The overwhelming and exciting times that come with being a first time parent often make it challenging to figure out which baby items are essential. Sure, there are and infinite number of guides to help you start your registry but for the most part, first time moms add a bunch of items they may have heard of, and hope for the best. Now, having lived through the trials and tribulations of newborn life, I am excited to share with you the products I absolutely could not live without, and those that weren’t a great fit for our family!
NEWBORN BABY ITEMS
NEWBORN BABY PRODUCTS I ACTUALLY USED:
SLEEP AND RELAXATION
You might have realized by now that we absolutely LOVE the Snoo Bassinet from Happiest Baby. This one-of-a-kind innovative technology helps to boost child’s rest by incorporating movement, comfort, and sound. While the price tag is higher than a typical bassinet, the features of the bassinet which help to soothe a fussy baby in my opinion, is worth every penny. Additionally, the Snoo Bassinet has the capability to link to an app on your phone, which gives parents an overview of their baby’s night of rest. The automated features make being a new parent that much easier and gives us the extra few hours of sleep, we cling too.
Most new moms will tell you that the best part of the day is snuggling up with their little ones. However, life still moves and holding a baby all day long isn’t realistic. That’s why I wouldn’t have survived these first few months without the 4moms mamaRoo. This high-tech swing/rocker combo, helps to soothe babies with unique motions that mimic the sensation of being held and rocked. Unlike most rockers or swings, the mamaRoo has a wide variety of movement to choose from including; car ride, kangaroo, free swing, rock-a-bye, and wave. This newborn baby product is one that I actually use and truly would be lost without. The ability to put Harrison down knowing that he is safe and content gives me such peace of mind when I need to get things accomplished around the house!
As hopeful as all new parents are that their baby will sleep perfectly in their crib or bassinet, that is often not the case. Especially early on, most babies appreciate the comfort of being close to their parents as often as possible. The DockATot is a portable bed that allows babies to sleep comfortably from a location of your choice. We love to let Harrison nap and lounge, while being constantly supervised in the DockATot. We often put the DockATot on a large surface in whatever room we are in at the time so that we can keep an eye on him while he rests.
FEEDING
For a new parent, one of the most important qualities a product can have is that ability to save us time. The Baby Brezza is one of the products that truly make being a new parent just a bit easier. This multi-functional formula maker promises the perfect ratio of water to powdered formula, so that your baby is getting the perfect bottle every time. It’s innovative design allows you to put water and formula in a Keurig-style and the end result is a warmed bottle ready for your little one to drink.
Mamas who choose to breastfeed know how important it is to have a quality pump. I have found that the Willow Wearable Hands Free Electric Breast Pump has been a lifesaver as a new mom. This newborn baby product is something I would recommend to any new mom as a must have. Being hooked up to the wall all day can become emotionally draining. With the Willow pump, I am able to go about my day while providing Harrison with the nutrition and attention he needs!
Finding the right bottle for your baby can often be a challenge. Regardless of breastfeeding or formula feeding, having a reliable brand of bottles makes life much easier, especially for moms on the go. Comotomo bottles have been wonderful for Harrison! Their silicon material and wide neck makes cleaning a breeze! The Comotomo bottles are designed to mimic breastfeeding as closely as possible, making them extremely beneficial for breastfeeding moms when they choose to wean.
OTHER MUST HAVE NEWBORN BABY PRODUCTS THAT I ACTUALLY USED
Holding your baby all day is certainly an arm workout. While I love getting toned arms, sometimes you just need to give them a rest. Baby wearing has become one of my favorite ways to be close to Harrison. The comfortable design of the Nuna CUDL makes being on the go with a newborn so easy. Both Harrison and I are content when he is in it and it not only allows me to be more mobile while out and about but I also love wearing it around the house!
Stroller Caddy WITH Cup Holder
If you’re like me and always have a drink (water, coffee, etc.) on hand then you must invest in a caddy for your stroller that comes with a cupholder. Walks are such an important part of our daily routine and I know I would be frustrated walking around without easy access to my drink!
These pacifiers are a MUST for any mama who has issues with pacifiers staying in their baby’s mouth! The unique bulb design of the BIBS pacifiers helps them to stay in babies mouth, unlike many pacifiers whose nipple is more cylindrical. The handle on the front of the pacifier makes for easy in and out access as well as the ability to attach almost any pacifier clip. Harrison loves his BIBS pacifiers and not having to replace it every few minutes makes life for mom much easier! It doesn’t hurt that they also come in lots of fabulous colors!
Any new mom will tell you that one of the most frustrating things is cleaning toys and pacifiers every time they hit the floor. Luckily the Mushie Pacifier Clip has saved me from endless amounts of cleaning off pacifiers. Attaching the clip to your baby allows them to move freely without you worrying about the pacifier dropping to the floor.
One of our favorite things to do is watch how Harrison takes in his surroundings. One of the first ways we were able to see him do so was having him watch the mobile. Many people hang these over the crib but we have found that hanging it over the changing table makes for much smoother diaper changes!
We are such huge fans of these wipes! Since bringing Harrison home, they have been the softest and most efficient wipe brand we have found! They are so gentle on Harrison’s sensitive skin, so we make sure never to leave the house without a pack.
NEWBORN BABY ITEMS YOU CAN DO WITHOUT
Breastfeeding Pillow
There are lots of mom who swear by breastfeeding pillows, however, it didn’t seem beneficial for us. We often don’t need any support but sometimes will just use a standard pillow if needed!
Tons of Newborn Sized Clothing
You would be surprised by how quickly our little ones can grow! Having a nice selection of newborn clothing is definitely necessary, but there is no need to fill an entire wardrobe with them. Chances are you likely won’t get around to putting your baby in half of them with their rapid rate of growth!
2-piece Outfits
We have found that tops that aren’t onesies end up by Harrison’s armpits, so we ended up not using many of the outfits we had for him. Making life as easy as possible with a newborn has become essential for us and using onesies and zip up outfits have become much more efficient for us.
Bottle Drying Rack
The system that has worked best for us in terms of cleaning bottles has been to throw them into the dishwasher. This saved us from needing a drying rack, bottle brushes, and other bottle cleaning accessories.
Formal Diaper Bag
In our short time as parents we have discovered that regular oversized bags and standard backpacks have been just fine for toting around everything we need for the baby! We utilize our favorite packing cubes by stuffing Harrison’s essentials into it and throw them into whichever bag we are using that day.
Changing Table
Adding a changing bed or pad onto any dresser or flat surface has made for a perfect changing table for us! No need for a new piece of furniture!
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What are some of your favorite newborn baby items? Let me know in a comment below!
Am gonna relay this article to my wife so that she will have ideas about what newborn products shall we use. Thanks!