Hi mommas! I’m so glad that you found my 0-3 month recommendations helpful. So helpful that you’ve asked for more recommended products!
Babies grow and develop so quickly the first year, and their needs change quickly too. Below I’ve listed the items that Ben and I used the most during months 3-6.
Tummy Time Water Mat
Ben wasn’t a fan of tummy time, so I was desperate to find something to keep him on his belly. I found this water mat on Amazon and he LOVED it! It’s pretty durable you don’t have to worry about it popping. Just be sure to add a tablespoon of vinegar to the water to keep the mat from getting moldy.
Jumper
We received this jumper as a baby shower gift. At first I thought it might be too busy, with all the stations, the hanging items, and noises, but Ben really loved it! Like LOVE LOVE LOVED it!! He would spend 20-30 minutes in this thing easy! And the interest lasted months!
There are 3 heights and we just moved him into the 2nd height around 7/8 months. The other thing that I liked is there are three sound settings: off, low and high. Sometimes mama just wants some peace and quiet!
Play mat
Ben didn’t really LOVE tummy time until he was rolling over consistently around 5ish months, so we still used the activity mat a lot. We continued to use it when he started sitting up around 6 months. He loves to sit and play with the dangling toys.
Pack ‘n Play
Even though Ben outgrew the bassinet and changing pad attachment for our Pack ‘n Play, we continue to use it for changing diapers on the first floor. When Ben started to sit up and crawl, we stopped using it to change diapers and lowered the base so Ben couldn’t crawl/fall out. Like I mentioned in my 0-3 month post, I wish we had a diaper organizer attached to the Pack n Play which would have kept everything more organized.
Lamaze Freddy the Firefly and Bitty Bite Bug
Freddy the Firefly is one of Ben’s favorite toys! It’s small enough to travel (carseat or stroller) and it has enough colors, patters, and activities to keep him entertained. Bitty Bite Bug was even smaller and still kept Ben busy. These were two toys I always packed when we were on the go because I knew they would keep him happy.
Halo Swaddle Sleepsack
This is another item we continued to use beyond the first 3 months. I LOVE that the Halo Sleepsack grows with baby! When Ben started to roll over around 5 months, we have to transition him from full swaddle to no arms. The Halo Sleepsack made it such an easy transition.
Teethers
Ben really loved these teethers: Comotomo Silicone Teether and Angelbliss Teething Set. The Comotomo teether mimicked tiny fingers so they were easy to chomp on. The Giraffe and Banana teethers were also Ben’s favorites. The Giraffe has so many different areas to gnaw on (head, tail, legs) and the Banana had the massaging bristles.
Drool Bibs
Drool and spit up became a constant issue starting at 3 months. And since we hadn’t started solids yet, I just needed some cloth bibs to prevent Ben’s clothes from getting soaked. I bought this variety pack of solid colored bibs from Amazon. They were cheap and got the job done!
Board Books
Around 2-3 months we started reading books before bed. It wasn’t until 4ish months when Ben really started to pay attention to the pictures, colors, page turning, etc. He became really fixated on textures and brightly colored graphics. Some of his favorites are Never Touch A Dinosaur, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, and You’re My Little Cuddle Bug.
Stroller
After the newborn months, we started taking Ben out more. On daily walks, to Target, to the farmer’s market, anywhere! We registered for the full travel system which included a stroller, car seat and car seat base. This was great because the car seat would click right into the stroller. We recently purchased the rubber wheel kit to help with “off road” walks. It’s a game changer!
Also, I purchased an umbrella stroller at a consignment sale. I thought I would have used it more for our daily walks, but I realized that the sun visor was crucial so I haven’t used it much.
Diaper Pads
When Ben started sleeping through the night, we had issues with him peeing through his diaper. We couldn’t go up a size because he was too skinny, so we found Sposies! They are pads that you put in the diaper to prolong their absorbency. They have helped tremendously and now we don’t worry about him waking up soaking wet in the middle of the night.
Carrier
When Ben was 5 months old, we traveled to Florida to visit my parents. I wanted a carrier that would be easy to put on and take off, especially since I was traveling alone. While I love the Moby Wrap for the newborn months, Ben wanted to face forward. I ordered the Infantino Flip 4-in-1 Convertible Carrier on Amazon and it’s been great! I was a little worried that it wouldn’t be as supportive or the fabric wouldn’t hold, but I can’t tell it’s only $30.
Pumping Bras
If you’re going back to work and plan to pump, you’ll need to find a good pumping bra. Probably 2 or 3. And if you don’t want to change your bra every time you pump, look for a 2-in-2 pumping and nursing combo bra.
I tried the Kindred Bravely Sublime Pumping & Nursing bra. I thought it was a little bulky and I needed a bigger size, but it worked. I also got this top seller on Amazon. I thought it was more comfortable thank the Kindred Bravely, but didn’t have as much support.
Extra Pumping Parts
You’ll be pumping every 2-3 hours, and if you’re like me you won’t want to waste time washing pump parts before or after each use. You’ll need at least 3 sets of 2 flanges, 2 membranes/duckbills, and 2 bottles — one for each pumping session. If you’re carrying the pump back and forth, you may want to carry an extra charger or battery just in case you forget to pack it.
I hope this helps all you new mommas! I’ll be sure to keep track of my most used products for 6-9 months!
