15 Newborn Essentials
Once Upon A Time…
….we had a baby (girl). And then we had another one (a boy). And now we’re full speed ahead toward welcoming home our third (another boy). So, after nearly 5 years of constant baby and toddler things swirling about our lives, testing a lot of different items of similar products, and combined with my need to research everything to the nth degree – we thought we’d share some of our favourite items to help out those currently navigating the minefield that is everything baby! Because let’s be honest, having the baby itself is quite the effort, without wasting precious mental effort on everything else. If you walked in our home right now, you’d see every single one of these things in use. These aren’t lists to just plug affiliate links, as we don’t believe in hawking things you’ve never touched or owned. But full transparency, they are affiliate links - any image or bold underlined hyperlink is clickable to our Amazon shop, which costs you nothing, but puts a few pennies from your purchases in our pocket for the effort of writing this post.
These products are listed in no particular order, and okay, so it’s a little more than 15 items per list, but I wanted lists that were comprehensive to really get you started. In general, I’ve attempted a little blurb with each product to explain why we choose it, if it’s a good thing to buy second-hand, things we considered and learned along the way about how to use it, pros and cons (if there are any), and on occasion other products we would buy instead if this was our first baby. i.e. things that probably didn’t exist a few years ago (like zero-wire wearable breast pumps) or companies we didn’t know about yet. Additionally, while I’d love to get healthy commission cheques from all of you buying this stuff from our Amazon shop, please do consider secondhand and Facebook Marketplace, especially for big ticket, non-hygienic items. We were fortunate to receive a lot second-hand from family or gifted from friends, but for our second child, I did purchase some of the more expensive items via Facebook Marketplace to save money.
Please remember: every parent is different, every child is different, and every home is different – so what worked really well for us, may not be universal. Likewise, I don’t publish this to be questioned on our parenting methodologies. We like to keep sustainability, “natural” and Montessori-based parenting methods in mind, but we are not beholden to them, sometimes convenience and ease purely for mental and hygiene sanity with newborns, babies and/or toddlers win. No one is perfect, but as long as we each try our best and respect each other’s opinions that everyone is different, we can produce happy and healthy children.
Purchased between our first and second child, this crib and bassinet kit became a life saver for travelling internationally with an 18-month old (a whirlwind trip home to the UK), and then again in bassinet form for our second child when we had to put the small bassinet in our closet to get him to sleep. You can now purchase as a full kit of both crib & bassinet, as well as add accessories that make it even better as a playpen and outdoor shelter too - good for the beach, backyard, patio, etc! We love that the product engineering is fantastic, so it’s a breeze to set up, take down and convert quickly. So much better than the bulky Graco Pack n Play we had before. The bag neatly contains the crib or bassinet depending on which you’re using, and neatly fits in aeroplane compartments. Plus it has handy straps that turn it into a backpack for carrying ease. It’s not a comfy backpack by any means, but extra options is always helpful when you’ve got strollers, car seats, etc. to contend with as well, while getting through an airport.
We use it as the sole bassinet / bed for our baby until 6 months and we transition them to a real crib. The rocking feature of the bassinet legs is a really nice bonus - granted it does work a little better on hardwood than carpet. And we love the unzippable side of the crib with fully breathable mesh fabric, our 18 month old loved putting herself to bed while travelling. Note the crib does require buying special sheets only available from Guava Family, unless you’re handy with a sewing machine!
2. External Remedies
Everything bottom related! Oxo Tot Wipes Container (not-warming) We have 3 of these wipes containers now, which last so much longer than using the disposable Huggies variety. Easy to re-fill, easy to clean, easy to open one handed and doesn’t break. We also use the Oxo Tot Travel Wipes Dispenser in our diaper bags. Aquaphor became our very best friend after struggling with diaper rash with baby 1. “Frost your baby’s bottom like a cupcake” was the best advice we ever got from a pediatrician, and we liberally apply it during every single diaper change now. It makes a huge difference!
Our second child only got one bout of diaper rash ever, and that was due to daycare not applying it.. On the occasion that diaper rash did happen (particularly baby 1), we found Boudreaux’s the least offensive cream to use. It didn’t smell nearly as bad as Desitin, and depsite being exactly the same ingredients, we swear it still worked faster. As for the wipes - well with baby 1, we tested everything out there - trying to keep it cheap with Pampers as the everyday, and supplementing with the very expensive Water Wipes when diaper rash reared up so as not to upset her precious little bottom. But we found that switching to Huggies Natural wasn’t anymore expensive, and combined with the Aquaphor application, we never had to fork over handfuls of cash on Water Wipes ever again.
