The Best Newborn Essentials List From a Mom of Four
The first month with a new baby is hard. It’s beautiful and amazing and you should cherish it…but it’s also really hard. (That’s why people bring you casserole after you have a baby because cheese + carbs makes everything better.) Things (generally) get easier and as I’ve added four (!!) babies to my little brood I’ve found my newborn and postpartum essentials, the things that make my life with a newborn easier and better for them and for you as a new mom.
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Where did we do our Baby Registry?
For our firstborn we registered at Amazon for our Baby Registry! A few reasons why…
- I sometimes find stores overwhelming
- I like to read reviews about products
- Anyone could use it anywhere…they didn’t have to be near a Target or Buy Buy Baby.
- We could get a discount on un-purchased items in the days leading up to our baby’s due date or afterwards.
- Because we are already Amazon Prime (get a FREE 30 day trial to test it out) members thus 2 day shipping was an absolute win! It is INSANELY helpful to be able to buy something at 2 am during a nursing session or pregnancy induced bout of insomnia and have it appear just a few short days later!
- I would still register (especially with your first) at a brick and mortar store because some people just like to shop in person over online.
Newborn Essentials For Baby…
Aden & Anais Swaddle Blankets – I love these blankets. I brought two with me to the hospital because I’m a snob and I want to wrap my babies up in MY blankets that are soft and pretty and smell like home. We are still in the swaddle stage with these, but I also love them for a light blanket, burp cloth, and nursing cover.
Cradle Cap Brush – Both Layla and Barrett had cradle cap and a friend recommended this for Barrett and I’m telling you I used it twice (with a coconut oil) and the cradle cap was gone and didn’t come back! Check out the reviews on Amazon, but I’m telling you it’s amazing and kind of addictively therapeutic to use.
Diaper Caddy – This is a new to us for the fourth baby and I love having it! It’s perfect for keeping changing and breastfeeding supplies (snacks! pads! burp rags! nipple cream!) handy and easy to move around with the baby.
Tap Night Light – This tap-on rechargeable night light is perfect for midnight checks on baby, diaper changes, etc. It’s a soft, not-jarring light, portable, and with different brightness options (but it remembers the last setting you had it on).
Sound Machine – We love white noise for helping babies (and me!) sleep well. It’s a great cue and this one is easy to travel with too!
Gripe Water – I didn’t use this with all my kids, but the ones that needed it, needed it. So it’s definitely something I always like to have on hand.
Touch Free Thermometer – Babies HATE having their temperature taken, but this makes it super simple and it’s something you’ll use for years!
Burts Bees Shampoo and Lotion – I love both of these for all the kids, but especially in the baby days. They both smell soo good, are gentle and free of “yuck”. I’ve been known to steal a bit of the lotion for myself from time to time.
Sleep and Plays – They are cute, soft, easy for diaper changes, comfy, and don’t have to be pulled over his head which makes getting dressed easier. The real question is why aren’t we all wearing these? My favorite brand is Carters and two-way zippers are an amazing technological advancement!
Pacifiers – We used these pacifiers for our older three kids and theses ones for Daisy! (She just preferred them, kept them in her mouth better AND they glow in the dark!) I’d estimate having 6-8 on hand if you plan on using pacifiers–losing a pacifier in the night is NO JOKE.
Diaper Bag – I really like a hands-free option for a diaper bag like this backpack style! (My sister also has this diaper bag!) My actual one is an older one from Target, but it’s similar.
Stroller + Carseat – For our older kids we used a double Sport Phil & Ted stroller paired with the Graco Click Connect Car Seat. We currently have a BOB single stroller with a Chicco Car Seat. Putting the Chicco in was MUCH easier according to my husband!
Fan – This time around we have a summer baby so a clip on fan for the stroller is a nice thing to have on hand to make sure she stays cool.
Crib + Mattress – This has been a great crib (no longer being made, but this is similar) and mattress for us. Still in great shape 5+ years later, holding up well to the use and abuse of three babies/toddlers.
Sleep Sack – I have tried everything to help babies sleep! (See my post How to Get My Baby to Sleep Through the Night for more info!) This is my favorite cozy sleep sack!
