12 Baby Items I Can't Live Without

I’ve been a mom for 2.5 months now, so I’ve had some time to really get a feel of what baby products I like, which ones I don’t, and the ones I can’t live without. I highly recommend checking out my newborn master shopping list if you want a complete checklist of absolutely everything you need, along with brand recommendations, but in this post, I just wanted to highlight the 12 items that have really stood out to me. Let me know your newborn must-haves in the comments below!

1. White Short Sleeve Bodysuits - Gerber
   - Basic I know, but having a bunch of onesies around has made my life a million times easier. They’re the perfect light layer, so work great under swaddles, and they make for super easy diaper changes.

2. Extra Thin Washcloths - Gerber
   - This is one item I didn’t know I needed before Nate was born, but these little washcloths are a must have for baby boys. Just throw one over your baby’s diaper area when changing to avoid getting peed on. They have saved me (and the wall) more times than I can count. They’re also great for bath time. I got two packs and I just might get a third.

3. Lounger - Snuggle Me Organic / Lounger Cover - Snuggle Me Organic
   - Baby Nate does NOT like his bassinet, so I honestly don’t know what we would have done without this lounger for the first month plus of his life. Using the lounger in his bassinet was the only way we got any sleep. We felt comfortable using it that way, but note that the product is not meant for sleeping. Now that Nate is 2.5 months, I’ve been using the lounger for tummy time, which is the only way he tolerates those dreaded few minutes.

4. All Over Ointment - Tubby Todd Ointment
   - This stuff is so good. Works like magic on dry skin patches, diaper rash, and cradle crap. It’s apparently good for eczema as well. Just get it because I guarantee there will come a time you’ll wish you had some.

5. Stain Remover - Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Non-Toxic Baby Stain Remover
   - Trust me, you need this. The first time baby Nate had a blowout, I was ready to throw out his clothes, but I sucked it up and started scrubbing, only for the stain to remain. Nothing I tried could get it out… enter Miss Mouth’s Stain Remover. It’s pricey for such a small bottle, but IT WORKS and has saved so many of mine and Nate’s clothes. P.s. If you shop through this link, 10% off with automatically be applied at checkout.

6. Electric Nasal Aspirator - The NozeBot by Dr. Noze Best
   - Full transparency, I was gifted this item, but now that I’ve been using it for the past two months, I can say with full certainty that it is worth every penny. Baby Nate has a lot of congestion and this gets it all out within seconds. The manual one works great too, but trust me, the last thing you want to be doing at 2am (or ever) is sucking snot out with your mouth.

7. Night Light - Amazon Find
   - Absolutely LOVE this night light. It has tap touch technology and gives off the perfect soft light for diaper changes. You can adjust the brightness and change the color as well. I’m especially a fan since it’s wireless, so no messy wires at the changing station and I can carry it with me to another room if I need.

8. White Noise Machine - Rohm
   - I got the Hatch, like every other mom out there, but I use this portable one probably more than any other baby item I own. Because the glider is in the nursery, but Nate is still sleeping in our room, I’m constantly carrying the sound machine back and forth. I also use it on walks outside to help Nate nap in his stroller and I bring it with me wherever I go, in case I need to put Nate to sleep while I’m out.

9. Bathtub - Angelcare
   - I gotta be honest, I was a little nervous about bath time before it became an every night occurrence, but this tub makes the process so easy since Nate is supported without me having to physically hold him up.

10. Bath Rinser - Skip Hop
    - Sure, you can use any cup to pour water on your baby to keep him warm or rinse him off, but I love how this one has a lip that keeps me from getting water in Nate’s eyes as I pour it over his hair.

11. Swing - Fisher Price
    - It’s bulky and takes up WAY too much space, but nothing keeps a baby occupied quite like this swing. It took Nate a good month to start really liking it, but now that he does, it is a game changer. I finally can have my hands free for solid chunks of time so I can do things like eat breakfast and prepare dinner. It’s also adorable watching him in there since he is obsessed with looking at himself in the mirror above his head so spends most of the time smiling at his reflection.

12. Zippered Swaddle - Happiest Baby
    - We tried a lot of swaddles, but none have helped Nate sleep as well as this one. First there’s velcro to strap your baby’s arms down and then there’s a zipper to secure it on. Somehow baby Nate still manages to get his arms out every once in a while, but nothing compared to others we’ve tried. Highly recommend!

x Esther