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| Aden and Anais blankets also make great photo props |
Before Baby:
Clothes: the biggest regret I have is buying a bunch of cute maternity clothes, and then realizing that I can't nurse in them. A lot of nursing clothes are also maternity friendly, so I would suggest trying to pick things that can work for you not only during pregnancy but afterwards as well. One of my first purchases were the belly bands that are supposed to cover the gap in your pre-pregnancy jeans and accommodate for your growing belly. I hated them, they always rolled up or down and were never really comfortable, so I wouldn't recommend those. If the weather isn't too hot I would just wear a long stretchy tank top under my regular shirts to cover my belly if they weren't quite long enough. I know a lot of people are hesitant, but I LOVED maternity jeans. I preferred the ones with an elastic waistband and not the ones with a full panel. Also maternity maxi skirts are great even after you deliver. I bought a few of the Liz Lange T-shirt dresses and I still wear them, they had enough stretch for my pregnant belly, but still look normal when you aren't pregnant.
Pregnancy Pampering Kit: I love the Earth Mama Angel baby line. They have a nice little gift kit that is a great way to try the products and see what you like.
Re-evaluate Your Beauty Routine: Some babies have really sensitive skin, and many beauty care products have a lot of crazy chemicals in them. Even though they are being used on you, your baby is always touching/kissing/chewing on you and being exposed to these chemicals. I was never really into natural or organic things until I had a sweet little baby with a rash on her face. Now is the time to use up your old beauty products and replace them with more natural alternative as you empty one out.
Re-vamp Your Cleaning Products: Like your beauty routine a lot of cleaning products aren't baby friendly. I love the Method and Mrs. Meyers cleaning products. Also don't forget your laundry room, some people only wash their baby clothes in a baby friendly soap, but forget that they cuddle you in your clothes. Use a baby-friendly laundry soap for all of your clothes. Dreft is popular but full of all sorts of bad scents and chemicals. I love the Tide Free & Clear for everything I wash. I also stopped using dryer sheets. Instead I use Wool Dryer Balls and they are amazing. They get rid of static and collect the lint/hair and if you want to add a little scent you can put a few drops of your favorite essential oils on them. For a stain remover I use Babyganics which saves all those cute baby clothes from poo explosions. Fels Naptha bar soap is also really effective for rubbing out stains.
Maternity Pillow: I loved the Snoogle. Since my husband was deployed my entire pregnancy it was nice to have something to snuggle, and closer to my due date it was a lot easier to get comfortable when I could fluff here and there to prop up a belly or leg. David sent it to me as a gift, so I didn't realize how expensive it is. I am sure there are cheaper options or a DIY option to make your own. I brought my Snoogle to the hospital for Cora's delivery and it made it so much easier to get comfortable in the hospital bed and could double as a nursing pillow
Maternity Photos: take as many as you can! You won't feel like taking pictures, but you will absolutely love looking back on them after you deliver.
Pregnancy Book: I read a couple books while I was pregnant and a lot of blogs and internet articles. There's really only one book that stands out to me as a really awesome read. It is called Origins by Annie Murphy Paul. It goes into the science of birth origins and how what happens during pregnancy determines your baby's future health.
Hypnobabies: I love love love hypnobabies. I can't say enough about this program. Disclaimer: I didn't do the class or read the book, I just listened to the tracks, but I think it made a world of difference. I had a really difficult and issue filled labor and delivery (that a hundred times over should have been a c-section) and this really helped me make it through with ease (and all natural on top of that!). Unlike other popular birthing methods taught in classes, I love that hypnobabies focuses more on how you feel and react rather than a step by step regimen of what you should do. That way if something unexpected comes up or interventions are necessary, you will be able to handle it in the moment and your whole plan won't be destroyed. The most important thing is learning how to keep your body and mind calm and relaxed, no matter how you give birth, so hypnobabies works well for natural, epidurals, inductions, or c-sections. I listened to the tracks when I was in labor and I was able to sleep through most of it at home before going in at 8cm to push with Eisley. Theo and Cora I was induced with Pitocin, and Theo took two days. I was able to get through without pain meds and was able to stay calm and relaxed.
Youtube Birth Videos: I watched A LOT of birth videos on youtube. I think it was extremely helpful in understanding the stages of labor and delivery and it gave me the knowledge that every single birth is different. It helps you recognize what you are going through in labor and see that it is normal and nothing is wrong. I feel like the more knowledge you have going into it (of the good, bad, and ugly), the more confident and calm you can be in delivery. You will be able to make fast, educated decisions and feel more empowered in being a leader of your delivery instead of just a patient being told to do things blindly. I watched mostly natural birth videos, but also a few others just to see the other options.
Waterproof Mattress Covers: I bought two, and here is why: You are going to have a lot of crazy stuff happen to your poor bed when you have a new baby. A lot of that happens at 3 in the morning after a tiring nursing session. I set up my bed so there was a waterproof mattress pad, a fitted sheet, a second waterproof mattress pad, and a second fitted sheet. When something happens to the first set, you just peel off the sheet and mattress pad, toss it in the wash, and your bed is already set up so you don't have to worry about making a bed at 3 in the morning. It is smart to get this on there pre-baby because you never know if you are going to be one of those women whose water breaks in bed!
For the New Mom:
Good Nursing Bras: you are going to live in these for a year. You might not have the time or energy to change before bed so look for something that doesn't have an underwire. I really like target's Gillian & O'Mally Sleep bras and nursing bras. I would buy 2-4 of each and just one bra with an underwire if you want to wear when you go out. I also wore one of the sleep bras (like a nursing sports bra) to the hospital for delivery. I wanted to be comfortable but not naked, and it was nice to be able to easily nurse right after delivery. THESE nursing bras from Amazon are also super comfortable and I wear them at home all the time.
Plenty of Nursing Shirts: you are going to be changing a lot (spit up and leaks happen) so you need quite a few. Not everyone uses nursing shirts; there's several tricks you can use (tank top under a normal shirt, pull one up and one down) but having a shirt that is designed for nursing is really nice and convenient. I personally think they are worth it, but then again I nurse a lot in public with and without a cover. I love the H&M mama nursing shirts and Latched Mama.
Pads and Panty Liners: You may bleed for a few weeks and you can't use tampons. Some mom bloggers swear by Depends for your first few days home.
Diaper Bag/Backpack: It's nice to have something that is your style but is very functional. I would say avoid the cutesy little ones with cartoon animals on them and get one that looks like a purse. You are going to be using this as your purse for a few years. JuJuBe makes cute diaper purses. Their B.F.F. style has adjustable straps that make it so you can carry it purse style, as a messenger, or as a backpack. We have this cheap backpack from Amazon and it has been great.
Breastfeeding Essentials:
Breast Pads: I like the Lansinoh disposables. I couldn't stand the ones that don't have the little adhesive strips. You do enough adjusting after nursing and trying to rearrange your nursing pads is a huge pain. I tried the washable medela cotton pads, and the silicone Lily pads. I did not like either because I was a heavy leaker. If you aren't leaking much these would be affordable and nice to have. As for the disposables, Feel free to buy a bunch of these, in the beginning I used at least 6 a day, now we are down to 1 a day so it's much better! Hopefully you won't be as leaky as me.
Nipple Cream: Lansinoh makes a decent Lanolin cream, but I really like the Motherlove diaper rash and thrush cream (which can be used on nipples too) and the Earth Mama Angel Baby nipple butter. You can also use coconut oil.
