22 Best Products for Newborns
Congratulations!
You’re having a baby!! When it is time to start shopping for a new baby, it is such an exciting time. However, there are so many options out there for everything it can be overwhelming. As with most things, I have bought or borrowed multiples of most essentials until I found the perfect fit! These are tried, and well-tested products that help make that newborn chaos so sweet. While many essentials will have plenty of accessories and other options, these are the bare bone of what you need those first few months. This is a great list to help you get your registry jump-started. Every baby is different, and you will learn quickly they like what they like! These worked for both my kids, and they are very different. So let’s jump right in!
DISCLOSURE: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS, AT NO COST TO YOU. PLEASE READ MY TERMS OF USE POLICY FOR MORE INFO. Disclaimer: I am in no way a medical professional; the advice on this blog is to be viewed as opinion only and NOT to be used in place of a medical professional. Please – consult your medical provider for any and all health needs or questions
We are going to cover the simple essentials in the following categories:
Baby Gear
Bathing
Diapering
Feeding
Health
Sleep
Wardrobe
Baby Gear
Soft Carrier (Boppy Soft Wrap & Moby Wrap Carrier & Konny Baby Carrier Flex )
Your newborn has spent 9 months snuggled up and as close to you as humanly possible. Most likely, there will be times that's all they will want again. These wraps make that possible and allow you to do stuff like pee or stuff your face with more chocolate!
I used this boppy soft wrap when I didn’t have to patience for the entire fabric wrap it has excellent support and a bonus storage pouch!
I found this Konny Baby Carrier Flex with baby number 3, and I love it! Just put it on like a backpack and slide baby right it. Lightweight and breathable, perfect for those summer months. Easy to store in a car or diaper bag
Car Seat (Uppababy Mesa)
This is a law-abiding essential - you can't leave the hospital without one. Do your research and find out which is best for your situation. I feel like a travel system with a stroller is the way to go. I loved this car seat. I knew my babies were safe and sound in it, and it fit them perfectly. My favorite features were the large canopy, 1-handed release from Uppababy stroller, side impact protection, adjustable headrest, and no thread harness. My absolute FAVORITE feature was how insanely simple it was to install. I could install the base in less than a minute while knowing I did it correctly! You can also use a seat belt for install - which is a great feature when traveling. Oh, and they have fantastic colors to choose from!
Stroller (Uppababy Vista)
If you ever plan on leaving your house with your child, you will most likely need a stroller. A walk down the street, your first trip to Target, or your town’s farmers market, A stroller will be your best friend. Yes, you can wear your baby, but where is all your stuff going to go? The extra blanket, bottle, diaper bag, new throw pillows ( that you probably didn’t need to buy ) - the point is a stroller gives your body a break so you can relax and enjoy the moment, whatever it may be.
Features to look for when picking one out - price, storage (this is huge - remember throw pillows), does it fit your car seat? Maneuverability, can you add seats if you plan to continue to grow your family?
This was my favorite baby gear purchase ever. My husband says we definitely got our money’s worth. It checked all our boxes for sure. The storage basket alone would be worth it. I feel like Mary Poppins with the amount of stuff I can fit in there. Yes, I went to Target and bought two giant throw pillows!
The Uppababy Vista comes with so many accessories including the bassinet. It’s a dream ride for you and your baby!
Swings/Seats/Lounger
Ok you need to put your sweet pumpkin down at some point and you will want to do that in a safe space. I have used swings, seats, and loungers and they have all had their special uses. These are my favorite.
Maxi Cosi Cassi 360 Swing I love how lightweight it is and has the option to run on battery so you can move it around as you need it!
Bathing
Bath towels/ Washcloths (Natemia Towels)
My son has had this same towel since he was born; he is almost 3! I'm not sure what evil genius is behind the sizing of most baby towels, but a cold screaming baby is never okay. These are huge, so soft (made from bamboo), and hold up so well.
Baby washcloths can be so thin and pathetic, yet adult washcloths are too heavy to maneuver around an Itty bitty baby. These are perfect! Also made from bamboo, they are soft, durable, and the ideal size.
Check out the entire Natemia Store on Amazon for all their amazing products!
Baby Wash/Shampoo (Honest & Burts Bees)
Newborns are messy, but their skin is so delicate. Go for a wash that has easy-to-read ingredients and is tear-free. Be sure to check for tear-free - not all made-for-baby wash is tear-free. These are my go-to products:
Diapering
Diapers (Huggies and Pampers Swaddlers)
This is an obvious one. You will need lots of diapers. There are more options than ever right now: disposable, cloth, monthly subscriptions. Do your research about the best for you and your family. Disposable worked best for us, and these fit my babies the best. Their pocketed waisted band gave a superior fit and significantly reduced blowouts! These also have umbilical cord cutout protects baby's belly button while it heals (Preemie & Newborn sizes)
Mom Hack: Baby having multiple blowouts? Or notice red marks on the baby’s legs? Time to size up!
Water Wipes
Baby wipes in general will become your mom version of a Swiss army knife. By the time your LO turns one, you will have a pack of wipes in every room of your house, possibly two. That being said, delicate newborn skin needs delicate wipes. Enter water wipes they are fantastic here’s why:
Only 2 ingredients 99.9% water and a drop of fruit extract
The National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance™
0% artificial fragrance, sulfates & colors
Mom Hack: Keep them on hand as your LO gets older! These are great for a diaper rash. Traditional wipes can leave a film that hinders a rash from healing, not to mention Ouch!
