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New Mom - what do you actually need?
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items Overwhelmed with postpartum, newborn, and baby things on the market? I was too. I ordered about every single postpartum and newborn item in a panic. Here is a list of the ones I actually used, re-used, ordered more of. The best of the best!! Don't pa...
Sections
4
Postpartum
Newborn Days (0-2 month)
3-6 months
6-12 months
Postpartum
Let's start with postpartum….
Early days I tried a few different brands of diapers. These I found to be the comfiest. Stretchy so they are tight enough but not too tight - anything too tight made me majorly uncomfortable. These were the goldilocks!
Always Discreet Incontinence Underwear - Maximum - S/M - 14ct
LOVED these!! Once I was okay being out of a diaper, this was phase 2. So incredibly comfy. I wore longer than I needed to because they were stretchy and felt good. You can easily add in pads, cooling pads, etc.
Frida Mom Disposable Postpartum Underwear Boy Shorts Briefs - Regular 8ct
A two-in-one ice pack and pad. Used these quite a bit in those early early days while I healed.
Frida Mom Instant Ice Maxi Pad - 8ct
Just trust…layering these on top of pads was so helpful. Great for those early healing days. I would line up 3-4 like slices of salami on a subway sandwich across my pad (haha)
Tucks Medicated Hemorrhoidal Pads - 100ct
Helpful to spray on top of the Tuck's Cooling Pads early on. Definitely recommend!
Dermoplast Pain Relief Spray
A need. Most Frida Mom products I used I was a big fan of.
Frida Mom Upside Down Peri Bottle
Genuinely the BEST pajamas. My girlfriend gifted me these. I wore them 24/7 postpartum (and still do). I would exclusively do laundry to make sure these were clean for every night. Great for nursing.
Eberjay Long PJ Set
This girlie was my best friend for early nursing sessions. There's an ice pack section in the middle of the donut. I'd use it with and without the ice pack!
Frida Mom Perineal Comfort Cushion - 3ct
A need if you are breastfeeding. Don't ask questions. I would use after every feed and it works wonders!!
Earth Mama Organic Nipple Butter, Nipple Cream for Breastfeeding Mothers, 2 fl oz
I found this book very helpful. It is VERY straight to the point with no frills. Only necessary information and a good place to start when you are in a “what is going on” mode.
Moms on Call | Basic Baby Care 0-6 Months | Parenting Book
The best body oil. I loved using this in late pregnancy and early postpartum. Feels like a little bit of self care you can do easily and smells so refreshing.
OSEA Undaria Algae Body Oil - 5 fl oz - Ulta Beauty
The BEST lotion to pair with Osea body oil! Again, felt like such a lovely small way to do some self care in those late pregnancy, early postpartum days. Makes you feel like you're at a spa.
OSEA Undaria Algae Body Lotion - 5 fl oz - Ulta Beauty
My favorite nursing bras! Easy access, cheap and comfy. I wore these 24/7 around the house in those constant nursing days!
Women's Cotton Blend Plunge Bralette - Auden™
Get a good, comfy, cozy, robe. Just do it.
Women's Cozy Plush Long Wrap Robe
Heating pads major slay all day. Great for uterus pain management and warming up boobs before a nursing session.
Sunbeam Premium Machine Washable Integrated Heating Pad with Compact Storage - Standard Size
Newborn Days (0-2 month)
Early day needs. Little loves are needing more during this time frame, so you'll see more items here. A lot of these we use throughout every phase!
Main pump I would use when needed. Works great, I know many women who use this and have good experiences.
Spectra S1 Plus Portable & Rechargeable Electric Breast Pump
Portable pump which was great to bring with me for bachelorettes and travel needs. Much easier to pop in while I was hanging with baby versus hauling the Spectra around. For an on the go Mom, this is a better option.
Momcozy M5 Hands-Free Wearable Electric Breast Pump Set
Breastmilk storage bags for the freezer we used. Would recommend!
Lansinoh Breast Milk Storage Bags
I did not know this until too late…You NEED to figure out your correct flange inserts for pumping to get the best results. I recommend getting a set of different sizes so you can try out multiple sizes and figure out what works best for you.