Breast Pump and Storage Bottles and Bags: even if you are going to breastfeed, you will still need a breastpump at times. Your insurance should cover these items so that can save you a ton of money! I love my Medela Freestyle. I use the Medela bottles, I use only about 6 because I only use them to pump. I like to store the milk in the Lansinoh bags more than the medela bags, they lay nice and flat especially when freezing. Also Eisley didn't really like the medela bottles/nipples so we used a different kind. I also have the Spectra S1plus. It pumps really well, and is portable, but if you are looking for something super portable the freestyle is a better choice because I was able to just stick it in my scrubs pocket and pump on the go. I've heard good things about the freeme pump.
Haaka Pump: The Haaka pump is a silicone pump that is amazing! You just suction it on the other side when you are breastfeeding and it catches your letdown and does some passive pumping. It is a great way to build up a small stash without actually pumping.
Hot/Cold Pads and Soothies Gel Pads: I love the lansinoh 3 in 1 therapy hot/cold packs. Also the Soothies gel pads are good when you first start breastfeeding and are sore. They aren't MUST haves but they are nice to have on hand if you need them. I used them a lot when I had nursing issues with Eisley, but not with Theo and Cora.
Nursing Cover: I had an udder cover and I HATED it. It doesn't really work with a squirmy baby and it looks like an ugly apron that screams, "I'm a nursing cover". I bought a nursing infinity scarf, but I still haven't figured out how to use it. Instead I made this fabulous jersey knit cover that was so easy to sew, and it looks like a shawl instead of a nursing cover. The instructions are here. It is lightweight, cool and its a lot easier to tuck under your arm to stop baby from flailing and pulling it off. I also love that it covers your back especially if you pull your shirt up to nurse. I didn't really use a cover with Cora and Theo, but it would still be nice to have when you are on a plane or something.
Nursing Pillow: I hated the Boppy because once I got the baby in position, the pillow would always slip away from my body and she would fall into to resulting crack. It was so frustrating. I found the mybreastfriend which has an awful name, but it was more comfortable and the strap held it secure against my body. It made the perfect little shelf to prop baby on so I could have my hands free to eat or do other things, and the pocket was great to store some extra pads and cream. I guess the boppy now has a pillow with a strap but I haven't tried it.
Nipple Shield: We were dealing with a tongue tie and lip tie so I used one for almost two weeks straight. A nipple shield is a great way to try and heal a sore or cracked nipple without committing to pumping. This can be something you don't buy unless you have issues, and you might just get one from a lactation consultant anyway since they can help you find the right size for you.
Feeding Bottles with Slow Flow Nipples: I wouldn't stock up on one type of bottle because you never know what your baby will like. I also really only used one bottle for feeding and I would just wash it out in between. If you are exclusively using bottles you may need more. Eisley liked the Avent bottle.
Bottle Drying Rack: I absolutely love our Boon Lawn. It accommodates baby items of all sizes and has cute little accessories. I really like having a dedicated place for baby items to dry rather than trying to hunt for them buried under all the other dishes.
Health and Hygiene:
Vitamin D: Breastfed babies need a vitamin D supplement, In stores and what they prescribe at the hospital is the Enfamil D.Vit-Sol liquid. You have to give them a full 1 ml dose which was a mess and it made Eisley puke every single time. It also has artificial flavoring and caramel color (which is so unnecessary). Instead I found the Carlson Baby D Drops they have less ingredients, never cause baby to throw up, and you only have to give them a single drop a day. You can put the drop on your nipple right before feeding or on the tip of the pacifier before putting it in your baby's mouth. Plus they are cheaper than the Enfamil brand, so what is not to love?
Baby Shampoo and Wash: I love the Burt's Bees Baby bee shampoo and wash. I would recommend just buying one that is a shampoo/wash combo. I wouldn't stock up on stuff until you know what you like. We just buy as we go.
Baby Lotion: My favorite is Burt's Bees Baby Lavender Calming lotion. We use this especially on Theo because he has sensitive skin and some eczema.
Baby Sunblock: Eisley has a horrible reaction to the Aveeno baby sunscreen, so now we use the Kiss My Face natural mineral sunscreen for babies. They have a lotion or spray option as well as 30 or 50 SPF. It has been rash free for us thankfully and the only downside with any mineral sunscreen is that it leaves a white film on your skin instead of absorbing completely, however this isn't so bad because you can make sure that you have full coverage. Remember that what sunscreen you use also affects your baby so use the same one or find a natural one for adults that you like. Badger and Blue Lizard are good options. You aren't supposed to use sunscreen on little babies so it is best to just keep them as covered as possible with rash guards and a good sun hat with a chin strap.
Gripe Water: This was my go-to when Eisley had gas in the beginning, which was all the time. I only used the gas drops a few times because the gripe water usually took care of the problem. We didn't have to use this for Theo or Cora.
Infant Gas Drops: Gas drops weren't necessary but they were nice to have the 2-3 times we did actually use them. We did not use these for Theo or Cora.
Infant Ibuprofen/Acetaminophen: Ibuprofen/Acetaminophen is a must have for fevers, teething, and other ailments. You don't really need to stock up but make sure you have a bottle on hand for when your baby starts a fever at 1 am.
Nose-Frieda and Saline Wash: I know it looks so gross but the Nose-Frieda is seriously the best invention ever! You know you are a mom when you have an absolute favorite snot sucker. The bulb ones just don't quite cut it. It's best to have a saline spray on hand to break up any buildup before sucking it all out.
Waterproof Liner Pads: These washable Waterproof pads are great to put in cribs, use as changing pads, and in swings and rockers to save you from messy cleanup. We also used disposable puppy pee pads for really bad blowouts.
Thermometer: I like the in-ear one, the skin scanner we bought seemed pretty inaccurate.
Baby Q-Tips: You don't need to buy a ton of baby Q-Tips but they are nice to have on hand.
Triple Antibiotic Ointment
Organic Coconut Oil: this can be used for a million different things (there are lists with hundreds of uses online). It is great for diaper rash, chapped cheeks, nipple cream, moisturizer, etc.
Aquaphor: Aquaphor is perfect for deep hydration and as a skin protectant. We use it for teething chapped cheeks, we only have a tiny little tube (less than 1 oz) and it is perfect.
Baby Powder: I NEVER used this until Eisley was a year old and we went to the beach. It is great of getting sand off of skin, so I would buy a small thing to throw in your beach bag, but other than that it is kind of useless. Don't stock up on this.
Humidifier: you want something simple that doesn't put off a lot of light in a dark room and that you can clean the water basin.
Transportation and Technology:
Here's the really expensive section so you might want to spread out these purchases or save up gift cards to put towards it. Also be smart and wait for sales (like Black Friday) where you can score some good deals on all these items. Also things like the convertible car seat you can wait to buy until after the baby is born and a few months old.
Stroller: With Eisley I bought a travel system and I hated it, it was big and bulky but was not very easy to push. We never used it so we sold it. Instead I used the Bob Revolution jogging stroller (any jogger would be great, you want the big bike tires) it is so nice to push and you can take it off-roading. The Bob also has an attachment that allows you to use it with your car seat. I have no complaints about the Bob except that it is big. It is great if you are a runner and want to continue to exercise. If you aren't a serious runner I would recommend getting the Britax B-ready. It can be used as a single or double (With an added second seat). It has been fantastic with multiple kids and you can fold it with the second seat still attached. A lot of days we end up with all three kids in there. It can be used with a britax infant seat and has a lot of different configurations.
Infant Car Seat: These aren't really necessary if you have a convertible seat with a low enough weight minimum, but it is really nice to have an infant seat for most of the first year. You want one with a base that you can leave installed in the car and click the seat in and out of. We have the Britax B-Safe and it worked great with our Bob Stroller (they are made by the same company) and the Britax B-ready. Babies always fall asleep in the car seat, and it is nice to be able to take them in and out of the car while keeping them asleep. We would take her out of the car and click her onto the stroller and go shopping, all while she soundly slept. Now that she's in the convertible car seat I hate to wake her up so I end up just sitting in the car with her while she finishes her nap.
