Welcoming a newborn baby into the family is an exciting time! Moms want to make sure they’re fully prepared with the newborn items you can’t live without. But with endless products available on the market, it’s hard to decipher the must-haves from the items you can probably live without. Shopping for baby gear can be very overwhelming! To make things a little easier, I’m sharing some of the items I found helped me survive the first month of motherhood…(aside from endless diapers and cups of coffee).
Newborn Items you can’t live without
A properly fitted crib sheet is essential for safe sleep, and this one from Loulou Lollipop fits perfectly. It’s super soft on baby’s delicate skin, and comes in an adorable drawstring bag to make for neat and easy storage.
Getting Clean and Looking Cute
Bathing a newborn is such a sweet part of the day, but it can also be very overwhelming. You’ve got the baby bathtub all set up, you spend lots of time running the water making sure that it’s the perfect temperature. While you run the water you end up changing two dirty diapers. The camera is ready to go so you can document every minute, of course, and you are finally ready to put baby in the bath. Once you get the baby in, you want to make sure that she is nice and warm to avoid a bath time full of tears! Babies can feel cold during bath time, and I find covering a baby with a washcloth during the bath can help keep her warm. It also helps to have a warm, snuggly hooded towel waiting when bath time is over! I like this set from Loulou Lollipop as the towel is nice and thick, and big enough to ensure baby is covered and warm.
Swaddling for the win!
Swaddling my newborn is an absolute must! When I swaddle her before bedtime, I find it helps her sleep longer by ensuring she doesn’t startle herself awake. There are so many swaddles on the market, it’s hard to know which one will suit you best. For my baby, these adorable swaddles from Copper Pearl and Loulou Lollipop have worked like a charm. They are so soft and breathable, making sure baby doesn’t get too hot while she’s wrapped up. They also have a nice stretch that makes them easy to use for swaddling. I am also in love with the patterns that they come in! After all, we also want to love the look of these multi-purpose swaddle blankets!
Tip: I like to layer them with a pair of footie PJs for bed, especially in the winter months!
Avoid a dirty shoulder
With a new baby there are bound to be quite a few spit ups. Burp cloths have become a staple in every room of the house and in the diaper bag as well. Copper Pearl for the win again! I love these burp cloths as they are so easy to throw over your shoulder and aren’t bulky or too large. They are super absorbent and keep my shirts dry! I keep them handy for easy burping after feedings. In addition, the pretty patterns make me feel good when I pull them out at the mall or a restaurant!
Multi-Use Cover
This Copper Pearl cover fits perfectly over any car seat, and is great for protecting baby from any less than ideal weather conditions. I also love how breathable the fabric is, making sure baby is comfortable inside. As an added bonus, this cover is great for nursing – baby fits inside comfortably with no awkward maneuvering and shuffling of blankets required!
Avoid the Stink
If you are having a baby and don’t have a diaper pair, RUN (or quickly shop online!) to get a Skip Hop one! Having this diaper pail right next to my change table makes diaper changes a breeze. I can quickly and easily dispose of the diaper without having to leave the changing area. Not to mentions the storage caddy on top of this one helps to ensure fresh diapers, wipes, and diaper cream are always accessible! The dual-door disposal design and steel bin work to keep odours inside, making sure baby’s room is always fresh and never smelly. We will likely get another one of these for the main floor of the house as well for when the baby is changed downstairs and for when the baby groups start! Then we can all take advantage of the smell-free living room!
Diaper Bag
The need for a diaper bag is NO JOKE! Of course, I couldn’t survive without one. The Skip Hop Mainframe Wide Open backpack seems to have endless amounts of storage space – plenty of room for diapers, changes of clothes, bottles, toys, and anything else you can think of! The backpack design of the bag makes for easy carrying when my hands are full with the baby. I love the sleek design which lets the bag slip right under my stroller without taking up too much space. I could not live without it!
When it comes to newborn essentials, there are so many more! We would love to hear what your new born essentials are! Share them with us in the comments!
This post was contributed by Merav Rosen. Merav is an accountant currently living in Toronto. When she’s not working, Merav enjoys trying new fitness classes, spending time with her cat, and creating healthy and easy recipes and meal plans to share with her husband and friends.