Flange Inserts for S9 Pro/S12 Pro - 4 Pcs
I lived, breathed and died by this pillow for nursing in early days. This is an updated boppy pillow version than the one I had, but assuming it is even better than the older version!
Boppy momkind Nursing Pillow - Taupe Gingham Check
Loved using this on the go as a sound machine. We also used this in his bassinet while he slept in our room for the first 4.5 months!
Hatch Go - Portable Sound Machine for Babies
Our FAVORITE blankey. Used all the time in early days and still use it on the regular almost a year later! Cozy for contact naps and all the things.
CozyChic® Scalloped Receiving Blanket
Used these egg lights a ton in early days. My husband and I called it ‘reading by the campfire’ when we would turn it on between us to read a bit after baby went to sleep. I used these during middle of the night feeds and still use them all the time ...
Egg Lights for middle of the night feeds
So helpful to file down their baby shark razor nails in early days! Once he was 6 months old we moved to a baby nail clipper, but this was amazing for early months.
Frida Baby Electric Nail Buffer - Baby Nail File, Nail Clippers + Trimmer Kit
I'm a Frida baby stan. Great thermometer!
Frida Baby 3-in-1 True Temperature Digital Thermometer
This helped a lot with little bub's belly / gas problems in early days. Would really help him remove gas bubbles when he was really fussy.
Mylicon Infant Gas Relief Colic Dye Free Drops - 1 fl oz
So helpful to get boogies out of little babies noses! They can only breathe through their nostrils, so any blockage can be upsetting for them. Used this a lot over the winter with our babe!
oogiebear Dual Nasal Booger and Ear Wax Remover for Newborns, Infants and Toddlers
Use allllllll the time in cold months. Helps to break up their snot / mucus in their little noses! Spray this than use the nasal snot sucker (trust) works like a charm!
Frida Baby NoseFrida Saline Mist - 3.4 fl oz
A need. The electric one works well too, but honestly, this one is cheaper and works just as well. We use so much in cold months to clear babies snot!
Frida Baby Baby Nasal Aspirator NoseFrida The Snotsucker
Thought these were unnecessary, but no, just get one.
Diaper Cream Applicator Shifting Sand One Size
My preferred diaper cream!! Always used and never had a diaper rash for baby boy. Much cheaper than Tubby Todd and works better. I also use on little scratches, etc. Clears everything up in a flash!
Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment Advanced Therapy Skin Protectant -
The best carrier. I love SO much. BIG fan of baby wearing for hands free time in early days or bopping around the neighborhood / anywhere! So cute and soooo useful.
The Monarch Carrier - Natural Ivory
Okay…every baby is different with swaddles, but these ones worked great for our baby. Especially for the earliest days. So cozy and comfy and secure.
HALO Innovations Microfleece Sleepsack Swaddle Wrap - Flower - Newborn
Okay….every baby is different with swaddles. These and halo ones worked best for us. Halo ones first when really little, these ones when he was a little bit older. You can put one arm out then two arms out so it's helpful for transitioning too!
Sleepea® 5-Second Baby Swaddle
Babies are all so difference with pacis too! Baby boy initially loved the Avent Phillips pacis, but then switched over to these and has never looked back. Still loves them…scared to cut them some day woof
Itzy Ritzy Natural Rubber Pacifier - 0-6 Months - Coconut & Toast - 2pk
If you are using bottles at any point, we've loved the Dr. Browns ones.
Dr. Brown's 8oz Anti-Colic Options+ Narrow Glass Baby Bottle with Level 1 Slow Flow Nipple & Silicone Sleeve - 2pk
So helpful to tow along in your diaper bag and change baby bean wherever! Used this a lot on the go in early days.
Gathre Portable Changing Mat - Camel
I don't make the rules….but this is the BEST baby playmat. Not aethetically pleasing, but seriously…baby crack
Fisher-Price Glow and Grow Kick & Play Piano Gym Baby Playmat
We loved our loveevery play mat!! Sad day when he grew out of this. Used allllll the time.