Convertible Car Seat: I switched Eisley over around 10 months. I really wanted a seat that would allow me to rear-face for a long time for safety so I was looking for something that had high height and weight limits. We decided on the Britax Boulevard Click Tight. We also bought the travel bag. This baby has been on flight after flight and traveled with us around the world. It's heavy (all convertibles are) but the click tight feature more than makes up for it. It is so easy to install and you can get it nice and tight every time without too much work.
Baby Monitor: You want one that has video, night vision, zoom, AND pan/tilt! The video helps because they make noises (Eisley will cry in her sleep) but they aren't necessarily awake. This will save you some trips going in to check up on them only to disturb them and wake them up. it is also nice to have the pan and tilt when they are in a toddler bed and not a crib and are able to get up and move around the room. We love our Motorola video monitor. I would recommend just buying one with multiple cameras right out of the gate. You can stick them in with multiple kids or in a playroom. We currently have our monitor hooked up to 3 cameras.
Baby Carrier(s): I could write a whole post alone on this. I would say our baby carriers are our #1 most used/essential baby item. I would not survive without them. Babies crave to be close to you, and they want to be carried constantly. I even wear them all the time in the house when I'm cleaning/cooking/or just need my hands free. It is also great for skin to skin time, bonding, and promoting a healthy milk supply when you are breastfeeding.
In the beginning it is really nice to have a stretchy wrap for newborns. A lot of people (including me) use the Moby Wrap but if I could go back I would get a Solly Baby instead. They are a lot thinner/more breathable, easier to wrap, and take up less space in the diaper bag.
After the newborn stage we went straight into the soft structured buckle carriers. Tula makes a free to grow carrier that I would highly recommend. After trying different brands (ergo, lenny lamb, mendaluca, etc) we found tula to be our favorite. The free to grow fits newborn to Toddler, so you could buy just this and skip the stretchy wrap. Tula's (both standard and toddler) are great for babies that are taller/heavier. They are bigger in size which spreads the weight more. We also have a tula toddler which is great for bigger kids! When we travel we don't bring a stroller with us, we just use the Tulas.
I also have a couple of woven wraps which are really nice and can be used from newborn all the way up to toddler/childhood. They also have more options than a buckle carrier or stretchy wrap. Stretchy wraps should only be used in front carries facing in, never out or on your back/hip. Wrapping with your woven wrap gives you the option of using different wrap styles to carry your baby and find what is most comfortable for you. Woven wraps can be very expensive and popular companies like Oscha and Pavo have limited release.The nice thing about woven wraps is that you can buy some sling rings separately and turn your woven wrap into a temporary ring sling as well instead of buying an actual ring sling (which again limits your options).
If I were to just buy one babywearing item though, I would buy the Tula Free-To-Grow.
Haaka Pump: The Haaka pump is a silicone pump that is amazing! You just suction it on the other side when you are breastfeeding and it catches your letdown and does some passive pumping. It is a great way to build up a small stash without actually pumping.
Hot/Cold Pads and Soothies Gel Pads: I love the lansinoh 3 in 1 therapy hot/cold packs. Also the Soothies gel pads are good when you first start breastfeeding and are sore. They aren't MUST haves but they are nice to have on hand if you need them. I used them a lot when I had nursing issues with Eisley, but not with Theo and Cora.
Nursing Cover: I had an udder cover and I HATED it. It doesn't really work with a squirmy baby and it looks like an ugly apron that screams, "I'm a nursing cover". I bought a nursing infinity scarf, but I still haven't figured out how to use it. Instead I made this fabulous jersey knit cover that was so easy to sew, and it looks like a shawl instead of a nursing cover. The instructions are here. It is lightweight, cool and its a lot easier to tuck under your arm to stop baby from flailing and pulling it off. I also love that it covers your back especially if you pull your shirt up to nurse. I didn't really use a cover with Cora and Theo, but it would still be nice to have when you are on a plane or something.
Nursing Pillow: I hated the Boppy because once I got the baby in position, the pillow would always slip away from my body and she would fall into to resulting crack. It was so frustrating. I found the mybreastfriend which has an awful name, but it was more comfortable and the strap held it secure against my body. It made the perfect little shelf to prop baby on so I could have my hands free to eat or do other things, and the pocket was great to store some extra pads and cream. I guess the boppy now has a pillow with a strap but I haven't tried it.
Nipple Shield: We were dealing with a tongue tie and lip tie so I used one for almost two weeks straight. A nipple shield is a great way to try and heal a sore or cracked nipple without committing to pumping. This can be something you don't buy unless you have issues, and you might just get one from a lactation consultant anyway since they can help you find the right size for you.
Feeding Bottles with Slow Flow Nipples: I wouldn't stock up on one type of bottle because you never know what your baby will like. I also really only used one bottle for feeding and I would just wash it out in between. If you are exclusively using bottles you may need more. Eisley liked the Avent bottle.
Bottle Drying Rack: I absolutely love our Boon Lawn. It accommodates baby items of all sizes and has cute little accessories. I really like having a dedicated place for baby items to dry rather than trying to hunt for them buried under all the other dishes.
Health and Hygiene:
Vitamin D: Breastfed babies need a vitamin D supplement, In stores and what they prescribe at the hospital is the Enfamil D.Vit-Sol liquid. You have to give them a full 1 ml dose which was a mess and it made Eisley puke every single time. It also has artificial flavoring and caramel color (which is so unnecessary). Instead I found the Carlson Baby D Drops they have less ingredients, never cause baby to throw up, and you only have to give them a single drop a day. You can put the drop on your nipple right before feeding or on the tip of the pacifier before putting it in your baby's mouth. Plus they are cheaper than the Enfamil brand, so what is not to love?
Baby Shampoo and Wash: I love the Burt's Bees Baby bee shampoo and wash. I would recommend just buying one that is a shampoo/wash combo. I wouldn't stock up on stuff until you know what you like. We just buy as we go.
Baby Lotion: My favorite is Burt's Bees Baby Lavender Calming lotion. We use this especially on Theo because he has sensitive skin and some eczema.
Baby Sunblock: Eisley has a horrible reaction to the Aveeno baby sunscreen, so now we use the Kiss My Face natural mineral sunscreen for babies. They have a lotion or spray option as well as 30 or 50 SPF. It has been rash free for us thankfully and the only downside with any mineral sunscreen is that it leaves a white film on your skin instead of absorbing completely, however this isn't so bad because you can make sure that you have full coverage. Remember that what sunscreen you use also affects your baby so use the same one or find a natural one for adults that you like. Badger and Blue Lizard are good options. You aren't supposed to use sunscreen on little babies so it is best to just keep them as covered as possible with rash guards and a good sun hat with a chin strap.
Gripe Water: This was my go-to when Eisley had gas in the beginning, which was all the time. I only used the gas drops a few times because the gripe water usually took care of the problem. We didn't have to use this for Theo or Cora.
Infant Gas Drops: Gas drops weren't necessary but they were nice to have the 2-3 times we did actually use them. We did not use these for Theo or Cora.
Infant Ibuprofen/Acetaminophen: Ibuprofen/Acetaminophen is a must have for fevers, teething, and other ailments. You don't really need to stock up but make sure you have a bottle on hand for when your baby starts a fever at 1 am.
Nose-Frieda and Saline Wash: I know it looks so gross but the Nose-Frieda is seriously the best invention ever! You know you are a mom when you have an absolute favorite snot sucker. The bulb ones just don't quite cut it. It's best to have a saline spray on hand to break up any buildup before sucking it all out.
