Must-Have Newborn Baby Essentials for First-Time Parents (Add These To Your Baby Registry)

Sharing some of my newborn baby must-haves to get you through the first few (0-3) months.

Photo by Dani D. Photos

If you are going to be a first time mom or dad, it can be overwhelming to build your baby registry. I know, I spent probably a good 7 months adding and replacing items from mine the more I did research and watched a million YouTube videos. The reality is that you won't know everything you actually need until your sweet little babe arrives earth side and you start to figure out your new-parent flow. Let me just say, thank goodness for Amazon prime. I used Babylist to build my registry even though most of the items were available on Amazon. Every baby is different and these are what I found worked for mine. Now, let's get to the list of essentials.

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Must-Have Baby Feeding Essentials

1. Dr. Brown's Anti-Colic Bottles - Highly recommend to get three 4oz bottles and three 8oz bottles. This was enough to get us through a whole day of feedings (we washed them in between). You will probably stop using the 4oz bottles by 2.5 months because your baby will start to feed more, then the 8oz bottles will come in handy.

2. Philip Avent Bottle Warmer - We have used this every single day for every feeding since our daughter was born and by the time you are done changing the diaper, the bottle is warm and ready to go (that's if you're on point with your schedule)

3. Dr. Brown's Pitcher - When I stopped breastfeeding we discovered this to make bigger batches of formula and it has saved us time and from a hangry baby!

4. Muslin Burp Cloths- THESE. They are so soft and non-irritating for baby. We asked for 2 packs of these on our registry and we use them for every feeding and there's enough to rotate in and out while some are washing.

5. Bottle brush cleaner- Of course, you need something to clean the bottles with. I like it because it comes with a stand. We asked for 2 and I'm glad we did because the bristles are starting to get flat from using it everyday.

6. Dapple Baby Bottle and Dish Soap-we bought this ourselves, but I wish I put it on our registry because we are zooming through these. Again, something you will use every day.

Must-Have Baby Sleep Essentials

1. Love to Dream Swaddle - If your baby likes sleeping with their arms up or near their face, THIS is what you need. My daughter sleeps through the night in this. Once the newborn size got small on her, I found an alternative option (see #2).

2. SwaddleDesigns Transitional Swaddle Sack- Not only does it allow your baby to sleep with arms up, you can also unfold the mitten part and let your baby have their hands out so they can self soothe. It also comes in various designs and colors.

3. Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor & Floor Stand- someone I know recommended this monitor and I was hesitant to ask for it because of the price and also, how would I know we would like it? I did the research and it had great reviews. We sent our baby registry link to our loved ones and someone from our family was generous enough to buy this for us. GAME CHANGER. This monitor has given us so much relief and reassurance. It comes with a breathing band which tracks their breathing for you. I actually didn't know exactly how it worked until I set it up and put the band on her. It also comes with an app that you download for free on your phone. There is an option to pay for premium features, but we just use the free version and it has been working for us. You can also have the app on in the background while you use your phone or iPad normally and you can hear your baby. The app will also notify you when your baby cries and when your baby fell asleep/woke-up, etc. If you're looking for a smart monitor THIS IS IT.

4. Hatch Rest Baby Sound Machine- At first, I didn't see the point of this, but then once we started putting her in her crib to sleep, I can't function without it. Literally. I can't see well in the dark so this helps if I have to go in the nursery in the middle of the night and I set the function on 2 levels - one dim and one extremely dim. I keep it on all night and also use the lullaby sounds and she falls asleep to it.

5. Frida Baby 3-in-1 Humidifier with Diffuser and Nightlight- Our baby was born in the fall and this helped tremendously since the air in our house is a bit dry. It also has nightlight functions, but we didn't end up using those specific features since we have the Hatch.

6. Uppababy Bassinet- We use THIS more than we use the halo swivel bassinet and her crib. I'm convinced she likes the more compact space rather than a more open space like a crib. Also, you can move this to any room or space without it being super heavy and making noise. I definitely suggest just getting the stand that comes with it. It's pricey, but worth it- TRUST me.

Must-Have Baby Clothing Essentials

(0-3 months)

1. Cloud Island Modal Blend Romper-They also have some with the footies, but this material is everything. They are buttery soft and breathable onesies you won't want to stop cuddling your baby even more!

2. Bamboo Viscose Baby Romper - Another similar option as above, but from Amazon.

3. Any double-zipper onesies for easier diaper changes.

4. Socks - any socks especially to put on their hands (yes, they stay on better than mittens).

Must-Have Baby Bathing Essentials

1. Skip Hop Baby Bath Tub- It's pretty wide, but it worked out really well for us. It's easy to use and keeps baby stable in the water.

2. Baby Bath Sea Otter Thermometer- I thought I didn't need this, but I am glad I put it on my registry because we use it every time. It gives me ease when I know the water is at a safe temperature for baby.

3. Bamboo Ultra Soft Hooded Towels for Babies- These are so soft and keep baby warm and dry. I recommend getting 3 packs so that you have 6 in total because every bath session you would want to have one towel in the water for your baby's comfort to keep them warm and comfortable. Then of course, one for drying when you're done.

4. Mustela Baby Natural Baby Shampoo & Cradle Cap Cream - I didn't even know what cradle cap was until I started doing all my research. I put this on our baby registry and someone gifted it to us. I can say that the second and third week of life, our baby had a lot of flaking on her crown and forehead. Using this took off all the dead skin instantly and cleared it up.

