)
Velcro fleece swaddle
Aquaphor (we still use it daily at 15 months)
Bouncer (people give these away for free all the time, definitely look for a hand me down)
Bassinet that was on wheels
Multiple sound machines (kiddo has two running these days)
Breastfeeding stool
hands free pumping bra
- breastfeeding pillows (at least two - one for first floor and one for second floor)
- bassinet
- Tummy time mat/pillow/mirror
- burp cloths (burt’s bees were my fav)
- A baby carrier for baby wearing - I prefer a ring sling or K’tan for newborn days and switched to a Tula once DD1 was a bit older/heavier
- Diaper cream
- We loved having an infant bath tub with an integrated scale - DD1 was slow to gain, so it was helpful to track her weight gain at home
- Sound machine
- comfy postpartum leggings, breastfeeding tank tops, and plenty of open front layering options (robe with pockets, open cardigan, etc)
- bouncer
- an elevated place to change diapers on each floor of the house (my pp recovery was long, so minimizing bending and getting up and down to the floor was helpful)
ETA we also never used mittens...
Boudreaux butt paste was our favorite diaper cream.
A good nightlight. We didn't find our favorite until dd was 4, but we will be getting another! It is kind of egg shaped, and dimmable. It does not need to be plugged in to use it. We charge it once a week.
- nasal aspirator (electric or nose frida)
- electric nail filer
- footie pajamas with fold over hands and feet (eliminates the need for mittens, that as everyone has already stated, completely disappear.)
- bouncer (baby bjorn is my favorite, definitely buy secondhand.)
- hatch night light/white noise machine: perfect nursing light, dimmable, controlled by an app so you can easily change it from even across the room.
- countertop bottle sterilizer (also used for pump parts the first 4 months at least).
- a nursing/feeding/nap-trapped cart on wheels that has everything you need for nursing, pumping, feeding, and also snacks, waters, a phone charger, hair bands, ibuprofen, burp cloths- little things you may need beside you when you get stuck under a sleeping baby.
- we loved the 4moms bath tub that was discontinued, only baby thing I kept after our first. Has a built in thermometer so you always know water is good temp, sits in a kitchen sink with water constantly running over baby so they don’t get cold.
- wrap/ring sling/structured carrier: big fan of happy baby carriers and wraps: only way I got baby calmed during the afternoon witching hours.
- swaddles: velcro were great for DH to learn the technique. I preferred the weighted ones. Im looking at Dreamland Baby this time around.
- cool mist humidifier: the most underrated baby item. Register for one. You will be so glad you did. And make sure to always use distilled water in it to eliminate organism growth in it.
- breast pump open it, learn how to use it and have all the parts cleaned in case you have to unexpectedly pump due to slow weight gain, latch issues, or jaundice.
- silverette cups for nipple healing
- lactation nurse! Usually covered by insurance at the hospital you deliver at. We went once a week the first few months. Looked forward to it every week.
baby carrier (we're partial to the ktan for newborn days)
Somewhere to put the baby when not sleeping (snuggle me/swing/etc)
Moveable bassinet (lots of pack'n'plays have them as attachements)
Nursing/nap trap kit: snacks, water, charger, nipple cream, burp cloth, book/magazine
Changing station that you don't have to do a lot of bending to get to (tbh we put a changing pad on our dining room table with DD)