When you are pregnant, you are told countless “essential” items to buy. While many of them may come in handy, the reality is that every baby is different. What works for one family may not work for the next. So to save time and a ton of money I’ve put together a list of must-haves that I wish I knew as a first-time mom.
Besides a car seat, a bassinet, and an avalanche of diapers, babies don’t need much. It’s very tempting as a first-time mom to think of all the “what if” scenarios and buy all the cute new trendy items, but don’t! You’ll realize that you and your baby survived without it, and your savings will thank you.
This post DOESN’T list a bazillion and one unnecessary baby products that will overwhelm you leaving you more confused and annoyed. Because after all, it’s not that deep.
What you will get instead are the BASIC first-time mom must-haves that I’ve tried and tested so you do not have to.
This post is all about First Time Mom Must-Haves
it takes a village
1. My best friend
The My Brest Friend pillow is incredible because of the comfort, mobility, and freedom you get when using it. The added back support allows you to adjust the strap bringing your baby right to the breast, instead of hunching over bringing the breast to the baby. Yes, I felt like a tabletop serving up fresh milk but this thing didn’t move, which gave me the freedom and mobility to nurse holding my babies back with one hand while freeing up my other hand to do just about anything, stir a meal, or brush my teeth, you name it.
2. Sound Machine
I cannot even begin to tell you how much we love the sound machine. I would recommend the Hatch to any first-time mom. It may seem strange but babies and even my toddler could sleep with the white noise, but there have been studies that say the inside of a mom’s tummy is about as loud as a vacuum. So naturally, they are already used to the noise, it is us who are not, but trust me, you will get used to it. They love it, and even if you get an extra 30 minutes of sleep in that beginning phase, you will love it too. I’ve even heard some parents bought the adult version for themselves once their baby started sleeping in their room.
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It would not be right if I didn’t mention that the sound machine has made my what’s in my hospital bag list. I remember hearing next door to our postpartum room a sound machine going, and at that moment, I knew they were not first-time parents. With all of the nurses and doctors coming in and out of the room, it makes perfect sense to pack a sound machine.
3. Touch Night light
I recommend it to all my new mama friends because it is the small things we tend to overlook. Waking up in the middle of the night at those ungodly hours is already tortuous enough, let alone having to turn on a bright light so you’re not fiddling around in the dark at 3 am. This little egg light is rechargeable with lasting battery life. The touch-controlled feature allows the ability to switch between warm and cool light. The dimmable feature is my absolute favorite, it is gentle on the eyes for those late-night feedings and diaper changes without waking up your baby.
4. Belly support band
I understand that not every mama needs extra belly support during pregnancy. But let’s talk about postpartum belly support bands. I can’t even count on my fingers the number of times I forgot to put on my belly support band, and my back paid for it every time. Many of us don’t realize while we’re pregnant, how much our core strength weakens.
After having my son via c-section, my core was nonexistent. A jello mush. Simply carrying my three-month-old in the baby carrier for a walk around the neighborhood left my back feeling as if it was on fire. Here’s where the belly support band comes into the mix. During those first few months after having a baby, the belly support band will bring you comfort and support to your back as the separation of the abs closes and you rebuild your core strength.
5. Baby carrier
We have tried three types of carriers (the wrap, the sling, and the Ergo) and I’d have to say my Ergo was my most used carrier. It is remarkably comfortable giving lumbar support to both my husband and myself. The Ergo grows with your little one to early toddlerhood when you’re trying to get stuff done, and your toddler wants to be close to you. Did I mention that it also offers newborn support without any additional attachments? (though it is available for added comfort, just isn’t a requirement). It’s lightweight, breathable, and durable. I love my Ergo.
6. All things boobs: Nursing tanks, Strapless pumping bras & nursing bras
Not much to say here, I mean it’s boobs. You have them and I have them. You know yours better than I do. Haha. So, this one is for my pumping and nursing first-time mamas. Nursing is hard enough, and if you don’t know you’ll find out very soon but; it is a full-time job. Having great comfort and support from a nice bra makes a world of a difference. Especially the Medela 3-n-1 hands-free pumping and nursing bra, a game changer!
7. Sleep sack swaddle
I was so excited to discover the sleep sack Nested Bean. We used muslin swaddle blankets at the beginning with our first, but when it came to sleep training, I knew I needed something more. That is when I discovered the Nested Bean, it is a gently weighted sleep sack that provides your baby with a little extra comfort. The weighted sack mimics your soft touch to help soothe your baby to sleep when they are not in your arms. They come in three sizes starting from 0 to 24 months providing comfort from the beginning.
8. Infant Optics DXR-8 PRO Baby Monitor
A good baby monitor that won’t break the bank. This was another test and trial area, and thank goodness I didn’t have to look very far after the first baby monitor we tried failed us. I knew I wanted high-quality HD, a large display, and full viewing control to be able to pan, tilt, or zoom to get a closer look at my baby.
Oh, and it would not be me if I didn’t mention that as a first-time mom, I would use the 6x zoom to check my baby’s breathing even after he was a year and a half. This thing is powerful. Did I mention it also offers a noise reduction feature that filters out the white noise on your end so you can hear your baby more clearly?
9. Instapot meal prep
This is one of my non-negotiables, especially in those beginning months as a first-time mom while you are trying to figure out your new life and bundle of joy. But one thing that isn’t going to change is, everyone still needs to eat. So what I tell every first-time mom to do is meal prep some delicious freezer meals in advance. No more last-minute “What’s for dinner?… Takeout it is.” It is all about getting the meals on the table, and the Instapot will help you do just that. From the freezer to the plate in no time.
10. Loungewear
And last but not least, oh, man. This one! A lot of our attention is focused on the baby. Getting ready for baby, buying all of the things, and unnecessary things that are oh so irresistibly cute. We tend to overlook our needs as moms. That’s why I included something for mom because if we are going to change poopy diapers all day long, why not look cute doing it. Getting out of those pajamas you wore the night before and putting on a cute matching lounge set will boost your mood and make you feel human again.
** Bonus **
11. Shout…(yes the spray cleaner)
We were beyond unprepared in the blowout department. (Palm to forehead). If you want to save those irresistibly cute clothes, GET SOME SHOUT.
This will be the additional baby shower gift I buy, from now on. Without Shout, you would be better off just throwing the entire outfit in the trash because who knew baby poop could do so much damage? Trust me on this one “Shout it out” haha.
If you enjoyed the post and found it helpful, leave your comments below. Have something you’d like to add? In this community, sharing is caring, and you never know who could benefit from it. I’d love to hear from you!
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