5. Cetaphil Baby Daily Lotion- At first, I didn't like the smell of this lotion, but it grew on me. This keeps baby's skin so soft and hydrated.

6. Aquaphor Baby Healing Balm Stick- Like I said in #4, baby skin can sometimes peel and flake (ours definitely did), I wanted to keep her skin hydrated while it was running its course and this stick was amazing! You can just apply it right on their cheeks and forehead and it keeps it hydrated and healed all day.

7. Washcloths - any washcloths will do, but just make sure its small enough so its easy for you to use.

8. Johnson's Tear-Free Bedtime Baby Moisture Wash- Game changer. We started giving routine baths before bedtime and I do believe this wash contributes to calming her and helping her sleep faster.

9. Skip Hop Moby Baby Bath Essential Set- Save your knees and arms and just add it to the registry because we did not receive this until almost 3 months in and have been just suffering without it. Your body will thank you.

Must-Have Baby Changing Essentials

1. Ubbi Diaper Changing Value Set- Some people don't think it's necessary, but I personally am thankful for this. It keeps the odor in the pail and holds a pretty good amount of dirty diapers. It comes with trash bags and/or absorbing gel.

2. Skip Hop Baby Changing Pad - This is a dupe for the even more expensive Keekaroo. Our house is laid out in a way where we need multiple changing stations in 3 different rooms. This one is easy to clean and lightweight. I also like the little mobile it comes with for baby to stare at while being changed (it helps her stay still).

3. Munchkin Warm Glow Wipe Warmer- We used this and it made the difference with our little one. It makes the wipes warm, but not hot, however you do need to work pretty fast before it cools down again. It also has a light on the front, I found this helpful for the late night changes.

4. Disposable Changing Pad Liners Pack of 100- These definitely helped through blowouts and when they pee while you change them. We lay them on top of the changing table or Skip Hop changing pad, and it quickly absorbs and is easy to use. I got the pink ones , but they also have it in blue.

5. Huggies Newborn Diapers- I personally found Huggies to be best for our daughter especially when she was in between newborn and size 1. It was the perfect fit. It has the wet indicator on it which I find helpful. Not as many blowouts with Huggies as we had with Pampers so this was a go for us.

6. The Honest Company Clean Conscious Wipes- We received a big box of these wipes from our gender reveal and baby shower and they have been working great for our little one. It doesn't irritate her skin and doesn't dry out easily.

Must-Have BabyTravel Essentials

1. Nuna Pipa Lite rx- Okay, I am so happy we went with this carseat. It's pretty universal, and fits our stroller (see #2) by using attachments, and it's aesthetically pleasing. It comes with the infant insert and its lightweight and easy to use. We also figured out it has handy magnets on the sides that allows the sun visor to close! We were amazed when I figured that out ( I honestly didn't read about that before I chose it).

2. Cybex Gazelle S Double Stroller- THIS. If you're petite and short like me, this stroller is the perfect height for you AND your husband. I am 5'3 and my husband is 5'11. It has an adjustable handle that can expand to your liking. When we take turns pushing her on our walks its so easy to use and adjust. We also know we want more kids so we opted for this one because you can turn it into a double seater. This one comes with a basket which we don't really use, but it is handy if you're going to the store. The only con I will say about it is that it's a big heavy, but most strollers similar to this are. Closing and opening this stroller is fast and easy, a bit tricky to figure out at first, but once you do it's awesome.

3. Unisex Diaper Bag Backpack - This backpack looks big on me (being petite and 5'3), but it fits everything we need for the baby. I like how it has insulated pockets, comes with a changing mat, and how it's stylish for both my husband and I to rock everyday.

4. Baby Diaper Caddy- You can honestly choose any caddy with different compartments and a handle. This was convenient for us because we needed several changing stations throughout the house and this kept it convenient for us to move it wherever. We also kept one in the car just incase, and the one time I needed it, I thanked myself for putting it there.

5. Portable Diaper Changing Pad- Definitely a changing pad that folds up is what you need. This one is super cute, wipeable, and also has many pockets for wipes, diapers, etc.

6. Momcozy Portable Bottle Warmer for Travel- I like how it comes with different sized pieces for different bottles. The buttons are kind of hard to press, but other than that this warmer does its job! All you have to do is find the correct attachment, make sure the seals are placed so it doesn't leak, flip it upside down and screw the bottle on, set your desired temperature, and wait a few minutes. We bring this with us everywhere we go. You just need to remember to charge it.

7. Solly Baby Wrap Carrier - I have to admit, it was a little challenging to figure out how to use this, but once you do, it's a GAME CHANGER. At one point, this was the only way my daughter would sleep because it was snug and she was close to my heartbeat. The material is buttery soft and stretchy. You can wear it multiple ways and get so much done baby wearing!

8. Infantino Flip Advanced 4-in-1 Carrier- my husband prefers this one because it's easier to use than the wraps ( which I agree). You can just adjust the straps to your liking, buckle baby in, and you're all set. It's comfortable, quick and easy especially when you're out and about alone with the baby.

This list is a good start if you're just lost on what to get or ask for your baby registry. Again, these are things that worked for my husband and I and our baby girl. Every baby is different and they may or may not like the products you choose for them. It's great to have options and try different things once baby is earth-side. Good luck on this wonderful new chapter in your life and please feel free to ask me any questions.

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