Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
First Time Mom Ultimate Must-Haves List
56
items Sections
8
Health
Diapering
Sleep
Bath
On the Go
Things to Skip
Health
Game changer! Used this Day 1 at home to stop August from scratching his face. Looks scary at first, but it’s super gentle and way easier than clippers, which are hard to use on tiny, sharp nails.
FANSIDI Baby Nail Clippers Electric Trimmer
Great alternative to full baths in the early days. We used this for quick sponge baths and to help with baby acne around weeks 2-4.
Mustela Baby Cleansing No-Rinse Micellar Water
Absolute must. Other thermometers don’t work accurately for infants. It’s not gross, and babies don’t mind it. You’ll check their temp a lot those first few weeks.
Frida Baby Digital Rectal Thermometer
Even if they don’t get cradle cap, this is a great bath tool. But chances are, they’ll get some, and this keeps it under control from the start.
Frida Baby 3-Step Cradle Cap System
Lifesaver! The only way we got our baby to take amoxicillin for an ear infection. Syringes are hard to use when they’re thrashing around.
Dr. Talbots Paci-Med Baby Medicine Dispenser
Must-have. You don’t want to be running out to get this when you actually need it.
Infants' Tylenol Liquid Pain Relief, Cherry, 2oz
Helps with gas and hiccups. Some babies respond well to it, others don’t, but it’s worth trying.
Little Remedies Gripe Water - No Alcohol, Gluten Free, 4 Fl Oz
Great for when they’re sick, which is always. This one is expensive but doesn’t grow mold like most others. All parts are dishwasher-safe, so you don’t have to deep clean it every week.
Canopy Nursery Humidifier 36HR, 2.5L Tank
Essential! Newborns get congested when they come home, and they spit up more because of it. The manual nose sucker is better than the electric one—it’s cheaper, gives you more control, and is easier to clean. And no, you won’t get snot in your mouth!...
Frida Baby Saline Kit with NoseFrida Aspirator
Diapering
Mixture of Newborn and Size 1 Diapers – Must-have! Babies grow fast, so have both newborn and size 1 diapers on hand. If your baby gets a diaper rash, sizing up can help relieve tightness. If they start getting a lot of blow outs up the back also siz...
Pampers Swaddlers Newborn Diapers Size 1 140 Count
Essential! Get a diaper cream with zinc oxide and something petrolatum-based like Aquaphor for both active rashes and maintenance. Layer diaper cream first and then regular Aquaphor for extra protection.
Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment 14oz + 3.5oz Diaper Rash Cream Set
Game changer! These are perfect for lining the changing pad to catch the frequent peeing at first. They also work well under bassinet sheets to protect from leaks without needing extra waterproof sheets.
I also exclusively use these for changing pad...
Medline Disposable Underpads 23 x 36 Inches
Reusable pads work too if you aren’t a fan of disposable puppy pads. Keep in mind though that they’re much much smaller so difficult to use past 5 months of age.
TILLYOU Waterproof Changing Pad Liners 6 Pack
Diaper pails are seriously a must. Some people say you don’t need them. 100% disagree, houses that just use regular trash cans…you can smell the diapers because there’s no double barrier like there is in the diaper pails. I recommend a foot-pedal one...
Diaper Genie Platinum Pail Stone Grey w/ Refill
A non-cloth changing pad is essential. It’s easy to wipe clean after accidents, which happen often in those early days. We lined ours with puppy pads to prevent pee from spreading. A bit pricier than cloth ones, but totally worth it.
Skip Hop Baby Changing Pad Wipe-Clean Grey
Another solid non-cloth changing pad option.
Jool Baby Waterproof Changing Pad - Gray
Another great diaper pail option that has a foot pedal. We have this one at my parents house and love it.
Munchkin STEP Diaper Pail w/ Arm & Hammer
Sleep
Not a necessity, but it helped so much with sleep and feeding routines. I saw a huge improvement with August after a week. If you want, I can walk you through the basics without paying for the course.
Newborn Sleep Bundle
Doesn’t have to be this exact one, but choose one with a drop-down side for easier nighttime feedings. We used ours until baby could roll, then moved to a crib.
HALO Baby Flex BassiNest Travel Bassinet
MUST HAVE – Get at least 3 sets per sleep space (bassinet, crib, pack & play, etc.). Accidents happen at 2am and you’ll want backups.
Copper Pearl Knit Baby Crib Sheets, Alder
MUST HAVE – WiFi monitors can be hacked and are useless if your internet goes out.
Non-WiFi Baby Monitor
Would highly recommend having this to mount your monitor. Great if you don’t want to use a permanent wall mount. Window ledges and dressers typically aren’t high enough and are difficult to set up to wear you can see the baby.
HOLACA Floor Stand for Baby Monitors 35/63in
We used the nightlight for late feedings, lullabies and yellow light to cue bedtime, and white noise for overnight sleep. All-in-one is super helpful.
Hatch Rest 2nd Gen Baby Sound Machine
We started with swaddle-style Halo sacks and transitioned into regular sleepsacks early. They’re roomy, safe, and come in fleece or cotton.
HALO Micro-Fleece Sleepsack Swaddle, Newborn
We had about 5 per size so we could rotate and always have a clean one on hand. Also sent one to daycare.
HALO SleepSack Cotton Wearable Blanket M
If you feel comfortable, 10/10 recommend a wall mount. Not necessary at first but once baby starts crawling and walking, everything that they can pull over becomes a hazard.