Diaper Rash Cream (Boudreaux's Butt Paste}
Speaking of diaper rashes, they will come out of nowhere and can be concerning no matter how many times it happens. Your baby is in pain and you will want to do whatever you can to ease that pain. This cream is a gem, works fast, and gets the job done.
Mom Hack: After applying rash cream add a layer of Vaseline. It keeps the cream from rubbing all off on the diaper!
Feeding
Burp cloths/bibs (Kiddystar Burp Cloths & Parker Baby Co. bandana bibs)
Speaking of messes - spit up is so real. Honestly, the spit-up rarely comes when you are nicely set up and waiting for it. It's when you're rushing out the house, and you get your LO in the car seat, and everyone now knows they ate too much. Keep burp rags/bibs everywhere; you will always need them.
Both of these absorb like champs!
Bottles (Comotomo)
Whatever your ultimate feeding plan is - be prepared for that not to work the way you pictured it. Welcome to motherhood. You will most likely need bottles no matter what. Formula, breastfeeding, and pumping having great bottles on hand are essential.
These were my absolute favorite! Comotomo mamas have coined the term breastfeeding in a bottle. This bottle is designed to mimic breastfeeding to help babies easily transition back and forth from nursing to bottle-feeding.
Pacifier (Bibs)
I was worried that a pacifier would cause nipple confusion with my son because I planned to breastfeed. My sister gave me great advice when it came to bottles and pacifier usage. Once your baby has breastfeeding down, go ahead and introduce the bottle or pacifier. This method worked great for us, and I introduced a pacifier almost immediately and had no problems. Both of my kids were sensitive to silicone pacifiers, we couldn’t use those. These are what we used and loved! Even if you aren’t sure you will want to use a pacifier, I would suggest having a few on hand just in case - at 2 am it may be your best friend.
Health
Healthcare Sets (Fridababy & Safety 1st)
There are a ton of different versions of these, grooming, sick days, basic needs. Sets are great because 1. more economical 2. There is always something in there you think you will never use and at 2 am that random extra medicine syringe is your lifesaver.
Humidifier (Safety 1st Easy Clean 3-in-1 humidifier)
Cold air humidifiers will be your best friend. They keep the air most which help to relieve cough and congestion due to a cold. You don't realize how tiny your LO nostrils are until they are clogged up. The 3 in 1 diffuser/night light/Humidifier options are great!
This Humidifier is fantastic. You can actually fit your hand in there to clean!
Mom Hack: Get one that is easy to clean! These can get gross if not cleaned out regularly and spread bacteria into the air. Dilute white vinegar with water to get an effective and natural clean!
Nose Sucker (Fridababy)
These are amazing! Maybe it’s just me but those bulb nose suckers never got anything out and how do you really get those things clean?! These gets the job done fast and effectively.
Mom Hack: Put a few drops of saline in your baby's nose before using a nose sucker. This loosens the mucus and makes it so much easier to get out.
Sleep
Bassinet (Halo Bassinet)
The AAP recommends infants share a parents' room, but not a bed, "ideally for a year, but at least for six months" to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). There are so many options of fantastic bassinets with tons of features. Some features to keep in mind are storage/pockets, adjustable height, size, and portability.
I used this bassinet for both my babies. my sister in law also borrowed it she had a c-section and said it was a great help during her recovery.
Swaddle (Love to Dream Swaddle Arms Up)
Swaddling your baby is a must for great sleep. Your baby has been snuggled in tight for nine months, and that feeling is still extraordinarily calming and comforting for them. There are a ton of different options, and I have tried a lot of them. After trying at least five different types of swaddles for my son - this one finally worked. I used it for my daughter on day one, and it was a hit too! It’s nice snug but uses a zipper, so it’s easier to get on and off.
Sound Machine (Hatch Rest+)
Yes, just yes. White noise is a huge key to your baby sleeping soundly. It drowns out noise in the house so you can get stuff done without being concerned baby will wake up. I have used a sound machine for myself for years, and it does the trick to help calm my mind to get some rest finally.
This sound machine is my absolute favorite. It's a sound machine, nightlight, clock, and two-way audio monitor! As the baby gets older, you can set schedules to help with waking up.
Wardrobe
Clothes (Simple Joys by Carters, Hudson Baby & Amazon Essentials)
Onesies, PJs, coveralls, and the list go on. Newborns are messy so stock up on easy-to-remove, cozy clothes. Remember, newborn clothes usually fit up to around 9 lbs, so they probably won't be in them too long.
I always look for soft fabrics, great design choices, and of course, reasonably priced - they grow too fast!
Mom Hack: Pay attention to recommended pounds for sizing! Ie. Size 3 months is actually UP TO 3 months. This can be a big deal, especially when switching seasons.
Booties (Zutano & Burts Bees)
Okay, newborn socks just don't stay on. To avoid looking everywhere for the one sock that disappeared into thin air, get yourself some baby booties! They are adjustable, come in different fabrics for all-weather and have fun colors!
