I have been meaning to write this post for, well honestly, a few years! While I feel like this is advice that every new mama requests, it is a tricky thing to give advice on. Every mama is different. Every baby is different. Then, the more kids I have, the more I realize that they have different preferences. On top of all of that, with each new baby, I realize that so much of what I thought I needed really isn’t a necessity! All that to say, in this post I have written about some of my favorite baby things that we’ve loved. I’ve also reached out to many other moms to see what they recommended as essential. I have cross-checked that list with mine, and this is the condensed version. This is not even close to comprehensive, but to save readers some time, I haven’t listed things that are a given like diapers, socks, clothes etc. If I have mentioned something that is a basic necessity, it is only because I have found a brand/item that has been superior to others I’ve tried.

 

So, here we go. . . (heads up- these are in no particular order!)

 

  • Diaper Bag: This will be a personal preference thing, but I have tried several different styles of diaper bags, and I’ve landed on the JuJuBe Be Right Back as my absolute favorite! It is a backpack style diaper bag with LOTS of pockets! It is designed in a way that, though it has a ton of storage space, it is easy to find everything. It includes a change pad which has come in hand so many times. The material is easy to wipe clean, and it’s even machine washable. Hands down worth the investment! I bought my bag when Eden was a baby. It’s now 4 years old, has went through 3 kids and it’s still in great shape! We hope to have more kids in the future, and I’m pretty confident this is the only diaper bag we’ll ever need.
  • Nose Frida: First time moms, this will more than likely gross you out, but buy it anyway. You will be SO glad you did. And in no time at all, boogers, and many other body fluids, will become a regular part of your day. So if you’re grossed out by this, you won’t be for long! When polling moms to find their essentials, this came up over and over again. It’s a must-have!
  • Baby Carrier: There are so many different types of carriers out there. I’d recommend seeing if there is a babywearing group in your community that allows you to try on different carrier styles. We have a group in Knoxville that even has a lending library where you can borrow carriers! (East Tennessee Valley Babywears for those local mamas who are interested) I have owned and tried many different brands and styles, but my favorite carrier is my Free to Grow Tula. It is a buckle carrier, so I find it very easy to put on. I like wraps, but they do have a learning curve. I like the free to grow style because it grows with baby. I loved wearing Eden, but the more kids we have, the more essential a comfortable carrier becomes.
  • Carseat/Stroller combo: I won’t write much about this because it is definitely a personal preference thing. We have a Chicco Bravo Trio Travel System carseat/stroller combo that we’ve used with all of our kids. Eden and Knox currently have the Graco 4Ever carseat. When shopping for a stroller, I suggest going to a store to look at them so you can push them and feel how heavy they are. A mom has a lot to carry, the last thing you want is a heavy stroller.
  • Sleepers: I know this one is a given, but it took us 3 kids to discover sleepers that zip both ways! We were seriously mind-blown. It makes diaper changes so much easier, and their chest and belly doesn’t get cold from being completely unzipped. Simeon would have me trash all our snap sleepers and replace them with these. Also, I would suggest only getting a few cute outfits from NB-3/6 months. Most of the time, the outfits go unworn because sleepers are just more practical for little ones.
  • Sound Machine: I don’t have a specific recommendation for this one. You can even find free sound machine apps on your phone. Playing white noise has been a game changer for our babies sleep habits! I also like it because now that I have a baby and two noisy toddlers, it helps cancel out the older ones loud noises when Ivy’s napping.
  • Wipeable bibs: We LOVE our Bumkins sleeved bib! It does look like a rain poncho, but it is the best for keeping baby clean. These have been a lifesaver on deputation because we often go out to eat Sunday between services. If it wasn’t for these bibs, we’d have to do complete outfit changes because of the mess from lunch. Just wash them with soap and water, and lay them out the dry. They dry pretty quick!
  • Nursing Cover: A friend introduced me to Lou Lou swaddle blankets about a week before I had Ivy. I wish I would’ve known about these with me other two! They are the softest blankest, perfect for swaddling! They are really large, so I just tie two corners together and use that as a nursing cover. It’s long enough to cover my top and even drapes over my legs. It’s nice to have it double as a blanket and nursing cover.
  • Bassinet: We have our babies sleep in our room for the first 6 months. We’ve used several different bassinets, but we bought this one when Ivy was born, and we love it. It has been great for all of our traveling. I also love how compact it folds up to be. I’m at the point where I don’t want to get rid of and rebuy baby stuff with each child, but SO MUCH STUFF accumulates that it can easily take over the house. I want things that can be condensed and easily stored. This bassinet is great for that. Ivy is no longer in it, and we have it folded up under Eden’s bed.
  • Pack n Play: We’ve used our pack n play a lot for traveling. Now that we have 3 kids, Ivy actually sleeps in a pack n play at home too. There’s just not enough room to fit Eden’s bunk bed and a crib in her room. I don’t mind though. Again, it’ll be nice to not have to worry about storing a crib once Ivy’s out of it.
  • High Chair: After cleaning up so many messes and constantly having to wash the cloth lining of a high chair, I found this high chair, and I’ll never use anything else. It is so easy to clean! We put a command hook on the back of the seat to hang bibs on.
  • Toys/Books: There’s only a billion options for entertainment out there, so I am just going to mention a few favorites. Melissa and Doug is definitely our favorite brand of toy. They are very well made, fun and educational. This banana teether has been all my babies favorite toy, and it has worked wonders at helping them cut teeth. Crinkle paper is always fun for little ones. Hands down, our favorite books are from Usborne. They are so worth the cost!

  • Bath Seat: When I had Eden, I had a large, hard bucket style bath tub for her. That thing was impossible to store! Then I bought this padded sunflower pillow thing that you put in the kitchen sink. It was a neat idea, but it took and eternity to dry. Then a friend gifted me this bath seat when I had Knox. It’s been great! It dries quick and folds up small.
  • Bouncy Seat: With each child we add, I am becoming more and more minimalistic. But I will always want a bouncy seat. They come in handy during those months when baby can’t sit up yet.
  • Cloth Diapers: I know that cloth isn’t for everyone, but we have loved using cloth! I wrote a detailed blog on everything I think you need to know to get started cloth diapering. You can read it here.
  • Products for mama: I have written a very comprehensive list of postpartum essentials on another blog post. You can read that here.

  • Gift Cards: Once you have baby, many different needs will arise that you hadn’t thought of previously. You’ll realize you need way more diapers than you ever thought possible. It’s nice to have some gift cards to help cover those expenses. It’s also nice to have some restaurant gift cards, especially for restaurants that do take out. There will be nights that you’ve barely survived the day and having someone else provide dinner will be a huge blessing.

I hope this list is helpful! Remember, especially if it’s your first, don’t over buy. I’ve gotten rid of so much baby stuff that was barely used. Also, don’t let all the details stress you out. You might think you have to have every element of the nursery just right before baby’s arrival. Then once they get here, the poop on all the cute clothes and blankets you’ve bought, and they just want to sleep cuddled up with you in your bed. It doesn’t take long for our sweet babes to form strong opinions haha! Feel free to comment with what baby items you deem essential.