3. Dock A Tot
This was a second hand buy for us, for our second baby. We found with our first, we were always travelling back and forth to her nursery, or putting her to sleep in the swing (not ideal). I couldn’t justify the shear expense of the Dock-A-Tot. But I found one for under $100 that was basically new, and went for it. Then ended up splurging on a nice Ms Mighetto cover #whoops. LOVE IT!
Baby #2 basically slept in this thing on the kitchen island most of the time (don’t worry it was bigger than an average bed), while we prepped meals and worked. If not there, then on the sofa where it gave him a solid surface, but kept him close to our activities. We also found it useful as a travel bed when we had to suddenly go back to the UK when he was 2 weeks old, it worked as a temp co-sleeping arrangement.
The only cons are that its very expensive for essentially a pillow, that you’ll only use for the first 12 months or so. Investment vs time use was usually a big factor in my decision making, which is why buying this second hand is the way to go.
4. Five Books To Start With
Everyone usually gets given or buys themselves the “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” book, but then where’s the manual for once the baby is born?! What do you mean you don’t get that at the hospital?! I hadn’t even thought about it prior to baby #1, so was grateful when my sis-in-law gave me the sequential “What to Expect in the First Year” with a box full of hand-me-downs. Equally, these 4 other books became essentials for me in those first 12 months to attempt to raise a well-rounded, sleeping, eating child. Alternatively, “Shit No One Tells You” serves up similar information in a slightly more comedic and colloquial manner - so take your pick between the two, or go for gold and get both.
The Montessori Baby book is a great introduction to calming, passive ways to steer your child clear of danger, enable them to respect boundaries and the answer no, and generally use wooden / natural elements in the home rather than lots of expensive, gaudy and quite frankly noisy, plastic toys. We are big Montessori fans, and graduated to the Montessori Toddler book at the appropriate age too.
The Little Foodie book is one of several we use on a regular basis - we were great at making all our own baby food for baby 1, but come baby 2, it all became a bit cumbersome. Now we do a healthy mix of convenient pouches to ensure variety while still cooking and introducing new foods. Here are a couple others: Big Book of Organic Baby Food ; Make Ahead Baby Food Cookbook
The Baby Sleep Solution book is a little controversial to some, and we were unexpectedly gifted it when baby 1 was about 3 months old. Generally speaking, we followed probably 85% of the advice, which worked miraculously for our first child, and didn’t do a damned thing for our second, who didn’t sleep through the night fully until 16 months no matter what we did. So by all means, try it but remember, you’re not a failure if the book doesn’t work for you and your baby.
I used to loathe white noise machines, ironically, they would keep me awake at night - but I discovered this one which mechanically produces the noise versus digitally and it made a world of difference! Absolutely essential. I now fall asleep as fast as the babies with it, and we love how easily it drowns out outside-bedroom noise and instantly makes the kids sleepy as part of their bedtime routine. Must have product in my opinion!!
One note, they rebranded recently upon acqusition by YogaSleep, and they did change the design a little. I definitely prefer the original “classic” design shown here and thankfully they still offer both options. The original is thicker plastic, better made and produces a nicer more natural sound. Our newer versions rattle more, which I don’t like.
The Rohm little travel version by the same company, while a digital sound, is a good reproduction too and useful for the stroller, the car (as long as it doesn’t make you sleepy too!), and on the crib in hotel rooms. Both are also good second hand buy-options here. They hold their value and last!
It was really important to us that our baby camera NOT be WiFi connected for security reasons. We are very concerned with the number of WiFi and live streaming monitor feeds that end up on the internet used for nefarious reasons, so this was our number 1 factor in picking a monitor. Stu was in charge of this pick, being our resident technophile.
We really like this one because it has an interchangeable zoom lens, small footprint for the camera on the wall that also allows a really wide range of angles, and the video and audio quality are excellent. I could see clearly if baby was breathing. It turns down quieter than our other monitor (a Motorola which keeps me awake), zooms further out, and has a better light sensitivity level.
We did run into battery issues with our first monitor, but the customer service was excellent and got it fixed quickly. Great option to buy second hand here if you can too!
Another product I bought second hand for super cheap - the cover had major stains, so I recycled that and bought a new cotton cover rather than spending $200 on a whole new one. But we love this bouncer, and it’s often used at daycares too which is always a good sign of a great product. It folds up very flat, so easy to store and good for small spaces. You can bounce it with your foot while sitting on a chair, and put baby at multiple different angles.
