Hi Mamas!
We’re here today to chat with you about essentials! Below you’ll find a list of the Top 26 NECESSITIES for the first year of your little one’s life! It was tough to narrow down with all of the amazing products out there, but these are the products our team at How 2 Mom couldn’t live without! Click on either the title or image for direct links to make the shopping experience quick and easy!
You may be thinking, “You have to be joking!”…but boy does this work! And WAY better than the old school bulb syringes you can find in most baby safety kits. It takes some getting used to, but overall makes the process of clearing little one’s nose much more efficient.
These chairs are phenomenal soothers for baby. The low vibration settings help soothe newborns quickly and ease them off into a peaceful sleep. Just what us Mamas need for a mid-day break! This product should not be used for night sleeping or while unattended.
3. Sleep Swaddles/Sleep Bags/Swaddle Blankets
With the recommendation “Back is Best” all or one of these items are a huge essential. Most hospitals will give you a fleece sleep swaddle, but Amazon has tons you can purchase as well! Having more than just the one is highly recommended! These are carried in Cotton or Micro Fleece depending on the season, or you can choose from the swaddle blankets and do the wrapping yourself, arms in or out depending on age. You won’t be disappointed. The ones you can find on Amazon are high quality and come in tons of adorable patterns to snuggle your precious bundle into. As baby moves on to rolling over, Sleep sacks/bags are a great next step! This way you know they are kept warm and cozy without having a blanket just yet. We recommend the Kyte brand Sleep Bags...so soft and high quality!
Nobody wants to think about it, but...little ones catch colds and bugs just like we do! Having a humidifier can make ALL the difference in helping keep them comfortable when they have a cough or stuffy nose (remember to keep that Nose Frida handy!). The plus side to this model is it's also a diffuser for those oils! We will talk about those in just a bit!
This is a favorite among many moms! It keeps baby propped up and comfortable on the springy seat and it's a bit smaller for storage than many of the larger tubs out there. Also, it has a small hook on one end so you can easily hang it up to dry. It works from newborn to around 6 mo of age so you are safe until little one can start sitting up on their own. Plus, it is very easy to clean unlike some of the plush baby flower/sling baths.
You don't technically need both, but we used them for different reasons! It was tough to have the bulky Pack n' Play in a smaller bedroom. We also loved the convenience of the co-sleeping bassinet for middle of the night feedings. The Pack n' Play is a HUGE favorite among mamas because you can fold it up and take it anywhere! Little one needs a nap? Pack n’ Play. Mom and Dad need a few minutes to get ready for work but don’t want baby crawling/running around? Pack n’ Play. The multi-use models are great as they grow from baby to toddler. Once you get the hang of it, they are so simple to fold and bring along anywhere; whether it be to friend’s home, on trips to the cabin, or when visiting Grandpa and Grandma. You name it, and the Pack n’ Play has a use for it!
The team at How 2 Mom cannot stress enough how amazing these are!! You can find tons of different models listed online or find one in store to suit your needs. Price ranges vary, but you can find some great ones that aren’t too spendy! These allow for peaceful naps and night’s sleep for your little one and you are still able to bustle around the home and get things done without disturbing them.
Seems like some obvious items, but buy MANY of both!! It always feels like when you need a paci, they have all disappeared somehow! Keep one in your purse, the car, the diaper bag, the nursery, on your night stand, ect. You can NEVER have too many 🙂
This wonderful contraption is useful in so many ways! It can help soothe your loved one to sleep, or keep them entertained with sweet music and mobiles 🙂 There are numerous models with different modes. Some are battery operated and others are electric. Also highly recommended if you purchase a battery operated one, rechargeable batteries! These swings get a ton of use and are worth their weight in gold 🙂
This recommendation may sound obvious like the Pacifiers, but again, you CANNOT have too many! We recommend keeping them everywhere. Lots of babies end up having some reflux in the early months as their little tummies are getting used to increasing volumes of milk/formula. Spit up happens! Having a lot of burp cloths/rags for back-up is necessary!
These supports are essential for when little one doesn’t quite have their strength built up yet! Not only does the Bobby help when placed around mom’s waist for nursing, but it can assist in propping baby up on the floor during playtimes! Once they have gained that neck strength, the Bumbo is a must have. This allows for baby to work on gaining their core strength so they can eventually sit up on their own!
12. Baby Carrier
There are MANY on the market! At How 2 Mom, we recommend having a comfortable “wrap” version such as the Baby K’tan, and a more sturdy version such as a ErgoBaby or Baby Bjorn. When choosing, prices really do vary, however expensive models include perks! For example, both the Baby K’tan and Ergo Baby 360 allow for multiple positions. It’s so nice to have a carrier that can grow with baby.