Babywearing Devices – So soothing for babies and frees up mama’s hands! I LOVE the Ergo baby carrier! I have a few friends that love their Lillebaby carriers or an easy sling wrap. Check Facebook or ask your Dr. or midwife for local baby wearing groups–sometimes they let you try out different carriers!
Nursing support pillow – I haven’t used it for either of the boys, but the my breast friend pillow made all the difference in nursing Layla!
Baby feeding supplies – Even if you plan to breastfeed have bottles and formula on hand, just for your peace of mind. Plans don’t always go as planned. ๐
Postpartum Essentials For Mom…
Soft Robe – This robe is everything. It is soo soft and basically feels like wearing a sweater. It’s warm, but not overly bulky and I just love it. It was awesome to have in the hospital and is great for late-night nursing sessions. Even if you haven’t had a baby recently, just buy this robe.
Sweatpants – Others may share cute coming home outfits a la Princess Kate, but that’s not me. I care about you and I’m here to tell you if you are expecting a baby or just had a baby… buy some sweatpants and a cozy robe. (Actually this is good advice for everyone). As a mom to a newborn what you really need is comfort and an elastic waistband right now.
Breastfeeding Salve – I liked this kind, but nothing worked like the classic lansinoh cream when I had cracked and bleeding nipples from a bad latch (more on that drama).
Nursing Tank – This nursing tank is supportive and comfortable and I like that it has a bit of compression in the waist, which helps my posture/core feel stabilized.
Hydration – I have been using Liquid IV packets to add to my water bottle for a boost of hydration and to help keep my supply up. I like them and I may also try the Body Armor drinks which I’ve heard are helpful for the same reasons.
Magnesium – I started taking magnesium midway through my pregnancy and it’s been so helpful during postpartum too! Great for sleep, muscle cramps and constipation (this last ones the real reason you need it ๐๐ผ).
Neck + Shoulder Massager – Okay, calling this an essential is a bit of a stretch, but it is certainly nice to have for the breastfeeding “hunch”. My shoulders and upper back get SO tight and sore during this time and it’s nice to be able to pop this on and loosen them up! (This routinely goes on sale too!)
DVDs, Amazon prime, or Netflix subscription – Before each baby I pick out a show to watch while breastfeeding, rocking, and generally being up at all hours with the baby. I found that if I wasn’t watching something I would just stare at the clock as the minutes turned to hours and get totally stressed out! Which I feel like my little one could sense and then they would be stressed and stay awake even longer.
Bad cycle. So with each baby I picked out a show to be something I only watched during those hard times. Layla was Nashville/Friends, Barrett was Gilmore Girls, Griffin was Parks and Rec, and Daisy is Schitt’s Creek. I choose something lighthearted (this is not a time to watch Law & Order SVU), and it also has to be interesting enough to keep me awake! Forget about the dishes or vacuuming your floors, this is a time when it is totally acceptable to let it all go, binge-watch and baby snuggle.
Bonus: I used this postpartum support band the first few weeks after Griffin was born. I hated wearing it with Barrett (maybe did twice), but this time around I really liked having the abdominal and back support. So I wouldn’t call it an essential but for $16 maybe worth seeing if you like it.
One other thing I consider an essential is getting some meals in the freezer before baby comes. It seriously makes life so much easier when you don’t have to think about cooking or what’s for dinner! Check out my post Freezer Food for New Moms for more of my process and some recipes. I also use this freezer cookbook and it’s a great resource! Along with freezer meals setting up a meal train or other way for people to bring by meals is huge! Most people want to help out a family with a new baby they just don’t always know what you need.
The newborn stage isn’t effortless, but these newborn essentials make it easier. So keep calm and snuggle on, mamas of littles!
Weigh in mamas! What would you add to this list of newborn essentials?
Thanks for this awesome list. Totally recommend on the Natural Nipple Butter, that product is really a game changer for me.
I love the honesty in the sweatpants and NetFlix.
You know it girl! Haha! Wearing jeans today like a fool.