Baby Monitor Wall Mount
Bath
Essential! Just needs to be dye- and fragrance-free. Not all “baby” products are good for sensitive skin. This also helped with baby acne.
CeraVe Baby Bath Set: Wash, Lotion & Ointment
Great for the early days if you have a tub
Angelcare Baby Bath Support Aqua - Under 6 Months
Ideal for when they can sit up but still need some support if you already have a tub.
Baby Bath Seat 6+ Months with 3 Toys
If you don’t have a tub or don’t want to fill up the whole bath with water each time, this was amazing for us! It’s so easy to store and great for apartment living. We only ever had a shower so this was perfect for our tiny home! These are also great...
Stokke Flexi Bath X-Large Bundle White
On the Go
Trust me you want a swivel car seat
Evenflo Revolve360 Extend Convertible Car Seat
Things to Skip
Not necessary. It’s not recommended by doctors, and it never worked for us. Try Gripe Water or prune juice/puree first (always ask your doctor).
Frida Baby Windi Gas Passer, 10 Count (2 Pack)
Skip! Can actually cause infections or perforate their eardrum if pushed in too far. Not worth the risk.
Frida Baby 3-in-1 Nose, Nail & Ear Picker
Skip. You can use the top of a dresser instead of buying a dedicated changing table.
Delta Children Infant Changing Table with Pad
youll never ever load it
OXO Tot Perfect Pull Wipes Dispenser, Gray
Totally unnecessary. Your baby will cry during diaper changes regardless of the wipe temperature, and after a month, they stop caring. It’s just marketing.
Momcozy Baby Wipe Warmer, 4 Temp Modes
Baby towels are nice for sensitive skin, but our baby outgrew them by 6 months. Now, I just use regular towels. Robes? Could never find a purpose for one—I take him straight from bath to getting dressed.
KeaBabies Hooded Baby Towel - Lamb, Bamboo
If the water is too warm for you, it’s too warm for them. You won’t need a thermometer to tell you that. Our rubber duck is cute, but just as a toy, not for temperature.
b&h Baby Bath Floating Thermometer Duck
Master marketers. They convinced moms that 1) baby acne needs treatment and 2) their lotion is the only fix. August had baby acne—it goes away on its own. If you really want to do something, use baby micellar water to keep their face clean. Also, no ...
TUBBY TODD All Over Ointment Baby Cream 2pk
Unnecessary. Just use a regular cup.
Frida Baby Control The Flow Bath Rinse Cup
Regret buying this. It’s marketed as “breathable” but all baby mattresses must be breathable to meet safety standards. Once you put a waterproof cover on it (which you will), that feature is irrelevant. Also marketed as washable… but I’ve never once ...
Newton Baby Crib Mattress & Toddler Bed - Ultra-Breathable, 2-Stage, 5.5" Thick
Daycares often don’t allow them due to safe sleep regulations. Also, around 3–4 months you’ll need to transition baby out of swaddles anyway. We skipped swaddles altogether after week 3 and just used sleepsacks so we wouldn’t have to deal with the tr...
Baby Merlin's Magic Sleepsuit Girls' Habits,Safety
Costs around $1,000, can’t travel with it, and may lead to sleep dependency. It also masks feeding cues, which can negatively impact milk supply. Additionally, it restricts baby movement, which isn’t ideal for motor development or preventing flat spo...
SNOO Smart Sleeper Baby Bassinet with Rocking & White Noise
It caused more anxiety than comfort due to false alarms and poor fit. Plus, it’s extremely expensive. If you tend toward worry, this may make things worse, not better.
Owlet Dream Duo 3rd Gen Smart Baby Monitor
General
Perfect for when the drooling starts; these are soft and absorbent.
Konssy Muslin Baby Bibs 10 Pack Cotton
Helps babies soothe their gums without throwing it off. Any similar style works great.
2 Packs Baby Teething Mitten Toys 0-12M
We use these for everything, not just pacifiers. They help keep toys, pacifiers, and other baby items within reach.
Babygoal Pacifier Clips 8 Pack, Neutral
Sleepers with Two-Way Zippers – Zippers make late-night changes so much easier. Sleepers with two-way zippers (or magnets and built-in mittens) are a game changer, especially for swaddles.
Simple Joys by Carter's 3-pack Sleep and Play
Essential for events! Protect your baby’s ears at noisy places or events. I keep these in my car caddy for emergencies.
BANZ Bubzee Baby Headphones Noise Protection
Transitioning to parenthood can be tough. These cards help set a fair balance for both parents, especially when it comes to the unseen load moms tend to carry.
The Fair Play Deck: Couple's Conversation
Hospital Bag
Option 1. Essential for comfortable feeding and support. Hospital pillows did not cut it.
My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow Deluxe - Soft Rose
Option 2. Essential for comfortable feeding and support. Hospital pillows did not cut it.
Boppy Original Nursing Pillow, Colorful Wildlife
Absolute lifesaver! Postpartum bruising is no joke, and this will help so much.
PT ENDORSED Donut Pillow for Tailbone Pain Relief
Trust me, bring these. The hospital provides mesh underwear and giant pads, but they’re awkward and uncomfortable. These make postpartum recovery much easier.
Always Discreet Adult Incontinence Underwear S/M, 32 Count
Postpartum sweats are REAL. Keep cool and comfortable.
AMACOOL Battery Operated Stroller Fan 3 Speeds
Most newborn hats are too big, but this one actually fits their tiny heads.
Copper Pearl Baby Beanie Hat Top Knot Soft