While I was struggling through my maternity leave, one of my friends told me that when you’re a parent the days are long but the years are short. I thought I understood what she meant then, but I can truly say that now I actually do. My sweet baby isn’t a baby anymore. She’s 9 months old and we’re well past the newborn stage of parenthood. We packed away her swing this weekend and it was bittersweet knowing that she’s already grown out of so many newborn essentials that used to be a huge part of her life.
I’ve also been packing away her clothes as she’s grown out of them and little things here and there that we don’t use anymore. It got me thinking that some of these things truly saved our lives while we were trying to navigate being parents of a newborn. I wanted to share some of the things we found to be newborn essentials.
Daytime Newborn Essentials
Bouncer
This was a calm space for Willa for the first few months. If we needed to do something or she was tired, we’d pop her in this bouncer, click on the vibration feature, and bounce her gently with our foot. She preferred this to the Boppy Lounger, but I think both are really great options for places for your baby to relax while you eat or fold laundry.
We used: Fisher Price’s Baby Bouncer, $29.99 on Amazon
Sling/wrap
Willa has never been a great sleeper. We read so many articles and books about how to help your baby sleep and tried everything. We finally just gave in and realized she liked to sleep in a wrap. She took real naps when she was sleeping on me and that was more worth it to me than trying to “do it right.” We also went for walks in this wrap and I had my hands free to bring our dogs with us. I spent many days walking laps around my house reading my Kindle while she snoozed. Back then I was exhausted (clocking 16,000 Fitbit steps per day!) and wished she would just nap in her crib, but now when I think back, those were some of the sweetest moments I had with her.
We used: Baby K’Tan Original Wrap*, $40-$50 on Amazon
*The downside to this wrap is that it’s sized for the wearer, not the baby. So my husband and I could not share the wrap. But I’m relatively petite, so I liked that it actually fit me and Willa felt snug. Make sure you refer to the size chart before ordering.
There are several different styles of wraps and carriers.
- Wrap – A wrap seems to be the most popular carrier currently. It’s generally a long piece of sturdy, stretchy fabric that you wrap around your body and your baby to keep them snug against you. Look for wraps that have different carrying positions for newborns, toddlers, and back-wearing. YouTube videos are helpful in learning how to tie your wraps properly. I recommend watching several before making your purchase to be sure the wrap style and instructions fit your lifestyle.
- Sling – Like wraps, slings are made of strong fabric but these are not stretchy. These may be easier to tie than wraps and are great for beginners or those who want an adjustable fit, but may not be comfortable for anyone with back issues. As with wraps, I recommend watching video tutorials before making your purchase.
- Soft carriers – Probably the most comfortable and easiest to use, soft carriers are a very popular way to wear your baby. Most offer carrying options for newborn through toddler years and have easy to use buckle systems. They are pricier than wraps or slings but are very comfortable and easy to use. Be sure to check for recalls before purchasing as some have been recalled in recent years.
- Backpack carriers – These are great for active parents or if you plan on wearing your baby for a long period of time (outdoor concerts, BBQs). These are recommended for older babies who do not have trouble holding their heads up without assistance. If you have a newborn, I would suggest trying one of the other carrier styles before researching a backpack style.
- Mei Tai carriers – This is best explained as a combination sling and soft structure carrier. It has a wrap style with buckles. Usually for older babies, but you can find some that adapt for newborns. This is another style that would likely need a few YouTube tutorials before purchasing.
We used: Baby K’Tan Original Wrap*, $40-$50 on Amazon
*The downside to this particular wrap is that it’s sized for the wearer, not the baby. So my husband and I could not share the wrap. But I’m relatively petite, so I liked that it actually fit me and Willa felt snug. Make sure you refer to the size chart before ordering.
Baby Paper
A sweet co-worker of mine sent us this crinkly paper before Willa was born and she absolutely loved it. We would pop her in her bouncer with this paper, and it would keep her busy while we got chores done. I get this as a gift for all of my friends who are expecting now, too!
What we use: Baby Paper – Black & White Stripe, $6.95 on Amazon
Anti Colic Bottles
Like many babies, Willa went through a phase where she would spit up after every feeding. Regardless of the amount of time we spent burping her, spit-up was inevitable. She also did a lot of crying. I mean a lot. After several talks with our pediatrician, we ended up splurging on several sets of new bottles. I also received some gas drops from my cousin Ashley at my baby shower and those helped as well.
