Emma is 3 weeks old as I type this. Though the nights are long, it feels like time is truly flying by! I so badly just want her to stay this little forever. My tiny little angel. As the days go by, we feel like we are getting a smidge better at this whole parenting a newborn thing. But that isn’t without all the help of our family, friends, and of course the baby gadgets I’ve listed below. There are so many things we registered for that we have used on the daily with Emma. I’ve compiled a list of our favorite newborn items so far! I know I’ll definitely be referencing this to make sure we have this all once it’s time for baby number two (God willing).
Clothes
I’ve quickly come to realize that babies do not need fancy clothes. Everything gets dirty SO fast. We have been living in onesies during the day (nothing fancy just onesies from carters, old navy, and target). I do however think that good quality night time gowns are worth investing in. With frequent diaper changes, the gowns are the easiest to work with at this stage. There is nothing better than those buttery soft jammies for your baby to sleep in. We have been loving Caden Lane and Kyte Baby.
Or baby clothes with built in mittens. Love these for two reasons- to protect her face from her sharp nails and also to protect my nipples from her sharp nails. Maybe that’s TMI but definitely why I consider these a must have.
We tried a couple brands and these muslin ones are the easiest. I think we have around 50 of them and we go through them all! I really don’t think fancier ones are necessary.
Emma loves her snuggle me! We have used it so much these first few weeks for daytime lounging. It’s easy to put on a couch right next to you for a few handsfree moments when you need them.
Sound Machines
We have three different sound machines and we love them all for different reasons. The Hatch we use anytime we are in our bedroom whether she is napping or sleeping at night. It hooks up to my phone via bluetooth and I have full control from another room if I need to turn up the white noise or turn off the light. The Hushh portable mini sound machines we keep attached to her car seat and diaper bag. And finally the Baby Shusher I keep in my nursing cart. I typically use this to help put her back to sleep after a nursing session.
This isn’t something I thought I would consider a need but after that first car ride to the doctor, I totally consider it a must have. I could tell my baby was so over stimulated from that first car ride. I like to use it over her infant seat to minimize being over stimulated. It sort of creates a cocoon for Emma. Love that it doubles as a nursing cover too.
This is another favorite gadget to keep cool on walks. I also have used it during nursing sessions if I get hot.
I LOVE this thing! Emma loves to be cozied up. She is so comfortable in the solly wrap and I love that it frees up my hands to get things done.
I’ll admit that this thing was a little awkward for me at first. I nurse Emma in a cross cradle position so I couldn’t figure out how to manage it without it getting kicked off. With more practice, it does get easier. It’s such a good way to build a little milk stash during the newborn phase.
My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow
It’s like a little human shelf! I absolutely love this thing! It offers so much support which is needed when your are nursing every couple hours.
One thing is for sure, a wipeable changing pad is necessary. I didn’t realize how big of a need that is. I can’t tell you how many times during diaper changes that she has peed or pooped all over it. The keekaroo makes for a quick clean up. Which comes in handy at 4am.
This is Jarred’s number one baby thing. He says it’s one of the cheapest things that has the biggest impact and I totally agree. Emma absolutely hates being cold so warm wipes have added a lot of value for us.
We have gotten lots of use out of this one! Love that it doesn’t require a special bag. All you need is a regular tall kitchen bag.
The perfect light for nighttime feeds. It’s dimmable and easy to maneuver with one hand.
These have been so useful to put around the house for nighttime feeds. I will say they aren’t SUPER bright. They offer just enough light to see where I am going. We have these set up leading to her room so that I can see the path at night.
Those nails might be little, but they are mighty. And we don’t want scratches on that sweet little face. The nail file is a lot less intimidating to use than the nail clipper in my opinion.
This one is in my top 5 must haves. Though it’s an investment, you really can’t put a price on peace of mind. I remember those first few nights home from the hospital I was filled with worry of if she stops breathing how will I know? The owlet alleviates so much of that stress for me. I check this every time I put her down before I can rest my eyes. Love this thing!
The boogers didn’t come in until about week 3 but this thing gets the job done. She has been waking up from each nap with a stuffy nose and this clears her right up.
We have definitely noticed a difference when we use this. We don’t use it after every feeding, more so during the nighttime feeds so that she can reach her longer stretches.
The perfect little spot for tummy time! This play gym is so well thought out and comes with all sorts of ideas on how to use it with your baby.
Taking Cara Babies Sleep Course- “Will I ever sleep again?”
Not sure where we would be without these guidelines. Although much of the course can’t really be implemented until 4 weeks, it has set us up to lay a good foundation for when she does reach that point.
Karing For Postpartum- The bundle
Both the bringing home the baby course and breastfeeding course gave us knowledge we didn’t have. From circumcision care to cluster feeding to learning about hunger cues. I highly recommend purchasing the bundle and following Karrie Locher on instagram!
Cute and functional! This bag has worked so well each time we have left the house. It fits so much. The changing pad has come in handy and I love that is has some insulated pockets.
A must have when it’s 4am and you’re trying to remove yellow poop from your baby’s clothes.
Our sweet friends lent us their snoo and wow WE LOVE IT. It’s definitely one of the pricest baby items out there and we wouldn’t have purchased this on our own, but it’s pretty amazing! For our next baby, we will be looking into renting one or purchasing a used one.
I hope this list of our favorite baby things helps a fellow new mama! Let me know in the comments if you have any questions or other requests for baby related blog posts you want to see!
