Everything I Needed The First Few Months
This is a basic list of everything that I purchased for my nursery the first few months I was home with the baby! These items are what I truly loved and used DAILY. Please keep in mind I am only sharing my own personal experience and would encourage you to research further to see what items will fit with your life and family!
This current list has no reviews but will add it some time in the future! For now, please enjoy this simple list~
Prices may also vary
Furniture
Babylettto Hudson 3-1 Crib $499
I didn’t start actually using the crib until my daughter was about 3 months old but I absolutely love the Hudson crib! My daughter has gotten her little limbs through the bars but she has never gotten stuck or woken up at night because of it. It is also a beautiful piece to have in the nursery! It is easy to lower or raise the mattress as well and am about to turn it into a floor toddler bed for her to use soon. 100% recommend
Babylettto Kiwi Glider/Recliner $999 $849 (15% off Amazon!)
I tried to convince myself this was not needed and spent the first 3 months toughing it out on a detached chaise from our couch. I absolutely hated it and ended up getting the Kiwi glider and regret not buying it from day one! It is SO comfortable and the ability to both recline, rock, and glide is golden. I use it multiple times a day and it is also very baby friendly. I’ve spilled milk on it multiple times and it cleans up so easily! The only thing I wish it had was a side pocket to hold various items but I ended up buying a chair cover that had one so it worked out great!
IKEA Hemnes Dresser $350
This is probably the most standard nursery dresser on the market! It has easily customizable to fit your nursery theme. I didn’t think I needed all the space in the beginning but ended up putting all her overstock diapers and wipes in the bottom drawers, and easy quick access items in the top 4 like onesies, socks, mittens, swaddles, etc. IKEA also sells great drawer organizers that are perfect!
Happiest Baby Snoo $1600
I admit… a very luxury item… but I would pay it again for all that it did! I truly credit my daughters good sleep habits to this thing (although I also put in a lot of work haha). This was able to give my husband and I a few extra hours of sleep and during those first few months, I would have paid anything for that. Read my other blog post for a more in depth review!
Changing Station
Keekaroo Peanut Changing Pad $140
I would consider this a must have item. The ability to just wipe away the inevitable messes has been game changer! No sheets or covers to replace/wash and definitely easy for those middle of the night changes. Not the cutest on the market but I would have this over style any day!
Water Wipes $37 (12 pack)
Biodegradable? Hypoallergenic?! TWO ingredients?! Say less. Buy it.
Coterie Diapers $85/mo
I have never felt a more comfortable diaper. My daughter has rarely gotten a diaper rash because of it (the only times were because she had an acidic poop overnight and was sitting in it for hours…) Super absorbent, hypoallergenic, and amazing customer support. The only way it leaks is if its not secured or its the wrong size!
Diaper Caddy $26
You might think a caddy is not necessary… and truly, it’s not. BUT it will make your life easier. I changed my daughter on the changing pad most of the time but there are always unforeseen circumstances where that wasn’t the case. Having the diaper caddy to just bring to the living room or taking it on the go to have in the car has definitely been helpful!
Desitin Diaper Cream $8
This is the only diaper cream that worked for my daughter the few times she did have a diaper rash. Although what helped the most were water baths and not using any wipes. This helped it from getting worse though and gave the protection she needed while she healed.
Dr. Talbots Diaper Cream Brush $6
Absolutely necessary if you use diaper cream on the regular. Diaper cream is designed to stay on your baby’s skin so it can be a bit difficult to get off your finger! I also bought a second one to keep in my diaper bag for on the go!
Wipes Warmer $22
Loved this wipes warmer and used it for about ten months! The only reason I stopped was because I didn’t want my daughter to get too used to warmed wipes. I felt that this created a more gentle experience for my daughter during her diaper changes and less shocking during those newborn months.
Ubbi Diaper Pail $80 $70
I received this as a gift and still use it to this day! It is a clean, easy design and contains the smell perfectly. My daughters diapers got a lot more smelly after she started eating solids and I was amazed how well the diaper pail contained the smell. Although it cant help to leak out when I open it to throw away the new diaper.
Sleep
Nanit Pro Baby Monitor $300
I didn’t buy this baby monitor until my daughter was able to sleep through the night at four months. I originally used the Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro but I absolutely love this upgrade so I want to recommend the nanit instead. I was originally afraid of getting hacked and exposing my baby to unwanted viewers but Nanit has a 256 bit encryption which made me feel super safe and secure! I haven’t had any issues with it yet and setup was a breeze. I dont think any accessories are needed (like belly band and growth sheets) (I bought both and didn’t really use it) Overall, great camera!
Hatch Rest+ Sound Machine $90
ABSOLUTELY necessary. This is one of the few items I tell all my friends to buy if/when they get pregnant. I have both the original and the pro and the pro is by far better. It is portable, has the time, and additional functions like two way monitor (sound only)
You can also set a timer and various programs to completely customize your routine and to teach your baby healthy sleep habits.
Nicetown Blackout Curtains $46
These specific curtains aren’t the necessary part but just any blackout curtains/window film are vital. I have these curtains and they do a great job!