These are a MUST HAVE! Chicco makes a wonderful version that can clip on to any flat counter space. The really nice thing about it is that the fabric lining is comfortable for baby, and can be removed and thrown in the wash for easy clean up! Just be sure to read the instructions because you want to be sure to attach only to recommended surfaces.
These Aden + Anais cotton bibs are great quality and are great for spit up and drool They wash up great and dry quickly. The Tommee Tippie bibs come in SO convenient when baby is a little bigger and spills...which he/she will!! They clean up very easily with a quick wash in the sink too! Much easier than throwing them in the wash after every meal.
A favorite of so many moms, Pampers Swaddlers are AMAZING! These are super comfortable for your baby and fit their cute little rumps so well there are VERY minimum blow outs (it happens no matter what...so always keep at least 2 extra outfits with you Mama!). However, my kiddos rarely had any diaper rash issues, and I attribute that to these diapers!
Of course you’ll be needing a diaper bag! These come in all sorts of models so do some shopping around to find the one you feel will best suit your lifestyle. Whether it be a larger bag you can pack tons into; or a smaller backpack version that is simple to travel with and takes up less space. Enjoy finding the right one for you! It’s going to be coming along for the ride for quite some time 🙂
17. Boon Grass Drying Rack, Bottle Brush & Soap
Here are some helpful tools for washing and drying all the baby bottles, pacifiers, and any other small items that need washing! The soap is free of any chemicals and the whole rack is top rack dishwasher safe so it is easy to clean! There are adorable add on trees that help with drying bottle nipples or filters as well.
These are great for all babies, but especially those that end up with some reflux issues! The filter helps keep any bubbles out of the mild and keeps their tummies more at ease. Definitely a must have bottle!
Every baby loves a nice warm bottle. Enjoy the perks of this easy model that comes with a handy instruction book about all different bottle sizes and volumes so you will know just how to heat your milk safely for baby; and also a small cup for sanitizing pacifiers by steam.
Two common favorites among many Mama’s are of course the Medela Breast Pump or the Spectra! Be sure to check with your insurance during pregnancy, more companies have started covering the cost for a Breast Pump if one is “prescribed” by your provider! How awesome is that?! There are also companies that ship pumps direct to you home if you call them with a prescription...cool right? Check out www.milkmoms.com ! Make sure you stock up on breast pads as well...you never know when another baby may cry in public and you could “spring a leak”! ;)* Another hint for breastfeeding moms: DRINK WATER!! This really helps with your milk supply and is overall very important when taking care of yourself and baby. Try to drink ½ of your body weight in ounces daily!*
You are going to be amazed with how fast your little ones nails will grow. You will want to keep up on clipping and filing them so they don't scratch their precious face. We preferred filing over clipping, but this kit provides both!
Of course we want to make sure your little one is getting fresh and clean without toxins coating their delicate skin. There are a large variety of natural baby soaps out there, but are they affordable? As moms, we want to know that we aren’t using any harmful chemicals on them. Bath time can be such a fun time with baby!
We recommend high quality and pure essential oils. Be sure that when using on baby, your oils are diluted in pure fractionated coconut oil. Also, a wonderful hint; use the humidifier suggested above as a diffuser for your oils...that is the best! That way you can diffuse helpful oils right into the air! 🙂
Having a video monitor is wonderful in so many ways! It helps mom and dad get a much better nights sleep especially when little one moves to their own room (which happens way too fast!). There are wonderful models that can play soothing noises for baby, have zooming/panning options for optimal viewing, and have 2 way sound so that you can talk to your baby through the machine itself!
This list hast to be an odd number because we CANNOT leave out this must have item. A handy-dandy cooler bag that you can fold up and store in the freezer! The sides of the entire bag are lined with freezer packs which makes it very well insulated to keep breastmilk or snacks cool and fresh. Another perk of the compact size is that you can bring it along to work and store it in a small freezer during the day to transport milk home to baby at the end
Little one's cute rump is bound to get irritated at lease once in their first year of life, why not be prepared?! Boudereaux's Butt Paste and Earth Mama Organic Diaper Balm are both lifesavers! Organic based materials free from Dyes, Preservatives, ect. Baby will be feeling better in no time once you slather some of this on his/her behind. We've also included my favorite go-to lotion that can also be used as diaper cream. Again, free of any harmful toxins or chemicals. Plus, it has a lavender scent from the same high quality essential oil line.
There you have it Mamas!
These are 26 of the items the team at How 2 Mom couldn’t live without!! If you are thinking something may be missing from this list, be sure to check out some of our other previously published blogs/lists.
Also be sure to check out the links and comment below if you have any questions. We would love to hear from you; what were some of YOUR favorite items as a new mom that you would recommend?
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