There are SO many baby products on the market, and as a new mama, it can be hard to decide on which brands are right for your baby and what products you actually will need and use.
I’m sharing my short list of my most favorite products for baby and what I consider to be new mama must haves!
1. Dock A Tot
My #1 favorite baby item. I’ve documented our love of the dockatot a few times, but really, it is the best! We use it for lounging, playing, tummy time, traveling, and nap time. It comes in two sizes to grow with your baby and has accessories and travel bags that make it so portable and convenient. It IS a pricier baby item, but with so many uses, it gets rid of the need of some other baby gear. For example, by adding the play bar, you don’t need a separate play gym. It’s a great lounger, getting rid of the need of the boppy lounger.
2. Quality Hooded Towels
This is one I didn’t believe in until well after Leo was born! There are tons of cheap, cute hooded towels on the market, but I would really recommend investing in a few thicker, quality fabric towels. The cheaper ones may be adorable, but they are very thin, don’t hold up over time, and are not as warm as quality towels. I love the towels (and patterns) from Serena & Lily and Pottery Barn Kids. They may be 3-4x the price of Target towels, but they last forever and I feel great about wrapping my babe up in them.
3. Magnetic Onesies
These are a game changer at 4 a.m. Rather than dealing with a zipper, snaps, or buttons (oh god, not buttons) during nighttime changes, these onesies conveniently open and close quickly using a magnet (and yes, its safe for baby.) Also more of an investment, I would recommend a few of these for nighttime when you’re very tired and trying to get baby back to sleep, and save daytime for the onesies with zippers and snaps (and oh god, never the buttons.)
4. Baby Book
I LOVE this baby book. I bought this one for Leo and again for the new baby. I really like that they will have the same one. It has so many thoughtful questions and milestones to document in it, from pregnancy and preparing for baby, celebrations and showers, predictions for baby, space for baby’s feet and hand stamps, along with all the monthly milestones. It also has pages that detail big moments for bigger kids too. If you are adopting, expecting twins, etc., you can also purchase inserts with more pages and questions to document those moments.
5. Portable Changing Pad
This one is a no-brainer! It is sleek and compact and oh so useful. You can easily stash this in your diaper bag and take out when you need it on the go-restaurants, traveling, a friends house, etc. It is available in several patterns and has an area to stash a spare outfit, diapers, wipes, cream, etc. You can unclasp it and roll out to create the comfy and sanitary changing area to lay your baby on.
6. Diaper Cream Applicator
This is another win from Amazon! I love using this applicator for diaper cream to both save my nails and make sure that my hands do not smell like cream or vaseline for hours after a change.
7. Kiinde Storage Bags
These storage bags are perfect for milk as well as first foods! They are a little more expensive than the Lansinoh milk bags, but as a working mom pumping on the go, I trust the quality of these bags and know that they will not leak in transit back home. Whoever said “don’t cry over spilled milk” surely was not a nursing mother in line at the airport with TSA… These bags also double as food pouches and have a spoon attachment to easily feed baby directly from the bag!
8. Sound Machine/Night Light
One of my biggest must haves is a sound machine and night light for my kids. I love this one that has a timer that can be set, multiple different noises, can be packed up for a night away easily, and even features different colors. As you child grows, you can teach them that certain glowing colors (which you program for the time of your choosing) mean they either need to stay in bed or may get up. Anything for a more peaceful and restful sleep for everyone in the family!
9. Mama Spray
This is a product just for mama, and one of those items where new moms say “no one ever told me about this!”
Your body continues to go through so many changes and adjusting in those first days and weeks after baby can be really messy and really difficult. People do not talk about this! I definitely recommend this spray to help with the burning sensation (it has a cooling effect), and to stay hygienic and feeling fresh. Maybe I’ll do a whole separate post on caring for your body after baby!! Let me know if you’d be interested in this!
10. Binxy Baby
I love this shopping cart hammock and have shared about it before here! It easily rolls up and fits in your bag to take to the store. You can grab groceries or peruse the aisles of Target without having to put your baby and carseat in the cart and take up all the room. This hammock fits on the cart and baby can hang out or sleep in it while you shop. It also will fit (and hold the weight of) the carseat if you’d like to put it directly in there.
What are your new mom must haves?
Leave a Reply