Creating a baby registry was SO overwhelming! I pinned dozens of articles on Pinterest titled “Baby Registry Must Haves” and asked all my mommy friends what they recommended.
Here is my list of products that I HEAVILY used during the first 3 months (in no specific order):
Moby Wrap
I loved wearing my baby! The Moby Wrap was perfect for days when the baby just wanted to be held, but you didn’t want to sit on the couch. I was a little intimidated by the “wrapping” part, but it came with instructions that were easy to follow.
HALO SleepSack
I registered for and received a bunch of SwaddleMe swaddles, but after the first few weeks Ben needed something bigger and stronger. The HALO SleepSack comes in different TOGs (learn about TOGS here) and it grows with baby! You can swaddle both arms, one arm, or no arms. It has been perfect for month 3-4 when baby is learning to roll and you have to stop swaddling the arms in.
Boppy Newborn Lounger
When my colleague found out I was pregnant, she told me “I’m getting you the Boppy Lounger. Don’t even register for it! You’re going to love it!”
Oh man! She was right! We have used it EVERY DAY. It’s the perfect pillow to put baby in when you need to set him down. And, it’s not nearly as expensive or large as the popular DockATot.
Hatch Rest Sound Machine
You will definitely need a sound machine to help baby sleep. I really like Hatch Rest Sound Machine because I can program up to 6 sound/light combos as “favorites”. Also, you can control the light strength (dim versus bright), color (white, red, orange, yellow, green, teal, blue, purple, pink, rainbow, or custom), volume, and set favorites from your phone! So if you’re having people over and it gets a little rowdy, you can turn up the volume without having to go to the baby’s room. #winwin
Chicco Lullago Portable Bassinet
Why spend a ton of money on something you’ll only use the first few months? The Chicco Lullago Bassinet was perfect! It was lightweight and fit right next to our bed. The mattress hangs, which makes rocking baby in the middle of the night really easy! Also, it folds down flat so its great for travel — don’t have to take that bulky and heavy Pack ‘n Play. The only gripe I might have would be that the thin mattress folds in half (which is great for breakdown and travel) but it can sometimes dip or peak if it isn’t laying in the bottom of the bassinet properly, which may cause some concern for the baby sleeping in a divot or on a bump.
Cloth Diapers (as Burp Cloths)
You’re going to need A LOT of burp cloths! Baby hack: Cloth diapers are super absorbent, they’re white (think: bleach), and a 10-pack is WAY cheaper than regular burp cloths. Do yourself a favor and grab a couple packs of cloth diapers!
Nursing Cover
Whether you’re comfortable breastfeeding in public or not, the nursing cover has been most useful: 1) around weeks 10+ as baby becomes more aware of their surroundings and gets easily distracted; 2) as a carseat cover for those first few months when you’re trying to prevent the old lady in Target from touching the baby. Here’s the Itzy Ritzy cover that I love!
Nose Frida
Before becoming a mom, I said “That’s disgusting..I’ll never suck my kids boogers with that thing.”
Man was I SO SO SO wrong! After dealing with poop, pee, and spit up, boogers aren’t so bad. Plus, the Nose Frida works WAY better than a bulb syringe. Trust!
Activity Mat
A must-have for playtime and tummy time! Here’s the one we have. It comes with a mirror and 4 animals attached by rings. The bottom detaches and can be washed. The only thing I don’t like about ours is that the bottom is silky and slippery, which made it really hard for Ben to learn to roll over. If it were cotton or anything with texture, then maybe he’d have more friction and would be able to roll over better.
High Contrast Books
Babies love high contrast colors and patterns. Ben LOVED his Baby Einstein High Contrast Book. It crinkles and rattles too. Plus, it was a great on-the-go distraction!
Swing
We have the Snug A Puppy Swing and it is our #1 fussy baby remedy. Ben LOVES being in the swing! It instantly soothes him and he coos when he looks at himself in the mirror. We registered for this one and keep it in the nursery, but honestly I never use it as a swing. I doesn’t “swing” like the Snug A Puppy — it just glides back and forth, and that doesn’t get the job done. I only use the detachable chair to hold Ben when I’m getting ready in the morning. But honestly, a regular bouncy seat works too — and is much cheaper!
Pack ‘n Play
Since the nursery is upstairs, and we spend most of our time in the living room, we use a Pack ‘n Play as a changing station on the first floor. Plus, if Ben fell asleep in the swing we could transfer him to the Pack ‘n Play so he could sleep flat on his back. One things I wish I had with my Pack ‘n Play is a diaper organizer. This Pack ‘n Play seems to have all the bells & whistles I would want.
White T-shirt Onesies
Babies need layers! They can’t regulate their body temperature the first few months, so you’ll need some short sleeve onesies for layering. Ben would wear this as a layer under his jammies or under a long-sleeved outfit. Plus, stains happen…and white onesies can be bleached!
PJs that Zip (and have cuff mitts)
When you’re changing diapers every 2-3 hours, even through the night, zippers are WAY easier to dress/undress a newborn. Also, since babies should sleep without mitts (to prevent SIDS), try to find zippered jammies with hand cuff mitts. Baby’s hands will get cold, or they might scratch themselves, so cuffs are great to have! I’ve found that Old Navy and Carters have a good variety of zippered jammies with cuffs.
Reusable Nursing Pads
You will leak. It’s part of any breastfeeding journey. I found disposable nursing pads to be itchy and something I had to remember to stock up on. So, I invested in some reusable nursing pads. The only downside is that sometimes they move around inside your bra. I’d recommend getting 2 packs of these Organic Bamboo Nursing Pads…because laundry doesn’t happen as often with a newborn. And it comes with a laundry bag so they won’t get lost!
Brest Friend Nursing Pillow
I have the Boppy and the Brest Friend nursing pillows. In my opinion, the Brest Friend blows Boppy out of the water! It is bigger, firmer, has built-in back support, and I love the pocket (that where I kept my lanolin creme, chapstick, hand sanitizer, and baby nail clippers). Don’t forget to get two covers, because spit ups and blowouts happen!
Gripe Water and Gas Drops
All (I repeat ALL) babies will have gas and tummy problems the first 6-8 weeks. This was something I wasn’t prepared for. Gas Drops and Gripe Water were our saviors. Our pediatrician wasn’t a fan of Gripe Water (because he felt like it had little effectiveness), but we noticed a difference when we gave it to Ben. We use Mommy’s Bliss Gripe Water and Mycolin Gas Drops, both easily found at any convenience store.
Glow Baby App
Those first few weeks you won’t know what day it is, which side you fed on last, and how long it has been between feedings. I used the Glow Baby app to track diapers, feedings, naps, and growth metrics. Thanks to the app, around 8 weeks I started to see some commonalities in Ben’s schedule. For example, I noticed that Ben pooped every night before bedtime (around 7), and he woke up around 1am every night for a feeding. I don’t know if I would have noticed that schedule so quickly if I wasn’t using my Glow Baby app to track everything.
There you go! Those are my most commonly used products the first 3 months as a new mom. If you’re looking for hacks and advice for those first 3 months, check out my Tips for First Time Moms post.