We loved it for general hanging out while baby was tiny, sleeping sometimes when they had reflux or nasal congestion, and then self-bottle feeding between 6-12 months to keep them upright. We also travelled with it when going on road trips. Lots of different cover options too - we loved the mesh one when we lived in Atlanta to keep the baby cool, and switched to the cotton and jersey options in winter and when we moved to Philly. Super easy to take off and run through the wash as well! Big fans.
8. Internal Remedies & Health Stuff
These are some basics, but also the tiniest things are where you can spend forever researching or purchasing small “must have” products that all add up to be a waste of time.
We purchased and tested approximately 4 different humidifiers before landing on this Crane Humidifier as our fave. Easy to set up, didn’t spill, had a red light when it was too low, and most importantly, very easy to clean. We also learned that using distilled water is the best way to avoid mold, so reduced our use only to when baby was sick instead of every day.
You’d think a thermometer is pretty basic, but we got given a Safety First interchangeable end thermometer. Sadly, they don’t sell it anymore and I’m not sure why… but this FridaBaby rectal thermometer is definitely a must-have especially if you’re little one is headed to daycare pre-12 months. Aural thermometers are way too big for newborns, thermal scanners are hit and miss with accuracy, but rectal gets you a solid reading every time. Just beware the poop that can sometimes follow a reading ;)
For nasal congestion, we tried the FridaBaby nose sucker but the filters drove us nuts, it was annoying to clean, and it would actually dry out their nose too much. So we stuck to using the bulb aspirator, which worked much better when we learned the trick to it! First of all, add saline drops like these from Boogie Mist to baby’s nose, rub the bridge of their nose, and then while using the aspirator in one nostril, hold the other nostril closed. DUH! But important. Don’t buy the aspirators though, you’ll be able to get them free at the hospital!! But if you do buy one, get one that twists apart to clean like this one. Using them with the Boogie Mist wipes is awesome, I don’t know what’s on them but they pull out and hold onto snot like it contains magnets - better than regular wipes! As they get older the Boogie Mist spray can replace the drops, which is even more effective at clearing out snot. The OogieBear Ear / Nose picker thing is also great for stuck on boogers and cleaning out ear wax gently without baby complaining too much.
For baby nails, we’ve gone through several versions of nail clippers too - the kind with lights, magnifying glasses, etc etc. But we’ve preferred and stuck with this very simple Safety First no fuss version. Tiny sharp ends for baby and toddler hands, and extra rubber grip for parents to not slip. We’ve only drawn blood once, so that’s a big win.
Finally, I swore by Little Remedies Gripe Water for our very hiccup prone babes. Their gas relief drops were great on occasion too when they both switched to only formula around 5-6 months.
It sounds so simple, but for the first 6 months with our first child, we didn’t have a dedicated changing table in our main living room / kitchen area where we spent most of our time. We picked up one just like this for $10 off of Facebook Marketplace and it was so freeing to not make constant journeys to the nursery or hurt our backs bending over an ottoman or bed to change the baby. Fast forward to baby 2, it made an enormous difference to my c-section recovery too reducing all that travel and bending.
We used these wipeable plastic baskets from Target to corral all of the lotions, potions, diapers, burb cloths and clothes underneath, and 5 years later are still employing the same system. Extra bonus: because it didn’t have drawers, the basket system meant our helpful big sis toddler could help grab things for us too! Though if you have a not so helpful toddler version that prefers removing everything in sight, maybe some drawers would be better ;)
10. Upseat Baby Seat & Boppy
These two products are pretty standard on baby lists - a floor seat and a feeding pillow. But this is one product where I’m listing what I would buy NOW versus what we own and existed 5 years ago. We own the Bumbo multi-seat with tray, but this Upseat that I’ve linked is what I would purchase if this was our first kid. Designed to support better spine and hip placement, it is approved by physical therapists. Overall, the floor seats are really useful once they get close to sitting - again we had it on the kitchen island while we cooked (only because our island was huge, there was no fall risk), on the floor so the babies could play with the dogs, and used it for feeding while travelling on road trips too. The tray is also handy for activities like toys with suction cups (spinning wheels), DIY water mats, texture bags, or pulling tape itself.
As for feeding pillows, this one seems to be pretty personal opinion. I still prefer the classic Boppy, especially post c-section as it’s softer than some alternatives. And I like the super cute and soft organic covers you can get for it now :) But I found overall, it fit me better, could squish perfectly into any chair or aeroplane seat, and kept baby rolled into me for feeding. The Boppy can be used in combination with playmats or activities as a tummy time and sitting prop too, which is another reason we prefer it to other feeding pillows which are more single function.
