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Coming up with what you need to buy when baby comes can be a little overwhelming, to say the least! I remember looking at a list a friend had printed for me that named every item I might possible ‘need.’ Whoa. I put off creating my registry for weeks because I had no idea how to decide what I actually needed. With that in mind, I’ve created al list of what I came to use and love the most with all my four babies. It’s a practical list that includes helpful links, pictures and descriptions of why you might want the item as well. Hope this helps you out, mama!
Hygiene
Diapers
Disposable or cloth in both newborn and size one are super helpful to have one hand so you are ready no matter baby’s size at birth or shortly after. They grow quick!
Wipes
Anything that gets those cheekies clean is fine by me!
Diaper cream
My personal fav is a British cream called SudoCreme (which can be found online, though sometimes it’s difficult). It is a zinc oxide cream and always got rid of the worst diaper rashes we encountered. For the more regular situations, I preferred something more natural like coconut oil.
Baby tub
These are helpful in the first several weeks when baby is still tiny. It is softer and feels after for baby so bath time isn’t so traumatic.
Baby washcloth and towel
Soft and just the right size for baby, these can be handy, but aren’t an absolute necessity. I always had one but usually only used it for a couple baths just because I thought it was cute. Ha!
Changing table
For my first two babies I had a changing table and for the second two, I used one. I definitely preferred having a changing table! I used something like this one, with open shelves below the changing table so that I could store my burp cloths, diapers and wipes easily.
Feeding
Bottles
Having a few bottles on hand, even if you are planning to breastfeed, is helpful for pumped milk and to give dad the chance to feed baby. I used and liked both Dr. Browns and Avent. The only downside to Dr. Browns is how many parts it has, which all need to get cleaned!
Breast pump
A pump can help you build up your supply and allow for extra milk on hand.
Nursing pads
You can find disposable or reusable.
Nipple cream
I’ve used Lansinoh Lanolin and it was great. Use it after every.single.feed. Just do it.
Burp cloths
I absolutely love muslin burp clothes. They are absorbent and just the right weight. They are worth the extra money. I personally prefer the medium sized clothes but there are certainly the smaller, crescent shaped clothes as well as the larger blanket size that can be used as a burp cloth or a lightweight blanket.
Nursing Pillow
For me, this was an absolute necessity to be comfortable during feeding time with a bottle or breastfeeding. I ended up going with Dr. Brown’s Gia pillow. It has been great and I highly recommend it. It is worth the money and is durable enough to last for multiple babies. Your back will thank you for getting this.
Nursing cover
Have one ready so that you can comfortably feed no matter who visits in the hospital or at home as well as for when you feel up for going out with baby.
Sleep
Bassinet
Bassinets are helpful in two ways. First, they are so small so can likely fit right next to your bed. This makes getting to baby to feed during the night super convenient those first several weeks. Additionally, bassinets are reassuring too baby. She just came from the very warm and cozy environment of your womb. So, being dropped off in a large crib can be startling. A bassinet is a good transition for baby. Check out my review of 5 of Amazon’s top baby bassinets!
DockATot
Another alternative to a bassinet is a DockATot. I used this with my last baby and it was the dreamiest! It has all the bonuses of the traditional bassinet but I found it much more versatile. It also takes up a lot less storage space between babies! You can read all about the DockATot’s awesome features here!
Crib
There are so many options and finding one that you like the look of is probably the main consideration. However, think about if you want it to transition to a toddler bed after baby is done in a crib.
Sheets
A few plain sets of fitted crib sheets will do the trick! Initially, avoid bold colors and patterns as that can be distracting for baby as she is trying to sleep but has become more aware of her surroundings.
Blankets
I absolutely love these cotton swaddle blankets! You could also try a swaddle sack.
Burp cloths
I love muslin (double gauze cotton) burp cloths! They are my absolute favorite! I love these thick but completely adorable options and I always kept one of these in my bag. I also always had one or two of this style because I find them really soft and I love the large size.
Pacifier
Sucking is a natural soothing habit for babies. They will want to suck on something to calm down and to assist as they go to sleep so be sure to have something ready for them.
Noise machine
I have loved the Hatch Rest sound machine because both sound and color/light can be controlled from my phone! It is also programmable by phone so nap and bedtime can be preset and it just wonderfully comes on!
Monitor
There are so many options here! I have always used a very simple plug in monitor just to be able to hear when baby wakes up. I know some prefer videos and bluetooth and all that….
Entertainment
Play mat
This is my favorite entertainer for the first several months. Baby can lay around, kick, roll and enjoy looking at and interacting with the toys on the mat. We always used this Bright Starts mat because it was cost efficient, did not overwhelm baby with too much going on and none of our babies ever got tired of it.
Rock ‘N Play
For me, this replaced the small bouncer chairs that sat low on the ground. Rock ‘N Plays are about knee height off the ground, are very snug for baby and were easy to move around the house with me.
Baby activity chair
I love an activity chair because it is a safe place for baby to hang out once they can sit on their own and are mobile. When I can’t be right next to them, I love to have an activity chair for them to entertain themselves and watch all that’s going on. Again, we went with Bright Starts and their Bounce Bounce Baby chair. Each of my four babies loved this chair!
Travel
Diaper bag
You can find all sorts of both beautiful and practical bags. I personally love my Skip Hop Diaper bag because it has so much room and I think it is really nice looking.
Car seat and base
You can choose to get an infant car seat that will last until baby is around 35 pounds or you can look into a convertible car seat that will go from newborn to school age. Here are the best convertible car seats for 2019.
Stroller
There are so many options for strollers, as well (however, I have the perfect one to tell you about!). When picking out a stroller, pay attention to things like the type of wheels it has (plastic or air filled), the cost and how easy it is to collapse. That last one is really one to consider and trust me, it may make you want to spend a little more on a stroller that is easy to collapse.
I can personally highly recommend the Moutain Buggy (this is a link to the single). We have used our double Mountain Buggy +one since we had our second child six years ago. (Ummm…update…we now have FOUR and we still use this bad boy all the time). They are super pricey, but we found ours second hand online and it was worth it! I had to drive three hours to get it but no regrets there! If I had to go back and do it again, knowing what I know now, I would even pay full price for it. It is the mother of all double strollers and Mountain Buggies can traverse any ground.
Ours has traveled all over the world with us and made travel life with little ones much more convenient. They are incredible durable, too. Ours has seen a lot of action, rolled a lot of miles and even flown half way across the world several times. And you’d never know by looking at it.
Our Mountain Buggy +one is also very versatile. It can be a single or double stroller without any hassle. This double stroller is not a side by side option but rather a front and back option. We prefer this because side by side stroller can be a challenge to get around in. This little beaut also comes with a newborn cocoon, which is super cozy and makes taking baby out super easy.
Infant travel bed
I loved having an infant travel bed that was tiny in comparison to a pack and play. This is so small that it folds up and can be carried over your shoulder. I have also traveled with my DockATot and don’t have any complaints about that! If you plan to travel with your infant, either of theses are a great option!
Pack and Play
Once baby is older, a Pack and Play can be used for travel. I also use mine as a play space once baby is too mobile for their own good. If they might end up crawling somewhere they could get hurt, I put baby in the pack and play when I am out of the room or when I need to get some things done.
Well, mama, there you go! These are all my favs. My tried and true go-to’s through four kiddos. With the exception of the heavenly Mountain Buggy +one, these items are pretty affordable. All of them have lasted through more than one baby. Each item made the list for those two reasons as well as because they add convenience to my busy life with my little people.
Other articles you may enjoy:
6 Tips To Get Baby To Sleep Through The Night