Some anti-colic bottles with great reviews on Amazon:
- Dr. Browns – 4.5 stars from over 2,500 shoppers
- MAM Easy Start – 5 stars from over 1,300 shoppers
- Tommee Tippee Advanced Anti-colic – 4.5 stars from over 1,200 shoppers
- Munchkin Latch – 4 stars from 1,500 shoppers
We used: Dr. Browns Original Bottles, $19-$25 on Amazon
These were hands down the best bottle we could find. As soon as we made the switch, Willa almost never spit up after her bottles and we noticed a change in her crying throughout the day (it didn’t really make a difference with her before-bed crying, though.)
Nighttime Newborn Essentials
A Bottle Cooler & Warmer
If you live in a house with stairs, this is a must-have for you. We were beyond exhausted with running up and down the stairs to get milk from the fridge at 2, 3, and 4 AM and then having a hard time getting back to sleep because we had gotten out of bed. We bought this Bottle Cooler & Warmer and kept it on our dresser in our bedroom and it was by far the best baby purchase we made, hands down. You can keep milk cold overnight with an ice pack in the cooler and then warm it with steam in the warmer.
We used: The First Years Bottle Cooler & Warmer, $35 on Amazon
Bathtub
Willa went through a couple of months where she would scream non-stop from about 5 PM to 10 PM every night. We found out pretty quickly that baths calmed her and we started giving her daily baths just to give all of us some peace for a few minutes. While daily baths are not something I’ve heard recommended, if you have a screaming baby, it’s worth a shot. We wanted a tub that could be used from newborn years up until she’s big enough to take showers with us. To be honest, Willa still really likes the newborn sling in her tub, so we keep using it!
What to look for:
When shopping for a baby tub, think about what your nightly routine will look like. Will you be giving them a bath in your kitchen sink, or in a bathtub? If that is the case, you can find bathtub and sink inserts. Look for something non-skid for safety and something they can grow into.
Or will you do baths, like we did, on your kitchen table for a while? If this is the case, try looking for tubs that can be filled with water and have a sling for your baby to sit in.
We used: The First Years Sure Comfort Tub, $21.98 on Amazon
Tubby Todd All Over Ointment
Willa developed terrible baby acne at about 4 weeks old. We were told by our doctor to just wait it out, but as an acne sufferer myself, I just couldn’t stand to see her face all broken out and red. My good friend Julia recommended Tubby Todd to me when she had her daughter and I researched their All Over Ointment ($16, get 10% off through my link) and it has wonderful reviews for baby acne. We started using it on a Thursday and by Sunday her face was clear! This is also a great product if you do daily baths with your baby, it keeps their skin from drying out. I’ve also started using their hair & body wash and their sunscreen and absolutely love them.
Swaddle
I mentioned above that Willa was not a great sleeper. We swaddled her every night and it helped tremendously. This was truly one of our most used newborn essentials. We really liked using an actual swaddle rather than swaddling with blankets. Another recommendation from Julia, the ones we used had the velcro closure to keep Willa snug all night. Look for options that zip from the bottom as well as the top to make diaper changes easy without removing their arms.
We used: HALO SleepSack Swaddle, $22 on Amazon
White Noise Machine
We use a white noise machine for all naps and nights at our house. Not only for Willa but also for ourselves! It is also another switch to flip that tells baby it’s time for sleep. We have been very, very strict about her bedtime routine since she was born in hopes that she would be a great sleeper (LOL) and turning on the white noise machine is a big part of that routine. They say it’s calming like the womb for newborns, but Willa still likes hers even at 9 months!
We used: Marpac Dohm White Noise Machine, $45 on Amazon
Please know that all babies are different. I’ve talked to a few of my mom friends who had some of the same baby gear we did and said they wished they’d never bought it or registered for it. There is no way of knowing what your baby will favor when it comes to sleeping, drinking, or playing. Just like we as adults have preferences, so do our babies! So, please take my suggestions for what they are; suggestions. I do hope that some of these newborn essentials help you in at least some way!
Related: Our Current Parenting Tips While Social Distancing
