
In today’s post I’m going to talk about my must have newborn items.
Having a baby is overwhelming and there are LOADS of ever-changing information and products out there. How can you possibly choose the best newborn baby items to use?
Before I go into my personal list of favorite must have newborn items, I want to share my brief story.
My pregnancy (an IVF pregnancy) was cut short by a month due to severe preeclampsia (via emergency C-Section). To say I was not prepared for baby was an understatement! My nursery wasn’t even complete! The laundry wasn’t done, house was a mess, and I definitely didn’t have all the baby items I wanted before my son arrived.
So, our baby products were a lot of trial and error – and very last minute purchases. This list should give you some idea of what to register for on your baby registry or just some baby items you NEED in your life!
This post contains affiliate links which means if you click and make a purchase with my link, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you!
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Breast Pump
You want to get a good breast pump in hand if you plan on breastfeeding. I went with the Spectra S2 Series. I got mine through Aeroflow Breastpumps which made the shopping experience so much easier.
Aeroflow talked with my insurance for me and came back with a list of covered pumps for me to choose from and they shipped it directly to my house! I high recommend you check them out if you are on the market for a breast pump.
Dr. Brown’s Anti-Colic Bottles
My son was born premature at 36 weeks. He’s primarily breastfed but they ended up giving him bottles in the hospital due to his low blood sugar levels. We have not had an issue with “nipple confusion” since we supplement with formula (or my husband helps with feeds by giving him pumped milk).
We LOVE these Dr. Brown’s bottles with slow-flow preemie nipples. Preemie nipples have a slow enough flow that it’s honestly the closest to the breast that I’ve tried and he’s not drowning in milk (seriously, the level 1 nipples are SO quick).
Bouncer
Babies love being bounced around to be soothed. They spent 9 months being bounced and swayed in the womb! This bouncer was a life-saver for us. He would spend a lot of time in it and loved being bounced while sitting propped up so he could see us. This actually allowed us to eat a meal together without having to juggle the baby – plus he loved napping in this thing while I did work in the office!
We went with the Fisher-Price Snugapuppy Bouncer. It also has a noise machine and vibration settings for extra soothing. The only downfall with this is that it does not bounce on its own. I usually just use my foot to bounce it while baby is hanging out with me.
Swing
Of all the baby items in my list – a Swing is a MUST! This has definitely been our most-used baby item in our household. My son loves his swing and loves taking naps in it throughout the day.
We usually like to put him in his swing while we’re in our office doing work or doing housework.
We ended up getting this Graco Swing for him and he loves it! It sways side-to-side and has white noise built in with the option of vibrating settings for extra soothing comfort.
Wrap / Carrier
I work from home full-time (YouTube and Blogging), so I have plenty of time to be with my baby and do things around the house. Fortunately, babies want to be around you 24/7! UNFORTUNATELY, that can be challenging when trying to get work done or get things done around the house.
In comes the handy-dandy baby carrier! I love this one I purchased off Amazon. Baby-wearing has many benefits but it also gives you your hands back to get things done! Plus, baby will love being close to you and smelling you. My son usually falls right to sleep when I’m wearing him.
Swaddle Pods
I LOVED having these swaddle “cheats” from SwaddleMe to use instead of messing with a blanket. They Velcro close so baby cannot get out of them and risk suffocation like a blanket would, plus it’s loose past the hips so no risk of hip issues by wrapping too tightly.
My son enjoyed being swaddled and he was able to sleep longer because it prevented the startle reflex.
Boppy Lounger
The Boppy Newborn Lounger was a life saver and my son loved taking small naps in it. Even though it says “not for sleep”, he was always laying in his lounger right next to me while I got work done on the couch.
This pillow is also slightly elevated near the head so baby can be propped up and socialize with the room. Babies are social beings! He loves this thing and we use it every single day.
Pack n’ Play with Bassinet
We opted to use a Pack N’ Play with a bassinet attached for our bedroom. My son sleeps in our room currently (we do not bed share!) and we recently took out the “infant seat” so he could sleep in the elevated mattress portion.
I found this route to be more cost effective because it’s a product that will be used in the long run and can be taken anywhere.
White Noise Machine
Do yourself a favor and get yourself a white noise machine! My husband and I first thought “ah we could just use our phones”, and we did… until we realized how tedious and battery-draining that route is!
I ended up finding this little cube on Amazon for only $16 – and it’s been the best purchase yet! It can be VERY loud and has over 20 sounds on it. My son LOVES the sound of running water, so we’ve been playing the water sounds at night. The first night we used it? He slept 8 hours! The longest stretch of sleep we got.
Dapple Bottle Soap
This Dapple plant-based soap is great for cleaning bottles and pacifiers! I hand wash all his bottles so this soap is a life-saver and it’s free from extremely harsh chemicals. Plus it removes milk-film and the bottles look brand new!
Bottle Sterilizer
I’m paranoid about germs for my little babe and getting him sick. While I hand-wash his bottles and pacifiers in PIPING hot water – I always feel like it’s not enough.
I ended up purchasing a bottle sterilizer to use in the microwave to really make sure they were clean and sterilized after washing! This Munchkin sterilizer is super easy to use and doesn’t break the bank.
Sterilizing bottles is super quick and easy – simply fill up the basin with 7 ounces of water and microwave for up to 4 minutes. Leave the container in the microwave to finish steaming for about 10 minutes and then you’re done!
Must Have Baby Items for 2020
That was my complete list of must-have newborn baby items for 2020! What are some of your favorite baby items? Leave me a comment below!
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