Waterproof Liner Pads: These washable Waterproof pads are great to put in cribs, use as changing pads, and in swings and rockers to save you from messy cleanup. We also used disposable puppy pee pads for really bad blowouts.
Thermometer: I like the in-ear one, the skin scanner we bought seemed pretty inaccurate.
Baby Q-Tips: You don't need to buy a ton of baby Q-Tips but they are nice to have on hand.
Triple Antibiotic Ointment
Organic Coconut Oil: this can be used for a million different things (there are lists with hundreds of uses online). It is great for diaper rash, chapped cheeks, nipple cream, moisturizer, etc.
Aquaphor: Aquaphor is perfect for deep hydration and as a skin protectant. We use it for teething chapped cheeks, we only have a tiny little tube (less than 1 oz) and it is perfect.
Baby Powder: I NEVER used this until Eisley was a year old and we went to the beach. It is great of getting sand off of skin, so I would buy a small thing to throw in your beach bag, but other than that it is kind of useless. Don't stock up on this.
Humidifier: you want something simple that doesn't put off a lot of light in a dark room and that you can clean the water basin.
Transportation and Technology:
Here's the really expensive section so you might want to spread out these purchases or save up gift cards to put towards it. Also be smart and wait for sales (like Black Friday) where you can score some good deals on all these items. Also things like the convertible car seat you can wait to buy until after the baby is born and a few months old.
Stroller: With Eisley I bought a travel system and I hated it, it was big and bulky but was not very easy to push. We never used it so we sold it. Instead I used the Bob Revolution jogging stroller (any jogger would be great, you want the big bike tires) it is so nice to push and you can take it off-roading. The Bob also has an attachment that allows you to use it with your car seat. I have no complaints about the Bob except that it is big. It is great if you are a runner and want to continue to exercise. If you aren't a serious runner I would recommend getting the Britax B-ready. It can be used as a single or double (With an added second seat). It has been fantastic with multiple kids and you can fold it with the second seat still attached. A lot of days we end up with all three kids in there. It can be used with a britax infant seat and has a lot of different configurations.
Infant Car Seat: These aren't really necessary if you have a convertible seat with a low enough weight minimum, but it is really nice to have an infant seat for most of the first year. You want one with a base that you can leave installed in the car and click the seat in and out of. We have the Britax B-Safe and it worked great with our Bob Stroller (they are made by the same company) and the Britax B-ready. Babies always fall asleep in the car seat, and it is nice to be able to take them in and out of the car while keeping them asleep. We would take her out of the car and click her onto the stroller and go shopping, all while she soundly slept. Now that she's in the convertible car seat I hate to wake her up so I end up just sitting in the car with her while she finishes her nap.
Convertible Car Seat: I switched Eisley over around 10 months. I really wanted a seat that would allow me to rear-face for a long time for safety so I was looking for something that had high height and weight limits. We decided on the Britax Boulevard Click Tight. We also bought the travel bag. This baby has been on flight after flight and traveled with us around the world. It's heavy (all convertibles are) but the click tight feature more than makes up for it. It is so easy to install and you can get it nice and tight every time without too much work.
Baby Monitor: You want one that has video, night vision, zoom, AND pan/tilt! The video helps because they make noises (Eisley will cry in her sleep) but they aren't necessarily awake. This will save you some trips going in to check up on them only to disturb them and wake them up. it is also nice to have the pan and tilt when they are in a toddler bed and not a crib and are able to get up and move around the room. We love our Motorola video monitor. I would recommend just buying one with multiple cameras right out of the gate. You can stick them in with multiple kids or in a playroom. We currently have our monitor hooked up to 3 cameras.
Baby Carrier(s): I could write a whole post alone on this. I would say our baby carriers are our #1 most used/essential baby item. I would not survive without them. Babies crave to be close to you, and they want to be carried constantly. I even wear them all the time in the house when I'm cleaning/cooking/or just need my hands free. It is also great for skin to skin time, bonding, and promoting a healthy milk supply when you are breastfeeding.
In the beginning it is really nice to have a stretchy wrap for newborns. A lot of people (including me) use the Moby Wrap but if I could go back I would get a Solly Baby instead. They are a lot thinner/more breathable, easier to wrap, and take up less space in the diaper bag.
After the newborn stage we went straight into the soft structured buckle carriers. Tula makes a free to grow carrier that I would highly recommend. After trying different brands (ergo, lenny lamb, mendaluca, etc) we found tula to be our favorite. The free to grow fits newborn to Toddler, so you could buy just this and skip the stretchy wrap. Tula's (both standard and toddler) are great for babies that are taller/heavier. They are bigger in size which spreads the weight more. We also have a tula toddler which is great for bigger kids! When we travel we don't bring a stroller with us, we just use the Tulas.
I also have a couple of woven wraps which are really nice and can be used from newborn all the way up to toddler/childhood. They also have more options than a buckle carrier or stretchy wrap. Stretchy wraps should only be used in front carries facing in, never out or on your back/hip. Wrapping with your woven wrap gives you the option of using different wrap styles to carry your baby and find what is most comfortable for you. Woven wraps can be very expensive and popular companies like Oscha and Pavo have limited release.The nice thing about woven wraps is that you can buy some sling rings separately and turn your woven wrap into a temporary ring sling as well instead of buying an actual ring sling (which again limits your options).
If I were to just buy one babywearing item though, I would buy the Tula Free-To-Grow.
Newborn Stage 0-3 months:
Clothes: your baby will live in pajamas and onesies. You will only need 2-3 really cute outfits for pictures and going out. Don't overbuy newborn size clothes, most babies are only in them for a week or two. I would say buy a pack of 5 newborn onesies and 10 ish 3 month onesies. My favorite brand is Carter's, the other brands were all short and wide and would shrink weird. I liked having mostly all Carter's brand because then I know exactly how they will fit based on size because they are very consistent. I also love that you can buy coordinating pants, blankets, socks, etc so that you don't really have to worry about matching when you are quickly grabbing clothes. They will pretty much match no matter what. Gerber clothes are notorious for running small, so expect them to be a size or two smaller than what they say. Pick up a pack of socks, but you don't really need shoes at this point. Some people really like hats and mittens but we never used them outside the hospital. I would also avoid buying clothes far in advance. You never know what season your baby will fit those clothes. Eisley was usually 3 months ahead in clothing size up until about 9 months where she slowed down a lot and is now fitting fairly true to size.
Pajamas: I hate the Pajamas with snaps, I would avoid those at all costs. Instead I love the Carter's Zipper Pajamas in cotton and fleece (Eisley is tall so she is usually in the pajama size up from her onsies) It would be nice to have at least 5-6. I would recommend 5-6 6 month pajamas and 3-4 3 month pajamas. For newborns I also love the Carter's sleep sacks/gowns with the zipper or elastic. These works great until they can start to crawl, but it makes diaper changes at night very easy because you just pull them up, change the diaper and pull it back down.
Burp Cloths/Cotton Blankets: I would only buy 2-4 Carter's Cotton Burp Cloths because they really don't work great for actually burping your baby, but are good for wiping messes like your baby's mouth after spitting up. Otherwise they are way too small for burping your baby, babies are really good about avoiding that tiny little patch of cloth and spitting up down your back. Instead I use Carter's stretchy Cotton receiving blankets (but not the flannel ones).
Teething Bibs: You are going to want bibs that absorb all the drool and spit up. I love the bandana bibs that are backed with soft fleece that you can find on amazon from brands like copper pearl. You want like 6 bibs.