The Play Gym
Used this as our infant car seat. No notes!! Have had a great experience. Still using at 10 months, although he is tall so we are looking to switch to a toddler seat soon here.
Nuna PIPA™ Aire RX + PIPA Relx Base Infant Car Seat
Our main stroller. We have the V2 version (extremely similar). We really enjoy it, but is it quite clunky. LOVED the bassinet attachment for early days. Also, great storage below. Lastly, big fan of how it grows with your family and can have two kidd...
UPPAbaby VISTA V3 Stroller
Loved this bassinet attachment for early days walks!! Take that baby out! I will say, it looks like the V3 version lets you put the main stroller seat all the way back, so this bassinet might be unnecessary with V3 - I would check before buying!
UPPAbaby Bassinet V3 Stroller Attachment
We had a winter baby, so I loved using this in early days. Didn't use it a TON, but when we did leave the house on the go, was great.
CozyGanoosh for Aria and Mesa (All Models)
The changer we have for baby boy. No notes, love it! Easy to wipe down. We have cotton covers for it so it's a bit warmer for him.
Keekaroo Peanut Changer
3-6 months
Just a few items that ended up being so helpful as he got a bit older!
A need, not a want. Baby boy would chill in this bad boy for stints of time so we could cook, clean, have hands free! Loved it.
BabyBjorn Bouncer Tri-Fabric - Beige
great baby mattress. once he moved into his own room at 4.5 months we have used this. I've had a nap or two on it with him and can attest it's comfy ;)
Crib Mattress | Newton Baby
When we transitioned out of the swaddle we moved over to these (after two arms out of the sweet pea swaddles). He still sleeps in these today. LOVE!
Kyte Baby Sleep Bag Wearable Blanket 1.0 Tog
Biiiiiiig fan of this in our household. So many hours of play in here so Mom and Dad could cook and have hands free.
Skip Hop Silver Lining Cloud Activity Center - Gray
So helpful once teething days start. These got us through many a car ride / stroller times!
Baby Teether Safe Silicone Chewy Straw Toy Multi-color Baby Molar Stick Teething Toys For Infant Toddler 6+2
Okay we did get this until baby boy was a bit older…but we LOVE it. So much more lightweight and easy to get around, toss in the car, take on the go, etc. I have friends who used this as their primary stroller and loved it…the downside is it does not...
Nuna TRVL™ Lightweight Stroller
6-12 months
A few more items that we added to the mix once he was a bit older and evolving into eating real foods, etc!!!
If you are switching to formula at any point…this has been a game changer for us. Mixes the formula and warms for you in SECONDS. Seriously….if you have to pick between this and the bottle washer, pick this.
Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced Formula Dispenser - White
I'll endorse this with the caveat - it is not necessary - but, it is quite helpful and convenient when/if you switch to all bottles! But…if you have to pick one baby brezza item…pick the formula maker.
Baby Brezza Bottle Washer Pro - White
Love our Lalo Bites things! Great for when food comes into the picture
Lalo 2pk Silicone Baby Spoons - Sage
LOVE using this so baby boy can sit at the table with us! There's pros and cons to this vs a typical high chair, but would say I endorse this!
The Hook-On Chair
Use everyday for foodies with our little one!
First Bites Full Kit
Loved this spoon for early eating days. He chomped on this lots in those first meals!
Busy Baby Silicone 2-in-1 Teether & Training Spoon
Planning to get this as the next size up car seat for baby boy! We've liked Nuna brand this quite a bit. I will say these are spendier than other options, so this is just what I know, but doesn't mean other less pricey options might be just as great!
Nuna RAVA™ Flame Retardant–Free Convertible Car Seat
Thinking we're gonna order this for this upcoming winter as well. Good for us to still get outside with the pup and baby even in the freezing cold!! Taking a page out of the Netherlands and always taking our baby outside in cold weather lolll
UPPAbaby CozyGanoosh Fleece Lined Footmuff
Got this reco for next size up car seat from a bestie & her sister!
Evenflo Revolve 360 Slim 2-in-1 Rotational Convertible Car Seat - Canton Black