A new baby is coming! Congratulations! Babies are so exciting. I imagine you’re happy. But probably a bit overwhelmed by everything all at the same time. When I had my little girl over a year ago, I had no idea what I was doing. I tried so hard not to buy stuff I wouldn’t use, which I did of course. I definitely went through a lot of trial and error and really want to help you avoid as much of that as possible. These products I am going to discuss are the ones I will use again in the future if I decide to have another child that is. They helped me so much in the beginning and I still use about half of them every day.
I highly recommend using Amazon’s baby registry. They have are the world’s largest baby registry and it’s completely free. You can sign up by clicking HERE. It is by far the best way to share what you want for your friends and family to get for you and your baby. They have pretty much anything you could ever want. You can find everything I’ve included here on their website. So here are the must-have baby registry items that you both will love!
Britax USA Marathon ClickTight Convertible Car Seat
You might be thinking that an infant car seat is a must have baby item like I did. But you can actually skip the bucket seat completely and use a convertible car seat rear facing from 5-40 pounds with the Britax. I decided to switch when my little girl was only four months old because she hated her infant seat. She would scream bloody murder in her old seat. It drove me insane driving around listening to that and stopping constantly because I thought something was wrong. The convertible changed everything! Seriously, she hardly cried in the car after that. I guess she just wanted to see more.
I bought the Britax to alternate between my mom’s and sister’s cars and ended up loving it more that the Maxi Cosi Pria 85. This car seat literally takes under a minute to install and it’s not a huge struggle like every other car seat on the market. Check out the video to see what I mean on the link above. It’s an amazing seat with outstanding safety reviews. I wish I would’ve just bought this one.
It’s really helpful because it clicks when you tighten the straps to let you know when it’s just right for your baby. There is a tiny fit insert that you can use for a newborn and take out when your baby gets older.
Tula Ergonomic Carrier
In the beginning, I wore my Lo around the house and when I was out in public. Babies love being close to you, so baby wearing is perfect. I started out baby wearing with a Baby Bjorn carrier but soon found out that it was horrible on a baby’s hips. Which makes sense when you look at the awkward position of their hips in the Bjorn vs. an ergonomic carrier. There are other great brands like Ergo and Infantino.
But I am in love with my Tula. I still use it all the time. It doesn’t dig into my shoulders or hurt my back like most carriers. To use this carrier for a newborn, I recommend getting an infant insert or use the rolled up blanket method.
Being a Tula mom is also really cool. We recognize each other in public and there are so many Facebook groups where Tula moms can chat and share pictures. They also have meetings in certain areas. If you buy a Tula and wait for a year or so for the company to quit making that style, you can sell it for more than you paid for it. There are some that are worth thousands. Crazy, but just look into it and see what I mean.
I rarely use a stroller and usually, I only bring it to put my shopping bags in. I recommend the Urbini Travel System if you really want a stroller and infant car seat. Wal-Mart has a better deal and more style options than Amazon. I had this in the beginning and I liked it until Lo started hating it. I kept using the stroller for a while because it’s rear and front facing. It was nice being able to look at her while we strolled or she could look out depending on the day.
Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor
Video baby monitors. Such an awesome invention! Regular baby monitors are nice, but it’s not the same as being able to hear AND see your baby. You are going to worry enough as a new parent so do yourself a favor and invest in a video monitor. It’s nice being able to see what your baby is doing when you are out of the room. My biggest fear was that she was going to suffocate (I was overly paranoid back then). This will help put you at ease and not go in to check on them a million time, which only causes them to wake them up. And life is not fun with a sleepy baby!
This is a such a great model. You can maneuver the camera from the parent unit and it’s much more secure since it is not a WiFi unit. I heard a story not too long ago about someone hacking into a family’s video baby monitor. They had been watching and yelling at the baby. The mom only found out because she went to investigate the noise and she saw the camera turn around to look at her! I would freak out!
Infantino Twist and Fold Activity Gym
This is a great little play mat for your baby and gives them cool things to look and a reach for. I also really liked the pillow in this set because it helps your baby enjoy tummy time more since it props them up a bit. I got this because Lo would freak out every time I would put her on her tummy. After we started using the pillow, her neck muscles strengthened very quickly and she actually started enjoying tummy time.