Clothes: your baby will live in pajamas and onesies. You will only need 2-3 really cute outfits for pictures and going out. Don't overbuy newborn size clothes, most babies are only in them for a week or two. I would say buy a pack of 5 newborn onesies and 10 ish 3 month onesies. My favorite brand is Carter's, the other brands were all short and wide and would shrink weird. I liked having mostly all Carter's brand because then I know exactly how they will fit based on size because they are very consistent. I also love that you can buy coordinating pants, blankets, socks, etc so that you don't really have to worry about matching when you are quickly grabbing clothes. They will pretty much match no matter what. Gerber clothes are notorious for running small, so expect them to be a size or two smaller than what they say. Pick up a pack of socks, but you don't really need shoes at this point. Some people really like hats and mittens but we never used them outside the hospital. I would also avoid buying clothes far in advance. You never know what season your baby will fit those clothes. Eisley was usually 3 months ahead in clothing size up until about 9 months where she slowed down a lot and is now fitting fairly true to size.
Pajamas: I hate the Pajamas with snaps, I would avoid those at all costs. Instead I love the Carter's Zipper Pajamas in cotton and fleece (Eisley is tall so she is usually in the pajama size up from her onsies) It would be nice to have at least 5-6. I would recommend 5-6 6 month pajamas and 3-4 3 month pajamas. For newborns I also love the Carter's sleep sacks/gowns with the zipper or elastic. These works great until they can start to crawl, but it makes diaper changes at night very easy because you just pull them up, change the diaper and pull it back down.
Burp Cloths/Cotton Blankets: I would only buy 2-4 Carter's Cotton Burp Cloths because they really don't work great for actually burping your baby, but are good for wiping messes like your baby's mouth after spitting up. Otherwise they are way too small for burping your baby, babies are really good about avoiding that tiny little patch of cloth and spitting up down your back. Instead I use Carter's stretchy Cotton receiving blankets (but not the flannel ones).
Teething Bibs: You are going to want bibs that absorb all the drool and spit up. I love the bandana bibs that are backed with soft fleece that you can find on amazon from brands like copper pearl. You want like 6 bibs.
Swaddles: Babies love to be swaddled, except apparently Eisley. However I still loved the Aden and Anais swaddle blankets. There are made from soft breathable muslin. They are great for swaddling but can also be used for a lot of other things like a stroller blanket, sunshade, blanket for the swing or bouncer, etc. 3-4 is a good amount.
Co-Sleeper/Convertible Crib: We ended up taking the front off of our convertible crib and using it as a side-car. It worked out great! It works out well if your room is big enough and you can pin the crib between your mattress and the wall. This way baby is accessible for night feedings but they still have their own space. As they start moving we put the front of the crib back on and then start moving it away from our bed and into their new room.
Swing/Bouncy Seat: we used a smaller option, the Fisher Price Travel swing. Eisley our expensive MamaRoo so we sold that one and just use the travel swing for all 3 kids.
Toys: Newborns aren't really interested in toys for a long time, young babies like anything black and white/high contrast, has big eyes, mirrors, or any toy that makes that crinkly sound. You only really need a few small items at this age.
Diapers: Babies grow out of the newborn diapers really fast. I would suggest just getting 1-2 small packs and then using size 1. Try not to go crazy on buying too many because most babies are already in a size 4 by their first birthday. I like Pampers diapers, Mama bear (amazon), and Cuties.
Wipes: I am very picky about wipes. I love the Amazon mama bear Sensitive wipes. I honestly wouldn't buy any other kind. If you have Amazon Prime, sign up for Amazon Mom. You can get some great deals on diapers and wipes, and they deliver them right to your door. Usually if you do the subscribe and save option you can save some money. A good price for Diapers is about 18 cents a piece and wipes 2 cents a piece or less.
Pacifiers: Don't stock up on a certain brand of pacifier. We could only use the Nuk Newborn pacifiers. Some people swear by the pacifiers they give you in the hospital, so even if you aren't going to use them in the hospital ask for one so you can take it home and try it out. I used the pacifier wipes when she was little but stopped after she was about 3 months so you might want to pick up a pack and try them out.
Baby Bath: I had a blooming bath, but they really only use it until they are able to sit up on their own. You could get away with buying a cheap one, or just stuffing a plush towel in the sink for padding. We didn't use a baby bath for Theo or Cora, we just held them or they showered/bathed with us.
White Noise Machine or Phone App: some days this will save your sanity. Eisley's favorite sound on the white noise app was "hairdryer". The Big Red Rooster white noise machine is what we use, it is cheap and works well.
Wet Bag: Wet Bags are normally used by mom's who cloth diaper, but it is great for containing soiled clothes in your diaper bag before you can get home and wash them. We use ours for family beach and pool trips as well and just keep one in the back of our car.
Cloth Diapers: Even if you don't plan on cloth diapering, it is nice to have one or two. The word on the street is that babies love to have blowouts on airplanes, and cloth diapers rarely if ever leak. Every plane ride we took we would either put her in a cloth diaper or stick a shell over her disposable diaper to keep everything tidy. Cloth diaper shells also make great swim diapers! We like the Bumgenius 4.0 pocket diapers with snaps.
Baby Hangers: about 20 plastic baby hangers.
Small Trash Can with Lid: for diapers, it is nice to have a diaper pail but the special bags can get a little annoying to buy. We have the Arm and Hammer pail and I use it every so often.
Seasonal Clothes: there are some random items that you have to buy in season in the right size. Winter outerwear, swimsuits, holiday clothing, etc. fall into this category. When you buy a hat, make sure it velcros under their chin or they will just pull it right off. We bought cute baby sunglasses but she never keeps them on either.
3-6 months:
Clothes: I would have about 10 6 month onesies, a few pairs of pants/shorts and 2-4 really cute outfits, a pack of socks, I liked babylegs baby leggings for 3 months-9 months. They make diaper changes easier than using pants and they are cute. 5-6 sets of 9 month footed zipper pajamas and you should be set. It's nice to keep it simple on the clothes front because they grow out of them so fast.
Baby Gym: we just bought the cheapest one. They really only use it during that pre-crawling stage.
Play Blanket: We wanted a nice soft place for baby to play and enjoy tummy time. We liked the playmat from Ikea.
Toys: They are still learning to control their bodies so once again some small toys are sufficient. At this stage we really liked the Oball Rattle Ball, a bright starts chime toy, a rubber ducky for bathtime, and Sophie the Giraffe. You might also want to pick up some plastic toy chain links to attach toys to the stroller and car seat.
6-9 months:
Clothes: I would have about 10 9 month onesies, a few pairs of pants/shorts and 2-4 really cute outfits, a pack of socks and 5-6 sets of 12 month footed zipper pajamas
Jumperoo: The Jumperoo was a big hit at our house with Eisley and Theo. We sold it in our move so we didn't use it with Cora at all. They are pretty expensive and only used for a short period of time (sitting up well to almost walking) so try and buy one used.
Toys: They are starting to love music, lights, and interactive toys. They are going to be really excited about anything with buttons. We loved the Leap Frog Chat and Count Phone, B-toys keys, ball drop, and the baby Einstein take along tunes.
Spoons: We liked the white-hot safety spoons, you only need 2-4. We didn't really worry about bowls or plates as they are just projectile objects. Food goes straight on the highchair tray or we feed it directly. We just used little melamine bowls from target.
Feeding Bibs: We liked silicone bibs, they are easy to wash and have a nice little pouch to catch escaping food. We have 2 and that was more than enough.
High Chair: We have the Fisher-Price booster seat and we love it. It straps right to our dining room chair, is super portable and doesn't take up too much space. I love the detachable toy tray so that the baby can be entertained while you are preparing the food.
Food: We did baby led weaning so a lot of soft fruits and veggies, pasta, and little bits of whatever we were eating. Butternut squash, sweet potato, banana and avocado were favorites. We also loved Gerber Puffs, rice/oatmeal cereal and Plum Organics baby food pouches.
