Well it’s been 5 weeks since our little bundle of joy arrived, and I think we’re finally hitting our stride. Each day is getting easier and more predictable and we are adjusting well to the new normal. Don’t get me wrong, each day also brings a new challenge (cough, #mallmeltdown, cough) but we’re lucky to have a pretty chill little dude on our hands, who just rocks the heck out of baby cargoes. I can’t even.
I’ve been thinking about some things that have made our lives a little bit easier over these past several weeks and thought I’d share 5 Must-Have Items for New Moms including helpful products I find myself using every single day. Funnily enough, I only had one of these items on my registry (the monitor) and have found out the “hard way” how much they’ve all come in handy. Hope I can save you the trouble! :)
Baby K’Tan Sling
I ordered the Baby K’Tan Sling one hot minute after reading fellow blogger Kayla’s post on Babywearing about a week after Lincoln was born. This carrier rocks and let me tell you why. First of all Lincoln loves it. ‘Nuf said, right? If he’s being fussy or just wants to be held, I’ll pop him in the Baby K’Tan and he’ll fall into a deep sleep within 5 minutes if he’s tired. And when I say deep, I mean deep. I have vacuumed with him in it and he doesn’t bat an eyelash. Furthermore, when I transfer him from the K’Tan to his swaddle to go down for a nap, he usually sleeps more soundly.
Besides all that, wearing Lincoln lets me keep my hands free to do stuff around the house. He loves directing me through emptying the dishwasher, doing the laundry, and taking walks around the neighborhood. Selfishly, I love snuggling him close and tight to my chest, too. :)
Order the Baby K’Tan based on your height, as the sling will stretch and grow with your child (up to a certain point/age, of course.) If it becomes too loose just wash/dry, then blammo, it’s back to normal. Visit Kayla’s post above for more benefits on babywearing!
SwaddleMe Swaddles
For the first week I was convinced that Lincoln hated being swaddled. He’d fuss, fight, and wriggle his little arms out every single time I attempted to swaddle him in a blanket. I was seriously stressed because once his arms were free they’d wave and wiggle about keeping him awake. Then I remembered my sister-in-law had given me one of these SwaddleMe Swaddles and it seriously saved our lives. Turns out Lincoln LOVES being swaddled…correctly!
I wasn’t swaddling him right or tight enough with a regular receiving blanket. These SwaddleMe Swaddles are easy to use and wrap him up super tight, which babies love. I went out and bought a zillion (ok, 4) as soon as I realized how well they worked. We use them everyday and Lincoln just loves his little straight jacket.
Motorola Video Baby Monitor
This Motorola Video Baby Monitor is a life saver. Not only can we hear when Lincoln fusses, but we can also SEE what he’s up to. A lot of times he’ll semi wake up, squawk for a minute, then put himself back to sleep, and if I wasn’t able to see that his eyes were closed while he was doing all this I’d be running up and down the stairs even more than I already do! This monitor is a bit pricey and a “nice to have” item, but it sure makes life easier.
Hands-Free Pumping Bra
Wow, awkward picture much? I don’t think this must-have item needs too much explanation. If you are a pumping Mama, you’ve got to get one of these hands-free pumping bras. Just trust me!
Aden and Anais Blankets
I had so many people recommend Aden and Anais Blankets to me when I was pregnant, and now I know why. Most receiving blankets are tiny and shrink in the wash. What I really needed was big, soft, light-weight blankets to use in a variety of ways, and these are it.
I use these blankets for laying out during play time, covering Lincoln’s car seat carrier and stroller to block the sun, and as a light-weight breathable blanket when he gets a chill. I know many people also swaddle with these blankets, but the SwaddleMe’s are working best for us. Bonus points for Aden and Anais blankets coming in the most adorable patterns!
Honorable Mention: Total Baby App
I used the Total Baby App on my iPhone religiously for the first two weeks after Lincoln was born. It keeps track of feedings, diaper changes, sleeping patterns, and more and comes in so handy when you’re so sleep deprived that you can’t even remember what you did five minutes ago, let alone what side your baby last nursed on. I don’t use it so much anymore, but honestly couldn’t have lived without it at the beginning. $4.99 well spent, in my opinion!
What are some of your must-have recommendations for new parents?
(FYI I bought all of these items myself, and the links in this post go to my Amazon affiliate shop!)
Good call on all of those! My son is 6mo. There is a brand Halo that makes a zippered (from the top down) swaddle sack that have arms in or out; it was a life saver. And those swaddling blankets are the best!! All the others I have are way too small, and were almost right away. I didn’t buy the handsfree bra initially, and boy, did I regret that; even tried to make my own from a sports bra.
We have those exact swaddles and I have a pumping bra on order from Amazon. Dang backorders?!
I can add one item NOT to buy when preparing for a little one… the Diaper Champ (Deluxe)I thought it was a fantastic idea at first too- because it didnt require special bags. But then come to find out… my 6month old is now eating solids- and as you all know- that makes for smellier diapers. The Diaper Champ is more like a diaper pail- its not an odor sealer like the diaper genie for example. So now I have had to replace my Diaper Champ so my daughters nursery doesnt smell like dirty diapers all the time…
A&A actually has swaddlers now similar to the swaddle me. Best of both worlds!