Love To Dream Swaddle $33
All babies are different but my daughter loved this swaddle! The ability to keep her hands up but also feel contained like in the womb was great. These also worked great with the Snoo and the zipper function was much easier to use than velcro during middle of night changes (the velcro sound would wake up the baby)
Nanobebe Pacifier 4pk $10
Again, all babies are different so I would recommend trying out different pacifiers to see which your baby likes! These nanobebe ones were great though and my daughter was able to soothe herself with it but also didn’t get super attached to it so weaning her off of it was simple enough! She wasn’t a huge pacifier lover (she’s a thumb sucker) so we didn’t feel the need to try or buy a bunch
Pumping + Breastfeeding
Medela Freestyle Flex $380
It was really important for me to be able to pump on the go or wherever I needed to around the house. This medela pump came handy and was small enough to take around without the actual bulk of other pumps. Remember that all insurance plans will give you a free breast pump! You may need to pay extra if you want to upgrade to the specific one you want but make sure to check with your insurance!
Haaka Manual Breastpump $13
This was single handedly the most important item whenever I had a clogged duct, mastitis, or to collect milk from the other breast while baby was feeding on one. Low cost and highly effective!
Lansinoh Breastfeeding Starter Set $21
This was a great little starter set for me to figure out what I liked and needed during my breastfeeding journey. The lanolin cream was super essential for me to help protect my nipples from getting dried and cracked. Dry pads for throughout the day to prevent milk from leaking on my shirt but I recently discovered little collection cups so not to waste any milk!
Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags 6oz $14
I found these to be easy and reliable! Never had a leaking issue and held up for months in the freezer perfectly. Easy to open, close, and label which I found to be important in the middle of the night and lack of sleep.
Wireless Nursing Bra $29
Let me tell you I’ve ordered SO. MANY. NURSING. BRAS. and these were the only ones that I kept. I found other bras never fit well by the band to cup size. These fit great and were comfortable, easy to use as well. I wore them throughout my pregnancy and postpartum!
My Brest Friend Deluxe $50
I didn’t really think I needed a nursing pillow but quickly regretted my decision once the baby arrived. I had opted for an “aesthetic” one initially but found that it didn’t provide any support or functionality. The brest friend pillow gave me proper back support and the pockets for the bottle as I adjusted was also really crucial that made my life much easier!
Dr. Brown’s Baby Bottles $24
Like any other new mother, I went through a horde of various baby bottles and what worked for my baby was Dr. Browns! Yes, the various parts are annoying to constantly clean but it is well worth it if my baby is less gassy and can digest well. The nipple flow is also steady and reliable. Just dont forget to increase the nipple size as your baby grows!
Greensprouts Bibs 10ct $20
Easy. Comfortable. Functional. What else do you need for a bib?
Burt’s Bees Burp Cloths $25
Not sure why but I loved these burp cloths! I bought several since I kept losing them but they are highly absorbent, soft, and versatile. I ended up using these more than bibs at times since it was easier than buttoning a bib each time. Tucking these under their chin for a quick feed or wiping up a spill.
I went through several brushes and I found these to be the best. The sponges kept bacteria and the silicone ones didn’t get a good enough lather/scrub. I did have to buy a few replacements over the last 1.5 but they have overall kept well and cleaned well.
OXO Tot Drying Rack $23
This has a permanent spot on my countertop right next to the sink! It has held up very well and i’ve had no issues since purchasing it. It is very easy to clean and see if it needs a cleaning. I found other drying racks had a more difficult time cleaning with additional parts or hard to reach areas
Babyganics Foaming Baby Bottle Soap 3pk $15
This is by far my favorite bottle cleansing soap! I used the dapple soap before and found it difficult to lather and clean off the bottle. The babyganics foam soap is MUCH easier to use and I feel a squeaky clean feeling after using it. It also gets the job done once you start feeding solids! (It totally takes away the pasta oils in tomato sauce!)
Apparel
Gerber Baby Pajamas 4pk $22
When it came to clothes, I wanted easy and comfortable. Zipper pajamas were the way to go (obviously) but I found these to be the perfect little pjs that were affordable and easy to clean. I only had to go with one set since they grow out of them so quickly.
Burt’s Bees Short Sleeve Bodysuit $25
Two sets of these were all I needed! Baby spent most of the time at home so I was okay with these getting stained and dirty. I’ve kept with the burt’s bees line even until now (baby is 20 months). They are super comfortable and easy to take on/off. Baby didn’t have many (if any) blowouts due to the coterie diapers so anytime I had to wash them was when I got milk/food on them.
Burt’s Bees Long Sleeve Bodysuit $25
Like the short sleeves, I still use this line to this day! Long sleeve versions are necessary especially during the first few months. The snap closures on the bottom are easy to unbutton and button and I had no issues with these whatsoever.
Newborn Mittens 9pk $10
After much trial and error, spending money on the goumi, kyte, and loulou mittens… these were the winner. They were easy to take on/off (for us adults) and held on the baby’s hands securely (but not too tight).
Laundry Hamper $29
I found having a hamper with no lid much easier for my life. Just throw it in from the other side of the room and you’re done! My toddler now understands where to put her dirty laundry and having no lid is extremely helpful in her being independent to do her chores.
Bath
Skip Hop Baby Bath $36
Can’t say i’m super in love with this but I also haven’t found any better. This was great in the beginning and the only thing I have to say about it is that I wish it grew with the baby a bit more comfortably. As for a newborn though, it worked perfectly and my baby loved it!
Mustela Cradle Cap Shampoo $14
The only thing that helped with my baby’s cradle cap! It was able to help lift the buildup and thankfully my baby didn’t have to lose much hair because of it.
Fridababy Cradle Cap Brush $15
I really loved the comb and brush in this set! I felt the sponge wasn’t as effective, especially since the mustela shampoo was already foaming. Small gentle circles with the brush was helpful in loosening and lifting the buildup to remove with the comb after.