Bathtub Mat and Toys: We like the non-slip Ikea tub mats and the B-toys ship.
Baby Proofing Kit and Baby Gates
Toothbrush and Toothpaste: get a little baby brush. Fluoride free toothpaste is perfect for little babies that can't spit yet, and the flavor makes them love brushing their teeth.
9-12 months:
Clothes: 5-10 onsies, we started transitioning to outfits at this point of shirt and pants/shorts combos. 5-6 outfits, 2-4 dressier outfits for pictures/going out/church. 5-6 footed pajamas size 18 months.
Shoes: now that your baby is starting to think about walking it is time to start buying adorable shoes! You want something with a soft sole (you can easily fold the shoe in half) so that their feet have room to breathe and develop properly. I can't live without our baby leather Moccasins. They are so cute and perfect for learning to walk. You can find them on Etsy for about $20. Ladybird and monkey feet are good cheaper brands.
Toys: They are starting to really love toys and are interested in the world. Anything can be a toy, but they especially love your phone and things they really aren't supposed to have. Some fun things to let them play with are Tupperware and lids, plastic utensils, and spatulas. Eisley really started loving board books and electronic books around this age. Some other favorites were: Little People toys, Big plastic Cars, Activity cube, music making set, blocks, soft bodied baby doll, and stacking/sorting toys.
Food: Baby food pouches, Gerber lil crunchies, puffs, crackers, dry cereals, and anything we are eating.
Cups: We have two types of sippy cups and we love them both. One is the thermos funtainer straw cup, and the Munchkin Miracle 360 which imitates a normal cup.
Things I hated/Items that are not necessary:
Bumbo: They are only able to use them for a very short time, and even then they have a lot of issues with recalls. A lot of babies never really fit in them because their legs are too chunky. There's also a lot of science behind not forcing your children to sit up/walk/etc. earlier than they are ready because they need to develop the coordination and muscles on their own.
Changing Table: We had one, and it was just an expensive nightstand, I don't think I changed the baby on there a single time. Usually you end up changing them where-ever you happen to be on an old towel or something. I love the pinterest idea of just keeping a changing pad on the top of the dresser in the babies room.
Crib Bedding Set: so so cute, but expensive and unnecessary. Buy some cute sheets and a crib skirt and call it a day, they won't be able to use that comforter for a very long time and when they do they are ready to move up to toddler bedding for their toddler bed. We bought a Aden and Anais Muslin Dream blanket for our kids and they really like them.
Crib Mobile: She barely cared about it for about a week and then was bored with it. You could easily make a cute decorative one.
Wipe Warmer and Bottle Warmer: I can see how they would be nice to have, but they just take up extra space and money out of your budget. If you formula feed the bottle warmer would be really nice to have but if you breastfeed you would probably only use it a few times at best.
Baby Oil: I'm still not sure what this is for. Between the baby lotion and the lavender calming oil I never used plain baby oil. (It is great as a makeup remover though!)
Flannel Receiving Blankets: They aren't absorbent at all, and there are better options for swaddling.
"Baby" Detergent like Dreft: see above
Car Seat Cover: we got a winter carseat cover that went in the seat and over the baby's lap. Later I found out that it isn't safe to put anything between the seat and the baby. I would suggest just strapping baby in and covering them with a thick blanket.
Baby Towels and Washcloth: they are cute but not very absorbent. We just used a regular towel and washcloth.
Crazy Expensive Baby Items: you only use for a few months at most, and there are cheaper options. I bought (and sold) my Mamaroo swing because even though it was fancy and awesome, she hated it!
Pack n Play: We never really used ours but maybe it is because I did't really like the one I bought. I thought I was doing good by buying a more expensive one, but it wasn't as functional as some of the cheaper ones. I got the Graco Day2Night sleep system. However it has a segmented bassinet that she quickly outgrew but you didn't have access to the full size of the pack and play until you put it at the lowest level, which was just not practical for a 3 month old. On the other hand my sister has 5 kids and has never had a crib, she uses a Pack n Play and loves it.
Co-Sleeper/Convertible Crib: We ended up taking the front off of our convertible crib and using it as a side-car. It worked out great! It works out well if your room is big enough and you can pin the crib between your mattress and the wall. This way baby is accessible for night feedings but they still have their own space. As they start moving we put the front of the crib back on and then start moving it away from our bed and into their new room.
Swing/Bouncy Seat: we used a smaller option, the Fisher Price Travel swing. Eisley our expensive MamaRoo so we sold that one and just use the travel swing for all 3 kids.
Toys: Newborns aren't really interested in toys for a long time, young babies like anything black and white/high contrast, has big eyes, mirrors, or any toy that makes that crinkly sound. You only really need a few small items at this age.
Diapers: Babies grow out of the newborn diapers really fast. I would suggest just getting 1-2 small packs and then using size 1. Try not to go crazy on buying too many because most babies are already in a size 4 by their first birthday. I like Pampers diapers, Mama bear (amazon), and Cuties.
Wipes: I am very picky about wipes. I love the Amazon mama bear Sensitive wipes. I honestly wouldn't buy any other kind. If you have Amazon Prime, sign up for Amazon Mom. You can get some great deals on diapers and wipes, and they deliver them right to your door. Usually if you do the subscribe and save option you can save some money. A good price for Diapers is about 18 cents a piece and wipes 2 cents a piece or less.
Pacifiers: Don't stock up on a certain brand of pacifier. We could only use the Nuk Newborn pacifiers. Some people swear by the pacifiers they give you in the hospital, so even if you aren't going to use them in the hospital ask for one so you can take it home and try it out. I used the pacifier wipes when she was little but stopped after she was about 3 months so you might want to pick up a pack and try them out.
Baby Bath: I had a blooming bath, but they really only use it until they are able to sit up on their own. You could get away with buying a cheap one, or just stuffing a plush towel in the sink for padding. We didn't use a baby bath for Theo or Cora, we just held them or they showered/bathed with us.
White Noise Machine or Phone App: some days this will save your sanity. Eisley's favorite sound on the white noise app was "hairdryer". The Big Red Rooster white noise machine is what we use, it is cheap and works well.
Wet Bag: Wet Bags are normally used by mom's who cloth diaper, but it is great for containing soiled clothes in your diaper bag before you can get home and wash them. We use ours for family beach and pool trips as well and just keep one in the back of our car.
Cloth Diapers: Even if you don't plan on cloth diapering, it is nice to have one or two. The word on the street is that babies love to have blowouts on airplanes, and cloth diapers rarely if ever leak. Every plane ride we took we would either put her in a cloth diaper or stick a shell over her disposable diaper to keep everything tidy. Cloth diaper shells also make great swim diapers! We like the Bumgenius 4.0 pocket diapers with snaps.
Baby Hangers: about 20 plastic baby hangers.
Small Trash Can with Lid: for diapers, it is nice to have a diaper pail but the special bags can get a little annoying to buy. We have the Arm and Hammer pail and I use it every so often.
Seasonal Clothes: there are some random items that you have to buy in season in the right size. Winter outerwear, swimsuits, holiday clothing, etc. fall into this category. When you buy a hat, make sure it velcros under their chin or they will just pull it right off. We bought cute baby sunglasses but she never keeps them on either.
3-6 months:
Clothes: I would have about 10 6 month onesies, a few pairs of pants/shorts and 2-4 really cute outfits, a pack of socks, I liked babylegs baby leggings for 3 months-9 months. They make diaper changes easier than using pants and they are cute. 5-6 sets of 9 month footed zipper pajamas and you should be set. It's nice to keep it simple on the clothes front because they grow out of them so fast.
Baby Gym: we just bought the cheapest one. They really only use it during that pre-crawling stage.