North States Superyard
I love this play yard. We have dogs and this is perfect to separate them. Especially for a newborn. Just put a puzzle mat in there and the activity gym and you can get a few minutes to yourself! That’s priceless for a new parent! Now she has all of her toys in there to play with. It’s a safe place I can feel comfortable having her in.
Arm’s Reach Ideal Arc Original Co-Sleeper Bedside Bassinet
This is the perfect option for keeping your baby close. I promise your baby will sleep better closer to you than they will far away in a crib. The risk of SID’s is also lowered when your baby sleeps in the same room as you. You can attach it to your bed with a strap. If you decide to breastfeed, you can just nurse your baby back to sleep in the middle of the night without getting up. I learned quickly that when I got up out of bed to feed her, she would wake up fully and would take forever to get back to sleep. With this, she was sleeping through the night with only a couple short feedings and I got more sleep. Such a lifesaver!
Fisher-Price Newborn Auto Rock ‘n Play Sleeper
I used a regular Rock n’ Play and found out later they sold an auto rocker. That would be a better choice so you don’t have to keep rocking it yourself, but both are amazing. My Lo would take her naps in here and I would also put her to sleep at night by rocking her. She loved it and all my friend’s baby’s loved theirs as well. Being at an incline helps reduce reflux that most babies get in the early days. You will find this item on most must have newborn product lists for a reason. I used this until Lo was about seven months, so I definitely got lots of use out of it. Here’s little miss Ayla swaddled up in her Rock n’ Play.
Aden + Anais muslin swaddle blankets
Swaddling your baby is so important! Swaddles help recreate the feeling of being in the womb. I would swaddle Lo and rock her in her Rock n’ Play and she would be out. I thought using a blanket would it difficult so I started out with Velcro swaddles. But it really isn’t hard at all. They work better too and are breathable. My baby would get so hot and these were perfect. Nowadays, she will only keep these blankets on her.
Fisher Price Cradle And Swing
Honestly, if you get an auto Rock n’ Play, I would say a swing is unnecessary. But I got this swing and she enjoyed the songs and the mobile. It was a great way to steal a couple of minutes. I don’t believe in leaving your baby all day by any means, but as a new mom, finding time is so hard. We still have to clean the house, cook, laundry, and a million other things. Don’t feel guilty about letting your baby have some time where they aren’t attached to you if they seem content for a while.
Skip Hop Duo Signature Diaper Bag
My friend recommended a Skip Hop diaper bag since they are very stylish and have so many compartments. It can also attach to a stroller or shopping cart and comes with a changing pad. Most diaper bags look childish or cost a couple hundred dollars. This is a great bag that is affordable too. Can’t beat that!
The First Years Newborn To Toddler Tub
My Lo still uses this tub. It really is a great tub for newborns and toddlers. The mesh sling is great for the first days. But there is also a recline side and a side that allows your child to sit straight up, so it works great for all stages. It also comes in pink!
Boppy Nursing Pillow
A nursing pillow is a must, especially for breastfeeding moms. But even for non-breastfeeding moms. This is a great pillow to rest your baby on while you both are sitting on the couch watching TV. Also, when they are learning to sit up this is great for them to sit against. This is the best pillow on the market and you can buy different washable covers for it with different cute designs.
If you are planning on breastfeeding check out my post, Become An Expert Before You Start Breastfeeding to help get you off to a great start.
Play-a-Song books
Reading is so important even for a newborn. I started reading to Lo when she came home from the hospital and she loves books. The Play-a-Song books are her favorite. She loves listening to the sounds and songs as I read the books. They are great for capturing baby’s attention and helping you to bond with your newborn. Frozen is her favorite by far. I’ve been singing the same song to her since she was born and she still loves it. It’s very cute.
These baby items are amazing and all got plenty of use. You will probably waste money on a couple of things. We all do, but I promise that you and your baby really will love these products. Each one of them has been a lifesaver to me. I was clueless when I became a new mom. Some of my friends recommended most of these to me or I probably would have never found out about them. I really just want to share the love. Good luck with your new baby! I wish you nothing but the best!
Related: 13 Tips To Help You Spend Under $4000 On Babys First Year
Are you excited or scared about becoming a new parent? Do you know any other great items that would be helpful for new moms and dads? Let me know in the comments below!
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