Note: I have since posted a 7 Baby Must Haves for 3-6 months! Be sure to hop over and see the 7 things you don’t want to be without during the next 3 months of your baby’s life!
When I was pregnant, I went over and over the list of baby items that I was apparently supposed to have in my arsenal. However, trying to weed through the pages of necessary items was harder than I thought. If I would have purchased everything on those lists, I would have had to take out a second mortgage on my house. That’s ridiculous! So I thought I would share with you my very favorites in hopes that it helps you when you are making out your must-have list.
After 2 babies, lots of sleep-deprived nights, and coffee-filled mornings, I’ve come to be very thankful for a few certain baby items that have made life just a little bit easier. Some of these things I’ve had with both of my children, while others are new to me this go around and I found myself wishing I had them with my first. I would not want to go through those first few months with a newborn without any of these! So, without further ado, my newborn must-haves!
1. Boppy Pillow
I could not survive the early months of motherhood without this wonderful invention! I’ve used it 7-10 times a day since Ben was born! If you plan to nurse your baby for any length of time, I highly recommend some type of nursing pillow. It will save your arms! I promise you will not regret your purchase! I’ve told my husband several times that this pillow was the best $40 we ever spent!
2. SwaddleMe
Ben has always been a very cold natured baby. He also really liked the tight security that these swaddles provided in those first couple months. He would not sleep without this on, so this is more than a must-have for me! We would not have survived without them.
I recommend having at least 3-4. We had several instances in the middle of the night where he would spit up on it and need a new one. Do yourself a favor and buy at least 3 to start out. I would also only recommend the size small/medium to start out. Ben was a slow grower in the beginning and by the time he would have needed the next size up, he was rolling over and we had to stop swaddling. That was a sad, sad day.
3. Nursing Cover
As a fairly modest nursing mother, I wouldn’t want to be without a nursing cover. I’m not one who particularly enjoys missing out on the action so to speak. When I have guests over, I want to spend time conversing and fellowshipping with them, not hiding in a back bedroom nursing my baby. When Ben was very young, it wasn’t uncommon for him to eat every 1.5-2 hours for 30-45 minutes at a time. I knew I had to have a nursing cover for instances like these.
I know that nursing in public is a controversial. I will say that if my baby is hungry, I’m going to feed him. I like having a nursing cover so that I can stay modest and still nourish my baby.
4. Footed Sleepers with Zippers
Just do yourself a favor and buy at least a couple of these in each size! They make nighttime changes SO MUCH EASIER! It is a nightmare trying to match up the snaps in the middle of the night when you are sleep deprived! If I purchase any sleepers new, I ONLY buy ones with zippers! I’ve learned my lesson. No more snaps!
Also, the first few months of life, my babies have pretty much lived in sleepers. Don’t waste your money on those cute overalls or dresses. They probably won’t wear them very often, if at all. Babies like to be comfortable and these sleepers fit the bill.
5. Swing
I think you definitely need a safe, comfortable place to put baby from time to time. I know as a new mom, you think you will want to hold your baby all the time. However, from time to time you may need to go to the bathroom, fix dinner, or take a shower, all of which will require you to set your baby down for a few minutes. We decided on a baby swing to fill this need.
This is the exact swing we purchased for Ben with gift cards we received from our baby shower. I did tons and tons of research. I knew I didn’t want to spend an arm and a leg (some of those swings are ridiculously overpriced), but I wanted one that would last through more than one baby. This one has been a perfect fit for us!
This swing plugs into an outlet so it doesn’t require those large, expensive batteries. It also has a bouncer attachment (the vibrating bouncer does require batteries if you want to use that feature) so the seat just lifts off and you can transport it around your house. We have loved this feature so much! Our swing base stays in our living room, but the bouncer comes into the kitchen with us for dinner, the family room for movie time, the bathroom with me if I need to shower, etc. It has been a life saver on more than one occasion.
6. Solly Baby Wrap
I didn’t use baby carriers very often with my first son. However, with a 4 year old to chase after, I knew baby carriers would be very beneficial this go around.
I had the ever popular Moby Wrap with my first son, Caleb. It was great and worked just fine, but I had a July baby and IT. WAS. HOT. The Moby Wrap is made of extremely thick fabric that doesn’t breathe. I knew I wanted a more breathable wrap for my second son so I did some research and found the Solly Baby Wrap and I’m so glad I did! It’s very similar the the Moby except made from a much lighter fabric. I never feel hot or worry that my son is getting overheated. It’s also a small business run by a mom like you and me which I loved! This wrap is so much better than a Moby. If you interested in a wrap, I highly recommend the Solly Baby.
If you are looking to save money on your must-have baby items, I highly recommend registering for an Amazon baby registry. Ordering on Amazon makes it easy for your friends and family to purchase items you really want and need. Plus, Amazon offers a 15% completion discount! I was able to combine this discount with some gift cards I received at my baby shower to purchase most of what I needed completely FREE! 🙂 You can create your Amazon Baby Registry here.
These are the six most loved items I had for my baby the first 3 months of his life. What are some baby items you couldn’t live without?
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Natalie says
This is a great list! I always like to hear what is actually used, especially by a mom with multiple littles. And while the Solly is more expensive than the others, I am constantly thinking about toting around a baby in Texas Summer, and the price becomes a non-issue. LOL.
Kaitlin says
Thanks, Natalie! The Solly wrap is definitely one of my top 5 baby items! It’s so much better than the Moby, especially in the heat!