Play Blanket: We wanted a nice soft place for baby to play and enjoy tummy time. We liked the playmat from Ikea.
Toys: They are still learning to control their bodies so once again some small toys are sufficient. At this stage we really liked the Oball Rattle Ball, a bright starts chime toy, a rubber ducky for bathtime, and Sophie the Giraffe. You might also want to pick up some plastic toy chain links to attach toys to the stroller and car seat.
6-9 months:
Clothes: I would have about 10 9 month onesies, a few pairs of pants/shorts and 2-4 really cute outfits, a pack of socks and 5-6 sets of 12 month footed zipper pajamas
Jumperoo: The Jumperoo was a big hit at our house with Eisley and Theo. We sold it in our move so we didn't use it with Cora at all. They are pretty expensive and only used for a short period of time (sitting up well to almost walking) so try and buy one used.
Toys: They are starting to love music, lights, and interactive toys. They are going to be really excited about anything with buttons. We loved the Leap Frog Chat and Count Phone, B-toys keys, ball drop, and the baby Einstein take along tunes.
Spoons: We liked the white-hot safety spoons, you only need 2-4. We didn't really worry about bowls or plates as they are just projectile objects. Food goes straight on the highchair tray or we feed it directly. We just used little melamine bowls from target.
Feeding Bibs: We liked silicone bibs, they are easy to wash and have a nice little pouch to catch escaping food. We have 2 and that was more than enough.
High Chair: We have the Fisher-Price booster seat and we love it. It straps right to our dining room chair, is super portable and doesn't take up too much space. I love the detachable toy tray so that the baby can be entertained while you are preparing the food.
Food: We did baby led weaning so a lot of soft fruits and veggies, pasta, and little bits of whatever we were eating. Butternut squash, sweet potato, banana and avocado were favorites. We also loved Gerber Puffs, rice/oatmeal cereal and Plum Organics baby food pouches.
Bathtub Mat and Toys: We like the non-slip Ikea tub mats and the B-toys ship.
Baby Proofing Kit and Baby Gates
Toothbrush and Toothpaste: get a little baby brush. Fluoride free toothpaste is perfect for little babies that can't spit yet, and the flavor makes them love brushing their teeth.
9-12 months:
Clothes: 5-10 onsies, we started transitioning to outfits at this point of shirt and pants/shorts combos. 5-6 outfits, 2-4 dressier outfits for pictures/going out/church. 5-6 footed pajamas size 18 months.
Shoes: now that your baby is starting to think about walking it is time to start buying adorable shoes! You want something with a soft sole (you can easily fold the shoe in half) so that their feet have room to breathe and develop properly. I can't live without our baby leather Moccasins. They are so cute and perfect for learning to walk. You can find them on Etsy for about $20. Ladybird and monkey feet are good cheaper brands.
Toys: They are starting to really love toys and are interested in the world. Anything can be a toy, but they especially love your phone and things they really aren't supposed to have. Some fun things to let them play with are Tupperware and lids, plastic utensils, and spatulas. Eisley really started loving board books and electronic books around this age. Some other favorites were: Little People toys, Big plastic Cars, Activity cube, music making set, blocks, soft bodied baby doll, and stacking/sorting toys.
Food: Baby food pouches, Gerber lil crunchies, puffs, crackers, dry cereals, and anything we are eating.
Cups: We have two types of sippy cups and we love them both. One is the thermos funtainer straw cup, and the Munchkin Miracle 360 which imitates a normal cup.
Things I hated/Items that are not necessary:
Bumbo: They are only able to use them for a very short time, and even then they have a lot of issues with recalls. A lot of babies never really fit in them because their legs are too chunky. There's also a lot of science behind not forcing your children to sit up/walk/etc. earlier than they are ready because they need to develop the coordination and muscles on their own.
Changing Table: We had one, and it was just an expensive nightstand, I don't think I changed the baby on there a single time. Usually you end up changing them where-ever you happen to be on an old towel or something. I love the pinterest idea of just keeping a changing pad on the top of the dresser in the babies room.
Crib Bedding Set: so so cute, but expensive and unnecessary. Buy some cute sheets and a crib skirt and call it a day, they won't be able to use that comforter for a very long time and when they do they are ready to move up to toddler bedding for their toddler bed. We bought a Aden and Anais Muslin Dream blanket for our kids and they really like them.
Crib Mobile: She barely cared about it for about a week and then was bored with it. You could easily make a cute decorative one.
Wipe Warmer and Bottle Warmer: I can see how they would be nice to have, but they just take up extra space and money out of your budget. If you formula feed the bottle warmer would be really nice to have but if you breastfeed you would probably only use it a few times at best.
Baby Oil: I'm still not sure what this is for. Between the baby lotion and the lavender calming oil I never used plain baby oil. (It is great as a makeup remover though!)
Flannel Receiving Blankets: They aren't absorbent at all, and there are better options for swaddling.
"Baby" Detergent like Dreft: see above
Car Seat Cover: we got a winter carseat cover that went in the seat and over the baby's lap. Later I found out that it isn't safe to put anything between the seat and the baby. I would suggest just strapping baby in and covering them with a thick blanket.
Baby Towels and Washcloth: they are cute but not very absorbent. We just used a regular towel and washcloth.
Crazy Expensive Baby Items: you only use for a few months at most, and there are cheaper options. I bought (and sold) my Mamaroo swing because even though it was fancy and awesome, she hated it!
Pack n Play: We never really used ours but maybe it is because I did't really like the one I bought. I thought I was doing good by buying a more expensive one, but it wasn't as functional as some of the cheaper ones. I got the Graco Day2Night sleep system. However it has a segmented bassinet that she quickly outgrew but you didn't have access to the full size of the pack and play until you put it at the lowest level, which was just not practical for a 3 month old. On the other hand my sister has 5 kids and has never had a crib, she uses a Pack n Play and loves it.
Rocking Chair/Glider: you can live without this (but you might not want to) we had a traditional wooden glider but it really didn't get much use because it just wasn't all that comfortable for us. Sometimes you want to lay your baby across your arms but you don't want to wedge their head up against the arm of the rocker.
For the Hospital:
Depending on your hospital, you might not need much because they usually provide a lot. They usually give you a list before you arrive of what is provided. It is smart to pack a few small bags rather than one big one. That way you can have someone retrieve something from the car when you need it but it isn't all crowding up the small hospital room. Here's what I packed in my hospital bag:
Carseat: pre-installed in your car
Camera, Charger, SD cards: Take lots of pictures! I didn't take NEARLY enough! I also wished I would have taken a couple videos of her newborn-ness in the hospital. You are going to feel like you have the same 100 pictures of a sleeping baby but you will cherish them. Try to capture all the little details like little baby toes, ears, grunts, and cries.
Phone, Charger
Snacks: You are going to be STARVING so make sure you have a good variety of savory and sweet. I also packed some popsicles (our hospital had a freezer available for patients to use)
A Huge Cup or Water Bottle: with a straw or easy open spout. You are going to be very very thirsty. I'm talking 7-11s largest cup big. You are going to go through a lot of water.
Comfortable Clothes for You: I packed my own nursing robe. It was nice to wear on the 2nd day at the hospital when we wanted to take some pictures and hang out with family. I also packed a nursing shirt and some really comfy soft yoga pants (black or other dark colors are ideal). You also want to pack a cute but comfortable outfit to go home in. You are going to want to take a lot of pictures and you might not want to wear what you arrived to the hospital wearing. I packed a simple black knit maternity dress. It was perfect because it was flattering but still very comfortable, and I wasn't worried about dealing with a waistband. You will still have some swelling so don't stress about trying to fit into pre-pregnancy clothes yet. Another must have is flip flops or slippers with a grippy sole. You will probably be wearing socks and you don't want to bring any germs back into bed with you after bathroom trips.