11. Columbia Diaper Bag & Luxja Pumping Bag
Diaper bags are also pretty personal, but we genuinely ended up with 5 of them (#embarassed) so tested a bit more than the average parent. Granted, we didn’t try anything expensive like Petunia Picklebottom - so this is a run of the mill, non-fashion forward pick as you’ll notice with most of our list. We prefer function, ease of use and cleaning, over aesthetics.
The Columbia Messenger Diaper Bag was and is our favourite diaper bag. The internal cavity is ENORMOUS, easily fitting everything you need for a first time parent who puts everything but the kitchen sink in on their first outings. By baby 3, you throw some Aquaphor, diapers and a quick outfit in your handbag and call it a day - but we’ve all been there for the first child or two! We originally bought this one as a “man-approved” design for Stu - but discovered the messenger bag style and hooks worked best with the stroller, the side pockets were foiled lined keeping bottles nicely cool or warm as we needed, the changing pad was easily accessible but still under a zip for clean keeping, and the additional wet bag that came with it was handy too for blowouts.
Our second favourite bag is actually a bag I purchased for pumping while going back to my office job - the Luxja Pumping Bag. It fit my Spectra pump, accessories, a small cooler bag for bottles, and specific spaces for my laptop while still being a relatively cute backpack that didn’t feel like I was lugging a suitcase around. I had to bounce between a lot of meetings and crowded elevators, so this bag was with me all day long. Granted the pump and cooler didn’t fit perfectly well together as you had to turn the pump to the side, but it was a lot better than other bags I tried to use. And then when my feeding & pumping journey crashed to a devastating end, we discovered it actually made for a great diaper bag too. The cooler got repurposed to holding food for the kids, the front opening was great for quick diaper and cream access, and I could still take my laptop or iPad without having to worry about another bag. And the backpack form meant the stroller didn’t tip over when there was no child in it!
These two are still used on a regular basis!
We’ve had this Fisher Price bath from brand new since baby one, and it’s still going strong. The foam for the head support looks a little worse for wear now after several moves and stints in our attic, but you definitely get bang for your buck on this one. The bath is quickly and easily adaptable for a newborn (using the sling), a seated baby (6-9 months) using the green insert, and then a bigger baby removing the insert altogether. We used this from birth to around 12 months with both kids, and will be again. The hanging hook is great for keeping the bath hanging from a shower rail while it dries. Our only negatives are when using the green seat, you do need to remove it every couple of days to get all the water out and ensure it dries, otherwise mold can build up. Likewise, the sling needs proper laundering every few days too. And it’s not the smallest footprint of bath. We used it on our kitchen island yet again to have it at waist height rather than leaning over a bath, and will be using it in our dining room this time around - but it’s not one that will fit neatly in a sink, even a big farmhouse one.
We still love it, but now that space is more of an issue, we would also consider purchasing this Stokke foldable bath instead which also looks much easier to clean and smaller to store!
Another item we’ve had since the outset, this playmat with subtle lights and music has been a big hit. Large enough that they can roll over, small enough that everything is close enough for baby to pull on. We added a few “natural sound” and texture Infantino rattles and pulls to tone down the garish, but babies still need bright colours for stimulation. We have always added these puzzle foam mats underneath to provide an even softer environment to ensure baby doesn’t hurt their head on hardwood, or conversely get frustrated with carpet pile depth. The foam mats are then great once baby starts rolling and crawling, either keeping them contained, or putting the edges flat to help them explore. Easy to wipe down and keep baby from gathering dirt from the regular floor, for us they were essential!
14. Baby Bjorn Carrier, Ergobaby 360, KTan Wrap
Baby carriers seem to be another highly personal decision based on your shape & size, as well as your babies. Even between Stu and I, we vastly preferred different carriers, and I also changed preference as baby grew and had different needs. We were gifted ALL of these either second hand or via our registry, which is what allowed us to check out different options. But grab a few new mommy friends and have a try-on party at the store, or ask friends if you can borrow theirs for a week to try different styles before committing to one yourself. Here’s what worked for us and why…
The Baby Bjorn carrier was hands down my fave - it was second hand to me. First of all, it worked from newborn up to a year old (before it hurt my back) easily with no changes or additional pieces needed, you could just fold down parts or move buckles to different places to allow more space. The mesh meant in hot Atlanta weather, my baby wasn’t sweltering against me and I wasn’t concerned about whether it could breathe! The easy to connect snaps meant I could put the wrap 3/4 on myself first, slide the baby in quickly and keep them asleep if transferring from the car seat, and finish the remaining snaps and pulls quietly.