I’m so with you on the hands-free pumping bra but I LOVE my PumpEase. So easy to use and SO much cuter than the other options out there. Plus I’ve got a matching Wet Bag – it just makes pumping feel more fun and like less of a chore when I’ve got pretty things to look at :)
Oh, yeah – SwaddleMes saved us. I used a different baby app on my phone but that was also a huge help as we got used to nursing and napping.
A belated congratulations to you and your family! Boys are the best…I am totally biased as I have two little dudes. 15months and 3years :) I just wanted to add a couple things to your awesome top 5 list!
Three alternatives:
1. I LOVED my Moby Wrap & so did my kiddos
2. The Miracle Blanket – it seems so wrong, but it’s SOOOOO right!!! – Once my guys were too strong this was the only thing that kept them wrapped up & sleeping.
3. PumpEase Fabulous 50’s Collection hands-free pumping bra – ENOUGH SAID! If you have to pump, pump in style my friend.
Best wishes,
Jennie
Eagle, Colorado
The Swaddle Me is high on my list. Love those! I also recommend having different types of stollers. We have a jogging, umbrella and the “normal” stroller – I don’t know what you call it, but the one that came with my carseat. I use the heck out of them all and always keep one in the trunk of my car. When going for walks we need the jogging stoller, when going to stores or places with a lot of people the umbrella or “normal” stollers are nice because they are more compact. Now that I have 2 kids, I really want a double jogging stoller or a sit and stand – but I don’t know if we have room in the garage for one more!
Just read through this and saw that I typed “stoller” like 3 times. #stroller #tiredmommybrain
My most useful item was a baby seat/rocker. At first we used a newborn car seat but then brought him a little rocking chair. It was a life saver.
You soon learn that 90% of the stuff hawked for babies is not essential, not even useful.
Those Anais swaddles were what the Duchess of Cambridge used to bring her baby home from hospital. They were in the photos. I’m not a Monarchist, would actually like to abolish the royal family but that was a cute scene seeing them leave hospital.
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Hi Kristin! Congrats to you and Ben on your precious lil guy. What a cutie! We adopted our 2 girls from China when the were 8 months and 10 months old. I remember when I would change their diapers during the winter months the wipes were always so cold. I hated having to put that cold wipe on their little behinds. Then iI discovered the wipe warmer at Babies r Us. It’s so awesome and keeps the wipes nice and warm. I could tell they liked it so much better as they were no longer being shocked by the cold wipe. I have given it as a baby gift ever since, and after using it they always tell me how much they love it. Another thing i love are Bobux leather booties. Besides being absolutely adorable as they come in many designs, they are the only bootie that truly will not fall off babies feet. Check them out, and happy shopping!
Nice list:) I agree with all except for the hands-free bra. I found a sports bra with two holes worked just as well. As you look ahead to what baby gear to get going forward, here’s my list of what I found to be 7 waste-of-money baby products.
I’m a new mom to baby boy #2 and I have 3 of your 5! Good list! I’d also like to throw out there the Angel Care Monitor. It has motion sensors and will alarm if it doesn’t detect the baby breathing! We have the one with two sensors so that it still works once they get a little older and start moving around the crib more. This is my #1 baby product for sure!
Great list! You look great!
The best baby toy we got was Sophie the Giraffe! Our baby girl Mila loved it from the start and now she is 6 1/2 months old and it is still the toy we take everywhere!! Loves to hold it, chew on it. squeak it! A must have traditional baby toy!! and is adorable!
Thank you for all of these great ideas! I’ll be needing them in March!:)
Totally agree with all five!! We use the Ergo baby carrier and a different brand of video monitor but all of these things saved us! I would add an exercise ball to the list. Our now 15 month old was constantly wanting to be bounced in our arms on it when she was a newborn (and now she love to roll it around).
Books written by Leslie Patricelli. I am a new grandmother as well as a retired kindergarten teacher. It is never too early to read to your baby. Establish that book time at bedtime. It is amazing. Jonah is now three an tells me when I have read a word wrong. There are so many wonderful children’s books. Read the old and the new. Throw in the nursery rhymes and the silly songs.
The baby cargos are adorable!
I’ve seen done pretty great things listed so far.
1. Rock ‘n Play – after her NICU stay, this is what my little one slept in next to our he’d until four months.
2. Spare pump parts so you’re not “doing dishes” as often.
3. Manual pump for times you don’t/can’t nurse, but can make a fresh bottle quick without lugging the big one around.
4. SwaddleMe wraps – we used this up until she grew out of the smaller size. Then we started doing a “double swaddle” with A+A blankets.
5. Tommee Tippee travel bottle warmer. Essentially just a thermos, we use it all the time to warm up bottles on the go.
6. Ikea drawer organizers. I use them both in her drawers and on the changing table shelves. http://m.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/art/00192631/
7. Nosefrida snot sucker. The reviews for this are hilarious! http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00171WXII
8. Ikea circus playmat. Way bigger than others, and cushier too. Room for you and baby to play! http://m.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/art/60195778/
9. Plain white cloth diapers. We use these for everything – burp rags, on top of the changing pad cover, catching over-active letdown!
10. White noise app on phone. We didn’t use it much, but others swear by it!