Top 10 Newborn Essentials + Some Other Favorites

What does your baby really need when they come home from the hospital? If you’re anything like me, you might be a little overwhelmed by all the “latest and greatest” products out there that are intended to make life with a newborn a little easier. Thankfully, I have some amazing mom friends who shared their favorite picks with me and helped me prepare a solid registry. Now that I’m 3 months in, I’ve had some time to figure out which of those products have truly been helpful as well as discover some of my own “must haves.” I know that every baby is different as God created us all individually and therefore we have different likes/needs, etc., but these are the items that I have found extremely useful and have been SO thankful for during this newborn phase! I’ve rounded up my top 10 must-haves along with all the other items I have used and enjoyed since we’ve been home from the hospital (these are in no particular order):

1. Mom’s on Call: While I was pregnant, I had heard from several of my mom friends that this book had been helpful for getting their babies on a good schedule and sleeping through the night. I’m a Type A personality that loves routine so this was right up my alley. I know there are a lot of books out there on schedules and sleep training, but for me, I liked that this was a quick read and provided straightforward advice by bullet pointing the information as opposed to reading like a novel. From nail clipping and bathing to feeding and sleeping, this book covers it all from birth up to 18 months.  I eventually plan to do a whole blog post about my experience following the Mom’s on Call program (the pros and cons and things I would do differently the next time around), but for the sake of keeping it short here, I will tell you it’s worked great for us and my baby started sleeping through the night (7:30 pm to 7:00 am) well before twelve weeks. And no, not every night is perfect and no day is the same, but for the most part it’s been pretty consistent. One more important thing to mention…. While the Mom’s on Call book is excellent and will certainly provide you with the information and guidance you need, I additionally chose to work with one of the Mom’s on Call consultants – these are trained professionals you can hire to provide one-on-one support via phone, text, and email. My consultant is Lauren Collins, a former NICU nurse, and she has been THE biggest blessing to our family while we’ve made this huge transition in life. From coaching me through the perfect swaddle technique to calming my fears when Lively had jaundice, Lauren’s wisdom and encouragement have truly been priceless. If you are a first time mom, I highly highly recommend working with Lauren. I truly do not know how I would have survived these first few months without her!
2. Comotomo Bottles: When Lively was about 6 weeks old we tried introducing a bottle. It did not go very well and was incredibly frustrating as she continued to refuse bottle after bottle… until this one. Lively took the Comotomo bottle on the first try. Comotomo’s naturally shaped, soft, silicone nipples are meant to mimic a mom’s breast and are ideal for babies who have trouble transitioning from nursing to bottle-feeding. We have had zero issues with nipple confusion and she goes back and forth between nursing and bottle with ease. Bonus – they only contain three parts and are super easy to clean!
3. Dock-A-Tot: I’ve gotten asked a lot if we’ve enjoyed the Dock-A-Tot and the answer is YES! It’s the perfect, lightweight, portable sleeper and we used it often before we transitioned Lively to her crib. I like that it has the bumpers on the sides so I know she’s always safe and cozy. It’s also nice to be able to move it around the house so you can keep the baby close by. Not to mention, it’s a great travel tool.  At about 3 weeks old, we took Lively on a short road trip to our family beach house and it was really convenient bringing the Dock-A-Tot for her to nap in as opposed to a big Pack and Play. My only complaint is that it’s a pain to wash as the cover is not so easy to get on and off. Other than that, it’s awesome!
4. Kickee Pants Jammies: You’re going to want some good jammies and these are hands down my favorite! They’re super cute, snug but not too tight, warm without being hot, easy to get on and off for diaper changes, and the material is unbelievably soft. Love this print and this print!
