{This post was written in partnership with All Good Diapers. We are grateful for their support and appreciate all they do to give back. Find them at Wal-Mart!}
With so many baby items out there, preparing for bringing home a new baby can be overwhelming. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be! We’ve culled the internet for you and, combined with our many years of parenting experience, the Coastal Bend Mom team has come up with a basic list of essentials for your newborn baby.
While we know that it is fun and easy to go crazy with allllll of the cuteness out there. And let’s be honest – my first baby registry was PACKED with it all! What we realized is that you don’t need much to take care of your baby.
Over the years, I’ve also tried to take a more minimalist approach to my parenting, I love using natural products with my family, and try lessen the amount of “stuff” that we have everywhere. Finding safe products, and items that have multiple uses, became my mission with baby number two!
I’ve come up with my top 10 baby essentials – this is, in my opinion, all you really need to survive the first few months with your new baby. Once you’ve had a chance to get to know your sweet babe, you’ll have a better idea of what you really want and need. Whether you are the mama-to-be or shopping for the perfect baby shower gift, here are some of our must have’s.
DIAPERS
This is a no-brainer. You’ve got to have dipes and wipes when baby arrives. In my quest to have the least toxic products for babies, I went on the hunt for a disposable diaper that was in line with my desire to practice a less wasteful and less toxic lifestyle. All Good Diapers from Walmart totally fit the bill! You read that right: you can get this safer and AFFORDABLE option at your local Walmart! All Good Diapers not only provide around-the-clock protection, but also contain no fragrances, no parabens, and no latex. But what really sold me on these diapers, is that for every box of All Good Diapers purchased, they will donate a day’s worth of diapers to a family in need through Feeding America. YOU GUYS. I am crying! I love using products for my family that are not only completely functional and WORK SO WELL, but that also give back! Well, it’s a home-run in my book. And also, have you seen how cute the prints are?!
A WAY TO FEED YOUR BABY (and take care of yourself!)
If you are planning to breastfeed, I highly suggest getting a breast pump or have some way to express milk in case of an emergency. I am partial to the Medela line of pumps and accessories – I exclusively breastfed my second baby, and used the Medela Pump In Style, along with the storage accessories. I loved how tried and true it was and we had a great experience. I also think the Haakaa Manual Breast Pump is a super affordable and efficient way to express milk for your babe. Be sure to grab a few bottles and newborn flow nipples to have on hand as well. I stuck with Medela brand bottles and nipples because they worked seamlessly with my pump. In addition, every nursing mama needs to have some nipple cream on hand, a great refillable water bottle, and stock up on lots of easy and healthy grab and go snacks!
If you’re planning to formula feed, you will definitely need to have bottles and cleaning accessories. There are TONS of bottles to choose from, so my best advice: don’t buy a ton of one brand in the beginning. It is such a drag to have a cabinet full of beautiful bottles and accessories…and then baby won’t take it or needs a different type due to colic or something else. Get one or two small bottles (make sure you have newborn flow nipples) of a few different brands to have on hand. After the first week or so of bottle making, you’ll know which bottles you and baby prefer and then you can grab a few extras! A lot of moms also swear by the Baby Brezza for formula! If you have space and budget, for sure check it out.
Regardless of if you breast or bottle feed, you are going to want a drying rack for alll of those parts – from bottle parts, to breast pump pieces, or even pacifiers and toys, having a designated space for safely air drying baby items, make my life a lot easier.
SWADDLING BLANKETS
Here’s the skinny: you are going to want these because you can use them for EVERYTHING! There are lots of brands, but, Aden + Anais are my favorite. I used these not only for swaddling baby (they are so big!), but as a stroller blanket, to lay under baby when changing diapers, a nursing cover, or, to be honest, a blanket for myself! They are large enough that an adult can curl up underneath it. These are the perfect weight for a blanket, especially in South Texas, and they last forever. Breathable and soft, these are one of my go-to baby shower gifts – whether the new mama has asked for them or not!
SWING OR BOUNCER/VIBRATING BABY SEAT
When my first son was born, our hand-be-down swing was a total life-saver. It was big and bulky and took up a ton of space, but it was worth every cubic inch of space it took up. There are tons of options, and having a safe and secure place to let baby hang out is a necessity. Whether you need some hands-free time for cooking dinner or to tend to another baby, you will want something available. We are loving this 4moms mamaRoo that you can pick up at your local Wal-Mart!
ZIPPER PAJAMAS/ONESIES
We all know it is SO easy to go crazy with all of the cute baby clothes out there – Thanks to hand-me-downs, my kiddos had closets full from the get-go. However, one thing I learned pretty quickly: they grow fast, laundry piles up, and I didn’t need all of it. What did I need? A handful of basic onesies, some soft pants (bonus if they had built-in feet so I didn’t need socks), and a stockpile of zipper pajamas. I cannot stress this enough: if you are going to stockpile anything, stockpile onesies and zipper pajamas. Zipper jammies are where it’s at. There is nothing more frustrating than being sleep deprived and having to fiddle with a thousand snaps in the dark when all you want to do is sleep. Give yourself the gift of sanity and just get the zipper sleepers to start.
BABY CARRIER
I could not have survived mothering babies if not for my baby carriers. Babywearing became my very favorite thing to do – and the very best way I could get things done! It was such a sweet way to bond with my littles, and also provided me a way to share the world with my baby from my perspective. We loved going for walks, shopping, hiking, and, sometimes, just bouncing around the house jamming out to music. I pretty much wore out my carriers and wore my babies until they were nearly three years old! A good carrier is a solid investment.
WHITE NOISE MACHINE
This may seem like a non-essential, but a white noise machine can be so soothing to baby (and mama!). For me, a white noise machine wasn’t so much about blocking out excess noise, but more for the soothing aspect. White Noise machines have come a long way and have many settings and options so you can find what works best for you. They are also small and portable – a comforting thing to take with you when traveling to visit family or going on vacations!
BABY HEALTH KIT
Key items to include in your health kit for a newborn at home: Nose Frida (seriously), baby nail care set, Forehead Thermometer AND Rectal Thermometer, Aquaphor, Diaper Rash Cream, Fridababy Windi the Gaspasser, Gas Relief Drops, Gripe Water
DOCK A TOT
The Dock A Tot will provide baby with a safe and comfy spot for baby to rest, play, cuddle, do tummy time, and get diaper changes. It’s portable and can fulfill the role of many other items. I love the simplicity of it, as well as the functionality.
CARSEAT
This is another no-brainer. You can’t take your baby anywhere without a safe car seat. In fact, you won’t be allowed to leave the hospital or birth center without a safely installed, age-appropriate car seat. While infant carriers are SO convenient, if you’re looking for something longer term, there are a variety of convertible car seats out there that will grow with your baby. We like the Graco 4ever 4-in-1 seat. Full Disclosure: I love that it has cup holders built-in! While that isn’t a necessity for your newborn, you will love it as baby grows.
Honorable mention items: A simple toy like a Sophie the Giraffe, a pack and play or portable bassinet, a WubbaNub to use with Soothie pacifiers, and, barely missing the top ten: a comfy chair or rocker for all of the hours snuggling your sweet newborn!
What else would you add to the newborn essentials list?
Drop a comment below!
[pinterest image_url=”https://coastalbend.momcollective.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Pin_-Ten-Must-Have-Baby-Essentials.png” count=”horizontal”]
