What You Will Need the First Couple of Months of Motherhood
**This post does contain Amazon affiliate links. I will get a very small percentage if you click to Amazon and buy something. Thanks for helping this mom stay at home with her babies!I want to make this as comprehensive a list as possible, without being overwhelming…
Necessities
(Crib, Bassinet, Co-Sleeper or Sleeper Area for your bed) – We chose to buy a Pack ‘n Play (we got the Elite
, but I’d recommend the Cuddle Cove Rocking Seat
one!) that has an infant bassinet so we could have it right by our bed. Once he outgrew the bassinet, we just put him in the pack ‘n play part. We also got one that has a changing table and organizer attached to it. This made it easy for us in the first few weeks when I didn’t want to go up and down the steps a lot. 2 fitted sheets 2-4 receiving blankets Baby Carrier – great for newborns and infants! I have two: the Infantino Mei Tai Carrier
and the Ergobaby Original Carrier
- 2-4 Swaddle blankets – I specifically like the size of any of the ones from Aden and Anais. It’s made of a very breathable material.
- Safe car seat for the car
- Sun shade for the car
- Bouncer, Swing or Rocker - so handy to have when you need to shower, or go to the bathroom, or eat, etc.
- Nighties/footies (especially the kind that has a flap you can fold over to cover their hands)
- You may have to buy some clothes, but wait until after your baby shower (if you have one). We were given so many clothes, we didn’t have to buy any for the entire first year!! You really don’t need much more than 10-15 onsies, 10 pants or shorts (depending on the season).
- A few, different brands of bottles – you never know which bottle/nipple your little might like. I like the idea behind the Lansinoh Momma bottles, or these Tommee Tippee ones, but Ain ended up taking to these Nuk bottles the best (I think because the nipples were a similar shape to his pacifier).
- Bottle brush – we have this one
- Burp cloths
- Stroller (may or may not be a necessity for your family)
- Baby nail clippers or blunt little scissors
- Dresser to hold clothes and at a good height to put a changing pad on top of.
- 2-3 changing pad covers
- Baby monitors (depending on the layout of your house and you will not need it for the first few months if you plan to have baby in your room)
If you are cloth diapering:
– they are a quality brand) Bac-Out Stain Remover
– just spray the dirty diapers and let it set – works wonders!
If you are using disposable diapers:
- You might get a lot of diapers at your shower, so wait until after to buy some!
- Diaper Genie
- Tip: Before baby is born (or even after), register online at all the diaper companies and they will send you samples of their diapers to try before you buy!!
For Mama:
Nice to Have:
- Crib – We didn’t use the crib until Ain was 4 months old. We found one on Craigslist that had never been taken out of the box!!
- Crib mattress – we love this Sealy Crib Mattress
It’s GREENGUARD certified for indoor air quality and low chemical emissions, providing a healthier sleeping environment for your baby. Travel bassinet – I’m buying this one for the next baby, just so we have a quick napping option (the pack ‘n play we would have to pack up when going up or down the stairs). Link toy clips – they are colorful and can hold little toys onto the car seat, stroller, diaper bag or high chair. Sometimes, they’re also a favorite chew toy. Bottle drying rack – we got this one, but you can also find others for pretty cheap. Cage for bottle bits and pacifiers – to use in the dishwasher (I didn’t use this, since we didn’t give Ain bottles that much)
and the Versa (both Skip Hop brand!) Baby Nasal spray or the Nosefrieda Nasal Aspirator – when your baby is a newborn, it’s hard to fit anything in those tiny nostrils, so just use a saline spray. But I’ve found the nosefrieda very useful after that! Pacifier thermometer – this was a great option. When your baby is not feeling well, it’s hard to keep them still to get their temperature. This is a great solution to that!! Wipe Warmer
– not necessary, but we liked having it for those middle of the night diaper changes (and just for using all the time)! Sound machine to help baby fall asleep (or just a fan)!
Nice to have, for Mama:
- Silicone Reusable Lilypads – these are nursing pads that are seamless and allow you to wear under braless tops or dresses. Don’t use until your supply has leveled off though!!
- This book – The Wonder Weeks: How to Stimulate Your Baby’s Mental Development and Help Him Turn His 10 Predictable, Great, Fussy Phases Into Magical Leaps Forward
- wine or beer – to celebrate and make more milk!
Not necessary:
- A stroller – Not necessary at first. If you have a baby carrier and a car seat – that’s all you need (until your baby gets a little too heavy to carry). Even then in a good baby carrier that distributes weight well, you can still wear your toddler! We did get a Baby Trend Travel System
: a car seat and jogging stroller! Hooded towel – regular soft towels work just as well Baby video monitor Bedding set for crib - they recommend no excess fabric in cribs. You want just the fitted sheet and that’s it. No blankets (we used the swaddle blankets since they are breathable) Mobile for crib Bumper pads – if you do buy these, then make sure they are mesh, so baby can breathe through it!
What everyone tends to buy you (at least from my experience):
- BLANKETS
- clothes (newborn clothes that don’t have to go over baby’s head)
- pacifiers
- toys
- socks
- nighties
Wait to buy lots of clothes – you never no what size they will be. Don’t have to many newborn size on hand, but it is safe to buy 0-3 month clothes.
Do you have any baby items you couldn’t do without during the first few months?© 2014, Betsy Pool. All rights reserved.
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