5. Owlet Sock Monitor: If you’re a soon-to-be parent looking for some extra peace of mind while you’re baby is sleeping, I cannot recommend the Owlet Sock Monitor enough. If the baby’s heart rate or oxygen levels get too high or too low, an alarm will sound. It is expensive (we used gift card money to purchase ours) but well worth it considering I can sleep knowing I will be alerted if something goes wrong. The sock monitor pairs with a user-friendly app on your smartphone that gives you live heart rate and oxygen level readings. It’s easy to set up and comes with multiple size booties to fit your growing baby. We’ve only had a false alarm once and that was due to a connectivity issue with our internet. I’m so thankful we’ve had this monitor as it has kept me from being anxious and freed me from the need to stare at the monitor all night long to make sure she’s still breathing. 🙂
6. Fridababy Big Bundle of Joy: While I was still in the hospital after giving birth, I asked my Mom to run to Target and pick up the Fridababy Momwasher. I felt like the squeeze bottle they give you in the hospital wasn’t cutting it and I remembered seeing a few mom bloggers talk about the Momwasher (pause: if you haven’t had a baby yet, you may be wondering why you need a squeeze bottle. Girl, I’m sorry to tell you that if you have a vaginal birth you cannot wipe down there – you’ve got to use warm water to get clean after going to the bathroom. It’s not pretty, but it’s the truth!). Of course, Target didn’t sell the Momwasher individually. All they had available was the Bundle of Joy that contains tons of other items. Of course, my mom did the typical mom thing and bought the whole bundle for me anyway just so I could have the Momwasher. Little did I know we would quickly end up using every item in the bundle! From snotty noses and fevers to hangnails and gas, this bundle features everything you need for newborn health and grooming. We have literally already used ALL of the items in the bundle more than once (I use that snot-sucker daily!). This is definitely a must add to your registry list!
7. Carseat Cover: This was the very first baby gift we received after we announced we were pregnant. The friend that gave it to me said this was her favorite item they received and I now know why. This carseat cover was my saving grace when we had to take Lively to the ER at just 4 days old due to jaundice. We entered the hospital during the worst flu season ever and as I looked around a waiting room filled with face masks, I could not have been more thankful for this gift. From the pediatrician’s office to the grocery store, this carseat cover goes with us everywhere! I love that it keeps Lively protected and prevents strangers from coming up and trying to touch her. It comes in tons of cute prints and has a magnetic open and close feature in the the front that makes it easy to peek in and check on your baby.
8. Disposable Changing Pads: If you haven’t had a baby yet and are just planning your registry, I’ve got news for you: they pee and poop on everything! We’ve had “little accidents” mid diaper change more times than I can count.  Save yourself the time and trouble of washing your cute changing pad cover over and over and just get yourself a big pack of these bad boys. These disposable pads are soft and absorbent on one side and have a leak-proof soft plastic on the other. We use one sheet multiple times and just throw it away after it gets dirty in the line of duty. 🙂 We’ve purchased 3 packs so far and will continue to buy these as long as she’s in diapers!
9. Daydreamer: If you follow me on Instagram then you’ve likely seen Lively lounging in the Daydreamer on my Instastories. I’ll admit, my cousin gave me this as a gift at one of my showers and I wasn’t so sure about it at first. I had never heard of it and it was not something on my registry. However, this has truly become one of our favorite and most used items. It’s lightweight and easy to use anywhere in your house. It features a plush memory foam and soft fabric cover, and it’s perfect for babies with reflux. I sit Lively in this immediately after feeding and it’s helped tremendously with her constant spit ups. She also loves to lounge in it and look around the room. Whether I’m cooking dinner in the kitchen or watering the garden outside, the Daydreamer is right by my side!
10. 4Moms Mamaroo: This is one of those items I always got mixed feedback on from other moms. Some babies love it and some don’t care for it. My baby happens to love it. I usually put her in this during her fussy time towards the end of the day when she just wants to be held and I need to cook dinner. She loves the rocking motion and is entertained in it for a long time (she loves to look at the little balls that hang over the top), and sometimes falls asleep in it. This is also another great product for those who have babies with reflux as the incline helps with their digestion after feedings. I also like that it’s well made and blends in nicely with our living room furniture. It’s pricey, but you won’t regret having it!

App to Track Feedings and Diaper Changes
Baby Tracker