Ten Essentials for After Baby
Hey everyone! Here we are almost 3 months since Saylor was born (crazy!) and I’ve been looking back on our time together so far. When I was working on our registry, I remember feeling really overwhelmed about what we would need. There is SO much that you need for a baby (and okay, a lot of things that we “wanted” too!), and it was stressful making sure we had everything on the list. It was also hard to know exactly how much of certain things I would need. My personal way of coping with anxiety/nerves is to prepare and plan, so I just wanted to be sure that I had everything together and ready before baby was here. So for any of you new mamas out there… here are my top 10 essentials for after baby.
PS I know there are a lot of important things that I didn’t include on this list (ex: diapers), but I was trying to think of things a little less obvious :)
Ten Essentials for After Baby:
Zipper PJs
We cannot get enough of the zipper jams! Especially in those early weeks. I know.. I’m just like everyone else and wanted to get all the cute clothes (and we do use them!), but for the most part Saylor stayed in jams for the first month or so. Obviously they were comfy (I kinda wish I had some for myself) and kept her nice and warm in the AC, but they were also super convenient. Most of the brands have the option for the zipper to zip up at the feet (but stay closed on top) so you don’t have to take the whole thing off for diaper changes. I always heard people say that you will quickly get sick of button up jams, and now I completely understand! We have already gone back to target multiple times for more zipper pjs, so make sure you have a bunch. But also they are just too cute!
2. Burp Cloths
This one is an obvious one to have on your registry, but I completely under estimated the amount of these we would need. Honestly, even now I think I may need to go buy more. Breast feeding was a lot messier than I realized (and bottle feeding tends to get just as messy lol) and we went through the burp cloths like crazy (esp in the beginning). Seriously, put them everywhere… by the rocker, the couch, your nightstand, the kitchen… I can’t tell you how many times I sat down and started nursing just to realize I didn’t have a cloth within reach.. which just lead to both of us and our surroundings soaked lol. Again, there’s so many cute ones at target!
3. Water proof diaper changing mats
This was the other thing we quickly learned we didn’t have enough of. Especially in those first few weeks, diaper changes got pretty messy. They have gotten a bit more predictable, or maybe we have just gotten to be more skilled as parents :) but it’s still nice to have a lot of extras near the changing areas. These are the ones we use:
4. Portable sound machine
I mentioned this in our hospital bag post and it has been just as useful at home! We have the hatch sound machine for her nursery (this was one of the top things recommended to me!), but it’s so nice to have a small portable one to keep by her bassinet or just to use on the go! We’ve brought it on vacation, in the car, on walks, into stores, etc. It’s great for in a pinch when she needs some quick soothing. I’ll link the specific one we use and love below:
5. The Haakaa
Speaking of one of the top things recommended to me.. the Haakaa was another top one! It’s like a small manual breast pump that you can suction on to collect the let down on one side while baby feeds from the other. It’s super convenient to not let that extra milk go to waste! I’ve also used it to just help get some extra milk out when I’m engorged and on the go or maybe just don’t feel like getting the full pump out. It’s been super helpful and easy to use! There are also extra accessories you can get with it, like a suction cup to stick it to the table so it doesn’t get knocked over or a stopper to keep the milk in. I love having the stopper, but then just keep it sitting in a mug so I know it won’t fall over. Links below!
6. Lots of comfy nursing bras
Another one for a breast feeding mama… you will need a ton of comfy nursing bras! They have been a life saver for sure. Again, things have regulated a bit more, but in the beginning I would sometimes go through 2-3 bras a day, so I ended up getting two packs (linked below). Amazon has lots of types and options. While you’re at it, you will definitely need some boobie pads and ya might as well pick up some comfy granny panties (not linking those, I’m sure you can pick out your own undies lol). I hate to admit it, but they were even more comfortable than I expected haha.
7. A click and go stroller
This one isn’t necessarily a necessity, especially if you already have another type of stroller, but it’s great if you want to splurge on something extra. We got the Graco SnugRider in addition to the jogging stroller we already had and it’s been super convenient! Initially, we bought the SnugRider thinking that her infant carseat wouldn’t snap into the jogging stroller, and that we would need a stroller to use before she was big enough to sit independently in the stroller. We later found out the carseat does snap into the jogging stroller, but I was still so happy to have the SnugRider! It’s super light weight and easy to pull in and out of my small car when I’m out by myself with the baby (the jogger is super difficult for me to handle alone cause it just barely fits in my trunk). I usually take it right into store or doctors appointments and avoid carrying around the carseat or using a cart. It’s been awesome!
8. A few different types of pacifiers
I know some people aren’t a fan of pacis, but if you like them.. get a few options! We didn’t use them for the first few weeks, but once we started they have been so helpful for soothing (obviously haha). Although, Saylor definitely favors a certain brand. So grab a few options to test out what your babe likes best.
9. DON’T buy bottles
Okay, this one is like a “what not to buy”.. but I would recommend waiting on the bottles (especially if you are exclusively breast feeding at first). Many people warned me that my baby may only drink from certain bottles, but I would have thought you were crazy if you told me not to add bottles to my registry. In the end she didn’t like the ones I registered for anyways :) Fortunately, I hadn’t opened them and was able to return them for a different brand.
Tip: use all the free sample bottles that come in the registry welcome bags to test out which one your baby likes best before buying them
10. A good support system
As cliche as it sounds, this one is a must! I don’t know what we would have done physically or emotionally without all the love and support of our family and friends. From bringing us meals, coming over to help with the baby, or even just checking in on our mental well being.. we can’t thank everyone enough! I now truly believe it takes a village, so don’t hesitate to lean on your support system and ask for help when you need it! In the end it will benefit both you and baby.
So there’s my top ten baby essentials! I hope I was able to help out some of you mamas, whether you are working on your registry or looking over your last minute checklists. Becoming a parent can be overwhelming, but feeling prepared is like taking a major weight off your shoulders! As always, I’m open to comments or questions about anything above (or anything at all!). Shoot me an email or a dm on insta.. I love connecting with other moms! <3