20 Must- Haves for Newborns

Expecting a baby soon? I find all those “lists” about registry items, hospital bags, etc. to be super overwhelming. So I’ve put together a list of my absolute favorite things besides the obvious of car seat, crib & stroller.

It can be so overwhelming when prepping for your baby to arrive home! Especially as a first time mom, there are so many opinions on what you will need, what’s worth it, what isn’t. And everyone is different! Below I made a list of 20 products that I found to be SUPER useful during postpartum and for my newborns (and myself!). 1.

1. Snuggle Me Organic Lounger - Loungers are NOT approved for safe sleep, but they are a cozy spot for baby to hang! My kids both loved lounging in this while I got dressed, took a shower, etc. The snuggle me is my favorite of all the loungers out there for lots of reasons, and it comes in so many gorgeous colors.

2. Portable white noise machine - Just trust me. This will be your BEST friend. White noise helps to calm and soothe your baby, plus blocks out external noise that could cause them to wake between sleep cycles. This one is rechargeable and you can take with you on the go for naps, travel, car rides, etc. I always kept one in my car and diaper bag!

3. Baby Carrier - helps promote bonding- baby wearing can help with naps, fussy behavior, and calm both you & baby! My favorite style for newborns is a stretchy wrap-style carrier like the Solly Baby.

4. Baby Gowns-The easiest way to diaper change at night! - My favorites are breathable cotton or bamboo.

5. Himalyain salt lamp for late night feedings - The soft amber light is relaxing and calming and won’t stimulate your baby too much. This type of light is also great vs. turning on your lamps or overhead lights because it won’t disrupt melatonin production- meaning you get back to sleep more quickly!

6. Blue-light Blocking Glasses- help reduce the eye strain while scrolling through your phone during those late night feedings… ‘cause we all do it :) 

7. Nursing tanks - Look for one with clip-down cups and openings for standard pump flanges, so it can be used for pumping OR nursing!

8. Nursing Pillow - Weather you’re nursing or bottle feeding, comfort is key! Check out some other great options here.

9. Baby Bath Towel- I know, maybe not the MOST essential thing. But honestly these are just so cute that they are absolutely worth it. Some of my favorite pictures of my babies ever are from them fresh out of the bath in one of these adorable hooded towels.

10. A Sleep Sack (My current favorites are from Little Sleepies. You can use the code Rachael15 for 15 percent off your purchase!). These are great because they are made from bamboo which is light and breathable, and they come in 3 different weights depending on season & climate!

11. Black out curtain and Wrap around curtain rod (wraps around so no gaps of light peek through!)- This isn’t super necessary in the newborn days when the circadian rhythm isn’t mature yet, but it’s nice to have them set up for when baby gets to be about 12+ weeks and relies more on light & dark cues for sleep.

12. Three super helpful books- if you’re interested in Cosleeping and Breastfeeding:

• Safe Infant Sleep “In Safe Infant Sleep, the world's authority on cosleeping breaks down the complicated political and social aspects of sleep safety, exposes common misconceptions, and compares current recommendations to hard science.” 

•  Sweet Sleep “Sleep better tonight in under ten minutes with the Quick Start guide-and sleep safer every night with the Safe Sleep Seven checklist. Sort out the facts and fictions of bedsharing and SIDS. Learn about normal sleep at every age and stage, from newborn to new parent.”

  And one about Normal Infant Sleep:

• Let’s Talk About Your New Family’s Sleep “This realistic, reassuring, and refreshing guide to sleep looks at sleep for both parents and children, and aims to empower and encourage parents to feel calm, confident and compassionate in their parenting.

13. Oil for massage - Infant massage has so many amazing benefits, and this oil is really lovely and clean.

14. Infant Optix Camera Monitor - This has been our favorite monitor for 5 years! It doesn’t use Wifi which I feel safer about because it’s more secure. While a newborn is likely to be room sharing with you (for 6 months per AAP recommendations), you might still want to have this set up for times that baby is asleep before you or for during nap times.

15. Tap Light from amazon - I brought this to the hospital and had it by my night stand for late-night feeds. It’s easy to use and 100% safe and friendly for your baby to learn and play with during a diaper change. The anti-blue led light will never flicker or hurt your baby's eyes. 

16. Haakaa - This natural breast pump is a GAME CHANGER for the early days of nursing when many of us deal with leakage and over supply. Simply suction it on the opposite breast you’re nursing from and don’t let a single drop of your let down go to waste!

17. Fridamom Ice Pads-  no freezer necessary and yeah- you’re going to want these if you have a vaginal delivery.

18. Reusable Breast Pads - organic material with natural cotton oils, better for you and baby (and the planet). I always carry extras in my bag for unexpected leaks.

19. Burp Cloths - love that these come in a pack of 10- you’ll need them all! These are my favorite because they are simple in design and can be used for all sorts of things once you’re out of the spit-up phase.

20. Footstool- for nursing - support your posture while you’re feeding baby.

One more essential item is information! It can be overwhelming out there with all of the courses, guides, classes etc. to prepare for your baby. That’s why I’ve distilled just the most important info for you to learn all about Newborns in my Newborn & Baby Bundle. You’ll learn how to prep for baby plus how to set up for safe sleep and get realistic expectations for how the first few months will go. You’ll also get to dive deeper into topics like infant attachment, feeding, and more! This course will take you all the way through 18 months and include our best selling Crib and Floor Bed Guide, too!

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