For the Hospital:
Depending on your hospital, you might not need much because they usually provide a lot. They usually give you a list before you arrive of what is provided. It is smart to pack a few small bags rather than one big one. That way you can have someone retrieve something from the car when you need it but it isn't all crowding up the small hospital room. Here's what I packed in my hospital bag:
Carseat: pre-installed in your car
Camera, Charger, SD cards: Take lots of pictures! I didn't take NEARLY enough! I also wished I would have taken a couple videos of her newborn-ness in the hospital. You are going to feel like you have the same 100 pictures of a sleeping baby but you will cherish them. Try to capture all the little details like little baby toes, ears, grunts, and cries.
Phone, Charger
Snacks: You are going to be STARVING so make sure you have a good variety of savory and sweet. I also packed some popsicles (our hospital had a freezer available for patients to use)
A Huge Cup or Water Bottle: with a straw or easy open spout. You are going to be very very thirsty. I'm talking 7-11s largest cup big. You are going to go through a lot of water.
Comfortable Clothes for You: I packed my own nursing robe. It was nice to wear on the 2nd day at the hospital when we wanted to take some pictures and hang out with family. I also packed a nursing shirt and some really comfy soft yoga pants (black or other dark colors are ideal). You also want to pack a cute but comfortable outfit to go home in. You are going to want to take a lot of pictures and you might not want to wear what you arrived to the hospital wearing. I packed a simple black knit maternity dress. It was perfect because it was flattering but still very comfortable, and I wasn't worried about dealing with a waistband. You will still have some swelling so don't stress about trying to fit into pre-pregnancy clothes yet. Another must have is flip flops or slippers with a grippy sole. You will probably be wearing socks and you don't want to bring any germs back into bed with you after bathroom trips.
Chapstick and Toiletries: I brought my own shampoo and conditioner, some light makeup, my hair dryer, and lotion.
Extra Pillows and Blankets: Make sure it has a colored case that won't be mixed up with the hospitals linens. You want to be comfortable, and part of that is having an extra pillow. The hospitals don't necessarily have the best linens. Also having a throw blanket was really nice, Your body temp will be fluctuating and the hospital isn't always a comfortable temp. Having the extra linens was nice for when your husband sleeps over on the uncomfortable hospital pullout chair because they don't provide bedding for him. I packed these in a duffel separate from my hospital bag. We brought in my main bag when I was admitted, and then David brought up the other items like the nursing pillow and bedding after we were settled in the recovery room.
Clothes for Your Husband: It is nice to pack an extra set of clothes and some swim trunks for your husband. Some people like to labor in the shower but you need someone in there to support you, its nice to have something your husband can wear so hes not flashing the hospital staff. I didn't labor in the shower but I showered right after delivery and I needed David there to help me. Also toiletries and snacks for dad are important to remember, they only provide food for the mom in the hospital so the dad has to fend for himself. Pack some little microwave meals or cup noodles.
Baby Hygiene Kit: Those tiny nails come out long and sharp! It's nice to have some little nail clippers and a brush if your baby has hair. The only items I ever really used were the brush and nail clippers but it is nice to have a little bag to keep it all organized. They also want you to start giving the baby vitamin D on day 2 at the hospital, so bring your Carlson Vit. D drops
Nursing Pillow: It is nice to have as an extra sleep pillow or to prop the baby on too. the snoogle can be used for this.
Clothes for Baby: You only really need an outfit to take them home in. You can pack an extra ones if you have something specific you want to take pictures of them in at the hospital. It would be smart to pack a newborn outfit, and if the baby needs another sized like preemie or 3 months depending on their size you can always have someone bring it for you.
Dermoplast and Tucks: These were a lifesaver for me, especially because I had stitches. The dermoplast/Solarcaine (always the blue can, NEVER the red can) is a healing/cooling spray that is usually used for sunburns, but it works wonders for sore areas. I used it every time after using the bathroom. The tucks were great when I was healing and my stitches felt tight. You can just tuck them up next to the sore skin and change them out every time you use the bathroom.
Nipple Cream: a lot of times the hospital will provide hot/cold packs or the soothies gel pads if you ask so you probably don't have to pack these. They will also usually have nipple shields if needed.
These items were provided at our hospital:
Diapers and Wipes
Baby Clothes
Swaddle Blankets
Chux Pads
Mesh Underwear
Perineal Ice Packs
Perineal Squeeze Bottle
Maternity Pads
Stool Softeners (I didn't use them)
Ibuprofen (for mom)
P.S. Make sure you pick out a few nice-ish shirts for your husband before going to the hospital. I now have to edit out an Sloth wearing aviators that says "Hello Ladies", because that is what David was wearing when Eisley was born. I thought it was funny until I thought about hanging one up on my wall.
Extra Pillows and Blankets: Make sure it has a colored case that won't be mixed up with the hospitals linens. You want to be comfortable, and part of that is having an extra pillow. The hospitals don't necessarily have the best linens. Also having a throw blanket was really nice, Your body temp will be fluctuating and the hospital isn't always a comfortable temp. Having the extra linens was nice for when your husband sleeps over on the uncomfortable hospital pullout chair because they don't provide bedding for him. I packed these in a duffel separate from my hospital bag. We brought in my main bag when I was admitted, and then David brought up the other items like the nursing pillow and bedding after we were settled in the recovery room.
Clothes for Your Husband: It is nice to pack an extra set of clothes and some swim trunks for your husband. Some people like to labor in the shower but you need someone in there to support you, its nice to have something your husband can wear so hes not flashing the hospital staff. I didn't labor in the shower but I showered right after delivery and I needed David there to help me. Also toiletries and snacks for dad are important to remember, they only provide food for the mom in the hospital so the dad has to fend for himself. Pack some little microwave meals or cup noodles.
Baby Hygiene Kit: Those tiny nails come out long and sharp! It's nice to have some little nail clippers and a brush if your baby has hair. The only items I ever really used were the brush and nail clippers but it is nice to have a little bag to keep it all organized. They also want you to start giving the baby vitamin D on day 2 at the hospital, so bring your Carlson Vit. D drops
Nursing Pillow: It is nice to have as an extra sleep pillow or to prop the baby on too. the snoogle can be used for this.
Clothes for Baby: You only really need an outfit to take them home in. You can pack an extra ones if you have something specific you want to take pictures of them in at the hospital. It would be smart to pack a newborn outfit, and if the baby needs another sized like preemie or 3 months depending on their size you can always have someone bring it for you.
Dermoplast and Tucks: These were a lifesaver for me, especially because I had stitches. The dermoplast/Solarcaine (always the blue can, NEVER the red can) is a healing/cooling spray that is usually used for sunburns, but it works wonders for sore areas. I used it every time after using the bathroom. The tucks were great when I was healing and my stitches felt tight. You can just tuck them up next to the sore skin and change them out every time you use the bathroom.
Nipple Cream: a lot of times the hospital will provide hot/cold packs or the soothies gel pads if you ask so you probably don't have to pack these. They will also usually have nipple shields if needed.
These items were provided at our hospital:
Diapers and Wipes
Baby Clothes
Swaddle Blankets
Chux Pads
Mesh Underwear
Perineal Ice Packs
Perineal Squeeze Bottle
Maternity Pads
Stool Softeners (I didn't use them)
Ibuprofen (for mom)
P.S. Make sure you pick out a few nice-ish shirts for your husband before going to the hospital. I now have to edit out an Sloth wearing aviators that says "Hello Ladies", because that is what David was wearing when Eisley was born. I thought it was funny until I thought about hanging one up on my wall.
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