Jul 25

Jul 25 My Top 10 Newborn Essentials!

Happy Thursday, friends! I hope you are doing well! Unfortunately, my family and I are still displaced from our apartment due to an electrical fire in our building this past Sunday. We have been having quite the adventure to say the least while relocating to, and staying in, a hotel for now. All in all, God remains faithful, and we’ve been creating a lot of fun memories! In an attempt to maintain some normality, I’d like to continue sharing myself with you mamas by telling you my top 10 newborn essentials! These are all items I either constantly used with my son, or recently discovered, and loved, with my daughter. All essentials will be in affiliate links down below at your convenience! I hope you enjoy!

1. Swaddle blankets

I love to use aden + anais 100% cotton muslin swaddle blankets! This may sound weird, but when in use, I also use them to catch any spit up. This saves me from buying burp cloths! They can also multi-function as car seat covers, nursing covers, blankets for tummy time, or changing pads when changing diapers. They are super versatile! I keep these in each section of my house, so I can easily grab them, or have my son fetch one to "help mama” when needed! The best part…they get softer with every wash!

2. Footie pajamas with mittens

When it comes to your newborn’s clothing, footie pajamas with mittens have a lot of perks! They are comfy, convenient for quick changes, and cute! The built-in mittens allow protection from their sharp nails, and from germs since babies have a tendency to put their hands in their mouth. This is all I put my newborns in! I love Burt’s Bees clothing, but it’s not always an affordable option, so honestly, any zipper footie pajamas with mittens will do. Zip-up, zip-down...easy peasy!

3. Pacifier

I exclusively breastfeed my babies, so normally pacifiers are a big "no no,” to avoid nipple confusion. However, the only time a pacifier will come into play is when I hear my newborn start to cry in the car. I get chills just thinking about it…that helpless feeling when you are in the passenger seat, or worse, the driver's seat, and your baby is hungry, but you can’t stop the car!! (You better believe I'm hopping in the backseat, and popping that sucker in his mouth...every time!!) I always carry two in my diaper bag for helpless moments like these. (However, in doing so, I make sure my baby doesn’t become even the slightest bit dependent on them. This helps prevent a costly trip to the orthodontist, and unnecessary struggles at bedtime!)

4. Sleep sack

If you read my previous post, "Five Things I Wish I did Differently with my Newborn," then you already know I ditched swaddling my newborn in exchange for a sleep sack, and I've never looked back! Swaddles are great…until babies break out of them, and wake from their sleep! My daughter has used her sleep sack from her first day home, and sleeps arms-free much more soundly then my son did. I credit this to the sleep sack giving her a sense of security with the comfort of a blanket, while learning to be arms-free early on. I have a cotton sleep sack for warmer nights, and a fleece sleep sack for colder ones! They really are the best!

5. Halo Bassinet

I'm sure you've heard all about the Halo bassinet, and yes, I know its pricey! This was given to me secondhand, and without that generous hand-me-down I may have never tried it. After using it with my daughter, I’ve come to the conclusion that I wouldn’t have felt guilty placing it on my registry! There's a ton of other sleepers on the market, but not all of them are deemed “safe for sleep.” I am loving the convenience of swiveling my daughter close to my bed, and gazing at her through the breathable mesh as we close our eyes to sleep. I actually don’t use the vibration, or music setting that comes with it, so perhaps the cheaper model below would be just as good?

6. Sound machine

Since the day my babies were born, I've had them sleep to a sound machine…usually the sound of the ocean. It encourages sleeping with noise, and helps block unwanted noise from outside the door for a deeper, longer sleep. To this day, my 26 month old son sleeps with a sound machine! We can't go anywhere without it, and we can go everywhere because of it! For times we forget, or don't want to lug the sound machine around, we download the Calm app, and use the setting, “Heavy Rain.” I inherited my sister’s sound machine, and it’s so old I can’t find it anywhere to link for you! The brand name is even hard to read. If that should break, I may try this sound machine by Marpac Dohm, purely for the incredible reviews on Amazon. Has anyone ever tried this, and liked it? Please let me know in the comments below!

7. Nail clipper

Theres nothing more guilting than seeing your beautiful baby wake up with a gash on their face from their sharp, long nails. I know trimming your baby's nails can be scary...I don’t even like the fact that I feel it takes "practice” to learn how to properly cut your baby’s nails… but I couldn't function without maintaining my newborn's nails each week. If you have a nail clipper that you’ve found to be safest in preventing cutting your baby’s skin, please share it in the comments below!

8. Nose Frida

Love love love this invention! Newborns are prone to a lot of congestion, and since they breathe through their noses, this needs quick attention. Sitting in the humid bathroom can be helpful, but in combination with a Nose Frida, that mucous doesn’t stand a chance! You may gag the first time, or two, but when you realize the stopper will prevent the snot you are sucking from going into your mouth, you’ll enjoy yourself much more! Lunch, anyone?

9. Wrap

A wrap is a great way to keep your newborn close to you, while keeping your hands free long enough to get something done! As a mama of two, being hands-free with my daughter, while chasing my son around, has made me feel pretty invincible! It’s also great for ditching the bulky stroller when walking through those more crowded locations. I love my Solly baby wrap! I went through FOUR other wraps and carriers until I found one my newborn, and I seemed to love! It’s best to put your baby in it early on so they become used to it quickly! You can find this wrap of many on the Sollybaby website, sollybaby.com. What’s your favorite wrap?

10. Mesh mosquito net

Warning: This net might look ridiculous the first time you place it on your carseat or stroller, with your confused baby peering up at you thinking, “What is this strange contraption?” However, if you’re an outdoors, trail-walking, active kind of mama, then you understand how much stress this item can save you. It keeps your baby safe from pesky mosquitos, and folds up small enough to fit in it’s tiny storage bag!

Well friends, thanks for sticking around! I hope you enjoyed reading my top 10 newborn essentials. Everyone's preferences, and journey through motherhood is so different. We can learn a lot just by talking to each other! I'd like to hear from you too! Share your top newborn essential in the comments below! I hope you enjoy the rest of your day :)

Cool, Calm, and Collectedly Yours,