The X shape of the back support meant I didn’t get upper or lower back pain (but I do have broad shoulders which helps with the X design) and baby was fully supported against my chest, and most importantly I could use this carrier from week 1 after surgery as it didn’t put baby or straps anywhere near the c-section incision site. (Generally I wore it from about week 3-4 onwards) And finally, I found that it was the least bulky of all the ‘proper’, non-cloth only carriers. I could wear it under my Seraphine Maternity Parka (best coat everrrrrrr) in winter to keep baby warm with me, and I could pack it down into the Columbia diaper bag along with all the other stuff without it taking up the whole bag. It also washed really well and is much more affordable than the Ergobaby. Magic!
Stu hated the Baby Bjorn though - it was too small on his frame, and didn’t provide enough support for him. He preferred the ErgoBaby 360 as it had the hip support for the baby at the bottom, wider cushier straps around his waist and shoulders which was more comfortable for him, and felt more snug overall. He used the Ergo 360 on both his front and back up until babies were about 18 months, particularly when we went hiking or to a brewery! I found it too bulky overall and it particularly aggravated my c-section wounds, even after they healed, so it definitely became the carrier that stayed in Stu’s car.
And finally, there are all the cloth wraps - again I was fortunate to be gifted several including the Moby wrap and another singular cloth piece that I can’t even remember the name of, but I quickly paid them forward to other mums who wanted to have a go. In my opinion, the single pieces took wayyyyyy too long to get flat, wrapped correctly and then get baby in securely without waking them up or pissing them off as you got them in - I just didn’t have the time or patience for that. I was dragging it on floors, parking lots and all sorts to try and get it on. And when you’re standing in Atlanta heat or Philadelphia cold, its an extra hard battle too!!
I did however finally try the Baby K-Tan which I liked for the first 6 months or so. Instead of one long piece, it has two pre-looped pieces connected with another small loop in the back, that forms an X design much like the Baby Bjorn. It does require you to buy the right size for both you and baby which is the first challenge - I think I have medium (at 5’6” and average weight) and my babies have all been distinctly average 7lbs at birth. But I liked that it kept baby so close, snuggled in with knees bent, warm, and I did finally figure out feeding them in it too (on occasion) which provides a lot more mobility especially as you get to baby 2 and still need to cook, clean, etc for baby 1! The benefit of the cloth ones is they also pack down nice and small to fit in diaper bags, wash easily and are great for travel if space is limited. That said, after about 6 months, I found the baby’s weight a bit too much. If I had to only purchase one carrier, it would still be the Baby Bjorn.
15. Milksavers
And finally, one of the quite literal savers of my “4th trimesters” - Milkies Milk Savers! These were pretty new to market 5 years ago and several new versions have now popped up. But for someone who struggled with breastfeeding, but still leaked a healthy amount upon letdown, I managed to save an extra 2-3 ounces per day with one of these shoved down my bra! When every drop counts and you come to understand the true meaning of breastmilk as “liquid gold”, it certainly relieved a lot of mental strife to feel like some wasn’t going to waste. I eventually purchased a second one so that I could have one clean, dry and ready to use, while the other was waiting to be cleaned, especially good when baby was cluster feeding. They’re not cheap, but worth every penny.
I used these while feeding and/or pumping while sitting in a chair and they fit easily and comfortably in most bras (sports bras were a challenge, but sports bras aren’t recommended while you’re breastfeeding anyway to reduce mastitis and clogged ducts). I wouldn’t wear them while out and about as personally my boobs are too big to make anything like that look normal, so I would then use these reusable / washable bamboo pads while out and just pop in a Milk-saver if I was feeding. No, you cannot lean over, or milk will spill out the top and make you cry about spilt milk (it happened a few times before I learned my lesson). The top section is not connected, but it does help produce pressure against your boob to increase let down. And no, you can’t sleep with them in your nursing bra for the same spillage reason. With that in mind, I have for our third baby actually purchased the new to market Haakaa Milk Collector version, which some claim can be worn during sleep as it has a closable valve at the top. I bought along with the highly-lauded Haakaa Manual Breast Pump, so I’ll test them both out and update this in a few months with my thoughts!
Regardless, if you need to be precious about your milk, I highly recommend adding these to your breast-feeding basket!
WOOOF! That was a lot. But hopefully you’ll find some helpful nuggets in there that encourage you to navigate the minefield of baby information with some confidence. This is the first of eight different baby & toddler “stuff” lists I’ll be publishing over the next few weeks.
I’ll add jump links below to all the others as I publish them – including soft goods, feeding, c-section / post-birth recovery for mum, playtime, travel, toddler essentials and more.
And they lived happily ever after….. with lots of stuff!
Love, cuddles & baby snuggles,
Lex