Hello mamas and mama to be’s! Aside from the obvious strollers, car seats, cribs and bottles, I wanted to focus on some smaller and what may seem insignificant items that I was extremely thankful for in my first 12 months of becoming a mother.
- Halo Sleep Sack – This is an item you are most likely familiar with by now, because it is on every moms top 10 list! I was (and still am) extremely cautious of loose blankets around my baby. The best part about the Halo Sleep sack is that not only does it replace loose blankets, but also aids in helping reduce “infant startle reflex” with the built in swaddle feature.
- OogieBear – Little babies don’t know how to blow their nose! Isn’t that SO SAD! Lol! I can not emphasize how much this little tool helped us. I used it several times a day to ensure my baby had a clean nose and was able to breathe happily!
- Johnson’s Head-To-Toe Cleansing Cloths – Newborn bath time was so stressful for us. Their tiny bodies are so fragile and I would start to panic hours in advance. These cleansing cloths were given to me by the hospital, I ended up finishing them and purchasing more! They are easier to use than a regular washcloth because they glide so easily over gentle parts of baby’s body and the soap is distributed evenly. I used them from 0-6 months.
- Aquaphor – This has to be some kind of magic cream! We used it to address even the slightest hint of any diaper rash, and it worked within 1-2 hours! We still use it up until today and I have noticed it also helps with small cuts and scrapes. It is the only healing ointment in my baby drawer.
- Sleeper Gowns – Newborns need diaper changes VERY often! It was so uncomfortable for both baby and myself to keep opening and closing onesie buttons for diaper changes. These sleeper gowns are easy access, super soft and easy to put on! I rotated between about 10 of these for the first 0-6 months!
- Boppy Pillow – I took this pillow with me to the hospital! This award-winning double duty pillow was one of my most used items in my first few weeks home with my baby. I used it for nursing, and around 3 months I also started to use it as an infant lounger around the house.
- Muslin Swaddle Blankets – These breathable cotton fabric blankets are a must have for any new mom! They are versatile, and not only can be used for swaddling and burping but also as nursing covers and so much more! We were given a bunch during our baby shower and I also purchased some extra ones once I realized just how helpful they were. I used these from 0-12 months.
- Baby Mittens – When I purchased these, I didn’t understand why I would ever need them. Baby nails seem soft to us, but it is still a weapon to them. These mittens were helpful in preventing involuntary movements that end up causing scratches on baby’s skin. They really do work! We used these from 0-6months.
- Tiny Love Soothe n’ Groove Crib Mobile – I never really knew at what exact moment my baby started to engage with his crib mobile but I do know that the lights and sounds on this mobile were always a sense of familiarity and comfort for him, even before he could see the toys spinning! This mobile is sentimental is so many ways! It truly was his first and favorite toy. Newborns can’t really engage in “playtime” so a mobile is a great way to engage them in a safe and fun activity when they are awake.
- Wubbanub – A pacifier is a personal choice for every mother. For us, it helped tremendously! We went through a few different styles of pacifiers before finding the right one. My baby especially loved the stuffed animal part of this pacifier. Not only is it cute, hard to lose due to its larger design, the unique style allows it to remain easily positioned and close to the baby. While other pacifiers would pop out and fall to the floor, this one would gently lay on his chest while he played with the animal end!
Identifying what you need versus what is nice to have can be difficult as every mother has different priorities. What may seem difficult to me, might be a breeze for you! All in all, we can all agree what babies truly do need… is a full belly and your unconditional love!
Hang in there mama, you’re gonna be just fine!